Chương 8: Chapter 8: The Youngest Brother Arrives
The forest surrounding Foosha Village had become the perfect retreat for Vulcan, Ace, and Sabo. Over the years, they had turned their secret treehouse into a hideout where they could plan their future adventures and escape the adult world. It was their own little sanctuary, hidden away from prying eyes—or so they thought.
A Curious Intruder
One afternoon, as Vulcan, Ace, and Sabo were lounging in their hideout, plotting their next great adventure, a rustling noise from below interrupted the peaceful silence.
"Someone's down there," Ace muttered, narrowing his eyes as he peered over the edge of the platform.
Sabo leaned over the railing as well. "Think it's one of the bandits?"
But instead of a bandit, the figure that emerged from the bushes was a young boy, about seven years old, with messy black hair and a wide grin plastered across his face. He wore a red vest and shorts, completely unbothered by the dirt and scratches covering his arms and legs from the forest.
It was Luffy—the village troublemaker and, more importantly, Garp's grandson.
"Let me up!" Luffy shouted from below, waving at them like they were old friends. "I wanna be a pirate too!"
Ace groaned, his irritation already flaring up. "Oh, great. What's he doing here?"
Sabo chuckled, finding the situation more amusing than anything. "Looks like he found us."
Vulcan, standing quietly nearby, folded his arms as he watched the boy. He had known about Luffy for years—Garp often spoke of him during his visits—but Vulcan hadn't expected Luffy to stumble into their secret hideout. The boy looked far too eager for someone who had just barged into unknown territory.
Luffy stared up at them with bright eyes, clearly excited. "Come on, let me join you guys! I'm gonna be King of the Pirates!"
A Bold Declaration
Ace's face twisted into a scowl. "You? King of the Pirates? You can't even climb up here!"
Sabo laughed, shaking his head. "He's got guts, I'll give him that."
Luffy wasn't discouraged. "I'll show you how strong I am! Just let me up!"
Ace groaned in annoyance, picking up a stick and brandishing it like a weapon. "You think we're just gonna let you join us? This is our hideout! Go back to the village, Luffy."
But Luffy wasn't backing down. "I can climb up there! Watch me!" He immediately grabbed onto the tree and began to climb, his small hands gripping the bark tightly as he struggled to pull himself up.
Vulcan watched him carefully, his sharp eyes assessing Luffy's determination. He wasn't particularly surprised by Luffy's stubbornness—after all, he was Garp's grandson. That same reckless drive clearly ran in the family.
As Luffy slipped and fell back to the ground with a loud thud, Ace groaned even louder. "See? I told you, you're not cut out for this."
But Luffy just laughed, rubbing the back of his head as he got up and tried again. "I'll get up there! Just wait!"
Sabo leaned against the railing, smirking. "He's not giving up."
Vulcan remained silent, but he couldn't deny that Luffy's persistence was impressive. There was something about the boy—his wild determination, his refusal to stay down—that reminded him of Ace when they first met. Vulcan's calm gaze softened slightly as he watched Luffy scramble up the tree again, only to fall once more.
"He's got Garp's spirit," Vulcan said quietly, more to himself than to the others.
The Test Begins
After watching Luffy try—and fail—multiple times to climb the tree, Ace finally threw his hands up in frustration. "Alright, fine. You really want to join us, Luffy? Then you've got to prove yourself. We don't let just anyone into our crew."
Luffy, still grinning despite his scrapes and bruises, nodded enthusiastically. "I can do it! Just give me a chance!"
Sabo, intrigued by Luffy's unshakable optimism, glanced over at Vulcan. "What do you think? Should we let him try?"
Vulcan, his expression thoughtful, looked down at Luffy, who was still bouncing on his feet, eager for the challenge. He knew Garp's visits were full of stories about the boy's potential, but this was his first real look at just how stubborn Luffy could be.
"Alright," Vulcan said finally, his calm voice cutting through the tension. "If you want to be a part of this, Luffy, you'll have to prove you're tough enough to keep up with us."
Luffy's face lit up even more, if that was possible. "I will! I'll show you!"
Luffy's Trials
Over the next few days, Vulcan, Ace, and Sabo tested Luffy relentlessly. They made him run through the forest, climb trees, and even help them with their daring food heists from the village. Ace, who still wasn't convinced Luffy belonged in their group, made the challenges especially difficult, hoping the boy would give up.
But Luffy never did.
No matter how many times he stumbled or fell, Luffy always got back up, grinning like it was all part of the adventure. His enthusiasm was infectious, even if it sometimes got on Ace's nerves. Sabo found himself laughing at Luffy's antics more often than not, and even Vulcan had to admit that the kid had a resilience that was hard to ignore.
Ace, though begrudgingly impressed, continued to give Luffy a hard time. "You're gonna slow us down if you keep falling like that."
Luffy, sitting on the ground with leaves stuck in his hair, just laughed. "I'll get better! I'm not giving up!"
Vulcan watched all of this with quiet approval. Luffy had proven that he wasn't just a kid playing pirate—he had a fire in him, just like Ace and Sabo. And as Garp's grandson, there was no denying the strength that ran in his blood.
A New Brother is Born
After a week of trials, it became clear that Luffy wasn't going anywhere. He had wormed his way into their lives with his unwavering determination, and despite Ace's initial resistance, even he had to admit that Luffy had earned his place.
One evening, as the sun set over the forest, casting long shadows across the treehouse, the four boys sat around their campfire. Luffy, exhausted but still grinning, stared up at the stars with his usual excitement.
"So," Ace said, glancing over at him, "you really want to be part of our crew?"
Luffy nodded eagerly, his eyes wide with anticipation. "Yeah! I'm gonna be King of the Pirates!"
Ace scoffed, but there was a hint of a smile on his face. "You're crazy."
Sabo laughed, shaking his head. "But you've got guts, Luffy."
Vulcan, who had been watching silently, finally spoke. "Alright, Luffy. You're one of us now. But remember—you have to pull your weight, just like the rest of us."
Luffy's grin grew even wider, and he jumped to his feet, pumping his fists in the air. "I will! I'll be the best pirate ever!"
Ace rolled his eyes, but he couldn't help smiling as he watched Luffy's enthusiasm. Despite everything, Luffy had earned his place in their little family, and even Ace had to respect that.
As the fire crackled softly, the four boys sat together, their bond solidified. The adventures ahead were uncertain, but with Luffy by their side, Vulcan, Ace, and Sabo knew that they were ready for whatever the world had in store for them.
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