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| [A Million Pieces of Eight] |

Chapter IV: The Secret of a Lifetime

By Miasmic

"Cabin boy."

The name rang in Sakura's ears like the tolling of the morning bell, making her cringe with baseless disdain. It was a derogatory nickname— albeit it being her proper rank— and she hated it nonetheless. Jun knew this, and so when he saw her that morning he greeted her with a taunting smirk and a hand to his forehead in a sailor's salute, the Godawful "cabin boy" whistling passed the toothpick in his mouth. Sakura glared, crossing her arms in a blatant refusal to salute back.

"It's rude to ignore your superiors, laddie," he challenged, eyes narrowing ever so slightly.

"It's rude to call people names, Old Salt," she shot back.

"Look who's talkin'," he chuckled, "Hypocrite."

Sakura lifted her chin, undeterred by his obvious attempt at belittlement. There was a brief moment of a heated stare-off between the two, before Jun, amused by her puny physique and enormous spirit, forfeited—

—Though, much to Sakura's contempt, not without having the last word.

"Step to cabin boy. Unless ye think ye can find that Key by jus standin' there," he ordered, beginning to walk away before Sakura could muster a witty reply. Reluctant to obey, she moved about to help Crow with the rigging.

"Morning, Love," he greeted with a yawn.

"Morning. What's wrong?"

"Ahh… I was loaded to the gunwall last night…" Crow said, rubbing his eyes as if to get rid of their dark circles on his paler than usual face.

Sakura chuckled, recalling the events of the previous night— Crow's legs caught up in the ratlines, a bottle of rum swinging in hand as he slurred the lyrics to Here's To The Grog. He was suffering from a crippling hangover.

"But you had fun?" She asked, playfully nudging his side.

"Aye, aye, of course! I don't think I've seen the crew that scatterbrained since ancient times. You've put us under a spell, Lady Haruno!" Crow said dramatically.

"What a charming thing to say," She mocked, as Crow swung an arm around her shoulder, gathering her into a friendly cuddle. Sakura smiled, unable to shake the warmth she felt when around him. They had a strange kinship, one that had formed quickly and only grew stronger with time. She supposed they were a bit like soul mates— in a way that was less like lovers and more like siblings— and while she had not been oblivious to Crow's palpable flirting, she knew he had nothing but good intentions for her.

Sakura was ready to push Crow away when she spotted a strange man staring at her from afar. She had never seen the bloke before— perhaps a noobie to the crew, like herself. Perhaps that was why he was staring so intently at her, she thought, hoping to make a friend. Though upon further inspection, Sakura deduced that he wanted anything but that. He had short black hair; wide, accusing eyes; a clean-shaven face; and a prominent, square jaw. He was thin, almost sickly, and had such sinister aura it made Sakura want to shiver.

"I think someone's going to tattle you to the Captain," she joked, nodding to the stranger.

"Wha?" Crow said, tracing her sight, "Oh. That's just Kai. Queer ol' eunuch, he's pro'a'ly just jealous."

"Jealous of what?" Naruto said as he strode by, elbowing Crow in the ribs, instantly causing him to retract his arm in pain.

"We're less than three leagues nigh the port! Step lively!" Naruto called, moving away from a giggling Sakura and injured Crow to the upper deck.

"You needed to speak?" he said, eying the captain.

"You were right," Sasuke disclosed, absently steering the wooden wheel to and fro, "She has pirate blood."

"Really?" Naruto gushed, the triumph evident in his voice before being squashed by his counterpart's glare, "How do you know?"

"That ring around her neck was her fathers and it bears the insignia of the Seventeen Sails. It's not just any old family heirloom. I checked with Yamanaka back at the port."

"You saw Yamanaka again? Why didn't you tell me, you bastard!" Naruto whined, "How is she? I bet she's turned into a fine young lady."

"Doesn't matter."

"Of course it doesn't matter to you, who even with brilliant eyesight is blind to the female being," Naruto scoffed, "I liked her. She was pretty."

"I called you here to talk about the girl," Sasuke reminded, "The other one."

"Right, right," Naruto murmured, "Isn't that good news? Now we know she's an asset."

"Her asset to us is limited, as we can't expect to catch the Seventeen Sails, at least not on water," Sasuke estimated.

