The Fire Shadow reached the land of the living with a sudden crash as it floated to the surface. Water poured off of the deck and holes from below the deck. Everyone coughed up water. No one expected it to work like that, not even Hashi. But they were alive, for now at least.

Of course if you flip a ship, you don't automatically change how physics worked, Nagato and Yahiko figured that out the hard way. Yahiko grumbled after coughing up water, he was angry that Nagato's plan was actually the dumbest thing he agreed to be part of. "This was your idea."

Mr. Saru stumbled to his feet, he never heard that in any story. "Blessed sweet westerlies! We're back!"

Everyone else stumbled to their feet to see the sun. Kakashi was the first to point it out, "Sunrise." She smiled.

Zabuza and Hashi looked at the sun rising before they pulled out their pistols and aimed them at each other. Obito had joined and aimed his pistol at Zabuza, which in turn caused Zabuza to pull a second pistol on him.

Kakashi and Saru pulled out pistols and aimed them at Zabuza.

Yahiko saw what was happening and said to Nagato, "We need our pistols! Get untied, hurry!"

All was quiet as the ship creaked during the standoff. Zabuza and Hashi smiled before they began laughing together, and soon after the others joined in. Zabuza was the first to lower his pistols and everyone else did the same before Zabuza raised his pistols quickly and everyone else returned to their standoff.

Zabuza yelled out, "All right, then!" He was talking to Hashi, "The Brethren Court is a gathering at Shipwreck Cove. And, Hashi, you and I are a-going. There'll be no arguing with that point."

"I is arguing the point. If there's pirates a-gathering, I'm pointing my ship the other way." Hashi said.

Kakashi aimed her pistol at Hashi, "The pirates are gathering to fight Kaguya, and you're a pirate."

Hashi pulled a second pistol and aimed it at her. Obito pulled a second pistol and aimed it at Hashi, "Fight or not, you're not running, Hashi." Hashi aimed his other pistol at Obito.

"If we don't stand together, they'll hunt us down one by one, till there be none left but you," Zabuza said.

Hashi replied, "I quite like the sound of that. Captain Hashi Sparrow, the last pirate."

Zabuza was annoyed and he stepped forward aiming his left-hand pistol at Sparrow and his right-hand pistol toward Sarutobi, "Aye. And you'll be fighting Madara alone. How does that figure into your plan?"

Hashi aimed his left pistol at Zabuza's face, "I'm still working on that. But I will not be going back to the locker, mate. Count on that." Sparrow fired his pistol at Zabuza but nothing happened besides some water splashing out of the barrel. Zabuza was surprised that Hashi even tried to shoot him again but he wasn't as surprised as Hashi was when nothing happened.

Saru looked at his pistol disappointed, "Wet powder."

Everyone began dispersing but Nagato and Yahiko finally untied themselves. Nagato shouted out, "Wait! We can still use them as clubs!"

Yahiko looked at his pistol and smacked Nagato on the head with the handle of his pistol.

"Ow!" Nagato groaned.

"Sorry." Yahiko then tilted his head, "Effective, though." Yahiko then chuckled.

Zabuza rolled out the set of charts onto a crate and pointed to an island, "There's a freshwater spring on this island. We can resupply there and sail to Shipwreck Cove with haste."

Hashi was hesitant, "You lead the shore party. I'll stay with my ship."

"I'll not be leaving my ship in your command," Zabuza replied.

Obito needed to be the mediator, "Why don't you both go ashore and leave the ship in my command." The two captains gave Obito an evil eye. Obito cleared his throat, "Temporarily."

Zabuza looked out over the railing at the island with his spyglass and Hashi joined him, but Hashi used a different spyglass that was probably too long as it was bending downward. Zabuza looked at him amused.

Hashi stopped looking through his spyglass to give Zabuza a semi-toothy grin. And then Hashi felt something in his stomach, emptiness. Something was wrong, he'd never felt like this ever. He also felt parched, like he hadn't drunk in days. He couldn't tell anyone but he understood what was happening, his immortality had worn off after dying.

Nagato and Yahiko rowed a boat to the shore of the island but the ride came in and flipped their boat... Again.

As Hashi and Zabuza led the shore party with Tenzo and his men, Hashi saw something on the beach that made him concerned, he began walking toward it. Zabuza followed him. As Nagato and Yahiko were behind the two they saw the same thing.

"Criminy."

"Odds bodkins!" The two were shocked by the corpse of the Kraken on the shore.

The two ran to it with a stick, Nagato poked a tentacle with the said stick, "You stupid fish!"

"Actually, it's a cephalopod," Yahiko corrected him.

Nagato cackled as he climbed up onto the Kraken's body, "Serves you right."

"Nagato, I bet people would pay a shilling to see this. And another shilling for a sketch of them sitting atop!"

"Nagato and Yahiko, Kraken slayers." The two laughed as they joked around on top of the Kraken's corpse.

Hashi walked straight up to the Kraken's eye, he just stared into it. He knew that there was only one thing that could kill the Kraken, Madara.

Zabuza walked up behind him, "Still thinking of running, Hashi? Think you can outrun the world?" He noticed that Sparrow was unmoved, unfeeling. Zabuza stepped to Sparrow's peripheral, "You know, the problem with being the last of anything... By and by, there be none left at all."

Hashi turned his head slightly, "Sometimes things come back, mate. We're living proof, you and me."

"Aye, but that's a gamble of long odds, ain't it? There's never a guarantee of coming back. But passing on, that's dead certain. Even for immortals like you and I."

Hashi nodded, "Summoning the Brethren Court, then, is it?"

"It's our only hope, lad."

Hashi turned back to stare at the Kraken, "That's a sad commentary in and of itself."

Zabuza sighed and said, "The world used to be a bigger place."

Sparrow nodded no, "The world's still the same. There's just... ...less in it."

Sparrow and Zabuza followed Tenzo and his men to the island spring. But there was a dead body head down in the water, contaminating the water. Zabuza swiped a little bit of water on his fingers and placed them into his mouth before spitting it back out, "Poisoned. Fouled by the body."

