Here is the latest chapter, and boy was it longer than I expected to write.
Enjoy it and know I am glad to know I finally am down the Timeskip Arc I have already some flashback episodes in the writing, but also the Fishman Island Arc.
Radiator, thank you, and all of you for reading this.
Enjoy.
On Rusukaina, an abandoned island not far from Amazon Lily, someone finally finished the training he had done for several years. It was now winter, and the snow had covered the entire isle.
Those aware of this island knew of its reputation as an extremely hard place to live, given its 48 distinct seasons alternating weekly. In addition to these severe seasons, the island was home to numerous hazardous animal species that were insurmountable by even a thousand ordinary men. It was snowing on Rusukaina this particular day.
Several rocks surrounded what looked to be a massive radish hidden deep among the jungles. On one of those rocks was a straw hat with a red sash, and a piece of paper with the word "Rayleigh" leaning against the other.
Before long, the sound of footsteps reached the vicinity. The footsteps stopped, and then a figure stood in front of the rock with the straw hat.
Wearing an open red cardigan with three-quarter sleeves and four buttons, and a yellow sash tied around his waist with the ends hanging from his left hip, the person walked over the snow with sandals. His chest bore an X-shaped scar, a visible reminder of past battles.
A female yell startled the figure out of his reverie as he stood there, gazing at the straw hat for a few seconds.
"Luffy! Are you ready?!"
The figure, Luffy, replied in a deep, yet not overly deep, masculine voice, clearly identifying him as a man.
"Yeah! I'm coming!"
Luffy reached out with his right hand and picked up the hat. He then patted away some lingering snow with his left hand before placing the hat firmly on his head. He cracked a small smile as he admired the hat in place.
"I can't believe two years have already passed. Time sure does fly."
After adjusting his hat, Luffy began walking in the direction of the voice but then stopped.
"Oh, I nearly forgot."
Turning back around, he noticed a book beneath where the hat had been. It was the same book he had received two years ago, still in good condition. The smile on Luffy's face grew wider.
"I sure appreciate reading this now."
Continuing to walk, it didn't take long before he reached what appeared to be a campsite and took in the scene before him.
…
A gigantic blue gorilla was battling an equally enormous alligator over a piece of meat in the background, while a lion roared threateningly at a blond-haired woman, an arrow pointed at the beast.
The blonde woman was Marguerite, who had just turned eighteen, blossoming into a beautiful young lady standing 5'8 feet. She wore a revealing bikini top, a brown miniskirt made from animal skin, and a Marine-like cape over her shoulders.
"Hey!"
Marguerite gasped slightly in surprise, then calmed down as the lion, gorilla, and alligator tensed up and turned towards Luffy, who arrived just in time.
"What's wrong with you guys? Look at her. Can't you see she's my friend?"
As he stood next to Marguerite, Luffy lifted his head and narrowed his eyes slightly, causing the animals to look even more fearful.
"Stand down."
The lion immediately backed away, joining the gorilla and alligator, who ceased their argument over the meat, despite Luffy's command not being directed at them.
Marguerite breathed a sigh of relief and gazed gratefully at Luffy, who turned to her with a curious expression.
"Are you alright, Marguerite?"
"Yes, I am. Thank you, Luffy. Anyway, the ship is ready to depart. We can set sail anytime you want."
Luffy nodded in response.
"Okay. Thanks."
Off to the side, at a distance from Luffy and Marguerite, stood several women dressed similarly to Marguerite, except for two notable figures.
Among them were the Kuja Pirates: Elder Nyon, former Empress of the Kuja, and Boa Hancock, current Empress of the Kuja, accompanied by their crew.
Hancock giggled softly as she remarked, "Incredible."
Beside her, Sandersonia, one of her sisters with tall green hair, smiled and added her own thoughts, "He's come a long way. Now he's known as the boss of this island."
Meanwhile, Luffy glanced away from Marguerite and approached the three beasts.
Sensing Luffy's approach, the animals smiled as he drew near.
