One Piece: Starting with Sharingan, First Mate Uchiha

night.

The sea breeze dispersed the smoke and stench of gunpowder, and the Baratie restaurant was once again filled with the aroma of food and lively chatter.

Although it had been through a major battle, the restaurant was now in a dilapidated state.

But to celebrate their survival and to express their gratitude to Luffy and his crew, a grand celebration banquet is being held on the deck.

"Delicious!! This meat is so delicious!!"

Luffy was clutching the meat with bones in his hands, his cheeks stuffed up like a hamster.

He chewed frantically while mumbling something to Sanji beside him, repeating it like a broken record:

"Hey! Chef! Your cooking is amazing! Be my partner!!"

"Glug."

Sanji sat on the railing, holding a glass of red wine, gazing at the distant sea, looking somewhat dazed.

He exhaled a smoke ring, his eyes wavering slightly, but he still steeled himself and refused:

"Stop talking nonsense, Straw Hat Boy. I've already said I have a reason to stay here."

"The old man broke his leg because of me... I won't leave until I've repaid the debt I owe this shop."

"and……"

Sanji paused, a glimmer of longing for his dream flashing in his eyes, before quickly fading away.

"Looking for All Blue or something is just a foolish dream."

"How could a miraculous sea, filled with ingredients from every sea in the world, possibly exist? I'm not an idiot like you!"

"Yes, it exists."

A leisurely voice interrupted.

Viktor sat on a chair to the side, elegantly holding a cup of black tea, and gently blew on it to cool it down.

"Nothing in this world is absolutely nonexistent."

Viktor put down his teacup, and his black eyes instantly transformed into crimson Sharingan, giving Sanji a slight glare.

"Buzz!"

Sanji's vision suddenly blurred.

The next second, the once monotonous sea surface suddenly disappeared.

Instead, a colorful, bizarre, and fantastical ocean has emerged.

Transparent flying fish with wings, giant sea turtles carrying fruit on their backs, schools of deep-sea fish radiating rainbow light...

Countless exotic ingredients, unheard of and unseen before, floated before his eyes, seemingly within reach.

"This...this is?!"

Sanji nearly dropped the wine glass in his hand, his eyes widened, and his breathing became rapid.

His chef's instincts fueled his intense craving for these ingredients.

"This is just one part of the Grand Line."

Viktor snapped his fingers, the illusion shattered instantly, and Sanji returned to reality.

Viktor smiled as he looked at the dejected Sanji, and added insult to injury:

"What? You're satisfied with that? Just spending your whole life in this small East China Sea, taking care of an old man with a broken leg? Is that what you call the 'way of the chef'?"

"If you don't dare to confirm whether that dream really exists, then it will forever remain just a dream."

Sanji gritted his teeth, squeezing the cigarette in his hand until it was deformed.

"But……"

"No buts, Sanji!"

At this moment, Usopp, his mouth greasy, leaned over:

"Our ship is super fun! Not only do we have a brave sea warrior like myself, but we also have an absolutely stunningly beautiful navigator!"

"A beautiful woman?!" Sanji's ears perked up instantly.

"That's right!" Usopp gestured wildly, displaying his first-rate boasting skills:

"Miss Nami has an angelic face and a devilish figure!"

"She has a gentle and considerate personality; she's practically a goddess of the sea! If you don't come, it'll be a huge loss for you!"

"Nami-san~~~?"

Sanji's eyes instantly turned into hearts, and his body twisted into a noodle shape, all his previous confusion and deep thoughts vanishing.

"Tch, you perverted kappa."

Zoro, standing to the side, curled his lip, gulped down the strong liquor in his glass, and looked disdainful.

Upon hearing Usopp's description of Nami, Victor, who was drinking tea, couldn't help but twitch his lips violently.

Gentle and considerate?

and……

Hearing another man so openly praising that little thief, Viktor felt a strange sense of unease.

"Hey, Usopp."

Viktor put down his teacup and looked at Usopp with a smile, "Can't even eating shut you up?"

"Since you're so strong, we'll leave the hard work of finding Nami to you later."

"Huh?!" Usopp was taken aback.

……

late at night.

The noise subsided, and Baratie returned to tranquility.

Inside the kitchen, under dim lighting.

Sanji was holding a rag, wiping the stove, which was already sparkling clean, over and over again.

His movements were mechanical and repetitive, but his eyes remained fixed on the dark sea outside the window.

"Still confused... this brat."

In the shadows on the second floor, Zhefu leaned on his wooden leg and quietly watched this scene.

A complex emotion flashed in his sharp, old eyes.

It was a mix of reluctance, relief, and resolve.

"Hmph! Since you can't take that step yourself... then let this old man give you a push."

