CHAPTER 52
"Hinata!" Kakashi yelled.
"HINATA-CHAN!" Sanji yelled.
"Damn it! They already knew we were going to show up!" Law said.
"After what happened with Robin-chan at Enies Lobby I'm not surprised they expected us. I'd bet Psycho told them everything!" Sanji suggested.
"That's not likely eyebrow-ya… Psycho isn't necessarily on the best terms with the government." Law said.
"Whatever happened, they knew we were coming, ambushed Naruto, and took Hinata! We don't have time to analyze anything! We need to figure something out!" Sakura shouted.
"Let's go after Hinata! She's at the most risk right now." Kakashi said.
"What about Naruto!?" Sanji asked.
Sasuke walked on to the Red Line.
"Trust us, Naruto will be fine. Let's go!" Sasuke said.
Everyone stepped off the platform and on to the Red Line. After looking around at each other and nodding in confirmation, Kakashi, Law, Sanji, Brook, Sasuke, and Sakura all began to run for the main gate.
"So, what's the plan now Sasuke-san!?" Brook asked.
Sasuke closed his eyes and opened them, his body releasing dark chakra.
"The same thing it was before! I'll create the disruption! You all storm the manor!" Sasuke said.
"Sasuke somebody will have to help you!" Sakura said.
"Sakura! Do as he says, we don't have a moment to lose!" Kakashi ordered.
Sakura gulped and Sasuke looked back at Kakashi and nodded.
Sasuke's body slowly became covered in bones, then muscle, then skin, and finally armor.
"Susanoo!" Sasuke said.
Sasuke in Susanoo form and everyone continued running towards the main gates when two guards jumped out of nowhere, their swords raised.
"STOP NINJA AND PIRATES!"
"YOU WON'T GET INTO THE HOLY LAND!"
Sakura and Sanji growled.
"Get…" Sanji started.
Sanji kicked a guard and Sakura punched one.
"THE HELL OUT OF OUR WAY!" Sakura and Sanji said in unison.
Sasuke stopped and began flapping his Susanoo wings.
"EVERYONE KEEP RUNNING INTO THE HOLY LAND! I'M GOING TO LAUNCH THE ATTACK!" Sasuke yelled out taking off into the air.
Kakashi, Law, Brook, Sanji, and Sakura kept running as Sasuke instructed and made it past the gate.
"CHERRY BLOSSOM-YA! I'M PUTTING YOU IN CHARGE OF FINDING THE TARGETS! WHEN WE MAKE IT TO THE MANOR I WANT YOU TO INTERROGATE ANY AND EVERYONE TO GET A CLUE AS TO WHERE THEY ARE!" Law ordered.
Sakura nodded in confirmation.
"Got it!" Sakura confirmed.
"THE REST OF US WILL ATTACK THE MANOR DIRECTLY! DRAWING THE ATTENTION OF THE ADMIRALS AND GOROSEI!" Law yelled out.
Everyone understood what they had to do and followed Law further into the Holy Land. In the sky, Sasuke was loading up a Susanoo arrow. Sasuke loaded up his bow and cocked back. The arrow was lit with Amaterasu flames.
"This oughta do it…" Sasuke said.
Sasuke took a moment longer to aim at the manor.
"ARRAGGHHHHHH!" Sasuke yelled, firing the arrow.
The giant arrow zipped through the sky heading straight for the manor. Sakura, Law, Kakashi, Brook, and Sanji were all forced to halt as the giant purple arrow with black fire thundered past them. Law, Brook, and Sanji were at a loss for words.
"What is that!?" Sanji asked.
"Sasuke-san!..." Brook exclaimed.
"What the hell… are these guys!?" Law asked himself, then straightened up.
"Everyone! Let's just keep moving!" Law said.
The group continued to run while the arrow headed for the manor.
"Come on… just a little more!" Sasuke said.
"RRRRRRAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" A booming voice yelled.
Suddenly, a giant golden man slammed on the ground and smashed the arrow into the ground with his giant golden shield. The Red Line shook and trembled at the tremendous power. Law and the others were forced back by the winds of the shockwaves.
"Grgh! What now?" Law asked out loud.
