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"If I were you, I'd never even think about stealing a samurai's sword!"
Yasuie caught Nami's arm just as she tried to snatch his sword. With a sigh, he said,
"This sword is my only companion."
Nami, realizing she'd been caught, rolled her eyes and glanced at Yasuie. He seemed calm and good-natured. Suddenly, tears welled up in her eyes. With her free hand, she tugged at the neckline of her shirt to reveal a bit more of herself.
Looking at him with big, starry eyes, she said pitifully,
"I'm sorry... I'm just so hungry. I haven't eaten in three days!"
As a sly thief, it wasn't unusual for Nami to fail in her attempts to steal.
But even when she missed her mark, her reputation as the "Cat Burglar" was well-known in the waters near Cocoyasi Village. This was thanks to her clever tricks, like pretending to be helpless or using charm to manipulate her targets.
Most pirates, spending weeks at sea without setting foot on land, were easy prey for such tactics.
"You haven't eaten in three days?"
Yasuie raised an eyebrow, glancing at the proud and healthy-looking Nami. She definitely didn't seem underfed.
With a small sigh, he let go of her arm.
He wasn't interested in punishing a thief.
Taking a life unnecessarily was a line Yasuie preferred not to cross. He didn't want his blade to shed blood unless it was absolutely necessary.
To him, a thief wasn't worth drawing his sword over.
Just as Yasuie was about to walk away, Nami prepared to take advantage of his momentary distraction. She planned to snatch his sword with a sudden move, but to her surprise, she froze in place.
What's going on? Are all the sea's usual fools suddenly immune to charm?
This Yasuie guy—who looked like he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders—might actually be a decent person?
Shaking her head, Nami quickly brushed away the thought.
In this world, bounty hunters and pirates weren't all that different.
The harsh realities of life at sea—limited space on ships, endless ocean views, dangerous storms, and scarce supplies—could push even the kindest souls to abandon their morals.
Nami's clever mind started turning again. She looked at Yasuie, who seemed ready to leave, and came up with another idea.
With her big, expressive eyes, she said with sudden enthusiasm,
"Hey, stranger! Are you a samurai or a bounty hunter?"
She added, "It's dangerous to sail these seas alone."
"I'm an excellent navigator and know nearly everything about this sea area," Nami said confidently.
"Do you need my help?"
When direct stealing wasn't an option, Nami often resorted to infiltrating small pirate crews or bounty hunter groups. Gaining their trust first and then robbing them later was one of her usual tricks.
Yasuie, who had already started walking away, stopped in his tracks when he heard her mention her navigation skills and knowledge of the area.
In the unpredictable seas of the pirate world—where islands were scattered and the weather was dangerously erratic—a skilled navigator was invaluable, and Yasuie urgently needed one.
With a serious tone, he asked,
"Can you guide me to the most famous kendo dojo in this region?"
"I'll pay you for it," he added.
To prove it, Yasuie pulled out a heavy wallet. The glint of countless Berries and gold coins spilled out, catching Nami's eye and leaving her momentarily stunned.
Although Yasuie wasn't swimming in wealth, he still had enough funds to get what he needed.
"Pay me?"
At the sight of his wallet, Nami's eyes instantly turned into the shape of Berries symbols. Excitedly, she said,
"The biggest kendo dojo in this area is the Iai Kendo Dojo! The dojo master is a highly skilled swordsman who has trained many strong disciples. He even defeated a notorious pirate with a bounty of nearly 10 million Berries!"
"Are you planning to become his disciple?"
"No," Yasuie replied calmly. "I plan to defeat that dojo, along with all the other famous kendo dojos in East Blue!"
"Then, I'll establish the most powerful and renowned kendo dojo in the region."
Yasuie's goal was clear—he wanted the Yuyan Dojo to become the strongest and most famous dojo in East Blue.
And to achieve that, the best strategy was to challenge and defeat every other renowned dojo in the region.
If possible, he also intended to take over all the dojos in East Blue. Starting a famous dojo from scratch would be far more difficult.
When Yasuie finished speaking, Nami's eyes widened in disbelief, staring at him like he was out of his mind. Then, her expression softened into a warm, friendly smile.
Only a fool could be this ambitious.
But fools were the easiest to exploit.
Inwardly, Nami was already scheming. She had no intention of leading Yasuie directly to the Iaido Kendo Dojo for a mere small reward.
The sword and his wallet will both be mine, she thought confidently.
During a voyage, Nami had a knack for making a fortune—and making her escape.
Half of Nami's exceptional navigation skills came from constantly escaping her pursuers.
The next morning, with dark circles under her eyes and a resigned look on her face, Nami reluctantly led Yasuie to the door of the Iaido Kendo Gym.
She hadn't expected Yasuie to be so vigilant.
Even when he was asleep, the moment she got within five meters of him, Yasuie would fix her with an icy, piercing gaze, watching her every move.
How does he even do that?
With the promised reward of 100,000 Berries in her pocket, Nami was ready to leave the Iaido Kendo Gym and find an easier target.
But just as she turned to go, the gym's door creaked open, and Yasuie stepped out.
Behind him, the famed dojo master—renowned for training powerful swordsmen and defeating an laido master who had taken down a pirate with a bounty of nearly ten million—was slumped on the ground, staring blankly at Yasuie's back.
One strike. Just one strike!
Before the dojo master could unleash his much-prided lightning-fast laido Slash, Yasuie's blade had already grazed his hair. Calmly, Yasuie had sheathed his sword before the master even realized what had happened.
Yasuie wasn't particularly skilled in laido techniques, but compared to the swordsmen of East Blue—the weakest of the seas—his strength was simply on another level.
"Interested in taking me to the next famous kendo dojo?" Yasuie asked, stopping Nami in her tracks.
"Same reward."
Though Nami still wanted to steal Yasuie's sword and wallet, she had to admit his offer was tempting. Her navigation skills were valuable, and stealing from him seemed impossible anyway. Why not take advantage of the situation?
To Yasuie, hiring Nami for navigation was a bargain.
Nami's eyes widened at first, but then she eagerly nodded, bobbing her head like a chicken pecking grain.
With her expertise, it would only take a day to guide Yasuie to the next dojo.
Earning 100,000 Berries in a single day was an opportunity she couldn't pass up—an annual income of over 30 million Berries if it kept up.
Most pirate crews in East Blue were broke, and despite the risks she'd taken over the years, Nami had barely saved tens of millions.
Now, just by navigating and pointing the way, she could make more than she ever had by stealing.
And so, the "Cat Burglar" Nami and Yasuie set off together, challenging the kendo dojos across East Blue.
Meanwhile, in West Blue, powerful kings were making their moves, plotting to seize control of the entire Valoran Chamber of Commerce in one bold stroke.