Chapter 20: Past and Present

A/N: Half of this chapter is flashbacks... just a little warning...

Chapter 20: Past and Present

Everyone watched in anticipation, everyone including Don Kreig and his crew. For some reason, he didn't know why he couldn't help to think about the day he first met Zoro…

(Flashback)

A 9 year old, Zoro left the dojo cursing his luck… he just had to make that bet with the sensei… how he was stuck as a student… what's worst he lost to a girl…

"Hey is it true Kuina defeated you?" said a voice.

Zoro turned around and saw a little 4 year old boy with black hair.

"So what if it true…" said Zoro.

"You got beaten by a girl!" laughed the kid.

Zoro began to get angry.

"So what if I did…" he said.

"I bet you can't even defeat me if you lost to Kuina…" said the 4 year old.

"Give me a reason…" said Zoro.

"Oh Sasuke… are teasing the new kid?" asked Kuina.

"Yes big sis I was! I can't believe you beat him…" said the 4 year old Sasuke.

"What… big sis? Wait… he's you're…" said Zoro.

"My youngest brother…" said Kuina.

"Then that means…" said Zoro.

"My dad's the sensei!" said Sasuke.

Zoro violently twitched… "Note to self: challenge the twerp…"

(End of Flashback)

"What's that for?" asked Zoro as Hawk-eye drew… a small pocketknife.

"Oh I'm to hunt rabbits with a cannon… you may have a reputation but you're still a bunny." said Hawk-eye, "The Red Line and the Grand Line divide the sea into 4 quarters, the East Blue is the tamest of them all… sorry but this is the small I got…"

"Wow with that I know Zoro can beat him!" said Naruto.

"Don't be so sure…" said Sasuke.

(Flashback)

Zoro had just finished defeating Sasuke… Sasuke cried in the corner with the air around him blue, everyone in the dojo gaped at him.

"What, he wasn't much a challenge…" said Zoro.

"He might the sensei's son... but dude! He's 4!" said one of the students.

"If you want fight the sensei's son…" said a voice.

He turned around and saw a boy about his age, he looked like an older version of Sasuke.

"So you're the new student who was defeated by my sister…" said the boy.

"Wait you're telling me that you're the sensei's kid too… there's not any more are there?" asked Zoro.

"No… there's just Kuina, the oldest, Sasuke, the youngest and I am the middle… my name is Itachi…" said the boy named Itachi holding out his hand so Zoro could shake it.

"Oh my name is Roronoa Zoro…" said Zoro.

"I don't think it's time for our fight… maybe you should rest a little more… you just had two fights… and you lost to my sister so you should rest…" said Itachi.

"Hey!" yelled Zoro, "Come back here!"

Itachi walked over to Sasuke, "Let's go get a snack…" he said to his little brother.

"I'm talking here! Don't leave! I want to challenge you!" yelled Zoro.

"He's nuts…" said one of the other students.

"Who the new kid or Itachi?" asked another student.

"Both…" replied the first student.

(End flashback)

Zoro was about to use his attack Oni Giri… however Hawk-eye managed to block it with ease with his knife.

"No way…" said Sasuke.

"That's impossible… brother's attack never failed…" said Johnny.

"…" said Sasuke.

(Flashback)

Zoro and Itachi were having a sparing session, Sasuke, Kuina and their father watched. All three were surprised when Zoro came out on top.

"He defeated Itachi… that's impossible…" said Sasuke, "How can he defeat Itachi and lose to you?"

"I don't know…" said Kuina.

"That was a good match…" said the sensei walking up to Zoro and Itachi.

"Yes… you were a formable opponent Zoro…" said Itachi.

Itachi began to leave but Kuina stopped him.

"Wait Itachi… why did you fight Zoro… but every time I challenge you back away?" she asked.

Itachi seemed to ignore her.

"Don't worry Kuina… I'm sure Itachi will one day challenge you or accept it…" said the sensei.

"Wow, Zoro I guess I was wrong about you…" said Sasuke.

"What?" asked Zoro.

"Itachi's really heard to beat… let alone fight…" said Sasuke.

"Yes… you see Itachi rarely ever excepts challenges… if he does he wins… this the first time I have seen him lose in a long time…" said the sensei.

"Yeah… that was the first time, I have seen him lose!" said Sasuke.

