Disclaimer: I own neither One Piece nor Naruto.

Hello guys!
There you go, an extra-long chapter for you! It's finally finished, and I think it turned out pretty well.

Thank you for all your support! Have fun!

:)

Last edited: 12/03/20

Shanks was in a thoughtful mood. He was sitting on the rail of his ship and absently gazed out to the sea that was glittering in the moonlight. It was in the dead of night and most of his crew was already out like a light, sleeping off their drink. The emperor's mind though was occupied with the strange, pink-haired girl that had left him stunned earlier. Her small, angelic face constantly showed up in his thoughts, and he wasn't sure why that was.

He was a pirate emperor who had sailed with the Pirate King himself and one of the strongest men in the world. Hadn't he already seen everything? Shanks had genuinely thought that nothing could surprise him anymore.
And suddenly, a young girl had come in, looking oh so frail, with pink hair and passionate green eyes. A girl who had pierced him with a fierce look and broken his nose in a fit of temper. She'd managed to completely stun him into silence.

But as if that weren't enough, the girl—Sakura—had continued to surpass everything he'd reckoned with. After they had gotten over their bad start and his initial surprise had subsided, the emperor had thought her a more or less normal girl who might be a little spitfire and could throw a punch but nothing special.

That had been a short-lived sentiment though because the next moment, she'd proceeded to heal the fraction with a feather-light touch of her delicate fingers and managed to astound him yet again.

Shanks touched his nose; nothing felt wrong with it. It appeared to be like before.

What an exceptional ability, he pondered. It is very similar to the power that Marco the Phoenix has. His healing capabilities work better on himself though.
She only needed a few seconds to heal it. I wonder what kind of Devil Fruit she ate.

A faint smile tugged at his lips. A tiny little girl…managed to break my nose. That's hilarious. Although the red-haired man hadn't been using his Armament Haki and in addition, hadn't expected her punch at all, it was still a feat. Such strength and speed are remarkable for her age.

When Shanks thought back and pictured the day's events before his inner eye, a sudden realization hit him and he frowned.
She didn't behave like a normal child at all. Her eyes were too sharp and the behavior she displayed was more like that of an experienced fighter.

How did he miss that before?

Her perceptive gaze when she looked at his crew, the posture of her body, and the smooth way she walked—those were small signs that went unseen to most people. She had concealed them excellently, so well that Shanks hadn't realized, even though usually only a few things ever escaped his notice.

Maybe she really was a ninja? Had her words been a ruse and he had fallen for it? Was she from Wano?

What else did he know about the ominous little spitfire? Luffy had been unusually tight-lipped when the emperor had discreetly asked him about Sakura.

He only told me that she is a shipwrecked person and arrived a month ago; nothing else. But…where does she come from? Wano might be a possibility but how did a girl as young as her end up all the way in the East Blue? What powers does she have? Who is she? There were so many questions about this girl, and he didn't have any answers to them.

Shanks was curious.

Sakura…the name suits her.

Brown eyes lit up with determination when he came to a decision. The emperor would investigate and he wouldn't hold back. Shanks knew that he could be a very meddlesome person if he wanted to.

After a few weeks, Sakura had to realize that the Red Hair Pirates' stay on Dawn Island would be a longer one. They made no move to leave—even worse. Apparently, Shanks had decided to make this small island their base for the time being.

The kunoichi was anxious. She was getting stronger, Sakura knew, but in comparison to the powerful pirate, she was nothing.

The feeling of weakness was further heightened when she meditated for the first time since their arrival and the presence of the Red Hair Pirates nearly overwhelmed her. None of them made an effort to hide or retain their aura and thus they were positively radiating all over the island.

Especially Shanks's aura was so strong that it left her breathless and shivering whenever she concentrated on it. Sakura strongly suspected that she would be able to sense him from miles away; it was impossible to ignore. His mighty aura though wasn't the most irritating quality the red-haired man had.

The worst thing was, that he wouldn't leave her alone. Every single time Shanks encountered Sakura, he tried to engage the pinkette in a conversation and asked probing questions—where did she come from? Did she need help? Did she eat a strange fruit once? And so on.

Honestly, did he think she was stupid enough to not notice his more or less concealed interrogation? When Sakura continuously ignored his attempts at questioning her, the red-haired captain changed tactics.

Next, he tried to bribe her with sweets, pretty clothes, or other small gifts.

She offered them to Lucky Roo. The sweets, not the clothes. At least Roo didn't bombard her with incessant questions.

Shanks tried all kinds of things. The most difficult to ignore were his efforts to bait her with books or stories about the world and his many adventures.
Often enough, Sakura found herself listening to him with gleaming eyes and bated breath, because when had she ever been able to withstand knowledge? His stories were just so fascinating.

After finishing his narrations though, when the captain looked at her expectantly as if he wanted her to say something, to give something away, she always managed to regain her composure and slipped away as soon as possible.

