Alright, here's the next chapter, that should've been long done. Sorry, but I've been getting a little bit busy with my new job - and also trying to keep myself motivated, not gonna lie.
So this is going to be a double update - for this Naruto/One Piece story and for my GTA Gaiden fic - I also planned on working on other fics, so my assumed 3rd
So here it is.
Flashback
1516
Land of Water
It took a couple of days of hard and intense fighting, but they had finally entered the first of the Five Great Villages - The Hidden Mist village.
"March!"
On horseback, many members of the Legion and several battalions of the Expeditionary forces entered the village within the formation as they were given orders to secure the central areas of the Shinobi village, prepared for any hostilities if met.
But they were not opposed, they were welcomed by the villagers, who welcomed them with food and drink, which they gave to the newcomers, while the children and often the female population took flowers in hand to give to the soldiers in uniform.
The men of the Foreign Legion's Damned Raiders weren't spared from this kindness either, with the men of the 9th marching into the village on foot, having walked the long distance from the starting point miles outside the village's natural defenses, now entering the town's main governmental district.
"Cannot believe we just marched over sixty miles through this country without our wheels,"
"Yes, my feet are killing me," One raider complained but found himself suddenly pecked on the cheek by a villager's girl who walked past him, giving them a smirk remark. "But I can hold on."
"Keep moving those feet, men." McCullin ordered his men while marching up front, "We got orders to secure this place until relief - now go!"
While the men kept on marching, a military sidecar happened to drive past them, driven by one of the motorized battalions of the Legion who managed to get some essential vehicles through the hard terrain that surrounded the village.
The person being given a ride was Naruto himself, seen reading a report through the bumpy ride, even wearing goggles so he could read without dust hitting his eye.
"Sir."
"What is it, private?"
"We're here!"
The sidecar slowed down and stopped in the village's center, where most of the governmental structures were located. What caught their eye was the exceptional architecture that was mixed with nature.
Naruto gave a dry chuckle. "I'm impressed."
"Excuse me?"
"The vegetation, private. It is all naturally grown, you can see it." Naruto admired as he stepped out of the sidecar and turned to his driver, "Thank you for the ride, private. Now go back and report to your CO."
The driver nodded before driving off, and Naruto turned to face the building where he was supposed to be - the Mizukage's main office, which was larger than any other building in the village but was not itself spared the damage it had sustained from the fighting.
Removing his goggles, Naruto proceeded to walk into the open building where he was saluted by several of his men who spotted him while he walked past them with a quick salute.
Still reading the reports he was given, it was about the fighting in the last few days that were short but honestly quite brutal - where it wasn't the bandits who were the biggest obstacles, but the Shinobi themselves.
Remnants of the former regime, rogues, mercs, small factions, or whatever else group they came across, these Hidden Mist Shinobi kept their reputation high by showing no mercy - where it took three men to take out one Shinobi.
One particular incident was an infantry regiment of the Vodka Kingdom who were ambushed by an estimated force of one hundred Shinobi, who despite being outnumbered and outgunned, used the area around them to their advantage and ambushed the unexpected infantrymen from a force of eight hundred men to nearly only one hundred, forced to retreat.
"What a mess that was…"
Just after a long walk through the hallways, Naruto found himself in front of a guarded entrance where a pair of Legionnaires were stationed, alongside two Mist Nin, wearing their uniforms with slits for eye masks.
The two masked nin opened the door, allowing Naruto to enter, he saw both his superior officers alongside a few other individuals, standing around a table with a large map. It being Captain Bishop and Major Whitehall.
"Major Whiteball, Captain Bishop." Naruto saluted them, getting their attention turned to him.
"Ah, Lieutenant, glad you could join us." Whitehall turned to the blond young man, "I'd like you to meet our allies, the new rulers of the Hidden Mist Village."
The three other people present in the room were all differently clothed, but all wore those headbands around them. A middle-aged man with an eyepatch, a young man with goggles and a large sword, and a woman who looked stunningly beautiful with red hair and a long dress were there at the end of the table.
"Ah, the rebel leaders," Naruto nodded before he shook the hands of the two men in front of him, "You must Ao, the Hunter Nin Corps commander?"
