One Piece: Hashirama Template

"Hmm?"

Link wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but as soon as he stepped into the port city of Nanohana, he felt like someone was watching him.

After activating his Perception Jutsu, however, he didn't find anyone nearby whose physical energy stood out from the crowd.

It was unlike in Cocoyasi Village, where Link's Perception Jutsu had revealed the Arlong Pirates, whose physical energy far surpassed that of humans.

But Link's gradually sharpening senses told him that his intuition was likely correct; someone had been watching him just now.

In this situation, Link felt that his Perception Jutsu was becoming more and more useless.

He wondered if he could learn this world's Observation Haki.

But regardless of whether he could learn it or not, Link had to try.

If he could master this world's Haki, once his Hashirama Senju template reached 100% unlocked, he would truly be invincible.

Haki in the world of One Piece was a panacea, a power that could trump everything else.

Even if your physique isn't strong, as long as your Haki is powerful enough, those monsters can't break your defense.

Even the most bizarre Devil Fruit abilities could be resisted with Haki.

Conversely, your own attacks could easily break through a monster's defenses, ignoring various Devil Fruit-based protections.

Beings like Roger, Rayleigh, and Shanks were prime examples.

"Link, what's wrong?"

The observant Carina seemed to notice the change in Link's expression and couldn't help but ask.

Link shook his head and smiled. "It's nothing. I'll go buy some fresh water, and then we'll head straight to Rainbase."

"Okay."

Vivi nodded forcefully, her expression suddenly turning tense.

While sailing on the sea, she could temporarily relax, but now that she was on Sandy Island, Vivi carried the heavy burden of saving her country.

She knew that whether they could thwart Crocodile's conspiracy and quell the conflict that had lasted for more than two years, all depended on Link.

If Link couldn't defeat Crocodile, the Alabasta Kingdom might truly fall into the hands of a pirate.

At this thought, Vivi's heart was in her throat.

Seemingly sensing Vivi's unease, Link smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, we will win."

The moment he said it, Link froze.

What's going on? Why does that flag feel so familiar?

Oh well, whatever!

Reassured by Link, Vivi recalled the elemental abilities Link had displayed on the ship back at Whiskey Peak. She nodded forcefully and smiled, "I'm counting on you, Link!"

With Vivi, a local, leading the way, Link and the others first went to buy cloaks, then fresh water, and rented some camels.

After getting all that done, they left the port city of Nanohana, crossed the Sandora River, and headed straight for Rainbase.

The Alabasta Kingdom has a very famous river called the Sandora River.

This river practically divides Sandy Island in half. There are three cities on the left side and three on the right.

Rainbase, Yuba, and Alumana are on the left; the capital, Alubarna, Nanohana, and Katorea are on the right.

As the four of them crossed the Sandora River and rode their camels towards Rainbase, a bird suddenly flew over their heads, dropped a bamboo tube, and it landed on the ground in front of them.

"What was that?"

"An attack? It doesn't seem like it!"

Carina and the other two girls didn't get a clear look at the object.

"So it wasn't my imagination."

Link, however, was now certain. Back in Nanohana, someone had indeed been watching them.

To be discovered right after landing on the island, it was most likely someone from Baroque Works.

Back then, to spare Igaram and the fast-running Mr. 9's lives, and because the bounty hunters could no longer provide him with experience, Link had indeed spared the lives of the bounty hunters on Whiskey Peak.

The news of his actions and his departure with Vivi would have surely reached the ears of both Crocodile and Cobra.

That bird didn't look like Pell, one of the kingdom's warriors. If it were him, he wouldn't have come just to deliver something.

So, it was highly likely to be Baroque Works, or more accurately, Robin's doing.

After all, among the top brass of Baroque Works, only Robin was a double agent.

At this thought, Link couldn't help but wonder what Robin had sent him.

If he saw correctly, it should be a bamboo tube. Was it intelligence?

Thus, Link dismounted from his camel, instantly appeared where the object had fallen, and picked up the bamboo tube buried in the sand.

Taking out the paper slip inside and opening it, Link immediately smiled.

On it was clearly written: "Crocodile, user of the Logia-type Sand-Sand Fruit. He can absorb the moisture from anyone and anything he touches. His power is greatly enhanced when fighting in the desert. His weakness is water."

"Link, what is it?"

"Huh? Intel on Crocodile? Who gave this to us?"

By now, Carina and Nami were on either side of Link, looking at the paper slip in his hand in surprise.

Carina pinched her chin and began to analyze: "To know so much about Crocodile's abilities and weaknesses, it's either someone who has seen the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia or someone close to Crocodile. Which one could it be?"

"It should be someone close to Crocodile."

Vivi, also beside Link, said with a complicated expression, "For the past two years while I was investigating Crocodile, I vaguely sensed that someone was helping me. Even my promotion to be Mr. 9's partner was thanks to this mysterious person."

Link tore the paper slip in his hand to shreds and threw it away, smiling faintly. "No matter who it is, once we've dealt with Crocodile and cleaned out Baroque Works, we'll find out who that person is."

After speaking, Link got back on his camel and continued forward.

Meanwhile, in Rainbase, Robin had also informed Crocodile of Link and his group's arrival on Sandy Island and their journey towards Rainbase.

"Perfect timing."

Crocodile sneered. "The Officer Agents are all here as well. After we deal with this guy, we can begin 'Operation Utopia'."

After speaking, Crocodile turned into sand and disappeared from his office.

Looking at the spot where Crocodile had vanished, Robin also began to set her two-pronged plan in motion.

In a room that appeared to be a casino's data archive but was actually the Baroque Works data archive, Robin took a single sheet of paper from countless folders. Relying on her astonishing memory, she quickly assembled the papers into a complete chain of evidence.

Robin didn't trust Crocodile, but she wouldn't blindly trust Link either.

Therefore, Robin had prepared for both outcomes.

If Link, despite her warning, was defeated by Crocodile, she would proceed with her original plan.

If Link defeated Crocodile, she would confess to being Vivi's mysterious helper and then hand over the evidence of Crocodile buying Dance Powder and his intent to usurp the throne to Vivi, in exchange for a chance to view the Poneglyph.

If both plans failed, it meant she was not fated to find that Poneglyph.

And if she were killed by Link, it would mean her adventure had come to an end.

After twenty years on the run, Robin was tired.