high_seas | [05] boy you'll be the death of me

Sakura's question forced him to realise for the first time that he didn't even know the actual name for this world, just the island and the areas scattered around it. It hadn't occurred to him that it might have a name, given that it didn't seem to have countries so much as islands.

"I don't know what it's called. It's not ours," if that weren't already obvious. "I've been here for three months and I haven't seen anything like a mainland, just islands everywhere.

"We don't have anything like that in our world."

"H-Hold on! Three months!? The war's only been going on for a few days! You couldn't possibly have been here for three months!" she retorts, even more confused than before. If Sasuke is telling the truth, that meant what that man said about time, about things being the same when they went back to their world, just as they left it. That meant Naruto was still going to need CPR and she still needs to save him.

But here, he's healthy and fine and Sasuke has been here for three months. She's ruled out the possibility of genjutsu too, or the Unlimited Tsukuyomi because they stopped it. The only explanation was that they were in a different world, pulled from different times. It's ridiculous. It makes her head hurt, just thinking about it and how it's possible.

It shouldn't be.

"Just... what in the world is this place?"

Sakura's exclamation snaps him back to the conversation at hand. Three months? Nah, that's bullshit. They were just with Sasuke a short while ago. He hasn't been gone for three months. What did they say about different worlds and times? No, no of that could be right... right? It's all way too confusing and way above Naruto's intelligence level.

Well, whatever. He'll let Sakura and Sasuke figure that crap out. Naruto will just do what he does best.

"It isn't our world. We'll just have to figure it out and head home!"

Between Sakura and Naruto, Sasuke is starting to wish he'd left the explanation of the place to someone else -- but there is one critical reason he's taken the task on himself, and that reason is on board the Murderess dealing with the last of the damage from the past few weeks. And given the way this world is, there is neither purpose nor likelihood of success when it comes to avoiding his former teammates. Funny how small a world of water became when anyone could Nav onto a ship they knew, and Sakura and Naruto are ninja enough to deal with the low-level traps he's set around the Nav.

To deal with Naruto first, then. Sasuke shoots him a deeply unimpressed glare, voice sharp: "What do you think we've been doing, cruising in luxury? If it were that easy, none of us would be here."

As for Sakura -- "You read the first page of the journal, didn't you?" He expects as much from her, if not Naruto, and she's clearly worked out how to use it. "And the inscription on the fountain? No one knows much more than that."

Of course she did, both things. They made about as much sense as anything else. Davy Jones was a dangerous figure, Scurvey Dog (great name) was the one with the answers. She had been more worried about Naruto and where he was at the time and so she had put out her 'missing' entry. Since then, she had found Naruto and read the inscription on the fountain, the same words that had echoed hollowly in her mind.

"We have to find the pieces of a gem to go home, back to our world," she explains. It's mostly for Naruto's sake, and she looks at him from the corner of her eyes. So they've figured it out, now they had to gather the pieces to go home. Sasuke has been here for three months, so such a task wasn't going to be easy.

But... between the three of them?

"What are we waiting for then? Where do we get a boat?" Because obviously they're going to be on a crew together, right? ~~Hinata is going to come too.~~

Despite Sasuke's legendary attitude, Naruto couldn't be bothered to be pessimistic. They'd just taken Obito down a peg and extracted all of the bijuu! Finding some weird gem shouldn't be hard at all. As for all that other crap about different times and worlds... well, he just wouldn't worry about that at all.

So he just shrugs at Sasuke's glare and nods in agreement at Sakura. "Yeah, what Sakura-chan said. Don't be such an ass. Shouldn't be too hard for us to get some gem pieces if we work together." There's that grin again as he glances over his shoulder towards the fountain. "It'll be easier than the low-ranked missions we used to do." Especially now that all three of them were that much stronger.

"It's not like the ocean can be that big, y'know!"

"We have to find the pieces of a gem," he corrected. "It might get us back to our world."

