A sudden burst of energy caused Naruto to falter, his gaze falling on his ex teammate and his best friend.

"Sasuke!" Naruto shouted as he saw the Uchiha's body being flung into the sky and falling through the sky moments later.

Naruto couldn't stop himself, his attack completely diminishing into just bursts of air as he went to catch his friend. His arms extended out and he managed to just barely grip the back of his shirt to prevent him from plummeting head first into the ground below. Gliding through the air with Sasuke in his arms was dangerous, but he wouldn't allow all the past years of training to be in vein by letting Sasuke die here.

"Foolish." Kaguya nodded, raising her hand.

Naruto turned back just in time to see a blinding light that was aimed straight at him. In the corner of his mind... Or from somewhere near them, he could swear he heard both Kakashi and Sakura scream out their names before the light overtook his vision and before he could utter a single word, his consciousness was ripped from him.

(Back to their current predicament 3 months before the strawhats reunion)

A certain blonde man and his raven haired friend began falling from the sky, their bodies heading straight for the island below... Later they would thank the god that cursed them that they landed in a secluded area...

An explosion, that is the only way their impact with the ground could be described due to the debris and smoke that came from the gaping hole in the concrete below, both of them somehow still 100% in tact but covered in the destruction their fall caused. Their bodies laid unmoving for a couple of minutes...

"Oh my god...! Oh my god, humans, oh my god!" A high pitched voice whisper yelled, running around the hole.

Suddenly it stopped, and the figure did too. "Oh my god! They're dead! Oh my god! I have to help them! Oh my god!"

A fishman... No, a fishwomen? Mermaid to be exact, stood above the hole, her face coated in sweat when she stared down at the two. 'How did they... Even get here?!'

She shook her head and quickly fetched the two injured boys, she shook both of them to see any signs of them waking, but nothing happened. Freaking out even more she checked for a pulse and found that they were both still alive, much to her surprise.

"Are they monsters?! Oh my god...! I have to treat them!" She flailed around for a bit before making her way towards a weirdly shaped shack.

Finally she sat the boys down on her own bed before going to fetch the necessary supplies to patch them up.

"Okay! I'm so, so, sorry but I have to take your shirts off!" She paused.

"Wait... You can't hear me, right?! Oh my god!" She finally stopped panicking, sweating more than before.

"Alright... I need to calm down... I can do this!" She encouraged herself and began bandaging up the wounds she could find on both Sasuke and Naruto.

(She spent what felt like hours patching the boys up... Panicking and finally cooking food for when they wake up)

Naruto was the first to wake up, sitting up in bed and stretching like he was back in his own apartment... Wait, what?

The ninja suddenly jumped out of bed, his eyes scanning the room... What the hell was this place? He looked around and saw a variety of items that you would usually find at the bottom of the ocean, his eyes widened when he looked down at his bandaged body.

'Had somebody done that...? Did they fix Sasuke up as well? Wait... Sasuke!' Naruto whipped around and his gaze softened at the Uchiha, curled up in the blankets and in a similar condition to his own.

"Oh you're awake!" Naruto quickly took out a kunai and looked towards the source of the voice, scaring the woman in the process.

"Who are you?!" Naruto half yelled, his voice still hoarse.

"Wait! Don't kill me...! I'm sorry! I found you two and, and I bandaged you up, not after freaking out, but I cooked and well you're in my house... and-" She kept ranting, pausing to beg for her life a few times.

"Wait, I'm sorry for scaring you, but you saved us?" Naruto tilted his head.

She stopped ranting and nodded, sweat dropping a little at the blonde. He only nodded and smiled brightly at her, causing her to blush.

"Yosh! Thanks!" Naruto chuckled, sitting back down on the bed and staring at his friend.

"If you don't mind..." She began, setting the tray of food down and sitting across from him and shifting uncomfortably.

"Hm? Oh right, you have questions right? Ask away, I'll answer as best as I can." Naruto sighed, not being able to meet her gaze, deathly worried for his friend.

"How did you two get here?" She blurted out, gasping and covering her mouth.

Naruto chuckled, reaching for a rice cracker? At least that's what it looked like, he bit down on it and chewed slowly, staring at the navy blue ceiling and started thinking... All he could remember was some light and...

