Chapter 13: Truth or Lies?

XXXXXXX – Syrup Village, South Beach

MURDER MISS KAYA!?

Luffy, Naruto and Usopp all had the same thought screaming through their heads as Klahadore shook his head at Django. "Django, Django. Don't say 'murder.' It sounds so sinister."

"Oh yeah. 'Accident.' It's going to be an 'accident' right…" Django tipped his hat forward a bit and looked directly at the other man. "…Captain Kuro?"

"Quiet fool!" Klaha…um…Kuro…replied. He pushed up his glasses with his palm again. "I discarded that name three years ago. Don't ever call me that. You're the Captain now."

"Hey, what are they talking about?" Luffy asked Usopp, pointing at the two conspiring men.

"That's what I want to know," Usopp said. He then began muttering the name Kuro to himself over and over. After a few seconds, he slammed a fist into the other hand. "I remember! I've heard that name before! Captain Kuro was famous for his carefully planned pillaging raids. But rumor was that three years ago, he got caught by the Navy and executed."

Django and Kuro then began talking. Django said how he wasn't sure of this plan, even though he and the crew helped spread the false rumors of Kuro's death. After Kuro confirmed that Django would be rewarded for his efforts, Django smiled and proclaimed that 'If it's murder, then I'm your man!' To which Kuro scowled coldly, emphasizing that it was going to be an 'accident' and that when Django acted, he first had to hypnotize Kaya into writing a will that left everything to Klahadore.

"So that's why you worked as a butler for three years." Django replied, rubbing his goatee as he processed all of this information. "Wouldn't it have been easier to just bust in and take it all at gunpoint?"

"That's the crude thinking of a pirate. You get the money, but you have to live like a fugitive." Kuro said. "What good are riches if you've always got the Navy chasing you? I've gone legitimate. I'm a pacifist now."

"If he's a pacifist, Luffy's a genius," Naruto said.

"What's a genius?" Luffy asked.

"Doesn't matter, you're not one," Usopp said.

"Ah…"

Django apparently agreed with Naruto's statement. "Har Har Har! I guess there's all kinds of pacifists! And after you went and slaughtered the girl's whole family!"

Usopp was about to swear very violently until Kuro said. "I never slaughtered anyone! Kaya's parents' death…well, that wasn't part of my plan."

'It…wasn't?' Usopp thought. He didn't know how to feel about that. There was no reason for Kuro to lie about it, not after freely admitting his true intentions about murdering Kaya and such, so it must be true. Right?

"Sure, whatever," Django said, obviously not believing Kuro's claim. "Just hurry and gave us the damn signal. We've been anchored off shore for a week now. Those cutthroats are ready to cut each other's throats by now."

"How…horrible…" Usopp said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I've…really just heard something horrible!"

Naruto merely nodded in agreement, too anger to say anything, while Luffy just said. "What did they say? It sounded kinda…mean."

"WEREN'T YOU LISTENING!?" Usopp asked in pure disbelief. Somehow, neither Kuro nor Django heard him, even with that level of voice.

"Even if he was, it wouldn't have made a difference," Naruto told him.

"They're going to kill Kaya and attack the village!" Usopp said frantically, going into a rant. "They're freaking serious! That bastard's been after Kaya's family fortune this whole time! For three years he's been plotting to get it all! The butler is Captain Kuro! He's still alive!" He gulped. "I picked the wrong guy to punch out! They're gonna attack the village and kill Kaya! This is horrible! Really horrible!" He was so caught up in the rant, he didn't notice both Luffy and Naruto standing up simultaneously.

Luffy shouted. "HEY YOU GUYS!!!"

Naruto added. "DON'T KILL KAYA!!!"

Usopp foamed at the mouth.

As Kuro and Django looked up at the trio, Usopp grabbed Luffy's arm, who was closest to him, and yelled. "You idiots! They've seen us!! We got to run and hide! They'll murder us!!"

"Well…" Kuro said, glaring in the three's direction. "If it isn't Usopp…"

"WAAAHH!!!" Usopp cried out in horror. "NOW THEY'VE SEEN ME!!!"

"Hear anything…interesting?" Kuro asked.

"No – I mean – huh!? I j-just got here, so I couldn't have – "

"We heard everything!" Luffy confirmed, causing Usopp to stutter worse and go bug-eyed as well.

"So they heard us…" Django said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a strange looking ring on a string. He then began swinging it back and forth. "All right, then. You guys look at this ring."

