361-365

Chapter 361: A New World 

"Tch, what's there to be afraid of?" 

"It's not just the Land of Fire that has an alliance with the Land of Demons! There are also the Land of Earth, Land of Lightning, Land of Wind, and several other nations. No matter how powerful the Land of Water is, it would be incredibly difficult for them to fight all four of these great nations simultaneously!" 

"Besides, the current Mizukage of the Land of Water doesn't seem to want to easily initiate a war. Don't forget, a year ago, the Land of Water formed an alliance with the Land of Rain from afar, successfully planting a foothold right in the middle of the Four Great Nations! If the Four Great Nations continued to not react, then the Land of Water could easily leverage the Land of Rain's geographical advantage to launch a war against these four great nations, including the Land of Fire. At that point, it would be the Land of Fire's side that suffers. This alliance with the Land of Demons was precisely to disrupt the Land of Water's advantage!" 

Another person chimed in, "Sigh, these Great Nations truly can't sit still for a moment. Can't they just sit down and discuss things calmly? They just have to engage in this kind of political alliance Cold War! I just wonder if they'll actually break out into war. It's a bit worrying!" 

Others said, "I don't think a war will break out anytime soon. Look, the economies of the Five Great Nations are almost integrated now. If war breaks out, it won't benefit anyone!" 

"Indeed, war probably won't erupt, but disputes are unavoidable. This era is starting to become strange in an unprecedented way, but thankfully, for now, it's still peaceful!" 

"Alright, alright, enough talk! Come on, drink up! Whether war breaks out or not isn't something we can decide. Let's just enjoy ourselves while we can!" 

... 

Stepping out of the tavern, Itachi Uchiha said, "This era truly is a bit different. Perhaps peace can be maintained for a long time just like this!" 

Sasuke Uchiha glanced at the people in the tavern. "Maybe so, but the feeling of peace is pretty good. At least there aren't as many displaced families!" 

Itachi Uchiha smiled upon hearing that. "Yes, that's right. So, we still need to continue working hard to maintain peace!" 

Sasuke Uchiha nodded. 

... 

Somewhere in the Shinobi World! 

"The Shinobi World today is probably just as I once imagined it. This feeling of peace, it's truly reassuring!" a man with long red hair said with a cheerful expression, looking up at the sky. 

A woman with long purple hair beside him spoke, "Peace... that man truly achieved it! Following his set of rules, the Shinobi World should remain peaceful for at least a few decades!" 

"Indeed!" the red-haired man agreed. "As long as that man exists in this world, there won't be any wars in the Shinobi World. Moreover, the Shinobi World's economic system he's built has practically connected the entire Shinobi World. In the future, the connections between the Great Nations will become even closer, their vested interests more tightly intertwined. The consequences and costs of waging war will also grow increasingly immense." 

"War... it shouldn't be so easy to happen now!" the red-haired man mused. 

"If that's the case, then it's for the best!" The woman with long purple hair gazed at the sky, a hint of melancholy in her eyes. "Yahiko, do you see? Our dream from back then... it's been realized!" 

... 

Somewhere else in the Shinobi World! 

"This boring Shinobi World, it's so dull! There's nowhere for me to experiment with my art anymore, Sasori-aniki, wouldn't you agree?!" Deidara complained with a bored expression. 

Sasori of the Red Sand replied blandly, then went back to diligently crafting his puppets. "That's you. It has nothing to do with me. I find the current Shinobi World very interesting. At least, I have plenty of time to perfect my eternal art!" 

"Tch, art should be fleeting and beautiful. What's the point of something eternal—" Deidara, seeing Sasori of the Red Sand's murderous gaze, thought better of it and swallowed the rest of his sentence. 

... 

"Peace... what a beautiful picture! This should definitely be written into my novel! The title of this novel... let's call it 'Tales of the Fleeting World of Shinobi'!" 

Jiraiya sat on a sunny rooftop, gazing at the peaceful and serene scenery all around him, his face filled with smiles. This was a sight he had pursued since his youth, and now, it had truly been realized! 

Jiraiya chuckled softly. "The Child of Prophecy that the Great Toad Sage spoke of... so it was this guy, Yoru? Looks like even the Great Toad Sage's prophecies aren't always accurate! But it doesn't matter, whether it's accurate or not doesn't affect much. At least, the Shinobi World is indeed peaceful!" 

