A/N: REJOICE! YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER UPDATE! Alright ladies and gentlmen, good news and bad news. Good news first. I'm fresh out of my surgery-hurts like hell!-and I managed to put this up here at points between the forced anesthetic. Bad news is I still have more surgeries ahead. Still, I'm feeling a bit better now. Really. I'm hanging tough though, having just come out of my first surgery...with two more to go! UUUUUGH! I'm on painkillers almost daily and I feel like crap, as to that effect. But nevertheless, despite this pesky little hiccup-I wanted to get word out any way I could, and since for some strange reason the site is being buggy, I wasnt able to work on this anywhere near as much as I would've liked. Still...

I love you guys so much! *Cries*

So I'll skip the introduction, but might I advise you to reread the story? Just in case you've forgotten anything.

"Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds..."

~?

Of Gods and Men

"Alright you dogs...listen up! This is an order from your captain!" Naruto's voice thundered across the frozen tundra, making itself known to all alongside his wild, earsplitting smile. "I hereby order you, each and every one of you, to...

"...GO WILD!"

Two words. A simple order. A declaration. That was all. And yet the response couldn't have been swifter. In the time it took for him to finish forming that sentence and close his mouth, Zaraki, Sasuke, and even Tenten had already took out their weapons out -or in the third's case knives- drawing swords before he could order them otherwise. The sight of that alone evoked utter panic in the marines, fear rippling through their ranks in unseen waves as they beheld the deadly marauders assembled before them; they didn't even have wherewithall to retreat.

"DIE! ASSHOLES!"

Tayuya was the first to draw blood; her ordinarilly crass voice lashing out in a sonic scream that bent the galleon's hull and splintered ice in every direction. Those fool enough to fall within earshot suffered greatly; they experienced internal hemhoraging on a massive scale as their organs burst and ruptured within their own bodies, leaving them utterly powerless to her second volley. When the shockwave hit they could only blunder to their doom, screaming as the ice shattered beneath their feet and sent them plummeting into the frigid waters of the bay.

"First blood, bitches." she grinned.

Those that could swim soon found themselves wishing they hadn't; because a hail of weaponry descended from the skies to take their lives. A dreadful shower of forks, knives, sharpened shards of wood, steel, anything and everything with any sort of edge fell upon them, skewering arms, legs, and in many cases, heads. Tenten smiled as she observed her heinous handiwork-the time she'd spent aboard the galleon during their journey had not been wasted. In the ensusing seconds, she lived up to her title of "Shoot Anything" hurling all manner of weapons-some mundane, others improvised-into the incapaicitated horde Tayuya's shout had left behind for her with frightening accuracy.

"Second," the brunette chirruped happily.

Trapped between the weapon fire and that god-awful wailing, most were cut to ribbons almost instantly. Those few that somehow managed to withstand Tayuya's deadly voice and evade Tenten's inhuman sights found themselves at the mercy of Kenpachi and Sasuke's blades; their was no quarter to be had there either. The waters of the bay were soon stained red with marine blood. It was...almost too easy. Where were the officers, and the Vice-Admirals? Surely they hadn't gone down so easily. Unless...!

Sasuke frowned at the realization. "Something's wrong...

"Che!" Zaraki scoffed in agreement, glancing at his now-bloodied blade. "What the hell is this? They're nothing but small fry!"

"You're just too strong, Ken-chan!" Yachiru beamed from atop his shoulder.

Indeed, it could be said that for every marine the Wraiths hadn't slain, they'd done the most damage; incapacitating nearly a fourth of the soldiers alone and leaving the others utterly terrified with their brutal display of teamwork. What remained was left in utter dissarray, retreating shrieking to higher ground-despite the orders of their superiors to stay and fight. A dull 'boom' rumbled from somewhere beyond the courtyard, signalling the deployment of cannons to the battlefield.

Alas, that was before Mei exhaled, expelling a mist so acidic that it could melt the flesh off a grown man. And it did just that; Naruto summoned up a gust of wind with a wave of his wrist, blowing the deadly cloud away from his allies and after the retreating enemy force. At first, nothing happened. Then the screaming started, sounds of dismay and despair trickling bak through the foul fog to reward their efforts. Left with nowheres for them to run, the marine flank was forced to retreat from their retreat, forced away from the searing fog and into the waiting arms of the Wraiths once more.

