A/N: I have a big announcement to make... and it's not a celebration announcement. For the next couple weeks I will be going on vacation! I'm going to Tokyo with my mom! So the next couple weeks I wont' be doing any fanfics... I'm leaving on Tuesday but it will be a few days to prepare and I come back November 4th, but I will need to rest a couple days because of my disabilities... This fic is probably going to be the one I will write when I come back and I'll tell you about my trip then... oh and also be happy or angry for the Election results (I really hope McCain loses!) Anyways enjoy the chapter and wish me a good trip!
Chapter 82: Fire and Wind
Most of the Straw Hats were getting ready for bed that night. After all they needed rest for the journey the next day.
"All right let's get to bed!" said Usopp who then tried to fall asleep.
That's when Zoro threw a pillow at him because he passed out in the desert, then he threw on back and for some reason at his brother.
"What the hell was that for!" yelled Kiba who missed and hit Naruto.
"A pillow war you want, eh?" he asked as he went into his half demon form… at the same time Sanji and Chopper were dragged into it and it became full scale.
"Naruto! Stop using your tails like hands!" yelled Usopp.
"Make me!" yelled Naruto.
A pillow hit Vivi in the face but she just laughed it off.
Outside Luffy was helping Toto dig… further outside the mysterious figure watched.
"Tonight's going to be a tough choice for them… I really hope they choose to fight them… because they're the only one I know that can save him…" thought the mysterious figure.
Meanwhile the Baroque Works Members and the children of the Kazekage they were sitting in a room with a long table… Mr. 2 was once again dancing annoying half the people there…
"You know I think you should stop." Said Temari.
"But I'm just killing time until the boss arrived." Said Mr. 2
"If you continue that then that won't be the only thing killed." Muttered Kankuro.
Gaara was drumming on his arm, he was getting more and more inpatient.
That's when Ms. All Sunday arrived.
"It's good to see you all here… and welcome Gaara, Temari and Kankuro." Said Ms. All Sunday, "I assume you all know their father."
That's when the Kazekage entered the room, "It's a pleasure to the meet you all." Said the Kazekage who then froze at the sight of two of the agents, it's known who they were but he did think one thing, "Why are they here? Are they spying on Crocodile… or do they know about my dealing with him?"
"So why would the Kazekage get involved in this?" asked Ms. Double Finger.
"That's what I want to know." Said Mr. 6.
"The boss is an old friend… I saved his life when I was young and he saved my life… when we were younger we were the best of friends." Said the Kazekage.
"Where the fuck are we?" asked Ms. Mother's Day.
"You took the back roads so it's no wonder you don't know where we are. We're in Rainbase, the town where many people hope to find fortune... we're in the tallest building in town Rain Dinners." Explained Ms. All Sunday.
"Let's get started already!" yelled Ms. Merry Christmas.
"Hold on… we have to introduce you all to my old friend." Said the Kazekage.
"Until now I acted as the boss' face and mouth piece but that's no longer necessary." Said Ms. All Sunday.
"That's right…" came a voice.
That's a chair at the end spun around revealing Crocodile, the members of the Baroque Works with the expect of Mr. 6 were shocked.
"I see you recognize him." Said Ms. All Sunday.
"That's some VIP that just showed up." Said Ms. Merry Christmas.
"Recognize him! He's one of the 7 War Lords of the Sea!" yelled Ms. Double Finger.
"What fucking hell is going on here!" yelled Ms. Mother's Day.
"We're henchmen to a pirate!" yelled Mr. 2.
"You're our boss!" yelled Mr. 1.
"I'm the only one who put together the pieces aren't I?" asked Mr. 6 with a sweat drop.
"Are you disappointed? Expect for Mr. 6… how did you figure it out?" asked Crocodile.
"For one thing, my mentor is a high ranked clone user and he taught me lot about the Kage's history including you and Lord Kazekage here were the best of friends when you were younger… that you own Rain Dinners…" said Mr. 6.
"He's right if there's an evil meeting in a casino it's always the owner who's hosting it." Said Kankuro with a laugh.
Temari stepped on his foot and muttered, "We already knew who he was… don't joke around like that."
Crocodile sighed, "I'm not interested in Money or Status… what I want is military might."
"Military might?" asked Mr. 1.
And so Crocodile revealed it… which won't be said for now…
"Is that really in this kingdom?" asked Mr. 2 who looked interested.
"So this was the final goal we've been working for all along?" asked Mr. 1.
"Correct, that since the very begging of Baroque Works everything we've done was in preparation for this." Said Crocodile, "Time has come for Alabasta to disappear."
