Moments earlier
Waterwheel Town, Southwest of the Gyoncorde Plaza
Now in a different place, the human visitor of the Ryugu Kingdom, Jiraiya was now seen reading again a newspaper article as he sat outside a café terrace, having a coffee.
Well, he was trying to enjoy it but also was grunting as he was dealing with last night's present that he'd gotten from the Mermaid Café where he went: his blacked right eye that was still a bit swallowed up.
And he wasn't sitting alone, as he now was accompanied by one of his summons he was befriended with as their summoner of the Toad contract, Fukasaku, a small green toad, that had gray hair that gave away his old age, especially his very thick eyebrows and small goatee, with yellow eyes with black circles around them.
"You should really start learning to watch your handling of liquor, Jiraiya-boy."
"Please, master Fukasaku, not now." Jiraiya pleaded, still irritated from what happened. "I just left my guard down when that bouncer hit me."
"Yet, I see that bouncer has punched you pretty good." Fukasaku pointed out the obvious wound, a bit of humor was in the old toad today. "Seriously, Jiraiya-boy, you're not starting to grow old on me, are you?"
"Don't start on me with that age of yours." Jiraiya commented. "It honestly, even after all these years, still surprises me that you're eight hundred years old."
Given the fact that the toad was over eight hundred years old, the little animal found the humor to be fitting, as he'd been Jiraiya's mentor for a long time. Ever since Jiraiya was a young boy, he was the main holder of the Toad summoning contract and only a few were given a chance to be given permission to work alongside the Great Toads.
Even when the Great Toad Sage predicted his arrival, Jiraiya was only a part of the Elder's prediction about the Child of the Prophecy that was to happen in his lifetime, what the Sannin understood greatly what his responsibility would be on his shoulders.
Still, it was now an uncertain time, as he was on a mission of his own. Jiraiya had been traveling far and wide to search for someone who he had to be looking for.
"Still, I wish I had a lifespan like yours." Jiraiya sighed as he wished for it. "Because if I have to find Minato and Kushina's child in this vast world, it will possibly take me ages to find him. If not, decades that I don't have."
For more information, ever since he made the horrible discovery in Orochimaru's labs in the invasion of Otogakure, he had made it his personal mission to track down and bring back his student's child.
"It's been nearly a decade since it happened, Jiraiya-boy." Fukasaku stated, not wanting to but he still decided to tell his student. "I don't want to bring your hopes down, but you got to face the reality that he might be unfindable."
"I have been reminding myself of that prospect for the last few years." Jiraiya admitted to having those thoughts but countered. "But I cannot simply give up now. Not after what happened last night…"
Fukasaku saw that Jiraiya was being different when he said that, still holding some of that guilt within him, which the old toad could understand but wished he'd left it go.
"To the plaza, now!"
Hearing that order, Jiraiya and Fukasaku turned their attention to the road, seeing many of the country's soldiers swimming upwards, with weapons and all, seemingly in a hurry.
One guard who happened to be on a break, coming out of a café, getting approached by a few of the others who threw him a rifle.
"Here, take it and follow us!"
"W-What's going on?"
"A situation at the Plaza, come on!" The leading officer shouted as they all swam upwards.
Taking a look around, Jiraiya noticed the other patrons suddenly began feeling worried, having heard it, concern became the main focus now as questions began to rise on the Konoha native's mind.
"Excuse me."
The waiter turned his head around and saw he got approached by Jiraiya who then asked him.
"Mind telling me what is going on?"
Gyoncorde Plaza
An shooting occurred, that is what just happened.
The fact that an unknown shooter, from somewhere, took aim and fired at the Queen, was shocking enough for those who had witnessed it.
One of those unlikely witnesses was a Royal Guard, who was the least likely to seem to care about it, as it was Hordy Jones, who had initially planned this whole scene in the first place, being now in place with his own rifle and a spare one.
Hordy Jones was against this peace effort of the Queen, but was himself perhaps more fanatical than that of his other Fishman District counterparts, as he despised humans, the royal family, and anyone who thought it was a good idea to befriend the humans in the first place.
So he had planned to ruin this whole signature run by hiring a human pirate, to ignite the signatures and then meet up with him after he had killed the Queen, to then frame the human scumbag for the assassination.
But things haven't gone as planned.
"That stupid human trash…"
He only had one job to do, and that was setting the signature boxes on fire to cause panic amongst the populace, yet instead, the drunken pirate had decided to get himself some vengeance, as he had brought his own rifle while having himself a good sniping spot.
The barrel of his rifle was smoking, as he indeed was the person who fired the gun.