"Bee?"

"Wheeeee!" the dark-skinned man launched himself forward with a wail of laughter, his body already morphing into somethign monstruous. Tentacles sprouted where there had once been legs, his skin darkenening to a russet red as the horns sprouted from his head, body bulging and swelling as his foes and comrades looked on. Within seconds the ox-octopus Zoan towered over the marines, its tentacles sweeping them from the ice a blink of the eye later, tossing them ruthlessly toward

Naruto's gaze slid to the next phase of their plan.

"Hashirama!"

The shipwright nodded and clasped both hands together, his arms craned in the direction of the floundering soldiers.

"Kami-sama," he prayed, "Please forgive me for taking these young lives...

Even as they fought to catch their breath the galleons came alive around them. Literally. Roots erupted from the ship's woood, thousands of angry, writhing tendrils swarming down over the soldiers before they had the chance to even mount a counterattack. Entire platoons were crushed beneath the rapidly growing trees, the great oaks drinking deep of their lives to claim even more. As they looked on, the roots took up larger shapes and forms, crreating crude legs by which to move the very vessels themselves. But the old shipwright wasn't entirely reliant upon his abilities alone, Naruto watched him viciously backhand a marine that strayed far too close to their vanguard, snapping the man's neck like a twig.

"Oi, Yachiru." Kenpachi rumbled darkly. "Get off, its about to get rough."

"Hai~!"

"Wha-oi?!" Tayuya grunted in surprise as the pinkette clamored off Zaraki's back and onto her shoulders. "Get offa me, chibi! I'm not giving you a ride!" But her new passenger would not be dislodged so easily, Yachiru had a death grip on her back and simply would not be dissuaded.

"Ya damned brat-

"Fire at will!"

There was a deep crack of cannon fire and all her struggles were suddenly forgotten; dozens of cannonballs converging on their position in an instant. Sasuke snarled something sinister beneath his breath- and became engulfed in violet flames. A towering creature of bone and fire arose from nothingness, its massive ribcage engulfing the crew, its large arms crossing in a phantom X even as the mortar fire reached their position. Their world erupted in a muffled retort; not the massive explosion she'd been expeting. explosion She might've found it funny, had it not saved their lives.

"Well this is new." Tayuya murrmurred, peeking out from under the indigo veil. "Since when can you do that?"

"A long time now." Sasuke replied, his tone only slightly strained. "Using it places too much strain on my body, though." Even as he spoke the towering skeleton sagged, its glowing eyes growing dim as the energies the Uchiha supplied were severed. Within seconds it was gone, dissipating into harmless embers as they looked on.

"Bah," Kenpachi rumbled. "That ain't shit. I bet you couldn't kill a dozen men without using yer fancy powers."

"First to a hundred kills wins?" Sasuke challenged.

The swordsman licked his lips. "I like the sound of that!"

"Is it too late to change sides?!" Shikamaru groaned aloud, cringing as the enemy charged towards them. Yes, he had his knuckle-blades, but the thought of facing down so many elites witout a plan was...daunting, to say the least. They had to know he was with Naruto by now! He tried to turn to his captain but the man had other plans, pausing to address the men and women of his crew.

"I told you all to go wild," he began, "And I meant it. However, our targets are the admirals and the Shichibukai! Excluding Boa Hancock. I've been led to believe that she's an ally, but she'll probably attack any of you on sigh if she sees you." his words rang harsh but true. "Now, I won't blame any of you if you don't want to fight them but I have faith in you! Each and every one of you! Do whatever it takes to survive! Fight! Live to see tomorrow! Give your enemies nothing, but take from them...EVERYTHING!" he puncuated his declaration with a raised fist, defiantly striking the sky.

"Now that's what I'm talking about!" Kenpachi was all but berserk with bloodlust by this point, his eyes carrying that strange golden sheen once more. "I'll slaughter them all myself!" Yachiru seemed to be of a similair, albeit lesser mind.

"Go Ken-chan!"

"Hnn," Sasuke's deadpann was barely concealed. "Don't worry, I won't let any of them die. We'll, maybe someone...

"Die?! Killer Bee feigned shock. "Baka Yarou, Kono Yarou! Say that again and I'll make ya fly!"

