Chapter 24: Encounters and introspection?
"…."=speaking.
'…'=thinking.
"'Inner thoughts'"=images or memories within somebody's head.
Please Read and Review, with detail.
Dawn broke over Lost Island, serving an alarm to wake up the slumbering Straw Hat Pirates. "Naruto, Sasuke, wake up," Between Naruto and Sasuke, somebody was ruffling their hair, coaxing the boys out of sleep. "Sen…sensei?" Yesterday came back in a rush and immediately Naruto knocked Kakashi over with a glomp. Even a smile even creased over Sasuke's face at having their sensei back.
"Alright, alright," the Jonin awkwardly chuckled, patting Naruto on his back. "I'm still here, but…. that collision with Garp took more outa me than Zabuza managed. Can you, help me to sit up?"
"Sorry, sorry sensei!" scrambling off, Naruto proceeded to yank the bigger man to a barrel then push or pull him up non-to-gently. Sasuke just shook his head, then a moment of introspection seized him. "Listen," Kakashi spoke to them both, "I want to get you and Sakura back to your training, immediately." Soon, Sakura was awake to and all three Genin were running laps over the water's surface side-by-side. Zoro was awake too and set into his own exercise routine, while Sanji was prepping breakfast for everyone.
"AAAAAAA! WOW!" Apis was awake now and gawking over the railing at the other pre-teens. "You three can stand, and run, on empty water?" "It never gets old, and quite a handy novelty," Sanji chipped in with a plate of toast and fruits in one hand. "Wait, did you not see them race up the cliff last night?" Usopp had come up after donning fresh bandages and questioned Apis. "I didn't go and watch, I guess," the girl answered. "I just heard this chef, and the scary green guy went to race up a cliff, then came back."
Sanji nodded, while Usopp just made a shrug and stood there. Hoping from one foot to the other with his arms folded, the sniper's eyes swept from the running Genin to Zoro swinging large weights overhead, to Kakashi, and back again. The rest of the crew around them were stirring as well, all except Luffy from the snoring down in men's cabin.
"Usopp? Do you have some form of question for us?" Kakashi's prodding question froze his younger crewmate instantly. "Uh…uh. Yeah-Hey, where's Mr. Tattoo?" Usopp brought up, looking elsewhere to dance around something. "He never showed up at the party last night. We still gotta thank him for bringing Kakashi back."
"He's already left." Of everyone, Luffy was the one who'd declared it, shooting right up from below deck. "Really Don?" "How do you know?" Gin and Nami each asked him. "Yeah," the calm Luffy answered with a slight grin. "He came last night and said some stuff. Then thanks for the food, that he had friends waiting for him to catch up, and he left." Starring up something, Luffy duct and threw a grin towards the cook. "Sanji, what's there to eat?"
"Sandwiches. Luffy, just wait for a sec. until Nami-swan and Sakura eat first," the cook answered. Nami pursued her lips, wondering about the ominous spectre who'd helped them. "Why'd he only meet Luffy? And why bother asking us about him so much when he sailed away in the middle of the night?"
"It's his choice," Kakashi answered her without turning his face away from his students as they quickly came back in. "Sakura, Sasuke and Naruto…" Kakashi began, "In our last fight days ago in Loguetown. You all performed remarkably, yet all four of us fell short in that fight. Nobody underperformed, instead we wound up completely outclassed by our captain's…. juggernaut of a grandfather." Feeling sweat trickle down his neck, the seasoned Jonin was not the only one terrified. Sanji and Nami each felt something trickle down their spines, Luffy paused with his mouth open around a hunk of meat and Zoro's grip on his weights made the pole wobble. "While I was with Mr. Tattoo," Kakashi continued, "I had some time and introspection for all of us."
"And me too?" Usopp had asked the question, turning pink and shaking once everybody's attention was on him. Kakashi's brow furled imperceptibly, then spoke.
"Once I can train again," the Jonin addressed his student. "I'm going to be joining you three, dialling up my own training much more than before. Against…" glancing over at Apis, who was looking over Lost Island without much of a care, Kakashi allotted to be careful over names. "Against that enemy, he could see or power through every jutsu I could throw out, and each one spent more of my chakra until it overtook me. I lost that fight for two reasons: fatigue, and assuming our enemy drew his strength from a Devil fruit."
Sakura and Sasuke were each nodding, recalling Garp swallowed by water or driven head-first through the ground by Kakashi, and emerging with just damp clothing on his own accord. Naruto was slower and just glaring forward, 'if we meet somebody that strong again soon, I'm gonna need a new jutsu. Something so big and bad it could stop the ugly Kyuubi.'
"We need to pick the right jutsu, too," Sasuke spoke up. "Outside of learning somebody can get powerful without a devil-fruit like that clown, or the hooker Naruto cut apart, or Captain," the Uchiha nodded towards Luffy.
"What Hooker?" Nami exclaimed, turning her gaze on Naruto who had confusion written on his face. "Oh," then he grasped, "that woman who tried killing Nami-nee when lighting stuck Captain Luffy? That's who you mean, Sasuke?"
The Uchiha gave a nod "The one wearing next to nothing, and Zoro-sensei and I couldn't cut her. Nice job beating her, dobe."
"Beat a woman!?" Immediately, two kicks struck Naruto, then Sasuke and both flew into a wall. "OW!" Shouting, Naruto pulled himself up first and spun around, where he found Sanji raising one foot high and twitching. "Don't think that I didn't hear that. One second I ain't looking, and the both of you deliberately harmed a gorgeous lady-how many pieces do I get to cut off you?"
The answer came courtesy of a haymaker. "He was protecting me!" Nami's exclamation sent Sanji to the ground, sliding until he collided with Naruto. Sasuke had stepped out of the way, leaving the other two in a heap. "No!" running over Nami dug Naruto out from under Sanji and gave him a look over from top to toe. "Sorry, sorry."
Kakashi had to blink at what went down, then put one hand on Sakura's shoulder. "Sakura, you began working on how to utilize our crew's fighting skills before sailing to Loguetown. Today, I want to see them and devise more…let's call them crew formations, to identify and maximize our advantages." A calculating, cool tone was seeping through Kakashi's voice.
"Hey, could-um-may-well—uh-uh-" beside the pair, Usopp was folding his mouth into several forms and trying to speak at the same time. "You…disagree, Usopp?" "No!" the sniper answered Kakashi. "I—well. Two heads are better than one. Why not Sakura and me do that together? Plan-out, maybe pick who works better together. Master-strategist Usopp, with the brilliant Sakura combined, no villain can foil our minds!" The boy was smiling, with his nose pointing high and both arms folding together.
"Make sure not to include more wasted moves, like Naruto's 'sexy jutsu," Sasuke slid in.
"Hey, my sexy-jutsu is great!" Speeding away from his sister, Naruto got right into Sasuke's face, yet before either him or the others could answer—
"No, it, is not," Nami spoke flatly. "Did you forget what we spoke about that, little brother?" Naruto spun about, then tried daring to argue but too many feelings erupted inside him to answer her. Instead, he gave a pout, pulling his arms closed in defeat.
"Anyway," Kakashi took over the matters again, "Sakura, you and Usopp, start brainstorming. Naruto, I had wanted to speak with you about that; and a few more subjects, one-on-one."
"Sasuke, I want you sparring with Gin and Zoro; two against one." Those instructions made Sasuke pause, actively not glancing to the more ruthless members present. He could hear one walking across to deck, and the other setting his weights down.
"Don' go putting 'em away yet, Zoro," Gin called over. "If we're runnin' intah more monsters, Ah'm gonna step-up some extra trainin' myself." Sasuke looked over, but Kakashi was already gone, moving over with Naruto and Nami, plus Sakura wasn't there either.
He and Usopp had already sat down together. "So let's see what the mighty, canny, and wily Usopp can conjure up. Smart tactical moves, like make distance and avoid fighting like Kakashi first said when we left Nami's village?"
"That's not our job, Usopp," Sakura claimed. "You, Zoro, Captain Luffy, Kakashi-sensei, and me and everyone all have different skills. I want to think-up ways to combine them, like in team-formations or how shinobi use cooperative-ninjutsu." An explanation of this followed, with both diving in for creativity, and the rest of the crew looking around; and giving Usopp more ideas.
Background sounds of Sasuke barely maneuvering between man-Demon Gin and Zoro, or Luffy hoping around to check on one person, then the next until he got close to Nami. "Hey, Nami, you wanna go somewhere and train like everyone, too?"