Deciding to tease them, Luffy smirked unseen by anyone.
"Aw, man. Since I made you guys my friends instead of my lunch, I don't get to eat you guys at all."
The animals' smiles faltered, replaced by nervous looks.
Seeing their reaction, Luffy's smirk widened.
"What a shame. You looked so tasty, too."
This was too much for the animals, who drooped in mock sadness, each with a miniature storm cloud over their heads, causing Luffy to chuckle.
Unaware of Luffy's jest, Hancock reassured him from her position.
"Don't worry, Luffy. All your favorite foods are waiting on the ship. After you see how considerate I am, maybe you'll think I'd make a good wife for you."
Luffy sweat-dropped at her comment but thanked her nonetheless.
"Hehe, thanks, Hancock. I think."
Hancock blushed slightly, tilting her head back with a soft sigh."I love how charming and smooth you are with your words."
Luffy's sweat-drop grew larger."How was that smooth and charming?"
Shaking his head, he turned back to the three animals in front of him, listening to Sandersonia.
"Rayleigh left about six months ago. I'm sure he and your crew are waiting for you on Sabaody."
Luffy smiled fondly, recalling his training with Rayleigh and adventures with his crew.
"Yeah, I learned the basics ahead of schedule. Now it's time to bid farewell to you and this island."
Tears welled in the animals' eyes, but Luffy reassured them he'd return one day as the Pirate King, which immediately cheered them up. Turning to face the Kuja Pirates, Luffy placed the Straw Hat atop his head, grinning, with only a scar over his left eye visible.
"TIME TO GO!"
New Marineford
Two years had passed since Marineford—now globally recognized as the Summit War—a conflict whose repercussions reverberated across the seas. Initially hoped to tilt the balance in favor of the Navy and the World Government, the death of Whitebeard instead had the opposite effect. His defiant last words about the One Piece reignited the Pirate Era, emboldening piracy rather than diminishing it. Ships bearing the skull and bones flag multiplied, wreaking havoc far and wide.
Among the emergent forces was the Blackbeard Pirates, who ascended to prominence, with Blackbeard himself assuming the mantle of an Emperor of the Sea. This solidified their hold over territory in the treacherous New World, mirroring the ambitions of other Emperors by bolstering their ranks and seizing power.
*CRUNCH!*
This was the legacy left by the former Fleet Admiral Sengoku. Now retired and visibly changed, he lounged in casual attire—a dark blue shirt with red and green zig-zag patterns, an orange tie paired with white Marine shorts, a stark departure from his former uniform. Relieved of the burdens of command, he now focused on matters previously overlooked, surrounded by reports and documents in the now-empty mess hall large enough to accommodate even the largest Marines.
"Meh!"
Feeling a tug on his coat, Sengoku glanced down to see his goat, chewing on his white Marine coat to gain attention. Smiling, he reached down to pet the animal.
"Hungry, are you?" he chuckled, tossing a rice cracker to his companion. "There you go."
As he watched the goat happily munching, another figure entered the room.
"You always prefer the quiet, don't you?"
Sengoku turned to see Tsuru entering through the open door, offering a smile in return. "Ah, Tsuru."
Tsuru, known as "Tsuru the Crane," was an elderly woman whose stoic demeanor and strategic acumen earned her respect and influence within the Marine ranks. Despite her fragile appearance, she possessed formidable leadership skills, renowned for maintaining composure in the most chaotic situations.
With wisdom, compassion, and unwavering dedication to justice, Tsuru served as a mentor to many younger Marines, a role akin to another esteemed comrade of hers.
Sengoku smiled upon seeing her and responded to her observation, "I suppose so." He turned back to the table, adding, "I've just received these reports from last week."
Tsuru glanced over the scattered paperwork on the table, picking up a few reports to peruse.
"This is…"
"All documentation on Uzumaki Naruto's recent activities," Sengoku confirmed.
Meanwhile, Sengoku's pet goat continued to nibble on the rice cracker, unperturbed by the conversation.