"What's that?" Luffy asked, his head moving in perfect rhythm with the ring.

"It's a weapon!" Usopp said, shaking now. "He's gonna kill us!"

"Hell no!" Naruto cried out. He grabbed a kunai from it's holster, crouched himself and then launched himself at the two plotting men. "Not if I have anything to say about it!"

Django didn't stop. "One…two…"

Luffy kept watching, while Usopp turned around and threw himself on the ground. "Take cover!"

"Django!"

On the top of the hill, Luffy's head slumped down and his body began swaying. Naruto, however, hadn't looked at Django, or his ring, since he had been completely focused on Kuro. A split second before Naruto introduced Kuro with his kunai, Kuro calmly delivered a powerful kick to Naruto's chin, sending him crashing into the cliff and Kuro could had sworn he heard a faint snap.

He then looked at Django, how had fallen on the ground asleep. "Damn it, Django. I thought you had this perfected!" Kuro then proceeded to 'wake him up' by lightly kicking Django in the face.

The words got Usopp to turn around, but he immediately saw Luffy fall forward off the cliff. Usopp raced towards the edge just in time to see Luffy land head first on the ground.

"You are two ok!?"

Django got up to his feet, rubbing the side of his face as he did. "Ouch." He then looked at Luffy. "Hmm…didn't mean to kill him." He walked over to Luffy and looked him over. "Yep…fell right on his head. From that height, he's dead for sure. What about the blond one?"

"Dead," Kuro replied, pushing up his glasses with his palm yet again. "I heard his neck snap."

"Dead?" Usopp repeated. "It – it can't be! They're dead! They're really dead!"

"What should we do with the last one? Kill him too?" Django asked.

"That will not be necessary," Kuro replied, a smirk emerging on his face as he looked directly at Usopp. "No one will believe what that buffoon says. Django," His smirk blossomed into a full blown smile. "Tomorrow at dawn, attack the village. Create a distraction, rough up some villages and kill Miss Kaya. Tomorrow. It's just as I said, Usopp. No one will believe you, so you can't stop me."

"Damnit…damnit…" Usopp said, before he took off screaming, thinking about the village, and Kaya, as he ran to warn the villagers.

Back at the beach, Django asked. "You sure it's ok?"

"Of course. My plan can't fail." Kuro replied as the two walked away, heading towards their ship. Unbeknownst to them, Luffy was sleeping and even snoring, quite contently, despite the position he was in. As for Naruto…a faint red glow enveloped his body. It remained for a few seconds before fading away and then Naruto was also sleeping quite comfortably.

XXXXXXX – Syrup Village, Outskirts

Zoro, Nami, Shino, Sakura, Sasuke and the three boys had been discussing that strange man (Sasuke had denied that he had been hypnotized, and scowled anytime anyone…a.k.a. Zoro, said otherwise) when they saw Usopp ran strait past them.

"Captain!" Onion, Pepper and Carrot all cried, but Usopp disregard the group completely.

"I thought Luffy…and maybe even the rodent…would be with him," Zoro said as he watched Usopp's figure enter town.

"Is he still upset about what the butler said about his father?" Nami suggested.

"Possible," Sakura said, remembering how that Sound kunoichi had done so back at Orange Town. "I know that I would still be mad if someone went and badmouthed my dad." Inner Sakura added. "Shannaro! Anyone who dares to do that again will drown in their own blood!!"

"No!" Carrot protested immediately. "Did you see his face?!"

"Something must've happened at the beach!!" Pepper agreed.

"He was pale as a sheet!" Onion said.

Zoro looked thoughtful, then turned his gaze to the three boys. "How do I get to the beach?" He demanded.

All three boys looked eager as they replied. 'I smell trouble!', 'That hypnotist was headed that way too!', and 'It's time for Usopp's pirates to take action!'

"Yeah, sure, but show me the way to the beach." Zoro repeated.

"I'm…going to go look for Naruto," Sakura said hesitantly. "Naruto's been missing for awhile. It's about time…one of us found him." She subconscious rubbed the pocket where the frog wallet was.

Shino pointed south. "Naruto is approximately 2 kilometers in that direction, as is Luffy. At this beach the boys mentioned."

Everyone stared at him. "And you know this how?" Sasuke asked, genuinely curious.