"… but she is an asset, nonetheless."

"What do you think?"

Everyone who had ever had the kismet of "befriending" Sasuke knew that he was the epitome of a self-made, self-reliant man who took pride in all individual successes, even if it came at a social cost. It was rare for him to ask for help— it meant that somehow the infamously brilliant mind of Sasuke Uchiha was stumped— and when he did, it was only asked of by those closest to him.

"My thoughts remain the same as when we first found her," Naruto offered, knowing just how valuable his opinion was to the Captain, his best friend.

Sasuke thought over this for a second, his brain quickly stringing together the pros and cons.

"If she becomes too much of a burden we'll have to leave her," he said at last, "Let the crew know, secretively. I don't want her to find out about this."

"Aye aye," Naruto smiled, turning toward stairs leading to the lower deck. However, before he descended the steps to do the captains bidding, he couldn't help but add softly, "I sort of like having her around."

Whether it was intended for Sasuke's ears or not, Naruto's words had Sasuke regretting his decision. Sakura's presence becoming wholly welcomed by the crew was the worst possible outcome, especially if she had an exhaustible benefit and the fact that it was already happening stressed him out even more. He would admit, she certainly did have a bubbly effect on the crew, and she technically provided a clue for finding the next Key— all in all, she hadn't been a burden yet. He just hoped, if anything were to happen, Naruto of all people wouldn't fall too much under her spell and lose sight of their true goal.

This is why women were too troublesome to have on board, Sasuke thought. They caused men, pirates, to go crazy, to act in ways they normally wouldn't. They could easily be the downfall of any great, invincible man— like Achilles' heel. More than his worry for Naruto, though, Sasuke was worried about himself. That was why, against all odds, he was determined to stay away from Sakura Haruno.


Sasuke was Naruto's longtime rival. It was a fact that no member of the crew besides Jun was aware of, as Naruto kept it hidden for the sake of peace and order. What would the crew think if they found out their First Mate and Captain were having a power struggle? They would mutiny and challenge their authority, dividing the company. It was better kept a secret, for the benefit of all involved.

This secret, although nothing quite as scandalous as most, was a secret of a lifetime— in fact, their rivalry dated as far back as their first meeting at age 7, when Sasuke joined the ranks of the Navy. Naruto remembered it as clear as day.

"Didya hear? The Uchiha boy's been sent in as a cabin boy."

"Already?! It's only been a day since the funeral! The boy needs time to build himself back up before he even begins an apprenticeship!"

"It's cruel. Though I reckon his father's scared he'll end up like her, so he sent 'im straight into the Navy. Perhaps to beat him up into a good Commodore, like his brother. That way he won't even think of betraying the state."

"I supposed I would be too if I was—"

"IZUMO! KOTETSU!"

Naruto was standing soundless in the storage room, ears perked behind shaggy blonde hair as the two officers gossiped in the hall. Upon hearing their names both men scurried away, stumbling to their impatient caller on the other side of the deck. A new cabin boy, Naruto thought curiously, Interesting. Though, strangely, he hadn't seen said cabin boy at all. Curious and excited, he stepped out of the room, ready to embark on an adventurous search for his— hopefully— new friend.

"Oi, Lieutenant Ebisu. I have a qu—"

"Naruto! I've been looking everywhere for you! Where have you been?!" He blurted, frantic and high pitched, "The Cook has requested your aid in the kitchen immediately! Do not keep him waiting any longer!"

Ebisu reached down and grabbed Naruto's small elbow, dragging him in the direction of the kitchen and causing a defiant scowl to twist his face. He pulled away harshly, yelling, "L-let go, Ebisu! Don't be so dramatic! He's a bloody cook, he can cut his own vegetables!"

"That is Lieutenant to you, CABIN BOY!"

"Whatever, Ebisu." Not giving a rat's ass whether he got punished for this later. Out of all the lieutenants, Naruto hated Ebisu the most. It astonished him to think that the man actually made it to such a high rank. Perhaps becoming an Admiral wasn't as difficult and great of an accomplishment as everyone made it out to be.

"I am tired of your constant disrespect to me and every other crewmember here! Do your job before the Admiral hears of this insolence and has you discharged," Ebisu threatened, pushing his obnoxious spectacles up the bridge of his nose.

