Inari was holding the sword of the man that held his mother. It was heavy to him when he knew that such a blade wasn't supposed to be. It was a katana and a decent one as well. Instead of the normal wave pattern, what looked like fire moved along the blade, separating the edge from the spine.
"Inari, you have been looking at that blade ever since they left. Why?"
"Mom, dad said I should protect what is precious to me with my own two arms. It took you almost being killed for me to finally act. And when I did, it wasn't good enough."
Tsunami sighed. "Honey, it doesn't matter that you were not good enough. It only mattered that you acted. It is more than most people in our village can say."
Inari looked at his mother with tears in his eyes. "But it wasn't enough. If not for Hakari-san, we..."
Tsunami took the sword from his hand and returned it to its sheath. She then hugged him. "You don't know that."
Inari squeezed her as hard as he could. "I want to protect you with these arms, mommy. Just like Dad would have. Just like they protected Grandpa. From going hungry again to anyone else that wants to hurt you... A man has moved into town. He is making a dojo to train people the sword dances of Kassin-Ryu, the Sword that Protects. I want to learn it."
"...Honey, that is not an easy life. It will be very hard to do all those things. Maybe you should choose one or the other. I know your father would be very proud if you became a fisherman."
Inari nodded. "I do to. But I know he would agree with me that this is the right decision."
"...Alright. After all, you are a man now," she consented. "But you have to do both once you start down this path." She pointed to the symbol on the blade just above the hilt. It was a heron wading in water. "That man obviously stole this blade. This means the owner is a sword master. That he has fought all that would contest him against being proclaimed this title."
"How do you know, mom?"
"...Your blood father was one. I was so surprised when I saw you keep this sword. I knew this was going to happen as well."
Inari looked at it then at the picture of his father. "Kaiza was my father, mom. I will become the best swordsman and seaman ever to sail the waters. Just you wait!"
—oo000oo—
Haku looked out across the water. The mist created by Reverse Mountain had long since receded so they could see everything clearly now. He was up in the crow's nest looking through the telescope Crocus gave them but didn't see anything. "Looks like we lost them," Haku called down.
"I don't like it," Zabuza stated. "We lost them way too easy."
Anko nodded at that. "It does seem awful convenient." There was a snake slithering between her hands. "Which means they are following us through a third party." She laid the snake on the deck and it went on a search and eat mission for anything small that could hide from them.
"...Hakari, can you go in the water and make sure nothing is following us," Naruto asked.
"Yeah." She picked up her spear and jumped off the side.
Sasuke was in the shade more broody than usual. Something he found out the hard way was that the water reflected the light so a person that had a pale complexion would be in hell. He was currently nursing a sunburn on every part of his body that wasn't covered in someway. "I blame you for this, Naruto."
"Not my fault you didn't use Hakari's tanning concoction," Naruto countered. "She offered it for this reason. Be grateful Haku was able to keep you from being in complete hell." His skin had tanned along with the others thanks to the special kelp Hakari had brought on board. It left an odd feeling and Sasuke decided he would be fine without it. "Be grateful that there was Alvera plants in the medical supplies."
Naruto had changed to just shorts as he figured it was better to get this done with now. Most people followed his example except, no surprise with the first one, Sasuke, Hakari because she didn't need to, and Hinata. "Hinata, if you don't come out, you will end up like Sasuke," Yugito said through the door. She and Anko were wearing swimsuits made from clean clothes that were left aboard. Hinata was as well but she seemed to have found it too embarrassing.
"N, NO! I can't, I won't!"
Yugito was about to try again when Naruto stopped her. "I got it. Hinata-chan, fan you come out now?"
"N, Naruto-kun! S, Sorry but I can't."
"That is too bad," Naruto replied. "Because you see, I need in my room. Now. And while I don't want to resort to it, I do have the key, and I'm willing to use it to get in." He grinned as he gave a wink to Yugito. "So what will it be? Fold or call?"