"That I am, you must be the commander of the 9th Damned Raiders." The middle-aged man with moused-up blue hair and an eyepatch replied. "You are a competent commander, I'll give you that much."
"I appreciate it," Naruto said shaking the man's hand, while inversely, a different response was shared.
'I don't like him.'
'Neither do I, I heard about him complaining of fighting alongside us - saying they could do it themselves.'
'With their numbers of men? Don't try making me laugh, stupid pride is what he's full of. I've seen his type before.'
"Either way, let me introduce you to our new 'leader' of the Seven Swordsmen of the Hidden Mist." Ao spoke with clear dismay while turning to the young man, "His name is Chōjūrō, and he will be leased to you."
As agreed to the final agreement, the Hidden Mist would lease some of its best Shinobi to the Foreign Legion to help combat the Shinobi elements of resistance who were giving the expeditionary forces a hard time, in exchange for liberating the village and the Land of Water from the influence of the previous Mizukage, a handful of Kiri-nin would be joining the force.
"N-Nice meeting you, Lieutenant." Chōjūrō greeted him, clearly nervous, "It will be my honor serving with you."
"Nice to meet you too," Naruto properly greeted the shy young man who was close to his age, shaking his hand, "I expect healthy cooperation between the both of us."
"Chōjūrō, please don't be so nervous."
The blond officer turned his head to the redheaded woman who wore the Mizukage hat, green eyes, and a good-looking face with undeniable features.
"So you are the one who led the first assault on the remaining forces of the Fourth Mizukage, I must say that I am impressed." The woman smiled at him, "Your commanding officers didn't tell me what your name is, mind telling me?"
"Of course, forgive my manners." Naruto saluted in an officer's manner to the Mizukage, "Lieutenant Uzumaki Naruto at your service, 9th Raiders Batallion, Foreign Legion."
Some faces changed, but it was Chōjūrō who tried to ask before he noticed the glare given by Ao.
"Uzumaki you say? That is a name I haven't heard in a long time." Mei Terumi said with her smile unchanged. "I presume you are the fiancé of the Nadeshiko girl who I met earlier?"
"Shizuka, yes. She took the choice of helping injured civilians with my medics." Naruto told her, as Shizuka more or less was ordered so, because he wasn't having it the fact he and her were now engaged. "Your people will be given the much-needed supplies, like medicine, food, water, and other essentials."
"I thank you for that, in the name of the village of course," Mei replied, bowing her head respectfully to the Legion officers, "While I wish to thank you all properly, there is a certain someone who has just arrived here, with the title of a Warlord."
"A Warlord you say?" Whitehall asked, genuinely dumbfounded, "I wasn't informed, who is it?"
"HANDS OFF!"
Two Mist-nin were sent flying through the door, knocked out cold from the impact while a woman with long slender legs walked past them with red heels.
"I-I can't move." one of them groaned.
A clear look at the woman revealed that she was clad in a red dress, a large, white snake coiled around her neck and shoulders; there was no doubt to the gathering that this was the Warlord, Boa Hancock.
"Who in here is the filthy man named Naruto Uzumaki that I am ordered to work with?" she demanded.
End Flashback
*BOOM!*
The renewed firing of the guns caused the men on the ship to cover their ears to avoid being stunned, for the guns were aimed directly at Marineford.
"Load another shell!"
"Aye!"
Inside the haul of a ship, uniformed men were carrying a large shell that was being placed inside the cannon, the hatch closed, and the commander continued to order.
"1400 meters!"
"Adjusting, 1400 meters!"
"Fire!"
*BANG!*
…
The fired artillery shell soon flew across the destroyed plaza of Marineford, with a quick whisper heard in the air by those who could hear and ran for cover.
*BOOM!*
That shot however did little to nothing to the Warlord Boa Hancock from moving or even reacting to the impact of that shot that wasn't too far off from where she stood, as she was too focused on the opponent she managed to stop right in front of her.
Naruto stopped, still on the ground and recovering from the powerful kick that the snake woman threw at him, he didn't forget who this person was, nor did he forget her power.
"The Snake Empress Boa Hancock…" Naruto
"Huh? You know her?" Luffy began and looked between the two, "Jeez, how many people do you know in this place?"
