I don't own Naruto or One Piece. I honestly don't know what else to do in order to get the rights to either of them. Sending threatening messages didn't work, yelling didn't work, and flying to Japan to fistfight random people didn't work. Perhaps I should try asking them politely?...Nah.
"Talk" Talking
'Think' Thinking
I remember the day it all started like it was yesterday. The Minister on the Left came looking for me in the Fishman District, I had been spending a lot of time there, mainly cage fighting, collecting some nice scratch from it, and of course drinking. I should tell you right now it was about this time I got myself...well Hody got me a tattoo of a dagger piercing a human skull on the underside of my right forearm. It was to show my allegiance towards him or some bullshit like that, I didn't care I just wanted to get inked.
Back onto the topic, he came to me because Jinbe sent a package to me. Something I found odd since I didn't hear from him in two years, I mean sure he sent me training scrolls, but the last one was a year ago to that very day. Well after kicking some ass I went to my room where the package was, and its contents ticked me off. Two log poses' and a letter of him pleading to take care of a mistake he made long ago regarding "Saw-Tooth Arlong" an infamous fishman worth twenty million beli.
I struggled with my conscience. I mean I didn't have to do anything, I was content on Fishman Island. I was pretty damn strong, strong enough to protect Shirahoshi. But at the same time I knew of Arlong's reputation, I mean who didn't? He had a nasty temper and would frequently kill anyone who annoyed him. I thought of the children who might have lost their parents thanks to him, and fully knowing how much of a hole it tears into you I decided to go and stop him. I didn't do it for Jinbe, I did it for my own conscience.
I first went to Shirahoshi to tell her I would be gone for two weeks tops, she didn't take it too well, but I never broke a promise to her so she accepted it. My older brothers however...had different plans.
King Neptune wanted to see me. I didn't know what for, hell I still don't but my promise was more important than hearing him out...it didn't help that I was still bitter about them lying and a little shit back then.
A few months ago I did not care I put Fukaboshi in critical condition, or gave Manboshi or Ryuboshi concussions or fractured skulls. But as I write this, and a couple of new experiences under my belt, I cannot help but feel disgusted with myself. We aren't blood-related, but they treated me like I was one of their own, and I repay them with anger and injuries. Queen Otohime...hell my very own parents would be disappointed in me, probably turning in their graves.
But I did it, I can't undo it. Nor can I undo what I did with Hody. He caught me about to leave with a new tattoo with the Arlong Pirates Jolly Roger on his arm. He was pissy that I was going to leave without telling him, I managed to weasel my way out of any punishment regaling to him what I did to my brothers. That kept his own anger at bay, and he even gave me a bag. I don't know what it is; but the only thing he said that if things get too rough, take "them" and I would become as strong as him...whatever the hell that meant.
Skipping forward a week I found myself on the Conomi Islands where Arlong set up what was know as "Arlong Park". I arrived in Gosa Village, apparently Arlong lost his shit and flipped every house upside down, I turned them right side up with one arm because I was bored and unimpressed.
Upon reaching Cocoyasi Village...lets just say hearing their life stories stirred a little something in me. It was from this woman that went by the name of Nojiko, she told me how Arlong used this monster to destroy Gosa Village (Which I learned from her, duh), how he killed her friend and her family because they couldn't pay the tax he put on the island. It was one-hundred thousand beli for an adult and fifty-thousand beli for children each month in order to live. God I cannot imagine the amount of stress that could put on a person. She also told me that on the first day he killed her mother and took her sister as a slave, and by now you should know how I am regarding moms, slavery, and death being in the same story.
So I decided to pay Arlong a visit. My first intention was to try and recruit him into Hody's crew, that would earn some major brownie points with him, but if he and everyone told me to fuck off, then I would fight them.
Imagine my surprise when I met the sister of that woman exiting from Arlong Park, Nami was her name, and being a bitch was her game. Heh, we certainly started off on the wrong foot that was for damn sure. After she left my sight I went into Arlong Park to confront the pirate crew.
Man that was just a life changing moment.
"Naruto put us down!" Nami shouted.
"No! We're making excellent time!" Naruto yelled at the orange-haired thief.
"You said that five hours ago, and while you might not need to run on food, us normal people need to get something in our stomachs to survive!"
"I...I agree with Nami. While the positions you put us in are comfortable I don't think we can stop Crocodile is we're too dizzy or unable to stand up straight after you put us down." Vivi seconded.
"Come on Naruto, we will be at Rainbase by nightfall, an hour of rest won't hurt anyone, especially you!" Chopper said to the fishman. "As the only doctor here, I make that a doctors order!"
"You're not my doctor...but fine, an hours rest, nothing longer." Naruto relented before he slowed down to a snails crawl before taking a knee so both women, who were perched on his shoulders, and reindeer resting on the back of his neck to get off to rest.
Clad in his usual clothing, with his orange keffiyeh and tan traveling coat as his newest additions to protect himself from the harsh desert climate. Naruto, with Vivi, Nami, and Chopper in tow made excellent progress from time lost thanks to Crocodile sending them flying all over the desert.
Now how did they make such good time you ask? While in good shape, both Vivi and Nami couldn't run nearly forty miles in a day, and Chopper being a reindeer couldn't due to his fur. So that left Naruto with one option. After leaving Hack's camp, he unceremoniously picked up both women and rested them on his broad shoulders, and ordered Chopper to climb on his head. After that he began running, and had not stopped since then.
At first they struggled, well Nami kinda struggled because this was unexpected, Chopper screamed in terror for the first five minutes, and complained for another five minutes berating on him doing such a reckless thing, especially after nearly kicking the bucket. Vivi thankfully took it in stride and stayed perched on his right shoulder without a complaint.
Was it insane of him for doing something like this? The answer was hell no! Naruto never felt better in his entire life! Between being able to breathe properly, and his body no longer sluggish he swore he could run a hundred miles with all three of them on his back with no issues at all! Technology was amazing! The blonde had absolutely no idea what made the device work, but he didn't care, the results outweighed his worries!
After running for about five hours straight, the near boundless fishman knew that even he had to eat something. So after unloading his cargo, he collapsed onto his butt and closed his eyes before uncapping the canteen that was given to him by the Revolutionaries and too a long swing before capping it. "Nothing like a good run to loosen your muscles."
"You're insane. Yesterday you almost suffocated, but now you're acting like your invincible." Nami grumbled at him.
"Because I feel it. I tell you I will not take air or water for granted ever again." Naruto replied before looking the three over as Chopper reached into his backpack to pull out some ration bars.
"Just don't overdue it, we do not know a thing about that device." The small reindeer said before offering him one of the bars. "Um here, I don't know if you will like this or not."
"What makes you think I won't?" The blonde questioned.
"Well...uh...since you're a shark fishman, I figured you would prefer meat. I mean this isn't meat, it's just a ration bar." Chopper nervously said with a slight laugh at the end.
"Food is food to me." Naruto said before plucking the ration bar from his hoof-hand. "Except fresh vegetables, yuck. Let it sit for a day or three before talking to me."
After a small laugh shared by the three just imagining his expression, Nami asked him something that he really did not expect from her. "So Naruto, I got to ask. Why would you go out on a limb to save me?"
"Huh?" Was the blonde's clever response.
"I talked with Nojiko before I left the island. She told you everything Arlong did to us, right?" When Nami saw him nod in response, she continued. "And I was not exactly the most polite when we first met...or afterwards." Yea that was putting it mildly, Naruto had seen kinder greetings from Sea Kings than her. "You're not a fan of humans, I can understand why from what I heard from that rant of yours when I was drifting in and out of consciousness."
"What did you exactly hear?" Naruto cautiously asked.