Shino did not answer right away; he seemed to be considering something. Finally, a bug crawled out of a small hole on his cheek. The sight of that instantly caused Pepper, Carrot and Onion saying 'GROSS!'. They said 'GROSS' very loudly and repeatedly. Shino, however, ignored them. "The female member of this species produces a faint scent that only the male of the same species can detect. Using that scent, the males can find the females anywhere." Shino paused and then added. "And there's a female on each of you."

"WHAT!?" Sakura and Nami cried out, looking themselves over, as expecting to see a horde of bugs crawling all over them. Zoro didn't seem to care and Sasuke wasn't listening. The three boys were making gagging sounds.

"There is no need to react in such a matter," Shino said, his tone getting darker.

"Well…" Nami said, as if looking for an excuse. "You have to admit…it is surprising…"

Sasuke snorted at that.

Sakura then looked at Zoro. "Well…guess I'll be going with you to the beach."

Zoro looked strait at her for a few seconds before nodding in agreement.

"I'll go look at the village," Nami volunteered. "To see what Usopp's up to." She grabbed Shino and Sasuke by their collars. "And you two will come with me."

"Grabbing me is not required," Shino replied.

"Who asked you to volunteer me?" Sasuke demanded. "I've wasted too much time with you wannabes. It's about time I got out of here!"

Nami ignored both of them as she lead/dragged Shino and Sasuke to the village, while Zoro and the others headed towards the beach.

Nami, Shino and Sasuke arrived at the village as they heard Usopp's cry of "TOMORROW MORNING, PIRATES ARE GOING TO ATTACK THIS VILLAGE!! HEAD FOR THE HILLS!!"

Shino didn't comment, he just merely looked at Usopp yelling, Sasuke pulled Nami's hand off of him. "You dragged me here just to hear the fool lie again?"

"Hmm…" Nami looked at the as the villagers emerged, many carrying brooms, rakes, shovels and holding them like were rifles and swords.

"That's enough Usopp!" One cried out. "That's enough for today! No more!!"

"No!" Usopp said desperately. "This time it's for real!!"

Shikamaru pocked his head out of the window of his house (where his mother had made him do some chores) and listened in as well. Another villager shouted. "That's what you always say!"

"Maybe it's time to teach you a lesson." Another one suggest, earning a murmur of agreement through the crowd.

"I'm always joking around…" Usopp admitted, his desperation growing. "But this time it's true! You have to believe me!"

Yoshino walked out and crossed her arms. "If you were responsible like Mr. Klahadore, we'd believe you."

Nami watched as Usopp's face looked shocked. Panic then grew and he shouted. "YOU GOT TO BELIEVE ME! WE HAVE TO ESCAPE! EVERYONE'S REALLY GOING TO BE KILLED!"

"GET HIM!!!" The mob cried.

XXXXXXX – Syrup Village, South Beach.

Zoro, Sakura, Onion, Pepper and Carrot arrived at the beach. Zoro spotted them first, pointing near the edge of the cliff. "I don't believe it. Those two idiots are taking a nap in a place like this. And just when I thought they couldn't get any more stupid."

Zoro then walked over to Luffy and gave him a hard kick to the face. "Wake up you idiot!"

"Huh! I was sleeping!?" Luffy yelled as he sat up.

"Smooth Zoro…" Sakura said. She then walked over to Naruto's sleeping form and gently put her hand on his shoulder and started shaking him slightly. "Hey, Naruto. Wake up."

"Urg…five more minutes…"

Sakura sighed. "Oh look! Is that a ramen stand over there!?"

Naruto bolted awake. "WHERE!?"

"Sorry," Sakura said. "Nowhere, but I had to get you awake somehow. Why are you sleeping in the dirt away?"

"Dirt…?" Naruto asked. He looked confused for a moment and then realization hit him. He then bolted up to his feet. "We've got no time to waste! That stinky, backstabbing butler is actually a priate captain named Kuro whose going to kill Kaya with the help of some strange guy with heart shaped sunglasses! They're pirate crew is going to attack this village tomorrow morning!"

"WHAT?!" Sakura and Carrot yelled.

"Miss Kaya's going to be killed!?" exclaimed Pepper.

Onion then looked at Luffy. "Really Mr. Straw Hat man? Is what he's saying true!?"

"Yup," Luffy confirmed. "That's what they said, no doubt about it."

"Kind of an odd place for you to take a nap, isn't it?" Zoro asked Luffy. "Especially after hearing something like that."