"Yoru, he truly is an extraordinary individual. He accomplished what no one before him could. Calling him a 'Great Hero' wouldn't be an exaggeration!" 

... 

Peace bathed the Shinobi World! 

The people of the Shinobi World also reveled in this peace and tranquility! 

The Shinobi World was entering a new era of rapid development! 

... 

Hidden Mist Village! 

"These days without enemies... they're a bit boring, aren't they? Sigh, that's the only downside to peace; there's no one to spar with me!" 

"But war would also breed so much hatred, making the situation in the Shinobi World even more complicated! What a bother!" Yoru sat on the roof of the Mizukage's building, gazing out at the beautiful scenery of the Hidden Mist Village, sighing with such emotion. 

"However, the Shinobi World isn't entirely safe and sound, either!" Yoru looked up at the sky. In the deep, azure expanse above, there was a faint crescent moon. "Toneri Ōtsutsuki... he probably hasn't awakened yet. And I still haven't found the pathway to the moon. Even if I wanted to deal with you, I can't, which is a bit frustrating! The taste of invincibility... it truly is a bit lonely!" 

Yoru could truly be said to have become quite idle now. He had already done everything he needed to do! Under his planning, the Hidden Mist Village was flourishing and no longer needed his direct leadership to progress steadily. This feeling of idleness was something he had once dreamed of, but now that he truly had it, it didn't feel quite as good. 

Just then, the system's voice, which hadn't appeared for a long time, suddenly rang out. "If Host desires combat, this system can assist Host in resolving that!" 

"Oh, you have a way? Tell me!" Yoru immediately became interested, wanting to know what answer the system could provide. 

"The system recently detected another spatial node and discovered a new world." 

"If Host finds invincibility too lonely and wishes for combat, the system can transport Host there, allowing Host to experience the long-awaited thrill and excitement of battle!" 

Yoru: "A new world? What kind of world?" 

System: "The system cannot discern the world's essence, but it is a world filled with vast oceans, teeming with powerful individuals, perfectly suited for Host's desire for combat!" 

Yoru: "???" 

"That world you're talking about... it wouldn't be the One Piece world, would it?!" 

System: "The system cannot detect the world's essence. Host, do you wish to proceed? The spatial node to that world will close in two days!" 

Chapter 362: Arrival in One Piece 

Yoru: "If I head to that world, what if a rebellion breaks out in the Shinobi world again?" "Like if someone like Ōtsutsuki Toneri descends upon the Shinobi world, how would we even deal with them trying to destroy it?" Yoru was naturally tempted by the thrill of experiencing combat in another world. But if the peace of the Shinobi world couldn't be guaranteed, he felt it wasn't worth it. 

System: "The system has already conducted a scan for the host. The Shinobi world will not experience any major crises for the next four years!" "If the host feels uneasy, the system can help the host leave a physical clone in the Shinobi world for its protection!" "This clone, aside from having an incomplete soul and only being able to maintain half of the host's original strength for thirty minutes, is otherwise identical to the host!" 

After hearing the system's explanation, Yoru said: "So, that means I can only stay in the new world for a maximum of four years, is that right?" 

System: "Yes!" "If the host fails to find a spatial node back to the Shinobi world within four years, you will be permanently trapped in the new world, unable to return to the Shinobi world!" "Does the host wish to proceed to the new world?" 

Yoru smiled. "Of course!" Clearing a new world in four years – wouldn't that be an incredibly interesting and challenging endeavor? 

"This transmigration will cost 50 million Enhancement Points. Do you wish to begin?" "Begin!" Yoru felt his soul suddenly tremble. Then, an intense pain shot through him. Before he could even cry out, his vision brightened, and a massive whirlpool of white light swallowed him whole. 

The First Half of the Grand Line, Louisvis Island! 

"Ugh~" A gaunt, ragged young man, his body covered in tattered clothes, rubbed his head and painfully struggled to his feet. 

"Where… am I?" The young man looked around at the surrounding scenery with a puzzled expression. He was on a beach, with the vast ocean before him and a dense jungle behind him. In the distance, on the sea, a Marine warship was sailing towards them! 

