Chapter 2:

Where are we?

"…."=speaking.

'…'=thinking.

"'Inner thoughts'"=images or memories within somebody's head.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or One Piece They are the property and brainchildren of Masashi Kishimoto and Eiichiro Oda, respectively.

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In a single instant….

A series of choices made by pure chance. Altered the course of two different dimensions. As Team 7 disappeared. Leaving no trace behind of them.

Four minutes passed. Everything was unchanged. Birds flew from above. A family of rabbits peeked out from their hole. The wind began to rise, forming a gentle breeze through the stoic trees.

Another minute….in the same spot.

"Here! We! ARE!" a deep, thundering roar echoed in the clearing. Smoke, the shade of sulphur, came emerging from the spaces between the wind. Billowing forth, innumerable tendrils of such smoke came forwards, extending around themselves and forming a dense spiral. Upon contact with the ground, shapes came emerging through the vortex, churning until the silhouettes of humans could be made out. They were the size of adults. One carried a pair of swords. Another shouldered an odd, serpentine bow, holding hands with the swordsman. Plus another pair, a well-endowed female aside a single powerful man. Large scrolls were carried by all of them, near the small of their backs.

After a handful of seconds, their bodies were clear through the yellow haze. Which continued receding until only whisps remained. "DELIVERY! No refund, no returns." With a final declaration, the smoke was gone, and those who arrived stood there.

Looking around, one individual gazed about. Old memories stirring in their mind. An odd sense of loss, nostalgia, wistfulness, and more. A well of regret and concern welled within them, mixing with relief.

"So. We're finally home. I guess that wish on the Bottle really was a good idea.."

"All of those people. Those adventures."

A female voice answered her lover. "None of such memories will depart from our thoughts, my love. Just like we never left each other, when things were at their most bleak and treacherous."

Another woman spoke up. "I agree. I'm actually eager to see how different the Leaf Village is, through our eyes now."

"Then let's not waste time." The oldest figure present stated.

"It is time to return to the Lead Village. Time for us to return home, and show Lord Hokage the growth we have made, across all these years, and through the chaos of the Grand Line."

0...0

(To the past: Genin aged 12, Kakashi aged 26)

Team 7 were tumbling through a shapeless vacuum. Nothing within their touch could be grasped, yet colours, sights and sounds surrounding them continued spirally, chaos personified. Still, their bodies continued, drawn onward. None of the four had any sense of space, distance or otherwise; only a thrilling velocity forcing them towards a single destination was clear to their senses.

It all lasted a few moments.

"We're Heeerrrrrrrree!" The Genie's voice came piercing through their ears. confused. "Where is here!?" "What is going on!?" "WOOOO!" Various shouts responded, some desperate and others

Soon, Hatake Kakashi, Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura, and Uzumaki Naruto felt solid ground beneath their feet. The eldest ninja steadied himself, while the others dropped to their knees, and two flat on their butts. Gradually, the blanket of purple smoke unfurled from their bodies. New sensations reached them: warm sunlight, moisture laced with salt hung in the air, and soft grass between their open-toed shoes. Once their faces were uncovered, bright sunlight filled their vision, blinding them in its radiance.

A salty scent touched their noses. Crashing waves echoed behind them. Overlaid with scents of fire, explosions, and the distant sounds of violence.

Sakura and Sasuke were dazed, too bewildered to grasp their placement. While Naruto and Kakashi recovered quicker, opening their eyes to a beautiful clearing. Dense forests were in the distance, while a blend of flowers and grass surrounded them. The sky was cloudless, and the warmest sun they had ever felt comforted the visitors.

"Here We Are!" Everyone whirled around, to find the Genie behind them. "I have granted your wish! This world will certainly allow you to find the adventures, dangers, and people to fulfil the wish you have made. I even have a brother here, who can grant wishes as well. Finding him might be tough. But you'll definitely be able to have more wishes from him, and get back to where we were through one of them!"

Each of the ninjas were baffled. "Here? Where exactly is here?! Where have you brought us?!" Kakashi demanded; his voice deep, serious, commanding.

"Bye-bye!" The Genie answered.

"Hey wait! What has Naruto's wish done? Where is the Leaf Village!" Sakura screamed.

"Be-hu! Ge-hu! Be-hu-hu-hu-hu-hu-HU-HU-HU!" the Genie simply laughed, his arms flailing about while the bottle began to suck him inside. "Still Tickles." As the last whisps entered their confines, the bottle's colour was shifting. Strange lights came resonating along the edge of its profile, and then the vessel was glowing and continued levitation up to hover in the air. Moving higher and higher, a growing star, it was ascending to the heavens. "I hope you all have fun here! Let's meet again! In your own home! In another Thousand yeeeaaaaarrrrrrrsssssss!" With a final twinkle, the bottle was gone. Leaving the ninjas behind.

