A/N: REJOICE! YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER UPDATE! Alright ladies and gentlmen, good news and bad news. Good news first. I'm fresh out of my surgery-hurts like hell!-and I managed to put this up here at points between the forced anesthetic. Bad news is I still have more surgeries ahead. Still, I'm feeling a bit better now. Really. I'm hanging tough though, having just come out of my first surgery...with two more to go! UUUUUGH! I'm on painkillers almost daily and I feel like crap, as to that effect. But nevertheless, despite this pesky little hiccup-I wanted to get word out any way I could, and since for some strange reason the site is being buggy, I wasnt able to work on this anywhere near as much as I would've liked. Still...
I love you guys so much! *Cries*
So I'll skip the introduction, but might I advise you to reread the story? Just in case you've forgotten anything.
"Oh boy, he's dead isn't he?"
"Dead he is, sir."
"Did he at least die with dignity?"
"...define dignity, sir."
~?
Mastermind
Naruto didn't know how to feel.
On one hand, he had just slain two of the most powerful men the marines had to offer, mere minutes apart. His blade was still bathed in their blood, greedily gobbling up their strength and adding it to his own. And yet he knew Sengoku's death hadn't just come at his hands. Were it not for Ace and Tayuya he might have had the opening at all, might still be fighting -and losing-against one of the greatest marines he'd ever known. He had killed the world's mightiest marine through luck, and luck alone. Teamwork was what had felled the Fleet Admiral; he'd merely administered the killing blow.
The thought was...unpleasant.
"Shit." Tayuya was suddenly at his elbow, gawping down at the man's headless torso. "You really fucking did it, didn'tcha? Ya chopped the hell out of that guy."
Naruto stared down at his soaked sword, the seven stars of its surface still gleaming brightly. "I guess so." Grunting, he reached down for the admiral's head, hefting it was though it were but a baubble and tying it into his belt. There. The death of their Commander-and-Chief should be enough to convince the marines of their plight. Brutal, but effective. Atop Tayuya, Yachiru averted her eyes, grimacing at the sight. Naruto chose very carefully to ignore her, instead turning to Akainu, the last of his troubles still bleeding out only yards away. Impossibly the Red Dog was still alive, though not for much longer.
Unlike a certain someone.
Even now, he could feel the light that was Tenten in his mind, registering as a flickering flame within his haki. She too, was alive. The difference being she would live to see another day. Relief flooded him like a wave, a surge of incredible joy momentarily blotting out his anger. Stills, he was almost grateful for her abscence now; though the gunner loathed her old man, Naruto was certain she wouldn't want to see what he was about to do next. But it had to be done. He'd tell her the truth of it all later
Akainu still lay on his back, covered in his own blood, but he turned a dark iris to regard the Wraith when he approached.
"...here to finish me off?" his words were little more than a whisper.
Naruto nodded.
"In case you're wondering, its over." he began, nudging the dying man in the side with his boot-rolling him over so that his final sight might be of the sky. "Sengoku is dead and the battle is lost. Your daughter survived though; someone must've found her and applied first aid. She'll live. Thought you should know."
A thoughtful expression wiped away the admiral's angry scowl at that. His pale face seemed to consider those words, his eyes growing foggy and distant. Perhaps he was thinking of happier times when the two of them were nothing more than a family, when there was no rank or title to separate them. Perhaps not. Naruto liked to think that he was. Then they cleared for the final time, peering up into the endlessly blue skies overhead with a long so intense it was almost painful to look at.
...I see." There was a silence afterward, and for a moment, Naruto actually thought the admiral had passed on before he spoke again. "I suppose that's good, then. I lived my life doing what I thought was right...in any case." His remaining eye swiveled to lock upon the blond. "The World Government, will hunt you to the ends of the earth for this, you know." He didn't sound angry; just certain. "You will never know a moment's peace so long as you sail these seas; your every waking instant will be spent looking over your shoulder, the world itself will want you dead. Even a crushing defeat like this will not be enough to deter them for long. My death will only...strengthen...their cause...
For a split second, Naruto hesitated. Akainu wasn't neccessarily a bad man per se; if those last words were any indication. He genuinely believed the World Government to be in the right. Wrong or not; one's perception simpy didn't change overnight, the world would want blood for what had been done today, and that blood would most likely be his.
"They can send whomever they want; it won't matter. They'll just be sending lambs to the slaughter."
"So you say...
"I have to finish you off now," Naruto found the words tasted like ash in his throat. "Can't risk you coming back to kill us."
...very well." Sakazuki's sight drifted shut in resignation; he'd spoken his peace and was satisfied. "But before you take my head, will you grant me one last request?"
"..."
