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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 16
Staring at the chūnin application form in her hands, Naruto had this feeling that yesterday's conversation is probably caused by the said paper. The reason why Marco is glaring daggers towards her sensei. Perhaps plotting a thousand ways to kill the tardy jōnin. Bury his body where no one can find him. And possibly dance on top of his grave with Thatch-san cheering in the background.
Hmm.
She also knew how worried Sakura-chan is judging from her pale complexion after examining the paper in her hands. And teme…? Well Sasu-teme is excited.
Ugh, boys.
"Will you be signing up?" The pinkette asks curiously with her teeth working in between her lower lip. Sasuke himself crosses his arms trying to act cool or whatever. Not that Sakura will ever notice it.
Ever since Marco sorted out Sakura's priorities and dreams, the other female member of Team 7 seriously took the challenge to improve her training as a kunoichi of the Hidden Leaf Village. She even adapted the journal she always carries in her person to take notes and create new jutsus. Sasuke may have done the same but until she sees teme's own journal - it is just speculation, so yeah.
With her jaw set, she looks at her teammates and gave her answer. Something she knew that Marco may not approve of at first but will still support her decision regardless.
"I'm going to try," With a deep breathe, the blonde held the paper tightly. "And participate… even if we fail now, there are still chances in the future," Naruto may have not noticed it but the two did look at one another in silent approval. Acknowledgement pouring out like waves in their gaze as they waited for her to speak up more. "That we can be something more… that we can prove ourselves and become better."
"So, tomorrow at 7?" Sakura confirmed as she smiled in response and held her hand.
Scoffing silently, Sasuke gave his usual nonverbal grunt and waves his hand in farewell. "Yeah, see you tomorrow."
Pointedly ignoring the box with two holes that suddenly appeared behind her, Naruto bids her goodbye. "Hell yeah! See ya, dattebayo!"
.
.
A while later…
Naruto's left arm hurts.
After she played earlier with Konohamaru, the boy attempted to overrun her but he accidentally collided with someone.
Someone very nasty.
The teen he slammed into reacted badly and Naruto was 'pushed' away when she tried to secure Konohamaru injuring the arm.
She did held her ground as the blonde reinforces her dominant arm with haki and retaliates. The catsuit wearing teen (with those purple colored face paint) curses out loud and releases his hold on Konohamaru who rushes behind her as he clutches her jacket worriedly.
"You brat!" The older teen's female companion sighed in response but advises him to finish faster or they'll be in so much trouble. Yeah right.
"Yes," Eyes glinting playfully, Naruto added with a purr showing sharp canines. "Attacking the Hokage's grandson is indeed troublesome…" Satisfaction lighting her features when cat-boy blanches after hearing her words. Immediately the teen changes tactic and took something from behind. The thing is wrapped in bandages and almost life size.
"Kankurō, stop! He might…"
It happened in an instant the moment the other girl said those words.
Naruto felt it before anyone else.
Immediately dragging Konohamaru behind her back with a half drawn kunai (hidden beneath her good arm), she ignores the sputtering idiot in front of her and faces a more deadlier threat.
"Why you… Do not ignore me…"
"Kankurō."
The voice came from the tree overlooking the street they are currently at as the newcomer appears in swirls of sand. Like Hinata, the boy has pupiless eyes and a kanji written on his right forehead. Standing upside down the tree branch, his killing intent overflows the area making it harder to breathe.
Her own will that is starting to get awfully familiar burns within and she lets it surround herself and Konohamaru to negate the other boy's negative emotion. Thankfully it worked easing her friend's breathing.
"G-gaara. They're the ones who… W-well I…"
Cat-boy receives a venomous glare in response while the other girl stands like a statue beside him - trying to be inconspicuous.
Interesting. The two foreign ninjas are scared. She wonders who this redhead is for them to act this way.
The other foreign ninja reappeared in between them and cat-boy immediately gave the newcomer some space.
"Apologies. This will not happen again." The redhead nodded in her direction and despite his penetrating gaze, Naruto responded cheerfully much to the horror of the other two.
"No worries. But as long as they don't do it again, we're good." Smiling politely, she held her hand towards him and the boy whose startled expression turns blank as he took her hand.
From the back of her mind, she heard a very loud growl. Deciding to tackle her 'other' issue at a later time, Naruto gave the boy's (Gaara) hand a gentle squeeze feeling the trickle of sand starting to play at the back of her skin.
Fascination lighting her features especially when the sand surrounded her fingers.
But then she sense his arrival and the redhead's sand raises in defense as it stopped an incoming rock thrown directly at him.
The others and Konohamaru shouted in alarm as the sand begins to surround the two of them. Gaara's hand tightened around hers and a third one (surrounded by bluish colored flames) held the other boy's arm in a not so threatening manner unhindered by the sand barrier.
His presence over looming with the blonde's eyes that literally glows with his bluish colored flames.
Scary.
But weirdly enough, she can't stop herself from being drawn towards it (Marco's eyes looks way better than her own cerulean blue).
