Chapter 10: Fights, Idiots and Tree Climbing
XXXXXXX – East Blue, Gold Island, Shore
Zoro gave a fierce yawn and stretched his muscles as he awoke from his nap. "Hey, rodent. Are we there yet?"
No answer. "Yo! Naruto! I'm talking here!" Zoro said angrily.
When Zoro still got no answer, he finally got up and looked around. No one was in sight. Curious, he stepped off the boat and walked over to Nami's boat. He searched the boat there and found no one. "Where the hell is everyone?" Zoro asked himself. He then looked in the distance and saw the forest.
He briefly considered his options. One: he could train. Two: go back to sleep. Three: go look for the idiots. That was pretty much it, no matter which way you sliced it.
Well…he guessed there was no point in going back to sleep since he just woke up and as appealing as more training sounded, it just might be a good idea to go find the rest of the crew. Who knew, maybe they found something interesting. Like some quality rum.
That thought brought a smile to Zoro's face and he licked his lips. How long had it been since he had any good quality rum? Well, too long in any case. He then began walking to the forest and stopped right before entering it.
"Um…which way did they go?" He shrugged and just started walking in a random direction. He figured that as long as he walked in a strait line, he'd be fine.
Five minutes later, Zoro muttered. "I've seen this tree before…three times."
Zoro was lost. Again.
XXXXXXX – East Blue, Gold Island, Shino and Sasuke
Shino stared into the face of the young boy, who had identified himself as Uchiha Sasuke. He briefly wondered if he could have tried harder to keep the situation from growing out of control. Though, he did have to admit that his comment about 'It would seem that your rage and impatience is quite limited. Like a certain other person I know' was unnecessary and it only served to aggravate Sasuke, as oppose to calm him down.
On the other hand, given Sasuke's demeanor towards him, Shino was 87 percent positive that Sasuke would have attacked him anyway, regardless any comments. Positive or otherwise.
Sasuke looked at him and gave a small smirk. The kind that said 'you-have-no-idea-how-much-pain-is-coming-your-way', then outloud, Sasuke declared. "Are you going to come to me or shall I go to you?"
Shino didn't respond. He merely stood there. Waiting.
"Have it your way," Sasuke stated and ran towards him. The speed as far greater than Shino anticipated. Sasuke appeared right in front of Shino and punched him hard, causing Shino to stagger back
'He's fast,' Shino thought to himself, as he recoiled against the ground and launched himself at Sasuke, who merely dodged and retaliated with a left hook to Shino's chin. Shino stumbled back and threw two shuriken at the boy, who merely dodged them.
Sasuke then appeared behind Shino, and attacked with another right punch. This time, Shino was ready and blocked it. Sasuke didn't hesitant as he merely threw a left punch. Shino managed to catch this attack with his free hand. That didn't stop Sasuke as he merely jumped up into the air and tried to ax kick Shino's head. Shino was forced to bring both hands up and intercept the kick. Sasuke merely pivoted in midair and turned himself completely upside down. He then delivered a solid right punch into Shino's chest.
'Not only is he fast, but he is quite talented in the use of taijutsu,' Shino thought miserably. 'Apparently, he is far more skilled than I thought. This…could be a problem.'
Sasuke then charged Shino again, to which Shino met the charge with his own, using all the speed he could muster. This time, Shino made no attempt in defense, instead sticking to strait offense. Afterall, they say that the best defense is a strong offense. The two met in a fierce clash, using punches, kicks, even the occasional head bunt. Shino took his fair share of hits, but he did manage to score a few hits of his own.
'Indeed, his moves are far more skilled than I originally surmised. I had thought that his training was mostly self taught, simply as a means to deal with his isolation. Given the state of his clothes, he has been here a number of years without much, if any, human contact. Yet, his moves show that he has been taught by an accomplished instructor. He has a clear foundation that he is using. His attacks are skilled and precise.'
'More than my own,' Shino concluded. He would not win through a taijutsu match. And the thing was: Shino was almost positive that Sasuke knew this as much as Shino did.
Sasuke smiled. "Not bad. Not bad at all. I'll have to take it up a notch."
Before Shino could contemplate Sasuke's words, Sasuke moved at an even greater speed. 'What?!' Shino thought.
Sasuke's fist connected with Shino's face again, sending him crashing into a nearby tree. Sasuke then ran towards Shino again. Reacting on pure instinct, Shino threw several kunai and shuriken at the Uchiha.
