Finding One's Self
XXX
Chapter 3 – Inspiration
We come into this world screaming. Kings, peasants, cooks, maids, lords, and ladies: all of us, in that instant, are one and the same. From that point on we drift in different directions: the rich continue being rich and continue to perpetuate their wealth by being able to afford the best possible life for their children. The poor stay poor: being unable to afford the necessary quality of education to allow their child to properly compete with their wealthier counterparts.
Potential is often wasted in times of peace – and opportunities to rise from the murk are few and far between. The top rung of society is radiant, while the bottom rung is murk and mud. Thousands try to climb the rope which connects these two worlds, edging little by little over time – but ultimately failing as they are pushed aside by those poor beings who are also desperately trying to climb.
I am not one of those special beings who had the gift of exceptional hard work – who could juggle their trials and tribulations easily allowing them to advance by their own sweat and toil. Opportunity was offered to me, and I was lucky enough to survive a climb that killed so many others. I don't know exactly how many children the Jinogu seed was implanted into – hundreds maybe? In war children are lost all the time. However many were used, only one survived. It wasn't talent that gave me power.
The so-called curse which comes in tow with the Devil's Fruit power is indeed fascinating: an inability to function properly when submerged in sea-water, accompanied by an accelerated drain in power while in contact with the ocean. Back in the Elemental Nations this would have been somewhat trivial – the Shinobi and Samurai nations rarely ventured out with the ocean borders surrounding the continent, and the water that existed inland was mostly fresh. However in this world, seemingly with a world surface coverage of close to ninety-percent, the affliction could be thought of as crippling.
Thousands of Devil's Fruit were in circulation – but all were unique, and would not be yielded again until the current user perished. Powers seemed to vary – from the so-called "Paramecia" types, such as Bonney and Komodus exhibited, which supplied a singular "power" to the user, to the "Zoan" types which allowed the user to transform from man to beast to a hybrid of both, and to the supposedly most powerful of all "Logia" types which miraculously transformed the body of whomever consumed the fruit into a completely different form of matter, and allowed complete control of that matter by extension.
As such, the power I display from the Jiongu – while likely regarded as unusual by any who observed it – would be unlikely to be interpreted as anything beyond a Devil's Fruit power.
Her spirit seemed to be her strongest aspect – and so far was the only thing keeping me with her. Had I remained in Taki, mayhaps I would have taken a team of Genin of my own after the war had ended. After I left Taki had very little to speak of – a Jinchuriki whose potential was left untapped and numerous experimental kinjutsu abandoned for fear of the monsters they would create being the only things they boasted. My old self would not have suffered fools gladly, and in all likelihood I would have killed any genin placed in my care out of boredom. Regardless, my methods would have left anyone with an ounce of lesser-will broken.
Attempts to use her powers on me were futile – and it was easy enough to determine why. Her abilities were contingent on her will overpowering mine: years of chakra enhancement and controlling techniques honed my body to easily detect the cack-handed attempt of overpowering my will, and forcing my body to regress in age. While I didn't allow the compulsion to take hold, I was moderately interested in seeing if her attempts would succeed considering my age remarkably belied my appearance.
With that weakness in mind, moulding her body into a functional weapon in its own right was the most logical step. The key to becoming a deadly warrior is unpredictability – holding far more cards that your opponent believes you have. Should some brave soul find a glaring fault in my application of Jiongu, they still will be forced to deal with the plethora of techniques I have garnered from years of experience. That being said: I was ever conscious that my repertoire was in desperate need of expansion.
No master trained me – I was baptised by fire and steel in the midst of the bloodiest conflict in recorded history. What Bonney was being taught wasn't as refined or graceful as the styles practiced by the Ancient Shinobi Clan's: it was the style of a killer, with every move designed to devastate or incapacitate. With her small frame, she didn't take easily to the style: but strength came with age, and her tenacity spoke volumes.
