Chapter 2: Meeting the Marines
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Naruto stood at the edge of the town square, the cheers and laughter of the villagers ringing in his ears. Buggy's defeat had lifted a heavy burden from the town, and the people were eager to celebrate their newfound freedom. Yet, as the festivities began, Naruto found himself standing slightly apart from the crowd, his gaze lingering on the horizon where the sea met the sky.
His thoughts wandered back to Konoha—his home, his friends, and the battles he'd fought to protect them. The Hokage Monument, Sasuke, Sakura, Kakashi, Jiraiya... it all felt so distant now. He clenched his fists, feeling a familiar ache in his chest. Would he ever see them again?
"Hey, you spacing out?"
Naruto snapped out of his thoughts and turned to see Zoro approaching him, arms still crossed. The swordsman's expression remained unreadable, but his eyes, sharp and observant, didn't miss a thing.
"You've got that look on your face," Zoro continued, stopping beside him. "Like you're thinking about something important."
Naruto exhaled softly, relaxing his fists. "Yeah, just... trying to figure out how I ended up here. This place is... different." His voice trailed off as he scanned the bustling square, where Luffy and Nami were already mingling with the townspeople. "I wasn't expecting to run into pirates right away, that's for sure."
Zoro chuckled, though it was a dry sound. "You better get used to that. The sea out here is full of pirates, Marines, bounty hunters... you name it. It's not a place for the weak."
"Sounds familiar," Naruto replied with a smirk, his mood lifting slightly. He glanced at Zoro. "What about you? Why're you with Luffy? You don't seem like the type to follow a captain."
Zoro's face darkened for a moment, but it passed quickly. "I have my reasons," he said simply, not elaborating further. "Let's just say, I've got my own goal. And following Luffy... well, it gets me closer to that."
Naruto nodded, understanding the unspoken weight behind Zoro's words. He could sense the swordsman's resolve, the same kind of determination he saw in his own reflection. "We've all got something we're chasing, huh?"
Before Zoro could respond, Nami approached them, her expression less playful than before. "Hey," she said, crossing her arms. "We need to get moving. Buggy's crew might be defeated, but that doesn't mean it's safe here. The Marines could show up any minute now."
"Marines?" Naruto asked, confused. "What's their deal?"
Nami glanced at him, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. "Have you been living under a rock or something?" She sighed and motioned toward the town. "The Marines are the military force that polices the seas. They enforce the World Government's laws, and they're not exactly friendly to pirates."
Naruto frowned, piecing the information together.
So, they're like the shinobi forces back in my world... except they hunt pirates, Naruto thought.
"We need to leave before they catch wind of what happened here," Nami followed up.
Luffy, who had been talking with the villagers, suddenly bounded over, his usual carefree grin plastered on his face. "We're heading out already? But I wanted to stay for the feast!"
"We don't have time for that!" Nami snapped, glaring at Luffy. "Do you want to get thrown in a Marine prison?"
Luffy pouted, scratching the back of his head. "No... but I like food."
Naruto laughed at the exchange. "Well, we could always take some with us," he suggested, earning a nod of approval from Luffy. "But Nami's right. We shouldn't stick around too long. If those Marines are anything like the ninja back home, we don't want them tracking us down."
Zoro rolled his eyes. "Guess we're in agreement then. Let's get going."
"Ninjas? That sounds awesome!" Luffy laughed loudly, ignoring Zoro's statement.
An hour later, the group had gathered their supplies and left Orange Town behind, making their way toward the coast where a small boat awaited them. The air was crisp with the scent of the ocean, and the sky was now a deep indigo, dotted with stars.
As they approached the boat, which was a smaller sailboat that Buggy's crewmembers had used, Naruto paused for a moment, staring out at the open sea. It was vast—more expansive than any landscape he'd ever seen back in the Elemental Nations. It reminded him of the Great Ninja War, how it had felt to stand at the edge of something monumental, the weight of destiny pressing down on his shoulders.
"Naruto," Nami called, breaking his thoughts. She was already seated in the boat, one hand on the tiller. "You coming?"
He blinked, shaking off the lingering memories. "Yeah, I'm coming." He hopped into the boat, sitting beside Luffy and Zoro, who had already made themselves comfortable. Nami steered them away from the shore, her eyes fixed on the horizon as they sailed deeper into the night.
