Chapter 27

ARLONG PARK 2.0

"Arlong!" A fish man called out.

Arlong looked over at the fish man.

"Hm?" Arlong asked.

"We've found another island ready for our takeover." The fish man said.

"What's on it?" Arlong asked.

"Apparently everything on the island is stretched! Trees and even animals! Other than that, really it's pretty empty." The fish man explained.

Arlong stared at the fish man in annoyance.

"Then what the hell are we going for? That's a waste of time if there isn't anything there!" Arlong yelled.

The fish man flinched.

"But that's the thing sir! It's a collection of ten islands in a circle. Every year on a specific day the tide lowers to form a ring connecting said islands. Since it's so empty DEATH could build small villages and maybe use each island for a different purpose! It is our job to handle money… that could be a good way to bring in some serious dough!" The fish man explained.

Arlong thought about it.

"That idea is crap!" Arlong spit.

The fish man's head hung low.

"Yes sir! It's crap!"

"But maybe… maybe DEATH could build small villages and use each island for a different purpose! It is our job to handle money and that could be a good way to bring in some serious dough!" Arlong said.

The fish man's head shot up.

"Excellent idea Arlong-san! I love it!" The fish man said.

"Of course you do. Now, let's head out to… what's the name of this place?" Arlong asked.

"Yes! It's called Long Ring Long Island!" The fish man answered.

SAKURA KINGDOM

"Thank you for all the great information, Hancock-san." Kakashi said.

Hancock smiled.

"It's nothing really. I still want to prove myself as a member of your team." Hancock said.

Kakashi held his hands up.

"Hey hey, it's not my team, we're following Luffy's orders." Kakashi explained.

Hancock lowered her head a little.

"Luffy." Hancock said softly.

FLASHBACK

"Luffy… I love you so much."

"I want a future with you… I want you to be mine, kids to continue our legacy, a future where we travel the seas as the king and queen of the pirates!"

"I'll always love you Luffy… I'm not going anywhere… you're who I want. I've already made up my mind about that."

"Luffy… please… I love you so much… I don't want to ever have to say goodbye to you…"

"If you really love him as much as you say you do then continue to fight with and for him." Kakashi said.

END OF FLASHBACK

Hancock looked up confidently at Kakashi.

"I will. I promise. No more crying, no more looking weak, I have to be able to be of use to them." Hancock said to herself.

Kakashi looked out the window and noticed the sun was coming up.

"Heh, looks like we've been up all night. Sorry about that, we didn't get to sleep at all." Kakashi said.

"It's fine. That was the longest night I've ever experienced." Hancock said.

Kakashi smiled.

"Go ahead and go get some rest. I'll probably do the same." Kakashi said.

Hancock nodded with a smile and left the room. Kakashi looked towards the door as she closed it.

"That woman has been through a lot. I doubted her… but I can't imagine someone going through what she has and betraying probably the only people who can help her. Plus… those feelings she has for Luffy, they're real. I've seen that kind of fire in someone's eyes before." Kakashi thought to himself.

Kakashi put on his sleep garments and jumped in bed.

"It certainly was a long night. Now, time to rest." Kakashi said, closing his eyes. As he did, Sasuke and Sakura walked through the door.

"Kakashi. Time to get up, we need to get moving." Sasuke said.

Kakashi didn't move. Sasuke got agitated.

"Come on Kakashi, let's go." Sasuke said again.

Kakashi still didn't move. Sasuke sighed.

"Fine. I guess I won't tell you where they keep their version of the make out paradise books you love so much." Sasuke said, turning around, he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Tell me… where they are." Kakashi whispered.

"I knew you were faking. Come on get dressed so we can leave." Sasuke said.

Kakashi's head hung low.

"There's no novels?!" Kakashi whined.

Sakura shook her head.

"You never change sensei."

"No there's no books like those here. I said that because you were faking sleep." Sasuke retorted.

"But I was up all night! At least let me sleep a little." Kakashi reasoned.

