Zoro stared at the Coated Pirates and they in return. What was going to happen was anyone's guess... but one thing was for certain... Zoro wasn't going to be allowed to take another step towards finding Robin.
"If you think you're going this way, you can think again." Frank G said with a sinister smile.
the rest of the Coated Pirates snickered and laughed except for Misuta, Yugami, Yamashiro, and Rationingu
Zoro gritted his teeth. He was so close. He couldn't put his finger on who these guys were but he had enough sense to know they were no joke.
"We have no quarrel." Zoro said, "Just let me go find Robin and we'll be out of here. I won't hurt any DEATH members I promise." Zoro bargained.
Frank G and Seiya exchanged confused and serious faces. Then everyone began to laugh, excluding Murabi, who didn't understand what they were laughing about.
"THIS FOOL THINKS I CARE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THESE WEAKLINGS! FEE HEE HA HA!" Frank laughed.
Zoro was slightly confused but angrier he was being laughed at.
"You're not DEATH members?" Zoro asked.
"I'll rip that disrespectful tongue from your mouth boy. Don't ever ask if THE Frank G Junior if he is a member of an organization ran by that infuriating idiot Psycho!" Frank yelled.
Zoro's eyes widened quick upon hearing Franks name. It all came back to him. Two years ago, at the Archipelago there was a fight no one talks about.
The Straw Hat pirates met the younger Coated Pirates two years in combat and were beaten brutally.
That fight and the attack from Kizaru is what Zoro believes really hindered their chances of getting away from Kuma that day.
"You're those same guys... from that day..." Zoro said softly.
"That's right." Renji said.
Zoro looked at Renji.
"Well, we've gotten a few new members since then! What is wrong with you!? We have a guest! Introduce yourselves!" Frank ordered.
The new members of the Coated Pirates stepped up.
"I'm Misuta Aisueiji, nice to meet ya." Misuta said with a smirk.
"Yugami Sasu." Yugami said softly.
"Y-Yamashiro Todao. I've heard a lot about you Pirate Hunter..." Yamashiro said.
Murabi looked at the other men who just introduced themselves and back at Zoro, who noticed her bandages.
"What happened to the girl?" Zoro asked.
"The happenings on my ship are none of your concern swordsman! Do not interrupt again!" Frank yelled.
Murabi knew if she was going to earn trust, she needed to show how loyal she could be and how much she truly appreciated this evil crew sparing her life not once but twice!
"I"m... I'm... MURABI ARI! A PROUD MEMBER OF THE COATED PIRATES AND CREW MATE OF... THE NEXT PIRATE KING CAPTAIN FRANK G!" Murabi yelled.
Everyone stared at the woman in silence. Frank smiled widely.
"FEE HEE HA HA HA! There we go! That's the energy I remember!" Frank yelled.
Zoro smirked.
"That's cute." Zoro said, "But you're wrong woman."
Everyone stared at Zoro now.
"Luffy is the next pirate king!" Zoro yelled back.
The Coated Pirates stared at Zoro with straight faces. Zoro began to take his bandana off his arm.
"If you're not gonna let me by... I'll just kill you one at a time!" Zoro said, in three sword style.
Frank smiled. Yamashiro was intreagued.
"So, this is the three-sword style... I've never seen it in person." Yamashiro said.
"Savor this moment geek. It'll be the last time you see it." Zoro said.
Yamashiro pushed his glasses up and spoke seriously.
"Did you say... geek?" Yamashiro asked softly.
"So, who wants it first!?" Zoro asked.
Frank spoke softly.
"Take your pick Pirate Hunter..." Frank said through an evil smile, "Choose wisely."
Zoro looked at the members of the crew one more time.
Zoro threw two slashes towards Yugami, Seiya, Yamashiro, and Misuta and another one towards Renji, Branch, and Rationingu!
They all jumped out of the way, except Yugami, as he was sliced completely in half! Blood splattered everywhere and Murabi was horrified!
