Chapter 4: SD Arc: Spicy Isle: Syndicates, Swarms & Spice

The seagulls' cries pierced the morning air, their forms circling the mast like airborne sentinels. Gentle waves lapped against the Hanahime's hull, rocking the ship where its Captain lay sprawled on the deck. Naruto stirred, his crystalline blue eyes squinting against the harsh sunlight as he sat up, disturbing the blanket that mysteriously covered his form.

'Did I fall asleep out here?' the captain wondered; his thoughts immediately derailed by a skull-splitting headache.

"Gah, hungover... that's right, drank too much last night," Naruto groaned, his head pounding like a taiko drum festival. The pirate stumbled to his feet, swaying slightly as he surveyed the empty deck. Deciding to seek refuge from the merciless sun, he made his way below deck towards his quarters, each step a careful negotiation with his rebelling equilibrium.

After what felt like an eternity navigating the ship's corridors, the captain reached his quarters. His bleary eyes focused on a note attached to the door, the neat handwriting a stark contrast to his dishevelled state.

'Tried to wake you but you wouldn't budge. Gone out to get Nojiko a weapon, she's with Gin and Hanabi. I'm chasing a few leads about this syndicate. Signed.' Naruto's brow furrowed as he read. "Is that a butterfly? Ah Shinobu gotcha but investigate what? A syndicate?" he muttered, the alcoholic haze over his memories of the previous night slowly lifting.

Suddenly, like a bolt of his own lightning, fragments of recollection flashed through his mind: the locals' uneasy glances, the whispered mentions of mercenaries, and...

'That lanky-ass sniper dude, the boss, and...'

His train of thought was abruptly derailed by a loud, gurgling noise emanating from the pit of his stomach, transforming into a pitiful mewl.

"Ah, Menchi!" Naruto exclaimed, his eyes widening as the full scope of his planned investigation came rushing back.

"Shit, I'm late!" he cursed, fumbling with the door handle and bursting into his room. As he rummaged through his belongings, searching for clean clothes and his gear, Naruto made a mental note: "Build up alcohol recovery tolerance... somehow."

The captain's movements became more purposeful as the fog of his hangover began to lift, replaced by a growing sense of urgency. The mysteries of Spicy Isle weren't going to unravel themselves, and Naruto Uzumaki, future Pirate King, had a date with danger – and possibly very leggy chef.

Over on the island, Nojiko was following Gin and Hanabi back to the weaponsmith's shop they visited yesterday. The trio entered the dimly lit shop, the air heavy with the scent of oil and gunpowder. Hanabi's Byakugan was active, her pale eyes scanning the merchandise with supernatural precision. Gin moved with the practiced ease of a seasoned fighter, his gaze appraising each weapon they passed.

Nojiko, feeling slightly out of place, trailed behind them. "I'm not sure what I'm looking for," she admitted, her eyes roving over the array of weaponry.

Gin turned to her, a thoughtful expression on his face. "You've got good eyes and steady hands from your navigation work. Have you considered a rifle?"

Hanabi's eyes lit up. "Oh! Like Bellemere-san used to use!" she exclaimed, recalling the stories Nojiko had shared about her adoptive mother.

Nojiko's expression softened at the mention of Bellemere. "I... I never thought about it, but that could work."

The shopkeeper, overhearing their conversation, approached with a sleek rifle in hand. "If I may suggest, this model is perfect for a beginner with potential. It's accurate, has a good range, and it's not too heavy for extended use."

Gin took the rifle, examining it with a critical eye before handing it to Nojiko. "Try it out. See how it feels."

Nojiko hefted the rifle, surprised at how natural it felt in her hands. She raised it to her shoulder, peering down the sight.

"Your stance is pretty good," Hanabi observed. "Must be all that map-reading and star-charting you do."

The shopkeeper nodded approvingly. "We have a small range in the back if you'd like to test it out."

Nojiko looked to Gin and Hanabi, who both nodded encouragingly. "Alright," she said, a determined glint in her eye. "Let's give it a shot."

As they moved towards the range, Gin leaned into whisper to Hanabi, "Keep an eye out. Something about this place feels off."

