AN: Hey thank you for the reviews guys!
For the pairing, there will be one, that's for sure, and it will be Naruto and a One Piece girl. I'm not completely sure which one, but if I'm still hesitant I'll do a Poll. But you can still say what you think in reviews. Anyway, that will not arrive in some chapters, so we have time. Apart from that, I hope you enjoy this new chap!
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Chapter 2 : The Vow
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After what seemed like an eternity, but in reality was only a few seconds, Naruto finally felt the solid ground beneath his legs. And when he was sure that they wouldn't disappear again, he turned toward the old man, and with a killer worth glare, approached him.
"Bring me back!"-he cried out. "Bring me back to Otou-san! I have to help him!"
"You can't do anything.."-the older man said, turning away.
"But you can! You're an ex-Admiral! You have to help Otou-san!"
"I can't..."
"Why! Why not?"-exclaimed the little boy, getting angrier with every second.
"He is dead...He is dead, Naruto."-Denkoku said, turning toward the blond, with tears in his eyes.
"No! Nooooo! I...I don't believe you! Bring me back...bring- bring me back."-the little Namikaze said, falling to his knees. No.. His Otou-san...he couldn't be dead. He was the powerful Thunder God. No one could have bested him ! He couldn't be dead... Not now, not after he lost his Okaa-san at his very birth. No!
"Argg!"-he cried out. "You could have helped him! If you had fought that pirate together, you would have won! And...and he wouldn't have...he wouldn't have...died..."
"We both would have died... I may have been an Admiral at one time, but I'm old now. And Shiki, he is one of the most powerful pirates in the world... We wouldn't be able to win against him, and you would be left alone...with no one to watch after you... But I promised, I promised that I would protect you... I couldn't go fight that pirate alongside Minato.. He made me promise... I couldn't let him down.."
"You should have broken the promise! You should have tried! But...but..you fled like a coward!"-the angry Naruto exclaimed.
"Shut up! Do you think it was easy for me to leave? Minato, his was like a son to me! I knew him since he was a mere little boy! I taught him all I knew! I protected him! I loved him! Do you think it was easy to leave him there...without helping? I would have preferred to die alongside him! But I made a promise! And I never go back on my words!"
The young blond hung his head, and he began sobbing. His father would have said that he was a little cry-baby, that he should stop crying, that men don't cry...but he couldn't stop himself. He was a seven years old boy, not a man...
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***.
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With an exhausted sigh, Denkoku stuck his shovel in the ground to his right. Finally he was done. After a whole day, he was finally done. Just looking at his handiwork, he could feel tears coming to his eyes, but he shut them and tightened his fists. He would not cry. With another sigh, he walked a few steps and sat down on the ground, just in front of two graves. At the right, there was the one Minato had done for his wife, after she died. Namikaze Uzumaki Kushina. Just to its right, the one he had done himself, for his adopted son, Namikaze Minato, The Thunder God. .
He sighed again. They had died too young. They didn't deserve to die at such a young age. The poor Naruto was still under shock of what happened. To loose the last remaining member of his family, before hie eyes, was a terrible thing. He hadn't uttered a word since that day. Damn those pirates for doing such atrocious things, and damn the World Government for letting it happen.
"Don't worry, Minato, I will make one hell of a warrior from Naruto. You'll be proud."-the old ex-Admiral said, before vanishing in a yellow flash from the top of the little mountain of Setoka Island. The island that was no longer inhabited, all its villagers having left for a safer place.
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***.
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"Hit harder! Harder"-Denkoku cried out, to the young boy that was furiously punching a large rock. "You can't even make a dent in it! Harder, I said!"
"Arg!"-Naruto, cried out, and began hitting the rock even harder, despite the unbearable pain in his fists, that were completely covered with his blood. The damn rock was still intact even after one hour of his furious punches.
