THE ADVENTURE BEGINS!

"Wow, I can't believe we're actually going to be on a real pirate ship!" said Naruto enthusiastically, skipping with each step as he and the rest of the crew traveled down the road to the port where the Merrie Go is docked. Sakura, walking beside Naruto was just as thrilled as her teammate.

"Ooh, this is so exciting," she sqeaked in high spirits. Sasuke however remained cool as ever.

"Hmph, you two act as if you've never been on a ship before," he said. Naruto made a squinty face at the other boy.

"Of course we have, but THIS is a PIRATE ship," emphasized Naruto. Sasuke only rolled his eyes.

"...Whatever," he murmured. Kakashi closed his book.

"Seems like we're close," said Kakashi putting the graphic novel away. It's just as he says, the port where the pirate ship was last seen came into view.

Chopper, trotting next to Kakashi in deer form, sighed with relief.

"Good! I can't take this heat much longer," he lamented.

"Robin-san, another popsicle please?"

"Of course, Master Doctor," she said as she opened the cooler she was carrying, and took out a blue popsicle. By this time Chopper was jumping up and down for it. Robin chuckled as she shoved the treat in his mouth. Sighing out of satisfaction, he sucked on the popsicle like a pacifier.

"Awigato."

Naruto nudged Sasuke in the ribs.

"Race you to the ship," he said with a mischevious smirk. Sakura giggled as she bounded ahead of the two.

"Not if I make it first!" she called out.

"Hey Sakura! No fair!" cried Naruto as he dashed behind. Sasuke only harrumphed and continued walking. Naruto ran backwards to yell out these words.

"What's wrong Sasuke-teme? You giving up to Sakura-chan!? What a WIMP!

That did it.

Sasuke bolted blowing smoke beind him, leaving a few pirates coughing.

"Hey!" Nami shouted followed by a hacking cough. Zoro coughed as well.

"Dumb kids..."

"THEY'VE COME FOR ME!!" cried out Usopp gasping for air.

"Could it be that the Great Sea Adventurer Usopp will meet his fate with the enemy's poisonous gas-"

Nami smacked his head, knocking him into the ground, before muttering,

"Maybe not..."

Sasuke passed Sanji, while he was reading. The dust blocked him from reading a very interesting passage.

"Little bastard..."

Sakura bumped into Luffy.

"Huh?"

"Sorry Luffy-san, racing here!" she called out, not stopping.

"Oooh! A race," said Luffy, intrigued, until he was bumped again by Naruto.

"Oi!"

"Watch it!" yelled Naruto. Luffy watched as he got ahead of Sakura.

"Hey!" she pouted. Luffy heard more speeding footsteps behind him.

"Eh?"

"Move out of the way!" yelled the ego-tripped Sasuke, shoving Luffy out of his path.

"NANI!!"

Sasuke got ahead of Sakura with no trouble at all.

"Go get him Sasuke-kun! Avenge your love!

Sasuke growled at the comment as he pressed on further, now at equal speed with Naruto. They were almost near the ship.

"First one to touch the ram's head wins," said Naruto.

"And it's going to be me," growled Sasuke.

"No! ME!"

Lightning bolted from between their glaring eyes full of the energy of thier competitive nature.

"GOMU GOMU GOOOO!"

"Wha-?"

A long rubber arm zoomed passed the boys heads, and was followed by a speeding close up of a grinning Luffy with his other arm holding down his hat.

Startled, Sasuke and Naruto jumped out of Luffy's way, as he swung with ease onto his favorite sitting spot of the ram's head.

"ME!" he said grinning. Naruto scowled.

"You cheated!" he loudly accused the Captain with his swirly index finger.

"By this time, Sakura caught up to them, panting rather heavily.

"Did Sasuke-kun win?" she asked. She looked at both of the boys, Naruto was yelling at the laughing Luffy, while Sasuke sat on the ground seething.

"Oh," she said, already figuring out the end result of their match.

br

The sails came down, and caught the winds within a breath, and soon they were off into the ocean in pursuit of the the Ghost Island that hid the mysterious treasure.

"WHOOHOOHOO!" Luffy cheered for the vast ocean that he loved so much. Nami sighed comfortably as she sat on her folding chair, and opened the day before yesterday's newspaper.

"Ah, it's good to be back on the sea," she said, as she began to read some old news. Nico sat next to her, and opened her Rainbow Falls book.

"It sure is..." she replied, before reading.

Meanwhile, Sasuke groaned as the ship moved. He hugged his stomach, and his face had a bit of a green tinge. Sakura immediately grew concern.

