1/2 Laboon

The ship climbed the turbulent waters of Reverse Mountain, the crew gripping the railing tightly as they were propelled upwards. The roaring water was deafening, the sheer force of the current testing their endurance. Nami expertly navigated, her sharp eyes fixed on the path ahead, while the others maintained the ship's balance.

As they reached the peak and began their descent, the crew let out a collective breath. The waters calmed slightly, and the sight before them was breathtaking—the vast, uncharted expanse of the Grand Line stretched out, beckoning them forward.

Toshiro, still leaning casually on his chair, took a sip of his lemonade. "Welcome to the Grand Line, everyone," he announced with a smirk. "Try not to get yourselves killed."

Sanji, wiping the sweat from his brow, shot Toshiro a glare. "Why don't you get up and do something for a change, captain?"

Toshiro raised an eyebrow, his smirk never faltering. "Because you all are doing such a splendid job," he replied mockingly. "Wouldn't want to ruin the harmony of the crew."

Nami, exasperated but focused, called out, "We're not out of danger yet. Keep your eyes open and be ready for anything."

Kuro nodded, adjusting his glasses as he surveyed the horizon. "The Grand Line is unpredictable. We need to stay vigilant."

Toshiro stretched lazily, unfazed by the tension. "Relax, Kuro. We've got this. Besides, I'm here, aren't I?"

Sanji muttered under his breath, "Yeah, great comfort."

The ship sailed steadily into the Grand Line, the crew's nerves gradually settling as they adjusted to the new waters. Despite the tension, there was a sense of excitement and anticipation among them. They had made it through the Reverse Mountain, and now, the real adventure awaited.

Suddenly, a massive wave surged, lifting the ship high into the air. The crew barely had time to react before a colossal whale, covered in scars, emerged from the depths and swallowed them whole.

Inside the whale's cavernous belly, the crew was thrown into chaos. The interior was dark and eerily calm compared to the violent ocean outside. The ship came to a rest on the stomach lining, the crew picking themselves up and assessing their surroundings.

"Where the hell are we?" Sanji exclaimed, looking around in disbelief.

Nami, wide-eyed, tried to make sense of their situation. "We...we're inside a whale!"

Toshiro, seemingly unfazed, glanced around with mild curiosity. "Interesting. A living cave."

Kuro, adjusting his glasses, peered into the darkness. "This whale... it's enormous. There must be a way out."

Before anyone could respond, they heard a voice echoing through the belly. "Hey! Who's there?"

A figure appeared, holding a lantern that illuminated his features. He was an elderly man with a kind face and a calm demeanor. "I see we have some new guests," he said, smiling warmly.

"Who are you?" Nami asked, trying to regain her composure.

"Introduce yourself first," Crocus responded, his tone sharp and eyes narrowing in displeasure.

"Ah, I'm sorry," Nami said quickly, feeling chastened, as she introduced herself and the others.

The man chuckled. "I'm Crocus, the caretaker of this whale. His name is Laboon. He's harmless, just a bit lonely."

Toshiro raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Lonely, you say?"

Crocus nodded. "Yes, he's been waiting for someone for a very long time. But that's a story for another time. For now, let's get you out of here."

With Crocus's guidance, the crew followed him deeper into Laboon's belly, navigating through the strange, living environment. They eventually reached a massive gate, which Crocus opened, revealing a way out.

As they stepped out onto the open ocean once more, the crew took a moment to catch their breath. Laboon's massive form loomed above them, his sad eyes watching them intently.

"Thank you," Nami said to Crocus, grateful for his help.

Crocus nodded. "Take care, and good luck on your journey through the Grand Line. It's a dangerous place, but with courage and determination, you can overcome anything."

Toshiro, looking back at Laboon, gave a slight nod. "We'll see you around, big guy. Try not to swallow any more ships, well you won't anymore."

Without anyone expecting it, Toshiro's smirk widened as he placed his hand on Laboon. Muttering, "Cleave."

"Can I cut him in one swoop?" Toshiro whispered, his voice low as he adjusted his stance.

With a sudden, powerful motion, Toshiro unleashed Cleave. The air around them seemed to still for a moment before a sharp, devastating energy radiated from his hand, aiming to slice through Laboon.

In an instant, the energy traveled through Laboon's massive form. The whale let out a low, mournful sound as a clean cut appeared, dividing his head and tail. Blood and seawater mixed, creating a horrifying scene.

The crew was thrown into chaos, shocked and horrified by Toshiro's actions. Nami's eyes widened in disbelief and rage. "Toshiro! What have you done?"