"Sorry Kakashi, but I really think we should leave. You can sleep on the boat." Sasuke said.

Kakashi pouted and pushed them out his room so he could put his clothes back on. Kakashi came out moments later.

"Alright I'm ready. Is everyone else still asleep?" Kakashi asked, as they began walking.

"The only people who were sleeping were the long nose guy, the deer, Naruto, and Luffy. Sanji and Nami showed up roughly around the same time Sakura and I did, the skeleton and cyborg were in the bar on the bottom floor all night and as far as the swordsman and that girl… I haven't seen them." Sasuke said.

Kakashi gasped.

"Do you have an idea where they are? Does Luffy or any other member of the crew know?" Kakashi asked.

"That's actually what I was about to talk about. Let's wait until we get to the lobby." Sasuke said.

Kakashi nodded and proceeded to walk to the lobby. When they arrived, Hinata was waiting.

"Hinata! What are you doing here?" Kakashi asked.

Hinata turned to Kakashi and smiled.

"She was sent to the sand to help repair it. Garra thought we could use a visual power like the byakugan with us and sent her to help us out." Sakura explained.

"Wow. That's actually very handy. So where is everyone?" Kakashi asked.

"I told them to meet here in the lobby. It's only a matter of waiting now." Sasuke said.

After a few moments people started to show up. Hancock, Sanji, and Nami were the first to show up.

"Hey guys! Good morning!" Nami said.

Nami noticed Hinata standing by the shinobi.

"Hello there! What's your name? You're beautiful!" Nami said.

Hinata blushed and smiled.

"Thank you! My name is Hinata Hyuga, I'm from the leaf like them." Hinata answered.

"The leaf village has no shortage of beautiful women I see." Sanji said.

Nami punched Sanji as hard as she could on the head.

"WOULD YOU RATHER BE WITH HER YOU CURLY EYE BROWED IDIOT!?" Nami yelled.

"OF COURSE NOT NAMI-CHWAN YOU'RE ALL I NEED!" Sanji yelled, his hands held together begging for forgiveness.

Chopper and Usopp were the next to arrive.

"Ugh, I slept all that time, but I still feel tired… hm?" Usopp looked up at Hinata.

"Who's this? Are you from here?" Usopp asked.

"She's so beautiful!" Chopper exclaimed.

Hinata smiled and answered.

"I'm Hinata Hyuga of the hidden leaf. It's nice to meet you both. And thank you so much, you're very adorable too!" Hinata said.

Chopper started flapping his arms and dancing.

"That doesn't make me feel good about myself you dumb ass! Ha ha ha ha ha!" Chopper laughed.

Hinata became nervous.

"Dumb ass?..." Hinata asked.

Nami put a hand on Hinata's shoulder.

"Tust me he's happy!" Nami said with a smile.

Franky showed up next.

"Ahhhhh, that night was SUUUUUPERRRRR!" Franky said, striking his signature pose, "Hm? And who's this lovely lady here." Franky said with a smile.

Sakura stared with annoyance.

"I wish I got this many compliments when they saw me." Sakura said to herself.

"Hinata Hyuga. Nice to meet you." Hinata said smiling.

Naruto and Luffy walked in next.

"Ughhh this Sasuke guy couldn't let us sleep for another few hours? It's so early!" Luffy yelled.

Naruto walked next to Luffy and smiled.

"You remind me of my younger self Luffy. I've been meaning to ask, how old are you?" Naruto asked.

"Hm? Oh, I'm 19!" Luffy said.

Naruto shrieked.

"YOU'RE THE SAME AGE AS ME!" Naruto yelled.

"AHHHHH YOU'RE SO TALL AND MATURE!" Luffy yelled back.

"YOU'RE JUST NOW NOTICING THAT!" Naruto yelled again.

"I THOUGHT YOU WERE IN YOUR TWENTIES!" Luffy yelled.

"HECK NO! I'M NOT AN OLD MAN YET!" Naruto screamed.

Sakura and Nami balled their fists.

