Usopp's Final Choice

That shot...

Yasopp instinctively, his tone devoid of any fatherly intimacy, more like a sniper's assessment of another sniper.

His voice was deep and hoarse, yet carried an undeniable respect. "... Very accurate."

"The Navy teaches more than just rules," Usopp replied coldly.

He maintained his aiming posture, the taut string trembling slightly in the wind, but the muzzle was slightly lowered, not pointing at Yasopp.

"And—how to completely stop evil before it even happens."

The air suddenly became still, and even the howling sea breeze seemed to pause for a moment.

A unique tension has formed between the father and son.

This is no longer a simple argument, but a dialogue between snipers—silent, yet fraught with tension.

Their eyes met, like two bullets about to be fired, colliding invisibly.

Yasopp's breathing quickened, his chest heaving, and finally he took a deep breath.

His son's strength far exceeded his imagination.

This sense of oppression was heavier than when facing any enemy on the Battlefield; they understood each other implicitly, yet were locked in a life-or-death struggle.

However, amidst his guilt, a long-dormant corner of his heart was rekindled at this moment.

It wasn't just fighting spirit, but a strange impulse—a desire to communicate.

He suddenly realized that words were powerless, and the rift between father and son could not be mended with a few apologies.

Perhaps, only by using their shared language and the methods of snipers can they break through the last barrier between them.

Yasopp slowly raised his head, his eyes filled with complex emotions, and uttered a hoarse sentence. "Could you give me a chance? Let's talk..."

Outside Syrup Village, on a cliff overlooking the sea

The wind howled, whipping up a salty mist that lashed against the rock face, as if even heaven and earth were holding their breath for this standoff between father and son.

Yasopp stood on the edge of a cliff, gazing at the endless sea.

Pain, guilt, and failure still lingered in his eyes, but deep within—the flame of freedom still burned fiercely.

He turned around to face Usopp, a complex yet unusually calm smile appearing on his lips.

Usopp.

His voice no longer trembled, but instead carried a sense of resignation and composure. "As a father, I've lost utterly. You've become incredibly strong, stronger than I ever imagined."

He took a deep breath of the salty sea air, letting the sound of the wind reverberate in his chest.

"The Navy's 'Justice' may have truly given you strength and direction. Every word you said was true. I was not a good husband, much less a good father."

The conversation abruptly shifted, Yasopp's gaze suddenly sharpened, as if he had instantly returned to the pinnacle of being the World's Strongest sniper.

"But before I accept your 'proposal,' or any naval decision--"

He slowly raised his hand, pointing to the surging sea in the distance.

"Let's have a final showdown."

"Not as a navy officer and Pirate, or as father and son, but as two snipers."

"I'm betting—on the last bit of connection between us!"

Usopp frowned, slowly raising his flintlock pistol. "What's the point? The outcome won't change!"

"Meaningful!!"

Yasopp suddenly raised his voice, with an almost fanatical obsession that even made the waves roar.

"Let me see just how high my son can fly!"

"Let me see if, while you uphold your 'Justice,' you can still retain the most important qualities of a sniper—a free spirit and the courage to believe in miracles!"

He pointed to a small piece of driftwood that appeared and disappeared among the waves in the distance. The piece of wood drifted with the current, rising and falling, so small that it was almost impossible to catch.

"Hit that one!" Yasopp, his eyes burning with intensity.

"If you win, I, Yasopp, swear with my last shred of pride—I will stay here obediently, atone for my sins for the rest of my life, never resisting, never running away, until you believe Justice has been served."

"But--"

He stared intently into Usopp's eyes, as if trying to see into his very soul.

"If your heart is bound by hatred and dogma, and you can't even fire this shot... then it means that while the Navy's Justice has given you power, it has also imprisoned your potential."

This was not only a challenge, but also my father's final "lesson".

Usopp fell silent.

He gazed at the piece of driftwood tossed about by the raging waves.

The wind was turbulent and the waves were high; the target was tiny and difficult to catch.

This requires not only technology, but also foresight, conviction, and even the courage to perform a near-miraculous feat.

He slowly closed his eyes, and his mother's gentle face appeared in his mind's eye—not with resentment, but with a smile.

The joyful boasting from my childhood still echoes in my ears.

His companions flashed by— Luffy, Nami, Kaya ... Their Trust and companionship guided him like a lighthouse.

Usopp's breathing gradually calmed down, but his heart pounded like a war drum.

When he opened his eyes again, his pupils no longer held only anger and obsession, but rather a clear and resolute expression of the past and the future.

This shot will be his answer.

Raise your gun Shot!

The bullet whistled out, but it didn't travel in a rigid, straight line.

It traced a graceful arc with the wind, as if it had been given life, nimbly traversing the barriers of the waves.

Almost at the same instant, Yasopp's gunshots rang out.

"Smack!"

With a crisp sound, the seed pellet embedded itself firmly in the center of the driftwood!

However, Yasopp's bullet was a fraction of a second slower, grazing the edge of the driftwood and splashing a brief burst of water.

At that moment, he could have been faster, but when he witnessed his son's miraculous shot, he willingly "was a beat late."

Yasopp put down the still-smoking gun and suddenly burst into laughter.

The laughter was rough, yet it carried a genuine sense of relief and liberation, even faintly tinged with tears.

"Haha! Did you see that, Banchina? Did you see that?!"

"Our son... he did it! He not only possesses strength, but he hasn't lost his freest spirit! He's gone further than I imagined!"

He turned around, gazed at Usopp, his eyes clear and calm. "I lost, and I admit defeat wholeheartedly."

Then, he opened his arms to meet the howling sea wind, as if he wanted to become one with the entire ocean.

"I will keep my promise. This village, your mother's final resting place, is my prison."

"I will atone for my sins here, but I will choose the method myself—to protect this place, not because of the Navy's orders, but because it Yasopp final adventure, my final freedom."

He turned around, his smile as carefree as ever, "As for you, Navy Captain, your journey has only just begun."

"Go on, don't look back at me. If one day you feel that my old bones are hindering your Justice, come back anytime to carry out your duties—I will never shirk them."

Usopp stood quietly, watching his father's back, which seemed to blend into the sea breeze and waves.

The hatred in his heart had not completely dissipated, but the thick ice had finally begun to crack.

He understood— Yasopp would never be the father he envisioned.

But he saw in the depths of his father's soul a freedom and unbridled spirit that could not be confined by anyone.

In his own way, Yasopp gave him his final recognition and love.

Usopp took a deep breath, slowly turned around, and walked towards Kaya and his companions who were waiting for him.

His naval uniform was still crisp, but at this moment, his gaze was more profound and resolute than ever before.

His "Justice" took on a new meaning in this extreme emotional storm.

--Upholding order, yet understanding human nature; believing in Justice, yet embracing complexity.

At this moment, Usopp finally resolved his inner conflict and truly embarked on his own path.