For a while, the only sound was the gentle lapping of the waves against the boat, the rhythmic creak of the sails, and the occasional snore from Luffy, who had dozed off almost immediately. Zoro sat in silence, resting against the mast, while Nami navigated with precision, her eyes scanning the stars for guidance.
Naruto, however, couldn't help but feel the weight of his situation. He was in a completely foreign world with no idea how he got here, or if he would ever make it back. But at the same time, he couldn't deny the excitement stirring in his chest. The unknown was thrilling. A new world meant new adventures, new allies, and new challenges.
He leaned back, staring up at the stars. Somewhere out there, on the vast seas, the future was waiting for him. And with this strange new crew, maybe—just maybe—he'd find a place where he belonged in this world.
But even as he tried to settle into the moment, his mind kept drifting back to Konoha, to the people he had left behind. He missed them—more than he'd ever admit out loud.
Sakura… Kakashi-sensei… Sasuke…
"Where are you guys?" Naruto whispered to the wind, his voice barely audible over the sound of the waves. "I'll find a way back... someday."
For now, though, there was no turning back. The sea stretched out before him, full of mysteries and danger, and Naruto Uzumaki was ready to face whatever came next.
As their small boat drifted further into the open waters, a shadow moved in the distance. Far beyond the range of ordinary vision, a lone figure stood on the deck of a larger ship, the wind tugging at their cloak.
"Interesting..." the figure murmured, their eyes following the trail of Naruto's boat. "So this is the new force I've heard whispers about. The one who defeated Buggy so effortlessly."
The figure turned, disappearing into the shadows once more. "Things are about to get much more complicated."
As the small boat continued to drift through the open waters, the night remained calm, though there was a strange tension in the air—something Naruto couldn't quite place. His instincts, honed from years of fighting shinobi, were alert, sensing something just beyond the horizon. He glanced over at Nami, who was still focused on navigating. Zoro was quietly sharpening his swords, the sound of the whetstone scraping against the blade steady and methodical.
Naruto leaned back, watching the stars above, his mind drifting back to thoughts of his old world. He missed it—missed the people, the places, the feeling of knowing exactly where he belonged. But here, in this strange new world of pirates and adventure, he felt... untethered. Even with Luffy, Zoro, and Nami around him, he was an outsider.
I've been through worse, he reminded himself. I'll figure it out.
Suddenly, Nami stiffened, her eyes narrowing as she looked out over the water. "Something's wrong," she muttered under her breath.
Naruto sat up, immediately alert. "What is it?"
Nami didn't answer right away. Instead, she pointed toward the horizon, where the faint outline of a ship could be seen approaching in the distance. "That ship... it's not normal. It's moving too fast for this time of night."
Zoro glanced up from his sharpening, his eyes narrowing as well. "Pirates?"
Nami shook her head, biting her lip. "No... Marines. Look at the sails."
Naruto followed her gaze, and sure enough, he could make out the distinctive Marine insignia on the ship's sails. His heart quickened. "So these are the guys who hunt pirates, huh?"
"Yeah," Nami confirmed. "And they're not friendly to anyone they think is breaking the law—pirate or not."
Naruto's eyes narrowed, a surge of adrenaline rushing through him. He had fought many enemies in his life—powerful shinobi, deadly creatures, and even gods. He wasn't afraid of a few Marines. But he knew enough to be cautious. This was a new place, and he didn't fully understand the powers at play yet.
"What do we do?" Naruto asked, standing up.
Nami hesitated, glancing at Luffy, who was still sound asleep. "We need to avoid them. We're not exactly in a position to take on a Marine ship right now, especially if they have someone powerful on board."
Zoro scoffed, gripping the hilt of one of his swords. "I'm not afraid of Marines. We can take them."
Naruto smiled at Zoro's confidence. He was starting to like this guy. But before either of them could make a move, the Marine ship drew closer, its massive hull cutting through the water like a predator on the hunt. The crew on board were already preparing cannons, and it became clear that they weren't going to let Naruto's group slip away quietly.
"Too late," Nami muttered, her voice tense. "They've spotted us."
As if on cue, a loud voice boomed from the deck of the Marine ship. "Halt, pirates! In the name of the World Government, you are under arrest!"