"Target spotted! Target spotted!!!" Just as the young man was still trying to figure out what was happening, a booming voice suddenly echoed from the warship. Then, the young man saw that the warship's cannons were pointed directly at him! 

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, no way! What in the world is going on here?!" The young man was, of course, Yoru, and he was startled. But the warship clearly didn't give him time to think. After a flash of fire and a roar, a huge cannonball came hurtling through the air! 

"Hey, hey, hey, what exactly is happening?! Can someone tell me?!" Yoru quickly dodged, but this body was simply too weak. Even making a dodging motion sent agonizing pain through him. 

"Boom!" The cannonball exploded about ten meters away from him, and the resulting blast wave sent him flying. 

"Uwah!" Yoru immediately coughed up a mouthful of blood, but then several more cannonballs came raining down from the sky towards him. 

"Damn it, you think I'm an easy target, huh?!" Yoru roared, trying to unleash an attack, only to awkwardly realize that this body knew nothing at all! "Shit!" He cursed, and could only continue dodging. 

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The entire island was rocked by continuous explosions, and Yoru… "Everyone else gets a start as either rich or noble, System, and you give me this kind of beginning?! Getting chased from the get-go, is this even decent?!" As he was sent flying and fell into the sea, Yoru cursed vehemently in his mind. 

"Huh? What's going on? Why do I feel so terrible?!" After falling into the sea, Yoru suddenly felt a powerful repulsion, and his whole body went limp, as if all his strength had been drained. 

"Ding! System Synchronization successful!" "Host's current identity is a fugitive, formerly a slave of the World Nobles, the Celestial Dragons, and was force-fed a Zoan-type Devil Fruit: Bird-Bird Fruit!" "According to this world's rules, Devil Fruit users become 'hammer-men' (unable to swim) and cannot come into contact with the sea. It is normal for the host to feel this way right now!" 

Hearing the system's words, Yoru just wanted to say: "Damn it!" Then, he completely lost consciousness! 

On the Marine warship in the distance! 

"Commodore, is that enough? Don't we need to check if the target has been killed?" a Lieutenant Commander asked, puzzled. 

"That guy ate a useless Devil Fruit. After I knocked him into the sea, how could he possibly survive?" "The sea is a Devil Fruit user's grave. He's dead for sure; he'll probably become food for the Sea Kings before long!" The Commodore lowered his binoculars. "Alright, let's head back. There are still other escaped slaves we haven't eliminated yet. It won't be easy to report back if we don't complete the mission!" 

"Yes, sir…" 

"Cough, cough!" On an unnamed island, Yoru slowly woke from his unconsciousness. 

"That really hurts!" Dragging his body, he leaned against a rock and thought to himself: "System, shouldn't you be giving me an explanation?" "You brought me to this world, and this is the kind of start you give me?!" 

System: "Host, please do not be anxious. Abilities are currently synchronizing. Please trust that the system will not deceive the host!" 

As for the system's words, Yoru just wanted to say: "Yeah, right!" However, he could only wait for the system to give him an explanation now. He was truly too weak to even lift his hand. 

A long time passed. 

"Host ability synchronization complete. Please select an ability!" A light screen appeared before Yoru, displaying several options: 'Ninjutsu,' 'Genjutsu,' 'Fūinjutsu,' 'Barrier Ninjutsu,' and 'Kenjutsu.' Yoru really wanted to choose Ninjutsu, or any of the others! But— 

"System, and you still say you're not screwing me over?!" "You gave me so many options, but in the end, only 'Kenjutsu' can actually be chosen! All the other options are unavailable because this world is incompatible with Chakra! What's the point of listing them if I can't choose them?!" Yoru ranted furiously in his mind. How did he not realize the system was so manipulative before?! 

"Detecting host's selection of 'Kenjutsu.' Kenjutsu is currently synchronizing…" "Ding! Kenjutsu synchronization complete! Congratulations, host has acquired Lv3 Kenjutsu, with the accompanying skill: 'Flash!'" 

"?!?!?!" "What happened to 'synchronization'?! Why is it only Lv3?! Isn't my highest Kenjutsu level Lv5?!" Yoru's composure shattered. The system was truly screwing him over at every turn this time; he was utterly speechless. 

