A/N: All right! There's doubly good news! Over 60,000 Hits! And Over 300 Reviews! All right! That's big news for me!
Also one more thing! If you haven't heard the news... I'm running a fan art contest based on my fics, and one of the 5 categories is The Biju Biju Fruit, so if you want you can enter the link to the rules are on my profile (it's in the form of youtube video)... and please enter... there haven't been any entries yet... so if you do enter there's a good chance you'll win. Anyways here's the next chapter...
Chapter 31: Betrayal
Sakura and Nojiko looked at each other… there was a strange silence… Everyone there could feel the tension.
"So…" said Sakura, "How have you been?"
Cue one giant anime fall…
"What are you doing Forehead?" asked Ino.
"What I can't have a short conversation with Nojiko before we get to business?" said Sakura.
"I guess we could talk…" said Nojiko with a sweat drop.
The two began to talk, the first few minutes was Nojiko telling Sakura about something that just happened. That survivors from Gosa called the Marines who arrived to save them… but were easily defeated... then somehow the conversation turned in just gossip about people from town…. And they were doing that for 20 minutes.
"You're kidding? Who told you?" asked Sakura.
"Can we get back to business! You've been gossiping for almost 20 minutes!" yelled everyone else.
"Oh right…" said Sakura.
Nojiko cleared her throat, "I'm going to tell you Nami's story… but only if you promise to leave afterwards."
"I don't think that's going to happen…" said Sakura with a sweat drop.
Nojiko sighed… "Well anyways…" said Nojiko.
"I'm going." said Luffy.
"Me too…" said Naruto.
"Don't you want to listen?" asked Usopp.
"Nope!" said the brothers in unison.
"I think you should listen kit… after all… you're not listening to me are you?" said Kyubi.
"Well too bad." said Naruto.
"Don't mind them…" said Sakura, "Their idiots…"
"I see…" said Nojiko with a sweat drop.
"Don't I'll listen to the story… but I'll doubt I'll learn much." said Zoro leaning against a tree.
"That's because you're already asleep…" said Sasuke with a sweat drop as Zoro fell asleep, "Don't mind him… he's just recovering from his fight…"
"Don't worry I'll listen to it!" said Usopp.
"Me too…" said Kiba.
"Of course I will!" said Sanji with love in his voice.
"I will…" said Ino.
"Fine…" said Sasuke.
Sakura nodded to Nojiko to start the story. About how both were orphaned during a war and a former marine/ tangerine farmer named Belle Mere found them and raised them as her own, Nami would often cause problems like stealing books and always wish that they were rich or was found by a rich couple. Then that one day Arlong took over the island and demanded money from everyone… 100,000 for the adults, 50,000 for children. 100,000 was all Belle Mere had left, which she used to pay for Nami and Nojiko. Arlong killed Belle Mere right in front of the two girls. One of the Fishmen found a map Nami made and Arlong kidnapped her. Later Nami returned… however as it turned out she joined Arlong's crew, all the villagers hated her when they found out… especially when she claimed it was about the money. However it was a lie, she had joined because she made a deal, if she paid him 100 Million Berries then she can buy back the village, and since then she's been stealing the money.
"Ever since that day…" said Nojiko.
"That monster! I'm going to kill him!" yelled Sanji.
Sakura "lightly" punched him in the head… Sanji was currently barely conscious in a crater.
"Sakura… you're a freak…" said Ino.
"Shut up…" said Sakura.
"Is he going to be all right…" said Kiba.
"The thing is…" said Sakura, "Nami doesn't want anyone else to get killed by Arlong… it took a lot for her to even let me join her."
"How did you join up with her anyways?" asked Kiba whop began to poke Sanji with a stick.
"Well it happened 4 years ago… my parents… couldn't pay up any more…" said Sakura, "My father couldn't work after sustaining several injuries when I was 3, so money was tight."
"What kind of injuries?" asked Ino, "Did you hug him so tightly that you broke some of him ribs?"
Sakura sighed and began to cry anime tears, "Yes…" she said.
"I was just joking…" said Ino.
