"Old man! Old man!"
Inside an empty bar an old man sat alone in front of the counter and was about to pour himself a drink when a preteen ran into the bar with a newspaper clutched tightly in his right hand.
"Old man something huge just happened!"
"What is it?" The old man grumbled, annoyed that one of the few moments alone was interrupted by the teen but the boy didn't seem to care. He ignored the old man's disapproving look and place the newspaper on the table for the old man to see.
The old man in all seventy-eight years of life has seen a lot of events in his life time. Even though he has never left the island he was born in he has read a lot of newspapers and articles but this was a first for him.
The hand that bottle of rum shivered uncontrollably as he read the huge headline written on the paper with disbelieving eyes.
"Someone interrupted the heavenly tribute?"
"Hai!" The boy nodded earnestly but the surprise and slight joy in his voice couldn't be hidden. Their island also pays heavenly tribute to the world government and while he might be young he knows fully well that no one has ever dated interrupt the heavenly tribute before, much less some unknown pirates.
The old man was visibly shaken off but after think about it he was finally able to regain his calm . He sighed and said "I'm so glad that this didn't happen on our island"
However at this point the boy wasn't listening anymore, his attention was focused on the images of the four pirates fighting dozens of marines on the newspaper.
He didn't know when or how but a burning desire to be like them started to surface in his heart.
Not only him but the same thing was happening to people on almost all the islands that got wind of the situation,
….
"Gah"
"Argh!"
In one of the many snow covered streets of drum kingdom, four pirates ran through the street hitting any pirates that blocked their path.
"Don't let them escape!" A marine shouted as he rushed into the middle of the road to stop them.
"Get lost!" Naruto sent the marine crashing into a cart on the side of the road with a kick to the face.
Naruto immediately run to catch up with the others as soon as he landed.
Swoosh
"Argh!" A marine fell to the ground with a huge slash wound on his chest, his life and death unknown. Rayleigh jumped back to avoid a slash a marine and sent another flying. He looked around and frowned when he saw more marines rushing to attack him.
"The marines just keep coming. It's like an over ending wave" Rayleigh frowned after cutting down another marine. He didn't even get to catch his breathe before more marines charged at him.
Boom
"Argh"
"Rayleigh is right. Maybe we should split up" Roger suggested after dealing with another group of marines, knocking all of them out with a single blow each.
As much as he wanted to continue fighting their goal was to leave the Island not get drowned in it. Although he enjoyed the thrill of the battle he wouldn't let his own selfish desires put the lives of the people he cared about in danger.
"Surprisingly Roger has a point. If the four of us continue to stick together the marines would just keep coming" Rayleigh added after considering Rogers suggestion. While it was risky considering that they wouldn't be able to help out each other it was their best option.
"I'm okay with it" Naruto said before kicking another marine out of the way.
Edward looked at everyone expression and when he saw that no one refuted Rogers suggested he nodded and said. "Then we will do as Roger said. Let's meet up back at the dork"
"Got it" They nodded before running off in four different directions catching the marines by surprise.
"They are splitting up!" A marine shouted after realizing what was going on.
"After them! Don't let them escape!"
"Crap why are they coming after me?!" Naruto's eyes nearly popped out when he saw the large group of marines chasing after him.
He had hoped that the marines would focus on Rayleigh and the others when they split up but he thought wrong.
He immediately increased his speed hoping to leave the Marines behind.
He ran around the city trying to throw off the marines to no avail. He even tried hiding but they always Manage to find him.
"Stop running!"
"Stop in the name of justice!"
"Damn it. Just let me be!" Naruto cussed at the Marines behind him. However, as he turned another corner his danger senses suddenly flared and he immediately turned around and perform a round house kick.
Boom!
His kick connected with a fist sending out a powerful shockwave. The marines chasing after him were forced to a halt by the shockwave.
Naruto looked beyond the fist to see a well build middle aged man standing in front of him with his right arm outstretched. He was wearing shorts and no shirt and the sleeves of his coat was cut short.