"Fucking little shit. Shouldn't not have kicked me out."
"QUEEN OTOHIME!"
A panicking woman shrieked first as the turmoil just exploded around the area, with civilians running away in every direction the moment they heard the gunshot
The fires around the podium were making it hard for anyone to see what happened, yet they only saw a figure jumping towards where the Queen was standing as the gunshot was heard, causing even more confusion.
It was then that reinforcements had arrived at the Plaza, with of the many Royal Guards, from the nearest areas, having come quickly after being called in fast.
"What's going on? Where's the Queen?"
"We got a shooter, spread out and search the area!" Jimbei jumped in and gave orders to his former colleagues. "We need to find him, and try and get the civilians out of here-"
"MOTHER!" Fukaboshi/Ryuboshi/Manboshi shouted out for their mother, and all three brothers were seen rushing for the burning assembling place, intending to reach her.
"Stop them from getting closer!"
A handful of guards literally stopped right in front of the Princes and managed to halt them right before they could enter the podium.
"Let us through!"
"Not can do, it's too dangerous-"
BANG!
The gunshot that erupted again in the Plaza, got everything and everybody to stand silent, a that shot sounded closer to them than the last one.
"Where did that come from?"
Bishop had already pulled his own rifle out, and was keeping his eyes on the surrounding area, yet saw no muzzle flash or gunshot coming from the many windows and rooftops.
It was then that Shirahoshi, was the only person to be staring at the burning fires, who then noticed something moving.
*Click-Clack!*
That gunshot, caused the human pirate to aim down his sights again on the podium-
BANG!
That second shot came right for him, with the bullet hitting the only burning Molotov cocktail next to him and setting his raincoat on fire.
"Shit, SHIT!"
Only the other firebombs were touched.
BOOM!
The sudden explosion caught everyone off guard, as it came from one of the windows of the plaza.
"What the-"
"GET DOWN!" That shout came from Naruto who jumped right through the fire, with his rifle in his hand and using his body to cover Queen Otohime as they both fell on the ground, both having escaped from the circle inferno.
Fukaboshi looked alleviated and wanted to say something before he and his brothers were shoved forward by Bishop.
"What are-
"Get down!"
BANG!
Now Naruto, Queen Otohime, her three sons, and Bishop were underneath the podium, where they were taking cover from the shooter.
Several more shots were fired, as the unknown gunman was seen running, while also shooting multiple times, his gun at the center of the plaza, where the Queen was seen hiding. Even ducking her head a few times, in front of her daughter.
"Mother!" Shirahoshi was scared as she tried to get closer. "Look out-"
"Take Princess Shirahoshi from here, now!" Jimbei ordered out for the safety of the young child. "Protect her at all cost!"
Aladdin and some of the guards were seen, with the help of the Ministers, trying to move the princess away, while she watched her mother and brothers being pinned down.
While under fire, Queen Otohime had her eyes fixated on something while her sons were trying to draw her attention.
"Mother, mother, can you hear me?" Fukaboshi tried, very concerned. "Mother!"
Manboshi panicked."Are you hurt?"
Ryuboshi teared up, begging. "Please answer us!"
"... Naruto…"
The three princes blinked and then turned to the human blonde, to only see the most eye-opening thing that was just getting processed to their brain.
Seemingly unaware or not concerned about his own injuries, Naruto was reloading his bolt action rifle while pulling out single bullets from his ammo bag. In a covering position and being in a very unusually calm state, the white shirt he was wearing was slowly but badly getting stained by his own blood around his shoulder position, where a clear open hole was seen, with the bullet having gone through the right shoulder.
It then clicked in their mind - Naruto had just saved the Queen's life by taking the bullet for her. And Otohime herself was absolutely unable to speak of what she just had gone through. But her mouth did open and she tried to speak her name out.
"Na-"
"Kid, you doing alright?" Bishop shouted at Naruto. "You got banged up pretty good."
Just having put the last bullet in the chamber, Naruto pulled the handle back and turned his head around to answer.
"Bastard knocked me on the right shoulder, but I'm good," Naruto responded, still in his position, as he didn't seem to pay attention much to the Royal family next to him as he continued. "Did I hit him?"
"That was you?"
"Yeah, first shot was lousy, but fired again," Naruto responded, he stared at the burning carnage that was burning up to the rooftop.
Boy, was it burning bad, for the smoke to turn black, Maybe he'd gotten him-
BANG!
Another shot rang and it bounced off from the ground next to Naruto, making him flinch a bit and making a realization.
