I don't own Naruto or One Piece. Those belong to Masashi Kishimoto and Eiichiro Oda.

Chapter 3: Change Isn't Always Good

Today is a big day in the village of Konohagakure. The villagers were getting decorations ready for the festivities that come with today. Kids run around with masks as business owners prepare booths and activities around the streets. Women prepare themselves while men debate when to start the fox hunt games outside the village. Everyone was excited, especially the Namikaze family.

It was the birthday of the village heroes.

Yes, today was the day of their birth. It's also the day they defeated the nine-tailed fox with the help of the Third Hokage.

Currently, the Namikazes are decorating the house for the fifth birthday party of the quadruplets. Mina is setting up the balloons with Mito, Kushina is preparing the food, Nawaki and Tsunade prepare the drinks, and Minato is cleaning the house.

"Kaa-san, when does the party start!" whined Nawaki.

Kushina turned to Nawaki. She was excited to celebrate her children's birthday. Guests like the head family of the ninja clans will be attending the party.

"In a few hours, Nawaki-kun. I know you're excited for Kiba and a certain someone to come." Kushina said in a teasing voice.

She smirked when a blush appeared on his face. Four months ago, Mina had a playday with Hinata. It was the first time she came to the Namikaze household. Nawaki was standing in the backyard, eating a bowl of ramen on his lap. When she came outside to play shoji, he dropped his ramen broth on his pants. Kushina, being next to him, could only smirk. Her son has his first crush.

"Kaa-san! I told you that Hinata and I are just friends," stated Nawaki. He didn't like it when people kept poking into his business. Ever since that day, any mention of Hinata would cause her to tease him.

"Stop teasing the boy Kushina-hime. He will admit his love for the girl when the time comes. For now, let's finish the decorations."

Kushina couldn't hold back her laugh at the mention of her son confessing to the Hyuga Heiress. Just thinking about how Neji and Hiashi would react to Nawaki and Hinata dating is comical.

"Otousan, we're about finished with everything. Do you need any more help?" asked Mito with a smile.

Minato looked around the house, finding nothing left for them to help clean and prepare.

"No, you guys are fine, but you should start getting ready for early arrivals such as your godfather and Kakashi," stated Minato.

Nawaki's eyes brightened at the mention of Kaka-nii. Since their first conversation six months ago, Nawaki started seeing him as an idol.

He strives to be stronger than him and Minato.

"Alright, everyone, let's get ready for the party!" yelled Mito.

If the family paid attention, they'd notice the oldest son missing.

Three Days Ago

Namikaze Household

The family was doing their daily training exercises in the backyard of the compound. The three nine tails jinchuuriki were working on the tree walking exercises. They were hanging upside down, laughing at one another.

Watching this from a small window was a blond boy with violet eyes. He was looking at the scene with sad eyes. He understood that his siblings came first due to the nine tails sealed inside them, but he couldn't understand why everything he loved changed. He rubbed his index and thumb together. Something he started doing after the first month of his sibling's training.

When their training began, Naruto became a quiet person. He had developed depression three months after the start of the family training.

"In two weeks, it will be a year since the start of the training."

As the training of his siblings progressed, Naruto's family started to change drastically.

Mito's personality changed. She used to be an energetic redhead with violet eyes full of love.

Since her training, Mito thought about defeating Mina to prove she should become the heiress. She became an egotistical girl that only sees herself as fit enough to be friends with clan heirs. If any outsider were to ask her out, she would laugh and turn them away. It included people who just wanted to be friends with her. She could pose as a Hyuga if it weren't for her red hair.

In the first week of Nawaki's training, he had a prank holiday. Nawaki had pranked Sarutobi Asuma, Shiranui Genma, Morino Ibiki, and Ebisu. He subjected them to pranks nobody deserves. Asuma's cigarettes were replaced with pepper, causing him to almost swollen it from a coughing fit. Genma had his senbon needles replaced with porcupine needles, causing him to take his hand to the hospital. Ebisu had two things sticking out of his person when walking to the onsen. An Icha Icha book and panties. The sound of his scream spread throughout the village. Ibiki had the worst of them all. He was stripped down and wore one of Maito Gai's green spandex jumpsuits. By morning, Nawaki sent his pictures to every shinobi in the village.

