THE PLOT BUNNY GODS HAVE BEEN APPEASED! On an unrelated note, it may take a while since I've lost my muse due to a revolt from the bunny sacrifices. Fortunately there are ways around that.

Gale walked up to the mousy and still very pale Hinata Hyuuga. The girl took one look at her outfit and cutlass and eeped in surprise.

"Hi! I'm Uzumaki Gale, what's your name?"

"H-H-Hinata H-Hyuuga," said the girl.

"That's a really pretty name."

"Ano... why are you talking to me? Aren't you a bandit?" asked Hinata. Her headband was clearly around her neck.

Gale made a face.

"I'm a pirate, there's a big difference."

"What's the difference?" asked Hinata, honestly curious. She had only dealt with bandits before.

"Pirates are more like shinobi, at least the good ones are, than bandits. The lower level pirates are more like bandits and they tend to be taken out by the better ones if they don't change their habits fast. And best of all, pirates never have to do mission reports."

Hinata looked interested now. She had always been told that pirates were no better than the bandits.

"How about I explain life on the Grand Line while we watch the show? I'm sure my cousin won't mind one more and she might be able to help with that pale face of yours. She's a doctor you know," said Gale.

Hinata asked her teacher first, and she decided to follow them.

"Gale, what did your dad say about picking up strays?" asked Tsunade.

Kurenai stared.

"This is your cousin?"

"Uzumaki Gale, at your service! Dad's bringing her with us since she's tired of the Elemental Islands," said Gale.

"Shanks swears his cute little daughter is trying to make her own crew while still being a part of his own. She even has ship designs for when she finally sets out on her own," said Tsunade in amusement.

Gale wanted to sail with her own crew for a while, as being around that much testosterone got tiring after a while, especially since she was a blossoming teenager on a ship full of people she personally considered off limits.

"It's an honor to meet you..." started Kurenai, but Tsunade waved her off.

"Now what's this I heard about you trying to shanghai the Hyuuga heiress into your crew?" asked Tsunade of Gale.

"The girl's too kind to be a shinobi, but she might better off being a pirate."

"A pirate?!" hissed Kurenai.

"Not the bandits of the sea you're thinking of, but a real pirate. Kushina's father is a pirate, and a damn good one from what I've seen of his techniques."

"Pirates aren't required to kill like a shinobi, and they aren't considered weapons like those idiots in Ne," said Gale flatly.

She had read up on the history of the Elemental islands out of boredom and because she had nothing to do on the late night look out duties that she always got saddled with because she loved sleeping in the crow's nest.

She had also off-loaded most of those books in Skypeia, the floating continent in the sky. Most pirates considered them a myth, but Gale had tricks Shanks, Itachi and Sasuke when she was five to ride the current up into the clouds.

Thanks to her seals, they were able to leave unmolested by the locals with a ton of goodies.

Shanks and Sasuke were still unhappy with the fact Gale was a natural on the wavers and they kept crashing with them. Itachi was the only other one who had gone who could ride them.

Though Gale got good use out of her shinobi training when there wasn't any wind. She was responsible for insuring the ship stayed in motion when she saw bad weather.

"So where's Karin?" asked Tsunade after she made sure Hinata wasn't going to pass out on her.

Karin was another Uzumaki, one Shanks had accidentally run into before she left for Kusagakure. It had taken quite a few discussions, but the end result was that Karin was now on the ship waiting for them to return, seeing as how she wasn't allowed in Konoha until after the exams were said and done with.

And Kusa could care less if they took a meager genin, especially since it all but guaranteed that the current 'Uzukage' would visit their island in the near future.

Shanks was well known throughout the Elemental Islands by now because of his actions in bringing Suna back on the map before it had a chance to fall too far down in the rankings. Every village knew about the Red-Haired Pirates and their gold.

And Gale was all but guaranteed to get some new scrolls to play with later.

"Dad sent her ahead to the ship. She's currently working on seals like everyone else does once they get a spot on the ship," said Gale.

It was one of the requirements Shanks had for the crew. If they got on full time, they were taught how to use and/or make seals.

At this rate Gale was going to have a decent sized crew in time for Sasuke and Kimimaro to end their apprenticeship with Mihawk.

Now she just needed a cook.

"A genjutsu really? Talk about cheap," said Gale a few hours later.

Hinata was kept near Tsunade and Kurenai, primarily because she was still recovering from the blows Neji had dealt her.

Gale easily dispersed it with a negligent flaring of her haki. Genjutsu had nothing on that.

Gale took one look at the barrier and scoffed. She was thanking every deity that she knew of that actually liked pirates without the whole nasty afterlife to go with the worship that Shanks had gotten to her first. Seeing how half-assed these people fought made her annoyed.

She raced along the roofs, avoiding the stray kunai and shuriken to make it where the ANBU were.

The barrier, from what she could see, only went on top of the roof. Were these people really that lazy?

"Wind Style: Maelstrom of the Wind God!" said Gale, flying through familiar hand signs.

The roof was torn to shreds and the barrier abruptly broke apart as the ones holding it together were forced to get new footing. Gale was the first one in with her cutlass gleaming in hear hand.

Whoever that snake freak was, he gave her a bad vibe, much like that jerk Blackbeard on Whitebeard's crew.

On the plus side, she had met Luffy's older brother Ace who was a real riot. Shanks hadn't been the only one laughing when Gale took initiative and drew on his face when his narcolepsy kicked in.