For a long while, four pairs of eyes were trained on the sky, watching for a glimpse of their strange acquittance. Eventually, Kakashi turned his attention to their surroundings. While Naruto moved to help Sakura to her feet. After accepting his help, the pinkette promptly shoved Naruto to the ground. "Sasuke? You okay?" Rushing straight for the Uchiha, Sakura swept her hands over him, questioning if he had been hurt or dazed. Completely uncaring for the blonde boy.

Naruto brushed it off and began to glance around, innocent and confused. 'Huh. A spot with adventure. This spot sure looks quiet. Did that Genie do it right or-?'

"He-He-Help! Help me, please!"

"Get back here, you piece of shit!"

Turning their heads at the sound, Team 7 witnessed a younger man, dressed in scorched tatters, stained with blood, stumbling towards them. Behind the man was a pair of armed thugs, wearing splotted bandanas, open vests, dirty pants, and weapons.

'What kind of sword are those?' Kakashi thought. 'The hilts and blades are connected by a strange metal cup, covering their hands. is that-?' Popping his special eye to be certain, Kakashi traced a thin line of metal between the cup and pommel visible as a raider drew their weapon overhead.[1]

"Pl-Pl-Please! Pl-Pl-Please, save me from these pirates!"

"Hang on, I'm coming to save you!"

"Naruto, wait!" but the blonde was already rushing off, ignoring his sensei's words. Kakashi sighed, 'Will he ever follow commands?'

"Naruto, you fool, stop! Sensei said to-"

"Enough Sakura." The girl froze. Kakashi's voice carried a hard edge, the same he had during their confrontations with Zabuza. "In fact, if we save that man, he might tell us where we are right now. Go."

Faster than a blink, Kakashi was moving forward to catch up with his orange-coloured student.

Naruto kept running ahead, causing the brutes in his vision to pause in surprise. With a smirk, Naruto leapt into the air with one leg ready for a kick at one target. But, the second pirate ran into him, with a sharp slash coming to meet him.

"Gaaaa!-"

The weapon cleaved into his chest, and the grunt holding it smirked.

"Just another useless kid, playing hero and got himself killed."

Then in a flash, the body fixed by a sword was replaced with a log.

"Huh-AAh!?" Voicing his surprise, the pirate's body pitched forward, weighed down by the heavy log his sword was planted in. "Hey!" Glancing up, the man saw another child, with black hair, dressed in a navy shirt and white shorts, twirling in the air straight for him. The movement built-up momentum, driving the boy's foot straight into the grunt's head.

'Hmmm. Perfect target. Thanks for looking up when I called.' Sasuke smirked with satisfaction. The kick launched the man onto his back. And he landed, the Uchiha look back in surprise.

"Gawwwhh! Little shit!" The grunt brushed dirt off his face, drawing a knife from his belt and scrambling towards Sasuke.

"Hey!" came Naruto's voice. "Super-Shuriken toss!" The Genin threw out two hand fulls of Shuriken; completely off-target. "Ahhh! Naruto!" Sakura cried, narrowly evading several of the sharp flying stars. Both of the pirates stopped as well, blinking at the display, and Sasuke took the chance, sweeping one's feet out from under them and tied down with a series of ninja-wire.

"Hey! No Fair!" Naruto dashed up to Sasuke, shouting all the while. "Sasuke, you selfish bastard! That guy was mine! Why did you steal my action!? It sucks, trying to make yourself look all cool!"

"Hh. The only thing that sucks here is you," the Uchiha scoffed. "Not one of those shuriken touched him, and you passed up the opportunity. I don't need to try anything. You're just terrible."

That rilled up Naruto, who pulled two hands to his sides. "Grrrrrrr! I'll show you-"

"Enough!" The boys froze in place. While Sakura did the same. She had been running up with one fist cocked back to drive into Naruto's skull, but the charge to take payback on Naruto's terrible shuriken throw stopped in its tracks. Kakashi stood behind them, with the other pirate already bound and weaponless.

"Naruto," Kakashi scolded, "You are far too slow to react, and that dramatic shuriken throw nearly injured your own teammates. Sasuke took the openings that came, and the first ended. Well done," he nodded at the Uchiha. "But your rivalry isn't important right here." With a few steps, Kakashi grabbed the other brigand and moved to a nearby tree.

"Now. I have some questions for the pair of-"

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" More shouts of gratitude filled the air. The young man in grimy clothes knelt towards the Shinobi, bowing his head all the while. Until a loud shriek filled the air. "Oh no! The-the-the Village! Pl-pl-please, help my village! The-the-there's a crew of pirates running wild there! The-the-they're looting, burning, kidnapping everyone in sight! The-the-there're just too many, and the Marines aren't here to help us! Pl-pl-please, please!" He was on his knees, with both hands folded together, begging.

"You need help! I'll help you save them!" Naruto nearly ran off again. Nearly.

Sasuke tripped his teammate as the boy ran by, and soon bound him with ninja wire. "Slow down for a second, Loser. Stop running off the play hero all the time."

"Gaaah, come on!" Naruto spat a tuff of grass out of his mouth, complaining. "We need to help these people! They're getting attacked by pirates right now!'

