The following is a non-profit fan-based parody, One Piece is owned by Toei Animation, Fuji Tv, Shonen Jump, Shueisha, and Eiichiro Oda, please support the official release.
This is not a crossover fic.
This story was inspired by LucasVAMP's One Piece: Lightning Dragon. Check out his story, I recommend it.
Another one?!
Prologue
Marineford
Admiral Akainu could count on one finger the number of times he found a worthy recruit to train, and that is this very moment, watching the spar between the recruits wasn't something he would do on a normal day, but today it was quiet and calm, even in the new world there was nothing that called his attention so he decided to watch the future members of the Marine hoping it wouldn't bore him more than this inaction.
"Who is that rookie?". Asked the admiral to the instructor right beside him while looking at said rookie fighting and holding himself against five recruits not letting a single hit land on him.
"The masked one?! that is Snake Eyes sir.". The instructor stays feeling a little nervous from the glare Akainu gave him.
"Snake Eyes?! Could you explain?".
"Y-yes sir. His actual name is Jack D. Ripper, but he refuses to be called by his name and ignored everyone who does so, and only responds to those who call him Snake Eyes.". The instructor says while taking a file out of his clipboard and giving it to the admiral.
"Orphan, no known relatives, adopted and trained since birth by the Arashikage clan. Never heard of it.". Akainu says while reading the file and stop speaking to indicate to the instructor to say his piece.
"Apparently, the Arashikage are a clan of ninjas from Wano Country and even to them they are a secret, so if you never heard of it, I guess they are doing something right… Sir!".
Akainu, although annoyed by the last remark, was obliged to agree, seeing the file showing the boy was only sixteen proves that if he was as talented as the admiral thought, he would rise high in the Marine.
"After the hand-to-hand combat training is finished, I want you to send him to my office, I want to see for myself if he is a brute diamond in the making or just a rock with no value.". Akainu says taking his leave before taking a last glance at the boy.
"Wait sir, just one more thing." The instructor says feeling more nervous when the admiral stops in his tracks and looks at him menacingly. "It's just that, he, he doesn't speak, he only communicates with sign language, just so you know.".
"… Noted.".
Akainu's Office
"Enter.". Akainu says after hearing a knock at the door of his office, hoping it was the person he was waiting for.
It was the one, he was fully dressed in a full-body black suit with two katanas on his back and a chrome visor on his face which was covered with a black mask, had the admiral lacked the knowledge about Jack's background file and not seeing the masked face before he would've thought security has been breached.
"Jack D. Ripper, correct?! …Snake eyes?!". Akainu asks feeling annoyed but calming down at the nod he receives from his guest. "Is there a reason you're not responding with your own voice recruit?".
"Throat was slit.". Snake Eyes responds with sign language making the admiral narrow one of his eyes and widen the other one.
"Do you know why I called you here?". Akainu asks crossing his finger and sizing the recruit from head to toe.
Snake Eyes only shake his head in the negative as a response, making the admiral get off his chair and walk toward him.
"You've shown talent today, a talent I want to see for myself," Akainu says, towering over the recruit who doesn't feel a little bit intimidated by the admiral presence who grins at the willpower shown. "You and I will have a spar, if you impress me, I will take you under my wing and train you until you become a full member of the Marine, failed to do so and I will not be responsible for you having to spend the rest of your life in a hospital bed.".
"Don't hold back.". Snake Eyes signs, making the admiral smile.
Training Ground
Snake Eyes POV
24 hours after their meeting, Snake Eyes stands in the training arena, in front of him is his superior officer Admiral Sakazuki, arms crossed and with an immovable face, the ninja was trained since birth to fight this type of opponent and handle such pressure with nothing but his will, but even all his training was not enough, considering who else was watching.
To his left Snake Eyes sees figures that carry the pinnacle of respect inside the navy; Fleet-admiral Sengoku, Vice-Admiral Garp, Vice-Admiral Tsuru, Admiral Kuzan, and Admiral Borsalino. To his right is all the recruits of this year watching him with all kinds of emotion.
