Ahoy there me ma- ack, god, that felt weird for a second. the prim and posh brit in me just doesn't agree with fake pirate accents. So here's a new addition to the team roster: A crew! Anyway, let's go!
Super hero time!
Ex-aid: Looks like you're getting a party of your own, eh?
Naruto: And it looks like you're... possibly losing a member!?
Ex-aid: So, who's the new challenger?
Naruto: Well, they're in the steel silver spotlight!
E-a + N: Game start! Showtime!
When he had first suggested the idea, it was a tentative choice, for certain issues were bound to crop up when such strange alterations to the formation where made. Hiruzen was not to be swayed however, though Kakashi was a little hesitant to the concept.
"Are you sure that's the best choice?" the jonin asked, flashing back to a time of his youth he was loathe to return to. When his team had been formed, they had almost been the same as the planned team seven, if a little less extreme in their differences and hatred. Kakashi had been the silent cool one that the girls would swoon over no matter how hard he tried to deter them through the cold shoulder, Obito was the hyperactive child that was thought of as the failure while Rin was the intelligent medic, staying back in order to support her teammates. Never had he chosen to hate the world though, nor had Rin looked down on all that didn't relate to a single boy that never gave her the time of day.
"We can only test this out and find the results if we want a true answer," Hiruzen carefully replied. ", for the only thing I have to offer at the moment is mere speculation and possibilities. Anything we could come with is bound to be a better idea than the attempted murder that test was." Naruto had to scoff at the claim.
"Wasn't there going to be a part where you threaten someone to kill another or have the third killed at your hand? Isn't that the usual test you give?" The captain rebutted, a slow surprised nod from Kakashi. "They probably wouldn't hesitate at that point to kill me if I was a choice. I don't even know why you put it so that I'd be with those guys; they openly hate me."
"Well the teams were designed with a certain purpose in mind." Hiruzen explained, the Hokage leaning forward from his casual seated position. "In times previous, we had been making teams balanced with assault, tracking and medics. Now, we chose to give certain teams a specific purpose as there isn't just a need for survival like the past wartimes. You would've been an assault group, you with the combat capabilities thanks to your 'specialties', Sasuke with his sharingan and Sakura with her potential for a special technique that she was planned to receive training for, you would be an especially powerful assault group."
"So you were willing to put me with pricks just so you could have a battering ram?" Naruto interrupted, receiving a sharp slap to the head from who was meant to be his teacher. "What? If you need a PG version, I'll say 'I didn't know that battering rams needed spikes, but look at the pricks of Sasuke's hair!' or something."
"He is the Hokage Naruto, show the correct amount of respect he deserves." Kakashi warned, pausing when Hiruzen laughed the matter off.
"Trust me, there is little you could do to make him behave in a more fitting manner; I simply gave up after the first few times." The leader stated, Naruto looking proud.
"But of course. I show people respect by willing to be friends with them, not acting all stuffy and boring." The boy happily declared, thumbs up similar to a certain green beast nearly blinding Kakashi. Acting quickly, the man slammed his hand over Naruto's mouth, forcing down his hand.
"I expect you never to do that in my presence or preferably anyone's ever again." He hissed with passion, leaving the pirate somewhat confused as to what he meant and Hiruzen with a sweatdrop at the overreaction.
"Anyway, with the team formation here, we would be able to keep the dynamic you've produced so far and possibly make it so that it is easily expandable as your own crew grows. I trust that you won't abuse this freedom you have been granted?" Naruto quickly nodded, brimming with excitement that replaced the confusion at Kakashi's actions. "Then I shall leave the preparations to you. Come time for the Chunin exams, we shall formulate an appropriate solution to the team, but you should be free to try as it is now." Eagerly jumping around the desk, Naruto was fast to grasp the Hokage in his arms, a tender moment to compensate for what could have been a traumatic experience."
"Thanks for this, all of this Jiji!" Naruto said, his words muffled by Hiruzen's clothes. Not really wishing to break the tender event, Kakashi gave an award cough, asking,
"So what am I meant to do then?"
"The civilian council will probably go behind my back to forge the appropriate records to prevent the loss of them from the ninja forces and will most likely make you teach them thanks to your own Sharingan. I hope that you won't explode before the time is right." Hiruzen stated, looking pointedly at the man. Kakashi gave a sigh, the lazy man wishing that things had been a little different before leaving the office, an excited pirate following soon after.
"I hope that I haven't made the wrong choice with you." The hokage softly murmured.
"So why have you called us here my dear friend?" Lee questioned boisterously like usual, having gathered alongside Hinata and Tenten in the GokaiGalleon. When the weapons mistress had been told to come with Lee to an undisclosed location, she had been naturally hesitant, but upon seeing the magnificent ship, buried as it was, she had been all over it, combing it for the strange technology on board, far superior to what she had seen before. Alongside her normal metalwork, the girl had also dabbled in messing with the new machines being brought out every once in a while, but when she had access to all the crazy machines available in the GokaiGalleon, Lee was barely able to draw her away with all of his strength.