The giant golden man wore golden armor and wielded a giant sword and shield, which were also golden.
"YOU WILL NOT DESTROY THE MANOR BY ANY MEANS SHINOBI OF THE LEAF VILLAGE!" The golden man yelled.
Sasuke smirked. Law and the others were still at shock.
"Law, what is that thing?" Kakashi asked.
"To hell if I know! I've never seen anything like it!" Law said.
"EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU WILL DIE TODAY! WE, THE FIVE ELDER STARS, WILL MAKE SURE THIS COMES TO FRUITION!" The golden man boomed, "WATCH WHAT I DO NEXT!"
The giant golden man looked over at the group trying to run further into the holy land and jumped at them. Sasuke quickly dashed forward. Kakashi and the others looked up with fright and shock as the golden giant jumped towards them.
"ON BEHALF OF THE WORLD GOVERNMENT, I BID YOU ADIEU!" The golden giant yelled.
CLASH!
Kakashi and the others braced for impact but settled when they realized nothing had happened and looked up to see Sasuke had intercepted the giant's spear with his sword. The golden giant looked at Sasuke and became angry. Sasuke smirked again.
"Everyone keep moving. This is my fight." Sasuke said.
"Sasuke-ya…" Law said, "Everybody keep moving!" Law yelled, running into the main streets of the holy land.
Brook, Sanji, and Kakashi followed Law and Sakura stayed behind. Sakura stared up at Sasuke who was still holding the golden giant at bay. She looked over at the golden giant who still struggled to move his spear. Sakura let a tear fall.
"SASUKE!" Sakura yelled.
Sanji stopped and turned around. Sasuke looked down at Sakura.
"Whatever you do…" Sakura stopped, "DON'T DIE HERE! DEFEAT HIM AND JOIN US INSIDE THE MANOR!"
Sasuke smirked and the golden giant frowned even more. Sanji ran back over to Sakura.
"Sakura-chan! We have to keep going, Sasuke will be alright!" Sanji said.
Sakura, tears in her eyes backed up slowly and ran off with Sanji.
"NO! YOU CAN'T BE ALLOWED INTO THE HOLY LAND!" The golden giant yelled.
The giant man lifted his spear and attempted to throw it at the group but a purple hand came up and grabbed him by the throat. The giant coughed as he was lifted up and thrown across the holy land!
BOOOM! BOOM!
The man slid through the small villages within the holy land, crushing buildings and destroying walkways. The giant slowly stood to his feet and shook his head. Sasuke's Susanoo was standing tall.
"YOU SHINOBI HAVE ALREADY SUNK THIS WORLD INTO MADNESS ONCE BEFORE! AS ONE OF THE FIVE ELDERS THAT KEEP THIS WORLD IN CHECK… I WILL STRIKE YOU DOWN IN MY MOST POWERFUL FORM HERE AND NOW!" The giant said.
Sasuke smiled again.
"I hope you can back up what you say…" Sasuke said.
The giant became confused.
"The first thing I thought when I came to these lands were how powerful the opponents might be." Sasuke said softly, "I have to admit the idea of devil fruits and haki caught me off guard and I thought I'd face at least a little trouble."
The giant became angry.
"JUST SPIT IT OUT! WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY, BASTARD!?" The giant yelled.
Sasuke smiled again.
"It's evident you hate shinobi… or even fear them… as you should." Sasuke said.
The giant gripped his spear and clenched his teeth.
"Because even with the opponents we've faced so far… Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi, and I…" Sasuke stopped, "HAVEN'T HAD A SERIOUS FIGHT SINCE WE'VE ARRIVED IN THESE LANDS!"
The giant heard enough and charged Sasuke.
"GO TO HELL, SHINOBI!" The giant yelled.
Sasuke coated his blade in black flames and charged back. The two giants raised their weapons and clashed them sending red and black flames everywhere, the shockwaves blowing away buildings.
HOLY LAND OF MARIE JOIS (COURTYARD)
"Looks like we've made it to the courtyard… but I'm sure the gorosei have already alerted officials so we need to hurry. Cherry blossom-ya, you head into the manor from the southern entrance and follow the halls until you reach an elevator. It'll take you down to the lower levels, after you've freed our targets get out of there!" Law ordered.
