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 Two: Protective Defiance
Naruto found that one of the most painful things about being universally despised wasn't actually the act in of itself, though that hurt plenty. No, the worst part of being despised is not knowing why. After all, the Uzumaki thought dejectedly on the swing he sat upon, he was a problem solver. He was going to be Hokage, and that meant he had to solve any problem.
But he lived a life of an unsolvable problem, a puzzle that had the wrong pieces. And he hated it, and it was at times like this when his resolve wavered, and he questioned his ambitions and existence. In a village of thousands, there were three people who actually cared about him. And everyday, he would bring himself in front of others in an attempt to find more.
He had tried the Konoha Library Park today. Other parks had regulars who recognised him, and the other children had begun to make his time there unpleasant through more than just ignoring, beginning to pick on him for fun. The blonde just… didn't get it. And that hurt, more than anything he had ever felt.
What had he done? Was it something he said? Something he did? He just could not figure it out no matter how hard he tried, as his fingers clawed into his palms, beginning to draw blood. He felt as if he had no tears left to shed, given the tears built up as he attempted to sleep every night, the loneliness echoing in every fibre of his being.
He was a fool to think this park would be different. They hadn't even spared him a glance, just ignored him like it was the most natural thing to do. Naruto wasn't sure if that hurt more than actively putting him down, because now he felt as if he didn't even exist anymore. He sighed again, letting the swing push him from one side to the other as fingers coiled around the rope connected to the tree branch.
Naruto decided he liked swings, and they made for good seats when he was upset. They did the same thing each time, going up and back down in a pattern. It was that stability which drew him to them, that predictability and understanding of how they worked that made them a comfort in some respects. That was when he wasn't thinking about the fact that he had no one to push him.
It really did hurt him that he had no friends. It must be hard for others to imagine not having friends, the sheer idea beyond the normality of a sociable human. Sure, there was Teuchi, Ayame, and of course Jiji. But that was all there was to be found, and none of them were his friends and he doubted they considered him as such. Teuchi and Ayame considered him to be a friendly customer, and Jiji…
Well, Naruto didn't even know what the Old Man considered him to be quite frankly.
Lost in thoughts of despair, he barely picked up the sounds of two of the children talking to another. Perking his head up, Naruto briefly regarded the orange-haired girl curiously. Naruto was good at reading others, he had unknowingly refined it to an artform, and when he gazed at the girl who quickly captured his own line of sight, he could not get a single lick of information.
"Everyone says he's a monster 'eh! A freak even! All the adults think so too!" the boy said, and Naruto very quickly felt a wave of anguish pass over him. How was it that everyone said the same thing, and then managed to communicate that to the rare individual who Naruto might get a neutral introduction to?
Naruto felt his eyes water and bit his lower lip to stop himself from letting out a choked sob. Again, why him? Of all children in Konoha, what did HE do to receive this treatment! He raged a storm within, before he succinctly let another wave of depression fall over him.
Maybe they were right? Maybe he was just a freak who didn't deserve anything. What was the point of even trying for Hokage when everything collapsed around him like this? Could being the Hokage of Konoha change this level of hatred for him? This level of negativity?
Naruto heard two crashes, followed by some kind of noise of objects hitting the ground. It wasn't long before he could hear crying, and that garnered enough attention for the boy to raise his head once more, which had previously slumped in despondency at the thoughts that were cast within. Eyes widened when the boy gained a clear scope of what had happened.
She hit them?
Well, he could tell that much from the way she was looking at her fist, and the bumps on their heads.
Why had she done that? Had she hit them… because of what they said?
He couldn't even formulate words as she approached, mouth silent as she sat against the tree his swing was attached to.
Swings made sense. Swings went back and forth each time and would always arrive where they started. Naruto found comfort in the fact they made sense, had a structure and rhythm. They wouldn't lie, or do anything different, or cheat their way into doing something else. Something which hurt…
"The name's Nami! Nice to meet ya!"
Naruto stared at the cat grin she had on her face; eyes closed with an expression Naruto had never seen a fellow child look at him with before. He had never had a stranger smile at him like that before.
Naruto liked swings. He liked things making sense.
And right now, he had no idea what the hell was going on.
"You know, if you continue to gape like that, flies will take that as an invitation to fly in…" Nami pointed out to the boy doing an impression of a fish, who seemed to snap to attention upon her speaking to him. The two had sat in silence for a bit, Nami leaving the kid to his thoughts as he clearly struggled to process a positive interaction.
That thought made the orange-haired woman bite her tongue in anger, wanting to beat the adults of this village half to death. Who could even think about doing that to a child, or anyone for that regard. If you hated someone to the point of ignoring them, then at least do the due diligence of removing them from your life, as opposed to keeping them in limbo. Suffering does not beget suffering after all. That made Nami think of Jimbe briefly, and the entire problem Fishman Island had suffered due to that lesson being unknown. A lesson they had all helped impart upon the nation before leaving. The Dance began once again, allowing Nami's thoughts to drift to the blond boy, a kind motherly smile crossing her face; despite any oddity that may emerge due to such an expression being generated on a nigh seven-year-old.
The kid snapped his mouth, stuttering over his words incoherently before shyly looking over his forearm which gripped the rope perpendicularly.
"Y-you're talking to me?" he asked, and Nami instantly felt those instincts scream in her head upon hearing the downright glum tone of it, the disbelief of holding a conversation with a stranger being a foreign concept to what Nami could guess to be a five-year-old.
She had thought Konoha to be a nice place, and maybe part of her still believed that. But now part of her wanted to level the entire city to the ground with Zeus. A pity…
"No, I am talking to the swing." Nami joked, attempting to lighten the mood. The orange-haired woman was pleased to see his mood brighten at that, a small smile crossing his face as his head lifted from behind his forearm. "You've yet to tell me your name…"
The yellow-haired boy, whom Nami noticed had whisker marks on his face, now had eyes that were cheering up, almost as if they couldn't help it upon interaction. Nami's heart swelled in happiness, glad to see the child was feeling better already.
