Chapter 41: Confirmation—Itachi Joins the Crew
"Those pirates... he let them all go?"
Prince Fukaboshi watched the fleeing figures disappearing toward the harbor, his expression a mixture of confusion and respect.
"It seems the man in black's decision extends to the New Fish-Man Pirates as well. We should ask his opinion on their disposal."
Fukaboshi swam toward where the Straw Hats had been gathered—but when he arrived, he found only empty space.
"Where did everyone go?"
He looked around, bewildered—then spotted the Thousand Sunny shooting away from the plaza at full speed, propelled by a gust of Coup de Burst!
Behind the ship, Shirahoshi swam desperately, her enormous form cutting through the water.
"Wait! Everyone, please wait!"
Aboard the Sunny, Luffy stood on the bow, arms spread wide as the wind whipped through his straw hat.
"GO, GO, GO, GO!"
He spun to face Franky, grinning.
"Being treated like a hero is way too troublesome!"
"OH! SUPER!" Franky pumped his mechanical arms, accelerating further.
On the deck, Zoro stretched out with visible relief. "Yeah, being lifted up and carried around by cheering crowds gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. We're pirates, not saviors."
Robin gazed back at the shrinking figure of King Neptune, her expression contemplative. During their discussion at the Sea Forest, she'd had time to study the Poneglyph there—the historical text of Fishman Island. There was so much more to this place than anyone knew.
Below deck, Chopper had made Itachi as comfortable as possible. The little reindeer lay on his back, using his own soft belly as a pillow while Itachi rested against him.
"Usopp! Bring me a hot towel!"
"Coming!" Usopp rushed over, damp towel in hand, and gently placed it over Itachi's eyes.
Chopper pressed his small hooves to Itachi's temples, massaging gently with practiced care.
"I'm not sure what caused it, but the blood vessels around Brother Itachi's eyes are strained. Poor circulation from overuse." His voice was soft, clinical, but filled with worry. "He'll recover, but he needs complete rest."
Itachi said nothing, simply letting the warmth and gentle pressure ease the throbbing behind his eyes. His Sharingan had been pushed far beyond normal limits—multiple Tsukuyomi uses, Amaterasu, Susano'o manifestations, and finally that final slash that split Noah in two.
The cost was predictable. Acceptable. But still painful.
On the bow, Luffy's attention had shifted to the sea behind them.
"Hey! Jinbe! Why aren't you coming aboard with us?!"
Jinbe, swimming alongside the Sunny, lowered his head slightly.
"The old man hasn't refused to sail with you, Luffy. You can consider me your crewmate even now."
"Then what?!" Luffy demanded.
Jinbe's expression grew serious.
"I currently belong to another pirate crew. If I'm to join the Straw Hats properly, I must first go there and sever that connection."
He met Luffy's eyes directly.
"But more importantly than the old man—there's someone you need to focus on right now."
"Someone important?" Luffy tilted his head.
Jinbe spoke slowly, deliberately.
"Uchiha Itachi."
Luffy's expression shifted. Memories flooded back—on Noah, when Itachi had told him to stop, to not push himself to the limit. Then watching as Itachi leaped into the sea and summoned that fiery red giant, splitting an ancient ark in two.
That's what he meant, Luffy realized. He took over because I couldn't do it alone.
Seeing understanding dawn on Luffy's face, Jinbe nodded.
"Go. Invite him properly."
Luffy's grin returned, wider than ever.
"RIGHT! Itachi's more important than inviting Jinbe right now!"
He spun and dashed toward the deck.
A murder of caws echoed overhead as crows circled the ship—Itachi's summons, never far from their master.
"Luffy, you really are a straightforward talker, kid."
Luffy leaped onto the main deck, mouth opening to shout—but Robin raised a finger to her lips.
"Shh. Itachi is resting."
Chopper looked up from his massage. "Yes, Luffy, keep your voice down!"
"Ah! Oh!" Luffy nodded vigorously, then crept toward Itachi on exaggerated tiptoes. He knelt beside the exhausted shinobi and gently shook his shoulder.
"Hey, Tear-trough Itachi. Tear-trough Itachi."
Itachi's eyes opened slightly beneath the towel. "What is it?"
"Ah, nothing! No more enemies!"
Luffy's face scrunched up—for once in his life, struggling to find words.