"Well…I thought I was on top of the cliff…"

"At least that explains why Usopp was running towards town like his pants on fire," Sakura said. She then looked at Naruto and figured that she meant as well get this over with. "Um…Naruto…there's something I need to tell you…"

"You want to go on a date with me?"

"No…it's…"

"You want to give me a kiss?"

"No! It's about your…"

"You see Sasuke as the cold hearted bastard he really is?"

"NO! I've got your…"

"Heart?"

This time, Sakura merely took out his wallet from her pocket and thrust it in his face, trying very hard to keep her temper (and her inner self) under control.

"Huh…" Naruto said. Then a smile burst on his face. "You found hebi-kun! Thanks! I forget where I had placed it! Was it with Nami again? I knew I should had asked that Thieving Witch if she had my wallet! You probably stole back from her, right?"

Hebi-kun? Did Naruto even bother to pay attention to his lessons!? She gave a mental sigh. How easy it would had been to just agree with Naruto and blame the whole thing on Nami.

"You should probably try calling it Gama-chan," Sakura said in a strained voice. She then gave a small gulp and said. "Now listen up, ok? Nami had your wallet. And she gave it to me so I could go shopping with Sasuke and buy him some new clothes. And I did. And I'm sorry I went and did that behind your back with your money without your consent. I should had just returned it immediately, but I wasn't thinking clearly. I'm sorry."

Naruto was silent as he looked at Sakura, to his Gama-chan, back to Sakura again. He then slowly opened it and began silent counting. His eyes then saw the bill with the I.O.U. on it. "I.O.U.?" Naruto asked. "What's that mean?"

"Exactly how it sounds," Sakura answered. "I. O. U. I owe you. I intend to pay you back for the money I spent. I didn't have that much and I gave you all the money I had, but I still owe you the other half."

"Oh…" Naruto said, still not sure how to respond to this. He weighed his options. "So…how do you intend to pay me back?" He asked and Sakura could hear the hurt in his voice.

"I…I don't know." Sakura admitted. "Um…what do you want?"

Naruto peaked a little at that. "Can it be anything?"

Sakura gritted her teeth a bit. She had a good idea where he was going with that. "I…I suppose so…within reason…" She added quickly.

"Will you go on a date with me!?"

Sakura clutched her fists and slowly counted to ten. She then sighed in resignation. "Fine…"

Naruto instantly began cheering. It didn't last long because Zoro came over and thumped him on the head, sending him crashing to the ground. "Celebrate later, lover boy. There's things to do."

Naruto was in too good a mood to complain getting hit. He merely asked what did they have to do?

"I've got to go to town and buy some meat before the butcher leaves!" Luffy declared.

XXXXXXX – Syrup Village, Kaya's Mansion

"HE SAID THEY'RE GOING TO KILL YOU!!!" Usopp said, now standing outside of Kaya's window.

Nami, Shino and Sasuke (who had been dragged yet again) were watching Usopp attempting to convince Kaya of his tale. After his failure in the village, he had been chased out of the village. Once Usopp had been sure the villagers had lost him, he had immediately ran to Kaya's mansion, as the trio predicted he would.

He had snuck into Kaya's mansion and immediately told her that Klahadore was a pirate, that the only reason he had served her was to get his hands on her fortune.

"He's a dastardly villain!" Usopp continued. "You've got to get out of here fast!"

"Please stop this! You disappoint me Usopp!" Kaya shouted, hurt coming from her voice.

"What?!" Usopp was shocked.

"Did he really believe that she would listen to him?" Sasuke asked outloud, from their position on the mansion wall. "He's obviously lying."

"I'm…not so sure…" Nami said.

"And your reason for saying that is?" Shino looked at her. "I see no reason other than attempted revenge on the butler." Nami was about to answer, but Kaya's voice cut her off drawing their attention back to the two.

"You'd actually use me to get back at Klahadore like this?" Kaya said, disbelief now coming into her voice, on top of the hurt she had been using. "What he said about your father…Klahadore admitted that he went too far! He should never have side those things!" Her voice then grew louder. "BUT I WON'T LISTEN TO YOU TELL LIES ABOUT HIM! I NEVER BELIEVED YOU WOULD SINK SO LOW!!" She then seem to calm, as if that last statement had been the hardest thing for her to say. Then in a quieter voice. "Your stories were always filled with romantic and unbelievable things…but they were so much fun…I loved your lies. Why did you have to tell a lie like that? It's despicable, Usopp."

