Somewhere in the New World. Jagger Pirate's Ship.
Captain Jagger took a seat in a one of his private rooms within his vast ship. He laid his arms on the armrest of the chair and stared at a dark, empty screen.
"How long do they plan on keeping me waiting?"
Thousand Sunny.
"Agghh!" "Come on! Work!" "Damn it! Let's try it again!" "Why won't you two mix?!"
Standing on the surface of the ocean alongside countless other shadow clones that surrounded the ship, Naruto in a black loose fit vest and his usual orange trousers dispelled the Rasengan in his hand.
He sighed in frustration with the lack of progress and looked up the ship where he saw a smiling red head. Angel leaned on the wooden rails of the ship and waved happily at the original. She wore black short shorts, white belt, dark brown knee length boots and a tight dark blue vest that failed to cover below her belly button.
Her big smile somehow forced a similar smile on his irritated lips. Deciding to take a break, Naruto jumped up to the ship right next to Angel. As he landed, she sat on the rails and Naruto leaned on it using his forearms as support.
"I'm still having a hard time adjusting seeing your hair like that." Naruto announced cheekily.
Angel scrunched her brows teasingly. "You're the one to talk, Mr."
The young male chuckled in return.
"Hey, Naruto. I've been meaning to ask, you've been doing the same thing with your clones every morning for the last few days now. What is it that you're doing exactly?" Angel rotated her head to see the Naruto's all working in pairs. One clone had a blue circular object in his hand, the other had its hand's covered in black lightning.
"I'm trying to create a new jutsu." Naruto said then ran a hand through his hair, a habit he picked up quite recently.
"I've only learned what jutsu are last week so maybe I shouldn't ask but, what kind of jutsu?"
Naruto smiled knowingly the ever curious Angel would ask. "I'll show you."
He turned his body to face her and performed a set of hand signs.
"Raikiri."
Naruto's lightning layered hand caused Angel's eyes to widen. She's the newest member to witness jutsu and the concept still amazed her.
Naruto held his right hand to the side then prepared his left hand.
From it he formed a regular rasengan with ease.
"What I've been trying to do for the last few days is combine this-" He gestured his Raikiri hand. "With this." Naruto moved his rasengan hand.
"Two very powerful jutsu into one big jutsu. I've done it before with wind chakra so I know the step of how to do it, but there's something about these two that I can never figure out. The two just won't mix!?"
Angel tilted her head from confusion. "Why don't you just put your hands together?" She asked plainly.
Naruto's expression softened at her naivety. "I wish it was that simple. I've already tried all the ways I know how to combine the two and nothing works. I've tried mixing it with just myself with one hand, two hands, use one shadow clone, two shadow clones, and the list goes on and on and still nothing." Naruto sighed and deactivated the both jutsu in his hands. "I don't understand what the problem is."
Angel's expression fell from seeing his saddened, confused, frustrated face.
"Hey come on, you can't give up yet. Knowing you, you'll have this all figured out by the end of the week." She beamed supportively.
Naruto could only curve his lips slightly as he leaned on the wooden rails once again. Silence brewed for a moment before he spoke.
"Oh, by the way. Thank you."
Angel hummed in questioning. "Thank you? Thank you for what, Naruto?"
His face described nothing but seriousness. "For showing me my deepest fears."
The red head couldn't believe what she heard, and with such conviction. "That's a first, most people don't usually thank me for using my powers on them?"
"Well I do. Without it I wouldn't have known what my real feelings are. Now I know, I can accept them and finally move on."
Angel's powers limits her from learning the identity and remember whatever was said during her transformation, so she had no idea what Naruto's talking about.
"Alright, you're welcome, I suppose?"
Naruto beamed, feeling a weight being lifted of his shoulders. Then, he remembered.
"There's actually something else I keep forgetting to say to you, Angel."
The girl's eye brows narrowed.
Naruto met her in the eyes. "I'm sorry for what I did to you on the night we met." The sound of the struggling shadow clones from below continued to ship.
"Huh!? What did you do to me!?" Angel quickly groped her breast, blushed, then realised. "Oh, you mean when you zapped me with lightning? You don't need to apologise for that, I deserved it." Angel chuckled guiltily and scratched the back of her red head.
"No not that, what happened afterwards." Naruto voiced miserably, reliving the horrible scenes of Angel screaming from absolute fear.
The red heads confusion doubled. "Um, what are you talking about? You zapped me, knocked me out, tied me up, nice job with that by the way you might have to teach me that later. When I woke you guys interrogated me and then… I fell asleep? When I woke up again I was being carried by Franky outside of Suzuki Mansion and the rest is history?"
Naruto flinched. 'She doesn't remember being in Kurama's jutsu? I better not say anything, it's probably better that way.'
"Ahh, I mean… never mind. I did mean when I zapped you." Naruto sweated as Angel shrugged his weird moment away.
"Angel-c-c-chwan!"
Sanji exploded out the kitchen with love hearts for eyes and a glass of orange juice on top of a serving tray in his hand. Alongside him was Nami and the pair approached the newest addition to the crew.
"Hey you two." Nami greeted happily as Sanji sprinted towards Angel.
Likewise, Angel's eyes took shapes of love hearts and dashed towards Sanji's direction.
"Nami-chan!"
"Please help yourself to some refreshments, Angel-chan. It's made from only the best ingredients the New World has to offer." Sanji insisted in his usual flare.
"Oh, thanks."
A masculine voice forced Sanji's eyes to pop open. He sees Naruto taking the glass, down it in one gulp and grin from ear to ear causing Sanji to explode.
"Oi that wasn't for you, whiskers! Where's the beautiful Angel-chan?!"
Sanji turned around to see Angel tightly hugging Nami with an adoring smile on both of their faces. Nami stroked the top of Angel's head with a warm smile.
Sanji's shoulders and whole demeanour dropped. The cook dropped to his hands and knees and begun to cry like a river. "Lost the love of a beautiful women to another beautiful women. How can you do this to me Angel-chwan?"
Naruto dropped a sweat on the back of his neck and chuckled uncomfortably.
