A/N: REVIEW FOR IT FEEDS MY ENGINE OF CREATION!

Seriously, though. It really keeps me writing when I'm racked by illness.

Ah, feels good to get back into One Piece again after all this time. Its been awhile! Don't worry, I'm working on the rest of my stuff now!

HELLO MOTHERFUCKERS~! I'm back again! Got my leg back, and I'm fit for duty! No long author's note this time. I'm proud to bring you all the conclusion of the Marineford arc, as well as the answer to the age old question...

...what will become of Ace?

Oh, and do guess at the quote below. I believe I made it painfully obvious, but who knows?

Sorry if its short, but hey, I'm back at last!

Fair warning, Naruto gets...rather angry in this chapter. Within good reason, considering all that's happened so far. I've gotten into the manga and well...let's just say Blackbeard's got my blood boiling. A few quick clarifications on that note; Ace has been freed already-did that a few chapters ago-and 'ol Whitebeard is still alive and kicking as of this chapter. Since Naruto took the battle to Teach, Newgate never received those grievous injuries. Who knows? He might survive, unlike in "My Pride is a Hurricane." I like to think he would've lived if not for that bastard.

So in short, death to Teach.

Slow, agonizing, painful DEATH.

And yes, references, references everywhere!

Also, writing Hancock is an absolute TREAT. She's so entertaining...

"Men? Men do not fear swords.

No, they fear monsters."

~from a criminally underrated movie.

Monsters and Men

"Black. Death."

The air caught fire as if struck by flint and a wall of napalm roared towards Blackbeard. As if the world itself had been consumed in an inferno so too did, he sense the humidity spike in the fog, felt the howling pillar of flame hurtle toward him with searing fury. Scrambling he tried to rise, tried to extricate himself from the blade drilling him to the ground, but to no avail. Already he could feel his flesh beginning to warm, stiflingly so. Then came the agony, spiking through his blood, roaring in his ears, obliterating all thought, all sense, all rationality. He could only stare as the rampaging blast snarled forward to consume him.

"No!" he cried! "Not like this! I was supposed to win! NOT LIKE-

Pain roared across his body.

Somehow, he managed to rip himself free from the blade pinning him to the ground and fling up what remained of his hands in vain to swallow the all-consuming inferno with his own power. Yes, that's right! He reminded himself, steeling his body against the assault. The darkness is absolute! I just need to get ahold of that damn brat again! Surely he could do...

...something?

Akin to a starving beast, the hellfire devoured his darkness in a single breath, swarming over both man and element alike with fangs bared. Realizing what was about to transpire Teach turned to flee, only for the flame to pounce upon his now-exposed back. Driven into the ground by the explosive force, he squealed like a struck pig, flailing wildly against the stone. Ringed fingers pawed at the blaze even as it ate away at his flesh, smothering all attempts to stifle its unholy wrath. Rational thought abandoned him. There was no plot, no plan, no grand scheme. Only the aching desire to escape before he burned alive. Surely if he could just-

A burning boot crunched down against Blacbkeard's side, shattering that thought alongside three of his ribs.

"No, no, no." a hoarse hiss trickled into his ear. "You don't get to run. Not after all you've done."

Strong hands seized the larger man by his hair and hoisted him upward. Spun him about to face his tormentor even as his body slowly cooked itself from within. Heated orbs the color of bloody shadows leered back at him and the hulking rogue fought down a whimper. Those eyes were death. For all their fire there was no warmth in them. Only cold, implacable fury. Belatedly he realized he might've pushed the blond too far. He'd gone well past his breaking yet still, his tormentor didn't speak. He simply held him aloft, his blank visage betraying nothing.

An ember of bitter defiance flickered to life in Teach's scarred chest.

"Zehahaha...you won't kill me, Naruto! If you do...!

CRUNCH.

