Chapter 8: The Rabbit Island Incident
Former Pirate's Ship
Paradise: Grand Line
Naruto watched as Gunsmith Island retreated behind them. His mind was still largely occupied by the unsatisfactory performance of his clones during his fight with Luffy. While he was a highly skilled Rokushiki expert of four powers with superhuman prowess, none of his clones shared the same traits. It was the reason why they were easily defeated by Luffy.
Leaving Choji at the helm, Naruto summons twenty-one clones around him. Four he set in practicing Soru, four he had worked on Geppo, four he had trained in Kami-e, and the last four he had worked on Tekkai. The final one he left to meditate. As for himself, despite his protesting fingers, Naruto set to work practicing Shigan. At least the movements behind it, he wasn't going to try it on anything solid until his fingers were recovered.
After five hours of training, Naruto has all the clones dismissed before he dismisses the final one that was meditating. Once he was done, his mind was filled with one hundred hours of knowledge and experiences of Rokushiki skills. Somehow, his clones' training seems to enhance his Rokushiki skills. Naruto wishes he learned about this long ago before his fight with Luffy. Perhaps the fight in Gunsmith Island would have ended differently.
"It was because you are arrogant, greedy, and short-sighted," his father's words suddenly spoke to him. "Your head was on the fast lane, trying to bag as many pirates as possible as you can to boost up your rank and reputation within the marines, having no time for training. Also, you underestimate your opponent or overestimate yourself. Why else could you not defeat Luffy?"
Naruto turns around and finds himself face to face with his father's ghost. Or an illusion playing with his mind.
"You're not really here?" Naruto questioned his father who should have been dead. "Are you?"
"I am here," Minato told his son. "To rebuke of your errors and faults."
Naruto began grew annoyed, but says "Ok I admitted, I made a mistake with Luffy. But at least I learn not to repeat the same mistakes twice."
"Even if you learn not to repeat the same mistake twice, don't think Luffy is going down that easily?" Minato replies with a doubt.
"I know that dad." Naruto told him.
"No, you don't," Minato disagreed. "You still think this is a game, hoping a good fight to satisfy you but you bitten off more than you could chew."
"Plus, you ignored Shikamaru's warning, focus on one smaller task instead of the bigger task." Mianto continued. "Luffy was not your mission."
"He's a pirate dad," Naruto pointed out. "And he kidnaps Nojiko's sister."
"Which turns out to be false," Mianto alleged. "And even if Luffy is a pirate, you got no reason to go after him."
"How could you say that?" Naruto objected. "It's a marine's job to fight and arrest pirates that lawbreakers before the law."
"Naruto," Kiba's voice speaks from behind. "Who are you talking to?"
Surprised to hear Kiba behind him, Naruto quickly turns and says "Nothing...it's just...what do you want Kiba?"
"I heard you were talking to someone." Kiba persisted. "Are you ok?"
"I say I'm fine," Naruto raises his tone, trying to change the subject. "What is it that you want to see me about Kiba?"
"Well," Kiba begins. "I just wondering if I could borrow some of your clones."
"I'm kind of busy with my training," Naruto replied. He wasn't discovering any progress, and he wasn't eager to lend them out at the moment.
"You're not the only one who didn't like how that fight went," Kiba argued. "I owe that cook jerk for the beating he gave me. You don't expect me to practice without anyone to spar with, do you?"
"And getting yourself beat up is better practice?" Naruto teased his friend.
"You just send those clones to me," Kiba shot back. "I'm going to be tearing through them pretty quickly."
"I still haven't agreed to give you any," Naruto told him.
"I seem to recall the last time in a conversation a couple of days ago that you want everyone on this ship to be battle-ready and trained," Kiba reminded him. "Right?"
Naruto can't believe Kiba would use his own words back on. However, he knew Kiba was right. A strong crew needs to be as strong as its captain. Kiba was part of his crew, and he needed to make sure everyone in his command was ready and well-trained.
"I tell you what," Naruto gives in. "How about I trained you alongside Tenten and Nojiko. I was going to teach them some Rokushiki techniques and maybe I can teach you some. Deal?"
"Deal!" Kiba agreed.
It was when Nojiko called them for lunch. She'd prepared some sort of seasoned fish for them. It turned out to be quite good as usual. He was glad that her skill at cooking was one area she hadn't deceived them on. Tenten, however, had yet to touch her food.
"I promise you; it's not poisoned," Nojiko told her.
"Still, I think I'd rather just grab something myself," Tenten answered coldly, walking out of the ship's small dining area.
It seemed Tenten wasn't yet ready to let this whole thing go.
"You need to do something about this," Shikamaru tells Naruto. "The last thing this crew needs is distrust and strife dividing among them, which is going to be troublesome."
"I'll talk to Tenten," says Naruto. "Yet I'm surprised that you're not mad at Nojiko as well."
"Well," Shikamaru says. "Nojiko's sister is helping Vivi trying to save Arabasta. And Vivi trusted the Straw Hats to take her home. So, I'm willing to forgive Nojiko."
"Aren't you worried that the straw hats are deceiving Vivi?" Naruto asked on the subject.
"Why?" Shikamaru responded. "You don't trust them? They did save Baratie and Nojiko's village?"
"It's not that I don't trust them," said Naruto. "It's just that they are pirates, and we are marines, that's all."
"Nobody is perfect Naruto," says Shikamaru. "This is a Grey world we lived in, not divided in white and black. There are good and bad types of people, on both sides of the law, marines and pirates."
"You believe that?" Naruto asked him. He heard the word Grey from Granny Biwako before.
"Have you forgotten about Captain Nezumi?" Shikamaru asked. "He was a marine, but he was a scumbag who took bribes from Arlong a pirate to look the other way."
Naruto knew Shikamaru had a point. Nojiko and Nami claim Captain Nezumi accepted bribes from Arlong to keep the Marines from investigating the crimes of the Arlong Pirate. After the Straw Hat pirates defeated the Arlong Pirates. Nezumi attempted to take all the glory from the Straw Hat Pirates, as well as the money from Arlong's stores, only to get beat up for his mischief.
Naruto has not forgotten how Nezumi blackmailed him to go after the Straw Hats and lied to him with the promise of pardons for going AWOL. He has always thought that all Marine officers should be pure and honorable, committed to protecting civilians and bringing pirates to Justice. His lesson with Nezumi taught him otherwise.
He also recalls Captain Morgan. The man abuses his rank and authority in Shell Town, forcing the people to paid heavy taxes. He even killed one of his own men who opposed to his tyranny. If there one thing he hated the most is marine officers who use their uniform, rank, and authority to justify their corruption and brutality.
"Ok maybe you're right," Naruto replied. "Perhaps this is a Grey world we live in. But as marine officers, we got to do our job."
"Your dad was a marine officer, yet he knows better than just doing your job." Shikamaru told him.
