Growth Through Chaos: chapter 15. Celebrates, Reflections and the past.
Important: Read all the way to the end, to find a fresh voting poll. Everyone who remembers my "Who should fight Arlong" contest? Another one is starting at the end of this chapter. Read the reading, and ONLY vote through a PM or a Review.
Announcement: some reviewers have made some strong opinions over the relationships I decided on for this story, particularly towards Luffy/Nami. First, I do not plan to simply shove relationships into the open. Each one will develop over time; hence Nami and Luffy not becoming a couple at the end of the last chapter with Arlong's defeat.
Some other relationships in this story will form between the characters, but not go into home-runs. Some relationships in people's lives can form and still separate over a natural course instead of culminating in marriage. I do not want to lose readers over certain relationships in this story, but that does not mean some will be followed strictly by demand, complaints or suggestions. For one example, I will admit to be a Naruto/Hinata fan. Yet, I have plans for Naruto and Sakura to become a couple in this story, but they will not marry each other and eventually part naturally. I do not want to lose readers over the relationships added to this story either.
"…."=speaking.
'…'=thinking.
"'Inner thoughts'"=images or memories within somebody's head.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or One Piece.
Thank you to my Beta Reader, Leaf Ranger.
Please Read, Review, and Vote!
Sunlight cast over the Conomi Islands; bathing the fresh ruins of Arlong Park in a spotlight for everyone to see, to know, and to feel to be true.
Everyone was celebrating, all the while heaping their gratitude and praise on the Straw Hats. Some were throwing Luffy high in the air, led by Genzo and Dr. Nako. Nojiko, Nami and Sakura stood together arm in arm, Gin, Sanji and Kakashi stood by with shared looks of satisfaction, and Sasuke let a smile of pride cover his face.
Yosaku and Johnny were dancing arm-in-arm. Naruto quickly became the most jubilant, jumping around, throwing peace signs with both hands and celebrating the loudest of all.
"Yeah, we won! Waa-Hoooo! Our first big, bad-guy, beat down, Believe it! All those bad fishmen are finished, Yeah-hahaha! Wooooo! Yeah, all of us! We did it!" he cried, and an arm looped around his waist.
"SHishishishishishi! Yup, we did Naruto!" Luffy exclaimed, yanking the blonde up beside him. A choice that led everyone to scramble, catching Naruto in time as Luffy hit the ground with a solid thud.
Most of the people blinked, before surrounding Luffy to offer their apologies. Meanwhile, his remaining crewmates only shook their heads, while Kakashi took stock of a new problem.
The Jonin pulled Genzo, Nojiko, Johnny, and Yosaku aside.
"Wha's up, Big-bro Kakashi? Those guys are beaten, shouldn't we join in with everyone else?" Yosaku asked.
"Oh, only one minor dilemma," he calmly reassured. Kakashi's hand rose, gesturing to all the beaten Arlong Pirates surrounding the yard. "What are we to do with all of them? Captain Luffy did send that crooked Marine flying. But the rest aren't going to stay blacked out forever, and neither will those in the forest that Naruto and Sasuke defeated. Nor the squad that Sakura, Nami, Usopp and the pair of you fought inside the village. If they're left here and get the chance to rally, how soon can another fight erupt and endanger everybody?"
The Jonin's perspective brought things to a head, sobering up everyone within a moment.
"Believe me," Kakashi sighed, running one hand through his wild hair. "After all that, I'd like nothing more than to step back and relax. But we still have a situation on hand. Everyone under Arlong or Nezumi's command needs to be found and secured somewhere."
"Hmmm, you've gotta a strong point there, Mr. Kakashi." Genzo nodded. "I don't have anywhere near the room for even 10 of these monsters, let alone a whole crew of them. And the only spot to think of that could have enough cells was just split in half by Straw-hat."
The village leader continued pondering the problem, while Kakashi had already decided on a solution "Well. This Arlong did have a partnership with a Marine captain, whom we met earlier today. That repulsive, little man must have arrived here somehow. And I doubt any complaints should we misappropriate his ship will come about."
These ideas were spread throughout the group, coaxing everyone to settle down and join the well-needed organizing. Half of the people were milling about the wreckage of the fortress, raiding anything they could find: treasure, clothing, keepsakes, weapons, and enough food and alcohol for an army of hundreds. Naruto's shadow clones were helping everywhere, with a list of specific orders from Zoro, Nami, Usopp and Kakashi. Luffy, Nami, Sakura and Usopp went with the others back to the village, while Sasuke was ordered to lead Gin, Sanji and another army of Naruto's to where Zoro's escorts had been beaten.
After each and every corrupt Marine and Fishman were accounted for, Kakashi found Nezumi's ship further out in the way. Moving it closer to the coast took some doing, but after finishing the job everyone was locked inside the cells; all save for the captains themselves.
Kakashi made sure to lock Arlong in a private cell, chained, beaten and bloodied.
For the next stage, Yosaku and Johnny found a den-den-mushi inside Nezumi's office, giving Genzo a new idea. The man's only contact through one had always been monitored by Arlong in person, but now he could message some additional Marines to transport their prisoners away. Johnny and Yosaku gave their own input, telling the officer the most renowned, dependable and successful Marine in all the East Blue.
"Are you serious!?" the snail bellowed, with two cigars in its mouth and a head of white hair.
"If there's any chance you're screwing around with me, then a problem bigger for you to handle will blow your front door apart! At best your claims mean corruption, treason and a Marine officer who ignored their duty and let a criminal run amuck! At worst it means the outright failure and betrayal of one of our own towards the murders of fellow Marines and a highly organized pirate nearly launching a crusade across this ocean! If you're shitting me, I'm gonna hound you whenever you want to run, then you to Impel Down myself!"
"It is the truth, sir," Genzo answered into the phone, his composure strengthened by the present relief of finally…at long last…giving Bellemere's murder its incriminating report.
"My name is Genzo, by the way. If you feel that this is a lie, come on over the Conomi Islands and see it yourself. But Saw-Tooth Arlong has been keeping over 20 villages here under his thumb for eight years now. Bribing local Marines to stay hidden all the while. It all started 8 years ago when he murdered another Marine, Bellemere, when she was protecting her daughters. A single pirate crew, under the captainship of a Monkey D. Luffy, showed up today with a grudge against Arlong. The Fishmen were all defeated and so were the Marines collaborating with them. The pirates wreaked their fortress and left with some of the treasure kept by the Arlong Pirates behind, but the rest and everyone they defeated is still here."
Next, the scarred official lifted a book Kakashi happened to find elsewhere in the office, holding the den-den mushi's mouthpiece in a steady hand.
"I have a logbook kept by Colonel Nezumi open here, recording a list of all the dealings between Branch 16 and Arlong open in front of me. If you-"
"Can it!" The voice across the snail came in a snarl. "Give me the officer code and labels of that logbook right this minute!"
A handful of minutes later, Genzo read out the information from Nezumi's logbook, while Kakashi stood aside with the bounty hunters. With every piece of information recited by Genzo, another cigar appeared in the snail's mouth, leaving the air heavy with smoke. For several minutes no one made a sound….
Until-
"I'll make my way to your island with a crew of men to get the bastards within the hour. And keep that logbook somewhere secure."
With a final click, the transponder-snail went to sleep. Genzo stood up, facing Johnny and Yosaku.
"Are the pair of you sure about this Marine? After most of the ones I've met, expecting another to actually solve this problem looks almost like stupidity."
"Oh, you don't need to worry about that," Johnny spoke up. "They call'em the 'White Hunter' for a reason. Every single pirate that encountered this guy has been totally flattened. He's the most dependable one around."
"At least Big Bro Luffy can still get the credit for this one," Yosaku took over. "Big bro Kakashi? Are you sure you don't wanna take the credit and the bounty purse for all these guys?"
The Jonin shook his head, reasoning that more attention towards himself and his ninja would be a gamble at best. "Ninjas are meant to remain unseen and obscure by our nature. The less other people know about us, the better. Besides, running around with a pirate crew here, even one like Captain Luffy, will be difficult enough on its own."
