Naruto Multiverse

As Naruto's body lay still, the surrounding world seemed to blur into a haze of pain and uncertainty. His chances were fading, and his luck was running out. But fate had other plans. Emerging from the depths of the water, a tall, muscular Fishman named Hatchan came to rest on the shore, noticing Naruto sprawled on the ground, his body broken and surrounded by a pool of blood.

"How tragic," Hatchan muttered softly, his heart stirring at the sight of the injured human. He was about to approach, but Arachne, still attached to Naruto, reacted swiftly. Her cursed strings lashed out, moving like serpents, coiling in warning at the potential threat.

Hatchan froze, understanding the danger immediately. He raised his hands slowly to show that he was unarmed and meant no harm. "I am not an enemy. I'm just trying to help," he explained in a calm, earnest voice.

Arachne hesitated, sensing the sincerity in Hatchan's words. She knew that Naruto's survival depended on immediate medical care, and it was clear that the Fishman had no ill intentions. After a tense moment, she relaxed, allowing Hatchan to approach.

"Thank you," Hatchan whispered, then immediately assessed Naruto's condition. His eyes darkened as he saw the extent of the injuries. "This is bad," he muttered, his voice filled with urgency. "I need to get him to a doctor quickly. If I don't, he might not last more than eight hours."

With determination, Hatchan gently picked up Naruto, burying his weapons and armor to prevent them from being a burden. Arachne remained attached to her master, her wires trailing behind as they swam towards Cocoyashi Village. The journey was long, and Hatchan swam tirelessly, his muscles aching as he cut through the water. Four hours later, he finally reached the village, but the celebration in full swing made it clear that Naruto had missed Hina by mere hours.

The village was filled with the sounds of laughter and music as the people celebrated their freedom from Arlong's tyrannical rule. They were enjoying the liberation they had gained, though their lives had been marred by a history of oppression. Hatchan's arrival, however, was not met with the same joy. As he approached, a drunken villager noticed him and, filled with hatred, shouted, "What are you doing here, Fishman?"

Before the situation could escalate, Hatchan spoke out, his voice calm and unwavering. "Please, I mean no harm. This man needs a doctor. Can someone help him?"

The villagers were about to dismiss him when Genzo, a trusted figure in the village, appeared. His eyes narrowed in recognition as he saw Hatchan. "Bring him along," Genzo ordered with authority. "The rest of you, get back to your own business."

The crowd dispersed, though some lingering whispers of suspicion could still be heard. Hatchan followed Genzo, carrying Naruto in his arms, and the two made their way to the village doctor's home. Along the way, Genzo asked, "Who is he?"

"I don't know," Hatchan replied honestly. "I just found him on another island. But he's got the Marine insignia, so he's probably one of them."

"Marine, huh?" Genzo muttered thoughtfully. "We should tell Bell-mere about him."

Bell-mere was a well-respected member of the village who had been instrumental in protecting the villagers during the conflict with Arlong. She had survived through a series of fortunate events, largely thanks to Genzo's advice to keep her children hidden from the Fishman pirate's wrath.

They arrived at the doctor's house, and Hatchan gently placed Naruto on a bed, removing his tattered armor and clothing to allow the doctor to examine him.

"His body's in bad shape," the doctor said grimly as he began his work. "But luckily, I got him here in time. If you'd arrived a little later..." He shook his head, unable to finish the thought. The doctor administered anesthetics and began cleaning Naruto's wounds, stitching up the deep gashes that marred his skin. The process was slow and meticulous as the doctor worked to clear the blood from Naruto's lungs and stabilize his internal injuries.

It took several hours before the doctor finally finished. He wiped the sweat from his brow and sighed in exhaustion. "I've done the best I can for now. He'll survive, but he's going to need better medical care soon."

Bell-mere, who had arrived shortly after Genzo, frowned. "That shouldn't be a problem. This kid's part of the elite Marine recruits from Marineford."

Genzo raised an eyebrow. "Wasn't that pink-haired girl one of them too?"

"Yes, Hina's one of them. So this guy must have been on a mission nearby," Bell-mere said, reflecting on the connection between the injured Marine and Hina.

"Strange," Genzo said, glancing at Naruto's battered body. "For someone from the elite Marines, he's in really rough shape. He's a lot weaker than I expected, considering the biggest threat in the region was Arlong."