"Sasuke-kun, are you all right?" she asked lightly embracing him, but Sasuke pushed her away from him, and dashed towards the end of the deck, and retched his breakfast from the side of the ship. Sakura put her hands to her mouth in shock.

"Oh Sasuke-kun!"

Naruto bursted out laughing, and pointed mockingly at the ill ninja.

"Oh man, stupid Sasuke is seasick! What a loser!" said Naruto, doubling over from laughing too much. Sakura instantly became vengeful.

"Naaruutoooo!" she seethed, as she rolled up her sleeves, while glaring at the blonde. Naruto's laughter began to falter when noticing Sakura now in her furious state. He backed away slightly puting his hands up in defense.

"No, no, Sakura-chan, I was only kidding- Ah! Ah! AAAAHH!"

Too afraid to finish his sentence, the boy sprinted for dear life, with Sakura right on his tail.

"Come back here you BASTARD!" she screamed.

"You better apologize to Sasuke-kun right NOOOWW!"

The two young shinobi ran around the deck, almost bumping into Zoro, who was just about to grab hold of the anchor. Their yelling startled him and almost made him let go of the rope, but he was able to catch it quickly before it fell back into the ocean.

"Hey! Watch where you're going, you little brats!" he yelled at them.

"NAAARUUUTOOOO!!"

"NO! SAKURA-CHAN! PLEASE! DON'T HURT MEEEE!!"

The two continued to run around the deck, until passing Sasuke once again.

"Shut the hell up..." he murmured before vomiting... once again.

While all this was happening. Kakashi walked up to Nami and Nico as they read.

"Mind if I join you?" he asked politely. The two women both looked up, smiling, and nodded.

"Why of course you can, Master Ninja," said Nico, while patting an empty space right next to her. Kakashi obliged, as he sat on the wooden deck next to her chair, and took out his own reading material. All the while Sakura and Naruto caused chaos around the ship, that Luffy soon took notice.

"Hey that looks like fun!" he said, as he jumped off the ram head, and joined the two in their "loud chasing game."

"WHEEEE! LET'S KILL NARUTO!"

Naruto panicked when he noticed not only Sakura chasing him in blazing fury, but Luffy too.

"AWW, NOT YOU TOO LUFFY-NIISAN! WHAT DID I EVER DO TO YOU?"

Luffy patted his right shoulder, while bearing a rubber fist towards him.

"You made Sanji kick me out of the restaurant while I was still eating!" he yelled.

Naruto recounted that incident while still running for his life.

"...Oh yeah," he muttered in realization, but then came back to earth just in time to jump over the three bookworms sitting in comfortable silence.

"Oi, Kaka-sensei, a little help?" he called out to his distracted teacher.

"Not right now, Naruto. Why don't you ask Sasuke?" he said, his eyes unmoving from the book, as he turned to the next page. While Naruto jumped over them again, after another trip around the deck.

"He's puking his brains out, you moron!"

Kakashi looked up from his book to see the dark-haired boy hunched over the end of the boat, indeed, puking his brains out.

"Ah, so he is." and went back to his reading.

Naruto let out a lamented groan, and decided to change his direction. Instead of running another lap around the ship deck, he made a dash toward the cabin. The cabin door opened with Chopper emerging from the inside, holding and analyzing a shiny blue ball.

"Hmm, this should do it," he murmured thoughtfully.

"GET OUT OF THE WAY!!"

"Hm?"

Chopper looked up just in time to see the mad rush of people coming straight for him. The little reindeer's eyes bulged as he screamed, before leaping to the side, safely dodging the stampede. Bursting into the room, with Sakura and Luffy in hot pursuit. Luffy stretched out his arm and caught Naruto by the foot, tripping him. While Sakura climbed on top of his back, and was about to pound the hell out of him, until she smelled something delicious. All three looked up to find Sanji setting up the table with one hand, and the other holding that book that thier teacher always reads, while smoking a Konohan cig. The table was covered in delicious delicacies that Naruto and Sakura had never seen before. Plates of large and unique fish, grilled to perfection, a giant pot of what seemed to smell like Sanji's Miso Soup, large bowls of seasoned shrimp rice, steamed lobster, and most importantly a giant plate of a large pile of meat on the bone. All three were drooling at the sight of such a feast. After Sanji placed the last plate on the table, he gave half of his attention to the three, as the other half remained on the book.

"Dinner is served" he said.

"Sugoi!" they yelled out in unison. All three jumped near an empty plate, Luffy was about to dig in to the meat, but his hand was quickly slapped away.

"Ite! Hey what's the big idea?" he yelled at Sakura. The kunoichi only narrowed her eyes at the captain.

"You have to wait," she said huffily. "I swear, your eating habits are just as bad as Naruto's, but at least he has enough sensibility to wait for others to come to the table. Right Naruto?"

