One Piece: The Saiyan Pirate

Chapter 94: A New Crew Member

The wind outside Drum Castle howled softly, but inside the warm hall, there was a quiet tension. Dr. Kureha stood before Chopper, her sharp eyes peering down at him. Despite her usual gruff demeanor, there was a softness in her gaze that belied her stern tone.

"Are you sure about this, Chopper?" she asked, her voice steady but filled with an undercurrent of concern. "The seas aren't a friendly place. If you leave, there's no turning back."

Chopper hesitated for only a moment before looking up at her, his blue eyes glistening with determination. "You know this is what my father wanted for me, Doctor. He wanted me to live my life the way I'd like to… and I think I finally understand what he meant."

Kureha sighed, her expression a mix of pride and sadness. "You're right. Hiriluk was a fool, but he was right about one thing—you were meant for more than this island."

She crouched down to Chopper's level, her face suddenly serious as she looked him directly in the eyes. "But listen to me, boy. There's always more to learn. No matter how much you think you know, there are always people out there who are better, smarter, and stronger. Never stop growing, Chopper. Never stop improving. That's the only way to live a life worth living."

Her words hung In the air like a heavy blanket of snow. Chopper nodded solemnly, absorbing every word. "I won't stop," he said, his voice trembling with emotion. "I'll keep learning. I'll keep getting stronger."

Before he could say more, Goku interrupted, his grin wide as ever. "That's the perfect lesson for life, Doc. There's always room to grow, no matter who you are."

Kureha stood and fixed Goku with a piercing stare. "If you're going to take this little boy out to sea, you'd better take care of him. He's not just your doctor now—he's like a son to me. If anything happens to him, you'll have me to answer to."

Goku's smile softened, and he placed a hand on Chopper's shoulder. "Don't worry, Doc. Nothing's gonna happen to him. I'll keep him safe—promise."

Satisfied, Kureha straightened and crossed her arms. "You'd better." She looked down at Chopper one last time, her expression softening. "Go on, then. You've got a crew waiting."

Chopper hesitated, then threw his arms around her in an uncharacteristic burst of affection. "Thank you, Doctor," he whispered. "For everything."

Kureha froze for a moment, then patted his back awkwardly. "Alright, enough of that. Get out of here before I change my mind."

With that, Goku turned and gestured for Chopper to follow. "Come on, buddy. It's time for you to meet the rest of the crew."

---

A few minutes later, they entered the warm, bustling room where the Straw Hat crew had gathered. The air was thick with the scent of herbal remedies and the faint crackle of a fire in the corner. Nami was lying in bed, still pale from her illness but clearly improving. Vivi sat by her side, offering gentle words of comfort. The rest of the crew stood around the room—Sanji leaning casually against the wall, Gin sharpening his weapons at a nearby table, Zoro with his arms crossed and his usual stoic expression, and Usopp nervously adjusting his slingshot.

As Goku entered with Chopper, the room quieted. The crew's eyes shifted to the small reindeer walking beside their captain, his tiny blue nose twitching as he nervously glanced around the room.

Goku clapped his hands together, drawing everyone's attention. "Alright, listen up, everyone! I've got a big announcement."

The crew straightened, curiosity flashing in their eyes. Goku turned to Chopper and placed a hand on his shoulder. "First, let me introduce you to the crew."

He pointed to Zoro, who stood with his usual air of calm confidence. "This is Roronoa Zoro, my first mate and our swordsman. He's the guy you want around when things get messy."

Zoro gave a small nod, his sharp gaze resting on Chopper. "Welcome to the crew, kid."

Goku's hand moved to Usopp, who fidgeted slightly under the attention. "This is Usopp, our sniper and the bravest liar you'll ever meet."

Usopp puffed out his chest, clearly trying to look confident. "That's right! I'm the great Captain Usopp! Stick with me, and you'll be just fine."

Chopper tilted his head, unsure how to respond, but he nodded politely.

Next, Goku gestured to Sanji, who adjusted his tie and smiled charmingly. "This is Sanji, our cook. He'll keep you well-fed and probably hit on every woman we meet."

Sanji shot Goku a look but quickly turned his attention to Chopper. "Don't listen to him, Chopper. I'm a gentleman and an artist in the kitchen. Welcome aboard."

Finally, Goku pointed to Gin, who was still focused on his weapons but looked up briefly to acknowledge Chopper. "This is Gin, our fighter. He doesn't talk much, but he's got your back when it counts."

Gin nodded, his voice quiet but firm. "Good to have you, Chopper."

With the introductions complete, Goku stepped back and grinned at the group. "Alright, everyone, meet our newest crew member: Tony Tony Chopper, our doctor!"

