Hinata wasn't the only shinobi born who was allowed to leave.
Kiba was secondary heir, and he had always harbored a deep crush on the shy girl Hinata.
When he heard she was being taken as an apprentice to a pirate, he had asked to be allowed to go with her. They were teammates after all.
And since Gale liked animals and his loyalty, she allowed it.
Another person who was being sent with them was a girl named Yakumo Kurama, mostly on Kurenai's recommendation.
She had tried to help the girl control her family's talents towards genjutsu, but nothing she had tried worked. She hoped sending the girl with Hinata would help her find a way to keep the demon illusions under control.
"So what are we called? I mean pirates like your dad always have a name right?" asked Kiba.
"Well we have a ship, but it doesn't have a flag just yet. Besides, we have to stop by Wind Island to see if we can't rope Gaia and Temari into the crew. In the meantime Hinata will start learning medical jutsu from baa-chan since she expressed an open interest in it," said Gale.
"You're a pirate without a name for your crew?"
"Most pirates don't get a name until they have more than a few members, or if their captain has a very distinguishing feature. For example, my dad's crew is collectively called the Red Haired pirates, despite the fact he's the only natural red head on the ship outside of me."
"What about the flag?"
"Once we have an agreed upon symbol, we'll make a basic skull and crossbones. Fortunately one of the most basic things we're taught early on is how to make and repair pirate flags. They can be any color, but they all have to have the skull and crossbones."
"Ano... what do the skull and crossbones mean anyway?" asked Hinata timidly. She found this conversation fascinating.
"Depends on who you ask. Since we've got a long way to the ships, I suppose a bit of a history of the world outside the Elemental Islands is necessary."
They were almost to Tanzaku Gai, a major outpost for shinobi getting back home. Gale found a nice tavern and went into lecture mode. Hinata, Kiba, Akamaru and Yakumo all settled down for an early lunch while Gale explained about the history of the known world.
"Several decades ago there was a man known as Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King. He ruled the oceans with his crew and challenged the World Government. Now at some point he was captured and executed, but not before saying these infamous words that would spark what is called the Golden Age of Piracy. 'I've left my treasure for the taking, but you will have to find it first. I've left everything I've ever owned in One Piece.' Shortly after speaking these words, he was killed by the Marines. However the chance to become the next Pirate King sparked a race to sail the oceans to locate One Piece, which is what the pirate king's treasure is collectively called."
"How do you know all this?" asked Kiba.
"The legend of Once Piece is known on almost every island barring the Elementals, and even then it's heard on the fringes. The shinobi age might rule here, but out on the sea it's the rule of the Pirates. There's another big thing about the sea life... you have to watch out for Devil Fruit users," said Gale.
"Devil Fruits?"
"Magical fruits which can grant extraordinary and bizarre powers, at the cost of never being able to swim again. No one on the crew has eaten one, not even me. The thing is no one knows why people who eat the cursed fruits turn into anchors when they touch enough water, and most believe them to be cursed by sea devils."
Gale then brought out her bracelet which she wore everywhere. It was made of special rocks Shanks had found in the treasure that she liked a lot. Benn called them Sea Stones.
"These, are Sea Stones. They nullify the effects of devil fruits to the point that it's possible to hit even someone made out of air or fire."
This was her secret to beating the snot out of Ace. She just punched with the arm the bracelet was on and he couldn't stop it by turning into fire.
"Now, to answer Hinata's question about what the skull and crossbones mean. The thing is no one really knows what it means, but people have different ways of interpreting it. For example, if a pirate were to ask you what your Leaf symbol on your headband means, what would you reply?"
"We're shinobi," said Kiba instantly.
"Yes, but what does the Leaf mean to you? Is it a symbol of your village? A mark of pride? The greatest goal in your life?" asked Gale.
Kiba blinked. He had no idea how to answer that question, at least not without thought.
