Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or One Piece.
A/N: The Shinobi poll of if Naruto should get a Devil Fruit or not is up and will stay up until the 1st (Jan 2023) so make sure you vote if Naruto should have one or not, The choices are of course Yes. Or No, his jutsu and Sage chakra/mode are enough plus no time to really train with it.
OK, here's a Christmas present for you all, an update of all my stories. I did think of doing this tomorrow (24th) But figured you all would be busy with company, or going to visit family yourself and decided to do it tonight instead.
So I hope you all have a safe Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or whatever you celebrate, and if I don't update a story you'll read by then (I'll try to get Shinobi up before the 31, and the next Hero Rising will be on the 30th.) I hope you have a safe and Happy New Year.
Beta: ANUBIS the god king.
Chapter XLIX.
Last Time
"Look we gotta help our friends first but we'll be back," Naruto explained running past. "In the meantime, you all might want to stay here in case more men come."
Luffy's Group.
The group is in a large boat banana that Usopp made and started rowing towards the ice side of the island. They rowed through the harsh wind on the lake Robin explains that the harsh winds are due to the major temperature difference between the hot and cold sides of the island. Suddenly, the leopard centaur from before returns, and throws a boulder at the Boat.
The centaur then pulls out a horn and blows it. Suddenly, a large pack of centaurs appears on the other side of the lake in fog, and the largest one states that he sees a man with swords on the other side, and comes to the conclusion that the man is the samurai who cut his men down.
Brook.
Brook builds a snowman. He wonders how long it will take for Luffy's group to reach him, and finishes his last snowman. Suddenly, someone holding a fire-like sword starts cutting down Brook's snowmen, and Brook goes on the defense and clashes with the swordsman. Brook then notices that the swordsman is just a torso.
"NANI!? (WHAT!?)"
Now.
Ice Side Of Punk Hazard.
On a Marine Ship with G-5 on the sails, Smoker stood with the group he's the leader of all wearing gas masks. His having his cigars sticking out.
Tashigi hair is much longer and now pinned up by a clip. She still has her glasses, and her figure has become more feminine than it was two years ago. She is wearing a floral button-down shirt, blue capris, dark pink gloves with white trim, and dark pink boots. Having achieved the rank of captain, she replaced her blue coat with a pink version of the standard Marine officers' coat.
She closed her coat due to the cold as they came to an ice wall. Smoker points at it and they fire in the direction he pointed out. The ice shatters and crumbles away in the aftermath of the firing only to reveal a river. The crews are amazed and four of them question how he noticed it in an overly casual manner, causing Smoker to punch them and answers that the sea currents are a giveaway.
And that they have to pay more attention, as well as check on their behavior. Tashigi comments that it is strange and Smoker agrees, saying that the important point is not about the river's existence, but rather, the concealing of the river, which leads to the question if the ice that blocked the river mouth was natural or man-made. A wall of ice looms and the marines begin to shoot at it because if they collide, the warship would sink.
The marines work hard at breaking the ice apart to prevent a collision. Smoker comments that they are going to reach the end soon and others wonder what is in store for them next.
Later, the G-5 ship docks, and Smoker throws his gas mask away. After a while, Tashigi follows and realizes that the air is indeed clean. The rest of the crew confirms this for themselves and asks about the existence of the gas earlier. Smoker replies that it probably is released by someone who does not welcome their arrival.
Walking up to the supposedly abandoned laboratory, Smoker tests out the doorbell, and it still rings, which leads to the crew questioning who is currently living there. The marines start knocking and kicking the door, shouting for the inhabitant to open up. Before the cannon can be used, the door opens and someone walks out.
"So tell me… What brings you to my vacation home… White Hunter"
"Trafalgar Law?"
Law's hat lost the fur rim and is replaced with a thick bill, turning it into a rather spherical hat resembling a Wool Skipper. His goatee has become somewhat scruffier, and his right hand now also has the fingers tattooed. He's wearing a long black coat with his crew's jolly roger along the hem and on the sleeve.