Nagato moved the body up and said, "Eh, I know him. He was in Kumo!"

Yagura stood atop a rock and said, "Captain!" He pointed to Yahiko on the beach who was panicking. Hashi looked at Yahiko and heard him yell, "Oi! We got company!" He pointed off to a ship approaching The Fire Shadow.

Tenzo and his men began to aim their pistols at Hashi, Zabuza, and those from The Fire Shadow's crew. Hashi pointed to Zabuza, "He's the captain."

Zabuza just rolled his eyes.

Shisui's crew had fully taken over The Fire Shadow, capturing everyone who was not a part of Tenzo's crew.

Shisui stood on the deck of The Fire Shadow and watched as Tenzo brought Zabuza and Hashi on board. Zabuza was forced to climb the ladder first, he had a look of betrayal in his eyes as he met Shisui's.

"Captain Inuzuka... You showing up here, it is truly a remarkable coincidence." Zabuza said.

She paid him no mind as her attention was diverted to Captain Hashi Sparrow. "Hashi Sparrow." She last saw him eight years ago just before he stole a shipment full of cargo, important cargo from Iwa. Which was confiscated by The Iwa Royal Navy. "You paid me great insult once."

"That doesn't sound like me," Hashi replied.

Shisui sucker punched Hashi in the face, cracking his nose. Hashi groaned as he adjusted his nose back to its original place, "Shall we just call it square, then?"

Shisui scoffed at Hashi, "Square? Sure, we can call us square after you have a visit from your secret admirer." Shisui grabbed a hold of Hashi's shoulder and walked side by side to the railing to see a Royal Navy ship in the distance.

Hashi was guided into the Captain's cabin of The HMS Expansive Truthseeker. There she stood, looking out the window on the port side, looking at her men storm The Fire Shadow. Her hat was laid on her chair to make her look more comforting to Hashi. "Curious. Your friends appear to be quite desperate, Hashirama. Perhaps they no longer believe that a gathering of squabbling pirates can defeat The Perfect Susanoo. And so despair leads to betrayal. But you and I are no strangers to betrayal."

Hashi began searching the cabin for Madara's heart. But Kaguya knew what he was up to and turned around to face him, "It's not here, Hashirama."

"What? What isn't?"

"The heart of your beloved Madara. It's safely aboard The Susanoo protected by your brother, and so unavailable to mend the rift between you and the hollow-hearted captain."

Hashi walked around Kaguya's table, "Oh, the ship for that sailed a long time ago I'm afraid."

Kaguya watched his face and posture, if he was lying it was almost impossible to tell. "Then tell me, son, why do you still continue being a pirate?"

Hashi inspected a portrait of Kaguya in the corner of the room. He grabbed a can that she held in the portrait and tried recreating the same pose she had done. "In all honesty, it's because it's the one thing where I have freedom. From both the world and from you."

Kaguya seemed irked, "After we were sealed into mortal bodies I tried to bring our family close to together, but Tobirama accepted a trek away from Iwa by the king, and you failed to get those slaves to their destination. We could have had a better life if we'd all stuck together."

Hashi spoke solemnly, "People aren't cargo, mate. I won't stoop to your morality ever, and that's non negotiable."

Kaguya walked over to her desk and started pouring herself a glass of wine, "If you continue down your piracy path, what will you do once Madara Uchiha knows you're alive? Hmm?"

"I'm still working that one out."

Danzo and his men boarded The Fire Shadow, Shisui walked up to him, "My men are crew enough."

Danzo replied boldly and coldly, "Company ship, company crew."

Zabuza looked at his past lover with some agitation, she betrayed him just in hopes that Kaguya would let her live. But he knew that people like Kaguya weren't honorable or bound to their word.

Kaguya knew that Hashi had what she wanted but knew that she'd have to be persuasive, "Perhaps you'll consider an alternative arrangement. One which requires absolutely nothing from you but information." She held out a tiny glass small enough to hold with two fingers.

Hashi looked at Kaguya's war table and saw that she had nine silver pieces behind all of the little figurines and miniature ships. He accepted the glass, "Regarding the Brethren Court, no doubt. In exchange for fair compensation?" He took Kaguya's own glass as well and drank them both at the same time.

"Square my debt with Madara and guarantee my freedom?"

"Of course. It's just good business." She was unsure if the ravenette captain would be willing to end her grudge against Hashi, but Kaguya didn't care for that now.

Hashi picked up a miniature figurine of Kaguya and inspected it, "Were I in a divulgatory mood, what then might I divulge?"

"Everything. Where are they meeting? Who are the pirate lords? What is the purpose of the nine pieces of eight?"

Obito and Kakashi had cuffs put on their wrists, they were not the happiest with the situation. They both saw Danzo walking when Shisui grabbed his shoulder, "Kaguya agreed The Fire Shadow was to be mine."

Danzo looked at her coldly, "She's not going to give up the only ship that can outrun The Susanoo, is she?" He pushed Shisui's hand off of his shoulder and continued on his way.

Shisui was left furious and Zabuza saw this as the opportune moment, "Shame they're not bound to honor the code of the Brethren, isn't it? Because honor's a hard thing to come by nowadays."

Shisui turned to him annoyed, "There is no honor in remaining with the losing side. Leaving it for the winning side, that's just good business."

"The losing side, you say?"

"They have The Susanoo. Now The Shadow! What chance do the Brethren have?"

Zabuza stepped forward and almost whispered, "We have Kodama."

Shisui seemed to perk up a little bit and scoffed, "Kodama. An old legend." Shisui looked around the group Zabuza had shackled up with him, and Obito stuck out among the group to her. Obito felt Shisui's gaze on him and it caused him discomfort, but he understood that without Hashi on board, he was the prime suspect for who Kodama was.

Zabuza turned to see who Shisui was looking at and understood that Obito was the one she thought was Kodama. He turned back to face Shisui, "No. The god himself, bound in human form. Imagine all the power of land and nature brought to bear against our enemies. I intend to free him from his mortal coil. But for that, I need the Brethren Court." He grabbed a hold of Shisui's necklace, "All the court."

