The Pirate Ninja

Chapter 9

Time flew by quickly, Hana having become an honorary sister of the crew. They could never ask her to join the crew, for the way she told stories of her own crew's adventure showed how much she cared for them.

It reached the two year mark, with a large party taking place. A celebration of the life of Ace and Whitebeard and the addition of Hana.

Music played, games were being played as the Pirates enjoyed the night. Hana watched from her place on the rails, watching them all enjoy their family.

"You miss them?"

A warm body leaned on the rail next to her, watching what she saw. "Yeah. A lot." She tried to smile through the sadness. Two years was a long time, plus however long it will take them to find her. "I wonder if they'll recognize me."

Hana was a bit taller, and her chest filled out. Her skin was a nice tan, bringing out her red hair and blue eyes. She still kept her hair in low tails, but they were only to her mid back instead of her butt.

She had three small hoops in her left ear and two in her right. Hana also got her clan tattooed between her shoulder blades, a homage to family.

Her style was the same shorts and a tank top, usually in shades of blue. She sometimes wore an unbuttoned shirt over it, in various shades of orange. With two pouches strapped to her right thigh, full of her weapons

"I bet they will. It'll be nice to see Luffy again."

Hana closed her eyes to picture her crewmates, man they'll probably all look different. Two long years separated, what are they doing? "How long till they find me, you think?" She knew they were some ways past the red line, and knowing her crew they'll get mixed up into trouble on the way.

Ace snorted and drank from his mug, "Probably a month depending on how much trouble Luffy finds." They both were in agreement there, he finds trouble so much.

"You know he's going to be so mad that no one told him you're alive." Hana drank from her mug, giving him a knowing look. "I mean I could travel to him and let him know but you want to surprise him."

Hana did explain the teleportation jutsu to them, apologizing for stealing someone's dagger and marking it. She also apologized profusely to Ace for marking him without his consent, and had to explain he couldn't see the mark after he began searching his body for it.

Luffy had a mark on his back, he had happily agreed to it. Zoro took more convincing, by everyone on the crew, because it helped get him back to the ship when he got lost. Which happened way too much.

"It'll be fine. I'll take full blame."

"You better." Hana mumbled against her mug, Luffy is going to be so upset she didn't find him to tell him. Why she was listening to Ace of all people, she hasn't a clue. "Anyways, your skills are much better. When I'm gone make sure you practice everyday! And work on your Haki more."

Her fingers lightly flicked his forehead, a small smile on her face. "I will miss you all. My third family." Ace chuckled and bumped her shoulder with his.

"We'll miss you too."

The duo made their way to the crowds where Hana proceeded to wipe the floor in cards until they banned her for the night on terms of cheating and being too good.

So she settled on the armchair of Whitebeard, watching the party from above. She didn't talk with him much, spending so much time training his sons and dancing the night away.

"You're going to your home island after we part?"

He had agreed to hold out until Straw Hat found her and she left them. The further into the New World they got the harder it would be for them to find her.

"Aye, you must visit. You will always be welcome there." Whitebeard gave her a smile which she returned. During her healing all those years ago, she didn't know he was previously injured so she ended up unintentionally healing him from his old wounds. So now he was just old, and not old and injured.

"I'd love to. We will all see each other again, I can feel it." Sipping her sake she hummed content. "Does that mean you're an ally of the Straw Hat's?"

The man laughed loudly, making several people look up and grin. "He is your captain, then he is our ally." He watched fondly as she fist pumped the air in success. Hana was getting the hang of making friends as easily as Luffy and Naruto do.

"Oi Hana!" A few men shouted up to her. Tilting her head she acknowledged them. "Come dance for us!"

Grinning, the redhead bid Whitebeard goodbye as she jumped down and got pulled into the crowd to dance. The musicians played a lively tune as Hana twirled to it.

The night was loud, breaking the calm silence on the seas. A night of celebration and remembrance.