Ten years had passed since Ryu and Musashi arrived at Logue Town.
Ryu had grown into a strikingly handsome young man he is now fifteen years old, his presence carrying a quiet confidence shaped by years of relentless training. He wore a red and black kimono that hung neatly over his well-built frame, the fabric shifting slightly with every controlled movement he made. A pair of simple black sandals covered his feet, worn but sturdy—perfect for both travel and combat.
Strapped securely at his waist was his training katana, its familiar weight a constant companion that had become an extension of his very being. His long black hair was tied back into a neat ponytail, keeping it out of his sharp, focused eyes, which now held a maturity far beyond his years. The once boyish softness in his features had been replaced by a more defined and disciplined look.
His muscular physique was clearly visible even beneath his clothing, each movement revealing the strength and precision he had honed through countless hours of practice. There was a calm intensity about him now—like a blade resting in its sheath, quiet yet ready to strike at a moment's notice.
His height had grown considerably compared to his childhood; he now stood at around 5'8", no longer the short boy he once was. His blue eyes, once soft and youthful, had become sharp and intense, reflecting a newfound maturity and strength.
Ryu strode toward the port of Logue Town, a bundle of wanted posters clenched in his hand. The sea breeze tugged at his long black ponytail, carrying with it the scent of salt, tar, and trouble. His sandals tapped rhythmically against the planks as he walked, unhurried yet purposeful.
The harbor was alive with chaos—crews shouting, cargo being hauled, and pirate ships lining the docks like predators at rest. Tattered sails fluttered, and the sound of creaking wood echoed across the water. Ryu's sharp blue eyes swept across the vessels, cold and calculating, as if weighing each one against the faces on the posters he carried.
Then he stopped.
His gaze locked onto a particular large black ship.
The Jolly Roger painted on its sail stood out among the rest—dark, menacing, unmistakable. For a brief moment, the world around him seemed to fade. The noise of the port dulled, and only the symbol remained in his sight.
Ryu's grip tightened around the posters.
A cold smirk slowly formed on his lips.
"Oh… how interesting."
The black ship's Jolly Roger was fluttering ominously in the salty wind. At its center was a grinning white skeleton, its hollow eye sockets seeming to stare into the souls of those who dared look. Behind it, two rugged axes were crossed, their blades sharp and menacing, forming a symbol of brutality and conquest.
The flag snapped loudly against the mast, as if echoing the ruthless reputation of the crew it represented—a warning to all who saw it that this was no ordinary pirate ship, but one that thrived on bloodshed and fear.
Without hesitation, Ryu pulled out one of the wanted posters and looked at it, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
The pirate in the poster was a bold, middle-aged man with dark skin and a vicious-looking face. A jagged scar ran across his cheek, giving him an even more menacing appearance. His body was bulky and muscular, built like a seasoned fighter who had survived countless battles.
'Captain Ned Hawell—the Black Axe- 16,500,000 Berries. The highest bounty in the East Blue… He'll make the perfect test for the new sword style I've created.'
'I haven't tested the sword style I created on anyone except my grandfather. This is my first time testing it on someone else—I'm excited to see how my sword style will do against this guy.'
Ryu swiftly tucked the wanted posters into his kimono, the papers rustling softly against the fabric. Without a moment's hesitation, he began striding toward the black pirate ship, his steps steady and purposeful, eyes fixed on his target as a faint, cold smirk played on his lips.
The black pirate ship was a massive, pitch-black vessel, its dark hull looming ominously over the sea like a shadow brought to life. At its bow, a menacing crocodile figurehead jutted forward, its jaws slightly open as if ready to devour anything in its path, adding a savage and intimidating presence to the ship's design.
Ryu snorted when he finally saw the ship up close, the sound low and full of amusement.
'I must admit, those pirates have excellent taste—the ship is impressive. If I were a pirate, I'd have claimed it for myself… after cutting them all down.'
'Ryu leapt onto the railing of the black pirate ship. The pirates aboard stared at him in bewilderment, while a fat pirate smirked at him with amusement.'
"Hey, kid, are you lost? Do you need some directions?"
Ryu's eyebrows twitched upon hearing this, because he always got lost in Logue Town whenever he went out for a walk—and he usually ended up cutting down any pirates he encountered with bounties just to pass the time.
His grandfather always scolded him whenever he got lost, and the Marines tried to recruit him many times, but he always turned them down after hearing Musashi's stories about the dark side of the World Government.
Ryu gracefully landed on the deck, slowly unsheathing his training katana, and addressed the pirates.
"All of you—come at me at once. I don't have all day to waste on you."
The pirates seethed at Ryu's words, their voices rising in a chorus of anger.
"How dare you, brat! Do you have a death wish, looking down on us?"
"We are the Black Axe Pirates—the mightiest crew to sail the East Blue."
"We're going to show you why you shouldn't be arrogant in front of us, brat."
At that moment, the fat pirate stepped forward, hoisting a massive hammer over his shoulder as he bellowed at his crew mates.
