After Kisame and the rest of them told the young samurai everything they knew about his family's current situation, it was finally time for them to learn about this place. Anything else wasn't truly urgent information for the man and could be told later on.
"Start with an overview, geography would be best", Itachi instructed.
Mihawk nodded, grabbed an empty sheet of paper from his cabin along with some coal, as a substitute for feather and ink, and started his explanation.
"A complete map of the world doesn't exist, or if it does nobody feels like sharing.", he stated at their questioning looks.
"Basically, there is one big continent in this world that surrounds the planet like a ring. This is called the Red Line and is the biggest connected landmass in the world. All other landmasses are islands of varying sizes. Crossing the Red Line at a 90° angle is an ocean called the Grand Line. This ocean is extremely dangerous and not much is known about it but the fact that most who attempt to traverse it never return. Surrounding this ocean on both sides are strips of sea called the Calm Belt. No wind ever blows there and it's the home of thousands upon thousands of sea kings. Crossing it is considered near impossible."
The ninjas nodded. It was easy enough to understand so far.
"Next, the four parts of the world thus divided by the two Lines are called the North, South, East and West Blue respectively…."
His explanations went on and on. Mihawk talked about many things that were basic knowledge. They learned about the world government, a tyrannical sounding organization that was in control of most of the known lands with their army called the Marines policing their territories. They learned of the Revolutionaries trying to overthrow said government and of the criminals, the pirates, and the recently deceased pirate king, who, even in his last moments, managed to make trouble for the Marines with 2 short sentences.
They learned about the currency, about weapons, and finally, about Devil Fruits.
"So, let me get this straight.", Deidara summed up in disbelief, "just by eating some fruit one can get the power to turn their whole body into fire. But in exchange certain rocks and bodies of water larger than a puddle will make one helpless."
"Basically, yes."
"What the actual fuck. Are people aware basically the whole fucking planet is made of water!?"
Deidara cursed in exasperation.
Some humans would literally do anything for power, even if that power came at such great a cost as this one apparently did. Not to mention that, since the fruits could literally appear anywhere, some careless sod or unwary child could eat one by accident, thus, never being able to swim again.
"Hn. We don't have to like it, just live with it."
Kisame stayed uncharacteristically silent throughout the whole thing, ever since Mihawk had explained the different races he knew of that populated the seas.
Fishmen. They were real.
"Those fishmen", Kisame finally broke his silence to ask, "are they like me?"
Mihawk knowingly looked at the ninja before him.
"There are thousands of different kinds of fishmen, but they all share the same characteristics. Some traits of a sea creature, gills, and rough skin which is usually differently coloured than that of humans. So, yes. Though apart from your colouring and teeth you don't seem to exhibit many other common traits like fins, I could immediately tell you were a fishman."
That… was surprising.
The other ninjas had always just assumed it was a bloodline limit of some kind, like the special eyes of the Uchiha or something. Well, depending on how you looked at it, it kind of was. It wasn't like you could learn to belong to a different race after all.
Kisame smirked.
He wouldn't mind meeting some of his distant family at some point. Apparently, they lived below the Red Line somewhere. He wasn't impatient. He had lived all his life thinking he was alone, he could wait until their investigation led them somewhere close.
"News", Itachi simply said.
And so, Mihawk's explanations started once more, the seagulls who delivered newspapers, the weird half-technology, half-living beings called cyborgs, etc.
By the time the ninjas finally deemed it alright to stop for the day, night had already fallen long ago. Finally dismissed, the samurai bonelessly collapsed, his voice dead. He stared up at the clear starry sky with unseeing eyes.
He didn't think he'd talked as much as he had today in the last year.
For a moment, he doubted his vocal cords would ever recover.
Not to mention, they had sat and talked the whole day, questions over questions, only drinking something occasionally when it became apparent Mihawk was at his limit.
He was hungry. Hungry and tired.
The samurai was so lost in his own misery that he didn't even notice his captain until the teen placed a plate down next to his cheek.
A warm plate which smelled downright divine.
Mihawk didn't know where he found the energy to, but he quickly sat up and snatched the plate up, as if his life depended on it, before digging in.