Hanabi nodded imperceptibly, her Byakugan scanning beyond the walls of the shop. "Those mercenaries from earlier are still lurking around outside. We should wrap this up quickly."

Gin grunted in agreement, his hand unconsciously moving to his weapon. As Nojiko took her first practice shots, the tension in the air was palpable. The rifle's sharp report echoed through the shop, each shot more confident than the last.

Elsewhere on the island, deep in the woods, Menchi was tracking down a wild boar she planned to turn into stew for later. She moved silently, her senses attuned to the forest's rhythms. Suddenly, she heard a crackling noise behind her.

'What the?' Menchi thought, unholstering one of her many sets of knives and flinging the blade towards the noise behind her through the bushes.

There was silence for a few moments before, "OI! OI! OI! What's the big idea? Who just throws knives at people?" Naruto shouted as he stepped out of the bushes, revealing a pink crystal shattering behind him and a knife caught between his fingertips.

'Is that my knife?' Menchi thought, a blush spreading across her face. 'I almost turned my drinking rival into a skewer.'

"I mean seriously, what kind of crazy lady just throws knives at people?" Naruto continued, his tone a mix of annoyance and amusement.

'Crazy?!' Menchi's eye twitched. "Well, maybe you shouldn't scare poor innocent maidens, you scoundrel."

Naruto looked around and then at her up and down. "When you find an innocent maiden around these parts, let me know." Naruto quipped back. "And scoundrel is a compliment to a pirate, you know."

"Of course you would take it as a compliment."

"Well, of course, I'm all busy sinning with all this piracy. It's nice to be appreciated." Naruto snapped back with a lightness in his tone, rolling his eyes before handing back the girl her blade.

Menchi took the knife, her blush deepening. "Just... be careful next time, okay?" Menchi muttered, trying to regain her composure, her cheeks still flushed from their earlier encounter. The forest around them seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the tension to break.

Naruto grinned, his blue eyes twinkling with mischief. "No promises. Now, what's this about a stew? I'm starving." His stomach growled as if on cue, emphasizing his words.

Menchi sighed, shaking her head, a reluctant smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Come on then, help me with this boar. And try not to get in my way, whiskers." She gestured towards the forest, her knives glinting in the dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy.

For about five minutes, the duo stalked after boar tracks in silence. The only sounds were the crunching of leaves beneath their feet and the occasional bird call. Naruto's mind raced with questions, his curiosity finally getting the better of him.

"So," he began, breaking the silence, "who were those two old geezers who scared you off last night?" His tone was casual, but his eyes were sharp, watching Menchi's reaction closely.

Menchi's shoulders tensed visibly. "No one you want to mess with," she replied, her voice low and warning.

Naruto, undeterred, continued with his hands behind his head in a relaxed pose. "I don't know, the short one seems pretty weak. The taller one is definitely stronger though." His nonchalant assessment belied the keen observation in his gaze.

Menchi stopped in her tracks, turning to face Naruto. Her eyes were a mix of fear and resignation.

"Thalgo is a retired guard from the Holy Land. Story has it he saved a Celestial Dragon from assassination, and he was rewarded with an early retirement. So, he came home and decided to terrorize his old home because he can and has beri."

"Beri, you say?" Naruto's interest was piqued, his mind already working on the implications.

"Yeah," Menchi continued, her voice bitter. "The manor up on the hill, that's where he lords his power over the Isles. He controls this island; he controls the trade coming in and out."

Naruto's brow furrowed in thought. "If you control the trade for a trading hub, you control the wealth." His voice was serious now, all traces of his earlier playfulness gone.

Suddenly, his frown deepened, blue eyes locking onto Menchi's. "But that doesn't explain his connection to you." The question hung in the air between them, heavy with unspoken implications.

Menchi's hand tightened on her knife, her knuckles white against the polished hilt. She opened her mouth to speak, but the sudden rustle of bushes nearby interrupted her. In an instant, both were ready for action. Menchi drew two of her knives with fluid grace, the blades glinting dangerously in the dappled forest light. Naruto, with casual ease, manifested a crystal sabre in his right hand, the translucent weapon shimmering into existence. His left hand remained in his pocket, fist clenched, ready to unleash another crystal construct at a moment's notice.