That had been an assumption everyone had made. Admittedly, it seemed more plausible after he'd spoken to the person who had such gems in her own world, though even her knowledge had been somewhat confusing, and the chakra pulsing around even the sliver of gem that was on board the Murderess now was startling. Still, even if it was powerful enough to send them home --

"It's not just some pieces," he snapped at Naruto, irritated at himself as much as at Naruto for managing to annoy him so quickly. "Nobody has a clue how many pieces. Or if they do, they're not telling.

"And for all we know, it's just a pretext to get us to do this Davy Jones's bidding --"

He trailed off in a certain amount of disbelief at Naruto's final conclusion, though, giving him an incredulous look before turning on his heel and heading for the harbour. The answer to both Sakura and Naruto was there -- boats and the size of the ocean alike.

"Follow me."

This isn't going well. The most she could hope for is they would eventually get along again (or as well as they did before) and Sasuke helping them out is promising. But he seems even more annoyed by Naruto's antics and never say die attitude than unusual. To be fair, she used to be as well but it's grown on her.

And he's been stuck here for three months.

She frowns at Sasuke's back but decides to follow anyway, calling behind her.

"Come on, Naruto." As they walk, Sakura trails a little bit behind Sasuke. In the silence, she turns to Naruto.

"Oceans are the largest bodies of water on a planet, you know that right? No matter where we are or how you look at it, it's not going to be small. It's going to be pretty big. You remember the mission when we escorted Tazuna. That was just a small piece of the ocean back home." They would get some perspective in any case when they reach the harbor.

As soon as Sasuke turns around, Naruto makes a face at him and mimes, "it's not just some pieces," with his best Sasuke expression. At least the Uchiha is as frustrating as he's always been. That's both comforting and annoying to Naruto. They don't have to deal with him trying to kill them though, so that's a major plus!

He grumbles a bit as he follows along and then listens to Sakura. It still doesn't really register to him that it could be any bigger than what he's used to.

"Yeah, but we've gotten a lot bigger since then too," he replies with a grin. They've gotten a lot stronger too. Even if the ocean was endless, in Naruto's mind they'll find the gem pieces in no time. With his team reunited, Naruto felt like they could do anything.

There is something irritatingly familiar about walking in front while Sakura whispers furious information at Naruto, and it isn't so much nostalgia as a splinter under the skin, a memory forgotten until suddenly disturbed. Sasuke sweeps the thought away impatiently as they rounded the path to the harbour, sweeping his hand out to indicate the enormous expanse of ocean.

"That's all there is. The sea and scattered islands."

As for a boat ... there's a moment of hesitation before he points out Murderess where she's docked, small figures moving around it that he can identify as Marvelous and Luka lounging on the deck, Itachi still hanging off the side of the railing, and a speck that might be Draco flying around in sight of the ship.

"I sail with the Murderess," he says, leaving out the Charming for now. "There are eleven of us on board, but three are away right now."

Eleven of them and a shard, but he sees no reason to disclose that before confirming whether they'll be joining -- and he does intend to ask them, once he can grit the words out. There's enough room on board, and damn it, they do need a medic. The past two months have amply demonstrated that.

Naruto gets a sharp glare for his mockery and then a sigh. "Still not big enough to really make a difference compared to an ocean," she reminds him so Sasuke can enjoy more banter behind his back. Just like old times. That fact doesn't bypass Sakura either.

And there it is, he says. It certainly was. Even she's wide-eyed at how far it seems to stretch, like it really is endless. She has to drag her gaze over to his boat (Murderess, hah) and the people on board. Her eyes zero in on the figure hanging off the side, she thinks it's a trick of the light but that boy looks like--

"You already have a crew?" A crew of fourteen people, even if three were missing. Her hope of sailing together as Team Seven again dwindles a little. Unless Naruto demanded they be part of the crew, too... she's practically waiting for it.

Naruto is still unimpressed with the sea. You all can't shake his confidence! No matter how big you say it is, he'll still think it can be crossed in no time if they work together. No matter how many pieces of the gem there is, he'll still think they can be found quickly and put to good use. So he just ignores the earlier talk as he looks at the boat.

He squints to look at the figures, but it's easier to just feel for their chakra. One of the signatures is very familiar to Naruto considering it's one he's fought alongside, but it feels different somehow.

