Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or One Piece, if I did...well either I would be a banned writer or a celebrated on for this chapter.
Talk: "Talk"
Think: 'Think'
"Listen buddy you don't want to do this," Naruto brought his hands up to show he meant no harm. His blue eyes looked downwards at the blade and saw that it was ebony black with a blood red vein going through the middle of it. "I'm just some guy who got lost on his way home. I don't care that you killed these asshole Marines, just leave me be and no one gets hurt."
"Lies, all lies." The strange teen muttered tiredly. "You're nothing more than a mercenary hired by the government. They want you to kill me, but I won't let you…I can't let you."
'This guy is fucking loopy.' Naruto thought to himself. It was obvious this guy had several screws loose, and with the bags under his eyes and the rumbling of his stomach, he guess that what whoever he was had been on the run for days, if not weeks.
"Listen, I don't know what your damage is but-" A powerful jet of water exploded from his mouth. At point blank range the teenager should have been obliterated, but instead he disappeared and Naruto had to roll to the side to avoid a slash from the katana in his right hand.
"Damn it, you asked for this!" Gripping the handle of Saibannin Kayiouumi he gave a powerful swing of his arm, the swordsman blocked it with his katana, but he underestimated the sheer power of the swing. He was easily lifted off the ground and slammed through one of the ships.
"Take that you bastard! No one threatens Uzumaki Naruto and gets away with it!"
The blond was rewarded with his advisory reappearing behind him; it took all his honed reflexes to jump out of the way to avoid getting bifurcated at the waist. Damn it all to hell, how was he doing that? There was no way a normal human could be that fast…wait a damn second, no normal human. Son of a bitch! Swinging his axe to block against the sword, Naruto growled at the sandy-haired teen. "You're a damn Devil Fruit-user aren't you?"
"That is correct. I ate the Quick-Quick fruit, and I won't bore you with the details, but-" He disappeared and soon reappeared behind the blonde. "all you have to know is that I'm faster than you." And proceeded to slash at his back.
Twisting his hips, Naruto barely managed to avoid getting cut and bounded away to get some breathing room. This was not good, he was facing an opponent who was as fast as sound, and he was still recovering from his injuries with Arlong and his crew to boot. However, he noticed the sandy-haired bastard sweating and barely holding himself steady. He was on his last two legs, all he had to do was keep dodging and give him one good clean hit, and it would be over. His blue eyes locking onto his pale gray-eyed opponent, he waited for any subtle movement, and when he disappeared Naruto went on the defensive.
Instead of his opponent disappearing again, the swordsman suddenly lapsed into what looked like a peaceful trance. "Mirage Sword Style: Trial of the Three Paths." He whispered, moving both his right arm Naruto saw the increase in his arm movements to the point where he could have sworn that he saw three arms instead of two. Then without a moment's hesitation he sped towards the fishman.
"Son of a bitch!" Swinging Saibannin Kayiouumi to try and cleave him in half, Naruto's eyes nearly sparkled when he saw the blade hit him, only for his hopes to become dashed when it simply passed through him. An after image? Shit! Pivoting on his right heel the blonde lashed out with a wild kick to intercept the middle arm, only to his horror that his leg passed through his 'arm', and was rewarded with a deep cut to his right bicep from the real one.
The hit was painful, but he was well accustomed to it. Plus his opponent was in close, with a fierce grin he dropped his axe, swiftly grabbed his sword arm, and delivered a devastating haymaker to his face. Naruto reveled in satisfaction when he heard cartilage break and blood flew from his nose as his opponent flew ten feet from him, harshly hitting the ground.
"Take that you fruity bastard!" Naruto bellowed in triumph.
"No! What have you done!?" The stranger bellowed in anger. He stared at his shaking left hand that was completely covered in blood. His tongue tasted the coppery taste of the blood streaming down his nose and he futilely tried to hold it in. "Damn it, damn it, damn it! Run! Get the hell out of here!" He choked on his last words before his body began to violently shake.
"The hell?" Picking up his giant axe, Naruto felt the killing intent flowing from the swordsman. His opponent began to laugh hysterically, and then disappeared once again. Naruto barely blocked the sword strike with the head of his axe, but the Marine-issued sabre suddenly flew into his opponent's hand and the blade bit into his left side. The blond gritted his teeth and punched the swordsman in the face once again, and he did it again, and again, and one more time for good measure.
"Oh those were some good hits!" The swordsman gave the tiger shark a wide, twisted, insane smile. His eyes wide, and showing not a hint of sanity. "Come on fishman, I've made you bleed, and you've made me bleed, let's see who will bleed out faster!"
"I knew something was wrong about you. Other than being a damn fruit-user, you're a lunatic." Naruto swept his axe out to try and cut him in half, only for the insane teen to disappear, and reappear on the head of his axe.
"No, I am the lunatic. He on the other hand is weak, while I…" He kicked him in the head with terrifying speed, sending him through the forest. "Am the strongest."
On the other side of the island, Naruto crawled out of one of the ships and spat out a mouthful of teeth. Damn it, whoever this guy was he was stronger than he looked. He was given no time to rest when he saw his insane opponent appear in front of him dual swords flashing. Naruto rolled away as his opponent's dual blades sliced into the ship.
Gritting his broken teeth, Naruto fell deep into himself, blocking out the pain and focusing on his training in water manipulation. Soon enough water from the sea flowed around his forearms. "Water Sickles!" He unleashed his powerful water blades at the swordsman, even though the insane teen dodged the first two, Naruto would not let up. He continued to send barrages of water sickles at his opponent, unfortunately it was all for naught, instead of wounding his opponent he wound up damaging the ship beyond repair.
Anger soon flowed through the fishman's body. Barely two days ago he killed the so-called "Strongest of the East Blue" and his entire crew…well minus Hachi, he still didn't know of his fate, and a whole ship full of Marines, but now he was having trouble with one Devil Fruit asshole? Before unleashing another water sickle with his left arm, the insane swordsman flashed in front of him, swinging the black-bladed sword.
Self-preservation is what saved Naruto from getting cut in half that day. It also involuntarily activated his Sea King Mode. The stranger watched with insane fascination when he saw his prey's sea blue eyes turned completely crimson, the muscles on his arms bulged and hardened, and his entire demeanor changed from pray to predator. The tiger shark fishman's arms shot out and clamped onto the madman's wrists before the blades struck.
White-hot fury flowed through his veins, and taking full advantage of his natural born strength he easily lifted the human up over his head. With a loud primal roar, he threw his opponent over his head and slammed him onto the ground, twisting his hips his did it again, and once again before throwing him away, and watched with smug satisfaction when he broke through the bow of the biggest ship.
Naruto soon advanced forwards, he lost his axe somewhere in the other ship and brought Arlong's Kiribachi into his right hand. It felt weird to hold something other than the weapon he had been using for years, but at the moment he needed to use something to defend with in case that maniac attacked again. Once he stepped inside the ship the blond's senses were assaulted by death and decay. He never did investigate the lower decks of this ship, but now he knew that there was no need for it.
