One Piece: SSS-Rank Haki at Age Seventeen

The aftermath of destruction finally began to settle.

From the center of the final battlefield, a massive abyss-like trench and countless radiating cracks stretched all the way to the island's edge, resembling grotesque scars carved into the earth itself.

At the center of the battlefield, on the charred and smoking ground, the strongest fighters of the war lay sprawled in exhaustion.

Silvers Rayleigh lay flat on his back, silver hair stained with dust and ash, his chest rising and falling heavily with every labored breath.

The legendary sword beside him was stabbed diagonally into the ground, its blade dim and lifeless, as though all its brilliance had been spent.

Nearby, Yamato lay exhausted as well, her hybrid form long since undone. Hassaikai had slipped from her grasp and landed somewhere in the distance.

One arm rested across her forehead to block the glaring sunlight, yet a relieved and exhilarated grin still stretched across her face.

Sanji lay on his side, his suit nearly torn apart, exposing skin covered in countless fine wounds beneath.

Eyes still closed, he muttered under his breath:

"Damn it… this 'main course'… nearly killed me…"

But perhaps the most miserable-looking of them all was Law.

He was spread flat on the ground in the shape of a starfish, Kikoku tossed carelessly nearby, unable to even lift a finger anymore.

Staring blankly at the chaotic sky above, his mind had gone completely empty.

Even thinking felt exhausting.

To completely eradicate Tot Musica, every single one of them had pushed themselves beyond their limits.

They had emptied every trump card.

Burned through every reserve.

"Hah… hah… Emperor-level monsters…"

Law gasped weakly between breaths.

"They're… insanely hard to kill…"

Hard to kill?

That was putting it lightly.

Tot Musica's bizarre nature—existing through music and obsession while possessing near-immortal regeneration—made it far more troublesome than ordinary Emperors of the Sea.

It had no true physical weak point.

Its regeneration bordered on absurd.

And it possessed terrifying powers capable of corrupting souls and manipulating the laws of an entire world.

Without exaggeration—

The forces gathered here today…

The legend of the old era, Rayleigh.

Yamato and Sanji, both standing at near-Admiral level.

Law, who had undergone complete transformation and reached Commander-level power.

And beyond another dimension—

The decisive force known as the Sun God, Nika Luffy.

The sheer destructive might and value of this lineup rivaled the full elite forces of two Yonko crews combined.

This had been a luxurious grand hunt capable of shaking the balance of the New World itself.

And their prey…

Was a conceptual Demon King capable of destroying civilization.

Now, the dust had settled.

The Demon King had vanished.

What remained was only the heavy breathing of survivors, the devastated earth, and the clear realization engraved into everyone's hearts—

They had just accomplished something truly earth-shattering.

.........

At the same time—

Far from the scorched center of the battlefield, beside the remnants of a ruined stage that had somehow survived—

Uta sat quietly.

The glamorous idol outfit she once wore had already been ruined during the battle. Now she was wrapped only in a slightly oversized dark coat, its hem draping over the charred floor.

Her smooth, fair legs dangled idly from the edge of the stage, swaying unconsciously in the lingering breeze.

But her attention wasn't on the devastated world around her at all.

Those beautiful amethyst eyes remained fixed—almost greedily—upon the person resting in her lap.

Luffy was sleeping soundly there.

His iconic straw hat sat nearby.

The blazing white hair from before had already returned to its familiar black.

Traces of dust and dirt still clung to his face, while his sleeping expression carried an almost childish innocence completely out of place amidst the apocalyptic surroundings.

Uta gently brushed aside a stray lock of hair from his forehead.

The warmth beneath her fingertips felt unbelievably real.

And strangely dreamlike.

She had never imagined—

That the little fool who once followed behind her and Shanks all day, shouting about adventures and stubbornly charging ahead no matter what…

Would grow into someone like this.

Strong enough to shatter worlds.

So dazzling he resembled a god descended upon the earth.

Memories flooded uncontrollably through her mind.

Clear as yesterday.

Back then, in Foosha Village, beneath the warm afternoon sun—

The younger Uta had hidden behind Shanks while curiously peeking at the boy who suddenly rushed out and spread his arms protectively in front of the Red Hair Pirates.

His childish face was still immature.

Yet his eyes were fierce like a cub protecting its territory.

"Are you pirates?"

The boy's voice had sounded clear, trying very hard to appear intimidating.

After receiving confirmation, he didn't back down in fear.

Instead, he puffed out his tiny chest and shouted with all his might:

"If you're pirates, then get out of here!"

"If you try anything weird, I won't let you off!"

Even though he had obviously been nervous to death, he still insisted on acting like the "town sheriff" protecting everyone…

"Pfft—"

The memory made Uta burst into soft laughter.

The clear ringing sound instantly swept away the lingering heaviness and smoke in the air.

Lowering her head, she leaned closer to Luffy's sleeping face.

Her amethyst eyes overflowed with nostalgia, emotion, and endless tenderness.

"That little 'town sheriff' who kept yelling about driving pirates away…"

Her warm breath lightly brushed against his cheek as she whispered softly.