Tashigi introduces him to everyone, stating that he is Law, now one of the Shichibukai. (Seven Warlords of the Sea.) His name is proven to be well known as the crew is scared stiff, retreating far away from him and recalling the day when Law delivered a hundred pirates' hearts to the headquarters to gain his current status.
"You want to tell me what you're doing here?" Smoker asked as smoke came off his cigars. "Surely you're aware no one's allowed to step foot on this island. Not pirates nor Government allies. That clear?!"
Law just smiled at that. "That means you aren't allowed either."
"Trafalgar, I understand you're one of the Shichibukai. (Seven Warlords of the Sea.) But we need to get past!" Tashigi spoke from behind Smoker, glasses resting on her head. "Please move aside! It's over, we already know you're not the only one hiding on this island."
Naruto's Group.
Naruto's group got near the icy dock and saw a large alligator centaur there with other male and female centaurs. He is a very large, overweight man who appears to be roughly three times the height and four times the width of a normal human. He possesses a long brown beard, with three distinctly kept braids, as well as a mustache.
He's wearing a large coat, over an open shirt, that seems to only reach to his shoulders. He has his chest bare, with something that appears to be a large wrestling belt with his jolly roger on it. His hair appears to come out of the top of his tricorn and is braided back.
Brownbeard, An Alligator Centaur Former Pirate Bounty: 80,060,000.
He then fired at the crew with a cannon having Naruto slice it with Ryūjin.
Clone Naruto's group.
Chopper encourages the children to run and Nami notes that he is fired up. Chopper explains that he was entrusted with this important mission by Sanji so he will see it through. Hazmat soldiers appear but Chopper knocks them all out. Nami wonders where should they go and Chopper replies that she has to figure it out by herself. As one of the children worries, Nami assures her, saying that they have made it through plenty of similar situations so she should just relax and follow their lead. The child then smiles and they set off running again.
Back in the room, Naruto quickly went into his gold chakra mode and then hit each man with his chakra balls disintegrating them.
The others continue escaping with the children until they come across a door and Chopper breaks it open. They step inside a cold room with frozen people inside. "What happened here?" Gina asked holding her hammer.
Brook.
Brook is defending himself from the sword attacks of the torso, questioning its identity and the whereabouts of the rest of his body. However, the torso remains silent, which scares Brook. Brook questions if the torso is a ghost and that if he is, he should not come out during the day. He says that he did not do anything wrong and invites the torso to build snowmen and make ice sculptures with him.
However, the torso stabs his sword into Brook's hair. Brook hides behind a mound of ice and is dumbfounded by how the torso can attack with such precision as it does not even have eyes, before realizing that he is without them as well. The torso launches a series of attacks which Brook defends.
Brook attacks with Aubade Coup Droit but the torso evades it and unsheathes another sword. Brook sees that it uses Two Sword Style and starts running away from it, screaming that it is scary. Brook keeps on running away from the samurai's torso and sees that the samurai's torso got caught in a big snowball and is rolling down towards the lake. "I'll pretend I didn't see that… Oh, good thing I don't have eyes."
Main Entrance.
Smoker and Tashigi play a transmission from earlier, and it says that a centaur got killed by the samurai and he is at Punk Hazard, and also says what Luffy had said to them.
"What now? I know you Marines are pretty good at faking distress calls."
"If you're suggesting this is a trap, I can assure you you're wrong." Smoker spoke crossing his arms.
"Sorry, I have no information for you."
"You and I both know that's bull crap!" Smoker bit back narrowing his eyes. "I want to see what's inside that lab."
"It's my vacation home, that's all, so beat it! You abandoned this place so why can't a pirate come to relax? I don't see anyone else around. If Straw Hat does show up, I'll be sure to behead him for you."
