Chapter 11 Promises.
*Redline*
Clouds dotted the skies over the endless ocean. A lone marine ship drifted along the steady waves. Random marines worked along the deck to keep this ship in working order. Two figures came out of the cabin. One the captain of the ship and the other the subordinate of a newly promoted Vice Admiral.
"Captain Hina thanks again for taking me in while Smoker goes through his Vice Admiral induction." Tashigi said as she walked the decks with the older woman.
"Not a problem. If Hina didn't take you in no telling who you would have been assigned to. This Vice Admiral induction is going to be longer than usual due to the relocation of HQ." Hina said.
Tashigi smiled, if she wasn't working under Smoker then she'd rather work for Hina than anyone else.
"Captain Hina!" Fullbody yelled as he ran toward the two women with Jango in tow.
"What is it?" She asked a little annoyed. The former lieutenant didn't speak a word but held out a Den Den Mushi.
"Is anyone there!?" The snail yelled face contorted in fear. Hina quickly took the device.
"This is Captain Hina! What is it?!" Hina asked as people started to gather around her.
"Thank god, there's trouble on Sabaody! It's the Straw Hat Roronoa Zoro!" The snail yelled everyone looked on in shock. "He's here! We tried to capture him and then he started to go on a rampage! He's going to…. BLARG!...cacha."
"Hey! Respond!" Hina yelled. "Tsk! The scars from the War of the Best aren't even healed and the Straw Hats are already causing trouble again." She said clenching her fist. "All hands! Set sail for the Sabaody Archipelago!" The marines yelled in agreement and rushed to change course.
Tashigi face darkened. 'This must be fate…' She thought as she followed Hina. 'I'll defeat him for sure this time!'
*Elsewhere Redline*
Unlike the marines aboard Hina's ship, the marines that manned Admiral Akainu's where all on edge. Sengoku was preparing to retire from his position as Fleet Admiral and the commanding officer of there ship was one of the candidates to replace him.
"Aokiji, even if I have to kill you I won't let your weak version of "Justice" shape the marines after all that that has transpired." Akainu said as he watched his crew work.
"Admiral, we intercepted a message from Sabaody." A marine said.
Akainu didn't answer just glared at the smaller man.
Trying to control his fear the marine continued. "It seems that Roronoa Zoro is rampaging through the groves of Sabaody. Captain Hina has said she would take care of the situation."
Akainu continued his glare. "Hmph that is Straw Hat's first mate." The magma man said as visions of Luffy's defiance in going to Marineford and ringing the ox bell ran through his head. "Head to Sabaody!"
"But sir Captain Hina said she'd take care of ….." The hapless marine was cut off by the Admiral's hand going molten.
Several of his other crewmates rushed him and knocked the marine down. "Sir, we'll take care of him!" One of them said. Akainu looked down and returned his hand to normal.
"Do so." He said as the marines dragged their foolish friend to safety. "Call Sentomaru. Have him dispatch a pacifista to deal with Roronoa till I get there. Hina and her crew lack the conviction to defeat him. Zoro, I'll have your head and show all what happens to those who defy the marines."
*Sabaody*
Zoro ran through the groves. He silently cursed to himself for not having his Vivre card. He had left it in Konoha…. Konoha, was that place even real? Or was it all a dream. No it was real. Zoro glanced down at his Rettenjo and at the Konoha protector on his headband. Besides those two changes he was still in the same outfit he was in when Kuma attack. Even the blood marks were still there.
"Stop right there!" A marine yelled as he and a platoon of his comrades took aim at Zoro and in an instant Zoro was behind them, stumbling slightly before continuing his run. The marines went quiet as their guns along with their bodies were slashed by the pirate hunter. Zoro was a little surprised by the speed. He was notably faster than he was the last time he was here.
'I've been training one way or the other over the past years even if it wasn't in this body.' Zoro thought. 'The first thing, I need to find out what happened to the others. They should have met up and left towards the new world already. I was in Konoha for years.'
As Zoro entered turns to enter another grove he comes face to face with a battery of cannons.
"Fire!" The commander yelled. Zoro instinctively jumped into the air to avoid the barrage of cannon balls.
"Sanjuroku Pound Ho!" Zoro yelled unleashing the attack and obliterating a number of cannons and stirring up dust obscuring the vision of the others. Zoro hit the ground and ran past the remaining marines as they tried to clear their obscured vision.
'This is getting annoying. I need to find someone I can get some information from.' The swordsman thought as the marines beginning to form up ahead of him and the sounds of the marines behind him getting closer. Zoro brought the Wado into position to take on all challengers.
