Chapter 8
In the Akagami Pirates' eyes, the trio of Sasuke, Ace, and Sabo was a peculiar one, to say the least—but undeniably hilarious.
But what truly caught the crew's attention was how the villagers of Foosha Village treated them. Whenever Ace, Sabo, and Sasuke ventured into town, the villagers would greet them with a mixture of affection and respect, almost as if the trio were part of their very fabric. It was odd at first, considering Ace's explosive personality and Sabo's occasional outbursts, but the village had a clear reverence for them, especially for Sasuke.
Shanks leaned over to Benn Beckman one evening as they watched the trio stroll into the village. Ace was enthusiastically trying to convince Sabo to follow him into some new misadventure, while Sasuke followed behind with that familiar, unimpressed look on his face. The villagers waved at them as they passed, some even tipping their hats or calling out greetings.
"Have you noticed that?" Shanks asked with a raised brow. "The way the villagers treat them? They act like they’re royalty or something."
Benn Beckman, who was never one for small talk, took a slow sip from his mug, eyes narrowing in thought. "Mm, yeah. It's like they’ve earned a level of trust you don’t normally see around here. Especially Sasuke.
Shanks nodded, a grin tugging at his lips. "I’ve seen it too. They respect him, no doubt about it. But Ace and Sabo? I’m still not sure how they pull that off."
"Probably a combination of sheer chaos and charm," Benn quipped dryly. "It seems to work for them, though."
The crew watched as Sabo, noticing a particularly large group of villagers, waved energetically. The older men and women grinned back, some even stepping forward to offer him food or drink. Ace was bombarding an elderly couple with excited stories about the latest "successful" experiment, while Sasuke stood a few paces back, observing with an exasperated but fond expression.
"Didn’t think I’d ever see the day where a bunch of villagers look at them like they were family," Yasopp said, shaking his head in disbelief. "And they’re so protective! I saw an old man practically glare at someone who dared to stare at Sabo for too long."
"Yeah, they keep their distance when it comes to those three," Lucky Roux added, chuckling.
Sasuke, in particular, was a bit of a mystery to the crew. The villagers never quite shared much about him when asked, only giving vague but warm responses like, "He’s a good person" or "He's a nice person." No one ever elaborated much, always offering only the barest details about his past, and always with a smile that suggested they weren't willing to go into deeper territory. It was clear they respected him more than they let on, and the way they spoke about him hinted at something important—something Sasuke had quietly earned through his actions, not just words.
Ace and Sabo, on the other hand, were subjects of much more open—though no less mysterious—affection.
When asked, villagers would recount stories of their adventures in town or in the surrounding woods, often ending with an amused shake of the head. “That Ace,”
one would say, “He’s full of fire, but he has a heart of gold.”
“Sabo? He’s got the sharpest mind around here, always looking out for everyone.” But the moment anyone tried to ask more specific questions, the villagers would just smile mysteriously and politely change the subject. There was a certain reverence that spoke volumes, but they didn’t seem keen on revealing too much.
Shanks leaned back in his chair, intrigued. "So, what do you think? A mysterious past or just the village’s way of being... protective?"
Benn Beckman was still quiet for a moment, watching the trio as they disappeared down a path toward the forest. “Maybe it’s both. They’ve obviously earned something here—trust, protection, maybe even loyalty. But it doesn’t seem like the villagers are just protecting them because of some local bond. There’s something more... deeper.”
“Yeah,” Shanks agreed, glancing at Sasuke's figure as the man exchanged a few words with an elderly woman. "You don't get that kind of protection without being deserving of it. Something tells me Sasuke’s done more than just teach those two troublemakers. He's earned their loyalty."
Sasuke, who was now walking away from the group with Ace and Sabo in tow, glanced over his shoulder and caught the crew watching. For a split second, there was a flash of something unreadable in his eyes—something that made Shanks pause. It was subtle, but it was there yet it was gone in a blink of eyes.
At the Party bar.
Shanks leaned back in his chair, eyeing Makino curiously as she continued to wipe down the glass with practiced precision, her smile never wavering. Benn, seated next to Shanks, raised an eyebrow, sensing something was off, but he remained silent for the moment, letting Shanks lead the conversation.
