Alright, here it is folks! The Marineford Arc with some very interesting times up ahead. Because I am in a very good mood now. There's another project in the making, hopefully, it will be out by the end of the month I am going on a short vacation to Morocco - been nearly 5 years since I have been out of Europe and I am glad.

As for now, yes the chapters are shorter than they're used to being, but I am trying to keep it fun for myself but also staying away from the fear that is writer's block.

Like seriously, it is the main reason why I am always stuck.

Marineford

With Marineford in chaos, clashing blades and exploding gunfire were heard everywhere across the island. All of it ensues right in front of multiple transponder snails broadcasting it in front of the entire world.

*CRASH!*

But a Navy warship coming out-of-the-blue sky and crashing, right into the only unfrozen part of the battlefield? Even for both opposing sides of commanders who themselves were caught by surprise by this unpredictable development.

"What's the meaning of this? That's one of our ships!" Fleet Admiral Sengoku demanded as he turned around and ordered one of his men. "Find out who's responsible for this nonsense, instantly!"

Both Garp and Ace watched with equally stunned faces at what they'd just seen, but it was something that got the old marine to speak.

"Sengoku…"

"I swear, if they have compromised the plan we will have our flanks open!"

"This isn't a warship from Marineford…"

Sengoku turned back around and noticed that Garp was speaking sense, and noticed the movement on that ship, and none of them were seen wearing Marine uniforms…

"I don't think these are our Marines…." The only words Garp could say before he then noticed up in the air something: black smoke

A large amount of black tar smoke was coming directly from the sea, something he had just noticed that wasn't normal as it was generally coming from the same direction where the pirates entered in.

Enough for something that makes the old man say an even more daring thought.

"And I fear they are here…"

…

Down on the battlefield, more reactions would come to fruition.

*SLASH!*

"Ahhh!"

A group of Whitebeard Pirates found themselves slashed down by the black sword of the strongest Swordsman in the world, Hawkeye Mihawk, a man who wielded a long but deadly blade that sliced the flesh of many who did not survive it. With enough bodies lying around him to prove a point to those who did not dare to come near him.

But once he turned up, Mihawk noticed the smoke, which was a giveaway to something he knew wasn't natural, even turning his head towards the crashed ship that had just entered the battlefield most inconveniently.

"It wouldn't surprise me…if he would come all the way here…"

…

"Ugh!"

By a relentless hit in the head, another warrior on the side of the Marines with a specially made Jitte, Commodore Smoker from the East Blue was seen on the offensive against the Whitebeard Pirates, with his closest colleague being right behind him.

Prepared to do his part, he was not however prepared for what he just saw, a Warship fall down from the sky, most likely this ship was caught in the tsunami of Whitebeard and got stuck by the intervention of Admiral Aokiji.

But what he saw, nearly took the bit from his cigar - and that was no good.

"Now I got you!" One pirate jumped right up behind Smoker and tried his luck. "Die-"

*KICK!*

The same pirate got kicked across the face and found himself tied up by a single piece of an iron bar before he fell down to the ground, having just been taken out by Devil Fruit powers.

Leader of the Black Cage Corps, a beauty in her own right with the same rate of deadliness, the tall pink-haired woman with the rank of Captain, her name was Hina.

"Smoker, what was that?" Hina questioned, concerned. "You are normally focused."

"... Look up…"

The captain did and doing that, she herself was beginning to see something on the crashed ship, that something caused even her to be shocked.

"Hina…did not expect this."

Even further from afar, a few high-ranked Marines were also surprised by the falling ship, including two of the Three Admirals.

"Well, you don't see this every day…" The sunglass-wearing Kizaru commented as he watched by in his yellow suit. "I wonder who is it those pesky escapees from Impel Down, tough luck."

Aokiji just stared at the ship and could only nod in agreement. "Yeah, tough look."

Then something got their attention, on the flag pole above the ship laid something, the colors that were flying were not of the Navy.

Meanwhile

Underneath the cold freezing water, those who were lucky not to be smashed by the debris of ice or the ship itself began swimming upwards to the surface as fast as they could.

Dropping the bottom of the sea was only the gear that was lost, or those unfortunate devil fruit users who were sinking like an anchor, including Luffy and Captain Buggy alongside Mr.1 and Mr. 3

The first two were saved quickly by Jimbei who was pulling both up with no problem towards the surface, with his own thoughts wondering.

