Last time, while Caleb, Cornelia and Irma lay paralyzed, Naruto, Saske and Sakura each tried to defeat the newly transformed Naz'riak, now known as a mega-demon. Naruto thought of two plans to win, both of them failed. With Saske and Sakura out of the fight with broken limbs, Naruto was stabbed by his own knife, by the hand of the mega-demon. Just as the mega-demon was about to deliver the killing strike, someone intervened, someone with elastic properties. On with the show!
Chapter 11: Mega-Demon Part 3
He tried to pull the knife from his gut, but it was in too deep to remove all at once. The demon bent down to gloat at him; "As I thought, you are just a silly little boy playing ninja games. Your overactive imagination is going to cost you your life here today." Naruto glared back at the demon; "I am a ninja! And I'll die a ninja!"
"You are partly right about that last bit," said the demon as it picked up the other kuni, reading for the final strike, "Now die!" But before the demon could strike, something hit it hard enough to send it skidding to a stop several yards away, something long and flesh colored. Naruto looked to see a human fist attached to a long, long arm. The arm retracted to what appeared to be a man several feet away. Said person began to walk towards Naruto.
He finally managed to remove the kuni in his gut with much pain. As Naruto began healing himself, he saw that the person coming towards him was a boy about 18 years old, dressed in a red sleeveless shirt, blue shorts and a straw hat. The newcomer stopped over Naruto, the sun was at an angle so that Naruto couldn't see his face.
"Hey," said the newcomer, "You okay?" "I'll be fine soon," said Naruto, "Who, what are you?" The newcomer bent down so that Naruto could see his face. He had black eyes, black hair and a long scar under his left eye. He grinned widely and chuckled; "I'm a rubber man!"
Meanwhile, Irma, Caleb and Cornelia had managed to crawl over to Saske and Sakura. "Can someone please tell me what's happening?" asked Cornelia impatiently. "Well for starters," said Sakura, "You're still somewhat paralyzed." "Hey!" said Irma, "We're getting better." "Second," said Sakura, "I've got a broken leg and Saske has a broken arm. To top it off, Naruto has been stabbed."
"But that mega-demon got blasted by that stretchy person there!" said Saske as he pointed with his unbroken arm. The newcomer was helping Naruto to his feet, being that Naruto was almost healed. "You sure you're alright?" asked the newcomer, "'Cause I know a really good doctor." "I'm fine," said Naruto, "Now you still haven't told me your name." "Oh, that." Said the newcomer, grinning widely again, "Captain Monkey D. Luffy at your service, but everyone calls me Luffy."
"Well Luffy," said Naruto, "I'm Naruto Uzimaki, but everyone calls me Naruto." "Please to meet you, Naruto." Said Luffy as he shook Naruto's hand. "I don't mean to interrupt this tender moment," said Sakura, "But what are you exactly? Some kind of mutation or something?" "Like I said," said Luffy, "I'm a rubber man," he then grabbed part of his face and stretched it three feet out, "See?" "I said it before and I'll say it again," said Irma, "That's just freaky."
"I've seen freakier things than Luffy." Sakura, Saske, Cornelia, Caleb and Irma turned to see a tall man in his early twenties. He whore black pants, a white shirt and a green sash for a belt. Tucked into the sash were three swords. A black bandanna covered his head. "Hey Zolo," said Luffy, "Glad you made it." "I was here five minutes ago," said Zolo, "You got lost again, as usual." "Give a pirate a break," said Luffy, "I'm used to finding my way at sea." "You're pirates," said Saske, "Aren't you?" "Yep," said Luffy, "And I'm gonna be King of the Pirates some day."
"You'll never be King of the Pirates of you keep getting lost Luffy." Said a female voice. There stood a tall girl of about 19. She had short orange hair, wore a blue mini-skirt and a blue/white top. "Relax Nami," said Luffy, "I got here alright." "Wait a minute here!" said Saske, "You, with the swords, you and her were waiting for five minutes for stretchy guy, and you couldn't just help?"
