Yo, this is the start of a concept i've been thinking of for a while now. The fic will be set in one piece world, in one piece terms so (no chakra etc.).

Thanks for giving it a go and enjoy :)

Sabody Archipelago

The doors rattled open to the dusty bar and inside, murmurs of hushed chatter died briefly as its occupants gazed upon the newcomer. The figure seemed to continue forward unperturbed and noise once again returned to the room after a brief moment. The old man behind the bar she had been talking to quickly darted his eyes to the customer before looking back down at the glass he was shining.

"Anyway, the Marines are getting restless, I think anyway." He continued, with a slight shrug of his shoulders.

Nami did not respond, absentmindedly mixing her coffee with her spoon, watching as the black liquid churned in the cup.

"Ossan, some sake please." A voice said, as a man climbed onto the barstool to Nami's right, not bothering to address her or anyone else in the bar besides the barkeep.

The old man went about the request silently, taking the moment to steal another cautious glance at the man.

Can never be too careful, she supposed. With all the rookie pirates running loose you never know who might come strolling through your door.

With a tap the bartender placed a small bottle of sake and cup on the bar top and turned his attention back to Nami, "You better be careful though lass, some dangerous types running about these days." He said as he slung a rag over his should and wiped his hands on his breeches before he leant on the bar with one hand and drew closer, "I here Strawhat Luffy is recruiting new crewmembers too." He murmured, shaking his head.

Nami's eyebrow rose instinctively, "Is that so?" the words left her mouth without thought and in the corner of her eye she noticed the man's head sat next to her turn slightly in their direction.

"Aye, it is. Exciting times to be a pirate, but not a humble barkeep." The old man laughed without mirth at his quip, once again shaking his head.

The humour was lost on her but she smiled out of politeness, taking a tentative drink from her coffee.

It tasted like earth.

"Oi, onna. You've been sat there by yourself for a long time, why don't you come join us?" A deep scratchy voice from behind her catcalled. The bar quietened and nervous eyes flickered to the orange-haired girl.

Nami let a breath escape her lips and took another sip from her drink.

It still tasted like earth.

"OI, you not hear me? You deaf? Huh?" The voice hollered again and the barkeep turned his worried frown to her.

"Ojou-san, you better respond. That's Monkey D. Luffy and the strawhats over there!" he hurried worriedly, "he has a 400 million beri bounty on his head."

Nami sighed wistfully. Why did she feel so old all of a sudden? Hell she was only 20 years old. She should be out shopping and getting drunk with friends. But no, she was in a dingy bar being catcalled by some wannabe pirate. God damn Luffy.

"I'm waiting for someone, so I'm fine just here," She said, not bothering to address the scratchy voice.

"Eh?" The man exclaimed, "Do you know who I am, onna?"

I wonder if Zoro will challenge me in another drinking competition, she absentmindedly thought to herself, remembering that had they left off tied at 5 apiece.

"I am the famous Monkey D. Luffy! Son of revolutionary Monkey D. Dragon!"

But that damn drunk had probably spent more time sleeping and drinking than training she assumed, taking another drink from her coffee. She herself was also a bit out of practice.

"Oi oi oi, you better listen to Captain Luffy, onna." A nasally female voice sounded and Nami felt the urge to itch her ears, "He doesn't take kindly to those who don't listen."

Footsteps tapped against the wooden floorboards and a hand placed itself on her shoulder. Nami turned to see a lookalike so offensive she almost dropped the lady right there and then. Her bleached orange tresses fell matted around a large oval head and big, muddy brown eyes stared at the navigator with attempted menace.

The ugly Nami cackled loudly and waved her pistol loosely next to Nami's head, "So, why don't you do the smart thing and come join the Captain for a drink, ne?" She drawled as a breeze of nasty, alcohol infused breath twitched Nami's nose.

"As I said, I'm waiting for someone." Nami really could not be bothered for this, it was too early.

"Oi you think Captain'll care? You better listen to what we say, onna, or you might lose your life before you know it!" The ugly Nami near-shouted as the misfit strawhats broke out into fits of laughter.

Suddenly, a loud bang silenced the bar as the man sat next to her slammed his cup down onto the table. Curiously, she looked as his hooded head turned slightly, revealing a single, blood red eye with a vertically slit pupil which seemed to bore into the whole room.

"Shut-up, ya damn stinky orange!"

Today was not a good day. Not only had his crew forgotten him on this god-forsaken island, but he also had a hangover from hell. Massaging his temples he walked slowly down a street of Sabody Archipelago.

"Probably that god damn beetle." He grumbled to himself, earning some worried glances from the rest of the street's occupants.

