A.n. I own nothing. This is one of my favorite fights. If i had to put a number to it it would be 4th in the line.
Luffy and Zoro were pissed but not at the invading pirates, they were pissed at their own friends.
"Finally you guys are so slow," Nami said.
Zoro looked at her with anger written all over his face.
"HOW DARE YOU USE ME AS A STEPPING STONE!," he yelled.
"Sorry but it was an emergency, better one of us getting here than these thieves running off with my gold. Stealing is wrong after all," Nami said.
"YOUR ONE TO TALK,!" Zoro yelled back.
"OI USOPP YOU SAID GO NORTH BUT YOU NEVER TOLD ME WITCH WAY NORTH WAS!," Luffy yelled at Usopp.
Usopp just stared in disbelief at Luffy and Zoro he could not believe how strong these two were, the pirates were having trouble getting back up. They were afraid of Luffy and Zoro, one of them suggested that they just leave but Jango had another idea.
"If they're strong then we will be stronger," Jango said.
He pulled out a strange ring and began chanting to his crew once he was done his crew were back up in an instant fully prepared for battle one man smashed a boulder with his bare hands.
"What happened to them it's like they've forgotten their injuries?," Nami stated.
"It doesn't matter get out of the way Luffy and I can handle this," Zoro said.
Nami didn't need to be told twice she helped Usopp up and supported him as he limped off to the side of the slopes cliffs. Connor had trouble standing but he got up picked up his sword and followed Nami off to the side.
The pirates charged in and Zoro heard a growling noise from next to him. He turned to find Luffy had gone berserk and charged at the pirates.
"GOMU-GOMU GATTALING!" he yelled.
He began punching people so fast that his hands looked like a hoard of incoming bullets; the pirates quickly turned around and ran heading back to their ship. Luffy stopped his attack charged after them quickly catching up and passing them, he ran right passed a frightened Jango straight to their ship. Luffy grabbed the stern of the ship and pulled, the ship strained as he ripped it right off.
Zoro stared at his captain in disbelief he didn't know what had gotten into Luffy but it almost made him feel sorry for the other pirates. Almost. Nami and Usopp were just glad that Luffy was on their side.
Jango could not deal with a berserking Luffy, he pulled out his ring and chanted something when he was done Luffy fell asleep and the keel he was holding feel on top of him and into the group of retreating pirates who only just managed to avoid getting crushed.
Jango sighed in relief that Luffy hadn't completely destroyed their ship but that wasn't the problem. The problem was that it was well passed dawn and Jango knew that they couldn't play around with these kids any longer.
"Nyaban brothers, Come out!" he called.
Two figures jumped from the ship and landed in front of Jango.
The first was an overweight man He had pale skin, sharp teeth, tiny eyes, a hat that covered one of his eyes and had cat ears on it. He had a stripped light and dark purple cape on his back, with a white fluffy brim, a shoulder pad on his left arm, pale blue gloves with claws at the end, stripped black and white pants with a yellow sash, and dark brown shoes.
The second man was very skinny, he had a hunched back. His hair was parted to the side and curls at the end, with two other parts of hair on the sides of his head, growing downwards in a curly-looking way, he also had cat ears sticking out from the top of his head. He wore a navy blue shirt, with light grey buttons and a magenta bow tie, dark brown gloves, with claws growing out at the end, light-blue shorts, brown shoes and white socks that stuck out of them.
"Sham, Buchi, take care of these people. We need to get past this slope no matter what," Jango instructed.
The reaction he got was not what the Straw Hats were expecting. Sham and Buchi immediately began to make up panicked excuses, saying that the pirates were too strong for them and that their job was just to protect the ship.
"Aren't they supposed to be their trump cards?" Usopp questioned.
Jango shouted at Sham to go and attack them, and Sham obeyed with tears in his eyes.
"They sent that weakling to fight us?" Nami muttered. "What are they thinking?"
Connor watched as Sham ran up to Zoro 'something's wrong' he thought.
"Be prepared!" Sham shouted, which sounded more like a plea to spare his life rather than a threat.
"I'll cut you all into pieces!"
"If you come any closer, I'll kill you!" Zoro warned, flustered by the situation.
Sham suddenly attacked, a confident smirk spread across the cat-man's face.
"If you can kill me, that is." he said.
Zoro managed to block a surprisingly powerful attack from the cat-man's claws with one of his katanas just in time to stop them from reaching his chest. He pushed Sham off of him but the skinny man gracefully landed and he held Zoros other two Katannas one in each had.