Burning knuckles roared into his disfigured face when he attempted to speak further, shattering his nose in a crimson spray. Once. Twice. Thrice. The rhythmic slap of clenched fists meeting broken bone and burned flesh filled Marineford time and time again, forcing some to look away from the spectacle. Others found themselves unable to avert their gaze. Instead they looked on, spellbound as the Prince of Darkness ruthlessly beat Blackbeard within an inch of his life. Flinging him to death's own doorstep the Prince of Darkness stopped short, leaving his foe hanging over the precipice of the abyss.

Belatedly, the battered brute realized he'd done more than that; the enraged Logia had actually cast him to the ground with that punch.

'Now's my chance!'

Gagging against his own broken molars, the portly pirate reared up and seized the blond by both wrists. To his great delight the young man didn't make any attempt to escape, nor did he resist. Yes! Sure enough, the flames that had slowly been consuming him abated, easing his fear of death. Now if he could just use this opportunity to land a fatal blow, the boy's powers would be his! Once he had those, he could-

"Ha! You're mine now!" crowing, he climbed to his feet. "Zehahahaha! Idiot! Even if you'd killed me, they'd never stop hunting you-

The whiskered warrior merely tilted his head to gaze up at him.

...let's test that, shall we?"

In an impossibly fluid movement Naruto leaped up, tucked his legs beneath him, and planted both boots into Marshall's face. The sheer force of the collision nearly caused Teach to release him outright; it was only through his own spiteful strength the he managed to hold fast. He nearly laughed outright at the brash move. Idiot! What did he hope to gain from something like this?! He'd only succeeded in creating a stalemate...what? What on earth was he doing? As he looked on, something unholy flashed in that wild gaze of Prince of Darkness. As though the eye of the most vile creature from the darkest pit of the underworld had just caught him in its sights.

Then he began to pull.

A low grunt pushed past gritted teeth as he gathered his strength and pushed with his legs, stretching Blackbeard's arms to their utmost limit. Then beyond that. Even further beyond. Within moments Teach found all thoughts of offense forgotten entirely; nay, he found himself struggling just to maintain his hold on the blond, all thought devoted to this singular task. Even that was becoming difficult. Certainly when his captive railed against him like a thing possessed! Just what did he think he was doing-

Riiiiiiiiiiiiip.

Quite unexpectedly, he lost his grip.

Crashing backwards the captain found himself blinking in surprise, rather than anger. Odd. He hadn't released the blond. Nor had he lost his grip. His hold on Naruto had been fraying to be sure, but it was still firm; even with his wounds he'd sustained in their battle he remained confident in his titanic might. So why was he on the floor and why was the boy smiling at him? Moreover, why couldn't he sit up? Time and time again he tried to use his hands to lever himself up off the ground and rise to face the impertinent youth, only to slip and fall. What on earth...?

Wait.

In disbelief he gawped at his hands, still clutching the blond's arms. Well! That didn't make any sense. If his hands were there, then why did he keep...oh. Only then did he truly behold the ruined, spurting stumps of his own wrists. Only then did he see them, still latched onto the arms of Itachi's heir. Those same hands, now rendered so much ash by the very victim he'd sought to slay. Said victim came for him now, advancing upon him with slow, determined steps. Clamoring backwards like a drunken crab, the former Warlord scrambled away as quickly as his mangled arms would allow.

A keening cry leaped out of him as he crawled away, the words echoing endlessly into the silent battlefield.

"Somebody!" he shrieked! "Anybody! Help me! I'll pay you! Whatever it takes!"

An iron hand found his throat, strangling the words in his throat.

"Urk! Stop!" a low croak tore out of him. "I surrender! I-

"SHUT! UP!"

The Prince of Darkness-for in his mindless terror Teach could no longer think of this blazing entity as Naruto-reeled him in, smashed his blazing visage against his and roared in his face. Fangs bared, he bellowed at him, driving that last desperate spark of resistance from his body, swallowing his very soul. It was a sound unlike any Blackbeard had heard before and would never since; harsh and angry, full of pent up fury. This bestial blast of hot air howled up into his face, momentarily deafening the battered pirate, forcing him to shut his swollen eyes against it. This wasn't the scream of a man. This was a monster. A creature out for blood. Nothing short of vengeance could satisfy him, and only death would stop him.