Sasuke responded by jumped up and landing on the trunk of the tree, seemingly standing on it as if it were flat on the ground. Shino is distraught. 'He knows and mastered that exercise?'
Shino didn't have time to wonder about it, for Sasuke began forming hand signs: Snake. Tiger. Monkey. Boar. Horse. Tiger. Shino watched as Sasuke yelled. "Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu (Fire Style: Grand Fireball Technique)!" A large fireball shot strait towards Shino.
Sasuke watched at the as the boy ran from the tree into the clearing. Sasuke propelled himself from the tree and ran at Shino. He took out a kunai and thrust it into the boy's shoulder. "Got you!" Sasuke roared in delight.
"No, it is I who has you," Sasuke looked at the boy. The wound that he had inflicted wasn't producing any blood, just a small hole that seemed to be…moving? 'Shino's' arms then came forward and grabbed on to Sasuke's arm. Sasuke looked in horror and saw that the arms were turning into bugs. Dozens of them.
The real Shino emerged from the background. "What you just attacked was my Mushi Bunshin, or Insect Clone."
"A clone!?" Sasuke roared as he tried to get the bugs off of him. Somehow though, the Bunshin was keeping a firm hold on him and he wasn't able to move. "When did you make the switch!? And how the hell do you control BUGS!?"
"Insects. The switch was made as soon as you performed your Grand Fireball," Shino replied simply. "For a few seconds, your sight was obstructed via the fireball. It was a simply maneuver to create a Mushi Bunshin and replace my real self to it. Though, it should be noted that your impatience and lack of control allowed you to walk into my insects more easily that it should had been."
Sasuke swore violently under his breathe. The stupid bugs were halfway up his right arm.
"And to answer your second question," Shino continued uninterrupted. "I would presume that the answer is obvious to those that use their brain."
"Heh, I underestimated you," Sasuke muttered, his grin returning. "But now you are doing the same thing." Sasuke then shoved his other arm into the mass of bugs, causing Shino to raise an eyebrow in wonder.
With both arms inside the clone, Sasuke was able to bring his hands together and form some signs. He took a deep breathe and blew out another Grand Fireball, incinerating the bug clone. He didn't stop there though. He continued to feed the technique some more of his charka and keep it up, allowing him to lightly scorch his own arms and fry the little bastard bugs off them.
"You willing burned your own arms to get my insects off?" Shino asked, still showing no real emotions.
"Of course," Sasuke said as he turned to face Shino. He then inspected his arms. They weren't burned that badly, but enough to annoy him slightly. "And now that I know you're little trick, I won't fall for it again."
"My 'trick' is just beginning." Sasuke looked at him and noticed two things. One was that his charka reserves weren't as full as they should be.
The other was that there was a large swarm of bugs all around him.
"The species of insects that I use is a unique one. They are known as the Kikaichu, a rare form of parasitic beetles. However, unlike typical parasites, these don't feed off of blood or such. These insects feed off of charka."
"Charka?!" Sasuke repeated as realization drew on him. "Then…when they were on my arms…"
"That is correct," Shino affirmed. "They were draining your charka as they converged on you. It should be noted that you didn't help your situation any by plunging your another arm in as well, allowing the insects to feed off more of your charka that much faster." Shino then paused in consideration before continuing. "However, if you hadn't done that, the insects would have drained you completely. Therefore, your choice on burning your arms to free yourself was a good choice. Perhaps not the best option, but an option nonetheless." Shino then gave Sasuke a small nod as a way of acknowledgement.
Sasuke gave a small laugh, surprising Shino. Shino wasn't sure if Sasuke was laughing simply because he, Shino, had acknowledged Sasuke's moves, or if Sasuke was simply laughing because he was enjoying the fight.
"Let's continue," Sasuke declared and readied himself again.
"You will lose," Shino stated like it was fact, which it was. "You have lost a significant portion of your charka reserves, while I have not. In addition, you can't hope to fend me and the swarm off at the same time."
"Let's find out."
Both either Shino or Sasuke could make another move a gunshot rang out in the background. Gaimon's voice could be heard. "That's enough! Damn it, Sasuke! If you continue to fight everyone that meets you, you won't EVER get off this island!"
Both Sasuke and Shino looked in the direction the voice had come from, but neither one saw anything. Sasuke looked indifferent and said outloud. "Are you going to stay hidden like you usually do?"