Over the last couple of weeks, Nami's grown quite attached to the younger red head. The busty navigator loved Angel's true personality that she's been holding back with the Jagger pirates. Angel's energetic, caring, playful and loves to hug.
Could Nami do less with overly loving hugs? Maybe a little? But Angel's sexual orientation and her affection for her never bothered the navigator. It was Angel's way to show she cared and Nami wasn't going to stop her from doing that. Also, the hugs were as far as Angel's love went anyway, the red head has never shown any true interest in her so what's the harm? To be honest, Nami's gotten attached to Angel's hugs as well.
"Don't you think it's time to give up on her now, Sanji? A girl like Angel doesn't prefer the company of ahh… lets say, our kind. I hope you're not reacting to what she said on the first night we met her because that was all an act remember?"
Sanji's tears continue to flow. "Of course I remember, but a man with as much burning passion as I do will never give up."
Naruto's uneasy smile disappeared when he took a glance at the two girls.
"You may have lost out on one but it could be worse, take a closer look."
Sanji obeyed and looked. He immediately felt the nose bleed coming.
The cook watched in awe as Angel and Nami tight embrace causes their busty breasts to caress one another in a sensual and lip biting manner.
"AAAHHH!" Sanji's nosebleed outburst flew him over the ship and splashed straight down the ocean.
"One of you bring him back up here!?" Naruto yelled to his shadow clones below.
Smiling Nami looked up to Naruto as she stroked Angel's hair. "What was that all about?" She asked.
"Sanji being Sanji." He replied plainly.
Angel unwrapped Nami with her massive grin and the two girls approach the remaining blond.
"I see you're hard at work again-" Nami viewed the sea of clones. "Still haven't figured out how to combine the two?"
Naruto shook his head. "Nah it's still not working. I'm having the same problem when I tried to master this jutsu back in Konoha. It's like the Rasengan and Raikiri are born rivals that are too stubborn to work together. I'm not worried though since I've done this before with wind chakra."
Angel moved to sit on her original spot. "You know Naruto, I thought you were talking crazy when you said you were from another universe. All that talk about chakra and tailed beasts had me thinking 'CuCu', we have a weirdo on the loose. You sure did change my mind when you started showing me all these powers you have."
Naruto didn't know whether to be offended or feel praised as Angel resumed.
"You can make lightning, water, wind… next you're going to tell us that you can fly?" Angel laughed at the ridiculous idea.
Naruto chuckled and grabbed the back of his neck. "Actually…"
"You can't be serious?!" Nami questioned with wide eyes.
Naruto waved dismissively. "No, no, what I was about to say was that I used to be able to fly."
Both girls jaw threatened to hit the floor.
"Yeah, Nami, remember I told you about the war, how I met old man Sage of Sixth Paths? He was the one who gave me and Sasuke some of his chakra in order to seal Kaguya and stop the infinite Tsukuyomi? What I forgot to mention was one of the many things I could do with that chakra was fly. I didn't get to have much time to enjoy it though since I was busy fighting the god of all chakra after all. That and after Sasuke and I broke the infinite Tsukuyomi, old man Sage took his chakra back and my flying ability with it. You can't imagine how angry I was when that old man took our powers away, he said giving us his chakra was a 'temporary solution' to the problem and that no one should no longer have that much power. Yeah, like I believe that. Oh! But what annoyed me the most was that the old man had the nerve to take all the tailed beasts' chakra away of me too! Okay, I admit they were never mine in the beginning but I thought I was cool enough with those guys to keep some of their chakra you know."
Naruto sighed deeply. "Although one good thing did come out of all it. I now have both sides of the Kurama's chakra which is totally bad ass so…"
Nami and Angel blinked several times at the blond. Their plain, deadpanned expressions on their faces said it all.
"Is it just me or none of that made sense?" Confused Angel quizzed.
Nami smirked and followed with a shrug. "He does that sometimes, the best thing you can do is smile, nod and wait until he finishes."
Naruto squinted his eyes and growled at Nami until one of his shadow clones jumped on deck with the soaking wet, heart eyed Sanji over his shoulder.
"Nice swim, Sanji?" Angel cheekily asked and stuck her tongue out.
The cook came back to the room as the Naruto clone released him and jumped back down to train.
"It was a little cold but apart from that… it doesn't matter. Naruto, I came outside to tell you you're breakfast is ready, it's getting cold as we speak so hurry up and finish what you're doing."
"Ahh, do I have eat it now? Can't you give me ten minutes?"
"No! You can't let food go to waste and you can't be skipping breakfast neither!"
As the two blonds bicker, Nami focused on Angel to grab her attention. "It should be nice and sunny for the whole day today, what do you say for a little sunbathing?"
Angel' eyes sparkled like fireworks. "Sure! That sounds like fun! Let's get Robin-chan in on it too!"
Nami smiled warmly as Naruto finally caved in. "Alright, I guess I'll try to finish the jutsu again tomorrow."
"Good, the plate's already on the table." Sanji said and rotated to return to the kitchen.
"Is it ramen?" Naruto asked optimistically.
"No it's not ramen! Who has ramen for breakfast?!"
Naruto pouted and whispered. "I do, all the time."
The two girls smile sympathetically for the jinchuuriki.
Naruto placed the glass he used on the wooden rail, took a deep breath and performed the appropriate hand sign.
'Here we go again.'
Every shadow clone was dismissed simultaneously leaving a wide fog of smoke in their place.
Then came the consequences.
Naruto instantly lost his balance, he used the wooden railing for support and stumbled a couple of steps, something the two ladies noticed easily.
With his superior physical form and long experience with the shadow clone training method, Naruto had learned how to maintain consciousness after releasing the shadow clone jutsu a couple of years ago. Although the technique still had its risks, Naruto reduced it down to a momentary, moderate headache, loss of balance and a tightness in his chest.
Nami grew anxious as Naruto shook his head and attempted to regain balance. "Hey, are you okay? What happened to you just now?"
Naruto dismissed the comment with a small wave. "Nothing. I think I just stood up too fast." He lied ungracefully, attempting to recover his composure.
