Preparations Before Departure

Senga returned home, first reporting his safety to Granny Lisa, then handed over the eighty million Berries he had stored in his room to her.

The money was bounty he'd earned over the years by taking out small pirate crews while out at sea. Since there weren't any decent pirate groups nearby, it had taken him this long to scrape together that amount. Still, for a woman over seventy, it was more than enough to live out her remaining years in comfort.

Granny Lisa stared at the fortune in shock and refused to take it.

Senga quickly explained, "Don't worry, I swear this money's all legit. I'm planning to join the Marines, and I can't rest easy leaving you home alone. Take it and use it."

Only then did Granny Lisa relax. She knew Senga was a good kid—cold on the outside, warm inside. He'd lived honestly all these years and never lied to her. She put the money away in a chest behind her.

Turning to look at the boy she'd raised for ten years, Granny Lisa, who had no children of her own, already saw Senga as her own grandson. Now that he was leaving, her heart was full of reluctance.

But she also knew young people needed to go out and make their way—especially Senga. He was so different from others. She reached up and patted his waist, showing a kind smile, and said, "Go on, good child. Granny believes you'll make a name for yourself. Don't worry about me—the villagers are all good people. With them around, nothing will happen to me. Go out there and chase your dreams!"

Senga felt a pang of sadness too. He stepped forward and hugged her. "Yeah. I won't let you down. Before long, I'll make this sea know my name. And I'll come back to visit you often."

After saying goodbye to Granny Lisa, Senga packed a few things and went to visit Bellemere's family. Bellemere, Nami, and Nojiko had all grown close to him over the years.

Arriving at Bellemere's door, Senga knocked. A moment later, a little blue head poked out—Nojiko.

Seeing it was Senga, Nojiko lit up. But when she noticed the small bundle of luggage in his hand, she seemed to realize something. Her expression dimmed, but she still put on her brightest smile and called out crisply, "Brother Senga!"

Senga smiled and ruffled her hair, returning the greeting before explaining why he'd come.

Though she'd already sensed it, hearing the news for real made Nojiko's eyes redden. She forced a smile. "Then, Brother Senga, let me go tell Bellemere and the others. We'll see you off."

"No need. I'm about to leave. Just go back and let them know—I won't come inside..."

Suddenly—

"How can that be? You've lived in this village for ten years. You can't just slip away like that!"

Bellemere walked out of the house with Nami, pretending to be angry. "Come on! We're all seeing you off!"

Nojiko turned to look at Senga with hopeful eyes.

"Troublesome bonds, huh..." Senga's words sounded annoyed, but the corners of his mouth couldn't help lifting.

"Hmph! You tsundere!" Nami had already seen through everything with her insight, surpassing even the Rinnegan.

Senga shot her a glare, then walked over and picked up Nojiko, whose eyes were red and mood low.

"Eh, eh, Brother Senga..." Nojiko was clearly embarrassed and squirmed a little.

"What's wrong? I'm leaving—can't I get a hug?" Senga said with a straight face.

"O-of course you can." Nojiko immediately went still, though her clenched little fists gave away her nervousness.

"Hmph! Biased man!" Of course, Nami the little chatterbox couldn't miss this chance to tease.

Senga ignored her this time. He was ready to go. "Let's move."

At the shore, Senga turned to the group. "Alright, this is far enough. Thank you all. Let's say goodbye here."

"Here?" Bellemere looked around at the empty surroundings, eyeing Senga suspiciously.

"Yeah, right here." Then, before their disbelieving eyes, Senga's body floated up into the air.

"So... are you even human?" Bellemere took a deep breath and asked steadily. Beside her, Nami and Nojiko nodded in agreement.

Senga didn't answer that. After all, his body was already evolving toward the Otsutsuki Clan—saying he wasn't human anymore wasn't far off.

Thinking for a moment, he pulled a strangely shaped kunai from his pocket and handed it to Nojiko. "If anything dangerous happens in the village while I'm gone, hold this and call my name in your heart. Got it?"

Nojiko carefully put the kunai away and nodded seriously to show she remembered.

Senga smiled and ruffled her hair. The kunai was naturally the Fourth Hokage's Flying Thunder God Kunai. With his vast Chakra and Rinnegan, no matter how far away he was, he could sense the signal and instantly appear near it.

He'd left a similar kunai with Granny Lisa, but he'd made a second preparation just in case—after all, the Fish-Man Pirates were still a threat a few years down the line.

Reassured, Senga's body rose higher and higher.

"Well then, goodbye, everyone. Nojiko, Nami—make sure you eat well. Don't still be little runts the next time we meet."

"Mm-hmm, I'll remember! Brother Senga, you have to come back!" Nojiko's face was streaked with tears as she shouted up at him.

"Hmph! I'm not listening to you! Just go! Not like you'd care what I turn into anyway! Biased jerk Senga!" Nami wiped her eyes on the sly, stubbornly sticking out her chin.

"Go for it, Senga! I'm looking forward to the day you become a Marine Admiral—no, Fleet Admiral!" Bellemere shouted at the sky.

Taking one last look at the people below and Cocoyasi Village, Senga's gaze hardened. Then, with a burst of Repulsion Force, he vanished from their sight in an instant.

"Marines, here I come!"