"Not with Sage with him." Smoker said picking up the new poster of Naruto. "His bounty's on par with a Yonko's (Emperor's) now. I doubt you could even touch them with him on the crew."
Law looked at the poster for a moment before looking back at the marines. "If there's nothing else, get lost."
Suddenly they heard children laughing and yelling before seeing Naruto drop down outside the door as Nami and Gina stopped behind him. Naruto stood then noticed Smoker and Tashigi and orders them to run away. Chopper and Nami think that Law was behind the children's imprisonment. Tashigi orders G-5 to go after the Straw Hats.
"Rūmu! (Room!)" Law created his room around them and the ship before lifting his index finger and having it levitate. "Takuto (Takt!)"
Naruto gave Gina and Nami extra coats as they saw it was snowing before running as Sanji ordered the kids to do so as well. Trafalgar Law says that he cannot let the Straw Hats escape and uses his powers to switch four of the Straw Hats around. Their minds along with their voice are swapped into another body, Sanji's in Nami's body, Franky's in Chopper's, Nami's in Franky's, and Chopper's in Sanji's.
Law slices up the warship and an iceberg. He joins the pieces together to form a tall wall, preventing the marines from leaving. The marines tell Law that he is breaking the contract between him and the government and that they are going to report the matter to the headquarters. However, Law calmly tells them not to worry about him, before using his skill, Scan.
A pile of Den Den Mushi appears beside him, which is revealed to belong to the marines. Law informs them that he will not allow them to report anything about the island to the government. Smoker rushes towards Law and attacks but he evades. Law retaliates but due to the nature of Smoker's ability, he cuts through the smoke.
Smoker warns his crew to stay out of the reach of Law's sword but it is too late as they are sliced apart. Smoker instructs them to stay out of the circle created by Law and explains his power, comparing the sphere to an operating room. He further elaborates by stating that Law has absolute control over the items contained inside and can manipulate it according to his will, giving him his name, the Surgeon of Death.
Tashigi rushes toward Law despite Smoker's warning about her Haki being not strong enough. True to his words, Tashigi's sword breaks and she is cut into two. Feeling dishonored by still being alive, she tells Law to kill her. He says that she doesn't have the right to tell him when or how she can die and she tries to attack him with her broken sword. She misses and Law prepares to slice her into more pieces. Luckily, Smoker steps in and takes on a fight with Law.
As they fight, Law begins to make stone spikes rise from the ground in Smoker's direction to get him. Although Smoker was able to dodge most of them, Law rises one from under him and Smoker gets jabbed. As he drops his jitte, Smoker once again asks why Law was on the island and the two begin to fight again. Law finally answers the question by asking why the G-5 were here. Law pushes Smoker back and Smoker tries to jab Law but instead breaks through a stone spike that Law rose from the ground. As he ducks from the attack, Law poked out his heart in a clear box. Law takes the heart and his sword and says that he doesn't have to say anything to Smoker. With his heart outside of his body, Smoker collapses. Law looks up to see that the others are gone after undoing his technique
Suddenly, the original Naruto and the others with Brook walked up, Robin having an extra coat of Naruto's as well as boots with the guys having black coats. Luffy runs towards Law eagerly and thanks him again, wondering where his crew mates are. Law recalls the events from two years ago and tells Luffy that he does not need to thank him and reminds him not to forget that they are both pirates.
Luffy laughs and agrees that when it comes to fighting for One Piece, they are all enemies. Suddenly Tashigi ran up to the downed Smoker and saw the square hole in his chest. "DAMN YOU!"
She rushed Law who created his Rūmu and switched Tashigi and Smoker's bodies. Law then gave Luffy directions on where to go before walking back inside as the others ran off noticing G-5 members running over.
Up ahead, out in the open air, at a mountain near the laboratory, the children are freezing. The samurai instructs everyone to put something on their heads. When it is done, he concentrates and shouts. "Poof!"