Any other seven years old boy would have given up a long time ago, but he wasn't one of them. He couldn't. In those five months with Denkoku, on the mountain of an unknown island in the East Blue, he learned to never give up, and to never turn away from a challenge.
Right now, the old man had said that he had to destroy that rock with his bare hands, and he would be damned if he backed away. He will not stop, even if he would have to continue to punch the rock for a week!
The old Kanahaza watched his little protegé execute the exercise without questions, and smiled. The boy was remarkable, his drive was unstoppable. Then, he saw Naruto make a little dent in the rock, and a smirk forming on his young face, before he unleashed even more furious punches on it. Yes, he was doing fine...
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***.
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Slowly, a shadowy figure approached the bed with a young blond boy in it, rising a knife in the air, and lowered his hand in a stabbing motion, when suddenly, the boy's cerulean eyes snapped open and he uttered a single word..
"Tekkai."
And on contact with the boy's skin, the knife broke in two. Not loosing time, the blond used his bed to roll backward and deliver a powerful kick to his assailant's face, making him stumble back.
"Soru!"-the boy said, before disappearing from sight. A second later he appeared at the other end of the room, crouching horizontally on the wall, before jumping forward, using the wall to launch himself. And when he was halfway the distance, he made a motion with his legs, as if he was using the very air to accelerate, uttering a quite "Geppo". The result was remarkable, as he was launched forward like a bullet with his right hand outstretched.
The assailant smirked under his hood and prepared for the hit. When the young boy was only inches from him, in a remarkable show of speed, he took hold of the boy's outstretched hand in using his own velocity, launched him toward the wall. The said wall couldn't take on such an attack, so the outcome was logical... the boy literally flew through the wall, creating a large hole in it. The hooded figure emerged from the house through the door, and walked toward the boy, which was laying on his back, watching the sky with a frown. And before the assailant could utter a word, the boy spoke up.
"I should have used the "Rankyaku"."
"Indeed, Naruto. You can't attack someone with a speed technique, without knowing if your speed is really greater than theirs."-Denkoku said, lowering his hood. "Despite that mistake, the flow of your attacks was quite good."
"Say, Denko-jiji, why don't you allow me to use the Haki?"-the ten years old asked standing up.
"I already answered that many times, Naru-chan..."
"You just said I wasn't ready. But you never explained why!"
"It's better to learn the Haki after a certain...age cap."-the old man said, turning away. "After your thirteenth birthday, I'll start teaching it to you."
"Age cap? What age cap? Come on Jiji!"
"Shut up."-the Kanahaza said, tapping the blond on the head. "For that outburst, you'll do one hundred laps around the mountain. And, without using the Rokushiki!"
"Damn..."-Naruto sighed and began slowly trotting away, mumbling something about crazy Jiji's.
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***.
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A thirteen years old Naruto dodged a quick hook to his face by sidestepping, and jumped over the sweep that followed it. Not losing his momentum, he launched his own kick toward Denkoku's head, adding a great amount of Haki to it. The old man rose his left hand and countered the blow, but the force behind it actually made him slide several yards back. With a smirk, the blond launched himself forward with a "Geppo", and when he was only a few feet from Denkoku, he surprised the ex-Admiral by hitting the ground before him and splitting the ground under the old man, instead of trying to hit the man himself, making the said old man stumble. That was all Naruto needed, because the next instant, he disappeared with a "Soru" and delivered a powerful Haki charged punch to Denkoku's stomach, making him slide a good thirty yards back, holding his wound in pain.
Naruto smirked at his victory, but that was short lived, because not a second later, his grand-father vanished from view. The blond's eyes widened, and he cursed his stupidity and braced himself for the hit to come. And he hadn't to wait for long, because he was propelled backward after a quite painful punch to his face. And being unable to stop himself, he activated "Tekkai" to reduce the damage, and it was a good thing he did, because the speed with which he hit the tree would have probably broken several of his ribs. Damn it!
