One Piece: Randomizer!

Raphael: <>

System: []

******

"The following contest is scheduled for one fall and is a handicap match!" Uta's voice rang out dramatically, her hands cupped around her mouth as she acted as the impromptu announcer. She pointed toward Luffy, who stood confidently in the sand. "On the left, we have the champion! Hailing from Foosha Village… Monkey D. Luffy!" she called, as Luffy raised his hand, grinning and taunting the nonexistent audience.

Uta turned to the other side, sweeping her arm toward Zoro and Kuina, who stood ready with serious expressions on their faces. "And on the right, we have the challengers! From Shimotsuki Village... Roronoa Zoro and Shimotsuki Kuina!"

Zoro and Kuina exchanged bemused glances, then turned to Uta with speechless expressions. "What the hell was that?" Kuina asked flatly, raising an eyebrow at the overly theatrical introduction.

Uta flushed with embarrassment, her cheeks turning pink. "Don't ask me," she muttered. "Ask this dumbass," she said, jerking her thumb toward Luffy, who had a satisfied grin plastered on his face. "He told me to say it before the match started," Uta continued, shaking her head while Zoro and Kuina sighed, clearly unimpressed but deciding to drop the topic.

Luffy stretched his arms lazily. "So, are you two ready?" he asked, his tone as relaxed as if he was about to stroll through a park rather than engage in a battle.

Before the fight could begin, Kuina raised her hand, a serious expression on her face. "Luffy, before we start, I just want to say this," she began. "Thanks for saving us and feeding us. But make no mistake—" Her eyes narrowed, her grip tightening on the sai. "We're not going easy on you."

Zoro nodded in agreement. "Kuina's right. We've got dreams to achieve," he said, his voice low and determined. "And we're never going to follow anyone weaker than us."

"Good," Luffy grinned, clearly pleased by their determination. "That's exactly how it should be," he replied. "Now, let's stop wasting time and get this fight started."

As Kuina and Zoro prepared themselves, they carefully observed Luffy. But their eyes twitched with annoyance as they noticed his calm, almost lazy stance—hands casually hanging at his sides, a smug smile still stretched across his face. His posture screamed nonchalance, as though he didn't see them as a threat at all.

"The bastard's underestimating us!" Zoro growled, his irritation rising as he shifted into his battle stance. "I'm going to wipe that smug grin off his face."

Kuina didn't respond, but the fire in her eyes told the same story. She gripped her sai tightly, ready to strike at any moment. She had no intention of being taken lightly, especially after the incident with her father.

Zoro and Kuina's fighting spirit ignited, and determination flashed in their eyes. Zoro gripped the hilts of his three swords—Wado Ichimonji held firmly in his mouth, and the other two in his hands. Kuina, standing to his right, held her two sai tightly with deadly precision, glaring at Luffy with sharp and unwavering eyes.

Luffy, wearing his signature grin, gave a light chuckle. "I'm not underestimating you guys," he said. "I just know that with you two as my opponents, there's nothing to worry about."

A vein bulged on Zoro's forehead at Luffy's dismissive words, and without a second thought, he launched himself forward. His three swords gleamed as they slashed through the air in a crisscross motion, aiming for Luffy's torso with deadly precision.

But before the blades could land, Luffy moved, sliding smoothly to the side, his feet barely lifting from the ground. The attack missed by a hair's breadth, Zoro's swords cutting through nothing but air.

Zoro's eyes widened as he skidded to a halt, confusion flooding his mind. 'What the hell… I didn't even see him move!'

"Too slow," Luffy said casually, his voice carrying a playful edge as if he was taunting a child.

Before Zoro could react, Kuina darted in from the side. She was fast—her movements precise as she twirled her sai, aiming for Luffy's flank in a deadly thrust. Uta, who was observing from the side, noticed that, unlike Zoro's brute force, her attack was more calculated, designed to find the gaps in Luffy's defenses.

However unfortunately for Kuina, Luffy ducked beneath her strike with an effortless fluidity while her sai whistled past his head, missing by a fraction of an inch. 'What the hell!? Does he have eyes in the back of his head?' Kuina thought, disbelief flashing through her mind.

Unbeknownst to Kuina, using Observation Haki, Luffy knew exactly where she was coming from, even though he had his back turned toward her.

"Nice try," Luffy said, leaning back on one foot, his hands still by his sides.

Zoro, meanwhile, was already on the move again, charging in from Luffy's other side. This time, his swords came at Luffy from multiple angles, one aimed low, the other two high, forcing Luffy to choose between dodging or blocking.

But Luffy didn't need to dodge. Instead, he raised his forearms, and with a faint black sheen of Armament Haki coating them, he blocked Zoro's blades. The metallic clang of steel hitting hardened skin echoed through the beach.

Zoro looked at Luffy with wide eyes upon seeing his blades getting blocked by Luffy's bare skin. Then his face twisted in frustration as he tried to push down with all his strength, but Luffy didn't even budge.

