Author's Note:

Hey everyone! Sorry it took so long for me to write and upload this but I've been having some terrible technical issues. I hope to fix them soon And give you guys a few more chapters before I go back to college. Hope you enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 2: Conflicts Part 1

Despite the fact he was separated from his ship and crew, Luffy was very happy and very hungry. He wasn't worried in the slightest about his friend's wellbeing as he had a feeling they weren't far from where he was and were safe. For now he was more focused on finding something to eat and figured that the village in front of him would provide all the food he needed. When he approached the gates of Konoha, the two guards looked at him suspiciously.

"Should we check him?" one asked.

"Why bother? He's no threat" replied the other yawning, clearly not interested or worried about what the straw hat wearing young man was capable of or what he reasons for coming to the village were. Later on he would contemplate whether it was a good decision or a bad decision to the let that young man through without following procedure.

As Luffy walked through the village looking for a restaurant, the villagers stared at him. It wasn't because of his attire or that they knew who he was, but his aura. They had never felt anything like it before as it was the aura of someone who was free, happy, strong and fearless; something they hadn't felt since the reign of the Yondaime. But due to his distracted mind Luffy did not see where he was going and bumped into some one, knocking them to the ground.

"Ah gomen" he said holding out his hand. The person who took his hand was a young woman a year or two younger than him with long indigo hair with fair pale skin and an oddly color pair of lavender eyes that matched her coat. "Daijoubu?" he asked.

"H-Hai" she replied now on her feet. She quickly looked at him from head to toe and was rather curious from what she saw. He was a young man not much older than herself with short black hair, matching black eyes with a scar with two stitches under his left one. He wore a red vest, blue short trousers with a pair of sandals and a black X tattoo on his left forearm. Though his appearance was a bit strange two features stood out. One was his large straw hat which gave the impression he was from a farming village. But it was the latter that was more outstanding; his large bright smile. It may sound odd to those who did not live in her village but she had never seen someone smile like this young man. Except Naruto.

Hinata immediately felt sadness creep over her. When she had received the news that she was to be wed to a man she had never met she felt anger, pain, betrayal and regret. She never had the opportunity or the courage to confess her feelings to Naruto and now she was mere hours away from meeting her fiancé. While the rest of her team was out on a mission she had to remain in the village to greet her future husband while the boy she was in love with was around to whiteness it. It was slowly killing her inside. She was close to tears when the young man introduced himself.

"My name is Luffy. Do you know where I can get some food?" he asked. His words snapped Hinata out of her conflicting mindset and politely reply.

"M-My name is Hyuuga Hinata" she said stuttering slightly, "I-I know of a place where you can get something to eat. D-Do- you like ramen?"

"Sure!" he replied smiling and waited for her to show him the way. She felt slightly embarrassed and strange taking this stranger with a strange name and a bright smile to the favorite eatery of her crush. But perhaps it could ease her mind and think of what she should do.

xXx

Uchiha Sasuke and his Taka team had been tracking the Jinchuriki of the Eight Tale Demon for quite a while. They finally managed to locate him in an isolated part of the mountains where his sources told him the host liked to train. This was a golden opportunity as the host was cut off from any form of reinforcement; not that it would matter. According to the other members of Akatsuki who had fought and captured Jinchuriki before, said that the title of Jinchuriki and the legendary power that supposedly came with it was a lie. Sasuke believed them. After all, he had fought and defeated the so called strongest of them all when he was 12. If the Kyuubi was nothing, what was the Hachibi?

When he encountered the Jinchuriki, who referred to himself as Lord Jinchuriki named Killer Bee, he was not impressed. He was full of himself and over confident much like Naruto, and was just as irritating; along with that horrible rapping. Just as he and his team prepared to silence him, they were interrupted.

"Oi, do you know where the nearest town is?" asked a young man. The Shinobi turned their heads and looked at the man with puzzled looks; minus Killer Bee. He was 5 foot 10 with a white shirt revealing enough of a heavily trained body, lightly tanned skin and wore a green haramaki around his waist which was strange as those were typically worn by old men. He also wore black trousers and boots that had a slight greenish hint to them that matched his odd green colored hair. Though his odd hair was distracting as it waved slightly in the wind, along with the three identical gold earrings on his left earlobe, what stood out were the three swords than hung from his right hip. None of them had seen such high grade steel, and wondered if he was one of the Swordsmen of the Mist.

