Authors Note - Now we're onto Ace and the Whitebeards finally! Will Sakura try to sway Ace's decision to join the whitebeards? Or will she wait it out and see what goes down? And what about Teach... that meddling traitor! Sakura has some things cut out for her in the future.
Story Description: Traveling dimensions wasn't unheard of for Sakura. But Kaguya had been defeated and sealed four years ago, during the forth great ninja war. So why the fuck, was she tied to a mast - on a god forsaken ship, surrounded by PIRATES?!
Ships: (Past) Sasuke/Sakura, (Future) Ace/Sakura
Warnings: language
Recap...
Sakura rolled her eyes, watching as Ace made the mistake to turn his attention back to Edward. And only when Sakura saw flames flickering on his skin, did Sakura bring her hand swiftly into the back of his head. Hard enough to knock the teen unconscious.
Fumming, Sakura bent down and hauled the teen onto her shoulder. Muttering something about Naruto, and Kakashi. Troublesome boys who didn't know how to shut up and listen.
Sakura walked back towards the direction of the med bay. Ignoring Edward's loud laugh, and gawking looks of bystanders. Sometimes force was needed, and Ace needed to heal. Only then, would Sakura allow him to attack her new captain. It's not like the teen even stood a chance.
"So clothes is what you need?" Whitney asked, cocking her eyebrow up at her request.
Sakura hummed in agreement. "Since I got my mark on my back, I need it to be open and visible." She explains. Sakura would have shown the woman, but it was still covered in bandages to stop any risk of infection.
Not that Sakura really needed to abide by that. But she hadn't told Izou or anyone on the crew could merely keep any infection away with her chakra.
"Makes sense. Our next stop at land I'll see if we can find a tailor to make you a few shirts. Fabric as well." Whitney murmured aloud. Sakura grinned at her answer, feeling thankful the woman was so thoughtful.
"Anyway, I gotta go check on our youngest brother now." Whitney cackled, her hair swishing in the air as she turned. Marching down the hallway before disappearing around the corner.
Sakura snorted, covering her mouth as she did so. The crew had stated they wished for Ace to join. And Sakura had no qualms with the idea. Not that she thought the kid would join to begin with. He was definitely stubborn. So the crew, mostly the commanders led by Thatch, had gone around calling the brat their younger brother.
Which most found hilarious, and Ace found absolutely maddening. Sakura remembers the first time the chef had said it, the teen had bursted into flames, yelling profanities like no tomorrow.
Sakura glanced down the hall, before turning and walking the opposite direction. Pondering on what to do with her free time. Nobody was injured, that much Marco had told her. After all, the only fight that happened recently was the one with that rookie crew. So nobody really had any injuries for them to heal.
Which left Sakura with more free time than she'd prefer. Plus, Marco had caked dibs on healing Ace whenever Edward knocked some sense into him.
Sighing, Sakura finally made her way onto the top deck. Looking out in the vast ocean. Times like these was when her mind would wonder, back to Konoha and her friends. The longer she stayed here, the longer she enjoyed being out on the ocean. No worrying about Sasuke, or rumors. No berating parents telling her to settle down.
"Deep in thought?" Thatch said from beside her. Startling Sakura out of her mind, glancing to the side and up at the chef.
"A little." She answered softly.
The two of them stood in silence, listening to the waves and the background noise of the crew bustling around. But overall, it was rather peaceful.
"Want to talk about it?" Thatch offered, leaning forward against the railing. Sakura glanced more firmly at the commander, analyzing the man before shrugging.
"Konoha. My home. I never thought I'd enjoy the ocean like this. Being on the ship... surrounded by people who cared for me." Sakura murmured.
Thatch raised a brow at that, his smile softening. "Do you not have someone back at your world that cares for you?" He asked.
Sakura blinked. "I do. I have Tsunande, and Ino. But they're so busy nowadays. Naruto too, always away in missions. Which usually leaves me stuck in my office." Sakura explains sadly.
"But here, there is always someone willing to talk or listen. It's... a nice change." She finishes.
Thatch nods in understanding, letting his hand raise and rest onto her shoulder. Giving it a reassuring squeeze.
"Im glad you enjoy our company." Thatch joked, and Sakura chuckled. Nudging the chef before her gaze went back out towards the ocean.
Thatch did keep his mouth shut, and eventually pushed himself back and walked away from Sakura. Leaving her back with her thoughts.
Thinking back on her little talk with Thatch. The more she realized some of the things she could have done to contact her friends. Like her summons. Sakura glanced around, contemplating.
She had been moved to the woman's corridors. Which meant going to her room would give her no privacy. Especially during the day, and it was too risky during the night.
She wasn't sure how the crew or Edward would react to her summoning slugs of all things. Would they question her, would they be suspicious of her hiding this small fact? After all, she wasn't telling them the full extent of her abilities. It wasn't that she didn't trust them, or the commanders and Edward for that fact. It was just something that was trained into her as a kunoichi from a young age.
Shinobi never show their cards. Always having something up their sleeve incase of emergency. And Sakura would follow that until she couldn't anymore.
