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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 11

Knowing that Naruto trained all night and slept outside didn't feel right with him. At all.

Especially now that they confirmed the rogue nin's condition isn't what everyone thought at first and that Zabuza may still be alive with his accomplice running around somewhere.

Thatch did give him a frustrated look and pushed him outside the kitchen so that he can personally look for her.

Following their bond, he did find her in the clearing a few meters away from the bridge builder's house. Naruto is sleeping soundly with scrapes on her skin particularly the fingers.

Face palming as Marco attempts to compose himself, he woke her up after deliberating for a few minutes.

Rubbing her sleepiness away, Naruto did notice something different especially when he remained silent. Even without the words, the female jinchūriki can sense his displeasure and that her face slowly lost its color upon seeing his expression.

"Let's go back, yoi." With a sigh, Marco ran one hand over his tresses and turned his back without noticing Naruto's stupefied reaction.

Shuffling behind him, the girl walked quietly as she gritted her teeth in annoyance. Marco still doesn't say anything but because of their so-called 'connection', she can feel his irritation. She stopped after a few strides but the older teen went ahead. Crossing both arms, she tapped her foot and waited for the Phoenix to notice her absence behind his back.

It didn't take long as he slightly turned his head back and looks at her in his usual lackadaisical expression.

That was the last straw and Naruto saw red.

"I don't know what I did wrong for you to be mad at me, Marco." Fist clenching, the blonde raises her chin in defiance. "So unless I suddenly learned how to interpret your wordless mannerisms, I will not understand anything unless you tell me." She isn't as smart as Sakura. Or a genius like the teme. But she can be quick-witted if given the opportunity and proper guidance (except for the genius part - she does admit that she isn't one no matter how hard she tries).

"It's nothing, yoi…"

Staring at him incredulously, Naruto set her mouth firmly and tried a guess knowing how idiotic that may sound. Perhaps if what she thinks is the reason for his actions are at the moment, better to get over with it and save herself from heartbreak later on.

Taking a deep breath, she puts on her old 'mask' (unknowingly) despite the frown he gave her.

"Well if you are going to worry about me, you don't really have to, ya know." Crossing both arms behind her head (just to hide the shaking she felt in her limbs), she added confidently (even if it sounded so different from her ears), "I'm a ninja. So I can perfectly take care of myself. Just like before you came into my life." She cheerfully smiled at him.

An act.

"So yeah," Rubbing her nose (damn it, don't fall now tears), Naruto quickly gave his face a cheeky look and turns around. "Gosh, I'm starving. Did Thatch-san prepare something delicious again? Ah, can't wait…"

"Naruto…"

Steeling herself, the blonde glances at him from the corner of her eyes and started walking away. If he decided to stop her now, she'll ignore him anyway. Her tears are…

"I'm really glad to have met you, Marco."

Her tears started falling as she waves a hand in farewell without looking back.

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Marco knew that something went wrong. Remembering their conversation makes him wonder what he missed or should have done.

And that smile.

It was the same smile Naruto uses when she pretends to be okay, which means…

"Alright bird-brain, tell me… what did you do?"

Even they noticed it.

"I'm not sure, yoi…"

Earlier, Kakashi looked at them quizzically as Naruto sat in between Sakura and Ms. Tsunami ignoring her designated seat beside him. She's not even looking at his face or general direction.

"Okay, bastard. Spill."

"I said I don't know!" Startled, Thatch looks at him disbelievingly as his temper snaps.

It was a first. As the eldest (and possibly the oldest member of the Whitebeard Pirates aside from oyaji), Marco rarely show any emotions.

Marco gave a weary breath and avoided his friend's piercing look. Thatch did find him at the highest roof of the bridge builder's house overlooking the lake. The ocean breeze (almost similar to the winds in Paradise) are gentle yet it didn't help soothe his worries at all.

"I know that you rarely talk especially when you are brooding - just like now. But this is different, man," Thatch noted as he sat beside him.

"For some unknown reasons, the girl can sense your emotions. And from what I have gathered these past few days after observing the two of you, she is dependent to you and you to her…"

Covering half of his face, Marco gave him a noncommittal shrug. "I don't know what you're talking about, yoi."

"Fine! Deny all you want." Crossing both arms, Thatch stares at him seriously. "But I don't think you can settle this just like how you normally does with the crew, Marco."

Waving one hand in front of him just to make his point, "You did told me earlier that she never had anyone in her life. That the people from her village used to ignore her like she never existed." As if he doesn't know that.