Naruto strongly considered telling Akainu to just fuck off, but something in the man's tone stopped him.
"Fine." he grunted. "Name it."
"Take care of my daughter."
Nodding, the blond cut down with his blade-
"STOP/ACE!"
Naruto froze, his blade halting a mere millimeter from splitting Sakazuki's neck in twine. The sudden inaction sent shockwaves rippling across the ice and cleared away the smoke, broadcasting their position to virtually every marine within a mile radius. The clearing of the fog also allowed him to see just whom it was that had called out to him. Monkey D. Luffy was hurtling towards them like a bullet loosed from a gun, swift strides all but devouring the distance between them. And there, still approaching, but a good deal slower thanks to her recently bandaged wound...
"Tenten?!"
"Lu-Luffy?!"
Both men openly guffawed, relieved to see their loved ones in one piece and only slightly worse for waer. Naruto was the first to move, dimly registering Mugiwara's many profuse and profuse "Arigatou!"'s as he pushed past, letting the brothers have their little celeberation.
"You look like shit." he chuckled.
"I feel like shit." she groaned. "Give me a hand here. I wanna talk to my pops before...before...
Naruto faltered, his smile vanishing. The remainder of the marines were keeping their distance for now, but once they realized what was going on...
"Yeah. I gotcha."
She limped forward with an awkward gait-partially favoring her right side until he finally moved to aid her. She collapsed against him with a gasp, nearly crippled by the action. Even then the brunette didn't so much as glance at Sengoku's headless body-nor the baffled form of Portgas D. Ace embracing his younger brother. She'd only eyes for Akainu.
"Please, Red Mistress, kill me." the disgraced admiral muttered to Tayuya, eyes still closed. "Before its too late."
The redhead blinked, confused.
"Why the hell would I do that?"
"...I don't want to be seen in such a disgraceful state." A light bulb flashed in the pirate's mind. He'd rather die and be thought a villian than be faced with his daughter a second time.
"Nope."
"What?"
"I said no."
As Tayuya looked on, Tenten half-walked, half-limped towards her old man under the blonde's guidance, pausing only to glance at her but a once before moving on. Akainu's eyes fluttered opesn as she knelt beside him but he didn't attack, the old man's gaze remained fixated on the hole he'd punched through his only child, the scarlet stains still seeping through the bandages. They remained that way for a few moment; father and daughter, both staring, one living, the other dying, yet neither willing to speak.
Finally the latter broke it with a tearful sob.
"Godamnit dad...why the hell did you do that to me?!"
...sorry."
"I almost died! And then you tried to finish me off! Now look at you! You're the one dying because of what you did!"
...I'm sorry."
"No you're not!"
...I am." the dying marine rasped. "Sorry."
"Is that all you can say?!"
...I'm...sorry."
Sakazuki's visage knotted within visible strain, the words taking a visible toll from him. Anyone could see he hadn't long left. With a wound like that, it was a miracle he was alive at all. Tenten reached down for him and pulled his bloodied head into her lap and cradled it there, her fingers stroking at his scarred scalp.
Naruto didn't know what to say to this reunion; he felt like a third wheel, standing here, seeing something he'd rather not see. It was like nothing he'd suspected. Now...he almost felt bad for ending the man's life. Had he let his anger get the better of him, his wrath at Tenten's injury overriding his better judgement. A glance at Luffy and Ace said no; it hadn't been his original objective-but seeing the two brothers reunited made him feel good inside. On the other hand, he'd just taken a girl's father from her, no matter what their relationship might've been. Sighing, he began to walk away, lest he be caught unawares.
'I need to get out of here for a little while-eh?
A few yards away stood a dark-haired woman, her pristine white coat and tightly braided hair standing in eerie contrast to the chaos raging around them. The fact that she was an admiral didn't even register within his mind until she came closer, until she spoke; then it was clear as day.
"Uzumaki Naruto, I presume?" her voice was soft and melifluous, the voice of a healer.
"Yes?" he took a moment to eye her up and down-ready to defend himself if need be. Strange. His intel had suggested there were only three admirals in the navy. Not four. Someone higher up in the chain, then? Those clever bastards, adding another one while he was locked up! Regardless, that didn't change the fact that she was an enemy.
"My name is Unohanna Retsu." the admiral introduced herself. "It was I who treated your companion."
"Guess I owe you my thanks, then."
...It is I who should be thanking you." her smile was just a touch too sad for his liking, glancing away all too quickly. "My dislike for Akainu was wellknown, but you may have redeemed him at the end." Naruto followed her gaze back to the prone form of the admiral, his chest no longer rising and falling with breath.
