Looking back, those days of laughter and reckless joy with the bandits feel almost unreal now — like a dream I was too young to cherish. I took that warmth, that sense of belonging, for granted… and I paid the price for my blindness.

  They are no longer with us, but I won't reveal that story just yet. It wouldn't make sense at the moment. Besides, I'm writing this for myself.

  **************

  Every time I think about them, those thoughts creep back in — dark, whispering things telling me I should’ve joined them… that my living is a disgrace to their memory. And you know what? For a while, I listened. I gave in. But that part… that’ll make sense later.

  That wasn't even the craziest part of it all. Sabo started living with us, too, which Dadan didn't like at first, but she got over it quickly. I was able to smooth things over with her.

  That's when my routine truly began. Mornings were for goofing off with my brothers; nights were for intense training. I also kept up with the newspapers to stay informed and sharp.

  But then, one day, everything changed.

  **************

  That morning, I got the newspaper before dawn, like I always did. That's when I learned that a Celestial Dragon was coming to the Goa Kingdom. I wasn't sure what a Celestial Dragon was, so I asked Dadan.

  At first, I thought Dadan was joking. No one could be that cruel. But when she didn’t laugh… the disbelief curdled into something hotter.

  Rage.

  What I heard was so disgusting, so appalling, that I don't even want to repeat it, but I have to. I'm too far into this now.

  They call themselves gods, but they’re nothing more than devils dressed in gold. The Celestial Dragons — the most vile, hollow excuses for humans I’ve ever heard of. Look at them the wrong way, and you’re dead.

  Try to teach one a lesson, and an Admiral will come knocking just to erase you. Out of all the madness this world holds… that one takes the throne.

  Just thinking about it makes my blood boil. Because of a Celestial Dragon, both of my brothers are dead. One of them died indirectly, but they still had a hand in it.

  **************

  And now, we're getting close to one of the moments that shaped me.

  That same day, we did a dine-and-dash, which was pretty fun. But as we were running, I noticed a man calling out Sabo's name. He looked like a nobleman. That bothered me, and Ace, too.

  Eventually, we found out why.

  Sabo was a noble himself. That man was his father.

  The shock hit me like a kunai.

  Out of all my brothers, Sabo was the responsible one—at least, that’s what I used to think.

  I couldn’t help but smile thinking back on it. At the time, I had a scowl plastered on my face, but now… remembering how Sabo tried so hard to dodge the topic—it almost makes me laugh. Back then, our only problem was whether or not he was lying to us.

  I wish that our biggest concern. I wish we could’ve stayed those kids who dreamed like pirates, lying under the stars, talking about freedom and adventure.

  But that’s not how things turned out.

  Ace, Luffy, and I had Sabo pinned. Both of us were gripping his collar, demanding answers. I wasn’t trying to hurt him—just desperate for the truth. Of course, I never told about my past either, so who was I to talk? Maybe that’s why I learned something that day: everyone has their secrets, and sometimes… It’s better to let them keep them.

  “All right, all right! Just please don’t kill me!” Sabo gasped, struggling for air. Then his expression softened. He sank back against a tree, his hat tilting over his eyes, goggles resting neatly on top. I don’t think I ever saw him wear them properly. I wish I had.

  “I didn’t want to hurt your feelings,” he said quietly. “Being part of the common folk… it’s not exactly something nobles brag about.”

  He gave this bitter little chuckle, and I remember sitting down beside him, knowing he wasn’t going anywhere for a while. His story came out in pieces—about the Noble Kingdom, about parents who only cared about money and status. And when he mentioned his father… that cold, selfish man who only saw him as a tool—something in me snapped.

  My blood boiled.

  It was personal. I wanted to find that man and teach him what it meant to someone. Some people would give anything just to have parents at all. I never met mine, but from what I’ve heard, they were good people. The kind that would’ve been proud of me—if I’d ever gotten the chance to meet them.

  I clenched the grass to calm myself, hearing Master Naguri’s voice echo in my head: It wasn’t easy, but I managed.

