Hello everyone, I hope you like this chapter and sorry for the wait, I've been busy with finally finishing up Assassination Classroom Assistant which is now finally done. It'll take me some time to get back into the story.
Chapter 26
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ONE HOUR LATER~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Damn the ship is huge!" Naruto commented after walking back outside but froze along with Nami due to seeing a massive nose bleeding Sanji outside the bubble and in the ocean water.
"SANJI GOT THROWN INTO THE SEA!" Luffy, Chopper, and Usopp shouted in a panicked tone but immediately Sanji was hit by a massive pressure of water that sent him got back into the bubble, slamming into the shocked three which they all lay there on the ships deck.
"What did I miss?" Naruto asked no one in particular while Nami just face palms at seeing this. It only took them five minutes to give Sanji a lot of blood transfusion not to mention Naruto having to pull the water of of Sanji's love struck body.
"What could have happened these last two years, to York the lady-loving Sanji into this? At this rate, once he meets the mermaids he was longing to see, he might die from blood loss." Brook asked no one in particular while they were gathered around Sanji.
"We either A, blind Sanji or B, we have Chopper with him twenty-four-seven." Naruto said while scratching his head, his gaze focusing on Nami reading something.
"We'll have to get a blood transfusion for him on Fishman Island. I wonder if Fishmen and Mermen have the same blood types as humans." Hearing that, Naruto places a hand on his chin.
"I think we do...never really thought about that actually." Naruto commented while still in thought about the subject.
"So basically, like we just saw, the soap-bubble surrounding this ship has the sane properties as the ones on the Sabaody Archipelago?" Hearing Robin suddenly change the subject shocked and queried both Usopp and Chopper.
"DON'T JUST CALMLY CONTINUE YOUR ANALYSIS OF SOAP-BUBBLES!" Usopp shouted at Robin yet Nami only agreed all the while Naruto just tuned them out wondering just how much doesn't he realize about his own species until he heard one line Nami spoke that snapped him out of it.
"~if we're attacked by sea monsters, we can cure a cannonball at them. The bubble won't break!" Nami said with a smile on her face which Naruto peeks over her shoulder to see what she was reading.
"Then what would it take for it to break?" Usopp questions her with Chopper standing next to him, both getting an answer from what Naruto was reading.
"Apparently if a Sea King chomped down on our ship." Just after saying that, right on cue a large fish appeared from behind them gaining screams from Chopper and Usopp.
"LOOK OUT, BEHIND US!" The two shouted until a much large fish bit down on the smaller one before swimming away.
"A fight... We're saved." Chopper said, sighing thankfully at what had just transpired.
"If we crash into rocks or a trench and the ship itself takes damage, then fractures in the mast or hull could cause the bubble to break. So we have to avoid that too. Basically, we have to look out for sea creatures and other obstacles. As long as we dint do anything stupid in here, there's nothing to worry about." Hearing Nami say that, Naruto's face shifts over towards Luffy knowing full well of his captains adventurous attitude before looking back at the others.
"I see! It's stronger than I expected!" Usopp shouted which he just laughs until Naruto began speaking in a serious tone.
"It's not funny...over ninety percent of ships that head towards Fishman Island are never to be seen again." When he said that, the two most easily scared members of the Straw Hats now have faces closely resembling the "The Scream" painting.
"WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO US?!" The two shouted simultaneously in urgency.
"Once we get deep enough the real trouble will begin." He told them all before looking outside to see Luffy pointing at a few fish while speaking.
"If I use my Gatling on them, I'm sure I can catch all of those fish!" Luffy said with a large banana like smile on his face.
"Then how about we compete to see who can catch the most?" Zoro told Luffy, both not noticing Naruto's left eye twitch just before they were hit on the head by a pissed off Chopper and Usopp. By the time that was settled, the smiling Luffy showed them his bag filled with food.
"Nami, will the ship be safe? Shouldn't we be on guard?" Hearing that, Nami just nods from hearing that.
"Don't worry, right now we're just riding a large ocean current so we got some time but once we get deep enough Naruto will be showing us what we will need to do next." Nami told them all which Naruto just nods while raising his left hand.