"Osu!" Tenten saluted smartly. "Just leave Akainu to me!"

"Just be sure to come back, alright?" Mei's gaze held a touch of softness-and perhaps something more?-when he looked at her, but it was gone just as swiftly as he saw it. "We're nothing without you." Hashirama and Shikamaru were a touch more reserved in their enthusiasm, but the latter seemed to have calmed somewhat. Finally, his gaze turned toward Tayuya. If he thought there had been softness with Mei, then there was an absolute fondness in those hazel orbs, unlike the others, she actually looked worried for him.

"Naruto, I-

"I'll accompany you." Kabuto volunteered suddenly, cutting her off. "I have some business with Shirohige as well."

"Suit yourself." the blond shrugged. He risked one last blance back at her, wondering what it was she'd been about to say. Maybe...no. Whatever it was could wait.

"Good luck," he muttered. "I'll return as soon as I'm able."

"You ass," she grumbled as they whispered away with the winds. "Better not get yourself killed...

"He's coming here, isn't he?"

Shirohige sighed one more feeling the weight of his age. It had begun to press down on him as of late, he was getting too damned old for this shit. Naruto and his Wraiths were the new age; perhaps it was time he had someone replace him, time to step down and live out the rest of his life hin peace.

But today was not that day.

The Whitebeard Pirates had made no such move to engage these titans; many of which were known to them. Kenpachi Zaraki was a name whispered only of in legends; and Naruto's infamy stood even beyond that. His exploits were many and miraculous, he'd carved his name in a bloody swathe across the Grand Line before finally being captured. Although he might have refused to become a part of Newgate's little family, he was still the man's grandson. It was only natural that he want to keep tabs on them. And those tabs now told him that it was time.

Marco frowned as the wind began to pick up, gradually resolving into a familiar form. "Pops, isn't that...

"Gurararara," Whitebeard chortled loudly; the sound was like a small avalanche all its own. "Relax, my son. It looks like he wants to talk!"

Luffy had never run so hard or fast in his life.

Marines fell in droves around him but he didn't care; he just had to get to that execution platform. That was all that mattered! Ace was all that mattered! He never once paused to think that it might be Naruto who was luring the enemy away from him; that he was the reason he hadn't encountered any enemies as of yet. That chat with Whitebeard still weighed heavily on his mind however; just what did Ace's old man have to do with Naruto, anyway? Shirohige had said something as much:

"You came here with my grandson, right?"

Was Naruto his grandson? If so, then that meant-

Ahhhh, it was too confusing!

Steeling himself, Mugiwara willed strength to his faltering limbs and ran onward.

"Ace, just hang on a little longer!"

"I'll be taking my leave now, Uzumaki-san."

Naruto turned away from the battle to regard Kabuto Yakushi with a friendly, yet wary eye. The marine had disembarked with him when he'd sent out his crew but he'd refrained from attacking or even speaking. Until now. Now, when they were far away from the others. He looked perversely pleased with himself, his smile almost serpentine in its intensity. As if he'd seen all that he needed to see, and now was the time to make his escape. Or perhaps a surprise attack? One could never be certain with him.

"Please tell me you're not going to betray me after all that."

"Perish the thought." the young man smiled slightly. "I'm just going to report to my superior." Impossibly, his grin grew even wider. "Madara-sama sends his regards and wishes you victory in your battles." None of the crew would've reacted to that name, however, Naruto felt blood freeze in his veins. Madara? The man who'd broken him out of prison to begin with? Before he could further inquire Kabuto retreated, first one step, then another, vanishing into the fog of war that they themselves had created. It took everything he had not to follow.

"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?" Sighing, he dissolved himself into wind and hurtled towards the Moby Dick.

Edward Newgate was getting old. He didn't have very many years left in him, and his lifespan would likely be shorter still, assuming he survived this battle. But this was one that needed be fought, one that he had tried his utmost to ignore for the last decade. Try as he might, he could put if off no longer.

There were only three things in which Shirohige had failed, during his lifetime; Minato had been the first. He'd failed to protect his son when he'd needed him the most. Then, years later he had failed to protect Minato's wife, the younger sister of Red-Haired Shanks, Kushina. His third and final mistake stood before him now glaring bloody red daggers into his chest. Uzumaki Naruto. He should've brought the brat with him by force back then, when there was still time. Even if it made the boy hate him more than he did now. Anything would be better than this.

