Growth through Chaos

by Animephilosopher1

As they return from the Land of Waves, Team 7 fall into somewhere far more chaotic and divided than the Ninja World. Follow Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke and Kakashi, after they find themselves in the World of the One Piece. Growing through a Special brand of Chaos across trials, battles, training and more as members of the Straw Hat Pirates on the Grand Line.(LuffyxNami, Kakashi x Robin)

20. Chapter 20: The Spirit of D

Growth Through Chaos: Chapter 20: The Garp, the Monkey and the Dragon: Spirit of D.

Or: "No plan will survive a Monkey D."

And it's finally here! Darn this chapter was a tough-stretch, but the wait is over. There is a lot coming up in this story, so grab a snack, grab and drink and strap in for a wild ride!

"…."=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.

Please, Read and Review. I really, really like Reviews.

"I'm finally a pirate now and it's too much fun to stop Grandpa!"

"How many more times have I need to say what I want for my Grandson!?" Monkey D. Luffy and Monkey D. Garp kept glaring at one another. Then-

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!" - the audience behind them exploded, with such an uproar the whole building hopped right off the ground, shaking with the echoes and shock from a 200-ton surprise. Eight stupefied troublemakers had dropped everything, even Zoro lost his grip on his swords. The entire ensemble was spiralling over this new incredulity.

"D-D-D-D-Don Luffy! Did ya jus'...jus' call…this man is-?"Gin held up one shaking figure, his spirit a total blank. "Luffy," Sanji shouted, "you seriously mean to tell us this guy's your grandpa!?" The cook's shock was clear as his voice had blown his hair back, showing both eyes. Beside him, Kakashi's eyeball was a balloon: wide, round and floating in the air. Sasuke wasn't moving, yet beside him, Naruto jerked his face between both Grandson and Grandfather.

"Luffy!" The last shout weakly came from Nami, both arms limp at her sides. "You….act...actually have a-a…a Marine Vice Admiral for a GRANDPA?!"

"Would all of you quiet down!" Garp yelled out. "There's something I need to do right here, right now!" He was leering at Luffy, while the pirate kept glaring up from under the welt on his forehead, hiding the terror at what he knew would come next. "No more waiting. Come'ere and hug your Grandpa!" Garp sang, engulfing his grandson in his arms, hugging the teenaged pirate off the ground, and singing his praises.

"Luffy! Somebody told me about you and that bum Arlong! I'm so proud of you! My Grandson went around beating up Pirates! That's the best news ever in my life!"

0….0

Captain Kuro looked out across the plaza of Loguetown, his arms folded and one foot tapping from atop the execution stand. Beneath him, Buggy and Alvida stood before the scaffold, with Usopp mumbling over his leg wound at the Pussy-foot's feet. Others were moving about, as the "man-of-a-thousand-plans" glared at the rabble surrounding him.

'Those imbecilic pirate rabble fell for our ruse flawlessly. The town's people gave them no warning of us after my little whispers turned the masses against them,' the self-proclaimed genius continued gloating. Then he eyed his two "allies" at the foot on the platform. 'These idiots did well drawing out the crew with their challenge to measure the strength Straw Hat Luffy may have acquired. Since he...destroyed…. my plan for Miss. Kaya.' Curling one fist, reminded of his failed investment, it took a notable measure of will for the perfectionist Kuro to not surrender to his murderous impulse.

'The fools were rendered entirely blind to my ruse of sailing out to sea, then returning late in the night with a separate boat. The final success of their lives in completing my plan before I kill them. Alongside the carnival filth Buggy and Alvida,' he silently spat in his mind.

Glaring left and right at his partners, Kuro nudged his glasses up with his palm, then pressed together both hands behind his back. 'The populace here failed to provoke any kind of fight with that Monkey D. fool, or any others under him; as my plan called for them too. I shall kill each of the people in this town as well for such complacency, then slip away into my complete retirement and leave such disgusting a disposition as piracy alone, forever.'

'This plan, my plan, is in the final stage, to end with the death of Monkey D. Luffy to the utmost perfection.'

0….0

Zoro, Nami, Gin, Sanji, Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi all kept watching as the Marine Vice-admiral swung Luffy left and right; gently and with prideful tears in his eyes. The scene was so random and loving, juxtaposed with the explosive entrance, nobody knew what to do.

"Oh, boy, this is the greatest gift I've ever had," Garp sang. "Wish I'd been there to see it myself, Luffy. Didya have fun, tearing up that Saw-tooth bum, Arlong?"

"Fun? There wasn't any fun there, Grandpa." Frowning again, Garp let go so Luffy could stand up on his own. "WHaaaaat? What're you glaring like that for, kiddo? I heard you beat the guy and his whole crew in some big throw-down. What, did he steal something ya wanted to eat?"

Luffy only shook his head, with a face hard as granite, while recalling Arlong. "Arlong hurt my nakama. One Marine who was friends with him shot my crewmate, too. And worse, he locked up another of my nakama for eight years after killing her mother. Nami got so hurt by him she stabbed herself with a knife through some ugly tattoo Arlong forced on her. Then, middle of our fight, Arlong tried to back-stab my cook, too."

A fire grew in Luffy's eyes, making the onlookers swallow but not bothering his Grandpa. "There was no fun in that fight at all. I kicked the guy's ass and wreaked his dreams so bad they'll never happen, ever."

High above him, Luffy watched his visitor glowering down with the presence of a wight he was painfully acquainted with. But somehow, this focus was not aimed at him.

"HHhhhhh," Garp let a deep breath out. "Yeah. I got that part of the story on the way here. All how one corrupt Marine let those fishy bastards run around and did nothin'. That skinny shrimp had no place in the Navy, just like I told him after fishin' him outa the sea."

"Huh? You found the guy Grandpa?" Luffy cocked his head. "I don't remember where he went," Luffy muttered, rubbing his head with one finger.

"Well, he wound up on my ship. It was fun to scare the toothless line of piss. Until he ruined his own pants," Garp answered. Finally reaching a point where the other Straw-Hats recovered their wits; especially two that came running straight up to smack his captain's head: "Get back to the real point here, Luffy! You're honestly saying this Navyman is your Grandpa!"/"What kinda crap is that to drop on us outa nowhere!" Sanji and Zoro both shouted at their captain.

"Hey, is this guy how you got real, real strong, Captain Luffy?" Naruto called over before Nami snagged him and planted herself between him and Garp, protectively.

"How can somebody as loud as Captain Luffy," Sakura cried out "keep quiet about this?" Said Captain looked between all of them, until somebody else tapped Garp on his shoulder.

"Pardon me, Mr. Hero?" "What?" Garp shot, as Kakshi held both his arms up, placatingly. "My family's here," the hero complained, "and it's been a while see we've been together. Whada ya got a stake in this?"

"Only towards the honest truth. How is our danger-loving, glutenous, loving, half-a-brain pirate captain your grandson?" Kakashi asked, calm and cool as ever.

"Old Man, be careful!" Luffy seized his ninja, his cook and yanked each backwards, catching Zoro on the wall until they wound up in a pile behind him. "Listen," Luffy commanded with fear in his tone. "Zoro, Sanji, Nami, Gin, Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Old-man. No matter what, don't try to fight this guy. He is my Grandpa, and he'll kill all of us if we do. Just like he almost killed me over and over again when I was little."

Sasuke's mouth hung totally open, looking from one Monkey D. to the other. 'Almost killed him? A member of his family did that? Like Itachi did to me and our clan?'

"Kill you! Like how Haku's Dad did to him?" Naruto cried out, Kakashi and Sakura both twitching at the memory.

"Who th' Hell is Haku, Naruto?" Gin asked him, his weapons now put away under the captain's order, yet both eyes fixed only on the Vice-Admiral.