"Got it! But what about other prisoners?" Sakura asked.
"We don't have the resources to save them… if we can't beat the gorosei then there's no hope at saving them. We need to worry about ourselves for now." Law explained.
Sakura looked to the side and looked back up with determination.
"Got it." Sakura said before running off.
"The rest of us will head into the manor now. Just follow me until-." Law was interrupted by a sudden surge of gravity.
"GUAG!" Law said.
"What is this!?" Brook asked.
Kakashi struggled to stand as they were weighed down. Sanji looked up through clenched teeth. From the side a man in a purple kimono and white navy jacket hung over his shoulders walked out into the courtyard holding his sword. The man's eyes were closed and a scar just above his left eye that went down his left eye and over past his right could be seen.
"Law… I underestimated how bold you actually are… charging into the holy land like this." Fujitora said.
"Grrrgh… Law… who the hell is that?!" Sanji asked.
Kakashi struggled to look up and became shocked when he did.
"I…Issho!" Kakashi said.
Fujitora became shocked.
"That voice…" Fujitora said.
Sanji looked over at Kakashi.
"Oi! You know this guy, old man?" Sanji asked.
Law looked back at Kakashi.
"How does he know this man!?" Law asked himself.
"Issho! It's me! K…K…Kakashi!" Kakashi yelled.
Fujitora stopped the gravity and everyone fell to their hands and knees. Brook huffed and puffed.
"For a second there… I thought my skin was about to be sucked off my body… except… I don't have any skin!" Brook joked.
Fujitora walked over to Kakashi.
"Kakashi… Hatake?" Fujitora asked.
Kakashi stood up.
"Y… Yeah! What are you doing here?" Kakashi asked, "What's with the coat?"
Fujitora lowered his head.
"I'm sorry that… we had to meet again under these circumstances, Kakashi Hatake." Fujitora said.
Kakashi's eyes widened.
"What do you mean?" Kakashi asked.
Law stood up, caught his breath, and sucked in some air.
"THAT MAN IS ONE OF THE NAVY ADMIRALS THAT PROTECT THE GOROSEI!" Law yelled.
Kakashi looked over at Law and back at Fujitora who had taken out his blade, reverse grip style, and attempted to slice down Kakashi. Kakashi took out a kunai and blocked the sword.
CLANK!
Fujitora and Kakashi were held at a stalemate. Kakashi stared at Fujitora with an angry expression and looked over at the others as they watched the struggle for power between the two.
"Everyone just go! I'll catch up!" Kakashi said.
"We can't just let you fight a navy admiral by yourself Kakashi-san!" Brook yelled.
"There's only three of us left now! The gorosei outnumber us!" Sanji yelled.
Kakashi forced Fujitora's blade away and jumped to kick him. Fujitora ducked and swung his blade up at Kakashi who spun around and blocked it with his kunai again. Kakashi flipped over Fujitora and landed with his back to the group.
"Just go! This won't take long I promise!" Kakashi said.
Law, Brook, and Sanji hesitated at first but turned around to run. Fujitora turned his head in their direction. Kakashi began to charge a lightning blade.
"I can't let you escape that easily!" Fujitora said, forcing a rock out the ground and flying towards the group.
Law turned around and saw the admiral heading towards them and Kakashi charging his lightning attack.
"ROOM!" Law yelled, conjuring a room around everyone, "SHAMBLES!"
Suddenly, Law, Brook, and Sanji were switched with Kakashi. Fujitora became surprised as Kakashi appeared in front of him and attempted to pierce him.
"LIGHTNING BLADE!" Kakashi yelled.
Fujitora whipped out his sword and used it to block Kakashi's attack. Kakashi became surprised and suddenly was forced into the ground by the gravity powers of the admiral. Fujitora landed on the ground.
"It would seem they got away…" Fujitora said, re-sheathing his blade.
Kakashi slowly got back to his feet.
"Issho… what's the meaning of this? You went missing years ago!" Kakashi asked.
Fujitora lowered his head slowly.
"Because of your absence… The Village Hidden in Stone had to re-elect Onoki as Tsuchikage…"
Fujitora clenched his teeth.