"Yep, he's still alive, and he's not a bad shot, either."
Bishop peaked out and noticed from the many open entries in the surrounding plaza, before he then turned to look around and noticed that everybody, including the guards, was taking cover.
"Oh, you've got to be fucking kidding me." Bishop groaned as he noticed something very annoying. "Why is it that the kid and I are the only ones carrying firearms?"
"Because…" Fukaboshi tried to answer, but his words then choked in the middle, unable to come up with a correct response.
"Doesn't matter now, kid. Listen to me." Bishop called. "Can you still shoot?"
"Yeah, I can," Naruto replied back, keeping his head low while looking over the plaza. Still unable to see the shooter, who was not standing in one place. "What's the plan?"
"Well, I got one, but I don't know if you'll like it."
"Tell up," Naruto said. "I'm open to anything."
The three sons and the still-silent queen were hearing the two humans were planning something.
BANG!
Another bullet whistled over their heads, causing the unarmed family members to duck their heads again, leaving Naruto to grow a bit impatient.
"Come on, tell!"
"Can you still run?" Bishop asked him while checking his rifle. "It's clear by now he's aiming for us for some reason, so I need some bait."
"That it? Could've said so." Naruto responded, squinting his eyes a bit, feeling a bit woozy from the shot he got, but he brushed it aside. "Alright, I'll do it. Just make sure to hit the bastard when you see him, old man."
"Hold on a moment!" Fukaboshi protested.
A few meters apart, Aladdin had just come back as fast as he could, getting behind Jimbei who also was taking cover behind the entrance gate that led to the Plaza, with his captain seen staring at something.
"Jimbei, the Princess is safe now." The doctor said, trying to look. "What are you staring at-"
"Look there."
Aladdin took a closer look and saw that at the stage, right next to the small stairs, he was shocked to see what it was: Queen Otohime and three of her sons trapped together with Naruto and Bishop while taking sniper fire.
"Her Majesty!"
"She's alright, it doesn't look like she got hit." Jimbei iterated, but then looked concerned. "Naruto, however, he's got it pretty bad. Looks like the shoulder."
"Wait, are you saying Naruto took the bullet?" Aladdin insinuated, "Like having-"
"Just saved Queen Otohime, looks like it," Kaneshiro answered the question, taking cover behind the same entrance with a few guards. "But we got to do something quickly, can't let them hanging there."
"Yet nobody here's got a rifle." A random guard said, keeping an eye on the Queen. "My men are coming soon."
"They'll be sitting ducks!"
Having removed his coat, the still vengeful pirate was running as much as he can, with his own skin being touched by the flames that now had scared him.
Going around like a madman, he took any chance he could, aiming and shooting for Naruto who he saw was still hiding underneath that stage next to that Queen - like he gave a damn about them, he wanted blood!
"Damn you!" He yelled, aiming again before pulling the trigger.
BANG!
Another bullet whistled right above the trapped Royal Family, with Naruto and Bishop having already made up their plan, it was Fukaboshi who was the one protesting while his brothers were still trying to get their shocked mother to talk.
"Damn it, let me be the bait!" Fukaboshi spoke out, holding his anger at the fact his mother almost got shot. "I want to get that bastard myself!"
Hearing that for herself, the blonde mermaid Queen slowly moved her head towards the heated discussion between her son and Naruto, who she noticed, his wounds were slowly healing, a sight she hadn't thought she'd seen.
But the blood that already was out was seen dripping over Naruto's arm, and even over his rifle, as he was not in the mood for a back-and-forth discussion with the oldest brother.
"No, you stay here, end of discussion."
"But-"
"Move it, kid!" Bishop yelled out. "Now!"
"End of discussion!" Naruto roared as he began running out from his cover - Right in the open.
"Naruto's running!"
"Get back to cover, kid!"
BANG!
Naruto quickly jumped to the burning signature box as just the bullet grazed past him, kneeling behind it before turning his head.
No words were being exchanged for the following few minutes, as the shooter seemed to be having his eyes just on Naruto. Making Bishop's theory in his mind true.
'He's going for the kid. Good thing he's a fast runner. Just need to see where he's going.' Bishop noted to himself as he laid himself on the ground and started aiming his sights on the side where the previous shot came from, eyeing any opening for whatever was moving.
…
…
…
…
The plaza actually turned into solid silence, with not even the civilians screaming anymore, instead just watching in silence and hoping for it all to be over soon.
"Hey guys…" Manboshi noticed this silence and turned to his brothers. "You notice it too?"
Ryuboshi agreed. "Yeah. It….kinda creepy."
