Alright, been a while since I updated this story, but now its here.
Sorry for the delay, but hopefully, this will satisfy you guys.
Naruto's seal
Having been silent for a very long time, and inside the jail that was his cage. The seal implanted by the late 4th Hokage, was the barrier that kept one of the most dangerous creatures of the Shinobi Lands contained inside.
For over a decade, the prisoner of this cage had rarely, let alone ever, talked or even acknowledged the existence of the boy who was essentially his jail keeper. Even when he'd been going through the past few years, through some harsh moments that were extremely painful for a young child. The truth, slavery, piracy, murder and violence, all that stuff, and the kid hadn't even reached the age of sixteen yet, and already had dealt with death on multiple occasions.
But did Kurama care for one bit? - Not a single damn. The kid was adjusting to the hard life, and he better be, having a wuss for a vessel wasn't in his best interest in now.
Yes, the name of the Nine Tailed Fox demon, was Kurama. A name given in his younger years when he was still small. With only a few knowing this information, that were mostly his past vessels, but also his fellow Tailed Beasts.
But now, the fox had different priorities than focusing on the wellbeing of the child, something more to his own interest.
The Seals - especially the seal that was placed on his cage by that Mizuki guy, right on top of the Fourth Hokage's seal, which was being an annoyance to him as he tried to weaken it.
How? By slowly manipulating the extra seal through slowly, and precisely, to decrease it to try and make sure that in the future, at least the extra seal would be weakened enough for it to be broken to an later date.
"I'm finally getting some progress with this damn seal."
Red bubbly chakra was seen seething over the seal paper of Mizuki, having already shown shreds from the corners, meaning it couldn't handle the power of the strong chakra source for any longer. All directed by Kurama, who has been doing this for years due to the seal's continuing collapsing effect that wasn't last longing like the Fourth.
If he managed to at least break this damn thing, the kid regain his abilities to use his chakra, which the fox noticed, the young teenager was not paying attention to anymore - this brat had one of the strongest chakra reserves that anybody would beg to have it, and yet he'd been neglecting it for the most part.
"Soon, brat, soon."
A few weeks later
After a few weeks of sailing, the Sun Pirates finally were able to obtain something they were looking for. With luck on their side this time, they've finally found the necessary item that would help on their current mission.
With most of the crew on deck, they all were congregating around the news that Aladdin was telling them.
"It took a while, but we finally found an Eternal Pose to Koala's hometown." The doctor merman told the crew, bringing much satisfaction and glee to the faces of the Fishmen, especially to one particular Octopus.
"Nyu! You hear that Koala!" Hachi happily told to the little girl standing next to him. "You can go back to your family!"
A pair of girl fingers were doting against one another.
"R-Really?"
Standing there, Koala now had neat, shoulder-length combed hair that was way different from her bush weeks earlier, and now wore a light-colored dress, and a pair of loafers. Almost unrecognizable from only a few weeks ago, now stood a very different Koala.
"Nyu- ha ha ha!" Hachi smiled. "Well, aren't you pretty. Your parents will be proud to see what a fine young lady you've become."
Seen continuing with her fingers together, this only brought Koala to be even more shy as she had a light tint on her cheeks. Especially when some of the crew made mental pictures of how the girl used to look, and how she looks now.
"I don't….look silly?"
gaining some laughter from the crew, among those watching in silence were Tiger and Arlong, the latter being outside the group, observing from a distance.
It was then when coming out of the deck, Naruto was walking up to the crowd and stood next to Tiger to watch the scene.
"Naruto."
"Was busy cleaning the rooms, nothing else." He cleaned his hands and answered his captain. Honestly, no hate for his crew, but some were actually living like pigs. "Really busy cleaning."
"That's good to hear." Tiger stated, and turned his gaze back to the crew and the girl. "If I may ask, how is Koala as a roommate? She giving you any problems?"
Naruto shook his head. "Nah, she's just nervous, but nothing really to be worried about except-"
Koala was seen then, again on her knees, scrubbing the floors with a piece of rag she somehow kept hidden from everyone else, seeing that habit of hers wasn't gone fully yet.
"I must clean…" Koala repeated that unfortunate habit.
"That still happens. Time to time, of course." Naruto pointed out. "But old habits die hard. I guess."
Tiger's eyes narrowed. "You sure react differently."
Naruto could only hold his hands up in defeat as he continued to clean his hands off with a towel while the others were trying to convince Koala to stop cleaning.
"Nyu! You got to break that weird habit of yours." Hachi tried out the most to convince the cleaning girl with words. "You're just a normal girl, this isn't Mariejois."
"Ah, just let her do what she wants." This was Aladdin speaking, sitting on a barrel right next to the main mast of the ship. "The girl was traumatized, you don't expect her to stop that easily these things take time."
"Sorry." Hachi answered, forgetting that for a moment, and turns to see Naruto standing there, but he didn't notice the glances young Koala was making towards the only other human on the ship.
It was only Aladdin who noticed and couldn't help but smirk.
Arlong also grinned, but for the wrong reasons, as he started talking.
"You should listen to Aladdin, he would know."
The smirk on Aladdin's face turned into a glare once hearing the sabertooth fishman's voice.