System: "This system adheres to a service-oriented approach for the host, and to ensure the host fully enjoys the thrill of combat, and due to the limited balance of Enhancement Points, only Lv3 Kenjutsu could be exchanged!" 

"…" Yoru was speechless! He had nothing to say! Of course, it was only with this system notification that he noticed his Enhancement Points balance was down to a mere 200. 

"Fine, whatever!" Yoru opened his status panel. When in Rome, do as the Romans do! 

Chapter 363: The Lightning Killer 

December 16, 2022 

[Status Panel] 

Host: Yoru Age: 19 (Current Body Age, not Soul Age) Abilities: Bird-Bird Fruit (Untapped Potential), Lv3 Swordsmanship Weapon: Pò Wàng (Shatterer of Delusions) Enhancement Points: 200 Current World: One Piece 

Physical Attributes: Strength: 40 (Average person: 5) Speed: 25 (Average person: 5) Agility: 25 (Average person: 5) Stamina: 40 (Average person: 5) Defense: 20 (Average person: 5) Power Level: 35 (Marine Admiral: 95) 

... 

"So, I'm just at the level of a Jonin in the Shinobi World, huh? Guess I'll have to grind my way up again!" 

Feeling the power surging within his constantly transforming body, Yoru let out a sigh. 

"But then again, if I started off too strong, it wouldn't be much fun, would it?" 

With a thought, the long sword, Pò Wàng, appeared at his waist. 

"First things first, I really need to find somewhere with people!" 

Yoru glanced at the desolate landscape around him. His idea of quietly developing for a bit was clearly out the window! 

"Host, please note: if you die in this world, your soul will also perish, leading to the death of your original body back in the Shinobi World!" 

The system's alert chimed again. Yoru let out another helpless sigh. "Looks like before I can just dive into pure combat, I need to make sure my life is well protected!" 

"Still..." 

Yoru's lips curved into a sharp smile. "That long-lost thrill, the excitement of anticipating a fight... it's surging through me again! How exciting!" 

"Strongest of the One Piece world, here I come!" 

... 

In the year 1521 of the Marine Calendar! 

That year, Monkey D. Luffy, captain of the ‘Straw Hat Pirates,’ gained fame throughout the seas. He had defeated Crocodile, the Desert King—one of the World Government’s Seven Warlords of the Sea and one of the world’s three great powers—in the Grand Line country of Alabasta. 

His bounty was 100,000,000 Beli, marking him as a formidable pirate in the Grand Line! 

Meanwhile, on a certain island in the Grand Line... 

A young man, clad in rags, used his rather clumsy skills to build a ship over the course of a month, officially setting sail. 

"So the Eternal Pose points to Laugh Tale, huh? Heh heh, interesting, very interesting. Is this the system’s way of indirectly pushing me to pursue the path of the Pirate King?" 

"If that’s the case, I might as well give it a shot!" Yoru thought, his heart filled with ambition as he sailed on his wooden boat. 

... 

...At a certain Bounty Station! 

"Hey, have you heard? Recently, a ‘Lightning Killer’ has appeared on the seas! Super strong, and apparently he specializes in taking down high-bounty pirates!" 

"You mean that guy named Yoru?" 

"Yeah, that’s him! Mysterious origins, incredibly powerful. They say he’s only in his teens, but even ‘Golden Pirate’ Shimu, who’s been causing so much trouble lately, ended up dead by his hand!" 

"What?! Golden Pirate Shimu wasn’t his match? That guy had an 87 million Beli bounty, he was a real menace!" A burly man at a nearby table exclaimed in shock. 

"Tell me about it! I nearly jumped out of my skin when I first heard!" The man across from him remarked with emotion. 

"Creeeak!" 

Just then, the door to the bounty station swung open. 

A young man walked in. He had a scar near his eye, messy grey hair, sharp eyes, and a grey longsword hanging at his waist. 

In his hand, he carried a blood-red bag, reeking of gore and still dripping blood. 

The moment people saw him, the bustling bounty station instantly fell silent. 

"That guy... isn't that... Yoru?" 

"What's he doing here?!" 

"Shhh, keep it down! Don’t let him notice you! They say anyone he sets his sights on never ends well!" 