(End of flashback)

Everyone watched in shock as Hawk-eye blocked Zoro's swords with the tiny knife…

"This is unbelievable…" said Sakura.

"I know…" said Naruto.

Johnny and Yosaku were about to interfere but Sasuke managed to grab Johnny while Luffy Yosaku.

"Don't interfere…" said Sasuke who gave a nod of Thank you to Luff for helping him.

(Flashback)

IT had been 6 months since Zoro joined the Dojo, Zoro was tired from his training exercise, he decided to take a break before challenging Kuina for the 6th and final time that day. When he saw something he rarely got a chance to see… he hid behind one of the corners to watch.

Sasuke and Itachi were having a small sparring match… Itachi won of course.

"Show yourself… unless you're going to watch from the shadows…" said Itachi.

"Oh it's Mr. Obsessive!" said Sasuke in a way that sounded innocent.

"Hey! Don't call me that!" yelled Zoro

"But all of the older students call you that…" said Sasuke.

"I'm not obsessive …" said Zoro.

"It's true you are… I performed a survey and 4 out of 5 students agreed that you were obsessive…" said Itachi.

"See, 1 out of 5 doesn't think I'm obsessive …" said Zoro.

"On the contrary… the 1 out of 5 disagreed in a sarcastic way…" said Itachi.

There was a very award silence…

"Just please don't call me Mr. Obsessive…" said Zoro.

"Well you do deserve that nickname… you do challenge our sister at least 5 times every day…" said Itachi.

The awkward silence was deafening.

"Just please… don't call me that… I don't like that nickname…" said Zoro.

"Fine…" sighed Sasuke.

"I'll see you guys later… I have… to do something…" said Zoro walking away.

"Challenge our sister again?" asked Itachi.

Zoro anime fell as he walked away.

"And you don't like that nickname…" said Sasuke.

(End of Flashback)

As Zoro fought Hawk-eye, he couldn't help to think of various things that happened in his life, such as his conversations with Kuina, when he and Sasuke first met Johnny and Yosaku, when he first met Luffy… and one day in particular…

(Flashback)

It had been one month since Kuina's "accidental" death, the only two that knew the truth were Sasuke and Zoro. Zoro was training when a bunch of teenaged students ran to him yelling.

"Help us Zoro!" cried one of the students.

"With Kuina's… well" said the student.

"And Itachi missing you might be the only one who can do it…" said another of the students.

"Wait back up… what are you talking about…" said Zoro.

The students led Zoro to the Dojo… Sasuke was fighting one of the older students… what was worrying was that the 5 year old wanted to kill his opponent… with was extremely hard to do with a wooden sword. The Sensei watched this as well with a look of worry, he tried to get his son to stop but...

"Sasuke… please stop!" yelled Zoro.

Sasuke noticed that Zoro was in the room… the only who he told…

"This match is over…" said Sasuke.

The sensei sighed as Sasuke left with Zoro.

"What was that about?" asked Zoro.

"Training… to kill Itachi…" said Sasuke.

"To kill him?" asked Zoro.

Zoro was unnerved… one thing is that he had no idea that Sasuke wanted to kill Itachi… another was that Sasuke was just 5… a 5 year old talking about killing was just… wrong…

"Yes… I ask dad if I could have his sword… if he does return… which I'm sure he won't I will give it back if he wants it… with that sword I will kill him…" said Sasuke.

"Now… wait… I don't think killing will be right…" said Zoro, "Even if what he did was awful if you do what he did you're no better than eh is…"

"What in the future you might kill people as a swordsman…" said Sasuke.

"But that's different… it's not like I'm planning to kill my brother…" said Zoro, "He's your brother… and if you kill him then you are no better then he is…"

"You already said that…" said Sasuke.

"Because it's true… please… don't do this… just work on defeating him… and besides… you might want to know why he did it… if you kill him… then you won't know why…" said Zoro, "And please… don't take out on the other students"

Sasuke began to think what he said… as Zoro left…

(End of Flashback)

Hawk-eye knocked Zoro to the ground, he got up. He was about to use his attack Tiger Trap. Right when he was about to spring it… Hawk-eye stabbed Zoro in the chest with small knife.

"No way!" yelled Sakura.

