Meeting Nami

Under the night sky, Jacob, Carina, and Kuina approached Mad Treasure's fortified hideout—a massive, repurposed warship nestled within a cove. Their heist outfits concealed their identities, allowing them to blend seamlessly into the shadows.

"Remember," Jacob whispered, his voice barely audible over the gentle waves lapping, "we stick to the plan. Carina finds and steals the fruits. Kuina handles any guards. I'll deal with Mad Treasure."

Carina nodded, her eyes gleaming with determination. "Understood. Let's move."

They split up, each moving with practiced ease. Kuina navigated the perimeter. Her sword flashed silently, incapacitating guards with swift, precise strikes. Her mastery of the "Breath of All Things" technique allowed her to cut through any obstacle effortlessly, striking only what she intended while leaving everything else untouched.

Meanwhile, Carina slipped into the ship's interior, deftly disabling traps and picking locks. Her intimate knowledge of security systems made her the perfect infiltrator, and she moved gracefully.

Jacob pinpointed Mad Treasure's location within the ship's grand cabin with Observation Haki. He approached silently, his footsteps masked by the creaking of the old vessel. Peering through a crack in the door, he saw Mad Treasure hunched over a table, examining a map.

Jacob seized the opportunity for a surprise attack and summoned flames on his right fist. The flames engulfed his fists as he prepared to launch a devastating firefist attack. He burst through the door swiftly, releasing a massive fist of fire toward his unsuspecting target.

The fiery assault struck Mad Treasure head-on, sending him to the wall with a pained grunt. He struggled to his feet, eyes wide with shock and anger.

"Who dares attack me in my own domain?" he roared, chains materializing from his palms—a manifestation of his Jara Jara no Mi.

Jacob smirked beneath his mask. "A distraction."

Mad Treasure lashed out, sending chains whipping toward Jacob. Jacob dodged and weaved, his fiery attacks clashing against the metal chains in a dazzling display of sparks and flames.

With a mighty fist of fire, Jacob overwhelmed Mad Treasure, leaving him unconscious amidst the wreckage of the cabin.

Meanwhile, Carina navigated the ship's lower levels, eyes scanning for the treasure room. She finally found it; she opened the locked treasure room, and her breath caught at seeing numerous Devil Fruits stored within. She quickly secured them.

As she turned to leave, a faint cough caught her attention. Following it, she discovered a small cage at the back of the room. Inside, an orange-haired girl lay weakly, her wrists shackled.

"Hang on," Carina whispered, picking the lock with practiced ease. The girl's eyes fluttered open, filled with confusion and fear.

"Who… who are you?" she murmured.

"A friend," Carina replied softly. "Let's get you out of here."

Jacob, Carina, and Kuina met on the deck and prepared to escape. The rescued girl, though weak, managed a grateful smile.

"Thank you," she said, her voice trembling. "My name is Nami." 

Jacob nodded, offering her a reassuring smile. "You're safe now, Nami. Let's get you out of here."

As dawn approached, the group disappeared into the shadows, leaving behind the smoldering remnants of Mad Treasure's fortress.

***

After escaping Mad Treasure's hideout, Jacob, Carina, Kuina, and the unconscious Nami return to their secluded hideout in the mountains. The night air was crisp, and the fire crackled warmly in the center of their small living quarter.

Carina sat cross-legged near the fire, flipping through a worn, leather-bound book—her stolen Devil Fruit Encyclopedia. She glanced at the five mysterious fruits they had taken from Mad Treasure's vault.

"These things are a gamble," Carina muttered, running her fingers along the odd, swirling patterns. "No idea if they're strong or totally useless."

Kuina, meanwhile, knelt beside Nami, who lay wrapped in a blanket, still unconscious.

With her usual stoic efficiency, Kuina set a small pot over the fire, the scent of simmering broth beginning to fill the air.

"She's malnourished," Kuina said. "When she wakes up, she'll need food."

Jacob nodded, glancing at Nami's frail frame. Although she was just sixteen years old, she carried a heavy burden on her shoulders.

Carina sighed, flipping another page in the book. "Alright, listen up. We have five Devil Fruits. If we're keeping them, we should figure out what they do before someone takes a bite and regrets it."

Jacob sat beside her, peering at the fruits. "What are we working with?"

Carina tapped the first one—a deep blue fruit with cloud-like swirls. "This one should be the Kumo Kumo no Mi (Cloud-Cloud Fruit). If I'm right, it lets the user create and control clouds. Not bad for a navigator, right?" She smirked.

Jacob subconsciously glanced at Nami and considered it. A fruit that controls clouds… would be perfect for someone good at manipulating the weather.

Carina moved on, pointing to a pale green fruit with leafy patterns. "This one… I think it's the Shigeru Shigeru no Mi (Lush-Lush Fruit). It grants plant-based abilities—manipulating vines and flowers, even creating poisonous pollen. Sounds like something that would fit a tricky fighter."

