69. Little Garden

Chapter 69: Arrival at Little Garden

The Going Merry sailed under the warm, golden sunlight, the waves glistening like molten gold. The past two days had passed uneventfully, the crew occupied with their usual routines, though the atmosphere aboard the ship carried an unspoken tension. Nami was perched on the upper deck with her logbook in hand, her brows furrowed as she made notes. Usopp worked on repairing a cannon, Gin practiced his Ki control near the mast, and Sanji hummed while preparing lunch in the galley. Zoro was sprawled out against the railing, his swords resting beside him as he dozed in the midday sun.

Goku, however, stood near the helm, gazing out at the horizon with a faraway look in his eyes. His tail flicked lazily behind him, a sign of his restless energy. Vivi stood nearby, her gaze occasionally drifting toward him, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush.

Nami noticed the looks. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she let out a sharp exhale. "Focus, Nami. It's nothing," she muttered under her breath, but her pen moved with a little more force than necessary.

Usopp, ever the keen observer, sidled up to her with a knowing smirk. "What's eating you, Nami?"

"Nothing," Nami replied curtly, her tone making it clear the topic was not up for discussion.

Usopp leaned closer, lowering his voice. "You know, it's not like Goku's trying to pick sides or anything. He's just… being Goku."

Nami glared at him, but her expression softened as she sighed. "It's not that. I just… never mind. Forget it."

Before Usopp could press further, a shout rang out from the crow's nest.

"Land ho!" Gin's voice carried over the deck.

The crew immediately sprang to life. Goku turned toward the crow's nest, his tail curling with excitement. Zoro, startled awake, reached for his swords, while Nami climbed onto the railing to get a better look.

On the horizon, a lush green island loomed into view. Massive trees towered into the sky, their canopies sprawling wide like a giant natural fortress. The air was thick with moisture, and even from the distance, the calls of strange animals echoed over the water.

"Finally!" Nami exclaimed, a smile breaking through her earlier irritation. "It's about time we saw some land."

"I thought we'd be stuck on this ship forever," Usopp added, wiping imaginary sweat from his brow.

As they drew closer, Goku's expression shifted. His playful grin faded, replaced by a look of concentration.

"What's wrong, Captain?" Gin asked, climbing down from the crow's nest to join him.

Goku's brows furrowed as he crossed his arms. "I'm sensing something… strange. Two powerful Ki signatures on that island."

The crew exchanged uneasy glances.

"Powerful Ki?" Zoro asked, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "You mean like yours?"

"Not exactly," Goku replied. "It's different. I can't tell what—or who—they are, but they're strong. Stronger than anyone we've come across so far."

Nami frowned. "But that doesn't make sense. Hardly anyone in this world even knows what Ki is, let alone trains to strengthen it."

"Exactly," Goku said, his tail flicking anxiously. "That's why it's so weird. Whoever—or whatever—they are, we need to be careful."

Vivi glanced at Goku, her expression unreadable. Her gaze lingered for a moment longer than necessary before she quickly looked away, her cheeks turning pink. Nami noticed and shot her a sharp look.

Later, as the crew prepared to dock, Nami cornered Vivi near the galley.

"What's with you?" Nami asked, her voice low but pointed. "You've been acting strange lately."

Vivi's blush deepened, and she fidgeted with the hem of her dress. "I-I don't know what you're talking about."

Nami raised an eyebrow. "You're not very good at lying, you know. Spill it."

Vivi hesitated, her eyes darting away. "It's nothing," she said quickly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Nami's lips thinned, but she didn't press further.

Meanwhile, Usopp pulled Goku aside near the helm.

"Hey, Captain," he began, his tone uncharacteristically serious. "You might want to have another talk with Nami."

Goku tilted his head, his tail curling curiously. "Why? What's up?"

Usopp gestured toward the galley. "She's… not thrilled about you spending so much time with Vivi. It's not like she'll admit it outright, but you know how she gets."

Goku sighed, scratching the back of his head. "Yeah, I figured. I already talked to her once, but I guess I'll do it again. Thanks, Usopp."

As they approached the island, the Going Merry sailed into a narrow river that cut through the dense jungle. Towering trees lined the banks, their roots twisting into the water like ancient serpents. The air was thick with humidity, carrying the rich, earthy scent of the forest. Strange bird calls echoed from the canopy, mingling with the distant rumble of a volcano.

"This place is like something out of a storybook," Usopp said, his eyes wide.

Goku leaped onto the deck railing, a grin spreading across his face. "I'm gonna explore! This place looks awesome."

"You're going out there?" Nami asked, her tone incredulous. "Have you already forgotten about those powerful Ki signatures?"

"Exactly why I'm going," Goku replied. "If there's something strong out there, I wanna see it for myself."

Vivi stepped forward, surprising everyone. "I'll go with you."

The crew stared at her in disbelief.

"Are you sure about that, Princess?" Zoro asked, raising an eyebrow.

Vivi nodded. "I've faced danger before. Besides, I'm curious about this island."

Sanji, ever the gentleman, quickly prepared lunch packs for Goku, Vivi, and Karoo, her loyal duck. "Take these," he said, handing them over with a dramatic flourish. "You'll need your strength."

As Goku, Vivi, and Karoo set off into the jungle, Zoro stretched and let out a loud yawn.

"I'm bored," he announced. "I'm going for a walk."

Sanji smirked. "While you're at it, bring back some meat. We're running low."

Zoro scoffed. "You're the cook. Shouldn't you be the one getting the meat?"

"Oh, please," Sanji retorted. "I'd like to see you catch something other than a cold."

"I can catch enough meat to last us a whole year," Zoro fought back. "EASILY!!"

"You don't know anything about cooking so whatever creature you bring back we probably won't even be able to eat it!!" Sanji snapped.

"Meat is meat. It all depends on the cook. So if you can't cook the meat I bring back then that means you simply aren't such great a chef doesn't it?" Zoro challenged.

His words playing at the ego of Sanji.

"Alright then let's see who can hunt the biggest game!" Sanji proposed.

"Bring it on!" Zoro quickly accepted.

The two bickered as they prepared to head out, their banter drawing amused glances from Nami and Usopp.

"Those two muscle brains," Nami muttered. "They're hopeless."

Before long, the island erupted with life. A distant volcano rumbled, sending a shockwave through the ground. The crew froze as the thunderous sound of massive footsteps echoed across the jungle, growing louder with each passing second.

With the crew standing at the edge of the jungle, the air thick with tension as they brace for whatever is to come.

[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!]