"You don't know?"
When Issho heard Naruto's question, he immediately showed a surprised expression, then suddenly realized, "That's right. Although your auras are very strong, your ages seem to be even younger than that Ohara survivor—I am truly ashamed to have harbored such ill thoughts toward mere children."
He had come from the Grand Line, intending to pay respects to the ruins of Ohara, but unexpectedly encountered Nico Robin, a survivor of Ohara, and 'witnessed' her being discovered and chased by greedy people.
Originally, he followed out of curiosity, only wanting to secretly observe what kind of person the girl, called the 'Devil Child' by the World Government, truly was, and then decide whether to punish evil or help the weak.
He had already judged Nico Robin's character when she was caught by those people and was about to help her, but unexpectedly, Naruto and Yamato appeared out of nowhere and took his place.
Because of the powerful aura emanating from the two, Issho overlooked their age, mistakenly believing them to be ill-intentioned individuals. Now, coming back to his senses, Issho felt deeply ashamed that he had suspected two children.
"Haha, this old man is so interesting."
Yamato laughed upon hearing Issho's words, then asked Naruto, "Did he mistake us for bad guys, like those who wanted to capture Nico Robin?"
"Looks like it."
Naruto nodded, then said, "But he seems to have realized his mistake—and although this old man can't see, his strength seems to be very strong!"
Both Naruto and the Nine-Tailed inside him had already determined that this old man was definitely a powerful expert when they sensed Issho's presence. The last person to receive such an evaluation from the Nine-Tailed was Kaido.
The Nine-Tailed's evaluation of Issho was: although this person's power was not as obvious as Kaido's, the feeling he gave it was like an unfathomable abyss.
"Eh, really?"
Upon hearing Naruto's words, Yamato immediately gripped the spiked club behind her, then looked at Issho eagerly and said excitedly, "Old man, Naruto says you're very strong. Can you fight me?"
"Sorry, I refuse."
Issho unhesitatingly rejected Yamato's challenge, saying, "Although I possess a bit of strength, it is far from powerful, and I absolutely cannot bring myself to fight against a child like you. Please do not make things difficult for me."
Suspecting two children had already made Issho deeply ashamed; if he were to fight them, he feared he would be so mortified he would commit seppuku.
"Then—alright."
Yamato, seeing Issho refuse her challenge, was somewhat disappointed but did not press the issue. She tucked her spiked club behind her with a hint of dejection, then stood quietly beside Naruto.
"Old man—"
Naruto hesitated for a moment, then, with a mindset of trying, suddenly asked Issho, "Do you know how to practice Observation Haki?"
"Observation Haki?"
Issho was first stunned by Naruto's words, then showed an incredulous expression, saying, "You two are still so young, yet you already know about the existence of Haki? That's incredible!"
After speaking, he was silent for a moment, then continued, "Regarding the practice of Observation Haki, I do have some insights, but I am truly sorry that I cannot simply pass on my insights to you two."
"Why?"
Naruto heard Issho's words, thought for a moment, and seemed to guess his thoughts, then asked, "Is it because you're afraid we're bad guys?"
"That's right."
Issho nodded and said, "Just now, I accidentally overheard your conversation with that Ohara survivor. You two claimed to be 'pirates.' To be frank, I cannot condone those who call themselves pirates."
"So that's how it is."
Naruto listened to Issho's explanation, nodded slightly, then scratched his head, a little embarrassed, and said, "Sorry, old man, I was too presumptuous."
"It's nothing."
Issho shook his head and said, "Honestly, if you two hadn't claimed to be 'pirates,' I truly wouldn't be able to associate you with such people."
Although he couldn't see, Issho had his own way of judging people, and from Naruto and Yamato, he felt no trace of the violent aura a pirate should have. Their way of doing things also seemed completely different from the pirates he had encountered along his journey.
If they hadn't claimed to be 'pirates,' even ignoring their age, he would never have associated them with pirates.
"Is that so?"
Naruto listened to Issho's words, pondered thoughtfully for a moment, then asked, "Then, old man, what do you think a pirate should look like?"
???
Issho was first stunned by Naruto's question, then suddenly burst into laughter. "Puhahahahaha! Pardon me, pardon me. Hearing you ask that, I probably understand what's going on."
Naruto asking this, coupled with their age, made Issho believe that these two might have heard some 'adventure stories' about pirates and then rashly set out to sea.
Thinking about it, it made sense. Children of this age wouldn't understand the meaning represented by the word 'pirate.' These two might just be two simple runaway children.
Thinking this, Issho suddenly asked the two, "You two, where is your home? How about I escort you back?"
Although they hadn't fought, just by sensing, Issho could tell that both of these children possessed considerable strength and extraordinary talent.
It would be a great pity if such promising youngsters were to be corrupted by 'pirates' like this.
"No!"
Issho had just finished speaking, and before Naruto could open his mouth, Yamato, standing beside him, immediately shouted in protest, "We just barely escaped from that guy's territory, and we're not going back! You really aren't a good person!"
Saying that, she angrily pulled out the spiked club from behind her and yelled at Issho, "Come and fight me, you bastard!"
"This..."
Issho's intention was good, but he didn't expect Yamato to react so intensely, leaving him at a loss for how to respond.
"Alright, Yamato."
Naruto pressed Yamato's hand, which was gripping the spiked club, and said helplessly, "You're overacting."
How could such clumsy acting deceive a powerful person like Issho?
"Eh? Is it that obvious?"
Yamato heard Naruto's words, and the anger on her face instantly vanished. She then scratched her head awkwardly and said, "I thought I was acting really well."
As for why she pretended to be angry, it was, of course, to be able to fight Issho.
"Uh—was it acting?"
At this moment, Issho, who had been completely bewildered, suddenly spoke, his face filled with shock.