Jacob raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like a Carina-type devil fruit if I've ever heard of one."

"I don't have green thumbs, fire boy."

The third fruit was a golden-green peach with a slightly translucent, glowing surface. Carina frowned, flipping pages in her book. "This one's rare… if I'm right, it's called the Soso Soso no Mi (Revitalize-Revitalize Fruit). It lets the user replenish stamina instantly, heal damaged tissues, and even bring dying people back to health." 

Jacob's eyes widened slightly. "That sounds absurdly overpowered."

Carina nodded. "It couldn't bring dead people back to life, though, not as overpowered as you might like, and a user with no knowledge of anatomy would only make this fruit useless."

Carina pointed to the fourth fruit, a pure white with a golden stroke that looked like a pair of folded wings. "This… I have no clue. It could be strong or garbage, but it looked ethereal."

Jacob hummed. "If I had to guess… probably some type of love devil fruit? It does look like a heart."

Carina shut the book with a thud. "Well, I'm not interested in all of those but these," said Carina as she grabbed the last devil fruit. "And besides, we have a bigger problem." She gestured toward Nami. "She's still a stranger. Are we just letting her stay?"

Kuina ladled some broth into a wooden bowl and looked at Jacob. "That's your call."

Jacob frowned, watching as Nami's chest rose and fell with steady breaths.

He knew that she was good people, and Jacob sympathized with her struggle.

"…We'll see how she acts when she wakes up," Jacob said. "Until then, we stay on guard."

Kuina nodded, handing him the bowl. "Then, for now, let's eat."

***

The sun hung high over their secluded hideout, the salty sea breeze carrying the sound of crackling gunfire. Jacob stood at the cliff's edge, his fingers shaped into mock triggers, rapid bursts of fire shooting from his fingertips like an automatic weapon. The flames rained down on the sea below, sending up steaming plumes of vapor where they struck the water.

Behind him, Nami sat on a rock, watching with barely concealed awe. She had been cautious—borderline paranoid—since she woke up. She spoke little, avoided questions, and kept her distance, especially from Kuina. But she couldn't help but stare whenever Jacob trained.

"That's insane," Nami finally muttered under her breath.

Jacob smirked, his back still turned to her. "Something on your mind, navigator?"

She tensed, eyes narrowing. "I never said I'm a navigator."

Jacob turned slightly, giving her a knowing look. He didn't need to ask. He already knew exactly who she was, what happened to her village, and the burden she carried. But saying that outright would only make her run.

So, instead, he shrugged. "You stare at the horizon a lot. Check the cloud formation, the wind, and the stars at night. You're either a navigator… or you just like spacing out."

Nami pressed her lips together, giving no answer.

Carina, lounging under a nearby tree, stretched her arms over her head. "Well, not like it matters. You're still acting like a little thief, sneaking around like we're gonna stab you in your sleep."

Nami shot her a glare. "If you expect me to trust three random criminals, you're insane."

"Hey, we're selective criminals," Carina corrected with a grin. "We only steal from people who deserve it."

Nami crossed her arms. "Uh-huh. And I'm supposed to believe that?"

"Not really," Carina admitted. "You'll see for yourself."

Jacob chuckled, stepping away from the cliff. "You're not a prisoner here, Nami. If you want to leave, you can."

Nami looked away, fingers tightening around her sleeve.

She really wanted to leave. Jacob already understood that much. But she also had a huge burden to bear—Arlong's shadow still loomed over her, and she had no money, power, or friends to help her. But she wouldn't admit that.

Kuina, who sat by the cliff side, sharpening Wado Ichimonji, said plainly. "Trust is earned, not demanded," she said plainly. "And it works both ways."

Nami looked at her, then away again. "Whatever."

Carina stood up, dusting herself off. "Well, while you're busy brooding, I've decided."

Jacob raised an eyebrow. "About?"

Carina reached into her bag, pulling out the Kyoʻ Kyoʻ no Mi—a deep purple fruit with swirling white musical notes patterned across its skin.

"I will eat it now," she declared.

Jacob blinked, then frowned. "You're sure? You've been in a dilemma about which fruits to eat for days."

Carina smirked. Without hesitation, she took a bite.

Nami flinched as Carina immediately gagged, coughing. "God, that's disgusting—ugh, I almost forgot how it tasted."

Jacob rolled his eyes.

Carina shuddered but swallowed. A moment later, she snapped her fingers—and a clear, melodic note rang through the air.

The sound rippled around them, vibrating through the ground. It was strangely hypnotic, and the air felt lighter for a second.

Jacob crossed his arms. "So? What can you do?"

Carina hummed, placing a hand on her hip. "It's a sound-based fruit. If I can figure it out, I can probably create illusions with music, distort soundwaves, maybeeee even mess with people's emotions."

Nami looked skeptical. "That's… terrifying."

Carina beamed. "I know, right?"

