Ripples to Waves
Every great decision creates ripples, like a huge boulder dropped in a lake. The ripples merge and rebound off the banks in unforeseeable ways. The heavier the decision, the larger the waves, the more uncertain the consequences.
Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece or Naruto.
Chapter Five: Deceptive Investigations
Naruto let out a cry, smacking into the ground as his face skid across the dirt, his features already marred with bruises and ripped skin. Though the fall didn't injure him, the boy couldn't deny that it hurt regardless; and had he not been through the ringer for the last few weeks, he likely would have cried from the pain. Hell, he had done so the first couple of times, which had earnt his combat instructor several beatings from Nami.
Naruto gripped the ground to stop himself from sliding, dirt spilling under his fingernails as he eventually stopped his movement, haggard breaths escaping his lips as he attempted to gain any semblance of recovery. From his current position, he could see the shadow imposed by Luffy on the ground, the Straw Hat clearly visible from the outline. He could hear Nami shift somewhat uncomfortably in the distance from the tree she had claimed as her own, familiar with the training ground that she had found for them which had seen plenty of use since its discovery.
The blond could tell the orange-haired girl was worried about him, and by the way Luffy's shoulder's slightly relaxed, he could say the same for the Straw Hat wearer too. Such moments made him feel fuzzy inside, a warmth spreading throughout his being as their concern seeped over him. Such moments gave him more energy than any portion of ramen or encouraging words from Hokage-jiji, and Naruto soon found himself on his feet, briefly laying a hand over the bruising on his chest with a wince.
He could see the smirk twist across Luffy's shadowed expression and felt a fire burn within the confides of his mind. The older boy was proud, but evidently was still waiting for Naruto's next move given the way his foot twitched in anticipation. Needless to say, Naruto felt proud by his progress, with Luffy having put him through gruelling physical training, via exercise and sparring. Though Naruto had yet to complete the objective the other boy had set for him since they began training.
Luffy had made it sound so simple, but Naruto had learnt at this point that such was Luffy's way of approaching life. Pressing his feet into the dirt again, Naruto tensed his body, holding up his hands in the stance Luffy taught him.
And then, he charged.
The blond could feel the rush of blood in his ears, a sound akin to a roaring storm or ocean, hardly able to hear his own thoughts as he got ever closer to the now grinning Straw Hat instructor. From the outset, Naruto had been struggling with his smaller physicality, his shorter stature proving to be a huge issue. And yet he knew he could overcome it, given that Luffy himself had been far shorter than those who had attacked them weeks before. Naruto took a brief moment to properly regard the raven-haired boy.
Naruto was, quite frankly, in awe of Luffy. His strength and personality were things that utterly inspired the blond, both in training and out of it. For someone to be so excitable and yet terrifyingly strong had led to the blond unknowingly place the six-year-old on a large pedestal. His teachings were fair, Naruto thought, though taxing on his mind and body. The blond understood that with Luffy, one would only get as much as they put in, leading the blond to utterly dedicate himself to the training provided by the other boy. It definitely helped that Luffy always seemed proud of him as well, as well as the fact he always enjoyed their training sessions, though given his teacher's consistent emotional state, Naruto didn't think the latter was much of an achievement.
It still made him feel good though.
He eyed the massive x-shaped scar on the young boy's chest and could only briefly wonder about the story behind it. The blond often found himself doing so after all. Nami had told him not long after he met her that scars told stories, hidden truths that served as a lesson to those who wore them. And just by looking at the jagged tissue on the boy's chest, he had to wonder what lesson Luffy had learnt by getting that scar. He had tried asking Nami about it once, but he quickly closed the issue when the girl seemed to go quiet, simply shutting down for a moment in a state he had never seen in her before.
He knew from that point that it was best to avoid bringing up Luffy's scars...
He was close enough to reach the older boy at this point and cocked his arm back to go for a punch towards his stomach. Naruto found it easier to go with a strength-based option when it came to fighting, something Luffy noted with satisfaction and familiarity. Such things made Naruto feel as if he was going in the right direction, and it definitely proved to work well with the boundless energy that Nami noted that he had. Naruto swung his fist, and as usual, Luffy simply batted it to the side while side-stepping. Without moving much of his body, Naruto had enough experience to anticipate the kick that came his way from the right.
With a smile, Naruto leapt over it by pushing off the ground; only to watch in despair as Luffy slammed his foot on the ground, quickly shoving a fist into the blond's stomach while using his static foot as a pivot. Eyes bugging out from the force, Naruto coughed, flying backwards as he tumbled against the ground painfully.
"Jumping in the air is a bad idea usually. Unless you've got a way to manoeuvre around."
The explanation that travelled across the air was simple and informative, though hard to focus on given Naruto could hardly breath, clutching his stomach as he attempted to get over his winded state. After a moment, he found his body giving out on him, his torso slamming into the ground as he winced in pain. His vision seemed to blur somewhat, and he could hardly concentrate on the sounds and sights around him, with the sound of sandals slapping against dirt drowned out by the roaring blood in his ears.
He could feel himself get lifted off the ground, and after a moment of collecting himself, he was at least able to ascertain that it was Luffy who did so. As per usual after their training sessions, at least the ones where he could hardly move and stand, the blond was slung over the other boy's back. Naruto looped his arms around Luffy's neck to stabilise himself, and after a short period of time, had evened out his breathing to the rhythm of Luffy's; the rise and fall of the Straw Hat boy's back helping Naruto steady himself.
He sunk into the warmth of his friend's back, allowing himself to bask in the presence of someone who genuinely cared about him. It was a nice feeling, accompanied by other notions of safety and inspiration. The sounds of Nami and Luffy's argumentative conversation, which Naruto knew at this point came from a place of adoration and care, seemed to die down in the background as he sunk his face into the other boy's back.
He remained like that for a while, lost in his own thought and peaceful resting until he could feel Luffy addressing him. He didn't quite know how, but the blond was well aware that he was being talked to.
"You did well today! You reacted better to my punch this time, and you were even able to react to my kick in time to form a plan!" Luffy's tone was proud and happy, something that cast a small smile on Naruto's face as he sunk further into the other boy's neck. A blush struck across his countenance, still not used to praise at such an honest level and could hear Nami's light laugh to his right.
It wasn't long before Luffy and Nami started chatting again, the sounds of their presence slowly drifting Naruto into a calm rest as the sun began to set on the horizon of Konohagakure. Dreams of happiness and exciting possible futures accompanied his sleep, all the while a soft smile remained creased across his face.
Hada never had a last name, having grown up homeless and abandoned on the streets of Konohagakure. None of the memories of that time period were particularly fond for the missing-nin, and while he didn't lose sleep recalling such experiences, they weren't exactly something he was going to describe to a conversationalist if they asked. He preferred to keep that period of life to himself, both as a lesson and as a reminder for why he pushed himself to keep going.
So, without a last name, Hada pondered what he would do if the man at the desk asked him for one. To be honest, it would put him on the spot, and could mess up his plans for his grandiose introduction. Hada had long since ascertained that introductions were everything, and if you could nail a really good one, it made infiltrating so much easier. First impressions had untold psychological effects on targets if one knew how to utilise them.
Besides, Hada thought with a smirk, it helped that all his introductions made him look awesome.