"Okay, this is going to sound crazy, but I'm gonna tell you everything that happened and you might not believe me, but I think I'm... we're in a different dimension"

(FLASHBACK)

Naruto could feel his body floating, and he wasn't sure if he was still awake or if he was indeed in the realm of unconsciousness due to the darkness covering his vision.

"Naruto... Naruto?" The blonde's eyes widened at the familiar voice and he immediately shot up, if he was capable of doing so in the first place.

"Sasuke! You're alive!" Naruto laughed, hugging the raven haired male.

Sasuke grumbled but returned the hug and sighed softly. "Yeah, thanks to you dobe."

Naruto chuckled. "Of course! I'm stronger so it makes sense!" Naruto chuckled when the Uchiha deadpanned.

"Enough!" They both turned to the voice, assuming a fighting stance when they saw Kaguya.

"Calm down, I'm not here to hurt you, frankly I'm willing to give you a fresh start... Some more than others." She eyed Sasuke, making him shift uncomfortable under her stern gaze.

"What do you mean?" Naruto unconsciously stepped in front of Sasuke protectively.

"I'm sending you to a universe, far from our own, I've seen the future and it doesn't look good for either of you, therefore I'm willing, as the reincarnations of my sons to give you a second chance." She stated, smiling sadly.

"Wait! What if we don't want to?" Naruto felt goosebumps on his skin when her eyes narrowed.

"You don't have a choice, I'm willing to put you together, so you can fight together and truly be the friends you claim to be, but that is all. You will have to learn about the world yourselves, you will have to survive on your own and make new friends." She stated blandly, not caring at the protests coming from the blonde.

Naruto only stopped when Sasuke grabbed his wrists, forcing him to meet his gaze. Naruto shivered, seeing the look in Sasuke's eyes, he could see all too well that the other didn't want to go back, despite his claim he didn't want to go back to the village that killed his brother and he knew that.

"Sasuke..." Sasuke shook his head when Naruto spoke.

"I don't even know when I'll see you again, so I'm just gonna get this over with."

"I'm sorry Naruto, and you really are my only friend, but we have to go, they don't need us anymore... The world is cruel I know but its for the best..." Sasuke bit his lip, feeling a tickle in the back of his throat, bile itching to come up.

Naruto opened his mouth but the words died down when he saw how sure his friend was and then he nodded.

"Okay. We'll do it, as long as we're together, as long as you're not alone, we'll do it." He turned to Kaguya with a determined gaze and nodded again.

"We'll do it, we'll survive! Believe it!" Naruto yelled, grabbing Sasuke's hand.

He turned and grinned widely when he saw the light again. "Hold on tight, don't wanna get lost!"

(Back to our present time...)

"So, you're telling me that, you- and him." She pointed at the two and Naruto sheepishly nodded.

"Are ninja's, from a different universe, dimension, world or whatever and you were sent here by some god to have a second chance in life... After you fought with her?" Naruto bit his lip and nodded, waiting for her to freak out.

"And... and he- His brother died so he wanted to leave, and you came along because you didn't want him to be lonely?" She asked, Naruto blushed and pouted, nodding.

"Okay... I'm sorry this is just too much to take in..." She got up, ruffling her hair.

"Wait, you believe me- and there she goes..." His voice was drowned out when she began running around the room, screaming and freaking out.

Naruto sat back, letting her do her own thing and calm down. In the mean time he decided to uncover Sasuke, causing the other to stir in his sleep with the loss of warmth but he didn't wake up. He checked over his wounds and let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, relief washing over him when he saw that the other was taken care of pretty well.

"Okay! I'm calm... I'm sorry." Naruto brought his attention back to the lady and nodded, comforting her.

"It's alright, it's too much to take in, honestly I can't even believe it myself, but I made a choice and I don't regret it." Naruto nodded at his own words.

"You don't regret leaving everyone else behind?" She finally sat back down.

Naruto shook his head and his gaze hardened on her... Tail? He tried to look away but she caught his gaze.

"Oh, right, since this is a different world I might as well tell you. Although I never told you my name." She smiled.

Naruto's eyes widened and he straightened on the bed, watching her carefully.

"I'm Valentine and I'm a mermaid."

(Years ago...)

A small mermaid sat on the floor in a pool of her own blood and tears. She cried out desperately extending her arms out and screaming for her mother.

"Mommy! Mommmmyyy!" She whined, crying harder when she saw the dismembered body of her mother, limp on the floor.

"Shut up!" A human yelled, smacking her in the face and shutting her up.

