Chapter 9
Chapter 9: Which Animal Plays Best?
I looked up at Kakashi, crossing my arms in mock annoyance. “Lucky you didn’t have many wounds this time. You really should go to the hospital more often, you know! I work there!”
Kakashi shrugged lazily, his one visible eye crinkling with amusement. “But you’re my neighbor, and you’re a medic. I’d rather come to you. Besides…” His hand disappeared into his pouch, pulling out a small scroll. “Wanna play with Pakkun?”
My eyes lit up like fireworks. Pakkun! I’d always loved Shino’s kikaichū—they were fascinating in their own way—but playing with Pakkun? The adorable, squishy-nosed ninja pug? This was a dream come true.
Kakashi chuckled at my obvious excitement and summoned Pakkun with a puff of smoke. “Go easy on her, Pakkun. She’s just a kid.”
Pakkun sniffed at me with an air of suspicion before giving a satisfied grunt. “She smells alright. What game are we playing?”
Word spread faster than I expected. Somehow, Shino got wind of how much I liked playing with Kakashi’s ninken. Being the great friend he was, Shino decided to introduce me to Kiba and Akamaru.
Kiba had been thrilled, of course. “You’re gonna love Akamaru! He’s the best!” he declared proudly, holding up the fluffy white pup like a trophy.
Akamaru yipped happily, wagging his tail as I scratched behind his ears. I thought this was the end of it, just another fun afternoon. But oh, how wrong I was.
The situation escalated when ANBU Hebi—the one with the snake mask—decided to get involved.
“You like animals?” Hebi had asked, leaning casually against the wall of the hospital archives.
“Uh… yeah?” I replied hesitantly, already wary of where this was going.
“Great!” Hebi said, summoning a snake that slithered onto her arm. “Meet Kage. He’s my favorite. Want to play with him?”
Now, I had no problem with snakes—Kage was actually quite elegant, with shiny black scales and a curious tongue that flicked at me. I petted him cautiously, earning an approving nod from Hebi.
But Hebi wasn’t the only one with ideas.
Weasel and Raven, not to be outdone, started pushing their favorite animals on me.
“Cats are clearly superior,” Weasel said one day, tossing a small, fluffy kitten onto my lap while I sat in the ANBU base.
The kitten purred and nuzzled against me, but before I could fully enjoy it, Raven countered. “Ravens are more intelligent,” he said, holding out his arm as a sleek black bird perched gracefully on it.
“Why are you all competing?” I asked, exasperated, as the kitten tried to bat at the raven's tail feathers.
“Because you’re the squad mascot,” Weasel said matter-of-factly.
“Stop calling me that!”
The madness didn’t stop there.
An ANBU I’d never even met before approached me one day while I was reorganizing files at the hospital.
“Do you like hawks?” he asked out of the blue, his hawk mask making the question even more surreal.
“Hawks?” I echoed, confused.
“Good. I’ll bring one next time.” And just like that, he disappeared into the shadows, leaving me questioning my entire life.
I sighed as I flopped onto my bed that evening, staring up at the ceiling. “How did I end up here?” I muttered to myself.
I wasn’t a ninja. I wasn’t even training to be one. I was just Sakura Haruno, a civilian trying to live a quiet life. And yet, somehow, I’d managed to befriend an entire group of elite shinobi and their summons.
“Maybe it’s because you’re fun,” Pakkun said, lying on the floor next to me like he belonged there.
I groaned. “I just want a normal life!”
But as Pakkun snored softly, and I thought about Shino’s kikaichū, Akamaru, Kage the snake, and all the other animals I’d met recently, I couldn’t help but smile.
Maybe being “normal” was overrated.