Next Morning.
As promised, Sandayu gathered everyone at dawn. The sky was tinged with soft shades of orange and gold, the air crisp with salt as gulls cried above the harbor. He stood at the dock, hands behind his back, facing the group with his usual composed presence.
"The ship is ready," Sandayu informed them. "It will take you directly to Yukigakure."
Naruto threw his hands up in excitement. "Alright! Sea trip, here we come!" he cheered with a grin wide enough to rival the horizon.
Karin, less enthusiastic, arched a brow. "Nii-san... isn't sea travel a nightmare for some people?"
Naruto nodded wisely, arms crossed like a sensei explaining a difficult concept. "Exactly. They say if the sea doesn't get you, the endless shaking will. It's like fighting gravity every second."
Behind them, Kakashi was—as always—deeply immersed in his ever-faithful orange book, while Sasuke stood silently, eyes sweeping the surroundings like a hawk. He was always expecting trouble, even in the calmest breeze.
When they reached the shipyard, a massive vessel awaited them. The ship was enormous, easily capable of housing over a hundred passengers. Its sails fluttered in the morning wind, and workers were busy loading supplies.
Among the activity, they spotted Yukie. She was surrounded by several aides and security staff, clearly there to ensure she didn't suddenly bolt for freedom again.
"Good morning, Yukie!" Naruto called out brightly, waving at her like they were old friends.
Yukie turned her head, gave him a glance sharp enough to cut stone—and immediately looked away with an irritated huff.
"Oof," Naruto muttered, scratching the back of his head. "Still mad at me, huh?"
Karin sighed. "What do you except? Because of you she was caught"
All of them boarded the ship, the morning breeze catching the sails as the massive vessel creaked to life. The anchor chains clanged, lifted from the sea, and with a deep groan of wood and wind, the ship began to glide over the water.
Standing dramatically at the front of the ship, one foot on the railing, Naruto puffed his chest out and shouted at the sky:
"ORE WA KAIZOKU Ō NI NARU OTOKO DA!!"("I'm gonna be the Pirate King!!" he declared in mock grandeur.)
Everyone on deck paused and turned toward him with a collective deadpan silence.
Then, just as quickly, they returned to their tasks as if nothing had happened.
Karin squinted up at him, unamused. "What kind of ridiculous title is Kaizoku Ō?"
Naruto, grinning smugly, floated down from his imaginary stage and tapped her forehead lightly. "Ah, my sweet illiterate sister," he said in a tone as if reciting holy scripture. "Fear not. Your awesome, all-knowing Nii-san shall enlighten you."
Her eyebrow twitched. The temptation to bonk him was strong, but she let it slide—for now.
"Pirates," Naruto began, hands behind his back like some wandering philosopher. "There are two types. Can you guess, Karin?"
He didn't wait for an answer. "Of course you can't. Let the master explain."
"One: The evil pirates—stealing, plundering, and all that bad stuff. Boo." He gave a thumbs-down.
"Two: The good pirates—free souls who sail the seas chasing their dreams. Yay." Thumbs-up.
Karin rolled her eyes. "Sounds like a dumb fantasy."
Naruto wasn't deterred. "And the Pirate King? They rise above them all. The one who stands at the top of the sea. To do that, you need three things."
He raised his hand dramatically.
"One—Power." He pointed with his index finger."Two—Money." He extended his middle finger."And three—Fame." He proudly added his ring finger.
"Anyone who achieves all three becomes Kaizoku Ō... The Pirate King."
"What do you say? Isn't it fascinating?" Naruto asked, his eyes sparkling like the sea around them.
He spun in a slow circle, arms wide open, like a theater kid who just nailed the final act. His voice carried on the salty sea breeze—dramatic, heartfelt, and just the right amount of over-the-top.
Standing not too far away, a man with thick glasses and a clipboard paused mid-note. It was none other than the director of Princess Gale, Makino himself. His eyes narrowed—not in disapproval, but with artistic curiosity.
"Huh," Makino muttered, scribbling something down. "That kid's got spirit... raw, unrefined, chaotic—but spirit."
Meanwhile, Yukie watched from a short distance, arms crossed and expression unreadable.
