One Piece: I Awakened the Ninja Template System - Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Set Sail

The final day of the celebration passed far more quickly than anyone expected.

By morning, Cocoyasi Village had divided itself into two groups. The first group continued celebrating as if three days were nowhere near enough. The second group worked to prepare the Straw Hats for their departure.

Nami belonged firmly to the second group.

She moved between Bell-mère’s house, the tangerine grove and the Going Merry, checking supplies and shouting orders at anyone unfortunate enough to stand idle.

“Usopp, stop telling stories and carry those boxes!”

“I’m not telling stories,” Usopp protested. “I’m explaining how I defeated an entire division of Fish-Men by myself.”

“You defeated one Fish-Man.”

“Yes, but he represented an entire division in spirit.”

Nami threw a coil of rope at his face.

Sanji carried several crates of food towards the Going Merry, refusing help despite his injuries.

“Don’t worry, Nami-san! Your devoted chef will personally make sure you never go hungry at sea!”

“You’re limping.”

“I am walking with passion.”

“You’re leaving blood on the ground.”

“Even my blood is passionate!”

Zoro slept against the side of a house while everyone else worked. His chest had been bandaged again, but he had somehow found another bottle of alcohol and held it protectively even while unconscious.

Luffy was supposed to be helping load supplies.

Instead, he was hiding inside one of the food crates.

Everyone knew this because his arm kept stretching out whenever Sanji walked away, stealing whatever meat it could reach.

The village was alive with preparations, arguments and laughter.

In the middle of it all, Nojiko pretended that nothing unusual was happening.

She helped Nami pack clothes. She checked the food stores and offered advice about which fruit would survive longest at sea. She reminded Nami to carry medicine for Zoro, whose idea of recovery seemed to involve alcohol and sleep.

Whenever anyone looked at her, Nojiko appeared to be preparing only for Nami’s departure.

But every time the attention shifted elsewhere, she disappeared.

Some of the supplies never reached the Going Merry.

A sack of rice was carried down a smaller path towards the coast. Two barrels of freshwater followed it. Then came preserved meat, dried fish, fruit, rope, lantern oil, blankets, cooking pots, medicine and several spare sets of clothes.

All of them went aboard the ship of the Arlong Pirates.

The vessel had remained anchored away from Arlong Park. Most villagers wanted nothing to do with it, and the Marines had either overlooked it or decided it wasn’t worth the trouble of transporting.

Nojiko had inspected it the previous day.

Its hull was intact. The sails needed cleaning but had no major tears. The deck was filthy, several ropes required replacement, and the interior still carried the unpleasant smell of Fish-Men, seawater and old food.

None of those problems made it unusable.

It was a real ship.

More importantly, it was their ship now.

Nojiko made repeated trips while keeping away from the paths used by the other villagers. She stored everything beneath the deck, arranging the supplies carefully so they wouldn’t shift when the ship moved.

Before leaving the vessel, she entered the former captain’s cabin.

Most of Arlong’s valuables had already been removed, either by the Marines or the villagers reclaiming what had been stolen. However, a concealed compartment beneath a cabinet still contained several stacks of berries.

Nojiko stared at the money.

It had almost certainly been taken from families across the Conomi Islands. Part of her wanted to carry every coin back to the village. Another part reminded her that a ship required food, repairs, tools and emergency funds.

She took only what she believed they would need.

Approximately one million berries went into a sturdy cloth bag.

It was not a fortune compared to what Arlong had accumulated, but it would keep two inexperienced travellers alive if something went wrong.

Considering that one of those travellers planned to sail without knowing how to operate a ship, something going wrong was nearly guaranteed.

By late afternoon, most of their preparations were complete.

Nojiko returned home, cleaned herself and changed into practical travelling clothes. She placed a few personal belongings inside a small bag, then left before Nami could ask where she was going.

There was one person she needed to visit before leaving.

The walk to Bell-mère’s grave felt different that day.

Nojiko had followed the same path countless times, sometimes with Nami and sometimes alone. During the years of Arlong’s occupation, she had come here whenever she needed to say something she couldn’t share with anyone living.

Today, the island was free.

Yet her steps felt heavier than ever.

She reached the grave as the setting sun painted the sky orange.

Someone was already waiting there.

Genzo sat beside Bell-mère’s grave, his pinwheel turning slowly in the evening breeze. His farming tool rested on the grass within reach, though there was no longer an Arlong Pirate patrol to fear.