Everyone in the bounty station was hushed, like cicadas in winter, staring in terror at the young man who had just entered—Yoru. 

Yoru paid them no mind, walking straight to the counter and tossing the bag onto it. "Bounty: 95,000,000 Beli. ‘Bloody Blade’ Bryce!" 

As soon as he spoke, a collective gasp filled the room. 

That was a huge pirate with a bounty close to 100 million Beli! Just like that, Yoru killed him? 

His power is just too terrifying! 

"Just a moment!" 

The bounty station clerk, surprisingly unafraid of Yoru, picked up the head and retreated. 

Soon after, he came back carrying a chest of money. "Your reward, after deducting fees, is 9,410,000 Beli. Please count it." 

"No need. I trust you Marines aren’t in the habit of short-changing people!" Yoru picked up the money and turned to leave, but the clerk’s voice rang out behind him again. "Fleet Admiral Sengoku has heard about you and would like to invite you to join the Marines. What do you say?" 

Hearing this, Yoru waved his hand without looking back. "I’ll think about it!" 

Only after Yoru had left did everyone in the bounty station finally let out a long breath, looking like they’d just survived a terrifying ordeal. 

"By the way, do you think his next target will be Straw Hat Luffy?!" 

"Golden Pirate Shimu, with his 87 million Beli bounty, and Bryce with his 95 million Beli bounty, both died by his hand!" 

"Going by his killing spree, his next targets are probably those pirates with bounties over 100 million, right? And conveniently, there’s a pirate with a bounty over 100 million nearby!" A burly man speculated aloud. 

"Don’t even say it, but that might actually be possible. Maybe before long, we’ll hear news of Straw Hat Luffy being taken down!" 

"By the way, what’s the reason ‘Lightning Killer’ Yoru is slaying pirates so frequently? Does he just hate pirates that much?" 

"Who knows, right?!" 

... 

Naturally, Yoru wasn’t privy to the gossip happening in the bounty station. Of course, even if he were, he wouldn’t particularly care. 

As for why he’s been slaying pirates so frequently? 

Well, obviously, it’s to survive in this world. 

After arriving in the One Piece world, the system's rules changed. 

It’s no longer about just swinging his sword to get enhancement points. Now, he only gets enhancement points from fighting strong opponents. 

To get stronger and have the capital to operate in this world, he has to constantly seek out opponents to gain those enhancement points. 

Even now, he’s only accumulated less than 200,000 enhancement points. 

As for the other reason, it’s simply to earn a living. 

Ever since he came to the One Piece world, he found his appetite had grown immensely, so he needs enough money to buy food. 

Plus, sailing on the open seas requires ships and various living supplies, which also demand a large amount of money. 

And finally, it's about testing his own strength to see where he stands. Just looking at the numbers doesn’t give him an intuitive feel. 

But now, he’s got a pretty good grasp of his power level. Power Level 35, which is roughly equivalent to a bounty level of over 100 million Beli! 

However, as the saying goes, a speaker has no intention, but a listener takes it to heart. 

In this very bounty station, a certain young man had grown rather interested in Yoru. 

Chapter 364: Phoenix Form 

He tilted his hat, watching Yoru disappear into the distance, and murmured, "So, the next target is Luffy, huh? I won't let you succeed!" It was noteworthy that the decorations on his hat were peculiar: a smiling face and a frowning face. Around his neck, he also wore a string of large, dark red beads. 

On a calm stretch of ocean by an island. 

"This Bird-Bird Fruit ability feels pretty much useless, honestly. It seems to do nothing but slightly boost my basic physical attributes!" "Have I just not developed its specific categories yet?" Yoru said, frowning slightly. In the original story, even with the same Bird-Bird Fruit, some people turned into falcons, others into crows. Yoru didn't know what kind of bird he was. 

"Forget it, I'll try enhancing it with Enhancement Points. Maybe a miracle will happen!" "Enhance Bird-Bird Fruit!" 

"Ding! Detecting host's enhancement request. Scanning Devil Fruit: Bird-Bird Fruit…" "Scan successful!" A light screen appeared before Yoru. 