Kakashi groaned in resignation. "Naruto! We need to know who this man is. And whether we can, or should, do anything." Turning towards the pirates, the air around the group began to drop; growing colder and bleak. The pirates shivered, their bravado overwhelmed with a single emotion: fear.

The Jonin glowered down at the pair, driving a pulse around him, one so dense it rendered the marauders shitless.

"Now. I have some questions. Which the pair of you will answer."

Under Kakashi's watchful eye, the pirates confessed to all his questions. Their crew numbered 60 men, nobody with a significant bounty, and were directed by a "captain Sendou." A rookie pirate looking to become a big shot. Kakashi was confused by certain words that the pirates used, such as weapons called 'canons' or 'rifles,' but mentally catalogued the topics, and ordered the Genin to do the same.

Once the interrogation was done, the Jonin turned towards the villager, and weighed his options. 'Getting involved with these pirates could be dangerous. Yet, I still have no idea where we are. This isn't a mission, nor is there anyone in this village who are particular towards the four of us.'

'Yet leaving these people to fend for themselves doesn't feel right. Charging in could come back to haunt us if this Sendou has any connections. But for the present, helping this village could mean shelter, food and some information from anyone still there. Enough to learn about where we are. That settles it.'

"Excuse me," Kakashi addressed the kneeling villager. "My name is Kakashi Hatake. Can you share yours?"

"Min-Min-Minorou! My-my-my name is Minorou. Pl-pl-please hel-"

"It's alright, Minorou." The man replied, raising a hand for silence. "We will help your village." The man's face broke out in relief. While Naruto yelled in excitement, "Come on, come on, untie me already."

Kakashi continued to speak, "Please, tell us where the village is, and draw a small map of the layout here in the ground. Along with the position of the Pirate's ship. I have a plan to stop them and get your people to safety. But the requires some information from you."

Gradually, Minoura told the Jonin all that he needed to know. Next, Kakashi called his Genin over and began to share his plan with them. Sasuke and Naruto protested at the suggestion that they will be paired up. "Didn't you both, together, save me from Zabuza with teamwork? As I recall, you both duped him, brilliantly, and eliminated one water clone by chance. And then drove the last remnants of Gato's thugs into a trap, saving Inari in the process, and crushed the brigands."[2]

Reminded of their past success, Naruto and Sasuke fixed each other with a look, then nodded their agreement.

Sakura agreed to accompany Kakashi. Then, leaving the neutralized pirates knocked out, the Lead Shinobi moved out towards the village.

0…..….0

Within Hanma-Village, the Swirl-Fan[3] Pirates were tearing homes apart, grabbing women from their children, and pushing back the few men still standing to fight. Captain Sendou watched in grim pleasure as his crew were at work. 'Heh! There won't be much, but you gotta start small before going after the tougher targets. This village will have some valuables, and plenty of worthless lives to sell off to the Auctioning Houses. I'll get some extra money, and more men from this success, then move on to some better targets.'

Soon a pair of crewmen approached their captain, carrying a large chest. While a third of the crew were dragging people in shackles onboard to sell off.

One Pirate was chasing after a mother and her child, moving out of the village for the tree line. Yet the brigand was gaining on them with each step. Reach out to seize the young woman.

"Yeeeeaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!" With a loud shout, an orange swarm engulfed the man and left him beaten and dazed. Simultaneously, another boy ushered the women to the trees and was joined by his partner.

"It's alright. Just stay hidden, and we'll help your village."

"Naruto. Create a couple of clones to keep her safe from any pirates who come this way."

"Right."

Leaving the pair of civilians with a few guards, the boys went back to the pirate and dragged him up to the rooftops.

Meanwhile, a grown man with grey hair and a pre-teen pinkette snuck around the hull of a brigantine ship.[4] Crawling on the vertical surface with their chakra control, the pair were on the side opposite to the wharf, to lessen the chances of being spotted. The pair moved around slowly, with the older one counting the different footfalls on the decks or peering into the hull.

They saw the group of captives and captors moving about on the decks and waiting. 'Now, we just need Sasuke and Naruto to get their attention.'

A handful of minutes later, a familiar shout came to Kakashi's ears. Followed by a scuffle from the village square.

"Fire-style: Great Fire-ball Jutsu!"

"What! C-c-c-captain! Th-that kid just-"

"I know, you need to tell me. Must be Devil-fruit powers. Come on men! Charge the brat all at once and pin him down! Someone with his powers will be worth a lot as a slave!"

With a roar of excitement, feet clattered about the deck. Before silence grew onboard.

'Hmmmm,' Kakashi nodded with approval. 'They certainly do get people's attention. Now Sakura and I can free the slaves, then force the rest of the Pirates to run back here, straight towards me. Oh-' SOmebody was beginning to abandon their plan.

"Sakura-stay here." The man whispered to his Genin.

"But sensei! They're talking about giving Sasuke into slavery! I have to help and protect him." The girl complained, even beginning to stand up, but Kakashi forced her back down with one hand.