"Zoro!?" Called out a voice that Zoro placed in an instant.
"Hatchi. What are you doing here?" Zoro asked.
"I should be asking you that!" The Octopus fishman yelled amazed in the swordsman nonchalant attitude. "Shakky sent me to retrieve you. The whole island is in an uproar because you're here."
"Heh, seems like I'm still remembered." Zoro said as a dark smile formed on his face.
"Remembered? Gah… we have no time for this!" Hatchi said as he grabbed Zoro with one of his arms and dashed into an alleyway.
"Don't let them get away!" One of the marines yelled as they followed them into the alley. As they entered the alley, they quickly began to slip and fall as a black substance coated the ground.
"Damn that fishman! Using ink to cover their escape!"
"We need to report this to Captain Hina. She should be here by now." The marines nodded to each other and began to fall back.
*Grove 13- Shakky's Rip-off Bar- 1 hour and 30min into the trial*
Shakky took a long drag on her cigarette. Tomorrow's newspaper would be a great delight to read and the main cause was sitting at her bar enjoying a mug of beer as if he had no care in the world. But why was he here? None of the Straw Hats should be here yet.
'Just thinking about it won't answer anything.' She thought. "Zoro, why are you on Sabaody? Didn't you get Luffy's message?" She asked.
Zoro placed the mug on the counter. "What message?" Zoro asked. "How long ago was it sent?"
Shakky let out a small giggle. "What rock did Kuma send you to that you didn't get that message? Or don't you read the news?"
"They must have gone on a rampage when I didn't show up after the three allotted days." Zoro said as he remembered how they rampaged when Robin was taken and dealing with Arlong over Nami.
Shakky's face hardened. "You truly don't know what happened?" Zoro looked at the older woman with a raised eyebrow. Shakky dipped beneath the counter for a couple of seconds and came up with two folded newspaper.
"This all happened around six months ago." She said as Zoro read the first one outlining Luffy's attack on Marineford. What hit him hardest was the date. Zoro had a death grip on the newspaper.
"I've only been gone six months?!" He said.
Shakky was a little taken aback by this reaction.
"Luffy! Is he still alive!?" Zoro asked as the paper he held only told that he escaped with Trafalgar Law.
"Yes. He is currently training on a small island off the coast of Amazon Lily with Rayleigh." Shakky said.
Zoro put down the paper and stood up from the bar.
"Huh where are you off too?" She asked.
"Amazon Lily." Zoro said as he walked out of the bar not even touching the second newspaper. Shakky took a drag.
"Hatchi went back to guarding the Sunny. Good thing I didn't tell him about the ship and who was guarding it. No telling how he would've reacted. I'll just wait for someone to return and they can go get him. No ship will take him to that island."
*Grove 73 – Three Hour into the trial*
Tashigi and Hina patrolled the Hotel district with a number of Hina's crew. As soon as they docked in Sabaody, they learned that Zoro had disappeared without a trace. They had searched nearly all of the Lawless areas and had marines stationed in each one to keep an eye out for the pirate. Tashigi was beginning to get restless. She had been given another chance to relieve the pirate of his Wado Ichimonji, another chance to fight him. She wouldn't let him run away this time.
"Tashigi, calm down." Hina said as she put her hand on the younger woman's shoulder. "You've been like this since we first got word of the Pirate Hunter's attack."
Tashigi nerves steadied as she looked out to the waterline. "I have a sort of history with Roronoa."
Hina chuckled. "That much was obvious by your reaction. Getting all worked up isn't going to help anything. It isn't like he's just going to show up in front of us." The two continued to look out to the ocean when a familiar figure happened to walk across the coastline eyes set seaward. Tashigi's jaw dropped as Hina looked at the wanted poster in her hand then to the figure on the waterline.
"Huh guess I was wrong." Hina said as she began to put on her fighting gloves. She looked up only to see Tashigi dashing towards Zoro, sword drawn.
'Now's my chance!' She thought as she brought her sword into position to attack.
'There was no one at the docks.' Zoro complained to himself. 'I guess I'll just have to swim out and take over a ship, but it seems that no one is even in range. Hmm… Where am I?' Zoro turned his sight inland. As he did he immediately noticed a bespectacled figure running towards him sword in her hand. Zoro quickly drew the Wado and parried her blow.
"Roronoa…" She muttered as she pressed her sword against his. Then the face clicked in his mind. The one person he didn't want to fight. He quickly pushed her away. He turned to make a break for it when he noticed that he had been surrounded.