  When I finally looked up, Ace and Luffy were… picking their noses. Both shrugged and said, “Huh. That’s how it is, then.”

  Sabo exploded. “Then why’d you two press me so hard for answers!?”

  I couldn’t help laughing at that. “Because we cared about you, idiot. For all we knew, you could’ve been some shady pirate or something!”

  They all laughed after that. I did too—but somewhere deep down, I was fighting a different thought. One I couldn’t share.

  Because who would believe me?

  Even in this crazy world filled with sea monsters and Devil Fruits… who would believe someone like me—

  Someone from another world?

  I kept it to myself. I thought I’d have more time.

  Turns out… I didn’t.

  **************

  Then again, maybe I wasn’t so different. I doubt they could’ve imagined —their brother—becoming a tyrant, committing atrocities in another life. The thought filled me with a familiar, burning rage.

  At first, I wondered why he would want to run away from such a lavish life. But then I understood what being a noble truly meant. And I wanted nothing to do with it.

  Still, something else kept gnawing at me. Mizuki. He was still somewhere on this island. From what I knew about him in my world, he was a crafty bastard. No wonder he would become a pirate. But it seemed like he still had his ninja skills, judging from the brief look I got at him.

  That same day, Sabo was forced to return to his family.

  **************

  I tried to stop it, but I was held down by the Bluejam Pirates, specifically by Mizuki.

  I could have broken free easily. But Luffy was also restrained.

  And Ace.

  It was one of my biggest failures as a brother.

  If only I hadn't been so incompetent.

  I was angry.

  But I channeled that anger into figuring out a way to get Sabo back.

  That's when we made a stupid decision.

  Me, Ace, and Luffy took a job from the Bluejam Pirates. We had no choice. But if only I had checked the crates.

  I remember the weight of those crates — the strain in my arms, the ache in my back, the kind of fatigue that somehow feels good when you’ve earned it. A few years ago, I could’ve never lifted them. They stood nearly ten feet high and twelve wide, their coarse wooden sides leaving faint scratches along my arms as I set them down.

  Curiosity, as always, got the better of me. I pried one open, the sound of nails tearing free echoing through the air.

  What I saw inside made my breath catch.

  Inside those crates were gunpowder and oil.

  The nobles were planning to burn all of Gray Terminal to the ground, people included, all for the arrival of a single Celestial Dragon.

  The stench of smoke is something I'll never forget.

  **************

  I remember the ropes cutting into my wrists — rough and frayed, biting into my skin until I could feel the sting of blood beneath them.

  The ropes bit deep as the heat pressed in — smoke, sweat, and fear blending into one choking haze.

  Luffy was crying. His voice cracked through the roar of the fire, small and terrified, yet it was all I could hear. I wanted to shout back, to tell him it would be okay, but the smoke filled my throat, stealing my voice before I could.

  Ace was beside me, face streaked with sweat and soot, a jagged piece of glass clutched in his hand. The flickering light reflected off it, a shard of brightness in all that chaos. He was cutting through his ropes — slowly, desperately.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  I could feel my lungs burning, my strength fading. And in that haze of pain and fear, something inside me hardened.

  Using my enhanced strength, I broke through the bindings. I still remember Ace yelling, "Run for it, guys!"

  I hated them — the Bluejam Pirates. The kind of men who lived only for greed and blood. They were everything wrong with the word .

  As we ran, I finally understood the difference between pirates who take and pirates who give. The Bluejam Pirates burned for greed. Shanks had fought for freedom.

  I didn’t know it then, but that moment was when I first learned the truth — that there were two kinds of pirates in this world. Those who took everything… and those who something back.

  But then we ran right into Bluejam.

  It seemed like he and Mizuki were having a falling out. I interrupted them with a storm kick and shouted, "You remember me, you motherfuckers?! How does it feel to be betrayed, huh?!"

  I was furious.

  And that's where we fought the Bluejam Pirates.