"I'm seven, he can't discharge me," Naruto glared, crossing his arms, "And why do I have to do all the dirty work? What's that new Cabin Boy doing, huh? Nothing! I bet you are going easy on him 'cause he's new! Well, I was once new too, and I didn't get any slack!"

Ebisu froze at the mention of the new Cabin Boy, his eyes studying Naruto's impatient face. "It can't be…" He straightened his back, his voice calm yet stern as he asked, "Where did you hear of this?"

Naruto blinked, unsure if he should admit he had been eavesdropping, "Um, I-I overheard a few seamen talking about it and—"

Before Naruto could finish the Lieutenant had vanished. Naruto scowled, turning on his heel and dragging his feet down the hall. "Pfft," He said with a roll of the eyes, "What's so great about this new kid? No one was this excited when I first came aboard."

Already he could feel himself getting jealous. So far, it didn't seem like he and this kid were going to be comrades, even if he hadn't met him yet.

He decided to go up to the kitchen and see what the cook needed, despite his insides screaming for him not to simply because he didn't like following Ebisu's orders. Once there the cook sent him back down to the rations storage room, consequentially one of the darkest storage rooms on the ship, prompting the use of one of those irritatingly hot lanterns. Last time Naruto handled fire he set the National Flag ablaze in front of the governor. To say the Navy officers gave him a whipping was a bit of an understatement. Nevertheless, Naruto pushed the creaky door open, light in hand. This is such busy work, Naruto thought. Being a Cabin Boy was supposed to help you familiarize with the maritime trade, yet the only thing the officers used him for was to fetch rum and to do the dirty work they neglected. In his two years, he hadn't learned a thing. Depressed at this realization, Naruto shuffled over to the casks of preserved food, tripping over a miscellaneous object that clearly did not belong there. The lantern nearly fell from his hand, though Naruto quickly caught himself, preventing the entire food supply from catching fire. He sweatdropped, reluctant to think about the retribution if such a ghastly thing were to happen.

"What the—?" He said, flashing his lantern at what had caught his foot. It felt like something long and round, like a tiny log. When the light illuminated the object before him Naruto yelped, falling back. He held out the lantern shakily, studying what he had considered at that very moment to be the face of death. It was a little boy, no younger than him, with a face that seemed to have aged decades beyond his years. His hair was black and disheveled, shady eyes so empty that Naruto was amazed fresh tears were still streaming from them. Weak boned, Naruto stood.

"Hey," he said, frowning as the boy simply stared straight ahead, lost from the world, "You're not supposed to be down here."

The boy didn't budge.

"Didn't you hear me? Leave, before I get in trouble."

The boy remained seated.

Naruto narrowed his eyes, squatting down to the boy's level, balancing on the balls of his feet, "You're the new Cabin Boy, aren't ya?"

There was no response. Naruto stared into the kid's empty eyes, pity mobbing his intestines. Was the boy crying because his parents sent him into the Navy ranks? What a baby, Naruto grimaced inwardly. He stood, shooting the poor boy a condescending look.

"Look," He said, "I didn't cry one bit when they sent me here two years ago. Grow up, you baby!"

He turned swiftly on his heel, making his way to one of the casks to get what the cook had asked for, when he felt something hook his ankle, causing him to stumble forward again. "YOU LITTLE—!" Naruto seethed, a clenched fist swinging around to knock the tiny tears right off the kid's face, only to stop short at an empty room.

Naruto blinked.

The kid had disappeared…

ONE YEAR LATER

It was a year later when Colonel Tekka approached Naruto with the exciting news that he would learn how to shoot his first musket.

"YES! YESSSS! FINALLY!" Naruto screamed, jumping up and down with a pumped fist.

"Naruto," Tekka scolded, "Calm down, or I'll have you wait another year."

Naruto's wide grin fell into a pout as he lowered his arms, his joy killed. They were at the Navy Headquarters at Black Salt Cove, Tekka leading the ecstatic boy to the training grounds. There was an old wooden fence placed 90 meters away from several straw dummies, two muskets leaning against it. Naruto's eyes glistened at the sight as he ran ahead of Tekka.

"Ooooh is this mine?!" he ogled, grabbing the first musket.

