I make no money off of this work of fiction. One Piece is the work of Oda Eiichiro and Naruto is the work of Masashi Kishimoto.

Ninja Pirates

Chapter Three: Time to Help

Through the next few years Sabo had visited Konoha now and then when he had time to spare between missions. He brought his two direct subordinates with him sometimes. Their names were Hack and Koala. Koala had learned Fishman Karate from Hack while Sabo trained in Konoha. During one of these visits Sabo had arranged for a News Stork to fly over the island and drop a paper. This way the village wasn't completely cut off from the rest of the world as they had been.

Reecheru was returning to Konoha from her one month patrol of the shoreline. She was entering the gates to the village when saw a shadow pass overhead. Looking up, she immediately recognized the News Stork. Taking off at a run she chased after the bird in hopes to get the paper first. She always wanted to look and see who the big wigs of the world were, just in case certain 'opportunities' arouse. Merissa was no better as she had the same goals. The two made it a training game or a race as the rest of the village seemed to call it. All ninja tricks and skills were allowed as long as they didn't involve the other occupants of the village. The one to reach the paper first and bring it to the Hokage undamaged could keep it after the Hokage did her own 'research'.

Reecheru had just climbed onto a roof when she noticed Merissa running towards the village from one of the training grounds. Muttering a curse under her breath, because out loud was unlady-like, Reecheru took off after the bird. It wasn't above her to throw a kunai at the flying fowl to get it to drop it's precious information before it could reach the Hokage tower. It was just a matter of knowing where it fell and if she could get to it before anyone else had a chance. So Reecheru bided her time, getting as close as she could without risking Merissa getting close enough to interfere.

Feeling particularly daring this day, despite being out of the village for a month, Reecheru leapt at the bird. She tackled it to the nearest roof and wrestled a paper out of it's bag. She stood up with a cheer, paper clutched to her chest. If she held it in the air that would give Merissa an easier target to steal. The bird got back into the air with a loud racket of noise and flapping wings. Ignoring it's obvious insults, Reecheru waved to it cheerfully. "Thanks for the paper," she called. The next part of the race was to get the paper to the Hokage undamaged before Merissa could steal it from her.

Two hours later and a lot of ducking, diving, dodging, shurikan and kunai throwing later found both Reecheru and Merissa standing in front of Lady Shikaru. The two were bent over with their hands on their knees as they gasped for breath. Reecheru held out her hand that was clutching the paper. "I...win..." she managed to get out.

With a shake of her head and roll of her eyes Shikaru took the paper from Reecheru. She gave it a once over as she checked for damage. It was a little stained from dirt and what looked like blood. Shikaru raised an eyebrow at this and looked back to the two young Jonin. Reecheru had a cut on the back of the hand that held the paper. Blood ran between her thumb and index finger. 'That explains the blood,' Shikaru thought. A glance at Merissa showed that she had a bruise developing on her chin. 'I might have to stop these training sessions. It's starting to get a little too competitive.'

Without a word Shikaru opened the paper and started glancing at it. The paper announced some sort of execution along with an article about an attack on some 'Celestial Dragons' by a band of 'blood thirsty pirates'. There wasn't anything worth particular note that could be used against the government this time. Shikaru handed the paper back to Reecheru who had finally caught her breath. "Then this is yours," she said. "You two take this race too seriously. If I see blood on the paper again then I'll put an end to it and you'll get the paper in turns instead of who has the best skill."

"That's no fun," Merissa whined.

"What?" Shikaru pointed a glare at them.

The two shared a look and then bowed in respect. "We'll be more careful Lady Hokage," they unisoned to their leader.

"That's better," Shikaru went back to her work. "You're dismissed."

As Reecheru turned around she was already opening the paper. What she saw made her stop in her tracks. The lack of action caused Merissa to look back to her and the Hokage to look up. "Is something the matter?" Merissa asked.

"What was the name of Sabo's brothers again?" Reecheru asked instead.

"I think he said the youngest was Luffy and the other was Ace," Merissa tapped her chin with a finger. Her eyes widened as she seemed to realize that something in the paper caused the question.

Reecheru whipped around and faced the Hokage. "I'm sorry Lady Hokage, but I must ask a favor of you. Please allow me to take a leave of absence." She handed the paper back to Shikaru with the article of the execution open. "This man, Ace, is Sabo's brother. What kind of a team mate would I be if I didn't go and see if Sabo needed help?"

"I request a leave of absence as well," Merissa stepped up next to Reecheru. "Sabo is the third member of our team. We just can't sit back and let him face this alone."

