Hello everyone, AmusedLight here with another chapter - hoping this will be a bit longer but who knows. Just recently updated my Naruto/Avatar fic and I'm working on it now, plus…three other story updates also? My schedule keeps getting messed up.

So let us get started, because I am hoping to do more in the upcoming months - enjoy this chapter.

Three cups of hot tea were poured, the last of which was for the visitor to the village of Cocoyashi.

"Thank you."

The owner of the farmhouse sat down in her seat opposite the table and eyed the man she had just poured a drink for: "It's the least I can do as long as your clothes are not dry, of course. But I'll be honest with you they're not in a good state so perhaps some wardrobe change will help. "

After a few things were cleared away with a single discussion, Naruto now sat with a woman named Nojiko, who owned this large tangerine farm, drinking tea. Wearing only a T-shirt and a pair of shorts, he enjoyed the woman's company.

"Ugh…."

She and his brother's crewmate named Usopp, who was lying on the spare bed with a bump on his head he'd gotten from the blue-haired woman herself, had knocked him out with a frying pan. How he had gotten here so quickly, the blond did not know, which meant the others were probably here too, but where, he didn't know.

"You banged him up pretty good if he's still out," Naruto said slightly impressed at the fact this guy was in the bed for over an hour, "Either that or he has an unusual skull."

"I'd say both," Nojiko said with a chuckle while looking at her unconscious guest while leaning her head on the palm of her hand, turning to her conscious guest, "By the sounds of it you've got experience with knocking heads in, care to tell?"

"Oh, it's nothing…"Naruto gave his trademark smile, yet kept himself humbled and looked into his teacup, "I used to be in the Navy, that's all…"

"Navy, you say?" Nojiko asked, a bit interested, "What rank?"

"Was a low-ranking officer, just a captain, really." Naruto told her while facing her directly, "Used to go up and down the Grand Line and hunt down pirates until I got myself into trouble and make myself scarce."

*Sniff!*

The two turned to the source of the sniffing sound, coming from the far end of the table, the young boy helped bring Usopp to the home, Chabo was his name and he had snot hanging from his nose and tears coming out from the corners of his eyes.

"You know this kid?"

"He's from Gosa, the village that got destroyed." Nojiko answered, "Name's Chabo, he and his mother live in Cocoyashi now with some family members from what I know."

"Those bastards killed my father, my friends, my village," Chabo was sniffing through his explanation, whipping the tears off his face, "I had to do something…but I don't know what…"

"Your mom still alive?"

The boy Chabo turned his face up and saw it was Naruto who asked him that question.

He sniffed and responded, "Y-Yes…"

"Then go to your mom and go cry in her lap, get your emotions out to her." Naruto offered some advice to the boy with sincerity, "I know it's hard for you now with your father's loss, but don't give in to revenge, it's nothing but a nasty feeling that will stick with you for your entire life."

Hearing that got Nojiko to raise her eyebrow at the blond's words, but she saw the boy paying attention to that advice.

"H-How do you know?"

"Because I've seen men older than you go through that…and succeed in it," Naruto admitted to the boy and didn't spare him, "I promise you, it is not a good thing to experience."

This got Chabon to suddenly think before he looked down in shame and tried to get rid of the snot on him.

"I'm sorry…"

Then he felt a hand rubbing over his head, it being Naruto who decided to comfort him a bit, with a smile on his face.

"Don't apologize for crying, it is what makes us human. Emotions are there to make sure we don't bottle our pain up." Naruto told the young kid with some wise words, "Now go to your mom, and be the boy she needs, alright?"

After listening to that, Chabo looked up and smiled with tears in his eyes.

…

Already outside, the boy was going through the tangerine groves back to the village, all while the two young adults inside watched from their seats.

Naruto smiled and turned to the woman, who gave this smile while staring at him, causing him to be confused.

"Something on my face?"

"You've got quite the way talking with people, it seems." Nojiko said, leaning in, "Like it's some kind of gift."

"You wouldn't be the first one to suggest a thing like that," Naruto responded with a smirk while rubbing his head, giving a little laugh, "I was told from a young age I had that ever since I could speak, that and pranks."

"Pranks you say?" The tattoo girl asked, "Like what?"

"Oh, I got a lot of stories of that. Way too many to recount," Naruto said to her before he got an idea, "Tell you what, If you bring me to your village and help me get some better clothes, I can give you a few stories of my best tricks I pulled off when I was younger. What do you say?"

"So let me get this straight - You entered my property illegally, ate some of my livelihood, nearly broke into my home, drank a cup of tea, and now you expect me to bring you, a stranger, to my village?"