Naruto and his crew had been camped at the final paradise for a couple of days after a hazardous and round-about journey. As it turned out their self-proclaimed navigator was not so much of a navigator. Rather than relying on fact, geographical knowledge and equipment, she seemed to prefer a more risk approach to navigation. What she called chance and the rest of his crew called 'guess-work'.

He supposed it didn't matter, since they always seemed to end up in the right place eventually. But now, they had left. Without him. What sort of captain has a crew that forgets to check if he's on board!

His temples throbbed again and he winced, placing a hand on his forehead. Stressing really wasn't helping with this hangover.

"Well I guess there's only one thing I can do." He sighed, once again murmuring to himself, "Drink! Nothing cures a hangover like a drink!" Naruto laughed at the ingenuity of his sensei's sage-like advice as the people surrounding him edged away carefully.

Taking a quick look around him, he spotted an unassuming bar and made a beeline straight for it.

Pushing the doors open non-too carefully, he was hit by the stench of old oak, alcohol and blood.
Ah, smells like home, he thought himself, smiling with his head dipped as he walked towards the bar.

"Ossan, some sake please." He said as he pulled himself onto a barstool, taking note of the orange haired lady next to him and the rowdy misfit group of pirates drinking noisily in the corner.

After a short moment the bartender placed a small bottle of sake on the bar with a cup and he poured himself a drink. The old man resumed chatting amicably the girl sat next to him and he brought the drink to his lips.

Sweet release. Even if it was some hard, sub-par booze. It still did the trick. The alcohol warmed his belly and he could feel his aches and pains from the night before easing.

But man, those pirates in the corner were being really loud. Where'd they get off on being this noisy at this time of the day? Fuckin' hooligans.

Naruto took another drink of sake and tried to ignore the loud chatter in the room. The soothing effect of the alcohol seemed to be fighting against the noisy chatter. His aching head lay finely in the balance. Noise or alcohol, which would win? Could he drown the noise out and sooth his hangover or would the ruckus win and add oil to the burning flame that was his migraine.

He noticed now that the pirates were catcalling the girl sat next to him. Loudly hollering from across the room in an attempt to get her to drink with them.

Just drink, he told himself, don't let them win. He raised the cup to his lips again. Ah, much better.

He closed his eyes and a faint smile graced his lips. He could do this. He was winning. This stinking hangover was getting a beating at the hands of his old friend sake and there was nothing it could do about it.

This must be what serenity feels like, Naruto thought to himself. To be at peace, even in the face of chaos. Yes. He could hear it, the gentle sound of waves lapping against the shore and… a nasally, whining voice?

He frowned, eyes still closed. It sounded like an old man with a hoarse cold speaking while holding his nose. And it just, kept, going.

He was losing it. The peace. The serenity. It was slipping away.

A sudden chorus of rattling, boisterous laughter sounded and he flinched. His head throbbed painfully and the alcohol settled to a dull buzz that just added to his pain.

He snapped. Slamming his cup down on the table, adding a little haki for extra effect he turned his head slightly, noting another orange haired lady who looked like a beaten, sorry excuse for the pretty one sat at the bar.

"Shut up, ya damn stinkin' orange!" He drawled as silence overcame the bar.

The orange in question looked shocked and visibly recoiled at his words. Seemingly struggling to come up with a response.

"Oi ossan, do you know who-" She began.

He was having none of it.

"I don't care who you and your pals are!" He near shouted, interrupting her, "You're too noisy, and I've got a hangover than could knock out the Sea Devil himself." He paused wincing as his head throbbed, "And don't call me ossan! I'm younger than you ya damn mouldy tangerine."

"How dare you! I'm-"

"Oi oi oi, what did I just say? Zip it clementine." Now she looked angry, not that he cared. Taking another drink from his cup he noticed the bemused grin on the pretty orange's face and offered her a mischievous grin of his own, "Sorry for the noise." He said and she chuckled shaking her head.

"It's fine, I've had hangovers just as bad." She replied.

He let out a short laugh and raised his cup again, "You must have a deathwish, disrespecting my crew right in front of me." A voice shouted from behind the girl before he could respond.

"What?" He said, eyes dragging to the barrel shaped figure now standing confidently, pistol in hand.

"I said, you must have a deathwish." The pirate repeated, a nasty grin stretching across his face.

"Oh ok," Naruto replied, turning back to the bar and pouring himself another cup of sake.

Damn, I'm nearly out, he mused, shaking he bottle and listening to the swirl of liquid at the bottom.

