Chapter 7: Arrival In the East Blue Sea
Marinford
Paradise; Grand Line
"Now the chances of hope and redemption for the Marines are now rest with you." Zephyr's words ringed in Naruto's mind. "What did Sensei mean by that? And what does he mean about the Marines. It's almost like he describes it to be..."
"Hey Naruto…did you hear what I says?" Kiba says out loud.
Today, Naruto, Kiba, and the other have finally graduated as marine officers, with the rank of Ensign. After failing his first naval combat simulation, Naruto continue training, under Admiral Zephyr and later Admiral Garp. He later starts again with the naval combat simulation, this time passing it more successfully.
Following graduation, they'd been directed to a building where assignments were being given to the new officers. Naruto and Kiba were currently on their way there. And seeing how much of an impact this would have on their lives, they understandably had little else on their minds.
"Sorry, I wasn't listening," Naruto apologizes. "What did you just says?"
"I say where do you think we'll get assigned?" Kiba asked.
"Hopefully somewhere on the grand line," Naruto replied. "Where I'll be out hunting pirates, not stuck in a base."
"I don't know," Kiba answered, "It might be easier to stand out and risen through the ranks somewhere else. You know, come back to the Grand Line when you have your own ship or something."
"Maybe for you, but I'm good enough to get noticed no matter where I go," Naruto quipped.
"You talk big now, but I'll bet you three months salary I make captain before you do," Kiba challenged.
"You're on," Naruto replied. "And I'm not going to let you back out of that."
Coming to the building they'd been directed to, Naruto entered and quickly moved to the rear of a small line that had already formed, Kiba falling in place behind him. It was only a short wait until he stood in front of the desk that belonged to a silver haired young officer. Lieutenant-Commander Mizuki according to a nameplate on the desk.
"Name please," he ordered in tone that clearly showed he would rather be anywhere but here.
"Ensign Naruto D. Namikaze," he supplied.
"Namikaze, huh?" Mizuki responded raising an eyebrow.
"I take it you've heard of my dad, Admiral Minato," Naruto said proudly.
"You mean Commodore Minato," Mizuki corrected disdainfully. "They may have tried to spare his son the news, but he was demoted posthumously as punishment for going AWOL from important mission."
Naruto got very angry and replied "You don't what you're talking about! To me he still an Admiral and didn't deserved to be demoted for giving his life to save his village."
"Is that so?" Mizuki scorned. "I was part of the task force assigned to find, hunt, capture or kill the Yonko member Red-Haired Shanks. But your father deserted his mission and left me and other alone with the task. And to make matters worse, not only did Shanks escape, a lot good marines like Vice Admiral Kitsuchi."
"Oh yeah I knew Ensign Kurotsuchi Kamizuru," Mizuki added with sneered. "It shame how her father died due the negligence of duty of your dad. I know without doubt she will become a better Marine officer than you be."
Mizuki paused and stared at the fuming Naruto as if to make sure his words were sinking in.
"That's right!" Mizuki kept on insulting Naruto. "You're the son of a disgraced marine. Do you think anyone going forget that? I you think you had future in the marine during the long run, think again!"
Naruto had a retort ready, but Kiba came to his defense and spoke first.
"Just so you know sir," Kiba says in defensive of Naruto. "Not every marine would agree with you. My mom and sister still had respect for Admiral Minato. Hell even Admiral Zephyr still respected Minato."
"Then you're fool—especially your mother, sister, and the old man!" Mizuki retort.
Kiba suddenly gotten angry and was about to retort when Naruto cuts in and coldy says "We here for our new assignment—not to start a scene—do you have anything for us?"
Mizuki appeared to realize they were causing a scene and holding up a line that was still growing behind the two young officers he was arguing with. Rifling through his papers, he pulled one out.
"I believe I have just the assignment for two officers for the likes of you," he said with a self-satisfied smirk. "There's a Captain Morgan looking for some fresh blood. I've heard he's quite strict with his subordinates, so he shouldn't give you many opportunities to cause trouble. And what trouble could you really cause in East Blue?"