"Heh, you're stronger than you look."
"He's not weak?!" Usopp exclaimed.
'I knew it' Connor thought.
"Return my swords now!" Zoro demanded.
"Return?" Sham repeated, playing dumb.
"Your sword is in your hand, right? These are just in the way."
Sham tossed the two swords that he had stolen behind him like they were garbage.
"Don't throw my swords!" Zoro shot back angrily.
Zoro rushed in and attempted to cut Sham in half but Sham jumped over Zoro and landed behind him, he grabbed Zoros arms before he could react and forced him to the ground.
"Buchi now!" Sham yelled.
Buchi snarled, rushing forward and jumping into the air.
"Cat... STOMP!"
His body crashed down feet first and broke the ground where Zoro had been a moment ago before he moved out of the way.
"The ground broke!" Usopp and Nami burst out, horrified.
"If I got hit by that, it'd break all my bones..." Zoro muttered.
"Hey Sham hold him properly." Butchi whined.
"Sorry he's stronger than he looks," Sham replied.
Buchi and Sham began a relentless assault on Zoro, the only thing he could do was defend himself. Nami noticed that everyone had their attention on Zoro's fight.
"Now's my chance" she muttered.
Nami got up and ran down the slope passing Zoro and the Nyaban Brothers; she ran as fast as she could until she reached Zoro's swords but before she could grab them Jango appeared and using his metal ring he cut Nami's shoulder. Nami yelled in pain and fell to the ground.
"Nice try little girl but if you want to live don't move," Jango threatened.
"Crap Zoro's in trouble," Usopp said.
Suddenly Butchi's and Sham's attacks stopped which Surprised Zoro. They hadn't just stopped their attack's they were frozen in fear. Everyone of Jango's crew was shaking in fear and staring at something.
"No we're out of time!" Jango yelled and began to tremble violently.
Zoro, Connor, Usopp and Nami all followed their gazes and looked at the one man standing on top of the slope; everyone's either widened in fear or narrowed in anger when they saw who it was.
It was Kurahadol and he was not happy.
"Ca... Captain Kuro", Jango's men crew said breathlessly. "We're gonna die."
"What the hell is this, Jango," the cold voice of Kuro said slowly and he surveyed the scene before him.
"I come here and find you all beaten to the ground? By kids? It's far past dawn! What the hell are you doing?! Don't tell me you actually have been stopped by these brats! Have the Black Cat Pirates become a bunch of weaklings?"
"B-B-But, Captain Kuro, you said they wouldn't be any problem!" Jango protested desperately.
"They shouldn't have been but clearly you're all weaker than I remember," Kuro said calmly.
"What? Us weak!," Butchi yelled.
"Don't you know what we've been up to theses past three years? We've become one of the most famous Pirate Crews in the East Blue, while you've been doing nothing. If anyone's weak it's you," Sham accused.
"Let's get him bro," Butchi said.
Sham and Butchi charged at Kuro, however, to everyone's surprise, Kuro had disappeared and reappeared right behind them. On both his hands were fuzzy gloves with a small katana attached to each fingertip and they were all aimed at the Nyaban brother's vital points.
"What did he just do? What are those weapons?" Zoro questioned, glaring at the pirate captain.
"I don't tolerate mutiny," Kuro said coldly.
He slashed both Sham and Butchi across the chest and they collapsed to the ground. Kuro then turned his attention to the rest of his crew.
"We'll if you want something done right do it yourself," Kuro said.
No one moved, Nami saw her chance and kicked Zoro's Swords to him; he caught them and drew the other two placing the white one in his mouth.
"Nice saying, guess I'll take you down myself," Zoro said.
He prepared to use his special technique and rushed forward to the man formerly known as a butler.
"Oni... giri!"
Zoro cut only air as Kuro had disappeared again.
"What...?!" Zoro eyes widened.
"Zoro, behind you," Connor cried out.
Acting on reflex Zoro jumped out of the way just in time as Kuro's claws sliced where Zoro had just been standing. Zoro looked at Connor in surprise he remembered what Connor had told him.
Flashback
"The world goes very dark, it loses all its colours, details become clear and I can see a person's aura" Connor said.
End Flashback
Zoro realised that it did not matter if Kuro could turn invisible Connor would be able to see him because no one could hide their aura.
Kuro straightened up; he calmly pushed up his glasses using the palm of his hand and glanced at Connor.
"Did that boy see me?" Kuro asked himself.