"Wait! If that's your goal, why can't you just find it and take over an island no one will miss? Why do you have make so many people suffer?" asked Temari.
"Temari… clam down…" said the Kazekage in angry tone.
Temari gritted her teeth, "Yes father…" she said.
Before each member of Baroque Works was a piece of paper… they read it and it held their instructions…they began to read them then they brined them.
"When your missions have been carried out the rebels and citizens will fall under Baroque Works. In a single night, this kingdom will become out utopia." Said Crocodile, "This is Baroque Work's ultimate plan, Operation Utopia. Failure is not an option. We begin at 7 o'clock in the morning."
"Right." said almost everyone at the table.
"I pray for your success." Said Crocodile.
Meanwhile in Yuba, it was morning and the Straw Hats were preparing to leave.
"I'm sorry you had to see this sight Princess." Said Toto.
"You have to apologize." Said Vivi.
Toto turned to Luffy and handed him a small barrel.
"Here Luffy… thanks to you I was able to find damp sand. I was able to extract it." Said Toto.
"Thank you, I don't know what that means but I'll drink it extra slowly." Said Luffy.
"Lucky…" mumbled Naruto.
"Maybe if you helped him dig then you would have water as well…" said Kyubi.
"But I owned the pillow fight last night." Thought Naruto.
"Got me there." Said Kyubi.
And so they headed into the desert, when they got to a tree, Luffy sat down unmoving.
"Luffy, what's wrong?" asked Vivi.
"I quit." Said Luffy.
"What!" yelled almost everyone else.
Back at the HQ of Baroque Works, someone no one would expect showed up.
"Operation Utopia, can you wait a minute?" asked Mr. 3 (dun dun dun!)
"Mr. 3, how did you get into our underground base?" asked Ms. All Sunday.
"Mr. 3, how did you get here! I was instructed to kill you!" yelled Mr. 2.
Mr. 2 was about to do something when Crocodile stopped him.
"I didn't sneak up on any one, I hitched a ride with Bunchy." Said Mr. 3.
"How is that not sneaking around?" asked Kankuro.
Mr. 3 stared at the older son of the Kazekage and shook his head.
"I came here to ask for another chance since I failed in my mission." Said Mr. 3, "I had figured that since I failed in my mission that you would send Mr. 2 after me so I headed to the rendezvous point at Spider's Café."
"Weren't you able to complete your mission?" asked Crocodile.
"The Straw Hats and the Princess got away." Said Mr. 3.
"They got away! They're still alive!" yelled Crocodile, "What did you tell me on the Snail Phone, you told me you took care of them!"
"What are you talking about, I never got a message on the Snail Phone." Said Mr. 3.
That's when Crocodile realized something that it wasn't him on the phone.
"So that's why the Unluckies never returned…" sighed Crocodile as he lit a cigar, "But you got rid of a few of them at least, right?"
"Um… well…" said Mr. 3.
"What?" asked Crocodile.
"The information was faulty! There were more of them! Some guy with a long nose, a girl with super strength, someone who could possess people and some kid! Not only that but one of them was said to possessed by some sort of demon and they seemed to be okay with it." Said Mr. 3 in a panic.
"A demon?" thought the Kazekage.
"Why you…" muttered Crocodile.
"What's going on!" yelled Mr. 2.
That's when they were showed the pictures of the Straw Hats.
"I know them…" said Mr. 2.
"What!" said Crocodile.
"I met them on my way here." Said Mr. 2 who then showed everyone who he met, "And Ms. Wednesday is our Princess Vivi! Are you saying they're our enemies?"
"That's right they know my identity. They must be death before they interfere with my plan." Said Crocodile.
"Interesting." Said the Kazekage grabbing Naruto's picture, "He looks just like him…" he thought.
"So you were correct… there's more pirates as well as an animal." Said Crocodile, "We won't count the animal as that's just a pet, that makes 11. Mr. 2 make pictures of their faces."
"But boss, I'll deal with them." Said Mr. 3.
"Shut up you brainless fool!" shouted Crocodile as he began to choke him… when he did… Mr. 3 began to dry up.
"What's going on!" yelled Temari.
"This is seriously fucked up!" yelled Ms. Mother's Day.
Gaara had another crazed smile on his face…
When Crocodile was all done, Mr. 3 was crying for water.
"I'll give you water." Said Crocodile pressing a button and Mr. 3 fell through a trap door, Crocodile signaled a Bananagator when went into the room that Mr. 3 fell into… and ate him whole!
"You know… you could have just had Gaara kill him instead of using those traps. It would have been a good way to show his skills." Said the Kazekage.