Gai screamed about how youthful Ibiki looked while he tried to murder Nawaki.

His last two pranks are what made an impact. The first was sneaking into Konoha's water pipe systems and filling them with blond hair dye. The next day, villagers woke up with sun kiss hair. Minato had received many complaints about that. That was nothing compared to what he did last.

He painted the Hokage monument.

Minato was disappointed with Nawaki. He had made him apologize to the villagers for his behavior. Safe to say, Asuma and Ibiki still didn't like the boy. After having to apologize, Nawaki took his training more seriously. He was the same goofball, but pranking became a thing of the past. The villagers were surprised that Nawaki hadn't pulled a pranked in so long.

Another thing that has changed is his behavior towards Naruto. He became more uncaring and distant. His eyes filled with determination and pity. Naruto didn't know what to make of him until Nawaki told him that he'll never be good enough to be a Jōnin and that he should start thinking about going to the reserves. He also told Naruto that he didn't deserve to be the clan head of the Namikaze. He started saying this during the sixth month of his training.

Naruto cried in his room. He refused to shed his tears in front of his otouto. Nawaki thought little of his onii-san. Naruto only wants Nawaki respect. The problem he's facing is finding a way to do that.

Then there was Mina. Naruto and Mina were the closest of all his siblings. Before the training started, Mina and Naruto were always together unless Nawaki took him away. They would read and play together. Naruto would often shield her from boys who would try to give her flowers. He has to admit his sisters will become when they're older. Minato and Naruto would have to keep the boys away from her with a pole.

His favorite thing to do with his sister was playing shoji. Since they're the quiet children in the family, it was the perfect game. The game also filled their competitive nature. Naruto was Mina's perfect opponent in everything. Naruto is sure that if he participated in the family training, Mina would challenge him every time. Naruto was never one to refuse any challenges and bets that people offered.

When they started family training, Mina always went to Naruto's room when she had time. They would read until sleep overtook them.

He'd wake up to a clinging Mina mumbling about a warm puppy. Mina would also try to get a good round of shoji before breakfast.

Unfortunately, it left an exhausted Mina participating in her training.

Eventually, she started to drift away.

Mina unconsciously decided to focus more on her training and spending her free time catching up on sleep or studying the many scrolls in the compounds library. When Naruto asked if she wanted to play shogi with him, she would tell him in an irritating voice that she was busy, completely missing the disappointment on his face.

Naruto understood that his siblings need to train, but this was ridiculous. They acted like a war was coming!

He was more upset with his parents. They have neglected him the most.

Kushina forgot to cook him food every day. Since his siblings had to wake up early to train, Kushina never considered making enough so Naruto could have some. So far, he only made himself rice and eggs. He was growing tired of eating the same thing the past months. Not to mention that ramen was what was usually leftover.

"What's with the family's obsession with ramen anyways?"

He had to rely on himself for his basic needs. He started doing his laundry and then had to steal money from his mother to buy food and clothes. He knew he'd eventually have to learn to cook for himself.

Minato never spends time with Naruto. Naruto understands that Minato never spends time with him because of his duties and responsibilities as Hokage, so he doesn't hold a grudge against him.

With each passing day, Minato unconsciously distances himself from his eldest son.

He still held hope for his family. They wouldn't just leave him behind and forget about him completely. It goes against what his parents raised him to believe.

"We are a family. A family doesn't abandon each other. I want you to remember if you plan to be a ninja of the village, you must know what you are fighting for." preached his Otosan.

Naruto shook his head and left his room. He decided to walk to the forest of death since it would increase his depression if he stayed in the house. It was the only place he could go for peace. If he stays at the compound, he'll hear all the commotion for his family's training. Naruto put on his long sleeve blue shinobi jacket and a green scarf. It wasn't too cold, but he didn't want to get sick.