"Naruto. My name is Naruto Uzumaki," the boy, whom Nami now knew to be Naruto, responded, and Nami let out a hum of appreciation.
"That's a nice name. Like in ramen, right?" Nami pointed out, having received such knowledge with the times Sanji had prepared the dish, but the Dance quickly quelled such thoughts. After all, the Dance was there to protect her, whether she was aware of it or not. So, it drummed on, shifting and twisting in order to shimmy such thoughts back to whence they came.
Nami hadn't expected the beam that shot her way upon saying such a thing.
"Yeah! You've had ramen?" he said with excitement and a wide smile, and now Nami briefly thought of someone else. A foundation. Someone who had meant more than everything, someone who had once carried her very life and will to dream on their back. The Dance had to work extra hard to push these thoughts away, now shifting to a more energetic routine, and eventually such intellections left no trace.
"Mhm. Many times!" Nami responded with a soft smile, now turning to face him completely, shifting her back away from the tree though still resting her arms on her knees. She watched as the boy gave her a once-over, almost like he was deciphering who she was. His gaze rested on her left shoulder, noticing what rested there.
"Whoa!" Naruto's eyes fell on a tattoo resting on Nami's shoulders, blue orbs inspecting the swirling shape and pattern of it. And keen were the boy's eyes, for he noticed the scar that rested slightly behind it. Naruto knew scars, he had been casually hit by enough drunks to know. Of course, they were mostly accidents, but still, it happened once in a blue moon. And he knew that the scar that rested on her shoulder was a bad one, he could almost sense the pain behind it. "You have a tattoo?"
Nami's gaze rested on her shoulder, and she let out a small chuckle, rubbing her right hand over it briefly before looking to the inquisitive boy. "Yeah, I was born with it. And the scar…"
Naruto's expression turned slightly owlish in disbelief, and Nami let out a laugh in response, almost naturally. The orange-haired woman decided she liked this kid, reminding her a lot of Aisa in a way. The Shandorian girl was someone Nami held very close to her heart alongside the likes of Tama and Momonosuke. The Dance shifted to something slower, casting such memories aside.
"Born with it. That's…" Nami let him contemplate such an occurrence, preparing herself to be called weird, something that she didn't particularly mind given the circumstances, "SO COOL!"
She could almost see the stars in his eyes, as he stood up from the swing in excitement, moving towards her to peer at it more closely. Upon taking the first step, his eyes filled with caution and a preparation to be reprimanded, something Nami picked up on very quickly. Another storm stirred within, thinking of what Konoha had done to this child. Imagine psychologically abusing a boy to the point he was afraid to approach anyone, like he would be reprimanded for considering such an action. Nami, recognising that she needed to calm down, smiled at Naruto, which the boy seemed in awe of for a brief moment.
Upon getting over his awe of such a smile of consent, Naruto approached happily, squatting to get a much closer look at Nami's tattoo and scar. The girl, now that he had gotten closer, was able to discern that he smelt of grass and woodland animals, like a cute animal that wandered the brush and ground. She once again noticed the facial features, gazing upon his animal-like teeth and whiskers. Perhaps there was more to that than she recognised.
"Were you born with those whiskers?" Nami asked, and out of the corner of her eye, noticed two parents approaching angrily, their crying children in tow. Naruto seemed to have not noticed them and looked at her with a degree of uncertainty and worry, self-conscious introspection bleeding from his eyes in such a clear fashion that Nami thought he may as well have held up a neon sign.
"Y-yeah…" The boy was nervous in his response, something Nami smiled sadly at.
"I think they look cool!" The orange-haired girl had decided to impart an energetic and positive response, something that made the boy's eyes water as a massive grin spread across his face. Nami thought his smile contained his soul, that much she could tell by looking at him. One of those smiles that was genuine and real. The Dance pre-emptively began, stopping association to another figure in a life once lived. The parents were almost upon them, and Nami gave Naruto a wink to reassure him everything would be fine.
The boy's eyebrows creased in confusion, before he turned around upon hearing footsteps. He internally panicked, before remembering Nami's reassuring expression, and stared on as the two looked directly down at him instead of the girl in question.
"You! Brat! Did you hit my boy?!" the woman on the right hissed, glaring down at Naruto who almost recoiled as soon as the words left her mouth. Gone were the reassurances of his new acquaintance, and he was quick to notice that the boy who had been hit was not correcting his mother as to misidentifying his attacker. Naruto did what had been forced unto him each time something like this occurred, mouth opening to apologise. But someone interrupted him, words that were spoken causing his eyes to widen considerably in shock and awe, like so many times today.
"No, I did. Your son was being a brat…" Nami said from behind him with a yawn, standing up before brushing her knees of the dirt that now rest upon them. The boy seemed to flinch when Nami stood up, something that while she wasn't proud of, likely taught them a lesson. The girl had a similar response, whose mother glared at the orange-haired girl, shouting down at her.
"How dare you! I should teach you some discipline!" The snarl that accompanied her voice was evident, something that made Naruto whimper, though such negativity died down upon seeing Nami's utter defiance.
Nami quickly lifted her fist, something that made both offending children from earlier jump, moving to hug one another in fear. Such a response was noticed by their mothers, who squawked in indignation. "It seems I did a little teaching of my own…"
Naruto couldn't help but let out a chuckle, and the first mother seethed and glared, her teeth bared like an animal as she reached down to grasp the boy's ear to teach him some manners. Damn demon, she thought with thoughts like a whirlwind, laughing at her after everything he'd done.
Before her hand even reached the now slightly panicked boy's ear, Nami gripped her wrist tight, moving her body closer as to get a stronger grip. As Nami noticed earlier, she was far stronger than the average human, which honestly made her feel odd. She was so used to being an underdog, encountering monsters who overpowered her each time. And though she made up for it with her smarts and weapons, to the point she could call herself a Yonko Commander in all but name, it was strange for her to be the one on top in such a manner. The Dance did it work, as usual, shuffling such memories away as Nami focused on the woman in question.
