Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece, Naruto, or their Characters. One Piece © Eiichiro Oda. Naruto © Kishimoto Masashi.
Chapter 2
With the swift motion of my right hand, I drew my sword. My first instinct was to block. The force of the attack pushed me back for almost a hundred yards! I raised the edge of my blade upward and forced the attack towards the sky! A violent explosion erupted with a loud, thunderous sound. The sound shook the ground and my whole body. It's been a while since I've diverted a powerful attack like that.
Dust, fallen branches and the parts of trees fell around me. I thought about further attacks I could make, but it wouldn't be worth it to me to scrap with them. The landscape of this island would change too much. I buried chakra under the soles of my feet and fled. I could sense that there were two in pursuit. Both were running quickly with near shinobi speed. That was unexpected. None of them seemed that talented.
Each step I took caused the ground to explode beneath my feet. I was flying in the air with great strides, but it felt as if they would catch up to me within eight to ten minutes if I stopped in my tracks. I ran towards the seashore and took a large jump. I stayed airborne for almost a minute before falling into the sea. My escape was a success. I swam deep into the ocean, only a few feet above the ocean floor.
If the pursued me into the sea, that would be annoying, and they really would die by my hands. I'll cut their damn balls off before I would take their heads. I doubt they could walk on the water, or breathe like me. I swam for quite a while, swimming towards the other side of the island before I resurfaced. There might be people who would be able to see my white head stick up out of the water. I took a deep breath of fresh air before diving back in.
"Hawkeyes, were you able to see who it was?" Shanks stared out at the ocean.
"No, it moved too fast for me to see it. Even with our speed, we should have been able to catch up to it. Since the person stopped to deflect my attack." Mihawk gave the ocean a hard glare. Who was it that eluded us?
"Do you think it was a Fishman?" The red-haired captain turned to see what his former rival thought.
"The tracks in the ground left no foot prints. There are only the impacts from someone fast and powerful." Mihawk started to walk back towards the campsite.
On his stroll, he found a curious thing swaying on a fallen tree branch: a single strand of white hair. The strand was about two feet in length. It wasn't thick or coarse enough to be a hair from a Fishman. Could it have been from a mermaid? It would be impossible for a peaceful and gentle creature such as a mermaid to brood such a dangerous aura. It could it have been a half bred merperson. Their personalities are never as pure, and their swimming abilities are greater than the Fishman.
He kept the strand of hair clutched in his hand as he entered the campsite. The wood was being cut into firewood. There were a few men of Shanks' crew examining the wound in the base of the tree. The tree had five puncture holes, as if someone dug their fingers into the bark. The fingers were slender and long, the palm was small. It immediately ruled out Fishman. The person was right handed, but how could such a small hand produce such strength? Not to mention, deflect the World's Greatest Swordsman's attack?
I recalled the location of other islands I saw in my beast's vision. I didn't bother with transforming again. It would take too much of my personal energy, and eating a small amount fish wasn't going to be enough to support me. I want a meal. I have some money on me. I have gold and silver. There were some treasures to be found on the ocean's floor. Some gold coins being carried by small chests. Hopefully, this money would be enough to last me for a while.
I made the rest of the way on foot. I moved fast, faster than anyone who was riding on a boat. Even if they saw me running, I was only a shadowy blur. The sun was almost set for the day. The island I was headed to was larger than the last. The population was greater and it seemed like a bustling town for its residents and the boat people who arrived. My hair and clothes were already dried when I entered the town.
I pulled out a scroll from my backpack and released a seal. I pulled out my hooded cloak from the scroll. Being dressed like this wouldn't claim too much attention. I strolled down brick laid walkways, taking quick looks into windows and at the people who were in town. I wonder what this place is called. I could hypnotize someone and delve into their memories to find out information. All of the building seemed to be made of red bricks. The surfaces looked weathered from strong winds many storms this town must have experienced.
Walking around, looking for someone to kidnap, I found my mark. He was alone, urinating against a wall. How disgusting! I'll have to wash my hands after I'm done with him. After he was done, I sent a pulse of chakra to send his mind into a genjutsu. I touched his bald head with my hands and drove my mind into his. I saw flashes of his life.
He was someone known as a, 'Pirate'. He was a member of the, 'Wilds Pirate Crew'. His name is, 'Marty'. He's join this crew ever since he was sixteen. He's murdered people in unskillful ways. He was an orphan since he was twelve.
This island is called, 'Tarring of West Blue'.
The main government body of the world is called the, 'World Government'. The people who enforce the laws are called, 'Marines'.
There are so many boat people, how boring. But I wonder, what about that man, Hawkeyes?
