A pirate ship sailed through the mist-choked waters of the North Blue, its orange hull slick with sea spray, the wood groaning softly as it crested a gentle swell. The bow carved through the gray, rising and falling in rhythm with the tide, and at its front loomed a massive figurehead, a snarling tiger head with bared fangs and outstretched paws, sculpted arms frozen in a perpetual roar. Bright white teeth gleamed against the dull haze, while wide-painted eyes stared madly toward the horizon.
The ship's sail was no less loud, a gaudy orange canvas bearing a vivid jolly roger, though it had been altered. A tiger's maw was drawn mid-bite around a skull and crossbones, jagged teeth sunk into the top of the bone-white skull, while two striped paws gripped the edges as if trying to drag it down whole.
The deck bustled with half-disciplined activity. Pirates moved about in garish orange and black uniforms, striped tunics with oversized collars, button-up jackets with tiger print trim, and the occasional eye mask or clawed glove. Some wore spiked belts or tiger-painted pauldrons, more costume than armor, and each bore the mark of a crew with more pride than polish.
Near the helm at the ship's stern, the captain leaned against the railing, arms crossed, speaking in low tones to his vice-captain. His back was straight, posture practiced, the dark sash at his waist fluttering in the breeze. He wore a high-collared coat that looked like it had been made from an old stage curtain, orange with black striping across the shoulders, fastened with three silver clasps and far too many buttons. He had white, shoulder length hair with a blue tint and he wore a pair of narrow sunglasses despite the mist
"Keep an eye on our pace," he muttered. "Fog like this makes the crew lazy. And I don't want to hear about another late rotation on cannon cleanings—"
DING! DING! DING!
The lookout's bell rang sharply from the crow's nest above.
The captain's voice cut off.
The lookout leaned over the edge of his platform, one gloved hand gripping the rail while the other clutched a long brass looking glass. "Ship ahead!" he called down. "Coming through the mist!"
A ripple of interest passed through the crew as they slowed their movements, eyes drifting to the bow. The captain and his vice-captain stepped toward the front railing, their boots thudding evenly on the damp planks as they looked out into the dense haze.
For a moment, nothing moved. The sea rolled gently beneath them, the mist swirling in long fingers just above the surface.
Then — a shape.
Low and narrow, a ship's outline cut through the fog. It moved without urgency, gliding with the current, no flag waving, no visible crew.
The captain frowned, craning his neck upward.
"Well?!" he barked.
The lookout flinched and scrambled to realign his looking glass. "Hold on …It's got a marking, captain! Just came into view!"
"Well then spit it out! " the captain snarled, slamming a fist down on the railing.
The lookout swallowed once before calling out, voice uncertain. "It's a swirl, sir... A red swirl, and… yeah, two swords! Crossed through it!"
The words hit the deck causing confusion.
The mist parted just enough now to give the rest of the crew a better look. The sail came into view, dark fabric stretched tight with the breeze, and across its center, that strange mark stood out, bold and clean. A red spiral, tight and deliberate, with two blue swords crossed behind it like fangs drawn wide.
The pirates murmured among themselves.
"Never seen it before…"
"That a marine symbol?"
"Looks handmade…"
One of the deckhands, broader in the chest than the others, stepped forward and scratched his chin. "Captain Mizuki," he said, turning toward the helm, "You recognize it?"
The captain, Mizuki scowled but kept his posture sharp. "No," he muttered, "never seen it." He looked to his vice-captain beside him, who gave a small shake of the head.
Mizuki's jaw clenched. "Then we prepare to fire. Fog's thick enough that someone might be looking to ambush." He turned toward the midship. "Get the crew ready—!"
"WAIT!" the lookout shouted again, eyes pressed hard to the scope. "Captain — it's empty!"
Mizuki's command halted mid-bark.
"What?"
"There's... there's no one on deck!" the lookout called down. "I mean — no crew! No movement! Not even a flag!"
A few of the pirates exchanged confused glances.
"Drifted off course maybe?"
"Or it's bait."
"Ghost ship," someone whispered.
Mizuki gritted his teeth, tension bristling in his shoulders. His eyes locked forward, narrowing at the approaching ship.
Then the lookout spoke again.
"Wait… hold on — I see something. One person."
The entire ship seemed to lean forward at that.
"One person?" Mizuki asked, his voice sharp. "A survivor?"
The lookout adjusted the scope again, wiping a streak of condensation from the lens with his frayed sleeve. "It's a kid," he called down, voice firmer now. "Just came out onto the deck. He's wearing a cloak but it's definitely a kid."
A beat of silence followed.
Mizuki, standing tall near the wheel, exhaled through his nose. The sharp tension in his shoulders slackened, curiosity creeping in to dull his edge. He leaned a hand against the railing, watching the ship drift closer through the mist. The wind shifted, bringing with it a soft groan from the small vessel's hull — old wood, damp and weathered, but afloat.
One of the pirates down on the deck muttered, "Could be a noble's ship, right? One of those fancy types that take private tours around the Blue?"
Another chimed in, his voice laced with the kind of hunger only gold could inspire. "Yeah… maybe the crew got tossed overboard, but the kid stayed on. Maybe he doesn't even know what he's sitting on."
"Or maybe," another added with a grin, "we ransom him. Could be worth a fortune to the right house."
The murmuring picked up steam, like a spark catching dry leaves. Men glanced toward the ship with fresh interest, eyes narrowed and greedy. Even the laziest among them was now inching toward their stations.
Mizuki said nothing for a moment, just studied the ship. The pale light filtering through the mist caught the side of its hull — battered, small, clearly built for just one or two travelers. No sails were raised now. The wind had done all the work, gently nudging it into the shadow of his far larger vessel.
The vice captain stepped forward, arms crossed, eyes cool beneath his triangle-framed spectacles. "Either way," he said flatly, "it's just a kid. Worst case, he's a brat with nothing but soggy bread in the hold. Best case, there's gold somewhere on that ship. Or in his name."
