Naruto's eyes flew open as he sensed the Tailed Bijuu suddenly lurch and stop. He quickly rose from his bed and donned his regular cloak. His eyes widened as information from a clone dispersing reached him telling him that they had over-shot the course and had just reached the Slow Sea earlier than expected. He quickly flared his chakra and awoke his nakama.

His crew assembled on the main deck of the ship and stood at attention as Naruto regarded an enormous wall of foreboding mist off the port bow.

" I sense him boys! Our target lies beyond the mist! ALL MEN TO THEIR STATIONS! TOBI TURN PORT SIDE! INTO THE MIST!" Naruto's grin became feral as his men raced to fulfill his orders and the boat quickly turned to the mist. As the mist enclosed the ship the ship was hit by a sudden force and some of the crew fell to their knees. "This is the power of the Slow Sea... ONWARDS MEN! To Farthen Island!"

Dr. Camwethrin awoke in the early morning sun, and yawned as he got up for his morning rituals. He was a medium-sized man. Not tall, but not really short either, a nice in-between size. He had dark brown hair slicked back, and warm brown eyes. His face was warm and friendly and he had smile-wrinkles from constantly smiling. He appeared to be weak and had no apparent muscle-mass. He was very frail and looked as if a wind would blow him over.

After he ate his breakfast and got dressed, he grabbed his briefcase and headed out of his house and walked down the path to the museum. He had grown comfortable living in Farthen Island. It was a small community mainly comprised of exiled scholars and scientists. He had immediately been greeted warmly due to his status as one of the leading world archaeologists.

As he walked down the path he felt in his bones the winds of change... He scowled. He hated change, and had hoped he would never feel that way again. Alas, nothing ever really went his way. That was apparent if anyone looked at what he had to live through... But, nothing could be done. It was hard to complain when you were your own worse enemy...

Breaking from his sullen thoughts he climbed the marble steps up to the main body of the museum. This was his home, where he belonged!

He nodded to his coworkers on his way into the museum. He had been granted a job at the museum, a high honor on Farthen Island, the very first day of his arrival. Many were happy, but-

"Look who arrived. The ignorant fool Camerton." Dr. Camwethrin sighed as he turned to one of the few on the island that disliked him.

"My name is Camwethrin, Bratus. What do you want." Bratus smiled maliciously as his enemy had to crane his head back to even make eye contact with him. Bratus was one of the Field-Scholars... He just so happened to catalogue the effects of learning every fighting form available on the body. It was therefore no surprise, he was the size of a tank...

" I'm waiting for the day I finally get you back for your humiliation Camwinting... I will get my revenge."

" I'm sorry Bratus if your insignificant brain can't comprehend that holding a grudge over nothing for years is a pointless endeavor but I have work to do at the moment." Brushing past him he failed to notice how Bratus' smile just grew larger.

" Its time you learned your place Camwethrin... and my new friends will accomplish just that!"

The Fox Pirates pulled into Farthen Island Port, the Tailed Bijuu moving at a snails pace. As they came into port, the ship gave a sudden lurch and stopped completely. The crew seemed to go on a different pace then the others on the island. It took them nearly an hour to fully dock the ship. But, once they had stepped onto the island, the island seemed to blur for a blink of an eye, and everything had changed! People that were at the base of a hill would suddenly be walking over the crest of it. Closed buildings would be bustling with people.

The Fox Pirates realized that it was probably a part of the powers of the Sea, and started to trail after their captain. Ace quickly jogged up to Naruto, and started to walk beside him.

"So who are we looking for Captain? This 'Rusk' character?" Naruto continued on looking ahead all the while, but replied calmly,

"Yes and no... Rusk is a very strange man. If he were alive or free we'd of heard of him. But, the only one who knows where he WOULD be is Dr. Camwethrin. He is who we are looking for." Naruto didn't even have to see Ace's curious face to know that he'd have to expound on what he had said, "Dr. Camwethrin is the world's leading archaeologist for the Void Century... mainly the weapons that were created. He is most likely the man who knows the most taboo information in the world. That is probably why he ran here. This island is a haven for all restricted information because the Marines aren't wiling to send troops without a guide of some sort." Naruto marched with his crew up the slope heading straight for the large gothic building. It was easily the largest structure on the island, it towered over all of the the surrounding island, barely surpassing the mountaintop.

Naruto never stopped moving, climbing the steep steps with ease. His quick pace wasn't enough to satisfy Ace's curiosity though.

"Captain, why would Dr. Camwethrin be the only man to know where Rusk is? Are they brothers?"

"It is much worse than that I'm afraid. You see Ace, when a man has no one, truly no one, and begins to distrust all...He starts to doubt even himself." Seeing Ace's unbelieving look Naruto sighed, "It sounds outlandish I admit, but it is true. Mind you only the emotionally weak, or those weak of spirit fall that far. But, when it does happen, and they get far enough...they lose trust in themselves... And that can open doors, and invite thoughts that should never even have been concepted... For when a soul loses trust in a part of it...what is left but to divide the parts from each other?" Ace barely had time to contemplate the bizarre answer, before Naruto threw open the museum doors and marched inside.

