Bonsatsu Island:
-x-
The sun was shining down from overhead onto the Going Merry as it continued its voyage along the Grand Line. Y/N stood in front of Chopper with his shirt off and was attempting to teach his newest brother a new technique.
"Go ahead, gimme your best shot," Y/N prompted his younger brother.
Chopper transformed into his big Heavy Point form, "Are you sure about this?" he asked.
"Of course," Y/N replied, "Go ahead. I'm ready for you."
"HEAVY GONG!" Chopper lashed out and swung at Y/N's chest.
"Steel Shield!" Y/N's chest and abdominal muscles tensed as the powerful blow connected. WHAM! Y/N skidded backwards but stopped himself and across from Chopper unharmed. "See? I withstood it."
"Yeah, but you also used it to withstand a bullet," Chopper pointed out. "And now that I think about it... you used that to block that point-blank cannon blast from Wapol, didn't you?"
"That's right," Y/N confirmed, "And that's why I wanted to teach it to you. It's a solid defensive technique."
"But I've got Guard Point for that," Chopper reminded him.
"I remember," Y/N stated. "Those Rumble Balls of yours are pure genius." Chopper beamed. "But they only last for three minutes. What happens when you're in a fight and you run out of time? I think it would be useful to know a defensive technique that you could use in one of your three base forms so you could fight without resorting to using or overdosing on Rumble Balls."
Chopper frowned when he thought of the side-effects of using two Rumble Balls in the span of a day then shivered when he recalled what happened if he used three.
"I guess I can see how it would be useful," Chopper reasoned.
"I taught myself this technique back when I was young out of necessity so I could survive training with Luffy and Ace, who were and still are both a great deal stronger than me," Y/N recounted. "But it wasn't until I became a member of the Whitebeard Pirates and trained with the Third Division Commander Jozu who hits really hard that I developed it to the point where I can withstand bullets and cannon blasts."
"And you think I can do that?" Chopper asked.
"Chopper, I expect you to do more than that," Y/N told him. "To use the technique I tense the muscles in my chest and abdomen and make them hard enough to withstand the attacks. In your Heavy Point form you're bigger than me, heavier than me, and more muscular than I am. If you can harden all those big heavy muscles I fully expect you to surpass me in this technique."
"You really think so?" Chopper questioned.
"Of course," Y/N assured him. "Now here's what I want you to do..."
Across the deck, Nami was sitting on a lounge chair with a book in her lap. Although she hadn't turned a page since Y/N took his shirt off. She tore her eyes away from Y/N and Chopper's training when she noticed their newest Nakama Nico Robin approaching.
"Hey Robin," Nami greeted her, attempting to be friendly.
"Hello Miss. Navigator," came Robin's rather formal reply. "Enjoying yourself?"
"Oh yeah," Nami answered, "It's always nice relaxing with a good book."
Robin glanced at the navigator's book and raised an elegant eyebrow, "You know, I'd be more tempted to believe you if that book weren't upside down."
"Eep!" Nami squeaked and blushed when she looked down and saw that her book was indeed upside down. Knowing that she'd been caught, Nami quickly attempted to flee the scene. She slipped out of her chair and headed for her room.
