Ch 68 - An Unusual Friend

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The sun dipped low on the horizon as Luffy led Sabo, Ann, and Uta through the dense forest toward their secret base. The air was filled with the sounds of the evening – chirping crickets, rustling leaves, and the soft hum of camaraderie among the group.

The day's training had been grueling, but their spirits were high.

Luffy glanced back at his crew, his signature grin plastered on his face. "You guys hungry? Let's make it a feast tonight!"

"Finally!" Ann groaned, stretching her arms. "You worked us to the bone today. I'm starving!"

"I could eat an entire forest," Sabo chimed in, a smirk tugging at his lips.

Uta giggled, leaning on Ann. "I'm with you on that. But only if Luffy's cooking."

Luffy laughed, flexing his arms. "Don't worry. I'll catch something big and tasty! You can count on me!"

As they approached their base, an old yet familiar figure came into view.

It was an older man with a sturdy build that speaks of his once formidable strength. His face was etched with deep lines and scars, each telling a tale of battles fought and challenges overcome. He had sharp, piercing eyes that seemed to hold an ocean's worth of wisdom and regret. His unkempt hair reached down to his shoulders. He was also missing a tooth and had thick eyebrows that almost completely covered up his eyes. 

Naguri, the retired pirate with a storied past, was seated on a large rock near their hideout. The elderly man waved with a broad smile, his well-worn coat billowing slightly in the breeze.

"Oi, kids!" Naguri called out, his voice rough but kind. "Back from training, eh?"

Sabo and Ann perked up immediately.

"Naguri!" They exclaimed in unison, rushing over to greet him.

"We were just about to have dinner," Sabo said, his eyes lighting up. "Join us!"

Naguri chuckled, his deep laugh resonating in the clearing. "How can I say no to that? Especially if it's Luffy doing the cooking."

"You bet!" Luffy grinned. "I'll catch something amazing. Be right back!"

In a flash, Luffy disappeared into the woods, leaving Sabo, Ann, Uta, and Naguri to settle around the campfire.

As the fire crackled and illuminated their faces, Naguri leaned back against a tree trunk, pulling out a pipe. He lit it, taking a deep drag before exhaling a plume of smoke.

"It's been a while since I've shared a meal with such a lively bunch," He said, his eyes twinkling. "You remind me of my younger days."

"Tell us more about those days," Uta urged, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Naguri smiled, his weathered face creasing with nostalgia. "I was a pirate once, you know. Sailed the seas with a ragtag crew, always chasing treasure and adventure. But the seas were rough, and so were the people on them."

"You've mentioned Gol D. Roger before," Ann said, leaning forward, her fiery eyes locked on Naguri. "What was it like to face the Pirate King?" 

Naguri's expression turned serious, his voice deepening as if reliving a memory etched into his very being. "Terrifying. Awe-inspiring. My crew and I thought we could challenge him, prove ourselves worthy of the Grand Line. But Roger… he was on a completely different level. His Conqueror's Haki alone was enough to bring most of us to our knees." 

Ann's jaw tightened, but her voice remained steady. "And he spared you?" 

Naguri nodded solemnly. "He did. He could've wiped us out, but he didn't. Said we were just fools chasing a dream too big for us. Instead of killing us, he let us go. That mercy… it's rare in the world of pirates." 

Ann leaned back, her expression guarded, her fingers tapping a rhythm against her crossed arms. "But why didn't you hate him for humiliating you like that?" 

Naguri chuckled, though there was no mockery in the sound—only the weight of hard-earned wisdom. "Because he was right. We weren't strong enough. It wasn't his fault we lost—it was ours. Roger sparing us wasn't humiliation; it was a lesson. It showed me the kind of man he was, the kind of pirate I could never be." 

Ann's gaze dropped momentarily, her demeanor softening, though her thoughts remained a storm.

"You talk about him like he was some kind of saint," She muttered, her voice low. 

Naguri caught her tone and leaned forward, his eyes sharp. "You've got something personal against him, don't you?" 

Ann stiffened, her fists clenching as she stared at Naguri. For a moment, she debated saying nothing, but the question burned in her throat, demanding to be voiced.

"What if Roger had a child?" She asked, her tone sharp and cutting. "What if that child suffered because of him? Because he left them behind while he ran around chasing his dreams? Would you still think he was a good man then?"

Naguri's eyes widened slightly at her words, and he leaned back, folding his arms as he considered her question. The weight of it pressed into the air between them, and he let out a heavy sigh.

"I don't know," He admitted, his voice low and contemplative. "Roger lived for his dreams, for the sea, for freedom. He inspired a lot of people, including me. But…"

He hesitated, his gaze softening as he met Ann's eyes. "If someone he left behind had to bear the cost of that life, then I can't say he did right by them. Being great doesn't make you flawless."

Ann's eyes narrowed, her voice trembling with both anger and something deeper. "Then how can you sit here and talk about him like he was some kind of legend? Like he was good?"

Naguri straightened, his expression somber. "Because he was a legend. A man who shaped the world, who stood for something bigger than himself. But being good? That depends on the view of the person who felt the weight of his choices. Maybe for someone like you, Roger wasn't a hero at all. Maybe he was just another selfish pirate."

His words hung in the air, and Ann felt her chest tighten, the storm of emotions inside her threatening to spill over. She hated how much truth there was in what Naguri said, and yet she couldn't shake the anger that flared every time she thought of the man who was supposed to be her father.

She turned away, her voice barely a whisper. "Maybe that's all he ever was."

The group fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts as Naguri's words lingered in the air.

The sound of rustling leaves broke the quiet, followed by Luffy's triumphant voice. "I'm back!"

He emerged from the forest carrying two large wild boars over his shoulders, their size impressive enough to make everyone gape.

"Dinner's here!" Luffy declared, dropping the boars near the fire.

"Luffy, you're insane," Sabo said, shaking his head with a grin.

"Where did you even find those?" Ann asked, her jaw practically on the ground.

Luffy grinned. "Doesn't matter. Let's cook!"

The group worked together to prepare the meal, with Luffy taking charge of roasting the meat. The aroma of the sizzling boar filled the air, making everyone's mouths water.

As they ate, the conversation turned lighter, with Naguri sharing more tales of his adventures and the group laughing at his exaggerated stories.

"One time, I fought off a Sea King with nothing but my bare hands," Naguri said, puffing his chest out.

"Yeah, right!" Uta teased, giggling. "Did it bite your hand off?"

"Almost!" Naguri shot back, pretending to be offended.

The group erupted into laughter, the firelight casting their joyful faces in a warm glow.

As the evening wore on, the conversation shifted back to Naguri's past.

"Do you ever regret it?" Sabo asked, his voice soft. "Leaving the pirate life?"

Naguri looked thoughtful, his gaze fixed on the fire. "Sometimes. But then I remember all the things I've seen and done. The friends I made, the lessons I learned. And I realize that my time as a pirate wasn't about the treasure or the battles—it was about the journey."

Luffy nodded, a rare moment of quiet understanding passing over his face. "The journey's what makes it all worth it."

Naguri smiled at him, his eyes twinkling. "You've got the spirit of a great pirate, Luffy. Just like Roger did."

Luffy's grin widened, and he puffed out his chest. "Of course I do! I'm gonna be the Pirate King, after all!"

The group laughed again, their bond strengthened by the stories and the shared meal.

As the fire burned low and the stars twinkled above, Naguri leaned back with a contented sigh. "You kids are something special. I'm glad I met you."

"And we're glad we met you, old man," Sabo said with a grin.

The group sat in comfortable silence, the warmth of the fire and their camaraderie filling the cool night air. 

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