"'cause you were a slave once yourself, weren't you?" Arlong walked up towards the group, sounding denigrating once he mentioned that to Aladdin before suggesting to him. "But those feelings might be better served if you killed her."
Causing Koala to flinch, the crew felt silent once hearing that. That Arlong was willing to say that right in front of everyone about his hatred for the humans was something they grew accustomed to, but this brazen even got some of the others to look at him weirdly.
"Former slave or not, she's human. Just like the ones who owned you!" Arlong grinning rubbed it in Aladdin's face, to which the response was nothing, because it didn't impress the merman in one bit.
For Naruto, this was again rubbing in his idiotic views of supremacy to the others, that often let the young blonde to roll his eyes.
"I think we've heard enough, Arlong." Tiger warned him. Seeing both the reactions of Naruto and Koala, with that of Koala being very frightened by Arlong's approaching him
He even went further by grabbing Koala by the head, to terrify her even more.
"Let me ask you a little question. And tell me the truth. "Arlong then asked. "Even though we spared your life... I bet your parents don't give a damn about Fishmen."
The mere presence of Arlong being this close to her face, was enough to paralyze Koala to where she wasn't able to answer his question, let alone try and move her head. As she continued to scrub the deck.
This was enough to make Arlong laugh out loud as the reaction of the girl was enough to fuel his already senseless bigotry he continued to sprout.
"Humans think they're superior to everyone. That's why there's no point saving a so called 'innocent child' because all of them are guilty! She'll go home and learn, how to hate us. It won't stop until we stop them. Until we take them down to pay!"
The looks on most of Sun Pirates were that of grim, as much they hated what Arlong was saying, they couldn't deny the grains of truth that they knew were facts.
They were still hated, for being fishmen. For being different from the humans, who glared, feared and shunned them away. With too many bad memories to recount them all.
"But you know that, right?" Arlong told them. "You've seen the way they looked at us. Haven't you? The fear, the contempt in their eyes."
Some looked away, getting caught in Arlong's words.
"If it were my decision - They would all be 5 feet under right now."
With those last hollowing words, nobody really wanting to say anything in return first, as Arlong's words made sense to them to an degree, even allowing him to say the most diabolical rants he would often cross.
For those who had bad experiences - those memories began to rise up again.
Naruto could see their faces, and was about to say something in return to Arlong for making his crewmates and friends uncomfortable, with Tiger also having a few words to say.
"Some humans, but hardly all of them."
The person who objected Arlong's rhetoric came to a surprise to most of the crew, as the one who spoke rarely voiced his opinion out. It was Jimbei, and he wasn't done just yet.
"I think you need to look closer."
Arlong looked a Jimbei, and questioned him.
"Is that so?"
"I see fear, but that, is not the same as contempt." Jimbei addressed, as he was seen walking over to Koala's side, right before he sat down and crossed his legs.
Getting into the center of attention, Jimbei turned his questions to the girl, who was still scrubbing the floor.
"Is it because we're pirates?"
This made Koala flinch for a moment, making her stop scrubbing before she went back on, without answering the co-captain's question.
But Jimbei wasn't done. "Why are you so afraid of us?"
This time, she seemed to want to say something, still with the smile on her face and the nervousness still written on her, she still went on to answer that question.
"Because I… I don't know much about you."
That answer alone, made some heads spin around in confusion, while in others, it began to question their minds. Hearing this at first hand, it did not compute to the Fishmen, but it did seem to confirm something to Jimbei.
"I've heard that...before." He muttered.
Thinking back to one of Queen Otohime's speeches. One stood out to his mind.
'Its true that our only exposure to humans have been negative. But that doesn't mean we can judge all humans the same!'
"Fear comes from... Ignorance." Jimbei concluded, as he had just made an realization that he hadn't done long before.
Unfortunately for him, Koala and the others had gone off-topic, with Hachi now having an marble in his hand that he showed to the girl.
"Let's play a game. See if you can figure out in which hand it is."
This eased up the situation as Koala decided to play along with the positive Hachi, who began mixing all his hands, to allow him to change the marble to a different position.
"Okay, guess."
Koala first hesitated, but then decided to play along and point at the middle left hand.
"That one?
"Nyuu, nope, too bad!" He revealed the marble in his right hand. "Here it is."
The whole crew, except for Arlong, joined in and laughed at the game they were playing, having now broken off the sentiments from earlier.
This didn't however escape Naruto's attention, who turned towards Jimbei, who was still in his own thoughts, and was really thinking about it.
Knowing for a fact, that he was perhaps the first human to interact with for most of the crew, and in positive light, Naruto also couldn't help but wonder about the words Koala mentioned.
'Fear…'
For the following weeks, everything went usual with the ship going on route, towards Koala's hometown.
Of course it was a long journey, meaning it might take a few weeks to get to their destination, but that didn't matter to them. The Sun Pirates made it a promise to bring Koala back home, even if it meant going across the entire world.
And while on their way, the crew and Koala began to bound up, slowly but steadily she began growing out of her nervous shell, and began to open up to the others of the crew, especially Hachi and Macro, who were really being helpful in helping her built-up her self-trust and confident.
She'd even be going along on resupply visits into towns, what would often get stares and shocked expressions from the locals upon seeing a girl being among Fishmen, but she wouldn't pay attention as the weight of the supplies on her back would be her top priority, often getting a helping hand from the others when it would get too heavy.
