Alright, so here's the 4th chapter, and I am glad to see my credentials (if they exist) as a Naruto/One Piece Xover writer haven't gone down the toilet since these stories keep their relevancy.

I am sorry for the long wait for a chapter like this, been trying to write my Naruto/GTA fics and also expanding on newer projects if you'd like to know. But for those who are regular readers of my Gaiden: Liberty City fic, just so you know it is updated because some readers told me in the DM's that the update didn't get to them.

But getting back to the topic, enjoy the newest chapter as I plan to update this and the other One Piece fic at the same time, thanks to one person who managed to keep a copy of my old deleted fic, I'm able to write further - Darkqueen629, you are a great help, so you know. Also of course neostardustdragon101 for referring me to her, the help has been tremendous.

This chapter has been beta-read by yashin ryogi.

Anyway, read the chapter, please leave a review down below, follow it, favorite it, or put it into your C2. Any feedback is welcome.

Let's Go!

The Going Merry

A few hours had gone by since the Going Merry had set sail from the Baratie. However, it was currently lacking something crucial: its crew. The only people present on board were Nami, who had stolen it right out from under the others, and Naruto, who was tied to the mast, unconscious.

When he finally woke up, he groaned.

"Damnit...I knew I shouldn't have turned my back on another woman."

Nami spared him a quizzical glance. "Again?"

"Forget it, it's a boring story. Anyway, why are we heading for the Conomi Islands?"

"Simple. I am going back home," Nami said, crossing her arms over her chest while turning to her captive with a confident smirk. "I got my money, this ship—and as a bonus, you."

This time, it was Naruto who gave the girl a questionable look, one that could be interpreted in many ways.

"And for what reason should that be a thing?"

"...The mark on your back…"

There, the look turned into a glare that caught the navigator off guard. She wasn't prepared for what the blond-whiskered man would say next.

"That smirk on your face doesn't help the fact that I heard you cry earlier for a woman named Bell-mère…"

*THWACK!*

Those words resulted in Naruto getting hit across the face by a wooden polearm, which quickly assembled as her response to what was just said. A grim but angry look adorned Nami's face as she glared at Naruto, giving him a clear warning.

"Never mention that name so lightly again!"

*Spit!*

Some blood flew right close to the navigator's feet, a response given by Naruto, who then looked up at her with an unimpressed expression.

"Fine, I won't say her name, but tell me why you are taking me to the Conomi Islands?"

Nami did not take any chances and kept her bo staff aimed at his head. She made one final statement before saying, "Cannot explain it, but you might be able to once we arrive there," raising her staff with a smirk. "Good night."

"Do you have to… Oh damn…"

*THWACK!*

Meanwhile

"Can't... Can't breathe!"

On a small boat following the same route as the Going Merry, a scuffle broke out. Shades-wearing Johnny found himself in a chokehold by one of the four occupants he had now pissed off.

It was Gin holding him in a headlock, with a whistle stuck in Johnny's mouth. The bounty hunter made the stupid decision to blow it right next to the guy in proximity.

"Hey, hey!" Usopp tried to be a peacemaker. "No need for this—we're all on the same team!"

Zoro watched from the sidelines, mainly due to the massive wounds he had sustained from the previous opponent. Most of his torso was now covered in bandages.

"Hey, Gin, knock it off."

"Fine." Gin released Johnny from the headlock and took the whistle from him. "But I'll be taking this."

And with that, Gin threw the whistle into the sea, amazing everyone.

"Oh, what's that for?" Johnny asked, surprised at such an action.

"I don't like whistles, that's why," Gin said, sitting back down on the wooden floor. "Had enough of that with drill instructors and asshole officers in my time in the Navy. So, you know."

"Alright…sorry."

"Don't sweat over it, but also don't panic, alright?" Gin reassured him. "We're going to get your navigator and my old captain, no big deal."

"No big deal? We're talking about Arlong here, the Arlong." Johnny addressed everyone present. "He's a Fishman with control over 20 towns and settlements and has the highest bounty in the East Blue!"

Usopp was scared. "Oh no!"Gin wasn't impressed. "So?"

"So? SO?"

"I don't know if you're new to being a bounty hunter, but that's pretty low from what I came across with Naruto, and it sounds too low for someone with that much territory," Gin stated, offering a theory. "From what I can say, he must be bribing some local Marine officers here and there to keep a low profile."

Zoro asked, "Are you sure?"

"Arlong's history goes back decades as a pirate, so I'd long expected he would have a bounty of at least one hundred by now. But given he chose the East Blue where nobody from Navy HQ looks at it, I'd say he picked the right spot."