[Bird-Bird Fruit] 

• Type: Zoan 

• Ability: None (Currently) 

• Status: Undeveloped 

• Possible Development Paths: 

• Normal Type: Falcon, Crow, Sparrow… 

• Ancient Type: Various Pterosaur Species 

• Mythical Type: Phoenix, Golden Roc, Luan Bird… 

• Development Potential: High 

Watching the light screen before him, Yoru's previously furrowed brow relaxed. "There are so many development paths? Excellent! As expected of the system, it's truly comprehensive!" Yoru looked at the descriptions for the three development routes. Among them, the Normal Type offered the lowest abilities, while the Mythical Type offered the highest, but at the same time, required the most Enhancement Points. 

"Mythical Type Enhancement!" Since there was a strongest option, Yoru naturally chose to enhance to the strongest form. "Please select a Mythical Type category!" "Phoenix!" "Commencing enhancement. Initial enhancement will cost 150,000 Enhancement Points. Do you wish to proceed?" "Begin!" 

The moment the words fell, a blazing power erupted from Yoru's body. Vibrant feathers sprouted on him, burning with flames like divine light. 

"Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!" The seawater around him actually began to rapidly evaporate, and acrid smoke billowed from the deck beneath his feet, where a large, charred hole was burned through. Then, the deck began to constantly crack and shatter; if this continued, the ship would truly be ruined! 

Yoru was startled by this sight and thought he needed to fly to prevent the ship from being destroyed. And just like that, wings actually sprouted from his back. He flapped them upwards, and the wind howled around him. 

"I… I'm flying?" Looking at the ship below, then at the wings on his back, and finally at the unobstructed view all around him, Yoru exclaimed in surprise. This feeling was incredibly marvelous. 

"Have I really become the legendary Phoenix? This is interesting!" Feeling the constantly surging power within his body, and the terrifying flames surrounding him, Yoru experienced a unique sensation. How could he describe this feeling? If he had to say, it was probably freedom, vastness, making him want to soar ninety thousand li into the sky and let out a long, resonating cry. The feeling of power was so incredibly exciting! 

"Well, the next step is to buy a bigger ship!" Looking at the charred, ruined vessel below, Yoru sighed helplessly. Sailing on the open sea without a good ship was simply out of the question! 

The entire enhancement process only lasted five minutes, but Yoru felt his strength had increased significantly. 

"Ding! Bird-Bird Fruit enhancement complete! Congratulations, host has acquired Mythical Zoan: Phoenix Form ability, with accompanying skills: Phoenix Fiery Feathers and Phoenix Meteor Annihilation!" "Attribute bonuses received: Strength +20, Speed +10, Agility +10, Stamina +25, Defense +45!" 

[Status Panel] 

• Host: Yoru 

• Age: 19 (Body age, not soul age) 

• Bird-Bird Fruit · Phoenix Form: Beginner (40/100) 

• Kenjutsu: Lv3 (Flash) 

• Weapon: Pòwàng 

• Enhancement Points: 93,000 

• Plane: One Piece 

• Physical Attributes: 

• Strength: 60 (Normal human: 5) 

• Speed: 35 (Normal human: 5) 

• Agility: 35 (Normal human: 5) 

• Stamina: 65 (Normal human: 5) 

• Defense: 65 (Normal human: 5) 

• Power Level: 40 (Marine Admiral: 95) 

"Next up, it's buying a ship, and then searching for information about the Poneglyphs!" The initial preparations were complete; Yoru could now step out of the 'Novice Village' and embark on his journey into the world of the strong! 

Water Seven! 

"I'll take this 'Mandevus'!" Buying a ship, of course, meant coming to Water Seven, where the quality of ships was exceptionally good. 

"One hundred million Beli, what payment method will the customer choose?" The shipyard owner rubbed his hands together with a wide smile. It had been a long time since a generous customer like Yoru had come by. 

"Cash!" Yoru tossed the leather briefcase in his hand to the owner. "One hundred million total, you can count it!" 

"No need, no need, I trust the customer won't be short!" Since he could produce one hundred million Beli to buy a ship, he naturally wasn't short on cash, and there was no need for him to skimp. Besides, even if it was a little short, it wouldn't matter; he'd still make a profit. 

"Alright, I'll be taking the ship now!" Yoru exited the shop and boarded his new ship, the 'Mandevus', setting sail. 

