Notes: My gosh, would you look at the time? It's new crossover time! Once again born out of my disgust for the already existing fics in this category. "If you want something done, do it yourself" is my new motto. None of my fics are abandoned, so no worries there.

As for the story itself, I will reveal nothing. The setting is easy enough to figure out, and everything else will become clear with time. The first chapter is admittedly small, but that won't be a regular occurence.

Disclaimer: I own neither Naruto nor One Piece, and make no profits from this work of fiction.

Without further ado, I present to you:

~N~

All The World's Wonders

~N~

Naruto supposed that all great stories must include a hero and a monster. His own was no exception. Rather than end with the hero vanquishing the monster, however, his story started with it.

Indeed, everyone in the island of Konoha knew the story of what happened twenty years ago. Of how the heroic Mayor Minato Namikaze defeated the Devil Fruit user rampaging throughout the island at the cost of his own life. However, mothers will whisper to their children when telling the tale, the Fruit that the attacker was using was not an ordinary Devil Fruit, if indeed any Devil Fruit can be called that. The kids will gasp fearfully and ask why. The mother will then say that it was a demonic Devil Fruit, one of a set of nine and the strongest of them all. Its user had been a true monster, impossible to reason with and slaughtering indiscriminately before finally being put down.

Demonic Devil Fruits have a few peculiarities, if one is to believe the legends. Upon the death of its user, the Fruit will spawn once more at the exact place of death, waiting to be consumed once again. Like all other Devil Fruits, Demonic Devil Fruits respawn at a random place if destroyed before being consumed. However, legend in Konoha has it that if a Demonic Devil Fruit is destroyed or remains uneaten for a period of time, the land around it will be cursed. Many a tale exist of fallen countries, brought low by misfortune and circumstance because of such Fruits.

Which was why, Naruto was told as soon as he was old enough to understand the words, the late Mayor had force-fed him the Akuma-Akuma no Mi, Model: Kyuubi, mere seconds before succumbing to his wounds.

Naruto did not buy it for a second. He'd been just a newborn, then. Scarcely a few days old, if the old man was to be believed. Why was he fed the Fruit? Had his parents slighted the late Mayor in some way? Why not, well, anybody else? Granted, Demonic Devil Fruits had a terrible reputation, but surely someone would have wanted one of the strongest Mythical Zoan Fruits in existence? Konoha did not lack for strong fighters, but still. Mythical Zoan Fruits are said to be even more rare than the Logia types.

But no, he'd been dumped with that honor and had been trying to live with it for the last nineteen years. Twenty in two months. The effects of the Kyuubi user's attack could still be felt to this day. The battle between him and Mayor Namikaze had left Konoha island physically scarred and many families decimated. Naruto did not begrudge the people their sorrow and anger towards the attacker, but neither could he excuse their behavior against him. Of course, he'd never been harmed or mistreated in any way, but everyone knew that he was the current Kyuubi user, and they seemed unable to look past that, as if expecting him to lose his mind and go on a rampage at any given moment. He'd been alone all his life, without friends or anyone he could really relate to, considering his status as an orphan.

But, Naruto supposed, it hadn't been all bad. The newly reinstated ex-Mayor, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had taken baby Naruto in and raised him to the best of his abilities. The fact that the people of Konoha saw this as the Mayor keeping a close eye on the Kyuubi user was irrelevant to him. Sarutobi loved him and had done his best to raise him. He needed no one else. He did not doubt that it was Sarutobi's influence and nothing else that allowed him to be employed and be treated fairly by others.

"Naruto!"

"Eh?" The voice yelling at him startled him, and the saw he'd been holding slipped and dug deep into his thumb. He dropped it with a hiss, bringing his now free hand to hold the wrist of the injured one. It bled freely, crimson liquid flowing down his hand and dripping to the ground.

The man who had yelled at him abandoned his own post and ran towards him, dropping a hammer in the process. He was a fellow in his fifties, with graying black hair and many lines on his face.

"Shit, sorry kid," the man swore as he came to a stop next to him "I didn't mean to startle you, but you'd dozed off something fierce and you've been out of it all morning. Shouldn't you have that looked at? Or at least wrapped with something?"