Fukaboshi just looked around, hoping for the Royal Guards to come soon and keeping his brothers low.
Meanwhile, they didn't notice their own mother having shuffled herself a little bit, to have a better sight of what was going on, and watched:
Naruto, kneeling right next to the pile of burning signatures that were slowly burning bit by bit, kept himself calm while keeping a comfortable distance away from the heat, not wanting to catch himself on fire, having his rifle fully loaded and waiting for the right moment.
'Kid, you know that I can sense the bastard, right? It is some drunken moron who's not even aiming straight.'
'Tell that to my shoulder.'
'And you should also know that you literally just saved the Queen in front of hundreds of thousands of people, including some onlookers.'
'Right now, I'm focused on taking this guy in. So, can you tell me where this guy is?'
'He's running now, so I suggest you pick him out now!'
Taking upon that advice, Naruto quickly came out of his cover and aimed for the plaza wall - and he saw him moving as he pulled the trigger-
BANG!
The pirate was running for the next spot while loading his rifle-
BANG!
PANG!
When his luck finally seems to have run out, the bullet hits the wall in front of him, making the pirate trip over his own feet.
"Shit!" He cursed as he accidentally dropped his rifle for a moment before picking it back up and trying to aim for the boy again. "You little fucking shit!"
He quickly tries to pull the bolt back-
Instead of getting back to cover, Naruto stays putt and also quickly begins to pull the bolt back, allowing the empty bullet to come out. All while standing in the middle of the open, with no cover.
With multiple people seemingly yelling out at him.
"Get down, kid!"
"Get away!"
"Now!"
BANG!
The sound of that gunshot, got Otohime quickly to gasp and yelled-
"LOOK OUT!"
!
Naruto's eyes then blinked, and for a split second, he felt everything around him and suddenly had the urge to move his head to the left.
The bullet whistled right past his right ear, and he could feel it go past him - nearly hitting him but not close enough as it only was a centimeter away from his presence.
PANG!
The bullet hit the ground, missing Naruto, as he now had his sights aimed at the gunman. Just in front of a shocked Queen Otohime who witnessed this from up close.
Observation Haki?
As fast as he could, Naruto pulled the trigger-
BANG!
FWOOSH! - PANG!
"AGH!" The pirate shrieked in pain! - With the bullet now having hit the side of his ribs, the bullet went right through clean.
"He's hit!" One of the guards shouted. "Naruto shot the gunman!"
Jimbei and Aladdin were stunned by what they'd seen. Same for Kaneshiro and the two Ministers.
"Unbelievable-"
"He's running, look!"
The gunman was seen hopping away, getting out the eyesight fast, back inside the complex plaza.
"Oh no, you don't!" Naruto began running, making a chase for the guy. "Bishop!"
"I take the right! You take the left, cut him off!" Bishop shouted as he joined in and ordered the guards with the following instructions. "Let's move, before he escapes!"
In a matter of moments, all the guards who were there, got out of their hiding spaces and with all the courage they had, took the opportunity to hunt down the wounded gunman.
Meanwhile, Jimbei and Aladdin quickly ran up to the Queen and her sons'.
"Your Highness!" Aladdin quickly got to her side and began to check on her. "Are you hurt, tell me-"
She shook her head, still unable to speak from the shock.
"Shirahoshi is safe. An escort brings her to the Palace, to the King." The Minister of the Left told her. "You got to stay here until the shooter is taken care of."
She just sat there and listened, all while unable to speak or even utter a word out, she was focused on the rooftop.
With Naruto had already gone through one of the open entrances of the large plaza, he was the first to get on the shooter's trace run up the staircases, and go through the hallways.
The insides of the Plaza were like a maze, unless you know the insides of it, because luckily for Naruto, he often came here and knew the insides like his pockets. Plus, he got a little help-
'He's going upwards, kid, I can sense him!'
Taking that advice, the injured Naruto, who was already at his limit from exhaustion, let alone he was still recovering from getting shot, was pressing his buttons by going as fast as he could - to catch the shooter. Even when it was pushing his body, Naruto kept going, making his own distance with the guards behind him greater, by hoping to put his distance with the criminal closer.
The clamping of his boots against the concrete stairs was as loud as the footsteps, the heartbeats that Naruto could feel were pumping against his chest - Beating it to the limit.
Then he finally found something he needed, blood, leaking from the shooter, who was obviously bleeding much. Leading to the rooftops.
"Got you." Naruto grunted as he pulled the bolt back for the bullet, and ran up the staircase, towards the light.
Then gunshots were heard-
BANG!
