Basically Firefly and Pirates mixed together in a frozen ocean rather than space. Never could get off my bum and write it. at least without just copying Firefly entirely.

Hotaru (firefly)

Characters:

Naruto (Ex-Leaf tokubestu Jounin Lost the war at the battle of The valley of the end, against Akatsuki and drifted away to the sea and became a pirate. Naruto is no longer so happy and carefree but a sober sarcastic man with nothing but his ship and crew to live by.)

Sakura (A Ex leaf assassin trained in the sexual arts and used for close kill. She gains money through taking jobs where she seduces and kills her targets. Known as the Lady of Death. Long gone was the unsure teenager Naruto knew and loved now a cultured aristocratic woman with a tempered steel edge. Due to her status as a companion, a new type of sex trade it allows Naruto's ship access to ports that would be closed to him, while his ship allows her to contact clients she would never be able to acquire.)

Ino (Given her bloodline abilities Akatsuki toyed with her mind until Shikamaru, her old teammate found her and escaped with her. Ino's abilities have now become psychic but the 'treatments' done by the Akatsuki scientists have made her borderline insane and delusional. Akatsuki require her to track down those who pose a threat to them so are very interested in returning her.)

Hinata (Hinata, stayed with Naruto through everything, even the war. Pain, death, and horrors has made this once beautiful innocent girl into a hard frozen woman. One that the now light hearted Kankuro seems able to unlock some of the old Hinata from.)

Kiba (Kiba was left for dead early in the war and fled the elemental countries, soon becoming mercenary and taking any job that allowed him money, booze and women. Kiba is the most unrefined of the crew and prone to putting his foot in his mouth.)

Kankuro (After Gaara and Temari are killed in a Akatsuki raid he leaves the dry desert climate of his old home trying to run from his past and heads to the cool clear waters of the sea. His skills with puppets allow him to control the new styled ships and he soon becomes a genius at sailing the vessels through the vast oceans. With years of sailing under his belt and a whole new life ahead of him he becomes less serious, remembering the past fondly for it's good memories but never dwells on the past unless it's very serious. When he is offered a job with Naruto he almost doesn't accept until he gets a glimpse of Hinata who he falls for. Soon the two marry.)

Shikamaru (Shikamaru's vast intelligence allowed him to study and retain anything. When leaf fell to the Akatsuki he gained ranks in their government until he learned of Ino. Giving up his comfortable life he takes Ino and runs, running into Naruto and his crew causing all sorts of problems. In fact the only one that doesn't seem to hate Shika is Tenten. He navigates with Kankuro so they can get the fastest routes and away from Akatsuki patrols.)

Tenten (Tenten had to learn how to adapt to the new technology that the Akatsuki brought to the world once they took over to keep a job. She had a gift it seemed and was able to become a master of repairing ships and other larger mechanical devices. However this life kept her tied down to a life in the slums and low end of countries and ports away from the glit and glamour of the wealthy cities and the supposed promise of a comfortable life. Naruto runs into her and offers her a job. When Shika in all his glamour appears she is instantly attracted to him.)

OC (A man of faith that seems to know more of Akatsuki's methods than anyone. Mysterious and yet warm, he is a good soul with a dark past.) 'Miroku?'

Killerbee: Like Monty from firefly. Just add bad rap.

Firefly: A serenity class transport. used to offload supplies and troops during the war she was one of the first of the new iron ships built by Akatsuki. However without weapons the ship had to rely on speed and maneuverability, something the new government didn't care for. Soon she was replaced by the larger more armored Gunkans or warships. Serenity class transports fell by the wayside and rebels took them, using the abandoned ships. After the war many ended up in dry docks waiting to be scrapped. It was here Naruto found Firefly, and after a bit of haggling bought the ship… Minus the engine.

OPs:

"So here is how it is, Akatsuki got tired of trying to find all the bijuu and set to conquering the whole elemental countries one by one. Some idiots tried to fight them, namely myself. I'm Naruto Uzumaki, Captain of Hotaru. She's a transport, Serenity class. Got a good crew, fighters, pilot, mechanic. We even picked up a preacher for some reason, and a bona fide companion. There's a navigator, too, took his genius teammate out of some Akatsuki camp, so they're keeping a low profile. You understand. You got a job, we can do it, don't much care what it is."

