The Going Merry sailed smoothly across the calm waters of the Grand Line, the chaos of Reverse Mountain and their encounter with Laboon now behind them. The sky stretched endlessly above, a vibrant blue with only a few drifting clouds. The salty breeze filled the air, and for the first time since entering these unpredictable waters, the crew had a moment to relax.
Blizz leaned against the railing, gazing at the horizon. The memory of being inside Laboon's stomach was still fresh—meeting Crocus, learning about the mysterious Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday, and Luffy painting a terrible Straw Hat symbol on Laboon's head. It was ridiculous, but somehow, it felt right.
"Ahhh! That was fun!" Luffy grinned, stretching his arms above his head. "That whale was pretty cool!"
"Pretty cool?!" Usopp shouted. "We got EATEN! We almost died in there!"
Sanji exhaled a puff of smoke. "Yeah, and yet here you are, still yapping."
Blizz smirked. "To be fair, it's kind of impressive that we made it out in one piece."
"Exactly!" Luffy said. "And now we're heading to the next adventure!"
Nami unrolled the Grand Line map and tapped a spot. "Our next destination is an island called Whiskey Peak. According to Crocus, it's a town that welcomes pirates."
Sanji's eyes sparkled. "A town that welcomes pirates… That means bars… and ladies."
Zoro scoffed. "Sounds fishy to me."
Blizz crossed his arms. "Yeah, I've got a bad feeling about it, too."
Usopp waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, come on! We've been through a storm, a mountain river, and a giant whale! What could possibly go wrong now?"
A long silence followed.
Nami rubbed her temples. "You just jinxed us, didn't you?"
As the ship cruised toward Whiskey Peak, Blizz decided it was a good time to train. The Grand Line wasn't a place for the weak, and he knew that stronger enemies lay ahead. If he wanted to survive and keep up with the Straw Hats, he had to get stronger.
He stepped onto the deck and cracked his knuckles. "Alright, time to get serious."
Luffy's eyes lit up. "Oh! Are you gonna do more ninja stuff?!"
Usopp's excitement reignited. "Yeah! Do something crazy again!"
Blizz shook his head. "I already showed you guys the Clone Jutsu and the Transformation Jutsu. This time, I'm working on my physical strength."
Zoro, who had been napping nearby, opened one eye. "Hmph. Strength training, huh?" He stood up, grabbing his dumbbells. "Let's see if you can keep up."
Blizz grinned. "Is that a challenge?"
Zoro smirked. "If you can call it that."
For the next hour, Blizz pushed himself to his limits—push-ups, sit-ups, squats, and endurance training. At one point, he attempted to keep up with Zoro's weighted training, only to collapse under the insane weight the swordsman casually lifted.
Usopp watched in horror. "He's… he's not human…"
Sanji chuckled. "You're just figuring that out?"
Blizz, panting on the floor, groaned. "Alright… Maybe not that much weight."
Zoro laughed. "You've got potential, but you're still way behind."
Blizz smirked. "Give me some time. I'll catch up."
Changing to chakra training, Blizz tightened the bandages around his hands, he took a deep breath, focusing chakra into his arms and legs. His muscles tensed as he reinforced them.
He turned toward a thick wooden crate on the deck. Normally, it would take a heavy strike to break something that solid. But now—
CRACK!
With a single punch, the crate shattered, splintering into pieces. This time, the impact was clean—no wasted motion.
Zoro raised an eyebrow. "Not bad. Your punches are more precise now. Less wasted effort."
Blizz flexed his fingers. "I'm just getting started."
Usopp, who had been inching away from the destroyed crate, crossed his arms. "Y'know, at this rate, you're gonna end up breaking the ship."
Blizz smirked. "I'll try to be careful next time."
He took a deep breath, bringing his hands together in a quick succession of hand seals. His fingers moved faster than before—his speed improving with every repetition.
"Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu"
A massive wave of fire erupted from his mouth, roaring through the air. Unlike before, the flames didn't wildly disperse—the blast was more focused, more controlled. And more importantly, it used less chakra.
"Fuuton: Breakthrough!"
A gust of wind erupted from his hands, blasting forward with raw power. The force of it made the water ripple around the ship, and Blizz felt the strain of maintaining the technique. He could feel his chakra pool depleting faster than he liked. He exhaled and immediately adjusted, focusing on controlling the release.
"Raiton: Lightning Bolt!"
A sharp crack of electricity surged from his hands, but Blizz quickly aimed it into the air, adjusting the direction so the bolt didn't hit the ship. The crackling energy faded into the sky, leaving a lingering smell of ozone behind. His chest rose and fell with the exertion.
"That's better… I need to keep this focused…"
"Suiton: Suijinheki!"
The water began to gather in his hand, swirling into a small sphere of condensed liquid. The bullet of water was smaller than he wanted, but the force behind it was still considerable. He launched it with a sharp flick of his wrist, sending the water bullet shooting through the air.
"That's more like it," he whispered, panting slightly. He had to maintain control of the water longer, focus more chakra into the shot—but with time, this would become a deadly jutsu.
Blizz grinned. "Getting better."
Blizz exhaled, finally taking a short break. He unrolled a long scroll on the deck, carefully drawing storage seals with ink.
Usopp, passing by, paused. "Hey, what's that?"
Blizz didn't look up. "Storage scroll."
Luffy and Sanji wandered over. "Storage?"
Blizz nodded. "I can seal items inside this scroll. Weapons, food, supplies. Instead of carrying a heavy bag, I just unseal what I need when I need it."
Usopp's jaw dropped. "WAIT, YOU HAVE A MAGIC BACKPACK?!"
Blizz chuckled. "Not magic—chakra."
Luffy's eyes sparkled. "DO YOU HAVE MEAT IN THERE?!"
Blizz sighed. "No."
Sanji tapped the scroll with interest. "So you can store anything?"
Blizz shrugged. "Pretty much. I just need to set the right seal for it."
Usopp clapped his hands. "Okay, now you HAVE to make me one! Imagine how many gadgets I could carry!"
Blizz smirked. "We'll see."
As Blizz finished rolling up the storage scroll, he secured it to his belt, stretching his arms with a satisfied nod. His chakra control had improved, his jutsu refined, and his strength was steadily increasing.
But just as he was about to move on, Nami strolled over, arms crossed, her sharp eyes locked onto the scroll in his hands.
"Hey, Blizz," she said smoothly, her tone far too casual to be innocent.
Blizz raised an eyebrow. "Uh… yeah?"
She pointed at the scroll. "That storage thing. It can hold anything, right?"
Blizz hesitated for a second, sensing danger. "Yeah…?"
Nami's smirk widened. "Even gold?"
Blizz blinked. "…Technically, yeah."
Her eyes lit up like she had just discovered the greatest treasure on the planet. "Oh-ho-ho~ This is perfect."
Blizz narrowed his eyes. "Wait. No. Whatever you're thinking, no."
Nami ignored him completely and grabbed his wrist, pulling him toward the ship's storage room. "Come on, we need to test this!"
"Wha—Hey! I never agreed to this!"
"Yeah, yeah, details."
Before he could protest further, she shoved a small bag of gold coins into his hands. "Alright, seal this."
Blizz sighed, unrolling the scroll. He made a few quick hand seals, pressed his palm onto the parchment, and—
Poof!
The gold vanished into the scroll, leaving behind only a small sealing mark.
Nami's jaw dropped. "It's… gone."
Blizz smirked. "Told you."
Nami snatched the scroll from him, turning it over in her hands. "Where is it?! How do I get it back?"
Blizz exhaled, pressing his palm onto the mark. With another poof, the bag of gold reappeared in his hands.
Nami's eyes sparkled.
