Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or One Piece.

Warning: this is an alternate universe (AU).


Note: you can find the "M" version of this story on AO3 under the same name and/ or join my discord server to easily get the link: pUN4utBCHr


CHAPTER I

Naruto awoke to a world of haze, his eyelids heavy and reluctant to part.

The sun's gentle warmth kissed his cheeks, and he felt the comforting sway of the raft beneath him.

His body was heavy with exhaustion, and as he struggled to sit up, he realized that his muscles ached.

The ocean breeze played with his unruly hair, and he blinked his vibrant blue eyes to clear away the remnants of sleep, finally taking in his surroundings.

As he glanced around, a sense of disorientation washed over him, a feeling that he was far from the familiarity of his world.

All around him, he could see nothing but the ocean.

How long had he been drifting out here, floating on the sea?

"Ugh, where am I?" he said, his voice hoarse. His throat suddenly felt like it was on fire and he broke out into a coughing fit.

"Relax, young man," a gentle, feminine voice said. "You've been unconscious for a few days… It's a miracle that you're still alive. I thought you were dead when I first found you."

Naruto's eyes widened. He hadn't sensed the woman's presence.

"Who are-" he tried to speak but broke out into a coughing fit again.

The woman chuckled and drew a flask from a bag to her left, offering it to Naruto. "There, there," she spoke. "Drink this."

Naruto eyed the flask warily, but his thirst won in the end.

He opened it and chugged it down — his throat immediately filled with relief.

Naruto wiped his lips and handed it back. "Ah, thank you. I needed that," he said, and then his eyes widened. "I'm sorry if that was all the water you had, I didn't mean to finish it."

The woman chuckled again. "Don't worry," she said, opening her bag to reveal a few other flasks. He also noticed that she had a lot of books. "I got more where that came from."

Naruto nodded, smiling. He looked around, seeing nothing but the ocean and the blue sky above. His brows furrowed. "Where are we?"

"West Blue," she replied. "We're nearing Ohara. We'll be there by tomorrow morning."

Naruto nodded slowly, his question still unanswered.

The woman eyed him tentatively. "You're not from around these parts, huh?"

Naruto shook his head and laughed — scratching the back of his head. "Nope, I have no idea what you just said."

West Blue?

Ohara?

What were these places?

The woman nodded. "We'll find land soon enough and you can decide what to do from there."

All of a sudden, her expression suddenly shifted as her keen eyes caught sight of an approaching ship on the horizon. The growing sense of dread hung heavily in the air.

Naruto raised a brow in question until he realized there was another ship heading towards them.

This one was much, much bigger than the one he was on.

"Marines…"

Uncertainty etched Naruto's features. However, before he could voice his concerns, the woman swiftly pulled a length of fabric from her bag and began wrapping it around her head with deft, practiced movements. Her fingers expertly concealed every part of her face except for her eyes, which remained visible beneath the fabric.

Naruto watched in awe as the woman transformed, her face hidden, leaving only her piercing eyes exposed. The cloth she used to shroud her identity seemed to blend seamlessly with her attire, creating an enigmatic and intimidating presence.

She turned to Naruto, the intensity of her gaze communicated even through her concealed face. "Whatever you do, don't fight back," the woman said, her tone showing the gravity of the situation. "Just do as they say."

Naruto looked back at her, his own eyes hardening as he understood the gravity of the situation. He nodded in agreement. He'd do as she said… for now.

The woman's eyes, the only part of her face visible, reflected a mixture of determination and concern as they braced for the encounter with the approaching Marines.

Both ships neared each other and the woman stood up. "Remember what I said, young man. Just keep your head down and do as they say."

Naruto nodded. "Got it."

As both boats gradually drew nearer to each other, the tension in the air grew palpable. She looked at Naruto with a mix of worry and resignation, clearly anticipating trouble from the approaching Marine ship. Naruto, standing tall on the raft, was ready to face whatever awaited them.

The Marine ship, adorned with the World Government's distinctive insignia, loomed ever closer, its colossal size becoming more intimidating with each passing second. The Marines on board, in their crisp white uniforms and navy coats, seemed to exude an air of unwavering authority.

The cocky young officer, flanked by his subordinates, walked to the forefront of the Marine ship. His hand rested casually on the hilt of his sword, and a smug smirk played across his lips as he surveyed the small, weather-worn raft. With a tone of condescension, he called out to the woman.

"Hey, you there!" he bellowed. "What's your business in these waters?"

The woman's voice wavered as she replied, "I'm just a traveler, sir. I mean no harm. I was just trying to make my way to Ohara."