  **************

  I took on Mizuki. His ninja trickery could be a problem for Ace and Luffy, so I warned them about how sneaky ninjas could be. Unfortunately, Luffy didn't listen.

  I clashed blades with Mizuki. His sword was trash compared to mine, so I broke it easily. Then we fought hand-to-hand.

  He threw shuriken and kunai, which I blocked. He used his tricks to land a few hits on me, but I had my tricks.

  Then he did something unexpected.

  He slammed his hands into the dirt — Earth-Style jutsu.

  Chakra.

  So it really existed here.

  I had to switch to my father's fighting style. It gave me more physical strength and made it easier to channel chakra into my fists.

  Then Mizuki hit me with a genjutsu.

  "You really think you can kill me, boy? I'm not even using my full strength," he sneered.

  I was beyond annoyed.

  And that's when the real fight began.

  Before Mizuki and I could start our fight, Willpower suddenly washed over us. Everything froze for a moment, like time itself had stopped. It felt familiar, but at the same time, it wasn’t. I’d only felt this once before, when the Red-Haired Pirates first arrived. Their willpower radiated off them like heat, but this… this wasn’t controlled like theirs.

  It was wild.

  Explosive.

  Like a bomb had just gone off. However, both of us managed to resist it. Looking around, I saw Luffy on the ground, clutching his face, his signature pipe weapon sliced in two. Fear immediately struck me; I was afraid for my brother's safety.

  But Mizuki seized the opportunity. Of course, he did. Just thinking about it makes me angry. He landed a devastating blow on my left shoulder, leaving me with no choice but to fight back. The problem was, I wasn't great at genjutsu, not without Kurama's help.

  On the bright side, during this fight, I figured out how to break and resist genjutsu. That breakthrough allowed me to turn the tide against Mizuki. I managed to get the upper hand, and, in a moment of sheer brutality, I sliced off his arm. A sadistic part of me reveled in his pain; it felt good at the time, watching him writhe in agony. But that sick satisfaction was short-lived.

  Mizuki had faked his pain.

  Then the mark spread — Orochimaru’s curse, twisted by someone they called Vegapunk.

  Mizuki's transformation was monstrous, some kind of tiger-like beast. His strength, speed, and defense skyrocketed, making him nearly unstoppable. His attacks were so fast I could barely keep up, forced to rely on Moonwalk to dodge and Iron Body to tank any unavoidable blows. I took to the air, using Storm Kicks to barrage him from above.

  But then, I made a fatal mistake.

  I got too comfortable.

  Clutching my sword with both hands, I raised it high and spun forward, mimicking Kiba's Fang Over Fang technique. It was a risky move, and I paid the price for it. Mizuki dodged with ease. My blade got stuck, leaving me completely open.

  I should have abandoned the sword. It was the only memento I had from my mother in this world, and I knew Kurama would have been pissed if I left it behind.

  But I should’ve let it go.

  I hesitated — and fate didn’t.

  **************

  I will never forgive myself.

  Luffy… that stupid kid… he ran in front of the attack. Mizuki's claw impales him straight through.

  I... I don’t even know how to put it into words.

  My hands were shaking — gripping that stupid sword.

  Just an object.

  Sure, it was my mother’s gift.

  Something that should’ve meant the world to me.

  But at that moment? It meant nothing.

  Because I believe a human life — any life — is worth more than steel, more than pride, more than some damn dream.

  If becoming a “great pirate” means killing one of my own…

  Then I don’t want it.

  Even if it’s the dream I inherited, even if it’s supposed to define me—

  I’ll throw it all away before I let someone die for it.

  I’ve already been that person once before — the one who climbed over corpses to reach the top.

  I won’t go back.

  Never again.

  And then—

  I realized my sword was already drawn.

  The blade was bare, gleaming in my hand.

  But I didn’t even remember unsheathing it.

  My mind went blank.

  My heart stopped.

  Because all I could see was Luffy—

  Bleeding.

  Smiling.

