Chapter 348: Rayleigh Can't Help

Rayleigh was the first mate of Gold Roger. Of course he would have the skill to fight an admiral.

And of course Kizaru also recognized him.

"So the rumors were true." Said Kizaru, "I heard you might have been on this island… To think you're defending these greenhorns. I guess once a pirate always a pirate."

"If only you people would react the bounty on my head, then I could live in peace." Said Rayleigh.

"Your crimes as a pirate won't disappear, especially since you were a member of the roger pirates." Said Kizaru, "If we tried to capture you we would have to prepare for it."

The straw hats on the other hand were breathing a sigh of relief.

"Thank goodness Zoro…" cried Usopp.

Gaara breathed a sigh of relief but still looked at the wounded swordsman.

"Can you just let them go?" asked Rayleigh.

"Give me a break, I have to catch them for the Celestial Dragons! Please don't interfere." Said Kizaru.

"Gaara! Usopp! Take Zoro and run!" yelled Luffy.

"Let's go Gaara!" yelled Usopp grabbing Zoro's barely conscious body.

Gaara didn't say anything as he grabbed the swords.

"Everybody! Run away! Right now! Take care of yourselves! WE can't beat them!" yelled Luffy.

And so they did.

Franky decided to try to do a Coup De Vent for one final attack.

"That's a really bad idea!" scolded Sakura.

"She's right!" said Isaribi.

"I can' get more cola later!" yelled Franky.

The attack knocked away the Kuma duplicate and he, Sakura and Isaribi all ran away.

"RUN!" he yelled.

"Thanks Old man!" yelled Luffy to Rayleigh.

As they ran away however Kizaru deicide to use his Devil Fruit to get to them.

However thankfully Rayleigh did something to prevent him from getting there, however the two of them began to fight with swords, with Rayleigh taking out a sword from somewhere and Kizaru making his own from his powers.

A light saber if you will…

"Now's not the time to making jokes like this!" yelled Kyubi.

Sigh… fine…

Naruto's eye twitched at that, but didn't say anything because it really wasn't the time to be dealing with Kyubi's antics.

"This is terrible." Muttered Kizaru, "I never thought the situation would be this serious when I came here."

"Confusion is what life is about Kizaru." Mused Rayleigh.

Meanwhile with Zoro's group.

"The old man saved us again." Sighed Usopp.

Gaara nodded.

"So that's the Dark King. I never expected him to be able to stop Kizaru." Muttered Sentomaru, "PX-1! Go after Roronoa! He's dying!"

"This is bad! He's going after Usopp!" yelled Sanji.

"Go after him then!" yelled Kiba.

Sanji nodded, "You and your mutt take care of Nami."

"And you save my idiot brother!" yelled Kiba while the transformed Akamaru nodded in agreement.

As the group ran away from the duplicate. Zoro realized something.

"Put me down." He said.

"What?" asked Usopp.

"I'll help you guys escape." Said Zoro.

"You're more useless than I am right now." Said Usopp.

"It will be fine." Said Gaara.

He once again jumped in front of them protecting them.

"Go on without me." Said Gaara.

Usopp wanted to fight, but Gaara was one of the strongest fighters. It made sense for him to fight the strange robotic duplicate.

Gaara created a shield of stand however the robotic duplicate hit the shield with its mouth beam turning the sand into glass.

Gaara glared at the robotic duplicate but thankfully Sanji kicked it in the back.

"Get out of here you morons!" yelled Sanji.

He counited to fight off the duplicate but it was clear it was a losing battle even with Gaara helping him fight.

And that was when the duplicate shot Sanji with the hand beam.

Luffy was watching the fights, Sanji was not that injuries thankfully but the fights weren't going well.

Especially with Sentomaru fighting him.

"You should be paying attention to this fight." Said Sentomaru, "I don't even need my axe to fight you."

He struck Luffy with an attack, called Sumo Strike.

"You bastard!" yelled Naruto going into full demon form.

However Sentomaru was able to throw even the full demon Naruto away.

Chopper watched everything in horror. Sanji got hit by the beam, Usopp also got hit by the beam.

"No"! screamed Chopper, "Everyone's going to die!"

He ran towards the fighting.

"Chopper! Please stop!" cried Hinata.

That was when he placed a rumble ball in his mouth.

And as he had already taken two within the last six hours, he turned to his monster form.

"No…" whimpered Sakura having heard about it.

"We have to get out of here." Said Robin.

Robin picked up Luffy with Fu following him and Hinata went to go rescue Naruto.

As Chopper in his monster form began to rampage.

Back with Usopp, Gaara and Sanji.

Gaara had reconstituted his sand.

"Sanji… you have to get up." Said Usopp.

"He's going to attack again." Said Gaara.

"Wait PX-!." Said a voice.

They all turned and saw Kuma… however the way he held himself and the fact he held onto a bible meant one things.

It was the real Kuma.

"There's another one I can't take any more." Said Usopp.

"That's the real one." Muttered Gaara.

"What!" yelled Usopp freaking out, "Are you sure!"

"I remained conscious after everything." Said Gaara.

Usopp paled remembering something.

Kuma approached Zoro, who couldn't move away.

"So you're still alive Roronoa." Said Kuma.

"Yes, thanks to your benevolence." Said Zoro.

"Are you going to kill him now that you know he's alive." Said Gaara.

However Kuma didn't answer.

"Roronoa Zoro if you were to go on a trip. Where would you want to go." Said Kuma.

Zoro just looked at the War Lord not answering.

That was when Kuma hit Zoro with his hand.

The swords man completely disappeared.

Sasuke's group looked on terror.

"No…" whispered Ino.

Book was shaking.

While Sasuke was gripping his neck.

Luffy had seen what happened in shock and horror.

"Zoro!" he yelled, "Zoro!"

And Zoro was merely the first of the crew to get that treatment.

Next Time: One by one Kuma makes the Straw Hats disappear... expect in one case where two of them manage to disappear together. What is going on? And will they be able to recover? Find out next time!