"Now, now," Garp spoke up. "Don't go lying like that, boy. Where'd you get that kinda I wanted to kill ya, Luffy? I wanted you to get strong. Sure, I did throw you down a ravine one time. Before you got these devil-fruit powers and couldn't swim out from the rapids at the bottom." Luffy winced at the reminder.

"And I left you in the jungle overnight a few times too," Garp continued, picking his nose. Another explanation, and another memory made Luffy gulp.

"And sure, there were those times I sent you sailing off on those balloons." Luffy actually shivered at that one.

While some of his crew put two-and-two together from recalling a certain giant bird.

"But I never did any of that to kill you," Garp reasoned. "I did it to make you man. And even before that, you were fighting with Apes and Monkeys in the forest after training with me. You lived through it all and got strong, so why go around whining and lying about it?" Garp finished his story, and Luffy did not turn his sight anywhere else. While the assembly to the family stories were digesting new revelations.

"Huh. Well that might explain a few…." Zoro muttered, then corrected himself. "Scratch that, it definitely makes a few dozen things about Luffy clear. And why he's missing half his brain sometimes."

"Maybe," Nami agreed, "and why he keeps throwing people left and right. Or how Luffy can keep taking so many hits while he's fighting on."

"And it makes sense for where Luffy's strength came from," Sanji muttered. "That and how he can just shrug off anything somebody throws at him."

"How can someone who was enemies with the last King of the Pirates have a grandson who dreams of becoming his successor?!" Sakura proclaimed.

"Weren't this kinda craziness suppose 'ed be on th' Grand Line, not outside of it?" Gin asked the world, shaking his head with rolling eyes.

"Hey, what the ruckass about?" Garp shouted over at them, throwing both his arms wide. "All of that was to make Luffy a Navyman, and now it's gonna happen right here! I bet all of you'll do fine as Marines, or even stay together as a crew in the Navy with Luffy!"

"No way!" The Straw Hat owner declared, planting both feet in the ground. "These are my crew, and all of us are gonna be pirates!" forgetting who he was shouting it. "They have their own dreams too, and we all want to go and find them together. That freedom won't be there if I follow what you say!"

"You ingrate! And after making me so proud! What's left your brain so wrecked you can't think!"

"I think fine. You're the guy was bad ears." "You ain't got nothing to say about my ears!"

And on the back-and-forth between Grandfather and Grandson continued.

While Naruto slipped closer to Nami. "Nami-nee. Did Luffy really not say anything about his Grandpa? Ever? And what kind of power does a "Vice-Admiral" in the Marines have?"

"Naruto!" Sakura hissed, before pausing a moment. 'That...is a good question.' Nami took the window to answer. "No. He never said a word. Come to think about it, the only part of his past Luffy does ever talk about is Shanks. And now...think we can see why."

"Maybe," Sakura muttered. "But still, this man is a Vice-Admiral. Within the whole Navy hierarchy, there are only four individuals with a higher position: the Fleet Admiral and three Admirals. People call them the ultimate power-houses of the organization. Vice-Admirals are one rank below the Admiral and are still seriously powerful. The Navy itself does encompass the entire world…maybe that would make the Vice-Admiral Rank equivalent to a "Jonin" in the Ninja World, while the Admirals are the "Kage." This man might be as powerful as Zabuza-san, or Kakashi-sensei."

"Drop this fool's idea, boy!" Garp thundered, silencing any other conversations. "There are more scum and cut-throats all around the oceans, hurting who knows how many people. That Small-fry Buggy the clown is one of them, or the idiot Don Krieg. Heh, 'strongest man in the world?' I'll bet the fool doesn't know the first thing about who actually has that title. Why not show 'em who's the strongest by fighting them under the Navy's flag?"

"Nah, Booger the Clown is nothing," Luffy answered. "I already beat-up that guy. And Bastard-Krieg too, after he wanted to take a restaurant I was eating at and tried killing my cook."

"I already got those guys, Grandpa, so why go and fight them again?

Slowly, with many anxious people watching, Garp's face twisted with awe. "Whaaahhh? You…you mean you went and nailed so many already?"

"Yeah, so what? AAAAHHHHHH!" Luffy got yanked off his feet, Garp reeling him in before rubbing his hair and clapping him on the back. "That's my boy! Just a month out from setting sail and you cleaned every big name in the East Blue down the drain! Atta-boy!" Garp kept praising them, then pushed Luffy away and landed a solid punch on his skull. "Now come be a Marine!"

"OWWW!" Luffy exclaimed as a fresh welt grew over the one he'd gotten earlier. "Mad at me or happy at me? Why can't you pick one?"

"Psst. Naruto," at his shoulder, said Uzumaki found Kakashi kneeling behind him, and holding one hand to his ear. "Do you want to pull a prank?" the Jonin whispered.

"Darn it boy!"

"AAAHHH!" "Captain!" Zoro and Sanji had to catch Luffy while he rolled backwards, smacked by Garp so hard a third welt grew on his head.

"Drop that 'King of the Pirates' idea, little punk!" The Marine was shouting again, his fist raised and ready for another shot. "How many times do I need to punch you until you finally join the Navy!"

"I'll take them again, and again, and again Grandpa! It's not my fault you never listen when I decided to be a pirate!" Luffy declared, back on his feet.

"Damn that Red head!" Garp exclaimed. "What right does that fool have to go about telling anybody they can be a pirate if they want to!?"

"D…Don't you dare bad-mouth Shanks!" Luffy glared back. "He saved my life, and always told me I won't make it as a pirate. I'll show him, and you SHUT-UP!" Luffy kept staring down his Grandpa, for all of three seconds. On the fourth, Garp snatched him forwards, holding his Grandson high by the collar. "Shut up, huh! What kinda thing is that to say to your Grandpa!?"

"Uaaah! I'm sorry!" Flailing in the air, Luffy strained to get free until a cloud of smoke engulfed him. Naruto appeared in place. "Stopping picking on my captain, he's awesome, believe it! So-" Mid-way through the speech. Both Luffy and Garp threw their heads back, snoring with bubbles of snot high in the air.

"WHHHHAAAA-they're ASLEEP!" Zoro, Sanji and Gin each shook, their tongues waggling and eyes pointing out into the air. "In...deed," Kakashi muttered. Then made a silent high-sign to Naruto. "Everyone," the Jonin pulled their attention away. Suddenly, smoke engulfed the room where the Straw hat pirates stood. When it cleared, all of them were still in place, their eyes darting left and right, and nobody made a move.

A "POP" clapped through the room-"Huh?" Garp asked, shaking his head. Oh no, did I fall asleep again?"

"Yeah, you really did old man." Luffy had answered him, glaring up at Garp, then blinked and shook his head. "I, I mean, I'm sorry! I'm sorry Grandpa, I'm sorry!"

"Excuse me?" at his shoulder, somebody pulled Garp's attention away, right over to somebody with a shade of hair slightly darker than his light gray. "I'm Inu," the figure with a mask and one eye explained.

"It looks like Luffy forget to introduce his crew to you, sir. After all, shouldn't you know who joined him if you want all of us to come into the Navy with him? Especially since we are ninjas."

"WHAAA! Ninjas? Ninja'? Get out of here!" Garp whirled about. "Looking over the crew his grandson had been standing with, and picked out three kids wearing head-bands which matched the one 'Inu' had lopsided on his head brow. "Seriously. Luffy, where did you go and find ninjas? How in all the world did my Grandson get ninjas to sail with him, but not me? I thought those were only found in the Wano Kingdom! Everything outside the Grand Line is supposed to be right-side-up, not backwards-side-down!"

"Well, it is a lengthy story," Sasuke drawled out. "Somewhere between a shark, a sea cow, a peg-legged man and a Hawk carrying a sword, Captain Luffy demanded to have us on his crew."

"Uh-huh, but before them, my first nakama was Roronoa Zoro. He's right here." Luffy lopped one arm around Zoro's neck, pulling him close.

