One Piece: Randomizer!

Raphael: <>

System: []

******

Meanwhile, at Arlong Park, a heavy tension hung in the air while Arlong the Saw lounged on his stone throne at the center of the courtyard and around him stood his loyal crew, their gills flaring with agitation and anticipation.

In front of him stood Kuroobi, a tall and powerfully built ray fish-man clad in a traditional martial artist's gi. His brow was furrowed, his fists clenched at his sides as he delivered his report. "Arlong," he said darkly, "I searched the entire dock, but there's no sign of Hatchan or the others, and no trace of anyone who was supposed to be executed there."

"That damned village..." snarled Chew, a thick-lipped smelt-whiting fish-man. His fists trembled with rage, and his eyes burned with a cold, murderous gleam. "Those filthy human maggots must've done something to them!"

"I'm with him," Kuroobi growled. "Those worthless humans probably used some dirty trick."

A low, humorless chuckle rumbled from Arlong's throat. He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees, sharp teeth glinting as he grinned. "I see..." Then his voice turned cold and commanding. "In that case, head to that miserable village. See if that useless excuse for a sheriff is still breathing. If he is... drag him back here. Alive," Arlong's grin widened into something savage and cruel, "...it's time we reminded those filthy humans who they belong to."

The moment the words left his mouth, Arlong Park exploded into a frenzy of bloodthirsty cheers, roaring their captain's name with bloodthirsty excitement.

******

Meanwhile, back at Nami's house, Luffy and the crew had just finished the breakfast Nojiko had prepared, and now they were lounging around the table, chatting casually

Zoro, leaning back with his arms crossed, glanced up and noticed Reiju staring at him. He frowned. "Oi... why are you looking at me like that?"

Reiju blinked, as if pulled from her thoughts. "Oh, it's nothing... I was just thinking," she said, and after a moment added, "Hey, Zoro... do you think you could teach me how to use a sword?"

Zoro blinked, caught off guard. "Huh? Where the hell did that come from?"

"Well... after everything that happened at Baratie, I started thinking about how I can get stronger. Everyone here has their own way of training, their own style. But me? I don't really have anything like that. So I figured... maybe I should try learning swordsmanship," Reiju explained.

Zoro's eye twitched. "What kind of half-baked logic is that!?" he snapped. "And besides, I don't have time to waste training some complete rookie!"

"Actually, I don't think it's a bad idea," Luffy said, casually resting his chin on his palm. "In fact, I already have a path in mind that might suit your growth. But before we get into that, tell me, Reiju, how much do you know about poisons?"

"Poisons?" Reiju tilted her head slightly, caught off guard by the question. "Well, when I was a kid, I worked briefly as my father's assistant," she said, her voice growing noticeably colder at the mention of him. "One of his researcher friends taught me quite a bit about poisons during that time. He was... honestly, kind of a creep. Always laughing like a maniac definitely not the kind of guy you'd want around children. But as messed up as he was, I'll admit, he was a damn good teacher."

"That's perfect," Luffy nodded thoughtfully. After a beat, he turned to Zoro. "Zoro, once we set sail again, I want you to start teaching Reiju the basics of swordsmanship."

Zoro looked like he'd just bitten into a sour lemon. "Luffy, what the hell—"

"I'm already training all of you in Haki and Total Concentration Breathing, aren't I?" Luffy cut in, raising a brow. "Think of this as another part of the crew's growth. And besides, teaching someone else is one of the best ways to sharpen your own fundamentals."

Zoro let out a long, resigned sigh. "...Fine. But I'm not teaching her any of my actual techniques. With her current build and strength, they wouldn't suit her anyway."

"I know. That's not a problem," Luffy replied confidently. "I'll design a whole new set of techniques specifically for her."

Zoro gave him a skeptical look. "You..."

"Wow. I could feel your doubt in that one word," Luffy chuckled, then glanced at Reiju. "As for you, start reviewing everything you know about poisons, and begin mastering Total Concentration Breathing as soon as possible. The techniques I'm creating for you are going to be built around those."

Just as the crew was about to continue their conversation, they were suddenly interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps echoing through the house. Nojiko, who had been rushing from room to room with visible panic on her face, finally appeared in the doorway, breathless and clearly distressed.

Unable to contain her worry any longer, she came to a stop in front of the group, who were still laughing and joking around the table, seemingly unaware of her growing anxiety.