"...Pl, Please g, give me a m, moment." There was shuffling on the other side of the door as it was unlocked. Hinata opened it and walked out. "Ano..." The first thing she saw was the near naked Naruto. The next thing was the back of her eyelids. She had fainted, her face a very deep red but a happy smile on her face.
Naruto was also blushing while Yugito was gaping at her. "I thought she was only thirteen," she yelled at Naruto.
He nodded, "A few months younger than me actually. Amazing the things you can hide under a coat." He stepped over Hinata into the captain quarters and got the key. He tucked it into his headband. "So I don't forget it next time. We better get her up on deck." He bent down and picked her up bridle style.
After Naruto walked by her, Yugito looked down at her chest. She was exactly where a fifteen year old should be at. And Hinata was right there with her. "...But I'm older and..."
—oo000oo—
"Nothing is following us," Hakari reported after climbing back aboard. "But I think we should turn from our heading."
"Why," Naruto asked.
"We are about to enter a hunters territory. A big one too from the claw marks in some bones I saw." What sounded like a cat mewing came from all around them as a cat headed fish rose in the water ahead of them. "It's a giant catfish!"
Zabuza corrected her as he pointed the Zanbatou at it. "It's dinner!" He ran at it, making the catfish begin to sweat bullets at his proclamation. Then he was just gone. The catfish looked around but didn't see him. Then it looked up and...saw the Zanbatou coming down.
—oo000oo—
"This is a bit tougher than normal fish," Haku said. "Almost like a roast beef in fact."
Naruto tore into the meat that was still on the bone it was cooked on. "So, how are they following us," he asked before taking another bite.
"I don't know," Anko said with a sigh. "But my guess is something that flies. If it weren't for all these damn seagull, I could say which." She picked up a bone with nothing left on it and threw it at a couple of begging seagulls. "Will you shut up! You're rats with wings! By the way, thank you for cooking Hakari. I know I can't."
"Ano...I'm o, okay but y, you are f, far m, more skilled," Hinata said.
Yugito was, like Naruto, eating enough for ten. "It can eat it but never found anyone that would teach me to cook it."
"I kind of miss ramen but this makes up for it." After swallowing, he stood back up and returned to the wheel. After checking the Log Pose, he turn the wheel some to starboard. He was humming a tune as he checked it again. "...And really bad eggs. Drink up me hearties, yo ho."
Sasuke shook his head, "He's gone off into his own little world again. As happy as a clam about this whole thing. We are stuck in the middle of two oceans, unable to get back home by just sailing north because the world's sea monsters lie between us and it, unable to turn back because we are being chased by Suna, can't go back the way we came anyway, and he is ecstatic that he is finally at sea, captain of his own ship."
"I hate to tell you this, Sasuke," Yugito said, swallowing. "But he is captain of this ship, at least until we get back with Luffy and Jiriaya. Do you know anything about navigating?" Sasuke scowled his no. "Do you know how to best outrun another ship with this one?" He just glared at his food before taking another bite. "Do you know anything about this ship?" Sasuke looked like he was going to explode. "Naruto-kun, knows how to use the Log Pose, how to catch even the faintest wind, and can recite every aspect about this ship and the Evening Star, the ship that was chasing us, from memory, so long as they have not been modified. And..."
"Alright, I get it!" Sasuke began eating like Naruto and Yugito did. He quickly found out it was not a good idea. "...Those two are not human to eat this much," he groaned.
"Human, whats that," Naruto asked as a joke.
"Nah, tried it once and found it too boring," Yugito told him.
"...I smell sand," Hakari said, her nose turned to the wind.
"Must be Whiskey Peak," Naruto said. "It is the first island along the Grand Line. When we get there, make sure to mention we are not pirates." He head snapped up and glared at the fake Straw Hat Jolly Roger. "Burn it."
He turned back to everyone still eating. "Gather up all journals, books, maps, everything that could lead people to believe we are pirates and stack them neatly in the captain quarters. Once that is done, put the weapons there as well. Every single one we are not carrying. I don't care how odd it looks, put it there. It is now the armory until we can find a proper place for them." None of them moved. "Please do what I asked."