"Don't think you'll make quick work of Hina's Black Cage Corps like you did those normal marines." Hina said as she walked towards Zoro. "Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro, you are under arrest. Hina suggest you make it easy on yourself and surrender." Zoro looked around him and sure enough there wasn't even a seam in the formation for him to slip through. He could start and slice away at the numbers but that would leave him open to this Hina person and Tashigi. Giving him no time to think of any more possibilities Tashigi launched her second attack on Zoro. Her slashes where way more refined since the last time they fought.
"You've improved!" Zoro complimented as his opponent only responded with a death glare. Zoro seeing that she was in no mood to converse attacked her and forced her to fly back into the arms of a couple of marines. He turned to make an escape only to be met by the tall pink haired woman. She began to throw a barrage of punches at him. Zoro deftly dodge the blows and he slashed at the woman. She had a smile on her face as she allowed the attack to past right by her and prepared to clothesline the green haired swordsman. Zoro brought his arms up to block the blow. But instead of the pushing him back her arm bent around his before reforming and doing the same thing as it passed through his body. Zoro looked as his arms and black restraints held them in place as a black ring surrounded his chest.
"Heh. That went easier than Hina thought it would." She said as she looked at the restrained swordsman. "Your type is always the easiest to capture."
'Devil Fruit user….' Zoro thought as he tried to bust out of the black clamps. 'This stuff is harder than tempered steel.' The marines started to rush towards him to further secure him. Much to their surprise Zoro started to run towards them. Hina pointed her hands at the running swordsman.
'No telling how many of them are surrounding me.' Zoro thought. 'There's only one way to ensure I get clear them.' Zoro focused on the soles of his feet and jumped in the air. The marines looked on in amazement at the height that Zoro got from the jump then seemingly pushing off the air sending him over the massive amount of marines surrounding him.
"Geppo!?" Tashigi yelled in disbelief.
"No…." Hina said as she still pointed her hands at the swordsman. "That skill he used wasn't like any geppo I've seen." On the end of that sentence, Hina sent a line of black bars towards Zoro. With his arms restrained Zoro could only watch as a cage formed around him causing him to plummet towards the ground. Zoro gripped the Wado tightly as the cage rolled across the ground before coming to a stop.
"Zoro, you won't escape Hina." The pink haired captain said as she walked besides the cage.
"Heh didn't want to have to unveil my new technique this early." Zoro said as Hina eyes snapped up. Zoro positioned his restrained arms in a more favorable position. A blue flame ran across the blade.
'Fire!' Hina thought.
"Ittoryu: Yakitori!" Zoro yelled slashing at the cage. Hina hit the ground as blue flames started to eat away at the cage.
"Did he create fire!?" One marine yelled as Zoro stepped out of the cage. Zoro placed his restrained hands over the blue flames and the restraints were quickly dissolved.
"Oi did you see that. The fire didn't even hurt burn him! It's the reemergence of the Mera Mera fruit or he must be possessed by the ghost of Fire Fist Ace to get his revenge!" Another marine said as they started to run in fear.
"I'M NOT!" Zoro yelled as he cut the ring from around his chest. He drew the Shusui and faced off against Hina. She jumped back.
'He can't be the new Mera fruit user. It's too soon. Plus it's a Logia type, my attacks should have no effect on him if he had truly eaten that fruit.' Hina thought. 'Blue fire…. It has to be some variation.'
Zoro rushed her thrusting his swords instead of slashing. Hina quickly began to dodge each blow trying to back away. She didn't want to retreat but seeing how fast that fire of his ate her cage, she didn't want to see what it did to a person. Zoro, seeing her drop into a very defensive position began to press his attack further. Hina was so focused on avoiding Zoro's assault that she didn't see a spear that had been dropped on the ground by one of the fleeing marines. She stepped onto the discarded weapon and began to fall.
'No!' She thought as she saw the swordsman move in to finish her.
"I won't let you!" Tashigi yelled as she viciously slashed at Zoro. The swordsman blocked the desperation attack.
"Captain Hina, I'll handle Roronoa!" Tashigi yelled.
"Back away Tashigi! That guy is…." Before she could finish her sentence a yellow beam shot past Hina and exploded right where the two sword users where standing. Hina was blown back by the blast. She rolled across the ground for a few seconds before coming to a stop.
"TASHIGI!" She yelled. She looked towards the direction the beam came from. "Pacifista!?"