"Sorry to interrupt," Nojiko said, her voice tight with worry, "but has anyone seen Nami? I have no idea where that idiot ran off to this early, especially when her body hasn't even fully recovered yet!"

"Don't worry, she's probably around here somewhere," Reiju said, waving a hand dismissively as she twirled a strand of her hair between her fingers.

"No, that's the problem!" Nojiko snapped, her pacing growing more frantic. "I've looked everywhere, her room, the beach, even Bell-mère's grave, but I still couldn't find her anywhere!"

"Calm down, Nojiko," Uta said gently, rising from her seat with a reassuring smile. "Nami's an adult. And more importantly, she's home now. She's not going to get lost in her own backyard."

"I'm not worried about her getting lost!" Nojiko shot back, her voice shaking slightly. "I'm worried that if any of Arlong's men catch even a glimpse of her walking around the village, they'll go straight to him—and if that happens, your whole rescue mission could be for nothing! And.." she stopped pacing, clutching her arms tightly around herself as her voice dropped to a whisper, "...I just... I can't lose my sister again..."

The air in the room turned heavy, the lighthearted mood vanishing in an instant. 

"Alright, we'll help you find Nami," Uta said, standing up and glancing at the rest of the crew. "Come on, get off your butts, guys, we've got a girl to track down!" she said as the rest of the crew began rising from their seats

"I'm really sorry for causing you all so much trouble," Nojiko said softly, bowing her head. "You already saved Nami from that bastard Marine, and now I'm dragging you into this again..."

"I'm really sorry for dragging you into this again," Nojiko murmured, lowering her head. "You already saved Nami from that bastard Marine... and now I'm asking for even more."

"First of all, Nojiko, stop moping," Luffy said, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed behind his head. "We didn't go through all that trouble to rescue Nami just to let her drop dead the moment she got home." He let that hang in the air for a moment, then added casually, "And besides, there's no need to search for her. I already know exactly where she is."

"Huh!? Where!?" Nojiko asked urgently, eyes wide with alarm.

"Nami went to take her revenge on that bastard Nezumi," Luffy replied, his tone maddeningly calm. "You know, the corrupt Marine captain who locked her up. She's probably halfway through teaching him a lesson by now."

"What!?" Nojiko's face twisted in shock. "You let her go alone!? Are you insane?! Why didn't you say anything earlier?! She could be in serious danger! She's not even fully healed, and Nezumi's still a Marine officer! I have to go and stop her before—!"

Before she could spiral any further, Luffy stood up, walked over, and placed his hands on her shoulders, giving her a light shake. "Nojiko. Calm the fuck down," he said firmly, cutting through her panic. "Nami's not in danger. I gave her exactly what she needed to get her revenge on that rat."

"You gave her something from your Devil Fruit, didn't you?" Uta asked, narrowing her eyes at Luffy, already piecing it together.

"Exactly," Luffy replied with a grin, casually flashing her a thumbs-up. "And besides... none of you even realized our little angel isn't here."

The crew collectively blinked, their expressions shifting from confusion to surprise, as they glanced around, only to realize that Kaya was, indeed, missing.

"Tch. Just as I thought," Luffy said, shaking his head with an exaggerated sigh. "Poor Kaya... forgotten by her own friends. How Shameful."

"That's gotta be because of that annoying cloak you gave her!" Reiju huffed, crossing her arms with a frown. "It's like she vanishes into thin air!"

"Yup. That's kind of the point," Luffy said, unfazed. "It helps her blend into the background and go unnoticed. That's why I sent her to quietly tail Nami. She's keeping her distance, but she'll step in if anything goes wrong. So relax, Nami's not alone."

"I still—" Nojiko began, her voice tight with lingering concern, but before she could finish her sentence, a sudden eruption of shouting and chaos echoed from the direction of the village.

"...What now?" Nojiko muttered, her brow furrowing as she turned toward the window. Then her eyes widened, a cold chill creeping into her voice. "No... It has to be Arlong. Or his men. They're causing trouble for the villagers again..."

"Well," Luffy said, stretching his arms casually as he made his way to the door, "sounds like it's time for us to move out." But just as he reached for the handle, Nojiko rushed forward and grabbed his arm, stopping him in his tracks.

"Luffy, please..." she said, her voice trembling with desperation. "I know you're strong, but these are Fish-Men. You don't understand what they're capable of. We humans... we can't compete with their strength. Fighting them is suicide." Her grip tightened. "Why don't you just take Nami and leave this village behind? If you go now, you can get her out of this cursed place—somewhere far away where Arlong can never reach her. At least she'd be safe."