"That won't happen," Kakashi assured her. "Sasuke and Naruto know their jobs and are fulfilling them. Now, we have to do our jobs and free these people. Remember, you stay with the people and I'll take the Pirates when they come back. Alright?"

"But Sasuke-"

"Has Naruto with him. They can watch each other's backs in a fight, just like they did against Zabuza and Haku. You know that. Know, focus on this job, not on him. Understood."

It wasn't a question, but a command. With a sigh of resignation, Sakura nodded. Then the pair slipped aboard and got to work.

Back in the village, Naruto and Sasuke stood before the crowd of charging Pirates. Several others were scattered about, sporting different bruises and burns. While most of the people were behind the Genin and scared to see a pair of 12-year-olds standing up to the Pirates.

The Uzumaki and Uchiha grinned. Caught-up in the thrill of the one place the pair would cooperate together: battle.

"Naruto! These are a lot more than those thugs in Land of Waves. Split them up and attack from different angles! And watch out!"

"Got it! Let's go!" Naruto brought his hands together, crossing his hands to perform a signature technique. "Multi-Shadow-Clone Jutsu!"

Columns of smoke erupted, giving the Pirates pause. Once it cleared, many stepped back in awe. The villagers were equally surprised. 200 copies of a single boy filled the village. Most of them formed a buffer between the Pirate crew and the villagers, with the rest scattered across multiple streets and rooftops. The clones were even taunting the Pirates:

"You think you can outnumber me, Do ya!" "You're outdone four to one!" "Just sit down and surrender!" "There ain't no ways you can win!"

Captain Sendou growled in frustration. "These two might be a problem."

"Let's go!" each of the Naruto's charge at the crew, with Kunai drawn and eager to win.

The Pirates recovered and began to fight back. Many of the Narutos were hit, but some landed several hits of their own. Yet the grown men could shrug them off, with some effort. The captain had drawn an extra sword, cutting down several with each move.

Still, the action kept them distracted. A situation compounded by the smoke given off by every felled clone. Hiding the other Ninja. "Demon-Wind Shuriken!" A large, spinning blade cut through the smoke screen, felling several pirates at once. Sasuke peered down, Sharingan ready and focused. The Uchiha traced both the shuriken and the pirates, throwing smaller stars and kunai at the right opportunities; disarming or crippling more and more of the Pirates. Eventually, the Fuma-Shuriken split, cutting down more opposition then travelled in arcs before Sasuke caught both, effortlessly.

Naruto was also at work. Dropping smoke bombs and additional clones to keep the Pirates occupied, while some extras led any civilians nearby to a safer distance.

Between the pair, 50 pirates were cut down to 35 within minutes. Captain Sendou growled, shouting for the brats to face him in a clear field, like true men. The Genin only laughed, hidden by the smoke and aggravating the captain more.

"Fine then!" Dropping his swords, the temperamental man reached for his pistols. Drawing several and firing off randomly. Uncaring about who was hit by his shots, whether it was the people or his crew. 'I'll always replace them with mountain bandits or lowlifes from other towns and cities anywhere. They're expendable, and these' brats are making a mockery out of me!'

Sasuke's eyes grew wide! His Sharigan picked up the minuscule projectiles flying from the smoke. Until one moved towards him. Shifting slightly, thanks to his precognitive sight, the tiny pellet swept by an inch from his cheek. Dropping to the ground, he saw similar projectiles tearing through the walls of houses nearby. Watching this, the boy's mind was blank towards unfamiliar weapons.

Naruto wasn't any better. At the sound of the pistols, curiosity got the better of him. Peeping around a house, one bullet passed through a narrow beam, sending showers of splinters over his face.

"Aaahhhhhhgggggg! Ahhhhhggggg!" Naruto shouted in agony. His hand flew up, rubbing over his face. The boy wanted to get rid of the sharp feeling cutting inward, but his hands only forced the splinters deeper into his skin.

"Naruto!" Sasuke shouted at the screams. Slipping through the houses, he soon found his teammate, lying on the ground and calling out. "S-Sasuke. Get them off! Get them off! Get them off me!"

Sasuke moved to see what injured Naruto, but his eyes caught another danger. Dashing around the orange ninja, Sasuke drew a kunai, as most of the Pirates came into view. Following the screams to where Naruto had landed.

"Heh! You're finished, boys." Captain Sandou swore through gritting teeth. He was focused and angry, eager to make the boys suffer for humiliating his crew.

"Excuse me!" A new voice called out, from the ship. Everyone turned. To spot a tall figure on the deck, amidst a pile of men, beaten unconscious.

"My ship! My men! Where are my-You Bastard!"

Now Captain Sendou was angry. And his crew knew this was the worst. Once he became angry, Sendou's habits would become cantankerous and aggressive. The man tore a sword from his closest men, having spent all of his ammunition, and charged towards the ship. While his men remained frozen by fear, spotting the red-coloured eye of the new arrival.