"Your mother is dead, don't you realize? This is what happens when slaves don't obey their masters! You're lucky I'm letting you live, but remember my words!" The man yelled at her, grabbing her chin and forcing her to look him in the eyes.

"Promise me you'll remember, no matter what happens, don't hate humans. If you see somebody in need, help them! What these men did to your mother is not the fault of other humans." He bit his lip and wiped her tears.

"Human children suffer the same by other humans and fishmen. Fishmen suffer the same from other fishmen and humans. No species on this earth will ever coexist with another with complete peace if they cannot even coexist with their own race." He cupped her cheek and softened his gaze, letting her lean on his shoulder.

"But remember this, no matter what don't hate a race for what others have done, help everybody in need and live a long life! Be the girl your mother wanted you to be, and live! Don't ever come back here, understand me?! Never come back here and live freely!"

"You are no longer a slave girl! Leave and never come back!" He got up, pushing her towards the exit when he heard footsteps coming from the steps.

Shouting followed and she cried out, trying to reach him, but he pushed further, causing her to fall into the water and stare wildly at him.

"Leave!" He screamed.

"Never come back! Live! LIVE VALENTINE!"

The poor girl, only 9 years old swam through the oceans, flinching away from fish, from reef and from anything that moved. She never let her tears stop, she cried out for her mother and for the man that saved her, she cried harder when she thought of his last words.

'LIVE VALENTINE!' She put a hand over her mouth and muffled a scream.

Digging her nails into her head and pulling out a bit of her hair, she flailed and screamed again, scaring the fish around her. She screamed again, and again until she felt like her throat was gonna be ripped out.

She screamed until he throat was numb, letting the ocean guide her.

She screamed until a spear to her throat stopped her and took her above ground.

She screamed until she couldn't stay awake anymore, and when she woke up she cried her eyes out, clutching to the nearest fishman and begged him for her life.

He smiled and granted her the wish, and she cried, deciding to live, she cried until her eyes couldn't produce any more tears.

(To our current Valentine...)

"Oh my god..." Naruto had made his way towards Valentine by now, comforting her and hugging her as she cried.

"It's quite alright, Naruto?" She stared at him and he nodded.

"Right. Is that why you helped us?" He smiled, ruffling her hair like she was a kid.

"Yes, a human saved me from slave traders, human slave traders, and he told me to live, sacrificing his life for mine. I knew from then on that there were different people out there, I just hope someday I can prove it." Naruto patted her on the back and encouraged her.

"Wait... Fishmen? Mermaids? So we really are far away from Konoha..." Naruto rubbed his temples, feeling a headache that was beginning to form.

"Konoha?"

"Right! My town, I mean... Sasuke's and my home, it looks like we're really stuck here. I don't think we'll ever go back... but I feel relieved in some way." He smirked a little, causing her to raise a brow and fiddle with her hands.

"How come?"

"Well when I was there I wasn't treated the best during my childhood." Naruto confessed.

She nodded, taking his hands and rubbing circles into his palm to soothe him. He smiled gratefully and accepted the gesture.

"I was always working harder to save them and to save Sasuke! Although no matter what I did they never stopped hating me... Only when I defeated a big threat did they welcome me with open arms."

"While it felt great, I couldn't help but feel bitter. My friends who had received severe judgment for even being near me didn't say anything and it bothered me... They disrespected me my whole life but to do the same to my friends?" He looked away, gaze falling on Sasuke's sleeping form.

"It's not right." Valentine said firmly, and Naruto nodded, turning his sad gaze to her.

"I had a dream, to become Hokage."

"Hokage? What is that?" She stared at him, patiently waiting for an answer.

"Hokage... The strongest shinobi, somebody who is in charge of protecting the Village hidden in the leaves. Somebody everybody puts their trust in, somebody born to serve as a protector!" Naruto said proudly.

Valentine smiled and nodded, listening to his explanation.

"I thought that if I became Hokage everybody would like me, I would protect the village I love, I would protect my friends and have the life I always wanted, but... Sasuke left and I realized that without him, without my best friend..." Naruto trailed off, looking at his shoes.

"I realized that if I couldn't even save Sasuke, if I couldn't save one person, then how am I worthy of being in charge of a whole village?" Valentine nodded, hugging him tightly and shushing him.

"You did what you had to, they can live without you, your friends sound strong! They have each other but Sasuke needs you." She pulled away and smiled sincerely at him.