"Silence! All of you—stop embarrassing yourselves and the crew. Step back. I'll handle this brat myself."
The pirates cheered as the fat pirate strode forward toward Ryu, a menacing glint in his eyes.
The fat pirate, had dark skin, short black hair, and a scruffy beard, stared disdainfully at Ryu.
"You better say your prayers, kid. One swing from me, and you'll be flying across the deck."
Ryu smirked, and the fat pirate flew into a rage, charging at him and swinging his massive hammer with all his strength—but Ryu remained unfazed, countering with a powerful strike of his training katana.
"CLANK!"
The fat pirate's eyes widened at the force behind Ryu's swing, and he skidded backward ten feet.
All the pirates watching froze in place, unable to believe how effortlessly Ryu pushed the fat pirate—whose pride lay in his brute strength—backwards.
One of the pirates couldn't help but mutter under his breath, eyes wide with disbelief, as he watched the display unfold.
"I can't believe it… the vice-captain was shoved back so easily by that brat! No way this is happening."
The other pirates were frozen into silence, too intimidated to utter a single word, their eyes glued to the unfolding battle.
Ryu's eyes locked onto the fat pirate. He bent his knees, training katana pointed steadily at his target.
"Ryu Sword Style: Great Arrow Sword."
The fat pirate, acting on instinct, raised his hammer in front of him like a shield.
"CLANK!"
"WHOOSH!"
All the pirates watching froze, their eyes widening in shock as the fat pirate's massive hammer slipped from his grasp and soared high into the air.
Ryu closed in on the fat pirate, a bloodthirsty smirk twisting his lips.
"Ryu Sword Style: Raising Spring Sword."
With a swift, upward slash, Ryu drove his blade deep into the fat pirate's chest.
"AAAGGHH!"
"SPUR!"
"THUD!"
The fat pirate collapsed face-first onto the deck, defeated, blood gushing from the wound in his chest.
A satisfied smirk crossed Ryu's face while the fat pirate crashed down.
'Good. My new sword style, which I created, is working flawlessly. Now it's time to look for their captain and collect the bounty.'
Suddenly, a loud, furious voice thundered across the ship, shaking the timbers and freezing everyone in their tracks.
"You brat! How dare you hurt my partner? Are you looking for death?"
Ryu's eyes shot upward at the sudden roar, his body reacting before his mind could catch up. A massive shadow descended, and with a lightning-quick flip, he narrowly dodged a colossal axe that smashed into the deck, aimed to cleave him in two.
"BOOM!"
A cloud of dust engulfed the entire ship from the impact. Ryu shielded his face, but his eyes pierced through the haze, fixed on the shadow lurking within the dust, brimming with anticipation.
As the dust cloud drifted away, Ryu's eyes locked onto a bulky, muscular, bald man, his middle-aged frame radiating an imposing presence.
The captain of the Black Axe Pirates, Ned Hawell, stood before Ryu—bare-chested, a black pirate coat draped over one shoulder, blue pants tucked into scuffed combat boots. His massive axe rested casually over his shoulder, yet its sheer weight promised destruction with every swing.
Veins bulging in his neck, he glared at Ryu and unleashed a roar of rage.
"You didn't just hurt my vice-captain and best friend—you've stained the honor of the Black Axe Pirates. You deserve to die… right here, right now."
The Black Axe Pirates captain hoisted his massive axe high above his head, the muscles in his arms taut, then slammed it downward with bone-crushing force toward Ryu.
Ryu didn't hesitate and swung his training katana in response.
"CLANK!"
The sword and the axe collided with a thunderous clash, sending sparks flying and dancing through the air.
Ryu stared at the bald pirate captain in surprise, amazed that he could match his strength. A bloodthirsty smirk spread across Ryu's face as excitement surged through his veins.
'Interesting… you can match me in raw strength. Now, let's see if you're as skilled with that massive axe of yours.'
The pirate captain froze, stunned, as Ryu effortlessly blocked his axe. Slowly, his eyes narrowed, and he regarded Ryu with a newfound seriousness.
"The black-and-red kimono, a strikingly handsome young face, dark hair tied in a ponytail, ordinary sandals, a white sash, and a seemingly ordinary katana… it can't be… it is him—the East Blue Young Samurai."
Realizing who Ryu was, the pirate captain swung his axe once again swiftly, but Ryu leaned back effortlessly, bringing his katana in a swift arc toward the captain's neck, aiming to sever his head.
Captain Howell's eyes widened in shock as he swung the long haft of his axe, desperately trying to intercept Ryu's lightning-fast strike.
"CLANK!"
He barely managed to deflect the sword, yet a shallow cut appeared along the side of his neck, searing with sharp pain.
Captain Howell stepped back, eyes narrowing into sharp slits as he studied Ryu with cautious intensity.
"You're the youngest bounty hunter in all of East Blue, aren't you? The one they call the East Blue Young Samurai Miyamoto D Ryu."
Ryu's eyebrows twitched at the mention of the nickname, and he snapped, yelling fiercely at Ned.