Not needing to expose herself to more irritating questions, Sakura did her best to avoid Shanks and his crew. She couldn't stay away from them all the time since they spent a lot of time at the Partys Bar, the place where she currently lived, but she tried.

It probably was her own fault. Sakura knew that she had aroused the emperor's curiosity and now she would have to deal with it.

Luffy's behavior worried her even more than Shanks's constant questions. Her friend seemed to be glued to the red-haired man and whenever he spent time with Sakura he talked about how amazing and cool the captain was. It annoyed her. There seemed to be no place where that stupid Red Hair didn't bother her.

At least, Luffy remained silent about where she came from. It had been the first thing Sakura had asked of him the day after the Red Hair Pirates had arrived, and he'd solemnly promised to her that he wouldn't spill anything.

Luffy didn't know the whole deal, only that she got attacked and somehow landed on Dawn Island, but you couldn't be too careful. The medic was pretty sure that he understood that she might not be from this world—he wasn't as stupid as people thought him to be.

In any case, Sakura was sure that he understood the gravity of her situation and if there's one thing Luffy was, it was loyal. He wouldn't ever betray her trust.

To escape Shanks's constant questioning, she decided to explore Dawn Island further. Previously, she had stuck with Foosha Village and its immediate vicinity, but she needed some distance between her and the inquisitive pirate captain. The medic had read that there were a mountain, a huge forest, and even a Kingdom on the island, and she felt strong enough to leave her safe haven. She was also curious; was the rest of the island just as peaceful and serene as Foosha Village?

The morning dawned bright and sunny when Sakura stood at the bottom of a low, forested mountain and cautiously peered into the mass of green that towered over her. She frowned. Damn, that doesn't look very inviting, but I don't think I can go round it either.
The kunoichi closed her eyes and concentrated. She inwardly groaned when she heard—like, in that special way—at least the Voices of a dozen dangerous animals close by. Also, they were much bigger than normal predators.

Sakura felt strongly reminded of another area with lots of trees and deadly animals she knew.
Is this the counterpart to our Forest of Death? You'd think I would be spared another hassle like this but apparently, I'm just doomed. With an audible sigh, she began to make her way through the thicket.

Evading massive tigers left and right, and bears with teeth as long as one of her legs, Sakura tried to find a way through the jungle-like forest. She was just happy that there were no huge carnivorous plants until now like there had been in Training Ground 44.

When she accidentally fell from a low cliff into a lake, Sakura nearly became the meal of a gigantic alligator. Irritated, she threw a powerful punch to its jaw and saw to it that she got out of the water as soon as possible. She barely reached the shore safely.

Sakura cursed lowly when she wrung out her hair. She had decided against cutting it again. Having long hair as a kunoichi was a sign of proficiency, and while she was in the body of a child again, she still was a powerful shinobi in some way. Call it vanity or overconfidence but Sakura felt like she needed at least one external sign that she wasn't a total pushover right now. She was still strong!

After the third crevice in the ground that she almost fell in, she eventually chose to continue her travel through the tall trees. Leaping from one branch to the next required more chakra, but it was easier than searching a way through the brushwood.

After wrestling with a huge snake and getting tangled up in a bunch of lianas, the forest finally thinned out. Sitting down on a fallen trunk that was overgrown with moss, Sakura made a short break. By the angle of the sun's rays, she deduced that it was early noon.

Did I need four hours to pass through this stupid forest? That would be a disgrace for any normal shinobi but…I guess it's not bad if I consider my current shape. The pinkette inwardly sighed and checked her reserves. Pleasantly surprised, Sakura detected that she hadn't used that much chakra.

Curious about the kingdom that had to lie just in front of her, the kunoichi stood up and continued to move onward.

Will it be just as green and bright as Foosha Village? she asked herself and tried to combine the lush countryside around Foosha with a bustling kingdom in her mind. It was a beautiful picture and the medic found herself quicken her steps to get there faster.

She abruptly stopped when an awful smell hit her. Sakura wrinkled her nose and frowned.

Ugh, that's a horrible smell here. Is it supposed to stink like this? Am I in the wrong place?

Determined to find out about the source of this offensive smell, Sakura advanced further until she could see a wide, gray area below her. The pinkette froze and her green eyes widened because what she saw, left her speechless.

This looks like…a huge junkyard. That is where the smell emanates.

As far as her eyes could see, vast mountains of garbage rose from a gray, murky mist. There were all kinds of things rotting or just lying around.

What the hell? This wasn't mentioned in any of the books I read.

Don't tell me…

A dreadful thought crossed her mind. Closing her eyes, Sakura used her newfound sensing ability to scan the environment and gasped.

There are—

There are people!? What are they doing in a place like this?

The kunoichi was confused. She considered turning back to gather more information first and coming back another time but decided against it. She had gotten as far as this and she wouldn't just leave now; her curiosity got the better of her.