She slowly turned to him, grinning. "Blizz… we are about to become business partners."
Blizz took a step back. "Uh-oh."
She grabbed both his shoulders. "Listen, do you have any idea how useful this is?! No more carrying heavy treasure chests! No more hiding gold where thieves can find it! I can stash everything in a scroll and keep it all to myself!"
Blizz sighed. "So basically, you want a bottomless treasure chest."
Nami nodded enthusiastically.
"…And you expect me to just make one for you?"
Her sweetest smile appeared. "Of course! That's what friends are for, right?"
Blizz crossed his arms. "And what do I get in return?"
She patted his shoulder. "The honor of knowing you've contributed to the financial security of this crew."
Blizz deadpanned. "That's not a reward."
Nami smirked. "Fine, fine. I'll cut you in—a small percentage, of course."
"How small?"
"…We'll negotiate later."
Blizz sighed, shaking his head. "Unbelievable."
But despite himself, he couldn't help but smirk.
At this rate, Nami was going to end up with dozens of storage scrolls—and an even bigger hoard of treasure.
⸻
Approaching Whiskey Peak
After hours of sailing, the silhouette of an island appeared on the horizon. Whiskey Peak.
Nami adjusted her hat. "Looks like we're almost there."
The closer they got, the clearer the island became. Whiskey Peak wasn't just a normal town—it was filled with towering cacti, their massive spikes resembling gravestones. The town itself sat between them, seemingly welcoming, with banners waving in the wind.
Usopp grinned. "Finally! A place where we can rest!"
Luffy pumped his fists. "Food!!"
Sanji fixed his tie. "And ladies."
Zoro, however, remained wary. "This still seems too easy."
Blizz nodded. "Yeah. A town that 'welcomes' pirates? That just screams trap."
Luffy tilted his head. "Huh? A trap?"
Nami rolled her eyes. "Does it really matter? As long as we get free food and drinks, I don't care."
As they docked at the port, a crowd of people rushed to greet them.
"Welcome, brave pirates!" a man with a thick mustache cheered. "You are honored guests of Whiskey Peak!"
Blizz, leaning casually against the mast, watched the island with a contemplative look. He had his hand resting on his chin, thinking about his next move.
Luffy grinned at him. "Blizz! You coming?"
Blizz hesitated for a moment, then shook his head, his smirk never leaving his face. "I think I'll stay behind on the ship this time."
Luffy blinked. "What? You're not coming with us?"
Blizz shrugged nonchalantly, his eyes scanning the horizon. "Nah, I've got things to work on. Some training I need to focus on. You guys go ahead. I'll keep an eye on the ship."
Blizz gave a playful grin. "I'll be fine. You guys enjoy yourselves. You might even find some new friends."
He didn't mention that his decision wasn't just about training. Whiskey Peak was known for its bounty hunters, and he'd rather not get involved with whatever strange situations they might find themselves in. His training wasn't just a convenient excuse—it was an opportunity to refine his skills without distractions.
But, of course, there was another reason. He was also aware of the Pirate Hunter, the one who had been hunting down pirates in the area for a while. If anyone from the crew drew attention, it would be Luffy and his loud, energetic personality. The Pirate Hunter would likely keep an eye on Blizz if he followed them, and Blizz wasn't exactly in the mood to be the center of attention just yet.
Luffy scratched the back of his head, clearly confused. "Alright, Blizz, suit yourself!"
With a final wave, the rest of the crew disembarked, heading toward the island to see what awaited them in Whiskey Peak.
Blizz watched them go for a moment, his smirk fading as his focus returned to the ship and the training he had planned for the day.
As the sound of the crew's voices faded away, Blizz let out a quiet sigh. He sat down on the deck, crossing his legs and closing his eyes. Time to get to work.
Blizz sat cross-legged near the ship's mast, his arms resting on his knees as he gazed out at the open ocean. The gentle sound of waves filled the air, but his mind was anything but calm.