"The pirate-hunting brat?" Garp questioned. "How'd-WAIT!" Garp spun about, with his full attention back on the boy in his grip. "Who the hell are you!"

Immediately, the Marine swung a fist, then a second, a third, until all of the Straw Hats were hit hard…hard enough they exploded in smoke.

"Where did Luffy GO!"

0…0

Several blocks away from Garp, the Straw hat crew, all 9/10 were still running away after getting 'Substituted' out.

"Naruto, that was excellent. Especially getting awya in that window while Mr. Garp was asleep." Kakashi praised him. Thinking back to their escape.

"Now let's hope that—"

"Huh? Uh-oh…Kakashi-sensei, the jig is up!" Naruto cried. "My clones are gone!" Then the Uzumaki threw his head back, with both hands pressing his face. "Again! There it is again. just like when I saw Garp saying he was going after you his guys! What is happening?"

Everyone traded glances between each other and Naruto. Kakashi and Nami themselves made straight for him, but one stopped part-way. "Naruto is right, he sniffed out our ruse and Garp punched out everybody," kakashi confirmed. Sasuke and Sakura both went on high alert, while the fighters among them twitched at the news. Kakashi himself cast all his senses out, exchange his comfy attitude for a mission mindset: decisive and lethal.

"Sensei!" Naruto called over, pleading with him. "Inside my head, a picture just popped in. The same thing happened before right after Usopp got taken. Why does this happen, and now I know my shadow clones were destroyed?"

'Hmmmm,' Kakashi noted inside his head. 'Does he even know of how shadow clones can transfer memories at all? Anyone who got the jutsu right from the forbidden scroll would have that component right in front of them. Still…now that I know more about him back in the village…'[1]

"You mean Grandpa is following me again!?" Luffy panicked, running back and forth, gripping his hat with both hands to pull down over his head, and glancing left, right, or up in terror.

"Naruto," Kakashi spoke up. "The same things happened to me, too. because of our Shadow clones. Listen," Kakashi stepped forwards, revising the content before him to simplify it. "When shadow clones dispel they can-"

"Monkey D. Luffy." Throughout the town, a wide, loud message cut-off Kakashi's explanations.

"Your formal invitation to the execution of Usopp, the scion of a filthy pirate criminal Yassop, shall henceforth be delivered. For crimes of piracy, deception and beguile, alongside raising a pirate flag and associating with terrible scoundrels, the imbecile is to face beheading inside of one hour. Held at the precise execution block which the heinous outlaw Gold Roger met oblivion upon."

The street was quiet again, given over to the piter-pater of rain slowly building in volume. Some left the pirates damp, yet none of the rainfall touched one of them; instead, it was sizzling under the heat of Monkey D. Luffy's anger.

"Usopp! We're going for him and getting away from here, and fast!" Luffy declared, slamming one fist into his palm, impatient to hit somebody. Looking up between all his nakama, they each met him with the same determination: Sasuke found his hand ready on Kazoku Shugo, Zoro, Sanji and Gin each were ready for a fight, Sakura swallowed but stepped up beside Nami and Naruto, as Luffy's gaze settled on Kakashi.

"Old man. I can shoot forwards to that stand and grab Usopp. But Booger and Alvida might be there too, and anyone they have with them. Grandpa might show up and snatch away all of us. What can we do? Owww…rrrrr" Staggering the rubber man leaned against the wall with one hand on his head, mumbling. "All this thinking makes my head hurt."

"It's not only Usopp, though," Nami cut in, looking around them. "A massive storm is building. One that'll break at any moment, and sailing out of here will be impossible We have to get to the ship and be ready to leave the second we have Usopp and everyone aboard."

"Alright." Kakashi's command struck each of them like lightning: fast, powerful and left them in awe. "Unlike Naruto, I cannot make shadow clones endlessly, and Garp might still be out around here. Nami you are with me; we'll move to the Going Merry and prepare to sail off. Sanji or Gin will need to fight Buggy to bludgeon him out of the fight, but only jutsu can incapacitate Avlida. Captain, you and my Genin will focus on Usopp. You have defeated this Captain Kuro before. Can you do it again?"

Luffy answered by reaching for his hat, planting it on Nami's head, again. "Look after this for me, Nami. If I have to, I'll smash every part of Kuro to pieces. I used the think he was just uncool, but now I'm gonna break him worse than I did to Arlong."

"Hold your horse's captain," Sanji cut into the tirade, drawing attention from everyone. "They already mislead us once, and we've got THE Vice-Admiral garp to worry about, too. Let's plan a moment before rushing over and marching into another trap."

"Too long. Let's plan on the way," Luffy declared. "Saving Usopp comes first!" Luffy declared. Banter ensued, with Zoro, Gin, Sanji and Nami losing to Luffy's persistence. All as Kakashi began to think back over the wider scope: 'This Kuro sounds like an ambush specialist, and he'll have the clown and that woman, Alvida, beside him. Every power has a weakness, just like a jutsu, and perhaps her powers are unable to let everything slide. We need to keep a way open for a quick escape—'

"Ahhhh, no! The Merry!" Naruto's shout rang through the alley, both hands on his head again, the boy trembled frantically. "The lion and Mr. Unicycle. I got another brain picture of them at the Merry. They beat up my clones and now want to sink it so we get trapped here!"

One weird thing happened after another. The next moment, Kakashi snagged Naruto and threw him over one shoulder, next both hands were flying. "Suiton: Mizu Bunshin no Jutsu." In seconds, puddles and rainwater all mixed together into an extra Kakashi, which pulled Nami onto its back. "Nami? Naruto? You both hang on to me! We'll secure the ship, then leave another batch of clones behind and reinforce the others. Everyone else, make for the plaza and get Usopp out alive, then regroup!" That was all he whispered before the quartet vanished.

Immediately, those still behind were flying fast enough to leave Nami and Naruto unable to see nought but blurs around them. Kakashi was moving at full speed, and still thinking: 'I have to make this quick. Sanji and Zoro are strong too, and I'm sure Sanji will set chivalry aside with a comrade's life on the line.

0….0

"Ugghh! How in all the world can you not be bothered by all this rain, Alvida?" Grumpily, Buggy spat a glob of make-up drizzling down his face, his entire get-up ruined by the rain.

"You do know everything can slide right off from me with the Smooth-smooth power?" Alvida answered, coyly. "Back in my days without it, such rain would demand I cover up this beautiful form." Dragging one hand across her profile, the woman fed her vanity to pass the time.

Far up on the scaffold, Usopp was all alone. The rain soothed his leg somewhat while his spirit sank deeper into certain thoughts. 'Look at me. Look at where I am. Kidnapped, tied up, and about to die. I don't wanna die. Maybe I shouldn't have left Syrup Village at all. Making-up stories about adventures and being a pirate was so safe and easy. I mean, sure I gave a great effort.' As the last thought came through his mind, the image of Kuro's ambush played out a painful recall. 'I got a lot of shots in. Only after losing a hundred men does anyone capture the great Captain Usopp!' Another image of the truth spat from his memories, mixing with Nezumi shooting him down with absolute ease. 'And I still got some great times with my crewmates. All of us are strong and powerful. They're definitely coming here for me. After all, I'm the reason we even got a ship.' Now the lies really came: the picture of the Going Merry sailing out from Loguetown started poisoning his mind.

'No. That's not true. I'm strong, wise, and an essential part of our crew. Okay, maybe I'm lying a bit too far. I…I didn't do anything in Nami's village. I'm not strong or powerful or tough like the others are; heck Sakura's gotta be more useful than me. But…'

'But they have to come for me. They have to. They have to...'

Swallowing hard at a lump of iron in his throat, Usopp tasted salt on his damp cheek. "Please! My friends! Rescue me!" He pleaded to the heavens.

"Of course, we are!" Across the plaza, an answer came through the storm, drawing attention from everyone. There, right there, out from a road between the buildings, Usopp's friends arrived!

