I don't own Naruto or One Piece. They belong to their respective creators.
"What do you mean, Sakura?" Naruto asked. "She admitted she killed our friend Usopp."
Sakura shook her head. "No, she didn't. She told me her plan."
"What plan?" asked Zoro. Sakura then heard Johnny and Yosaku interrupt her.
"I don't know about you, but we are out here." Johnny declared.
" "Hey Zoro, are you coming with us?" asked the younger brother. Zoro closed his eyes briefly before responding.
"No, I'm staying here." Johnny and Yosaku jumped in surprise.
"Hey! Big Bro Zoro! What on earth are you thinking? C'mon!" Johnny asked.
"Did you forget that Arlong is out to kill us? We should be running away!" Yosaku shouts.
"Now that we know what Nami's really like, there's isn't a single good reason why we should stay on this island."
"My reason for staying here . . ." Zoro stated then looked down at Luffy. "... is there. I'm staying because he's staying." Hearing that made Yosaku scoff.
"Don't be stupid, Big bro Zoro. Are you saying you wanna bring her back too?"
"What I want has nothing to do with this." Zoro answered. " I don't decided who the Navigator is..." He looks down at Luffh who is sleeping. "He does." Johnny and Yosaku were slient for a moment.
"Right. Understood." He looks to Zoro. "You're not leaving. Sorry to cut our reunion short, but I won't stay. My role as guide ends here."
"Yeah! I'm with him." Yosaku agrees. "I don't wanna deliberately get myself killed."
"Fine... I'll see ya around." Zoro accepted their decision.
"Until we meet again, Big Bro." "Take care you guys. Yosaku and Johnny waved off as they left. Naruto waved goodbye then turns to Sakura.
"Now, what were you saying, Sakura?" But before Sakura could say something, Sanji interrupted her.
"What do you think it is? Why was she crying?"
"I don't know." Zoro replies. "Was she crying?"
"She was in her heart."
"Pfft. If they were, they were tears of guilt for killing Usopp." Sakura cut in, "Nami didn't kill Usopp."
"How do you know that?" Zoro asked. "She could be lying to save her own skin."
"Nah, Sakura can always tell when someone's lying," Naruto interjected. "If she doesn't think Nami's guilty, then neither do I."
"You're as gullible as Luffy, Naruto," Zoro scoffed.
"What'd you say?!" Naruto's temper flared. "Only Sakura can call me an idiot!"
"You wanna fight, moron?" Zoro challenged. Naruto snorted in anger and lunged at Zoro, aiming for a punch. However... something was in their way. Zoro recognized him
"Usopp..." Zoro said with relief.
"He's alive." Sanji said.
"Well, he was. I hope he still is." Zoro said. Naruto woke Luffy up to tell him Usopp is alive. he picked up Usopp and shook him.
"USOPP! DID NAMI DO ALL THIS TO YOU?!"
"Sorry. Zolo and I did that." Naruto said.
"It's Zoro!" Zoro corrected. Usopp slowly opens his eyes to see Luffy.
. . .You're here now."
"Yup, sure am." Luffy says. "And this is Naruto." He said. Naruto waved at the long-nosed pirate.
"I'm here too. Hi there." Sanji said. Usopp growls and jumps into Sanji's face.
"One of these days, I'll kill you." Sanji didn't feel threatened, instead, he touched Usopp's shoulder.
"Oh... you just made a full recovery."
"SHUT UP!"
"Oh, and by the way . . ." Zoro cuts in. "We kinda heard you were dead. Killed by Nami."
"Huh?"
"That's what I was trying to tell you." Sakura said. "Nami told me she plans to cut her hand against Usopp to make it look like she killed him so that Arlong doesn't kill him."
"Sakura is right." Usopp said. "If it weren't for Nami, I would've been fish food." The group was silent for a brief moment.
Meanwhile, back at Nojiko's house, she was walking through her tangerine orchard when she heard a loud crash. Upon investigation, she saw that a vase had fallen and shattered on the window. As she went inside, she noticed that there was a broken bottle and a torn book lying on the floor. She also saw that Nami, her friend, was sitting there holding her head in despair with the treasure map at the table.
"Sheesh, Nami. You sure know how to trash a place... hey, what's wrong."
"Nothing..." Nami sighed. "I'm just resting." Nojiko walked closer and picked up her chair.
"You mean to tell us after pouring over a treasure map after wrecking a house is how you relax?" Nami didn't answer her. "You're not fooling me. Now fess up already, What is it that's really bothering you?"
"Something happened to make me mad. It's nothing."