Running a hand through his blood red hair, the man considered the mission he had been given. Having once been one of the most promising Jōnin Konoha had ever seen, his loyalty to the Land of Fire was absolute. It was his home, alongside being the place that had allowed him to rise from the vestiges of his own self hatred into something far more tolerable to live as. If someone, who of course knew he was an undercover missing-nin, were to ask him why he kept on going, Hada would simply tell them it was because he loved Konoha. There was no other reason besides that simple one.
Of course, he would follow up from that by drowning them to keep his secret, or by using any of the five natures quite frankly. But that was neither here nor there.
Still, the elemental natures were his biggest advantage here should he get into trouble. He had mastered them all after all. Such was the source of his S-Rank status. Having once been trained by the Third Hokage given his interest towards learning every chakra nature, Hada had set out to master each affinity and give them the respect they deserve. Of course, he faltered against the likes of Sarutobi-sensei, but the Nuke-nin would be a fool to deny that he was extremely talented and could only count his sensei amongst those with more variety at their disposal than him.
However, Hada regarded with a petulant frown creasing his face, this often led him into conflict with another Konoha nuke-nin, that being Orochimaru.
Quite frankly, Hada was lucky to have escaped the Snake Sannin alive considering how much the man hated him, which the undercover ninja suspected was due to him following the path of The Professor somewhat successfully. He didn't relish encounters with the snake, given the fact Hada had no intentions on dying if he was being honest with himself.
The mission came first, given many of his tasks were to ensure Konoha's protection and interests. He had received a hawk from Sarutobi-sensei a few weeks prior, describing their desire for him to join with the rebels that were sweeping across the Land of Water. Such a request had been slightly puzzling, but Hada was not surprised given his former lack of assignment. Though he did ponder how worried the Council must have been in order to send him to acquire this information. Probably something to do with the balance of power, or whatever.
A groan escaped his lips, as he progressed further in the queue he had found himself in. Who would have thought that Kiri's rebellion would be so organised? He could somewhat see Konoha's concern, given the fact that no one had expected this rebellion to appear at all. Even Hada's own connections in the underworld had been floored, something which didn't happen often, though he relished in their embarrassment all the same. The entire situation was relatively comedic for someone like the nuke-nin, who could observe situations from outside the confines of the walls of villages. The entire eastern continent was running about like a giant headless chicken, panicking at the idea of a regime change that could affect trade and other such economic dependencies. After all, trade between the two continents occurred through the Land of Water, and thus the political state of said land was of the interest of just about the entire world.
Hada thought the entire situation was somewhat akin to a comedy show, but that was just his opinion. Perhaps it best he kept that to himself, the silver-eyed man noted, considering the fact that the rebels would no doubt string him up by his boots if they heard their plight was being compared to entertainment.
Hada smiled as he approached the desk, the individual in front of him having been pointed in the general direction of the barracks. The nuke-nin had to give these rebels credit, even the guy at the table seemed to make their boring desk job seem like it was the most important task in the world, given his energetic movements and attentive stare. Briefly toying with the scar that lined the side of his left eye, he gave the desk worker a legitimate smile. He could sympathise with loyalty to citizen and country. Maybe this rebel gig wouldn't be so bad?
He briefly spied the ships that the rebels were using as a flotilla for their current recruitment operation on this island with interest. The ships were extremely well maintained, if Hada was being honest, and given the number of guards and Genjustu surrounding them, he ascertained it was something he would likely have to investigate later. Perhaps they were transporting someone or something important?
Still, The Blood Athenaeum had to live up to his reputation, given that was the entire point of an undercover assignment, so Hada stood there as he stared impassively at the worker, who was growing more nervous by the second. Finally, the man's voice came out in a croak, something Hada felt slightly bad for invoking. Though, if he was being entirely honest with himself, Hada mostly found it quite amusing. "C-can I take your name sir?"
Hada reached into the wet satchel that he had carried with him from Kirigakure itself, reaching in with an internal sigh of exhaustion as he dragged the contents out of the bag and threw it onto the desk. Had he not been sympathising with the rebel cause, Hada would have openly chuckled at the desk worker jumping at the sight of the severed head crashing into his desk. The nuke-nin shoved his hands in his pockets, while he began to hear murmurs of a slightly panicked variety from those in the queue behind him, hearing shifting footsteps as they evidently tried to get away from what was an evident danger to their lives.
It didn't take long for the desk worker to recognise the Kiri headband on the head of the deceased, and Hada eyed the panicked suspicion on the face of the poor fellow. As Hada predicted, such suspicion changed to awe when he began to recognise the identity of the head in question.
Quite frankly, Jūzō Biwa had been a pain in his ass, especially with him swinging Kubikiribōchō around like it was nobody's business. Sadly, it had been Hada's business, and after a good fight, he finally smote the last member of the Seven Swordsmen still loyal to Yagura against the coastal cliffs of an island within the Sea of Death.
Still, something about that situation had given Hada pause, considering that Jūzō had seemed to shirk his loyalty to Yagura just prior to his death. In fact, the nuke-nin had been thinking of little else recently but the nature of Jūzō's defection, drawing facts and figures from rumour and an autopsy he had conducted. He fiddled with the ring he had looted off the corpse that seemed to hold some importance, its yellow colouring and the kanji for "South" having gained his interest.
Hada would be lying if he said he hadn't been on edge since, considering the fact that he had felt as if he had been under brief moments of observation ever since he had acquired the ring itself.
Still, that wasn't the pressing issue, given he was now surrounded by several rebel Jōnin pointing kunai at his throat. Hada couldn't help but chuckle, allowing his more comedic nature to slip through. Hell, Hada was pretty sure his "quipping in times of stress" was even mentioned within the Bingo Book, given the nuke-nin had found a way to use it in combat. All the better considering it meant he didn't have to put up a complete act for every second of every day.
A successful undercover operator uses hints of truth to seal the plausibility of their grand lie. "Fellas. I just walked into your rebel operation without issue, bypassed your chakra defences and patrols without breaking a sweat, and shoved the head of one of the Seven Swordsmen on your desk. And you think you can just take me?"
Silence stilled amongst the entire area.
It wasn't long before Hada found himself amused minutes later, upon being dragged away with a bag placed over his head. Not that this wasn't what he planned, but the nuke-nin could only feel a sense of badinage that the other ninja didn't seem to appreciate his commentary on their defensive capabilities.
A chuckle rumbled in his throat, and it wasn't long before he was thrown against the dirt ground with a decent amount of force. Slamming onto his knees, the nuke-nin made sure to let out an audible grunt in order to make his captors feel better about the illusion of success they had upon capturing him. May as well start helping the rebellion by increasing their morale, right?
The bag was quickly removed from Hada's head, and his eyes very quickly adjusted to the light that contrasted the lonely darkness that was the inside of what he could now tell to be the satchel he himself brought. The nuke-nin was quick to realise why it had smelt so funny in there during the minutes it had been over his head, and his face twitched in brief annoyance before he looked up with a grin.
A grin that soon become a smirk upon noticing Mei Terumi herself, sitting behind a makeshift desk. He fiddled with the bindings behind his back briefly, the rope irritating his skin with decent effect, causing his face to drop in agitation. The least they could do was treat him with some high quality bindings right? Or did his reputation not proceed him at all? Hada internally stewed over such petty disrespect buy knew it was their loss, going back to concentrating on those in the tent with him.
The woman behind the desk seemed amused by his fidgeting however, as did the two men who Hada could identify as Kisame Hoshigaki and Zabuza Momochi. While the aura they gave off was intimidating, Hada had found himself under the killing intent of the Third Hokage more times than he could count, and thus it didn't particularly phase him.
