Alright, here's the next chapter, and boy - am I a bit irritated but also in a good mood.
The good mood is that I finally passed my driver's test, given my lack of updating for a week or so.
Radiator, yes, to those who know him - thank you for editing.
Enjoy and please stay tuned.
Calm Belt
A few days had passed.
The still seaworthy Sea Snake was chugging along on its voyage to a certain island. On deck was its captain, who had taken back command of this steel ship after a long time. The vessel was filled with tired men lying in beds or makeshift ones inside the collier, fast asleep. Only a few remained awake, diligently keeping the ship on course.
One of them was Naruto. He was still in the dirt- and blood-ridden uniform he wore during the conflict, covered by a raincoat handed to him. Underneath, only one of his arms was visible, still bearing the scars from the battle he had barely survived.
Barely alive.
Flashback
Marineford
In the aftermath of the war, both sides had agreed to help not only the wounded but also to collect the dead scattered across the battlefield.
"One, two, three!"
Two members of the Damned lifted a stretcher containing a fallen comrade, identified by the bloodied white cloth covering his face, giving him his eternal rest. The poor bastard had been shot in the throat and finished off by a shot through the right eye. With a solid grip on the stretcher, they raised it high and began marching through a field they had once fought tooth and nail for, surrounded by Marines busy collecting their own injured and dead. Some Marines glanced over at the adversaries they had fought mere hours ago.
While this uneasy peace prevailed, there was still tension, with some exchanging pointed glares. However, everyone knew better than to reignite the conflict, especially since the Whitebeard Pirates were also collecting their fallen. Initially, some angry Marines had prevented the pirates from retrieving their comrades, but they eventually stood down at the sight of a Whitebeard Commander ready to force his way through or were ordered to stand aside by their commanding officers.
Naruto, meanwhile, watched the collection, unable to lend a hand. His mere presence made many of the Marines want to confront him.
"Get lost!"
One of them was Smoker, who was trying to rein in the Marines who, moments earlier, were in a bloodlust craze and attempting to disrupt the collection of the dead but were easily deterred by the level-headed officers.
Naruto turned back around to face his men, who were carrying the wounded and dead through a corridor made by Marines watching from the sidelines. The presence of the Red Hair Pirates was providing them safe passage.
"Naruto."
Turning around, Naruto was faced with Red Hair Shanks himself, who stood in front of him in all his glory as an Emperor of the Sea. Inspecting the young man and looking directly at his numb expression, he asked, "You doing alright?"
Naruto nodded. "I am doing fine, no need to worry about me." He immediately changed the subject by saying, "Thank you, for ending this madness."
"Don't mention it."
In the distance, the two saw three members of the Damned carrying the cloth-covered body of another fallen comrade.
Shanks asked right away, "How many?"
"Over a hundred men dead, another one hundred wounded, many of them seriously," Naruto said, holding his right shoulder and grunting from the pain. He knew the fallen would be transported away to ensure they would be given proper funerals.
Shanks glanced at the arm. "Hurts, doesn't it?"
"Yeah... I'll get it checked later on," Naruto said, informing him, "My men and I will depart soon, once Whitebeard's body is moved."
"Weird way to address your grandfather," Shanks remarked. "Don't you think?"
As they spoke, a large cart came into view, carrying the giant, blanket-covered body of the deceased Edward Newgate, Whitebeard. His sons, still weeping, escorted the cart, with Marco leading, a clear look of anger on his face.
Something was going to happen.
Flashback ends
"Naruto?"
Hearing his name, Naruto glanced to the side and turned around to see Shikamaru approaching him, with Chōji and Domino following behind.
"You're needed in the communication room," Shikamaru said.
…
A sizeable room in the bridge was filled with communication equipment, and a team of four operators was busy working on wires and monitoring the comm waves of the nearby area, even tapping into the Marines' secured radio frequencies. This allowed them to both intercept and avoid actions by nearby Marine units that might be able to pinpoint the Sea Snake's location. Naruto entered the room with Shikamaru, spotting Foster at work.
"Foster."
"Sir," Foster acknowledged, standing up from his seat with an ear pressed against the headphone. He handed it over to another operator before debriefing Naruto. "We've been listening to all frequencies."
"And?"
"It's chaos, sir, and I don't say that lightly," Foster reported. "One moment, you hear people in an untouched corner of the West Blue cheering and celebrating Whitebeard's death. Twenty minutes later, you hear gunshots and reports of pirates attacking settlements."
"Troublesome," Shikamaru sighed. "They cheered too early."
"Marines in the East, West, South, and North are on full alert, but right now, the pirates outnumber them five to one. It's going to be a mess," Foster continued. "But that's nothing compared to what's happening in the New World."
Naruto nodded. "Explain."
"Some of Whitebeard's territory is getting attacked, but not by Big Mom or Kaido. They might be waiting for the funeral to end," Foster said. "This means we can sail easily now with more Navy forces being stretched out."
"For how long will this chaos be in our favor?" Naruto asked.
"I'd say for a month, or at least a week or two."
"That gives us enough time to visit some places," Naruto said, turning to Shikamaru. "How far until we reach Amazon Lily?"
"In an hour, I believe," Shikamaru replied, scratching his head. "That's what your people on the bridge told me."
"Let's prepare the boats then."
…
Two motorized boats were being lowered from the collier ship. The first boat was boarded by Naruto, Gin, Domino, Reiser, and Haku, who tagged along as the medic. Domino wore a khaki uniform similar to the female Legionnaires, covered by a brown raincoat.
"Oi, captain! Why don't we just dock?" one Legionnaire shouted up to his captain, others joining in the protest.
"We're not going in all at once. Give me time," Naruto responded, shaking his head. "We've already gone through one heavy fight; no need to start another with these Amazonian women."
"Haku and Domino we understand, but why Reiser and Gin?" another asked, joined by others.
"They'll need to help me up."
This answer did little to calm the booing from the Legionnaires, who were eager to meet the Amazon Lily women, despite knowing their 'views' on outsiders.
"Try to ask them to allow our ship to dock somewhere, Naruto," Shikamaru requested while leaning over the rails, preparing to join the second boat later. "We need to treat our wounded and restock before heading back home."
"Right," Haku agreed while entering the boat. "We'll need to restock our medical supplies too. Perhaps Law can lend me some for the journey."