Still, he couldn't quite conceal that squint of pride in his gaze when his grandson alighted atop the Moby Dick. Naruto had never set foot upon his flagship before; those blue eyes -Minato's eyes- took a brief moment to survery his surroundings. Wary, even here in the field of battle. Good. His senses were still sharp after his time spent in Impel Down.

Naruto stepped forwards and Marco immediately moved to block him, not willing to risk and another incident like the one with Squard. Stubborn fool had tried to stab him, deep in the stomach, all because of some plot by Akainu. Perhaps it was his years of searching for his grandson that'd kept Shirohige sharp, whatever the case, he'd been able to avoid the blade, and calm his stubborn "son" from doing anything rash. He could very well ill-afford to be injured right now, with the battle raging around them. But this was his grandson striding before him, and he feared words would not be enough to calm him.

Naruto uttered one word, and one word only.

"Move."

"Like hell I will!"

"Stay back, Marco." Whitebeard heard, rather than felt himself rumble. "This need to be done."

"But Pops...

"Marco."

The First Division Commander visibly wilted under the stare and stepped aside. Naruto elobwed him aside roughly, and then he was there. Each Newgate stood across from one another both young and old, the herald of a new era on one side, and an remnant of the old on the other.

"...you're looking well, boy."

For a long moment, Naruto said nothing. He simply scowled up at his grandfather, mouth clenched. And then.

And then.

WHAM!

"Pops!" Marco cried!

Whitebeard grunted, fighting the urge to laugh as the boy's elbow sheathed itself in his gut. There was no current of wind to accompany it; the blow had been a pure punch, through and through. Damn but he'd felt it, this time! The boy had truly become strong over the years. Better than his father. Better than him. He wasn't just a boy anymore. He was a man. Worthy of his power and the Newgate name. Worthy of so much more than he ever would be, if they continued to let this grudge drive a wedge between them.

"That," the blond hissed as he took his arm away, "Was for my mother. I'd do more, but the way I see it, you don't have much time left."

Whitebeard said nothing, finger clenching and unclenching around the shaft of his halberd. If anyone else had dared to touch him like that, they'd be dead now. But Naruto was his blood, and he'd every reason to hold a a vendetta against him after all he'd done-and failed to do-during his young lifetime. But Naruto had just thrown away his opportunity, wasted his one and possibly only chance to kill him. And yet he hadn't done so, for some strange reason, he didn't seem to want him dead. Yet.

"You're a right pompous ass, you know that?" Naruto's words caught him flatfooted, unguarded. "Where the hell were you when I needed ya? When my dad-your son-need you? When my mother needed you? When the world came after me for being your grandkid? When Blackbeard ran amok? Don't be a dick and say you were there for me; because you fucking weren't! Not one damned bit! And when you do show up the figihting was over! Its always over! Each time! Every time!"

...is that it?"

"HELL NO!" The fire in his grandson's voice actually made Whitebeard flinch. "I've been through living hell because of you! And now what do you do? You go and throw yourself into the biggest damn battle in the history of mankind all to save one subourdinate who didn't listen to you in the first place?!" Angry tears shone in this sapphire orbs, hot and unabated. "You're the only shitty family, I've got left now, and you think you can just go and die on me without my saying so?"

"Why did you come here, gaki?" his gaze turned back to the battles raging around him. "Where's your crew?

A muscle jumped in Naruto's jaw.

"They can take care of themselves."

"Yehahaha!"

Mihawk barely heard the voice, barely had time to cut down his hapless opponent and disengage before a ragged blade swung down at his head. Even then his subsuquent parry still left him with an opening wound. The now thin slice on his cheek wept openly; the first injury he'd sustained in nearly two years now. But it wasn't the wound that sent a silient shiver through his body. That blade. That voice. He knew them both well, and a quiet chill swept through him as his next opponent strode forth out of the smoke, his jagged blade swung lazily over one shoulder, his eyes wide and golden with unspeakable power and intent.

"Oh, if isn't Hawk Eye!" the madman grinned. "Long time no see! Heard you became the "Best Swordsman" while I was locked up." Incredibly, that toothy grin only grew. "Wonder how you good you really are?"

