Chapter 276 : Training [2]

For months, Yuta and Maki trained hard aboard the Moby Dick. Day and night, they pushed their limits. Under the guidance of the Whitebeard Pirates, they learned how to sense their enemies using Observation Haki and strengthen their bodies with Armament Haki.

They were still amateurs at best. Even someone like Luffy took two whole years to completely master Haki, let alone the less than a full year both Yuta and Maki got to train.

Still, Maki was way better at Haki than Yuta. While Yuta's Haki was still faulty in many ways, Maki at least had complete control over hers.

The captains were impressed by how fast they grew stronger. Even Marco, who had seen many warriors in his time, admitted that the two were fast learners. Though both Yuta and Maki could tell that he was bullshitting, the reason being Ace, who trained with them.

That man was a complete monster, definitely the brother of that Straw Hat—both were monsters. Once he started training, his growth was exponential.

Maki had become a force of her own. With no cursed energy to hold her back, she relied only on her physical strength and Haki. She was faster, sharper, and tougher than ever before.

Yuta, on the other hand—his power never lay in Haki in the first place. No one could look down on him, because even after being the only person there with the slowest progress in Haki, everyone knew that he was the man who contended with all three Admirals at the same time. If it came to it, they knew that maybe only Whitebeard alone could fight with him on equal footing.

And that was all without taking into account the shock ability training Yuta was undertaking with Whitebeard. He was a monster, Haki or not. And maybe Maki hadn't seen Yuta in Marineford, but she had seen him fighting Sukuna, and that was enough to tell that Yuta Hiro was a monster disguised as a little puppy—the way he acted and looked.

Finally, the time came. Yuta was ready to move out, ready to follow the plot once more—that, at least, was his only way to go back home.

The only time he didn't follow the plot was back in Alabasta when he didn't wish to go along with the Straw Hats. However, if he had known that not going with them would completely whack up his world-hopping to the point that he no longer knew which world he was going to get next, he would have followed the main story like a lost puppy.

It didn't matter whether he brought changes—that was fine—but not participating was where things got bad. So he'd participate this time. Who knows, maybe, perhaps this time around he'd go back to his world. He also had to find a way to send Maki back. Though by her mood and how she talked, she didn't wish to go back anytime soon.

"It's time," Yuta said.

Maki nodded beside him. "Let's go."

Whitebeard stood with his arms crossed, towering over everyone. He let out a loud grunt. "You still here... get lost already, brat."

Yuta gave him a small smile. "Yeah yeah, we'll get out of your sight soon. We've trained enough. It's time we had our own adventure. Thanks for the training, by the way."

"Tch. Stubborn brat," Whitebeard muttered, though a grin spread across his face.

Whitebeard had hinted at Yuta joining the Whitebeard Pirates many times, and Yuta had to say that he was getting a little bit convinced.

For almost a year, he had seen how this pirate crew functioned, and perhaps, besides two other pirate crews currently sailing the sea, this one was the most friendly and felt like home.

Lots of brothers and friends—they were loud and sometimes really annoying, but after almost a year here, he started to like them.

So Yuta decided to hold on to his decision of whether to join the pirate crew here or not.

There was also the fact that he might not stay in this world for long. Not to mention, to go back, he might even have to follow the Straw Hats, so there was that.

If not for this reason, he might have already joined.

They weren't leaving alone. Ace stood beside them, backpack ready, a determined look on his face. He had promised long ago to return to Wano, and now was the time. He also had to meet with his brother.

Knowing that Luffy would soon enter into the New World, he was planning to meet his brother before going to Wano.

"I've got something I need to finish," Ace said. "And I'm not going to let anyone stop me this time."

Whitebeard frowned. "Don't make any trouble in that brat Kaido's territory."

"Yeah," Ace replied. "I'll be mindful of my actions."

Whitebeard looked at his two most troublesome guests and sighed. "Fine. Go. But don't get killed."

Marco stepped up and handed them some supplies. "If you ever need help, you know where to find us."

"Thanks, Marco," Yuta said.

As they climbed into a small ship that had been prepared for them, the Whitebeard Pirates stood on the deck, waving goodbye. Yuta looked back one last time at the crew that had become like family. They had given him a place to train, to heal, and to prepare for what came next.

After almost a year here, this place really felt like home to him. It's rare for him nowadays to stay in one place for long, so he had to say that he liked staying in one place for more than a month.

"Where to?" Maki asked once they were out at sea. While Yuta didn't give her the One Piece manga—it wasn't wise to read it in front of others—he did explain as much as he could to Maki.

Not to mention, he'd rather not show his other abilities to her. She already knew a little too much for comfort.

Not much intel about the post-time skip, but that was because he himself had sparse intel about that.

"I intend to go to Wano, and Ace has business there as well. However, we'll follow him for the time being—we're not directly going there."

Maki raised an eyebrow. "You really think this story stuff is the key to going back?" she asked, now wondering whether, for Yuta, even her own world was nothing but a story like this One Piece world?

"I don't know," Yuta admitted. "But it's all I've got."

"You mean that's all we've got..." Maki sighed.

And so, with the sails full and the wind at their backs, Yuta, Maki, and Ace headed toward Wano. The sea was vast and dangerous, but they were ready.

xxx

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