Arc One: Seed

❀

“Ah! Tobi’s ears are gonna freeze off!” Tobi whined, holding the sides of his head as he and Sakura walked the long, stony, baron path. Sakura chuckled low and saw her breath cloud the chilly air.

“Maybe we can find you a scarf somewhere then, Tobi?” She offered the man who began rubbing his gloved hands together. Kangae himself had nothing to say as he was still sleepy and kept safe and warm cupped in Sakura’s hands and held flush and compact against her front.

The Sun had risen not long ago and the morning chill of the beginning of winter fluttered Sakura’s hat tassels and pinched her cheeks with its frosted fingers. Tobi had woken her up to report that Zetsu dropped by to say they would meet them in Overpass at some point before he promptly fell asleep, passing lookout duty onto her. She allowed him a brief rest until it was time to wake up and before they knew it, they were back on their journey.

“Tobi would like that, would Sakura like a scarf too?” He hummed. “Then we can have matching hats and matching scarves!”

“I wouldn’t mind it, but more than anything I want to complete our mission,” she replied.

Tobi’s shoulders drooped, “aw… Does Sakura not like missions with Tobi?”

“No! No, Tobi, that’s not what I meant. I don’t mind spending time with you, I just really want this to go well so I can prove my use.” Her voice softened and she gently stroked her thumb along Kangae’s stomach feathers which earned her a happy bird nuzzling closer to her warmth.

“Ah! Well if that’s the case you’d be happy to know that we’re here.” Tobi pointed to where the path made a hard left turn along what looked like a cliff face. Sakura looked puzzled as they approached before finally seeing the town before them.

There was indeed a cliff, the pathway led across to a large stretch of earth that reached long across to the cliff on the other side which held the border of the Land of Stone. But along the cliff face Sakura looked over, there jutted out a stone path made of the cliff that led down to a small town hiding beneath the shade of the stone pathway held above. The stalactites were a heavy threat over the town but the solid structure had been there for decades, long trusted and still held strong. 

The Village under the Overpass was indeed a small amalgamation of man-made buildings huddled together in the shade like weary travellers under protection from the elements and surrounding a fire pit for warmth. The muted colours of buildings were a small but stark contrast to the earth tones surrounding them.

Sakura wondered if she had ever seen a village like this before. She felt a tapping at her shoulder.

Successful at getting her attention, Tobi tilted his head, “ready to go ahead with the plan?”

Sakura nodded, “I’m ready.” She gently ran a finger down Kangae’s beak and was rewarded with the summons sniffling and blinking his eyes open. He yawned and shuffled before collecting himself, “plan? Is it time for the plan?” he mumbled.

Sakura encouraged the raven to wake up with a few more strokes to his head. “Yes, Kangae. Remember you’re very important to our plan.” The compliments successfully roused the summons to his feet.

“Yeah! I remember! I promise I’ll do the best job!” He squeaked and squawked as Sakura allowed him onto her wrist and held him up at her eye level.

“I know, you’re going to do amazing.” She encouraged the bird like an overeager child as he fluttered his wings. “Remember to stay out of sight, and stick to the rooftops.” He agreed with enthusiastic nods before Sakura guided him to the air with a rise of her arm and a flap of his wings. Kangae took to the skies and glided along the wind until he was out of sight.

“Yay!” Tobi cheered, “now for plan Fake ‘em! Break ‘em! And Take ‘em! ” He struck a pose before pulling out a briefcase from his sleeve and holding it out for her.

“I never agreed to that name,” Sakura shook her head fondly as she took the case after putting the necklace holding the amber stone around her neck to rest atop her chest.

❀

The shade was cool against Sakura’s hands as she adjusted her hat to hang behind her head, the thread resting across her throat. A chilly breeze ruffled her fringe and she closed her eyes briefly to feel the caress of the cool air on her face. Her brow furrowed, distinctly she could feel eyes on her, an intense stare boring into her very being. She held the chain of the amber necklace and looked behind her to see no one. 

Cautious, she turned back to the town she was steps away from and continued her trek.

Now at ground level after separating from Tobi at the cliff and descending those steps by herself, Sakura could see why the Town under the Overpass was a frequently rested location.  The buildings were tall, most carrying at least two stories, and the atmosphere resembled that of a market place more than a rest stop. 

Sakura came to a group of people filtering in once a tall man wrapped in a large coat and leaning against a wooden podium gave them a dismissive nod through the large wooden structure that could scarcely pass as a gate.

Sakura took the brief second she had to compose herself and fix herself with the persona she’d settled on. “Next,” the man drawled. Sakura fiddled with the necklace chain and stepped up to the man hunched against a podium though he spared the open booklet and papers littering the wood little interest. He held a pen lazily once he finished writing something and muttered lazily, “name.”

“Hana,” Sakura shifted nervously.

The man's dull eyes looked from her feet to her head before settling on her hair, “your parents are certainly creative.”

Sakura bit her tongue. Sure, making her fake name mean ‘flower’ was a bit obvious but it made enough sense?

He scribbled and spoke without looking up, “what are you here for?”

“I’ve come to meet up with someone.” She attempted to ease her fidgeting hands under the man’s scrutiny by brushing her fringe back.

He spared her another glance, this time taking in the basic black pattern-less yukata and grey outer cloak. “In that?” He continued his writing and Sakura fought to not clench her hands into fists. “And how long will you be staying?”

“Oh, only a few hours, I don’t expect to be staying the night.” She shifted both hands to grip the handle of the simple brown briefcase Tobi had given her and tightened her grip.

The man scoffed under his breath, his eyes evidently not needing to look her over again and he muttered, “I don’t expect so either.” ‘Wow! What did I even do to you!?’ She fought to not voice the thought aloud.

Thankfully, the man finished his writing, he waved his hand dismissively without looking up and drawled “you may enter.” Sakura forced herself to bow her head enough to be considered polite before scampering through the gate and away from the needlessly rude gate keeper.