Shikaru sat at her desk in thought. The door to the conference room opened then. Two elderly people walked in. "Grant their request Hokage," the oldest, a woman, said. "It will give the village a vacation."

"Give the village a vacation?" Shikaru asked. She had a feeling she knew what was meant, but she needed to make sure.

"These two and their pranks," the male elder clarified. "It's driving us insane with all the compensation and apologies we have to send out when their pranks start to involve the civilians. However harmless they are, they are still pranks and require some level of clean up."

"I can't just send off two Jonin on vacation," Shikaru deflected.

"Then make it a mission," the woman ordered. "In fact, I'll make it an official A class mission. Send these two out into the world to gather information. They can take as long as they need. Although I'm encouraging five years of gathering intel. If they think they need to stay away longer to gather more information then it's more than fine."

"You want us to write a book?" Merissa joked.

"Yes!" Both of the elders yelled at once.

Shikaru started laughing under her breath. She wasn't surprised that things had come to this. Between every flagpole having flown an elder's under garment once or twice, road signs rearranged, important meetings of people either showing up late or to the wrong location and an entire list still stretching a mile long it was only a matter of time before people were begging to send the two culprits away for a while. "It will take a while to draw up the paperwork," Shikaru informed.

"You're actually going along with this?" Reecheru asked. "You're going to pay us to go and help our friend?"

"YES!" The elders yelled.

"I'm paying you to gather information," Shikaru corrected. "If you happen to help your friend along the way then that's your business. The amount of information you bring back will depend on the size of the bonus when you return."

"If you return," the woman elder ranted. "Feel free to meet someone, fall in love and move away from the village. Poor bastards that they'll be."

The two ninja and Hokage ignored her ranting. "I'll have everything ready by the morning. Reecheru, I realize you just returned from a month long mission. I'm sorry that this is such short notice to be sending you away so soon."

"Formality doesn't suit either of us," Reecheru grinned. "First off, I requested to be sent out. Just don't pretend that you're not going to jump up and dance for joy once the two of us leave."

The two women left the village at dawn the next day. Both had spent the rest of the previous day with their families. Considering that it was a ninja village, both had an easy time of explaining to their parents why they were being sent away. At the gate of the village the families were bidding their daughters a safe journey. Reecheru's brother, Ryo, was handing her a large scroll. "I know that weapon scrolls aren't really your thing," he said with a grin. "But I know you can use it. Just remember that these aren't normal weapons. I sealed two hundred of the Flash Kunai in there. Drop one at every new island you come to. With any luck you won't need to use a boat for too long."

"That will come in handy," Reecheru said with a grin. "It will make for a quick escape. OUCH!" Reecheru dropped the scroll and held the top of her head. "What was that for?" she had tears in her eyes. Her brother was surprisingly strong.

"They're not for you to use as an escape route when you play a prank," Ryo said. "That was just a friendly reminder of the punishment you'll get if you misuse one of our ancestors techniques."

"I know all that already," Reecheru groaned. She glanced to the side and pouted. "You didn't have to hit me."

"Sure he did," Merisssa cut in. Reecheru looked at her to see that she was putting away her camera. It was obvious she just got blackmail material.

"No fair getting that on me," Reecheru pointed out.

"You burn yours and I'll burn mine," Merissa offered.

Reecheru eyed her a moment and then held out her right hand. "It's a deal," she said. The two shook hands, but both of them had their left hand behind their back with their fingers crossed. They both knew that the deal was never struck and that neither of them would be burning their respective blackmail pictures.

Once the 'farewells' were over, the two women headed for the shoreline. A small sail boat was set up for them. (Modern version ya'll) It also had a motor in case the two found themselves without wind. Reecheru produced the eternal logpose that would lead them to island Sabo said the Revolutionary Army was based. The sail was raised and they set off with a lurch.

It took them a week to reach Sabo. Obviously far too late to help him save his brother or to go save him on his behalf. But the two stayed and worked with the Revolutionists as a way to gather information on the government. It was their way of giving back to Sabo for not being there when he needed it most as well as finishing their end of the bargain to the Hokage. They enjoyed working with the Revolution so much that they joined and worked directly under Sabo. This caused a few arguments and some pranks with Sabo on the receiving end if the two ninja thought his orders were out of line. They were adamant about not revealing their skills to the government. So their skills were used for what they did best, remaining in the shadows. They were involved in infiltration missions and spying. It was right up their ally and they managed to prank a noble or two on their way back to report in.