"Confirming annihilation of Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro." The robot said as he scanned the area. It looked up so see a closing in Zoro with the Wado in front of him. "Target still ali…" The unit tried to get out before the edge of the Wado pierced its face. The robot swatted Zoro off of itself.
"To close…" Zoro said as he landed on the ground with Tashigi in hand. He unceremoniously placed the girl on the ground. "Someone called in something interesting." Zoro said. The Pacifista raised his hands towards Zoro. Tashigi jumped between them.
"Stand down! You aren't needed!" She ordered.
"Are you stupid!?" Zoro said once again grabbing the girl. Zoro dashed towards the ocean as the machine began to fire at the two.
"Are YOU stupid!?" Tashigi asked this time. "You're a fruit user! The ocean will depower you!"
"I never ate one of those things!" Zoro yelled as Tashigi watched the swordsman began to run on top of the water.
"EH!" All the marines in attendance yelled while the PX unit stopped firing and began recording this development. After ensuring he was far enough away Zoro stopped and turned towards the land.
"What technique is this?!" Tashigi asked slightly amazed. "Something an old pervert taught me." Zoro said as he dropped the girl in the ocean. He reached down and grabbed her glasses making her useless
"G-give those back!" She protested as she swatted at the swordsman. Zoro took one last look at the girl before heading back to shore. As he past Hina he tossed her glasses much to her surprise. Zoro came to a stop a few meters away from the cyborg.
'It took all of us to even damage one…' Zoro thought as the PX unit took aim. 'The true test begins!' The yellow blast barely missed Zoro as he dashed towards the cyborg. Blue flame raced down the blade before Zoro cut across the big body of the PX unit leaving a trail of flame in the wake of the slash. The PX unit swatted away the swordsman with one hand and pointed the second at him firing another laser at the swordsman. Zoro pushed off the ground with the Shusui positioning himself above the beam.
"Nigiri Otoro!" Zoro yelled sending two slashes at the Kuma look alike. The attacks forced the cyborg back. Zoro once again rushed the cyborg, connecting with slice after slice. Each one leaving a scorch mark across the body of the PX unit.
"Target's combat potential has increased. Transmitting data." The units said.
"This is bad." Zoro thought. While he felt he was in a better position than he was last time he fought one of these monstrosities, it seemed that his attacks wasn't causing any major damage. Then the PX unit opened his mouth for another attack. Zoro quickly bashed the hilt of his sword into the jaw of the cyborg forcing it shut. Much to his surprise the sound of the beam charging instantly stopped, as he brought both of his hands and placed them in front of the swordsman both cannons resuming where the mouth cannon had stopped. Zoro quickly placed both of his weapons in front of him to shield the blast. Zoro skid across the ground before a bright blue flame erupted from the end of the laser beam, revealing a panting Zoro.
'I'm still getting tired in situations like this.' Zoro cursed. He lasted longer than he thought he would but if he continued to expend his energy like this... Zoro's instinct went into overdrive. He looked to his right to see a charging Hina. Zoro quickly jumped to avoid the blow. The female captain quickly tried to form a cage around the tiring swordsman. Zoro responded by pushed off the forming cage evading capture. But before he could thing about his next move he was face to face with a laser blast from the pacifista. Having no time to protect himself, he received the full extent of the PX unit's power. The marine and the growing group of press onlookers watched as Zoro exploded then plummet to the ground. Zoro forced himself to his feet as the marines around him began to cheer is near defeat. Zoro looked at his two attackers. Zoro spat the blood that was in his mount to the tattered ground. The PX unit began to fire at him again. Zoro ran towards the cyborg again weaving between the repetitions of blasts. As soon as he got close to the PX unit, Hina appeared before him.
"Nigiri To..." Zoro stopped his attack as he saw the pacifista charging its attack behind the pink haired woman. Hina noticing the look in the swordsman's eye jumped to one side as Zoro jumped to the other.
"Isn't he on your side?" Zoro asked as the beam zoomed passed between them. Hina didn't answer.
'Those things are supposed to differentiate between friend and foe.' She thought. 'I guess Hancock's actions at Marineford made them adjust that quality.' Zoro wiped the sweat from his brow. This situation was get out of hand. He'd be better at fighting that PX unit up close but that Hina was someone you didn't want to deal with in that same range. He had to end one of them now. Zoro unraveled the bandanna from around his arm and put it on.
'What's that's symbol? That's not the Straw Hat's Jolly Roger.' Hina thought. Zoro placed the Wado into his mouth and drew the Rettenjo. Wasting no time Zoro rushed Hina. The pink haired captain prepared herself for his attack. She was expecting a fiercer attack since he had begun using his signature Santoryu style, but the force behind it didn't seem to improve.