Now in the hustle and bustle of bodies travelling through the town, Sakura felt safe amongst the many, though she should find a clearer area to hopefully be seen by her targets. Sakura made her way through the street, seeing it lead to a large area in the centre of the town where a huge bonfire not yet lit stood scorched and dark. True to the pass-through town this was, nearly every building Sakura passed was either an inn, guest house, or hostel, or it was a restaurant, eatery, or diner.

All around her were the busy sounds of chatter and sellers trying to get anyone's attention, Sakura avoided their eyes as much as she tried to avoid bumping shoulders or tripping over cracks and bumps in the ground.

The structures were made of a mixture of stone for the first stories and wooden stories added above, the roofs were flat and more than anything just another story to the buildings, some with laundry hanging and plants over growing which gave the plain structures a splash of living colour. The effort clearly went into buildings as the cracks and bumps in the ground gave the impression that the path was moulded by feet and not hands.

Eventually Sakura made it to the open area in the centre of the town. She came to a stop separate from the crowd buzzing with chatter and endless footsteps. The unlit bonfire stood two times taller than her, the thick scorched wood stood in a large stack that would span the width of twenty men with outstretched arms linked, and in the centre was an enormous brazier dish. At night or during the colder times, a fire must be lit to provide warmth to the crowds and stand as a comfort to travellers.

Sakura admired the structure, she attempted to play into the ‘nervous civilian never having seen much’ persona to keep herself unassuming but she truly wondered if she had ever seen a place like this before. Though exploring her thoughts, she kept her wits about her, there was a time and place for self exploration but a mission was never that time.

Not wanting the attention of anyone other than the ones looking for the necklace she wore, Sakura put her bamboo hat back on. 

It was this awareness of herself that gave away an incoming presence behind her, but keeping up the ‘naïve civilian’ façade, Sakura tensed herself when the expected hand tapped her shoulder and she spun around.

The man was unassuming at best and an underlying threat at worst. Dressed in simple clothes but with a black sash across his chest carried a sword behind his back. Black eyes met her wide ones and he leered a lopsided smile in response. He raised his hands half heartedly and attempting to soften his gruff tone, he said, “easy now, you’re about to jump outta your skin, little lass.”

Sakura crossed her arms across her stomach, the briefcase in a tight grip at her side,  in an attempt to look smaller and even more nervous. It worked as the bandit’s eye flitted over her tense form.

“I-I… Have you…” She bit her lip, unable to look up to the man who towered easily a head taller than her and let her eyes flutter around the ground between them.

“No need to worry. I’m not gonna hurt ya.” He even took a step back and grinned when her shoulders eased in response. “I’m here to take you to the exchange, alright? You’ve done a good job with wearing the necklace, and you’ve even got the package.” She gripped the bag tighter and forced her eyes to meet his.

“Yes… Please - Please take me to her.” His grin showed his teeth and without warning he closed the distance between them and dropped an arm around her shoulder. Either choosing to ignore her tensing under his grip or finding amusement in her discomfort as he began leading her through the crowd.

He lowered his head to her ear and his voice hung low, “no need to be so nervous, lass. If you’re doing this, that must mean there’s something in it for you?” Sakura wondered if the bandit was attempting to fish information out of her or just trying to engage in small talk. Nevertheless it was a morbid thing to do to a civilian you planned to help kill within the hour.

“Y-yes, Naka- the client, I mean, he promised me enough money to rebuild my house.” She muttered, nearly tripping over a bump in the path as she was steered out of the main street and through a series of smaller paths.

A chuckle that rumbled in his throat let Sakura know the bandit smoked regularly. “That’s kind of him, even though he gave you that,” he gestured with a point of his finger that rested still on her shoulder to the briefcase she held. “Know what’s in it?”

“N-no, he told me to trade it for the girl. I promise I never even looked inside!” She stammered desperately. He hushed her by rubbing his hands up and down her upper arms.

“There there, I believe ya,” He soothed, but the smile held it back from feeling anywhere close to genuine. “You’ve done just fine, lass.” Sakura was growing a quiet discomfort for the unwelcome pet name. The two came to a stop at the door of a two story building with laundry hanging atop the open roof.

The bandit released her shoulders, he swaggered around to face her and held up an open hand. “The necklace if you please?” He was attempting to sound kind but the gruffness of his voice fit manners as well as snow fit spring. Sakura purposefully fumbled with the chain as it tangled around the string of her hat resting behind her head before finally getting it off and depositing it into the waiting hand. He grinned as he gave the amber stone a satisfied toss in the air and caught it.

“Let’s get this over with, this way, lass.” He gave the wooden door a few knocks before letting himself in and holding it open for her. Sakura brought the briefcase to her front in  the tight grip of her hands and slowly stepped into the house.

She masked her quick eyes, taking in every detail of the room and the people in it, as her nerves that kept her from focusing on anything. It worked as she was met with lazy eyes looking her up and down and settling with chuckles and snorts.

The room was near empty, the bare minimum furniture was pushed against the walls, leaving only the stone staircase leading to the next level to be of any use. Six men loitered in the room, two sitting on the staircase, two leaning against a wall that had its blinds closed, the man who had brought her here was closing the door behind her, and the final man slowly approached.

His eyes were a deep brown to match his buzz cut hair and the black sash tied around his forehead hung long behind him. This bandit was Kenji, the right hand man of the bandit in charge of the kidnapping - just as their interrogation had told them.

The man behind Sakura threw the necklace and Kenji caught it easily, briefly inspecting the stone before pulling his attention to the briefcase. A grin pulled at the corner of his lips as he dragged his gaze up to Sakura’s face.