"He's gone." Tenten scrubbed at an eye with the back of her hand. "Thanks for waiting. You can do it now."
"Are you sure?"
"Just get it over with." their sniper groaned. "Its neccessary to make them submit, right? Just..." she shook herself with an effort. "Just make it quick!"
And Naruto did, his blade cutting deep through Akainu's neck, his head bagged a second later.
"Damn." Ace whistled from behind them. "I'm no fan of the marines either, but did you have to carve up his corpse?" His gaze strayed nervously to the twin heads now belted to Naruto's waist and the blond resisted an urge to rebuke him. The boy was young; he didn't know what had to be done. Tenten and the others understood. Someday, he would as well.
"Fuck you!" Tayuya spat back. "We bust you out, and now you decided to pussy out on us?!"
"Easy, Tayuya." Naruto soothed. "Its what he would have wanted." Came the terse reply toward Ace. "Besides, this is the man who tried to kill you. If I hadn't blocked him, you wouldn't be standing here right now. You should be glad he's dead." His gaze slipped to Mugiwara. "You too, Strawhat. I think its high time you and Ace get the hell out of here. You won't like what happens next."
"I guess-
"You filth!"
It all happened so fast.
One moment Ace had been standing there with Naruto and Tayuya, looking down at Sengoku's corpse. The next he was flung aside and to safety; a sword thrusting itself through the back of Naruto's chest instead of his own, emerging in a shower of gore. Tayuya shrieked in surprise, completely unprepared for the sudden ambush, Yachiru's cry of dismay echoing hers. His feet staggered forward, dragging against the pavements, a look of shock marring his visage.
"Naruto!"
The blonde barely even registered the blade itself-it was the searing agony in his chest that occupied everything else. He was no stranger to pain; nay, he'd learned to live with it while his mother trained him. But this was different. There could be no ignoring the fire that filled his every pore, the sudden lack of oxygen in hs lungs. Despite that, he somehow still found the strength to stretch his neck, to look into the eyes of the man who had slain him.
"Boss!" Tenten cried!
"Don't!" Retsu was suddenly there, restraining her. "If you open your wound again, there'll be nothing more I can do for you!"
The Wraith hissed angrily, eyes boring into his enemy.
"You...!"
Vice Admiral Momonga glared back at him, bitter black eyes boring balefully into his blue. Naruto tried to open his mouth and reply; all that emerged was blood. The man gave the blade an angry wrench, ripping it from the blonde's chest, sending his victim stumbling forward. A mistake and a green one at that made by a man consumed in the throes of anger and passion. One that cost him most dear. With the pirate no longer trapped on that nodachi, with his body now prone upon the ground, his allies were free to wreack havoc upon the killer of their comrade. as they saw fit. And they did.
"Gomu Gomu no...JET BAZOOKA!"
Air rushed out of the man's lungs in one tremendous "Oof!" of pressure, Luffy's high-speed blow merely the first of many.
"HIKEN!/SONATA!"
A wall of unholy orange fire and sound slammed into Momonga's unprotected flank, bowling the marine over and badly burning him, smoldering his coat from his shoulders. Ace advanced after him not a seconds later, Tayuya hot on his heels. Even Yachiru, still clinging tight to her shoulder, had a look of wrath in her bright pearly eyes. In that instant the Vice-Admiral knew death had come for him-but it had been worth it to avenge the death of his admiral.
Drawing himself up, he prepared for the worst, steeling his soul for the void-
"Wait!"
Four pairs of eyes-one marine and three pirate-snapped towards the blonde's body. Because it was moving. No longer twitching in the throes of death but rising, dragging himself upright, jerking like a puppet severed from its master's strings.
"That...fucking hurt."
Naruto shuffled to his feet like a man starved for food; standing woodenly and without care. His wound wept crimson but impossibly the young man still stood, cold blue eyes burning on the vice-admiral who'd dealt him the grievous death blow only moments ago. All too slowly he began to speak, a strange and eerie incantation flowing forth from his lips.
"Seven downwards slopes, seven bloodied hopes, all bound by the same ropes." With each syllable the blood flowing from his chest began to slow, tapering off until it'd stopped altogether. "I am the vessel of this sword -it is mine to command, now let us dispense with the verbal trope."
The marine gaped clearly unable to believe what he was seeing. Naruto barely believed it himself. He'd almost forgotten what kind of power the Shichiseiken had imbued him with. Without it, he was merely a powerful logia and a skilled swordsman; each dangerous in their own right, but when combined with the Seven Star Sword, his abilities were nothing short of godlike. And after having drank the blood of many foes-two of them admirals, no less-it was full to brimming with power.
Now that power flowed up the absurdly long edge, through the handle, onto his arm...and into his wound.