'They'll only worry if I tell them about the fainting. I can't stop now when I'm so close to nailing this jutsu.'
The girl's eyes narrowed as Angel spoke what Nami was thinking.
"How can you stand up too fast when you're already standing?"
Naruto merely smiled passively to sidestep the question. He placed a hand on both their shoulders. "I'll see you two later."
The blond left the immediate premises while the two ladies watched his back in wonder.
It was Angel who spoke first to break their sceptical thoughts about Naruto.
"Sooo?" She extended the 'O' in a playful manner. "When are you going to tell him?"
Her teasing voice caused Nami to blush and flinch. "T-tell him? Tell him what?" Nami answered, still showing her back to the red head.
"Oh, come on Nami, don't think that I don't already know. You like Naruto." Angel grinned sheepishly.
Nami's flustered cheeks reddened and rushed to her friend's side. "Would you keep it down?! He has surprisingly sensitive hearing you know."
Angel held her grin and cheekily swung her legs back and forth.
"Yes-" Nami confessed with a sigh. "I do like Naruto, but it's complicated so I'm not saying anything to him right now. How did you even know?"
Angel giggled. "Unless you're a guy, any else would see how obvious it is. I've seen the way you are around him, Nami. A quick look here, a touch on his arm there. I can see him sending certain signals to you too but he just hasn't made a decisive move yet. It seems something preventing him from taking that final step and-" Angel slowly lost all her cheerful demeanour. "I bet it has something to do with what he saw when I used my powers on him."
Nami's eyes widened. "How did you-"
"He thanked me for showing his deepest fears, that doesn't happen with my devil fruit powers."
Angel hopped of her seat to stand and connected the dots. "He thanked me so that he could accept his fears-"
Nami's eyes and head dropped.
"So he could accept his fears and learn to move on."
The navigator lifted her head as a new wave of hope flooded inside her.
"Whoever she is, Nami. Naruto's no longer after her anymore so you still have a chance, I'm routeing for you." Angel place a hand on Nami's shoulder and gave a big reassuring smile.
Nami was stunned and a little confused as to why her openly lesbian friend who isn't shy about showing intimacy towards her is supportive of her cause. But as long as she was supportive, Nami didn't question it.
"Thanks, Angel. You're a good friend."
Angel's smile turned crocked and she took a step closer to enter Nami's personal space.
"Ah, Angel, w-we're kinda close don't you think?" Nami carefully whispered.
The red head was so close in fact Nami begun to sweat as Angel's lips were now centimetres away from hers. "Don't get me wrong, Nami-chan-"
Angel's sweet breath lightly brushed against the navigators lips. Their closeness, Angel's warmth, her lusty, sinful tone of voice left Nami near breathless.
"I'm only routeing for you because this is what you want. It doesn't mean I'm giving up on you."
Nami flushed uncontrollable, her mouth opened but failed to express a word. Her body froze like a statue as her heart pumped harder.
The ladies made eye contact and Angel whispered. "Remember this Nami-chan, I will never give up on you and your amazing body."
She took a gaze at Nami's full, rosy lips and couldn't fight the urge nibble on her own bottom lip.
The red head inched their warm bodies closer and she whispered in the navigator's ear. "I think Naruto's a great guy and he deserves to take his time before he looks for another person to love, but if he doesn't make a move on you soon, then I-might-have-to."
Beads of sweat begun to drip down Nami's skin, Angel pulled away to give the navigator a final sincere stare. Green eyes met brown in one steamy, throat drying moment.
Then, like someone flicked a switch, Angel grinned sheepishly and her old playful demeanour returned. The red head hopped backwards and punched the air with her fist. "Alright! Time to feel the sun! I'm so excited it's been a while since I last tanned."
Nami begun to recover and regain her motor and cognitive skills. She smiled awkwardly as Angel skipped around in excitement.
"I'll go inside and invite Robin-chan, then we should all pick our bathing suits and meet in the upper deck in ten minutes, okay?" Angel winked and threw the peace sign before leaving to the kitchen.
Finding a moment of seclusion, Nami sighed the built up tension in her system and smiled with awkward happiness. "That was new."
Girl's room.
Informed of the girl's plan, Robin searched her wardrobe for a nice bikini. Her hands may have been busy but her mind was a million miles away.
Things aren't going as smooth as Robin thought it would be since she and Zoro decided to give each other space. The space was there, it was just more than she anticipated and the lack of contact between them concerned her.
They've barely seen or spoken to each other since their little meeting in the male's restroom two weeks ago. When they have spoken, the atmosphere was always tense and awkward. It was as if there was an invisible wall that separated them and an unspoken rule was placed to avoid each other. Robin did not enjoy this feeling. Despite their undefined relationship status, Zoro is her nakama above all else, she should be able to have a normal conversation with him without things feeling awkward.
She then remembered the advice she gave Nami a few days ago about giving Naruto space not distance, the archaeologist smirked at the irony.
She selected the bikini of her choice and rubbed the fabric with her thumb. 'What should I do about Zoro? This 'giving each other space' is already affecting our friendship and we haven't even talked about what we want from each other yet.'
Robin closed her eyes and sigh before changing into her bathing suit.
Main Deck
"Oi! Shitty Cook! There's no more drinks down here!" Zoro shouted to Sanji on the upper deck by the steering wheel.
Sanji placed three iced teas on the table in between Angel's and Nami's sun bathing chairs.
"Thanks, Sanji-kun." "You're the best, Saaanjiii."
The cook's eyes reverted to normal and face Zoro's direction.
"Did you hit your head on something or did you forget you had legs, I'm busy here! Get it yourself!"
Zoro reluctantly stood from his seat. "What's the point of having a cook if he won't even get you a drink." He silently complained and marched towards the kitchen.
Similarly, Zoro retreated in his mind as he made his away across the ship. 'Was this whole 'space' thing such a good idea? Before, me and Robin could mess around and be ourselves the next day but now we can barely speak to each other without it being weird. Argh, why do emotions have to make things more complicated than they are?'
