The next day, all hands in the village were on deck to organize the clean-up and rebuilding efforts of Namigakure.
Inside the Yokage mansion, Musashi Raito was standing at attention to the village elders.
"Thank you for coming, Musashi Raito. I trust your injuries are fine?" the elder with the wrinkliest skin and thick spectacles husked.
"I am fine. Compared to Swiss and his friends, as well as the lives we lost last night, my wounds are minor." Musashi Raito poignantly said.
"Indeed. You and your friends have our thanks. I'm sure you are curious as to the reason why we called you here today."
"If this has anything to do with me becoming Yokage in the absence of Lord Third, I refuse. Surely I am too young?"
The women elder with an incredibly hunched back chimed in, "Relax, dear. We know you would not accept at this current juncture. You are correct, despite your skills, it is in our opinion that you are not ready for the responsibility. We called you in for another reason."
"And what's that?"
*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*
"Ah, speak of the devil." The male elder said.
In came a man in his fifties with long black hair and red paint around his eyes. He had a large scroll on his back. "Yo." He said, smiling and giving the peace sign.
Musashi Raito could not believe his eyes, "The Frog Sage?!"
"Hello, Raito. My my, you have grown!" The frog sage patted Musashi Raito on the back.
"What brings you out of the wilderness?" Musashi Raito asked.
"That's the thing," the women elder interrupted, "Golia here is going to become the fifth Yokage."
"Indeed." The male elder said, "It is imperative that the Yokage has both the skills and prestige necessary to ward off any antagonism from the other villages. Though, after our defeat of the Anaki, it would be political suicide for any village to go against us for a while."
"I just can't believe this. Golia the great frog sage known for his free spirit is willingly allowing himself to be tied down with the position of Yokage?" Musashi Raito mused.
"I feel guilty," Golia then answered, "Lord Third should have retired. If I had taken the responsibility years ago then none of this would have happened. My sensei's death is on my conscience. Besides, I've been roaming long enough. Time to pay back the village I love."
"We are grateful to you, Golia. This brings us to you, Musashi Raito. We want you to assume the position of 2nd in command, learning all you can from Golia until you are ready." The elder-men added.
"I see…" Musashi Raito looked out the Yokage office window with a blank expression, "It seems I cannot escape my destiny."
"Hmm." The two elders nodded.
Outside, Musashi Raito spotted a bird flying freely. It may sound pathetic, but at this moment he felt jealous of that bird.
He closed his eyes and massaged the bridge of his nose. After a brief moment of visible stress, he inhaled sharply and spoke with a firm disposition.
"I have a request to make…"
Cleaning up the village center was a top priority.
This was much to the dismay of Swiss, who thought that instead of working that everyone should be celebrating.
"Booo! This is totally lame. We should be having a banquet! A party!"
Swiss and company were sitting at a table outside a small tavern in the village. They were covered in bandages. Grit was by far the most beat-up looking of the trio.
After a couple of days of boredom, they had decided enough was enough and escaped the hospital.
'You shouldn't be moving around with those injuries!' they were warned.
Jinzo sipped on his tea and closed his eyes as he savored the flavor, "I'm sure there will be, Swissan."
"When? Next year? These people deserve a bit of fun after such a traumatic event. I tell ya, if my charisma was higher, EVERYONE would be partying right now."
Swiss could not help but think about how Luffy would have a party at the end of each arc. That essence of fun was always something Swiss admired.
Despite One Piece Online being a game based on the story by Oda; a story with themes to do with friendship- most of the players were solely goal-driven.
Having a party with strangers was extremely rare in the hostile world of kill or be killed.
Rather than embodying the spirit of Shanks or Luffy for example, the player base was more so akin to the behavior of Blackbeard.
"Yes. If you even had a smudge of charisma." It was hard to tell if Grit was joking or not.
"Whatever. All I know is that we lads are gonna have a blowout before we leave."
"A blowout?" Jinzo asked.
"Yeah! A blowout. You know, when you drink and party so much that you have the shits the next morning. Quite literally a blowout." Swiss replied.
"I wish I didn't ask…"
That's when Musashi Raito came and joined them at the table.
"Afternoon, Raito-san," Jinzo said in his serenity.
"Ooooo Raito. Glad you could finally join us. Haven't seen you since that night." Swiss poured Musashi Raito a cup of sake.
"Apologies. There is much to do around here. How are you all going?"