"How dare you! That absurd nickname ends this instant! I am the Samurai of Love, you colossal, blundering gorilla!"
Silent rain fell over the ship, leaving the pirate crew frozen in stunned silence. Then, suddenly, one of them broke—laughter exploding from him, uncontrollable and harsh, echoing over the deck.
Hearing his laughter, the rest of the crew erupted into boisterous laughter, including Ned himself.
Veins bulged above Ryu's eyebrows as he let out a thunderous yell that echoed across the ship, striking fear into all the pirates.
"Shut your filthy mouths, you scumbags! How dare you mock a man's romantic dream? I swear—I'll cut down every last one of you where you stand!"
Ryu lunged forward with the ferocity of a vicious beast, his training katana slicing through the air as it mercilessly tore into the pirates around him.
"SQUASH!, SQUASH!, SQUASH!, SQUASH!, SQUASH!"
Captain Howell's fury boiled over as he watched Ryu cut down his crew like helpless chickens. With a roar, he charged forward, a living embodiment of an enraged bull.
"CLANK!"
"I'm going to kill you, brat!" Ned roared, his veins bulging as he lunged toward Ryu, eyes blazing with rage.
Ryu's lips curled into a bloodthirsty smirk, his eyes blazing with excitement. With a fierce cry, he lunged at Ned, their weapons colliding in a shower of sparks that echoed across the deck.
"CLANK!, CLANK!, CLANK!, CLANK!"
Ned lunged with a powerful kick aimed at Ryu's stomach, but Ryu expertly blocked it and vaulted backward, landing gracefully as if defying gravity.
The corner of his mouth twisted into a smirk, unshaken, as Ned barreled toward him again.
Ryu bent his knees, the tip of his training katana skimming the deck. In a fluid motion, he lunged at the pirate captain, spinning horizontally as his katana sliced through the air with deadly precision.
"Ryu Sword Style: Illusory Rainbow."
"SQUASH!"
"AAGGH!"
Ned staggered back, a crimson gash blossoming across his chest, and sank to his knees. Behind him, Ryu landed with the grace of a shadow, katana poised, eyes gleaming with cold precision.
The moment their captain crumpled before Ryu, terror surged through the pirate crew—each man frozen, trembling, disbelief etched deep into their faces. Ned Howell, the pirate with the highest bounty in East Blue, had fallen effortlessly to Ryu's blade, not a scratch marring the young samurai.
Ned clutched his chest where Ryu's blade had struck, blood gushing between his fingers. His vision blurred, darkness creeping at the edges, and with a strangled gasp, he collapsed face-first onto the deck.
'Damn it… I can't believe it! How could I lose to this brat?!'
Ryu swung his training katana through the air, wiping the blood clean, then bent down effortlessly and hoisted the pirate captain over his shoulder.
Every pirate instinctively staggered back, eyes wide with fear, while Ryu let out a disdainful scoff.
"Don't worry, losers. I'm only interested in your captain—the only one of you with a bounty on his head."
Ignoring the pirates completely, Ryu leapt off the ship and strode toward the Marine base, ready to claim the bounty on Ned Howell head.
______
With Musashi
Musashi lounged in his chair, flipping through the day's newspaper, yet his mind drifted far from the words on the page.
'Ryu's growth in swordsmanship is astonishing—his talent is monstrous. I had underestimated him… after all, he is the son of that monster.'
Musashi traced one of the scars on his chest, and the memory of a man towering before him, a massive silver axe slung over his shoulder, surged into his mind.
'Right now, Ryu needs a grand ambition, a goal worthy of pursuit. He wants to surpass me—but in the end, I am just an old man at the twilight of his life he will not reach his full potential that way.'
'The pirates of East Blue no longer pose a real challenge to Ryu. Perhaps it's time he leaves these waters and and embark on his own adventure.'
'I can't keep babysitting him he will never grow if I keep doing this.'
Musashi's eyes suddenly widened as a newspaper article on the page seized his attention.
"No way… I can't believe it! That kid Roger is too stubborn to be captured—what on earth is going on?"
Musashi read the article to the very end, then flung the newspaper aside, his face twisted in pure rage.
"No way… those blasted Marines captured that kid. There's more to this story—I can feel it."
Musashi grabbed the sake bottle with a swift motion, draining it in one gulp, his eyes flashing with fury.
After calming down he sighed heavily in his heart.
"The execution will take place here six months from now… How did it come to this, kid? How did those lapdogs of the World Government manage to capture you? There has to be something I'm missing."
With a heavy heart, Musashi rose to his feet, pausing for a fleeting moment at the doorway before stepping out.
"I need to clear my head. Whatever it takes, I'll get to the bottom of this."
______
The poll result
A) Mc create his own crew (7)
B) Mc join Hawkeye crew (3)
C) Mc join red-haired pirates (8)
D) Mc join revolutionary army (1)
The poll is close thanks for those who voted the MC will be Joining Red Haired Pirates.
Note: I have decided to change few things in the future.