Chapter 3: Disguise?

The giant crab emerged from the sand and soon gave them a ride, everything was going well until Luffy apparently spotted Crocodile and his right hand person— recklessly jumping down from the crab and promising to catch up soon after defeating the Shichibukai.

What amazed Shoto was the fact that the whole crew believed in the rubber man, not an ounce of doubt and hesitation as they counted on their Captain. That was the kind of trust that Shoto Todoroki never got to receive before, no one really trusted him to begin with, (maybe that changed when he arrived in UA).

When he watched as the crew communicated with mere glances, Shoto felt incredibly out of place, he couldn't possibly achieve that type of understanding.

"The top members are waiting already, the war between the Royal and Rebel army will begin any moment now."

Vivi was worried sick, her usual fairly pale skin was now drastically paling nearly in the same color as Shoto's right hair. Sweat was forming from her temples and forehead but it didn't exactly take a genius to know that it wasn't a result from the heat.

"I got a plan." Nami grinned as she sent a knowing look towards the heterochromatic. Shoto felt uncomfortable as if the whole situation was shifting towards him, which was exactly the case.

"This is your brilliant plan?" Shoto asked coldly with obvious hints of annoyance, the whole crew stifled a snicker as they stared at the younger male who was the main topic. Nami grinned as she nodded.

"Why? Do you have a better one?"

Shoto could only grumble in response, not finding the strength to argue seeing as what was done was done.

Shoto's hair had an extension of ice which was blue, not exactly the same color as Vivi's but close enough. His ice was formed to appear like long blue hair— and while the crew were close to burst out in laughter, he didn't look the littlest amuse. Not at all.

"Yep! They'll definitely fall for this—!" Kudos to the Sharpshooter who was the one who carved the ice, Usopp smiled proudly at his creation while slightly muffling a snicker. It was amusing to watch the usually impassive boy looking like the Princess of Alabasta.

"You're lucky we didn't add make-up!" Nami exclaimed as she clasped her hands together.

"You look. . . Manly." Zoro grinned as he didn't even bother to hide his boisterous laugh. Shoto was utterly irritated as a tick mark appeared on his forehead for merely being laughed at.

He has done several disguises in the past but this was the worst one, seriously, who would fall for ice hair? Only idiots will.

"Alright, Let's go!" Sanji announced.

They started off, riding on the oversized ducks that was said to be the fastest transportation in Alabasta. They all were cloaked in white but Shoto had to have a part of his ice hair shown just to trick the enemies.

"They won't fall for it." Shoto went to tell them but was cut shortly when his duck was tripped by one of the men, successfully making him rise in the air before swiftly landing on his feet. That was when the Top members noticed him barefooted, but not a single damage was there.

"Ha! They fell for it, great acting— Shoto!" Usopp yelled as the crew revealed themselves, making the Top officers stare back at the Heterochromatic who had faux hair that ultimately fooled them.

"Ice hair—? You make us look like fools!" One of the buff guys exclaimed.

And soon, as the crew separated with Vivi heading directly to the fight, Shoto had to suffer being stuck in the desert with Usopp and Chopper accompanying him to fight the two giant couples.

"I'm worried about Vivi." Chopper spoke up as the two couples started revealing their weapons with annoyingly loud laughs. "She's entering a war without any protection."

"Vivi might be a princess but she knows how to fight." Usopp said, though he was slightly trembling in his feet as he watched the duo readying to attack them.

Then the two Straw Hat pirates stared at Shoto as if they knew what they were intending already. Again, the Heterochromatic felt a little left out from their communication as he stared back blankly from the knowing looks they were sending.

"We'll handle it from here, Princess Shoto." Usopp grinned, Shoto's eye twitched as his left side burned wildly, destroying the cloak but miraculously not his pyjamas. Still, the ice hair was luckily burnt completely. "You go help Vivi reach it safely to stop the war."

But the younger male wasn't fully convinced. He could still sense the reluctance and fear in the Sharpshooter's voice.

"If you say so. But are you sure you can handle it, Captain Usopp? Are you sure you won't depend on your 8,000 troop members?" Shoto slightly hinted, but his neutral tone never wavered as he tried to encourage some spirits into the long nose.

And Shoto hasn't fully mastered the encouraging part yet since he doesn't do it often, hopefully, the sniper's spirits would rise and get some senses nonetheless.

"Oh well, of course!" Usopp exclaimed proudly as he placed his hands on his hips while tilting his chin up high. "You can count on the great Captain Usopp to destroy the enemies fearlessly. Now you must go on while the great warrior of the sea handles this." He jabbed his thumb against his chest, pointing.

"Alright. I'm counting on you." Shoto mumbled, trying not to cringe at his own words since it was unfamiliar even to himself.

Feeling satisfied of his progress, Shoto nodded and swiftly ran towards where Vivi was heading— his body moving quite agile as he did, hinting that he actually spent a lot of time in training.

"You sure about this, Usopp?" Chopper asked, raising a brow at the quick change of mind.

"Of course. Shoto is the best person to protect Vivi with his cool ice and fire powers, and besides, he counted on the great Captain Usopp pummel the enemies to the ground."

"Cool!" Chopper's eyes sparkled at Usopp's confidence boost.