"Luffy, I'm..uh….." feeling Luffy's head nestled on her shoulder, a prickle spiked over Nami's lips. "Ah, no..um—" "Nami-nee, are you okay?" Naruto sped around Kakashi, kneeling close to his sister. "You're kinda turning red," as Nami's face took on a pinkish colour. "You gotta fever? Let me feel your head." As one hand closed over the girls' brow, Luffy came around beside Naruto, and Sanji slid over, filling the girl's vision with all three boys. "Oh, you feeling sick, Nami?" "Sick, ill, can I cook you something coming my darling?"
"I'm fine. Naruto, uh—Sanji, you go and try teaching kicks to Luffy. I'm doing fine, really."
"You sure?" "Nami, oh Nami, must I?" Sanji was shaking in his shoe, recalling the last 'training' he'd done with Luffy before Loguetown.
But before anybody could go further, a low cacophony made everyone freeze, then the water and earth around the Merry erupted with thunderous impacts. Everyone braced, while a few sped around the find the source of the attack. "That was cannon fire!" "The Marines! Danger! Danger!" Usopp kept announcing into a megaphone. "Navy ships are coming! Navy ships are coming!" Sure enough, a pair of sizable battleships were approaching from the north.
"There's gonna close us in!" Nami exclaimed, sweating as the battleships were cruising closer to the mouth of the Bay they'd anchored within. Zoro and Gin merely pivoted, Kakashi cursed the state he was in. "Sanji, get Apis! When Mr. Tattoo and I found her, she'd just escaped from the Navy!" Straight away Sanji sped around and stood over the girl, who'd fallen to the floor at the first salvo. "Everybody get ready!" Luffy exclaimed, planting feet like a raging bull and glaring towards the ships. "Nobody's threatening us. My crew just got back, and we ain't splitting up again. Nami, Sail us outa here. Kakashi, think you can hit those ships with water jutishu?"
"Jutsu," Sakura corrected him. "Sorry captain," Kakashi announced, steadying himself on his legs. "I'm…. still too weak, from your Grandpa."
"Okay, I guess we gotta—"
A Pulse. Out of nowhere, some oppressive, intense sensation pulsed across the Merry in a wave. Pervasive over the air, even leaves swept out of trees from this force radiating over the island. Everyone onboard felt it, permeating through them like a solid wave. "Wh…what in…" "The hell was that?" "Huh?" Sanji, Zoro and Luffy in that order all reacted. Apis lost her breath at the sensation, Nami and Usopp let out gasps; and each of the Shinobi paused; feeling this sensation rippling through their chakra networks like shock. 'This…genjutsu…no…. what…?' Kakashi grasped how his entire chakra network felt rattled, and everyone caught their bearings.
"Hey! Hey everyone! The Marines are down!" Usopp announced from his spot as look-out. More of the crew cast their gazes out for the approaching threat. The warships were still sailing…right into each other as the noses of both ships met together. With that collision, ships stayed where they were, bobbing in the water. Several moments bent by, until Sanji brought a telescope to his eye and Usopp adjusted the scope on his goggles. "Whatever that was, it hit them too. Everyone aboard both ships are asleep."
"Now's our chance. Hurry and sail away." At Zoro's command, the entire crew did exactly that. Gin got to the helm, Nami set about directing them, Usopp kept his sharp eyes on the Marines, Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura had everything packed away or set to aiding Zoro and Sanji with the sails. Except Luffy, Kakashi, and Apis just stood there, staring out at the ships.
The Captain and the Jonin turned their attention back to the Island, where they picked out a figure standing in the shade of a tree to see them off. The silhouette's hood was close enough to be set towards the fleeing ship, where the two whom had noticed him answered with a salute and a wide smile. None spoke, Luffy still answering with his grin and Kakashi adjusting to a new enigma, 'What…. can that be a devil-fruit power as well? Or….' Whatever the answer, none came as the Going Merry fled Lost Island.
Eventually Apis came back out, right into heavy winds and storm building around the Island. "Draw the sails in, or we'll capsize!"
"Oh no…. I feel seasick," Sakura gulped. "Naruto, Sasuke, git up fast and tie the sails down." The Cabin-Genin followed Gin's directions, but ¾er's up, Naruto lost his grip and fell. Kakashi snatched him out of the air. "Sakura, help Sasuke. And Naruto, you're getting additional chakra-control training."
"Rouge Wave!" Sanji announced. "Turn about, take it head-on," Nami commanded. More chaos ensured but the crew met it in an organized means until the Merry met calmer seas and came cruising through the mirage they'd flown through the day before.
"OOOOOO," Hey is that Warship-place, Apis?" Sure enough, at Luffy's question, everyone grasped the monolithic island on the other side of the mirage. "Hm-mmm. That's right. That is Warship Island, my home."
Sailing in, the crew took a breather in the calmer waters, except for Naruto. Kakashi stood watching him jog up and down the mast, then continue running around the ship's haul in one continuous circuit.
"Could that be too much," Nami came up beside Kakashi and asked. "After he nearly fell overboard. No," Kakashi deadpanned back to here. "But I wanna learn for Black-leg style, sensei," Naruto complained. "Sasuke's getting stronger with Zoro," he jerked a thumb over while running by, where Sasuke was doing deadlifts and squats with 20 kilos on each side under Zoro's watch.
Sakura, meanwhile, had her new bathing suit out and was sunbathing. Gin and Sanji had the ship under control and Luffy was in his favourite seat on the figurehead. "Wooo. Cool."
Closer and closer, the ship made its approach with the Jolly Roger clear on its flag and plastered over the main sail. Apis gave them directions on where to sail, right to a dock with homes and specs of people moving about, a reasonable village. "Everyone there has the same hat as Apis," Usopp announced with a spyglass to his eyes. "Th-th-they've seen us, too. Plenty are running indoors or gathering with weapons?"
"Why would they want to fight?" Luffy asked, with the Pirate flag directly behind him. Most of the crew staved off rolling their eyes, but none of the Cabin-Genin did.
"Pirates!" a command came over the water. "Sail away now. Try and attack, and we will kill you!" The crew readied for a fight, but after a few moments, no one followed up the threat. "Let's continue sailing in," Kakashi suggested. "Apis, would these people recognize you?"
"Heeeey! Hey, everyone it's me!" The girl leapt up to the railing, waving both arms at the assembly. That provoked several reactions. Most of the adult either dropped their weapons or were shouting worried questions at Apis. The Going Merry continued cruising in until it was parallel with a dock and Zoro dropped anchor.
"Everyone, let's go," Luffy announced. Gin set the gangplank and a few at a time, the crew filled down with Luffy and Apis at their head. Standing before the crowd, with more residents behind them and the remaining poking their heads outdoors and windows, body parties kept staring and nobody said a word.
"Hey! I've got one question," Luffy called, with a serious look at the nearest person to him.
"Ah? What is that, pirates?"
"Are there any restaurants around here?" Nobody…. not a soul answered him. Sanji and Gin had to muffle scoffs at Luffy's priorities, while Sakura, Nami and Kakashi were more inquisitive. 'These people. Their hats do match the ones from that mural on Lost Island.'
"Apis?" An ancient, gravelly tone announced as an elderly man with grey hair hobbled forward on a chain. Still, Apis' face lit up upon spotting him and she broke into a run. "Grandpa Bokuden! Haha!"
"Why my granddaughter!" Seeing the pair reunite, any tension from the villagers evaporated and the Straw Hats moderately relaxed. "I had no word, and only worry since those horrid Marines took you."
"Yeah. But I got away from them. These people," she turned back to the Straw hats. "The guy with a mask and grey hair helped me out of a boat. Then these nice pirates agreed to help me come here."
"Nice Pirates?" More than a few of the crowd asked, dumbfoundedly. "Are all Marines kind?" From the Straw hats, Sasuke had stepped forward and posed the question. "If there are Marines that abduct a little girl, randomly and without reason. Why should kinder pirates be impossible?"
"We're a crew heading to the Grand Line but wound up in trouble, rallied, and Kakashi wanted Apis to make it to her home. So here we are."
"Please, please, there's no need to explain," Grandpa Bokuden answered him. "You have my thanks and have not made any threats or demands. Please, come ashore and be welcome."
With a shrug, that was that. Plus a promise of food got Luffy's attention. The crew collectively tied off the Merry. "Pull in the sails, an' tie our flag down as well," Gin suggested. "If more Marine are pokin' about, better not be simple to spot."