Hashi was walking around Kaguya's cabin while using a fan she had in the room to fan himself, "You can keep Zabuza. The belligerent homunculus and his friend with the wooden eye, both. And Kakashi. Especially Kakashi. The rest go with me on The Shadow. And I'll lead you to Shipwreck Cove, where I will hand you the pirates and you will not hand me to Madara. Bloody fair deal, don't you think?"

"And what becomes of Mr. Uchiha?"

Hashi stopped fanning himself, "What interest is he to you?"

Kaguya slightly chuckled, "Hmm..." She knew now that Hashirama still had a soft spot for the Uchiha family.

Shisui was looking at Obito with some... Interesting plans, "What are you proposing, captain?"

Zabuza walked to Shisui's left shoulder and asked, "What be ye accepting, cap'n?"

"The boy."

Obito was a little extra uncomfortable, "What?"

Kaguya stood up from her seat, "Hashirama. I've just recalled. I've got this wonderful compass, which points to whatever I want." She walked over to Hashi's captured items and picked up his compass. "So for what do I need you?"

Kakashi was angered by Shisui's attempt to steal Obito, "Obito is not part of any bargain."

Zabuza said, "Out of the question."

Shisui countered, "It was not a question."

"Points to the thing you want most. And that is not the Brethren Court, is it?"

Kaguya wanted to know where her son was going with his nonsense, "Then what is, Hashirama?"

"Me and Tobirama together again."

"Done," Obito said.

Kakashi was confused, "What? Not done."

Obito looked at Kakashi, "If this frees us and gives us a chance to defeat Kaguya, then done."

Zabuza leaned in toward the bickering couple, "Then we have an accord?"

Kaguya was annoyed, "Damn." She tossed Hashi the compass and he tossed the fan to her. She started fanning herself, "Although, if I kill you, then I can use the compass to find Shipwreck Cove, is it, on my own." Kaguya aimed a pistol at Hashi, "Cut out the middle man, as it were. I only need one son to listen to me, and Tobirama is a very obedient boy. You, on the other hand, have a history of disobeying my every word."

Hashi was surprised his own mother would be willing to aim a pistol at him but then again, it was his mother. "With me killed, you'd arrive at the cove, find it a stronghold nigh impregnable... able to withstand blockade for years. Then you'd be wishing, 'if only there was someone I had not killed inside to ensure that the pirates then come outside."

"And you can accomplish all this?" Kaguya asked.

Hashi extended his arms to the side, "You may kill me, but you may never insult me. Who am I?"

Kaguya was confused as she had no words to say.

Hashi had a look as if he'd been insulted and leaned his head forward, "I'm Captain Hashi Sparrow." He smiled a little bit saying his name.

A cannon shot hit the ship and knocked Kaguya to the floor, Hashi held onto the desk and shook Kaguya's hand, and said, "Done!" He grabbed his stuff and ran to the doors and knocked the guards against the wall, knocking them out. He walked to the aft casually as cannons and rifles fired, and soldiers were being thrown around from cannon blasts. Hashi began putting together an escape plan.

Kaguya walked out onto the deck and looked for Hashirama, she didn't see him anywhere but she did see Danzo fighting Zabuza on the aft of The Fire Shadow before Danzo jumped off the side knowing he was losing the fight with Zabuza.

Kaguya walked up the stairs to the helm and saw Hashi standing on top of the port railing. Hashi tied a rope to the back of a cannon and the other end went over the sail and into his hand. Kaguya saw that the miniature of herself in the cannon's barrel. "You're mad." She said to him.

Hashi turned back to her, "Thank goodness for that. 'Cause if I wasn't, this'd probably never work." He lit the cannon to fire and Kaguya had to dodge to the left so the cannonball didn't hit her, but the cannonball hit the middle mast, leaving a sizable hole.

Hashi was then flung upward and over to The Fire Shadow, he screamed as the crew watched him fly through the air. Everyone lost track of Hashi before the rope he'd been launched with fell overboard with no Hashi in sight. Zabuza was angry they lost Hashi but as he turned to leave he caught a glimpse of Hashi leaning up against a lantern on the back of the ship.

"And that was without even a single drop of rum," Hashi said with a smile.

Zabuza hated that he was impressed by Hashi's escape plan. Zabuza sheathed his sword and got on the helm, he cursed under his breath, "Damn, Sparrow."

Hashi stepped down from the ledge and flaunted himself to his crew and friends, though Obito was missing. "Now, do we have any food and water because I am both parched and starving?"

Kaguya looked over the backend of her ship at the escaping Fire Shadow. Lieutenant Itachi walked up behind her and asked, "Which ship do we follow?"

"Signal The Susanoo to track down Shisui Inuzuka. We follow The Shadow. How soon can we have the ship ready to pursue?"

The sound of cracking wood could be heard from behind her, Itachi turned to see one of their masts completely break down to the port side.

He remembered when Hashi Sparrow commandeered The Raikiri four years ago, he was impressed that just one man could be that skilled at escaping naval custody. "Do you think he plans it all out, or just makes it up as he goes along?"

Kaguya gave him a stare full of venom, she was furious that her son got the better of her.

Itachi backed up and went to go assist in the cleaning of the mast after apologizing to his superior.

"He was supposed to be the dumb rebellious son, not a genius escape artist." She grumbled to herself.

It was now sunset, and Obito was being dressed up in some fine silk clothing aboard Shisui's ship.

Shisui walked in wearing a red and black kimono that was loosely tied. She clapped and the two men that helped dress Obito left the room. Obito was concerned on what Shisui was planning to do with him, he didn't want to betray Kakashi's love.

Shisui spoke firmly, "By this time tomorrow, we will arrive at Shipwreck Cove and you will be free. Kodama." She said whilst stirring a green leaf into a bowl of tea. "Not a name you fancy, I imagine, out of the many that you have... ...but it is what we call you."

He thought he'd give her an appropriate response, "We being who?"

Shisui ate the green leaf, "You confirm it."

"Confirm what? You've told me nothing."