Zoro reached the top of the stairs and pushed the kitchen doors. He came to an instant stop when faced with the person on the other side.
"R-robin." Zoro's lone eye expanded from the sight of Robin in her tight, mouth-watering purple bikini that left very little to the imagination.
"Zoro-san." Robin was also stunned, just because he was there and he spoke to her.
Seconds passed and the two stood silently struggling to find words to say. Can they speak to each other? Are they allowed? Would that breach the 'space'? They both didn't know.
Zoro quickly took his eyes away and fake coughed. "Excuse me." He sidestepped to step through the kitchen.
His quick and evasive tone caused Robin to drop her gaze and hand to clench. She grabbed one of his wrist before he could pass her.
Zoro froze mid stride. "Oi, what are yo-"
"Can we talk?"
Upper Deck.
"I wonder what's taking Robin so long." Nami questioned with divided attention and flicked onto the next page of her newspaper.
Laying comfortable with her hands behind her head sporting a red, skin-tight bikini, Angel peeked an eye to Nami by her side in a light blue and white bikini. "Want me to go check up on her?"
Nami scanned the page's contents. "No its okay, I'm sure she'll be here soon enough."
Agreeing with her friend, Angel shut her eyes and enjoyed the warm rays of the sun. "Sugoi! It was a good thing you suggested to do this Nami-chan, I haven't felt this relaxed in such a long time."
By now, Angel's voice was a mere echo to Nami as the navigators focus was stolen by a certain article in the paper.
"I wonder what's causing it?" She asked herself out loud.
Angel eased on her chair with a satisfied look. "Causing what, Nami-chan?"
Nami sat up on her seat and spread the newspaper on her lap. "Islands. This article makes it the tenth island to be completely flattened in the last twelve months and no one knows what's causing it?"
"Flattened?!" Angel shot up from her seat to view the newspaper. "That's crazy! Something's levelling entire islands? What can possibly do something like that?"
"I don't know. According to this article, the Marines found the islands in similar conditions which means it's safe to assume that whatever's making all this mess is caused by the same thing."
With a new batch of anxiety in her, Angel stared worryingly at the newspaper page. "The New World sure is a dangerous place."
Girl's Room
Robin closed her bedroom doors and faced Zoro. "Can we discuss this 'give each other space' situation we have going on between us?"
Zoro crossed his arms and looked slightly uncomfortable. He kept looking at any direction apart from Robin. "Can you cover yourself up with something, it's hard to have a serious conversation with someone who's wearing that."
Robin checked her attired and smiled in satisfaction. She grabbed one of her jackets behind the door and slipped into it.
Zoro finally adjusted his eyesight's to Robin. "The space? Good, I actually wanted to talk to you about that as well."
"You did?"
Zoro nodded. "But I want to hear what you think about it first."
Robin fidgeted with her jacket. "Okay, not meaning to be blunt… I don't like it. I think it's making things more difficult for us than it should. Because of it we haven't talked to each other for days on straight and when I'm around you I feel like you're ignoring me and it's a little unnerving. Regardless of what we decide to do with us in the future, I want to be able to feel comfortable around you and have a normal conversation without feeling tense. We're nakamas before anything else Zoro-san, we shouldn't let this thing between us ruin that."
Zoro was stunned as Robin took the words right out of his mouth. "I agree. I'm not going to lie I have been ignoring you lately. I didn't know if you were happy with the space or not or if I could talk to you. This whole thing was a stupid idea from the start."
Robin giggled. "No it wasn't a stupid idea. We just needed to be reminded that we can be ourselves around each other."
Zoro smirked. "That's settled then, no more of this awkward space just be ourselves."
"If you don't mind." Robin smiled warmly.
With the matter settled, Robin removed her jacket opened for the door.
"Have you made your mind up yet?" Zoro asked seriously to Robin's back as she held the door open.
The older women contemplated. "Not exactly, I'm still a little unsure on where I stand on my feelings towards you."
Zoro stood quietly and internalised her response.
"Have you?" Robin asked.
"No not yet." Zoro answered with his deep voice. "Robin, whatever our decisions may be, whether they're the same or not, we can't let this affect our friendship."
"I agree." Robin replied firmly. "It wouldn't be fair on the others if the two of us couldn't get along."
Zoro concurred but said nothing.
"I think it would be wise if we set a time. A designated time on when we have a talk about what we want."
Zoro pondered on the idea. "Fair enough. How about when we reach the next island, sometime then?"
Robin formed a genuine smile. "Sounds good-" She opened the door a little further. "Till then, swordsman-san."
"Yeah." Zoro's eyes unconsciously were drawn to Robin's near naked body and swallowed.
Robin noticed causing her to smirk playfully. "Did you suddenly forget where my eyes are?" She giggled before leaving the room.
Sometime later. Crow's Nest.
Two shirtless men collided katana's with earth shattering force.
Naruto ducked under Zoro's blades and countered. The blonds attacked was blocked instantly and the two were locked in a stalemate.
Naruto's keen observation caused him to raise a brow. "You're distracted, what's going on with you?"
Zoro's thoughtful face never shifted. Naruto was right, Zoro was distracted and the older male knew damn well why.
Naruto ended their deadlock and leaped backwards. "Come on, Zoro, you've been quiet and made loads of amateur mistakes for the past hour. Something's bothering you?"
Zoro stood firmly and escaped the confines of his thoughts. "Have you ever had to think of someone you've known for a long time in a different way before?" He asked randomly and thought of Robin.
Zoro was still unsure how he felt for her.
Did he find her physically attractive?
Yes.
Did he want to sleep with her again?
Of course, as do most men who slept with her in the past. However, from an emotional standpoint, things were not as black and white.
The benefits of dating Robin was as clear as day to Zoro. Her unparalleled beauty was only matched by her calm, soft and sophisticated personality that the swordsman liked most about her. Zoro would always remember how he enjoyed their naked, post sex conversations between the covers. They would lay there peacefully, basking in each other's company, sweat and just talk. Everything felt and was natural.
