Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or One Piece.
(East Blue)
Two men were sailing the seas of East Blue in a small vessel that looked like it would collapse at any moment. One man, who looked to be in his thirties, was wearing a samurai gi with intricate design all around it. A long blue scarf was wrapped around his neck covering the bottom half of his face. Across his waist was a black obi that held a very deadly looking longsword that was black at the blade and had a flower-shaped guard. On his feet was a pair of geta sandals. His black hair was tied up at the end in a topknot. When he spoke it was with a calm even voice to his companion.
"Admit it Uzumaki, we're lost."
The other man sighed at that statement. He was a fairly tall, fair-skinned man with bright blue-eyes and spiky blond hair. Judging by his looks most people wouldn't place him a day over twenty five; those people would be wrong. He had jaw-length bangs framing either side of his face. He was garbed in a dark blue v-neck T-shirt and matching pants with a body mesh under the T-shirt, and a white sash around his waist on the outside of the shirt much like a tunic. Over that he wore an indigo cloak that was unbuttoned to the middle. On the back of his cloak was a red spiral.
"Well maybe we wouldn't be lost if I could have bought that log pose. But no, somebody had to blow through most of our money in less than an hour." His tone was filled with accusation that his shipmate didn't bother to deny.
"You are correct." His admission to the deed infuriated the blond man even more.
"Don't you have any shame Ryuma?"
Luckily the man named Ryuma was saved from the blond's wrath by the appearance of an island in the distance.
"Is that the place we're looking for, Naruto? Loguetown?"
The one named Naruto took in the island's formation with a nostalgic smile.
"Yeah, that's it alright. It's been so long since the last time I was here."
Ryuma let his friend drift deeper into his own thoughts. He knew all too well how it felt to be haunted by the past.
(Loguetown)
Upon entering the city, Naruto was bombarded by memories from the past. The last time he came here was to witness the death of a close friend. Shaking his head to free such thoughts, he led the way to a bar by the name of "Gold Roger Bar".
His skin crawled a bit as he entered the bar. It was filled with Marines. Cowards who wouldn't have stepped foot in the place thirty years ago now sat throughout the establishment guzzling drinks with their feet up. Naruto calmed himself as he and Ryuma made their way to the bar top. The old man behind the counter spoke without even looking up.
"What can I get for you?" His voice was old a cracked but Naruto couldn't help but smile.
"The usual for me and the same for my friend here."
Only now did the man look up at Naruto. Instantly his eyes shot open wide when he laid eyes on the man in front of him. There he was the same man who had frequented the establishment with Gol D. Rodger himself; Naruto "Yellow Flash" Uzumaki. And he didn't look a day older than the last time the old man saw him. He quickly ran and got their drinks and when he returned he launched into his line of questioning; keeping his voice low to avoid being heard by the many Marines around them.
"I wish I could say that I'm surprised to see you. But you always sis have a knack for shocking the world, didn't you?"
Naruto's reply was only a slight smile as he slowly drank his beverage. Ryuma had no such qualms about downing the drink he had been given. Naruto set his glass down as he surveyed the bar, finally he spoke.
"How have things been Raoul?"
"Different." The weariness in the elderly man's voice was substantial. Naruto had to agree with the man's view. Before the conversation could go any further, the doors to the bar swung open.
"Boy, do I need a drink!"
A young boy in a straw hat came and plopped down in the seat next to Naruto; the very one that Rodger used to sit in. Looking at the boy's grinning face, Naruto couldn't control the smile that worked its way onto his own.
"Hey, old man! One glass of milk, please."
All of Naruto's resolve melted away as he started laughing uproariously. The Marines of the establishment gave brief glances in their direction before going back to their own conversations. Obviously some people couldn't hold their alcohol. The young man looked to be confused at the blond's sudden outburst and questioned the black haired swordsman on the opposite side of Naruto.
"Hey, what's wrong with this guy?"
"I have been asking myself the same question since I met him. I have not come up with an answer yet." Ryuma said with a shrug. When Naruto had finally calmed down he addressed the young man next to him.
"That's some thirst you must have there, kid. You got a name?"
"Of course! I'm Monkey D. Luffy, the next Pirate King!" This drew the attention of the local Marines and made Naruto widen his eyes a bit.
'Monkey D. Luffy, huh?' He didn't broadcast his thoughts however.
"Well, if you're planning to be the King of the Pirates, then you couldn't have picked a better place to start your journey. This town was the birthplace of Gol D. Rodger. In fact, he used to sit in that exact chair when he would come in here."
Luffy marveled at the fact that he was sitting in the chair of the greatest pirate who ever lived. Naruto continued with his history lesson.
"Loguetown is also the place where Rodger was executed. The platform they used to do it is in the center of town."
