Team 7 had gathered at the front gate. It was around noon the next day and the three were ready for departure to the village hidden in sand to attend the meeting between the Kazekage and a princess from the kingdom of Alabasta, a place they just found out had been in the sand's backyard for who knows how long.
"Oi!" A man said.
Kakashi was walking towards the group in his standard get up. A leaf village flak jacket with ninja sandals and a blue jumpsuit underneath.
"Kakashi sensei!" Naruto yelled out. "What are you doing? You're the Hokage! You can't leave."
"Ah, yes. About that." Kakashi said, "This decision was "kind of" last minute..."
Flashback (Yesterday)
Kakashi sat in the office continuing to do paperwork as he heard a knock on the door.
"Um, yes come in." Kakashi said.
It was lady Tsunade. The former Hokage of the leaf.
"Milady! What are you doing here?" Kakashi asked.
"I heard from Sakura about the mission you gave them to escort a princess back home. And the danger surrounding it." Tsunade said.
"Well. Yes, I did. Who else could really pull this off in case it does get dangerous?" Kakashi said.
"I understand. Which is why I'm ordering you to go with them!" Tsunade ordered.
"Wait what?!" Kakashi said with wide open eyes and small sweat forming.
"There's no doubt Sasuke's navigation skills and quick thinking can get them out of almost any trouble they could get into, Naruto can still be a bit reckless, and Sakura feeds off the energy of those two, if they get into trouble who can protect her? They need another strategist out there." Tsunade explained.
"Why not send Shikamaru to do it? I'm caught up in all this paper work you know." Kakashi said.
"I've got Shikamaru handling other business right now, and as much as I hate to say it..I'll finish off your remaining paperwork until you all come home." Tsunade said.
"You really want me to go, don't you?" Kakashi said with low eyes.
"Kakashi. This meeting MUST happen. It could open the door for us ninja to expand trade, and other economical gains. I don't want anything going wrong. Not even the wrong bug getting stepped on." Tsunade said.
"A little too specific don't you think?" Kakashi said sarcastically.
"Get serious Kakashi. You and I both know this meeting is much more serious than you acted like it was with Naruto and the others. Plus…" Tsunade paused.
"That organization you told them about.. what if they're another form of Akatsuki? We need to make sure that princess is safe!" Tsunade said.
Kakashi continued to look at her with low resting eyes. He leaned back and looked up at the ceiling, then turned around to look out the window.
"Outside the Ninja World, huh?" Kakashi asked himself. "I guess there's nothing wrong with seeing what goes on outside of what we're used to."
Kakashi stood up to his feet and stood proudly.
"Don't worry milady. We'll escort the princess safely to her kingdom at meetings end." Kakashi said.
"Don't let me, no, this country down Kakashi. This rests on the shoulders of you and those three." Tsunade said.
PRESENT TIME
"Oh wow, so lady Tsunade ended up making you come with us?" Sakura asked.
"Yes. I feel like you knew that she would." Kakashi answered with low eyes and annoyed at Sakura who smiled while holding up peace signs.
"Well let's get to it!" Naruto smiled. "On to the Sand Village!"
SOMEWHERE IN THE GRAND LINE
"WE REALLY HAVE TO TURN AROUND?!" Luffy yelled.
It around noon now as the Straw Hats sailed through the Grand Line.
The captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, Monkey D. Luffy, reacted to the letter they received earlier this morning from Vivi.
"Of course we do idiot! Don't you want to see Vivi again? She said something big was going on with Alabasta in the letter!" Nami said.
"Of course I want to see Vivi! But what if Jaggy and Tra-Guy become pirate king before me?!" Luffy yelled.
"I highly doubt anyone becomes the Pirate King in the next few days Luffy..." Nami said with an annoyed sigh.
"Sanji I'm hungry!" Luffy exclaimed.
"Aye. Food will be ready shortly." Sanji said.
"How's it look Usopp?!" Luffy yelled looking up at the ship's lookout.
"Looking clear captain! Smooth waters and great weather." Usopp answered.
Zoro was on the ship's stern working out as usual with Chopper watching.
"That stuff sure looks heavy!" Chopper said. "I want to try to lift too!"
"Hm." Zoro said with a small smile. "Go ahead and knock yourself out."
Chopper transformed into his man form and attempted to lift the giant weights.
"HMPH GGGRR ARG!" Chopper struggled.
"What's wrong? Too heavy?" Zoro said.
"No no I've got it!" Chopper said straining.
Robin walked up to the two.
"Hehe." She chuckled. "Look at you two go."
Zoro turned and looked at her and smirked.
"Yeah. We're trying." Zoro said.
"Yes. I understand." Robin said.
Zoro's smirk turned into small confusion while Chopper battled with the weights in the background.