"Brother!" yelled both Johnny and Yosaku.

"Zoro!" yelled Sasuke.

(Flashback)

Zoro was in his rigorous training… when Sasuke walked up to him, because of his Zoro took a break.

"I thought about what you said…" said Sasuke.

"What do you mean?" asked Zoro.

"I don't want to kill him any more…" said Sasuke.

Zoro gave a small smirk, "Is that so…" he said.

"Yeah… I was hopping that you would help me in my training to defeat him…" said Sasuke.

"I already promised that to you… remember…" said Zoro.

"Oh yeah…" said Sasuke with a bit of a sweat drop.

"But you must promise me one thing… you must not kill on purpose… if you do… it has to be an accident…" said Zoro.

"Right…" said Sasuke as the two shook hands.

(End of Flashback)

After Zoro explained why he couldn't retreat despite the wound he just received, he would rather die than face defeat… because of this Hawk-eye gained a respect for Zoro…

"Tell me… what is your name…" said Hawk-eye.

"Roronoa Zoro!" replied Zoro.

"I'll remember it. It's been a while since I met one so brave… I will honor the swordsman code. And send you to your death with this black blade… the finest in the world…" said Hawk-eye drawing his sword.

"Brother! Please give up!" yelled Johnny.

Zoro began to use his strongest attack… called 3,000 Worlds… it involved spinning the two swords in his hands… but Hawk-eye slashed him before his execute his attack… destroying the two swords that were in his hands.

"Zoro!" yelled Sasuke.

"It's over… I lost… I never fore saw this… That's the world's greatest for you…" thought Zoro.

He seethed his last sword… Kuina's sword… he turned and held out his arms wide.

"What are you…" said Hawk-eye.

"Wounds on the back… are a swordsman's shame…" said Zoro.

"No…" said Sasuke.

As Hawk-eye sliced Zoro's chest… Sasuke gasped… he couldn't believe the sight he saw…

(Flashback)

It had been 7 years since Kuina was murdered by Itachi. A 17 year old Zoro was preparing to leave the Dojo. As everyone was saying good-bye Sasuke watched from afar… however before Zoro could leave the sensei needed to speak with him in private in the Dojo.

"What is?" asked Zoro.

"You know after Kuina's death and Itachi running away, Sasuke hasn't been the same… he rarely ever talks or even interacts with anyone..." said the sensei.

"What do you want me to do?" asked Zoro.

"I want Sasuke to join you in journey…" said the sensei.

"What?" he asked surprised.

"You're the only person Sasuke ever opened up to after that happened…" said the sensei, "And maybe he might change during your journey…"

Zoro thought about it… "It should be up to him… I'm sure I'm right Sasuke…" he said.

Sasuake was listening from the doorway, he peeked his head from the doorway.

"I agree it might help with his goal…" said Sasuke.

"Then it's all agreed… I want you to take care of my son…" said the sensei.

Both nodded… and so that was the start of their adventure…

(End of Flashback)

Zoro fell into the water… Sasuke dove in after him. Luffy angry thinking that Zoro had died stretched his to a railing that was behind Hawk-eye. Naruto turned into his half demon form and got onto his back.

"You two are being rash again…" said Kyubi, "Zoro's alive… a demon can tell… and you're not listening to me are you…"

"What the hell…" said Sanji.

"Luffy and Naruto both ate devil fruits… Luffy ate the Gum Gum Fruit and Naruto are the Biju Biju Fruit…" said Ino.

"Translation…" said Sanji.

"Luffy's made of rubber, Naruto can transform into a demon…" said Sakura.

Luffy launched himself and Naruto towards Hawk-eye

"Two of the swordsman crew mates… you did well to allow him to fight on his to the end…" said Hawk-eye.

Hawkeye of course dodged the brother's attack at the perfect time giving both Luffy and Naruto a rough landing… Luffy actually had gotten his head stuck in some of the wreckage.

"Hello, hello earth to kit… he's not dead… quit being stubborn and listen to me…" said Kyubi.

Naruto managed to get his brother head out.

"Don't' worry you two… I left him alive…" said Hawk-eye.

Sasuke managed got Zoro to the surface… he was breathing heavily. He managed to get Zoro back to the boat.

