Hello everyone, here is the next chapter
This is a bit more of everything and explanations and hope it is good
I am not sure how long I will make the chapters be, maybe somewhere between 2-5k words each chapter, we'll see how it goes
As for the Naruto timeline, it is set during Naruto I think. I've never watched Boruto. It is basically the shinobi world in general
Hope you enjoy
Read and relax
Thatch moved over to Deuce, to the railing and leaned against it. "So," Started Thatch, looking at Deuce. "Why aren't you with…" Deuce chuckled. "Other shinobi's?" Thatch nodded and Deuce hummed. "I have my family with them, but I want to roam. Same with the others. Mika and Trevor." Thatch nodded. "Where are they?" Decue shrugged. "They aren't people persons. They enjoy being by themselves." Thatch nodded. "When did you leave?" Deuce hummed. "Oh, a few years ago." Thatch blinked. "A-a few years ago? How old are you?" Deuce shrugged. "36. Was a bit uncertain since Ace is so much younger and he's my captain, but I enjoy him as a captain." Thatch nodded. "What do the others think of it?" Deuce hummed. "They like Ace. He might seem hot-headed, but he can be amazing. He can be an adult. Or, he is an adult as he's 20, but he can act older than his age. But, he wants to be a child too."
Thatch nodded, that made sense. Being a child was awesome. He had lost out on his childhood because of his family, how they had forced him away from his village and then started being nobles. Oh, he hated his family. He was happy he had met Pops, he was happy here. But he still wished he had learned how to be a shinobi, as it sounded awesome. "Do you know anything?" Deuce frowned. "What do you mean?" Thatch hummed. "Shinobi things." Deuce nodded. "Yeah, we do. Mika and Trevor know things too." Thatch nodded. "Like what?" Deuce hummed. "A lot. Most of it is the basics. Like, how to make a clone, stand upside down, walk on water." Thatch blinked. "You- you can walk on water?" Deuce nodded. "Very helpful when Ace falls in the water, as I can just pick him up." Thatch nodded. "How?" Deuce shrugged. "You use your chakra. Don't you know this? I think I heard someone say you are a shinobi too." Thatch sighed. "No, my family left to be nobles when I was 4, I never learned anything. They were sick of being normal shinobi's and wanted to be nobles, and they are that now. I ran away."
Deuce nodded. "Why did you run here? Why not to a village? They would have taken you in." Thatch blinked. "Never thought of that. I just ran, and became a pirate. I love it here. But, I would have liked to know a few things as a shinobi, I've never met anyone actually, since I became a pirate." Deuce nodded. "People are more tolerable now, they aren't as mean to pirates, or some villages are, but a few aren't and accept pirates. Like mine is. They're fine with me being a pirate." Thatch blinked. "Which?" Deuce hummed. "Hidden Leaf village." Thatch nodded. "I've heard about them being nice. Are Mika and Trevor also from there? Didn't they get new protectors for their Hokage? Or something connected to the Hokage." Deuce chuckled. "I think so. I don't really follow well what happens. I'm a pirate now."
Thatch nodded, that made sense."What made you decide to be a pirate?" Deuce hummed. "I met Ace. He is a nice person and I wanted to join him. We've been friends for long." Thatch blinked. "How long?" Deuce hummed. "Since he was 10 I believe." Thatch blinked. "Wait, so you knew him when he was young? He's not a shinobi, he's a normal person. How did you get together?" Deuce nodded. "As I said, my family is okay with others, so I met him and liked him, then he set out to be a pirate and I joined." Thatch nodded, that made sense. Deuce seemed like a nice person, and he liked that he was a Shinobi too. They had only 3 on the crew from before that was shinobi's, and all of them had left at an early age, either being forced away or just wanted another life. Deuce then gave a look to him. "If you want, I can show you a few things." Thatch was quick in nodding. "I would love that, probably the others too. It sounds awesome." Deuce chuckled. "And it is. Let me get back to it, for now, let's keep this in mind." Thatch nodded, it sounded good.
He spoke a bit more with Deuce before he left to do his duties.
-x-
Thatch dried his hands, moving to sit down at a table that was mostly empty as dinner was over a bit ago, but a few left. And one of these few was Ace, and he wanted to speak with him.
So when he sat down, he looked at Ace. "So, how are you?" Ace shrugged. "Okay." He said as he took some more food. Ace really ate a lot. It was a bit hard to see, seeing as he was first to appear and last to leave, and he ate the entire time. He probably didn't want to show how much he actually ate. Which he got. Eating a lot could be bad on the sea, but they had the means to feed him. He wouldn't bring that up now. "So," Started Thatch. "You liking it here?" Ace shrugged. "It's… okay. I liked my boat." That he got, it had been his boat. but Pops wanted the kid to join them. He could see a bit why. He was a hot head, but he had personality. He was stubborn, he was still, even though it was less, he was trying to take Pops head. He wouldn't be able to do it, but it was fun to watch.
As he was speaking with Ace, he carefully got to the topic he wanted to speak about. "How are you so okay with the others on your crew?" Ace shrugged. "You mean since they are shinobi's?" Thatch nodded and Ace hummed. "Why should it bother me? They're nice people. I don't care about their pasts." Thatch nodded, that was nice of Ace. "So many aren't, especially young ones." Ace hummed. "I think the opposite, it is the old ones who are being stubborn. We need new blood, and I get that a few want to be pirates too, not as dangerous and it is much more calm. You don't need to know everything, there is a high standard to be a shinobi." Thatch blinked. "How do you know that?" Ace shrugged. "Know a lot from Mika, Trevor, and Deuce. They are awesome." Thatch nodded. "I do think you and Pops would get along. You have the same view." Ace snorted. "Yeah right. I'm not like him. How about you? I heard some rumors you were a shinobi? Why did you leave?" Thatch sighed. "I didn't leave, I was forced by my family. I don't know any shinobi things." Ace nodded. "Maybe some of my people can train you. They know their stuff." Thatch nodded. "Deuce already offered. I think I'll say yes."