"That's not why you came back here is it?" Zoro asked.
Robin got surprised and looked down.
"Um yes, I uh. I was going to ask you something, but I forgot." Robin said with a forced smile.
"Hm?" Zoro asked with a confused look.
"Sorry to trouble you men. You can resume your work out." Robin said walking off.
"That was weird." Zoro said.
"I GOT IT! AHHHHHHHH! ZORO HELP!" Chopper had finally lifted the weights but dropped them on himself right after.
"Hey! Damn it!" Zoro said running over to help.
As Robin walked down the steps of the boat she was grabbed and pulled into a room by Nami. Before Robin could ask what was going on, she noticed Nami was smiling incredibly hard at her with sparkles in her eyes and her hands clasped together. Robin developed sweat on her head being so confused with what was happening.
"You've got a thing for Zoro don't you?!" Nami said excited.
Robin's eyes widened and the sweat got worse.
"I..I.." Robin stuttered.
"You do! I don't know what you see in that idiot, but I knew you had something for somebody! I could tell how you were acting around the boys lately. I thought it was Sanji-kun with the way he treats women." Nami said.
"Well..Zoro is definitely very handsome. And I've known him for a decent about of time. I don't know I just get weird around him now. I'm usually so forward with what I want, but I haven't felt like this in a long time." Robin explained.
"It's okay sis! I understand it's been a while since you've liked somebody. But we're all grown here. If you like him, you'll just have to tell him." Nami said shrugging her shoulders. "You might have to do that anyway, I don't think that violent idiot even knows what feelings are."
"You're right. I'm going to go tell him right now." Robin said.
Nami smiled as Robin exited the room. When she closed the door Usopp was behind it. Listening.
"USOPP! HOW LONG WERE YOU IN HERE?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN HERE?!" Nami yelled annoyed.
"I've been in here for the past few minutes! And what do you mean why am I in here! This is my workshop!" He argued back.
"How much did you hear?" Nami asked.
"Enough to know that our Robin likes Zoro! This is great! I'm gonna let everyone know!" Usopp said.
Before he could run out the door Nami jumped on top of him.
"Hey what are you? -" Usopp said but was interrupted by Nami.
"You're not telling anyone anything. Robin is doing this on her own. She already had it rough since childhood, not to mention she spent most of her time around pirates who didn't care about her, then had to work for that despicable Crocodile. She probably never even had a decent relationship." Nami explained. "She's doing this on her own. Promise me you won't say anything."
"Alright alright I promise. I won't say anything. Can you get your breasts off my nose? They're blocking my nostrils." Usopp complained. Nami only wore a bikini styled top and blue jeans.
"Ha. Sorry." Nami said sarcastically. "One more thing though. If you tell anyone, especially Zoro, how Robin feels about him I'm going to kill you." Nami said with flames in her eyes.
"AHHH OKAY I WON'T SAY ANYTING!" Usuopp said running out of the room and into Franky. Franky turned and looked down at him.
"Aye Usopp! Trying to spar I see?" Franky said with a big smile.
"NO! I –" Usopp was interrupted by Franky throwing a punch.
"Usopp bomb!" Usopp yelled while cocking back his slingshot.
"Oh no you don't!" Franky said while kicking Usopp's hands in the air.
Usopp fired the Usopp bomb, which was nothing but powdered hot sauce, into the air and watched as it came back down towards the stern of the ship. Robin was standing a top the stairs looking at the still working out Zoro.
"Okay. Just tell him you think he's attractive and you'd like to eat somewhere in Alabasta when we dock." Robin thought to herself.
As Robin walked towards him the Usopp bomb descended further onto the boat.
"Hey.. um, Zo-" Robin was interrupted by the Usopp bomb landing and bursting on Zoro.
"AHHH WHAT IS THIS?!" Zoro yelled while running back and forth. "WATER WATER I NEED WATER!"
Usopp ran onto the back of the boat.
"Sorry Zoro! It was all Franky's fault beat him up!" Usopp said.
"I'm going to cut you both up when this is over! Grab some water for me!" Zoro yelled.
"Water doesn't work! You need milk to counter the effects!" Usopp explained.
"WELL WHERE'S THE DAMN MILK?!" Zoro yelled annoyed.
"Aye Robin-chan! Your daily coffee and milk to go with your breakfast." Sanji said.
"Milk?!" Zoro said charging towards Robin.
Before Zoro could get a hold of the milk Sanji stopped him with his foot.
"What do you think you're doing moss head? This is Robin-chan's drink of choice to go with her breakfast. You won't be touching it." Sanji said blowing smoke in Zoro's face.
"JUST GIVE IT TO ME YOU DAMN CHEF!" Zoro said.
"I said no. Go get your own milk." Sanji said.
"Here." Robin said softly.
Sanji and Zoro both looked at Robin.