It stung something fierce, certainly, but Naruto did nothing beyond grit his teeth and hold his wrist. At his boss' words, he shook his head.

"Nah, don't worry. It should be fine, give it a few seconds." Saying this, he raised his injured hand so that his boss could more easily see. Indeed, the bleeding had stopped and the cut, though deep, was slowly closing. In front of the older man's wide eyes, the torn muscle and skin knit itself back together. After it was done, Naruto clenched and then relaxed his hand, making sure everything was in working order. Not even a scar remained.

"See?"

His question shook the older man out of his daze, and he looked at Naruto with slightly more subdued eyes.

"Oh, that. I'd … forgotten about that." The man said at the awkward silence.

And really, that was the best that Naruto could have hoped for from anyone in Konoha. Sometimes, people would forget that he was a Demon user and treat him normally. He'd been lucky with Beor, his current employer. He'd worked for him for the last two years, and they'd developed an amiable enough relationship. Naruto worked hard and was good company, and that was all Beor cared for after the first few months of wary glances.

"I guess I should get back to work. Sorry I'm slacking off today."

"It's no problem, lad." Beor waved his concerns away. "In fact, you can stop early today, I can take it from here. Beli for your thoughts, though? What's troubling you?"

Naruto released a sigh, running his newly healed hand through his spiky blond hair. There was no easy way to go about this, and he'd been mulling it over all day. He'd planned to tell Beor a week before, but kept putting it off. The older man was one of the only people he had regular and normal contact with, and he was afraid of losing that. There was nothing for it anymore, though.

"I'm not renewing our contract after today, Beor." He said eventually. He and Beor had walked from the yard with the lumber inside the shop proper. He peered at Naruto curiously.

"You never complained about the pay, but I know you've been gathering money. I can give you a raise if that's what this is about."

"Heavens, no. The pay was fine, and I'm grateful for everything you've done for me, but I have other plans for my future, starting today."

The older man watched him intentleor was thinking.

"You're leaving, aren't you?" Beor asked him, suddenly, catching Naruto completely by surprise. He gaped for a few seconds before stammering a reply.

"What? No, nothing of the sort. I'm not planning to leave today or anything like that."

His weak lying wasn't convincing anyone and he knew it. He stopped speaking, lest he make a fool of himself further.

"It really wasn't that hard to figure it out. You, quitting like that? And that boat of yours that you got four months ago? It don't take much to understand."

After composing himself, he spoke again.

"Please don't tell anyone."

"Aye, lad. If that be your wish, I won't."

"Thanks Beor. I guess I should get going now. Thanks for letting me off early."

"Where ya going so soon? Wait a spot." Beor told him as he walked briskly to the counter, retrieving a small pouch from a cupboard and tossing it to him. Naruto caught it reflexively and heard the sound of coins scrapping against each other.

"What's this?"

"Your final payment for this week. Were you really going to leave without it?"

Naruto weighed the pouch in his hand. It was heavier and bigger than he remembered.

"This is at least twice what it should be."

"Consider it a going away present."

Naruto was at a loss for words, and it was just as well, because all his mental faculties were busy preventing his eyes from watering. No one else besides the old man had ever been kind to him just for the sake of being kind to him. No one.

"Beor … this is- … I…" Thankfully his inarticulate rambling was stopped by his former boss, who had walked around the counter and placed a heavy hand on his shoulder.

"You're a good kid, Naruto. No matter what Fruit you happened to eat or what other people say, you're a good kid."

What could he say to that? Nothing immediately jumped to mind.

"Go, lad." Beor continued, finally releasing his shoulder. "I hope you find what you're looking for, out there."

Naruto nodded, not trusting himself with speaking, and all but bolted from the woodworker's store. His abrupt exit drew a few reproachful glances from passerbys, but he ignored them.

He walked through the main town of the island, idly examining the buildings and roads that he wouldn't see again for a long time, hopefully. Konoha was a beautiful island, with lush vegetation and beautiful villages. The people were mild and positive. Because of its isolation, Konoha was a self-sufficient island that rarely traded or had visitors. Its position in the Grand Line and the fact that it practically poked the Calm Belt ensured that it did not lack for strong defenders.