“Ne, Makino,” Shanks said again, this time his tone more playful, though the curiosity in his voice was clear. “Why are the villagers so protective of Sasuke? I’ve never seen them act like that toward anyone else. ”
Makino’s gaze flickered to the two pirates briefly before she returned her focus to the glass in her hand. The smile she wore was warm, but there was a subtle shift in her expression—a kind of reserved understanding that seemed to reflect the same quiet reverence the villagers held for Sasuke and his companions.
She poured the fresh drinks with deliberate care, the clinking of glass punctuating the silence between them. “Well,” she said, finally breaking the quiet, her voice calm and measured, “it's not something we talk about much around here. The villagers… they don’t like to share too many details, especially with outsiders.”
Shanks raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “So there’s a story, huh?”
Makino nodded, though her smile remained intact. “It's not my place to tell it. But... let’s just say Sasuke’s not your average person. He’s helped this village in ways you can’t even imagine. ”
Benn gave a low hum of acknowledgment, clearly picking up on the unspoken tension. "Sounds like there's a lot more to Sasuke than meets the eye."
Makino's eyes met Benn’s, and there was a flicker of something—an understanding, perhaps, but also an unspoken warning. She didn’t need to say more. It was clear she knew something that she wasn’t about to share.
“The villagers... well, they've learned not to say too many things about Sasuke to the outsiders.” she continued, still avoiding saying too much. “What matters to them is that he’s here now, and that he’s helped them. That’s enough for them to be loyal to him. But... be careful with that curiosity of yours. Some things are better left unknown, even if you’re a pirate captain.”
Shanks chuckled, the sound deep and amused. “I can respect that.” His eyes glinted, though, as if he was already piecing something together in his mind. “But there’s clearly more to the story. Right, Benn?”
Benn, ever the observant one, gave a quiet nod, his eyes narrowing slightly as he considered Makino’s words. He’d been around long enough to recognize the guardedness in her tone, something that spoke volumes without giving anything away. “It’s not just about protecting Sasuke, is it? It’s about the village needing him—keeping him safe from something,” he said, voice steady and thoughtful.
Makino’s smile never faltered, but there was a softness to it now, as if she was acknowledging the truth in Benn’s words. “The villagers know Sasuke’s not just some doctor. But they’ve learned to keep quiet. Trust me, it’s safer that way.”
She set the freshly poured drinks down in front of Shanks and Benn. “There’s a reason why the villagers are unwilling to share anything about the three. They’ve learned the hard way what happens when the wrong people hear it.”
Benn’s eyes widened slightly, his hand pausing midway to his drink as he processed Makino’s words. Sasuke, a doctor?
It was a surprising revelation, considering the mysterious air surrounding him and the boys. The term "doctor" didn’t quite seem to fit the image of the man he had seen, nor the young companions he was always with.
But Makino’s tone, that delicate sweetness laced with something far sharper, made him reconsider. Maybe there was much more to Sasuke—and the boys—than anyone was letting on.
"Sasuke is a doctor?" Shanks repeated, raising an eyebrow, clearly taken aback by the news. “Didn’t expect that from someone who looks like he’s just passing through.”
Makino’s gaze softened, though it held an undercurrent of caution. She nodded slowly. “Sasuke-san is a talented man. But, as I said, he’s not just some doctor. He’s... different. He’s helped the villagers in ways that go beyond medicine, and in ways that most would never believe.”
She paused, setting down the drink with an almost deliberate slowness, her smile holding a hint of warning. “Ace and Sabo, too—they’re a part of it, though they tend to cause more chaos than anything useful. But still, they’ve shown remarkable skills in their own right, despite their... antics.”
Benn took a slow sip of his drink, processing the information.
He had always suspected there was more to Sasuke and the boys than met the eye, but hearing this put everything in a new light. Sasuke, the mysterious figure, the silent protector of these two troublemaking kids... a doctor? It was too strange, yet somehow it made sense.
But then, something clicked in Benn’s mind. The whispers, the protectiveness of the villagers, the secretive atmosphere around them all—he had heard of such things before.