The Wraith nearly bent double as his wound stitched itself shut, muscle and sinew winding themselves back toegher, his perforated lung repairing itself in the blink of an eye. Power like this could make a man go mad, indeed, it had nearly done so to a young man named Saga several months ago. But madness did nothing to a man who was already mad; and Uzumaki Naruto lay far beyond its grasp. He felt its influence as the most weakest of whispers in the back of his mind, a fleeting thought brushed aside with the barest of ease.
"Oi oi oi oi," he growled, straightening to his full, towering height. "Its not very nice to sneak up one people...BASTARD!" His final word resounded with his fist, sending the vice-admiral sprawling into unconcsiousness in a single blow. Naruto briefly considered killing him but thought better of it; he needed a witness to testify that Akainu and Sengoku were indeed dead. Momonga would suffice.
"What? What?" Luffy looked to the blood that coated Naruto's blade, then down to where his wound had been. "Ah! That's that looooooong sword from before! The one Zoro broke! What're you doing with it?!"
"Borrowing it." Naruto replied cheekily. "Don't worry, this sword won't make me go crazy like Saga."
"Yosh, its fine then!"
"JUST LIKE THAT?!" Ace and the rest of the Wraiths facepalmed. Naruto sighed.
He stared down at Sengoku's severed head and suddenly felt the urge to laugh; barely stifling it in times. The Shichiseiken wanted him to laugh though; it clearly enjoyed the idea of killing two powerful opponents only moments apart. Shaking his head, he denied it a third; that was when he realized something.
"Oh, Tayuya."
"Yeah, boss?"
"Where's Bee?"
Tayuya sighed. "He went to investigate 'that', remember?" Ah, right. Who knew what secrets Marineford housed? Now was the perfect time to unearth them; with all the fighting going on outside it would be all too easy for someone to infiltrate headquarters and make off with a few secrets. Or items. Who knew? This would likely be their only opportunity to investigate; even if they were victorious, more marines would soon be on their way to lock this place down soon. Time to get this over with. With the Den-Den Mushi still broadcasting, the entire world would witness what was about to happen. It would be...
...perfect.
"Tayuya! Tenten! Yachiru!"
"?"
"We're moving out! Meet me at the scaffold!"
"Aye, sir!"
"I'd like it if you accompanied them." Naruto continued, turning his gaze to Retsu. "But don't try anything; I get the feeling you're not exactly who you claim to be." Something flashed in the woman's gaze then, a hint of bloodlust flickering in that serene gaze. And then it was gone, as though it had never been. Naruto frowned. What was this unshakeable sense of dread he felt? It certainly wasn't Unohanna ,that frightened him, not with two admirals in the bag. Somehow, he had the feeling that this wasn't over yet. As though in decimating the marines, he'd let loose something...worse.
Naruto didn't give them so much as a backwards glance; he was already gone with the wind.
He could only hope that Bee at least valued discretion...
"Yo! Where da' hell am I supposed ta go?!"
The Zoan type glanced this way and that, utterly lost within the broken and twisting corridors of Marine Headquarters. An entire wing of the builing had collapsed thanks to Naruto's Daishinkan at the beginning of their battle, leaving the rest of the building completely unstalbe. He wasn't afraid of being crushed; rather, he was afraid of failing to complete his mission. Naruto had been adamant-one Ace was freed, someone needed to investigate headquarters and make off with as much intelligence as they could. In hindsight, perhaps Killer Bee wasn't suited to that job. He'd never been the scientific type; he'd sooner smash something rather than look at it for more than a few minutes.
"Baka yarou! Kono yarou!" he grumbled to himself as he descended yet another staircase. "I should be out there fightin'! Not in here, hidin! Fool!" Still grumbling he swatted at a nearby painting, not even pausing once to consider the rammifications of his actions. Imagine his surprise when that painting twisted aside, the wall falling away to reveal a darkened stairway. Thus exposed the hybrid turned, arching a dark brown behind his glasses, lips quirking in bemusement. Now this was more like it!
Bingo!
Bee swept down the stairs in an instant, not even pausing to open the first door he found. He just kicked it down! No match for his strengths, the metal slab fell away with two blows, revealing a strange complex just beyond the doorway. What secrets lay within, he wondered?
A large glass cylinder dominated the center of the room, its pale blue glow casting the darkened lab in azure relief. Bee stared at it for a long moment before his gaze was drawn to a large wooden table opposite. There their bodies crushed by a portion of the falleng ceiling and scattered amidst a slew of papers, lay a pair of marines. Guards, then. That made this room even more interesting! Making his way to the table he cleared the two of them aside, uncaring for the wet squishy sounds they made.