Luffy stirred from his sleep, yawning loudly. "What's going on? Are we fighting already?"
Zoro smirked. "Looks like it."
Naruto cracked his knuckles, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Guess we don't have a choice then."
Nami, however, looked far less thrilled. "Are you guys crazy? This is a Marine ship! They'll outnumber us at least ten to one! We should run while we still can."
But Luffy was already standing, stretching his arms with an eager grin. "Nah, we can take 'em. Right, Naruto?"
Naruto glanced at the Marine ship again, then back at Luffy. "Yeah. Let's do it."
Before anyone else could react, Luffy launched himself toward the Marine ship, his body stretching impossibly far as he shot across the water with a wild laugh. "Gomu Gomu no... Rocket!"
Naruto grinned, watching as Luffy crashed onto the deck of the Marine ship, scattering the soldiers in a chaotic mess of limbs and confusion. Zoro sighed, standing up and sheathing his swords. "Guess we're doing this the hard way."
Without hesitation, Naruto summoned his chakra, the familiar energy surging through him like an old friend. In an instant, he disappeared from the boat, reappearing in the midst of the Marines alongside Luffy.
The soldiers barely had time to react before Naruto was upon them, his movements swift and precise. With a single punch, he sent a group of Marines flying across the deck, their weapons clattering to the ground. His speed was unmatched, each movement fluid and calculated. Compared to the battles he had fought in his own world, this was almost too easy.
Luffy, meanwhile, was laughing as he stretched his limbs, taking out Marines left and right with his elastic punches. "This is fun!" he shouted, his voice carrying over the chaos.
Naruto couldn't help but smile at Luffy's enthusiasm. "You're not bad, Luffy!"
"Thanks!" Luffy grinned back, even as he kicked another Marine off the side of the ship.
Zoro joined the fray moments later, his swords flashing as he cut through the ranks of Marines with deadly precision. Despite the overwhelming number of enemies, the three of them fought seamlessly together, their movements almost synchronized.
From the small boat, Nami watched in stunned disbelief. "They're... actually winning?" she muttered to herself, shaking her head. "Unbelievable."
Just as it seemed like the battle was winding down, a heavy, commanding voice echoed across the deck. "Enough!"
Naruto turned to see a tall Marine officer stepping forward, his expression cold and unforgiving. His uniform was immaculate, and the medals on his chest gleamed in the moonlight. He drew his sword, the blade shining as it caught the light.
"I am Captain Nakamuya of the Marines," the officer declared, his voice full of authority. "And I will not allow a group of lowly pirates to defy the law!"
Naruto's eyes narrowed as he stepped forward, his body tensing with anticipation. This guy might be stronger than the rest of the Marines, but Naruto had faced far worse. He could sense the aura of arrogance radiating from Nakamuya—it reminded him of the many shinobi he had encountered who underestimated him.
"Captain, huh?" Naruto said, cracking his neck. "You think you can take us on?"
Nakamuya sneered, raising his sword. "You don't stand a chance against me, pirate scum. Surrender now, and I'll consider letting you live."
Naruto chuckled softly, shaking his head. "I've heard that before." With a flash of chakra, he disappeared from sight, reappearing behind Nakamuya in an instant. Before the Marine captain could even react, Naruto struck him in the back with a swift, powerful kick, sending him crashing into the deck.
The remaining Marines froze, staring in shock as their captain lay unconscious at Naruto's feet.
Luffy and Zoro laughed, their confidence only growing. "That was awesome, Naruto!" Luffy shouted.
Naruto turned back to his crew, grinning. "Guess that takes care of that."
As the last of the Marines scrambled to abandon ship, grabbing the unconscious bodies of their comrades while they jumped into liferafts, Naruto stood at the center of the chaos, his thoughts once again drifting to his old world. He could almost hear the voices of his friends in the back of his mind.
No matter where I am, Naruto thought to himself, I'm always going to protect the people I care about.
Even if this world was new and unfamiliar, Naruto knew one thing for sure—he wasn't going to lose himself. He was still Naruto Uzumaki, the boy who dreamed of becoming Hokage.
And now, in this strange world of pirates and adventure, a new dream was beginning to take shape.
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