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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 33

Sakura's teeth work back and forth on her lower lip as she waited with the others. Shikamaru (the only one from their age group that was promoted to chūnin) is sitting forlornly at the opposite lounge and looks uncharacteristically awake.

A mission entrusted to him to bring back one of their own… a deserter.

It was a failure that no one speak out for reasons unknown.

But she did heard his father talked to him earlier. How he can use this opportunity to work out the holes in his strategy and be better.

Even if Nara-san's encouagement is for his son, the pinkette knew that it can also be applied to her.

The three Suna shinobis (that assisted the retrieval team) are standing near the window with the not-so-scary (anymore) looking Gaara who is staring at the room where Naruto was admitted into. His demeanor is kind of different. He looks the same and yet… not?

Karin does look calm beside her which means their blonde Uzumaki is okay. While Haku is helping the other medics in treating the injuries of the squad (particularly the Hyūga prodigy, Kiba and his partner Akamaru) while the Hokage and Shizune are dealing with Chōji who is the worst of the lot.

Clenching her hands tightly, the girl knew that she can never do anything helpful. Even if she came, she doubts her presence will stop him from leaving.

That Sasuke has… that he left Konoha. He left Team 7.

Feeling a gloved hand on top of her head, Sakura saw her sensei giving her a knowing look. It wasn't the eye smile he frequently gives them whenever they did something cheeky. It was his serious one. The jōnin didn't utter any words and yet his visible eye gave her the encouragement she needs.

That she need to make her own path… choose the road she wants to take. Just like what the rest of Team 7 did.

.

.

Raising her head, Naruto's grip on top of her arms that rested upon her knees tighten and continues to ignore the commotion she felt outside. Seems like all the rookies that are not included in the retrieval mission are here.

Glancing sideways, she saw Marco sitting beside her bed. His presence did help calm and collect her thoughts.

Sasuke's eyes held something within and she didn't understand what it is… and that his voice… his voice no longer held its usual warmth as he talked to her. Said his goodbyes…

"Naruto…"

Avoiding his gaze, the blonde burrows her face within her arms. She felt the Phoenix shifted and the sound of slight scrapping made by his chair as it was dragged closer to her bed. The Uzumaki pointedly ignored him as she took her bedcover over her form and faces the window to look at the scenery outside. Hearing him sigh, Naruto bit her lips from reaching out and seek his comfort. How his warm embrace chase away her loneliness and all the negative emotions she feels inside.

"Kabuto's out of danger, yoi. Thatch is staying with him at the moment while Haku is busy assisting the others…"

"How's Chōji?"

Pausing slightly even if her question is a diversion, Marco turned his head in another direction as he tried to sense the Akimichi from the other room. Ah. The operation has ended. The boy's chakra may have depleted but not enough to be a danger.

"He will make full recovery..."

Breathing a sigh of relief, Naruto removes her blanket and hops down the bed.

"Where do you think you're going, yoi?" Turning her to face him (and curses internally for the tears that threatens to fall from her eyes), Marco gently held her chin and waited for her to look at him in the eyes. It took a moment but her answer made him want to burn this village and kill a few select people even more.

"I need to talk to jiji. I need to ask him what Sasuke meant." Touching his hands, Naruto held it firm and pushed it away from her. It felt cold but… "I need to confirm the emotions I sensed from his older brother. Why it contradicts everything I heard about the man who destroyed their clan." …she needs to do this on her own.

Nodding, the pirate stand and walked over the window opening it wide. "It's too crowded outside. We'll take to the roofs and…" Naruto did tug him back and whispered.

"I need to do this alone, Marco. Please?"

Minutes past and he studied her determined expression and he feel conflicted when Naruto held her chin high. Finally nodding in acquiescence, the Phoenix wipes her tears away. "I understand. I will wait for you here, yoi."

Thankful, the blonde throws herself at him. Even before he can react, Naruto jumps out of the window to look and confront the Sandaime.

His expression remains guarded as he went out of the room. Sakura hastily approaches him to check on Naruto but her face fell seeing an empty room. Passing by the girl and clapping her shoulders reassuringly, he paused when he reaches Kakashi. As usual, the jōnin is blocking everyone with that book of his but he could sense the turmoil within. With another sigh, he left the man to his own dilemma and gave the visiting shinobis a polite nod. Cat boy (whose makeup is somewhat different from the last time) still looks at him warily.

As he entered Kabuto's room (wondering why Thatch is standing outside), he saw the village leader with the Jōnin Commander inside. Karin who followed froze rigidly behind him but decided to stay with the other pirate.

The silver haired teen returned his look with a bland wave as he quietly thanked Shizune who remove his bandages.

"The brat went ahead to see sensei huh?" Crossing her arms, the Senju studied him curiously. "And you're here because…?"

Chuckling darkly, he sat near the window and covered his face with a hand to hide the darkening gaze of his eyes knowing that his bluish colored fire might came out uncontrollably as he ignored the question. His anger for not being able to do anything and help Naruto makes him so… irritated.

"Huh? Is that so. Interesting." The woman commented as if she knew his answer.