  That idiot was at me even with blood pouring from his mouth.

  The crimson soaked through his shirt, dripping into the filth of Gray Terminal.

  And that claw…

  God, I can still see it—

  that monstrous, fur-covered hand, yellow and white, matted and clotted with blood,

  Bursting out through Luffy’s chest.

  It was like I was staring at a demon.

  Then the creature let go.

  Its claw slid out of him with a sound I’ll never forget—

  A sick, wet , like air leaving a bursting bubble.

  Luffy’s body fell forward.

  I caught him before he hit the ground, but—

  the sound, the heat, the smell—

  It was too real. Too .

  I couldn’t think.

  I couldn’t breathe.

  My mind kept trying to deny it, screaming that it wasn’t real—

  That it had to be a dream.

  But it wasn’t.

  It was hell.

  And I was standing right in the middle of it.

  The light was leaving his eyes too quickly. I remember screaming, No, no, no, no, no! His body was broken, and most of his internal organs were outside of him. There was nothing I could do.

  Yet, even in his final moments, he smiled.

  Through bloodied lips, he whispered, It hurts… but I saved you. I protected you… For once.

  He laughed weakly, painfully, and I saw Ace screaming for help, begging for someone to save him. That's when I noticed Dalton. She had seen everything. Her fury was unlike anything I had ever witnessed, and she wasn't the only one. The Mountain Bandits, every single one of them, burned with rage.

  The world went quiet. Even the flames seemed to hold their breath.

  Then something inside me snapped.

  And then, we slaughtered them all.

  We left no one from the Bluejam Pirates alive.

  But before I joined the fray, I knelt beside Luffy's near-lifeless body. He reached up, his trembling hand touching my face, tears in his eyes. You stupid fool, I choked out. Why didn't you let me get that attack off? I could have dodged it easily!

  The pain I felt at that moment… wasn't the same as when my sister died in my other world. This was something deeper. More visceral.

  Luffy called my name. Even as life drained from him, he encouraged me to keep going, to fight, to become the greatest pirate I could be.

  Don't worry, bro, Luffy whispered. This won't be the end of me. I still have to become the Pirate King, right?

  I knew the truth. He wasn't going to become Pirate King. But I couldn't say that to him. I owed him that much. I owed him everything.

  And then, he did something I never expected.

  With a shaky arm, he slowly removed his hat, the one Shanks gave him. My heart clenched. I didn't even want to think about what Shanks would feel when he found out. I would have to tell him someday, but right now, I was just a fool screaming into the void.

  Luffy placed the hat on my head, smiling despite the pain.

  Brother… I guess I won't be the Pirate King after all. But I know you can do it. Please… for both of us… for the people you need to protect… become the Pirate… King…

  And then, his eyes glazed over.

  Luffy was gone.

  **************

  I screamed, a raw, primal sound that shook Gray Terminal itself. And then, everything went red. My memories of that night are hazy, drowned in rage and grief. All I remember is the blood. The carnage. The mutilation.

  The next few minutes were a blur of motion and blood. I only remember flashes — screams, the weight of my sword, the smell of iron and smoke. When it was over, silence again… but it wasn’t peaceful.

  The Bluejam Pirates didn't get a proper burial. They weren't even cremated. They just burned in the fires of Gray Terminal, their bodies reduced to ash as we tore through them.

  Ever since arriving in this world, I had been trying to contact him, hoping we could work together. But no matter how much I focused on my belly, no matter how hard I tried to summon the seal, it never appeared. That's when I concluded: in this world, I never had the Nine-Tails sealed within me.

  Unfortunately, I would eventually gain access to Kurama's chakra, but under far more tragic circumstances than I could have ever imagined. It came at a price, just like all my other powers.

  It wasn’t just a realization. It was like something inside me broke—

  or maybe…

  I felt this hollow space open up in my chest, like a void swallowing everything I once was. A black hole where my heart used to be, pulling in every memory of my old world.