His attenion lay with the papers.
He sifted through the unintellgible notes as best he could and came up with a great many; something about "water" and "human experiment" stuck out in big bold letters. Failure, it said. Subject too unstable. Prone to emotional fits, irrationality, irrability, hysteria. Mass production not feasible, incompatible with devil fruits. Recommend immediate termination of subject and project restart. There were many more notes beneath it but splotches of ink and blood had made them utterly unintelligible to his eyes. There was a name there though, or at least the first two letters of it. Ju..?
That was it. Beyond that, nothing legible. But whatever was in this human-sized cylinder had to be interesting.
"Oho?" A bright gleam shone in those dark sunglasses. "This'll be nice! It'll suffice!" Wrapping the strange cylinder up with one of his many tentacles and the pile of papers in the other, he made for the exit, hoping that this prize would suffice. He didn't even want to think of what Naruto might do to him if wasn't!
Death was coming for him. Its cold fingers traced his shoulders, its voice whispered in his ear. Its time, it seemed to say. You've done enough. Just give in. Close your eyes. Rest...
Whitebeard could feel his insides burning, the organs screaming with each and every step he took. This was it, then. He was done, or so near to it, that he couldn't tell the difference anymore. His spirits remained the same, but his body had been all but blasted out by Akainu's last attack, internal damage that no modern medicine could hope to fix. Even with that infernal woman's odd treatment, he didn't have long left. It certainly didn't help that he'd waged an almost single-handed war against almost the entire Marineford by himself in the hours since. In another time and place he would've fallen to Blackbeard by now, but with the latter gone, he found himself striding still forward upon the battlfield, surrounded by his most loyal soldiers.
Today, he tasted the sweet fruit of victory.
One never would've guessed it by looking at him, but Edward Newgate was dying. It could be seen there in the way his hand trembled around his halberd, the slight wheeze of his chest, and his glassy gaze. The marine soldiers were still terrified of him though; and they'd every right to be. Even on his deathbead, Shirohige could end them in an instant. With the Wraiths running interference, the Whitebeard Pirates had made inroads to Marineford, the remaining Vice Admirals proving no match for them without leadership.
Even the warlords had fallen.
Dracule Mihawk had tacuitly withdrawn after his confrontation with Kenpachi Zaraki; Gecko Moria was dead of a broken neck, and Donflamingo Donquixote was nowhere to be found. Kuma appeared to have vanished as well, recalled by the World Government once it became apparent that the marines would lose, his whereabouts also unknown. Only Boa Hancock still fought on, injuring ally and enemy alike. And as for the admirals...he was fairly certaint hey'd met an even more disastrous fate than the Shichibukai...
A stray breeze alerted him to the prescence of his grandson, but not to the twin bags he had belted to his waist. Certainly not the contents within. Newgate arched a grizzled brow as his descendant revealed them unto him: the bloodied heads of not only Akainu-but Sengoku as well. A chorus of gasps arose from those men assembled, Marco and Jozu chief amongst them. Damn that was impressive. Especially. This new era really was something. With those two dead-and Kizaru captured-Aokiji was left to command the battle alone, assuming he hadn't fallen as well. It was ironic, really. Shirohige had come here to rescue Ace, and here, his grandson-alongside his crew-had ended the war almost singlehandedly.
It nearly brought a tear to his eye.
"Gurararara," he rasped, wincing as his laughter dissolved into coughing. "That's a fine prize you've got there, boy. It makes me proud."
"You look shitty, gramps." There was just a touch of sorrow in his grandson's tone. Hell, he felt shitty. It had been so many years since he'd been beaten this badly...not since Roger. He could feel it in his bones. Death was calling his name, crooning to him in dulcet tones. But not yet. There was still one thing left for him to do.
With this in mind, Whitebeard knelt before his grandson, laying a large hand on the boy's head. A tremor of power lanced down his massive arm, jutting out from his broken body and into the blonde. Naruto started as though he'd been struck, blue eyes widening every so slightly as the quivering fade. Shirohige seemed...older somehow as he backed away, rising to his full towering height once more. It was as if something had been passed between grandfather and grandson, though only the former knew just what it truly was.
"Well, that was wierd." Naruto muttered, glancing down at himself, finding no visible changes. Did everything seem brighter, somehow?
Marco frowned.
"Pops...
"Hush, my son." Whitebeard soothed, wheezing slightly. "What's done is done." His battered mustache curled questioningly. "What about Ace? Is he alright?"
