Chapter 40: Liberation
"Everyone, look! It's Princess Shirahoshi!"
"Look, look—Princess Shirahoshi is holding Straw Hat Luffy! And the man in black who ended the battle in the square!"
"Behind Princess Shirahoshi—that's Prince Fukaboshi!"
"Prince Fukaboshi is carrying Hody!"
"This means... the Straw Hats have won!"
"THAT'S RIGHT! WE WON!!!"
"WE'RE SAVED!!!"
The cheers erupted across Gyoncorde Plaza like a wave crashing against the shore. Murlocs, fishmen, and humans alike threw their arms skyward, tears streaming down faces, voices cracking with joy and relief.
King Neptune had arrived at the plaza's edge, his massive form casting a shadow over the celebrating crowd. His ancient eyes swept across the scene—the broken remnants of the New Fish-Man Pirates, the freed slaves weeping with gratitude, his people embracing humans without fear for the first time in decades.
"Incredible," he murmured. "A mere handful of people... a dozen or so outsiders... won our war of subjugation for us."
But amid the celebration, a different sound cut through the noise.
Crying.
Shirahoshi had descended through the bubble, still holding Luffy and Itachi in her protective bubbles. Tears streamed down her enormous face as she gently set them down before the Straw Hat crew.
"Zoro-san! Nami-san! Please look at Luffy-san!"
Her voice trembled with fear.
"Luffy-san... he's bleeding so much!"
She turned to Itachi.
"And Itachi-san... he can't even stand anymore!"
Chopper was already moving, his little legs pumping as he raced toward them. He reached Itachi first, pressing his stethoscope against the man's chest, listening intently.
"No apparent injuries," Chopper announced, relief mixed with concern in his voice. "Just... just completely exhausted."
Itachi's eyes fluttered. "I'm... merely tired." The words came with obvious effort.
"Itachi!" Robin and Nami rushed to his side. Nami gently cradled his head in her arms, supporting him. "Just rest. Don't try to talk."
"Yes," Robin agreed softly. "Save your strength."
"That's right!" Chopper called over his shoulder. "Let Brother Itachi breathe evenly. His physical strength is completely spent!"
Then Chopper turned to Luffy—and froze.
"Huh?!"
His eyes went wide with horror.
"Luffy! Luffy's lost too much blood!"
Chopper spun around, ready to dash for the Thousand Sunny's medical supplies—then stopped dead.
The blood bank... we used it all when Sanji had that nosebleed treating the mermaids!
He whirled back to face the crew.
"Who has F-type blood?!" he demanded. "Luffy needs an immediate transfusion!"
"F-type?" The crew exchanged panicked glances.
"I'm O-type," Zoro said.
"Me too," Sanji added.
"AB," Robin said quietly.
"B!" Chopper wailed. "No one on our ship has F-type!"
Shirahoshi stretched out her arm without hesitation, tears still streaming.
"Take my blood! It may not be F-type, but it's red! Please, save Luffy-san!"
"No!" Chopper shook his head frantically. "It has to be the right type! Wrong blood type will kill him!"
He cupped his hooves around his mouth and shouted toward the plaza.
"EVERYONE! Does anyone here have F-type blood?! Our captain Luffy needs a transfusion! He's losing too much blood!"
The Straw Hats joined in, yelling toward the crowd.
"Anyone with F-type?!"
"Please! Our captain needs help!"
In the crowd, hands went up.
"I do! I have F-type!" called a mermaid.
"Me too!" shouted a fishman.
Several residents began moving toward the crew—then stopped. Their faces fell.
"But... the law..."
They looked at one another, trapped between gratitude and generations of fear.
"The country's laws strictly forbid humans receiving blood transfusions. And forbid us receiving human blood as well."
The crowd stirred uneasily. No one moved forward.
Prince Fukaboshi, having just received treatment for his wounds, saw what was happening. He limped forward, voice ringing across the plaza.
"The people who saved our island are dying! I don't care about the law! Human life comes first!"
But still, the crowd hesitated. The law had been carved into their bones for too long.
Then Jinbe stepped forward.
He raised his massive arm, voice calm and certain.
"Use my blood. I'm F-type."
He walked toward Luffy without hesitation.
"And I'm a pirate. I'm not currently a resident of this island."
The crowd exhaled collectively. Relief washed across their faces.
"Jinbe-san..."
King Neptune watched from above, his expression heavy with old sorrow.
"The source of hatred between our people and humans... you can see it in that very law."
He straightened, resolve hardening in his ancient heart.