"That you lost your childhood, death, and right to hate too. Like I said I was drifting in and out of consciousness." The orange-haired Navigator said. "I honestly can't figure you out. You don't like us, and yet you saved Vivi as a kid, saved us from certain death, and you're traveling with humans."
Naruto did not answer, not at first of course. He sat munching on his ration bar for several long seconds before saying. "I am giving you a chance Nami. Since I left Fishman Island I learned something that I should have been taught a long time ago. Just like there are bad humans, there are also bad fishmen. One bad apple does not apply to the entire race, that was why I saved you, even though you were a complete bitch towards me."
While crass, and outright rude, Naruto's answer was honest. Nami was actually grateful for that, she opened her mouth to ask another question, Naruto however stopped her. "I am not ready to speak of my childhood, everyone will have to wait for that. Right now we have to focus on kicking Crocodile's ass."
"Speaking of which..." Nami spoke up again concerning their situation. "We've seen what he can do and I do not like our odds. With a Logia devil fruit that turns him into sand, and being in a desert, and a Shichibukai to boot does not improve our chances." She then gestured towards the only blonde in their group. "You're possibly the worst person to fight him thanks to your weakness to dry environments."
"That was then when I was coughing up sand. Now that I can breathe I can possibly take him on. But if I don't then I am not going to sweat over it." Naruto said with a careless shrug of his shoulders.
"Well Crocodile is also the reason we have the Rebel Army. If I can get a hold of their leader, maybe we can stop this mess before it gets even more out of hand." Vivi piped in with her own idea. "All we need to do is get the the palace before anything happens."
Naruto could only feel a pit in his stomach after she said that. It wasn't due to hunger, that ration bar was actually filling, it was one of those bad feelings like something happened, but he didn't know what.
"I hope you're right Vivi, I honestly do." Naruto said in response.
The four of them rested for a good hour, stuffing their faces with bland, untasting ration bars, rehydrating, and getting some rest for Naruto at least; not that it was needed, he felt like a million beli. But after their rest period ended, Naruto put both women on his shoulders, Chopper on his back, and resumed at his fast pace towards Rainbase.
(Meanwhile - Alabasta's Desert)
Heat and sand. Good God how could people live here? Those were Kotetsu's inner thoughts throughout the day. Even though he was on a camel that didn't spit on him, the sandy winds always seemed to hit him like it had some sort of grudge with his existence.
The mood of the group had not changed. The people were still pissed off, they had gone through five towns now, word had spread like wildfire and people were joining left and right. Their numbers went from fifty-thousand to half a million in the first day, and more people were joining by the hour with each town or village they rode through.
The chants of "Death to King Cobra" still rang in his ears. This entire group was nothing but a powder keg waiting to explode, and he feared that the entire country would wipe itself out at this rate.
And that fucker Shiin was not helping matters! He kept going on and on how he lost his little girl to the drought, crying crocodile tears, and egging them all on.
Kotetsu had to physically restrain himself from slipping Nidai Kitetsu between his ribs.
"You scared?" Kotetsu turned his head to see Farafra speaking to him. "Of the battle to come I mean?"
"Of course I am, anyone who says they aren't afraid is either a fool or a liar." The sandy-haired swordsman replied.
"Hmph, well said." Farafra said before absentmindedly gripping his right shoulder.
"Are you wounded, do I need to find a doctor?" Kotetsu asked.
"There is no need." Farafra threw back his cloak to reveal his lack or right arm, and a chunk of his shoulder missing. "I lost it protecting Koza a long time ago. It's just the phantom pains."
"A sacrifice willingly paid?"
"Always."
Kotetsu was quiet after that, a sacrifice willingly paid to do what you felt was right. Not too long ago he felt that way, he would have sacrificed anything for his comrades in the Marines. He would lay down his life to fight the pirates that plagued the innocent citizens, and the World Government.
But now he knew that the feeling was not replicated. They were just pawns, sacrificial pawns to the highest order...just like the Rebels and the solders of the Royal Army being manipulated by Crocodile.
"Hey you gonna be all right?" Farafra asked, seeing the faraway look in his comrades eyes.
"Yea, uh...I think I just need some food in my stomach. I skipped breakfast this morning." Kotetsu lied before lightly grabbing his stomach.
"Ah, go to the pink-haired woman. She should have enough leftover from this morning to fill you up." The hippo-like man licked his lips before placing his left hand on his stomach. "Mmm, she has made the best food I've ever eaten."
"You don't know the half of it." He said under his breath. Clicking his teeth Kotetsu nudged the camel to the side and made his way to the back of the massive group of angry men and women. It was there he met Carmen with the rest of the chefs sitting on wagons, some even cooking in the back of them.
"Took you long enough." The pink-haired woman said when her companion rode up next to her.
"I couldn't get away. Where is everyone else?" Kotetsu asked.
"Igaram is pretending to be among the wounded. We wrapped his face in bandages before entering the city, he's currently trying to find any and all information regarding what happened in Nanohana." Carmen replied, lightly glancing around to make sure they weren't being overheard. "Goldenweek and those brothers aren't too far away. I made sure they stayed by me."
"Good, listen when we stop for the night I need to talk to her."
"Goldenweek?" Carmen asked with a raised eyebrow. "Kotetsu what is going on?"
"There's this guy named Shiin. Pallid complexion, long black hair, very skeevy-looking. I think he's hiding something." Kotetsu replied.
"What makes you say that?"
"His honey-coated words are enraging the people, if I was a betting man I would say he was part of the Baroque Works."
Carmen frowned in response to that. Honestly they should have known that they wouldn't stand around with their thumbs shoved up where the sun don't shine. "When we settle in for tonight, come find me after dinner. I'll find Goldenweek, Igaram, and those two idiots before then. We'll make this Shiin guy talk."
"Uzumaki told us we're not going to torture anybody." Kotetsu replied, his voice holding a tone of warning. "And I quite frankly I agree with him. I don't want to...well you know."
"Kotetsu, Kotetsu, Kotetsu..." Carmen let go of the reins and lightly patted his shoulder in a placating voice. "I know what Naruto said. But it seems to me that you took one too many blows to the head. Goldenweek is our ticket with those paints of hers. It made me catatonic and you a blubbering mess. If we bind him, and she dabs some paint on his forehead he will sing like a love struck canary."
"Carmen, sometimes you scare the hell out of me." Kotetsu dryly said, a deadpan expression adorning his face.
"I'm more than just a pretty face Kotetsu." Carmen said with a sweet smile adorning her features.
(Rainbase)
"All right here is the plan." Gin announced to the group of men and woman that were crammed in his room.
They arrived at Rainbase in the middle of the afternoon. Using the money he looted off the corpses within that spider den, and whatever he had on his person, Gin helped pay for the rooms they needed to hold up in for the night. And after they were cleaned up, got some food in their bodies and everything else that was needed to function, he called every last person into his bedroom for a little talk.
"Plan, what plan?" Zoro irritably demanded.
"The plan to rob this casino!" Gin happily replied before pulling out a marker he stole from some smuck in the casino earlier and began writing on the wall.
"Gin you're not supposed to write on the walls!" Shizune exclaimed.
"Am I the only one who heard something about robbing the casino?" Sanji asked.
"Yes, me! Gin you can't do that!" Usopp exclaimed.
"Why the fuck not?" The First Mate of the Ocean Sword Pirates demanded. "We're pirates, that's what we do. We steal money to buy whatever our hearts desire, and for me that is wood and other stuff for my ship." Gin then wrote on the wall, spelling out Crocodile's name in big bold letters. "Secondly this place is owned by Crocodile, we steal his money, we hurt him and his organization." He then began to draw a crude bracket that went from the big man himself to the underlings that they knew about.