Nojiko stopped.

“Genzo?”

He looked over his shoulder. “You’re late.”

“Late for what?”

Genzo’s expression didn’t change. “Have you prepared everything you need for the journey?”

For a moment, Nojiko forgot how to breathe.

“What journey?”

“The one you’ve been preparing for since yesterday.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You carried water barrels, food, rope and a bag of money to Arlong’s ship.” Genzo counted the items on his fingers. “You also took three maps from Nami’s old collection and asked the fishermen about currents outside the island.”

Nojiko opened her mouth, but no explanation came out.

Genzo pointed at himself. “I’m the village police officer.”

Then he pointed at her.

“And I’m your father. Do you really think I wouldn’t know?”

The words struck harder than any accusation.

Genzo wasn’t her biological father, but blood had never been what made a family in Bell-mère’s house. He was Bell-mere’s lover. He had watched over Nojiko and Nami for years. He had worried about them, protected them when he could and remained beside them after Bell-mère’s death.

Nojiko lowered her head.

“I wasn’t trying to hide it forever.”

“Yes, you were.”

“I was going to leave a letter.”

“That sounds like hiding it forever with extra steps.”

Nojiko winced.

Genzo released a slow breath and tapped the ground beside him. “Sit.”

She obeyed.

For a while, neither of them spoke. They watched the final light spread across the grave and the nearby fields. In the distance, the sounds of the celebration continued.

Genzo didn’t ask why she had chosen not to travel with the Straw Hats.

He didn’t ask why she trusted Jack enough to leave the island with him after knowing him for only a few days.

He didn’t ask why she had chosen to disappear without informing Nami or the villagers.

Instead, he said, “Be safe.”

Nojiko looked at him.

Genzo kept his eyes on Bell-mère’s grave.

“The sea is dangerous. Much more dangerous than this island ever was. Arlong came from the Grand Line, and you saw what a single crew from there could do to us.”

“I know.”

“No, you don’t. Neither do I.” Genzo’s hand tightened around his knee. “That’s what frightens me.”

Nojiko’s eyes began to burn.

“If I ask you to stay, will you?”

She wanted to lie.

She wanted to tell him that she would remain in the village and continue living the life everyone expected.

But Genzo deserved the truth.

“No.”

He nodded as though he had expected that answer.

“Then be safe.”

Nojiko immediately wrapped both arms around him.

Genzo stiffened in surprise before embracing her. One hand rested on the back of her head, the same way it had when she was a frightened child trying not to cry after Bell-mère’s death.

“I’m sorry,” Nojiko whispered.

“You haven’t done anything wrong yet.”

“Yet?”

“You’re planning to become a pirate. Give it time.”

A broken laugh escaped her.

They remained together beside Bell-mère’s grave as the sky darkened. When they finally separated, Nojiko told him everything.

She explained Jack’s reckless offer, her desire to see the world and her fear of always depending on Nami. She admitted that she had no great skill in navigation, no combat ability and no certainty that she was making the right decision.

Genzo listened without interrupting.

In return, he told her what he knew about the waters surrounding the island. He warned her about storms, currents and hostile ships. He made her repeat the location of every medical supply she had packed and demanded that she carry more clean bandages.

They discussed the safest direction to sail and how long their food might last.

By the time they finished talking, the moon was high above them.

The fixed departure time approached.

Nojiko handed Genzo a folded letter.

“Give this to Nami after we leave.”

Genzo accepted it but didn’t put it away. “You should give it to her yourself.”

“I can’t.”

“You can.”

Nojiko looked towards the distant lights of the village. “If I see her, I might change my mind. Or she’ll convince me to go with the Straw Hats. Maybe she’ll think I’m leaving because of something she did.”

“She’ll be angry.”

“I know.”

“She may chase you.”

“I know.”

“She might hit you.”

Nojiko smiled faintly. “I definitely know.”

Genzo studied the letter before slipping it inside his clothing.

“I don’t want you to leave like this.”

“Please don’t tell anyone yet.” Nojiko’s voice softened. “Right now, I don’t think I can face them.”

Genzo wanted to refuse. It was visible in the hard line of his mouth and the way his fingers curled around the handle of his farming tool.

But he also understood her.

“You have to promise me something first.”

“What?”

“If you can’t handle it, come home.”

Nojiko swallowed.

“If the sea is too dangerous, if Jack turns out to be an idiot, or if being a pirate isn’t what you expected, you come back. Don’t stay away because you’re embarrassed. Don’t convince yourself you have nowhere else to go.”