Letting the wrist go, the woman almost stumbled back, words half-formed spilling from her lips. Nami sighed, dragging Naruto along by his wrist, which made the boy almost flinch given the lack of such physical contact in his life. Nami sighed, accepting that this would need work, which gave her pause for a moment; before she internally grinned in acceptance.
It seemed she had now adopted Naruto for the most part, something her mind had already set out as a mission without her realising. Still, that was just who Nami was, and she knew it with absolute certainty.
'Bellemere, I hope I do you proud…' Nami thought, the idea of adopting in all but name causing her to grin, confidence filling her to the brim as she stuck her tongue out at the retreating parents, something that made them almost snarl at what they perceived to be brattishness.
"The name's Nami Kisho! And feel free to file a letter of complaint!" Nami said, before confidently walking off, stunned blonde charge in tow. By the time they had nearly reached the gates of the park upon which Nami entered through in the first place, the woman could tell her blond companion was dragging his feet.
A sigh escaping her lips, Nami released Naruto, taking a couple of steps forward, and listened to the fact she could not hear echoing steps behind her. A parental-like frown resting on the almost 7-year-old's face, Nami turned to Naruto with her arms crossed. Such a frown did not remain on her face for long, noticing how downtrodden and confused the boy looked, as if he was questioning the reality around him. Nami gave him the time he needed, ignoring the stares of those who walked past, patiently waiting for the blond child to process the situation he was struggling to get his head around. It was at least a couple of minutes before Nami noticed his mouth twitch, a clear indication that he was going to speak.
"W-why are you doing all of this for me?" The question seemed to almost tumble from Naruto's lips, and Nami would have laughed at the confused expression and tone had it not been for the anguish laced within it. Naruto clearly wanted to keep speaking, and upon seeing Nami's kind, motherly expression, something stirred within him. He didn't need to be afraid to speak his mind, not like the other kids or anyone he met, he had clearly met someone one-of-a-kind. "I just… I just don't understand. Is this a trick? Is this some prank in order to break me down more? I just…"
He couldn't keep speaking, emotions catching in his throat as he almost balked, his mind and mouth no longer in tandem. The blonde didn't want to cry, but it had been such a long day. A long year. He didn't want to get his hopes up, not now. Not when he felt like there was a chance if he got hit too hard, he'd never get back up. Naruto scrunched his eyes shut, hoping that by doing so, the darkness would yield some kind of answer. He felt a hand on his shoulder, squeezing gently, and his worries slowly started to drift away. Opening his eyes, he saw the soft, kind eyes of Nami, this stranger who had crashed into his life and changed his entire perspective.
"Naruto, listen to me." Nami's voice was clear, strong even. To the point it resonated with the blonde's brain, stirring power and emotion like a sea through his mind. "Sometimes, miracles really do just fall from the sky. And you can either grasp them and never let go, or you can deny that such things are possible…"
If Nami had been fully there, she would have been able to tell the wistfulness and nostalgic tone ion her voice that Naruto had seemingly picked up on, garnering his interest alongside the inspiration and comfort he felt. But Nami was not completely present, her words also inspiring her own psyche, allowing her to bask in memory with no need for the Dance to start its performance.
A stone cobbled street. Two pirates chasing a young idiot who didn't know better and who felt as if the whole world was against her. And a giant bird. Nami let out a chuckle from within, before it bubbled out of her throat like the cute laugh it was. Naruto looked to her, trying to gleam what could cause such a reaction, but as he gazed at Nami's face, he could tell whatever she was thinking about must have been the best thing in the world. Nami continued to bask in her own amusement.
Those three things didn't seem like the sum of an equation that led to miracle, but Nami knew better. Nami had experienced a miracle like no other. And she had followed it all the way to the end of the sea, towards the never-ending sunset of adventure. Letting out a content sigh, Nami snapped back to reality, letting go of Naruto's shoulder with a grin. She noted the boy's face, which seemed to be uplifted and determined in reaction to her words.
And the boy could only watch in shock as Nami pulled a wallet from her shirt, throwing it up and down in her palm as her tongue escaped from the confines of her mouth to form an amusement expression full of mirth.
"Given I swiped that cow's wallet, lunch is on me. Know any places to go?" Nami let the question float in the air for a moment, before watching a grin appear on the shorter boy's face. He leapt in the air, joy basking off his very being. Nami grasped his hand, as a mother would a child, and let the blonde lead her to whatever destination he had in mind.
Watching the two run off, a figure clad in black, mask hiding both identity and humanity gazed down upon them. The development was interesting, enough that they disappeared with a Shunsin no Jutsu, intent on telling their superior.
Nami couldn't quite make out what kind of place Ichiraku Ramen was, though it was quite homely. Sitting up at the counter, Nami gazed at the man who had been introduced as Teuchi performing his art. Though she did not find that nearly as amusing as the blonde to her right, who seemed to be twitching in excitement. Nami gazed at the Ryō in her victim's wallet proudly, her ego slightly inflated by the fact that no one had noticed her thievery even at her current age physically.
Nami had allowed Naruto to pick whatever he thought to be best from the menu, to which he had selected Pork Miso Ramen. Content with the choice, Nami had made the order, and watched as Teuchi got to work. This establishment was already high up on Nami's list in terms of her favourite places in Konoha, considering how kind the owners were. Teuchi and Ayame seemed to treat Naruto with nothing short of adoration, and Nami could tell that meant the world to her blond companion. Considering the whole village seemed to glare at Naruto, something that passed onto Nami when she was in his presence, it must take bravery to move against the crowd and treat a child with kindness. Nami was already grateful to the two and was happy the blonde's life was not completely without light and people who cared about him.
The Miso Ramen was placed in front of her, while three bowls were placed in front of the boy sitting next to her. It seemed he was taking up the offer of free food to the maximum degree, something which caused the Dance to perform its magic movement in her head, sweeping away memories of oaths and adventures.