Gale was about to charge in, haki blazing, except Itachi and Shanks beat her to it. The shinobi were boring them to tears.

"Gale, go keep Gaia out of trouble. Don't want your crew getting the locals mad do you?" said Shanks.

"Right dad!"

Gale grabbed her trusty goggles, a present from Yasopp when she first started acting as lookout. They were made so that she could always have a clear line of sight when she used her winds.

Next to Yasopp, she was the best sharpshooter in the crew.

"Wind style: Turbulence Storm!" said Gale, taking out her fan and firmly attaching herself to it.

The winds around her swirled to massive levels and lifted her up without her having to move a finger. A little chakra and the wind sent her flying to where Gaia was.

Gaia was having a horrid day. First she had to deal with that snooty brat Neji, then that jerk Kabuto brings her new orders... kill her sister Gale.

Baki didn't bother to enforce the orders that the Kazekage had given her. He knew it was futile and that they would be needing a new Kage soon. The man wasn't even that good a leader...about the only thing he did right was get on the good side of Red Haired Shanks long enough to help keep the Academy running.

Then that creep did something to the seal Gale had put on her that forced the demon out.

Normally Shukaku would go on a rampage, but there was something about Gale that had changed him.

She didn't treat him like a monster or as an unthinking beast. She treated him like any other member of the crew. And for creatures such as the bijuu, finding someone brave or crazy enough to do something like that had a profound impact on them.

So when he saw that bright red hair coming towards him, he stayed still long enough for her to get to the two.

"You took yer time girlie. Now get this seal off so I can go back to sleep!" said Shukaku.

"Hold your horses, you cranky old tanuki!"

"Shut yer trap you annoying kitsune!" he shouted back. Inside Gaia was giggling. Gale loved sparking an insult match with Shukaku, and it was funny to watch them fight.

"Gender confused moron!"

"Air-brained bandit!" shouted Shukaku.

"You take that back! Bandits are losers and I'm a pirate dammit!" shouted Gale with a roar as she punched the demon hard enough to send it flying.

Shanks, when he saw that, laughed. Perhaps Gale and Luffy wouldn't be the best match after all. They were simply too much alike! Though Ace and Gale might do better. After all, fire and air went together hand in hand when chakra was involved.

"Will someone kill her already?!" shouted Orochimaru.

He didn't need to know who the girl was. All he had to see were those eyes to know who her parents were.

No way was he allowing the daughter of that damn fourth Hokage ruin his plans any more than she had.

"Now what was that about killing my daughter?" said Shanks, his haki flaring.

"Or my little sister?" asked Itachi, his own haki starting to rise.

"Pirates? Don't make me laugh. You're nothing more than sea bandits!" said Orochimaru. He had dealt with pirates before, though they were primarily Kiri defectors.

"Ha! You've clearly never met real pirates before, or you would know that you shinobi are nothing more than small fry," said Shanks.

Itachi drew his sword and encased it with darkness.

"If you're not willing to put your life and dreams on the line, then you're not worthy to fight for the skull and crossbones!" said Itachi.

Shanks's grin widened. Itachi was a pirate through and through. He knew they'd corrupt him eventually.

Temari had a headache. Gale was arguing with the massive tanuki and beating the shit out of each other. Then again, it was rare that she got to argue with anyone other than the fox in her gullet.

Finally she had enough.

"WILL YOU TWO MORONS KNOCK IT OFF? GALE, PUT THE DAMN RACCOON BACK INTO MY SISTER OR I SWEAR TO THE SAGE I'LL BE THE ONE TO PUMMEL YOU!" shouted Temari.

Gale stuck her tongue out.

She had actually reversed whatever the hell Kabuto did a few minutes after Shukaku called her an air-headed bandit, but they were having too much fun to stop.

"BUTT OUT PIGTAILS!" shouted Shukaku.

Temari ran up his leg and gave him a Look. He winced and retreated back into Gaia, who was laughing at the insult fight.

"You sure you don't want to be in my crew?"

"Ask me that when we get back to Suna and get this mess cleared up," said Temari nursing a headache.

Hinata was nervous. It was understandable, since her father was making a decision on whether she could leave the village and travel with Gale.

Shanks had said that since Gale was so determined to see the world on her own and get her own crew, that she had to convince the Hyuuga to let her take Hinata with them.

Gale already had a good starter ship...one that Shanks had captured years ago had had repaired for just this occasion. It was fully stocked and ready for sailing. Gale just had to give her a good flag to fly under.

Hiashi Hyuuga walked in with Gale. She looked mildly irritated, mostly because she hated stuffy people.

"Hinata, it has been pointed out to us that perhaps Konoha is not the best place for you to grow as a shinobi. Uzumaki-san has offered to take you aboard her ship as an apprentice to learn fuinjutsu and this...haki. In exchange a portion of the treasure you acquire will be sent to the Hyuuga clan. It is up to you whether you go with her or not."

Hinata thought long and hard. On one hand, she loved Konoha, it was where she was born and raised. But on the other hand, from what she knew of pirates they weren't weapons to the highest bidder.

"I... I would like to join Uzumaki-san for a while father."

"Know that until you return and prove yourself worthy, Hanabi will be taking your place as heir," warned Hiashi.

Hinata nodded.

"Pack your things and prepare to leave. They leave within three days once the Hokage opens the gates for travel," said Hiashi.