The smell got stronger when she went down to the junkyard and a few minutes later Sakura was walking through the gray, fogged scenery. She passed thousands of different objects that ranged in their condition from almost new to utterly rotten.

After some time, Sakura came across several people who sent her lingering looks. They were carrying ominous-looking sacks and appeared to be quite sinister.

Those aren't the kind of people you'd want to meet in a dark alleyway. I better take precautions.

As soon as the men were out of sight, the kunoichi created a weak genjutsu to protect herself. It made her invisible to everybody around her, though she was sure if Shanks was here, he'd easily overcome it. Sakura wasn't an expert in genjutsu, but she could manage an easy one like this.

Now undetected, the pinkette advanced cautiously into the junkyard and what she saw, left her horrified.
There were people living there. The population of a small town was scattered around the area. They seemed to inhabit run-down shacks and lived in severe poverty.

A sour smell hung in the air and everywhere Sakura looked, she saw ill and malnourished people. Looking at their sunken eyes caused her heart to sink. Her brows knitted in a frown.

Why are they living like that?

The kunoichi continued to walk through the junkyard until a high wall came into sight before her. She came to a halt in front of it and looked up with wide eyes. It was massive; at least as big as the Hokage Rock at home.

Intent on finding out why there was a wall like this and a huge junkyard just in front of it, Sakura focused some chakra to her feet and began to walk it up.

She needed five minutes until she reached the top, where she stopped and looked around. A large city was lying in front of her. In the middle, she could see a building resembling a palace, that was towering above the other buildings. She leaned forward to get a better look at the streets below her.

So…this is the kingdom? Sakura's eyes narrowed in suspicion. Well, let's gather information.

Remaining unseen, the medic made her way down to the city to investigate.

It only took her about an hour of exploring the town and eavesdropping on the citizens to form her own opinion about this kingdom. Evidently, the massive junkyard just outside of the walls was called 'Gray Terminal'. All unwanted things landed there, apparently that included people who had been ejected from the city. It was a lawless place, filled with disease and misery.

Sakura's lips curled in disgust. Of course, she'd read and heard about 'Nobles', but everybody seemed to be cautious in their comments about them. Here, she could watch them and draw her conclusions.

Sakura listened to their conversations while she was concealed and was sickened by their behavior. They acted like… she couldn't find words for it.

The nobles she observed were obnoxious, heartless and so absorbed with themselves that it almost made her gag. They didn't care in any way about the conditions outside of their city although they knew that there was a massive junkyard just in front of their door—hell, most of the rejected goods that existed in Gray Terminal came from them.

Having enough for now, Sakura wanted to leave the building she had infiltrated last when a dusty bookshelf came to her attention.

Well, I guess the noble who lives here doesn't read much. Or at all. He probably won't miss it if I borrow a book or two. I can read them and bring them back later. The kunoichi pocketed two books that seemed unfamiliar to her with a small smirk and got away unseen.

She left the city, still hidden and this time through the 'Great Gate' that connected Edge Town with Gray Terminal. It was much easier than climbing the wall.

On her way back to the forest, while traversing the junkyard, Sakura passed a group of men that were beating up another guy. People were already staring but nobody attempted to help. The victim was lying on the ground but the men didn't bother to stop. The kunoichi perceived the awful sound of breaking bones and noticed a woman who was on her knees nearby, pleading them to stop. "Please, I'm begging you," she sobbed, "leave my husband alone! He didn't do anything wrong!"

Sakura continued her way through Gray Terminal and tried to ignore the scene next to her with gritted teeth. She knew that this was probably something that happened daily there. Besides, what should she do? Play hero and save that man and his wife? Be the great avenger and defeat the wrongdoers? Sakura knew that she needed to stay inconspicuous and intervening always caused problems. (She wasn't Naruto.)

She proceeded to look the other way until she heard one of the attackers laugh scornfully and address the woman, "Shut up you stupid wrench! After we're finished here, I'll have some fun with you!"

Sakura stopped dead in her tracks. She turned her head and looked. At the blood on the ground, the tear-stained cheeks of the woman, and the filthy grins of the four men that were exchanging smug looks. Cold fury rose in her and her green eyes narrowed to crinkled slits.

Four men, circling the victim. Not visibly armed except the one on the left— some kind of sword is dangling from his hips. Should be manageable.

Sakura dissolved the genjutsu that concealed her to save chakra and flashed directly in front of the thugs.

Their eyes widened in surprise, but she didn't give them a chance to react. The first one was delivered a punch to the jaw and the second was kicked in the stomach. While they tumbled back, she leaped in the air and used the face of the third guy as a springboard to do a somersault and land on the shoulders of the fourth one—the man who had addressed the woman last. She slit his throat with a kunai in one fluid motion, jumped off his shoulders, and positioned herself between the injured victim on the ground and the three remaining thugs.

