Two-Tomoe Sharingan and a New Voyage

Across the vast, boundless azure sea, the sea breeze billowed the brand-new sails.

The Going Merry cut through the waves like a nimble white ram, sailing steadily onward.

Inside the cabin, Victor lay on a comfortable bed, his consciousness immersed as he skillfully navigated the system shop interface.

Looking at the balance displayed in the lower-right corner, Victor's lips curled slightly.

"2,400 Ninja Way Points... That's a fortune."

After the series of fierce battles in Syrup Village, he was finally well-off again. It was time for another round of spending.

His gaze swept past the dazzling array of ninjutsu.

[Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique] B-rank ninjutsu. Exchange price: 1,200 Ninja Way Points.

[Chidori] A-rank ninjutsu. Exchange price: 2,000 Ninja Way Points.

[Water Release: Water Prison Technique] C-rank ninjutsu. Exchange price: 600 Ninja Way Points.

His eyes finally settled on the option he had long been yearning for.

"Exchange."

[Ding! 2,000 Ninja Way Points consumed. Sharingan advancement exchanged: Two-Tomoe.]

This enhancement process was not as easy and relaxing as purchasing ninjutsu had been before.

As the system's light flickered, a searing energy, hot enough to nearly sting, surged into his eyes.

"Ghk..."

Victor covered his eyes and let out a low groan of pain, his body curling slightly atop the bed.

It felt as though someone were carving into his nerves with a red-hot branding iron.

Fortunately, the excruciating pain came and went quickly.

A moment later, the pain receded like the tide, replaced by an unprecedented sense of clarity and power.

Victor slowly lowered his hand and opened his eyes.

His originally black pupils instantly turned scarlet, and within those blood-red irises—

Two black tomoe connected end to end, rotating slowly as they emitted an eerie glow that made one's heart tremble.

The Two-Tomoe Sharingan had awakened!

This meant that the abilities of his Eye of Insight and Eye of Hypnosis would undergo a qualitative leap.

"There are still plenty of points left..."

In high spirits, Victor carefully browsed the shop again.

In the end, he spent 400 points to exchange for [Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique].

After all, Phoenix Sage Fire was an area-of-effect ninjutsu whose trajectory could be controlled, making it more effective for clearing out fodder.

Just as Victor was still planning out his future ninjutsu path, a rapid knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.

"Knock knock knock!!"

"Hey! Victor! Stop sleeping already! How can you still be asleep at a time like this?!"

It was Nami's voice. She sounded like she had something urgent to deal with and was pounding madly on the door.

Victor sighed helplessly, the red glow in his eyes fading as he opened the door with a dark expression.

"What is it, Navigator? Disturbing someone's dreams is a serious crime."

"Cut the nonsense! Come with me!"

Without another word, Nami grabbed his arm and forcibly dragged him onto the spacious deck.

The moment he stepped out, an atmosphere of utter chaos hit him head-on.

Luffy was sprawled on the deck, eagerly scribbling and drawing on a piece of black cloth, his face covered in paint.

Zoro was lying in a corner of the deck, hugging his swords as he slept like the dead.

Meanwhile, Usopp stood at the bow, waving a wooden sword as he loudly commanded a "great war" that only he could see.

"Attention, everyone! Hard to port! Engage the Sea King! I am the great Captain Usopp!!"

Seeing the helpless look Nami gave him, Victor finally understood why she had dragged him out here—

Not one of these guys was reliable.

"Here, look at this."

Nami handed him a yellowed nautical chart and pointed at a lone island on it, her eyes gleaming.

"According to this map, there's a legendary 'treasure island' nearby! They say it holds countless treasures!"

"A treasure island?"

Victor glanced at the map and immediately understood.

This was probably Rare Beast Island from the original story, the island where that chest guy, Gaimon, lived.

Thinking of the oddly shaped rare beasts from the original story, such as the pig-lion hybrids,

Victor rubbed his chin, a glint of interest flashing through his eyes.

"If it isn't all treasure, then those rare beasts... I wonder what they taste like."

If he could tame one, or catch a few to make Paimon, that would not be a bad choice either.

"Ah..."

Just as Victor was about to respond to Nami's dreams of getting rich, Luffy suddenly burst out laughing and raised his masterpiece.

"Hey! Hey! Everyone, look!"

With a proud look on his face, Luffy held the messily painted black cloth over his head.

"Now that Usopp has joined us, there are five of us! It's time we had our own pirate flag! This is our symbol!"

