Chapter 15: Dodged a Bullet

~Third POV~

While everyone returned to the abandoned home of the destroyed village to rest for the night till it was the next morning leaving Ruby with her thoughts on what to do in the future.

As the morning sunshine raised itself from the sky everyone soon began to wake up as they all got up groggy from yesterday sleeping on the floor with their futon and sleeping bags.

Saeko waking up while cleaning her hair she yawned out loud as she speaks to anyone present listening to her, "Ahh~ Good morning everyone… How was it sleeping on the ground~"

Next was Hinata as who yawns out loud as she also agrees with Saeko as she spoke stretching herself, "Good morning Saeko-chan. Sleeping on the ground feels the same with my teammates on missions. So Ruby are you perhaps fine since yesterday?"

Ruby then wakes up as she yawns from her sleeping bag as she then smells the air as she was done greeting everyone, "Ahh~ Morning Saeko, morning Hinata and yeah I just needed to think somethings over… Hey, do you guys smell something?"

At her response, everyone also sniffed the air as they smell freshly cooked food was being made as they all look at the kitchen at Tatsumi cooking up some breakfast with some simple eggs, rice, and some bacon on the side.

Noticing their stares Tatsumi raises his spatula at them as he raised his eyebrow at them while he speaks, "What you are gals staring at? If it's the food don't worry it's more than enough for all of us. Some eggs, white rice, and bacon from my world figure we might need a good morning meal once and awhile."

Saeko, Hinata, and Ruby all blinked at that as Hinata claps her hands together as she got closer to Tatsumi as he was preparing their plates as she spoke, "Tatsumi I didn't know that you can cook! Also, can I have a bowl with the rice and egg? Not a fan of meat needing to keep my figure you know."

Tatsumi nods at that as Ruby goes along quickly as she gets her plate and uses her puppy dog eyes on him, "Oh! In that case, can I have Hinata bacon Tatsumi! Please pretty please with some cookies on top!!"

Saeko laughs at the situation as Tatsumi places the bacon of Hinata away from Ruby as she pleads to get her leftovers while she got hers as she spoke, "Now that is certainly good for them. It seems that their little fight from last night was gone in an instant. At least everything seems to be settled now."

With that, the group then went ahead to enjoy their breakfast as Tatsumi and Ruby were both glaring at each other for the extra piece of bacon while Hinata laughs at the situation along with Saeko.

While they were eating Tatsumi soon brought out a chest hiding the devil fruit inside as he says to Saeko in a curious tone getting everyone's attention, "Say Saeko I don't know exactly what this is I was wondering what it was seeing you know some of this world."

Saeko nodded as Tatsumi revealed what he believed is the Hard-Hard Fruit as Saeko looked at it in shock getting Hinata and Ruby's attention as they eat.

Saeko then starts to speak with clear shock in her voice as she began to explain to him, "Tatsumi! Where the hell did you even get a Devil Fruit!!"

Getting confused Saeko then began to explain the importance use of Devil Fruits talking about the different categories of the Paramecia, Zoans, and Logia's getting their attention as well as their abilities.

Finished explaining the two were now intrigued as Hinata then asked me a question, "So Tatsumi what exactly are you going to do with it?"

His response was quick as he told them what he intends to do with it as he spoke, "I'm saving it for the future. I don't know what it is so I'll save it for the time being till I can have it appraised. For now, though we should discuss what to do about the pirates."

They all nodded at that as they all came to their ideas with Tatsumi finally explaining the number of Arlong Pirates as well as they all sleep inside Arlong Park as they talked about what to do against them.

The topics of how to handle them all came to agreeing to either target them separately or get them all in one go at their home turf.

There were many ways to talk about how to handle them as Hinata soon brought out her ninja items as she spoke to everyone, "What about the Explosive Tags from my world they can act like bombs and be activated through my Chakra. But would explosives be enough to end them though?"

They sat at thought of that before Ruby produces some Dust as she brought out some different colored ones as she explains to the rest of the members, "These right here are Dust guys. Dust is a source of energy in Remnant. The physical properties of Dust make it incredibly useful for a variety of purposes like saying an elemental bomb perhaps."

Tatsumi grinned at that as Ruby began to explain the use of Dust.

As an energy source, Dust can be triggered by the Aura of Humans and Faunus. Because of this, one's Semblance can also affect it. Dust can be found in two distinct states, crystalline and powdered. Dust, whether crystalline or powdered, is highly explosive.

Ruby then began to pull out some Dust of different elements belonging to Lighting and Fire Dust crystals as she began to explain her idea how to use them, "With the Lighting and Fire Dust crystals they could produce a large enough explosion to harm them all. I'm not sure if it will take them out but they are compared to the natural elements from my world if it helps."

They all nodded at that as it would probably harm them but that was when Hinata put out another one of her ideas to the group as she spoke, "That is true it won't be enough. But at least we can force them into one spot that way I can use my Fire or Lighting Ninjutsu to help against the stragglers forcing them to flee."

