CHAPTER 67
SUNFLOWER ISLAND
Luffy opened his eyes slowly and looked around. He looked down to see he laid on a cot in a tent. The tent wasn't like the traditional one taken on camping trips, no, this tent was more like an awning. It had enough shelter multiple people. Luffy sat up and put his hand on his head.
"W-Where am I?" Luffy asked himself.
"I can't remember what I did before this, what knocked me out? Did I get tired? I am really really hungry!" Luffy yelled to himself as he clutched his stomach.
Luffy looked around some more and was shocked to see two familiar faces sharing the tent with him! Smoker and Hancock rest not far from him, both still sleep.
"Hancock … and Smokey …" Luffy said softly, laying back down.
After a moment Luffy's eyes shot open.
"SMOKEY!? WHAT IS HE DOING HERE!?" Luffy screamed.
"Ugh … who's making all that racket!?" A voice said.
Luffy heard the raspy voice and calmed down. The man couldn't tell, but Luffy became super serious. If the man could read Luffy's mind he would see that Luffy hoped and prayed that when he turned around it wasn't who he thought it was! Luffy turned around ever so slowly and eventually he locked eyes with the man.
Sakazuki, better known as Akainu, stared directly at Luffy with killing intent in his eyes. Luffy returned the glare.
"Straw hat … you bastard." Akainu spit.
"You're the one …" Luffy started.
A flashback to Ace's death flashed in Luffy's mind for a brief moment, but that was all he needed to provoke him to attack!
"WHO KILLED ACE!" Luffy yelled.
"YOU'RE CORRECT! I AM THE ONE WHO STRUCK THE KILLING BLOW TO "FIRE FIST" ACE AND I'D DO IT AGAIN, A THOUSAND TIMES OVER EVEN!" Akainu yelled, pointing at Luffy.
Luffy shot up and dashed at the leader of the marines with pure anger! Akainu smiled.
"FOOL, DID YOU FORGET!? I AM A LOGIA DEVIL FRUIT EATER, AND EVEN IF YOU DO HAVE ARMAMENT HAKI THERE'S NO WAY IT'S STRONG ENOUGH TO ANY REAL DAMAGE TO ME!" Akainu yelled.
Luffy jumped over Akainu and punched him square in the face with everything he had! Akainu took every last bit of the punch and went flying out of the tent! The fleet admiral fell on his back and flipped over. He rolled some more before coming to a rest. Akainu rubbed his mouth, saw the blood and became shocked!
"Impossible! How did he hit me!? And he didn't coat his arm in haki either!" Akainu worried to himself.
BOOM! CRUNCH!
Luffy kicked Akainu in the stomach as hard as he could, forcing the admiral to cough up blood. Akainu fell to his knees and breathed heavily in and out.
"What the hell … IS GOING ON!? HELL HOUND!" Akainu yelled, forcing his arm out.
Akainu started to sweat and worried when he didn't see any magma. Luffy stood over Akainu with surprise.
"IMPOSSIBLE! WHERE IS MY MAGMA!?" Akainu yelled.
Luffy stared at the admiral with shadowed out eyes.
"Straw hat … WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME!?" Akainu yelled jumping towards Luffy.
Luffy dodged and looked at the struggling admiral.
"I didn't do anything, I don't know why you lost your devil fruit abilities, but I do know that I'm going to make you pay while I can!" Luffy yelled.
Luffy's plan of making Akainu suffer would be interrupted as the fleet admiral jumped on top of Luffy and began choking the pirate.
"YOU FOOL! DO YOU REALLY THINK I ONLY NEED DEVIL FRUIT POWERS TO DEFEAT YOU?! YOU'RE STILL A ROOKIE! I'LL CHOKE YOU TO DEATH RIGHT HERE AND RIGHT NOW, YOU BASTARD! THEN I'LL FIGURE OUT HOW I LOST MY POWERS!" Akainu yelled through an angry face.
Luffy choked and struggled to breathe as Akainu choked him.
"I don't even know how you're choking right now since you're a rubber man, but I won't ask questions I don't want the answer to! I'll just continue to choke you until you can't breathe anymore!" Akainu yelled again.