Immediately hearing the pitter patter of footsteps, Naruto saw the madman twitching right in front of him. Stabbing his sabre into the wood, he brought his left hand to the bleeding left side of his face. The crimson liquid stained his fingers and rubbed in in-between them. "Fascinating, I haven't been bled like this since…ever. Kudos to you fishman, I am impressed."
"I told you to leave me be," Naruto responded as he regrew a new set of teeth. "But now I will have to kill you."
"Hoho, big words needle dick. You're talking a big game for one who's bleeding all over the place."
"Keep talking asshole. We're in an enclosed space; you won't be able to use that stupid power of yours where I triumph in close quarters combat."
"We will see about that," The insane swordsman's posture drastically changed, his legs bent until he was in a crouching position and he picked his sabre into his left hand. "Blood Sword Style: Rain Crimson!" holding the blades of both swords behind him the madman charged at Naruto swinging both swords up, the katana went for the neck while the sabre went for his right wrist.
Fortunately for Naruto, he swung Kiribachi to deflect the attack before going on the offensive. Letting out an angry growl he recklessly swung the giant sword, but the insane bastard just leaped away, back flipping and generally laughing. Damn it, he was just like those acrobats that entertained the royal family every year, he used to think that was pretty cool, but now he hated it.
And that laughter. That mocking, insane laughter was only aggravating his already pissed off mood and with him in Sea King Mode; it was amplifying it two fold. His years of harsh training and discipline were slowly going down the tube as his strikes missed again and again. Instead of hitting his opponent, Naruto destroyed the various barrels and crates, and most critically the support beams. He struck one more as the insane swordsman leaped out of the way and then the whole ceiling started coming down on them.
Immediately the two fighters disengaged, dodging the falling debris and leaping out through the holes in the ceiling. Once they got topside the two immediately went at it again, the sound of steel clashing against steel echoed for what seemed like hours as the two fighters continued to try and kill each other.
Blocking the two swords with Kiribachi, Naruto used his massive strength to lift his opponent's arms over his head, and then kneed him right in the stomach, sending him soaring into, and through, the Captain's doors. He emerged several seconds later, his eyes burning with intense anger.
"God fucking dammit! Why aren't you dead yet!?" He screamed in frustration. "No matter how many times I cut you, you won't bleed out like the other pieces of trash strewn on the beach. Fuck you! Fucking die already!"
"It will take much more than a few shallow cuts to kill me. Seriously look at them." Naruto brought his right arm out, showing dozens of cuts, but unlike the few inflicted on him earlier; these ones were extremely shallow, not even deep enough to draw blood. "Not surprised though, you're running on fumes by now." He dropped the giant sword and manipulated the water to flow around his arms until they formed the shape of Megladon heads. "I'll kill you with this next attack."
"Hahaha! I will kill you first fishman! Blood Sword Style:-"
The two sprinted at each other, calling out their attacks.
"Devouring Twin Shark Fist!"
"Eight Ways to Die!"
Before the final blows were struck, a sharp whistling sound pierced the air, forcing the two combatants to jump away from each other before a cannon ball impacted where they would have clashed. Both blonds blinked in confusion before turning towards the source of the deadly projectile. And to their surprise it was a ship, a freaking huge Marine ship with dozens of cannons lined up at them.
A Marine Captain, a giant muscular man with bulldog-like jowls on his ugly face stood to face them barely one-hundred yards away. In his hand was a megaphone that seemed quite puny in his meaty hands. "'Blood-Soaked" Kotetsu and companion, you both are under arrest!"
"Companion? This asshole?" Naruto's eyes turned back to their original blue once due to the interruption.
"Ahh, Captain Stark of Unit Thirteen. It's extremely unlucky of you to face me, but then again…you were always the unlucky one." The swordsman revealed as Kotetsu spoke in glee.
"Such insolence, men ready cannons!" Stark raised his right arm and the sound of a dozen cannons pointed at the two.
"Well this is going to suck," Naruto drawled out, "Madman, I know this sounds a little odd but…"
"I will temporarily team up with you fishman. But make no mistake; I'm only doing it to kill those Marines…my blade hungers for their blood."
"Very well then."
"Fire!"
When the cannons roared the two warriors burst into action. Kotetsu jumped from the ruined ship he was on, and then disappeared in thin air, while Naruto dived into the sea.
Landing on the deck Kotetsu crouched low and lashed out with his two blades. In the one second after he landed, four Marine's throat's erupted in a shower of gore, and seeing their comrades' fall onto the deck dead as a doorknob several Marines turned towards the mad swordsman firing their flintlock muskets.
His insane smile widening, Kotetsu easily vanished causing the Marines to accidentally shoot each other. It was then the slim teen started his attack, his swords flashed out cutting into the necks of two Marines. Spinning on his right heel he intercepted the sabre's of three Marine's with his own and then slashed out with his black katana, he watched with ecstasy as the black blade sliced into the chests of his victims, further wetting his face with their blood.
Then without any sort of warning Kotetsu jumped into the air, twisted his slim body midair and spun, turning his swords into spinning blades of death, slicing into the necks of several men before landing on his two feet.
"Blood Sword Style: Rain Crimson!" holding the blades of both swords behind him the madman charged at his opponents swinging both swords up, and laughed as his katana and the sabre sliced open necks and wrists.
While Kotetsu was having his fun spilling Marine blood, Naruto was deep under water in the process of unleashing a ship killing attack. Hody ordered him to create such an attack when the time came for him to destroy any type of ship that dared to threatened their home, the technique was solid after hundreds of hours of water manipulation practices to create it, but there was one problem…he never actually hit a ship with it.
Falling into himself, Naruto concentrated on the flow of the water, forming and twisting it to his will. Once he was certain that he was in full control of his technique, the blond brought is arms out to his sides and started rotating. Immediately the water started to solidify, turning into a tornado around his body, and then spiraled upwards towards the ship.
Up on the ship Kotetsu sliced the neck of another Marine, blocked a rifle butt to the head, cut the offending Marine's belly open and kicked him away into a group of sailors before facing Captain Stark with about fifty men behind him with rifles aimed at him. "What was that? Fifty? Fifty-nine? Honestly I've lost count of how many men your unlucky unit has lost."
"Shut up you filthy criminal!" Stark bellowed, wagging his head so his jowls flapped against his neck. "You will pay for the Iron Island massacre, and the deaths of Units Twenty-three, Thirty, and Twelve."
"And now Unit Thirteen."
"Over my dead body!"
It was a second later that Stark regretted that last sentence. Because the wooden deck below him burst into splinters, turning him and his men into nothing but shredded meat. Kotetsu looked on in intense fascination as a water typhoon rose out of the ship in the resemblance of a gigantic spear tip, tearing everything asunder.
"Fucking awesome! I like you fish-guy," Kotetsu laughed in glee, but that was until the bow of the ship plunged into the sea taking him along with it, "Oh fish-guy, you're a fucking assho-" The foul mouthed man would have gladly finished his sentence, but sea water engulfing a Devil Fruit-user would stop and immobilize them.