BANG! BANG!
"Screw you!"
Just then when Naruto made the final step, he happened to have his Springfield rifle pointed straight to the front, as then A figure came out of the corner, and just when the barrel pressed against the guy's chest.
In an instant slowing moment. Naruto made accidental eye contact. He and the shooter saw each other eye to eye, he stood right in front of him!
And Naruto's thoughts immediately kicked in
BANG!
…
…
THUD
In an instant moment, the pirate's body fell backward onto the rooftop, releasing both his rifle that he held in one hand, and a pistol in the other, as the shooter had finally been neutralized. He had just killed somebody - but this time from up close, having felt the man's last breath in his presence before he died instantly before even hitting the ground.
Naruto just stood there for a moment before he walked a bit closer to the man's body, and what he came to realize was that he recognized him, and it was a harrowing recognition:
It was the same drunken pirate he had kicked out of the Mermaid Café, and had sworn to him, he'd come back for payback. Yet, he got the opposite results.
Taking a closer look, Naruto saw the man's last facial expression. That of shock and fear with an open mouth, that he was unable to turn away from as the man face had directly looked him in the eyes before his death.
The death he caused.
"Hey, kid." A guard, who was somehow first up the rooftop, and had surprisingly a rifle with him, approached Naruto and asked. "Are you alright?"
Taking a moment, Naruto then nodded. "Yeah, I'm okay. Thanks for asking."
"No problem. I'll stay watch for the others to arrive." The guard replied back to him.
As luck would have it, nobody would've known that in fact, the guard who was standing next to Naruto, was Hordy Jones, the main instigator of the whole assassination plot that now has been ruined, and he merged into the chaos of now being one of the two having neutralized the 'lone shooter.'
With nobody knowing that the other one was standing in full uniform. Right next to the body of the pirate he had hired in the first place.
Then in a matter of moments, the first group arrived, it being Bishop and Jimbei with a few other Royal Guards who were confronted to see the situation having already been dealt with.
"Is that him?" One of the guards asked for confirmation to Hordy, referring to the pirate lying on the ground. "Is that the shooter?"
"It's him alright, he was holding a gun." Hordy responded. "I ordered him to stop, but he resisted, tried to shoot his way out of here until the kid shot him."
Jimbei turned to the body, and saw that Naruto was squatting next to the shooter, and he winched when he saw the culprit.
"A human…"
"It's a scumbag, that's what he is, and what he remains."
The Fishmen turned to Naruto who said that, and listened on as he continued to speak.
"I know this scumbag, he was a customer at the Mermaid Café who I kicked out just a week ago." Naruto explained, his memory kicking on this guy. "Bastard said he wanted payback, now that hasn't turned out well…"
Jimbei turns to the guard, Hordy, and asks for confirmation. "You sure it was him?"
"Yes, it was him. I even saw the kid trap him at the staircase, and shoot him right through the chest. Killing him where he stood."
In the following moments, more guards would arrive at the rooftop, crowding up as they did not pay attention to the teenage young man who was still next to the corpse of the dead pirate.
"Let me see." Bishop walked over to the dead body and grabbed the shooter's rifle and the pistol before turning to Naruto, who hadn't even looked up this whole time.
"Hey, kid."
Naruto reacted. "Hmm?"
"You're covered in blood."
It took him a moment to realize, but he checked his shirt, and indeed, his shirt was covered in blood, but not that of his open wound in the shoulder.
Instead, it was the splattered blood of the pirate he killed, it had landed on his clothing, with some droplets even having stained his face that hadn't wiped off yet.
His only response to that was the following.
"Too bad, I liked this shirt."
One Hour later
Back down on the plaza ground, the whole area was being fully evacuated, while some of the soldiers were given the task of cleaning up the damage.
PSSSSSHHHHT!
The last burning box with signatures was getting put out by the guards, with most of the papers having already burned to small bits. With the only thing left of it being black heaps of ashes.
It was a depressing sight to see that Queen Otohime was unable to look away from as she was getting treated by Aladdin as her sons watched how their mother was getting bandages around her hands for the burns she had gotten.
"All those signatures, gone…" Manboshi stated depressingly at the sight of it. "After all we've done-"
"They're only papers, brother. It could've gone worse." Fukaboshi said, not needing to remind them of what they'd seen just an hour ago. Yet didn't want to say it as it brought bad thoughts he rather not have.
Ryuboshi was more focused on her mother and asked Aladdin. "Is mother going to be alright?"
