Guests from the Sea

Twilight was hazy, and the afterglow of the setting sun spilled across the sea as though it had covered it in a layer of golden sand. Everything along the village shore seemed dreamlike.

In a forest not far from the sea, four boys and girls sat in a circle, staring intently at a ball of purple light, completely focused without the slightest distraction.

"Wherever the leaves dance, fire shall burn. The shadow of fire will shine upon the village and make new leaves sprout. When one wishes to protect the people they cherish... that is when a ninja's true strength will reveal itself..."

Those words came from within the purple ball of light.

"Why do these ninjas always have to attack head-on?!" the green-haired boy sitting nearby complained.

"Zoro, stop making noise and watch properly, okay?" the red-haired girl said disdainfully.

That's right, the four of them were Locke, Kuina, Zoro, and Carmen. What they were watching was an anime called Naruto, conjured by Locke using his Devil Fruit ability.

As for why such a strange scene had come about, it went back to half a month ago. That day, while developing his ability, Locke had finally managed to make his illusions produce sound. He had immediately run off to show off to Carmen and the others, conjuring a segment from Naruto for them on the spot. Yet they had not been surprised by his Devil Fruit ability at all. Instead, they had been drawn in by the anime's story, and before long, they had fallen completely in love with it.

At first, only Carmen and Zoro watched it. Later, Kuina somehow got wind of it and came over to join their viewing group.

So after dinner every evening, they came here and had Locke use his ability to conjure Naruto for them.

Locke had no complaints about it. It made them happy, and it also benefited the development of his Devil Fruit ability. Thus, this little group that gathered here every night to watch the show continued on.

They had already reached the part where they went looking for Tsunade to become Hokage.

Locke stopped the two from bickering, glanced at the sky, and put away the illusion.

"Alright, that's enough for today!"

"What? We barely watched anything! I want to keep watching!" Carmen immediately protested when she saw Locke dismiss the illusion.

"Look, it's already dark. We should head back," Locke said helplessly, pointing at the pitch-black sky as Carmen acted cute toward him.

"Oh... alright." Hearing the firmness in Locke's voice, and seeing that it truly was late, Carmen could only reluctantly give up on watching more.

While Locke comforted Carmen over not having any more episodes to watch, Zoro had already issued his 1,999th challenge to Kuina.

After hearing Zoro state the number of his challenges, Locke fell into thought. He remembered that when he had watched One Piece, Kuina's death seemed to have happened after Zoro had challenged her for the 2,001st time.

That time was drawing near. Locke wanted to change the ending from the anime. Whenever he watched One Piece and saw Kuina's passing, he always felt that fate was cruel and heaven unjust.

Besides, even if it were not to make up for the regrets he had felt while watching the anime, he had now come to regard them as his friends. Knowing what would happen in the future, there was no way he could remain indifferent and do nothing.

While Locke was lost in those thoughts, Zoro and Kuina had already decided the victor. As always, Kuina had come out on top.

"Alright, let's head back!" Locke said as he watched the two finish their match.

"Hmph! I'll definitely defeat you!" Zoro declared with his usual stubborn pride.

Kuina still said nothing. She merely put away her bamboo sword and headed toward the dojo.

At that moment, a shadow slowly emerged on the pitch-black sea. Only as it gradually approached Shimotsuki Village's harbor did it become clear that it was a merchant ship. If Locke had seen it, he would have recognized it at once—it was the same merchant ship that had brought them here.

Once the ship docked, three figures flashed onto the pier. Two of them were still concealed beneath black windbreakers, but the third was not. The remaining person looked rather strange. She wore a short skirt and black stockings, which was not unusual by itself. The strangest thing was her head, which was actually as large as her body.

The person standing at the front was also carrying a child covered in wounds.

"You're here!" As soon as the three appeared, a black figure emerged from the village and came before them.

Only when the figure drew closer did it become clear that he was Koushirou, the man in charge of Shimotsuki Village's dojo.

"Is everything ready?" Dragon asked directly upon seeing Koushirou.

"Follow me!" Koushirou said, then led them into the village.

"Just take Kuma to get the items. I need to take this child to the village doctor first."

Hearing that, Koushirou turned back to look at the child in Dragon's arms, then looked at Dragon. He said nothing, merely nodded, and continued into the village.

At this time, Locke and the other three were on their way back to the dojo. Zoro and Carmen walked ahead, while Locke and Kuina lagged several steps behind.

"Locke, do you think girls really can't become the world's greatest swordsman?" Kuina suddenly asked after walking in silence for a while.

"Why would you say that?"

"Father said that because of their bodies, girls could never surpass men!"

"How could that be? There are plenty of powerful women in the world!"

"For example, one of the current Four Emperors in the New World is a woman."

After hearing him, Kuina fell silent.

Locke continued, "As for women perhaps not growing stronger as quickly as men during adolescence, that may indeed be true. But none of that is something that can't be changed!"

Hearing that, Kuina fixed her eyes on Locke. "What method?"

"This." As he spoke, Locke held out his hand, and a burst of purple light appeared in his palm.

"You mean Devil Fruits?"

Locke nodded and continued, "There are all kinds of Devil Fruits in this world, divided into three types: Logia Fruits that allow one to become an element, Zoan Fruits that allow one to transform into animals, and Paramecia Fruits with all sorts of strange abilities."

"These Fruits can strengthen one's physique and power to varying degrees. Zoan Fruits offer the greatest enhancement, and among Paramecia Fruits, I know of one that can turn men into women and women into men."

After Locke finished speaking, Kuina fell into deep thought.