Mizuki smiled then… slow, crooked, teeth gleaming in the haze.
"Exactly," he said. "We keep things friendly. Play it cool. If he's got money, we'll find it. If not..." His eyes gleamed behind the tint of his lenses. "He'll still be useful."
The crew spread out, feigning nonchalance as the small ship rocked closer. The wood creaked beneath them as it came up against the hull, dwarfed entirely by the Tiger Pirates' ship. The sun, dim behind the clouds, cast long shadows across the deck and the smaller vessel was now caught fully in their shade, a toy boat next to a lion's den.
Mizuki leaned out over the railing, eyes narrowing as he spotted the figure in the cloak.
The kid was wobbling… struggling a little to keep balance as the waves rolled. The cloak was oversized, hanging loose over the small frame, the hood tugged forward so far that his face was completely hidden. He looked like he was drowning in the fabric, his arms hidden inside, no hands visible, just a little shape trying to hold its ground.
Mizuki smirked, voice smooth and falsely warm. "Hey there, little guy," he called down, dripping with theatrical concern. "You alright down there?"
The hood turned upward a little and a small voice answered back, strained with motion and the sea.
"Y... y-yeah!" the kid yelled, teetering slightly as the ship rocked again beneath him.
Mizuki kept up the act, hands cupped around his mouth. "What are you doing out here all alone?" he asked. "Don't tell me you're sailing this tub by yourself?"
The kid staggered, falling flat onto his stomach with a loud oof .
A few of the pirates chuckled from above.
The child scrambled upright again and shouted, voice cracking slightly as panic set in. "Me and my parents were on a trip! But there was a storm, and it threw them off the boat last night!"
Gasps rippled through the crew, some genuine, most clearly mocking. But the kid pushed forward anyway.
"Please! You have to help me!" he cried. "They're out there somewhere! We've got money, lots of it! I just need to get to them! Please!!"
Mizuki exchanged a look with his vice captain, who just raised an eyebrow.
The captain gave a small nod, then turned back to the railing, voice full of measured kindness.
"Well aren't you lucky we found you," he called. "We're good people, see? Real good."
He lifted one hand and gave a lazy spin of his finger.
"Drop the ladder!" he ordered. "Tie up the ship and let the boy on board."
Two pirates scrambled to obey, hauling the rope ladder over the side with a practiced ease, its rungs thudding softly against the larger ship's hull as it uncoiled. Another crewman tossed the mooring line overboard, thick, salt-stained, and coiled like a lazy serpent and it landed with a dull, meaty thump on the deck of the smaller ship.
All eyes were on the cloaked figure now.
The kid fumbled at the rope, arms hidden beneath the oversized cloak that swayed with every shift of the sea. The fabric dragged across the deck, snagging at his feet, making even the simple task of tying the ship a clumsy struggle. One of the pirates snorted at the sight, elbowing his crewmate with a grin.
"Look at 'im," he muttered. "Like a scarecrow in a storm."
But slowly, stubbornly, the kid managed to secure the line, looping it twice and yanking it into place. Then, still wobbling, he turned to the ladder and reached for the first rung. He missed.
A ripple of chuckles moved through the gathered pirates.
On the second try, he caught it. Slowly.. one foot, then another, he began climbing. The ladder shifted beneath him, swaying with every wave. He slipped near the top, nearly losing his grip, a startled yelp echoing up before he clung back on, panting.
As he reached the railing, he was muttering between breaths. "Th-thank you… really… after we rescue my parents, you can have… all the money hidden on my ship…"
He clambered over the edge of the deck, one foot at a time, cloak dragging behind him. As he shifted forward, one of the pirates watching closest frowned — just for a second, he thought he saw something odd. Not a hand beneath the sleeve.
But a paw.
Furred.
He blinked, and the cloak twitched again… just fabric now. He shook his head. Probably the light.
The boy landed clumsily on the deck, feet planted softly against the planks. He stood, wobbling slightly, the hood still pulled down low over his head. A few pirates had subtly reached for their weapons, a blade behind the back here, a pistol tucked tighter there but none raised them yet. They watched. Waited.
And then, Mizuki stepped forward.
Tall, sharp, and smirking.
He moved with a swagger that oozed confidence, arms folded across his chest, his ornate coat fluttering slightly in the sea breeze. Behind him, pirates began closing in from all sides, forming a loose circle around the boy, not quite hostile, but far from friendly.
The vice captain stepped in beside him, gesturing broadly with an almost theatrical bow. "You've got nothing to fear, kid," he said smoothly. "The Tiger Crew is here."
The boy tilted his head up, the hood slipping back a little but revealing nothing.
"T...T-Tiger Crew?" he stammered.
Another round of chuckles from the pirates. One clapped a hand against a crate, grinning wide. Another cracked his neck like a stage performer warming up.
Mizuki took a step closer, boots echoing slightly on the deck.
He grinned.
"Oh yeah," he said. "Name's Mizuki." His voice was smooth, almost cheerful, but every word carried the weight of the net closing in. "And this fine vessel, this glorious crew?" He gestured around them with one hand. "They're mine, I am the Captain."
The boy took an instinctive step back, only to bump into the legs of one of the pirates behind him. He let out a small yelp and stumbled forward again, landing flat on his stomach with a muffled thump.
Mizuki crouched slightly, staring down with mock concern.
"You alright there, champ?" he asked, his voice syrupy with condescension. "Now why don't you be a good boy and tell us where this hidden stash is on your ship?"
He grinned wider, teeth bared.
" Then we'll gladly help you save mommy and daddy. "
The mockery in Mizuki's voice rang across the deck, sharp and cold. The laughter that followed from his crew was quieter now, not crueler, just hungrier.