Monkey D. Luffy was at the head, bent down and barrelling forwards: an angry, red-eyed rhino! Zoro and Gin were a short space behind him, shaping their charge into a wedge, with Sanji, Sakura and Sasuke in the centre. The firstmate and "Man-Demon" had their weapons ready, yet the ninjas didn't.

"Oh, so you finally got the memo. Did you Straw-hat!" Buggy gloated with a smirk. "Just in time to flashily watch your dear friend die!" Beside him, Alvida grinned and threw her cloak aside. The clown drew his knives out, while she raised her club and all their crew braced for the fight.

Still running, Luffy was spinning both arms in circles, ready to unleash his barrage: "Booger the Clone! Ugly-Alvida! Gimme back my Nakama!" Immediately, Luffy stopped; the crewmates behind him almost collided with their captain. 'Damn it, I said pass a signal, Luffy,' Sanji cursed him. Gin and Zoro stopped short just level with Luffy and quickly shuffled backwards.

The Rubber man planted his feet and let loose: "Gum-gum: Gatling!" Shot after shot, punch after punch, the sight of every enemy became filled with Luffy's powerful fists. Cranking the output every higher, a tidal wave of impacts washed over the ranks of enemies before Luffy.

Sasuke already had both eyes out, let a low whistle out, impressed with a front-row seat to every detail of Luffy's assault. Even if somebody got around one punch, another nailed them only seconds later. Suddenly, the captain snapped both arms back in, loading up his right leg.

"Gum-gum: Whip!" The limb extended, covering half the plaza and scything down their stunned foes. A call went out and more goons came out from doorways, alleys and more, running straight for the scaffold. Sasuke and Sakura made their own moves: shuriken were flying at anyone outside Luffy's range or the few who'd managed to dodge his whip. Hidden by the dark clouds and with targets resembling packed sardines, none of the enemies saw anything until cuts and blood raked through their lines. Sasuke kept one eye on the scaffold all the while, ready to hit anyone that popped out.

"Hh. Nice throws, Genin!" Zoro's complement sneaked in, just as Sanji gave a command. "Second wave, go!"

At the cook's words, Zoro and Gin resumed their charge with each man's student at their side. "Zoro! Sasuke! Cut Ugly-Alvida!" Luffy hollered. "Gin and Sakura, go knock Boogie in the nose!"

"AHHHH-You bastard!" Buggy struck a pose with all his knives out and made straight for Luffy, keeping his lower half attached this time. Gin and Sakura interposed themselves between both captains, while Sanji ran up after Zoro and Sasuke.

"No you idiots! Nobody gets to hit the lady!" Glancing back, Sakura watched him ready to kick Zoro's head.

"CHAAAA! Sanji, this is not a place for chivalry," the girl shouted aloud. The pinkette was pulling her long hair out watching the charging cook. Her warning carried to the swordsman in time for him to duck. The hopeless Romeo sailed over to meet one of the few bozos to survive Luffy's salvo.

"Come on, Alvida-pirates! Charge out!" At Buggy's signal, further pirates leapt out from windows and fake crates stacked along the walls, charging straight for the extended Straw-Hat crew. Zoro glared over at them, then snatched Sanji by his hair. "Look, swirly-brow. It's hit that girl or let Usopp die, and if you choose the latter, I'll gut you right here, today. Go fight their back up with Luffy!"

"No way, moss-head!" Sanji bit back. "I can't stand for—"

"Sanji, come on!" A familiar hand, with an extendable arm, seized the chef by his shoulder. The first mate and the cook followed it to Luffy's wild grin; driving a very, very sinking feeling in Sanji's stomach.

"Hm," Zoro smirked, "Try not to die, lover-boy," then he let go. With only a yelp, Sanji went flying straight for Luffy, but the rubber man wasn't letting go. "Go kick 'em all down!" Luffy planted his foot down, braced Sanji over one shoulder, and grinned. "Gum-gum: Borrowed Black-foot Twister!" Luffy went spinning, with his arms out and swinging Sanji like a club. The cook's failing legs struck anyone he met, while the poor cook's cries echoed along his trajectory as Luffy stumbled around diagonally, growing dizzier and dizzier the longer he spun.

Zoro resumed charging right for the slippery foe so close to his student, with a dangerous grin growing on his face at the sounds of battle and Sanji's poor fate. Eventually, after Luffy knocked down nearly a dozen more mooks, he stopped himself and threw his cook like a bowling ball!

"OW!-Ah-CAP-TAIN!" The cook slammed into another four rouges, then all five met a wall hard enough to crash right through it. Luffy stumbled around before shaking his head. Looking away from his own crewmate-turned-cannon-ball, the captain spied the scaffold before him "I'm coming, Usopp! I'll die before one of them hurt any of you! I promise!"

"GGGrrrr! What the hell about me, Luffy!?" a certain nakama called over from the crater left from his impact.

"Shishishishi. Sorry Sanji!"

0….0

Elsewhere at the Harbour-front, fresh waves cut across the ocean's surface; the vanguard to the larger storm. Nami held on tight to her ride, while the water-clone of Kakashi kept flying from one roof-top to the next.

In no time, the squad arrived at the Going Merry. Naruto catapulted over his sensei's shoulders, eager to get stuck in a fight. "Alright, time to be awesome! You steal my home, I'll beat you down no matter where you are! Come on out and…Huh?"

Right before the four of them…there was nobody to fight.

Cabaji, Mohji and a familiar large lion were sprawled over the floor; not moving but not dead either. All three were wounded, and they were not alone. "Huh? The Marines! They came here, too?" Everyone was aboard now. Nami and Naruto each shouted the same words in unison with each other. Kakashi strode past the siblings and up the gangplank, looking around.

"Perhaps they knew this was our ship, or witnessed these rouges and charged up here to arrest them?" the JOnin proposed. "I count 20 of the Marines total, and there was a fight here, since both sides have injuries. But none of them are dead."

"Thirty." From aboard the Going Merry, one deep, serious call met the Straw Hats. Both Kakashi's vanished while Naruto leapt for the haul, planting his feet on this and ran straight up, with Nami scrambling up behind them. Together, they all found one man standing by the mast: a looming figure clad in in-green robes, his face obscured with a hood, a fresh and unwelcome mystery. Naruto was ready for his favourite ninjutsu, both Kakashi's drew their kunai and Nami stayed behind them, glaring.

"Who are you? Are you trying and steal our ship? Are you with Buggy, Kuro and that woman, Alvida too?" the girl demanded.

"Get off of my home," Naruto exclaimed. "Are you looking for a fight? Do you have more buddies here, too? Well I'll beat you all up, believe it!" Naruto dropped his stance and spun around scanning all around the ship.

Kakashi buried a seething response, 'Turning your back on an obvious threat. That will get you killed, Naruto.'

"I am no enemy to you four," the stranger replied. "Were that different, I wouldn't have come to remove the Marines from stealing this boat." Walking up towards them, the cloak this person wore rippled with the wind at his back; obscuring the being's profile, yet not his staggering height.

Looming in the growing darkness, neither Kakashi nor Nami spoke up. The Jonin felt familiar instincts buzz down his spine, reflexes driving one hand up to uncover his special eye. 'This person. They're powerful,' he almost breathed aloud.

"Well, then we have you to thank," Kakashi addressed their visitor."

The figure drew back his hood: uncovering wild hair in a widow's peak and a wide tattoo spanning half his face. He was an older man, yet….a potent gaze left Naruto and Nami to edge backwards. 'Why do I feel like I'm standing next to Shimura Danzo?' Kakashi pondered, quietly.

"Sometimes," the stranger spoke up. "Fate will deliver just what you need when you are least aware of it,. Your enemies lie elsewhere, and came here precisely after the one named 'Kuro' spread his voice across this town. Preparing to leave would be a wise decision here," the stranger advised. "Though I ask you to let me stay behind in Loguetown."