"Then he probably would have gotten blood everywhere, I've seen how he kills." Said Crocodile.
Not too long later they took pictures of Mr. 2 disguised as the Straw Hats and Crocodile was showing them.
"Burn these into your memory… they want to stop the reliant." Said Crocodile.
"One more thing I learned when I met them." Said Mr. 2.
"What!" yelled Crocodile.
"The blonde kid… the boy… he's a fox half demon that can transform into anyone." Said Mr. 2.
Crocodile was shocked… "How is that even possible!" he yelled.
"I knew it!" said the Kazekage.
"Knew what?" asked Ms. All Sunday.
"The looks were a dead giveaway… but Mr. 3 said one of them was possessed by a demon and Mr. 2 said himself he's part fox demon! It's too perfect!" said the Kazekage, "Gaara, you must kill him no matter what! I'm sure your mother would love his blood."
Gaara had an even more creepy smile than before…
Crocodile smirked, "Then he's like your son?"
"Yes! The 4th Hokage got what was coming to him…" said the Kazekage with a laugh.
(Flashback)
14 years before, the Kazekage who was not wearing the veil he wore in the modern day and was man with brown hair was in a tent with Namikaze D. Minato in a tent somewhere. 8 perches were on a desk, each had a mark on them that stood for one of the Kages, a drop of water (Mizukage), a wavy line (Namikage), a lightning bolt (Raikage), a rock (Tsuchikage), several dots (Yukikage), a crescent moon (Tsukikage), a star (Hoshikage) and a music note (Otokage).
"They should be here any second." Said Minato.
"I don't see what the problem is." Said the Kazekage.
"You killed you wife so that your son can be a weapon." Said Minato.
"So…" said the Kazekage.
"Do you know how awful that." Said Minato.
"So what… as long I have the power who cares." Said Kazekage.
"You could be the first to lose your title." Said Minato, "The other Kages I talked to were shocked at what you did."
"What about Orochimaru?" asked the Kazekage.
"He doesn't count!" said Minato.
"Who know… he's a swing vote, his vote is the only that matters after all it's his choice whether we have change or 4 more years of the same thing!" said the Kazekage.
"What?" asked Minato.
"What?" asked the Kazekage.
That's when 8 birds of prey landed on the perches, each one had a note tied to their leg and Minato began to read them… the first 7 were for disgracing him.
"It's the last vote." Said Minato.
"And it's Orochimaru's vote." Said the Kazekage.
Minato took the note and sighed, "Well Lord Kazekage. You keep your title." He said as he read it, "Orochimaru voted to keep you in."
The Kazekage laughed, "You know Karma is a bitch." Said the Kazekage.
"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Minato.
"I mean is that I have the feeling something will happen and you will have to make the same choice I made…" said the Kazekage.
The 4th Hokage glared at the Kazekage, "I will never go that road! I will never create a Jinchuriki!"
The Kazekage laughed as he left the tent, "You were the one to bring up this vote so who knows, after all Yellow Flash, you're only human." He said as he left.
(End of Flashback)
The Kazekage began to laugh, "I called it, the Yellow Flash died creating a Jinchuriki…" said the Kazekage.
"What is a Jinchuriki?" asked Mr. 1.
"Sacrifices… new born babies with demons sealed within them. Not just any demons, the 9 Biju." Said Mr. 6, "However in order to this another sacrifice must be made, someone… must die."
"My son Gaara is the Jinchuriki of the Ichibi no Shukaku the one tailed raccoon dog… the sand demon that roamed many deserts and claimed his island as it's home. And that boy is the holder of the Kyubi no Yoko, the 9 tailed Demon Fox, the king of the 9 demons." Said the Kazekage.
"The 4th Hokage died to seal the fox in a baby to protect a small village while the Kazekage killed his pregnant wife so her unborn child could become a the weapon you see here." Said Mr. 6.
Gaara glared at Mr. 6 who began to laugh nervously.
"That is why those two must face each other… as a last resort… Gaara I'm sure is much stronger than that punk… even though I heard he ate his demon's fruit." Said The Kazekage.
"Unless the Raikage gets involved…" muttered Temari under her breath.
"I heard that Temari…" said the Kazekage, "I just hope she's not on my trail…" he thought.
"Now if we get back on topic…" said Crocodile.
"Wait… there's something I don't get." Said Mr. 2, "How can the Princess stop the rebellion?"
"I've learned that Kohza the reliant leader and the Princess were childhood friends. They can't defeat them militarily but should she get near them. Then it might soften their hearts. We cannot allow them to meet." Said Crocodile, "Some of my billions have infiltrated the rebels. They're biding their time wafting to act, Vivi must not meet with the rebel forces."