"You know...that is not a bad idea." Bashura seconded with a shrug of his massive shoulders. "Dunno if the Cap'n will agree."
"Well Uzumaki isn't here, and I'm the First Mate for a reason so we're gonna do this. We pull this off and every last one of us will be very rich." Gin replied. "So who's in?"
"We do need money for food since our idiot Captain gave all ours away to those lizards." Sanji muttered.
"Plus the ship has taken a beating, she'll need some repairs." Zoro said, directing his attention towards Usopp who looked appalled by the plan.
"We really are doing this, aren't we?" Shizune deadpanned, she honestly should have known better than to come to the room when she could have been sleeping on a comfortable bed.
"Damn right we are. The first thing we need are women, Shizune you will lead while we find a dress for Sanji." Gin said, drawing a very unflattering picture for the both of them, the main one being Sanji in drag.
"Hold on a second why am I supposed to wear a dress!?" The blonde chef demanded.
"Because you can pass as a girl, who else would do it. Bashura?" Gin pointed at the largest man in the room, and the mental image of him being in a dress with his build was comical to say the least. "Now you're going to follow Shizune while Zoro; your man servant follows you."
"Fucking what!?" Zoro demanded.
"Well who else is going to be his man servant? The long-nosed one?" Gin pointed at Usopp, he was definitely not man servant material.
"Why can't you have the giant do it?" The green-haired swordsman demanded.
"Because he's going to be the prized pet that keeps his sensitive ears open. The guards and employees will talk, he will overhear something about a vault, and after you two ladies gamble a little bit, we will retreat for a little while. That is where me, and the long-nosed one comes in." Gin said, drawing a terrible version of a fat Zoro in a tuxedo, and a blobish Bashura in his full panther form with top hat included.
"I have a name you know!" Usopp bellowed.
"And nobody cares." Gin growled out in response before drawing an equally terrible picture of them; Usopp having an abnormally long nose and himself with giant eyebrows for some reason. "You and I will come in as potential gamblers, and when there is a security rotation we will used that time to grab one of them, force him to reveal the location of the vault, and then we grab everything we can carry on our backs and run for our lives!"
"To where exactly?" Shizune demanded.
"Alubarna, we can stow our ill-gained funds in the palace. King Cobra will more than likely give us some posh rooms, and we can start to kicking Crocodile's ass." Gin said before finishing writing his plan on the walls, crappy drawings and all. "Any questions?"
Every single person raised their hands.
"No questions, lets get to work people!"
Before anyone could begin grumbling and get to their feet to leave and do Gin's asinine plan, they received a loud knock on the door.
"Who is it?" Gin carefully asked, if it was room service he was gonna get his gun. If it was an ambush they would die, if it wasn't the server wouldn't ask for a tip.
"It's Vivi. Gin? Is everyone here?"
"Vivi!" Sanji exclaimed in a love struck manner before springing to his feet. "My Princess of the desert, not even the purest waters can sate me when I look upon your-" The blonde-haired chef's love rant was interrupted when the door opened, slamming right into his face.
The perpetrator was none other than Naruto, who was looking much healthier than he was just a day ago. "Huh, did I hit something?" He asked, not knowing Sanji was twitching behind the door.
"Nothing important." Everyone deadpanned in union.
"Well great then, glad you guys are here...wait where's Luffy?" He asked.
"We lost him somewhere in the desert." Zoro lowly bit out. That was a failure he was not going to let go of anytime soon. "But he'll turn up."
"Are you sure?" Vivi asked in concern, and who could blame her? They saw him get mummified right in front of their eyes after all.
"Y-yea, of course. It's going to take more than that to keep Luffy down, he's going to be King of the Pirates after all!" Usopp exclaimed.
"So...Cap'n, you're looking well." Bashura said before looking at the fishman's neck. "Picked up something handy along the way?"
"Yea. It's a long story, and I promise to explain it later. But first..." Naruto looked over to the side out of view. "Come on you two, move it!"
"I'm trying!" Came Chopper's cry. "But Nami won't let go of it!"
"Come on Chopper, I just want to hold it a little longer!" Nami's voice whined out in return.
Curiosity getting the best of them, the conscience members of their respective crews moved from their positions and peeked outside the door. What they saw had their mouths hanging open in a dumbfounded manner.
Chopper, now roughly the size of Bashura was playing a game of tug of war with Nami. Both reindeer and human were pulling on a giant bag with a dollar sign on it, and to the shame of Bashura, Nami seemed to be winning.
"What on earth is that?" Shizune asked the million beli question.
"Well funny thing..." Naruto replied, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck. "When we arrived we didn't have enough money for any rooms. I had at least a thousand beli on me, but I figured everyone could use some space instead of being cramped in one room, so I went gambling. It turns out I am really good at it." He then made his way over to the bag and plucked it from Nami's grasp. "I made all the dealers cry."
"How...how much did you win?" Gin asked.
"Um..." Naruto unconsciously moved his arm up and down, causing Nami to jump for the bag while in thought. "Enough to make them ask me to politely leave with tears in their eyes. Didn't even get charged for the rooms either."
"But...but...my plan." Gin stammered.
"What plan?"
"No plan, just some ramblings." Zoro said before dragging an unconscious Sanji out the door with him. "Listen, it's late, I'm tired. Lets all talk in the morning."
"Good idea." Shizune lightly yawned in response before making her way to her room. "Vivi, you said you had you own room right?"
"I'm bunking with Nami." Vivi asked before tilting her head. "Is there something wrong?"
"I just want to do a small exam on the both of you to make sure you're okay." The black-haired woman looked to see a downsized Chopper following after Zoro. "I think your cute little mascot can take care of your chef."
"He's not my..." Vivi trailed off when Shizune grabbed both her and Nami and dragged them both into her room.
"Glad you're safe, and I hope to hear what happened with nothing but the truth." Bashura said, still using the incident where the blonde didn't tell them jack about Miss All-Sunday. He didn't wait for his Captain to explain himself before going to his bedroom.
"Um...I'm just gonna...yea..." Usopp awkwardly shuffled to his bedroom without another word.
"Whatever, I'm tired. Gin hold onto this." Naruto shoved the sack of money into his First Mate's hands before going to his own bedroom to sleep.
Gin stood in that exact same spot for five full minutes, looking from his hand to where the blonde went, and back again before his mind started back up. Reaching into the bag, the pirate pulled out a thick stack of bills with the number ten-thousand written on the corners of every individual bill. It nearly brought a tear to his eye. "Sooo much better than Krieg." He finally said before backing into his room to count out their legitimately gained money.
(Thirty Minutes Later)
A loud knocking sound awoke Naruto from the slumber his body needed. Rubbing the sleep out of his eyes the blonde slowly removed himself from the bed he was resting on and made his way to the door. He had to wonder who the hell was disturbing him at this time of night? Everyone should have been asleep, and Chopper had the key card that granted access to the room they were staying in. When he opened the door he expected to see the small reindeer trying to get the card into the slot, Shizune wanting to check up on him, Bashura looking for an explanation, or even one of the Straw Hats bugging him about something or another.
Nefeltari Vivi was the last person he expected to come knocking at his door.
"Uh, hey Vivi." Naruto greeted her with surprise in his voice. "What brings you here?"
"Well the thing is...I can't get into my room." Vivi said in embarrassment as she held up her broken key card. "It seems Nami is a heavy sleeper, no matter how loud I knocked she wouldn't answer."
"Need me to do the knocking?" He tiredly asked her.
"No! I mean no, she's tired, we all are. And Chopper is going to be rooming with Sanji for the night." The Princess turned her head to the side and lightly rubbed her right arm. "I know this may be sudden, and unwelcome, but...you have an extra bed. Is it okay if I stay here for the night?"
