Diamonds and Pearls

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. Oh and feel free to weigh in on relationship dynamics, if you have a preference for who you think should be the 'aggressor' in either or both of the relationships.

Chapter 2

A week later and both ships were sailing out on the open ocean. The Sharingan and Konoha cut quite the impressive picture as they seemed to almost glide over the beautiful blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Speaking of impressive, Naruto couldn't help but glance at the young Uchiha brother in appreciation.

Sasuke was currently sitting next to some of the other members of their crew. The men and women were playing cards. More specifically, they were playing a rather erotic version of poker. If you lost, you had to remove an article of clothing. Most of the women were only clad in their undergarments and many of the men were not faring much better.

"Three Queens." Sasuke says triumphantly.

"Damn it!" Suigetsu grumbles and begins to reach for his trousers, much to the delight of some of the women.

"Oi! I don't need to be seeing your sword. You lost. Everyone knows it." Naruto calls out.

Sasuke looks back at Naruto in amusement. He decides the Captain is either bashful or prefers only to admire women. Either way, this could prove quite entertaining.

"I don't know what you are so flustered about, Captain. Most of us here have the same parts and the women aren't protesting." Sasuke taunts him.

There were a few giggles and snickers from Sharingan and Konoha crew members alike. Naruto just gapes at Sasuke. He couldn't believe he had 'challenged' him in such a way, with so many crew members watching.

"Your parts are about to be hurting you mighty badly, if keep speaking to me that way." Naruto warns him.

Logically, he knew that it was probably intended to be a gentle ribbing. He doubted that the dark haired pirate actually meant anything malicious by it. Still he couldn't let this slide.

Naruto barely knew about half of the crew on this ship. He was still establishing his authority over them. He didn't appreciate Sasuke making that just a little bit harder than it needed to be. Sharingan crew members had to learn how to take him seriously and such taunts were not going to help them do that.

"I think that was a challenge." Sasuke says, rising to his feet with an almost otherworldly speed and grace.

"Only you can not learn how to hold your tongue and show respect to your Captain!" The blonde thunders at him.

Naruto mentally cursed. The blue eyed pirate didn't want to be bickering with Sasuke. He especially didn't want to be doing it in front of half the crew, but the younger Uchiha had provoked him into it.

"Put your mind at ease, Captain. I have never shown disrespect towards MY Captain. You just aren't him. You're Captain of Konoha, but I am the First Mate of the Sharingan. I have no reason to hold my tongue around you. You are not my superior." Sasuke informs him.

There was stunned silence. The gauntlet had been laid down. Everyone watched with baited breath to see how Naruto would react to THAT declaration.

"If you apologize right now, I'll assume you only said something that foolish because you were drunk off your arse. I'll forget your insubordination." The Konoha's Captain says.

"I might have had a few flasks of ale, but it takes more than to make lose control of myself. I am not going to apologize for telling the truth. You're Captain of this ship. This isn't my ship though. We are equals here." Sasuke replies with defiance flashing in his eyes.

Damn it. Now Naruto had no choice. He was going to have to fight the other man. He couldn't let THAT go unanswered. He unsheathes his sword.

"Well then, I guess I'll just have to beat some sense into that stubborn arse of yours! On this ship, I am Captain. You are my subordinate." The blonde growls at him.

"I'm trembling with…excitement." Sasuke replies and unsheathes his own sword.

The two pirates begin circling each other. The Sharingan and Konoha crew members were watching with excitement and a little fear. They all knew that these were two master swordsmen. Someone could die, if one of them didn't yield.

"I'll let you live, if you yield." Naruto says as he charges at Sasuke.

"Funny, I was just about to make the same offer to you." Sasuke replies and dodges.

Sasuke managed to spin around quickly. He immediately raises his sword to block Naruto's. The blonde had gone in for a second strike. Steel meet steel and clashed together loudly as they both tried to overpower the other.

The First Mate was forced to take a step back, but he holds his own. Sasuke frowns as he realizes that Naruto had the upper hand when it came to raw strength, if only just. He'd have to rely on speed to win this fight.

"Just yield!" Naruto snarls at him.

"Never!" Sasuke roars right back at him and does a roll backwards, his feet coming dangerous close to smashing Naruto in the face as he does so.

It was more to startle the blonde. He wasn't actually trying to kick him in the face. He just needed to make sure while he tumbled always, that it was unlikely the Captain would slash him to ribbons.

That was when a large man with orange hair stepped between the two combatants. Naruto had never seen a man that size before, save for Kisame. He was absolutely fearless to get in the middle of a sword fight.

"Stop. We are all working together on this heist. There's no reason to fight each other." He says.

"Jugo, stand down. Naruto and I have different views as to what my role on this ship is. I'm merely clearing up his confusion on the matter." Sasuke says.