She added with a menacing growl, as she tightened his captive arm behind him. The poor blonde-nin yelped, in truth he was just about as eager as Luffy to just grab one those giant pieces of deliciously cooked meat by a drop of a hat.

"Th-that's right, Sakura-chan," he added, with drool and tears so evident, that his words betrayed him.

"But I'm THE CAPTAIN! And I should eat when I want to!" he whined. Sakura's glare only intensified, even making the rubber man cringe a little.

"Alright, alright! I'll be good," he surrendered, before muttering.

"Gee, you're almost as mean as Nami."

Soon enough, the rest of the group joined the table, except for Sasuke. Sakura still had Naruto's arm in a tight grip, as she kept a watchful eye on the cabin door. Everyone else started to eat. Plentiful amounts of rice, and fish were scooped onto the plates, the empty bowls were now nearly overflowing with Sanji's soup, and Luffy snuck in a mountain load of meat under Sakura's nose as Naruto looked on helplessly.

"Please Sakura-chan, could you let go of me now, please?" he whispered tearfully.

"I'm really, really hungry."

Sakura's head slowly turned to the poor boy, with a glare so dangerous, you might wonder if she might contain a demon inside of her as well. Naruto flinched.

"You won't be eating anything until Sasuke-kun get's here," she seethed.

"Oh!" squeaked Chopper. Both eyes shot thier glance on the little reindeer.

"Sakura-san, if you're wondering about that other boy, I just gave him some medicine, so he's resting in the infirmirary right now," he said.

Sakura relaxed her grip on Naruto, as he sighed with relief. He silently mouthed the words "Thank you," to Chopper. Sakura quickly leaned forward from where she sat, towards the little reindeer.

"How is he!? How long will it be for the medicine to take effect?" she asked demanding an answer. Chopper only smiled.

"Not long. As a matter of fact, he should be up right about-"

BANG!

"Hello everyone!"

At that moment, everybody stopped what they were doing to take a moment to stare at the most unnatural occurence ever to lay thier eyes upon. Sasuke, stood at the door way with a smile so big and cute, that every female would glomp him until he can no longer breathe.

"Oh, Sasuke-kun," sighed Sakura dreamily, she couldn't believe her eyes, as she ran up to meet him.

"Hi Sakura," said Sasuke, his smile growing bigger. Sakura's heart skipped a beat, because he usually never greeted her like that. Naruto was at a loss for words. The others just looked on at the scene unfolding before them.

"Um, Sasuke?" she said with a blush forming on her cheeks.

"What is it, Sakura?" he replied, his eyes were just so bright and cheerful, Sakura couldn't help but notice how adorable he looked. She rather pinch his cheeks instead than kiss him.

"Since, you're so happy now. Does that mean you will forget about your revenge and go on a date with me?" she asked hopefully. There was a pause as the whole crew, including Naruto and Kakashi, with Icha Icha book in hand, waited intently for his answer. Could Sasuke have finally changed his ways for the better? Suddenly, Sasuke gave the most hearties laugh. He is so happy.

"No way!" he said, his voice cheerful and merry. Everyone fell over thier chairs in shock as Sakura felt her heart being crushed under a giant boulder. Kakashi, who sat at the head of the table, shook his head in dismay.

"Still the same old Sasuke... but with a cute happy face," he said with a merrily crinkled eye. Nami shook her head as well.

"Poor Sakura-san," she murmured.

"She needs to learn that love isn't everything."

Nico merely nodded in agreement, before sipping her glass of water.

The rest went back to eating, except Naruto, who glared daggers at the cheerful Uchiha, for hurting Sakura. He was about to stand up and give him a piece of his mind, only to be pulled down by the collar by Kakashi.

"There will be no fighting at the dinner table," he said casually. Naruto's eyes narrowed at his teacher, before turning away with a pout. Kakashi looked up to the smiling Uchiha still standing by the door with a shattered Sakura.

"Sasuke, glad to have you back. Please, join us."

Sasuke grinned.

"Why thank you, Sensei," he said as he marched jovially towards an empty seat, leaving Sakura alone and broken-hearted. Chopper was saddened to see Sakura in low spirits.

"I'm sorry Sakura-san," he said sadly to her from where he sat.

"My sea-sick medicine has a strange cheerfulness side-effect. Sure, he may seem extremely happy, but in the inside he's still somewhat himself."

Sakura gave a small smile to Chopper.

"It's okay," she said with a disappointed sigh, which was then quickly replaced with a look of determination.

"One day, I'll change his mind."

Chopper sighed with a worried look.

"I don't think she get's it," he said tearfully. Sasuke seated himself at the end of the table between Kakashi and Zoro, and he gave the swordsman his most brightest smile.