Wow. This was also the last thing he ever expected to be asked. The blonde looked down at her and rubbed the back of his neck in response, feeling completely awkward. Many people would frown upon him, Sanji would definitely have a heart attack, but it was two separate beds. She could use one, he used the one he was in right now. The both of them would sleep and everyone would win.
"All right, come on in." Naruto finally said before turning his body to the side so she could slip inside.
When she did, the blonde closed the door and the automatic lock clicked it shut once again. He turned towards her and gestured towards the unused bed. "Well it's not much, but the bed is pretty soft, and the water is relaxing." He gestured towards the closed door that held their bathroom. "Shower if you want, it's not going to cost me anything."
"So I remember." Vivi said with a slight smile before giggling. "I did not know you were a professional gambler."
"I'm not." Naruto fully admitted before sitting on his bed. "I mean I have gambled before on Fishman Island. Rolled dice, played poker, even placed bets. I just win."
"I find that hard to believe." Vivi said before sitting on the bed opposite of him. "You just can't be that lucky."
"It's true. I guess it's a trade off for getting a bum deal early in my life."
The both of them became quiet after that, way to kill the mood Naruto. Vivi shifted uncomfortably before saying, "So what is your home like?"
"What brought this on?" Naruto asked.
"I just want to know, I mean I've heard stories saying that it is quite beautiful."
"Beautiful does not describe it. It's an underwater paradise, ten-thousand meters below sea level and under the Red Line it's hard to reach, but if you do the sights just stay with you forever. Many of the building are made from coral, and it's just bustling with activity." The blonde said with a sigh of longing. He'd been away for what, three months now? How was Madame Shyarly and the girls in the Mermaid Cafe? How was Shirahoshi fairing? Was Master Iruka still chewing out his new students? It made him homesick just thinking about it. "I sure do miss it."
"I know the feeling. I was away from home for two years." Vivi said, completely understanding what he was going through. "Sure I had Igaram, but I missed my father and my friends...but now that Igaram is gone..." She lightly sniffed and teared up just thinking about him.
Naruto began to inwardly panic, crying girls and him did not mix well. He was quite useless when they did it too, other than hugging them, and that was only with Shirahoshi squeezing the life out of him whenever she got upset. Otherwise he slowly backed away towards the nearest exit.
Unfortunately for him, he couldn't do that, not when it was so obvious.
"Vivi, Igaram is alive." He finally said after thinking for a moment.
"What?" Vivi looked up at him, surprise dotting her face.
"Remember when I said that coincidence changed my mind. Well it was him." Seeing that he had the Princess' undivided attention the blonde fishman continued. "We passed by his ship and saw him dressed in drag. Gin smelled gunpowder, I saved him from the explosion, and then oddly enough Miss All-Sunday saved us from the rest of the blast."
"Crocodile's partner saved you?" Vivi asked in surprise. Not only was Igaram still alive, but it was due to the man she was temporarily rooming with for the night. "Why would she do such a thing?"
"She has her own interests regarding this country that are vastly different from Crocodile's. She gave us a map of Alabasta when we were lost in the desert, and some water." Naruto honestly answered with a shrug of his shoulders. "She isn't on anyone's side but her own, but she was the one who gave you the information regarding Crocodile. That's something I guess."
Even through she didn't say anything out loud, Vivi was definitely having mixed feelings regarding the woman dressed in the cowgirl outfit. Pushing that information to the side for now, she asked the obvious question, her brown eyes shimmering with hope. "So where is Igaram?"
"He's with the rest of the group, he said he was going to Nanohana. I think they will meet us in Alubarna in another day or two." Naruto truthfully answered before to his surprise he was hugged by the woman he was comforting. Her wet tears began staining is vest as she shook uncontrollably. "Uh, Vivi?"
"Thank you..." She whispered in a shaky voice. "Thank you...Naruto for bringing him back to me."
"I didn't do anything Vivi. I just passed by and did the right thing." Naruto softly replied as he wrapped his arms around the smaller woman and awkwardly hugged her in return. This was far too weird for him, no human had ever hugged him before.
"Sometimes the right thing is all the world needs." Vivi lightly sniffed before pulling away. She wiped her eyes, feeling embarrassed for blubbering over him so suddenly. "I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me."
"It's all right, I'm not even mad." Naruto said in response before straightening his wrinkled vest. "Now before we both go to sleep, a shower is needed for the both of us. It'll definitely take away all the aches and pains, not to mention any sand that's stuck somewhere. God how can you stand it?"
"Bathing does help Naruto." Vivi giggled in reply before moving towards the bathroom. "I'll try to save some hot water for you."
"Hot water, cold water, it's all the same for me." The blonde said before lying back in the bed. "Take all the time you need."
"Thank you!"
Minutes later the sound of water running hit his ears. It was an oddly calming sound that soothed his nerves more than the cigars he smoked, but then again the sound of water always calmed him, it made him feel safe and secure no matter where he was. It must have been a fishman thing, or perhaps it was the power of the Sea King and his connection to the ocean because of it. It was enough to put him to sleep.
It wouldn't be for, possibly thirty odd minutes, before a smaller hand shook his shoulder. "Ugh, what?"
"Shower's ready for you."
"Ah, all right. Give me a minute to – whoa!" His eyes opening, Naruto flew off his bed and harshly impacted the wall in surprise.
The reason being? It was due to Vivi standing over him in nothing but a white towel that came to mid thigh clinging to her drying frame.
"What's wrong, are you all right?" She asked in concern.
"Yea, you just surprised me is all." Springing to his feet the blonde rubbed his eyes and wiped off the imaginary dust off his person. "Especially in a towel."
"Oh...oh!" Vivi looked down at herself and wrapped her arms around her lithe body. She didn't even think about waking him in such a state, first warning the Straw Hats about the danger of the desert too late after they were attacked, now absentmindedly she was in a towel in the same room with a member of the opposite sex. What was wrong with her?
"I'm just gonna get in the shower...and...yea." There were no words to sugarcoat how awkward the situation had developed into. So Naruto did the only logical thing that came to mind, he got to his feet, cleared his throat, and politely averted his gaze before making his way towards the bathroom.
Yea, he definitely needed that shower.
So carefully, quietly, Naruto got out of his bed and made his way to the bathroom to do his business and get another shower in, this time a hot one. He earned it dammit!
After closing and locking the door the blonde removed his vest and let it fall the floor with a plopping noise. He turned to regard himself in the mirror and, well he noted that his body changed a bit for the first time. His skin was tanner, his hair was a little longer and more untameable than usual, his athletic torso already sculpted from his years of training in Fishman Karate was more muscular, and well defined like that of a cage fighter. But the real noticeable change was the teeth marks on his right side, courtesy of Arlong's Tooth Gum attack; may he rot in hell.
"Two or so months at sea, and look what it did to me." He remarked to himself.
"And what a look it is, another or month or two and you'll look better than some male models." An amused voice remarked.
"What the hell!? Who's there, show yourself!" Naruto demanded, effortlessly sliding into his Fishman Karate stance.
"Easy now Mr. Sword of the Sea. I mean you no harm, I only want to talk."
"Miss All-Sunday." Naruto lightly growled out. "Where are you woman? Show yourself."
"Now why would I do that when it's so much fun to tease you." She said with a light giggle. "Look up, we don't have much time."
Reluctantly doing as she said, Naruto looked to the ceiling to see a arm sprouting out of it with a lone eyeball on the palm of the hand, with two ears next to it, and a feminine mouth underneath it. Good God, that was going to haunt his dreams.
"There we go. How are you doing? You look much better than when I saw you last." The mouth on the ceiling said.
