Chapter 2

Team 7 had gathered at the front gate ready for immediate departure to the village hidden in sand to attend the meeting between the Kazekage and a princess from the kingdom of Alabasta, a place they just found out had been in the sand's backyard for who knows how long.

"Oi!" A man said.

Kakashi was walking towards the group in his standard get up. A leaf village flak jacket with ninja sandals and a blue jumpsuit underneath. His leaf village headband slung over his left eye.

"Kakashi sensei!" Naruto yelled out. "What are you doing? You're the Hokage! You can't leave."

"Ah, yes. About that." Kakashi said.

FLASHBACK 10 MINUTES EARLIER

"Alright you all. Don't let the princess down. Get her from the sand safe and sound." Kakashi said.

"RIGHT!" Team 7 yelled in unison.

The now matured Team 7 exited the room to go to their respective houses to grab what they'd need for the journey. Kakashi turned to look out the window as the door closed. But it was immediately knocked on upon closing.

"Um, yes come in."

It was lady Tsunade. The former Hokage of the leaf.

"Milady! What are you doing here?" Kakashi asked.

"I just heard from a certain loud mouth ninja that you assigned them to escort a princess back home." Tsunade said.

"Well. Yes, I did. They really want to go out and see the real world, so I figured this was a good chance to put their feet in the water. Plus, who else could really pull this off in case it gets dangerous?" Kakashi said.

"I understand. Which is why I'm ordering you to go with them!" Tsunade beckoned.

"Wait what?!" Kakashi said with wide open eyes and small sweat forming.

"There's no doubt Sasuke's navigation skills and quick thinking can get them out of almost any trouble they could get into, Naruto is a loud, reckless idiot. And Sakura feeds off the energy of those two, if they get into trouble who can protect her? They need another strategist out there." Tsunade explained.

"Why not send Shikamaru to do it? I'm caught up in paper work you know." Kakashi said.

"I've got Shikamaru handling other business right now, and as much as I hate to say it..I'll finish off your remaining paperwork until you all come home." Tsunade said.

"You really want me to go, don't you?" Kakashi said with low eyes.

"Kakashi. This meeting MUST happen. It could open the door for us ninja to expand trade, and other economical gains. I don't want anything going wrong. Not even the wrong bug getting stepped on." Tsunade said.

"A little too specific don't you think?"

"Get serious Kakashi. You and I both know this meeting is much more serious than you acted like it was with Naruto and the others. Plus…" Tsunade paused.

"These ships reported sailing around..with some logo on their flags..what if they're another form of Akatsuki? We need to make sure that princess is safe!" Tsunade said.

Kakashi continued to look at her with low resting eyes. He leaned back and looked up at the ceiling, then turned around to look out the window.

"The outside huh?" Kakashi asked himself. "I guess there's nothing wrong with seeing what goes on outside of what we're used to."

Kakashi stood up to his feet and stood proudly.

"Don't worry milady. We'll escort the princess safely to her kingdom at meetings end." Kakashi said.

"Don't let me, no, this country down Kakashi. This rests on the shoulders of you and those three." Tsunade said.

PRESENT TIME

"Oh wow, so lady Tsunade made you come with us?" Sakura asked.

"Yes. She was very serious about this." Kakashi answered.

"WELL LET'S GET TO IT!" Naruto yelled. "ON TO THE SAND VILLAGE."

SOMEWHERE IN THE GRAND LINE

"Sanji I'm hungry!" Luffy exclaimed.

"Aye. Food will be ready shortly." Sanji said.

"How's it look Usopp?!" Luffy yelled looking up at the ship's lookout.

"Looking clear captain! Smooth waters and great weather." Usopp answered.

Zoro was on the ship's stern working out as usual with Chopper watching.

"That stuff sure looks heavy!" Chopper said. "I want to try to lift too!"

"Hm." Zoro said with a small smile. "Go ahead and knock yourself out."

Chopper transformed into his man form and attempted to lift the giant weights.

"HMPH GGGRR ARG!" Chopper struggled.

"What's wrong? Too heavy?" Zoro said.

"No no I've got it!" Chopper said straining.

Robin walked up to the two.

"Hehe." She chuckled. "Look at you two go."

Zoro turned and looked at her and smirked.

"Yeah. We're trying." Zoro said.

"Yes. I understand." Robin said.

Zoro's smirk turned into small confusion while Chopper battled with the weights in the background.

"That's not what you came back here is it?" Zoro asked.

Robin got surprised and looked down.

"Um yes, I uh. I was going to ask you something, but I forgot." Robin said with a forced smile.

"Hm?" Zoro asked with a confused look.

"Sorry to trouble you men. You can resume your work out." Robin said walking off.

"That was weird." Zoro said.