Hakari sighed. She stood back up. "You heard the man! Get your asses in gear!" She grabbed Sasuke and threw him down the stairs. "Do I have to make myself anymore clear!?" Even Anko looked shocked at her sudden shift in mood. They all scrabbled about to carry out the orders. Hakari then turned to Naruto. "We need to talk."
He looked nervous at that. "About what?"
"About that! You just fought for your life not a day ago, as strong as oak! But now!? You can't even get your crew to follow your orders! How the hell are you going to keep us alive to get them back to Konoha and me to my home!?"
"But I..."
"Naruto, listen to yourself! Grow a spine and take command, not pretend to be in command!" She growled at how nervous he looked.
"From now on, I am the First Mate," she yelled to everyone gathered. "When I give you an order, you sure as hell better follow that order!" Zabuza scoffed. "And I don't give whale shit that you are Jonin or not! It is either my way or the short walk and the wet stop!" To emphasize this, she kicked a plank out over the side. It stopped after eight feet. "There is no room for anyone that will not follow orders! Nor the time to argue about who is in charge! Naruto knows how to survive out here, we do not, so there is no one else! When he gives an order, I enforce that order! Now get moving!"
Naruto wanted to hang his head in shame. He was scolded like a child that knew what to do but wouldn't. Right in front of the people he was supposed to be leading. '...I'm not ready for this,' he realized. 'I'm not playing pirate anymore, I literally am the leader of this ship. Maybe while on land, Anko and Zabuza outrank me but here, I am the only one that knows.' He was sweating bullets now that this realization finally hit him.
"Hinata-chan!" She came up to him, nervous that he was nervous. "Take the helm, keep us sailing in that direction," he pointed the same way the log pose was. "Hakari, I want to speak with you a moment." He went inside the captain's quarters and told Haku to get out. Hakari came in and shut the door behind her. "...Take it," he whispered.
"What," she asked. "I did not hear you correctly. Because you did not say that."
"Take it! I can't handle this! I'm only twelve! This isn't a small sail boat on a large lake! This is a brigantine on the ocean! I, I can tell you what to do! You can handle the stress, I can't!"
Hakari scowled with discuss at Naruto. She then punched him in the stomach. "Get up," she said to his crouching form. "Get up!" She kicked him and lifted him by his collar! "It isn't what you thought is was? So you are just going to quit!? I told you to grow a back bone! Not lose what little you had! What the hell is wrong with you! You were laughing at a giant snake that tried to eat you while running on top of water even though you can't swim! And you can't lead this ship!?"
He just looked away, something was really wrong with him. Hakari kneed him in the gut and let him drop. "You are pathetic. It doesn't take age or experience to lead. It takes the the will to act. Something I thought you had in spades. There will be moments where you won't be able to tell me what we have to do to survive. Because they have to be done right then... You have better tell me right now what are you going to do. Quit, scared like a little child, lower than even Inari was, or stand tall like the ninja you claimed to be." He just stayed there. "Give me the key and get out of this room."
Naruto slowly stood up and took hie head band off to get it. He gave it too her and started for the door. "Hold it, Uzumaki." She took his headband. "This is for men, not children. Get to the sleeping quarters and stay there. We have no use for worthless children on this ship. You can stay on Whiskey Island when we set sail again. Luffy can pick you up."
"...Aye, aye captain." He left the room and went below deck.
Hakari stepped out, tying the headband around her arm. She glared at everyone that was looking at her. "Get back to work." It was no louder than her last words to Naruto. But it carried all the hate and discuss. She looked at the sun and saw it would be setting soon.
—oo000oo—
Naruto tried to swim back to the surface. But he kept going down. "HELP!" He saw the Ebon Hawk just right there the surface and the figures of Hinata and Yugito swimming, trying to reach him. But he was sinking too fast.
"Mold your chakra, damn you!" Hakari's voice yelled from everywhere. "You were taught how!"
