CHAPTER 4
CHIRP CHIRP CHIRP
The chirps of birds echoed around the forest the leaf ninja slept in. Moving at the great pace they were moving, they'd be sure to get to the sand village with a couple days left before Princess Vivi arrived from Alabasta. Kakashi was the first one awake. He lay on the ground looking up at the early morning sky thinking.
"I may not seem it. But I'm actually very nervous about all of this. Being the first ninja's in this new world? Well, not really new, but new to us. A world that we as ninja haven't been a part of in who knows how long. Just one small week away from the sand, a village we've been to more times than I can count, an entire kingdom sat. It's incredible to think about. You never know what's around the corner." Kakashi thought to himself.
"The straw hat pirates hm? I wonder what they're like." Kakashi thought, this time looking at the sleeping Naruto and Sasuke. "I bet they're warriors beyond imagination. When I think of pirates I think of big giant men with swords and other weapons, and mighty crews to follow in behind them, loyal to their captain's every word."
Kakashi continued to think to himself. At this point the sky started to get brighter, a sign it was time to get up and keep moving.
"I'd better wake them up so we can keep moving. Just a little further before we reach the desert. After that, just a straight shot to the sand village." Kakashi thought.
"Alright come on guys. Time to get up." Kakashi said, picking up his belongings.
One by one team 7 yawned, stretched, and picked up their things.
"If we keep moving at the pace we moved yesterday, we should be able to reach the desert by the day's end." Kakashi explained.
"It feels like this trip is taking longer than usual." Sakura said with a yawn.
"Probably the anticipation. I can't stress enough how important this mission is." Kakashi said.
"More the reason to get moving!" Naruto yelled, jumping into the trees.
Kakashi, Sakura, and Sasuke all wore annoyed looks on their faces.
"Yep. Definitely anticipation alright." Sakura said while following Naruto into the trees.
Kakashi and Sasuke followed shortly after, staying a little behind the two.
"Kakashi." Sasuke said.
"Hm? Oh, yes Sasuke?" Kakashi answered.
"You didn't finish answering my question last night." Sasuke said.
"Oh, I didn't? I didn't even realize." Kakashi said.
"When you gave us the mission you said this Vivi princess was already en route to the sand for a couple days supposedly. Why wait so long to give us the mission?" Sasuke asked.
"Well, it's nothing serious in all honesty. I was just waiting for you to get back." Kakashi admitted.
"Huh? Why me?" Sasuke asked.
"Isn't it obvious? Naruto trains but not nearly as much as you do to keep up with keeping the village safe from a distance. And Sakura is usually helping at the hospital, I doubt she's trained much either." Kakashi said.
"Isn't it risky to send them to some new land if they haven't trained much?" Sasuke asked.
"Of course. And sometimes I regret sending those two, but.." Kakashi paused. "You three are the only ones I trust to complete a mission like this. You couldn't have trained for a year and I'd still choose you three to handle something like this. It sounds bad I know, as the Hokage I have to make choices that would help the village and not risk the lives of the ninja who serve it, but I just wouldn't feel right sending anyone else." Kakashi explained.
Sasuke continued to look at Kakashi with a blank expression.
"Also.." Kakashi broke the momentary silence. "Garra personally requested you three." Kakashi finally said.
Sasuke's eyes opened a little further with surprise.
"Us? Hm. I mean, I can't say I'm surprised. He probably chose us for the same reason you did, you think, Kakashi?" Sasuke said.
Kakashi nodded.
"Most likely. You three are truly special." Kakashi said, smiling under his mask.
Sasuke nodded then looked straight ahead at his teammates.
FLASHBACK
"Sauke-kun can I please go with you this time?" Sakura asked.
"No, Sakura. It's too dangerous." Sasuke answered.
"Sasuke." Naruto said.
Sasuke looked at Naruto.
"Yeah?"
"I can't lie. Every time you leave this village I get the itchy feeling that you're trying to leave again." Naruto said, looking at the ground with balled fists. "If you ever leave this village for evil again…I'LL KILL YOU!" Naruto said.
Sakura looked at Naruto with shocked eyes.
"Naruto.." She said softly, while looking back at Sasuke.
Sasuke slowly walked towards Naruto and reached into his poncho. Naruto got into defense mode.
