At sea during a fierce storm, the world swirled around, with the sea relentlessly crashing against the bow of the ship, twisting and turning it as the water tossed the vessel to and fro. It was evident that nothing good could come of this. The water pressed against every side of the ship as it bobbed up and down on the surface. It seemed likely that this relentless assault would break the ship apart, as if it were the ship's backbone. The crew acted swiftly. Their pink-haired captain worked diligently to secure the lifeboats, moving quickly from one to the next with single-minded focus. The young marine's eyes were locked on the task at hand.
The storm had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, thrusting them into a tumultuous and unfamiliar part of the ocean. As the marine moved about, struggling to keep his glasses in place, he made sure that every single ship was moving away from the sinking vessel. His priority was his men, and he was determined to protect them for the sake of the marines and the navy's future. In his eyes, they all held endless potential. Koby, the young captain of the ship, prepared to board a lifeboat when suddenly, he was struck by a flying door. Somehow, his focus on saving his men had prevented him from foreseeing this outcome with his advanced observation haki.
The tide carried the captain far from his ship and deposited him on an unknown shore, a world different from the one he knew, governed by different rules and standards. He awoke on the sandy shore, his boat gone, and any chance of finding a way home likely lost. Struggling to his feet, his cracked glasses still miraculously perched on his head, he surveyed the unfamiliar beach.
Koby had no idea where he was or which direction to take. Would he come across a village or a town? So much remained uncertain, yet he pressed forward, following the shoreline for a while. Each step took him in a particular direction, perhaps east by southeast, although he couldn't be entirely sure. He encountered a creek and faced a choice: follow the creek, head inland, or continue along the beach. So far, in the few kilometers he had walked, there was no sign of civilization.
Taking a deep breath, Koby cleared his mind and considered his options. Following the river seemed like a sensible choice, as it provided fresh water, a valuable resource. Seawater was undrinkable, and he knew that well. Koby walked calmly alongside the river, the surrounding land mostly flat with dense forests, but he sensed no immediate danger. People remained conspicuously absent along his path, at least for a while.
That night, he found a place to sleep, and the next day, he continued walking, eventually finding some fruit to sustain himself. He seemed to consistently miss the locations of two small villages, taking the wrong paths each time he reached splits in the rivers or trails.
Koby began to wonder if he had landed on an uncharted land, one abandoned or untouched throughout history. The Grand Line was vast, with vast unexplored territories. Only a few had ever reached the final island, after all.
While walking, he suddenly noticed something that shifted his perspective. A well-maintained dirt trail designed for travelers. Unsure which way to go, he decided to head north. He had access to river water and berries, enough to last him a couple of days. He continued quietly, conserving his energy, though he had no idea how far he had walked—only that it had been a considerable distance, likely around 100 kilometers.
As he walked, he detected signs of movement and heard sounds emanating from the trees—branches breaking, rustling leaves. He activated his advanced observation haki, anticipating potential threats. Indeed, he spotted three individuals, moving among the trees, seemingly preparing to attack him. Koby watched carefully, blocked the first attack, dodged the second, and managed to strike each of his foes in turn. The fight wasn't challenging in the least. His attacks were fast and purposeful, and being able to predict their moves ahead of time made it easy. Koby's observation haki was the biggest key to his success as he struck hard and fast, with his speed and power enabling him to defeat the bandits.
"I can't allow you to roam freely and cause more trouble," Koby remarked, as he found some rope in one of their bags. Rope he would use to tie the three bandits to a tree. He hoped to locate a nearby village where he could report the incident and have the criminals taken into custody. It seemed like the right thing to do, although he couldn't be certain he would find a village soon. If he didn't, those bandits might be in serious trouble, tied to a random tree. Perhaps the area was patrolled by the authorities of the kingdom where he had washed up. He had no way of knowing, just vague guesses at that moment.
Continuing on his path in search of the elusive village, Koby noticed figures approaching him once again. He readied himself for a potential confrontation, using his advanced observation haki to assess the newcomers. They appeared to be regular individuals. As he stood there, unknown people in uniforms surrounded him—a strange turn of events.
Raising his hands in a gesture of peace, Koby spoke humbly, "I'm sorry to disturb you. I encountered some bandits on my way here. My name is Koby, and I'm a Marine from the World Government. I come in peace. The bandits I defeated are back that way, tied to a tree about an hour or an hour and a half's walk from here. If you'd be so kind, please take them to wherever you detain criminals and ensure that justice is served."
The situation remained tense as the two groups faced each other. One of the ninja signaled to the others, and one of them approached Koby. Left surrounded by the ninjas, he sat down, keeping his hands raised. He placed some berries on the ground and took out his wallet, which contained his government ID card, money, and other documents.
The head ninja picked up the wallet and scrutinized it carefully, alternating his gaze between the ID and the young man before him. It was an unusual encounter for both parties. "Alright, come with us. You can answer some questions at our base," he said, retaining the wallet, likely as evidence. Koby would soon discover that the ninjas were taking him to their base in Konohagakure.