The ocean breeze shifted his hair, along with the gulls that mewed around their ship, signaling that they were getting close to an island.
Shikamaru took a deep, calm breath, a small smile forming on his face at the once-in-a-lifetime peace that had befallen the ship.
“HELL YA!”
Aaaand it’s gone.
The loud cheer of their Captain startled the crew into alarm. Everyone’s heads whipped toward the sound. Except for Shikamaru, Sasuke, and Sakura, who just did their best to ignore the blonde. Having grown used to his loud nature.
“Guys guys guys guys!” the sound of excited footsteps pulled Shika out of his head once again. He could hear Sasuke, who was sitting next to him cleaning his sword, take a deep breath.
When the footsteps finally reached the quiet duo, Shikamaru had no choice but to open his eyes.
Only to be greeted with the bright whiskered face of their obnoxious Captain. Who seemed to be holding this week’s paper.
“What is it dobe?” The Nara heard Sasuke question, annoyance already coloring his tone.
“Look!” was all the blonde had to offer, pushing paper in their faces.
When Shika took a proper look at it, he grew confused, it was a wanted poster. Not even anything too big, either, just some new rookie’s first bounty. Which, honestly wasn’t too bad for seemingly being new to the world of piracy.
The rookie had curly black hair, with freckles dotting his smirking cheeks, along with an orange cowboy hat on his raven-haired head. Not too different from the orange their Captain liked to sneak into his every outfit. (Sakura and Ino, after the first time, decided that the Captain was not allowed more than one small article of bright orange clothing on his person at all times, which Naruto accommodate with by always having on an orange sash around his waist, and something else snuck in, normally an orange headband under his hat. He was allowed dulled orange, which he used for other small details of his outfit, just not bright orange.)
Portgas D. Ace the poster said, and the name didn't ring any bells.
A confused glance to the Uchiha next to him showed much the same thing, Sasuke looked just as confused as he did as they met eyes, before simultaneously turning back to their over-excited partner.
“Are we supposed to know who that is, Naruto?” Shika finally asked as it showed that the loud blonde wasn’t going to elaborate any time soon.
Naruto looked confused for a moment, before something seemed to dawn on him, a quiet ooooh coming out of the blonde’s mouth.
“Ya, I suppose not.” He chuckled sheepishly, scratching his whiskered cheek. Before his face lit up again.
“This is my little brother, Ace! He finally got his first bounty!” Naruto gushed, face bright and proud as he gazed back to the poster in his hands.
Everyone went silent in shock around them as they stared at their blonde Captain.
“YOU HAVE A BROTHER!?” almost everyone yelled at the same time, making Naruto jump in surprise and look at everyone confused.
“Ya…?” he answered. “I have three, actually.” he just looked at everyone like they were crazy when they all stared at him in shock. Before Sakura decided to break the silence.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” she asked, “you always talk about your home town, we’d just assumed you would have said something about having family, other than Shanks, of course.”
Naruto just looked more confused, “it never came up?” he questioned more than said, as he stared at the pinkette.
Sakura just shook her head, accepting it for what it was, it honestly didn’t surprise any of them, Naruto was just an airhead like that.
Naruto seemed to shake himself out of his confusion, face lighting up in excitement again as he stood and turned to the crew.
“Everyone! Get ready to turn around after we restock at this island, we are going back to the first half of the Grand Line!” he ordered, earning ‘Aye Captain!’ from everyone on board.
–
They barely made it into the Grand Line when they finally found Ace, since they were coming from the New World they had to go to Fishman Island then they had to stop on Sabaody in order to restock.
They docked The Kurama on grove 20, in the Lawless zone, just so the government wouldn’t try anything or know they were there instantly.
The thugs and pirates who reside in that zone for the most part weren’t stupid enough to try and attack their ship, seeing as they had just recently gotten named an Emperor crew, thanks to multiple of Naruto's stunts.
And they would even be leaving Lee, Hinata, Neji, and TenTen on the Kurama, since they had stuff they needed to finish before they got off, so if anyone got brave enough to try anything, they should be able to take care of them easily.
Shika, Naruto, and Shino were currently sat at one of the dingy bars in grove 20, waiting for the rest of the crew to be finished with their business.
Everyone in the bar did their best to ignore the small group, seeing as their Captain’s face was plastered onto the wall of the bar along with the other four Emperors and the seven warlords. And for the fact that Naruto wasn't exactly subtle looking, with his bright blonde hair, whiskered cheeks, and orange color scheme.
Shika distantly heard the front doors swing open, along with the noise of what sounded like a group of people entering.