"So, Naruto, do you have any parents?" Nami asked the blonde as he ate, and noticed his mood fall as he sucked the ramen into his mouth with vigour, though such vigour seemed to die down upon the words reaching his ears. The silence was an answer in itself, and Nami let her eyes briefly shut-in pain, empathy pouring out of her in waves. "I'm sorry to hear that…"
The blonde said nothing, and continued to eat, clearly wanting to finish his bowl before responding. Memories of lonely nights and harrowed days filled her mind, a childhood of suffering and anguish, but too different from Naruto's own experience for Nami to make a useful anecdote to impart comforting wisdom upon the blonde. Nami sat there, eating her ramen, lost in thought as she pondered how to go about such a task. Though she did have to admit, the food made by Teuchi was extremely good.
It wasn't until she had gotten a part way through her bowl that it hit her. Naruto's situation and that of another fit perfectly, and Nami turned to the boy who was about to finish his bowl.
"Hey Naruto…" Nami began, without care or caution, knowing the boy needed people in his life who were upfront and honest with him. She had to give him that much. "Did you ever hear the story of the Lost Historian?"
The bowl shook his head as he put the bowl down, ramen still sticking out of his mouth, giving him a similar appearance to that of a squid. Nami let out a laugh, causing the boy to suck the rest of the food down his gullet, swallowing with a loud gulp as he looked at Nami in interest, excitement twinkling in his eye. It seemed no one had told him a story before, Nami noted with waves of sadness pouring over her before she steeled herself as he opened his mouth to speak. "Is it a sad story?"
"No, though it may sound that way. This is all based on a true story, so I've heard." Nami began, the Dance subsiding as Nami allowed memories to fill her being. Memories of determination, of anger, of protectiveness, and of love. Of an island floating on the water, battered by nature, and coming out stronger each year; of the gate to Hell sitting above a gaping waterfall, of seven people who never gave up for the sake of one.
"You see, the Lost Historian begins with the story of a girl on an island. She studied hard, and she was the smartest person ever to grace the eyes of anyone. And she learnt the secrets of the world, all the while being an outcast of those around her, only having her teachers to look out for her." Nami watched Naruto twitch nervously, but he seemed to be utterly entranced by the story, resonating with him in more ways than Nami ever could with her own past. But this story made Nami's heartache, allowing the memories to fill her eyes and mind as she saw the past. And she saw one of the most amazing people she had ever met, as if she was sitting next to her. Nami attempted to steel herself, and after a deep breath, was able to continue.
"She wished to see her mother more than anything else. But she never did, trapped with an aunt who hated her and made her cry every night. But one day, a stranger washed up on the shores of her island. And the Historian nursed him to health and made her first friend." Nami watched Naruto bite his lower lip, briefly looking down at his hands that were collecting bundles of his shorts, the fabric encased in his fingers. But Nami could tell he was still listening, so she continued on. "He taught her to laugh as much as possible because laughing cured all problems. But everything turned black when her island was attacked. She met her mother, only to lose her and everyone on the island within a day. Even her friend was killed, and imparted onto her the words that the world was vast and wide, and somewhere out there, she would have friends who would never leave her…"
Nami stopped there, caught in her own emotion as her breath hitched. Nami could almost see Robin sitting next to her, a soft smile on her face as she listened to whatever Nami had to complain about. Tears swam in the orange girl's eyes, something Naruto did not see, too lost in thought to even comprehend what was going on next to him. But Nami could only think of Robin, that woman who had comforted her during bad nights, and Nami the same to her. The woman who loved them all so much, who gifted wisdom and adoration onto them every day. Endless patience and endless love.
There would never be another woman like Nico Robin, Nami thought as she turned away from Naruto, tears falling out of her eyes and landing in her bowl. She kept her tears quiet, for the blonde's sake, but she could not stop them now. This was one of the few times she had allowed herself to cry at the thought of her missing Nakama, at the thought of the most amazing people Nami had ever known. Her family…
"And then what happened? What happened to her Nami?" Naruto asked, eating his second bowl, not noticing her tears. Desperation seemed to claw at the boy's throat, and upon hearing as such, Nami was able to get a grip on her emotion. Though tears still fell, Nami's voice came out strong, as if her own turmoil was nothing but a fleeting memory. "The entire world hated and hunted her. Scorned her. She never found a home, and by the end, wanted nothing more than to die, her dreams being abandoned by the life forced upon her."
Naruto seemed entrapped by the story. Everything she was saying, fit how he felt perfectly. How he thought the rest of his life would be, how he had felt sitting on the swing earlier. It resonated with him like nothing had ever done before, and he let the cloud of depression fall over him. If this Lost Historian ended up like he did, despite being so bright and talented, then what chance did he, some orphan, have? But Nami, once again, dragged him above the clouds in face of the sun, her next words casting aside anguish in place of resolve.
"And then, she met a group of people who never let her go. Who loved her beyond reason. And who went to the end of the horizon to get her back when she had given up completely. She had found the people out there for her, and she lived… happily ever after."
The story was done, and the Dance roared in her head, casting off memory and uncertainty to allow her to carry on. The tears had stopped by that point, that much Nami could note, and she briefly let the colour of her face return to normal before looking at the awe-inspired Naruto. Joy filled the woman's heart as the story had every effect she wished it did, tears swimming in Naruto's eyes next to three empty bowls of ramen. Nami wanted to follow up with another closing statement, but the boy almost leaped from his chair, crashing his arms around the six-year-old girl's neck. Nami let out a noise of surprise briefly, before a laugh escaped her lips, her arms curling around the now sobbing boy who seemed to let the emotional flood gates open.
Eyes casting to her left, Nami saw Teuchi and Ayame gaze at her with something Nami could only be akin to the most grateful of expressions. Nami smiled back, letting them know their appreciation was in itself appreciated, as she slowly let the sobbing boy go, who's tears had begun to stifle naturally. Words croaked from his lips, sounding like that of a frog, but Nami paid it no mind, listening intently as she stared into the young boy's eyes.
