"Join my crew!?" Luffy exclaimed.
"Nah" Naruto declined, "I have ambitions of my own and I too aim to obtain the One Piece. So joining any crew is out of the question for me."
Luffy looked like he wanted to argue so Naruto quickly changed the subject.
"So where you guys headed?" he inquired as he prepared his boat to set sail.
"Grandline!" Luffy replied enthusiastically, his previous argument long forgotten.
"I meant right now" Naruto clarified, "Which island are you heading to now".
" Ohh" Luffy replied, now understanding what Naruto was asking, "I have no idea, we will drift around till we reach the next Island I guess."
"What!" Zoro snapped, "You aspire to be the Pirate King and you don't even have any navigational skill!?".
" You're the one to talk, Mr Lost my way back home." Luffy quipped back.
Naruto sighed and he motioned them to come aboard his boat, "You guys can travel with me till you find a navigator".
" Really!" Luffy shouted, "Naruto you're awesome, Join my crew."
"I just rejected you a few seconds ago" Naruto yelled back.
Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Naruto addressed them again, "Let's go or I'll leave without you". This prompted both of them to quickly jump onto the boat.
As they journeyed to the next island, the three talked about their past and what inspired them to sail to the seas.
Luffy recalled his childhood encounter with Shanks and what inspired him to become the Pirate King.
Zoro explained he set out to fulfil a promise he made to his childhood friend of becoming the strongest swordsman in the world.
Naruto disclosed that he had amnesia and couldn't remember anything past the year he spent in Shell town. He spent most of his time there learning about the world and bartending at the FooFoo restaurant to earn a living. He had gotten bored of that lifestyle and wanted to explore the world.
" I am hungry! " Luffy whined.
"You already ate all the food we had bought!" Zoro yelled, "You even emptied Naruto's supplies".
"Oh look a bird!" Luffy exclaimed as he spotted a bird in the sky after a few minutes of whining, "Let's eat it!".
"And how will we catch it?" Naruto asked as he steered the boat.
"Leave that to me! ", Luffy replied and stretched his hands to grab the mast.
" Gomu Gomu no Rocket"
With that, he launched himself up in the air and proceeded to get caught in the bird's mouth.
"You moron!" Zoro yelled as begun to peddle the boat to gain more speed and catch up to Luffy.
"That guy gives me migraine" Naruto muttered as he tracked the bird.
They followed the bird to a nearby island, after docking the boat they proceeded to look for Luffy.
During their search, they discovered that the Island was under seize by a pirate named Buggy the clown.
Stealthily following a couple of his crew members, they eventually reached the pirate base. The base was fashioned in the form of a circus while the crew were dressed as clowns.
There they found Luffy, tied in a cage, attempting to steal meat off a table.
"Let's go get that fool" Zoro muttered.
"Wait" Naruto stopped him "Let's observe for a while", Zoro reluctantly agreed.
Soon there was a commotion in the base as the crew began to ready a giant cannon and fired it at the houses in the distance.
BOOM!
The cannonball destroyed several houses in its way while creating loud explosions.
" That is Buggy," Naruto said pointing at the man with a red ball on his nose, "I have heard about him, he is a devil fruit user like Luffy so don't drop your guard around him" he warned.
After the cannon was fired, Buggy talked to an orange-haired girl and handed her something.
" I know that girl" Naruto recalled, "I met her in the office of Captain Morgan back in the Shells Town. She was trying to break into his safe. I knew she was a thief but I didn't know she was also a pirate too."
The crew soon aimed the cannon at Luffy and started to chant "Fire! Fire! Fire!".
" Ok, time to move " Naruto started, "The clown just gave the girl a box of matchstick. If she lights the fuse, say goodbye to your captain".
Both sprinted towards Luffy to save him as a crew member snatched the match from the girl's hand and lit the fuse himself.
Unexpectedly, the girl bashed the man's head and ran to the cannon to smother the lit fuse.
" Kill the girl!" Buggy ordered, several men jumped at her with their weapons drawn and swung.
But they were all stopped as Zoro blocked all their strikes.
" Oi Oi, how many of you are taking on one girl at once, have some pride".
"Zoro!" Luffy cried out in joy.