Dr. Camwethrin sat in his office writing his findings in his journal, enjoying the peace and quiet. He had recently made a discovery on an ancient weapon that he was most familiar with and was documenting the results.

All of a sudden he heard yelling come from the outside hallway, and that put him on edge. No one ever shouted in the museum. He quickly hefted his briefcase onto his desk and unlocked the clasps. He pulled out two pistols and set them onto his desk, and slowly lifted a blood-red mask out and stared at it. An explosion roused him from his trance, and he hurriedly stuffed the mask inside his coat, and grabbed the two pistols.

He threw his door open and dashed out to be met with silence in the hallway. The hallway had been trashed though, walls were busted through and ancient tapestries were slowly burning away. Dust was hovering in the air and it was heavily restricting the visibility.

The archaeologist slowly made his way through the dust-filled hallway and made his way through the corridor. His foot-steps echoed off the walls, breaking the unnatural stillness. Dr. Camwethrin nervously fingered his pistol's triggers as something was setting his senses off... But, what could it be? How could he find what was unnerving him with this thrice-damned dust still...in...the...air...

A bead of sweat made its way down his neck as cold laughter rang out from around him. He started to run, but didn't make it very far before a fist of dust knocked him onto the ground. Camwethrin fell onto his back and watched in terrified-awe as the dust slowly came together to form a human silhouette.

The man had long dreadlocks, and a pair of earthy-brown sunglasses. His nose was small and squashed into his face, and his mouth was hidden by his massive jaw-line. He wore a vivid, dark brown suit and had black fingerless gloves on his hands.

The man bent down, sticking his face uncomfortably close to Camwethrin's. Slowly the man's scowl turned into a laid-back grin.

"Yep! You are definitely the one captain is searching for!" Camwethrin scowled, and leveled a pistol straight into the man's gut and pulled the trigger. He wasn't surprised when it passed straight through the man, leaving a hole that was quickly filled up with dust.

"Teeheeheeheehee! Did you think a bullet would affect a logia-type? You must be one idiotic doctor." Camwethrin's scowl never left his face and he glared when the man hefted him up by his suit and threw him over his shoulder. Sputtering in rage Camwethrin held as he was carried down the hall,

"Who the hell do you think you are!" The man never stopped walking but did tilt his head up to meet Camwethrin's eyes.

"I'm Karl "Dusty" Vante, one of the Balk Pirates!"

Naruto was immediately on guard when he entered the museum. The entrance hall was a complete wreck! There were craters everywhere, not to mention all the bodies that littered the floor. But, what really drew Naruto's attention was the group of people standing in the middle of a hall, circling around another figure. Naruto's eyes narrowed when he saw that it was Dr. Camwethrin that was down on his knees.

Hearing their captain's growl and taking stock of the state of the museum, the Fox Pirates readied themselves for a fight. They followed their captain step for step as he made his way towards the group.

"You there! Just what do you think you are doing with that man?" The seven pirates quickly spun around in shock, and they assumed defensive stances. One man stepped forward and crossed his arms and regarded Naruto.

"Fox Hunter?...Hm... No matter. It is none of your concern what we wish of with this man. We have no quarrel with you, so why don't you leave us and go raid this village? It would surely save both of us from a useless confrontation." Naruto shook his head before the man could even finish,

"I'm afraid that is not possible... I have use of that man behind you." The man scowled and threw off his coat. He was a large man, easily matching the size of Crocodile. He had long blonde hair, and a large tribal-tatoo across his face all the way to his stomach.

"Then I am forced to fight you... I had never thought the day I would finally be able to gain glory through your defeat... Finally the Balk Pirates will be feared once more!" At this the man rushed towards Naruto and attempted to punch him. Naruto apathetically outstretched one hand and caught his punch. Gripping the fist Naruto redirected the pirate, and caused him to fly through a wall. All was silent until Naruto walked to the new hole and gave his team one order,

"Finish them." The Fox Pirates immediately picked their targets and hurried to fulfill their captain's orders.

As his nakama engaged their chosen opponents Crocodile eyed the man across from him. As all the other combatants scattered; this was the man that was foolish enough to engage him. Crocodile vaguely recognized him from a wanted poster a few years back...which was irregular for most pirates to be unpublicized for so long.

"You are the pirate known as Karl Vante, aren't you?" The other pirate chuckled quietly and squared off with Crocodile. The two observed each other until a quick displacement of light flew through Karl and cut him in half. Crocodile just stood apathetically as Doflamingo joined him and both nakama watched as the top half of Karl burst into dust and slowly reformed back into his previous position. Crocodile scowled and Doflamingo's grin widened as they knew they were in for some fun.