There could be many reasons behind this 'spectacle', motivation, inspiration, too many for Snake Eyes to consider, but the only reason that matters was Sakazuki's, this was nothing but a test to the admiral and Snake Eyes knew it.
Could Sakazuki lose? No. Could Snake Eyes defeat him? Even less. No matter what kind of rules or type of combat this fight has, Snake Eyes couldn't and wouldn't win. The real reason Sakazuki is doing this is to see what kind of marine Snake Eyes would become, and the reason for this audience is nothing more so he could make an example out of Snake Eyes, should he pass the test his example would inspire all recruits to become someone like him, should he failed Sakazuki would show all of them their fate if they lack what it's needed to face the grand line and the new world.
The ninja didn't like Sakazuki's methods, but he couldn't disagree with the results, either way, the navy would grow strong after this fight.
Akainu POV
Akainu couldn't stop himself from giving an invisible smile, seeing the body language of the recruit he saw that Jack already knew what this fight entails, meaning he already passed the first test; observation.
Like all Marines, he needs to know what is the meaning of everything happening around them on the battlefield and why it is happening, no matter the kind, be it in warfare or politics.
With one test finished Jack only needs to pass four others, planning, combat, endurance and resolve. In this world there are only two sides, the side of justice and the side of wrong, if you are not with the first you are with the second, there is no third way, and Akainu would see if Jack really has the resolve to go to the end for the absolute justice no matter who or what he was fighting against, no matter how stronger or weaker the opponent is. In the end, all that matters is absolute justice, and those who serve it should live for it, even at the cost of one's own life.
Third person POV
Sengoku wasn't so sure about this exhibition. Sure, there were a lot of benefits but he wasn't eager to cripple a great recruit just for this.
When he'd read the files and met Snake Eyes, he could easily see a man that would become a great marine officer, and a big asset to the Marine, so seeing him going to a fight against Sakazuki felt like seeing that future crumble.
Unfortunately for Sengoku, only Garp and Tsuru appeared to agree with him. Borsalino approved Sakazuki's idea. Kuzan seemed to disagree but only because it was too much trouble going through this.
As if an invisible bell hand sung Snake Eyes charges at Akainu, drawing his swords mid-run and slashing against Akainu who evades by stepping to the side and blocking Snake Eyes' other sword with his elbow.
With the momentum given by Akainu's defense Snake Eyes does a roundhouse kick and hits the Admiral in his rib cage, had he hit any normal opponent they would be either in pain or with a broken rib, but Akainu wasn't a normal person and Snake Eyes hit hurt the admiral as much as a breeze of winter.
Akainu doesn't waste time and with his free hand, he tries to punch the ninja with a fist covered in magma, only to miss the target who jumps backward and flips in the air, throwing shurikens at the admiral whose magma body makes them melt the moment they touch his skin.
When he lands on the ground Snake Eyes only has the time to raise his swords as a defense when he saw Akainu right in front of him, magma fist raised and throwing a punch that will either break the ninja's bones or just displace them.
Not too far from the truth, Akainu's punch is blocked, but Snake Eyes is thrown a few feet back and his left shoulder is completely loosed and dormant.
Looking at his shoulder for a second Snake Eyes turns back to look at his opponent, he puts his right hand behind his back and holds his katana upside down.
Akainu raised an eyebrow at the ninja, the admiral thought it was one last standing, although short, the combat was what he expected from the recruit, and he passed his tests. Snake Eyes planned every move, just like his reactions to Akainu's attacks. Combat wasn't even worth mentioning since his abilities were above the average recruit and he lasted this long despite losing immediately after Akainu got serious. Endurance was lacking, but his opponent was a Marine Admiral, lasting this much already approved him considering he hold his own pretty well when Akainu was just playing around.
Now it was the last test, the resolve, even down an arm Snake Eyes was still ready to fight, but it wasn't enough, not to Akainu.
The admiral slowly walks toward the recruit, magma flowing on both his arms, the final standing and final test would begin now.
The admiral's killing intent could be felt by everyone around, but the ninja didn't move, he just concentrated more, and more on his stance with every step Akainu took closer to him.