Kakashi frowned, taking in the situation. "Sasuke. Get Naruto back!" Suddenly— crackling screams came, so loudly some pirates were even pressing on one or both ears, then chirping of a high pitch was screeching between the loud sizzling tone.

"Who, I, there ain't any birds here," Captain Sendou complained.

"CHIDORI!"

0...0

Dusk was falling over Hanma Village. After Kakashi annihilated the pirates, some were still living and had to be restrained by the Jonin. Once it was done, Minorou had come forwards and rallied the civilians together in thanks. Soon after, most of the raiding pirates were bound together aboard smaller boats and sent out to sea, adrift. With so few grown men in the village, Kakashi pragmatically decided it was the best choice, rather than try to guard 60 grown men throughout the night. The Captain, Sendou, remained in the village, bound with his own chains and knocked out by Kakashi to prevent any trouble from the Pirate captain.

The people were preparing a feast, celebrating their salvation and thanking the saviours who made it possible. While this was happening, Team 7 had gathered in the headman's house for privacy. Naruto's face had some bandages where the splinters had been removed. Sakura and Sasuke knelt on a broad carpet, her intermittingly inching closer to him. While Kakashi himself was kneeling near the headman, examining a pistol in his hands.

"So. A small amount of explosive powder is placed in the tube. Followed by a tiny metal ball, and all of it is pressed together. Then the arm is set back, and the weapon can be pointed at a target. By twitching the small device with one's fore-finger, the arm ignites the flit, setting the power on fire, and propelling the metal ball outwards."

"That is right, Sav-ahchem-Mr. Kakashi." Clearing his throat, the headman, Tarm, nodded from his bed. The man had been one of the first to try and fight the pirates but was shot in his leg and made the first prisoner. Once the prisoners were freed, he was taken to the local doctor along with the others to be healed.

Despite the injuries, Tarm insisted on giving the Ninjas all the help that he could. Though he continuously called each of them "Saviours." Something that didn't feel too comfortable for Kakashi, who insisted on using his given name.

The Genin were looking over the pistol in wonder, too, while Kakashi drew a small scroll from his vest pocket. Opening the scroll, he placed the pistol in the centre. With a single hand sign, it disappeared into smoke, sealed inside. 'This would be invaluable for the village to use, and give any shinobi quite the surprise. I'll show it to Lord Hokage once-'

"So You have one too? A Devil-Fruit power!" Tarm exclaimed. "Um. Sorry, Tarm," Kakashi scratched the back of his head. "A what power?"

The Headman frowned, confused. "Devil-Fruit Power. Strange abilities that someone can gain by eating a Devil Fruit. That's the only explanation for you or the boys to have powers like breathing fire or making copies of himself. It's quite rare to find any here in the East Blue, or anywhere outside of the Grand Line. How did the four of you end up here?"

Kakashi didn't answer. A small….sinking…worry-some feeling began to grow in his stomach.

"Grand Line! What is that?" Naruto spoke, with curiosity on his face. "I guess you've just never seen ninjas before. Oh, and we came from the Hidden Leaf Village, not some Big Blue Place! Why did you ask that?"

"The Hidden Leaf Village?" Tarm raised an eyebrow. "Are you feeling alright, son? There's no such place named that on Jeeha Island. And how come you don't know about the East Blue when you live in it?"

"East Blue?" Sakura joined the conversation. Her eyes narrowed, apprehensively. "And what do you mean by Jeeha Island. Isn't this place still part of the Land of Fire? Like Naruto said, we're ninjas from the Hidden Leaf Village," Sakura tapped the leaf symbol on her headband. "Don't you know of it, where the Yondaime Hokage came from?"

Tarm's eyes widened. Rapidly, they passed between both the blonde and pinkette; as if each needed their head examined or had grown extra limbs.

"Tarm," Kakashi's voice cut through them. His posture was rigid, anxious, with one hand clutching his pants and the other resting on his chin. "Please. Can you show us a map of the world? Or a map of various islands, here in the 'East Blue.?"

"Um….of course Sav-er…Mr. Kakashi. Give me a moment." Slowly, the man limped over to his cabinets, while Kakashi took a hand on Naruto's shoulder, guiding him back to the other Genin where all four knelt together. "Sakura, Naruto, Sasuke. I need you each to remain calm. If you feel like you need to leave this hut. You may. But go outside of the village to the trees and let out your emotions. No matter what we learn."

Sakura began trembling. Even Sasuke grew anxious at his sensei's tone. "K-Kakashi-s-sensei. Why-why? What is going on?" At Sakura's question, Naruto just blinked, confused.

His eye narrowed, sharply. "I think. That we aren't in the Land of Fire anymore. Or even on the same continent at all. That Genie may have brought us to the other side of the world. Or somewhere else away from the Elemental Nations."

"Here you are." Stepping forward, Tarm stood before them with a leather satchel in hand. He motioned towards a table off to one side, then waited. Slowly, the ninjas stood up and walked over, where Tarm lit three candles, then drew a folded cloth from the bag, unfolded the contents to reveal a map, and set the candles at each corner as anchor points. The map depicted a large Sea with various scattered islands dotting the vast Blue expanses.

