Devil Fruits

At the southern port docks of Origin Island, the salty sea breeze swept through the afternoon sunlight and over rows of neatly moored ships.

The fleet that had just completed its West Blue route-clearing mission had been docked for only half a day. Uchiha Kei was leading two squads of clansmen in a final, thorough sweep of the seized merchant ship Blue Sail—

Following Natsu's arrangements, the ship's excess cargo holds were to be removed and the vessel converted into an armed reconnaissance ship suited to Uchiha operations. Not a single nook or cranny of the hull could be overlooked.

Kei stepped over scattered planks in the cargo hold. His Three-Tomoe Sharingan turned slowly, its scarlet eyes precisely reflecting every structural detail within the hold.

He had led his team in searching this ship three times already, but only today, when they prepared to remove the load-bearing boards at the bottom of the vessel, did he finally notice something wrong—the thickness of one hidden layer beneath the hull differed from the ship's actual structure by a full two fingers, perfectly evading routine inspections.

"Everyone, stop." Kei raised a hand to halt the clansmen beside him. Bending down, he rapped his knuckles against the deck beneath his feet. The dull hollow sound immediately confirmed his suspicion. "There's a hidden compartment here. Pry it open."

Two clansmen immediately stepped forward. Their kunai slid precisely along the seams between the planks, cutting through the securing rivets. In moments, the heavy bottom board was lifted away completely.

There was no gold or silver in the hidden compartment, nor any spices. There was only a palm-sized, entirely black sealed metal box. Its lid was tightly locked with a special clasp, and its edges had been perfectly waterproofed. Even after being trapped in the damp belly of the ship for over a year, it showed not the slightest trace of rust.

Kei crouched down. The instant his fingertips touched the metal wall, he clearly sensed a strange energy within the box, one carrying a faint spark of life.

It was completely different from chakra, yet it possessed an inexplicable pull, as though it concealed some indescribable power.

He did not open it without authorization. Instead, he gestured for the clansmen to put the box away and ordered in a low voice, "Continue clearing the rest of the hold according to plan. Do not speak of this matter to anyone outside."

After giving his instructions, Kei carried the metal box and hurried through the dock defenses, heading straight for the council hall at the center of the island.

The ninja standing guard along the way saw his hurried manner, but merely bowed in greeting without asking a single question. Over the past year, Origin Island's rules had long since become ingrained in everyone's hearts—if something was not theirs to ask about, they kept their mouths shut.

Inside the council hall, Natsu, Fugaku, and Setsuna were studying a spread-out map of the West Blue, discussing the route for their next sea-clearing expedition.

Hearing the steady footsteps outside, Natsu looked up and saw Kei push open the door. He closed it behind him, his face carrying an unusual gravity.

"Young Master Natsu, Clan Head, Elder." Kei bowed, then strode to the table and placed the metal box firmly atop the sea chart. "While clearing the Blue Sail's cargo hold, we found this in a concealed compartment beneath the ship."

Natsu's gaze settled on the cold metal box. He lightly tapped the table with his fingertips, signaling for Kei to open it. Kei nodded, using a kunai to expertly flick open the clasp. With a soft click, the lid sprang open.

A strange, cloyingly sweet fruity fragrance instantly filled the entire council hall.

The box was lined with dark-red shockproof velvet. Resting quietly in its center was a deep-purple fruit.

Its peel was covered in bizarre spiral patterns, and its crooked shape resembled a malformed pineapple. Yet it carried an indescribable strangeness. Though it was their first time seeing it, it was impossible to forget at a glance.

Fugaku and Setsuna frowned at the same time.

Setsuna spoke first. His fingers rubbed the ninja tool pouch at his waist, his tone carrying a hint of confusion. "What is this? It doesn't look like an ordinary fruit from this world. And what exactly is this chaotic energy inside it?"

Natsu's gaze rested on the fruit. His pupils contracted slightly before returning to their usual calm.

Of course he recognized it.

A Devil Fruit, one of the most precious treasures on these seas.

Eating one granted unimaginable supernatural abilities, but the price was being rejected by the sea for the rest of one's life, becoming someone forever unable to swim.

He reached out and lifted the fruit from the box.

His fingertips touched its cool peel, and he could clearly feel the surging yet chaotic energy inside, like a monster sealed within its shell.

He had only heard of such things through intelligence reports before. He had never expected to stumble upon such an enormous windfall inside a merchant ship that had been sitting for over a year.

"This is a Devil Fruit." Natsu placed the fruit back in the box and looked up at the three of them. His tone was calm, but Fugaku, Setsuna, and Kei all froze for a moment.

"It is one of the greatest treasures on these seas. Eating it grants the corresponding supernatural ability. By ability type, they are divided into three categories: Logia, Zoan, and Paramecia. Logia are the rarest and strongest. They allow the eater's body to become an element, making them immune to the vast majority of physical attacks."

"Elemental transformation?" Fugaku's brow instantly rose. He understood all too well what those words meant.

Immunity to physical attacks would make one nearly invincible in the Ninja World. Unless someone could directly attack the spiritual essence, like Uchiha genjutsu, there would be no way to deal with them.

Natsu nodded and lightly tapped the metal box containing the fruit. A flash of understanding passed through his eyes.

He finally understood why the merchant ship's owner had been willing to spend the astronomical sum of ten million Beli to recover a ship whose total cargo was worth only three million.

So the truly valuable thing on this ship had never been the spices or silk. It had been this Devil Fruit hidden in the compartment.

"Seal this away for now. Put it inside the deepest barrier in the ninja tool vault." Natsu closed the lid, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Once we determine exactly what ability this fruit holds, we'll decide how to handle it."

West Blue, Laskamp Island.

The evening harbor was wrapped in an orange-red sunset. The salty sea breeze carried the smell of fish and ale, pouring through the open wooden doors of the Broken Anchor Tavern.

The tavern was boisterous. Pirates, merchants, and dockworkers crowded around long tables, noisily clinking cups. Obscenities and roaring laughter mixed together in the most common sight at any West Blue port.

The wooden doors were pushed open, and a cool sea breeze swept inside. The noisy tavern fell strangely silent for an instant.

The boy who entered wore a wide-brimmed cowboy hat, with the emblem of the Whitebeard Pirates hanging from both sides of its brim. A necklace of red beads circled his neck. His upper body was bare, with only a black coat draped over his shoulders, and a short dagger tucked at his waist. His entire body radiated a sunny yet scorching presence utterly out of place in this tavern.