"Murderess? What a crappy name. We'll have to change it when we get on. Maybe somethin' like Seakage! Or the Team 7 Super Ship!"

He simply nods in response to Sakura; the bodies moving shipboard make it obvious enough. This world is too unfamiliar and the powers at play too strange not to have a crew, and ultimately the one he's found hasn't been the worst possible choice. Marvelous at least leaves his crew alone when the running of the ship or its plans isn't threatened, and Itachi seems to like some of the people on board.

Though it's a little hard to tell with Itachi, honestly, but he at least has praise for them.

That train of thought is instantly derailed when Naruto comments on the name of the ship, though, Sasuke's gaze snapping to him with an expression that would have stopped most people in their tracks.

"No." His tone is as final as he can make it -- Seakage? Super Ship? Is Naruto still twelve? -- before he turns his back on the harbour and faces them down, arms crossed.

"But we do need a medic," he says to Sakura, and then grudgingly, without actually bothering to look at Naruto to include him: "And anyone who can fight.

"I have a condition, however."

And there it is. Did that mean he was predictable now instead of unpredictable? While she's not a fan of Seakage, she can't help but smile a little at Team 7 Super Ship even if Sasuke isn't a fan of any of them.

She punches Naruto's arm softly anyway -- soft for Sakura. "Knock it off."

It's as much invitation as they're going to get, Sakura knows. Sasuke wasn't the type to outright ask them to join their crew. Well, if they needed a medic then Sakura was here to save the day. Plus, to make sure they were healthy for whatever it is they were fighting for the shards.

Why else would they need fighters?

"Condition?" No murder attempts on each other maybe? Although Naruto was clear of that.

Naruto frowns and is about to argue with Sasuke about the names until Sakura punches his arm. He settles back a bit, rubbing it and whining quietly. It was official: he was the only fun team member of Team 7. The rest of them were all too high-strung all the time. Who wants to sail around in a ship called the Murderess? What sort of message is that sending to other ships?!

He keeps his eyes on Sasuke and then grumbles a little. "What sorta condition? No smiling?" Asshole.

In contrast to their expressions, Sasuke's grows darker -- possibly unintentionally supporting Naruto's question at first. His posture is tense, voice forbidding as he gestures to the harbour again:

"There are plenty of crews you can join if you want. But you should know my brother is on the Murderess."

And he doesn't know if either of them have a clue just what Itachi has done for them, for the village they've fought to protect, or for the war they've all unwillingly left behind. It's unlikely, given Konohagakure's penchant for keeping secrets (and there's something that needs to change, among the myriad changes that need to happen), and while he'd explain it if the brother he has here were the same as the one he lost in his own world ...

Itachi is too young to know even of his own actions after the massacre, and he's nowhere near strong enough to deal with Naruto or Sakura if they decide to attack him. Sasuke can only protect him, and leave it to Itachi to explain as much as he wants.

"If you harm him, it won't matter what ship you get on or how far you run. You'll find the ocean is too small after all."

Oh, that explains the familiar chakra signature. That's right, it was Itachi's! Now that makes sense, except for the fact it still feels strange. In any case, Naruto blinks a few times once Sasuke admits that Itachi is part of the ship. He wishes he'd been there for that reunion to see how Sasuke had taken things. Of course, Sasuke's next statement at least lets Naruto know that things aren't severely antagonistic between the brothers.

But with Sasuke being so serious, there's only one way for Naruto to react.

It starts small with his shoulders shaking a little bit. Then he covers his mouth as his cheeks puff out. After that, it's way too much for him. "Pfffffthahahah... holy crap you're always so damn serious. Guess that hasn't changed much!" With that, he smacks Sasuke heartily on the back.

Knowing that the Uchiha will probably react negatively to that sort of contact, Naruto quickly jogs ahead, still laughing loudly. "Why would I wanna hurt a friend!? Holy crap, Sasuke, relax a little!" Then he jogs off down towards the ship, eager to meet the crew.

"I GET TOP BUNKKKKKKK, Y'KNOW!"