'What use are devil fruit powers if you can't even swim?'

And just swimming past him, with the bigger Mr.1 and Mr.3 was Naruto. Seen having stripped himself from his fighting gear, but had not taken off any of his clothes in a hurry, just having saved the lives of these two men.

Even this brought a mindful fact to Jimbei.

'There is no turning back now. No more.'

The broken ship had started to get more attention, with the flag that was seen flying over the mast, it was no coincidence to those on the Moby Dick.

But there was fear - and caution, and that was seen on the face of Whitebeard himself, which of it in itself was as it got even Marco to notice it.

"Pops? Are you alright?" Marco asked and narrowed his eyes. "Don't tell me that your body is-"

"Not that, Marco…but look up there." Whitebeard pointed out the broken ship's mast. "That flag…"

Marco raised his eyebrow and turned toward where the old man was pointing, and what he saw got his own eyes to widen in surprise.

"Wait…that's the-"

…

"DISGUSTING MEN!"

*KICK!*

*KICK!*

*KICK!*

The deadly legs were seen kicking in the heads of men of both uniformed Marines and scoundrel pirates who were unfortunate enough to stand in a specific Warlord's path, with their skulls being brutally smashed in before being turned into stone.

Those slender lethal legs happened to belong to a black-haired woman purple dress with Kuja designs on it and purple high-heel pumps, she was Boa Hancock, and she was showing no signs of stopping.

"W-Why?" One injured Marine asked while laying on the ground. "You're attacking our men!"

Boa didn't say much as she landed back on her long snake who was providing her with the high ground, but she then noticed something.

"Salome, what's wrong?"

The snake with the skull on its head was pointing its tail upward at the ship, and what she then saw got even her to gasp slightly.

"No…."

Back on the ship

*GASP!*

Arriving with his head above water, Naruto quickly began swimming toward the ship with the two men he dragged along as others of his group were spotting him.

"There's the captain!"

"Help him out!"

"Help these two first!" Naruto ordered them as he handed both of them off his shoulders to his crew. "They're devil fruit users, give them some space to breathe."

Once they were on the ship the blond officer himself began pulling himself up the ship, drenched wet in his uniform as he was given his cap, the water was freezing but had yet to seem to be taken effect on him.

"Naruto, are you alright?" Foster asked with his rifle out. "Need something?"

"Nothing…except my gear. Where is it?"

"Here it is." Gin handed everything over to him, including his belt and sealing scrolls together with his holster. "Need anything else? Like some dry clothes could be of use to you."

*Click!*

Naruto just checked his revolver as he puts it back inside his holster and shook his head. "Nah, I'm good. Could use something to smoke." He asked as he reached into his pockets and pulled out his pipe that was wet, shaking his head. "Damn, bad luck."

"Orders, sir?"

Looking up from what he saw, while everybody else from the escaped pirates to Ivankov's people was seen just managing with what they'd just gone through, his men were already seen taking positions-

"OUT OF MY WAY!"

That shout came from above as several marines were seen falling down from the broken masts, with them falling into the water, Naruto looked up to see it was Luffy who was running upwards.

"Alright then, here we go," Naruto said as he puts his cap on and asked his men. "Everyone here?"

Shikamaru and Chōji were seen coming up, with Haku and a few others also. All nodding in agreement.

"Time for the big moment."

Once reaching the top of the ship, Luffy stood there and looked around, trying to search for his brother. Exhausted as he was both wet and tired from the whole ordeal coming here, but unwilling to give up now that he was close.

Close to explosions that were going off around him, gunfire back and forth, yet still no sign of his brother.

"Huh?"

Then turning to the main building, the large structure that stood behind the scaffold where he saw his brother Ace.

"Ace's alive…"

Luffy saying that quickly grew a smile on his face, a small relief to himself as he was glad he had come on time as he took a deep breath into his lungs.

"ACE! I'M HERE!"

…

Watching what just unfolded right in front of him, Ace was yet caught by utter and total surprise by who had just arrived, and could only shout back.

"LUFFY!"

…

"ACE!"

Luffy exclaimed with nothing but happiness with his arms thrown back as he was glad to see his brother still alive.