Hearing that Luffy shot out of the bar in search of the place where Rodger spent his final moments. He offered Naruto quick thanks as he vanished deeper into the city.
"Thanks, Stranger-san!"
Naruto chuckled as he downed his drink. Slamming the glass on the table with a large smile he spke to his swordsman companion.
"Let's go Ryuma. Things are about to get interesting. See you later Raoul-san."
Raoul watched them leave with a smile on his face as he cleaned a glass with a rag. The bar was now empty as the Marines had left soon after Luffy did. Looking down at the counter he counted out the money that the man Ryuma had left; it was way more than the initial had called for.
"Things are about to get interesting again." He spoke to himself with a chuckle. The thought was enough to put a smile on the old man's face. Uzumaki D. Naruto was nothing if not interesting.
(Loguetown City Streets)
"Goddamnit Ryuga! If you keep blowing through money like this we'll never make it to the next island!" Naruto once again had to berate his friend for the swordsman's frivilous use of money. Ryuma merely shrugged at the statement.
"Money is made to be spent."
"Not like that you asshole!" Naruto threw his arms up in defeat. It seemed like the man would never learn how to be fiscally responsible; not that he was much better. The whole reason Naruto let Ryuma hold onto the money was because he had a problem with splurging on ramen.
"We really need an accountant or something. With the amount of money we go through, it's a surprise we're not on the streets begging." Naruto suggested as they made their way to the center of town. Ryuma replied as a group of Marines rushed passed them.
"Is that before or after we find our navigator? It has been a while since I saw her. I wonder how she is fairing." As the samuri placed a finger on his chin in thought, Naruto groaned at that thought of metting up with that particular person after being away for so long.
As the two finally reached the plaza where the execution platform was located they were treated to the sight of a squad of Marines watching the stage. Looking closely at the podium, Naruto saw that a clown had strapped Luffy into shackles.
"Should we help your new friend Naruto? He seems to be in quite the pinch." Ryuma's hand rested on the hilt of his blade as several of the Marines turned to face them for the first time. At hearing that the two men were friends with Straw-Hat Luffy, they readied their weapons. Naruto paid no mind to the soldiers as he stared directly at Luffy and replied to Ryuma's question.
"Not yet. I want to see something first." Clouds began to roll in as the clown pirate raised his sword in order to behead Luffy.
"Looks like there's a storm coming in." Naruto half listened as Ryuma spoke. The blond's attention was focused soley on Luffy's smile; the one that only those with the Will of D. could muster in the face of death. Naruto gave a hearty laugh that filled the entire plaza.
"That's no storm. Let's go Ryuma. I don't intend on seeing that man again."
"Halt! In the name of the World Government you are-!"
The Marines that were poised to attack the two men suddenly began to seperate at the waist. Fifteen men laid in pieces on the ground in the blink of an eye. Ryuma sheathed his blade after flicking the blood off of it. He spoke coldly as he and Naruto began to walk away.
"Never reach for blade unless you are prepared for death."
As the two made their way back to the ship, Ryuma was curious.
"So are you going to tell me what that was about? We went all that way and didn't even help the kid."
Before Naruto could answer they caught sight of the boy in question running away from the Marines with four other people that Naruto assumed was his crew. Luffy upon recognizing Naruto came to a halt to warn him.
"Stranger-san! You gotta get out of here; the Marines are swarming this town!" Naruto tilted his head to the side in amusement. He then leaned in close to study Luffy's facial features. After a second he nodded to himself in satisfaction.
"Yep, you're definitely his alright. Don't worry about it Luffy-san. I'll be okay or my name's not-"
"Uzumaki D. Naruto, the Yellow Flash."
"-That's right! And who are you?"
The person in question was a muscular white haired man, who was smoking two cigars at once. He wore a large thick white and blue specialist Marine jacket which he kept open with greenish fur lining neck, wrists and hem. Many cigars are strapped to the jacket which has the kanji for "justice" written on the back of it. He carried a jutte as his weapon and he also wore brown leather gloves, blue jeans with a brown belt and large military issue brown leather boots.
"That's Smokey-san! We gotta get out of here." Luffy answered Naruto's question.
Smoker puffed his cigar as he assessed the situation in front of him. Naruto Uzumaki was a threat to the Marines in the highest degree. He had once infiltrated the ranks of Cipher Pol as an agent for an unknown group. His last known bounty was 300,000,000 Beli; though it was retracted as the man had not been seen for fifteen years and was presumed dead. Now he had reappeared and by the looks of it he was starting to recruit.