"Whether we like it or not, he's likely to stir up more trouble now—and rumors have it he's headed for Sabaody first."
Meanwhile
On an island not far from the Calm Belt, the sun dipped low in the sky, casting a blend of orange, yellow, and red hues across the horizon as night began to fall.
A man walked down the docks, ready to leave the island.
He wore a light-colored buttoned-up khaki overcoat with large collars and front pockets, beneath which were black Y-straps connected to his brown pants. Brown boots and a white shirt completed his attire. His paraphernalia included a pistol holster, a few small sealing scrolls attached to his backpack, and a bandana on his head.
This man was Uzumaki Naruto, out of his usual uniform. He was in high spirits, reflecting on the positive changes he had made over the past two years. He kept a low profile around these islands, awaiting a reunion with a ship captain he hadn't seen in a while.
As he reached the shoreline, the seawater lapped at his feet. His eyes fixed on a ship emerging on the horizon—a galleon steered by two large snakes, with giant red sails that signified the Kuja.
"Let's go."
…
On the Perfume Yuda, the Kuja Pirates were outside, having lowered the anchor a few miles off the island's coast. Their instructions were clear: not to dock but to wait. Among those waiting was Marguerite, leaning over to stare at the island, listening to the other crew members talk.
"You think he'll come?" one of the longer members asked. "I hope he doesn't keep us waiting long."
"He's a man, so not like Luff—"
"FOOD!"
Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by Luffy's outburst at the sight of the large buffet on the ship's deck. He dove right in, stuffing his mouth with as much meat as he could.
"I'm still surprised he can eat this much," one of the Kuja remarked. "At this rate, there'll be nothing left for him."
"HEY!"
A shout managed to capture the entire ship's attention, Luffy included, who recognized the voice and ran across the deck, stopping next to Marguerite. The Gorgon Sisters, Marigold, and Sandersonia, also joined in when they heard the shout. The long-tongued Sandersonia was the first to spot the source and chuckled.
"I see him… fufu," Sandersonia smiled, crossing her arms. "Just on time."
At this point, everyone on the ship, including Elder Nyon and Boa Hancock, gathered to see where the shout had come from.
Walking over the now calm seawater as if it were solid ground, Naruto casually approached, waving at the ship with his left arm.
Marguerite's smile brightened when she saw him. "Naru—"
"OI! NARUTO!" Luffy interrupted excitedly, managing to shout with his mouth full. "I didn't know you could walk on water!"
Naruto smirked at Luffy and noticed the stern looks he was receiving from the former and current empresses of the Kuja Tribe.
'They've got something to say to you perhaps.'
'Yeah, I can see that.'
'One more serious than the other.'
'Let's hope it's nothing serious,' Naruto thought to himself before making a high jump.
Those on the ship were quite surprised at the height he reached before he landed gracefully on the deck. Once on both feet, he quickly greeted everyone.
"Evening, everyone," Naruto said, bowing slightly out of respect. "Thank you for picking me up."
"You remembered your manners, didn't you?" Elder Nyon remarked with a small smirk. "It was nothing. Let's eat now that the food is warm."
*BURP!*
The loud sound drew everyone's attention to Luffy, now inflated like a balloon, having consumed almost the entire buffet by himself. They stared in shock at the now sleeping form of Straw Hat Luffy.
"...Guess Ace's warnings were valid," Naruto said, shaking his head with a wry smile.
Sabaody Archipelago
The sun was also setting in the Archipelago, casting a blend of orange, yellow, and red hues across the horizon in Grove 13. Inside Shakky's Rip-off Bar, two individuals enjoyed a rare moment of quiet.
"It's been two years," Shakky remarked, her ageless appearance unaltered over the last decade. She held a lit cigarette, exhaling smoke thoughtfully. "Time flew by when I look back now."
Rayleigh, savoring his favorite whiskey with ice cubes, nodded in agreement. Smiling, he took a sip. "Yeah, they've all grown indeed."
"I can't wait to see how much they've grown," Shakky said, leaning over the counter with a smile. "They've been quiet over the years."