"Hina thought you would be more impressive than this." She said as she counter attacked in between Zoro's assault. Then the familiar sound of the PX unit charging his lasers. Hina jumped up to avoid the blast. She looked below her to try and find the swordsman.
'Where is he?' She thought.
"Santoryu!" Zoro said from above her. She grimaced as she realized his intent and began to guard herself. "Hyakuhachi Pound Ho!" Zoro yelled hitting Hina head on with the attack sending her crashing into the pacifista's beam, causing it to explode. Zoro landed meters away from Hina as marines began to rush to her side. Zoro zeroed in on the cyborg.
"Backup from Captain Hina no longer possible." The PX unit said. "Commencing all-out attack." The cyborg locked on to the swordsman and began to fire at a greater speed. Zoro ran around the cyborg unable to successfully travel forward and in his wake were numerous yellow beams. Zoro stuck the Shusui into the ground.
"Nezumizan!" Zoro yelled sending the ground projectile towards the assaulting cyborg connecting with one of his small legs causing to start to tilt. Then to his onlookers, he phased out of there sight only to appear over the falling PX unit. Zoro crossed his three swords.
"Yasha Garasu!" Zoro yelled rolling over the cyborg leaving the attacks signature crow's feet look up the cyborgs chest. As soon as Zoro's feet hit the ground he launched himself back at the still falling pacifista.
"Karasuma Gari!" Multiple slash marks appeared over the machines body. Zoro looked on with one sword in the ground desperately trying to catch his breath. 'That should have done it. Now to focus on escaping Hina's me…'
"Target expressing superior battle prowess. Threat level increased. Transmitting battle data." The PX unit said as it forced itself to its feet. Zoro looked with a mix of surprise and frustration at the monstrosity. The gears in its chest were exposed and half of his faceplate was missing. "Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro cannot escape this battle alive. Recommencing annihilation." The PX unit declared before beginning to rain destruction on the immediate area. Zoro began to dodge the now completely random attacks in his direction. He ducked into a partially destroyed building to try and rest for a second. He looked out of the window to see the PX unit firing random at building. Much to his dismay he began to hear screams from those who had stayed to watch the fight instead of evacuating the area. He couldn't let that out of control machine continue. Zoro stepped out into plain view of the robot. No swords in his hands.
"Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro located. Commencing Termination." The pacifista said. Zoro narrowed his eyes at his would be executioner.
"Santoryu Iai." Zoro said before once again phasing out of sight. All that could be heard was the sound of steel flying through the air. Zoro appeared behind the Cyborg knees bent, the blades of the Rettenjo and Shusui at his side, and the Wado Ichimonji in his hand slightly exposed in there sheathe. Zoro stood up causing the two swords at his side to slide into place.
"Suzakumon." Zoro said pressing the Wado into its sheathe as the PX unit exploded.
"A three sword Iai technique?!" A marine tending to Hina said. The marines begin to mummer amongst themselves as another walked over to Tashigi to hand her back her now broken glasses. The dark blue haired swordsman flashed a smile as she put them on regardless of their condition. Tashigi turned watched Zoro drop back down to one knee trying to catch his breath. She gripped he sword and began to walk towards Zoro. Hina put her hand on the girl.
"Stop Tashigi." She said. "Hina don't know what he's been doing these last few months but he is way out of your league now!" Tashigi bit her lip.
"Will he continue to be more skilled than me?" She said under her breath. Zoro looked back at the marines. They had yet to make a move on him after the PX unit had exploded. Now would be a great time to escape.
"Ryusei Kazan." A voice Zoro had never heard yelled. Zoro looked up to see several large fist-shaped burning projectiles coming down towards him. Zoro quickly started to dodge each of the attacks. Zoro stood up and looked around to try and find the attacker. He saw the frightened look of the marines around him.
"He's here..." One stammered out. "Admiral Akainu is here!" Zoro face dropped. His memory quickly went back to the fight against Aokiji on Long Ring and his near death at the hands of Kizaru. He was in no shape to take on an Admiral.
"I thought that tin can would at least have you captured by the time I arrived." Akainu said as he stepped out into the open. "Hina! This is twice you've failed in capturing one of these Straw Hats. I don't even know why we keep you around." The tall Admiral's eyes focused on Zoro. The swordsman was battered but he put the Wado back in his mouth and drew the Rettenjo and Shusui once again.