"Ugh, oh my head."
"Well glad you're awake asshole." Naruto greeted the bound swordsman, and then he promptly threw a bucket of salt water on his already soaked body. "Good, we need to have a chat."
"Why did you throw a bucket of water on me?"
"To prevent you from using your fruity powers."
"…That only works if I'm partially or completely submerged in water. Spraying me doesn't work at all."
"Shit," Naruto sweat dropped. "Well, at least I have ropes to restrain you."
"…Right. All right, well I guess you want to know what the hell is going on here."
"Among other things. Now spill it, or you won't like me during this chat."
Shrugging helplessly, Kotetsu jerked his head to the right in order to get his hair out of his eyes. "All right, what do you want to know fishman?"
"First off my name is Uzumaki Naruto, remember it human. Now here is your first question. Why in the vast seas are the Marines after you?"
"Well, first off to you my name isn't human. I am 'Mirage' Kotetsu, Ensign of Unit Twenty-three under the direct command of Vice-Admiral Doberman." He stopped after revealing his information and lowered his head. "Or that's what I used to be until I killed them all."
"Killed them all?" Naruto leaned forwards and looked into the sandy-haired teen's eyes, "When I first fought you, you were dead on your feet and skittish. But after I busted your nose you went batshit crazy and started talking in a high pitched voice, and your fighting style drastically changed. Care to explain that?"
"Well I…"
"Also," Naruto slid his two swords towards him, and indicated the katana now in its black scabbard. "This is a pretty freaky-looking sword of yours. Now I've seen plenty of swords in my days, but this…it feels wrong."
"You touched my sword! Don't ever touch that katana!" Kotetsu hysterically screamed.
"Wow, easy there psycho. What's so special about that damn thing?"
"That sword is what caused me to become what I am…what emerged from me."
Flashback
The Grand Line, one of the most treacherous places in the world. The Grand Line was divided by the Red Line into two halves. The first half, stretching from Reverse Mountain to the polar opposite point of the Red Line, was known as "Paradise". It was kind of ironic that is was called that due to all the immense dangers of the sea, and mankind alike.
The second half, however started beyond the second Red Line point to the backside of Reverse Mountain, this was known as the "New World". Not much was known about it, except the terrifying accounts of deadly seas, unspeakable sea monsters, and the most terrifying pirates in the entire world.
It was in the Paradise half that a fifteen year old 'Mirage' Kotetsu of Unit Twenty-three was scouting out the island his unit landed on the orders of Vice-Admiral Doberman. He had been to several different islands in his time as a Marine, but they were modernized, but this Iron Island, man it was different.
For nearly a half an hour landing on the snowy rooftops of tiled buildings, he looked at the various buildings. They were made completely out of bamboo, wood, and tile. While they were looked primitive to some people, he found them enticing, hell he thought they were comfy looking. And the people, they were dressed in heavy wool kimono's or in gray heavy plate-armor along with demonic-looking helmets and face masks and surprisingly four swords on their hips. But what he enjoyed the most were the "Three Wolves" mountains, which in actually looked like a single mountain that was naturally shaped over the centuries. It was as majestic as it was fierce-looking.
"I believe I have all I need." He said to himself before turning towards where his ship landed and then disappeared.
Landing on a roof near his ship he carefully jumped down and headed towards the ship. It didn't take long to tell his Captain what he found, but then again there wasn't much to report, the people seemed friendly enough, the buildings were simple, and it was cold as hell.
After he was dismissed the sandy-haired teen passed by the 'Slop Hall' as the Marine's called it. It was around lunchtime and old Daggory should have served up whatever "Healthy" food by now.
"That Kotetsu is a pompous daddy's boy!" An angry voice stung his ears. What the hell? "How old is he, fifteen? And already an Ensign. That little bastard joined six months ago as a Seaman Recruit, and after he begged Vice-Admiral-" The sound of a fist hitting against flesh, and the sound of a chair and a body falling to the floor echoed down the hall.
"Shut that damn mouth of yours Ben," Another voice echoed voice echoed down the hall. "I know you don't like the boy, but there is no need to spread lies about his status."
"Bah! Well how did he become an Ensign, while I, a Marine veteran of fifteen years am a mere Chief Petty Officer?"
"Well other than the fact you're corrupt and lazy," A third voice said. "You never slew one of the most terrifying pirate Captains of the Grand Line."
"And yer telling me that boy did that? Bullshit!"
"Really, you didn't hear about this? Before he was transferred here Kotetsu was with the Fortieth Unit, and from the reports they encountered the Moon Pirates."
"Bullshit!" A sixth voice bellowed in surprise. "The freaking Moon Pirates? You're telling me that they took them on and survived."
"Well duh, or else he wouldn't be here." The second voice deadpanned, "The Fortieth Unit engaged them, and…well it was a slaughter on both sides. They fought for hours, bodies piling on the decks, falling into the sea; it wasn't until that boy killed 'The Butcher of Bayou Island' Morgan 'Moonscar' McCrite did the battle finally end."
"He killed Morgan 'Moonscar'? (1)" Ben gasped in surprise. "Wasn't he worth one-hundred million beli?"
"Yea, and from eyewitness accounts he used his Devil Fruit powers to distract both him and his crew for a long while. He saved many Marines, but despite his valiant efforts many still died that day. Now this is where the story gets fuzzy, now I heard that old Moonscar blew his best friends brains out. And soaked his entire face in his blood and brain matter.
"And then he suddenly went all loco, screamed louder than any of the wounded men on that day. And then proceeded to assault Morgan 'Moonscar' with both his sabers, he cut the guy up something fierce. I mean he disappeared, leaving mirages and shit and slicing into his skin. The cuts were deep, but they weren't fatal, I think he wanted to inflict the most pain on the pirate Captain. It wasn't until he sapped the man of all strength did disappear one last time and stabbed him through both lungs and let him suffocate to death."
"Was that what promoted him to the rank of Ensign?" the fourth voice asked.
"What do you think?"
Shaking his head to shake the memories of that day, Kotetsu quickly activated his Devil Fruit power and quickly disappeared from the spot he was standing, his appetite long since destroyed.
"You look troubled boy," An old, enlightened voice broke the young man out of his stupor several hours later.
Looking up from his resting place from outside a small restaurant, Kotetsu was greeted with the sight of an elderly man. He had long, grey hair, which almost reached down to his waist, with bandages wrapped around his head. He had black eyes with distinct wrinkles underneath them, a grey goatee and mustache. Clothing-wise he wore simple a purple kimono-like outfit and sandals with a katana strapped to his waist.
"What makes you say that?" He tiredly asked.
"Well for one you have several inches of snow piled on your shoulders without a jacket, stupid." The old man shot his right arm out faster than Kotetsu would expect from a man his age, and grabbed him by the ear, and pulling him from the bench he sat on. "And two that Captain of yours has been looking for you, and he asked me to help look for you after that meeting of ours."