"Again, the same mistake."-Denkoku said, sitting on the branch of a tree a few yards away. "If you want an advantage over your opponents, always be ready with Kenbunshoku Haki. You can't just use it for a few seconds, and then drop it. Let's continue."
"Bring it on, Old man!"-Naruto exclaimed, before disappearing with "Soru".
"Smart-ass..."-Denkoku whispered, before vanishing himself.
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***.
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The both of them were seating outside the little house they had build from scraps, breathing heavily. They were completely exhausted after fighting the whole day. Naruto had finally began using the "Color of Observation" for a prolonged period of time, and triggering it was becoming easier.
"Hey, Jiji."-the blond spoke up.
"What is it, Naru-chan?"
"Can-..Can you bring me to Setoka?"-the Namikaze asked, still staring in the distance.
Denkoku nodded, and stood up, followed by the boy. And after putting his right hand on Naruto's shoulder, they disappeared in a yellow flash.
Once they touched the ground, the blond walked forward and stooped before two tombs. His parents' tombs.. It has been six years. Six years since he hadn't put a foot on this island. He sighed and sat down, between the two graves. Oh how he missed them. Words couldn't describe his feelings... But he was glad that he wasn't completely alone. And he would never thank Denko-jiji enough for all he had done for him. But still one thing was unaccomplished...
A look of determination was set up on his face, as he took a three-bladed dagger from his jacket, the one his dad had made himself, and outstretched his left hand forward.
"Okaa-san, Otou-san, I swear on your tombs.."-he began, and with a swift motion with the dagger, cut a large gash on his left hand, not showing any sign of pain. "..that I will avenge you. I will not stop until those that took you away from me, pay, with their blood." Then he stood up and closed his eyes. "I will not let anyone repeat what happened on this Island. Never again..."-and with that he turned around, and without looking back walked away.
And after giving a nod to the old man, teacher and apprentice disappeared in yet another yellow flash.
That day will mark the whole world...
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***.
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A fifteen years old Naruto was sitting in the Lotus position, meditating.
Many things had changed since he left Setoka Island. He now was 5'6'' feet, his blond hair let loose stopping at his shoulders, his cerulean eyes were emotionless, his face was angular and handsome, having lost the baby-fat. His body was lean and ripples of muscles could be seen under his tight shirt. But most of all, he had matured mentally. He was very serious and cunning, and every opponent would be taken with same extreme caution. Underestimating opponents could only lead to defeat. And he will not be beaten! He'll make sure of it.
He had mastered all the Seven Rokushiki techniques and the Kenbunshoku and Busoshoku Haki. The Haoshoku Haki was harder to control, he could only unleash a wave of it around him. Concentrating it in one point was too hard, even if he never stopped trying. Denko-jiji couldn't help him on this one. The Haoshoku Haki was quite rare, to say the last. Well he had to find it by himself.
Suddenly he sensed a presence, a very well canceled presence. But he could still sense it nonetheless.
"What is it, Jiji?"-the young man asked, without opening his eyes.
"Come, I have things to show you."-Denkoku said, and without waiting for an answer walked away.
That surprised the young blond, because his gramps would always compliment his good use of the Kenbunshoku Haki, and for him to walk away without even waiting for a reply was even stranger. Whatever it was, that matter was serious.
Naruto stood up and walked back to their house. When he entered the living-room, he saw Denkoku seated behind the dining table, some items spread on the said table.
Without saying a thing, the blond sat down across the old man, and waited for him to begin. Finally the ex-Admiral began.
"I know who is responsible for the attack on Setoka, eight years ago."-he said, making Naruto frown in confusion. "I knew it since your eleventh birthday, but saying it at the time would have been useless."-he continued.
"What do you mean, responsible? That Golden Lion bastard was the one that destroyed the island."