The cloaked boy sniffled. Shoulders hunched slightly as he stood back up, one foot dragging behind the other. He wobbled in place, swaying as if the weight of fear, or grief was dragging him down.
Then, quietly, barely more than a whisper, the boy spoke.
"…Mizuki… of the Tiger Crew?"
Mizuki smirked wide, cocky and sharp, his eyes gleaming like someone who thought the show was already over. He gave a theatrical nod to his crew.
"You got it, kiddo," he said, voice dripping with condescension. Around him, his men began to raise their weapons in eerie unison… swords with gaudy tiger-tooth guards, jagged claw-gloves, flintlocks, and rusted rifles. The click of steel and the cocking of hammers filled the silence as they drew closer.
"Now," Mizuki said, voice low and sweet like a blade sheathed in velvet, "about that money…"
But the boy didn't move.
He didn't speak.
He just leaned forward a bit, slightly hunched.. his breath shallow, cloak sagging low around him as if he were about to vomit or collapse.
Mizuki's smile twitched.
"…Fine," he snapped, temper rising. "Make it harder on yourself."
He drew his sword with a clean shring , the polished steel catching the low sunlight that filtered through the mist above.
"Take him!" he barked.
The pirates closest, three with swords, one with clawed gloves, lunged forward, shouting as they closed in.
And that's when the cloak exploded open.
In a sudden gust of motion, the heavy fabric snapped wide like a ripped sail. From the middle of it, a blur launched upward… small, fast, and glowing at the edges.
Naruto burst into the air with his ears curling into tight, coiled fists. The red glow along the tips shimmered brighter, almost molten, as his body twisted in a single tight rotation.
THWACK–THWACK–THWACK–THWACK!
He spun cleanly through the center of the attack, the ends of his glowing ears slamming square into the faces of the four charging pirates. A sickening mix of wet impacts and cracked steel echoed across the deck as their weapons and their bodies went flying. One man's sword spiraled through the air, another's clawed glove ripped clean from his wrist as he tumbled backwards into a barrel.
They hit the deck like sacks of meat. Unmoving.
The rest of the crew froze in stunned silence.
"What the—?!"
"Was that—?!"
"He's a rabbit?! "
"No, no, no — that thing's not normal!"
Then, one of the gunmen panicked.
"Shoot it!!"
The rest followed.
Gunfire erupted.
Pistols flared. Rifles cracked. A storm of bullets tore through the air where Naruto had just landed…but he wasn't there.
He was already hopping backward, smooth and light across the deck, each bound timed with the rhythm of the gunfire. His small form weaved between crates and ropes with a faint, confident smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. The gunfire tore into the planks around him, splintering wood and punching holes through barrels and the base of the mast but every shot missed its mark.
After a few swift hops backward, Naruto skidded to a stop near the edge of the deck. A good dozen of the pirates had regrouped ahead, clustered near the center, shoulder to shoulder, weapons raised, eyes wild.
"GET HIM!" one of them screamed, and they opened fire in unison.
Naruto's body snapped upward, leaping high into the air, higher than a body that small had any right to go, inhaling fast... his chest expanding outward like a bellows.
And then… he exhaled.
A dense sphere of compressed air surged from his lungs, glowing faintly red at the core. The force of the blast kicked him back in the air, but he landed on a railing on a higher deck, crouched like a perched hawk.
The glowing orb slammed into the group of pirates just as they looked up.
BOOM!
A shockwave tore through them… The deck buckled under the blast, a dent forming beneath their boots with a hiss of steam as the heat seared into the wood.
Half a dozen pirates were launched off their feet.
Three were hurled into the water with helpless yells.
One slammed into the mast with a loud CRACK , sliding down unconscious.
Two more collided with the railing hard enough to bend the iron brackets before they collapsed, groaning.
Mizuki charged forward, sword drawn, his vice captain beside him wielding a long, jagged scythe, flanked by three more who hadn't lost their nerve, two with clawed gauntlets, one with a double-edged blade. They skidded to a halt beneath the upper deck, weapons raised.
But Naruto hadn't moved.
He was still crouched on the railing, ears upright, chest steady. As they stared, the ends of his long ears twitched…. then puffed up, fluffing out like flexed muscles.
Mizuki ground his teeth. "WHAT are you?" he barked up at the creature. "What the hell are you doing here?!"
The vice captain stepped forward, scythe angled low. "It's a Devil Fruit," he said flatly. "Has to be. One of those cursed powers. Treasures of the sea."
A ripple of shock passed through the remaining crew.
"A Devil Fruit?!"
"He's got one?!"
"I told you… he's a damn demon!"
The color began to drain from a few faces. One man lowered his sword an inch. Another took a step back toward the railing, hand shaking.
Naruto's ears relaxed slowly.
He stood silently for a few moments before he finally spoke, voice calm, cool, and sharp enough to cut.
"Mizuki."
The captain flinched.
Naruto's eyes didn't waver.
"Captain of the Tiger Pirates. Former royal guard, wanted for selling national security documents to foreign bidders. Bounty: two hundred thousand beri."
He leaned forward over the railing slowly,
"Alive preferred."
The tone in his voice had changed… colder now, not even angry. It was the voice of a predator speaking to prey.
Mizuki's jaw clenched, each word landing like a slap to the face. His teeth ground tighter with every syllable, his hand twitching on the hilt of his sword.
"You little freak," he snarled through his teeth. "You think you're taking me in?"
His eyes flicked upward… past Naruto.
He smirked as he watched a few pirates creep up behind Naruto
Mizuki sneered. "You're nothing but a freak that can't swim."
He raised his sword just slightly. "Let's see how you like drowning."
The pirates behind Naruto moved, swinging claws and blades in unison.
But Naruto was already moving.
He kicked off the railing, launching forward into the air, directly toward Mizuki and the cluster of fighters waiting below. But as he flew, his body twisted… tighter, faster, coiling like a spring wound in red light.