"If we're lucky. Let's try first," Naruto said, entering the boat at last. He turned to Shikamaru, "See you in ten minutes."
"Like I'll be slacking off," Shikamaru replied lazily.
The motorized boat soon took off, heading toward Amazon Lily. With Reiser and Gin steering and Haku checking his equipment, Domino took the chance to talk to Naruto.
"Do you think they still remember you?"
"You mean the Kuja? I don't know," Naruto replied, looking at the island. "I doubt they'd remember me."
"I don't think they've forgotten about you—not Hancock, that's for sure," Domino reminded him. "Your actions during Wave caused them to make an exception for any time you wanted to visit their island."
Naruto couldn't help but smirk. "Let's hope that offer's still valid."
Amazon Lily
"Let's go!"
A group of women wearing white capes and revealing clothing, showcasing their features, were the warriors of Amazon Lily. Leading them was Kikyo, a slim woman with tan skin and long black hair arranged in a ponytail. She held an empty tray that had previously contained food, with her red snake draped around her neck.
The group included a few other women: Aphelandra, a tall but timid and kind girl; Sweet Pea, an oversized but strong woman; and Marguerite, a stunning, sexy, yet lethal blonde. Marguerite wore a short brown bikini, black and white striped leggings resembling stockings on her right leg, high-heeled boots, and a loyal green snake around her.
"Couldn't we have stayed there a little longer, Kikyo?" Aphelandra asked while carrying several big pots. "There were a lot of men out there—"
"No!" Kikyo replied firmly, still leading the group. "We are only to bring food, make it, and distribute it."
Sweet Pea interjected, "These men are not like Luffy. They show signs of cowardice the moment Kikyo warns them." She added, "Their captain, however, shows no fear, not even acknowledgment when he comes out to eat."
They referred to Law, who often emerged from the submarine where Luffy was supposed to be. He'd glance at the women with little to no interest before joining Haku.
The sound of something rustling through the trees made the four women stop as a pair of Kuja scouts appeared, a scouting party ordered to keep an eye on the men from a distance.
"What are you two doing here?" Kikyo demanded sternly. "Your shift hasn't ended yet."
"My apologies, Kikyo, but we spotted something from afar. In the sea," the first Kuja scout said, distressed. "A ship on the horizon, with two smaller boats coming in."
This alarmed the Kuja, who dropped their equipment to the ground. Kikyo began to ask, "Where are they?"
"Only a few miles south from the bay area," the second scout replied. "We think they are going for Luffy."
Wasting no time, Kikyo grabbed her snake companion, which transformed into a bow. Drawing an arrow, she ordered, "Warn the Princess. We have intruders."
Just a few miles south of the bay, the first motorized boat landed on the shores with Naruto leading the way. The group of four, including himself, Domino, Haku, and Reiser, entered the beach while Gin stayed with the boat, manning the gun.
"Why don't we just circle the island and find a better spot?" Reiser asked from the back of the group. "We're in the open; anyone could ambush us."
"I assume it's to make sure we aren't taken out in the water," Domino replied, armed with her whip and a pistol. "These women don't use regular weaponry."
"Like what—"
*CLINK!*
Reiser's question was cut short by the loud sound of metal stopping a deadly object. Haku had used a kunai to block an arrow that nearly hit Reiser in the chest, splitting the arrow in two.
"Shit!" Reiser fell to the ground, loading his rifle and ready to fire.
Several more arrows shot out from the jungle with deadly speed, causing Domino and Reiser to try and dodge them. Naruto and Haku were quick to intercept the arrows before they could hit their marks.
"How many did you count?" Haku asked, on guard with a kunai. "I believe it was five."
"Six. Expect more," Naruto said, holding his tantō. "I sense that many."
'Correct, two of them are scouts, four others just joined in,' Kurama informed him. 'They're strong in Haki, but one of them feels familiar.'
'Who?'
'I don't know. There were quite a few Kuja women stationed near Wave for a short period. Remember?'
"Attack!"
Several figures jumped out of the jungle and launched a full-out assault. The first three were a tall woman, an obese one, and a slender older one, all charging straight for Naruto.
*CLASH!*
The meat cleaver that Kikyo had earlier used to prepare food clashed with Naruto's tantō, and the two fighters exchanged glares.
"What are you doing here, you filthy man!?"
"I'll just ignore that and get straight to the point," Naruto responded. "I'm here to speak with Boa Hancock."
"You demand an audience with the Snake Princess? I should've known," Kikyo retorted. "We've let too many men on this island. Now we need to force you back into the sea!"
"Kikyo!"
"Help!"
The call for help made Kikyo turn her head, shocked to see Sweet Pea and the two Kuja scouts frozen in place.
"What the—" Kikyo demanded. "Why are you standing still? Move!"
"W-We can't!" Sweet Pea replied, trying to move. She looked down and saw something. "Our shadows!"
"That would be my doing."
Shikamaru announced his arrival as the second motorized boat landed. He jumped out first, quickly capturing three of the Kuja women on the spot with his Shadow Possession Jutsu.
"Shadow Possession Jutsu complete."
Aphelandra jumped high, aiming for Shikamaru with her large jian sword. She attempted to strike the shadow user—
"Chōji!"
Jumping in, the large form of Chōji Akimichi countered the Kuja's assault, redirecting the slash with an angled palm strike to the sword's blade. Before she could regain her composure, Chōji grabbed the sword's handle, starting a tug of war for it.
"Huh?!" Aphelandra was surprised. "You are as big as me?!"
"As much as I'd like to chat, you were about to crush my friend," Chōji said, pushing back. "So allow me to make you MOVE!"
With all his prodigious strength, thanks to his training and mastery of the Multi-Size Jutsu, Chōji kicked the tall girl in the upper body, sending her skidding back several feet and disarming her of her jian blade.
"Now, Shikamaru!"
Shikamaru's shadow extended like a tentacle, capturing Aphelandra before she could react, leaving her immobilized with the others.
"I... can't... move."
Kikyo found herself quickly outnumbered. Holding her cleaver against Naruto's blade, she was now on her own...
"Don't move!"
She was wrong. Out of nowhere, a dagger was pointed at Naruto's neck by a blonde girl with a green snake companion who had managed to sneak up on him.
"One's behind the captain!"
