Chapter 76: "The Boy Who Cried Pirate: Usopp's Tall Tales and a Sinister Plot"
The sun was just beginning to rise over the quaint little island village, casting long shadows on the streets. The peaceful silence was abruptly shattered by a boy with wild black curls, flailing arms, and an oversized slingshot strapped to his back as he sprinted down the main road.
"Pirates! Pirates are attacking the village!" the boy shouted, his voice echoing through the streets.
This was Usopp, the village's notorious "liar." The villagers, however, barely raised an eyebrow as he ran past, waving his arms and hollering. In fact, some of them continued watering their plants or sweeping their doorsteps, muttering, "There goes that boy Usopp again, with his wild stories…"
A few elderly villagers chuckled, "That lad's got quite the imagination!"
As Usopp dashed around, wildly gesturing about imaginary pirate ships, a small group of younger boys — Pepper, Carrot, and Onion — popped out of hiding and scrambled over to him, their eyes wide with admiration.
With his "crew" assembled, Usopp planted his hands on his hips, striking a dramatic pose. "Behold! Today, the mighty Captain Usopp shall defend the village from the dreaded pirates!" he declared, throwing his head back and laughing, much to the awe of his young companions.
Just then, Luffy's ship came into view, catching the boys' attention as they spotted the Jolly Roger fluttering on the mast.
"Pirates! Real pirates!" Onion shrieked, pointing toward the harbor.
Usopp squinted, his bravado faltering for a split second before he puffed out his chest. "Ah-ha! It's another band of foolish pirates daring to challenge Captain Usopp's turf!" he declared. The three boys immediately pulled out tiny pirate flags, waving them enthusiastically in support of their captain.
When Luffy and his crew reached the shore, they saw Usopp and his band of misfits parading around, shouting and waving their flags. Raja tried to contain his laughter while Zoro just raised an eyebrow, unamused.
"Oi, are you really a pirate captain?" Luffy called out, grinning from ear to ear.
Usopp's face went pale. He took a step back, swallowing nervously. "Y-Yes! Yes, I am! I'm… Captain Usopp, the most feared pirate on this island!" he shouted, his voice wobbling.
Luffy laughed. "Cool! I'm Luffy, and I'm going to be King of the Pirates!" His words were so genuine that Usopp blinked in surprise.
Usopp put on a brave front, clutching his slingshot tightly. "You're going to be the Pirate King? Hah! That's nothing compared to the great Captain Usopp!"
Soon enough, Luffy and his crew had joined Usopp and his gang, forming an unlikely friendship. Usopp's three followers were in awe of the newcomers, especially Raja, whose magical tricks had them gaping with wonder.
"You guys can be honorary members of the Usopp Pirates!" Usopp announced with grand authority, standing atop a nearby rock. The three kids cheered, waving their little pirate flags even harder.
As the day went on, Luffy learned that Usopp's father was none other than Yasopp, a member of Shanks' crew. The revelation left Usopp looking strangely uncomfortable.
"Your dad's Yasopp? He's awesome! He told me all about his adventures and how good he is with a rifle!" Luffy exclaimed, his excitement bouncing off the walls.
For some reason, this made Usopp's face fall slightly. He muttered something about needing fresh air and hurriedly left the bar, disappearing into the streets.
Luffy and his crew followed Usopp as he made his way toward a grand house on the outskirts of the village. There, they found him standing beneath a balcony, calling up to a pale, delicate-looking girl with long blonde hair — Kaya.
Usopp had clearly been visiting Kaya for a while, as he regaled her with outlandish stories that left her giggling and clutching her sides. His exaggerated tales of defeating sea monsters and treasure hunts made her laugh, and each laugh seemed to bring color back to her cheeks.
But their moment was cut short by Klahadore, Kaya's butler, who had arrived looking particularly displeased.
"Oh, it's you again, Usopp. Haven't you caused enough trouble for the day?" Klahadore sneered, looking down his nose at Usopp. "A poor, lying boy with no future should find better ways to spend his time than bothering his betters."
The insult stung, and for a moment, Usopp's face fell. But he quickly put on a brave smile. "What do you know? Kaya loves my stories! At least I bring her joy, unlike you, who just glares at her all day!"
Klahadore narrowed his eyes, clenching his fists. "You insolent boy! Leave, or I'll have you thrown out!"
Before Luffy or anyone else could intervene, Klahadore had already summoned the guards, who promptly threw Usopp off the property.
That evening, after licking his wounds, Usopp went for a walk along the cliffs, feeling the weight of his troubles. He was lost in thought when he noticed Luffy standing nearby, staring out over the ocean.
"Dreams, huh?" Luffy said softly, catching Usopp off guard. "They're worth chasing, even if no one believes in you."
Usopp was silent, taken aback by Luffy's words. But before he could respond, they overheard voices from below. Crouching low, they peered down to see Klahadore — who now wore a sinister smile — talking to a bizarre man in a hypnotist's outfit named Jango.
As Usopp listened, horror dawned on his face. Klahadore was planning to kill Kaya, inherit her wealth, and use it to take over the village. And he wasn't Klahadore at all — he was actually Captain Kuro, a feared pirate who had faked his own death to escape from the Marines!
Usopp clamped a hand over his mouth, his heart pounding. How would he make anyone believe him now?
Determined to save Kaya and the village, Usopp ran to Luffy, Raja, Zoro, and Nami, breathlessly explaining everything he had heard. He pleaded with them to help, his eyes wide with desperation.
"We're with you," Luffy said without hesitation, a fierce grin spreading across his face.
Usopp's face lit up, his confidence momentarily restored. But when he tried to warn the villagers about the impending attack, he was met with skeptical looks and dismissive laughter.
"Usopp, save your wild stories for someone else!" one villager called out, shaking his head.
Another chuckled. "Not this again. Pirates attacking, yeah right!"
Usopp's shoulders slumped, feeling defeated. No one believed him. He tried again, shouting and waving his arms, but it was no use. They all turned away, muttering about the boy who cried pirate.
Seeing Usopp's frustration, Raja stepped up, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "People may not believe you, Usopp, but we do. We'll stop these guys together."
Usopp looked at them, eyes brimming with gratitude. With his friends by his side, he squared his shoulders, a new determination hardening his gaze. "Alright, let's save this village!"
The crew set up their plan to defend Kaya and the villagers from Kuro and his crew. Luffy, Raja, Zoro, and Nami stood by Usopp, each of them ready for the fight ahead. Despite the looming danger, they couldn't help but laugh and joke, finding strength in each other's company.
Usopp took a deep breath, holding his slingshot steady as they prepared to face Kuro and Jango. His heart pounded with a mixture of fear and exhilaration. But this time, it wasn't just a story — this was his chance to be a real hero.
And as the first signs of dawn touched the horizon, the strange band of friends stood together, ready to fight for dreams, friendship, and the place they had come to call home.
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