As Jinbe finished explaining Naruto's part in the upcoming operation, his gaze shifted with a hint of curiosity. "Do you understand?" he asked, his tone serious yet measured.
"Yes," Naruto responded, his voice calm, a stark contrast to the storm that had been swirling inside him ever since he had been thrust into this situation.
Jinbe wasn't entirely convinced by Naruto's simple answer. His eyes narrowed as he studied the human before him. "Now that I've done my part, I want to know how a marine kid from the elite class ended up here. It's not every day I meet someone with a past as complicated as yours."
Naruto paused for a moment, weighing his words. "Some problems with the world nobles ended my career," he said, his expression unreadable.
Jinbe's sharp gaze didn't falter. He could sense there was more to the story. It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth either. "What kind of problems?" he pressed.
Naruto leaned back slightly, his face betraying no emotion. "I killed a world noble who tried to kill your Queen, so I'm on the blacklist now. I needed a crew that operated on the same principles and had the guts to fight." He wasn't afraid to reveal this part of the truth. He knew the Sun Pirates had seen and endured far worse than what he had done, so his own actions were mere trinkets by comparison.
Jinbe's expression darkened momentarily, but he didn't seem angry. Instead, he regarded Naruto with respect. The human had killed one of the world's most powerful figures—a bold move, but one that aligned with the principles the Sun Pirates stood for. He could sense Naruto's resolve and his belief in the cause.
"That's definitely one way to make your exit," Jinbe said with a slight smile. His expression softened as he placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "I like you. So don't die, alright?"
Naruto gave a small, genuine smile in return. "Thanks, I like your friendly approach, too." His eyes sparkled with a renewed sense of purpose, and he picked up his equipment, ready for the mission ahead.
The night settled in, and most of the Sun Pirates were resting. However, Naruto was far from tired. He had a mission, and it was one he intended to carry out flawlessly. With precision, he had made his way to the city in the clouds, slipping past any potential surveillance without a trace. His targets were high-profile, and his task was clear—plant bombs in strategic locations, creating a network of destruction that would cripple the corrupt system in one fell swoop.
His final destination was one of the slave warehouses on the edge of the city. It was the kind of place that symbolized the depths of depravity in this society, a location so vile that it had to be destroyed, yet too dirty for the pristine city itself.
As he approached the warehouse, a deep disgust began to gnaw at him. "How disgusting this place is. I had underestimated the filth—it's driving me crazy." Naruto's thoughts darkened as he pictured the atrocities committed within these walls. His desire for vengeance and justice surged within him, a hunger so intense that it threatened to consume him. Yet he was no stranger to this kind of rage. His mental fortitude, honed over years of discipline, kept him in check. He couldn't afford to let his emotions get the best of him, not now.
Naruto neared the entrance to the warehouse, and without hesitation, he summoned Arachne. The creature, her form a grotesque blend of spider and dark magic, responded eagerly. The guards posted outside the building didn't even have a chance to react as Arachne's presence engulfed them. With a whisper of her power, she drained their life force, the act so swift and silent that none could warn the others. Their bodies slumped, lifeless, as Arachne's form merged with the shadows, her hunger momentarily satisfied.
"Sorry, Fisher Tiger," Naruto thought, his mind cold as he surveyed the scene. "Unlike you, I don't care about the life of these trashes who willingly serve scum like the World Nobles." His thoughts were sharp, detached from the morality that might have once held him back.
Arachne's whispers filled his mind. "More..." Her voice was thick with bloodlust, her essence stirring with the promise of more death. The intoxicating thrill of violence and vengeance had begun to consume her, and she was hungry for more.
Naruto's blood simmered with rage, but he kept his focus. "You'll get more. Relax." He had his task, and the signal would come soon enough. But for now, he had to free those trapped within this hellhole, waiting for the moment to strike.
Inside the warehouse, the atmosphere was thick with despair, but Naruto's presence brought with it a flicker of hope. The slaves, those desperate souls bound by chains and cruelty, would soon be free—but only after the plan was set into motion.
As he crept deeper into the building, his hand brushing against the walls as though he could feel the suffering embedded within the very structure, he couldn't shake the feeling that this mission was more than just a tactical strike—it was personal. This was his chance to deal with the rot of the world, to fight for freedom, and to eliminate the ones who had long escaped justice.
As Naruto entered the room, he felt a thick, oppressive energy in the air, signaling something darker than what he had already encountered. Moving cautiously, he stepped into the chamber, his eyes immediately falling upon the girl tied to a gruesome contraption. She was a young girl, perhaps seventeen, her body marked by the torment she had suffered. Blood pooled beneath her, yet her beauty remained, untouched by the horrors she had endured. Her hair was messy, but her face was defiant, a fire in her eyes that piqued Naruto's curiosity.
The girl's spirit was strong, her hatred radiating even in her weakened state. This, more than anything, drew Naruto toward her. He approached slowly, his steps deliberate, his senses alert. As he neared, she turned her head to look at him with eyes full of violent hate.