The room erupted Into a chorus of welcomes, each crew member adding their voice.

"Welcome aboard!" Zoro said simply.

"Nice to meet you!" Usopp chimed in, his tone cheerful.

"Let's get along, little buddy," Sanji added, his voice warm.

Gin offered a brief but sincere, "Glad to have you with us."

Even Nami, though weak, managed a small smile. "Welcome, Chopper."

Only Vivi remained silent, her expression contemplative as she watched the scene unfold.

Chopper blinked, overwhelmed by the outpouring of acceptance. "Th-Thank you," he stammered, his voice trembling with emotion. "I'll do my best to take care of everyone!"

Goku clapped him on the back, his grin widening. "That's the spirit, Chopper. Now, let's get ready. The sea's waiting, and so are the adventures ahead."

As the crew welcomed their newest member, the sense of camaraderie in the room grew stronger. The Straw Hats were complete, and with Chopper now among them, the Grand Line felt just a little less daunting.

The room gradually emptied as the crew dispersed, each member preparing for their upcoming departure. The faint sound of boots on stone echoed in the castle's halls as they left, their laughter and conversation fading into the distance. Goku lingered by the door, his gaze following his crew until they were out of sight. He glanced back at the bed where Nami lay, her face still pale but slowly regaining its color.

He walked over, pulling a chair beside her bed and plopping into it with a casual ease. Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on his knees and offered her a warm smile. "How're you holding up?" he asked, his tone soft but full of concern.

Nami shifted slightly, wincing as she adjusted her position. "Better," she admitted, though her voice was still weak. "Dr. Kureha's medicine is working, but… it'll take time." She paused, her brow furrowing. "I hate being stuck like this, though. I feel useless."

"Useless?" Goku raised an eyebrow, shaking his head. "Nami, come on. You've already done more than enough. You got us through tough situations, didn't you? Without you, we wouldn't have even made it to "rum Island."

She sighed, her fingers brushing against the blanket. "I guess. But I still feel like I'm holding everyone back. And…" She hesitated, her eyes drifting toward the window, where snow swirled softly outside. "I'm worried about Vivi. She hasn't said much, but I can tell she's scared. Alabasta… it's her home, and it's falling apart."

Goku leaned back in the chair, crossing his arms as he gazed at her thoughtfully. "Yeah, she's worried. Who wouldn't be? But that's why we're here—to help her."

"But what if we're too late?" Nami asked, her voice trembling slightly. "What if things in Alabasta get worse while we're stuck here? What if… what if we can't save her country?"

Goku leaned forward again, his expression serious but calm. "Listen, Nami. I get it. You're worried about Vivi, and that's a good thing. It shows you care. But stressing about what-ifs isn't gonna help anyone right now."

She looked at him, her brown eyes filled with doubt. "But—"

He cut her off gently, his voice steady and reassuring. "For now, we need to focus on getting you back to full strength. If we're not at our best, we're no good to Vivi or Alabasta. Once you're better and the crew's ready, we'll deal with whatever's waiting for us. And trust me, whatever's happening over there, we'll handle it. Together."

Nami bit her lip, his words sinking in. She wanted to argue, to say that time was running out and they couldn't afford to wait, but deep down, she knew he was right. Her shoulders relaxed slightly as she exhaled a shaky breath. "You make it sound so simple."

Goku grinned, his usual carefree demeanor returning. "Because it is. We're a crew, Nami. We've faced crazy stuff before, and we'll face crazier stuff ahead. But as long as we stick together, there's nothing we can't handle."

She couldn't help but smile, though it was faint. "You're really something, you know that?"

"Yeah, I've heard that before," he said, his grin widening. He stood, stretching his arms above his head. "Get some rest, okay? You'll need your strength for when we set sail tomorrow. No slacking off, Navigator."

Nami chuckled softly, her laugh barely above a whisper. "Alright, Captain. You win this time."

As Goku turned to leave, she called out to him. "Goku?"

He stopped, glancing back over his shoulder. "Yeah?"

"Thanks," she said, her voice sincere.

He gave her a thumbs-up, his grin never faltering. "Anytime, Nami."

As he left the room, the door clicking softly behind him, Nami lay back against the pillows, her mind still racing but her heart a little lighter. The warmth of his reassurance lingered, a beacon of hope in the cold uncertainty of what lay ahead.

Tomorrow, they would set sail. And no matter what awaited them in Alabasta, she knew one thing for certain: they wouldn't face it alone.

[A/N: Can't wait to see what happens next? Get exclusive early access on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels. If you enjoyed this chapter and want to see more, don't forget to drop a power stone! Your support helps this story reach more readers!]