"Pirates, real ones not the glorified bandits of the sea like most Kiri rejects, will tell you that the flag they fly is a mark of pride and a symbol of their freedom. To me, a pirate flag is a sign of dreams, freedom and a sense of adventure. And to lose your flag is considered one of the worst things that can happen, as it's a mark of who you are as a crew. Keeping it in good repair is an absolute must for a crew."
The shinobi blinked. Most of them could replace a headband rather easily, some even defected just to switch villages. But they had no idea how important a flag was to pirates.
"Equally important is the ship. Now dad's said that he's letting me have the ship I used to do cargo runs in back when I was acting as courier for Wind Island, so we at least have one to start with. A good pirate keeps their ship in excellent or almost new repair. Failure to do so can result in death on the seas. It's more or less a starter ship though."
"Starter ship?" asked Yakumo.
"For the good pirates, there are four types of ships. There's enemy ships, ally ships, starter ships and your ship. The first two are pretty explanatory, but the others are a bit difficult to explain."
Gale took a long pull of her tea. It was a bit weak, but until they got onto the sea they couldn't legally drink any rum or sake. Stupid age limits.
"Starter ships are small vessels that most of the better pilots use until they either earn enough money to get a custom vessel or capture a better one from a disbanded crew. They fit at most ten to twenty people, which if you have the right members is more than enough. An absolute necessity of any crew is a captain, first mate, navigator, doctor, chef, someone to repair it, and at least one strong fighter. Having a clear chain of command in a crisis is also a necessity."
"So do we have all that?"
"The strong fighter and captain part is already covered by me. Haku-chan is our primary doctor and she's been training on how to cook for a few years now. Once Kimimaro and Sasuke finish their training with Uncle Hawk they'll likely join our crew too. Now what do you guys specialize in?"
"Ano, I like watching the stars?" offered Hinata.
"With a little training you can be our navigator and secondary doctor. What about you dog boy?"
"Fighter! Though I could help with repairs if you showed me how. Our clan tends to get a little wild at times and mom's favorite punishment is to make you fix what you break," said Kiba.
"Hopefully Gaia-chan will be allowed to come with us. She has experience as a navigator as well as a first mate from when we were acting as couriers," said Gale.
"Who's Gaia?"
"Red head with baggy eyes who kicked Neji's ass," clarified Gale.
"Her?"
"She's loyal, is an excellent navigator and keeps her head in a crisis," said Gale.
"So do we do missions or what?" asked Yakumo. She might not be a shinobi, but she wouldn't mind being a pirate.
Gale laughed.
"Pirates might do supply runs occasionally, but missions? We don't have any paperwork, we go wherever the winds and seas take us, and usually we don't give a damn if someone is a demon or not. As long as you can fight and be useful, you can be a pirate. Hell, Uncle Hawk is pretty much a one-man crew himself, and even the World Government acknowledges him as a threat big enough to not bother with," said Gale.
"No more missions with that demon cat?" said Kiba.
"Demon cat?"
"Tora."
"Oh... hey, wasn't Tora a brown cat with a ribbon on it's left ear?" asked Gale.
"How'd you know that?"
"I think Shukaku the one-tailed demon accidentally stepped on it... I saw some blood after I made his fly backwards and it looked like he stepped on some cat," said Gale.
In Konoha...
Sarutobi stared at the remains of a genin's worst nightmare mission. Retrieving Tora, the cat of the Fire Daimyo's wife.
From the looks of it's corpse it had been stepped on by Shukaku during the 'fight' with Gale.
"Someone bring me my ANBU. I have the best way to bring moral up after that invasion."
ANBU Cat, AKA Uzuki Yuugao, was the first to enter the office.
"Sir?"
"Spread the word. Subaku no Gaia has killed the demon that has plagued our village for too long."
"You don't mean..." said Yuugao eying the bloody ribbon.
"When she unleashed the demon it accidentally killed Tora. Break out the sake!"
And with that, several demands from Konoha were dropped when they learned Gaia had killed the demon cat that had plagued the village for years. The Fire Daimyo's wife wasn't happy, but the shinobi could care less. NO MORE TORA MISSIONS!