As much as those times were fun, could he live without those moments and not care? Could he have those moments with another women and feel exactly the same way?
Additionally, since they've started their secret sexual affairs, Zoro hasn't even thought of what could happen next. A date, relationship, future marriage and kids, none of them ever crossed his mind. They were having fun and that's what he thought it all was, fun. One could imagine how difficult it is for Zoro to see her from a casual 'friends with benefits' to possibly someone more meaningful in such a short amount of time.
Now looking at his current relationship with Robin, he admits that there's a certain feeling that triggers when thinking of Robin that isn't present when thinking about Nami or any other women for that matter. The best way Zoro could describe it was as if Robin was a magnet. A magnet that pulls him towards her and there's nothing he can do about it. However this pull Robin has wasn't overwhelmingly strong, it was just there for Zoro to accept.
Despite this undeniable pull, Zoro feels this invisible wall within himself that prevented him from achieving romantic feelings. He doesn't know if it's Robin or all women, but he knows there's something missing for him to want to be involved in a romantic relationship, it's just that he doesn't know what that thing missing is.
'Can I really see myself with Robin?'
Zoro truly was at a fifty fifty split between two answers.
Back in the room, Naruto tilted his head from confusion. "Different way? Huh?"
Zoro realised how uncharacteristic his question was and shook his head. "Never mind, forget I asked."
Zoro's solid, dismissive voice forced Naruto to oblige. He dropped the idea and spoke. "Alright then let's get back to sparing. Don't forget we're at war against a secret organisation that's trying to take over the world so we can't afford to lose focus now. Seriously, you've been so out of it for a while that I haven't even broke a sweat yet." Naruto intimidated in hopes to get a reaction.
An internal explosion erupted inside Zoro's as his grip on his katana tightened. "What are you trying to say?" The first mate's body radiated with a demonic aura.
Naruto shrugged mockingly. "I'm saying that there you wasn't much of a challenge earlier and that-"
Zoro dashed at the blond with all forced and swung his swords at maximum power. Naruto smirked as his plan worked and switched into the defensive.
Their blades crashed but Zoro's attack carried so much weight that it lifted Naruto off the floor and flew him over by the open window.
Naruto back flipped mid-air to land on the window sill. He smiled in satisfaction at the pissed off Zoro. "Now that's more like it!" Zoro slowly approached the happy blonde with killing intent.
"Though if you're planning to go all out-" Naruto looked down onto the deck. "We're going to need some more space." He gave the green haired man a grin and waved. "See ya."
Naruto slipped through the window and Zoro rushed down after him. "Oi! Get back here!"
As Naruto landed and surprised his other male crew members, he instantly blocked an incoming attack from the falling Zoro. The two continued their heated match all around the ship and nakamas.
"Woo! Don't hold back you two!" Luffy cheered with energy as Naruto jumped from the mast of the ship to evade Zoro's blade.
"Go for it Naruto! Zoro!" Usopp and Chopper added alongside their captain.
Franky posed his signature pose. "Ow! It's a Super sparing session!"
Naruto front flipped from the wooden rails on the side of the ship to avoid another one of Zoro's attack.
Sanji puffed a fog of smoke. "I hope they knock each other out, the two idiots."
The fight was heading towards Sanji, the cook nearly dropped his cigarette from having to dodge one of Zoro's sword. "Oi! Watch it Marimo or the only thing I'll be frying later is you!"
Naruto and Zoro ignored their nakamas, the fight has become heated while also fun in Naruto's eyes.
"Yohoho! Things are looking pretty intense." Brook called as the two swordsman exchanged powerful blows.
With a smile, Naruto opted to stay on the defensive. He took the fight to the upper deck where the girls sunbathed on the left side of the wheel.
"Sorry ladies, I pissed Zoro off and now he wants to kill me." Naruto smiled and dodged another slash.
Robin giggled at the contrasts in emotions between the two men. "Oh my."
Nami removed her sunglasses. "The crow's nest wasn't big enough for you two?" She sighed.
"Woo! Shirtless fighting!" Angel punched the air and enjoyed the show.
The enraged Zoro maintained his composure and slashed away. He swung his katanas at his nakama once again only to connect with air. Naruto pulled a couple of back summersaults, leaped into the air and use one of the Sunny's pointy mane as a platform to launch himself towards Zoro.
Their blades clashed with devastating force creating gushes of wind that startled their female company.
Robin placed a hand on her book to stop it from flying off the table. Angel grabbed her breasts in fears the wind would blow bikini away and Nami covered her eyes with the hands. "Can you two be a little more careful?!"
Naruto chuckled apologetically. "Sorry, Nami-" He struggled in his stalemate with his nakama. "Zoro's more of a challenged when he's angry."
"You're going to regret saying all that shit you said."
Naruto made a fraction of a smirk. "Show me."
Zoro ended their deadlock and exchanged several blows. As much fun it was, the sparing session soon became semi-serious and everyone who was watching knew it too. Their movements were faster, stronger and more intense.
This continued until Nami's beautiful sunbathing form caught Naruto's attention from the corner of his eye. This momentary distraction allowed Zoro out powered the jinchuuriki and point his second katana to the blonde's throat.
Zoro smiled victoriously. "Told you."
Naruto wore a peculiar expression and looked over Zoro's shoulders. "Call it a tie?"
Zoro looked behind and saw a second Naruto with a katana pointing at his back.
The green haired swordsman smiled and sheathed all his weapons. "Fine, it's a tie-" He approach the stairs to leave the scene. "Only because you cheated, whiskers." Zoro taunted with a friendly wave. "I'm going to get a drink."
Naruto returned his blade and grew furious. "I didn't cheat you green top bastard! And they're not even real whiskers! They're whisker marks!"
Angel hopped off her seat and skipped after Zoro. "Oh drink, could use another one, Saaanjiii!"
Zoro and Angel left the premises and Naruto dropped his head and whispered under his breath. "Whiskers, who ever made up that nick name is a dead man."
He approach the remaining sunbathers and laid down on Angel's seat. "Ohhh, it sure is hot today." Sweat trickled down his chiselled body and he placed his hands behind his head.