'Impossible, I move so fast that it becomes impossible to for anyone to see or hear my movements' Kuro thought.
Kuro disappeared again.
"To your Left," Connor warned.
Zoro blocked before he could strike.
Kuro tried again and again but the result was the same no matter what angle he attacked from Connor would warn Zoro and he would block before Kuro could strike. That confirmed it Connor could see Kuro's movements. Kuro didn't know how or why and he didn't really care; all he knew was that boy had to die.
Kuro leaped back and glared at Connor, Zoro noticed Kuro's attention shift and he didn't like it.
"That boy, is he with you?" Kuro asked.
"Leave him alone," Zoro threatened dangerously.
"I'll take that as a yes. Too bad he has to die," Kuro said coldly
"No. Don't," Zoro cried.
But it was too late Kuro had already disappeared and reappeared behind Connor, he dived out of the way but wasn't fast enough Conner screamed as the claws slashed across his back. Nami, Usopp and Zoro watched in horror as Connor fell to the ground; they could not believe that Kuro would go after Connor. Connor despite the immense pain from his injury tried to get back up.
Kuro raised an eyebrow he had hoped that he had killed the boy but clearly that was not the case. He walked over to the struggling boy and stepped on his back forcing him back on the ground. What little strength Connor had was gone he couldn't move he stared up at Kuro in fear.
"No hard feelings boy but I can't let anyone who can see me live," Kuro said.
He raised one hand and struck down his Claws, intending to sink into Connors flesh but the five katanas stopped just above his neck.
"Kurahadol!" shrieked a familiar female voice, disrupting everyone's concentration and drawing their gazes backwards. On the top of the slope stood Kaya, clad in a brown coat and looking frailer than ever.
"Kurahadol! Stop this at once!"
Kuro showed surprise at seeing her and questioned her presence. The Black Cat pirates were relieved that they wouldn't have to go to the village to finish the job they'd been assigned.
Kaya bit her lip and it was visible that she had gathered the courage to speak up.
"I heard everything from Merry. Please stop this, Kurahadol. I'll give you whatever you want, as long as you leave the village and everyone here unharmed."
"Merry's alive? I'm sorry, Miss Kaya, but I can't do that ", Kuro replied sternly.
"You see I want your money, of course, but I also want a peaceful life. The villagers here have trusted me for three years and I do not wish to lose this peace. It's become part of my life and I want to keep it. My plan will succeed when I acquire both peace and your wealth."
"K-Kaya! What are you doing here?! Run away! He won't stop even if you talk to him! He is not the caretaker you used to know!" Usopp shouted.
"Usopp, thank goodness you're alright. I'm Sorry for the way I treated you," Kaya said breathlessly.
She pulled a pistol out from her pocket and aimed it straight at Kuro.
"Leave this village now, or I'll shoot!" Kaya ordered.
"You've become stronger these three years", Kuro remarked, a friendly look entered his eyes.
"Do you remember? Since your parents' passed away, we've been together every day. We went into town and shopping together. When you were sick I was the one who took care of you. We were happy and sad together. I've tried very hard to do everything for you." The friendly look vanished and his face darkened. "Do you have any idea how humiliating it was? I've spent three years doing these stupid things. Everything I have done for you, I have done for the sole purpose that I would one day kill you."
Usopp bared his teeth at Kuro. "You...!" The long-nosed boy got up and charged at the former butler with his fist prepared for a punch. Kuro ducked Usopp's punch and prepared to slice him up real good.
"I do owe you for that punch yesterday but this boy goes first," Kuro said sadistically.
Suddenly, a fist embedded itself into Kuro's face and knocked him over releasing Connor.
"If you hated it so much, I'll give you one hundred more!" Luffy yelled.
While Kuro was speaking to Kaya, Nami rushed over to Luffy and woken him up by stepping on his face. Luffy had woken up just in time to give Kuro a good punch to the face and prevented him from finishing Connor off.
The Black Cat Pirates started yelling in confusion because they hadn't notice that Luffy's arms could stretch. Kuro got back up and adjusted his glasses but they shattered to pieces when he touched them.
"Connor run, please get Kaya to safety. As long as she's alive Kuro can't win," Usopp begged.
Connor looked at Luffy.
"Do it," Luffy said.
Connor got up he grabbed Kayas hand and ran into the forest. Kuro watched them leave; he was sure that the boys injuries would prevent him from moving but he'd got up and ran off, where had this extra energy come from?