The first three men had somewhat recovered from Sakura's blows and glared at her. One of them—the one in the middle—hissed, "Don't you know who we are, little girl? I am 'Crimson Stanley' and those are my men. We are the ones in control here. There's nobody stronger than us."

The kunoichi barely refrained from rolling her eyes. Really? You're the ones in control here? Nobody stronger than you? What about the pirate emperor that is lying at anchor just at the other side of the island?

Sakura met his eyes with an unimpressed stare and flatly responded, "Never heard of you." The surrounding people gasped and surveyed the scene with something akin to awe.

At her words, the famous 'Crimson Stanley' started to shake with anger. "How dare you! Let me show you what we do with insolent, stupid brats!" He drew his sword—a saber—and approached her. The other two men raised their fists and sent her cruel smiles when they circled her left and right.

Sakura's lips curled with icy contempt when she took up a loose fighting stance. I'll have to do this quickly, I don't know in what condition the injured person behind me is.

Faster than the normal eye could perceive, a pair of kunai shot through the air and accurately hit the two thugs standing left and right in the chest, right in their hearts. They were immediately dead, but Sakura had no time to think about it—that dumb Stanley guy was coming near.
She evaded a slash of his saber and landed a punch to the hand that held the weapon. An audible crack could be heard and Stanley let go of the hilt with a howl of pain. Sakura grabbed it while it was falling and thrust the blade into his chest without batting an eyelid. 'Crimson Stanley' let out a gurgle and slumped.

Sakura felt a little lightheaded. The kunoichi looked at the bodies to her feet but didn't have any remorse. She was more concerned about her reserves—the medic had used a lot of chakra so far and the day didn't seem like it wanted to end soon.

She became aware of the fact that people were staring at her with wide eyes. The pinkette didn't pay any attention to them and turned around to look after the hurt man on the ground. He was unconscious and his wife held his hand in despair.

Kneeling next to her, the medic carefully inspected the man's injuries with a medical scan.
Broken ribs, jaw, punctured lung, and slight internal bleeding. Various other fractures all over his body.

Great, Sakura thought with a groan, I don't know if I can heal everything with the chakra I have left.

Giving up was not an option though. The medic's hands began to glow greenly when she started to heal the worst damage. Now people were really gawking at her.

Sakura managed to heal the internal bleeding, his punctured lung, and the worst fractures before she had to stop. Healing more would leave her depleted and she didn't feel like losing consciousness in a place like this.

The man groaned and slightly opened his eyes. His wife breathed a sigh of relief and hugged him. Afterward, she looked at Sakura with puffy eyes. "Thank you so much," the woman whispered hoarsely. Gripping her hands together, she anxiously asked, "Who are you? I've never seen you before."

A small crowd had gathered and everybody was looking curiously at the kunoichi. The tension in the air was palpable.

"I'm just a doctor," Sakura answered evasively and stood up. A murmur rose from the people. Yeah, Sakura that's how you stay inconspicuous, good job.

An old man emerged from the crowd. His face was full of deep lines and he was humped over a cane. He sounded grim when he asked, "You're a doctor? Do you live in the city? What are you doing here? No doctor ever visits Gray Terminal. This place is reeking of death and disease but nobody has ever cared. Where are you coming from all of a sudden?"

Sakura's heart sank. That's so sad, so unfair.

The pinkette made a snap decision.

I can't leave them like this, she thought desperately.

Sakura raised her chin let her gaze wander around the crowd, meeting the weary eyes of the people. She directly addressed them in a firm voice, "You're right. This place is hideous and I can only imagine how much pain and sorrow you have to endure. It makes me sick to see this place. I'm a doctor from—"

She hesitated.

"—from far away. I don't have any ties to Goa Kingdom and I would like to help you. Don't let yourself be fooled by my appearance. If you show me the way I can heal the injured and treat the ill people."

"What would you want in return? We don't have much to give in terms of money," the elderly man challenged her.

"I don't want anything in return," Sakura objected vehemently, "as a doctor, I see it as my duty to heal people. I won't stand for leaving you unattended when I have the means to help!"

The old man stared skeptically at her but at the same time, a glimmer of hope appeared in his eyes. "You would do that?" he inquired and his voice sounded slightly awestruck.

Sakura sent him a kind smile and nodded. "I won't be able to heal everybody right now, but I'll do my best to help as much as I can. I can come back another day too," she assured him.

The old man shook his head in disbelief but Sakura didn't miss the faint smile that was spreading across his face. There was a buzz of excitement around her and the medic's eyes lit up with determination.

I'll help them.

Sakura spent the rest of the day taking care of as many injured and sick people as she could. There were so many of them. She treated all kinds of diseases, infected wounds, and other nasty things. Since she didn't have much chakra left, she fell back to her supply of medicinal herbs that she always had with her.

The kunoichi tried her best, but in the evening she had to stop since she still needed to return to Foosha Village and her chakra was almost fully depleted. Sakura promised the residents to come back as soon as she could, and they showered her with gratitude. It seemed like an enormous weight had been lifted off the people's shoulders.

Seeing the frail hope in those haggard faces brought a smile to Sakura's face. It felt good to be useful again.

Her walk back through the forest was strenuous. In the dark, it was more difficult to find a way and she was chakra-exhausted. When Sakura arrived in front of the Partys Bar, she was dead on her feet.
Luckily, the only person in the bar was Makino, who glanced slightly concerned at her tired frame. The pinkette let out a yawn and waved at her host with a weak smile. Muttering a vague "Good Night", Sakura left for her small chamber and fell asleep the moment her head touched the pillow.

Since that day, Sakura visited Gray Terminal as often as possible to help the residents there. Soon, she realized that not everybody living there was a murderer or had sinister intentions. Of course, quite a few criminals were living in the junkyard, but even they were behaving towards her.

Being the only available doctor and treating criminals, elders and children alike granted her a neutral standing of almost sanctity.

People welcomed her warmly and showed her the utmost respect. At some point, they even started to call her a 'miracle healer'. The title was flattering but she didn't welcome the attention it brought her. Sakura was just happy to help them.

The medic discovered that she could discern the really awful guys through their aura—it was somehow darker than the normal ones and often felt…kind of slimy. She also started to perceive if someone was angry or happy through her sensing ability—she was making progress.

Her visits to Gray Terminal made the existence of the people there a bit better, but they still lived in atrocious conditions. It made her angry and sad. But, what could she do? How should she help them? Sakura didn't have enough information and she was too weak right now to change anything major.

Being constantly confronted with their misery exhausted her. Mentally even more than physically.

Wasn't she a kunoichi and a doctor? Wasn't she a trained killer? She should be used to death.

And yet, every time Sakura saw their suffering, it felt like needles were pricking at her heart.

After two months of wearing herself out like that, she felt completely drained.

At one point, Sakura lay awake at night and stared at the ceiling. Her mind was reeling and her thoughts circling around Gray Terminal. The people, the poverty, Goa Kingdom. She felt numb. Haunting images of the junkyard and its inhabitants flashed across her mind in a never-ending loop. They were consuming her, tormenting her mind and soul.

Sakura massaged her temples and groaned. Since sleep wouldn't come to her, the pinkette stood up and opened the window. A salty breeze moved her strands. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and let out a sigh when she opened them again.

Acting on impulse, the kunoichi climbed out of the window and moved onto the roof. The moonlight illuminated her pink hair. She sat down and stared up to the night sky, trying to sort out her thoughts.

Gray Terminal. A huge junkyard just outside a city. The nobles dump everything they don't want anymore there—including people.

Sakura's brows furrowed. Why does it bother me so much? I've seen my share of suppressed citizens and witnessed living conditions as bad as those in Gray Terminal time and time again. I'm not a naive child anymore.

The pinkette bleakly stared at the night sky and considered the strange turn her life had taken.

Maybe it's because I hoped for something else. My world—because I'm fairly sure that I am in a totally different place—isn't what you would call non-violent and serene. Not having any illusions about that. Kids become child soldiers and learn how to kill before they are even ten years old. People die, get tortured, or have to fight for their lives on a daily basis where I come from.

Her shoulders slumped.
I guess…I hoped this world to be better than mine. But, what did I expect? A peaceful kingdom like in a fairytale? I should know better.

Lost in thought, Sakura didn't notice the man who was watching her from below until he audibly cleared his throat.

"Would you mind if I kept you company?" Shanks asked. Sakura averted her green eyes from the sky and gazed intently at the pirate who was standing on the street below her. Then she lightly shrugged and turned her head back to the stars.
The emperor leaped in the air and landed beside her on the roof in one fluid motion, without making any noise. He sat down next to Sakura and they both remained silent.

After a few minutes, Shanks quietly asked, "Are you all right?" His voice was tinged with concern. The kunoichi didn't reply immediately.
Eventually, Sakura turned her head to meet the gaze of the red-haired man beside her with weary eyes. His face was honest and open and she felt that he was genuinely concerned. The emperor scrutinized her and frowned.

"No child should have such an old look in their eyes. Did something happen?"

Sakura barely refrained from losing control. She wanted to scream at him that she wasn't a child, that she had lived through a war and was a deadly warrior. That she had seen her friends die on the battlefield and people had passed away under her hands when she wasn't able to save them. That she was a murderer, just as much as him…

Choking back her violent emotions, she instead averted her eyes and tilted her face towards the night sky again.

Another silence fell over them.

When Sakura finally asked him the question was burning in her, her voice was thick, "Do you think we're living in a good world?"

If the pirate next to her was surprised about the question, he didn't let it show; his face remained impassive. Shanks hummed and seemed to consider her question. Eventually, he wanted to know, "Why do you ask me?"

Sakura raised an eyebrow and smiled weakly at him. "Well, you're a pirate emperor. You've sailed the world and I'd gather that you know a lot about it."