Zoro's frustration only grew stronger when he noticed Luffy once again looking at him with a glint of amusement in his eyes before twisting his body and deflecting Zoro's swords to the side with almost no effort.

As Zoro staggered slightly from the force of his own momentum, Luffy stepped into his guard. In that split second, Luffy's hand shot out like a viper, delivering a palm strike directly to Zoro's stomach, using just enough Armament Haki to make it sting. The force sent Zoro flying backward, skidding across the sand before he managed to catch himself.

As Zoro was recovering from the attack, Kuina didn't waste a moment, using the opening to launch another series of strikes, this time aiming for his ribs and stomach.

Luffy didn't even bother to block. Instead, he leaned and twisted, dodging each of her strikes with minimal effort, his body moving in perfect rhythm. His mastery of Total Concentration Breathing allowed him to remain in complete control of his body's movements and stamina, without wasting a single breath.

Frustration flashed in Kuina's eyes as Luffy avoided her strikes with ease. She spun, slashing upward with one sai in a final attempt to land a blow, but Luffy caught her wrist mid-strike. His grip was firm but not painful, his eyes meeting hers with a look that said he wasn't even trying.

"You're fast, Kuina," Luffy acknowledged, still holding her wrist. "But not fast enough."

With a gentle push, Luffy sent her stumbling back, her feet scrambling to regain balance. He didn't press the attack, simply standing there with that infuriatingly calm smile and his breathing still even, giving Zoro and Kuina the illusion that he wasn't even trying, which only added to their frustration.

Zoro charged again, more furious than ever, his swords a blur as he unleashed a flurry of attacks. To a normal person, each of Zoro's strikes would have been precise, powerful, and relentless, but unfortunately for him, Luffy parried every single one of his strikes with his forearms, using just enough Haki to deflect the blades without taking any damage.

Then Luffy's eyes sharpened, and without warning, he vanished from Zoro's sight for a split second, using a burst of speed enhanced by his mastery of breath control and Observation Haki. Zoro barely had time to blink before Luffy reappeared behind him, one hand resting lightly on Zoro's shoulder.

"Behind you," Luffy whispered.

Zoro didn't even have time to turn before Luffy delivered a sharp tap to the back of his neck. The blow, light as it was, sent Zoro crashing face-first into the sand.

Kuina saw her opening and leaped at Luffy, but once again, Luffy saw it coming. He sidestepped smoothly, letting her momentum carry her past him. As she landed, he gently tapped the back of her leg with his foot, causing her to lose her balance and fall to one knee.

Luffy stood over them both, his expression shifting from playful to serious, a cold edge in his voice. "You two are strong," he admitted, his gaze hardening. "But not strong enough."

Zoro struggled to his feet, panting, sweat dripping down his face. Kuina followed, equally winded, her grip on her sai tightening as she exchanged a glance with her childhood friend. Without a word, they rushed Luffy together, determination blazing in their eyes.

But Luffy was done playing.

As they closed in, he exhaled slowly and with a burst of speed, he moved faster than either of them could react, appearing between them in an instant. His palms flashed out, tapping both Zoro and Kuina on their chests with Haki-infused strikes. The force of the blows sent both of them flying backward, crashing into the sand with heavy thuds.

Luffy stood tall, dusting off his hands, his breathing even and calm. "Thanks for the workout," he said with a grin. "You two are good. But you've still got a long way to go."

Then Luffy walked over to where Zoro and Kuina lay groaning in the sand. "So? You've had enough, or do you want to go another round?" he asked, his grin widening into a smug, teasing smile.

Zoro and Kuina glared up at him. "Screw you!" they both shouted in unison.

Luffy laughed heartily, their anger only fueling his amusement. "Haha! That's a no, I guess!" he said with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Well, it looks like I won our little bet, which means…"

Zoro and Kuina exchanged defeated looks as Luffy's grin grew wider. He stretched his arms toward them triumphantly. "Hey guys, welcome to the crew!"

******

Meanwhile, in Shells Town, word of Captain 'Axe-Hand' Morgan's defeat had already reached Marine Headquarters, prompting a swift response from the other side. Today was the day a high-ranking officer would arrive to investigate the incident, assess the situation, and determine what had truly transpired in this Marine division of this town.

At the Marine Base, the soldiers were hard at work, trying to compensate for the shame their former captain had brought upon them. The air was tense, filled with apprehension, as no one wanted to give the impression that they were anything but diligent in the wake of Morgan's disgrace. But their focus was abruptly broken when the doors to the base swung open.

A figure walked in confidently, the echo of her boots bouncing off the stone walls of the base. The Marines turned their heads, immediately taken aback as they saw a young woman with long strawberry blonde hair, green eyes, and prominent lips. She wore a strapless pink dress with red blotch-like patterns on it, a whip neatly folded in her hand, and a Marine coat draped over her shoulders that notified everyone at the base of her identity.

Then, without giving any attention or offering any explanation to the Marines who were gawking at her, the woman strode purposefully through the base. A few minutes later, she reached the door of the Captain's office and, without bothering to knock, swung it open with a swift motion.