"You mean you're worried about Sakura and those guys?" Nami jumps.
"You know?"
"Yeah, I met some captain guy. And you're worried about Arlong finding out about Sakura and killing her. Is that right?" Nami lowered her head.
"Yeah... she seems like a nice girl. She even has a boyfriend. His name is Naruto. He seems like a nice guy." Nami smiled.
"And I met that captain guy." Nojiko continued. "He seemed kind of liar-ish though. Nami, I heard that you smiled with them. We both know that is rare for you. As a matter in fact, I haven't seen you smile in years. C'mon, tell me who those guys are." Nami was silent.
"I had planned . . .to forget about them. I thought I could just . . erase them from my erase them from my mind." Nami tells Nojiko about her adventures with the Strawhats. From playing cards to fixing the hole in the merry.
"The truth is... when I was with them. The only thing I forgot about was the pain I've been bearing. And I just met Sakura, but I have a special feeling about her. Like... a second sister to me. That's why I saved her." Hearing that surprised Nojiko. "I'd join up with those guys and sail around the world." After finishing her story, Nami went back to sleep. Having listened to it, Nojiko understands Nami's dilemma.
"So, that's it. That's how Nami pretended to kill me and make sure I could escape from Arlong Park." Usopp finished. Naruto crossed his arms.
"So, she must have some kind of reason to join Arlong's group." He said. "So... how about we destroy Arlong Park?"
"Whoa! Hang on just a second!" Usopp halts. "Don't you better think we should find out what's going on with Nami first?"
"It's no use either way." A voice from the background says. They looked from behind to see Nojiko coming their way. Naruto turned to Sakura.
"Who's she?" He asked.
"Nojiko, Nami's older sister." Sakura answered.
"What, Nami's sister?" Sanji squealed as hearts came out of his eyes. "No wonder she's so hot." Sakura sighed and punched his head.
"Is he always like this with women?" She asked Zoro.
"You have no idea." Zoro shook his head. He turned back to Nojiko. "What do you mean it's no use?"
"Just trust me. Don't get yourselves involved in what's going on here and leave poor Nami alone. I'll explain the situation." Nojiko said.
"Situation?" Sanji asked.
"Yes... you're gonna tell us why Nami joined Arlong, right?" Sakura asked.
"Yes, Sakura." Nojiko nodded. "And if that doesn't get you to leave, I don't know what will."
"Kay.." Usopp nodded. "So tell us all about it. I gotta admit, I'm curious."
"Yeah, I wanna hear too." Naruto agreed.
"I'll pass." Luffy said. Naruto looks back at him with confusion.
"What?" Luffy walks away from the group.
"I don't care about her past." He said walking away.
"Where are you going, Luffy?" Sanji questions.
"For a walk." Naruto runs over beside him.
"C'mon. Don't you wanna see why Nami was cold towards us?" Luffy didn't answer. Naruto sighed then turned to Sakura.
"I guess I'll follow him to stop him before he makes some more trouble." Sakura nods and allows him to catch up with Luffy. She turns back to Nojiko.
"So, tell us about Nami." She said.
"Yeah..." Zoro agreed as he lay down beside a tree.
"We'll hear you out, though I can tell you right now I don't think it's gonna change anything."
"Yeah, I'll listen too." Usopp said. "It might make some sense on everything that's going on around here."
"Me too, I wanna know everything about Nami..." He then turns to Sakura. "...And you, Sakura." Sakura sighed and punched Sanji's face. "Please start, Nojiko." They hear Zoro snoring. Sakura's face faulted.
"Is this for real? It's like I teamed up with a bunch of Narutos, Kibas and Choujis." Sakura slapped her face in frustration. Nojiko, however laughed.
"I see, that's why it was hard on her." She turned to Sakura and the others and continued. "It all goes back to 8 years ago. Up till that day when we where still little children. Nami and I won't forget her as long we live. Her name is Bellemere."
Haichi, Chu, and Kurobi went off on their own to search for Zoro. They're also checking out the wreckage to see if they can find anything the sky.
"That's Really strange." Hachi states. "I've never seen a ship fall out of the sky before."
"Yeah. Me neither." Kuroobi agrees. "It would seem we have some unusual visitors."
"The question is: Why are they here?" Chu comments. They hear footsteps and look over to see Luffy and Naruto passing by.
"Come on, Luffy. Are you sure you're at least a bit curious?"
"Nope. If I wanna hear about her past, she can tell me it herself." Naruto didn't say anything. He put his hands behind his head.
"Okay... I guess I can understand that." What they don't know is that they are being watched by the fishman.
