Chapter 167: Splitting Into Two Groups — Law and Itachi Head to Whole Cake Island
"Yes. They are."
Robin's smile was soft, but her voice carried quiet conviction.
"Beside me, there's a crew of powerful, reliable nakama to protect me."
The effect of her words was immediate. Luffy scratched the back of his head, suddenly flustered. "Powerful? Us? That's embarrassing!"
"Whoever comes, I'll beat them up!"
Chopper had already transformed into his Kung Fu Point form, striking poses. "She called us reliable! Did you hear that?! RELIABLE!"
"For Robin-san! I will protect you no matter what happens!" Brook drew his sword with a flourish.
"If it's for Robin, I'll be SUPER too!" Franky's iron arms formed an elaborate heart.
"Anyone who touches Robin... I'll make them pay with their money AND their life." Nami's eyes gleamed with navigational fury.
"NO ONE lays a finger on Robin!" Usopp brandished his slingshot.
Zoro said nothing. He just crossed his arms and smiled.
Nekomamushi and Inuarashi watched the display with rumbling laughter. "It seems you're a reliable bunch after all."
But at the edge of the group, Law leaned close to Itachi and murmured something. The two exchanged a long look. Then Law stepped forward.
"Everyone. Hold on a moment."
"Itachi-ya and I have something to discuss with you all."
The laughter faded. Every head turned toward the Heart Pirate captain and the Tenth Straw Hat. Zoro's hand drifted unconsciously toward his swords. Something in the air had shifted.
Itachi's gaze swept across the gathered crew—the minks, the samurai, the allies who had bled alongside them. Finally, his eyes settled on Luffy.
"Luffy."
The single word was soft. But it carried weight.
Luffy's heart thumped against his ribs. "Itachi? What is it?"
"Forgive me. I discussed this with Law without consulting my captain first."
"I've decided... we're splitting into two groups."
The words hung in the air. Before anyone could react, Law spoke up.
"Black Leg-ya is a vital member of our alliance. He must be retrieved. But the situation we face is increasingly dangerous. Kaido could make his move at any moment, and we cannot afford to—"
"NO!!"
Luffy's shout cut through the hollow.
"ABSOLUTELY NOT! Sanji is coming back with ME! I'LL be the one to infiltrate Big Mom's territory! I'm the captain of the Straw Hats, and Sanji is MY nakama! I have to bring him back with my own hands!"
"Calm down, Straw Hat-ya." Law adjusted his hat. "If you go in your current state... are you planning to fight Big Mom directly?"
"So what if I do?!" Luffy's fists clenched. "That old woman took Sanji. She's going to answer for it."
"Which is exactly why you can't go." Law's voice hardened. "I don't want to see us caught between two Emperors. I don't want to watch this alliance die without a grave."
"Then we ALL go!" Luffy threw his arms wide. "We take down Big Mom together and bring Sanji back!"
"Straw Hat—"
"I don't care what you say, Tra-guy! SANJI IS COMING BACK WITH ME! ME! THE CAPTAIN!"
"LUFFY!"
Itachi's voice cut through the argument like a blade.
Luffy fell silent.
"If we mobilize the entire crew against Big Mom..." Itachi's voice was calm. Measured. "Setting aside the question of Kaido's response—let's simply consider what happens when we enter an Emperor's territory in force. If one of our nakama dies during that infiltration... what then?"
He let the question breathe.
"Bringing Sanji back is essential. But if Sanji returns to find that someone died trying to save him—what do you think he would feel? Why did Sanji leave in the first place? He left precisely because he didn't want to implicate us. If someone died because of his choice... he would carry that guilt for the rest of his life."
Silence.
"Luffy. This isn't an adventure. This isn't an exciting new island to explore. This mission has one objective, and one objective only: bring Sanji home."
"If we treat it as anything else, we risk everything."
The hollow was silent.
Luffy sat down. Crossed his legs. Pulled his straw hat low over his face.
Nami knelt beside him. "Luffy. I think Itachi's right. It's not because I'm afraid of dying. But... if someone died to save Sanji... I know him. He would never forgive himself."
"I was there when he left. I know why he chose to go."
Brook sheathed his sword. "Luffy-san. Itachi-san's assessment is sound. Our objective is infiltration and extraction. For that, Itachi-san's perception and combat ability, combined with Law-san's mobility... they are the optimal team. Moreover, Law-san is not a Straw Hat. He is an ally. He is taking this risk for us. I hope you can understand that."
The straw hat rose.
Luffy's mouth curved into a small, rueful smile.
"Yeah. I wasn't thinking clearly."
"Sorry, Itachi. Sorry, Tra-guy."
"Don't apologize, Luffy." Itachi closed his eyes. "Sanji was taken because my blockade failed. If I had eliminated the Big Mom pursuit force completely at that time—"
Law's hand landed on his shoulder. "Itachi-ya."
Itachi opened his eyes. Luffy had already bounded away.
"Hey! Dog uncle! Cat Viper! Can we stay on Zou a bit longer?! MORE BANQUETS!"
"Hahahaha! Of course! As many as you want!" The Cat Viper's whiskers twitched with delight.
"YOU—!"
Every Straw Hat's face cycled through identical stages of exasperation.
Usopp seized Luffy's head and shook him violently. "I WAS ABOUT TO GIVE A REALLY MOVING SPEECH ABOUT UNDERSTANDING YOUR FEELINGS! AND YOU JUST—!"
"Nothing stays in his brain for more than five seconds," Zoro observed.
"Ah, I just remembered." Luffy's voice came out distorted as Usopp wrung his neck. "Without Sanji, there's no one on the ship to make good food."
"THAT'S YOUR CONCERN?!" Nami and Chopper joined the assault.
"IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE COOKING!"
In seconds, Luffy's face had swollen to impressive proportions.
"Wait. WAIT."
Law raised his hand. The crew paused mid-beating.
"You're thinking about this too simply, Straw Hat-ya. You won't just be sitting here waiting for us to return. Zou isn't safe anymore. If the Beast Pirates send another force, I don't want this country to suffer another catastrophe."
"So. You have something else to do. Something more important."
"What?" Luffy and Usopp straightened. "What's more important than Sanji?"
Itachi's gaze shifted toward the three figures standing apart from the group. Kin'emon. Kanjuro. And Momonosuke, still trembling from his earlier fright.
"They will explain it themselves."
His voice was quiet. But the words carried across the hollow with unmistakable weight.
"The royal family of Wano. The Kozuki clan."
(End of Chapter)
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