Multiple guns were then pulled out and pointed at the girl holding their commander hostage.
"Hold your fire!" Naruto ordered, focusing on Kikyo while aware of the threat behind him. "We're not here to cause trouble. So why don't we talk?"
"There is no reason for us to talk, man!" Kikyo rejected the proposal and ordered, "Now, Marguerite, cut him down!"
"W-Wait!" The girl hesitated, trying to be reasonable. "Shouldn't we hear them out at least—"
"Now!"
*CLANK!*
Kikyo visibly shivered as she felt a cold presence behind her. She looked down to see a different blade mere centimeters from her throat, close enough to slit it dry.
"S-So fast!"
Tatewaki, who was in the second boat, pointed his samurai sword at the Kuja and warned her.
"The moment my captain dies, your friend dies." He directed his warning to the young blonde girl. "So release Captain Uzumaki now, or prepare for the worst."
…
"Wait…Marguerite?...Like in Little Marguerite?"
'That name rings a bell…'
"N-Naruto?"
Naruto turned his head and stared into the face of the girl who held the dagger. The recognition was mutual, and both blonds were left shocked to see each other.
"Little Marguerite, it is you!" Naruto smiled, recognizing her and laughing. "You've grown!"
Marguerite was initially shocked but then tried to smile, remembering the man in front of her.
"Naruto—"
"Don't move!"
Haku joined the standoff, turning it into a five-way confrontation, with the medic holding a senbon needle to the blonde Kuja's neck.
"What's going on here!?"
A shadow loomed over the group, causing them to scatter. The ground was struck hard by a heel, creating a crater with dust.
Landing back on their feet, Tatewaki and Haku faced Kikyo, who was now pulling out her snake bow and about to reach her—
"Enough!" The figure emerged from the crater's dust, revealing Boa Hancock, who looked angry. "What is the meaning of this? Stand down, immediately!"
"My Lady—"
"NOW!"
Hearing her command, Kikyo stood down and bowed her head in shame, as did the other official members of the Kuja Pirates and two very large women alongside them. But the tension had yet to settle.
As the dust from Boa's impact settled, Naruto lay on the ground with Marguerite on top of him, her face particularly close to his.
Naruto's eyes began to open, feeling the weight on his chest, just as the girl did. Both found themselves blushing at the close contact.
"Naruto!"
"Little Marguerite!"
'Pervert.'
'Shut up.'
Two weeks later
Bay of Amazon Lily
The bay was busier than it had been a few weeks prior. The male population had grown from a few dozen to now a few hundred. Not only were the Heart Pirates present, but also many of the Legion's Damned Raiders, who had set up their tents, fire camps, and sleeping bags. While the rule remained that no men were allowed on the island proper, the hundreds of men were permitted to leave their ships to rest, eat, and recoup from their recent ordeal. This influx of men attracted more of the island's Kuja, many of whom volunteered to bring food and medical supplies despite the elder's warnings.
Everyone was still reeling from the events of a week ago.
Two women of the Kuja Pirates, Ran and Rindo, were bringing a big basket of food, filled with meat, freshly baked bread, and water.
"Enjoy the food, gentlemen!"
The basket was placed on the ground, and men emerged from their tents in moments, forming lines, all calm and rather somber.
The Legionnaires got in rows and received their provisions, each grabbing a piece of bread, meat, and a filled can of water before walking off.
"They're still—"
"Don't mention it, not here," Rindo said to her friend, adding more bread to the table. "It's already bad enough…"
Not wishing to dwell on the topic, both Kuja Pirates continued serving the Legionnaires. Marguerite skipped over with three empty trays, managing to get to the front of the line.
"Marguerite, there you are," Ran greeted her. "What can I do for you?"
"I'm here to bring the food," the blonde girl said, holding up the trays. "Please?"
Ran nodded and began filling the trays with hot food, including potatoes and beef, while Rindo handed her three full cans of water.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome," Rindo smiled at the young Kuja, cigarette in her mouth. "Go on."
The camp had been expanded by moving barriers to create more space. Marguerite walked through dozens of campfires where men were engaged in various activities: playing cards, reading, telling stories, or simply sleeping under the warm sun while recovering from the wounds they had sustained at Marineford. Some of these wounds were permanent and visible.
One Raider, who had lost both his legs in the fight at Marineford, nodded to a comrade who placed food next to him as he worked with a wrench.
While interaction with these men was normally forbidden under Kikyo's rules, Marguerite had been walking through the camp for nearly two weeks. The Legionnaires had grown accustomed to her presence and did not attempt to flirt or advance on her or any other Kuja, a stark contrast to her experience with the pirates.
Speaking of the pirates, Marguerite approached the small group by the submarine.
"...So all that effort…was for nothing…"
Marguerite stopped when she heard.
"Despite our best efforts, there is nothing we could've done for him," Law explained. "My apologies."
Jimbei, still recovering from a two-week-long coma induced by Law's operation, was covered in bandages. He was sitting and drinking tea with Trafalgar Law and Haku, who were explaining the unfortunate turn of events.
Haku, unusually, was smoking a cigarette given to him by the former Kiri-nin. "You cannot blame yourself for what happened, Jimbei. Ace was—"
"I FAILED!"
*CRACK!*
The blue whale shark's hand slammed into the ground, causing the earth to tremble violently around them. The rage emanating from him was as potent as an earthquake, startling the Kuja girl who stood behind him.
Jimbei raised his head, tears visible at the corners of his eyes, his rage giving way to overwhelming grief.
"...May I see him now?"
The two doctors exchanged a brief glance before Haku responded.
"Are you sure?"
"I need to see him…"
...
"Follow me," Law said, rising to his feet, with Haku extinguishing his cigarette and joining him. Jimbei, supported by the two doctors, walked past the blonde Kuja girl, who stood frozen in fear, feeling like an intruder in this moment of intense emotion.
...
As they walked through the camp, Jimbei noticed the somber atmosphere among the men.
"They all know?"
"Since the very day, yes."
"We're here."
They halted in front of a large white tent, guarded by one of the Damned, who saluted them before opening the tent flap.
Haku turned to Jimbei. "Are you sure you want to see him?"
Jimbei nodded, a determined look in his eyes. "I must…"
Law nodded and led the way into the tent, followed by Jimbei and Haku. Once inside, they were met with a sight they were all too familiar with: the bodies of fallen Legionnaires who had perished during the battle in Marineford, laid out in a makeshift morgue.