"That they have," Rayleigh agreed, taking another sip. "It's expected. They'll be different from when they first came here."
"Unlike little Naru, of course," Shakky added with a chuckle. "He's been a busy boy lately."
The mention of Naruto's name brought a bigger grin to Rayleigh's face, his eyes brightening. "I'm glad he's doing better," he said sincerely, looking down at his glass. "So, who's left of that band of fighters on Sabaody?"
"Hmmm, only those three boys," Shakky answered after a moment, tapping her index finger on the counter. "Everyone else from little Naru-boy's crew has already left for the other side."
Rayleigh smiled. "Since when do you call him by that?"
"Since he became a healthy young man," Shakky chuckled, pulling something from under the counter. "I remember it like yesterday when he and Hachi walked in. The last time I saw him was right after he saved your captain's son."
"Yeah, I know," Rayleigh said, curious. "What are you grabbing?"
"These... ah, here," Shakky said, placing some recent photos on the counter between them. "These right here..."
Rayleigh's eyes softened as he looked at the photos. They depicted Naruto, Ace, a young man with a gun, and a woman in a Marine uniform standing in front of a gate. Ace was in uniform, his back to the camera, wearing the khaki attire of the Foreign Legion. A year ago, Fire Fist's military records from the war were made public, revealing to the world that the son of Gol D. Roger was more than just a pirate.
Rayleigh's smile widened, pride evident in his expression as he viewed the photos. "Infinite pride," he murmured, reflecting on the journey and growth of those he had mentored.
*Click!*
The quiet conversation between the two old pirates was interrupted by the creaking of the door. A young man with a noticeable scar through his eye entered. He wore a long, open dark-green coat cinched at the waist by a muted red sash, into which his three swords were tucked. A black bandana was tied around his left forearm, and his light green hair was unmistakable.
"Oh!" Shakky exclaimed upon seeing him. "You're here!"
Rayleigh didn't need to turn around to know who it was. Smiling, he said, "Ah, you're the first one to arrive."
The man, with black boots and green clothing, couldn't help but crack a smirk.
"I guess they got lost…"
10 Days later
In a bar somewhere in Sabaody, possibly close to the center of the Groves, lively music played while men and women socialized or drank themselves into a stupor. One particularly drunken man sat next to an elegant-looking young woman with long orange hair, dressed in a revealing green and white bikini halter top, tight low-rider jeans that exposed a bit of her hips and rear, orange high-heeled sandals, and a pair of pearl-like earrings. This woman was none other than 'Cat Burglar' Nami of the Straw Hat Pirates, who had arrived in Sabaody a few days earlier.
Nami had used her early arrival to procure new clothing and materials, now placed beside her as she sat at the bar. She kept a low profile, enjoying a drink while subtly gathering information from the bartender who poured her an ordered drink.
"Here you go, lady, fresh from the bottle," the bartender began, making small talk. "Did you know that the Navy HQ has been relocated?"
"Oh? Was it?" Nami asked, curious about what she might have missed during her training.
"Yeah, they switched its place with the G1 branch, over the Red Line," the bartender said, closing the bottle and cleaning a glass. "The new Fleet Admiral after Sengoku is pretty determined, positioning HQ close to the territories of the Four Emperors. But because of the switch, HQ has less sway here nowadays—leaving more lawless areas."
Nami took a sip from her drink, digesting the information. "No wonder this town seems rougher than it was two years ago."
"Hmm?" The bartender heard her. "You were here two years ago?"
"Well…only briefly," Nami said, quickly correcting herself. "I was with friends for a day or so."
"Ah, you weren't here long then," the bartender continued, cleaning. "When the whole debacle began with Fire Fist's arrest, just as the last men from the previous war arrived here."
"Previous war?" Nami blinked, then asked, "...You mean the Elemental War?"
"Yes."
"But it ended four years ago, way before Fire Fist was even captured."