"I can slow the current if you want." Naruto said to Franky who only shakes his head before speaking.
"That's ok, since we got time there's something I need to tell all of you." The cyborg said while lifted my his sunglasses. Hearing him say that the group just stare at him, no longer smiling.
"By any chance, do you mean..." Just after saying that, Luffy, Chopper, and Usopp shouted all together "Your hidden robotic functions?!" resulting in Naruto pinching the bridge of his nose at hearing that.
"I can see none of you guys have changed...Franky what exactly do you mean?" Naruto asked Franky who only nods.
"What I want to tell you is much more important. Well, I can tell you while you're eating." He told them all which they gathered all around him while eating.
"the truth is, Hachi had planned to come and guide us across the ocean floor. But I heard he suffered major injuries on Sabaody, and now he's recovering in Fishman Island. His reason is the same as Duval's. He fought to protect the Thousand Sunny, which had been left behind on the island. About a year ago, the Navy found out where the Sunny was docked. In the fierce battle that followed, both of them of them were forced to retire." Hearing that, Usopp was the first to speak.
"Huh? Then how'd the ship last until now?" He asked in wonder at what had happened.
"Because there was one more warrior." Hearing that, Naruto just raised an eyebrow in wonder at who exactly this "warrior" is.
"The very same man who scattered us two years ago, in fact." Hearing that, Naruto just wondered who exactly he was talking about since they all knew.
"A member of the Seven Warlords of a the Sea, and a great man, Bartholomew Kuma. A few days ago, when I arrived at the Sunny, I couldn't believe my eyes. He was covered in many wounds and rust while Sunny didn't have a single scratch on her. When I spoke to Rayleigh afterward...he told him he was an officer of the Revolutionary Army and wanted to the crew escape. I'm guessing you figured it out too. He saved our lives back then and after we vanished from the island, Kuma visited Rayleigh and said..."The time I have left...is running out." I don't know what they write holding over him, but he allowed the Navy to experiment on his body, and they slowly turned him into a cyborg. Shortly before the Great War, he agreed to undergo a modification that would remove his personality completely." Hearing that, Naruto's eyes just narrowed a little.
"But there's no way he could've known what we'd do after we were scattered and yet he waited for us by the ship? Even though he's lost his personality?!" Chopper asked with shock from hearing that.
"It seems that while he was with the Surgeon, Doctor Vegapunk, he got a promise they a certain mission would be programmed into him. Guard the ship until a member of the Straw Hat Pirates returns. So, for two years he's been waiting for us. Despite being a human weapon without memories, he's been obeying the orders from his past self." After hearing that, Zoro was the one who voiced his confusion about the whole situation.
"Why would he go that far for us?" Hearing that, Naruto began speaking.
"I think it was because Luffy is Dragon's Son and most likely has seen what he could do. Luffy, you're a Captain that is mostly unpredictable and because of that the World Government will see you as a threat. Now, I know why Bartholomew would allow them to experiment and it has to do with his younger brother." When they heard that, his fellow comrades were confused.
"Brother?" Hearing Nami say that, Naruto merely nods.
"His name is KibÅ Kuma...you see when he was young he was very very weak so in order to save him Vegapunk turned him into a cyborg like Bartholomew is now in order to save him and you can understand why he would go that far to allow them to turn him into a weapon. The reason why I know this is because I met him, he's apart of the crew that I am putting together and like his brother he's calm as well as holds his own bible." Hearing that, they were quite surprised at what they had heard with there attention turning back to Franky who stood back up before speaking.
"Well, the fact remains that...he was the one who allowed us to survive these two years and make then worthwhile. Though by now, there's no way for us to ask him what was his reason for what he did. Just keep this fact stored in your hearts... This crew is indebted to Bartholomew Kuma. But even if we meet him again, Kuma has become nothing more than a heartless human weapon. That is all." He told the entire crew.
"I'm grateful to him, but this raises a lot of questions. I hope we'll be able to find out Kuma's true intentions one day." Zoro said, wondering just why Bartholomew did what he did.