He properly observed Terumi now, a smirk once again creasing his face. She really was as beautiful as the rumours said, and Hada could only begin to appreciate a woman who exuded that kind of confidence. But perhaps the most eye-catching thing about her was the power that reverberated in the air around her.
His smirk only became more cocksure.
Intelligence had been right to predict her as the next Kage, considering she acted and somewhat felt like one already. Her voice gave that away as well, her words cutting through the air in a similar vein to Sarutobi-sensei's. "Hada, otherwise known as The Blood Athenaeum. Not to mention, one of Konoha's most prolific S-Class Nuke-nin. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Hada eyed her in a small amount of petty defiance, something he wasn't proud of but knew would help sell his story as he locked his gaze with hers. He let a slightly amused expression cross his face, which was easy considering the humour he found in most situations he was cast into. "Well, I found myself burdened with a weight. A physical one, that being a head and a sword."
The two next to Terumi seemed to twitch at the latter part of his statement, in something that could only be described as keen interest. Even Mei seemed to have perked up a bit, though if Hada had to hazard a guess, Momochi definitely seemed the most keen at the implication. Hada internally grinned, knowing Zabuza was definitely the weak point in this trio, both mentally and power-wise quite frankly. Hada let his recognition of their reaction be known to the three, an amused expression crossing his face. "One moment."
He shook himself free of his bindings, and the trio didn't seem surprised, though he could see Hoshigaki's hand twitch towards what Hada could identify as Samehada. The red-haired man couldn't stop the chuckle emerging from his throat when he realised the similarity between his own name and the sword's, causing the three ninja to stare at him in a slight degree of confusion. Realising he had done so out loud, Hada now awkwardly chuckled, before quickly pulling out a storage scroll, releasing Kubikiribōchō from its confines.
Upon doing so, Hada definitely noticed a change in the air, with Zabuza even taking a step forward towards the contents and Kisame allowing a shark-like grin of amusement spread across his face. Upon further thought, Hada mused that he and the shark were likely to get along well. However, the nuke-nin could not say the same for Terumi, who eyed him with utter suspicion, green orbs narrowing in his direction as Hada stood up, brushing the dirt off his knees with several grumbles escaping his lips.
"What is it you want in exchange for this boon, Athenaeum?" Terumi was quick to cut to the chase, Hada noted, ears prickling at her sharp tone. Hada finally stood up straight, allowing a feral smile of deception to whip across his features, staring down who he knew would become the Fifth Mizukage.
He knew the response that would sell the best considering his profile and the people in the room, but first he had to disclose his intentions, or rather his fake ones. Channelling his actual sympathies towards the Kiri rebels, Hada knew he had to let the idea settle in their minds before he gave his half-performative explanation. "You misunderstand the nature of this gift, Terumi-chan. I wish to join your rebellion."
Hada almost trembled with satisfaction at the shock that crossed the three's faces, knowing nothing provided more intellectual pleasure than getting a reaction out of people. Perhaps, the nuke-nin mused, that was a natural result of being ignored by parents who would stop by the orphanage. After all, if they could see him for any reason, then perhaps that was enough to get the idea that he should be adopted and recognised?
Briefly musing that he was a psychiatrist's field day, he watched Mei reply in a slightly heated manner, now on the back foot in this exchange. Hada had no idea why she seemed slightly flustered. Perhaps it was the inflection he had used to accompany her name? Hada catalogued this as a potential asset to use in gaining information. "And why would a Konoha nuke-nin, responsible for murdering more innocents than most ninja, sympathise and want to join Kirigakure rebels?"
Hada let a cockier grin cross his face at this point, channelling the desire for recognition he pondered on earlier into every single word, letting the emotion drip over his tone completely in order to sell the truth, allowing his childhood desire for recognition shadow his patriotic intentions to Konoha. "Because a man is only as good as his legacy. And nothing screams legacy like overthrowing a government and killing the Fourth Mizukage."
Mei seemed taken aback for a moment, in a similar manner to Momochi. Hada was amused to hear the barking laughter of Kisame echo throughout the tent and was excited to have confirmation on the fact he and the shark were going to get on like two peas in a pod. The Samehada wielder turned to Mei, his amusement and interest satiated. "Well shit, can't argue with that. Can we keep him, Mei?"
The leader of the rebellion was quick to rebuke Kisame with a glare, who just let out another bark of laughter at the reaction, though Hada was glad to see she didn't seem to be able to refute Kisame's sentiment.
Hook. Line. Sinker.
"So, Mr. Hada, what is it you wish to gain in return?" Mei asked with a curious expression of her own, gazing down at Kubikiribōchō briefly before looking up at him with a smirk, amusement and a flirtatious air permeating in the atmosphere through her very being. It was now Hada's turn to be taken aback. Though he could use such a personality against her, it was slightly… forward. "I have no intention yet of killing Yagura, so why do you thi-"
The missing-nin tried to keep his eyes from trailing down from her green ones that he was now confidently staring into, given the woman's likely intentional posture of leaning forward. However, he was still quick to cut her off. "You know as well as I do that you fear a confrontation with your old teacher. He's strong, far too strong for anyone's good really. And he will fight to the bitter end. That's the truth you and your rebels have been avoiding, with only the bold proclaiming it amongst your ranks. The truth is Terumi, you need to kill that bastard to win, and I want to be the one to do it."
She seemed to be uncomfortable with his rant, the truth in his words sinking into every pore of her skin as she looked down at her own hands, as if they already were seeped in the blood of her old master. The two ninja with her actually seemed to look upon her with concern, something Hada noted with internal approval. Terumi would need all the help she could get quite frankly. It took a while, but Mei finally looked up at him with a serious expression, one befitting someone with the presence of Kage.
"Well then, Athenaeum, you've got yourself an agreement."
Hada couldn't stop the smirk spreading across his lips.
Naruto blinked attentively, glancing at the makeshift board that Nami had created, which leant against the stack of books that piled up quite high. The orange-haired girl had told him she had checked them out from the library, and yet when the blond looked within the texts themselves, he couldn't find Nami's name on the sign-out sheet that accompanied them. When he asked her about it, she would just shrug mysteriously and Luffy would always burst out laughing, but the two would never enlighten him as to what they found so amusing.
Currently, Nami was providing an in-depth explanation as to how chakra worked, with Naruto listening intently. Quite frankly, it was all extremely interesting, and the way the orange-haired girl explained it to him allowed him to process the information well. He couldn't quite tell if that was due to his predisposition towards her or if she was genuinely a good teacher, though he supposed it didn't matter either way. If she asked, he would tell her the latter for his own safety, or rather Luffy's. Naruto smiled internally at the thought, knowing Nami mainly took her anger out on Luffy when Naruto did something that was troublesome, considering Luffy would follow up with an action or comment that elicited her wrath. Sometimes, Naruto did wonder if the boy did it on purpose to spare him Nami's fury, and he decided to believe so, thinking it to be a pleasant thought.
"Chakra, being elemental in nature, precipitates in five natural forms that form the basis of most ninjutsu. The five elemental natures, or rather the Five Basic Natures, are fundamental to the art of being a ninja." Nami's explanations were often accompanied by a slightly tired tone, one Naruto knew the girl tried to hide given she didn't want to make him feel guilty over the fact she studied hard throughout her time alone in order to facilitate his teaching. Quite frankly, it made him feel extremely warm inside, knowing both her and Luffy were pushing themselves to their limits to oversee the plausibility of his dream. Had he not been used to it, he likely would have cried at the thought, which he had done for the first couple of days.
