One Piece:I am King Luffy!

Luffy tried to recall his mindset as a kid and came to understand Uta's thoughts. Maybe she felt like she was holding everyone back.

"Uta, you're overthinking things," he said, settling down next to her. "It's okay if you don't know Haki yet—I barely know it myself."

He took a sip of water and continued, "Everyone's good at different things. I can't sing to save my life, but your voice is amazing."

"Are you... trying to comfort me?" Uta asked, looking at him a bit skeptically before reaching over and tugging at his cheeks, trying to regain her sense of authority. "I'm the older one here, you know!"

She looked away, clearly frustrated. "But it's just… you keep getting stronger, and I feel like I don't even know what I'm supposed to be doing…"

Having a peer to compare herself to brought out feelings of inadequacy that were new to Uta. She felt the weight of not being able to contribute, especially when Luffy seemed to advance so quickly.

"If you're not sure what to do," Luffy said, "then just focus on what you love. And if you're worried about losing, you don't have to be. There's no shame in failing."

Uta sat quietly, taking in his words. "Is that really all there is to it?" she muttered, looking down, but gradually feeling a bit better. Soon, her competitive side returned, and she jumped back into training with Luffy, determined to prove herself in strength exercises—even though she quickly lost to him in their matches.

After a good lunch, Luffy gave her an eager look and asked, "So, Uta, do you need a nap?"

Recognizing that look, she rolled her eyes. "You're just itching to use that Conqueror's Haki again, aren't you?"

"Well… yeah," Luffy admitted shamelessly, scratching his head. "It feels wrong having this ability and not using it. I have to keep practicing, you know?"

Uta sighed, amused. She didn't mind really—being knocked out by his Haki just put her into the deepest, most restful sleep.

"Fine," she said, "But only because I know how much you're dying to do it."

Satisfied, Luffy activated his Conqueror's Haki, the pulse of power radiating out across the ship.

The other pirates just shook their heads, not bothering to react as Luffy's Haki washed over them again. Only Uta was affected, as usual. And as she drifted into her enchanted sleep, a few pirates excitedly spotted fish and other sea creatures that had floated to the surface, stunned by Luffy's Haki.

"Look at all these fish!" one of the crew shouted, rallying the others.

"Time to haul 'em in!" another shouted, and the men wasted no time hopping into a smaller boat to scoop up the day's bounty.

"That Haki's turning into quite the useful fishing trick," Luffy muttered, pleased with himself.

…

Uta awoke, rubbing her eyes and finding Luffy already waiting by her bed.

"Luffy!" she scolded, "What are you doing at my bedside?"

"Good morning, Uta!" he greeted her cheerfully. "Are you going to go back to sleep?"

"Why?" Uta asked, a little suspicious.

"Because I want to use my Conqueror's Haki again!" he said, his voice full of excitement. "It just feels wrong not to use it, you know? Especially since I just awakened it. I need more practice!"

Uta sighed, shaking her head. She didn't want to admit it, but the idea of Luffy's Haki putting her to sleep wasn't so bad—it really did give her the best sleep she'd had in ages. "Fine, fine. But only for the sake of a good night's sleep!" she said.

Luffy's face lit up, and Uta quickly got ready for bed. Not long after, he unleashed his Haki once more, and she drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

Meanwhile, the crew, now used to Luffy's frequent Haki training, took advantage of the Haki's effects, spotting even more stunned fish floating around their ship. The crew got to work, casting their nets to scoop up the fish brought to the surface by the powerful pulse of Luffy's Conqueror's Haki.

…

After an afternoon of exercise and target practice, Luffy was enjoying a meal with Shanks and the crew when Uta approached, curiosity piqued.

"Shanks, is there any quick way to get stronger?" she asked, sitting beside him.

Shanks looked thoughtful. "Well, there are Devil Fruits, for one. They grant unique powers, and some of them are incredibly strong. But they come with a price—you'll never be able to swim again."

He grinned at her and added, "Remember that day when we arrived at Foosha Village? We had a strange-looking fruit with us—one covered in swirls? That was a Devil Fruit."

"Oh yeah, the one we found in that treasure chest after we clashed with the Navy?" Uta replied, recalling the purple fruit they had secured.

Shanks chuckled. "Yes, that's the one. But we'd better be careful with it; it came from a government ship, so it's bound to be something special. Still, Devil Fruits are unpredictable. Some grant extraordinary abilities, while others can… change you in ways you might not like. Imagine if you ended up looking strange or beastly after eating one!"

Hearing that, Uta straightened up with new determination. "I don't care—I'm going to become a Devil Fruit user someday!"

"Alright," Shanks said with a laugh, "but just remember, once you eat one, you're a landlubber for life!"

…

Fresh from his shooting practice, Luffy approached Shanks, still wiping off sweat. Shanks noticed him and grinned, gesturing at the two kids.

"I see you two haven't gotten bored yet," he said. "Tonight, how about a little contest to keep things interesting?"

"Contest?" Luffy and Uta both perked up, intrigued.

Shanks's grin widened as he revealed his plan. "We'll have a treasure hunt on the ship! Beckman will hide treasure chests around the ship. Whoever finds the most wins the game!"

"That's it?" Luffy asked. "There has to be a prize, right?"

Shanks thought for a moment before saying, "Alright, how about this? In a week, we'll be stopping at Glass Pearl Island to resupply. The winner will get free rein to shop for whatever they want."

Uta's eyes widened with excitement. "Glass Pearl Island?!"

Luffy looked confused. "Is it really that special?"

"Of course it is!" Uta exclaimed, her face lighting up. "It's the fashion capital of the world—DOSKOI PANDA's headquarters is there, and they even have dance contests! I'm not going to lose!"

Luffy caught her enthusiasm, smiling determinedly. "Me neither—I want that prize too!"

Shanks laughed at the sight of their competitive spirits. "Alright, whoever finishes their dinner first can start the hunt! Just remember, if you both find the same number of chests, we'll decide the winner based on whose treasure is worth the most."

Both kids wasted no time, quickly finishing their meals before bolting off their seats to start the treasure hunt. The crew cheered them on, even taking bets on who would win.

"Go, Uta! Don't let Luffy beat you!" some shouted.

"Come on, Luffy, you got this!" others cheered.

Luffy wasn't as familiar with the ship's layout as Uta was, having only spent time in a few rooms like the sleeping quarters, the galley, and the shooting range. Uta, on the other hand, knew every nook and cranny, which gave her a head start.

She darted into hidden spots and narrow passageways, quickly uncovering a few small chests. Meanwhile, Luffy took a more leisurely approach, wandering the ship at his own pace, though he found a chest here and th

ere.

Both were determined, fueled by the promise of the grand prize awaiting them on Glass Pearl Island.