Zoro could only agree as he laid back and nodded, "There are a lot of Marines like that moron we saw at the Baratie…"

The conversation briefly ended as seagulls flew over the boat; a flock was seen going over them.

"It's kind of weird knowing that Arlong person was part of the same crew as Jimbei," Gin said out of the blue, leaning his head back to watch the birds. "From what I know, Arlong is the direct opposite of him."

"Huh? You met Jimbei?" Johnny asked surprised, "As in one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea?"

"Yes, and before you say anything about him—don't judge the man from hearsay," Gin instructed him in a serious tone of his, "Everything you've been told about him, all the stories, all the rumors are nothing until you met the man yourself. He is someone I hold deep respect for."

The way Gin spoke about the Warlord got the others to look at him in a newfound light, seeing he was the guy with the most experience on the Grand Line, and it sparked questions.

Usopp was the one who dared to ask, "What kind of Fishman is he?"

Gin laid a smile and a sense of pride in saying.

"One of Honor."

Also on the sea was Mihawk, making his way back to the Grand Line. All the while, he was on the transponder snail, engaged in conversation with the man who had previously asked him to come to the seas he had just departed from.

"I'm sorry Garp, but I have no particular interest in going deeper into the East Blue for such a search," Mihawk told him through the snail. "I've got my interests to look after, I hope you can understand."

"That, I am aware of, but I understand,"

"I must inform you that I've met Straw Hat and his crew, quite a remarkable young man," Mihawk said with a chuckle. "I look forward to him and his crew making their journey to the Grand Line."

*MUNCH!*

Garp was already with his mouth full, corresponding with the Warlord, busy eating at the restaurant he had just arrived at.

He found himself in the Baratie, feasting alongside his second-in-command Bogard, who was eating more calmly—a huge feast of meat laid before him. The only people present in the restaurant were the Baratie staff.

Standing closest to the Marine table was Zeff himself, arms crossed and eyeing the duo as he observed the conversation.

Garp swallowed a large piece of steak at once and then responded through the snail, "That brat, the moment I see him, I'll give him my strongest punch."

"That I do not question, but I wish you good luck in your endeavors."

"Like you did to that swordsman?" Garp mentioned with a smirk, having heard what happened. "Someone challenged the Greatest Swordsman in the world and stood tall…"

…

"I'll be in touch, good luck Garp."

*CLICK!*

With that transponder call ended, Garp went full-on to shove another stick of meat into his mouth, much to the surprise of the whole staff of the Baratie and the marines of Garp seen standing, both watching from the sidelines.

This, however, did little to impress Zeff. He walked closer to the table and held no words back.

"Learn how to eat with your mouth closed, Vice-Admiral Garp."

Tension built up in the room when the head chef told that to the legendary Marine, with some visible sweating from the sidelines.

Then, a bottle of wine was pulled out and placed on the table by Zeff, with two clean and expensive-looking glasses.

"How else will you be enjoying this bottle of Micqueot?"

Offered that kind of drink, he got Garp to swallow all the food in his mouth and followed it up by giving a hand gesture to his men, who proceeded to leave the room and go back to the ship.

Zeff also gave the gesture with a simple nod, and the cooks left, going back to the kitchen. Thus, leaving the head chef with the two Marine officers to enjoy this expensive wine over some important talk

"Micqueot you say?" Garp grew a smirk, grabbing the bottle and inspecting it for himself, "I'm not a fancy drinker myself, but I can't say no to this."

"Pour it in."

As done, Garp opened the bottle and began pouring it into the two glasses—one for himself and one for Zeff, with Bogard sitting there, observing.

"A drink like this is for occasions like this," Zeff said to the Marine as he accepted the glass of wine. "Normally, I don't drink during working hours, but I'll drink it for the old days."

"Likewise, Red Leg Zeff," Garp agreed. "Likewise."

The two men of considerable old age, living lives as Marines and Pirates, both with reputations still remembered, sat at a table and drank wine—a rarity in this day and age. The only witness to this firsthand was the silent Marine, Bogard.

"So tell me, why is a Vice-Admiral of your caliber coming to the East Blue?" Zeff asked the man, knowing he was also a native of these seas. "It is highly unusual for this kind of dedication."

Garp downed his drink at once, showing his preference for fancy drinking and lack the patience for it. He then just answered the question.

"My stupid grandson is trying to become a pirate; that's my reason for being here," Garp said with a laugh before proceeding to ask, "but there is also another reason why I am here, something you can help me with…"

Zeff asked, "And that is?"