The 'Mandevus' was entirely built from strong wood, making it sturdy and durable, and it had been fully treated for fire and moisture resistance. The ship's hull was a slender, streamlined shape, and when its main sail unfurled, it looked like a pair of wide wings, ready to take flight. The bow featured a quirky clown decoration, and it was equipped with six cannons on each side, controlled by buttons beneath the rudder. Inside the cabin, there was a training room, a bathroom, a lounge, and a spacious storage area of over thirty square meters—more than enough for Yoru living alone. 

Water Seven, Shopping District! Having bought a ship, it was natural to procure daily necessities. Yoru had been diligent enough during this time to earn quite a bit of money, so he had plenty to buy supplies. However, he didn't notice that he had been targeted. 

"This guy looks like he's got a lot of money!" "Excellent, he's the one!" Several men dressed in strange clothing, with 'Franky Family' insignia on their shirts, were secretly watching Yoru, muttering to each other. 

"Doesn't this guy look a bit tough to deal with? Might it be a little too dangerous?" someone asked with a hint of hesitation. 

"Relax, no matter how strong he is, he's still within our capabilities. Besides, he's just a little brat; how strong could he possibly be?!" The leader was completely fearless. "You guys, go seize his ship! I'll keep an eye on his movements!" The leader instructed those behind him. "Alright, Big Bro!" 

Yoru, naturally, had no idea he was being targeted. After all, he hadn't learned Observation Haki yet. He was currently on a massive shopping spree for supplies. Meat, vegetables, fruits, alcohol, medicine… In short, he was stocking up on anything that could be useful at sea. Just like that, without realizing it, he spent several more million Beli! 

Chapter 365: Fire Fist Ace 

It was a peculiar sight. As he led a group of shopkeepers delivering goods to the port, he found his own vessel had been brazenly taken over, now flying a rather gaudy pirate flag from its mast. 

His gaze instantly turned icy. 

He looked at the figures occupying his ship, his eyes narrowing. "The Franky Family?" he murmured. He never would have thought that the ones trying to shake down his ship would be Franky's own underlings. 

"Oh? You actually know us? Well, that makes things easier then! You must know our rules too, right?!" The man leading them put his hands on his hips, grinning as he looked at Yoru. "If you don't want any trouble, just hand over 500,000 ryō in protection money, and we'll be on our way, pronto!" 

"Otherwise..." He snorted with a laugh, his voice full of menace. "Go ahead, try and see what happens if you don't pay up!" 

"Oh? So you're trying to rob me then?" Yoru smiled too. "I'll give you some advice: get off my ship right now, and beat it. I can pretend this never happened." 

"Otherwise..." A cold glint flashed in Yoru's eyes. "Don't blame me for showing no mercy!" 

"Sir, it's probably best not to provoke them!" At that moment, the delivery folk behind Yoru looked at the Franky Family with wary and fearful expressions, trying to dissuade him. "Their boss, Franky, isn't someone you want to mess with! You should just pay them off and avoid trouble. You won't be able to beat their boss!" 

"Boss Franky is the overlord of Water 7! No one dares to cross him!" 

"Yeah, that's right, don't provoke them! Everyone who's ever crossed Franky has been 'dealt with' without exception. Mister, you really shouldn't go looking for trouble!" The surrounding delivery people all nodded in agreement. 

"Hahaha, you hear that, kid?" The leader's confidence swelled. "Now that you know how strong we are, hurry up and dutifully pay us off to avoid disaster! Otherwise, hmph hmph, don't blame us when we have to get rough!" 

"I already told you..." Yoru looked at them, drawing the long katana from his waist. "Get off yourselves, and I can pretend nothing happened!" 

"Since you don't know what's good for you, then there's nothing left to say!" 

"Assassinate him! Po Wang!" 

The moment the words left his lips, a chilling sword strike, with a wet thwick, effortlessly pierced through the leader's chest. 

"Shunshin!" Yoru whispered, and his body vanished from the spot like a flash of light, shunshin-ing past the entire Franky Family before reappearing, sheathing his blade. 

Thud! A spray of crimson blood erupted from the chests of all the Franky Family members as they collapsed, their eyes wide with disbelief. 