Teaching methods included letting her attempt to incapacitate me – then be faced with the consequences of failing. Obviously her blows never came close to reaching me, and with every returned attack her own body was broken momentarily. Humility was a harsh and brutal lesson to learn – and no doubt many teachers would disapprove of my methods. That being said, that excellent spirit of hers kept her going strong. I assumed her Devil's Fruit had the added side-effect of accelerating her healing process, not that I would complain.
Between our brief training sessions I elected to keep us on the move. Bounties were easy enough to find, but the meat tended to be sweeter in the neighbouring oceans. In an effort to appear inconspicuous I decided to forgo the waterwalking for the time being, and instead bought ship-tickets when leaving and journeying to islands. When we did locate a target – I let Bonney deal with them.
Considering her powers were currently useless on me, it was better practice to use them on the comparatively weak individuals we encountered – and if they weren't as effective as she'd hoped she would attempt to apply her knowledge of close combat to fit the scenario: quite successfully thus far.
"Why do we need so much money again?" she asked me, eyeing the stacks of Beli I was counting curiously. After a successful trip we seem to follow a fairly repetitive formula: journey to the nearest town, have dinner in a tavern, and stay the night before setting off to a new island the next morning. While I go over my funds repetitively, hammering the numbers into my mind lest I forget them, Bonney sits contentedly with several racks of pork, venison and other various meat's she had procured with the allowance I provided, resting in front of her like her own spoils of war.
"We don't. As you have shown me on many the occasion, money is rarely in your possession for long. Had you an appropriate appetite you may learn to appreciate the money I give you more: as it is, you are currently a net drain on my resources." She growls through a mouthful of red-meat, "As for why I need money – it is a weapon unlike any other. It is edgeless, but cuts deep, it is not poisonous, yet is deadly to the touch, and if used correctly can set countries ablaze with relative ease." I regard her with cold eyes, "I believe I have said such things to you before. Take care to remember I find repetition a boring idea, and if you become boring I'll probably end up killing you."
She shrugs, tearing a chunk out of the pork in front of her with her sharp, unnaturally white teeth, "You say that at least every week. I'll take my chances." It irked me that she was probably right – in recent memory I had threatened to kill her a dozen times, at the least. The fact she had become desensitised to the threat didn't sit well. "Say, can you teach me how do that skin thing tomorrow? You know; the thing that lets you shrug off bullets, and swords and stuff. It looks awesome."
"We'll make a deal," I send her a half-smile, "If you can actually hurt me the next time we spar, I'll consider teaching you how to do that."
"Hey – that's not fair!"
"Until you get to that level at the least it would be fruitless attempting to teach you how to perform that technique." I had yet to experiment with the chakra natures of others in this world – as it stood I was yet to determine if anyone even had chakra, let alone had the ability to harness it like I could. Haki, the power mentioned by the commodore, seemed similar at a glance – but the little research I had been afforded had yielded no results into a connection. It would be far more beneficial for me if Bonney could indeed use chakra, but if that was a lost cause I could easily recover: her Devil's Fruit power made up for it. "When you can prove yourself competent with that power of yours – then we'll talk about expanding your abilities. If you try to focus on too many things at once you will ultimately fail to accomplish all of them in the long run."
The noise she makes, kind of a hum which sounds both interested and humouring more than anything, "If you have something to ask – out with it. I have no patience for your ill-suited attempts at subtlety."
"What's are you focusing on, then?"
"Presently: you. But you would be correct in assuming my larger goal is beyond raising you from your currently pitiful self." With a wave of my hand I store the stacks of Beli in the seal on my arm, "I seek direction. I had it once, but now it is gone. When I have that everything else will follow, and the world will fall into place." And I meant it. Without an idea of where I wanted to go, all my potential plans were useless and quite pointless implementing. "But I have a feeling we will find it soon enough."
XXX
I was correct in that statement. It was my sixth month in this world – a place which I was still growing accustomed to, but steadily gaining knowledge of its methods of operation. Our journey had taken us to East Blue – a land not quite as warm as the South, but nevertheless quite close to Tropical in temperature. According to Bonney we had captured no less than forty-seven felons; apparently breaking some kind of record that existed amongst rookie bounty-hunters. I didn't count the number captured, but did recall the exact amount we had made.