Inside, Ripper, the Marine officer temporarily in charge of the base, was startled by the sudden intrusion. He jumped up from his desk, about to shout at whoever dared enter unannounced. But the words died in his throat the moment he looked up and met her icy green eyes staring him down with a frigid, commanding intensity.

"My name is Rear Admiral Kujaku," the young woman introduced herself in a cool and authoritative voice. "I'm here to investigate the situation regarding Captain Morgan."

Ripper gulped, standing at attention as he realized who was in front of him. He dared not speak out of turn and simply nodded in acknowledgment, knowing this was not someone to be trifled with.

For the next few hours, Kujaku conducted a thorough investigation, interrogating Marines and reviewing the official reports. However, as the investigation dragged on, her frown deepened. No matter how much she pressed the Marines for details, their responses were unnervingly consistent, as though they were reading from a script.

Every time she questioned them, she got the same carefully worded accounts of Morgan's defeat: how the people of the town grew fed up with Morgan's violence and misuse of power and decided to overthrow him with the help of the Marines in the town. To everyone's credit, the testimonies were consistent, but the lack of variance only raised Kujaku's suspicions.

After hours of questioning, Kujaku finally left the Marine base with a dissatisfied expression. She made her way to the local tavern, where she found a tall, muscular man with short pink hair waiting for her at a table in the back corner.

"Ah, Kujaku, you're back! How did the investigation go?" the man asked, a cheerful smile on his face as he leaned back in his chair.

"Shut up, Koby!" Kujaku snapped, irritation evident in her tone. "You were supposed to accompany me to the Marine base. Instead, you disappeared the moment we reached the shore!"

"Yeah, sorry about that," Koby said with an awkward chuckle, rubbing the back of his head. "Anyway, so what did you find?"

"Nothing different, the same as what had been documented in official reports," Kujaku said with a frown. "No matter how much I tried to intimidate them, they all repeated the same story like they were reading from a script."

"Ah, that's to be expected after what this town went through," Koby said, nodding his head.

Seeing his response, Kujaku narrowed her eyes. "You know something, don't you?" 

"Yep, I do," Koby's cheerful demeanor shifted to something more serious. "Well, while you were 'interrogating' the Marines," he said, gesturing with air quotes, "I did some investigating of my own. Turns out, Mr. Garp had a pretty good reason for entrusting this mission to our branch when anyone else could have done it quite easily."

At the mention of Vice Admiral Garp's name, Kujaku's curiosity spiked. She leaned in, her green eyes narrowing. "Go on," she said.

Before Koby could elaborate, a small figure approached their table, carrying a plate of food. "Big Brother Koby! Here's the food you ordered!" The little girl smiled brightly as she placed the plate in front of him.

Koby's face lit up. "Thanks, Rika!" he said warmly, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a chocolate bar. "Here, take this as a tip for the best waitress in town!"

Rika's eyes sparkled with joy as she accepted the chocolate, tucking it into the pocket of her apron. "Thank you!" she beamed. Then, after a brief pause, she hesitated before speaking again. "Big Brother Koby, can I ask you for a favor?"

"Sure, what is it?" Koby asked, tilting his head in curiosity.

Rika's expression brightened, and she pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper, placing it carefully on the table. "Since you're friends with Big Brother Luffy, can you give this to him, please?"

Koby's smile softened as he took the paper and carefully folded it before tucking it into his coat pocket. "Of course, Rika. I'll make sure Luffy gets it the next time I see him."

"Thank you so much!" Rika exclaimed with excitement, bouncing back toward the kitchen.

Kujaku, who had been quietly observing the exchange, raised an eyebrow. The name 'Luffy' was lingering in her mind. She turned to Koby, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. "Luffy... wait, isn't that..."

Koby grinned, leaning back in his chair. "Yep, that's him," he replied casually. "Anyway..." he said before she could ask anything else. "Why don't you join me? I've ordered your portion as well."

Kujaku sighed, realizing she wasn't going to get any more answers from him right now. Reluctantly, she joined him for lunch. After finishing their meal, the pair made their way back to the Marine ship where Captain Morgan was being held in custody, awaiting transfer.

As they boarded the vessel, one of the Marines approached them with a salute. "Sir, are we heading straight to Marineford to submit the report?"

Koby shook his head. "Not just yet. First, steer the ship toward my hometown. It's been a while since I've visited my parents' graves."

The Marine nodded and turned to relay the order to the helmsman.

Koby leaned on the edge of the ship, staring out at the vast sea. Then, as if speaking more to himself than anyone else, he added, "After that, I'll do a small tour of East Blue and clean my house." With those words, he left the deck and went to his personal cabin.

One of the Marines, overhearing Koby's words, muttered to his companion with a smirk. "Damn, I feel bad for the pirates around here. They probably thought they were safe, hiding out in the weakest of the four seas."

The other Marine grinned, "Yeah, those bastards should start counting their days. There's nothing but Impel Down waiting for them if they cross paths with Rear Admiral 'Iron-Fist' Koby!"

To be continued...