"Now, Johnny, Yosaku," he commanded the pair. "Given how you've shown some awareness towards these Marines, Arlong, and Hawkeyes. I have some questions about him, and others that are across the world."
0…0
News of Arlong's defeat spread throughout the entirety of the Conomi Islands, each and every person felt rays of light shattering their near-enslavement and the looming onset of death.
Those in Cocoyoshi Village, where Arlong's tyranny had begun, were elevated far higher than the others. None forgot all that had been lost over the past eight years, nor the guilt they carried over Nami's efforts to save, but remembrance did not prevent the mood of celebrations.
Well, most of them. Zoro and Luffy had been dragged to the clinic by Nami and Dr. Nako.
"Come on, I can smell the meat outside! I just need MEAT!"
"Luffy! Just stay down for a while more." Nami admonished her captain. Luffy ignored it, his legs shooting up to run for the outside. Before two elongated arms reached their limits he was caught on a taunt. Shooting backwards, the rubber man landed on the bed, with Nami still trying to hold down one arm and Sakura gripping the other.
"For crying out loud," rang the gravelly tone of Dr. Nako, "do you not grasp how bad these can be, even after I stitched you up yesterday, boy? Fighting around here reopened he wounds. Pirates are supposed to be smarter than that! Don't you have a ship's doctor at all?"
"Doctor?" the Straw Hat's voice and eye lit up. "I never thought of one of those! Sounds like a good idea. But first, we need a musician!"
"L-Luffy!" Zoro groaned from two beds away. "Why do you want a musician more than a doctor?"
"Because Pirates love to sing and eat, Zoro. We have Sanji as a cook now, so all that's left is a musician. They're way more fun than sitting here, in a bed." Luffy reasoned.
"That's true," the swordsman's raspy voice called over to the captain. "I have…to agree with…you on that one."
Sakura glared between them both, trying and failing to follow their logic in any constructive manner. "Don't bother," Nami advised her, with one hand covering her face. "Trying to give common priorities to either of these two is like talking to a wall. Still, at least Luffy has it where it counts," she acknowledged.
"Hey!-ow!" Zoro shouted, then continued groaning at his wounds. None of that made it easier to keep Luffy in one place for Dr. Nako to fix the stab wounds Arlong delivered to him. Making matters all the worse was how once he did finish up, Nami and Luffy bolted from the clinic, leaving Sakura and Dr. Nako to handle Zoro alone.
"You dumb-ass! Like I told you one day ago, this kind of injury won't just heal on its own! I'm not even at that monster one that reopened on your chest, yet. How the hell you're still alive after Arlong stabbed ya and the all other's wounds from the Marines is somethin' I might never comprehend!" Dr. Nako declared, while Sakura stood beside him holding a tray with various instruments. Usopp chuckled at the sound from three beds away.
It was another hour before Zoro was finished and demanding somebody bring him a drink of sake. The Doctor nearly broke his own medical oath and hammered the swordsman over the head; 'Somebody that cavalier and carefree is too much for anyone to handle!"
Zoro simply pushed him aside, stumbling out into the late afternoon, and finding the real party in full swing.
"Yeah!" "Woo-hoo-hoo-hoo! We're Free!" "The Fishmen are gone! "It's over, now time to celebrate!"
Cries of joy were lifting everyone higher and higher by the minute. Tables were lining the streets and squares of the Cocoyoshi Village, piled with food, beer, wine, fruit and more. Others were cheering, dancing, or heaping food towards the Straw hats surrounding them.
Kakashi's group had returned, with the others scattering about while he stood back, heading for another job. Slipping into Genzo's house, the Jonin brought out a single scroll from his flack vest. 'Hmmmm. On second thought," Kakashi silently deliberated, 'This should be safer in its original hiding place, where those on their way to arrest Arlong and his followers won't be looking for it.'
Packing the treasure scroll tightly away, Kakashi moved back outside, where he found people on the rooftops singing of freedom, and joy. dreams and desires to the heavens. "Hey, whaddya just standing there for, man!" someone cried, pointing straight towards Kakashi.
"Yeah! Come on Old Man Kakashi! Grab some meat and join the party! We've got to celebrate this big win for our crew!" Luffy exclaimed, using one hand to yank Kakashi straight into the festivities. The Jonin couldn't slip away without hurting someone, leaving him stuck as the centre of attention from all the grateful people. To Kakashi's complete chagrin.
Sasuke stayed apart from the others, waiting for Zoro outside the clinic. Once his idol came stumbling out, the Uchiha's ninja wire-tied him to the wall before he strolled forward to get a mug of booze for the man.
"Hey, Brat! Get these things off of me! There's a mug of booze call me!" the swordsman was complaining loudly.
"After you got lost and stuck in another fight today?" Sasuke coolly deadpanned "I talked with Captain Luffy and heard about your terrible direction inhibition. Just stay right there, and don't wonder anywhere, Zoro-san," Sasuke trolled him.
Yet as the last Uchiha was moving through the less rowdy crowds of the party, people began to approach him. "Excuse me?"
"Hm?" Sasuke found a small girl standing before him. With another woman close by, unmistakably her mother.
"Thank you," the child spoke. "Arlong took my Daddy away, and I almost lost Mommy too. I never thought he would leave, but you made my dreams come true," the girl expressed to him, with eyes filled with worship and relief. Reaching out, she grasped Sasuke's hand pulling herself closer to hug his arm, leaving the Uchiha too stunned to pull away. "Thank you, so very, very much!" the girl professed, her voice high yet quiet.
The mother pried them apart slowly, before falling to her knees before Sasuke, head bowing deep.
"Thank you. For our freedom that all the hatred those Fishman carried towards us."
The pair moved on, leaving Sasuke stupefied. His mind fell into a blur of confusion and even stranger feelings. Moving through the crowd only on reflex, more and more gratitude and praise were given to him everywhere. Making Sasuke all the more confused at these new sensations; 'All these people…their praise doesn't have any pity like others do. It all feels…real,' the survivor realized. 'They're impressed by me, for my own accomplishments. Not my name, not my brother or anything else.'
He was not the only person somewhat out of place. Gin had been lost before Luffy, Johnny and Yosaku roped him into a drinking contest. One that Zoro demanded to join after the bounty hunters tied him loose.
Sanji had three different women under his arms and could not be more perverted—errr-happy! He was the happiest man on the island!
Sakura tried dragging him away but gradually gave up. Before finding herself dancing with another boy from the island, wearing a toque and happy as could be. Moving around with everybody else she became too wrapped up in the joyful atmosphere to do anything else.
'Maybe…. this new world and all the people…it isn't so bad at all!' the pinkette decided.
Elsewhere, Naruto was running around with young children. After filling his stomach with their food, the orphan had been bombarded with praise from the people they had saved. Yet, instead of glee or fulfilment, only a heavy, hurtful, weight began forming in his chest. All the smiles, all the joy, led the uncomfortable ache to grow more, and more, and more.
Quickly, Naruto fled from the villagers before it all became too much. Only to find several younger children swarming him. Each of the kids was aged 8 or younger, trapped by knowing only Arlong's rule. With it finally over, they were playing freely in the streets for the first time in their lives, carefree, safe, and abounding with joy.
"Come on, Big Brother Naruto, come and catch me!" one of them cried, laughing as Naruto began chasing her in a game of tag.
"Oooohh-Big mistake, Mimi! I'm gonna getcha, ya know!" Naruto replied, running in circles with the group; thrilled at the chance to enjoy a child's game with others, another the first in his entire lifetime.
"Mimi! Stan! It's getting late! What are you doing with that boy!"
Naruto froze, a terrified deer caught in headlights. Some of the parents had come over to the commotion and were eying him and the others. Looking across them with his mind blank, Naruto blinked as each of the adults-only smiled before walking up to him.
"Young man? Thank you for helping us on Nami's behalf," a woman smiled down, patting Naruto over his head. "I even heard you were the one who defeated Chew," another parent praised him, placing one hand on Naruto's shoulder.
"Thank you barely seems enough, for what you've done for us, son."
"Yeah, come on and join Big Brother Naruto and us!" Mimi cried, pulling the adults to join in the fun. They did…for a while. Until somebody noticed the hero of the moment was missing. The others started calling around for Naruto, but he'd disappeared into nowhere.
