Directly ahead of the two pirate ships stood a massive wall.
It looked like an enormous, gaping mouth.
That "mouth" completely blocked their path, sealing off their escape.
"What the hell is that thing?!"
The crew who rushed out stared in shock.
"So we were being watched all along…" Brook said heavily.
"Luffy-san… did you happen to encounter a Flowing Cask?"
"Yeah. We did."
"Damn it… so it really was that thing."
Zoro's expression darkened.
No wonder Robin and Jin had felt something was off earlier—now it all made sense.
"Yes. From the moment you opened that cask, you were marked by the people here," Brook said.
"It was a trap."
"That's how I was targeted back then as well."
Recalling the past made Brook's voice sink.
Yet at the same time, returning here filled him with a strange resolve.
If he could reclaim his shadow…
Then he could once again stand beneath the sun.
And when that happened—
perhaps he truly could become a member of the Straw Hat Pirates.
"Everyone, look over there!" Usopp shouted, pointing sideways.
"There's an island!"
"There really is… why is there an island here?"
"Because… this is the drifting ghost island—Thriller Bark."
"Ghost island…" Robin murmured.
"So this is why ships keep disappearing in this region?"
"Yes."
"It certainly looks gloomy enough," Jin said, observing the island.
Anyone would believe ghosts lived there.
"But why isn't the Log Pose reacting?"
"This island came from the distant West Blue," Brook explained.
"It's not a natural island—so it has no magnetic field."
"That explains how it can drift on the sea."
Brook turned and walked back inside, retrieving his cane-sword.
Under everyone's puzzled gazes, he moved to the bow of the ship.
"Today may truly be a fortunate day," he said softly.
"Perhaps… today I can reclaim my shadow."
"Your shadow?"
"So this is where it was taken?" Jin asked.
Brook didn't answer. He only smiled faintly.
"Please—do not dock or drop anchor. This place is extremely dangerous."
"Use cannons to destroy the wall behind you and escape as fast as possible."
"I hope… we may meet again someday on the sea."
"Yohohoho~"
With that, Brook leapt straight off the ship.
Everyone froze.
"HEY! Why did you jump into the sea?!"
"He's a Devil Fruit user, isn't he?!"
But what shocked them even more—
Brook didn't sink.
Instead, he began running across the ocean's surface, his speed rivaling the ship itself.
"He's—he's running!!"
"Jin, did you see that?!" Luffy grabbed his arm and shook him violently.
"He can run on the sea too! He might be a ninja!"
Jin: "..."
Why did Luffy assume anyone who did something unusual was a ninja?
"He's not standing on the water," Robin said thoughtfully.
"He's extremely light—and very fast."
She couldn't help but wonder…
Had Brook discovered this ability while fleeing for his life once?
An image formed in her mind—
a dark silhouette wielding twin blades, chasing Brook relentlessly—
until he jumped into the sea and barely escaped.
"You're imagining something weird again, aren't you?" Usopp muttered.
Robin simply smiled calmly.
Usopp: "…Why do I feel chills?"
"Nami," Usopp cried, "you said we could just destroy the wall and leave, right?!"
"Hmm?"
Luffy turned and grinned.
"…We're doomed."
Seeing that familiar smile, Nami instantly felt numb.
That was his adventure face.
"This island is terrifying—what's there to explore?!"
"Jin, did you notice something?" someone asked.
Jin stood at a higher point, scanning the surroundings.
"If I'm not mistaken, that mouth-shaped structure is the entrance," he said.
"The walls form a circular enclosure around the entire island."
"To escape, we really would need to break through."
Then he looked toward the island again—
…Wait.
Did that tree just move?
"So we're still technically on the sea," Franky said.
"Yeah, definitely shouldn't anchor."
"If the island keeps moving and the ship doesn't—impact damage would be disastrous."
"So you're saying anchoring is bad?" Usopp screamed.
"THIS IS A GHOST ISLAND!"
"Can you stop Luffy?" Franky asked calmly.
Usopp turned slowly.
Luffy was already vibrating with excitement.
"…I want to cry."
"Hahaha! This is awesome!" Luffy shouted.
"So—Jin, what do you think? Go or not?"
"Is that even a question?" Jin smiled.
"Let's check it out."
"N-nooo… even you too?!"
"Where did that ghost go?" Merry asked, clutching Zoro's pants leg.
"Probably flew toward the island," Zoro said.
"Likely a resident here."
"That makes it worse…"
"Everyone… I think I've caught the 'can't-land-on-island disease,'" Nami wailed.
"…Huh?"
"Does that disease hit navigators too?!" Merry gasped.
"And… I have it too…"
"Chopper as well?!"
Merry panicked.
"What do we do?! Even the ship's doctor is sick! Luffy, let's hurry and go ashore to find help!"
"…Don't worry about those two," Zoro said flatly.
"Don't worry?!"
"They'll recover soon."
He glanced at the two trembling figures.
"Seriously, pull yourselves together."
"This time even Usopp didn't say it."
"HEY!"
Usopp shoved his nose into Zoro's face.
"What do you mean even me?!"
Then he turned to Luffy, who had somehow already pulled out tools.
"There are ghosts! Why are you still going?!"
"You're not scared at all—and you even prepared equipment?!"
"That's exactly why I'm going," Luffy grinned.
"I'm gonna catch a ghost and keep it as a pet!"
Usopp: "..."
"…Are you serious?"
"And besides," Luffy said, turning serious,
"Brook is our important companion. I'm bringing him back."
