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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 28
Even if he didn't fight the two former Hokages, his health suddenly took a turn for the worst.
Ah. He's finally feeling his age.
He can understand Koharu and Homura's concerns. Knowing Jiraiya, he'd rather face the wrath of all the women he peeked upon than take the position left behind by his very own student. Thus there is one more person he can think of to entrust the village with.
The question is, will she accept?
"I'll talk to her. Even if I have to tie her by foot, I'll make her listen…"
Giving his student a bland look, he took his pipe out and cleaned it methodically. "I don't want her to feel obligated just because she'll learn about my condition…"
The Sannin may have added a few derogatory remarks about the other member of their former squad. Not that Senju Tsunade will ever know of this conversation. Just the same, he requested the other man to find her and hopefully she'll have a change of heart and come back home.
He did pause upon hearing Jiraiya's request about bringing someone along. "Are you sure about that?"
He doesn't know if the pirate will agree to the said arrangement even if their upcoming departure is in the horizon. But from what he heard, Sasuke wanted to come with them and train in paradise.
Especially now.
Hopefully what he told the boy didn't change his perception about the village.
"What about the Uchiha. Did you really told him everything?" Jiraiya asked as he tilts his head and silently studied the various machinery connected to his body.
With a sigh, he explained his reasoning. Not that he is justifying his actions. Knowing that his time is limited, he hopes and pray that the brothers will forgive him. For all his shortcomings. All their mistakes.
A very wistful thinking.
.
.
When she woke up that day, Naruto felt that something is very different.
Aside from the fact that teme still hasn't shown himself ever since the invasion. But her Phoenix assured her that he's fine and have some personal things he needed to take care of. Marco also has that faraway look in his eyes. Like something is bothering him.
And surprisingly enough, the traitor (uhm former?) Kabuto, noted absentmindedly that her 'pet' learned something interesting and he'll probably tell her once everything are about to sort itself out. Huh?
Last night, pervy sage talked to her as well and made her prepare for a very important mission - there is someone they need to find and talk to who can help jiji's worsening condition.
He also mentioned about her guests and a certain gateway opening in a few weeks. Marco may have reacted badly and thrown the man out their house. It was the first time she saw him like that. Thatch gapes distressingly beside Haku who ignores the commotion while drinking her tea (ooh, she gotta learn how to do that). Quietly, she left the table (after quickly finishing her meal) and prepared the things she needed to bring on her trip. She did heard Marco coming into the room and stands silently behind her. Thru their bond, she can feel his apology for his earlier behavior. But no words came out of his mouth.
Still it scares her.
And knowing that he really need to leave… leaving her alone in this village… makes everything so complicated since she doesn't want him to go. Even if they previously talked about it.
Just so, the Phoenix took her in his arms. Holding her close.
As the quietness of the room is starting to bother her, she places her hand over his and added softly, "You can always visit, right?"
Humming in response, Marco turned her around and held her face affectionately. "You are never going to get rid of me that easily, yoi. Because you're mine now… and I'm not letting you go."
Surprise lighting her features (with her pirate silently observing her reaction), Naruto knew she should say something.
Marco's declaration did made her feel….
She must say anything.
…makes her feel wanted.
Closing her mouth, she tried again but came out empty.
So she decided to let their bond do the talking. Leaning her face closer to his touch, her gaze softened and smiled at him.
Yes.
Marco chuckled and tugs her closer as he places a kiss on top of her head.
She mustn't let this fear control her.
They both won't let each other go knowing how selfish they are. That's… that's more than enough.
.
.
The next day in a less than travelled road, north of Konohagakure…
Two shadowed figures appeared out of nowhere and walked down the path towards a certain village. Both are wearing straw hats with tassels covering their faces to shield against the harsh winds of travel (or possibly to keep their identity hidden) and dark-colored cloaks with red clouds.
A random merchant (who happened to be fixing their broken cart) accidentally took a glimpse at the larger man who returned his look with a feral grin showing sharp teeth.
"What's wrong?" The merchant's companion asks as she places a cover on top of their wares that they will be selling in the next village. "Honey?" Calling her husband, the female places her hand on his shoulder and tries to look for anything that might have caught his attention. The road was empty but despite that, she feels secure knowing that the roads surrounding Konohagakure is protected by their shinobis.