"Nojiko... I get where you're coming from. I really do. You're scared. You've lived under Arlong's shadow for so long, it's hard to imagine anything stronger than him. But there's nothing to worry about," Luffy reassured her with a smile. "Your fear emerges from your limited worldview in which Arlong is the strongest person you know, but what you don't know is that Arlong isn't even close to the strongest person in the East Blue. There are pirates, Marines, and monsters out there who make him look like a joke. He's nothing more than a cockroach, one that's crawled into a dark little corner of the sea, thriving by stomping on those who can't fight back."

"But unfortunately for Arlong..." A feral smile spread across his face. "...I'm not weak. And I hate bullies."

With that, Luffy stepped out of the house, and one by one, the rest of the crew followed, each wearing a confident grin across their faces. Nojiko stood frozen for a moment, still reeling from Luffy's words. But then, silently, she found herself moving too, following behind the Straw Hat wearing boy.

******

As Luffy and the crew entered the village, they were met with a disturbing sight. In the middle of the town square, Kuroobi stood towering over Genzo, his fists clenched and his face twisted in fury. The old sheriff was on his knees, clutching his side and breathing heavily.

"Old man! I'm asking you for the last time! Where are Hatchan and the others?" Kuroobi barked, his voice thunderous. "What did you do to our Fish-Man brothers!?"

Without waiting for an answer, he drove a brutal kick into Genzo's ribs. The sheriff gasped, the impact knocking the wind out of him, but he still managed to lift his head defiantly.

"Go to hell!" Genzo spat, his teeth gritted through the pain. "I don't care what you do to me. I'm not telling you a damn thing, you monster."

Kuroobi's expression darkened with fury, but then his lips slowly twisted into a cruel smile. "Oh, I see. So you don't care about your own life... but what about others?" he murmured, leaning in, his voice dripping with venom.

Genzo's eyes widened as a cold dread crept over him.

"How about I pay a visit to Nami's sister?" Kuroobi continued. "I bet we could make a tidy profit selling her off. I hear human women fetch a fine price."

"Don't you dare lay a hand on Nojiko!" Genzo roared, his voice raw with fury. "Haven't you already tormented those girls enough?! What more could you possibly want?!"

Kuroobi threw his head back and let out a bitter, mocking laugh. "You call this torment?" he sneered. "This is justice. For centuries, your kind enslaved, hunted, and butchered mine. And now, the tables turn just a little, and you cry like weak, pathetic worms."

His eyes glowed with contempt as he leaned down, staring Genzo straight in the eye. "As for Nojiko... she, you, and this entire village belong to us now. We can do whatever we please with any of you. And what, exactly, is a feeble old man like you going to do about it?"

"I don't know about that 'feeble old man,'" Luffy cut in, stepping forward with a wide grin as he casually pointed to himself with his thumb, "but this strong young man's gonna do a lot to you if you threaten our friends again!"

Kuroobi's head snapped toward the voice, his brow furrowing as he took in the group of people with unfamiliar faces standing behind Genzo. Just by their clothes, and the complete lack of fear in their eyes, he could tell they weren't from around here. 

"Who the hell are you humans?" he growled, eyes narrowing. "And how did you even get here?"

"We came by a ship, dumbass," Kuina scoffed, arms crossed as she met his glare with one of her own. "What other ride do you think we took?"

Kuroobi bristled, baring his sharp teeth. "Watch your mouth, human!" he barked, voice rising with fury. "Don't forget you're standing in front of a superior species!"

"Superior species, huh?" Kuina said with a sharp, bloodthirsty smile. "Why don't we put that to the test?" In the blink of an eye, she lunged forward, thrusting the green-tipped blade of her Skyward Spine Polearm straight toward Kuroobi's chest.

'Too fast!' Kuroobi's eyes widened in shock. He barely had time to register her movement before the weapon slammed into him, striking squarely in the center of his chest with explosive force.

The impact hurled him backward. His massive body slammed into the dirt, skidding across the ground and carving a deep trail through soil and dust before grinding to a halt. As he tried to stand, a wave of burning agony tore through his torso. He gasped, clutching at his chest, only to feel warm, wet blood pulsing between his fingers. He looked down and froze upon seeing a deep, gaping stab wound in the center of his chest, from which blood flowed freely in thick, crimson streams.

