"Flirting with your sensei, making the Uchiha jealous...which one do you much favor?" Kurama cackled at the back of her mind. Naruko growled "QUIET!" She hissed in her mind. "A-and I have no idea what you're talking about! I wasn't flirting with Kakashi, and I wasn't trying to make Sasuke jealous or anything, you're assuming things"
It was almost dinner time but Naruko had excused herself to take a walk in the forest, when Kakashi looked like he wanted to object she sent him a puppy dog stare and he just said "don't be long"
"Are you THAT oblivious to what you're doing? Didn't you see the way that sensei of yours was holding himself back from doing anything inappropriate with you in such close proximity to him? I have to admit...it was quite entertaining"
Kakashi couldn't possibly...could he?
Naruko found herself giggling at the thought
"The Uchiha walked out because he was jealous of the brat, Inari. He wanted your attention, I suppose he will be taking advantage of his status as your 'brother' now, to become much closer to you"
"Oh that one I noticed" Naruko agrees
She stopped walking when she reached a clearing. Looking up she noticed a lone crow resting on a low branch, its beady eyes staring at her. She smiled and tilted her head
"Itachi-nii" she mouthed. "I'm not really sure on how this works, but I have an urgent message for you. We need to talk Itachi-nii, it's about Sasuke, and his future" she swayed gently "Again, I'm not sure how this works, for all I know I'm just conversing with a normal crow, but the way this bird is staring at me says otherwise, It's so focused. Well, I'll see you soon"
Turning on her heel she left and headed back, humming to herself
The crow's focus never left her back
*
The next day Kakashi gave Naruko and Sasuke a new task
"We'll be guarding you the whole day Tazuna-san! If anyone tries to mess with you they'll have to deal with us first" Naruko said brightly, pulling Sasuke against her
"Where's the other kid? Little girl with pink hair, has bad manners" Tazuna asked. "She's practicing running on walls" Naruko supplied. Tazuna raised a brow "What about you two?"
"We're exceptional. Kakashi-sensei wouldn't have assigned us to you if he didn't think we can handle it" Naruko continues.
"Well alright then" The three walked into town, and was immediately approached by a worker. Naruko pretended not to be paying attention but was actually listening, she felt sorry for the man for wanting to quit his job building the bridge in fear for his life, and felt even more sorry for Tazuna. He looked so desperate and tired
She placed a comforting hand against his elbow, and offered him a gentle smile
The old man gave her a tired smile back
"So uh, where are we going?" Sasuke, who had been silent the whole time, asked.
"We'll just, look at the bridge, then buy some ingredients for dinner later" Tazuna responded.
"Let's go then" Naruko said
While walking Naruko took in her surroundings and noticed that the streets were full of filthy children who looked starved, the adults weren't fairing any better
"Naruko, stick close to me" Sasuke whispered, protectively holding her forearm. He glared at anyone who looked at Naruko, not liking the way they eyed her. The street kids looked at her dreamily, which he supposed was fine, but some adult males leered at her. "Perverts!" He angrily yelled in his head, wishing to violently gauge out the men's eyes
"Here we are!" Tazuna said, they stopped in front of a shabby looking shop. "It doesn't look like it has anything" Sasuke said.
"There's some vegetables over at that aisle there" Naruko pointed out. Tazuna went to buy what he needed while Sasuke followed, but he paused when Naruko stayed put. "Naru?"
"Go on" Naruko said. "I just need to do something" she smiled
Sasuke looked hesitant, but he shrugged and went after Tazuna
Naruko whistled, going over to another shop and purchasing five eggs. Next she plucked out some dried flowers from a nearby rundown looking flower store.
Walking to the center of the plaza, she settled down the eggs and summoned a shadow clone
"Drums" she whispered
The clone went to some turned over empty trash cans and started thumping rhythmically
Naruko quickly made a flower crown out of the dried flowers, and started juggling the eggs
Soon a crowd gathered around her
Smiling brightly and laughing she garnered the attention of children and passing adults. "Do you think I'll trip and one of the eggs will crack? Will I break all the eggs?" she asks the audience as she spins around tossing the eggs into the air and catching them
The crowd clapped and whistled for her little performance
"Oh no I'm going to break them! They're all going to break!" She dramatically claimed, juggling much faster. The people were kept at their toes as they watched the beautiful young girl spinning gracefully while juggling. Her infectuos laughter having affected them all
at this point Sasuke and Tazuna had finished purchasing the vegetables and were now looking for her.