Naruto was heading to the house of its strongest defender, as it happened. The Mayor's house. His house, too, for as long he remembered himself. It was a solid, wooden building of two floors in the center of the city, not far from the Town Hall, where the old man's office was.

Naruto was thankful that Sarutobi was working. He wanted to avoid a confrontation for many reasons, not the least of which being that if the old Mayor wanted to stop him, he could and would. It was regrettable that he would not get to say goodbye to the only man that had ever loved him and cared for him, but he was sure the old man would understand, in time. He would try to write as soon as he could, though ships rarely reached Konoha from anything further than a couple islands away.

The Sarutobi household was tastefully decorated with family relics of old, though not to the point of it being too much. Scrolls lined most of its surfaces, from libraries to cabinets. Naruto's own room was on the second floor. Many of the rooms in the large house were empty ever since Sarutobi's three children moved out, many years ago. Naruto never had much interaction with any of them, save for the old man's grandson, some six years younger than Naruto himself. He would occasionally follow him around and Naruto would show him and his two friends some of the basic tricks the boy's grandfather had taught him.

Naruto climbed the stairs two at a time. Now that it was nearly time he could hardly contain his excitement. He ran into his room, and there he paused. He'd spent his entire life in this room. He looked around at his few personal possessions. Few, because the old man was not big on presents and even if he was, Naruto never placed much importance in material possessions. He'd always saved whatever money he made since he started working, despite the old man's protests.

He had already procured a pair of sturdy leather packs, in which he swiftly placed everything he would take with him. A small chest with his savings and his clothes on one pack, and the supplies he'd secretly stashed in his room in the other.

That was all. A sad fact that this was all he would take with him from his hometown, but nonetheless true. He'd already bought sailing supplies and placed them on the boat, but they didn't count, in any case. He hefted both bags on his shoulders and headed downstairs, leaving the door to his room open.

He was halfway through to the entrance when he was stopped by the most terrifying sound he had ever heard in his life.

"And where are you going, burdened like that?"

He closed his eyes, counted down from ten, and opened them again. Nope, not his imagination. He could feel the presence of his guardian to his right. He turned his head slightly and finally saw him, sitting on a wooden chair.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked pretty unassuming. Dressed in a simple shirt and trousers, he could pass as any random villager. The only particularly distinguishing feature about him was his beard, along with the wooden pipe held up to his mouth with a casual hand.

"… I can explain?" Naruto tried, desperately trying to buy time and figure out a way to not have his plans crash and burn around him.

Sarutobi's so far deceptively calm visage cracked and Naruto shuddered under the man's glare.

"Give me one good reason not to take Enma down from the wall and give you a sound thrashing."

Despite himself, Naruto's gaze landed on the massive bo staff that hung proudly on the wall, a relic from Sarutobi's more active days. He must have been feeling particularly cruel, to threaten him like this. Sarutobi did not need Enma to beat Naruto. Hell, he barely needed a single hand to do it. He'd only ever been on its receiving end once, and it was not an experience he wanted to repeat ever again.

"Naruto." This time the voice wasn't threatening, it was merely exasperated.

"I'm leaving, gramps." He said simply. There was nothing to it. He would not lie to the man who raised him, even when he had no obligation to do so. Sarutobi had done a lot for him, and he deserved nothing but honesty.

"You are doing no such thing."

"But I am, and you cannot stop me."

The Mayor's eyes narrowed, and Naruto repressed a gulp when he saw the old man's fingers twitch.

"I certainly can, young one."

Naruto shook his head. "Maybe you can stop me now, but not indefinitely. I will find a way off this island, with or without your permission."

"I did not train you all these years for you to run headlong into danger like this. That's not why I taught you these skills."

"I'll be forever thankful to you, gramps, but I'm leaving regardless."

The old man looked clearly puzzled. This was good, because it lowered his chances of receiving a very painful beating.