Nami reach for her drink on the small table between their chairs and offered it to Naruto. "You can have the rest if you like."
A little shocked by her act of sharing, Naruto kindly accepts. "Thanks."
He downs the drink in several gulps, ringing the ice cubes on the glass afterwards.
"I can't believe you're training again." Nami said. "Why do you push yourself so hard?" She asked softly.
Sensing his calm demeanour drifting away, Naruto tightened his grip on his glass. "Because of Jagger." His voice was low and brimming with frustration. "The Jagger I fought was only a clone, if this group he's in called The Chosen Ones have others who are just as strong as he is then we could have gotten ourselves into some serious trouble."
Robin lowered her book out of interest and Nami leaned forward out of interest. "Why is fighting his clone important? Wouldn't both he and the clone be exactly the same?"
"Not exactly-" Robin interrupted. "As you know Nami, I can also create a clone like being with my devil fruit powers, not as many as Naruto-san of course but a clone nonetheless."
Nami and Naruto processed her comment.
"From my understanding no clones are exactly identical to the original, is that the same for you, Naruto-san?"
The male squinted out of uncertainty. "Kind of, my clones are the same as me except for one thing. Um, how can I explain this?" Naruto hears the jingling of the ice cube in his glass. "Ah! I got it."
He pinches a single ice cube and showed to the girls. "Pretend that this ice cube is me, chakra, Kurama, blond hair, everything. This cube is me."
Nami's eyes narrowed.
Naruto cupped the cube between his hands. "Okay, now, every time I make shadow clones, I have to divide my chakra equally to every clone for the jutsu to work." Nami nodded and Naruto resumed. "So that means the more shadow clones I make-"
"The less chakra each clone receives!" Nami finished astonished.
Naruto applied wind chakra in his hands, opened them and showed the girls tens of perfectly shaped, miniature ice cubes. "And with less chakra, the weaker the clone becomes." Naruto paused to allow Nami to process the meaning of his point.
"So if Jagger has more clones on other islands also searching for this thing he's looking for, that could mean it's possible you only fought a fraction of his actual strength." Nami stared at him with worrying eyes.
The blond stayed silent and remember the threatening words of Juggernaut Jagger. 'When we find the thing we've been search for, we will obtain limitless power. A power so great that we will transcend into the ultimate beings and restructure this world to the way we see fit.'
Naruto gathered the ice into one hand, clenched his fist and charged it with lightning. "Yeah."
Jagger's ship
Jagger adjusted in his seat when the black empty screen came to life. "At last."
The screen was divided into three columns, the column on Jagger's left displayed a young man with spikey, medium length, dark purple hair that swayed to the side just enough to cover one of his eyes. The young man leaned back on his chair, hands in pockets, feet up on a table with a neutral, unthreatening, uninterested, almost bored expression.
The column on Jagger's right was another male, sat on a frozen throne and wore a long hooded cloaked that shadowed his face except for his bright red eyes that beamed through the hoods shadow. This male's elbow leaned on an arm rest to support his jaw on a clenched fist.
Lastly, the column in the middle showed nothing. The picture on the screen was pitch black, as always.
"Before we discuss the reason why Jagger called for this meeting, I first want to hear the progress of our search." The dark, deep voice in the middle column called out. "Have we found it yet?"
"Azazel-san, good to see, I mean, hear your voice again, it's been too long." The hooded man on the right column joked around. "Unfortunately however, I haven't found our missing item yet."
"Neither have I." Jagger concurred.
A pause brew in the air, all eyes focused on the youngest male with purple hair.
"Oi, Kazama." Jagger called out.
The young man snapped from his almost daydreaming state and slowly faced the screen. "Uh? Yeah, same." His voice was flat, calm, unthreatening, emotionless and overall, simply uninterested.
"Very well." Azazel said with a touch of disappointment. "Need I remind you three that The Union is approaching?"
"Yes, we're fully aware of this Union and the deadline it gives us-" Jagger said. "But we've been searching for this Garden thing for an entire year and none of us have seen anything that matched your description. I'm beginning to question its existence."
"Who does this fool think he is questioning our master's plans?" A different, sinister voice originating from Azazel's column voiced out.
"A dead fool that's who." Another similar, evil voice made its presence known.
"We should eliminate this ungrateful peasant for ever doubting Azazel-sama." A third and final ominous voice said.
Jagger's grip on his arm rest reached breaking point. Azazel's voice rang before the bald captain could retaliate.
"Titan, Gilgamesh, Dracon, enough." He silence the three voices.
"No one is eliminating anyone. I personally chose these three individuals for their invaluable abilities and assets, they are the chosen ones who will make our world a better place. " Azazel paused and focused on Jagger.
"This thing, you're referring to is called The Garden of Elysium. And its existence is no more as real than you or I. The location of The Garden is merely lost." Azazel informed with authority. "And without it, our ultimate goal of building a new world order would be impossible."
Jagger focused on the black column. "Fine, I believe you. We will find this Garden. But is it truly as formidable as you claim it to be? To this day I question how it's going to help us restructure the world and also deliver what you promised us."
Although his face was conceal, the three Chosen Ones could tell their leader wore a smirk. "Inside The Garden is the greatest power this world has seen or will ever see again. Don't worry yourselves with the details, focus on finding it."
The three processed that fact. The unmoving confidence in Azazel's voice reinforced their confidence in their faceless leader.
The hooded man smiled underneath the shadows. "Oi Jagger, if you're starting to question our cause, then by all means leave. I don't want to work with someone who's showing signs of disloyalty." The hooded man threatened with a grin.
"Ha, you want to talk about disloyalty, Tokiomi? That's rich coming from the former marine who's wanted by his own people for selling Marine secrets." Jagger countered.
"Here they go again." Kazama whispered lazily.
"You out of all people want to question my loyalty? Wasn't sharing the secrets of the Shave Technique to a filthy pirate like you enough?"