Naruto watches 'Jugo' carefully. He was trying to come across as a neutral party, but the blonde wasn't buying it. The man was standing between Sasuke and Naruto's blade. He was acting as a shield. Konoha's Captain didn't know why that irritated him, but it did. A lot.

"Sasuke, what do you think our Captain would say, if he found out you were provoking Captain Uzumaki like this?" He asks.

The First Mate sighs. Damn. As much as he was loathed to admit it, Jugo had a point. Itachi wouldn't be very pleased with Sasuke if he found out. That was unfortunate. Sasuke was having a grand ole time fighting with the blonde. Nothing excited him more than a good fight.

"Fine. Naruto, you aren't my Captain. But I will respect your orders because this is your ship. Well as long as your orders aren't stupid." Sasuke says as he walks off with the giant man.

Naruto just watches flabbergasted as Sasuke walks off. He couldn't believe it. The feisty pirate had just stopped fighting, almost immediately after Jugo asked him to. He knew it was foolish, but he couldn't suppress his jealousy. Were they lovers?


Sasuke heads back to his cabin with Jugo. He sighs and shuts the door behind them. He knew he was going to get an earful.

"Why would you put yourself in harm's way like that, over nothing?" Jugo asks.

"I don't know. I just enjoy provoking him. It's amusing. I know you were only worried about my safety. I appreciate it, but next time…don't interfere. I don't want to lose face in front of the crews." Sasuke says and Jugo nods.

Sasuke just didn't have it in him to be angry with Jugo. If anyone else had intervened, he would have kicked them in the balls or smacked them on the head with his sword. Jugo was Jugo though. It would be like beating your dog for trying to protect you. It was just wrong. He smiles as he remembers how he met the other man.

Sasuke and Itachi knew that it was a gamble, but they had to do it. They had to kill Orochimaru. Neither of the brothers were naïve by this point. Each of them knew what the looks that Orochimaru gave them meant. The only way to escape his "affections" was for him to be dead.

"Sasuke, have you gone mad?! You just released a beserker!" Itachi shouted at him.

"We had to even the odds out somehow!" The younger Uchiha cried out and swung his sword at yet another opponent.

There were simply too many men on that ship who were loyal to Orochimaru. Itachi and Sasuke were skilled fighters, but not that skilled. Jugo would even things out. It was a gamble though. The man was a beast in battle. A mindless beast intent on destroying anything in his way.

The battle was beyond bloody, but eventually the brothers managed to kill Orochimaru. There was just one problem. A beserker did not care who was friend and who was foe during a fight.

"Jugo, calm down. Kimimaro wouldn't want you to do this. Orochimaru is dead now. He can't hurt anyone else. You can start a new life. He would want you to be happy." Sasuke said as he cautiously took a step towards the giant man.

It was truly a miracle. Sasuke would never understand it, for some reason…Jugo listened. Instead of trying to kill the brothers, he embraced Sasuke tightly. Apparently, he was happy that his lover had been avenged.

Kimimaro had been Orochimaru's favorite cabin boy, until he came down with an illness. It might have been treatable with a proper doctor, but Orochimaru didn't want to risk docking so close to the English fleet. So Kimimaro had died. Jugo believed that Orohcimaru had murdered his lover, albeit in an indirect way. Ever since that day, Jugo vowed to be Sasuke's "shield." This was a promise that he had faithfully kept thus far. Other than Itachi, the mostly gentle giant was the only man that Sasuke trusted completely.

"Alright. But you really shouldn't put yourself in danger like that." Jugo says.

"I'm fine. Naruto didn't want to kill me anyway. He was practically begging me to yield." Sasuke muses.


Meanwhile on the Sharingan, Itachi and Gaara were looking at a map. The two Captains were trying to decide where they should go next. They needed to find a clue as to where Kurama's treasure might be.

"Do you really believe it exists?" The red head asks.

"Nay. I do not. I know that Naruto does though." The Sharingan Captain replies honestly.

Gaara looks at the other man in confusion. If Itachi didn't believe that Kurama's treasure existed, why did he agree to this voyage? It made no sense.

"Then why are you here? Why are you chasing after something you believe can not be found?" The red head inquires.

"Kurama's treasure likely doesn't exist, but if it does…I'd like to find it. If it doesn't, then I suspect we will find many other treasures along the way. We will not be going home, empty handed. Besides, I was curious. I had not seen you in years. I wanted to see what became of that street urchin that I saved all those years ago." Itachi confesses.

Gaara blinks. Itachi was basically saying that he mostly wanted to see what became of him and line his pockets with whatever loot they happened to plunder along the way. That would be touching, if it wasn't Itachi saying it. There had to be an ulterior motive. The elder Uchiha brother was not one to pursue someone or something purely for sentimental reasons. Everyone knew that.