"Are you hurt?" Zoro asked as he faced the pirates.
"Nno, I'm fine..." the girl replied.
"Whew, what a relief!" Luffy sighed "How'd you find me? now hurry up and get me outta here!".
" Why do you keep playing around for," Zoro asked irritatedly, "First some bird runs off with you, and now you're bound inside a cage?."
"It's was pretty interesting, actually."
"Zoro?" a pirate muttered in fright, "The pirate hunter?".
" So, you're Zoro?" Buggy asked, "Have you come here for my head or something?".
" Nope," Zoro replied as he walked up to Luffy's cage, "Not interested, I gave up pirate-hunting".
"I'm interested, though!" Buggy replied as he removed some knives from his coat, "Killing you will increase my fame".
" I wouldn't try it if I were you, You'll die". Zoro replied with menace.
"Is that so?" Buggy replied sarcastically while spinning his knives.
"Guess words aren't enough for you..." Zoro sighed as he unsheathed his Katanas.
Buggy's crew began to cheer for their captain.
"Buggy! Buggy! Buggy!"
Buggy leapt into the air and readied his weapons.
"Die" Buggy screamed as he came close to Zoro.
With a quick dash, Zoro attacked the airborne Buggy and cut him to pieces.
"So weak, he had no resistance to him at all..." Zoro muttered as he sheathed his swords and turned away from him.
Buggy's crew began to laugh at their captain's apparent death.
"Hey!" Zoro yelled, "What's so damn funny?!".
He suddenly stiffened as he felt a blade poking his back.
" I warned you not to drop your guard"
"Naruto!" Luffy yelled in joy, "You came too!".
Zoro turned back and saw Naruto holding back a piece of hand clenching a knife in it.
The tip of the knife was pressed against his back.
Buggy "tched" in annoyance as he got back up. The arm in Naruto's hand flew back to Buggy and reattached itself.
"Bara-Bara no mi (Chop-Chop fruit)" Buggy started, his body parts reattaching themselves to become whole again, "That is the name of my Devil fruit!" he continued, "I am a Chop-Chop person who can't be cut!"
and began to laugh maniacally.
"A chop-chop guy?!" Luffy repeated, "You mean you are a monster?!".
Zoro looked at him with an expression saying
"Really".
" Aren't you a rubber person too" Naruto chimed-in causing Luffy to widen his eyes in terror, "I am a monster too!" he yelled in realization.
"We meet again" Naruto greeted the girl ignoring Luffy's antics.
"I am Nami" the girl introduced herself.
"Nice to meet you Nami" Naruto replied sarcastically.
"Let the boy go and we will forget this ever happened" Naruto announced as he pointed towards Luffy, "We have no quarrel with you, we will leave after buying some supplies".
" That will just not do" Buggy replied as he pointed towards Nami, "Your crewmember stole from me, I can't forgive that".
" She lied, she is not in our crew. She is just a petty thief who is in over her head. You can do whatever you want with her, it is none of our concern." Naruto replied as he began to walk back towards Luffy to free him.
"In that case," Buggy smiled viciously, glancing at the now terrified Nami."We have a deal".
"No!" Luffy declared, "I have decided, she will be our navigator".
Naruto stared at Luffy like he was the dumbest creature in the world.
" What?!"
"She will be my navigator" he repeated.
"I don't think that's a good idea" Naruto replied "She seems the type to betray anyone for money."
"I have decided, you can't change my mind"
Naruto took a deep breath to calm himself, "How did you end up in this cage", Naruto asked. When Luffy didn't answer he continued, "I bet she tricked you to come here, bound you in that rope and presented you as a fall-guy for something she stole".
" That's right" Buggy replied in amazement, "She told us that Luffy is her boss and that she got fed up with him and wanted to join our crew."
"She probably wanted you to drop your guard so she could steal your treasure and then run away. Leaving you behind to die". he said pointing at Luffy, " She betrayed you once, she will betray you again".
Nami looked terrified as she observed Luffy, who had yet to speak.
After a brief moment of silence, Luffy declared
"She is my navigator!".
Naruto sighed in defeat as he walked towards the cannon, " Well, I did my job of warning you"
"Zoro" he called out and motioned towards Luffy, after a few second Zoro gave a small nod in understanding.