Giving him a pat, the Fourth Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates added informatively, "People like her needs to be reassured especially if she never had someone in the first place. So…"

"She's scared, yoi."

"Exactly… Wait, what?"

With a sigh, Marco turned and finally looked at his friend. "Now that you are here, she thinks that we're going back with the others…"

Shaking his head, Thatch looks at him disbelievingly. "Nah. I don't think so…"

"Alright. Humor me, yoi."

"Nope." With a popping sound, Thatch tugs his face and then squeezes it to satisfy his annoyance. "I'll let you figure this out yourself. Ah, I can't call you pineapple-head anymore. How did you outgrow your hair. Sooo freakin' weird…" He is so used to the Phoenix's shaved hairstyle. But right now, seems like the 'rebirth' process regrown everything (he's not going to think about the hole in Marco's chest courtesy of that magma bastard). How peculiar this devil fruit really is.

Slapping his hands away, Marco glares annoyingly at him and stood. Since he is physically 'younger' and haven't gotten his growth spurt yet, he barely reaches Thatch's shoulders. Being a child sucks since he's always been a late bloomer (which is the only thing he can remember from his past, ugh).

"Fine. I'll do this myself, yoi."

Eyeing him suspiciously, Thatch shrugged his shoulders and blew him a raspberry.

Rolling his eyes at him, Marco walks towards the edge of the roof and jumps while transforming into his phoenix form midway (for whatever reason, he can now control his flames - when to call them out or vice versa). He did have a fleeting glimpse of Sasuke and the boy Inari, both looks at him in surprise seeing his transformation up close. Ignoring what their reactions will be, Marco lets his flames surround his form as he flew away.

A temporary escape.

Just like before, he lets the wind help him collect his thoughts. He cannot leave it like this.

Naruto is…

Thatch is right.

She's already a part of this 'new' life. They have this bond he failed to understand at first. And he will not allow a single disagreement to ruin what they share together. Goddamn it.

.
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Naruto did knew that her response that day is somewhat childish.

But.

"How would I know what he's feeling if he is not being vocal about it?" With a flick of her fingers, she threw a kunai at her target. Setting up various marks on that clearing will help improve her aim according to her journal.

Sasuke is even impressed after accidentally looking at her notes. And when he learned that it was Marco who forced her to write the entries in it (since she doesn't know he's a human at the time), he eyed the Phoenix speculatively (boys and their obsession to get stronger, crazy really).

After blowing up some steam, she collected her bearings and decided to call it a day. Her tree-walking exercise seems futile as Sakura did suggest to calm her thoughts before trying again.

But how can she do that if Marco is being an ass about what he needs or wants. She doesn't even know if she really did something stupid that day which made him angry. Or irritated.

Was it the training? Ah whatever.

Unlike the teme were she can draw a diagram about what his expression means or how that smirk of his made him an utter bastard. Ugh! Marco is a complete mystery.

Knowing that she needs to focus made it difficult to do any other training.

The said teen even failed to include tips about calming one's self when faced with unknown feelings and emotions. Shrieking wordlessly, she drops to her knees face down letting the ground to receive her frustration.

Maybe the ground will eat her whole or make her anger disappear.

"I don't think sleeping on the ground is sanitary, miss?"

Regardless of her internal struggle, Naruto knew that whoever owns this voice means no harm. Her threat senses didn't raise any alarms so she replied conversationally but the grass muffled her words.

She didn't turn but felt the owner of the voice chuckle as he or she sat in a respectable distance after placing something down.

If he's here, Marco will probably look at her disappointingly for her lack of self-preservation. Well, it's a good thing he isn't because she doesn't care what the fuck he is thinking.

Sighing dejectedly, the blonde raises her gaze, "Sorry about that…," and saw the most prettiest face (even more attractive than her Hinata-chan).

Whoa.

Blushing slighty, she scratches her cheek and smiled at the girl shyly as she sat properly and waves at her in greeting.

The pretty girl returned her smile genially. "Nothing to worry about, miss…"

The girl's name is Haku and they talked about anything random and all that. But then…

"I see that something is still bothering you, Naruto-chan?"

She tried to divert her inquiry away. Naruto opens her mouth but freezes when Haku showed her a familiar blue feather.

"I did see a bird watching over you from that direction." Pointing towards the forest along the tallest trees, Naruto huffs at the said knowledge but avoided it all the same. "I may have unintentionally heard you earlier about someone who doesn't know how to express themselves in words. Assuming that it is the reason why you are freaking out?"