Across the island, once night began to fall, Nami slipped away from the celebrations. Walking along the beach, the girl smiled as her destination came into sight. Minutes later she was sitting on the ground, talking to someone.
"I…I should've told you this first. But I had to help a few friends. Everything…it doesn't feel real, Bellemere, but Arlong real is beaten for good."
Raising her head, Nami smiled towards the grave, where the only mother she'd known was resting, peaceful and grateful for the first time.
"You remember those people I talked about this morning? They give me a headache half the time, but all the rest, they really are incredible. I met them by accident, and don't know much about the two new ones. But…" Nami's descriptions came to a pause, trying to think of Kakashi, Sasuke, Naruto and Sakura and place her feelings towards them.
"One of them saved my treasure from being stolen and is the only one to look before they leap. Another two younger ones are quite adorable, almost like a little brother and sister. But the fourth one carries some kind of pain, I just know it, and seems to be angry about everything."
"But I owe them a lot right now. They did the impossible today, and everyone is safe. They set me free, Bellemere. Especially the captain, Luf…" Nami's voice trailed off again, recalling every emotion Luffy had given to her: comfort, freedom, relief, protection, and so many more.
"Thought I'd find you here."
Turning to face the voice that cut into her thoughts, Nami found Genzo standing at her shoulder, with Kakashi and Sasuke behind them. The ninjas were at a respectful distance, as Genzo laid a hand on Nami's shoulder.
"She'd be proud of you Nami. More so than anyone else," he murmured. "Not only for all that you've done, but for the woman you have grown into. And the people standing by your side."
Smiling up at him, Nami agreed.
"Hey, Genzo."
"Hmm?"
"If she were still alive, and I said I wanted to become a pirate. Think Bellemere would let me do it?" Nami asked, to Genzo's surprise. The man shouted at how it would never happen, until he suddenly stopped, beginning to laugh.
"Guhahaha! You know I'm telling you the truth. But that wouldn't matter, would it? Because you'd do it anyways, no matter what anyone said," he resigned.
Nami's chuckles were musical, "That's right, nope."
"Does that mean you're back as a navigator for us?" Sasuke interjected. Turning back to face him, Nami began to shudder, recalling the wounds he had given her, in that exact spot, only hours earlier.
"I have something to ask you," the Uchiha continued, even more tactless than his teammate. "Arlong murdered your mother. He made you suffer in the worst ways possible. Even your sister…" Taking a moment to swallow back his building emotions, Sasuke's sole, entire focus surrounded Nami.
"…Nojiko said that both of you suffered for revenge. But Captain Luffy was the one who defeated Arong, and none of you even defeated a single member of his crew. What does that mean to you, losing that revenge!?"
Locking eyes with Nami, two sharingans lit up the night, each carrying two tomoe, this time. "How do you think and feel about that? Of someone else defeating Arlong, or how he is still alive, right now? Don't you want to destroy him, by your own hands for what he's done?!" Sasuke demanded.
Seeing his eyes for the first time left Genzo speechless. While Nami thought back on her past:
Of a tiny, scarred, angry girl, her voice awash with tears: '"I don't want anyone to see this. Hh—hhh-this…-hh—this…awful tattoo. I'm just pretending, but it's like he owns me now-hhh-hhhh."' Darker silhouettes of Arlong, his men, and so much more followed. She recalled the helplessness behind it, along with regret from every completed map, every finished project, she made for him, and the success those results brought for Arlong. Betrayal, helplessness, and the fear for the survival of all she cared for dominated Nami's thoughts.
Some better memories did join them, however.
'"Nojiko? What is that?"'
'"Oh, you mean this? It's nothing. Just a tattoo. Now I look just like you."' And the sliver of laughter shared between sisters, the first they'd had for years. Satisfaction followed; drawn from every step she took towards the goal of 100,000,000. And finally, on that crucial day, she met Luffy.
At the darkest point in her life, when even Nojiko couldn't do anything to her suffering, Luffy was the one to bring an end to the nightmare. He took her burden with the strength to make it weightless and fulfilled it without a second's hesitation.
Looking over at Sasuke, Nami felt another rush of awe at the image of Luffy putting himself between her and Arlong, before giving the fishman his final defeat.
Turning around to face her mother's grave, Nami gave Sasuke her answer:
"I hate Arlong down to my bones, Sasuke-san. And no matter what comes into my life, I can't get back what he stole away. I'm going to remember what happened until the day that I die."
"But…at the same time… now that he's defeated, I'm free of any ties to him as well. For the first time, I can live for myself and my own dreams, not for his or out of fear of what he might do, again. Just knowing that Arlong is beaten, for good. That is enough for me. Now I can live my own life, without letting him dictate what I do. I'm content with that."
Turning around, Nami found Sasuke's eyes wide in shock, Genzo smiling with pride, and Kakashi's one eye fixed on his student. When nobody made a sound for several minutes, the Copy-nin stepped between them.
"The Captain is looking for you, Nami. He wants everyone together to introduce our new members more officially and decide on where we go from here. Sasuke, why don't you join Nami to meet him. I'll be there soon."
The girl smiled, walking forward to grab the stunned Uchiha by his hand. Caught in a daze, Sasuke did nothing as Nami walked him back towards her village, with Genzo beside her.
Kakashi's gaze followed each of them until a bend in the path obscured his sight. Alone for a time, the Jonin-sensei looked back across the cliff, towards the ruins of Arlong Park, then out towards the sea, again.
'I can't believe Naruto actually used 1,000 years of death on one of them. And Sasuke even confirmed it,' a single hand slapping his forehead at the image both students had described.
'When I asked them to recount how their fight with those Marines and other fishmen went…...well, at least it explains that shout across the island about somebody's butt.'
'But all of that is beside the point.' Kakashi's thoughts grew very serious, thinking back across everything from Krieg's appearance to Arlong's defeat. Of Naruto becoming poisoned, which he still hadn't shaken off completely; to their encounter with the Sea Cow, whom Nami identified as Momoo; finding Usopp and Nojiko wounded and Sakura around them, and Mihawk's duel with Zoro.
'Before one week ago, Minato-sensei was the only person I've seen who carried that kind of power and skill. After talking with Johnny and Yosaku about the Warlords, and their mandate to stay undefeated to maintain such status…'
'I have been too inactive; this world, or…wherever we are. The past two days have shown more threats and dangers than anything I faced in the 3rd Shinobi War. Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura were endangered far too much, I even thought the two boys could free Zoro without any problems, or the men they faced with Arlong and Krieg would be no higher than C-class threats. But Naruto nearly died, twice, Sasuke made an inexcusable blunder, and Sakura had to be saved by Usopp.'
The man dropped his knees in front of the grave, his hands curling into fists, clenching handfuls of dirt in a deadly vice. 'My Genin were hurt and endangered. And I wasn't there to aid them until it had ended. They barely avoided death, some by seconds or inches.'
The Jonin raised his head, looking out across the ocean-bound horizon.
'There is no village here for us to contact, or retreat to. Chef Zeff was right. All those weeks at the restaurant, why didn't I place emphasis on training with my students? After just assuming moderate growth was enough, I could handle any other threats? Or take focus any excess form of danger on to myself, and leave each of them out of harm's way?'
Thinking back over all that happened, Kakashi's shoulders buckled under the load of his self-admonishment. At the Konoha memorial stone, where he would envision the past, and different scenarios where those he cared about would have lived if he had only made certain choices in time. There, standing before Bellemere's grave, a different kind of mindset gripped Kakashi's consciousness; imagining dozens of cases where he failed, and each of his students would die, or meet a worse fate.
'No more. I need to prepare them much more intensively, I know that, now. This world has who knows how many dangers in it, from Warlords to those Sea Kings, and more. And the only person who can teach Naruto, Sakura or Sasuke any kind of ninja arts to survive it...'
"That weight is on my shoulders now," Kakashi spoke, aloud. "It's not just about being the only one who can teach Sasuke about his sharingan. That same responsibility applies to each of my students. All of us need to grow far, far more skilled than we are right now. And fast."