"Who are you, girl?" Naruto asked gently, his voice laced with empathy, as he reached out and carefully touched her face.
"Don't try to play with me, you scum!" she spat out, her voice laced with contempt, clearly not trusting him.
Naruto paused, not at all surprised by her response. His hand withdrew as he replied, "I am not one of them. I'm here to save you. Let me release you now, but you must relax. Trust me." His words were soft and sincere, his actions deliberate as he used Arachne to carefully tend to her wounds.
She looked up at him, her gaze filled with uncertainty. The girl was clearly in pain, both physically and emotionally, but despite her defiance, there was something about her that intrigued Naruto. After a long silence, she finally spoke. "Boa Hancock," she said, her voice hoarse but clear, staring into his eyes with conflicted emotions, unsure whether she should trust him or dismiss him.
"Are you related to snakes?" Naruto asked, noticing the unusual aura about her, as if something greater than just a human was hidden beneath the surface.
Boa's eyes narrowed at the question, but she did not answer. Her throat was too raw for speech, and she still remained suspicious of him, unsure whether this strange encounter was some sort of trap. Naruto didn't press her for an answer. He simply waited, his hand resting by her side, ready to help when the moment came.
Then, he heard the explosion. It was the signal. In an instant, he broke the restraints binding her, the metal snapping apart with ease. Without wasting any time, he rushed to the other cages, freeing the remaining slaves. He moved quickly, with purpose, until he was standing at the opening of the warehouse, where the slaves were already gathering.
"Run through here. Go straight—don't wander around if you want to be free!" he called out in a commanding voice, his gaze sweeping over the mass of people. They didn't need to be told twice. Fear, hope, and the desire for freedom spurred them forward as they bolted for the exit. Boa Hancock, too, joined the others, but Naruto caught a glimpse of her as she ran with two giant females—her expression still filled with gratitude but also confusion.
"Thank you!" she shouted back at him, her voice carrying a note of disbelief.
Naruto nodded, his expression stoic as he turned away. He took to the sky, standing atop the roof of the warehouse, scanning the surroundings. His eyes narrowed as he began picking off any threats. With Obelisk in hand, he fired precise shots at those who dared to get in the way, choosing to use normal bullets to clear the path for the escaping slaves. As he did so, he spotted nobles within his range, and without hesitation, he picked them off one by one, their bodies falling like ragdolls. No house, no castle, no high tower could hide them from his wrath.
"What a beautiful sight," Naruto muttered to himself as he looked down at the city in flames. The sight of it—burning in the darkness—was a symbol of the destruction of the corrupted system that had held so many innocent lives in chains.
He couldn't linger, though. His mission wasn't over. The slaves had made their escape, but Naruto still had unfinished business. As he moved forward, he began to collect food for Arachne, ensuring the creature would have what it needed to grow stronger. His path was clear, but as he passed through the chaos, his focus was unshakable, even as the enemies started to focus more and more on him. His trigger finger was eager, his mind flooded with bloodlust. The helmet hid his expression, but his demonic red eyes glowed with barely contained rage.
Then, he saw it. His eyes locked onto a target, and everything around him seemed to slow. His killer instincts flared to life. A World Noble, standing arrogantly with a little girl by his side. The girl had blonde hair, and from the way she cowered in fear, it was clear she was a slave. The World Noble's treatment of her was brutal, the way he held her, the way he looked down on her—it reminded Naruto of his own past, the darkness he had long tried to escape.
A cold fury surged through him. His mind cleared, and in an instant, he was gone. With a roar of pure rage, he closed the distance, his fist crashing into the World Noble's body with such force that it was turned to a blood mist. The little girl stood there, unmoving, emotionless, as if she had long since learned to shut off any semblance of hope.
Naruto stood over her for a moment, the weight of his actions heavy on his shoulders. What should I do with her? he thought, his eyes filled with the grim reality of her situation. Then, without a second thought, he extended his senses and picked her up, carrying her gently despite the cold rage that still burned in his chest.
"Jinbe," Naruto called out through the comms, his voice steady. "Take the girl."
Without hesitation, he ran through the air, carrying the girl in his arms. As he approached the coast, he could see Jinbe's silhouette in the distance, still guiding the slaves to safety.
"What?!" Jinbe exclaimed as Naruto tossed the girl into his arms. Without missing a beat, Jinbe caught her, though he was clearly caught off guard by the sudden action. He had been expecting another part of the plan, but not this.
Naruto didn't wait for an explanation. He turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Jinbe standing there with the girl in his arms. "Take care of her," Naruto said quietly, his voice low and serious.
Jinbe watched Naruto vanish, a suspicion creeping into his thoughts. Is he actually killing everyone? he wondered, his heart uneasy. The path Naruto was walking seemed darker with each passing moment, and Jinbe couldn't help but worry. This could worsen everything.