"These five elements are Fire, Water, Earth, Lightning, and Wind. Though as usual, I can only teach you theory as I am mostly unfamiliar with the actual practicality of Chakra usage." Nami often provided such a caveat when providing explanations, though unknown to Naruto, she had been asking her mother to run her through some basic exercises so she could pass them along to Naruto. That, alongside bribing her mother's genin team, meant Nami was well on her way to being able to give Naruto some practical teaching. He watched her brown eyes flick across the room and smiled when she locked her gaze with a concentrating Naruto. The pride in her eyes made Naruto feel giddy and he could not help but release a chuckle from his lips, a serene atmosphere falling over the room.
Which was promptly shattered by the sound of snoring filling the air as Naruto felt Nami's mood instantly drop, as both turned to gaze at the other "student" in the class; though Naruto could hardly give him such a title seeing as he slept through every lesson. Naruto couldn't help but smile brightly at the other boy, though felt pity fill his being as he watched Nami stomp over towards him angrily.
God rest his soul…
He winced as Nami's fist slammed down onto their hat-covered head, a scream filling the room as Luffy fell from his chair, slamming onto the floor while clutching his now sore skull. The sight of the immensely strong boy whining and crying over Nami's beating made Naruto laugh loudly, though that was drowned out by the sounds of Nami's shouts filling the room, as she dragged Luffy to a standing position by grabbing his stretchy cheek. "LUFFY, WHAT HAVE I TOLD YOU ABOUT SLEEPING DURING THESE LESSONS!?"
Naruto watched as the boy blinked stupidly at Nami, briefly scratching his head as he looked around, slightly confused. "Oh, hey Nami! When did you get here?"
Naruto felt the blood drain from his face as he felt the room shift to a colder state, the orange-haired girl's eyes shadowed by her bangs as the grip on Luffy's cardigan tightened extensively. The pin dropped as Luffy gulped, noticing Nami's shift in mood as Naruto could almost hear the boy's soul leave his body.
As his screams filled the room, Naruto couldn't help but smile at the two widely, a strong sense of love permeating through his body. Though no matter how much he loved the two, he couldn't deny the truth laid before him.
Nami was utterly terrifying…
Tick. Tick. Tick.
The woman sat there, staring mutely at the wall of her kitchen, barely able to feel the hard stool she sat on or the ice-cold stone slab that her arms rested on. The kitchen counter itself was humble, given her late partner's insistence, but formed an island in the room that stood out proudly and made the architecture seem more grandiose than it actually was.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
The kitchen, and many other features of a house that now seemed to be filled with ghosts and pain, was part of the recent renovations that the two had put forward to shift the home into something they could spend the rest of their lives in together. Some called it foolish, considering how young they were, but the two lovers had been so sure of their bond that they proceeded forth anyway.
It seemed the naysayers were right. For these renovations proved worthless to her now, only serving as a reminder of what the universe had taken from her.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
The tiles that rested against the secondary counter alongside the wall seemed so interesting to the woman in her mute and static staring, at least that is what a stranger would deduce upon viewing the scene. Eyes remained unblinking as the gaze locked on the same spot of the structure, the lines and grooves between each square tile forming a pattern her eyes blurrily feasted upon. But upon closer inspection, one could see the energy and life behind her orbs were vacant, lost elsewhere in a sea of grief that shrieked over the horizon of her mind.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
The sound of the clock was the only thing grounding Yūgao to reality, reminding her that she had not been stripped from the mortal plane with the loss of Hayate.
And such an idea was now horrific to the mute woman...
Life was all that separated her from the source of her grief, eyes locking onto various kunai and knives as the woman pondered how easy it would be join her beloved. Such thoughts would have seemed alien to the ANBU prior to Hayate's death, and yet now, they seemed to invade her consciousness at every waking moment.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
Something twitched on her hand. Yūgao wondered if this was how those who went blind felt. To see the world around them for all its beauty, only for it to be stripped away forever. The observation of the smallest of movements from the smallest of things must seem so insignificant to those who could see, with such trivial sights being only worth a glance or the gaze from the corner of one's eye; and yet would the blind give to even observe such things for the shortest of moments.
The purple-haired woman observed the fly that had landed upon the crest of her hand and pondered what a blind man would give to see something as insignificant as such an insect, to observe the flutter of its wings or the erratic movements of its body.
To live in such a beautiful world, only to have sight taken away…
That was how Yūgao felt every morning.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
She had once lived in a world of colour, a palette of different shades had once filled the world and her vision. But now, as she gazed through her brown orbs, all she saw was grey.
There was no colour, no energy. Such things could only be found in her memory, which is where she remained. For it was beautiful there, with twisting colours that accompanied Hayate's every step.
Memory was the resting place of Yūgao's soul, and she opted to remain trapped there for what seemed like would be the rest of her days. Even recent memory, tragic it may be, was a godsend compared to the current state of her life. The last day Hayate had been alive was one in particular that Yūgao chose to reside in, replaying the events over and over in the theatre of remembrance so that she could maybe find someway he could have been saved.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
He had always been so secretive about his midnight escapades, but Yūgao had never pressed him on such things. They trusted each other implicitly, so she had never felt the need to put forth the issue. Regret pooled in her stomach, and by its very nature it felt like it burned, causing her to wince from a phantom-like pain that dominated her every waking moment.
Perhaps she should have brought it up, perhaps had she done so she would have been able to get to Hayate in time. Perhaps she would have been there to save him if she only knew.
Were such midnight travels the reason for his death? Or was it a mere coincidence, something that fate had rolled the dice on in its often cruel and malignant ways?
Tick. Tick. Tick.
Yūgao had once again reached the same conclusion her thoughts had always taken her in times such as these, when she found herself alone between the periods where she was visited by the likes of Kakashi or Tenzō, who's concern would have meant the world to her had she cared about such a grey reality. Yūgao knew she could not rest until she discovered the truth of Hayate's death.
The kunai on her hip burned, tear-stricken promises in the night accompanying its metallic presence. The promises of a desire to escape the grey landscape that now surrounded her.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
The purple-haired ANBU, if she could even have such a descriptor to herself any longer, felt sick to her stomach, the liquid inside churning and threatening to release itself at the thought of what she had to do.
Empty cardboard boxes littered the apartment, ready to contain belongings that only caused grief to Yūgao. She couldn't bare to face them, so pack them away she would, before storing them away in some cupboard that would be shut and locked. Only then could she lock away the memories of Hayate and do what she needed to do. So that she could reunite with him once again.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
But the thought of putting them away made her sick to her core, the idea seemed to be such a transgression to her subconscious that it even caused nightmares and terrors in the day while she vacantly stared and contemplated in silence. It seemed like killing him.
To put away his possessions was like putting him back into the ground all over again, sealing him under dirt and gravestone as had already occurred.
And Yūgao was not sure if she could go through that again, if she could push herself to kill Hayate for a second time, sealing away his presence in the apartment like he was a bad omen.
But the promise of the kunai called to her, sang to her being as the thought of living in this grey world around her overrode any misconceptions of sickness at the thought of packing away Hayate's belongings. But she would have to go through them first, to see.
To see if she could find the truth.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
This was a life she could live no longer.
Tick. Tick. Tick.
She would find the truth, and then, she would rest.