Also, at times on the sea, she would be amazed at the large sea creatures, that often scare her to the bone, would be easily beaten by one punch being delivered by Hachi. Getting the amazement of how strong these Fishmen were.
Or when they would go eat, it was often an funny look how she would try to take a big bite from an meal that as big as her head. Which often failed but was an adorable sight to see. That, and often the fights over the best pieces of the banquet she'd witnesses multiple times.
But the time she liked more was when the snow came - given the fact that in some places in the Grand Line were having different weather patterns than other places, she was happy to experience the snow. With the image of her sitting on the arm of Jimbei while holding a snowman, being an memory that none of the crew members would ever erase from their minds.
Her time on the ship would be a rememberable one, that's for sure.
Still at the snow island, the Sun Pirates called it a night as they were only a half-a-day journey removed from Koala's home island. So because it would be their last night with the girl, they wanted to make it a memorable one, have warm cocoa and warm snacks.
Meanwhile, Naruto was in the Crow's nest, being on the lookout duty, with his rifle laid next to him, while wearing a scarf around his neck with an coat on. After all, he couldn't allow himself to get a cold.
The view he had over the sea was beautiful, with the darkness added with the light of the moon and the countless snowflakes dropping from the air, it was a sight he liked seeing.
"N-Naruto."
Turning around, he was astonished to see it was Koala there, having attempted to climb up the nets, she was struggling to pull herself up on the nest. And it was clearly she needed a bit of help.
"Koala?"
She pleaded. "Please?"
Naruto grabbed her hand and pulled the girl up to the nest, until her shoes met the wooden floor. Allowing Naruto to release her.
"You came up all the way here." Naruto commented and saw she still wore her yellow piece dress. "With only that?"
She noticed it to and began to hold her arms before she felt a piece of cloth thrown over her body, it being Naruto's coat.
He smiled at her. "Here, take this, it will keep you warm."
Koala felt a bit embarrassed that she got all the way up here, without warm clothing, and apologized.
"Sorry…"
"Ah, It's nothing. No need to apologize." Naruto waved it off as he kept on staring into the sea. To which Koala began asking a question, that has been on her mind for some time.
She finally got the courage to build up, and proceeded to ask.
"Naruto, I want to ask you something." Koala began and asked. "You don't need to answer it, but I'd like to ask you."
Naruto nodded. "Sure, ask."
"Is it true...you have no family?" She asked the uncomfortable question. "That you're an orphan?" She didn't know much about Naruto, even when they had spent time together working, eating and having fun on the ship, with him not talking much about his own life.
Everybody knew she had a mother back home when she got kidnapped and sold into slavery, and that she lived grew up with many of the villagers knowing her. All the while, Naruto's past was completely unknown to her, for the main reason was because she never asked him about it, and neither did anybody from the crew told her, out of respect. All except Arlong, who told a thing or two about him to simply insult him, like he was an orphan and nobody in his village cared.
She thought it were just insults, knowing Naruto and Arlong never got along, but she needed to hear it from him.
"Sadly, it's true." Naruto casually answered, not too bothered about it, watching the sea without an expression on his face. "Grew up with no mom, no dad, and got sold into slavery at a young age."
Having said that in such a casual way, made Koala almost unable to comprehend that answer.
"I'm... I'm-"
"No need to apologize, Koala. There's no need. What's done is done." Naruto told her. "I know it sounds pretty harsh, but I've accepted it a long time ago and you just have to live with it."
Koala was kinda saddened to hear that, knowing how Naruto was a real good helper, a play buddy and someone who helped her throughout these weeks, she wasn't expecting this from him.
"You never...wandered who your parents were?"
That question, might've sparked something up in Naruto's mind. But instead, he answered yet again:
"At this point, not really."
Not knowing how to take that, Koala was unable how to imagine being in Naruto's footsteps. To live without parents, growing up alone and accepting it.
*Pat*
Feeling then a hand over her head, Naruto had placed his and gave his trademark smile, which wasn't forced, it was his genuine smile that only he could make. He took her into his embrace and hugged her, catching Koala totally off guard.
"You're a good soul, Koala. Tomorrow, you'll be back to your family, and be glad of that."
Her heart sank, while she didn't show it, Koala felt a pinch inside her that she hide, as she returned the hug to the boy she grew to like.
Arms wrapped around the boy's coat, squeezing and holding him close as she could. An sight that was wholesome to see.
"You two seem to be getting cold."
The two kids widen their eyes and turn around to see that Tiger standing there, holding two mugs of something warm in his hands.
"Hachi prepared this for you two." He offered the mugs. "Here you go."
It was Koala's reaction of a high-pitch gasp that was the icing of the cake. It was hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallow with brown powder.
"Watch it, its hot."
The two grabbed the mugs and carefully took a sip from their hot drinks, with both having different but equally happy reactions.
"Delicious!" Koala shouted with cheer.
Naruto smiled and looked up to his captain. "Thank you, captain."
"No need to thank me, it's Hachi who made it, but it's alright." Tiger told them but warned them also. "I'll just let you know, you two will need to go to sleep in a hour, so don't make it late. Counting on you kid."