He grabbed his chakra like it was a rope line back to the deck and tried to make it do as he had done before. But he was terrified. There was no bottom beneath him! No one there to pull him back up should he not be able to do it. He was going to die and it was from an enemy he couldn't hurt!
He got the webbing in his hand but it let most of the water pass through it. He couldn't even feel the chakra from his feet pushing against the water! "Tell me, Uzumaki Naruto. Are you afraid of death?" A tentacles grabbed his waist and pulled him down.
"NO!"
—oo000oo—
Naruto bolted forward in his hammock, "NO!"
But he wasn't under water. He was back on the Ebon Hawk. Hinata and Yugito had saved him. And he wasn't so scared he couldn't mold chakra anymore. It was only a nightmare. Trying to steady his breathing, he wiped the sweat from his forehead. But it still covered the rest of his body.
Naruto jumped off the hammock and walked down the stairs to the deeper holds. He wasn't afraid of the water, he was terrified of it. He could fight a person, maybe even an army. But he could not fight something that big, that powerful. He could only run from it. To the farthest he could get. He was below the waters surface now. But it was a good ship and didn't leak. Here, he would have to climb three decks to get to where he could fall again.
He sat on a spare cannon and hung his head in shame. He was pathetic.
—oo000oo—
The Ebon Hawk pulled into port, obviously at the hands off people that did not know what to do. The anchor weighed, the crew stepped off the ship. Followed by Naruto. He was again wearing his normal clothing, his tan complete.
"Welcome to Whiskey Island," the new mayor shouted. Just like when they worked for Baroque Works, they still had the same line. "Where we make all newcomers to the Grand Line feel like they never want to leave!" He was an average looking guy, spiky yellow hair and bright blue eyes. He might have been related to Naruto if he had a family. "It is our...pride...and joy. Talk about a downer," he said, looking at Naruto. "Could anything be more depressing than him?"
"Ignore him," Hakari said. "We have a few jobs we need done to our ship if you can spare the men to do it."
"Sure, anything for pirates," the mayor said, his smile back.
Hakari looked at Naruto. "Yeah, Pirates." She sighed. "This ship wasn't ours, it belong to a crew that attacked our. While we were looking it over, we were attacked. Forced to stay on the ship, we got separated from our captain and crew and are being chased."
'I told them to make sure we were known as something else but pirates', Naruto thought as he walked off. Luckily, he would be safe as there were plenty of places to hide here. Once Luffy and uncle pulled in, he could stay with them until this nightmare was over.
—oo000oo—
"What sort of jobs," the mayor asked.
"The name needs changed and we need sky blue sails put up," Hakari told him.
The captain nodded. "...The figure head has been destroyed along with a good portion of the bow. Our village has some of the best ship wrights. They will fix it in no time. Please, in the mean time, stay as our guest and new friends." They nodded and they followed the crowd to
"By the way," the Mayor asked. "What did you want the name to be?"
"Ano..." Hinata said. "How about..." She whispered it into his ear.
"Young lady, it is a fine name!" The crew left, leaving several men and and the Mayor.
"Zant," the ship wright said, "we will actually do it?"
"Yes," the man now revealed to be Zant said. "This bunch is too cautious, I can see it in their steps. Warriors, not sailors yet."
"I don't recognize them from the wanted posters," another said.
"Any pirate worth calling themselves that are wanted another told him. We simply need to find where."
"Sir," someone called, running up to them. "The blond, the one that already looked beaten, he is missing!"
"What?"
"He didn't head into town when he left and the woman set to follow him was knocked out."
"...Check the ship," Zant said. "Make sure he just didn't double back to hide from us. No one gets away from the Dreadnought Bounty Hunters." The captain saluted and ran off. "So he knew we were not what we appeared... But why did he not tell his crew?"
"Isn't it obvious," one asked. "They broke his spirit. You could see it in his eyes. They were full of life until recently. Now, shame and sorrow took its place."
"...Find him," Zant ordered.