"I GOT IT! AHHHHHHHH! ZORO HELP!" Chopper had finally lifted the weights but dropped them on himself right after.

"Hey! Damn it!" Zoro said running over to help.

As Robin walked down the steps of the boat she was grabbed and pulled into a room by Nami. Before Robin could ask what was going on, she noticed Nami was smiling incredibly hard at her with sparkles in her eyes and her hands clasped together. Robin developed sweat on her head being so confused with what was happening.

"You've got a thing for Zoro don't you?!" Nami said excited.

Robin's eyes widened and the sweat got worse.

"I..I.." Robin stuttered.

"You do! I don't know what you see in that idiot, but I knew you had something for somebody! I could tell how you were acting around the boys lately. I thought it was Sanji-kun with the way he treats women." Nami said.

"Well..Zoro is definitely very handsome. And I've known him for a decent about of time. I don't know I just get weird around him now. I'm usually so forward with what I want, but I haven't felt like this in a long time." Robin explained.

"It's okay sis! I understand it's been a while since you've liked somebody. But we're all grown here. If you like him, you'll just have to tell him." Nami said shrugging her shoulders. "You might have to do that anyway, I don't think that violent idiot even knows what feelings are."

"You're right. I'm going to go tell him right now." Robin said.

Nami smiled as Robin exited the room. When she closed the door Usopp was behind it. Listening.

"USOPP! HOW LONG WERE YOU IN HERE?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN HERE?!" Nami yelled annoyed.

"I've been in here for the past few minutes! And what do you mean why am I in here! This is my workshop!" He argued back.

"How much did you hear?" Nami asked.

"Enough to know that our Robin likes Zoro! This is great! I'm gonna let everyone know!" Usopp said.

Before he could run out the door Nami jumped on top of him.

"Hey what are you? -" Usopp said but was interrupted by Nami.

"You're not telling anyone anything. Robin is doing this on her own. She already had it rough since childhood, not to mention she spent most of her time around pirates who didn't care about her, then had to work for that despicable Crocodile. She probably never even had a decent relationship." Nami explained. "She's doing this on her own. Promise me you won't say anything."

"Alright alright I promise. I won't say anything. Can you get your breasts off my nose? They're blocking my nostrils." Usopp complained. Nami only wore a bikini styled top and blue jeans.

"Ha. Sorry." Nami said sarcastically. "One more thing though. If you tell anyone, especially Zoro, how Robin feels about him I'm going to kill you." Nami said with flames in her eyes.

"AHHH OKAY I WON'T SAY ANYTING!" Usuopp said running out of the room and into Frankie. Frankie turned and looked down at him.

"Aye Usopp! Trying to spar I see?" Frankie said with a big smile.

"NO! I –" Usopp was interrupted by Frankie throwing a punch.

"Usopp bomb!" Usopp yelled while cocking back his slingshot.

"Oh no you don't!" Frankie said while kicking Usopp's hands in the air.

Usopp fired the Usopp bomb, which was nothing but powdered hot sauce, into the air and watched as it came back down towards the stern of the ship. Robin was standing a top the stairs looking at the still working out Zoro.

"Okay. Just tell him you think he's attractive and you'd like to eat somewhere in Alabasta when we dock." Robin thought to herself.

As Robin walked towards him the Usopp bomb descended further onto the boat.

"Hey! Zo-" Robin was interrupted by the Usopp bomb landing and bursting on Zoro.

"AHHH WHAT IS THIS?!" Zoro yelled while running back and forth. "WATER WATER I NEED WATER!"

Usopp ran onto the back of the boat.

"Sorry Zoro! It was all Frankie's fault beat him up!" Usopp said.

"I'm going to cut you both up when this is over! Grab some water for me!" Zoro yelled.

"Water doesn't work! You need milk to counter the effects!" Usopp explained.

"WELL WHERE'S THE DAMN MILK?!" Zoro yelled annoyed.

"Aye Robin-chan! Your daily coffee and milk to go with your breakfast." Sanji said.

"Milk?!" Zoro said charging towards Robin.

Before Zoro could get a hold of the milk Sanji stopped him with his foot.

"What do you think you're doing moss head? This is Robin-chan's drink of choice to go with her breakfast. You won't be touching it." Sanji said blowing smoke in Zoro's face.

"JUST GIVE IT TO ME YOU DAMN CHEF!" Zoro said.

"I said no. Go get your own milk." Sanji said.

"Here."

Sanji and Zoro both looked at Robin.

"Here you go Zoro-kun." Robin said handing him the cup of milk.

"Kun?" Sanji said glaring at Zoro.

"Yes! Thank you, this stuff burns like crazy." Zoro said taking drinking the entire cup of milk. But nothing changed.

Zoro charged Usopp and grabbed him.