"Didn't you know? These waters are off-limits. Ohara has been engaging in… suspicious activity against the World Government. No one is allowed in these waters until our investigation is over." The Marine officer's smirk deepened, and he eyed the bags on the raft with a greedy gleam in his eyes. "And what's in those bags of yours?"

The woman hesitated, but the weight of Naruto's presence and the urgency of their situation compelled her to respond. "It's all I have, sir," she pleaded. "If you would please just let us go, I promise not to return to these waters."

The Marines, however, were not satisfied with her response. They exchanged knowing glances and appeared unrelenting in their pursuit of the bags. The Marine officer's tone grew more menacing as he declared, "I think we'd like to take a look for ourselves."

A few of the marines hopped off the larger ship — their feet landing on the small boat, shaking it. Their hands moved toward the bags, causing the woman to step forward, her eyes filled with fear.

Naruto watched with growing indignation, ready to intervene if necessary.

The woman's voice quivered, "It's all I have, please, I beg you, just let us go."

The Marines, undeterred, took a step forward, reaching for the bags. Their callousness sent a surge of anger through Naruto. He had always stood up for the defenseless and despised bullies, and these Marines seemed to embody everything he despised.

As the Marines laid a heavy hand on the woman's shoulder, she flinched in pain. Naruto's knuckles turned white from the intensity of his grip. He could feel Kurama's chakra churning within him, urging him to act, but the woman's earlier advice echoed in his mind: "Just keep your head down and do as they say."

However, the moment the Marines struck her, Naruto's hesitation disappeared.

He exploded into action, his body moving as if by instinct. With a swift, nimble leap, he positioned himself between the woman and the abusive Marines.

Naruto's azure eyes blazed with a mixture of determination and anger. His voice was laced with intensity as he declared, "That's enough! Lay a hand on her again, and you'll have to deal with me."

The Marines were momentarily taken aback by Naruto's sudden appearance and the power he radiated.

He was fast.

Naruto had his share of battles and was no stranger to confrontation. He may not have understood this place, but he was ready to defend those in need.

However, the main Marine officer laughed and the Marines began to regain their composure.

The woman, now standing beside Naruto, quickly interjected. She held out a trembling hand and implored, "Please, stop. He's just a young traveler. He means no harm."

The woman's voice trembled with concern for Naruto. She knew that these Marines could pose a significant threat to the young man. With a sense of desperation, she continued, "Gentlemen, please, we don't want any trouble. We're just passing through. Let us go."

The Marine officer, still amused by Naruto's presence, raised an eyebrow and glanced at the woman. He considered the woman's request for a moment but ultimately decided to ignore it, believing that Naruto was nothing more than an interference.

The officer smirked and waved off the woman's plea dismissively. "Your young friend should learn to respect authority," he quipped, his tone dripping with arrogance. "Now, tell us what's in those bags, or we'll have to find out for ourselves."

Naruto raised a brow. "She told you no." He smirked in return. "What, are you deaf?"

The Marine officer glared at Naruto. "You dare defy a Marine officer?!"

Naruto's resolve remained steadfast, and he awaited the Marines' next move, fully prepared to defend her and himself if necessary.

He didn't think he'd have to do much, though.

These guys were just a bunch of chumps with nothing better to do than to pick on the weak.

He saw the marines grip their swords.

Without waiting for the officer's next words, Naruto sprang into action. In a blur of movement, he closed the distance between himself and the Marines with lightning speed, leaving the crew dumbfounded and the woman wide-eyed.

Naruto's fists moved like a whirlwind as he effortlessly disarmed the first Marine who tried to strike him, sending the man's sword spinning into the air before it clattered to the deck. His fluid, precise movements were a testament to his well-honed combat skills.

As another Marine lunged at him, Naruto executed a series of acrobatic flips, gracefully dodging the attack. With a swift kick, he sent the Marine sprawling to the ground. It was clear that Naruto was on a completely different level from his attackers.

The remaining Marines hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to proceed as their confidence wavered. They had underestimated the young traveler, and now they found themselves in a perilous situation.

Naruto couldn't help but smirk as he addressed the Marine officer again, his voice oozing with confidence. "You guys really should pick on someone your own size. Now, do you want to try that again, or should we let the beautiful lady be on her way?"

The Marine officer, his earlier bravado shattered, exchanged nervous glances with his subordinates. It was clear that Naruto was not to be trifled with, and they had learned a valuable lesson about underestimating strangers.

With their confidence visibly shaken, the Marine officer attempted to salvage his authority. He reached for his sidearm, a determined glint in his eyes. He aimed and fired at Naruto, but it was as if time itself had slowed down. Naruto, with unparalleled reflexes, effortlessly dodged the bullet. The projectile whizzed past him, missing its target.