Luffy became angry and stuck his head up quickly sending his head far away from his body. The force caused his body to slip from under Akainu's grasp and launch back to him. Luffy's body snapped together and Luffy hardened his arm. In his eyes were vengeful tears. Akainu hardened his arm as well. Luffy thought of Ace once more and stretched his arm out until it caught on fire! Akainu flinched but charged at Luffy anyway! Luffy charged back and the two planned to clash right there!
"DIE, STRAW HAT!" Akainu yelled, throwing a punch.
Luffy's arm snapped forward with powerful momentum!
KABOOOOOOOM!
You would think the island shook from the clash, but no! Someone was struck by the clash, but they were unharmed! The man's two palms perfectly caught both punches with little effort, his arms weren't even haki covered, not even a little bit! Dust shot all over, limiting the vision of Akainu and Luffy. Akainu's eyes twitched from the dust until his face slowly became full of shock, surprise, and disbelief.
"Y-Y-You … Impossible!" Akainu choked.
"Oi, what are you talking about magma guy!? Why'd we stop like this?" Luffy asked.
The dust cleared some more, and the sun shined down on the man who stopped the clash. The man looked down at Luffy and Luffy back up at the man.
"H-H-Huh …" Luffy choked out.
The man smirked.
"Oi, Luffy." The man said.
Tears began to form in Luffy's eyes, he had to be seeing things! This wasn't real! There was absolutely no way … no way at all that he would ever see this man again! The man who had supposedly died on a mission from the marines 11 long years ago! There was no way Luffy was looking at his blood brother Monkey D. Kraken right now!
"It's been quite a while … huh Luffy?" Kraken said with a smile.
Luffy struggled to smile as the tears fell.
"Kraken … KRAKEN!" Luffy screamed.
SUNFLOWER ISLAND (TILLING FIELDS)
Lionel Newgate stared at DEATH's general, Rob Lucci, with a confident smile. Okua still rested one of his hands in the pouch in his gi and his long, flat, wide, pointed sword rest on his shoulder. Nobody could see what his expression was under the mask over his mouth. His long black hair flowed gracefully in the cool winds of the Sunflower island. Everywhere else in the world it was about nighttime, but Sunflower island is one of a few Islands that don't have a night!
"Okua Yuke and Lionel Newgate." Lucci said, flipping through their wanted posters.
Okua and Lionel flinched.
"You're worth 900,823,213 and 754,000,000 beli respectively. That makes a grand total of 1,654,000,00 beli for the two of you combined." Lucci said, looking up.
Lionel and Okua got in stances.
"Do not fear. I don't intend to turn either one of you in. I've been sent to eliminate everyone on this island. Are there any more people on this island?" Lucci asked.
"LIKE WE'D TELL YOU, YOU BASTARD!" Lionel yelled.
Lucci stared over at Lionel.
"I suggest you tame your tongue young man … you only make yourself sound weak." Lucci said calmly.
Lionel snapped and blasted a heavy beam towards Lucci who watched as it closed in on him.
KABOOOOOOMMMMMM!
"Lionel Newgate-san! You shouldn't have done that, you need to stop acting on emotion!" Okua yelled.
"Shut up! You heard what he said! I couldn't help but get pissed!" Lionel yelled back.
"Where did he go!?" Okua asked, "Did he use the explosion to escape!?" Okua asked.
"Interesting." A voice said.
Okua and Lionel were shocked to see Lucci behind Lionel!
"When did he get behind Lionel Newgate-san? Did he use shave? I didn't hear him yell it out … and shave is used before an attack hits … it looked as if Lionel Newgate-san's attack hit him square on!" Okua thought.
Lucci grabbed Lionel's arm, to Lionel's shock. Lucci examined Lionel's arm.
"You've eaten a devil fruit that allows you to fire powerful beams from your hands … beautiful! Psycho-sama will be pleased to hear this … surely he would love to have this devil fruit for himself …" Lucci said.
Lionel snapped again. While Lucci still held on to his arm, Lionel pointed his free hand at Lucci's face.
"LIKE HELL HE'LL HAVE ANYTHING FOR HIMSELF! TAKE THIS!" Lionel yelled, charging another beam of energy and blasting it.
BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!
The explosion was indeed heavy! The explosion left a giant crater in the ground.
"Well there goes the tilling work for today." Okua said.
"Oh, shut up Okua! We're fighting a DEATH member and all you're worried about is the tilling work!?" Lionel yelled.
