Naruto and Gion's past went back over a decade.
The general timeframe would be between when he rescued Hancock and when he met Stussy.
During that period, Naruto was still drifting alone on the sea. Occasionally, when he acted chivalrously and caught a heinous pirate, he would turn them in for the bounty under the identity of a 'bounty hunter'.
Of course, most of the time back then, Naruto disguised himself as the beautiful blonde swordswoman 'Naruko'.
Hmm…
The beautiful swordswoman Naruko met another beautiful swordswoman, Gion.
What happened next was quite a story.
…
Gion had worked incredibly hard.
To prove that a woman could also become an outstanding Marine, she had shed more blood and sweat than others.
It could be said that during that period, aside from Tsuru, she was already the strongest among all female Marines.
But that wasn't enough.
Gion didn't just want to be the strongest female Marine… she wanted to go higher, to continue rising, to become a Rear Admiral, a Vice Admiral, even the first female Admiral!
To that end, she relentlessly pursued various notorious pirates with a near-maniacal zeal, shaking up the New World at the time.
Of course, such a sharp-edged approach didn't come without a price.
Soon, a conspiracy targeting her quietly unfolded.
Gion's character was very resolute, and her behavior was easy to predict.
So, unsurprisingly, she fell into a trap.
Almost all the soldiers she brought out were severely injured, and she herself was on the verge of collapse under the combined assault of several powerful pirates.
She was furious.
Not just because of her own powerlessness, but because of her arrogance, which had led to her comrades potentially dying here with her today.
Just as Gion was sinking into despair, a golden flash appeared.
Naruto… Naruko at the time was already quite formidable. Those powerful pirates were no match for his monstrous physique and swordsmanship.
He hadn't even needed to use Multiple Shadow Clone Technique to deal with those pirates.
"Hey, you're Marines, right?"
Gion remembered the golden-haired girl saying to her at that time.
"Perfect. Take these guys away. When can I get the bounty?"
That girl seemed oblivious to her own wounds, more concerned about the bounty.
"I'm really in a hurry. If I don't make some money soon, I won't be able to…"
Gion didn't remember the rest of what was said because she lost consciousness.
But before her awareness faded, the image of that blonde girl carrying a sword was burned into her mind.
Later, Gion became fixated on Naruko.
They were both women, so why was Naruko so much stronger than her?
Gion couldn't understand, so she kept pestering her, going wherever Naruko appeared.
This made it difficult for Naruko to successfully 'hunt' for many days.
After all, with a Marine fleet always tailing him, most pirates would flee at the mere sight.
Naruko tried changing his appearance, but he couldn't change his sword.
This made Gion more observant… she learned Naruko could quickly transform into a different form.
Later, Gion got smarter. She simply waited by the Marine base. Whenever Naruko showed up to claim a bounty, she would get the information immediately.
With this persistent pestering, Naruko had no choice but to ask her what she really wanted.
"I want to become stronger. As strong as you."
No one knew what feelings hid behind Gion's words when she said this.
Hearing this, Naruko couldn't very well refuse, so he readily agreed.
For a time after that, Naruko stayed at the Marine base, practicing swordsmanship with Gion when idle, and going out with the Marines to hunt pirates when there was work.
The Marines even got used to having a bounty hunter join them on their captures.
And Gion, without realizing it, became accustomed to following in Naruko's footsteps, gradually advancing.
At some point, Gion's 'pestering' of Naruko was no longer just about getting stronger.
Finally, one day, Gion confessed.
The result was predictable. Naruko bolted like a startled bird, not even claiming the bounty from their last mission.
Naturally, Gion was heartbroken.
She thought her special feelings had made Naruko uncomfortable and blamed herself.
She frantically tried to find Naruko, to explain, but this frenzy only made Naruko go further underground.
It was several years later that rumors of the 'beautiful swordswoman bounty hunter' resurfaced, somewhere in the North Blue.
This time, Naruko didn't get away in time… or perhaps he hadn't intended to.
"I know my words might be hard for you to accept, since it's between women and…"
Gion fumbled with her explanation, not at all like her usual calm and composed self.
But the beautiful girl across from her, who had a new look, raised a hand to stop her.
"I'm really sorry…"
Naruko covered his face, feeling that what he was about to say would be even more hurtful than his previous rejection.
"But actually…"
Poof!
A cloud of smoke billowed.
When the smoke cleared, Naruto's true form was revealed before Gion.
"Actually, I'm a man… so I can't respond to your feelings."
Honestly, Naruto himself felt a headache coming on.
He didn't know how things had ended up like this.
It seemed like it all stemmed from a misunderstanding from the very beginning.
…
This story was known to very few, almost no fourth person besides Gion herself and her closest friend, Vice Admiral Tsuru.
After learning the truth about 'Naruko', Gion didn't continue pursuing it.
Not only because Naruko was actually a man, but also because of Naruto's true identity.
—An apprentice of the former Pirate King, a super-criminal who stormed the Celestial Dragon's holy land, Uzumaki Naruto.
Between them stood not only gender but also their allegiances.
…
Back to the present.
Hancock looked over the Gion before her, seeming to recall where she had seen her before.
She was the female Marine she had nearly defeated back at Whole Cake Island.
'So she had a connection with Naruto too?'
Thinking this, Hancock's sharp gaze immediately shot towards a certain man trying to hide his face with his hands.
'Hmph, I'll deal with you tonight.'
But before Hancock could speak, Stussy, who had been smiling all along, spoke first.
"Thank you for your blessings. We'll definitely be very happy."
As she said this, she gently took Hancock's arm, the meaning clear.
Prioritize the external threat.
Gion's eyebrow twitched at Stussy's response, then her gaze fell to the arms of the two women linked together.
'Two against one, I'm at a disadvantage.'
Just then, the sharp click of high heels echoed through the venue. A figure in a red dress walked in from the entrance.
"It seems I'm not too late."
Belo Betty removed her sunglasses, walked gracefully to Gion's side, and also placed an elegantly wrapped gift down.
Behind her, Sabo in his top hat unconsciously swallowed. The atmosphere in the hall felt incredibly tense.
'Three of the Four Emperors were present, and even the Hero of the Marines had come.'
'Hiss… this Uzumaki Naruto was truly impressive.'
From his limited experience, the four women exuding such strong auras clearly all had connections to that Uzumaki Naruto.
Let him reiterate: this Mr. Uzumaki Naruto was truly impressive.
'But looking at the situation now, it seemed like two against two?'
Just as Sabo was thinking this, Stussy gently took Adam from Medusa's hands while subtly placing Hancock's palm on her own stomach.
Everything was conveyed without words.
'Oh, it's not two against two, it's four against two.'
'Looks like Betty's side is at a disadvantage.'
Sabo's thoughts wandered, his gaze inadvertently passing over the two grandsons Garp was holding.
The next moment.
"Ugh ah!"
His cry of pain, clutching his head, instantly drew everyone's attention, shattering the tense standoff between the four women.
Although his Haki told him the young man wasn't faking it, Naruto still silently gave him a thumbs-up in his heart.
'Good job, kid. I owe you one!'
"Sabo, what's wrong?"
Belo Betty, momentarily forgetting everything else, lifted the hem of the red dress she had put on for the occasion and quickly walked to Sabo's side, crouching down to check on him.
"Sabo?" x2
The name she called out drew two more startled exclamations.
Luffy and Ace, who had been hanging limply in Garp's grasp like dead fish, immediately snapped to attention, their gazes fixed on Sabo on the ground.