"My parents tried their best pay Arlong but when I was 10… they couldn't pay anymore… they had enough money to bribe him into not destroying the town and to make sure I had enough…" said Sakura who then began to cry, "I had overheard Nami and Nojiko talking and I waited until Nami got back…"
(Flashback)
Nami and Nojiko were drinking tea.
"So what happened since I was gone?" asked Nami.
Nojiko sighed, "You know the doctor's daughter and her husband…" said Nojiko.
"Yes… what about them… don't tell me that there was another accident involving Sakura's strength…" said Nami.
"Well I guess Arlong didn't tell you but… they couldn't pay up anymore…" said Nojiko.
"What about Sakura?" asked Nami, "She didn't go try to fight Arlong did she…"
"No…" said Nojiko, "But the dr. is taking care of her now… but everyone's sure she might try to fight them… with her strength anything is possible."
That's when the door came flying into the room… it was Sakura who had apparently kicked open the door.
"The door was unlocked…" said Nojiko with a sweat drop.
"Nami!" yelled Sakura.
"Is she going take out her parents death on me?" she thought.
"I want to help you!" cried Sakura.
"What are you talking about?" said Nami.
"I overheard one of your conversations with Nojiko… your trying to buy back the town from Arlong… aren't you?" said Sakura.
Nami was silent, "Please don't get involved…" she said.
"You can't do this alone… no one can…" said Sakura, "If you change your mind I'm going to practice controlling my strength…"
Sakura was about to leave… when Nojiko yelled "Hey! What about my door!"
"Oh… I'm sure Minatomo-San will fix it…" said Sakura.
And with that Sakura left… while Minatomo-San randomly showed up and repaired the door Nami and Nojiko talked.
"Are you going to let her join you?" asked Nojiko.
"I don't know…" said Nami.
"You know… Sakura would help you a lot… and she's knows what you went through…" said Nojiko.
"I don't know…" said Nami.
Something later Nami was watching trying to control her strength… which involved punching boulders.
"I know you're watching me… Nami." said Sakura.
"Hey Forehead…" said Nami jokingly.
"What here to make fun of my forehead…" said Sakura.
"No what I was wondering why people tend to associate your big forehead and not your strength…" said Nami.
Sakura chuckled, "I have no idea especially when I broke my dad's ribs when I was 3… and that time I kicked the book store clerk in the shin calling him a rip-off artist" said Sakura.
"When did you do that?" asked Nami.
"A year after Arlong took over…" said Sakura.
"I see…" said Nami.
"Nami I understand that you don't want any help… but I would really like to help… and I would face off against the Fishmen… but I'm too scared… I'm unsure if I could beat them…" said Sakura.
Nami wasn't sure either, sure Sakura was massively strong and could break boulders with a single punch and has broken many bones with the slightest touch but could she really stand up against Arlong… it was good question who was stronger… it would take a lot of thinking…
"You thinking about whether or not I could beat them…" said Sakura.
"Yeah…" said Nami.
There was silence… then Nami broke it by saying "Tell no one but Nojiko…"
"Nami…" said Sakura who was on the verge of crying.
"I'm only doing this because I'm a little afraid of you…" lied Nami.
"I scare a lot of people…" said Sakura knowing it was a lie.
The truth was Sakura's words of how she couldn't do it alone got to her… and that's how to two became partners.
(Flashback)
"And since we've been a team… my grandfather pays for me but assumes I live in Nojiko's house for some reason… for months at a time" said Sakura.
There was a silence…
"What I can't believe… is that you want them to help out…" said Nojiko, "You know if Arlong finds…"
"I have complete faith in them… and it has nothing to do with my feelings for Sasuke…" said Sakura.
"I heard you like Emo Parrot Boy." said Nojiko laughing.
"Don't call him that!" yelled Sakura she began to blush and calmed down, "I've seen things many times… none of them will give up… even when it looks bleak… that's why I believe in them."
"I see…" said Nojiko quietly who then left the crew alone.
Meanwhile in the middle of Cocoyashi Village, Luffy and Naruto walked along… that's when they saw a group of Marines that was being led by Genzo, the old man that Arlong was threatening earlier… the sheriff of the town who wore a pinwheel on his hat… Both saw him… not paying attention that they were talking about Nami.