Naruto glanced over at his teacher, while Nami looked to the heavens. 'Huh?' 'The storm. That's strange.' Squinting upwards with her, Kakashi did not take his eyes over their visitor as he made a decision.

"Hey, sensei," Naruto called. "If the Merry is safe now. Maybe one of us can go back and help everybody."

"That may not be necessary," the man who'd saved their ship spoke. "Do you not have faith in your captain and those he chose to rescue their ally?" At the stranger's question, Naruto glared over at him. "What do you know? Who are you anyway? Coming here on our boat, saving it but not saying who you are, and saying I don't think Luffy can do it? Come on, why not you and I go right here right now?" Naruto was almost spitting, ready for a fight until Nami ran forward and locked on hand on his shoulder.

"No, little brother. Mr.," she addressed their company. "If you came to help us, thank you. There might be more Marines coming, so let's prepare to cast off. Naruto, help me loosen the sails, but don't raise the anchor yet." The pair moved off with one Kakashi following them. The other stayed behind with their guest.

"You haven't given us your name, still. And that often is a warning sign." At Kakashi's proposal, their new acquaintance smiled over to him.

"Some speak of me as a Dragon. And I will share my past if you do the same." Silence ensued, with Kakashi lazing about a smidge; easy and ready to end this man life, or try to. "Well then, Dragon-san, thank you. Let's lend the other two some help."

Standing there, Kakashi waited until their guest took a step, then followed to keep him in sight. He proved to be a handy ship-hand, as inside of minutes everything was nearly ready. Until: "Fool, all to this end!" Kuro's voice rang across the town once more. The younger company looked up, fearful, while their guest and Kakashi only shifted their eyes.

"Caught again, you unclothed buffoon! Monkey D. Luffy and Usopp, with the pair of you here in my grasp your shared execution will commence immediately!"

"Captain Luffy!" "No!" The boy exclaimed while the girl gasped, both dropping their tasks to leap off the ship and run straight towards the plaza. Throwing caution to the wind they took a main road and were sprinting: Naruto shooting ahead of Nami from Sanji's leg exercises, while she kept up from half a lifetime spent running.

Rising up, Kakashi followed them before glancing to his remaining company. The man had not moved, only looking on ahead; had his sharingan not been out Kakashi would miss a certain twitch in his lips and a fresh shade in his eyes.

'So, Luffy is the reason you are lending us a hand. But after his Grandpa…..oh boy!' Realization dawning on him, Kakashi had two options before him, and seized the more pressing one.

"You have nothing to worry for, here." Dragon answered. "Go after those you value and save them, I will remain here with your ship." At his company's command, Kakashi swallowed back a request and launched himself over the side.

0…0

Minutes beforehand, the Straw Hats were buckling. Usopp watched from his isolated spot, folding his lips together and trying to stifle his tears. "GGHkkk…Luffy. You came for me."

Down below, right after Luffy let go of Sanji, Sasuke tried to slash at Aliva and met a dangerous surprise. Sliding straight towards him with her club raised, Sasuke had Kazoku Shugo drawn and ready; thrusting the tip through her gut, the Genin hissed and bent right.

His strike was sliding right off Alvida, so Sasuke bent his legs and spun, pivoting to a stop as Zoro took his turn: "Sentoryu: Oni Giri!" Like teacher like student, the sharp blades of both would touch and slide, unable to cut. Alvida herself slid her body over Zoro but seized his shirt's collar with one hand, throwing that man head-over-heels back where he'd come from.

'Damn, how'd she slip right off like that?' Spinning himself over, Zoro's foot met the rain-soaked ground and slid. Precariously, the man found his balance in a split second and did not fall. Four thugs jumped him from behind, to meet a flurry of shuriken. "Thanks Sasuke. Did you catch what happened?"

"Yes," The Uchiha replied, now only one meter from his teacher with both eyes following Alvida sliding about for another pass. "My sharingan caught how the swords would slip, but I wasn't fast enough to pull out. If our idea about swords were wrong, how can we beat her?"

"You think that fire-move might work in this rain?" Zoro raised his guard with the question, their enemy almost ready while Sasuke curled his brow. "Draw her head-on, maybe my ninja wire can work."

Nodding, Zoro advanced with both blades raised. Their foe was sliding-around, building momentum under the rainfall across a wider arc. Zoro almost kept advancing before another lesson came to his ears: '"You don't always need to advance on somebody else," Kakashi told him that morning, sparring with the Saw-blade. "I knew you would slash for my head and waited for it come. Now, I do have the heavier weapon, so try letting me come in and waste that strength, then counter me."'

Finding his balance, Zoro traced his enemy carefully. Testing his patience, the swordsman waited while Sasuke worked. Once Alvida was within 9 metres and raising her club, shuriken flew out to greet her.

"Hmmm, silly boys," she cooed towards them. "Your ugly, tiny toys don't hurt me." None of the shuriken hurt Avlida, and neither were they aimed at her.

"Sentoryu: Tora Gari!" two blades slashing down, and the third cut horizontally behind them: the woman smirked until the blade rang into her club. Both weapons rattled, Zoro pressing in, his attack becoming a parry until the club spun out of reach and into the air. Shifting away, and swordsman smiled while Sasuke pulled tight, his wires enclosing their foe.

"Damn, it slipped out from my oh so smooth hands. If only someone would fetch it to save me," Alvida bemoaned.

"Right away boss!" Trapped, Sasuke wound-up scrambling from a stampede of love-struck idiots, as Zoro turned away to mow through them. Ducking away, unwilling to give up his trap, the Uchiha nearly missed half his wiring falling slack. Alvida managed to slide out from most and get one bare leg free. "Oh, so easy it is to stride out from such barbaric bondage. Now, prepare for a ride, you naughty boy."

In no time, Sasuke went air-born; practically water-skiing behind the rapid slip-and-side that was Iron-mace Avlida. All until a wall came close and he smirked. Gripping it with chakra on both feet, Alvida stop with a jolt and fell over.

Across the plaza, Gin and Buggy met each-other head-on as Luffy was staring up at his nakama. "Of course I came for you Usopp. I would come for any of you. Hold on, I'm on my way!"

"No you flashily don't—"

"Not in yer life, clown." Some hidden reflex saved Buggy from a hard blow right over his head. Twisting, the pirate-clown had Gin in his sights, and struck a pose. "Oh. You want a piece of me first, do ya? Well no matter what-HEY!"

Ahead of Sakura, close by, Buggy's lower half made a leap to its left and started catching up to its partner. Turning, the kunoichi found the clown glaring at her before he came right for her, hard. "Why is everybody still making right for my man parts! I have to pay you back for earlier, you cross-dressing freak of nature!"

"Huh? Cross-dressing? I'm a girl!" the pinkette cried back, fumbling a bit with her tonfa.

"Don't lie to me," Buggy spat back. "How can any female be that flat? And your forehead is a picture of ugliness."

Stillness….silence….Sakura did not make a sound. Buggy was mere meters away when one gesture came from his prey. "Huh? What's with that look?" Sakura's head was turning, somehow resembling an automaton on death-mode. Shooting off in a run, Gin got to watch his student snatch both tonfas, spinning them about enough to impress her teacher. "Huh? AH didn' teach 'er that. Did Ah?" The kunoichi was sprinting for Buggy, the man unconcerned, all until she covered meters in less than seconds! With precision and skill, Sakura put on a burst of speed, gripping the street with her chakra. And just before Buggy could move, she sent a burst into her legs and arms, leaping close enough to whack the man right in his face!

Buggy got sent spinning, even Gin too surprised to hit as he sailed by, close enough to give a bloody smile with some missing teeth. Watching from his spot, it was a front-row seat to a monster pursuing Buggy with blazing pink fury. "Ugly! My forehead!" Sakura exclaimed. "What did you say!" Once she got up close again, Sakura landed two more ringing blows until her prey dissembled himself.