"Here you go Zoro-kun." Robin said handing him the cup of milk.
"Kun?" Sanji said glaring at Zoro.
"Yes! Thank you, this stuff burns like crazy." Zoro said taking drinking the entire cup of milk. But nothing changed.
Zoro charged Usopp and grabbed him.
"HEY WHY DOES THIS STUFF STILL BURN!" Zoro yelled.
"You're supposed to pour it on yourself. I probably should've said that." Usopp said.
"I'M GONNA CUT YOU UP!" Zoro said angrily. "How long does this pain last?!"
"Hm maybe an hour or two?" Usopp said looking down with his chin in his hands.
Zoro let out one last cry of frustration then passed out. Much to Robin's disappointment.
"Aye Sanji! How does Robin get to eat first?! I'm starving!" Luffy said.
"Learn manners you fool! Robin-chan and Nami-san are the women of this ship and are to be treated respectfully. As for breakfast it's rea-." Sanji was interrupted by Luffy, Chopper, Franky, and Usopp rushing into the dining room.
"Ugh. Idiots. They never listen." Sanji said frustrated.
"Still as hyper as always." Brook said chuckling.
"Robin-chan? You coming?" Sanji asked.
"Oh, what about Zoro?" Robin asked.
"He'll be fine. I'll save him some." Sanji comforted.
Robin looked at the unconscious Zoro and smiled. She then got up and walked down the steps and into the dining room.
ON A PIRATE SHIP WITH A BLACK CAT FLAG
In the captain's quarters a tall, slender man sat in his bed looking out of the window with his hands together, resting on his stomach.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!
"CAPTAIN KURO! CAPTAIN KURO! THERE'S A MAN OUT HERE WHO WANTS TO TALK TO YOU!"
Kuro ignored it.
"SIR PLEASE HE SAID HE'LL KILL US IF WE CAN'T GET YOU OUT HERE! PLEASE CAPTAIN HE'S INCREDIBLY STRONG!"
Again, Kuro ignored him.
After a few minutes of silence it was broken by soft knocking on his door. Kuro looked to the door with mild surprise. He pushed up his glasses with the palm of his wrist and slid on one of his fur covered gloves with long knives stretching out of them.
"The door is open." Kuro said softly.
As the door crept open, Kuro slowly got to his feet. When the door opened Kuro had already dashed towards the man but was caught by the hand.
"UGH. What?!" Kuro said very surprised someone caught him.
The man in the purple and white turban smiled and began to speak.
"Tsk tsk. So slow, Captain Kuro." Cyclone said.
The crew behind him began to talk amongst themselves.
"Did he just call the captain slow?"
"What is this guy?"
"WHO is this guy?!"
Kuro growled and tried to snatch his hand away, but Cyclone had a strong grip.
"I'm not here to fight you Kuro. I want to talk business. If you even think about attacking me, you and your crew are going to be at the bottom of the ocean. And I'll know if you're thinking about it." Cyclone said.
Kuro's eyes shot open with surprise. Cyclone's right eye wasn't normal. The pupil was pitch black with white surrounding it and the iris was green with what looked like white words going across them.
"What in the hell is this guy?" Kuro thought.
"Who I am is none of your concern right now." Cyclone answered.
Kuro's eyes widened slightly.
"How-How are you reading my mind?" Kuro asked finally getting his hand out of Cyclone's grip. "Did you eat a devil fruit?"
"Hmph. I don't have any reason to eat those weird fruits. If you're wondering how this eye got like this, I'm afraid that's a story for another day. As I said. I'm here to conduct business on behalf of Psycho and the D.E.A.T.H organization." Cyclone said.
"And what even is D.E.A.T.H? A bunch of anarchists?" Kuro asked.
Cyclone chuckled.
"A secret organization with the overall goal of peace among the world." Cyclone said.
"..With a group name like that I'd think peace was the last thing you were interested in." Kuro said.
"What can I say? That's just how it turned out." Cyclone said.
"What does this organization want with me?" Kuro asked.
"We know about your shenanigans in Gecko Island a couple years ago as well. That was some plan you had there, "Klahadore." Cyclone said.
Kuro was shocked and surprised.
"..So, you really do know about that." Kuro said.
"We understand you just want to live in peace. That means we share a common goal and therefore, can be a big help to us." Cyclone said.
"Do I have a choice?" Kuro said.
"Of course. This decision won't affect you in any way, shape, or form. I just came to ask if you were willing to help our cause." Cyclone explained.
Kuro thought about it for a second.
"And this ensures me protection from the navy?" Kuro asked.
"Fly this flag and the navy won't bother you. We've made quite the reputation of making marines who bother us "disappear." Cyclone said with a smirk.
Pirates sporting the D.E.A.T.H logo on their clothing, made their way onto the boat.