The doctor from nowhere.
It was a title that echoed through the world, a doctor with strange abilities who had vanished without a trace after saving lives on various islands.
But Benn had never connected those rumors with the Sasuke he saw in front of him.
Before he could voice his realization, Makino’s voice interrupted him, and it was sweeter than before, but with a chilling edge.
"Benn-san," she said softly, leaning closer with an almost conspiratorial air, "it’s better if you keep it to yourself."
Benn froze, he looked at her -she smile was still there, but it was now tinged with something dangerous—an unspoken warning that reminded him of the danger in knowing too much.
Benn nodded slowly.
He wasn’t one to take unnecessary risks, especially not when the stakes were so high. If Sasuke’s identity were guarded so tightly by the villagers, then it was clear that revealing any knowledge could be more than just inconvenient—it could be deadly.
Shanks, still processing the new information, looked between Benn and Makino. "I take it we won’t be hearing any more about this, huh?"
Makino's smile remained, though it was now laced with an almost maternal warmth. “You’re smart to understand, Shanks-san. The villagers have learned that some things are better left unsaid. We has our reasons for keeping quiet about this matter as you must have guessed.” She glanced at Benn, her tone turning a bit more serious. “The wrong people asking the wrong questions can lead to... unpleasant outcomes. You wouldn’t want to find yourself in that kind of trouble, would you?”
Benn shook his head, a slight smirk playing on his lips despite the seriousness of the moment. "Wouldn’t dream of it."
“Now please enjoy your drinks!” Makino smiled brightly at them before going back to her work.
Shanks took a slow sip of his beer, the frothy drink going down smooth, but his mind was anything but calm. He leaned back in his seat, his usual grin still plastered on his face, but his thoughts were swirling. The Doctor from Nowhere... here in the East Blue? Living in the forests of Dawn Island?
It seemed almost absurd. The man described in the tales Shanks had heard was a figure of mystery, a legend whispered in hushed tones among sailors and merchants who swore they had seen miracles performed by a shadowy figure with unmatched skill. The idea that this same person could be Sasuke—a young man who seemed far more tired than heroic—was both laughable and intriguing.
“Funny, isn’t it?” Benn murmured, taking a long sip from his own drink. “Of all the places he could’ve gone, he ends up in the quietest sea in the world.”
“Not so quiet if Ace and Sabo are involved,” Shanks chuckled, though the amusement didn’t quite reach his eyes. His gaze drifted toward the door, as if expecting Sasuke or one of the boys to burst in with another wild tale of destruction. “Still, I can’t believe we’ve stumbled across the Doctor from Nowhere. What are the odds?”
Benn smirked. “With your luck? Pretty high.”
Shanks laughed at that, leaning back in his chair. “Fair point. But it does make you wonder, doesn’t it? What’s he doing here, hiding out like this? The man’s got enough talent to make a name for himself in any sea, yet he’s holed up in a forest with two kids.”
“No, what makes me curious is he really hiding?” Benn said, his voice low. His eyes flicked toward Makino, who was busy chatting with another patron.
Shanks raised an eyebrow at Benn’s words, his grin fading slightly as he regarded his first mate. “What are you getting at?” he asked, leaning forward slightly.
Benn swirled his drink in his hand, his eyes thoughtful. “Think about it, Captain. If he were really hiding, why stay somewhere like this? Dawn Island isn’t exactly out of the way—it’s got a marine base not far off, and it’s a known stop for pirates. Hell, we’re here, aren’t we?”
Shanks frowned, considering the point. “So, you’re saying he’s not hiding?”
“I’m saying,” Benn replied, setting his drink down on the counter with a soft clink, “if he’s not hiding, then maybe he’s waiting. Or preparing.”
Shanks let out a low whistle, sitting back in his chair and running a hand through his hair. “That’s a heavy thought. Waiting for what, though? Or... who?”
Benn shrugged, but his gaze remained sharp. “Could be anything. Could be anyone. But someone like him doesn’t just disappear for no reason. And someone like him definitely doesn’t stay in one place without a purpose.”