"Kaya…

"How could you…" Kaya interrupted, tears now streaking down her eyes. That, along with the tone of her voice, the expression on her face and the pure sincerity of it all was enough to make even Sasuke guilty…and he hadn't even done anything. He could only imagine what Usopp was feeling right now.

Usopp replied immediately. "Kaya! Wait! I'm not trying to get back at anyone!"

"Miss Kaya!" Came a voice from inside the mansion that Nami, Shino and Sasuke didn't recognize. At the same time, two security guards came and grabbed Usopp by the arms.

"Ok. Show's over," Sasuke said. "Now they throw him out. Can I go n…"

He didn't finish due to Usopp biting down on one of the guard's arms. The guard cried in pain as he let go. This allowed Usopp to break the grip of the second guard. He jumped back, reached for his bag on pulled out a slingshot.

"Oh…that's real scary…" Sasuke commented, dry sarcasm coming out. "This idiot really is a child."

"Even a needle can kill, Sasuke," Shino stated as Usopp ducked the first guard and fired his slingshot at the first guard, hitting him in the chin and knocking him on his back.

"Only when being used by an expert," Sasuke countered. "You give this kid too much credit." Usopp then flipped himself around and fired a second shot. This shot hit the second guard right in the stomach, making him drop his gun and collapse on the ground, gasping for air.

"Do I?" Shino asked, surveying the site anew.

Nami sighed. Why did boys always seem to argue or fight?

"He's down both guards!" Shouted the butler standing beside Kaya.

Usopp then turned back to Kaya. "Kaya, you've got to believe me! You have to get out of the village! Before your butler comes back!"

Shouts came from the distance. The angry mob of villagers were coming. And soon.

"I've got no choice!" Usopp proclaimed. He then reached out and grabbed Kaya by the wrist and started pulling her out of the window. "I'll have to use force!"

"Usopp, no! Let me go!"

"Why isn't the butler helping her?" Nami wondered at loud. From what she could make out at this distance, he had run back inside the mansion. 'Real first class servants Kaya's got…'

"You'll find out the truth tomorrow! For now, I've got to get you away from here! You've got to believe me!"

That's when Kaya slapped Usopp on the face. If it wasn't for the angry villagers yelling, it would had been quiet enough to hear a pin drop.

"IT'S YOU USOPP!! YOU'RE THE DASTARDLY VILLIAN!!"

That's when the butler, the one that had been inside with Kaya, returned with a pistol in his hand and pointing it strait at Usopp. "Ruffian! Get away from Miss Kaya!"

"Merry! No!" Kaya cried.

Usopp looked horrified and then took off running as Merry fired a single shot at the fleeing teenager. Nami saw Usopp clutch his left arm and assumed that he had gotten hit. She could hear the butler, Merry, shouting that Usopp was now a violent criminal, which just enraged the pursuing villagers even more. "Let's get out of here…" She said quietly.

Shino nodded and Sasuke merely hmphed as they dragged him away yet again.

XXXXXXX – Syrup Village, Outskirts

Usopp continued to walk around, with no real destination in mind.

"Tomorrow morning…attack the village at dawn!"

Usopp looked at the village, not saying anything.

Tomorrow…

He couldn't let that happen, he knew that. But no one, not even Kaya, believed him.

Tomorrow…

He then remembered something else, something from earlier that day.

"Little boy sent to guard sheep. Gets bored so he goes out and cries wolf. The villagers believe him and they come running, only to find that the boy was lying. The boy laughs and the villagers are mad.

"The story goes that the boy continued to cry wolf day, after day, and the villagers kept believing him. One day, a wolf really did come and the boy panicked...

"Boy tried to get the townspeople, they didn't listen. Both sheep and boy got eaten by wolf.

"So that's what happens to liars, Usopp. They keep telling lies until the real thing comes and no one believes them."

"Usopp…"

Usopp turned around to see Nami, Shino and Sasuke walked towards him. Before he could respond, a large chorus of 'Captain!' was heard in the opposite direction. His three crewmembers were coming with the rest of the Straw Hats: Luffy, Naruto, Zoro and Sakura.

"Guys…" Usopp said. His face fell as he did a double take at the group. LUFFY AND NARUTO! WHAT THE HELL!? "Aren't you two dead!?" He yelled frantically, pointing an accusing finger at the two. "GHOSTS!"

"WHERE!?" Naruto screamed, looking around in a panic.