"Okay, what are you?" Menchi whispered harshly, her eyes darting between Naruto and the rustling foliage. "You walk into crystals. Are you some kind of magician pirate?"

Naruto snickered, his blue eyes twinkling with amusement despite the tension. "A magician would be entertaining. Maybe I'll get one for my crew," he mused, before meeting Menchi's questioning gaze. "I ate a Devil Fruit, the Kesho Kesho no Mi. I'm a Crystal Man."

Before Menchi could process this revelation, a monstrous form burst through the shrubbery. A giant louse-like insect, its segmented body glistening with a sickly sheen, lunged towards them with alarming speed.

Neither flinched. Moving in perfect synchronization, as if they'd fought side by side for years, their blades struck true. Menchi's knives found weak spots in the creature's exoskeleton, while Naruto's crystal sabre cleaved through its body with unnatural ease. The grotesque beast collapsed, its legs twitching as it futilely attempted to curl into a defensive ball.

Menchi approached the fallen creature, her expert eyes quickly identifying its species. She turned to Naruto, who was watching his crystal blade crumble into glittering dust.

"You might need another one of those," she warned, her voice tight with newfound urgency. "Where there's one of these out and about, there's normally a den nearby."

Naruto's eyes narrowed; his earlier playfulness replaced by sharp focus. "How dangerous are we talking?" he asked, already forming another crystal construct in his hand. With a flash of light, a two-sided battle-axe materialized in his right palm, its design reminiscent of his old master Gabban's weapon.

Menchi's eyes widened at the sight of the imposing axe, but she quickly masked her surprise with a scoff. "You compensating for something there, crystal boy?"

Naruto grinned; the tension momentarily broken. "Hey, you've got your little knives, and I want to chop these overgrown bugs down to size. Different strokes for different folks, you know?"

Their banter was abruptly interrupted by a cacophony of noise. A wild boar burst from another set of bushes, its eyes wide with terror as it barrelled past them, mewling in distress.

"Is our lunch running away?" Naruto questioned, bewildered. But his confusion quickly turned to alarm as a furious buzzing filled the air, growing louder by the second.

Menchi's face paled. "Yes! And I think I know why!" Without hesitation, she grabbed Naruto's free arm, yanking him after the fleeing boar. "Run, you idiot!"

They had barely cleared the area when a swarm of giant, louse-like flying insects erupted from the underbrush. Their segmented bodies glistened in the dappled sunlight, compound eyes fixed on the retreating forms of Naruto, Menchi, and their would-be lunch.

"What the hell are those things?" Naruto shouted as they ran, his crystal axe gleaming as he held it at the ready.

"Carnivorous Spice Lice!" Menchi yelled back, her knives flashing as she slashed at low-hanging vines impeding their path. "They're attracted to meat and spices. Which means..."

"We're on the menu too," Naruto finished grimly. He risked a glance back, his eyes widening at the sight of the massive swarm. "Any bright ideas, Gourmet Queen?"

Menchi's mind raced as they sprinted through the forest. "There's a river nearby. If we can reach it, we might have a chance. These things can't swim!"

"Hey G-Queen, erm neither can I"

"What but you're a pirate?"

"I'm a crystal human, but also a hammer."

"Ok coming up with a new plan." Menchi shouted as she ran another slew of options.

As they ran, dodging trees and leaping over roots, Naruto couldn't help but laugh. "You know, when I woke up this morning, I didn't expect to be running for my life from giant bugs with a knife-throwing cook."

Despite the danger, Menchi found herself grinning. "Welcome to the Spicy Isles, crystal boy. Now less talking, more running!"

Naruto, his crystal axe glinting in the dappled sunlight, just found the whole situation hilarious. "Hey Menchi, you're a cook, right?" he shouted over the deafening buzz of the approaching swarm.

"Hence the name," Menchi glanced back at her companion briefly, her knives flashing as she slashed through a low-hanging vine. "Is this really the time for small talk?"

"Ah, Gourmet Queen of the East Blue," Naruto pronounced, ducking under a branch. "Well, Gourmet Queen, two things. One, can you make ramen?"

Menchi's eye twitched in disbelief. "Is this the time?!"