But now was not the time to make such speculations. It didn't matter who this man was or what he wanted. He was an annoyance and getting in the way of their job.

"I don't know who you are or what you-" Sasuke began.

"So about those directions..." said Zoro specifically asking Killer Bee.

"Don't turn your back to me fool!" shouted Sasuke. "Who are you?"

"Where are you trying to go yo?" replied Killer Bee.

"Just to the nearest town. I got separated from my friends."

"It's a long way. Could take about a day. You're gonna wanna head that way" he replied pointing to his right.

Now Sasuke had officially run out of patience. He grasped the hilt of his chakra sword drawing it and tried to decapitate the green haired swordsman. Zoro turned around now annoyed with the Uchiha just as the blade was about to cut off his head. But amazingly he leaned back just enough for the tip to miss its target; his glare unflinching. His icy glare caused both Sasuke and his team to flinch, never before been glared down by a pair of eyes like his. However Sasuke was not going to back down.

"Spread out and wait for my signal!" he ordered which his teammates quickly followed preparing themselves for battle. Killer Bee on the other hand found the whole situation humorous and decided to watch from the sidelines, pen and paper handy if he was ever to gain lyrical inspiration.

Sasuke decided to strike first to test the strength and skill of this interfering swordsman. He leapt into the air and slashed downward with his sword charged with chakra ready to cut Zoro in half. To his horror and anger, his attack was blocked. Not by an equally powerful blade or some other form of weapon or technique, but in the most humiliating fashion. Zoro had drawn Wado Ichimonji saya and all, and blocked the Uchiha's attack with a mere sliver of his famous blade which he revealed by a slight push of his thumb, as he held it up with one hand. Before Sasuke could react he was pushed back by Zoro who looked at him unimpressed.

When he attacked again Zoro had fully drawn his sword and parried the attack with ease entering a gridlock which he easily held his ground to with one hand. This only infuriated Sasuke more.

"How..." he growled. "How are you able to black my sword! That isn't a chakra sword. Why can't I cut you?!"

Zoro looked at him with a look that was a mix of anger, steadiness and apathy.

"A sword that light could never cut me down" he said. Before Sasuke could demand what that meant, Zoro tightened his grip on Wado Ichimonji and slashed faster than the eye could see. He cut through Sasuke's charka sword with ease reaching the traitorous nin's chest causing a large gush of blood to pour out. When he hit the floor his teammates stiffened in shock.

"Sasuke-kun!" shouted Karin wanting to run to his aid but was held back by Jugo. Suigetsu gritted his teeth and drew his sword as he charged Zoro but before his attack could land on its mark the green-haired swordsman cut off his head.

"Suigetsu!" shouted Karin now desperate to grab Sasuke and run but Jugo refused to let her go.

"We will be killed instantly if we try to save him" he said clearly terrified of the ex-pirate hunter. Despite her feelings she knew he was right. As she ran away with her teammate she silently begged for Sasuke's forgiveness. When they were well out of sight, Killer Bee began to clap.

"Congratulations bro!" he said standing up. "You made'em run like hoes. Are you a samurai yo?"

"Iie. Too strict of a life style" he replied.

"You a bounty hunter then?"

"Nah I gave up the line of work ages ago. Why are you asking?"

"I recognize these bitches from the bingo book" said Killer Bee pulling out his own copy. "They both got a price on their heads. Wanted alive or dead. Not a bad amount. Ya don't want to miss out."

Zoro thought about it for a moment and realized it wouldn't be a bad way to lower his debt. Even after all this time Nami was still on his back for the money he borrowed that he didn't even spend and for the "Happiness Punch" that he didn't even want to be a part of in the first place. Beggars couldn't be choosers he supposed.

"Fair enough. Anyways, do you mind telling me where in the Grandeline am I?" he asked.

Killer Bee looked at him confused. "I don't know what you're talkin' about but after seeing you beat those two, I want to have a fight with you!" The Jinchuriki drew all eight of his swords and took an odd fighting stance ready for a fight.

