One Piece: SSS-Rank Haki at Age Seventeen

Sabaody Archipelago, Grove 60 — Harbor

The Kuja Pirates' unmistakable serpent ship slowly docked at the harbor, its massive coated bubble shimmering with an air of mystery and authority beneath the island's refracted light.

Once the ship stabilized, the boarding ramp was lowered, and Boa Hancock personally escorted Luffy to the pier.

The chaotic scent of the harbor rushed toward them, while the distant clamor of the island reminded everyone that Sabaody remained as lively—and dangerous—as ever.

Yet a shadow of worry lingered across Hancock's breathtaking face.

"Luffy…"

She reached out with her slender pale hand and carefully straightened his collar, despite there not being a single wrinkle on it. Her movements were so gentle it was as though she were handling fragile treasure.

Her sapphire-blue eyes locked onto him as her voice lowered into rare seriousness.

"I've heard the Marines have been making aggressive moves throughout the first half of the Grand Line lately. Fleet Admiral Sakazuki's iron-fisted purge has thrown Paradise into panic…"

"It seems their determination to push into the New World is absolute."

"If you're landing here, then you must be careful."

"Relax, relax!"

Luffy flashed his trademark bright grin, completely lacking any sense of tension.

He even reached up and ruffled Hancock's smooth black hair as if comforting an anxious cat, mischief glinting in his eyes.

"They won't catch me! Did you forget? The photo on Marine Headquarters' wanted poster is the one from when I awakened!"

"Even if I stood right in front of them now, they wouldn't recognize me!"

Marigold couldn't help laughing from the side and joined the conversation in her deep voice.

"That's true! Elder Sister doesn't need to worry so much. Sometimes the Marines' intelligence division can be ridiculously stubborn."

"Using a photo that barely even looks like Straw Hat Luffy as the basis for a top-level bounty is practically helping him stay hidden."

Even so, Hancock's concern didn't fade completely.

She gently held Luffy's hand. The proud Pirate Empress who once looked down on the world now held nothing but tenderness in her eyes, her voice soft and almost fussy.

"Even so… Luffy, you still need to be careful."

"The island's weather changes often, so make sure to stay warm."

"And eat properly! You're not allowed to eat only meat and ignore vegetables… Also… no, at least once every two days, you must call me with a Den Den Mushi so I can see you and know you're safe…"

"Elder Sister!"

Sandersonia held her forehead helplessly as she watched Hancock completely unlike her usual self, endlessly fussing over him.

"You used to be the 'Pirate Empress' who despised all men!"

"And now look at you… Honestly, love really does turn people into worriers."

Hancock's cheeks reddened slightly, but she didn't refute the teasing. Her eyes remained firmly fixed on Luffy.

"Got it, Hancock."

Luffy smiled warmly and lightly squeezed her hand in return.

"I'll take care of myself. You just stay safe on Amazon Lily and wait for my news."

After saying that, he released her hand and turned toward the dock. At the same time, he raised an arm and waved toward the other side of the ship.

"Uta! Time to get off! We're heading onto the island!"

Near the railing, Uta turned gracefully at the sound of his voice.

She smiled brightly and leapt down like a nimble bird, landing lightly beside him.

Hancock stood silently at the bow of the ship, the sea breeze stirring her long black hair and the hem of her cheongsam as she watched Luffy and Uta disappear into the dazzling crowds of Sabaody Archipelago.

Not long afterward, shrill screams from women erupted throughout the island.

Immediately, her two sisters felt overwhelming fury radiating from Hancock's body.

"Woooow—this place is gorgeous! Let's go explore!!"

Uta clung tightly to Luffy's arm while staring excitedly at the rows of shops lining both sides of the street.

Her eyes sparkled like they were filled with shattered diamonds.

"We can't. We're already way too late. There's no time to wander around."

Luffy sounded helpless, but the moment he spoke, a crimson glint flashed through his usually cheerful eyes.

Invisible Observation Haki spread outward like ripples across water.

The entire island—its terrain, streets, crowds, and even the hidden presences concealed in the shadows—unfolded clearly within his mind like a massive map.

No one noticed anything unusual…

Except Rayleigh, who was leisurely polishing a glass inside a bar.

He slightly raised his eyes and smirked knowingly, understanding flashing through his gaze.

"Fine, fiiine!"