"We met, once-"
*CRACK!*
With the full force of her high heel thrusting into the ground, Boa Hancock shattered the rocky floor beneath her into a crater whose cracks were strong enough to destroy the surrounding area and pull any pirates or marines into the small landslide in which they were trapped-followed by a cloud of dust that surrounded the pirate empress and the two young men before her.
"Once? ONCE?!"
Without even a warning, she ran up at high speed towards the blond, who would scare any normal being into fear-
"Not again," Naruto grunted as he blocked Hancock's attack with his arms crossed, deflecting her ridiculously strong leg kick, strong enough to break anyone's defense. Normal defense, to be exact, because Naruto had already activated a power that she also happened to be using.
"Haki."
"Ugh, too close, woman!" Naruto shouted with pain at the kick, "You're not holding back, aren't you?" Blocking another kick from the Snake Empress, Naruto continued keeping up with her kicks that were not holding back.
Luffy was watching in the background, confused as to what was happening and why the two people he knew were fighting each other.
"Straw Hat!"
"Huh?" Luffy saw before he got pushed forward by someone, "Hey-"
"Keep moving!"
Suddenly realizing whom he was running along with, it was Naruto's Legion guys who had finally caught up with him again, forcing him on the move while they were clearing the path of any marine who tried to stand in their way.
"Let the captain finish this off, we got no time to lose!"
Luffy went along as he took one last glance at where both his friends were fighting one another before he disappeared into the dust cloud.
Still standing there in the middle, Naruto and Hancock were in a stalemate with his arms blocking her deadly legs, with Haki used by each side, holding back their strength, a few more kicks were exchanged with none gaining the upper hand with a remark made by both in short time.
It was there in the pausing moment, Boa took a quick peek and saw the blood dripping off the side of Naruto's head that she hit earlier.
"You're bleeding…"
"Yeah, I've noticed that." Naruto replied, "I kind of expected this from you."
Boa hearing that, slightly turned her face away from her opponent, even going as far as to say:
"My apologies…I thought you were dead."
"Don't be, there is no need to say sorry." Naruto said to her, "I'll be honest with you, I am expecting these kinds of reactions very soon after this is over."
Naruto wasn't done talking but kept his guard up, looking at the tall and elegant woman. He knew she had a reputation for having a cold and bratty attitude toward everyone else outside her inner circle, especially men, but he did not hold any words back.
"I see the years have been very good to you, Boa."
Boa blinked before her cheeks flushed red. "Don't…the compliments will not help."
"Just being honest." Naruto told her while looking at her, "I see a beautiful woman that grew up despite the demeanor she shows to others - an act she puts up to protect her own. And you're all the more beautiful for it."
"S-Stop it…" Boa said, shoving a hand into Naruto's chest, catching him off guard, "Here!"
Confused, Naruto lowered one of his hands grabbed for her soft hand touching his chest, and found a key.
"The key to Fire Fist's Ace's cuffs," she explained, to his unasked question, "Hopefully this will help you-Hmph!"
As the dust settled, the marines present were dumbfounded while watching the Warlord and the legendary Legionnaire going at each other in close combat. A trained eye saw the blond having made a daring, even perhaps suicidal move to the woman who could turn men into stone - by having risen to her level and kissing her full on the lips, he did the impossible and caught Boa Hancock off guard.
A bold move that, as soon as their lips parted, left Hancock shocked at what she had just witnessed and speechless, unable even to utter a word.
Naruto smiled at her, seeing the damage he had done. He only gave his trademark grin.
"Forgive me, but I got to save a friend, see ya later."
Running past the Snake Empress, he was unable to see that she sank to her knees, she had just realized what she just experienced, and it was right when the dust cleared, seeing the marines spotting the kneeling Warlord.
"Uzumaki defeated Boa Hancock, how?"
"Doesn't matter, go after him!"
The marines quickly took off to chase after the blond man, leaving the Warlord behind on her own, there on the ground with her face down, not hearing the few words.
"I curse you…for going through all of it."
…
"Move it!"
*PANG!*
Another Marine fell defeated with a smoking bullet hole in his chest, with Legionnaires jumping over the body, with Luffy following right behind them.
"Just ignore them!" One of the Legionnaires shouted, firing his shotgun at something, "We'll handle these guys."
