Luffy Sets Sail for the First Time.

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•———•———•———•———•

Chapter Events:

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[And then, three years later... When Luffy turns seventeen...]

"You're not going to see me off?"

At that moment, Luffy came to check why Dadan and the others weren't there to bid him farewell.

"Nah... If we were to come strolling down the mountain, while the village chief and Makino might not mind... The rest of the villagers would be scared stiff!!"

"No, you go on down there alone!!"

Luffy understood and didn't push them further, saying:

"Well, then... Thanks for everything, you guys!!"

"... Don't say stuff like that, you'll make me blush."

Luffy continued, saying: "Dadan!! You know I hate bandits..."

"Shut your face, brat!" exclaimed Dadan.

"But you guys, I like!!" He added.

"Stop spouting nonsense and get outta here already!!! Dammit all!!!"

Tears welled up in Dadan's eyes, just as they did three years ago when Ace said his goodbyes.

•———•———•———•———•

Ohara:

"Oh wow... They're all leaving one by one..."

"Chicks won't stay chicks forever. The day will come when their wings grow long enough, and they'll want to fly away from the nest they grew up in, right?"

"That makes sense... Unfortunately for Sabo, he didn't get the same time that Ace and Luffy had to grow wings big enough to carry him across the Grand Line."

"Who said that? Maybe in the coming chapters, the author will surprise us with Sabo appearing as a grown, mature man with an important role in the Grand Line."

"Really? That would be amazing if it happened!"

"But it's unlikely..."

"What will the future hold now, after we've delved into the past and discovered everything about Luffy? I wonder..."

"Everything? We've only uncovered a little, about Uta, Dadan, and Sabo, and Ace whom we already knew about... I wanted to know who Luffy's mother is, and secrets like that are still a mystery."

"Oh man, I've always wondered about Luffy's mother's identity too. Is she still alive or not? And if she is, what's her background? Such secrets are what I'm most eager to learn."

"There are many secrets yet to be discovered."

The readers in the art store were buzzing with excitement at the end of the great flashback that summarized many truths and revealed intriguing backstories.

Rob looked at Robin, who was staring curiously at the last part of the flashback.

He patted her head with a smile before asking, "What's on your mind, dear?"

"So, is Sabo still alive?" Robin asked.

"Didn't I make that clear enough?"

"No, not at all. Nothing in this past suggests that..."

"Hmm? Well, what about this part of the events? Doesn't it seem suspicious?" Rob flipped a few pages and pointed at the scene where the Revolutionary Army's ship was last shown in the flashback.

"Nothing suspicious," said Robin.

"That's right. I deliberately drew that part vaguely. What about this? I'll tell you a secret..."

A look of surprise appeared on Little Robin's face as she heard the secret her father told her.

This was the kind of treatment only Robin deserved, and no one else.

...

•———•———•———•———•

[Dawn Island, outskirts of the Goa Kingdom: Foosha Village (Luffy's hometown).]

"Luffy!! Why don't you use my old fishing boat?!"

Seeing Luffy wanting to sail with a small boat, one of the villagers tried to help him.

"No, I'm fine with this!! This is how I'm gonna start out!!" But Luffy refused.

"What, in a little rowboat...?!!"

Luffy didn't care. He looked up at the sky, raised his hands high, and shouted:

"Sabo!!! I hope you're watching!!! I'm finally heading out to sea too!!"

He put his hand on his hat with a determined smile on his face.

"Sabo set out first... Ace set out second...!!"

"I'll be the third, but I'm not gonna let them beat me!!!"

"You just wait, Ace!! I'll catch up with you in no time!!!"

...

"Well, then... I'm off!!!"

Afterward, Luffy defeated the Lord of the Coast with a single punch, avenging what happened in the past.

Dadan and the others, who were hiding behind a building, were shocked.

"He really has become strong, that kid."

"Taking out the Lord of the Coast in one hit... wow."

...

"All right!! I'm off!!! I'm gonna be the Pirate King!!!!"

[End of Flashback]

•———•———•———•———•

Marineford:

"In the end, you're left alone after both your brothers died. Maybe you'll join them at my hands too, who knows..."

Sakazuki said with a grim expression after finishing the flashback.

He was still bedridden due to the current Pirate King, who nearly killed him.

"Oh, what are you saying, Sakazuki? Your counterpart missed his one and only chance to kill Luffy. He won't get another opportunity."

"That kid is going to become so strong... and in such a short time... It's impossible to stop him. What happened will push him to surpass his limits... further and further..."

"He's still saying he's going to be the Pirate King. As long as this story continues, it's only for that purpose. Only when this kid becomes the Pirate King will you have the chance to fight him then."

After saying all that, Zephyr looked deeply into Sakazuki's eyes and asked with curiosity:

"Do you have the confidence to say you'll win and kill him at that time?"

"Knowing that you almost died at the hands of the current Pirate King."

Hearing that made Sakazuki recall the terror he felt when Roger surrounded him with that overwhelming Haki back then.

If it weren't for the Five Elders coming down and suppressing Roger, he wouldn't have been able to retreat with only one arm lost.

"Take it easy, Zephyr. No one knows how the manga's events will continue to unfold from this point onward, so calm down."

"Maybe Straw Hat will lose his will to advance any further. Losing his second brother might be shocking enough to break his resolve to become the Pirate King."

"He might lose his cheerful nature and awaken to the dark reality of the world... that way, he'll give up and won't continue any further."

This time, it was Sakazuki who said all that.

Zephyr looked at him calmly before responding, "Sengoku, have you gone mad? We're talking about Luffy here. It's impossible for him to lose his true personality..."

Tsuru looked at Sakazuki and said, "The world after the war won't be the same as it was before. Pirates will change, and the Marines will change too."

"Our role is to see how this change will unfold, whether for better or worse."

...

Sorbet Kingdom:

"So that's what happened... Buwahahaha! As expected of my grandson! Who else would dare to sail with a small rowboat other than Luffy!"

Garp laughed at the scene of Luffy sailing away in a small boat.

"He has no clue about navigation or the details of sailing! No wonder he ended up inside a barrel at the start of the manga," Dragon added with a smile.

"Hiihaa! His bravery never ends," Ivankov also laughed.

"I see he values fair competition between him and his brothers. And he hasn't forgotten Sabo at all. What a man your son is, Dragon-san," Crocodile commented.

"They share a bond from childhood, the most innocent stage of life. So, of course, he'll never forget his brother, whom he believes to be dead..."

"I bet the shock after he finds out that his first brother didn't die will be incomparable..."

"Buwahaha! You've done so much for your son behind the scenes. Anyone with a critical eye won't notice any of the great things you've done for him."

Garp said as he patted Dragon's shoulder. He felt proud at that moment.

The manga's memory took them back to the moment Luffy first set sail. However, the manga's continuous memory for over 500 chapters had shown here and there some of the things Dragon did for Luffy that only a few realized.

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Upcoming chapter titles (spoilers):

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Chapter 804: Dadan and Garp

Chapter 805: Shanks's Words

Chapter 806: I Still Have My Friends!

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