"Hmph! That's one down!" Zoro said as he charged straight towards Frank! Murabi, still weak from her own fight with the Coated Pirates could only attempt to grab Frank and attempt to move him. Frank didn't budge.
"So, you've chosen us all!" Frank yelled as he stood up.
Zoro's eyes widened slightly as Frank raised his foot and booted Zoro directly in the stomach! The impact split the waves behind them for a moment! Frank then slammed his elbow onto Zoro's head. Zoro's eyes rolled into the back of his head for a moment.
Zoro slowly got on his hands and knees as blood leaked from his mouth. He barely had moments rest when...
WHAM!
A tree stump shot from the ground directly underneath Zoro's chin sending him into the air!
Seiya fired an arrow that wrapped around Zoro's body and slammed him into the ground.
Zoro breathed heavily as the wind was knocked from his body. After a moment, Zoro slowly got back to his feet and smiled.
"There we go Pirate Hunter... I knew that wasn't going to be enough." Frank said with respect.
Zoro infused haki into his swords and took his stance. As Zoro took a step he felt something wet under his shoes... blood!
"What the!?" Zoro was interupted as Yugami shot out of the blood puddle and attempted to stab Zoro with a blood knife!
Zoro blocked the attack with his sword and swung another to chop off Yugami in half once more! This time, when he hit the ground, he exploded into a pool of blood that then began to swirl around Zoro in a circle!
"What the hell is going on!?" Zoro yelled.
The blood shot into the air and formed into Yugami who transformed any extra blood into a scythe! Zoro was shocked but defended himself!
The two clashed weapons as Coated Pirates watched. Zoro and Yugami clashed in a stalemate and stared each other in the face.
"You're pretty good blood guy, Luffy would find you interesting." Zoro said with a smirk.
Yugami smirked himself.
"You lose." Yugami said.
Zoro became confused and Yugami bit his tongue and spit blood into Zoro's eye! Zoro immediately grabbed his eye in pain.
"Excellent move! He got the pirate hunter right off him!" Murabi said.
"She didn't do it to get the pirate hunter away from him ma'am." Yamashiro said.
Murabi looked up with confusion.
"That fruit allows Yugami to take possession of anyone his blood enters."
Yugami formed blood around his hand into a blade and attacked Zoro. He punched him across the face and turned around and stabbed Zoro in the body, he then did a spinning kick that moved Zoro away from him.
Yugami stretched out his hand and forced Zoro to walk back towards him, grabbed Zoro's head and began to manipulate the blood in Zoro's brain!
"He's giving him an aneurysm..." Branch noted.
Murabi couldn't belive what she was seeing.
"Damn Yugami save him for the rest of us will ya!" Miusta called out.
Zoro screamed as his head pounded with pain and his eyes became bloodshot.
"STOP!" A voice shouted.
Yugami dropped Zoro immediately and looked back to see Renji walking towards him.
"That's enough. From all of you." Renji said.
Zoro breathed in and out heavily trying to cling to life.
"As a fellow swordsman... I'm not about to sit here and watch him be teamed up on!" Renji yelled.
Renji looked at Branch.
"Heal him. Give us the respect of a one on one." Renji ordered.
Branch nodded and conjured a small tree of willow bark and removed one of its leaves. Branch walked over to Zoro and sat him up.
"What they see in you young fools are beyond me... but... orders are orders. This is willow bark. Natives used these to treat pain and fevers... they're supposed to have supernatural properties to them. I prefer them in a nice tea." Branch said as he fed Zoro the plant.
Branch walked back to his spot and Zoro rose to his feet, still taking heavy breaths.
"I... I almost died..." Zoro said softly.
"You still will." Renji said.
Zoro looked up angrily.
Zoro, still taking some heavy breaths, smiled.
"You're the one... I remember the most." Zoro said.
A quick flash between a younger Renji and Renji now passed through Zoro's mind.
"Yes. I beat you then and I'll beat you now." Renji said, removing his sword from its sheathe.
Zoro got back into stance and looked at the Coated Pirates.