Nami and Zoro agreed, and the crew filled ashore. "Hold on," Sakura called, now with shorts and a t-shirt over her swimsuit. "Is there somebody who can cut hair in your village? I have money to pay if they can take of this," she gestured at the locks extending to the small of her back. With a few directions, the girl sped off, while everyone else continued to Apis' House.
Inside they heard more of Lost Island, long stories, and so much more until Grandpa Bokuden and Luffy each fell asleep. "These pork buns. They'll need an additional 5 hours to be ready, I'm afraid," Sanji announced. "Well, that's time I can spend training." "All of us can," Kakashi nodded at Zoro.
"And Naruto, will you come here?" In a blink, the boy was at Kakashi's side, "What is it sensei? Are you tired, hungry, thirsty, oh, wait-wait-" "Naruto-" "Sensei, those books you like. They're still all on the Merry." Immediately, Kakashi felt a shiver start in his toes and migrating up to his head until he realised Naruto was gone and only the other crew were still in the house. 'I'll…. wait. For now,' Kakashi drew a notebook out and made a fresh page. 'Usopp asking about learning to fight, too. He's still trying to gain taijutsu, erm-, hand-to-hand, foot-to-hand-ahhh…..I sound like Guy.' Kakashi wrote a few ideas on the page under Usopp's name then moved on to another titled Sasuke. 'He's certainly dedicated to standing with Zoro, and Zoro himself is delivering on their…promise. But Ninjutsu is a true ace-in-the-hole for us against anybody with Devil-fruit powers. He's further ahead than either Sakura or Naruto, but I'm not letting anyone sit on a single option…Fire-style, earth-style, water-style, paper-bombs, the Hidden-Lotus, Chidori, ambushes, the list of jutsu that Monkey D. Garp blew through was coursing through Kakashi's mind…. we need more. All of us.'
"I'm back." Sakura's voice announced, drawing attention to her new hairstyle. One they immediately identified could trace to where it came from. Her pink locks were less than half if they had been, form a curtain around her neck with few strands between her cheekbones and ears, and bangs ending just above her eyebrows. Nami grew a pensive look, examining Sakura as the younger girl waited for the verdict. "Is this flattery?"
A blush from Sakura answered the question, copying Nami's sport-cut hairstyle and Usopp threw a thumbs-up behind her.
"Sakura," the jonin called to the girl.
"Yes, sensei?" "How far can you keep a plain leaf moistened with water?" At the question, she thought back through her mind. "Only a few millimetres in from my fingertips, sensei. I…I skipped it the first morning after you were gone. Oh, I should continue right now." Kakashi nodded, and a gentle hand came through Sakura's hair. "You're already taking important steps. And wise ones."
"Soak an entire leaf through. I want to start learning full water-style jutsu tomorrow." In a heartbeat, the girl was off, and the same moment she was out the door, Naruto came back in. "Got it! This is one you like the best, right sensei?"
"Icha-icha tactics." Immediately, Kakashi took the volume with reverence, even caressing the cover as he near-ceremoniously set it to one side. "Training." Immediately, Naruto went silent. "I have a new training regimen in mind for you. In between sleeping while I was with Mr. Tattoo, I was devising new training materials and methods for each of us to follow the…performance in our last fight."
The atmosphere inside grew a shade cooler for all the Straw Hats. Luffy, Gin, Nami, Usopp and Sanji each leaned closer, while Apis was somewhere else, and their host continued snoozing. "For now…' an idea piqued in Kakashi's head. "Nami, will you come here a moment?" Immediately, she was front and centre. "Naruto, please, make one shadow-clone. Nami, lean closer."
Rapidly there were two Naruto's inside, and the girl did lend an ear. After some instructions, she shrugged and moved for the door. "Naruto, uh, the clone one. Please follow me. But the real one, you stay in here." "Why Nami-nee/Why Nami-nee," each one asked in sync. "Just come with me, and only the clone one. Okay?"
Immediately that's exactly what happened. The door shut and footsteps kept the others informed how they were moving further away. "Sensei? What's my clone going with Nami got to do with training?"
"Wait," Kakashi answered him. "One moment…no. Naruto, count to 100," the instructor passed to him. "One hundred, slowly. Then you'll have an answer." Nodding, Naruto started counting, slowly, in a whisper not too loud that they could hear each number.
20…..31….46…..56…..87…"Huh?" Both Naruto's eyes blinked in sync with a jerk of his head. "Sensei? I…what…I saw."
"Yes," Kakashi answered. "Everyone," he looked over the room to the rest of their crew. "Do you all remember in Loguetown. At select moments Naruto would announce what was happening at locations which he wasn't physically there at? Finding Marines? The Vice-Admiral punching him? Then learning Buggy, Alvida and Kuro's minions had taken our ship by exterminating the clones left aboard?"
Thinking over the moments generated time for Nami to walk back indoors. "Okay, what was that about?"
"Naruto," Kakashi fixed his eye on his student. "Who won?" "I did," and immediately Naruto shot to his feet. "And you owe me 20,000 berri, Nami-nee." "Huh? Wait-what, how can you—?" Nami spun on her little brother with her mouth open.
"Pay up," Holding two hands out, wearing a cheeky smile with closed lips, and what seemed to be tiny berri sighs in his eyes. Kakashi asked him for extra details. "Nami-nee had a game with me, rock-paper-scissors," Naruto recounted. "I made it for 10,000 berri. She complained but I talked about never passing up something that can net you more money. Then she smiled at me," a sly grin made Naruto resemble a fox with the final details in mind, "and made it 20,000, and I won, believe it!"
"Memory-transfer," Kakashi announced. "This is a peculiar component of the shadow-clone jutsu. You all already know-"
The door behind them slammed open, cutting off Kakashi as Sakura walked in. "Hey, will somebody talk sense into Sasuke?" Zoro was carrying his disciple over one shoulder. And the smell of Sasuke's sweat-stained clothes swept about the room. "More…. more, I can do more," the Uchiha growled. "Sheesh. If you're this spent, take it easy, why don't cha?"
"Draw some water, strip down Sasuke, and…take two hours to rest." Kakashi sighed, resting one hand on his head at the interruption. 'Well, at least everyone is here, so there isn't any need for repeat instructions.'
"Usopp, will you call Sakura inside for a moment? And…get a change of clothes for Sasuke." Twelve minutes later, the Uchiha's clothes were fluttering in the breeze outside while the owner was sitting in his boxers staring intently within fighting the instinct to shiver. Zoro had thrown him under a waterfall to meditate, and Sasuke had lasted six minutes before his lips were changing blue.
"As I was speaking," Kakashi drew the attention of his students and crewmates. "Sakura, please make one Illusion-clone. And Naruto, one shadow-clone." They both complied, and Kakashi established the differences between them. "You spoke of you before, Kakashi. Of water-clones, plain-clones, and shadow clones while we were sailing after Nami to Arlong Park," Sasuke reminded him.
"Good recall," Kakashi praised him. "But there is another component to Shadow-clones that I did not speak of. And one I'm going to have Naruto take full advantage of for training."
"Listen. Aside from functioning as a physical copy. Shadow-clones have a memory-transfer component behind them. Since they are composed of chakra from whoever generates them. When each clone dispels, any sensations the clone was subject to, sight, spoken, scent, hearing, or touch, will pop up in the original's mind."
"Nami, that is how Naruto knew what happened when I asked you both to play rock-paper-scissors. And we all know what came of it, so no weaselling your way out of owing money," with a finger waving towards the sly navigator.
"Ahhh-" the denial stopped in Nami's throat, her hands trembling at the idea of giving money away. "Shishishishishishi!" "Guhahahahahahahaha!" "Keep laughing, and I'll raise your debt by 400%!" The girl barked with ferocious zeal at Luffy and Zoro.
"What debt?" Luffy asked, and Nami immediately pounced on…..nothing. Nobody in the room owed her money; hence the girl spun around folding both arms in a huff.
"Sensei, if Naruto can do this, and with any of his clones, why didn't he notice it before?" Sakura enquired.
"He has" Kakashi continued. "Before you and Zoro arrived, I was listing examples. This function has made shadow-clones ideal for scouting before. But…with Naruto, I've put together another function."
"Everything a shadow clone experiences transfers into their maker's memory banks. It becomes part of them, and they recall it. So imagine utilizing clones, to learn skills. Naruto." Giving the Genin his full attention, the entire room grew dim in Kakashi's mind as Naruto became his sole focus.
