Kapitel 112: "Chopper's Painful Past and Luffy’s Invitation"

The morning air was crisp as the crew gathered around Dr. Kureha and her assistant, the blue-nosed reindeer named Chopper. Raja, sensing Luffy and Sanji's excitement and curiosity, froze them both before they could overwhelm the timid creature with questions or playful antics. He knew that Chopper would be cautious around strangers, especially lively ones like Luffy and Sanji.

As Kureha and Chopper entered Nami's room to assess her condition, Nami looked surprised to see a talking reindeer. She opened her mouth to ask, but Raja gently motioned for her to let them work in peace. Despite her curiosity, Nami stayed quiet, allowing Kureha and Chopper to do their job. Chopper's gentle nature became evident as he carefully examined her, his small hands deftly working to ensure her comfort. Nami was charmed by his kindness but remained silent, trusting Raja's judgement.

After a thorough checkup, Kureha turned to Nami with a warm smile. "Your fever has gone down," she informed her. "You had a disease from a bug bite. If it hadn't been treated, it would have killed you in two days."

Nami's eyes widened, and she glanced over at Raja, who nodded. "Thank you, Dr. Kureha," Nami said softly, feeling a surge of relief. However, Kureha's face grew stern again.

"You need to stay here for at least three more days," Kureha continued. "No matter how much you might want to get back to your ship and sail off, you'll risk your life if you don't rest and recover fully."

Kureha's gaze softened as she glanced at Chopper, who was adjusting Nami's blanket. Noticing Nami's curious gaze, Kureha began explaining. "This little guy here," she said, placing a hand on Chopper's head, "is just a reindeer with a blue nose who happened to eat the Hito Hito no Mi, or the Human-Human Fruit. It gave him the ability to think, speak, and even walk like a human."

"So, you taught him medicine?" Nami asked, intrigued by Chopper's dedication.

"Indeed," Kureha nodded. "He's got a kind heart and sharp instincts, so I taught him what I knew. But convincing him to join your crew won't be easy." Kureha gave Raja a knowing look, indicating that Chopper had a difficult past.

As the crew gathered around, Kureha began to recount Chopper's story.

Born with a blue nose, Chopper was ostracized by his fellow reindeer from the start. After consuming the Hito Hito no Mi, he grew even more different, causing both reindeer and humans to reject him in fear and hatred. Alone and misunderstood, Chopper struggled to find acceptance in a world that saw him as a monster.

Years ago, as Wapol's Doctor Hunt raged across the island, a rogue doctor named Hiriluk roamed from village to village, trying to help the people. Unfortunately, his unconventional methods often caused chaos instead. One day, while attempting to treat a sick man, Hiriluk administered an essence made from frogs, which caused the man to turn green and start hopping uncontrollably. The frightened villagers had Hiriluk cornered until he made a daring escape through a window, encountering Kureha in passing with an enthusiastic "See ya later, witch!"

Pursued by soldiers, Hiriluk fled into the mountains, where he stumbled upon a small, injured reindeer with a blue nose. Chopper had been badly shot, and when Hiriluk tried to help him, he became defensive, misunderstanding the doctor's intentions. To reassure him, Hiriluk did the unexpected—he stripped down to show he meant no harm. This ridiculous sight eased Chopper's tension, and he allowed Hiriluk to take him back to his home.

When Chopper woke up in Hiriluk's cabin, he was starving. Hiriluk offered him bread, and as he took his second bite, Chopper started to cry for the first time. It had been so long since anyone had shown him kindness. Moved by the doctor's care, Chopper stayed with him and, over time, they grew close. Chopper didn't speak at first, afraid his voice would only scare others more. But after three days, he finally spoke, admitting his fear and loneliness.

As the bond between Chopper and Hiriluk deepened, they faced countless rejections together. Villagers drove them away whenever they tried to help, but Hiriluk's passion for healing never waned. One evening, after a particularly rough day, Hiriluk gifted Chopper a hat, his now-signature pink hat, and told him a story about a miracle—a man whose illness was cured by the sight of cherry blossoms in bloom.

But their days together weren't endless. One morning, Hiriluk unexpectedly kicked Chopper out of the house. Hurt and confused, Chopper ran off, unsure why his friend was sending him away. That day, Hiriluk went to Kureha, asking her how long he had left. Her answer was grim: he had only ten days. Hiriluk was determined to show Chopper that "anything is possible," even in the face of death.