"Ice on the floor," Haku pointed out, indicating the chunks of ice laid around the bodies to prevent decomposition.
Jimbei remained silent as they watched some of the fallen men being prepared for burial, sealed into coffins by Shikamaru and Chōji, who used their shinobi skills for the task.
"We're here…" Law said, about to open another door. "Are you 100% sure about this?"
Jimbei nodded resolutely, ready to confront his grief. Law opened the door, revealing the sight that awaited them inside.
There, on a bed in the center of the room, lay the body of Portgas D. Ace, peaceful in death with a serene smile on his face, as if he were merely sleeping.
"Ace…"
Jimbei walked past the doctors and stood over his friend's body, his emotions overwhelming him. Tears fell from his eyes, his grief palpable as he bowed his head.
"I've failed you…"
The two doctors stood silently, witnessing the depth of Jimbei's sorrow. They knew the bond between him and Ace was strong, and his loss was deeply felt.
"I promise you, your actions will not be in vain…" Jimbei whispered, a solemn vow to his fallen comrade.
Half hour later
Jimbei walked out of the tent with his hand over his head, joined by the two doctors who closed the tent behind them.
"Who all knows?"
"Marco and the rest of the Whitebeard Pirates, so do their allies." Haku replied while rubbing the back of the neck, "By this point, the Navy might know about it by now. No doubt those vulture newspapers are going to write about it."
"H-Hello."
"Oh, hello young lady." Jimbei spoke, asking her, "Something we can do for you?"
"I am here to bring your meals," Marguerite replied while holding out the now cold food. "M-My apologies."
The three looked at one another before turning to the young Kuja and responding.
"Thank you."
…
Back at their seats, Jimbei, Law, and Haku sat eating the cold food, still appreciating the nourishment despite its temperature. They engaged in conversation, discussing important matters in the presence of Marguerite, who had asked about Luffy's condition.
"He's still not awake, sorry," Law answered straightforwardly, shaking his head as he took a sip from the can, "His spirit is high, but if what I was told is true, he had stretched his limit."
"He surely has. Having fought from Impel Down until the end of Marineford. He is lucky not to have died from exhaustion if it wasn't for Ivankov," Haku remarked, emphasizing the extent of Luffy's ordeal. "To infiltrate that prison to save his brother really shows you how much he values those who he considers family."
"He's going to be a wreck hearing about this…"
Marguerite felt uncomfortable hearing all of this when Luffy was mentioned, the person she considered a friend now lost his brother; but for the others it wasn't easy either, seeing the whole camp of males was devastated by his death.
"The only other person just as devastated by this like Luffy, is Naruto." Haku mentioned, "Now that Ace is dead, he's the last one standing."
Law and Jimbei took a moment before they knew what was meant by that, with Jimbei taking the turn to pick at the ice.
"Huh, haven't thought of it-"
"AH!"
The scream echoed through the camp, catching everyone's attention. All eyes turned towards the submarine, where the sound had originated. Jimbei and Law were the first to react, immediately standing up as they exchanged concerned glances.
*BOOM!*
The top of the Heart Pirates' submarine exploded, sending pieces of metal flying in all directions and causing chaos in the camp. Law frowned, but managed to curse under his breath, "What the hell!"
A figure was then seen plummeting towards the ground, causing people to scatter.
*CRASH!*
The figure was revealed to be Straw Hat Luffy, who landed just in front of the Heart Pirates, the Foreign Legion, and Jimbei. His body was limp and covered in bandages; he had awakened.
"L-Luffy?"
"Something is wrong!"
The camp members carefully stood up, watching as Luffy slowly got to his knees.
"Ace…"
Luffy's frantic, croaked voice was barely more than a whisper, drawing everyone's attention away from Law as he continued to whisper his brother's name.
"Ace…"
He struggled to breathe, looking around as if expecting to see ghosts. Then, raising his head, he screamed:
"WHERE'S ACE?!"
Amazon Lily
In the heart of the female-only island, within the grand castle, Naruto sat across from the person who had invited him over for tea.
Although he had been offered a warm cup, Naruto hadn't even glanced at it. He just sat there, directly across from the small, aging but sweet-looking elderly woman named Nyon.
Nyon, the former empress of the Kuja Tribe, noticed the young man's troubled state of mind and was about to say something when Naruto spoke up.
"Thank you, ma'am…"
Naruto took the cup and sipped from it out of respect for his host. Also present in the room were Boa Hancock and her two sisters, Boa Sandersonia and Boa Marigold. The large women, younger siblings of Hancock, watched the discussion between the elder and the officer with keen interest.
The somber look on Naruto's face disturbed the Gorgon Sisters, but Nyon understood the source of his sorrow.
"You cared for young Ace, didn't you?" she asked gently.
Naruto's mind was entirely focused on that one painful memory.
His hand tightened into a fist, and the blond responded.
"...You don't know how much…"
Flashback
In the operating room, Naruto had just been given the heart-breaking news by the two best doctors, Haku and Law, inside the same white tent.
Ace was dying.
Law, not hesitating to tell him why, explained, "Akainu's attack evaporated several internal organs, including your kidneys and lungs." He shook his head. "I'm not going to lie…"
"It's okay… I accept that," Ace said, then asked, "How are Jimbei and Luffy?"
Naruto stared at him, knowing Ace would worry about them before his own health, even in his final moments.
"Jimbei was put back into a coma for surgery, but he'll wake up soon," Haku said, trying to smile. "He's going to be okay."
"And Luffy?"
"He's still not awake, but he's stable and showing signs of recovery. He should wake up in a few weeks," Law informed him. "...I cannot say the same for—"
"No need to say it. I think it's…for the better," Ace said, exhaustion weighing on him as he took deep breaths. "At least he's okay…"
Haku began to apologize, "I'm so sorry we—"
"Don't start apologizing, Haku. You did nothing wrong. You and Law are great doctors, but you're not miracle workers," Ace interjected. "But could I be alone with Naruto? I need to speak with him…"
Haku nodded and exited the room, with Law following shortly after, leaving the two men alone.
"It's going to spread like wildfire in the camp," Ace said, knowing morale would dip. "I can't imagine how they'll react."