"She... actually hurt him," Genzo muttered in disbelief, eyes wide as he stared at the young girl who stood so calmly, her weapon still gleaming with fresh blood. She didn't look any older than Nami or Nojiko, yet she had just done what none of them had ever managed.

And he wasn't alone in his shock.

From behind windows and doorways, villagers who had been watching in fear now peeked out, eyes wide with awe and disbelief. The Fish-Men had ruled over them for years, untouchable, unbeatable, monsters. But now... one of them had been wounded... by a human girl.

"You!!!" Kuroobi roared, his voice shaking with fury as he glared at Kuina, eyes bloodshot and burning with hatred. "How dare a filthy human like you wound me?!"

"You want a repeat performance, chump?" Kuina said, smirking coldly as she spun her polearm once, flicking the blood from its tip before resting it casually over her shoulder. "Because next time... I won't miss your heart."

Kuroobi snarled, staggering to his feet, blood still pouring from the gash in his chest. "Do you even understand what you've just done?" he growled through gritted teeth. "If Arlong finds out you dared to attack one of his men, he'll rip you to shreds!"

"Oh, is that right? Sounds like a challenge," Kuina met his threat with a grin, stepping forward slightly. "But hey, who knows if you'll still be breathing long enough to tell him."

Kuroobi gritted his teeth, about to fire back with another furious retort, when suddenly—

"You think you can challenge me, huh?"

A chilling voice echoed through the square, freezing the blood of everyone present. Many villagers, including Genzo and Nojiko, went pale as their eyes landed on the one figure they feared most... Arlong.

He was striding toward them, his presence alone enough to suffocate the air, made even more terrifying by what he held in his grasp. Dangling limply from his fist by the collar was the lifeless body of Captain Nezumi, his arms and legs dragging across the dirt as Arlong advanced with slow, deliberate steps.

However, just then, a thought struck Nojiko like a bolt of lightning. 'Wait... didn't Luffy say Nami went to take her revenge on Nezumi?' she thought. 

Her eyes shifted to the lifeless body dangling from Arlong's hand, and suddenly the pieces clicked into place. A flicker of doubt and realization flashed across her face. Her mouth opened, ready to voice the question trembling on her lips, but before she could say a word, Luffy, still standing beside her, gently reached out and took her hand. She turned to him, startled, and found him giving her a playful wink. Then, with a soft smile, he raised a finger to his lips in a silent 'shhh'.

Meanwhile, Kuroobi's grin stretched wider, his confidence surging now that 'Arlong' had finally arrived to stand at his side. He straightened his posture, puffing out his chest as if the pain from his wound had vanished completely.

"Hahaha! All that tough talk earlier—turns out it was just because you got lucky with one hit, wasn't it?" he jeered, his voice filled with spite, unwilling to admit that he'd been outsped by a human, especially not in front of Arlong.

"So, this is the little piece of human trash who dared to lay a hand on you, huh?" 'Arlong' said, his voice cold with contempt as his sharp, predatory eyes locked onto Kuina. A cruel smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he gave Kuroobi a firm slap on the back. "In that case, go on, Kuroobi. Show these worms what happens when they forget their place. Let's see who still has the guts to raise a hand against you while I'm standing right here."

"Gladly!" Kuroobi snarled, cracking his knuckles one by one as he stepped forward, his bloodstained chest rising with every breath. Without hesitation, he shifted into his Fish-Man Karate stance, feet planted wide, arms poised to strike.

Kuina wasn't about to wait for him to make the first move. The moment he shifted forward, she mirrored him in perfect rhythm, sliding one foot behind her to lower her center of gravity. Her grip tightened around the shaft of her polearm, ready to defend and strike back.

However, before either Kuroobi or Kuina could make a move, 'Arlong' suddenly lifted his other hand, revealing a flintlock double-barrel shotgun. A split second later... BANG! The deafening gunshot cracked through the air, echoing across the village square like a thunderclap.

And then, before anyone could even register what had happened, a gaping hole exploded through Kuroobi's chest. Gasps rang out as horrified eyes turned to him. Blood sprayed the ground as he staggered, the strength draining from his body with every faltering heartbeat. But no one looked more stunned than Kuroobi himself. Slowly, shakily, he turned around to face the one he thought was his captain and brother, his expression frozen in disbelief.

"W...w...why?" he croaked, eyes wide with confusion and betrayal as his knees buckled beneath him, as darkness slowly began to overtake his vision.