He had come far already—his control over chakra had improved significantly, and walking on water felt as natural as breathing now. But that wasn't enough. Not if he wanted to keep up with this crew… and survive the battles ahead.
"I need to get stronger. Fast."
His thoughts ran through everything he had been working on.
Elemental Jutsu. He had access to multiple elements, but trying to master all of them at once would take years. He didn't have that kind of time. He needed to focus.
"Water and lighting for now. Those are my best options right now."
Water was the obvious choice. He was constantly surrounded by the sea. If he could refine his water techniques, he'd never have to worry about being at a disadvantage in a fight. He could control the battlefield itself.
Lightning It was fast, direct, and capable of overwhelming any opponent before they even had a chance to react. With it he could turn his attacks into something instantaneous—like a sudden strike, impossible to predict, too quick to dodge.
His thoughts focused on the potential of the element. The way it could surge through his body, faster than he could ever move. The lightning would be his edge—his speed. It could make him faster, sharper, and deadlier.
"If I can master both, I'll be nearly unstoppable on the ocean."
But elements weren't everything.
There was something more important—chakra control.
He had already mastered basic control—walking on walls, water, and even increasing his grip strength by focusing chakra into his limbs. But there was more he could do.
"Chakra manipulation… I should take it further."
He had read about the concept of chakra threads before. Ninja used them to control objects from a distance, set up traps, or even manipulate weapons mid-air.
"If I can create chakra threads, I could increase my precision, control weapons without touching them, or even restrain enemies in battle."
It wasn't an easy technique, but if he trained hard enough, it could become a deadly secret weapon.
He exhaled slowly, pushing his chakra out to his fingertips, trying to stretch it into thin threads. A faint glow shimmered in the air for a brief second… but then vanished.
"Tch. Not yet."
But that was fine. He would get it.
Then there was his physical strength.
Zoro and Sanji were monsters when it came to raw power. Sparring with them wasn't just a good idea—it was necessary.
"If I want to survive in this world, I need to be able to fight hand-to-hand, not just with jutsu."
Sparring with Zoro would push his speed and reaction time to the limit. Fighting Sanji would force him to increase his endurance and learn how to counter faster opponents.
And then… there was one more thing.
Chakra wasn't infinite. The more he used it, the faster he burned out. The only way to fix that? Expand his chakra reserves.
"If I meditate daily, I can stretch my limit. The bigger my reserves, the longer I can fight."
He clenched his fists. This was the plan.
• Master Water and lighting Jutsu.
• Learn Chakra Thread Manipulation.
• Train with Zoro and Sanji.
• Meditate to increase chakra reserves.
• Eventually… start carrying heavy weights.
He grinned to himself. It was going to be brutal. But it was the only way forward.
Taking a deep breath, he stood up and stretched, his body drenched in sweat from hours of intense training. The sun had dipped beneath the horizon, leaving a faint glow in the sky. He had done it—perfected his focus on the two elements. Water and lightning.
The memory of the new jutsu flashed in his mind, techniques that were now his, but ones he had no intention of showing just yet. The power was there, but for now, it was a secret. He smirked, feeling a wave of satisfaction.
"I'll save them for later," he thought, his gaze lingering on the distant island where his crew was no doubt already getting into trouble.
His fingers twitched, feeling the surge of chakra pulse through him. The surge of power was addicting, but something else caught his attention—eyes. Lots of them. They had been watching him for some time, probably since he'd started his training.
Blizz's expression darkened slightly, the grin on his face twisting into something more sinister.
"It's time to handle this in my own way."
His hand slid to his side, and he turned away from the ocean, a gleam in his eyes. He wasn't going to rush to join the crew just yet. No, there were other things to take care of. There were people who needed to be kept in check, and he was more than ready to do just that.
With a final glance at the island, Blizz stepped off the edge of the ship, his movements quick, his intentions clear.
with a soft crackle of energy in the air he disappeared.