"That may be true, but you don't know the whole story."-the old man continued. "The mission Minato was sent to was, to retrieve twenty three Devils Fruits..."-he said, making the blond's eyes go wide. "After eight months, your father's crew found the last one of them and began returning toward Marineford. But during their way back, the man that sent them on this very mission, called them and informed them that they have to return to Setoka Island, and wait there with the cargo. Saying that his men will come to retrieve it."
"But they never came...instead, Shiki attacked the island..."-Naruto whispered, not believing what he was hearing. "Do-do you mean, that man...the one that sent them on the mission, was working with Shiki?"
"Probably.."
"But...why?"-the young man asked.
"I think, he wanted Shiki to have those Fruits. I don't really know why, God alone can know what was going on, in the twisted minds of those working in the World Government."-Denkoku said with disgust.
"But Shiki didn't get them, did he?"
"No.. Your father destroyed them before Shiki arrived."
"You said you know who that man is... Who is he?"-the Namikaze asked, a dangerous glint appearing in his eyes.
"His name is Joishiro Okano. He works in the World Government, he is one of the Dogs under the command of the Tenryubito."-explained the old man.
"The World Government you say?"-the blond whispered, dangerously.
"Naruto,...don't act on anger. Think deeply about what you want to do."
"You know perfectly well, that the moment you said that this man was responsible for my father's death, his fate was sealed!"-the young man snapped back. "You promised to not stop me, once the time came. Well the time 'has' come..."-Naruto replied standing up. He began pacing in the living-room when suddenly he stopped dead...
"Hn...so that was the reason you said that I didn't need more than being a Vice-Captain."-stated the blond. "You had said that every Vice-Captain had a special duty...That once in a while the Fleet Admiral would assign a Vice-Captain to guard a member of the World Government..." Naruto laughed a mirthless laugh, and a predatory smirk formed on his face. "You knew from the beginning...you Old bastard."
The same smirk appeared on Denkoku's face, as he nodded.
"Well, then I have a double reason to become a Marine."-the Namikaze said. "What else?"
"I will teach you the Hiraishin.."- the ex-Admiral simply stated, causing the blond's smirk to widen.
"Finally..."
"Sit down, that will take time."-the old man said, to which the young man nodded and complied. "As you know, the Hiraishin is a space-time traveling technique. Your father discovered it by accident, to say the truth, when he was using the Busoshoku Haki to boost his speed. You already know how good he was with the Haki, so, it was no surprise when the speed at which he could move got greater and greater. Well one of those days, his speed surpassed every law of physics, and he entered a "pseudo" space-time where everything was frozen apart from him. The problem was that he couldn't control where he was going or how much time he reminded in that space-time. So every time, he was found completely exhausted in many different places. Not only a mile or two away, no, sometimes he wound up on another islands, or worse in the ocean. Anyway, I advised him to see someone knowledgeable. And he as I advised, he asked Vegapunk for help. The scientist accepted of course, having discovered something new. He, along with Minato, created a little special device, that allowed Minato to guide his energy toward that device when he was in the space-time. Vegapunk created thousands of those things, but your father made him promise to not reveal the secret of his now newly named Hiraishin. A promise that he still keeps."-Denkoku explained, and opened one of the wooden boxes on the table, showing its contents.
Naruto took one of them and watched it closely. It looked like a little chip, with NM, engraved in it.
"NM..like Namikaze Minato?"-the blond asked, to which the old man nodded. "Well, let's go then. You have to teach it to me."
"I'm not completely done."-Denkoku said, making Naruto sit down again. "Your father gave me another thing, that he wanted you to have."-he continued, showing the second wooden chest.
The young Namikaze opened the chest and saw..a Fruit.
"No..."-he whispered.
"It is, Naruto."
"A Devil Fruit.."-the blond continued, mesmerized by the strange item.
"The Tsuchi Tsuchi no Mi."-Denkoku said. "You don't have to eat it now, or ever. Minato wanted you to have it, but he was actually given that fruit by an old woman when he was on mission. It is your choice alone, Naruto. But don't forget the price to pay..."-the ex-Admiral said before standing and leaving the room.