"He is." Naruto nodded in affirmation. "I told him and Luffy to make for your ship. With luck-
"Pops! Holy crap! You look like shit!" A spiral of flame resolved into existence behind Naruto, causing the blond to start in surprise. Portgas D. Ace at least had the courtesy to appear sheepish in the face of this sudden betrayala, scratching the back of his head at his elder's ire. That didn't spare him the crew's joy however. A mighty chorus went up from them all; before the young fireband could so much as blink, he found himself all but swept up in the arms of his comrades and kin.
"ACE!"
"Stubborn brat!" Naruto barked angrily at an aside, but the words were without rancour. "Didn't I tell you to stay with your brother?!"
"I was worried about the old man!
"And you think I wasn't?! There are still marines nearby! I'd rather you didn't get killed, thank you very much!
"I don't have to listen to you!"
They would've continued like that for some time, were it not for Whitebeard himself. "Gurarara," he rumbled, "that aside, I think there's someone here who would like to have a word with you." Naruto blinked a bit that time, wondering who it might be. Imagine his surprise when the whole of the Whitebeard Pirates parted like the red sea, making way for a a warm, smiling face that he hadn't seen since he was a child. Granted, he did have a scar on his eye that hadn't been there before, but it was the same face, alright. And that voice!
"Looks like you've done some growing up, Naruto. Kushina would've been proud." his confusion was greeted with a warm, almost familiar smile. Naruto didn't even bother to ask about that massive galleon the man had doubtlessly arrived in, nor how the hell he'd managed to sneak into Marineford, undected. He was suddenly a child again, asking his mother a very old question.
"Who's that man, momma?"
And she would always answer:
"He's your uncle, Naruto."
"You...I remember you!" He'd never gotten a name out of his mother that one time he'd asked, but that face! Damnit, why was it so familiar?! "Who in the hell are you and how do you know my mother?"! The faceplant that followed would've been humorous in any other situation.
"She never told you?!"
"No, she didn't! Now who the hell are you and why are you here?!"
"Well...to make a long story short, I didn't really come here for you. I came to stop the fighting. But to answer your first question, I'm...
Naruto blinked, balking, as Shanks gave him two simple words.
"My...uncle?!"
Uchiha Sasuke had seen many horrible things in lifetime. He'd heard of even more. But this...this was right up there with the worst. So much had been seen and done this day, foes beaten and slain, allies found and yet lost, but it all paled in comparison to what his capitain had brought them. It wasn't just one of the Four Emperror's, Red Haired Shanks-apparently Naruto's uncle-standing opposite him, or the fact that the former'd had somehow recruited a marine admiral as their doctor, said doctor being secretly more bloodthirsty than Kenpachi. Oh no, this was worse. Much worse.
Because his senchou held two bloody bags tied to his belt. Sasuke didn't need his eyes to know what was in those bags. Just as he didn't need to know why Naruto had assembled them up here, in front of all these den den mushi, each about to go live on the scaffold.
"Are those...?"
...Their heads?" Shikamaru finished with a gulp.
"Ohhhh, he's taken da heads, that mean's they're-
WHAM!
Bee's rap ended with Mei's elbow implanted in his stomach.
"Hush." she soothed. "Just look after that tube you found, dear."
"Seriously though," Tenten risked a nervous glance at the bags. "You really want to do this?"
"Yup." Naruto replied, touching the now bagged skulls of Akainu and Sengoku.
"And we're going to show them." Hashirama's deadpann was barely concealed, "to the entire world."
"That's the plan, yeah."
"Not my idea," Tayuya immediately foisted the blame off on the blonde.
"Arararara," Aokiji gasped, his body still pinned beneath Kenpachi's boot. "I take it you mean to kill me, too?"
"No." Naruto's answer surprised everyone, Shanks included. "I actually respect you enough to let you live. The marines are crippled, anyway. Kizaru will never see the light of day again, and with these two dead, maybe you and Garp can make a better go at it. If not...well, you'll see us again. Now, let him up, Zaraki."
"What?!" the madman growled, eyes bulging. "But I was gonna kill him!"
"I said let him up. He's not worth killing."
"Would you kindly?" Retsu smiled serenely; the poor berserker jerked back as if he'd been burned, muttering something about crazy women and their medicine. That got Tayuya laughing, which made Tenten snicker, of course that earned a smile from Sasuke, provoking the rest to absolute laughter. Their mirth was short-lived however. When Naruto pulled the heads out of their sacks and activated the link, it was all business for what might have been the first time in his life. That same link reached the snails in Saboady across the world, broadcasting his every word to eager and waiting reporters.