"I can imagine, just like the others," Naruto replied angrily. "Like Marco, Jozu, your family back home, your gramps—"
"I know."
"Yamato and Tama."
"I know."
"And more importantly, your little brother, who I saw fight and exhaust himself to the brink of death to save you!" Naruto shouted, listing the people who cared for Ace. "All those people who care for you, and now you are living only time away from death!"
"...I know," Ace said calmly despite his situation. "And I know they'll be okay."
The machines beeped, showing Ace's condition was worsening. He spoke urgently.
"Naruto, promise me you'll tell Yamato... I'm sorry that I couldn't keep my promise..." Ace asked, the exhaustion evident. "Please do…"
"Of course I will," Naruto said, placing his left hand on Ace's shoulder. "You can count on that."
"You're blaming yourself, aren't you?" Ace asked. "Don't do that. There's no need."
"Like it's anyone else's fault…" Naruto replied bitterly.
Ace shook his head. "You can't save everyone, Naruto. But you can still do a lot of good."
"Like what?" Naruto asked, raising his head. "What good have I done?"
"You've saved people, a lot of them," Ace reminded him. "You've shown leadership that many could only dream of. That's why I never regretted serving under you for those two years as a Legionnaire."
"Yet I still got many men—"
Ace reached over, trembling with pain, and grabbed Naruto's collar. "Naruto, let me make this clear once and for all—never blame yourself for all that loss. Not with what happened in Mariejois, what happened to Fisher Tiger, or what we went through in Konoha. You're a good man and a good leader, one I am proud to have served under…and can call my best friend."
The sound of the machines in the background did little to distract them from the moment. Ace's trembling arm indicated his end was near.
Naruto's smile grew back, tears welling up as he watched his friend's life slip away. He grabbed Ace's hand, giving him the response he deserved.
"You've always been a worthy friend, Ace. More worth than whatever those bastards of the World Government tried to say. You are a worthy friend."
"Worthy…I like that…"
"Because you are…"
"Yes, I am…thanks for that."
Ace's lips turned into a smile as he laid his head back on the pillow.
"Thank you…Naruto…Thank you…Luffy…"
Haku and Law burst through the door as the machines began sounding the alarm.
Ace lay there with his eyes closed but a smile on his face, at peace. He had made his final say and parted from the land of the living, marking the end of Fire Fist Ace's life.
Ace was dead.
Naruto gently laid the lifeless arm of his friend next to him and made his final salute to the former Lieutenant, captain of his pirate crew, 2nd Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, and best friend.
"Goodbye, my friend."
Flashback ends
Naruto used his one remaining hand to wipe the tear from his eye, but Nyon, seeing this from a mile away, offered him a napkin.
"Thank you."
"I understand what you're going through..." Nyon poured herself more tea. "I hate to break it to you, young man, but we need to discuss something important. I've let you and your group reside here temporarily before you embark on your anticipated journey to the New World, but before that, I anticipate you'll take action on that lost arm of yours, am I right?"
"You mean this?" Naruto gestured to where his right arm had been. "I'm planning to meet someone for a prosthetic, something that will help me in my future endeavors."
"Like facing off against Kaido, I assume?" Nyon asked. "Going to Wano?"
The Gorgon Sisters focused intently on the conversation, awaiting Naruto's reply.
Setting his cup down, Naruto stared at the elderly woman and answered, "It's not him; it's Orochi I want."
"He's under the protection of Kaido," Nyon said. "What about Kaido?"
"If he doesn't step aside, I'll make them dig two holes. Simple as that," Naruto responded coldly.
The younger sisters, Sandersonia and Marigold, reacted first.
The long-tongued Sandersonia whispered to her sister, "I think something is loose with that guy—going after Kaido?"
"I know, he must be suicidal…" Marigold responded, her arms crossed over her chest. "He surely has lost it ever since the war ended."
"Silence, sisters."
"Huh?" Sandersonia and Marigold responded, confused, turning to see their elder sibling, Boa, sitting silently and observing the conversation. Boa had just voiced her disapproval of their gossip.
"You both know better, so leave the gossiping to someone else," Boa instructed calmly, keeping an eye on the blond. Nyon, however, wasn't finished.
"Taking on Kaido, huh? That's going to be a difficult task in your state." The elderly woman spoke up. "I say you've already decided on it, but why, if I may ask?"
"...I made a promise."
"A promise, you say?" Nyon asked. "Is it worth giving up your life for?"
"For Ace and me, yes. I intend to fulfill it once we're ready." Naruto replied, raising his glass. "He might be gone, but I swear I will not break it."
Slamming the tea glass to the ground, he made his final point. Even with only one arm, his conviction stood solid before the elder.
"It will take time, of course. Perhaps two years at most. We need to regroup, re-arm, gather intelligence, and strengthen ourselves. I know going against Kaido will require a lot of planning."
Nyon smirked and cracked a rare smile. "I'll be looking forward to seeing you in the papers."
Then the doors burst open, and a scout entered, exhausted from running but looking excited.
"My Lady—Luffy has awakened!"
"LET ME GO!"
In the bay, Luffy was screaming and struggling, his throat held firmly by Jimbei. Despite his own injuries, Jimbei had the strength to restrain the troublesome Straw Hat, keeping him pinned to the ground even as the boy resisted fiercely.
"LET GO OF ME!"
"Not a chance in hell! Not until you calm down!" Jimbei shouted, his patience wearing thin. He turned and called out, "Mind lending me a hand here, anyone!"
"Hold up!"
"Gotcha!"
Reiser and Foster rushed over to help, grabbing onto Luffy's legs while Gin pinned him down.
"GET OFF!" Luffy screamed, his head pressed to the floor. "I NEED TO FIND ACE!"
"Just calm down, kid!" Gin told him, struggling to keep him restrained. "You've only been awake for ten minutes and you've already caused enough havoc!"
"Ace? ACE!" Luffy began shouting, "Where's my brother?!"
"Just tell him he—"
"SHUT UP!" someone shouted. "You're going to send him into a frenzy!"
"ACE!" Luffy screamed in agony, tears forming at the corners of his eyes. "WHERE ARE YOU?!"
Luffy's uncontrollable rage gave him the strength to break free, sending those holding him flying into the crowd.
"He's lost his mind!"
Luffy bolted into the jungle, desperately searching for his brother. Those who tried to stop him hesitated at the forest's edge.