"Nami… thank you…"
Nami just smiled, emptying the contents of the wallet, and handing it to Teuchi and Ayame. If anyone who knew her saw, they would have had a heart attack, but Nami was feeling charitable in response to Naruto's mood. They nodded to her in thanks, somewhat surprised by the maturity and wisdom of this six-year-old child before them, but they knew better than to look a gift horse in the mouth. They watched Nami yank Naruto out the stand, thanks tumbling from her lips as she pulled the stunned Naruto along, who began to laugh at the sheer beautiful incredulity of the day.
Naruto was quite frankly stunned. This day had been a roller coaster of emotion, mostly positive ones. It was as if life had decided to turn everything around on this one day, this random day of the year that now held so much significance to him that Naruto may even grace upon it the rank of anniversary.
Nami had completely floored him, changed his entire perspective, and dragged him along for the ride. She had shown him unparalleled kindness in such a short amount of time, everything he had wished for occurring at the hands of this orange-haired girl who Naruto was already clinging to for support and love.
And now he sat in her house. That had caught him completely off guard. To be invited into someone else's home. The concept was utterly alien to him, and yet it occurred none the less. Nami's words about miracles resonated in his head once again. He intended on grasping this one, and never letting go.
The two had set up in the kitchen, with Nami preparing him a snack which Naruto, while not particularly hungry, still ate with grateful tears. Nami had laughed at that, something which groused Naruto, causing him to rebuke her with a quiet scream. That had… not gone well for him.
It was here Naruto learnt that his new companion could be completely and utterly terrifying. She had just glared at him with an expression he had never seen upon anyone's face before, and it screamed at him to yield an apology or face consequences that would forever shake him to the core. With a sheepish and slightly terrified tone and expression, Naruto had stumbled an apology from his mouth, and it seemed like flicking a switch, Nami returning to her normal self in an instant. Naruto didn't quite get it, but quite frankly, the entire interaction made him feel utterly warm inside.
If he had to deal with that forever over his life before today, sign him up. He'd do so with the widest of smiles, and never let go…
Sagishi Kisho had been expecting many things upon getting home. After a long day of teaching her adorable genin about elemental affinities, she was ready to hit the hay and spent the rest of her time with Nami. Sagishi thought back on her genin, and the trials and excitement they had gone through today, hoping that Nami had had an equally fascinating day. That's all she could really wish for her six-year-old daughter, that she lived every day to the fullest and happiest and could look back on life with a smile. Something that Sagishi sometimes struggled to do.
Regret plagued her every step, all except Nami. Nami was the only thing Sagishi could look upon and wish that she did nothing differently. But the rest of her days? The woman was plagued by the faces of the lives she had taken, especially in the Third Ninja War. She missed every single one of her teammates, and often thought of how she had not done enough to save them at all. She was haunted by ghosts, and all she really had left from her past was Jiraiya-sensei.
Sagishi thought back on the days of old, where her appearance had once embarrassed her to no end. Black hair and grey eyes, constantly under a henge since she entered the Academy. She used to hate looking in the mirror, given she was the spitting image of her father, who she didn't wish to think of by any means. But Jiraiya-sensei had seen straight through her, and by the time of the Chūnin exams, she had grown comfortable enough to drop her henge. Minato and Yakami had been floored, the former especially given his aptitude in well… everything.
Fond memories later twisted to painful ones. Yakami hadn't lasted long, having been killed not long before the Battle of Kannabi Bridge, something which had plagued Minato considering he lost a comrade and student within a very short time period. Those days had been hard on both of them, given Sagishi fell pregnant with Nami sometime after. But Minato, and by extension Kushina, had been a marvellous help; and Sagishi was unsure if she could have gotten through it without them. Kushina had fallen pregnant about half a year after Nami was born, and Sagishi had been there for them as they had been for her. And once again, Sagishi's life fell to ruin, with the deaths of Minato and Kushina.
Spite and sorrow filled her being, and hatred for Lord Hiruzen came shortly after whenever she thought of such things. She couldn't even introduce herself to Naruto, and while Sakishi understood that doing so would basically be holding up a neon sign that Naruto was Minato's son, it still angered her to no end. But what could she do against the orders of the mighty "Hokage"? She gripped the door handle of her home a little too hard, swinging it open with more energy than she should have done.
"Nami, I'm hom-"
...
Sagishi was floored, utterly stunned considering her previous train of thought. For sitting on her carpet, slap bang in front of her with worried and slightly fearful eyes, was Naruto Uzumaki.
Sagishi gaped, and noticed her daughter giving her defiant eyes, a protective expression lining her very being.
It was going to be a long evening…
The two watched Naruto leave, having spent almost the entire evening in their house tearfully, especially after her mother had made him dinner. But Nami hypothesised that the tears would make less appearances as time went on, and as the boy's heart slowly mended. The door shut behind the blonde boy, who left with a laugh and shouts of joy, and both daughter and mother couldn't help but smile at the sight and sound of it.
After a moment of silence, the two finally regarded one another.
"So, want to explain how this happened?" Nami noticed her mother didn't seem to be annoyed or spiteful, rather concerned. As if she was treading over a minefield. Nami knew because she recognised her own voice that would do the same in similar situations. It was one advantage the girl knew she had when interacting with her mother. The woman could not lie to her, given Nami knew her own tells and inflections, and both of them knew that fact, though for different reasons.
"He looked sad Mom. I couldn't leave him…" Nami said defiantly, truth lining her words as she stared her mother down. She would not back down on the subject of Naruto now, the boy had nestled his way in her heart as Tama and Aisa had done before him, and she wouldn't give him up no matter what.
The woman sighed and went to the cupboard to pour herself a glass of scotch. Nami couldn't help but note the reaction with concern. She had never seen Sagishi drink before, but here she was, like she had seen ghosts of the past. It was the same expression Nami held when she looked at Naruto, whenever he acted like-
The Dance moved to its known beat, and such thoughts were cast aside.