"...And that year, the last units departed from that continent." The bartender said, raising his leg…
*THUD!*
And landing it on the counter, he showed his right leg was void and instead had a plastic prosthetic from his knee, surprising the young navigator with the response.
"Including myself, I was part of the last group that left that continent the moment the Summit War began," the bartender said with some resentment. "It is not exactly nice hearing one of your comrades is getting the death penalty while you're hearing it over the transponder snail on your way home."
Hearing the bartender speak like that, it was clear he was filled with anger.
"I honestly could give two craps who his dad is or what he had been doing. I consider Fire Fist a brother-in-arms before any of those suit-wearing, nonsense-talking World Government bureaucrats and their Navy lackeys." He vented to Nami, "There is a phrase for them…"
Nami was now curious.
"And that phrase is?"
"Stich in den Rücken – A Stab in the Back."
The navigator heard that and suddenly found the empty seats next to her taken by a few men, three in particular who all were wearing coats. One had a hood over his head, while the one who answered had a simple cap and a smile on his face.
"You can always rely on the World Government to twist a dagger in your back, that's for sure," said the man with the cap, raising an empty mug. "Mind refilling mine?"
"Sure, Fritz," the bartender chuckled and grabbed the mug. "I can always count on you to try to swindle me."
"Well, how can I say no to a free beer?" he joked while watching his jug getting refilled.
Nami felt left out, but it was good for her since she wanted to know what these guys were about, and took time to glance at their appearances.
The coats they were wearing indicated they were most likely hiding something underneath. By the looks of their boots, these were no normal folks from around here…
"And you, Foster? How's that girl you are seeing?" Kazo asked while pouring him a drink, "Heard she's still hanging with the different crowd."
"We've been keeping an eye on the recent arrivals," Foster replied to his friend while he took a sip from his jug of beer. "And for Ajisai - none of ya business."
Kazo laughed as he expected that answer, along with Reiser.
Nami took another opportunity to check out the guys sitting next to her. She saw that both of them wore uniforms underneath, khaki-colored from the looks of it.
"So you guys finally are going to Fishman Island huh?"
Reiser released a satisfied sigh because of the drink, "Oh yes we will, why don't you join us, man? You know the offer is still on the table."
"With my leg? I don't see that as possible anymore." Kazo said, declining the offer. "I've done all that I can, boys. Cannot do anything further."
"That's no problem, you've done everything you could." The hooded member of the three responded, getting his beer. "We plan to leave anyway the moment our captain and Straw Hat arrive, no use staying here too long."
Nami's interest grew, but she kept herself calm and listened, noticing something else from the hooded guy next to her…
'That voice…'
"I remember even several months ago how they both went on a spar against each other," the hooded man chuckled at that memory. "Kid was about to get his ass beat, but the captain called it a draw."
Hearing that caused Nami to pay even more attention to the person talking, and she was surprised to see who it was-
"Anyway, got those papers the captain wanted?" Reiser asked while pulling out a folder from his bag. "Anything you wanted to share."
"Here you go," Kazo said, giving his papers. "My commanding officer's papers and reports, that's all I could find."
"Thank you," Reiser said as he began reading through them, with Foster also taking a few notes and cross-referencing.
Nami was even more intrigued when she glanced over the papers and realized that they included war plans in addition to handwritten memoirs and military records.
"We have made it through everything, from Nadeshiko to Wave to the Leaf." The bartender, Kazo, glanced down for a time, scowling, and reminisced about those experiences.
"Yes, and that's some bullshit, the government wanted to cover it up." When Reiser finished his drink, he almost slammed the empty cup on the counter. "I don't know who to hate more, those World Government bastards or Kaido's bastards of an army," he muttered.
'Elemental War veterans…'
"Hey! Did you see this?!"
"Yeah, I was shocked, too!"
"I can't believe the Straw Hats have resurfaced again!"
The loud talking got not only Nami but also the others at the counter to turn to a table where a couple of pirates were looking at a poster. A recruitment poster by the looks of it, with the emblem of a skull and bones with a straw hat on it.
