Naruto moved swiftly through the darkened corridors of Kaya's mansion, his steps light and silent. Years of pranking in Konoha had honed his ability to move unseen, and here, in this unfamiliar yet spacious estate, those skills served him well. The soft flickering of lanterns cast long shadows along the walls, but he navigated through them with ease, keeping to the blind spots of any potential onlookers.
His sharp senses stayed alert, picking up the occasional creak of wood and the faint rustling of curtains swaying from the night breeze slipping through an open window. He knew he had to be careful—one wrong move and he'd alert someone. Still, he moved with confidence, slipping past hallways and rooms without a single soul noticing his presence.
Finally, he reached the inner quarters of the mansion. From his concealed position behind a column, his keen blue eyes scanned the area. It was quiet—too quiet. Something felt off. Then, in the distance, he caught a glimpse of movement near one of the rooms. He crouched lower, creeping forward to get a better look.
What he saw next made his fists clench in silent fury. There, lying on the floor, was a man The butler was covered in blood, barely moving. Standing over him was a tall, imposing figure dressed in familiar glasses and noble attire.
Naruto narrowed his eyes. Kahladore… no, Kuro.
He resisted the urge to charge in. Instead, he stayed hidden, watching, waiting. His instincts told him that things were about to get even worse.
Just as Kuro turned to leave, a soft gasp echoed through the hall.
Kaya had arrived.
She stood frozen at the sight before her—Merry, her loyal caretaker, lying in a pool of blood. Her hands trembled as she rushed to his side, kneeling beside him with wide, horrified eyes.
"Merry… what happened?" she asked, her voice breaking. She gently shook him, desperation lacing her every movement. "Please, say something!"
Merry's eyelids fluttered weakly. He barely had the strength to speak, but he forced out a few words in a strained, hoarse voice.
"It was… Kahladore…" he croaked.
Kaya's breath hitched. She turned her wide, disbelieving eyes toward the man she had trusted for years. "No… that's not possible…"
Merry, despite the pain, continued, "Usopp… he was right… all along… Kahladore… is a pirate… Captain Kuro…"
Tears welled in Kaya's eyes. She shook her head in disbelief. "No… no, that can't be true…"
Kuro merely chuckled at the exchange, adjusting his glasses with a smirk.
"Oh, dear Kaya," he said, his tone dripping with mockery. "Is it really so hard to believe? I played the role of your humble servant for three whole years. You never suspected a thing. And now, I'm finally done pretending."
Kaya's shoulders trembled. "Why…? Why would you do this?"
Kuro gave her an amused look. "Because, my dear, your wealth is all that ever mattered to me." His eyes glinted dangerously. "And once I have it, there's no need for loose ends."
Kaya's breath caught in her throat as Kuro stepped toward her. She wanted to run, but her legs refused to move.
Hidden in the shadows, Naruto's fists clenched. His anger simmered as he watched the scene unfold. This guy… he's really enjoying this, huh?
He was done waiting. It was time to act.
Kuro took a slow step toward Kaya, his smirk widening as he adjusted his gloves. "Now then… your arms are still needed to sign those documents," he said casually, his voice dripping with menace.
Kaya took a step back, trembling. "Stay away…" she whispered, her voice barely holding together.
Kuro sighed dramatically. "Oh, don't be so scared, Kaya. I'm not going to kill you—yet. I just need you… compliant."
He lunged, his claws aiming to incapacitate her.
But before his attack could land, a fist slammed into his face with brutal force.
The impact sent him stumbling backward, his footing barely holding as he steadied himself. A metallic taste filled his mouth. He clicked his tongue, spitting out a tooth.
Slowly, he looked up, eyes narrowing at the figure standing before him.
Naruto stood there, his fist still raised, his eyes blazing with fury.
Kuro wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, his gaze sharpening as recognition dawned. "You…" His expression twisted into irritation. "You were with that Straw Hat brat."
Then, a smirk curled at his lips. "Too bad for you… your captain is dead."
Naruto tilted his head, his smirk mirroring Kuro's. "You sure about that?"
Kuro's confidence wavered. His men should have arrived by now. Something was wrong.
His fingers twitched, adjusting his glasses as his irritation grew. "What's going on?" he demanded.
Naruto crossed his arms, grinning. "Not gonna tell ya, ya know."
Kuro's patience snapped. His fingers curled into a tight grip around his claws. "Don't think I'll spare you just because you're a brat."
Naruto chuckled. "I'd love to see you try."