The conversation lulled for a moment, both men lost in their thoughts. Makino, noticing the shift in mood, approached with her usual warm smile and a fresh pitcher of beer. “You two look like you’re plotting something,” she said lightly, refilling their mugs.
“Not plotting,” Shanks said with a grin, though it lacked his usual enthusiasm. “Just... wondering about your friend Sasuke.”
Makino’s smile didn’t falter, but her gaze sharpened ever so slightly. “Is that so, then i wish you good luck because if you want to know about Sasuke-san then you will have to ask Ace and Sabo, just a warning as a friend…those two are very tight lipped.”
Shanks chuckled, though there was a glint of curiosity in his eyes. “Ace and Sabo, huh? Tight-lipped kids, you say?” He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms with an amused smirk. “Guess I’ll have to work my charm on them.”
Makino’s smile turned slightly mischievous. “Oh, you can try, Shanks-san. But those boys? They’ve learned from the best. Don’t expect them to give anything away easily.”
Benn raised an eyebrow, his interest clearly piqued. “The best, huh? You mean Sasuke?”
Makino nodded, her expression softening. “Sasuke-san’s been good to them, and they’re fiercely loyal. If there’s anyone those two would keep secrets for, it’s him.”
Shanks tapped a finger against the counter, his grin widening. “This gets more interesting by the minute. Ace and Sabo, tight-lipped little guardians of Sasuke’s secrets... Now I have to know.”
Makino laughed lightly, shaking her head. “Consider that my second warning, Shanks-san. If you start poking around too much, you might just find yourself caught in their chaos.”
Benn snorted. “Chaos seems to follow those kids around like a shadow. Makes sense if Sasuke’s the one teaching them.”
Shanks raised his mug in mock salute. “Well, what’s life without a little chaos, right?”
Makino simply smiled, her gaze flicking between the two men. “Just don’t say I didn’t warn you. Now, enjoy your drinks and leave the boys be—for your own sake.”
As Makino walked away, Shanks turned to Benn, his grin never faltering. “You hear that? We’ve got ourselves a challenge.”
Benn shook his head with a sigh. “You just can’t resist, can you?”
Shanks laughed, his eyes glinting with mischief. “Come on, Benn. What’s the fun in letting a good mystery stay unsolved?”
As Shanks and Benn made their way through the thick trees of Dawn Island’s forest, the air was filled with the sounds of chirping birds and rustling leaves. It was peaceful, almost serene, but the two men couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation.
Shanks chuckled to himself, brushing a branch aside. “So, Sasuke, Ace, and Sabo live out here, huh? No wonder Sabo was mad about the tree-drowning. You think he’s always this high-strung?”
Benn smirked, stepping carefully over a fallen log. “Can you blame him? Living with someone like Ace must be exhausting. From what we’ve heard, the kid’s a walking disaster.”
“And Sasuke’s the one keeping them all together?” Shanks mused, his grin widening. “Makes you wonder what kind of person he really is.”
They continued deeper into the forest, their boots crunching against the underbrush. The towering trees provided shade from the sun, their dense canopies creating a tranquil, almost otherworldly atmosphere. Yet, as they walked, they couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched.
“Do you think they know we’re coming?” Shanks asked, glancing over his shoulder.
“If they don’t, I’ll be surprised,” Benn replied. “Ace and Sabo don’t seem like the kind of kids to sit still. They’ve probably got traps set up all over the place.”
Shanks laughed. “Traps? What are we, wild animals?”
“Knowing Ace, that’s probably how he sees us,” Benn said dryly.
Sure enough, as they reached a small clearing, Shanks’ instincts flared. He held out a hand to stop Benn, his carefree grin replaced by a look of concentration. “Hold on,” he said. “Something’s off.”
“What is it?” Benn asked, his voice low as he scanned the area.
Instead of answering, Shanks crouched down and picked up a small stone from the forest floor. He weighed it in his hand for a moment, then tossed it ahead, right into the center of the path.
The instant the stone hit the ground, a deafening explosion erupted, sending dirt and leaves flying in all directions. Smoke billowed out from the blast, and the air was filled with the acrid smell of burned vegetation. Shanks and Benn shielded their faces as debris rained down around them.
