Year 1493 of the Sea Circle Calendar.
"The hell is this guy Oden wearing? Is that… a diaper?"
It was a clear, beautiful day—perfect sailing weather.
The Roger Pirates had just resupplied on a nearby island. Among the items brought back was a newspaper, and now Shanks and Buggy were huddled together reading it, giggling and pointing. One headline, in particular, caught Roger's eye.
It featured the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates—an emerging star lighting up the seas:
The Samurai: Kozuki Oden.
"A samurai from Wano, huh? Looks pretty cool!" Roger grinned.
"Hideous," Ozz muttered, hoisting a barrel of liquor taller than himself onto the deck with ease and setting it down in front of Roger. "Looks like some kind of pervert, strutting around in that loincloth. What, is it for convenient potty breaks?"
"Now if you ask me," Ozz added, glancing at Barrett, "nothing beats the dignity of a black military uniform, right?"
Indeed, just a month ago, Douglas Bullet, the so-called "Demon Heir," had joined the crew.
And Ozz had been there to witness firsthand Bullet's dramatic challenge to Captain Roger. It wasn't exactly an even match—it was a one-sided beatdown.
As for the rumors floating around—how fifteen-year-old Bullet could rival the peak of Silvers Rayleigh—Ozz had only one thing to say:
"You really think I'm that gullible?"
Forget Bullet. Even fifteen-year-old Roger, Whitebeard, or Rocks D. Xebec wouldn't stand a chance against Rayleigh in his prime. We're talking about a man who had mastered all three Haki types, was a Great Swordsman, and wielded Conqueror's Haki coating—this wasn't some kid's game.
Buggy, though… the guy really had a gift for exaggeration. Just because Bullet and Rayleigh had crossed fists, he'd twist it into "evenly matched." Still, Ozz didn't mind. In fact, he kinda liked it.
He imagined future tales, ones where Buggy boasted:
"Ozz? That guy used to be on the same crew as me! Faced off against Vice-Captain Rayleigh when he was just nine—neck and neck, I tell ya!"
But in truth, Bullet was no pushover. He was a beast in hand-to-hand combat. Not long after coming aboard, he'd had a sparring session with Ozz.
And for all Bullet's strength, even he had to admit:
"The seas are teeming with heroes…"
Ozz's powerful use of Observation Haki, his bone-crushing strength, and his well-trained combat technique had genuinely caught Bullet off guard. Though Bullet remained confident in his victory, he also knew—this wasn't an opponent who could be taken down easily.
He didn't believe in camaraderie. But he did respect power.
So when Ozz struck up conversation, Bullet didn't ignore him. He just gave a nod.
A man of few words, but like any soldier, he agreed—military uniforms were the peak of style.
"Diaper? Bahahaha!!"
Roger burst into laughter at Ozz's vivid description. The wine in his hand sloshed and chimed as he doubled over.
Watching this, Crocus—the ship's doctor—frowned and snatched the bottle from Roger's grip. "You can't keep drinking, Roger! Your body can't handle it anymore!"
"You really want to keel over halfway through the voyage?"
Roger's face froze. Then came the pout. "Aw, c'mon, Crocus. Just a sip, won't kill me."
But it was no use. As the ship's medic, Crocus outranked even the captain in this regard. Roger could only watch helplessly as his precious liquor was whisked away.
Dejected, Roger slumped down—until something brushed against him.
Ozz had slipped beside him, moving like a shadow, and discreetly passed him another bottle from inside his coat.
Their eyes met.
Roger: You're a good kid, Ozz!
Ozz: No need for words, Captain.
Naturally, their little exchange didn't go unnoticed—Observation Haki had long since made secrets impossible on this ship. But none of the crew commented.
"Don't worry," Rayleigh said, arms folded as he watched Roger take a grateful swig. "That man isn't the type to be taken down so easily."
Re-energized by the forbidden drink, Roger sprang to his feet and roared to the crew:
"Everyone! Back to the New World!"
"AYE AYE, CAPTAIN!!!"
BIG NEWS! BIG NEWS!
The Roger Pirates—rulers of the New World—have returned to the second half of the Grand Line!
They've crushed several pirates with bounties over a billion! Is this the new Rocks?!
After receiving a terminal diagnosis, Roger had chosen to chase his dream to the end. And from that moment, the crew's journey had kicked into overdrive.
In just two years, they'd swept across the seas—seeking Poneglyphs, uncovering truths, and leaving legends in their wake.
Now, deep in the back half of the New World...
Ed War Sea.
"Ozz! Your bounty's out!"
On the deck, the usual raucous party was in full swing.
Buggy—still rocking his signature headscarf—came sprinting across the ship, waving a bounty poster in his hands. He nearly tripped over his own feet in excitement.
The announcement froze the party for a moment. Then, as if on cue:
"Look at you now, Ozz!"
"A toast! Let's throw another round of drinks to celebrate Ozz's bounty!!"
"HELL YEAH!!"
The sea breeze rustled Ozz's long hair as he stepped out onto the deck, juice bottle in hand. He gave the raucous crowd a deadpan look.
"My head's on the chopping block, and you guys are throwing a party?"
"Don't be such a buzzkill, Ozz!" said Shanks, already halfway through another mug of ale.
Shanks had always loved this kind of atmosphere.
Ozz gave a helpless smile and took the poster from Buggy.
The image was from a battle months ago—Ozz in mid-combat, his posture striking, his eyes glowing faintly red. There was a chilling power to his expression.
In a word: terrifying.
"Black Gun – Dotor Ozz"
Bounty: 139,600,000 Berries
Crimes: Heinous and numerous. Dead or alive.
"One hundred thirty-nine million?! Are you serious?!"
Buggy, who still hadn't drawn attention from the Marines (largely thanks to his lack of contribution), stared wide-eyed.
Sure, being part of the Roger Pirates gave Ozz a bit of a fame boost. And yeah, Ozz had a habit of sniping enemies from the back in battle, which made him a pretty hated figure.
And let's not forget that one particular Marine—a curly-haired officer—who always seemed to fixate on Ozz whenever Garp was in hot pursuit.
Still, a bounty over 100 million was no joke.
It meant Ozz—only twelve years old—was officially recognized by the World Government as a dangerous threat.
Shanks nodded. "He may be a pain sometimes, but I've got to admit—Ozz is the real deal."
Before they could say more, Ozz suddenly raised a hand to silence them.
His expression darkened as he looked toward the sky.
Shanks and Buggy followed his gaze, confused—until Buggy noticed something strange:
Black dots—emerging from the clouds above.
"…So, we couldn't avoid it after all," Ozz murmured, lifting the long black rifle from his back.
A dark aura of Haki seeped out, wrapping around the weapon as his eyes lit up with a fierce red glow.
"Ed War—begins now."