These Straw Hats will be declared heroes of Fishman Island. They will help us rebuild our people's trust in humanity. Starting now.
Jinbe lay down beside Luffy as Chopper quickly connected the transfusion equipment. As Jinbe's blood began to flow into the rubber captain's veins, memories surfaced unbidden—images from years past.
Fisher Tiger, roaring his last words before death, refusing human blood to the end.
Queen Otohime, her final plea echoing through the crowd: Do not hate. Do not resent. Our children must inherit a better future.
All the struggle. All the sacrifice. All the hope.
Jinbe's eyes grew distant.
For fishmen to rejoin the world... to stand equal with humans... we've given everything.
A small smile touched his lips.
It seems we've taken another step forward.
Nearby, Fukaboshi had approached his father, his wounds freshly bandaged.
"Father," he asked quietly. "What should we do with the New Fish-Man Pirates' remnants?"
King Neptune glanced toward where Hody and his officers lay captured. The crowd around them was growing hostile, voices rising in anger and accusation.
"They surrendered to the Straw Hats, didn't they?" King Neptune said slowly. "I heard they surrendered specifically to the man in black."
He nodded thoughtfully.
"Then we should ask his opinion on their fate."
On the Straw Hats' side of the plaza, something unexpected was happening.
The human pirates—the slaves who had been freed from Hody's forced labor—had gathered in a nervous cluster. Their eyes kept darting toward Itachi, toward the exhausted man resting in Nami's arms.
Zoro noticed their approach and instinctively reached for Enma's hilt.
The lead pirate captain saw the movement and dropped to his knees with a thud. Behind him, the others followed suit, hitting the ground like falling dominos.
"Straw Hats!" the captain called out, voice trembling. "We're not here to fight! We've come to pledge ourselves to that god!"
Zoro's eyebrow rose. "God?"
"Yes! The man in black! He's our god!"
Sanji stepped forward, fury flashing in his eyes. "Itachi isn't your god! Can't you see he's exhausted, you idiots!"
The pirates flinched but didn't retreat.
"Uh... well..."
The captain gathered his courage and called out directly to Itachi.
"Man in black! I mean—big brother in black! You saved us! We want to follow you!"
"Yes!" the others chorused. "We'll be your subordinates! Your servants!"
"We'll sail wherever you go!"
Sanji's leg twitched, ready to kick them all into the sea.
Zoro caught his arm and shook his head slightly.
Sanji understood immediately.
His anger at the pirates came from already considering Itachi part of their crew. But the truth was—Itachi hadn't agreed to join them yet. He hadn't said yes to Luffy's inevitable invitation.
This decision belonged to Itachi alone.
Sanji lowered his leg and fell silent.
In Nami's arms, Itachi's eyes opened. His voice, though weak, carried clearly.
"Go. Leave."
The pirate captain's face fell.
"Big brother in black... what do you mean?"
"Leave. Go wherever you wish."
The pirates exchanged stunned glances.
"Big brother in black! Don't you need servants? We'd be your slaves! Anything!"
"No."
Itachi's response was absolute, yet not unkind.
"I am also a drifting ship. I don't yet know where I'm going."
His eyes found Robin briefly.
"Robin told me this is an age of great piracy—the Great Pirate Era. Everyone sails toward their own dreams."
He looked back at the kneeling pirates.
"So go. Follow your own dreams."
The pirates were speechless.
Robin knelt beside Itachi, gently supporting his head. "Don't talk too much. Here, drink some water." She carefully brought a canteen to his lips, letting the cool liquid ease his parched throat.
The pirate captain pressed his forehead to the ground. Behind him, every pirate did the same.
"Thank you, big brother in black."
"Because of you, we're truly free."
A chorus of voices rose behind him.
"THANK YOU, BROTHER ITACHI!"
The captain raised his head one last time.
"If you ever need us in the New World—any of us—just call! We'll come running!"
One by one, they shouted their names, their crews, their allegiances. Itachi acknowledged each with the slightest nod.
When he said nothing more, they rose—and ran.
Not from fear. Toward freedom.
"WE'RE FREE!!!"
Their joyful cries echoed across the plaza as they scattered toward the harbor, toward ships, toward futures they'd thought lost forever.
The Straw Hats watched them go.
Zoro sheathed his sword completely. "Strange feeling," he muttered. "Watching enemies run toward joy instead of away from death."
Nami smiled down at the man in her arms. Her expression shifted—curiosity replacing concern.
"By the way, Itachi. What did you mean by 'drifting ship'?"
She met his tired eyes.
"If you don't have somewhere to go... you could come with us."
(End of Chapter)
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