"No need to worry, prince. She just needs to rest now." Aladdin told the prince to ease his thoughts as he finished up. "Now, Your Highness, I suggest you take a few days to rest. As a doctor, it's the best advice I can give you now."
Still recovering from the shock, Otohime nodded in response and then tried to stand up, Of course with the help of her oldest son, she finally stood back up.
"Make way, make way. Body!"
The family and Aladdin turned around, hearing the command, they saw the Royal Guards, now in the hundreds were seen moving something, and what the sons saw was uncomfortable.
A few were carrying a covered-up body on a stretcher, with a hand being left hanging out, showing the man was a human, with some of the blood-stained against the white sheet. Some of the guards escorting the body were heard speaking by the Queen while passing by:
"That the shooter?"
"Yeah, a human, a pirate to be exact."
"Bastard deserved it, trying to kill our Queen. Who shot him?"
"That kid who works at the Mermaid Café - Naruto."
"The human kid killed him?"
"Yes, Hordy confirmed it, said he blew a hole through his chest."
The exchange of words was caught by Otohime's ears, and she could only feel absolutely saddened by what she heard had occurred.
"Hey, here he comes."
She looked up and saw that Jimbei was walking up behind the stretcher, following it, and behind him were Bishop and Naruto, with him being the main attention, as he was seen carrying his rifle around his back, still covered in the blood of his latest kill.
Walking through the crowd without giving attention to the reactions, he just wanted to go home. With the only expression on his face being a rather disturbing one.
Unfazed, totally unfazed as he was not troubled by the fact he just killed someone and he was covered with his blood, and he walked right past the Queen who was forced to watch him.
An unfortunate scene for a day that began great, but ended horribly bad.
Timeskip
Few days later
The whole news of what happened on Gyoncorde Plaza, shook the whole island of the Ryugu Kingdom and its citizens, who were absolutely horrified by what had nearly happened when the word went around like wildfire.
After that info came out about the shooter being a pirate who was spotted in the Fishman District, it caused King Neptune to not take any more chances, and ordered a full-on sweep across the kingdom to arrest any leftover pirate that was causing trouble, with most arrests' haven taken place and the jail cells being overfilled with them.
Security around the island had strengthened, and the borders closed, nobody could come in or out of the island. With the military being on full alert. With patrolling units also having doubled in both size and strength. It took no chances as they were looking for any potential co-conspirators.
The Royal Family had been forced to take their own measures by staying in the palace until the full sweeps were done, especially now that the Queen was still suffering from not only burn wounds but also a concussion and slight fatigue.
The word also got quick to the surface world, with the Ministers having brought the news to the World Government about the attempt, the response was that of silence, which didn't help bring down the nerves of the two hard-working men, fearing the progress of the Queen was taking a U-turn with this unfortunate event.
Right now, in the palace throne room, which was now empty of guards, the only ones there were Queen Otohime and King Neptune with their trusted Ministers of the Left and Right, and Jimbei who had joined in as last.
For now, the children were all up in the tower of Shirahoshi, with the sons protecting her after a weird and unexpected problem rose up that seemed to be following the young 6-year-old princess for the past three days.
"Are you sure that you've searched well?" King Neptune asked with a frowned expression. "How hard is it to find a pirate?"
"Well, that's just it, Your Majesty." The Minister of the Left tried to tell the King. "We're speaking about Vander Decken here, a notorious pirate who always has seemed to be able to avoid the attention of the guards, and is a very difficult man to capture. But there is no need to worry, we've got security up to an all-time high in and around the palace."
This however didn't do much to convince the Queen, as she was not having it that some adult man was sending LOVE LETTERS to her 6-year-old Child.
"Listen, honorable ministers, I normally am a forgiving person, but this reached my limit…."
The two ministers stiffened up after hearing that tone of anger coming from their Queen.
"My daughter is now the target of some perverted predator." A clear thick mark was on Otohime's face with a very deep glare in her very reserved face. "And I don't want him near my child or near any near another's child. So I want this man in cuffs, UNDERSTAND!?"
"Yes ma'am!" Both Ministers of the Left/Right responded. Both knew that the Queen's mother instincts were speaking, and it was better to just comply.
She sighs then, speaking up on the other topic that needs to be talked about. "Any word from the Surface World?"
"For the moment, no further response was given than the one the day after we warned them. Which means two days ago." The Minister of the Right explained, adding. "They did however tell us to keep them updated on further developments of the mass arrests of the pirates."
"At the moment, around 2000 human pirates, kidnappers, and illegal criminals have been arrested all across the island. With more arrests expecting to happen." Jimbei decided to answer this, having himself involved with his old soldiers on these mass arrests. "The officers are expecting the numbers to swell up to around 3000 in total criminals, all of them pirates who want to reach the New World."