"Ow! M' theeth! You made me looossh some theeth, freak!"

Holding his mouth with one hand, Buggy found his target again, pulling something from her tool pouch.

"Die, little girl!" From the left, a regular pirate leapt with his blade raised high. Caught, Sakura could only look up, finding the sword coming to split her head in half. All until a guardian sailed up from the opposite way and kick him. "Nobody's hurts her on my watch!"

Sanji landed with grace as Gin caught up. "Sakura, keep yer head up. Gettin' mad like that'll leave yah dead." Scolded, the girl glanced around, finding the trio surrounded by a ring of enemies.

"Gyahahahahahahahaha! Got ya right where we want cha!" Up above, Buggy was circling, waving both arms towards the rooftops. "And now, you all are about to flashily be blown to pieces! Cannon crews, get out here!" Looking about, Sanji and Gin both hissed towards small canons angled straight at them.

"I count six of them out from the windows, and there might be more. We have to—"

"Fool, all to this end!" Sailing over the battlefield, a magnified voice reached everyone to pause their struggles.

"Caught again, you unclothed buffoon of a pirate! Monkey D. Luffy and Usopp, with the pair of you here in my grasp your shared execution commences now!"

Paralyzed for one moment, the Straw Hat pirates each turned right for the tower, where the missing enemy captain stood but Luffy wasn't anywhere to be seen.

"What? Wh-Where did Captain Luffy go off to?" Sakura. "Damn it!" "They fooled us!" Sasuke and Zoro spoke nearly in tandem, Alvida slipped out from her ensnarement and Zoro pistol-whipped once, twice, three times. Falling, three more enemy pirates went for the kill, as Buggy raised one hand for his canons!

"Fire-style: Great Fireball jutsu!" Zoro was glaring, defiant as death drew near, all until one fireball struck his would-be killers. The first mate fell clear, losing some hair off his arms while the targets were cooked; and Sakura made her own move.

"Clone-jutsu!" in a flash, several dozen copies of one pinkette emerged in a ring surrounding herself, her teacher and her protector.

"Huh? Whaa—who are my Buggy-balls supposed to shoot at now?"Buggy complained up above. "Only the orange one was supposed to copy himself." Glancing left and right, indecision was broken by a hand snagging him by the shoulder….from the sky!

"Stop hurting my crew!" Cutting over the battlefield, a fresh and powerful voice came from the sky even higher than the clown. Following it, every set of eyes found the barest traces of one silhouette high above the buildings; linked to a single extended arm grasping the clown by his shoulder. "Hi guys! I'm up here!"

"What th' hell got ya that high, Don Luffy!" Gin shouted, incredulous at the predicament.

"I wanted to hit someone on the roof," Luffy caleld back. But they moved and I went a bit too high."

"Grrr. Of all the times to overdo-it, this one is the worst, you idiot!" Zoro called him, his arm and chest now stained with blood yet still fighting off six men at once. Luffy ignored him, the hapless captain falling with a spin. Throwing out one more arm, the limb came to the concrete just beside Kuro's head and both men locked eyes together. "Gum-gum: Spinning-sling shot!"

"Huh-AAAAAAAHHHHHH!" Buggy felt his line reel in, throwing the Chop-chop-man into an uncontrolled spiral beside a certain Monkey D. pirate.

"You daft trash, violating my plan," Kuro's snarl was heard by Usopp, all until a flying thug nailed the Pussy-foot captain dead-on, throwing him off his pedestal. Looking back down, the sniper found Sanji and Gin thrashing most of the thugs around them, while the spare Sakura's drew their attention. None of the pink copies gave any damage, yet by taunting or running from them, each enemy was open for a kick or four tonfa's battering one after another.

Elsewhere, Luffy let Buggy lose. The clown went flying out with a screech until he met the street in a fresh eruption of dust and damp concrete.. Still, the captain didn't stop, spinning around and letting his other arm go…and landed straight beside Usopp. "Huh? Luffy? Uh-w-w-w-what is—"

"Let's get going," leaning over, Luffy seized the ropes binding his crewmate and pulled. Under his strength, the wood boards they were tied into came free, removing the pressure that was keeping the sniper on his knees. All as a shadow was moving.

."Hh, see, I told you I'd get here," Luffy was grinning now. "Now let g0-"

Nearly 3-dozen cuts came across Luffy! Stopping under the sensation, a similar force knocked the captain to his knees then threw a stockade down, trapping Luffy inside.

.

"Fools," came in a spat of disgust.

"Luffy!" "What?" "Damn!" "Don Luffy!"

While their crewmates shouted in the plaza below, Usopp's bewilderment was silenced.

Four different blades were right against the sniper's nose, eyes and throat. "Caught again, you unclothed buffoon!" Kuro was back, standing tall with his back to the battle and his trademark cat's-claws resting near the necks of his fresh prisoners. Luffy tried pressing against his confines. After failing to escape, he twisted his head to look up at their captor.

"Kuro." Lightning flashed above, highlighting the posh clothing and cracked spectacles. Soaking and spindly, the image was topped by the face of a madman, his eyes wild and bloodshot against a granite face.

"My plan has been violated by your actions far too intolerably, Monkey D. Luffy. Throwing that circus fool or winding up in the skies were not your roll; even my vengeance has been soiled by you, now."

"Captain!" "Luffy!" Sasuke and Sakura were running for the platform, dodging any thug in their way, Kakashi's training paying dividends. All until a new force came from the side, sliding down to swipe both aside with their mace! Caught from behind, the pair sailed out, skidding over the ground to a stop near the tower.

. "Ah, ah, ah, naught boy." A whisper came, and Sasuke bent around; a familiar iron club grazing his face. Blood went flying.

"Sakura!" "Kid!" Kuro barely looked over as Sanji and Zoro erupted. Luffy took all of this in, struggling with all he could muster against the stockade. Usopp felt the tickle of one blade edge ever so deeper into his neck. It's owner straight out from a nightmare.

"I should not feel this," the victorious man seethed, aloud. "Wealth. Obscurity. All would be mine from Miss. Kaya. My scheme held no flaws, no factor unassessed. It was perfection incarnate! I should not be held with rage nor thrill as those which you have invoked in me!"

Kuro was grinning now. "Your deaths, and all those here shall destroy that! My plan will succeed, victory has been grasped by me, and now the massacre begins." Slowly, deliberately, the man raised his clawed blades overhead. They hung right over Monkey D. Luffy, while the pirate spun his eyes over towards Usopp. "No!" His legs still free, Luffy lashed out with the extremity. Usopp was hit right in his chest, sending him off the scaffolding to land right on top of the Genin.

His crewmate away, Luffy look over the plaza, "Zoro! Sanji! Gin! Get the Genin and Usopp out of here! The three of you, rescue our friends! That's my last order to you. And I'm the Captain!"

"Captain Luffy!" Back where he'd led their charge, Luffy found Naruto sliding to stop. Nami right behind him, both calling his name together.

Watching all around, Monkey D. Luffy met the eyes of assembled his crew before the thunderous heavens: Sanji and Gin were running for the scaffold, Zoro was occupied by some 15 men, as Sakura and Sasuke were shaking their heads with Usopp beside them. Nami and Naruto were side-by-side, each of them looking towards their captain.

"Speak your final words, Monkey D. Luffy," Kuro proclaimed. "Share your regrets, your failures. Death hangs above your neck."

"LUFFY NOOOOOOOOO!" a building nearby exploded in a cloud of dust and debris; shattered by a single man barrelling forth to a stop. Monkey D. Garp was looking straight at the platform, letting Grandson and Grandfather met one another's gaze.

"Captain!" above the thunder-laced about the clouds, echoes of 1,000 chirping voices filled the air; Following a glowing, cracking ring of light, Kakashi had arrived and was set to move.