Genzo placed both hands on her shoulders.

“This village will always be your home.”

Nojiko nodded quickly, unable to trust her voice.

“I promise.”

They embraced once more.

When they separated, Genzo wiped his eyes and blamed the wind before marching towards the hidden section of the coast where Jack was waiting.

Jack stood beside a small boat they would use to reach the larger ship. A travelling bag hung over one shoulder. His clothes had been replaced with simple garments provided by the villagers, and he appeared far too cheerful for someone preparing to betray the crew he had joined two days earlier.

“You’re here,” Jack said. “Did everything—”

Genzo seized him by the collar.

Jack’s feet nearly left the ground.

“Take care of her,” Genzo growled. “If she gets injured or feels sad, I’m going to kill you for sure this time.”

Jack immediately straightened and saluted.

“Yes, sir!”

“I mean it.”

“I can see that.”

“You might have defeated Fish-Men, but everyone has to sleep eventually.”

Jack’s salute became even sharper. “I’ll protect her with my life.”

Nojiko sighed. “Genzo, put my captain down.”

Both men looked at her.

“Captain?” Jack repeated.

Nojiko’s face reddened slightly. “You’re starting the crew, aren’t you?”

A grin slowly spread across Jack’s face. “That’s right.”

Genzo released his collar. “I already regret this.”

They climbed into the smaller boat and rowed towards the former Arlong Pirate ship.

Up close, the vessel appeared even larger than Jack remembered. Its hull towered above the water, and the deck had enough space for several times their current crew.

It was much bigger than the Going Merry.

That made sense. Arlong had sailed it from the Grand Line to the East Blue, carrying a large Fish-Man crew and enough supplies to establish control over an entire island.

Jack climbed the rope ladder first, then helped Nojiko onto the deck.

Genzo remained in the small boat below.

“Remember your promise!” he called.

“I will!” Nojiko replied.

Genzo rowed back towards the shore.

Jack and Nojiko were left alone aboard the enormous ship.

They looked at the masts.

Then at the ropes.

Then at the folded sails.

Finally, they looked at each other.

“You know how to sail this, right?” Jack asked.

“A little.”

“How little?”

“Nami taught me some things.”

“That didn’t answer my question.”

Nojiko pointed towards a rope. “Untie that.”

Jack grabbed it.

“The other one.”

He moved to the next rope.

“No, not that one! If you release it now, the boom might hit us.”

Jack slowly removed his hand. “You know, I’m beginning to understand why navigators are important.”

Nojiko opened one of the maps and studied it beneath a lantern. “We need to raise the sail, pull the anchor and turn away from the rocks. I can guide us once we’re moving, but handling this ship was meant to require an entire crew.”

Jack looked across the deck.

A large crew.

That was something he didn’t possess.

His gaze settled on the wooden mast beneath his hand.

An idea surfaced.

The system had provided him knowledge of many techniques compatible with Wood Release. Most remained beyond his current skill or reserves, but one of them might solve their immediate problem.

A normal Shadow Clone divided the user’s chakra into independent bodies. Jack had never learned that technique.

A Wood Shadow Clone was different. Instead of creating a perfect body from chakra alone, it used Wood Release to form a physical duplicate.

At least, that was how the information inside his mind described it.

“I’m going to try something,” Jack said.

“That sentence has never made me feel safe.”

Jack ignored her and formed a hand seal.

Chakra flowed out of his body and entered the deck. Wood rose beside him, twisting into the shape of a human. Its surface changed, gaining skin, hair and clothing until an exact copy of Jack stood before them.

A notification appeared.

[You have learned Wood Shadow Clone.]

[Wood Shadow Clone has reached Lv. 1.]

Jack stared at the clone.

The clone stared back.

“That worked on the first attempt,” they said together.

Nojiko took a step backwards. “There are two of you.”

“Let’s make that four.”

Jack created two more clones.

Each clone contained one hundred units of chakra. With three active, three hundred of Jack’s three hundred and eighty CP became locked inside them. His main body retained only eighty CP.

Unlike chakra spent on ordinary techniques, the locked amount couldn’t recover while the clones existed. The chakra would return to Jack only when a clone was dismissed, assuming the clone hadn’t exhausted it.

There was another restriction.

At Level 1, a Wood Shadow Clone couldn’t travel more than one hundred metres from his main body. If it crossed that limit, the technique would fail.

