A/N: Hey guys, I'm back with another chapter in the illustrious adventure of Naruto the Pirate. Now last chapter, I said in the A/N that this was a two-parter, well, I've given it some thought, and decided that it will actually grow into a three or more parter. This chapter features a new person with a mysterious secret being hidden, but I suppose you'll have to wait until later to find out what it is, huh? Now then, on with the show.

Welcome to Smithy Island

Part Two

"Sir, I've called to report that I've encountered a strange pirate today. He was no pushover, but I've never heard of him before. I believe he may have been a member of the Revolutionaries, possibly quite high-ranking judging from his skill. I gave my second-in-command the order to execute him, but I suspect, if he's as good as I think he is; he'll be back." Vice-Admiral Brindle said over the snail phone, the person on the other side 'hmmm'ing at the report.

"Well then, I suppose I don't have to tell you to be careful with this one. I don't care if he shows up next time dressed in a clown suit with crotchless chaps on his head, there is a method to his madness, your only problem will be figuring it out. If that is all, I will let you get back to your job, but one last piece of advice, don't lose control of the ball, keep him in your court and on the defensive, or he will steal the ball from right under your nose, and take it straight to the basket." The person on the other side said, the static of the phone masking his voice.

"Aye aye sir." Brindle answered as he hung up the receiver.

Meanwhile, far off at Marine Headquarters, a young male leaned back in his chair, sighing as he considered his options. "Figures I would find him in the first place I look, just my luck. Hey, Abby-chan, I have an order for you." The male said as he spun around in his chair to face a dark-skinned woman with a clipboard in one arm, and a cigarette.

"Yes, sir?" She asked; taking a long drag of her cancer stick as the smoke floated to the roof, filtering through the system to come back as clean air.

"Contact Vice-Admiral Phoenix, tell him the fox has landed, and that his best friend could use some help on Smithy Island. Also inform him that he has three days to report in, or he's going to take a cut in pay. He may use the Drive System, as long as he's in open water, and he has no choice." The male said, continually spinning around in his chair.

"The Drive System, sir, are you sure that is a wise idea?" Abby asked as she put out her cigarette, her face turning serious as she stared down her commander.

"Of course it's not a wise choice, but what other options are there, I need him on that island ASAP, and the Drive System always delivers fast results. Now then, I believe I gave you an order, now hurry back, and we'll see about dinner." The male said with a small smile.

Meanwhile on Smithy Island, on a large open farm, a girl was breathing heavily as she toiled over the forge, crafting a blade as she inspected it carefully, huffing as she tossed it back into fire, pulling it out again as she nodded acceptingly, hammering the blade into her desired shape.

Hearing a commotion outside, the girl set the blade aside, dropping it into a trough of water to cool as steam plumed up from the trough. Turning around, the girl removed her heavy-fire resistant gloves, and wiped her brow, which was heavily coated in sweat.

Walking outside, she was forced to squint her eyes as the sun nearly blinded her, the dark insides of the forge room a sharp contrast to the bright outside of her family's farm. When her eyes had finally adjusted, she opened them, glaring at the two strangers, one slumped over the other's shoulder.

"Hey, we don't want any drunks, so get going before I'm forced to make you leave." The girl said as she grabbed a spare sword from beside the door, hefting it with the point up, a dangerous weapon in her hands with her toughened arms from the intense heat of the forge.

"Oh, we aren't drunks. My friend is just tired after climbing out of that well. Not to mention he's still got this stupid Seastone cuff on his wrist, like some kind of trophy. Come on Hidara; wake up before I'm forced to drop you on the ground like a sack of potatoes, which probably have more sense than you I'd figure." The younger one, a blonde said as he jabbed his partner in the side, who groaned ceremoniously and collapsed to the ground.

"Grand, it ain't that bad, you old man. Anyways, can I get some directions? I'm looking for a blacksmith's around here somewhere, but all these farms look the same to me." The boy admitted, looking around as if the place would just appear out of nowhere.

"No, I don't even know you. For all I know, you could be Marines in disguise, come to kidnap another one of us to interrogate, or to use as leverage to make my father tell you where the Seastone well is hidden." The girl said, hefting the sword up again in a threatening manner, before the boy sighed, kicking his partner in the side, who gave another groan.