"YES!!" Gaimon cried out from his hiding place.
"What's the big deal?" Another voice said, which Shino identified as Naruto.
"Big deal?" Gaimon repeated. "I told you: He showed up four years ago and since then, he's frighten off or fought off any other pirates that meet him!"
"You act like you're scared of him," Naruto said as he emerged from the forest into the clearing, dragging a protesting Gaimon with him. Luffy and the others emerged shortly after.
Luffy and Sakura were in awe, for different reasons. Sakura was awing because she saw super-cute boy. How she saw Sasuke cute in his too small clothes, long hair and bad attitude, no one knew. Such reasoning only exists in the mind of Sakura. She was already planning Operation: First Kiss, while Luffy was marveling over the fact that Sasuke had used a Fire technique. "Cool!!!" Luffy cried out in awe, causing everyone to look at him. "Are you a chicken?"
The temperature dropped a few degrees. Sasuke asked in a slow and dangerous voice. "What?"
"Are you a chicken?" Luffy repeated. "Everyone knows that chickens breathe fire."
Everyone looked at him, and Naruto was beginning to wonder if Luffy was complimenting him or insulting him. Knowing Luffy, Naruto figured he was trying to compliment him and saying how cool he was. Sasuke, on the other hand, had decided insulting and that it gave him one more reason to kick Luffy's butt later.
Nami looked at him. "Where do you get a stupid idea like that?"
"Duh!" Luffy said rolling his eyes. He then spoke in a voice that sounded like a mother telling her children something that should had been perfectly obvious and that the children were being difficult on purpose. "Don't you know your stable tails? You have a princess wearing a business suit trying to save her white horse from a big windmill that's guarded by a fire breathing chicken during knight time. Everyone knows that story!"
Everyone sweatdropped at Luffy's proclamation, though Nami produced the biggest one. She shook her head. Luffy just earned…hmm…let's see…one, two, three…seven…seven points for her Ultimate Idiot Competition between Luffy and Naruto. Current score: Luffy 13 points, Naruto five.
"Wow! Really!? I never knew that!" Naruto exclaimed.
Correction, Naruto just earned five points for stupidity and gullibility.
Sakura, who had hearts in her eyes, looked at Sasuke. "What's your name!?" She called out, apparently not hearing, or simply too distracted to realized that Gaimon had called Sasuke by name earlier.
"I have no reason to tell you," Sasuke replied and Sakura slouched in disappointed with an 'oh.'
Shino called back his bugs and they reentered his body. At the same time, Gaimon finally worked up some courage and started to say something when Naruto interrupted. "Who cares what his stupid name is. He's not cool or anything."
Shino spoke before Sasuke could say anything and go another rampage. "How much of our fight did you see?" Shino asked Naruto and the others.
Naruto answered for the group. "We've been watching since the showoff said, 'Not bad. Not bad at all. I'll have to take it up a notch."' Naruto crossed his arms and snorted. "He's not so cool." 'And Sakura-chan's paying attention to the jerk. What's so special about him? Nothing, that's what!'
"Your observation skills and definition of 'cool' require some modification," Shino said, pushing up his glasses with a finger.
Naruto looked at him. "What the hell are you talking about? You kicked his butt hard!"
"No. I didn't." Shino replied as he dusted off his coat. "Sasuke's speed and taijutsu skills are superior to my own. In addition, he can perform at least one Katon technique, another testament to his skill. And finally…he can climb trees."
Sakura, who had been growing more and more impressed with Shino's praises, was suddenly taken back. "Huh? Climb trees? Anyone can do that."
"What if you are restricted from using your hands?" Shino asked.
They looked at him. Luffy said. "Climb trees without using hands…that sounds COOL! I wanna try!" He then ran towards a tree at full speed…and crashed right into it. He slipped down the tree into the ground and everyone saw a deep impression in the bark. Two more points for Luffy.
Sasuke shook his head at the straw hat fool. "Wow. This group is filled with idiots."
Naruto turned back to Sasuke and shouted. "Hey! Watch who you're calling idiot, idiot!"
"Would you prefer stupid, pinhead, retarded, dork or dunce? I have more too."