The blond took the strange pear-shaped brown fruit in his hand and watched it closely. It had strange greenish swirl like motifs.
"So, you can grant me even more power, but would make me unable to swim...A Devil Fruit indeed."
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"So, how are we going to Marineford?"-asked Naruto, zipping his rucksack.
"Hiraishin.."-simply stated his grand-father.
"You're becoming more and more lazy with years, Jiji. I think your old age is really catching up on you."-the blond said with a smirk, before bending his head to the left, and easily evading the bottle that was launched his way.
"Shut up, Gaki! I can still kick your sorry ass!"
"Hmhmhmhm."-laughed the Namikaze.
"But we're not going to Marineford."
"Hum..? Where then?"
"I want to visit an old friend of mine..."-Denkoku answered.
"That's fine with me. I'm not really in a rush."
"Alright then. Let's go."-the ex-Admiral said, putting a bag over his shoulders. Naruto looked around the house for the last time, and a small smile formed on his face. This would be his last time on this island. The island where Denkoku made a warrior out of him. Turning away, the blond took a hold of his grand-father's shoulder, and they disappeared in a yellow flash.
After they left the space-time, the Namikaze looked around him and rose an eyebrow. He silently followed the older man, but couldn't resist to speak after a few seconds.
"What the hell? We are in a freaking 'Windmill Country' or what?"
"Well, actually we are in the Windmill Village, Fushia."-Denkoku answered with a smile, causing Naruto's eyes to twitch. Then shaking his head, he continued to walk.
After a while of walking, the old man stopped.
"We are in the right place."-he said.
"Huh..? Partys Bar?"-the blond asked.
"My friend said that he will meet us here."-the ex-Admiral said, entering the little bar, his grand-son closely following.
The place was quite full, meaning that the Bar was famous in the village, or was the only one... Naruto would more likely go for the latter..
After they were seated at the bar, the bartender, a young woman with dark green hair, maybe a few years his senior, approached them.
"What would you like, sirs?"-she asked.
"Sake."-simply answered Denkoku, to what she nodded and turned toward the mysterious blond. Naruto, for his part sensing the young woman's gaze, turned toward her, very slowly. And began starring her in the eyes, without making a sound. The bartender, seemed curious and held the stare. They stayed that way for a couple of seconds, then Naruto finally smirked, making the young woman blush and turn away.
"A chop of beer will do."-the blond said, the smirk still adorning his face. And with a short "Hai", the green haired bartender walked away.
Catching the amused expression on his grand-father's face, Naruto's smirk only widened.
A minute later, she was back with their commands and disposed it before them. Without loosing time, the ex-Admiral began drinking his sake, and Naruto following his example, took some gulps of his beer. It tasted quite good to say the truth.
The bartender approached and sat across from them, making Naruto rise his eyebrow.
"You're nor from here. It's the first time I'm seeing you."-she said, answering their silent question. "What got you so far in the East Blue?"-she continued, kindly.
"We are here to see an old friend of mine."-Denkoku answered.
"Hey, Makino-chan! Will you go out with me?"-cried a man with a bottle in his hand across the bar, toward the bartender. The said woman turned in his direction, rolling her eyes.
"I'm sorry, but no, Ginjo."-she answered.
"Oh man! That was the 108th time she said no!"-exclaimed another man
"Poor Ginjo."-said another one, tapping comfortingly the Ginjo fellow on his back.
When Makino returned her gaze toward the two strangers, she saw the blond watching her, a charming smile adorning his face. The green haired bartender blushed for the second time and turned away.
"Who is this friend of yours?"-she asked, after recomposing herself.
Denkoku opened his mouth to answer, but stopped and a smile appeared on his face. And as to answer the confusion on the young woman's face, the door to the bar opened and a massive muscular old man, wearing a suit, entered.