"Sure will do, captain." Naruto complied to his captain, who went to climb back down, to the floor, leaving Naruto with Koala for a moment.
Thump!
Feeling something pressed against him, Naruto saw that Koala, leaned up against him and leaning her head against his chest, like a cat wanting some warmth, she snuggled up to him as she was a little bit tired.
Which brought a smile to Naruto's face, he extended his arm around her, with his warm coat, cherishing this memory, perhaps the last one he'd make with Koala.
The last night before she will reach home.
Next day
After what has been felt like a long journey, it all came to an end, when the Snapper Head finally made it to Foolshout Island, having arrived on Koala's home island.
'This is it, Koala. Time for you to go home."
The girl was awestruck by the sight of her island, seeing the tall cactus plants, rugged landscape and many mountains, the memories from her younger self-described her old home.
"Where's your home village?"
Koala turned to Tiger confused. "Huh?" Why would he ask that?
"Come on, I'll walk you to the entrance at least." Tiger offered,already was halfway down from the ramp. Having the intention to escort her home.
Koala quickly nodded by. "Okay!"
And the emotions were mixed, with only one openly stating relief of her leaving, while others on the crew, were on the direct opposite. With Macro and his boys being the best representation of it.
"BWAAAAAH!" Macro and Co. Crying their eyes out, without even the slightest care for what the others were thinking, who understood their sadness for the little girl's departing.
"Don't go, Koala! You can keep sailing with us!"
"You're a good kid, even if you are a human!"
It was Kuroobi who was less fortunate to them. "Would you pull it together!"
"Goodbye everyone!" Koala started to wave them off, making her farewell to the crew she grew to love. "I'll tell the whole village how great you guys are! I will let everyone know Fishmen are very nice and not scary! I promise!"
While the crew on deck were waving her goodbye, both restraint and emotionally, it were also two other crew members who had disembarked from the ship.
Jimbei, who sat on a rock, turned to Naruto, who actually was helping Koala, by double-checking all her belongings that were in his backpack.
"I see you got everything, that's good." Naruto said, closing the backpack before handing it back over to her. "Your hairbrush is in it also, just put it in there."
Koala smiled, looking down, "T-thank you, Naruto…" The nerves came back, and for a good reason. Not that Naruto didn't notice, thinking the nervousness was for her finally returning home.
He puts a hand on the younger girl and gave her a smile and began to give some comforting words to her.
"You don't need to worry, you're going back to your family again, you're going home."
The words had some impact on Koala, who returned a small smile to him and nodded to her - and then did the following by embracing Naruto in a hug, which he returned and patted her head over it.
A slight pinch of sadness could be seen on Naruto's eyes, but overshadowed it with the next thing he said to her
"...embrace your mother. Give her everything you got…."
Even when he said it in a low tone, Tiger was the closest one to have heard it, as he could only be sympathetic as he watched the two young human kids, who now were going to split ways.
"Let's go, Koala." He said. "It's time."
The hug broke off, allowing Koala to walk a few feet back to look Naruto directly in the eyes for one last moment, knowing this might be the last time she will see him.
Naruto however was confused by her staring at him.
"Something wrong Koala-"
Her face launched up against his, and before the blonde could realize what she was doing, his lips were met with a equal pair of ones that belonged to her, as he was being fully kissed on the lips by the first time!
"EEEEHHH!"
That was the main reaction coming from the crew on the ship, shocked by this sudden act by the sweet innocent Koala, not having expected this.
The more restrained reactions came from Jimbei and Tiger, who briefly exchanged glaces at one another, before it was Jimbei who made a dry chuckle to his captain. Tiger gave a short smirk before turning back to Koala.
"Let's go home, Koala. Let's not keep your mother waiting."
Koala soon took a few steps back and smiled at the captain, with that out of her chest, she seemed more confident and nodded happily.
"Yes!"
"Follow me."
She ran right behind the captain, and having left a confused, frozen and stunned Naruto behind, who still was trying to compute on what just happened.
"Goodbye everyone! Goodbye Naruto!" She said before running back towards Tiger's side, waving off the others as they went down further the path towards the village.
Once she got out of sight of the crew, they all turned their attention to the still frozen Naruto, who was still not able to process what had happened.
"You doing alright, kid?" Jimbei asked him, snapping his finger multiple times to get him out.
SNAP!
That final snap got Naruto out of his shocked state and shook his head before responding loudly. "W-What just happened?"
"You just got kissed by a girl...again, kid!" Hachi shouted out from the deck. "And this time, fully on the mouth!"
This got some of the crew to start laughing and teasing Naruto relentlessly, to which he was really embarrassed now at this point, not even fighting back as he tried to hide his blush.
He muttered to himself. "Bullies…."
He felt a hand tapping on his shoulder, seeing it was Jimei, who gave him an assuring smile and a bit of advice.
"Don't mind them, kid. They're happy to see their youngest brother growing up fast. So just join in."
The mentioning of that, brought a small smile to his face, and then joined in on the laughter. Soon being joined by more cheers that got louder and even some singing, at the completion of the mission.
They brought Koala home!
While they made their way through the dirt path, Tiger walked alongside a very silent Koala who was fondling her hands.
This got Tiger to ask her. "Something wrong, Koala?"
"Do you think he likes me?"