"He's heading into the jungle!"
"Why are we stopping?!"
"He's gone into Amazon Lily proper, we're out of reach," one of Law's men said, panicking. "Hey, what are you guys doing?!"
"Like hell, we'll stop here! Get search parties set up!" Gin and Reiser were the first to enter the jungle's edge. "We're going in teams of five, with a radioman and a medic each."
"Guns?"
"We're not trying to shoot him, just locate him and pinpoint his position," Reiser ordered. "Move it!"
*BOOM!*
A scream echoed through the jungle– Luffy's scream. It set Jimbei into motion, charging in with Haku close behind.
"Let's go!"
"Find Ace's brother before he wrecks himself!"
Men poured into the jungle, all intent on locating Luffy and helping him in his unstable mental state, hoping to stop him before he did something drastic.
Back at the camp, the others watched in horror, including Marguerite.
…
Luffy left a trail of destruction wherever he went–destroyed trees, cracked roots, and blood dripping from his bandaged hands, reopening wounds that had taken weeks to heal, open once again.
He stood in the center of a clearing, breathing hard and staring up at the sky. A single bird soared overhead as his mind tried to comprehend what was going on.
"Where am I?"
Exhausted, he took deep breaths. "Maybe it was all a dream…"
Then a piercing ringing sound erupted in Luffy's ears, causing him to hold his head, looking as if he was on the verge of going mad.
"Ahhh!"
A short vision flashed before him–seeing Ace getting treated by the medics in Marineford, blood pouring out.
Luffy flinched in terrible pain, his hands covering his ears in a futile attempt to block out the noise as he continued to be barraged by the images of blood.
Luffy yelled, falling onto his back and thrashing wildly as the haunting images blurred the lines between Amazon Lily and Marineford. He held up one of his hands, lost in the moment.
"ACE!"
"SURROUND HIM!"
The mentally traumatized Luffy was found by one of the search teams. They kept their distance, trying to calm him down. With only some armed with pistols, holstered at the moment.
"Easy kid, easy!"
"Take a breat—LOOK OUT!"
Luffy's mind snapped, and he went berserk again, tearing his surroundings apart, smashing rocks left and right.
"GO AWAY! GO AWAY!"
As he screamed, Luffy tried to grab another boulder to fling around—
"ENOUGH!"
Like a striking viper, something grabbed Luffy's throat and slammed him into a wall, trapping him against the stone.
"Luffy!" Jimbei entered the scene with a few men, "Luffy…"
Naruto was the one who ended the rampage, holding the boy, who struggled but couldn't break free despite his best efforts.
'Naruto, he's beyond reason now.'
'I have to. No use sugarcoating it.'
'He'll try to deny it.'
'And he'll accept it. He has to.'
"Leave me alone!" Luffy demanded, angry and yelling. "I need to find Ace!"
Jimbei and the others were about to intervene, trying to calm things down–
"I'm sorry Luffy…your brother Ace died a few days ago."
Naruto's revelation hit the mentally unstable Luffy like a sledgehammer, causing him to scream in anguish.
"NO WAY! IT'S A DREAM—"
"The war is over! It is no dream!" Naruto responded harshly, trying to kick reality in. "You can try all you want–but it is no dream!"
"Shut up!" Luffy snarled back, "It's my own body! I can do whatever I want with it!"
"I will not allow it!" Jimbei shouted, joining in. "You will do no such thing!"
"SHUT UP!" Luffy shouted, finally turning around to glare at the Fishman, his eyes still filled with a rage that made him almost unrecognizable. "The next time you say something, I'll beat the crap out of yo—"
*GRIP!*
Luffy's words died as Naruto squeezed his windpipe, turning him back to the face of the blond.
"Do that! Try!" Naruto responded. "I still got one arm left, that's more than enough to stop you!"
"DAMN YOU!"
Forced to back his words, Naruto swung Luffy into another wall, releasing him from his grip.
*CRASH!*
But this time, Jimbei intervened, grabbing Luffy and beating him up to another degree. Naruto watched as the Fishman toyed with the Straw Hat boy before smacking him into a rock and holding him in the same position as he did. Showing that despite his age, the Son of the Sea still had brutal strength matching that of his younger days.
Luffy again tried to get free despite the grip.
"Can you not see anything!?" Jimbei demanded, giving Luffy's neck an extra squeeze, just to make sure that he was listening this time. "The confidence that you will overcome all obstacles, and the strength that you have never doubted before."
Luffy continued to growl and tried to throw the arm off him as Jimbei raised his voice even louder.
"A horde of enemies ruthlessly shattered your beliefs and left you unable to do a thing! And then there's your brother, who was your guiding light. You have lost so many things!"
There was worry in Jimbei's face along with that rage, and some of them could sense that he was wondering if maybe Luffy had gone too far for him to bring back. Yet he carried on, trying to get through to him.
"WHAT IS IT THAT YOU STILL HAVE?!"
And just like that, something went through Luffy's head when Jimbei said that. His arms fell, and the rage faded from his eyes. His body slumped back against the rock as he processed what Jimbei had said.
For every minute, he held out a finger, one by one, and his eyes began to tear up once again. He began to recall something, and then he spoke up.
"My crew…I still have my crew!" Luffy declared loudly through his sobs. "Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, Chopper, Robin, Franky, Brook! My friends are still here!"
Seeing Jimbei lower his guard, Naruto nudged his men to do the same. Then they heard Luffy cry out.
"I want to see them!" he sobbed. "I WANT TO SEE THEM RIGHT NOW!"
…
With the waking of the Straw Hat captain and his rampage ending peacefully, a meal was held within the forest. Only a handful of people attended, including Naruto, Jimbei, Haku, and a few others gathered around Luffy.
"You went to the funeral?"
"...No, didn't get the chance to," Naruto answered Jimbei's question while eating a cup of ramen. "The Marines didn't waste any time coming after us the day after the war ended. They prioritized going after us, but we managed to shake them off."
Naruto explained further how the funeral was attended by all pirates who participated in the war. They had kept in contact with Marco, who told them that they were soon to make a move against Blackbeard and that all of Whitebeard's territory was now in chaos. The old man's last words about the One Piece had caused a whole new level of turmoil.