"He's not as dumb as he looks," she murmured under her breath, a small smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. But like a true celebrity with a calendar packed tighter than a frog summoning scroll, she turned on her heel and headed back to her room. Fame waits for no one—not even a surprisingly interesting shinobi.
The director, unable to contain his curiosity, walked up to Naruto, who was still mid-performance, now reenacting what he assumed was a pirate sword fight with a mop.
"Boy!" Makino called out.
Naruto froze, mid-thrust, mop in hand. "Me?" he blinked, pointing to himself.
Makino nodded.
"I'm Naruto Uzumaki! Genin from Konoha!" he beamed with pride. "And you are?"
Makino chuckled. "Where are my manners? I'm Makino. Director of Princess Gale. Nice to meet you, Naruto-kun."
Naruto's eyes widened. "Whoa! So you made that movie? That was awesome! The fighting scenes, the story, the way Gale-hime jumped off the tower and—"
Makino smiled. "Yes, yes, that was a stunt double."
Naruto paused, deflating a little. "Ah."
Makino leaned closer, adjusting his glasses. "Say… ever thought of being in front of a camera?"
Naruto tilted his head. "Like… acting?"
Makino nodded. "You've got a kind of… unpredictable energy. Raw and real. Could be useful."
Naruto grinned. "Well, I do like the spotlight. And I've got a pretty expressive face."
From behind them, Sasuke muttered, "That's one word for it."
Makino adjusted his glasses, the gears in his brain already turning faster than a chakra-infused Rasengan. "And that little story of yours—about the pirates, the dream, the three treasures… that could make one heck of a movie."
Naruto blinked. "Wait, for real? You think it's that good?"
Makino grinned. "With a bit of polish? Absolutely. It's got heart, fantasy, danger, and that dream-chasing spark. It's exactly what people love."
Naruto looked like someone just handed him the title of Hokage early. "Will you really turn it into a movie?"
Makino nodded, that spark of creative madness dancing in his eyes. "You have my word. I'll write it, direct it, and maybe even name the lead after you—Naruto the Pirate King. Sounds catchy, right?"
Naruto lit up like a lantern festival. "YOOO! That's awesome! I'll be famous in the movies too!"
Karin, standing behind him, rolled her eyes. "Nii-san's ego just leveled up."
Sasuke muttered, "As if it needed to."
Makino chuckled. "I'll need your help developing the story sometime. Who knows? If you ever get tired of ninja missions, there might be a spot for you in showbiz."
With that single promise, Naruto officially earned a side gig as an actor—"The Shinobi Star," coming soon to theatres near you.
Makino patted his shoulder. "If you ever feel like swapping kunai for cameras, you know where to find me." Then, with the flair of a true director, he vanished dramatically behind the ship's quarters, probably to wrestle with his next script.
The rest of the day, Naruto and Karin were in full "tourist mode." They explored every inch of the ship like it was a new village. Engine room? Check. Kitchen? Definitely check. They even helped the crew mop the deck—well, Karin helped. Naruto mostly used it as an excuse to do a dramatic slide and shout, "Ahoy, swabbies!"
The sailors laughed, loving the energy. "Kid's got more spirit than a barrel of rum!"
Meanwhile, Makino and the movie crew were setting up scenes for tomorrow's shoot. Lights, props, fake fog machines—this ship was becoming a floating movie set.
Then came dinner.
Oh, the dinner.
The aroma hit Naruto like a chakra-infused punch to the face. Roasted sea beast, curry, dumplings, grilled fish, exotic spices—and dessert? Don't even ask.
Naruto's eyes sparkled. "I've fought demons. I've fought rogue ninjas. But this… this is the real battlefield."
And he went to war.
Plates vanished. Bowls were cleared. Forks clinked with lightning speed. It was as if he activated some kind of hidden food-jutsu. The chefs peeked from the kitchen, stunned.
"Did… did he just eat twenty servings?"
"Correction," Karin said, leaning on her hand, "he just started on the twenty-first."
Kakashi just turned a page. "As long as we're not paying for it…"
Sasuke looked mildly disturbed. "This is why rations disappear during missions."
Naruto, with his cheeks puffed like a squirrel, gave a thumbs-up. "Best. Ship. Ever."