Luffy just nodded as he kept on following them to try to get to Ace.
*VROOM!*
Ducking his head, Luffy watched as the biplane had just flown over them with the intent to provide covering fire for the advancing men, this time more gunfire was directed at it with cannon fire included.
"Blackburn's giving us cover but he cannot keep up for that long. Fire at those cannons!"
Alongside them was the Putilov armored truck, which stopped and took position before it readied its large cannon at the Marineford batteries
*BANG!*
One of the batteries was hit directly, with even the ammunition cannonballs hit by the single lucky shot, putting two more cannons out of commission as this gave both the biplane and the approaching Raiders breathing room
"Keep it up, men!" Gin yelled while he was firing a pistol at nearby Marines who were trying to stop them, "Straw Hat, stay close to me! These bastards are hellbent on taking us out!"
Joining the group was Naruto again, jumping right into the advancing bunch with him having finally caught up to Luffy once more, with him running alongside him.
"Hey, Straw Hat," Naruto called him out and threw something at him, "Catch."
"Huh?" Luffy reacted before he had a key thrown at him, barely catching it with his hands and looking confused at him.
"It is the key to your brother's shackles, do not lose it,"
"IMPOSSIBLE! KUMA'S DEAD?!"
The group then stopped right in front of what looked like a confrontation that was blocking their path, a confrontation between several familiar faces.
There was Ivankov on her own without any of his Okama people, facing off against two of the Seven Warlords of the Sea - the laughing Doflamingo and the gigantic man holding a bible, Bartholomew Kuma. Something has caused Ivankov to yell at the Warlords, especially at Doflamingo.
Luffy just punched two marines who tried to attack him and then spotted Ivankov, but it was then that Doflamingo also spotted him, and he smiled at his presence, but grinned at seeing another face.
"Well if it isn't Straw Hat Luffy….and Naruto, it has been a long time."
…
On the scaffold, Garp watched the confrontation that was happening, and he wasn't the only one who took notice.
"Doflamingo…"
"Hmm?" Garp grunted, turning to his left to see it was Sengoku who muttered something, much to his wonder as to why he paid attention to this particular standoff.
"Something on your mind, Sengoku?"
The Fleet Admiral said nothing as he kept watching the man who ruled over the Dressrosa Kingdom was confronted by some of whom had no other desire than to see him dethroned.
"Fire Fist."
"Hmmm?" Ace turned his head up, "What?"
"Isn't it true that during your tenure in the Foreign Legion, you knew citizens of the Dressrosa kingdom?"
Ace saw where this question came from, and he could've just declined to answer it…
"Yes, I know some - of many I can say."
"Can you see them from up here?"
The 2nd Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates took a glance down to the battlefield, and it didn't take long before he responded again.
"Yes…and they aren't happy."
…
While Doflamingo was explaining Kuma's situation, it took someone to notice the number of firearms that were being aimed at the flamboyant Warlord. And it wasn't just a few, a couple of dozen were aimed from several sides, from pistols to rifles, heavy guns, and scopes were focused on the man whom these men wanted to shoot badly.
"Oh pardon me but I seem to have attracted the attention." Doflamingo laughed while he asked the surrounding men, "How are you all doing my fellow countrymen? I never had the chance to properly congratulate you all for your service in the name of our country."
The men he was referring to had no intent to respond to that obvious provocation, with among them was one Gin, who himself was aiming his pistol at the Warlord.
"Gin, move out."
Hearing that command being given, Gin turned to Naruto who had given him that order, as much as he'd like to ignore it…
"That is an order, and do not fall for this man's provocations."
"Yes sir…." Gin acknowledged before he ordered his men, "Raiders, let's go!"
And as ordered the men followed Gin's orders and continued to advance for the plaza, with many wishing to lay a hit on the flamboyant warlord, they knew better than that.
"Straw Hat, on me."
Being pushed again to follow the group, Luffy watched as Naruto was about to join them…
Then Kuma fired another beam from his mouth, without any warning as it was directed at them.
"Get down!"
The beam nearly hit Luffy and Naruto but dispersed and scattered everyone because of the blast of the explosion.
"Got ya!"
Ivankov caught both Naruto and Luffy before dropping them back to the ground.