Shino then saw an opening that he believed he could use to his advantage. He adjusted his glasses again and said. "Be calm, Naruto. Just because Sasuke is faster, stronger, smarter, taller – "
"Shino! Traitor!" Naruto roared at Shino, who merely thought 'mission accomplished'. Naruto then pointed at Sasuke. "I'm kicking his butt right now, and then I'm kicking yours, BUG King!"
"Insect," Shino replied. Before he could say anything else, Naruto ran strait towards Sasuke, throwing a right punch at him. Sasuke merely tapped Naruto's hand to the ground. The momentum dropped Naruto to all fours. Naruto swore, pivoted around and tried to kick Sasuke with his back foot.
Sasuke dodged easily again and swept his own foot at Naruto's other leg still on the ground. The move caught Naruto by surprise, causing him to fall face first in the dirt. Around this time, Luffy got up from his position and was watching. Sasuke then put his foot on the back of Naruto's head. "You know…I've just decided. You're loser." Sasuke said.
"Shut up!"
"Cool…" Luffy said once again in awe. "You should join my crew!"
That statement got multiple responses. Sakura yelled in joy, Naruto started cursing, Gaimon nodded in approval (from his hiding place back in the bushes) and Nami simply shrugged, not really caring.
Sasuke looked at Luffy. "Why should I join some idiot crew with a fool wearing some stupid straw hat?"
"Make fun of this hat and I'll send you flying, you got that!" Luffy roared, bringing back an arm as if prepared to punch.
"That stupid hat of yours isn't the only stupid thing about you, fool. Do you seriously think that you can hit me from way over there? You really are…," Sasuke started to say.
"Gum-Gum Pistol!" Luffy's arm shot out. Sasuke, who didn't even have a clue that Luffy could do something like that, was caught completely by surprise. Luffy's fist hit Sasuke right in the face. The result sent Sasuke flying fast and his only thought at the moment was 'what the hell?!' as he then smashed into a tree twenty meters away from where he had been standing on Naruto's head. Sasuke also thought he felt his nose bleeding.
"And there's plenty more where that came from!" Luffy yelled out as he retracted his arm.
Sasuke touched his face and looked at his hand. Blood. It wasn't his imagination. Luffy's punch had been real. He really had hit Sasuke hard enough to send him crashing into a tree and giving him a busted nose. And he did it from over twenty meters. "What the hell are you?" Sasuke asked Luffy as he pulled himself up.
"I'm a Gum Gum Man!" Luffy replied with pride, as though that explained everything.
Nami decided to explain. "He means that he's eaten one of the Devil Fruits. Specifically the Gum Gum Fruit. Turns his whole body into rubber. He's essentially a rubberman in every sense of the term."
"A Devil Fruit user," Sasuke muttered. Like most people in the world, he had heard rumors about the said people who had eaten those cursed things, but this was the first time he had ever seen anyone with it.
Because of that, Sasuke felt an emotion he hadn't felt in years. It was uncertainty. Part of him was eager to challenge this Luffy right here and now and learn just what it meant to be 'Gum Gum Man', 'rubberman' or whatever the hell he was. On the other hand, Sasuke knew he had no experience with this type of fight. It wouldn't be the same, like it had been with Shino, or even all the other pirates that had briefly visited this island.
Sasuke felt his fist tighten as he made his decision about this little dilemma. He wasn't ready. Not for a DF user. He knew that if he fought Luffy, he'd just get his butt kick. He'd just have to sit back and swallow his pride.
For now.
Naruto finally got up from the ground and was shouting various insults at Sasuke, while Sakura was calmly walking towards him. "Um…are you ok? Your nose is bleeding." She then got a closer look at his arms. "And your arms didn't look good either." Sakura wasn't sure what she could do for Sasuke, but she was determined to try. "I could…"
"I'm fine." Sasuke insisted as he brought up an arm and wiped the blood from his nose.
Sakura began twitching nervously. "Really now? I could help you out." Inner Sakura, 'Hell ya! That 'a girl! Get close to him and that first kiss is all yours!!!'
"I said: I'm fine," Sasuke as he pushed Sakura away, making sure to emphasize the word.
"Oh…," Sakura said in a down voice as Sasuke walked away from her. "Ok…" Inner Sakura, 'Damn it! Next time for sure! I'll get that kiss!! You aren't rid of me yet, pretty boy!'
Nami felt she solve dissolve the tension in the air. "So how do you climb trees without hands? Can you show us?" She asked, blurting out the first subject that came to mind.