"I knew your intentions, of course. Ever since you became interested in sailing, took that apprenticeship in the supply ship and finally bought that galley of yours. I thought it a hobby, or a passing fancy. I never realized your resolve was this firm."

He paused, rising from his chair and approaching Naruto with slow, deliberate steps. Naruto felt it best to let his packs on the floor, for now. Sarutobi stopped, a step in front of him.

"Why is this so important to you, Naruto?"

"I need to do this."

"Why? Why can't you stay in Konoha?"

"Why?" Naruto all but spat the word. "You ask me why? Tell me who my parents were, and I will stay. Show me how to control my powers, and I will stay. Make the villagers look at me and see something other than the killer of their relatives, and I will stay. Until you can do any of that, old man, don't stop me."

The eldest Sarutobi flinched as if struck. His shoulders slumped, and he looked a decade older than his already quite advanced age. Naruto regretted the harshness of his tone, but his words were true.

"You know I can't do that, Naruto. Control will come with time and practice and experience. I regret terribly that I cannot tell you of your parentage, but I made a vow long ago to someone very dear to me. As for the villagers, give them time, Naruto. And you know you're not helping the situation with your self-imposed isolation."

All true, and all things he'd heard before. He had first asked after his parents when he was old enough to understand the concept of parents, and he had never stopped asking.

He shook his head. He would not argue about this.

"Not enough, old man. I'm sorry, but my decision won't change. I'm leaving. Today."

Sarutobi looked at him, and he looked extremely troubled and conflicted. They stared at each other for a full minute, before Naruto broke the silence.

"Please don't stop me, gramps. Please don't stand against me. Not you, gramps. Not you too."

Sarutobi's eyes softened.

"Nobody is against you, Naruto." He whispered.

Naruto shook his head. Gramps wasn't getting it. This wasn't getting them anywhere. Naruto had no reason to stay. He had no family in Konoha, and no friends, either. The best he could hope for was people who tolerated and on occasion helped him. There was no other Uzumaki in Konoha, meaning that his parents probably weren't even natives. There was not a single mention of an Uzumaki in the Town Hall's archives, he'd checked.

The world was too big for him to just shrug his shoulders, stay in Konoha and be miserable.

"Gramps, I'm leaving. I'd rather we parted in good terms."

Sarutobi sighed, and Naruto held his breath. Thing would get a lot better or a lot worse in the coming seconds.

"You can't sail your galley alone for long, Naruto. The Grand Line is dangerous."

Where was the old man going with this? "I won't be alone for long. I won't die at sea."

"Do you even have a Log Pose?"

That left him without a response, because what could he say that wouldn't get him in heaps of trouble?

Sarutobi's eyes narrowed again.

"You stole one, didn't you?"

"I prefer the term borrowed. You are my gramps, after all."

The Mayor sighed, rubbing his eyes with his fingers.

"Which one?"

"The one in the third drawer of your desk." Naruto sheepishly admitted, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment.

Sarutobi nodded mechanically.

"Wait here." He ordered –and Naruto did not doubt it was an order—and walked further into the house. A minute later, he returned, holding a Log Pose in his hand. He offered it to Naruto, who received it with confusion. He'd just admitted to stealing a Log Pose, why was the old man giving him another?

Then he noticed the way it simply spun in place, and the label with the word 'Konoha' written over it.

"This is …"

"An Eternal Log Pose to Konoha, yes. For when you return."

Naruto simply stared at the wildly spinning needle, unable to open his mouth to speak. When a drop of water fell on the Pose, he wiped it away irritably. When another fell, and then another, he realized that they were coming from him. He jerked his hand to wipe at his eyes, but it was too late to stop the tears that had already been spilt. He looked up at his guardian for the first eighteen years of his life, to see him smiling a kind smile back at him.

Pose held tight in his palm, he rushed forward and engulfed the old man in a hug, earning a surprised laugh from him, before he felt hands –surprisingly firm for his age—wrap around him.

They held each other for a few moments, expressing in action what neither felt comfortable expressing with words. Even after they parted, they held each other at arm's length.

"These old bones can't take many more of these hugs, you know."