Stilling looking at his Grandpa, Luffy filled his lungs. "OLD MAN! HELP EVERY GET FREE AND LIVE THEIR DREAMS! MY NAKAMA ARE FREE, SO I'M FINE! I SWEAR. I AM THE MAN WHO WILL BECOME….THE KING OF THE PIRATES!"

In every home, every cranny, even all the pirates down below paused in that moment.

Garp and his own Marines heard the precise same words, the giant of the man shaking his head. "NO WAY! LUFFY, DON'T YOU DARE DIE ON ME! I'M COMMIN'!" The Vice-Admiral was moving, and so was Kakashi, silently. Yet still too far away as Kuro pulled his blades down.

Luffy was ready to die. Before them all. Before Team 7: Sakura covered her mouth; the Uchiha's face was gaunt; Naruto lost his sense of himself, and Kakashi watched a nightmare come to life.

The moment stretched for enternity as Kuro's hand fell. The Jonin moving at full speed, his sharingan ready… Luffy raised his head: smiling to the world: "Sorry. I'm Dead."

Kakashi was stopped-short, all the onlookers swept-up in that moment. Light came. Blinding the entire audience, as a single roar exploded: "LUUUUFFFFFYYYYYYYYY!" Deeper than an earthquake, louder the thunder, a Marine reached the base of the execution stand too late!

Kuro's blades, his metal blades, crackled under the clouds above, laced with lightning.

With the speed bearing its name, a single lightning bolt struck the stand. Under the force of a bomb, metal fastenings melted with the shock, wooden beams fell, even the concrete base was weakened from grounding the world shook to everyone watching, ignoring the mystery of why none of them were hit either.

Watching the stand collapse, Sakura, Sasuke and Usopp realized they were about to be crushed.

"AH, run!" "No-uh, shadow-clone Jutsu!" Scrambling to their feet the trio were nearly crushed, until something displaced each beyond the drop-zone. A wall of Naruto's were running, watching two snatched away so a single clone went for the substitution. Crashing the ground, the call of the moment took the clone with it, while Gin and Sanji didn't dare to move, and Nami found herself holding two hands over her mouth and both eyes wide.

Steam encircled the scaffold, rainfall turning to vapour by the electric heat. There…standing…somebody took a glance left and right.

Gin dropped to his knees. Zoro barely held on to consciousness. Kakashi held Sakura and Sasuke from his quick-save, with Usopp beside them. The sniper couldn't speak, Kakashi and Sakura felt their empty lungs burn, Sasuke's eyes were blinking, the ninja even tried a pulse to check for genjutsu.

"Captain Luffy. You're okay!" His face alit with glee, Uzumaki Naruto collided with very-much-alive Luffy. Under the slam to his middle, the rubber man threw back his head to laugh. "Shishishishishi! Guess I am. That's nice."

Under the storm above, even their enemies, pirate and marine alike, couldn't shake off the stupor of a miracle. Beyond the crowd, Nami had backed into a building, something reaching to her mind and heart, pulsing like a fresh burn. "Luffy…what…am I…?" pressing one hand over the mouth, the girl worked to bury what she felt as Zoro and Sanji started breathing again. Kakashi could only croak, Usopp and Sakura's legs failed them, leaving Sasuke to glance around the remaining battlefield as Gin found his voice first: "Don! We…you were gonna die right 'ere!"

"Yeah, I'm not dead." Luffy shot back, drawing in everyone's attention then raising his head to world, again. "And that means, I can still be the King of the Pirates with you, now!"

"NEVER!" "Hmm?—" a freight train collided with Luffy, driving him and Naruto flat on the ground. The former got his senses back first, held up by two powerful, familiar hands. The face of a definitely crying, unquestionably distraught, impossibly angry Monkey D. Garp filled Luffy's vision. "What are you doing?" the man demanded. "You almost die right there. Do you think I could face your father after something like that? You had me more worried than ever before in my life boy! BWAAAAAAAAAA!" The onlookers watched as Garp yanked his grandson into his chest, swinging left and right, his bearded head careening backwards to the sky. Some of them heard things like "Ace," "won't forgive," "another loss," and more. All until the Naruto clones broke the spell:"Nami-nee! Watch out!"

Following where they looked, Nami barely escaped a sideswipe from the last pirate captain standing.

"Boys! We need to get going," Alvida commanded. "Everyone grab the weak-ones, leave the others to the Marines!"

"Yes, ma'am!" What remained of the Kuro-Buggy-Alvida alliance rallied. The Marines were moving too, one taller officer under a fedora sending squads right for the rouges, while Kakashi rallied his own side together. Nami barely noticed, looking up from where she'd thrown herself to the ground, soaked with dirt and water from one puddle; all under the watch of a slippery, sexy enemy circling for a fresh pass.

But a gaggled of Naruto's got there first, forming a wall between the ladies as one stepped out from the line. "Hey, wait for boss." "I am the boss, the real Naruto," the stand-alone told his copies, having abandoned his captain for the one he cared for the most. Looking straight for the threat, Naruto's face curled. Endangering another person who showed him care, Alvida met the same face a certain Mizuki witnessed barely two months before.

"If anybody, tries and hurts my sister," Naruto declared, low and dangerous. "I'll kill them." He pulled four shuriken from his pouch, tossed them wide then both his hands were flying: "And here's my new jutsu, all the way from the Third Hokage! Ninja art: Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Three meters from Alvida, the four shuriken duplicated into four dozen. Neither side noticed the woman meeting the sharp swarm with a smirk., expecting them to just slide off her.

Kakashi had gathered the crew, passing on a fresh plan while untying Usopp. "We need to leave, now. The ship is safe, and the Marines can stay distracted by the other pirates. Sakura, Sasuke, I'm using Zabuza's favourite-jutsu to escape, after we get Luffy free."

"Uhhh, hey. Does anybody know why the Marines got here? And who's that guy choking Luffy with a hug?" Usopp's question found Kakashi's ear, updating the crew on the one person outside the know.

"That's his Grandpa, ask more questions later. But we might finally have the reason our captain has a few dozen screws loose," the cook replied.

"Hey guys!" Naruot cut in between them. "Let's go, I beat Alvida!" Another distraction yanked the crew's attention to a fresh surprise. Naruto stood over his foe: Alvide was sprawling on the ground, with tears and gashes all over her form, coloured with blood, and her pretty face under Naruto's foot. The Uzumaki was grinning, until something nailed him square in the face.

"You imbecile!" Sanji roar. "An unforgivable crime! I teach you just a few things and then you go and—" whatever Sanji would say next, it was silenced by one solid smack right over his cheek. Spinning, the cook almost fell until he met a furious, stressful and volatile Nami face-to-face.

"What' .THisisn' ,theMarinesarehere,Iwas-hhh—hhhhh-that bitch tried to kill me, Sanji." Nami imparted to the cook. "But Naruto got in the way first." With a terrifying face, her voice near hysterical with a sliver of sense and still shaking Sanji senseless, nobody dared to interrupt Nami's tirade. Sasuke and Zoro had their mouths dangling open, looking between Naruto, a cut-up Alvida, and back to the crewmate again.

"AHHHH—G-G-G-G-G-GRap-Grip-Gar-GARP!" Buggy had come back, pulling everyone's attention to him. "WHEN DID YOU GET HERE!" The clone's blue hair formed a shapeless mane while he trembled 4 meters in the air, starring at the Grandfather and Grandson.

"Huh?" Pulling away from the Grandson still in his arms, Garp cocked his head to one side. "Who are ya? I'm having a moment with my Grandson. Did I punch you one time, somewhere?" Under the question, the pirate clown grew pale, and Garp cocked his head.

"Eh?...…Hey! You're the bum who ran about on Roger's crew. Nobody else has a nose that stupid," pointing right for the captain with his right arm, the left one still held tight to Luffy as the rubber-man tried to get free.

"Grandpa! I'm going to the Grand Line, and I wanna be the King of the Pirates! Lay off!"