"Well," said Zolo, "I, uh, say why didn't we just help?" "I don't know," said Nami, "I was too busy watching the fight." "You just watched as that mega-demon broke Saske's arm and my leg!" exclaimed Sakura, "You just watched as Naruto got stabbed and we all nearly got killed!" "I'm fine Sakura." Said Naruto. "You shut up!" exclaimed Sakura, "I'm fuming here!" "You know," said Irma, "I'd love to keep listening to this lovely conversation, but tall, dark and butt-ugly is back!"
The mega-demon had recovered from Luffy's attack. It glared at the newcomers befor pointing at Lyffy; "You! You have made a big, big mistake in striking me!" "Wouldn't be the first time he's done that." Said Nami. "What," said Caleb, "Struck a demon?" "No," said Zolo, "Made a mistake. "Hey!" said Luffy, "I resemble that!" "You sure do." Said Nami.
"This guy is they're captain?" asked Cornelia. "I guess so." Said Irma. "I'll handle this creep." Said Luffy as he walked towards the mega-demon. "You sure you don't want me to slice it up for you?" asked Zolo. "No thanks," said Luffy, "I got it." "The only thing you've got," said the mega-demon, "Is a one-way ticket to the afterlife!"
"He's crazy taking on that thing alone." Said Sakura. "Crazy yes," said Saske, "But there's something not quite right about him." "Oh is it the fact that he can stretch?" said Irma sarcastically, "Or that he's an idiot?" "Besides his lack of knowledge," said Saske, "I've heard rumors of people with incredible powers, once they've eaten a certain fruit." "You've guessed it," said Nami, "Luffy ate a Cursed Fruit, a 'Gum-Gum Fruit' to be exact."
Luffy had stopped less than ten paces form the demon. "Enjoy your last few moments of life," hissed the mega-demon, "For when you die, I shall drag your bloating carcass back to the Empress for her approval!" "Bring it on creap!" exclaimed Luffy, "You don't scare me!" The demon howled in rage as it charged, but Luffy was faster; "Gum-Gum Blast!" Luffy streached his arm out and landed a hard left to the demon's face. It fell to the ground, but soon recovered for another charge. This time, Luffy used his left; "Gum-Gum Blast!" and the demon was on the ground again.
"I was right," said Saske, "He is cursed." "I wouldn't call having the power to stretch a curse," said Cornelia, "I'd call it a gift." "I wouldn't mind being able to stretch," said Irma, "I'd be like 'Elastica-Girl'." "It's a curse," said Zolo, "Because once you eat from a Cursed Fruit, you can never swim again. You just sink like a stone in the water." "What kind of pirate can't swim?" asked Caleb. "That kind." Said Zolo as he pointed at the fight.
Luffy clearly had the upper hand. The demon couldn't get near him, as each time it charged, Luffy blasted it back. "Had enough?" asked Luffy. "Never!" exclaimed the demon, "I shall skin you alive, drink your blood and feast on your organs!" It made to attack again, but for some reason, didn't" "What's the matter?" asked Luffy, "You change your mind?" "Believe me if I could move you'd be dead!" yelled the mega-demon, "But I can't! What trickery is this?"
"Yeah, what's going on now?" asked Cornelia. "That's what's going on!" said Naruto as he pointed at the battle. On one side of the battlefield stood the demon, frozen in place and glaring at Luffy. On the other stood Shikamaru, his hands formed in hand-signs. Connecting the two was a long shadow. "A shadow-capture jutsu!" exclaimed Sakura, "Great!" "Hey Shikamaru!" exclaimed Naruto, "Glad you made it!"
"Looks like we got here just in time." Said Shikamaru. There was Ino and Chouji, as well as Will, Taranee, Hay Lin, Elyon and about half the Meridian Guard. Elyon ran up to Cornelia; "You alright?" she asked. "I'm a little stiff," said Cornelia, "But I'll be fine." "What do we do with tall, dark and ugly?" asked Taranee, referring to the immobilized demon. "We beet the crap out of it until it tells us where the children of Metamore have been taken." Said Will.
However, Luffy had other ideas. "No!" said Luffy, "This one's mine." "I don't know who you are," said Will, "But that thing is not only guilty of kidnapping innocent children, but of murder and destruction of private property." "It's my fight," said Luffy, "I was winning." "I don't care!" exclaimed Will. "Perhaps we should let Elyon decide," said Caleb, "She is the Queen here."