BONK BONK

"Can you two idiots be quiet! It's too early for all that yelling!" Nami yelled.

"Yeah! We've got someone special with us and you're making her uncomfortable!" Sakura agreed.

The two women looked at each other and hugged.

"SISTERS!" Sakura and Nami said in unison.

"Note to self: avoid those two!" Usopp said to himself.

Naruto and Luffy got up rubbing their heads.

"Oww Nami! Why do you always hit me?" Luffy asked.

"Yeah Sakura… I thought we were passed tha-."

Naruto stopped when he saw Hinata, who was already smiling at him. Naruto stood up slowly.

"Hi…Hi… Hinata." Naruto said softly.

"Naruto." Hinata said with a small smile and blush.

The room smiled at the pair as Luffy looked up. Luffy was bewitched as he held on to his straw-hat.

"WHO IS THAT?! SHE'S SO BEAUTIFUL!" Luffy yelled.

The straw-hats and Hancock stared in shock, Luffy hardly ever acknowledged someone's beauty before, if he has at all. Luffy ran past Naruto to go meet her. Naruto stared with annoyance while Hancock looked to the side with jealousy.

FLASHBACK

"I can do whatever I want, and I'll be forgiven… you know why? Because I'm beautiful." Hancock teased.

"Shut up! You dumbass!" Luffy yelled back

END OF FLASHBACK

"Hey there! My name is Monkey D. Luffy! I'm a captain and this is my crew! I'm going to be the pirate king!" Luffy said.

Hinata smiled at Luffy.

"Hello Luffy. My name is Hinata Hyuga. I'm a friend of the shinobi here." Hinata said.

"Ohhhh! Yeah these are my friends! HEE HEE HEE!" Luffy said, his arms behind his head.

Hinata smiled and looked up at Naruto who was pouting. Hinata walked over to Naruto.

"Hello, Naruto-kun." Hinata said softly.

"Hinata… hey!" Naruto said with a smile.

Before Hinata could say anything else, Brook walked into the room.

"YO HO HO HO HO HO HO! Franky and I boogied all night last night! I partied until I died!... But I'm a skeleton so I'm already dead! YO HO HO HO HO HO HO HO!" Brook yelled.

Hinata stared in awe at the skeleton man.

"Huh? Hey, Naruto… how is he?" Hinata was interrupted.

"My my my what do we have here? Who is this fascinatingly beautiful woman!?" Brook asked.

Sakura was on her hands and knees.

"Even the skeleton compliments her beauty…" Sakura thought to herself.

Brook stood tall with, what most would guess, a straight face.

"If you would be so kind as to tell me what color panties you've chosen to wear this evening…" Brook said.

Hinata gasped and turned red. Naruto, Luffy, and Sanji attacked Brook.

"DON'T ASK HER TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT YOU DAMN SKELETON!" Sanji yelled.

"WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM YOU PERVY SKELETON!" Naruto yelled.

"WHY WOULD SHE SHOW YOU HER PANTIES!? BROOK!" Luffy yelled.

The three attacked Brook as he laughed and dodged their attacks in the background. Sasuke and Kakashi used this time to talk.

"So, Sasuke. You said you wanted to wait until we got to the lobby to discuss something?" Kakashi asked.

Sasuke nodded.

"I had to make sure everyone would be here first." Sasuke said.

The three stopped attacking Brook and listened to what Sasuke was saying. Luffy looked around.

"Hey? Where's Zoro and Robin?" Luffy asked.

"Yeah I knew something was off here." Franky said.

"What happened to them!? Are they okay!?" Chopper yelled.

Sasuke sighed.

"Relax. Hinata here has helped me come to a conclusion." Sasuke said.

Luffy and Naruto looked over at Hinata.

"AWESOME HINATA! YOU'RE AMAZING!" Luffy yelled.

Hancock and Naruto grew frustrated.

"Wow! First day here and you've already helped us find some crew members! Way to go sis!" Nami said.

"I didn't find them is the problem…" Hinata said.