"I'm doing fine, thanks...ah, I'm sorry but this is creepy." Naruto apologized to the ceiling, a thing he thought he would never do in his lifetime.
Miss All-Sunday only giggled in amusement in response. "I'm sorry Mr. Sword of the Sea. My devil fruit is quite unusual, not only can I duplicate my hands and arms, but any part of my body."
"Any part?" The blonde dumbly asked.
"Any part."
Son of a bitch! She had to have been messing with him, there was no way she could replicate her assets on a wall or something, devil fruit or not that was just ridiculous. "So, what did you want other than peeking on me?"
"In twenty minutes I need you to meet me on the second floor in room nine." She informed him, the mouth on the ceiling smiling for a brief second before turning into a frown. "Things are becoming much more dire."
"You mean with Crocodile. What's going on?" The blonde fishman asked.
"I will tell you when you've arrived. Make haste Mr. Sword of the Sea." Miss All-Sunday said.
"Dammit, stop calling me that. Just call me Naruto, and no more peeking on me okay?"
"Hmm...no." Naruto sweat-dropped at the dismissive tone of her voice. "Time's wasting Mr. Shark. Hurry." Miss All-Sunday's appendages then disappeared into the ceiling and out of view.
"No as in my name...or no as in..." Furiously scratching both sides of his head Naruto spent the next minute wondering what she meant. But in the end he jumped into the shower with his pants on and scrubbed himself from head to toe in ridiculously hot water. After finishing he used his water manipulation to extract the water out of the fibers of his pants and his body to dry himself off, pulled his vest, device over his gills, and desert coat on before leaving a still sleeping Vivi in the room.
Naruto made his way the the elevator and went to the second floor of the casino, made his way down the hall to room number nine. He found it odd that he didn't see a single soul in the hallway, no noise behind any of the doors. That didn't sit right with him, not at all. It smelled rotten, like a trap was going to be sprung at anytime.
However he was not some half-dried out fishman anymore. After some rest, and the device on his neck pumping precious water into his gills, he was ready for anything now. So after a deep breath to calm his nerves, the blonde-haired fishman politely knocked on the door.
"Come in Mr. Shark." Came Miss All-Sunday's voice.
"Honestly do you need to call me by that nickname?" Naruto demanded when the door opened from the other side, probably due to her devil fruit powers of course. He walked in to continued his rant, but stopped cold when he was greeted by the older woman clad in nothing but a white bathrobe that barely went to mid thigh.
"But of course." Miss All-Sunday replied with a small smile. "Using real names is not my strong suit, not in my line of work. A nickname will suffice for anyone I meet."
"Uh, right...sure." Clearing his throat the blonde moved to sit in the nearest chair. Once he was settled he say the woman across from him moved her hands to remove her robe, causing him to comically go bug-eyed and rocket back in the chair, and fell flat on his back. "Dammit woman, what are you doing!?"
"I'm getting more comfortable Mr. Shark." She said in a cheeky tone.
"Naked!? Listen I don't know what you've heard about my kind, but we aren't serial streakers or nudists inside the comforts of our own home." Well he, and the Royal Family certainly weren't. Couldn't exactly say the same about everyone, but that wasn't the point dammit!
"Poke your head up Mr. Shark."
"No!"
"That wasn't a request." Miss All-Sunday said as a thumping sound echoed in his ears.
Naruto mentally grumbled in response, he couldn't talk to her hiding behind a fallen chair, and she could simply use that damn fruit power of hers to get him in a position he wouldn't like. So with great reluctance he slowly stood up, his eyes first settled on her shapely legs that seemed to go on for miles, then her purple miniskirt, smooth stomach and...yea Naruto mentally cursed himself for being tricked.
Minus her white high-heeled boots, and hat, Miss All-Sunday was clad in her skimpy cowgirl outfit with a smile adorning her face. "Do you enjoy screwing with me?" He asked.
"You're far too serious Mr. Shark." Miss All-Sunday replied before sitting on the bed opposite from him. "Now please sit, we don't have much time."
"Funny considering that you and I are the only souls on this entire floor." Naruto replied before slowly moving the chair into the upright position and settled into it. "You can't be that much in a hurry."
"Being the partner of the boss has its advantages. I enjoy my privacy." Miss All-Sunday said as she crossed one leg over the other. "Now, tell me where is the location of your crew and the Straw Hats."
"Why do you need that information?"
"Please just humor me, this is important."
Repressing the urge to roll his eyes, the blonde reluctantly went with it. "I cannot say for Luffy, but his entire crew is on the floor I'm on. The ones you did not see with me earlier are in Nanohana."
"That is where you're wrong." Miss All-Sunday said, her face betraying nothing from the bad news that he was going to hear. "Six hours ago Nanohana was destroyed by my associates."
"What?" Naruto's blood ran cold.
"It's apart of Crocodile's plan. Mr. 1 and his partner Miss Doublefinger destroyed the docks with a massive ship stockpiled with weapons. Mr 2 Bon Kurei is used his devil fruit powers to disguise himself as the King to orchestrate the attack." Miss All-Sunday revealed to him. "The plan is to break the country in half, in a few days time two-million rebels will lay siege to the capital."
"Are you fucking kidding me!?" Naruto demanded, getting to his feet so fast he knocked his chair away. "What about Kotetsu, Igaram and Carmen, what happened to them?" He sure as hell wasn't going to tell her that he had Miss Goldenweek, or those idiot brothers in his back pocket.
"I do not know, I would have guessed that they arrived in the aftermath." She replied with a slight smile. "I only hope that they can deal with Mr. 12 and Miss Saturday before they kill their leader in the insuring battle."
"Oh that is just great, kill the leader to piss everyone one off even more!" Naruto angrily exclaimed.
"I wouldn't be so crass, but...yes. The remaining members are heading to Alabarna as we speak, I know that they are to kidnap the King, the rest is something I am not sure of. But whatever it is, it's big. Very big." She replied, still cool as a cucumber.
"I got no time to waste then. I'll leave the Straw Hats here with the Princess. Everyone I got with me will head to Alubarna first thing in the morning." Running his hands through his thick blonde hair, Naruto moved to turn to leave the room. Reaching the door he reached out to grab the handle, but stopped for several seconds. "Do not forget our agreement Miss All-Sunday. This map you're going to give me better be worth it."
"It will Mr. Shark, would I lie to you?" Miss All-Sunday asked, giving him that damned innocent smile again.
Naruto didn't even dignify that with a response before he left her room to get some rest, Miss All-Sunday's giggles echoed in his ears along the way. This entire thing was getting more out of hand by the day, honestly who or what did he do to piss off in his past life?
(Rebel Camp – Meanwhile)
After a long day of marching through the desert the Rebel Army made camp for the night. Throughout the day they gained more recruits from various towns they went through after delivering news of Nanohana's destruction. So far the number had increased to over one million people by now and it was just going to continue to grow.
Kotetsu had eaten his fill of dinner that night thanks to Carmen, but instead of heading towards his tent to get some shuteye he stayed near Carmen to help clean up. After all it wasn't suspicious for someone to help out, everyone needed to lend a hand.
"So Carmen where is Goldenweek?" Kotetsu asked the chef of their crew.
"Right now she is in my tent with Fujin and Raijin." Seeing the dull look the swordsman was giving her, Carmen clarified for his sake. "I got a big tent okay? I told them that she was my sister and they were my brothers and we were the only family I had left."
"Ah, that makes sense." The sandy-haired blonde said. "Igaram is still in the medical ward, or whatever counts as one out here?"
"As far as I know he is. But I have not been able to see him since we joined up." The pink-haired chef replied.