"I'm not freaking out!" Yes, she is emotional. And perhaps irrational but… She. Isn't. Freaking. Out. Period.

"We do tend to overlook the simplest things and it often causes misunderstandings that sometimes leads to pride taking care of everything else." The other girl noted with a hum and slips a loose strand of hair behind her ears. Taking her hand, Haku places the feather and gently closes her fingers around it.

"It doesn't make us less of a human to admit our mistakes." With a pat on her head, the other girl smiled at her. "It helps nurture a bond and makes it stronger than the rarest stone in the world."

"What if time is limited…," Playing with her hair, Naruto noticed that her tresses are getting longer. Should she cut it? "Will it still be worth it to hold on no matter the distance? What if I'm doing this to save myself from… from losing him?" Her eyes focused on Marco's feather. She don't know if she will still get the chance to see his full phoenix form with all the flames associated to its mythical name.

Understanding lighting Haku's features as she stood up after picking her basket. "Getting hurt has always been a part of loving someone. To do whatever we can for the people we care about. To make a sacrifice…"

"Even if it hurts? Makes us foolish?"

"Even if it hurts. And makes us a fool."

Huh? Love? What does she mean? That she-

"For our precious people, I am willing to do everything… even at the cost of my life." Haku gave her shoulder a firm squeeze and a sad smile as she turned to return to her master's side.

That's… still very confusing.

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Interlude: Inari 2

After hearing the commotion inside their dining room, Inari yelled angrily towards their guests.

"You are all going to die if you stay here."

Thatch watches in alarm while his mother and grandfather gave him a sad look.

Marco did glance at him briefly as he returned his gaze to the girl who stood abruptly in response to his outburst.

"I'm not afraid to die… But if you want to sit down and cry until nothing's left, no one's stopping you. But I won't let Tazuna-jiji shoulder the fate of this entire country all by himself especially if I can do something about it." Naruto glares at him sharply and Inari felt the weight of her words crushing down on him. The Phoenix places a hand on her shoulder as if to calm the girl.

The heavy feeling did ease slightly.

But the tension is still there. The others (especially the teammates) are surprisingly quiet and watches their interaction.

"I had enough of people assuming whatever fuck they think of me. Not that I care but…" She turned to look at Marco and gave him a small nod. "I do what is right. And I don't care what you or everyone else thinks. Not that I have to prove something…" With a small grin, Naruto bowed her head and thanks his mother and Thatch for the meal. "I just wanted to help someone who decided to make a change even if it is this small." She glances at his grandpa fondly and then back to the Phoenix. "Just like the chance that was given to me." With a huff, the blonde walks past him and went outside. "Well whatever. Loser."

Surprisingly, the orange book her sensei always carry is nowhere in sight and that he's currently observing everyone's reaction especially him. Inari held his ground and gave him a defiant stare. Marco sighed and followed the girl. But before stepping out the door, he did stop in front of him and-

"Marco…" Thatch called out warningly but the teen waves him away.

"Looks like I should not compare everyone to my Naruto…"

"Your Naruto?"

Ignoring Kakashi's snarky comment, Marco shrugged as his eyes become steely when he looks down on him. "I suppose we are lucky enough - that I have oyaji, my brothers and sisters, while you have your mother and grandfather." With a small smile as he remembers everyone from their crew, the blonde added in a flat tone. "While she has no one. But it didn't stop her to start making bonds." Marco looked at her team and gave the jōnin a frown that Kakashi returned with a peace sign. "I won't let anyone, not even you, to get in the way…"

"I said that's enough!" Thatch blocked the teen from his view. Slowly, he was able to release his breath.

It is still suffocating but the older man was able to shield him from Marco's penetrating gaze.

"He's just a kid, Marco."

A brow raises in question, the Phoenix looks at his friend. His demeanor never changes and Inari worries. Would he fight Thatch because of him?

Guilt started to gnaw its way into his heart as he clutches Thatch's shirt from behind.

"From where we're from, kids his age have already spilled blood. Do not baby him…" Inari paled after hearing that.

"I'm not…"

With a sigh, Marco rolls his eyes at his friend. Bile rises in Inari's throat and tried to tug Thatch away from the Phoenix. A smirk appeared from the teen's face as he noticed his action.

"Right. Later then, yoi."

As he left, the heavy feeling went with the Phoenix much to the relief of everyone else.

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Author's note:
Just found out that my Mac's internet browser is no longer supported. Yay!

Thus I am doing the upload via iPad. Hopefully it works.

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