"With the sheer volume that you can make, mixed with your considerable endurance and stamina. Each day I want you to have multiple clones working on the same skill. Imagine…one hundred of you all training in the same jutsu. Or the same kicks for Black-leg style. Or learning the same recipes. Then, at the end of the day, or say, three hours. The clones dispel and all of their training is absorbed into you."
Zoro and Sasuke each shot to their feet over this. Nami's mouth had become detached from her jaw at imagining the possibilities. Sakura's eyes were wide too, and then she and Sasuke each threw themselves at Kakashi. "No."
Without even hearing the demand, the jonin answered them with a look Sakura withered under, but Sasuke held firm. "Why? Why not?" he demanded. Then waited in silence…. silence….and more silence, patiently, to hear an answer. 'Not growling? No repeat? Patience?' Kakashi took note. He'd had several reasons ready for this inevitable response. But. 'How far has Zoro rubbed off on him?'
"Sasuke," Kakashi answered, "unveil your sharingans. And Naruto?" Looking at his blonde student, Kakashi adopted a more placative air. "Would you allow Sasuke to copy how to execute a shadow-clone. Only a single clone, then attempt to emulate it himself?"
""Uhh….." Naruto looked between Sasuke, their teacher, then back and forth between both. "Shadow-clones. Sensei, they're kinda my thing, ya know."
"Teach me, Kakashi," Sasuke offered. "I know I can't copy everything with these eyes. Not something that isn't ninjutsu. I shouldn't depend on it. Teach me." Now Kakashi was genuinely surprised. Grinning, he gently rubbed his head. "Well, with my chakra-levels, the cost would set my own recovery back by a day, at least."
"Little brother?" At Nami's interjection, Naruto felt a certain look under his adoptive sister's gaze. One he tried pouting back to for a full minute then slumped over. "Okay. Sasuke, watch." Crossing his fingers, Naruto waited until Sasuke had his eyes fixed on him. "Shadow-clone jutsu." A platoon of Naruto's popped into existence beside him, and Naruto stood back.
"Wait," Kakashi snapped out. "One. Trying and, only, make a single clone, Naruto." Confused, both Sasuke and Naruto looked between their sensei, then Sasuke towards Naruto while the blonde only gave a shrug. Bring his fingers back to the right position, Naruto obeyed once…thrice…and he got it right on the sixth try, with a single spare Naruto present instead of six, twelve or two.
Sasuke closed his eyes, processing the last attempt through his clan's kekkei-genkai, and brought his own fingers in an identical cross. "Shadow-clone jutsu."
In a puff of smoke…..what resembled a white, wavy, and heavily emasculated Sasuke materialized beside him. The original immediately dropped to his knees, barely stopping his face an inch from the floor.[1]
"This….is why," Kakashi answered without even waiting for the question. "For everyone else…. each jutsu that a ninja casts, we expend chakra. Maintaining certain jutsu can even demand more. Shadow-clones, since they're made of pure chakra, are one of THE most demanding techniques any ninja can learn or use. Naruto's inherent chakra levels are so ridiculously high, well, you've all seen the number of clones he can make."
"OOOO, so it's like a devil-fruit? Why Naruto makes good copies, not rubber-wavy ones?" Luffy asked, dropping one hand in his palm. "Like rubber-wavy Sasuke?" "That ain't even close," Usopp spoke up, "Kakashi just explained it so simple, any idiot should be able to follow."
"And I guess you've never gave this kind of shadow-clone training for the same reason, Kakashi?" Zoro asked him. A nod was all it took, and with one glance at Sakura, the girl understood too. Gin was helping Sasuke get back to a sitting position and offered him water.
"Sasuke, do you see now?" Kakashi enquired. "And now by spending that much, I doubt you'll be able to risk any further physical training today. This isn't impossible for somebody else to use," the Jonin made a peace offer. "But the amount of growth your chakra-pool and chakra-control need to make to use shadow-clones is immense. Sakura, you as well." In the background, the girl gave a nod, utterly transfixed by what she had seen.
"Naruto," Kakashi gave his attention back to the awe-struck Genin. "I want to you make ten copies. Leave one with Sanji to practice Black-Leg style, while you take the other nine and attempt to cut leaves in half with your wind chakra." Sanji was by the door first, and everyone watched the orange hoard materialize outside and get to work.
"Hey Zoro, let's go play tag!" "What!" Zoro barked at Luffy's request. "Hahaha, oh yes, let's play. Oh please, please, please," Usopp came over, begging. "NO way how old are you," he growled. ""Besides, it's time for my late-morning nap."
Throwing his head back, the swordsman took a final glance at Sasuke, made a satisfied nod, then leaned back closing his eyes. "Awwwwwww. He's just scared he'll lose," Usopp teased back, immediately jolting Zoro awake. "That's not why, you jerk-face. Take that back." "Why, ya mad? Huh? ~Huh? ~Huh? ~" "I'm not mad—get back here!" Usopp flew out the door, Zoro hot on his heels and Luffy chasing after them, with one arm thrown at another Nakama. "Come on, you too Gin."
"Wha'? No, not me." "Shishishishishi. Come on!" With that all four were gone from the house, leaving only Nami and Kakashi inside. "Hey, hey, one of us play too!" "Little brother, did you listen to Kakashi?" Nami went out the door too, leaving only Kakashi alone inside with a sleeping Grandpa Bokuden. "Wait, where is Apis?" Kakashi realized the one who'd been their ticket to this island was absent. Looking around, he picked up something else that was absent, too. Shuffling to the kitchen, Kakashi discovers the pork buns that had been cooking were gone and picked up Apis' scent leaving a back door from the house. "Kakashi?" Nami was back inside, and Gin was with her, after escaping the 'game.' "Awe…why'd that tiny gal take lunch and run?"
"A good question," Kakashi drew one arm at the treeline just yonder from the house. The trio departed the trail, moving a tad slow for Kakashi to keep track of the scent over winding pathways. Out from the house, further up the iconic mountain, Gin paused to stare at the Warship silhouette the natural feature cut, and Nami beside him. 'Did Millennial Dragons really fly along those cliffs, at one time?'
"Here." Kakashi's call yanked their attention. To a slight ravine with steep cliffs, and a rope-swing further beyond. Kakashi hobbled to one smooth rock nearby, setting his crutches aside and weaving his fingers through intricate patterns. "Earth-style: mobile-core." Planting both hands on the stone near his hips, soil and stone beneath the trio made a soft rumble. Then extending from their side, a solid mass of earth gradually mode to connect with the opposite side. At the end, Kakashi was sweating and could not rise to his feet without help. Once Gin had him draped over his shoulders, they cross over to follow a well-beaten trail more than any scent now.
On, and on, and on, and further. "I think we're on the other side of the island, now." "I wouldn't bet against dat, Nami," Gin nodded to her. A tad further along, the trio identified a nature cave beyond three dense bushes.
"Why do ya think Apis would nab lunch then high tail it out here?" Gin enquired. "Let's have a look inside and find out." Nami was the first to move in, with the men behind her venturing into the shadows. Stalagmites flanked both sides of a winding path while undisturbed stalactites above appeared threatening to pierce them at any moment. Further inside, to multiple surprises, they hear a familiar voice. "Yes, they're real, real kind. So everything turned out fine." It was Apis, and something with her was munching.
"No, these pirates aren't scary at all. Mr. Tattoo knew so much, and Mr. Kakashi has been really good to me. I'm sorry, but we found Lost Island and the Dragon's nest wasn't there. Mr. Tattoo stayed to see more, but the Marines arrived and if the Nest isn't there nothing else on the island could help me. I'll not giving, though. There's got to be a way and I'll find it, I promised."
"You got a friend up here, little gal?" Gin called over. Apis whirled about with fear plastered on her face. "Stay back! Stay there! No! No closer!" both her arms spread over something. Hints of green were poking from around a bend in the cave. None of the party, not Nami, Kakashi nor Gin moved. "It's okay," Nami tried placating her. "If you want to hide something, don't worry. We saw you ran off with all the food though…. oh….."
Adjacent to Apis, something was moving in the shadows. "Girl watch out!" Gin made a bolt forward, still holding Kakashi's arm over his shoulder. And the moment he was around the bent the pirate's feet planted to a stop. Both men, the pirate, and the ninja, got a full view of what Apis had been hiding and each froze, losing most of their senses. Gin lost his grip on the Kakashi, barely catching him when the Hatake's knees met the floor.