Smoke surrounds them and coats magically appear on them. Everyone is amazed and the samurai explains that after eating an unusual fruit, he can disguise anyone in any way he sees fit. He warns them that the clothes will disappear if they are taken off or damaged. The children swarm towards him gratefully. However, Franky questions the lateness of his actions and smacks him, leading him to explain that he enjoyed the sight of seeing Nami in a breast-band. Which earned him another smack from Nami herself.
"That… Really… Itches."
Suddenly, Luffy's group ran up and the Crew reunites before the clone of Naruto disappeared. They seek shelter inside a nearby building. The samurai is elated at getting his legs back while Luffy is depressed at his loss of being a centaur. Nami offers Sanji some cigarettes and the Straw Hats affected by Law reintroduce themselves to Luffy.
They recount all the events that have happened, gaining more information from the samurai and the children to piece everything together. Luffy is surprised that Law is a Shichibukai now, something which Robin knew. When Luffy mentions that the samurai's legs were cursing about a Shichibukai, Nami questions how can it speak. The samurai explains that he spoke through his farts and it is a specialty of his.
G-5.
In another cave, the Marines crowd around Tashigi, who is in Smoker's body, which is functioning even without his heart. Smoker with Tashigi's shirt and coat open revealing extreme cleavage and that he took off Tashigi's bra mentions that a ship hidden beside the laboratory has a 'CC' mark on it. He further explains that if it was an old ship, the initials on it should have been 'PH', which would stand for Punk Hazard.
Smoker reveals that the person, to whom the initials "CC" refer, is a former colleague of Dr. Vegapunk, a scientist by the name of Caesar Clown. Tashigi then speaks up as she remembers that recently, there had been numerous occurrences of child abduction. However, Smoker is surprised as he did not know of such matters.
Tashigi explains that when such cases are reported, they are published as 'accident at sea' or the 'work of pirates'. She trails off, not completing her sentence. Smoker questions if she is having difficulties saying it and asks her to speak her mind. Smoker voices out, concluding that someone in the G-5 unit helped to cover up the abduction cases.
As the Marines fully understand the implication behind the words, they protested loudly, declaring their loyalty to the Marines. Smoker shouts at them and comments that they are not worth suspecting. He advises them to lower their expectations of the Marines as no organization is perfect. Smoker commands one-third of the Marines to leave the island by stealing a ship to report the incident, while he stays behind to recover his heart and body that are swapped by Trafalgar Law.
Smoker goes on to explain that before Aokiji and Akainu's dual, there was also an explosion that occurred on the island. However, he states that the person responsible for creating the weapon and causing the explosion was Caesar Clown. He explains that Caesar was the second in command and he was arrested.
He finishes his explanation that, due to his Akuma no Mi (Devil Fruit) ability, Caesar escaped from the prison ship and went missing. Smoker declares that they have to stop Caesar if he is still researching because it is bound to be something devastating.
Straw Hats.
"So he went after his torso?"
Naruto asked Brook who nodded saying Kin'emon ran off after he explained he saw the torso at the lake. "(Sigh) I better go help. I was the one who took him out."
"I'll go along too!" Brook said before they ran out of the building towards the lake.
The rest of the Straw Hats discuss their next course of action. Nami's priority is restoring everyone to their original bodies, as she dislikes being in Franky's body, as she considers him to be a pervert. Franky (who has now transformed into Chopper's Brain Point) takes Nami's insult as a compliment, making a typical Franky face in Chopper's body that disgusts Robin. Franky notes that whatever they do, the children will be a burden.
Chopper finishes conducting his tests on the children. Immediately after, the largest child, Sind, falls to the ground in pain. Luffy asks Chopper to heal him, but one by one the rest of the giant children fall over, holding their heads in their hands. Nami asks Chopper whether the children were sick, to which he replies that they were not.