"Huh?" Tiger reacted, confused by her sudden question. "Excuse me?"
She looked upwards and repeated. "Do you think Naruto likes me? Like, will he remember me if I ever come across him again?"
Having cleared that question up, she wanted to ask this just before she'd finally part ways from the crew she's been growing close with. And she needed an clear answer that can set her mind straight.
Tiger, while not being a expert in love interests, does have a few comforting words for her, that he gladly share.
"You don't need to worry about Naruto forgetting people who are close to him, he'll remember you. Knowing the kid for a few years, I can say that with confidence."
Hearing that, made all the doubt and fear die down inside the former slave, as she went on to grab the hand of the Fishman, that was obviously bigger then both hers combined.
Initially, Tiger wanted to remove her hands from his, but allowed it after a scuffle, walking while holding her hand towards the village. Even when he had a rather miffed look on his face.
Back at the ship, the mood had quickly changed when Arlong got back to word his opinion. Not being afraid to oust it openly. Naruto, Kaneshiro and Aladdin were sitting back and watching how it was unfolding. With Naruto, especially, having himself busy reading a news article from today's paper.
"You're all fools." He smiled. "You think she's cute now, but you'll see. She'll be a fishman hating bigot soon enough."
"Arlong! You take that back!" Macro threatened as he got held back by Jimbei, who was having enough with these antics.
"Enough, alright?" Jimbei warned, to little results.
"Always so noble." Arlong kept on bad-mouthing, even going at Jimbei. "Funny, three years ago, you weren't like this."
Jimbei looked him down. "What's that?"
"Don't be a fool. One girl telling her village that Fishmen are nice, ins't going to change a thing!" Arlong rubbed that in, hard.
"Just like 'poor' Queen Otohime, no one will listen, and no one will give a damn."
All the faces briefly turned grim, as they all directed themselves to the direction where their captain went to.
It was then when Aladdin turned his attention to Naruto, who was seen reading the papers, which really began to become a daily routine for the young man.
"Something interesting to read, Naruto?"
"Nothing really. But I am reading about these new inventions that are coming out." Naruto said as he read out a few things. "Things that me an Macro talked about, like a gun that can fire a hundred rounds per minute, something they call a 'machine gun' if I am correct, and launchers for explosives."
"HA! I knew it!" Macro shouted in pure enjoyment, rubbing it at his friends. "I told you those weapons were real!"
The slight change in subject got the whole grim atmosphere to a halt, as Naruto continued on to read out about some new inventions that were being brought out, especially in the realm of transportation like the new Sea Train that was already in existence in Water 7, but was getting expanded with new rails and to other islands, and also new vehicles like 'a truck' 'a car' and 'motorcycles' that were all being build out.
"That's fascinating, alright." Kaneshiro spoke his mind. "I'd like to see what's it like riding one of those motorcycles." He looked at one of the prototypes that were shown in a picture.
While most were admiring and even fascinated by reading the newest inventions that were in the newspaper, there was of course someone who was being the skeptic about it.
And surprisingly, it wasn't Arlong.
"I'm going to be the first one to say that these inventions are perhaps not made of the purpose for the common citizens." Jimbei stated crossing his arms. "I might even add this, that they're intended to be used in the future for military purposes."
"Uhm, I don't see Marines driving trucks, Jimbei." Kuroobi said, bit short sighed of him. "Don't you think?"
Jimbei didn't respond directly, but instead, he turned back to face the direction where Tiger went.
Village
"KOALA!"
"MOM!"
Having finally reached the outskirts of the village, Tiger watched as Koala ran into the arms of her mother, who happily embraced her own child, having finally reunited with her daughter, the sight was as emotional as it was expected.
This got to Tiger, not showing it, but inside he was very touched by it. As he had helped numerous times of helping freed slaves to be reunited with their families, yet this one was different, with it being the first human girl who had done this before.
'You go an have a good life, Koala, you certainly deserve it.'
Glancing over to the village, he was met, unfortunately, with the same looks and glares that he's been getting for years. The villagers were seen muttering among themselves, and he could pretty much guess what they were saying.
The same fear, the same bigoted comments, and the same thoughts that have been repeated in their minds.
Having no interest into staying here, Tiger turned around and started making his way back to the ship.
"UNCLE TIGER!"
Hearing his name being said out loud, got Tiger to stop moving, having not expected Koala to speak out friendly in front of the ignorant villagers.
With tears in her eyes, she made sure to give a few last words before she'd finally depart ways with the crew.
"Thanks, I'll miss you and the others! I will never forget you, not for the rest of my life!"
That brought a smile to Tiger's face, and by this he continued to walk away, making one final gesture by waving his hand to her as she waved him off.
"THANKS A LOT!"
Walking back to the ship, Tiger was in deep thoughts, wondering in his mind that was uninterrupted.
'I know these things happen slowly, but by the time you grow up, I hope our people will finally get along.'
Smiling to himself, the captain of the Sun Pirates was glad to know he was doing his part in what both he and Queen Otohime believed in, and he also came to the conclusion to something else that's been on his mind.
'And yes, Koala. You and Naruto will meet again, you two together on the ship, are some of the best memories I am blessed to be given with.'
CLICK!