Okua flinched.
"My apologies, Lionel Newgate-san …" Okua said, putting his head down.
Lionel scoffed and looked around.
"Where'd Lucci go now? Hopefully I disintegrated the bastard." Lionel said.
Okua looked over past Lionel and froze. His eyes wide with fear. Lionel was being approached from behind by Lucci!
"What the hell am I looking at … there was absolutely no way he used shave this time ...! If shave is used while holding on to something, whatever it is, it's going with the person who initiated the shave! Lionel is still in the same spot which means … Rob Lucci is dodging the blasts … but how!?" Okua asked himself.
Lucci crept towards Lionel slowly but surely as the latter looked left and right.
"LIONEL NEWGATE-SAN, ROB LUCCI IS RIGHT BEHIND YOU, LOOK!" Okua yelled.
Lionel jumped and looked behind him. Nothing was there. Okua began to panic!
"No! That's not possible! He was RIGHT THERE I know he was!" Okua yelled.
Lionel became frustrated.
"Oi, stop messing around Okua! This is not the time to joke around!" Lionel said, looking the other way.
"But I'm not lying! Could you not tell? He truly was behind Lionel Newgate-san … he disappeared when I tried to tell him!" Okua thought with stress.
Okua looked left and right quickly.
"Where … where!? Where is he coming from … and where does he go? My eyes have been special since birth, a trait my brother's and I share, the ability to see extremely long distances! I can see from one end of this island to another no matter where I am. I've been checking all directions, but I can't see him anywhere!" Okua thought.
Okua was truly stumped! How could one man continuously disappear in and out of sight almost instantaneously? It wasn't possible! There was no way Lucci was that fast nor was it the work of a devil fruit since Lucci already had one, or was it?
"Regular vision won't work … I'll have to tap into my advanced observation haki! The ability to see life energy! No matter what this is the way to find him!" Okua thought to himself with confidence!
Okua closed his eyes tightly and focused. He struggled at first since he didn't have to use such an advanced version of observation haki in a while, but after a moment he pulled it off! Everything around Okua became black. It was as if he was in a room surrounded completely by pitch black walls. Okua looked back at where Lionel was. Lionel had lost shape and was nothing more than a blobby image, something a kid would draw and call a person is what he resembled.
"No one is near Lionel Newgate-san this time … that's good." Okua said as he looked away.
As Lionel had barely left Okua's peripheral vision, Okua thought he saw something, so he looked back and was filled with shock! Slowly but surely, right behind Lionel there was a pink ball that creepily started to form into what looked like an arm! Okua couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"W-W-What the hell is that!?" Okua yelled.
The pink arm then slowy started to form what looked like half a torso and a head! Okua, completely freaked out, Okua discharged his advanced observation haki to get a clearer view and almost passed out from the shock!
Lucci seemed to float with only half his upper body and one of his arms showing. Lucci was already looking over at Okua with a straight, cold stare. Okua's pupils shook with fright.
"What in the hell is this!?" Okua asked, "Why is Lucci like this? Why does he look like that?! Wait … is this how he's been moving two and from with no detection!? Has he been …!"
Lucci's arm turned into a leopard's and he shot the nails out of his paws. Lucci looked back at Lionel. Okua charged the two, holding his sword handle in two hands, his sword dragging in the ground.
"LIONEL NEWGATE-SAN! I DON'T KNOW HOW, BUT LUCCI HAS THE POWER OF INVISIBLITY!" Okua yelled.
Lionel shot up and looked behind him, but It was to late! Lucci slashed Lionel across the chest. Blood flew everywhere! Lionel coughed up blood as well! The young man fell onto his back, unconscious.
"LIONEL NEWGATE-SAN!" Okua yelled, now holding his sword low in front of him in both hands.
Lucci stared at Okua still half a body and his arm hanging low in front of him, still in leopard form.
"You're correct about one thing, Yuke Okua." Lucci said.
Okua flinched.
"I have indeed gained the ability to become invisible, but not through the means you think." Lucci said.
Okua was obviously confused.
"I ate the camo camo fruit and became a camouflage human. I can blend into anything. Anything at all. While I'm camouflaged I cannot be harmed either, which is unfortunate for you. I can tell by looking at you, you want to cut me down with that sword of yours." Lucci said, pointing at Okua's sword with his one arm.