"Hina's stronger than him," Bell-mere replied, analyzing the situation. "She didn't even get hurt during the conflict."

The doctor nodded thoughtfully. "Let him rest here for now, but after that, what do we do?"

Bell-mere looked down at the unconscious form of Naruto, her heart filled with a sense of responsibility. "I'll take him with me. It's the least I can do to thank Hina for her help."

"And the Fishman?" the doctor asked, glancing at the door.

"He left," Genzo replied. "He was assured that the kid would be fine. He seemed eager to get back to wherever he came from."

Bell-mere nodded. "That's for the best. The villagers still have their fear and mistrust of Fishmen."

Without another word, she gently picked up Naruto's cot, cradling him carefully. She turned to the doctor and Genzo. "I'll take him to my house and take care of him until he's ready to leave."

The villagers were still celebrating their newfound freedom, unaware of the fragile life they were saving in their midst. As Bell-mere left with Naruto, the village's hope for the future grew stronger. Though the path ahead would be difficult for Naruto, his luck hadn't run out just yet.

Bell-mere's home was modest, yet filled with warmth. The small house, nestled in the heart of Cocoyashi Village, exuded a quiet comfort. It was here that Naruto's fate had shifted, though his body was still fragile and his mind groggy from the events of the past day.

When Bell-mere brought him inside, the two little girls, with their bright eyes and infectious energy, immediately rushed toward her. Their voices rang out in unison. "Momma!" they cried, their faces alight with joy. The younger of the two had blue hair, while the older girl sported bright orange locks. They darted toward Bell-mere like little flashes of light.

Bell-mere smiled, a soft laugh escaping her as she greeted her children. "Haha, calm down, my little angels. I'm just bringing home a guest." She carefully placed Naruto's cot on the floor inside, setting him down gently. The two girls peered at Naruto with wide eyes, curiosity etched on their faces. They were both entranced by the gloves he wore, noticing the strings that seemed to move of their own accord, gliding over his body like living creatures.

"Ooooh, so cool!" Nami, the older girl, exclaimed in awe, her eyes sparkling as she reached out towards the gloves.

Bell-mere, sensing the potential danger, quickly intervened. "Don't touch it, that's a cursed item." Her tone was firm, but there was also a flicker of suspicion in her eyes as she glanced at the gloves. There was something unusual about them, something too peaceful, too still. She could tell that the cursed item was different from others she had encountered before, though she couldn't quite place why.

As Nami hesitated, her hand retracting slowly, Bell-mere's thoughts raced. The master might be really special to tame one into such a state, she mused, considering the implications of the cursed item. It seemed like there was much more to this guest than she had initially realized.

The family left Naruto to rest for the time being, while the hours passed by in quiet peace. By the time the afternoon sun began to dip into the horizon, Naruto's body stirred, his eyes flickering open. He was greeted by the unfamiliar sight of a low ceiling, the room dim and cozy. A feeling of calmness washed over him, but it wasn't his usual resting place. As he looked around, his mind began to piece together the fragments of memory.

"Master, you are awake," Arachne's voice rang softly in his mind.

Naruto blinked, taking in his surroundings before responding mentally. "Yes, thank you for taking care of me, Arachne. But where am I now?"

Arachne explained, her voice steady and clear. "Master was brought here to an island by a Fishman. A doctor performed a checkup, but it wasn't enough. You need to go back to the base. Right now, you're in a woman's house. She decided to take care of you until you're strong enough."

Naruto let out a sigh, feeling the weight of the situation. "Well, it looks like I owe some people some favors," he muttered to himself, his thoughts drifting as he surveyed the room. His eyes lingered on the walls, where drawings decorated the space—some of them childlike, others more detailed, like well-drawn maps. It was clear that the drawings were the work of children, but the quality of some of them suggested they might belong to someone older, someone more skilled.

It must be the woman, Naruto thought, his mind turning over the pieces of the puzzle.

Before he could dwell further on his surroundings, the door to the room creaked open. A little girl, Nami, entered, carrying something in her hands. She froze when she saw Naruto's eyes open, her expression lighting up with excitement.

"Momma, the guest is up!" she shouted, her voice high-pitched and full of energy.

Bell-mere appeared shortly behind Nami, her gaze warm and welcoming as she stepped into the room. "It looks like you're finally awake," she said with a gentle smile, her eyes soft but filled with concern. "How are you feeling?"