Her mother didn't provide a response, and Nami looked at her properly for the first time. And she saw her own face, her own mind ticking behind those eyes. She held the same face Cat Burglar Nami once did, when she recognised a new opportunity and planned to benefit from it. She had seen it too many times when she gazed into windows when a rich idiot she danced with would provide a Belli bombshell. And she knew the woman was thinking about Naruto, how could she not? Something was up, Nami smelt something worthwhile and valuable, and the greedy side of her demanded she find out what it was.
Smart woman that she is, even contained in a child's body, Nami's mind raced. Thinking of what her mother and Naruto could possibly have in common. Her eyes scanned the room, before landing on a particular portrait, and for the first time, she gave it a proper look. That genin, that looked awfully like-…
"Don't…" The voice of her mother cut through the air, and Nami immediately knew that it was a warning. Her mother had always acknowledged her as bright, often treating her far more maturely than one should for a girl her age, but Nami understood her mother could slightly see through her. That she could see some of the truth behind Nami's eyes.
And Sagishi knew Nami would understand she was drawing a line in the sand, for whatever reason. Tearing her gaze away, Nami accepted the warning for now, though they were both aware she was defiant by nature. Eventually, the tide would wash away the beach, and the line would be gone…
Nami departed from the kitchen, heading back towards her room, ready to begin the day tomorrow…
He almost burst from his apartment, stumbling on the road after having jumped from the window. He had given them the slip temporarily, casting the curtain over their body as he ran. He didn't know who they were, or what they wanted. But Naruto knew that if a ninja threateningly stood in your apartment, it was trouble. With a ninja mask to boot. Panic filled his being as he could tell the ninja had escaped the distraction Naruto had placed upon him.
He was scared. He was utterly terrified of this man who was now chasing after him. And terror filled his child mind, nightmares haunting him as he stood awake, running from a man who shifted in the shadows.
He knew where he was running. He had visited every day of the week so far, and now the early hours of the morning beckoned him there, to safety. Somewhere he knew would look after him no matter what.
Nami's house…
Nami woke up to a violent knocking on her door, gazing at the clock next to her bed. 1:00 am, July 3rd. Nami was now seven years old, or rather, Nami was now 27 years old. The woman groaned at such a calculation, gazing at the ceiling with bleary eyes.
Nami hated birthdays. She hated them with every single fibre of her being. Unknowingly, the Dance was quiet on these days, unable to prevent memory and grief striking within her. For her birthday was not a day of celebration, or happiness, or achievement. Nami knew this to be true with certainty.
For her birthday was merely an anniversary of how long she had been separated from her Nakama for, and Nami hated it. She hated it with everything she had, and her face morphed on these days into a unrecognisable monster, one full of rage and anger that later morphed into what all monsters were; lost creatures who had no one left and no hope to produce.
Before she could stew and sit in her anger any longer, the knocking had become frantic, and Nami could sense the terror from the rhythm and sounds from the other side. Her eyebrows creased with worry, as she grabbed her Clima Takt and placed it behind the small of her back, moving to tread down the steps cautiously.
"Nami, what's going on?" Nami almost jumped at the sound of Zeus, before she calmed, heading towards the now consistent knocking that hounded her household. Nami was not scared, she had every advantage in this situation, but regardless, things could go wrong. The Weakling Trio in her screamed at her to run, that her mother was not home and Nami should just get out of there. But the Weakling Trio was no more, it was just Nami now. Only Nami...
She was alone. It was just Nami...
And just Nami did not back down.
"I don't know Zeus. Just be ready." Nami told her friend and fighting partner, and had the situation not been so tense, she would have laughed at the serious expression worn by the cute face that resided on her Clima Takt.
Close to the door now, she could hear the sounds of panicked wails and terrified pleas, and it wasn't long before Nami recognised those as belonging to Naruto. A motherly instinct instantly filled the core of Nami's soul, and she rushed forward, yanking at the door to see a terrified Naruto, panting for air as he looked up at her with tears rushing from his eyes.
Nami could not even get a response in, noticing the gleam of the light from her house reflect off an approaching kunai. Instincts of The Navigator kicked in, and Naruto was yanked inside firmly by Nami, who shut the door just in time to watch a blade pierce the wood. Naruto let out a cry of terror, as Nami almost shoved him behind her, as the orange-haired girl pushed him backwards.
Nami always knew exactly where she was and where she needed to go. She knew she couldn't fight inside the house, that much was clear. Almost picking Naruto up by the scruff of his shirt, Nami ran for the backdoor as the front was kicked down. Nami recognised an ANBU when she saw one, and she had been glad on her instincts to run. Knowing the backdoor was locked, Nami saw no choice but to crash through the window. The sound of shattering glass instantly drew the attention of the experienced ninja, and Nami already was running with Naruto, her strength allowing such a commodity.
The ANBU was quick to follow, and Nami was dashing onto the empty street. She knew heading into town was a bad idea, given civilians may get hurt and killed in the crossfire. And going West wouldn't work either, considering it would lead towards the ninja area of the village, where potentially more ANBU laid in wait. Nami tore her gaze East, looking at the road which headed in that direction. She had never travelled to that side of Konoha at all, but it was her best bet. More open areas, more space for her to work with. All that mattered was making sure Naruto survived, even at the cost of her own life.
"Zeus-chan!" Nami almost screamed, the cloud emerging from her Clima Takt with a determined expression. Nami and Zeus had long since figured out a way for others to ride the Homie, though they had not gotten around the issue of proper flight, and Nami wasted no time in almost throwing Naruto onto the top of the cloud, before jumping on herself. Nami tore her gaze back to the fast ANBU approaching, and if he was surprised at Nami's capabilities, he did not show it. In fact, from what Nami could gleam through her insight, he seemed remarkably boring and expressionless.
If this just ended up being a less chatty Kalifa, Nami would throw a fit...
Zeus had already begun to move, gliding across the ground as the ANBU followed. But Zeus was a Homie of Big Mom, an Emperor of the Seas. He was FAR faster. It wasn't long before they began to gain distance on the ANBU, but only a frown creased Nami's face. Zeus couldn't do this for much longer, of this Nami knew. By the time they had reached quite an open area, Zeus came to a pause, with Nami grabbing Naruto by the stomach, both jumping off the cloud.