Naruto's grin widened, his blue eyes twinkling with mischief. "When ramen's involved, it's always the perfect time."

"Fine, yes, I can make ramen," Menchi conceded, her breath coming in short gasps as they sprinted through the underbrush.

"Perfect!" Naruto's voice was filled with childlike glee. "Now, if I save us, stop these bugs, and grab us lunch, will you agree to join my crew?"

Menchi nearly stumbled in shock. "What kind of question is that?!"

"What? I need a chef to make me ramen, you're a chef who can make ramen. What are you not understanding?" Naruto's tone was genuinely puzzled.

The buzz of the swarm grew angrier and louder, the air thick with the sound of thousands of beating wings. Even Naruto dared not turn on his observation haki, fearing the sensory overload.

Menchi, her face a mix of exasperation and grudging admiration, shouted back, "You're an idiot, but fine! You've got yourself a deal, crystal boy!"

"Finally!" Naruto exclaimed, his face lighting up with triumph. In one fluid motion, he spun on his heel, facing the oncoming swarm. His crystal axe gleamed as he swung it down once and then across, creating two massive slashes of pressurised air that shimmered with crystalline particles.

The air pressure blades, infused with Naruto's crystal power, sliced through the swarm with devastating precision. The buzzing turned to a cacophony of screeches as the Carnivorous Spice Lice were bisected and shredded, their bodies falling to the forest floor in a grotesque rain.

As the last of the insects fell, silence descended upon the forest. Naruto stood amidst the carnage, his crystal axe dissolving into glittering dust. He turned to Menchi, a sheepish grin on his face. "So... about that ramen?"

Menchi, covered in bug guts and leaves, couldn't help but laugh. "You're impossible," she said, shaking her head. "And what about that lunch you promised?"

"Oh yeah, the boar," Naruto said with a smile that bordered on mischievous. He crouched down, placing a single palm on the forest floor. The ground beneath his hand shimmered faintly with a pink glow.

Menchi looked at the whiskered-face pirate with a mix of confusion and curiosity. "What are you doing now, crystal boy?"

Naruto's grin widened, his blue eyes twinkling with triumph. "Jackpot."

"Care to elaborate?" Menchi asked, her hands on her hips, knives still at the ready.

Naruto stood up, brushing off his hands. "Our lunch is about two minutes away, north of here. Shall we?"

As they started walking, Menchi's curiosity got the better of her. "How do you know that? Some kind of crystal radar?"

Naruto chuckled. "Something like that. Let's just say our boar friend is taking a little crystal nap."

Five minutes later, they came upon a clearing. There, in the centre, stood a wild boar, completely encased in a shimmering pink crystal. The sunlight filtering through the trees made the crystal prison sparkle, casting pink reflections across the forest floor.

Menchi's jaw dropped. "You... you crystallised it? From that far away?"

Naruto shrugged, trying to look nonchalant but clearly pleased with himself. "I told you I'd get us lunch."

Menchi shook her head, a reluctant smile tugging at her lips. "I've got to hand it to you, crystal boy. You're full of surprises." She approached the crystallized boar, examining it with a chef's critical eye. "This is actually perfect. The crystal will keep the meat fresh until we're ready to cook it."

"So," Naruto said, his tone casual but his eyes hopeful, "about that deal we made..."Menchi sighed dramatically, but there was a glimmer of excitement in her eyes. "A deal's a deal. But don't think this means I'm going to make ramen every day."

Naruto pumped his fist in the air. "Yes! Welcome aboard, Gourmet Queen!" He paused, looking thoughtful. "You know, I have a feeling life's about to get a lot more interesting for both of us."

As they prepared to head back to the Hanahime, Naruto carrying the crystallised boar as Menchi trailed behind slightly as she tried wipe off some of the insect guts from her clothing.

In a dimly lit store on the central part of the island, the air thick with the scent of gunpowder, Nojiko surprised everyone with her natural aptitude for handling a rifle.

"Girl's got talent with that thing," Hanabi remarked, her Byakugan active as she observed Nojiko's form.

Gin nodded; his expression thoughtful. "Yeah, but talent is half the battle. Do you think she can kill?"

"Not yet" Hanabi replied, her voice low.