"I told you I'll never let my friend die…that is something I keep trying to convince myself of. There are so many people I was unable to protect so far," Kakashi spoke to himself, reflecting on so many people he looked at only from the present.
"Every time I swear that I'll protect them…still find myself facing the truth of when I'm not able to do it."
Even as those words were spoken, spectres of Sasuke, Sakura and Naruto each stood out from others he carried in his heart, from a different place; the present and the future, surrounded by threats of how each one could die if Kakashi did nothing to prepare them.
Rising back to his feet, anyone around would see the Jonin-sensei's right eye blazing red as a new pledge was made.
"I can't stop danger from coming to them. Now I see that. So, I will do the one thing I can guarantee: make sure they are prepared to face any and every threat we will find!"
Only time could tell if Kakashi lived to that promise, or failed his own ninja way, again.
0…...…...0
Four hours hour later, a light was bright inside Nojiko's house in the dark of night. The entire Straw-Hat Crew were inside, with Luffy sitting on the table.
"Ok. Now that Arlong's beaten, it's time to meet our new crew member. Nami, Zoro, this is Gin, and Sanji finally decided to join us!" he grinned pointing straight towards them both.
The former Krieg pirate stepped up, extending his hand to Zoro. "Hello there. Y'all have my name already. Ah was part ah the Krieg pirates, until Krieg nearly killed me for disobeying him. Naruto saved m'life, an' Ah gave my aid to Don Luffy to defeat my old boss at the Baratie. Aftah that, Don Luffy asked me to join you, and Ah accepted his offer. Vice-Captain Zoro."
The swordsman eyed him carefully, before turning towards Luffy and Usopp. One was smiling, the other nodding with a shrug, proving the story was true. Zoro turned back to the new crewmate and took his hand in a firm grasp.
"Sounds good. Welcome to the crew, Gin. But before anything, stop calling me 'Vice Captain" anymore. That title sounds lame. I'm the First mate, deal?"
"Alright. So, Gin" Kakashi cut in. "Before we go any further. You're likely unaware. But Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura and I are just looking for a way back to our home island. Luffy is the most convenient way to reach that goal, so we joined his crew temporarily. All of us are ninjas and—"
"Ninjas!" the man exclaimed, stars dancing in his eyes. "Whooo Nelly! Never thought Ah'd get lucky enough to be on a crew with pirate ninjas! This crew is getting cooler and cooler by the day."
Kakashi sweat-dropped, while Nami and Sakura were confused, and all the other boys nodded in agreement. "So then. Why don't you tell us about yourself? Your skills? Your likes? Dislikes? Dreams? Desires?"
His composure returning, Gin began to ponder. "Well, 'side from my name, I'm also called "Man-Demon" Gin, with a bounty of 12 million belies on my head. Back with Don Krieg, Ah was chief-of-staff, or a battle commander during a fight. I'm sadist, I'm loyal, and somethin' of a tattoo artist. I enjoy order and results but dislike betrayal or anyone who goes against their word or honour. As for my dream…."
Slowly, one hand rose to Gin's chest, level with his heart. Curling it into a fist, his eyes closed, recalling all he'd lost in the past month.
"My dream for now. Is to sail back to the Grand Line. It's stupid, with no real sense. But that sea invoked real fear in me for the first time in my life, an' Ahh lost a lot ah friends there. For their memory, Ahh wanna go back, to conquer my fear of that sea, and fulfil the ambitions of the crew Ahh sail with, especially Don Luffy's dream to become the King of the Pirates!"
Everyone looked at him, accepting the former enemy with open arms. Particularly for voicing his desire to stand beside them. Even his deep sense of comradeship met Kakashi's silent approval.
"Huh!" Luffy palmed his fist. "Fist-mate! Yeah, I like that better too. There should only be one guy called 'captain,' not a second one! Good thinking Zoro."
"Just doing my job, Captain."
Zoro took the compliment for its worth as everyone else blinked at their slow-minded captain. Nami chose to shrug it aside, turning towards Gin.
"Excuse me, Gin-san?"
"Yeah, what can Ah do for yah, Ma'am?" Gin answered Nami's call.
"I might ask for your help with tattoos in a couple of days," Nami requested, gesturing to her bandaged left shoulder. "I want to get rid of anything left of Arlong's mark; hopefully by making it into a new design."
Nodding solemnly at the girl, knowing her past, Gin promised to do what he could.
"Ok!" Luffy announced. "Now that you all know Gin, it's Sanji's turn!"
"Hello there," the cook spoke up, lighting a fresh cigarette. "Well, most of you know me already, so, I enjoy cooking, making new recipes, and serving beautiful ladies. I hate people who disrespect a cook or waste food and utterly disgust anybody who would dare harm a lady. So, if anyone here ever tries to hurt a woman, I'll throw Luffy's orders out the window and kick them into the next millennium."
"Hey!" Zoro shot to his feet, shouting at the cook.
"Other than that," the cook continued, ignoring Zoro as a smile larger than Naruto's came over his face.
"I want to go with all of you, to find the All Blue. It's a mystical place in the world, a spot where the East Blue, the West Blue, the North Blue and the South Blue all meet together. A point that contains all the fish from each of those oceans gather. For a cook, to have all those ingredients in one place, it's a wonderland, too amazing to be real."
"A place like that has to be somewhere on the Grand Line. My dream is to find it, proving that it is real beyond any sliver of a doubt! And-"
The grinning cook was cut off, by Zoro whacking him upside the head.
"Were you hearing what I said! You might be part of us now but threatening to go over the captain's head isn't a casual topic. You don't have any grounds to pull a stunt like that! He's an idiot, but Luffy's word is final, no matter what goes down, even to attack a woman."
Sanji shot to his feet. "What kind of uncouth barbarian would even be thinking about hitting a woman! That thing is a sin against all manhood, moss-head! So, as long as nobody complains about my food and doesn't hurt any women, we won't have any problems, got it!"
"Your terms don't matter, especially if a lady attacks us and useless baggage drags everyone down!" Zoro shot back, drawing his one sword from its sheath. "Give me one good reason why I should let that kind of attitude slide! Especially from the crappy cook talking back to the first mate!"
"You did not just insult my cooking!" Sanji met Zoro, butting foreheads together. "Blunt Brains!"
"What was that!" One second later, Sanji was punched in the face, flying through the doorway and into a tangerine bush.
"No! Not Bellemere's trees!" Nami exclaimed with fear, as Zoro marched past her towards the cook, and was immediately kicked in his head. "Oww! What the hell was that for, Nami!"
"You hurt my mother's precious tangerine trees, Zoro! Don't think I'm going to—"
"Moss-Head!" Sanji roared as a bull, charging for the swordsman with a kick. "This is for upsetting Nami-swan!" Zoro would barely block it with his sheathed Wado Ichimonji; if someone else hadn't run between them!
"Time out-Guuuhhh!" Sakura cried, shooting between both men, trying to stop them. Only for one leg and one sheathed sword to hit the girl square in her face, as a hammer on an anvil!
"Ahhhh! Sakura-cha- "
Pooof!
"Sakura" disappeared in a column of smoke, leaving a battered, bruised, and totally KOed Naruto in her place. "Huh?! Naruto!" Sasuke shouted at the sight, while Kakashi took stock of what happened.
'Substitution, Naruto must've done it to keep Sakura out of danger.'
"Naruto! Is…is he alive?' Sanji questioned everyone, guilt clear in his face.
"Well, he was," Zoro answered. "I hope he…still is," the swordsman croaked in regret.
Neither noticed the furry rising behind them, clocking back one arm, and then shaking the house with a scream.
"YOU MORONS!" Nami exclaimed, pounding them both anywhere she could hit, steaming rage clear on her face and leaving most of the spectators terrified. "How could you both hurt Naruto like that! GET OUT!"
Zoro and Sanji were literally thrown from her house, one quietly with shame, the other with hearts in his eyes. Next, Nami gathered Naruto in her arms to carry him back to Dr. Nako. Sakura hurried behind her, while Sasuke, Gin, Kakashi and Usopp stayed behind.
