What if the Straw Hat pirates went back in time.

The Straw Hats' tiny boat bobbed gently in the waves as they approached the coastline. The rhythmic sound of water lapping against the hull filled the air, a peaceful prelude to the excitement ahead. Luffy leaned forward eagerly, perched on the very edge of the boat, his wide grin hinting at his anticipation. Zoro, ever the picture of calm, reclined lazily with his arms crossed over his chest, his swords resting by his side. Beside him, Nami sat with her arms resting on her knees, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon for signs of trouble—or opportunity.

Luffy squinted at the distant town, tilting his head in thought. "Oh, this must be that place where we first met that moron," he said, scratching his head as he struggled to recall the name.

"Are you talking about Buggy?" Nami asked dryly, shooting him a sidelong glance.

"Yeah! That's the one!" Luffy exclaimed, his grin widening as the memory clicked into place.

Zoro yawned, clearly unimpressed. "Morons aren't in short supply. Could be anyone."

As they neared the port, a loud explosion shattered the serene atmosphere. The sound echoed across the water, rattling the air and causing the boat to sway slightly. Smoke billowed from the town square, curling ominously into the sky, and debris rained down into the harbor.

"What was that?" Nami said, startled, her eyes darting toward the source of the commotion.

"Let's go check it out!" Luffy yelled, his excitement palpable. Before anyone could stop him, he launched himself into the air, stretching his arm to fling himself toward the chaos like a slingshot.

"Wait!" Nami called after him, frustration tinging her voice. "Don't just run off!"

Zoro grunted, standing and adjusting his swords with a resigned sigh. "We better follow him before he gets himself into real trouble."

The two hurried after Luffy, sprinting toward the town square. Luffy landed lightly on a rooftop near the square, his laughter echoing as he spotted a familiar figure in the midst of the chaos. Buggy the Clown stood at the center of the square, his brightly colored outfit clashing with the destruction around him. He barked orders at his crew while explosions from his infamous Buggy Balls sent villagers scattering in terror.

Luffy burst out laughing, pointing at Buggy. "I can't believe a moron. like you became a Yonko of the sea!"

Buggy's face flushed a deep, fiery red as his temper flared. "How dare you call me a moron!" he bellowed, his voice echoing with indignation. "Do you even know who I am? I'm the great Captain Buggy!" His eyes narrowed, and his lips curled into a snarl. "And what's this nonsense about 'Yonko,' you insolent pest?"" he roared, his devil fruit powers allowing him to detach his hand and fling it toward Luffy in a bid to catch him off guard.

Luffy sidestepped easily, reappearing behind Buggy in the blink of an eye. "Man, you're slow," he teased, his grin unwavering.

Buggy yelped in surprise, spinning around with wide eyes. "How did you—?!"

Before Buggy could finish his tirade, the sound of rapid footsteps cut through the noise. Zoro and Nami burst onto the scene, skidding to a stop just in time to take in the chaos before them. Zoro's arms crossed over his chest, his expression a mix of irritation and disinterest. "Oi, Luffy," he called out dryly. "Could you quit messing around for once? We don't have all day."

Luffy, standing in his usual carefree stance, flashed Zoro a grin but didn't bother to reply. His focus remained on Buggy, who was still fuming, his red nose quivering in outrage.

The Straw Hats barely had time to regroup when Cabaji and Mohji, Buggy's loyal henchmen, charged into the fray. Mohji led the assault, his weapon raised high as he barreled toward Nami with wild, uncoordinated swings. "You'll pay for this!" he roared, spit flying from his mouth.

Nami's eyes narrowed, and her movements were swift and precise. With a practiced twirl of her Climatact, she summoned a crackling charge of electricity. "I don't have time for this nonsense," she muttered. The bolt shot forward, striking Mohji directly in the chest. His momentum carried him a few steps further before his legs buckled, and he crashed to the ground in a smoking heap, unconscious.

Meanwhile, Cabaji lunged at Zoro, his sword gleaming as it cut through the air in a wide arc. "You think you're so tough, swordsman?" Cabaji sneered, his voice filled with bravado. "Let's see you—"

Before he could finish, Zoro was already in motion. His hand moved like lightning, unsheathing his blade in one seamless motion. The clash of steel echoed for a brief second before Zoro reappeared behind Cabaji, his sword lowered at his side, looking as if it had hardly been used. Cabaji froze in place, his mind struggling to process what had just happened.