"This is where we are, Jeeha Island," the headman had one finger resting on a single point on the map. "There are several other islands across the East Blue, that vary in size. Like Dawn Island in Goa Kingdom, Mirrorball Island, Clockwork Island, and Sixis Island. Along with archipelagos like the Organ Islands, the Gecko Islands, and Conomi Islands. Do any of these places look like your home island?" Tarm encouraged them. "Or, I can open more chats of the North Blue, the South Blue and West Blue to comb through them."

The ninja began looking over the maps. Yet, it was a fruitless effort. None of them found anything which resembled the Elemental Nations. Kakashi, the most experienced and mature of the group, felt the gravity of their situation the hardest.

'None of these islands or continents resemble the Elemental Nations at all. Plus, the weapons like the pistol, or cannon on board the ship are not weapons known even in the Land of Ice. Could…..Could that Genie…he mentioned a 'perfect place and-'

'"I have granted your wish! This world will certainly allow you to find-"'

"No!" The Jonin quietly exclaimed.

"Uhhhh. Sensei," Naruto spoke up in a timid voice. "What...what's up? You're acting kinda scary, ya know."

Glancing around, Kakashi noticed the worried faces on each of his Genin. Taking a moment, calling on experience, the ninja pushed his own emotions to the side. And marshalled his thoughts.

"Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke. I...do each of you recall what that Genie spoke of?"

"Tarm?" Kakashi looked over to the headman. "Before we arrived here, one of my students uncovered a bottle, which held a person inside, claiming they were a Genie. After some...proof was displayed," Kaakshi was patting a pouch where his most precious treasures were stashed, "Naruto claimed a wish to be somewhere with danger and adventure at any turn."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," a knucklehead impulsively claimed the spotlight of attention before him. "Well, Sakura by accident said no to a wish, and then we lost, so I wished to go somewhere to get active, get dangerous, and get strong."

"A world. with adventures, dangers, and people to fulfil the wish you have made," Kakashi continued. "A world. Not an island. Not heaven or hell. Not a summoning dimension. A world." A paused following that. A poignant pause in the room, where no sound save a dull haze of the candles was made. The audience each grasped this at separate paces; their host first, jerking his head and looking between his guests; Sasuke stood white and pale, and went back to examining the maps. Sakura's mouth hung open, and so did Naruto's, although he still remained on his feet while hers gave out from under her.

"Sasuke," Kakashi spoke. "None of the islands on these maps resemble the Elemental Nations at all. The Islands themselves are too small, according to the scale legend. And I've never heard of any places like Goa Kingdom or Ilusia Kingdom."

"Really, Sensei!" Naruto cut into the man's observations. "Well does that mean that the Genie granted my wish! Those pirates we had to fight were weird, but we beat'em, right? Hey, how about we go find more," Grasping his bicep, Naruto was grinning with excitement. "I'll get to show off my strength, all of you can stand back and watch."

"Sensei?" Sakura murmured, looking up from the floor. "If, if, we don't...the Genie, he's gone...And, as he left he said, one-th-th-th-thousand years. You mean we're in a different world. W-w-w-with-home-home-home-" She was hyperventilating. Tarm gathered the girl in his arms, and with a nod from Kakashi he sat her down on the table, gentling rubbing circles on her back until Sakura could breathe, and passed a glass of water to her.

"It's nowhere!" Sasuke exclaimed, throwing a map aside, and spreading both hands across the table to keep standing. "The Land of Fire. The Village. Or anything. Gone. The village. our home, the Hokage, it's gone."

"WHAAAAAT!" Now Naruto was anxious, and his cry shook the house. Diving forwards, Naruto nearly knocked the table over and was tearing through the maps, too. One, after another, then a second one viewed upside down, he held two maps overtop the other, or with even less sense he tried fitting Islands together like puzzle pieces.

"There are...options to rule out," Kakashi tried assuring them while rubbing one hand over his neck. "But, if I am correct, this means there isn't any Leaf Village here at all. Or any other ninjas who can help us. We're stranded, totally cut off, and there is no Leaf Village here for us to return to."

Naruto wasn't paying any attention. Just, staring into empty space, still in the centre of the table. 'A…a different world. I didn't want this. I don't, this is. I just wanted more adventures and danger! Now, now there's no Leaf Village here. But that would mean I can't become Hokage at all! It means no Ichiraku Ramen, the only place that I feel happy. It means I….Iruk…Iruka-sensei. And Old man Hokage….' Naruto's mind grew bleak. The one, constant source of comfort across his lonesome, terrible life was gone. 'I can't see the Hokage anymore.'

"NARUTO! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!" Sakura hollered. She charged at the dazed, lonesome child. But one arm stopped her. "Sakura." Kakashi kept his arm extended, holding back the girl. "Casting fault or blame here will accomplish nothing. Do not-"

"Sensei! His Stupid Wish Has Us Stuck Here! The Genie. Already. Disappeared! Now. We. Can't. See. Our. Families. At. All! Anything. We. Wanted. To. Do. In. Our. Lives. Is. In. a Completely. Different. Place! And. We. Have. No. Way. To. Go. Back! IT's ALL NARUTO's FAULT!"