He asks Sind whether there is something he wants, and what, if any, kinds of activities they do around that time every day. Sind, still in agony, tells him that every day all of the children would get examined and be given candy. Chopper is confused about the candy, and the other children say that the candy is strange, and tastes good. Sind says that he feels really happy when he eats it and is convinced that it will stop the pain.
Chopper, having learned the truth about the children, becomes furious. He explains that the children aren't sick and that there is a tiny but sufficient quantity of a drug known as NHC10 in each of their bodies. He explains that the drug is a powerful stimulant, the use of which is tightly restricted throughout the world due to the danger it comes with and its addictive properties.
And that he learned about the drug during his time with Dr. Kureha, in which he learned that proper use of it in medicine requires using only a very tiny amount, to prevent addiction. Chopper concludes that the children have been given small amounts of the drug every day for a long period so the addiction forces them to remain within the research facility.
Luffy suggests going to the research facility to find candy to stop the withdrawal symptoms, but Chopper says not to, as the candy is how the drugs are delivered. Sind begs Luffy for candy, who refuses, trusting Chopper's judgment as the crew's doctor. Sind lowers his hands from his face, revealing bloodshot eyes, a runny nose, and saliva dripping from his mouth, which frightens the other children.
He goes berserk at Luffy for not getting the candy when he originally said he would, launching him into a nearby fallen pillar. Robin is amazed at Sind's physical strength. Usopp, while surprised, comments that this must be the strength of a giant child, but the other children reveal that none of them are giants; all of them were normal size when they first came to the island, and have grown more and more the longer they have remained on the island.
One of the children believes that the growth must be the 'sickness' they were told they had, but Chopper disagrees, instead concluding that the rapid growth has come from experiments that have increased the levels of their pituitary hormone. As the rest of the children gradually enter withdrawal as well, Luffy prepares to subdue them, but to ensure no harm comes to them Usopp instead successfully puts them to sleep with his new Sleeping Star attack.
Having discovered that the children were kidnapped, Chopper wants to save the children and return them to their parents, but Franky and Robin note that first, they have to find the real culprit behind the experiments: The Master the kids talked about. Chopper and Nami stay behind to look after the children, although Chopper expresses a desire for revenge against Master.
Luffy has the largest children restrained with chains, to prevent them from rampaging again. Luffy, Usopp, Robin, and Franky prepare to go to the research facility to meet Master, though Franky mentions the fact that at some point they will have to find Trafalgar Law to restore their bodies. Luffy seems to think it unnecessary, as he is enjoying the hijinks that have occurred.
Laboratory.
Monet wearing glasses was reading a book that had information on the Straw Hats in them with pictures of their wanted posters, or the back of Sanji's head. She was seated on a couch as Law was on one beside her and another man on one in front of her.
The man has a very gaseous look due to his Devil Fruit ability. He has very long, spiky, black hair, yellow eyes, and two curly horns growing from the back of his head. He is rather tall and wearing purple lipstick and dark makeup on his eyes. He has a small flat nose and long thin eyebrows. His arms are very thin in comparison with the rest of his body.
Caesar Clown, Bounty: 300,000,000.
After reading all the newspapers that were written about them, she mentions that Law had encountered them twice before. Clown pulls out a gun, points it at Law, and asks him if he had called the Straw Hats to the island. Law reiterates that he did not even know they were on the island until they ran into him at the front door. Law adds that if the place gets found out, it would be bad for him as well.
Clown remembers when Law first came to the island. Law said that he wanted to stay on the island since it could not be caught on a Log Pose. It also contains remains of government research that he seemed to be interested in. All he asked for was a free roam of the island, and neither of them asks the other too personal questions.
Law also made it very clear that no one was to know that he is on the island, not even Caesar Clown's employer: "Joker". Clown says that he sees no harm in trusting Law, and asks Monet who was fully human then if she agrees. She looks up from copying notes about Law and asks if he could heal the prisoners on the island who were paralyzed by the poisonous gas.