"HEY WHY DOES THIS STUFF STILL BURN!" Zoro yelled.

"You're supposed to pour it on yourself. I probably should've said that." Usopp said.

"I'M GONNA CUT YOU UP!" Zoro said angrily. "How long does this pain last?"

"Hm maybe an hour or two?" Usopp said looking down with his chin in his hands.

Zoro let out one last cry of frustration then passed out. Much to Robin's disappointment.

"Aye Sanji! How does Robin get to eat first?! I'm starving!" Luffy said.

"Learn manners you fool! Robin-chan and Nami-san are the women of this ship and are to be treated respectfully. As for breakfast it's rea-." Sanji was interrupted by Luffy, Chopper, Franky, and Usopp rushing into the dining room.

"Ugh. Idiots. They never listen." Sanji said frustrated.

"Still as hyper as always." Brook said chuckling.

"Robin-chan? You coming?" Sanji asked.

"Oh, what about Zoro?" Robin asked.

"He'll be fine. I'll save him some." Sanji comforted.

Robin looked at the unconscious Zoro and smiled. She then got up and walked down the steps and into the dining room.

ON A PIRATE SHIP WITH A BLACK CAT FLAG

In the captain's quarters a tall, slender man sat in his bed looking out of the window with his hands together, resting on his stomach.

FLASHBACK

"How can you call yourself a pirate and when it gets rough try to run to the easy life? I don't care how smart you are, or how much your bounty is. YOU'RE NO REAL PIRATE TO ME!"

END OF FLASHBACK

The man clenched his teeth and tightened his hands.

"How dare that kid try to tell me about what being a true pirate means? What could he possibly know?" He thought to himself. His thoughts were interrupted by beating on his door.

"CAPTAIN KURO! CAPTAIN KURO! THERE'S A MAN OUT HERE WHO WANTS TO TALK TO YOU!"

Kuro ignored it.

"SIR PLEASE HE SAID HE'LL KILL US IF WE CAN'T GET YOU OUT HERE! PLEASE CAPTAIN HE'S INCREDIBLY STRONG!"

Again, Kuro ignored him. Then after a few minutes of silence it was broken by soft knocking on his door. Kuro looked to the door with mild surprise. He pushed up his glasses with the palm of his wrist and slid on one of his fur covered gloves with long knives stretching out of them.

"The door is open." Kuro said softly.

As the door crept open, Kuro slowly got to his feet. When the door opened Kuro had already dashed towards the man but was caught by the hand.

"UGH. What?!" Kuro said very surprised someone caught him.

The man in the purple and white turban smiled and began to speak.

"Tisk tisk. So slow Captain." Cyclone said.

The crew behind him began to talk amongst themselves.

"Did he just call the captain slow?"

"What is this guy?"

"WHO is this guy?!"

Kuro growled and tried to snatch his hand away, but Cyclone had a strong grip.

"I'm not here to fight you Kuro. I want to talk business. If you even think about attacking me, you and your crew are going to be at the bottom of the ocean. And I'll know if you're thinking it." Cyclone said.

Kuro's eyes shot open with surprise. Cyclone's right eye wasn't normal. The pupil was pitch black with white surrounding it and the iris was green with what looked like white words going across them. It looked like he was reading Kuro's thoughts!

"What in the hell is this guy?" Kuro thought.

"Who I am is none of your concern right now." Cyclone answered.

He was reading Kuro's thoughts just like he expected.

"How are you reading my mind?" Kuro asked finally getting his hand out of Cyclone's grip. "Did you eat a devil fruit too?"

"Hmph. I don't have any reason to eat those weird fruits. If you're wondering how this eye got like this, I'm afraid that's a story for another day. As I said. I'm here to conduct business on behalf of Psycho and the D.E.A.T.H organization." Cyclone said.

"D.E.A.T.H?" Kuro asked.

"A secret organization with the overall goal of peace among the world. A group that is Divine, Active, Efficient, Truthful, and Honorable."

"With a group name like that I'd think peace was the last thing you were interested in." Kuro said.

"What can I say? That's just how it turned out." Cyclone said.

"What does this organization want with me?" Kuro asked.

"We already know about your shenanigans in Gecko Island. That was some plan you had there, Klahadore." Cyclone said.

"Tsk. So, you really do know about that." Kuro said.

"We understand you just want to live in peace. We share a common goal. Therefore, you can be a big help to us. You're a man who, when he wants something, are fixated on it. Not to mention you're the second smartest man in these waters. The man of one hundred plans." Cyclone said.

"Do I have a choice?" Kuro said.

"Of course. This decision won't affect you in any way, shape, or form. I just came to ask if you were willing to help our cause." Cyclone explained.

Kuro thought about it for a second.

"This ensures me protection from the navy?" Kuro asked.