Tch. These shinobis are really nosy. How very annoying.

.

Rolling her eyes from the pirate's self-condemnation (Tsunade can understand the protectiveness given her assessment of the teen's personality), she turned to look at Kabuto who seems to have fully recovered. Seems like his ability to regrow the damage tissues even surpasses her own. An ability she already heard of before but unsurprising to know that someone already mastered it given the woman who took him in. Yakushi Nonō is a very talented Iryō-nin that is so focused on her job and her excessive want to perfect tissue regeneration.

Ah. Now that she thought about it…

The said medic returns her gaze cautiously who joined the pirate in his seat.

Hmm. Seems like Marco had already won his loyalty. Pity.

"Given our current circumstances, you will be joining the pirates on their travel back with another shinobi of my choosing and to ensure your safety until we can sort out the issue with Orochimaru. And of course, you will help their captain in regards to his medical condition as part of Konoha's entourage and an act of goodwill." Surprise etching Kabuto's features, the Godaime smirked and handed his hitai-ate back. "Despite everything… you are a citizen of this village and that your mission may have deviated from what was originally intended. But now that a new path is presented, I hope that you will remain true to yourself… protect what matters the most and the things you have found."

Kabuto never felt so…

He never felt so accepted. A reminder of the before with the blurry faces of his adoptive mother and siblings.

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Arriving at the last and possibly highest building overlooking the residential district, Naruto can see the Sarutobi compound from here. Using Kagura's Eye (Karin-nee-chan mentioned that it was the name of the technique she uses which was surprisingly an Uzumaki only ability), she sensed the old man in his courtyard watching the darkening of the sky as his current pastime after his retirement. His ANBU guards are nowhere in sight, but perhaps the old man knew that she's coming and asked them to allow her passage. Not that it stopped her before.

Or perhaps they just tolerated her presence (they are indeed familiar judging from their chakra signature). The hidden guardians from her youth.

Taking a deep breath, she stands silently behind him and waited to be acknowledged. She knew that her presence was already felt judging from the fluctuations of his chakra. With a gentle motion of his hands, she approaches carefully and sits beside her jiji.

"Apologies won't be enough. But I hope you willl find it in your heart to forgive me… for everything…"

Tears fell but Naruto wipes them away. Jiji's sadness… and whatever this burden he carries… makes him look older than what he normally does.

So she did what she can to comfort the old man. Tried to tell him that everything is going to be okay… but no words came. So she did what she can still do - she sits down in front of him and places her head on top of his lap and closes her eyes.

Several seconds later, she felt his hands caressing her wild blonde locks. From there and then, she promised to herself - she's just going to work harder… in order to make things right. To drag the teme and his older brother back home.

That is a promise.

Or she'll die trying.

Not that she's going to accept death without fighting back. Especially now…

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It was a very uneventful night but Haku woke up early the next day to help prepare the last meal they will share together. She can hear Thatch's voice who is having an animated conversation with Kabuto about their trip. Even if she wanted to come (since Naruto is going on another journey of her own), she decided to stay knowing that the new member of their family, Karin, and Sakura herself will remain in Konoha to start their training under the Hokage to become a full pledge medics. Even with her current knowledge, she decided to enlist as well so that she can expand her abilities to help her friends… to help her new family.

Karin is starting to wake up with a grumble as she tried to remove the sleepiness from her eyes. Strangely enough, Naruto-chan isn't here.

Ah, she probably never slept (something to worry for later). She also cannot sense Marco-sama.

"They're going to that place. Naruto-sama said last night that she'll say her goodbyes to her parents." The redhead explained as she started to dress up for today.

Oh.

.

The empty clearing that remains vacant to any kind of lifeform still has the flowers she left that day. Still forbidden from everyone because of the Kyuubi's leftover chakra, Naruto took a deep breath and replaces the flowers with a new one.

Unsurprised that she isn't alone (and the only person who can go here aside from her), she turn to face the newcomer who followed her in a respectable distance ever since she left their house. With an apologetic hum, she gave Marco a small smile as he reaches for her shoulder and stands beside her on the clearing with a bouquet of his own.

He then held her hand and gave it a firm squeeze.

Both of them wait for the sun to rise and its colors cannot be compared to anything. Well except for Marco's flames. But yeah.

"Are you ready to go, yoi?"

Shaking her head, Naruto responded truthfully in a small voice. "Honestly… I'm a little scared knowing the uncertainty of our tomorrow…" Raising one finger to stop Marco's tirade, she nudges his side and tugs his hand. "But I decided to stop thinking about the past… and the things I cannot change. So I promised to myself to move forward. To be better than I was before. And to become what I was meant to be, for you… for the people that are precious to me." With a smile brighter than the sun, Naruto gave her pirate a kiss on his cheeks and lets go of his hand.

"We are going to see each other again, right?" The hopeful expression on her face is something he will always remember.

A reminder.

Nodding, Marco took the blonde kunoichi into his arms (despite her slight protest) as he tucked her under his chin. "Yeah, we will definitely see each other again, yoi. That's a promise!" They will never voice it out loud… but the way they tightly held one another cemented their promise.