Quickly writing down their assignments in his records, he held out two sheets of paper.
"Your ship leaves tonight. All the details are right here." he informed them. "Unless you feel your father isn't the only one who's too good to follow orders."
Naruto snatched the papers from his hand, spun around and stormed back outside, Kiba following right behind him. Not his first choice of what to do with the papers Mizuki had been holding out. But that poor excuse for a marine was probably itching for him to try something he could charge them over.
0o0o0
East Blue Sea
Naruto leaned over the rail of the ship, staring sadly as Shell Island came into view. He let out another sigh at being stuck with this assignment at 153rd Branch.
"Stop moping already," Kiba told him. "This might not be all bad, and at least you've got a friendly face with you."
"Have you ever considered I might be sick of seeing your face?" Naruto muttered sullenly.
"Hey now," Kiba snapped back, "I'm just trying to cheer you up, no need to bite my head off."
"I know," Naruto said half apologetically "It's just we're stuck here in East Blue Sea—the weakest of the seas."
"The East Blue pirate captains are the weakest pirates in the world!" Naruto complained. "They're deck hands or cabin boys from pirate crews on other seas that were too weak for even that job. So they come to East Blue and gather up a bunch of buffoons impressed just by the fact that they've been on a real pirate ship. Then they all go off and cause more mischief than actual harm."
"Now you're exaggerating," Kiba admonished, "Even East Blue has to have some decent pirates. My sister told me a story that the previous King of Pirates was born and died in these seas and believed the next King of Pirates will be born in these seas again."
"I doubt it." Naruto replied.
The ship finally arrived at their destination. Departing into the dock, they were directed toward a dark skinned marine, Commander Ripper who was busy yelling at a number of other marines around him. They approached him and stood waiting for him to take notice, not wanting to interrupt his tirade.
"I thought I told you to get rid of that pirate ship we impounded," Commander Ripper shouted. "So why is it still sitting here taking up space in the dock?"
"Sorry sir," the target of his ire replied, "I'm just not sure what to do with it."
"I don't care what you do with it," Commander Ripper angrily said, "Find someone to buy it, take it out to sea and set it on fire—just get rid of it."
The man saluted and walked off without debating the matter further.
"Can I help you?" he asked impatiently, turning to where they'd been waiting.
"We've been ordered to report to Captain Morgan," Naruto replied.
"Oh the new recruits," Ripper replied. "I'd forgotten you were coming. But unless you feel like paying him a visit in his prison cell, you'll have to forget about your orders. I'm Commander Ripper, the one in charge of dealing with the mess he left me."
He sat looking at them for a moment as if trying to figure out what to do with them.
"I'm really busy right now, so why don't you go have a look around town," he suggested, "If you find me in a couple of hours or so, hopefully I'll have a few minutes to get you set you up with some quarters."
The commander had already turned to another marine, so Naruto just saluted and walked off, Kiba mirroring him, and Akamaru bringing up the rear.
"I wonder what that's all about?" says Naruto, looking confused. "And what does he mean of Captain begin in a prison cell?"
"Maybe we'll ask someone around," Kiba says. "How's about that's kid over there?"
He was pointed at marine recruit— a small, timid, chubby boy with pink hair and round-frame glasses—who is moping the floors.
"Excuse me," Kiba calls out to the young marine, approaching him. "Can we ask you a question?"
"Uh what is it sir?" the pink-haired marine replied, looking nervous.
"Why is Captain Morgan locked in his own jail cell?"
"Well sir," the pink-haired marine begins to explain. "This is how it happened..."
He told them how Captain Morgan abuse his power, ruling the small island of Shells Town by fear, forcing its citizens to pay taxes, and even going as far as killing his own men if they do not obey his commands. This revelation utterly shocked Naruto, Kiba, and Akamaru.
"You have any idea why the hell he would do something like that?" Naruto asked, his tone sounded disgusted. If there is one thing he hates the most is a marine abusing his authority, especially on innocent civilians.