"Finally found you."

Then, he was joined by Naruto, standing next to him up the front as he watched the full extent of what was happening in Marineford, to be joined by others behind him as they all stood there.

Domino especially took joy in saying. "Say hello to the world again. Cunning Fox."

Naruto could only crack a smile as he was fully prepared with Jimbei walking up right behind him.

"Who's who on both sides?" Ivankov said looking around. "All the big names are here."

"Hahaha!" Buggy jumped out of nowhere. "The world can't handle this madness!"

Crocodile joined in silently.

"ACE! I'M HERE TO SAVE YOU!" Luffy shouted out. "WE'RE ALL HERE TO SAVE YOU!" He said with a roar of agreement behind him.

…

That could be heard across the field as every marine could hear it, it even got into Sengoku's ears as he angrily reacted to his friend.

"Garp! Your family is messing things up again!"

"Luffy!" Garp shouted angrily at his grandson while holding his head in disbelief.

"Look, Straw Hat got some company!"

"It's Jimbei!" One Marine recognized. "And the Revolutionary's Army Ivankov."

"There's a ton of pirates behind them too! They must've all escaped Impel Down somehow!"

But then those who took a closer look began to notice him.

"Wait, isn't that-"

"The blond hair…no…."

"I thought he died…"

"What the hell's he doing here?"

"That's Naruto 'The Cunning Fox' Uzumaki!"

The responses turned wilder behind the eyes of several transponder snails that were focusing in.

Sabaody Archipelago

Those few thousands pair of eyes that were glued to the screen were unable to just comprehend what they were witnessing, with journalists, tourists, and locals alike all having the same horrified expression.

"He was alive this whole time?" One nobleman said. "I thought the Navy eliminated him."

More reactions were clearly heard.

"Oh my, the Cunning Fox of the Foreign Legion is still breathing?" One noblewoman tourist said looking quite sly at the screen with a mind of her own. "What a sight to be seen."

"He's a criminal! A terrorist!" One knight spoke in disgust. "Don't speak about him like that, woman!"

"Oh I'm just talking, that's all." That woman said with a seductive look while staring at the screen with interest. "But if I am being honest, I doubt many would decline to get some time with an officer like that."

Even here some of the other women were nodding in agreement as the return of the blond captain was not an unwelcome one to their eyes. It is not subtle that the Cunning Fox his reputation exceeded more than just being an experienced combatant - but also a candy eye to the female population.

The Journalists on the other hand were just too busy writing their pencils off into their journals our exhausting their transponder snails to death with the newest developments being wired through their headquarters for the papers.

Including one blonde woman who was watching carefully on the screen while writing everything down.

…

On the rooftops sat several of the unsavory crowd that was watching with interest was the old legendary pirate Silvers Rayleigh himself, who looked like he hasn't aged a bit, seen drinking a bottle, the humor on that man's face hasn't changed also.

Taking a swig from his bottle, the man soon focused on the live feed that the World Government was showing to the entire world.

"Those fools, they wanted to turn this execution into a warning - instead they turned it into a show for some new faces," Rayleigh smirked to himself as he kept on watching.

When the screen was focused on precisely both Luffy and Naruto. It didn't take long for him to comment more.

"Good to see you're still among the living, Naruto. Let's see what you and Straw Hat can do."

…

Meanwhile, on the other rooftops, many of those pirates were watching in silence, no words being spoken as those were watching in patience.

While others had decided to leave early.

Marineford

The reactions varied, with them mainly focused on the presence of Naruto being there.

A smile appeared on the face of Old Whitebeard as it was genuine, with his eyes seen narrowing.

"I'm glad he's still alive…"

"I agree, good to see my little nephew still there, and not short off from causing trouble." Marco also couldn't help but smirk. "I see he's with Ace's brother, so I presume he was in Impel Down this whole time. Goes figures if he wanted to get out his men first before joining the party."

Whitebeard said lightly. "I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

…

On the other side of the battlefield, the Marines were less than happy to see his presence, especially now standing with the enemy.

"Out of all things, you had to go and ally yourself with Straw Hat Luffy." Sengoku addressed the one person he was focused on more now, to Jimbei who was one of the first Warlords. "After what we've all done for you and you repay us like this!"