"Hey, you guys! Look!" Haichi points at the unfamiliar faces. "They're not from this island." They walked in front of the new strangers who just spotted them as they pass by.
"Hey, Naruto... they must be Fishman." Luffy pointed out.
"Big deal, I've seen scarier." Naruto scoffed. Both boys didn't noticed the Fishman were studying them with curiosity so they walked passed them. That left them all confused.
"Hey, you there, Wait!" Haichi called out to them. Both boys turned around.
"Us?" Naruto questioned.
"Who are you two guys?" Haichi asked. "And what are you two doing on this Island?"
Why? What does it matter to you?" Luffy asked leaving the Octopus Fishman confused.
"Well . . .it's just that we . . .don't get many visitors." Haichi admitted.
"Oh, well my name's Luffy. And this Naruto. We were just passing through."
"Huh? 'Passing through'? Well, have a nice time!" Haichi said as he waved with handkerchiefs. He then crosses his tentacles.
"He seems like a fun guy to hang around.
"Yeah sure, but who the hell are they?" Chu asked.
"They walked right by us and weren't even intimated. " Kurobi said as he narrowed his eyes. "I've never seen that before."
Back at the Village, Sakura and the others(Except for Zoro) listened to Nojiko's mother's name reveal.
"Bellemere, so she raised you and Nami?" Usopp asked.
"That's right she did." Nojiko stated. "I guess I should start... at the beginning." She said with a Nostalgic smile.
I am going to have Nami's backstory as it was in the original. So if you wanna know what happened, go read the Manga.
After hearing that story, Sakura, Usopp and the others listened with shock. Sakura teared up and wiped her tears. This reminds her of Naruto's pain. Of his torment. Only he didn't have to spend 8 years working for a murderous Pirate. Not only that but trying to get them off the Island so her friends won't die. It all makes perfect sense. She hears Nojiko finish her story.
"To make a choice like that when you're only ten years old. Do you know how hard that must have been?" She asked. Sakura sniffed and shook her head.
"No..." She then remembers her last encounter with her mother. It was an argument over something that she crossed the line. Now after hearing Nami's story makes her wish she had a better relationship.
"Mom... I hope to have a better relationship with you when I get back home."
"All that to save a village she loved so much." Usopp muttered. He pokes his nose and sighed. "That girl."
"Gah..." Sanji cried out. "Whoever makes Nami suffer must hear the end of me!" He shouted. Sakura glared and was about to punch him but Nojiko beats her to it.
Why did you do that?" Sanji asked, as he fell.
"Because", Nojiko "I'm telling you to stay out of it," she said angrily, gripping her other arm where her fist was clenched. "If you go around saying that she's your friend, they going to become suspicious of her, Then her eight years of suffering will have been for nothing. Don't make it harder than it already is. She has to fight alone. Knowing their are people calling her friend only makes the suffering worse."Sakura's heart fills with empathy as she looks towards Nami's house. She can't help but think about Naruto's challenging childhood and the pain he must have endured. With a deep sense of compassion, she leaves the group to have a heartfelt conversation with Nami, hoping to find a way to help her.
Nami was looking at sitting at her table. She lets out a small smile and holds onto her forehead.
"It's taken a while, and there's seven million left. If I can get that with one more job, just one more trip and this will finally be over. Arlong's rule will be over. Cocoyashi village will be free. I will be free and then...and then I think I'll finally be able to smile again, for real. Bellemere."
She smiled and stood up, but then heard a knock on the door. Perking up, she walked to open it and was surprised to see Sakura catching her breath.
"Sakura? What are you doing here?" she asked, her tone turning colder as she remembered her earlier conversation with Luffy and the others. "What do you want?"
"Nami...," Sakura gasped, still trying to catch her breath. "I heard."
"Heard what?" Nami asked, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
Naruto and Luffy walked through town. They noticed the townspeople stopping. Luffy wonders why. He took a closer look and gasped. He sees a man with a marines hat following Genzo in town. Naruto's reaction to the rat-faced man looks disgusted.
"So why do the Marines want Nami?" Genzo asked. The man chuckled evilly.
"Your job is to lead the way, quietly." he ordered the sheriff as he passed the two boys. Luffy and Naruto watches the marines until they were out of the villages sight.
"A hat pinwheel..." Luffy lets out a huge grin. "That's so cool!"
"Look, Nami... I understand you want to protect your friends, but can you truly trust Arlong?" Sakura inquired, concerned. Nami gazed down and touched her tattoo.
"I feel like I have no other option. Once I give him all the money I owe him, I can save my village... and then... I can join Luffy's crew..."