"And this will be your new crew." Cyclone said.
"New crew?" One of the Kuro pirates asked.
Kuro understood the assignment and looked up at his crew with a sinister smile, disappearing. One by one he slashed members of the Kuro pirates while they pleaded for their lives.
"Captain please stop! We'll join you with them! ARGHH!"
Kuro continued to slash while blood spilled everywhere, soaking the ship in crimson red. All while Cyclone read that book of his.
When Kuro finally stopped and stood in the middle of the ship, he looked at Cyclone and smiled, who smiled in return.
"I'll take that as a "Yes." Then?" Cyclone asked.
Kuro nodded.
"Well then." Cyclone said while closing his book. "Welcome to D.E.A.T.H." Cyclone said reaching his hand out to shake Kuro's.
"Where to next?" Kuro asked.
"We're going to the Grand Line. You have to meet up with some people who are going to be your new friends." Cyclone said. "Men! Clean this ship of this blood and get rid of the bodies. We can't have a man like Kuro, sailing in these conditions." Cyclone ordered.
"Hai! Cyclone-san!" The men said together.
Kuro straightened his face and looked out towards the sea.
"The Grand Line? It's been a while.." Kuro thought to himself.
NEW WORLD, MOON ISLAND
In the New World, there rest an island that was forever night time, on this island, in a shady bar, a certain man drank.
A tall man in a black suit sat in a stool. He had smooth, silk, black hair with purple highlights, and a golden hook replacing his left hand.
"Give me another." He asked the bartender.
"Listen buddy, when exactly did you plan on paying for these drinks?" The bartender said.
"Just give me the damn booze!" He yelled.
"Look, you've been drinking for hours and I don't even know if you have any money! No money no more booze." The bartender said.
The man stood up.
"Do you know who I am?" The man asked, "How about we take this outside?"
A voice interrupted the exchange.
"I'll pay his tab." Psycho said, throwing a bag of money on the table. "Get something for me as well."
Psycho stared at the bartender with cold eyes.
"Right away sir!" The bartender said.
"Sir?" Crocodile asked as he looked around the bar.
DEATH members littered the bar, staring at Crocodile. The Bartender was a DEATH member as well.
"Hm? What're you paying for me for? Who even are you?" The tall man said.
"Think of it as a, I scratch your back, you scratch mine type of thing." Psycho said.
"Oh yeah?" The man scoffed.
"Yes of course. I know who you are, and what you've done, Crocodile." Psycho said.
Crocodile smiled and chuckled.
"So, you know about my deeds, do you?" Crocodile asked.
"How could I not? Everyone knows about your defeat in Alabasta.. on that fateful day.. two years ago.
Crocodile became enraged.
"So you come here to mock me?" Crocodile asked with anger.
"Relax. What I'm more interested in are your powers.. The Sand Sand Fruit, is that correct?" Psycho asked.
Crocodile took a big puff of smoke and answered.
"Yeah. That's right. What of it?" Crocodile asked.
"The princess of Alabasta is attending a meeting in Sunagakure. It would appear the outside world is opening its doors to the ninja world, or at least they're trying to anyway." Psycho said.
"Sunagakure?" Crocodile questioned. "A village in the sands?"
Psycho nodded.
"Unfortunately for them, this meeting can't be allowed to happen. And even if it does the princess has to be taken care of regardless. The last thing I need is an alliance between the ninjas and people of these outside lands." Psycho said.
Crocodile stared with aggravation.
"Take on this job for me and I can assure you a top rank in my organization. You'll be protected and away from the seas so the navy won't be an issue." Psycho said.
"Me? Work for you? You must be joking. Look at you, bandages and scars.. you're already beat up." Crocodile said while standing up.
Psycho stared at Crocodile as he started tp leave.
"I'm not interested." Crocodile said, "I was almost a king. I deserve better."
Silence in the bar.
"..." Psycho was silent, "A king?"
Crocodile stopped.
"That couldn't defeat a rookie?-"
SLICE!
Crocodile used a crescent shaped sand blade to cut Psycho's head off. Every one in the bar were shocked, including Crocodile, who noticed something coming from Psycho's wound.
Sand. Sand was revealed to be falling out of Psycho's severed head and coming out his mouth. Until the head itself became sand and collapsed. Psycho's body went through the same process. Crocodile was actually scared a little bit.
"I-Impossible..." Crocodile let out as he heard a glass touch the bar. Crocodile turned around and his eyes widened with complete shock to see Psycho sitting at the bar, taking a sip of his drink.
Crocodile slowly walked up to Psycho, who looked up at him nonchalantly.
"I'm listening..." Crocodile said, sitting down next to Psycho.
Psycho looked at Crocodile.
"Welcome to D.E.A.T.H." Psycho said.