Desperate to save his friend, Chopper recalled hearing soldiers mention a legendary mushroom said to cure any illness. Determined, Chopper searched Hiriluk's book collection until he found information on the mushroom—the Amiudake. Despite the danger, Chopper set out on a perilous journey, enduring harsh weather and even a battle with his own herd to obtain the mushroom.

After days of struggle, Chopper finally returned to Hiriluk's house, battered, with a broken leg and swollen eye, clutching the mushroom. His face was filled with hope as he presented it to Hiriluk. Moved by Chopper's gesture, Hiriluk embraced him, tears streaming down his face. "You'll be a great doctor someday," he whispered, knowing he had found a truly selfless soul in Chopper.

But the cruel twist of fate struck soon after. Kureha, seeing the mushroom Chopper had brought, recognized it immediately and reprimanded him. "This is poison, you fool!" she scolded, her anger a cover for the pain she felt seeing Chopper's misguided innocence. She explained that kindness alone could not cure illness—medicine required training and skill, as well as a clear understanding of how to save lives.

Crushed, Chopper sobbed, realizing his mistake. Despite Kureha's harsh words, her heart ached as she watched him fall apart. She knew he needed to understand that life and death were not so easily conquered.

Meanwhile, Hiriluk journeyed to Drum Castle, determined to do something heroic in his final moments. When he arrived, he threw explosives at Wapol's guards, demanding an audience. But Wapol revealed that the supposed sickness plaguing his Isshi-20 doctors was a ruse to lure Hiriluk into a trap.

As Chopper raced to the castle, hoping to save his friend, he arrived only to witness Hiriluk's tragic end. With one last defiant act, Hiriluk detonated an explosive, sacrificing himself to protect his ideals and show Chopper that a doctor's duty went beyond just saving lives—it was about inspiring hope.

Chopper screamed, his heart shattered. Dalton, who had seen the horrors of Wapol's reign firsthand, held Chopper back from attacking Wapol, knowing he'd be killed if he tried. Dalton's own heart broke as he promised to carry on Hiriluk's legacy, even if it meant rebelling against Wapol's tyranny. For his defiance, Dalton was imprisoned, left to reflect on the cost of his loyalty to Hiriluk's dream.

As Kureha concluded Chopper's story, the crew sat in stunned silence, tears streaming down their faces. Even the normally stoic Raja and reserved Sanji struggled to hold back their emotions.

Luffy, though frozen by Raja's spell, had tears welling up in his eyes as well. The intense sorrow radiated from him, but he couldn't voice it until Raja released him. Raja took the moment to lean down and whisper to Luffy and Sanji, "Don't ever make fun of Chopper's past or his fears. Respect him, for he has endured more than any of us could imagine."

With a swift gesture, Raja unfroze them, and Luffy, still teary-eyed, leapt up with newfound determination. He knew what he had to do. "I have to find him!" he declared, sprinting out of the room and searching for Chopper.

Luffy found Chopper in his small room, sitting alone with a look of quiet despair on his face. Taking a deep breath, Luffy entered and stood in front of him, his usual boisterousness tempered by the weight of Chopper's story. "Chopper," he said, his voice soft but full of conviction, "you should come with us. Join our crew. Be our doctor."

Chopper blinked, taken aback by the offer. "But… but I'm just a monster," he stammered, looking down at his hooves. Memories of his painful rejections flashed through his mind. "I'll just scare people…"

Luffy shook his head. "You're not a monster. You're a friend. And we need you. Our crew… we wouldn't be complete without you." He looked Chopper directly in the eye, his sincerity shining through. "Come with us. You'll be part of our family."

Chopper's eyes widened, and for a moment, he couldn't speak. The idea of being accepted, of finding a place where he belonged, was something he had always dreamed of but never thought possible. And now, here was this strange, kind boy with a straw hat, offering him that very chance.

With a trembling voice, Chopper asked, "Really… you mean that?"

"Of course!" Luffy grinned, his eyes still glistening with tears. "You'd be a part of our crew. We'll go on adventures together, face dangers together, and look out for each other. You'll never have to be alone again."

Chopper's heart swelled as he finally accepted Luffy's words. For the first time, he dared to believe that maybe he could have a place where he truly belonged.

And in that quiet moment, with the warmth of friendship filling the room, Chopper's journey with the Straw Hat Pirates truly began.