Disclaimer: I own neither One Piece nor Naruto.
Well, here I am! With a brand new chapter for you guys!
Thank you sooo much for your follows, favorites, and kind reviews! You are SO amazing! Even after months, there were people who wrote a supporting comment and they really kept me going! I cannot express how much it means to me to read that you like this story :,)
I know it has been some time, but you know how it is with real-life... I have recently started to study at university and the first months were stressful for me. I will probably not have as much time to write in the future as I would like to either...But don't worry, that just means that updates will come irregularly, not that there won't be any at all :)
Important for you to know:
I'm not going to follow the anime or manga in every aspect since Sakura's presence changes all kinds of things and following canon sentence for sentence would be boring!
Also a HUGE thank you to my dear beta reader LoveroftheKiller. You're a great help! (Any mistakes you see are mine and made during editing)
Enjoy!
Last edited: 12/03/20
Sakura was meditating in the countryside around Foosha Village with closed eyes. Sitting on the lush grass, she let the morning sun warm her face and relished the fresh air. The grass below her was whispering words that she couldn't quite grasp but she didn't let the fact bother her. Listening to the Voices of the world around her was incredibly peaceful and she felt completely at ease.
Suddenly, she noticed a familiar aura approaching rapidly. Luffy. A warm smile spread over her face because the aura of her friend always felt like a big, happy ball of sunshine to her. Soon, she could hear his quick footsteps coming near.
"Sakura!" Luffy called her excitedly and skidded to a halt right next to her. When she opened her eyes, she was greeted with the bright grin of her friend. The kunoichi looked at him expectantly, and the raven-haired boy blurted, "We have to say goodbye to Shanks! Let's go, he's leaving soon!"
Red Hair is leaving? The pinkette opened her mouth to say something, but Luffy took her by the hand and pulled her away, towards the village.
They arrived to a busy pirate crew that was loading goods and different crates on their ship. Shanks and Benn were standing nearby, leaning over a large map that was outspread on a wooden container. Sakura could hear them muttering about different routes and currents—planning their journey.
When Luffy and Sakura approached, the emperor raised his head and his eyes lit up when he noticed them.
"Sakura, Luffy!" he waved them over. Taking in the busy men around her, the kunoichi let herself be led by Luffy towards Shanks. Sakura tried to take a quick glimpse at the map, but she was too small to properly distinguish anything. She could barely look over the edge of the crate and her lips curled in annoyance.
"Curious?" Shanks asked, mirth dancing in his brown eyes.
Are they leaving for good? A faint hope grew in her.
The kunoichi shrugged like she didn't care and casually inquired, "How long will you be gone?"
Chuckling, the emperor replied, "Not too long. A few weeks, at the most. We can keep a low profile for a few months, but from time to time we have to check on some islands and meet up with a few allies—make our presence known, ya know?"
The pink-haired girl wanted to pout. So they won't leave for good. Careful to not let her disappointment show on her face, Sakura nodded.
"Shaaaanks," Luffy butted into their conversation with a wine, "Take me with you! Please?!"
The emperor's expression immediately turned serious when he addressed his small friend, "That's not possible, Luffy. The seas we will be traveling are very dangerous. We can't have a child on board. Besides," his smooth voice became teasing, "you aren't even capable of swimming, little anchor."
Sakura expected Luffy to deny that, but when her friend just indignantly stuttered, "D-D-Don't call me that! I know I can't swim yet! I'll learn it soon, just you wait!" she blinked in surprise.
Wait, he can't swim?
The kunoichi went through her memories and came to realize that she'd never seen him go into the sea any farther than his knees during their time at the beach.
What the hell, he's living on an island in a world that is predominantly covered with water and nobody ever taught him how to swim?
A bit dumbfounded, the kunoichi incredulously blurted out, "You can't swim?"
Now, Luffy's face flushed in embarrassment and he huffed.
Shanks gave a short laugh at their antics. "Well, Sakura," he began, a sly grin spreading across his face, "can you swim?"
The pinkette shot him an unimpressed look and stated, "Of course I can." At her reply, the emperor's grin turned positively wicked and Sakura felt like this should be a cause for concern.
What is he up to?
"Well, then…" he began and suddenly, his arm shot forward. He moved faster than anything she had seen in this world before. Too fast.
Before the medic could have—in any way—reacted, Shanks had already grabbed her at the back of her top and flung her out into the sea.
She didn't think. Didn't use her brilliant mind to figure the next course of action. Her instincts took over. The kunoichi flipped mid-air, gathered chakra in her feet, and gracefully landed—standing on the water surface a few hundred feet away.
Only when Sakura heard the surprised shouts of the residents and pirates standing on the shore, did she realize what had just occurred. And wanted to throw a major tantrum.
Why the hell would Shanks—
How dare he!
Of course, he would verify if she truly hadn't eaten a Devil Fruit. And what better way than to fling her out into the sea?! The medic was inwardly seething.
He could've just nicely asked me to show him!
Sakura's head whipped around and her green eyes narrowed on the red-haired captain.
This man is infuriating.
Oh, how much she wished to face him as an equal... If she'd had her old body, she would've introduced the captain properly to her fists right now. But, as it was, the only thing she could do was to annoy him by doing exactly the opposite of what he wanted.
You want to know if I'd sink like an anchor if I went for a swim? Well, fuck you, Shanks!
The kunoichi raised her chin in childish defiance and started to stroll over the water, making her way towards the shore.
There arrived, Sakura went from ambling over water back to walking on solid ground without batting an eyelid. Ignoring the astounded stares of the people, the kunoichi came to a halt besides Shanks and Luffy, a few feet away from the edge of the landing bridge. The pinkette crossed her arms and sent the red-haired man an icy glare. The emperor leaned slightly back and guiltily scrunched up his face.
He knows exactly what an idiot he is, she thought.
"Sakura!" Luffy sounded awed. "How did you do this?"
"That is something I'd also like to know," Shanks chimed in with feigned innocence.
Like hell.
Sakura shot the captain another glare, then grinned broadly at Luffy and declared with a slightly smug tone for everyone to hear, "I'm just that awesome, Luffy."
The boy's dark eyes were sparkling. Suddenly, and she really should've seen that one coming, he threw himself into her arms. With full strength; which was a quite considerable force for a seven-year-old.
Sakura, famed kunoichi of Konohagakure, was so surprised that she lost her balance and they both staggered backward…
…over the edge into the water.
Gasping in surprise, the girl inhaled a mouth full of salty water and started coughing. The sea wasn't cold, but she immediately lost orientation, being fully submerged. Luffy beside her was flailing about in the sea and kept pushing her down in his attempts to keep his head above water.
Some harsh curses flew through her mind. Sakura opened her eyes—ignoring the salty water burning in them—and managed to catch Luffy's hands and stop him from his wild thrashing.
The medic gathered chakra in her limps, secured her friend against her body with one arm, and began to swim towards the direction she suspected the surface to be. Heaving and spluttering, they resurfaced.
Strong hands grabbed her waist and she felt herself being pulled out of the water. Blinking water from her eyes, Sakura came face to face with a handsome emperor. His eyes were twinkling with amusement. An exasperated groan escaped Sakura and she slumped, admitting defeat.
Pouting, the medic started to wring out her long, pink hair.
The gentle sound of waves lapping the sand filled the air and the sun was shining brightly. With a loud cry, Sakura shattered the jagged rock that was towering in front of her into a thousand pieces. Satisfied, she watched it crumbling.
Ten months had gone by since the arrival of the Red Hair Pirates and the kunoichi felt more like herself again.
Her body had grown a bit and the pinkette had built up slight muscles. Sakura was sure that she would be as lean and wiry as before in just a few years' time. Her chakra reserves were the only thing that currently bothered her.
While her body was much stronger and leaner, her chakra supply had nearly remained unchanged. Even her exhausting them regularly due to her visits to Gray Terminal hadn't changed that. It was frustrating, but at the same time led her to refine her chakra control even more, always attempting to use as little as possible.
When Sakura raised her eyes to the azure sky, she suddenly realized that she'd wanted to meet up with Luffy at the beach today and was already late. Inwardly cursing at herself for being too engrossed in her training, the pinkette jumped up and took off, determined to not let her friend wait for too long.
When she arrived at the beach—the part of it that had somehow become theirs, their little spot—there was nobody to be seen. Apprehension filled her.
Luffy and Sakura had become much closer during the last few months. After their unintentional swim a while ago, her black-haired friend had been inconsolable about what happened—for weeks. He'd been following her around, constantly apologizing and basically catering to her every need. It had taken multiple insurances on her part to convince him that there was nothing to forgive.
Sakura had pondered on his behavior and had soon realized that he didn't have any other friends aside from her. Never did have before, most likely. He was just like Naruto in a way and it had hurt to see Luffy this desperate. She'd sworn to herself that she wouldn't ever doubt their friendship. The young, raven-haired boy deserved a loyal friend.
That was the reason his absence worried her considerably. Luffy was the epitome of reliability and honesty. He'd never be absent without a good reason. Sakura was certain that they had wanted to meet here at noon.
Frowning, the medic scanned her surroundings for her friend but came up with nothing. Her stomach twisted in concern and she was on her way back to the village in a flash.
She sensed Red Hair and his crew in Foosha but went there anyway. They'd come to some kind of truce over the last few months and Shanks hadn't really bothered her anymore.
When Sakura arrived, she could make out Luffy's aura in the bar and immediately felt a wave of relief.
He is alright.
The medic had to correct that impression when she entered and saw that her friend was sporting a band-aid under his left eye. She rushed to him—masterly ignoring the fact that she had to climb the stool next to him in order to reach his face at all— and grabbed his chin to examine his cheek.
"Sakura!" her friend spluttered in surprise and barely managed to keep his balance on the barstool and not spill his glass of juice.
"Hold still," the kunoichi warned, slipping effortlessly into her role as a doctor and raising her hand to scan the injury with a quick pulse of chakra. Her green eyes narrowed when she discovered that whoever did this had gotten dangerously close to harming Luffy's eye. The only thing that had the medic at loss was the angle at which the injury had been inflicted. From below?
"Who did this?" Sakura questioned. Her tone of voice was low—dangerous. When her friend didn't answer right away and instead started to fidget around on his stool, her pink eyebrows bumped together in a scowl.
She abruptly focused some of her attention on the other people occupying the room. Turning her head to face them, Sakura noticed that neither Shanks nor anybody else was meeting her eyes. The emperor was even scratching the back of his head in embarrassment.
The kunoichi's scowl deepened. Her gaze went back to Luffy and she shot him a stern look. The black-haired boy squirmed but ultimately relented.
"IstabbedmyselfwithaknifetheretoprovethatIcanjoinShanksonhisadventures!" he blurted out.
Sakura needed a moment to process his words.
Her mouth went slack, unbelieving. The kunoichi closed her eyes and tried to take deep breaths. Relax, Sakura. Don't throw a tantrum, she told herself.
It had taken a while for the medic to realize, that her unusually impulsive behavior and frequent fits of anger weren't only caused by her short temper in general. Being in the body of a child actually had major drawbacks other than the ones that had been obvious in the first place. Sakura had also gained an unfortunate tendency towards emotional outbursts and temper tantrums.
The medic reached out for Luffy's cheek and he slightly tensed. Carefully taking off the band-aid, Sakura took a closer look at his injury.
At least it's stitched up nicely.
"This will scar," she explained to Luffy, missing the way his face lit up at her words. Sakura contemplated healing him. Maybe being scarred for life would teach him a lesson.
Inwardly sighing, she set her hand alight with the familiar green light and just wanted to mend the cut, when Luffy seized her hand and stopped her. Green eyes met black.
"Don't," he demanded, his voice calm. Sakura blinked in surprise. Her friend was absolutely serious.
"Why?" the kunoichi uttered.
"That would be cheating. I stabbed myself and now I have to fully take the consequences," Luffy stated. "Besides, scars are awesome!" he added brightly.
Her ire rising, Sakura tried to not follow her first impulse and punch her friend in the face. Instead, a muscle under her left eye started twitching.
Ten months ago, she would have insisted on healing Luffy but by now she knew better. That boy could be as stubborn as a mule if he wanted.
He wants to keep the scar? Fine with me, Sakura boiled.
"I'll go upstairs," she snapped at him and made her way through the bar, silently fuming about stupid black-haired boys and a certain red-haired pirate emperor who slowly proved to be a really bad influence.
Later that day, Sakura found herself downstairs with Luffy and the Red Hair crew again. Still a bit miffed, she was sitting at the bar, reading a book about herbalism and trying to ignore the men drinking and partying around her.
Luffy was on another 'I want to be a Pirate'-trip, a habit he had taken up some time ago. For Shanks, it had become increasingly difficult to come up with reasons to leave Luffy on Dawn Island when he would finally take off. Sakura had made sure to teach her friend how to swim and now the red-haired captain always had to find other excuses. It was hilarious.
Suddenly, the bar's swing doors got kicked in. Only the right one got blown out of its hinges though and landed not far away from Sakura. It became silent in the room.
What incompetent person only manages to destroy one part of the door? she asked herself and wasn't overly concerned about whoever was standing outside.
Besides, there were a dozen Grand Line pirates in the bar right now. What was the worst that could happen?
She concentrated on her book again but nevertheless watched the events unfold from the corner of her eye.
"Excuse me," rang out from the entrance. A slimy looking guy with a goatee came in; he was being followed by some really stupid looking thugs.
The man strutted through the bar as if he owned it and stopped next to the stool where Shanks was sitting. Combined with his snooty facial expression that was a reason for Sakura to already want to punch him in the face.
What an idiot.
Next, the idiot-bandit—what was his name anyway?—was launching into a monologue about how pathetic pirates were, trying to get a reaction out of the red-haired captain. Shanks though stayed continuously polite and easygoing and the kunoichi had problems not to burst into laughter.
A simple bandit was trying to intimidate one of the Four Pirate Emperors—without even realizing who he was talking to? Ridiculous.
When the guy decided to throw a tantrum and smashed the bottle with the remaining sake in the face of the red-haired captain, a small giggle escaped her. The idiot-bandit's head snapped around. "Who laughed?" he demanded to know, particles of saliva flying everywhere.
Sakura who was 'seemingly' engrossed by her book didn't react apart from turning a page over. Since the bandit apparently couldn't make out the culprit, he turned back to Shanks.
When the intruder—Higuma—started bragging about the innocent people he had killed, Sakura's amusement wore off. Anger bubbled up inside of her.
Shanks was still sticking with the pacifist way which earned him her grudging respect for staying so calm. He could just kill the idiot-bandit with a snap of his fingers. She probably would've done just that if she didn't have a cover to maintain.
When Higuma drew his saber and started to wave it around, she could've wrought his neck at any moment. Sakura saw Makino's hands shaking with fear, her lips trembling. She's afraid. Won't Shanks do anything to make the guy leave?
Apparently not. When Higuma's hand moved again towards the handle of his saber, the kunoichi decided to act.
"Sir," the sweet voice of a child filled the room. When Higuma turned his attention to her, Sakura, still focused on her book, continued, "I think it would be best if you leave now."
The idiot-bandit grinned wolfishly.
"What did you just say, girl?" he asked.
The medic closed her book with a loud thud.
"I said—" she began slowly and deliberately aimed her full killing intent at him. Satisfaction flooded her when she noticed him freeze.
Raising her head to face him, Sakura pinned him with eyes so cold, they could probably freeze hell three times over, and continued with a flat voice, "—you should leave. Now."
Higuma's eyes widened and he involuntarily took a step back. The pinkette hid a smirk. While her killing intent wasn't all that strong in her current situation, she was still able to scare off some stupid bandit who dared to terrify a kind soul like Makino.
The idiot-bandit and his men left the bar faster than anyone could blink. A grin spread over her face but it vanished when she felt the curious stares of the pirate crew on her back. Sakura looked at them with the most innocent expression she could manage and raised an eyebrow as if to say What? Did something happen?
All of a sudden, Shanks's booming laughter reverberated across the room and the whole crew joined in. Shouts like "He got you good, captain" and "Hahaha, our captain looked so silly!" filled the bar.
Luffy's loud voice interrupted the notion. "That was disgraceful!" the black-haired boy yelled, "Why didn't you fight him? So what if they have more people?! Who laughs after getting picked on? You're not a man, and not a pirate either?"
He doesn't understand, Sakura realized. While the kunoichi could respect Shanks's pacifist approach on things and kind of got why the captain didn't react hostilely, she would've acted immediately after Higuma had scared Makino (and Luffy, to some degree).
Her thoughts were interrupted when she saw Luffy's arm stretch like a rubber band. Sakura gaped.
What the hell did that boy do?! How did he manage...
When Lucky Roo began to explain to them that Luffy had evidently eaten a Devil Fruit, Sakura inwardly groaned. Didn't she tell Luffy about Devil Fruits and their outward appearance enough during their time on the beach for him to be able to not eat one at the first opportunity?
Sakura knew how Luffy could be when it came to food but still...
Why did I even teach him how to swim? she thought sourly.
Shanks was currently yelling at Luffy and her poor friend seemed just short of bursting into tears. Deciding to have some pity on him, Sakura grabbed her book and made her way over to them.
"That's enough," she firmly stated; positioning herself next to her friend in a show of support. He seemed to need it—she'd never seen him so miserable before. Luffy's eyes were wide and his lips trembling.
"Yelling at him won't help anybody," she reasoned with the emperor.
I'll take care of him, her eyes assured the captain.
Sakura turned towards her distraught friend. "Let's go Luffy," she chimed, trying to cheer him up and took his hand. When he hesitated, Sakura smiled warmly at him and pulled him outside.
"Why don't we test how far your arm can stretch?" she suggested, successfully distracting him. Luffy beamed at her.
That's how Sakura found herself spending the afternoon with Luffy, experimenting with his new 'superpowers' ("They're awesome, Sakura! Look, I can stretch my arm soooooo long!") and bragging everywhere about them.
It was the next day when—after repeatedly annoying the poor mayor and various other citizens by wobbling his overly long, rubbery limbs around—Sakura managed to pull her friend into the Party's Bar which was deserted except for Makino. Maybe she could finally get some quiet time to read?
Luffy was slurping his juice as usual, but if you observed him closely you could see that there was something weighing heavily upon his mind. He usually was as happy as he was blunt but despite his newfound Devil Fruit abilities, the black-haired boy seemed downtrodden.
Makino and Sakura exchanged worried glances.
Did the situation yesterday affect him that badly? Sakura wondered. Concern welled up in her.
If she was honest, the kunoichi thought that Shanks's reaction was admirable. She didn't have that kind of patience, especially not if the person annoying her wasn't worth the dirt under her shoes. The emperor would've been able to crush the idiot-bandit in a second but instead, he decided to stay easygoing to avoid a true conflict.
Well, it's not like Luffy would understand that. He is frighteningly perceptive of emotions but still just a child, Sakura pondered.
"Hey Luffy," she began and smiled warmly at him when he turned his head to face her. "Why do you think Shanks didn't fight those bandits yesterday?" she asked.
His eyebrows immediately creased into a deep frown, showing his displeasure.
"I don't know!" he fumed. "He should've just shown them that he is the strongest! They were making fun of him!" His voice was getting louder and his dark eyes rested at her with a distraught look.
Sakura nodded sagely. "They were making fun of him, right. But did they do anything else? Apart from wasting some good sake?"
Luffy seemed confused. "What do you mean?"
"Well," the medic continued, her green eyes twinkling, "they didn't really hurt anybody, did they?"
Her friend thought deeply. "They…they didn't," he finally admitted.
"So why would Shanks start a fight? Isn't it more admirable to find a peaceful solution? Let me tell you something Luffy," Sakura hummed and stared deeply into her friend's eyes. Green clashed with black.
"A really strong person isn't one who resorts to violence but somebody who only fights when it's really necessary," she stated.
That was something Sakura had learned over the years. She might be a kunoichi and a killer but finding peaceful solutions on missions was always her top priority. That was, if her temper didn't put a spoke in her wheel.
Luffy was soaking up her words with slight desperation. "Is that true?" he whispered, and when Sakura's expression softened and she nodded, he reached out and crushed her in a hug.
Maybe an ideal like that was naive and foolish, but Sakura didn't care. The kunoichi had to think about all those cruel and heartless people who existed in Luffy's world too. She had seen what some people were capable of, often enough. None of them had understood what it truly meant to be strong. They were ruthless and thought that strength came from overpowering others.
She didn't have the heart to tell Luffy about that though. She just held him a little tighter.
"Never fight just because you want to prove that you're stronger or better. You should fight to protect the things you hold close to your heart. People you love, like your friends and family. Sometimes you even have to fight to protect what you believe in," she whispered in his ear.
"Okay," Luffy murmured.
Pulling back, her smile was met with his sparkling eyes. Suddenly, warm lips were pressed onto her cheek. The kunoichi reeled back in surprise and felt her face heat up. Luffy smiled dazzlingly at her and her mouth opened and closed like a fish with no tone coming out of it.
What the hell? Why am I so flustered? We're kids for fuck's sake! And I am inwardly eighteen years old by now!
"W-W-Why did you do that?" she stammered—why was she stammering anyway? She was a grown woman!
Luffy grinned brightly and snickered, "Shishishishi, you're funny! Shanks told me that if a boy likes a girl he should kiss her!" Sakura was left speechless.
Apparently, the subject was settled to Luffy, because her friend turned around again and refocused his attention back on his glass of juice.
Before Sakura had the chance to react accordingly to his strange behavior, a voice sounded from the entrance door.
"Excuse me."
It was Higuma. Luffy turned pale and Makino slightly tensed, while Sakura stayed relaxed; just watching them. There might be no Shanks here right now but she could still easily defend them against some stupid bandits, she was sure of that.
Clearly, Higuma wasn't that slow on the uptake because he oh so shrewdly observed, "We're back again. Looks like the Pirates aren't here today. It sure is quiet."
Then, he and his men were quick to occupy every table as if they owned the place and irritably demanded, "What are you waiting for?! We're customers! Bring us some sake!"
Makino did her best to realize that wish as fast as possible and when every bandit was supplied and merrily drinking, Sakura's inner tension lessened. Surely they would just drink their sake and then disappear again. Makino seemed more relaxed too.
The kunoichi snatched up the newspaper that was lying on the bar counter and immersed herself in it. Some Hancock woman had been given a position in the Shichibukai recently...
After a while, Sakura became aware of their guests' conversation. "Remember the expression on those pirates' faces the other day?" she heard.
"He didn't even say anything after getting hit by a bottle! What a gutless pansy!" they laughed.
Higuma's voice stood out. "When I see a wimp like that it just makes me so mad. I really wanted to kill him," he carelessly remarked.
Sakura tried to not let his words get to her, it always made her angry to hear somebody talk so belittlingly about a life.
The idiot-bandit continued, "Pirates only know how to act cool, they—"
"Shut up!" a loud voice interrupted him.
"Huh?" All heads turned to the voice and Sakura's blood ran cold when she recognized Luffy, being held back by Makino.
"Don't underestimate Shanks! He's not a coward!" the raven-haired boy roared, his black eyes ablaze with fury.
The bandit stood up, sporting a threatening grin.
Luffy eventually managed to tear himself away from Makino and stood in front of Higuma, the bandit towering over him. Luffy looked up to Higuma and clenched his fists, seemingly not afraid at all.
"Don't underestimate Shanks! He is a great pirate!"
This boy has courage, a voice in her mind pointed out.
With bated breath, Sakura observed the situation closely.
"Underestimate him? That pirate is worth as much as the dirt under my shoes, he's a total wimp," the bandit cruelly sneered.
Luffy's whole body stiffened with anger, he was only short of attacking Higuma but something seemed to hold him back.
"Shanks is worth twenty times as much as someone like you! You are just a stupid bandit!" the black-haired boy shouted, his voice firm and his chin held high.
The idiot-bandit's eyes narrowed with anger. Sakura saw his hand moving to the handle of his blade.
He wouldn't, she panicked and inwardly cursed. Not really thinking about the consequences, Sakura stepped in.
Before Higuma could draw his weapon, she had already grabbed Luffy's shoulder to pull him behind her and had positioned herself between him and the enemy.
Cocking his head to the side, the man scrutinized her. "You again," he murmured lowly.
Damn it.
I'm just a tiny girl with pink hair, she assured herself. He probably can be dangerous but he wouldn't do anything to me.
His right hand went into the direction of his blade again. Sakura cleared her throat and politely began, "Sir, let's not resort to viol—"
BANG!
He shot her in the shin. She cried out in pain and surprise because it hurthurthurtsobadly.
Before she could react, he grabbed her by her pink hair and the kunoichi felt herself being violently flung across the room, over the bar counter, and into the wall, where she collided with the various glasses and bottles of a shelf. Her world went black.
She woke up from the throbbing pain in her leg and back of her head. Blinking sluggishly, Sakura sat up and let out a hiss of agony. Furthermore, she cut her hand on a piece of broken glass in the process.
Her vision was blurred—a concussion?—but she could vaguely recognize Makino's face in front of her. The green-haired woman was kneeling next to her.
"Sakura! Sakura! Are you alright?" the bar owner's concerned voice reached her ears. The pinkette groaned and brought a hand to her temple, not the least surprised when she felt the sticky consistency of blood there.
"I'm alright," Sakura lied. Not really, but I've had far worse. "Where's Luffy?" she asked Makino.
"They…they took him," the woman answered in a whisper. Her voice trembled as if she was going to burst into tears at any moment.
A harsh curse flew out of Sakura's mouth and she abruptly tried to stand up, just to fall again because her world was spinning and her stomach churning.
Sakura felt Makino's hands on her shoulders. "Don't move! Wait here. I'll go and get help!" the bar owner reassured. The woman stood up and the medic could see her blurry image leave the bar in a hurry.
Blinking owlishly, the pink-haired girl tried to clear her vision but to no avail. Well, I can't sit around all day, Sakura mused and quickly lit her hand in green light.
I have to find Luffy. The head injury has to go first, she decided.
Her concussion was pretty heavy, but she wasn't one of the best medical ninjas for no reason. After a minute her vision cleared again and the annoying pounding stopped.
Sakura looked around. Where she had collided with the shelf it was completely destroyed and she was lying in a pile of broken glass. Her skin was littered with hundreds of small cuts, and in many places, shards were still stuck in her skin. Sakura couldn't bother to heal them right now though.
A quick scan told her that the bullet Higuma had used to hurt her, had gotten lodged into the bone of her shin. There was no way to get it out properly in a short amount of time. Which, frankly, sucked majorly since it hurt like hell.
In short, Sakura did the only thing a kunoichi would do in a situation like hers.
Instead of healing the whole injury, she just stopped the sluggish bleeding with a small pulse of green light and stood up.
The pain was pretty bad, she had to admit. Her old body had been used to wounds and pain, but this... really, really hurt.
I guess I have to get used to this, she told herself. I have to help Luffy!
Tears of anger welled up in her eyes when she thought about what happened. So stupid. I underestimated him.
Ignoring the excruciating pain in her leg and her other injuries, Sakura flashed out of the bar.
Sakura arrived to a furious pirate emperor and a dead bandit on the ground. Narrowed green eyes immediately found Luffy, his head was being squished under Higuma's foot and hot fury rose in her. Hiding behind the corner of a house, she watched the events unfold, waiting for the right moment.
"The people standing in front of you are pirates," Shanks started. His expression was hard and unyielding. "Listen well to me bandits…you can pour drinks on me, you can throw food at me…or even spit on me. I can laugh it off. But!" a dangerous glint appeared in his usually warm brown eyes.
"I don't care what reasons you have! I won't forgive anyone who messes with my friends!" Shanks declared passionately.
A shiver of anticipation went down Sakura's spine. She saw Higuma laugh the emperor's words off, sending his bandits at the pirate crew. Sakura knew that Shanks and Benn could beat them easily, but she didn't want to let them handle the situation.
I'll show those assholes exactly who they were messing with, she thought with gritted teeth.
The kunoichi leaped into action. As the bandits were attacking, multiple kunai whistled through the air and hit several bandits in the eye.
Sakura flashed in front of two more, jumped into the air, killed them with a well-aimed blow to their necks, and elegantly landed in a crouch in front of the remaining attackers. Slowly, she raised her head to gaze at them and her expression was so icy, the men paled and took a step back in fear instead of continuing their assault. She gave them a menacing grin.
Feeling several gazes on her back, the kunoichi turned slightly to look back at the Red Hair Crew. Shanks was scanning her injuries—the spot where she'd been shot, her temple that was caked with blood, the many, many cuts where pieces of broken glass had hurt her and were still stuck in some places in her skin.
His face was like thunder.
I probably look like hell, Sakura thought amused. At least I feel like that.
Higuma's voice could be heard, shrill and trembling, "W-W-What are you doing here?! I shot you in the leg and threw you into a fucking wall! You're just a small girl with fucking pink hair! You shouldn't even be able to stand!"
Sakura snorted. "It's dangerous to judge your enemies by their appearance," she retorted with a dark smile dangling on the corner of her lips.
"I give you a choice. Either you let my friend go, or I'll kill your men and make sure that you regret the day you were born," she threatened him.
"Never! Kill her, men!" Higuma howled.
Sakura decided to make short work of her opponents. Her movements were flowing like a dancer's while she jumped high in the air, ducked, or sidestepped weapons to elude attacks. At the same time, the kunoichi got behind their backs in an instant to defeat them, mainly using kunai to save chakra.
The blood was singing in her veins and Sakura felt like coming home. She was a kunoichi of Konohagakure, fighting was a fundamental part of her life, and being able to plow through enemies was something she had missed since her arrival in this world.
At some point, Benn had apparently decided to come to help her out. He blocked a blow that might have hit her from behind and the two of them started beating up the bandits together. Sakura easily adapted to having someone fight beside her and immediately, Benn and she were working side by side, like a well-oiled machine.
It was exhilarating. They were dancing together, weaving their way through their enemies and leaving them in a daze. She almost wished to be able to fight with him on a regular basis.
The bandits were beaten in a matter of minutes.
He managed to escape with Luffy, she realized when she scanned the proximity for Higuma. Sakura discovered them both on a small boat on the water, already a good distance away from the jetty. Determined to rush to help her friend, she took a step towards the sea only to let out a hiss because of the horrific pain in her leg.
Taking a deep breath, the kunoichi wanted to continue on her way to save Luffy, when she felt a warm hand on her shoulder. Sakura turned her head and saw Shanks looking at her with a soft expression.
"Please. Stay here. I'll take care of this," the captain promised, his warm brown eyes silently asking her to trust him.
Sakura gazed at him for what felt like a long time until she finally nodded and took a step back. Her eyes followed the red-haired man when he broke into a run.
With a sigh, she turned around and started to recollect her kunai. They were coated in blood but she pocketed them anyway.
Makino rushed to her side. "Are you alright, Sakura-chan?" she asked, fearfully glimpsing at the dead bandits but still approaching the pinkette.
"I'm alright," Sakura responded with a weak smile. "Nothing too bad."
Her attention snapped back to the sea when Benn suddenly tensed. Lucky Roo and Yasopp rushed to the jetty. Sakura's brows knitted together in a frown.
Something is wrong, she thought and followed them, still trying to walk normally despite the pain in her leg. The medic approached the jetty and watched as Lucky Roo and Yasopp lifted their captain out of the water with Luffy in tow. Then she noticed something that took her breath away.
His arm, she realized, Shanks lost his arm. How the fuck? What happened?
Luffy was sobbing, but he seemed unharmed. When he noticed Sakura standing a few feet away, he rushed to her and hugged her fiercely. Pain shot through her injuries, but she ignored it and demanded to know, "What happened, Luffy?"
He recounted the events with a trembling voice. From his story, interrupted by sobs, she gathered that the Sea King of Dawn Island—also called Lord of the Coast—had first eaten Higuma and the boat. When Luffy had then desperately tried to stay afloat and the Sea King had attacked him, Shanks had suddenly come and sacrificed his arm to save Luffy.
Sakura slammed her eyes shut. The Lord of the Coast was a Sea King who inhabited the waters of Dawn Island, typically near Foosha Village. It was dangerous but also protected the inhabitants from various unwelcome guests.
She had also read that Sea Kings didn't chew their meals.
Opening her eyes again, Sakura observed the red-haired captain, who was currently trying to soothe his fussing first mate. Shanks didn't seem bothered at all, he was still smiling.
He sacrificed his arm to save a seven-year-old boy, she thought, astonishment and respect flooding her.
I completely misjudged him. Pirate or not, he is a good man.
Luffy was still crying, hot tears still flowing down his cheeks. Sakura desperately wanted to stop them. An idea came to her. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on her sensing ability and focused her attention on the sea.
There, she located its Voice, there it is. The kunoichi opened her eyes again, considered the amount of chakra she had left, and calculated the risks.
If there is even the slightest chance… I have to try it!
"Luffy," she started and waited until she had his full attention, "everything will be alright. I promise!" she assured him and sent him a warm smile. Her friend looked at her in confusion. Then, new tears fell.
"B-B-But Sh-Shanks arm is g-g-gone!" He sobbed.
Sakura raised her hands and cradled his wet face. Luffy froze and stared at her. "I promise you, Luffy. It'll be alright." She wiped his tears away.
"Do you trust me?" she asked softly.
"I do," he whispered back.
"Then stay right here," Sakura instructed him.
I'm a kunoichi of Konohagakure, she reassured herself. I can do this.
Her searching gaze turned to the sea. After taking a deep breath, she broke off into a run.
Her feet were drumming over the jetty and she had a hard time blending out the nearly unbearable pain in her leg every time she put her weight on it. When Sakura reached the jetty's end, she directed some chakra into her uninjured leg and catapulted herself high in the air, into the sea.
Luffy saw his best friend run off and felt very scared. His dark, tearful eyes followed her every step and when the pinkette jumped off the jetty into the water—it was a really high and long jump—he waited with bated breath for her to appear on the surface again. Only she didn't. Minutes went by.
She promised. That everything will be alright. I said that I trust her so I have to believe in her, he tried to calm himself.
Besides, she's a ninja and very strong! he told himself, trying to suppress the images of Higuma shooting Sakura's leg and hurling her into a wall that welled up in his mind. Luffy watched the sea like a hawk and when finally something happened, he wasn't able to tear his gaze away.
Sakura was underwater. She knew that the Lord of the Coast had to be somewhere nearby since she could feel its gaze preying on her but at the moment she was essentially helpless since she didn't know where exactly it was.
So, Sakura concentrated. She firmly focused on her sensing ability, but somehow couldn't get a real grip on the Voices around her. It may have been the fact that her air was getting low and her injuries were burning like nothing else she ever experienced though. Saltwater and open cuts all over her weren't a great combination.
Sakura was also getting increasingly nervous. The Sea King was probably targeting her at this instant but she couldn't do a thing because she wasn't able to locate it.
Her instincts were screaming at her to move but she didn't know where the enemy was.
All of a sudden, a voice resonated in her mind. A Voice so beautiful it almost would have ensnared her because she could've listened to it for days without end. The Voice of the sea.
And Sakura understood it.
To your right, the sea cried out.
The kunoichi barely evaded snapping jaws and the instant the Sea King passed by her, Sakura used her chakra to attach herself to its back. A wild ride began. The Lord of the Coast twisted and turned to shake her off, but to no avail. The medic gritted her teeth and held on. It even jumped out of the water once and she could hear distant shouts of surprise from the people on the shore.
There was no way back now.
I have to get into its mouth.
Luffy was on edge. After the Sea King had jumped out of the water and Sakura had been riding on his back he anxiously waited for her to appear again. She did.
This time, Luffy saw the pink-haired figure jump off the Sea King and higher into the air, somersaulting and falling down with her arms stretched out. The Lord of the Coast opened his jaws wide and Luffy's blood froze in horror when he saw that…Sakura fell right between the rows of sharp teeth and got swallowed by the Lord of the Coast. It disappeared again into the depths of the ocean.
The sight filled Luffy with dread. He felt like crying again.
Since it was evidently damn slimy inside a Sea King's mouth, Sakura had real problems to secure herself with chakra to the walls. Ultimately, she gave it up and used kunai instead, which she rammed between the teeth of the creature with much satisfaction. Holding onto those, she looked around and discovered Shanks arm further in the back where it was stuck between two teeth.
The kunoichi smiled gleefully. Oh, this is lucky. I don't have to actually visit its stomach or kill the whole thing just to get the arm back.
Carefully, Sakura reached out for it, but she slipped and nearly tumbled down the throat. Grimacing, she stretched further, her injured leg vehemently protesting, until she finally managed to grab onto the ripped material of Shanks's shirt that remained, with the tips of her fingers. A few twists and turns later, the medic held the severed arm tightly in her hand.
But how would she get out of there like this? Sakura was pretty sure she needed both hands to make the stubborn Sea King somehow open his mouth.
As a kunoichi, you have to be pragmatic, she pondered and without further ado, put Shanks's arm in her mouth and bit on it to secure it there.
Yummy, she thought and had the sudden, crazy urge to laugh like a loon. But at least both of my hands are free.
Sakura concentrated on her task again. Reaching for her Explosive Tags, she mentally prepared herself for the next step of her plan.
It has been more than just a few minutes by now, Luffy estimated.
A voice in the back of his head was mocking him. Is she even ali—
No! I have to believe in her! She promised that everything will be alright!
He would believe in her. Shanks beside him seemed to be concerned as well. The captain didn't tear his gaze from the place where Sakura and the Sea King had disappeared even once.
All of a sudden, a small fountain shot out of the water not far from that spot. Luffy's gaze was glued to the sea. What was happening?
Without warning, Sakura shot out of the water, landed on its surface, and started running. She had—Luffy's eyes nearly bulged out of his head—an arm firmly lodged between her teeth.
Shanks's arm! She…She retrieved it!
"Go Sakura!" he cheered and watched her running across the water surface in their direction.
Suddenly, she threw herself to the left and slithered over the water. Not a moment too early—with horror, Luffy watched the giant jaws of the Lord of the Coast snap closed where his pink-haired friend had just been.
It's following her!
Sakura had to dodge another attack only moments later.
How does she even know where it'll strike next? It always charges from below the water's surface! Luffy wondered. He didn't have the time to further ponder about the subject though.
Sakura had nearly reached the jetty and he could discern her clearly. She looked horrible, he noticed. Her clothes and hair were wet and there were hundreds of small, bleeding cuts visible on her skin. Luffy violently flinched when he thought about the pain she must be in right now.
Finally, the last steps. He was confused when she took Shanks's arm out of her mouth for no apparent reason and carried it on with her hand instead.
Without warning, the Sea King shot out of the water towards Sakura again. His jaws were about to open and devour the girl, when she jumped, turned in the air, and delivered a powerful punch to the side of its head.
Her battle cry went right through him.
"Shannaro!"
It sounded raw in some way, rough like the jagged edge of a rock, and had an unyielding, underlying power in it.
The Lord of the Coast was propelled back by the force of her punch and if Luffy had been closer, he would've even heard the slight crack its jaw made.
Sakura landed in a crouch on the jetty and when she rose, Luffy was in awe. Her movements were still gracious and flowing, her pink hair was darker due to the water but still beautiful and her eyes seemed to be ablaze with green fire.
Their gazes met.
Luffy was staring at her. Sakura sent him a weak smile. She was dead on her feet but still felt triumph rush through her. Looking at the severed arm in her hand, a goofy grin appeared on her face.
I got the arm. Now the only thing I have to do is...
Determined, she approached Luffy and Shanks. The emperor had seated himself on a crate, his gaze felt scorching.
The medic came to a halt next to him and went into doctor mode. "Please remove your shirt," she ordered him.
"Sakura," Benn intervened and came over to them, "what are you doing?"
She sent him an unbelieving look and felt her patience thin out.
"Well, I'm about to reattach his arm. Why do you think I jumped into the mouth of a Sea King to retrieve it in the first place?" she snapped.
Benn's expression became troubled. Hesitantly, he explained, "You can't reattach the arm, Sakura. It's been severed for nearly twenty minutes now. Even with your powers, it will be impossible."
The kunoichi stared at him in disbelief. Impossible? Who is he to decide what is possible and what isn't? I've reattached hundreds of severed limbs in my life! Should I also believe that finding a way back home is impossible?! Sakura tried to calm her reeling thoughts.
"Benn Beckman, we live in a world where gigantic Sea Kings exist and people gain extraordinary powers if they eat certain fruits," she began heavily. "In this world, there are hundreds of fascinating places and islands to explore, things you can't imagine without ever having seen them. It's where a few words of a certain pirate have ignited a blazing fire in the hearts of the people and have caused the start of a whole new age. Do you really think that there's anything in this world that isn't possible?" she demanded to know, her luminous green eyes pinning the first mate with an unyielding stare.
A stunned silence ensued.
At last, Benn did something astonishing. He clenched his hand to a fist, laid it on his heart, and bowed his head towards her in a gesture of respect.
"You're right," he confessed. "I apologize for doubting you."
Sakura just accepted his apology with a nod and turned back to Shanks. The captain had already taken off his shirt. On any other day, the kunoichi would've let her gaze wander admiringly over the muscles he had exposed but right now she had more important things to take care of.
Holding the severed arm in place with her right hand and closing her eyes, the medic ignored the agonizing pain that was still shooting through her body.
She had to concentrate.
She also ignored the burning stares of the surrounding people on her back and considered the amount of chakra left. This will be a close call, she inwardly sighed.
Not opening her eyes, Sakura eventually started to work. Concentrating healing chakra in her left hand, she began to knit everything back together. The arm had been severed for a amount of time, yes, but the damage done was nothing she couldn't mend.
The medic immersed herself in the healing. Eventually, when her chakra became sparse, a splitting headache was accompanied by it. She had to finish this though. Otherwise, everything would've been in vain.
At some point, she heard Luffy cry out in concern. Sakura frowned when she felt something warm and fluid trickling down her chin.
Nosebleed, she recognized. One characteristic of severe Chakra Exhaustion. At least she was nearly finished. The medic gritted her teeth. She just had to reconnect the nerves...
When Sakura finally opened her eyes again, black spots were dancing through her vision and her head felt like it'd split open at any moment. Her gaze met the concerned eyes of Shanks and Luffy. Sakura blinked slowly.
She cleared her throat. Just a few things left to do, she assured herself.
"Can you feel this?" she asked the emperor and poked his hand on different spots with her fingers. Shanks nodded and opened his mouth, probably to say something like 'You should take a break, Sakura. You look like shit!' but she didn't let him get a word in.
"Can you move it normally?" she asked him and managed an expectant expression on her face.
Only then, it apparently dawned to the captain that he had his arm back. With a gaze full of wonder, he turned it in every possible way and wiggled his fingers. A smile tugged at Sakura's lips.
Shanks looked back at her and started to say something, but she beat him to it.
"Don't thank me. You're my friend, you don't have to say anything. Just know that there's nothing I wouldn't do for the people I consider precious to me," she stated and gifted him with a true smile, full of warmth and affection.
Then, everything went black.
Tadaa!
I wasn't sure myself about what kind of relationship Sakura and Luffy would have but when I wrote the chapter, this small kiss on her cheek basically wrote itself so I just decided to roll with it! Who knows what will become of it? Time will tell, I guess xD
That applies to any other eventual pairings too. I haven't decided about anything yet.
I really hope you liked the chapter. Please tell me what you think about it!
Have a great day! :)