"Damn it…" Luffy grew tired of this stalling, "Thanks, Iva…"
"No need to thank me, but I'll be busy now with Kumo boy, dear," Ivankov said, glaring at the giant man whom he had a score to settle with.
"The fact he forgot me…That Vegapunk…" Ivankov cursed before turning to Naruto, "I hope you can handle the rest, my people will join yours."
Naruto nodded, "Right, thanks," He stood up and moved up with Luffy, "My men will rejoin us from behind - Move!"
Luffy took up ahead following right behind Naruto, leaving Ivankov to watch both of them taking off forward - like leaders.
"Follow the captain!"
"CHARGE!"
Following right behind them were the Raiders who were now the ones trying to keep up with their commander, going on the assault against the overwhelming forces that stood in front of them with roars of confidence being heard from the top of their lungs.
Doflamingo snickered, "There they go again, those young fools…" Turning around and walking away, "I'll leave them for now, I can deal with them later. Kuma."
Ivankov turned back around to his fight. "Huh?"
"Dispose of him."
Another beam was loading in Kuma's mouth, ready to be unleashed on Ivankov.
"Oh great…"
Meanwhile
Whitebeard had been observing the whole situation on the ground, seeing who was fighting who and what the changes were on the battlefield, with his sons having trouble making progress-
"AHHH!"
One of those troubling factors was right in front of him, Crocodile of all people, the pirate who he had a history with and was trying to kill him. With his sons standing in his way, the Golden Hook punk was taking out his boys faster than he bothered to count, being a nuisance for sure but even he couldn't ignore the problem he was forming that was preventing him from saving Ace.
"BRILLIANT PUNK!"
That only stopped when Jozu finally intervened, with his Diamond powers he had turned his body halfway into it and smashed himself against Crocodile who he sent flying off a good distance.
"That is settled, for now," Whitebeard muttered as he pivoted his gaze to the front, "Marco, where are you?"
Flying in his phoenix form from the sky, Marco landed next to his pops and was back in his human form.
"Sorry pops, I had to help out some of our guys," Marco began to brief him, "but I got some bad news, it's about Naruto, Ace's little brother, and those Legionairre buddies of theirs."
Whitebeard questioned, "Are they stuck or something?"
"No, on the contrary, they are pushing further and further from what I have seen," Marco told him with a serious note, "if they keep going in at this point, the Marines can cut them off and encircle them."
"That will be no problem for those brats, but I can see your concerns," Whitebeard replied in agreement with his 1st Division Commander, "Put the word out to the other commanders - keep up with those brats."
"On it."
With continued fighting, the Marines who were trying to put a stop to the advancement were quickly put down, even though two brave ones tried to put up a fight.
"Stop right there!"
*BANG!*
The two were shot down before they even had the chance, by two Raiders who jumped over their bodies with smoking rifles, one of whom was Foster who had been cut off from the main group and had finally rejoined the others.
"Come on, lads!" Foster turned to the others as he shouted, "Straw Hat! Captain! The path is clear!"
Luffy and Naruto ran past them, coming then across a smoldering cloud that covered the wall with more of Ivankov's people having joined in, they were getting closer to the broken wall.
"Let's go, people." One of the Okama folk said holding a sword while charging, "Let-"
*SLASH!*
Without much of a warning, dozens of men and women of Ivankov's group were slain without a chance to defend themselves, with the person still standing in that dustcloud.
Still running, Luffy was up front again, not about to stop as he heard a familiar voice.
"Apologies, Shanks…but I will not hold back against him…"
Hearing that caused the Straw Hat boy to realize who it was.
"It's you-"
"Stop!"
Naruto landed right in front of Luffy, and with his blade out, he was facing the unknown swordsman who wasn't done talking yet.
"And my apologies to you too, Uzumaki, for it is a shame to fight against you and your people."
The dustcloud slowly went away, only to show another Warlord to have come across their path, that of the Strongest Swordsman in the world with the black blade that rightfully belonged to this man - Hawkeye Mihawk.
"It is good to see you are still among the living, for a young man of your abilities is rare to find - but I ask myself. Will my hand wipe their name off history - or perhaps, shall fortune such as yours protect you and Straw Hat from the fury of this black sword that I wield."
Leaping forward, Naruto went on the offensive, only a striking distance away from Mihawk.