"Neither of you will survive this battle. Newgate has already been taken care of for now, Yuke Okua, you're next." Lucci said.
Okua breathed in and out with nervousness.
Slowly, Lucci began to fade away. As he did, he spoke.
"Slowly but surely … you both will be eradicated by my new ability …!" Lucci said, fading completely away.
Lucci seemingly left Okua alone with his thoughts.
"Rob Lucci … you may not remember but we've clashed once before … we were both younger back then, but you still had the same beliefs you do now. The same belief that confirms your defeat every time! The same belief that got you beaten by Kraken's little brother two and a half years ago." Okua thought.
Okua's arms and hands turned black and then a very dark blue until they shone a pretty blue like a sapphire rock!
"The belief … that you're invincible!" Okua yelled to himself.
Okua's sword was taken over by the blue energy Okua covered his arms and hands in until it shone like Okua's arms and hands did!
"We'll be eradicated by your new ability? I don't know how you have two devil fruit powers, but that won't scare me! I'll fight you at full power with my advanced armament haki! Rob Lucci!" Okua yelled.
NORTH BLUE ISLAND (LOG CABIN)
In a small log cabin in the North Blue, Amiya slowly woke up to a wonderful smell. The cabin was warm and hospitable. She noticed immediately that she couldn't see out of her left eye and felt a bandage over it.
"What happened …?" Amiya asked, trying to sit up.
"Woah woah! Trying to sit up already? Just how tough are you?" A man asked.
Amiya looked over to see a man with a Japanese style straw hat, closed eyes, two scars on his face, and a nicely trimmed beard and goatee. He was very handsome. Amiya blushed!
"Who-Who are you?" Amiya asked.
The man set his sword down on a table and walked over to the tea he was making. He poured himself and Amiya a cup.
"Tea?" The man asked.
Amiya smiled and took the tea.
"Thank you …?" Amiya said, hoping to get the man's name.
"Iwataka! Iwataka Tokisato." Iwataka said.
"Tokisato … where have I heard that name before?" Amiya asked.
"It's an older name, not many people go by it anymore. I fixed your arms, they should be good to go in a few days, but I couldn't save your eye though, I'm sorry but it was getting infected, I had to remove it." Iwataka said.
Amiya freaked out.
"YOU TOOK OUT MY EYE!?" Amiya yelled; her bones cracked a little so she laid back down.
"Your eye socket was becoming infected from the damage you received. You're lucky I was even able to save your other limbs!" Iwataka joked.
Amiya sighed.
"It would've probably just been better if I was dead …" Amiya said.
"Oh, don't say that young marine. There is an entire life out there for you to live. We all have our place in life and paths that destiny takes us on. Whether we accept these destinies are up to us, but we will always walk these paths because even if we stop moving, life doesn't." Iwataka explained.
"Thank you … I truly appreciate that." Amiya said.
"It's nothing! I never got your name though young lady, would you be so kind as to tell me what it is?" Iwataka asked.
Amiya smiled.
"Amiya." Amiya said with a small smile.
Iwataka frowned.
"Amiya? That's it? You don't have a last name?" Iwataka asked.
Amiya turned her head towards the wall to hide the fact she was crying.
"I don't … I don't claim my last name …" Amiya confessed.
Iwataka was confused.
"But why not? You should always take pride in your name." Iwataka said.
Amiya closed her eye tight to force more tears out. Through clenched teeth she spoke.
"Not my last name … I hate it … and I hate both people associated with it." Amiya cried.
"Amiya-soro, I can tell you're holding in a lot of pain. The man who attacked you, won't hurt you anymore. You're safe here." Iwataka said.
Amiya looked over at Iwataka with shock.
"You … you … you beat him?" Amiya asked.
"Well … in a way I did. He got away but he was pretty badly hurt! Wa ha ha ha ha!" Iwataka laughed.
"My last name … is … Nara. There I said it." Amiya said.
The room became quiet. Nobody made a sound. Amiya became nervous.
"Hey, Iwataka, are you okay?" Amiya asked.
Iwataka sighed.
"Nara hm? Interesting." Iwataka said.
Amiya stared at Iwataka with confusion.