"Okay, that's enough," the Jonin called to everyone remaining. "All of us are a little tired and pent-up from the dangers of the fight today. How about we all turn in for some sleep? Right, Captain Luffy?"
…. No sound came from the Straw Hat Captain. Looking over at him, the ninjas, Usopp and Gin found Luffy sitting in the corner, his face hidden by the hat.
"Captain Luffy?" Sasuke called over again.
For the hat to slip backwards and reveal Luffy had fallen asleep.
Everyone blinked, before Usopp dropped his face, landing in his palm. "Shoulda seen that coming," the sniper bemoaned.
The others all moved back towards their ship, or, rather most of them did. Zoro and Sanji were walking along until they both felt solid taps near their heads.
Moments later, Zoro woke himself up; deep in a forest, lit only by the moon.
"Huh! What the hell was that?" the swordsman growled going for his sword—to find it missing from his hip. At the loss, Zoro became frozen, until Sanji's cries cut through the darkness.
"Moss head! Did you just tie me up like this!" the cook was upside down, his legs bound with thin, steel wire dangling from a tree.
"Oh, no. The both of you…need to have some details ironed out with me," a creeping, deadly voice slithered to their ears. Fear came to life in both younger men, but neither trembled nor showed any signs of it.
Kakashi stepped out towards them, raising his hands together. "Now, Naruto became hurt moments ago from the pair of you losing control of your petty squabble. A short while back, I promised myself not to let anything of that sort slip by without attention," the Jonin spoke openly, his tone shifting from ominous to iron with every word.
Zoro began to stumble back, naked without any swords, and Sanji was helpless to escape. Both had their eyes trained on Kakashi.
"Hopefully, this will prevent you from repeating that mistake!" raising them, the Jonin's hands settled in a rat sign: "Genjutsu: Death Mirage Jutsu."
Staying in place, Kakashi watched the pair, with wide eyes following his move, anticipating the results to come.
One moment passed…. another…. a full minute. And nothing changed.
Kakashi's eye furrowed on his brow, while the cook and the swordsman tilted their heads, confused.
"Something wrong with your ninja powers, Kakashi? Or does this one take a minute to kick in?" Zoro questioned him.
"Genjutsu: Death Mirage Jutsu," the cyclops-ninja repeated. Still, no reactions came from his targets with their eyesight clear on himself. Kakashi's single eyes frowned, dropping his arms, to stand with ease and curiosity.
'What is going on? I meant to punish them through those illusions, and their own lack of any background in ninja arts made it highly probable that the effects were fool-proof. But nothing I happening to either of them,' the Jonin's mind raced at this revelation.
'Maybe-?' Kakashi shifted his head-band, revealing his sharingan eye at the pair. Training it on both, he employed a sharingan-genjutsu over each of them.
Zoro formed a light snarl, shifting into a fighting posture, while cursing himself for the current predicament. 'How could I lose my sword this easily, and with curly brow tied up there, he'll be no use at all! This is a mess, and if it were with anyone else, both of us could fall since I'm not at my best.'
"Zoro-san. Sanji-san," Kakashi addressed his new crewmates, hiding his left eye once again.
"I'm still less than pleased from how Sakura was nearly hurt, and even more so that Naruto was struck by you both. This…will be a warning. You've both done well today and led me to an important discovery. For now, both of you can spend the night here. Or, rather, Sanji will while Zoro searches for his sword. I hid it somewhere around here," the Hatake joked, sweeping one arm around the clearing.
"I suppose a little exercise will work things out. Zoro has to find his sword but is not allowed to return to the ship until he cuts Sanji from those ninja wires. Good night."
With that, Kakashi vanished into smoke, before Zoro could gain his whit's over the idea of Wado Ichimonji thrown aside like a cheap toy.
"Hurry up Moss head!" Sanji's voice snapped him from that concept. "I've gotta pee up here!"
0…0
Meanwhile, across the island, Genzo was standing near Bellemere's grave. Holding two bottles in his arm, the man uncorked one, before pouring it over the cross.
"Bellemere. Your daughters are strong young women now. Just a glance at them and it's like seeing you all over again. They both have different ideas and dreams, but we know you'd never stop them from anything they'd do, so long as they remembered the family you made with them."
Closing his eyes, recalling the happier times with that woman, Genzo's lips curled in a smile, looking back towards the ruins of Arlong Park, its looming, ominous shape whipped from the earth, for good.
"All of us can finally rest and enjoy our lives again. All that we lost; every sacrifice that was made cannot be undone. But nor will they be forgotten, you most of all. We aren't going to waste a single moment," he swore.
Looking down with a smile at a dear friend's final place of rest, the man could feel only content. The silence somehow assured him of newfound peace spreading to everyone in his home, especially to a single brave mother whose company he now kept.
"RRHHHHIIW WWWAAAANNNNN MMMMMRR'RRRRE MMMEEEOOHHHHTTTT!"
Genzo nearly jumped six feet high at the shout. Whirling about to look behind himself…Luffy was standing near a tree with several roasts in one hand, a cup in the other, and his mouth full of two bones. He swallowed, then spat out chicken bones to the side.
"I said I want more meat! We're almost out back on the ship. Hey, where is everyone?" Glancing right and left, the pirate was the picture of confusion.
"Hello there, Straw-Hat," Genzo spoke in a low, serious tone. "Listen. The Marines are coming in a few days to get Arlong. If you need it, go hunting on another island nearby to pick up extra meat. Otherwise, things might become dangerous here."
"Huh? Oh, yeah, right. I don't wanna run into them again. Thanks, old pin-wheel guy," Luffy nodded. "Hey, a grave? Did somebody die right there?" he questioned, pointing up at the spot where a brave mother now rested, watching over those she left behind.
"Yes. This is where Nami and Nojiko's mother now lies. Bellemere," Genzo explained, coming to a decision.
Luffy blinked. 'Uhh, what did Makino tell Ace and me about this? Oh, yeah.' Stepping forward, he stood next the Genzo, bowing his head towards the cross. "I am sorry. Nami is okay now. I give to you my condolenzzeees."
The next moment, he turned around towards the village and his nakama.
"Boy!" Genzo called him back, with total seriousness in his soul.
"Nami. I know she has decided to join you. And that crew you've made on your adventures. Right?"
"Uh-huh. That's right. I won't have anyone else but Nami be our navigator. That's why I chased her here in the first place after she left," Luffy answered, with innocent honesty.
"Then…listen. Nami is happy. For the first time in years, she is smiling again. She has her mind made up to go with you, and nothing I do or say can stop it. But…"
"…but becoming a pirate is dangerous business. I'm fine with her going with you, but some of your crew don't have my full confidence. Like that Sasuke-kid, for hurting her right here in this spot three days ago. So, if someone else hurts her, or if anyone you do anything to take her smile away."
Genzo's eyes met Luffy's, with a strength that carried the weight of his own world in them. From all the strength he had, even with the knowledge that Luffy's own surpassed his by several miles, the man still spoke; "If I hear you failed her. Then I will kill you. Even if I die trying myself."
Luffy looked on at him, thinking back towards what the man had spoken about Sasuke. Next, an image of Naruto choking on gas came up in his head, followed by Usopp passing out in a clinic, Sanji nearly killed by Arlong, and a broken Nami stabbing herself in the streets.
Grasping each of those, Luffy made a deep promise to himself. 'My nakama got hurt, when I wasn't there, and wasn't strong enough. Ace told me once that I was too easy and playful to be a good captain. And he[1] agreed with him. I wasn't good enough; I wasn't around, and I didn't think hard—ow!'
A headache came into Luffy's mind, at all the thinking he was doing. Still, the pictures of his injured nakama dominated his thoughts, throwing aside any sense of fun, whims or easy ways through anything.
As he raised his head to meet Genzo in the eye, the lawman stumbled back, fearful of the power behind Luffy's gaze. "My nakama got hurt because I wasn't good enough. Then I protected them from Arlong and stopped Nami from crying. Dangers will come, and they will get hurt. But I will become a better captain so I can always save my nakama, no matter who we fight in our way! And I'll never take on anyone who would hurt a friend. Ever!"
Luffy's oath was enough to shake anyone to their core. His words reached up to another figure, present, but unseen.
