Naruto Online: Hyuga Branch Family? Let's go all out!

Chapter 281 Slight Progress - The Mandate of Heaven: The Pirate King?

"What is this? It looks like a mountain!"

"It looks like... a whale?"

"How can there be such a huge whale!"

Ning Yuan stared blankly at the whale in front of him, which was as big as a mountain.

This whale is enormous.

"That whale looks like it's crashing into the Red Line!" Sanji had already moved on from the pain of his heartbreak, and with his keen observation, he figured out what Laboon was doing.

"Really?!" Luffy exclaimed curiously, "Laboon, why did you crash into the Red Line?!"

Lab ignored him and responded with only a chirp.

The whale's call was long and resonant, as if it came from ancient times.

As they spoke, the Going Merry came to the side of Laboon, and facing them all were Laboon's eyes, which were even larger than those of the Going Merry.

Luffy swung his arm, as if to say, "Since you're ignoring me, I'm going to give you a proper greeting!"

"Huh?" Just then, Zoro suddenly looked up and noticed that his sentry post at the top of the mast had been taken.

"Was it that reporter?"

Although Luffy said he knew the reporter, Zoro never considered that reporter as one of his own.

So, why did he climb to such a high place?

"Yo ho ho ho, yo ho ho ho~~~" bursts of music drifted down from the top of the mast.

"Huh?" Zoro was speechless. So it was music playing?

Suddenly, you pulled out a violin from somewhere and started playing it while singing.

"Yohohohoyohohoho"

Yohohohoyohohoho

Bring Binks's liquor to your side.

Like the sea breeze, free and unrestrained.

Braving the winds and waves on the other side of the sea

Even the sunset is noisy

The birds' songs drew circles in the air.

Goodbye, hometown of harbor silk

Let's sing a song, the song of departure.

The golden waves and silvery ripples also transformed into splashing water.

"Wow, that's amazing!" Luffy immediately stopped what he was doing, then reached out and hugged Sanji and Usopp and started dancing.

"This guy seems pretty good?" Zoro's guard had lowered considerably, for reasons he didn't know.

Just because someone is good at music doesn't mean they're a good person!

As they became joyful, the whale Laboon stopped its crashing motion, then turned its ear and gently approached Ning Yuan.

"It works!"

Ning Yuan smiled, and the music became even more unrestrained.

We leave only because the ocean brings Binks's liquor to your side.

We pirates cleave the waves, our home is on the ship.

Skull and skull flag flutter in the wind

A fierce wind howled under the boundless sky.

Waves danced and drums resounded.

Being terrified will lead to your demise.

"There will be tomorrow's sunrise."

Binks' fine wines come from the New World.

This is a "pirate song," but it strangely maintains a normal mindset.

The soundtrack of this work is not as flashy and high-profile as the original soundtracks of other anime works, but it interprets a kind of "pirate spirit".

The lyrics are inspiring and exhilarating, expressing the spirit of men who are not afraid of difficulties and dangers and are optimistic and open-minded. It is the perfect song for pirates.

It is also the favorite song of the captain of the Rumbar Pirates.

Back when Laboon was following the Rumbar Pirates, he often heard them perform this song.

After a long while, Ning Yuan finished playing his piece and then announced loudly, "Laboon, the Rumbar Pirates, no longer exist!"

"Hum!" Labu let out another distant, soft hum, then looked at Ning Yuan.

Ning Yuan's Observation Haki allowed him to sense Laboon's anger and sorrow.

He offered no words of comfort or explanation, but simply continued, "But even as they lay dying, they kept performing this song, and it was for you!"

"A mournful cry!"

The anger gradually subsided, while the sadness began to grow rapidly.

Ning Yuan nodded, guessing that this method would be effective.

There is actually a simple way, which is to tell Rabbrook that he is still alive, but Rabbrook is a bit unreliable. He has been touring for two years but has never come back to see Rabbrook.

Moreover, Ning Yuan has already changed so many things. Although his changes have not yet affected that sea area, it's better to be safe than sorry!