"As you wish." Said Ms. All Sunday.
"Now all of you go. You'll be late for the party. This is the eve of out utopia, nothing must thwart it. Now go." Said Crocodile.
"Leave it us boss." Said Ms. Double Finger.
"We'll take care of it!" said Mr. 2.
"Those asshole pirates won't stand a chance." Said Ms. Mother's Day.
"Have fun." Said Crocodile.
Back in the desert everyone gathered around Luffy.
"What do you mean you quit?" asked Sasuke.
"We don't have time you be laying around! We have to go!" yelled Ino.
"You're going back, right?" asked Luffy.
"Of course we're going back. We have to stop the rebels. Otherwise this whole county's going to explode in bloodshed. This is for Vivi now let's go!" yelled Sanji.
"It's boring!" said Luffy.
"Hmmm… so that's his game…" said Kyubi.
"What do you mean?" thought Naruto.
"Well I guess you can finally say I gained a tiny silver of respect for him… not by much… very tiny…" said Kyubi.
"Vivi…" said Luffy.
"Yes…" answered Vivi.
"I want to kick Crocodile's ass." Said Luffy, "Stopping the rebels won't stop crocodile. There's nothing we can do in that place. There's nothing we can do to stop them."
The others stared at them.
"Wow… that… made sense." Said Sakura with a sweat drop.
"That's Luffy." Said Usopp.
"I'm going to side with Luffy on this one." Said Naruto.
"Big surprise." Said Kiba rolling his eyes.
"But…" said Vivi.
"you think you stop the rebels without anyone getting killed? That none of us and your people killed. We're fighting one the 7 War Lords of the Sea and a million people itching for a fight. That's Naïve!" explained Luffy.
"Shut up Luffy! Of course Vivi cares about her people" yelled Nami.
"Stop… she needs to hear this." Said Naruto.
"What's wrong about that! What's wrong with not wanting people to die?" asked Vivi.
"Because people die." Answered Luffy.
That's when Vivi punched Luffy in the face.
"Shut up! Don't' say things like that! Say that again and you'll be sorry!" I'm trying to stop the rebels and the Royal army! No in the country is guilty! Why must my people die! It's all Crocodile's fault!" cried Vivi.
That's when Luffy punched back, "Then why are you risking your own life!" yelled Luffy.
"Luffy stop!" yelled Usopp.
"That idiot just crossed a line..." said Kyubi.
"Even I can see what needs to be done!" cried Vivi who jumped onto Luffy and began to wail on him.
"You can't do it all by yourself!" shouted Luffy.
"I have to!" shouted Vivi, "I don't care what it costs me!"
"Then let us help you! We're your friends aren't we?" shouted Luffy.
That's when Vivi stopped she began to cry.
"The truth is that you want to kick his butt more than anyone, right?" asked Luffy.
Everything became silent… as Nami and Ino comforted the Princess… Luffy broke it by saying, "Okay… where is Crocodile?"
But before anyone could answer there was the sound of clapping. Everyone turned to where it came from, and the mysterious figure who had been watching them was the one clapping.
"I've been watching you for a long time. I didn't want to approach you until you made the right choice." Said the figure who sounded female.
"You were the one following us weren't you?" asked Zoro preparing his swords.
"I just said I been watching you for a long time…" said the figure with a sweat drop, "I promised myself that if you went back to find the rebels I wouldn't approach you… but since you're going after Crocodile, I decided it's time and help you."
"You know about Crocodile?" asked Ino.
"Yes I do… I found a long time ago… when Baroque Works was first formed…" said the figure, "But I knew I couldn't do it alone… even if I am a clone user."
"Who are you?" asked Zoro.
The figure removed her hood it was a young woman with sandy blonde hair tied into a tight loose pony tail on her forehead was a clone user's head band that looked like many puddles or clouds or something, her most distinguishing feature was her eyes were slanted like a cat's.
"Kit, you sense that?" asked Kyubi.
"Yes… I do… is she?" thought Naruto.
"Yes… yes she is…" answered Kyubi.
Whoever this woman was only one thing for certain is, Naruto knew in some way. Only time will tell how…
Next Time: the mysterious woman turns out not only to be a Kage... but the Kage Naruto always wanted to meet! Will Naruto be able to stay calm and not be in fan boy mode... knowing him probably not. And why did Naruto want to meet her so badly in the first place? Meanwhile Vivi's father gets the message on who's behind everything... and Ino's father learns that daughter is alive! What will happen? Find out next time!