Itachi watched on in quiet amusement. He had finally decided to gut the captured sea king. He had a scroll full of its meat in stasis now. At least their food supplies wouldn't run out any time soon. His first time preparing sea king seemed to have gone well, judging by the greedy way in which the samurai ate.
They had perhaps picked the man's brain a little too much today.
In no time at all, Mihawk had emptied his plate. He felt alive again. Dear Lord, that had hit the spot.
"Thank you.", he said sheepishly.
"Seconds?"
"… please"
"Hn. I made a lot."
'The captain made this!?'
"I'm glad you like it."
Even Mihawk could see the barely hidden amusement on Itachi's face this time. He did not have the energy to be any more embarrassed than he already was.
"Hey, captain?", Mihawk asked as the ninja returned, voice still basically toneless from the strain he had put on it today. Yet, he couldn't help but indulge his curiosity.
"May I ask a personal question?"
Itachi merely quirked an eyebrow as a gesture to go ahead. He would merely not answer if the question made him uncomfortable.
"How old are you?", he asked curiously. He really wanted to know if his estimate was correct.
Itachi blinked for a moment, actually having to think about it. How old was he?
"16", he finally said.
Mihawk couldn't even imagine what the teen had been through to be powerful and respected enough to lead this monstrous team on missions.
They continued talking for a while, just some small-talk, nothing serious.
Mihawk could barely even remember when he fell asleep, right there on deck, under the cover of the stars.
When their samurai finally drifted off into a deep sleep, the four ninjas convened on the roof.
"What's your opinion?", Itachi asked.
"Aaa, he's a good kid. You made the right decision", was all Kisame said.
"From his body language and expressions, he does not appear to be untruthful. There are no apparent discrepancies to his story or explanation either. I cannot fathom any logical reason for him to lie to us either. It's obvious he has no idea of our identities.", Sasori explained his analysis.
"Un, you'd have caught it if he had recognized any of our names or faces. Even most civilians in the Nations recognize us on sight by now. He obviously has outdated knowledge, not knowing of the other major villages but Konohagakure or he'd have been suspicious, Sasori's name being what it is."
"I also believe him", Itachi finally said. "Mostly since his information could be verified easily enough once we reach any town of some kind. As for his background… even if he hadn't been accepted by the blood locked seal, Lord Mifune may be a just man but even he won't tolerate those posing as his family."
"So, in conclusion…", Kisame started.
"… we'll trust him, for now.", Deidara finished.
"until he proves untrustworthy", Sasori added.
The Uchiha nodded. Mihawk would still be watched carefully for a while, regardless. That was just common sense. But unless he really planned to trick or betray them, the ninjas were ready to accept him in their midst.
The next morning dawned bright and early. Way too early, in Mihawk's opinion.
He groaned loudly as the first rays of the sun pierced through his closed eyelids, inwardly cursing his sensitive eyesight.
A quiet chuckle sounded above his head.
"Sleeping beauty is finally awake, huh?", Deidara teased.
"Want some breakfast?"
His growling stomach was all the answer the bomber needed. Laughing outright now, he still went and readied a plate for the tired samurai.
After breakfast, the same routine as yesterday continued. They questioned, Mihawk answered. His answers brought along more questions, which he also answered.
On the 5th day of this, just after noon, Itachi finally put a stop to their interrogation. Not because they were satisfied with the information they had gotten, far from it. But honestly, Mihawk looked like death warmed over, which surprisingly didn't much influence his capability to answer their questions. He hadn't complained or asked for a break, not once. Yet, seeing the state the samurai was in left a bad taste in Itachi's mouth. He'd have put his foot down today, regardless of the fact that more and more the questions they asked weren't ones Mihawk had an answer to.
They had finally arrived at the point where their own investigation would start.
Mihawk didn't even register their leader had moved until a gentle hand was placed on his shoulder. He owlishly blinked up into the faintly smiling face of the Uchiha, confusion apparent.
When? How -?
"You did well", Itachi praised quietly, "For now, rest."
Dumbfounded, Mihawk could only nod and silently stumble inside, honestly too tired to argue. He had been too exhausted the past few days to bother putting up his hammock but he had missed the gentle swaying of the thing terribly. His back still ached faintly from sleeping on the bare wood outside for so many nights.
As soon as he finally relaxed against the familiar piece of fabric, Mihawk was out cold.