—oo000oo—
The door opened and Hinata jumped up. But it was just someone that came in to ward away the night chill with a mug of ale. Naruto had been missing for two days now. As she sat back down, Hakari said, "Stop waisting you time. He isn't coming here. He couldn't even face something as simple as..." Hinata slapped her. "That was a mistake. One that I will let slide this once. Do it again and I will bring this building down on your head."
"Never speak of Naruto-kun like that again," Hinata said with a voice that seethed with anger.
"What did you say to my student,"Anko demanded. "Nothing has ever gotten him down like this. To give up his headband to you, that headband in particular, is not something he would do willingly."
"Something special about this piece of garbage from that garbage?" Hinata went to slap her. But Sasuke punched her in the jaw first.
"Hinata warned you once. That love tap was your second. A third time and we will have a scrap on our hands, friendship be damned."
"I see no error in calling a piece of shit a piece of shit," Hakari said, a slight smile on her face. These idiots had been going against her scales ever since she took command. They needed to learn their place. She made a hammer strike, breaking the table they were all sitting at.
Haku and Zabuza jumped back out of the way. As Haku pulled several shenbons out to help his friends, Zabuza stopped him. "Don't."
"But you heard what she said about Naruto! They are going to kill her for it!"
"Maybe, or she might surprise them and whip their asses. Or perhaps, we let them work off the tension they have about Naruto being gone for so long without a word and we will interfere when they have worked it off."
Haku nodded and turned back to the fight that spilled out through a wall. Hakari had her stiletto in one hand and sai in the other. "...Good choice, staying out of it," Hakari said to them. "And I'm sure, if Yugito was here, she would agree with me as well. Despite her sad crush on that loser." Her eyes were becoming bloodshot as she worked herself into a rage. "Time for you three to learn that I am in charge now. The idiot couldn't handle so I will."
Sasuke's hands flashed through a set of hand signs on stopped on tiger. "Fireball no Jutsu!" He shot the ball of fire at Hakari who jumped through it. She came out steaming but little worst for wear.
"Snake Bind no jutsu," Anko yelled. She slammed her hands to the ground and snakes came out of it around Hakari and wrapped around her. They started to constrict and Hakari let out a yell of pain. She pushed against them and slowing, they were losing their grip.
"Eight Trigrams of Divination: Sixty Four Palms," Hinata cried out, her Byakugan activated. She hit Hakari so hard that she flew into a wall and brought it down. "Never insult Naruto-kun in front of me."
A large piece of the wall was picked up and Hakari glared at them, fully in the blood lust now. She threw it at them, and ran in. Sasuke was clipped by it and it felt like his arm was torn off. Anko tried to grab here again with her snakes and Hakari simply tore it apart. While Anko was crippled with the pain, she turned on Hinata. Her fangs gnashed as she picked her up by her hair and brought her other arm back. It looked like she was going to punch Hinata until she turned her fin outward and put at an angle that would meet her throat. She pushed her arm forward.
Her fist met an ice mirror and sent cracked all the way through it. But her attacked was stopped. She turned to this new enemy and snarled. It was Haku and Zabuza. "You are going to far, girl," Zabuza warned. He brandished the Zanbatou. "Put her down and calmed down." Hakari growled, dropped Hinata, and lunged at them. She was jerked to a halt though. She didn't even notice the mirror went around her arm. As she turned back to the two, she saw Zabuza ready to take her head off.
As the three got back up, Haku glared at all of them. "You are acting like a bunch of rabid dogs! Or have you forgotten that we are lost out here! Maybe we am the only one thinking clearly right now! So I will spell it out for you! We are being followed by people that want to kill us! The one person among us that truly knows what he is doing has decided to wait here for rescue! And without the Log Pose he still has on his wrist, we cant figure out where to go anyway! Or have you forgotten that!?"
He turned to Hinata, Sasuke, and Anko. "He is your friend and you let him walk away! You let him face a nightmare that scared him so much, he screamed as he woke up! And none of you so much as stirred! She was mad and didn't care! He was gone before I could get over to him! What is your excuse!?"