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts (what is he looking at again?), the merchant continues his task knowing how his wife will nag him for being too slow. The men he saw seems to disappear from his memories.
Unknown to him, the men he did saw are perched at the top of the highest branch overlooking that very same road.
The smaller man crosses his arms annoyingly towards the other who laughs out in response. "I could have just kill him, you know."
"Hn." Turning away, he can almost see the village from this distance. The very same village he never expected to visit again.
And yet… he came back.
Rumors started to spread about Konoha's Third Hokage. So he decided to visit and remind him. Good thing that their mission involves a certain 'fox'.
He just hope that the Sandaime kept his word.
Sasuke mustn't know the truth.
"So… shall we go and find the Nine Tailed brat?" Hoshigaki Kisame asks with that bloodthirsty look in his eyes.
Twin red orbs glances back at him and nodded.
And so, Uchiha Itachi finally came home.
.
.
Some undisclosed cemetery, west of Konoha…
"I knew I'd see you here…"
Sasuke grunted in response and eyed the speaker sullenly. "What are you doing here?"
A vein popped from her forehead and Sasuke temporarily saw stars after the older teen hits him in the head. Nursing his bump, he glared at her murderously.
Chuckling amusedly, the newcomer sits beside him and handed him a bucket of water.
"The children saw you leave the compound with dark clouds surrounding your head. And he did ask me to follow and talk to you. Make sure you didn't do anything stupid…"
"I'm not brooding…" Sasuke grumbled and took the cleaning materials she brought and started cleaning the graves of his parents.
He knows that their bodies (everyone that died that day) were cremated to protect their bloodline. But from what he learned, there are some of his clansmen whose eyes was pilfered just after their deaths.
Marco was forced to hold him down because his emotions are chaotic. Uncontrollable.
One of the possible reasons for the Third's unexpected health issues. He felt guilty afterwards but Hokage-sama waves it off dismissively.
"As expected, you really are a Conqueror…"
He doesn't understand what the Phoenix means (the dobe may know more) but he'll think and talk to her about it later.
"Konoha to Sasuke? Hello? Are you still with me?"
Pushing her waving hands away, Sasuke grunted annoyingly. "Is going outside too dangerous for you?" Focusing on his task, he avoided the scrutinizing gaze of the person he tought was dead.
The only other person he cares about.
Uchiha Izumi's eyes twinkle in amusement. Knowing that the boy before her is ignoring the question, she could not stop herself from observing his every reaction. The changes of the once prissy boy who hated everyone aside from his beloved older brother had changed. Tremendously.
Humming a song she learned in her childhood, she gave the boy some privacy and allowed him time to pay his respects.
From what she remembered, Sasuke received the blunt end of Itachi's so-called 'betrayal'… that he failed to function normally for a month or so.
"Well?" The boy crosses his arms and stared at her. Perhaps he is trying to remember the face she used to have.
"The seal protects us from any unwanted scrutiny. Even the Uchiha's famed Sharingan will fail to break this fūin based genjutsu…" Giving Sasuke a pat in the head, she turned and started walking back towards the village tagging him along. "To everyone else's, I am Harada Umi, an orphan who was taken in by the monks of the Fire Temple with a few others who survived the kyuubi attack twelve years ago… and a medic who is a good acquaintance of the former Kiri-nin named Haku who happens to be close friends with Team 7 under Hatake Kakashi's guidance."
It also took her time to heal. Like the others. And that she may have lost the sight in her right eye, but that didn't matter.
There are some who are far more affected of the tragedy that befallen their entire clan.
Just like Itachi.
Just like Sasuke.
But it didn't stop her to hope (a trait she inherited from her parents)… that someday everything will work out.
"So, I heard from a certain 'dog' that you found good friends. Can you tell me more about them?"
"Hn."
Ugh. These blasted Uchihas are still so annoying as Umi thought to herself while eyeing the boy irritatingly. Even if she is a Uchiha herself, she doesn't act like these two.
Perhaps that will never ever change.
.
.
Meanwhile…
Ever since he became a ninja, Jiraiya knew that his life is going to be in constant danger especially with the task he took upon himself. Being a spymaster means that one of his foot is already buried underground.
So there is no surprise when he felt like this.