"Who would've thought…"

"You'd become an Emperor ruling the seas someday?"

"Seriously…"

The smile on her lips softened further, the unfinished words dissolving into a near-silent sigh beneath the peaceful sunlight after disaster.

"You're way too interesting."

"What're you laughing about? You look really happy."

A teasing voice suddenly came from below her.

Startled, Uta hurriedly lowered her head—

Only to meet a pair of eyes that had unknowingly opened long ago.

His black eyes shimmered faintly like starlight reflected across the ocean at night.

At the moment, they watched her with quiet amusement.

The clean scent lingering around him mixed gently with the faint fragrance in her hair, drifting naturally between their breaths.

Yet Luffy's expression remained completely calm.

To him, this kind of closeness seemed entirely ordinary.

After all, there had always been many extraordinary women around him.

He had long since developed a kind of "resistance" to situations like this.

"Ah?! L-Luffy, when did you wake up?!"

Uta panicked slightly.

The red-and-white hair accessories atop her head, shaped like rabbit ears, trembled lightly as though reacting to her emotions.

A blush rapidly spread across her cheeks all the way to her ears, like the faint colors of sunset clouds.

"Right when you were secretly laughing at me."

Luffy lazily rolled his eyes at her.

But there wasn't the slightest trace of annoyance in his tone.

Only the familiar teasing comfort between old friends.

His expression practically said:

I noticed all your little movements ages ago.

"Come to think of it, there's something I still haven't told you."

Luffy's voice suddenly sounded beside her ear.

Uta felt the weight on her lap disappear.

The next second, warm breath brushed against the back of her neck as his arms loosely wrapped around her from behind, his chin resting lightly atop her head.

The movement felt as natural as ocean currents surrounding an island.

His tone remained casual, but there was an unusual sincerity beneath it.

"That old man already 'sold' you to me."

"From now on, you're one of my crew."

"…What?!"

Uta froze completely.

The words crashed into her mind like a stone dropped into a calm lake, leaving her momentarily blank.

She had never imagined such a possibility.

The shock even overwhelmed her awareness of how close they currently were.

Normally, men and women should keep some distance.

But this was Luffy.

His closeness had always felt like sunlight warming her skin.

Impossible to truly reject.

"B-But…"

She finally found her voice again.

"Don't you already have a musician on your crew?"

Surely he wasn't planning to kick Brook off the ship, right?!

"Well, who says a pirate crew can only have one musician?"

Luffy replied matter-of-factly as his arms tightened around her slightly.

"Brook plays piano, and you sing. There's no conflict at all."

His tone carried that familiar stubborn certainty, as though he were simply stating obvious truths like the ocean being salty or the sky being blue.

"But…"

Uta's voice softened.

"I'm the musician of the Red Hair Pirates."

A trace of loneliness lingered within the sentence, like the final trembling note of a song.

"But Shanks already left you here."

Luffy's response was direct and steady.

Not forceful.

Yet completely unwavering.

Like a gentle anchor sinking firmly into her wavering heart.

Uta fell silent.

Yeah.

She was no longer the musician of the Red Hair Pirates.

Those endless years of waiting had slowly washed away her passion like tides eroding a shoreline, leaving behind only silence.

If Luffy hadn't burst back into her cooling world like the sun—

Perhaps obsession would've truly taken root.

Perhaps it might've even become hatred toward Shanks someday.

Maybe…

It really was time for her to take that step forward.

Slowly, she raised her head.

Her amethyst eyes met Luffy's gaze.

Those eyes that always reflected the sea and adventure had now shed all traces of playfulness.

Calm.

Deep.

Like the ocean at midnight reflecting her uncertain figure.

"Uta."

"Join us."

His voice wasn't loud.

Yet it settled firmly within her heart like an anchor.

"Your songs, your smile, and the future you want…"

"From now on, we'll protect all of it together."

"Pfft—"

Uta suddenly burst into laughter.

Her smile bloomed like starlight, instantly brightening her entire face.

Even the air around them seemed lighter.

"Luffy, when you act serious…"

"You're actually super weird!"

She blinked mischievously.

"I can agree to it. But—"

She deliberately dragged out the final word as her purple eyes curved into crescents.

"If we ever run into Shanks someday…"

"You have to help me beat him up properly!"

"Of course!"

Luffy puffed out his chest immediately.

"I'll definitely beat him up for you! Want me to cripple him first so you can punch him yourself afterward?"

"Th-That seems a little too much…"

Uta pursed her lips, though temptation briefly flashed through her eyes.

But she quickly shook her head.

—What kind of daughter beats up her father like that? Even an adoptive one shouldn't be treated that way!!!

"Alright…"

Luffy pouted in disappointment, as though he'd missed out on a great show.

But the next moment, his bright grin returned.

Warm and radiant like the rising sun.

"Then—"

He extended his hand toward her, eyes sparkling brightly.

"Welcome aboard, Uta!"

"Mhm."

She gently took his hand.

Warmth spread reassuringly through her palm.

"Please take care of me from now on…"

"My dear Captain Luffy."

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