"I'm well aware of the pain I've caused my home village, Kakashi Hatake… I apologize for my disappearance." Fujitora said.
Kakashi held up his kunai.
"Don't apologize to me, Issho… apologize to them!" Kakashi said.
The two elders stood tall against each other and then took battle stances and charged at each other.
INSIDE MARIE JOIS MANOR
Law, Brook, and Sanji ran through the halls of the manor to find the Gorosei.
"This way!" Law said, turning a corner.
The three turned a corner and ran down the long hallway.
"How do you think that old ninja knew that admiral?" Sanji asked Law.
"I was quite surprised myself! Something doesn't seem right about that at all!" Brook said.
"I don't know for sure, but!... I've got an idea." Law confirmed.
Sanji and Brook became serious.
"What're you thinking, Law-san?" Brook asked.
Sanji stared at Law.
"Don't worry about that right now! Let's just focus on finding the gorosei!" Law said.
Sanji and Brook nodded and kept running.
ROOM OF AUTHORITY (GOROSEI ROOM)
The tall bearded elder, the cane wielding elder, the sword wielding elder, and the handlebar mustache elder all sat in the Room of Authority in silence. After a moment the bearded elder walked over to a table and picked up a golden transponder snail and pressed its golden button.
RED LINE (BOTTOM)
Usopp, Nami, Franky, and Chopper stood on the Sunny talking.
"Did you all hear that big boom!?" Usopp screamed.
"Yeah, must've been one hell of an attack to hear it down here." Franky said.
"Those ninjas sure are powerful…" Chopper commented.
"Boy, who are you telling? I'm glad they're on our side!" Nami said.
Usopp became serious.
"But I can't help but get the feeling that..." Usopp paused.
Everyone stared nervously at Usopp.
"Can't help what Usopp?" Nami asked.
Usopp looked up.
"I can't help but get a feeling that… they've been holding back against a lot of these guys! And not just a little… A lot more than we could ever imagine!" Usopp proclaimed.
MARIE JOIS MANOR
Law, Sanji, and Brook ran through the halls of the manor looking for the gorosei.
"Ah! An elevator!" Law exclaimed.
The three ran and got on the elevator.
"Level 56! That's the highest level." Law said.
Sanji pushed the button and the elevator lifted. Law looked back at Sanji and Brook.
"Alright… so it's obvious to me already those elders ate devil fruits." Law said.
Brook became surprised.
"I thought the same thing!" Brook said.
"Yeah, that giant golden form was a devil fruit for sure, but what kind?" Sanji asked.
Law turned back towards the elevator door.
"Zoan type: God God fruit."
Sanji and Brook couldn't believe what they had heard.
"WHA… WHA… WHAT!? LAW-SAN, IS THAT TRUE!?" Brook asked nervously.
"God God fruit….!?" Sanji asked.
"It sounds like pure fiction I know… but… when I was with DEATH Cyclone held classes really breaking down devil fruits… but one subject always stood out to me… the types." Law said.
Sanji and Brook gulped.
"There are so many more types than I ever thought! Mythical Logia, Special Paramecia, and… God zoans." Law said softly, "Cyclone theorized that the latter three can't be found because the government is hiding them and giving them to only their top of the pyramid officers… the gorosei… are 5 of those officers."
Sanji and Brook were in shock.
"When I saw that chariot of fire… and that golden giant I knew what Cyclone was saying was actually true. The five elders have eaten God fruits… the only question now is, which ones?" Law asked.
DING!
The elevator door opened to a venus fly trap eating Law.
"HEY, LAW!" Sanji yelled, running out of the elevator.
"LAW-SAN!" Brook yelled, following Sanji.
The venus fly trap ran over to a window and jumped out of it into a large grassy area, a food court of sorts. And turned around to roar at Sanji and Brook, who had jumped after it.
"SPIT OUT LAW YOU OVERGROWN WEED!" Sanji yelled.
The fly trap roared. Brook unsheathed his sword.
"Sanji-san, you must go find the gorosei! I'll help Law-san!" Brook said.
Sanji Tsk'd
"What the hell am I supposed to do alone!" Sanji asked.