Crocus, too, was horrified, his calm demeanor shattered. "You...you monster! Laboon was harmless!"

Toshiro, unfazed by the outburst, simply smirked. "I was curious to see if my ability could cut something this large. Looks like it worked."

Sanji and Kuro stood in stunned silence, the weight of Toshiro's ruthless nature sinking in.

Nami's anger boiled over. "You're a psychopath! He was just a whale, waiting for his friends! How could you?"

Toshiro shrugged, his smirk never fading. "I don't care about a whale's feelings. I don't like anything that wastes my time, especially a useless whale like this."

Toshiro's gaze fixed on Crocus, ignoring everyone else's outcries. "You were a doctor on Roger's ship, right? Then I will gladly steal all your research and books on medicine."

In an instant, Toshiro appeared in front of Crocus. Without hesitation, he placed his hand on the old man's face and used Cleave ⩩, cutting him into a waffle-shaped pattern. Crocus didn't even have time to react before his body was dismembered into evenly spaced pieces, his blood splattering onto the deck.

The crew watched in horror as Crocus fell, lifeless. Nami's scream pierced the air. "Toshiro, you monster! He was just an old man!"

Sanji's fists clenched, his hatred for Toshiro intensifying. "You didn't have to kill him, you bastard!"

Kuro, though not as vocal, was curious. His cold eyes narrowed at Toshiro as he asked, "Is there no line you won't cross?" He was gathering information on Toshiro.

Toshiro wiped his hand on his coat, unfazed by the blood. "I do what I must to get what I need. His knowledge will be useful to us."

The crew's resentment towards Toshiro grew stronger with each passing moment. The tension on the ship was palpable as they realized the true extent of Toshiro's ruthless nature. They sailed on, the shadow of Toshiro's brutality casting a dark cloud over their journey into the Grand Line.

After they stole everything from Crocus's house, they left and continued their sailing. On the horizon, a small figure began forming the shape of a boat coming across them. Kuro noticed it first and informed Toshiro.

Toshiro looked at the small boat and saw a familiar face, confusion flickering in his eyes as he was yawning. "What year is it?" he asked Kuro abruptly.

Kuro, puzzled by Toshiro's sudden question, responded anyway. "Half a month from the new year."

Nami approached Toshiro and said, "There's going to be a storm."

Toshiro looked at the blue-haired girl in the boat and thought to himself, "Are we close to the time Luffy starts sailing? Interesting!" He considered the impending storm and the implications. "Vivi will have been working in Baroque Works for about eleven months now, right? This storm will delay them from reaching Laboon and completing their mission."

Quickly understanding the situation, Toshiro turned to his crew. "Prepare for the storm and keep an eye on that boat. Things are about to get interesting."

The crew sprang into action, adjusting the sails and securing loose items on the deck as the first signs of the storm began to brew. Toshiro's eyes remained fixed on the approaching boat, a smirk playing on his lips as he anticipated the chaos that was about to unfold.

The waves created by the storm smashed into the small boat, destroying it and causing it to start sinking. The crew looked at the sinking boat, then back at Toshiro.

"Sanji, go save them," Toshiro commanded.

Sanji's face contorted with shock, as if Toshiro had gone mad. "What? Do you want me to risk my life to save some strangers in this storm? And since when did you care about helping people?"

As Sanji continued to protest, Toshiro interrupted him with a sharp, emotionless tone. "There's a woman there."

Without another word, Sanji's demeanor changed. His eyes turned serious, and he leaped with all his might into the stormy sea towards the sinking boat.

Kuro and Nami exchanged a glance, both elbowing each other, left speechless by Sanji's sudden change in attitude.

Toshiro watched with a smirk, knowing exactly how to motivate his crew. "Never underestimate the power of motivation," he muttered to himself.

The crew worked together to keep the ship steady in the storm while Sanji swam with fierce determination toward the wreckage. As he reached the sinking boat, he spotted the blue-haired girl struggling in the water.

"Hang on!" Sanji shouted, grabbing her and pulling her close to keep her head above water. He swam back to the ship with strong, powerful strokes, fighting against the raging waves.

When they finally reached the side of the ship, the crew threw down ropes and hauled them both aboard. The girl collapsed on the deck, coughing and shivering, but alive.

Sanji looked up at Toshiro, water streaming from his hair and clothes, a mixture of defiance and gratitude in his eyes. "She's safe," he said simply.

Toshiro nodded, his gaze briefly meeting the girl's. "Good. Now let's get out of this storm."