"DON'T IGNORE ME." The barrel shouted, as the rest of the room seemed to echo 'he ignored him!'

Naruto sighed and looked back at the pirate who was now heaving in rage, clenching the pistol in his hand fiercely, "Look, I'm just trying to have a nice drink to soothe my hangover and you and your crew are being really noisy, so you could ya just keep it down?" He reasoned.

'Luffy' seemed lost by his response and spluttered incomprehensibly before regaining his composure, "You're dead." He ground out.

"No, I'm not." Naruto replied simply, before turning to the old man behind the bar who seemed to be expressing a strange combination of awe and fear, "Ossan, another bottle please." He said, waving the empty Sake bottle in the air.

A loud bang echoed through the bar followed by the shattering of glass. The straw-hatted barrel had shot the bottle in Naruto's hand, splaying glass all over the counter.

"Now that's just rude…" He grumbled.

"I'll give you one chance to apologise," Monkey D. Barrel warned, "Get down on your knees and I'll think about sparing your life."

Naruto blushed in spite of himself, "Oh sorry, I don't really swing that way." Pulling his hood down and scratching the back of his head, "and the floor is kinda dirty so…"

The pretty orange next to him burst out laughing and the pirate was once again rendered speechless.

Naruto sighed loudly, "Man, this is such a buzzkill." He drawled.

"F-fine, if that's the way it's gonna be." 'Luffy' ground out as he pointed his pistol at the blond.

Naruto raised an eyebrow, "You gonna shoot me?"

The pirate laughed, "No, not you." He snarled and swung his arm so that the pistol was pointing at the pretty orange, "Her."

The girl's eyes widened slightly as the man's finger began to squeeze the trigger.

"Stop." Naruto commanded simply as he unveiled his haki, and the whole room save the girl and the barkeep froze.

The fat pirate's eyes were wide and wild as he shivered, a thin veneer of sweat glistening on his dirty skin. The rest of his crew fared no better. All rooted in place unable to lift so much as a finger.

Naruto scooted off the bar stool and walked towards fake strawhat. He took a moment to size up the man before shaking his head as he plucked the pistol from the pirate's hand, glancing it over half-heartedly, "Only cowards use pistols" he murmured, mostly to himself before crushing the barrel in his hand.

Sighing, he lazily made his way across the room, turning before he reach the door, "You staying, Nami-san?"

The orange haired girl's mouth opened and closed, eyes darting between the still frozen pirates and him before she jumped off her stool and followed the blond.

Naruto smiled in spite of himself before a frown etched its way onto his brow. He needed to find a new place to drink.

Nami couldn't believe her eyes. She knew that these pirates weren't strong. They were weak rookies imitating her crew after all. But still. To freeze a whole room with just one's presence! Who was this guy? She watched wide-eyed as he took the flintlock from the fat Luffy's and looked it over. Then, shaking his head he crumpled the barrel in his bare hand, like it was nothing

This guy's a monster, she thought to herself.

"You staying, Nami-san?" She was snapped back into reality and she noticed the man was now standing in the door way, looking at her inquisitively with his deep, cerulean eyes. Hadn't they been red before? And wait, he knew who she was?

Realising she was staring, her mouth moving like a fish she hopped off the stool and followed the blond out of the bar.

"Man it's so bright outside!" He said aloud to no one in particular as he stretched his arms above his head. Standing next to him, Nami finally noticed he was quite tall, easily a head and a half taller than her. His blond hair was short and messy, proving an odd contrast to his lightly tanned skin. Three whisker marks were etched into each cheek and a magatama earing hung loosely from his ear.

"Oi Namiiiii" A very familiar voice called from down the street, breaking the girl out of her musings.

"Ussop!" She called, spotting the long nose and mass of black curly hair from a mile away as a large grin graced her lips.

"Ah it's been so long!" Ussop shouted back, waving as he approached her.

"I know, you haven't changed a bit!" She laughed back, before remembering the mysterious blond, "Oh wait, Ussop, this guy…" she began, turning only to see an empty space where the man was once standing.

"Eh, Nami? What guy?" Ussop queried, looking around the orange haired girl inquisitively.

"Oh." She paused. She didn't get to thank him, "Nevermind." She grinned back at her old friend, "So how've you been?"

Sabody Archipelago, Grove 13

"This looks like a nice quite spot." Naruto said aloud as he took in the strange, bauble topped building that sat atop a small hill. After the fuss at the last bar, he had decided to venture into one of the more empty groves in search for the perfect, anti-hangover drink.

Trekking up the small incline, the blond shrugged at the strange name of the place before continuing forward, swinging the door open when he reached it.