"Oh well, it was worth a shot. Although, if we were Marines, thanks for the idea of what to do with you. But I figure you might be who I'm looking for. Would you happen to be Chanel Black, the blacksmith's daughter?" The boy asked as she tensed up, bringing her sword around so the tip was placed against the boy's neck.

"Shut up, I don't know who you are but you don't get to leave here now, Marines or not!" She shouted; the boy sighing once more as a smile began creeping across his face.

"I take it you are then. Your dad says to tell you that you're in charge of the shop if he doesn't make it. My name's Naruto, if that matters." Naruto said; taking a step back as Chanel advanced on him, dodging as she almost stabbed him with the sword as she grabbed his collar.

"My dad, you saw him. How is he, is he eating enough, when are they going to release him?" Chanel asked rapidly as Naruto kept retreating away from her as she chased him, Hidara groaning as they ran over him several times before lifting his head just enough for Chanel's boot to club him in the face, sending him back into unconsciousness.

Finally, their chase was ended as a young man came up, carrying a newspaper. "Hullo, Nelly, have you heard the news?" He asked frantically, Chanel pausing as she looked at him with a questioning look. Naruto stopped in his running as he came over to join the conversation.

"No, what's happened, Kunis?" Chanel asked, the boy cringing as he tried to avoid her eyes. "Hey, don't worry. Whatever it is, you can tell me, I won't get angry." Chanel assured the boy, the boy's face changing to a half-relieved look, obviously in unbelief.

"It's your father. The Marines are making their move now, or rather, in a week. Your father is going to be publicly executed, and until then, Brindle has said that he'll be kept a prisoner on his ship two miles offshore. What's more, he's stated that everyday, he's going to kill one of the villagers until you turn yourself in. He's even offering up a reward for your capture, 130 thousand berries." Kunis said, Chanel's face dropping as she clutched her sword tighter, her callused knuckles turning white as she made for the road.

"Wait a minute Chanel. Where are you going?" Naruto asked as he grabbed her wrist. She turned back, glaring at him as she yanked her wrist free, continuing towards the road.

"What do you think I'm doing, I'm going to rescue my father?" Chanel said; stopping as a large shadow blocked her path.

"Sorry, can't let you do that. Listen, just give us a week, and we'll help you, unless of course, you think you can take on a ship full of Marines, plus a Vice-Admiral, and his second-in-command, Cathy." Hidara said, sighing as he rubbed his neck, his tongue running nervously over his lips and teeth.

"Something the matter, Hidara, you look like an addict in withdrawal." Naruto asked, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder before punching him across the cheek.

"Yeah, I'm fine, it's just, I don't like feeling like this. You know, vulnerable, without my powers, I feel like any little thing could send me into a sense overload." Hidara admitted, hissing through his teeth as Naruto hit him again. "Would you stop that you annoying mosquito?" He demanded as he grabbed his wrist as he tried to punch him another time.

"See, you're fine, I hit you what 2, 3 times and your still alive and pestering, old man." Naruto said; rotating his wrist, gritting his teeth as his arm popped, however, he did send Hidara to the ground in a heap.

"What are you two, children. I probably stand more of a chance against the ship by myself, than with you two helping me. At least then I won't be worried about you two if I'm forced to abandon you." Chanel said, trying to get past the heap of Hidara, only for his hand to flash out, gripping her ankle with surprising strength considering his condition.

"Hey now, I know we may not look like much, but trust me when I say, you want us on your side. Brindle is a perfect example, he's a midget, he's annoying, and he cusses like a Marine, hehe, but he earned that title of Vice-Admiral through his fighting skills. Not to mention his skills, he was the former record holder for most kills with that fricking pick of his. He once killed over 3000 pirates in a single attack on an island." Hidara said, standing up, letting Chanel go as she swung her sword at him, Hidara blocking the blade with the cuff on his wrist.

The metal glanced off the stone, embedding in the ground. Chanel continued glaring at Hidara as she pulled the sword free, pointing at him.

"Fight me, fight me and prove that you're not just blowing hot air." Chanel said as Hidara leveled a glare of his own at her, causing her to take a step back as his eyes lightened slightly, but Naruto could see the controlled emotions raging behind them.