'I have to get away from this guy!' Zoro thought. "H-Hyakuhachi Pound Ho!" Zoro stammered out. Akainu didn't even flinch, he just let the attack pass through him. Zoro face was filled with desperation as he began to back up.
"Heh, that's the same look your weak captain had on his face right before I killed his brother." Akainu taunted. Zoro tried to turn into a corner and try to lose the stalking admiral but before he could even take a second step the alley began to fill with magma.
"Don't make this longer than it has to be." Akainu said. "I'm going to kill you and then parade your burnt body all across the new world as a warning. Then I'm going to find all of your pirate friends and do the same to them!" Zoro flinched.
'Luffy, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, Chopper, Robin, Franky, Brook.' Zoro thought of each of his friends. The fun times they had together. The tough battles they overcame together. He couldn't let any of them be hurt because of his inactions. Zoro dropped into a stance. With a yell he began to attack the Admiral. Akainu easily dodge his attacks. Zoro drew the Shusui back to thrust.
"Do you think that puny sword can handle being submerged in magma?" Akainu asked causing Zoro to relent his attack. Akainu took the opportunity to throw a punch. Zoro quickly ducked under the blow and once again created distance between himself and the Admiral. Zoro ground his teeth together as Akainu slowly walked towards him. He couldn't make physical contact with the Admiral without the side effect of losing the sword he used so he had only one move left up his sleeve. But what kind of sense would it make to try to use fire on a man that could turn his body into molten magma? It was now or never. Zoro closed his eyes and focused. Akainu watched as blue flame began to run down the blade of the Rettenjo. Sweat started to run down his face as he struggled to maintain the flame in his tired and weaken state.
"Yakitori!" Zoro yelled unleashing the flame enhanced slash. Much to Akainu's surprise he felt a long forgotten burning sensation where Zoro had slashed and instead of being absorbed by his magma the fire began to spread across his body. Akainu quickly turned to magma and expelled the affected area. He looked back as the magma that began to become engulfed by the blue flame.
"What is this…?" Akainu said as his face began to contort with rage as Zoro looked on with surprise.
'Your flames appear to eat chakra, Zoro.' Jiraiya words rang inside his head. Zoro remembered what he had learned in Konoha, everyone had chakra. It was a person's life force. A small smile formed on Zoro's face. He had a weapon against Logia types.
'Is this a new form of Haki?" Akainu though as he touched the burn mark on his face. "Unforgivable. I can't have a pirate running around with a dangerous technique like that!" Akainu yelled as he pulled back his fist. "Inugami Guren." He yelled as a wave of magma lead by the head of a burning dog rushed towards Zoro. The tired and beaten swordsman barely had enough energy to jump out of the way of the attack.
"Kazan!" Akainu yelled launching a numerous number of magma fists at Zoro. He wasn't able to completely dodge them all. He felt a burning sensation whenever he even came close to one. Zoro dropped to the ground and roll for a few feet before he was able to stop himself. He quickly pushed himself to his feet and turned to run away only to be met by Akainu.
"It's over for you, pirate." Akainu said as he drew back his arm in magma form. Then out of nowhere a Silver haired figure kicked Akainu causing the large man to fly a good distance before crashing into a hotel.
"Rayleigh!?" Zoro said as dark king helped him to his feet.
"You kids are going to be the death of me." Rayleigh said with a smile on his face. "Come on. We better get out of here before Akainu gets back up." Rayleigh put the young pirate over his shoulder and they both disappeared. No sooner than they vanished the building Akainu was kicked into began to melt and sink into itself. The admiral walked through a wall and looked around.
"Damn that Rayleigh." He said as he clenched his fist in anger. He looked at all the marines. "Scour the island! Inform me immediately if you find Zoro or Rayleigh!"
*Shakky's Rip-off bar – 5hours and 25 min into the trial*
Rayleigh, Shakky, and Zoro sat in the empty bar. The bar was the very first place that was checked by the marines after Zoro's escape from Akainu. Shakky had scared off the pursuers and they haven't returned since then.
"I see. I've never heard of Konoha or this Land of Iron." Rayleigh said as he shared a beer with Zoro, listening about what he had been doing.
"That's where I've been since Kuma separated us. I've been training nearly every moment I was there." Zoro said as he looked at the fading seal on his arm. He could feel it trying to pull him back to the Iron. But as long as he kept his mind on where he was now and his crew the pull was getting weaker and weaker.
"That much is obvious." Rayleigh said with a smile on his face. "If Luffy had you with him things at Marineford might of turned out differently."
