Hey guys, well the next chapter is here. The meeting of Luffy and Dragon. How will this turn out?

World of Lies and Finding Out

Infront of Luffy was perhaps the most surreal man that he ever met that is if who or what in front of him was even a man to begin with. Sure this strange powerful entity that stood before him was the size of a large person, it had a face, arms and legs, it looked completely human but it felt nothing human. Luffy has met many strange people during his time on the Grand Line. He has met some fairly tall men like Crocodile and Aokiji, grotesque looking men like Wapol and Moriah, giants and even fishmen. But despite some of them not looking human, they all felt human. Who or whatever stood before him, did not feel human at all. It felt to powerful to be human. It gave off an enigmatic aura that made him feel mysterious and even divine. Luffy met a man who claimed he was a god and Luffy surely proved him wrong. Or if Enel really was a god, then he was a god slayer. However the presence in front of him, truly felt mysterious and divine, as if it was a real god. Luffy did not know what to make of this person. But one thing Luffy could always count on, his instincts. Luffy was not very knowledgeable but he did not need to be because his instincts was more than enough to make up for that. His instincts allowed Luffy to pick out the real Mr 4 from over 20 clones. His instincts allowed him to immediately indentify Rob Lucci as the strongest enemy at Ennies Lobby and the one he was supposed to fight. His instincts allowed to indentify that the room at the top of Arlong tower was filled with Nami's suffering and his instincts also told him that he needed to destroy that dreadful room and its contents to set the beautiful navigator free. His instincts have never lead him astray. And right now, his instincts told him that the being in front of him was extraordinarily and overwhelming powerful. Luffy quickly was able to identify that despite his training, this entity was far beyond him and a battle between the two would certainly be his loss and possibly his death. However Luffy also knew that someone who felt so surreal, so mythical in nature to visit him was no coincidence. He was here for a purpose.

Dragon: You seem lost. Did you lose your way?

Luffy was shocked by the question but something in the man's tone made him want to answer. Almost as if he was entrapped by his voice. He turned around and walked towards the dock and sat down.

Luffy: Yeah, I think I'm lost. I don't know my way.

Dragon: I see.

Silence between the two.

Luffy: Do you want something old man.

Dragon: Hmmh old man, that's quite a name you have given me.

Luffy: Well I don't know your name.

Dragon: Dragon. Monkey D Dragon. I think that explains it all.

Luffy was mildly surprised but it was gone just about as soon as it came. The depression was still very clear to him and it seems it was taking away his excitement and meeting his father. He never particularly cared about his father since he never knew him but at this point he didn't seem to care about anything. The thing he cared about most, his nakama was now a thing of the past. His most precious thing was now no longer his. So the fact that he is meeting his father for the first time didn't seem to have any affect on him.

Luffy: So … dad, what do you want?

Dragon: I was just around an noticed you in the rain. You seemed lost so I thought maybe I could speak to you.

Luffy: Well so here you are. Now what do you have to say.

Dragon: Indeed you have lost your way. The path that you followed has always been filled with obstacles. They were overwhelming and truly almost impossible to overcome. Yet you did.

Luffy: Yes, I did. And here I am now.

Dragon: You overcame everything. The path was always full of challenges but you never lost your way.

Luffy: What are you getting at?

Dragon: Perhaps you need a new path, a different path. You seem to have strayed too far from the path of the Pirate King. Perhaps you need a new path to follow.

Luffy: I don't want a new path. The only path I want to follow is the same path as my nakama. But that is now impossible for me. So now there is nowhere for me to go. No path for me to follow. And even if I do find a path, I would be alone.

Dragon: Then perhaps I could show you a new path.

Luffy then turned to him.

Dragon: You have always followed your own path. Ever since I saw you set sail at Lougetown, I could tail that you believed this was the path you choose to follow. Your path was the road to the One Piece and your place was with your nakama. Or maybe your path was not the One Piece but whatever path your nakama chose to take. Either way, you never regretted your decision.

Luffy: …

Dragon: Do you regret it now?

Luffy: … I, I don't know. I always believed that I would always be with my nakama. I believed that even more I believed I would be the Pirate King. I may have strayed a little bit after Ace died but thanks to Jinbe I realized my place. I even trained for two years so that I could continue on this path and ensure that my nakama would follow me. No not follow me, but walk alongside me.

