Orange Town (Day)

Despite appearances, Buggy the Clown was easily angered. So, when his chart to the Grand Line was stolen by some nobody, he was fully prepared to strangle whoever crossed him.

So, the scene in front of him at the moment was rather confusing. The girl who robbed him was back, and with two others. A small girl with a white scabbard and a boy in a straw hat that seemed eerily familiar to him. The latter was bound in ropes. Apparently, he was the one who told the thief to steal from him. After one too many arguments, the girl decided to hand him over to Buggy, as well as the stolen map, in an attempt to join his crew.

"Hahahaha! I gotta say, I like your moxie, kid!" Buggy exclaimed, laughing. "Alright, you can join my crew!"

'She's scary.' the young swordswoman thought to herself as she turned to face Luffy. The boy was put into a stone cage, much to his confusion.

"Eh? Why am I in a cage?" he asked as Buggy threw a party in Nami's honor.

"She used you as a bargaining chip." the blue-haired girl explained. Giving a sideways glance to a nearby table, she snatched a piece of bread and handed it to the straw-hat boy.

"Hmm. Well, I still think she's a good person!" Luffy said optimistically. The girl didn't exactly share this sentiment.

"Men, it's time to prepare the Buggy Ball!" Buggy shouted. His crew got out a large cannon, as well as a bright red cannonball with his Jolly Roger on it. Soon after the cannonball was loaded and the fuse was lit, it shot out in a fiery blaze that obliterated everything the cannon was facing. Dozens of houses destroyed in an instant.

Nami, Luffy, and the blue-haired swordswoman were surprised by the sheer might one cannonball could have.

"Flashy, right?" Buggy asked his new crewmate. "With these Buggy Balls and my Devil Fruit powers, conquering the Grand Line will be easy!"

"What!?" Luffy exclaimed. "It's my destiny to conquer the Grand Line! I'll be King of the Pirates!"

"Shut up, idiot!" Nami said, trying to spare the rubber boy an untimely death. She may not like pirates, but something about letting this one die felt wrong somehow.

"I can see why you don't like him." Buggy said, annoyed by just how loud the straw-hat boy was. "How about I give you a Buggy Ball to blow him away? It'll be a good way to prove your loyalty to the Buggy Pirates."

The cannon was placed between Nami and Luffy. "Hey, why don't we get back to the party and have more fun?" she asked, not wanting to commit murder, even if it was a pirate.

"This IS my idea of having more fun." Buggy said.

'If I don't, I'll be killed.' Nami told herself, bringing out a match. Her hand began to shake. 'But if I do, I'm no better than them.'

"Your hands are shaking." Luffy said. "If you want to go up against pirates, you can't have half-assed resolve."

"Resolve to do what? Take a life like it's nothing?" the thief asked, unintentionally raising her voice.

"To do what has to be done to save your own life." the swordswoman answered.

"Oh, stop being such a wimp, girl." one of the Buggy Pirates said, getting his own match and walking towards the fuse.

Taking a deep breath, Nami made her choice. She equipped her staff and whacked the pirate in the back of the head, slamming him into the floor.

"So, you're saving me?" Luffy asked.

"Don't take it the wrong way!" Nami yelled. "I just don't want to lower myself to the level of these inhuman pirates!"

"Eh, okay." the straw-hat boy said. That's when he noticed the cannon. "AGH! The fuse! It's lit!"

"So, you think pirates are inhuman?" Buggy asked, seething. "Men, seize her and bring her to me!" A horde of pirates ran towards Nami, brandishing various types of swords.

"Silent Scream." the blue-haired girl said, executing her attack without a sound and bringing down several of her opponents. "You take care of the fuse. I'll handle these guys."

"Thanks!" Nami said, uncomfortable about receiving help from a pirate. On her way to the fuse, she grabbed a bottle of water from a nearby table and use it to douse the flame.

"Watch out!" Luffy shouted.

Turning around, Nami saw a trio of pirates about to attack her. She closed her eyes and hoped for the best, but nothing happened. When she opened her eyes again, she saw Russo standing between her and her assailants, wielding what looked like a flaming sword.

"Yararara! Glad I got here in time." the blonde said, grinning. He turned to face Luffy, Nami, and the blue-haired girl. "You three okay?"

"Yes, Captain." the swordswoman said, bowing her head.

'This is her Captain?' Nami thought to herself. She looked at the blade the boy was holding. Despite the raging flames engulfing the weapon, he didn't look as though the heat was affecting him at all. 'How is he even doing that?'

"Ugh, finally found you." Zoro said, walking up the stairs that led to the roof. "You ran off without me, so I-" He stopped abruptly when he saw the swordswoman.

"Long time no see, Zoro." the girl said, her mouth curved slightly upwards.

"Kuina?" the Pirate Hunter said, disbelievingly.


Shimotsuki Village (8 months ago)

Russo stood in front of the memorial site. 'So, this is Shimotsuki Kuina.' he said to himself, feeling a deep sense of pity.

He had heard the tale of the girl on his way to the dojo. A talented swordswoman who met her unfortunate demise far sooner than she should've. Her sword was placed on the memorial, held within a white scabbard that radiated strength. Apparently, the girl's father didn't want the blade to be held by anyone after what happened to her. Perhaps he was a bit sentimental.

An hour later, the boy left the island. And by the time anyone came to the grave to pay their respects, Kuina's ashes and the Wado Ichimonji were both gone.