Naruto didn't know what the old man was on about. Whenever he hugged him his body was as tough as steel underneath his baggy clothes, and his grips were always level and firm, as if he was controlling his strength not to crush whatever he held.

"Now listen," Sarutobi told him, forcing him to pay attention again. "I know the Log Pose you took. It will eventually lead you to Sabaody Archipelago. When you go there, look for a man named Rayleigh. Last I heard he was getting in the coating business. Tell him that the Professor sent you."

"The Professor?" Naruto asked, confused. Sarutobi only smiled.

"Never mind that. Just see if you can find that brat Rayleigh, okay? He will help you."

"Okay gramps." Rayleigh, Rayleigh. Where had he heard that name before? No matter. He shouldn't get distracted.

"I find myself having to resist the urge to give you basic sailing advice." Sarutobi said, smiling.

"I guess I should have expected it."

Was it his imagination, or were the old man's eyes watering?

"Be safe, Naruto. And remember; admirable as your quest to discover your parentage is, be careful of dwelling too much on the past, lest you let the present slip by your fingers."

"Don't go all old man philosophy on me, gramps."

"I am an old man, you know."

With this, they let each other go. Naruto hefted his packs again, barely registering their weight.

"Goodbye, old man. Thank you for everything." He reached over and opened the door.

Sarutobi's look was sad, and there was no doubting the wetness in his eyes now.

"I wish you would stay, Naruto."

Naruto stopped at the doorframe. He looked behind him at his foster father, favoring him with a sad smile of his own.

"There's nothing for me here besides you, gramps." With that, he walked out, heading towards the cape where he'd docked the boat.

"That's not true, Naruto." Sarutobi whispered into the silence of his, once again, empty house. "And I wish you would realize that."

Despite the sorrow of parting with the only parental figure in his life, Naruto was feeling surprisingly light as he all but floated towards his docked ship. Though he was leaving him, Naruto had managed to say his goodbyes and even receive his mentor's approval, which was more than he had ever dreamed of. Now he could leave with no regrets and nothing holding him back.

He drew weird looks from the people, because it was rare to see him in such a great mood, especially while carrying two heavy-looking and filled to the brim packs. He soon left the city proper behind, walking through the forests surrounding it and leading out to sea.

His ship was waiting there. It was a ship barely big enough to be called a galley, with two masts. He'd decided to buy that specific one because he'd spent a few years on its crew, sailing between Konoha and Go island and become familiar enough with it to sail it alone.

He'd been saving all his paychecks since he started working, more than ten years ago, and all his allowances from the old man, to buy this boat and the necessary supplies. Sailing alone was tough, and he hoped he didn't get caught up in any storms, but his test runs so far had shown that he could do it alone with fair weather. Hopefully, he wouldn't be alone for long. His first stop at Go island should take care of that.

Sometime along the trek, he found himself whistling a merry tune. Everything was going according to plan. Better, in fact.

Exiting the forest, he followed the track all the way to a cove. There lay a small pier, next to which his galley waited, just as he'd left it.

Except for the man waiting on the pier, sitting on top of a trunk with his feet crossed and a bored look in his face. He was wearing a lightly colored haori, wooden sandals and had a katana strapped to his waist. His hair was dark, relatively long and spiky on the back of his head.

As he approached, Naruto frowned at Sasuke Uchiha. He stopped in front of the other man, who had, for all intents and purposes, barred his path.

"Can I help you?" He asked. Sasuke ignored his question and continued to give him a piercing stare.

"You're leaving." He stated.

"An astounding observation, Uchiha." Naruto drawled. He knew of Sasuke Uchiha, and held little love for him. They'd often cross paths, though they never actually interacted. Sasuke was the town's pride. He'd survived the adversity of the death of his family and risen quickly, studying under master after master and taking over his family's business with great success. He had people catering to his every need and bowing to his every whim. Naruto held little affection for the Uchiha survivor.

"Now, if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to get on my ship."

The Uchiha regarded him evenly for a few moments longer, causing Naruto's irritation to flare.

"I'm coming with you." He suddenly announced. Naruto simply stared incredulously at him for a moment. Only a moment, though.