"Hey what is….." Now everyone had their attention on it. On the Elephant in the room.
On the massive feather form of a beast occupying the centre of the cave on a bed on Straw, with Apis before it and munching through a bag. The creature was enormous, towering above them but noticeably smaller than Sea-kings. And it matched the images Nami had spied all over the village on Lost Island the day before.
"Ahh..hhh…. hh…..hh…hh…" Gin's eyes were the size of dinner plates and could only croak. While Kakashi had lost all composure. 'A…. a millennial Dragon That's only what this can be.' Then, he picked up that the creature's eyes were moving, between Gin, Nami and him.
"It's alive? A live Millennial Dragon?"
0…..0
"Buda-buda-buda-buda-buda…. buda-buda-buda-buda-click. You guy's! We found a mil-erm…..something!" Nami's voice announced, conveyed through a snail on Sanji's wrist. "Nami-swan? Are you not still inside the house?" Around Grandpa Bokuden's house, Sakura and ten Naruto's still held leaves between their fingers, with an eleventh clone stood by Sanji. Usopp and Luffy stood close after game, and Sasuke was asleep indoors with the elderly man.
"Gin, Kakashi and me found Apis was gone, and she'd taken the pork-buns with her. There's a pathway behind the house. Follow it up to meet us, and fast!"
"You in trouble, Nami-nee?" Naruto's roar, multiplied to eleven with each clone, sent birds fluttering in panic. "We're coming, believe it!" As one, every clone broken into a run, seizing somebody to pull along while the original and one more ran into the house. "Naruto, I was getting—" "Uh-Kid-!" "Naruto-!" Zoro was not happy with the rude awakening. Usopp and Sanji tried to find their own feet, tripping over themselves and the clones, one before the other, and landing in a heap. The rest tore through the yard, where two more carrying Sasuke and the snoozing Grandpa Bokuden joined them running up a pathway. Luffy just kept laughing left and right: "Shi~shi~shi~shi~shi. Get up for adventure, men! Nami found a mystery-thing!"
Charging on, ascending higher and higher up the island, the hoard bent right and left, tearing through thin brush, then came skidding to a stop. They stood before one earthen bridge extend over a ravine.
"Hey Luffy?" Sanji asked, jabbing a thumb at the gab. "Give us another one?" "Right. GUM-GUM," the captain curled his arms and legs in, ready, and willing to throw a: "Suspension-bridge."
Two Naruto's tore over first, yet the Luffy-bridge bounced on their last step, and both met the other side face-first. The rest cautiously shuffled over the Luffy-bridge, "Hey, who stood on my hat!" "Sorry, Luffy!" Sanji answered. They did have to carry two people over before Luffy could get back up: the sleeping Grandpa Bokuden and nearly naked Sasuke, dress in only his shorts.
0…..0
"G-g-g-g-g-Grandpa?" Apis was really sweating now, under the watch of her blood relative. Bokuden's gaze kept shifting between her, to the Millennial Dragon, back to her, and again. Beside the old man, Usopp's mouth and tongue spilt out over his toes, Sakura was on her knees in awe and Zoro was more tense than anyone else. Sanji's teeth had bitten through a cigarette with his visible eyebrow twitching, but Sasuke was only glaring at somebody.
"OOOOoooo. So cool!" "Wow oh wow." Luffy and Naruto were both examining every part of the Millennial Dragon they could see and touch. Especially Naruto until, "Little brother," Nami scrambled forwards as the knucklehead duct beneath some part of Grandpa Ryu. "That hole might be this thing's butt!"
"Go ahead and let him crawl up it," Sasuke growled, with both his arms crossed over his bare chest in the dank cave. "Be strong," Zoro, habitually, scolded him. "If getting caught with your pants down-stops you, why bother learning to use a sword?" [2] More than a few people made incredulous faces at that tidbit. "Sanji, help Nami," Kakashi spoke, and the cook materialized at the navigator's shoulder. Three moments passed and both came back around steering a pouting Naruto beside to others, with Sanji slipping his black coat off to drape over Sasuke.
"Apis, please come down right now." Grandpa Bokuden snatched everyone's attention by advancing before the Millennial Dragon. The Majestic creature barely noticed him, and neither did the human Grandpa hold his attention on him. Gradually, the girl slid down and strode up like an inmate to their sentencing. "Grandpa Bokuden?" Looming over her, the elderly man gather himself and sat down, meeting Apis at eye-level.
Before anything else could happen, a Dragon's tongue slid over Bokuden from head-to-toe, and its beak closed over his head. "Help, Grandpa Ryu's kinda senile!" Apis exclaimed, trying to pull one away from other. "He sometimes forgets what is food and what isn't. Grandpa Bokuden sat down too close!"
"Now you tell us?" Sanji and Nami tried helping her, while Luffy ran right for one massive eye. "Gum-Gum-eh?" Mid-way to a punch, Luffy stopped short and kept starring at they eye. "Captain, what is it?" Sakura asked.
"Hey. You…..you ain't eating food, right now," Luffy spoke at the dragon, which immediately released the elderly man. Zoro and Gin shot forth, steering both Apis and Bokuden away while Luffy remained and was patting its head. "Good Birdie."
"He's a Millennial Dragon not a bird!" Apis exclaimed, indignantly. "Be nice and polite."
"Hey, let's see if he can fetch." Naruto suggested. "Or fly and get the stick, ya know."
"He's/It's a Dragon not a Puppy!" While Nami and Sakura barked simultaneously, Apis came darting up beside Luffy but stopped short as well. "Huh?"
Silence ensued between all three, leaving the onlookers lost. "You wanna go home?" Luffy asked. "Home?" Usopp asked. "Uh, yeah, yeah, home. Left get back to Merry and sail to my house and hide!"
"Sure," Luffy kept talking. "Luffy agrees. Super. Everyone, by command of captain Luffy and captain Usopp, RUN!" The sniper spun around to break into a sprint, but two guy seized him by the shoulders, leaving Usopp's legs spinning in circles in empty air.
"Really? It's really gonna happen tomorrow?" Luffy was growing excited. His attention still transfixed on the Millennial Dragon, ignoring the confoundment of his crew.
"Luffy, you can understand Grandpa Ryu?" Apis asked bewilderedly, as were Nami, Kakashi and everyone else around. Luffy only grinned over at her. "But I can hear him easily with my devil-fruit. How can you?" the girl continued.
"I just can," Luffy answered with a shrug. "All the things that he says. I can just hear it." "But how?" Apis repeated herself. "Heck if I know," the rubber-man shrugged, laying one hand of his hat then fixing both the girl and the dragon with a happy grin. "I'm excited now. The Dragon's Nest really is coming tomorrow like old guy said."
"Captain Luffy?" Kakashi spoke-up, very, very cautiously. "Leave it for now, whipper snapper." Beside him, Grandpa Bokuden was back on his feet and came up beside his granddaughter and Luffy. "Apis? I take it this was why those marines seized you? Yet you have kept this secret of our people safe?"
Apis made a bashful grin, slowly nodding her head and resting one hand on Grandpa Ryu's snout. "Yeah, that's just what happened. Sorry I stole all the pork-buns, but Grandpa Ryu was hungry. He's still lost so much of his energy, he can't even more out of the cave, and I'm scared if he does that Marines might see him and do something real mean."
"Wait. Kakshi-sensei said something about this." Sakura recalled, pulling everyone's attention to the girl. "Apis, did you ask the Marines about this Millennial Dragon, and they kidnapped you?" "Yeah, that's right," Apis confirmed Sakura's enquiry, simple as breathing. "You see…" the girl started from the beginning. Of how she'd gained her devil-fruit, then heard Grandpa Ryu's voice one day. And of how he was indeed a Millennial Dragon searching for the Dragon's Nest. "Wait…. he's, this real big guy…he's lost…a way back…" Naruto's question broke a touch, inching closer to his sister. "This dragon doesn't have a way back home?" the Uzumaki's tone was forlorn, and he was the only one either, Sakura's lips were in the shape of an "o" as her hands slowly drew closes, wringing her fingers together. Sasuke was forcing his eyes sideways to bottle up a spark of sympathy. They were not alone, however: Kakashi slid on hand over Naruto's shoulder and the other on Sakura's, lending a reassuring squeeze, while Sasuke felt something nudge his hip and found Zoro standing close and staring straight ahead, lending a silent support the younger boy did not recoil from.