"Uh…I really don't know," the young marine replied nervously.
"How did the marines get Captain Morgan in jail cell?" Kiba asked out of curiosity.
"Uh…I really can't afford talk right now," the boy says changing the subject. "I need to clean this hallway quickly before Commander Ripper comes by."
Once he was gone, Kiba says "I really like to know how Captain Morgan ended up in the jail cell. I heard that guy was so strong he onnce took down Kuro of a Hundred Plans, one of the most infamous pirates in the East Blue Sea."
"Actually, there is," Naruto replied. "I want to go get a closer look at that pirate ship he was talking about."
"That's fine with me," Kiba answered, "but why do you want to do that?"
"Because I plan to take it," Naruto declared, unable to completely hide a devious smirk he was developing.
"You plan to what?" Kiba asked incredulously, looking around to make sure no one else was in range to overhear.
"You heard me," Naruto replied. "I plan to sail off with the ship and go pirate hunting. You're welcome to come with me, if you'd like."
"Do you know how much trouble that could get us in?" Kiba queried.
"Commander Ripper did order someone to get rid of it," Naruto pointed out. "So as I see it, we're just following orders."
"You don't actually think they'll buy that do you?" his friend argued.
"Look," Naruto told him firmly. "I know this is crazy and impulsive, and I'll probably regret it in the morning. But I just have the feeling that this is my chance. And that if I don't take it I'm going to be stuck here doing menial tasks instead of out there making a doing something worthwhile. Now I don't know about you, but I joined the marines to make a difference."
Kiba stood there deliberating for almost half a minute before he finally broke into a smile.
"Oh, why not?" He finally said. "At our court-martial I'll just tell them it was all your idea. What do you say Akamaru, are you in?"
In reply the oversized canine began trotting over to the edge of the docks that held their target. The three of them hid themselves around the corner of a warehouse, hoping that the dock would clear itself of people if they waited long enough.
While they were waiting they got a good look at the ship. It was a decent sized ship which looked able to easily support a crew of a dozen or so. The ship itself was very plain in design, but seemed to be solid construction. Maybe it was a stolen merchant ship. Or given that this was East Blue, more likely just a bunch of merchants that decided to repaint their ship and call themselves pirates.
It was a dark green in color with black sails, and there was a flag tied to the main mast with the ubiquitous skull and crossbones of a pirate ship. The skull had a green frog about half its own size of sitting on top of it. Yeah, that would really strike fear into the hearts of those who witnessed it.
"That's a pretty big ship for just the three of us," Kiba pointed out. "It's going to be difficult to handle."
You're forgetting who you're dealing with," Naruto reminded him.
"Oh yeah," Kiba responded. "That's a really useful power you have."
The commander had already departed, and soon the ship that brought them left as well, leaving the dock deserted. Making use of the opportunity, they hurried to the ship and climbed aboard. Naruto immediately summoned four clones and sent them to work preparing the ship to set sail. Thanks to a year of rigorous marine training, Naruto's strength has enhanced to the point which he can summon 50 clones at once.
The real Naruto took the helm and it didn't take long until the ship began to move away from the port. But it wasn't until the island had faded out of sight that Naruto allowed himself to breathe a sigh of relief.
"Even I didn't expect to be captain of my own ship this soon," he admitted.
"Hey, why do you get to be the captain?" Kiba asked.
"Because it's my idea," Naruto pointed out. "But if you want to be Captain you had takes responsibility it was your idea if we're caught."
Kiba was quiet for a long moment until he replied "Fine—you're Captain."
Naruto could feel the thrill of adventure waiting for him. And despite their banter, he could tell even Kiba was getting into the spirit of things. He turned the ship west, toward the setting sun and, eventually, the Grand Line. Any pirates out there better hope they didn't have the misfortune of crossing his path.
AN
Guest: It's just a warm-up. In time Naruto and his gang will become in equal ground with Luffy and his crew.
