章 77: "The Hilarious Hijinks and Fierce Fight with Captain Kuro!"

Luffy clenched his fists. "We're not letting him hurt Kaya or anyone in that village!"

Zoro cracked his knuckles. "Let's take them down."

With a grin, Raja nodded. "I've got an idea. Let's give them a proper slippery welcome."

Usopp's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Let's cover the path with oil! When they come down the hillside, they'll slide all the way back to the bottom!"

The crew cheered, and within minutes, they had emptied barrels of oil across the hillside trail. Zoro and Luffy tried to resist their excitement as they set the trap, imagining the pirates tumbling down in a comical mess.

"Alright, time to lie in wait and—" Nami began, only to suddenly halt, her expression shifting to one of horror.

Usopp scratched his head. "Uh, guys… isn't the village on the other side of the island?"

The crew went silent, exchanging glances of dread.

"We oiled the wrong path!" Nami wailed.

With a collective groan, they scrambled to their feet, slipping and sliding in their own trap as they made a desperate dash to the correct side of the island.

The group bolted in every direction. As they raced, Zoro managed to slide directly into the slick they had just laid, his feet shooting out from under him. With a look of sheer resignation, he ended up sprawled on the ground like a makeshift bridge.

"Perfect," Nami said, grinning slyly. "Thanks, Zoro." She walked across his back with a smirk, using him as a bridge over the slick as he muttered a series of creative threats under his breath.

Meanwhile, Luffy, undeterred by their misfortune, had wandered off, completely lost and thoroughly fascinated by a bug he'd found on a tree.

Raja noticed Luffy's absence and sighed. "I'll go grab him," he said, casting a quick defensive spell over Usopp and Nami. "Don't get captured before I get back!"

Panting, Usopp and Nami finally reached the correct hillside, where they could already see the Black Cat Pirates approaching. Armed with his trusty slingshot, Usopp squared his shoulders and nodded determinedly.

"We can hold them off," he said, aiming his slingshot with exaggerated bravado.

Nami rolled her eyes but smirked. "If we live through this, I'm charging you extra for every punch I have to throw."

The Black Cat Pirates reached the base of the hill, glancing around with smirks that promised trouble. Usopp took a deep breath and let loose a barrage of pebbles, landing a few decent hits that only seemed to annoy the pirates.

"Hey! Who's hitting us with rocks?!" a pirate growled, rubbing his forehead.

"Stand down, villain!" Usopp declared, striking a pose. "I am Captain Usopp, the greatest warrior in the East Blue!"

The pirates laughed, their sneers only intensifying. But before Usopp could back down, Nami lunged at the nearest pirate, landing a solid punch that sent him reeling.

They fought fiercely, managing to keep a few of the pirates at bay, but it was clear that they were slowly being overpowered. Within minutes, the Black Cat Pirates had managed to subdue Usopp and Nami, forcing them to their knees.

Just when things looked bleak, a thunderous crash echoed from the trees, followed by Raja and a very confused Luffy barreling into the clearing.

Luffy spotted Usopp and Nami tied up and clenched his fists, a determined grin stretching across his face. "You guys think you can mess with my friends?" he shouted, charging forward.

Zoro arrived moments later, slightly out of breath but raring to fight. He drew his swords, his expression one of steely resolve. "I'll take the Meowban brothers," he said, sizing up the two acrobatic pirates.

Meanwhile, Raja faced off against the cannon fodder with a mischievous grin. "Who wants a magic trick?" he asked, his wand at the ready.

The Black Cat Pirates hesitated, unsure how to respond, but Raja was already casting a spell. A shimmer of light surrounded the pirates as he summoned a flurry of sparkling stars that burst in their faces, sending them reeling with comical yelps.

As the battle raged, a dark figure emerged on the horizon. Kuro, the infamous captain of the Black Cat Pirates, had arrived, his demeanor icy and expression filled with irritation.