"How would you know?" Naruto responded.
"My dad told me the reason why your father abandoned an important mission to capture Yonko member, Red-Haired Shanks," Shikamaru revealed. "He was not the by-the-book officer like you are, and he chose to go AWOL to save his hometown."
Naruto was speechless and startled when Shikamaru said that. He did not expect anyone outside Leaf Island to under his father's true reasons for going off the mission.
"I'm not a by-the-book officer," Naruto told Shikamaru. "I am capable of making my own decisions, doing the right and necessary things, and avoiding the wrong ones."
"I know that" says Shikamaru. "You're just like Vivi."
"What do you mean by that?" Naruto asked.
"Vivi is not acting like other princesses across the world," Shikamaru explained. "While naive and reckless, she is the type of person who wants to save everyone, which I regard it very troublesome. I guess she has a good reason why she trusts Luffy completely with her life and the future of her homeland."
Hearing that, Naruto recalls his first encounter with Luffy. A year younger than him, Luffy acts childish and immature and acts before he thinks. But he senses that Luffy always walk the right path as he does. Yet he wished Luffy was no pirate as Naruto was duty-bond to bring pirates to Justice. Yet why does he feel it wouldn't be right to arrest Luffy. His gut feelings told him this, despite the system demanding that he Luffy be brought to Justice. Just what was going on?
0o0o0
Starting the evening, Naruto begins the opportunity to begin training Tenten, Nojiko, Kiba, and even Akamaru. The first thing he did was push them into a serious warm-up before he started with the real thing.
The Soru allows the users to move at extremely high speeds to avoid attacks, as well as to attack at higher speeds and with greater power. It was revealed that the principle of this move was to kick off the ground at least ten times in the blink of an eye. Yet trying to master Soru in a day was not as easy as Naruto had hoped.
Kiba, Tenten and Nojiko were each given a training handbook of Rokushiki and were making slow progress with Soru. However, with each error they made, they learn to better themselves by not repeating it, moving onward and onward. Naruto also has his clones to spar with them, to hone their combat skills.
Yet throughout the sparring, Naruto would notice Tenten shooting Nojiko with suspicious looks and maintain a wary distance around her. Shikamaru was right. The last thing he needs is shipmates distrusting one another. It's time to end this.
"Ok, that's enough for a while," says Naruto. "Let's call it off for the night. Will start this again in the morning. Tenten...Can you stay for a moment? I want to talk to you."
"What is it you want to speak of?" Tenten asked after Nojiko, Kiba, and even Akamaru were gone.
"It seems you're somewhat uncomfortable around Nojiko now, why is that?" he asked.
Tenten paused briefly, most likely considering her words carefully.
"I don't trust her," she admitted. "I can understand not wanting to strand her on an island, but we should find a ship to take her home as soon as possible."
"I promised her she could stay as long as she wanted," Naruto reminded Tenten.
"I know," she responded, "I understand why you hired her on the ship to serve as we already have a marine cook like Chōji."
"Chōji says the ok of working alongside of Nojiko in the kitchen," Naruto replied."
"But she's a pirate sympathizer," Tenten pointed out firmly. "We have to constantly watch our own backs as long as we have her on board. And I think teaching her Rokushiki is a bad idea. She could use those skills on us, with our backs turned."
"I see no reason to believe she'd give us trouble with any crew other than the Straw Hat Pirates," Naruto countered, "And it's not even our mission to hunt them down anymore. The Grand Line is a big place. We may never even see them again."
"But there's still no telling what she might do if we did run into them," she argued. "She might even decide it's safest to just get rid of us now. One fewer group of marines hunting her sister."
"I don't think Nojiko is the type of person to do," Naruto insisted. "Back on Gunsmith Island, she convinces everyone to stop fighting. It seems she does not want us to get more hurt than the Straw Hats."
"I don't know," Tenten said in frustration. "Maybe she just didn't want to risk any witnesses. She might be bolder out at sea."
"Look," Naruto said firmly, "it's prudent not to trust anything she says about the Straw Hat Pirates. But I don't want you following her around the ship or refusing to eat food she's prepared?"
"Understood," she confirmed.
"Good," Naruto replied. "Then I'm going to turn in for the night."
Deciding the situation was taken care of, Naruto turned and began walking for the stairs, intent to follow through on his plan for sleep.
"You're pretty good at that," Tenten said from behind him.
"Excuse me?" Naruto asked, turning around to face her again.
"Dealing with your subordinates I mean," she clarified. "There's just some quality about you that makes people want to follow your orders."
"Is that so?" Naruto asked, genuinely pleased to hear her say so.
"Captain Smoker was the same way," Tenten added. "It's like you're both natural leaders and something."
"I certainly hope that's the case," Naruto said cheerfully. "I plan to go much further than a lieutenant."
"I have a feeling you'll do that," Tenten replied.
0o0o0
Naruto climbed above deck to greet the morning light. He was glad to see he was still a fast healer, as there was hardly a twinge from his fingers after a night of rest. Nojiko had risen before him today, so he called out a greeting to her.
"Good, you're awake," she told him. "I've been wanting a chance to talk to you alone."
"You could have spoken to one of my clones," he told her, pointing to the figures that had been running the ship and getting a little training overnight.
"I know," she replied. "But it just seems a little odd talking about something serious with one of them. I'd rather talk to the real you."
She then paused for a moment as she examined him.
"You are the real you, right?" Nojiko queried.
"Last I checked," he answered with a smirk.
"Well, basically I understand you don't want me to become a pirate," she began, "So it makes sense you offered to let me stay. What I don't get is, why aren't acting more like Tenten?"
"You noticed that, huh?" Naruto replied.
"It was kind of hard to miss," she confirmed. "Given what I did, you should be angry too. So why aren't you?"
"I don't think it's so odd," Naruto answered. "Kiba doesn't seem at all mad at you either."
"It's pretty easy to guess what Kiba's motivations are," Nojiko responded with a grimace.
"But you think mine are different?" he queried.
"Maybe they're not," Nojiko answered. "You are male as well, after all. But I get the feeling there's more to it with you. And either way, I want to hear the reason from your mouth."
Naruto hadn't really had any desire to have a deep discussion about his feelings. But she seemed determined to get her answer, and he didn't see any real reason to brush her off.
"Did you know my father was an admiral?" he asked.
"No," she answered. "Is he the reason you joined the Marines?"
"That's right," Naruto replied. "But back to the point, there was one time my father disobeyed a direct order. And it was a pretty important order too."
"Was he punished for it?" Nojiko asked, obviously intrigued by the tale.
"Well, they demoted him," he admitted. "But he was already dead at the time. Anyway, the important thing is why he disobeyed the order and gave his life. It was to protect his village. To protect me."