"You don't get to surrender!" the blond's snarl rattled him harsh and grating. "Not after all you've done!"

Hoisted high by that gloved fist, he flailed fiercely at his captor.

"What I did that day...it made you strong! You should be thanking me! S'ides," he rasped, "I wasn't the one who killed him! Ace did! You know that! If there's anyone you should kill...!"

The vice on his throat slackened, just a touch, providing him the faintest ray of hope.

"Maybe so...

Even now he could feel his knuckles bleeding, his arms aching, begging to lash out and cut down the one who'd ended Itachi's life so many years before. Blackbeard's words had planted a seed of temptation in his chest, and as the moments ticked by, it slowly took root. Blazing eyes gazed past Teach to alight upon a distant figure in the fog of war. Ah. In his anger he'd nearly forgotten. From this distance he had a prime view of Roger's son. He could see him, fleeing with Luffy. It would so easy. Hellfire was immeasurably powerful; more so than any mere flame. Ace would never see the attack coming. A shot in the back and Itachi would be avenged and in doing so...

No.

...he'd be no better than this scum.

Would the man he admired want him to do this?

Admonishing himself for the temptation, he shook his head.

What followed took Teach's hope and dashed it against the rocks.

"That may be true...but you were the one who set those events into motion. Not Ace. YOU!" Clawed fingers tightened around his throat, knuckles turning white as he continued to apply pressure. "I thought about forgiving you, ya know. But...I can't. You've done too much; I have no choice."

A dark ember snarled between them.

"Damnti! W-W-What kind of man are you?!" Teach growled. "You've already beaten me and taken my hands! Isn't that enough?! What more do ya want?!"

Not a heartbeat later, he realized the awful truth.

"Man?" Blazing eyes regarded him coldly, without pity, without empathy. "I am not a man. Men do not fear swords. No, they fear monsters." scarred fingers tightened around Teach's throat, relentlessly squeezing the life from his lungs, grinding all hope of resistance away as as he continued. "They run from them. Hate them. Fear them. Dread them." A swirl of black flame blossomed in his right hand, cradled aloft for Teach and Teach alone to see. Swelling larger with each passing moment, it grew to encompass the blond's arm, leashed only by a thin tether of willpower. Frantic, he tried to squirm away from it, to no avail.

"Sometimes the world no longer needs a hero, or even a pirate." his captor rumbled. "Sometimes what it needs is a monster."

Naruto leaned forward, raising his voice to be heard above the low roar of the flames. Too late, he realized his peril. Deprived of his hands he could only kick uselessly against him; with so many wounds it proved impossible to even call upon his powers; to deny him the satisfaction he sought. And even had he possessed some modicum of control over his abilities at this moment, it would'be been stolen away by those blazing orbs

"I am your monster, Teach." Naruto hissed. "You created me. As thanks...

Silently, he pressed his hand to the pirate's chest, fingers splayed.

With a wordless howl, the flame surged forward.

...I give you oblivion."

Marshall D. Teach didn't so much burn as he ceased to exist, his body turning to so much ash beneath the raging element. This time when the hellfire struck him it showed no mercy. The wave of black death flowed up and into his body, eviscerating every fiber of his being, searing through cloth and flesh without pause. Muscle and sinew evaporated. Bone crumbled. Whatever spiteful last words lingering on his tongue withered and died in his throat as the skin peeled from his physical, leaving only a sundered skeleton behind in their place. Soon enough, not even that remained.

What cinders lingered found themselves blown away by a strong breeze.

"Ashes to ashes." he murmured to himself. "Dust to dust."

A small smile alighted upon Naruto's visage.

It didn't last long.

"There! How's that?! All that talk and for what?! Now you're dead!"