"We're in his debt?" Sanji said, gaining everyone's attention while Naruto's gaze focused on something out in the distance following them closely behind.
"I wonder how far we've sunk?" Luffy said which Naruto just stood up.
"We already passed through the sunlight level and now we're nearing the end of the twilight level. We must be more than a thousand meters down by now." Franky told them all before taking a bite us his food.
"It's so quiet. This feels completely different to the submarine. It's almost like we're flying through the sky." Robin said while Naruto looks out into the distance.
"Once we go deep enough, listen to me carefully because of I'm right "he's" down there..." Naruto said just as a large white whale passes by.
"Laboon? LABOON!" Brook shouted but was chess fed since it was not the whale he remembers.
"Labo-" he stops there at remembering a large whale he saw when he was still in the ship.
"There's something at 6 o'clock! Is it a creature? No..." Usopp was stopped there when Naruto placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry, I got a plan." Naruto said without a care confusions Usopp just as they closed in and immediately they crash into there ship like dumbasses.
"Ru-" he stopped there when Naruto raised his left hand and almost immediately the ship was being pushed back from theres while his gaze focused on the sea cow.
"I see...it's been awhile." Naruto said, his gaze focusing on the sea cow who turns towards Naruto.
"YOU'RE DOING GREAT, SEA COW!" Caribou shouted with happiness while the sea cow had tears appear in its eyes at seeing Naruto getting to the higher deck so it could see him.
"So you're the one I freed so long ago..." Naruto said loudly to the sea cow who was crying all the while Caribou was the first to jump on the ship right before Naruto destroyed the chains on he sea cow by using the ocean water resulting the the sea cow suddenly swimming upwards whine Naruto quickly sent Caribou's ship backwards with great enough force not even letting the man notice what had just happened.
"While they're dumbfounded, kill them all!" Caribou said just as Naruto walked down the steps without a care.
"Let's go!" He shouted with both his arms raised up high soon to approach the straw hats without noticing his ship was still being carried away.
"Alright, by way of greeting, fire the Gatling gun! Kill all the Straw Hats and..." He stopped there from seeing with his head raised his ship wasn't behind him and could only turn slowly to see a smirking Naruto give him a wave while leaning at the edge of the ship.
"Sup..." Naruto said to the now sweating Caribou who recognized Naruto before his tongue extended outwards and eyes pointing right at him.
"N-Naruto..." Was all he said before Naruto suddenly picked him up so he could then approach the edge with the man being raised.
"NO! DON'T THROW ME OUT INTO THE WATER! That's something...you shouldn't do! You have value people's life! The gods...the god-" he was cut off by Naruto straight up throwing the guy out into the ocean but luckily a bubble formed with him inside it.
"You have an hour of air, see ya." Without waiting any longer he simply sent the man upwards without a care and simply walks towards the stairs so he could sit down. As this was happening the others just stare at him in surprise for not only chucking some guy out of there ship while deep in the ocean but giving him w chance at survival.
"You know there's a high chance he will be eaten." Zoro told Naruto who just shrugs while leaning back.
"Dumbass thought he could take over our ship so he gets what he deserves...besides I don't like him, reminds me somewhat of Blackbeard." Naruto answered without a care in the world.
"Naruto, where are we going?" He asked the Fishman who opens his eyes before standing up.
"I'm controlling the current as we speak, I know where we must go and rather not explain. But you guys should put on Warner clothing since it's gonna get colder down here." He told the entire crew.
"Are we going somewhere cold? Not the deep sea?" Zoro questioned Naruto but Franky was the one too explain.
"Don't you know that the water in the deep sea is cold? Like in a bath tub, but water goes up and cold water goes down." Franky said to them all.
"Oh yeah? I'm not a big fan of baths so I wouldn't know." Luffy said along with Usopp understanding it too.
"The temperature isn't the only difference." Hearing that, they all look at the bloomed out Brook.
"WHY ARE YOU SO DEPRESSED?!" Usopp shouted while Brook showed him a piece of paper.