They all looked away. He had a point. "Nicely done, Haku," Zabuza said, returning th Zanbatou to his back.
The bartender noted each ability and that the sword had a wading heron just above the handle.
—oo000oo—
Naruto, holding the head of one of the bounty hunters, ran and jumped. He spun, kicking the head of the other two as he did. As he came around, he brought his knee to his pivot man's head, knocking him out. With all three of them on the ground, Naruto started running again. He reached the cacti and took out two kunai. Stabbing them into the giant plan, he climbed up it between the giant needles.
When he reached the top, he looked out across the island. They have been here for too long. Something didn't sit right with him. "Naruto." He nearly jumped out of his skin. Spinning around, he saw Yugito.
Letting out a sigh of relief, he tried to relax and gave her a smile. "Yugito-chan, what are you doing here?"
"Don't Yugito-chan me. Why did you just leave?"
"I'd rather not talked about it. Have they done anything to you guys?"
"No," she said slowly. "They threw us a party but we were pretty reserved at it. Why do you ask."
"The reason I said to tell them we were not pirates is because they are bounty hunters. I was wondering if they still were but considering they are attacking me, I believe they still are. But they have been holding back, and I don't know why." He took his telescope from his pouch and began looking around. "I see the Suna ship. They are just waiting out there." He looked around the other way. "But nothing... Huh?"
"What?"
"I saw just the tip of a mast on the other side of that cactus. So small, I'm not sure that is in fact what it is. At least, until I saw the mayor heading to it." He collapsed the telescope and put it back. "We need to go find out what they are up to."
—oo000oo—
"...Are you sure," the man with silver hair and shoulder pads said to Zant.
"We have been unable to test it wit the Sea Stone be we are almost certain that most of them ate the Devil Fruit," Zant said to him. "One has the ability to control fire. Another, ice. The girl has these special eyes that see all around her. The woman controls snakes. The swordsman is a sword master. While the other two I do not know. But the missing girl reminds me too much of a cat to be a coincidence. And they are weak from their fight with each other just an hour ago."
"...Even if they have not eaten the Devil Fruit, I can use them," he said with a smile. "I knew financing your group was a good idea."
"For which we are grateful. Baroque Works were fools to give up this island. With all the bounties that come through, even with the Cursed going to you, the money from the rest and from you more than make up for it, Mr. Jones, sir."
Naruto and Yugito had henge into a snake and lizard to get closure to listen. Naruto shivered for a moment. Jones was the voice that demanded that they surrender and also the voice from the nightmare. He spun around and left. He knew now why they had waited. When they were out of sight and hearing of the group, the returned to normal. "We have to go warn them," Yugito said. Naruto nodded and started running to town. Behind them, a flare shot into the air. Not thirty seconds later, the sounds of fighting reached them.
"Better hurry," Naruto yelled. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Twelve clones appeared. "Go to the Ebon Hawk and prep her to sail!" They ran their separate ways.
—oo000oo—
"See now why Naruto told us to mention we weren't pirates," Anko yelled at Hakari. "It's an island of bounty hunters!"
"How was I supposed to know!?"
"By asking him why," Sasuke yelled, blocking a sword with his kunai and delivering a kick to the gut to his attacker. "If you were going to be Capitan, forget it!"
"You have a better idea!? I told Naruto to stay behind and wait for Luffy!"
"WHAT!?" That came from Hinata. "The reason he isn't here is you!? But you're like a sister to him!"
"Can we talk about this later," Zabuza demanded. He cut down another person that came against him. Looking around, he saw the only person challenging him now was one with a weapon made of an iron tube and wood over three feet long. "What are you packing?"
"Packing? Packing you." He raise it to his shoulder and squeezed the trigger. Zabuza was pushed backwards a little while his blood shot several feet back. He raised a hand to his chest and took it away. Blood was coming from a small hole. On his shoulder, it was a very large hole and his shoulder blade was part of it. He felt very cold.
The man flipped the level on the bottom of his weapon and aimed at Hinata. "BASTARD!" He looked up in time to see the boy with the coat jumped from the top of a building and drive two kunai into his chest.