"So you didn't notice!" ×3
Three voices simultaneously roared at Issho; the third voice came from the Nine-Tailed inside Naruto.
"Sorry, sorry, puhahaha!"
Issho waved his hand, thinking that he had been fooled by a child's acting, and laughed at his own stupidity.
"This guy is definitely not a powerful person, definitely!" the Nine-Tailed roared in Naruto's mind. Issho's behavior completely overturned its impression of him as a powerful person.
"Mr. Issho."
At this moment, Naruto spoke again, saying to Issho, "Thank you for your kindness, but Yamato and I have our own plans. Let's part ways here."
Having said that, he pulled Yamato, preparing to leave.
"Wait!"
Issho suddenly spoke, stopping the two, then said to Naruto, "Young man, didn't you just ask me what I thought a pirate should look like?"
Naruto heard Issho's words, immediately stopped, turned around, and asked, "Mr. Issho is willing to tell me the answer now?"
"Not quite."
Issho shook his head, then said solemnly with a serious expression, "Everyone has a different definition of good and evil. I cannot give you the answer, but I can accompany you to 'see' my answer with your own eyes."
After speaking, he smiled and extended an invitation to Naruto and Yamato, saying, "I wonder if you two would be willing to travel with me, a blind cripple, for a while?"
Issho believed that both Naruto and Yamato were young sprouts yet to be corrupted by the 'evil' of the sea.
If they were allowed to grow wild like this, these two might one day become towering figures of justice, or they might evolve into an evil that envelops the sea—Issho believed the latter was more likely.
Since he encountered them, Issho believed he had an obligation to guide the two toward the 'right path.' Otherwise, if these two were to fall into evil in the future, he would bear a share of the responsibility.
"Let us travel with you?"
Naruto heard Issho's invitation and immediately understood his intention, but he did not refuse; in fact, he was somewhat eager. Then he smiled and nodded. "Okay, we are willing."
"Ho ho ho ho!"
Issho heard Naruto agree to his suggestion and immediately laughed happily, then extended his hand toward the two and said, "Then, for the time we travel together, I will trouble you two to take good care of me, a blind cripple."
"No problem!"
Yamato heard Issho's words and immediately patted her chest with a smile, loudly guaranteeing, "I will definitely take good care of you!"
"Gak..."
Issho heard Yamato's guarantee, and his laughter abruptly stopped. For some reason, he suddenly had a bad premonition.
"Nico Robin!"
"You can't run away! Stop quickly and surrender!"
At this moment, an arrogant voice came from the distant sea, attracting the attention of the three.
Naruto and Yamato heard the voice and immediately looked toward the sea, only to see Nico Robin piloting a small boat, being chased by a large ship flying a flag with a crossed rifle emblem.
The shouting they heard came from the person standing at the bow of that ship.
That person had a slicked-back hairstyle, a cigar in his mouth, wore a neat black suit, and black leather gloves on his hands. He was shouting at Nico Robin on the small boat, "Nico Robin, you can't escape. We're not going to hand you over to the Marine or the World Government; we want to invite you to work for our Rusai family."
"I refuse!"
Nico Robin on the small boat shouted back without looking, "I will not work for infamous mafia families like yours!"
Although she had been on the run at sea for two years, the ten-year-old Nico Robin's heart had not yet been tainted by the darkness and evil she had encountered during those two years.
Even though she had been betrayed countless times, her heart still believed in justice and kindness.
She still remembered what her friend Saul had told her last: the sea was vast, and she would eventually meet companions who would accept and protect her.
"That's a shame."
The mafia boss on the ship showed disappointment upon hearing Nico Robin's reply, then pulled out a pistol and aimed it at her. His expression instantly turned sinister as he quietly said, "If you refuse, then I can only break your arms and legs and then bring you back to the family."
Bang!
A gunshot rang out, and the bullet grazed Nico Robin's arm, instantly leaving a deep wound!
"Damn it!"
On the shore, Yamato saw Nico Robin get injured, and anger immediately appeared on her face. She then pulled out the spiked club from behind her and angrily said, "Those guys are too hateful! I'm going to beat them up!"
"Hmm, go ahead."
Naruto did not object, nodding with a cold expression.
Those guys in suits—you could tell at a glance they weren't good people. How dare they use a gun on a child? It's simply too hateful!
"Wait!"
Yamato was about to jump into the sea to help Nico Robin, but Issho, who was beside her, stopped her.
"What do you want!"
Yamato suddenly turned her head, baring her fangs at Issho, and said fiercely, "Do you want to stop me from helping Nico Robin?"
"Not so."
Issho shook his head, then faced the sea, slightly raising the cane sword in his hand toward the direction of the Rusai family's ship, and said in a deep voice, "I just wanted to say that I originally intended to help that Ohara survivor this time, but you two got ahead of me. This time, please allow me to act."
"Oh, is that so!"
Yamato heard Issho's words, her fangs instantly retracting. Then she nodded and said, "So you, old man, also want to help Nico Robin. Then I'll let you do it."
Since they were both helping Nico Robin, it didn't matter who acted, and she also really wanted to see the strength of this blind old man.
Not only Yamato, but Naruto and the Nine-Tailed inside him also very much wanted to see Issho's strength.
"I am truly grateful."
Issho heard Yamato's words and thanked her, then slightly unsheathed his cane sword and said softly, "Then, I shall make a fool of myself."
As his voice fell, a vast power suddenly surged from him, then soared into the sky and instantly disappeared. Naruto and Yamato saw this scene, curious about what he had done, and were about to ask when they suddenly heard a huge roar from the sky.
The two looked up, and the scene that appeared in the sky made them instantly widen their eyes, their faces filled with incredible shock.
---
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