"That few? I expected more." King Neptune spoke, having dealt with greater numbers years earlier, and then asked the following. "And why do they want to know more about these arrests?"
"Because, Your Majesty, they've told us that an envoy of High-ranking Marine officers is coming down here."
Queen Otohime was interested in this. "The Marines?"
"Apparently, they're sending a Vice-Admiral down here to check on the situation, and is told to be coming down here." The seahorse minister told them. "They didn't tell who it would be, but he's coming here in a few days."
"Alright, that's good to know." King Neptune stated before getting to the most important topic that is needed to be spoken of. "Now, tell me about the investigation, of the shooting, has there been any progress?"
This however brought nervous looks on the two ministers, who exchanged glances to one another in the most obvious way that it only meant there was some info that was going to be revealed.
"I don't know how to say this, Your Majesty…but we've come to conclude, with eyewitness accounts, that a possible second shooter was seen." The Minister of the Left told them. "And that's not the worst part, it was his appearance…"
The two Royals and the Warlord were having their eyes raised in suspicion when the minister said this, and what the other minister added, got them to turn into widened eyes.
"What I'm trying to say is, that it wasn't a human - but it instead was….it was…."
"Please, Minister." Queen Otohime pleaded for the truth. "No need to hold back, tell me."
The ministers looked defeated and sank their heads as they told them the worst part of it.
Mermaid Café
In the backroom of the now-closed establishment, Naruto and Shyarly were discussing the revelations about the shooting attempt on the Queen, and what Naruto was being told by Shyarly, was not exactly surprising to him.
"A Royal Guard being implicated in the attempted assassination of the Queen…. It honestly doesn't surprise me." Shaking his head, Naruto was sitting right across the desk where Madam Shyarly was sitting. On her seat with a bubble pipe in her mouth.
A few bubbles popped out of the pipe before she departed her mouth to answer. "I'd figure, seeing nothing seems to surprise you."
Cleaning his rifle with a piece of cloth, Naruto answered.
"After Mariejois, nothing surprises me."
"Too right on that, kid."
The two turned to the door after hearing that voice, seeing that it was none other than Frederick Bishop who just entered in with a bottle of malt liquor.
"Sorry for coming in without knocking, I just found myself another bottle of Scotch I'd like to share with the kid."
Shyarly smiled at him and gestured him to an empty chair. To which the old soldier thanked her and sat down right next to Naruto with the bottle of Scotch and a few tiny glasses that he brought with him that he pulled out, pouring for three.
"So, kid, how's the shoulder?"
"Oh, you mean this?" Naruto spoke, pulling his shirt off, showing not off his good body, but also the bandages around his right shoulder where the shot went through. "It's going alright, a bit itchy, but nothing new." He pulled the shirt back on.
"A good shot of Scotch will always help," Bishop advised him as he handed Naruto a filled glass of it. "Here, it is on me."
"Don't forget about me." Shyarly chuckled as she was also handed a small glass. With all three of them then taking a shot - all at once.
Outside the Café
As the streets of Coral Hill were now mostly empty because of the emergency, the only people seen walking around were Royal Guards on patrol, making sure this area was well and safe.
They however didn't notice that sitting on the rooftop of the café, the Sannin Jiraiya was seen casually in the dark, having now located the boy that looked awfully familiar, and had knocked him out only a few days before.
Waiting for something, he then got one of his Toad summons to come out, who for him was spying on the conversation that was taking place underneath him.
"Is it him?"
The toad nodded his head, confirming his suspicions.
"What do you know…. Naruto, you were here."
Back inside
It was silent after something was said that got the scene to be so, with it coming from Bishop who just told Naruto something, or rather had offered him something in better terms.
"You want me to come with you, to Alabasta?" Naruto repeated. "To join your Foreign Legion?"
"Yes, I want to enlist you in it." Bishop re-stated his question to the young man, who he now is persuaded is a perfect fit. "I was first having some second thoughts, but now, I really am convinced. You're just the kind of fighter I am looking for, and I have no doubts about it anymore."
Shyarly was a bit taken aback by this proposition and turned back to Naruto, wanting to know what his reaction would be.
He instead asked for more. "Tell me, what does this Foreign Legion entail? And what made you convinced?"
"The Plaza, kid." Bishop answered with those two words while pouring another glass out for Naruto. "You've shown all the attributes at first hand, took a bullet and kept on doing what had to be done, and let alone the fact you saved the Queen and helped take out the shooter."