"Yeah, no one has heard from them for 2 years so we all thought they were dead," one pirate summarised and read from the poster. "Can't believe they are recruiting now."
Not paying much attention, Reiser chuckled and said, "They fell for the imposters."
"Oh indeed."
Hearing that, Nami felt both confused and irritated.
"Imposters? What Imposters are you guys talking about?"
Before her questions could be answered, the door opened and a few strange folks dressed like the Straw Hats from a few years ago came walking in, with the big fat guy with a straw hat laughing and demanding.
"Old man! Bring all the drinks and food you got to my table and fast!"
Kazo gave a fake expression of fear and said, "O-Of course Straw Hat. Just give me a minute."
Fake Luffy smiled as he sat down at his table with the others, meanwhile Kazo went to the back and ordered his cooks to get whatever food and drinks they had.
Nami grimaced at the sight of the group, with all of them looking like cheap ripoffs of the crew, especially the one woman dressing up as her. She gained a thick mark on her unnoticeable head, but her mind was fuming:
'I'm going to turn that neck of hers, that imposter of mine…'
"Cat Burglar, I see you don't like your imposter."
When Nami heard it, she turned to face Foster, who had just called her name. She attempted to stand up.
"I have to leave."
Reiser seized Nami's hand and gave her a warning.
"Don't." Facing the bar, he remarked, "You'll draw too much attention."
"Remain calm; we know your captain and we are not your enemy." Foster said, "Let these morons play games, they'll soon get caught," as he faced the bar. "Besides, we've been waiting for you."
Nami waited out for the time being and decided to hear these hooded figures out, turning to face the bar with these men. She proceeded calmly but cautiously, asking them pertinent questions.
"Explain."
"Simple, we've been ordered to keep an eye on you and your crew, waiting for all of you to arrive," Foster said while getting served another beer. "Marine intelligence has been keeping their eyes and ears on these imposters, waiting for them to all come together."
"They believe we are going on a recruitment drive?" Nami asked, looking a bit irritated by the fact she could hear the fake laugh. "How long have they been here?"
"Around the same time as you, I believe. Less than two weeks," Reiser informed her. "They got themselves some upcoming pirate crews to join them on their journey, but there's a standard for them before they could join."
"And that is?"
*BANG!*
The sound of a shot being fired got everyone in the bar to see what had happened and saw it was a man who had just been shot by the fake Luffy holding a smoking flint gun.
"Anyone who wants to join needs a bounty higher than 70 million to enter their crew." Foster said as he turned back to the counter and looked into the documents Kazo gave, "That bloke must've not known that."
*BANG!*
The sound of another gunshot with the man getting put down coldly caused everyone else in the bar to flinch and turn around, not wanting to be on the bad side of the Fake Straw Hats, with fear present on all their faces. Well except for those at the counter, with Foster and Reiser.
They just read through the papers and did a little bit of drinking, causing Nami to be stunned at their muted reaction to having just witnessed someone getting killed in cold blood.
"Before you ask, this is nothing on what we've seen," Reiser said as he pulled out a pack of smokes with a lighter, "So as I said, don't pay attention to them." Foster shrugged as he then took another swig, agreeing with his comrade.
Nami turned to the bartender Kazo, baffled at this lack of reaction. She wanted to ask but was instead offered a few pages of the documents that he gave the two men.
"If you want to know, read this." Kazo said with some heads-up advice, "This isn't a rose-tinted version of the fighting, so be prepared."
Nami just raised an eyebrow when she heard that. She began to take a few pages then and read them, but before she could do so properly in peace-
"HEY BRING ANOTHER ROUND!" Fake Luffy demanded with an empty mug in his hand.
"It will come," Kazo responded.
"Better make it quick." The fake smiled before he noticed Nami sitting there and his grin grew wider, admiring her beauty.
"Huh, I see you sitting over there missy."
To avoid drawing the fakes' notice, Reiser and Foster continued to turn their backs on them with Nami, but it was ineffective because the leader kept pointing it out.
