Chapter 3: New Discoveries

Dissclaimer=I do not own Naruto or One Piece.

Note=a special thanks to my Beta-Reader, Leaf Ranger.

And one Guest review who pointed out a typo in the last chapter that would have caused some continuity problems.

Chapter 3:

New Discoveries.

Dusk settled over Hanma Village. The people were preparing a feast, to celebrate their salvation and thank the saviours who made it possible. With the civilians on the ship freed and the rest of the crew gathered together with their captain, Kakashi had needed only 20 seconds to tear the Pirates apart.

Once it was done, Minorou had come forward, and rallied the civilians together in thanks. Soon after, most of the pirates were bound together aboard smaller boats and sent out to sea, adrift. With so few grown men in the village, Kakashi pragmatically decided it was the best choice rather than try to guard 60 violent pirates through the night. While Sendou remained in the village, bound with his own chains and knocked-out by Kakashi to prevent any trouble from the Pirate captain.

Now, Team 7 had gathered in the headman's house. Naruto's face had some bandages where the splinters had to be removed. Kakashi held a pistol in his hands, with each of the Shinobi admiring it.

"So. A small amount of explosive powder is placed in the tube. Followed by a tiny metal ball, and all of it pressed together. Then the arm is set back, and the weapon can be pointed at a target. By twitching the small device with one's fore-finger, the arm ignites the flit, setting the powder on fire, and propelling the metal ball outwards."

"That is right, Sav-ahchem-Mr. Kakashi." The headman, Tarm, nodded from his bed. The man had been one of the first to try and fight the pirates, but was shot in his leg and made the first prisoner. Once the prisoners were freed, he was taken to the local doctor along with the others to be healed.

Despite the injuries, Tarm insisted on giving the Ninjas all the help that he could. Though he continuously called each of them "Saviours." Something that didn't feel too comfortable for Kakashi, who insisted on using his given name.

The Genin looked over the pistol in wonder, while Kakashi drew a small scroll from his vest pocket. Opening the scroll, he placed the pistol in the centre. With a single hand-sign it disappeared into smoke, sealed inside. 'This would be invaluable for the village to use, and give any shinobi quite the surprise. I'll show it to Lord Hokage once-'

"So You have one two! A Devil-Fruit power!" Tarm exclaimed.

"Um. Sorry, Tarm," Kakashi scratched the back of his head. "A which power?"

The Headman frowned, confused. "Devil-Fruit Power. Strange abilities that someone can gain by eating a Devil-Fruit. That's the only explanation for you or the boys to have powers like breathing-fire or making copies of himself. It's quite rare to find any here in the East Blue, or outside of the Grand Line. How did the four of you end up here?"

Kakashi didn't answer. A small….sinking…worry-some feeling began to grow in his stomach.

"Grand Line! What is that!?" Naruto cried in curiosity. "I guess you've just never seen ninja's before. Oh, and we came from the Hidden Leaf Village, not some Big Blue Place! Why did you ask that?"

"The Hidden Leaf Village?" Tarm raised an eyebrow. "Are you feeling alright, son? There's no such place like that on Jeeha Island at all. And how come you don't know about the East Blue when you live in it."

"East Blue?" Sakura joined the conversation. Her eyes narrowed, apprehensively. "And what do you mean by Jeeha Island. Isn't this place still part of the Land of Fire?"

"Like Naruto said, we're ninjas form the Hidden Leaf Village. Don't you know that place?"

Tarm's eyes widened. Rapidly, they were passing between both the blonde and pinkette. As if each needed their head examined or had grown extra limbs.

"Tarm," Kakashi' voice cut through them. His posture was rigid, anxious, even fearful over the question on his mind. "Please. Can you show us a map of the world? Or a map of various islands, here in the 'East Blue.'"

"Um….of course Sav-er…Mr. Kakashi. Give me a moment." Slowly, the man limbed over to his cabinets, while Kakashi called for the attention of his Genin.

"Sakura, Naruto, Sasuke. I need each of you to remain calm. If you feel like you need to leave this hut. You may. But go outside of the village to the trees and let out your emotions. No matter what we learn."