"I see..." Gin paused, then headed for the door. "Keep an eye on her for me. I got to take a leak." The Man-Demon's lie was smooth, but Hanabi caught the tension in his shoulders.

"Try not to die, old timer," she called after him.

Gin turned, his eyes flashing. "Old timer? For your information, I'm 25, ya disrespectful brat. I'm dying, not ancient."

Hanabi stuck out her tongue, and Gin retaliated with a middle finger before slipping out.

"Oh, he's so joining the crew," Hanabi muttered, turning her attention back to Nojiko as she lined up another shot.

Outside the store the air grew thick with tension as Gin faced the eight enforcers, his body coiled like a spring despite his weakened state. He suppressed a wheezy cough, squaring his shoulders and fixing the group with a predatory gaze.

"Now, gents," Gin's voice was deceptively calm, a stark contrast to the danger radiating from his stance, "before we get started, is there anyone who just wants to walk away?" His eyes scanned the group, searching for any sign of weakness.

One enforcer, emboldened by false bravado, sneered, "Why would we back down from a scrawny runt like you?" His companions shifted uneasily, the bravado not quite reaching their eyes.

Gin's lips curled into a humourless smile, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper. "You mean you don't know me?" The silence that followed was palpable, broken only by the nervous shuffling of feet.

Another enforcer, trying to mask his growing unease, spoke up, "You're some dying old geezer traveling with a baby pirate." His voice cracked slightly, betraying his fear.

Suddenly, a third enforcer's eyes widened in recognition, his face draining of colour. "No, you fools!" he gasped, stumbling backward. "That's the Man-Demon of the Don Krieg pirates!"

'Ah, finally some recognition,' Gin thought, his grip tightening on his concealed weapons. The air seemed to crackle with tension as the realization spread through the group.

"I heard the whole armada got wiped out in a week," one muttered nervously, his eyes darting for an escape route.

Gin's eyes hardened, becoming cold and merciless. "It's true," he growled, his voice low and threatening, "and I survived. Which is more than I can say for you all."

In a blur of motion that belied his illness, Gin drew his weighted tonfas. The enforcers barely had time to react before he lashed out at the closest opponent. The sickening crack of a shattered kneecap echoed through the air, followed immediately by the stomach-churning crunch of a sternum caving under the force of Gin's second strike.

As the first enforcer crumpled to the ground, a horrified silence fell over the remaining seven. They stared at Gin, frozen in terror, as the true extent of the danger they faced dawned on them.

"Who's next?" Gin's challenge hung in the air, his tonfa gleaming with menace.

Inside the store, Hanabi discreetly activated her Byakugan, veins bulging around her temples, hidden beneath her bangs. Her all-seeing eyes pierced through walls, focused on the unfolding battle outside.

BANG!

Another shot rang out from Nojiko's rifle, the sound echoing through the store. Her aim was improving with each round.

Outside, Gin moved with lethal precision, as if the gunshot had been his starting signal. Hanabi watched, transfixed by the brutal efficiency of the Man-Demon's combat style.

Having already dispatched the first enforcer with a sickening combination of strikes to the knee and sternum, Gin now faced the remaining attackers. Despite his weakened state, he was a blur of motion, ducking and weaving through a flurry of attempted grapples.

The largest enforcer lunged, but Gin was ready. He dropped low, executing a perfect sweeping kick that sent the man crashing to the ground. In one fluid motion, Gin sprang upward, his body rotating in a tight 360-degree spin. The momentum of the spin channelled into his tonfa as he brought them crashing down onto his fallen opponent's chest and gut.

The impact was devastating. A small crater formed beneath the enforcer's body, dust and debris billowing outward from the point of impact. The man lay motionless, the fight literally knocked out of him.

Gin straightened, his breath coming in ragged gasps, but his eyes remained sharp and alert. The remaining enforcers hesitated, their earlier bravado evaporating in the face of such skill and brutality.

Inside, Hanabi's eyes widened in a mix of awe and concern. "Nojiko," she spoke up just Here's an improved version of the scene:

As Nojiko finished reloading, Hanabi called out to her, "Yeah, Hanabi?"