Tears were streaking down her cheeks, accented the pinkette's distress. She was deeply terrified, to the point of ignorance. Her minds were dominated by selfishness, and the desire to vent that confusion on someone.

"JUST LET ME HIT HIM SENSEI! NARU-!"

.

"Sakura." Kakashi's voice spoke up, still fixing her in place. "Some could also say that you wasting one wish also resulted in this. Since it could have been used to give us a way back. Or, you should blame me for giving Naruto an idea to wish for a place with adventure. I will not...allow...you to hurt him like that. For now, we need to stay together, and decide where to go or what we do next."

Keeping a firm hold on the girl, the Jonin glanced at Sasuke and Naruto. Both were deeply shaken.

"Old...man….Old-man….." Naruto whispered.

"HMmmm," the Jonin-sensei narrowed his eye. 'That's right. Naruto looked up to Hokage, and Lord Third is very close with him. And the position that he aspires so hard to reach. Now it's gone.'

'And Sasuke.' Sure enough, the last Uchiha looked deeply troubled. Even lost.

"Hhhhhhh." Kakashi's resignation echoed throughout the room. He began to address the Genin again when-

"Pardon me?" Tarm spoke up. While Kakashi and Sakura met his eyes, the two boys barely moved. "That might not be the case. Instead of...another world. It might be that your home island is on the Grand Line." Reaching for another map, the man spread it open before the ninjas.

"This is far from accurate. But it does show another sea that lines in between all of the Blues. The Grand Line. That Ocean is known to have many different islands that are unique and wonderous. Some of them are also cut off from the rest of the world, like the Country of Wano."

"It might be possible that your home is somewhere on that ocean. But if that is true…."

The man grew silent. Ignorant of the faint hope he left dangling before the ninja.

"Please." A single word, filled with desperation, slipped from the Jonin. "Continue, Mr. Tarm. Please."

"Oh. Um! Well. I used to serve in the Navy, a while back. There, I met some junior officers named Rapanui, Isoka and Pukau.[5] They spoke of stories about that place that are beyond belief, so I began to learn about it to try and prove them wrong. I even went to that sea with a crew. And barely came out alive."

"I'll start at the beginning for the kids. You can see on the maps that this world is separated by a single large continent: The Red Line. The Grand Line traverses it perpendicularly, separating the Oceans into the North Blue, South Blue, East Blue, and West Blue."

"The Grand Line though is the home of the Devil Himself. That Sea can only promise one thing alone. And that is Death. The Place is worse than other people think or speak of. The weather conditions are entirely unpredictable, or defy any sense or reason. Terrible sea monsters dweel there, large enough to swallow a ship or a village whole. A single wrong choice can end the life of an entire crew."

"And if the elements don't kill you. The people who sail it will. The Place is actually called the Pirate Graveyard. From the sheer scale of crews that have been killed in that sea. Likely millions, across hundreds of years. Travelling there can be near-suicidal."

The Ninjas grew quiet again, as Tarm finished his story.

"Why do so many people go there, if it's such a deadly place?" Kakashi inquired.

Tarm took a deep breath. "Because of the One Piece. The Greatest Treasure in the World."

"Treasure! What kind of Treasure! What-what-what!" Naruto shouted. Unconsciously clinging to the distraction from within his lost mind.

"22 years ago, now. There was one man who did the impossible. A Pirate, who led his crew on a voyage to conquer the entire Grand Line. A man who was so strong, so powerful and so dangerous, he bent all of the seas to his will. And defeated every opponent he found along the way. To the point that he earned a Title nobody ever carried before. The King of the Pirates. Gold Roger."

"Gold Roger himself was from the East Blue. He achieved more wealth, fame and power than anyone else did. He defeated every fellow Pirate he encountered, and the most anyone could hope was the match him. The Marines finally managed to defeat and capture him and sentenced the man to death. But before his capture. Gold Roger took everything that was worth taking from the world. And hid it away. An enormously vast treasure. The Legendary One Piece."

"Whoever finds that treasure will be acknowledged as the Next King of the Pirates. Thousands of Pirates crews have travelled to the Grand Line to find the One Piece. Fighting each other, the Marines, and the Elements all the way. To the point that the Grand Line is a constant battlefield."

"Sometimes I'm amazed that Zeff even survived for years in that hell."

The Genin were left gapping at the story. Even in their bleak setting, stories of Pirates, treasure and adventure brought a glint of excitement to their young minds.

While Kakashi was more observant. "I apologize, Tarm. You just mentioned someone named Zeff went there?"

"Hmmmm? Oh, yes." The headman nodded. "There is a former Pirate I met a few years ago. The man was called Red-foot Zeff. He retired from that life over 10 years past. Opened a sea restaurant called the Baratie. He knows a lot more about the Grand Line than I do, no doubt there. If you want to know if your home is on the Grand Line, Zeff would be the best person to meet."