Everyone looked at Elyon. "Well?" asked Will. Elyon considered Luffy for a moment before saying, "Let the one with the straw hat finish what he started." "Thanks," said Luffy, "I owe you one." "Just make sure you win." Said Elyon, "I hate it when I make a bad decision." "You won't regret it," said Luffy as he said to Shikamaru, "Let it go, I'll finish it." Shikamaru looked at Ino and Naruto as if waiting for instructions. "Do it." Said Naruto. At that, Shikamaru released his shadow-capture justu.
"Big mistake ninja!" exclaimed the demon as it readied to attack, but again, Luffy was faster. He stretched both arms out, twisting them around each other like a length of rope. Both hands grabbed the demon as Luffy began to draw his arms over his head; "Gum-Gum Hammer!" The demon was carried in an arc over Luffy's head and was slammed into the ground. Luffy then retracted his arms to their normal size and shape. "That was beyond cool!" said Hay Lin.
Will, Elyon, Naruto and Luffy ran over to the fallen demon, where it leay broken, but still alive. "Start talking if you want to live," said Elyon grimly, "Where are the children you Naz'riak have taken?" The demon had pulled something out of it's pocket, but it wasn't a suicide drug. "Forgive me, my Empres," whispered the demon as it pressed down on whatever it was holding, "I have failed you."
Just then, there was a loud beeping from somewhere on the demon. "Why is the demon beeping?" asked Luffy, "I don't think demon's are supposed to beep." Naruto knew what it was, "It's a bomb! It's rigged to explode!" "Run!" yelled Will as they hurried away from the demon, just as it ignited into flame.
"What's that smell?" asked Elyon, "Besides the odor of roasting demon?" "It smells like gasoline." Said Will. "It's Napalm," said Naruto, "Instead of a suicide drug, it rigged itself to burn." "Great!" exclaimed Elyon, we still don't know where they've taken the children! We're no better off than before!" "No we're not," said Will as she shook Luffy's hand, "Thanks for your help, that's some nice stretching you did." "It's why we're here," said Luffy, "To help."
Meanwhile, the others had moved to check on Caleb, Cornelia and Irma, who was still somewhat paralyzed. "What did that thing do to you?" asked Taranee. "Some sort of medusa technique," said Caleb, "or so said Saske." Saske however was suffering uner the attention of Ino. "Oh Saske!" exclaimed Ino, "You've ben hurt! I shall attend to your every need during your long recovery!" "It's just a broken arm," said Saske, sounding highly annoyed at the sudden attention, "It'll be fine."
"It might get infected," said Ino, "What about gangrene?" "Gangrene my ass!" exclaimed Sakura; "You just want him for yourself! And what about me? I've got a broken leg!" "You'll be fine," said Ino mutely, "Billboard head!" "Bleach head!" exclaimed Sakura.
"Those two are so gonna kill each other one of these days," said Chouji, "mark my words." "You got that right." Said Shikamaru. Naruto then asked Luffy, "Didn't you say you have a doctor here?" "Oh yeah," said Luffy, "I did. Hey! Chopper!" "The doctor's name is 'Chopper?'" asked Irma nervously. "What's that?" asked Cornelia, pointing to a rising dust cloud from down the road. Something was approaching at a high rate of speed.
From out of the dust ran a reindeer with a blue nose. Said reindeer wore a blue shirt, red shorts, and a top hat between its antlers. Strapped to his back was a black medical bag. He stopped in front of Luffy. "You called, Captain?" asked the reindeer. "I did Chopper," said Luffy, "You've got patients." "A talking, blue-nosed reindeer," said Cornelia, "Now I've seen everything." Just then, Chopper morphed from a four-legged reindeer to a smaller, two-legged reindeer with a more humanlike face. He began to administer to Sakura's and Saske's broken limbs. "Correction," said Irma, "Now you've seen everything."
Unknown to our heroes, two of the Naz'riak were watching the whole thing from a distance. "The empress is not going to like this, no.8." said one of the demons. "No she won't no.11," said the other, "The Empress must be warned, one who has partaken of the Cursed Fruit has intervened in her affairs."
The end of chapter 11. Next chapter, Luffy explains how he and the rest of his crew arrived in Metamore, and why they are there. See you next time!