"No, you can't beat me. Besides, I don't have my scythe, my powers are out of commission right now, and I don't just fight someone for no reason other than to prove that I'm not a liar." Hidara said, turning away as Chanel's eyes grew enflamed as she tried to bring her sword down on his back, only for Naruto to catch the blade with a metal bar, his eyes making her stop as she saw herself dying numerous times in those eyes.

"I'll fight you, provided you do something for me. Oh, and don't try to stab my crewmate in the back again, or you'll find out just why he's not just blowing hot air. Now dearie, we're pirates, so don't think for a second we're doing this to prove ourselves, a pirate will lie, cheat, steal, and kill to get what he wants, so remember that." Naruto said, flicking his wrist to the side, sending the metal bar through the stone wall.

"Ha, I don't want to fight you, pipsqueak, I want to fight the old man, he's the strong one here, so don't think you can intimidate me, little boy!" Chanel shouted, pressing her nose to Naruto's as his eyes grew colder, Hidara grinning viciously behind him, although neither one could see it.

"Hey little girl, not that it matters, but that 'little boy' happens to be my captain, and that was without a weapon, and me fully prepared, so picking a fight with potentially the strongest person on this island, not a smart idea." Hidara exclaimed, Chanel gasping as she took several steps back, glancing at Hidara to see if he was lying.

"Now then, as I was saying, you do me a favor, and I'll fight you, and for you to rescue your father. Now then, as for this favor, I'm tired of not having a sword by my side. You build me a sword to my designs, and you have a deal." Naruto said; extending his hand as his eyes changed back to their usual glimmering pools of azure.

"Why would I do that for you, I could just attack on my own, if I hurry, I can get to him before they get off the island." Chanel said, turning on her heel, only for the way out to be blocked by Naruto, his arms crossed over his chest.

"Maybe I didn't make myself clear. Either you make me a decent sword, or you will DIE!" Naruto said, sitting down on the ground. "Provided of course that you can get past me, which I highly doubt." Naruto added as Chanel tried to run passed him, only to be sent flying back.

"Look, we don't have to be best friends, just help me, and I'll help you. Remember, I met your old man, he seems nice, I won't let anything happen to him if you'll just put your trust in us, Chanel, and I'll even pay you if it helps." Naruto assured her as she fell to the floor, refusing to cry in front of this boy, after all, she was in charge right now, and couldn't let herself show any weakness.

"Fine, but one week, that's all I'm waiting, after that, our cooperation is over, understand?" Chanel said, extending her hand to Naruto as she stood up, not meeting his gaze as it softened, a faint smile on his lips.

"Of course, now then, better get started on that blade, I would like to get some practice with it before we attack a trained Marine crew." Naruto said, Chanel pulling him up as she sighed, leading him to the forge room, asking him questions on the designs while they walked.

"What kind of sword are we talking about, saber, broadsword, cutlass, katana? What metal we use depends on the blade type, as some aren't meant to mold like others." Chanel asked; stepping on the bellows as she pulled her red hood up, keeping her hair contained so that it didn't catch fire. Grabbing her gloves from the anvil beside the forge, she slid them on, curling and uncurling her fingers to get used to the resistance of the gloves.

"I'm thinking about a cutlass design with a lightweight metal, while on the hand guard, could we use a heavier metal?" Naruto asked as the two began discussing the designs, Chanel correcting things that she was incapable of doing, and adding suggestions for certain purposes.

Several hours later, Naruto shook hands with the girl, smiling happily, the girl unable to contain her excitement at forging the weapon as she too was smiling, shaking his hand, marking the start of a wonder partnership.

Over the next three days, Chanel worked on the sword, as well as her own, fixing impurities in the metals, working on combining the two different weighted materials. Consistently, everyday, Naruto would join her in the forge room for anywhere from an hour to three hours, keeping her company, while Hidara patrolled the shoreline and village, keeping watch for any signs of trouble.

At sunset on the third day, when Hidara returned, he found Naruto and Chanel sparring with their swords, Naruto having more trouble judging from the numerous cuts on his body.

"Hey guys, hope you're ready for the rescue because things just got more serious." Hidara said; his tone serious rather than his usual joking one. Naruto held up his hand to stop the spar as he turned to Hidara.

"What did you find out? Did they move up the date?" Naruto asked, Chanel on pins and needles waiting to rescue her father from the Marines.