Hanabi was about to say they were needed outside as Gin's injuries were flaring up, but she hesitated. "Never mind, but we're going to be wrapping this up shortly." The younger girl offered a thumbs up as she deactivated her eyes allowing her regular vision to set in, confident that she didn't have to watch Gin now.

Nojiko nodded, her eyes narrowing as she took aim with the rifle. 'I'm a pirate now. I need to be able to defend myself,' she thought, her grip steady.

Outside the store, Gin had fallen to one knee, clutching his chest. 'Shit!' he cursed silently, his body betraying him. 'Not now...' His vision swam as he watched the fear, he had instilled moments ago drain from his opponents, replaced by a sickening arrogance.

As the enforcers charged to beat the downed pirate, a voice rang out above the commotion:

"Kesho Kesho no Sekiei Tatsumaki!"

The enforcers froze mid-step as a pink tornado materialised before them, glinting in the sunlight. For a brief moment, it was a mesmerising sight. Then, as the twister enveloped them, their screams pierced the air. The tornado was composed of countless microscopic crystal shards, transforming from a shimmering pink to a deep, ominous red.

"Get outta my sight!" Naruto commanded; his voice cold with fury. With a gesture, he lifted the crystal twister into the air and flung it across the island, its screaming occupants still trapped within.

Naruto leapt down from the weaponsmith's roof, landing gracefully beside Gin. "You alright?" he asked, concern evident in his voice as he checked on his crewmate.

"Y-yeah, thanks for the save." Gin wheezed out slowly as he tried to catch his breath.

"Hey take your time. I knew I was right about you when your healthy your gonna be a powerhouse for sure." Naruto praised as he survey the two crumpled foes at either side of Gin.

Up on the roof, Menchi stood slack-jawed, the boar still slung over her shoulder. 'One minute we're walking through the forest and he's carrying the boar, and now we're in town and I'm carrying it,' she thought, bewildered. Her eyes darted to her right just as a crystal mirror shattered into glittering dust. 'Did he create that and drag me through it to get here?'

Menchi chuckled nervously to herself, a mix of awe and trepidation washing over her. 'What kind of monster did I just sign up with?' she wondered, watching as Naruto tended to Gin below. Despite her shock, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement at the adventures that surely lay ahead.

"Ay Menchi!" Naruto called up to the girl snapping her out of her reverie.

"Come on down the girls should be done about now."

"Girls?"

"Oh yeah currently I'm the only guy on the crew but..." Naruto paused to point at the man getting up from his kneeling position. "This guy is going to join up real soon."

"You have asked me to join yet! Don't go assuming I'll just say yes." Gin tried to shout before he began sputtering and coughing away.

"That guy?" Menchi said looking unimpressed. "He looks like he has one foot in the grave already."

"That's because he does but when we find a doctor for the crew he will have both feet out of the grave." Naruto explained like it was the easiest thing in the world.

"Is he an idiot?" Menchi looked past Naruto and at Gin.

"From what I can tell of the highest degree but trust me I've met dumber." 'Straw-hat is definitely more stupid.' "From what I can tell, he is an overpowered ramen nutjob with a heart of gold."

"Oh great, that's comforting." Menchi quipped as she hopped down from the roof top still holding the crystalised boar in her hands. 'Of course, it's always the stupid ones.' The girl thought with a sigh.

Just as she landed the doors to the weaponsmith store opened and out came Hanabi, and Nojiko who was clutching a rifle with several bags of ammunition.

"That's a lot of rounds." Naruto mentioned before glancing at his sister's bag. "Hanabi, you do know you can blow things up with your hands, right?"

"Who cares, sometimes you need some long-distance power, what are going to do throw me?"

"Hmm Hanabi surprise burning attack." Naruto chuckled to himself "Has a nice ring to it."

"Oh, don't you even think about it bro."

Naruto laughed, his eyes gleaming with mischief. He stomped on the ground, and a massive crystal shard erupted from the earth, its surface shimmering with the reflection of their ship's deck.

"Now then, ladies, gentlemen, and Hanabi," Naruto grinned, emphasizing his sister's name, "we have much to discuss. Everyone grab hold of me and don't let go. You can't move through without me." He extended his arms, inviting his crew to hold on.