"Captain's going for Hawkeye!"
*CLASH!*
The swords clanged, which could be felt through the power released by both men. Naruto's tanto sword just collided with Mihawk's huge black sword. It was the blond who struck first.
"Always on the attack, Uzumaki," Mihawk spoke, with no ill in his tone, "I commend you for it, I give you that."
"Mihawk, it is good to see you too," Naruto responded respectfully to the Warlord, trying his best against the powerful opponent. "I will sound like a broken record by now but I wish we'd met under different circumstances."
"As do I," Mihawk said while he pushed the tanto blade back, as he went on the offensive now and tried to lay a direct hit on the Uzumaki, "So do not take it personally."
"I will not!" Naruto replied as he pulled out his secondary Katana blade, blocking Mihawk's attacks on him, much to his disadvantage of the quality of the blades he wielded.
…
From a distance, the others themselves could make that same conclusion, with Marines and Whitebeard Pirates commenting on the fight.
One pirate commented, "I know Uzumaki is strong but fighting against the strongest swordsman in the world? I don't know."
"I don't know about that, I'd give the kid a chance," One Whitebeard commander named Vista had different thoughts, wielding his own blades. "The metal he's working with has been proven to be sufficient and reliant, so he's got a chance."
A more sober comment wasn't that far off, coming from the Marines, it was Tashigi who stood right behind Smoker.
"He won't win this fight."
"Huh?" Smoker heard her, turning to his second-in-command, "Why's that?"
"Those swords aren't sufficient enough for a drawn-out fight, especially not against Mihawk." Tashigi's talent for swords was speaking, being honest, "I can see Naruto force him back for a couple of minutes, but given he just got out of Impel Down and the swords haven't been properly prepared…"
Smoker takes the words of Tashigi as fact, because they were, and turns back to where Naruto was. The blond now fighting against Hawkeye Mihawk was going to be something that not even he was going to ignore.
…
The two swordsmen clashed more and more with each attempt to lay a hit to one another, with Naruto having one advantage - that being speed, to where he was trying to attack Mihawk from multiple angles.
But even that wasn't going to be enough, as Mihawk was fully well aware of his opponent's abilities and he quickly dodged all of his attacks, keeping up with them as if he could see them coming-
*CLANK!*
An attempt to hit Mihawk from above came to no fruition, with Naruto's tanto having been blocked from hitting Hawkeye's head with his black sword, just inches away, but it didn't seem to bother the older man.
"You are fast." Mihawk complimented, and a smile grew on his face, "but not fast enough."
"Not done yet!"
Naruto landed on the ground and tried to hit Mihawk's legs, only for him to jump upwards before the blades could even hit the knees, he went on the offensive again - with Mihawk deflecting or pushing the tanto and katana blades away with some effort having.
Effort, but not heavy effort - and it was quick for the both of them to see who was getting the upper hand.
'Naruto, your Katana blade…'
'Damn it! I know!'
'Your body is not ready yet to rely on my powers, conserve your strength as much as you can!'
'I'll try-'
'PAY ATTENTION!'
*CRACK!*
And there it happened, the katana blade that Naruto wielded had finally reached its limit with it having cracked into pieces by the enormous pressure and strength of Mihawk's superior blade, a result he expected to happen.
But then-
"Ugh!" blood suddenly shot out of Naruto's arm that wielded the katana, a result of Mihawk's black sword having laid a direct hit on him.
"The captain got hit!"
"Ah…" Naruto gasped in pain, biting his teeth as he jumped back a few meters, holding his tanto-holding arm over his wound, "Damn it…"
"I see you aren't on your strongest point, Uzumaki. Perhaps your self-imprisonment in Impel Down wasn't such a good idea." Mihawk spoke as he turned his attention to the broken blade, "Shame, this was the same sword you used in the war, correct?"
"Y-Yes, ugh…" Naruto grunted in pain, "Been using it for the whole campaign."
"Such a shame, a sword like that has valuable history," Mihawk spoke in pity for short, but it ended when he raised his sword again, "I guess you will join with it."
Luffy was watching this happening and was about to help him.
"Hang on, Naruto!" Luffy shot his arms back, "Gum-Gum-"
"Stand back!"