Naruto returned the gesture and laughed a little.

"Alright I'm done listening." Sasuke sat up and startled them both.

"SASUKE!" Naruto yelled, quickly crawling over the bed and over to his friend.

He began shaking the other by the shoulders, asking if he was alright multiple times. Sasuke groaned and tried to shove Naruto but he failed, still a bit drowsy.

"Naruto, my head..." Sasuke grumbled and Naruto finally let go of him.

"Oh my! You're awake." Sasuke turned to Valentine and nodded his head, greeting her?

"Hn..."

"Sasuke! Do you know where we are or do I have to explain it to you?" Naruto nudged him, teasing him slightly.

"Teme... I heard you guys chit chatting... I know most of the details."

"What?! You couldn't have said something sooner?" Naruto glared at Sasuke.

"I was barely conscious, but I'm a great listener Naruto..." Sasuke informed and Naruto sighed, nodding his head.

"Yeah I know..."

"Well if you two are hungry, I still have the food I made?" Valentine smiled, sweating a little under Sasuke's cold gaze.

Sasuke nodded, reaching for the onigiri. Naruto chuckled and instead took the bowl of soup. He really needed something warm... His throat was killing him.

"Is it good?" She asked, shifting uncomfortably on the bed.

"Hn..."

"He means yes, don't worry. It's really good Valentine-chan." Naruto smiled and she nodded, smiling back at them.

"Well since you guys don't really have a home here, you can stay here for a while, but be careful, fishmen and mermaids don't take kindly to humans, you're lucky I found you!" She sighed, placing the tray on a nearby table and walking back to them.

"I don't have much money so I can't afford a boat, but we can work something out. I don't mind your company but I'm worried." She admitted, totally lost at what she should do.

She saw a pale hand with a small bit of rice in the palm of it and she looked up, seeing that it belonged to Sasuke. She gladly took it, feeling quite hungry.

"It's alright Valentine-chan, me and Sasuke will help you out in any way you need and try to get out of here in no time!" Naruto chuckled and patted her on the back.

"It's alright, I don't mind you guys, I'm only worried for your safety. This word is very different from yours, and from what you've told me Naruto, your powers are much different than the one's here so you guys would be easy targets." She now looked gloomy and her expression was laced with concern.

"Valentine-san it's alright, we're strong." Sasuke said, as blunt as ever.

Naruto snickered at the formality but let it slide. Valentine simply blushed and thanked him for the comfort.

"That reminds me, would you mind sharing the 'power system' of this world. We know in our world we use chakra but what is it that you use in this world?" Naruto asked, intrigued.

"Alright, well I don't know much... I only know knowledge from books, but there are these thing's called devil fruits, they grant you powers like fire, ice, and many more." She began.

"I assume you can only have one?" Sasuke asked, leaning forward.

Valentine nodded. "Yes, nobody has ever eaten two and survived, but these powers are not without a price."

"Of course..." Naruto grumbled and crossed his arms.

"Once you eat the fruit, no matter how skilled you are, you will never be able to swim again." She sighed.

"But that isn't so bad!" Naruto chimed in.

"Sure, if you live your whole life on land, but that's the problem in this world, you cannot live your life on land. You see, you're both unlucky and lucky to have been deposited in the grand line."

"Grand line...?" Sasuke and Naruto both looked at each other, shrugging.

"The grand line is the biggest ocean in the whole world! It's the most unpredictable and dangerous place in this universe. Without a proper ship and a proper crew you would die within a week..." She shivered and Naruto paled.

"Unpredictable?" Sasuke asked, moving closer to her.

"Weather patterns change, wave currents never stay the same, and worst of all these creatures called sea kings... Bigger than ships sometimes lie everywhere! You'd be lucky if you didn't encounter one the first time you go into the grand line." Sasuke nodded along and listened carefully while Naruto gaped at her.

"I don't know much, but I can tell you guys about the ocean, I don't recommend walking around by yourselves to investigate so please, if you need me I will do it for you." Naruto sighed and flopped down on the bed.

"We will." Sasuke confirmed, and then turned back to Naruto.

Naruto spoke, completely baffled by the situation.

"Looks like she wasn't kidding, we'll really have to learn how to survive." Naruto ran a hand through his hair.

"Say... Valentine-san, what did you mean by crew?"

"Oh I never told you guys! This world is swarming with pirates!"