"Fly this flag up there and the navy won't bother you. We're still unknown, the navy wouldn't be stupid enough to attack not knowing what we're capable of. And even if they are, I have highly trained pirates here to assist you." Cyclone said pointing at the side of the ship.

Pirates sporting the D.E.A.T.H logo on their clothing, which was a D inside of a red circle with a black wheel in it, made their way onto the boat.

"This will be your new crew." Cyclone said.

"New crew?" One of the Kuro pirates asked.

Kuro smirked and looked up at them with a sinister smile and disappeared. One by one he slashed members of the Kuro pirates while they pleaded for their lives.

"Captain please stop! We'll join you with them! ARGHH!"

Kuro continued to slash while blood spilled everywhere, soaking the ship in crimson red. All while Cyclone read that book of his. When Kuro finally stopped and stood in the middle of the ship, he looked at Cyclone and smiled, who smiled in return.

"I'll take that as a "Yes." Then?" Cyclone asked.

"Yes." Kuro said while nodding.

"Well then." Boom Cyclone said while closing his book. "Welcome to D.E.A.T.H." Cyclone said reaching his hand out to shake Kuro's, who did shake.

"Where to next?" Kuro asked.

"We're going to the Grand Line. You have to meet up with some people who are going to be your new friends." Cyclone said. "Men! Clean this ship of this blood and get rid of the bodies. We can't have man like Kuro, sailing in these conditions." Cyclone ordered.

"Hai! Cyclone-san!" The men said together.

Kuro straightened his face and looked out towards the sea.

"The Grand Line, huh?" Kuro thought to himself.

IN A BAR ON DRUM ISLAND

A tall man in a black suit sat in a stool. He had smooth, silk, purple hair with black highlights, and a golden hook replacing his left hand.

"One more please." He asked the bartender.

"Buddy, I think you've had enough." The bartender said.

"Just give me the damn booze!" He yelled.

"Look, you've been drinking for hours and I don't even know if you have any money. No money no booze." The bartender said.

Before the tall man could say anything else a voice interrupted the exchange.

"I'll pay his tab." Psycho said, throwing a bag of money on the table. "Get something for me as well."

"Right away sir!" The bartender said.

"Hm? What're you paying for me for?" The tall man said.

"Think it of a, I scratch your back you scratch mine type of thing." Psycho said.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yes of course. I know who you are, and what you've done, Crocodile." Psycho said.

Crocodile smiled and chuckled.

"So, you know about my deeds, do you?" Crocodile asked.

"How could I not? Almost everyone knows about your defeat in Alabasta."

Crocodile became enraged.

"You dare come in here to mock me!" Crocodile spewed with anger.

"Relax. What I'm more interested in are these powers I hear so much about. The Sand Sand Fruit is that correct?" Psycho asked.

Crocodile took a big puff of smoke and answered.

"Yeah. That's right. What of it?" Crocodile asked.

"The princess of Alabasta is attending a meeting in Sunagakure. It would appear the outside world is opening its doors to the ninja world, or at least they're trying to anyway." Psycho said.

"Sunagakure?" Crocodile questioned. "A village in the sands?"

"You sound surprised. Is that not what Alabasta was made up of?" Psycho asked.

"Eh. Never cared enough to look into it." Crocodile said.

Psycho chuckled.

"Well anyway, this meeting can't be allowed to happen. And even if it does the princess has to be taken care of. The last thing I need is an alliance between the ninjas and people of these outside lands." Psycho said.

"What's in it for me?" Crocodile asked.

"Take on this job for me and I can assure you a top rank in my organization. You'll be protected and away from the seas so the navy won't be an issue." Psycho said.

"Hmph. That sounds pretty good to me." Crocodile said while standing up.

"Then it's official. Welcome to D.E.A.T.H." Psycho said.

Crocodile and Psycho looked over the counter at the bartender who heard every word. He wore a terrified expression and was choking on his words.

"I…I….I…didn't….di….didn't hear anything!" The man said.

Crocodile looked at Psycho who nodded his head. Crocodile reached out and choked the man. The man shriveled up in Crocodile's hand until his body was gray and he was literal skin and bones.

"How unfortunate. That was very reckless of us to have a conversation like that in front of him." Psycho said.

Crocodile closed his eyes and took a puff.

"Wrong place wrong time." Crocodile said.

"Ha ha ha." Psycho chuckled. "Indeed. We need to get going before the people here end up seeing him, also the princess could possibly be in the sand right now, so we need to get going." Psycho said walking towards the door. Crocodile behind him.

"Hey. That bandage over your eye, and the markings on half your face, you need to get that looked at? There's a doctor here in town I heard." Crocodile said.

"No need. What lies under this bandage can't be healed with medicine." Psycho said as the two men continued their walk.