Dragon: …

Luffy: But I never expected this. I always believed my nakama had faith in me. Just as I had faith in them. I trust them and they trust me. But now I realize that was a lie. I lie I kept telling myself, to delude myself into believing that I was a good captain. If that was a lie, then what else was a lie? Were all the happy times we had together a lie? Were all the smiles and fun times we had actually a cover up to hide my own failure? Were they my nakama, or did they just see me as a means to achieve their own dreams? Am I the future king of the pirates or just a worthless child who does not know his place in the world? Everything I ever believed, I don't know whether they are truth or lies. Weather they are real or just delusions I made up. Before I was sure that I was captain of the Straw Hats, future king of the pirates? Now I don't even know who I am anymore?

Dragon: Then allow me to give you an identity?

Luffy with a confused face: …

Dragon: You do not know who you are, where you should go or where you belong. I can give you those things.

Luffy: I don't know if you or anyone could. I want to be with my nakama, on board Sunny. But I know I don't belong there. I would only bring them sadness and misery. I don't belong there. I don't belong anywhere.

Dragon: Then if you don't belong anywhere allow me to give you a place to belong to. Right now you are alone. But I would be with you.

Luffy: Would I have real nakama. Would I stop living in a world full of lies. Would the times I have with you and them be real.

Dragon: …

Luffy: I want nakama who I would not make miserable. Who I can actually smile with a know for a fact that they are not fake. Who I can fight alongside and be sure they are not doing it for themselves. Can you give me that?

Dragon walking closer to Luffy: Tell me more

Luffy: Nakama who would do anything with me. Go anywhere with me. Always be there for me, always be with me.

Dragon: Come with me and find out.

Luffy looking out into the sea: Alright.

And Dragon puts his arm on Luffy's shoulder and brings his cape around him.

Dragon with a smile: Welcome home, my son.

Luffy with a real smile: Thank you dad.

Luffy looks out to the distance and says: Farewell my nakama. Farewell Nami.

And so, Luffy and Dragon disappear into the rain. He was a true nakama. His entire existence was devoted to his precious people. Now a new path is ahead of him. The cycle of lies and betrayal has come to an end. Now a new path is ahead of him. What lies ahead is unclear, his destination is unknown. The final chapter in Luffy's life as a pirate has come to an end. A new chapter has begun. A dark one. A bleak one. A sad one.

Thousand Sunny

Nami and Robin returned from shopping. She was in a much better mood. Despite how terrible she felt before upon the horrible realization of what she said to her idiot yet beloved wonderful captain, she still had a great time. She really stuffed herself full at a restaurant that the crew would have mistaken her for Luffy in disguise. She was still feeling bad but no longer hysterical and distraught. She got some very good deals and saved quite a bit of money. She was planning of giving this money to Luffy at the next stop so that he could eat more than usual at a restaurant. She was even planning on taking him there herself. Just herself and Luffy. Luffy and she were with the crew when the first argument occurred. So she would apologize to him and the crew. However the second and more brutal one was between herself and Luffy alone. Just as how they were alone when this mess happened, they would fix this mess alone with each other. Just the two of them, alone at some restaurant. It didn't matter what type of restaurant it was. Luffy never really cared. As long as they had food, he was fine with that. However part of Nami wished it would it was a romantic restaurant. As soon as that though came to her head, a rosy blush appeared on her face and she squashed that idea. Luffy was an immature idiot, plain and simple. But he was a great and wonderful person and he deserved an apology.

Nami: Oye everyone.

Franky: Oh girly your back. And you seem better.

Nami: Franky how many times have I told you to stop calling me that.

Franky: Yeah whatever.

Nami then decided to drop the subject. It was unlikely he would stop calling her that.

Brooke: Yohohohoho. Nami-san you seem to be back to your normal self:

Nami: Yeah I am.

Brooke: Good then since your back to your normal self, do you mind showing me your panties?

Nami gave him a hard roundhouse kick.

Nami: Like hell.

Brooke: Yohohohoho Nami-san is definitely back to her normal self.

Chopper in a happy voice: Ah Nami your back

Nami: Of course.

Chopper: So do you feel better know?

Nami: I am. But if I wasn't I could always count on you, after all you are our cute little reindeer doctor.