The glow along his body sharpened — bright streaks tracing every limb.
And then, with a snap of pressure, he twisted into a cyclone of motion.
A tornado of red-streaked wind and fur howled through the air, angling downward like a comet.
WHRROOOOOMMM—
The red-streaked tornado slammed into the deck with a thunderous WHUMP , and the explosion of force sent bodies flying in every direction. The impact tore through the wood, cracking a hole that punched into the center of the ship. Steam hissed from the singed rim, curling into the mist.
Mizuki's crew were thrown like leaves in a gale. Some slammed against the rails, others tumbled across the deck. One crashed headfirst into the mast and didn't get up with a few falling over into the ocean.
And Mizuki was launched.
The captain's coat flared as his body flipped backward, crashing into a stack of crates with a thunderous CRACK , the wood exploding around him. He hit the deck hard and didn't rise.
One boot twitched once, then stilled..
Naruto hovered a moment longer, weightless, framed in the haze, before a soft red shimmer flared around his body. The glow rippled down his limbs like heat through metal, and in a flash of compressed energy, his small frame expanded. Limbs thickened. Fur shifted. His body stretched upward and outward in a controlled, seamless transformation.
He landed hard.
CRUNCH.
The wood beneath his feet groaned, clawed toes digging into the deck, and dust kicked up in a sharp ring around him. One of his heavy metal arms was already raised, the multi-barreled minigun beginning to spin with a low, rising whir.
Smoke drifted from where Mizuki had fallen.
Naruto stood tall above it… a six-foot figure of red and cream fur, lean muscle, gleaming chrome, and simmering menace. His ears twitched slightly. The barrel hummed louder.
Across the deck, the remaining pirates froze.
Their eyes locked onto the towering form, on the fallen body of their captain… bleeding in a heap and then the spinning weapon pointed their way.
Weapons clattered to the deck.
Swords. Pistols. A jagged claw gauntlet.
All dropped.
One by one, the rest dropped to their knees, raising their arms in the air.
"We surrender!"
"Don't shoot!"
"Please — we didn't sign up for this!"
Naruto exhaled, long and slow. The weapon arm began to wind down with a soft hiss, the rotating barrel slowing until it stopped.
"Two of you," he said, voice low and even. "Tie up your captain. Make it tight."
They didn't hesitate. Two pirates scrambled forward, still shaking, and quickly bound Mizuki's unconscious form with thick, knotted rope. They tied his arms and legs, looping twice around the chest for good measure, before stepping back like they were afraid he might explode.
Naruto watched in silence, then turned to one of the others, a lanky man with sweat-soaked sleeves and a busted nose.
"Take me to your stash."
The pirate nodded so fast he nearly tripped. "Y-yes! This way!"
He led Naruto below deck in a rush.
A few minutes passed before Naruto returned, slower now, stepping calmly back into the sunlight with a burlap bag in each hand. One clinked softly. The other jangled heavier, filled with loose coin and jewelry. His ears shifted back into a relaxed curve as he walked to the railing.
Without a word, he tossed both bags over the side. Thump. Thump. They landed on the deck of his ship with two satisfying little thuds.
He turned.
Mizuki's body lay bound near the mast, face still and jaw slack.
Naruto stepped over and grabbed him by the ropes, hoisting the pirate captain onto his shoulder like a sack of rice. The remaining crew didn't move… they just watched, eyes wide, silent and pale.
One pirate finally worked up the nerve.
"Y-you're not gonna k-kill us… are you?"
Naruto paused at the edge of the ship.
He looked back over his shoulder, expression unreadable. The wind caught the edges of his fur, rustling faintly around the ammo belt across his chest.
"I've got what I want," he said simply.
And then he jumped.
His descent was swift, but before he dropped too far, Naruto reached out with his free arm and latched onto the ship's side. His metal claws dug into the wood with a grinding screech, trailing sparks as they carved a jagged line down the hull. The tear wasn't deep, but it left a raw mark, a scar, a reminder.
He landed hard on the deck of his own ship, knees flexed, the wood creaking beneath his weight with a solid bang.
He dropped Mizuki's body near the mast without ceremony.
Then he turned, raised one arm and with a single precise shot from his gun-arm, severed the rope connecting the two vessels. The line snapped with a sharp pop, whipping backward and vanishing over the edge.
He walked up to the mast.
One pull, a firm, practiced tug and the new black sail unfurled from above. The Uzumaki swirl gleamed in red beneath the crossed blue swords, catching the rising wind.
Naruto stepped behind the wheel, metal fingers wrapping around the worn grips. The breeze filled the sail with a deep flump, snapping the canvas to full tension.
The ship creaked as it turned, pulling gently away from the drifting Tiger Pirate vessel. The water parted quietly beneath the hull, the early afternoon light glinting faintly on the deck.
Naruto glanced back over his shoulder.
The pirate ship now behind him, a thin thread of smoke still rose from the center of the deck, curling upward from the scorched crater his tornado had left behind.
Naruto narrowed his eyes.
He turned fully, lifting both arms. The barrels of his forearms began to spin with a familiar hum before erupting in a controlled burst of fire.
BRRRTT—BRRRTT—BRRRTT!
Bullets sliced through the air in quick, clean volleys. Each burst targeted the rigging, the sails, and the mast. Thin ropes snapped. Canvas tore. The main sail buckled under the force, slumping sideways as several supporting lines gave way. Splinters of wood and frayed cloth rained across the deck.
Another short burst caught the base of the secondary mast, not enough to destroy it, but enough to cripple it. The pirates still aboard didn't move. No return fire. No voices. Just silence, broken only by the stuttering hiss of falling debris.
Satisfied… Naruto stopped firing. Confident they couldn't follow him.
The spinning barrels slowed, then locked back into place with a faint mechanical clink. He turned away and let his ship drift onward, wind catching the sail once more.
