One Piece: The Saiyan Pirate

Chapter 53: Grandline Bound

A few hours had passed since Goku's tail had grown back, and the atmosphere aboard the Going Merry had taken a turn. The crew, having been briefed about the situation, had gathered in the common area. Sanji, Nami, and Usopp were milling about, finishing up their tasks as the ship gently rocked on the waves, when they were finally able to witness what Goku had been so excited about.

"Goku, what is that...?" Sanji's voice was filled with disbelief as his eyes fell on the swaying tail. He had been in the kitchen earlier, cooking up something delicious, but now he stood frozen, his cigarette dangling from his mouth as he stared at Goku's tail. "You... you weren't joking, huh?"

Usopp, who had been leaning against the railing, spun around with wide eyes. "What the heck is that? How does a human even grow a tail? That's insane!" His mouth hung open as he gawked at the spectacle, half expecting it to disappear any second.

Gin, leaning casually against the side of the ship, smirked. "It's a part of his heritage. His people are called Saiyans," he explained, his voice calm as though he was discussing a mere oddity. "They're warriors, and part of their natural biology involves having tails. I guess his tail's just... come back."

Sanji blinked slowly, rubbing his forehead. "Wait, so... Saiyan? That's why his name is Monkey D. Goku?" He muttered, his eyes widening as the pieces clicked together. "That makes sense now. I thought it was just a weird name, but he's part monkey?"

Nami, who had been leaning against the wall, raised an eyebrow but kept her arms folded, a slight frown tugging at her lips. "That's a hell of an explanation... But... this is... really weird." She glanced at Goku, still skeptical. Despite Gin's explanation, Nami couldn't fully believe that what she was seeing was normal. Sure, she'd seen Goku do some ridiculous stuff, but a tail? A grown man with a tail? It still didn't sit right with her.

Goku, oblivious to the scrutiny, was far too excited to care about anyone else's disbelief. His eyes sparkled with childlike wonder, and with a mischievous grin, he flicked his tail in the air. He turned to Usopp, his voice full of energy. "Usopp! I got a tail again! We should play some monkey games!"

Usopp's face lit up. "Yes! I'm in! Let's have some fun!" Grinning, he grabbed a coil of rope and a sturdy staff from the storage area. In a flurry of motion, he began to fashion a fake tail for himself, his creativity running wild as he tied the rope around his waist and attached the staff to make it look like a tail. "I'm a Saiyan too!" Usopp shouted gleefully as he twirled around with his makeshift tail, imitating Goku's movements.

Goku laughed and started running around the deck, his tail swaying with every leap and bound. "Look, Usopp! I can swing from the mast!" He shouted before climbing the rigging with ease and dangling from it by his tail like a true monkey.

Nami watched, leaning against the railing with her arms still crossed. A soft smile tugged at the corner of her lips, but there was still a hint of unease in her eyes. Watching Goku act like this—carefree and full of life—was a relief. She had been worried after their fight with Smoker. He had been so quiet and withdrawn, only retreating to his room to sleep for most of the day afterward. She had feared that something had shifted in him. Perhaps the strain of their recent battles had been too much, and she wondered if he was going to change.

But seeing him now—laughing and running around like an overgrown child—Nami felt that familiar comfort return. She couldn't help but sigh in relief. He hadn't changed. He was still the same Goku, still the innocent, kind-hearted man she knew. The kind who could get caught up in nonsense like this and make everything seem so simple.

"Maybe it's just the tail that's different," she thought, glancing at him as he playfully pulled Usopp up into the rigging. Despite her worries, Nami had always appreciated this about him. No matter how tough the world got, Goku was always able to find joy in the little things.

As the hours ticked by, Nami's mind began to wander back to that moment when Goku had been so distant. He hadn't said much after the fight with Smoker, and though he had assured her that everything was fine, she still wasn't entirely convinced. She hadn't been able to shake the feeling that there was more to his silence. But right now, watching him in his playful mood, Nami couldn't help but feel a little more at ease. He was still Goku. And maybe that was enough—for now.

By the time the Going Merry was approaching the base of Reverse Mountain, the sun was starting to dip low in the sky, casting long shadows across the deck. The storm clouds were gathering on the horizon, and the wind picked up. Nami, standing in the kitchen with her charts spread out before her, explained the next step of their journey.

"This is Reverse Mountain," she said, her voice steady despite the brewing chaos outside. "We'll need to climb up this mountain using the strong current, and then we'll come down the other side, directly into the Grand Line."

Sanji, wiping his hands on his apron as he joined her, raised an eyebrow. "Climb up a mountain? How is that possible?"

Nami chuckled. "It's the weirdest thing. The water actually flows up the side of the mountain, not down. There's a stream near the top that leads us directly into the Grand Line. The current's strong enough to push us up. It's... a little tricky, but it works."

Outside, the storm had hit full force. The waves began crashing around them, and the ship bucked violently with each gust of wind. The Going Merry's sails strained under the pressure as the ship lurched forward, pushing its way toward the mountain. Nami hurriedly adjusted the course, but the crew had to work together quickly to keep the ship on track.

Gin, taking his place at the rudder, grasped the stick tightly, his muscles straining as the waves battered the ship from every side. He fought against the tremendous pressure, trying to steer the ship into the flow of the current.

"The storm's getting worse!" Zoro yelled, his hand holding the sails steady as the wind howled around them. He shouted to Nami to adjust the ropes, and she responded with swift efficiency. Everyone on board was scrambling, each person working in tandem to keep the Going Merry upright.

"Hold steady!" Gin shouted, his voice strained as he pushed against the waves, struggling to keep the ship from veering off course. The rudder creaked in his grip, but Gin held firm, keeping the Going Merry on course toward Reverse Mountain.

"Watch out for that wave!" Usopp screamed, pointing at a towering wall of water approaching the ship.

"We need to adjust the sails!" Nami called back, using her quick wit to guide the crew through the chaos. Her voice was calm despite the storm's fury as she directed them to keep the ship stable and focused on the goal.

Up and up the Going Merry climbed, slowly making its way up the mountain's incline, as the stream defied gravity itself, pushing the ship higher. It felt almost unnatural, the sensation of moving uphill while the water surged upward. The entire crew was on edge, working together, each person focusing on the task at hand. From the deck to the rudder to the sails, they worked in a whirlwind of motion, keeping the ship straight.

And then, after what felt like an eternity, the Going Merry reached the summit. The crew breathed a collective sigh of relief as they glanced down the other side, where the Grand Line awaited them.

"We made it..." Nami said quietly, her heart pounding with both anticipation and dread. The calm before the storm, she thought. There was no turning back now.

The Going Merry crested the top, and they began their descent into the Grand Line.

As the ship descended, the waves grew ever more chaotic. The current pulled them faster, and excitement mingled with nervous tension. They had finally arrived.

But then, just as they reached the bottom of the mountain, a colossal shadow appeared in front of them. The crew froze.

A massive, dark form loomed ahead. It looked like an enormous black wall, stretching across the water, blocking their path.

"What in the world...?" Gin muttered, his grip tightening on the rudder as he steered the ship.

The crew could only stare in awe and confusion as the shadow loomed larger, an ominous presence in the distance.

The mystery of what lay before them would have to wait. For now, they were faced with this massive black wall.

[A/N: Read 15 to 20 chapters ahead available on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels]