This is the 13th chapter. I don't own the series of One Piece.
No flame reviews.
Battle at the North Shore! Luffy vs Kuro
Gecko Island
During the battle at the North Shore, Luffy was still sleeping due to Django's hypnotizing ability which it was unintentional and the battle wasn't going as the Black Cat pirates wanted. One of the Meowban brothers, Butchie, was beaten by Ventus and Nami was wounded by the hypnotist. What's worst case scenario was that, Kuro have arrived at the North Shore and he wasn't pleased of the progress since his plan have gone down the drain. Now, the Black Cat pirates were really afraid of their captain since he arrived here in the shore. Django manages to pull himself out of the cliff, but still stumbled from Ventus' back fist while Butchie manage to stand up which he's a bloody mess.
Zoro and Ventus were looking at Kuro with a scowl on their faces. The young Dragoon then glance at the hypnotist, bruised up from his face and blood came out of his mouth while his red heart-shaped glasses were cracked and broken but still on his face. Even Siam and Butchie were trembling with fear because of his prescence. Usopp then look at Kuro in shock with fear, knew that he was coming here as he spoke.
"To think that these brats have held you back." Kuro said seriously, dropping his bag down to the ground. "How the Black Cat pirates have fallen?"
Then his veins began to pop out of his head, adjusting his glasses with pure anger.
"What do you have to say for yourself? DJANGO!?" Kuro roared at the hypnotist, leaving Django trembled with fear.
"But...uh...well...I...you said..." Django said, trying to find the right words. "I'm sorry sir, but you said letting the kid go wouldn't cause any problems."
That got Usopp shocked which he did tell Luffy and his crew about his plan last night.
"I did say that." Kuro said seriously, causing Usopp to look at him. "What's the point? He's an idiot! I knew no one would listen to his warnings and he would come stumbling back to take a stand against us, but the one thing I hadn't taking account for was your inexcusable weakness!?"
"Sir, we're not weak! It's just that..." Django weakly retorts, tried to find the words.
"Who are you to call us weak!?" Siam exclaims with anger.
"What did you say, Captain Kuro?" Butchie added with anger.
The Meowban brothers then readied their claws since they were on edge, causing Zoro and Ventus to look at them.
'I thought I'd finished him off with my abilities, but it seems he was more durable than I thought.' Ventus mentally thought, looking at Butchie.
"You use to be quite the killer." Siam stated. "But face it Kuro, it's been 3 years and we haven't exactly been living a good life waiting on a rich girl hand in foot."
"Yeah that's right, for 3 long years! We've been out sinking pirates ships and massacring villagers!" Butchie added.
"Very good, finished?" Kuro questions.
"No! You've Done Nothing This Whole Time! We've Been Killing!" Siam yelled with killing intent grin.
"You Butler! There's No Way You Can Beat The Meowban Brothers!" Butchie added with his own killing intent grin.
With that, the Meowban Brothers then rush towards their former captain, readied their got Django worried about those two since they're being foolish for going against Kuro.
"Don't! Siam! Butchie! Stop!" Django warned them, but neither of the two were listening.
The Meowban Brothers were still charging after Kuro, causing him to grab hold of his bag.
"You Are Not Our Captain Anymore!?" Siam yelled.
"So Sorry, But We Have To Kill You!?" Butchie added as they were about to kill him.
Kuro then lift up his bag, making a silent rapid-foot movement as the Meowban Brothers then mauled him, but they manage to destroy the bag instead. That got the two shocked when they failed to realize that Kuro have manage to get behind them without a single scratch, causing the sheathes to drop down to the ground, revealing his claws.
"What!? He's behind them!? How the hell he'd...And what are those crazy weapons?" Zoro questioned with confusion.
That got the Meowban Brothers trembled as Kuro spoke.
"Who? Who are you going to kill?" Kuro questions with his dark tone, readied his claws. They then look behind him.
"He snuck up!"
"Right behind us!"
Kuro then silently making a rapid-foot movement once again as he then vanished, leaving the two stop in their tracks.
"He-He-He's gone!?" Butchie exclaimed with shock.
'I caught his scent, but he was able to move around very quickly.' Ventus thought, sniffing the air when he caught Kuro's scent. 'And he was coming after them.'
"The Pussyfoot Maneuver." Django said with fright, leaving Nami confused.
Kuro then use his rapid-foot movement to come around the Meowban Brothers, causing the two to look around with fright and trembled as Kuro then snuck up on them from behind, closing his claws towards them. The Meowban Brothers were now trembling with fear and sheds a tear in their eyes.
"You know, you're right. I do feel a bit sluggish after all these years." Kuro said seriously, covering his eyes with glasses.
'He's handling them like babies. And those two barely beating Zoro and Ventus.' Nami mentally thought with shock.
'With his Pussyfoot Maneuver, Captain Kuro could shred everyone on this beach before we drew our next breath.' Django mentally thought when he tipped his hat, remembered of Kuro's technique which it was a deadly move. 'When we won't see it coming, there is no escape from a killing machine like him.'
He then remembered that Kuro have adjusted his glasses with his claws without even scratching his face which it was really scary.
'I knew he hadn't grown soft when I saw that old habit of his. That strange way of lifting his glasses so that he won't cut his face, it's like he never stopped wearing his cat-claws. They're almost apart of his body, of course he hasn't forgotten how to fight!?' Django mentally exclaims with fright. The Black Cat pirates were really scared of his captain, fearing that he was going to kill them. Ventus then turned to Nami.
"Can you stand?" Ventus questioned softly, gained her attention as she turned to him before giving him a gentle nod. "When I give the signal, go wake Luffy up."
Her eyes widened before she gave him a smile and nods, pushing herself up to her feet. Kuro then smiled as he spoke.
"You're very lucky, I'm feeling somewhat merciful." Kuro said, still holding the Meowban Brothers with his cat-claws which they're still frightened. "Maybe these years on dry land have made me soft. I'll give you 5 minutes."
Kuro then let go of them, causing the two to gasp some air which they're still scared of him.
"If you can't deal this situation here in 5 minutes, then I'll kill every last one of you." Kuro told them as he then back away, crossing his cat-claws upward, causing Siam and Butchie look at him. "Now have I made myself clear?"
That got the Black cat pirates and Django scared which neither of them would be able to fight them in 5 minutes. What other options do they have? Either they fight or get killed?
"Oh yes." Django said with grin which he doesn't want to get killed by Kuro. "Yes, of course that's perfectly clear. Thank you, for being so forgiving. All we have to do is to take care of this one guy and this brat. That's all, 5 minutes will be more than enough time for them."
Django chuckled nervously as the Meowban Brothers then rush after the swordsman.
"Well we nearly have them few minutes ago!?" Butchie exclaims with a smirk.
"We won't need 1 minute to finish them this time!?" Siam added with a killing intent grin.
"We're Counting On You! Kill Them! Kill Them Dead!" Django shouts.
"Nami, go!" Ventus said seriously as Nami then dashed off down the slope. "Zoro! Catch!"
Ventus then grabbed two sword scabbards as he then spun on his heels, throwing them, surprising him.
"Hey kid! Don't just kick some else's swords! Those are mine!" Zoro shouted before a grin came to his face as the swords came down. In an instant, he then threw his sword up as he then snatched one his left while the other in his right hand before placing it with his teeth, then catching his third sword. "Much appreciated."
"You idiot! It won't matter how many swords you have!" Siam stated.
"And now you die holding three of them!" Butchie added.
Zoro then held his swords up.
"You still don't get it." Zoro said with a scowl. "Tiger Hunt"
Zoro then swings forward descending slash at great speed, incapacitating the Meowban Brothers since there were slash marks on the two as they were sent flying.
"The clock is ticking." Kuro said, getting irritated,
"Carrying three swords won't help you at all." Zoro stated. "Unless you know Three Swords Style."
Both Siam and Butchie were landed on the ground, leaving the Black Cat pirates shocked for seeing the swordsman defeat them easily with his three swords. Ventus then sprouts his wings to follow Nami since she's still wounded from the hypnotist.
"Damn Brats!" Django roared as he use his chakram on the string to sling it towards Nami at great speed, only for it be stopped when Ventus followed her while reached out his lance, sliding it through the center without an effort stopping it in the air as it went to pass him. Django's jaws dropped when he saw his chakram spinning on his lance before the young Dragoon then swung his lance, sending the chakram flying right back at Django, hitting him in the shoulder cutting deep as the hypnotist was sent off his feet, crying in pain as blood gushed out from his wound.
The Black Cat pirates cried to Django as Ventus cast a growl on them while glaring at them with his dragon eyes.
"Nice one." Zoro said with a smirk as he then turned to Kuro. "Don't worry, I can promise you, everything will be taking cared of in less than 5 minutes."
That got Kuro chuckled with his sinister smile while adjusting his glasses, turned his expression to a scowl.
"3, 3 minutes left." Kuro told them.
Nami was about to wake Luffy, but noticed that Butchie weakly crawled to Django when he manage to pull that chakram out of his shoulder.
"I'll...I'll slaughter that brat..." Butchie said weakly, coughing a bit of his blood. "Please...Captain...I can do it...hypnotize me...Just do it...Captain..."
"He's still alive." Kuro said with disappointment. "You do sloppy work."
"So he is, I guess all that blubber protected his vitals." Zoro said, looking at them when he noticed Django hynotizes Butchie.
Suddenly, Butchie was starting to grow bigger, his muscles grew bigger, his wounds were all healed except of his X-shaped scar, and more vicious as he roared, making Zoro, Ventus, and Nami shocked.
"Butchie! Kill that brat!" Django ordered him.
Ventus then began to partially transformed himself into a dragon since he didn't have time to get his clothes off, readied his lance.
"Nothing can stop you, brat! You'll be dead soon!" Django shouts.
"Do you honestly think that I would be defeated that easily!?" Ventus retorts with a scowl, looking at Butchie. "With that, it won't make any difference."
Zoro widened his eyes when he look at Ventus, noticed that he's not showing fear. He then look at Butchie, noticed that he means business when the young Dragoon didn't have much trouble when that fat pirate half the size, but the hypnotist just had to flip the psycho switch. Butchie then roared at Ventus, but he then roared back at him in a dragon fashion, causing Django, Kuro, and the Black Cat pirates widened their eyes with shock. Butchie was feeling intimidated, but won't back down as he then approaches Ventus.
"I gotta hurry and wake that bum up. Everyone's fighting for their lives and he's just sleeping." Nami said as she then began to wake him up. "Get up! You bum!"
With that, Nami then stomped Luffy's face, causing him to wake up.
"2 minutes. And counting." Kuro said impatiently.
"Hey, stop it!" Luffy cringed as he grab hold of her leg, causing her trip down to the ground. "Nami! You cannot just go around, stepping on people's eye!?"
But, Luffy stopped in mid-sentence when he saw the battlefield which he most cause this by destroying the ships figurehead and beat the Black Cat pirates. He also noticed Butchie was going to face Ventus.
"Uh, what just happen?" Luffy questions dumbfounded.
"You Don't Remember At All!?" Nami yelled, showed her white eyes and shark-like teeth.
"No! How is that twerp still alive!?" Django exclaimed with shocked.
"It's either the best timing or the worst timing in the world? I can't tell." Zoro said with a scowl, stabbing his swords to the ground.
Ventus couldn't help but sigh with annoyance, felt like Luffy have picked the worst timing to ask questions. The Black Cat pirates were shocked that Luffy was still alive only because of his rubber body which fighting them in 5 minutes will never be enough and Kuro will have no choice but to kill his own crew. Nami then collapses down, winced with pain which she's still hurt.
"You okay? Nami, did you get hurt? Let me see!?" Luffy exclaimed with shock.
"Oh it's nothing, I'm fine." Nami assured him, but the blood was flowing out of her shoulder, stained her shirt. "I've done everything I can for now. The rest is up to you."
Nami then cringed when she tried to pressure the wound as she spoke.
"Look, we have to win." Nami said weakly. "We can't afford to lose this fight, you understand?"
Luffy gave her a nod as she continues.
"Do it for the treasure." Nami muttered, causing Zoro and Ventus to sweat drop and Luffy confused.
"Well alright, sure." Luffy said, grabbing his straw hat as he then walk past her.
"1 minute. And counting." Kuro told them seriously, leaving the Black Cat pirates shocked and scared since they don't have enough time to kill them which Zoro, Ventus, and Luffy were strong, but they don't have time to fool around since they need to finish them off as Luffy walk towards them, leaving the Black Cat pirates back away from him.
"Butchie! Quickly, there's no time to waste!" Django exclaimed. "Go kill that brat! I'll take care of the freaky bendable kid!"
Django then drew out two of this chakrams, but he winced with pain since Ventus have inflicted him. Luffy stopped when he look at Kuro.
"I'm coming for you, Straw Hat!" Django yelled.
"Time's up! You knew the deal. Now you die." Kuro said with a scowl as he then readied his cat-claws.
"Hey wait, why is that shady butler here?" Luffy questions with confusion when he look at Kuro.
"It's that kid. Didn't he die fall off the cliff?" Kuro questions himself with surprised expression, then smirk. "Nice trick."
When Kuro was about to use his Pussyfoot Maneuver, Kaya then ran towards him which Usopp noticed that she was about to get killed as Kuro then look behind him, readied his cat-claws.
"Don't ever sneak up on me." Kuro growled as he then spun his body, leaving Usopp gasp with as he rush towards her. "Unless you want to die!"
"KAYA!?" Usopp yelled as he then began to tackle her out of the way with his strength he can muster. Her small fragile frame was forced out of the way as the clang of steel echoed across the clearing when Ventus appeared before Usopp and Kaya, locked his lance with Kuro's cat-claws, completely stunning him at the cold glare he was receiving from the young Dragoon hold off his blades.
"You're that dragon brat!?" Kuro exclaimed, pressing his blades against Ventus' lance, but he won't budge because of his dragonic strength. 'It's impossible that he can use my Pussyfoot Maneuver, but it's possible that was able to fly his way up at the slope in an instant!?'
With that, Ventus then sent Kuro's cat-claws straight up into the air, causing Kuro to jump back.
'He's skilled, he's capable of fighting against my former crew and holding off my attack with a simple lance. Just who is he?' Kuro mentally questioned.
"Usopp, are you alright?" Ventus asks without looking at him.
"Y-Yeah, thank you, Ventus." Usopp thanked him, lowered his head as looked to Kaya who was just as stunned as he was.
"Good." Ventus replied. "Listen, you have to take her and get out of here. She's the one that they're after."
Ventus remembered what Usopp have told them about Kuro's plan to raid the village and kill Kaya after Django hypnotize her into handing over her fortune by making her write the will.
"I won't runaway!" Usopp shouted at him. "I have to protect this village and Kaya!"
Ventus then glared over his shoulder at the village liar, making Usopp and Kaya recoil at the anger that was etched on his face.
"Then protect her!" Ventus roared at him with anger flashing through his eyes before softened slightly while turned back to Kuro. "Listen to me, there are times when you need to fight, there are times when you need to run."
Even though, he could respect Usopp for what he trying to do, but with Kaya around, she'll get killed by the Black Cat pirates and every people in this village will be massacred. Usopp needs to realize the difference between his lies and reality.
"With her being here, she'll be in danger. You have to protect her. Don't think of it as running away, not when you're saving someone." Ventus said softly. "Just focus on the girl, we'll deal with them."
That got Usopp shocked with his words, give him a nod while grabbing Kaya's hand.
"Come one Kaya, let these guys deal with them." Usopp told her as the two then began to then met the three boys before disappearing over the hill.
Django was confused as to why as she here while the Black Cat pirates doesn't worry about killing the villagers which they can kill her, but they weren't able to because Usopp was taking Kaya somewhere safe in the forest. Until, Luffy then stretched his arm, throwing a punch from all the way down the slope which connected with Kuro's face, sent him flying to the ground. Luffy then placed his arm back in its place with a smirk on his face. Ventus look towards Luffy, forgetting that he ate the Gum-Gum fruit.
"Hey Butler Guy!" Luffy shouts. "You're Fighting Me!"
That got the Black Cat pirates frightened, wondering how did Luffy stretch his arm to punch Kuro. They think that it's magic, but it was obviously a Devil fruit power.
"I'll just leave this to you." Nami said, winced. "I've got treasure to find."
With that, Nami left the battlefield while snuck inside of the pirate ship to find some treasure. Kuro then stood up while adjusting his glasses, but it was completely broken as he then walk towards the slope.
"That hurt." Kuro muttered, glaring down to Luffy. "My, my, that's quite a strange technique you've developed there. Tell me something, do you have powers from eating the Devil Fruit?"
"Yep, I'm a rubber man." Luffy confirmed with a smirk, causing murmurs to rise up through the Black Cat pirates, mostly out of fear.
"It all makes perfect sense now." Django said. "I didn't just hallucinate his arm stretching out like that."
"Django!" Kuro called him, earned his attention as he then flexing his fingers, causing the blades to glimmer in the light. "I can handle the boy! You take care of Miss Kaya like we planned, have her write her butler into her will, then kill her. As for Usopp and the kids, they're an eyesore. Eliminate them!"
"I'm on it." Django muttered, using his strength he can muster to make his way up the hill. Zoro watched him go, from the looks of the damage that he had taken from Ventus it didn't look like he'd get far. Zoro then watched Ventus appeared in front of the hypnotist as he then planted his fist in the stomach. "Damn it!"
With that, Django then slumped down to the ground. Butchie then growled with anger as he then began to leap after him, but Ventus then leap after him.
"Rising Drive" Ventus twirled his lance while slashing at Butchie, causing the fat pirate to cringe.
"Fang and Claw" Ventus then tear him up with his savage slashes, causing him to cough a bit of his blood.
With that, Butchie then falls down to the ground with hard impact. Ventus then landed on the ground, transform himself back into his human form.
"Even with his enhanced ability, he cannot even outmatch mine." Ventus stated, turned his head to Kuro. "Unlike Luffy's Devil Fruit power, mine was from the bloodline of the dragon. I'm a half-breed between a human and a dragon."
That got the Black Cat pirates was completely stunned and shocked, causing their murmurs to raise further. Luffy then walk at the slope, heading towards Kuro with his serious expression on his face.
"Ventus! Zoro!" Luffy called them. "The butler guy is mine!"
"You already said that." Zoro muttered seriously. "What are we suppose to do? Sit around and wait until you finish him off?"
"Deal with these guys maybe?" Luffy questioned, thrusting his thumb back at the other pirates that were still shocked that Luffy hit their captain and Ventus fought Butchie easily with his Dragoon abilities and dragonic strength. Ventus would rather fight Kuro, but Luffy wanted to fight the former Black Cat Captain.
"Luffy, I'll leave him to you." Ventus told his captain as he took off his shirt and his hood since some of his clothes were torn.
"Crew!" Kuro shouted. "Do your job and get rid of those bastards who gets in my way and destroy the village! Since Django was now useless, I'll have all of you carry out his orders!"
Then there was a burst of cheer from the Black Cat pirates which they were either still fearing their former Captain or regain the vigor and being motivated. They were ready to fight once more. Luffy and the others seeing the pirates were now heading up the slope, Zoro and Ventus readied their weapons.
"Well kid, what else can you do?" Zoro asks with a smirk.
"More than you can imagine." Ventus answered with a smirk.
With that, both he and Zoro dashed towards the slope, fighting against the Black Cat pirates while Luffy fight against Kuro as he stretched his arm to grab hold of him, but he manage to dodge when Luffy was then flying after him when he was about to punch him. Kuro manage to get away when Luffy landed on the ground when Kuro was about to slash him, leaving Luffy ducked down as he then hold himself upside down and holding his feet together.
"Gum-Gum: Spear" Luffy then launched his feet at Kuro, but he uses his Pussyfoot Maneuver to dodge his attack. "Man, he disappeared again."
Luffy's legs then stretched back in its place when he then landed on the ground.
"Before I kill you, I feel compelled to ask." Kuro said seriously, earned his attention. "What is an outsider like you butting into this villages business for?"
"Because there's a man in this village that I don't want to let die." Luffy answered with a smirk.
"Simple enough." Kuro said with a smirk. "Are okay with that being the reason that you die?"
"Sure am." Luffy confirmed. "But I'm not going to die."
"We'll see about that." Kuro said as he readied his cat-claws, but Luffy stretched his arms to grab hold of him as he was about to kick him, but Kuro countered when he slammed him down to the ground. Luffy quickly recovers as he stretched his leg.
"Gum-Gum: Whip" Luffy was about to sweep his leg, but Kuro jumped in mid-air when he landed on the ground.
"Gum-Gum: Pistol" Luffy then stretched his arm to punch him, but Kuro jumped again when he then landed on his arm while adjusting his glasses.
"This is quite boring." Kuro mocks.
"You cocky jerk!" Luffy shouts as Kuro then rush towards him, kicking him in the face. "Ow! He nicked me!"
Zoro and Ventus were busy fighting the Black Cat pirates when they countered their attacks and blocking their paths to prevent them for heading towards the village.
"Oni Giri" Zoro then slashes them horizontally, leaving them sent flying towards the slope.
"Sonic Thrust" Ventus then began to thrust his lance, sent them flying with sheer force.
"Chaos Thrust" Ventus then began to multiple thrust towards them, leaving them wounded from the jabs.
Zoro couldn't help but smirk of Ventus' Dragoon abilities as he then countered their attacks and slashes them. Kuro then look at his former crew got beaten by Zoro and Ventus with disappointed look on his face.
"How disappointing, to think that my former crew were nothing but utterly disappointment." Kuro said with his disappointed tone. "After all these years, my plan would devise so I would rid that name once and for all. I'm grown tired of it, concocting plans everyday for a bunch of barbarians who only care havoc and mayhem. Relentlessly attacked by government dogs and bounty hunters. I'm tired of it! I am sick and tired of that cursed life!"
With that, Kuro then began to remember of his life as a pirate 3 years ago ever since he and his crew have been hunted by Marines and bounty hunters which he hasn't had a good life for it which for him, being a pirate isn't for him. The Marine ship have attacked the Black Cat pirate ship which Kuro have decided to give his title as Captain to Django while ordered his men to ready a small boat, leaving them confused at first but decided not to go against his orders when they readied a small boat, Kuro then sailed towards the Marine ship. Unknown to the Black Cat pirates except Django, the cannon-fire has stopped because Kuro have killed off most of the Marines, leaving only one Marine alive which happens to be Morgan. Django then ordered his men to board the ship while choosing one of his crew to take Kuro's place for the execution and began to formulate the plan. He then hypnotize one of his crew, told him that he's Kuro while he then hypnotize Morgan, told him that he captured Kuro so he can return to the Marine Base for execution. With everything go as plan since Kuro faked his own death, he gets to leave and have a life that he deserves.
"And when my plan succeeds today after 3 years of planning, revising, and waiting, my goal will be achieved of its entirety. Wealth and peace of mind will finally be mine." Kuro told them. "Do you understand now boy? I will not allow this perfect plan years in the making to fail. My plan will not be disrupted by an urchin like you!?"
With that, Kuro then charges after Luffy, but the rubber Captain then grab hold of the rock to protect himself as the former captain then impaled the rock instead.
"It would seem that you can do a lot more than just stretch!?" Kuro exclaimed.
"That's right! I've been toughen myself up to be a pirate!?" Luffy exclaimed as he then began to move the big rock, causing one of his cat-claws broken, leaving Kuro shocked. "You know what? If you don't want a reputation, then don't be a pirate!?"
With that, Luffy then bash Kuro with his big rock, sent him flying down to the ground.
"You're just greedy, Kuro. But I have ambition!" Luffy shouts with a smirk.
Meanwhile, Usopp and the three boys were taking Kaya somewhere safe which they're in the forest since they ran pretty far. When they stopped, Usopp and the others were panted very heavily since they got away from the battlefield. Kaya, Carrot, Pepper, and Onion have known the truth from the North Shore since they now know why would Kuro faked his death and his plan only because Usopp have explained to them. He did this to protect those three and willing to risk his life for it.
"Ugh, I think we're safe...for now." Usopp said, panting heavily. "Don't worry Kaya, we'll protect you! We're the Usopp pirates!"
Usopp then grinned at her, getting a small smile in return before she was coughing. Usopp was getting help from the three boys to help her sit down. When she was able to calm down, she looked at Usopp with a small frown.
"Will they be alright, Usopp?" Kaya questioned softly, worried about them since Kuro was about to strike her down before the young Dragoon had appeared before her, saving both her and Usopp from harm.
'I hope so. But I am getting worried about that kid, he might get himself hurt.' Usopp mentally thought, worried about Ventus before grinning at Kaya to hide his own worry. "Of course they will be! They're members of the Great Usopp pirates, not a force of the seas can stand against them!"
Usopp then laughed which they already knew that he's lying, but Kaya has no idea that they were pirates who were with Usopp, especially the one who saved her life which it was a child.
"But Usopp, I'm getting worried about the boy." Kaya said with concern. "I know he wanted us to get to safety, but he might get himself hurt."
"Don't worry, Ventus can fight." Pepper assured her with a smile. "We saw him spar against Zoro last night."
"Yeah, he's awesome with that lance." Carrot added.
Kaya was surprised of hearing Ventus can fight since he's been trained as a Dragoon which she doesn't know about it. Even though, she only saw him in the estate and at the North Shore.
"Even so, he's still a child." Kaya told them.
"Look Kaya, I can understand that, but I saw him fighting against those pirates and Butchie." Usopp told her. "I'm worried about him too, but I'm sure he'll be fine since Zoro and Luffy are here with him. "
Kaya knew that Usopp was right which Zoro and Luffy are with him and he's strong enough to fight against those Black Cat pirates.
Meanwhile at the north shore, Zoro and Ventus have fought the entire Black Cat pirates which they were unconscious, playing dead, and wounded. Kuro was slowly recovering, groaning as Luffy spoke with a smile on his face.
"That leaves only 5 more of those weird swords." Luffy said as he placed the big rock down to the ground, chuckled a bit.
"Don't you think he needs to wrap this up?" Ventus questions. "This fight with those Black Cat pirates was just too quick. Not to mention those Meowban Brothers weren't worth trouble either."
"Believe me kid, I know how you feel." Zoro said with a smirk. "I think Luffy wants to fight Kuro in his own way."
"Well, it would seem the both of you have saved me some time, just some less trash to clean after I've dealt them in appropriate way: extermination. I'll also kill that fool Django." Kuro said with an evil smirk, readied his cat-claw. "While I offer my thanks, this changes nothing."
The Black Cat pirates have overheard his words which they were really shocked that Kuro would kill his own crew, but they won't be able to get to the village or fight those two.
"This plan is no longer any of your concern." Kuro told them, adjusted his glasses. "When all of you are dead, this village will know who to blame for this atrocity. I never attended to let any of you mongrels leaving this village alive. No one, no one who knows my true identity can be allowed to live to tell about it."
That got Black Cat pirates shocked, hearing that Kuro would kill them for knowing his true name.
"So, your plan was to kill for those who knows your true name?" Ventus questions, glaring at him while showing his dragon eyes.
"That's right." Kuro confirms with his evil laugh. "3 years ago, I planned were erase Captain Kuro and every last person who ever knew him. It's all part of my plan."
That got Ventus enraged as he was about to charge after him, but was held back by Zoro which he knew very well how dragons get angry and Ventus was no exception.
"You guys are dumb. You're the most uncool pirates I know." Luffy stated with his disappointed tone.
"We're uncool, huh?" Kuro scoffed, adjusting his broken glasses. "Pirates are nothing more than savages, incapable of rising above their animal nature. Without my plans, what could they possibly accomplish? A crew is nothing to me, they are simply means to an end. Crew members are just pawns in the Captain's game. Whether my men live or die is up to me and me alone. If I tell them to fight, they will fight and if I order them to die, well they better do it. They know the punishment for disobedience."
However, Luffy stared at Kuro with his serious expression on his face, thinking that his ideals of being a pirate was cruel and hypocritical. Kuro was shocked that Luffy wasn't afraid of him or even like of his ideals of being a pirate, causing him to growl.
"This Is How Pirates Are! Don't You Dare Talk Down To Me, Boy!?" Kuro yelled with anger.
"You know, no matter how many hundreds or thousands of men follow you as their Captain. You will never be as good as Usopp." Luffy told him with a smirk, leaving them shocked.
"You fool! Are you saying that I'm inferior to a kid pretending to be a pirate?" Kuro questions with a snarl.
"That's right." Luffy replied, causing Kuro to burst with laughter.
"Well aren't you funny! Don't get all cocky just because you snapped off one of my cat-claws!" Kuro exclaimed. "How exactly is he better than me? Let's hear it!?"
With that, he used his Pussyfoot Maneuver to go after Luffy, but he smiled as he spoke.
"Because he's got heart." Luffy answered as Kuro got behind him.
"He's got what?!" Kuro said shockingly.
"A guy like you doesn't know what true pirate is." Luffy stated as he stretched his arm to hit Kuro in the face behind him, sent him crashing at the slope as his arm then stretched back in his place, landed on the ground.
"How insulting!?" Kuro snarled as the dust clears. "It would appear that you need a lesson in what real pirates are like."
Kuro then fixed his hair, looking at Luffy with his sinister smile.
"It's not pleasant. Your first lesson will be about terror. A lesson I learned well as I stared down death." Kuro stated as he then swaying his body back and forth sideways in a fluid manner.
The Black Cat pirates then knew what was Kuro doing, knowing that he would use that attack to kill anyone in seconds, but they did remember that Kuro was planning to kill all of his crew. Luffy and Zoro were confused about it, but Ventus then sniff the air, knowing that something isn't right as he sprouts his wings to grab hold of the swordsman and take flight somewhere safe.
"Kid, what are you doing?" Zoro shouts. "He was just wobbling himself!?"
"Yes, but I can tell that Kuro was about to do something worse." Ventus told him. "I had a feeling that we're about to see his move first-hand."
Zoro was confused, but decided to go along with it as they reached at the cliff for safety.
"What's the big deal?" Luffy questions with confusion. "He's just wobbling back and forth."
Luffy, Zoro, and Ventus then watched Kuro swaying back and forth while the Black cat pirates pleads their former Captain not to use that attack, but it was too late.
"Out of the Bag Attack" Kuro then disappeared, leaving the purple smoke of clouds to rise from the ground as it then head towards the Black Cat pirates.
Nami was pretty much disappointed that the pirate ship had a small amount of treasure.
"What a small haul." Nami said with her disappointed tone, walking towards outside of the ship while pressure the wound. "You know, I really thought they'd had more treasure than this. Let's see if the boys have finish this fight yet."
However unknown to her, the Black Cat pirates were standing here at the sandy beach which they were really scared of Kuro since he used his Out of the Bag Attack.
"Everyone has stopped. Is it over?" Nami questions with confusion.
Until, Kuro then began to kill off some numbers of the Black Cat pirates, leaving Zoro, Luffy, Ventus, and Nami shocked.
"What's he doing over there?" Luffy asks.
"Damn, guess you're not joking about why Kuro was like that!?" Zoro exclaimed with shock.
Kuro then kill off another Black Cat pirate which they were really scared. He then kill some number of his former crew members, they were begging him not to kill them, but it was no use since they can't reason with when his technique have already started which it doesn't matter for Kuro no matter what he cuts. Many number of the Black Cat pirates were seriously wounded from Kuro and some were killed.
Nami widened her eyes with shock, couldn't even tell what was happening.
'What's happening out there!? People are just getting cut to ribbons!?' Nami mentally thought.
Kuro killed off many numbers of his former crew since they were begging him to stop, but he won't listen as he then began to cut Luffy in the chest, cut the strain of his hair.
'Show yourself!? Butler!' Luffy mentally thought with anger when he felt Kuro slashed his arm as he then growled and yelled. "Don't You Have Any Heart!? Those Men Are Your Friends!?"
That got Nami shocked with horror reaction along with Zoro and Ventus since they knew that the rubber captain can't reason with Kuro which he had his own reason for becoming a pirate. With many number of scratches in the slope, Luffy was just standing here, waiting for Kuro as he felt a slash from his side. Luffy then began to stretch his arm which he caught him as he then slams him down to the ground.
"I found you." Luffy said with a smirk.
"You bastard!? You should've accepted your fate like a good boy. Now look what you've done! Thanks to you, my little pawns are still alive and in misery. It would've been better just to let them die in the attack." Kuro stated with an evil smirk as he then stood up. "So now what? Do you have something to say?"
"Yeah." Luffy said, looking at his straw hat. "No matter what happens to me, I will never be like you."
"Not will, someone like you can't be like me." Kuro told him, pointing his cat-claw at him with a smirk but Luffy kept his serious stare as he then lowered his cat-claw. "You see, you and your friends are going to die here today, but first, you writhe in agony as I hack you up like a fish. I'm going to carve you up and I'm going to enjoy it."
When Kuro was up at the top of the slope again, he then began to sway his body back and forth sideways again, leaving Luffy shocked as he was about to rush after him, but it was too late.
"Out of the Bag Attack" Kuro then began to disappear, leaving the purple smoke cloud on the ground to appear again, causing Luffy to stop.
With every sound of the slash from the slope, Luffy then felt a slash on his shoulder with his serious expression on his face. Kuro was about to slash him, but Luffy manage to dodge his attack, leaving Kuro smirk as he then flashly appeared behind him.
"Aren't you tired?" Luffy asks as he turned to him. "I bet you are after all that dancing around you've been doing."
"Don't get cocky!" Kuro retorts calmly, adjusting his broken glasses with a smirk on his face. "That was simply a warm-up. The real fight begins now. Soon I will be feasting on your fear, complimented by the sweet wide of your agony."
Kuro then sway body back and forth sideways again.
"Now! Out of the Bag Attack" Kuro then disappeared once more, but Luffy then stretches his arms to grab hold him since Kuro saw one of his arms coming towards him, but Luffy grab hold of his leg, slamming him down to the ground.
He then latched onto Kuro, holding on to him with his arms and legs.
"Nice try, you jerk." Luffy said with a big grin on his face.
"Damn you! Get away from me!" Kuro shouts with a scowl on his face, trying to struggle but to no avail.
"Wow, butler man. Right now, your life sucks, your 3 years is a complete total failure." Luffy stated.
Zoro, Ventus, and the Black Cat pirates were amazed that Luffy have manage to catch Kuro which he might have the chance to beat him and all of the Black Cat pirates won't be killed. The Black Cat pirates then began to cheer Luffy which he doesn't like it at all as he then headbutts Kuro while stretching his neck towards the Black Cat pirates.
"You Have No Right To Cheer Me On!?" Luffy yelled at them as his neck then began to snap back. "Gum-Gum: Bell"
With that, Luffy then give Kuro a devastating headbutt, causing him to sent flying down to the ground and knocked out.
The battle was finally over and Kuro's plan has failed.
That's for the 13th chapter. Sorry about the delay.