Numerous of clicks, forced the Fishman Pirate to stop and stand stunned, as he just realized what those were: guns.
He found himself surrounded by numerous Marines, all having pointed their rifles at him, having walked right into a trap!
"There you are, Fisher Tiger of the Sun Pirates."
The one who spoke, was the marine who stood out and was in a suit underneath his coat, Rear Admiral Strawberry.
"We were informed you would be stopping at this island, that girl was property of the Celestial Dragons, but we're going to look the other way on that matter, at least for the time being. That is to say, the village elders were more then willing to sell you out as long we spared her."
All of this was going right through Tiger, he was set up from the very beginning, and he walked right into it.
"You know why I am here." Rear Admiral Strawberry began. "You're facing two charges, of different degrees, of course. One is escape, and the other is Murder of a Celestial Dragon."
Tiger, unable to answer or even mutter a word, did not flinch, let alone beg, he instead stood out as dozens of rifles were aimed at him.
And the triggers were pulled without mercy….
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
Those gunshots were heard from several miles, and it did not fail to alert those who were in that range.
"What the-" Jimbei sharply turned around. "What in the hell's name is going on!?"
"It came from the same direction the boss was headed!" The whole crew was put on alert, as everybody went on deck, having heard the gunshots.
"Surely they wouldn't shoot him."
"Look! Out at sea!"
The Sun Pirates were caught off guard, when they saw that their ship was getting trapped from all sides by multiple warships.
"The Marines, we're surrounded!" Kuroobi questioned. "What are they doing here?"
"Its a trap!" Arlong shouted, gaining the center of attention as his anger blew up. "The brat is nothing but plot to lure us here! They played us for fools! WE SHOWED THEM AN OUNCE OF KINDNESS, AND THIS HAPPENS!"
Then a couple of cannonballs were fired, three hit the ship and knocking the Snapper Head out of action, as many were injured by the blasts and those who stood out began.
"WE GOT NO TIME!"
That shout came directly from a person running by, who was so small, it could only be one person of the crew, it was Naruto who was carrying his rifle around his back, with an ammo bandolier.
"Naruto wait-"
"Captain is in trouble!" Naruto shouted, having already jumped off the ship, he started running in the same direction where he went. "Come on! He needs us!"
"Wait, kid!" Aladdin tried to stop him. "Wait for us!"
"What are you all waiting for!" Macro shouted, having already jumped off the ship with the others, "Follow Naruto!"
"Ah, damn it all!" Aladdin joined in and jumped off. "I'm right behind you!"
Jimbei turned towards Arlong and ordered him. "Take care of the boat, I'm joining others before Naruto gets himself killed!"
"Just get big brother back!"
The crew split in two groups, with Arlong going on the offensive, while Jimbei went on to catch to the others. In hope of getting to the boss, who was in grave danger.
THUD!
Landed on his hands and knees, Tiger gasped for air as he had smashed up multiple Marines out, but at the cost of him getting shot multiple times in the chest by bullets from up close, causing him to lose blood.
And blood was coming out indeed, with his chest flowing slowly, but much of the life liquid out of him that caused him to not fight on his fullest strength.
Some of the Marines were inching closer to him, with one particular blonde even making a disrespecting taunt at the tall specimen.
"Look at yourself now, stupid fish. Not so tough now, are you?"
Unable to stand up, Tiger had to take the insult, just until he could stand back up.
Strawberry just watched at the sidelines at how his men were dealing with the wanted criminal, not showing any signs to end the taunting either.
The blonde Marine got closer and aimed his rifle right at Tiger and was ready to pock at him.
"We got you now, you big shi-"
BANG!
SPPRT!
The Marine dropped to the ground as soon as the shot was heard, causing the other Marines to be alerted by what they saw.
"What the-"
"Where did that shot come from?"
"A sniper? Where?"
BANG!
"Ugh!" Another Marine dropped to the ground, the second to fall to the unknown shooter who had the Marines under siege.
"Where did that shot come from, damn it!"
Tiger raised his head up, and what laid in front of him, that got him to realize what was happening.
The taunting Marine was now seen holding both his hands over his throat that was bleeding from the gunshot that had entered him, and the blood came out spurting from out of his fingers as he was hauntingly gasping for air. With his white shirt uniform already getting drenched red, it did more to cause him to be more frantic.
"Sniper, find the sniper!"
"Over there!"
The attention was turned to a large cactus plant that was seen from a distance, with a muzzle flash seen just when the next shot was heard.
BANG!
A swooping sound was made as another Marine got hit, falling with his face down after he had spotted the shooter's location.
Sitting on top, on one of the branches of the Cactus plant, the sniper had managed to cause confusion among the ranks of the Marines who had caught his captain in an ambush.
"Bastards…" Naruto cursed as he loaded another strip in his chamber, having already hit a few Marines, he wasn't done as he was intending to do as much damage to them until the others arrived.
FWOOSH!
A bullet just hit the corner of the cactus, close to his face, causing Naruto to flinch.
"Shit!"
A few more bullets whistled past, hitting his cover or literally bypassed his head as he pulled the hammer down. Was he being stupid? He didn't care, he was trying to save his captain, and aimed right back at his enemies.
"Got you."
BANG!
Another bullet whistled, and it landed right next to a some covering Marines, as one of the wounded was being dragged to safety by his comrades.