"That's okay with me, the man already has enough on his mind, we don't need to add anymore." Kotetsu said before turning his attention towards the legion of tents. "Carmen, do you think we can actually stop this?"
"We have to Kotetsu, we just have to or this country is doomed." Carmen said with a mournful sigh. "It all relies on us and those Straw Hats. Now come on lets go."
Carmen then lead her fellow crew mate away from the cooking area towards her tent. Indeed it was quite large, nearly twelve feet tall, ten feet wide, and tan as leather. Flipping the flap of the tent to the side the duo were greeted by Miss Goldenweek snoozing on one of the cots while Fujin and Raijin sitting like statues with baskets on their heads and blankets over their bodies.
Carmen lightly frowned seeing her sloth-like nature once again. "Honestly what are we going to do with her?"
"I dunno, whatever Uzumaki wants to do with her." Kotetsu replied in response. That was the big question, what were they going to do with their little tag-along? She was part of the organization that was tearing the country apart, she was one of the bad guys. But then again she had every opportunity to run back to her employer and warn him about everything, not to mention she also gave them everything she knew about the Baroque Works Frontier and Officer Agents.
"What do you think Naruto will do with her?" Carmen asked.
"I don't know. Knowing him he wouldn't want her harmed after everything she has done for us. More than likely he will let her go." Kotetsu guessed, after all Naruto may have been ruthless when he fought, but he didn't kill kids...at least he thought Goldenweek was a kid...or close enough to it. How old was she anyways?
"I think it's time we got this show on the road." Carmen moved towards the sleeping girl and nudged the cot with her foot until she was tipped over. Miss Goldenweek flailed in response, stupefied that she was interrupted from her long nap. "Wake up sleepyhead, you got some work to do."
"Ugh, and I was having such a good dream." Miss Goldenweek moaned out in annoyance before she sluggishly got to her feet. The younger woman yawned before settling her eyes on the people opposite of her. "What do you want from me?"
"We need to you to squeeze someone for us. I think that he might be Baroque Works." Kotetsu replied. "Got your paints?"
"I do, who's the target?"
"He calls himself Shiin, and other than he sheds crocodile tears that's all I know."
"I need a location, and a set time." Miss Goldenweek said, sounding surprisingly professional.
"One mile south of the entire came, fifteen minutes?" Kotetsu questioned.
"All right, Fujin will be my marker. Raijin will be your backup." Miss Goldenweek turned towards the smaller brother. "Go with them and do what you are told."
"Yes...ma'am." Raijin answered in a dull, dimwitted, emotionless robotic voice that creeped both Kotetsu and Carmen out.
The three of them then ventured outside and made their way through the camp. They were stopped by a few people who wished to have a quick chat, or thank Carmen for such a delicious meal; which was mostly the latter, it truly brought a smile to Carmen's face. Some tried to speak to Raijin, but Carmen told them that he was mute and deaf, been that way since birth. Heh, the woman should have been an actress instead of a chef.
The three of them did eventually find Shiin. It took them ten minutes to find his tent after subtly not asking for him. The main problem was, how would they get him without drawing attention to themselves?
"So Carmen...got any bright ideas?" He asked as they looked at the tent that was no more than several yards away from them.
"Either we get his attention and take him through the camp, or do some sort of daring kidnapping." Carmen replied with a frown on her face. Neither of those were good options though, not only would they blow their cover, but it would make already a bad situation a hundred times worse.
"If we had Shizune she could knock out everyone with her poisons." Kotetsu remarked with a rub of his chin.
"I don't think she had enough knockout poison for a million people." Carmen dully replied.
"We need numbers for something like this. Bashura could cause chaos as a panther, and...never mind adding Gin in anything does not end well."
"Wind's howling..." Raijin dully said as the wind began to pick up, making the flaps of the tents flutter in the breeze.
"It certainly makes the night a little cooler." Carmen agreed. The wind blew again as it made a small sand tornado that lasted no more than five seconds.
The wind blew again, causing Kotetsu's sandy locks to kick up and caused another small sand tornado at their feet. Then suddenly an idea hit him like her iron skillet to the back of his head. "Carmen, I think I got an idea."
"If it's divine help, I honestly don't think any plan will work." She said.
"No, no hear me out. The wind is picking up, it's not enough for a sandstorm, but if I tap into my devil fruit power to create some sort of sand twister..."
"You can cause a great amount of chaos in the came allowing Raijin and I to kidnap him." Carmen finished for him.
"Problem is I think I can do it for maybe five minutes, you have to hurry or I'll probably pass out on my face and get busted." Kotetsu said.
"I only need two, don't be a showoff."
"Like I would." Tapping into his devil fruit power, Kotetsu disappeared leaving a mirage of himself behind. The swordsman began to circle the entire camp, picking up speed and spooking the hell out of the people inside it. Sand then began to pick up, resembling the sand tornado he saw only minutes earlier.
Men and women screamed as the winds began to pick up. Tents flew away or fell over, people fell tangled in their tents or blankets, others were hit by mounds of sand half-burying them in it. But most importantly fires were snuffed out, and some people fainted from the lack of oxygen.
While people were running around like chickens with their heads cut off, and the general chaos around them, Carmen snatched up Shiin who became trapped in his tent; or more specifically Raijin snatched the struggling man in one large fist. People screamed about getting sand in their eyes, making them lower their heads to the ground to protect their faces.
It gave Carmen and Raijin a great opportunity to flee during the chaos, because one minute later the storm died down and the entire Rebel Army began the process of cleaning up the mess, and tend to anyone injured, all completely unaware that they were missing a few people.
One full mile away a panting Carmen met with Miss Goldenweek, she was easy to spot due to riding on the head of the tallest brother. "You're late." She dully greeted them.
"There were issues." Carmen replied before Raijin tossed the withering bundle onto the ground. "Have you seen Kotetsu?"
"He's right behind me. Fujin step to the side please." As the taller brother moved to the side it revealed a panting Kotetsu who looked like he ran ten marathons. "You really need to rid yourself of that Marine coat of yours. I have to wonder why the rebels never questioned you over it."
"I told them I was a Privateer, they figured I was a former Marine and kept the coat after I resigned." That wasn't far from the truth, but at the same time it was a damnable lie. "And what else would I wear a hoodie? In this weather? What are you insane?"
Miss Goldenweek did not verbally respond, to him at least. "Fujin, hold him down and remove the tent."
"Yes ma'am." Fujin said, echoing his brothers dull, dimwitted, emotionless robotic voice. He grabbed Shiin by completely enveloping his entire torso with his right hand after tearing the tent off him.
"What in the hell!" Shiin cried out after being able to see again. He first laid eyes on the exhausted Kotetsu and snarled at the swordsman. "You...I knew something was not right about you!"
"I can say the same for you." Kotetsu glared at the man opposite of him.
"Cocky little runt, when I get out of here..."
"You'll do what Shiin?" Miss Goldenweek said before placing herself in the man's line of sight. "Or should I say Mr. 12?"
"M-m-...Miss Goldenweek." The newly revealed Mr. 12 stammered in shock. "You're supposed to be dead."
"It appears that I'm still alive." She dully replied before looking him square in his eyes. "Now tell me, what made you think I was dead?"
"I don't have to answer to you, traitor!" Mr. 12 literally spat upon her.
Wiping away the saliva from her cheek, Miss Goldenweek took her backpack off and put it on the ground. She unclipped it and brought out her art pallet, and some tubes of paint along with her brush. "I think you will, got any water on you guys?"
"I have a little." Carmen brought herself into view and offered her canteen to the younger woman.
"The cook, you're in on this too?" Mr. 12 said in surprise. "Dammit all, your cooking was too good to be true!" He growled out as he struggled to try and break free from Fujin's iron grasp.