“You’re a little flighty thing aren’t you?” His voice was a deep rumble. He chuckled and looked to the men around him who echoed his amusement. “It’s alright, we’re not gonna eatcha or anything. Especially since you brought the package, I see.” He gestured with a nod of his head and Sakura tightened her grip. She made a show of swallowing before pulling her eyes up to finally meet his own.

“I - I’m here for the trade on behalf of Nakaya-san.” He nodded along as she spoke, his head hanging to the side as if he was amusing the words of a child.

“And that’s mighty kind of you,” his patronising tone made her skin crawl. He took a step closer, now just out of her arms reach and allowing his height to cast a shadow over her. He pocketed the necklace and held out his hand. “I wouldn’t want to keep a little thing like you long, so hand the case over and we can finish the exchange.”

To his mild shock, Sakura shifted the case to her side and hesitated before saying. “F-First, please let me see the girl,” she was met with a raised eyebrow followed by a deep laugh. The men around the room shared the sentiment as they laughed with their leader.

“Oh, it’s adorable you think that a little thing like you gets to make demands.” He wiped the corner of his eye of a non-existent tear.

“Not… Not a demand. A request, or how else would I know if she’s alive?” She allowed her hands to shake briefly before straightening her back.

A bandit from the wall snickered and said, “and what would you do if she wasn't?” Sakura looked at him with alarm lighting her face, Kenji sent him a stern look in response that successfully pacified the man. He came ever so closer to Sakura, “now, now, no need to worry. You’re girl’s as safe as can be with my partner.” He rested a hand on Sakura’s shoulder and she thought to herself that she was getting tired of these men thinking they could just touch her like this. 

He held up his other hand to rest palm up between them and Sakura spared it a glance, “just hand that case over and I’ll have the kid brought over.”

Sakura’s grip minutely tightened. “You mean she’s not here?” Kenji’s left eye twitched.

“Alright, let’s not do anything rash,” his grip on her shoulder tensed as he felt her shift back a step. “Just give it here and everything will be fine.”

“I-” Sakura gulped and with forced reluctance to power through, she yanked her shoulder from his grasp and took a step back, “I want to see her first, please.” Her gaze hardened as his expression soured. His eyes shifted from her own, to the briefcase, back to her eyes. For the briefest second, his gaze flashed to the bandit who stood now a mere hair’s breadth from her back. He raised his hands in mock surrender and chuckled.

“Alright, I’m an understanding man, let’s get our guest what she’d asked for.” Had Sakura not seen that minute flicker of his eyes, she would have had only that second to sense the imminent danger coming from behind her. 

The flash of movement from the bandit who had brought her here was quick but Sakura was quicker. She spun in place and with a swipe of her free arm, she directed the downward slash of the bandits arm, gripping a kunai that had been aimed at her back, she gripped his wrist and drove the kunai into the ground. The unexpected movement had forced him to his knees and she took advantage of the confusion to swipe his legs with hers and land a hard elbow to the back of his head. He was unconscious before his head bounced on the wooden floor.

The surprise of the bandits quickly shifted to alarm. “She ain’t a civilian!”, “Get her!” and “Get the money!” was thrown in her direction. The four men sprang forward, weapons drawn. Kenji took a step back to allow the other bandits the room to fight as his wide eyes took in her movements. 

One overeager bandit sprang to meet her with a kunai gripped in each hand. Sakura dropped the briefcase to her feet and kicked it behind her and out of the bandits reach. Seeing the fight coming, she took a quick breath to compose herself.

Sakura followed her instincts, allowing her muscle memory to guide her movements, the tassels of her bamboo hat fluttering with her movements. With her bare hands, she parried his swipes and slashes, stopping his movements at his wrists and elbows.

One harsher push from her to his upper arm had him stumbling back and she took advantage of that moment by sending a punch into her opponent's diaphragm, knocking the air from his lungs and forcing him to lurch forward. She quickly struck the back of his head with the side of her hand, successfully knocking him out.

Then with less strength than she thought she would need -had she always been this strong?- she grabbed him by the arm, spun around, and launched him against the closed door. He slid against the wooden surface, unconscious and held up by his knees, blocking the exit for the others inside.

Before she had even straightened herself, a kick was aimed across her gut that she managed to block with her raised forearms. Using the open opportunity, Sakura grabbed the man by the ankle. She spun to kick the bandit across his jaw, then using the grip on his ankle, she swiped his supporting leg and swung his body spinning to crash across the room. His body clattered limp on the ground along with the wooden pieces that used to form the chair he’d subsequently landed on.

A whizzing sound came from her side and Sakura turned just quick enough to see a bandit had thrown two shuriken in her direction, one aimed at her head and the other at her knees. She used momentum to jump into a sideward spin, allowing herself to dodge the shuriken spinning past her to lodge themselves in the wall behind her. She had only a second to pull a kunai from a pouch on her belt to use to block another shuriken that had been thrown as she’d jumped.

Metal met metal with a clank. Sakura was crouched from her landing and she threw her kunai which was equally blocked with the man's own. Sakura ran forwards, she snatched the falling kunai she had thrown and used it to meet the bandit’s own, blow for blow. They traded slashes and strikes for a moment, neither hitting, Sakura saw many openings where she could have stabbed the man, but she held back as she was only looking to knock him out. 

But out the corner of her eye she saw the other hired bandit running towards the briefcase and she sprang into action. Focusing her chakra into her hand, her next parry of kunai’s was powerful enough to disrupt the man’s grasp and send the weapon clattering to the ground. She spun her grip around and used the blunt loop of the kunai along with a chakra infused hand to strike the bandit across the head. Unconscious with what would no doubt be a sensitive bump on his head, Sakura grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and with an easy heft, she launched him bodily into the bandit trying to reach the briefcase.

The man was knocked to the ground, his head thumping on the floor as the man Sakura had thrown landed limp and sprawled on top of him.