"Nami is my nakama. I want to become the King of Pirates, but that doesn't matter if I can't have my friends beside me to do it! I'll die before any of them lose their smile or lose their dreams. No matter what," the Straw hat swore, to himself most of all. With a new sense of what he had to do, greater than any time before.
0…...0
The celebrations for Arlong's defeat lasted for another two entire days. The Straw Hats were guests on honour across the entire island all that time. But all things have to end; and with the Marines due to arrive, the crew decided to make their way out at the first open opportunity.
During that time, Sakura and Nami had been working to help her pack up and prepare. Even managed to move several trees from her family's grove onto the Going Merry, with Naruto and Luffy both eager to help.
The Straw Hat Captain gradually become more and more involved with his crew. Checking on each of them and asking about what they needed to bring for the next part of their journey. Whenever he wasn't distracted by food, singing, and stories, leaving his crew with some sense of normalcy about their captain.
On the 2nd day, Nami sat down with Gin, explaining what she wanted to do. After carefully removing her bandages, Gin glanced over her shoulder. Looking between it and a drawing Nami had given him, he assessed how and where different parts of it could be modified.
"The pattern's good enough to match, Nami. Do you wanna wait a couple days first? All the stabs you gave yahself are gonna make that spot tender-some for a while."
The girl only gave one, tiny grin at his answer. "I know. Stabbing it was stupid, but…I literally couldn't do anything else to him at that moment. Please….just….Get. It. Off. Me." With her heart in her throat at the plea, Gin couldn't say no.
It took a handful of hours, but soon all was done. Arlong's mark was erased, leaving a new mark in blue on her shoulder; four spinning ends, curling towards the right, with a single tangerine off the top one.
"There. It'll need a few touch-ups over the coming days. But are ya happy with it, ma'am?" Gin asked his new crewmate. Nami stood up, examining it in the mirror, smiling brighter than the sun.
"Oh, that's so cool!" A new voice shouted at them, as Naruto came in through the doorway.
"Hey, can I get one! Can It? Can I? Can I?" he began begging the pair.
Gin only shrugged, "Why not? You only live once, kid. What kinda mark do you want?"
Naruto frowned, one hand under his chin, trying to think over what to get. Nami chuckled at the sight, finding his concentration face all too adorable.
"Hey, Naruto. Before you hurt yourself thinking too hard, I might have one idea."
"Hey, I never hurt myself thinking! Huh? What is it, Nami?" the boy cried, then growing more interested than slighted. Nami nearly frowned, 'he's almost as excitable as Luffy.'
"The easiest way to tell if someone is a pirate is from their jolly-roger. It's a skull and cross-bones that gets painted on their flag. But each pirate crew always designs their own, to add new images that they like."
"Since Luffy is our captain, we use a skull and a straw hat as our mark. But why don't you get a skull with your own designs on it? You're very own jolly Roger."
Naruto loved the idea. "Okay! Uhhh…Hey, how about this!" pointing up at his headband.
"Gin! This head-band. In my village, you can only wear it after graduating to become a ninja! And this one is real special to me! My teacher, Iruka-sensei, tried it on after I saved his life from Mizuki! Can you make a skull that looks like me with this on its forehead! An-and put in the same spot as Nami's tattoo!"
Gin nodded, asking Naruto to sit down while he prepared his tools, and took out some fresh paper to design the image.
By morning on the third day, Zoro had been cleared by Dr. Nako to leave, and Luffy was eager to get going before more Marines showed up. Most of the crew were gathered around the Going Merry, loading the last of their new supplies, while Sanji was wearing a spare set of pants borrowed from Zoro.
The chef ignored every question about it, looking through the kitchen to learn about his new workspace on the Going Merry. Most of the townspeople were standing by the docks, with Johnny and Yosaku among them. Both bounty hunters decided to stay in the village, protecting it from any future pirates and to give Arlong over to the Marines once they arrived.
Sanji had even left his personal boat behind, for the pair to use if the need ever came. "Now that I'm with Captain Luffy, this ship will be all I need, plus an extra boat would slow us down for any quick getaways," the chef had reasoned.
"Thank you big-bro Sanji," Johnny replied, then began to scratch the back of his head, guiltily.
"Plus, it actually helps us out a bit. To start up a new business Yosaku and I want to have."
"Really!" Zoro called over, hearing what his old friends were speaking about. "You two leaving bounty-hunting behind, or is this a side business?"
The pair began shifting, tapping their feet and looking anywhere that a Straw Hat wasn't. Yosaku finally raised one hand to his chin, looking at Zoro with a deeply serious gaze.
"Johnny and I can't thank you enough for what you've done for us. And it was good to see big-bro Zoro again and all. But, right now, our regular jobs were bounty hunters. Arlong and his crew will bring a lot of money from the Marines and we certainly won't let him terrorize another group again."
"However," Johnny took over for his partner. "Yosaku and I would have to fight with you again, one day, for professional reasons. The thing is, we don't want to. This is goodbye for now, and I hope we meet again someday."
Placing two hands on his hips, the shades-wearing man grinned up at the crew. "So, after giving it some very careful thought. Yosaku and I decided to start a fishing business right here in Cocoyoshi village. We'll still grow stronger and protect it from other pirates. But this way, we can see you again, or you and come here without any problems from us fighting you!"
Zoro grinned at the pair, then gave each a nod. Walking over to both, he shook hands goodbye with each before promising to see them again, once he defeated Mihawk and claimed the title he sought for. With the last goodbyes made, everyone was standing around, waiting. And waiting. And even waiting some more. The last two members of the crew had yet to arrive, yet.
"Come on, how much longer!" Luffy's voice shouted through the crowd. "Old man Kakashi needs to get here for us to get going! And Nami's missing too!"
Sure enough, the legendary late-comer Kakashi had not arrived yet, leaving everyone deeply antsy by his absence.
"Uhhgg. Why'd we let sensei wander off like this!? It's almost like he wants to be late for anything and everything!" Naruto piled his antsiness up there with Luffy's
"I'm sorry, Captain Luffy," Sakura tried to placate the impatient captain. "Kakashi-sensei might be taking care of something real important, and is just running behind," she reasoned, while internally, another voice was shouting about smashing the Jonin around like a pinball for being late again.
Usopp and Zoro lifted the last crate of supplies on board, while far back near a house, Nami was spying on the ship with similar opinions. 'Where is that grey-haired, tardy bum? If he's not here fast, the chance to pick all those pockets will pass by wasted!' she fumed, silently.
"Well, if Nami and Kakashi aren't here maybe we should leave her. Her village is safe now, so she did achieve her goal. Any reasons to come along might be gone," Usopp's opinion came on the deck.
"What!" Sanji exclaimed. "Without Nami-swan around, I have like 98.72% less reason to be here! What about me and my dreams too, she can't be selfish enough to only focus on herself!"
"Hey!" Luffy countered, pointing one finger straight at his cook. "I'm still mad at you and Zoro for hitting Naruto. And don't think about walking off just like that."
"No!" Luffy's voice came around the crew, palming one fist in his hand. "Nami's our navigator, and I came here just for that. We'll just go look for her and then get going. Old man Kakashi might be having a nap right now, then he'll come to the boat," the captain declared.
Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke each blinked, before pondering Luffy's words a touch closer. 'That might be why Kakashi was late every day back in the Leaf Village,' Sasuke reasoned until a splash came from the port side of the boat.
"Yo, everyone! No need to search for me. I'm right here."
The voice came right behind Sasuke, leading the Uchiha to look upward and find the missing sensei right beside him, waving a hand to greet them.
The entire crew erupted:
"You're late!" "What's give, sensei! You said you'd stop that, datebayo!"
"We've all been waiting, Old Man! Next time don't take a nap right next to when we leave!"
"Hey, were you trying to flirt or plan something with Nami and scarred her off, pervert!"
"You don't get to wander off whenever you want, Kakashi-san! Especially after stealing my sword like that!"
The entire crew, save their missing female, were glaring at the Jonin. Who simply waved it off without a care.