Sasuke looked at them. "I don't have to show you people anything. Give me one good reason."
Naruto saw an opening. "Ah ha! See Shino!? He can't do it! You're giving him too much credit! He's just a stuck up wannabe and a showoff!"
Sasuke looked at him, a small vein popped in his forehead. "What?" He demanded.
Shino replied with a sigh. "Watch," He made the sign of the . His feet began glowing with charka. Shino then walked over and put his foot on the tree and then began walking up it like it was a flat surface. Naruto and the others watched in silence as Shino walked to the nearest branch and sat down on it. "One of the many uses of charka," Shino said simply. "And a very, but useful exercise."
"Useful?" Sakura asked in disbelief. "It's a nice trick, but what good does it do you?"
"Because this exercise allows you to gain greater control over your charka and reach your full potential." Shino replied, going into a monologue speech. "For a ninja to be truly effective, you must gain control mastery over your charka. To be able to use no more than necessary, but to maximize its effectiveness in where and how it is applied. The subtle control is the most critical aspect of every jutsu and technique you'll ever apply.
"This type of tree climbing requires the most fine and delicate application of charka energy imaginable. Especially because the bottom of the foot is an area where it is most difficult to manipulate one's energies. In other words…if you can master control needed for this skill, no jutsu should ever be beyond you…theoretically.
"An additional objective is to build up enough stamina necessary to complete your task once the charka has been focused. Simply standing on the tree vertically may seem hard enough, but it's even more difficult to maintain your charka when using ninjutsu. In battle, circumstances are constantly changing, and a true shinobi has to be able to manipulate and maintain his charkas on the fly, if he ever hopes to prevail. The time you need to just stand around trying to summon and control your own powers is a luxury you won't have."
Nami looked at Shino. "So…if it's such a fundamental technique, why did you give praise for Sasuke doing it when you can?"
"Because appearances can be deceiving. I have not mastered this exercise."
"What?"
"As I said, an additional objective is to build up enough stamina necessary to complete this task. Something that I lack." Shino admitted, though still no change in his monotone. "If I were to attempt to climb the rest of this tree with this exercise, I would only get about 60 percent of the way up before I lost my footing."
Sakura then asked. "But…Sasuke-kun…"
"HEY!!!" Naruto interrupted. "WHY DOES HE GET TO BE CALLED KUN OR NOT ME!?"
"…because you're an idiot," Sakura replied. She then continued, "Sasuke-kun said he wasn't going to show us. And during the fight, he only stood on the tree, not do the entire drill. What makes you so sure that he can do the entire exercise?"
"Because Sasuke had a stable foundation while he was on the tree," Shino replied instantly. "He showed no sign of faltering or losing his grip. In addition, he performed a Katon class jutsu while still standing on the tree, never once losing control. He showed me that he was able to use his charka not only to attach himself to the tree, but to perform his Grand Fireball at the same time. This suggests that his charka control is top notch."
Sasuke didn't react to the observation, but Sakura looked impressed. Naruto simply said. "Whatever, you talk too much. I still say he can't do it!"
Sasuke simply turned around and put a foot on the nearest tree, which was also the one Luffy hit him into. He then began walking up it just as Shino had done. Unlike Shino, Sasuke didn't stop at the first branch, but merely kept on walking. He continued until he got to the highest branch and walked underneath it, hanging upside down. "Happy now, loser?"
Naruto's jaw dropped and he didn't know how to respond. Sakura had hearts in her eyes again and shouted. "Sasuke-kun! You're so cool!"
"I have to say, I agree," Nami added. Luffy was cheering along with Sakura, saying that Sasuke now had to join his crew.
"Shut up!" Naruto said. "Just focus my charka in my feet and up I go, right?" Without waiting for a response, he began focusing. "I can do that! Just watch!"
Everyone did as Naruto ran towards the tree, put a foot on it…and fell right to the ground.
"Can't say that I am surprised, Naruto," Shino said.
"Shut up!" Naruto said as he tried again. And again. Finally on the next attempt he managed to climb a few centimeters before crashing down again.
Shino merely looked at the blond haired ninja. "As I suspected…you're charka control is almost nonexistent."
"Hey, this is easy!" Sakura's voice came from high up.
Sakura was sitting on a branch on different tree, 15 meters higher than Shino was. Shino nodded in her direction. "Your charka control is superior to my own, Sakura. Perhaps you should be teaching and explaining."