“Well,” Shanks said, coughing slightly but grinning again, “that confirms it. We’re definitely in Ace territory.”
Benn gave him a flat look, brushing ash off his coat. “You think? What gave it away—the explosion or the fact that the kid’s traps are borderline insane?”
Shanks laughed, shaking his head as he stood. “Hey, give him credit. That was a pretty clever setup for a nine-year-old.”
“Clever isn’t the word I’d use,” Benn muttered, inspecting the scorched patch of ground. “This kid’s a menace.”
“Yeah,” Shanks agreed, his grin widening. “But you’ve got to admire the effort.”
After another ten minutes of navigating the dense forest, the sound of clashing and shouts reached Shanks and Benn’s ears. The noise was rhythmic, almost like a choreographed dance, but mixed with sharp bursts of something unnatural—crackling flames and rushing wind.
As the two pirates moved forward, the sounds became clearer. They reached a small clearing where two young boys were locked in a fierce duel. Ace and Sabo were moving with astonishing speed, their fists and feet a blur as they exchanged blows. Each strike seemed more intense than the last, and the environment around them appeared to bend and react to their powers.
Ace, with his signature fiery grin, launched a flaming kick toward Sabo. His foot left a trail of fire in the air as it came crashing down, the flames roaring and scorching the earth beneath him. But before the fire could reach Sabo, the blonde boy spun, releasing a sharp gust of wind from his hands that blew the flames off course, sending the heat dissipating harmlessly into the air.
“Whoa, what the hell?” Benn muttered, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Shanks blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. “Are they Devil Fruit users?”
Sabo sidestepped Ace’s fiery punch, his hands coming together in a quick motion. With a flash of movement, the wind picked up around him, creating a sharp, cutting gale that aimed straight for Ace. The gust sliced through the air with such precision that it knocked Ace back a few steps.
“Ace, you’re gonna have to do better than that!” Sabo taunted, his voice carrying through the clearing.
Ace grinned fiercely. “I’m just getting started!” With a sudden motion, he threw his hands forward, releasing a wave of intense fire aimed at Sabo.
Sabo countered immediately, his palms coming together as he shouted, “Wind Style: Tempest!” A massive blast of wind erupted from his hands, clashing with the fire and creating an explosion of steam and smoke.
For a moment, it was impossible to see either of them, but the sound of rapid footfalls and intense energy continued.
Then, out of nowhere, both boys sprang from opposite sides of the clearing, charging at each other with astonishing speed. They moved so quickly that it was nearly impossible for Shanks and Benn to track them.
Ace and Sabo continued their high-speed duel, their movements defying the laws of nature. With each strike, they seemed to defy gravity itself, their feet never slipping, even when they landed on the trunks of trees or moved across them like they were solid ground.
Ace, with a fiery smirk, launched himself toward a towering tree. Instead of jumping down to the ground or climbing, he ran straight up the trunk as if it were flat earth beneath his feet. The flames trailing from his boots left scorched marks on the bark, but they didn’t slow him down as he effortlessly scaled the tree in a flash.
Sabo, not to be outdone, followed suit. His body coiled with the wind as he stepped lightly onto the tree’s bark, his feet landing with perfect precision, almost as if he were walking on air. He moved with the grace of a dancer, his feet never once faltering as he ran up the opposite side of the tree. The wind spiraled around him, keeping him balanced as he flowed from trunk to trunk, his movements fluid and sharp.
Shanks and Benn watched in stunned silence, their eyes wide with amazement, as the two boys moved in a way that no ordinary person could.
“Ace... is running up the tree?” Benn whispered, barely able to comprehend what he was seeing.
“Yeah, and Sabo’s doing the same,” Shanks said, his voice filled with awe. “But it’s like they’re not even using their hands. How the hell are they doing that?”
Sabo landed on the side of a nearby tree with barely a sound, his feet firmly planted on the vertical trunk, and he spun to face Ace. Without warning, he summoned a gust of wind that swirled around him, pushing off the tree with such force that he launched himself higher, staying perfectly balanced as he continued to move through the air like he was walking on invisible ground.