"After the world had grown peaceful, The five countries quickly lost sight of secret organizations, one such, the Akatsuki. The central countries that formed the Elemental states realized this but retaliated too late and were quickly brought to their knees. There was some disagreement on that point. After the War, many of the remaining Elemental Shinobi who had fought and lost drifted to the edges of the world, far from Akatsuki control. Out here, people struggled to get by with the most basic technologies; a ship would bring you work, a blade would help you keep it. A captain's goal was simple: find a crew, find a job, keep sailing. "

Places:

Konoha: blown away by Pein it's survivors were the first to oppose the new rule and begin the 4th Shinobi war.

Suna: Little remains of this once great city, it's dead covered by the sand that gives it's name.

Kiri: located near Kumo it's another Akatsuki stronghold rich in the technology. It's here Shikamaru learns of Ino, rescues her and the two make their way to Kuni.

Yuki: Being the farthest away from the rest of the elemental countries Yuki is a beacon of the refugees and former rebel Shinobi. Here in the snow covered islands and continent Akatsuki's presence isn't really felt and the ex-rebels can live in the cold southern island chains that make up Yuki's borders. However technology is scarce and ship captains smuggle goods from Kuni, Kiri, and other places in order to pay the upkeep of their vessels.

Kuni: Wave was once Naruto's first great battle, the place were he became a hero. Now it's the last stop before you head out into the 'lawless' oceans filled with cursed seal cannibals, pirates, and vicious Akatsuki patrol warships who prowl around. Here the old bridge builder has become a sort of black market dealer to whom Naruto often gets jobs for.

Kumo: Akatsuki headquarters. Located in the 'core' of the elemental countries. Pein and the rest of the Akatsuki reside here watching the world and controlling it's flow from the high technology city that endures a forever rain.

Akishiro: Whitefall One of many desolate islands located near Yuki. Like most of these frozen islands they are lacking in tech. Nii Yugito is leader of half of the island.

Story:

Kunai, jutsu and notes blasted across the desolate valley that had been scoured from the months of heavy fighting. A team of leaf genin ran towards a hill to claim the high ground just deserted when thousands of kunai fall from the sky killing them. Upon another peak stood a merchant of death, A heavy Kunai launcher from snow country. The kunai rained onto the valley and screams of men rose from the trenches. From the ash and fog like smoke that littered the battlefield a blonde haired man raced through the

"Okay Hinata take your men around the east flank and make them hold till I can get my men in position. We'll seesaw back and forth till we can push them from the valley."

"Won't last long against that launcher." Hinata remarked, the closest to objecting she would ever say to the blonde as Naruto stocked up on supplies from the dying man. Naruto took one look at her and the launcher then bit his lip and continued stripping the now dead man, headless of the glassy eyed confusion that remained on the soldiers face.

"Thanks for volunteering. Your with me and we'll take it out."

Six years later…

Sub-zero waves crashed into the broken hull of the Akatenpi and the rocks she had run aground on. Harsh icy rain pounded on her ice covered and rotting deck as a trio of shapes fought their way to

"Still locked solid. A good sign. Kiba, give me the charges."

"Captain, Akatsuki gunkan bearing right down on us." Kankuro's voice broke over the good feelings that had been washing over

"Kuso…' Naruto cursed as the rest of his crew looked to him. Tapping a switch on his neck he replied sharply. "Have they spotted us?" Kankuro's nervous and stuttered voice broke over them. "Have they HAILED us?" A firm no as Firefly's pilot calmed. "Shut her down, everything but the heating."

Kankuro's fingers flew with honed precision as he drained power from the ships systems while calling out.

"Tenten! We've got company shut her down!" Tiny footsteps tapped a hurried pace as the ships mechanic raced over the old grating.

"We can't sir." Hinata's voice took on a hard edge.

"Why not? She good for it and I bet she's got a use for it."

"She stabbed you."

"Well yeah but… it was a long time ago and

"Yugito? Didn't she stab a kunai in your ass the last we met?"

"…Why is everyone making a fuss?"

6"Food Scrolls, each one filled with enough food to last a month, 'less they're Akamichi.