"Kenpachi...Zaraki!"

The man's only response was to grin and bring the blade crashing down at Mihawk's head. Again the swordsman parried, but the sheer strength behind that blow set his arms to screaming. He leapt away but Kenpachi was already upon him, not giving him the distance he so desperately desired. There was no semblance or arte to his defense; it just wasn't even there at all. The man simply attacked attacked and attacked again. As if he didn't care whethere he died or not, as if death was merely another phase of life for him; and it took Mihawke entirely out of himself.

"Oi, what's wrong?!" Kenaphi bellowed back at him, swatting aside the giant black blade with an almost twisted ease . "I expected the world's strongest swordsman to do better than this!"

For the fist time, in what felt like a lifetime...

Hawk Eye Mihawk was actually frightened.

"Hmmm?"

Borsalino balked slightly as he missed-again!-his heel sweeping harmlessly over the man's head. This was odd. Very odd. Incredibly odd. Not only did this strange fellow continue to predict his every attack as though he were crawling at a snail's pace, but he was actually providing him with advice. Advice! A stranger opponent he had never seen. Despite that oddity, this pirate was beginning to worry him. Kizaru had long considered his agility to be above all others; no one could surpass the speed of the Pika Pika no mi.

Except this man.

"You're bending your knee too much at the appex there," Hashirama Senju admonished lightly, the slanted yellow irises of his sage powers narrow and intent as he bobbed and weaved amidst lightspeed blows-raising a hand or lowering a leg to deflect on occasion, the slightest sheen of sweat the only sign that he was truly exerting himself. "Perhaps you should try-oh!" There it was again! He reacted far too quickly, catching his heel a heartbeat later, stalling him in mid-kick without so much as batting an eyelash.

"Better," he admitted, wrenching him painfully forward by the leg. "But you rely too much on kicking alone. You see a body is just like a ship. If you mistreat it, the host breaks down. Left untended, for example, if your limb were to twist at a certain angle-

Zing!

His free hand shot upward, effortlessly blocking the Ama no Murakamo sword. Kizaru once more found himself baffled; he'd expected to slice right through-but no! A thin veneer of wood coated the man's hand, keeping his palm whole and intact, leavint the light-blade locked helplessly in place. Hashirama heaved a slight sigh.

"Now now," he soothed, "I wasn't done giving my lesson. And the bone goes breaaaaak~"

"Aaaargh!"

A savage squeeze signalled the end of that limb, obliterating the elbow within the muscle. His right leg followed suit seconds later. It wasn't the same as tearing an arm and a leg off. This...was worse. Kizaru's left arm was utterly useless to him now; the bone shattered within its muscle, and with his right fractured, he wouldn't be performing anymore of his high-speed kicks. Mission accomplished.

The Senju offered a slight smile as he watched the taller man writhe at his feet..

"Don't underestimate the elderly, youngster."

Donflamingo considered himself a man of class. Character. Principle. Yes, he was a pirate, but he was also a Shichibukai, a man who'd connived and schemed and manipulated others to get where he was now. Just take Dressrosa for example. Now that had been a feat of brilliance, a work of art, if he said so himself. Not one afraid of getting one's hands dirty was good and Donflamingo Donquixote was damned good at what he did. He was willing to do whatever it took to preserve his status there; if it meant subconciously enslaving the populace, then so be it. If he had to turn half the denizens into toys to further his goals, then so be it. He cared for success, and success alone; there was no room for failure in either his life, or organization.

How ironic then, that those principles had been thrown out on their ass.

The Ito Ito no Mi had been more of a liability than a boon in this battle; his string string fruit simply hadn't been able to grasp his opponent for more than a moment at best before she misted away. Being a logia simply worked in her favor. With the sea so close she could disappear and reappear at will, using her fog-like mist to burn through his strings thanks in part to her ability. He daren't come closer enough to administer a killling blow, for fear of sufffering that very same fate. He had the burns to prove it. That damned kid had chosen his crew well; he'd set himself up with the wors possible opponent!

"Oi oi," he seethed, "You're starting to make me angry here...

Deadlock.

Mei Terumi exhaled softly, a thin miasma of fog leaking from her lips.