Sakura's face lit up at the mention of Luffy's crew, and Nami returned the smile. "And we can help you return to your home with Naruto," Sakura was taken aback. "R-really?" she asked, surprised. Nami nodded with conviction. Sakura beamed, "Nami..." She paused, gathering her thoughts. Then they both turned their heads as they heard footsteps approaching. A group of Marines was making their way toward the house.
"Marine?" Nami whispered. "Sakura, what are they doing here? And why is Genzo with them?" The Man with rat whiskers turned to Nami with a smirk that gives Sakura a bad feeling about him.
Are you the Pirate thief known as Nami?" The leader asked. Both Sakura and Nami gasp in surprise.
"According to our investigation, you've buried a good deal of Pirate treasure somewhere in this tangerine grove." Both Sakura and Nami gasped again and so did Genzo.
"Now, you stole from Pirates, so we have no intention of arresting you. But theft is theft. Therefore, as of this moment, Stolen goods become the sole property of the World Government." Sakura growled at him.
"Who are you to take away what Nami needs to save her town?" She demanded. The man chuckled like a rat.
"The name is Nezumi. And the government hereby confiscates all said property. It is required that you comply immediately." Sakura growled and cracked her knuckles but Nami stopped her and smirked.
"Isn't that something?" She asked as she crossed her arms. "I can see you're very passionate about your duties. You won't bring a brutal gang of Pirates to justice, but you will shakedown a lowly sneak thief. That's so very noble." Sakura realized what Nami was saying and smirked with her.
"Yeah... so she is warning you right now." Sakura pointed with her thumb. "She is one of the leaders of the Arlong Pirates. If you mess with her , Arlong won't sit by quietly." Nami nodded at her friends threat. However, Nezumi didn't feel threatened.
"Who do you think I am? Do you honestly think you can intimidate me? FIND THE STOLEN GOODS!" The rest of the Marines scattered and started to search for the stolen treasure.
"DON'T MOVE!" Nami shouted but was ignored. Sakura growled and runs up to one and punches him. Sakura helps out her friend by connecting her staff together and hits a bunch of marines. "I said Stop!" Sakura finished another with a punch in the gut.
"Do you really think this is what the Marines should be doing now?" Nami glared. "The Arlong Pirates are murderers! They've destroyed entire cities, and you're doing nothing! He's ruling over this island and trampling over people's lives! You'd ignore Arlong's atrocities to steal from a thief? Is that what you stand for!?"
"Checheche." Nezumi chuckled. "Big talk from a filthy criminal. Continue the search, men!"
"Every person on this island has been waiting for the Marines to come and help them for years!" Nami calls out Nezumi.
"How dare you pass them by and come here searching for money!"
"Colonel!" A Marine addressed the officer. "This tangerine orchard's a little suspicious."
"Dig it up." Nezumi ordered. "The whole thing, if need be." Nami snarled and she and Sakura held them down with Sakura punching him.
"Keep your filthy hands off of my friend's mother's Tangerine orchard!" Sakura said as Nami hit one marine after another with her staff. "We won't let you take our money... it's for.."
"That poor girl's money is meant to save Cocoyashi Village!" Genzo called out. ""What gives you the right to take our salvation away from her!? Damn you!"
"My my, a mere village representative talking down to a Marine Colonel…" Nami stops turned to her father figure with confusion.
"Genzo... how'd you know about that?" It was silent as they heard nothing but the pinwheel spinning then Genzo said his confession.
"I've always known, Nami." He confessed. "I couldn't believe what you had done. So I confronted Nojiko about it later. Since then, everyone has known that you stayed with the Arlong Pirates so that you could save the village. But we all agreed that we'd never tell you that we knew. If you ever thought the villagers were placing their hopes on you, you might never leave his gang for fear of letting us down."
"That can't be..." Nami whispered. Sakura too was shocked but relieved that the villagers didn't hate Nami like they did Naruto. She heard Nezumi chuckle evilly.
"Now hold on a minute..."
"Just what are you trying to say here? Are you telling me that the villagers are thieves and that we should arrest every one of them? Is that what you're saying?"
"What he's saying is that every last of us is fighting to survive!" A voice came out of Nojiko who just arrived with her hands on her hips in irraitation.
"We have to fend for ourselves because we can't rely on support from you government people! So, if you're not gonna protect our village, then get the hell outta here! And be quick about it, or Arlong will sink your ship, too!"
"Arong will?" Nezumi asked. "I wouldn't be so sure." Hearing that Nami gasped while Sakura widened her eyes.
