Who Exactly Are You?

"Brother Senga, are you a fairy?"

"No."

"Brother Senga, are you going to eat me?"

"That'd be criminal."

"Brother Senga, can you teach me that move from earlier? Once I learn it, I won't be afraid of Bellemere scolding me anymore!"

On the way back, Nami clung to Senga and chattered nonstop. Nojiko could only shake her head helplessly at the side, constantly pulling Nami away as she kept trying to press herself against Senga's leg.

"Wait until you're a little older and act more like a lady, like Makino. Then maybe I'll teach you." Senga flicked Nami on the forehead with a pop, then rubbed his fingers together, quite pleased with the sensation.

Nami covered her head with both hands and glared at him indignantly, puffing out her cheeks as she huffed,

"Stingy! I bet you only like Makino! Wuwuwu, don't you treasure me anymore??"

Nami's antics made Makino blush deeply. Annoyed, she gave Nami's little head another pat, then shyly stole a glance at Senga.

Of course, that tiny movement could not escape Senga's eyes.

After all, with the Uchiha Clan's excellent genes, coupled with his somewhat aloof temperament, he held tremendous appeal for these slightly precocious little girls. And those mysterious eyes of his carried a deadly allure amid their danger.

Ah! These damned genes, and this damned excellence! Senga remained as steady as ever on the surface, but inwardly, he shamelessly indulged in a moment of narcissism.

Bellemere followed silently behind them the entire time, her eyes fixed on Senga's back.

What was that power? Was it the power of a Devil Fruit? But she had seen Senga jump into the sea to catch fish. Weren't Devil Fruit Ability Users all helpless in water?

The many questions made the boy before her seem like a mystery in her eyes, one she desperately wanted to unravel.

After entering the village and reaching the fork where they would part ways, Bellemere seemed to make up her mind. She told Nojiko and Nami to go home first because she had something to handle. Though the two girls were somewhat puzzled, they obediently headed home.

After they left, only Bellemere and Senga remained at the intersection. Senga looked at Bellemere, knowing that she had something she wanted to ask him, and said,

"Bellemere, is something wrong?"

Bellemere took a deep breath and carefully said,

"Senga, this may be presumptuous, but I mean no harm. Can I ask who you really are? After all, someone with that kind of ability staying for ten years in a worthless little place like East Blue is really hard to understand, isn't it? And those eyes of yours aren't merely unusual-looking, are they? Of course, if this question makes you uncomfortable, you don't have to answer. Please don't take it to heart!"

Bellemere fired off a string of questions, her ten fingers intertwined as she nervously awaited Senga's response.

Senga looked deeply at her before smiling. He had always admired Bellemere, having watched the anime.

Although she was not particularly strong, the scene of her smiling as she faced death to protect Nami and Nojiko had moved him deeply. He knew she was a good person, so he had no negative feelings about her questions.

After thinking for a moment, Senga said solemnly,

"It's fine. You only need to know that I'm not a bad person. As for these eyes, you can understand them as my clan's innate talent. They're called the Rinnegan, the eyes of a Sage. That move from earlier was released through them, one of my abilities. As for my race, you could say that I come from the sage lineage—the Uchiha Clan."

Sage, Uchiha, Rinnegan, one of his abilities—Bellemere's mind shook violently upon hearing those words. She had never heard of the Uchiha Clan, but judging from Senga's display, it had to be an extraordinarily powerful clan.

Seeing Bellemere standing there in a daze without responding, Senga continued,

"Some things happened, and I lost part of my memories. But I still remember that I'm the last remaining member of my clan in this world. As for why I stayed on this island for so long... have you considered that when I first came to the village, I was only six years old? Where could I possibly have gone back then?"

"Uh, I suppose that's true." Bellemere scratched her head awkwardly. "Then what are you planning to do next? With that kind of ability, you probably won't stay here for the rest of your life, right?"

"Mm. I'm planning to join the Marines."

"Huh??"