"Hey! What're you?" Naruto was interrupted by Sasuke pulling his old, scratched leaf head band out of his pocket.
"Here." Sasuke said, handing Naruto his headband. "You can hold on to that head band every time I leave. As long as that head band is here, a symbol of my loyalty to this village, I'll always have a reason to come back. Come back..home." Sasuke said.
Naruto smiled his big goofy smile and wiped his nose. Sakura smiled too, small tears forming in the corners of her eyes.
END OF FLASHBACK
Sasuke reached in his poncho and felt for his head band. Right on his waist where he always kept it.
"I meant what I said, Naruto. The leaf village is my home. I'll die for that village, just like Itachi did." Sasuke thought to himself.
ON AN ISLAND IN THE SKY
Eneru the thunder god sat on a make shift throne getting fed grapes from his servants.
"Mmmmmm. Good food as always." Eneru said.
"That looks tasty, Eneru-kun." A voice said.
"KUN?! WHO DARES ADDRESS THE ALMIGHTY ENERU WITH SUCH CONDESCENSION?" Eneru asked.
Cyclone walked slowly on the clouds of the throne room the self-proclaimed God had made for himself.
"You get your land stolen from you, yet you still pig out on fruits." Cyclone said.
"Ah, Cyclone. I should've known it was you. That disrespectful mouth of yours will get you killed." Eneru said, sitting back down.
"Sure it will." Cyclone said sarcastically.
"Are you calling God a liar?!" Eneru asked.
"Listen, enough of this. I have something to ask you." Cyclone said.
"What do you want?" Eneru asked, annoyed.
"Psycho and I have formed a group called D.E.A.T.H that we'd like you to be a part of." Cyclone explained.
"Psycho hm? You mean the same man whom, along side you, disrespected my authority and made me look weak in front of my followers?" Eneru said.
"Your followers or your slaves?" Cyclone asked. "Anytime anyone asked the wrong question you killed them. What kind of God is that?"
"It's none of your business, really. You are merely a man. You couldn't understand a God's work. AH HAHAHAHAHAHA." Eneru laughed.
"You know. If you join us we can get you Skypiea back." Cyclone bargained.
"Oh, begging me? Just as you should. Sorry, but I don't need your help." Eneru said.
"Oh? You know those straw hats have gotten awfully strong since the last time you fought." Cyclone said.
Eneru jumped up from his seat.
"What are you trying to say? Peasant." Eneru insulted.
Cyclone tilted his head forward and smiled.
"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE COMING TO MY SHRINE TALKING TO ME IN SUCH A MANNER!" Eneru asked, enraged.
Cyclone's smile turned into a serious expression.
"God." Cyclone answered.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Eneru shrieked, eyes open wide and mouth agape.
Eneru summoned his lighting staff and got into fighting stance.
"You have disrespected my authority for the last time Cyclone." Eneru said.
"Oh, a fight huh? How about this? I win, you join us. You win, I'll let you kill me." Cyclone betted.
"Oh, of course. Any deal that involves me getting to kill you is a great bet to me." Eneru said.
"Hmph." Cyclone said.
THE GRAND LINE
Most of the straw-hat crew were still sleeping, except Luffy, who was in his special seat on the front of the ship. He was thinking about the day before, how Crocodile's ship just stopped chasing them, and how the two marine ships next to Crocodile's ship blew up for no reason. While he thought, Zoro had woken up.
"Whatcha thinking about, Luffy?" Zoro asked.
"Yesterday, how those ships stopped suddenly. Why didn't they keep chasing us?" Luffy asked.
"Hm? Yeah, that was strange but what does it matter? Did you want to get chased into Alabasta? That's the last thing we need happening to us. We've already got three billion berries collective on our heads, we'd be lucky if no one in Alabasta tried to turn us in or report us." Zoro said.
Luffy continued to stare off in the distance, after a moment, He turned to Zoro and smiled.
"Yeah! I guess you're right!" Luffy said. "Where's Sanji? I want breakfast!" Luffy said, running off to go wake Sanji.
Zoro watched him run into the room where the men slept, then looked back out towards the sea. Brook walked up with a coffee and joined Zoro.
"Something bothering you? Zoro-san?" Brook asked.
