Chapter 314: Zoro's Sacrifice

The bomb went off, it was a fire explosion, but it was still powerful. So much that knocked down the remainder of the mast.

Many people were unconscious.

Kuma decided to take advantage of it and grab Luffy.

However Zoro was still conscious and managed to attack Kuma.

However when he did he noticed something. He managed to cut open his shoulder, however instead of a bloody wound it was machinery.

"What the!" yelled Zoro then he realized what was going on, "You're a cyborg, like Franky. He's even harder than iron."

That was when he opened his mouth, and shot out a strange beam.

It was about to Zoro but something grabbed him before it could hit.

Zoro was shocked.

He saw the beam that melted a piece of iron that nearby.

"How did I get away…" said Zoro.

That was when he noticed the sand.

HE turned to see Gaara breathing heavily.

Gaara was surrounded by the remains of a sand cocoon.

"Of course." Sighed Zoro.

Gaara nodded.

"Gaara of the Desert." Said Kuma, "The son of the late 4th Kazekage and current holder of the Ichibi. However you have no control over your abilities unlike Fox D. Naruto…"

Gaara only glared at him.

"What are you?" asked Zoro turning the conversation away from Gaara.

"You could say I'm a Cyborg but I'm nothing like your friend Franky. I am called a Pacifista. I am the government's human weapon. But I'm not complete."

"A Pacifista?" asked Zoro.

Gaara on the other hand noticed the line "Not yet compete" getting a bad feeling from that sentence.

"I was created by the World Government's Resident Guinness Doctor Vegapunk." Said Kuma, "His Scientific Process is said to be 500 years ahead of the rest of the world."

Gaara didn't respond to this… after all it sounded terrifying.

Zoro however was shaking.

The combination of all he went during the night was taking his. He was shaking.

"A body like that combined with a Devil Fruit… I'm starting to run out of hope." Said Zoro.

Gaara looked at Zoro.

"I'm starting to run out of hope." Said Zoro.

"What are you saying?" asked Gaara.

"My body won't listen to me…" said Zoro, "So the only way you'll leave in peace is if you take Luffy's head?"

"That is the ultimate compromise." Said Kuma.

"I understand." Said Zoro, "That's why I'm going to give a head in exchange."

Gaara's eyes widened knowing who's head he was going to give.

"But there's a catch, take my head instead!" said Zoro.

There was a silence.

"I'm not as a famous as Luffy, but if you consider that some day I would have been the world's strongest sword's man it can't be too much of a loss…" said Zoro.

"You have that much ambition? Asked Kuma.

However Gaara wasn't having any of it.

"Stop!" yelled Gaara, "Take mine instead of his!"

"Gaara! Shut up!" yelled Zoro.

"This is all my fault!" yelled Gaara, "Take mine instead!"

Kuma appeared by Gaara and pushed the air near him. The sand protected him. However there was a large dent that was paw shaped.

"I saw what happened earlier." Said Kuma, "It wouldn't surprise me if your demon will put all of his effort in protecting it's host."

Gaara only shook.

"Gaara is understandable why he would give up his life… yet you… why?" asked Kuma.

"Its' the only thing… what good is my ambition if I can't protect my captain." Said Zoro, "Luffy is the man who will be king of the pirates!"

Gaara stared at Zoro and gritted his teeth.

That was when Sanji managed to get up.

"Not so fast!" said Sanji, "You're right about Luffy! What about your dream?"

Zoro just glared at Sanji.

"Right now the Marines don't take me seriously, but mark my words. If you don't take me then I'm causing more trouble than the rest of these put together, that's right Black Leg Sanji…" said Sanji.

"Sanji… you won't be able to dissuade him…" said Gaara.

Sanji glared at Gaara.

"If I could do I would…" said Gaara, "Zoro's reached the point of no return."

"No he hasn't!" yelled Sanji.

"Will you all shut up!" yelled Naruto who was also awake.

They all turned to Naruto.

"Naruto…" said Zoro.

"Zoro… didn't you tell Luffy that if he prevented you from reaching your dreams that he would have to kill himself?" asked Naruto.

Zoro looked at Naruto and started laughing.

"I almost forgot about it…" said Zoro.

Both of them looked at Zoro.

"So much has changed…" said Zoro.

"It has." Sighed Naruto.

"I even forgot about that…" sighed Kyubi.

Naruto sighed.

"I'm not going to let you…" said Kyubi.

"I know… if Shukaku isn't letting Gaara do it then how are you going to let me do it…" thought Naruto.

Naruto once again sighed.

"Zoro's already volunteered first…" said Naruto, "He has to the be one."

"Naruto! Are you crazy!" yelled Sanji.

Zoro managed to walk over to Sanji and jab Sanji in the gut.

Sanji fell unconscious due to his wounds.

Zoro also tossed his swords on the ground.

"I'm a man of my word." Said Zoro, "Now it's your turn."

"If I lay a hand on Straw Hat I'd be put to shame…" said Kuma.

"Any man of his honor would…" muttered Zoro.

That was when Kuma picked up Luffy.

"Very well, I will not take Straw Hats life today…" said Kuma, "But in exchange I will give you a glimpse of hell."

He pushed a strange bubble out of Luffy. It was massive.

"What I just exacted is pain and suffering." Said Kuma.

"That… he can do that…" said Kyubi at a loss for words.

"This is the sum total of the anguish inflicted on him by Moria and his band. If you are truly taking his place then you must take his agony." Said Kuma, "You are near death yourself so it will be impossible for you to withstand it."

Kuma knocked away a smaller bubble of it.

"Have a taste." Said Kuma.

The bubble went into Zoro's chest.

Zoro immediately started to scream in pain and coughing up blood. He fell the ground wheezing.

"Well?" asked Kuma.

"Just let me change the location so these two don't have to see it." Said Zoro.

Zoro went into the forest to do it.

Naruto and Gaara both waited for the others to wake up.

Both of them were grieving with out saying anything.

However Kyubi would often bring up.

"He's not dead yet…"

Both Naruto didn't respond to that.

Soon enoguh the others woke up.

"So is everyone alive?" asked Naruto putting on a fake smile.

Hinata noticed the fake smile.

"Where's Kuma?" asked Kiba.

"He just decided to leave." lied Gaara.

"Oh wow! I'm good as new! Look!" said Luffy noticing he wasn't in pain.

"Seriously!" yelled Sakura, "How can you be like that?"

"Liar!" yelled Usopp, "There's no way you would be fine after all that!"

Sanji of course didn't buy it.

He decided to go look for Zoro.

"Wait! Sanji!" said Naruto.

"Wait now you're worried about him?" asked Sanji.

"Of course I'm worried about him!" yelled Naruto, "I would have done it but Kyubi would have found a way around it!"

Sanji glared at him.

"Every decision I tired to make only made things worse…" said Naruto.

Sanji looked at Naruto.

"I couldn't do anything…" said Naruto.

Sanji sighed.

"Let's go find him." Muttered Sanji.

They found Zoro standing.

"He's still alive." Said Kyubi, "As I said four or five times already."

However both of them saw that Zoro was covered in blood.

Sanji was freaking out because he didn't know all the details but Naruto said nothing. He just gritted his teeth and sighed.

Hopefully things will turn out all right… right?

Next Time: The crew celebrates the defeat of Moria... however Gaara and Naruto are both depressed. Will they be able to work out their issues. Find out next time!