"The hell you are, bastard!"

"No need to shout," Sasuke drawled. "Besides, you need help. How far do you expect to go on your own?"

"I don't need your help, and I have my own plans. No thank you."

Only now did the Uchiha seem even slightly perturbed, and his brow furrowed.

"I can help you. I have money, enough to bankroll us all the way to Fishman island."

"I don't need your money Uchiha. And what makes you think I'm going to Fishman island?"

"You're sailing the Grand Line. When a guy like you does that, they go all the way. You'll try for the New World eventually, I know it."

Naruto frowned.

"And what makes you think you know the first thing about me?"

"Why are you leaving?"

"Do you always ignore other people's questions to ask your own?"

"Why are you leaving Konoha?"

Naruto sighed, lowering his packs to the ground to free his arms so he could rub at his eyes.

"You think I'm after One Piece? Is that the conclusion you arrived to after knowing me so well?"

"I don't know you, and I made no assumptions about your goal. That's why I'm asking you."

"Come now. Don't tell me you don't know. That you haven't noticed."

"Noticed what exactly?"

"How everyone treats me. How am I supposed to stay in a place that would sooner see me leave, or worse?"

"Is that why you're leaving then? Because of your Devil Fruit?"

Naruto shook his head.

"No, but it's as good a start as any. There's no reason to stay here, and I want to see the world. Besides that, my reasons are my own. Why do you want to sail?"

"And why should I tell you when you refused to tell me?"

"That's my ship you're trying to sail with." Naruto said as he pointed at the waiting galley. "I'm its captain. Like it or not, if you want to come you'll have to obey my commands. If you can't do that, then there's no way I'm taking you with me."

Naruto was satisfied to note the flash of irritation in the Uchiha's eyes and his mouth pressing into a thin line before he relaxed again.

"I will tell you. But after I do, I expect the same courtesy."

Naruto said nothing, only looked at the dark-haired man expectantly.

"You know of my family's deaths, I assume." At Naruto's nod, he continued. "Contrary to popular belief, my big brother did not die with my parents. He yet lives."

"He does?"

Sasuke nodded. "Indeed. In fact, he was the one who killed them."

Naruto blinked once, twice, digesting this new piece of information. Itachi Uchiha had been reported dead along with Fugaku Uchiha and Mikoto Uchiha, slain in their house when Sasuke happened to have gotten lost on his way home one evening.

"My ambition ... is to sail the Grand Line and become strong. Strong enough to fight and kill Itachi."

Revenge on the murderer of his parents. Naruto could respect that, even if he didn't fully understand it. Nevertheless, he knew that if anyone had taken out the old man he'd be after their heads.

"Why can't you train here? From listening to people talk, you're the second coming of the third Mayor himself."

Sasuke scowled. "There are a lot of strong people in Konoha, granted. But I have felt my progress stifled for years now. My rate of growth has shrunk to unacceptable levels. There is only so much one can learn from practice and lectures. Experience is needed. Real fights, diverse environments. No, Konoha has nothing left to offer me."

"Why me and my ship? Why not wait for a trade vessel and board that?"

"You will sail the Grand Line. The trade vessel will go to a safe destination to deliver lumber. That won't help me. Besides, I have a feeling that we're going to be attracting a lot of attention soon."

"What makes you say that?"

"I don't know you very well, but I do know that you're not subtle. Whatever it is you want to achieve, it must be big, and it will cause noise. Am I wrong?"

Naruto regarded Sasuke. He'd never thought much of the Uchiha. He still didn't like him, but maybe it was time to reconsider that opinion.

"I don't know. I have no intention of becoming a pirate, if that's what you're hoping for."

"We'll see."

But Naruto had already moved on from that. "My goal … is to discover who my parents are and what happened to them, and to learn to control the powers of the nine-tailed demon fox."

"No matter how many toes you step on in the process?"

"No matter how many toes I step on in the process."

Sasuke nodded, as if confirming something to himself.

"Yeah, this ship will do me fine."

"I still didn't say you get to come!"