Everyone stared closely at it.

At the top of the black cloth was a Straw Hat-wearing... twisted creature?

The skull was crooked, its eye sockets uneven. It looked both like a melting candle and the tormented soul of someone screaming.

"Wow..."

Victor's mouth twitched, then he commented with a straight face:

"Luffy, you actually have quite a talent for art."

The picture reminded him of a famous painting from his previous life—The Scream.

That distorted sense of despair had been captured perfectly.

"Shishishi! Right?! It's great, isn't it?!" Luffy laughed even more happily at Victor's praise.

"Huh?"

Nami gave Victor a strange look, then looked at the flag and could not help complaining:

"Whether it's the design or the drawing itself, this can only be called horrifying! If we fly that flag, people will think we're a ghost ship!"

Zoro, who had been woken up by the noise, glanced at it and sighed.

"A pirate flag is a symbol of death and fear. People will laugh themselves to death when they see ours. Luffy, spare that poor piece of cloth."

"Heh heh, looks like it's time for me to step in."

Seeing this, Usopp proudly raised a finger, his face full of a professional's confidence.

"How could you handle something like this without consulting me? I've studied painting on walls for a full fifty years!

"In this field, no one on this sea can surpass me!"

"That's amazing! Fifty years!!" Luffy's eyes instantly lit up.

"Are you an idiot, Luffy?!"

Nami finally snapped and punched him on the head. "He's only in his teens! Where would he get fifty years?!"

"Heh heh, you dare question Captain Usopp? Then let me show you what I can do!"

Ignoring Nami's complaint, Usopp snatched the brush and paint from Luffy's hands, then lay on the ground and rapidly got to work.

"Swish swish swish!"

It had to be said, Usopp really did have some talent for art.

Before long, the painting was finished.

Luffy and Zoro curiously picked up the flag to display it.

Everyone fell silent for a moment.

The flag showed a skull with a long nose and a bandana, holding a slingshot in its hand.

"That's you, isn't it..." Zoro deadpanned.

Victor folded his arms and said with a smile, "Usopp, if you were drawing me, I might consider voting in favor of it for how handsome it is."

"Bastard!"

Luffy glared hard at Usopp, then unceremoniously punched him in the head.

"Bam!"

"Are you an idiot?! Who told you to draw your own pirate flag?! I'm the captain!"

Usopp, having been hit, clutched the huge bump on his head and grumbled under his breath, but he obediently picked up the brush again.

This time, he did not fool around.

Soon, a smoothly lined and perfectly composed design appeared before them: a skull wearing a Straw Hat, with crossed bones behind it.

Though simple, it carried a vibrant spirit of adventure.

Victor nodded, a trace of nostalgia in his eyes.

This was the classic Straw Hat flag from his previous life.

"Not bad." Nami and Zoro nodded in approval as well.

"Yosh!!"

Looking at the flag, Luffy burst into laughter and excitedly pointed toward the mast outside.

"Usopp! Go paint this flag on our main sail too!"

"Yeah! Leave it to me!"

Before long, the huge main sail was raised.

Seeing the Straw Hat skull emblem fluttering in the wind, Luffy excitedly hugged Usopp.

"That's amazing, Usopp! Did you really spend fifty years painting?!"

"I told you, I'm a genius artist! Hahahaha!" Usopp stood with his hands on his hips, utterly pleased with himself.

However, just then—

The clear sky suddenly darkened before their eyes. Dark clouds churned overhead, and an eerie mist spread across the sea.

The light dimmed, and the outline of a pitch-black island appeared and disappeared in the waters ahead, giving off an oppressive feeling.

Watching the sudden change in weather, Nami suddenly slapped her forehead, her expression changing.

"Ah, I almost forgot the important part!"

"That's the legendary treasure island. They say... anyone who approaches it will anger the gods and suffer divine punishment!"

"A-Anger the gods?!"

Usopp, who had been basking in pride just moments ago, instantly turned pale. His body stiffened, and his teeth began to chatter.

"G-Gods... those things are really terrifying!"

However—

Luffy pressed down on his Straw Hat, the corners of his mouth stretching to his ears as stars filled his expectant eyes.

"Gods? Treasure? Rare beasts?"

He suddenly raised his fist and shouted:

"Yosh!! Set sail for the treasure island!"

"I told you it'll offend the gods!! You idiot, can't you understand human language?!"

Usopp's despairing roar echoed across the gloomy sea.