"Rayleigh, I want you to take me to Luffy. If you're training him to prepare him for the New World…"
"No Zoro." Rayleigh said raising his hand to stop Zoro. "I think you should go back to this Mifune. He seems to be teaching you better than I could."
"What?!" Zoro said in surprise. "If I go back I don't know if I can make it back here!"
"You've made it back here once. You'll be able to make it back again." Rayleigh said as he pushed himself from the bar. "I'm going to go back to Luffy. From what you've told me you made promises to your friends back in Konoha. You can't go back on your word to them." Zoro mind went back to Konoha, Naruto, Ino, Anko, Tenten, Lee, Kiba, Hinata, Kurenai, Chouji, and Shikamaru. All of them awaited his return from the Iron. As soon as he thought about the Iron the pull became stronger. Rayleigh watches Zoro's face contort in pain.
"Are you ok?" Rayleigh said as Zoro joined him at the door. The swordsman nodded as he grasped his arm.
"Here." Shakky said throwing him a newspaper. "I told you to read this and you never did." Zoro looked at the rolled up paper before putting it in his back pocket and following Rayleigh out of the bar. Shakky smiled. "Go get stronger Zoro like the others. It'll be no fun to root for you if you all fail at the beginning."
Rayleigh sighed as he looked over his shoulder and saw Zoro behind him still. "If you insist on me training you, I think I can find someone more qualified in the sword than me to be your teacher. What do you think about that Zoro…?" Rayleigh turned to see only a big puff of smoke where Zoro had stood. He looked to his left and right but couldn't pick out the swordsman. A smile formed on his face as he sped up to head back to the place where he had left Zoro's captain.
*Land of Iron - Ritual Room*
Zoro vision blurred. He looked at the shirt he had on. It was a little too big for him showing him he had returned to the Land of Iron. Zoro looked up to see guards with their weapons pointed at him.
"It's only me guys." Zoro said.
"Zoro!" One of the guards said as he ran over to Zoro. "Go get Mifune!" The other guard nodded and ran out of the room. The remaining guard ran to Zoro's side. "Where have you been? You've been gone for nearly three weeks! We almost sent a messenger to Konoha saying that you had died!" Zoro looked on but wasn't surprised. He already knew that time went faster over here. "No matter. We'll get you to the hospital to get those wounds looked at." The guard began to guide Zoro out of the room when a rolled up paper caught his eye.
"What is this?" The guard said as he picked it up. He looked at the front page. "Hmm does this mean anything to you?" Zoro took the paper out of the guard's hand. He saw on the front page the picture of Luffy praying at the Ox bell, but what caught his eye was the mark on his arm. 3D was lined out and 2Y was under it. Zoro stared at it for a second before it clicked into his head.
'That's why Luffy was training with Rayleigh! He had changed the meeting date from three days to two years!' Zoro thought. He clenched the paper in his hand before ripping off the front page, folding it up, and securing it in his pocket. 'I'll find a way back over there. I'll be back at Sabaody for our voyage to the new world!'
*Northwest of Amazon Lily - Rusukaina Island*
Luffy stood face to face with large Hippo in the blistering summer. The both of them had picked the same watering hole to get some water. While Luffy was happy to share the hippo on the other hand wanted it all for himself.
"Come on. We can share." Luffy said to the huge hippo. The animal roared and charged at Luffy.
"Ok have it your way. Gum Gum…" Before he could finish the attack the hippo stared behind him with a look of solid terror before running back into the Jungle of the island. Luffy had a big smile on his face.
"I'm getting better at this haki thing!" He said as he bent over and took a drink out of the pond. He stood up to see Rayleigh standing with a smile on his face.
"Ah Rayleigh! What are you doing…" Without uttering a greeting Rayleigh punched Luffy in the stomach causing the rubber man to bend over Luffy looked up to see the Dark King with his leg raised. Luffy quickly jumped to the side as Rayleigh brought his leg down causing a crater to form from the impact of the blow.
"What's the deal Rayleigh!?" Luffy asked placing his fist ahead of him. The Dark King tossed him a paper. Luffy warily took his eyes off of Rayleigh to look at the paper. Much to his surprise it was Zoro on the front page with his back to an explosion. As he read on his smile got larger and larger.
Luffy let out a laugh. "Ah Ha Zoro! You've gotten so much stronger!" He said.