Zeff turned around and waved to Paddy, Carl, and the others who had been waiting in the darkness behind him.

"Hey, you guys, come here."

"Boss?" Paddy and Carl came over, looking puzzled.

Zhefu lowered his voice, his tone serious:

"Listen carefully, starting tomorrow, we're going to execute a plan..."

……

Noon the next day.

As usual, the restaurant was experiencing its lunch rush.

"That old geezer hasn't seemed to have much of an appetite these past few days..."

Sanji carried an exquisite tray with a bowl of steaming, fragrant seafood soup on it.

He got up early on purpose and spent several hours carefully simmering it; both the cooking time and the seasoning were perfect.

"Hmph, drink this soup and let's see what you have to say then."

Sanji may have been arrogant, but there was a smile in his eyes.

He pushed open the door to the chef's office and placed the soup in front of Zhefu.

"Old man, dinner's ready. This is today's special thick soup."

Zeff sat behind the table, his face terribly gloomy beneath his tall chef's hat.

Without even glancing at Sanji, he picked up a spoon, scooped up a mouthful of soup, and put it in his mouth.

"..."

next second.

*Smack!*

Zhefu suddenly waved his hand and smashed the bowl of carefully prepared soup onto the ground.

The porcelain bowl shattered, and golden soup splattered all over the floor, steaming hot.

Sanji froze, staring incredulously at the mess on the ground.

"What...what are you doing, you old geezer?!"

"It tastes awful!!"

Zhefu suddenly stood up, veins bulging on his forehead, pointed at the soup on the ground, and roared like thunder:

"Is this what you made?! It's like pig slop! It's so disgusting it makes me want to vomit!!"

"Wh...what?!"

Sanji's eyes widened, and a surge of anger instantly rushed to his head.

As a chef, insulting his food is more unacceptable to him than insulting his character.

"Are you crazy?! I've tasted this countless times before serving it! How could it taste bad?!"

Sanji squatted down, ignoring the mess on the ground, dipped his finger in some of the soup that had spilled on the ground, and put it in his mouth.

It has a rich and delicious flavor.

It's absolutely perfect!

"Are you looking for trouble?! You old geezer!" Sanji stood up, grabbed Zeff by the collar, and roared.

"Looking for trouble? Humph!"

Zeff shoved Sanji aside and stared at him coldly:

"You've regressed, Sanji!"

"You haven't been focused on cooking lately at all! The food you make with such confusion and hesitation is an insult to our guests!"

Just then, Paddy, Carl, and the others rushed in from outside.

"Oh dear, I knew it! This kid's skill level has dropped drastically lately."

Paddy crossed his arms, a mocking smile on his face, and said in a sarcastic tone:

"The food I make is getting worse and worse, and the customers are all complaining!"

"That's right!" Carl chimed in, his eyes darting around, but his voice was loud.

"Sanji, you'd better not stay in the kitchen. You're just getting in the way. Get out of here!"

"What...did you say?!"

Sanji looked at his usually noisy but harmonious companions, who were now hurling insults at him.

"Do you want to fight?!"

"Fine, let's fight! Who's afraid of you! You're just refusing to leave, and you can't produce anything good. You're nothing but a burden!"

Paddy yelled and even shoved Sanji.

Carl's lips twitched involuntarily. Was Paddy's acting really that realistic?

The true feelings were revealed...

"asshole!!"

Sanji completely lost it and started fighting with several chefs, causing chaos in the scene.

……

"Hey! What are you doing?!"

Luffy happened to be passing by and saw this scene, and immediately became anxious.

"Sanji's cooking is delicious! Why are you bullying him! Uncle! You've gone too far!"

Luffy rolled up his sleeves, ready to rush in and speak up for Sanji.

"Smack."

Suddenly, a hand reached out and grabbed Luffy by the back of his collar, forcefully pulling him back.

Immediately afterwards, a hand covered Luffy's mouth before he could shout any further.

"Ugh?!" Luffy struggled to look behind him.

Victor leaned against the doorframe, a smug smile on his face.

Shh—Luffy.

Victor leaned close to Luffy's ear and whispered:

"Don't bother them. This isn't bullying."

"This is a poorly acted performance called 'fatherly love,' so let's just watch and see."

"Acting?" Luffy blinked, stopped struggling, and looked bewildered.

Victor did not explain.

His eyes, which seemed to see through everything, looked through the chaotic crowd to the old man standing in the eye of the storm, who was uttering the most offensive words, but whose hands, placed behind his back, were trembling slightly.

And the chefs who, though shoving Sanji, already had tears in their eyes.

"What terrible acting..."

Viktor took a small sip of tea, a gentle smile curving his lips.

"That stupid bird should be back soon..."

(Gentlemen! Please give me a good review... I'm begging you!)