Red Hair nodded and remained silent for a while. His tone was firm when he finally stated, "The world is beautiful."

Shanks paused.

"There are two sides to everything though," he continued. "Our world is filled with dangerous seas and marvelous islands. There are so many things to discover, so many experiences to make. So many goals to reach. Most people are friendly, but some are bad. Everybody is trying to live as well as they can, I guess. Nothing is black and white; we are surrounded by gray. It's not perfect, for sure, but…I love it anyway. Our world. And I'm sure you'll love it too." At his last words, he sent her a bright smile.

It sounded familiar and deep in herself, something relaxed.

So…it's just like my world. The thought was comforting.

"Thank you," Sakura quietly said and when the red-haired emperor turned his head to look at her, his gaze was met with a true, radiant smile that lit up her green eyes.

They sat there in a comfortable silence until the rising sun struck the horizon. Sakura stood up, stretched lazily, and yawned. A teasing smile flickered across her face and the medic waved at Shanks before she jumped off the roof. Her landing was just as quiet as his.

He's such a show-off. I can do that too.

Sakura entered the bar and didn't look back.

A few weeks after their nightly encounter—wow, that sounded so wrong—she noticed somebody following her when she left the village and walked in the direction of the forest. In front of the high trees, she stopped and closed her eyes to sense who was pursuing her. She inwardly groaned when Shanks's aura flooded her senses. It was like a beacon.

The kunoichi turned around and wryly said, "I know you're there. Show yourself."

Finally, a bush to her left rustled and a familiar redhead poked out of the leaves. The pinkette folded her arms and gazed unblinkingly at him.

Shanks got up from the bush. "How did you know I was there?" he pouted.

Is he sulking?

Sakura found herself doubting again if he really was a dangerous pirate. There's no way an emperor would behave like that, right? Right?

"Instinct," the kunoichi answered his question bluntly. She turned around and made her way towards the first massive tree in the forest. When Shanks didn't follow, she looked back and addressed him again, "Well, do you want to accompany me? I don't have all day."

The pirate raised an eyebrow and inquired, "Where are you going anyway?"

Sakura's expression turned serious when she replied, "I'll be visiting Gray Terminal. You can come along if you want. It's not like I could stop you from following me, so I'd rather have some company."

Of course, that meant giving away more of her abilities to Shanks and probably blowing her cover but Sakura didn't care anymore. She wasn't about to put off her visit to Gray Terminal just because she had a curious pirate trailing her. Those people were more important to her.

Not wanting to wait any longer, Sakura gathered chakra in her feet and leaped onto the closest major branch. The emperor didn't hesitate to follow her and soon they were both traveling through the trees.

I bet he's never traveled like this before. He's doing great though, Sakura observed and suppressed a smile.

When they arrived at Gray Terminal and could overlook the area, Shanks face hardened.
"I knew of the existence of this junkyard, but I didn't think it would be so bad," he murmured. Sakura didn't reply and made her way down to the scattered shacks where most of the inhabitants usually lived. Shanks followed her silently.

The medic proceeded as usual. She treated her patients—healed a few injuries, prescribed some herbal tea for a man who suffered from a cough—and was a bit embarrassed when people thanked her profusely. Her red-haired companion hovered in the background and always watched her curiously.

When the medic was treating Hisato's joint problems—he was the old man with the cane who had approached her on her first visit to Gray Terminal—her patient remarked, "That's a dangerous company, you're keeping there, young lady."

Oh, I guess he recognized Shanks.

Sakura turned her head and saw that her handsome companion seemed to be strangely engrossed by some old hat, which he had apparently just found in a pile of trash nearby. She didn't doubt he was listening though. The kunoichi directed her attention back to Hisato and chuckled, "I know. I'm fine though." Sakura sent him a reassuring smile.

Hisato's expression became very serious. "Take care of yourself. You never know if you attract unwanted attention," he warned her. Sakura frowned and gazed intently at the elderly man.

It had taken her weeks to win his trust. He was well known in Gray Terminal and respected due to his great age. Gaining the other residents' trust had only been possible after she'd convinced Hisato of her good intentions. He'd served as a middleman for the people of Gray Terminal ever since.

Her tone was soft when she replied, "Thank you. Don't worry about me though. I'd rather have you keep an eye on your joint problems." Hisato snorted and rolled his eyes.

It was already late afternoon when Sakura finished her round. She turned her head to look at Shanks, who had been almost completely silent throughout the day. He seemed thoughtful. Clearing her throat, the medic said, "Let's get back to Foosha. It's already late." The emperor nodded and together, they departed for the village.

When Foosha came into sight, Shanks suddenly halted. The relaxed atmosphere shifted and became tense. Sakura stopped dead in her tracks and glanced at the pirate next to her from the corner of her eye.

"Who are you?" he asked in a forthright tone.