"I do so hate killing handsome men..."

"Arararara, where do you think you're going in such a hurry, Mugiwara?"

Luffy's blood turned to icewater when he heard that voice. No pun intended. Thanks to Naruto's unintentional aid and that of Ivankov, he'd been able to fight his way through the ranks...until this. Now he found himself facing an old foe, the very same man who'd frozen him solid only a few months prior. Rather he would have, were it not for that of a certain Uchiha and lazy Nara baring his path.

"Why am I involved in this?!" Shikamaru bemoaned.

Sasuke shrugged, his blade coated in bleak flames.

"Someone has to make sure the kid makes it to the stand."

"Man, fuck you! I still fail to see how that should be me!"

Uchiha Sasuke sighed and raised his blade.

"Stop talking, here he comes!"

Everything was falling apart. Their fortifications were collapsing, their flank was all but broken, not even the timely arrival of Sentomaru and the Pacifista's had done anything to hamper the Wraiths they'd simply blown through the portly man and his small army of cyborgs. He had no idea what their goal was; Naruto and his crew seemed intent to cause as much chaos as possible. But they hadn't yet reached the courtyard. Their was still time, time to execute Portgas D. Ace and put an end to this farce of an invasion.

Now if he could just get past Whitebeard and join the battle! He hissed in pain as a bloody trench opened his chest, the crimson stain virtually invisible amidst his coat. Ever since that boy had set foot in Marineford, he had caught a second wind. If he didn't know better, he'd wager that the old man was actually happy...

"Inugami Guren!"

Halfway across the battle

Shirohige plowed forward, uncaring for the burst of magma that struck him square in the chest. Sakazuki actually started, the man just kept coming!

"That damned grandson of yours...

Edward Newgate spat out a bloody gob, and incredibly, stood up again. His white mustache bristled above his smile, a throat "Gurararara!" tearing its way out of his throat. Pride swelled in his chest as he watched that boy; pride not just for himself, but that his son's-Minato's-legacy lived on through his pchild. His grandson. Gripping his halberd with renewed purpose, the strongest man in the world dragged his aching body upright a second later, rising to his full, towering height. Even wounded he was was a fearsome sight. How much more could he take?!

What had that boy said to him back there to give him such resolve?!

"He's not that easy to kill!" Cracks formed as his fist slammed into the air, the Tremor Tremor fruit wreaking havoc on the battlefield once more. Akainu had only an instant to register that before he was flung forth from his feet, the man's massive hand closing around his throat in a crushing vice.

"AND NEITHER AM I!"

For a long moment Akainu said nothing, his right arm pulsating an eerie shade of scarlet/crimson as he hung there, trapped within the larger man's grasp. "Hell-hound." A single word hissed through clenched teeth as he brought that arm around, sheathing the molten limb elbow deep in the man's chest. For the first time in nearly a decade Whitebeard staggered. He tasted blood when he breathed. Crippling pain his chest, numbness in his legs and heat in places where it should not be, heat everywhere...

"Guh...!"

Halfway across the battlefield, Naruto froze. He felt something lurch in his chest, those all-seeing eyes turning back to regard the underhanded attack. Time seemed to slow, the currents of fate and destiny dragging the moment to a standstill in his eyes. No. Godamnit, no!

"OLD MAN!"

He turned, hurricane in hand, only for a glint of steel caught his eye; the blur of thrown metal shooting past him like a small comet. It was gone and past him almost before he realized it-the flying blade arcing end over end as it passed him by. Someone raced after it, snatching a knife up off the battlefield, racing on ahead of him in a blur of black and white.

"You son of a bitch!"

Akainu bristled as that familiar voice ripped through his ears.

Tenten?!

Perhaps it was the fact that she was his daughter. Perhaps he simply did think she had it in her to kill him in cold blood. Perhaps a touch of sentiment remained from his days as her father. Whatever the case, Sakazuki found himself entirely unprepared as Tenten leapt upon him, driving both knives deep into his shoulders. The red admiral roared in surprise and pain, clutching at the now-spurting wounds that adjourned the lengths of his backside. Pain bent him double; but it wasn't just pain of the body, pain at being denied him his chance to finish Whitebard off.