Sakura merely rubbed her head in embarrassment and stuck out her tongue. Naruto quickly got up and said. "Way to go Sakura-chan! That's my girl!" Though, Naruto was quite ticked that Sakura had managed to do it so easily.
Sakura looked eagerly at Sasuke, only to discover that he wasn't even looking in her direction. She slumped down in disappointed. "Why is it that only Naruto cares?" She asked herself.
Naruto looked at the tree. "Well…at least I can beat Luffy!" He proclaimed.
Nami gave a loud cough, getting Naruto's attention. She then pointed at another tree. Naruto slowly turned around and his face fell. "You've got to be kidding me…" He said softly as he looked at the sight.
Luffy had his hands behind his back and his legs wrapped around the tree truck. Luffy had stretched his neck out and actually bit into the tree. Once his teeth were firmly attached, Luffy then inched his way up. Once Luffy got a few meters, Luffy quickly let go with his teeth, shot his neck up again and repeat the process.
Naruto tried to find his voice for several minutes and finally shouted. "That's cheating!"
Sasuke, who was still upsidedown, actually grinned. "Why? The only rule was that you can't use hands and he isn't."
Before Naruto could utter a comeback, Zoro appeared in the distance. "Finally," He said loudly, getting all their attentions. "I've been looking everywhere for you guys."
"Zoro?" Several people asked. Zoro walked over towards them and got a clear look at what they were doing. He was so focused on the sight, that he actually tripped over Gaimon.
Naruto smiled. "Well…I feel slightly better now."
"What the hell?!" Zoro asked as he looked down at Gaimon, who had fallen face first in the dirt. His head began moving up and door, indicating that he was trying to say something. Everyone jumped down from the trees (with the exception of Luffy who simply fell) and walked over as Zoro bent down and grabbed Gaimon by the hair, bringing him to eye level.
"OWOWOWOWOW!!" Gaimon said, squirming in Zoro's grasp. "Stop pulling my hair and put me down!!!"
"What are you?" Zoro asked. He then reached over and began poking Gaimon several times in the face.
"STOP THAT!!!" Gaimon roared. "What the hell do you think I am!?"
"The newest model for a child's jack-in-the-box?" Zoro asked, still poking Gaimon and getting a chuckle from several people.
"Well, when I was…HEY!!! That's a stupid joke!! And for the love of Pete, PUT ME DOWN!!!"
Zoro let go and Gaimon went crashing down. Gaimon landed and tried to run away, but Zoro's foot light stepped on him. Luffy asked. "Who's Pete?"
"Some guy who owns a steamboat?" Naruto suggested.
"Some bad guy in a kid's story?" Sakura added.
"Who cares…," Nami finished, rubbing her temples and trying to get rid of a headache coming.
Zoro then bent down and looked at Gaimon. He then grabbed hold of him and tried to pull him out. Gaimon cried out in protest at this and it took Luffy and Naruto to stop Zoro before he 'broke' their new friend. Once Gaimon was free from Zoro's grasp, he zipped into the nearby bushes.
Sakura bent down towards Gaimon. "Why are you hiding?"
Sasuke muttered. "He's scared of me. Always has been. And the sword guy probably isn't helping any either."
"YOU TRIED TO HUNT ME!!" Gaimon cried from his hiding place.
"I did that once," Sasuke replied, without a hint of remorse. "I was young and hungry."
"YOU DID IT NINE TIMES!!!"
"Those were just for fun."
Gaimon did not reply and instead sank deeper into his bush. Naruto muttered. "Nice people skills you've got there."
Zoro shook his head. "What the hell have you guys been doing here all this time…and who's jungle boy?" He asked, pointing at Sasuke.
"His name is Uchiha Sasuke," Shino replied.
Nami then explained the whole tree climbing concept to him. Naruto eagerly pointed at Zoro. "Yeah! I bet you can't do that!"
Zoro looked at him, then at Shino. "Just walk on the tree with no hands?" Shino nodded. Zoro looked at Naruto. "Fine…I'll take your bet. If I can do it…you can't eat any ramen for two weeks. And if I lose…"
"…you have to…give me your best sword. That white one," Naruto finished off. Everyone took a step back at Naruto's comment, certain that Zoro was going to pound Naruto. For good reason to, Zoro had murder written all over his face. Fortunately, it disappeared about thirty seconds later.