Rayleigh nodded. "If you want to continue to be captain we're going to have to increase the difficulty of your training or Zoro is going to surpass you. So I'm going to be bringing more hazards for you to face. Since I couldn't find one on such short notice, I'll be the one for this week. Let's see how long you can last Luffy!" Luffy smile never dropped. If he wanted to protect everyone, including Zoro, he would have to be the strongest!
*Two years later- Land of Lightning- 50 miles outside Kumogakure *
Three figures dashed threw the rocky valley kicking up water and behind them where numerous sound ninjas. This was supposed to be an easy mission. Bust up a hidden sound ninja hideout in close to the rain village, save a cloud genin with a rare blood limit, return her to the Cloud, collect reward, and then return to the Iron so a certain swordsman could return to his home town. But nothing that is portrayed as easy turns out to be easy.
"This is a horrible last mission." Zoro complained.
"Shut up Zoro! It's your fault!" Hikari retorted as he held the hand of a cloud genin. "You're the one who wanted to go the quickest route so that you could get back home to wait for your escort back to Konoha! For someone who came from a ninja village you're not very stealthy."
"That's because I'm not a ninja." Zoro said.
Hikari and the cloud genin sighed. Hikari looked down at the young girl she was beginning to tire.
"Come on we just have a little more to go. You can make it!" Hikari said trying to get the girl to speed up. The cloud genin smiled and tried to speed up.
"Tch. I got this." Zoro said. Hikari expected the green haired swordsman to pick up the little girl and run her the rest of the way but the opposite happened. Zoro stopped and drew all three of his swords and faced the enemy.
"Wait! Zoro! Don't!" Hikari yelled.
"SANTORYU OGI!" Zoro yelled jumping head first into the group of sound ninjas as Hikari covered the cloud genin. "MEIOU!"
Three cloud jounin rushed towards the valleys of clouds and lightning. There had been a report of a large explosion on the outskirts of the city. As they got to the entrance of the valley they saw two figures walking towards them, one had a young girl on his shoulders. Two of them continued on as one stopped to greet them.
"You must be the agents from the Iron." The Jounin said.
"Yeah." Hikari said. "We brought her here safe and sound." Zoro lowered the girl off of his shoulders.
"Did ya'll encounter anyone in the valley?" The cloud Jounin said. "We're going to investigate an unknown explosion observed in the valley."
Hikari began to shake her head no when.
"It was Big Brother Zoro!" The little genin said. "I thought I was going to be recaptured when he drew his swords and said Meiou! The BOOM we're engulfed by a pretty blue flame! It beat back all the bad guys but it didn't hurt me or Big Sister Hikari!"
The jounin looked over at Zoro then rubbed the little girls head. "We won't tell anyone about your little battle."
Hikari let out a sigh of relief. The jounin bowed to the two before disappearing to return the girl to her parents.
"Grandfather said explicitly for you not to use your techniques!" Hikari said punching Zoro in the arm. "Do you have anything to say for yourself!?"
"Let go." Zoro said walking towards the cloud.
"That's not even the way back to the Iron!" Hikari yelled dragging Zoro in the right direction.
* Few days later Land of Iron – Main gate*
Zoro, Hikari, and Mifune stood together as a light snow fell onto them. They were waiting for Zoro escort back to Konoha.
"Here Zoro." Mifune said handing him a sealed scroll. Zoro looked at Mifune with a confused look on his face.
"That's the ritual that we used on you for your trial." Mifune said. "You said that you wanted to return back there. We don't have the expertise here to construct you a way to go back but maybe someone in Konoha can complete it for you."
Zoro nodded before placing the scroll in his bag.
"Zoro look." Hikari said. "You better not lose to anyone till I defeat you!" She said with a smile on her face trying to hide the tears.
"Ah, don't worry. I don't intend on losing to anyone." The two shook hands.
"Someone's coming." Mifune said. Zoro looked down the path to see a person with pink hair coming down the path.
'Sakura, why would they send her?' Zoro thought as she got closer he noticed that she had grown but had the same look as she did when he left Konoha.
"Mifune." Sakura said bowing to the old samurai. "Tsunade wants to thank you for taking care of one of our own for such a long time." Mifune raised his hand.
"It's been helpful for all involved." Mifune said. "Hopefully we can continue to be allies in the future."
"Let's go Zoro." Sakura said forcing a smile. "Tsunade wants to see you as soon as we get back."
Zoro nodded and began to follow the pink haired girl. The old samurai and his granddaughter watched as the person that they had shared two years with walked back to Konoha. Back to the land that destiny would be reshaped by his very presence.
R/R
B.O.X