"It is always sad when we are forced to defeat another crew. Us pirates should be allies against the marines after all. But I guess that is the main flaw of pirates...they anger to quickly..." The pirate sweat-dropped when he noticed that his opponent was...playing with a ragged octopus-plush. "Though you are being so... abhorrently discourteous, I will not allow myself to fall to such a low-level of decorum. I am Valentine. And you will be yet another victim of my powers."

"Tobi is a good-boy!" Valentine's eye-brow twitched in annoyance and then he began. He rushed towards Tobi and swung his fist. He was caught off-guard when he went through him. The moment that he completely passed through him, Tobi launched a kick and sent Valentine sailing through the air.

The pirate skidded along the ground, but quickly recovered and stabilized. He stood up just in time to jump back, evading Tobi's axe-kick. When Tobi came in for a jab he jumped over him and tried to back-hand him from behind. As his last attack it phased through the masked man, and left him open to an incredibly fast counter.

As he sailed through the air, Valentine was intercepted by the man and punched into the ground. As Tobi hit him, Valentine grabbed onto his arm and pulled him downwards as well.

At that instance when Valentine had grabbed him a rush of energy bursted into Tobi and threw him back a good distance away.

Valentine coughed, slowly rising from the crater of his impact, and smirked at Tobi's spasming form.

"Fool! Your petty-tricks weren't enough to stop my power! All I needed was one touch...and my powers would do the rest! My touch breeds despair, fear,...but mostly Anger! Rage! It unlocks the inner beasts of my opponents! Though they become stronger, they fall into sloppiness which makes them childs play. Do you hear me? You have lost!"

Tobi continued to spasm, but then fell still. He slowly rose, shaking all the while. But whilst this did not surprise Valentine, his laughter did. It was cold and cruel yes...but it was collected and reserved...

"You...fool... You...set...him-me free... I must thank you... At last, MADARA UCHIHA IS FREE ONCE MORE!" Madara turned his head to face Valentine, and Valentine started to fear. The poise of this...freak was all wrong. It was as if he wasn't the same skipping fool that he was a minute ago. Just the way he stood screamed predator.

And as black flames flew towards him, Valentine knew that he was simply prey.

Kakuzu calmly stood facing the man guarding Camwethrin. The man was a giant, at least a foot taller than Crocodile, and clearly all of it was pure muscle. Thankfully, that might just make this fight easier. The man probably didn't know the first thing when it came to actually use his muscles. Must brutes didn't think that anything could stop, or dodge for that matter, their attacks.

Kakuzu calmly assumed an offensive stance, and watched with calculating eyes how his enemy would respond. The large fool directly rushed him. Pfft, idiot.

The large fist barreling down towards him, Kakuzu fluidly-slid under it and lashed out at the man's stomach with a punch.

"AGRK!" Kakuzu jumped back in shock cradling his hand. He had SEVERELY underestimated the sheer strength of his adversary, hitting his stomach was likes muscles.

Hearing the displacement of wind, Kakuzu ducked barely evading a punch that would have surely done him in. He quickly found that this brute actually knew how to fight, when his form shifted and enabled him to follow up with a round-house kick.

Kakuzu went sailing through the air shocked from the impact. When he saw his opponent jump at him, he out-stretched his arms using the Jiongu threads and pulled himself out of the way. He knew he only had a few moments reprieve and so in that time had his hearts give him some added support. This was not how he wanted to go about this...

Camwethrin struggled to his feet, wiping the blood off of his face with the back of his arm. He scowled as he looked at the man fighting Bratus. It was the money-loving-bastard Kakuzu. That settled his fears he had when he caught a glimpse of the pirate that threw Yugoslav through the museum wall. He thought that it was the Fox Hunter, but he had hoped not. The man was supposed to be dead damnit! Couldn't he just be a decent, whatever the fuck he was, and stay dead?

But no! Captain Uzumaki had already ruined his life once, why WOULDN'T HE do it again? Still scowling Camwethrin shakily stood up and aimed his pistols at Bratus.

Oh well, guess it was time to leave Farthen island...

No matter what he felt, his family came for him...

Or at least...PART of him...

Naruto cooly observed the pirate before him. Yugoslav Flyn. The Captain of the Balk Pirates...

A has been.

Naruto could only feel pity for the pirate captain. He barely belonged to the Roger Era, and yet, could find no foot-hold in this new era of mass piracy, and extreme Marine policies. This had happened to a few of the other lesser known pirate crews and while Naruto did sympathize...

That wouldn't stop him from beating the shit out of Flyn.

So, sorry for the wait! Made this one a little longer than usual.

For those that are wondering, yes I have a Fox Spider Chapter in the works, it is SO CLOSE to being done.

Next up will be Freonr...

And I am probably going to discontinue Naruto's Legendary Path...

Also I do apologize for how broken up this chapter is!

Anyways I hope you enjoyed it!

NARATU OUT!