He walked the short steps down to check on Mizuki, still slumped against the mast where he'd dropped him. The ropes were tight. Blood stained his collar. He wasn't waking up anytime soon. He then stepped over him to grab the two bags of loot he'd tossed down earlier.
He carried them into the small cabin tucked just below the steering platform. The door creaked open to reveal a modest room, a soft bar of afternoon light slipping through the porthole. It stretched across a wooden table bolted to the center of the floor.
A map of the North Blue was spread across one half, edges pinned under a small compass and a coil of twine. Resting near one corner was his transponder snail, its stalk-eyes half-lidded in sleep mode, shell painted in a faint red-and-blue swirl. Beside it, a pair of dog-eared comics lay open, the corners soft from repeated reads.
His bingo book lay open beside the map, its worn spine resting against a coil of rope. On the current page, two small bounty portraits had been clipped in… one of them Mizuki, face scowling beneath the grainy stamp of his bounty mark. Inked notes trailed beside it.
Naruto dropped the two loot bags on the floor next to the table, the wood creaking faintly under the weight. The snail stirred slightly at the motion but didn't wake.
He eased into the chair behind the table with a low sigh, the wood groaning under his weight. It had been about a week and a half since he left North-Wind Island, and this… this pirate, this.. haul was his first real hit.
He should've felt proud. Triumphant. Fulfilled.
But instead, he just stared at the table for a while, jaw set, eyes drifting across the map spread out in front of him. The coastlines and dotted island chains looked simple, Clean. But the reality out on the water was anything but. Storms didn't follow lines.
Mizuki's crew had barely put up a fight. Sure, he'd tricked them a bit, but Naruto had wanted something more. A real clash. Not just a victory, but a challenge.
He leaned forward, his metal fingers brushing across the map. Small pins were stuck into the surface, marking places he thought he'd been. None of them were exact, just rough guesses based on wind, current, and how long he'd been sailing.
He adjusted one of the pins slightly, narrowing his eyes.
If he was right, he was near a cluster of small islands called the Wave Islands. Nothing special, but it would do, a place to restock, drop off Mizuki, then maybe grab a good meal and stretch his legs.
He sat back with a quiet breath, the wood creaking under his weight. It hadn't been that long at sea, but it was starting to feel like it.
Naruto picked up one of the bags, ears twitching slightly, and opened it. Rings, cut stones, a few gold teeth. The other had more of the same. He fished out the folded stacks of beri from both, counting quickly… about fifty thousand total. Not bad. Better than expected. He placed the money into his beri pouch, cinching the top with one careful pull of a cord between his metal claws.
Then he stood, grabbing both bags by the drawstrings and heading below deck. His claws thudded lightly against the wood with each step, the air cooler and still as he moved into the belly of the ship.
He knelt beside a stack of crates, pulling an empty one out and slipping both bags of treasure inside. With a grunt, he slid a second crate on top to conceal the stash. Then, Naruto reached for a tarp hanging from a hook on the nearby wall. He snapped it out once to shake loose the dust, then tossed it over the crates in one smooth motion, letting it drape naturally over the stack.
He stood there for a moment, arms crossed, before giving a short, satisfied nod.
"Perfect," he murmured.
Naruto stood quietly, watching the tarp settle into place with a faint rustle, the soft sway of the ship beneath him lulling the moment into stillness. His ears twitched once… then again.
It was subtle at first, but his ears caught the drag of fabric, the slight scuff of motion just above. Naruto's gaze narrowed. He turned and began walking up to the deck, not rushing, but moving with quiet intent.
Then he heard it.
Snick.
The faint sound of rope fibers being parted with a clean, practiced pull.
As Naruto stepped up onto the deck, he held out his left arm, metal fingers flexed and ready.
Clink!
A small blade struck his metal arm and bounced away harmlessly, clattering across the deck with a faint metallic tink-tink-tink before spinning to a stop near the hatch.
He turned as he lowered his arm, eyes narrowing as he saw Mizuki a few feet away, his arm was still extended from a throw, fingers stretched out like he hadn't even realized he'd released the blade.
His eyes were wide, unblinking, the color draining from his face as he stared up at Naruto's towering form before he took a shaky step back.
Then another.
His lips moved, barely audible at first.
"Mon...ster…"
He blinked… once, twice while still retreating one slow step at a time, his boots dragging against the deck.
"M.m.monster…" he whispered again, voice cracking, jittery with disbelief.
Naruto took one step forward.
That did it.
Mizuki's heel slipped on the planks behind him… he reeled, arms flailing once as he fell back, his head hitting the railing hard.
Naruto blinked a couple times before he stepped over, leaned down slightly, and looked him over.
Still breathing but Out cold.
His gaze shifted to the small knife a few feet away, its edge dull and unimpressive, half-stuck in a crack between boards.
Naruto let out a short chuckle under his breath. "Gonna have to remember to use chains next time."
He grabbed a length of chain from a hook beside the mast, looped it around Mizuki's torso before straightening as a familiar sound caught his attention… high and distant.
Birds.
He turned toward the sound, shielding his eyes with one arm. In the distance, through a shimmering layer of salt-haze, an island had begun to rise out of the horizon line… soft at first, just a silhouette, but growing sharper with every passing minute.
He smiled faintly.
"Finally," he muttered.
With a practiced motion, he picked up Mizuki like a sack of grain and tossed him unceremoniously back toward the mast. The man thudded into the base and slumped there, limp and unconscious, the chain clinking softly against the wood.
Naruto moved up to the wheel.
The metal fingers of his right hand curled around the spokes, guiding it slightly to the left, angling toward the rising island ahead. The wind caught the sail a little harder now, tugging the ship forward with purpose.
But something felt… off.
Naruto leaned forward slightly, squinting at the growing landmass.
It was big.
Bigger than he'd expected for one of the islands of Wave to be. The shape was strange too, this island was curved, crescent-shaped, like a half moon rising from the ocean. And in its heart… a small mountain.
