Who Exactly Are You

"Brother Senga, are you a fairy?"

"No."

"Brother Senga, do you want to eat me?"

"That'd be criminal."

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

On the way back, Nami clung to Senga, chattering nonstop, while Nojiko shook her head helplessly, constantly tugging at Nami as she pressed herself against Senga's leg.

"When you're a bit older, and a little more ladylike like Makino, maybe I'll teach you." Senga flicked Nami's forehead with a crisp pop, then rubbed his fingers together, quite satisfied with the feel.

Nami covered her head with both hands, glaring at him angrily, pouting and grumbling, "Stingy! I bet you only like Makino! Boohoo, am I not your precious anymore??"

Nami's antics made Makino blush. She irritably smacked Nami's little head again, then stole a shy glance at Senga.

But of course, that little move didn't escape Senga's eyes.

After all, with the Uchiha Clan's fine genes, plus that slightly aloof aura that held a strong appeal for these slightly precocious little girls, and those mysterious eyes of his—dangerous yet fatally alluring.

Tch! Damn these genes, and damn this excellence! On the surface, Senga remained steady as an old dog, but inside, he was shamelessly patting himself on the back.

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

What was that power? Was it the power of a Devil Fruit? But she'd seen him jump into the sea to catch fish—weren't all Ability Users afraid of water?

Countless questions made the young man before her seem like a riddle, and she was eager to solve it.

When they entered the village and reached the fork where they'd part ways, Bellemere seemed to make up her mind. She told Nojiko and Nami to go home first, saying she had some things to handle. Though puzzled, the two obediently headed back.

After they left, only Bellemere and Senga remained at the crossroads. Senga looked at Bellemere, knowing she had questions to ask, and spoke first, "Sister Bellemere, is something the matter?"

Bellemere took a deep breath and said cautiously, "Senga, this might be a bit forward, but I mean no harm. Can I ask who you really are? After all, having that kind of power and staying for ten years in a place as insignificant as the East Blue—it's hard to understand, isn't it? And those eyes—they're not just unusual in appearance, are they? Of course, if this question makes you uncomfortable, you don't have to answer. Please don't take it to heart!"

Bellemere rattled off a string of questions, her ten fingers intertwined, nervously waiting for Senga's reply.

Senga gave her a long look, then broke into a smile. He had a lot of respect for Bellemere from watching the anime.

Though she wasn't strong, the scene where she smiled in the face of death to protect Nami and the others had moved him deeply. He knew she was a good person, so her questions didn't bother him.

After a moment's thought, Senga said in a low voice, "It's fine. Just know I'm not a bad person. As for these eyes, you can think of them as a talent of my clan. They're called the Rinnegan—the eyes of a sage. That move earlier was released through them, one of my abilities. As for my race, you could say I come from the Sage lineage, the Uchiha Clan."

Sage, Uchiha, Rinnegan, one of his abilities—hearing this, Bellemere's mind reeled. Though she'd never heard of the Uchiha Clan, from Senga's demeanor, it seemed to be an extremely powerful clan.

Seeing Bellemere frozen in place without a reaction, Senga continued, "Some things happened, and my memories are a bit fragmented, but I do remember that I'm the last member of this clan left in this world. As for why I stayed on this island so long... have you considered that I was only six when I arrived at the village? Where could I have gone back then?"

"Uh, I suppose that's true." Bellemere scratched her head awkwardly. "So what are your plans now? With that kind of power, you probably won't stay here forever, right?"

"Yeah, I'm planning to join the Marines."

"Huh??"