"Gah! All right, all right!" Slapping the offending hand away from his ear, Kotetsu proceeded to rub it in a futile attempt to soothe it.
"Grandfather don't pick on the sailor," A tiny females voice admonished the old man. Turning his head towards the sliding door of the restaurant, the Ensign saw a shoulder-length chestnut-haired and eyed girl around ten years of age in a gray kimono fuming at them. "you're late enough already, get in here or I'll give your share to the dog!"
Kotetsu sweat-dropped and turned towards the elderly man, who took it all in with a serene smile on his face. "Ai, tell your mother to set an extra plate. We have to be gracious to our guests."
"Guests?" Both Kotetsu and Ai questioned simultaneously.
"Of course, we can't send this young man away with an empty stomach." And on Que, Kotetsu's stomach let out an angry growl, causing the elderly man to let out a quiet chuckle.
"Fine, just hurry up okay?" Ai rolled her eyes before closing the sliding door.
"Why would you-"
"I can't let a fellow swordsman go hungry and die in the cold." The old man patted the teenager on the back and began walking him into the restaurant, or what Kotetsu suspected was his home as well. "And while we are at it, we can get to figuring out what has brought that cloud over your head."
Two hours later, his belly full of delicious food and his body warmed from the cold, Kotetsu mused over what he learned in that short amount of time. The elderly man who invited to dinner was Mifune; the leader of Iron Island, a man who lived by the way of the sword.
His daughter was a meek woman named Taka, who by his stomach's satisfied state was the best damn chief on the island. And let's not forget the brash girl who yelled at them, she was Mifune's granddaughter and an exact carbon copy of her mother.
During dinner Kotetsu learned firsthand from the islands leader that he met with his Captain to reestablish their trading route with the Marines. They were allowed to use the village as a resting area for ships passing through but only if the ship; or ships carried invaluable supplies. But, they also asked for permission to bring in the bigger ships for the good stuff and prisoner transport.
They agreed, but in exchange, Mifune demanded that his island be left alone for another hundred years, just like it had always been since the beginnings of the World Government over eight-hundred years ago. From what Kotetsu remembered about Iron Island's history, it was always a neutral island and every hundred years the government always asked them for one favor, and they were not bothered again.
"So it's bigger ships and prisoners now," Kotetsu commented. "forgive my boldness, but what else do you have to offer when another century rolls on by? There can't be much left after nearly eight-hundred years."
Immediately after he said that, he felt Ai trying to burn a hole into his skull with her eyes. That was quickly extinguished by Mifune. "You are right; we don't have much left to offer. The first time around we gave them our ore, the second; we forged them katana's for their Admirals, the third; trade routes."
"And much more I take it?" Kotetsu asked.
"Aye, but now is not the time to discuss such matters. What I want to talk about is the reason you were sitting on the bench in front of my family's home."
"I don't wish to discuss it; none of you would want to hear what I have to say."
"Nonsense," Taka's quiet voice spoke up for the first time. "Kotetsu, sometimes discussing something, even if it is with complete strangers can help cleanse the soul of the guilt that has been burdening you."
A sweat drop appeared on the back of the young Marine's head. "Is it that obvious?"
"Even I can see it." Ai coolly remarked.
"Dang…all right,"
Taking several steady breaths, Kotetsu spoke for the first time, fully recalling the day he took his first life. "Four months ago I was a Seaman Recruit, just barely having two months of active duty under my belt before I was assigned to Unit Forty under Vice-Admiral...his name really does not matter, trust me on this okay? We were sent to capture or kill Captain Morgan 'Moonscar' McCrite due to him butchering an entire island full of civilians.
"My unit found him after a month or hard searching, we attacked them after giving them a chance to surrender. We had five ships under our command, he had four, and we left with only one after the job was done and over with."
"One ship?" Ai covered her mouth, absolutely shocked at the massive loss of life.
"My ship to be precise, and even them we only came back with three-hundred out of the original five-hundred." Kotetsu became silent, a haunting look appearing in his pale-grey eyes. "I participated in the battle. I didn't kill anyone in the early of middle phases of the battle, I either disarmed them or wounded them enough to be out of the fight...I...I just couldn't kill any of them. I did my best to save the men in my unit as well.
"But Morgan was a cunning one. He sank our ships, butchered them men and women and laughed while he did it. And after he sunk the four ships he attacked mine. He and his men butchered my friends by the dozen. Morgan attacked the Vice-Admiral in command and they both fought it out with overwhelming power. The Vice-Admiral had Moonscar on the ropes before he pulled a lucky move by kicking him away into the sea. From then he continued to butcher us."
Kotetsu stopped his story and closed his eyes tightly to fight off any tears. "He shot Jean, my best friend right in front of me. His blood coated my entire face and I saw red. I snapped, and I tortured him. Using my Devil Fruit powers I disappeared behind him and sliced his shoulder, disappeared and sliced the side of his left thigh. After that I don't remember anything, but the survivors said that I cut into his arms, slashed his belly, and finally when the once mighty pirate fell to his knees..." Kotetsu suddenly thrust both is arms out, his eyes shining from the thought. "I slipped my blades through his ribcage, both his lungs, right until the the guard was buried in him and he blades poking out through his back. And I watched as he struggled to breathe until he died in the most painful way possible."
Soon after he said that, the light from his eyes disappeared, and his body started shaking. "But after that...I felt...I haven't felt like my old self since then. I still have nightmares seeing Morgan's cruel face mocking me when he killed Jean. But most importantly I'm afraid to use my swords. Every time I clean them I still see the blood on them, and I still feel the blood on my face." Kotetsu clutched the edge of the table and the family could hear the slight crackling of wood. "I can't talk to my family about this-especially my father, nor can I discuss this with my current crew…I just don't know what to do."
"Well that is no good." Mifune immediately said after the young man's heartfelt confession. He saw in the boy's eyes that he was in so much inner pain, and so much confliction that it was destroying what he could achieve in life. "I can see the potential in you boy. But that fear holds you back."
"I know, but-"
"It is not the fact that you took a man's life. You did the world a great service in killing that monster, what you fear is that your skills aren't good enough to protect the ones you love. That is what I see when I look at you."
"But how will I become strong enough to protect them? I fear that I have reached my limit."
"Then I will make you limitless."
Nearly three years later Mifune was still keeping his promise. Because his entire unit was stationed at Iron Island's shores Kotetsu was fortunate enough to visit Mifune and his family on a daily basis. And after three years they became almost like a second family to him. Taka treated him affectionately like a mother would, Mifune was easily the grandfather figure, and even Ai after nearly a year of giving him the cold shoulder managed to warm up to him.
But that wasn't the only thing that went on in his life. Every single day, Mifune taught him how to face his fears, how to conquer them, and taught him the way of the sword. Whatever mistakes Kotetsu made was corrected by pain with a wooden stick striking the body part he messed up with. Afterwards he was taught to meditate to clear his mind, learn from his mistakes, and mentally improve on his failures. His weaknesses soon became his strengths, his strength and speed doubled, if not tripled under his tutelage.