"Fine." Zoro muttered. They both yelled at each other. "Deal!"
Zoro then walked over to the nearest tree. To everyone's surprise, he unsheathed a sword. He then slashed completely through the tree and made it fall over as it came down with a crash, much to a protesting Gaimon, who showed his face. Zoro then jumped on top of the fallen tree and began walking on it. "No hands." Zoro said outloud to the group.
"THAT'S CHEATING!!!" Naruto yelled pointing a finger at Zoro, who jumped down and started walking towards them.
"DAMN YOU!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY FOREST!?" Gaimon roared even louder than Naruto. He actually reached for his guns and pointed them at Zoro, who didn't even flinch. "DIE!!!"
Zoro at this point was close to Gaimon as he fired at him. Zoro merely sidestepped and dodged the two bullets. Zoro then ran towards Gaimon, raised his leg back and delivered a kick to the little man.
"SAVEMEEEEEEEEEE!!!!" Gaimon cried as he disappeared into the sky.
"Mr. Shrub Head!" Luffy cried out in horror. Nami and Sakura then both hit Zoro on the head, yelling idiot loudly and violently. Sasuke merely commented. "I wanted to do that…"
Luffy already took off into the forest, desperately looking for the missing Gaimon. Shino then said. "Nami and myself shall accompany him. Naruto, you keep practicing the exercise. Sakura, you keep them both out of trouble."
"Hey!" Naruto protested and Zoro simply shrugged. Shino and Nami then walked out of sight.
After awhile, Nami looked at Shino. "Shino…there is something I do not understand…"
Shino didn't respond, merely waited for her to continue. Nami said. "Why did you taunt Naruto earlier by saying that Sasuke was stronger and stuff? That hardly seems like you."
Shino's reply was immediate. "It is because I felt I discovered a way for Naruto to become more focused in his training."
"Huh?"
"Naruto claims he wants to become Hokage and a great shinobi, yet he lacks the motivation to thrust himself into hard training," Shino said, "By telling Naruto that Sasuke was superior to him in multiple ways, I have effectively given him a rival. Someone he can work against and improve his skills on his own without anyone forcing him to."
Nami nodded. Boys did like to compete and such against each other. Shino's actions made some sense. "Why Sasuke though?" She asked. "Couldn't you do the same thing?"
"There is a saying that when springing booby traps, send a boob in first." Shino answered, a small smirk appearing on his face.
Nami laughed. "So send in the idiots to do the hard and dirty work…"
"…while keeping myself out of it," Shino finished as he nodded. "Yes, that is correct."
XXXXXXX – Gold Island, Sasuke's hut
Sasuke looked around at the small hut that had served as his 'home' for the last four years. Ever since that man stranded him here. He had very few belongings here, mostly just the shinobi equipment. Not even an extra set of clothes, just the old worn out ones that he wore. His eyes then gazed at the old training scroll that had been the secret to his success.
He picked it up and held it briefly. That man had told him that it had been Father's personal training scroll when he had been younger. That scroll had taught him how to do the tree climbing exercise, several other Katon jutsus and other useful training techniques.
He wondered if it was time now. Here was a strange, but strong crew (at least some of its members, he amended) offering him a position on the ship. He didn't know if he would actually accept or not, but his fight against Shino told him the one thing that he had wanted to know. He had gotten stronger; his years stuck on this damned island hadn't been in vain. He had never been fully able to test himself against a worthy opponent until Shino. All the others simply ran or went down with one hit. Now was the time to start tracking down that murderer. He could continue training on the way, whether or not he joined this 'Straw Hat' crew.
But for the moment, they were his ticket off this island. And his revenge.
XXXXXXX – East Blue, Gold Island, many hours later
The day went by fast. Shino and Nami found Gaimon stuck in a tree, though he was freed easily enough, thanks to Shino's bugs. Luffy ended up running around the island and getting -lost. It took another hour – and fifty shadow clones – to find him.
Everyone managed to regroup at the end of the day. Sakura had managed to complete the tree exercise due to her own excellent charka. Naruto, on the other hand, had only gotten a few meters. Luffy said that Naurto would simply continue practicing as they continued on their journey. Zoro and Naruto then got into an argument over whether or not who had actually won the bet. Naruto claimed that Zoro cheated by not actually using charka to walk up the tree, while Zoro claimed that all he agreed to do was: just walk on the tree with no hands, which is what he did.