"And I assume that I wasn't just brought here so you could show off all of your toys." Tenten added. They had congregated within the main living room of the ship, Naruto taking his rightful place on the captain's seat.
"No." He confirmed to his small audience. "I've brought you here because I've managed to get something very special thanks to some… lucky circumstances. We're going to be in a single team, no teachers unless we bring them in." The announcement sent surprise into all gathered, few they may be.
"You really mean that we're going to be an official team? This shall be amazing!" lee cheered, jumping from his place and swinging the young captain around. Though more sated in her reaction, Hinata's eyes also showed absolute happiness in their shine. Tenten however was left at more of a confused state of mind.
"So why am I counted in this?" She questioned. "I can see that you're all acquainted already from that reaction and from what Lee's told me, but why me of all people?" In response, Naruto pulled out another of the Gokaiger keys, alongside Gai's Gokai cellular. The phone was designed differently to the more traditional looks that the Mobirates had, choosing a sleeker, futuristic appearance. The front was empty, for here the key was meant to be inserted, though with a push of a button, a holographic version did spring to life. The buttons had faces, most wildly varying from the others.
"You are here because we have an offer for you," Naruto clarified. "One that you would be wise to think on."
"You can become a pirate and have access to all of this cool stuff!" Lee blurted out, letting the excitement of having one of his older friends join him. Tenten was a bit apprehensive to the idea, taking the items thrust her way but with suspicious eyes.
"Can you care to tell me why I would want to be a pirate?" She requested sceptically, Naruto giving the older kunoichi a smirk.
"What is your widest dream, one you would never believe could come to life?" He asked the question seemingly coming out of nowhere. "Have you ever wanted to traverse space? Soar freely through the skies? Would you like to have access to technology and weapons that none else would have even predicted, let alone wielded? I'm not just offering for you to become a pirate. I'm offering you the chance to be whatever you want to be and only ask that you join our crew in return."
"And how is this thing meant to help?" The panda bunned girl pushed, holding aloft the cellular and key.
"Tenten, these keys allow you access to the powers of people long past who dedicated their lives to protecting the earth." Hinata expanded, stepping forward with her own pink key on show. "From skilled masters of magic to amazing sharpshooters to even legendary ninja and samurai, there were hundreds of different warriors and we can call upon any of their powers." Tenten would never classify herself as a girl after power, but that bold claim would bring anyone's mind to the potential of such skill. She held herself as one who would become as strong as the legendary sannin Tsunade and with such power at her disposal, it would be an easy job.
"I don't know… what about Neji?" Tenten asked, the boy that had been her crush coming to mind. Neji Hyuuga was a formal boy, having been raised as a part of the Hyuuga branch family with the caged seal upon his head in order to prevent any other from gaining the secrets of the Byakugan. His father had been taken by Kumo as compensation, not believing that a child had beaten their special 'delegate' that had attempted to kidnap Hinata all those years ago, leading to him becoming rather stuck up and with a hatred of the main family.
"He'll be given an appropriate place with another team, don't worry about that. Will you join?" Naruto stated. A tense moment of deliberation happened before Tenten gave in, seeing the pure joy on Lee's face being the breaking point.
"Alright." She conceded. "How do I use this thing?"
Despite the lack of prior technological knowledge, the usage of the Gokai cellular was oddly natural for Tenten. In mere minutes she was handling the transforming device like a professional, already having the chance to become acquainted with a few of the different ranger teams on offer.
JJJAKQ!
"So who is this person meant to be?" Tenten asked, looking upon the bright white she had donned.
"That is big one, the leader of JAKQ Dengekitai. He was the official leader, though spade ace took over in the field." Hinata recounted, thinking back on what knowledge she had gained. "He is often regarded as the second father of super sentai, the first being Akarenger and would use his staff to defeat enemies. The finisher is the big bomber, where a cannon is constructed, Big one holding the launched missile." At the word missile, Tenten's interest was piqued, having heard of missiles once on one of the history lessons she could vaguely remember as being not as boring. They had been incredibly destructive explosives far beyond what any ninja would have had available, meaning explosive tags, being able to destroy continents with relative ease. This, alongside super speed, incredible swordplay and magic beyond her wildest imagination, the poor girl was ready to give in from excitement.
"Alright, that enough for today. I think you should go and take a rest; you've been hitting those sentai forms hard." Naruto suggest, a firm hand clapping his elder ninja on the shoulder. Tenten reluctantly dropped the transformation, her knees slightly buckling to Naruto's amusement.
"You should be careful of how much you change in a single go." Hinata softly scolded, a towel in hand. The weapons wielder had managed to build up a sweat with all of the mock fights and training she had been through, even though Naruto was left none the worse.
"A tolerance has to built up to these things, or you could just be naturally more energetic than others. That's the reason Lee is still bouncing around like a maniac after fights and Hinata is much more subdued than usual. Me and him are stamina freaks." The captain explained. "Keep the cell on you, but keep it hidden until we agree or if it's absolutely necessary."