"The four of you are welcome to stay here as long as you want. Or you could head to the Baratie and meet him in person, hopefully find a way back home."

Kakashi nodded, assessing their options. Then he came to a decision. "Alright. Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura." All of the Genin looked to their sensei, this time Sasuke actually did move his head. "We'll stay here in Jeeha Village for two days. Rest and prepare in this time, then we head to the Baratie using one of the smaller boats from the Pirate ship. For now let's get some food and find a place to sleep. And I do not want anyone shelling out blame or accusations at each other, at all."

Once the Genin had nodded, Sakura twice, Kakashi released her. Watching them depart, the grey-haired Copy-nin dropped in exhaustion.

'Why do they have to be so much work. Leading ANBU squads or working with Chunin didn't need that much attention for each member. I don't like having to be that hands-on with them at all. But since I'm the…..the only one here.'

Soon the Jonin's head was buried in his hands. 'I'm going to have to work harder with each of them. Since I'm the only ninja here that can teach them anything about ninja arts at all. It's not just about Sasuke and his Sharingan anymore, but Naruto and Sakura might need more attention too, until we find a way to get back to the village.'

"Savio…..Mr. Kakashi. Are feeling alright?"

"Fine, Mr. Tarm. Just….fine," the lazy Hatake bemoaned. Glancing back to the door, Kakashi reflected on his Genin.

'This really is the kind of situation I do not want to deal with. Our situation probably hasn't even sunk in yet and they are already in bad shape. Sasuke was almost unresponsive from the shock. Sakura turned into a volatile wreaking ball, and Naruto looked like the ground was falling away underneath him.'

'Still…The three of them did pull it together when it really counted in the Land of Waves. And they get along much better than I did with Rin and Obito.'

Kakashi smiled at the memories of his team outmanoeuvring Zabuza, Sasuke protecting Naruto, Sakura helping Naruto climb a tree, and shedding tears after the battle passed.

'I'm confident they'll ban together, and remember my lessons about comrades and loyalty.'

Of course, Kakashi could have been more wrong. Blinded by his lifelong, terrible case of emotional constipation.

End.

[1]-While One Piece does have a broader range of material culture, Naruto primarily uses Japanese or Chinese cultural materials. Including different types of houses, ships, religions, customs, clothing, and weapon styles. I found it could be a plot hole if Kakashi would recognize a cutlass.

[2]-Naruto Shippuden, episode 180. "Inari's Courage put to the Test." Or Manga chapter #451.

[3]-Yes. I wanted a catchy name for these pirates, and came up with a blend of the Uchiha and Uzumaki symbols. Cringy, yes I admit it. Sue me.

[4]-A style of sailing ship, popular in the 16th and 17th centuries A two-masted ship that could be powered by oars. Giving them good speed and maneuverability. Distinguished by a square-rigged sail, and popular among pirates for their speed, maneuverability and easy handling. Generally Smaller than a Brig, yet bigger than a sloop.

[5]-The Pumpkin Pirates characters from the Rainbow Mist Arc.

Please, type a Review about anything you enjoyed or disliked.

Author's Note: I want to establish something crucial about Team 7: timeframe. I have snatched Team 7 (Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, Kakashi) away from their universe deliberately at the close of the Nami no Kuni (Land of Water) Arc. Each of these four are, at this stage, confined to their abilities and perspectives and characterization from this period in the Naruto storyline.

No Chunin exams, no Curse-seal for Sasuke, no Rasengan, no Kamui for Kakashi, no medical training for Sakura, has Sasuke not been exposed to Tsykynomi for the 2nd time by Itachi. And character growth or habits which emerge or decline in or post-Chunin Exams have not happened. Their characterizations and abilities lack the developments which occurred across 99% of the entire manga and anime.

Any later in the Naruto storyline, Team 7 can handle some of the Paradise half of the Grand Line, or get lucky and run all the way to Sabaohoady Archipelago. Then get their asses handed to them in the New World or the Whitebeard War, and require a lot of Plot armour to avoid death.

So I took the earliest versions of Team 7, fresh outa the Academy, very immature (Sakura especially and Naruto craving attention and with unhealthy competition towards Sasuke), and where they have the most potential for character growth. On the downside, take most of what you remember Team 7 is capable of doing, and flush it down the toilet: no Rasengan, no Chidori, no Toad summons, no super-strength for Sakura, Sasuke has only re-awakened his Sharingan during the fight with Haku, and Kakashi is only slightly above Zabuza, not somebody who can fight Akatsuki agents 2-on-1 in Shippuden series.

Plus, One Piece has some of the most detailed, complex and consistent power-grinding in any fantasy series created. Throw any of Naruto's main cast through that crucible, and can become Kage-class if they survive to the New World. Sasuke and Naruto post-Chunin Exams could fight off Don Krieg or Arlong, and they'd be excited to do it; compromising Luffy's own major fights or how the rest of the Straw hat pirate grow.