A metallic shing sounded closer than Sakura would have liked. She angled her head to the side just fast enough to avoid the silver metal of a thin sword jutting forwards along her line of sight. A single paper tassel fluttered to the floor and there was a brief sting at her cheek, telling Sakura she hadn’t fully avoided the attack.

She turned her eyes to meet Kenji’s own, his eyes were hard-set and cold but his grin was mocking. A warm drop of blood blossomed along the cut on her cheek that his sword had sprouted. Sakura frowned. Keeping eye contact with the taller man from her slouched position, she raised a thumb, and with a faint green glow it swiped the blood along with he cut itself away.

If possible, his grin worsened. “That’s a neat party trick. Someone’s taught you well.” The grip on the hilt of his sword strengthened, the muscles of his arm tensing. “But that won’t help you here.”

He gripped the hilt with both hands and in a quick movement slashed towards her head. Sakura bent back to dodge and rolled out of the way. Jumping to her feet, she alternated between dodging her opponents slashes and parrying them with her palms on the face of the blade. He managed to slice her open palm but she was quick to heal it. ‘Note to self, buy a pair of gloves.’

He didn’t spare her freshly healed hand the time Sakura had hoped, he almost seemed to anticipate her using it to surprise him, and he side-stepped out of her incoming fist. Kenji used this move to his advantage and struck her across the face with his elbow.

Sakura was forced back a step and allowed a breath to focus her healing chakra to the bruised cheek before it could form.

“I’ll give you this, you’re faster than the average medic,” Kenji seemed to also want that moment to force his breathing back under control.

“You get off on fighting medics or something?” Sakura quirked her brow.

He shrugged with a carefree smirk, “I operate around Rain. I’ve fought my fair share of medics, you’re not special.” He sprang forward, sword at the ready and the two resumed their fight. Sakura only allowed her mind to wander for a second over his words. She must be from Rain or a village associated with it then if skills like hers weren’t that uncommon. She’d ruminate on that thought when she had the time as she swiped his sword to the side and used the opening to send a chakra infused punch right into the large man's sternum. His lower ribs would be at best bruised or at worst fractured.

Seeing her opening, she moved to step forwards only to feel a splitting pain in her left calf. She looked down to see the fight had brought them to the two bandits she had last taken care of. The man who had tried to reach the briefcase whom she had thrown the other bandit into, he was not unconscious and had used this chance to stab a kunai as hard as he could into her leg. Sakura buckled under the pain and landed on her knee, gritting her teeth.

“Hah,” the sound of metal soaring through air and string being unfurled. She looked to see Kenji had thrown a kunai at the briefcase to stab the corner, and yanked on the metal thread attached to catch the case as it came to him.

“You’re a tough fighter and a good medic so that wont keep you down long,” he spun and leapt to the staircase that no doubt led to the roof. “-And I don't want to waste anymore time fighting you! So long, medic!” Sakura’s expression soured.

She forced herself to her feet and slammed her foot across the man's face, knocking him out immediately. She ripped the kunai out and resolved to heal as she caught chase. Not the most effective healing method and would require her to split her focus. Half to feel out the damage through her body and not with her hands to act as a focus point and easy application; not ideal but necessary if she wanted to catch up to her target. The other half to speed up the steps and dodging things as Kenji threw furniture to the ground behind himself on the second floor in an effort to inhibit her.

She leapt over tables and dodged chairs, one door half hanging off its hinges became an obstacle to slide under, and the odd shuriken nearly knocked the hat off her head.

She reached the roof only seconds after Kenji did, now with a fully healed leg. She kicked the door open that he had slammed behind him. There was a flash and she was only in the open air for two steps before a kunai with a slip of paper was thrown directly in her face.

He had used that second of her slamming the door open, the light of the outside momentarily blinding her, and threw the weapon before she had fully adjusted.

The metal point of the kunai took up her entire vision and it was a second away from reaching her, she had less than that second to react. She could duck down and dodge, or angle her head to the side, she could skid along the ground, all these thoughts raced through her head. But she needn’t follow any of them.

Faster than the beat of a dragonfly’s wing, a swirl of black took up her vision. A small explosion was blocked behind an outstretched arm and long sleeve of black with red clouds. Sakura’s eyes snapped up to see the familiar spiralled mask that belonged to Tobi angled looking down to her. His back was as straight, strong and immovable as an old tree that towered over the smaller medic, sheltering her with his shadow and protecting her from harm.

How he had gotten between Sakura and the kunai so fast was a thought she had before Tobi seemed to come back to himself, seeing the small explosion tag had lit his robe sleeve on fire, he flailed. “Ah! Tobi’s on fire!” He threw his arm around in a panic. Just off into the distance, Sakura saw Kenji with the briefcase in his grip leaping atop roofs and was now more than two houses away.

“Tobi! What are you doing?!” Sakura yelled. Tobi looked around frantically, his eyes zeroing in on a bucket of water near an overgrown flower bed and he wasted no time dunking the fiery sleeve into it.

“You were supposed to stay out of sight and catch the target when I forced him up to the roof!” She threw out an arm in the escapees direction and Tobi followed the direction as his sleeve eventually stopped smoking.

“Oh yeah…” Tobi muttered. “But Tobi saw you were in trouble!” He whined.

Sakura huffed, “I had it under control! Now let’s go,” she grabbed his arm and pulled him to his feet. “If we hurry we might be able to catch him before he can warn his partner!”

Overhead, Sakura saw Kangae. He was flying a safe distance above Kenji who had a three house lead on them, and was operating as their eyes to keep his location in sight.

Just as Sakura leapt onto another rooftop, Sakura’s vision of Kenji changed. He went from leaping mid air over a gap in two houses, to something reaching up from the house in front of him and grabbing him in the face. He was caught mid air and suspended by the grip this being had on his face for a moment before it pulled him closer to the house and slammed him into the floor.