Face to face the admiral towers over the recruit but he didn't move.
It was time, gathering as much killing intent as he could, Akainu raises his fist and with a primal scream, he throws the punch.
Barely an inch away from Akainu's fist, Snake Eye makes his move, and all in the arena feel it. Snake Eyes in the span of a millisecond releases his Haoshoku Haki making all the recruits watching fall unconscious, and Akainu hesitate for a second, and one second was all Snake Eyes needed.
With a quick and swift movement, the ninja delivers his blow, disappearing in mid-air for a second and appearing right behind the admiral.
There was complete silence in the arena for a moment, sound finally returns to the place when the ninja falls to his knees.
The ninja isn't the only thing that falls, Akainu's marine cap falls off his head, but before it reaches the ground, the ninja catches it and puts it on his own masked head.
Akainu turns around to look at the ninja, but before he could speak, he feels something on his cheek. Putting his finger on his cheek the admiral sees a single, small drop of blood, he couldn't deny his surprise but could hide it.
Snake Eyes did it, he passed all his tests, and the fact that he knew Bososhoku and Haoshoku Haki already put him leagues above the other recruits, after all this time, the admiral found the perfect apprentice.
Getting on his feet, panting, and giving soundless groans of pain Snake Eyes looks at his opponent and bows to him in respect.
The left audience gets on their feet and approaches the two, all of them except Garp had serious looks on their faces.
The hero of the navy puts his hand on the ninja's shoulder to ensure he wouldn't fall and laughs loudly.
"You did good there, kid.". Garp says with a wide smile.
"Thank you, sir!".
Garp tilts his head due to the sign language but a quick word from Sengoku makes him realize the reason.
"You did good kid.". Sengoku says crossing his arms, he looks at Akainu and talks to him. "Are you sure you want him as a protégé Sakazuki? Maybe Kuzan or Borsalino should have this one.".
"OOOOOH. Not a bad idea." Borsalino says thinking about it. "But I will pass. I already have found a disciple. The boy Sentomaru will be enough for me.".
"Pass.". Kuzan says yawning. "Too much trouble.".
"There, see.". Sakazuki says. "I will take him under my wing. I can't allow potential to be wasted.".
"I'm honored.".
Reluctant but in agreement, Sengoku gives Sakazuki his permission to train Snake Eyes. The reason he didn't want the admiral to take a pupil was because of his methods, the ninja would either become a great asset to the navy or a permanent resident of a hospital wing by being trained by the Red Dog and after seeing the display it would surely be a waste of such potential, who could use Haki at such a young age.
The Fleet-Admiral takes a quick look at Garp who shakes his head, the Vice-Admiral was already busy with his grandson's delusions of becoming a pirate. Tsuru and himself were also out of the question due to the massive paperwork of the first, and the busy schedule also added with massive paperwork of the latter because of his post as Fleet-Admiral.
"Very well then.". Sengoku says relenting on the matter. "I'll see that the transference is done. Jack D. Ripper… Snake Eyes, you are now under the command of Admiral Sakazuki. For the next two years, you will stay under his command until your training is complete and you become a full soldier of the Marine".
"Get ready, kid.". Sakazuki says looking eye-to-visor. "By the end of this, you will be a true sword of justice.".
Letting his actions speak, the ninja takes off the cap and gives it back to the owner, he wasn't a marine so he didn't earn the right to wear it… yet.
Putting his cap back Akainu looks at the recruit, confident that he will be his magnum opus of absolute justice, while said recruit looks back at him hoping that he could make de admiral broaden his visions of the meaning of justice. None of them knew how wrong they were.
Author's note: Hello, welcome. Short prologue I know, the chapters will be longer. As I said, this is not a crossover fic, what is Jack's story? Why he uses the alias Snake Eyes? Everything will be answered with flashbacks, so bear it with me.
I wanted to make this a G.I Joe and One Piece crossover fic, but I had no idea what to do with that concept so I chose the; fan of thing 1 ends on thing 2 universe, route.
Chapter 1 will drop tomorrow.
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English is not my first language.