And then she would finally reunite with Hayate, chasing down the colour and energy that had been stripped from this cold, grey world…
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
Sandals slapped against the ground as the boy walked down the road, peering around at the street as everyone had begun to close their stores given how late it was getting. Normally, a growl would have accompanied such staring upon the sight of the restaurants that were around, but Luffy had just walked away from a meal at Nami's house.
The act was slowly becoming tradition and Luffy recognised Sagishi's love for him, considering the sheer amount of food she made without much complaint. A grin broke across the Emperor's face at that thought, fond feelings for the orange-haired woman and her desire to feed him placing him in a satisfied and happy state. Those who fed him always were cherished by Luffy. To Luffy it was an act of absolute kindness, to give someone your food and supplies, a belief he had doubled down on after the kindness of Tama. But more importantly than those who gave him food, those who made his Nakama happy, especially Nami, were people who Luffy would fight for until the ends of the Earth.
And Sagishi checked all those boxes.
Luffy was extremely happy with his current situation, as a matter of fact, considering he had been reunited with Nami. The sun had long since set on the August day, the captain now in a position where he could say for certain he was looking forward to the next one. That wasn't to say he was unhappy before, but the lack of presence of his crew had been driving him stir crazy. The "boy" knew he was lucky it was Nami he ran in to, considering she always made him absolutely sure they were going to end up where they needed to be. She was his compass, and though he couldn't quite internalise it properly, Luffy trusted her above anyone else in the crew. Nami was Nami, and whether he knew it or not, Luffy knew her the best. And thus, he knew what to expect and what he could ask of her.
Subconsciously, Luffy knew that Nami would follow him to the ends of the ocean and more, though Luffy unknowingly knew that he was selfish enough to ask such things of her when all their dreams were done. She would guide him in all shapes or forms until both of them were dead, though the rubber boy hated to think of such inevitabilities. It made him want to punch an enemy that didn't exist yet, so Luffy decided to focus on their day-to-day activities with a face-splitting grin that accompanied his face whenever he thought of any of his Nakama.
Luffy knew her lessons were starting to pay off as well, even though he slept through a lot of them. Not that Luffy would normally dig his teeth into such educational content normally, but Nami had all but pointed out directly that helping Naruto would require him to learn as well, given they had to graduate through school to be ninja.
The thought made Luffy snort briefly.
He had never been to school as a child, not that he had wanted to regardless, but the captain found it funny that he was finally attending such a place only when he had lived long past being 19 years of age. Jii-chan would find that funny, Luffy thought to himself. The thought of Garp briefly gave Luffy pause, and the maturity he had developed cast dark thoughts into his mind. Luffy did not live with regrets, he couldn't, such were the shackles of freedom. But Nami had explained a possibility of this world that they had ended up in. That every year they spent in the Elemental Nations would also cast a year of passing on the New World. Further theories of how the world would react made Luffy amused, the idea that everyone thought he was dead and the Marines panicking in damage control was a little bit funny after all. But such amusement ended with his Jii-chan and Sabo.
It wasn't that Luffy didn't believe they would move on if such things were the case, but the idea that Sabo would be thinking he lost his last brother and his Jii-chan thinking the same for his grandson twisted Luffy's rubbery heart. He loved his family greatly, even if his Jii-chan was mean, and the idea that they were hurting because of him made Luffy more than upset at their circumstances at times. Further thoughts of the islands he had promised to look after also penetrated his mind, alongside countless others who would be effected by his being missing. Luffy cast such thoughts aside. Nami did enough worrying for the both of them, and Luffy had to be the rock at which she stabilised on, so he would smile away and think of better things.
The idea that he was to be attending a school for ninja set aside any thoughts Luffy had of boring classrooms and the like, considering they may teach him how to do cool stuff like throw kunai or do ninjutsu. As he rounded the corner to head towards the orphanage, excitement bristled in his body, eager to learn how to be an awesome ninja.
Though Luffy had to admit, he had no keen interest himself in being a ninja. He, and Nami, would always be pirates and no fancy headband would change that fact. Adventure and the sea were way more fun than doing ninjutsu, but as Luffy pointed out, it was an adventure in itself to learn to be a ninja while they waited to find the rest of the crew. Scratching his cheek briefly, Luffy's thoughts lingered on his nakama.
So far, they had no such luck in finding them, and despite his happy attitude, Luffy couldn't help but feel the stab of disappointment penetrate his gut. He missed his crew a great deal and knew all of their dreams had been put on hold because of this new world that they had ended up in. Luffy found this new place cool, who wouldn't? Ninja countries fighting against each other and using ninjutsu to do so? The thought made Luffy shiver in excitement, though the thought of war and the likes of Naruto participating in it made him briefly frown. Memories of a battlefield of ice and screams filled his memory, and he shook them away as he thought back on the important things.
As captain of the Straw Hat pirates, he had a responsibility to ensure his crew could continue with their dreams, both by keeping himself alive and keeping the journey going. The latter thought brought forward memories of Water 7 and Usopp, his duel with the sniper having occurred on the basis of Luffy needing to protect the rest of the crew's dreams, of which was only possible by allowing the adventure to continue by getting a new ship. The Emperor was quick to chase such memories from his mind, the thought of the fight against his friend made it feel as if a chilling, languid finger was slowly making its way up his spine.
The thought of keeping himself alive wasn't one he considered at all at the beginning of his journey. He, of course, was always willing to lay his life down for his nakama, but prior to a particular incident, Luffy had always been willing to shirk responsibility when it came to his own life. Luffy understood his mindset back then of course, but it only existed because he hadn't been aware of the full responsibility of being a pirate captain.
Loguetown and Buggy the Clown. That was the day it had all changed for the rubber man. Luffy remembered that he had been so willing to accept death, so willing to smile and move on from the incident as if he hadn't almost ended their journey with his unparalleled idiocy and arrogance. The mindset had been shattered after they had left the city, and when he had found himself talking to his navigator under the moonlight a couple of days later.
The conversation that took place was one Luffy would always keep close to his heart. That night, Nami had course corrected him as all navigators should, and reminded him of his responsibility as a captain. It was on that day Luffy truly realised his responsibility to his crew, and how instrumental he was to the dreams of his Nakama in their perception. To Luffy, that was the day he had truly become captain of the Straw Hat Pirates. The memory of shouts and tears echoed in his head as he looked back on the day with a fond smile, but he stopped himself from fully immersing himself in his reminiscing. He had almost reached the orphanage after all, but before he could enter the grounds, he heard the snapping of wood behind him.
Instantly, every single combat sense the future King of the Pirates held within him roared to life, and he spun around with hardened eyes and clenched fists.
Tachiki stalked the prey that his master had ordered him to follow through the bushes that accompanied this particular path in Konoha. Quite frankly, the summon didn't know whether to be offended or not that the prey that everyone was fussing about was a child wearing a stupid hat. Did his master think the likes of his power should be used on tasks such as these? And yet, ever since his master had started to strike deals with people similar to the likes of Danzō, he rarely joked or acted in the interest of others like he used to; instead focusing on getting the tasks he set out to do done at any cost. But Tachiki often thought it was a biproduct of their master's immortality, the long lifespan having taken their toll on his once benevolent persona, and didn't particularly mind. He had made a promise after all, they all did. The thoughts of the others made Tachiki snort, though not loud enough to gain the attention of his target.