"It's true, I suppose that if you did call them here, you would have been more discreet," Caesar said with a gin and puts the gun away. "You had to do a lot of sucking up to the Government to get the Shichibukai (Warlord) position. Surely you won't risk that by making a mess of things here. How silly of me, my apologies."
"You said something about the children begging to come back without even lifting a finger… What did you mean by that?" Law asks as Clown explains about the drugged candy, holding up a piece to show Law. "Rather cocky… You remind me of someone." Law finished standing up and took his sword and left.
Luffy And Franky (In Chopper's Body).
Later, the building was attacked by two yeti giants that took Nami having Luffy and Franky via Monster Point go after to save her. As he fought the two, Law intercepts and helps. Luffy catches up and thanks Law who explains that he came to talk to Luffy about something. He says there is a key on Punk Hazard that can upset the balance of the New World and that there are two ways to survive in the New World: Going under an Emperor or attempting to fight them. Law proposes an alliance to take down one of them.
"I've got a good plan. So tell me… Are you in?"
"We meet by chance and out of the blue, you're asking us to fight a Yonko? (Emperor?)" Nami asked before voicing her skepticism to Luffy.
"I'm not saying it'll be easy. I just think we have good odds, with Sage on your crew."
"Naruto's strong yes, but I'm not sure he's strong enough to fight one," Nami spoke up. "His bounty's only 900…" She trailed off as Law held up the updated bounty poster.
"He just got an increase of over 2 billion. That's on par with the lowest Yonko's (Emperor's) bounty. I'll be honest, seeing this when you all got here is the main reason I'm asking you. What do you say?"
"There's four of them which one is it?" Luffy asked having Nami turn to him.
"Which one? Don't tell me you're considering it!"
The wind picked up as Law answered before Luffy grinned. "Sure, we're in."
Back at the Straw Hat Pirates' camp, Usopp and Chopper are shocked by the news of an alliance with the Heart Pirates, causing Usopp to yell at Luffy for returning with such an eccentric idea whilst Nami points out that everyone disagrees with the proposal. Law then asks Chopper to treat Franky leaving Chopper frantic at how badly hurt his body is and immediately tries to bandage it up.
Robin states she is happy to go along with Luffy's decision but also warns him that alliances are often marked by betrayal and that it's dangerous for him since he is so trusting. In response, Luffy asks Law if he will betray them and when he answers no Luffy smiles with absolute trust, prompting Usopp to yell at him to at least have some doubts.
Luffy says to his crew that Law is a good man but even if he isn't he has all of them, who have been training for 2 years, to rely on. Nami, Usopp, Chopper, and Franky then become flattered by how much their captain believes in them. Law then puts everyone back into their respective bodies.
Law then reveals that the children are drugged but Chopper replies that he already knows and expresses his desire to send the children home for them to recover. Law further reveals that turning people into giants was a project by the World Government, presumably for military purposes, and that Caesar had wanted to achieve it first as it means to surpass both Vegapunk and the World Government.
Law then questions if Nami wants to help the children and she replies that she does, as she thinks of the children who had asked for her help with tears in their eyes, and firmly states that she will not leave the island unless she knows for certain that the children are safe. Law asks if she will be willing to stay on the island alone, as he has no intention of aiding the children, however, Luffy says that he will not leave his friends behind and that Chopper's and Nami's wish is his as well.
Luffy also informs Law that Sanji wanted to help the samurai and that if he wanted to team up, he will have to help them. Usopp sighs and explains to Law that Luffy's idea of an alliance is different from that of Law. Deciding to compromise, Law splits the tasks, telling Luffy to take care of the samurai while he researches the drug, and requesting the Straw Hat Pirate's doctor to go with him.
Chopper is then tied onto Law's hat, as he is too injured to move, which prompts everyone to laugh at the scene and leaves Law embarrassed. Law then moves Chopper by tying a rope around his sword with the other end tied to Chopper to carry him. Law then warns Luffy and his crew that Caesar is going to get rid of almost everyone on the island and reclaim the children as he cannot risk the government finding out about the island, which is his perfect hiding spot.