'The World's Greatest Swordsmen, Dracule Mihawk; one of the greatest fighters in the world, the Shichibukai.'
I saw a foggy image of his face. The hat he wore and the large black sword on his back. He's one of the world's greatest fighters? Okay, I guess he's strong. But he's still couldn't possibly be stronger than me. In a one on one fight, I could beat him easily. He has scary directional attacks that could burn though a group of unprepared chuunins. But he should have any hopes against a skilled Jounin like me. I only fled to keep myself hidden. I had so many opportunities to attack. He's only alive because of my whim.
I released this man, Marty, from my grasp and I headed off to go wash my hands. Touching his dirty head was vile. But I needed skin to skin contact to read his mind. The man would regain consciousness in a few minutes. Hopefully, I did not damage his mind too much with my invasion. I implanted a false memory of him getting lost in the walkways to account for the time that had passed.
In one hop, I was on a rooftop of a three story building. I surveyed the surrounding area of the town. There were people out on the streets, people within bars and people within their homes. I jumped from rooftop to rooftop in an attempt to find a decent but unpopulated eatery. I stopped in front of an old bar on the northwest edge of Tarring. There were only a few people inside. I could smell some scents of cooked food, day old bread and beef stew.
Stepping inside, I pulled back my hood to reveal my face. The barkeep looked alarmed and in awe. He was as ugly as the last man I encountered.
"Welcome Miss." He couldn't hide his nervous tone. "Sit any where you like."
I walked straight up to the tall stools and sat down at the bar. He was only a few feet away, and I maintained my eye contact with his dark and frightened eyes. The other men that were in this place looked like tired old men, worn out from a short day. They all took quick glances my way, before turning their heads. It wasn't abnormal at all. That's how I've always been treated. I am a beautiful creature. My features are attractive to both men and women. My unique beauty could captivate nearly anyone, but it is instinct that protects most people from coming too close.
Humans, animals, insects are all wary of me. I don't mean to radiate a threatening aura, but since my soul has been joined with a demon's, I have no choice but to be like this.
I looked up at the barkeep, "Whatever you have is fine."
I reached into my pant pocket and removed a single gold coin. I placed on the counter before him.
He took the coin into his shaky right hand and said, "Right, of course."
The barkeep brought me a large bowl of beef stew and a plate of day old bread. I dipped the bread into the stew and ate it that way. The bread wasn't good, but the stew wasn't bad. It had chunks of potato and carrots, and cuts of beef steak. It was a bit salty, but that wasn't avoidable. The sea air made everything taste sort of salty. The barkeep brought me a bottle of reddish colored alcohol. I've never seen it before.
"What is this?" I said while point at the bottle.
"Spiced rum." He said with a confused expression.
"I'm sorry, I don't drink alcohol. Do you have any juice or milk?" I asked him hopefully. I didn't smell any juices or milk nearby, but it wouldn't hurt to ask.
"Nah, we don't carry that stuff. Usually pirates, Marines and bounty hunters alike drink rum." The tone of his voice was very, 'a-matter-of-fact'.
"Then, I'll drink water then." I sighed dejectedly.
He took back the bottle of rum and placed it back on the shelf. So boat people like drinking, rum. How tacky. The liquid should be smooth and clear like fine sake. Not reddish and dirty looking. How can people drink that stuff? A mug filled with water was set before me, along with another bowl of beef stew and a plate of bread. I wonder how much food that one gold coin buys me.
I ended up finishing fourteen bowls of stew and all of the bread.
"I don't have enough change to give. Maybe if you take some bottles, it will even out." The barkeep said with furrowed brows.
"I'll come back and eat some more tomorrow then." I hummed while exiting the bar.
My stomach was full! I felt satisfied with my meal. I headed off into the night, looking for a place to sleep. An inn was unacceptable. The scent of human body odor was present everywhere. It didn't seem like the inns took care with cleaning their beds. I grimaced and settle for heading out the forest of this island. In one of the tall trees outside of town, I burrowed a person sized hole for me to camp out for the night. My first day on the open sea was coming to a close. The day has been confusing, tiring and frustrating.
Before I fell asleep, I wondered about what I could do for the rest of my life. I'm thirty three years old inspite of the fact that I've been ageless since I turned twenty, I've been a shinobi my whole life. I might be able to get work somewhere, doing a menial job. I have my talents with medical ninjutsu and medicine creation; I could enjoy a job as a doctor. The World Government and the Marines looked interesting to me. It would be a good use of my talents to join a military force.
But I would hate to live on a boat. I don't want to become a boat person like those other boat idiots. Their bodies smell foul. And they are disgusting and indecent. And they all tend to be men. I think becoming a doctor would be fine for someone me.