Sasuke's brother was here? Sasuke was protecting him? Or he wanted to be the person to kill him? No, he would have done so. Was he the familiar figure around the railing? Sakura doesn't have much time to be shocked at the 'condition' before Naruto is laughing, slapping Sasuke on the back, and running off. She's even more surprised by that, her attention on her blond teammate now and slack-jawed.

Friend? Just what in the hell-

He leaves Sakura and Sasuke standing there, the former at a loss for words. Itachi was Naruto's friend?! Since when-- how--

WHY?! Everything she thought she knew about these two is getting turned on its head.

"Ugh!" Finally, she speaks and grips her pink hair in frustration. "I don't understand anything at all anymore!!"

The silence hangs until Naruto breaks it with laughter, of all things, making Sasuke's gaze flinch to him with unmitigated shock. Friend? Friend? Since when has Itachi been Naruto's friend -- Sasuke follows him as soon as he moves, responding to Sakura's confused with just a stressed look before reaching out to grab Naruto by the shoulder.

"What do you know?!" He demands, harsh. He doesn't even want to touch on the bunk comment -- like hell he's sharing a room with Naruto, let alone a bunk, but let Naruto work out why everyone sleeps in hammocks on a ship on his own -- and in any case, this is of more immediate importance.

It's clear from that reaction that Naruto knows more than Sasuke expected, and more than Sakura does, but he has no idea where he'd have gotten the information except from Itachi himself. And it's one thing to share the story when Itachi is already dead, when Sasuke is the only one who can, but Itachi here is very much alive and very much not in possession of his own facts.

Naruto grunts as he's stopped. Turning with a frown, he stares at Sasuke for a moment. He almost rolls his eyes at Sasuke's harsh tone, but he pauses when he realizes this sort of serious is different from Sasuke's usual oh-so-cheerful behavior. It's obviously because it has to do with Itachi, and that makes Naruto recall his last words with the elder Uchiha.

What does he know? Everything, though it wasn't Itachi who told him directly. He had Obito to thank for that. Still, they did speak as they fought Nagato. They spoke about a few things with Sasuke being one of them. He also remembers how Itachi asked him not to tell anyone about the truth of the massacre in order to keep the clan's honor.

It's not Naruto's business to tell Sasuke anyways. That's something between brothers.

The blond just glances over his shoulder towards the ship where Itachi is before looking back to his best friend. "I know he loves you more than anything. That's all that matters, right? So I'd never hurt someone like that."

Sakura looks as stressed as Sasuke had been while she watches Sasuke grab for Naruto. She steps forward and reaches out to try and stop it, expecting a fight, but there's no reason to. Instead she listens, soaking everything in because they're talking about Itachi.

What do you know, Naruto?

Before Sasuke can answer, Sakura interrupts. "Loves Sasuke-kun?" she looks as disbelieving as she sounds while she darts her eyes between the two of them. You didn't kill someone's clan to show someone you loved them! What sort of messed up line of thought was that?

And obviously it's not all that matters because of what he had done to both her teammates. He's the cause of so much strife.

But then, why would he say it? Naruto did know something that's changed his whole perspective on Itachi and Sasuke and he forgave. It's something only a few people knew. Slowly her eyes narrow, but she looks just as disoriented as ever. Kakashi isn't here to stop Naruto now. If she could get him to spit it out...

"How do you know that, Naruto? How could you know such a thing?"

Sasuke lets go as if he's been burned when Naruto drops that word as if it's nothing -- his own thoughts echo Sakura's voice, how could Naruto know? How could Naruto know, if Sasuke himself only found out at the last possible minute? Did Itachi tell him? Because there's no way for Naruto to have drawn a conclusion like that without knowing the truth, and the only ones who knew it are largely dead.

No, that didn't make any kind of sense. The only time Itachi could possibly have run into Naruto would have been when he was trying to capture him to rip the nine-tails out of his body, hardly a time to explain the truth behind the Uchiha massacre and the years of Konohagakure's cover-up. Unless ... had Itachi somehow met Naruto during the Edo Tensei?

But even then, he'd tried to pretend with Sasuke at first. So how did Naruto know?

"Who told you the truth?" Sasuke demands, voice a growl. "Who have you been talking to?!"

