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Summary:
To save everyone, Marco used his current existence. Never did he imagine that he will be reborn to a new world different from his own. It is a world filled with ninjas and creatures as large as Sea Kings that are made of pure living chakra. What can a pirate like him do to survive especially if he is a freaking bird? Thatch is right; he does look like a chicken. And a certain blue-eyed blonde is thinking of him as her new pet.
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Of Flaming Feathers and Bloodstained Furs
By: Zelga Lim Li
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Part 10
"Just wow!" Thatch uttered in amazement as he properly met the girl who saved his friend's life. Ignoring her yelped cry, he cuddled the blonde kunoichi to himself while silently observing Marco's reaction from his peripheral vision. The blonde pirate didn't disappoint judging from the irritated stare the Phoenix gave him. "Thank you so much for saving this bastard from bleeding to death. Aaw! You really are sooo cuutee! I think I'm keeping you…" It's like the adult turned boy is about to skin him alive.
Hah! Very interesting.
He did notice it earlier and wanted to reconfirm it.
But for now, thanking the girl, her team including the jōnin-sensei himself and probably the village leader is his foremost priority.
He knew how nonchalant and apathetic Marco is when it comes authority.
Tazuna-san was also surprised to know that the bird is a real human masquerading as a 'pet' that can talk. Funny, that one. Although that seems to be the case at the moment as part of Marco's agreement with their Hokage.
And when he learned the predicament these Konoha ninjas Tazuna have requested to escort him back home made things a bit more complicated. He should have finished the midget when he had the chance.
"So why didn't you, yoi?" Marco asks while watching the other brats and his Naruto 'climb' trees without using hands (controlling whatever energy that is or so he heard). Fascinating, the chakra thingy. And Marco's newfound hobby called 'Naruto stalking'.
"I kind of promised Tazuna-san not to interfere since I am technically a visitor and to avoid further scrutiny on my stay especially for the family that found and helped me," Sighing ruefully, Thatch fixes his hair. "Inari's trauma aside, I don't want to be the final reason for him to really lose his faith on people…" As he cannot do his normal pompadour hairstyle, he opted for a brush up look. Made him look dashing though (which is nice on most days). "Despite my wound healing, I haven't fully recovered yet physically so I need to be more careful."
Marco's flames started to come out from the tip of his fingers as he growled angrily remembering Teach's betrayal. The air, suffocating even to a seasoned veteran of haki user like him. Hmm. So Marco really knows how to use Haoshoku.
"Mark my words, I'm going to kill that bastard, yoi."
Throwing a haki-imbued rock at the teen earned him a more menacing look.
If he were a lesser man, his life should already been forfeit. But this is Marco and regardless of his youthful appearance (life is sooo unfair) - is the same man he sailed along with, bled with and continues to treat as a nakama. A brother in all but blood.
But no excuses though.
"Careful there, you're making her twitchy…" Instantly, the heavy feeling in the air dissipates and Marco's gaze zoomed immediately towards the other blonde. Strangely enough Naruto-chan somehow felt Marco's anger (despite the distance) and falls on her hind as she curses the damn stupid tree ignoring Sakura's teasing laughter and the Uchiha's resigned sigh.
The connection between these two is something he never expected to see.
Knowing how his friend will react, the Phoenix (he still cannot believe that he looked so much younger than Haruta) transforms as he stands and approaches the three while perching on the aforementioned girl's shoulders.
Ah.
"I'm assuming you learned something very important, Thatch-san?"
He almost forgot about this one although he did remember the said jōnin sitting in the opposite side of the clearing near the children. Keeping his distance far away from the temperamental 'mother hen'.
Sneaky ninja bastard.
Laughing good naturedly in response, he picked the satchel beside him and took a few slices of bread he baked earlier for today's training snacks. He handed some to the masked shinobi (not even wondering how the man will eat with that mask of his).
Despite the poverty this country is encountering, he was able to teach Ms. Tsunami and a few others to be innovative since they do have a vast array of land for harvesting various produces. It helps make living under Gatō's tyrannical rule bearable.
"Of all the years I've known Marco, this side of him is something I never thought to see or experience firsthand. And this is my second life, can you imagine that?"
It does put a smile on his face knowing that Marco found someone to care for aside from the crew.
He cannot really wait to tell everyone about this. Ace is definitely going to freak out.
He is also certain that oyaji will like the girl as well. With all her quirks and the crazies. She'll definitely belong.
"So, a pirate huh?"
"He never really told you anything?"
From what he observes between these two and the blonde's reaction towards the said ninja, Marco hated the jōnin for whatever reason. Kakashi's lips is sealed as well. Hmm. Very suspicious.
Although the First Division Commander did tried his best to get along for Naruto's sake.
"Well, he is trying to steal my cute little genins, you know."
Responding with another boisterous laughter, Thatch invites the other man to sit down with him for a chat. Getting the juicy details from the pirate in question is futile so he decided to get it from another source in a very inconspicuous manner.
He can deal with Marco's threats later on.
And the blackmail materials he can gather against his brother… yes, totally worth it.
The question remains - Marco won't probably kill him again. Right?
.
.
Interlude: Inari
Eyeing their visitors especially the blue bird sitting on the girl's shoulders in an assessing manner, Inari later learned that the avian disguised pet (whose name is Marco) happens to be Thatch's friend from the same crew, the Whitebeard Pirates.
At first he cannot believe that he is the very same man from the stories Thatch told him.
The said Phoenix always accompany the blonde ninja wherever and it makes him curious.
So he decided to spy on them and observe what the fuss is all about.
Thatch did teach him a few things. Things no ordinary civilian can.
He also knew that his presence in their lives is temporary. Just like that man.
It is a fact that he already accepted.
That when the time comes, Thatch will leave one day to be with his family. His nakama.
And he will not hold it against him. So he made a request from the said pirate to teach him how he can be someone that can protect what is important to him.
Thatch obliges indulgently.
So right now, he is watching the three young ninjas from afar especially the girl who boisterously called herself Naruto.
Marco did notice him a while back. And the pirate observes him in return. Looking at him with a curious tilt of his gaze as he absentmindedly corrected one of the stances the girl made on their warm up exercises. As expected, the visiting ninjas are training at the backyard of their house.
"Aw come on!"
"Do it again, yoi."
"Buut Marco…"
"You really are a dobe." The other boy, Sasuke, commented despairingly.
"Shut the hell up you bastard!"
Tch. Inari cannot see anything special about her, so what gives?
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Author's note:
Did the online grammar checker thingy. Hope that's okay? Haha!
Anyhow, no worries on being pesky about anything, WhiteyWolf. Glad that you mentioned those stuff last chapter. Although if you don't mind me asking, what exactly did I missed?
Big shout out to WhiteyWolf, Royiah, Brazilwolf and randomfan. Thanks a bunch. Cheers!
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