"His willpower is something else", Kisame praised, "It took me weeks of painful training to stay coherent for so long without proper rest."
"Hn. A good seedling"
Deidara and Sasori nodded in agreement.
"Well, the same goes for us though. Finish compiling what we've learned. We'll call it a day early today. Tomorrow we get up early and plan."
That's just what they did. As ninjas, they were conditioned to be able to fall asleep anywhere and anytime if they so desired. At the same time, they were capable of staying up for weeks on end, if the mission required it. Though they would crash and burn horribly afterward and their performance would be strongly impaired towards the end.
Thus, not an hour later, everyone but Deidara, who had volunteered for first watch, was sleeping like a log.
If asked, Mihawk couldn't have told you why he never asked for a reprieve from the incessant questions the last few days. Perhaps he had taken it as a kind of test to himself or he had wanted to prove something to his new comrades. Despite the fact he still didn't quite feel himself when he woke up, he could not bring himself to regret it.
Itachi just had a way about him that made one want to please the teen, to live up to his expectations, Mihawk decided.
That was a very scary ability if used incorrectly, or correctly, depending on one's point of view and/or moral code.
When he wandered outside, it was still dark. Yet, his companions were already awake, quietly re-packing their things to include the familiar and unfamiliar items they had extracted from the previously sunken storage scroll and split yesterday morning. Those things just hadn't been organized in places that made sense in their system yet.
Mihawk himself had also kept various useful titbits that had come out of that scroll, though he had yet to organize them.
"Good morning"
The samurai was still not quite used to not being alone on his boat. Don't get him wrong, he did enjoy the company, it would just take a while to get accustomed to constantly be around people again.
Itachi tossed a small bundle with breakfast his way but motioned for him to eat as they gathered.
The circle that had become their custom established once more, Itachi started straight into the topic at hand without further ado.
"Now that we have a rough understanding of the workings out there, the goal is to expand on that knowledge while considering the most likely venues that could lead to the information we need. That being said, before going anywhere near the Grand Line, which is filled with unknowns, we shall scout the other Blues first."
Itachi explained in a little more detail than he normally would since Mihawk wasn't used to his way of thinking, to avoid confusion.
Seeing as no immediate suggestions were forthcoming, Itachi continued.
"From what we have gathered I picked out one thing for each blue to focus on in particular. Opinions are welcome. North blue, revolutionaries. South blue, marines. East blue, Roger. West blue, the underworld."
No objections. His teammates had apparently come to a similar conclusion. The exact power of the world government and its nobles was still unknown. It was better not to be hasty right off the bat.
"Hn. We split up. Mihawk with Kisame. Communication via my summons until we get our hands on a white den-den mushi so calls will not get overheard. Report if anything is found or if there is trouble."
"West", Sasori called.
"Un, then I'll go north."
"We will stay east then"
Itachi nodded. He had assumed he'd be left with the South. The other three were far more interesting after all.
"If we do not find anything, we meet at Logue Town in 18 months."
And thus, with some last clarifications, Itachi handed each person several 1-time use seals to call upon a crow summon. Thus, the ninjas ended up splitting up.
Deidara and Sasori left first, deciding to simply water-walk to the nearest island for now. Deidara had been disgruntled at first but took the long separation as a chance to properly prepare for yet another rematch against the Uchiha. Sasori himself was quite eager to see what kind of poisons he could unearth at the Blue with the biggest criminal presence. Thus, they both didn't raise much of a stink as they left.
"Captain", Mihawk stopped Itachi as he was about to take his leave himself.
"I just wanted to thank you."
"Hn?"
"I was quite close to giving up when I ran into you. You taught me a lot in the short time I've joined you guys and found something that I thought I had lost. But most of all, you gave me new hope. So, thank you, captain, for taking me in."
Mihawk lowered his head and bowed deeply at the waist. He had felt like he would regret it forever if he didn't say this now.
Itachi just stared at the samurai for a moment, trying to decide how to feel about this, or what to say to something like that.
Finally, he settled for ruffling the taller man's hair like he would his little brother's.
"You are welcome, Mihawk. I am glad you did not come to regret your decision. Work hard."
When the samurai came out of his bow again, the teen was gone.