"I don't have to talk to anybody to know families love each other!" Naruto quickly bites back. "I may not have a brother, but I had parents. And they taught me that they loved me even if I didn't understand everything goin' on!" How could he have understood at first why he had Kurama sealed inside him? How could he have understood that he had to deal with all that pain and suffering, with the entire village hating him and treating him like a weapon?

"Besides," his voice drops as he thumbs over his shoulder for a moment and then locks his hands behind his head. "Neither of you have killed each other yet. Gotta mean somethin', huh?"

"Naruto..." Families love each other. She always thought Naruto considered Sasuke to be his brother, so he did have one. Maybe Sasuke didn't agree with the sentiment but that never stopped Naruto before. She doesn't really expect him to admit that to Sasuke's face right here though.

Not in front of her.

He comes to the same conclusion she does -- they haven't killed each other, so that means something outside of Sasuke not wanting them to harm his brother. While irritated she still didn't know what was going on or the 'truth' (as Sasuke and Naruto have BOTH called it now), she had to be moved by Naruto's words. She wonders if Sasuke is too so she tries to read his expression.

The explanation is less than satisfying, Sasuke's brow furrowing into an even deeper frown, at once frustrated and confused. Even if Naruto has managed to speak to both of his parents (the Yondaime may have been brought back with Edo Tensei, but Sasuke certainly hasn't heard of any mention of Naruto's mother), something that can be applied to that family can hardly be relevant to the Uchiha. The Fourth made difficult decisions and ended up on the Hokage Monument for it. But still -- even if I didn't understand everything -- it's absolutely clear that Naruto knows something, if not everything.

"You'll tell me exactly what you know about us and from whom," he says finally, but steps back. "Not now --" he glances at Sakura, briefly; it's obvious she's the one who has been left out of the loop, and he intends to keep it that way for now. "But eventually."

For now, there's no threat to Itachi from this quarter, and the story is in Itachi's court to share in the way he sees fit. Sasuke turns after delivering that ultimatum and heads toward the docks, body language making it obvious that he considers the topic finished.

Naruto first grunts at Sasuke's ultimatum. Really, he was grim back when they were twelve, but he's shooting for a world-record or something nowadays. Oh well, he didn't expect rainbows and such to radiate from Sasuke's body. They'll just have to work on softening him up a tiny bit more. At least learn to relax a little, Sasuke, instead of acting like you've got something up your ass.

The blond watches as Sasuke walks off before turning to look at Sakura. Even the dense one of Team 7 understood that Sasuke didn't want to mention anything in front of their female teammate. Of course, Naruto doesn't plan on mentioning anything in front of Sasuke either. He's got too much respect for Itachi to go mouthing off about things to anybody at all. He did vow, after all, to keep it under wraps.

Besides, it's all in the past. Living in the past causes so many problems. People just need to learn to push forward and forget those things they can't change.

He finally grins at Sakura. "I missed him," and then turns to walk towards the boat, hands locking easily behind his head as he whistles cheerfully.

Sakura feels the hairs on the back of her neck stand up with Sasuke's 'not now' and pointed look at her. Angry shock rakes through her and makes blood boil. She's about to go on a rampage, reminding them all that they're a team and teams work together and why the hell is she left out, she outranks both of you assholes. She's seething as she watches Sasuke walk off, fists clenched and ready to attack any bystanders.

Luckily, Naruto knows exactly what to say to cool off her temper at that time.

Naruto's carefree grin and admittance does the trick, if not catches her by surprised enough that she forgets why she was mad in the first place. She blinks away the red rimming her vision and gives him a slow, small smile back.

"Me too."

When she turns to follow the two of them on the boat, she reminds herself of the oath she made and her eyes narrow.

She wouldn't be left behind by those two again. She was going to find out the truth about Itachi.

Edited 2014-02-22 00:50 (UTC)

[05] boy you'll be the death of me

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oh my god i cannot master keeping to one tense i'm so sorry

NO WORRIES IM AWFUL AT IT TOO

good thing i'm perfect

bows down

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/butts in before chii

you butt

such butts everywhere

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