Zoro glanced back over his shoulder, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Hard to believe I actually struggled against you back then," he said, his tone tinged with mockery.

Cabaji spun around, anger and confusion twisting his features. "What are you—"

Zoro didn't let him finish. With a swift movement, he used the back of his sword to strike Cabaji's neck, sending him crumpling to the ground in an unconscious heap.

The remaining members of Buggy's crew froze in place, their bravado melting into pure terror. They exchanged frantic glances before screaming in unison. "Monsters!" They turned and fled, abandoning their captain without hesitation, their cries echoing as they disappeared into the distance.

Buggy, now alone, stared at the Straw Hats, his fury bubbling over into pure frustration. "You think this is the end?!" he shouted, waving his arms furiously. "I'll—"

"Sorry about this," Luffy interrupted, his grin widening. His arms stretched back impossibly far, his muscles coiling with energy. "Gum Gum… Bazooka!"

Buggy's eyes widened in panic as the attack landed squarely on his chest. The force of the blow launched him skyward, his body tumbling end over end. His outraged screams faded as he disappeared into the horizon, the faintest twinkle marking his final destination.

Zoro sheathed his blade with a calm click, casting a glance at the fleeing crew. "That was pathetic," he remarked, his tone flat but cutting.

Luffy stretched his arms above his head, yawning as though the whole ordeal had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience. "That was fun," he said with a laugh, his carefree demeanor as unshakable as ever. "But we've got more important stuff to do."

"Like getting Usopp back"

The three turned back toward their ship, the chaos of the battle left behind. As the Straw Hats regrouped and prepared for their next adventure, the sound of the ocean waves crashing against the dock seemed to carry their resolve forward, guiding them toward the challenges yet to come.

The villagers cautiously stepped out from their hiding places, their expressions a mix of relief and awe. Slowly at first, then all at once, cheers erupted from the crowd, filling the air with jubilant energy. The mayor approached the Straw Hats, his eyes shining with gratitude. "Thank you for saving our town! If there's anything we can do to repay you—"

Before he could finish, a loud growl from Luffy's stomach cut through the moment. "Maybe some meat?" Luffy suggested, rubbing the back of his head with a sheepish grin that was as disarming as it was genuine.

The mayor burst into hearty laughter and gave an enthusiastic nod. "Of course! Consider it done!"

The townspeople quickly rallied, providing the crew with an abundance of provisions. Food, water, and heartfelt words of thanks were offered in abundance as the Straw Hats prepared to set sail once again. The villagers lined the docks, waving and cheering with renewed spirits, their heartfelt gratitude carrying out over the waves.

Back aboard the Sunny, Luffy stretched his arms lazily and leaned back, his grin as wide as ever. "All right, crew. Time to get Usopp back," he declared, his eyes sparkling with determination as the ship turned toward Syrup Village and the next adventure.

In Syrup Village, Usopp sat perched on the low stone wall outside Kaya's mansion, his slingshot dangling lazily from one hand. He gestured wildly with the other, weaving yet another of his grandiose tales. "And then," he boomed, his voice dripping with drama, "I declared war on the entire Navy! Just me, my trusty slingshot, and a bag of rocks against a fleet of battleships! They begged for mercy by the end of it, let me tell you."

A small group of village children sat on the ground before him, eyes wide with awe. One of them gasped. "Usopp, that's amazing! You're the bravest warrior ever!"

Usopp puffed out his chest, soaking in the admiration. "Of course! That's why they call me the Brave Warrior of the Sea!" He shot a glance toward Kaya, who was seated gracefully on the veranda. Her delicate laughter rang out, a mixture of genuine amusement and affection.

"Usopp," Kaya said with a warm smile, her eyes sparkling, "your stories are incredible. You've lived such an adventurous life."

"Well," Usopp said, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, "it's all in a day's work for a great hero like me."