Naruto gazed at Zeus in confusion and awe, turning to Nami as if to demand explanations. But The Navigator wasn't having any of it.
"Not right now Naruto. Listen, you need to run." She began, and instantly, Naruto's face creased in defiance. Nami knew his character by now, she would not leave him to die, not that Nami had any intention of doing so. Still, there could not be any room for arguments now, and Nami put on the same tone and face she did when the crew braved a storm. One that demanded respect and for the recipient to listen. "Listen, you need to get help while I hold this guy off. Do you understand me Naruto-chan?"
His face seemed to twitch fondly at the suffix, before Nami's face creased in worry, Zeus pointing out the ANBU was close approaching. She didn't have time for this. "NARUTO, do you understand?!"
The boy was snapped out of his stupor, and began to run after nodding, further and further away from Nami. He tore one last gaze at her, tears in his eyes as he attempted to find help.
And only one thought was on both of their minds.
'Please stay alive Nami/Naruto!'
The ROOT operative didn't quite know what to make of this situation. He had been ordered to extract the Jinchūriki by Danzo-sama, in order to maintain the safety and security of Konoha. And yet, the boy had eluded him, using cheap tricks he had once used to gain the attention of the village occupants to distract him. And by the time he had caught up, he was already in the hands of the Kenzo girl.
Now that took the ROOT agent by surprise, considering he was eluded directly by a seven-year-old child. And not only that, but she seemed to be capable of some form of weather-based jutsu, to the point of being able to fly on clouds themselves. He had never seen anything like it, and such an asset deserved to be handed back to Danzo-sama alongside the boy.
Said boy was standing next to the girl, and he stared at both of them, not offering a word as the orange-haired unknown stared at him, twirling her staff with a glare.
"Just so you know, I am going to kick your ass…"
The ROOT operative noted that she seemed confident in such an outcome, though was highly curious as to why the blond was remaining so quiet. Quickly moving to dispel a Genjutsu, the ROOT agent found that the boy remained, clearly indicating that he was very much in front of him. This made it easier to stay within the parameters of his mission from Danzo-sama, given his target had stopped running and thus the chance of being revealed was far less likely.
The girl seemed to be distracted, which the ROOT agent instantly capitalised on. With a burst of speed, he lashed out a foot at the boy's neck, intending on injuring him to the point of unconsciousness.
Eyes widened, and it was too late for him.
A deception. His foot glided through the boy, as if he was made of air. But how? The ROOT operative knew there was no Genjustsu, so what had caused such a thing. He heard a rumbling above, but too late.
He had overreached...
"Thunder Bolt Tempo!"
The voice of the girl rang out, before his ears were filled with a horrendous crack, and his vision went white. Lightning coursed over his body, and he noted it caused him a great deal of pain and damage. Some form of Lightning Jutsu?
The ROOT agent seethed, turning to her with charred armour and flesh with a stumble, as she glared defiantly, still spinning her baton. Moving to attack, his brain pieced something together.
Chakra…
She had a chakra network, and a child's perception. Moving to cast a Genjutsu, the operative surmised that despite the damage done to him, the mission would result in a success. There was no need for his backup to be deployed…
Naruto ran, as fast as his legs could take him, sobs escaping his lips as he did so. He…
He left Nami. The only person who had given a damn about him, and he just ran away like a coward. Everything Nami had done for him in the last week, everything she had told him in the final part of the Lost Historian, and he had done the opposite. He had abandoned her, and now she was going to die.
Naruto collapsed on the road, sobs screaming from his lips as he slammed his hands into the ground. It wasn't fair! How could it be fair? His life had just gotten better, had just got brighter, and now it was going to plunge into darkness again. All because he had run away!
He shouldn't have listened to her. He shouldn't have listened to a single damn word she said. He should have protected her.
Images of her dead body cast its way through his mind, and the contents of his stomach emptied on the dirt road. But he didn't care, too lost in his rage and anguish. Perhaps in another life, red eyes would have taken over, and Nami would be saved through other means. But this was not that life, not that chosen path.
For this was a world of miracles…
"Oi…"
The voice called to Naruto, and in its very nature, it grounded him instantly. The feeling of being uplifted was something Naruto could not describe properly, both given experience and age, but later in life, that is how he would describe it. As if all the worry left with a single word, and the owner of said voice's shadow cast over him. He turned to look at the stranger, who had emerged from the building that Naruto had now recognised to be the orphanage. The orphanage he had once resided in. Spite clawed at his gut, a scowl encroaching on his face. If there was no other symbol that his life was going to hell, he had ended up back where he started, at this uncaring building of grey and apathy that was the symbol of his life before there was any joy.
Naruto could barely hear the sound of sandals slapping against the dirt, before he was picked up by what he now recognised to be the boy near his age; though even Naruto could tell he was older. And yet, he lifted him up like a sack of potatoes. Naruto was in awe, quite frankly.
"You gonna tell me what's wrong kid?" Naruto briefly resented the use of such word, but considering the boy was holding him like one would their groceries, he was in no position to complain. It didn't take long for the boy to remember his situation, and tears instantly began to leak from his eyes, which quickly metamorphosised into sobs.
"P-please. My friend, she's f-fighting a bad guy and I c-can't lose her! Please, you gotta help me!" Naruto almost screamed the last bit, anguish at the hopelessness of his situation taking over him, though from his remaining perception not swept away by emotion, he could see the other boy didn't particularly care.
In fact, a grin spread across his face, wide and true. Naruto stared at it in awe. Such a face, full of freedom and spirit, like they could see the future. Or rather, bring it into certainty.
How could such a person exist?
"Well, why didn't ya just say so?" A giddy and joyous laugh tumbled from their lips, the air breaching through the teeth that formed a smile. And with that, Naruto was slung over the boy's shoulder, nearly impacting their hat as he was treated as if he weighed nothing. What an odd thing to rest on someone's head. It seemed like it belonged on a farm.