"So, you see," Naruto continued, "it's true you deceived me and I should be upset with you for that. But you did it for the sake of your sister. So how could I blame you for that and still defend what my father did?"
"I see," she said solemnly. "Well, I better get started on breakfast. I don't want to listen to Kiba's complaints if there's nothing to eat when he wakes up."
With that Nojiko turned and hurried off the galley. That was a little more awkward than he'd hoped for. Maybe he should have just made some excuse up rather than answering. But he supposed it was still better than her thinking him no better than Kiba.
0o0o0
Rabbit Island
Paradise: Grand Line
Rabbit Island looked to be much smaller than Gunsmith Island. There was a single dock made to hold no more than three ships at once. In addition, the small town it serviced looked quite dilapidated. Probably just the sort of place criminals would like to hide out. One ship was already docked at the island, a small sailboat of the type designed to be run by a single person.
Naruto's clones were more than capable of docking the ship themselves. So, Naruto and his crew were all on deck waiting to depart as the ship pulled in. That was when they saw a group of people walking in their direction. It appeared to be one man leading a dozen bound captives.
"Do you think that's our kidnapper?" Kiba asked from beside him.
Taking a quick peak through the telescope Naruto got a better look at the group. It was a tall brown-haired man that looked to be about the same age as Naruto. It was really hard to tell with dark sunglasses and the high-collared coat that obscured his face almost up to the nose. But whoever he was, he was leading the captives, a dozen of whom were all large, rough, men that looks to be thugs.
"If he is," Naruto stated, "He seems to be kidnapping the ugliest people he can find."
"Whatever he's doing, we should probably investigate," Tenten suggested.
Naruto agreed, and the entire crew disembarked, approaching the man who was still headed in their direction. The tall brown-haired man noticed them and stopped for a moment, to see what they wanted.
"May I help you?" the tall brown-haired man asked them.
"May I ask who those bonded captives you're leading," Naruto asked the man.
"They're kidnappers," the tall brown-haired man told. "They had spent months sailing within this region of the Grand Line kidnapping people."
"Hold on, Tenten speaks up. "Are you saying these are the kidnappers?"
"They are," says the tall brown-haired man. "I plan on turning them over to the Marines."
"Then you're in luck," says Naruto. "For we are the Marines. We had been sent here to investigate the kidnapping."
"Is that so? says the tall brown-haired man. "Well, you're all in luck as well. While I had, managed to capture a dozen of them, a few had already made their escape, by stealing my ship. However, I doubt they will ever get far."
"What do you mean by that?" Kiba questioned.
"I have a way of tracking them down," he told them. "But I'm giving them some breathing room because they are leading me to their hideout here on the island. Yet I believe there is more to this than we have discovered. Following them may lead us to answers. That is if you're willing to assist me in pursuing them."
"Our mission is to hunt these kidnappers down," Naruto replied. "If you can lead us to them, then I'm all for it."
"Good," a tall brown-haired man replied simply. "Are you ready to depart?"
"Almost," Naruto answered. "But first I think introductions are in order. I'm Naruto Namikaze, the captain of our ship. This is Tenten, Nojiko, Kiba, Akamaru, Chōji Akimichi, and Shikamaru Nara."
"My name is Shino Aburame," the tall brown-haired man also introduced himself.
"Shino Aburame?" Shikamaru repeated sounds surprise. "You're Shino Aburame, the Hive King?"
"I take you had heard of me?" Shino says to Shikamaru.
"You know him Shikamaru?" Naruto asked.
"Yeah," says Shikamaru. "He was a former marine officer who became a bounty hunter, once served under Marine Rear Admiral Kurenai Yūhi."
"You're a former marine officer?" Naruto asked Shino.
"I was, but now I'm a bounty hunter," Shino told them. "Yet my sense of Justice remains unchanged despite my change of profession. I had good reasons to begin here."
"Well bounty hunter or marine, it's ok unless you're good with your job," says Naruto. "I suggested we made our way to our destination right now."
Shino nodded briefly to each of them as they were introduced, then began heading to the ship without further comment. He certainly wasn't the most warm and friendly of people. Following him, Naruto reboarded the ship. Once on board, Shino stopped in his tracks, having caught sight of Naruto's clones.
"Interesting," he said calmly before moving out of the way to let Naruto and his crew finish boarding.
Naruto was a bit disappointed by the subdued reaction to his power. He always got a bit of a kick out of the surprise people usually expressed. Shino, however, simply moved the starboard side of the ship and pointed out a direction.
"They're that way," he told them.
"You're sure?" Naruto asked.
"Very sure," Shino answered.
Naruto couldn't see anything that would indicate where he was getting that information from. A power of his perhaps?
"Are you a devil fruit user?" Nojiko asked him, apparently coming to a similar conclusion.
"I am," he answered but didn't seem inclined to elaborate.
"Set course in that direction," Naruto ordered when it was clear he wasn't going to get anything further.
As they sailed, Shino proved to be frustratingly uncommunicative. He was open enough about what he knew regarding these kidnappers, which was very little. But he refused to answer any questions that he felt didn't have anything to do with their current task.
Naruto quickly ran out of patience with the bounty hunter and went off to do a little light training. Nothing that would tire him out before they arrived. But he didn't have long to train as the kidnappers hadn't gone far. The place they'd fled to wasn't so much an island as a chunk of rock jutting out of the water like a giant stalagmite.
It didn't look more than 300 yards at its widest. There wasn't even a dock, just two small ships not much larger than their ship's rowboat tied to the shore. There appeared to be an entrance to a cave in the face of the rock. He had to assume that's where their targets were hiding.
"We've likely already been spotted," Naruto told them. "I don't want us stuck on the rowboat if they start shooting at us, so I'm taking the ship in close. Hopefully, we won't hit any rocks."
But the steep slope of the rock face must have continued beyond the water's edge, as they were able to anchor less than ten feet from the shore without hitting anything. And during that time, no one had yet come out of the cave.
Moving to the bow of the ship, Naruto easily leaped across the water to land on the shore. Kiba and Akamaru followed suit, and Naruto was pleased to see even Shino had no trouble with the jump. Tenten, Chōji, and Shikamaru follow behind. Nojiko tried to leap after them, but she caught her foot on the railing when jumping over leading her to take an unintended dive into the water.
"I'm okay," she told them after she'd surfaced.
"I'm going to polish that wonderful piece of railing every day from now on," Kiba whispered to him, eying the dripping Nojiko appreciatively.
"Alright then, let's move in, but be careful," Naruto ordered.
Entering the cave, they paused a moment to adjust to the dimmer light. They could see some illumination coming from further ahead, so at least they wouldn't have to deal with total darkness. Moving through the passage, it soon widened into a larger cavern.
"That's far enough," the man told them. "I have a feeling those idiots were going to leave a trail of breadcrumbs for a blind man to follow."