For operating a ship, that range was more than enough.

Nojiko circled one of the clones and poked its cheek.

The clone raised an eyebrow. “Satisfied?”

“It even talks like you.”

“Unfortunately,” another clone said.

Nojiko looked towards the real Jack. “You’re incredibly mysterious.”

Jack waited for questions about Devil Fruits, multiple bodies or whether the copies were alive.

Nojiko simply turned towards the mast.

“Fine. All four of you, follow my instructions.”

Jack and his three clones saluted together.

“Yes, navigator!”

“I’m not a navigator.”

“You’re the only person here who knows which rope won’t kill us.”

Nojiko considered that. “For now, call me navigator.”

The next half hour descended into chaos.

One clone climbed the mast to release the sail. Another worked the ropes on the opposite side of the deck. The third moved towards the anchor mechanism while the real Jack remained near Nojiko.

“Pull!”

All four Jacks pulled different ropes.

“Not all of you!”

A sail dropped too quickly, catching a gust of wind and jerking the ship sideways.

“Turn it!”

“How?”

“The wheel!”

“You didn’t tell anyone to control the wheel!”

The real Jack rushed towards it while one clone used Wood Release to reinforce a cracking section of railing. Another narrowly avoided being knocked overboard by a swinging rope.

Nojiko ran between them, correcting mistakes and shouting new instructions.

Slowly, somehow, their movements began to match.

The anchor rose from the water.

The main sail caught the wind.

The wooden vessel groaned, remained stable and moved away from the island.

They had set sail.

Nojiko hurried to the back of the ship.

Conomi Islands was already beginning to shrink behind them. The village lights glowed in the distance like a cluster of stars resting along the coast.

Her hands tightened around the railing.

She wasn’t certain about her decision.

Part of her wanted to order Jack to turn the ship around. She wanted to return home, wake Nami and explain everything properly.

But if she turned back now, she might never find the courage to leave again.

Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes.

“Goodbye, Nami,” she whispered. “Goodbye, Genzo.”

Jack approached her while his clones continued managing the sails.

“You’ll meet Nami again on the sea,” he said.

Nojiko wiped her eyes. “You sound very certain.”

“Every pirate’s goal is One Piece, right? Our paths will cross eventually.” Jack smiled. “Although next time, you and your sister might be rivals.”

Nojiko looked back towards the island.

A competitive light replaced some of the sadness in her eyes.

“I’m definitely not going to lose to Nami! I’ll show her what it means to be the big sister!”

“That’s the spirit.”

Nojiko turned towards him. “What will our pirate group be called?”

Jack had been waiting for that question.

He crossed his arms and looked towards the horizon, allowing the night wind to move through his hair.

After several seconds of dramatic silence, he gave his answer.

“The Akatsuki Pirates.”

Nojiko’s expression became blank.

“What does that mean?”

“Dawn.”

“That sounds like the name of a group that meets in a dark basement and wears matching clothes.”

Jack stared at her. “How did you know?”

“What?”

“Nothing. Akatsuki Pirates is a powerful name.”

“It’s terrible.”

“You haven’t even given it a chance.”

“No.”

They argued across the deck while the three clones continued working. Jack suggested the Ninja Pirates, but Nojiko rejected it because nobody in this world knew what a ninja was. Nojiko suggested the Orange Pirates, which Jack refused because it sounded like they sold fruit.

“The Wood Pirates,” Jack proposed.

“That sounds unfinished.”

“The Forest Pirates.”

“We have one person who creates trees. We’re not a forest.”

“The Divine Tree Pirates.”

“That sounds even stranger than Akatsuki.”

After several more arguments, they settled on the Tree Pirates.

It was simple. It was accurate. Most importantly, Nojiko stopped rejecting it.

Jack found the name painfully boring, but after losing every previous argument, he no longer had the energy to resist.

“Fine,” he muttered. “We’re the Tree Pirates.”

“Good. Now we need a flag.”

Nojiko found a piece of black cloth among the ship’s supplies, along with white paint and an old brush. She spread the cloth across the deck and knelt beside it.

A traditional pirate symbol required a skull, but their crew needed something distinct. After considering several designs, she painted a white skull in the centre. Its jaw extended into twisting roots, while branches grew from the top and sides of its head like a wild crown. Two crossed branches replaced the usual bones behind it.

Jack crouched nearby, watching the symbol take shape.

When the final line was finished, Nojiko drew the pirate flag.