Hearing that logic was a solid reason for her not to go into the invitation, most likely endangering her life and her fellow villagers because of his mere presence.

"So yes or no?" Naruto asked again, "Because I can go there by myself."

"Hmm, sure why not."

Meanwhile

In the fort close to Cocoyashi village, the dozens of Fishmen were eyeing with laughter at the sight of two of their new guests who were uninvited.

Sitting just on the edges of the pool were Zoro and Gin, both tied up with swordman's wound still not fully healed and covered in bandages, and the tracksuit-wearing former second-in-command of Don Krieg being interrogated by the captain of this bunch.

The captain was Arlong himself, the light blue saw-shark fish-man who stood taller than anybody there and had his hands on Gin's throat while questioning him, squeezing his windpipe and slamming his head a bit, opening a few wounds on the man who he was trying to get to squeal.

"Shahahaha, well you are a hard man to make talk, I'll give you that." Arlong spoke with laughter, even complimenting his victim, "but I'd expect nothing less from Krieg's second-in-command."

Spitting some blood out from open lip, Gin kept his mouth shut as he turned his head to the side. Beaten up yet he still would not speak.

"Come on, speak if you value your life." Arlong said before turning to the other, "And you? Just watching your friend get beat up?"

"Like I said before, we are looking for a girl," Zoro glared at the Fishman. "You half-fish bastard."

"Really? Is that all you are willing to say?" Arlong sounded unimpressed but wasn't done smiling as he turned back to the captive in his hand, "Care to elaborate on your friend's story?"

Gin just continued not to say a word, instead giving a glare equal to that of the swordsman, unresponsive in words but his facial expressions say it all.

"Oh? You think you are tough?"

*SLAM!*

With his back slammed to the ground, Gin roared in pain as if he felt his spine get ripped in two, breathing hard as he could only manage it barely to recover. Arlong goes further by slamming his sandal into the man's stomach.

"No matter who you are, the bottom line is that you are human, an inferior creature in comparison to us Fishmen." Arlong said, speaking his mind on what he believes as facts, "We fishmen are simply the next realm of the evolutionary ladder for you pathetic humans. We are incredibly resilient, we can breathe both on land and underwater, an ability that establishes our superiority over you - I don't know if this will make any sense to that birdy brain of yours rambling in your head. Fishmen are the lords of all creatures, and to fight against us is to define all nature."

All this prejudice talk did little to change the expressions on both Zoro and the beaten-up Gin. the latter who just turned around to spit some blood out from his mouth - and chuckled.

"Oh, you want to say something?"

"Leave him, Arlong, you can see he's already beaten up enough already."

The voice came from inside the large building.

"Also I am really sick of listening to your big ideas."

It was Zoro who was reacting with shock to see who was coming out.

"Why are you always so serious, Nami?" Arlong sounded mockingly hurt, "You know I wasn't talking about you, you are a very special human - our greatest navigator and a valuable member of this crew."

Revealing herself to Zoro, Nami wore a green sleeveless shirt with a pattern of dark green dots, along with black shorts and sandals, revealing a tattoo on her left arm.

Sounded annoyed, Nami continued, "Say what you will, but I am smarter than any of you. That's for sure."

She then happened to look down, seeing Gin on the ground, face covered in his own blood under Arlong's foot, he was staring right at her with a blank expression that unsettled the navigator, prompting a response.

"Why did he call you his navigator, Nami?"

The response was halted by Zoro's clear anger that was present, causing Nami to turn to him as if he were not done.

"You can't honestly expect me to believe you work for him?"

"Hold on, is this guy a friend of yours, Nami?"

Arlong's question made Nami smile as she began walking up to the captured swordsman.

"Don't be ridiculous, this is just another fool who thought I wasn't going to steal all of his treasure right from under his nose. To think he and his friend actually followed me here without knowing that." She kneeled to Zoro's face, "Shows how stupid he is."

Zoro gave a grim face to her, looking right into her eyes.

"So this is the person who you are - all along I thought you couldn't stand pirates."

"Well you thought wrong," Nami kept her devious smile at him, "It was all an act, and you bought the whole show."

Nami then proceeded to show the tattoo on her left shoulder - showing it was one of the Arlong Pirates - signifying her allegiance for the first time.

"Hey, Arlong!"

Hearing his name, Arlong turned to one of his most trusted members of the crew, the large Fishman named Kuroobi, who was holding on to something he had just found on their silent captive.

"I found something that belongs to that human underneath your feet," The ray Fishman threw it to him, "Catch."

Arlong caught whatever he was given and saw it was a patch, a unit patch that was of the Marines…

"A marine?"