Something about the first man in the glasses looked very familiar, and he searched through his memories trying to place him. With a flash, he had what he wanted.
"You're Kabuto," Naruto declared. "Kabuto of the Hydra Pirates, Orochimaru's first officer."
"Orochimaru?" Chōji repeated sounding shocked. "You mean...the Hydra King...the Butcher of Devil Fruit Users?"
"I'm flattered you all recognize me," Kabuto replied. "But I'm afraid I can't let you all leave here alive. If your bosses of Marineford find out that Orochimaru has come out of hiding, they're going send an Admiral after him."
"Hydra King?" Nojiko repeated, looking confused.
"Many years ago, Orochimaru was an infamous and powerful pirate that hailed from the time Gold Roger, the King of Pirates was alive," Tenten explained. "Because of his fame and abilities, he earns a membership of the Shichibukai by the World government."
"But he was suddenly stripped of his membership of the Shichibukai," Shikamaru added. "It was rumored that he was caught red-handed for doing unspeakable crimes that the world government attempted to cover up. A crime in which he kidnapped, experimented, and tortured countless people, mostly devil fruit users that earned him the nickname "Butcher of Devil Fruit Users".
Naruto looked around the cave they were in. He wanted to make sure no surprises were hiding in dark corners left by the few oil lamps scattered around. Doing so brought his attention to some very unpleasant features.
There was a corpse tied to a table with his chest sliced open. It looked like someone had been examining the organs inside. There was a second corpse floating face down in a tank of water. A third was chained to a wall with no visible markings but looking no more alive than the other two. His entire crew, saved for Shino who shows no emotion, seemed to be unnerved by the sight.
"I'd ordered them to bring more test subjects," Kabuto informed him. "When they came back alone, the only reasonable conclusion was that they were volunteering their own bodies."
"You did this to your own men?" Tenten cried out in a fury.
"This is the sickest, most depraved thing I've ever seen," Kiba added. "You're a monster."
"As much as I'd love to debate ethics with you, I am quite busy," Kabuto replied. PX-12, destroyed them."
It was when Naruto suddenly sensed that there was someone or something behind him. Turning around, he was shocked to realize his instincts were right.
Behind them was an enormous man, being 689 cm tall. His overall appearance resembles that of a bear. His eyes are strangely covered by either a pair of glasses or clear-mirrored lenses. His hat features a pair of rounded ears, and, along with the dark blue fabric of his pants, is covered in brown spots. His jacket contains a large white design reminiscent of a target crosshair or a coda sign. There are also several white paw prints lining the bottom hem of his coat. He also has a long, protruding chin. He bears the tattoo "PX-12" on the left side of the base of his throat.
Everyone got out of the way before the enormous man tried to attack them from behind. Once they dodged his attack, Tenten shouted "Bartholomew Kuma?"
"What is the Tyrant doing here?" Kiba cried out in horror.
"Who is that guy?" Nojiko shouted.
"He's also a Shichibukai member who is known throughout the world as Bartholomew Kuma the Tyrant," Chōji told her. "According to the stories I heard, Kuma was feared as a violent, tyrannical pirate, who was said to be "brutal beyond measure."
"I'm afraid you're all wrong," Kabuto sneer with a smile. "This is not the real Bartholomew Kuma. This is a Pacifista."
"Pacifista?" Naruto repeated.
"A human weapon of mass destruction," Kabuto told them. "A cyborg that is built by advanced technologies. While he may not be the legendary Tyrant, he's a force to be reckoned with, capable of single-handedly wiping out a pirate worth a bounty of over one hundred million berries. The perfect weapon to kill you all...as I make my getaway."
Kabuto dashes towards one of the caves that exist, leaving the fight. Seeing Kabuto escaping, Naruto attempts to follow him, but the Pacifista jumps in his way, blocking his path. He was about to attack Naruto when without warning, a large fist smashed him into the wall of the cave. Following where the large fist came from, Naruto discovered it belonged to Chōji.
"Good shot Chōji," Shikamaru praises his friend before turning to Naruto and says, "Naruto go after Kabuto, we'll deal with this guy."
Naruto really did not want to leave his crew behind to fight the Pacifista. However, he can't afford to let Kabuto get away and he needs to trust his crew can handle a task when he's not around.
"Alright then," Naruto says. "Good luck and stay alive."
0o0o0
After Naruto left to go after Kabuto, Shikamaru turned to Nojiko and said "Nojiko, I want you to stay back in safe distance. You're inexperienced in combat right now makes you a sitting duck."
"I think I can help," Nojiko told him. "Naruto taught me and Tenten the basics of Soru."
"I'm surprised the two of you learn so quickly with Rokushiki," said Shikamaru. "But Tenten had combat training and you need a lot more than just begin fast."
As much as she didn't want to hear it, Nojiko knew that Shikamaru had a point. Between Gunsmith Island and Rabbit Island, Naruto has time to begin his lessons of teaching Rokushiki with her and Tenten. From what she learns Soru allows the users to move at extremely high speeds to avoid attacks, as well as to attack at higher speeds and with greater power. The principle of this move was to kick off the ground at least ten times in the blink of an eye.
"Everyone looks out!" Kiba shouted. "That Pacifista guy is doing something."
Hearing Kiba's warning, everyone turns their heads in time to see the Pacifista open his mouth and a great amount of bright light occurs. Sensing danger, everyone jumps out of the way before the Pacifista fire a beam of light, which inflicted a massive explosion.
"That attack is like Admiral Borsalino's," Tenten cried out. "Does he have the power of the Pika Pika no Mi?"
"No way," Kiba disagreed. "There is no such thing are two devil fruits with the same powers."
Pacifista shot more light beams at them, forcing them to dodge their attacks. Nojiko's Soru has help her escape the Pacifista's attacks. She lacked complete training, their Soru is actually more of a swift run instead of the vanishing speed seen from Naruto.
"Tell him that Kiba," said Chōji. "He really can't shoot light lasers from his mouth and hands!"
"It's obvious that there is some advanced technology that is responsible for this," Shikamaru confirmed. "This guy must be built with weapon to duplicate the destructive blasts of Admiral Borsalino's Pika Pika no Mi."
"So, the aim is to use hit and run tactics while avoiding his attacks," Kiba says. "Guess this is the perfect chance to test the new moves I created."
"Kiba, no!" Shikamaru shouted.
"Soru's Four Legs!"
Soru's Four Legs was a Soru technique of Kiba created. Kiba proved to be a quick learner with the six powers of Rokushiki, and he decided to create some creative. Soru's Four Legs allows him to move in the same way as an animal. His speed and accuracy are significantly enhanced, which in turn makes his attacks more damaging.