Naruto grabbed his weapon as he ran to them. "Haku! Zabuza has been hit!"
He nodded before the whole city started to freeze. Soon, it was so cold that those used to the desert heat of this island couldn't move. "Let me see him," Haku said. He looked at the wound in disbelief. Placing a hand over it, ice covered it, stopping blood flow from it. "We need to get him back to the ship. What caused this?"
"This did," Naruto said. "Yugito-chan, did you get everything?!"
"Right here," She said, holding up a scroll. "All their medical supplies, several of those odd weapons and the ammo for them, and fresh water. I also got the light wine you said to get."
"Good, we head out now! Someone named Jones is here after Devil Fruit eaters and they believe we are." He lifted Zabuza up and started carrying him to the Hawk. "Unless you would rather stay and find out why of course!"
They looked at each other for a moment and ran after him.
—oo000oo—
They were at the docks and only a hundred feet from the boarding plank. "Evening," Zant said, swinging a chain with a weight and a kama at the ends. He had on this black, flat low top, stiff wide brim hat. "We are being paid a good price for each of you."
"I don't suppose it is too late to mention we are not pirates but rather soldiers from a country in the West Blue, is it," Naruto asked.
"Far too late," Zant told him. "This weapon is made of Sea Stone. Not only is it impossible to break, it renders those that ate the Devil Fruit powerless." Naruto swallowed.
"Good thing no one here has eaten a Devil Fruit then," Sasuke stated.
"How do you explain those abilities then," Zant asked.
"They are Bloodline Traits," Yugito told him, "and ninjutsu. If you had trained for it like we had, you could have done it."
He grinned. "You are bad liars." He threw the weight and caught Sasuke's leg. "Like to see you use that fire ability now."
"Alright." Sasuke did the hand signs again. "Fireball no Jutsu!" Zant had the dumbest look on his face before he jumped to the side.
"Think he believes us now," Haku asked. "Hinata, help Naruto take Zabuza-sama up to the medical ward."
"Al, alright." She grabbed his feet and they took him up.
"I will handle him," Haku said. Ice surrounded Zant in a dome. And Haku stepped into it. "Ice Prison no Jutsu." For several minutes, the man was stabbed in the most painful ways. Finally, Haku decided to end it. "No one hurts Zabuza-sama and gets away with it."
There was the sound of gun fire and Haku fell. "Damn it," Naruto yelled, jumping back over the side. He stepped Haku and started the Oto Oto Wail as he reached down for him. His hand brushed the chain and it stopped for that moment. And Haku noticed.
"I'm fine, it just hit my arm," Haku said, standing up. "But...you ate a Devil Fruit, didn't you?"
Naruto didn't look at him. "Get aboard." He kept the wail up until one of his clones dispelled, letting him know they were ready. Naruto turned to leave when he saw notes inside the hat. He grabbed it and ran aboard. "Weigh anchor! Yugito, Hinata, drop all sails! Get us out of here!"
—oo000oo—
Naruto was tying the bandage around Haku's arm. "Why didn't you tell us, Naruto?"
"...Because I can us my chakra to swim. I am just terrified of it." He finished the gauze. "Every other time, Rin-chan was always there to catch me if I fell. But when I fell overboard...there was no one and no bottom. I couldn't even mold my chakra right. Can you imagine what it is like to have the strength to do anything else but that?"
"So that is why you gave up so easily," Haku said, referring to Hakari. "You are still afraid, aren't you?"
Naruto stopped what he was doing for a moment. "More than you can imagine."
"...Naruto, you are an orphan right?"
"Yes."
"So is Hakari and I." Holding the unfinished gauze, he got up from the chair and stepped to the door. "Hakari, get in here." He sat back down and let Naruto finish. "Tell her what you told me."
Naruto glared at him. "Why should I?"
"Because we both were worried. And if you are to afraid to tell your friends, then you will have to trust us."
"What are you two talking about?"