The first thing Naruto noticed was the lack of poignant stench, a trait he couldn't decide if he liked or not. The bar itself seemed cosy, if not more akin to a rustic café, with small curved booths and a semi-circular bar in the middle.

The only customer sat at the bar, an old man with long white hair swept back behind his ears. He turned his head as Naruto walked in, raising his glass and nodded to the blond. Returning the nod, Naruto found himself a seat at the counter and sighed, resting his head on his hand.

A door opened to the left of the counter and a woman walked in from the back and smiled at him as their eyes met, before lifting the barrier to the bar and stepping behind it.

"What can I get you?" She asked, lighting a cigarette and taking a long drag.

"Sake, please." Naruto replied and the woman smiled, mirth dancing in her eyes. He assumed politeness wasn't a common courtsey on an island inhabited by pirates.

He watched as her short black hair bobbed as she span on her heel to retrieve his order.

"Haven't seen you around here before." The bartender commented and the old man across the bar snorted lightly before taking a slow sip of his rum.

Naruto grinned, "I'm not a local." He said as she placed a pleasant looking bottle of sake and a cup on the counter.

"Tourist?" She continued and Naruto laughed heartily.

"Can't say I'm a tourist really either." He poured the sake, still smiling and took a long drink, admiring the warmth as the liquid ran down his throat.

"A pirate then?" She pressed further, resting her elbow in her hand and taking another slow drag of her cigarette.

Naruto hummed lightly, "Not a pirate either." He said and a trace of a frown flickered across the woman's face, before returning to its calm, carefree visage.

"Marine?" She asked in a clipped tone and the man in the corner's hand tightened ever so slightly around his glass.

The blond paused; his cup inches from his face and placed it back down on the counter. He looked at the woman who seemed to be studying him carefully, then to the old man who appeared to be paying rapt attention despite staring at the glass of rum in his hand.

"A Marine?" He repeated slowly, as if test the syllables on his tongue, "Nope." He grinned and let out another hearty laugh, "You guys are funny, getting all tense like that." He scratched the back of his head and noted the room's two occupants eyes meet briefly.

"Well then, customer-san," the bartender began, a faint upturn to the corner of her lips, "If you're not a tourist, a pirate or a marine, what are you?"

"Sorry! Your three guesses are up." Naruto grinned cheekily, "You can buy more guesses at 10,000 beri a pop." The old man in the corner chuckled slightly and the woman shook her head, a smile finely gracing her lips.

Naruto watched the two for a moment, still grinning before turning to the old man in the corner and eyeing him curiously "So, what's the 'Dark King' Silvers Rayleigh doing hanging out in a little bar like this?"

The man looked at Naruto for a brief moment, his face stoic before letting out a loud bark of laughter "Shakky, this man's drink is on me." He said.

"Hai hai." 'Shakky' replied, chuckling lightly herself.

"What's so funny old man?" Naruto asked, eyes darting between the two.

"Nothing, nothing." He said with a wave of his hand, "You just remind me of an apprentice of mine."

"Really?" the blond drawled in disbelief, "I bet he's an idiot isn't he?"

Once again, Rayleigh faced Naruto, this time his features touched with surprise before another chorus of loud laughter echoed throughout the bar.

"Ara ara." Shakky muttered, still chuckling lightly.

"I knew it!" Naruto near shouted as he watched the Pirate King's first mate clutch his sides in laughter, "Why do people always compare me to idiots?"

"My boy, what's your name?" Rayleigh managed, wiping a tear from his eye.

"Naruto." He replied, still frowning, "Uzumaki D. Naruto."

"It's nice to meet you, Naruto-san." The old man replied, "the name's Silvers Rayleigh and this is my wife Shakuyaku."

"Just call me Shakky, Naruto-kun." The woman smiled.

"Ehhh, you're his wife?" The blond repeated in surprise, before leaning forward across the bar, "Ne, Shakky-san, what're you doing with a beat up old man like this?" Naruto said, his voice hushed but still loud enough for Rayleigh to hear him.

"OI!" Rayleigh shouted indignantly from across the bar and Shakky laughed softly.

"We're not so dissimilar in age, him and I." She said, playing with the cigarette her hand, a coy grin across her lips.

"Really?" Naruto asked, unconvinced, "Still think you could do better." He said, leaning back.

"Oi!" Rayleigh shouted again as Shakky continued giggling to herself.

The blond took another sip of his sake and grinned, "Man this is the good stuff." He raised his cup to Rayleigh, "Thanks for the drink, old man-san."

"I take it back! The drink isn't on me!" He countered in mock anger.