"I haven't heard of the good Nara's in a long time. I hope they're doing well! It's not easy to visit them of course, regarding this whole thing about staying away from the ninja world!" Iwataka said.
"You know about the ninja world?!" Amiya asked.
Iwataka took a sip of tea.
"Oh, of course. I've been alive for quite a long time. I've seen my fair share of things and met a fair share of people. I remember one time-"
Iwataka was interrupted.
"Iwataka … stop." Amiya said.
Iwataka became confused.
"Did I say something wrong? Is there something on my face!?" Iwataka asked.
"No … what you said … what you JUST said." Amiya said.
Iwataka was still confused.
"What did you mean by … you haven't heard of one of the "good" Nara's …" Amiya asked.
Iwataka became serious.
"I remember a clan by the name of "Nara" when I was a young man, 18yrs old actually. A man named Muranaka Nara challenged me to a dual that left both of us near death. The Nara clan was violent back then though, I hear they've evolved into a much kinder clan these days!" Iwataka said.
Again no sound, but this time Iwataka was the one waiting on an answer. Tears filled Amiya's face.
"That name … Muranaka …" Amiya said.
Iwataka was concerned.
"Muranaka … is my father's real name. Cyclone's real name!" Amiya yelled.
Iwataka took a sip of tea.
"I had a feeling." Iwataka said.
Amiya looked at Iwataka with confusion.
"The way the man I fought earlier wielded his sword … so much aggression … I knew that was Muranaka … I just didn't know he was the crazed killer "Cyclone." Iwataka said, "So that brings up another question."
Amiya looked on with worry.
"The boy that's been terrorizing this island. Taikama Nara was his name, you're related to him too, aren't you?" Iwataka asked.
Amiya looked down.
"Yeah … he's my baby brother." Amiya said.
Iwataka nodded.
"I see. I understand why you don't claim the last name Nara then. I still believe you should though, represent the name with pride!" Iwataka said.
"Why should I do that? … I don't even want the name …" Amiya said.
"But that's exactly why you should take it with pride. Those two-spread evil with that name. Imagine you gain the strength to put good behind that name, as it should be!" Iwataka said.
"Why are you telling me this? You're just a hermit in a log cabin!" Amiya yelled.
"Wrong!" Iwataka yelled, "My last name, Tokisato, isn't rare because people don't name their kids that often, it's because the name was banned by the world government 17 years ago! After my supposed death, I decided to close my eyes and never open them again so long as this world is evil!" Iwataka confessed.
"Even though the last name "Tokisato" brought me and my brother's great pain … and we were forced to remove the name from our titles, we still represent the Tokisato name and lifestyle regardless! I always think about my brother's, hoping they're putting on for our family!" Iwataka said.
Amiya smiled with admiration.
"Iwataka-san, what are your brother's names?" Amiya asked.
Iwataka stood up and smiled.
"The youngest of the three of us … his name is, OKUA YUKE TOKISATO!" Iwataka yelled.
Amiya's eyes widened greatly! He was talking about the same Okua She and Kraken found and befriended! She was looking right at the brother Okua thought was dead this whole time! Before Amiya could say anything, Iwataka spoke again.
"My second brother, the middle child, his name is … DRACULE MIHAWK TOKISATO!" Iwataka yelled.
GRAND LINE WATERS
As if he heard his name being said, Mihawk, leaning against Sunny's mast slowly lifted up his head to see Naruto jumping around.
"HEY GUYS LOOK! THERE'S AN ISLAND FULL OF SUNFLOWERS! IS THAT THE PLACE PSYCHO WAS TALKING ABOUT!?" Naruto yelled.
"IT LOOKS SO FLUFFY AND RELAXING!" Chopper yelled.
"I can't wait to lay down and relax in the soft sunflowers!" Usopp remarked.
"This isn't a vacation you idiots!" Sanji yelled.
Mihawk lowered his hat.
Naruto balled his fist and pointed it at the island.
"That's where Luffy is … it feels like so long since I saw him last … LUFFY WE'RE ON OUR WAY BUDDY JUST HANG TIGHT!" Naruto yelled.
Sanji, Chopper, Franky, Nami, Brook, Usopp, Law, Kakashi, Sakura, and Sasuke all looked at the Sunflower Island as Sunny sailed closer and closer to the island. Slowly but surely.