"Ghosts!? Cool!" Luffy said joyfully.

"Idiots…" The rest said automatically, while Nami added one point for each, mostly just for the heck of it.

"You two are supposed to be dead! You," Usopp said once again, pointed at Luffy. "Fell off a cliff! And you," He then pointed at Naruto. "Broke your neck!"

Luffy shrugged. "I dozed off…"

"No way I'm not that easy to kill!" Naruto said. "I've got too much too do: find Iruka-sensei! Reunite the villages! Become Hokage! Kick Sasuke's butt!"

"Like that would ever happen," Sasuke interjected, stopping Naruto's rant.

"Will you two stop!?" Pepper cried. "We've got more important things! Captain! We heard what's going on! We've got to hurry and warn everyone about the pirates!"

"So you believe that fool's lies…" Sasuke said.

"It's no lie," Zoro said. He pointed at Luffy and Naruto. "They said the exact same thing. And Luffy's too stupid to lie. It's the real deal."

"Thanks!" Luffy replied happily, grinning.

"…warn…everyone…"

"You're the one who's a dastardly villain!"

Usopp discreetly moved his left hand behind his back, out of sight from everyone. He then threw his head back and starting laughing. "I just made it all up, as usual! Got so mad at that butler…I made up a lie about him being a pirate!"

The three boy's jaws dropped at Usopp's powerful lie.

"I can't believe the captain would do that," Carrot spoke up first.

"Yeah, me neither," Pepper agreed, turning away from Usopp.

"Or me!" Onion finished. "I don't like that butler…but I never thought the captain would lie to hurt someone!"

They started muttering amongst themselves and slowly walking away, not even looking at Usopp. It was clear that they were hurt and ashamed that Usopp would tell such a 'lie' about Klahadore and that they believed him.

XXXXXXX – Later that night

Usopp and the Straw Hats were sitting on the rock outcropping, where Usopp (along with Luffy's and Naruto's testimonies) reconfirmed that everything was true, Klahadore was really a pirate named Kuro, that he and his crew were planning on attacking the village and killing Kaya and how it would all happen at dawn tomorrow.

"It's because I'm a liar…" Usopp told the group as he sat on a rock. He was slumping over, with his hands supporting his head. His voice has heavy and flat. "No one will believe me. I should have known…you guys were right…with that story about the boy and the wolf…"

"Um…that's not really important now…" Sakura said. She didn't have the heart to rub it in, not with the situation and the depressed state of Usopp.

"But facts are facts though," Shino said. "Pirates really are coming, aren't they?"

"They're coming alright," Usopp confirmed. "But no one will believe me. They all think tomorrow will be just another peaceful day." He paused in thought. A second later, he stood up and clutched a fist and held it at his heart. "So it's up to me to meet those pirates and fight them off! Then I'll have a real tall tale! I may be a liar…but this time…my tale will come TRUE!!!"

They group didn't speak; even Sasuke seemingly had forgotten his desire to leave and was enthralled by the passion of Usopp's little speech. After four years on Gold Island with Gaimon, he had forgotten what home once meant to him.

Usopp looked down and cuddled his left arm, gripping his wound. "They can shoot me in the arm…and they can chase me with brooms, but this village is my home. I love this village. I've got to protect my neighbors!"

Home. Naruto repeated mentally to himself. Was that what one was supposed to feel for their village? That's not how he felt about Meadow Village, yet that was the place where he had lived. But…if he wanted to be Hokage of Konoha…then was this how he was supposed to act and feel? Be willing to defend the village against all odds, even if some of the people didn't like him or didn't believe in him. A small smile appeared on his face. Yeah. It was.

Usopp then put his face into his hands and actually started crying. "There's not much time to plan…but I refuse to let everyone be murdered!"

Luffy gave his trademark grin. In several ways, Usopp reminded him of Koby. Both were easily scared, yet when push came to shove – sure, it took Koby a few years and some motivation, but that's all just minor details – they would stand their ground and fight for their ideals, be it for the Navy, or just to protect the village.

Surprisingly, it was Zoro who spoke first. "You've got a noble heart. You sent your crew away so you could face the danger alone." He said with a smile.

"Well…we're going to help you," Luffy declared, reaching out for Usopp, the gesture adding impact to his words.

"Count me in!" Naruto said. "I'm not going to stay around and let some scum betray this village! Besides, I own that butler for that kick!"