His brow furrowed slightly. The closer he got, the more it loomed. The terrain was lush, green around the base, with signs of terracing, possibly old farming routes or mine paths.
And there… nestled inside one of the arms inside the crescent was a port town.
Modest, but larger than expected. Docks curved along the inner bay, shaped like teeth on a ring. A few ships bobbed at anchor, none flying colors Naruto recognized. Smoke drifted lazily from chimneys, and a few gulls circled overhead.
His stomach growled at the thought of hot food and dry land.
Naruto nodded once to himself.
"Port town it is."
First order of business: turn in Mizuki. Second? Something warm, greasy, and fresh off a skillet.
Naruto adjusted the heading slightly and guided his ship into the crescent harbor, the sail rippling overhead as the wind caught and eased. A few ships passed nearby, larger vessels pushing out to sea with cargo bundled under tarps and sailors shouting over the creak of wood. Naruto steered carefully between them, slowing his approach before pulling the sail up with a practiced tug of the rope.
Naruto leaned over the side of the ship, reaching down with one arm to catch the nearest dock post. His fingers clinked softly against the worn wood as he looped the mooring line around it, pulling it tight. Two quick knots..steady enough to keep the ship snug against the dock without dragging.
Satisfied, he turned and walked toward the mast.
Mizuki was still leaned up against it, head lolled forward, one eye swollen and bruised, his chest rising and falling in a shallow rhythm. Naruto reached down and, with a grunt, hoisted him over one shoulder like a sack of grain. The chains clinked faintly with the movement, brushing against his back.
As his feet touched the dock, Naruto felt the shift immediately.
Eyes were on him.
A few dockworkers paused mid-haul, ropes still in hand. A young woman carrying a basket slowed her pace, watching him with wide eyes. Two older men sitting on a bench near the water exchanged glances… one in awe, the other with a subtle twinge of fear. But most didn't react. A couple fishermen kept unloading their catch. A pair of children ran past without a glance, their attention fixed on the gulls overhead.
He started walking.
The town opened up before him, a tight weave of weathered stone paths and sloped wooden buildings, built close together like they were bracing against storms. As he passed through the market street, Naruto spotted a handful of restaurants.
One had smoke curling from its rooftop vent, the scent of grilled fish and simmered broth wafting into the breeze. Another boasted a chalkboard with hand-drawn dumplings and skewers of what looked like pork and seaweed.
A bar sat near the corner with its shutters thrown open, a few low voices drifting out with the sound of clinking glasses. He made a mental note to double back.
Further ahead, a pair of marines in uniform strolled down the lane. But most of the people wearing badges weren't marines at all, their uniforms were different. Same posture, but with deep blue jackets trimmed with orange stripes, and a lighter insignia stitched onto the shoulder… maybe local guards.
He didn't stop to study them. Just made note.
Another turn through a side street, and there it was… tucked into the edge of a street, half-shadowed by a larger warehouse nearby.
A marine outpost.
Small, almost modest. White stone walls, the emblem of the World Government above the door, though faded with sun. The structure didn't seem like much, no wide gates, no heavy guard presence… just a single watch post at the corner and a squat main building with a red-tiled roof.
Naruto stared at it a second, one brow raising slightly.
"Small," he muttered. "For an island this big."
He shrugged. Maybe it was one of several.
He stepped up to the door, shifted Mizuki's weight with one arm before knocking once with his metal fingers before opening the door and stepping inside.
Three marines were standing near a desk, two more near a weapons rack by the back wall. None of them had weapons drawn, but all five straightened quickly, eyes narrowing — hands near their belts, breath held.
Then they saw Mizuki.
The silence cracked.
One of the marines… a younger guy with a short buzzcut, raised a hand half-heartedly. "Uh… can we help you?"
Naruto stepped forward and let Mizuki's body drop onto the floor beside the front desk with a dull thud. The weight hit the ground hard, and the chains gave a metallic jingle before settling.
"That's Mizuki," Naruto said, his tone even. "Captain of the Tiger Pirates."
The marine behind the desk — a sharp-eyed clerk in an untucked shirt — blinked. "That's… Mizuki?" He looked at the slumped figure, then up at Naruto, hesitating. "You're sure?"
Naruto tilted his head slightly. "Wouldn't be hauling him through town for fun."
The clerk flinched and nodded quickly, pulling a ledger from under the counter and flipping through the pages. "Right. Of course. Uh... name?"
"Naruto."
The pen scratched across the paper, quick, nervous strokes.
"We've got confirmation. There's a standing bounty. Two-hundred thousand beri." He glanced up once more, as if double-checking. "Alive capture."
He opened a lockbox behind the counter and began counting out stacks of bills and coins, fingers slightly unsteady.
Naruto waited patiently.
When the clerk pushed the folded stack of beri across the counter, Naruto gave him a nod and picked it up, tucking it into the pouch strapped around his waist. The cord clicked shut with a short tug.
"Thanks," he said, then paused. "Know anywhere around here to get a decent meal and a drink?"
The clerk blinked again, caught off guard by the casual tone. "Uh…yeah. Two blocks east. The food market starts near the bell tower. There's a tavern there called The Misty Mug. Locals like it."
Naruto gave a small smirk. "Appreciate it."
He turned without another word and pushed the door open again, stepping back out into the afternoon light. The sun had drifted lower, casting longer shadows through the alley as the town moved steadily behind him.
The pouch of money jingled lightly at his hip as he walked. Naruto glanced down, noticing the bulge starting to stretch the leather. It was getting full… more than he was comfortable carrying around. He made a mental note to start stashing some of it back on the ship before it got too heavy.
The town around him was busier now, shadows growing long as the late afternoon edged toward evening. Lamps were starting to glow behind windows, and the stone beneath his feet held the day's warmth in quiet hums. As he turned the corner toward the market's edge, he caught sight of a few figures that didn't blend quite so easily into the crowd.