Koyasu of course had his doubts about their master now, but Tachiki had little care what that lackadaisical bird thought. Despite the respect that Tachiki had for his fellow tripartite alliance summon boss as a fighter, as well as acknowledgement of their long memories together, he held little care for the bird's ideals and foolish attitude. Tachiki remembered the days when Koyasu had been full of fire and determination, but after that one incident, he had receded into himself. And Tachiki had lost his best friend to himself. Tachiki blamed the bird for their weakness, somewhat despising the fact the other summon boss had lost their way. He would never allow such a thing to happen to him.
After all, Tachiki was the boss of the Dogs, which were a frighteningly powerful summon to have a contract with. They were excellent at tracking, alongside being able to pin down those who they were directed to do so to. But most importantly, they were extremely loyal to the likes of their partners, more so than any other summon animal. Individuals of the Hatake clan were likely their most important signee, and Tachiki got on well enough with Kakashi, with vassals such as Pakkun bonding extremely well with the grey-haired man. In conclusion, the dogs were a forward and headstrong summons, something that contrasted heavily with Koyasu's attitude.
Tachiki stopped himself from thinking more on his predicament and the politics of his fellow summons, instead glaring at the boy through the underbrush that he now found himself in. Given their home was approaching, which the dog could identify as an orphanage, Tachiki slinked towards the boy silently, who seemed to be lost in their thoughts. But Tachiki's loyal mind drifted as he did so, the other summon bosses concerns about their master once again worming themselves into his mind.
Their master, being a wanderer who rarely got involved with the Hidden Villages, had been offered a boon by Danzō Shimura in exchange for targeting this child. None of them particularly cared why the warhawk had deigned them with such a request or why it was accepted, given that their master was likely bored. But this change in pace and desire to get involved in the last 10 years or so had been concerning to the other two bosses, though Ishizuka much less so, but even Tachiki sometimes gave pause. Something was going on behind the scenes and the dog didn't like it one bit. Regardless, he would bite down and burn anyone in his master's path, and Tachiki knew such things would never change.
However, now it was Tachiki lost in his thoughts, and it was not long before his foot utterly destroyed the log he had stepped on. The sounds of the material utterly breaking beneath his weight sounded throughout the air, and the dog boss had to admit that he was impressed by the speed and reaction of the child before him. Perhaps there was merit to Danzō's desires and concerns after all?
Heat radiated from the dog's fangs regardless, ready to use their power as they lunged towards the boy with teeth and claws ready to cause the damage he had been ordered to deliver. Tachiki didn't have anything against the child of course, and normally he would question such desires to attack a weakling such as he, but these orders came from his master. And Tachiki was loyal without a fault and believed in his master's ideals and natural virtue, even if those shifted.
Such thoughts came crashing down like a wave, with a chill passing over the summon boss's spine as he felt the energy drain from his very being, as he slumped on the ground in what he could only describe as agony. It was as if his contract and bond with his master was seizing and breaking, twisting under what had felt like the coldest of winters passing over him. He had experienced cold before, after all, he worked with Koyasu; but this was something entirely different. It was as if he was in the presence of a better, of a superior; but besides his master, Tachiki considered no such being with such regard.
Sweat beaded over his body, and the dog got one last look at the boy's pinprick eyes which glared at him. Tachiki couldn't help but notice his body was twisted into a bow without him realising, and the dog tried desperately to adjust himself, to make his body obey. But it would not. Anger seeped through his entire being, a red-hot rage that the dog was accustomed to filling every nook and cranny of his mind.
Somehow, this boy had made a fool of him, and now it was personal. The dog desired nothing more than to rip out the boy's throat for his insolence, for daring to do this to a summon boss. To the boss of the dogs no less.
But upon feeling the contract strain and twist further, Tachiki could do nothing but retreat. To dispel and return to the land where his vassals resided.
And so he returned to his realm, fuirious thoughts lingering on the Straw-Hat boy that had somehow destroyed years of self-confidence and reputation in a single glare. The dog couldn't help but snarl on his throne, melted rock and fire bubbling and burning around him. The other dogs in the room were quick to exit, not wishing to be burnt to shreds in the wake of their master. It had happened before at times of extreme rage, the land outside having been marred in times when his agonising fury reaches its peak.
Tachiki would report this to his master, of that he had no doubt.
But only after his wounded pride had recovered somewhat…
Nami brushed her hair once again, almost to the degree of anxiety as her orange locks refused to conform to her desires. The orange-haired girl almost snarled in annoyance, brown orbs narrowing at her own reflection in the mirror. It wasn't that she was nervous, of that much Nami knew. Something as simple as going to school shouldn't be fazing her to this degree, but as a shaky hand finally gave up and put the brush down on her dresser, Nami had to take a deep breath to actually gain the courage to get out of the chair.
She was Cat Burglar Nami, a woman worth 366 million berries and an Officer of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet. Such titles amused and scared her briefly after Wano, and it was only their adventure after Wano that saw her kidnapped that the crew really realised the weight of their presence in the New World as well as the reality of being on the crew of an Emperor, but the point still stood. Nami was a 27-year-old woman, and such things such as attending school really shouldn't cause her to fret in such a manner.
And yet, something twisted in her stomach. She had never been to an establishment of education before, the closest having been the tutoring under Haredas for two years. Of course, Nami blamed the chemicals in her developing brain for the subconscious anxiety, but part of her knew that it wasn't just that. It was also the idea that they were officially settling into this world. She was no longer just a pirate; she was no longer just Cat Burglar Nami. She was about to start her journey to become a Ninja of Konoha to help Naruto, and to her, that symbolised a shift in their journey.
It didn't quite feel like giving up, but it felt as if they were becoming part of the Elemental Nations, and Nami did not know how to properly feel about that. Such worries plagued her throughout her breakfast, something her mother had picked up on and attempted to dissuade, but the conversation had ended before it had begun with both realising Nami needed to head towards the Academy.
Sagishi, of course, would accompany her; which at least produced a warm, jubilant feeling in Nami's chest as the idea of her mother taking her to her first day of school made her smile. Such were the childish fantasies of a girl who had grown up poor and later as an orphan.
The two had exited through the front door after getting Nami ready, and upon swinging it open, Nami was greeted by the sight of her rubber captain grinning at her, sitting laxly on the dirt road. Such things would normally sire confused glances from those who also occupied the street, but Nami knew that her neighbours were used to Luffy's presence by now. And given that Luffy was eating a steak, and was halfway done, she ascertained the boy had already run into Hoshinoro-san. The butcher and her captain had hit it off splendidly well, and Luffy had been ecstatic to hear there was someone who sold meat that lived across the road. Their friendship was something that often made Nami laugh, and she was well aware the large, bearded butcher often snuck Luffy the steaks that he had failed to sell and were about to go out of date.
Not that Luffy minded…
The three were quick to set off, with Luffy's excited pace setting their own as the two had to stop the boy from completely running ahead. While the somewhat nippy air of the 5th of September bit at their exposed skin, Nami suppressed a laugh, and she wasn't shocked to see her mother attempting to do the same, the boy's antics amusing mother and daughter alike. It was only after Nami was forced to clobber her captain on the head that he stopped running on ahead.
"I can't wait to learn cool Ninjutsu. Sagishi-san, do you think I will be able to breathe fire? Or shoot a beam?!" Luffy's questioning to her mother made Nami raise a quizzical brow to the future King of the Pirates, stars in his eyes as he imagined shooting a beam from his fingers. Nami let out a sigh and had to wonder what this damn obsession with robots and beams really was about, especially after noticing the tears building in her captain's eyes as he fantasized about such delusions.