"Hey how that guy has pinwheel on his hat…" said Luffy.
"I don't know… but it's cool…" said Naruto.
"You know they were… you know… I think right now... Why do I even try sometimes…" said Kyubi.
The two went to sit around, Luffy was deep in thought while Naruto was having a conversation with Kyubi. After about 20 minutes this is what the conversation lead up to.
"Please?" thought Naruto.
"No… how many times… I won't teach you another trick until after we get to the Grand Line…" said Kyubi.
"Why?" thought Naruto.
"Because you're an idiot…" said Kyubi.
"Well you're a pervert…" thought Naruto.
"No matter what you say I'm not going to teach you anymore tricks until we get to the Grand Line…" said Kyubi.
"Fine…" grumbled Naruto.
That when the sound of gun shot heard though out the air. Shortly after there was a commotion… they saw a commotion and saw Nami among them.
"What's' going on?" asked Naruto.
"I don't know…" said Luffy.
Both walked up to fine Nojiko was wounded and Nami was there.
"Hey Nami!" said Luffy.
"Need help?" asked Naruto.
She grabbed both of them… "What are you still doing here! I want nothing to do with you two idiots!" she yelled, "Get off this island!"
She then literally threw both of them then ran.
"What's her problem?" said Naruto getting up.
"I have no idea…" said Luffy.
"I have a theory…" said Kyubi.
"What?" thought Naruto.
"Well if you noticed the group of Marines were talking about Nami and considering one of was distinctly rat like I wouldn't put it that he was working with Arlong with something… Arlong asked him to do something with Nami, which included shooting her sister… of course I'm missing some bits and pieces because I don't know things about her past but I say my theory is correct…" said Kyubi.
Oddly enough, Kyubi was right, the Marines that passed them were there confiscate Nami's money after being told by Arlong… it was then that Genzo and Nojiko admitted all along and that the whole Village knew… even Sakura played her part, that she knew all along… and sense Nami's money was in the Tangerine Grove that Belle Mere once own things got messy and Nojiko was shot by the Marines.
"Should I tell Luffy?" asked Naruto.
"Oh yeah…" said Kyubi.
Naruto him Kyubi's theory and Luffy thought about it.
"Makes sense…" said Luffy, "But why does it feel like we're missing some things…"
"Because we are… if he had listened to the story… then maybe we wouldn't!" yelled Kyubi.
"Okay, okay…" grumbled Naruto.
Sometime later, the two brothers began to look around again when they saw Nami… stabbing her tattoo… Luffy ran up to stop her.
What are you two doing here! You don't know anything!" she yelled.
"Your right! We don't!" said Luffy.
"This has nothing to with you!" she yelled.
"As long as I say they do!" yelled a voice.
Nami turned around and saw Sakura crying.
"I know you better than anyone else! You want their help but you're too stubborn to admit it!" cried Sakura, "You've wanted their help from the start but you were too afraid…"
"Sakura…" said Nami.
"I may be too afraid to fight Arlong! One of the reasons why I might put my trust in them might be because of Sasuke! But I believe they can do it! And you should too! You can't do this alone… no one can…" said Sakura.
Nami was silently crying then turned to Luffy, "She's right… Please… help…"
Luffy said nothing but his hat on her head.
"Okay!" he yelled.
Naruto said nothing but just smirked while Nami remembered all about the hat.
For some reason or another, the rest of the crew was there as well.
"I have a good question… when did they get there… no… seriously there are some minor plot holes here." said Kyubi.
"Let's go!" said Luffy.
"Right!" said all of the guys while Ino and Sakura went up to Nami to help her.
And with that the fight with Arlong's crew began.
Next Time: The crew faces off agaisnt Arlong's crew, Luffy does something extremely stupid that lands him under water, Zoro faces off agaisnt the idiot Octopus that helped, Usopp runs away from Chew, Sanji fights Kuroobi and Kiba, Sausage, Akamaru and Naruto face off Against Kisame who's a clone user! However Kisame's sword provides a problems for the Clones Users as his sword can absorb Chi! What will happen? Find out next Time!