"Well, that's half of it; they've moved the date up to day after tomorrow. If you ask me, it would be tomorrow morning at first light, or noon, but reinforcements have arrived, possibly the worst person that could've come." Hidara answered, leaning on his scythe as he inspected Naruto new sword.

"Vice-Admiral Phoenix, commander of the third battalion, renowned for their cannoneers. Not to mention an expert marksman, and I don't just hand out titles based on hearsay. I once saw him blow up a town from three miles offshore, with a single cannonball. In the Academy, he and Brindle bonded, and formed a deadly pair with Brindle overpowered close combat style, and Phoenix's long range marksmen skills. If we're lucky, Phoenix will stay off shore and guard the ships, while you just have Brindle to handle." Hidara said, heading towards the house.

"What do you mean, 'you just have Brindle to take care of', and where are you going to be during all this?" Naruto asked, picking the tip of his sword up as he prepared to finish his spar.

"I'm going to be on those ships, waging a one-man war against Phoenix and his crew to keep them occupied while you rescue her old man." Hidara said, setting his scythe inside the door as he shut it behind him.

"well, looks like I'm going to have to amp up my training schedule, hope you don't mind going all out against me, little girl?" Naruto taunted; a cocky smirk on his face, which was mirrored by Chanel.

"Oh, I don't mind beating you, after all, if you're too weak, then this plan won't work, now will it." Chanel answered, swinging her sword in a downward slash, which Naruto blocked with the hand guard. Once the blade was knocked away, he countered with a side slash which Chanel leapt back to dodge.

"Don't worry about me, I learn fast, now show me everything you know!" Naruto called, charging after the girl, who kept weaving around his swings, parrying the ones she couldn't avoid.

"I don't care how fast you learn, I've been training for six years, and you can't just learn all of that over night, besides the fact that we use two different sword types." Chanel retorted, Naruto blocking a quick set of five slashes.

"Ha, I'll make a deal with you; loser fixes dinner for the next week." Naruto said, holding his sword out as Chanel smiled, placing her tip against his as they charged at each other.

"If you think that's enough to make me forfeit, then you'll have to try a different tactic." Chanel answered, leaping into the air as she buzz sawed, bringing her sword down on Naruto's, only for the blonde to dive to the side, stabbing backwards, using the curve of the blade to go under his arm. Chanel only managed to avoid it by hand standing.

"Are you saying my cooking is bad? Because no one else has ever complained." Naruto said as Chanel spun around, her sword flashing out at his, although he managed to block every hit.

"I'm not saying anything except that I've had to cook for my dad ever since my sister was taken by that Marine. So don't try and convince me that a rugged sea rat like you can coo better than me." Chanel taunted as Naruto's face dropped, and for a second he vanished, reappearing over her head as he brought his sword down, Chanel bringing her sword up to block.

"I prefer the term, sea fox actually. But whatever, we'll let our swords decide our fate." Naruto said; resuming his original stance with the sword extended.

"I agree, let's." Chanel agreed, copying his stance as she leapt at him.

"Wow! This is really good!" Chanel said, shoveling the food into her mouth, Naruto eating at a much slower pace, Hidara looking at the pair with empathy.

Something the matter, Old man? You not like your food?" Chanel asked; smiling at Hidara's soured look at the name. Turning to Naruto he pointed at him.

"See what you've started, next thing you know, she'll be calling me Old man all the time. And no, I like the food, it's just that you two seem so uncaring, just sitting there eating stew and rice as if two days from now, we could all be dead. It's just nostalgic, remembering how I was before I was in so many battles, that I lost myself in the death. They say the best way to catch something is to get into its head, but what about when you can't distinguish between your thoughts and theirs. I think somewhere in the hunt for 'him' I started becoming him, making the choices he would, fighting like him, only I'm not him, and so it's like comparing a match to a candle." Hidara explained, Naruto and Chanel sitting and paying rapt attention to the older male.

"Well, uhmm, that's nice and all, but Hidara, I think you're confused. From what you've told me about 'him', he seems like a heartless mass murderer, but you don't seem all that intent on killing. Besides, there is key differences, you've just gotten so used to them that you don't notice them. You joined the marines to catch him and stop people like him, but he just kept on doing what he was doing without any regards." Naruto said, steepling his fingers in front of his face as he grabbed up the plates, carrying them to the kitchen.

