My True Family

3 - Ultimatum

Midnight was here, and the Thousand Sunny was still as lively as ever. The straw hats showed Naruto around the ship, told him stories of their adventures, basically trying to cheer him up. In fact, he hasn't smiled or laughed this much in a very long time.

Naruto was amazed at how big the world felt compared to his little village.

All of the strawhats and Naruto were out on the deck talking about there most recent adventure, when Naruto felt himself get tired. He yawned and the crew then realized that it was late and they had to go.

"Naruto." Sanji started. "Yeah?" Naruto said.

"You know it's late, right?" He said. "What about it?" Naruto knew what this meant, but he didn't want to accept it. "You know you can't stay with us. We have to leave."

Naruto tried to keep his smile up, but it was faltering. "S-so? Y-you can just take me with you. No one here's gonna miss me anyway, so it's fine."

"It's not that." Zoro said. "You said you were 11, right? That's way too young to join us for the things we do and the people we fight. Not to mention, all of us are wanted by the world government, so you'll be in danger. You can't join us." He said coldly. Naruto lost his smile, and replaced it with a look of anger.

"Then at least take me off this island for another, anywhere! Even if it's just the next island, I don't care! I can't stay here!" Naruto yelled with tears forming in his eyes.

Luffy was quiet for a moment, contemplating if he should leave him here or not.

"Naruto." Luffy started. "You can join my crew." Naruto's eyes widened, as did everyone else's at the same time. "But you have to get strong. If you don't, then we will have to leave you behind. But for now, join my crew." He said as he held his hand out for Naruto to take.

Naruto took Luffy's hand. "I will. I'll become strong enough to help you with your dreams. I will make sure that you become pirate king." The strawhats, who were at first concerned with the boy, now all had smiles.

"Well if the captain said so, then it's official. Welcome to the crew kid." Zoro said as he stood up and leaning against the side to fall asleep. "Then it's finally time to go!" Luffy yelled in excitement, with everyone else, besides Zoro since he was already asleep, also getting the ship ready to head off.

Naruto went to the back of the ship and looked back at his home village getting further and further away. He couldn't believe this was actually happening. "Are you happy?" He heard a female voice behind him, so he turned and saw Robin walk towards him with a soft smile on her face.

"Yes I am, I'm not regretting this, but...I think that most of you don't want me here. I don't even think Luffy does." Naruto said sadly, looking into the water below.

"Why wouldn't he? He knows you may be weak and young, but he still let you join either way. He wouldn't have done that if he didn't see potential in you. Besides, if he already sees you as his crewmmate, then he will go through hell and back to keep you by his side no matter what." As Robin said this, she had flashbacks to Enies Lobby.

"B-but we just met, and he barely knows me." Naruto said. "I think it's because he knew exactly what you needed when he first saw you in that alley: people you can see as family. Give us a chance to prove to you that we can help you, and you'll see. Just think about it." Robin responded before she left the boy alone.

He looked back over the edge and thought about what she said. 'Will go to hell and back to keep me, huh? Then I have to get stronger, so he won't even have to." With new determination, he went to the crows nest and began climbing up to the room at the top. He entered the room and saw that it had large weights everywhere, weights too big for anyone to possibly lift.