"Naruto—please, run away!" Kaya's desperate voice cut through the tension.
Without turning, Naruto raised his hand in a thumbs-up, his grin never faltering. "Don't worry—I'll protect you."
Kuro lunged. Naruto's kunai flashed.
The fight had begun.
Kuro's smirk faded slightly as he flexed his fingers, the sharp claws of his gloves gleaming under the dim lighting of the mansion. Without warning, he lunged toward Kaya with a speed that made her flinch in terror.
But before his claws could reach her, a blur of motion intercepted his path.
Clang!
Sparks flew as Naruto's kunai clashed against Kuro's clawed glove, stopping the attack inches from Kaya. Kuro's eyes narrowed as he felt the resistance—this brat wasn't just fast, he was precise.
Naruto's grip tightened on his kunai as he locked eyes with Kuro, his expression serious. "Not happening," he said firmly.
Kuro pushed against the kunai with surprising strength, forcing Naruto to skid back slightly. "Hoh… impressive for a brat," Kuro mused. "But you're making a mistake. You should've stayed hidden."
Naruto didn't respond. Instead, he adjusted his stance, keeping himself between Kuro and Kaya. He could feel Kaya trembling behind him, but he didn't turn around. His focus was locked on the opponent in front of him.
Kuro exhaled, as if disappointed. "Fine. Let's see if you can keep up."
With that, he dashed forward again, his claws slashing toward Naruto in a flurry of swift, unpredictable attacks.
Naruto barely had time to react. He parried some strikes with his kunai, dodged others by shifting his body at the last second, but the sheer speed of Kuro's assault was overwhelming. A few close swipes nicked his jacket, slicing through the fabric with ease.
Realizing he couldn't keep up in a direct clash, Naruto leaped backward, flipping onto a nearby wooden beam for better positioning. His breathing was steady, but his mind was racing.
Kuso… this guy's fast!
Kuro stood below, looking up with a sinister grin. "Running away already?" he taunted.
Naruto smirked. "Not running."
With a single hand seal, a puff of smoke erupted around him—followed by the sudden appearance of nearly thirty identical Narutos, all standing on the beams, the floor, and even the furniture around the room.
Kuro's expression darkened as he took a cautious step back.
What… what the hell is this?
Kuro's sharp eyes darted between the dozens of identical blondes now surrounding him. Each one moved naturally, each one carried the same smirk, the same confidence.
"A Devil Fruit user…" Kuro muttered under his breath, gritting his teeth.
Before he could process it further, the clones launched at him all at once. They attacked from multiple angles, overwhelming Kuro with their sheer numbers. A kick landed on his side, sending him stumbling back. Another clone punched him square in the jaw. A knee struck his stomach. The hits kept coming.
"Tch—!" Kuro clicked his tongue in frustration, his composure slipping as he was slowly being forced on the defensive. His neatly combed hair became disheveled, and his pristine butler uniform grew wrinkled and dusty.
For the first time in years, Kuro—who prided himself on elegance and control—looked nothing short of messy.
Kuro's eyes, filled with irritation, sharpened. "I've had enough of this nonsense."
In an instant, he bent low, pressing his palm against the floor. His figure blurred.
SWISH!
A gust of wind swept through the room. Then—
SLASH!
The nearest clone to Kuro exploded into smoke.
Then another.
Then another.
Like a deadly shadow, Kuro weaved between the clones with horrifying speed, his claws slicing through them like paper. Within seconds, half of Naruto's army was gone.
Naruto's eyes widened. "What the—?"
Before he could react, Kuro suddenly appeared behind him.
"You brats just don't understand…" Kuro whispered, his voice dripping with malice.
He twisted his body, his claws flashing in a wild, erratic motion.
SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!
More clones burst into smoke. The once-crowded battlefield became empty.
Naruto clenched his fists. Damn it… he's too fast!
Kuro's attacks grew wilder, more erratic. He was no longer focused on who he was attacking—he simply moved, slaughtering everything in his path.
His once-methodical approach had turned into a frenzied rampage.
And then—
Naruto's breath hitched as he realized something.
Kuro was moving toward Kaya.
The butler-turned-pirate, lost in his bloodlust, had completely ignored his surroundings. His claws, swinging in unpredictable arcs, were closing in on the terrified girl.
Naruto's heart pounded.
If Kuro's attack landed—
Kaya wouldn't stand a chance.
Naruto moved.
Naruto's body moved before he could think.
He lunged forward with everything he had. Kaya was frozen, her wide eyes locked onto the blur of claws rushing toward her.