"It can't be helped" Naruto continued and suddenly flipped the cannon to point in the direction of Buggy and his crew.
"Oh, crap!" Buggy cursed, "The cannon is pointed this way!".
Naruto began to light the fuse again.
" Wait, wait, wait!" Buggy tried to stop him, "there's still a special Buggy ball in there!".
Luffy laughed in excitement as Naruto lit the fuse.
"Wait, no! stop! stoooop!" Buggy pleaded.
Boom!
Zoro picked up Luffy's cage and ran as soon as the fuse was lit, Naruto and Nami followed suit.
They stopped near a pet-shop to get a breather.
"That was very cruel" Nami retorted "You were going to let me die there."
"You would have done the same in a heartbeat" Naruto replied, "besides, I had planned to rescue you after they torture you for a while. I can't let a girl die knowing I could have helped her, no matter how much of a scumbag she is".
Before she could retort they heard Luffy screaming in pain.
Looking back they say a dog biting into Luffy's face.
"I told you not to mess with that dog" Zoro replied from the side, not doing anything to help.
"Oow, oww, oww!"
After a few seconds of biting, the dog returned to his place in front of the pet shop.
"Damn dog" Luffy cursed as he ruffed his face in pain.
"I guess you can have this since you did save me!" Nami said throwing a key in Luffy's direction, "It unlocks the cage".
" Thanks!" Luffy replied, "You went and got it for me?!".
Before the key could reach Luffy, the dog leapt and ate it.
Grabbing the dog, Luffy violently shook him.
"Stupid dog! That's not food! Give it back, gimme that key back!" he screamed as he began to choke the dog.
After a few seconds, an old man came running to them, dressed in some sort of armour "Stop that!" he yelled.
"Quit bullying Chouchou, you young'uns!"
"Chouchou?" Luffy asked in surprise as he let the dog go.
"Who're you, Old man" Zoro questioned.
"I'm this town's mayor!" he replied, "Who the hell are you?".
Taking a look at the caged Luffy, he calmed down, "I take it Buggy did this to you?".
"Yes," Naruto replied.
"So you're name is Chouchou?" Nami sat beside the dog and began to pet him.
"What's it just sitting here for?" Luffy asked as he began to poke the dog again.
"He is guarding the shop" the mayor replied as he motioned to the pet shop behind them "The shop's owner was a good friend of mine. So I come here to feed his dog in his place."
"Was?" Naruto asked.
"He died three months ago, from an illness" the mayor replied as he placed a bowl of dog food in front of the dog.
"So he's been waiting for his master to return all this time?" Nami asked in pity, petting the dog.
"That's what everyone says.., " the mayor replied.
"But you don't think that's the case?" Naruto asked.
"Chouchou is a smart dog," the mayor replied, "He probably knows that his master is long dead."
"He is guarding the shop" Naruto realised.
The mayor nodded in agreement, "I think this shop is a treasure in Chouchou's eyes, he continues to protect it because it's a memento of his dog-loving master."
"I've tried to make him evacuate on many occasions, but he won't take as much as a step away from here.", everyone went silent as they admired the dog's love for his owner.
Suddenly, the ground shook with tremors and a war cry was heard in the distance.
"The hell's that sound," Nami asked in fright.
"It's him! The Beast Tamer Mohji!" the mayor replied in anger.
Soon, a white lion appeared behind them, he was big as a house.
"I have found you" A man declared from the top of the lion, "I am Beast Tamer Mohji, a member of the Buggy Pirates."
"That sure is a weird suit you got on" Luffy commented as he observed the man's body.
"How rude! This is my hair!" Mohji yelled back, pointing at his head.
"That's even weirder" Luffy replied as he began to pick his nose.
Jumping down from the lion he walked towards Luffy, "Do you think you can rest easy because you're inside that cage?" he asked as he stopped in front of the cage, Ignoring everyone else present.
"You must not know of my terrifying skill!" he boasted as he approached the hissing dog, "There is no animal in this world that Mohji The Beast Tamer can't tame!".
"Shake!" He ordered the dog by offering him his hand.
The dog violently bit the hand and latched onto it making Mohji scream in pain.