Hit-and-run tactics are the most effective form of attack while using this technique, as this ensures the user is constantly moving, thus making it difficult for opponents to follow their movements. Kiba proves to be much faster and agile than a Soru user on two legs. His Four Legs made it easier to evade the Pacifista's beam attacks. Once he gotten in close to the Pacifista, Kiba makes ready for another new technique after learning Shigan.
"Shigan's Wolf Fang Fist!"
Kiba's hand and finger movements may be intended to mimic the biting of a wolf. Yet the moment his attack hits the Pacifista head-on, he gets thrown back brutally.
"Damn, that hurts!" Kiba complains. "What's this guy made of?"
The Pacifista was about to attack Kiba, when Chōji stopped him.
" Big Fist!"
Chōji's fist grew large before it smashed the Pacifista in the wall of the cave. While the attack did little to him, it stopped hifromin attacking Kiba.
"That's what you get for acting before using your head," Shikamaru rebuked Kiba. "We need to work together as team if we wanted to defeat this guy."
"How were you able to make your hand so big?" Nojiko asked Choji with a stun look on her face.
"It's because I eaten the Saizu Saizu no Mi," Choji explained to Nojiko.
" Saizu Saizu no Mi?" Nojiko repeated.
Human Bullet Tank
Choji's body expanses like a ball balloon. Then he rolls towards the Pacifista with incredible speed and force.
"Why is body changing like that?" Tenten asked, in awe and surprised by Choji's powers.
"Choji's devil fruit allows him to alter the size of his body," Shikamaru explained. " The main strength of this fruit is that it allows Choji to alter the size of himself or mass or others, lest it be expansion or reduction; the user can direct the effects of this fruit's power towards virtually whatever they desire, allowing them to affect, for example, a landmass in such a way that it becomes the size of a mountain, the size of an Island, or the size of a small boulder."
Chōji's attack seems to force Pacifista into wall of the save. However, from the looks of it, the Pacifista seems unaffected by it.
"My attacks do little against this guy," says Chōji as he stares at the Pacifista. "Just what the hell is he made of?"
"Let's see if I can restrain him with my powers," Shikamaru says before he begins his turn.
"Shadow Restraint!"
Shikamaru's shadow link to the Pacifista's, stopping him in his tracks. It was when Shikamaru's reaction occurred when he felt the Pacifista's struggling against his powers. He tries to do his best effort to restrain the Pacifista. But after a few seconds, the Pacifista finally broke free.
"This guy is strong," Shikamaru says with surprise. "I never imagine anyone breaking free from my powers. Especially one that looks like a Shichibukai."
"That means this fighting is not going to be easier than we think it would be," says Tenten, her guns ready in her hands.
"Let me try," Shino says, stepping forward.
"Insect Swarm!"
Without warning, a vast number of bugs appeared out of Shino's body and went straight towards the Pacifista. The Pacifista tried to brush them off, but there were too many to get rid of. In an instant, the Pacifista was completely covered up in all of Shino's bugs.
"Don't tell me they're bugs?" Nojiko asked, looking like she was going to be sick.
"Yes," Shino replied. "This is the power of the Konchu Konchu no mi. It's a devil fruit that allows me to create and control various insects inside my body, as well as manipulate the denizens of the hives I create."
"Hold on," Nojiko repeated, wanting to be sure she heard right. "Your whole body is made up of bugs?"
"That's right," Shino replied.
Hearing that, Nojiko looked like she was about to vomit on the spot.
It was without warning, that all the bugs that covered the Pacifista were blasted aside. Seeing this, Chōji says "Hey what happened?
"That's impossible," Shino reacted, sounding shocked.
"Shino what happened?" Tenten asked the bounty hunter.
"My bugs," Shino explained. "I try to use them to drain the energy out of this Pacifista...but this Pacifista proved to be extremely resilient."
It was without warning that the Pacifista turned its gaze towards Tenten, and opened its mouth to fire a light beam at her. However, Nojiko saw what he was about to do and used Soru to rush toward Tenten, saving her from the Pacifista's blast. Pacifista's blast causes a huge explosion, causing Tenten and Nojiko to cover their faces and head.
"Are you ok Tenten?" Nojiko asked once they recovered and got to their feet.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Tenten replied. "Thanks for saving me back there Nojiko."
The two turn their attention back to the fight but discover that a series of boulders has separated them from their friends.
"Great," Tenten expressed her feelings in a pessimistic tone. "These boulders are in our way. We need to find another way to get to Kiba, Akamaru, Shino, Chōji, and Shikamaru."
"Hey," Nojiko speaks up, pointing to the opposite direction. "There is a tunnel that leads this way. Maybe it will lead us around back to the others."
"Then let's go check," says Tenten. "We need to get to the others fast before that Pacifista wipes them out."
Together, the two of them begin to make their way into the tunnel. Although it was dark to see, they were able to find the way to another large room. They need to notice the room consisted of various supplies and equipment.
"What is this place?" Nojiko asked, looking around the room.
"I think...this is a laboratory," says Tenten. "This must be where Kabuto used his kidnapped victims for his twisted experiments."
Nojiko recalls the moment when they discovered the dead bodies in the cave. She was still freaking out of what she saw, and this laboratory made it worse. The sooner they find their way back...
"No way in hell!" Tenten cried out. "I don't believe it."
Caught off guard by Tenten's outburst, Nojiko reacted "What's wrong?"
She noticed that Tenten was staring at something on top of the table. Looking closer, she noticed two fruits. Yet they was the strangest fruits she ever saw. One looked like an orange, yet the color was blue with red spots. The other look like a purple apple with red strips.
"Are those devil fruit?" Nojiko asked out of curiosity.
"Yeah," Tenten says, her eyes still glued to one of the fruits, the strange orange-like devil fruit. "The one I never thought I would meet one day. The Dan Dan no Mi, a Paramecia class Devil Fruit that allows the user to turn any objects into bullets. And the fruit of Admiral Tequila Yuen."
"Who's that?" Nojiko asked.
"He was a legendary sniper and marksman, who was a Marine Admiral in the time of Gol D. Roger was alive," Tenten told her. "With a gun in both hands, he was unmatched, earning the title "God of Snipers." Marines and Pirates alike feared and respected him because he never misses, and with the power of the Dan Dan no Mi he was a force to be reckoned with."
"Are you going to eat it?" Nojiko asked her. "From what I recall anyone who eaten a devil fruit will never swim again."
"Why not?" Tenten replied as she took a bite of the fruit. "While it's great that Naruto is teaching us Rokushiki techniques, a devil fruit power might boost our chances of survival in the Grand Line and against future enemies...oh man!"
Tenten fell upon her knees, looking almost like she wanted to vomit. She groans. "I heard that devil fruits taste a billion times worse than dung, but this is much, much, much, worse."
While Tenten was trying to recover from the bad taste of the devil fruit, Nojiko turned her attention towards the other Devil Fruit.
