As Luffy soared through the White Sea, his thoughts drifted back to the mission he had set out to plete.

  The Goro no Mi was only part of it. Uta was still out there, and he had to reach her before loneliness and darkness could take hold.

  Activating his Universal GPS once agai it guide him toward Elegia, recalg the distand time required for the journey.

  With his u u no Mi and the addition of his newfound thunder abilities, he covered miles in minutes, feeling the thrill of speed and power as he streaked across the skies.

  Occasionally, he slowed down, h above the White Sea to take in the breathtaking views—the billowing clouds that looked like they could stret forever, the light boung off the mist in dazzling rainbows.

  But each pause was brief; his mi pulling him forward, toward Elegia, toward the Red-Hair Pirates, and ultimately toward Uta.

  As the isnd of Elegia came into view in the distance, Luffy felt a sense of anticipation tinged with a darker resolve. He had already reshaped his destiny by taking the Goro no Mi, and now, he would set the stage of his pns into motion.

  "I'm ing, Uta," He murmured to himself, the wind whipping through his hair as the isnd drew closer. "Just hold on."

  With o surge of thunderous power, Luffy unched himself toward Elegia, a determined grin on his face as the jourruly began.

  ...

  The remnants of Elegia y before Luffy like a wound that had yet to heal, the sun's rays barely peing the gloom that g to the ruins. He felt the weight of loss in the air, the cries of a ohriving isnd now silenced forever.

  It was here, at the precipice of despair, that Luffy was determio find Uta, the only person who could give him the answers he needed.

  He approached the wreckage, stepping lightly as memories of ughter and music echoed faintly in his mind.

  Uta had bee behind after Shanks' hasty departure, and Luffy was resolute: he would bring her back to Foosha Vilge, away from the shadows of this destru.

  Gordon stood amid the ruins, his face a mask of sorrow and responsibility. The old man's presence felt heavy, burdened by the weight of loss and the secrets he kept. When he spotted Luffy, he straightened, a flicker nition crossing his weary features.

  "Who are you?" The man's voice carried a calm authority, yet within it lihe weight of tless untold stories, his eyes narrowing as they took in the boy standing before him.

  "Me?" Luffy replied with a light smile that seemed almost out of pce amidst the tension. "I'm Luffy, and I've e for Uta."

  At the mention of that name, Gordon stiffened, his posure crag for a moment. "Luffy...?" he echoed, his voice tinged with disbelief. Memories of Shanks and Uta flooded his mind, along with a name he'd never expected to enter here. "You... You're that Luffy?"

  His gaze hardened, a shadow of unease creeping into his tone. "You shouldn't have e."

  "I had to," Luffy replied, his toeady. "Where is she?"

  Gordon looked away, a pained expression crossing his face. "She's inside. But I warn you, Luffy… she's not the same. You might nnize her."

  "Why? What happened?" Luffy demanded, his heart rag with a mix of aermination.

  "It's what happeo Elegia…" Gordoated, his gaze fixed on the ground. "The demon—Tot Musica—took over Uta's body. It was like she pet. After it was over, she didn't even realize what she'd done."

  Luffy's fists ched at the revetion. "What do you mean she didn't realize? She o know!"

  Gordon's eyes darkened. "Shanks tried to protect her from the truth. After the massacre, he took the bme to save her from the guilt. He left her with me, but the damage was doa is lost, Luffy. She doesn't remember."

  Without another word, Luffy marched past Gordon, pushing through the rubble until he reached the crumbling music hall. The air felt thick with grief as he stepped inside, and there, in the dim light, he saw her.

  Uta sat on the floor, her back pressed against the crumbling stage, her eyes vat as they stared at the shattered remains of her once-glorious performance space. Her disheveled, vibrant hair fell around her face like a curtain, framing the hauntiiness in her expression.

  Luffy froze at the sight of her, his heart twisting painfully.

  "Uta," he called softly, his voice cutting through the oppressive silence.

  She fli the sound, her body trembling as she slowly turoward him. Her crimson eyes widened for a fra of a sed, but there was no joy in them—only anger arayal. "Luffy...?" she whispered, her tone sharp with suspi. "What are you doing here?"

  "I came for you," Luffy said firmly, stepping closer. His usual carefree smile was absent, repced by a look of genuine . "I couldn't just leave you like this."

  Uta ughed bitterly, the sound hollow and cutting. "You shouldn't have bothered. There's nothi for me now, Luffy. Everything's gone. My dreams, my stage... all of it, destroyed. And it's his fault." Her voice cracked, her anger spilling over. "Shanks... He ruined everything."

  Luffy crouched down, his gaze steady as he looked her in the eyes. "Shanks? What do you mean?"

  Uta's hands ched into fists. "Don't act like you don't know! He left me! He left me alone, just like he always does. He abandoned me, and now this—" she gestured to the destroyed theater around her, her voice trembling with rage. "This is his legacy! Destru, chaos, and pain. He's nothing but a liar and a fraud!"

  "That's not true," Luffy interjected firmly, his tone sharp enough to make her pause. "Shanks isn't like that. He wouldn't just abandon you."

  Uta scoffed, shaking her head. "You don't know anything, Luffy. You're just another kid he left behind. You think he cares about you? About me? He only cares about his stupid adventures!"

  Luffy's jaw tightened, but he didn't let her words shake him. "I know Shanks isn't perfect," he admitted, his voice softening. "But he wouldn't leave you unless he thought it was the only way to protect you."

  "Protect me?!" Uta snapped, her voice rising. "He destroyed my life! How is that proteg me?!"

  Luffy hesitated for a moment before speaking, his voice low but resolute. "I don't have all the answers, Uta. But I know ohing—Shanks isn't the enemy. He's not the reason you're hurting right now. You're bming him because it's easier than fag what's really going on."

  Uta stared at him, her eyes glistening with uears. "And what would you know about my pain, Luffy? What could you possibly uand?"

  "I uand more than you think," Luffy replied, his tole but unwavering. "I know what it's like to feel abao think you're all alone. But you're not aloa. I'm here. And I want to help."

  Her expression faltered, a crack appearing in her wall of anger and despair. "Why, Luffy? Why do you even care?"

  --- ? ? ? ---

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