They were clustered near a row of shuttered stalls, lounging like they had all the time in the world. Their outfits were mismatched, but the style was consistent… links of thin, glinting chains woven into their clothes, hanging from belts, shoulders, even boots.
A few wore necklaces that wrapped twice around the neck, while others had sleeves held together by stitched-in chainmail. What caught Naruto's eye, though, were the glasses. Three of them, in separate clusters, wore eyewear made of chains, small interlocking loops formed the frames, delicate but strong, glinting in the low light as they turned their heads toward him.
They didn't speak. Just watched.
Naruto didn't slow. He kept his stride relaxed, ears tilted just enough to catch movement on both sides. As he passed the last group, he caught the faint scrape of a boot shifting, but no one made a move. He then crossed the last length of street before the bar came into view.
It was a smaller building with a low-slung roof, wooden shingles warped by salt air and time. The sign out front… a mug carved with exaggerated froth — hung crooked, swaying gently with each breeze. Warm light and louder voices filtered through the gaps in the windows.
Naruto stepped inside.
The scent hit first… a mix of spilt ale, salt pork, and something fried. The space wasn't large, but it was full: sailors, locals, and a couple men in work coats sat clustered around thick tables or leaning near the hearth, which crackled quietly in the far corner. Conversation dipped as he walked in… not silent, but enough to feel the shift. A few heads turned. Some voices paused mid-sentence. Others gave only a glance before turning back to their mugs.
Naruto kept his posture steady and made his way to the bar.
A few at the counter scooted down, murmuring as they made room. He took the open stool, which creaked immediately beneath his weight. He leaned one elbow on the counter, tapping the tips of his fingers lightly against the varnish as he glanced around. Behind the bar, a tall, bald man with faded tattoos along both arms was drying a glass with an old cloth. The ink along his forearms curled up like wave patterns, sharp and stylized, one blending into a sea-serpent's jaw along the edge of his wrist.
The bartender looked up, one brow raised. "You drinking or eatin'?" he asked in a gravelly voice.
"Both," Naruto replied, nodding. "A beer... and a stack of meat. Cooked through."
The man gave a grunt of approval, tossed the rag aside, and turned to fill a mug. "Stack of meat, comin' up," he muttered, disappearing through a swinging door to shout the order into the kitchen.
Naruto pulled the mug toward himself as it was set down, this time gripping it with more ease. His metal fingers still clinked faintly against the wood, but he had a better feel for the pressure now… enough to lift it without pinching, and tilt without spilling.
He took a long, clean drink.
The beer was cold and bitter, a little sharp on the back end, but not bad. He exhaled through his nose, the breath easing something tight in his chest as the warmth settled in.
Behind him, the bar buzzed with returning conversation, lower now, but steady. He could make out scattered topics. Ship repairs. A game of cards gone sour. A bad catch off the north shoals. And here and there, whispers of names, places, warnings traded in the gaps between drinks.
"Is that a dog or a rabbit?"
Someone snorted. "I don't know. Look at those guns though."
Naruto didn't turn, but one of his ears twitched toward the sound, angling slightly. The comment hadn't been loud, but it carried enough weight to cut through the low murmur of the room.
A third voice chimed in… rougher, older, like a dockhand with too many years behind him. "I think I might've heard about him. Took down Tango over on North-Wind, didn't he?"
Naruto smiled into his mug, then let the thought pass as he listened in with curiosity.
The bartender returned a few minutes later, his broad frame emerging from the back room with a heavy tray balanced easily between two tattooed hands. The smell hit first… rich, smoky, and laced with the sharp sweetness of charred meat.
The tray was stacked high with thick, roasted bones still slick with fat and glistening in the bar's warm light. Some cuts were blackened at the tips, others fresh enough that the juices still trickled into the grooves of the wood. With a dull thud, he set the tray down in front of Naruto, the wood of the counter creaking softly beneath the weight.
"Stack of meat," he said gruffly, wiping his hands on his apron.
Naruto nodded in thanks, but the man was already turning away, muttering something to a group at the far end of the bar as he reached for another round of mugs.
Naruto turned back to his tray and started eating. He picked up a thick bone between two metal fingers, stuck one end into his mouth, and pulled it free in one slow, clean motion… stripping the meat without pause. He chewed with quiet focus, swallowing before reaching for the next, keeping his movements deliberate.
The door behind him creaked open.
Boots thudded softly against the floorboards. Then came the distinct, unsettling clatter of chain links shifting with every step… not just from one direction, but two.
Naruto's ears twitched.
He didn't stop eating. But he braced… fingers loose on the counter, spine held just a little straighter. The smell of worn leather and steel drifted in with the air. Whoever they were, they didn't pause. One figure came to his left, the other to his right.
They sat down on either side of him.
Chains rattled softly as they adjusted in their seats. Naruto didn't look right away, but he could feel them… lean frames, confident posture. One of them leaned in just slightly, voice curling like a grin.
"Hey there, big fella," the man on the right said, tone slick and amused. "How about you let me and my friend here get you a drink?"
Naruto finished chewing. Swallowed. He glanced down at his mug… now empty — before turning to look at the speaker.
The man beside him had dark, sunburned skin and a mouth full of crooked teeth. His outfit was an intentional mess of dull red cloth, reinforced leather, and thin silver chain links sewn into the seams. His glasses were made entirely of small chains looped together, the frames sagging slightly from the weight but held firm against his nose.
Naruto narrowed his eyes. His tone stayed even.
"Sure," he said. "Why not."
The man's smirk widened, glancing over to the bartender without so much as a word of request. "Hey! Three of whatever he had."
The bartender didn't argue. He just nodded once, already moving.
Naruto didn't shift in his seat, though he could feel the tension humming beneath the surface. He watched the bartender set down three fresh mugs, the foam sloshing slightly over the edges. The first man pushed one toward Naruto with a casual gesture.