"Other than being covered in bullet holes and having to listen to the terrible jokes of Swiss, I guess you could say I'm alright." Grit said.
"I was pretty messed up for a while but surprisingly I'm healing quite nicely." Jinzo continued sipping his tea.
"I'm terrible! Where the fuck is the celebration, Raito?"
"That should come soon. There is much important business to be done."
"Like what?"
"Observe."
From their table, they then heard a rumbling of a crowd near the main gate (yet to be rebuilt).
"Nani?"
Striding down the main street were 8 badass-looking ninjas with important robes and capes, followed along by their respective entourages.
"It's the Kage from the other villages. They are here to pay their respects to us for getting rid of the Anaki, as well as to meet regarding the political atmosphere moving forward." Musashi Raito picked up his sake cup.
"Damn bruh. You lost me at 'political', trololol"
"Aren't you afraid the other villages will attack?" Jinzo asked.
"Not really. It would be poor form for a village to attack us after the other night. Plus, the balance of power is still maintained. Besides, if Yamagakure wants to retrieve their tailed beast from our prison, they will have to make an agreement."
"You mean that octopus bastard?" Grit said.
"Yes."
"I've been meaning to ask, Raito." Swiss poured himself another drink, "What is this 'tailed beast' bullshit anyway?"
"Each village is the owner of a powerful fruit that has been with them since long ago. Crixci was the eater of Yamagakure's fruit."
*PFFFT!*
Swiss spat out his sake, "Did you say these villages have been in possession of these fruits since long ago?!"
"Yes..?"
"The fuck? How does that work?"
Swiss struggled to remember how it was explained how devil fruits reincarnated.
A village being able to consistently keep possession of a fruit was both alarming and promising.
"That's classified I'm afraid. Not even I am privy to such information." Musashi Raito replied.
"Damn…" Swiss felt deflated.
"So if that octopus fruit was Yamagakure's, then what about here?" Grit had a knack for asking simple questions.
"Our fruit is the Inu-Inu No Mi, Model: Kyubi."
*PFFFT!*
This time, the sake Swiss spat had sprayed all over Grit's face.
"OI! Bastard!"
"Trololol, my bad. But Raito! Did you just say the Kyubi?!"
"Yes. You know of it?"
"Do I know of it? Heck yeah! That fruit is overpowered. A mythical zoan that grants the user the ability to take on the appearance of others. Regen; check. Trickster powers; check."
"How on earth do you know this, Swissan?" Jinzo was intrigued.
Swiss smiled proudly, "Let's just say I know a fair bit about this world."
There was no chance Swiss was going to tell his friends that they were technically living in a fictional world. All thoughts about the nature of reality aside, he figured it was a pointless conversation.
He thought back to the scene where it was revealed Catarina Devon of the Blackbeard pirates was the eater of the Kyubi.
But the fact that the Blackbeard pirates had the Kyubi meant that at some point the ninja villages must have lost their mythical fruits. Or at the very least, Namigakure did.
"Swissan?"
Swiss had been lost in thought when he finally snapped back into reality at the sound of Jinzo's voice. "Hmm? Oh."
He then stood up, "Anyway! I think it's high time we have a night out before we start thinking about how we can get back to the South Blue. Bakato should be waiting for us at Hitori Noodles. Shall we?"
Swiss and his party priorities gave Musashi Raito some much-needed relief from the stress of the past couple of days, "Let's do it!"
They ended up staying in Namigakure for a week or so. Hanging out, drinking, enjoying the delicious noodles made by Hitori Yamzo, etc.
The time had finally come. Swiss company was all set with plenty of supplies and were loading them into the Jalopy.
"Is that all of it?" Grit asked after loading the last of it.
"Yes, Grit-san." Jinzo had bought a casual ninja outfit much like Musashi Raito's. However, instead of wearing a vest, Jinzo opted to wear his old black suit jacket over his shoulders.
"Ready to go. Where are those assholes?" Swiss peered at either side of the beach.
"Oiiiii!"
Then coming out of the river came Team G, riding on top of Wallop the giant turtle.
"Ayeeeee, what's up mother fuckers!" Swiss ecstatically waved.
They tied the Jalopy to Wallop and joined Team G on top of the shell.
"Sup. Thought you might have mixed up the date." Swiss high-fived Bakato.
"Sorry. Sensei said he had to pack you guys a gift pack."
"Oh?" Swiss looked at the backpack slung on one of Musashi Raito's shoulders, "Go on then, show us the goods."