"Don't start with calling me a hero, alright?" Naruto said, rolling his eyes, having already been called that a few times. "I only did what I had to do."
"And that, you're not looking for glory, that's something else I need." Bishop leaned a bit closer and told him. "I see you got much potential of being a great soldier, maybe even an officer, and I want to give you that opportunity."
Hearing this got Naruto to turn to Shyarly who only looked back at him before he turned back to Bishop.
His decision, how quickly it was, had been made.
Few days later
Now with the last few days having gone by, the major ship that had been docked for over a week, was ready to set sail. It was the same ship in which Queen Otohime had sailed on towards Mariejois and had returned back home with.
But this time, the major ship had a different destination now, to Alabasta, with Bishop now returning home, and with now, too many unexpected, Naruto.
Told this only the day before, Naruto had decided to go with Bishop to get that military training he had thought over, and now was on the point of entering the ship that would take him to the surface world.
Some had tried to convince Naruto to stay, especially the young girls like Ishilly and Camie, who were balling their eyes out the moment he told them he'd be gone again. And the more concerned ones like Kaneshiro and Aladdin, who were understandably uneasy with him going back up to the surface world without them.
Naruto had told them all, his friends, coworkers, even those he sees as family, that he'd be fine and they didn't need to be worried about him.
Now, he was at the edge of the boarding plank, saying his last farewells to both the members of the Royal Family and his former captain Jimbei, except for the children who were to be staying in the palace for security reasons.
Now faced with Jimbei, Naruto had all his belongings in one sack, with his rifle and pistol holstered around his body and some other stuff in an extra backpack he was given as a present a year back.
"Don't try and make too much trouble, kid. I'll try to visit you once everything's handled here." Jimbei told his youngest comrade, being the total opposite of the others, supporting Naruto's decision to advance his education.
Naruto smiled at the big guy and told him. "I will try my best, but you know me longer than that, boss."
Jimbei nodded to him before turning to Bishop, who nodded back to him, having assured Naruto would be doing alright.
Then turning to the royal couple, Naruto bowed his head first to the King and stood firm to him.
"Your Highness. I thank you for allowing me to stay-"
"Don't, my child, I should thank you instead." King Neptune began, seeing he was sincere, he added. "If it wasn't for you, I don't know what would've happened to my beloved wife and the mother of her children…"
It was no secret that King Neptune's reaction after the assassination attempt was that of rage, having nearly lost his wife, he wanted in all-out emotion, to thank the human young man for preventing this murderous attempt. Yet kept himself under check and etiquette.
"Go now and follow Mr. Bishop, get that military training, and make your country proud, my boy." King Neptune told him, with pride, saying it. "Make yourself a good example for Fishman Island and its citizens."
Having been given this much recognition, Naruto smiled and nodded. "Yes, I will, sir."
"Naruto."
It was then when it was the Queen approached him, as he turned his sights towards her, as he hadn't been in touch with her ever since the incident, and now they met again, only for him to say goodbye.
"You've grown much since you arrived here, you know that?" Queen Otohime began, recalling memories. "And look at you now, starting to become a soldier."
"You know me, Queen Otohime, I'm just a fighter, that's all," Naruto told her and told her. "Let me do that to do good in the world. To protect the people I care about, like my home here."
Unable to contain the single tear in her eye, the Queen was absolutely delighted to have seen that this young human man saw Fishman Island as his home, a sight she didn't expect or hear all too soon, and this got her to hug Naruto, embracing him.
Accepting the hug, Naruto returned it and they were inseparable for almost a minute, a beautiful yet sad sight that occurred.
"Oh, I got something for you."
When he broke off the hug, Naruto then reached out from under his shirt to something, and then proceeded to show it to the Queen: it was his signature paper, covered in blood.
Otohime gasped. "Is that-"
"Yeah, wanted it to give you, but here it is." Naruto handed it over to her and she accepted it. "Hopefully it's still valid for when you're back collecting them."
And this got the Queen to chuckle and then smile at him, glad to see he was supportive of the cause.
"Thank you, Naruto."
"Thank you too, Your Highness."
Only moments after that, the ship departed from the shores of Fishman Island, with Naruto waving them off as he now was turning a page of his life.
Bishop then walked up to Naruto's side and tapped him on the shoulder. "You'll see them back soon, kid."
"I know, they'll do fine." Naruto smiled as he turned to him and asked. "What do you want me to do now, sir."
Bishop smirked and told him. "Take a break now, but once we're in Alabasta, you'll be training alongside my boys."
"Alright."
To Alabasta it was.