Currently my funds sat at 53, 729 Beli – a fine enough sum for any hunter who prowled the Four Corner Oceans, but still not enough to slake the hunger growling in my greedy stomach. I thirsted for more: and while the call of piracy was almost enough to tempt me, I was still unwilling to test the anger of the World Government. The Commodores were apparently not indicative of their true might; and even if they were, had there been ten of them all coming at me at once… I was not willing to risk mine and Bonney's neck for what seemed like a marginal increase in funds.
While I mulled over the direction we would take, Bonney suggested we stayed the night in the harbour-city of Logue Town, and island based near the East Blue border which conveniently lay nearby the island where my next target – a small-time pirate named Ogden Myers – was rumoured to have set up camp with his crew. Seeing no objection to this, I acquiesced.
It was a blazing hot day – with the sun baking all who chose to bask in its light.
Civilisation was always a refreshing sight – while not rare, the majority of the islands we visited were largely uninhabited or mostly wild. Logue Town, comparatively, was a metropolis. Pleasantly cobbled streets filled the void between tall granite structures, all of which seemed to dwarf the size of the buildings I was mostly used to seeing in the Elemental Nations. Most glorious of all was the Naval Headquarters – a colossal building of purest white marble, which boldly showed off the World Government emblem in its full navy-blue glory.
On many islands I'd seen the World Government Naval force, dressed in pure white uniform, patrolling in their attempts to enforce order – carrying those fascinating weapons, rifles I believe, in tow. I admired their power, and I admired their obvious wealth. Technically they counted as my employer in my present state – as all the bounties we had currently collected were offered by the World Government. It was a far easier system to work with compared to the Black market dealings of the Elemental Nations.
Normally I would have entered briefly to collect a fresh set of wanted posters in order to make preparations for the bounty that would follow Ogden, but my task was impeded by the crowd which had gathered outside, stretching down from the harbour, past the Naval Headquarters, and all the way up to the town square. Bonney, who was dwarfed by the majority of the crowd, relied on me for information. "What's going on?"
I was unable to answer for I honestly had no idea, despite the fact I towered over virtually everyone present. All eyes seemed to be on the entrance to the headquarters – and were staring with anticipation. With trepidation I stared at the entrance, as the portcullis rose and several figures strode out.
He was instantly recognisable of course, even if he did look slightly worn. It's hard to accurately describe what I felt at the sight of him: but excitement seems to be the best way to put it. Wordlessly I hoisted Bonney up so she could sit on my shoulder. "Who's that?" her ignorance aside, I humoured her.
I couldn't not know his name, even if I was a stranger to these lands. The price on his head was too colossal to ignore, and the prizes he was rumoured to have in his possession were to incredible not to have heard of. Before me stood the man whose head alone was worth a fleet of naval vessels. "Gold Roger. The Pirate King." Garbed in a coat of royal red, with golden pauldrons to match, he truly looked regal even from a distance.
"Eh?! Why is the King of Pirates here?"
A single glance revealed him to be a prisoner – shackles bound his arms, and chains were wrapped tightly around his ankles, clinking as he walked. His bearing bellied his situation. Carrying almost as much height as myself, he stood at his fullest – carrying himself in such a manner that one might honestly believe he was a king. His face, worn as I said, showed no fear – indeed, beneath that huge moustache which framed his features rested a grin. A grin so wide, and so frightfully white it was almost as if he found the situation humorous.
"I wonder who caught him in the end…" I murmured.
"Caught him? You haven't heard?" an onlooker heard my muttering, and was staring incredulously, "No one caught him – Roger turned himself in!"
"… Pardon?" Over a billion Beli was his worth – so much it was rumoured to put the World Government's own treasury value to shame. He had more than anyone could ever dream of. He turned himself in?! "Why?"
"No one knows why! He just turned up here one day and let himself get arrested!"
Unconsciously I began to follow Roger's strides – focusing solely on him and for the most part ignoring the armed escort who walked in tandem beside him. People moaned as I rudely shoved past them, eager to keep up with the Pirate King, "Slow down!" Bonney clung to my neck desperately as my rough journey threatened to dismount her.