Nami could hear the laugher escaping her mother's lips at this point, the woman clearly amused by Luffy's ideas of how Chakra worked. From what Nami had read, there were no Jutsu that could do so, but the pool from which she gained her knowledge wasn't exactly omniscient, given it was a low-level library. But Nami let her ears burn with new information as Sagishi regarded her captain. "I think there are actually some Jutsu that are beam based Luffy, but I think they are mostly in Kumo via Storm Release."
The stars in Luffy's eyes almost blinded the two and Nami let her palm hit her forehead as they approached the gates of the academy. She couldn't help but comment given Luffy was lost in his own squeals and fantasies. "Great, now he is going to defect to their village. Thanks mom."
Sagishi and Nami both registered the joke for what it was, but the former couldn't help but frown. Nami wondered if her mother was worried about eavesdroppers, and such people getting the wrong impression from her or her captain. The woman had been on edge ever since the attack on Naruto, and quite frankly, Nami could not blame her one bit. Though Nami had to concede that when her mother became anxious, she herself couldn't help but be anxious as well. It was why Nami and Luffy had opted not to tell the woman about the attack that occurred on Luffy the previous month at the hands of that dog. Nami regarded that situation with its own weight, especially since summons weren't easy to come by, the contract for dogs being no exception to such a statistic. She had barely found time so far to investigate the incident, though Luffy had brushed it off considering he had gotten a handle on it quickly. Nami had learnt from the rubber boy that his Conqueror's Haki had seemed to still have an effect on the dog, something which Nami noted with interest. Not only could Luffy still use his Haki, given he described that particular type didn't require the same kind of training in its most basic form, but it seemed Haki could manifest in this world regardless of its different nature.
Nami decided she wouldn't bother trying to understand how their devil fruits, equipment, and other elements unique to their world had also been carried over to the Elemental Nations. It did make her suspicious and worried that something was pulling the strings to allow for such convenient circumstances, but Nami had no basis for such theories and had more important things to focus on.
Maybe Sagishi had sensed her worry when she decided to stop them at the gate instead of taking them inside, but Nami couldn't tell. Brown eyes looked at cerulean as Nami blinked up at her mother, Luffy doing the same as a stupid expression crossed his face, likely wondering why they had stopped.
Nami was slightly surprised when her mother drew both her and Luffy into a hug. The Cat Burglar could feel the vibrations of Luffy's exuberant laughter through her mother's body, but all the navigator could do was embrace the woman tightly. Nami could have cried, but with Luffy's bright presence near her, all the orange-haired girl could end up feeling was joy. The joy of having a mother's love once again.
Sagishi released the two after a poignent pause, staring down at the two children with a protective expression. "You two look after one another, okay?"
"Of course! We always do!" Luffy's response came almost instantly, making Nami grin and nod in confirmation, before looking into her mother's eyes again. Was that pride she could detect in her gaze? Whatever it was, it made Nami feel proud of herself, despite her advanced mental age and own self-confidence. Luffy let out another laugh, before the orange-haired mother pushed his hat down in front of his eyes, causing the boy to squawk in protest.
"I suppose I have nothing to worry about then. Love you Nami… and have fun." And after having placed a loving kiss on the girl's forehead, Sagishi was off, leaving to teach her own Genin. She hadn't placed them forward for the Chūnin Exams yet, prioritising their safety above all else, and as such they still fell under her command and teachings. Nami wondered what her future sensei may be like, but didn't think too much on it, instead opting to face the building with Luffy.
There were other children saying goodbye to their parents, some more teary eyed than others, but all seemed to be slightly worried. There were one or two who seemed excited, but from what Nami could see, they were almost definitely outliers. Though given the numbers she could observe, a lot of the class was already inside so Nami could not judge the entire cohort just yet.
Speaking of outliers, Nami could feel Luffy twitch in excitement. He was practically shaking like a leaf, likely anticipating what was to come. Still, the ideas of Luffy conforming to a school made her smirk, and she couldn't help but voice such amusement to the ears of her captain. "You know, you're going to have to listen to rules and behave in there if you want to do well and help Naruto."
Now the orange-haired girl did let out a laugh upon seeing Luffy's face contort in annoyance at the idea of obeying rules, before a grin crossed his face. Clearly, he had decided something, though Nami had no idea as to what. "Nah, I'm not gonna do that! I'm going to do what I want!"
Nami was quick to slap him on the top of his head, eliciting a whine from the boy as he glared at her. The navigator glared at him from the corner of her eye, before pulling his ear, making him yelp in a sound akin to that a puppy would make. "And here I thought you were going to say something profound. So, you're just going to wing it then?"
Luffy quickly nodded in delight, causing Nami to let go of his ear with an unsurprised sigh. Luffy was too much of a free spirit to listen to most rules, though Nami knew she could get him to listen when it was actually important. One of her greatest talents was being able to somewhat convince Luffy to do things after all. Of course, his chaotic energy was hard to control, something Nami was brusquely reminded of as Luffy grasped her hand and dragged her along at quick speeds towards the building. "I've got you to keep me in check, don't I?"
Nami could barely let out protests or complaints to his logic or actions as they rapidly approached the door of the classroom that was clearly thriving with activity. Nami couldn't tell if she was proud or exasperated that Luffy had actually managed to find his way to the location so quickly, and the anxiety had once again set in her stomach.
Everything would change once they went through this door, and there would be no turning back. It briefly paralysed the navigator, doubly so after Luffy had released her hand.
Taking a deep breath, Nami almost drowned out the sounds of the door being kicked open, a laughter tumbling from Luffy's lips as Nami's jaw dropped in a surprise. Such surprise was quickly replaced by annoyance as the words fell from his lips, Nami quickly moving to intercept him in a panic.
"I'M MONKEY D. LUFFY. AND I'M THE MAN WHO'LL BE KING OF TH-"
"IDIOT"
Her fist slammed into the top of his head, sending him crashing into the ground with a wail polymerised with a grunting noise. Dozens of eyes blinked at the two in shock and confusion, as a bead of sweat made its way down the side of her face, a sheepish expression having forced its way across her countenance.
As introductions went, this was not the best. And yet, the anxiety she had felt had vanished, and Nami couldn't help but smile softly at her whining captain on the ground.
That idiot, he always knew just what to do to keep her grounded.
And knowing he was by her side, well…
Nami wasn't worried at all…
Omake: Fresh Genin Part 2
Yakami sighed as he cast his eyes towards his two teammates. Running a hand through his short black hair, he wondered if this whole ninja lifestyle would be worth it. He had trained hard to get where he was to live up to the expectation of his parents before they abandoned him, but still, all this trouble made it seem that the stories the propaganda and patriotism wove had no element of truth whatsoever.
He spared a glance towards Sagishi and Minato, the former of whom was shouting at the latter, who seemed to be extremely confused as to how he should handle the yelling girl. Yakami would say he found the other gender to be annoying, but that wouldn't really give credit to his opinions.
He just found everyone annoying, and he personally thought Konoha should disband the stupid team system. He worked better on his own after all. Yakami sighed internally at the thought of having to work with others.
It wasn't bias or emotion that produced such a belief, though the latter did have some part to play given his frustrations with the habits of others. No, it was a simple matter of logic. Both in life and the academy, Yakami had produced greater results when he worked on his own, it was a simple matter of statistics. His parents thought the same as well, evidently...