Sakura began to tremble. Even Sasuke grew anxious at his sensei's tone. "K-Kakashi-s-sensei. Why-why? What is going on?"

His eye narrowed, sharply. "I think. That we aren't in the Land of Fire anymore. Or even on the same continent at all. That Genie may have brought us to the other side of the world. Or somewhere else away from the Elemental Nations."

Kakashi couldn't imagine the truth.

"Here you are." Stepping forward, Tarm carried a group of paper scrolls. Setting each down on the floor, the man spread one open, revealing the map of a large Sea with various scattered islands dotting the vast Blue expanses.

"This is where we are, Jeeha Island," the headman explained, pointing to it on the map. "There are several other islands across the East Blue, that vary in size. Like Dawn Island in Goa Kingdom, Mirrorball Island, Clockwork Island, and Sixis Island. Along with archipelagos like the Organ Islands, the Gecko Islands, and Conomi Islands."

"Do any of these places look like your home island? Or any of those on the other Blues like the North Blue, or the West Blue?"

The ninja began to comb over the maps. Yet, it was a fruitless effort. None of them found anything the resembled the Elemental Nations.

Kakashi, the most experienced and mature of the group, felt the gravity of their situation the hardest.

'Could…..Could that Genie…have sent us to a different world? None of these islands or continents resemble the Elemental Nations at all. Plus, the weapons like the pistol, or canon on board the ship….'

"The ship!" The Jonin quietly exclaimed.

"Uhhhh. Sensei," Naruto spoke-up in a timid voice. "What is it about the ship?"

Glancing around, Kakashi noticed the worried faces on each of his Genin. Taking a moment, calling on experience, the ninja pushed his own emotions to the side. And marshalled his thoughts.

"Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, Tarm. My concerns about the ship are just about everything about it. The body of the ship is larger than anything I've seen before, but still capable of floating very high in shallow water. It also has additional poles with the sails attached, and they are organizing triangularly. That is much different than most other ships in our home. Even the weapons on board like pistols and canons. None of it is anything like what we have in our home, the Elemental Nations."

"What's more," the Jonin continued, glancing at the maps. "None of the locations on these maps resemble the Elemental Nations at all. The Islands themselves are too small, according to the scale. And I've never heard of any places like Goa Kingdom or Ilusia Kingdom."

"Really, Sensei!" Naruto cut-in to the man's observations. "Well does that mean that the Genie granted my wish! He did say we'd go to a different part of the world and have some great adventures, or help people along the way, right?!"

"Oh, so we're stuck on the other side of the world because of your stupid wish, NARUTO!" Sakura shouted, palming her fist.

"Oh, you just had to go and plant us all the way over here, Loser!" Sasuke, in a rare moment of camaraderie, agreed with Sakura.

While his Genin began to fight, Kakashi was frozen-stiff. Naruto's wish sent a pang through his memory. '"This world will certainly allow you to find the adventures, dangers, and people to fulfill the wish you have made." That was what the Genie said.'

'This world….this WORLD! "I even have a brother here, who can grant wishes as well. Finding him might be tough."'

"Naruto! Sasuke! Sakura! Stop Immediately!"

The former was pinned down by Sasuke, while Sakura approached with her fist cocked-back. Rare as it was, the commanding tone from their sensei cut through each as a powerful ax through a twig.

"Naruto. Come here, and sit beside me. Sakura, Sasuke, stay there."

Once the orange knuckle-head joined his sensei, Kakashi took a deep breath.

"That Genie. Before he disappeared, he stated that we would find great adventures and grow strong in this world. In...this...world. It appears that I was wrong. We may not have travelled to a different part of the world, after all. We may have travelled to a complete different dimension."

"It is….." the Jonin needed a deep breath to stead his growing anxiety.

"It may be possible that there isn't any Leaf Village here at all. Or any other ninjas who can help us."

That hit all of the Genin like a 5-ton sack of bricks. Sasuke grew pale, his shock written over his face. While Sakura's hands flew to her mouth, her trembling legs giving out beneath her. Naruto took more time to grasp those words. As they sunk in, a deep hole in his gut grew larger and larger, while new thoughts flew in his head.