Zoro cocked his head with both annoyance and interest. "Hachitoryuu? Interesting" he said grinning. He drew all three of his swords and took a fighting stance of his own. "OK. Let's party!"

xXx

Four young shinobi crossed the large dessert before them on their way to the village of Konoha. In the front was a young man with red hair, a large gourd on his back and a tattoo with the kanji of love above his left eye. On his right was a man slightly older than him with three large scrolls on his back and purple face paint. Behind them were two young kunoichi. One was taller with a fan on her back and her blond hair tied in four ponytails. To her left was a young kunoichi with short brown hair and wore a flak vest, a pair of arm guards and wore her forehead protector like a scarf around her neck.

"How much longer do what have till we make it to Konoha Gaara?" asked the pointed shinobi, "An hour?"

"About an hour yes Kankuro" replied Gaara calmly. The younger kunoichi watched her Kazekage closely for a moment before nudging her superior gently to get her attention.

"Ano Temari-san" she asked quietly, "Why did you decided to come with us? You could have remained at Suna."

Temari looked at her with a half questioning look. "I haven't been out of the village in awhile and I just wanted to travel. Is that wrong?" she asked.

Matsuri looked at the back of her sensei's head for a moment before leaning towards Temari to make sure no one else heard. "Are you coming with us to see Nara Shikamaru?"

This caused Temari to flinch slightly and look at her younger brothers to make sure they were out of earshot before responding. "W-Why would I do that?" she asked.

"Didn't you say you loved him?" answered Matsuri rather innocently. Temari was now blushing and terrified that her brothers had heard what her friend had said but from their behavior they heard nothing.

"I thought I told you that in confidence?" she hissed.

Matsuri swallowed and blushed slightly. "G-Gomen Temari-san. It's just that I think it's rather romantic that he's so far away and you want to see him" she said honestly.

Temari sighed, "If only he loved me too."

"I think he does."

"That lazy boy? Not a chance" she said, smiling despite feeling saddened by the truth. "He doesn't care nor does he have any interest in annoying girls like me."

"I really think he loves you" pressed Matsuri. "Love effects everyone and can even make opposites attract."

Temari grinned. "Like you and my brother?"

The younger Suna kunoichi blushed and hopped that Gaara hadn't over heard. "G-G-Gaara-sensei and I aren't a c-couple!"

"Obviously, but you do love him don't you?"

"Y-Yes..." she replied quietly, looking away. Temari couldn't help laughing a little and wrapped her around Matsuri's shoulder.

"You're such a tease!"

"It's not funny Temari-san!"

"I'm going to love having you as a sister-in-law."

"Temari-san!"

Truth be told the two kunoichi already viewed and treated each other like sisters. This was partly due to all the time they spent together, but the majority of it was based on the fact that Matsuri did not fear Gaara and truly admired him. Temari, even now, could not admit how happy and proud she was when Gaara gained his first disciple. And to make it even more of a dream come true, his first student also had romantic feelings for him. Both Temari and Kankuro knew it would take a very long time before their younger brother began experiencing real emotions and becoming a normal person. But if he got together with Matsuri, there was a serious chance that their dream would become a reality.

Before they could continue fantasizing the future, Gaara stopped walking in turn causing his companions to halt as well.

"What's wrong?" asked Kankuro.

"I do not know, but I believe I see something walking towards us" Gaara replied. The others looked in front of them to see what was coming their way, and sure enough there was in fact someone, or something walking towards them. It took a few moments before the figure was close enough for them to identify what it was. It was clear that they were not expecting what they saw.

Coming towards them was an 8-foot tall skeleton wearing a suit with a large black Afro, a top hat, and carrying an umbrella as a means of shade. They had experienced some very odd things in their lives but this was truly something else. Minus Gaara the Suna shinobi were on guard if this creature intended to attack them.

Brook stopped walking for a moment and looked in front of him to see four people standing there. "Ah I seem to be very lucky today" he said happily "I think I shall ask them where the nearest town is." He continued to walk towards the small group until he could clearly make out the group consisted on two young men and two young women. Unfortunately due to his habit, he promptly ignored his original question and went straight to Temari and Matsuri with a more pressing one.

"Pardon me young ladies but may I borrow your panties?" he asked kindly.

Both of the girls leaned back in shock but it was Temari that reacted by drawing her fan and sending a massive gust of wind at her assailant. Unfortunately for her he did not crash or knocked unconscious, but instead was sent easily a hundred feet in the air and with the aid of his umbrella gently drifted back down.