Nojiko was aware that eating a Devil fruit will costs your ability to swim. Who would wanted to lose their ability to swim for the rest of your life?
However, she also recalls how Luffy saved her village by kicking Arlong's ass. And Naruto the others didn't seem to mind losing their ability to swim.
Plus, she recalls how Shikamaru called her dead weight when they first met, thinking she would be a burden on the ship. She almost close of clobbering him for calling.
Making up her mind, Nojiko grabbed the fruit and began to eat it. The fruit is nasty as Tenten has says. So nasty, she almost throw up. She wondered what kind of power she attains. If it's the wrong one, it will be really suck having it for the rest of your life.
While she was recovering from after taste of the devil fruit, it was when she noticed a huge container nearby. Moving closer to get a better look, she discovered that there was a human being inside.
"Hey Tenten," Nojiko called out. "I think I found a kidnapped victim here."
"Really?" Tenten says, after recovering from the devil fruit she eaten. "That's good news. Let's free him and see who it is."
Nojiko checked the container to see if a switch can open it. She found it and the moment she pressed it, the container. Once the container had been open, the person inside sees, to wake up and got out. Confused and weak, he asked "W-Where am I?"
He was a tall man with a small red nose and has blonde hair in a style that resembles a powdered wig. He dressed like a gentleman. He has the number 8 at the tips of his collar. The curls in his hair also look similar to the number 8.
"You're safe now sir," Tenten says to him. "Don't you worry, we're marines from G-5 Base."
"Marines?" the man repeated, still confused. "I... I don't understand."
"We had been sent by G-5 Base to investigate the mysterious kidnappings," Tenten told him. "All evidence told us..."
"Kidnappings?" the wig man cuts her off in a tone that confirmed that he remembered who he is. "Wait! Now I remember! I was kidnapped by Kabuto!"
"You know Kabuto?" Nojiko asked the wig-man.
"Yes," the wig man replied. "After my ship was blown up in the harbor of Whisky Peak, I managed to survive and try to find a course to Arabasta. But Kabuto ambushes me before I begin my voyage."
Both Tenten and Nojiko looked at each other, before facing Igaram and asked, "Did you just says Arabasta?"
"That right," says the wig man. "My name is..."Mi~mi~mi~"... My name is Igaram, Captain of the Royal Guard of Arabasta. And I need to get to my homeland before it's too late."
0o0o0
"TENTEN! NOJIKO!"Chōji cried out. The Pacifista's blast causes a huge explosion, causing a series of boulders that separate Tenten and Nojiko from the others.
Seeing this, Kiba shouted "We got go help them. Fast!"
"Not as long this Pacifists is breathing down on our necks," says Shikamaru as he dodges a beam blast from the Pacifista. "We got to defeat this guy before we can save Nojiko and Tenten."
Akamaru barked something to Kiba, and he reply, "Yeah that's a good idea!."
"Good idea what?" Chōji asked.
"Akamaru wants us to use the same move on this guy that we did with that Pearl creep back in the East Blue," Kiba told him. "Plus, I got another new technique I want try!"
"First we need to distract him," says Shino. "To keep him off balance and confused."
"Insect Jamming!"
Shino has a large number of insects spread out over a wide area around them. The Pacifista looks to be in a confused state, seem to be lost, as if it's unable to figure out what is going on, where it is, and where its enemies are.
"Hey, what's wrong with him?" Chōji asked as he stared at the Pacifista before he asked, "What did you do to him?"
"Insect Jamming was designed to interrupted technological equipment like the Den Den Mushi," Shino explained. "Since this Pacifista is a cyborg, made of machine, I figure he would be easy picking for my technique."
"Then we better not waste any time," Kiba says before turning to Akamaru. "Akamaru...get ready!"
Hearing Kiba's command, Akamaru began using his devil powers and charged at the Pacifista. The Pacifista saw Akamaru coming and was about to counterattack. However, Akamaru dodges the cyborg's attack, pass through his shoulder, appearing from behind him.
As the Pacifista turn around to face Akamaru, it was when Kiba saw his moment and begin his attack.
"Passing Fang!"
Passing Fang was a combined technique of Soru and Tekkai, that allows Kiba to move at a target at high speeds and deliver a body slam. This attack matches Akamaru's devil fruit powers.
Pacifista noticed Kiba was attacking and turned around to meet him. However, by turn his back on Akamaru, he allowss to dog to used his devil fruit powers. The combined attacks of both Kiba and Akamaru drilled into the Pacifista's on both sides.
It was a ruthless and effective attack, and everybody thought that the two would succeed in defeating the Pacifista. Then without warning, the Pacifista counterattack and sends both Kiba and Akamaru's attacks back at each other, sending them to the walls of the caves.
"He still too strong!" Chōji reacted with disbelief.
"No," Shikamaru disagreed., pointing out. "Look!"
While he manages to endure Kiba and Akamaru's attack, the Pacifista seems to suffered some damage after all. They could see beneath the Pacifista's skin was a secondary metal skin, consisting of various electrical cables and wires.
"He's tough bastard," Shikamaru made a remark. "But we're persisted. We just need to keep hammer him until he drops."
"Shadow Restraint!"
Shikamaru's shadow links to the Pacifista's, stopping him in his tracks. The Pacifista tries to break free, but this time, Shikamaru's shadows were not strong enough to restraint in place.
"All right Chōji," Shikamaru shouted to his friend. "Now is your chance!"
"Ok Shikamaru," Chōji says before he begins his attack as well. Using his devil fruti powers, Chōji's both of arms begin grow into giant hands. Once he did, Chōji focused his attention towards the Pacifista, ready for to begin his attack.
" Double Big Fists!"
Powering up his fists, Chōji charged at the Pacifista, and unleashed a series of power fists at the Pacifista. Chōji force the Pacifista back, crashing into the wall of the cave. Pieces of the Pacifista were flying across the air, having suffered repeated blows from Chōji. The Pacifista was finally suffering a heavy amount of damage. Then without warning, the Pacifista blocks Chōji's great punch and counterattack with a fist. Chōji was sent flying across the cave before he was caught by Kiba.
"This guy is tough," Kiba says, looking annoyed. "It's going to take a lot of effort to take him down."
"Maybe," said Shino. "But from the looks of the Pacifista's state, he already suffered too much damage. We just need a powerful attack to finish him off."
It was without warning that a huge explosion was heard. Turning, the boys see the girls, Tenten and Nojiko, had arrived.
"Tenten and Nojiko," Chōji gasped with joy. "You two are ok!"
"Yeah, we're ok Chōji," Tenten. "And we glad to see you all right.
"It's nice to see you too Igaram says, as he also revealed himself. "
"IGARAM! YOU'RE ALIVE!" Chōji cried out in complete joy, as he rushed forward and gave him a bear hug. "VIVI TOLD US YOU WERE DEAD!"