"That's right!" Jimbei spared no words. "I chose to resign from the Warlords! This was the last straw!"

"Last straw, what are you talking about?" Sengoku questioned.

"I should've resigned after the damn War, that's what I am talking about!" Jimbei spoke out, really not holding back his frustration. "Now my conscience is clear as it gets!"

"Spare your breath, Jimbei." Naruto said to him, advising him calmly. "No need for our emotions to boil up."

Jimbei looked at Naruto and nodded, taking a step back as he watched the blond take a step forwards, standing up to the front and being now the center of attention.

Instead of words, Naruto just stared back at the Fleet Admiral whilst he stared back. Both were in uniforms, both leaders in their own right who were on opposite sides of the battlefield with clear goals of their own.

And then they spoke.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, are you really willing to go through with this senseless fight?"

That question reached even the leaders on the battlefield. A few other listeners even paused in fighting to pay attention.

Sengoku grew in anger and was about to respond-

"Rather peculiar, all these groups united against us." Garp began as he pointed out what he saw. "Prisoners, a commander of the Revolutionary Army, those weird-looking fellows, and Crocodile, right with the last remaining commander of the Old Guard of the disbanded Foreign Legion - I highly doubt everyone here has a common goal in this battle, they're all too different for that to make any sense, except for Naruto and his band…"

"His band? What do you mean?"

Garp warned. "You might not see them, but they are there alright…the smoke is a dead giveaway."

Looking up for a moment, the silent Ace realized what the old man mentioned and really could not widen his eyes anymore as they could, quickly figuring out what it was.

"No…not them too…"

…

The thick smoke that was crawling up in the sky in its masses was enough to attract more attention from those who took clear notice, including Jimbei.

"Wait… I've seen this before…"

"Huh?" Buggy looked up and was confused. "What are you talking about, looks like regular smoke if you ask me. Must be a ship burning."

Naruto even looked up alongside Shikamaru who was not far behind from having seen it.

"No that's not it. This is not from a burning ship but from burning coal." Jimbei said before turning towards Naruto. "It can only mean one thing-"

"Hey, wait a moment." Ivankov began looking around. "Where did Croco-boy go?"

"Huh? I guess he chickened out and left us high and dry." Buggy said before spotting him. "There he is!"

Flying out towards the Moby Dick, Crocodile was seen readying his hook for a surprise attack on Whitebeard from behind, with him getting very close to him!

"Shit! He's going for Whitebeard!"

*FWOOSH!*

A gust of wind went past Jimbei and Ivankov, surprising both.

"Oh my!"

"He's not messing around."

Flying over the battlefield with no interruption whatsoever, Crocodile managed to come right behind the old powerful pirate.

"Long time not seen, old man."

Whitebeard didn't even bother to turn around and simply stated.

"You never learn…"

At first confused, Crocodile then went on to try and lay a kick hit with his hook on Whitebeard.

Aiming for his head-

*CLINK!*

However, the hook got stopped by the blade, a Tantō blade to be exact, being wielded by Naruto who came just in time.

"What the-"

Both parted ways, but it wasn't the end of it as Crocodile's hook got hit yet again and-

*POOF!*

A big smoke of steam erupted right behind Whitebeard and caught everyone in it in a blink of an eye, with the old man still not having moved yet.

Landing directly behind the giant old man, Naruto held now both blades out, as he was still soaked wet from head to toe, but it didn't bother him much.

"Old Man… I see you're still breathing."

"Naruto… I can say the same for you." Whitebeard responded, his focus laid more on the fight behind him. "So you came with that trouble squirt?"

Focused back on the skirmish between Crocodile and Luffy, who had somehow drenched himself yet again and was covered in steam, having managed to force the sandman former Warlord a few feet away from his intended target.

"Damned punk," Whitebeard muttered under his breath. "I was about to teach him a lesson."

"You were about to kill him, that I can say," Naruto said before turning back to the sandman. "I might even say, Crocodile. If it wasn't for Me and Straw Hat, you'd be dead by now. So consider yourself lucky."

"Stay out of it, the both of you!" Crocodile didn't listen to reason as he was determined with his goal. "You know there's only one reason why I am here. If you wanna save your brother, Straw Hat, stay out of my way then, and for you Uzumaki, if you want to save your Lieutenant, I say the same to you - let me kill Whitebeard or you're next."