The entire room stared in shock.

"My eyes are special… I can see everyone on this island when they're activated. Sasuke described to me in great detail the two that were lost… but I didn't see anyone matching those descriptions on this island." Hinata finished.

Luffy couldn't believe it.

"So… so where are they!? Zoro and Robin would never run off like this for no reason!" Luffy yelled.

"Luffy take it easy. She just got here, we're lucky she's even here to check for us in the first place." Sanji said.

Chopper thought of Robin and tears began to form.

"Robin… please be okay… wherever you are."

"However." Sasuke broke the silence and the whole team looked at him.

"I have an idea of where she might have gone, and Zoro may have followed to keep her safe." Sasuke said.

"Where?! Where!?" Luffy asked.

"Remember what Psycho said to Robin when he saw her at Arlong park?" Sasuke asked.

Everyone thought about it.

"He said something about a library right?" Usopp asked.

"Exactly. He gave Robin two days to make a decision, she had the rest of the day yesterday and today would've been her chance to think about it all day. I'm guessing the Marineford massacre made her come up with an answer early." Sasuke explained.

"Ughhh, Nico Robin. It's Enies Loby all over again!" Franky said.

"Why would Robin-chan go anywhere with that freak?" Sanji asked.

"She was your archeologist right? That explains everything. An ancient library nobody in this world as been to? Her curiosity got the best of her." Sasuke said.

"WHAT'RE WE STANDING AROUND TALKING FOR? LET'S GO GET THEM!" Luffy yelled.

"It's not that simple, Luffy. We don't even know where this library is or how to get there. And if you forgot already, Psycho is with her, did you forget what happened to us at Arlong park?" Sasuke asked.

Naruto and Luffy put their heads down.

"The only thing we can do is wait for them to get back. We'll give them five days. If they're not back by then, we'll storm Marineford and make Psycho tell us where she is. For now, I'd like to find a nice open island to do some training." Sasuke said.

"Five days?! With a freak like Psycho? What if he kills her!" Nami yelled.

"How are we supposed to know when they'll be back? Or how far this library even is? It could take five days to get there on the fastest ship, let alone a round trip. Five days is almost too soon." Sasuke reasoned, "As much as I hate to do it, we'll have to leave this in the hands of fate. And focus on ourselves."

The entire room hung their heads low.

"No!" Luffy yelled.

Sasuke stared at him.

"I want to go to Marineford now! And save Robin and Zoro!" Luffy yelled.

"We don't even know if they're even there Luffy. That's what I'm trying to tell you. What if you get there and it's nothing but DEATH members? DEATH generals? You heard Sabo, the foot soldiers may be small fry, but the generals are about as strong as Psycho and Cyclone! What will you do then?" Sasuke asked.

"I'll figure it out when I get there!" Luffy yelled.

"Luffy, goth man is right. You can't go there, it's too dangerous. I want to save Robin-chan too, but there's too much risk involved." Sanji argued.

Luffy looked at Sanji and then Nami.

"Luffy… we do need to train. We can't have what happened to you and Naruto happen again. Robin and Zoro will be okay. They have each other!" Nami said.

Luffy looked down and shook with anger.

"HAVE YOU ALL GIVEN UP THAT EASILY!?" Luffy yelled, "THESE ARE OUR FRIENDS! ARE WE REALLY GOING TO LET THEM DO SOMETHING SO STUPID!?"

"LUFFY!" Sasuke yelled, "We want to figure out their situation same as you, but we can't worry about them. They're powerful enough to get away. They're also smart enough to know that if they're taking such a risk they have some sort of plan to deal with whatever happens if things don't go according to plan." Sasuke explained.

Luffy clenched his fist.

"So like I said. We've got a lot of training to do to grow stronger for ourselves and each other." Sasuke said.

Everyone continued to watch Luffy waiting for his response.

FLASHBACK

"Ace…. Ace!?..."

END OF FLASHBACK

"No…. no no no!" Luffy yelled.