"Why, you ask?" 'Arlong' mocked, laughing coldly as shimmering ripples rippled across his skin. The towering, muscular form of Arlong began to shrink and contort. Muscles slimmed, skin lightened, and within seconds, standing in his place was a slender, toned human girl with bright redish-orange hair. "Now you get it, don't you?" she said with a vindictive, gleeful smile... one so chilling that even Nojiko flinched.

"N... N... Nami?!" Kuroobi gasped, eyes widening in disbelief as the truth hit him like a hammer. But the shock on his face didn't last long. It twisted and warped into raw hatred. Blood bubbling from the wound in his chest, he began to stagger forward, dragging his broken, failing body toward her, step by agonizing step.

"I knew it... I... knew keeping... a filthy human like you... around... was... was a bad idea... Arlong... should've... gotten rid of... rid of you... from the start..." he snarled, his voice strained and wheezing, yet every word still laced with venom. "But... but... don't worry... I will... correct... correct... this mistake now!"

With a hoarse, animalistic roar, Kuroobi lunged. His eyes, bloodshot and wild, locked onto Nami with murderous intent as he threw his last dying strength into one final strike, making her freeze in place as she realized in that split second that she had neither the time nor the reflexes to dodge.

Fortunately for her, before Kuroobi could reach her, a green polehead shot forward and pierced straight through his heart. And just like that, Kuroobi collapsed in a heap at Nami's feet, his final breath escaping as a choked rattle, leaving behind nothing but blood, venom, and hatred etched into lifeless eyes.

"Next time, don't steal my prey," Kuina said coolly as she yanked her polearm from Kuroobi's chest with a slick, wet squelch before giving it a lazy flick, scattering blood across the ground. "I'm not always in such a generous mood."

"Thank you..." Nami murmured, still trying to catch her breath. Her legs felt unsteady beneath her as the rush of adrenaline hadn't quite faded yet. "Really. Thank you for saving me."

"Nami!" Luffy called out as he strode over, his tone a mix of concern and exasperation. "What did I tell you? The power I gave you is for trickery and sneak attacks, so don't put yourself in danger just to gloat at your enemies."

"Yeah, that was my bad," Nami said with a sheepish smile, rubbing the back of her head. "I didn't think he had anything left in him."

"That's exactly the kind of thinking that gets people hurt," Luffy replied while shaking his head. "You never assume someone's out of the fight unless they're dead, or unconscious at the very least. So from now on, don't lower your guard unless you're absolutely sure you've got the situation under control and you're sure that the threat's truly gone."

Just then, Nojiko rushed over and grabbed Nami by the shoulders. "Nami... what was that? How did you do that?" she asked with disbelief in her eyes. "How did you turn into Arlong?"

"Oh, you mean this?" Nami said with a mischievous grin, and the next moment, ripples of dark blue scales rippled across her body as she transformed, taking on Nojiko's exact appearance. "Ta-da! What do you think? It's like we're twins now."

Nojiko blinked, stunned. She slowly reached out and touched Nami's cheek, her fingers brushing against skin that felt no different than her own. "Unbelievable... it's like I'm looking into a mirror," she whispered, eyes flicking over every detail with curiosity. "Even your voice... it sounds exactly like mine."

Standing beside them, Luffy grinned at Nojiko's reaction to the effects of the [Kyara Kyara no Mi, Model: Mystique (Raven Darkhölme)], a custom Devil Fruit modeled after the Marvel character Mystique. Thanks to this power, Nami could flawlessly mimic anyone's appearance, voice, and even subtle details like fingerprints and scent. 

Additionally, the fruit also granted her the ability to morph parts of her body at will, sprouting claws, wings, or hardened, armor-like skin when needed. Her healing rate was significantly enhanced, her body could adapt to resist toxins and diseases, and she had a built-in safeguard against telepathic intrusion, making her mind difficult to read or manipulate.

Moreover, according to Raphael, that was still just the surface. Once Nami fully mastered her abilities, she'd be capable of regenerating lost limbs, shifting her internal organs to avoid fatal injuries, mimicking inorganic materials like weapons or tools from her own flesh, and even replicating the Haki signature of her targets, though only if she could already use Haki and match the target's level herself.

"Well, Nami, are you done showing off?" Luffy asked with a smirk. "Y'know we've got another party to crash."

"Yep, all done! Just let me dress for the occasion," Nami grinned, and once again, blue scales shimmered across her body as her form began to shift...

To be continued...

******

A/N: 

Kuina's Skyward Spine Polearm

This is what Nami's transformation looks like.