"By now I'm sure Sakura-chan has found our targets! She'll be here to help you shortly! And after I beat this beast, Law-san will be right there!" Brook said.
Sanji stared at Brook with respect.
"Alright!" Sanji said, running back to jump at the broken window, "Sky walk!"
Sanji began to run on air at the window, when an unordinary blade of grass grabbed his leg and swung him around the room, slamming him into tables.
"Sanji-san!" Brook yelled.
Brook looked back as the venus fly trap and watched as it stepped aside for a green haired man in a green suit and navy jacket strung over his shoulders, walked into the light.
"Who are you!?" Brook asked, raising his blade.
The man smiled.
"Ryokugyu! I should be asking who the hell you are to try and fight the celestial dragons…" Ryokugyu said.
"Your buddies have our buddies locked up here! We came to save them!" Brook said.
Ryokugyu shook his head.
"Your friends seriously that worth dying over? That you would come here and fight all of us?" Ryokugyu asked.
Brook became even more serious.
"For my friends I would go to war with hell itself!" Brook yelled.
Ryokugyu laughed.
"Such big brave words! I'll request the government to have it written on your tombstones, sir." Ryokugyu said.
The venus fly trap charged at Brook and opened its wide mouth. Brook lifted his sword.
"ARRRGGGHHHHHHH!" A man yelled.
Brook and Ryokugyu looked over to see Sanji running full speed.
"DIABLE JAMBE: NERVURE! (RIB)" Sanji yelled, kicking the beast in the ribs.
Ryokugyu stared in shock as the fly trap spit up Law! The fly trap then slammed into the wall across from them and Sanji turned to Law and Brook.
"GO! I'LL HANDLE THIS BASTARD!" Sanji yelled.
"Cook-ya…" Law said.
Brook sweat nervously. Sanji lit a smoke.
"I'll be up there with you to kick the elders' asses shortly." Sanji said.
Law and Brook nodded then began to run for the window on the top floor.
"Hold on there buddy! You're not going anywhere!" Ryokugyu yelled stretching his hand towards Sanji and Brook sending a grass hand at them.
Sanji jumped at Ryokugyu, and the admiral looked at him.
"JOUE SHOT!" Sanji kicked Ryokugyu's haki covered arm and the admiral looked at the pirate cook with an angry face. Ryokugyu looked to the side and saw Law and Brook reach the window to run away. The admiral forced Sanji away and smiled.
"I hope you know what you're getting yourself into, "Black Leg" Sanji…" Ryokugyu said.
Sanji puffed his cigarette.
"Yeah…" Sanji paused, "That's why it's gonna feel a lot better when I win."
HALLWAY TO ROOM OF AUTHORITY
Law and Brook ran down the straight hallway and noticed two humongous doors at the end of the hall.
"Law-san, are those the doors?" Brook asked.
Law squinted.
"Yeah! You ready Skeleton-ya?" Law asked.
Brook nodded and pulled out his sword. Law readied a room.
Brook and Law burst into the Room of Authority.
"TAKT!" Law yelled, calling for spiked rocks to shoot up to the elders' necks.
Each of the four remaining elders stared with straight faces at the pirates.
"You've really done it now… pirates." The mustached elder said.
"You'll be hated by your peers." The cane wielding elder said.
"Ninja! How despicable." The bearded elder said.
"They're pirates what did you expect? Scum working with scum." The sword wielding elder said.
Law and Brook held angry faces.
"Shut it! We're here to save our friends, we won't let you get involved!" Law said.
"But we've already gotten involved?" The mustached elder said rhetorically.
Law became confused.
"As a former warlord, surely you know what a golden transponder snail can do right?" The bearded elder asked.
Law became nervous.
"A buster call has been called on your friends at the bottom of the Red Line you fool." The sword wielding elder said.
Law and Brook became completely shocked.
"HOW DID THEY KNOW WE WERE DOWN THERE!?... NO!... HOW LONG HAVE THEY KNOWN WE WERE DOWN THERE!" Law asked himself.
Brook thought back to when Naruto was kicked of the Red Line by the youngest elder.
"You knew we were here?" Brook asked.