"Uzumaki Naruto," Bogard spoke, breaking his silence. He went further, "We know he worked here, Red Leg. We know the former field commander of the 9th Damned Raiders Division was working for you in this restaurant."

Zeff glared at the Marine officer, who, in return, did not flinch from giving a glare back.

"Defunct division, if I may add—defunct," Zeff mentioned, going further to answer the question. "And yes, the brat worked here for a while before I fired him."

"How recently was he fired?"

"Less than a week, he stuck around, that's all," Zeff said with his arms crossed, looking the Marines in the eye. "What? You're going to arrest me?"

Bogard looked at Garp, waiting for his response. Giving a known fugitive a job and work was not something that would go unnoticed.

"No, not interested in that, but I'd like to ask you something." Garp leaned forward, questioning him. "Do you have any idea where Naruto is at the moment?"

"The moment Mihawk arrived and Straw Hat defeated Don Krieg, the brat went missing," Zeff replied. "Even if I knew where he went, I won't tell you where he is."

Bogard questioned, "And why is that? Your code as a pirate, I assume."

"No, it's because I know the truth of what happened on that day."

Once again, silence filled the air, with the marine officer unprepared for such a response. Zeff wasn't finished.

"What are they calling it now? Ash Island?" Zeff recalled some details he started to bring up. "Used to be a normal-looking island in the New World. Woods with tall trees, clean rivers, and sandy beaches. Had a small population of fishers, farmers, dock workers—ordinary people mostly spared from the chaos in the Grand Line... until that day at least."

Garp's eyes shadowed over as the story continued.

"Cannon fire, artillery fire, literal fire, and whatever else was there got thrown at each other when the Marines, with how many ships, surrounded the island and bombed the hell out of it. The higher-ups thought the operation would be a quick one…"

Bogard looked at the chef and glared at him like he was crossing a line.

"Instead, it turned into a siege, a bloody three-week-long siege…"

*SLAM!*

The table then got slammed down through the middle, and another Baratie property was added to the list of needing replacement.

Zeff, however, just sat there, unintimidated as he was, only irritated by the food being wasted on the floor.

Entering the room came a Marine, sprinting over to Bogard, who he then whispered something about, causing the officer to nod before passing it to Garp.

"Sir, Fleet Admiral Sengoku has summoned your presence back to Navy HQ. Something about Fishman Island."

Hearing that didn't change Garp glaring at Zeff as he stood up and kept staring down at the former captain of the Cook Pirates, who didn't budge to the Hero of the Navy, not even showing fear in his eyes.

"Bogard, pay for the meal, will you?" Garp walked his way past the chef. "I'll prepare the ship."

Walking out, Zeff watched the man's back as Garp and the younger marine left the restaurant, then threw a wad of cash on his lap by Bogard.

"That is all for damages and the food." The officer walked past him with a final word, "Have a nice day, citizen."

The Marines soon all left the Baratie, causing one of the chefs to finally come up to his boss.

"Boss Zeff?"

"Clean this mess up; we're opening in the next hour," Zeff said, throwing the wad of money to the chef. "And order some new tables while you are at it."

Keeping an eye on the open door, Zeff only commented one more thing.

"Saved your skin, Naruto, so that you know."

Meanwhile

"ACHOO!"

Sneezing hard was Naruto, now standing on his own feet with both hands tied up behind his back and staff pointed at his back by Nami, who was still steering the Going Merry towards her home island.

"Bless you," Nami said, taking some distance. "You're not getting sick on me, are you?"

"Me? Sick? Nah, I don't do that easy," Naruto replied, remembering to himself. "Perhaps someone's talking about me."

"Yeah… sure." She wasn't buying it and then saw something off the horizon. "Ah, we're here."

In front of them was the island, and from this distance, they could see the large building inside something of a fortress, with noticeable features on those structures that reminded them of something…

"That looks like Sabaody…"

"Excuse me?"

Naruto then took a closer look at the flag flying on top of the building….

"...Well, fuck."

"I'll put the Going Merry somewhere nearby; we got to get to Arlong Park on foot-"

*KICK!*

Nami lost grip on her bo staff, her hand kicked by Naruto's boot as he distanced himself from his hostage-taker.

"Ouch, what the—HEY!"

Naruto's next move was to jump overboard - with his hands still tied up behind his back. He took one big breath and landed in the cold ocean.

Going underwater, Naruto used all the strength he had and began to swim as far away from the ship as he could, creating as much distance as possible from the ship, the girl, and the people whose flag he had just spotted right on time.