Naruto closed the remaining distance with lightning speed, a furious punch landing square on the Marine officer's jaw. The officer crumpled to the deck, unconscious.

As the Marine officer lay sprawled on the ground, Naruto turned his attention to the rest of the Marines, his gaze daring anyone to challenge him. "Anyone else?" he demanded, his voice carrying an air of dominance.

No one dared to step forward. The sight of Naruto's prowess had left them in awe and disbelief.

Naruto turned to the lady behind him, who was now completely shocked by the display of power she had just witnessed. "We're leaving," Naruto said, determination still evident in his voice. "But before we do…"

Naruto cast a pointed look at the remaining Marines, his expression doing a complete 180.

"Do you have any food?"


The Marines had been eager to appease the young traveler, swiftly providing Naruto and the woman with food and provisions. The woman had watched in astonishment as the Marines complied without hesitation.

Naruto nodded in gratitude, and they made their way back to the small raft. She was still processing the incredible events that had just unfolded, as Naruto's unexpected abilities had left her awestruck and grateful for the stranger who had come to her aid.

It would've been very bad if she'd gotten caught… again.

She was on her way back to Ohara for that very same reason. She and her friends had been caught by the marines and she was now on her way back to warn everyone.

Please be safe, my little flower…

As she and Naruto continued on their way to Ohara, Naruto couldn't help but notice her grave and troubled expression. The weight of the previous encounter with the Marines still lingered in the air.

Naruto, concerned for her well-being, finally broke the silence. "Is something bothering you?" he asked, a touch of worry in his voice.

The woman sighed deeply, her eyes fixed on the horizon. "They've found out," she said, her voice heavy with concern.

Naruto furrowed his brow, puzzled by the cryptic statement. "Found out what?"

She turned to Naruto, her gaze revealing a mix of fear and determination. For some reason, she felt like she could trust him, and so she began to explain, "We've been looking into the Void Century. The history that the World Government has erased from the world's memory. The people of Ohara have been searching for the truth, and now they've discovered something. Something that's put our lives in danger."

Naruto's eyes looked puzzled at the mention of the Void Century, a topic he knew nothing about. Her words had piqued his curiosity, and he couldn't help but ask, "What is this Void Century? And why would they want to erase it from history?"

She paused for a moment, choosing her words carefully. "The Void Century is a forbidden history. It holds secrets that could shake the very foundation of the world. The World Government will do anything to keep it hidden, and those who seek the truth are seen as a threat."

Naruto sensed the gravity of the situation. He may have been an outsider in this place, wherever it was, but he understood the significance of uncovering hidden truths.

As Naruto and the woman continued their journey toward Ohara, Naruto couldn't shake his growing curiosity about the mysterious World Government and the potential danger they faced.

Turning to her, he asked, "Tell me more about this World Government. What are they capable of, and what do you think they'll do when they find out you've been looking into the Void Century?"

She sighed, knowing that their predicament was becoming more perilous with each passing moment. She explained, "They've already found out. The World Government is an immensely powerful organization with control over most of the world's affairs. They have the authority to silence anyone who poses a threat to their secrets, and they won't hesitate to use their military might to maintain their grip on power."

Naruto nodded, his determination unwavering. "So, what's our plan? What do we do when we reach Ohara?"

She looked at Naruto with a mix of gratitude and concern. "You don't have to do anything. If anything, I suggest you leave once we get there. It won't be safe," she said. "As for me, I must be cautious. I need to find those who share my quest for knowledge, and we must protect the information we've uncovered at all costs."

Naruto shook his head, his eyes fierce with determination. "There's no way I'll leave without helping you guys out. I will stay with you guys and beat the stupid World Government if they come. You have my word, Miss," he said, punching his palm with his fist. "I'm Uzumaki Naruto, and I never go back on my word, -ttebayo!"

Plus, if this place was full of smart people like her, they'd know how to help him get back home.

The woman offered a friendly smile and extended her hand. "I never got a chance to properly introduce myself. I'm Nico Olvia. Thank you, Naruto-kun, for helping me and for being willing to stand with us in our pursuit of the truth about the Void Century.."

Naruto warmly smiled. "Nice to meet you, Olvia-san," he said. "It's my pleasure."

"Please, just call me Olvia," she said.

"Nice to meet you, then, Olvia-obachan!" he replied. "Let's do this!"

Olvia's smile faltered and her eyes twitched.

She smacked Naruto upside the head. "That's even worse!"

Naruto cradled his head and groaned in pain.

"I'm sorry, Olvia."

"There you go," she said. "Much better."

Her eyes gleamed in amusement as she looked at the young man.

I think I've found you a new friend, my little flower.