Chapter 25: To Raindinners

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Sakura quietly rose from her bed, the soft creak of the floor announcing her departure. The room was dimly lit, with the moon casting a gentle glow through the window. The desert night stretched out through Yuba. She took a deep breath, the cool desert air filling her lungs.

Sakura glanced towards the horizon, where the silhouette of Yuba stood against the starlit sky. The town, once vibrant, was now a testament to the harshness of this world. If she thought of saving this country as a mission, it would be S-ranked.

The weight of the upcoming confrontation pressed on her, and she couldn't shake the feeling that things were going to get more complicated.

Sakura saw Toto walking with Luffy on his back. The straw hat captain was snoring loudly over the man's shoulder.

"He finally tired himself out, dug a really deep hole,"

Toto went to put Luffy down to rest before coming back out, meanwhile, Sakura went to take a look at the hole. There were two in the sand but Sakura could already guess which one Luffy was in.

"Right time to get back to work,"

Toto went back into the hole and returned to digging, his shovel biting into the sand, in the hole that seemed to reach into the very heart of the desert.

"You're still digging?"

Toto wiped the sweat from his brow, his eyes reflecting a mixture of fatigue and determination. "Your friend's quite the character. He dug that hole by himself, pouring sand into mine, too."

Sakura chuckled, envisioning Luffy's carefree antics. "That sounds like Luffy, all right."

"But if I keep up, I'm sure I'll be able to reach the water soon." The conversation shifted to the impending conflict. "You kids are really going to stop those rebels?" Toto inquired, concern etched on his face.

"We'll do our best," Sakura replied, her gaze shifting to the moonlit desert. The weight of the promise she made to Toto settled heavily on her shoulders. Vivi's conviction in diplomacy clashed with the unspoken doubts lingering within the crew. Stopping the rebels wouldn't put an end to Crocodile.

"Shouldn't you rest as well, sir?" she suggested, noting the weariness in Toto's every move.

"I can do that when I'm dead," Toto quipped.

"Which will be sooner than you think if you keep this pace," Sakura teased gently, accepting the shovel he offered. "If you don't mind, I can take over for a while."

Toto hesitated, concern etched on his features, but Sakura's wouldn't let up. "I'll take you up on that offer."

As Toto retreated, Sakura plunged the shovel into the soft sand. The rhythmic sound of digging became a companion to the night, and under the moonlit desert sky, Sakura worked the vast expanse.

..

Sakura dug for hours, the shovel cutting through the sand with rhythmic determination. Each scoop revealed layers of time, after every moment when the sandstorm buried the oasis beneath it. The dampness in the sand shifted, hinting at a hidden secret beneath the surface. As Sakura worked, the quiet of the night wrapped around her like a comforting shroud.

Finally, the shovel struck something. Sakura's heart quickened with anticipation as she cleared the sand away. Water emerged, a testament to the resilience of this oasis town. Kneeling beside the newly uncovered source, she placed her hands down, her chakra pouring down, drawing forth the source she had been digging for.

"So there is still water in this place," Sakura whispered to the night.

..

Toto had expected to wake up in less than an hour to find Sakura exhausted and the hole only marginally deeper. To his surprise, the rising sun greeted him, and a sense of urgency jolted him awake. "Did that young lady choose not to wake me?" he wondered, a mix of concern and curiosity pushing him toward the hole.

Rushing to the excavation site, Toto peered down, and his eyes widened at the sight. "INCREDIBLE!"

The sound of Toto's excitement reached the inn, causing the crew to tumble out of their beds in a flurry of disoriented limbs. They rushed to the door, bracing themselves for an impending disaster or attack.

"What's going on?" Vivi inquired, her eyes scanning for any signs of danger.

However, instead of chaos, they found Toto at the bottom of a surprisingly deep hole, standing with Sakura on a small mound of sand surrounded by ankle-deep water. The oasis, thought lost to the relentless desert, had revealed itself once more.

Vivi was stunned, her hands instinctively covering her mouth as she fought back the tears welling in her eyes. "It's water…"

Toto, beaming with pride, informed the crew that Sakura was the one who had managed to uncover and extract the water. The crew, still half-asleep and disoriented, tried to comprehend what they were witnessing.