And yet… Naruto found it awfully fitting.
A pregnant pause sat there for a moment, as the boy jogged off with Naruto along for the ride. It was only after a couple of seconds that the boy realised what was going on with his new transportation.
"WAIT, YOU'RE GOING THE WRONG WAY Y'KNOW!"
Nami could barely stand, leaning on her Clima Takt to even stay upright. Quite frankly, it had been going well for her. Having landed several other lightning-based attacks on the ANBU, the man had looked ready to die and keel if Nami was being honest with herself.
And then, it had all gone wrong. Her senses had twisted, betrayed her. Things moved, things vanished, attacks directed her way never existed, before actually appearing behind her. She knew what this was. It was Genjutsu, something she had no means of countering in any way. Even Zeus had been cut off from her, Nami unable to give him orders as he rested inside the Clima Takt after their flight.
Her chances at survival had dropped very rapidly.
Another water shot impacted her thigh, ripping through her like a bullet, and with a scream, Nami impacted the ground. Blood mixed with the dirt below her, and she rolled over to take a look at her situation. Her leg was unresponsive, though Nami reckoned she could move it about, if given time. But time was a fleeting commodity…
Nami gazed at the ANBU standing above her, holding a kunai out and ready towards her throat. Nami closed her eyes with a calm peace washing over her. She had died once; she could do it again. As long as Naruto was safe, well, Nami was satisfied. Worried about Zeus and what they would do to him, Nami pleaded to the heavens she could release the Homie. But alas, he was bound to her Clima Takt, a weapon still in her hands.
The ANBU said nothing. In fact, he had said nothing for the entire fight. Nami found it off-putting, making her enemy seem entirely inhuman and alien. A pity she had to die to someone like that.
The sound of someone being dropped to the ground briefly caught the attention of her ears, and shoes and sandals could be heard a street away with how loud they were moving.
Who…
Nami's thoughts were slightly delirious, given her current physical condition. But she had heard footsteps, that much she was sure of. She cracked open her eyes and saw the one person she did not want to see. Her heart fibrillated in sheer panic, eyes wide and a horrified scream almost emerged from her throat.
"NARUTO! RUN!" The scream echoed across the entire area, but given there were no houses, Nami doubted anyone would be disturbed. Nami grit her teeth. Now she couldn't even die in peace, panic seeping into every fibre of her being as she watched the boy approach her with a smile. Nami could barely focus on him, the sheer blur from the light attack that the ANBU had used earlier likely left temporary damage.
"It's okay! I brought help!" His voice was full of reassurance, and he almost sounded happy. Nami could have scoffed at that or cried in joy. If she was going to die, at least she heard the happy voice of someone she cared about. The ANBU next to her shifted his body to face upwards, clearly facing a new threat while calculating his next move in typical boring fashion. God, Nami hated this guy…
Nami's mind took pause. Naruto had said he brought help, so, where were they? Nami tore her gaze upwards, and even with the blur, she would recognise such features anywhere.
Nami couldn't stop the tears that appeared, or the biggest smile in seven years that appeared across her face. Was this the hallucination of a dying woman? She had been tormented by such things before, especially his, often waking up to see him standing there; before vanishing like mist, bringing more heartbreak upon her.
But it looked so real.
Yellow sash.
Blue shorts.
Red cardigan.
Two scars.
…
Straw Hat…
Nami was sobbing now, and knew that if she was dying, she was happy to see the face of her Captain and best friend one last time. But milliseconds passed, which felt like hours to Nami, and still, he did not vanish. In fact, as her vision slowly cleared, he seemed to be getting more solid.
"Now, GUM GUM PISTOL!"
And so did Nami's world explode into magnificent sunlight. And the Dance did retreat into the furthest depths of her mind.
It was not needed anymore…
Omake: A Troubled Orphanage
Miss Shinaba was a strong woman, with a strong backbone. After all, it was she who had the patience to raise the children orphaned by the very nature of the ninja world, and she was happy to see each one find happiness with a new family.
Contrary to popular belief, she did not hate one of her previous charges, that being Naruto Uzumaki. Now, she didn't like him given his very nature, but nor did she hate him. She was mainly ambivalent. Which of course, some could argue as being worse than abusive. Neglect did horrid things to the psyche of a developing mind.
When the Hokage had taken Naruto from the orphanage, Miss Shinaba had found herself in a foul mood. She hadn't realised how much she missed his smiles that seemed to penetrate her heart, or his positive attitude that brought tears to her eyes thinking back on it. She was regretful.
Because with every passing day, she missed Naruto Uzumaki.
Until recently. Until their newest occupant.
The devil himself...
She was so very thankful Naruto Uzumaki had left their residence, for the orphanage only had so much budget. Both of those stomachs under one roof?
Only so much of that could be dedicated to food goods. She looked down at the sheet in front of her, detailing their expenditure and budget usage over the last year. The numbers were clear, they were in fact magnitudes worse than when Uzumaki had been around. This was… a sinkhole. A financial sinkhole that would put the entire building out of business. Despite the love she had for the child, as much as he had wormed his way into their hearts… this was now at a point of being untenable…
His voice could be heard, even from her office.
"MEEEEEEEAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTT!"
And that's that. Wanted to pump this chapter out quickly as I REALLY enjoyed writing the first. So, I decided. Why wait?
And as you can tell, things are REALLY kicking off now. With the appearance of a certain pirate captain, the story can now begin to take shape.
Honestly, I had plans to open the story with him, but decided on the current approach as it felt more fitting narratively for some elements I had in mind later.
Hope you enjoyed the surprise and build up to our favourite monkey!
Sorry that I skipped the first part of the fight between Nami and the ROOT agent, but I felt that such a skip was important to emphasise how fucked particular Straw Hat members are without Genjutsu defence, considering it can no-sell some of them.
Oh and the image manager is kicking my ass, so this story will remain image-less for a period of time :(
Leave a review if you're feeling particularly cool!
This is, TheHumulisScriptor, signing out!