"I won't live much long if you keep hugging me like that," Igaram reply in a choked tone.
"Sorry about that," Chōji replied, releasing Igaram. "But I'm just happy to see you're alive."
Seeing the Pacifista's state, Tenten says "It seems like you guys done real number on that thing."
"Yeah," says Kiba. "Me and Chōji used our best attacks, and it still won't stay down."
"No, we just damaged it some more," Shino. "We just need a more powerful attack to finish him off!""Then how about me," Tenten suggested. "I'm master marksman and eater of the Dan Dan no Mi."
"Since when did you has devil fruit power?" Kiba questioned her.
"Since a few minutes ago," Tenten told them. "We found two devil fruits in the cave, and I think that this might help out against the Pacifista."
"In that case, I hope your shot will count," says Shikamaru.
Tenten took out something from a pocket and looked like an explosive device, a grenade. It was when the grenade began to take shape in her hand, reformed into a large number of bullets.
"Did you just turn that grenade into bullets?" Chōji asked Tenten.
"Yeah, I did," says Tenten before she explained. "Dan Dan no Mi is a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit which allows me to control and create Bullets. I can create a variety of bullets by utilizing source materials for special bullets. For example, these bullets carry the effects of the grenade.
Putting her special bullets into her gun, Tenten pointed her weapon at Pacifista's chest, and she fired.
"Special Bullet: Grenade Shot!"
Tenten fired her special bullet at Pacifista's damaged chest. The impact of the bullet caused a huge explosion on Pacifista's chest. The explosion causes a huge chain reaction within the Pacifista's damaged chest, creating an even bigger explosion. The Pacifista fell to the ground, dead.
"Wow Tenten, that was one hell of a shot," Kiba praised her abilities. "Not to mention one hell of devil fruit power you had."
"Thanks, Kiba," Tenten replied. "Now let's go help Naruto!"
0o0o0
As Naruto follows Kabuto through the tunnels of the cave, he knew that the first officer of the Hydra King was unlikely to be a pushover. He wouldn't be much of a captain if he didn't confront this threat himself. Still, as he'd pointed out, this was probably a dangerous man he is going after. Some caution was called for.
After navigating the tunnels of the cave, Naruto finally found his man. Kabuto was standing there, waiting. And from the looks of it, it almost as if Kabuto was waiting for him.
"You know chasing me by yourself is a foolish thing," Kabuto rebuked Naruto. "Not to mention the very selfish thing to abandon your friends."
"I didn't abandon my friends." Naruto shot back. "I know that they can handle that Pacifista back there, just as I know I can handle you."
"I feel insulted," Kabuto alleged. "Did you think I'm one of those weak pirates you rough up in the East Blue Sea?"
Naruto was stunned when Kabuto said that and reply "What the hell did you just say?"
"Come now, you think I'm an amateur?" Kabuto scorn Naruto. "You think I don't have resources and connections to inform me of every person or details that been going on around in the Grand Line? Why else do you think I became Orochimaru's first mate? You underestimated my power and overestimated your power. And now you're going suffer for it."
Naruto decided not to waste anymore words with Kabuto. It was time to go into action. In an instant, he summons fifty clones into the room. All his clones circle around Kabuto. Yet he hung back, deciding to use them to gauge Kabuto's abilities.
"That's a fascinating power," Kabuto told him. "Tell me, do they function like normal bodies? I would love to have a self-replicating test subject. It would be a huge boon for my research."
But Naruto wasn't here for conversation. He had all his clones attack simultaneously. For his part, Kabuto pulled out a dagger and attempted to defend himself. As the battle began Naruto realized that Kabuto really was very good. He had yet to be overwhelmed even by sixty of Naruto's clones.
Perhaps Kabuto was not as dangerous as he thought. And he was nothing Naruto couldn't handle. He was so busy defending himself he hardly got a chance to attack and had yet to even take out a clone. Meanwhile, Kabuto had even taken a few glancing blows. Deciding he'd seen enough, Naruto moved in himself to finish this.
As he neared his target, a dangerous glint in the man's eyes lit off warning light's in Naruto's head. Trusting his instincts, Naruto began to change course almost before he saw Kabuto charging him. Leaning back, to avoid the incoming swipe with the dagger, he didn't quite get away unscathed as it left a cut beneath his eye.
Quickly backpedaling Naruto realized how close he had come to losing an eye.
"Hmm ... it seems you're a bit faster than your copies," Kabuto said with a wicked grin. "I'll keep that in mind for the next time."
As if it hadn't already been clear he'd been holding back as a trap, Kabuto began making quick work of Naruto's clones. He was fast, not to mention very brutal the way he destroyed his clones like that. Naruto couldn't hope to match him in speed and ferocity; he wasn't even close. Naruto found himself afflicted by something he'd never felt in combat before. Fear.
It was all he could do to keep replacing the clones that were being destroyed to prevent Kabuto from reaching him. He was almost in a panic now. Nothing his clones tried worked, and even though they weren't quite as fast as he was, he knew the difference wouldn't be enough.
Every scenario he ran in his mind ended the same way. Even with his clones for interference Kabuto's attack would hit first should he fight directly. Especially as the man would go straight for the real Naruto.
He could use Geppo to leap in the air, yet the cave's ceiling made it impossible. Even using Kami-e was out of the question as Naruto estimated that he wouldn't be fast enough to dodge Kabuto's speed.
But maybe he could use Tekkai. He was nearly certain he could withstand a blow from the dagger, which would then give him the opportunity to counterattack. He was about to go with that plan and a thought stopped him.
No, that would almost certainly fail too. He couldn't move when using his Tekkai and Kabuto was just too fast. He'd be able to dance back after the strike before Naruto would get in a counter. But there was a solution, he'd just been letting his fear blind him to some of the options.
Kabuto's strike would hit first, he was certain of the fact. But that was the key to everything. With all the clones he'd lost fighting Kabuto, he was getting a lot of information on his opponent's fighting style. So, he had a pretty good idea of how this exchange he had planned would go. At least he hoped so.
Charging Kabuto personally, he saw the man accept his challenge and head straight for him. He used his clones the best he could to slow and distract the man. Meanwhile, he twisted his own body, which caused the downward diagonal slash that was aimed at his neck to miss by a couple of inches, burying itself in Naruto's shoulder left shoulder instead.
But the whole time Kabuto had been swinging, Naruto's own right arm hand had already been in motion. Only a moment after the blade was cut into his shoulder, Naruto sent a Shigan into and right through Kabuto's wrist. Kabuto dropped the dagger involuntarily and Naruto quickly kicked it away.
Kabuto leaped back and was already ripping his shirt with his left hand and wrapping it around the wound to staunch the bleeding. Naruto was having one his clones rip his own shirt to do the same to his wound. But Naruto was very pleased with the success of his plan.