The man had a stunned expression on his face as he looked at Naruto as if he couldn't believe what just happened.
"That is…" One of the marines in the lead quickly recognized the figure standing before the pirate that they had been chasing and couldn't help but become excited. It didn't take long for the others to recognize him as well.
The pirate was done for now. After chasing him for half an hour with no success their savior was finally here.
"Commodore Ripley!"
"Give him hell commodore"
"Don't let him escape"
"Absolute justice"
The marines shouted excitedly however Ripley wasn't listening to them.
'He stopped my fist' He had run a thousand simulation in his head before he threw that fist and it all ended with Naruto dying or in the worst case scenario getting knocked out. But never had he once thought that the kid would stopped his fist, he didn't even dare imagine it.
Naruto taking advantage of the slight pause immediately jumped backwards to put some distance between the two of them.
Naruto could only think of one word after that one exchange with the man in front of him. ' Strong'
If it wasn't for his sharp instincts and quick reflexes he'd probably be dead by now. Even now he could feel a slight pain coming from the leg he used to block the man's fist.
There was no dying it, this man was different from all the people he had fought so far. Probably only Roger could rival him in brute strength.
The two of them sized each other up for a few seconds before the man finally spoke.
"What's your name kid?"
"Naruto" Naruto replied after a small pause. He had no issues with answering such an harmless question.
"Naruto huh?" The man muttered underneath he breath as he searched his memories for anybody with such a name only to come up empty handed.
'A nobody' That was the conclusion Ripley came to after some thoughts. If he was to go by the reports that were given to him then this kid recently entered the Grand line with the rest of his crew less than three weeks ago.
If he was already this strong then he'd only become a problem in the future if he was allowed to grow.
A kid or not he had to die right here right now.
With his resolve made the old man looked at Naruto who was still looking at him cautiously and said.
"My name is commodore Ripley Tong from marine base G3 I apologize but you have to die"
As soon as word fell Tong disappeared from the spot leaving a small dent on the ground where he stood previously.
Naruto's heart skipped a skip when he saw Tong suddenly disappear in front of him and his battle instincts immediately kicked in.
He felt a strong wind coming down from above himself and immediately jumped backwards. Not s moment too soon did a loud explosion occur on the spot that he stood on previously kicking up a dust cloud.
The marines watching from a distance let out cold sweats as they watch the dust cloud.
Naruto also broke out in cold sweats as he watch the dust cloud slowly disperse to reveal Tong standing in the middle of a small crater.
'The fuck!' Naruto's heart raced as gazed at the crater underneath Tong's feet. Now he was certain of it, no matter what happened he mustn't let Tong hit him head on.
"You dodge that" Tong didn't seem surprised that Naruto managed to avoid his attack. After their first exchange he had come to understand that Naruto has extraordinarily fast reflexes and battle instincts. Hoping to take in down in one hit wouldn't be an easy task. Unfortunately he still had to die here.
"Prepare yourself kid. I won't go easy next time"
Unaware to Naruto that the others had also encountered a strong adversary.
….
"tsk tsk tsk. It just had to be you doesn't it" Rayleigh sighed as he stared at the woman some distance away from him. Bodies of unconscious marines littered the area all around him.
He wasn't surprised by he fact that someone has been sent after him. It was only a matter of time before the marine sent someone powerful after them.
Tsuru glared at Rayleigh with her rifle held in her hands at the ready. " I knew something wasn't right about you guys the first time I saw you. I guess I was right" she paused to take in the sight of the Fallen marine cadets with varying sword sounds but nothing too serious which puzzled her.
She returned her gaze back to Rayleigh who hadn't moved from the same position.
"Unfortunately for you. You won't be leaving this island"
"Well I'm sorry to say but my friends need me and I don't plan on making them wait too long" Rayleigh said with a fierce gaze.
He wasn't worried about Naruto and Roger they could handle themselves well even against a powerful enemy. Nothing needed to be said about Edward, that man is a monster.
"Good luck with that" Tsuru scoffed at Rayleigh and took aim with her rifle. "But you won't be going anywhere"