"I suppose three crews combined will plunder far more loot than two would have. I confess myself surprised that you were so curious as to what happened to me." Gaara muses.

Itachi pauses. He was not entirely certain what would be the best approach to take. If he was too blunt, then the red head might bolt. On the other hand, if he was too subtle…that would achieve the desired outcome either.

"That much is true. As for my curiosity, I only do a good deed once a decade. It's only natural to be curious as to their outcomes. I believe our best bet is to stop at the Sannin Port. If anyone would know about the treasure, it would be the people there. They are an…odd sort." He states with open amusement.

The red head snorts. That was putting it rather charitably. The Sannin Port was also known as Triangle of Death. Three islands surrounding it. They were informally known as Lust, Liquor, and Loss.

The legend of the islands went as follows. Once there were three pirates that sailed the Seven Seas together. Each of them would end up claiming an Isle.

Tsunade claimed she claimed the first island and started a famous tavern there. It became known as the Liquor Isle. The second was a man named Jirayia. On his island, one could explore the sensual pleasures of life without fear of any judgment. This island was dubbed Lust Isle. Finally, Orochimaru's island. This was known as the Loss Isle because it was a place frequented by assassins. Anyone name who was mentioned there, was likely to lose their life. It was sometimes referred to as the Isle of the Lost for that very reason.

"Are you so eager to die an early death? You must know what goes on there." Gaara exclaims.

"I am not eager to die an early death. We will all be fine. Do not fret. I wouldn't let anything happen to you. Besides, I think that the Lust Isle would be the safest place to start out of the three. Do you not agree?" The handsome captain asks.

"That's like asking if one would prefer getting eaten by a shark, run through by a sword, or dying from an infection. I suppose in this case, the sword would be "safest." The sassy Captain informs him.

"And the sword in this content is which of the three Isles?" Itachi inquires with no small amount of amusement.

"The Isle of Lust." The Suna Captain replies.

Itachi nods. He heads off to find a messenger pigeon. He quickly pens a letter to his brother and ties it to the leg of the bird. The animal took off towards the other ship.

"How do you ever manage to get them to do that?" The other man asks.

"Oh I train them from the time they are babies. They are quite smart. Of course, one has to know how to coax them." Itachi observes.

"Well I'm certain that coaxing beasts and men into doing your bidding, has never been an issue for you." Gaara mutters.

"I like to think that I can be rather persuasive, yes." The elder Uchiha says and his eyes dance with amusement.

At first, Gaara wasn't certain what was causing Itachi so much merriment. That's when he repeated his words in his head. The elder man had taken them the wrong way.

"Is your head forever in the gutter? The Isle of Lust suits you very well. I should think that you will end up being its Governor." The red head snaps at him, feeling rather embarrassed.

"Perhaps my mind did wander to unsavory places, but you were not far behind me. Tis only natural, when one is discussing that Isle." Itachi replies with a shrug.

The younger captain mentally chides himself. How could he have been so foolish? He let Itachi get the better of him. Now he looked like a bashful boy, instead of a man who was in charge of a mighty pirate ship. Damn it!

"I imagine you have that effect on many people." Gaara mutters.

It was childish. He realized it. The red head had basically told Itachi, "You started it!" Unfortunately, he could not think of a better rebuttal at the time and so it would have to do.

"You are just full of flattery today." Itachi comments from his position on his chair.

The elder Uchiha knew that it likely wasn't the smart move. He had no way of knowing if Gaara was even interested in men. Still he gave into the impulse anyway and pulls the feisty red head into his lap.

"It's not really flattery." Gaara stammers.

"Then what would you call it, my dear Captain?" Itachi asks curiously.

"Accurate observations. God help Naruto, if Sasuke is anything like you." Gaara mutters as he jumps off the other man's lap.

The pirate didn't delude himself. He was in love with the other man, but he didn't know if Itachi felt the same way. Itachi might be just engaging in flirtation to get a rise out of him. Seducing him could be a smart move on his part as well. After all, what better way to rob someone blind than to make them think you were in love with them?

"Sasuke is quite different than me. He's rather…selective about who he takes to his bed. He's never felt the need to hone his seduction skills. Women and men alike throw their affections towards him quite freely, without any prompting. He just ignores most of them." Itachi observes with great mirth.

"And what of you? Do you graciously accept the affections that are thrown at you?" Gaara asks as he tries to keep the bitterness out of his tone.

He wouldn't do it. The red head knew he didn't have the right. He didn't have the right to act as though he was a jealous lover. Itachi owed him nothing. It shouldn't concern him in the slightest who the other Captain took his bed, but it did.