Gin eyed the crystal warily, while Nojiko clutched her new rifle tighter. Menchi, still holding the crystallized boar, shook her head in disbelief. Hanabi, used to her brother's antics, simply rolled her eyes and grabbed his sleeve.

The captain waited a moment, ensuring everyone was secure, before stepping into the crystal. In an instant, they vanished, leaving behind only a faint shimmer in the air.

Unbeknownst to the crew of the Hanahime, a lone figure perched atop the manor house, just beyond Hanabi's Byakugan range and Naruto's observation haki. Through a high-powered scope, he had witnessed the entire altercation between the enforcers and the Man-Demon.

The sniper lowered his rifle, a smirk playing on his lips. "Hmm, a Devil Fruit user? This might actually be a challenge." His eyes gleamed with anticipation as he began to disassemble his weapon. "And just as I was about to leave the East Blue. Fate has a strange sense of humour."

As the crew materialised on the Hanahime's deck, there was a moment of disorientation.

"Well, that was weird," Gin spoke up first, steadying himself against the railing.

Hanabi smirked. "With this guy, you'll get used to it."

"Can you jump too anywhere?" Nojiko asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.

Naruto shook his head. "Nope. I need to be able to visualize or have been there before. Without either of those, no dice."

Shinobu leapt down from the lookout, landing gracefully beside them. "Oh yeah, like when you tried to find One Piece after first realizing you could make gateways."

Naruto winced at the memory. "Yeah, and every time I tried to walk through; it would spit me out in a completely random spot." He shuddered. "I gave up on the third attempt when a mirror opened over the ocean."

The crew exchanged shocked glances, but Naruto pressed on. "Now then, before we discuss business, let me introduce you all to our new chef, the Gourmet Queen of the East Blue, Menchi."

"Was this the leggy ally you met with yesterday?" Shinobu asked, eyeing Menchi appraisingly.

'Leggy?' Menchi thought, offering a shy wave to the crew.

"Yup," Naruto replied, as if no further explanation was needed. "Now, Shinobu, where were you all morning?"

Shinobu's expression turned serious. "Doing what I intended – chasing down leads. I've got some dirt on the former guard."

"Go on," Naruto said, his interest piqued.

"Racketeering, harassment, blackmail, and bribing off the local marine unit."

"Corrupt marines again? Lame," Hanabi groaned.

Shinobu shot her a look before continuing, "And according to his books, he's sitting on about ฿2.5 million in the basement of the manor house."

Jaws dropped across the deck.

"It's only midday," Nojiko marveled. "How did you get this much information already?"

Shinobu smirked at Hanabi. "Because I'm better than you, and you know it." Her teasing tone softened as she turned back to Naruto. "Captain, what's our next move?"

Naruto's eyes gleamed with determination. "Oh, we're stealing that gold and kicking the shit out of Thalgo, whatever his face is." He glanced at Menchi, noting her worried expression.

'This is it,' Menchi thought, her fists clenching at her sides. 'Time for some payback.' Years of watching her people suffer under Thalgo's oppressive rule flashed through her mind.

Naruto's voice cut through the tension. "Alright, crew. We've got a rich dickhead to take down and a fortune to liberate. And boy oh boy I aim to misbehave."

A chorus of enthusiastic cheers erupted from the deck, marking the beginning of their daring plan.

THE END

A.N

Thoughts on this chapter?

Told y'all I would be back quicker than before.

Gonna find out more about Menchi next chapter and what exactly happened to her.

Naruto v Van Ogre next chapter

Thoughts on Gin's little showcase

Naruto has a first mate that stands on business.

the attacks on the bugs are no named attacks. if need help visualising think any base slash attack but with crystal fragmentsalong for the ride.

If it was too much going on do let me know.

After the next chapter we entering the Grand line

More df power display? Are we liking the power usage?

His attack Sekiei Tatsumaki= Quartz tornado looks Crocodile's sand twister in his hands with a major difference.

Also I'm curious to what you think Naruto's bounty is going to be
FOR his achievements thus far which

Thoughts on how Menchi joined to quick or its ok also not all acquisitions are going to be the same.

Leave review as it fuels my engine of creation…

Stay Chilling Y'all!