"The Brethren Court, not I. The First Brethren Court, whose decision I would have opposed. They bound you, your brother, and your mother into human form so the world would belong to man and not..."

"Us," Obito said playing his part.

Shisui circled Obito, "But one such as you should never be anything less than what you are."

"Pretty speech from a captor. But words whispered through prison bars lose their charm."

Shisui chuckled, "Can I be blamed for my efforts? All humans desire power and control, no matter how perilous it may be."

"And some humans offer desire as justification for their crimes."

Shisui backed away slowly, not losing eye contact, "I offer simply my desire."

"And in return?"

"I would have your gifts, should you choose to give them."

Obito approached her slightly, "And if I should choose not?"

Shisui's eyes were full of lust and wanting, "Then I will take... ...your fury." She said before pushing Obito into the wall and trying to kiss him.

Obito couldn't push her away because it felt good, but he was a good man so he didn't give in to temptation. He bit Shisui's lip and she staggered back, feeling the blood oozing from her lip she looked at Obito angrily.

She stepped forward and then... Boom.

A cannonball went straight through the cabin wall and knocked Shisui across the room. Obito couldn't see much through the smoke but he heard Shisui's shallow breath. "Shisui?" He called out.

Shisui had a piece of wood gauged in her chest. She held her necklace in her left hand and raised it, "Here. Please." She said weakly.

Obito made his way to her and knelt down to her level, Shisui placed the necklace in Obito's right hand.

"With all nine pieces of eight... ...you will be free." She saw Obito's hesitancy, "Take it!" She yelled the best she could. "You are captain now."

Obito was shocked, "Me?"

Shisui pulled Obito closer, "Go in my place to Shipwreck Cove."

Tenzo ran into the room with a bloodied left arm, "Captain! The ship is taken. We cannot..." He stopped when he saw Shisui in her current state, he took his hat off in respects.

Shisui whispered to Obito, "Tell Zabuza to apologize to our daughter for me..."

Obito both felt and heard her last breath, he stared into her onyx eyes as he stood up.

Tenzo asked with a voice of shock and sorrow, "What did she tell you?"

Obito held the piece of eight, "She made me captain." He said as if he didn't believe it himself.

Tenzo was both furious and saddened as he turned to go back to the main deck.

Captain Madara Uchiha was on Shisui Inuzuka's ship killing any pirate that was in her and Admiral Uzumaki's men's way. Rifles were being fired indiscriminately at men still fighting and those who surrendered, cutlasses could be heard cutting flesh, and screams of pain and agony filled the air. Madara relished in this pleasure, but she hated being ordered to do so.

She saw two of the admiral's men capture people leaving the scaptain's quarters, one was a nobody who was one of Shisui's men, but the other was her nephew she hoped her eyes deceived her.

The admiral and his lieutenant also saw him and got to Obito first.

Gai was ecstatic to see his best friend once again, "Obito? Thank goodness you're alive. The governor will be overjoyed to know you're safe." He hugged Obito after the guard holding him let go. Obito hugged back remembering all the dumb things they did together that seemed like yesterday, before all the pirate-associated stuff happened that is. But his smile faded as Gai mentioned the governor.

Obito turned to Tobirama and remembered the last encounter with the admiral was not the best, as they were with swords. "Governor Namikaze's dead."

The two were confused, the admiral moreso, "No, that can't be true. He returned to Iwa." Tobirama said.

Obito knew that neither Gai nor the admiral would ever do anything to cause harm to the governor. Gai was loyal even if it meant death or embarrassment. And the admiral and Minato were great friends for many years. "Did Lady Kaguya tell you that?" Obito said coldly.

Tobirama's face contorted into betrayal and grief at the news. He knew his mother could be vile, but never to this extent.

Gai knew that the company people were vicious but killing an innocent man for no reason was criminal.

"Who among you do you name as captain?" Madara shouted at a group of pirates that surrendered.

Tenzo pointed out to Obito, "Captain. Him."

The group Madara was interrogating also pointed to Obito.

Gai was baffled that the same kid he'd played with wooden swords with actually became a pirate captain.

Tobirama was shocked that the blacksmith boy could've become a pirate captain, but then again it was in his blood.

Madara walked over to Obito, Gai, and Tobirama, "Captain? You?" Madara snorted as she laughed, "My, my, nephew. You've gone up in the world. Going from Hashirama's errand boy to Shisui Inuzuka's replacement."

Something clicked in Gai's brain as he heard nephew, so he was related to the cursed pirate captain. It made sense from one perspective.

Tobirama got an idea, he wasn't going to let the man his daughter loved die. Tobirama turned to Madara, "Tow the ship. Put the prisoners in the brig."

Madara grumbled at him, "As you wish, Admiral."

"The captain shall have my quarters," he said as he turned back to Obito.

Obito was surprised that Tobirama would go to any length to make sure he wasn't killed on the spot, Madara probably would have done so already.

"Thank you, sir. But I prefer to remain with my crew." Obito said before joining up with leftover survivors of Shisui's crew.

Tobirama grabbed a hold of Obito's arm, "Obito. I swear. I did not know."

Obito looked back at him, "Know what? Which side you chose?" He ripped his arm away from the admiral's grip and stood with Shisui's men, "Well, now you do. And you know Kakashi is on this side too. I know you're not heartless, but you should've known she would stand against Kaguya."

As Obito and Shisui's crew were thrown into the brig of The Perfect Susanoo, Obito looked around at the fish people leaving and he didn't recognize any of them to be his father.

He sighed until he heard the sound of something cracking, it was his father's neck moving as he looked around the brig. Izuna was in the wall, much like Wyvern was but to a lesser extent. Izuna had more barnacles and seaweed on him than just one year ago, he had sea shells all over his body.

Izuna perked up, "Obito?" He blinked twice and moved out of the wall and tapped on Obito's chest, he was making sure he was real. Obito hugged Izuna and Izuna hugged even greater than Obito did as they hugged, they both laughed.

Izuna backed out of the hug, "You made it! You're alive."

Obito understood what he meant, "No Kraken could stop me from saving you. It's a promise I swore to keep."