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At exactly eight o'clock, there are a few bystanders waiting near the front gates. Some are familiar faces like Team 9's Lee that for whatever reason is doing his usual training regimen on that location while Team 8's Hyūga Hinata is peeking at the corner of one of the establishments.

Their entourage (mainly the Uzumaki household barring the Phoenix and their unofficial clan head, Naru-chan) are standing in a loose circle beside the guard station. Hokage-sama will make an appearance as per Shizune-senpai's missive with Jiraiya-sama who will accompany the pirates to the gateway and continue on their own training that might take two to three years.

Enough time to make their own preparations.

"Where the hell are they?" The Toad Sannin growled frustratingly as he was politely ignored by everyone.

Karin's lips quirked amusingly and turns her head elsewhere when the older man looked at her as if to confirm their location. Not that she'll ever tell. Thatch-san is oblivious while Kabuto is busy reading his book. Haku took pity and gave him an answer… not that it calmed the man for one bit.

Minutes later, a fiery shadow circles the area and having been exposed to the teen's overwhelming chakra, Karin eyes widen in awe at finally seeing the pirate's 'other' form and waves a hand towards the newcomers.

With a cheer, Naruto-sama waves back and curses unexpectedly when Marco transformed back into his human form midway in the air. He drops majestically without damaging the road (that shows his agility) and carries the younger blonde effortlessly. The said Uzumaki pouted childishly towards the pirate as they are both swarmed by everyone. She can see the amusement coming off the blonde pirate.

"I'm going to miss them…" Haku noted absentmindedly but the redhead gave her a comforting smile and cheered her up.

"It will be quick. But let's count together until the day we're all back home again, yeah?"

She's right. Waiting doesn't sound so bad after all.

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Interlude: Sasuke

So this is what it feels like.

It was… there's no words to describe the agony he felt seeing Naruto's broken expression. He can also imagine Sakura's face from looking at the blonde.

Feeling her heart break (and the mask she took to hide her pain) after he said his goodbyes… his reason for leaving.

It was indescribable.

Perhaps if he's truthful to himself… he would have told her everything. Why he needed to do this. Why he need to leave.

But…

"Itachi may have not told me his reasons… but I think he wanted you to stay as you are… he wanted you to remain proud of your family. So he took it upon himself to carry those responsibilities. The task that I never really wanted him to take…" With a sigh, the Third Hokage added sadly in a whisper. "A mistake that will forever mark my failure to protect your clan." With a rueful smile, the Sandaime shakily stands from his wheelchair (despite his initial protest) and drops on his knees infront of him. "I can never bring them back, but I hope… I hope you can still give Konoha another chance…"

As he ignored her pleas (and let the other rookies face off the Snake bastard's minions one by one - already knowing that they will defeat the intruders), he steeled his resolve and looks at her one more time.

He did took this task so that he can understand what he'd been through.

The sacrifices he can do for their family… Izumi and Shisui's own sacrifices…

For the village.

For his team.

It was all for Konoha (even if he knows that it was all for them and them alone).

"Konoha failed me… and because of that, I decided to forsake her. So… so even if I don't want you to think less of me… I want you to let me go."

As he allowed his illusion to cloud her eyes, Uchiha Sasuke gently took her in his arms and embraced the only person who accepted him… faults and all.

"Are you sure you'll be fine from hereon, yoi?" Not even surprised when the Phoenix approaches them and took the blonde kunoichi into his own arms.

"Hn."

With a bland smile, Marco eyed him thoughtfully (he did not even hesitate to look at him in the eyes despite his activated Sharingan). "As long as you remember the reason why you're doing this, you'll be fine."

Wondering why the pirate doesn't even attempt to stop him from going.

Seeing the confusion in his face, the older teen sighed and secured Naruto carefully in his arms. "From what I've been told, once you accepted that hitai-ate, you are old enough to make your own decisions. And if this is what you want, who am I to stop you…"

"Marco, I'm so-…"

With a shake of his head, the Phoenix gave him comforting smile and nodded in farewell.

"There's no need to apologize, yoi. Besides, this is only the beginning of your very own adventure, yeah? There's much to see and so many things to do…" He added flatly that the snake bastard is dangerous so he must be careful.

That is true.

A path different from what he had planned for him. Ah. He cannot wait and see the disappointment in Itachi's eyes.

Heh.

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Author's note:
And this concludes the first part of our story.

Yay!

Following Naruto mangaverse, next in our lineup is Shippuden where our heroes are all in their 15-ish year old selves. And as promised to my own personal timeline (and a few of written drafts on my device), we will now focus on Marco and the One Piece world for a few chapters (well this will depend on how long our vagabonds can locate their crew) and our favorite pirate's attempt to juggle his life between being oyaji's first mate or as Naru-chan's personal bodyguard. So yeah.

Stay tuned! And so so sorry if this chapter wasn't corrected using my grammar checker thingy. Just wanted to post this one before I called this day accomplished. Peace out!

Oh right… this is somewhat a super late greeting! Belated Happy Christmas and Merry New Year!

Cross-posted in AO3. Enjoy!

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