"Well, hello. Nice to see you again," said Sasuke to Zoro.

Zoro quirked an eyebrow at the boy next to him, before shifting his seat a small distance away from the cheerful Uchiha.

"Hey Naruto, you better eat now, or Luffy-san will eat everything in sight," said Sasuke with a sing-song voice to the boy sitting across from him. Naruto's eyes widened in realization, before quickly grabbing the last two pieces of meat, that Luffy was about to grab.

"Mine!" growled the kitsune before gnarling a chunk off of it. Sakura went back to her seat next between Nami and Naruto who devoured anything he served himself. Sakura sighed, she didn't feel much like eating. Kakashi quickly took note of this as he placed his book aside.

"Sakura, I suggest you eat something," he said.

"You're going to need your strength for training."

"Yay! Training!" Sasuke suddenly burst out with a mouth full of rice. Zoro shifted his seat further away from him.

"I'm on a diet," she said flatly.

"That's no excuse," said Kakashi. Sakura turned to glare at him.

"Oh yeah? Well I don't see you eating anything Kakashi-sens-" she stopped when she noticed that Kakashi was pointing at his own plate. She saw several bones already stripped off of their meat, and empty lobster shells. Usopp inwardly cursed.

'Damn! Missed it again!' he thought as he shoved down a forkful of rice in his mouth. Chopper stood up from the table.

"Yeah, Sakura-san, diets are very unhealthy especially for people in your line of business," said Chopper as a matter-of-factly. Sakura crossed her arms, turned her head to the side.

"I don't care," she said huffily. Just then, a tall glass filled with strawberry sorbet and garnished with little strawberries was placed in front of her.

"Huh?" Sakura looked at it curiously.

"This is a special desert that I made especially for you," crooned Sanji, as he placed a small spoon into the desert. Sakura was intrigued by the treat as she licked her lips, but then quickly turned away.

"I said I'm on a diet," she huffed. Sanji only smiled.

"But you didn't hear the rest," he said.

"You see? This is my famous Strawberry Sorbet made especially for women on diets. It's low in fat, and the calories burn off easy, giving you lots of energy. Take the beautiful Nami-san for example, my dessert's keep her looking exquisitely voluptuous!"

Nami chuckled as she blushed at the compliment.

"Oh Sanji, you always say the sweetest things," she said, her voice rich with seduction.

"REALLY?" squealed the overexcited Sanji with delight.

SMACK!

"NO! Now stop annoying our guest!"

Sakura looked back at the strawberry sorbet, with a look of longing.

"Well, since you put it that way," said Sakura bringing the desert closer to her, and scooping up a bit of it with the spoon.

"I think I'll have just a taste. It looks good anyway."

She placed the spoon with the sweet contents in her mouth, and instantly her eyes sparkled.

"IT'S GREAT!"

"Aah! I knew you'd love it!" cried Sanji happily, with his hands clamped over his chest.

"Sakura-san, you shouldn't let boys get to you like that," said Nami.

"All you'll gain from this cat and mouse game will be nothing but more shame and humiliation. So do yourself a favor."

Sakura was wolfing down some of the sorbet as she took Nami's words into thought.

"Yeah! You know what Nami-neesan, you're right," she said before eating more of the sorbet.

"Maybe, I should just forget about Sasuke."

She then turned to the ex-love of her life, and gave him a good yelling with the help of her dessert spoon.

"You hear that Sasuke? From now on, I'm not going to be your love slave any longer. So you can just take that stupid attitude and shove it up your ass!"

Sasuke only smiled wider at the kunoichi's declaration, he now seemed more cheerful than ever.

"Yay! Good for you Sakura! Now training with you will be much easier. I love rice," he said before eating another mouthful.

Kakashi leaned slightly towards Sanji.

"You weren't telling the truth about that sorbet weren't you?" he whispered.

Sanji made an evil chuckle.

"You're right, that sorbet is actually filled with fatty protein and lots of calories."

Both of them made that little giggle that comes out when they read Icha Icha.

Sakura looked up at the two men curiously, with bits of pink sorbet covering her little mouth.

"Did you say something sensei?"

Both looked away from her in unison.

"Nope."

"Oh, ok. Sanji-san?" asked Sakura innocently.

"Yes, my little blossom?" crooned Sanji.

"Can I have another one?"

"Why certainly!"

TBC

A/N: Whoo! Finally! Sorry about the lack of updating (and for ending it this way)! I was planning on finishing this in the summer, but I had school for the majority of my vacation. STUPID! STUPID! STUPID! Anyway, it's going to be a long while until the next chapter, so keep your pants on!