"Huh? Oh, not really, but Luffy is right. Yesterday was weird. How those ships just blew up like that. Somebody interfered." Zoro said.
"So, you think so too? Why tell Luffy there's nothing to worry about? Brook asked.
"I don't need him worrying about anything right now, we're on our way to meet an old friend, I want him focused solely on that. Plus, I didn't see any boat that destroyed those marine ships, that means somebody did that with pure power alone." Zoro said.
"Oh my." Brook said.
"And..I also think it was just coincidence. Nobody would help us like that and not come after us. I'm thinking whoever it was wanted Crocodile's ship." Zoro further explained.
"Makes sense." Brook said. "Do you think we'll ever see who did it?"
"That, we leave to fate." Zoro said.
"Beautifully said, Zoro-san." Brook said, sipping the coffee.
Zoro smirked at Brook then looked back out to sea, where he noticed what looked like an island forming on the horizon. He grabbed the spyglass and looked towards it, it was what he thought, Alabasta.
"HEY! NAMI! I SEE ALABASTA!" Zoro yelled.
Nami burst from her room along with Luffy and the rest of the crew.
"Great! Once we land we can rest for a while, Vivi won't be back at the kingdom for another week, she said. We'll rest in Yuba for a few days then make our way to the kingdom!" Nami said.
"Sounds good to me!" Luffy said.
"Alabasta..it's been a while." Robin said to herself.
"This will be fun! It's my first time being here. I can't wait to meet this Vivi!" Brook said.
"Ahhhhh Vivi-chan! So beautiful in every way! Come with me Brook, we have much to discuss!" Sanji said, leading Brook away.
"Aye Sanji! Where's breakfast?" Luffy asked.
"In a minute!" Sanji fired back.
"Ahhhhh. Alabasta, where the great pirate king Usopp defeated the nefarious Crocodile.." Usopp said, holding his chin in his fingers.
"WOOOOO ALL THIS TIME I THOUGHT LUFFY BEAT HIM! YOU ACTUALLY DID IT?!" Chopper asked.
"Of course he didn't." Zoro chimed in, "I don't know why you believe this idiot."
Usopp fell over in disappointment.
ALABASTA DESERT
Psycho and Crocodile treaded through the rough desert. They had been walking for a few hours now, but Little by little a city started to show up.
"There. That's the meeting point." Psycho said.
"Hm? What city is that?" Crocodile asked.
"You really didn't care for this country much did you?" Psycho asked.
"Eh. Not really. This countries' people are fools. I almost never had to leave Rainbase." Crocodile explained.
"That's Katorea. Where Nanohana gets their famous perfume from." Psycho said.
"Why meet there?"
"Because it's probably one of the only places in Alabasta where you aren't recognized by the people. The people heard about a man named Crocodile being beaten in Alubarna, but they never knew what you looked like. Also, it's nice and out of the way. Just how a secret organization is supposed to be." Psycho explained.
After a while more of walking, Psycho and Cyclone reached Katorea. They walked through the city until they came to a building at the end of the town.
"Yuck. Good thing I never bothered to come down here. This town is disgusting. The perfume smell hides it well though." Crocodile said.
When Psycho and Crocodile walked into the building it looked like a party was going on, and got even crazier when the men noticed who walked in.
"HEY THE BOSS IS BACK! YEAHHHHHH!" One of the DEATH members yelled in excitement.
The whole room blew up of welcome back's and happy to see you's. Psycho held up a hand as he walked through the room, grabbing a cup of rum one of the men handed him. He pulled out a seat and instructed Crocodile to sit in it.
"Sit here. I'm going to brief your mission in a moment." Psycho said.
Crocodile took a puff from his cigar and looked down at the seat, then sat down. Psycho stood in front of the room and tapped a spoon on his cup of rum. The whole room stopped partying almost instantly to listen to what their boss had to say. Psycho took a drink from the cup then spoke.
"Listen up my loyal soldiers for peace." Psycho started. "As you all know, Princess Vivi of Alubarna is making her way to the ninja land's Sunagakure to meet with the Kazekage. We all know this cannot be allowed to happen. Although, things haven't been moving at a comfortable pace, so it looks like the meeting will have to be interrupted by force, which will unfortunately, result in the deaths of more than just the princess." Psycho said.