Sakura was confused but didn’t let it stumble her movements and she hurried with Tobi alongside her to reach where their target had been pinned.

“Yay! We got him!” Tobi cheered as the two came to land. Zetsu stood, their legs formed, it wasn’t often Sakura had seen that, and Kenji was struggling on the floor. He was wrapped up in thick roots, his limbs completely pinned to his sides and his body immovable. It was a look reminiscent of their previous captured bandit, albeit this one didn’t look as frightened.

“Thank you, Zetsu-san.” Sakura sighed, thankful their teammate had made an appearance after the errand she had sent them on.

Tobi picked up the briefcase and tucked it under his arm, “looks like we got another interrogation, do you think good cop and bad cop will work on him?”

Sakura shook her head, “I don’t think he’d fall for that. But we need the base location. We don’t know how much time we have before his partner gets suspicious and does something to the girl.” Sakura’s brow furrowed in concern over the young civilian caught up in all of this.

Kangae fluttered down and hovered in front of Sakura’s face before she extended an arm and allowed him to perch on her. She gave his head a thankful stroke.

“It’s okay,” Tobi’s voice was soft as he came behind Sakura, resting his hands on her shoulders and gently placing his chin atop her hat. His own hat tassels fluttered around hers.

“Let’s go wait around the corner and let Zetsu-chan do the interrogation then,” Sakura held Kangae closer as he nuzzled into her hand and Tobi began moving them away from the two. “They’re really good at getting information. Give them two minutes and we’ll have the location of the base and the target secure!”

Sakura worried her lip with her teeth. A part of her didn’t want to leave Zetsu to the interrogation. But the time constraint they were under, the threat the hostage was under, and the minor guilt Sakura felt for having Zetsu bend to her plan of safely disposing of the bandits earlier. All of it made her hold her tongue, they were teammates after all, Sakura had to place faith in her teammate to get what they needed. She allowed Tobi to move them behind a wall with laundry hanging on lines. She spared a glance back to the captured man being pulled by the roots to meet the face of his interrogator.

❀

Kiaria found herself twisting a finger in the curl of hair that stopped shorter than the rest. Days ago a large man with rough hands and a rougher grip had grabbed her by a fistful of hair, yanking her from her knees and severing the lock of hair with a knife dangerously close to her face.

The last time Kiaria had her hair cut it was for an official family photo with just her and her grandfather. She’d been so excited that she spun in place when the kind woman had finished trimming and danced with the bounce of her long curls, her grandfather laughed and clapped along despite his cough that had been slowly getting worse.

Her eyes began to tear up again at the thought and her finger gripped the curl tighter until she felt it pulling at her scalp. Pulling her from the once comfortably warm memory now chilled in melancholy by her current circumstances.

Every time she tried to calm herself by thinking of a happier memory, something in the dark dirty room she’d been locked in for who knows how long, forced her back.

When she thought back to her golden curled and beautifully crafted aviary, the metallic structure large enough to walk into and sit amongst the varied and exotic birds too broken or untrainable to sell for whom she doted on. The haven, alive with vibrant green plants and twisting small trees, though lacking in flowers, was lively and bright with the many birds who likewise would kiss her cheeks and nuzzle in her hands.

When she could let her mind reminisce of what sitting there felt like to be surrounded by the chirps of the birds; a drop of liquid from an inconsistently dripping leak would fall from a large crack in the ceiling and add to the pool of something that did not look like water in the corner of the room. Each drip falling at different times, impossible for her to predict its fall, and would immediately pull her from that memory like a cold splash of water drenching her body until she shivered, back where she was.

When she thought of her library, truthfully it was the family's study, it had belonged to her grandfather, then to her father, only to be occupied by her grandfather again when they’d lost her parents. She would see how sad her grandfather was when he resigned himself to his work there and one day she was feeling exceptionally lonely, so she asked to join him.

She was welcomed with a book in her hand and soon it became a habit that when he went to work, she would follow and burrow herself in the corner to read whatever had caught her interest. Her grandfather eventually gifted her the shelves there to store her books, opening the study to her now like he had her father and she felt a warmth light from her chest. With every book she added, the fire in her would grow until she felt glowed brighter than the fireplace that lit up and warmed the room.

When she could feel just a smoulder of the warmth that being in that study had felt like, the door would quickly and loudly crack open. The light would make her flinch and the sudden breeze into a room which the wind seemed ignorant of, would make her body clad in only the pathetically thin silk dress patterned with yellow and orange flowers tremble with the cold.

A tray of food, usually an apple, a bowl of some mushed substance and a bowl of overcooked rice, would be uncaringly thrown in. The rice would always tip and splatter, the smell of whatever had once flavoured it seeped in the stale air, whatever the mush had been was quick to rot and the combined stench would leave Kiaria heaving over herself and retching up what was only the apple shed eaten until she tasted more stomach acid in her throat than the fruit.

Her eyes shut tighter, as if willing the tears back in, but as useful as a cracked vase it could only hold so much until tears slipped past. Kiaria’s last thought she could reach for in a pathetic attempt to flee her situation was of her last happy memory.

It was her and her grandfather packing up their belongings. The books she adored were boxed up and would soon be waiting for her to organise in a new shelf in their new home in Rain. Her aviary, though beloved, she couldn’t take with her and thankfully her grandfather had found a business partner trustworthy of the care of her birds. She had read about the birds in Rain and had wondered if she could have a new aviary commissioned to care for new ones. When their family home was empty, leaving only the furnishings that held no personal connection to the two, Kiaria clad in her favourite dress and a bag with a few books she could read on the road, she took her grandfather's hand and bubbled with excitement. Not only at the prospect of Petrichor Centre being their ray of hope that her grandfather would finally be getting healthier, but at the possibilities Rain held for them. Kiaria had never seen much of the world, she’d never even seen much of her homeland of the Village hidden in the Stone. She’d lived her life in the peak district so the idea of travelling on foot to a new village was what Kiaria imagined exhilaration felt like.