"NARUTO!" Tekka scolded again, a vein popping from his forehead, "Do NOT touch those until I teach you how to properly use them!"

"Colonel Tekka," a man greeted from the behind, "I've brought Young S—"

"WHAT'S HE DOING HERE?!" Naruto exclaimed, pointing an accusing finger at the shorter of the two newcomers. He could spot that kid's burned-bread hair and smug look from leagues away. The same hair and face that made Naruto's blood boil on sight. Sasuke smirked at the blonde's reaction.

"Same reason you're here," He responded coolly. Naruto's jaw dropped, his head spinning to the officers present, pressing for affirmation. Tekka nodded.

"NUH UH!" Naruto blurted, "WHY?! THAT'S NOT FAIR COLONEL TEKKA! I'VE BEEN HERE THREE YEARS, HE'S BEEN HERE ONE!" He held up his fingers for emphasis, pouting.

"That doesn't make you any older than him, Naruto," Tekka explained, rubbing his temple at the volume, "Keep this up and you'll be watching Sasuke practice."

That shut Naruto up for a while.

Tekka had shown both boys how to shoot, reload, and carry a musket, telling them to aim at the closest target 15 meters away. It took Naruto three tries to hit it, though when he turned, a big smile on his face, he found out Sasuke had done it in one. He felt the heat rise to his head, his fingers trembling with competition, the envy to surpass this boy— a boy who was supposed to be lower than him, looking up to a veteran like himself.

"Good. Now the next target," Tekka said, observing the two boys reload. Naruto took a deep breath, readying the gun calmly. He told himself to relax. That would be the only way to beat Sasuke. He couldn't let his arrogance get to him. All he needed to do was focus on the target 30 meters away and pull the—

BANG!

Naruto stiffly turned his head, gun still loaded, to see a puff of white smoke fill the air next to him. The 60-meter target collapsed to the ground.

"Sasuke!" Tekka gasped, amazed, "You shot the fourth target! Not even some Colonel's could get that in one shot!"

Naruto gritted his teeth, glaring. "Tch. Show off. The fourth target's easy."

"That's big talk for someone with little skill," Sasuke taunted, reloading his musket. Naruto suppressed a growl, reminding himself to remain calm. Just focus on number four, he repeating in his head. Closing one eye as he aimed. He'd get this one, he just knew it. He'd show Sasuke who was better. Naruto pulled the trigger, the immediate smog blocking his view. When it cleared all the only difference in the picture was a new crater in the ground.

"Were you aiming at the first or the fourth? I couldn't tell."

Some people say egos are like clouds, each unique with a certain distance from earth, a certain thickness, and a certain size and color. Naruto thought Sasuke's ego was a hurricane.

Naruto practiced musket shooting every day after that…

FOUR YEARS LATER

"This is the Honorable Grandson of the Noble Governor of our Blessed Town, Konohamaru," Lieutenant Ebisu explained, patting a smiley kid on the shoulder, "He'll be a new Cabin Boy, treat him well."

"Great," Sasuke mumbled sarcastically.

"Great!" Naruto piped happily, "Now I have someone to look up to me as their superior!"

"Do me a favor, Konohamaru," Ebisu stated, gaining the boys attention, "Don't look up to Naruto."

Naruto glared, placating the child, "Don't listen to ol' swabbie Ebisu. I'm the best teacher around, isn't that right Sasuke?"

Sasuke remained silent, simply raising his brows, wondering why Naruto would ever ask him such a thing, of all people. Ebisu forced his spectacles up, a habit unchanged since Naruto first met the man, almost spitting all over the two twelve-year-old boys as he yelled, "That's LIEUTENANT TO YOU, NARUTO!"

"Whatever," The blonde grumbled, shooing the old man away. When the three were alone, he grinned at Konohamaru creepily, "I'm going to be the best teacher EVER!"

