Naruto: The Forest's Chosen (Mori Mori No Mi)

"What... what's going on?"

Terumi Mei asked in confusion, her brows furrowed.

"Why… why do I feel like Bonney has turned into you?"

She walked to Naruto's side, her eyes flicking between him and the girl in question.

Nearby, Bonney—her form altered by her warped future and Rinnegan awakened—stood silently.

Her gaze was sharp, frigid, and laced with killing intent.

"Could it be…"

A strange light flickered in Mei's eyes.

Naruto gave a faint nod, gently placing a hand on her shoulder.

"That child… she's me. The normal me."

Then, turning to Bonney, he placed his hand on her shoulder.

A subtle surge of chakra transferred—a seed implanted within her.

"Do whatever you need to. Don't worry about your body breaking."

Bonney didn't respond.

But the hatred in her eyes—it was almost tangible.

"This world… deserves to be destroyed."

"Bear... I'll avenge you!"

But right after her declaration, before Naruto's chakra seed could take hold—

Buzz—

Bonney's Rinnegan vanished.

All signs of the Otsutsuki bloodline faded from her body.

Naruto blinked. "…"

He sighed, just a beat too slow.

"Too young. She's only nine. She can't contain such power yet."

He looked down at the unconscious girl in his arms.

She had reverted—back to a child's body, small and fragile.

Naruto gently shook his head.

Boom—

A loud crash interrupted the moment.

PX-1—one of the Pacifistas—suddenly descended beside Sentomaru, slamming into the earth and raising a storm of dust.

"Ah—!!!"

When PX-1's face became visible, Usopp, Brook, and Chopper were shocked.

Chopper even knocked off his hat, revealing his round head.

"Another Shichibukai's here?!"

"Is that… the real body?!"

Sanji's cigarette fizzled out.

"Real or fake, who cares…"

"We're too exhausted to face another monster!"

Nami and Robin stood close by.

They had both sensed the overwhelming aura Bonney had just released.

Neither could hide their awe.

"Was that terrifying presence… really coming from that child?"

Under her gray hat, cold sweat trickled down Robin's temple.

Far in the distance, Sentomaru was nearly panicking.

"Why did PX-1 engage on its own? I didn't give any orders…"

Then his eyes locked on Bonney.

"Wait… that's Bonney?!"

He recalled the burst of Haki just moments ago.

"Damn… has a Supernova already awakened Haki?!"

Then realization struck him.

"No, that's not the point… it's that man!"

"If I remember right, he… he can bestow power onto others?"

"And on top of that, the old man's intel…"

Sentomaru gritted his teeth.

"Even if I'm the man with the strongest defense and the tightest lips in the world…"

"It's best I stay the hell away from him."

Boom! Boom! Boom!

PX-1 had already begun attacking indiscriminately.

Zoro's forehead was damp with sweat.

"If another battle breaks out, someone's going to get seriously hurt…"

"And we don't even know if those three are allies or enemies…"

Even Sha Mao nodded silently.

Everyone turned to him, stunned.

"…Let's run."

"Don't group up. If you fight, scatter."

The Straw Hats were dumbfounded.

Did he really just say that?

Nami and Robin exchanged glances.

"Tch."

Nami muttered, watching Naruto quietly supply chakra to Bonney to treat the lingering damage within her.

Their eyes met—Nami and Mei Terumi.

Mei's gaze drifted downward… then landed on Robin.

Suddenly, she recalled what Kushina had whispered to her earlier:

"You're going with him this time. Keep a close eye on him."

"If there's a beautiful girl, help mom bring her back."

A smirk tugged at Mei Terumi's lips.

"Since it's a direct order from his mother, I suppose I have no choice but to obey."

Naruto blinked.

"What did mom tell you?"

Mei laughed lightly.

"Nothing. Just to watch over you."

Naruto frowned suspiciously.

"Wait… is mom trying to get you to help her kidnap some girls?"

Mei didn't even flinch.

"Don't be ridiculous."

She quickly changed the subject.

"How's the kid doing?"

In order to speed up the marriage process—

"Robin!"

Nami shouted, sprinting toward Naruto and Mei Terumi's location.

Robin nodded in understanding and veered in another direction, keeping close but strategic.

"I'll protect Miss Nami~!"

Sanji, once again smitten, transformed into a knight of love.

"If you're looking to die, go ahead and play bait," Franky snapped.

Sanji sniffed disdainfully. "I only protect ladies, bastard! You'd better protect yourself, you walking pair of briefs."

"Everyone, regroup at the Sunny in three days!" Luffy called out with resolve.

"Hmm~"

A soft hum escaped Bonney's lips as she slowly opened her eyes.

Apparently, Luffy's shouting had roused her.

"Is that... a bear?" she muttered groggily.

"...Wait, two bears?"

Bonney stared at PX1 in disbelief.

"Pacifistas. They're modeled after Bartholomew Kuma. Think of them as cyborgs," Naruto explained.

As he spoke, Naruto activated Kamui.

PX4, still unnoticed on the ground, was suddenly enveloped by swirling spatial ripples.

Whoosh—

In an instant, PX4 vanished, pulled into the Kamui dimension.

Whoosh—

But at that exact moment, PX1 blinked into existence—right in front of Nami.

"Help! H-Help~!" Nami yelped as she bolted toward Naruto.

"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!"

Mei Terumi's voice rang out sharply.

Boom—!

A massive water dragon surged forth, slamming into PX1 and sending it flying.

Nami blinked, startled. Then she looked at the woman who had just appeared beside her.