Naruto took it, his metal fingers curling neatly around the mug. "Thanks," he said… polite, not warm and raised it just enough to tap lightly against the other two.
The clang of wood on wood echoed between them.
They all drank.
The beer was just as sharp as always… bitter, with that faint smoky bite. Naruto let the burn settle before setting his mug down again.
"So," the man on his left said, finally speaking up. His voice was younger, less smooth — like someone trying to match an older brother's swagger. "You the one who took in Tango? Over on North-Wind?"
Naruto's eyes flicked toward him. He nodded once. "Yeah."
The man on the left let out a low laugh, rubbing his jaw. "Shit. He was a real moron. Big, loud, slow. Acted like that minigun of his made him untouchable."
Naruto tilted his head slightly. "So you knew him then?"
The man on the right, the one with the glasses answered first. "We did business with him from time to time," he said, tapping a metal ring against the bar. "Smuggling runs. Transport jobs. Nothing major."
Naruto brought his mug up and took another drink, the foam clinging to the inside of the wood. The man on his left leaned in, lowering his voice just enough to sound conspiratorial.
"You know," he said, a crooked grin spreading across his face, "our gang could always use some more muscle. And around here? We get to do whatever we want."
He chuckled, low and amused, before downing what was left in his mug.
Naruto set his own drink down with a quiet clink , then asked with mild curiosity, "What about the Marines? The town guard? They just let you do that?"
That made both men laugh.
"Marines?" the left one scoffed. "Please. They're only here for show. A few squads, tops. Stationed mostly on the far end of the harbor and that small outpost."
"The ones with the real pull are the local guards," the man with the glasses added, resting an elbow on the bar. "They're underpaid, overworked, and real easy to grease. Sprinkle a few beri in the right hands, they forget everything."
Naruto raised a brow. "Just like that?"
"Just like that," the man confirmed with a smirk.
Naruto swirled the beer at the bottom of his mug, then took another slow drink. "And the name of this fine, upstanding organization?"
The man on the right grinned, lifting his mug in mock salute. "Demon Chains Gang."
Naruto chuckled into his mug, the sound quiet and dry. "Hell of a name."
The man on the left leaned in again, tone turning a bit more serious. "You could make it big here, dog. Live good. Eat better. You've just got into town, yeah? We'll give you some time to settle in… but we'll expect an answer soon."
Naruto didn't reply right away. He just took another sip, letting the words hang there like the last smoke from a snuffed candle.
The two men finished their drinks and stood, leaving behind a faint jingle of metal as they moved. One of them pulled a small stack of folded beri from his jacket and dropped it on the counter with a soft thud.
"Dinner's on us," he said with a wink, already glancing across the room. "Gotta keep future friends happy, right?"
Naruto gave a slow nod. "Sure."
They sauntered off toward a group of women seated near the hearth, voices rising with laughter as they settled in, laying on charm like cologne. Naruto watched them for half a second longer, then sighed and finished his beer in a long pull, wiping his mouth with the back of one metal finger.
"Well… that happened," he muttered.
The bartender returned, scooping the small stack of beri into a pouch and grabbing the now-empty tray of bones.
"Friends of yours?" he asked, voice low but edged with dry humor.
Naruto shook his head. "No.. free meal."
The bartender gave a grunt and walked off, leaving Naruto to slide off the stool with a quiet creak of wood. His balance was a little off… not drunk, but warm, loose in the knees. The kind of buzz that made the air feel a touch softer. He rolled his shoulders and stepped outside into the night air, the door swinging shut behind him with a dull thud.
The evening had deepened, cool and still. Stars peeked through gaps in the misty clouds overhead, and the scent of sea salt thickened near the docks. Lamps burned lower now, casting puddles of golden light onto the stone streets. Naruto's feet thudded softly as he walked, ears twitching with each distant creak of rope and ship wood.
He thought briefly about renting a room… a clean bed, maybe a shower, something soft.
But the boat called louder.
He had grown used to the creaking rhythm of it, the way it rocked just slightly with the tide, like a cradle whispering lullabies through the hull. The silence there was his own. He didn't have to watch anyone's back but his.
As he reached the dock and saw the ship ahead, its shadow long and patient under the lamplight, Naruto's thoughts wandered back to the men in chains. He could still hear the way they laughed — that easy confidence, that weightless certainty that the town was already theirs.
For a moment, he considered what kind of trouble might follow a group like that.
He stepped onto the gangplank, one metal hand scratching his face as he moved aboard.
But he shook the thought free as his feet hit the deck. "Tomorrow," he murmured, eyes drifting toward the furled sail overhead.
For tonight… that was enough.
-End Notes:
Howdy folks! Hope you enjoyed Chapter 8!
Naruto's going to pick up a companion on this island. She's a side character in One Piece that I'm stealing from the main story. She's not too crucial to the original plot, so her presence here shouldn't throw off anyone familiar with canon.
She won't be overpowered, but I think she'll add some extra flavor and fun to Naruto's journey. I might tweak her age slightly to better fit the flow and tone of the story so please don't take her inclusion or her adjusted age as a direct reflection of any specific timeframe.
Once again, thank you all for taking this ride with me. Your support, comments, and enthusiasm are what keep this story moving. As always, feel free to drop any questions or concerns — I'll do my best to respond. But no pressure at all if you'd rather just sit back and enjoy the journey.
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To Kaozw456: I want to thank you for sticking through it and I am happy you wound up enjoying the story so far, while Naruto is based off of Terriermon I am doing my best to make him stll feel like Naruto.
To KnightOfNira: Thank you, I have been trying hard over the past few years to improve my writing and while I know I still have room to improve, it helps keep me writing knowing that others like my writing.
Sorry for not replying to more — I just don't want to add too much at the end and clutter things up.