"Weeeeellllllllllll….the path of life led me to that sea cow on the bottom of the bay. Leaving the poor soul there would been terrible animal cruelty, so I let it go, and it swam away in terror."
Everyone blinked, while Sakura, Sasuke and Zoro got stuck recalling the sea monster they found on the way.
"Well, ya here now. Only Nami's yet to show up on board," Gin nodded at the ninja, before turning over to Naruto. "Hey, kid. How's yer shoulder feelin'. And ya haven't been rubbin' it, like Ah said, have ya?"
Naruto nodded, eagerly, assuring Gin he didn't want to mess it up. Before anyone could ask what they meant, the other latecomer finally appeared.
"Set the sails! Let's get going" a woman's yell travelled through the crowd and the crew. Nami was standing up the hill nearly 80 meters away. With everyone's eyes on her, she broke into a run, building speed up towards the Merry.
"Ahhhh, why is she running like that? I don't get it," Usopp threw out a question.
"She said to set sail, why would she do it if she hasn't even gotten on board yet?" Sakura joined him.
Down on the wharf, Genzo put the pieces together. "No. She's trying to leave us without letting any of us thank her or say goodbye!"
"Oh, well if doesn't want a scene, it's time to get going!" Kakashi hurriedly spoke. Quickly, he and Luffy began to unfurl the sails, while Zoro lifted the anchor. Naruto complained about not getting some attention, but the other genin shoved him along what the others. Soon, the boat was moving away from the docks, ready to leave.
Some of the villagers tried to stop Nami, but none could touch the girl. Ducking, weaving, even twirling around, Nami lost no momentum in her dash for the Merry. Reaching the edge of the docks, she leapt off as hard as she could.
But, the girl made one, big mistake. With six extra members than before, the Merry met the current and soon became too far away for her to jump aboard.
Halfway in the air, she began falling for the water! "Nami-swan! I'll catch you, my love!' Sanji quickly made his own leap from the railing but never made it close.
Luffy's arms shot ahead even faster than the cook, wrapping around her waist and pulling Nami close to himself. The girl felt solid wood under her feet, and Luffy's strong arm across her waist brought a light blush to her cheeks, before standing upright with a smile.
"Ahhhh Nami! Are you happy to be in my arms?" Sanji asked, hearts blinding his eyes. Curling his lips for a kiss, the cook opened them to a shock. He was in Kakashi's arms, after being caught inches from the water down below, and brought back to the deck.
"Cook-san, please, do not kiss me," the Hatake deadpan at the cook. "You are not Nami, and nor am I inclined to have-" Sanji quickly flew back to his feet, scurrying all the way to the other side of the ship. Until "Oooooo. It looks like Nami is about to remove her shirt," those words froze Sanji cold.
Sure enough, the girl was lifting them he of a new white top she wore, moving high enough to spot one under-boob. And spill several dozen purses, wallets, jewels and more out from under it, pilling at her feet.
"What!" "Hey!" "Why wallet is missing!" "She took all our cash!"
"My purse is gone!" "Each of them got swiped!"
Shouts of awe from everyone left behind came erupting. Nami simply raised a pair of notes to her lips, kissing them before facing back at her home.
"Thanks a BUNCH!"
The girl continued waving back at everyone she'd scammed, with Zoro and Usopp groaning behind her, Gin and Sasuke unbothered, and Kakashi, Naruto and Sakura looking on confused.
Luffy was laughing hard as ever, with a fierce grin at his entire crew together, ready for the next stage of their journey. Until, strangely, a touch landed on his shoulder, with a voice clear in his ear. "Not a bad catch, kid. Look after my girl, for whatever she wants."
The rubber man looked around, only to find the faint trace of a woman, with fuchsia hair styled in a mohawk, grinning down at him, before fading in the breeze.
"I'll miss you, take care! And Nojiko! Don't forget to write, and I'll some letters back to you as well!" Nami cried back, bidding her home a safe and heartfelt farewell.
0…..0
3 days after the Straw Hats had left Cocoyoshi Village, a single warship continued cruising over the seas, making for the very location they had left.
On board, several Marines kept the ship in order, while others had circled a ring in the centre of the deck, watching a bespectacled woman sparring with two fellow recruits. Elsewhere at the masthead, their commanding office took in the situation with deep annoyance, lighting a fresh cigar to join the two others still in his mouth.
Marine Captain Smoker cast his gaze outwards to the open seas, his mind beset by a storm of fury at the recall of the very situation before him.
'I also felt something rotten about that lowly excuse for a colonel. But this news about Nezumi's corruption is a serious matter even for him. Headquarters is breathin' down my neck now and want to know the facts. This better be worth my time,' the Logia-type growled in his thoughts.
Looking back towards the deck, his own protégé Tashigi stood tall and balanced with her sword levelled at the downed opponents groaning at her knees. Looking up at her mentor, the girl's inquiring smile received a stern nod from Smoker; before the girl's eyesight shifted beyond him and her face grew with shock.
Tashigi removed her glasses, rapidly cleaning them, then blinked as they cleared her vision once again. For a moment, her mouth hung agape, until the sense of the new arrivals clicked in her mind.
"Sir! Captain Smoker, sir! Vessel approaching the starboard, with some kilometres of distance! It's Vice-Admiral Garp's personal vessel, sir!"
At the Sergeant Major's word, everyone's attention was drawn in that exact direction. Sure enough, one, large Marine warship was in clear sight after leaving the cover of an island several kilometres away. The vessel was unmistakably a Headquarters Warship, with a dog house in place of the crow's-nest and the oversized prow of a mastiff bull-dog munching on a bone clear for all on board.
'Sharp girl. That is the "Hero's" ship, no doubt at all. What's he doin' all the way out here!'
Smoker thought, grinning at the idea of meeting Garp in person. "All hands to action stations! Helmsman bring us alongside them! Tashigi, get the den-den mushi and set the dials to Vice-Admiral Garp's designation!" Smoker's voice rang over his boat. Following their orders, each and every Marine assumed their regulation position as the ship began moving over to the new vessel.
Minutes later, a gangplank connected one ship to the other, with Smoker showing a rare sense of deference by leaving his ship to approach the superior officer's command. Only to find the suited man standing tall, donned in a white officer's suit and the mask of a bulldog covering his face, munching on a doughnut.
Smoker, with Tashigi at his side, gave his salutes to the "Hero of the Marines" and his right-hand man, Bogard. The latter replied with a nod, while his boss continued munching.
"Vice-Admiral Garp. Can I ask to know what has brought you all the way out here to the East Blue?"
"Hmmm. Well, it's nice to run into a fresh brat like you again, Smoker. And drop the 'Vice-Admiral' crap, you know I don't care about formalities."
Taking another bite, the grinning man surprised all the rest of the Smoker's crew with his uncaring attitude.
"I might answer that question if you do the same?" Garp replied, nodding down his head for another bite from his snack.
Tashigi stood straighter than any other officer among them, with a backbone of iron and too in-awe to speak. Even as her own superior gave their answer, working through his cigars with growing tension and anger.
"A handful of days ago, some bastard called me in Loguetown about a case of corrupt Marines around a place called Cocoyoshi village. Apparently, that fuckin' punk Nezumi's been taking bribes from a Fishman pirate called Arlong, letting his crew run loose over some villages in the area for the past 8 years runnin'."
The man waited for the Vice-Admiral's response….
…."ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz"
From a prolonged snore, a certain man's head fell backwards, blowing a single nose-bubble from his narcoleptic habit.
Everyone blinked, barely staving off the sense to gawk at the scene.
'Should this man still truly be a Vice-Admiral?' Tashigi questioned, silently.
'He is approaching his 80s at the least. Though I admire and applaud his dedication and diligence in the continued fight for justice, falling asleep so suddenly must be due to how difficult it is for him to remain so poised, stoic and powerful. I would never imagine someone of a higher rank sleeping on their duties so suddenly and randomly.'
Thankful not speaking of it allowed spared a certain Ice-man from an unpleasant sneeze. While in the East Blue, Garp woke himself up and began a raucous chuckle.
"Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Dozed off again, didn't I? Gotta catch'em where I can to have a shot at that world record for munching down the most doughnuts in a single sitting. But what are you talking about, Smoker?"