Shino merely nodded, while Sakura smiled. "I'll help too."

"The treasure's all mine," Nami said.

Everyone looked at Sasuke, who merely replied 'what?'

"Are you staying or helping?" They all asked.

Sasuke was silent for a moment; he seemed to be weighing his options. He looked at each of them in turn, starting with Luffy and ending with Usopp. After a few more seconds, he shrugged. "What the hell…"

Everyone, even Naruto, nodded in approval. Usopp then said. "You…you guys…are willing to fight beside me? Why?"

"You're hopeless outnumbered, right?" Naruto asked. "You want to protect your village no matter what, even if you have to stand your ground alone against a horde of pirates that are coming. With that determination, your spirit, your strength…" He broke out into a smile. "How can we not help a man like you?"

"Well said rod…Naruto," Zoro said, inclining his head towards the boy.

"Indeed." Shino said, while Luffy gave him two thumbs up.

"He just looks scared to me," Sasuke said.

Usopp jumped up and pointed at himself. "Me?! Scared?! Th-that's a laugh! Outnumbered or not, I'll be f-fine!!! I'm Captain Usopp, brave warrior of the sea!"

"That's what I'm talking about…" Naruto said, laughing in approval. He pointed at Sasuke. "In your face. He's got stuff!"

"I gave him five minutes before he pees his pants." Sasuke replied. He then pointed at Usopp. "Look at him, his legs are already shaking."

The group looked at Usopp, who was shaking fiercely. "Damn…damn…" He started slapping, gripping, anything to stop his legs from shaking. After a few futile attempts, he looked around and saw the whole group staring at him. "What are you looking at!? I'm going up against Captain Kuro's pirates! Of course I'm scared! So what?! I don't want you're pity! You guys can stop laughing. Leave!"

"We're not laughing at you," Zoro said, giving Sasuke a fierce stare before turning back to Usopp. "We're impressed. That's why we're going to help you."

"Who'd risk their life out of pity?" Luffy asked, his voice serious and his gaze hard.

"Y-you…guys…" Usopp said, finally realizing that they were all really going to stick by him. He then stood up and walked to the beach, with the narrow ravine leading to the shore. "They'll attack from this beach," Usopp said. "And this is the route to the village. They'll have to come up this pass. Everywhere else, there's just sheer cliffs."

"This will give us a tactical advantage then," Shino replied. "Excellent call, Usopp."

"So if we can defend this path, the village is safe!" Sakura exclaimed, looking through the canyon with new understanding, her own mind working on possibilities.

"Wow! Piece of cake!" Luffy said, position his hat on his head.

"Easier said than done. We'll have to fight like an army," Usopp reminded them, now looking at the sea for several moments. He then looked at them and added. "What can you guys do?"

"I cut." Zoro.

"I stretch." Luffy.

"I steal." Nami.

"I multiply." Naruto.

"I punch." Sakura.

"I swarm." Shino.

"I burn." Sasuke.

"I run and hide." Usopp.

"YOU'VE GOT TO FIGHT!!!" yelled, well, everyone.

XXXXXXX – Syrup Village, Nara household

Shikamaru was stirring in his bed, thinking about all of today's events. Especially with Usopp's second run through the village, telling the whole village was going to be attacked. And something else that was bothering him.

He kept picturing Usopp's face, his gestures, his actions, his desperation. He thought about Usopp's overall personality and came to one conclusion.

"Damn you, Usopp…" Shikamaru whined, shifting his position. "Why of all times do you choose now to tell the truth?" That, of course, lead to the other thing he was thinking about.

What the hell should he do?

End of Chapter 13

A/N. According to my One Piece Encyclopedia, Orange Town is the real name of the Town Buggy's pirates had occupied; something I forgot to look up when I was writing that arc.

I must admit, when I was planning out this story, I never thought I would have Sakura agreeing to a date with Naruto, especially in the early arcs. It just kinda worked out that way. This is still going to be a Naru/Hina fic, but, personally, I never had a real problem with Sakura's character in general. I wonder how this little 'date' will end up. I must confess…even I'm not sure.

Nami's Ultimate Idiot Competition – Luffy: 22, Naruto: 20

May the Kage Bunshin and Gomu Gomu no Bazooka be with you! (I got the saying from Shang, and I must admit, I find it quite catchy. Thanks Shang!).

Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece or Naruto. They belong to their respective owners: Eiichiro Oda and Masashi Kishimoto.