But not all was sunshine and rainbows. Even though his training showed the fruits of his labor, his Captain, and his crew mates looked at him with indifference and scorn. Even the Captain who was a friend to him began to either ignore, or load him down with an overwhelming amount of work that sometimes stopped his training completely for days at a time.
It wasn't until the Captain finally brought him into his quarters did the young swordsman learn the awful truth.
"I take that you wish to know why the entire crew has been…treating you differently." The Captain coldly asked.
"Quite frankly Captain, I am. What have I done to warrant this?" Kotetsu responded. "I have done everything you ask of me, I have not slacked from the duties of my rank. Is this because of my lessons with the leader of the island?"
"It is. What are you thinking boy?" He demanded.
"I feared that I was reaching my peak in my skills, Captain." The young Marine answered, "No disrespect intended, but their methods have helped me greatly. I know I have gotten stronger, faster, and-"
"I do not care! You're fraternizing with the enemy!"
"The…the enemy sir?" Kotetsu gulped a bit, and tried to ignore the uneasiness in his stomach.
"Do you know why the World Government allowed these people to stay neutral all these years?"
"Because of all the deals?"
"Because they have hidden something from us. Something that the government has been trying to find, and destroy since their creation."
"What?" The Captain's words were not making any sense. "If you're talking about weapons, all they have are katana's and they're not even in the Skillful, Grate, or Grand sword categories. At least none that I know of."
"That's where you're wrong, after nearly two decades we finally found proof that they have one of the deadliest swords ever created."
"Captain, that can't be. The deadliest swords that I know of is the Yoru (Night), wielded by "Hawk-Eyes" Mihawk and the…oh God no." Kotetsu had to fight the urge to vomit at the mere thought.
"The Kitetsu blades, boy. They have one hidden on that very island." The Captain said.
"But that still doesn't explain why the government has left them alone since the beginning. That can't be the only reason either!" Kotetsu protested, trying to find any sort of reasoning for this.
"I don't care, boy. We found what we needed, and now…we will take it." The Captain grinned. "Now, go tell the village leader that we know his secret, go to him, and tell him that we are going to get it one way, or another."
Gulping down another bile that nearly made its way to his mouth, Kotetsu saluted his Captain, and disappeared.
Once the Ensign left his room, the Captain pulled out a den den mushi from his naval jacket and spoke to into it. "Execute, Operation: Iron Fist."
"And that's what they plan on doing Master Mifune." Kotetsu finished relaying the message his Captain gave him.
"Hmm I see," Mifune rose from his sitting position. "I knew that sword would cause trouble for us one day. I guess that time has come, and now we must fight."
"Master, I know it is not my place to say this. But why not just hand it over and save yourself the trouble?"
"Because we have to keep that cursed sword out of the hands of government." Mifune growled out. "Do not believe in the lies your superiors have been telling you. Tell me boy, what do you know about the various blades that have been crafted through out the world?"
"Only that some of them are in the hands of Marines and pirates." Kotetsu truthfully answered him.
"Well the Marines have been hoarding them all ever since Kitetsu created those three swords of his centuries ago." The elderly leader said before walking out of the room, Kotetsu followed him to a room that held two sets of armor. One being the heavy gray plate armor, another being a more traditional set of green and gray armor.
"A person does not choose their sword, the sword chooses its owner," Mifune continued to speak as he began to strap on the green armor. "what they are doing is destroying bonds between sword and owner."
"A bond between sword and owner?" Kotetsu asked.
"You will find out what I mean soon my apprentice." The village leader cryptically responded as he strapped his shin guards on. "And when you do, you will never be the same ever again. The world moves a little slower, you will see and feel things that you never dreamed of. It is a great burden as it is an accomplishment."
"I…I…see," The sandy-haired teen lowered his head. "So this is it then? I may be forced to-"
"I know, and I hope to meet you on the battlefield young one." Mifune's black eyes gazed into his student's gray ones. "I was fun teaching you, Kotetsu. Fight well on the battlefield."
Upon hearing his teacher say his name for the first time, Kotetsu felt like he was torn in half. One part of his was screaming that this was wrong; this was the man who took him under his wing and brought him to his full potential. He didn't want to fight him, let alone kill him. But then again he was a Marine, his family's entire history revolved around it. His forefathers were Marine's his father was a damn Vice-Admiral, and his little brother was prepping to join up as well. But before he could even speak, a volley of gunshots broke the silence of the quiet village.
Then the screaming began.
The two swordsmen quickly bolted out of the house and were greeted to a nightmare. In the streets they saw bodies of men, women, and children lying in the streets from gunshot wounds. Kotetsu immediately lost his lunch at the sight of the carnage.
"Get down!" Mifune tackled the teenager to the ground, saving him from being hit by a volley of bullets from across the street. Despite being ancient by human standards, the old man immediately got to his feet and sprinted towards the building.
"Iaido!" Mifune shouted as he unsheathed his sword. The pressure from the swing impacted the wall of the wooden and bamboo house, cutting it clean in half, and collapsing it on itself killing any Marines within it.
Lying flat on his stomach, Kotetsu stared in shock at how easily that in one swing of his sword his teacher managed to devastate an entire building. So this was the full power of a master swordsman. Amazing, simply amazing. But then he saw the massacre and weakly stood up. He couldn't believe this, these people were unarmed, several of them were no more than tea makers. He saw the horrid look in Mifune's eyes and knew that this was unjust.
"Master Mifune!" He called out to the old man, and when the master swordsman turned his attention towards him; Kotetsu unsheathed his sabers. "This needs to be stopped."
"Good answer, Kotetsu."
"Wait, wait, wait." Naruto interrupted Kotetsu's story. "So you're telling me that all this started because of a damn sword?"
"That is correct; see the katana was created by a mad swordsman by the name of Kitetsu. He was a mad sword smith who created three katana's in his lifetime. They are cursed, and bring tragedy to whomever wields them, and they have killed hundreds of owners since they have been created." Kotetsu responded.
"So, which one do you have?"
"Let me continue the story and then you will know."
"Fine…jackass."
For three long days the men and women of Iron Island defended their home from the invading Marines of Unit Twenty-three. For Kotetsu he was surprised that they even held out for this long. The samurai of the island didn't have any sort of firearm or heavy artillery, they mainly relied on their katana's, yumi bows and arrows, and some even wielded kanabo war club or the naginata, there were even one or two who used the yari spear.
But despite their valiant efforts the residents suffered heavy casualties from gunfire. Morale was declining, civilians were getting caught in the crossfire; hell Mifune already lost his daughter when a group of Marines caught and executed her in front of them.
Soon afterwards the village was lost; on the second day they lost the forest. And now the survivors were held up in the "Three Wolves" mountains.