Naruto shook his head and closed his eyes, "Sorry, no take backs."

"Damn brat." Rayleigh grumbled as he took a long swig of his rum, still eyeing the blond.

"Ah!" Naruto suddenly exclaimed, getting up off his stool and rolling his neck while stretching his shoulders, "Sorry, Shakky-san, Rayleigh-san. It appears I'm needed elsewhere."

The husband and wife looked at him oddly, "Trouble?" Shakky asked, curious as ever.

"Probably not." Naruto shrugged, "My useless excuse for a crew have probably just realised they left without me."

"Thought you said you weren't a pirate." Rayleigh commented with a raised eyebrow.

"I'm not." He replied with a grin, "Don't have to be a pirate to have a crew." Shakky and Rayleigh watched as he fiddled with his pockets, seemingly looking for something, "Ah here it is, looks like your apprentice has some lookalikes that are recruiting, Rayleigh-san." Naruto said laughing to himself, "Quite hilarious really."

The husband and wife looked down at the recruitment poster now placed on the bar on the bar before looking back at the blond, poorly contained surprise written across both their faces.

"Anyway, I really must be going." Naruto said, giving a quick wave. "Ja ne."

He then seemed to disappear and a red flash, leaving nothing but an empty space where he once stood.

The two sat there for a moment in silence, staring at nothing while attempting to reel in the recent events.

"Another drink?" Shakky suddenly asked, breaking the silence.

"Yeah." Rayleigh responded before laughing once more, "What an interesting fellow, that Uzumaki D. Naruto."

A ship, somewhere outside Sabody Archipelago.

"Gah, Roshi! Put out that fire already, you'll burn down the ship!" A girl shouted from atop the crow's nest.

"Sorry, Fu-kun, I must have slipped." A calm, male voice replied from the deck.

"Don't give me that shit old man, put it out!" the girl replied

"Has anyone seen my pipe?" Another voice chimed from the upper deck.

"Now's not the time Utakata!" the girl cut.

"So noisy…"

"Roshi's burning down the ship, guess he must have slipped, baka yarou, kono yarou!"

"That was a good one, B-san."

"Hn."

"I never got to try the seafood on Sabody…"

"Hn."

"Has anyone seen captain?" the girl shouted over the noise.

"Nope."

"I don't think so?"

"I saw him… yesterday?"

"Maybe?"

"He was sleeping when we left?"

"Where?"

"At the Inn."

"So we left him!?"

"…"

"…"

"Probably."

"Gah he's gonna be pissed, someone call him!"

"Ara ara,"

"Stop laughing Yugito-chan!"

"So noisy…"

"I'll call him!"

"Thanks, Utakata!"

The man in question closed his eyes for a moment in concentration before opening them with a grin, "Done!"

"I wonder if captain will bring back some seafood."

"Probably… not."

"Seriously, are you sure no one's seen my pipe?"

"Did you leave it back at Sabody?"

"…"

"Ah I left it on Sabody!"

"Baaaaaaka~."

"Shutup, marimo!"

"Utakata lost is pipe, now he's in a… in a… strife?"

"Not quite, B-san."

A sudden flash of red illuminated the ship and all eight of its occupants paused and quietened.

"You bastards!"

"Oi Fu! Captain's back!"

"I can hear that, ero-bubble!"

"Welcome, back captain-kun."

"Hn."

"You left me behind!" the new voice shouted, "Wait, why's the ship on fire! Roshi!?"

"Summimasen, I slipped."

"Yagura, put it out!"

"Did you bring back any seafood, captain?"

"What? No!"

"…"

"Utakata you do it!"

"I left my pipe on Sabody!" the man cried in response.

"You left your… Gah!" The blond rustled his hair in frustration, "That's it! Turn the ship around we're going back! And someone please put out that fire."

"Would you like some tea, captain-kun?"

"Not right now, but thanks Yugito-chan."

"I would like some tea."

"Me too!"

"Hn."

"And me!"

"So noisy…"

As the ship lazily turned to sail back to Sabody Archipelago, the blond captain smiled amidst the rabble, shouting, flames and his throbbing hangover.

It was time tailed beasts made their debut.

So, whaddya think? This was more of a trial/prologue just to put out some feelers and introduce the concept. Hopefully you should have a vague idea what/who naruto and his crew are.

Ps. do people prefer titles/mannerisms to be in English or romanized japanese e.g. Strawhat/mugiwara or (slight spoiler) my bounty name for Fu - Rakkī Sebun/lucky number seven

Anyway, if you enjoyed, then please fave, follow and review, if you didn't thanks for readin' anyway.

Cya.