"How did you manage to find so much?" asked Chopper.

Sakura chuckled. "It seems that Yuba is still strong."

Thanks to her and Luffy's efforts. The group was able to secure a small barrel of drinking water for each of them to carry on with their journey. Though it wasn't much, it held great significance for them. To hold strong and save this country.

Or so it seemed.

..

Sakura's glare cut through the air like a blade, aimed at Luffy and Vivi, both covered in desert dirt and adorned with blossoming bruises. Bruises that Sakura had refused to treat, her stern resolve evident.

"Aren't you being a little harsh on them, Sakura?" asked Nami, a touch of concern in her voice.

But the pink-haired kunoichi just scoffed, turning her head away. "They want to punch each other; they can heal on their own!"

"Can't you at least heal Vivi? It's not really her fault,"

"Nu-uh,"

Vivi sniffed, wiping her face, "I'm okay now Nami, really,"

As the group bid farewell to Toto and were about to leave Yuba to go to Katorea. But Luffy abruptly plopped himself on the ground, leaning against a tree, and declared that he was finished with this journey and officially quitting.

No one understood why their captain was behaving like this so suddenly. No matter what anyone said or how they tried to motivate him, Luffy refused to budge. His determination to confront Crocodile clashed with Vivi's desire to head to the rebel army in Katorea and resolve matters peacefully.

Luffy argued that Vivi's approach was too soft-hearted, insisting that such idealism wasn't realistic. The disagreement hung in the air, tensions rising as the crew grappled with the complexities of their mission in Alabasta.

The clash of ideals between Vivi and Luffy erupted into a physical altercation, the tension between them translating into punches. It was a tumultuous scene.

"Why won't you let others put their lives on the line for this cause when you're willing to risk yours alone?" Luffy demanded, his voice a thunderous challenge.

Vivi, her eyes filled with determination, responded that it was all she had to offer. But Luffy, unyielding in his conviction, insisted that as her friends, their lives were also something she could put on the table to win this battle.

Vivi relented, with tears, and their plans were changed. They now set their course for Rainbase, where Crocodile resided. The journey promised to be arduous, with Vivi estimating it would take over a day to reach their destination. The weight of their mission hung heavy in the air, each member carrying their own thoughts and concerns about the impending confrontation with Crocodile and the rebel army.

"Sakura-chan, it was all Luffy's fault," Sanji said, "Couldn't you just heal Vivi?"

"It doesn't matter," Sakura said to Sanji, crossing her arms. "If you're going to fight among yourselves, I'm not stepping up to heal you,"

"What's the problem with butting heads?" Zoro asked.

"Nothing, but I'm not going to encourage it by healing you all every time it happens," Sakura stated, scoffing. If she did that she worried her friends might get into some bad habits of using this means to resolve issues. However effective it could be. "You're just going to make more work for me,"

"Sorry," Vivi and Luffy muttered.

Sakura smiled behind her hood.

..

The journey through the desert was peaceful compared to the trip to Yuba, with fewer sand creatures laying in wait, and no birds waiting to ransack them. Things could last forever though.

Sakura's exasperated expression mirrored the collective sentiment of the group as Luffy and Usopp darted off in search of food and water. Despite her calls, they continued their reckless sprint toward the city's heart, leaving the rest of the crew on the outskirts. By now they were all thirsty and fatigued but even so they knew to be entering enemy territory. Baroque Works agents would likely be roaming the area and they just let two of their crew mates run off without preservation.

Nami, always concerned about resources, couldn't help but mutter, "Those idiots are going to get themselves killed running off like that."

Zoro, leaning against a nearby rock, grunted in agreement. "They never learn, do they?"

Vivi, who had been relatively quiet since the confrontation with Luffy, sighed. "We can't afford to lose anyone now. We're heading straight into the lion's den."

The group settled under the scant shade provided by the buildings of Rainbase, fatigue etched on their faces. Vivi, taking a leadership role, gathered everyone around to discuss their next steps. Chopper already went off as well, saying he needed to use the bathroom.

"We have to be cautious," Vivi said, her eyes scanning the surroundings. "Rainbase is likely crawling with Baroque Works agents. We need to maintain the element of surprise until we face Crocodile."