But even with all of that Kotetsu still found himself unwilling to kill his former comrades. Oh he wounded them, gave them crippling injuries, and even took away an arm or leg. But they just kept coming like machines. Mifune saw this, and knew that if he was not going to be of any use on the battlefield, so he stuck the sandy-haired teen with the civilians to keep them safe.
For Kotetsu, it was the best solution, so he was guarding nearly forty people; most of them being wounded civilians and samurai, including a thirteen year old Ai, who was still grieving the loss of her mother.
He didn't know what to say to her. How could he? He was part of the reason that her life was turned upside down, if they all managed to survive this assault nothing would ever be the same again. Unfortunately for him, anything that could have been said was interrupted when a cannon ball blew through the stone walls of the mountain.
"What the!? Everyone get down!" Leaping to his feet, Kotetsu viewed through the hole of the wall and saw three giant ships docked in the port, "Son of a bitch. It's Unit Thirty."
"Unit Thirty? Kotetsu, are they worse than your unit?" Ai timidly asked.
"If they're like Vice-Admiral Onigumo, then yes. Ugh, his units are heavy hitters."
"We aren't going to get out of here alive are we?" She asked.
"I do not know Ai," Another cannon ball burst through the mountain, striking helpless samurai and civilian alike with deadly shrapnel. "I honestly do not know."
"If we are to go down, we will make sure that they never get the Nidai Kitetsu (Second Generation Demon-Splitter)." Mifune joined their conversation as he entered the room. From the look of his broken and dirty armor, the elderly man had been in the middle of dozens of small battles since the invasion began. He was flanked by two samurai, both wearing heavy gray plate armor with full-face helmets with horns atop their heads.
Another cannon ball broke through the stone walls; thankfully no one was harmed this time. "But where will you go Master? All the ports have been captured, your ships destroyed…I can't see you two escaping."
"Because we can't escape." The elderly man replied, tiredly, his voice sounding tired and old. "But we will destroy the sword," This time a volley of cannon balls burst through the mountain walls, killing and maiming the last of the survivors, and causing Kotetsu to lose whatever he had left in his stomach.
"Come." Grabbing both their arms, Mifune barked at two samurai, one with a yumi bow and another with a naginata. "You two follow me now! We have to get to the third wolf head!"
"Yes, Lord Mifune." They both sounded out as they followed their elderly leader.
The five escaped from the doomed first head, leaving behind nothing but dead bodies. Kotetsu felt disgusted and horrified at the innocent lives lost to something so pointless, damn them, damn them all! "I will kill them all." He angrily growled.
"Big talk for one who did nothing but wound his former comrades." The samurai with the yumi bow dryly commented.
"Knock it off Okisuke," Mifune demanded. "Keep focused we can't allow-Gah!" The sound of gunfire erupted from behind them, and the old man flew forwards, landing on the ground clutching his bleeding left shoulder.
"Bastards!" Okisuke yelled angrily, spinning on his right heel, the samurai fluidly drew his bow, knocked an arrow, and let it loose. Striking a Marine right in the eye with the arrow, he brought his right arm up and retrieved another arrow.
"Come on my Lord, up and at 'em." The second, bigger samurai easily shouldered his village leader.
"Thank you Urakaku." Mifune thanked the other samurai through clenched teeth. "Okisuke, hurry up!"
After letting loose another arrow, Okisuke nodded and followed his lord until they reached the rope bridge leading towards the second wolf head. The five were half-way across the bridge when a group of thirty Marines finally caught up to them. Ten of them raised their flintlock muskets, and fired at the retreating group.
Seven shots missed them completely, but two hit their mark with Okisuke who was at the back of the retreating group. One bullet ripped through his stomach, and another hit him in the back of his right leg, and the last one hit the back of his helmet, it didn't penetrate but it did cause it to fly from his head. The samurai collapsed with a painful grunt.
It was Kotetsu who noticed that he went down. Even though he was exhausted from the lack of food and sleep, he activated his devil fruit powers and disappeared to where Okisuke fell. Grabbing him, he disappeared back to the group, grabbed them all and disappeared until they were clear on the other side of the bridge.
Plopping behind cover Kotetsu collapsed to the ground exhausted, but that didn't stop him from turning towards Okisuke who was clutching his belly. "Oh God, the bullet went right through the liver."
"I know," Okisuke grunted. Looking up at him, He revealed himself to be a bald man with violet-colored, pupiless eyes, with a cross-shaped scar that extended across his forehead and descended downward past his permanently closed right eye, whereas a green dragon tattoo was inscribed above his left. "Just go, save Lord Mifune, I will hold them off as long as I can."
Mifune, Ai, and Urakaku lowered their heads to hide the anguish looks on their faces. Okisuke was one of the loyalist men that served Mifune since he could wield a sword. It was tragic to see him like that. "Give them hell, son."
"I will my Lord." Okisuke nodded toward them. And once they were out of his sight, he sighed deeply and got to his feet. Grabbing his bow he knocked an arrow, drew the string back to his cheek, and let it loose. The arrow impacted into the chest of a Marine, and he toppled off the cliff.
For three minutes the group of Marines shot at the wounded samurai. Bullets impacted off the rock he was taking cover behind, but every one of Okisuke's arrows were true. Each hit was instantly fatal, arrows protruded through the Marine's throats, eyes, and hearts. Letting loose another arrow, Okisuke brought his arm back to get another arrow from his quiver. But to his horror, he felt nothing; he was completely out of arrows.
Dropping the bow, Okisuke took a deep breath. So this was the day he was going to die, it was strange, he thought he would fear death when his time came. Instead it felt…refreshing. Unsheathing his katana into his right hand, and his wakizashi into his left. The wounded samurai let out a ferocious roar that would make an alpha lion look like a timid creature, and charged at the oncoming Marines.
Ignoring the pain in his leg, the blood gushing out of his stomach and the bullets impacting into his armor the proud samurai charged on. Bullets ricochet from his armor, some passed right through him, he was a dead man walking, but he didn't care. All he wanted to do was take as many of these bastards with him when he died.
Okisuke reached the end of the bridge, and lashed out with his swords. The deadly steel sliced through the bodies of five Marines, and he would have taken more if Ben, the Marine who badmouthed Kotetsu nearly three years prior. He raised his flintlock pistol from behind the samurai's turned back, and shot him in the back of the head.
Even though he cut down at least half the Marines coming at him, Okisuke died with a serene smile on his face. It was a shame that one-hundred more Marines were charging up the slopes of the mountain.
"Damn it…just damn it." Kotetsu growled under his breath.
"He died the way he wanted." Even though it was true, Mifune's voice was filled with regret and sadness. "Come if we don't hurry, his sacrifice will be in vain."
Once they reached the bottom of the second wolf head the small group were met with an unpleasant surprise that dropped in front of them. "Grenado's, watch out!" Kotetsu screamed.
Grabbing Ai the young swordsman forcefully called upon his exhausted powers and disappeared towards the entrance. Urakaku and Mifune however were not so lucky, but the big samurai was one step ahead as he pivoted on his heel, dropped his header into his burly arms and brought his back to the four grenado's. The fuses on the four clay balls quickly fizzled into the top and exploded.