  Back then, the only person I could really depend on was my sister. We ran an empire together, side by side. But even then, we couldn’t always stay together—we had our own duties, our own paths. That’s how we survived as long as we did.

  And if I’m being honest... I never had much luck with people.

  Not with friends.

  Not with women.

  Actually—

  No.

  Screw it.

  Let’s not pretend.

  There one girl.

  I hurt her. Worse than I’ll ever admit out loud.

  She’d say she wasn’t hurt, but that was a lie—my body, my nature, the things that changed inside me... they left scars on her that words can’t fix.

  But I always had Kurama. My tailed beast.

  Even when the world turned its back on me, I was never truly alone.

  Or at least... I thought I wasn’t.

  Because loneliness—real loneliness—

  It isn’t just being by yourself.

  It’s that feeling of standing in a crowd, surrounded by laughter, and still knowing you don’t belong.

  Even here, in Foosha Village, with people I’ve grown to love…

  That feeling hasn’t gone away.

  Maybe it’s a curse from my old world, or maybe it’s just me—

  A part of me that still wants connection, but recoils the moment it’s offered.

  A contradiction.

  A wound that never really healed.

  I don’t remember walking. The body in my arms felt heavier than any sword I’d ever carried. Between the smoke and the shoreline, grief curdled into something colder—sharp and hard enough to cut.

  In that silence after the killing, I felt him — the part of me that never truly died — rise again and smile through my grief.

  That sadistic side had always been there — when I killed that bandit with the Red-Haired Pirates, it was already taking shape. This was just the moment it came to stay.

  Even now, I can still suppress him — barely. I call it my , but deep down, I know what it really is. You already know so much.

  What’s one more secret?

  **************

  Anyway, I should keep my thoughts focused. There’s still more to tell.

  As I walked, I tried to figure out how to break the news to Makino. To Whoop Slap. But before I could, a ship arrived that day, one that intrigued me.

  The smoke over the bay thinned, revealing the skeletons of what used to be Gray Terminal. The fire’s crackle died into the sea’s calm hiss — and through that silence, a ship cut through the mist.

  The Revolutionary Army, they said. Come to save the lost.

  I didn’t care.

  Not then.

  Not after everything I’d seen.

  Because I swore right then and there, no Celestial Dragon would ever get what they wanted as long as I lived.

  The nobles had some blame, sure, but the real masterminds? The ones who ordered this atrocity? They were the Celestial Dragons. And I vowed that they would pay.

  My grief didn't cloud my mind completely. I was angry, furious, but I knew slaughtering every noble in the kingdom would be too much work. I needed a calculated approach.

  But even that plan would change.

  Because not even a day later…

  Sabo set out to sea.

  **************

  A few days passed. We were still preparing for Luffy’s funeral — or at least, trying to. The arrangements had to be postponed… because another tragedy struck. One that came far too soon, and far too close.

  It also seemed that they had other plans for me because, during the fight, Mizuki escaped. My brother's death so consumed me that I didn't even notice. But when I arrived in Fuchsia and told everyone what had happened, their hearts shattered. I still remember Makino hugging me, tears streaming down her face. I had to let some of it out as well.

  Together, we wept that day. But that would not be the last time we shed tears, far from it. This was just the beginning.

  Mizuki came to the bar, disheveled and frail. The threatening aura he once had was gone, replaced by one of defeat and weakness. He looked terrible, barely able to walk. It took several people to hold him up so he could face me.

  His skin was brown and decaying, shriveled like a raisin. His eyes were hollow, void of life. But I didn't care. I pulled out my blade, ready to slice him in two. I would avenge Luffy.

  But Makino stopped me. She told me this wasn't me.

  She was wrong. This the real me — the part that would kill for less. I was regressing, slipping back into the monster I used to be, and it terrified me. Looking back, I was lucky I didn't fully become that monster.

  me from burning out and you from suffering through long waits. The plan is:

  ? Then take one week off to recharge

  one chapter every Monday. After that, the new cycle begins.

  —Your newly determined author