Konohamaru grimaced, "I don't want you as my teacher! I want him!" He pointed a tiny finger at Sasuke, causing that oh-so-resentful big ego to rise to the surface. A minute later Ebisu was faced with a crying Konohamaru with a steady, yet painful bump forming on his head…

TWO YEARS LATER

Naruto was fourteen when Sasuke came up to him with the proposition of becoming pirates. They had grown to be great friends over the years, yet still rivals. Of course, he said yes immediately. He hadn't given it the slightest thought at first. It wasn't like he had anything to lose, besides a well-deserved Navy title. Leaving his best friend to a dangerous world by himself was out of the question. Besides, a part of him really wanted to become a pirate; it not only added a little spice to his life, a new challenge in which Naruto could rise above Sasuke, but he felt it in his gut. Not long after becoming a cabin boy in the navy, an old pirate had snuck onto their ship and told him he looked a lot like his father. It had led him to believe that perhaps the mystery behind his parents' death could be solved. Through piracy…

Three young teenagers were thrown onto the floor of the Captain's quarters; two boys and a girl, each was restrained by chains and shackles. A tall figure stood at the center of the room, back to them. Three pairs of eyes shakily scrutinized his omnipotent demeanor in the few moments of silence before he turned to them. The man had an eerie façade— grey disheveled hair, an eye patch over one eye, and a black bandana covering his mouth.

"Why are you here?" He inquired nonchalantly, twirling a few key rings.

"We requested 'parley'," The blonde girl stated, gazing at him warily.

"Parley?" The man repeated.

"Parley," Naruto affirmed, nodding his head, "It means we get to see the Captain of the vessel before we are punished. It says so in the Privateer and Buccaneer Codes, s'well as the Codes of the Brethren Court."

"Aye aye I know what it means. What I meant was why are you on my ship?"

The three looked at each other blankly.

"We want to be pirates?" The blonde girl, Ino, said, lacking her usual confidence.

The man looked unmoved, "Really?"

"Really," Sasuke stated. The man analyzed the dark-haired teenager before him, noting the determination in his eyes and hearing the firmness of his words. The man had a terrific eye when it came to character; he could read Sasuke like a book. It was clear he had a quality the other two did not possess.

"You would give up your peaceful lives full of joy and love, for one full of crime and hatred?"

Ino and Naruto looked down, though Sasuke remained strong, daring to look into the man's lone eye.

"Yes."

"You are still young. You could live normal lives, marry normal people, and have a normal, happy family. Becoming a pirate will take that luxury away from you."

"I understand."

"No, you don't understand, that's why I am telling you. You think you understand, which isn't the same as understanding. Understand?" He said, "Just look at the doubt on your comrades' faces."

Sasuke didn't need to look to confirm Naruto and Ino's doubt; he knew it the moment they set foot on the ship.

"They understand," The man stated.

Sasuke thought again, replaying the man's words. He had wrestled with the pros and cons for years, and had come to the stanch conclusion that he would not be giving up a peaceful life— after all, you can't give up something you don't have.

"Think of your parents," The man said, and Sasuke's eyes widened. Images of his mother, of his father, and brother flashed before his eyes, a lethal mix of emotional blending together in the pit of his stomach. His father especially… thinking of him made his fingers tremble in fury.

"I want to be a pirate," Sasuke proclaimed.

"I'm sorry, did you say something?" The man uttered, "I was too busy thinking of how stupid you three are."

"Hey!" Naruto exclaimed, glaring, "We're not stupid!"

"Really? Give me one good reason why you desire to be a pirate," He tested, crossing his arms, "Mmm? And don't say it's where your heart lays, or that your only love is the sea. I've heard that too many times."

"We never give up!"

"It's an adventure!"

"It's in our blood."

"What was that?" the man inquired, though he had heard it all loud and clear.

"… We like an adventure?" Ino squeaked, repeating her tiny tidbit of motivation.

"No. You," He clarified, staring at Sasuke, "Say that again."

"Just as the salt of the sea remains the same despite the changing currents, piracy flows through our veins despite the sand of time. Once a pirate, always a pirate," Sasuke recited.

The man had recognized the saying, scribed in the pages of an old text he had seen back in his youth. It was a pirate's oath, one he had heard her say…

"In that case, welcome aboard, haughty seamen… and woman," The man said, shaking his head to keep the memories from crawling back.

The bewildered expressions on their faces, even Sasuke's, was enough to make even him crack a laugh.

"You've successfully convinced me of your desire to be at sea. Do you not want to join my crew? Or is that not the reason you stowed away onto my ship?"

"No, we do… But, just like that?" Naruto inquired, glancing at his fellow stowaways.

