"The sky darkens…the lights dim…" The press box announcer at the MHS stadium echoes through the crowd, "In the distance, you see a ship. As it approaches, you see that this is no ordinary ship. You look to the decks to see the fiercest men you've ever seen. Their look alone petrifying, you find yourself surrounded. Now you know the terror of the deep. Now you know…the power…of…THE MUGIWARA BUCCANEERS!"
A foghorn sound blasts through the PA system as the band kicks off the fight song as Coach Cobra and the Buccaneer football team run through the block "M" formed on the field to a standing ovation. The band breaks rank and heads towards their stands as the visiting Konoha Leaves, spotted white uniforms with green numbers, green pants, and green helmets with the Leaf logo on it, make their way to the field in a shower of boos and hisses. The Buccaneer team was sporting their usual home colors, black uniform with black pants and blood red lining and numbers. Their helmets were jet black with a design similar to the logo on Luffy's flag, except all in blood red as well as a red stripe down the middle of the helmet. After a few stretches and warmup drills, the two captains of the team, Zoro(#11) and Iceburg(#1) made their way to midfield, where the Leaves' captains, Uchiha Sasuke and Rock Lee were waiting for the coin toss.
"You all know the drill," the referee stated as the four captains looked at him, "Leaves call it in the air." The referee flipped the coin up, which Uchiha stared intently at before calling "Tails" when the coin was on its way down. The coin hit the turf showing the tails end up.
"It is Tails, Leaves do you wish to receive, kick, or defer?"
"We're gonna receive." Lee quickly responded.
"Buccaneers, which endzone do you wish to protect."
"North," Zoro blurted out. Almost immediately, Iceburg whacked him upside the back of his head.
"Our field goes east-west, bud. We'll guard the east endzone."
The captains retreated to the sidelines as the kickoff team for the Buccaneers, Devil's Leg Sanji(#32) leading the pack, got themselves set up for the start of the game. With fans stomping on the bleachers and the drumline banging wildly, Sanji ran up and booted the kick with absurd velocity, screaming up and over the Leaves return team and out of the endzone for a touchback.
"Well, that was expected," Usopp said to Merry, the two of them at the edge of the band stands closest to the field goal post to get the best view of the game. "It's time to see that running back Lee in action. Let's see if he's really able to make any difference."
The Leaves defense got off the bench and approached the field immediately in their standard 4-4 set. Manning the line from left to right were the massive bodies of Kaashi(#93), Dorry(#94), Broggy(#95), and Oimo(#96). Right behind them were the more dangerous four linebacker set of Patty(#37) and Carne(#38) as the two outside linebackers and the stars of the defense, the two middle linebackers known as the Skyriders, Wiper(#40) and Kamakiri(#45). Keeping their eyes on the wide sides of the field were a very swift pair of cornerbacks, Johnny(#62) and Yosaku(#64), already marking the two Leaf wide receivers, Uzumaki Naruto and Inuzuka Kiba. The last line of defense in the back of the formation was the safety Dalton(#77), whose perfect combination of speed and power allow him to cover the most territory.
As expected, the Leaves decided to go with Uchiha as the quarterback as the teams broke their huddle and set up by the ball, lying on the 20-yard line. After a few dummy calls, the Leaf center snapped the ball to start the first play of the game and the season. Uchiha pump-faked, then handed the ball to Lee, who broke threw the line a bit before being tackled by Kamakiri for a 3-yard gain. An incomplete pass and another run for 2 yards left the Leaves at a three-and-out as they were stuck at Fourth Down and 5.
The punt teams got on the field, with Zoro back to receive. The snap and kick went off fine as Zoro was able to catch it at the Buccaneer 35. He dashed forward, dodging a few tacklers until he was brought down at the Leaf 40.
"Beautiful field position," Usopp stated, now to both Merry and Chopper, who he forcefully recruited to join him.
"If the offense comes out burning, it's a early six."
"Not like that'll be hard, Zoro's already ran a punt 25 yards, that's nice for a first return in 10 months."
Zoro stayed on the field as the rest of the offense joined him. Franky(#36) was followed by his line, Zambai(#54) on his left guard and Paulie(#57) as his right guard, at the far end of the line at the tackle positions were Lulu(#52) at left and Tilestone(#55) at right. To the left of Lulu was the tight end Kohza(#84) and at the wide positions were receivers Chaka(#82) and Pell(#83). Iceburg set himself up behind Franky with Smoker(#34) and Zoro behind him in an I formation. A quick snap and handoff to Zoro went 7 yards before being brought done by Akimichi Chouji. Zoro walked back to the huddle with a smile on his face.
"He doesn't hit THAT hard."
"I didn't expect he would," Iceburg said to Zoro and the rest of the huddle, "Coach just said that stuff as a precautionary thing. Think you can go a bit further this next run, Zoro?"
"If by a bit further you mean to the endzone, of course."
"That's the spirit, Off Tackle from 3, break."
After the teams set up, Iceburg took the ball from the snap and immediately handed off to Zoro who ran through the line between Lulu and Zambai. He was immediately confronted by Akimichi.
"Don't think you can get past me!"
"Don't think you can stop me!"
With a quick sidestep, Zoro completely dusted Akimichi and ran 20 yards before being greeted by cornerback Hyuga Neji, who dove towards him in an attempt to tackle him. Zoro just smiled as he noticed his pursuer out of the corner of his eye.
