15 A fire, an asshole and an adventure

*VROOOOOM!!!*

*BOOOOOM!!!*

*CRACK!!!*

*SWEEEEEEESHHSHHHH!!!*

"God, just what are they?!"

"Someone stop them! They are moving towards the shore! If our ship gets destroyed we will be stranded on this island!"

"Stop them my ass!! Why don't you go and stop them yourself, smartass?!"

I noticed that the navy soldiers shouted something and ran like headless chicken but that was all the focus I could afford to spend on them.

"Divine adventure: 3rd Trial!"

"Shigan!"

*BOOOOM!!!*

"Rankyaku!"

"Rankyaku!"

*SWOOOSHSHSHSH!!!*

Me and grandpa were currently sparring on an uninhabited island not far from Dawn Island. Grandpa just took me on my birthday last month and brought me here to train me although he calls it strict education. He even went as far as to openly discuss my flaws when using rokushiki, with the other marines soldiers loud enough for me to hear. Furthermore he would drop hints regarding the rokushiki techniques I hadn't learned before coming here which I finally figured out thanks to that.

The one thing I couldn't figure out before and that blocked my further progress was seimei Kikan. Using it to tighten and compress my muscles was a required technique for shigan and tekkai where as a slight alteration regarding bone positions was required for kami-e and rankyaku.

If it weren't for grandpa's guidance and spartan training method of do or get beaten until you shit blood, I wouldn't have learned these techniques so fast.

"Ok, that should be enough."

'Thank goodness!'

"This is as far as I will help you. I sacrificed one year's worth of time on leave so you better be grateful and become a good marine in the future."

Of course I was grateful but becoming a marine is a no. Still he doesn't need to hear that right now. Today we will be going back to Dawn Island and after we arrived in Foosha Village grandpa just dropped me off saying that he can't spent anymore time away from the HQ.

That's also fine by me. Being on my way to our tree house I passed party's bar and although I'm tempted to go in I'd rather just go and see those three idiot brothers of mine.

'*sigh* didn't think I'd miss them in just a month.'

Arriving shortly after, at our tree house I instantly see Ace and Luffy but for some reason the atmosphere around them is extremely strange. Somehow… depressing. On top of that, I can neither see nor sense Sabo near here.

Suddenly I feel how my stomach sinks in and my chest gets tight. A very bad premonition forces itself into my head.

Ace and Luffy noticed me by now, and are telling me what happened. They went to the Goa Kingdom and Sabo's father saw and recognized him. Later he came with Bluejam and Sabo went back with him.

'Thank goodness I'm not to late!'

Breath, that I didn't know I was holding in escaped my mouth as my tension visibly relaxed. On Ace's and mine birthday I had already decided to intervene at this point in time but if I had any doubts before this, then I am sure they all have vanished without a trace now.

As for the question what should be done. I already have a scenarios, which should cover the most important points, planned out but I need to talk with Ace and Luffy about this

"Ace, Luffy listen to me for a bit and I mean listen really good because this is very important."

Both of them start listening

"Did Bluejam make you help with carrying some boxes to points on Grey Terminal?"

They both nod and ask me how did I know but I ignore that question. Based on what I've heard from them, I concluded that the fire on Grey Terminal will start tonight.

Sabo right now, should be trying his hardest to warn the people, but the thing is, even if we warn them and they evacuate, where should they go. Besides that, once the king finds out about the peoples survival he might try something else to get rid of them. Even if he doesn't take actions immediately, what if in a few years another world no me decides to visit?

The best case would be if we succeeded to evacuate the people to the shore side before the fire reaches there and then keep the flames at bay, without putting them out. Like this the people will be than saved by Dragon and the king will think his plan succeeded.

As for what comes after that…

"No way I'll agree to this!! How can you even know all this?! It's not certain things will happen like you said!"

"Yeah, what if he is really happy!"

As expected they wouldn't just nod their heads and play along. But Luffy you idiot how can he be happy.

"Luffy do you really believe that?"

"Even if he isn't, can't we just take him back? With you around they can't do anything!"

"That would put Dadan and the others in danger as well, besides don't you think that I can't be everywhere all the time? It just takes one moment of carelessness for something bad to happen. Are you really ready to risk it?"

"But then why don't we all go together…?!"

"Because of him."

I cut Ace short pointing at Luffy.

"He can't swim and is not strong enough to fend for himself against neither pirates like Bluejam nor navy soldiers. Leaving him behind alone is also a no go, we both know that.

"But why me then?! We were always together since the moment we were born! Why are you leaving me behind now?!"

Silence fell after Ace's outburst. This wasn't easy for me either but if things came down to it, then I would leave this island. That surely wasn't easy for Ace to accept since we really were always together. The last month I was trained by grandpa was in fact the longest time we haven't seen each other. But it can't be helped because…

"… It's because I trust you Ace. Who else would be suitable? Also you're acting as if we won't see each other again but it's quite the contrary. Once you set out to sea we will meet each other very often I am sure about that. Besides this is just one possible outcome that might not even happen, I just wanted you both to know, that if I don't come back by tomorrow evening, I most likely will have set out to sea with Sabo."