Kabuto's strike had hit first, as he'd known it would. But that hadn't meant it would be the only attack to land. And Kabuto had lost his weapon hand and his weapon. Naruto meanwhile had a shoulder wound on the side of his off hand.
And he could still move that hand... a little he amended to himself with a wince as he tried to do just that. Regardless, he considered his injury the lesser of the two, and his clones were completely unaffected by it. In this war of attrition, he took a strong lead.
"A nice trick," Kabtuo says after he bandaged his injury. "However, you're going to need more than tricks...
"Soru!"
One moment Kabtuo was right in front of him, surprising him. Before Naruto reacted, Kabuto struck with lighting prowess and speeds.
"Shigan "Oren!"
This attack is simply a rapid-fire version of the normal Shigan technique as Kabuto hits Naruto in the chest multiple times. Naruto fell to the ground, seriously wounded. Stung by the attack, Naruto looked up to Kabuto with disbelief, saying "You know Rokushiki?"
"Of course, I know Rokushiki." Kabuto told him. "I'm a Rokushiki master, unlike an amateur like you. You show great promise of skills, but you're not matches for me. Now it's time for you to die."
Kabuto was about to use Shigan on Naruto again, when he suddenly stops and jump out of the way before Shikamaru's shadow touch him. Turning his head, Naruto sees his friends have finally arrived. Seeing them, Kabuto looks surprised and disappointed.
"Don't tell me you all survive that Pacifista?" Kabuto reacted.
"Of course, we survive the Pacifista," Tenten sneered, pointing her guns at Kabtuo. "Do we look amateur marines?"
"I figure it's dumb luck," Kabuto countered. "The only reason you won because you defeated the weakest of the Pacifistas."
Seeing Igaram, Kabuto says "I see you free Igaram. However, it's not going to do you any good. The kingdom of Arabasta is as good as dead."
"I suggested you surrendered," Shikamaru told Kabuto. "You're outnumbered and—"
It was without warning, a huge explosion was heard, shaking the entire cave.
"What the hell is that?" Naruto reacted to the sound and turbulence of the explosion.
"I activated the security bombs that are widespread across the cave before our fight," Kabuto told them. "In a few minutes, this entire cave will fall upon your head."
Before anyone could stop him, Kabuto activated a secret door in the cave and disappeared from their sight.
"You got to be kidding me?" Kiba snapped. "He got away!"
"Never mind that," Tenten shouted. "We need to get out of here, quick!
Everyone begins to rush out of the cave. Kiba grabs Naruto, helping him on his feet while Chōji aids Igaram, keeping up with the others.
It seems to take them forever to get of the cave, as each tunnel they enter seems to get them lost and moving deeper within the cave. And the explosion seems to violently shake the cave, each vibrates more powerfully than the last.
Yet just as they thought that they were not going to make it out of this cave, they finally reach the cave exist. A few seconds after everyone got of the cave and jump aboard the ship, it exploded behind them. Everyone was deeply glad that they got out in time.
"That was freaking close," Kiba says as he stares at the destroyed cave.
"Yeah," Tenten agreed. "I thought we were goners."
"At least we got out of there alive," said Shikamaru before turning to Igaram. "Now that is over, you want tells us how you're alive, Igaram?"
"Yeah," Chōji also asked. "Vivi told us that you were dead."
"Who is he?" Naruto asked, noticing Igaram for the first time."
"My name is Igaram," Igaram he introduces himself. "I am a captain of the Arabasta royal guard."
"Igaram?" Naruto repeated, before he recalls something. "You know, a couple of days ago I run into a girl named Nefertari Vivi."
"Was she with the Straw Hat pirates?" Igaram asked. "If she is, then there is still hope in saving Arabasta."
"Then I guess that girl Vivi was telling the truth about," says Kiba. "Baroque Works was trying to destroy Arabasta. And Crocodile behind it all."
"He not alone in trying to destroy Arabasta." Igaram added. "Crocodile has joined forces with Orochimaru to overthrow the kingdom of Alabasta."
Everyone was shocked when Igaram said that.
"Who told you this?" Shikamaru asked, stunned of what he just heard. "Was it Kabuto?"
"Yes," Igaram replied. "After my ship blew up at Whisky Peak, I tried to find another ship to take me to Alabasta. But I was ambushed and captured by Kabuto. It turns out that the Hydra Pirates and Baroque Works are in an alliance together to overthrow the government of Alabasta. I didn't know they were working together. Nobody within Baroque Works knew about this alliance until Kabuto told me when I was a prisoner."
"If what you say is true Igaram, then Alabasta is in even greater danger than we thought," Chōji alleged before he thought of something and reacts "Hold on a second, Igaram—does Vivi know of Crocodile and Orochimaru working together to destroy Alabasta?"
"No, she does not Chōji," Igaram replied. "Which is why I need to get to Alabasta as quickly as possible. Kabuto has already ordered a hit on Vivi's head as she makes her way to Alabasta
"Don't worry we... whoa," Naruto said, his sentence cut off as a wave of dizziness him.
"You're bleeding!" Nojiko said in surprise, his reaction to the blood loss had drawn her attention to his wounds.
"It's nothing serious," Naruto insisted. "As soon as we report this back to the base, I'll have it looked at."
"The call can wait a few minutes," Tenten berated him. "It's more urgent that you get that looked at."
"Yeah," Nojiko agreed. "If you're having trouble standing, you're in no condition to be making reports."
"They're right Naruto," says Shikamaru. "Kabuto was one of Orochimaru's deadliest pirate officers. It's rare for anyone to survive a fight with the first mate of the Hydra Pirates and live to talk about it."
"Fine," Naruto agreed, "I'll go get the first aid kit."
Moving toward the ship, he was cut off by Akamaru, who stood in his path growling at him.
"Akamaru wants you to stay here and rest while we get the first aid kit," Kiba translated.
"Yeah, I kind of got the message myself," Naruto muttered, but complied and sat down on a somewhat flat rock that was nearby.
Glossary
Devil Fruits
Saizu Saizu no Mi (Size Size Fruit): The Saizu Saizu no Mi is a Paramecia class Devil Fruit that allows the user the ability to alter the size or matter. The fruit was eaten by Choji Akimichi, making him a Size Altering Human.
Dan Dan no Mi (Bullet Bullet Fruit): The Dan Dan no Mi is a Paramecia class Devil Fruit that allows the user to turn objects into bullets. The fruit was eaten by Tenten, turning her into a Bullet-Making Human. It was also said that the fruit was once consumed by Tequila Yuen, a legendary marine admiral and master marksman, who existed and died during the time of Gol D. Roger.
Konchu Konchu no mi (Insects Insects fruit): The Konchu Konchu no mi is a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit that makes its user create and control countless insects from inside his body. The fruit was eaten by Shino Aburame, turning him into an Insect-Controlling Human Human.