The three ignored them and continued drinking.
Everything was going smoothly until the sound of a glass breaking snapped their attention towards the source.
A man stood scowling down at another younger man with a very familiar orange hat (Shikamaru could feel the excitement radiating off of the blonde next to him).
The younger man- Ace, was looking up at the man sheepishly, hands raised placatingly as if he was looking at a child about to throw a tantrum, from where he was sitting next to his and (who Shika assumes) his crew’s table.
“Watch it asshole! You made me trip and spill my ale!” the older man yelled, making Ace grimace.
“Look, dude, it wasn't my fault, alright? But if your really that upset about it, ill pay for your drink, does that sound fair?” no, it in fact did not sound fair at all, seeing as Ace was sitting covered in the spilled ale, while the man seemed to only have it on his shoes.
The man’s face twisted up even more, before going even redder in his anger, “oh you’ll pay alright!” he yelled before he lunged for the younger man.
Only to be stopped dead in his tracks by a firm hand on his shoulder. And Shika could see the shock and alarm on everyone’s faces, as they looked at the newest addition to the argument. The bar was now dead silent.
The man who had lunged at Ace whipped around, ready to attack whoever stopped him, only to freeze.
Naruto grinned coldly down at the man, despite being only a couple of inches taller. The man gulped audibly, face going as white as a sheet.
“Now now, didn’t he already say he would pay for the drink? There’s no reason to start fighting, is there?”
The man tripped back, almost falling into Ace, who was too busy staring at Naruto in shock to move if it wasn’t for Shikamaru stepping in at the last minute and pushing the man to the side. Giving the man the most bored look he could muster.
The man started nodding his head frantically, eyes darting back and forth from Shikamaru to Naruto, before stumbling back further turning towards the door and practically sprinting out.
Silence enveloped the bar, the tension so high it could be sliced with a kunai, only to be suddenly broken by the shocked freckled raven-haired man still seated.
“What the fuck are you doing here!?” Ace practically shrieked, jumping up from where he was seated to stand in front of his older brother, who, now that Shikamaru got a good look at him, was shorter than Ace.
Everyone in the bar held their breath as they waited for Naruto’s reply, even Ace’s crew, who were looking at their captain like he was a fucking idiot, which, honestly, Shikamaru could sympathize.
Naruto just scratched his cheek with a sheepish smile. “Heeeey, Ace, funny seeing you here, ehehehehe….”
Ace stood frozen as he processed Naruto's words before he slumped in defeat.
“I honestly don’t know what I was expecting…” he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Naruto seemed to light up at that before he practically tackled the raven-haired male in a hug. Ace’s crew all tensed, as if preparing for a fight, making Shikamaru and Shino do the same. Both men knew those two were fine, but Ace’s crew didn’t. They needed to make sure Ace’s crew didn’t try anything stupid in this reunion.
Which- again, Shikamaru could painfully relate, it seemed the sworn brothers are more alike than the first appearances show.
Everyone in the bar was staring at the scene in shock, not seeming to quite know how to react to an Emperor (no matter how new that title was) tackle hugging a random Rookie.
Shikamaru turned to them with an annoyed scowl. “What? Do you think this is a show? Mind your own damn business.'' He didn’t yell it, didn't even raise his voice, but the message got around just the same.
Everyone whipped their heads away so fast, that if Shikamaru had enough energy to care, he might have been worried about whiplash.
Shino turned towards an empty table and grabbed three chairs, dragging them to the Spade Pirates tables. When the chairs were put as close to the tables as they could be without getting too cramped (there were a decent amount of people in the young Rookies crew, he’d have to admit.) both Shika and Shino took a seat. Earning varying looks of shock and distrust from the young crew.
Shikamaru sat back in his chair lazily, pulling a cigarette out of his pocket, and lighting it while it was in his mouth with his favorite silver lighter, a gift from his mentor before he had left his island with Naruto.
He purposefully drew in the smoke, before slowly blowing it out, watching with amusement as the crew all twitched and squirmed under the tense silence as they waited for their captains to be done with their reunion.
He could see Shino shake his head, exasperated, in the corner of his eye.
It didn't take long for Ace and Naruto to drag themselves over to the table, goofy grins printed onto their faces. Naruto took his seat in between Shika and Shino, with Shika on his left and Shino on his right, while Ace took back his previous seat right next to who Shika assumed was his first mate, Masked Deuce, who was giving his captain a quite impressive, annoyed stink eye.
Oh ya, he’s perfect. Ace couldn’t have found anyone better.