Naruto hasn't gone too far into the forest because the first time he entered with Nawaki, he heard large animals of many kinds. That and he was afraid of Anko. Naruto knew he shouldn't be going because he could get killed, but he didn't want someone to find him at the moment.

Being in the forest brought a feeling of adrenaline into his body that he liked and caused him to enjoy his time there. The wilderness made him feel like a man. "There is no way I'm going to be afraid of a stupid forest."

Once he arrived, he crawled under a hole the gate had to the left side of the forest. He walked for three minutes and then leaned on a tree. He closed his eyes and sank into his thoughts.

"What's my goal in life? I don't have one. All I've wanted to do was be a ninja, but I haven't had a goal in life. Nawaki wants to be the Hokage, and Mito wants to be the Uzumaki Heiress despite her being a Namikaze. Mina wants to make the Uzumaki name known again. I don't have anything. I've always thought of the family because they mean everything to me."

Naruto frowned.

What was the point of being a ninja if you don't have a dream? Naruto thought back to a time he felt happy. All he thought about was his family before they started training. He hasn't done anything himself. He always did what others wanted. He didn't even have his hobbies.

"Nawaki likes to prank and compare ramen in his free time, but I don't like those things. Mito likes to read about the Uzumaki clan and go shopping in her free time. I don't shop if I don't have to replace clothes. Mina likes to plant flowers and read about wars the Uzumaki fought." Naruto thought in irritation.

"What the hell are you doing here, gaki!"

Naruto quickly turned to see an angry Anko.

She was still enraged about Nawaki's prank.

Naruto ran when she came closer. He heard Anko yelling at him to return and face her like a real man. One thing he learned was never to turn your back on the angry snake lady when she's talking to you, but he couldn't help to run away in fear. He turned his head back to see if she was following him, but he tripped on a rock.

Looking around, he found what looked like a cave to his left. It looked terrifying for a soon to be five years old kid. Turning his head back in the direction of Anko, he knew he had two options, either face Anko's wrath or hide deep in the cave and pray.

"I'm coming for ya!" screamed the crazy lady in a sickly sweet voice.

He made a choice and ran to the cave. He made sure to jog once inside and kept his breath low. He was not going to be snake food again. He turned around to find it completely dark; he didn't know how far he dashed into the cave. "It was small on the outside. How is it so big!"

Turning back to the inside of the cave, he found light.

"Maybe it's one of those two-way caves. You can get in and out on each end."

Happy to find a way out, Naruto continued walking.

Finally leaving the cave, Naruto saw a sight he never expected. A beautiful tropical forest with a large waterfall. There was a clearing with a few rocks and pebbles nearby the roaring waterfall. Stepping into the clearing, he noticed a pedestal made of stone. Walking closer, he found four swords in scabbards. The one that interested him the most was what appeared to be a straight blade with a sheath painted black. The sword has a circular handguard with a pure black hilt that almost looks shining.

Naruto carefully picked up the blade.

"Why does it feel so right in my hands?"

Naruto wanted to see the blade out of its sheath. He grabbed the saya with his left hand and the handle with his right. He slowly pulled the sword out. He looked at the sword and couldn't help but stare at the sword in awe. That was until he felt unimaginable pain all over his body.

"AHHHHHHHHHH!" screamed Naruto to the sky while holding onto the sword.

He refused to let go of both the sword and the sheath. The pain felt like it lasted for hours. His veins burned while his body felt like it was on fire.

Once the pain stopped, Naruto fainted.

Naruto woke up feeling like someone electrocuted him. Carefully, he looked around his surroundings, seeing that he was still in the tropical jungle.

"So it was real?"

"It's real, gaki."