Izuna hugged his son again, gripping him close before realization set in. "You can't be here, this is The Susanoo. And if you're on The Susanoo..."

Obito tried to calm his father, "I'm not bound, nor will I be bound. I'm here because I was captured with my crew. We'll find a way out. And when we do, me and Hashi will save both you and Madara."

Izuna looked like he heard hollow words, "Son, you know that there's no way to save Madara and myself. It's a fool's errand. Only her death can free everyone on The Susanoo, but you must take her place."

"There's another way, there has to."

Izuna seemed aggravated, "There is no other way! Thinking that there's another way only denies the harsh truth, either I'm damned, or you're damned." Izuna sat down on a barnacle-covered bench. "You've got a fiance to get to, right? Just be with her. Don't pick me. I wouldn't pick me." Izuna got up and sat back into his imprint in the wall, "Stay away. Get as far away as you can and be with your wife. I've already become a part of the ship. Stay away." Izuna closed his eyes and the ship began to morph around his body until it looked like his father fell asleep.

He tapped on his father, "Bootstrap?"

Izuna's neck cracked as his eyes opened, "You know my name." He smiled.

"Yes, I do." Obito didn't know how else to respond.

"Obito," Izuna smiled. "He's coming to save me. Wait and see. You'll see. He promised." He closed his eyes again.

Obito was left with heartache and pain knowing that his father was slowly losing his mind and memory to the point he didn't recognize him.

It was now mid-day on the ocean and Kaguya's ship came across a barrel with one of her men's corpses tied to it with a bottle with paper inside with the East Wind Trading Company sigil on it.

"Milady," Itachi called her over to the starboard railing.

Kaguya saw seagulls pecking at another corpse tied to a barrel, and two others in the far distance. "A breadcrumb trail. And we're meant to follow."

"A betrayer among them? Or a trap?" He asked.

Kaguya folded the piece of paper, "A gambit by a skilled opponent. Adjust course, lieutenant."

"Ma'am?"

She turned to face him for a second, "We can only hope to reach our destination before they run out of bodies."

During the night on The Fire Shadow, Kakashi was tying up bodies to barrels just next to the figurehead for Kaguya to follow, she stopped for a second to look at her knife. Tobirama gifted it to her for her sixteenth birthday, it had her initials carved onto the handle. She wished she had it with her when Nagato and Yahiko kidnapped her four years ago, but then again they were immortal at the time.

"You know it's probably not the best idea you've had," Hashi said whilst laying on the bowsprit.

Kakashi was surprised that Hashi was just watching her, not even attempting to stop her mutinous act.

Hashi got up and slid down the bowsprit, "Kakashi, do you notice something? Or rather do you notice something that is not there to be noticed?"

Kakashi looked around realizing what he was referring to, "You haven't raised an alarm?"

"Odd, isn't it? But not as odd as this." Hashi jumped down to the ledge Kakashi stood on. "Come up with this all by your lonesome, did you?"

"Obito told me that if I ever didn't know what to do, just think like Hashi."

"This is what you've arrived at? Lead my mother to Shipwreck Cove so as to gain her trust and accomplish whatever goal you have? It's like you don't know me at all, mate."

Kakashi hung her head down, "I want to lure her out so I can meet with my father and kill him myself. What he did was..."

"Unforgivable?" Hashi chuckled, "He's done worse than sentencing me to death."

Kakashi cringed thinking about the conversation she had with her father before everything fell apart, "You're right. Kaguya has done far worse."

"Aye," Hashi nodded. "That she has."

Kakashi turned around to face her uncle, "No, you don't understand. My father said that Kaguya killed your unborn child. Yours and Madara's child."

Hashi fell against the ship, "No. It's not true. She couldn't have... ...I was... ..to be... ..a father?" The word echoed through his mind, reminding him of his love for Madara. He could have had a child with Madara if his mother didn't meddle into his affairs. Hashi gripped his hands in anger, he had never been so angry like this ever before. "What else did Tobi have to say?" He asked coldly.

Kakashi saw the pain that hid behind those eyes now more than ever before.

"He said that he regretted preventing you from meeting Madara that day," Kakashi said.

Hashi chuckled slightly, "I know." Hashi raised his head, "Tobi's not on Kaguya's ship. He's on The Perfect Susanoo."

Kakashi was curious how Hashi would have gotten that information, "How do you know that?"

"My mother told me as she saw me looking for Madara's heart and as I expected, she said that Tobi was protecting the chest on The Perfect Susanoo."

Kakashi looked down at the sea, she saw the beauty in the dark sea.

Hashi grabbed her shoulder, "You don't have to kill your father nor Kaguya, if you lead Kaguya to us I'll have a plan ready."

Kakashi just stared into the dark abyss that was the ocean, she wondered why Hashi was more active, willing to risk his life to save pirate kind. "Why the change of heart? You were so willing to run away this morning. Why do you want to stop your mother?"

He turned Kakashi around. "Death has a curious way of reshuffling one's priorities. So I've decided that I'll save Madara from herself and lead Tobi to the right path. And... ...oh." Hashi grabbed his compass and handed it to Kakashi.

"What's this for?" She asked looking at the compass.

"Think like me. It'll come to you." He leaned forward and let out a breath that smelled so vile that Kakashi fell backward, overboard. Hashi tossed the corpse barrel down for her to hold onto until Kaguya came across her. "Give my regards to Madara." He said as she swam for the barrel.

Kakashi gripped onto the corpse and barrel and muttered to herself, "I hate him."

Back on The Perfect Susanoo, Lieutenant Gai opened the cell door to the brig while Tobirama said, "Come with me." Not a single person moved. "Quickly," he whispered urgently.

Tenzo understood that the admiral was trying to help them escape so he walked out of the brig and everyone followed, except for Obito.

Obito stared down at Tobirama, "What are you two doing?"

Tobirama gave him a serious look, "Choosing a side."

Tobirama and Gai snuck the pirates to the balcony on the back of the ship by climbing on the outside of the ship. The pirates began climbing on the ropes connected to Shisui's ship. Gai was on lookout duty, he had to make sure no one saw them escape.

