Shanks swore—
If he ever challenged Ozz to a duel again, he'd be the dog.
He lay flat on his stomach, teeth clenched, a fiery ache pulsing from the massive bump on the back of his head. The pain made it hard to sleep at night, and he'd been grumbling nonstop about how Ozz had zero sense of restraint.
Not that Ozz seemed the least bit remorseful. In fact, not long after Shanks woke up, he showed up with Buggy in tow, all smiles and zero shame.
"Don't be so petty, Shanks. Taking a beating is a form of growth, you know," Ozz said, legs casually crossed, chin propped on one hand while the other tore into a massive hunk of meat. "Besides… it's not like I did it on purpose~."
"Exactly! Ozz helped you unlock Armament Haki, didn't he?" Buggy chimed in from the side, eager to back up his buddy.
Ozz smiled, but behind that grin was a quiet satisfaction.
Because the truth was—he had done it on purpose.
Better to rough Shanks up now, while it was still easy. In another twenty years? Forget it. With peak Conqueror's Haki, Observation Kill, Future Sight, and a crew that could rival the Roger Pirates themselves, Shanks' power creep was nothing to scoff at.
Gotta stack some blackmail material while he still can. That way, when they meet again someday, there'll be plenty to joke about.
Too bad Shanks didn't quite appreciate the sentiment. He turned his head away, sulking like a kid throwing a tantrum.
Unfortunately, the act of turning caused the swollen bump on his head to press against the pillow, and Shanks winced in pain, baring his teeth all over again.
"Alright, enough sulking. Meat—want some?" Ozz dangled the bone-in roast temptingly in front of Shanks.
"No."
"You sure?"
"Positive."
"Guess I'll finish it, then. Kitchen's out of supplies anyway. Won't be restocked 'til we dock tomorrow."
Shanks clenched his jaw. "I'm not hungry. Do what you want."
Grrrrr—
"Pffft…"
Ozz and Buggy both had to stifle their laughter, watching as Shanks' face turned beet red. Teeth clenched, he snapped, "Shut up! I said I'm not eating it! Even if I starve to death on the deck or get eaten by Sea Kings—I still won't eat it!"
"Okay, okay, chill out. I'll just leave it here. Help yourself if you change your mind."
Ozz shot Buggy a look as they got up and headed toward the door. Buggy instantly got the cue.
"Yeah, you rest up, Shanks. We'll give you some space."
They opened the door—but didn't leave. Instead, they quietly shut it again and stood right there by the entrance, pretending to have walked away.
Shanks, deprived of Observation Haki, didn't catch on. The second he heard the door close, he rolled over and lunged for the meat on the table.
He'd been dying from the smell alone. The only reason he hadn't caved earlier was pure pride.
Now that the coast was clear, he could finally eat in peace.
"Pffft…"
Just as he grabbed the meat and prepared for a well-earned feast, muffled giggles broke the silence.
He turned sharply, only to see two familiar figures leaning against the doorway, faces full of wicked delight.
His face turned redder than a monkey's behind.
"YOU BASTARDS!!"
"BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"
During this leg of the Roger Pirates' journey, Ozz had to admit—he'd had a great time.
By the end of 1496 in the Sea Circle Calendar, after Kozuki Oden joined the crew, the Roger Pirates followed the directions revealed in the Poneglyphs and returned to the Grand Line.
They crossed the Calm Belt, visited Skypiea, Water 7, the Kingdom on the Bridge...
It was a journey filled with wonders and joy—one that everyone deeply cherished.
"Yo-ho-ho-ho, yo-ho-ho-ho…"
Even with the end of the voyage drawing near, Ozz found himself in high spirits. These memories—this stretch of youth—would stay with him forever.
After coating the Oro Jackson at Sabaody Archipelago, they made straight for Fish-Man Island.
Ozz had originally wanted to explore the infamous auction houses, the slave market, and those "noble" Celestial Dragons. Maybe even ride one of those legendary bubble bikes.
But with Captain Roger's condition worsening by the day, there was no time for detours.
A particular street they passed was especially memorable—not for its scenery, but for the underdressed, sorrowful girls who had waved at him more than once.
After years of being stuck on a ship full of sweaty men, the sudden appearance of these scantily clad damsels made quite the impression. Sure, Lady Toki was aboard now, but she was a married woman.
A newly postpartum married woman, at that.
Ozz had principles.
Crewmate's Wife, Off-Limits.
Now a teenager well into puberty, Ozz felt the noble urge to "rescue" those girls in need—with his treasure, of course. Unfortunately, both Buggy and Shanks dragged him away before he could take a single step.
Sigh…
Fine. He could wait. Once the crew disbanded next year, he'd come back and explore to his heart's content.
Ozz glanced back longingly several times before finally giving up and heading back to the ship.
With the coating complete, the Oro Jackson slowly descended into the deep sea.
One notable discovery: While Roger and Oden were busy "hearing the voice of all things," Ozz tried to sense something too.
Nothing. Not a sound.
This made him wonder if that mysterious ability wasn't part of advanced Observation Haki after all—but something you were just born with.
Because if even he couldn't pick up anything? That said a lot.
Left to his own devices, Ozz sat by the rail, casually using his Conqueror's Haki to fish.
To his delight—it worked!
Turns out, with strong enough Haki, hunger would never be an issue at sea again. One glare, and the fish floated up belly-up by the dozens. He could feast as much as he wanted.
Even Sea Kings, known for their terrifying strength in the deep, would freeze in place at the pressure of his Haki—stunned, silent, ripe for the picking.
About half a day later, a stunning underwater island appeared before them.
Ozz, despite growing up in the New World, had never visited before. He was intrigued.
Once ashore, the crew received a warm welcome from the island's new king—Neptune.
Well, they kind of had to be warm. With Roger being one of the dominant forces of the New World, Fish-Man Island wasn't exactly in a position to say no.
During their stay, they also encountered a young mermaid named Shyarly—a shark-type, and the younger sister of Arlong. She'd later become famous for her fortune-telling skills in the original timeline.
But Ozz didn't care much. Whether it was a glimpse into tomorrow or a prophecy decades down the line, he didn't believe anyone could outdo his understanding of the future.
All Shyarly's power amounted to was foretelling the birth of Poseidon.
By the time they emerged into the New World once more, it was already 1497.
And that year—was the one.
The year the Roger Pirates reached Raftel.
The year they circumnavigated the globe and completed their legendary journey.
And the year that Ozz, the undisputed freeloader, got dragged along for the ride—
straight into history.