"I may be a pirate but I don't often lie." The man said, a grin evident in his voice, "Now get up. My quartermaster will get you three settle in and working. Look alive!"

The three rose and began to follow the quartermaster out of the room.

"Hold," the man commanded suddenly, prompting the kids to turn, "Your names."

"Ino Yamanaka, Cap'n."

"Naruto Uzumaki; best and brightest!"

"… Hn, Sasuke Uchiha."

"Ah, Yamanaka," The man mused, inspecting the newest members of his crew, putting name to face, and face to family, "I remember your father. We were good friends, he and I, back before I became a Captain. And you two, I assumed you don't know much about your parents."

Naruto shook his head at this, while his best friend remained silent.

"Well, you'll find out about them soon enough," the man said, "Now out, before I change my mind."

"Wait, what's your name?" Ino questioned.

"Why, I'm Kakashi Hatake, Captain of this ship," he answered, "I'm a little offended you don't know that. Seriously, did you just pick a random ship to stow away on? That's stupid."

"But if you're a Captain, why don't you have a Captain's hat?"

"A hat's just a hat. You don't need one to be a Captain." Kakashi answered…

A FEW YEARS LATER

Naruto found himself sitting in a rowdy pub, watching countless men sign up to be a part of a new crew of the new Captain Sasuke Uchiha. He had stood there, arms crossed in disdain, having no idea why he agreed to be Sasuke's First Mate; one step under him— like he always seemed to be…

Thinking back on it, Naruto now knew exactly why he agreed to be Sasuke's First Mate. True, they were rivals, and he'd jump at any chance to beat the poor kid, but above that, they were best friends. The fact that Sasuke had even asked him spoke millions about their friendship. And no matter how much he detested being the underdog, he had to stick to his best friend's side. There were times where he considered leaving the crew to start his own, to become a great Captain like Sasuke. However, that would mean pitting themselves against each other, and that was something Naruto just couldn't do at the moment, even if they were rivals.


"Sakura, the Captain requests your presence."

Never in a million years did Sakura think she'd ever hear those words. However, in less than one year it seemed to become reality, for at that very moment she stood at the door of the Captain's quarters, hand hesitantly poised on the metallic knob. What in the world could the Captain want with her? In her short stay, he had already made it a point to single her out, steal her belongings, and publicly de-womanize her. What was he going to do to her now?

With a frustrated sigh, Sakura swallowed her anxiety and knocked on the door window, translucent flickers of light shining through the thin curtain. She listened for Sasuke's faint, "Enter," before allowing herself in. Although she didn't know what to expect of his quarters, Sakura was pleasantly surprised to see that it was neither fit for a prince nor a pauper. It was commonplace, well furnished, pristine compared to the grungy hammocks below deck, and a hundred times more spacious. There were two rooms: the main one, which was decorated with a fancy eastern rug, a large carved desk, a few plush armchairs, a large intricate map on the wall, and numerous other decors; and a bedroom, shut off by an adjoining door on the far end of the main room. The smell of cotton and salt was a welcomed replacement for the grog and sweat Sakura had grown used to.

"You called me?" Sakura asked, spotting the Captain at his large desk, working by candlelight.

"Yes," He said, motioning her over without as much as a glance. Sakura obeyed, halting in front of his desk and peeking curiously at the charts he seemed so absorbed in. They didn't look like anything special, simply nautical sketches and astrological interpretations of bearings.

"I have something for you," Sasuke stated, the deep orange glow illuminating the contours of his face as he abandoned his work to address her. Perhaps it was the way the candlelight seemed to melt the normally icy marble of his irises, or simply the addicting smell of cotton and salt that he reeked of, but when Sasuke gazed up at Sakura she practically entered a trance. She had unintentionally tuned him out, becoming less concerned with what he was saying and more concerned with the movement of his lips— the way they could barely move, barely twitch, yet articulate more than words ever could.

This was the key to reading Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura decided. Even a man with such a villainously apathetic facade had a chink in his armor, and Sasuke's was ironically right under his nose.

Sakura didn't know what had initially attracted her to his lips, but now that she was looking she couldn't tear her eyes away. They were captivating. Even a frown seemed to frame—

Sakura's thoughts stopped short when she realized that he was actually frowning. She blinked, returning to reality, only to be stunned again.