What if it interferes with Moria's schedule and affects Brook's survival?

Rather than letting Raab continue to wait, it would be better to persuade him to give up completely.

"From now on, live for yourself and stop hurting yourself!" Ning Yuan continued to shout.

Ning Yuan believes that these words are effective for a whale in the midst of grief.

Since Laboon is with the Rumbar Pirates, an optimistic and cheerful pirate crew, Laboon, who follows the Rumbar Pirates, should also have such personality traits.

Sadness is only temporary; it can eventually be overcome.

"Gurgle!" After calling out for a long time, Labour looked back at Ning Yuan on top of the Going Merry, and then gurgled and sank into the deep sea.

"This child, will he settle down in the deep sea and never come out again?" Ning Yuan thought to himself.

If that's the case, wouldn't Crocus, who lives inside Laboon, suffocate or drown?!

But he's the Pirate King's ship doctor, so he shouldn't die that easily.

As I descended from the mast, I was greeted by three expressions of worship, one of scrutiny, and one of admiration.

"Amazing!" Nami was the first to speak, and the only admiration she felt came from her.

To admire, to respect, to love!

Her feelings for Ning Yuan had finally crossed the line of friendship; if it weren't for the large number of people on the deck, she probably would have rushed up there already.

"Ning Yuan, that's amazing!" Luffy gave a thumbs up. "You can even play music and talk to whales! I want you to be my partner!"

Ning Yuan shook his head: "Sorry, you invited me too late!"

"What?" Luffy was taken aback. "You've already joined another pirate crew?"

"No, that's not it!" Ning Yuan shook his head. "It's just that I'm an adult now, and I'm past the age of having chuunibyou (middle school syndrome)!"

"Huh?" Luffy was taken aback, and asked curiously, "Chuunibyou? What's that?"

"It's a group of people who love to dream, love to fantasize, and think they are the protagonist of the world!" Ning Yuan explained, "This kind of personality is common in junior and senior high school students when their worldview is not yet mature and their values ​​are not yet stable, that is, between the ages of 12 and 18."

"Huh?" Luffy stroked his chin. "I think I'm in that age group!"

"Damn it, he's calling us crazy!" Zoro, standing nearby, drew his sword in annoyance. "You reporter, are you insulting our dreams?"

"No, no!" Ning Yuan quickly waved his hand. "Chuunibyou (middle school syndrome) isn't a disease. If someone can maintain this mindset forever, persevere, and ultimately achieve something, then they really can become the protagonist of the world. The label 'chuunibyou' will then become a smear for others who don't understand them!"

"But if someone only talks the talk but doesn't actually follow through or put in the effort, then they really are just suffering from 'chuunibyou' (a Japanese term for someone with delusions of grandeur)!"

"So until you succeed, you are indeed suffering from chuunibyou (middle school syndrome). Whether you can shed this label and truly become the protagonists of the world depends on yourselves!"

"That's more like it!" Zoro sheathed his sword.

"I understand!" Luffy's expression turned serious. "I will definitely become the Pirate King!"

"If someone else said this, I wouldn't believe it, but since it's you, I completely believe it!" Ning Yuan laughed. "Others are just playing the supporting roles, you're the real protagonist!"

"What do you mean by fake protagonist and real protagonist?" Sanji asked curiously. He felt that Ning Yuan's words were not perfunctory at all, but rather very serious.

There's a feeling that his confidence in Luffy becoming the Pirate King is greater than Luffy's own.

"The fake protagonists are the current Four Emperors and Seven Warlords of the Sea; they're either just there to make up the numbers or to serve as stepping stones for the real protagonist!" Ning Yuan said. "The real protagonist is this one!"

He pointed at Luffy: "Grandson of a naval hero, son of a revolutionary leader, nephew of a naval admiral, successor and disciple of one of the Four Emperors, and he even ate the God-like Fruit called Nika. It's like God himself is begging him to become the Pirate King. If he doesn't succeed, who will?"