"That.. can't be." Nezumi looks at his cronies. "You still haven't found it?" "We're looking for 100 million berries here, not a grain of rice!" Genzo widen his eyes at the amount he said.
"Hey you, How did you know much there is?" Nezumi turned around and crossed his arms.
"Oh... I don't know... I just have a hunch that that's the amount we are looking for." Genzo clenched his fists. Nojiko angrily gritted her teeth. Sakura cracked her knuckles in anger while Nami stood there in shock. She realized how Nezumi knew how much money she has now.
"It's him..." She can hear Arlong laughing behind her back and tightened her staff in anger. "Tell me... it was Arlong who sent you, wasn't it?" Nezumi chuckled.
"Course not. I wouldn't do a Pirates dirty work. That'd be wrong. I'm just a public servant dealing with theft the way any government worker would."
"You Cold, heartless bastard!" Sakura seethed.
"The Marines have stooped to being nothing but pirate cronies!" Nojiko shouted. Nami's eyes grew larger in rage and clenched her teeth.
"Sir I found it..." A Marine said. He showed them he box he digged out of to prove his word. Nami, Sakura, Nojiko and Genzo's eyes widened. Nezumi opened the box and laughed as he saw everything that had been stored inside. gold bars, coins, jewels, and stacks of berrie bills all together in one place.
"Incredible, I must say I'm impressed you've managed to gather this much treasure."
"The money is all ragged and bloody." One of the Marines said.
"No matter. Money is money." Nezumi chuckled looking forward to use it. To say Nami was mad was an understatement. She was beyond furious.
"Don't touch that!" She demanded. Sakura sees Nami walking towards them. "Don't Touch that!" Sakura tried to stop her but Nami pushed her out of the way.
"Don't touch that." "She repeated, though it didn't matter. "Stop it, don't touch that," she said, moving quickly. Nezumi grabbed his gun in response. Both Genzo and Nojiko saw what was happening and tried to intervene. Genzo grabbed her shoulder while Nojiko stood in front of her. Suddenly, Nezumi fires his bullet and it hits Nojiko's arm. Sakura covered her mouth. Nami's expression changed from anger to fear. Genzo gasped as Nojiko fell to the ground. Nami went to her side.
"Nojiko... Nojiko!" Nami cried. Sakura being a medic tends to her wounds. She turns to Nami.
"We gotta get her to another doctor. I am a medic but I don't have my equipment with me." Nami nodded as they ran back to town to search for a doctor.
Naruto and Luffy sat near a tree, resting a bit after their walk. Naruto was thinking about what to do after helping Nami while Luffy just can't stop thinking about that pinwheel on Genzo's hat. Naruto heard a commotion.
"Hey, There's Sakura and Nami." He pointed. Luffy looks to where Naruto is pointing with Sakura and Nami surrounding a wounded Nojiko.
"Genso, what is it?!" The doctor quickly approached them to offer assistance.
"Nojiko's been shot!" Genzo told him.
"By who?!" the doctor questioned.
"The Marines." He answered.
"He's been lying to Nami for the last eight years. He never intended to honor their agreement at all." Genzo said with his eyes on Nojiko. The doctord waisted no time in healing Nojiko's wound. Nami's face was blank. She stared at the ground in pure anger. She was unaware that Luffy came to her.
"Hey, Nami."
"What's up? Need help with anything?"
Nami's turned around and gave Luffy an icy cold glare.
"Why are you still here?" He then grabs Luffy's shirt. "Stay out of my business. Just get away from our Island!" She throws away Luffy and rush towards Arlong to confront the Fishman. Naruto and Sakura walks to Luffy who is rubbing her head.
"What's her problem?" He asked. Sakura glares at the direction Nami went to...
"Arlong..."
On the next Strawhats X Shiniobi
Nami: Arlong, Don't play dumb with me. I know yiu teamed up with the Marines.
Sakura: We gotta do something or this everyone in this town will die.
Naruto: Lead the way, Luffy
Nami: Luffy... help me...
Luffy: On the next Strawhat X Shinobi... asking for help! I'm gonna be king of the Pirates.
Naruto: And I'm gonna be Hokage!
And that's the end of that chapter. I Hope you enjoyed it. I especially did. I wanted to write this before Easter Sunday so... Happy Easter everyone. I'll write some more after I visit my family this weekend. Next is the most epic scene in One Piece and Naruto and Sakura will be a part of it. I bet you're excited. I will make the next few chapters longer in order finish the Arlong arc. Now I know what you are thinking... will Naruto and Sakura get devil fruit powers and the answer is... yes. But not till Drum Island. You'll find out why. Until then enjoy and take care.