Naruto whipped his head around. Standing in front of him was the coolest-looking man he had ever seen. He was very muscular. His skin was tanned and adorned with scars. The hair of the man was short and green. The man wore an open dark-green coat that was closed on the waist and wore a red sash. His chest was exposed and revealed to have a green haramaki. On his chest, there was a long horizontal scar. His eye was closed, showing a vertical cut. The man also wore a row of three piercings on his ear.

"Who are you?!" Naruto screamed.

The man couldn't help but think that the boy reminded him of Luffy and himself.

"My name is Roronoa Zoro."

Naruto looked him in the eye. "Could this be the man who owns the swords?"

"I'm the guy whose soul is stuck with that sword you opened. Those are my swords."

Naruto went wide-eyed at that. Are the swords cursed because his soul is inside them? If that's true, then does that make him cursed? Naruto's mind was going on turbo.

"Oi! Stop thinking too hard. It's giving me a headache. Look, the sword you opened deemed you worthy enough to use. The pain you felt was testing if you could use the sword. Since you are still alive, you passed with flying colors. Though, I don't see why you can wield me, considering you're pathetic. Looking back at your memories, I can tell you never really thought about yourself. Also, I don't like your family."

Naruto looked like he'd got slapped by Tsunade. Did he just read his mind?

"Stop searching my mind, you violator!"

"I'm not a violator, you baka!" screamed Zoro."When the sword deems you worthy, we instantly connected. Which also means you can't get rid of me!"

Naruto looked at him skeptically. He barely met this man. He didn't look like a ninja, but Zoro seems like he's from a different era. He couldn't help but wonder if he was older than Hashirama. Maybe he could be as ancient as the Kyuubi. It sounds far-fetched, but can it be possible?

"It's possible. I'm from what's known as the pirate era. I used to be a pirate from that era and was wanted worldwide for a lot of money. I was considered the best swordsman of my time. More than your parents combined. I'm older than those chakra beasts I see you have read about."

Naruto couldn't help but wonder if he saw everything he had seen and done his entire life because of his new connection with the sword.

"Yes, I know everything about you, baka," stated Zoro while looking at him with his narrowed eye.

"I don't like what I've seen from you. You are a weakling who lets people step on you. You are someone who can't see the reality of his parents wanting to better his siblings instead of all of their children. A family is what you used to have. If they neglect you, let them. Focus on yourself for once because you need to know your worth."

The clearing was quiet. Naruto looked at him with anger in his eyes. Who was he to say such things? He knew nothing of family, especially his.

"You'll see what I'm saying soon. I don't care if you don't believe or even trust me right now. Just know that from now on, wherever you go, I'll go. Also, you've been asleep for three days," stated Zoro while picking up the sword. He plunged it back into the sheath. Leaning over, he gave the sword to Naruto, who couldn't help but grab it.

"You should be heading back. It's your birthday, so I think the crazy snake lady is at the festival stuffing her face with dango. I'll be in your mind for now. Being in that cramped sword for so long isn't that comfy. Plus, if you don't mind, I'll be going over what's changed in the world since my imprisonment."

Naruto nodded at this. He knew Zoro would want to see how things changed. Then realization dawned on him.

"It's my birthday!"

He dashed out of the cave. His kaa-chan is probably worried about him.

He needed to get to the compound before it was too late. Running out of the forest of death, he entered the civilian districts. Naruto had bumped into civilians that told him to watch where he was going. Since the village streets were too crowded, he decided to take the alleyways.

He fell in two dirty puddles, staining his clothes. Naruto ran to the other side of the village until he finally made it to the compound. He smiled when he heard a noise coming from inside his home.

Naruto opened the door and-

"Happy Birthday to the Heroes of the Hidden Leaf!"

AN: This update was overdue. Sorry, but I try to post chapters when I can. I'm working full time and going to school, so I haven't had a chance until now to update anything. Also, read my bio. It shows you everything you need to know about the stories I'll be posting. For now, I'm only focusing on the two I have posted. If you have any questions regarding these stories, message me on PM. I can't guarantee an immediate response, but I'll respond.