Smoker's teeth began to grind, frustrated at the delay in getting to the bottom of his case, but still repeated his answer without complaint.
"But that ain't the worst of it, sir." Smoker paused for a moment, focusing past his growing resentment, conjoined with memories of a spunky young girl from their days training with one another.1
"The report detailed how this Arlong guy murdered a fellow Marine, Bellemere right after he arrived. And Nezumi swept that act slide under the rug with his corruption"
Nobody on either ship moved at that news. Bogard's hat tipped forward, shading the man's opinions under its brim, while Garp had stopped eating.
More details followed from Smoker, along with his intentions to land in the Conomi Islands to investigate the truth in the matter.
"The whistle-blower is a guy called Genzo. According to him, another pirate crew came to his home with some beef against Arlong. Some perps called the "Straw Hat" pirates showed up, left Nezumi's crew in the dust and defeated the Arlong Pirates single-handedly. Some new group under a guy called Monkey D. Luffy's captainship. Haven't heard much about this new pirate but—"
"WHAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTT!"
Even jumped at the roar from Monkey D. Garp, some overboard and others totally out of their skin. Crushing the doughnuts in his fist, the other shaking, his outrage clear for every Marine to watch.
"Are you serious, Smoker! Did you just say Monkey D. Luffy was a pirate captain! And he beat up another pirate crew!" the Vice-Admiral demanded, yanking the Marine Captain off his feet by the collar and shaking the man back and forth.
"Garp, sir. There is not an excuse here for you to man-handle fellow officers like this," Bogard spoke from Garp's shoulder.
"Please, put him down and ask about things a little more productively."
Most of the group on the opposite ship were quaking in fear, worried about what could have sent a Vice-Admiral to become this wound-up. While Tashigi was gripping her sword but totally unsure of what to do.
'Why can't Captain Smoker get away with his Logia Powers?' her bewildered thoughts came to mind.
The next moment, Garp blinked his eyes, dropping the Captain into a heap on the deck and folding two arms across his chest.
"Smoker. I'll repeat myself. Was the guy who beat up these Arlong Pirates called Monkey D. Luffy? And he's a pirate now, but he attacked a corrupt Marine?"
Smoker glared up at his superior, his own feelings professional and fearful.
'Garp's always been an eccentric guy, everyone at headquarters knows that. But what could have set him off to manhandle me this suddenly?'
"Yes, sir. The man who reported everything even had Nezumi's official logbook with the correct identification numbers, and it lines up with a few more Marine crews that have gone missing close by."
"I was on my way to take a look and arrest each of the Fishmen myself but had to leave Loguetown to handle it. Maybe even run into this Captain Luffy and get his side of things."
Garp merely glared at the officer, before turning around to gaze out over the seas, towards Foosha Village.
'Damn it Dadan, why the hell did another one become a pirate? Fist Ace runs off, and the next moment I'm not looking, Kiddo turns around and does the same. And he's beating up other pirates—'
"Hey!" Garp exclaimed, slamming one fist into his open palm. Everyone jumped again, worried about what the man would do next, while Garp kept his thoughts to himself.
'He just beat up another big Pirate crew and avenged a Marine officer! Maybe Luffy will find he likes beating up pirates more than being one! If I find him and nail that home, then he'll finally join the Navy!'
'So, the big question is, where will he be next?'
"Bogard!"
"Yes, Vice-Admiral!" the adjunct snapped to his superior's side.
"How far away is it from here to Loguetown from this Cocoyoshi Village? And how skilled was this Arlong Guy?"
After a little book-checking, Bogard dug up Arlong's reputation and how it likely takes 7 days to sail from the Conomi Islands to Loguetown without any distractions.
Garp nodded looking back to his feet while deciding what to do next.
'The only thing Luffy ever does directly is run to a dinner table. The brat'll take his time, but after getting his own crew and beating a pirate who survived in the New World he'll probably go straight for Reverse Mountain. I was gonna pick up Ax-Hand Morgan and then head straight back to Sengoku with'im. But if someone else went there while I-'
"Owwwww!" Garp groaned sharply, raising one hand to his forehead.
'Damn, I'm getting' a headache from this much-complicated thinkin'.'
"Sir, are you doing alright, Garp?"
Turning towards the voice, Garp's eyes became fixated on Smoker.
"Do you want to handle this incident with Arlong and Nezumi? I did leave my post at Loguetown to pursue this and will turn back on your orders. Or do you want to handle your own priorities and let me deal with Straw Hat and Arlong?'
In that moment, two different light bulbs inside of Garp's mind lit up.
"Well, I was on my way to handle another report about a rouge Marine. That egotistical dunderhead Ax-hand Morgan. But either you or I could stop by Cocoyoshi Village and look into this business with Arlong and the Rat, Nezumi. Meanwhile, this guy Luffy will probably make for Loguetown and move into the Grand Line. I want to head him off before that happens."
"So, these are my orders for you, Smoker."
End.
[1]-This is Sabo. In the series, Ace did not use Sabo's name even on his deathbed, and in Dressrosa Luffy only referred to him as "the guy who died much earlier." Losing him was, evidently, so painful to both that they never used his name again.
And that is the wrap to the Arlong Pirates Arc; and the start of a new adventure, with some fresh excitement.
My motivations to introduce this possible change to the story, is from how much the Loguetown Arc is reused by other Fanfic writers. It was a crucial point in the One Piece story, but the vast majority of One Piece fanfics all just rush through Loguetown or leave it to play out exactly like the canon; a trope so consistent, it's often becomes boring. Something all the most frustrating by how crucial that arc is and changing anything too drastic may upset the subsequent stages of One Piece just as much.
I want to avoid that as much as possible and make Growth Through Chaos very original while without deviating too much from canon-storyline.
Garp in Loguetown was something Oda likely didn't use to save the exposition for an explosive unveiling years later; something he executed brilliantly. But now, anyone who follows One piece knows Luffy's paternal parentage, so keeping it a thorough secret is somewhat redundant.
Still, the Classic-canon does remain classic from how familiar and amazing it is.
So, who should the Straw Hat's face in Loguetown: Captain Smoker, or Vice-Admiral Garp? This choice will have consequences on the who story, and both will be far from one-sided, and have several consequences:
1. Monkey D. Dragon is still out there. Even if Garp goes to Loguetown, he can stone-wall the "Hero of the Marines" if Kakashi gets tied-up, so the Straw Hats can make an escape. However, they haven't encountered one another in-canon each other yet, so a lot of speculation would be involved between the pair.
2. Whomever goes to Loguetown, the other will get to deal with Arlong and take Coby and Helmeppo under their wing. Can anyone image Coby with Smoker as a mentor?
3. It means Buggy and Alvida will have to deal with either Smoker or Garp, all the while trying to kill Luffy. Something that is really, really not a good idea if his Grandpa is around. Plus, they might learn about their relationship, and Buggy definitely met Garp more than once with Gol D. Roger.
4. It means Zoro will meet Tashigi at a later date in the story. I promise it will still happen, and if she isn't there, then after some additional growth, the two of them can have a better confrontation in the Alabasta Arc.
5. This would remove the majority of Smoker and Luffy's rivalry, leaving him more focused on Coby and Helmeppo.
6. Since Kakashi did not fight with Arlong, he'll be matched-up against whomever is leading the Marines. Smoker's Logia Powers, or Garp's sheer power, are certainly enough to seriously threaten Kakashi, who's the only Straw Hat who can actually stand a chance against either one.
Garp does drastically outweighs Kakashi in Strength and Power, but so does Might Guy. Guy is arguably faster than Garp, and both use similar wreaking-ball mindsets in a fight. Making "the Hero's" straight-forward approach to fighting something Kakashi can deal with slightly better opposed to Logia-powers, and Smoker's more dynamic options in a fight.
One final parting note: Luffy's bounty. Nezumi is a disgraced Marine, so he won't be able to place a bounty on Luffy's head. That job will fall to Smoker, whether by learning about Luffy's exploits across the East Blue, or from confronting him in Loguetown first-hand.
So, Vote: Who should the Straw Hat's face in Loguetown: Captain Smoker, or Monke