A/N: Final chapter of the arc, next chapter the Davy Back Fight Arc... I'm planning for a major change that's going to be so much fun! Enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 202: Sasuke's Lament

Luffy managed to get Zoro (who while injured was well enough to walk) to carry Sasuke, while he carried Naruto.

"So do you think knocked some sense into him?" asked Luffy.

"I hope so." Said Zoro.

Luffy sighed… he had hoped so too.

Meanwhile on the deck of the Going Merry, the rest of the crew had finally arrived to see the damage. The mast was tumbled over and there were massive amounts of sand damage everywhere.

'What… what just happened!" yelled Usopp.

"Don't ask." Answered Gaara.

"Where are the others?" asked Nami.

"They went into the ship." Explained Robin.

"Should we go look for them?" asked Hinata.

That was when they saw Luffy and Zoro showing up.

"So you beat some sense into him." Said Kiba.

"Hopefully." Said Luffy.

"We need to dock here for the time being." Said Nami.

"What why?" asked Luffy.

"One of our hostages will be brutally honest about Orochimaru's real purpose." Said Sakura.

"What do you mean?" asked Luffy.

In the galley which was being used like a makeshift infirmary, they had a tied up Tayuya explain it to Luffy, Zoro, Gaara and Robin.

"You're not lying are you?" asked Gaara.

"Why the fuck would I lie?" asked Tayuya, "The moment I realized I was going to lose to Sakura I decided to just fuck it and tell them that Orochimaru was using him as a new little toy to fuck around with his brother."

"What? Really? Why?" asked Luffy.

"Because Orochimaru and his brother are enemies." Said Tayuya, "Simple as that."

"Is that true?" asked Sasuke who was apparently awake.

"Why the fuck would I be lying? I know what you're going though, that seal fucks with your mind." Said Tayuya.

"Is why you swear?" asked Sakura.

"Shut the fuck up. He heard everything so let me go." Said Tayuya.

"Fine." Said Luffy.

They untied Tayuya and she packed up the other members of the Sound 5 and put them on the ship and sailed away.

Sasuke could tell she wasn't lying… All he could do was stare up at the ceiling in shock.

He was so stupid.

Naruto had just woke up.

"What going on?" asked Naruto.

"You missed something important." Said Luffy.

"By the way, can I have something to eat?" asked Naruto.

Everyone sweat dropped when he said that.

The next few days Naruto and Sasuke recovered in the men's cabin. Hinata helped Naruto though his recovery. But Sasuke was surprised that neither Sakura or Ino tried to help. Sasuke remained mostly silent until one day when he and Naruto were alone.

"How's your shoulder?" asked Sasuke.

"Should be fine in a few more days." Said Naruto.

"How?" asked Sasuke who flinched, "Never mind stupid question."

"How are you?" asked Naruto.

"Could be better." Said Sasuke.

"You're regretting what happened… aren't you?" asked Naruto.

Sasuke sighed, "Yeah…" he admitted.

Meanwhile on the island that Orochimaru currently resided.

"I see, they were too much for you." Sighed Orochimaru.

"Even if Tayuya hadn't revealed the truth Sasuke still wouldn't have been to join us." Said Kimimaro.

"I understand." Said Orochimaru, "It's such a shame but alas. Perhaps sometime in the future things may change."

Back at the going Merry, Sakura was watching the see when she heard something behind her fall, she turned to it was Chopper.

"Are you okay?" asked Sakura.

"I'm fine." Said Chopper decided to join her.

"So have you visited Sasuke?" asked Chopper.

"No… not yet…" said Sakura, "Ino said that she was going to give him time."

"I see." Said Chopper.

"I think I might be getting over him." Whispered Sakura.

"What?" asked Chopper.

"It's nothing." Said Sakura.

That night while everyone was asleep Sasuke felt he was enough, so he decided to on the deck and train, he started doing basic sword exercises, Gaara saw him and shrugged, decided not to bother him.

"Isn't it a little too late for that?" asked a voice behind him.

"Isn't it past your bed time?" asked Sasuke to the voice who was Zoro.

The two started to spar, which ended with Zoro winning.

The two sat on the deck talking about everything.

"What did Itachi say to you?" asked Sasuke.

"What?" asked Zoro.

"You've been hiding something." Said Sasuke

Zoro gritted his teeth, indeed he was hiding something. During that time under Itachi's illusion there was a break, a break where Itachi told him everything that was REALLY going on.

"What did he say?" asked Sasuke.

Zoro sighed, "There's something more going on involving with your family." He explained, "He doesn't want you getting involved."

"What do you mean?" asked Sasuke.

Zoro glared at him meaning shut up.

Sasuke smirked, "I'm going to restart my training and get even stronger. I'm going to defeat my brother and make him tell me what's really going on."

Zoro smiled when he said that.

There was a silence…

"Will the crew forgive me?" asked Sasuke.

"What do you mean?" asked Zoro.

"I went nuts." Said Sasuke.

"You have an evil seal on the back of the neck that kicked in hard when you were under stress." Said Zoro, "Luffy and Naruto forgave you least."

Sasuke gritted his teeth, "They'd easily forgive Robin if she betrayed us." He said.

"Everyone went back to rescue you." Said Zoro, "I think they're going to forgive you."

Sasuke looked at his sword, Sasuke remember something from their trip to Rouge Town. "There's a legend that states that all owners will try to betray the ones who trust them…"

He did try to betray the crew. But it didn't work.

"Maybe that's why the legend says "try" because it won't always work." Thought Sasuke.

A few days later…

"So are we near the next island?" asked Luffy.

"For the last time I don't know!" yelled Nami.

"Just hit him already." sighed Sasuke.

Nami shrugged and did so… after all it was better than nothing.

That was when Naruto flew out of the Galley and landed on the fixed mast.

"For the last time! I will not make you ramen!" yelled Sanji.

"Oh come on!" yelled Naruto.

Sasuke sighed... he was a member of this crew whether he liked it or not.

But if he truly has to admit it to himself… he did enjoy it. Sure Luffy was an idiot, Naruto was an idiot, but for the past few years he was raised by Zoro and he was an idiot.

The only reason why he left was the cursed seal and stress…

He touched his neck… he knew that he would unconsciously use the cursed seal in the future… he knew it was going to happen.

He smirked, "I'll just have to take it as a challenge." He thought.

He was a brand new Sasuke and he knew it, for better or for worse he was a member of this crew…

"Everyone hold on!" yelled Usopp.

He turned to see giant waves with strange sea monsters with monkey faces.

Even if the ship had a strange habit of getting attacked by the strangest things…

Next Time: The crew manages to get to Long Ring Island an island where plants and animals take on a strange appearance, everything is long! What will happen? Find out next time!