For the following minutes, the Marines were pinned down and forced to lay down to the ground, as the sniper was trying to get them, one by one, with deadly precision that was costing their lives. Whoever it was, he was definitely a good shooter.
"Sonofabitch, someone take that shooter down!"
It was then when Tiger stood right back up and went for the nearest Marine and punched him across the face.
"Damn it, he's up again!"
Rear Admiral Strawberry, who was just standing there, knew he couldn't lay his eyes off Fisher Tiger in case he tried to run away, but he also knew that sniper needed to be taken care off.
SWOOP!
Another Marine got hit, landing just in front of the Rear Admiral with his arm bleeding, causing him to finally order.
"Take out that sniper, now."
"On it, sir!" A Marine shouted, dropping his rifle, while in cover, he pulled out something bigger next to him. An Hand Mortar rifle, as he was joined by a few others who aimed it at the cactus plant.
Tiger saw this and tried to stop it, but got stopped by Strawberry who got in his way.
"FIRE!"
"NO!"
FWOOP! FWOOP! FWOOP!
Tiger shouted out in pain and warned.
"LOOK OUT!"
CLICK!
Naruto was through another strip, and his hand reached for his bag.
"Naruto!"
Looking up, he could see Jimbei and the others had finally arrived, with Aladdin and Macro following up behind.
"Guys!"
"Naruto!" Macro shouted. "Where's the boss?!"
"He-"
"Get down!"
The blond froze, a yellow-haired deer in the headlights.
"What the-"
'Get down, now, kid!'
Naruto then heard of something falling, and that quickly answered his question as he jumped down to the ground, just as the mortar rounds landed
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The cactus plant was obliterated by the explosion, causing it to collapse, with if anybody on it, would've met their demise. And causing members of the crew to shout in fear.
"NARUTO!"
The blast of the explosion had sent Naruto a few meters from the impact, landing on the ground as he was knocked halfway out of conscious.
With the only sight he'd see, was Aladdin and Macro approach him before everything went dark….
Few Hours later
The following hours, had been a complete mess for the Sun Pirate.
Having escaped the ambush of the Marines, they've lost a few good men, the Snapper Head had been destroyed, and now they all were exhausted, on the run, on a Marine Warship that they've stolen after eliminating the crew.
And now, their minds were scrambled by what their captain had just said, that was beyond their comprehension, and they all collectively shouted.
"WHAT?"
"What do you mean, you don't want an transfusion?" Hachi verbalized the crew's reaction, and tried to reason. "Are you crazy? You don't have time, you're gonna die!"
"You've lost far too much blood!" Jimbei also disagreed with his captain's denial. "Whatever your feelings are, you must reconsider!"
Tiger, just didn't answer, as his mind was on another place for the moment, having already set up his mind, he just listened.
"The boss has a very rare blood type." Aladdin said, having found a matching blood type of his captain in the medical bay. "No one on the crew is compatible, so we need another option!"
"The blood….stocked on this ship….isn't meant for fishmen….It will be...human."
Aladdin argued. "So what? It should work." He was almost done infusing. "Humans and Fishmen share the same blood. We manage to find one matching your blood type. So it's settled."
Tiger clearly was gritting his teeth, just when Kaneshiro came right in, causing the others to turn the door, with Aladdin asking right away.
"How's the kid?"
"He's in bad shape, but he'll be alright." The Shipwright stated with some relief. "He's out now, but he'll need to rest his leg."
Aladdin nodded. "Good, that's one thing less to worry about." He turned his attention back to the captain and was ready to connect the infuse. "Now just relax, you're all good-"
"GET AWAY!" Tiger exploded in anger. "I RATHER DIE THEN LIVE WITH THE BLOOD OF THOSE FILTHY HUMANS!"
The sudden outburst caught all the Sun Pirates off guard, even Jimbei and Arlong, who have never seen their brother this angry before.
Grabbing the Sun brand on his body, Tiger continued his anger tirade.
"I won't put that filth in my body…. The blood of the bastards...who tried to kill me…"
"Damn it." Jimbei muttered. "No…"
"I won't take their mercy!" Tiger raised his voice. "I will not owe them! I WONT GIVE IN TO ANY HUMAN, I WONT!"
He panted, from exhaustion from both his yelling and his body slowly giving in to the pain...the pain that would mean his ultimate end.
The outburst of comments that come from their captain, shocked the crew, who never expected this hateful rhetoric to come out of him.
Not even Arlong expected this, who was perhaps the most shocked about this. As he always had an disliking towards humans, the last person he expected to speak like him was his big brother.
"What happened?" He asked, wanting to know. "Something changed, for you to say this!"
Gripping his mark, Tiger's breathing became more hard, as he was holding back something he had kept locked inside of him, that something which would be hollowing words for his brothers.
"I didn't want...to tell you guys this."
The all looked confused, what did he mean by?
"but I…on my last trip…."
The silence could be no cleared then now, as Tiger said the following.
"Soon after I had set off on my journey….they captured me…"
The look on his men's faces couldn't be more shocked, as they listened on.
"In Mariejois….they made me…."
Tiger's face began to produce liquid, and it wasn't his blood of his open wounds. Instead, it were his tears, as Tiger finished his sentence.