At the end of the town square the destination was apparent. Tall wooden stairs rose up skywards, where a single platform rested several stories above the main square. Upon that platform were two very sweaty and nervous looking guards, wearing ceremonial uniforms and each carrying wickedly sharp naginata.
This was to be Gold Roger's execution.
With deliberately slow, yet somehow relaxed, steps he ascended the stairs – leaving behind his escort in place of the ceremonial guard at the top of the platform. When he reached the top of the platform, he turned to look at one of the executioners – who looked positively terrified when Roger glanced at him – and said something briefly. Following what seemed to be a disappointing last request – the pirate king continued forwards to the end of the platform, pivoted, and then slipped down to a lotus position with his shackles resting in front of him. "Well then, finish it." I could make out the words on his lips, but not hear his voice.
And yet, regardless of his sure fate, that grin was still on his face – wide enough for me to see despite how far away he was. It was a grin that struck a chord in the deepest recesses of my mind – the same look that belonged to those Leaf ninja when they fought beside their comrades. It was a look that sang of the will of fire – but unlike the look I had seen from Bonney this was something tempered with time, experience and power. In my gut I knew that had I chased after Gold Roger I would not have claimed his bounty. For some reason, just looking at that grin, I knew that the Pirate King was currently stronger than me.
The two marines who stood parallel to one another, and flanking the stationary Roger, hoisted their naginata in the air, and spun them so the blades made a criss-cross under the next of the pirate king. I felt a strange sensation inside me at that moment; something I'd not felt in a long while. I knew I was about to witness history at that moment - perhaps the end of an era, summed up in the thrust of two blades. This was echoed by the anticipated wail that emanated throughout the onlookers.
"Hey! Pirate King!" A lone bystander, lost among the crowd, called out to the convict. The voice could have come from anyone, but the question that followed was exactly what was everyone's mind at that moment, "What did you do with your treasure!? It's somewhere on the Grand Line, right?" the ocean I had crossed briefly on my journey to East Blue came back to my mind – the naval crew we journeyed with had warned us from coming back to it alone, as its danger was infamous across the globe. "The greatest treasure in the world: One Piece!"
A unanimous murmur broke out amongst the throng of people who covered the square and the nearby streets as, with a united consciousness, thoughts were filled with visions of the mountains of plunder that Roger had captured after decades holding the title of the Pirate King. Maybe the only thing more famous than Roger himself was his treasure. Its title was a subject of rumour and mystery – the type of thing I had overheard drunkards wistfully speculate about in pairs while they nursed half-finished tankards of rum. What was undisputed though was that the treasure was the most coveted horde in the world – beyond the wealth of kings, or even the World Government.
A pang of yearning echoed in the most frozen cockles of my hearts. I desired that treasure: more than anything else I had ever longed for - more than all the bounties I'd gathered before, more than even all the wealth I'd accumulate back in the elemental nations. The mere thought of such a find made my pupils dilate and my mouth unconsciously salivate, and had I been in my right mind I might have noticed I hadn't blinked in the longest time – my eyes were so focused on the distant form of the fallen Pirate King, whose head rose ever-so-slightly at the question. His grin, unchangingly wide, twitched into something that looked almost playful.
"My treasure...?" His tone matched his grin, and despite the deep and throaty voice which emanated across the entire square he carried a playful lilt to his tone. It was a testament to his title that, even with just two muttered words, he commanded the presence of every onlooker – and silenced the murmurs instantly, filling the town with an unnatural calm.
"That's enough!" Sensing the discord which would likely come from anything Roger revealed, the two executioners – the pair readied themselves to do their duty and hoisted the weapons at such an angle that the coupled thrusts would cut through the rib-cage with ease and pierce the heart and right-lung.
Speaking louder now, in the voice belonging to a king, "If you want it: I'll let you have it." Even as the naginata thrust downwards – with death certain – Roger continued to speak, and the audience hung onto his every word. "I left everything I own in that place!" as soon as the final cry left his lips, the blades pierced his torso and he spoke no more.
He was still grinning – almost cheekily.