"That's the old man for you…" Jimbei couldn't help but mention, a slight sense of sadness in his voice. "I still can't believe he's gone…"
Naruto nodded along, taking a bite of his meat. He then turned to where Luffy sat.
Luffy hadn't touched any of the food, not even a bit of meat, which was a bad sign for those who knew him. Reiser, sitting next to him, asked gently.
"Are you not hungry?"
Luffy shook his head in response, even going so far as to shove the plate away a few inches. "I'm not hungry…" He sounded still devastated, burying his head in his arms.
Feeling empathy for the kid, Reiser looked down as something landed in his lap. It was a flask, thrown by Foster who had just joined the circle.
"From Gin. He found it somewhere and decided to give it to you."
"Asshole," Reiser smirked as he opened the flask, took a whiff, and smiled at the scent. "The good stuff." He took a swig before asking, "What's the latest news?"
"Chaos, chaos, and more chaos, all courtesy of the World Government, as usual," Foster said shortly, explaining the situation at Impel Down and how more people were escaping, leading to their bounties being reinstated.
"Also, here," Foster threw a handful of identity tags at Haku. "That's the final count."
Haku checked them and sighed. "That makes it over one hundred and twelve fallen."
"We started with over three hundred from Impel Down," one Raider said while smoking a cigarette, his hand shaking violently. "And we walked out with half our numbers…"
"Be at least glad we came out at all," Foster said, turning to his comrade. "We were at least able to bring their bodies with us."
"At least we took out thousands of those bastards before we left," the same Raider said, putting out his smoke and holding his trembling arm. "They deserved it, along with that hothead Sakazuki."
"Don't start with the numbers, soldier. That's for those damn newspapers," Naruto said, looking at everyone and reminding them, "This isn't a game, this is war, and we need to rise above that."
Universally, the men agreed with their captain's sentiment, including the complaining soldier who nodded. "My apologies, Captain."
Luffy, paying attention to the person next to him, saw him looking at something. "What are you thinking?"
"Hmmm?" Reiser turned his head to him. "Excuse me?"
"What are you thinking about?"
Hearing that, Reiser nudged him. "I don't. If you start thinking, you go crazy. So I don't."
"Fritz, here." Another pack of smokes was thrown to the man, who caught it and turned back to Luffy, deciding to give some advice.
"You've got a little switch behind your ear. Just turn it off—and you stop thinking." He demonstrated his trick by flicking his ear and then did the same to Luffy.
However, it only made Luffy weep again, sniffing and wiping away his tears as they fell. "I'm sorry…" Luffy said, turning back to Reiser, fresh tears in his eyes.
"I… I just miss him…"
Reiser, known for his empathy among the men, responded gently. "Don't worry, we understand. Be glad you can still cry. It means you cared for him." He added, "Go on, cry. It's good for you. It's not wise to bottle up those feelings."
Luffy's tears flowed freely but began to dry up as he nodded, acknowledging the advice. "T-Thanks."
"No problem, it's all good." Reiser said before asking, "You're Luffy, Ace's brother, right?"
"Yes. Why?" Luffy nodded and asked, "You knew him?"
"I knew him, and he saved me once. Years back," Reiser said, cracking a smile at the kid before taking another swig from the flask. "He always talked about his younger brother who kept crying or causing trouble, but was always there for him."
Hearing that put a smile on Luffy's face, his eyes barely dry. He nodded at what Reiser said.
"He always spoke well of you. And I saw you go, kid. You've got the same stones as your brother." Reiser said, grabbing the tray of food and offering it to him. "So do yourself a favor and eat something, will you?"
"...Okay," Luffy said, grabbing a piece of bread and taking a bite, eating it calmly and beginning to enjoy it. He slowly started to do what he should have been doing—eating and smiling.
Seeing this, the others in the circle smiled at the progress Luffy was making. Foster even made a move.
"Here, kid. Take a swig from this," Reiser offered. "Just not all at once, it's strong."
Luffy took the flask and had a swig, coughing a bit at the strong drink. He then took a piece of warm meat and popped it into his mouth. Soon, others started throwing pieces of bread and meat his way, giving him more to eat.
Naruto smiled at what the men were doing and decided to join, giving him something later on. Something he would appreciate.
But first, they'd need to do something…
Later
Camp
"What's going on here?"
That was what Boa Hancock asked as she, her sisters, Kikyo's group, and the other Kuja Pirates arrived to witness something they did not expect.
All the men of the Legion were standing in formation, all in rows and in uniforms that were as clean as possible. Even those who could barely stand with their crutches or had their heads covered in bandages stood at attention.
Watching from the sidelines with the Kuja and Jimbei was Law, who sat on a crate with his crew standing by in confusion. The tattooed man was also focused.
"Captain, what's going on?" Bepo asked, "Why are they all—"
"Shh, Bepo." Law told his crewmate, "You'll see soon enough."Jimbei stood close by, but he knew what would happen. Standing next to him was Luffy, looking focused.
Elder Nyon made her way through the crowd and asked the nearest girl, who happened to be Boa Hancock's sister, Marigold.
"What is going on?"
"We don't know…" Marigold said to the elder. "We arrived here just a moment ago…"
"ATTENTION!"
The shout of the order made hundreds of pairs of boots click at the same time, catching many of the women and Heart Pirates off guard. The Legion men stood firm.
"What was that?" Sandersonia reacted.
"Maybe they are going to do something…" Kikyo held her hand over her knife, but Elder Nyon intervened.
"No… look at the tent."
They all did, and what they saw was surprising:
A group of six men, including Reiser, Gin, Haku, and even Naruto with Shikamaru and Chōji, were carrying a casket out of the white tent. This casket carried someone who demanded a proper farewell from the troops and others, with a clean officer's uniform on it that belonged to a Legion man who had long passed.
The casket also had the belongings of the person—including a red beaded necklace, a knife, and an orange hat.
This was Ace's casket.
"Salute!" commanded Domino.
Hundreds of men snapped to attention, saluting the casket of the fallen comrade they had tried to save and were now paying their respects to.
"Forward, march!"
The men moved in unison, their steps echoing a disciplined rhythm as they carried Ace's casket towards the ship. The solemn procession resembled an army funeral, with each step taken in precise formation.
"Eyes, right!"
As one, the men turned their heads to the right, their eyes fixed on the casket as it passed by. The respect and honor they showed were palpable, reflecting the deep sense of loss and camaraderie they felt.