The house was calm, the air fresh, with the scent of oranges drifting through the open windows. Inside, a small table was set, surrounded by four individuals who had, for a brief moment, come together under unusual circumstances. Naruto, now dressed in the clothes Bell-mere had kindly provided, had cleaned himself up and made his way to the kitchen as requested.

"Thank you for your assistance," Naruto said gratefully as he took a seat at the table, his posture relaxed but still guarded. His voice was sincere, acknowledging the kindness extended to him by the woman and her family.

Bell-mere, busy preparing the meal, smiled in response. "No problem. I have to repay your comrade in some way or form," she replied with warmth, carefully arranging the lunch. The little girls, Nami and Nojiko, watched Naruto with wide, curious eyes, their fascination evident.

Naruto, feeling their gaze, offered them a gentle smile, his expression calm despite his physical exhaustion. "What do you wish to know, little ones?" he asked, his voice friendly, hoping to ease their curiosity.

Nami, the older of the two, was quick to speak up, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Mister, is it true that the entrance to the Grand Line has a reverse waterfall? How does it work? And how do ships travel there?" she asked in a rush, her words tumbling out one after the other, her mind racing with questions.

Nojiko, sitting quietly beside her, attempted to calm her younger sibling, but the enthusiasm was contagious. Naruto chuckled, his eyes softening as he looked at Nami. "Calm down, little one. Yes, the Grand Line does have the reverse waterfall, along with many other mysterious phenomena," he began, answering her question in a measured tone. "People use different methods to navigate there, but I'm not sure how they do it exactly, as I've never traveled through that path myself." He paused thoughtfully, noticing how intelligent Nami seemed. While I'm here, let's see what more she can do, he mused inwardly.

Nami's eyes widened with curiosity. "Then how did you get here?" she asked, not satisfied with his answer.

"The Calm Belt," Naruto explained, leaning back slightly. "The Marines use that route, though it's filled with Sea Kings. But they have special methods to avoid them." He glanced over at Bell-mere, who had joined the conversation.

Bell-mere, having overheard, chimed in with a matter-of-fact tone. "Yes, that's right. The Calm Belt is the route we took."

Naruto's curiosity piqued. "Were you a Marine, madam?" he asked, turning his gaze toward Bell-mere, his tone respectful yet inquisitive.

Bell-mere nodded, her expression a mixture of pride and nostalgia. "I was," she replied simply. "Now let's eat before the food gets cold. We can talk later."

With that, the group sat down to eat, and Naruto, his body still recovering from the intense battle, found himself starving. His body was still compensating for the blood loss and the toll the fight had taken on him. As they ate, the conversation continued to flow, with Naruto getting a better sense of the family dynamic.

After the meal, the girls and Naruto moved outside to relax under the shade of a tree. The weather was pleasant, and the atmosphere peaceful. Naruto watched Nami, who was busy sketching something in the dirt, her hand moving with precision. As he leaned forward slightly, he noticed the details she was adding to the sketch. "Did you make the maps inside the room?" he asked, intrigued.

Nami paused, her face lighting up with pride. She looked up at Naruto, her blue eyes sparkling. "Yes, isn't it nice? Mamma says I'm really talented at being a mapmaker."

Naruto grinned. "She's right, you are very talented. How can you tell the wind and all these things?"

Nami's face scrunched up in confusion as she tried to explain. "Hmm, I don't know... I just feel it, the atmosphere, I guess... by instinct."

Naruto extended his hand and placed it gently on Nami's head, his touch soft and reassuring. "Don't trouble yourself over it, I understand what you mean."

Nami looked up at him, her expression a mix of wonder and amusement. "Really? What's the reason?" she asked, her voice light and playful.

Naruto smirked teasingly. "Hmm, when you get older, I'll tell you. But only if you come looking for me."

"No fair!" Nami pouted, crossing her arms. "I want to know now! Please! I'll give you all my money!" she offered, her voice dripping with mock frustration.

Naruto laughed, shaking his head. "Haha, no need for that. If you impress me more while I'm here, maybe I'll tell you."

Nami's eyes gleamed with determination. "You got it! I'll show you how amazing I am!" she declared, her competitive spirit flaring up once again.

Naruto couldn't help but chuckle at her enthusiasm. It was a refreshing change of pace from the battles he had fought. The little girl's energy was contagious, and he found himself genuinely enjoying her company. This might be the calm I needed, he thought, allowing himself to relax for a moment.