*CLANK!*
A voice spoke at the same time as his blade, it was one of Naruto's men who intervened swiftly by facing head-on against Mihawk, with his blade clashing with that of the swordsman.
"That speed and technique… it is Iaidō."
"I see you know my specialty, mister." The man who now was facing Mihawk off, properly began introducing himself to him. "The name's Tatewaki, It's an honor meeting you in combat."
"You are a Samurai from the Shinobi Continent…what an opportunity."
The swordsman and the Samurai began clashing against one another. With both being powerful fighters in their own right, it was a fight that took all the attention off from the previous altercation.
Naruto who was sitting on the ice and holding his hand over the open wound was glad to have some relief but found himself angry with himself.
"Crap…I messed up."
'Like you could've beaten Mihawk in your state. Be glad that Samurai can hold him off for now.'
'Ronin.'
'What?'
'Remember, he calls himself a Ronin. Ever since the day we met him.'
"NARUTO!"
Turning around, Naruto saw both Luffy and Jimbei running towards him, alongside other of his men who quickly set up a perimeter around him as Haku arrived with them.
"Are you alright?" Jimbei asked concerned about his wound, "We saw you fight Mihawk."
"I'm alright-Ugh!" Naruto grunted, feeling his bandages getting pulled by his medic, "Haku-"
"Not even an hour and already you are bleeding out again!" Haku sounded pissed as he puts up new bandages around Naruto's arm, seeing the wound was deeper than the previous ones. "I don't know how but you are again gifted with luck, a cut by someone like Mihawk should've killed you on the spot."
"Yeah, I know," Naruto grunted in pain, knowing his ability to heal was still slow, but knowing time was short he was putting pressure on himself by pushing the limits. "But we do not have much time left."
Luffy nodded in agreement, but then briefly turned his gaze to the fight.
*CLANK!*
The fight continued with Tatewaki dodging another attack by Mihawk before going on the offensive again, holding himself against the man who had beaten his first mate in the East Blue, showing this man wasn't some rookie.
"Tatewaki is a formidable fighter. So you don't need to worry."
Luffy turned to see it was Jimbei who made that assurance, confident in his words, the Fishman added even more to it.
"If someone can hold Mihawk off for a while it is him alright. He's one of the strongest people the Foreign Legion has." Jimbei spoke with convincing words, "He proved that by having been once the second-in-command of Fire Fist in his short tenure."
"Huh? He worked with Ace?" Luffy was stunned to hear and turned to the Samurai, "Man, he must be strong if they were in the same team."
"That they were, but now let us focus on rescuing your brother." Foster interrupted as he walked over, "Gin got us an opening now, sir. Waiting for you!"
Another bandage was put on Naruto's shoulder before he was handed back his jacket, pulling it over as he stood up.
"Let's not keep them waiting - let's move out!"
They went on the move again, this time with Jimbei amongst them, they were advancing forwards again with more marines in front of them being obstacles ready to be cleared.
"Let's go!"
While they were pushing into the enemy bay, more explosions could be heard from the rear, seeing it was coming from the bayside itself where the allied ships of Whitebeard were being met with what looked like reinforcements of the Navy.
"Sir, Domino gave us an update." Foster said while having heard over the comms, "Navy is using new weapons to try to encircle us."
Naruto asked. "You know what they are?"
"Negative sir, but it looks pretty bad, want me to send our armored units to support them?"
"Right, send Chōji and Shikamaru to deal with it," Naruto ordered as he continued, "We cannot stall now."
With them reaching the wall closer with every step they could make, there was something they noticed among the marines, they were slowly retreating whilst putting up a heavy fight against the pirates, but they seemed to be putting more effort into trying to stall the Legionnaires, whom with their allies, were not taking much prisoners as they were cutting through group after group.
Something was up, and they all knew it - but what it was the mystery, but something was feeling off-
"SOMEONE STABBED WHITEBEARD!"
Those sudden words suddenly got everyone in the group to stop as if they heard something heretical, and turned around to the Moby Dick, with them not being the only ones as even the Marines and other pirates stopped to see what happened.
Right there, with a long sword, the pirate known as Squard had stabbed it through Whitebeard's chest - a horrifying few of itself that was not expected.
"What the hell?"