"Greetings, world." he addressed them, his words deep and booming. "My name is Naruto. Naruto Newgate. Now, I'm sure some of you recognize me, just as some of you are not doubt wondering why the feed was cut so suddenly back there. Well, I'm here to tell you what happened; the truth. See these heads?" He jerked Akainu and Sengoku for emphasis. "This is not an illusion. This is not a mistake. Your precious fleet admiral, the man you all cherish so dearly... is dead. So is Admiral Akainu. Your dear Kizaru will never see the light of day-Aokiji lives only because of my mercy. And the Marines? Your precious Admirals? Shichibukai? Hate to break to you, but they've lost. We've won. Portgas D. Ace is alive. Don't believe me? See for yourself."
Still smiling, he beckoned Ace in from off-screen; "Fire Fist" reluctantly stepped into view, looking none too pleased about it. "Now do you see? Those few that aren't dead have retreated or surrendered, just as some of your precious marines already have. Your warlords are dead, or have fled. Now, some of you may be wondering; what if he's lying? What if this is all a hoax. Well let me assure you; do you see Marineford behind me? A beautiful landmark, no? Watch."
Even as he spoke he raised the Shichiseiken and slashed down; the invisible wave of wind carving up and through the massive building. There was a moment of terrible silence as
"The gauntlet has been thrown down; your era is over, World Government!
"Yes, yes, you've all done a wonderful job." a disembodied voice patronized. "Just as I knew you would."
Naruto froze, with a flick of his wrist, he cut the feed.
"Did you hear that?" he hissed; once more, the Wraiths froze.
Froze, as a familiar shaped resolved itself out of the gloom, shape and form manifesting from the nothingness to assume the guise of a man in a red-clouded cloak. A masked man. The very same man who had free him from Impel down and started this very hell in the first place.
"Isn't that...?"
"Muhuhuhuhu," The masked man chuckled hoarsely, a gloved hand lingering over the orange facade that covered his visage. "Thank you, for all that you've done, Naruto-kun. Truly. I honestly didn't expect you to form such a gallery of rogues when I broke you out, let alone weaken the marines this much. Congratulations on your victory. Such a shame that so many had to die to see this day won...
Naruto bristled. How dare he speak of that...!
"Oi oi," A strong hand clasped his shoulder, Shanks' palm the only thing restraining him from lashing out. His uncle-surprise surprise-had arrived here and the end of the battle-at the loss of so many, to effectively bring the War of the Best to a close. The last living link to his mother-excluding Whitebeard-standing here beside him.
"Don't let him get to you, kid."
"My thanks to you as well, Red Hair!" The stranger laughed loudly, the lone eye of his mask turning to regard the emperor. "It is only fitting that you of all people, be here to witness this! The day the World Government was brought low, down to its knees! The day I abolished it and gave rise to a new world!"
"Keh...!" Zaraki snorted. "What the hell is he blabbering about? You know this guy, Naruto?"
Retsu frowned as well, her mouth downturned in silent approval.
"In a way, yes."
"Who the hell is this fucker?" Tayuya hissed.
"Ararara," Aokiji's weak gasp merely confirmed his disagreement. "Whoever you are, that won't work. I'm still here...
Marines and Pirates alike glanced about, wondering just who this masked madman was. Who he claimed to be.
"My name is Uchiha Madara!" The man introduced himself, "And I bid you all welcome To the dawn of a new era!" His voice rang out loudly across the yard, speaking to all assembled. "A new organization, one truly dedicated to world peace! To prosperity! A world, where no one will suffer! Where there are no losers, only the winners! Long have I strived from shadows to reach this goal, and now you, each and evey one of you, shall see it come to fruition! The name of this organization, you ask? Why, it is none other than...
"Akatsuki!"
"Madara?" Hashirama's face had gone entirely pale. "No, that's not possible. I killed Madara myself nearly a hundred years ago! He shouldn't be alive! You're an imposter!"
"Am I?" The masked man merely laughed. "Do I look dead to you?"
"New era?" Naruto finally found his voice, eyes flashing a dangerous red. "World peace? You know what I think of that, as a pirate?"
"Do tell."
"To hell with that bullshit!"
There was a silence.
"I thought you might say that." the masked man remained eerily calm. "But it doesn't matter-you've changed things. There's no going back. To the world, you're more than just a pirate; you've kicked the Government's teeth in; they'll be howling for blood, not just yours, but everyone associated with you. Make an enemy of me now, and you'll only regret it in the end-
His words ended as Naruto's haki-enfused blade slipped into his stomac...and passed through empty air. He stumbled forward, blinking as his arm, and then his entire body simply phased right through his opponent, all too easily. As if this man didn't even exist. A subsuquent attack by Hashirama and Sasuke met with similair effects; both men simply ghosted through the vagabound like he wasn't even there. Nothing touched him, not even a single needled from Tenten so much as grazed his mask.