'A…a different world? I didn't want this at all! Just more adventures and danger! Now, now there's no Leaf Village here! But that would mean I can't become the Hokage at all! It means no Ichiraku Ramen, the only place that I feel happy at! It means I….Iruk…Iruka-sensei. And Ji-ji….'

Naruto's mind grew bleak. The one, constant source of comfort across his lonesome, terrible life was gone. 'I can't see Jii-jii, the Hokage anymore.'

"NARUTO! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!" Sakura hollard. Charging at the dazed, lonesome child.

"Sakura." Kakashi's hand extended, hold back the girl. "Casting fault or blame here will accomplish nothing. Do not-"

"Sensei!" Tears streaking down her cheeks, accenting the pinkette's words. "His st..stupid wish has-has us-t-tuck here! The Ge-genie already disap-ppear-ared! Now we can't s-se-see our families at all! AN-an...huuuh..-anything we w-w-w-wanted to do.! It-it's gone-al in a completely different place! And we have no way to go back! IT's ALL NARUTO's FAULT!"

She was deeply terrified, to the point of ignorance. Her minds were dominated by selfishness, the desire to vent that confusion on someone.

"JUST LET ME HIT HIM SENSEI! NARU-!"

Flll-Thawk.

In a flash, Sakura's charging figure was pinned to the floor. The girl was shocked at her position, bewildered.

"Sakura." Kakashi voice spoke up. The Jonin had a firm hold on her, his foot pressing down harder over her head.

"Some could also say that you wasting one wish also resulted in this. Since it could have been used to give us a way back. Or, you should blame me for giving Naruto an idea to wish for a place with adventure. I will not allow you to hurt him like that. For now, we need to stay together, and decide of where to go or what we do next."

Keeping a firm hold on the girl, the Jonin glanced at Sasuke and Naruto. Both were deeply shaken.

"Jii….Jii….Jii-jii….." Naruto whispered.

"HMmmmmm," the Jonin-sensei narrowed his eye. 'That's right. The man he looked up to and always was there for him. And the position that he aspires so hard to reach. Now it's gone.'

'And Sasuke.' Sure enough, the last Uchiha looked deeply troubled. Even lost.

"Hhhhhhh." Kakashi's resignation echoed throughout the room. He began to address the Genin again when-

"Pardon me?" Tarm spoke up. While Kakashi and Sakura met his eyes, the two boys barely moved. "That might not be the case. It might be that your home island is on the Grand Line."

Reaching for another map, the man spread it open before the ninjas.

"This is far from accurate. But it does show another sea that lines in between all of the Blues. The Grand Line. Between two bands of sea called the Calm Belt, this Ocean is known to have many different islands that are unique and wondrous. Some of them are also cut-off from the rest of the world, like the Country of Wano."

"It might be possible that your home is somewhere on that ocean. But if that is true…."

The man grew silent. Ignorant of the faint hope he left dangling before the ninja.

"Please." A single word, filled with desperation, slipped from the Jonin. "Continue, Mr. Tarm. Please."

"Oh. Um! Well. I used to serve in the Navy, a while back. There, I met some junior-officers named Rapanui, Isoka and Pukau.[1] They told me about the crazy stories about that place, so I began to learn about it to try and prove them wrong. I even went to that sea with a crew. And barely came out alive."

"I'll start at the beginning for the kids. You can see on the maps that this world is separated by a single large continent: The Red Line. The Grand Line traverses it perpendicularly. Separating the Oceans into the North Blue, South Blue, East Blue, and West Blue."

"The Grand Line though is the home of the Devil Himself. That Sea can only promise one thing alone. And that is Death. The place is worse than other people think or speak of. The weather conditions are entirely unpredictable, and defy any sense or reason. Terrible sea monsters large enough to swallow a ship or a village whole dwell there. A single wrong choice can end the life of an entire crew."

"And if the Elements don't kill you. The people who sail it will. The Place is actually called the Pirate Graveyard. From the sheer scale of crews that have been killed in that sea. Likely millions across hundreds of years."

"Travelling there can be near-suicidal."

The Ninja's grew quiet again, as Tarm finished his story.