"I can see you are still your punctual self."-the ex-Admiral said, without even looking at the new person.
"Whahahaha! You know me too well!"-the new man said, taking a seat to their left. "Makino-chan, Sake please." To what she nodded and left for the command.
"Naruto, I present you Vice-Admiral Monkey D. Garp, the Hero of Marines, and an old friend of mine."-the ex-Admiral said.
"So this is your grand-son, Denkoku?"-asked Garp, outstretching his hand toward the blond, which shook it in a vice-like grip, surprising the Vice-Admiral.
"Namikaze Naruto."-the young man said. "It's an honor to meet you, Vice-Admiral."-making the old man nod.
"So, what is the favor you talked about?"-asked Garp, taking a sip of the sake, that Makino disposed in front of him.
"Naruto will be joining the Marines."-the Kanahaza answered. "I want for you to watch over him in Marineford."
"Well, I can do that."-the Vice-Admiral said. "But what is your goal?"-he asked, turning toward the blond.
"To protect the World from those that wants to disturb the peace."-truthfully answered Naruto.
"Whahaha! A noble goal indeed!"-exclaimed Garp. "Wish my grandkids would be like you."-he continued, with a sigh. But no, they wanted to become pirates...
"Well, my old friend. Time has come for us to leave."-Denkoku said.
"So soon?"-asked the Vice-Admiral. "I thought you would rest here for a few days before leaving."-he continued. "I'm sure the trip from wherever you came to here was exhausting."-he finished, making Denkoku laugh.
"Don't worry about that, old man."-the ex-Admiral said.
"You're the one to talk.."-Garp responded, with a smirk. Then they stared at each other for a few seconds, as if silently talking between themselves, and the Vice-Admiral nodded.
"Let's go, Naruto."
The young Namikaze nodded and approached the Ginjo fellow, making the bartender raise an eyebrow.
"Never give up, and never back down from a challenge."-he said to the man, making a new determination shine in his eyes.
With that he put his bag on his back and smiled, a real smile toward the green haired woman, making her smile in return. And without further ado, he left the bar and began waking away, catching with Denkoku. But only after a few steps, he could hear the brouhaha in the bar..
"Hey, Makino-chan! Will you go out with me?"
"I'm sorry, but no, Ginjo."
"Oh man! That was the 109th !"
Naruto smiled and a second later, he disappeared along with his grand-father.
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***.
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"So, that's Marineford..."-the Namikaze stated with awe.
Denkoku stopped before the main doors and faced the blond.
"I will leave you here, Naruto. You'll find your way easily enough."-the ex-Admiral said, to which the young man nodded. "Use the chips and place them in strategic points. I took a hundred of them myself. Your father had already put some in here, but having more will not hurt."
Then, he sighed and approached the blond, taking him in a hug.
"Be careful, Naru-chan. The hard stuff is just beginning. Don't loose your cool, and never jump in a fight without thinking."-the ex-Admiral said making the young man nod. "Make your parents proud."-he finished, letting go of Naruto. Turning away, he began walking away, when the Namikaze called him out.
"Hey Denko-jiji, were will you go?"
"Water 7.."-the old man answered without turning around. "Good luck..."
And with that, Kanahaza Denkoku, ex-Admiral of the Marine, disappeared in a yellow flash.
Naruto turned toward the main doors and began walking toward Marineford.
"Well Dad...I'm a step closer to the goal..."
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(Tsuchi Tsuchi no Mi - Earth Earth Fruit)
(Haoshoku Haki - Conqueror's Haki)
(Busoshoku Haki - Color of Armaments)
(Kenbunshoku Haki - Color of Observation)
(Rokushiki - Six Styles, Six Powers )
(Geppo - Moon Step )
(Rankyaku - Storm Leg)
(Soru - Shave)
(Tekkai - Iron Mass)
AN: Hope you liked it, and review please, that really helps.