"Grandpa Ryu's sure the Dragon's Nest is coming back," Apis wrapped-up her story. "Like I said, the problem we have is he doesn't remember exactly where it is. And that's why I was so excited when you all disappeared yesterday on Lost Island."
"I thought Lost Island and the Dragon's Nest was one and the same," the girl continued. "I've been searching for a way to find it, through old records, studied ancient maps, but even the legend itself doesn't have any clues. So—"
"My girl!" An irate bark stopped her short, and Grandpa Bokuden was glaring. "Did you truly not listen to the stories I spoke of so often? Old I may be, the legend holds true details. Why, oh why did you ask somebody else instead of reaching out to family? As I have said a hundred times the first king of Lost Island was King Iskodok, who had three sons, his first son was Isohontus and his second son was Hokbonbo and the third was Hokebokehan. One day the king said to them 'Now list to me and obey, go find the tree of God and the Dragon said to me-'"
"This is why….!" Apis moaned, nearly pulling her hat off yet Grandpa Bokuden just continued reciting the long history of Lost Island. "Grandpa Bokuden, please STOP!" "Wha?...Apis do you not wish to aid this Millennial Dragon and find Lost Island?" Grandpa Bokuden questioned her sternly, while behind him Usopp had fallen asleep on his feet mid-stride, Nami and Sakura were still listening, and the rest had their attention…..on a snoring Millennial Dragon.
"I found Lost Island already, we all were there," Apis explained. "Ohh!" Sakura exclaimed, with excitement in the tone. "So. So those must be what we saw. Nami-san," she spun around locking eyes with the Navigator. "Of course!" Nami realized. Before anyone could ask, the girls launched into their own recount of the trek up Lost Island to find Luffy, including how they'd met Kakashi and all the statues, high reliefs and murals that adorned the ceiling of a temple on Lost Island.
"Now yah mention it," Gin nodded, "This big guy does resemble 'em a little. But ain't so much they'd be one-to-one identical."
"Maybe it was embellished with time," Nami offered. "You know, so many years went by that anyone who'd seen a Millennial Dragon grew old and died. The rest just continued copying a design, or one artist would add their own flare and new models copied them. It led the image to evolve until something totally new was created." Sanji, Sakura and Kakashi each pondered this possibility, while Apis took the chance to speak up.
"Maybe, but on that mural inside the big place, all the Dragons were in the Sky and there wasn't any hint that Lost Island was the Dragon's Nest. Grandpa Bokuden, I'm sorry," the girl had her head bowed and both hands folded before her towards her family member. "You see, I tried listening to your story, but…I never heard any hints about where the Dragon's Nest is, and from what Mr. Tattoo, Mr. Kakashi and these pirates found on Lost Island, it isn't the spot Grandpa Ryu is looking for."
Somebody was glaring hard, searching through her mind and her memory, while the rest had their attention on the residents as the elderly one also frowned into empty air. Grandpa Bokuden continued frowning, until his eyes were wide and soft, then he knelt between Apis and the Millennial Dragon. "I am sorry now, my sweet one. I recall that I wrote these stories down once, then engrained so deep in my head, indeed where the Dragon Nest is located is a special secret which had been hidden quite deeply."
"Huh? Y-y-y-y-you really do know?" Awe and excitement lit up Apis' face. "Really? We could help this big, nice, green Dragon get home?" Naruto was just as excited as she was.
"Good!" Luffy answered of all of them. "I wanna see this Dragoon Nest and met more of them when they get here."
"Yeah, but first we need to figure out where that is. After one thousand years, for all we know the island got swallowed by the s-…the….!" Nami's words grew quiet as they slid away and pieces of a certain puzzle in her mind were fixing together. Sakura was doing the same, while Kakashi slid back to wait and think on a wider scale. 'Just as Dragon spoke about. But with the Marines so close, will they arrive and threaten not only this…Grandpa Ryu, but more Millennial Dragons as they arrive?'
"THAT'S IT!" Immediately, a loud, ear-splitting screech tore through the cave. It even shocked the senile Millennial Dragon's eyes wide. Everyone's attention was on Sakura. "The Dragon's Nest isn't 'lost' Apis, Nami declared, scurrying over the girl and her human grandfather. "Mr. Bokuden, please, come over with Sakura and me. Tell this story, slowly. We want the last piece because on Lost Island, there was a huge mural that showed precisely where the Dragon Nest is, and something that might occur again any day now."
Both girls launched into describing details of the large dome where the reunion with Kakashi took place.
"The Dragons were assembling in one space, not on either island but between them. That must be where they witnessed the nest, but instead of always present above the surface, it's beneath the water-level down under the sea." Nami summarized.
"Their name is a double meaning, then." "Double meaning? What's that, Sakura?" Naruto's excitement had been building with the rest of the group, but not so much that he failed to notice something. "Sasuke? Where are you leaving to?" The Uchiha wasn't where he had been, and neither was Zoro; both walking for the cave entrance. "This could be real, real cool, ya know."
"It's a place, and for once one coming to us." the Uchiha replied. "Sakura was brilliant. Like with Arlong after the restaurant she pieced together where we're going again, so we only need to wait here." Behind him, a solid thump announced somebody hit to the floor. Turning around the swordsman and his apprentice, plus everyone else, found Sakura flat on her back, with her eyes swirling around and lips twisting in a grin.
"Sasuke…. brilliant…..me…..Sasuke…. brilliant…..me…..," dazingly, the cabin-kunoichi kept mumbling with a dopey smile on her lips. Gin could only stare, while Sanji had a playful smirk at the hint as Luffy crawled up, lightly poking at Sakura. "Sakura. Sakura. Is my ninja okay or something?"
"You all stay here and learn," Zoro offered to them. "I'm taking Sasuke to get some actual clothes on, then we'll be meditating. Oh, and watch out for more of the Marines. The girl mentioned they took her, and we had dumb luck getting away from two battleships this morning. Maybe they're after this Dragon so.."
"Don't you mean 'the' Dragon, Zoro?" Gin's interjection stopped the first-mate short. "And if ya want to get clothes for Sasuke, shouldn't they be down this mountain, not further up?"
Zoro froze mid-stride, curled both his hands into fists on a pathway opposite to how they'd come to the cave. They suddenly stopped short as a low rumble grew echoing about from said cave…. from multiple stomachs.
"Oh, sorry!" Apis' apologized, bowing her head at the embarrassed and hungry pirates. "You've all been so kind and helpful. I'll head back down and make dinner for all of you right now." "Hey, how about you let me help too!" Apis and Naruto sped out from the cave, with one calling back over his shoulder. "Follow up back down, Sasuke and Zoro. That way you got mind up lost with moss-head-first mate."
"Hey, what you say, brat!" Zoro tore offer, with Sasuke in his wake and all four left the others where they had been. "Heh, I hate to admit it, but Mr. Lost-a-lot is right," Sanji spoke up, lifting a fresh cigarette to his lips. "And worse, those Marines on the ships we left behind might find their way to Lost Island, too. Some might either investigate the island, or if we're lucky they'll come straight here."
"Let's set-up a watch, then," Gin ventured. "Somebody up here, and another in the village down below; ensure we ain't caught unawares?" "Oh, great idea. I, ahh…." Usopp had been listening, yet instead of volunteering his eyes travelled over the others present: Sakura mumbling in a daze about Sasuke, Nami and Kakashi listening to Bokuden (and trying to stay awake), and Luffy sitting beside the dragon.
"Hey Sanji, can I, kinda ask you something?" Curious, the cook did a mental tally of his priorities 'Apis, Nami, Sakura, Naruto…all check, food with the plain cooks, no threats…' "Hey, Luffy."
"Whaa? Something up, Sanji?" the captain answered. "We're keeping watch for any Marines that might come searching for the Dragon. You and Gin keep watch up here, Usopp and I are heading for the ship. Don't leave Nami-swan or Sakura alone up here." "Okay." With that they split up, Usopp walking down and trying to piece together a request in his head. Luffy walked outside beside Gin, who nodded to his captain and worked-out a rough schedule to keep lookouts in shifts.
Part-way walking down the mountain, Usopp broke his request to Sanji. "When Sakura and me got planning, she talked of this collaborative jutsu. Like, moves two ninjas use, combing them into a bigger, better move. Some ideas I have, I mean, you fight up-close with kicks, and you always got a lighter around for smoking. I got a few ideas to try out, jutsu you and me, Sanji."