"Huh?" Sanji was dumbfounded, Zoro was dumbfounded, and Usopp was dumbfounded too.

What on earth is all this?!

"I'm a rubber man who ate the Gum-Gum Fruit!" Luffy picked his nose. "I didn't eat that Nikata Fruit! You're weird, you seem to be a better liar than Usopp. I don't like you anymore!"

Ning Yuan smiled. Who would have thought that the Rubber-Rubber Fruit was actually the Nika Fruit?

However, he just wanted to make fun of the person in front of them and didn't force them to actually believe it.

"Whoosh!" A newspaper bird flew overhead. Ning Yuan looked up: "Newspaper bird, bring me a newspaper!"

The newspaper bird landed, took a roll of newspaper out of its pocket and handed it to Ning Yuan, waiting for Ning Yuan to pay, but then saw Ning Yuan take out an ID card.

Press card.

This time it's a real press pass; Morgans delivered it personally.

"I'm one of them, reading the newspaper is free!"

"Hey!" The newspaper bird immediately objected. "You're not spending any money, but my commission is going to be less!"

However, that's the rule of the World Economic Daily. No matter how angry it was, there was nothing it could do, and it could only leave indignantly.

"Wang Luffy's background revealed! The Straw Hat Boy is actually a powerful figure behind the scenes!"

"Luffy!" Looking at the huge headline in the newspaper, Ning Yuan's lips curled into a smile: "See? I said you could become king, and you did. Now you are king!"

"Huh?" Luffy took the newspaper blankly, then realized, "I can't read!"

"Who's spouting this nonsense?!" Sanji grabbed the newspaper, glanced at it, and said irritably, "Luffy, it actually says you have a grandfather who's a Marine hero, a father who's the leader of the Revolutionary Army, a mentor who's Rayleigh, and an adoptive father who's Shanks!"

Eh?

This sounds so familiar, like I've heard it somewhere before.

Sanji suddenly looked up at Ning Yuan, only to see Ning Yuan pointing triumphantly at himself: "That's right, I wrote this report!"

"You!" Sanji's eyes widened. Good heavens, making up stories right in front of us, are you not afraid of dying?

He immediately raised his leg as if to punch someone!

Yes, it's because this reporter lacks integrity and fabricates stories, it's definitely not because Nami was kidnapped.

But then Luffy suddenly spoke up: "My grandfather is indeed a Marine Vice Admiral, and I know Shanks too, but he only took care of me for a while when I was little, so he shouldn't count as my adoptive father. As for that Revolutionary Army leader, my master Rayleigh, and my uncle Whitebeard, I don't know any of them!"

"The Revolutionary Army leader, Monkey D. Dragon, is the son of Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp, which makes him your biological father!" Ning Yuan said. "The hat you're wearing belongs to the Pirate King, Roger. Rayleigh was Roger's first mate, so when he saw this straw hat, he took you on as his apprentice and taught you things to enhance your strength!"

"Huh?" Luffy's eyes widened, and he immediately pressed his hat down tightly. Could there really be such a good thing?

Sanji and Zoro also looked at Luffy's straw hat with blank expressions. This seemingly ordinary hat was actually worn by the Pirate King Roger?

For some inexplicable reason, I suddenly have a feeling of being officially appointed!

"As for the fact that Whitebeard is your uncle, Ace has already joined the Whitebeard Pirates and become Whitebeard's adopted son. You are Ace's younger brother, so isn't Whitebeard your adoptive father?"

"Ace!" Luffy's eyes lit up. Ace had been at sea for three years, and he hadn't heard from him for a long time. Only now did he learn from Ning Yuan that Ace had joined the Whitebeard Pirates.

But it's strange, how come he became someone else's adopted son? Wasn't he supposed to become the Pirate King?

"You have an older brother? And he joined the Whitebeard Pirates?" The people on the ship were even more shocked.

Luffy scratched his head: "Ace is indeed my brother, but I only just found out he joined the Whitebeard Pirates!"