"I admit that hurt a little bit, you ate a Devil's Fruit, didn't you?" Kruo asked Luffy.
"Yep the Gomu-Gomu Fruit," Luffy clarified
'Perhaps the boy had a devil fruit power too' Kuro thought. Kuro took one long look at the way Connor and Kaya had ran but to everyone's surprise, he instead went for Usopp and kicked him in the stomach.
"Jango. I'll kill the straw hat kid you make sure Miss Kaya writes her will. After that, kill her and that boy.
Jango placed his hand on the rim of his hat. "Roger."
"Stop right there. I won't allow you to get through here", Zoro warned, blocking the path.
"You don't have a choice," Jango said
Connor and Kya ran through the forest, Connor knew Kuro would send someone after them but if they could find some where to hide until Luffy beat Kuro they'd be fine. Suddenly he heard sounds from the bushes and Carrot, Onion and Pepper came out they each had a fishing rod in their hands. The boys stared at Connor and Kya; they knew Connor was part of a pirate crew and that Kaya was sick so they jumped to the only logical conclusion.
"THE PIRATES ARE KIDDNAPPING MISS KAYA,!" they cried.
"No, I'm trying to save her," Connor replied
"Little boy, Little girl where are you?" Jango's voice was heard.
"Crap that sounded close," Connor said.
"What do we do?" asked Kaya in a small voice.
Connor looked at the three village boys, kids always knew the best places to hide and he hoped these boys were no different.
"Where's the best place to hide?" he asked them.
"What?"
"Listen right now there are real pirates invading this island and they want to kill Kaya, we have to protect her," Connor said urgently.
"It's true Usopp is fighting them now," Kaya confirmed.
"What? The Captain is fighting?" Pepper asked in surprise.
"Yes he asked this young man to protect me," Kaya finished.
"There's a big old tree in this end of the forest follow us," Onion said.
The tree boys led Connor and kaya to the tree it was indeed very old and very large.
"What's special about this tree?" Connor asked.
"You'll need to climb up a bit but there is a small part of the upper tree that is hollow and it is perfect for hiding," Carrot answered.
They climbed the tree quickly, the four boys had to help Kaya and sure enough the mid-section of the tree had a decent hide away, the ground had dry leaves and dirt, a low branch covered the entrance and light shone into the hollow from the top where the braches spread out.
"We used to play pirate here before the captain built our current hideout," Onion said.
"Little brats where did you go?" they heard Jango call from below.
"Can he find us?" Connor whispered.
"No, you can't see this place from the ground; you'd pass right by it unless you knew it was here," Carrot said.
Jango was confused he was sure that they had run this way but now he'd lost them he looked at the old tree but found nothing out of the ordinary so he moved on. The group let out a sigh of relief that he was gone. Connor filled the boys in on Kuros' plans for Kaya and the village, they could not believe it at first but Kaya confirmed everything. The three boys were both annoyed and proud of Usopp at the same time, proud that he was fighting off Kuro's men and annoyed that he hadn't told them about it. They sat in silence for a while until a gunshot was fired.
"What was that?" Kya gasped.
'I'll check stay here no matter what," Connor ordered.
Connor peaked outside but saw nothing out of the ordinary, he came out of the hollow and looked around no one was there. 'Perhaps it came from the beach' Connor thought.
He was about to go back inside the tree when another shot was fired and a bullet went through his shoulder. The boys and Kaya watched from inside as Connor fell from the tree.
Connor landed on the hard ground, he was in a lot of pain, he moved his hand to cover the wound on his shoulder; he saw Jango through the trees walking up to him a smoking pistol in this hand.
'I have to lead him away,' Connor thought.
He got up and tried to run but Jango shot him in the leg preventing him from escaping.
"You've led me on quite the chase. Had you stayed in your hole I would have never of found you but thanks to you I now know where that is. Don't worry about your friends they'll see you real soon." Jango said.
Jango pointed the gun at Connor's head and smirked but before he could shoot Connor kicked him with his good leg; Jango was not expecting the attack. Connor took the opportunity to draw his sword and strike, he cut Jango's arm, Jango dropped the pistol and yelled in pain, he swiftly kicked Connor in the stomach with enough force to knock him back against the tree.
Jango was pissed he grabbed Connor by the throat and held him against the tree drawing his metal ring and was about to finish the boy off when Zoro and Usopp appeared and finished him off with a joint attack.
Connors body had finally given in to all the injuries he'd sustained and lost consciousness.