"Not just a marine," Kuroobi mentioned, "Look at that patch….the symbol."

The look on Arlong's face changed when the realization hit him hard and without a warning, widened eyes, and a stare that many of the crew hadn't seen in a long time.

Nami was the exception, left confused she looked around to see the other Fishmen looking terrified at the expression their captain was making.

"What's going on? Why-"

*SLAM*

Without a warning, the ground underneath Arlong caved in with the tiles flying off from the pressure, with Gin being the unfortunate one to have his leg get crushed by that giant Fishman's feet.

Gin screamed in pain with his leg on the verge of getting snapped in two - then his mouth got covered by Arlong's hand that covered the under half of his face. Forcing him to focus on the patch.

The patch was of an orange fox with nine tails looking sideways in front of a black background, standing on its two feet with its claws out and ready for combat - with a noticeable red sun.

The same sun tattoo on Arlong's chest.

"Now listen here, human, because I am only going to ask you once," Arlong spoke with a chilling tone but anger in his eyes while holding the item in his hand, he then removed the one on the man's face, "Did you steal this from someone?"

Gin looked right back at the Fishman, looking insulted he responded right back.

"No, it belongs to me."

"Are you lying to me-"

"9th Raiders Division, Foxhound Company," Gin stated proudly with a toothy grin on his face without any hesitation, "former lieutenant Gin at your service."

The surrounding crowd was astonished at the proclamation that this man was making underneath their captain, knowing that at any moment he could be just snapped in two by the ruthless captain pirate, he showed no fear of dying.

Nami was especially looking horrified at what was happening, nearly dropping her act, and Zoro looking a bit concerned, but on the inside was hoping he would back off before he got himself killed.

"Arlong! Arlong!"

Then just in time, some big-mouthed Fishman entered the premises as it was one of the patrol guys who just come in to report.

"...What is it?" Arlong turned his attention to the guy, "I am busy…"

"We found out those two guys had more company with them," The reporting Fishman spotted the scene and tried to ignore it, "some long-nosed guy was with them but he got away and is on the island somewhere."

Both Nami and Zoro reacted in their minds, but it was Gin who spoke his piece open.

"That idiot cannot even stay hidden for a few hours? Pffft," He scuffed and turned to Zoro, "No offense, man. But he's a bit of a coward from what I've seen."

Arlong decided to ignore it and turned to his crewmate, "And?"

"I think he's going to Cocoyashi village."

…

"Let's go."

Standing up, Arlong released his foot and allowed Gin to lay on the ground, in pain and suffering as he began walking to the gate.

"I need to walk, and take care of business."

Meanwhile

Cocoyashi Village

In the small town that lay as the sole settlement of this island, and only a small distance away from the pirate stronghold, this village's quietness was interrupted.

"WHAT? NAMI'S YOUR SISTER?!"

It was Usopp's loud yelling that disturbed the peace inside the clothing shop that they were in, with Nojiko sitting at a corner chair while explaining to the long-nosed guy about herself and Nami's relationship, much to her annoyance his loud voice was attracting the attention of the villagers who were passing by.

"Yeah, she's my younger sister, happy?" Nojiko said to the guy in front of her, "Want me to repeat it for you to shout it louder this time?"

Usopp began to mumble something in response about Nami's betrayal and so forth, not much to any interest to the bluenette tangerine farmer who focused her attention instead on the changing room next to her.

"And? Any comments?"

"In all honesty? I am not surprised."

The shroud was moved aside, allowing Naruto to come out with a new outfit that he managed to scrap together, he came out wearing some black boots, comfortable pants with military-colored patterns, and a shirt that was tight enough to show off his muscles alongside a a trenchcoat.

"What do you think?" Naruto asked her.

Nojiko couldn't help but smile when she saw her blonde visitor's new outfit and remarked, impressed: "I think two things: firstly, that you are trying to cheat me out of my money."

"Then I apologize, I don't have the money to pay you right now," Naruto replied smiling lightly, "What's the second part?"

"I think you are trying to impress me, honestly."

Hearing that caused Naruto to look at her with his own sly smile to her, and respond.

"Is it working?"

"You trying to flirt with the sister of someone who kidnapped you?" Nojiko chuckled, sounding with a mock hurt expression, "How uncivilized."

"If it is uncivilized to say the woman in front of me is good-looking, then call me a barbarian," Naruto admitted, "Especially one who can handle herself?"

The little banter/unofficial flirting that was being exchanged between the blond stranger and the bluenette tangerine farmer was being witnessed by not only the lone Straw Hat pirate who sat in the background, but also by some outside the store.

Some of the people of Cocoyashi were observing the conversation and were surprised to see the strangers talking easily to their Nojiko.