And the boy had yet to be proved wrong, so why did he care what the Konoha administration had to say about how ninjas should operate?
Yakami snorted at the thought of the "Will of Fire" that everyone babbled on about, though the snort had been so loud and at such poor timing (Yakami would one day find out that Minato had accidentally insulted Sagishi's appearance) that both his teammates had rounded on him instantly.
Yakami immediately sensed something was off, and tore his gaze towards the two, observing a sheepish and worried Minato alongside an extremely angry Sagishi.
"Oh, you found what he said funny did you?!" The girl had all but screamed her words, and Yakami couldn't help but wince, shutting his eyes in pain at the idea that this is what he would be stuck with until he could one day become a Jōnin. Still, an animalistic fight-or-flight instinct seemed to settle into his stomach as the girl approached him, fist raised and tick mark visible on her forehead.
Before the situation could escalate, a loud crash had interrupted the three. Dust and smoke spread through the air, eliciting coughs from the three children as they as blearily rubbed their eyes, trying to end the irritation that now cast itself upon their orbs.
Once the smoke had cleared, Yakami gazed at the tall man that now stood before them, and despite the man's reputation, the boy couldn't help but be put off by his odd pose and twisted facial expressions.
"GREETINGS YOUNG ONES. I AM JIRAIYA THE GALLANT!"
The three stared at the man mutely, jaws dropped open in light of the spectacle, the man having instantly shattered any awe-like expectations they had held. Yakami instantly noticed the smirk stretch across their Jōnin's face at the sight of this.
"Yeah… I still got it"
Current Stats
Konoha Citizens
Monkey D. Luffy (Pre-Academy)
Ninjutsu: 0
Taijutsu/Hand-to-Hand Combat: 5
Genjutsu: 0
Intelligence: 1
Strength: 5
Speed: 3.5
Stamina: 5
Hand Seals: 0
Total Score: 19.5
Nami (Pre-Academy)
Ninjutsu: 0.5
Taijutsu/Hand-to-Hand Combat: 3
Genjutsu: 0
Intelligence: 5
Strength: 2
Speed: 2
Stamina: 3
Hand Seals: 1
Total Score: 16.5
Naruto Uzumaki (Pre-Academy)
Ninjutsu: 0
Taijutsu/Hand-to-Hand Combat: 1
Genjutsu: 0
Intelligence: 0.5
Strength: 0.5
Speed: 1
Stamina: 3.5
Hand Seals: 0
Total Score: 6.5
Konoha Shinobi
Sagishi Kisho
Ninjutsu: 3.5
Taijutsu/Hand-to-Hand Combat: 4
Genjutsu: 5
Intelligence: 4
Strength: 3.5
Speed: 4.5
Stamina: 3.5
Hand Seals: 4.5
Total Score: 32.5
Missing Nin
Hada
Ninjutsu: 5
Taijutsu/Hand-to-Hand Combat: 1.5
Genjutsu: 4.5
Intelligence: 5
Strength: 4
Speed: 4.5
Stamina: 5
Hand Seals: 5
Total Score: 34.5
Well, this was a lot of fun to write. Though even I must admit the last parts proved to be a slog, but I finally overcame any writer's block I had and shot through it. And had a lot of fun doing so!
We saw a lot of developments this chapter, including one new OC and details more on three summoning clans (2 mentioned, one seen). Both are going to be relevant, but your reception to both will likely determine their role in terms of the long-term impact. Not to say I will undo any plans I had for them, but its more about how much we focus on their perspectives in terms of character development not related to plot. If you are keen enough, let me know in review or DMs!
Anyway, the ninja journey starts now! I personally am very excited for you all to see how this, and the situation in Kiri, develops!
I don't know when the next chapter will come, but hopefully within the month!
Also, as seen above, I decided to do a stats thing for new ninja from now on. I saw Kenchi618 do it for Better Left Unsaid, and I thought it was neat. Shout out to them by the way, and I recommend that story highly.
Anyway, the stats above follow a similar formula to the Databooks produced by Kishimoto, and don't really determine power scaling as much as they just say how good a ninja is in each stats. For example, Kakashi would be at a 5 for Ninjutsu, and so would the Third Hokage. But obviously, the latter is far better than the former. Stamina, in the case of our story, means just how long one can keep fighting with their preferred fighting style. For the likes of ninja, that is Chakra. For the likes of One Piece characters who may decide not to use Chakra, this would instead measure how long they can fight for the most part.
=O=O=O=O=
Holy crap, you guys came out of the woodwork with these reviews. Each one melted my heart, and I am so happy to be able to respond to all of them. I love every single review, be it positive or negative, so if you like the story, feel free to leave one!
destiny590: I think it is awesome too! Please stick around so you can see it become even more awesome (hopefully) :D
N1cok: Here is the next that you sought. Hopefully it lived up to your expectations! And thanks for the kind words.
Greer123: Thanks! It does feel good when you put work into something, and then people acknowledge that, in any frame of reference. Hope you like this chapter too!
Chronosign: No One Piece character will take the role/identity of a Naruto character, i.e. reincarnation or that sort of jazz. But Jimbei will reveal himself in some capacity soon-ish (you'll see)!
CrazyMax1: Maybe. Or maybe not. You'll have to read the Mist perspective sections with a keen eye to spot Jimbei, if he is even there at all :P
Chronosign (2): Honestly, knowing Kakuzu, it would probably be both. Either way, it would make for a fun Omake (or plot thread :D). Nami has been shown in the series to have a stupidly good level of pickpocketing skill, so I could see it happening!
As for the likes and followers, I am not too fussed about that. I am sure that one day, it will reach such numbers, but as long as the people reading it are happy, then I don't mind!
Nami4Life: Luffy is what everyone needs in their lives I think, but yeah, he is definitely going to do a lot of good for Naruto, and generally make him a healthier character.
Luffy and the Straw Hats all have the advantages of being their Post Time Skip selves in their child bodies, so all they really have to do is re-unlock any difficult abilities and get their physicality back, and then they can go beyond the level they even are in the manga currently. Which should open some up to some fun techniques and movesets.
But yeah, Ninja Luffy and Nami are pretty fun, and we'll be fully diving into that with the upcoming chapters, especially with Luffy's freedom attitudes conflicting with a military state and its requirements for its soldiers. Should be fun!
CaptainQuestion: Reminds me of the beginning of when he uses Gum Gum Fingernet, and interlaces his fingers with one another. He would utterly mess up in hand signs, and I imagine it's going to make for quite a good gag if he tries. Quite frankly, as shown by his intelligence statistic, Luffy is somewhat hopeless. Which is fine, he's gifted in other ways! Glad you love to see more, and here is the more! Hope you enjoyed it!
SamuFan: I imagine Zoro would have Enma, given Nami has her Clima Takt and Luffy his hat. Not sure how Zoro would feel about learning Chakra, given he is very much a "this is a foreign strength that I didn't have before and would tarnish my skill into becoming the World's Greatest Swordsman" kinda guy (like using a devil fruit to gain an advantage over Mihawk). But we'll get there when we get there!
TooLazyToLogin: Glad to hear you feel well fed. Perhaps this chapter will serve as a second helping?
=O=O=O=O=
And that's all the reviews! Thank you so much to each and every one of you, I loved responding to them all!
Be sure to leave more, both new and old. Positive or negative reviews welcome!
This is, TheHumulisScriptor, signing out!