"But that's the price to pay. Anyone who dies in this battle is a sacrifice for the new world I wish to create. Their deaths will not be in vain and if any of you die, it will not be in vain." Psycho explained.
"Crocodile." Psycho said, taking another drink of rum.
Crocodile looked up.
"Your mission is to simply make sure the princess is dead at the end of the day. What else you do is your business." Psycho instructed.
"So I can do whatever I want to whoever I want?" Crocodile asked, with mild excitement.
"Who am I to tell you what to do once you enter battle? My job now is to tell you how you'll be getting there and who you'll be going with." Psycho answered.
"DEATH is about letting its members do as they please, as long as they remember what the goal is at the end of the day. And not getting too reckless, remember we need to stay as lowkey as possible. Plus, I wouldn't be upset if we were able to capture Sunagakure in the process." Psycho said.
Three men stepped from behind a curtain. One man stood at 8'8. His hands were big black canons with fuses in them. His head was long with short brown hair, his arms and legs were very skinny with his upper and forearms being connected by big black cannon balls. His quads and ham strings were connected at the knees with a cannonball as well. He sported big black shoes with a huge cannon ball body with the DEATH logo on his chest.
The second man was a 7'6 man, he wore dark glasses which hid his eyes. He had short black hair with white highlights. He wore a cloak with red flames around the bottom that covered most of his body, only his head, legs, and feet being able to be seen. He also had a hood attached to the cloak, with two long needle swords attached to chains wrapped around his body.
The third man had slick, laid back hair. He wore a bandage that covered both eyes completely, with a plague doctor mask on. He wore a black cape and big black buckled boots. He wore black cargo pants to match, both legs having long knives in each pouch on the sides of his calves. His torso consisted of a straight jacket that had the arms cut off with different types of liquids and medicines on a sash over his body. He stood at 6'8 with a giant syringe sword holstered on his back, filled with a pink liquid.
"These three men will be accompanying you all on this mission." Psycho said, "Introduce yourselves."
The first man spoke.
"MY NAME IS KUMAMA HAHARU YOU WORMS! I ATE OF THE CANNON CANNON FRUIT AND CAN FIRE CANNONS OUT OF MY CANNON HANDS. I CAN ALSO SUCK MY BODY INTO THE CANNONBALL WHERE MY BODY SHOULD BE AND CAUSE MAJOR DAMAGE!" Kumama said proudly, wearing a creepy smile.
The second man stepped up.
"I am Uzanda Narinobu. I hail from the village hidden in rain. I did not eat of a devil fruit like these two. I am a highly skilled swordsman and assassin. My swords are like giant needles. My favorite style of execution is to tie my target up with one chained sword and pierce them with the other. My swords are also coated in a poison that melts the body from the inside out of you are pierced."
Finally, the third man stepped up and spoke.
"My name is Onawagi Rinso. I am DEATH's doctor. Any problem you have in the field or if you are feeling ill, do not hesitate to come to me for assistance. I'm no weakling in battle though, please don't let my lack of sight fool you. I ate the Bye Bye fruit, I can disappear at will and attack my opponent from anywhere. The syringe sword on my back is filled with incredibly potent liquid. I haven't battled a man who's survived an injection yet."
Psycho looked at them all with approval.
"And we have one more man who needs to introduce himself. Crocodile, if you please." Psycho said.
Crocodile stood to his feet and spoke.
"My name is Crocodile. I ate of the Sand sand fruit. No regular punches can hurt me, or any attack for that matter, only if the attackers' body is completely dry though. I was the former ruler of Rainbase here in Alabasta, but was thwarted by the straw-hat pirates, Psycho has been generous enough though to bring me into this wonderful organization for a second chance." Crocodile said, raising a glass to Psycho.
Psycho raised his glass back.
"That reminds me." Psycho said, "Kumama. Grab Crocodile's jacket."
Kumama nodded, still creepily smiling. He came back out of the room with a giant, black, fur jacket with the DEATH logo stitched into it.
"A gift for becoming a member." Psycho said.
Crocodile smirked.
"Looks like you weren't taking no for an answer back in Drum." Crocodile said.
"I didn't expect a no. You and I both want peace of mind. As long as our goals are the same we have need for each other." Psycho explained.
Crocodile draped the jacket over his back, leaving his arms out of the sleeves.