Turning to face the charred ground, he felt that smile begin to slip. Soon enough, he found himself scowling. In avenging his "brother" he'd done more than alter the fate of the war; he'd deprived himself of his purpose. Having carried a grudge for so long, only to be rid of it...was almost too much to bear. Why was he here? What more was there left for him to do? Worse, the temptation to confront Ace for his part in Itachi's death remained in spite of all he'd done. It lingered like a bad taste in his mouth, casting an ugly shadow over his thoughts. Shame and dismay warred within him. The savagery of Blackbeard's death had momentarily put the war on hold. All eyes were on him, not with respect, but fear.

For better of worse, he'd made himself known to the world.

Become a wanted man, hated and feared by many.

Was his vengeance worth it all in the end?

"Hey, Itachi...are you proud of me?"

The heavens didn't answer.

With that thought, his wounds finally caught up with him and he succumbed to fatigue. His body betrayed him at long last, dropping to a knee despite all demands to stand. Try as he might, it was all he could do just to breathe. After fighting for long without pause, without rest...

"Naruto!"

Unbidden, he swayed in place.

"Hancock?"

Slender arms seized him from behind even as he pitched backward. Propped him up, lest he fall. Naruto didn't think to struggle...at first. By the time he realized who had come to his rescue, it was already too late. In dismay he tried to break free, only to find himself held fast. No! What was she thinking?! She had to know the eyes of the world were on them now; for her to make a move and rush to his aid would do more than paint her in an unfavorable light; it would strip her of her title as a Warlord, and worse than that, she risked attracting the eyes of the World Nobles themselves.

"What are you doing?!" He hissed through clenched teeth. "Let go! If someone sees...

"Breathe, beloved." she whispered quickly, urgently in his ear, feigning a struggle even as he grappled with her. "He's dead. There's nothing more you can do to him...or he, you. Find purpose in living. Play your part. The eyes of the world are on you, now. I'll be waiting for you."

...right."

Exhaling softly, he forced himself to growl, to adopt the very guise he so desperately despised. There was no other choice. To show his true face meant exposing their weakness; both hers as well as his own. It was easy enough to fake a blow; to pull his punch and fling her away. For her part the Empress played her role beautifully, her pained expression almost made him wonder if he'd genuinely injured her. Were it not for the knowledge that he'd deliberately held back and refrained from the flame, he might've believed her.

Grimacing, he spread his arms wide, as though to embrace the heavens themselves.

"Alright, then!" Raising his voice to be heard by marine and pirate alike, he spoke to the masses. "Now that we've taken care of that, it seems you lot have a choice to make. I think we've all realized this little charade isn't going to get us anywhere. We've killed a few of yours, you've killed a few of ours! So! Sengoku! Let's talk-

"Well said!"

In all honesty, the Prince of Darkness was delighted to be upstaged by Shanks.

A/N: FWAH! Suuuuch a long chapter! Its really late over here and my eyes are KILLING ME! Although, being a skeleton...I HAVE NO EYES! YOHO! Hope you enjoyed it! Oh, and please don't forget to review until my ears fall off. Although, being a skeleton...I have no ears to listen! YOHOHOHOHO! SKUULLL JOOOOKE! Hope you enjoyed this chapter, people!

So...in the immortal words of Atlas...

...Review, would you kindly? And of course, enjoy the preview! And there's two of them. Its a shocker! Next time: Crew or Captain...?

(Preview!)

"This island is now under my protection!"

"For crying out loud! Stop following me! I'm not your captain!"

"But, captain!"

"WHAT?!"

One of them offered him a newspaper.

"How would this change any...WHAT THE HELL?!"

"Another dream? Come back to bed, beloved...

"You truly are insane. You know that, don't you?"

"Eh, what can I say? Its not like me to follow the book."

"Vanderdecken, was it?"

A muscle jumped in his jaw.

"Heard you enjoy making people cry."

R&R! =D