"There are giant currents called seek currents that you don't get to see very often/ those currents flow totally independently from surface currents." Hearing that, Usopp didn't expect to hear that but smiles.
"But with Naruto I'm sure we don't have to worry about that, right Naruto?" Usopp questioned the man who had Nami standing right next to him with her arms around Naruto's right arm.
"Hey, what are you doing?!" Sanji shouted at Naruto who only blinks in surprise before turning to Nami who had her arms wrapped around his and quickly looks away after seeing his arm between her breasts.
"She wanted to keep warm so she asked me if she could hold onto me..." Naruto told the jealous Sanji with a passive expression on his face, angering Sanji while Usopp was questioning if he should remind Nami she has a jacket she had bought in her quarters. Suddenly the look on Naruto's face got serious.
"Sorry Usopp but I can't change those currents..." When he said that, Usopp was confused along with the others along with Nami looking at the serious look on his face.
"If he notices I changed the currents he made then I will have just pissed off the worst possible enemy." Hearing that, Chopper and Usopp began to panic when they heard that while Nami was confused by what he was talking about until they noticed they were picking up speed with the currents becoming more visible.
"I met him only once...it doesn't like me talking to it as of I were on his level." Naruto said with a bead of sweat coming down his face, hoping they don't meet it all the while the others went to the front with Nami letting go so she too could go and what they all saw was a giant current line waterfall.
"Interesting! The sea is "falling" far below! At an extraordinary speed!" Luffy shouted with happiness.
"Natures great!" Franky said with Naruto being the one to speak louder.
"Guys, keep it down...we need to move in silence-" he was cut off by the overreacting Usopp.
"I can't see the bottom! It's completely dark! We-" Usopp was cut off by Naruto suddenly covering Usopp's mouth just as there ship began shaking and immediately he covered Luffy's mouth, both looking at the wide eyed Naruto who had a more of a terrified expression on his face.
"Do speak or say anything...or you guys are dead." Naruto said and before they could ask, something began moving under then as if the darkness-no...as of the earth itself was rising below them. Naruto was looking down at the darkness that was approaching them before upwards so he could look up at the waterfall before suddenly jumping out on the the there ships figurehead before bowing with his head pressed galant the figurehead.
"WE ONLY MEAN TO PASS BY YOUR TERRITORY MY KING, I ONLY ASK IS TO ALLOW US TO PASS!" Naruto shouted to what appeared to be no one in particular until from behind the waterfall appeared a single eye that was the size of Laboon. The eye itself was a black sclera with a blood red circle in the middl bearing a reverse pentagram as its pupil with it focusing on Naruto and suddenly with great speed tentacles rapped around the Straw Hats ship much to Naruto's shock as it was quickly pulled closer towards eye, Naruto now staring face to face with its pupil that was focused on him but it's gaze shifts over to Luffy but more so his Straw Hat, the moment it saw the hat the beings eye only widens before pulling them away from the eye, very much confusing Naruto. After only silence they heard a deep voice.
"I see..." Hearing it spoke caused all the water around them to vibrate which they all hold there heads in pain but slowly it pulls its tentacles away from there ship, it's gaze still focused on the Straw Hat until it's eye finally closed with the darkness retreating back down towards the ocean's bottom. Naruto could only sit on his knees with wide eyes at what he just saw.
"It responded in understanding, never before have I heard the "Leviathan" respond in such a way, just what went through his-no, I'll worry about that later for now we need to get the hell out of here before he changes his mind." After thinking that he quickly gets inside the bubble before speaking.
"Let's get the hell out-" he stopped at seeing there ship was moving for some reason towards a passage way surrounded by large rock formations.
"He's giving us a current to use..." Naruto thought before he swallows.
"All questions for later, right now we need to hurry." He told them all before making it so that there speed increases through the snake like current pathway that was just created for them to use.
NEXT TIME, THE FISHMAN ISLAND ARC FINALLY BEGINS. IF YOU COULD, PLEASE REVIEW AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK OF THIS CHAPTER.