It hurt, knowing that his legacy had finally decided to openly betray him. He'd extended an olive branch in the vain hope that Tenten might come to her senses someday, see the error of her ways. There was no chance of that now. Not now, as his only child drove the knife deeper into his back. Fury roared across his visage, anger overtaking him at the sheer impudence of his own progeny's betrayal.

"Begone!"

Time seemed to unfold very slowly at that. One moment Tenten was stabbing her old man with unstoppable fury; the next, she was the one screaming, falling away, clutching at her burned stomach. His attack...it had gone right through her gut, burning its way out the other side in a shower of blood and burned intestines. Her body crumpled to the ground, broken and beaten, her chest no longer rising and falling with life. Kami, the bastard...he'd attacked his own daughter! Gored her, in cold blood! He didn't even know if she was dead. If his grandather was dead.

Something snapped.

"Akainu, you suicidal bastaaaaaaaaard!"

A/N: And there ya be! Despite my illness, I was so moved by your many reviews that I worked REAAALLLY hard to get this up. The battles picked up big tme in this chapter, as we see the Wraith's are quite capable of holding their own. But will Tenten survive being impaled?! Naruto. It should be mentioned in any case that absolute CHAOS is about to ensue, what with Naruto telling his crew to go all out and wreak havoc! He'll finally get to chat with his gramps as of next chapter, and their body count will nothing short of enormous! Look forward to it, ya'll!

So...in the immortal words of Atlas...

...Review, would you kindly? And of course, enjoy the preview! Next chapter! Inferno!

(Preview)

Time got funny when you were near death.

Portgas D. Ace was certain he would've died multiple times if it were not for the timely intervention of the Wraith's and Whitebeard. Who knew what pitched battles were raging down below, what foes fought unseen? A knot of worry twisted in his gut at the thought; the battle must be going badly if even Sengoku himself had gone down to fight. He could hear the wind shrieking and keening down below, wailing in relief or distress, he knew not. Akainu was probably dead; he must've been, else the Fleet Admiral wouldn't have gone down there in a panic only moments before. Whomever stood there, whomevever wielded the powers of the Kaze Kaze no mi, they were going absolutely berserk in the courtyard.

Now, with only grandpa Garp left guarding him, it was only a matter of time before someone tried to be a hero-

"Demonic Sonata/Ten Sword Style!"

Ah.

The firebrand blinked as his grandfather's battered body sailed up to join him on the execution stand, his broken hands still twitching towards his groin in a vain attempt to cover the damage that had been wrought too close to his family jewels; that was what happened when you were blasted by a soundwave at pointblank range and kicked in the balls. Seconds later his savior reappeared, dress fluttering in the wind as she alighted a mere milimeter before him.

"Well," a dulcet voice crooned. "That takes care of him."

Ace might've been in mortal peril-prepared to die at any moment-but he simply couldn't get over just how godamned beautiful this woman was. Flowing scarlet hair mirrored a crimson dress, offset by all cream-colored skin, a heartshaped face and dark eyes. She was the most stunning creature he'd ever seen, gorgeous in her intensity, terrible in her beauty. And then she opened her mouth.

"Stop staring, fuckface."

Ace's jaw promptly dropped to the ground.

"What?"

"'Sup?" she raised a hand in greeting. "My boss sends his regards. We're here to bust you out."

"We?"

He finally became aware of the dark-skinned man standing behind her, his bulky form marred with blood-Garp's blood-black sunglasses regarding him intently.

"Who're-

"Wheee! The name's Killer Bee! Now its time ta' set ya free!"

"Yeah, ignore him. He's an idiot."

Tayuya said nothing more; quietly kneeling behind him. The click of a key openng the lock was the most beautiful sound he'd ever heard. The last son of Gol D. Roger felt strength flood his veins, angry embers licking a trail of fire down his flesh as his power came flooding back to him. Grimacing he stood, forcing himself to stand on sleeping legs, his lower body numb from kneeling for so many hours. Power roared through him and he welcomed it with relief. It seemed today wasn't his day to die after all.

"Thanks," he muttered, rubbing at a raw wrist. "Oi, where is your captain, anyway?"

The redhead turned her gaze aside, her mouth set in a slight grimace. Was that fear or consternation that tightened her brow?

"He's...preoccupied."

R&R! =D