He informs them that Caesar has a 300 million bounty, owns weapons of mass destruction and that people who cannot utilize Haki should avoid him. Luffy says that there are only four Haki users available: Law, Zoro, Sanji, and himself. Though Naruto could use something similar as he's seen the ninja fight Logia users without using it.
Law answers Luffy's question and confirms that their objective is to kidnap Caesar. However, despite the Straw Hat Pirates being puzzled as to the reason why they must capture him, Law chooses not to explain, saying that there is no point in telling them when Caesar has not been kidnapped yet and asks them to focus because it will not be an easy task.
He further warns them that when Caesar is captured, the ball will start rolling and there will be no turning back, giving them the final chance to reconsider their decision. However, Luffy says that it is fine and remains steadfast.
Later, Law and Chopper warp into one of Law's Rooms. He explains where they are and where Caesar and Monet are. He tells Chopper to investigate the drugs while he works on a way to get Caesar and Monet out of the building. Chopper asks why Law could not just capture them since they trust Law so much, making infiltration easy for him.
Law just tells Chopper he has a certain problem that prevents him from capturing them so easily. The Straw Hats need to capture Caesar as quickly as possible and Law will do the rest. Law then hears screaming.
Outside, Tashigi looks up to see something flying toward them, thinking it to be a huge bomb. It turns out to be Luffy, Robin, and Franky. Luffy and Franky crash into the bow of the destroyed Marine ship. Robin avoids the impact by using a Wing. Robin lands delicately while Franky punches his way out of the wrecked ship. Luffy then shouts for "Master" to get outside so they can beat him up and kidnap him.
Franky comments on how good of a shortcut they took while Robin reminds them they are supposed to be secretive. Law is irritated by Luffy's conspicuous entrance, while Smoker and the rest of G-5 are surprised to see him.
Soon, pink slime dropped down before Caesar appeared having Luffy grab him. "Gasu Rōbu! (Gas Robe!)" Only for Caesar to generate a cloud of poisonous gas and send it toward Luffy who stretched to hit him.
Luffy dodged before another cloud engulfed his head. As Caesar gloated about how potent the has is due to experiments, Luffy shot the gas out revealing it did not affect him. Luffy then went into Gia Sekendo (Gear Second) and kicked Caesar to the ground. He then started hitting Caesar with a fury of punches before Caesar pulled out a pair of castanets.
"Gasutanetto! (Gastanet!)" Caesar fills a pair of castanets with unstable gas and slams them together to create a massive gas explosion.
Boom!
He then creates several more as he laughs. Only to stop as he saw Luffy was unharmed. "NANI?! (WHAT?!)"
"Alright…" Luffy crouched and went back into Gia Sekendo (Gear Second) to kick Caesar in the stomach into some rubble. "Gomu Gomu no… Jetto Stampu! (Gum Gum Jet Stamp!)"
Suddenly, Luffy has trouble breathing and passes out. Caesar stands over him, saying Luffy took him far too lightly. Franky, Robin, Tashigi, and even Smoker are all surprised and confused by what just transpired. Robin tries to save Luffy, but passes out too, prompting Franky to charge and attempt to attack, only for him to pass out as well.
He then does the same to Tashigi and Smoker and stands over all four of them victoriously.
Inside, after hiding Chopper in a bag, Law asked Monet to help him on the other side of the building. Once they started walking down the halls, Law grabbed his chest as a man walked up behind them holding a heart in a glass box.
The man is a tall, light-skinned, lean, yet muscular man with short dark hair, a beard, sideburns, and sunglasses. From his sideburns on, his facial hair grew horizontally. On his cheek, it grew downwards with a pointed end. He's wearing a white knee-length trench coat that stopped just below his waist, along with two black pockets slightly above the chest on either side.