That fact disturbs Gaara greatly. What troubled him even more though, was that there was apparently nothing he could do about it. He was jealous of people that he didn't even know existed for certain. Jealous of imaginary lovers of Itachi. He was pathetic.

"I occasionally indulge, but I am always rather honest in my intentions. I assure you that I've never led a lover on or left them wanting." Itachi replies.

Yes, they were heading into very dangerous waters here. Fortunately, the red head was an expert sailor. He could navigate away from these metaphorical rocks and steer them back towards a safer topic of conversation.

""That's good to know. How long do you think it will take the bird to reach Konoha?" He asks softly.

Itachi's lips twitch upwards. He couldn't fully hide his amusement. The red head was squirming and he knew it. The pirate knew that he should feel guilty for making the other man so flustered, but he couldn't. It was all just too endearing to watch.

"They are not that far behind us. I'd say half a day at most." Itachi informs him.

It was enjoyable to watch Gaara squirm, but Itachi wasn't a fool. He knew that there was really only so far he could push the other man before he would react negatively. He was not entirely certain that he could persuade the red head to join him in his bed, but now he knew that Gaara did find men appealing. His reactions were not those of a man who only preferred women.

"That's good. About your brother, do you think there will be issues aboard Konoha? He's used to acting more as your co-captain than a First Mate. He doesn't have that kind of relationship with Naruto." Suna's Captain asks.

Itachi tries to hide his smirk. Gaara was quite clever. He was trying to shift the conversation to his brother, in an effort to make it more respectable. He decides to humor him and allow the other pirate to believe that his ploy had worked.

"Oh I'm almost certain there will be issues. That's what makes it all so delightfully entertaining." Itachi answers honestly.

Gaara raises an eyebrow. The elder man had just basically said he put Sasuke on the same ship with Naruto in order to fuck with them. He knew that they would clash.

"You knew this, yet you still put them on the same ship? Is that not counterproductive? We will not find nearly as much plunder, if they are spending all their time fighting with each other over position." The red head points out.

"Oh I'm certain that they will fight like cats and dogs for awhile, but they'll manage in the end. Until then, it will be quite entertaining for both of us. My foolish little brother can be quite stubborn. From what I know of your friend, he is the same way." The elder Uchiha brother confesses.

Gaara shakes his head. Well perhaps it wasn't that outrageous. Brothers and sisters quarreled all the time. It was only natural that they would poke and prod at each other. Apparently, the Uchihas just took this to extremes.

"I just hope they don't kill each other." He mutters.

"I doubt that would happen. Sasuke may be impulsive, but he's not that foolish. He wouldn't kill the Captain of the ship, when half of the crew would try to slit his throat for it." Itachi replies.

Gaara quirks an eyebrow. The elder man had absolute faith in Sasuke's combat abilities it seemed. Naruto was a terror with a sword. Itachi had to be aware of this. He highly doubted Itachi Uchiha would agree to go along with Naruto's quest, if he thought the blonde couldn't handle himself. Despite this, he just assumed that Sasuke would win a battle to the death against the blue eyed pirate.

"That's quite the assumption." The red head observes.

"Whatever do you mean?" Itachi asks as he pours them both a flask of some fine rum.

This was the good stuff. Gaara knew that it would cost most people's a week's wages to afford a single bottle of it. Itachi didn't skimp. Was he trying to impress him?

"You assume that your brother would best Naruto if it came down to a life or death battle. Naruto is quite competent with a sword and even better with his fists." The Captain of Suna informs him.

"Oh I'm well aware of that. I suppose it is familial pride that makes me assume Sasuke would win. Truthfully, your guess would be as good as mine. Still Sasuke has one thing that Naruto lacks. He has a killer instinct. So do you for that matter." Itachi observes.

Gaara was almost afraid to ask what Itachi meant by that. His curiosity got the better of him though. He had to know what was on the other man's mind.

"What do you mean by that?" He demands.

"You and Sasuke will not hesitate to kill in battle. You don't necessarily get pleasure from it, but you don't shy away from it. Naruto will always spare his opponent, if given a choice. I've watched both of you for years. I know your fighting styles." Itachi admits with a shrug.

"I've watched both of you for years." Gaara knew that Itachi meant it in a professional sense. It was only intelligent to watch rival pirates closely. You never knew when you might have to do battle with them. Unfortunately, his heart didn't want to listen to his mind. His heart was pleased that Itachi considered him worthy of watching and that was cause for alarm.

"That is accurate when it comes to me and Naruto. I do not know your brother, so I can not judge him with any certainty. What of yourself?" Gaara asks.

"I am more like Naruto in this regard, but when it comes to protecting those precious to me…I will not hesitate to do what needs to be done." Itachi assures him.

"I'll hold you to that. Something tells me this wild goose chase may very well get all of us into a lot of trouble." Gaara says and Itachi could only nod in agreement.