Shaking the dog off his hand and acting like the dog never bit him, he continued "I was sent by Captain Buggy to bring you in, If you all come in quietly and let Captain Buggy have his revenge, then I wouldn't have to kill you".
"No Thanks," Luffy replied as he flicked a booger at him.
"Kill them, Richie" Mohji yelled in anger.
The giant lion leapt in the air and swatted Luffy's cage, breaking him free, while the rest moved out of the way.
"Yes! I'm free!" Luffy yelled in happiness before the lion swatted him into a nearby house.
"An instant death" Mohji smirked, "Good Richie, finish them all off".
"Don't worry about Luffy" Naruto said after seeing the concerned look on Nami and the Mayor, "Something like that won't put him down".
Suddenly the Lion turned its attention away from them and towards the Petshop.
"Ah, a pet food store," Mohji said, understanding that the lion wanted to eat some food, "Alright, eat quickly then we will take care of these pirates".
Couchou started to bark as the lion came closer to the shop.
"Don't tell me he is this pathetic little shop's guard dog?" Mohji sneered.
"Chouchou don't" the mayor screamed as he saw the little dog attack the lion only to get swatted away.
But Chouchou didn't stay down for long, he ran to the lion and again started to attack him.
"What are you two doing!?" Nami screamed, "Help him!".
Naruto didn't reply, he just kept looking on as the dog got swatted again.
"Everyone has a responsibility to protect their treasure, be it an animal or a man", Zoro started when he saw the mayor and Nami move to protect the dog, "That shop is the dog's treasure and he is protecting it with everything he's got. It would be disgraceful for him if he didn't do everything in his power to protect it. We respect him for his resolve and won't intervene till he stops moving or asks for our help. And I suggest you do the same"
Chouchou kept getting back up and attacking the lion many times until his body finally gave out and he fell unconscious.
"Rest now Chouchou" Naruto whispered to the dog as he picked him up and handed him to the mayor, "You have shown us your resolve and fought till your last breath, now it's our job to protect your treasure".
With that Naruto moved forward and stood in front of the shop
"Come" he motioned with his finger.
"Richie!, kill him like that straw hat kid and I'll give you all the treats you want!".
The lion roared and leapt in the air and swung his paw to clobber Naruto into the ground.
Naruto easily dodged the attack and delivered a devastating uppercut to the lion's jaw.
The lion's head snapped back as he was lifted off the ground from the force of the punch then flew a small distance away and crashed into the empty houses behind them.
Seeing his lion defeated in one punch, Mohji immediately surrendered.
"A-all right! I peacefully surrender and apologize to you!" He spoke as he gave a deep bow.
"Your apology means nothing to me" Naruto replied as he dashed forward and uppercut him too. Mohji too was blasted off the ground and fell on top of his lion, unconscious.
"This town is a treasure to me and all of the citizens" the mayor suddenly declared, "I cannot let them domineer over it any more!"
Suddenly there was a loud Boom as the houses nearby blew up to smithereens.
"Its Buggy, he is firing at the town"
"I refuse to let him get away with this!" the promised, "I won't let some random scum destroy our 40 years of hard work."
"I am this town's mayor!" he declared, "I will protect my treasure, this town, with my own hands just like Chouchou." he then picked up his spear and began to run towards Buggy's base but Nami stopped him in his tracks by grabbing hold of him.
"Stop! Stop!, listen to me" Nami pleaded.
"There are fights a man can't run away from! , Isn't that right, Young'un?!" He addressed Naruto.
"That's right, old man!" Naruto replied.
"Don't urge him on!" Nami snapped, "What can he possibly do when he faces them!, It's reckless!".
"I'm fully aware it's reckless!" the mayor replied, "but I intend to follow through anyway!".
"That's good" Naruto replied as he placed a hand on the mayor's shoulder, "I like your resolve", he then pressed a pressure point on the mayor's neck which made him lose his consciousness and fall to the ground.
"Nami!" Naruto called out, "You said that Buggy has a map of the grandline, we are gonna steal that map and make our way there".
"What do you say Luffy?"
Luffy, who was sitting above the pet shop all this time, smiled in agreement.
"I like that plan!"