Sanji, ever protective, voiced his concern. "Do you think Luffy and Usopp will be okay? It's been a while since they went to get water."

Nami, who was checking a map, added, "We can't afford any delays. If they're not back soon, we might have to go after them."

Zoro grumbled, picking up a twig and poking at Sakura who was leaning against Eyelash under the shade."Nah, they're probably going to show up with some trouble. I'd start doing some warm-up exercises."

Sakura, her irritation evident, scanned around the city ignoring Zoro's antics to get her attention "Let's hope they haven't stumbled into trouble again before they get the water."

Zoro poked at her again, even though she swatted, and he moved in again, "Would you cut that out! I'm trying to rest!"

"Maybe you wouldn't be so exhausted if you slept last night instead of digging holes in the sand,"

"Hey you drank that water almost as quickly as you finish sake, so don't come complaining to me now!"

Zoro glared at her, "I'm just trying to make sure you can still carry your weight,"

When they were making their way to Rainbase, Sanji had been asking if she wanted to rest, Nami even offered to let her ride on Eyelash when she realized that Sakura had been awake most of the night. Truthfully, she had wanted to escape sleep. Nightmares plagued her, forcing her to relive the war, the destruction of her village, the loss of her friends and it sat in her stomach like a stone that wanted to sink her. After going through all of that, the last moment of her dream, no matter where she was, she ended up holding that devil fruit in her hands and then became engulfed in a light that would wake her up with a frightening start.

But she wasn't about to admit that vulnerability. Instead, Sakura straightened herself, leaning towards Zoro.

"I could throw my weight miles away Zoro, and yours,"

Zoro scoffed, "Sure about that gorilla girl?"

"You wanna try me?"

Nami and Usopp quickly attempted to interject before things got heated, as the two had an electrifying stare-down.

Zoro, not one to back down, continued, "You might be tough, but you're not invincible. We're heading into a dangerous situation, and if you collapse from exhaustion, you're putting all of us at risk."

Sakura, crossing her arms, shot back, "I can handle myself just fine. I've been through worse."

Zoro, undeterred, said, "It's not about handling yourself; it's about not becoming a deadweight. We're facing Crocodile and Baroque Works, not some low-tier enemies."

Sakura's eyes flashed with irritation. "This isn't any of your concern last I checked,"

Before the argument could escalate further, the distinctive sounds of chaos reached their ears. Turning the corner, they were greeted with the sight of Luffy and Usopp being chased by a squadron of marines. Barrels of water slung over their shoulders, and the duo seemed determined but oblivious to the uproar they had caused.

Sanji shook his head, muttering, "Someone needs to teach those idiots stealth."

Nami smirked, "Well, at least they brought water. Let's catch up and find a safe place to regroup."

"Tony's not back yet!" Vivi exclaimed standing up.

"He'll be fine," said Zoro. It's not like they could keep waiting for him here in the first place.

The crew hurriedly followed the chaos unfolding in the streets of Rainbase, ready to face whatever challenges this town, and Crocodile, had in store for them.

..

The bustling streets of Rainbase turned into a chaotic maze as the crew, raced through the cityscape. The relentless swarm of marines pursued them, and the presence of Baroque Works agents only added to the complexity of their situation.

Sakura's keen eyes detected the hostility in seemingly ordinary civilians as they ran by. "We've been spotted," she warned, fully aware that in this city, danger lurked in every corner.

Luffy, undeterred by the chase, was determined to stick to their original goal. "So, Vivi, where's Crocodile?"

Vivi pointed toward a large, pyramid-shaped building crowned with a golden alligator. "That's Raindinners, the casino Crocodile runs!"

"Right, let's split up!" Luffy ordered. "See you there!"

Everyone took a path, Sanji, Usopp, and Nami going to the left, Sakura, Zoro, and Vivi to the right and Luffy going straight up, taunting Smoker to follow him.

Sakura, Vivi, and Zoro managed to create some distance from the marines by navigating through the winding city streets. However, Baroque Works agents, having spotted them, were in pursuit. The path ahead was blocked by dozens of enemies.

"Great, just what we didn't need," Sakura muttered, assessing their situation.

"Quit whining about it," Zoro retorted, unsheathing his swords.

"I'm not whining!"