"We knew you were coming." The cane wielding elder said.
Law and Brook were confused now.
"How? That… that's not-." Law was interrupted.
"A man came by here just this morning… a swordsman." The bearded elder said.
Law and Brook didn't want to believe who they thought it was off the top of their heads.
"He beat up our gate officers and terrorized the celestial dragons looking for a girl." The cane wielding elder said.
"But that girl wasn't just any girl… she was "Demon Child" Nico Robin." The sword wielding elder said.
Law and Brook were in complete shock now.
"We knew immediately that the man who ravaged the city was none other than Vice-Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, "Pirate Hunter" Roronoa Zoro." The mustached elder said.
"DAMN RORONOA!" Law yelled to himself.
"So Zoro-san!... That's why he wasn't on the island!" Brook said to himself.
"So wait!" Brook said.
Law and the elders looked at the skeleton.
"Is Nico Robin…!" Brook stopped.
The room was silent.
"Even here!?" Brook asked.
Law became stuck with utter disbelief. The gorosei stared. After a long pause the mustached elder spoke.
"No." The mustached elder said coldly.
Law and Brook almost fell to their knees. They didn't even need to be there!
"This can't be! Why the hell would Arlong tell us they were here!? It was obviously a lie now, but… what would DEATH gain by telling us that…" Law stopped.
"We would come defeat the gorosei for him!" Brook said.
"Not only have you defiled this place and spit on its holy name." The mustached elder started.
Law and Brook looked up at them defeated.
"You disrespect it even more by working with shinobi! The same ones who caused our creation in the first place." The cane wielding elder said.
Brook and Law stared.
"We're about to tell you top secret history, but you won't live to speak about it so it doesn't matter." The sword wielding elder said.
"In the missing century, the void century, nina ravaged the land with their constant fighting and war. Their power became so destructive that the original five elder stars had to use their power to force them to another part of the world and be kept there." The mustached elder said.
"They cared for nobody. Gender or age… savage animals." The sword wielding elder said.
Law and Brook looked down.
"And now they're using you. Since you've been involved with them it's done nothing but get you into trouble has it?" The cane wielding elder said.
"We have a file that says you were a DEATH member with another shinobi, Psycho Uchiha, the same man who has single handedly ripped this world out of the government's hands and burned our reputation across the world." The bearded elder said.
"That man with the eyes, Sasuke, shares that demonic last name, by even being around him this government wants you erased from history!" The sword wielding elder said.
"And erased you shall be…" The mustached elder said.
Law and Brook looked up to the elders staring at them.
"You will not make it out of this room alive." The cane wielding elder said softly.
"Die with the invaders and destroyers of our land." The mustached elder said.
"Die with those disgusting shinobi…" The bearded elder said, charging an immense surge of electricity into his arm.
Law and Brook stared with shock as the elder ripped out of his jacket and his white hair flew wild. His eyes turned into lightning blue and his voice was normal with a booming one behind it.
"AFTER YOUR DEATHS WE WILL GO TO THE NINJA WORLD AND END THIS ONCE AND FOR ALL!" The bearded god said.
Law and Brook were frozen in place.
"Skeleton-ya..! We've got to… we've got to..!" Law was interrupted by the bearded god charging him and Brook.
BLAM!
The bearded god was sent flying across the room into a collection of desks, shelves, and paperwork. Law and Brook stared with shock as they looked up to see Naruto, in crystal fox form, had punched the bearded elder. The rest of the gorosei stared towards the door with straight faces.
"I told you he wouldn't check to see if he killed him." The sword wielding elder said.
"This could be more interesting anyway." The cane wielding elder said.
"So, you finally show up, Naruto Uzumaki." The mustached elder said.
Naruto looked over at Law and Brook.
"Law. Skeleton. Can you fight?" Naruto asked.
Law and Brook looked up at Naruto with relief and determination.
"Yeah!" They said in unison.
Naruto nodded and turned to the gorosei.
"Now!..." Naruto paused, the gorosei still stared at him.
"YOU'RE GONNA WIPE OUT WHAT WORLD ONCE AND FOR ALL!?" Naruto yelled, eyes turning ice white, his pupils disappearing.