He scanned the chaos, his gaze narrowing on his fumbling crew. "Pathetic. All of you are utterly pathetic," he muttered, his voice calm yet laced with venom.

He turned to his crew, his glasses gleaming ominously. "Hurry up, or I'll end you myself."

The pirates flinched, visibly terrified of their captain's wrath. With a renewed sense of urgency, they attempted to rally, though their morale was clearly shaken.

Meanwhile, atop the hill, Kaya arrived, her heart pounding as she confronted Kuro. Her loyal butler, Merry, had told her everything. She could barely believe it—Kuro, the man who had cared for her for years, was actually a ruthless pirate planning to take her life.

"Kuro," she whispered, her voice a mix of hurt and resolve. "How could you do this?"

Kuro's expression remained cold and unfeeling. "Sentimentality is a weakness, Kaya. I merely did what was necessary to secure my future."

Kaya's shoulders shook with anger, but she held her ground. "You lied to me, to everyone. You pretended to care…"

Kuro sneered. "Pretend? That's all life is—a game of pretenses." He took a step closer, his eyes glinting with malice. "You were nothing but a means to an end."

From their hiding place, the young Usopp Pirates—Pepper, Carrot, and Onion—watched the confrontation with wide eyes. Though small and slightly terrified, they couldn't just stand by while Kaya was in danger.

Usopp, his earlier bravery now slightly dampened by fear, rallied himself. "This is our chance, guys. We have to protect Kaya!"

With a determined yell, Usopp leapt forward, slingshot in hand, aiming directly at Kuro. He fired, the projectile whizzing through the air, barely missing Kuro's face.

Kuro turned, his expression darkening. "Ah, more nuisances."

The Usopp Pirates sprang into action, each of them throwing rocks, sticks, and whatever they could find to distract Kuro. They may not have been a match for a pirate captain, but their loyalty was unbreakable.

"Run, Kaya!" Usopp shouted, his voice shaking but determined.

Jango, the hypnotist, spotted Kaya fleeing and immediately took off after her. The urgency of their escape grew, with Jango closing the distance fast.

In the midst of the chaos, Nami noticed Luffy lying face-down in the dirt, apparently knocked out from a stray punch. Annoyed, she marched over, grabbing his shoulder and shaking him vigorously.

"Luffy! Get up!" she hissed.

With a snort, Luffy's eyes snapped open, immediately focusing on the figure of Kuro. "Oh, he's still here?" he muttered, wiping his mouth with a grin.

Determined, Luffy leapt to his feet, charging at Kuro. Their fists clashed mid-air, sending a shockwave through the clearing. Luffy's expression hardened. "You're no pirate. You're just a coward who hides."

Kuro sneered, his calm facade cracking. "And you're a fool who doesn't understand what it takes to survive."

The two exchanged blows, each hit sending dust flying. Kuro's swift attacks kept Luffy on his toes, but Luffy's resilience and unpredictability proved to be a formidable counter.

As they fought, Kuro's voice took on a darker tone. "You think you know what it's like to be hunted? To have no peace?" he snarled, his eyes blazing. "I grew tired of the constant chase, of the Marines always on my tail. So, I created an escape. I faked my death."

Luffy's eyes widened, his fists slowing slightly as Kuro continued.

"I had Jango hypnotize a lookalike to take my place, sacrificing him to the Marines. They thought I was dead. And I planned to live out my days in luxury with Kaya's fortune."

Luffy's face twisted in anger, his voice rising. "So, you betrayed everyone just to hide?"

Kuro's sneer returned. "I call it survival. If you're too weak to do the same, then you'll die like all the rest."

But Luffy's grin returned, fierce and unwavering. "I don't need to hide. I'm gonna be King of the Pirates!"

With a final battle cry, Luffy launched himself at Kuro, their clash illuminating the hillside. And as the dust settled, the spirit of their determination shone brighter than ever, ready to face down the darkest of foes.