Sighing, Sakura glanced around. Walking towards a small secluded part of the ship. Behind a small building ontop of deck. Sakura bites her lip anxiously. Her next to-do list is to create some privacy seals and such. So she can summon and do her thing without any eves-droppers. It would definitely lesson the risk.
Sitting down and pressing her back against the wooden wall, Sakura runs through the hand signs and places them firmly on the ground. "Summing Jutsu." She mutters. Watching the puff of smoke erupt around her hands.
Lady Katsuyu looked no different from the last time Sakura saw her. She felt happy that the summoning actually worked, reaching out to touch Lady Katsuyu on the head.
"Sakura-San?!" Lady Katsuyu squeaked, her body moving the face her.
"Lady Katsuyu, it's good to see you." Sakura said, smiling softly. The slugs reaction made it known to Sakura that Tsunade had been informed of her disappearance. So that means Ino and Naruto knew too, probably along with Sasuke and Kakashi.
"Where have you been? Tsunade-Sama has been requested to Konoha by Hatake-San, saying you disappeared!" The slug exclaimed.
Sakura sucked in a breath. "It's a... long story. I'm not in that world. I must've activated something that sent me spiraling to a totally different dimension." Sakura explained to her summon, a tad quieter. Her eyes darting around incase someone was approaching.
Katsuyu seemed to notice her nervousness quickly. "Is this world safe? If you give Lady Tsunade time I'm sure they can come up with a plan to get you back!" Katsuyu told her.
"It's safe, we'll- I think. I'm on a pirate ship. Working as a doctor." Sakura tells her slug. Katsuyu nods, seeming to understand. She doesn't say anything for quite some time, before her head sags.
"I have to go now. It seems Tsunade-Sama is summoning me. I'll let her know of your predicament Sakura-San." Katsuyu told her. Sakura nodded, and watched silently with a frown as Katsuyu disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Sitting there with her head against the wall, she wondered what to do now. Katsuyu said she'd tell Tsuande. Which meant they'd get Sasuke on the task of finding her. The only problem...? Did she even want to go back..?
A few hours of sitting there, going through her new plan and figuring out what she needed to make regarding seals- Sakura stood. Walking across the side of the deck, and towards the direction of the mess hall.
The pinkette noted the slight crowd, more people on the deck than usual. Turning her head to the side, she tried to find what the commotion was all about.
"Sakura! Watch out!" A male voice yelled, one she recognized as Marco. Brows furrowed, she turned towards his voice, only to see the body of Portgas D. Ace flying directly towards her.
His body collided with hers hard, sending the two of them toppling over the railing and down towards the ocean. Taking the brunt of the impact, Sakura hissed at the cold sting that erupted on her back. Along with the harsh water as it covered the two of them completely.
But what she didn't expect, was the complete body weight of Ace as he forced them deeper and deeper into the ocean below.
Her mind raced, why wasn't he swimming? Could the teen not swim. Sakura felt compelled to simply push the younger boy off of her. But the slight panic in his eyes as he struggled to keep his mouth shut completely pushed that option aside.
What did Marco tell her again? Devil fruit users couldn't swim? Is that why he continued to sink like an anchor? Clenching her teeth, she forced her lungs to work for a little bit longer, despite their screaming protest. Wrapping her arms around Ace, and pumping a steady stream of chakra in her legs. Kicking herself and Ace up.
Thankfully, Ace's body wasn't being too difficult. Allowing Sakura to easily swim up with him in her arms. Breaking the surface of the water with a large gasp of air.
Ladders fell from the side, and Nemar jumped down cbelow, landing into the water beside them. "I got Ace. Izou said you need to get on deck so he can check that tattoo if yours incase it broke skin." Nemar told her.
Sakura nodded, and with a heave, gave him over to the smaller man. Swimming forward and grabbing ahold of the ladder. Despite her legs feeling like jelly thanks to the freezing water, she placed one foot in front of the other under she was pulled into deck by Marco.
"Oyaji hadn't meant to aim the teen at you, we didn't even know you'd appear around the corner." Was the first thing out of Marcos mouth. Which Sakura couldn't help but chuckle at.
"No worries." Sakura rasped, still breathless.
Izou came up beside her, giving her a pointed look. "Lets get to my workspace. So I can check that back of yours. From the way Ace landed against you, I assume you took the brunt of the impact." Izou asked, more like told.
Sakura nodded, and allowed Izou to drag her off. Sparing a glance behind, she watched Nemar bring the teens body back up to deck. Ace completely unconscious, but she couldn't blame the kid. Landing in the ocean knowing you'll drown, only having a pirate from an enemy ship to save you? Sakura assumed the teen thought he would die right then and there.
"Come on." Izou ushered, tugging at her wrist. "The kid will be fine, he's a D. After all." The man huffed.
Sakura raised a brow, but didn't ask. Not wanted to delay and make Izou any more irritated than he might already be. But that didn't mean she wasn't curious. Eyes trailing back towards the man pulling her along.
After all, there were many things Sakura still needed to learn about this world.