Ace nodded. "Sounds good. They can be good teachers, they train often, of course, they haven't since they are a bit careful around others." Thatch nodded. "And they respect you, Deuce said so. Even though you're younger than them." Ace shrugged. "I have my way of doing things, they just like it." Thatch nodded, that made sense. "And they don't need to hide it here, we don't care about people's pasts. Look at me, no one is treating me differently." Ace gave a slow nod. "I have seen that. And I will mention it to them. But I have a feeling they will still be careful. It comes naturally to them." That he got and nodded. Many were against shinobi's.
Thatch then blinked. "Oh, by the way, Pops wants to see you." Ace blinked, before he frowned. "Why?" Thatch shrugged. "Don't know, ask him." Ace should speak with Pops, maybe that could help him calm down. For now, he could only hope.
-x-
Whitebeard gave a come in when there was a knock at his door, and it opened to show Ace. Ace had his arms crossed, giving a glare. "What you want?" Whitebeard motioned to a chair. "Why don't you sit." Ace rolled his eyes, but did sit down.
When he was seated, Whitebeard looked at Ace. "Why can't we have a calm chat? A captain to captain." Ace rolled his eyes, leaning his head backwards to the back of the chair. "Why, just why, would I want that?" Whitebeard hummed. "Because you are a good captain. I see it when you interact with your crew." Ace snorted. "They're my crew, I actually like them. So of course I will act nice with them." Whitebeard nodded. "You're acting nice towards my crew too." Ace nodded. "That is since I have nothing against them." Whitebeard nodded again. "Why are you so against me? I can't remember anything I might have done to you." Ace snorted at him. "Of course you wouldn't see the resemblance. You should have known my mother before she died."
That had Whitebeard frowned. Know his mother? Ace didn't look like someone he knew, but maybe he did, he just needed to think more. Ace had a young looking face, dark hair and freckles. But, if he took away the dark hair, he might look like a woman he had met a couple times. But if that was true, there could only be one that could be his father and that didn't make sense. He died way too early for that to be possible. Ace was just 20, he died 22 years ago. "I might have an idea now, but it is impossible. I don't like people spreading lies." Ace gave a loud sigh. "Do I really need to spell it out for you?" Whitebeard tried to think. "Your mother, if I am right, was amazing, but how could she conceive after his death?" Ace snorted. "Or maybe, I was carried after his death." Whitebeard blinked. That could make sense. If Rouge had managed to carry Ace for longer than 9 months, closing on 12, it would be possible. "How long did she carry you?" Ace hummed. "12, almost 13, months." That would make it plausible.
He still didn't get why that had Ace not liking him. "I still don't know how that makes you not like me. We were just rivals, we had many calm conversations, as we were a bit close to friends." Ace blinked "That makes no sense. You were enemies." Whitebeard shook his head. "No, we weren't enemies, at most, we were rivals. I enjoyed his company, especially our duels. Not fights, but duels." Ace gave a curious look- or glare- to him. "But I am continuing his legacy, and I will take your head, as he failed to do." Whitebeard shook his head, Ace was wrong. "You are wrong. We were never out for each other's heads. We never wanted to kill each other. We were good rivals and friends, we fought to have fun and to make the marines believe we were enemies. Don't tell me you believe the marine's lies." Ace snorted. "I believe what I have been told. The truth." Whitebeard hummed. "Who would speak the most truth? Some people you have met, or I, who were the one to duel your father. He was an honorable man. And so I am, I like to believe."
Ace blinked at him, as if he didn't know what to say or do, and Whitebeard hummed. "Don't believe the lies the others have told you. Believe what I say, as I have no reason to lie to you. I would gain nothing from that, If I wanted you dead, you would have been long ago. I am holding back with you, since I like you. This is a huge plus. I didn't know the rumors he had a child were true. I miss that man." Ace still looked shocked and unsure. "I don't know what to say." Said Ace, and Whitebeard shook his head. "And you don't need to say anything. Go do your day normally, but know I have nothing against your late father, we were not enemies. Believe that, as I would never lie." Ace nodded, still looking shocked. "We can speak more later." Said the captain to Ace, and Ace nodded, before he left.
As Ace left, Whitebeard smiled. So, the rumors that Roger had a son was true. That was amazing. Ace was a person who was easy to read, probably since he was so young. He was still a child, just 20 years old. He hoped this would be the break Ace needed, that he would see his genuine kindness and stay. He liked the brat.
-x-
Deuce looked at Ace, them having gotten to their room, speaking in a hushed tone. "Did they fall for it?" Ace nodded, speaking a hushed tone as well. "Yes, they did. We have the upper hand, they believe us." Deuce nodded. "Well, it was the truth. We still need to figure out what and how to do the rest of our plan." Ace nodded. "I have a feeling it will go fine. We just need them to trust us." Deuce nodded. "Okay, we have some time on us, so hopefully we have enough." Ace nodded. "I think we do. We just need to be patient. We can do this." Deuce nodded, and Ace hoped their plan would work. Ace was glad he had managed to look shocked and play it off believable, he needed to get this done, they only had so much time on their hands.
And that's the chapter, hope you enjoyed
This was a bit more of everything and set up for later and hope it turned out good
If you have any scenes you would like to see, don't be afraid to leave a comment, or send a PM
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