“As nice as this reunion is, Captain, I feel like introductions should be in place, why? Because it seems that Ace’s crew doesn't know how he knows you.” Shino input, face covered by the collar of his jacket and eyes covered by his black glasses, voice politely monotone.
The Spade’s jumped from the Bug-user’s voice. This having been the first time the quiet man has spoken.
Naruto’s face lit up at that, grin getting impossibly bigger. “Oh! Right!” he laughed, before straightening up. “My name is Naruto Uzumaki, this man on my right is Shikamaru Nara my Navigator/Second Mate, and the man on my left is Shino Aburame! I'm Ace's older brother!”
You could hear a pin drop in the silence that had claimed the once boisterous bar, and Shika made sure to send a glare out to the brave few who unashamedly started staring.
“What…” Masked Deuce dumbly said, before he slowly turned towards his sheepish Captain. “The, fuck, Ace!” Ace winced from his first mate. Before he sent him an apologetic (if not confused) look.
“It never came up?” he lamely asked more than said. All it did was earn him a rather scathing glare sent his way.
Deuce seemed to just deflate after that, head resting in his hands as he seemed to count to ten before looking back up at an amused Naruto with a more docile look.
“It’s nice to meet you, my name is Deuce, i’m Ace’s first mate.” the man introduced, voice resigned.
Naruto grinned even wider at that.
Ace and Deuce introduced everyone else in his crew and Shikamaru could only watch as Naruto’s grin got wider and wider. His Captain looked impossibly proud of the crew his little brother managed to gather.
—
Ace paused, tilting his head curiously as he turned towards Deuce. “Hey, question.”
Deuce paused, lowering his glass back onto the wooden table.
The black-haired man continued when he got the other’s attention, “why does it matter that Naruto is my brother?”
Everyone paused at that except Naruto. Who had just kept drinking as if what Ace had said meant nothing.
Deuce blinked, “Ace- have you heard of the emperors?” he asked, eyeing his captain with narrowed eyes.
Ace just looked more confused, “ya… Obviously, after we enter the New World we’re going to be visiting Red-Hair, remember? But- what does this have to do with the emperors?”
Naruto grinned into his cup.
Deuce looked done with his captain, “you do know your brother is one too, right? He was named one recently.”
Ace paused, and for a moment, Naruto was convinced Ace hadn’t heard the other man when all he did was blink. But then- “What!?” the freckled teen whipped towards Naruto in shock, gripping the blonde’s shoulders and shaking him when all Naruto did was laugh.
“Why didn’t you tell me you became a fucking emperor!?” he yelled.
Naruto only laughed louder. Ignoring how he was practically being turned into a bobblehead by the force of Ace’s shaking.
Naruto grinned with tears in his eyes, “hah- your fucking face! Hahaha! It’s not my fault you don’t read the news! Ahahah!”
Ace’s face turned beet red, whether from anger or embarrassment. Naruto wasn’t sure. But, He did look two seconds from lifting his hands from Naruto’s shoulders to his neck to strangle the life out of him. So he was leaning more toward anger.
Which- when he lifted his hands and gripped his neck, he continued shaking him to death while yelling incomprehensible insults and curses at the blonde.
Naruto couldn’t stop laughing. Which definitely pissed off his younger brother, quite a bit.
That is- until both Ace and Naruto’s heads were slapped forward by a very annoyed pinkette. From the force of the blow, their heads smacked together. Making both of them fall back and off of their chairs in pain with a yelp.
“Owwwww- Sakura!” Naruto whined, holding his abused head, “what was that for!?”
He saw Ace nod in agreement before he was forced to stop with a wince.
Sakura pinned her narrowed gaze onto the two men, “you were acting like children. Weren’t we supposed to be under the radar? That doesn’t look like under the radar to me.”
Naruto winced and averted his gaze with a pout, meeting eyes with his partners pleadingly.
Shika just raised an eyebrow and turned back toward his drink with a smirk. Sasuke just looked done. And he had just gotten there.
The rest of his crew crowded around the table of rookies as Naruto and Ace both got up and sat back in their seats.
Ace’s crew looked very intimidated by the emperor’s crew. It was enough for Naruto to forget the pain in his head and watch the interactions in amusement.
Sasuke pulled a chair up to his right as Shino scooted his chair further toward their crew before sitting down with a bored expression, eyeing the rookie crew tensely.
Both Shikamaru and Naruto eyed the black-haired young man with amusement, watching as silence enveloped the bar once again and his little brother’s crew squirmed under the stares of his crew.
Finally- Sasuke smirked, leaning back in his chair allowing the rookies to practically slump in their seats, including Ace.