"If you want to have a good time why don't you party with us? She's a real beauty ain't she?" he laughed at his own comment. "Stop drinking so alone quietly and join us!"
"She's cute!"
Nami continued to not react to this fake's persuasions, despite him running out of patience and raising his voice.
"Hey sister, can't you hear me?!"
Kazo glanced at Nami, worried she might get herself in unwanted trouble.
"Miss…"
Nami sighed before saying, "I'll pass, I'm waiting for a friend."
Most patrons were shocked that some chick refused "Straw Hat"s invitation.
"Want us to handle it for you?" Foster whispered to her, holding his hand over his holster. "We can handle these thugs."
Nami declined with her hand out to him when one of the fake Straw Hats began talking.
"Waiting for someone?" The big figure dressed like Usopp with a rip-off Sogeking mask laughed and commented, "He must be a wimp who'll apologize in tears once he hears Captain Luffy's name anyway. So come here now!"
At this point, Nami turned around and faced the fakes with her head still leaning on her arm, looking unconvinced by them.
"I'll only say it once. You're no match for me, so I'm not gonna drink with you!"
The outright rejection surprised every naive soul in that bar who had no clue who she was, but it did a lot to anger the imposters who were growling in anger at this display of humiliation, especially the person playing Luffy.
"Do you understand? Straw Hat…who?"
"Did you say 'who?'" the fake Luffy said standing up."I am Straw Hat Luffy!"
Nami again just turned back to face the bar, only adding more oil to a burning fire. Just then, a man in an overcoat entered the bar, walking right into what was going on.
"You wench-"
*CLINK!*
"AH, DAMNIT!"
Hitting the phony Luffy—more specifically, hitting his flint pistol as it was being fired out of his hand—the impostor Luffy gripped his hand and cast his gaze to the ground.
A strange-looking dagger was thrown at him, cutting his hand a little bit, but it also split the wooden flintlock cannon in half.
"WHO DID THIS TO ME?!"
"Excuse me…"
The bar turned to the entrance, and there stood a man at the bar counter, wearing an overcoat with a cap over his head that concealed his identity and clothing. He got in between Reiser and Nami, standing just next to her as she felt his presence.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, took me a bit longer than I expected," the person apologized for his inconvenience before asking, "Kazo, got the documents?"
"All except those papers she's reading."
The hooded figure turned to the orangette who looked at him before noticing that he was looking directly at the documents she planned to read.
"May I?"
Nami looked at the unknown person with suspicion, but before she could respond to him-
*Click!*
A flintlock gun was aimed directly at the man's forehead, held by the potbellied imposter 'woman' who dressed like Nami. She had a convincing and arrogant grin on her wide face that she displayed.
"You're a funny guy, whoever you are. But let me remind you of something," The imposter woman said with a short laugh, "I am the Cat Burglar Nami, and you just got a gun pointed to your head, how does it feel knowing you're so close to dying?"
…
*TCH!*
A lighter flicked on as the hooded person lit a cigarette in his mouth out of thin air. Inhaling deeply, he blew the smoke out slowly before responding.
"Nothing much, you?"
"Huh?" The Fake Nami was confused. "What-"
*Click!*
*Click!*
Her smile vanished, replaced by fear as she felt something poking her side. She glanced down to see the barrel of a sawed-off shotgun pressed against her belly, held by Foster. The entire bar gasped in shock.
"S-Someone's pointing a gun at Nami!"
"He's insane!"
"Trying to kill a Straw Hat?"
The fake Nami stiffened, eyes wide as smoke was blown into her face. She looked directly into the eyes of the hooded man, her face turning pale with recognition.
"It-"
"Oh, you remember my face," he said, patting her cheek. "But I'd rather stay under the radar of the Marines. So how about you keep that oaf face of yours shut and walk back to your group of imposters, how about that?"
Fake Usopp gritted his teeth. "You son of a bitch!" He reached for his pistol.
"Sure Kill Green Star Devil!"