The shrapnel impacted against Urakaku's armor. Various nails, or scrap metal pierced through the already damaged armor. The naginata-wielding man gasped out in pain when he felt the hot shrapnel pierced into his back, and tore up his insides.
"My…Lord," Urakaku wetly gasped out, "Are you okay?" He hacked into his helmet, creating a sickly splattering sound within it.
"I'm a little scratched up but fine. Thank you Urakaku, let me get that helmet off." Getting a hold of his trembling nerves, Mifune brought his hands to his second right-hand man's helmeted face, and pulled it off to reveal a middle aged man with black-hair tied into a traditional chonmage and very thick eyebrows with similarly colored eyes. The only distinguishing features he had were a bulbous nose and a prominent scar located just above his right eyebrow.
Wiping the blood away from his mouth, Urakaku bowed his head towards the man who trained both him and Okisuke since they were little. "Master, it is my time." He said to him.
"I will meet you in the afterlife my student. May we forever spar in the promised land." Giving the dying man a final pat on the shoulder Mifune left him to his fate.
And when the Marine's arrived three minutes later, the entrance leading towards the third wolf head was blocked by the large samurai. Gripping his naginata he rushed forward with great speed that should not have been possible in his condition.
Swinging the bladed staff weapon Urakaku sliced taking off part of the skull of one unfortunate Marine, exposing the brain. He slashed through the face and jaw and slicing off another, slicing the lower part of the jawbone off in an instant. He then thrusted forward, impaling four Marines through their hearts. The haft of the weapon was then sliced off by the sabre of another Marine, who was then stabbed through the neck by the splintered wood by the enraged samurai.
"I don't need a weapon to kill you! I am a Weapon!" Lunging forward Urakaku began tearing into the ranks of opposing enemies with his bare hands. He Tore through throats, crushed skulls, broke necks, and pulled arms off. But at the same time he took many attacks to his exposed torso, dozens of sabers protruded from his body, but self-preservation, his spirit already left his body. Yet his consciousness continued to urge him to on, to give his teacher a little more time.
But then Ben put an end to that buy lifting his flintlock pistol, and shooting his oncoming body right in the head.
"Just three more left." He smirked in self-satisfaction.
As Urakaku's last stand came to an end, Mifune, Kotetsu, and Ai finally got to their destination where the object that caused all this destruction and pain. It was a katana propped up on a simple display stand with a black scabbard, the guard was bone white with four crescent moons that covered the dark maroon handle, and a crimson tassel hung from the end of it that held a small ceremonial bell attached to it.
Mifune glared at the weapon and unsheathed his own katana. The steel blade was fairly long and thin, the hand-guard was rectangular in shape, and its long hilt was wrapped in bandages. This sword was Kurosawa (Black Swamp), the only sword other than Nidai Kitetsu was one of the twenty-one swords in the Great Grand Sword category.
"Master Mifune, will Kurosawa be able to destroy that cursed sword?" Kotetsu questioned.
"We will see." Raising the sword above his head Mifune was about to unleash the Iaido to destroy the thing once and for all. But instead he turned around and unleashed the pressurized swing at the entrance, obliterating several Marines aiming their rifles from the entrance.
"Haha! You're out of steam old man." A cruel, mocking voice echoed from the entrance. Walking inwards Ben revealed himself.
Kotetsu would never forget the face of a monster in human skin. Ben was taller than the average human; he was muscular as he was obese. Clutched in his hands were two double barreled flintlock pistols, and a smile marred his bald, mutton chopped face as his black eyes glinted with cruelty.
"Ben," Kotetsu gritted out. "I should have known you would lead the charge on this insanity."
"And you would be right Ensign." Ben spat out the rank like it was poison.
"Tell me, why…all this…this senseless slaughter, why do they want this sword? It's supposed to be a cursed blade!"
"Ha! You really think it's just about a stupid sword? Oh boy, oh boy, you are so naive. It's not just about the sword, it's about the entire island itself!"
"What!?" Mifune and Ai demanded.
"Your ancestors foolishly declared yourselves neutral. Back then the World Government didn't care, but now…well we can't have that now can we? There will not be any neutrality, and your island will be made an example of."
"An 'official report' then." Kotetsu concluded as he put the pieces together. "An insurrection, you bastards."
"Smart pretty boy," Ben casually raised his right arm, and shot the exhausted teen in the side. Causing him to cry out in pain as the blood started leaking out. "Don't worry; the 'official report' will have you killed in action by these savages. Daddy dearest would be proud."
"Not on my watch!" Ignoring both Kotetsu and Ai's cries, the wounded village leader burst forward. He let out a loud cry of defiance as he gripped Kurosawa's hilt with both his hands.
Mifune was met with a hail of gunfire from thirty plus Marines, turning his entire body into nothing but a torn up corpse. His defiant eyes still open, the village leaved fell to his knees, his hands dropping his katana onto the stone floor with a loud clatter, and fell to his side dead to the world.
"Haha! And now I killed the leader of the uprising! I am going to get a huge promotion for this!" Ben pumped his fist in triumph; oh this was his lucky day. Then settling his eyes on the final two, he dropped the pistol from his right hand, took one from one of the Marines who was reloading his rifle, and strolled over to them.
Despite the pain in his right side, Kotetsu stood up on his wobbly legs. Breathing through clenched teeth he unsheathed one of his sabers into his right hand, which was cruelly shot at buy the pistol Ben took from his colleague. The iron musket ball hit the area where the steel was fused with the hilt, snapping the blade in two, causing the young Marine to fall to his knee.
Dropping the gun, Ben raised his remaining pistol and pulled back one of the hammers. Leveling it at Kotetsu's heart he was about to pull the trigger when Ai got in the way. "Get out of the way girl, I will get to you after him." The ugly Marine growled.
Despite the tears falling from her eyes, the pain of seeing her last loved one die. Ai was not afraid of him. What did she have to lose after all? "I don't know what my grandfather saw in him. But I will not allow you to kill him, if want him you will have to go through me!"
"Ai, don't do this!" Kotetsu gritted through clenched teeth. "Don't waste your life on me."
"No Kotetsu, you life will not end this day." Ai calmly closed her eyes and her entire body relaxed, almost like she was at peace with her decision.
With a cruel smile Ben aimed his pistol at her head and pulled the trigger.
Ai's lifeless body fell to the stone floor, leaving Kotetsu's horrified face covered in her innocent blood. Ben then casually stepped over her body like it was garbage, and kicked the stunned teen in the chest, sending him crashing against the display stand. As the stand broke beneath his back, Nidai Kitetsu fell right into Kotetsu's lap.
"Last man standing, eh? Shitty luck for you boy." Pulling back the hammer to his pistol Ben gave him one last cruel smile. "Goodbye, Kotetsu."
But Kotetsu wasn't paying attention. He was entirely shell shocked, everything he knew was a lie, everyone he knew, befriended was dead.