"Oh honey, that cooking was real. It's my job to keep people fed, even if they are disgusting desert vipers that'll poison you even after you feed them." The pink-haired woman said before crossing her arms over her chest.
"I'll do more than poison you, you bitch! When I get out of here-"
"White the color of Surrender!" Came Miss Goldenweek's cry as she swiped a wet streak of white paint across Mr. 12's forehead, cutting off a useless rant, and like both Fujin and Raijin, his eyes glazed over and became non-responsive. "Now listen to me, I have questions that I want answered, do you understand me?"
"Yes Miss Goldenweek." Mr. 12 answered, his voice sounding exactly like the Idiot Brothers.
"Dear freaking God, you're too terrifying for words Goldenweek. I should tell Uzumaki to not have you do that to people." Kotetsu said, thoroughly freaked out from her Color Trap techniques, and not for the first time either.
"And leave me defenseless? I think not." Miss Goldenweek said before turning her attention towards her prisoner. "Now firstly, why does Mr. 0 think I am dead?"
"Because you and Mr. 3 were on Little Garden. With those dinosaurs, and cry for help, and the news the Unluckies brought back from not finding you he gave you up for dead." Mr. 12 relayed to her.
"Ah right, Bashura captured them and after giving us sketches of the Baroque Works members he along with Igaram instructed them to not reveal our locations, or identities for fear of being tracked down, and eaten." Kotetsu palmed his head, mentally berating himself for forgetting that important detail.
"How could you have forgotten that Kotetsu?" Carmen demanded with her hands on her hips.
"A lot of stuff was going down around that time Carmen." Kotetsu protested in response. "I'm only human dang it! We're just lucky I somewhat recognized this asshole in front of us."
"Or had a bad feeling." Carmen said, using his words against him.
"Quit picking on me..."
Ignoring the conversation going behind her, Miss Goldenweek accepted that she was no longer part of the Baroque Works. It wasn't a devastating loss to tell the truth, she would miss Mr. 3, but that was it. "Now tell me, why are you here in the Rebel Army?"
"My orders were to kill Koza when the big battle started, my partner Miss Saturday would back me up. She's somewhere in the camp."
Both Kotetsu's and Carmen's eyes widened when they heard that. Somewhere in the camp? That did not do them any good. "Shit! Tell me what does she look like!?"
Before Mr. 12 could answer, there was a sound like someone shot an arrow at them, but instead of an arrow Mr. 12 was struck on the side of his head, his unblinking eyes were open, as if in shock before his face fell off into the sands.
"That idiot almost spilled the beans." Came a voice they never heard before. In the sky was a bat-like humanoid, with black skin, white hair and ominous red eyes wearing a turquoise knights uniform with a spike jutting out the top of each shoulder guard. Her right wing was caked in blood, showing exactly what she did to end the life of her partner.
"And that is Miss Saturday, she's even uglier than the pictures lead us to believe." Carmen said, wrinkling her nose from the looks of the woman.
"She must have eaten some devil fruit, and disguised herself under a heavy cloak." Kotetsu said to himself before unsheathing his cutlass. "Don't worry I'll get her."
"Sorry sweetie, but there is no way you're going to catch me." Miss Saturday said, giving him a flirtatious wink before flapping her wings. "I'm off to tell the Boss about this, tata!" She then kissed her hand and flung it at the sandy-haired swords man before taking off.
She barely got three feet before the image of said swordsman appeared in front of her, his blade slicing towards her. Miss Saturday screamed in shock, barely managing to flap her wings to propel backwards. Turning around to try and get away her vision was assaulted by the same man who cut across her armored chest, not damaging her, but making her want to flee even more. She did this by flapping her wings to go upwards.
But once again she was greeted by Kotetsu high above her. His sword grasped in his right hand pointed downwards while holding his left hand out along the edge, he aimed his blade at his enemy before trying to kick himself directly towards the ground, but instead he began falling at a fast speed. "Mirage Sword Style -Thrust: Vajra!" He cried out before he fired his cutlass at the woman at supersonic speeds. The sword struck her right in the right arm, departing her of it as she screamed in pain and terror as she fell to the ground.
The cutlass hit the ground, but the sand soaked up much of the impact, kicking up a small wall of it before settling down. Miss Saturday, completely reverting to her human form fell into the clutches if Raijin, and Kotetsu was grabbed by Fujin.
"Kotetsu...what was that?" Carmen asked in astonishment.
"A technique that I've been working on, but it still needs some work..." He trailed off when his stomach growled at him like an angry lion. "And I'm completely out of gas...I can't move a muscle." Thank goodness Fujin was gentle enough to put him down.
"Relax you did good." The pink-haired chef said before making her way towards his sword since he couldn't retrieve it himself. "I'll fix something for you, just save your strength."
"Hope it's something in high calories." He remarked before looking at Miss Saturday, cringing in pain from her lost appendage. It honestly looked like she wanted to scream but she was still in shock. "What do we do with her?"
"Raijin, kill her."
Obeying the command, Raijin brought his other hand to the sides of Miss Saturday's head. With a twist of his wrist, there was a sickening crack of bone and the woman's stunned face met Raijin's basket covered one before she was tossed over to where her faceless partner laid.
Both Kotetsu and Carmen looked to the side to see an emotionless Miss Goldenweek packing away her things and take a sip of water from the canteen Carmen lent her. "Lets go before we are missed." She said before walking back towards came with both Fujin and Raijin lumbering after her.
"What a scary girl." Kotetsu whispered out.
"Agreed." Carmen seconded.
"So who's going to bury them?" Kotetsu asked.
"Not it." Carmen immediately replied.
"Dammit, I can never win." The swordsman bitterly sighed out.
When Naruto returned to his shared room Vivi was still asleep. And thankfully too, he was not looking forward to the awkwardness if she was still awake. Tomorrow he could handle it after some sleep, hopefully. And that was what he did, dressed in his usual clothing he collapsed onto the bed and fell into a dead sleep.
The next morning he awoke to find the Princess still sleeping, that didn't bother him in the least. He imagined everyone was sleeping in...or almost everyone. Gin was up at six am like clockwork, and Bashura was erratic due to his devil fruit.
The blonde exited the bedroom to get himself breakfast at one of the buffets, and to mentally laugh at the blackjack dealers for all the money he took from them the other night.
"Cap'n...psst...Cap'n."
"Bashura?" Naruto questioned, looking left and right in confusion, honestly how could he not find an eight foot tall catman? "Where are you?"
"My bedroom, room number eight." The blonde turned to see that he was standing in front of said door and had to resist the urge to palm his face in stupidity. "Come in, I have something of dire importance to show you."
Dire importance? Well Bashura was never one to lie, he was bluntly honest. So he waved in front of the peephole and was let in. Naruto was greeted by a room that matched his, only Bashura's had only one bed. And on that bed were the familiar tied up forms of Mr. 13 and Miss Friday.
Naruto sweat-dropped at the scene. "Bashura, why do you have that otter and vulture tied up...again?"
"Last night I was prowling around because something about this place felt off to me. I climbed up the pyramid and found these two scouting out the entire area." Bashura smirked at the two animals, his teeth shining, and causing them to squawk in horror. "I threatened to eat them unless they told me something interesting."
"And...did you learn something interesting?" Naruto questioned.
"Tons, apparently Crocodile is going use the Rebel Army to attack Alubarna." Bashura then patted the otter on the top of his head. "And these guys are to be their scouts and messengers. Lucky them right?"
"Yea, lucky them." Naruto said getting what his navigator was saying. Exposing his sharp teeth, the blonde fishman leaned over towards the two before saying. "I sent you two away with a free meal due to you helping us. But now you're going to help me again, but this time you're doing it for free. Otherwise my giant friend here is gonna eat you."