"What? You give me access to all this and you want me to keep it all hidden?" The newly instated pirate complained. "Can't I even boast about it slightly? Think about how much reputation it would give us!"
"Did you ever hear of the shadow rumour Tenten?" Naruto stated suddenly, rummaging through the keys he had brought for her perusal.
"Yeah, it was that person who managed to evade the entire ninja forces by literally running up the walls as a blur and had the whole place on lockdown for a good chunk of time." She recalled, a slight suspicion growing all the meanwhile. After a couple of moments searching, he grasped the desired key, pulling his own mobirate and slotted it in. As he turned, a flick of the thumb upon the edge turned the small item.
KAAAKURANGER!
"Ninja-black, Jiraiya!" a flamboyant flair of his arms came with the transformation, a veritable hurricane surrounding him until the black ninja suit covered his body. "Jiraiya, not the toad sannin Jiraiya, was part of the Ninja Sentai Kakuranger, a group of ninja from a time far into the past, before we have even documented. They were the ones who started the weird brightly coloured ninja thing."
"Wait… are you telling me that YOU of all people managed to send the entire village into hyper security, causing a major increase in protection and causing the training of ninja to become even more serious in the span of a single day?!" Tenten exclaimed in disbelief until a smirk formed on her face. "That's so cool!"
"Yosh! Naruto my friend, you never do things by the half!" Lee praised with one of his patented thumbs up, an act mirrored by Naruto to blind he girls for a second.
"From what I remember, Naruto had done it in order to try out is new powers, transfer the keys into an undisclosed location and prove himself as a good ninja before even having done any training." Hinata whispered to her fellow female while Naruto and lee goofed off. "At that time, he was a much quieter boy and I do think I saw him getting beaten up, but whenever I was near enough, my father would draw me away."
"Yeah, he never did have a good life, did he?" Tenten agreed. "He got kicked out of the orphanage for some stupid reason and I was pretty much his only friend throughout his entire time there. It was pretty much chaos once he got in; people would do something stupid and blame it on him, no matter what. There was one person who actually stabbed another while Naruto was in a completely different room, only for him to get dragged out and beaten in front of the others."
"I never knew how bad it truly was… he's very quiet about is life before he met me." Hinata admitted meekly, causing Tenten to blanch and rub the back of her head.
"Damn, I just let out something private didn't I?" she questioned rhetorically.
"No, you're fine. As my crew, I probably would have to tell you at some point wouldn't I?" Naruto said with a light hearted chuckle from his chair. "Maybe you should gossip when I'm not about, I don't know… 2 feet away?" The pair was good enough to blush at that point. "Let me tell you one thing Tenten as a captain. This crew will be your family. While it may not be the same for Hinata and Lee, you and me, we're orphans. Fellow orphans should have each other's back. No secrets that aren't necessary okay?"
"Well, I guess." Tenten easily conceded before walking up to the boy and tapping him on the forehead. "But just so you know, there are some things a girl should never tell just any old boy, got it?"
"Well if that's your only condition, then welcome to the team!" Taking her hand firmly in his, the two sealed the deal amidst Hinata's polite applause and Lee's raucous cheering.
"Now that we've welcomed a new member, let's go eat!"
Ino was pissed, no doubts about it. Her Sasuke had been placed in a different team to her, which was honestly bad enough, but when she had been placed with the fat ass and lazy bastard because their parents wants them to be the same, it was just the icing on the cake.
"Stupid forehead getting to be alone with Sasuke…" She muttered angrily under her breath as she stormed through town, many civilians moving out of her way subconsciously in fear of what she would do to any she bumped into. "Why does he get put with that Bitch and the dead last anyway? Life's so unfair!"
"And so I ended up painting half of the break rooms bright red and no one managed to find me, even when I stood in front of them laughing my head off!"
"Naruto, that is the most stupid thing I've heard you say and somehow I know it won't be the last."
"Still funny though, isn't it?"
"Yeah." Ino paused in her frustration, hearing Naruto and some other girl's voice coming from the restaurant her team had planned to meet up at. An evil smirk subtly appeared on her face.
'That'll do nicely.'
Making her way into the barbeque, the purple dressed Yamanaka was sent to one of the larger booths, something definitely unneeded for four people. Looking in, her worst fears were realised in that Naruto, along with Hinata and two others she did not know were sat with her team and yet there was little to get her down worse than she was now.
"Oh, hey Ino!" Naruto greeted jovially. "Are you here to join in?"
"What are you doing here?" She rudely interrupted in return. "Don't you have some other people to annoy with your presence?"
"Mendokuse… Just sit down and eat Ino." Shikamaru ordered, but was blatantly ignored.
"You know, I've heard that you didn't even pass your sensei's test. Couldn't deal with the responsibility?" She taunted.
No one there didn't know that a confrontation was bound to happen.
Let's put down the anchor! We've got a violent violet looking for a conflict (Didn't have another V word) so what will happen? Stay tuned until next time! I've got a couple of new stories in the making so please, look forward to that.