In the end, it was Nami who made the call, and she voted in Zoro's favor, much to Naruto's disbelief. Nami just smiled. "You have to watch out for those technicalities. You should have said: walk up the tree like I've had been doing."
"You're all against me!" Naruto screamed. "Could this day be any worse!?"
Gaimon then gave them all sorts of fruit and vegetables for supplies and such. As he did, Sasuke walked into view, a small bag over his shoulder.
"Oh, hell no," Naruto said, while Luffy and Sakura cheered. Luffy ran up and began shaking Sasuke's hand eagerly. "Great! So you're coming afterall!"
Sasuke merely said. "Let go of me."
"We're going to have so much fun!" Luffy said as he grabbed Sasuke's other shoulder and pulled him close. He then used his free hand and gestured out to the sea. "We'll have many fun adventures with singing dancing, eating MEAT!"
Sasuke merely grunted as Luffy lead/dragged him to the skiff, with Naruto whining the entire time as he followed them. Like prior, all the males boarded the skiff and Nami and Sakura boarded Buggy's former boat. Gaimon and many of the island creatures were on the shore and they waved them goodbye as the group set off. Gaimon muttered under his breathe. "Glad the kid's gone. He scares the hell out of me…and he'd do better out there doing something with himself instead of staying here."
On the boat, Nami began looking at the clouds. "Temperature has dropped three degrees. Wind's going to be picking up and coming from the northeast. Get ready."
Naruto looked at her and then the sky. "How do you know that?"
Zoro looked at him. "Don't you remember what those three clowns told us? The thief who could predict the weather and who stranded them in the ocean?" Nami smiled and nodded.
"WAH!!!" Naruto screamed as he fell over onto his backside, Naruto quickly crab-walked as far back from Nami as he could. He then crossed his fingers in front of him. Not to perform the Kage Bunshin, but to simply create a cross to 'protect himself.' "You're the witch!?"
"What did you just call me!?" Nami shouted. She then reached down and started throwing everything she could get her hands on at him. She threw several of the fruits, Sakura's weapon pouch and then Naruto's frog wallet. Her eyes went wide open. "Oops…" she said.
Naruto managed to dodge all the other makeshift projectiles, though seeing his own wallet coming towards him give him a shock. It hit him strait in the face and knocked him into the ocean. A few seconds later, his hand appeared on the side of the ship and a socking wet Naruto pulled himself back into the skiff. He looked at his wallet, which was still on the deck. "NAMI!!" Naruto cried out. "YOU STOLE MY CUTE LITTLE FROGY!?"
"Um…" Nami started to say, but Naruto's next words ruined any chance of remorse or apology from Nami.
"You Thieving Witch!"
"WHAT!?"
And so, the two ships continued sailing along with a potential new crewmember and with Nami giving Naruto a thorough thrashing. Yep. All is well. Mostly.
End of Chapter 10
Well, this chapter took a little longer to write than I expected. Mainly because I felt that Sasuke was a little out of character and still think he is right now. Example: when Sasuke didn't even try to fight Luffy and just admitted defeat to himself, where I believe that the canon Sasuke would have rushed into the fight anyway. Maybe it's just me.
Speaking of Sasuke, the original plan for him in this chapter was to have Luffy beat the crap out of him. But I got rid of that idea since the Shino vs. Sasuke match showed us all that he was able to do, so I didn't see the point in giving Sasuke a second fight. But I will say a couple of things right now: out of the current three Straw Hat shinobi – Shino, Sakura and Naruto – Shino is currently the strongest (hence why he fought Sasuke) and Luffy is stronger than Sasuke at this point. Whether that changes or not, you'll just have to keep reading.
And yes, Sakura is Sasuke's fangirl. What can I say? It's her character, that's my only excuse.
Shino's line about booby traps and sending in a boob first is borrowed from the Beast Wars Episode: Cutting Edge, which has been a line that I've been dying to steal. I still remember laughing my head off when I first saw that episode.
I introduced the tree climbing exercise in this chapter so I could set up the norm for the shinobi's training. Since they are going to be traveling a lot, a lot of techniques and such that they learn are going to either have to be self-taught, or taught under a variety of teachers.
Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece or Naruto. They belong to their respective owners: Eiichiro Oda and Masashi Kishimoto.