"NEVER YOU INGRATE!"

"Hey, Vice-Admiral!"

"WHAAAAT?" Many of the Straw Hats felt Garp's eyes on them at Usopp's loud call-out. "That clown was working to kill Luffy," the sniper claimed. "The girl-pirate on the ground is on his side, too. Don't they deserve to get thrown in a brig?"

Silence hung in the air, until it got broken by a raving mad man. "Plan! My plan!" Right beside Buggy, what remained of Kuro swayed about on his feet. "It was perfection, and I will force it so!" Twitching with shock, Kuro's remaining arm was a mangled, scorching wreak. Every step he took the figure threatened to keel over.

"Monkey D…Monkey…D….my plan….die!" Breaking into a run, pouring in what little life he still had left, Kuro flung himself right for Luffy. Until one final force got in the way of the man's "perfect plan." Throwing the target aside, Kuro met a brick wall and fell flat on his back …silently, a behemoth gathered his knuckles together, cracking them with the building rumble that promised an avalanche.

"RRWWWHHHHHHAAAAAAHHHHHH!" No words, only a roar. Monkey D. Garp seized what remained of Kuro with one hand, and Buggy with the other. Both were thrown together and power-slammed right into the street, so hard two dents broke apart to a depth of 10-meters. Garp wailed on both, his senses filled with pure wrath for those who'd worked so hard to kill the Grandson he loved.

A minute passed, sounds were surrounding Garp but nothing clicked in his mind, all until someone seized his wrist. Pausing, the Marine looked up, to find his sight was stolen.

"Ehh? Where'd this mist come from?" The entire plaza, so far as Garp and any of his men could see, was filled with mist so dense all could only hear the others calling around for their side. The clang of a sword and a gun shot pierced the calls, brokenly, while the Vice-Admiral looked about left and right.

"Wait…where's all the pirates go? Where'd Luffy go... LUFFY!"

0…..0

"How long will that mist last, Kakashi?'Sanji questioned without breaking his stride. "Now I can see why you spent so long practicing to use it." Neck-in-neck with Kakashi, both were running at near-break-neck pace with the rest of the crew surrounding them and led by Luffy.

"Think later, Sanji," Luffy called oevr his shoulder. "Just run now, before Grandpa gets close to us again!"

"Luffy, that, that, that guy really is your grandfather?" Usopp questioned, shuffling forward with Zoro supporting him. "How can that work with you wanting to be a pirate?"

"It doesn't, and he wants to beat-up Luffy until he becomes a Marine," Nami answered, with Naruto right by her side.

"Uh-huh, we gota get—"

"LUFFY! YOU AIN'T LEAVING ON MY WATCH, BOY!" Behind them, few of the group dared to look up as they heard another building somewhere crumble sideways to the ground. Another soon followed, growing louder and closer.

"Uh-oh." "Damn, doesn't that guy get the message?" "It looks like no quitin' run's in th' family," Gin snarkily cursed."

"How has he caught our trail this soon, even after Kakashi's mist?" Sasuke cursed, mirroring his shinobi-sensei's thoughts.

"That alley to the right! Turn and stop." 9 of the 10 nakama followed Kakashi's instructions, while Luffy had to skid his way to a stop before turning around and joining them.

"Old man, he's comin' and stopping never works good. We need to run," the terrified boy pleaded. While the others caught their breath, and Kakashi looked to Naruto.

"Naruto. Shadow-clones. Make 3 sets of crew, and maybe Garp with follow one set, while the rest of us make for the harbour." Nodding, Naruto executed the orders and soon 3 different groups of Straw Hats were out running again. Kakashi meanwhile looked around the others, ready for his choice.

"The Marines still have one warship in the bay, and those enemy pirates running around the city," he reasoned. "Get to the Merry, and cast off. If Garp gets closer he might detain all of us, kill Gin, and we won't find our home there. We need a rear-guard to occupy him," sliding his hand up to his face, Kakashi did not let any raise their own questions. "Garp is powerful, but from what I know, his rank implies to be near Jonin-class and he's certainly a strong man. This is not a fight we have to win, and the fewer who stay behind, the more evasive that distraction can be. I'll keep him off from us and stay behind, the rest of you make for the ship."

Some of the crew "N-No! Old man, nobody can—" With one seal, Kakashi silenced Luffy; hard as the wind, power and pressure came out from the man with a single hand sign. Each of the Genin felt their own complaints stop cold, as the rest felt shaken under a pressing rush of some mysterious power.

"I don't need to win," Kakashi replied, channelling pressure from the mark of confrontation his hand was hind. His chakra kept swirling lightly around those assembled. "I'm not endangering any of you further. This isn't opening for a debate! Each of you, go!" The man before them was not the Kakashi they knew. Zoro himself felt it the strongest, the shift from a caring teacher or capable agent most had come to know. Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke knew this side of their sensei the clearest: of the Sharingan Warrior.

"Luffy," Sanji barked. "Can your Grandfather run across the water, or does he need to swim over it?"

"I've never seen him swim," Luffy answered.

"We—grrhhh…Kakashi's the best we got," Zoro growled. "But the Genin don't have a hair-breath against somebody that strong, yet. Trust him, Captain, like we had trust with you against Arlong."

"No way!" Stomping one foot, Luffy held both arms set for the fight. "Danger coming to me is no problem, and together we're gonna face a lot. Grandpa is the strongest person I ever met, and I never beat him in a fight. Not once. Only all of us run, or I'm not moving. Not for my crew, not until I've done everything I can!"

"Alright," Kakashi nodded, throwing a fresh wave of fear across the other 8 people. Usopp, Sakura and Nami were shuffling towards the harbour as the fighters grimaced at the Jonin. "Watch for your Grandfather, in case he comes down on top of us."

His face a picture of fear, the pitch of his chattering teeth rising, Luffy did precisely what he was told; until his world fell to black and he met the ground face-first.

"Uh. Sensei, why'd you hit our captain on his head?" With Naruto's question, Kakashi took the rubber man over his shoulder and tossed the teen at Zoro. "Take him and run. I will rejoin you later." With a salute the Jonin vanished, leaving not a cloud behind under the rain. Both the pirates and the ninja's barely had seconds to think when—"LUUUFFFFFYYYYY! YOU'RE COMIN' BACK WITH ME, BOY!"

"Alright, time to run." Zoro's words set everyone scrambling as Kakashi finished his prep. and held one hand over his head band. 'Now. Let's see what I can do with this Marine Vice-Admiral, and how much of a punch he can actually deliver.

End.

Until August, 2023, this chapter was mixed with Chapter 22, creating a whopper 22,500 word long chapter. As part of my August re-write, I chose to cut these in half to highly scenes and moments individually in both, Everybody meeting Garp, getting the low-down on Luffy's childhood, and everyone fighting off Buggy, Alvida and Kuro. While Kakashi vs. Garp deserves it's own spotlight.

[1]-I will not try to excuse or support any plot-holes, loose-ends or short-comings of Masashi Kishimoto or Eiichiro Oda. Fan-argues over the Shadow-clone memories are over a dime a dozen, and in all honesty people channelling such energy into debating one subject of a franchise shows how amazing the series and author are to spark passion that strong in their readers.

For this story, I am going to postulate that Naruto learned the jutsu directly from the Konoha Scroll of Sealed jutsu. Notes about the memory-transfer features would literally have been right in front of him. Kakashi, and practically 999 out of every 1000 ninjas, would logically assume anybody who read from that scroll would also pick-up the risks and benefits of the jutsu on the way, not ignore the details so completely. Yet, that kind of short-coming or gullibility does summarize Academy-student Naruto in a nutshell.

It's not an excuse to why he didn't pick-up on the trend, but it is one reasonable explanation for why Kakashi would assume Naruto did know about the memory-transfer in theory. Yet at the same time was inexcusably distant from his training pre-Shippuden and never realized it.