"So that old guy is Whitebeard, I thought so," Luffy responded without listening to any word of it as he stood in his fighting stance. "Just stay away from him. He's Ace's friend so I will not let him get hurt!"

"Would you look at that, it runs in the family!"

That voice got Naruto to turn around and saw that it was Marco who landed right next to him with his hand ruffling through the blond's hair.

"Ah, Marco!"

"How many times do I get to say it to you, kid? It's Uncle Marco." Marco said to him in a relaxed state but also a very happy one. "Good to see you're still among the living. Pops doesn't show it but he's glad to know his grandson's back."

That sentence alone made the face of the rubber boy suddenly realize something and he nearly shouted.

"WHAT!?"

"Huh, you didn't know? Whitebeard's the blond brat's grandfather." Crocodile cleared it to him about it, rather irritated. "The fact I lost to you in Alabasta-"

*CLINK!*

"Huh?" Crocodile reacted as he watched how two swords crossed in front of him, finding himself surrounded by Whitebeard's men.

"Don't let him get close to Pops!"

*BOOOM!*

A large explosion caused everyone in the Moby Dick to turn to the source of it, and it came from the direction of the crashed ship.

Wrecked Ship

The situation around the ship was intensifying with the Marines trying to encircle it, with heavy cannons from the rear seen firing at the wrecked ship without hesitation.

"Take back the ship, men!" One Rear Admiral Sicily ordered his men as he went up to lead them. "Show these criminals what will happen to them!"

Hundreds of daring marines went on the assault towards the ship with the intent of boarding it and taking the fight to those still on the ship, causing a bit of a panic.

"No, no, no, NO!" Buggy began as he was not ready yet. "My plan hasn't even started yet and already they're trying to kill me!"

Mr. 1 Daz Bones just readied himself with his arm turning into a sharp blade, ready to take them on.

"Wait, this is strange." Ivankov suddenly noticed. "Where are Naruto's boys?"

*BOOM!*

A large explosion erupted just behind the assaulting Marines, who turned around to see the cannons that were supporting their assault on the ship were just destroyed with a direct hit. Immobilizing it with full crew and all with the remaining cannons being abandoned.

"That was a direct hit, but from where…" Jimbei said, turning then towards the sea where he could only guess where that shot came from. "No way…it's here?"

"Huh? What's here?" Ivankov asked. "What do you mean, Jimbei?"

…

With the halted assault of the Marines, Rear Admiral Sicily was angered by seeing that his canon support was taken out with him wasting no time on yelling through the transponder snails for answers.

"What's the meaning of this? Where is my fire support!" The Rear Admiral demanded. "I want answers!"

"Hidden Mist Jutsu…"

Another surprise came by the out-of-nowhere appearance of a thick amount of mist that covered the area around the ship, causing even more confusion for the commanding Marine officer.

And then a figure came right at the Rear Admiral-

*SHINK!*

Gasping, the Sicily became stiff as he felt himself unable to move, as a figure out of nowhere had entered his personal area, and looking down with his eyes he found the source of his sudden inability to move: with a hand with an object having just pierced through his chest.

"Quick and painless…"

The seasoned marine began sinking down to the icy ground as he fell down defeated at the bloodied needle of Haku, who had just taken him out with minimal but lethal effort.

"Rear Admiral Sicily is down!"

In the mist were a few dozen Marines aiming or preparing their weapons at Haku, who just stood there without any hint of being intimidated by them.

"You're surrounded!"

This only released a chuckle from Haku's mouth.

"Surrounded?"

Joining behind him came several other figures like Shikamaru, Chōji, Gin and even Domino who were standing there behind their medic.

Then showing in the mist a few hundred shadowy figures right behind them, with numerous sounds of clicking and loading being heard that could only mean one thing.

"Being surrounded is our specialty."

...

With only visible part of the wrecked ship that wasn't caught up in the mist, was the flag that flew high up on the sky - the black flag with the skull and dagger in its teeth, with a text underneath it in writing.

'Death is certain - Victory is not.'

Alright people, that is my opener chapter for the Marineford Arc! Hopefully the reviews will be coming in.

Wish you all a good night and stay healthy!

AL out!