Sasuke was holding her hand.

It was a swift movement on his part, and before Sakura could move, speak, or think, Sasuke placed a tiny sack in the palm of her hand.

"…What's this for?" she managed to say, shaking the purse, hearing the rattle of gold coins.

"Buy yourself a decent suit," He explained, vertically panning her figure, "Your disguise is ghastly."

Sakura glared daggers, the insult ultimately restoring her composure and bringing back her fiery spirit. However, as she pondered the situation more closely, the glower— aimed at a stoically unaware Uchiha— softened.

"This is an apology for stealing my ring, isn't it?" Sakura grinned ear to ear. She was too caught up in her ego to see the bewildered rise of Sasuke's brows, "I knew you had a heart! Even the most haughty and fearsome of pirates can have guilty consciences. Well, I would like to inform you, mister Cap-i-tan, that I accept wholeheartedly. The gold, not the apology."

And Sasuke smiled.

For the first time since hell froze over.

Or at least it was the first time Sakura had seen him smirk out of amusement. Not his usual sinister, conniving smirk.

"Don't make me take it back," he threatened.

"Which, the gold or the apology?" Sakura pouted, clutching the sack close to her chest, "I hope you mean the latter."

"Go," he urged, and Sakura was pleased to see that, although the smirk was fading, the delight lingered in his eyes. It was strange to think that Sasuke somehow found her amusing; at least to a certain degree. Albeit reluctant to leave, Sakura turned to scurry off, only to be held in place by an iron grip around her wrist. When she glanced over her shoulder to see her deterrent, she was met with the stone cold, serious face of her captain.

"Sakura," he engaged, holding firm eye contact, and her heart stopped at the sound. It was the first time he had addressed her by her name; normally he called her 'cabin boy,' or 'the girl'. She couldn't deny that she liked the way it spilled from his mouth, like the sound of the world's finest sands falling softly and soundlessly, grain by grain. Nor could she deny, no matter how often she detested this man, the thrill it gave her to be formally acknowledged by him, "Stay out of trouble."

With those stern words, Sasuke released his grip, allowing Sakura to leave the room in a hurry. Once outside, the chill of night and fresh air helped clear her head from the drug-like effects of Sasuke's quarters. That room was like a sauna, sticky with the toxicity of Sasuke's aura— practically inescapable. It was undoubtedly a dangerous place.

Sakura looked down at her hand, the sack of coins jingling with the flick of her wrist as she thought over the events that had just taken place. What could Sasuke's real purpose be in giving her money? It didn't make sense to tell her to buy clothes. He could've, for all intensive purposes, made her steal the clothes, like a real pirate.

So why give her spending money? Why act like he cares what she looks like? Sakura knew there was an ulterior motive- there had to be. When it came piracy, no one ever did things out of the good in their heart. It was a simple, known fact.

But for some reason, something in the way Sasuke spoke to her made her think differently...

"Stay out of trouble."


A/N: Yay! An update!

I'm so sorry this has taken me FOREVER. But since this is a long ass chapter, I'm hoping you all will forgive. It was actually supposed to be longer (can you imagine?!), and end in a really awesome cliff hanger, but I had to cut it off here for the sake of length.

So I know you all want some SasuSaku fluff/romance, and probably weren't expecting an entire chapter basically dedicated to Naruto, but this chapter is essential to the plot— it reveals a lot of back story that appears later on, and an integral part of all the characters' development. Also, I'm taking this story very seriously, meaning I'm not just going to focus on Sasuke and Sakura, although they are technically the main characters. The progress is slow, but it will definitely be worth it in the end, I promise! And don't worry, SasuSaku fluff will come eventually

As for reviews, thank you to all and any who choose to brighten my day with some words of encouragement or constructive criticism. I truly appreciate them, and they definitely motivate me to work towards putting another chapter out

I LOVE YOU GUYS!

Let's try to get passed 50, yeah? I was hoping we would make it last chapter, but no worries. My ultimate goal is to make it 100+ haha. Thanks again, and remember to review!

PS: I always get too excited to proof read my stories, so you know the drill. Excuse any spelling/grammatical errors— I'm literate, I swear