"Now. The plan." Psycho said, "Pay attention. You'll stay in this town for tonight, then, tomorrow morning you'll meet by the exit to the city and I'll have a ride waiting for you to get you to Sunagakure. What would be a week's journey will get you to your destination in eight hours." Psycho explained.
"Eight hours?! How fast is this thing we'll be riding?" A random member asked.
"Pretty fast." Psycho answered, "Once you get to Sunagakure, make sure you have Vivi in your line of sight. Once she's in view Kumama will fire a cannonball at her, whether she be in a building or out in the open doesn't matter. If she's executed then your job is done, however, you'll need to charge the city to confirm the kill. The sand will likely have ninja on heavy guard because of the meeting so that doesn't mean just one of you and run in there. You will all have to go and take out anyone who gets in your way. Whatever happens when you charge the city is up to you. Kumama, Uzanda, and Onawagi will all be attending, but Crocodile oversees this mission. Understood?" Psycho asked the room.
"YEAHHHHHHHH! WE'RE READY!" The room said in unison.
Psycho looked around the room and smiled. He took another drink of rum and lifted it into the air.
"TO FUTURE PEACE!" Psycho yelled.
"TO PEACE!" The room yelled back.
ON THE SKY ISLAND
Eneru stared at Cyclone, waiting to engage. Cyclone noticed the hesitation and spoke.
"Scared? I don't blame you. Being afraid is the mind's way of protecting you from what could go wrong." Cyclone said.
Eneru had enough and spun his staff in a clock wise motion until it turned a bright blue and shot a massive lightning blast at Cyclone. Cyclone stood with his eyes closed and opened them right before the attack hit.
ZZZZZZZ BZZBZZZZ ZZZZZZZ BOOOM
A huge lightning explosion went off where Cyclone stood.
"He didn't even try to dodge." Eneru thought, "What is he- "
His thoughts were interrupted by the smoke clearing to show Cyclone having his left hand out stretched.
"Why would I dodge a puny attack like that?" Cyclone said.
Eneru looked at him with a shocked face.
"How did you know I wondered about that?!" Eneru said.
"A lot has changed about me in the time period we went without seeing one another Eneru. Your little powers can't touch me." Cyclone said, hand still out stretched.
Eneru turned into a blue streak of lighting and charged Cyclone who jumped over it and spun rapidly before reaching down to grab the ring attached to Eneru's back. When he grabbed it, he spun Eneru around through the air and slammed him down into the ground. Eneru bounced a little off the ground before a knee to the chin knocked him further into the air. The impact made Eneru's pupils disappear.
With his body exposed Cyclone gave it four punches followed by a jump kick to the chin to send Eneru higher. Cyclone then jumped to knee Eneru's body and axe handle his back to send him flying back towards the ground. Cyclone caught Eneru with a kick to the face before the god could hit the ground and send him flying into a wall. Cyclone didn't allow Eneru to recover as he sent an energy barrage at him just as his body came off the wall.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM
Multiple explosions went off at once as Eneru was bombarded with energy blasts. When Cyclone ceased his attack, he walked over to Eneru's seemingly unconscious body.
"Still as weak as always. Hmph. Not even close to a chall- "Cyclone was interrupted by Eneru swinging his lightning staff at him and causing a huge lightning explosion.
ZEEEEERRRROOOOOOPPPPP
Cyclone was walking up to Eneru's seemingly unconscious body.
"Still as weak as always. Hmph. Not even close to a chall- "Cyclone was interrupted by Eneru trying to hit him with his lighting rod, but Cyclone kicked it out of his hand.
"AHHH AHHHH AHHHH!" Eneru shrieked, with his signature shocked face, "How did you know I was going to do that?" Eneru asked, sweat forming.
"Hmmm hmmm hmmm." Cyclone chuckled, "HA HA HA HA HA!" Cyclone laughed hysterically.
"Because I saw you do it already." Cyclone answered.
Eneru almost asked what Cyclone was talking about until he looked closer at the turban wearing man. His left eye was yellow and had gears inside of it. The pupil was the center of a clock inside of his eye! Cyclone had let himself be attacked and reset time to just after his barrage on Eneru.
"What…. are you…?" Eneru asked.
"God." Cyclone answered.