"Go on ahead, I'll handle this," Zoro declared, a confident glint in his eyes.

Vivi looked torn between continuing and staying to assist Zoro. "Are you sure, Zoro?"

"Yeah, just go. I'll catch up."

Vivi dashed ahead, Zoro faced the approaching Baroque Works agents, ready for a confrontation that would give the others a chance to reach Raindinners unimpeded. But Sakura was unwilling to go along, letting Zoro play valiant knight after their confrontation, and him calling her deadweight.

The chaotic symphony of clashing blades filled the air as the Baroque Works agents closed in on the Straw Hat crew.

"Zoro? You can't go one day without acting like a jerk?" Sakura dodged a strike and retaliated with a swift kick, all while glaring at the green-haired swordsman.

Zoro parried an attack effortlessly, his gaze never leaving Sakura. "I don't have time for your attitude right now. We're in the middle of a fight."

Their verbal duel continued as they danced through the skirmish, taking down Baroque Works agents while their argument escalated.

"Roronoa Zoro!"

Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. A familiar face emerged from the crowd—Tashigi. Zoro's froze for a moment, a hint of recognition and guilt flashing in his eyes.

"You two! What have you done?" Tashigi pointed accusingly at Sakura and Zoro. "To think that you would be cutting down civillians, that's low even for you!"

Sakura, annoyed by both Zoro's attitude and now the Marine's interference, retorted, "Hold on a minute. You don't know anything about this situation,"

Tashigi, however, remained unconvinced. "I won't believe the words of a pirate. Especially not you,"

Sakura's frustration grew. "Why does it sound like you're accusing me of something?"

"Don't play innocent, I know about the navy fleet you sunk,"

Sakura was not just confused, "What? I didn't do anything like that,"

But Tashigi seemed resolute. "You destroyed a whole Marine fleet. I won't let you get away."

Sakura's eyes widened in genuine surprise. "What? Are you out of your mind? I don't know what you're talking about."

Tashigi, her patience wearing thin, unsheathed her sword, ready for action. Zoro, recognizing the imminent threat, stepped forward. "I can't handle her. Sakura, let's go."

Sakura, torn between arguing her innocence and avoiding unnecessary conflict, found herself being dragged away by Zoro. She argued every step of the way, casting annoyed glances at both Zoro and Tashigi. The chaotic chase through Rainbase continued, the Straw Hat crew now burdened not only by Baroque Works but also by the looming presence of the Marines.

"Why are we running away from her?"

"Because I can't take her!" Zoro said.

"Why?"

"Because I can't stand her face!"

"What?"

Zoro didn't want to explain to anyone that the marine lieutenant looked like his deceased childhood friend. So he opted to switch the topics in the middle of their run.

"When did you sink a marine fleet?"

"I didn't!"

..

The chaotic chase through Rainbase's labyrinthine streets finally brought them to the grand entrance of Raindiners. Sakura, her frustration still simmering from the recent encounter with Tashigi, was leading the way. Zoro, in tow. They had fallen a bit behind because Sakura had made the mistake of allowing the green-haired swordsman to take the lead for a minute before she realized he was taking them in the wrong direction. And even after correcting him, he still couldn't figure out his right from left.

"How can you have such a terrible sense of direction when the damn building is practically in front of you?"

"Shut up! This is all your fault!"

"What the hell!?"

As they reached the entrance, the scene unfolded before them—Nami and Usopp were held at gunpoint by Baroque Works agents. Sakura wasted no time. With a swift kick, she sent the agents sprawling.

"You guys made it!" she exclaimed, a mix of relief and exasperation in her voice.

Nami, her eyes wide with concern, immediately inquired, "Where's Vivi?"

Zoro, eager to deflect blame, pointed an accusatory finger at Sakura. "I told you to go with her, but you—"

"RUN!"

The group turned down a nearby street just in time to see Luffy approaching, with Smoker not far behind. Luffy gestured for them to run inside Raindiners.

IN THE NEXT CHAPTER (SNEAK PEEK)

Sakura discovers something very surprising and something unpleasant about eating Devil Fruits.

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Chapter 25: Chapter 25: To Raindinners

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Chapter 25: Chapter 25: To Raindinners

CREATORS' THOUGHTS Katsura_369

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