Ushio sat peacefully on the railings, wind blowing through her hair that was free, as she placed her headband on her neck that day. The leaves were blowing through the wind, some getting stuck in her hair for a short moment before it blew them away again.
She sat down to rest before joining her loud team, but somehow, she didn't feel like getting up anymore.
Wouldn't it be nice if the world just stopped at that moment? When she was still a Genin, when she still hadn't fucked up too badly?
When she was still just a nobody?
"Isn't it peaceful?" She asked as Shikamaru neared her, keeping her eyes shut for a few moments more. Shikamaru sighed, joining her.
"Yeah." he mumbled, "kind of like being a cloud."
"How easy life must be as a cloud, huh?" she wondered. "Drifting away slowly, letting the wind take them wherever, not having to face troublesome people..."
"Oi, Ushio, you're starting to sound like me," Shikamaru teased, making her look at him.
"Oh," she seemed surprised, "you're right!" at her freaked out face, Shikamaru laughed lightly.
"You're not as troublesome as most people, you know?"
"That is probably the nicest thing you've ever told me," Ushio laughed at her friend, who rolled his eyes. "Well, I'll be off before I'm even more late than my teacher."
"Alright, see ya later."
Ushio walked off slowly, savoring the calm. As she got closer and closer to the bridge, the noise grew louder and louder.
"USHIO! YOU'RE LATE!" Sakura and Naruto yelled loudly.
"I don't see Kakashi," she stated flatly.
"But we said seven a.m.!"
Ushio looked at three of her teammates flatly, "I just don't see why you all still get here on time. Isn't it obvious that Kakashi will always be late?"
"What if he isn't?!" Sakura shot back. Ushio deadpanned.
"Wishful thinking," was all Ushio said, sitting down. Sasuke had to admit she had a point.
"Yo!" Kakashi called happily, making the four turn to him. "How're you guys doing?"
"Good--" Ushio was about to reply, when both Sakura and Naruto started yelling at Kakashi. Even Sasuke looked pissed off, while Kakashi and Ushio kept a flat look on their face, allowing them to rumble.
"Are you done yet?" Ushio wondered after a while.
"No!" Sakura fumed, "but let's start with the missions."
"You said it!" Ushio said happily, standing up swiftly.
"Oh, Ushio, did you get the paper I've given you yesterday?"
"Oh, right, almost forgot," she smiled at Kakashi, handing him the paper. The smile didn't reach her eyes, as though she hoped he would never ask. He scanned the paper quickly with his eyes, before nodding with a smile.
"Great, I'll give it to the Hokage, and then it's official."
"Okay, thanks!"
"Then let's head out."
►
Ushio yawned as she followed behind her team through the woods, on their way back to their meeting place, where they would also depart.
"I can't believe I taught you that," Kakashi sighed, as he looked at Ushio's tired posture.
"But that's easier for me," she waved off. "It takes a lot of Chakra, but I have more time to do everything. Right now, a water clone is helping my dad, a shadow clone is training with Asuma's clone on wind techniques, and another is doing taijutsu with Gai's team."
"But you're barely moving," Kakashi pointed out, as she yawned yet again.
"That's the price I have to pay," she shrugged, before suddenly stopping. "The clone that trained with Asuma is back," she smiled widely. "He had to go to his team, and guess what?"
"What?" Kakashi rolled his eyes, expecting a silly response.
"We did it! The clone figured the right technique out."
"Show me then," Kakashi pressed, making the girl smile, raising her hand. The air around them started twirling dangerously, the center, having a small ball of chakra there, hovering a few centimeters above her hand. "Damage?"
"Let's see," she grinned, turning to a tree. As she hit it, the tree broke, small pieces going everywhere from the strong wind.
"Hmm, quite a good blow," Kakashi said.
"It's pretty good, isn't it?" Kakashi nodded, and the three team members turned to watch them, eyeing the broken wood strangely.
"WHAT DID YOU TWO DO THIS TIME?!"
"Nothing," the two blinked innocently.
Sakura glared at Kakashi and Ushio, "I swear, Ushio, you become more and more like Kakashi, it's creepy."
"I don't see it," the two replied flatly.
"Creepy," Naruto repeated, and Ushio blinked, confused.
"You guys are so weird," she waved off.
"Ya," Kakashi agreed flatly. "They are."
►
"Team work's been lacking lately."
"Yeah."
"IT'S YOUR FAULT, SASUKE!" Naruto screamed at Sasuke, making Ushio sigh. Ever since they came back from Wave, the three turned much louder- and annoying.
"I'm getting much too old," Kakashi pointed out.
"That's you, dobe," Sasuke spoke. "If you don't want to owe me anything, you just need to... become stronger than me."
"Honestly, an eleven years old is more mature than you two," Ushio pointed out, making the two thirteen years old turn and glare. She was willing to risk her so-called future husband for the two to stop bickering. A common enemy.
"Wait, eleven?" Sakura's eyes suddenly widened, "you've had your birthday! And we completely forgot!"
Ushio's face turned pale, she knew what would happen. Sakura would force her into a party she wasn't interested in.
"Well," Kakashi spoke as a hawk circled above the team. "I'm off to submit the mission report--" the hawk suddenly dove down, and the four cringed away while Ushio smiled.
"Mr. Hawk! Helloooo," she greeted, and it landed on her shoulder. "I don't think we've met before, my name is Ushio, and you are? Ahh, Bolt! That's a very nice name, don't you think so, Naruto? It's so nice to meet a new friend, Bolt."
"What the hell," the four sweatdropped. The hawk turned to give them an evil eye, before turning back to Ushio, rubbing its beak against her cheek.
"Isn't he cute?!" she turned to them with a huge smile, and they all nodded nervously.
He was anything but.
"Well, I'm off now!" Kakashi said, poofing away, not before muttering a "good luck, you'll need it," to the three students that cowered away.
"What's with Ushio and animals anyway?" Sakura wondered, and the three recalled each time the girl's been chased by animals who only wished to show her affection. It happened, surprisingly, a lot. Was it really normal?
"Well, I'm heading home," Sasuke said nervously, slightly creeped out by the hawk's eyes that watched him.
"Sasuke, maybe we could go together somewhere--" Sakura started, before being shot down.
"You're the same as Naruto, not interested." Sakura seemed heartbroken for a moment, "if you have time to bother me, go train. Actually... you're even worse than Naruto."
"Mr. Bolt!" Ushio said, admiring the bird. "Do you think I should eat a soup tonight?" She nodded, as the hawk chirped. "You're right, I should become a vegan!"
"Wait what--"
"You're right, Mr. Hawk, it really is weird. It does look like they're in love and in denial..."
"Who are you talking about?!"
Ushio laughed, "Mr. Hawk, that's evil! I'll tell them when it's time."
"What are you talking about with the Hawk?" Naruto glared.
"Mr. Hawk thinks that you and Sasuke are in love and in denial," she informed, pointing to the two boys who seemed terrified at that notion. "And that I should be a vegan," she pointed towards herself before turning to Sakura. "And that Sakura's got all qualities to be a medic nin, and that both of you should train in taijutsu since you are both physically weak." She finished with a grin aimed to Naruto and Sakura, who blushed.
"WHAT!?"
They all glared at the hawk, who seemed victorious and smug on Ushio's shoulder. He nibbled at her cheek a second, before preparing to take off.
"Oh, Mr. Hawk has to leave. Bye bye Bolt!" she waved as it flew away, and before long she turned back to her team, seeing Sasuke was gone.
And instead, stood a squared rock.
WORD COUNT: 1360
EDITED