AFTER DARK | naruto

22 | answer to the call of love!

"M-M'lady, I'm sure he won't mind all that much." He reassured, following you as you made it up to your apartment door, unlocking it. That's when you perked up and turned your head to look at him.

"You're right, Shisui! You're a genius! Anyone ever tell you that?" you asked, rushing inside, he wasn't sure what made you think he was a genius all of a sudden, but he wasn't going to question it.

"Maybe once or twice?" Shisui responded in a mumble, watching you as you placed your bag on the table.

"Come in, I'm gonna do something really quick." You said, allowing him inside before you rushed toward your room. He took the time to look around your kitchen—it looked like a regular kitchen, with a basket on the counter, and he poked his head through the fridge. There were only a few fruits stored. Then he journeyed to your living room, something that he could only describe as more desert like than Suna. The only sense of decoration was a vase of far by wilted flowers, and a single book in a bookshelf that still had the library bar on it. He perked up when he heard you come in—and turning around, he went silent.

"This is bound to gain my Senseis forgiveness." You declared, a hand on your hip. He wasn't sure what relevance a green jumpsuit had to your Sensei—but you definitely matched your teammate now. You gave him a thumbs up and grinned, "The power of youth flows within me!"

There was a silence before Shisui spoke. "... Did you hit your head, M'lady?" And he saw your smile fade and your posture deflate with a sigh.

"You're right, this is stupid..." You mumbled, untying your wasitband as you made your way back to your room. But you made a detour into your bathroom, "What about a bowl cut!?" He heard your muffled voice ask. He was quick to rush to where you were, you were searching through your empty cabinets. Your hands rested on the sink as you crouched. "I've never bought scissors before..." You sighed out.

Shisui also sighed, but out of relief. "I'm sure your Sensei doesn't want you to change up your look." He said, coaxing you out of any regrets you might have later. "If that guy lost your weights, he should be the one buying you new ones, right?" He suggested.

You perked up. Shisui was completely right. So you went into your room, changing back into your regular outfit before you were out the door. Shikamaru was going to pay. But you were stopped the moment you left your apartment, it was Naruto—who was surprised, yet glad to see you.

"Oh, [Firstname]!" He blurted, "I need to talk to you!"

You stood idly, you'd be delayed from what you wanted to do—but you could stay and listen to Naruto for a while. "What of?" You asked.

He suddenly went serious, and you could feel your lax nature disappear, too. The two of you hadn't seen each other in a while—away from the village doing your respective things. "Something happened when I was out on a mission with the pervy sage..." He started. "There was a man, from the Akatsuki... He tried to kidnap me." You tilted your head, that was definitely scary news—by why he had to tell you was beyond your comprehension.

"The pervy sage said that..." He paused. "They were after people with a beast inside of them, not just me." He explained, rubbing the back of his head. "I mean, you do have one of those things in ya' right? A dragons considered a beast, so I figured I should warn you."

You blinked—it sure looked like a lot of aspects you were born with were a curse. The clan part and the beast part.

"He called them Jinchuuriki, I didn't get that meant, but I think it refers to us... And, well..." He lowered his head. "He injured Sasuke bad, I think that was his brother... And Kakashi sensei is in the hospital, too." He must've been concerned about his team members.