"No. I don't think so."
Holding the ball in his right hand, Zoro thrust out his left arm and perfectly placed his hand on Hyuga's shoulder, pushing him away as he easily ran into the endzone to the sound of uproarious applause.
.:TOUCHDOWN BUCCANEERS:.
The kicking team came on and Sanji easily booted the ball through the uprights for the Buccaneers to take an early 7-0 lead.
"Well that was quick," Usopp stated to Merry as they finished playing the school song and the crowd started their traditional "M-H-S" chant, "They have a bunch of almost-there players that just can't get past the finish line. Only Lee can cause any form of damage."
Usopp immediately regretted saying that as Lee received Sanji's kickoff and ran a healthy 35 yards before being stopped at the Leaves 45. He was able to shake off two would-be tacklers before Dalton brought him down. Uchiha once again took control behind center and handed off to the hot Rock Lee who dodged another tackle before getting knocked out of bounds by Johnny for a five yard gain. The Leaves pushed on until seeing their drive end when confronted with a Fourth Down on the Buccaneers 30. A semi-familiar sight came from the Leaves bench in order to kick a field goal.
"Sai?" Nami stated in surprise while the other cheerleaders noticed her breaking from the routine.
"You know him?" Conis quietly asked.
"He paints pictures out at the park by my family's apartment. I didn't know he goes to Konoha or played football."
"How are his portraits?"
"They're pretty good, but he never names them. They're almost photorealistic, some of his bird drawings look like they can jump out and take to the sky."
Nami and Conis chattered on, unknowing that an eavesdropper was listening on the bench.
"A love rival? No one takes my beloved Nami away from me!" Sanji muttered to himself before Coach Cobra knocked him on the head a bit.
"Same rules as last year. Football now, cheerleaders later. Besides, she said nothing like that." A few heads on the bench turned towards the two, confused on why their coach was listening on the cheerleaders' conversation too.
The Leaves kicking team lined up for the 47 yard field goal, Uchiha holding and Sai kicking. The ball was snapped into Uchiha's hands…and right out. Uchiha scrambled after picking up the dropped ball but could not even reach the line of scrimmage as Wiper knocked him to the ground far too short and the Leaves turned the ball over on downs. The Buccaneers defense left the field as the offense arrived.
"Well that was a lot of build up for nothing." Zoro said to the passing Kamakiri.
"We shouldn't have let them come close, we'll make them pay next possession," the Skyrider said with a bit of anger in his tone before taking off his helmet and going to the bench.
The Buccaneer drive started with a quick run by Zoro for 4 yards, followed by a quick pass to Kohza for 9 yards and a first down. The drive chugged along until the Buccaneers faces a Third Down and 3 at the Leaves 18-yard line. Iceburg called his offense in to discuss what to do.
"Pell, how are your wings?"
"I think I could probably do a low soar right now, but it's definitely enough to get over Aburame."
"Cool, no problem with a PA Post to endzone?"
"Sounds fun, lets do it."
"All right. On 2, break."
The Bucs set up the offense, Pell staring down the Cornerback Shino Aburame. As the ball was snapped, Pell dashed forward a few yards with Aburame keeping track with him. Ten yards forward, Pell cut diagonally towards the middle of the field with Aburame still following. As the two reached the endzone, Aburame got in from of Pell with intent to intercept the pass. The ball soared over the line as the two jumped to get it, but the ball was way too high for Aburame. The cornerback turned to make sure where the ball was in hopes to find another Leaf player to still intercept. The ball was nowhere to be found, nor was Pell.
Jerking his head up, Aburame was shocked to see Pell, ball in hand, almost at a height to clear the average height cornerback. With no shot of breaking up the pass, the Leaves could just watch as Pell dropped back to earth, and in the endzone.
.:TOUCHDOWN BUCCANEERS:.
Another Sanji PAT later and Mugiwara found themselves with a comfortable lead as the clock ticked off to end the first quarter.
"Offense is on a roll, but the defense is a bit rusty." Usopp analyzed towards his motley crew.
"Can we cheer on the defends?" Chopper asked, still not knowing all the terms of the sport. Usopp thought it over for a second before rushing towards Igaram. After finishing the quick conversation, Usopp's crew returned to their instruments as Igaram got on the loudspeaker.
"By request, we will be playing Riders. Also, since the team will be scoring on our side this quarter, keep it down when they're close. I'm looking at you, Laki." The director gave a quick stare at the black-haired drumline captain as the girl just brushed it off.
As the band played, the team bench started to notice a change in mood in a certain player. Zoro looked back to see Wiper swaying with the band with his eyes on the Leaves quarterback Uchiha and a large evil smile on his face. Zoro just grinned and decided to sing along a bit with the band.
"There's a killer on the road…his brain is swimming like a toad…"
Coach Cobra also couldn't help but smile as the Buccaneers defense, complete with captain Wiper, took the field.
"Perfect choice, Igaram. Offense, it'll be a while until you're back on. Wiper wants some touchdowns for himself."
The second quarter was about to start, and slowly it was beginning to seem like the Bucs were just going to keep the pounding going. Thanks to the band and Usopp's quick thinking, an aura of invincibility emanated from the Buc bench. For the Leaves, things will be getting a lot worse before they got better.
END FIRST QUARTER
MUGIWARA BUCCANEERS 14
KONOHA LEAVES 0