Tatsumi and the rest of the chat members all nodded at that as Tatsumi agreed to the plan as he began to announce it to them, "Alright then I guess we have a plan of attack then. Ruby and Hinata will be busy creating bombs from your respective worlds and placing them in the night where all the Fishman Pirates are sure to be located. In the meantime, I'll train Saeko in her swordsmanship in case we need frontal fighters."

The others agreed to plan as it would take time for them to get ready. So, with that everyone was left to their own devices for the day to see what they can do to prepare…

…

…

*Shing*

*Clang*

*Shing*

In the middle of the forest of somewhere deep in the woods were sounds of metal clashing each other as the sounds of swords clashing were heard from the distance. The clash of two swordsmen was heard throughout the forest.

*Clang*

Another sound resonated from the two as Saeko was sweating on her face as Tatsumi didn't look tired from their 2 hours long sparring match. Earlier Tatsumi wanted to see how to value Saeko in a fight would be as he was going easy on her.

From their fight, Tatsumi can conclude that Saeko was weak when he first started his hand with the sword as he spoke to her, "Saeko with your skills… I'm afraid that you are very weak as you are now. But at least you're improving yourself from this exchange. The sweat of yours is proof of that much."

Sweat falls from Saeko's skin as she was drenched from it revealing her blue bra through it as she breaths in and out as if she is out of breath as she responds to Tatsumi, "Huff… huff… yeah for the last two hours was basically hell. You sure don't ease up your attack on a beginner like me?"

Tatsumi replies to that with his arms and shoulders shrugging it off as he replies to her while expressing a sadistic grin, "Not really. Like the saying goes no pain then no gain. Right, Saeko?"

Saeko for her wanted to beat Tatsumi's head with her family sword at that moment but it did get her to train against someone who isn't a pushover. But the bruises beg to differ from her body.

Saeko swings her sword back to her sheathe just as she speaks to Tatsumi leaving the area to the abandoned home, "Huff… fine… Huff… I'm going back to take a long hot shower after this. Thank god for this [Aura] certainly makes recovery easier. Later Tatsumi."

While she left Tatsumi was about to follow Saeko till Hinata appeared out of nowhere scaring him a bit as he jumped from the sudden appearance, "Ah! Oh, it's just you Hinata what are you doing I thought you and Ruby are working on the bomb?"

Hinata for her part spoke kindly as she replied to Tatsumi in a sweet voice that catches him off guard as she spoke, "Don't worry it's just Ruby is creating her makeshift ones with her Dust and metals at hand. But I do want to ask how exactly you know that Ruby did destroy that giant robot with her semblance and weapon?"

While this was something, he was careless on his part he did remember that Hinata did listen to him torture the Fishman but never knew for how long it was for her to listen. Fortunately, though Tatsumi already came up with a plan in case if Hinata or other members got too curious to nitpick such a small detail of his mistakes.

After all his only human is bound to create some errors or mistakes.

Tatsumi then began to explain himself how he knew but also explained why he was certain before till it clicked with him, "Sorry I didn't mean to deceive you guys for that. The reason why I knew was that I think I have read about her in a book back in my world. I wasn't certain till she told us about the use of [Aura] and her family background was that I knew she was that character from that book I read."

Hinata for her part looked honestly confused till she was reminded about with the beginning of the Group Chat that Saeko also said the same thing similar when they all met her stating that they were fictional characters. And that was the plan Tatsumi had in mind if one of the members noticed his words.

Hinata would believe since it was a good cover for him to use and hide his true knowledge about how he knew some things plus adding the fact he hadn't realized it then before till the start of the quest would've been too meaningless to announce when they had different priorities to know about.

Hinata then nods her head as she apologized to him for looking too much as she spoke, "No it was my bad. I shouldn't have questioned you like this even during a mission were in me…"

*Pat*

Before she could respond Tatsumi head pat Hinata surprising her as he responds to her with a clear voice, "No it was my bad for not telling the members. When the quest first came up and Ruby told everyone about [Aura] that was when I knew she was a character from a book I read. But I just couldn't bring it up not when we have a pressing matter to handle first."

Hinata just smiles at this as Tatsumi stops the head pats as he responds to her again for the great work as he spoke to her, "Plus it's great to have someone like you along if you keep the members safe to even doubt them. Also, thanks for having my back at the forest when I dealt with the Fishman from the shadows thank you."

With that Tatsumi turns to leave returning to the abandoned as Hinata was blushing from the praise she received as only Naruto and her teammates could help her but then came a new person that thanked her for being there.

Meanwhile inside Tatsumi's thoughts as he left, he was being worried about what happened as that slip up almost made him spill the beans as he thinks to himself, 'Holy fucking hell that was close! I almost screwed myself over with that one! Note to self-keep any future actions of the members to my head as that almost slip me up. Fortunately, I have the manga in my world to make it more believable of how I know but damn that was a close one!'

Unaware that Hinata was developing feelings for Tatsumi for appreciating her being cautious and even thanking her for suspecting him. Something that Tatsumi doesn't even know till the signs shows later…