His heart thumped once as the hammer started going down.
Twice when the hammer lit the gunpowder.
And for a third time when the bullet came forth from the barrel.
His right hand unconsciously gripped the hilt of the cursed sword. And felt the presence of it, the soul of the sword, he felt it beg to be unleashed. To kill the ones who wiped out an entire population, to avenge the innocents who died because of them!
And a part of him immediately agreed.
Faster than anyone could blink, Kotetsu unsheathed the katana. The ebony blade with the red vein going through the middle of it came forth for the first time in years, and sliced the offending bullet in two.
"What the-" Ben whispered in shock.
"If you want to kill me," Kotetsu's voice suddenly took a high, psychotic pitch to it. "Then you motherfuckers will have to do better than that." With renewed strength and energy the sandy-haired teen disappeared, and then reappeared at the entrance of the third wolf head in front of a large group of Marines.
And the group looked on in horror as Ben and the group he went in with screamed out in agony. Their hands clutched cut open throats, they placed their hands where their hearts and lungs were, their livers, kidneys, any vital area really. Some just fell over brain dead, while others desperately clang to life.
"Oh my, so many victims. And so much fun to be had!" Kotetsu squealed with insane glee.
And for then for two hours the crazed swordsman hunted down the invading Marines. His psychotic laughs haunted the victims as he killed them. Some were in big groups thinking that vast numbers would protect them…well at least they didn't die alone.
Those who ran, he hunted them down like the dog they were. Some of them put up a desperate fight, which made it all the more satisfying when his blades tasted their blood. But others committed suicide, causing him to sigh in dissatisfaction at them taking the easy way out.
And then there were the ships. Oh, Kotetsu loved the ships. Especially the medical bay, just hearing the screams of the wounded put a bounce in his step when he slowly cut their throats wide open. The Captain of Unit Thirty…well unfortunately he proved to be a coward and blew head off with a blunderbuss.
When he approached his former Captain's quarters, Kotetsu sincerely hoped that he could not be disappointed.
"Vice-Admiral Doberman, please send reinforcements!" The Captain begged over his den den mushi. "Ensign Kotetsu he's slaughtered all of us. Captain Jay is dead, our wounded are dead, my men are holding him-"
The Captain's transmission was interrupted when five headless bodies burst through the thick doors to his quarters. When Kotetsu walked in, he lost control of his bladder.
Kotetsu looked like someone from a horror movie. Clutched in his hands were his two swords that were dripping with flesh blood, and as he strolled forward the blood on his naval coat dripped onto the expensive carpet, his naval shoes leaving bloody footprints in his wake. Kotetsu's restricted pupils were twitching madly, showing no hint of sanity within him, and the wide, bloody smile cause a ball of doom to drop into his stomach.
"Ensign, I-" The Captain was silenced when Nidai Kitetsu sliced open his cheek.
"Shut your fucking mouth Captain Weed." Kotetsu spat on the quivering Captain. "Stand up!" The Captain quickly stood to his feet. "Now draw your sword, the last one disappointed me. I hope you can provide me some entertainment before you die."
"N-n-no, I won't do it! Kotetsu come to your senses!" Captain Weed screamed.
He only got a grunt of dissatisfaction when Kotetsu lashed out with his two swords, cutting his legs off at the knee caps. "So much respect he had for you." Kotetsu said angrily, "What a joke!" Lifting his arms above his head the swordsman buried his two swords into the screaming Captain's lungs.
"Captain Weed report!" A static voice echoed from the den den mushi resting on the deceased Captain's hickory desk. "Weed! Report now!"
Picking up the snail Kotetsu pressed the button on the shell. "Doberman, is that you?" He hissed. "On second thought, I don't care. Know this; this massacre just sealed your fate. Yours and Onigumo's. I'm coming for the both of you!"
"Good luck..."Blood-Soaked" Kotetsu." Vice-Admiral Doberman calmly replied over the den den mushi before hanging up.
Crushing the den den mushi Kotetsu spat to the side. "Now what am I supposed to do? I killed everyone already...or did I?"
Unfortunately for Kotetsu he didn't find anymore Marines to kill. He looked around the entire island but didn't find anybody, no Marines, no civilians, and no samurai. Everybody...everybody was dead. He didn't know how, but he found himself inside the third wolf head once again.
He didn't know why, but the sole survivor of the island collected Mifune's sword. He felt the despair and loneliness coming from Kurosawa, it felt he was crying. He felt his insanity dampen when he heard the cries, closing his eyes he pulled the scabbard from Mifune's sash and sheathed the sword to silence it.
"I can't leave them." He whispered to himself. Securing Kurosawa in his belt, Kotetsu picked up his deceased masters body, and then he went to Ai's.
It would be hours later when Kotetsu finally left the island, he stole a small ship that was tethered to one of the larger ships of Unit Thirty. He also stole a good amount of water and rations to survive for a few weeks. "Goodbye Iron Island." Kotetsu said as the island faded into the distance, "I will never...forget you." his voice went back to normal as tears fell from his eyes.
"And after that…I buried Master Mifune, Ai, Urakaku, Taka, and Okisuke in unmarked graves in the woods. And then I stole one of their small ships and fled the Grand Line. But I was pursued the entire way. Unit Twelve of the East Blue tracked me here, and the other me killed them all. That's my story Uzumaki Naruto." Kotetsu tiredly finished up his tale.
"So you…or the other you took out that many Marines? Huh, well I'm impressed actually." Naruto whistled.
"Don't be, killing is not something to be enjoyed. But every time I get a great amount of blood on my face…Magara come out."
"Magara?" Naruto raised a blond eyebrow.
"I named him that because he loves to spill blood, every attack he has is meant to draw out the most amount of blood with each strike." Kotetsu lowered his head and spat to the side. "Every time he comes out, I see through his eyes. I know what he...what I have done. What are you going to do with me now Uzumaki? If you're going to kill me then do it quickly."
Naruto's right arm reached out, he thought about complying with his request. But…Queen Otohime's words rang through his head; it was one of her speeches towards being kind to humanity. But Hody's teachings urged him to split his head open. He was just another filthy, useless human.
It was reasoning that caused him to undo the ropes binding the young man. He had some sailing experience, and he came from the Grand Line. He would show him the way home.
"You are of use to me, Kotetsu." Naruto said as he scooted the two swords towards him with his right foot. "I need to get home, take me there and I will make sure you have a safe haven on Fishman Island. What do you say?"
Pulling the two swords close to his chest like the precious treasures they were. Kotetsu looked up at the tiger shark fishman. "I will do it…Captain."
(1) If you know who he is, then you had an awesome childhood and can declare yourself awesome for the month!
Armageddon: Well folks I'm back and man what a month. I apologize for the wait, but I believe this is well worth it, especially for a Halloween night. Enjoy it my minions, for the night is ours! Muhahahaha!
Everyone: *slowly backs away from the crazy writer*
Armageddon: Oh before I forget, Kotetsu was created and is owned by Agurra of the Darkness.