"Fools who don't know their place!" Yoru scanned them with a cold gaze. 

Of course, Yoru had still spared their lives. Their crimes weren't worthy of death. 

"Y-young man, how could you attack them?!" one of the delivery folk stammered. "It's over, it's truly over! You're a dead man now! Their boss, Franky, will never let you off the hook!" 

"We'll just leave these goods here! Farewell!" Seeing Yoru's ruthless attack on the Franky Family, the delivery people scattered immediately, dropping their piles of goods and vanishing in a flash. 

"Is it really that much trouble?" Seeing their panic, Yoru couldn't help but shake his head. 

Franky? Should he be afraid of this guy? Not really! 

He unceremoniously tossed all the Franky Family members overboard, then began loading the living supplies onto the ship, one by one. Honestly, it took quite a bit of effort for Yoru. 

... 

However, just as Yoru was preparing to set sail, a man suddenly appeared before him. 

"I hear you're planning to target Straw Hat Luffy next?" 

He was a man who seemed to radiate warmth, with a scattering of freckles on his face that couldn't mask his handsome features. 

"Oh? Targeting Straw Hat Luffy? And you want to know the answer?" Yoru smiled as he looked at the man in front of him. "If you want to know, then fight me. If you win, I'll tell you the answer!" 

It was a chance for easy strengthening points, and he wasn't about to let it slip away. Besides, this was a source of a whole 500,000 strengthening points! Yoru certainly wasn't going to let such a big 'fat sheep' escape. 

"You're being a little too arrogant, aren't you, sir?" Hearing Yoru's response, the freckled man's expression darkened. "Since you insist, then I'll humor your request!" 

"Tell me, where do you want to fight? Anywhere outside of Water 7 is fine by me!" 

Yoru: "Then get on board. We'll fight on that deserted island not far from here!" 

The freckled man immediately boarded the ship, not worried in the slightest about Yoru pulling any tricks. 

"Heh heh, to unexpectedly run into Fire Fist Ace, the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, here of all places… now that's interesting!" Yoru thought to himself. "But who spread this rumor that I'm going to attack Straw Hat Luffy? Why would I be bored out of my mind enough to pick a fight with him?!" 

Just think about Luffy's background! His father is Dragon, the leader of the Revolutionary Army! And his grandfather is Marine Vice-Admiral Garp! If he were to lay a hand on Luffy, Yoru couldn't guarantee that Dragon or Garp wouldn't personally come looking for him, ready to give him a thorough beating. 

The two quickly arrived at an island near Water 7. 

"Alright, bring it on!" 

Yoru's face was alight with battle intent. At this moment, Fire Fist Ace wasn't the Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division Commander in his eyes; he was simply a walking source of strengthening points. 

"Fire Fist!" 

Ace's eyes were cold. Right from the start, he unleashed his signature attack: a blazing fist of flame that came roaring towards Yoru. The very air trembled from the force, and the surrounding seawater began to evaporate. A wave of heat, carrying a powerful, oppressive force, bore down on Yoru. 

"Interesting. But I can play with fire too!" Facing the incoming fiery fist, flames erupted from Yoru's body as well, and he too unleashed a punch. 

Boom! Flames clashed against flames, but Yoru was blasted back with a boom. His strength couldn't match Fire Fist Ace's! 

"Fire Gun!" Seeing Yoru get blasted back, Ace didn't give him a chance to react. From his index fingers, a volley of flame bullets shot out, engulfing the sky in front of Yoru. 

Boom! Boom! Boom! 

Yoru quickly dodged, and wherever he had been, explosions erupted. 

"Po Wang! Assassinate him!" While dodging, Yoru drew the long katana from his waist, aiming it at Fire Fist Ace as he shouted. 

Thwack! Po Wang, swift as light, sharply pierced Ace's chest, but it had no effect. Ace had used his elemental transformation to dodge the strike. 

"An extendable blade? What an amazing ability!" Ace muttered. "And he can use flames too? What kind of ability user is this guy, anyway?!" Although Ace had evaded Yoru's attack, he was quite surprised. Yoru's abilities were truly strange. 

"Oh dear, oh dear," Yoru grumbled, "without Haki, fighting you ability users is really a pain, isn't it?"