"Who's that young man?"

"What's with the other guy? His nose looks deformed."

"Forget him, Nojiko is laughing, haven't seen that in a while."

"Whoever that young man is, good luck."

Among the crowd was also a man in a uniform. A brown police uniform to be exact with a pinwheel on top of his hat, the man was covered in scars and he had a thick black mustache. Staring at the youngsters with caution as he took direct notice of the blond.

"That kid looks familiar…"

"Hmm? What you say, Genzo?"

"The blond one, Nako, look at him," the man in the police uniform named Genzo spoke to the man next to him, the local doctor, "I swear he looks familiar to me, but I cannot remember from where."

The sunglass-wearing elder guy took a good look at the young blond, adjusting his glasses even before his look turned stunned.

"Wait, that's-"

"Hey! Arlong's coming!"

"He is?"

The crowd turned around to hear what was happening, with even those inside the clothing shop, with Naruto and Usopp wondering what was going on. But before both men could inspect for themselves, their hands got grabbed by their hostess.

"Hey-"

"Shut up and follow me," Nojiko told them and led them away, "We cannot risk you two being spotted."

…

It only took a few moments before then the whole of Cocoyashi village was inside their own homes, with the main street looking abandoned with the wind only making its presence.

But sitting at a table with an umbrella was Genzo, waiting and sitting there for the supposed punishment he was going to face for the fact he was caught collecting weapons for his collection.

"So…"

Arriving with a shadow covering him, Genzo looked up to see Arlong standing there, leaning his arm against the umbrella as he looked down at him.

"You are the fool who thought he could horde weapons on my island?"

"That's me, I'm a collector," Genzo replied, "Is there a new law that forbids hobbies now as well? Next, you'll be telling us we can't read books or play with our children anymore."

The pinwheel just kept going on with the conversation continuing, a strong wind that was blowing in.

"No, hobbies are fine," Arlong responded with an assuring grin, "It would be weapons that I have forbidden, they make it difficult for me and my men to keep the peace."

…

From an alley, it was Usopp's whimpering that was only making his voice known while hiding behind the building.

"T-That's Arlong? He's huge!"

"Yeah, Fishmen tend to be tall like that."

Both Usopp and Nojiko turned to Naruto who spoke, who happened to be hiding behind the same cover as the bluenette, with his head above hers, he was focused on the Fishman captain in particular.

"Arlong the Saw, born in the Fish-Man District, captain of the Arlong Pirates." Naruto begins with the details, "Smaller crew than the average pirate but twice as brutal, he stands over 8 feet tall and is known for his six shark tooth-shaped black blades sword called Kiribachi."

"Wait, how do you know all of that?" Usopp asked surprised, "You know him from somewhere?"

While Usopp sounded surprised, Nojiko was silently curious about what he was going to say, seeing he was entirely focused and stern on his face - he then responded.

"Yeah, I know him. Met him when I was young and when he was on a different crew." Naruto said without revealing much as he kept watching.

As Arlong then continued to speak to Genzo, he made more clear why he was there, with the blond being only a hearing distance away.

"I'm responsible for twenty towns and villages, including this one," Arlong said explaining to the seated man, "and as your leader, I cannot tolerate a little rebelliousness. Whipping out Gosa was just a small example of what can happen if you do not do what you're told - tribute money must be paid no matter what?"

"Tribute money?" Usopp sounded confused, turning to Nojiko to ask but then noticed, "Hey…where's Naruto?"

Nojiko's eyes widened when he looked up and saw he was gone, without even having noticed he had vanished.

"What?"

…

Having moved to a different area, Naruto now had found himself a perfect angle to not only observe but also spot the whole of Arlong's front and his people, leaving him the possibility - the possibility to intervene.

"Neck, chest, abdomen, head."

Pulling out from his pockets, Naruto had gotten himself some objects he 'leaned' from the shop that he found were in dire need for a situation that might merit a 'quick response' to someone like Arlong. Having first looked for some day-by-day working material, he also unofficially took some from the lady's home and crafted himself something:

Needles, deadly razer thin but handily crafted needles that with the right materials could go through skin thick as a beast and hit something vital, with the right throw and good precision.

"Paralyzation is where I am going for."

Picking one up, Naruto took a moment to concentrate as he watched Arlong continuing to speak to the person he was questioning.

Mumbling about greatness, paying for a spot in his empire, he could only watch in disgust at the ideas of this man he once knew was a member of a crew he knew, one to which one person belonged.

'Arlong you damned fool. For if Jimbei had even caught a word of what you're saying now - you would be begging for the Marines to capture you.'