Chopper doing his usual happy dance: Telling me that wouldn't make me happy you jerk.

Nami and Robin both laughed. It was great that the crew was finally returning to normal.

Ussop: Hey Nami and Robin. Did you too finish your shopping?

Robin: Yep we sure did. Nami sure did not hold back with the shopping.

Robin made sure to keep the fact that she didn't spend as much as she would normally secret from the crew. Nami really wanted this and she didn't want the crew interfering. Not like they would deliberately since they too wanted the captain and navigator to make up but they might accidently. So Robin made sure to not let that slip.

Later Zoro and Sanji arrived. Sanji seeing Nami was back to her usual self instantly went into his love mode.

Sanji: Nami-swan are you feeling better.

Nami: Sure Sanji-kun.

Sanji: Oh Nami-swan, I cannot tell you how happy I am feeling right now to know that you are better. Those times when you suffered were the worst moments of my life. How shameful it was of me that I could not make you happy during those storms. Each roar of thunder was like a blow to my heart and each strike of lighting a slash to my soul. Oh how I wish …

Zoro: I thought your worst moments was on that okama island.

Sanji would have had one of his usual fights with Zoro however the mere mention of the work okama make him shiver. That was hell. How dare that marimo used that against. He was going to make sure Zoro had a diarrhea tonight.

Nami: Whatever, I'm just going to put these clothes in my room.

Nami went to her room to put all the clothes in their respective places when she noticed an object in her room that was not supposed to be there. This was not just any object, but one of the most valuable treasures on the ship. It was none other than the symbol of the crew, Luffy's straw hat. She wondered why the hat was in her room. The mere fact that it was there meant that Luffy came into her room without permission. She was going to make sure to fine him a lot of berries. It didn't matter that Luffy and her had a huge fight. It is still wrong for him to come into her room. However the fact that he come into her room and left his treasured hat in there caused her curiousity to exceed her anger. So she picked up the hat when she noticed a small piece of paper underneath it. Picking it up and unfolding she read the contents.

Nami and everyone,

I realized that I cannot stay with the crew. All I ever do is mess up and make trouble for you guys. I'm sorry for being such a terrible captain and selfishly putting all of your lives in danger. I really am the worst captain and worst nakama ever. I don't deserve to have such a great crew like you guys and especially not a beautiful smart and wonderful navigator like you Nami. I'm leaving the crew. If I stay, I would only make you guys miserable and get in your way of achieving all of your dreams. And I would only put you guys in danger and maybe even get you killed. I'll let you guys choose your own captain. Pick a good one. One better than me. I wish you guys the best on your journey and I hope all of you achieve your dreams. You guys deserve that and a better captain than me. I was a bomb, I was a failure. Good luck everyone.

Good Bye

Luffy

Tears began to fall from Nami's cheek and a loud tearful scream filled the Thousand Sunny.

Well that is that. I know Dragon did not seem menacing but remember like Tobi he is manipulative. I decided to make him sound like he was really trying to help Luffy. He needed to sound like a good person for Luffy to willingly join. If he began talking about Tenryuubito and cycle of hatred, Luffy at the time probably wouldn't join him. As for Luffy himself well, he was in a very vulnerable state. As a result, his speech pattern and his way of talking was completeing different. Also even though Luffy is based on Sasuke, unlike Sasuke Luffy does not want revenge on anyone. He is simply alone and wants a place to belong to. Tobi tempted Sasuke just as how Dragon tempted Luffy. However Tobi used Sasuke desire for revenge to get him on his side while Dragon used Luffy's sadness, vulnerability and loneliness to get him to join. I modeled this meeting after two scenes. The first was Kisame's meeting with Tobi. I'm sure those who read or even saw that point of the anime and manga can identify the whole world of lies thing. This scene was also based on Aizen's meeting with the primera Espada Coyote Stark. Stark was the lonely espada who wanted friends. Likewise Luffy was lonely. I know I said this fic would be based on Naruto Shippuden and Luffy himself on Sasuke Uchiha but both of these scenes were so touching in my opinion that I had to incorporate them.

Now I know Luffy does not seem anything like the cold blooded Sasuke but he has just joined. He will have time to change. And Dragon is the master manipulator like Tobi saw Luffy's loneliness and despair. And he grabbed the opportunity.

Now Luffy is with Dragon and Nami has just found out.