"What the hell?!"
"What's wrong, Red Hair?" the masked man mocked. "Aren't you going to help them?"
"Not at all." Shanks simply smiled. "My nephew has everything under control."
"Does he now?" Madara scoffed. "I fail to see how-
Ting!
A hiss left his lips as a piece of his mask flew away, exposing the upper left side of his face. A thin sliver of blood trailed down his exposed cheek.
"?!"
"So you can be hurt!" Naruto barked, lowering his hand as the masked man raised his own to cover his exposed visage "Good. If you can be hurt, then you can bleed."
"Such a shame." 'Madara' sighed softly. "I had hoped, you were smarter than that...apparently not. Very well. If you refuse to see the glory of the Moon's Eye Plan, then so be it. You shall see soon enough! I know you may think your crew to be unmatched, but compared to my organization, to me, to the new world...they are nothing! You could have joined me and achieved peace but now...now,you will know the horror of terror and despair!" Time and space bent inwards even as Sasuke's Amaterasu swarmed over him, his body vanishing back from whene it came. A lone red eye burned out against them in challenge, adding further to his words.
"I'll see you again, Uzumaki Naruto." And with that, he was gone...
...and a new chapter began.
A/N: And there ya be! Despite my illness, I was so moved by your many reviews that I worked REAAALLLY hard to get this up. I've racked up quite the body count thus far: Sengoku-Akainu-and of course Moria are dead; Kizaru and Donflamingo are questioniable, and Tenten survived. The War of the Best is rapidly wrapping up, and sadly, we're about to see a casualty on the pirate side. The thought breaks my heart, but it has to happen. Don't read the preview below otherwise!
To those of you who were expecting Unohanna to appear , you were correct. I do believe the Wraiths have finally found their doctor! The fights were furious and fierce throughout these chapters a bit, but we're not done yet! More crew members are coming, and battles aplenty loom on the horizon! Look forward to it, ya'll! Also, expect an update to Passing the Torch and Prince of Darkness very soon!
So...in the immortal words of Atlas...
...Review, would you kindly? And of course, enjoy the preview! Next chapter! Legacy! Let's see what's in that tube, hmmm? Thanks to the person who suggested this!
(Preview)
Naruto wept.
Grief was a constant companion, lingering heavily on his shoulder. But there was also anger. Rage. He'd done so much, fought so hard, and in the end, it didn't even matter. Yes, their bounties were now skyhigh after what he and his crew had done to Marineford, but what did it matter? The old man was dead. After all he'd said and done, Whitebeard was gone. Dead. He'd succumbed to his injuries only hours after Madara's answer of war; declaration of Akatsuki.
And all he had to remember him was this strange tingling in his arms. Whatever Whitebeard had done to him before death had seemingly transferred the power of the Gura Gura no mi to him; but that knowledge only made him wander deeper into the bowels of the Moby Dick; their temporary base while the crew recovered from their wounds. As soon as they were up and about, he resolved to be away from here. He just could not bring himself to be on Whitebeards ship. He just couldn't. When the old man had gone he'd just looked so..peaceful. Now the world knew who his grandson was. And they wanted him gone.
To hell with that; he needed to get to Water Seven. Build a ship of their own. Just forget about this awful mess.
Eventually, he stumbled upon it in the cargo hold; the strange cylinder Bee had absconded from Marineford. The fluid within it moved eerily back and forth eerily now, almost as though it were seeking something. The surface of the tube was cool to the touch, almost soothing-
Hello...?
"Kami!"
Without thinking he struck the transparent tube with all his mighe-lashed out with a boot to shatter the glass. Water gushed forth from the wound, spouting in nearly every direction, most of it onto him. He glared at it, bloody red daggers, as though he could somehow wreak his weariness out upon the liquird. Imagine his surprise when the water began to move. Droplets slipiped off his soaked form, dripped from the walls and ceiling, pooling rapidly before his feeet as he lookd down, trailing down his body until not a single bit of moisture was left.
"What in the world?"
As he looked on resolved itself into the shape of a woman. A very naked woman, her heartshaped face framed by sea-blue hair, the long locks plastered to either side of her face, her bright eyes gazing beffudedly about in a vain search for something. She didn't even try to cover herself, instead her gaze roamed the room, as though she looked...lost, somehow. He coughed quietly and she turned to face him, the helpless look contained deep within her sight struck a chord deep within him.
"Who or what are you?" Naruto muttered.
She uttered one word, then. Her own name.
"Juvia...?"
The blond sweatdropped slightly. "Well then...its, ah, nice to meet you...Juvia. The name's Naruto-
"Naruto-sama!"
?!
"Why me...?"
R&R! =D