Uta puffed out her cheeks unhappily like a sulking hamster whose fantasy had just been shattered, but she still obediently quickened her pace.

"Hahaha!"

Luffy couldn't help laughing at her expression, his gaze softening even more as he looked at her.

Today, Uta wasn't wearing her extravagant performance outfit. Instead, she had on a simple pink T-shirt paired with white shorts that accentuated her graceful figure.

Sunlight fell across her fair skin, giving her an effortless youthful radiance.

Walking side by side through the crowd, the handsome young man with his easygoing smile and the lively, beautiful girl beside him drew constant glances from passersby.

Strangely, not a single person dared approach them—let alone provoke them.

The reason was simple.

The calm confidence radiating naturally from both of them clearly wasn't something ordinary people possessed.

Anyone capable of surviving in a lawless and chaotic place like this knew how to read people.

Why provoke someone who obviously came from power and status unless you were tired of living?

As for those Celestial Dragons who once relied on their authority to act tyrannically…

They were probably hiding deep inside the Holy Land Mariejois right now, too afraid to even step outside.

After all, Luffy's slaughter of Celestial Dragons three months ago had already become a nightmare permanently carved into their bones.

Shakky's Rip-Off Bar

Afternoon sunlight filtered through Sabaody's floating bubbles, casting shifting patterns across the wooden floor of the bar.

Behind the counter, the old clock ticked steadily.

It was already three hours past their agreed meeting time.

"Damn it… why isn't that idiot Luffy here yet?"

The voice wasn't loud, but it broke the bar's quiet atmosphere like a pebble tossed into still water.

Under the dim amber lights, Nami's silhouette was breathtaking.

Her slim waist could barely be grasped in one hand, while her orange curls cascaded down her back like silk.

She wore a short green top and blue shorts, her long crossed legs glowing softly beneath the warm light.

Shakky gently polished a glass while glancing toward Nami's beautiful profile.

Her fair cheeks were faintly flushed—whether from alcohol or irritation, no one could tell.

Her sharp nose and stubbornly pressed lips only emphasized her mood.

"That's the third glass already," Rayleigh muttered quietly to Shakky, raising an eyebrow.

Nami acted like she hadn't heard him.

Tilting her head back, she drained the amber liquor in one gulp before slamming the glass against the counter with a crisp sound.

"That rubber idiot…"

Her voice carried equal parts anger and concern.

"He said we'd meet at Sabaody today, but there's not even a trace of him!"

"He's definitely being charmed by that woman…"

She poured herself another drink, the liquid reflecting the emotions flickering in her eyes.

"The Empress of Amazon Lily… the world's most beautiful woman… Hah. Men!!"

She practically gritted out the last word, making the entire bar fall silent.

Without drawing attention, Rayleigh shifted slightly closer to Shakky and whispered quietly enough that only the two of them could hear.

"Youth really is wonderful."

Shakky replied with a knowing smile as she lit a cigarette, smoke curling upward.

"That kid Luffy probably has no idea someone's drinking herself miserable over him."

"What's even scarier," Rayleigh added while glancing toward the empty bottle beside Nami,

"is that she's drinking the thirty-year-aged liquor I hid behind the counter."

Nami suddenly turned around.

Her cheeks were flushed red, but her eyes remained remarkably clear—the kind of steady gaze only a navigator possessed, capable of staying oriented no matter how much alcohol she drank.

Her eyes swept over Rayleigh and Shakky.

Both instantly pretended to mind their own business.

Rayleigh couldn't help chuckling, though Nami's sharp glare immediately forced him to cough awkwardly to cover it up.

Raising his glass toward Shakky, he silently mouthed:

"Women are terrifying."

Shakky answered with a knowing look, the corner of her lips curling upward as if saying:

"Men are all hopeless."

"Nami, drinking too much will affect the trip, you know!"

A familiar voice suddenly came from the entrance.

The tavern door creaked open, and the final rays of sunset poured into the dim room, stretching a long golden trail across the floor.

Everyone instinctively looked toward the light.

Against the glow stood a tall, sturdy figure.

Luffy stood there wearing his iconic straw hat.

His shoulders had broadened, the childishness had faded from his face, and his features had become sharper and more mature.

That familiar grin remained on his lips—

but his eyes now carried newfound steadiness.