From a barely audible buzzing, the noise in the town rose with a crescendo to an almighty roar of excitement and amazement. United desire and fear washed over every man, woman and child present – and in all likelihood the ripples from Roger's last words would spread very fast from this ocean to the other for in no time at all. The implication of his words was clear to all: find my treasure and take up my legacy. Find it and become the Pirate King. It was a promise of fame, power and adventure – which was enough to melt the hearts of even the stoniest of men.
The Age of Pirates – recklessly born from the last words of the greatest pirate of them all. Perhaps this was his intention all along. A last act of rebellion against the World Government which would be remembered forever. He robbed them of the satisfaction of catching him, and soured their victory from his death by birthing a thousand more just like him.
It would be a lie to say I was also not caught up in the majesty of it all. Looking into more of Roger's history would be a side-task for later, for the man had truly inspired me then and there. The stoicism which is so pervasive in my system was briefly overturned by emotion. And hunger. Roger's reawakened the beast that existed inside me in my prime – before Senju Hashirama wounded my pride and sent me away to forever lick my wounds. This moment made me recognise exactly what I was at this moment: a tamed tiger who that had been cowed by its numerous losses and chosen to scavenge for scraps rather than return to the hunt. This was not what I was destined to be.
Everything in my head fell into place in a single moment – and epiphany struck, and I knew what had to be done. Direction is what I lacked, but now I had it. Everything else could work around that – and could only hasten my progress to that goal.
I would no longer try and hide from the World Government's eye. Avoiding detection was pointless, and a waste of my valuable time. I would no longer hunt on the fringes of society – picking off two-bit criminals whose very existence offends me. I would hunt the greatest prize of them all. I would raise my little protégé into the perfect soldier – this would be necessary for my aims. I would construct an empire the like of which my world, nor this has ever seen.
I would become the King of Pirates.
I felt something twinge on my face. My own face mirrored the man who had inspired me, to the point where the stitches that framed my jaw were tense to the point of breaking. "Bonney," the girl, who still clung to my shoulders, is broken from her reverie by my sharp tone, "Remember this day well. Today I have made a decision." My eyes seemed to unnerve her, "The greatest treasure of them all will be mine. And in exchange for the strength I will give you, you will help me obtain it. Eventually…" I chuckle, an action which feels alien in my throat, "… I will buy this world." My gaze returns to the form of the pirate king, "I thank you with every fibre of my being, Gold Roger. Today has been enlightening."
XXX
Shorter than it would normally be – but I don't think I can follow this scene very well. Anything else I add would be underwhelming by comparison – so if I try and keep to schedule that'll mean next chapter will be a bit longer.
Gol D. Roger's scene was partly what got me back into writing this story in general – I honestly feel it's one of the most emotional and poetic death scenes in anime history, and it takes place before the main canon: and it embodies everything I love about One Piece. If you have the chance, do take the time to watch it again. In terms of a grammar note – the main cast don't learn of the Will of D that is present in Roger's name till really late on in canon, and up till that point he is referred to as "Gold Roger": I plan on following that namesake for the foreseeable future until I can fit in a Will of D segment. Because, let's be honest, that shit is confusing as hell.
I actually wrote the Loguetown scene before the previous chapter, and indeed before I even had a cohesive plan about what direction the story was going to end up in – Bonney was edited in to the scene in a manner that is not so subtle.
With regards to the narrative shifts – let me know if that gets annoying. I think the only way to properly portray as strange a character as Kakuzu is to get into his head, otherwise his way of thinking seems far too erratic. The general point of view is to allow several narratives – in the event of future characters in the story. If I go to plan, Bonney should take a few 1st person narratives at some point too.
The urge to exposit her background was strong – but it seems more fitting to leave it untouched for the meantime. And trying to shoehorn it in didn't read well at all – I can't imagine Kakuzu being able to concentrate for very long at someone giving their life story: kind of like that scene in One Punch Man where Genos tries to explain his backstory.
Anyways: let me know your thoughts; I am ever eager for feedback. I welcome criticism, and please try and make it as constructive as possible.