"Why do so many people go there, if it's such a deadly place?" Kakashi inquired.

Tarm took a deep breath. "Because of the One Piece. The Greatest Treasure in the World."

"Treasure! What kind of Treasure! What-what-what!" Naruto shouted. Unconsciously clinging to the distraction, from within his lost mind.

"22 years ago, now. There was one man who did the impossible. A Pirate, who led his crew on a voyage to conquer the entire Grand Line. A man who was so strong, so powerful land so dangerous, he bent all of the seas to his will. And defeated every opponent he found along the way. To the point that he earned a Title nobody ever carried before. The King of the Pirates. Gold Roger."

"Gold Roger himself was from the East Blue. He achieved more wealth, fame and power than anyone else did. He defeated every fellow Pirate he encountered, and the most anyone could hope was the match him. The Marines finally managed to defeat and capture him and sentenced the man to death. But before his capture. Gold Roger took everything that was worth taking from the world. And hid it away. An enormously vast treasure. The Legendary One Piece."

"Whomever finds that treasure will be acknowledged as the Next King of the Pirates. Thousands of Pirates crews have travelled to the Grand Line to find the One Piece. Fighting each other, the Marines, and the Elements all the way. To the point that the Grand Line is a constant battlefield."

"Sometimes I'm amazed that Zeff even survived for years in that hell."

The Genin were left gapping at the story. Even in their bleak setting, stories of Pirates, treasure and adventure brought a glint of excitement to their young minds.

While Kakashi was more observant. "I apologize, Tarm. You just mentioned someone named Zeff went there?"

"Hmmmm? Oh, yes." The headman nodded. "A former Pirate I met a few years ago. The man was called Red-foot Zeff. He retired from that life over 10 years past, opened a sea restaurant called the Baratie. He knows a lot more about the Grand Line than I do, no doubt there. If you want to know if your home is there on the Grand Line, Zeff would be the best person to meet."

"The four of you are welcome to stay here as long as you want. Or you could head to the Baratie and meet him in-person to hopefully find a way back home."

Kakashi nodded, and began to assess their options. Deciding that this Zeff was the best source they had to possibly find a way back to the Elemental Nation and Leaf Village. He came to a decision.

"Alright. Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura." All of the Genin looked to their sensei. One still pinned to the floor.

"We'll stay here in Hanma Village for two days to prepare. Then head to the Baratie using one of the smaller boats from the Pirate ship. For now, lets get some food and find a place to sleep. And I do not want anyone shelling out blame or accusations at each other at all."

Once the Genin had nodded, Sakura twice, Kakashi released her. Watching them depart, the grey-haired Copy-nin dropped in exhaustion.

'Why do they have to be so much work. Leading ANBU squads or working with Chunin didn't need that much attention for each member. I don't like having to be that hands-on with them at all. But since I'm the…..the only one here.'

Soon the Jonin's head was buried in his hands. 'I'm going to have to work harder with each of them. Since I'm the only ninja here that can teach them anything about ninja arts at all. It's not just about Sasuke and his Sharingan anymore, but Naruto and Sakura might need more attention too, until we find a way to get back to the village.'

"Savio…..Mr. Kakashi. Are feeling alright?"

"Fine, Mr. Tarm. Just….fine," the lazy Hatake bemoaned. Glancing back to the door, Kakashi reflected on his Genin.

'This really is the kind of situation I do not want to deal with. Our situation probably hasn't even sunk in yet, and they are already in bad shape. Sasuke was almost unresponsive from the shock, Sakura turned into a volatile wreaking ball, and Naruto looked like the ground was falling away underneath him.'

'Still…The three of them did pull it together when it really counted in the Land of Waves. And they get along much better than I did with Rin and Obito.'

Kakashi smiled at the memories of his team outmaneuvering Zabuza, Sasuke protecting Naruto from Haku, Sakura helping Naruto climb a tree, and shedding tears after the battle passed.

'I'm confident they'll ban together, and remember my lessons about comrades and loyalty.'

Of course, Kakashi could not have been more wrong. Blinded by his life-long, terrible case of emotional constipation.

End.

[1]-The Pumpkin Pirates characters from the Rainbow Mist Arc.