"Tashigi. Is there a bounty on Uzumaki's companion?" The young woman Tashigi had chin-length, dark blue hair and dark brown eyes. She had on a blue leather coat with a furred collar and edge linings. She also wore blue jeans, black shoes and rectangular red spectacles. She spoke with a shaky voice as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
"N-no sir. But judging from his style of dress and that sword he's carrying, it can be assumed that he is the legendary samurai Ryuma the Dragon Slayer."
"Oh damn, I guess the secret's out." Naruto said in a depressed manner. He really wanted to hold off on reavealing Ryuma's identity for as long as he could. He didn't want to explain how he brought a dead man back to life; or how he knew that dead man in the first place. Ryuma didn't seem to mind his identity being discovered; he seemed more focused on Smoker as the man began to draw his weapon.
"You know, you shouldn't draw your blade unless you are prepared to die."
Naruto knew that there was little that could stop the swordsman once he had drawn his sword; he had many scars on his chest that could attest to that. The blond turned to Luffy who had still not moved on and spoke.
"Go ahead and get out of here Luffy-san, we'll hold them off. You wouldn't want to leave your Nakama waiting would you?" Luffy looked shocked for a moment before grinning like a madman.
"Right! Don't die here Naruto-san; you've got to live to see me become Pirate King!"
Ryuma reacted quickly as soon as he felt Smoker began to shift his movement for an attack. He was surprised when the man turned into a cloud of smoke and bypassed him heading straight after Luffy. The Devil's Fruit user didn't make it far before Naruto intercepted him and delivered a powerful pucnh to the side of his face.
Smoker, still in his cloud form, got up slowly after the punch and spoke with a growl.
"Out of my way Uzumaki. I'll deal with you later." Naruto saw that Luffy was out of range and that Ryuma was eyeing the other Marines as potential threats and decided to end this without any bloodshed.
"Yeah, that doesn't really work for me, Smoker-san. We've got an appointment with someone and she'd be pissed if we're late so we're going to take our leave now."
Naruto appeared in front of the Marine captain in a streak of yellow and without giving the man a chance to react, placeed his hands right in front of Smoker's face.
"Wind Release: Godly Wind from the Mountains!"
A large vortex of wind was brought forth onto the streets. It immediately sent Smoker and his troops flying well into the city and would probably knock them out as soon as they landed. Ryuma stabbed his blade into the ground to act as a deterent for the strong winds. His gi whipped about furiously until the technique died down leaving the streets empty save for the two.
"That's some technique Naruto. Nice to see you haven't lost a step." A new arrival spoke as he made himself visible to the two pirates.
"Who is this man, Naruto? Is he friend or foe?" Ryuma had long since sensed the man in watching over the battle.
"He's neither, Ryu. What are you doing here, Dragon?" The man now identified as Monkey D. Dragon grinned at Naruto.
"I came to see my boy off. Imagine my surprise when I see the former leader of my Assassin Division here as well. The real question is what are you doing here, Naruto?"
Naruto looked at the man he had once called leader and told him his intentions.
"I'm forming a crew. I still have some unfinished business with the World Government that can't be done from the shadows." Dragon ignored the dig at his preferred methods and lost his grin as he spoke.
"Kuma is beyond saving right now, Naruto. Its best you just come back with me to rejoin the revolution."
"I'm not going anywhere without Kuma. If you had any sense of loyalty to anything but your revolution you would help me."
Naruto knew this conversation was pointless. Dragon would not offer any assistance even after all Naruto had done for the man. He was proven right when most wanted man in the world responded.
"The goal of the Revolution comes before everything; even Nakama."
"If that's how you feel then we have nothing else to talk about." Naruto and Ryuma began to make their way towards the docks when Dragon spoke up once more.
"I see there's no changing your mind as usual. Do me a favor and look after my boy will you?"
Naruto gave no sign that he had heard Dragon but the man knew he had and that Naruto would honor his request.
"Until we meet again, Naruto." And with that the Revolutionary leader dissapeared in a gust of wind.
Smoker puffed furiously onhis cigars as he thought about what had just happened. One of the largest threats to the Marines had just reappeared after a hiatus for seemingly no reason. He was not looking forward to giving this report to his superiors. Looking at his subordinates he saw that they were still out cold from the pirate's attack.
"Mark my words, Uzumaki. I will make you and Straw-Hat Luffy pay for this."
Author's Note/Apology: I want to say sorry to those who liked my last story Past the Horizon but to me it came off as amateurish and not well thought out. I have actually planned this story out into arcs and I can assure you that this one will be better than the last. I hope that Lucky Seven Sampson still accepts my challenge for this new fic...anyway. Enjoy and review.
PS: There won't be any Naruto characters in this fic and Naruto will not have the Rinnengan. Also, all of Naruto's crew members will be from Cannon so you don't have to worry about OCs.