"My name is Dracule Mihawk!" said Hawk-eye giving his real name, "It's too soon for you to die Zoro…"

Everyone looked at the world's greatest swordsman.

"Discover yourself… see the world… and grow strong…" said Mihawk, "However long it may take… I will await you at the top. Strive with your whole heart and best this blade… Strive to surpass me Roronoa Zoro!"

"Why would he say that?" asked Zeff.

"My guess is that he gained a respect for Zoro… not many have gone up agaisnt and survived…" said Kakashi.

"You two… what are your goals…" said Mihawk.

"To be King of the Pirates…" said Luffy.

"To be a Kage…" said Naruto.

"Both of you face precious path…" said Mihawk, "You the older one face an precious one that trying to surpass me…"

"I don't care! That's what I'm going to be!" said Luffy while sticking his tongue out.

"Hey! Is Zoro okay!" called Naruto.

"Of course he's not okay!" yelled Kiba.

"Hr's alive though…" said Usopp.

Both Johnny and Yosaku were crying… Sasuke had on an emotionless face on. Just then Zoro raised his sword.

"Zoro…" whispered Sasuke.

"Luffy can you hear me?" asked Zoro.

"I hear you!" yelled Luffy.

"Sasuke you can hear me…" said Zoro.

"I'm right here you don't need to ask… your saying like I've gone def…" said Sasuke.

Zoro couldn't help but to chuckle at his former partner's wit.

"Were you disappointed… if I fail to become the world's greatest swordsman? You'll be disappointed right?" asked Zoro.

He began to cough up blood.

"Save your breath!" yelled Yosaku.

"Never again!" said Zoro, "I will never lose again! Not from now, 'till I become the worlds' greatest swordsman… I WILL NEVER LOSE AGAIN!"

Sasuke smirked, Luffy laughed.

"Feel left out kit?" asked Kyubi.

"Shut up!" thought Naruto.

"Gotta problem with that King of the Pirates… Ladies man?" asked Zoro.

"Not at all…" said Luffy.

"If you call "Ladies man" I do…" said Sasuke.

"They make a good team…" said Mihawk, "I hope I encounter all of you one day again…"

Just as Hawk-eye was leaving he noticed Sasuke… his eyes winded slightly.

"You there boy!" he said, "Your name… it wouldn't be Uchiha Sasuke would it?"

Sasuke turned away from Zoro, "Yeah… it is… why do you ask?"

"I met a man on the Grand Line… he told me there would be a challenger in the company of a boy that looked exactly like this man I met…" said Hawk-eye.

"Did he give his name?" asked Sasuke.

"Yes… Itachi… and he gave me a message to give to you… "If you do indeed want to find me… I'm in the Grand Line…" I always assumed that if I did meet you… it would be in the Grand Line…" said Hawk-eye.

Sasuke's eyes winded…

"Who Itachi?" asked Kiba to Johnny and Yosaku.

"We don't know…" said Johnny.

"This was the first time we ever heard that name…" said Yosaku.

"It's none of your business…" said Sasuke.

Hawk-eye took his leave when Don-Kreig fired on him. He used his sword to block the attack which made the sea wild once again, Luffy and Naruto managed to get back on the Barite, the clanged to the railing.

"Usopp set sail!" ordered Luffy to those still in the boat.

"Right… we'll go after Nami… and when we come back we'll set sail to the Grand Line when everyone's together…" yelled Usopp throwing Luffy's hat to him which fell off when he and Naruto catapulted to Mihawk.

Sakura and Ino helped up the D brothers as the pirates got ready for a fight, as Zoro, Sasuke, Usopp, Kiba, Akamaru, Johnny and Yosaku sailed away after Nami.

"Here they come…" said Ino.

"Hey old man… I scare away the pirates then can I stop being Chore Boy?" asked Luffy to Zeff.

Zeff nodded began to think about it.

Ino looked to Sanji "Looks like I might be gone sooner than you think…" she said.

Sanji let out a heavy sigh... it looks like that was going to happen…

Next Time: The fight will begin... it the remnants of Don Kreig's Pirate Armada VS. The Crew of the Baratie, a Kage, and three members of the Straw Hats... What will happen? Will Ino be able to show off her Devil Fruit powers finally? Will Luffy be free from being a Chore boy? Will Kakashi be able to read his book? All this and more next time...