'Not in the mood for a reunion now, sorry.'

As he swam, the cold water didn't bother him, nor did the fact he jumped in with a handicap and his clothes. Yet, this was preferable to going up against a whole pirate crew of people who he knew were going to be either conflict at best or downright wanting to kill him at worst. No way in hell was he going to find out now.

Deeper into the blue, he swam further down, staying submerged in case he'd be getting shot at.

…

She could only stare at the spot where her captive took a dive and slammed her fists onto the ship.

"Damn it!" Nami cursed down to the ocean as she wasn't able to spot the blond anywhere. "You pesky blond…"

Seeing she had no time now, Nami spotted the Going Merry was about to dock, so her retrieving mission was to be postponed for now.

"You're lucky I got to deliver this first, tough guy."

Moments later

On a surprisingly distant beach from the park, Naruto emerged from the sea with his hands still bound behind him, clothes soaked from bottom to top, and no allies in sight—only a landscape filled with known old enemies. Yet, for now, he was safe. Finding a rock, he approached it, grinding against it to cut the ropes.

"Got it!"

The ropes were cut and dropped to the sandy ground, allowing Naruto to rub the palms of his hands and survey his surroundings.

"Alright, I'm alone, with no food, no intel, on an island possibly occupied by a whole crew of old comrades with a captain who could drink my blood and a girl who can cut my parts off… I don't know which is worse."

Turning to the woods, Naruto began to assess his surroundings, opting to run into the woods rather than stay in the open. He took his shirt off and began to twist it to remove the water.

"This is going to be a long day."

Disappearing into the woods, the blond former dishwasher and former marine was set to explore the island, hoping to find something to eat and, hopefully, some help—but eat first.

Because if there was going to be a bad reunion, he was not going to do it on an empty stomach.

…

"Wow…"

Naruto had just stumbled upon the village of Gosa, or what was left of it. The place was destroyed, with no signs of life. The buildings were overturned, and the village was deserted in the most literal sense.

Walking through the town, the sight of it started to stir something inside the young man. The buildings seemed to have had the life sucked out of them.

He stopped in the middle of the road, spotting a framed picture on the ground that was cracked through the middle. The only part of the picture that was spared was that of a young boy who was happily embraced by his parents.

"Arlong…"

Naruto's hands gripped the picture, the anger that had built up inside him now setting him on edge, as much as he tried to control it.

"You absolute heartless bastard."

*Snap!*

That suspicious sound snapped Naruto back to awareness of his surroundings. He kept the picture with him and began to leave the village, disappearing into the forest, just as he did before.

Meanwhile, two Fishmen—a big one and a short one—happened to patrol around the former village.

…

With another half-hour passed, Naruto managed to dry his clothes more and ventured deeper into the village. Avoiding the roads, he navigated through the forests. As hunger started to set in, he tried to stay away from the local population, who were undoubtedly being patrolled by Fishmen.

*Growl!*

Yet hunger still gnawed at him, and it was getting into his head as the blond pushed himself through some bushes until he finally came across something:

A farming field - a tangerine farming field, to be exact.

Even though they were just fruit, it would be better to eat the produce than nothing, so he went over to grab one and snapped it from the grove. Peeling it off and taking a piece, he put it in his mouth to taste it.

"Hmm…not bad."

He peeled it further and Naruto began eating the other pieces of the tangerine he was holding as he walked down the field. He was surprised at how large this farm was.

The groves were filled with fresh tangerines ready to be harvested, enough for a large-scale operation. It was impressive to the eye of the blond who was walking by.

Then he happened to spot a farmhouse.

"Hmm, maybe someone's in there."

Walking up to it, Naruto reached the entrance and noticed the door was unlocked with nobody inside the home.

"Excuse me?"

Before Naruto could even properly enter, he turned his head around to see he was busted—caught trespassing by someone who owned this farm, with a feminine voice.

The person who caught him was a woman with light blue hair tied back with a red band. She wore blue trousers, sandals, and a yellow sleeveless top that revealed a tattoo reaching from her shoulder across her chest—a pattern of blue flowers across her fair skin.

"Nice tats."

The woman looked at him with disgust. "Excuse me?"

"I said nice tats, like your tattoos." Naruto clarified, trying not to sound like a pervert. "Sorry, name's Naruto, Uzumaki Naruto. Your name is?..."

The woman narrowed her eyes at the clear outsider who wore clothes that looked like they were drenched in seawater and had a tangerine in his hand. She carefully introduced herself.

"My name is Nojiko, and I grow tangerines."