Fighting her mind for scraps of hope and happiness that memories like that had once gifted her with open arms, she would try and try only to be suddenly brought back.

As excited as she had been for the future, at this moment she missed her home. Here; her bathroom was a bucket in the corner with a cracked wall to stare into, her kitchen was the floor where her eating companion was the mould that consumed faster than her appetite could leave her, and her bedroom was a ratted single grey sheet as thin as paper and smelled of a moths scraps.

Try as she might to disassociate from her current situation, she would open her eyes only to remain still where she was.

Kiaria startled when the tell-tale cracking sound announced to the quiet room that the door was being opened. Her head shot up and her grip around her knees tightened, she had been leaning against the far corner of the room, trying to take up as little space as possible as if to put as much distance between herself and the room. A tall man dressed in black clothes and an indigo jacket ripped at the sleeves to expose the muscles of his arms and the scars that tore across the skin stood there.

Kiaria shuffled her feet closer to her body, her knees protesting as she must have been hunched over herself for hours, but she sat frozen stiff.

“Alright princess, the boss wants to see ya.” The nickname made her shiver, she wanted to ask what was happening but her last attempt at voicing a question had led to her being struck across the face and left without a meal that day. Terrified to say or do anything that would earn her a matching bruise on her other cheek, she remained frozen in place.

The man’s sigh was like gravel rumbling and he stalked forward in quick steps.

“ Ah-! ” Kiaria startled as he grabbed her by the upper arm, his grip bruising as he jerked her up and out of her safe corner. Her legs dangled uselessly in the air and her head spun from the motion no doubt thanks to how little she had been eating. His grip of her upper arm was held cruelly at an angle and she could feel each motion of his steps pushing a new hand shaped bruise on her skin.

Kiaria had never been a physical child, finding enjoyment in her books rather than in the outdoors, so every shot of pain her body had endured in these last days had been a terrifyingly new experience. She bruised like a delicate peach, a single impact would spread far on her skin, blooming in purples and blues, the freckles she loved paling in comparison to the soured skin.

She struggled with her legs, trying to alleviate her body enough to ease the painful grip but that only earned her a stern “stop struggling,” and a smack to the side of her head, making her momentarily see white and took her a few seconds to refocus her vision and come back to herself. 

When she did, her eyes were assaulted with light and her face scrunched up to protect her. The man's walking continued uninterrupted as he took her from the basement she had been forced to live in and he carried her in that single grip through the vacant house.

Her eyes focused on the wooden floor below, she waited until the light didn’t burn her eyes before she looked up.

Just then, she was brought to a stop and without warning was dropped to the floor. She landed on the hard wooden surface and her limbs sprawled pathetically, if trying to lessen the impact or because she was too weak to curl in on herself, she wasn’t sure.

Her head hit the floor and the ringing in her head deafened her in that moment, her hands cradled her head until she could open her teary eyes and pull herself to a sitting position.

“-back soon by now?” The ringing faded and Kiaria slowly was able to take in the room she’d been brought to.

“He should be on his way now. Kenji’s capable, he’s not gonna run off with the money.” There were four men, all conversing with another man who was clearly the leader. Kiaria knew that because he was the man who had snatched her and instructed the others to take her to that horrible room.

“I wasn’t tryin’ to imply anythin’, boss. Just that he’s takin’ a while is all.” Said a man who crossed his arms behind his head and leaned against a wall. It was a vacant house with the only furniture Kiaria could see being a dining table and chairs which the men were converging at in the very centre of the room. There wasn’t much else she could say about the room other than it was cleared out of anything making it a home but was otherwise obviously lived in by her kidnappers if the crumpled up food items on the floor and various drinks littering the table were any indication. 

The men likewise she had little to describe about when discounting how afraid she was of them. Kiaria, as a peak child, had extremely brief interactions with shinobi. She knew they existed and protected their villages using any means necessary and answered to their Kage. She knew they were great fighters capable of incredible things. But the closest she had come to seeing any real shinobi were at official banquets and events held by the Tsuchikage for the peak families and the odd shinobi that accompanied him. 

But these men wore no headbands, that meant they were loyal to no village and instead chose to use their skills as bandits.

Kiaria figured she’d been targeted because she stood out too much to be a lower class civilian, and the men who brought her food would sometimes talk to each other about what they would do with the money her grandfather would give them. She’d been ransomed and that was a scary thought. But the most terrifying thought came to her in that moment as she watched the men talk amongst themselves about when the money would come, they weren’t concerned that she could see their faces. They hid nothing and talked freely with her in the room with them, if they held no fear of the things she knew of them, then they must not be planning to let her live. Kiaria’s eyes stung and her finger made its way to her short curl.

Just then, one of the bandits who stood close to the door of the house must have heard something because he shifted his attention from the group in front of him to the door. He cracked it open to confirm what he saw before smirking.

“Hey guys, Kenji’s back,” he said and opened the door wider to let the man in. Said man swaggered into the room with a briefcase in one hand, spinning a necklace by the chain in the other, and matched smirks with the other men.

“Took you long enough, have some trouble?” The leader crossed his arms and from that angle, Kiaria could see a large sword sheathed across his back and her already erratic breathing stuttered.

Kenji shook his head with a dismissive shrug of his shoulders, “no trouble, she was just a fidgety thing is all. Wound up so tight it was a struggle to even get her back to the spot. “

The leader chuckled under his breath and stepped to the side allowing his partner to an opening at the table.

“The civilian go down easy?” He cocked his head.

“Easy enough,” he carelessly threw the necklace to the table and then pulled the sword from his hip, “one of the hired guys damn missed the hit and startled her so bad she nearly flew off. I got her before she made it to the door, I’m just pissed this is gonna need a clean.” He said with a scrutinising look along the blade before sliding it away.