Naruto smirked, Sasuke was very intimidating when he wanted to be. So could Neji. the rest of the crew were convinced it was because of their clans. The Hyuga and Uchiha.
Now those were some scary people.
Naruto grinned, straightening in his seat as he introduced his crew. First- Sasuke Uchiha, his First Mate/Partner. He had already introduced Shikamaru Nara, his Second Mate/Partner/Navigator, and Shino Aburame the Instructor on his crew. Next was Sakura, his Doctor.
Then Rock Lee, his Shipwright.
Choji Akimichi, his Helmsman.
Neji Hyuga, his Lookout.
Hinata Hyuga, his Cook.
Sai, their Assassin.
Kiba Inuzuka, their Beast Tamer.
Ino Yamanaka, their Scholar.
And Tenten, their Sniper!
He knew, based on the looks on some of Ace’s crew’s faces, that some of his crew didn’t need an introduction.
But, Naruto didn’t particularly care. It was only polite, besides, Ace never reads the papers. So if anything- it was for his little brother’s sake.
—
Ace and Naruto were now sitting at a table in a corner of the bar, watching their crews mingle and drink.
Ace turned toward the blonde with a hard expression. Making Naruto turn to meet his gaze curiously.
“I’m going to do something stupid.” he started, his face unusually serious despite his words.
Naruto tilted his head, eyeing his brother’s expression with a blank face. “Whitebeard?” he asked, his voice quiet and calm.
Ace ducked his head and nodded, his eyes glaring at the cup sitting in his hands.
Naruto sighed, “so you really plan on taking him on?”
Ace’s head whipped up to Naruto with a determined glare, “of course I do! I need to prove that I’m stronger than him!”
Naruto averted his gaze, his eyes pinching slightly in thought, before he sighed, “Fine, but know, his title ‘strongest man’ isn’t for show, it’s true. And I will have to go to war with another Emporer if you lose- which, Ace, I love you, you’re my little bro, but I need to speak the truth here, you will lose.” he finished, meeting Ace’s gaze seriously. Leaving no room for Ace to think he was kidding or over-exaggerating.
Ace’s shoulders rose to his ears defensively as he averted his gaze from Naruto’s. “I don’t care.” his voice was no louder than a whisper. “I don’t want you to go to war a risk your life for me.” he raised his gaze back up to Naruto’s, his eyes glassy, “but- I also know that unless I beat him, I won’t be able to convince myself and everyone around me that I’m not him. He was his rival, right? They never had a winner in their fights. So that means that if i beat Whitebeard and win? I’ll know I did something he couldn’t, i did something that proved I wasn’t him.”
Naruto sighed, “at least- at least wait. Wait until you’re stronger, until you know you can beat him. Which- even then won’t be enough. And make sure that you contact me before you challenge him. I want to be there to make sure that if you lose, you won’t die. And Ace-” he met Ace’s gaze evenly, “ I Don’t care whether you want me to go to war for you or not. It is my choice. You are my little brother, just like Sabo, just like Luffy. I love all three of you and no matter what, I would go to war for you. I would gladly die for you three if need be. So-” he ignored how Ace’s bottom lip quivered and how tears threatened to escape his eyes, “If you don’t want me to fight for you, Don’t give me a reason to. Okay?”
Ace ducked his head with a nod, and Naruto could see tears travel down to his chin and fall into his lap.
Naruto knew that Ace still didn’t quite believe that he was telling the truth. That he would fight and die for Ace. but it was fine. He didn’t need to. Because no matter if the younger believed him or not, it didn’t change that he would.
He would wage a war against his fellow Emperors. He would wage a war against the world government if it meant keeping his little brothers safe.
Even if it was just him against the world, it wouldn’t change his mind. Never.
—
Naruto smiled and waved as his little brother’s boat sunk into the sea, out of view. On its way to Fishman Island to continue his journey.
He sighed, leaning onto the railing of the Kurama.
‘You’ve been quiet lately, I’m surprised you didn’t want to talk to Ace.’
He heard a huff in the back of his head, ‘too many people.’ a voice grumbled. Making Naruto huff a laugh.
‘That’s never stopped you before, you old fox.’
The beast his ship was named after grumbled more, ‘we’ll see him again, I’m sure. Hopefully in a less public setting. Now- leave me alone, I’m going to take a nap.”
Naruto shook his head with a grin but didn’t answer.
The fox wasn’t wrong. Naruto was certain they would see Ace again. Even if it meant he had to track his little brother to whatever no-name island he had ended up stuck at to ensure it.