The moment was interrupted by the creak of the mansion's heavy oak door. Kuro stepped outside, his butler's uniform pristine as always, his posture calm and composed. Yet, there was an unmistakable tension in his movements, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

Usopp's grin faltered, an uneasy feeling gnawing at his gut. His eyes darted between Kuro and Kaya, fragments of a sinister puzzle snapping into place. He rose abruptly, his voice steady and urgent.

"Kaya, don't trust him!" he declared. "He's been poisoning you! He wants to steal your wealth—he's a pirate!"

Kuro's calm demeanor cracked ever so slightly. His smile thinned, and his voice was low and measured. "What nonsense are you spouting now? Kaya, you shouldn't let yourself be swayed by his childish fantasies."

Kaya blinked, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Usopp… are you sure? Klahadore has been with me for years. He's always been kind to me."

Usopp clenched his fists. "I'm sure! He's just been biding his time, waiting for the right moment to strike!"

Kuro's façade crumbled in an instant, his polite smile warping into a sinister sneer. Slowly, he adjusted his glasses, the glint in his eyes cold and menacing.

"I don't know who told you," he hissed, his voice dripping with venom. "But this is the end of the road for you."

Before Kaya could react, Kuro moved with blinding speed, claws gleaming in the sunlight as he lunged toward her. Usopp's instincts kicked in. He raised his slingshot, the rubber taut as he released a perfectly aimed shot. The stone whistled through the air, shattering Kuro's glasses and leaving a sharp cut across his cheek.

Kuro recoiled with a snarl, blood trickling down his face. "You little pest!" he growled, his calm completely unraveling. "Do you have any idea how long I've planned this?!"

. "You're a fool if you think you can stop me," he sneered. "You're just a liar with a toy weapon."

Usopp smirked, a defiant spark in his eyes. "Maybe, but even a toy can hurt if the person using it knows what they're doing!"

Kuro lunged again, but Usopp sidestepped just in time, raising his slingshot. He fired, the projectile striking Kuro squarely on the forehead. The force sent Kuro crashing to the ground, unconscious. Seizing the precious seconds the reprieve offered. His mind raced furiously.

If Kuro was here, the Black Cat Pirates couldn't be far behind.

Scrambling to a pile of nearby tools and supplies, Usopp began constructing a makeshift slingshot, his hands working with frantic precision. Kaya peeked out from a window, her voice trembling. "Usopp, what are you doing?"

"Preparing for the real fight!" Usopp called back. He loaded a massive boulder into the slingshot, straining to pull it back. With a final heave, he let it fly.

Out at sea, the Black Cat Pirates lounged on their ship, lazily awaiting their captain's orders. "Where's the boss?" one grumbled. "He's taking too—"

The pirate's sentence was cut off as the boulder crashed into the ship, splintering the deck and sending the crew into chaos. Screams erupted as the ship began to sink.

Back in the village. "That should be the end of them" he muttered. Just then, a familiar voice echoed through the courtyard.

"USOPP!" Luffy's unmistakable shout rang out as he bounded toward the mansion, Zoro and Nami close behind.

Usopp's grin widened with unmistakable joy. "That must be Luffy!" he called out, his voice brimming with relief and excitement.

Kaya tilted her head curiously. "Are those your friends?" she asked softly.

With a sharp, proud smile, Usopp nodded. "The best friends you could ever ask for," he declared.

The group reunited, laughter and explanations filling the air. When Kaya offered the Going Merry, Luffy's excitement knew no bounds. Leaping onto the figurehead, he hugged it tightly. "Merry! I missed you so much!"

Kaya tilted her head, puzzled. "Do you… know this ship?"

Usopp nudged Luffy with his foot, trying to keep things casual. "It just reminds him of an old ship, that's all."

With heartfelt goodbyes and promises to return someday, the Straw Hats set sail once more. As the Going Merry glided through the waves, Usopp worked diligently on their pirate flag, a sense of pride swelling in his chest.

"Why are we back in time? Why are we here?" he finally asked, breaking the reflective silence.

Nami sighed, her brow furrowed. "We're not sure, but… it could have something to do with that strange storm we encountered. Maybe it's tied to a devil fruit power."

The crew fell into quiet contemplation as the Going Merry sailed toward the horizon, ready for the next chapter of their adventure.