Jagger gritted his teeth knowing he had a valid point as Tokiomi continued. "Besides, I could give two shits about the Marines now. They had it coming when they denied my rightful place as Admiral. Those bastards even had to audacity to laugh at my face when I requested for the position." Tokiomi seethed with skin tingling revulsion.
"So all of this to gain vengeance against the Marines, what a weak and insignificant motive." Jagger replied.
Tokiomi shrugged on his throne. "And world domination is a significant motive? I may no longer be a Marine but my hate for pirates remains the same. I'm only cooperating with two of them now because Azazel promised me something I need. Although the idea is enticing and I'm not exactly rejecting the offer, taking over the world isn't why I'm here."
Jagger released a dismissive "Hmph."
Bored of the bald captain, Tokiomi fixated on the youngest male. "Quiet as always I see, what about you, 'Sky King' Kazama. I've never been able to figure this out but, what is a former pirate captain and former right hand man of the revolutionary army doing in an organisation led by a faceless figure and his three shadowy henchmen's?
Kazama simply ignored the question and leaned his head back on the chair causing Tokiomi to chuckle.
"As expected." Tokiomi replied. "Well I'm guessing you joined to seek some amusement. Because I've read the papers and what's that now, ten islands you've flattened in the last year? All because The Garden wasn't there and you were bored." Tokiomi laughed wholly.
"That's quite enough, Tokiomi." Azazel commanded with authority, quietening the hooded man. "We didn't gather here today for a round of small talk, we gathered because Jagger wishes to make an announcement."
Jagger bang the arm rest of his chair with his fist. "About time." He raised his voice to address the group.
"The reason for this meeting is because I have something to say about the Straw Hat Pirates."
"Straw Hats?" Azazel question, remembering Kage's report about the pirate's interference with their recruitment of the lightning man, Enel.
"As you all know, I use a clone to be able to look for The Garden at two islands at once. Two weeks ago my Vinamantium copy along with my first mate and a fraction of my crew were taken down by the Straw Hats."
"So?" Tokiomi questioned uninterestingly.
Jagger's anger spiked at the man with red eyes. "Are you not listening? I said my clone was defeated!"
Kazama's body twitched as Tokiomi questioned further.
"And? What's so important about this copy of yours and this Straw Hat?"
"You fool! That was no ordinary clone, it was my bio-metallic clone! I sacrificed almost half of my blood in its making to enhance its strength. To be precise, that clone contained more than eighty percent of my actual power." Jagger replied in frustration.
Alarms rang in all those in attendance. "More than eighty percent you say? Sounds interesting, who was the Straw Hat who made this mockery out of you, their captain?" Tokiomi quizzed.
Kazama took his feet of the table, straightened his posture and listened intently.
Jagger gritted his teeth, not only because of his hate of the mouthy Tokiomi but also the memory of his least favourite blond. "He said his name was Naruto Namikaze, the newest members of the Straw Hat pirates."
Tokiomi hummed in fascination. "Naruto huh? If he could take down your strongest clone then this kid must have some talent, I might even think about adding him to my collection." He grinned underneath his shadowy hood.
"You and your fucked up collection! No one is touching the Straw Hats! Especially that blond haired blue eyed bastard!" Jagger exploded with fury.
Tokiomi noticed the change of body language in the purple haired male. "It seems like you're going to have to get in line, Jagger. I've never seen young Kazama so interested in anything before."
Noticing all eyes on him, Kazama lowered his head and returned to his previous position.
"Kazama-"Jagger stated with venom. "Don't make me repeat myself again, boy. No one here is getting involved with the Straw Hats except me. I'm already finding their whereabouts as we speak."
The expressionless man waved a lazy wave to dismiss the matter. "Whatever."
"Jagger, cancel any plans on engaging with the Straw Hats immediately." Azazel instructed firmly.
"Cancel?!" The bald captain question with confusion and frustration.
"That's right. With The Union approaching, our top priority is locating The Garden and nothing else." Azazel command with his ever composed self. "However, this isn't the first time the Straw Hats have intervened in our business. So, all three of you, notify your people and tell them to hunt for the Straw Hats pirates. Kill them, capture them, add them to your collection, do what you please. Just ensure The Straw Hat pirates will no longer be an issue."
Jagger's frustration doubled, Tokiomi grinned and Kazama grew a tiny smirk on his lips.
The bald captain was seconds away from retaliating until Azazel interrupted.
"Now isn't the time to be settling scores, Jagger. Our goals far exceeds that of destroying a small group of pirates. Soon enough, we're going to be the leaders a brand new world, don't forget that. So, what's more important to you, The Straw Hats or gaining control of everything you see?"
Jagger's anger slowly faded until he eventually but reluctantly, accepted Azazel's demands.
"Fine. I'll personally stop perusing the Straw Hats, that doesn't mean my crew will too."
"Whatever you do with your crew is up to you. As long as all three of you are searching for The Garden." Azazel answered.
"Now that's out of the way-" The leader continued. "Tokiomi, leave the protection of Vegapunk's lab to your people and move on to the next island. Ensure that they don't fail, I don't need to remind you how valuable that facility is."
The man with the red eyes fidgeted on his chair. "They've kept its secret safe for a whole year, they're not about to let me down now."
"Good-" Azazel retorted. "Jagger, I want you to continue your search as well."
The Vinamantium captain nodded.
"Finally, Kazama, I have special task for you to complete that will surely quench your unique form of entertainment."
The young male faced the screen as their leader spoke again.
"I want you to visit The Pit and find Ariel Stark. It's time to retrieve The Key."
Kazama nodded lazily, accepting his new mission willingly.
"Speaking of the search-"Jagger called out.
"With the Straw Hats involvement in Tesa Island, it will only be a matter of time before the Marines catch wind of what I did over there. That means those bastards will send some of their best men to track me, not only will that be a nuisance, it will also slow me down in finding The Garden."
"I already have that covered-" Azazel reassured. "Kage will deal with the Marines so you don't need to worry about them being in your way."
"Excellent." Jagger replied. A tense pause lingered in the air before the bald captain spoke again. "Also, there's just one more thing I need to say, Azazel."