Another bandit who leaned against the table laughed. “That’s what we get for hiring amateurs, told ya boss! I said we could’ve handled it ourselves!”

The boss leaned his hip against the table. “I’d rather we be over-prepared than underprepared, with the ransom we’re dealing with it’s best to be cautious of any hired shinobi. Did you kill the others for that incompetent show?”

Kenji grinned, “Of course, dumbasses couldn’t even stab a civilian right, hell if I’m letting them in on a cut with a show like that.”

The boss and the rest of the men barked out a laugh at that and Kiaria was terrified at the flippant way these men laughed off the murder of people they had hired.

“Can’t fault you there,” he gave the briefcase in the man's hand a nod, “and more for us.”

Kenji held up the case smugly and placed it down on the table. “Haven’t even looked inside yet, figured I should wait until I was back.”

“A smart move.” The boss said, he eyed the case hungrily, the other men matching his intensity.

Kenji looked over to Kiaria and she felt her breathing stop all together from her place sitting frozen against the far wall. “Want me to take care of the hostage now?” He stepped back and allowed the leader to stand in front of the case.

Said leader didn’t even spare her a glance as he waved a hand and said, “may as well, while we count the money we can decide if her body’s getting burnt or if our generous benefactor here miscounted and he gets her head in the mail.”

Kiaria felt the hair on the back of her neck stand on end and her breathing was so erratic it felt like her heart would burst from her chest. Her blood rushed to her ears as the large bandit circled the table and made his way to her.

She wanted to scream. She wanted to scramble to her feet and run. She didn’t want to die.

Kenji’s boots came to a stop at her shivering form and she felt like a pitiful creature under the microscope of a god to whom she was at the mercy of. Her tearful hazel eyes met his deep browns.

It had been so long since she had last spoken that her airy and quivering voice sounded almost foreign to herself. “Are - Are you going to k-kill me?”

The man dropped to a crouch to meet her at eye level. Kiaria’s muscles were wound up like elastic ready to snap, her eyes couldn’t leave the man's face and it was as if when she blinked, his expression shifted. The stern look in his eyes melted to what could have been described as sympathy. His palms rested open on his knees, not searching for his sword, he held himself not as a man about to take a life. Kiaria couldn’t breathe, terrified that if she did anything the moment would shatter like glass and she would meet the end of a sword.

His eyes roamed her shivering frame, stopping to focus on the bruises on her cheeks and arm while the other men crowded closer to the boss who was unclasping the briefcase.

Brown eyes met hers again and what he said next made Kiaria’s heart thump in her chest.

“I’m going to help you.”

Kiaria couldn’t see past the man in front of her but in the next second she heard a bandit by the table say, “what the-” cut off by an explosive BOOM!

Kiaria was suddenly tucked under the man's chin, held close and protected from the blast at the table. She covered her ears as best she could as a gentle hand held her close. Then there was another sound, a poofing noise close to her and she opened her eyes slightly to see in the place where the bandit Kenji had been now was a girl. The paper tassels on her bamboo hat fluttered around them as the light smoke around them faded. Confused and afraid, Kiaria looked up as the girl moved her back to where she had been sitting.

She didn’t look that much older than Kiaria, with focused green eyes and hair in the most peculiar shade of pink - Kiaria had never seen someone with naturally pink hair before if her pink eyebrows were anything to go by. Kiaria was so confused by where the girl had come from that she didn’t resist as she was gently manoeuvred to sit back and the bamboo hat was placed on her head.

“Keep this on and stay here, okay?” The tassels fell around her hunched body like a curtain to protect her and Kiaria nodded dumbly. The girl gave her a smile before leaping to her feet and back to the bandits who were recovering from the explosion that had come from the briefcase.

One man had taken the brunt of the impact and he was left unconscious against a wall breathing slowly and his clothing still smouldering. The leader was hardly phased and he was quick to pull the sword from his back and take a swing at the pink haired girl who was running to him. 

The three other men were getting their bearings when the front door burst open to reveal a tall person with an odd orange spiral mask and long black cloak with red clouds, he introduced himself by yelling “housekeeping!” 

Kiaria held the rim of the bamboo hat and she watched with eyes wide open to take in what she was seeing. The speed with which she moved. The back and forth of attacks. The rhythm she seemed to move by, orchestrated by the reflexes that looked to be second nature to her.

Kiaria watched mystified as the girl caught the leader's sword between the clap of her hands, only to pull it to the side, raise a fist, and shatter the sword with a punch to the flat of the blade.

The masked man held off the other three men with a flail of his limbs and seemingly sporadic movements that although looked random and slightly panicked, he successfully fought one of the bandits to incapacitation and began to fight another. 

One bandit saw the tide of the fight turning against them and ran to the door. He was hardly out of sight before Kiaria heard him startle and what sounded like the man being thrown against the wall that rattled with the impact. There must be another person out there on the girl's side.

Kiaria was so enraptured by the foreign sight of battle in front of her that she missed the leader’s frustrated expression as he threw the broken remains of his sword across the room to fight the girl with his bare hands. The hilt with the broken sword flew and Kiaria only had a moment to react by raising her arms and ducking her head as the broken metal sliced her forearm and along her cheek. “Ah-!” She cried out.

Kiaria desperately shuffled away from the broken sword that clattered next to her, she fell on her back and scrambled away only to be brought to a stop by the pain that sliced her arm. She saw the blood on the floor first, the red darkening as it seeped into the wood. The stinging pain ripped up her arm and she hunched in on herself. The metallic smell of blood engulfed her as she looked over the open wound. Red seeped into her dress, staining the golden flower pattern a disgusting shade. Her breath came quicker, each time she focused on the blood, the pain in her arm pulled her back. Then she noticed the sting at her cheek, reflexively bringing her palm up to cover the wound that sliced along the bruised skin, before pulling her hand away to see that red cover her palm and stain her senses.