Meanwhile

Arlong Park

Inside the cell where only one window was shinning light inside the small confinement, Zoro was on his bottom with his legs crossed while tied up behind his back, the ropes were squeezing his unhealed wounds, he was however looking over his more injured friend.

"You doing alright?"

Laid on the floor in front of the swordsman, Gin was stuck with his hands tied behind his back and his leg in bad shape, it was a surprise he was calm about his injuries.

"Hmm, I'm fine."

"You say that, but that leg of yours is messed up."

"Believe me, I've gone through worse than this," Gin said, struggling to get free, "We need to get out of here before he returns, I think he wanted to go further on our interrogation."

"Figures."

*Click!*

The prison door then opens and walking in came Nami, forcing the two men to turn to her - with a knife in her hand. Approaching them…

She cut the ropes off and dropped Zoro's single sword and the two tonfas that they both carried, then walked back to the open door and began making her way out.

"Get out of here quick, Arlong's going to come back soon."

That was all that Nami said before she left the room, and by this, both Zoro and Gin looked at one another.

They nodded.

Cocoyashi Village

*THWACK!*

The umbrella was whacked aside with now Arlong holding the man Genzo by his throat.

"Genzo!"

Naruto kept his eye on the situation, watching as Arlong was holding the man up while threatening him and the entire village.

"The possession of weapons is a clear affront to my authority, as an example to the other would-be rebels in this town I am going to kill you now so they can see the fate that awaits them!"

The threat alone made Naruto shake his head, collective punishment, a tactic that was a downright failure. Speaking that from his own experience.

Still holding the crafted needles, he just needed some sort of distraction that not only left Arlong exposed but also to try and save this man from a horrible way of death - something he could not allow.

Taking a deep breath, he'll have to take the risk of an early reunion-

"You have absolutely no right to do this, Arlong!"

It wa Nojiko who was the first to protest, walking out of the alley she voiced her opinion to the captain of the Arlong Pirates.

"We've paid you tribute without failure for eight years, why would we rebel against you now?" Nojiko stuck her hands out, "Just think about it, it makes no sense - Now take your hands off Genzo!"

At this point her words caused the others in the village to come out of their houses in support - with the dozens if not hundreds they all came out to try and protect their friend, with many calls of protests, they soon outnumbered the pirates.

Yet that did not change the situation, Naruto knew it and he could guess Arlong knew it - as he was still smiling around the crowd who he then continued to speak to.

"Just go home, everybody!"

This time it was the man Genzo himself calling for everyone to back off, begging them to not intervene and turn this hopeless scene into a bloodbath, something he had to do with all the strength in his voice to try to convince them.

"Continue to live! Survive! I am begging you!"

Hearing that were hollow words to Naruto who from his cover could only understand the policeman's words.

*SLAM!*

Arlong then slammed the man into the ground without mercy, causing the man to cough blood out of his mouth.

"That even an insect like you knows its place is refreshing to hear."

Arlong picked Genzo back up and intended to throw him down to the ground again, with this going to be the fatal blow.

About to intervene, Naruto was about to throw-

"EXPLODING STAR!"

A burst of smoke happened right in Arlong's face, stopping him from smashing the man into the ground and dropping him.

Saved by a second, the person who intervened was the least likely person the experienced blond expected.

"Look, on the roof!"

One of the fishmen spotted him. It was Usopp who stood there on the rooftop of one of the buildings. With his goggles on his eyes and his arms crossed, the long-nosed self-described sniper stood tall there in the open and faced the numerous angered fishmen whom he now addressed.

"Who's that?"

"The Great Warrior of the Sea - Captain Usopp!" Proclaiming himself to everyone. Even with his legs shivering, he continued. "Also known as the Demon King Usopp, I am feared and hated across the world! With thousands of men loyal to me!"

Nojiko was surprised by his action, "Usopp?"

"That's the guy who I talked about!" One of the fishmen, one who was on patrol, pointed out at him, "The one who got away!"

"Bring on your thousands of men. I'll crush them one by one!"

Arlong rose back up from the insignificant attack that was unleashed on him, but what it did was hurt his pride - and that itself was enough to anger the deadly-toothed monster.

So much so that he took a grab at the building where Usopp stood, and yelled in untested anger.

"WHAT CAN A CREATURE LIKE YOU DO TO ME!"

Ripping the building up from its foundation, Usopp found himself on the opposite end of the enormous strength of the fishman who now wanted to smash him to smithereens.

It was then that one single needle flew through the crowd, going past some eyes and faces who watched it without realizing it before it hit its intended target-

"I'LL TEAR YOU APART!"

Cliffhanger! Yes! Hate me!

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