They followed the sounds of laughter and clapping, something that hasn't been heard of in the town for quite some time now, and found a large crowd surrounding Naruko, who was dancing in circles while juggling eggs
When she saw Sasuke she laughed much more and nodded at him
"Naruko!" He called. "What are you--..what are you doing?" he felt a blush, she moved with grace and elegance, and looked so beautiful with her big smile and her hair flying everywhere
Crap his heart was doing that weird thing again
"HEP!" The girl threw all five eggs into the air, did a cartwheel in the middle, and then caught all five skillfully. The crowds erupted in cheers as she took a bow
"Come on kid, we gotta go" Tazuna called with a chuckle. Slowly the crowd dispersed, looking satisfied.
Some kids stayed behind though, expecting another show from the lovely blond who enchanted them and made them all smile.
Naruko bit her lip, before she approached the kids and handed each an egg, and some pocket money. "T-thank you oneechan!" They all thanked, extremely grateful, blushing bashfully. The kids ran off leaving her alone with Sasuke and Tazuna.
"I didn't know you could juggle" Sasuke mentioned. "I was the class clown, of course I can juggle" Naruko chuckled.
"Why'd you do that anyway?"
Naruko shrugged. "I just wanted to bring a smile to their faces"
Sasuke sighed. "Naruko, you're too kind"
"It just broke my heart seeing how, desolate this place is. Did you see the children? They looked so soulless, so empty, I just wanted to bring a bit of light to them, even if just for a little while, and it worked didn't it? I got the people to smile and laugh" she gave Sasuke an earnest smile "Their happiness is so filling Sasuke"
"It wasn't always like this you know" Tazuna chimed in. "But this is how it's been ever since Gato showed up. The bridge is necessary, with the adults turning into cowards and hope leaving our eyes.. That bridge is a symbol of bravery...if we can..if we can just complete that bridge" he gritted his teeth. "This town will return to how it was before"
"We'll help you" Naruko promised
*
Some time later it was finally dinner
Inari rushed to give Naruko a tight hug as a greeting, causing Sasuke to roll his eyes ad Tazuna to chuckle "that's my boy" Naruko was sure she heard Tazuna mumble
"Dinner won't be for another thirty minutes" Tsunami announced. "Sorry for the delay, it's just-"
"No it's fine" Naruko said, Inari still attached to her hip.
"Aren't you gonna let go anytime soon?" Sasuke asked.
"It's fine Sasuke" Naruko shrugged.
A little while later dinner was ready, and there was an eating competition. Not between Naruko and Sasuke this time but between Sasuke and Inari. Naruko snorted when Sasuke started choking and Inari nearly vomited
"Boys stop, chew slowly, stop stuffing your mouths with more food!" She scolded. "I...have to eat more! So I can become stronger!" Inari moaned, clutching his full stomach. "But vomiting is different" Naruko sighed
After dinner, Naruko escaped Sasuke and Kakashi's watchful eyes by going inside her room(she was still using Sasuke and Kakashi's room. The boys slept in the kitchen now) and then sneaking out the window
She would be sleeping outside tonight
*
Haku found her lying on her back, an arm comfortably on her belly, her head to the right and her hair out of is usual pigtails. Haku reached a cautious hand to her, and gently traced her plump lips
Then he traced her neck, feeling his face get hot. He froze when she shifted her head a bit but did not waken.
"She was amazing yesterday, bringing joy to the townspeople by juggling and dancing, and she was so graceful and beautiful" Haku thought, charmed by her.
The more he looked at her, the more he wondered what would happen if he were to kiss her?
This thought didn't leave his mind no matter how much he tried to shoo it away.
So, with a pounding heart, he nestled on his knees and wiped his clammy hands on his kimono, before slowly lowering himself until he is just a few inches from kissing the sleeping beauty
His cheeks were hotter, his heart was beating faster
He decided to place a delicate kiss against her forehead instead, and that was when she woke up.