"You shouldn't have healed me. When I'm done with him I'm coming for all of you." Zoro said.
"A rather unwise decision Pirate Hunter." Branch said smiling.
"Go ahead and finish him, Renji. Newcomers take notes!" Frank said.
Renji and Zoro sized each other up for a moment. Then Zoro began the attack! He leaped towards Renji but was immediately cut out of thin air!
Zoro crashed into the ground and reached down to see he was cut on his side. Zoro stood to his feet.
"Hmph. Another speedster, nothing I haven't seen before." Zoro said.
"I'm much more than a speedster, Zoro." Renji said.
Zoro charged at Renji once more and this time his leg was cut and Renji had gotten past him once more. Zoro groaned from the cut and looked back up at Renji.
"On your feet Zoro." Renji said.
Zoro took time to watch Renji. Zoro closed his eye for a moment then shot it back open and threw a quick slash at Renji from a distance!
How Renji was dodging caught Zoro by surprise! Renji appeared to be sliced by the attack but was actually next to it. Afterimage.
"You move in afterimages, don't you?" Zoro asked.
Renji nodded.
"One of the abilities of my fruit." Renji added.
"A devil fruit user..." Zoro said, "That's not enough to stop me from doing what I came here to do!" Zoro yelled.
"Then kill me and be on your way." Renji said coldly.
Zoro charged and traded swords with him. Zoro's aggression was obvious. He slammed his blades against Renji with rage.
"You come at me with a clouded mind, I already knew you'd lose this fight but now it is confirmed." Renji said.
Zoro continued attacking until Renji kicked Zoro in the body and swung his sword towards Zoro's neck!
Zoro ducked but this didn't matter because Renji released the sword from his hand and manipulated the wind around his body to swing the sword around and crash into Zoro's side!
"AGH!" Zoro yelled out in pain.
Zoro jumped away from Renji, whoms sword was still in Zoro's side, and threw Enma at Renji! Renji moved to the side and caught the blade, but Enma cut open Renji's hand forcing him to drop it!
"What the!?" Renji asked with surprise.
Zoro snatched Renji's blade out his side and ran at Renji who was distracted now! Renji looked at Zoro and back at Enma.
Renji aimed his palm towards the sword causing it to vibrate rapidly, Renji then sent the sword straight at Zoro, stabbing him through his left bosom!
The force removed Renji's blade from Zoro's hand and Renji jumped to catch it.
Then surprisingly, Renji gripped the handle of his sword transforming it into a rope like object! Renji wrapped the metal string around Zoro.
"His sword can transform!?" Zoro asked.
"A lot has changed in two years pirate hunter. RAHHHH!" Renji yelled as he snatched the string back, sending Zoro into a spin!
Renji then used his wind abilities to shoot down at Zoro, his sword in position ready to make the kill. Mid spin, Zoro smiled. Renji could sense his lack of fear!
"What are you planning pirate hunter!?" Renji asked.
"Three sword style: 90,000 PHEONIX!" Zoro's yell ripped through the skies as a giant wind of blades approached Renji!
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Renji yelled as the wind took over him and cutting his clothes up.
Zoro landed softly and spoke.
"Thanks for all those spins... you helped me charge up my biggest attack yet!" Zoro said.
Zoro looked up at the Coated Pirates, they all held serious expressions.
"Who's... next?" Zoro asked, until he looked up with fright.
Renji floated in the air, a giant green gorilla arm blocking him from damage.
"What in the hell... am I looking at!?" Zoro asked.
The arm moved from in front of Renji's face and revealed a cut on Renji's cheek.
"It's been a while since I've been injured." Renji said.
Zoro was exhausted from that last attack if he was going to make something happen it had to be now!
Renji slammed down on the beach and immediately charged Zoro, the gorilla arm outstretched!
Zoro attempted to block whatever he was planning but was grabbed by the arm and thrown into the air. Renji followed and the sword now transformed back to normal and Renji was ready to stab Zoro!
Zoro tried to block one more time but Renji didn't allow it!