They still didn't agree to me and Sabo leaving first but they also didn't say anything anymore. I quickly went to the village and got some empty books, in which I wrote training methods for rokushiki, armament haki and even conqueror's haki.

Later we went to Grey Terminal and started to warn and evacuate the people or at least we tried. Obviously they wouldn't just believe three kids who told them to leave their homes, because of a fire that hasn't started yet.

Well it got a lot easier once Bluejam and his underlings started the fire. The people panicked at first but we told them that help will arrive from the sea side.

Most of the people made it there in time before the fire cut off the way to the shore, but the few elderly and children who didn't make it I carried there with geppo. Later Dragon arrived and saved the people by letting them come on ship but Luffy, Ace and me didn't wait for him.

We did what we wanted and could do, so we were currently on our way back. Meeting Dadan and the others on the way is a lucky coincidence since they won't go into the fire now.

In the end, Bluejam and his crew were the only ones who died in the fire they set.

The next day

I am currently in the Goa Kingdom and searching for Sabo. On my back I am carrying enough provisions to last me a week, even when considering my abnormal appetite. Using my observation haki, I sensed that he is on the shore, probably preparing to begin his adventure.

"Where do you think are you going?"

!

"Jackson-nii?!"

Sabo was too shocked to speak after seeing me so I started the conversation. After all I would first try to convince him to stay.

"You don't need to go just to run from them you know?"

"How do you know that?! And it's not completely like that."

"Do you feel like you can't breath when staying here?"

"?!"

Too easy to read. Of course I know what he is thinking since it was an important part in One Piece.

"You know you could just come back and continue living with us. Your father won't be able to get to you when I am around."

"…But that would be just me hiding behind your back."

"What's wrong with that? As your brother it's normal to shield you."

It's true that this wasn't the most ideal solution but it was worth a try. If Sabo agreed then his father would surely try to take him back again, even going as far and hurt or kill the others.

Naturally I wouldn't let him but it's highly likely that he will just continually send people after us and in the off chance that he might have connections with people in the world government things might get even messier. So before any of that started I would have just put on a mask and assassinate him and his wife.

"… No. Sorry but I don't want that."

And that was his answer. I guess he also thought of the same possibility as I did. Whatever, I won't force him. Then second option.

"What if we faked your death? Once he thinks you are dead he will just give up won't he?"

"… I… I don't want that either. Instead of playing dead and hiding I'd rather live freely the way I want and show them!"

Hmmm… so that's a no as well. Then the last option is…

"I won't allow it!"

"Huh?…EHHH?! What are you saying Jackson-nii?!"

"I won't allow you to set sail. You want me to write it down for you?"

"How can you do that?! That's not fair!"

"I can because I can and no one cares what's fair and what not."

I said with a shrug. Sabo seems really agitated by what I said.

"But why?! We talked about it so often! We want to sail the world and become pirates! I trained hard for this and I'm certain I can do this! So why?"

"Because I said so."

"… Jackson-nii… I am going to set sail no matter what!"

"Really? No matter what?"

Sabo visibly tensed up but his gaze was firm and resolute.

"Ok. If that is the case I'll let you leave but you have to agree to one of my conditions."

"A condition?"

'Oi what's with that suspicious look?!'

"Yes. You don't have much of a choice since if I really wanted to stop you you wouldn't stand a chance anyways."

After contemplating for a little while Sabo agreed by nodding his head to which I stated my condition.

"You Are not allowed to leave on your own. Instead why don't you join me and we will set sail together?"

.

.

.

"… Eh? Are you serious? But what about Ace and Luffy? If we both leave then they…"

"I already talked about this with them. Although they weren't happy Ace still agreed to stay behind with Luffy and set sail a few years later. I also already wrote a farewell letter for Dadan, hope you don't mind I said it's from not of us."

Sabo seemed overwhelmed for a moment and I became worried. If he strongly refused to join my crew then I didn't really plan on forcing him even though it would make things a bit more complicated for me. After a little while, Sabo finally decided on what to do. Nodding his head he agreed to my condition.

Straightening his back and holding his head high, he looked me into the eyes and with a very serious face he walked up to me and said

"Jackson-nii, can I join your crew?"

And like this I gained my first mate and vice-captain.

(!AN: hi, everyone! This is what I have panned for our mc! To me this appeared to be a cool idea, and a good solution regarding Sabo, but some might disagree. I would like to hear your thoughts regarding this. Also this chapter is quite a bit longer than the others so I would like to ask wether it became too much while reading it or if this is still ok. Personally I prefer to read chaps with 11-13 pages but again some might have different opinions. Like always I hope you enjoy it and leave a feedback!)