Back with Gale
"Did you guys just have the feeling something hilarious has happened and you weren't there to witness it?"
"Probably found out about Tora," said Kiba.
"Is it really that big a deal?"
"Imagine an animal that knows how to evade traps, claws the living shit out of you and you're not allowed to kill it. Now imagine carrying it a mile back to a mission office where the only joy you get is seeing it's owner turn it into a living squeeze toy until it escapes and you have to recapture it. Everyone hates that cat. Everyone," said Kiba in a dead tone.
"If Gaia killed it, she would be considered a hero for it especially among the genin," said Hinata.
"Welcome to the Red Force. Or as I like to call it, home!"
The shinobi stared at it in shock. They had never seen a ship this big before...it was clearly meant for traveling months out at sea.
"Right. Girls follow me, Kiba you'll be bunking with Itachi-nii. Dad had to set up a separate room for the newcomers unless they chose to join with his crew rather than mine. Fortunately we have plenty of supply rooms."
"Where's Itachi then?"
"Right behind you. You're late, and we're ready to leave Gale," said Itachi. Kiba jumped, then his eyes went to the tattoo on Itachi's left arm.
"You're ANBU?"
"Former ANBU captain. Perhaps you've heard of me, or my now former name? Uchiha Itachi."
"I heard you went missing!" said Kiba, star struck.
"More like I chose to become a pirate instead. Sometimes young Inuzuka, the hardest choice you have to make is to let go of the past and move forward. By the way, how's Hana? Last I checked she was a chunin."
"She's moved up to special jounin and is working at the veterinary clinic," said Kiba. He could relax a little around Itachi. He had only heard good things about him.
"I'll handle Kiba. Gale, show the girls to their rooms until we see if Suna is willing to part with Gaia," said Itachi.
"You got it Itachi-nii!"
"This is what Dad's been calling the girl's quarters. He had it converted when he realized that the amount of estrogen on the ship wasn't going to decrease anytime soon," giggled Gale.
It was actually Gale's room with several hammocks added in the area that had once been her closet.
She still had one, but it was full of sealed clothes rather than hanging ones. Shanks believed in using any available space he could, and there were lots of seals hidden around the ship as a result. Besides, sealing treasure in a pocket dimension (along with booze) meant they could store a good deal more than anyone expected.
Gale didn't mind sharing her space. She actually preferred it, since her only friends had been island brats.
Tsunade and Shizune however, got to have their own quarters in the medic bay. Perk of being the ship's doctor.
Hinata looked at the hammocks nervously.
"Almost everyone has to sleep in a hammock. Makes it easier when the waves are bad," explained Gale.
"How so?" asked Yakumo.
"Cast off!" came the shout.
"Come on! I'll show you how it works later."
Hinata, Yakumo, Kiba and Karin watched as Fire Island vanished into the distance.
"Everyone feels a little homesick during the first voyage away. Sasuke had to sleep next to me for two weeks before Gale tricked him into falling asleep in the crow's nest overnight. Which reminds me, Gale, you're on lookout duty until tomorrow. Shanks' orders," said Itachi.
Gale grabbed a rope that was hanging down from the spot and did her usual running leap off the ship before she practically flew right into the nest with a flip.
A few of the crew clapped at the display of acrobatics. The shinobi stared.
"Gale loves lookout duty because she's always so high up. She's a wind element," explained Itachi.
"How high up is that?" asked Hinata.
"About as high as the Hokage monument, give or take a few yards," said Itachi. He had measured, wanting to know the same thing.
Hinata looked at the climbing ropes, then at Itachi.
"You're free to go up and have a look yourself, but make sure to tie yourself to a safety rope just in case. Shanks had them added years ago while Gale was still a toddler and never bothered to remove them. We mostly use them in case of really bad storms," said Itachi.
Hinata tied the rope securely around her waist in a basic knot taught at the Academy and started to climb. About halfway up she almost seemed to lose her nerve, but kept her eyes firmly upward.
When she reached the top to a grinning Gale, she was rewarded with the most amazing sight.
Definitely worth the climb.