One Piece:I am King Luffy!

"Good! We'll intercept them at the Conomi Islands. We'll make sure these pirates understand the Navy's justice and defend the villagers with all our might!" declared Rear Admiral Pudding Pudding, rallying his men.

The Conomi Islands encompassed over twenty villages, including Cocoyasi Village and Gosha Town, all within the path of Arlong's advance.

"Sir, should we request support from the nearby 16th Branch?" a soldier asked cautiously.

"No need," the rear admiral replied after a moment's consideration. "This is merely a band of pirates worth a measly twenty million belli. Besides, we're known for being one of the elite forces in the area…"

There was no way he was going to share the glory—or credit—with any other branch. Though technically all under the Navy's banner, the branches often operated autonomously, competing for prestige and promotions. Pudding Pudding wasn't about to let another division steal his chance to shine.

He performed a quick headcount and boarded his battleship with the majority of his men, leaving behind only essential personnel for the base's maintenance. As an admiral-class ship, it was sleek and streamlined, far more advanced than Luffy's oval-hulled vessel, with enough space to carry over 800 people. After accounting for non-combat support staff, he'd mobilized around 500 fighters—a formidable force compared to Arlong's reported fifty pirates and handful of officers.

With confidence brimming, he sailed for the Conomi Islands. Along the way, he called Luffy.

"Hello, Luffy-sama! On this fine, sunny morning, I must report some unsettling news. A powerful band of Fishmen pirates is headed for your village. Rest assured, however, that we are en route. Justice shall prevail!"

"Oh? The Arlong Pirates?" Luffy asked.

"You've heard of them?"

"Those guys have been terrorizing East Blue for a while. It's hard not to know," Luffy replied.

"Fear not. We'll sink them all and rid East Blue of this evil!"

"Wait—don't engage the Fishmen at sea. Withdraw and set up an ambush on the island," Luffy advised, sensing Pudding Pudding's overconfidence.

Luffy recalled his grandfather's warning: battling Fishmen in their element was incredibly risky, especially given their natural advantage underwater.

Pudding Pudding paused, surprised at the boy's suggestion.

"My grandpa once told me—if you fight Fishmen on the water, be careful. They can sink ships and create deadly whirlpools, pulling helpless vessels down to the depths."

The admiral's face paled. "Understood. Thank you for the advice. We'll change course and prepare an ambush on land."

Shaken, Pudding Pudding ordered a full turn. He realized with horror that if his ship had been caught in such a vortex, not even his elite crew would escape.

"Change of course! We're heading to Cocoyasi Village to set up an ambush!"

"Yes, sir!" echoed the marines, their voices resounding across the ship as they set sail for Cocoyasi.

Meanwhile, Luffy, with his sword resting across his lap, sat at the edge of a cliff, his legs dangling as he stared out to sea.

"So, they're finally coming, huh? Time to see just how strong I am…"

Luffy mentally reviewed his skills:

Name: Luffy

Age: 9

Skills: Swordsmanship (Proficient), Marksmanship (Skilled), Iron Body (Mastered), Paper Drawing (Mastered), Tempest Kick (Practiced), Music (Basic), Painting (Advanced), Swimming (Skilled)

Special Abilities: Conqueror's Haki, Armament Haki, Fire Control

Unique Techniques: Secret Sword: Silver Tree Blossoms, Fire Fist

"I've worked hard to get stronger…" he murmured.

At that moment, Nami and Nojiko approached with baskets of oranges.

"Captain, aren't you going to train today?" Nojiko asked.

"Nope. I'm taking a nap!" Luffy grinned. "Nami, mind giving me a lap pillow?"

"Eighty belli, and I'll even peel some oranges for you!" Nami cheerfully skipped over, setting down her basket.

She knelt behind him, her legs pressed together as she let Luffy rest his head on her lap. Happily, she began peeling an orange.

"Nojiko…" Nojiko mumbled, watching Nami's overly affectionate gesture. Bellemere had clearly warned them that such closeness was reserved for boys they truly liked, yet here was Nami, letting money sway her.

Nojiko, carrying her basket, retreated to the house where Bellemere was busy dicing vegetables and grinding spices for dinner.

"Bellemere, being good at cooking really improves our lives, doesn't it?" Nojiko asked.

"Of course! I've mastered the art of satisfying you all. Seeing your happy faces at the table makes it all worth it," Bellemere replied with a smile.

"I'd like to help," Nojiko offered. She realized that if she could cook well too, she could help sustain their life even without Luffy's support.

Meanwhile, with his head resting on Nami's lap, Luffy simulated battle scenarios in his mind, piecing together a plan for the impending confrontation. Arlong was no mere thug like Higuma. As a veteran pirate from the Grand Line, he'd learned Fishman martial arts and fought in battles far beyond what Luffy had experienced.

Would it be wise to open with a quick barrage? Or save the pistol for close-range strikes? The sequence of attacks played through his mind like a symphony, each move linking seamlessly with the next.

Finally, Luffy called his grandfather. The call connected with a familiar purupurupuru sound.

"What's up, Luffy?" Garp's voice boomed over the line, interrupting his training session with two kids back in Foosha Village.

"Grandpa, do you think I can beat a Fishman warrior?"

Garp paused.

"So, Arlong's crew has made it to your area?" he asked, hearing the uncertainty in his grandson's voice. He knew that, despite Luffy's strength, his young body would face limitations against a seasoned opponent. After all, even the Navy typically enlisted only teens or older due to the rigors of training.

Garp's response was simple yet unwavering:

"Justice—will always prevail."

-Support me in Patreon for more chapters 35+ chapters in there 

patreon.com/LegendaryTL

Thanks!