"So Hidara, why is it that you joined with Naruto, I mean he does have his moments of clarity where he seems like a proper captain?" Chanel asked, pouring another saucer of sake for herself, offering the bottle to Hidara who turned it up, pouring half the contents into his mouth.

"Well, I suppose it would have to be when we fought. He beat me tactically, he may have been able to outright beat me, but he didn't, he proved himself capable of planning, as well as an ability to adapt, exploiting any weakness he figured out, some that I was unaware of even. Not just that though, I just get this sense about him, like he has some great mission to complete, and as long as I don't try and stop him, he'll help me achieve any dream I have. To be honest, that's why I mentioned that he might have trouble during the rescue." Hidara admitted, Chanel's eyebrows rising in question.

"While he seem strong, and his is, don't get me wrong, he just always seem s to be holding back slightly. However, he told me of any event that happened before I met him, about when he saved one of his 'brothers', they told him to stop fighting because he couldn't do anything about it, except he did, he exceeded his limits and did something they didn't think was possible. From that I deduced something about him, which I tested while he was sparring with you." Hidara said, pausing to take a breath as he heard Naruto putting the dishes back up.

"Anyways, he is strong normally, but when he's defending a precious person, he seems to push himself harder to exceed those limits, and more than that, when he feels like he's being underestimated, he doesn't hold back, because now he's not defending his safety, he's defending his honor and pride, and what going to happen at that rescue is going to be a double dose, he's trying to save someone he likes, as well as trying to keep you happy, plus he feels that he has to prove that he's not to be underestimated against anyone." Hidara finished, Naruto reentering the room with three plates with cake on them.

Setting them down, he went back to the kitchen for forks, and when his back was turned, he smiled, although neither Hidara nor Chanel were aware of it.

"In fact I wonder how you beat Naruto, sure you have skill going for you, but he's rather resourceful in a pinch." Hidara said, just picking a piece of the cake of as he placed it in his mouth.

"Well, he kinda did. I mean first of all, it was a friendly spar, not an actual fight, and second, he did beat me, I just can't cook anything edible, so he volunteered to fix dinner anyways." Chanel said; giggling at Hidara's face as Naruto reentered.

"Did you think I would lose that easily, I'm not you Old Man." Naruto said, handing a fork to each of his friends as they dug into the cake.

The next night, Chanel laid on the rooftop with Naruto, both of the young adults gazing at the stars overhead.

"I used to look at the stars with my mother, before she …" Naruto trailed off, tracing the star's invisible lines, creating constellations.

"Over there is Vulpinius the Trickster, my mother said that it glowed the night I was born. In honor of that event, she named me Torikkusuna no Kitsune in her native tongue, which is trickster fox. However, when I was younger, I could pronounce my name, so she renamed me Naruto, in honor of her father. When I got older, she told me about my old name, so I added it to my name, changing my middle initial to K for Kitsune." Naruto said, Chanel listening with a faint smile as she stared into the starry sky overhead.

"So your full name is Uzumaki K. Naruto?" Chanel asked, giggling at Naruto nodding his head, only to hit it on the roof.

"Yep, now let's see, over there to the southwest, that one was called The Snake and Hawk, because those stars formed a nesting bird in the middle, and just outside the constellation is a perfect ring of stars that resemble a snake wrapping around the bird, preparing to kill it. She told me that a great hero was once born in our village, and he sacrificed himself against a giant serpent to defend the village. The dead were so moved by his devotion to the village, even though he was exiled for being born on a day of bad luck, that they changed his spirit into a great bird, some say a hawk, which wrapped its talons around the snake and dragged it into the stars above, where it is eternally confined, always trying to get it's revenge on the bird." Naruto said, his pitch rising and falling with the story as he got into it.

"Oh cool, what about that star over there, my father said that it glowed like a diamond when I was born." Chanel asked excitedly, looking at Naruto as he closed his eyes in thought. Opening them again, he looked up into the stars tracing a path from the designated star.

"That's a part of Chanel, the Queen of Oblivion. She told me that story once, but it was a really long one, but I still remember it, and the excitement in her eyes when she told me it, and the dreams I dreamed that night. But it would be best if we did this another time, keep you interested of course." Naruto said, winking at Chanel as he dropped down from the roof, grabbing his sword as he began shadow sparring.