Jacob chuckled, but he was already thinking ahead. Carina's new powers had a lot of potential—especially in heists and fights. And he was willing to bet that her fruit, combined with her natural trickery, would be a nightmare for their enemies.

Kuina, however, sheathed her sword. "I'll pass on a Devil Fruit. At least if one of you falls into the sea, you could have someone to rely on."

Jacob nodded. That was expected. Kuina had grown even stronger over the past few months, refining her techniques based on the knowledge he gave her about Flying Slashes and the Breath of All Things. She didn't need a Devil Fruit to be dangerous.

He looked back at Nami. "If you ever change your mind about trusting us, let me know."

She scoffed. "Don't hold your breath."

Jacob only smiled. I won't need to.

***

A Few Days Later

Nami was gone.

Jacob had expected it. She didn't trust them and had too much on her mind. She left without a word, vanishing at dawn, taking only the clothes on her back.

Carina sighed dramatically when she found out. "That girl really doesn't know a good deal when she sees one."

Kuina shrugged. "She's not our problem."

Jacob, however, wasn't so sure. He'll get her, he thought. One way or another.

For now, though, he is focused on training.

***

Carina spent her days experimenting with her Kyoʻ Kyoʻ no Mi. At first, her powers were subtle—amplifying her voice and creating echoes—but as the days passed, she got creative.

One afternoonclapped her hands together, creatingreated a deafening shockwave that cracked a boulder igether. 

Jacob had to rub his ears for five minutes after that.

Kuina had been impressed, though. "Weaponizing sound… it looked dangerous."

Carina grinned. "Exactly. Give me a little more time, and I'll have everyone die to my tune—literally."

Meanwhile, Jacob doubled down on his physical training. He punched stone cliffs, practiced aerial maneuvers with fire propulsion, and refined his Observation Haki with Kuina.

One evening, after an exhausting session, they sat in their hideout, gathered around a stolen map.

Jacob traced a finger along the paper. "Let's talk about Arlong."

Carina stretched, leaning back against a crate. "Ugh. Do we have to? He's a pain."

Kuina nodded. "He's strong. I've seen a few of his actions, he's not just some small-time thug."

Jacob frowned. "Yeah, but he's still just an East Blue Pirate. He's not untouchable."

Carina gave him a look. "You do realize he came from the Grand Line, right? And rumor said he was under Jinbei, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea."

Jacob met her gaze. "Yeah, I know."

Carina narrowed her eyes. "Then you also know that messing with Arlong could bring us a whole sea of trouble. You don't piss off a Warlord and walk away."

Jacob nodded slowly, pretending to consider it. But inwardly, he already knew the truth. Jinbei isn't protecting Arlong. He doesn't care what happened to Arlong. He hoped.

Which meant… Arlong was killable.

Still, he didn't correct Carina. He wasn't about to reveal that he had manga knowledge. Instead, he leaned forward, smirking.

"So what you're saying is… if we're fast and careful, we could take him down before anyone notices?"

Carina groaned. "Oh god, you're insane."

Kuina laughed.

***

The sun dipped below the horizon, glowing warmly over the secluded hideout. Carina stood amidst the trees, eyes closed, focusing intently. Around her, the air shimmered with subtle vibrations.

Jacob approached curiosity piqued. "What are you working on now?"

Carina opened one eye, smirking. "Trying to expand my range. If I can detect objects through sound, like echolocation, we'd have an edge in the dark or against hidden enemies."

Jacob nodded, impressed. "Impresknow, I've read somewhere that you can manipulate minds with sound—think you can do that?"

She chuckled. "Give me some time. People's minds are tricky, but a well-placed melody might do wonders."

Meanwhile, Kuina had been venturing out, seeking challenges to hone her swordsmanship. She returned one evening with a satisfied smile.

"How'd it go?" Jacob asked.

"Found a swordsman in a nearby village. We sparred; I learned a few new techniques," she replied, her eyes gleaming with determination.

Jacob grinned. "Always pushing forward."

As for himself, Jacob had been experimenting with his flames. One night, as he focused intensely, the usual red-orange of his fire shifted to a brilliant blue—a hotter, more potent flame. He couldn't help but feel a surge of pride at the breakthrough.

Gathered around their makeshift bed, they shared their progress.

"Blue flames, huh?" Carina mused. "Sounds like you're leveling up."

Jacob shrugged, though a smile tugged at his lips. "Just trying to keep up with you two."

Kuina sheathed her sword, looking thoughtful. "With all this growth, maybe it's time we set our sights on bigger targets."

Jacob's eyes flickered with a familiar determination. "Agreed. There's a certain fishman causing trouble in East Blue. It's about time someone dealt with him."

Carina raised an eyebrow. "Arlong?"

Jacob nodded. "Exactly."

Kuina's grip tightened on her sword. "Then let's make a plan."

The trio talked late into the night, strategizing their next move, each driven by their own reasons but united in purpose.