The chef tapped one pocket to ensure he still had his lighter. "Makes sense. Plus, since you use a slingshot, either of us could set-up one opponent for the other to take out."
That reassured Usopp, lending some confidence for the other reason that he had. "And..I got something else I want to ask, too." The Sniper swallowed back a lump in his throat, then imagined his capture, Luffy stepping up to fight, and his own Dad; Yasopp of the Red Hair pirates.
"I want to do some training, too. Like, how you were training Naruto back down at the house."
0….0
Mid-day became afternoon, with the sun between day and evening when Kakashi and Nami strolled down from Grandpa Ryu's cave. "How on earth did you stay awake, between the older man's mumblings?" At Nami's question, Kakashi just gave a tilt of his head. "Hm. Did you say something?" one double-take and a near-trip later, Nami answered the question by glaring with a pout.
"Never mind, I'll just tell Naruto you left me upset." The older man shrugged, setting a terribly slow pace down the hill, and opening a tiny snail on his wrist. "Buda- buda- buda- buda- buda… buda- buda-click. Kakashi, you spot something?"
"No, no, all clear, Zoro," the jonin answered. "Nami and me as strolling down from the cave. Gin is still up there, and I assume you and Sasuke remain on the Going Merry. Are Naruto, Sanji or Usopp with you."
"Nah, we've been training, Kakashi," Sanji voice came in over the baby den-den. "Usopp came to me, but Naruto and Apis have been inside the house, cooking. Come on down, I'll make my way up and relieve Gin. —BANG!"
The snail hollered. Before somebody could ask, a lighter rumble came over the pair from the direction of Grandpa Bokuden's home. "What was that?" "Something exploded, Nami-swan," Sanji gave an answer. "Moss-head, did you fall asleep and somebody sneak-up with a cannon?" "I'd never—" "Hey, N-Naruto? Why are you covered with smoke?" Between three voicing coming through the snail, Nami had heard enough and took off. Kakashi was moving behind her too, in the perfect spot when Nami got to the narrow ravine. Skidding to a stop, her toes were over the edge and a little wobbly, until something seized Nami and swung over the gap; Kakashi had taken a rope swing and snagged Nami on the way to deposit on the other side.
Soon came approaching the house to find light smoke billowing from windows with Naruto and Apis outside covered with soot. Neither said anything since Sanji spotted them first and gave an answer. "Apis and Naruto were cooking together."
"Yeah. Come on in, and then call the others down, too." Apis cheerfully gave an invite. "Naruto's got some good ideas, and got me to try some new things, too." Her partner beside her was grinning too, Naruto even more excited for some people to try his cooking.
"You…sure you followed the recipe right, little brother?" Nami asked cautiously, while Usopp cam hobbling a tad closer to her and Kakashi. "Something inside there exploded, half the pans or plates got scorched, and they've been in there together for hours," he whispered. Kakashi mentally cataloged that, and took in the younger boy's state; bruised, shaky legs, dirty hands, and sweating.
"Awe, dinner?! Who's got food?" Luffy had arrived, rubbing his hands together as a low rumble made his stomach shake. "You might want to taste this first, Luffy," Usopp called over at him. Inside, certain words wound-up prophetic. "dinner" was bowls of noodles, vegetables thin and unevenly cut, with blacked chunks floating among them in broth the colour of sulphur.
"You…both, really made this all by yourselves, Naruto?" "Yup, Nami-nee, believe it. Apis-Naru, pork special Ramen," the Uzumaki proclaimed. "I did the noodles myself. Apis and I kept arguing about the vegetables, but she did them in exchange to let me handle the noodles and spice. He didn't have any eggs, though, and we mixed all kinds of spices to make sure everyone got full flavour."
"Sanji-senpai, what do you think?" Both children were holding a bowl up to the chef. Sanji himself looked between it, to their faces, the horrible mess sprayed around the kitchen, and a stack of pots in a sink. "Food? ~food~food~food~"
"You honestly expect us to eat this, dobe?" Sasuke and Zoro had joined them. Nami answered one by kicking his shins and forcing a spoon in his hand. "It's…real thoughtful. What did you mix for the broth?"
"I boiled water," Naruto answered, "just like making Ramen at home. Then mixed in a lot of sea-salt and turmeric. We cooked-up the noodles separately, then I got dipping them in a marinade, but we didn't do anything with the pork until something went boom."
"It sure-hmmmm-tastes good." Luffy was munching down on the black bits, and Nami took up a spoon. Everyone cautiously followed them both and tried some….
5 minutes later five Naruto's sat around Luffy, stuck swallowing one dangerously spicy or strange bite after the next.
"What went wrong? Cheff Zeff would be furious at me." "How I make something so bad after you all have been so kind?" Naruto and Apis were both bemoaning in a corner. Not even Nami could wear a white lie over how the food was, and Sanji had some kind of notebook in his hand. "You should know his rule about wasting food, too." Sanji hand threatened to make everyone eat the meal, even though he confessed the attempt was horrible on so many levels. 'He's better than my first try, and he volunteered to eat the rest. The Geezer had to force me. And for Naruto to learn how to cook..'
'"Take Naruto and teach him, not just about fighting by cooking, too. If someone cooks great meals, it's impossible for anyone not to like them. Food brings everyone together." …..'I gotta deliver on that. But I' let Naruto take free rein in kitchen too early. That's not how I learned, and cooking isn't something that can just be taught.' Looking across the kitchen, or what was left of it and any tools useful to make food edible, Sanji made several mental notes. Once the last of the food was down somebody's mouth, Naruto got put to work on the clean-up. "But cooks never had the clean-up at Baratie, senpai."
"We're not at Baratie and look at the state of this kitchen. Somebody let you utilize their kitchen space, and you'd consider leaving them with this warzone?" "Then what about—"
Sanji tapped his foot, once, twice, and Naruto continued insisting on more help. Everyone except Luffy and Nami made for the door, then heard the kick landing on somebody's head.
"One more excuse, and no new jutsu or kitchen work at all. And I'll throw the Ramen noodles overboard." Apis had stayed inside to help too, leaving Usopp, Zoro, Sasuke and Kakashi outdoors. "Sasuke, head up to the cave and relieve Gin. Usopp and I'll watch from the going Merry and put a…remedial meal together."
"Why not take the pervy-cook with ya?" Zoro asked him, and immediately got an answer. "No shadow-clones. On your own, with only two hands—Naruto." Sanji's shout came with another echo of somebody kicked in the head. "Does anyone wish to enjoy Apis-Naru Ramen again?" Nobody answered, and Zoro strode off towards a tree. "I'm gonna take a nap. Wake-me for look-out duty later, Sasuke." Said apprentice promised, then took off. Usopp and Kakashi left for the shore and their precious ship. Once aboard Usopp sagged down on a crate to rest his sore muscles.
(Usopp and Kakashi about fighting)
"So, was Black-leg style far more challenging than you imagined?" Bolting back upright, Usopp stared over at Kakashi's back, while the man was preparing food. "You, uh, nah, nah, Sanji had nothing but praise for me. And…you sure you can cook something edible, Kakashi?"
"Oh, I paid attention while in the kitchen with Zeff. And long before that in our home." Answering while he paired fish out of their fridge with a knife. Silence followed between them for hot minute. "Lying is a dangerous practice towards combat, Usopp. Telling lies to an enemy is a cleaver choice, but if you had to match my back against a hostile Pirate crew or entrust you to guard our ship with a false idea of what you can do, then both will be come lost." A knife sliced clean through one fish, with trails of blood and offal clean to see.
Usopp gulped, feeling his consciousness pressing hard on his skull. The impulse to lie again dried-up like piss in the desert, leaving a stale and rancid stain in his mind. "I-I-I-I-I-I just gotta…."
"Stop." Kakashi's one eye met the aspiring sniper's, welcome instead of condemning. "Tell me honestly. Or…why did you ask Sanj about trying to learn in the first place?"
Both hands on Usopp's knees were trembling, betraying the fatigue in his arms and legs that spoke loudly to anyone with a trained eye. "Because you and the other Genin know. And Loguetown was all my fault."