Too slow—!
Naruto gritted his teeth, pouring every ounce of strength into his legs. His heart pounded in his ears. He had no plan, no strategy—only one desperate thought: Get there first.
SHINK!
Pain exploded in his chest.
Naruto barely registered the moment Kuro's claw plunged into his right side. His momentum carried him forward, and the force of the strike sent him staggering, but he had made it.
Between Kuro and Kaya—Naruto stood.
Blood splattered across Kaya's pale face. Her breath hitched.
"N-Naruto…?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
Kuro's arm was still embedded in Naruto's chest, his claws dripping with fresh crimson. He blinked, caught off guard. "Hoh…? You actually jumped in the way?"
Naruto's body swayed slightly, but his grip shot up like iron, clamping down on Kuro's arm. His fingers dug into the pirate's wrist with a vice-like hold.
"You…" Naruto coughed, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, "…talk too much."
Kuro frowned and yanked his arm back—only to find that he couldn't.
Naruto wasn't letting go.
A moment later—
Poof!
A clone appeared beside him.
A whirling sound filled the room.
Kuro's eyes darted to the glowing, spiraling orb forming in the clone's palm. A deep sense of unease crept into his chest.
Naruto's lips curled into a bloody smirk. "Gotcha."
Kuro's instincts screamed.
He had to break free.
Kuro's muscles tensed as he violently struggled, twisting his body, trying to rip his arm away. Naruto winced, his fingers trembling from the pain, but he held on with everything he had.
Kuro snarled, his panic rising. "Let go, brat!"
Naruto gritted his teeth. Kuro was about to slip free—if he didn't act now, he'd miss his chance entirely.
With no other choice—
Naruto slammed the incomplete Rasengan into Kuro's stomach.
A burst of energy exploded from the impact. Kuro's body lurched backward as the force of the attack sent him flying across the hall.
His claws wrenched free from Naruto's chest in the process.
Blood spurted from the open wound.
Naruto staggered, his breathing ragged, his vision spinning.
Kaya's scream barely registered in his ears.
His knees wobbled, his strength fading—
But he didn't fall.
Not yet.
Naruto knew the fight wasn't over. Kuro was still alive, and it was only a matter of time before he came after them again. But right now, his priority was getting Kaya to safety.
Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to move. His body protested with sharp waves of pain, but he ignored it, forming a cross seal with his fingers. Five shadow clones popped into existence around him, their expressions serious as they prepared for the next task.
"You guys… help me get Kaya out of here," Naruto ordered weakly.
The clones nodded, each supporting Naruto and guiding Kaya as they hurried away from the mansion.
Halfway through their escape, Naruto's vision blurred. His head felt heavy, and darkness crept at the edges of his mind. His legs faltered.
Poof! Poof! Poof!
His clones dispersed one by one as he slipped in and out of consciousness, unable to maintain them any longer. His knees buckled, and he collapsed against a tree.
"Naruto!" Kaya gasped, rushing to his side. Tears streaked her face as she crouched beside him.
"How… How could Kahladore do this?" she whispered, voice trembling as she saw the deep wound in his chest. "He hurt you so badly, and you're just a kid…"
Her hands shakily reached for Naruto's jacket, intending to inspect and dress his wound.
But before she could, Naruto's hand shot out, grabbing hers. His eyes fluttered open, filled with determination despite his pale face.
"No…" he rasped. "We… We need to keep moving… We have to get to Luffy and the others."
Kaya hesitated, concern evident in her eyes. "But you're hurt—"
Naruto pointed weakly at the ground. A trail of blood led from the mansion straight to where they were now.
"He… will follow… We have to keep going," Naruto insisted, his grip tightening despite his weakness.
Kaya bit her lip, torn between worry and urgency. But in the end, she nodded.
"Alright," she said, slipping Naruto's arm over her shoulder to support him. "Let's go."
With slow, careful steps, the two continued toward the shore.
Back at the mansion, the rubble shifted.
With a furious expression, Kuro pulled himself free, spitting blood onto the ground. His once-pristine clothes were shredded, and his stomach bore a spiral-shaped mark where Naruto's attack had landed. He touched the wound, his face twisting in rage.
"That brat…" he seethed, dark eyes burning with malice. "You're dead, brat. And I'll make sure you feel every second of it."
He took a step forward and noticed something on the ground. A trail of blood.
Kuro's lips curled into a sinister smirk.
"How far do you think you can run from me?" he murmured, chuckling darkly.
And with that, he disappeared into the night.