"By the way, I heard what Hidara said about me last night." Naruto said, not turning to face Chanel as he knew she was still on the roof.

"Oh?" Chanel said questioningly, gazing at the stars overhead as she started making her own constellations.

"Yeah, but he got it mixed up, actually a lot of it he got mixed up, but I can't blame him. First of all, while defending my honor is something very important to me, my precious people come first. Not only that, but I keep my word, I've never went back on a promise, never plan to, so when I said we'd get your dad back, I meant even if I die, you will have him back." Naruto said; bringing his sword up as Chanel jumped off the roof, drawing her own sword in the process.

"Second, while I do fight harder when I feel underestimated; I can recognize the differences between arrogance, confidence, and just general caring for someone's well-being. What I never told him about that fight where my brother's told me I couldn't win, was that they knew I was willing to die to beat my opponent, and almost did. After the fight, I was in a coma for a week, with about half the bones in my body broken, and a punctured lung as well." Naruto said, parrying Chanel's first strike downwards, trying to stab her under the blade by using the curve of the blade. Chanel danced away, smiling at Naruto's half-hearted attempt.

"Third, I beat him because of something my mother taught me. It was a skill my dad taught her, and she taught me, and I will likely teach either my mate or child when the time comes. My dad had the skill to look into a person's soul, their will, and see not the person they were, but who they would be, could be. I saw in Hidara's soul, that he was looking for a way out, for someone to help him capture and/or kill, that person, and I saw the capability to do powerful things, with the right motivation." Naruto said, ducking under three quick thrusts by Chanel, who smiled kindly at Naruto, who smiled back, enjoying the light spar.

"By the same token, it's why I like you. When we met, you immediately held a sword to my throat, disregarding the fact that my friend was injured, you have the ability to disregard anything that could make you underestimate your opponent, I like that. However, when you learned of your father's fate, you dropped the sword and tried to enlist not only my help, but my first-mate, both of whom you threatened not moments earlier. You're willing to put away your emotions for what you feel is the right thing-" Naruto said, matching Chanel blow for blow as the sparing picked up as both leapt at each other like hunting cats.

"No, not what I feel is right, to protect my precious people." Chanel corrected, rolling under a particularly close swipe by Naruto, who held up his hand to stop the spar as he wiped his brow, not breathing heavily in the least.

"Even better, those two things alone is what makes me want to do this, so I'm going to give you an option, a chance, to be part of my plan, my agenda." Naruto said, whispering his proposal in Chanel's ear as she smiled, nodding as Naruto and her shook hands, marking the deal.

The next morning the whole town was out, crowded around the village square to see the execution, not by choice, but rather because they were threatened into it. On the platform was Chanel's dad, and by his side was Bridle, while perched on the roof was his second-in-command, her bow drawn with an arrow nocked as she sighted her target on the platform, just in case something went wrong with Brindle.

"Okay, now that we're all gathered here, how about we get on with this execution!" Brindle said; a sinister smile on his face.

"I would ask if the accused had any last words, but personally, don't think we should give criminals the chance to become martyrs, besides the fact that I'm not in the mood to hear some long-winded old man's final words just so I can kill him. So by the power vested in me by the Marine Corps, I sentence you to death!" Brindle declared as he swung his pick at Chanel's dad's head, only for it to be stopped by a curved blade which hooked around the handle to stab into Brindle's forearm, blood staining the wood beneath his feet.

"Now how about you giver up before I'm forced to end your sad little midget life?" Naruto taunted from underneath his hood as Brindle growled at him, swinging his pick at the blonde who smiled like an animal about to kill its prey.

"Wonderful, I was hoping you'd say that." Naruto said, parrying the pick as he pounced at Brindle.

A/N: Hey guys, I finally did it, I finished another chapter. I've been working on it for a long time, and while I do feel it is below my usual writing, it is pretty good considering I usually sucked at interim chapters with character building. I really not have much to say to you guys except that my teachers are really cracking down on us with finals coming up soon, plus I got elected into a group at my school that was just founded, still in the trial period, but it's a writing club, so I'm caught between writing for you guys, and my duties as a member of the club. This A/N is going on a lot longer than I wanted, so good night guys, and have a wonderful Spring Break, I know I did.