Moments after he spoke, Usopp felt his throat tighten but still did not cease speaking. "Kuro was from my village, and he tried to kill me, to kill Kaya, and now Luffy all because of me. Then you got caught saving me, and I couldn't do a single thing. Luffy beat Kuro, Zoro cut his crew down, when Don Krieg came Sanji, you, Naruto and Luffy all had these big, important fights. If you'd lots more woulda been hurt, and then in Nami's village all I did was get shot and sit out the important part. How can—I—should-" Now he was almost choking on his tongue, and fighting off tears, wallowing in self-contempt.
Kakashi didn't move, instead he set the knife aside and just stood there, waiting. And waiting. Usopp remained quiet, breathing in gaps, and blinking as he grappled with his own frustration. "I'm too weak…then Luffy and you…you both coulda died. Because of me." With a gasp, Kakashi could see tension leaking away from his companion.
"Kakashi, I—" "Finish that sentence, and I may either kill you, or find a devil fruit and drop you in the ocean." Kakashi had a hint at what Usopp intended to speak. "First. Tell me about this, Kuro."
That did surprise the sniper. "Oh. That's right. You hadn't met us yet, and I guess nobody told you." The story about butler Klahadore, of Usopp meeting Luffy, Zoro and Nami, then their fight with Black Cat pirates was short and concise.
"You think you accomplished nothing, by defeating this, Jango, to save three children and somebody you care about?" An honest question, and one that left somebody's tongue tied into knots. Kakashi had not finished either. "As I recall, you lent covering-fire for us when Don Krieg attacked, right before Mihawk sliced their galleon in two. Then you stepped into danger when a certain Rat so much as threatened Sakura and Nami's sister-oh. Sorry, Nami and Naruto's sister, Nojiko. Do you recall that?"
"I…I guess. But I still sat-out the biggest win our crew had," Usopp tried to excuse the complements. "I barely did anything when Buggy and that Lady came at us one night. And Kuro led all of you into a trap just to save me." This time, Kakashi did not allow silence to last between them.
"Usopp. Why did get an idea to leave this crew behind?" At Kakashi's question, Usopp's entire mood changed. "Because I was too weak. I-I-I got all of you in a trap, then you had to stay behind because of me. An-and-and I'm not a brave warrior or a strong fighter like the rest of you. Sakura can get invisible and she's a great thinker. Sasuke, Naruto, Zoro, and Sanji can't wait to charge into every fight they find. You and gin are scary and ruthless. And Nami spent so long sacrificing for people in her home."
Slumping over, Usopp was making a mental list of what he could take with him and plan a way back to Syrup village. "Why did Luffy invite you?" Kakashi had to ask twice to get Usopp's attention. "What was that?" "Why did Luffy invite you? I haven't known him as long," Kakashi confessed, "but I do recall how he will not take no for an answer after deciding for somebody to join him. So, why…why did Luffy ask you on to his crew I the first place?" Kakashi had almost added 'out of anyone else,' but caught his tongue on a bad taste in his mouth.
Thinking back, and a little mentally raw to conjure-up a misleading narrative, Usopp remembered more from Syrup Village. Of Luffy talking about Yasopp, his dad, and how immediately both clicked together. Of rolling down and hill where—'oh, right, Luffy only wanted the Merry, not me.'
"This ship," the boy answered him. "Kaya hear Luffy, Nami and Zoro wanted a ship, so she and Merry gave Merry to—ahh. Merry, and the Merry, I got myself confused." Shaking his face and holding both hands to his head, Usopp got back to his story of how the Going Merry became a pirate ship.
"Why are you telling lies, Usopp." Somebody else spoke-up. Zoro was in the doorway and walking inside. He stopped close enough to loom over Usopp with both arms crossed. "The way I recall, you were rolling down hillside with a giant pack. Luffy and I stopped you, you talked about becoming a pirate and tried walking the other way. Then Luffy asked why you weren't aboard with the rest of us to go sailing."
This broke through the illusion Usopp's old habit had conjured-up in his mind. He kept looking inward, so much that he wasn't listening to why Zoro had walked inside the Merry on his way 'up' the mountain.
'Luffy… mind '"We're friend's right. So come on." And then…then I made a flag…and-' then he was shaking. "Usopp!" Zoro had one hand on his shoulder, try to shake sense into him. "If you think about leaving then Luffy won't let us set sail until you come back. Did you forget Luffy kept trying to run back after Kakashi left, and we had to force-feed him until after flying to the strange Lost place? And you did help us in Loguetown, by pointing Luffy's crazy Grandpa at Buggy then that Black Cat creep." In the middle of digesting this, Zoro released him and Usopp collapsed in a heap.
"So, Luffy does not blame Usopp for getting caught?" Kakashi casually, too deliberately casual, enquired. "Sorry, I've been away and did not ask about what happened over my stint with Mr. Face." Each of the crewmates present fixed Kakashi with a flat look. "That jokes a strong as Zoro's sense of direction."
"Got that right-hay!" the swordsman barked at Usopp. "Regardless," Kakashi kept talking. "What I was around for was Luffy's fury in Cocoyashi village, after the cooked marine shot Nami's sister and you," he nodded to Usopp. "After Naruto announced Kuro had captured you, Luffy was ready to rip a town apart to get you back. Clearly, Luffy does not want you anyone to leave, and he doesn't blame you for getting captured." Slowly, the Hatake knelt beside Usopp, close enough a long nose could brush his mask.
"To shinobi, we often follow certain rules. And those who break the rules are scum. But…" a poignant pause hung in the air, luring in Usopp's attention. "Anyone who abandons their friends. Are lower than scum."
"Those are words that I live by, and I impressed them on every potential Genin assigned to me by the Hokage. Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura learned them too, and they ran back to aid me against Garp, against my orders to run. Living up to those rules, so I had to deceive you all so we could escape."
"I made the choice to stay behind," Kakashi owned-up, "and I failed to grasp just how unrelenting a Navy Vice Admiral can be. Now I'm taking steps to learn from it, just like you want to."
"Usopp, you went to Sanji to get stronger. Then found how just training with him won't be a quick fix."
"Think about something else, too. Should you up and leave us, then we sail on to the Grand Line, towards new threats and dangers not only to us but each other. Do you desire to live knowing all of us went further, then died, all while you sat in house unharmed and alone?"
"No!" That immediate answer was the best thing Usopp could do. "No, uh, I, um-ah…"
"Good." Kakashi was back on his feet and strode for the kitchen. "We'll have some hungry people here soon. Prep more of the fish. I gotta take a leak." Behind him, Usopp fell flat on his face, and Zoro was mumbling between his teeth. "No need to share that tidbit." Both of them still followed instructions for getting some food prepared.
"Usopp," Zoro called over, fixing his friend was a neutral stare. "Go want to get stronger for this crew. Good, but why go and do it by becoming like Swirl-brow?"
"You're you," The swordsman explained, "and that's important in its own way. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura. All of them ninjas. But each one fights differently from each other. Sasuke's learning how to be a swordsman from me, and it suits him. Naruto might be good with kicks, but Sakura found that style didn't work for her. Instead she went to Gin about learning a new way to fight. Find what works for you and use that in your own way."
The sniper hung his mouth open at Zoro. Something the other guy took with pride. "Maybe we should start looking for a devil-fruit. Or you're good at running away. Did you win these," tapping his own forehead, "from a big-time bounty hunter." Usopp glanced up high and found his specialized goggles.
"I admit, we got a pretty great person here to learn about fighting from," Zoro kept talking. "Back against Arlong's crew, the best swordfight I've…won," Zoro grit his teeth while admitting this, "thanks to sword lessons Kakashi impressed on me. He keeps teaching the Cabin-kids every day, and his name is the guy with a thousand jitsu-or whatever."
Ten minutes later, Kakashi slunk back in on wobbly feet…or they appeared to be. Right away, Usopp dropped what he was doing and marched right up in front of the jonin. "Kakashi!" His lower lip was shaking, and both hands kept furling and unfurling into fists. "Will you teach me the best way I can fight. And help make me stronger for our crew!?"
The boy then bowed his head straight down, waiting to hear an answer.
0….0
Morning dawned, and with it a nasty surprise for the pirate crew.
There were Marine sails on the horizon; a large fleet worth and they had already enclosed the bay where the Going Merry remained moored.
End.
[1] =Think about how Sharingan's function to copy jutsu. Then watch Ebisu' explain chakra-spending to Naruto in the Chunin-exam arc.
[2] =I wrote this down before the Netflix Live Action One Piece premiered. The parallel with Zoro catching Helmeppo…. naked was a complete coincidence. But I left it in anyways.