Naruto can even taste his 'haki' at the tip of her tongue.
It felt intoxicating. Ah. Wait, what the…?
"Hands off, boy." Marco stated menacingly. With a firmer squeeze on her hand, Naruto stopped herself from wincing (it was the injured arm, damn it) while the pirate's presence gave the other boy another push (the older teen's right foot stepped closer despite the barrier's ominous reaction) as Gaara releases her hand.
Ow, that's definitely going to leave a mark.
Throwing his arms over her shoulders, Marco held her in a protective manner as he glares fumingly towards the foreign ninja.
"I'll be seeing you around…" Gaara said as he looks at her, ignoring Marco.
"Name's Uzumaki Naruto," Covering the darkening bruise the boy made, her eyes glances quickly at Marco observing his almost violent expression. "And yeah, see ya later."
"Not on my watch…" She elbowed into Marco's side as the three left with the other two giving the redhead a wider berth.
"Seriously?" Naruto hissed towards Marco who shrugged his shoulders indifferently. Taking her left arm, the other blonde carefully scrutinized her bruises with a worried yet proud expression in his eyes.
"Seems like you forgot to use armament, hmmm?"
"You were watching all along?" Marco did use his flames to ease the throbbing. Strangely enough, it isn't as hot as the other kind of fire.
It felt real nice. Warm even… wait, he is distracting her. Oh for crying out loud!
Sasuke jumps down from the same tree the redhead uses earlier as his perch. Possibly covering himself with an illusion as the teme gave her his signature eye roll. Is he freakin' serious?
"Perhaps using either one that suits your needs might help…" The Uchiha did eye her injury speculatively with Naruto baring her canines in retaliation.
"Bite me!"
Marco sighed and patted his blonde's wild tresses as the boy, Konohamaru, looks at them in wonder. Admiration clearly visible in his eyes. Chuckling, he returned his look with farewell nod as he drags his kunoichi along leaving Sasuke to accompany the other boy back home. He needs to make sure nothing is broken and will let Haku check on her arm as the Yuki is currently working part time at the hospital.
Ah. Thatch is going to insufferable again. Just great, yoi.
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Naruto did kept her surprise to a minimum after seeing the rest of Team 7 at their designated meeting place the next day.
With a cheery wave, Sakura greeted her and teme, as expected, gave his usual one word response. 'Hn' is not even considered a word. He needed to expand his vocabulary.
Marco, currently in his phoenix form, flies from his perch (his favorite human's shoulders) and transformed back to his real human guise midway. Perhaps he'll leave a word or two… and to remind them how dangerous this day is going to be. As Naruto already anticipated it, she rushes towards her most precious friend and give him a big warm hug.
"Ah, nothing to worry about, Marco. We'll definitely do our best…"
With a grin, she gave her Phoenix a confident smile.
With a sigh, Sasuke interjected ruefully, "I'll make sure to keep an eye on her knowing how she attracts trouble even when standing still…" Eyes glinting in a playful manner that reminded Marco how the commanders of their crew treat one another. Like siblings in all but blood. It made the Phoenix smile in nostalgia.
"I'm not asking for your opinion, you bastard!" His Naruto (as expected from every argument she has with the Uchiha) screeches in response while Sakura face palms and looks at him and then turned towards the other two who continues to bicker with one another while giving the older teen an exasperated smile.
"And I'll keep an eye on these two." Sakura led the others inside the facility. Even giving the two a tug on their ears. His smile dropped after the door closes on them. With a frown, he crosses his arms and tried to sense the other participants inside the vicinity. Assessing the danger his kunoichi is about to face.
But then, he did felt something the moment the three genins left. Similar to Kakashi's illusion on that first day, Marco grunted internally and started walking away from the premises.
Damn it.
These people are starting to get annoying.
"Marco the Phoenix." The pirate eyed the speaker threateningly. The corner of his lips raise a fraction and he could not stop himself but feel a bit of satisfaction when the other man (or child) took a step back. "We require your presence…"
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Interlude: Konohamaru
Ever since he met her, Sarutobi Konohamaru found someone to look up to.
Someone who can see him as he is and not just the 'Honorable Grandson'.
She gave him a reason to become a better shinobi. To become something more.
The jutsu she taught him puts some additional perspective in his eyes.
And when he heard her dream… ah, he could not stop himself but aim for something similar.
It will make them rivals in the future though.
But hey. Who better than to challenge for the position of Konoha's strongest than his boss-nee-sama, right?
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Author's note:
Ah. The curse seal.
Still thinking about that actually. Will our Marco get it? Or not? Hmmm… A choice for later, I guess. But really a scary feeling if you ask me. We all know that our Marco (at least mentally) is more stable than canon Sasuke. And that our Sasu-teme's stability is still questionable at best despite the pirates' presence. Who knows… maybe it may change or whatnot. Something to look forward to, right? Yosh!
Thanks for the review, Whitey and Alice. Did not get the chance to personally (or privately) send a response. I'll work on that.
Hope you like this chapter. Enjoy!
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