"Luffy…"

Nami's voice was barely more than a whisper, trembling with disbelief.

She stared at him blankly as her eyes instantly reddened.

The next second, like a bird finally returning home, she stumbled off the stool and threw herself directly into his open arms.

"I missed you so much…"

She buried her face in his chest, her muffled voice trembling with tears.

Luffy's hand firmly wrapped around her waist.

Chuckling softly, he lifted her entirely off the ground and spun her around once in the air.

Nami yelped in surprise, her long hair tracing a beautiful arc while the tavern lights shimmered in the moisture gathered at the corners of her eyes.

The moment her feet touched the ground again, her expression changed.

She took half a step back, narrowing her beautiful eyes—the same eyes capable of reading weather patterns now carefully studying every detail of Luffy's face.

"You're this late… where exactly were you fooling around?"

Her voice sounded sweet as honey.

Dangerously sweet.

Luffy scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"I ran into some stuff on the way…"

"Oh really?"

Nami stepped closer and poked his chest with a finger.

"So how was it? Spending time with the Empress of Amazon Lily, Boa Hancock—the world's greatest beauty. Must've been nice, huh?"

The entire tavern fell silent.

Behind the counter, Rayleigh raised an eyebrow while Shakky slowed her movements polishing the glass.

Luffy coughed awkwardly, the tips of his ears turning red.

"W-Well… you know… I didn't exactly have a choice! It was part of training…"

"Didn't have a choice?"

Nami snorted, though she still allowed him to pull her back into his arms.

"You're the best!"

Luffy lowered his head and gently rubbed his nose against her hair, breathing deeply in her familiar scent.

It smelled like sunlit oranges mixed with sea breeze and tangerine groves—

a scent he had missed countless times over the past three months.

Nami's pretty face reddened slightly, but she stubbornly tilted her chin upward.

"Don't think sweet talk will get you off the hook!"

Standing on tiptoe, her long eyelashes nearly brushed against his cheek.

"You stayed with that woman for so long and still say you were forced?"

As she spoke, her slender arms naturally wrapped around his neck.

Before he could answer, she closed her eyes and pressed her soft lips against his.

This was a kiss that had built up over three long months.

At first, it carried traces of resentment.

But gradually, it melted into lingering longing.

Luffy tightened his embrace, pulling her completely into his arms.

For a moment, time itself seemed to stop.

Only the ticking of the old clock behind the bar continued.

A long while later, their lips finally parted.

A thin crystal strand stretched briefly between them before breaking.

Nami's face was burning red as she panted softly against Luffy's chest, her graceful body pressed tightly against him as they felt each other's heartbeats—

his steady and powerful.

Hers fast and passionate.

The faint scent of alcohol mixed with citrus lingered around her as her warm breath brushed against his ear.

"What she has…"

Her voice was barely above a whisper, yet filled with undeniable possessiveness.

"I want too."

Luffy stared at the Nami in his arms in surprise.

Her face was so close.

Her skin glowed with a soft pink sheen like fine porcelain, while flames he had never seen before burned inside her clear eyes.

Her slender white neck curved elegantly, and the delicate waist in his hands trembled slightly.

She was so beautiful she felt unreal—

like the most enchanting mirage upon the sea.

Heat surged through Luffy's chest as his gaze deepened.

He nodded seriously.

"Okay!"

In the nearby corner, the three spectators wore entirely different expressions.

Uta rested her chin in her hands, eyes sparkling as a faint blush spread across her cheeks.

"So that's kissing…"

"I haven't done that yet."

Her voice was quiet, carrying a young girl's innocent longing and shyness.

Meanwhile, Rayleigh swirled his drink with a complicated expression.

"That's it? It got resolved that easily?"

"I was expecting a real show."

He smacked his lips, unsure whether he felt disappointed or relieved.

"Where's the chaos? Kids these days…"

Shakky simply smiled as she extinguished her cigarette, her warm gaze resting on the embracing pair.

"Little Monkey's getting more charming by the day."

On the counter, the unfinished liquor in Nami's glass still shimmered amber beneath the lights.

But now, she had already found something far more intoxicating than any alcohol.

Outside the window, massive bubbles slowly floated into the sky—

like the unfinished dreams drifting endlessly across the sea.

Transparent.

Beautiful.

Filled with limitless possibility.

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