Slowly, the men carrying the casket made their way to the ship, allowing those on the sidelines to pay their final respects to the man they had known longer than they should have. Many owed their lives to him.
As they made their way through, Naruto led, knowing he was not in the best state with only one arm but still wanting to do this.
'The Kuja women are staring at you.'
Naruto glanced over and indeed saw the Kuja women at the edges of the camp, all watching with interest at what was happening, and some watching him directly.
He turned his attention back. 'I will deal with that later.'
'Like you will break the news to the pirates? It will only take a while before Ace's death reaches the world.'
'And they'll claim it as a victory—but instead, it will be a shallow one that they cannot celebrate.'
As they continued bringing Ace's casket through the crowd, they passed by Jimbei and Luffy. The younger brother looked at it with eyes focused dead on it.
Then, turning his eyes to Naruto, Luffy and the blond looked each other in the eyes before nodding as they stopped.
They stopped to allow Luffy to reach out and plant his hand on Ace's casket, bidding his last farewell to him.
It is always hard to say goodbye.
Night
Night had fallen, and the ship had been fully packed with supplies for the intended departure. Overlooking the bay from a cliff, Naruto watched while using a transponder snail, talking directly to the one person who needed to be contacted.
"So there is where Ace's going to be buried… Sounds fitting."
"Yes, it is decided with the permission of Marco and Luffy. They are okay with it," Naruto said through the horn. "It felt like it was for the better you should know too, Rayleigh."
Speaking on the other side of the horn was Silvers Rayleigh, the old man from many years ago in Sabaody who was related in many ways to Ace. The eyes of the snail were showing tears, but the smile it also gave fit the old man's current state.
"He lived too short a life - but a happy one with no regrets, just like his father. Yet it still hurts me knowing he died."
Naruto smiled and responded, "He died with friends and comrades surrounding him who knew his worth. That's something."
"It indeed is, more preferable than on the scaffold. Yet I wished things were different - but we have to move on," Rayleigh spoke. "Like his brother you told me, he's accepting it, right?"
"Indeed, why do you ask?"
"I'm on my way there, to Amazon Lily," Rayleigh responded. "I plan on visiting the boy and start guiding him a bit. If he wants to be the Pirate King, I'd like to see him do so with better chances. He is not planning on leaving soon, right?"
"Not in his condition, he isn't. The doctors said he has to stay… and he decided to stay here also, with Jimbei."
"That is good to know. Stay in touch, I'll speak to you soon."
Ending the call, the snail was allowed to sleep as Naruto sat back on the stone underneath him.
"You can come out now, Little Marguerite."
Marguerite came up behind him and stood to the side, gazing with him. Having watched from the shadows, she was alone without her snake companion.
"N-Naruto," Marguerite bowed her head slightly, "Finally, I got a chance to talk with you…"
Hearing the small stutter, Naruto turned to the young blonde, who he could see and sense had grown into a fine but strong young woman, yet still nervous.
"Look at you, all grown up," Naruto complimented her. "How old are you now?"
"S-Sixteen!" Marguerite said, clarifying her age. "I'm now sixteen, close to being a healthy woman like the Snake Empress."
"Not to me, you're still the little girl we found as a stowaway in Wave," Naruto said, laughing at that memory. "My, what a memory. You were putting up a fight."
Marguerite smiled at the memory, then softly gathered her courage and looked up at him.
Naruto saw this look and asked, "Something wrong?"
"All our life we were told men are dangerous creatures, never to be trusted. But... I don't feel in danger from you. I... I feel safe. And warmth... Naruto... I don't know what this is. Whenever you are near me, my heart beats harder. And when you are away, I feel sad... Do you know what this is? Are you controlling my mind?"
Naruto raised an eyebrow and looked at her blushing face. She was apprehensive about what it was and guarded. He smiled gently and patted the seat next to him on the fallen log where he then sat.
After a moment, she sat down next to him as he turned to look over the bay again.
"You're in love, Marguerite. That's nothing unnatural," Naruto explained to her. "I am not controlling your mind, but I think you should pick better targets because I am not exactly someone you'd spend your life with."
Marguerite thought over this for a couple of minutes…
…
A flare suddenly ignited, raining light from the sky, startling Marguerite with its sound and sight, and signaling that departure was imminent. Naruto stood up.
"Time to go."
Bay
With the Sea Snake anchored off the bay next to Law's repaired submarine, both crews were poised to depart on their separate paths. The only ones remaining were Luffy and Jimbei, the latter volunteering to stay behind and oversee Luffy's recovery, while the Kuja kept watch over them both.
Nearly everyone was aboard when Naruto, the last to leave the ground, expressed his gratitude to Elder Nyon, who had descended from the Palace to bid them farewell.
"Thank you for your help, ma'am."
"Just make sure to leave soon, the Navy is going to snoop around soon if they haven't already," Nyon warned, turning to Hancock. "You see to them, okay?"
"As if I'd listen to you, old woman," Hancock retorted dismissively before addressing Naruto directly. "And as for you!"
Pointing her finger directly at him, Hancock conducted her usual pose of looking down while leaning back.
"...Thank you for saving Luffy, you have my gratitude."
Receiving praise from the Snake Empress was unexpected, but Naruto simply shrugged in response.
"No problem, the kid's got guts, I like that," Naruto replied, then turned to Luffy, reaching into his coat. "Oh, and Luffy."
"Huh?"
"Someone will be visiting you soon. He contacted our ship and said he'd be coming here." Naruto smiled as he handed Luffy a small package, which Luffy began to unwrap, revealing a book with a message inscribed on it.
"This journal belongs to your brother," Naruto explained. "He asked me to give it to you as his last wish."
Opening the journal, Luffy looked back up at Naruto.
"Will you read it?"
Luffy smiled and nodded. "I will!"
Shortly after Naruto boarded the Sea Snake, the ship departed from the bay, with both vessels bidding farewell to Amazon Lily. People waved as they departed, and Jimbei was among those shouting out.
"Naruto! Be careful!"
"Will do, Jimbei!" Naruto shouted back, waving with his one arm. "See you soon!"
As the Sea Snake left the bay, it navigated out of the Calm Belt first before continuing its journey through the increasingly perilous seas of the new Pirate Era.