"You saw how he handled the attack," Haku said. "He is a natural leader. But something is holding him back and I found out what. It isn't just that he can't swim, he is scared of being in the ocean, not on it. Because he ate a Devil Fruit. AH!" Naruto had finished the knot, making sure it was very tight.
"That was between us, Haku."
"And why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I will get over it," Naruto yelled. "...I won't be powerless like that again."
She sighed, slapped her hands to her fore head and ran them through her hair in exasperation. "Naruto, you are a baka." She sliced the palm of her right hand with a fin and held it out. "Here, we will make a pact. As long as we are together, we will help each other where we are not good enough. Naruto, you will never have to be afraid of the water again because I will be there to bring you back to the surface."
Haku nodded and cut his palm. "Hakari, if you ever lose yourself to your blood lust, I will stop you from hurting our friends." He placed his hand of Hakari's and they looked at Naruto.
"...Haku, you will never have to fear losing your precious person again. Because I will guard him." He cut his palm and placed it over theirs. "Do you two really mean those things?"
"Of course," Hakari said. "A fishman is nothing without their pride. Now, I believe this is your's." She took his headband from her arm and held it out to him. "Take the helm, captain."
"But..."
"I know next to nothing about sailing a ship. I may know the Grand Line some but that isn't enough. You know it better than me. So put that thing on and get up there and take command like you did on that island."
Naruto looked at it for a moment and nodded. "That reminds me..." He grabbed the hat and took the papers out. "Hmm... Worthless... Finances, might be of some use. ...AH HA! A chart of this section of the Grand Line!" He looked to Haku. "Medical officer, I want you to go through this paper work to determine if there is anything to gleam from it. After fixing Zabuza, of course." He turned to Hakari. "First Mate, I will see you on the bridge." He was about to leave but he looked at the hat for a moment. He tied the headband around it and put it on. "I thought this would feel pretty nice under it."
—oo000oo—
He came to the deck and checked the log pose. "I'll take the wheel, Anko."
"I have it," she said to him.
"Anko-sensei, I will follow your orders while we are on land. But but we agreed while on this ship, I lead." His voice was calm but it held a determination in it.
She grinned at him. "You couldn't even make Hakari accept you as captain. What makes you think I will now?"
"...MOVE ASIDE, ANKO!" She was knocked on her ass. "Now let me make one thing clear! I give the orders on this ship! And I expect them to be followed! There are going to be times when I say something to be done and it needs to be done now! Because if you argue about it, we might die for it! Does this make sense to all of you!?" Yugito grinned and nodded. He got the same reply from the others. "Good!"
A Naruto clone came up to Anko and helped her up. "I'm sorry but I needed to make my point clear. Boss," the clone said to Naruto, "the new ship name. The Morning's Song. And check out the figure head." The clone took it and Naruto went to see it. It was of a woman with white hair and black skin. On her back were two white wings. She was wearing a blue dress and on her forehead was a newly carved and painted Konoha headband.
"...Sasuke, hoist the colors. By the time we reach the next island, they will think we are pirates anyway."
"But...we don't have a flag." Naruto grinned and took a tri-folded flag from his coat. Sasuke let it loose and looked at it. "You actually had this on you?" He shook his head as he tied it to the line. He pulled it up and the wind caught it, revealing a laughing Jolly Roger with a Leaf headband and a music note on each side.
—oo000oo—
Author's notes. I did have to throw that part from the end of Pirates of the Caribbean in. Well, there you have it, why Naruto didn't just use his chakra to swim back to the surface. Everyone has that fear they have. That is his.
Yeah, I did decide the have the guy be Davy Jones. I couldn't think of a good enough name for him. What do you think of this chapter? And I know some of you think I am just going to retell the One Piece story with Naruto and the others instead of Luffy and the Straw Hats. I'm not. That is the first island, I believe. As for the bounty hunters, well, why mess with something that works? I do plan to send Naruto on a different path than Luffy took. Starting with him not going to Little Garden.
As always, any questions you may have, ask and I will explain the reasoning behind them.