At the same time, Izuna realized the brig door was open. He walked out to find the escapees.

Tobirama knew they were short on time so he had to make sure the pirates climbed across faster. "Quickly, or else Madara catches us."

Tobirama spoke to Obito, "Do not go to Shipwreck Cove. Kaguya knows of the meeting of the Brethren. I fear there may be a traitor among them."

"It's too late to earn forgiveness," Obito replied.

"I had nothing to do with Minato's death." He looked stern. He turned away, "But that does not absolve me of my other sins."

Obito knew that if Tobirama stayed it would most definitely result in his death, "Come with us."

Tobirama looked shocked by Obito's words.

"Mr. Uzumaki, come with us. Kakashi will be at Shipwreck Cove, so for god's sake come with us."

Tobirama nodded, "Alright." He let Obito climb on the rope first. He turned to Gai, "Gai, you're the only one I trust to keep an eye on things. My hope is that Danzo won't suspect you of anything."

"I'll do my best, admiral." Gai nodded before Tobirama began climbing on the rope over to the other ship.

"Who goes there?" Izuna's voice could be heard from above. Izuna walked down to the balcony with a sword already in his hand.

Gai drew his sword and pointed it at Izuna, "Back to your station, sailor."

Izuna looked at the prisoners escaping, "No one leaves the ship." His voice sounded almost soulless.

"Stand down. That's an order." Gai was wary of Madara's cursed crew, they terrified him. They represented the worst in sailing to him.

Izuna looked at his feet and whispered to himself, "That's an order." He looked back up at Gai, "Part of the ship, part of the crew. Part of the crew, part of the ship. Part of the crew..."

"Steady, man." Gai almost shouted.

Izuna began chanting loudly, "Part of the crew, part of the ship. All hands, prisoner escape!" He shouted for the whole ship to hear.

Tobirama heard Izuna's voice and stopped climbing to see Gai pull out a pistol and shout, "Belay that!" Tobirama wanted to climb back and help Gai but as he tried Gai changed where he was aiming and fired at the main rope, causing everyone who wasn't already on Shisui's ship to fall into the water. Tobirama and Obito saw Gai was stabbed by Izuna in the chest as they floated in the water.

Gai slumped down against the railing, choking on his own blood. Some of Madara's crew appeared behind Izuna, one that was infused with a puffer fish for a face said, "The lieutenant's dead."

Another one asked, "A lieutenant's dead?"

Kisame appeared and saw that Izuna had indeed stabbed Lieutenant Gai, he was shocked, to say the least.

Izuna's mind seemed blank, the only thing he murmured at times was Obito's name. But now it seemed like even that was gone. He was just a soulless tool for the ship.

Madara stepped around the corner and pushed anyone out of her way, she saw the wounded Gai.

Madara spoke to her crew, "Give those blue-coated bastards a Susanoo welcome."

Kisame smiled and shouted, "To the captain's cabin!" The crew dispersed throughout the ship.

Madara walked up to Gai and knelt, "Mighto Gai. Do you fear death?"

Gai didn't answer, instead, he thrust his sword into Madara's chest. She looked at the sword and then back to Gai, who gave in one last breath before succumbing to his wounds.

"I take that as a no." She stood up and inspected his sword before giving it to Izuna, who still was hovering over Gai's body.

"Seems like your time in the brig has turned you back into a true pirate. Here's your promotion, younger brother." She handed him the sword before walking off.

Madara walked through the pure and chaotic fight on her ship between the East Wind Trading Company soldiers and her crew. She paid no attention to any of it as she continued walking to her cabin, the one that she was forced out of.

She stepped into the cabin which had twelve soldiers with guns pointing at the door and two handheld cannons pointing at the chest in the center. Danzo leaned against the left wall holding the key to the chest, "With the admiral and lieutenant gone. The Susanoo is under my command." He flipped the key around his hand before catching it with a stern expression.

Madara sheathed her sword, "For now."

In the middle of the day near an island, Mr. Saru was shouting on the deck of The Fire Shadow, "Look alive and keep a weather eye. Not for naught it's called Shipwreck Island. Where lies Shipwreck Cove and the town of Shipwreck."

Nagato shouted out, "You heard him. Step lively." The crew began getting to the stations as Hashi and Saru walked to the helm.

"Y'know for all that pirates are clever clogs, we are an unimaginative bunch when it comes to naming things."

"Aye," Sarutobi responded.

Hashi stopped walking, looked Saru in the eyes and said, "I once sailed with a geezer who lost both of his arms and part of his eye."

"What'd you call him?"

Hashi took a second to respond with, "Larry."

Saru was baffled by the sheer mundaneness of the name he just blinked several times as Hashi walked up the stairs.

Zabuza was conversing with Konan at the front of the ship, "I do not renege on a bargain once struck. But we agreed on ends only. The means are mine to decide."

Konan grabbed his hand, "Caution, Zabuza. Do not forget that it was by my power you return from the dead." She turned his hand into a boney-decaying hand. She let go of his hand and it turned back to normal, "I will see what I can do, but I fear witty Hashi won't be of much use for when the time comes."

Zabuza was curious, "What exactly do you mean by that? He's Kodama."

"Aye, he is. But I feel he is now just a mortal. Which means that the ritual will not affect him. And we will not have the power of the gods on our side."

Zabuza scratched his chin, "Hmm. That's quite an inconvenience."

"We must ask Hashi who Suijin and Izanami are before there's no time. A battle comes ever forward whether we like it or not."

"Aye. I'll speak with Hashi." Zabuza was about to walk away but Konan jumped in front of him.

"I'll speak with Hashi, you keep an eye out for rocks so we're not an additional ship to add to Shipwreck Cove." She walked toward Hashi at the helm.

Zabuza turned around and looked over the edge, he then inspected his hand as he felt strange having his hand changed like that.

Hashi enjoyed the helm, it was so easy for him to just stop thinking and relax. He was calm and relaxed until Konan walked up the stairs. He sighed, "And what might your visitation bring me?"