"NO MORE BLOCKING!" Renji shot towards Zoro even faster.
SPLAT!
Zoro stared down at the sword that had just pierced his body. He slowly attempted to grab the blade.
"Stop Roronoa. It's pointless." Renji said.
"I'm... so... close..." Zoro said unconsciously.
Renji tsk'd.
"He's delusional. I don't even think he realizes how far he really is from Robin right now." Branch noted.
Renji looked back at Branch then at Zoro.
"I won't kill you Roronoa." Renji said, snatching his blade from Zoro's body, "If you die you die. But I will remember this fight today. Back on the archipelago you didn't damage me, but today you did. Two years of training for a cut across my face, you should be happy.
"I'm... I'm... I'm... close... Robin... come... I'm..." Zoro said, falling onto his back.
Renji turned around and walked off with his eyes closed. When he opened them, he saw a shadow rush past him and attempt to get Frank G!
Frank smiled the biggest smile he ever smiled.
"YES, PIRATE HUNTER YOU'VE FINALLY SHOWN YOUR TRUE FORM!" Frank yelled.
Ranji gritted his teeth and zipped towards the now completely black Zoro. Haki had covered his body from head to toe, something like Pika!
Frank G rose to his feet with shock.
"Haki armor?! This brat has that much control over his haki?!?!" Frank yelled to himself.
The other Coated Pirates were more than shocked! Full body haki armor is an extreme rarity among fighters in the Grand Line.
"RRRAAAHHHHH ROOBBINNNNNNNNNNNNNN!" Zoro yelled as he got ready to attack Frank!
CRASH!
Frank stood tall and watched as Yamashiro's arm collided with Zoro's throat!
"YOU WILL NOT TOUCH THE CAPTAIN!" Yamashiro yelled.
Murabi stared with shock.
"That nervous cook..." Murabi said softly.
Yamashiro began to spin so fast he formed a mini tornado! In a flash Yamashiro launched Zoro through the air and into the clouds. Zoro zipped through the skies unconscious.
Back at the beach Yamashiro took heavy breaths and stood up to push up his glasses. He looked back at the Coated Pirates.
"I'm... I'm sorry... I don't know where that came from..." Yamashiro said.
"You're just full of surprises aren't you boy?" Frank smiled, "And so are they... those fools definitely got stronger I have no choice but to respect that.. between knocking out Psycho, albeit for a moment, and that full body haki..."
A static sound disrupted Frank's thoughts and the Coated Pirates all turned to see a transponder snail with Cyclone's accessories watching them with a straight face.
"Frank G Junior and the Coated Pirates. Your presence has been required inside the HQ. Don't be late." The snail said before going back to sleep.
Frank made an annoyed face and looked towards the HQ.
SUNFLOWER ISLAND
Nagashima supported Okua as they walked back to base.
"How the hell did you let Rob Lucci beat you? I get it the guy's kind of tough but you should be stronger than him." Nagashima scolded.
"Normally I would be, Nagashima Kingo-san... but he's so much stronger than he used to be... I think it was the training with DEATH..." Okua said weakly.
"Well, he should be dead now, or fatally wounded, you did use advanced armament, right?" Nagashima asked.
"Yes... we can only pray that's the case." Okua said.
Before Nagashima could speak he was interrupted by a heavy blast of wind hitting his chest forcing him to cough up blood.
Okua dropped on his face. Okua weakly looked up and was filled with shock and fright! Lucci stood directly in front of them with a hand out. Okua looked over at Nagashima who was knocked out for now.
"Don't worry about him Okua Yuke. He's not dead, but he will be. Both of you will. And everyone on this island." Lucci said darkly.
Okua groaned and breathed heavily. Lucci moved his hand and revealed one of his eyes was closed.
"Round 2 begins now. On your feet!" Lucci yelled.
THOUSAND SUNNY
Naruto and the other Straw Hat Shinobi sailed closer and closer to Sunflower Island. Once they got there, they could finally meet the mysterious helper and the real work can finally begin!