"I just wanted to ask... I mean, I want to know if..."
He took a breath.
"Will you be my nakama?"
The word hung in the air like a physical presence.
Nakama.
Everyone on deck froze. Even Zoro, who had been dozing against the railing, opened his eye.
Nakama.
Itachi's mind went still.
The word triggered something deep—memories flooding back unbidden.
At eleven years old, joining ANBU. The darkness. The solitude. The weight of a fate carried alone, shared with no one.
Even when there were others—Shisui, with his warm smile and stronger will. Kisame, the partner who walked beside him in darkness, asking nothing, expecting nothing.
They were companions of a sort. But this...
This feeling Luffy's crew shared. This warmth. This trust without condition, without manipulation, without hidden agendas.
It was the opposite of everything Itachi had known.
The opposite of darkness.
Sunlight.
Seeing Itachi's prolonged silence, the crew held their breath.
"Itachi..."
"Brother Itachi..."
"Itachi-san..."
Finally, softly, Itachi spoke.
"Where are you going next?"
Luffy blinked, confused. Nami quickly answered.
"We're continuing through the Grand Line! All the way to Laugh Tale!"
"A long journey, then?" Itachi asked.
Luffy grinned.
"I don't know! That's the point! We don't know what adventures are waiting!"
Usopp piped up hopefully. "Maybe we'll find Brother Itachi's homeland on the Grand Line! It's huge—maybe one day we'll reach the Land of Fire!"
Nami nodded quickly. "Right! It could happen!"
Itachi smiled faintly beneath the towel.
He didn't speak the truth aloud—the truth Robin had helped him understand. This world had no connection to his own. The Land of Fire didn't exist here. The ninja world was gone to him forever.
I might be leaving.
He'd said those words once, long ago, to a small boy who stood in the doorway watching him go. A boy with dark eyes and a stubborn chin, who didn't understand why his big brother had to leave.
Now Itachi had grown. He possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan. He could summon Susano'o, could stand against armies, could cut ancient arks in half.
But the one thing he'd always wanted—the one thing he could never have—was the chance to simply live. To walk in sunlight. To know what it felt like to be wanted without condition.
He'd planned to use Kotoamatsukami on Naruto, to make the boy bring him back to Konoha, to see Sasuke one last time before the end.
Fate had other plans.
Itachi sighed softly, the sound carrying acceptance rather than regret.
Sasuke. Naruto.
The future of the ninja world... I leave it to you.
Forgive me.
Beneath the towel, his lips curved into a genuine smile.
"I've decided."
Chopper's hooves stopped moving. "Brother Itachi... did you agree?!"
Itachi nodded—a small motion, but unmistakable.
"I'll go. I'll have this adventure with all of you."
For one heartbeat, there was silence.
Then—
"WAHOO!!!"
Chopper shot three feet into the air, his little body trembling with joy.
"BROTHER ITACHI SAID YES!!!"
Nami burst into tears, throwing her arms around Robin.
"He agreed! Robin, he actually agreed!"
Robin held her tightly, eyes glistening. "Yes. He did."
Usopp pumped both fists, eyes shining. "With Brother Itachi with us, we're truly unstoppable!"
Brook clutched his chest dramatically. "Itachi-san! I find myself weeping with joy!"
A pause.
"Though I have no tear ducts with which to weep! YOHOHOHO!"
Zoro's mouth curved upward. He grunted once—what passed for enthusiastic approval from the swordsman—and closed his eye again, returning to his nap with a satisfied expression.
Sanji lit a cigarette, inhaling slowly before exhaling a thoughtful stream of smoke.
"Gonna need to figure out Itachi's appetite. How much does a monster like that eat, anyway?"
At the helm, Franky struck a pose without taking his hands off the wheel.
"ITACHI! This is—SUPER!"
Even Jinbe, swimming alongside, exhaled in relief. A smile spread across his blue face.
"Having someone that reliable on board... that's good. That's very good."
Luffy settled his straw hat on his head and laughed—that distinctive, infectious laugh that seemed to carry all the joy in the world.
"All my dream nakama are here now."
He threw his head back.
"SHISHISHISHI!"
"Luffy-sama! Itachi-sama!"
Shirahoshi's voice carried across the water as she finally caught up, Fukaboshi beside her.
"Jinbe-san!"
"Everyone, please wait!"
(End of Chapter)
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