3 Chapter 3: Hope

As the captain was about to exert his authority, the crew members cleared a space near the crucifix on the deck.

Buggy placed eight throwing knives between the fingers of his hands. "Bara Bara no mi - Clown Flying Knives!"

With that, Buggy's hands detached from his arms and whirled through the air with a piercing sound, flying towards Tom, who was securely bound to the crucifix. Tom struggled desperately to free himself from the ropes but to no avail. In his terrified eyes, the rapidly spinning knives left dozens of bloody gashes on his body.

Accompanying the knives were Tom's agonized screams.

The hands, carrying the knives, spun back to Buggy and reattached to his arms. Watching the suffering Tom, Buggy smiled with satisfaction.

"Bara Bara no mi - Clown Flying Knives!"

Just when everyone thought Buggy would stop, to their surprise, the knives spun once again and flew toward Tom, leaving more cuts on his body.

"Please... Captain, please stop, it hurts so much..." Tom, who was usually rough and tough, wailed like a woman.

But Buggy showed no intention of stopping. The spinning knives flew towards Tom, again and again, tormenting him for half an hour. By the end, every inch of Tom's body was covered in wounds, and he was barely clinging to life due to excessive blood loss.

The pirate crew of the Buggy Pirates, who were initially shocked, gradually became excited as they watched the torture. When Tom finally lost consciousness due to excessive blood loss, they cheered for Captain Buggy's "great" action.

Among them, the one who felt Buggy's "greatness" the most was Cabaji. His originally gloomy face now revealed a bloodthirsty excitement.

On a pirate ship, the captain was a god, a ruler, and the captain's will was, to a certain extent, the will of all the crew members.

Buggy the Clown took pleasure in tormenting the weak, which led to many crew members on the ship enjoying bullying the vulnerable. This, to some extent, contributed to Tom's fate, as he was killed by Buggy.

However, Kaminari was an exception among these crew members. He despised such behavior. Even as he grew stronger, he would never bully innocent individuals weaker than himself. Therefore, he has no remorse over Tom's death.

From the moment Kaminari was captured and brought on board the ship, he never considered himself a member of the Buggy Pirates.

He had initially hoped that his days would improve and he would experience less bullying after Tom's death. However, Tom's death couldn't change the fact that he was still a lowly shipworker.

Two more days passed, and they were getting closer to their destination, Orange Town.

On this day, Kaminari was ordered to paint the ship's railing. While he was working, Richie suddenly pounced from somewhere and knocked him and the paint bucket over, causing red paint to splatter all over him.

As Kaminari struggled to get up from the ground, he saw Vice Captain Mohji covering his mouth, laughing, while Richie stared at him with a predatory gaze.

If it wasn't Mohji who instigated this, then who?

When Mohji noticed Kaminari looking at him, his previously smiling face immediately turned serious.

The paint dripping from Kaminari's body continued to fall onto the deck as he glared at the person who was teasing him.

Mohji, annoyed by his gaze, said, "What's the matter? You have a problem with that, kid?"

Accompanied by Mohji's words, Richie let out a roar and bared its razor-sharp claws, trying to intimidate him.

Kaminari, however, showed no fear in the face of this man and beast. He continued to look at Mohji with anger and asked, "What do you mean by this?"

Mohji was the vice-captain and, apart from Buggy, he held considerable authority on the ship.

How dare a lowly shipworker speak to me like this? Where am I supposed to put my face as the vice-captain?

"Hey, what's with that look and tone? Do you even know who I am?" Mohji said arrogantly, and Richie let out a roar in agreement.

"I don't care who you are! I'm asking you, what did you mean earlier?!" Kaminari grew angrier as he spoke, refusing to back down as he stared at Mohji.

Hearing Kaminari's words, Mohji couldn't help but be taken aback. Does this kid have some guts?

Little did he know that since the moment Kaminari had made up his mind to assassinate Tom, he had already cast aside the fear of life and death. Rather than living in such humiliation, he would rather go all out against these guys.

When people no longer fear death, how can they be controlled by the fear of death?

But the anger of the weak still wouldn't intimidate others.

Mohji smirked, "Since that's the case, I'll let Richie tear you apart."

As if receiving a command, Richie opened its jaws wide, preparing to pounce...

Just then, a fist struck Kaminari's face, sending him rolling over the deck for over ten meters until he crashed into a cabin, finally coming to a stop.

Looking up, it was none other than Buggy the Clown.

As it turned out, Buggy had passed by and witnessed the altercation between the two.

Buggy crossed his arms in front of his chest and said to Kaminari, "Kozo, hasn't anyone taught you about respecting ranks? Mohji is the vice-captain of our ship. How dare you speak to him like that?"

In Buggy's eyes, there was no concept of right or wrong, only the distinction between the strong and the weak. Even if Mohji's lion, Richie, were to tear Kaminari apart, Buggy wouldn't help him.

"Bring this guy down to the lowest level of the ship and lock him up. He's not allowed to come out or eat for two days," Buggy ordered.

"Yes," two pirates responded and carried out the order.

After Kaminari was taken away, Mohji said to Buggy, "Captain, this guy has offended me. We should order his execution."

Buggy, however, casually smiled and said, "We're about to reach Orange Town, and soon we'll have our stronghold. I'm thrilled these days. Let's spare him for now. I'm a compassionate person, after all."

Hearing Buggy's words, Mohji didn't say anything further...

At night, in the lowest level of the ship's cabin.

Surrounded by darkness, Kaminari sat alone on the floor. Overwhelming emptiness, loneliness, and a sense of desolation overwhelmed him. He hugged his legs with his hands, his gaze dull.

Is this how it will be for the rest of his life? Enduring constant bullying, eventually succumbing to despair?

Why did he have to bear such a fate?!

As he sank into pain, what happened next ignited a newfound hope within him!

[Attention, host. The Naruto Ninja System is activating. Naruto Ninja Shop is loading, personal information is being read. Please wait...]

Huh?

What is this?

Kaminari, who was still immersed in his sorrow, was completely captivated by the words in his mind, listening carefully...