Both the Unluckies squawked in terror, and tried to backpedal into the headboard to get as far away from them. But instead they fell onto their sides and comically wiggled like worms.
"Get whatever else you can out of them Bashura. I'm going to get some breakfast, get Gin and everyone else. And we're gonna leave within the hour. You want anything?"
"I'm good Cap'n. I ate plenty an hour earlier." Bashura lightly cracked his neck and and morphed into his half panther form, terrifying his captives even further. "Take all the time you need."
Giving his navigator a nod in response Naruto left him to do whatever he was going to do to the Unluckies. He knew that Bashura wasn't going to harm them, scare them yes, but nothing else. The man may have looked like a savage, but he did not behave like one. In fact he was very friendly and polite, the opposite of what you would expect. He behaved like a house cat most days, between being obsessed with dairy products and somewhat lazy. But when he was needed to navigate he snapped out of what Naruto called cat mode and became serious.
It was something that he had grown used to. Honestly he never thought he would get used to something like that.
Naruto went down to the all you can eat buffet and ate his fill of steak, bacon and eggs, along with some fish before making his way back to his room. The first room he visited was Gin's, when he knocked on the door the man opened it with a crack.
"We're going to leave in the hour. Alubarna is going to get attacked by the Rebel Army." Naruto said to his First Mate.
"How do you know this?" Gin asked.
"Bashura knows more, he caught two spies, ask him. Get Shizune and inform the Straw Hats, what they do with this information is up to them. But we have got to go."
"All right, I'll get a shower in me and do that. Everyone will know everything in ten minutes."
"Good, I'll meet you at the entrance." Naruto said before turning his back on the man.
"One second Naruto," Gin said, causing the blonde-haired fishman to stop and turn to regard him. The former Krieg Pirate smile in response before saying. "Fifty million beli, that's how much you won from the casino."
"Good, keep your hands on it. We are going to need it later." Seeing the man give the okay sign Naruto swiped his card into the slot on his door and entered it. Vivi was still sleeping, and as much as he didn't want to do it, he placed a hand on her shoulder and shook her awake. "Vivi, wake up."
"Mmm, huh?" Her sleepy brown eyes blinking open, the Princess looked at him. "Naruto? What's going on?"
"Bad stuff unfortunately. Listen I don't have a lot of time to explain, but Crocodile is going to attack your home. And the Rebel Army is super pissed off because they were tricked in thinking your father burned down Nanohana."
"What!?" That caused Vivi to spring out of her bed, revealing something that Naruto had never seen before in his life.
Vivi was clad in revealing attire, nothing exactly bold, but enough to at least show off her legs and midriff. Her outfit was made of the finest silk from Alabasta and it clung to her, showing off her hourglass figure. It was baby blue on the sides while the front was dark blue with light purple trimmings and a white cloth going behind her neck down to her bare feet. Her flat stomach was fully expose, and so were the impressive cleavage that were sort of straining against her top. Oddly enough, she wore a white wrapping on her right forearm...come to think of it he saw Nami and Chopper wearing the same thing.
"Uh, you heard me?" Naruto dumbly said, acting like a deer staring into oncoming headlights. That was what she was hiding under that thick robe of hers? Holy freaking crap.
"Naruto that is where Igaram went!" Vivi placed her hands on his shoulders and violently shook him. "If Nanohana is destroyed, then Igaram and the rest of your crew might be-"
"Vivi quit shaking me!" He protested, snapping out of his fund he grabbed her forearms and removing her hands from his shoulders. "Listen this was something I just heard." He half-lied, there was no way he was going to tell her his source. "Igaram left around the same time as us, so he could easily have just arrived when it burned down. Plus the the people traveling with him aren't lightweights, they can handle themselves."
"Are you sure?" She asked.
"Vivi, Igaram shot a velociraptor at point plank range on Little Garden. Kotetsu is one of the fastest swordsmen I have ever seen. And Carmen is actually a badass lady. They are fine." He said, neglecting to mention Miss Goldenweek and those Idiot Brothers of hers, for obvious reasons.
His little speech did help Vivi calm down, and she smiled at him. "You're right, but I must get to Alubarna. If I can intercept Koza maybe we can stop this thing."
"Koza?" The blonde questioned.
"He's the leader of the Revel Army, and an old childhood friend."
Well that just made things a lot more difficult, he didn't exactly know their history, but they seemed very close. Or were once upon a time ago. "Listen how about we head out first. You guys have been to hell and back, rest a bit longer all right."
"I can't let you do that." Vivi protested. "Naruto Alabasta is my responsibility. I'm its Princess, I need to..."
"You need to stop piling the world on your shoulders." He seriously said. "You have two pirate crews who are willing to help out for free to take down an entire organization who's lead by a Shichibukai. You've spent two years hiding in the shadows, now it's time for you to rest and let other people shoulder the burden with you."
"But-"
"I already told Gin, Bashura is telling him more as we speak. And everyone should know about this by the time I exit the room." Naruto said before gently pushing the bluenette onto the bed. He then went over to his side of the room and shouldered his pack and placed the device given to him by hack over his gills. With the water rushing back into them the blonde-haired tiger shark fishman turned towards her. "My crew and I will be the vanguard for you and warn your father. You can follow us afterwards. Deal?"
Her brown eyes shimmering, Vivi barely held back her tears of gratitude. "Deal."
Armageddon: Hello my trust fans. Whew! Man it has been a while since I've even done a skit.
Pvt. Liquor: Yer damn right! We've been sitting on our asses for months doing nothing but playing poker, drinking, and playing mindless awesome video games like Wolfenstein, Battlefield1, and The Witcher 3 you bastard!
Pvt. Leaf Ranger: And that is a bad thing?
Pvt. Runox: I honestly like it.
Pvt. Superninja: Ignore him, the forever Private is just bitching because he can't get drunk anymore.
Pvt. Liquor: Yer damn right I am!
Lt. Doom: Irregardless I think our General has something he wants to say. Yes?
Lt. RasenganFin: Oh yea, go ahead Sir, we're listening.
Armageddon: Thank you. Now I've been getting a lot of complaints regarding the escalation of power levels in this story. You know Naruto kicking Arlong's ass but suddenly is weak as a turtle against Doctor Kureha or Carmen beating Itou being the greatest examples. Well my fans, regarding Carmen she kicked him in the groin until he couldn't scream anymore, and not much was known about the Gesha man so for the purpose of the story Carmen won after a very dirty fight; I mean you try getting back up after getting kicked that many times. As for Naruto...come on folk, this is not supposed to be a completely serious story there's going to be some comedy where the main character gets overpowered. I mean look at Luffy he got his butt kicked plenty of times before the time skip, or comically chased by something gigantic, or nearly choked to death by eating too much. I only ask that you be patient with me in regards to that and continue reading.
Pvt. Shadowninja: What about those number things?
Armageddon: Because I don't feel the need to do them right now. The fan should know the characters by this point like Vivi being absentminded during that arc regarding the dangers of the desert, or Robin...er, Miss All-Sunday messing with people and having a morbid sense of humor. Stuff like that.
Pvt. Shadowtrayser: Huh, well I guess that makes sense. Hope the fans do get it.
Armageddon: They will, and I want to wish them all a happy Memorial Day. Take the time to remember the men and women who served and still are serving, and have a safe day. I will see you in the next update for one of my other stories.
5-29-17: Update: Uh, sorry folks, I got some reviewers who told me I used dollars instead of beli. My bad, thanks for the help, it has been fixed, and I shall never write at night again...okay that is a lie, but I'll be more careful. Cheerio!