Usopp froze.
Jin smiled and patted his shoulder.
"Accept your fate, Usopp."
"When Luffy says he'll help someone—he means it."
Adventure, danger, ghosts—
that was simply part of being a pirate.
"…Sigh."
Usopp could only surrender.
"Sanji! Prepare my pirate bento!" Luffy laughed.
"I'm going to catch a ghost!"
"Already done."
Sanji walked out calmly, bento in hand.
"So fast?!" Jin stared.
"When did you prepare that?!"
"Since it was obvious."
"Well then," Franky said with a grin,
"Let's take a small boat ashore."
"I've got a surprise for you."
"Surprise?!"
"Yes! Soldier Dock System—Number Two!"
"Two?"
"There are five systems in total—each with different functions."
"But you said Two and Four were empty!" Nami said.
"That was to surprise you. Come on."
He led them below deck and opened a compartment.
"This is—me?!"
Merry stared in disbelief.
A small boat stood there—
with a sheep figurehead just like her own.
Her eyes filled with tears.
"That's right—it's you," Franky said proudly.
"Like it?"
"I love it! Thank you, Franky!!"
"Hahaha! Glad to hear it!"
Seeing her happiness made all his effort worthwhile.
"If you don't want to go ashore," Franky said,
"you can ride this near the coast."
Usopp and Chopper exchanged looks—then instantly jumped aboard with Nami.
"Let's try it!"
"Yeah!"
Franky returned to the deck.
"What did you show them?" Jin asked.
"You'll see."
With a grin, Franky opened Dock No. 2 and released it.
"OH!!"
Usopp and the others sped across the water, laughing wildly.
"That's… the Merry?" Jin said in shock.
"Yup. A shopping boat I made," Franky laughed.
"Pretty good, right?"
"That's some heartfelt craftsmanship," Sanji said.
"I'd happily shop every time if it was on that boat."
"Awesome!!" Luffy shouted.
"Nami, when's my turn?!"
"Wait your turn!" she yelled back as the mini-Merry surged ahead perfectly through the waves.
Everyone laughed.
"Let them enjoy it for now," Franky said.
"We'll go next."
But suddenly—
"NAMI!!"
A distant scream echoed through the fog.
Everyone stiffened.
"Something happened?!"
"The fog's too thick—I can't see!" Sanji cursed.
"Jin, go check it out!"
"You're the only one who can run on water!"
"Got it."
Jin moved to the rail—
—but before he could jump, a sharp gust slammed toward him.
His expression changed instantly.
He flipped backward, barely avoiding the strike.
"…Hmm?"
A faint sound of confusion echoed in the air.
"Jin, what are you doing?!" Sanji snapped.
"Hurry!"
"That wasn't me," Jin said calmly.
"Something just attacked."
From the shore?
A Devil Fruit user?
Suddenly—
CLANG!
The anchor dropped on its own, crashing into the sea.
"What? Why did the anchor fall?!"
"That shouldn't happen," Franky frowned.
"The ship's too new."
"Then is it the island?"
"Either way, pull it back up!" Zoro said.
Scrape—
Something moved again on deck.
"That's not right," Jin said.
"There's someone else here."
A strange breathing sound followed—
Hrrrk… hrrrk…
Like a beast lurking unseen.
"Invisibility…" Jin said, activating the Sharingan.
"Now that's troublesome."
Using that ability in front of him—
bold.
His eyes swept the deck.
"There you are."
"Zoro—don't move!"
Seeing Jin draw his blade and thrust straight toward him, Zoro froze—
trusting him completely.
SHRK!
The sound of steel piercing flesh rang out—
followed by a scream.
"AAAHHH!!"
Blood splattered from thin air.
Everyone leapt back in shock.
"Blood?!"
"Air's bleeding?!" Luffy yelled.
"That's obviously an enemy, idiot!" someone snapped.
The invisible figure revealed himself at last.
"Why can you see me?!" Absalom roared furiously.
"I was completely invisible!"
Ever since gaining the Clear-Clear Fruit, he had never once been exposed like this.
And yet—
this man not only detected him—
he stabbed him precisely.
"How is that possible?!"
"Wait…" Sanji's body began trembling.
"T-that guy… he's not a Clear-Clear Fruit user, is he…?"
"That's right!" Absalom declared proudly.
"I ate the Clear-Clear Fruit!"
Sanji's eyes went blank.
The light of dreams drained from them.
He collapsed face-first.
Absalom: "???"
…Is this man broken?
"You brat, answer me!" Absalom snarled, reaching to pull the weapon out of his body.
Before he could—
"Lightning Release."
ZZZT!
Electricity surged through Absalom's body.
"AAAAH!!"
His muscles spasmed violently as he collapsed, paralyzed.
"Invisibility might be troublesome for others," Jin said calmly,
"but not for me."
Even Jin himself found it strange.
When the Sharingan activated, Absalom appeared as a faint humanoid glow—
despite having no chakra.
Why?
Perhaps the Clear-Clear Fruit produced a special form of energy—
one that the Sharingan could still perceive.
…Or perhaps the strange fog Jin encountered when he first arrived in this world had altered him somehow.
Absalom glared in hatred, unable to move.
"So cool!!" Luffy shouted.
"You can see invisible people too?! That's ninja power!"
Robin looked at Jin curiously.
"How did you notice him?"
Jin smiled.
"Because… I've got cheats~"
"…Cheats?"
Robin didn't fully understand—
but when Jin winked at her, a thought formed.
Those eyes…
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