"Not until we drop you off." Musashi Raito replied.
"Meh, fine. Can we go now?"
"Okay. Wallop, you know where to go!"
Wallop slowly turned his neck and winked at Bakato in acknowledgment. He swam, towing the Jalopy along.
"Is this how you guys normally leave Ninja Kuni?" Jinzo asked.
"Nope. Most villages use paddle boats. Bakato is the only idiot with a friend like Wallop." Pandora told him.
"Ah, I see."
They made their way out of the calm belt without running into trouble.
"WIND! WE HAVE WIND!" Swiss jumped for joy.
"Mmm. Looks like we made it." Grit said.
"What a relief. Talk about a detour.. " Jinzo thanked his lucky stars.
The closest island from Ninja Kuni to the South Blue was a small port in a humble village. The place reminded Swiss of Luffy's hometown a little bit.
The afternoon sun graced their skin as they stood on the rickety dock.
"Well, I suppose this is goodbye. Thank you, Pandora, Saika, Bakato, Raito. We sure had our moments, didn't we?" Swiss joked.
"We sure did! Come back anytime." Bakato said.
"We will!"
Saika remained silent. Ever since the Anaki attack, he had been more emo than usual.
"You will be a great medical ninja. Good luck, and thanks for your help." Grit shook the small hand of Pandora.
Jinzo bowed and said his thanks.
"Well then, we better get back on the ocean before it gets too dark. See ya when we see ya!"
With one last goofy smile from Bakato, Team G turned their backs and started walking toward Wallop.
That is, all of Team G but one.
"Eh? Sensei?" Bakato said, confused.
Standing with Swiss company was Musashi Raito, who hadn't moved a single step.
"Aren't we leaving?"
"You're leaving. I'm staying with these guys." Musashi Raito replied.
"Ehhhh?!" Team G said in unison.
"Yes. It's already been cleared up with the elders."
["I have a request to make…"
The village elder squinted his eyes. From the tone of Musashi Raito's voice, it was not going to be favorable.
"Before I eventually become Yokage, I want to travel for a bit. See the world outside Ninja Kuni."
"Absolutely not. Out of the question."
"If you don't permit this I will leave anyway. But this way, If you let me go, I promise to come back and become Yokage.
The two elders looked at each other, both not knowing what to say.
"I permit it." Golia the frog sage said.
"Excuse me?" the elder husked.
"What wrong? I'm to be Yokage so it will be my decision anyway. Besides, you owe Raito this, don't you think?"
There was nothing the elders could say to argue against the point. After a heavy sigh, they gave their blessing,
"Very well."]
Pandora's eyes swelled up, but as a ninja of Namigakure, she did her best to hold back the emotions.
Bakato, on the other hand, did not display such restraint.
"HOW CAN YOU DO THIS SENSEI?! WHAT ABOUT TEAM G? WHAT ABOUT THE VILLAGE?!"
"You lot will be able to handle yourselves with a new team leader. Besides, I'm coming back anyway. This just means you lot have to pick up the slack until I return."
Bakato clenched his fists and looked to the ground with mixed emotions.
"Dafuq?" Swiss blurted with utmost confusion, "Since when was Raito gonna tag along?"
"You spent hours one night convincing Raito to join us. Don't you remember?" Grit asked.
"Nani?! That never happened!"
"I think you need to monitor your alcohol consumption, Swissan…"
"…Bruh."
Then Bakato's voice burst out, "FINE! LEAVE! BY THE TIME YOU COME BACK, I WILL BE A NINJA STRONG ENOUGH TO JUMP IN FRONT OF THE CUE FOR BEING YOKAGE! JUST YOU WAIT AND SEE!"
Musashi Raito smiled warmly at his young students. He was going to miss them, "I'm counting on it. Be good, you guys."
"Waaaah!" Pandora broke into tears as Team G group hugged.
"Um..?" Saika opened his eyes to see Swiss joining in on the hug.
"Huh? Oh, sorry. Trololol."
Team G got on Wallop's shell and sailed away into the horizon.
"Bye, everyone!"
"Baiiii!"
Swiss and company waved to them until they could no longer be seen.
The brilliant weather was enchanting with barely a cloud in the sky.
"So…" Swiss turned to his companions, "Anyone up for a drink?"
He held out his fist into the middle of their formed circle, to which they all did a group fist bump and cried
"YOSH!"
They merrily made their way to the local tavern and celebrated the addition of their new companion.
Drinking the whole place dry.