Sasuke smiled and rose, taking the sizable trunk in hand walking up the ramp towards the galley.

"You totally did."

"I did not!" Naruto protested as he picked up his packs and followed the Uchiha on board his ship.

"Hey, you should be glad. You got a first mate without even lifting a finger."

"Who said I'm making you my first mate, bastard?"

Despite Naruto's numerous –not to mention, loud—protests, Sasuke settled himself in one of the rooms, and the both of them prepared the ship to set sail. The Uchiha knew his stuff, even if he was unfamiliar with the ship, and Naruto had to admit that it was much easier with two people than one.

Slowly, the galley left the small cove, heading southeast along the coast. From a few miles away they would go to open sea and head towards their first destination.

"Uzumaki!" Sasuke called from the deck.

"What!?" Naruto hollered back, while trying to fit his clothes in the captain's cabin.

"Come out. You'll want to see this."

Naruto sighed. It was probably something stupid. Nevertheless, he exited the interior of the ship to find Sasuke staring out of the railing, toward the harbor that had just come into view.

"What is it this time you—" He didn't complete his sentence, his mouth freezing mid-speech as he stared at the piers of Konoha's harbor.

It was full of people. People waving and shouting at them. Many of them he recognized. There, at the front of the group, was the old man himself, the Mayor, waving merrily at him. Next to him was his son Asuma, and his daughter Sona along with his grandson Konohamaru and his two friends. There was Beor, who was cheering wildly, along with several of his old bosses and coworkers over the years. He didn't recognize the rest, but they must have been there for Sasuke or simply along due to group mentality.

They were all waving at them and cheering for them and wishing them a good voyage as the ship drew farther and farther from the port.

"Those guys…" Naruto said, and if he wiped at his eyes it was only to get rid of a stupid bug, nothing else.

"Yeah." Sasuke agreed, his voice unusually subdued.

The watched the port until it was completely out of view, both silent. Eventually, Naruto broke it.

"Sasuke?"

"Hn?"

"If you abandon my crew at some point because you think I have nothing else to offer you, I will hunt you down and kill you, myself."

"Don't worry, that's not appropriate first mate behavior."

Naruto turned his head to glare at the Uchiha, and his eyes flashed red for a brief instance. Sasuke saw this, but didn't comment on it. He sighed.

"I won't abandon you. I will help you achieve your goals, and achieve mine in the process. You have my word. Sound fair?"

Naruto still regarded him with suspicion, but he nodded tersely. Sasuke tapped the wooden railing with his hands.

"Alright then, captain, where are we headed? Shouldn't you be checking the Pose by now?"

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "The Pose? What Pose?"

Sasuke paled. "You do have a Log Pose, don't you?"

"And you wait until we've already sailed to check this?"

"I didn't think even you'd be enough of a loser to try to sail the Grand Line without a Log Pose!"

"Oi, what's that supposed to mean, bastard? And I'll have you know I have a perfectly good Log Pose right here." Saying this, he procured the Log Pose he'd swiped-, that is to say, borrowed, from the old man, and presented it to Sasuke. He took it in hand and inspected it.

"Okay, so you do. Then why are we not following it?"

"Because we're heading to Go island, first."

"Why? I checked the storeroom, you have enough supplies here to last us weeks. Besides, this Pose doesn't point to Go island. How do you suppose we go there?"

"I've sailed between the two islands enough times to know how to go without a Pose, alright? And will you stop doubting me already? That's going to get old very soon. I have a perfectly good reason why we're going to Go island."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "And that is?"

"The reason, genius, is that even though I can navigate us to Go island, that's as far as my navigational skills go. Unless you've been holding out on me regarding your own skills, we'll be dead before we reach the next island on the Pose's journey. This is the Grand Line. Crazy shit happens."

"So what do you propose we do?"

Naruto sighed. "I just told you, didn't I? We're going to Go island. There, we will pick up our navigator."

Sasuke still looked dubious, but was obviously making an effort to trust Naruto, if only a little.

"He'd better be some genius if you want him to take us through the Grand Line."

Naruto smiled.

"Don't worry," he said "he is."

~N~