"I do apologies for that, I meant to ask you directions to the nearest town or village" he said lifting his hat politely. "Sometimes I just lose my head in the moment of things, but then again my head decomposed a long time ago. SKULL JOKE!"

Though most would find the dead musician's jokes rather humorous, the shinobi were not so impressed by his sense of humor.

"I don't know who you are or what you want but I've had enough" said Kankuro drawing two of his scrolls. He summoned Black Ant and sent it flying at Brook who dropped his umbrella in surprise before the puppet engulfed him. Not wasting any time Kankuro summoned the next puppet Crow and caused it to split revealing its eight pieces possessed a sharp blade at the end.

"Kurohigi Kiki Ippatsu! (Black Secret Technique Machine One Shot)" he shouted, drawing in the eight blades into Black Ant impaling Brook inside. "Ha! Take that bakemono!"

Temari and Matsuri relaxed, relieved that the skeleton was no longer a threat. The unfortunate truth for them however, was that things had only just begun.

"Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho. Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho."

The Suna nins looked at the puppet in confusion. What was that sound?

"Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho. Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho."

They immediately stiffened, now realizing exactly what was making that sound. Was it the skeleton inside? It should be impossible, but the distinct sound of the skeleton's voice was unmistakable.

"Binkusu no sake wo, todoke ni yuku yo. (We'll deliver Bink's Sake, ocean's breeze shall guide the way.

Umikaze kimakase namimakase. (Sailing forth atop the waves across the briny deep)

Shio no mukou de, yuuhi mo sawagu. (The evening sun is dancing high, painting circles in the sky)

Sora nya wa wo kaku, tori no uta. (As it sinks the song of birds, ring out across the sea!)"

Brook, whilst singing the chorus slowly opened the puppet and emerged totally unscathed. "Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho. Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho. Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho. Yo-hohoho, Yo-hohoho. Oh ya ya how harsh of you!" he scolded. "All I wished to know was where is the nearest town. But it would seem that you are more interested in fighting me than helping me so I must defend myself."

He walked slowly towards the Suna nins drawing his cane sword and hummed lightly. Kankuro, Temari and Matsuri took battle stances waiting for the skeleton to make his move. He drew closer and closer, making them more and more anxious; sweat beading on their necks and it wasn't due to the desert sun. He was now no more than ten feet in front of them making them very nervous and even more alert as they awaited his attack.

But to their shock it never arrived. He merely walked through them as if passing through a crowd. He then continued to walk several more paces leaving them completely confused. However their confusion would not last long as Brook stopped walking, and began to slowly sheath his sword cane.

"Hanauta Sancho (Three-Verse Humming)..." he said calmly. "Yahazu Giri! (Arrow-Notch Slash)."

As soon as the hilt of the cane connected with the top of the sheath causing a distinct metal ring to sound, the four Suna nina dropped like flies. They had no idea what happened to them and would not even get a chance to think about it as they were already unconscious.

"My my" said Brook turning to the fallen shinobi "They're only children but they're already trained and prepared for combat. I've never encountered a Marine division like this before. Ara?" The dead musician looked at Gaara who was lifting his head and looking right at him. "I am impressed you remained conscious unlike your nakama. But do not worry. I only used the flat part of my blade." Though not sure if he understood or was just at his limits, Gaara felt back into unconsciousness.

"Now then..." said Brook adjusting his bow, "It looks like these young ones were heading in that direction." He turned to look back at where he had been walking from. "Then I shall head in that direction. However..." he looked at the shinobi, "I cannot simply leave them here...Ah! Of course!"

Brook grabbed one of Kankuro's scrolls and unraveled it enough so that he could place Gaara, Kankuro and his puppets on it to drag them as he carried the girls. "This should work. As long as I put my back into it I should have no problems. Ah but as a skeleton my back muscles decomposed a long time ago. Yohohoho! SKULL JOKE!" And with that, he began to walk towards the village that he would later know to be named Konoha. Unfortunately for him he did not see the shinobi a couple hundred yards in front of him atop a sand dune watching him through a pair of binoculars. Without hesitating he grabbed his radio and switched to the secure channel dedicated for Konoha's recon team.

Next chapter: Conflicts Part 2: Escalation

Next chapter, things get heart pumping fun! A declaration of war has been sounded!