Under the coat, he wore a mauve-colored shirt with a purple-colored ascot embedded with a red jewel, with a golden-yellow outline at the top of the tie. He also wore black-colored gloves. He also has half a hamburger patty on his cheek.
Vergo G-5 Commander.
"All grown up, Law," Vergo said hands behind his back. "It's been a while."
"When did you get here, Vergo?" Law asked only to get hit with a Haki-infused Bamboo staff.
"It's Mr. Vergo to you."
At the entrance of the lab, the G-5 marines are shocked at the scene before them, finding it hard to believe that Smoker was defeated twice in a day. The crews are wondering what attack Caesar used to defeat their officers and the three Straw Hats as well. Caesar commands his men to tie up the unconscious Straw Hats and G-5 officers and they obeyed unquestioningly, leaving the G-5 marines helpless to do anything.
All the while Chopper was looking around Caesar's lab for information or a cure to the candy.
Naruto And Brook.
The two looked at the samurai who they rescued from being frozen. He tells them that he suddenly became paralyzed and explains that his ability prevents him from swimming and right now it feels like his torso is underwater. Naruto and Brook reason that the torso fell into the saltwater lake. And Naruto concludes that if he can still feel it, then the sharks have not eaten the torso yet.
"So let's go and get it," Naruto said before dashing to the lake with the others following.
Once getting to the lake, Naruto went into his gold cloak and disappeared and they saw a splash in the lake as we as a gold glow underwater. Brook looked up to see what looked like a slime monster shooting pieces of itself over the lake from the burning side. Just then, Naruto popped up holding the waist before dropping down.
Putting him together, revealing him to be slightly taller than Brook. Kin'emon smiled and thanked Naruto before attacking the slime pieces as his sword was lit on fire creating an explosion. "I've cleared out the path of the slime. I'm coming for you, Momonosuke!"
Lab Prison.
In a cell, Luffy, Robin, Law, Franky, Tashigi, and Smoker looked up to see Monet and Vergo walking in. Vergo and Monet talk about what Caesar is planning but both are still not quite sure what he is planning. Smoker then calls out Vergo saying that his subordinates will die if he doesn't do anything. But Vergo couldn't care less about what happened to them.
Then Smoker pieces it all together with Tashigi's theory and realizes that Vergo is responsible for the cover-ups behind the missing children in the New World. Law then states that Vergo was never really loyal to the marines because he was originally a pirate all along, working for the notorious underworld broker "Joker".
Vergo then threatens both Tashigi and Smoker saying that they will both die, leaving his secret intact. Luffy then asks Law who this Joker is and Law responds that he also worked for him once and someone that they all know who is a notorious pirate that works for the World Government. None other than, one of the Shichibukai (Seven Warlords of the Sea) Donquixote Doflamingo.
Suddenly, a kunai fell from Robin's pocket and Naruto appeared. "Sup?"
To Be Continued.
A/N: Thanks for reading and let me know of any mistakes.
Beta: ANUBIS the god king.
The Shinobi poll of if Naruto should get a Devil Fruit or not is up and will stay up until the 1st (Jan 2023) so make sure you vote if Naruto should have one or not, The choices are of course Yes. Or No, his jutsu and Sage chakra/mode are enough plus no time to really train with it.
OK, here's a Christmas present for you all, an update of all my stories. I did think of doing this tomorrow (24th) But figured you all would be busy with company, or going to visit family yourself and decided to do it tonight instead.
So I hope you all have a safe Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or whatever you celebrate, and if I don't update a story you'll read by then (I'll try to get Shinobi up before the 31, and the next Hero Rising will be on the 30th.) I hope you have a safe and Happy New Year.
Again, the Next to be updated will hopefully be Shinobi but maybe Hero Rising next Friday.
Nothing else to say.
Talk To You Later,
Lone Wolf Out.🐺