Shoto may not know it but he was actually starting to blend in with them. Slowly but surely.

Shoto trudged past the war cries of the people as his barefeet hits against the cemented ground harshly, he then spotted blue in the sea of people. Soon, he was quick enough to reach her before anyone strikes her head off.

He pulled the princess off the battlefield as she momentarily fell on the floor. Groaning slightly, she then glanced to see the person who helped her escape from getting her head cut off.

"Shoto!"

The heterochromatic only grumbled in reply.

"Vivi, which way leads to the Palace?" He asked, his cold tone never wavered but it didn't exactly bother anyone since they probably got used to it by now. Vivi pointed to the gates where the main Royal guards were protecting.

"Thank you for your help, Shoto. But I really need to talk to the Rebel Army's leader." Vivi said. Shoto remembered the conversation she had with Nami, the story of a childhood friend that was now the leader of the the army opposing the Royalty.

"What makes you think he'll listen to you?" Shoto asked, Vivi frowned a little before determination keyed her eyes.

"I'll make him listen. He has to, so that the numbers of casualties wouldn't increase any more." Vivi spoke, the same conviction that Shoto recalled from Luffy. Nodding slightly, the Heterochromatic stomped his foot on the ground that made an ice path which separated a lot of people who were fighting.

"Well then, lead the way."

Vivi nodded in appreciation before using the ice to run towards the main gates, facing the leader of the Royal army, someone who apparently know her personally and listened. With that, Shoto stared as her figure disappear as she entered the gates.

He sighed. That was troublesome. He had no business with them that could be valid so he didn't bother to accompany her all the way, besides, his gut was telling him something else at that matter.

"Now, where to find a more peaceful place." He muttered to himself before turning away and casually walking off. His modern pyjamas standing out from the dulled classic clothing.

Before he could step any further, he could hear a gunshot from inside.

"Right, instincts." He grumbled begrudgingly before finding his way to the gates and seeing as Vivi  was reunited with her childhood friend, but in the wrath of Crocodile. "Huh? I thought Luffy handled him." He wondered to himself.

He approached and formed ice before another gunshot could hit another arm from the rebel army's leader.

"Ice?" Crocodile's eyes widened, sensing familiarity. "But Ice already belonged to the Admiral—" he trailed off silently before staring at the 18 year old in more interest.

"Shoto!" Vivi called out for the second time. The boy has been saving them a lot lately and it was probably a coincidence or just twisted fate that brought him in that crucial situation. That still didn't matter as long as they could prevent the destruction in the Country.

"Interesting. So your name is Shoto," Crocodile hummed. The heterochromatic's eyes were cold, expression was cold, tone was probably cold as well. Fitting for a guy who has ice power. "Do say, how did you get an ice devil fruit?"

"None of your business." Tone was definitely cold, Crocodile noted. Shoto only stared back, more fiercer than his usual laid back expression.

"Oh my. Are you planning to fight me?" Crocodile mocked, though he knew his weakness was any liquid substance, and by the heat of the sun, the ice could slightly melt and pierce through him, something he wasn't willing to risk.

Shoto threw the first move, tapping his barefoot on the ground as ice erupt from it. A dangerously sharp big ice. Crocodile's eyes narrowed; no way was he taking any chances— he stepped away to avoid it.

Shoto neared their distance and threw an ice coated right fist to hit the Shichibukai who was slightly hit by it. But since the ice hasn't fully wore to substance yet, it didn't completely work. But taking his chance; he grazed his golden hook to the boy's forearm, and much to his interest, the small wound slowly produced little blood.

"Oh, so you're not the logia type."

Shoto could only guess that Logia meant a fruit that allows someone to be just like him with a body that can't be hit or damaged damaged without any certain weakness.

"But why freeze your right side only? You're gonna be needing a little more than that to defeat me." Crocodile smirked smugly, now feeling cocky since the boy wasn't Logia and didn't have complete power yet. But he could still tell that the boy has great potential, Shoto could be a more formidable opponent in the future if he improves right.

As Shoto went to punch again, Crocodile used his sand about to graze and dry Shoto's left side this time. Luckily, he could tell from his reflexes and soon erupted his whole left side into fire, both sides glazing wildly with both the opposite temperatures, making the sand turn into dull glass.

Crocodile's eyes widened. In fact, most of the people's eyes widened.

"Ice. . . Fire." He mumbled. "How does he possess two devil fruits?" And much to the extent of his knowledge, both the fire and ice fruit was already occupied. How did this mere teenager possess hybrid powers with fruits that was supposed to be taken already?

"Crocodile!"

Their fight was interrupted as Luffy ran to the battle and threw a punch at Crocodile that successfully damaged him. Water was present and that was probably what he was using to hit the Shichibukai.

"Sorry Shoto but this guy's my opponent." Luffy panted. Shoto arched a brow before nodding in understanding, he didn't plan to waste time anyway.

"Tch, you're still alive." Crocodile scowled at the Rubber man.

Shoto stepped back and went to the side, feeling enough drama happen in just one day. Was this the life of Pirates? If so, he wasn't exactly sure if he'll last long.

Great. Now I'll just have to find if anyone sells Cold Soba around here. Shoto thought to himself.