She leaned against the guard rail in front of the helm, "Hashi Sparrow. What is it that you're hiding?"

"Beg your pardon?" Hashi caught off guard with the sudden question.

"You think I wouldn't notice?"

Hashi looked around and then at Konan, "What gave it away?"

Konan smiled, "The food you ate, it looked like you were starved for more than three weeks."

"Oh, well. I suppose that's true, in a sense."

"You know what Zabuza's plan is, so you must also know you're no longer the focal point."

Hashi understood where this was going, "You want to know who my brother and mother are?"

Konan nodded, "Yes."

"Well, my mother is Lady Kaguya Ōtsutsuki. Not sure you'll want to be freeing her. And then Admiral Tobirama Uzumaki is my brother. I'm a little on the fence with him at the moment."

"Hmm. That complicates things even more. But if you're able to convince your brother to help us then that would give us all the help we need."

Hashi wasn't too pleased that he would have to convince Tobirama to help them, it was going to be one big headache. And it was already going to be a headache to lead him away from the Royal Navy. "I'll do it. But you're going to have to find a way as to not release me mother from her mortal body, or else there will be no battle."

Konan turned around and headed for the stairs, "I was able to bring Zabuza back from the dead. Making sure a goddess stays in her body from a ninety-year-old spell as we break it can't be that hard." She gave a nervous chuckle.

It was now night, aboard The HMS Expansive Truthseeker the corpses left by Kakashi were being thrown into a pile. Madara walked on the ship and past the pile of corpses to Kaguya's cabin, she shoved a guard out of her way as she arrived. Madara laid her eyes on Kaguya and a guest of hers drinking tea.

"I cannot be summoned like some mongrel pup."

Kaguya sipped her tea and placed her cup and tray down on the small table in front of her, "Apparently, you can."

Kaguya's guest turned to face Madara, the guest's white hair was similar to Kaguya's but less formal.

Kaguya wanted to introduce the guest, "Captain Uchiha, this is my granddaughter Kakashi Uzumaki."

Madara ignored Kakashi and kept her attention on Kaguya, "What do you want?"

Kaguya signaled for the available chair, "Sit please."

Madara grumbled as she walked over to the seat and sat down with her arms crossed.

Kakashi put a sugar cube in her teacup, she drank her tea. "Hashi Sparrow sends his regards." She said in between sips.

Madara looked bewildered, "Hashi Sparrow?"

Kakashi could tell from her response that Kaguya didn't tell her. "You didn't tell her." She looked at Kaguya. Kakashi turned back to Madara, "We rescued Hashi from the Locker along with The Fire Shadow."

Madara now angered, leaned toward Kaguya, "What else have you not told me?"

Kaguya was annoyed that Madara was now privy to that information, she sipped her tea with her eyes closed. Kaguya sat her tea on the table and walked over to a globe, "There is an issue far more troublesome. I believe you're familiar with the Brethren Court, yes?"

Madara scoffed, "Those fools are still running a muck? I thought they would have died out to all the infighting between the pirate lords."

"Well, apparently, they intend to release Kodama and the other gods," Kakashi said.

Madara snapped to Kaguya and stood up, "No! They cannot! The First Court promised to imprison them forever. That was our agreement."

"Your agreement?" Kaguya didn't know that Madara was involved in their sealing, she assumed Hashirama was involved.

Madara seemed bothered she walked toward the window, "I... ..showed them how to bind them... He could not be trusted... I... He gave me no choice." Her voice seemed less harsh and cruel than before.

Kakashi heard the story about Hashi's love for Madara but he'd also heard how ruthless and cold Madara could be, this must've been how Madara was before the corruption.

"We must act before they release them," Madara said returning to her normal cold-blooded demeanor.

"You loved Kodama," Kakashi said gaining Madara's attention. "He's the one. And then you betrayed him."

"He pretended to love me. He betrayed me." Madara's heart and soul were on display as she stepped toward Kakashi before stopping right next to her seat.

Kakashi stood up to match Madara's height, "After which betrayal did you cut out your own heart, I wonder."

Madara slapped the plate and teacup from Kakashi's hands, shattering on the ground. "Do not test me," Madara said with venom.

"I hadn't finished that," Kakashi stared into Madara's eyes with an unwavering amount of courage. "You will free Obito's father."

Madara knew it would be so easy to see the life drain from this girl's eyes but she knew that she couldn't with the only person who could give the word to stab her heart in the same room.

Kakashi turned to Kaguya and walked toward the globe, "And you will guarantee Obito's safety. Along with my own."

Kaguya finished taking another sip of her tea, "Your terms are steep, Miss Uzumaki. We will expect fair value in return."

Madara butted in, "There is only one price I will accept: Hashirama murdered."

"Hashi's aboard The Fire Shadow. And sailed The Fire Shadow to Shipwreck Cove."

Kaguya placed her plate and cup down, "And with you no longer aboard her, how do you propose to lead us there?"

Madara stepped toward Kakashi and cracked her jaw with a bite.

Kakashi took a second before thinking of what Hashi would do. She pulled out his compass, "What is it you want most?" She smirked. Kaguya smiled at seeing the compass.

The whole city of Shipwreck was built out of Shipwrecked ships inside of a surrounding circular mountain formation. It was lit by every single lantern on ships from the top to the bottom. The Fire Shadow came out of the cave necessary to reach Shipwreck Cove, everyone except Shikamaru was at the stern of the ship. There must've been seventy ships docked at the city.

Nagato said in amazement, "Look at them all."

"There's not been a gathering like this in our lifetime," Zabuza said.

Hashi peeked over Zabuza's shoulder and veered out from behind him, "And I owe them all money."

Zabuza looked at Hashi with a chuckle.

All the pirate lords except Shisui were accounted for in the sacred hall of pirate lords, housing a sword and hat with a plaque next to them. Fifty plaques must've been there.

Eight of the pirate lords stood around a large long rectangular table, bickering and murmuring filled the hall as each of the lords' crew spoke amongst each other and or bickered with another crew.