He followed me the whole day without saying a word and now he wants to question me? Sakura was confused.

She gazed unflinchingly at him and when she responded, her voice gave nothing away.

"My name is Sakura."

The red-haired pirate seemed irritated. "I know that. But I also bet that you're much more."

Sakura let out a hollow laugh and tiredly answered, "I'm just a random girl with pink hair. Why don't you leave me alone?"

A strange pressure built up in the air.

The kunoichi unconsciously shivered and her posture tensed. Scary.

Shanks's tone of voice was harsh. "A random girl with pink hair? Who do you want to convince of that? You are not behaving like a child, Sakura. You're stronger and faster than any child could be. For the people of Gray Terminal, you are a miracle because you're helping them without wanting anything in return. You have some highly unusual abilities and treat your patients in a way that only an experienced doctor could.

"Three months ago, you got stranded on this island and nobody knows anything about you. I find myself extremely curious about your abilities. Where you come from. Why you're here. I have tried to investigate, asked my contacts, but came up with nothing. You're like a frustrating puzzle that I can't seem to solve and it's almost driving me mad."

Sakura inwardly cursed. She hadn't realized that it was that bad. This situation was what she'd always wanted to avoid.

Gathering her courage, her green orbs sharpened and she looked him directly in the eye. She wouldn't be intimidated that easily.

Ignoring the strange pressure in the air, Sakura spun around to face him and icily spat, "I am nobody. Nobody! You won't ever find any information about me, no matter who you ask. Listen closely, because I won't repeat myself. I don't care if you're a pirate emperor. I don't care if you are curious about my abilities or why I am here. Who I am and where I come from is none of your business. I treat the people in Gray Terminal because I'm a doctor and I want to help them. That's the long and the short of it. I'm tired of your questions! Just leave me the fuck alone!"

With those words, Sakura stomped past him and continued her way to the village, leaving Shanks standing alone there. The kunoichi didn't dare to look back, although she could feel his scorching gaze on her frame, seeking knowledge she wouldn't give to him.

Two weeks went by. Since their little trip together and the disastrous end that it had taken, Shanks had been unusually quiet whenever they met and hadn't bombarded her with questions again. Sakura didn't trust the sudden silence yet and uneasily waited for his next move. She hoped that he would give up soon. Above all, the kunoichi was relieved that she had survived their last encounter unscathed.

Between training, meditating, reading, and treating people in Gray Terminal, Sakura still managed to spend some time at the bar. The kunoichi didn't feel comfortable at all in the presence of Shanks and his crew, but she wouldn't give way. She would hang around at the bar, even if she just did it out of spite for those stupid pirates!

Sakura sat on one of the barstools and a weighty tome was opened in front of her on the counter. Taking different books from the kingdom and bringing them back at another time had worked well so far.

The one she was currently immersed in was very interesting since it dealt with a medical topic. She had 'borrowed' it from a noble who lived in the palace. The medic doubted that he would need a book about Pulmonology—a medical specialty that treated diseases involving the respiratory tract. It had been covered by a thick layer of dust.

She didn't notice Benn Beckman when took the seat to her right and glanced over her shoulder. "That's a very complicated book for a child," he addressed her wryly. Sakura jumped.

After calming her racing heart, she lifted her head to look at him, and innocently replied, "I'm looking at the pictures."

The first mate of the Red Hair Pirates snorted and remarked, "Yeah, sure thing. I just don't see any pictures, you know?"

A smile tugged at Sakura's lips and she relented, "You're right. It's about the consequences too much smoking can have on your lungs." Now her tone was teasing. Benn laughed.

Suddenly, his expression became more serious. He stated, "Our captain always likes to know things and he gets rapidly frustrated if he can't solve a puzzle. I fear, a mysterious, shipwrecked girl with pink hair and unusual abilities triggers him unlike anything else."

Sakura discovered an amused glint in his eyes. She raised an eyebrow. Is he apologizing for his captain now? Because Red Hair is such a nosy person?

As if on cue, she noticed the red-haired captain enter the bar. As soon as he saw Benn and Sakura sitting next to each other, Shanks made a beeline for them. He seemed amused.

"You know, normally, people like me, and Benn is the unpopular one since he is reasonable," Shanks said.

Then he let out a sigh and grimaced, "Guess I can't fault you though. I'd be pissed too if somebody treated me the way I behaved towards you. I'm just so curious about you!" His voice became pleadingly, "Would you answer me one question? I swear, afterward I won't bother you ever again!"

The pinkette blinked incredulously and tilted her head in confusion. Is this his new strategy? Being the nice guy? Her mouth twisted slightly. Well, two can play a game.

Green eyes sharpened and she looked intently at him. "I'll answer your question if I can ask you something too and you reply honestly."

Giving him one answer won't hurt me and I can pose a question too.

The emperor seemed to consider her suggestion and finally agreed, "All right. Ask your question."