Before a shot could be fired, a small seed flew towards the ground and exploded into smoke, releasing plant veins that ensnared the fake Straw Hats.
"What is this?!" The fake Luffy yelled as he was grabbed by the vines.
The real Nami was shocked and turned to the armed men, who were equally surprised.
"Wait, this isn't your doing?"
"No, it was him…"
The hooded man turned to the door, where a young man with bushy hair and a long nose stood, carrying a green slingshot and goggles.
"Hey, Pinocchio," Reiser asked, not lowering his gun, "Is this your doing?"
"Oi! My name is not Pinocchio! I am—"
"Usopp!" Nami cried, hugging him tightly. Usopp's face buried into her chest as she rejoiced at seeing her friend.
The impact knocked the hood off the unknown man, revealing Naruto. He smiled at Nami, then turned to the counter, extinguishing his cigarette in the ashtray.
"Good to see you're still alive, Kazo."
"You too, sir." The bartender smiled. "I see you're smoking less."
"Trying to, thanks. Let's keep it short." Naruto tucked the memoirs into his backpack. "Thank you for collecting it all."
"My pleasure. They're in safe hands with you." Kazo shoved a bill toward him. "But do you mind paying for this? The open tabs of your men."
"Here, pay you upfront." Naruto placed a large sack on the counter. "For your future endeavors, stay safe."
"And you stay healthy." Kazo waved. "Good luck in the New World!"
Naruto left, followed by Reiser and Foster. The fake Straw Hats remained trapped, while Nami and Usopp parted from their hug. Nami turned back to the bar, now empty.
Once outside the bar, they walked through the streets away from Kazo's bar with Naruto taking the lead as he told his two men what the plan was.
"We're going to split up, with one of us going to the ship of the Straw Hats." Naruto said to his two lieutenants, informing them of the important details, "It's named the Thousand Sunny, got a big happy lion head, hard to miss."
"Yeah, I've seen it, docked in Grove 41," Foster said. "It's kept in good condition, to be fair it wasn't attacked by Pirates."
"Alright, I'll go with Jackie boy here," Reiser said turning to his captain, "We will keep a distance from it to not alert anybody."
"Good, I'll be trying to look for Luffy then, he's bound to be here somewhere," Naruto said while looking around. It was fairly crowded with him keeping his hood over his head. "It will only be a matter of time before the Marines are going to crack down on this place again with those imposters' recruitment drive."
"Ballsy, I give them that," Foster said taking the lead, "See you there, captain."
"Later lads."
The trio left, vanishing into the throng to pursue their separate tasks for the time being. Meanwhile, Nami was spotted sprinting and halted in the midst, with the long-nosed Usopp's corpse following her with her purchases.
Though it would take some time, significant encounters were destined to happen that day.
…
"Spread out and continue the search!"
The order echoed in the streets of Sabaody as a small unit of Marines was patrolling through the area, checking into shops and some buildings that were primarily present on the street, despite having little to no presence in these parts of Sabaody usually.
That, however, was enough for Naruto to press himself into a tight corner between two buildings as he tried to not gain any more unwanted attention after that stunt in the bar. He peeked into the street to see two armed Marines walking past him.
Luckily for him, they turned away to different streets just nick in the nick of time. He lowered his hand away from the holster and patches, not needing to use them.
"Need to go now-"
Then a hand grabbed his arm, a feminine hand by the feeling of it, and then another feminine hand grew out of his arm, meaning only one thing.
"Now where have I seen this before?"
Turning around Naruto was faced with a woman who he had known for a long time.
She had long black hair, blue cerulean eyes with wide pupils, and a body that would have made any man who didn't know her get in love at first sight. Accompanied by a long salmon sarong skirt that covered her legs with the design of a green seaweed with red and yellow flowers on the side and ruffles that bared her hips, high-heeled pumps, and a pink backpack. All this was topped off by some sunglasses with orange lenses on top of her head and a short-sleeved navy blue leather vest with a V-neck that was only halfway zipped.
"It has been a while, Naruto."
DONE!
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