The stranger offered her a gentle, confident smile.

"Thank you!" Nami quickly said.

Mei Terumi chuckled. "You're welcome. Now just come home with me."

Nami frowned. "Wait, what?"

"Then I suppose I have no reason to protect you any further."

"I'll go!" Nami blurted without hesitation.

But Mei Terumi only narrowed her eyes and shook her head. "You're lying. Your eyes gave you away."

Nami's pupils contracted. She hadn't expected to be seen through so easily.

"I can pay you! Please, sis!" she begged.

Mei Terumi started to turn away—

—but paused when she heard one particular word.

Money?

She looked back, intrigued.

Nami noticed the shift and relaxed slightly, though her eyes betrayed her pain.

That expression… it felt oddly familiar.

Kurama? Mei Terumi raised an eyebrow.

"Just stay here," she said, tugging Nami along toward Naruto.

Naruto: "…"

Did Mom really assign her this weird task?

Then he glanced at Nami, thoughtful.

"Naruto, how about bringing her back and letting Kurama evaluate her?" Mei whispered.

"Look at her—she's sly. Probably good with money."

Then she leaned closer and whispered directly in his ear:

"This is Mom's task for me. If I don't complete it, I might be the last one to get married."

Naruto sighed. "Why are there so many weird missions… Fine. Take her along. She's got a knack for navigation. Once we liberate this world, she might come in handy."

Bonney chimed in innocently, "Sister Mei, aren't you and Brother Naruto already husband and wife?"

"And… why do you all have to wait in line to get married?"

Nami, hearing this, instantly pieced it together.

Her expression twisted.

She looked at Naruto and silently took a step back.

This is getting weird.

Sure, he was handsome—but still… She had her own dreams to chase.

Just then, PX1's sensors locked onto Usopp and Zoro—both exhausted and nearly out of commission.

Whoosh—!

A figure flashed in from afar and landed a powerful kick on PX1.

Boom! Boom!

The blow sent the cyborg crashing.

"Pluton Rayleigh."

Naruto stood up slowly, holding Bonney.

Mei Terumi brought Robin over to regroup.

"Don't crush the buds before they bloom," Rayleigh said calmly, glancing at PX1 lying broken in the dust.

"Their era is just beginning."

"Saved…" Nami collapsed onto the ground, finally breathing again.

That was too close.

"Even if you're old, you're still a pirate," Rayleigh said quietly.

"But the sins of piracy... never disappear."

"What's more—it all started with the Roger Pirates."

"They opened the Age of Exploration."

"Countless pirates rose up in their wake."

"And with the Navy and Celestial Dragons acting as parasites, the world's people were already suffering."

"The emergence of pirates only worsened the hunger and chaos."

Hearing this, Rayleigh turned his head.

Then, his eyes shifted to Naruto with a look of quiet surprise.

"…Who are you?"

"I've never seen you before. Are you Navy? Or pirate?"

Naruto turned slightly to the side—just as a towering figure materialized beside him.

Bonney's eyes widened too.

"A bear?!"

At first, she seemed uncertain—until she caught sight of the book in the figure's hand.

Then her expression changed completely.

"Bear… Dad!!"

She ran toward him without hesitation.

Rayleigh's pupils contracted. He looked at her back with a furrowed brow.

"…So, he's a pirate after all."

"I wasn't. And she isn't now," Naruto replied calmly.

Rayleigh slowly drew his blade.

"In that case, I won't let you pass."

"It's been a while since I used a sword…"

"Young man, this world isn't as simple as— ugh!"

His sentence was cut short.

Before he could react, Naruto was already in front of him, one hand gripping his throat.

"Game time's over," Naruto said coldly.

"I wanted to see if this world matched the one I know."

"And now... it's clear. They're exactly the same."

"In that case, there's no reason to waste time with you."

Snap—

Rayleigh's body deflated, the life draining from him in an instant—visible to the naked eye.

The deputy of the Pirate King—Pluton Rayleigh—was dead.

"Uncle!!"

Luffy cried out, horrified.

But even as that happened—

The real Bartholomew Kuma appeared.

With a sudden movement, his giant paw launched a compressed air strike.

Boof!

Zoro vanished.

Naruto looked over.

Bartholomew Kuma met his eyes.

"Bear! Stop! He's Naruto's brother!" Bonney shouted urgently.

Whoosh—

But Kuma vanished before she finished.

The power of the Nikyu Nikyu no Mi—the Paw-Paw Fruit—was fully unleashed.

"Naruto!!"

Bonney's voice trembled.

In the next instant, she activated her own Devil Fruit: the Toshi Toshi no Mi—the Distorted Time, Whirlpool Future.

Kuma hesitated as Bonney Ōtsutsuki suddenly appeared in front of Naruto.

But just before impact, Naruto gently pushed her aside.

"This ability is perfect for speeding up travel," he muttered. "I won't resist. Let's see just how far it can launch me."

"This world is vast… While short-range teleportation is fine, to reach the farthest corners—this fruit's power could be a real asset."

With that thought, Naruto turned to Mei Terumi.

His eyes were calm.

A subtle smile crossed his face.

"Don't worry. I'll be back soon."

Boof!

Naruto vanished.

At that moment, Bonney forcibly distorted the timeline.

But as Naruto disappeared, her consciousness began to fade—distorted by the future she tried to manipulate.

The youthful Rinnegan in her eyes flared—

"Shinra Tensei!"

A burst of repulsive force exploded outward.

...

TN:

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