Zabuza knocked a chain ball against the table, the talking and bickering stopped and all eyes were on him at the north edge of the table.

"As he who issued summons, I convene this, the Fourth Brethren Court."

In the middle of Zabuza's speech, Hashi messed with a globe that had each of the pirate lords' swords stabbed into it. Hashi walked over to stand next to Zabuza

The pirate lords sat down except for Hashi and Zabuza, Zabuza signaled Nagato to gather the pieces of eight into a bowl. He spoke to the pirate lords, "To confirm your lordship and right to be heard, present now your pieces of eight, my fellow cap'ns."

The first captain, Captain Hanzo the salamander, he was an older gentleman with greying brown hair and he wore a cloth mask over his mouth, he dropped a powder horn into the bowl. The second captain, Captain Raza, a man with dark red hair and a brown coat and black shirt, threw a playing card, that was not treated well by time, into the bowl. The third captain, Captain Sakumo, an experienced-looking pirate with white hair and wearing a green jacket with a red swirl pattern throughout the jacket, he dropped a half-broken salt bottle into the bowl.

Yahiko was perceptive enough to see the items being put into the bowl, "Those aren't pieces of eight. They're pieces of junk."

Mr. Saru stood next to him and replied, "Aye. The original plan was to use nine pieces of eight to bind the gods. But when the First Court met, the Brethren were to a one skint broke."

The next captain was Captain Killer Bee, a darker gentleman with an open white jacket and wore a pair of black glasses, he dropped a razor into the bowl.

Yahiko turned to Saru, "So change the name."

"To 'nine pieces of whatever we happened to have in our pockets at the time?' Oh, yes. That sounds very piratey."

The fifth captain, Mistress Mei Terumi, a brunette woman in a dirted blue evening dress, she slowly placed a pair of old reading glasses into the bowl.

And the sixth captain, Captain Ohnoki, a shorter man with a long greying beard, who dropped a pipe into the bowl.

Nagato finally reached back around to Zabuza, he spoke to Nagato, "Master Nagato, if you will."

Nagato looked at him, "I kept it safe, just like you said when you gave it to me."

"Aye, you have but now I need it back." He then popped Nagato's purple wooden eye into his hand and then placed it into the bowl.

Captain Hanzo yelled out, "Sparrow." He was the only pirate lord present yet to give his piece of eight up.

Hashi hadn't yet told anyone what his piece of eight was, but he had to make sure it was still there. He felt the beads connected to his bandana, Zabuza watched him do so but said nothing.

Hashi spoke up, "Might I point out that we are still short one pirate lord, and I'm as content as a cucumber to wait until Shisui Inuzuka joins us."

"Captain Shisui is dead," Obito said as he walked in with Tenzo and his crew. "She fell to The Perfect Susanoo." Obito wore a blue jacket with sleeves rolled up to the elbows, black trousers, and an orange shirt. Oh, and you can't forget his new hat, a blue cavalier hat that had the left side folded up with a red feather on the top.

Zabuza felt a pang in his chest at the words, he'd never thought Shisui would die before him. He knew he would have to visit his daughter when this was all over.

The hall erupted in outrage, Mei Terumi spoke up, "The plagued ship."

Obito placed his sword into the globe without a word. Hashi saw him do it and knew, "She made you captain? They're just giving the bloody title away now." Obito made his way to stand next to Zabuza at the table.

The other pirates yelled at Obito, he tried to have his voice be heard, "Listen. Listen to me. Our location has been betrayed. Madara is under the command of Lady Kaguya. They're on their way here."

Killer Bee stood up, "Who is this betrayer?"

Zabuza replied, "Not likely anyone among us."

Obito looked around and couldn't find his fiance, "Where's Kakashi?"

Hashi answered, "Not among us."

Zabuza continued speaking, "It matters not how they found us. The question is, what will we do now that they have?"

"We fight," Obito said.

The whole hall erupted in laughter. Mistress Terumi was the only one to stop long enough to speak, "Shipwreck Cove is a fortress. A well-supplied fortress. There is no need to fight if they cannot get to us." The hall seemed to agree with her.

Zabuza interjected, "There be a third course." He started walking around the table starting from his right, "In another age, at this very spot, the First Brethren Court captured the gods and bound them in their bones." The hall listened to him with respect.

Zabuza stopped and held onto Hanzo's chair, "That was a mistake." The pirate lords now looked at Zabuza like he was insane for saying such a thing.

"Oh, we tamed the seas and lands for ourselves, aye. But opened the door to Kaguya and her ilk. Better were the days when mastery of land and the seas came not from bargains struck with eldritch creatures, but from the sweat of a man's brow and the strength of his back alone. You all know this to be true." The room started murmuring about Zabuza's speech. He walked back to his original spot at the end of the table with Obito and Hashi. "Gentlemen... Ladies... We must free Kodama and Suijin." The room was silent.

Then the room erupted in yelling and bickering, Captain Raza yelled out, "Shoot him!"

"Cut out his tongue!" Killer Bee said.

Hashi couldn't help but add, "Shoot him, and cut out his tongue, then shoot his tongue. And trim that scraggly beard."

Tenzo had to help, "Captain Shisui would've agreed with Zabuza."

Killer Bee started speaking to the whole room, "The gods were our enemies then, they will be our enemies now."

"It's unlikely their mood's have improved," Sakumo said.

Hanzo pulled out his pistol and placed it on the table as he stared into Sakumo's eyes, "I would still agree with Shisui. We release Kodama and Suijin."

"You threaten me?" Sakumo walked around the table to meet Hanzo.

"I silence you!" Hanzo said raising his pistol into the air. Sakumo decked Hanzo in the nose knocking him over but not first having fired a shot into the air. This incited a brawl within the hall.

The crew of The Fire Shadow stood at the head of the table watching the brawl go on, Obito didn't understand why pirate lords could have a brawl just as simple as a tavern fight. "This is madness."

Hashi turned to him, "This is politics." Hashi turned back to the brawl.

"Meanwhile, our enemies are bearing down upon us," Obito stated.

"If they not be here already," Zabuza said frustrated.