FLASHBACK

"Stop… stop… STOP STOP STOP! DON'T SEND MY FRIENDS AWAY!"

END OF FLASHBACK

"I'M NOT LOSING ANYBODY ELSE! IF I HAVE TO GO BY MYSELF I WILL!" Luffy yelled.

"Hey there's no need for that!" Usopp said.

"Yeah, Luffy calm down." Nami said.

"Then go then. But we're not following you." Sasuke said, turning towards the door.

Luffy looked up in anger.

"I'm not going to keep explaining the same thing over and over to you. Now, anybody know wh-."

Luffy threw a punch at Sasuke who dodged it.

"Luffy, stop." Sasuke said.

Luffy, filled with rage brought his fist back and ran at Sasuke. Sasuke drew his sword and Luffy hardened his fist. Luffy threw a punch that Sasuke blocked with his blade.

"Is it really that serious Luffy? You're attacking allies over things you THINK you know. I never once said I was right or that I wanted to do forget them whole heartedly. It's what we HAVE to do though!" Sasuke argued.

Luffy yelled and hardened his other arm throwing a punch at Sasuke's face. Sasuke back flipped out the building and Luffy launched at Sasuke, who was still landing from the back flips and knocked him into a tree. Luffy stood over Sasuke with anger. Naruto grew angry himself.

"Hey Luffy! What the hell are you doing!?" Naruto yelled.

Luffy looked back at Naruto.

"Do you hear how he's talking about my crew!? As if we can just forget about them!" Luffy yelled.

"You haven't listened to a damn thing he said! He's right! Your friends even agreed! Going now would be suicide!" Naruto yelled.

Luffy stared down at Sasuke, who was climbing out of the snow, looking at Luffy. Sasuke dusted himself off and walked past the straw-hat captain.

"I won't fight you because you're full of anger. You don't even know what you're doing." Sasuke said, sheathing his sword.

Luffy balled his fist and clenched it.

"Luffy…" Hancock said softly.

"For you to not understand where I'm coming from…" Luffy started, "We're not brothers after all!" Luffy said, looking at Naruto.

Naruto grit his teeth.

"What'd you just say?!" Naruto asked, full of anger now.

Luffy threw his straw-hat to the side as Naruto walked towards him.

"HEY STOP! DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!" Nami yelled.

"NARUTO STOP!" Kakashi yelled now.

Usopp stared at the two in fear.

FLASHBACK

"I challenge you to a duel! Monkey D. Luffy!"

END OF FLASHBACK

Usopp looked down.

"Please don't do this guys…" Usopp said to himself.

Chopper hugged Sanji's leg.

"GUYS PLEASE STOP!" Chopper yelled.

Brook, Sanji, and Franky all watched with straight faces. Hinata was scared. Naruto eventually stood in front of Luffy and stared at him. Luffy stared back up at Naruto. Before anyone could react Luffy threw a solid punch at Naruto, who threw a punch of his own. The clash of fists shook the island and sent a shock wave towards their friends. As the two held their fists together, Naruto looked down and spoke.

"I….I'm…" Naruto looked up, his whiskers were messy, his teeth now fangs, and his eyes red, "NOT LETTING YOU GO ANYWHERE!" Naruto yelled.

LONG RING LONG ISLAND

Arlong and his underlings arrived at the island and looked around.

"There really is nothing here. Not even a house. Just trees and field." Arlong said.

"Hey, easier for us to take over sir!" A DEATH member said.

Arlong looked at him and smiled.

"AH ha ha ha ha. Well I guess you're right. But I was at least wanting to fight SOMEBODY. All this new power I can't even use." Arlong complained.

"Oi." A voice said.

Arlong and co. turned to look at the man. Trafalgar Law sat on a rock, his sword resting on his shoulder. Arlong smiled and his eyes showed veins in them, a sign he was excited.

"Well what do we have here?!" Arlong asked.

"You won't have to wait too long to fight, Arlong-ya." Law said standing up, "You still gotta pay for what you did to my crew."