I could ask about Konoha…

The thought was tempting. No, I can't trust him with that, the kunoichi reflected.

Suddenly, Sakura knew exactly what to ask him.

She was sure that her ability to sense other people was normal. In fact, Sakura was convinced that Shanks could feel those auras too. Hearing those Voices though, the Voices of the things that surrounded her—the sea, the animals, or the ground under her feet—was something unusual. She hadn't been able to find any book where it was mentioned and it was so weird.
Most of the time she didn't hear anything since it took a high level of concentration, but still…she'd never perceived anything similar before.

Sakura averted her gaze and asked, "Have you ever heard the sea singing to you?" Shanks eyebrows raised.

"Singing? There are a lot of sailors who claim that the sea is singing to them," he replied with a shrug.

Sakura shook her head and explained, "No, I mean like really singing. To perceive the world around you in a totally different way. The sea is singing, her Voice can be gentle and kind, or very fierce. The ground below is humming, the fish in the sea are often chirping, and the trees' Voice always sounds like a murmur."

A far-away expression overtook her face. "I can't understand the words though. They get clearer every time I meditate, but I'm still far away from fully comprehend what the Voices say to me."

Silence. Shanks stared at her in astonishment. "You…want to tell me that you can truly hear the Voice of the sea?"

Sakura nodded seriously. Asking this felt important to her. "Yes," she confirmed, "And I asked you if you ever heard it too."

A minute went by. The atmosphere shifted and became weighty. Shanks was scrutinizing her so intently, that she felt the urge to shift uncomfortably.

Then, he seemed to take a deep breath and replied calmly, "No, I haven't. The phenomenon, or rather the ability you're referring to, is called 'The Voice of All Things'. It's an extraordinary power and most people believe it to be a legend.
"Allegedly, everything in this world, be it an animal or an inanimate object, possesses a unique Voice and can convey words in a language that is not human. There exists an innate ability that allows a person to perceive these words and to understand them. By your description, I'd guess you probably have it. I only know of two or three people who were able to do the same—one of them would be my old captain. He never told me exactly how it works. That's why I can't tell you much about it."

Sakura had listened closely to his explanation. He's telling the truth. He believes me.

However, she didn't know what to think about the information he gave her. So I have some extraordinary ability. Great, now Red Hair will be even more curious. It seems like I managed to shock him again.

Sakura turned her attention back to her surroundings and thanked Shanks. Then, to avoid dwelling on the topic, she smiled at him and announced, "Now it's your turn." Her voice was light and the heavy atmosphere lifted.

The pirate captain nodded and inquired, "What Devil Fruit did you ate?"

The kunoichi let out an abrupt laugh. Of all questions he could have asked...

Looking directly into his eyes, Sakura replied evenly, "None."

Shanks seemed unbelieving; his brows knitted. "None? That's impossible!" he denied.

Sakura raised her hands in a placatory gesture and assured, "I swear, I've never eaten one of those fruits my whole life."

The red-haired man stared at her. Incredulity was plainly written all over his face. Eventually, buried his face in his hands and he groaned, "You're unbelievable."

Sakura shrugged, closed her book, and jumped down the bar stool. She didn't want to stay for another hour and run danger to be faced with more questions. That's why the medic took her heavy book and, with a wave of the hand, she was off to her room upstairs.

The next day, Luffy approached her while she was at the baker's shop to buy bread for Makino. A piece of paper was flattering in his hand.

"Sakura! Look, Gramps sent me a letter!" he announced excitedly. The medic-nin perked up. "A letter?" she asked hopefully; the enthusiasm of her raven-haired friend was infectious.

Maybe his grandfather will arrive soon.

Together, they sat down outside and started to read. Sakura's hope faded. It was a short message and the key point that got across was that Luffy's grandfather definitely wouldn't arrive in the next few months. Supposedly, he was very busy and his visit would be delayed for an uncertain amount of time.

Sakura leaned back and sighed. She tried not to let her disappointment show. Luffy pouted, but he was watching his only friend concernedly. Hugging her tightly, he tried to cheer her up, "I'm sure Gramps will arrive soon. He's amazing!"
Sakura just sent her friend a weak smile.

So I'll be still waiting.

Did you like the chapter? I really hope so!

I, personally, can totally imagine Shanks being that curious about her abilities and getting frustrated when he doesn't manage to find out anything about Sakura xD

I also am incredibly fascinated by this 'The Voice of All Things' power, so I decided to use it and develop it a bit further. What do you think of it?

Genjutsu usually requires the target to possess chakra since it controls the chakra flow in the target's brain and thus creates an illusion. The people in One Piece don't have any chakra per se, but they all have a life force akin to chakra, which is good enough for me.

I also want to ask you what you think about pairings. There has to be one because I'm a sucker for romance :D
Of course, Sakura is pretty young right now, but if I make a decision soon, I can build up the relationship better...

So, which pairing would you like? Just curious:)

See you in the next chapter!