Like someone is trying to kill him. Literally.
Figuratively.
And that 'someone' is glaring daggers behind his back. And no matter how interesting it is to observe the reaction of his would-be killer, Jiraiya prefers to live another day and avoid any further skirmish with the murderous pirate.
As they walked along the road away from Konoha's southern gates, the Toad Sannin couldn't stop his curiosity and turned back. If looks can kill, he should've dropped dead by now with the intent the teen (he will not even think of the actual age, damn it) is releasing towards him. Just the same, he looks at his companion and muttered lowly (in case the other blonde has super hearing in his arsenal), "Your 'pet' is trying to kill me… can you ask him to back off or something?"
Huffing, Naruto rolls her eyes at him and waves back to her Phoenix promising loudly to be back as soon as possible (or at least a few days before they leave for their own journey). Thankfully enough, the killing intent vanishes like there was nothing at all and the older man breathes a sigh of relief as the pirate focuses his attention to his god-daughter.
Another denial came through his mind and he'd rather not think of 'their' so-called relationship just as Kakashi stated the night before (just after he was thrown out of Naruto's house).
Perhaps ignorance is something he can live with until Naruto decides what to do with her 'connection' to the pirate in question.
"Don't antagonize Marco, okay? He may not look like one, but he really is strong. Even the snake-bastard can't defeat him…"
Sputtering comically, the silver-haired self-proclaimed pervert tried to correct her misconception about last night's discussion. But Naruto expertly misdirected the sannin and asks about their destination. Raising both hands in surrender, Jiraiya muttered something incomprehensible.
"So…" Taking her ever reliable notebook out, Naruto reviews the data Haku and Sakura gathered for her about their target er mission. "The woman we're looking for is jiji-sama's granddaughter, correct?" Surprised, the pervy sage looked at her questioningly. Mentally rolling her eyes at him, she explained the preparations made by Haku (who still has the mindset of a hunter) and Sakura (who wanted to prep her for any possibilities that may arise in their mission). Approvingly, he tried to grab her journal as if wanting to look at its content. Deftly avoiding his hands, Naruto stuck her tongue out. "Rule number 2 - or was it 3?" Pausing slightly, she smacks his hands and hid her notebook away from the pervert's grabby fingers, "No one - aside from me or Marco can see the contents of this journal… well except for that one time when teme accidentally saw my notes and mocked my handwriting. The nerve of that bastard!"
Crossing his arms thoughtfully, Jiraiya studied the fuming girl before him. Maybe…
"If I teach you a new jutsu, something you can include in your ever-growing skillset… will you let me look at your mysterious journal since I am contributing a very special technique that only two people can use - three if ever you learn it?"
And yes… he did saw that dangerous glint in her eyes when she heard and understood his silent challenge. Someone did attempt to recreate the jutsu - Kakashi is already expected as he was Minato's former student. Even if the unexpected outcome gave birth to another terrifying technique.
Carefully, he showed her all three stages of the Rasengan. As expected, her eyes sparkled in wonder. And after jotting down her observation in a new page, she handed over the journal and immediately started on the jutsu.
"Bring it! I'll master this awesome jutsu in no time at all!"
Ah. If they're here, they'll probably cheer for her enthusiasm (Kushina most especially) and confidence (Minato will definitely cry buckets of joy).
Yeah. He does feels the same way.
He is so proud of her.
.
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Interlude: Jiraiya
He couldn't believe what he saw in his god-daughter's journal.
It's like…
"Your pirate is a… How did he came up with all these training regimen and strategies?" It's like he's reading the journal of a genius shinobi tactician with a few inserts of pirate-y stuff. The Nara would definitely want to pick out Marco's brain.
"Huh?"
Her water balloon popped because of the distraction and she curses him out loud. Like a Kami-forsaken pirate. Wincing slightly, he avoided the balloon scraps thrown at him as he clucked his tongue in a reprimanding manner.
"Seriously kid, where are you learning all these words…"
Perhaps the pirate is a very good influence especially to Naruto and to everyone who got to know the guy (he admits that the Phoenix in person is very charismatic - when he isn't trying to maim him).
And at some point, makes him want to keep his girl away. Mannerisms of a pirate with an attitude of a shinobi… argh! A very bad combination if you ask him.
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