The conversation became silent from Jagger's threatening tone of voice.
"When we find The Garden, and we will find it. Make sure you keep your end of the deal and give us what we want. We may not know who you are or what you look like, but if you fail to deliver, then I believe it goes without saying that all three of us will hunt you down for wasting our time."
"Was that you trying to threaten me, Jagger?" Azazel leaned towards the screen to vaguely highlight his facial features. His face remained a mystery but what stood out the most was his eyes, his right glowed azure blue the other jade green.
The dark voice chuckled condescendingly and addressed his subordinates.
"Never underestimate The Garden of Elysium. I promised you all three things when you decided to join me and I don't plan to disappoint. World domination-" All eyes landed on Jagger.
"Worthy opponents." Kazama focused on the black column of his screen.
"And finally-"Tokiomi grinned. "Immortality."
Thousand Sunny. Main Deck. Afternoon.
"Zoro! Come play with us, we need another player." Naruto yelled.
Sitting on his usual sleeping spot, Zoro opened an eye to see Naruto, Nami and Robin sitting around a small table with a packet of cards.
"I think I'll pass, card games aren't really my thing."
Nami focused on Zoro. "Anything apart from fighting, sleeping or drinking isn't your thing, just sit with us and play."
"I don't even know how to play any card games." He replied, frustration creeping in his veins.
Naruto grabbed the deck of cards and shuffled. "Don't worry about that, this game I know is easy to learn, it needs four players though."
Zoro turned his attention to his other nakamas on deck. "Ask one of them to play with you guys I'm pretty busy here."
The trio viewed their remaining crew mates. They were all either playing a musical instrument, dancing ridiculously, posing or cooking.
"Nope, you're the only one who's free-"Naruto replied. "Come on, Zoro, just one game."
The elder male gritted his teeth and unwillingly stood from his seat. "Alright fine, but just one game and that's it."
Nami, Robin and Naruto all smirked triumphantly.
Robin's smile however was a little forced and she knew it. As Zoro approach their table, she could feel herself becoming tense. Despite agreeing to behave normally around one another, Zoro and she have yet to speak since their small chat in her bedroom. It seemed that actually accepting the awkwardness between them had only made the tension between them more unbearable. This got the archaeologist thinking, can things ever be 'normal' again for them two until they've given each other their decisive answers. Can they truly behave and talk like they used to until then?
Robin pushed her worries to the side as Zoro took a seat next to her.
"Okay guys-"Naruto announced while shuffling the cards. "Listen up, this game is played in two teams of two, Nami and me are one team and you Zoro, you're with Robin. The point of this game is to…"
Marine HQ
"Fleet admiral!" A women in her thirties rushed her way into Akainu's office.
The lava man laid several profile documents of Vice Admirals on his desk. "What's the emergency, Lilia?"
"The Straw Hats sir, they're at it again." She offered a single sheet of paper with whimpering breaths.
Akainu received and begun to read its contents.
"According to Lieutenant Kage's report, the Straw Hat pirates were responsible for kidnapping over one hundred men on Tesa Island. Although the pirates have left and the men are now found, they still forced their captive's through extensive manual labour in dire conditions." Lilia spoke in horror and disgust.
"Ohhh?" Laying casually on a couch with his feet up and hands behind his head, Kizaru made his presence known. "Kidnapping? That doesn't sound like the Straw Hats would do?"
Akainu's hatred for the Mugiwara's and especially for their captain intensified.
"Don't sound so surprised, Kizaru. In the end, all pirates are the same, mindless savages." His fists turned into lava, melting the sheet of paper instantly.
"The Straw Hats have gone unpunished for far long, it's time to lock them away for good!"
1 hour later, Thousand Sunny
Nami hid her face under her only card. She gave Robin and Zoro a look with a victorious, near smug expression before throwing her last card on the table.
"Seven of hearts! Me and Naruto wins again." She voiced happily. "That makes it 7-4 to us. Boy, you really like losing to me don't you, Zoro."
Naruto and Robin smiled happily for Nami while Zoro's angered and bewildered face struggled to comprehend how he lost yet again.
"Wha- how did- you two are up to something aren't you?! There's no way you can win so many games without cheating!"
Nami and replied with a small shrug. "It's a game that focuses on teamwork, Zoro."
"And our teamwork is better than yours that's why we're winning." Naruto teased with a grin. "That and we're just awesome?"
Nami smiled at her partner. "Our teamwork is what makes us awesome? And here I thought it was our cool tattoos."
"Oh, don't get me started about our awesome tattoos!" Naruto chuckled heartedly, he and Nami high fived and continued their conversation in the background.
Meanwhile, Zoro rolled his eyes and addressed Robin under his breath. "Look at those two all high and mighty, let's win the next one to put them back in their place."
The archaeologist giggled her partner's determination. "I believe you're actually enjoying this aren't you? No longer than an hour ago you persisted to only playing one game and now look at you, determined to win the next one."
Zoro folded his arms and looked away with minimum embarrassment. "Well it's just, I can't let Nami beat me in drinking and card games as well." He murmured, causing Robin to smile her usual smile.
As Naruto dealt the new hand of cards, Robin retreated to her thoughts yet again. She noticed how in the past hour, the tension and awkwardness between her and Zoro had slowly dissipated without even her noticing. Talking and sitting together became simple and effortless like before they ever started their sexual affairs. Zoro may not have said so but he felt exactly the same way. He sensed that invisible wall that separated them before was now like an old, bad memory long forgotten. To be strictly honest, sitting and working together like this, a whole new level of comfort had developed between the two Straw Hats and they can't help but feel that their friendship never felt stronger. All thanks to an innocent game of cards.
"Let's win this time, Zoro-san."
Zoro shot her a confident look. "Yeah."
AN/ Naruto's power level has finally been shown. I never wanted him to be as strong as he was against Kaguya since he would be too strong to consider anyone as a challenge in the OP world.
The situation with Zoro and Robin this chapter was kinda based on personal experience, anyone else went through the same thing before?
Good news! Next chapter is the beginning of the next arc! See you there!