"So, Whitebeard really is your uncle!" Sanji looked at the information in the newspaper. These seemingly absurd pieces of information actually matched up.

So, Luffy really is a king with powerful backing.

So here's the question!

The report was written by this journalist, and his stories, though clearly absurd, all fit perfectly.

Could it be true that Luffy has a Nika-no-Fruits?

Is he really some kind of destined Pirate King?

The thought that his captain was destined to succeed suddenly left Sanji unsure of what his emotions should be.

Logically, I should be happy, but then, does this ship still need me?

He could have succeeded even with or without us as his companions, right?

After all, his success was inevitable!

So, is there any need for fighting? Is there any need for struggle?

Zoro was also at a loss. He and Sanji always thought in the same direction, so he naturally thought of this problem as well.

If he is destined to be the Pirate King, then what am I?

But no one ever told me that I was destined to be the greatest swordsman in the world!

Nami glanced at Ning Yuan, who had a calm expression, and then at the other group of people whose expressions weren't too good. What's going on? I don't understand.

She called softly, "Ning Yuan?"

"Hmm?" Ning Yuan responded, then jogged over to Nami's side: "What's up?"

"What's wrong with them?" Nami asked, pointing to Sanji and Zoro, whose expressions were strange, and Luffy, whose face looked a little dark.

"He probably realized that he was just a figurehead in the prince's studies, so he felt that he was not worth it!" Ning Yuan said softly.

How can I describe this feeling?

It's like everyone's been supporting a grassroots entrepreneur in starting a business, and they've even conquered a small town and built up a small fortune. Suddenly, someone comes up to everyone and says, "Your leader is actually the current crown prince. All that rebellion was just for fun. He can go back and inherit the throne anytime."

What do his partners who started the business with him think?

There are definitely those who want to curry favor with the powerful, like Usopp, whose eyes are already shining when he looks at Luffy.

However, some people join the leader to realize their own ambitions, and these people will be very unhappy, such as Zoro.

Some people don't care, like Sanji and Nami.

Sanji only wants to find All Blue; he doesn't have much ambition in terms of personal strength.

Nami simply wanted to draw a map of the entire world, and Luffy's identity didn't significantly affect her dream.

Furthermore, Luffy has a special relationship with Nami: he is Nami's savior.

Because of this identity, Nami will stay with Luffy until the end.

It's not that the entire team will go their separate ways, but it's certainly frustrating emotionally.

But it's not a big problem. Luffy still has personal charisma. We can organize a team-building activity together, fight a boss or something, and the team spirit will be restored.

"Don't worry, everything will be alright once you think it through!" Ning Yuan smiled. "And the hardships you went through along the way weren't fake, the fight with Kro wasn't fake, Hawkeye wasn't fake, and the dragon you fought wasn't fake either, right?"

"You've gotten this far, not because of Luffy's connections, but because of your own hard work, right?"

At this point, Ning Yuan inexplicably felt like a bad person who had ruined his own childhood for his own selfish desires.

Seeing that no one was paying attention to him, Ning Yuan was a little speechless, but it was alright. As long as Nami's feelings towards him didn't change, it didn't matter to Ning Yuan.

"Think about it yourselves, see you later!" Ning Yuan patted Nami's hand, then jumped off the deck.

"Ning Yuan!" Nami thought Ning Yuan had jumped into the sea, so she rushed over and helped him to the railing. She then realized that Ning Yuan hadn't fallen into the sea, but was standing on the surface and waving at her!

"Damn it!" Nami clenched her fists. "I thought you were going to commit suicide! My heart was pounding!"

Nami silently pressed her right hand to her heart, and looking at Ning Yuan walking unhurriedly on the sea, she felt a strange sense of envy.

He can even walk on the sea!

Then he remembered that when they passed by Upside Down Mountain, he had carried him and flown by.

If you could carry yourself and fly, could you also walk on the sea with yourself?

My face started to feel hot again.

(End of this chapter)