"I WAS…. A DAMN SLAVE!"
The reactions of the Sun Pirates, were as followed, shocked, disbelief and anger.
"Boss…no…" Jinbe muttered.
Arlong growled in overwhelming anger after hearing this,
Aladdin on the other hand was completely stunned.
"Tiger…." Hachi softly uttered out.
Nobody was able to fully digest what they just heard. The man who they've been looking up as a role model, strong, undefeatable example of a Fishman, had been a victim of the disgusting Celestial Dragons.
"I saw true human corruption….true depravity…." Tiger said, thinking with the tears pouring out his eyes. "I barely escaped but then…I kept thinking about those other slaves. So I went back."
All those memories from a few years ago, began flashing through Tiger's mind. The torture he went through, the humiliation he had gone through, and the suffering he saw.
And all those faces he saw when he liberated those slaves from Mariejois, the joy, the pain and the fear of numerous souls who's chains he had broken, and the thanks he was given by those who were freed and fled.
And the memory of Naruto, the boy he had formally taken in after he saw him in such an horrible state.
Naruto…
Tiger panted a few times, having to speak up his mind loud and clearly.
"Listen, I lived how I choose to….against Otohime's will….but I still believe in her. I still believe that she is right. Everyone wants peace, humans and fishmen alike!"
Raising up his fist, he continued.
"...but our generation can't bring that peace! We're bound to an ugly past, only children like Koala….and Naruto free off that history can change the world."
The crew stayed silent, hearing out Tiger's beliefs that weren't much different of that of Queen Otohime's, and that he was willing to put much fate into the next generation for a better future. Was the absolute shocker to them, even when he was on the brink of death, he held such belief.
"Please…you can't tell them…you have to hold it in…" Tiger told his brothers. "Our tragedy…and….our hatred…must die with us!"
Arlong, having none of it, protested this. "No, its all wrong!"
"YOU HEARD ME, ARLONG!" Tiger yelled at him, before panting in pain again, taking a moment before continuing to speak, as he was struggling more.
"Some humans….are kind….they know we are not so….different. I know that too… after meeting so many compassionate humans. I've realized it's foolish to leave a legacy of nothing but hatred behind as a die! But even though my mind understands that, there's a devil in my hearth that cannot forgive…that fills me with rage…"
His hand closed, making his final argument, Tiger concluded.
"My very flesh rejects their blood, despite all I fought for….I cannot love them, I'M SORRY!"
"However you feel, you can work it out when it's all done," Jimbei stated, he begged as his eyes became filled with tears. "For now I'm begging you, just live!"
"Listen, boss, you're a hero. Those slaves that you set free, they owe you their very lives" Then Aladdin joined in, reminding the captain of his many accomplishments. "Please, you can't die, not like this. To every slave and every fishman. You're a symbol of Hope."
"And what about Naruto?" The person who brought it up, was Hachi, who added. "He's the first one who tried to come and rescue you!"
The mere mention of Naruto alone, made a smile turn on his face, as he first thought back to how he made everyone in the Fishman District turn to him as brothers.
And Naruto, he held a special place in his mind.
Flashback
"Why would you say something like that?" Tiger asked, "Do you really believe that you'd be better off dead? Do you really see yourself with no future?"
Naruto looked up to him and honesty said, "Not really. I didn't have much to live for before and after being a slave, I now have even less."
"Well, I'm not willing to accept that," Tiger said, as he looked Naruto in his eyes, as what he said next would resonate with him for the rest of his life.
"Nobody in this world, no matter who they are, should think that they don't matter. Because that's wrong, everyone's life matters, kid. Be they human or otherwise."
Tiger pointed his finger at him, "That includes YOU. You're worthy of life, and don't let anyone say otherwise, alright?"
Naruto listened to Tiger's words and could feel himself regaining the hope he'd lost.
Tiger could see the light returning to the boy's eyes and knew his words were reaching him, "I mean it," The Fishman affirmed, "So don't think lowly of yourself, okay kid?"
End Flashback
"You'll do alright, kid."
"Huh?"
The smile kept on his face, Tiger then repeated those words for the others to hear, as he knew his time was near, and there was no time for him to properly say farewell to the boy he grew to love as one of his own.
"Naruto…. You've done me proud…. You've never...disappointed me…"
The words ended with his raised fist, raised up high and strong, fell to the ground, showing he had just left this world with those final words. Fisher Tiger was no more.
Then the emotions were too much to handle, as everybody cried and the room was filled with mourning Fishmen, who all now witnessed the death of their big brother.
It was a absolute sad scene to witness.
Meanwhile, in the other room, the sphere was no different.
Naruto, who was to be believed sleeping, laid in the second bed, with his leg bandaged from the shrapnel that hit him, was fully well awake, and was staring at the ceiling, while listening.
He listened to the crew crying, mourning the loss of someone who they've grown up with for their entire lives, with the walls not able to stop the sound coming through to his room.
While he himself didn't show it, the only thing visible on Naruto's face was shame, the shame in himself.
"I'm sorry I've failed you."
A tear then swelled up on Naruto's eyes, and it went down his cheek, mourning in silence the person who'd been the center of his life for the last three years.
"I'm sorry, old man. I couldn't stop it sooner."