The Pirate Ninja

Chapter 11

It turned into a new thing with Ace sleeping in her bed, not that she minded. Sometimes Luffy napped on her or kidnapped her from her bed to sleep in his with him.

"You know Luffy does this too?"

They were lying on her bed together, staring up at the ceiling. His head turned to look at her, her eyes distant and soft as she thought about her Captain. "When he can't sleep sometimes he kidnaps me or we have sleepovers on the deck." A little smile poked its way onto her face. "He says I'm very comfortable to sleep on."

"He does, does he?"

"Mm. He was doing it a lot before we got separated. I wonder if he's been sleeping okay since y'a know," She gestures to him. "You're supposed to be dead."

"He does it a lot?"

"I said that, didn't I?"

"What else does he do?"

Hana looked at him confused. Huh? "What does he do? I don't know, he eats food, and asks me to tell him stories. He watches me practice with my kunai or shuriken sometimes." A finger tapped her chin in thought. "We play cards although I always win and I teach him some other games. Why?"

"Just curious."

"You're weird."

"You're weird."

"You can't copy me."

"You can't copy me."

A pillow smacked him in the face as he laughed. "Shut up Ace. You're such a pain." Even though she said that a teasing smile was on her face.

Once they settled down, Hana remembered her own brother. "Do you know why I tried so hard to save you?" Blue eyes turned to him, as he watched. It was the first time she had talked about it. "I had a little brother, Naruto. He looked like our dad with blonde hair. I got our mom's red hair."

Her eyes turned sad, "He lived a hard life, I tried to be the best big sister I could supporting us and him. But it was hard as he was ostracized by the village due to having the nine tailed fox demon in him." She let out a puff of air. "I understand why you did what you did, I did the same thing once. To protect my brother I sacrificed myself."

Staring back at the ceiling, she traced the wood with her eyes. "I can imagine how much grief he went through, I had seen him suffer every time he lost someone important to him. I didn't want Luffy to go through what I made my brother go through."

"Tell me about your brother."

So Hana spent the night telling stories about the Tale of Naruto Uzumaki. Hana dozed off somewhere around the Chunin Exams, Ace not far behind her.

Hana woke up early, taking her little baggies and delivering them to a few crewmates. Leaving them on their desks so they'd find them when they awoke. She only had five to hand out. Eight more for her crew and three leftovers for future friends.

Once she was done, she headed for her early morning meditation time. Sensing someone approaching, she popped open an eye to see the approaching blond.

He held up the small bag, a smirk on his face. "This from you-yoi?" Hana smirked back and faced forward again.

Marco leaned against the railing where she was sitting, "What's it for-yoi?" His necklace sat in the palm of his hand.

"It's got my mark on it. So I can travel to you wherever you are in the world." Smaller hands curled his hand closed over the gift. "It'll never fade, even if I die."

She heard shuffling before he asked for assistance tying the string. The shell rests just above his tattoo on his chest.

"Who else did you give these too-yoi?"

"You, Izou, Namur and Whitebeard."

"Ace doesn't get one-yoi?"

Hana snorted and gave him a side glance. "Ace has a mark on his chest already, he doesn't need a shell." It felt like so long ago when she saved his life.

Cracking her back, she jumped off the ship. Marco shouted but shut up upon seeing her standing on the water. Time to practice her chakra. Maybe her water nature as well.

No one knew where she was, walking along with the ship. Practicing her ninjutsu and taijutsu, it was the perfect place. Marco had to point over the side when asked where she was. And they just saw her down on the water and shrugging. Seemed normal for her.

They docked at a nearby island, it was deserted but full of fruit trees. So a few went to restock as Hana explored. She was used to going off alone, she was able to teleport back to the ship if needed, but she overheard them say they were going to stay for a few days to see if Luffy arrives soon.

Hana found a nice little clearing with a waterfall to practice her jutsu with. She was rusty but if they were to survive the New World she had to get stronger. No better way than some good old training.

So Hana spent days out in the clearing training and meditating. She slept and ate out there, hoping they all knew she wasn't dumb enough to die alone.

Vista found her one day, practicing to cut the water. He didn't disturb her, only watched for a bit before reporting back that she was okay and only training. It was something she had to do alone, they couldn't help her with it. Hana tried to channel her inner Jiraiya and Kakashi. They always knew what to do.

As she laid on the ground watching clouds go by, having just washed up in the stream, relaxing for a bit. A light breeze blew threw, fluttering her loose strands of hair.

She picked up on another ship, sensing familiar chakra signatures. Blue eyes snapped open, as red hair swished behind a running figure.

Hana sped through the woods towards the ship, not feeling like teleporting at the moment. The two chakra parties were together, the two crews meeting.

As Hana slid to a stop at the edge of the woods, a grin spread across her lips at the sight.

Her crew found her.

In the midst of the group we're two brothers fiercely hugging. Luffy was latched into Ace, who hugged him just as tightly. Even from a distance she could tell they were both crying.

Hana took a deep breath and screamed one word. One name. One Captain. Her Captain.

"LUFFY!"