“Kangae!” Distantly, muted by Kiaria losing herself in her own panicked breathing, she heard the girl yell.

The red swirling Kiaria’s vision was interrupted. Black wings beat for a moment before a raven lowered themselves to perch on Kiaria’s knee. Noise was so drowned out by her own breathing that Kiaria couldn’t be sure if she really heard the raven say “ok, Kangae, you can do this. Just like you’ve practised.” The raven fanned their wings out and looked into her frantic eyes. In that moment of eye contact, Kiaria’s vision swirled, colours mixed and blurred, and she had to blink a few times to regain her focus.

As she blinked hard one final time, she looked down to see that horrible red gone. The blood that stained her dress, covered her palm and dripped down her arm had vanished.

Kiaria’s breathing began to calm down as she slowly looked herself over for any trace of blood but found none.

“My genjutsu took away the blood but I couldn’t take away the wounds.”

“That’s okay, you did well, Kangae. I’ll take it from here.” Kiaria looked up to see the pink haired girl kneel in front of her. Her eyes were soft and she offered a gentle smile that helped soothe Kiaria’s worry.

Her voice was calm, “it’s alright, you’re going to be okay. My name’s Sakura and your grandfather sent my team and I to rescue you.” The raven who Kiaria could have sworn had been talking with the girl before had jumped and landed comfortably on the girl's shoulder.

She held out her hand slowly as if to not startle her, “I’m a medic, could you give me your arm?”

Kiaria looked from the girl's outstretched hand to her face before the pain in her forearm reminded her that despite the blood vanishing, she was still injured. She placed her hand in the waiting medic’s.

“Thank you,” she smiled and turned Kiaria’s hand over to reveal the slice that cut along her forearm.

As the medic looked her arm over, Kiaria peeked around her to see the masked man holding two unconscious bandits by their collars and dragging them outside, he returned after a moment to grab another bandit and the leader who both were also unconscious.

“Now this won't hurt at all, just stay nice and still for me, okay?” Kiaria looked back to the girl and stuttered before nodding her head.

“Thank you,” she said. Kiaria’s eyes widened as she saw the girl’s hand begin to glow with a faint green hue. She watched mystified as the girl lowered two fingers on her glowing hand to rest just at the corner of the cut. The stinging pain began to numb, the pulsing of the cut cooled down and felt like her warm skin was being wiped clean with a gentle cooling cloth.

“Wow…” Kiaria sighed, now the pain was gone, she watched unhindered as the flesh of the open wound began to stitch itself back together.

“Have you not seen medical ninjutsu this close before?” The girl -she said her name was Sakura- said.

Kiaria swallowed before she could answer, “I’ve never seen anything like this before. I - I thought when you said medic you meant with bandages and ointment, not with magic.”

Sakura giggled under her breath, “not magic, it’s a special kind of ninjutsu all about the art of healing.” 

Kiaria gasped as the medic finished healing the wound and gave the uninjured skin a brief trace with her two fingers. Kiaria copied her motion, feeling the softness of her skin unmarked with even a scar. She was pulled from her wonder by Sakura speaking.

“That ones done, I’d like to heal the cut on your cheek next.” Kiaria lowered her knees and crossed her legs.

“Yes… yes please.” She leaned her stinging cheek closer and Sakura shuffled closer and raised her glowing hand to her cheek. Her eyelashes fluttered at the nice sensation of the medical glowing as Sakura looked close to her face with a focused eye and steady hand. It was barely a minute and she was finished.

“I’m going to touch both of your cheeks so I can heal the bruising, okay?”

Kiaria stopped herself from nodding lest she pull from the medics calming hold and settled on muttering, “please.”

Warm hands cupped her cheeks and Kiaria closed her eyes as the sensation thrummed from her cheeks and the heat cooled down. It was over quickly and Sakura released her slowly, allowing Kiaria to carry her head by herself again.

The masked man returned to the room and saluted, “Zetsu-chan is taking care of the bandits now! Mission Fake ‘em, Break ‘em, and Take ‘em is complete!”

Sakura looked up to the man with a smile, “that’s great, Tobi. Can you keep an eye outside while I finish healing here?”

He saluted again with an “Aye, aye!” spun in place and left the room.

Kiaria startled when a young voice came from the raven perched on Sakura’s shoulder. “Are you done yet? Can I release my genjutsu now?” She watched with wide eyes as the medic hardly reacted to the fact that the raven on her shoulder was talking.

“Not yet, Kangae. I want to take care of the bruising and blood first.”

“That!” Kiaria couldn’t keep her alarm to herself anymore. “That raven is talking!”

Sakura calmed her with a gentle hand on Kiaria’s shoulder, “it’s okay. This is Kangae, he’s a summons and a friend. Summons are animals and some are capable of speech.”

Kiaria untensed her shoulders as the raven tilted his head from side to side.

“Summons? I know some bird species capable of copying speech but does that mean other animals can talk too?” She asked. She felt safe in the medics presence and simply allowed herself to be manoeuvred as Sakura gently raised her arm to examine the bruise on her upper arm.

“Yep, though not all summons are capable of speech, there’s said to be a summons for every animal.” She explained as she began healing the bruise. “Do you have any other injuries that require immediate attention before we take you to safety?”

“I… I think my back was bruised when I was thrown against a wall, and my head’s a bit dizzy.” Kiaria said and Sakura furrowed her brow.

“Okay, I’d like to give you a full check-up but I was hoping to get us out of here before then. Does the bruise on your back hinder your walking?”

Kiaria shook her head harder than she should considering her dizziness. “No! No, I think I can walk. I just really want to get out of here, please,” she pleaded.

“Alright,” Sakura said as she reached into a pouch on her belt and pulled out a small packet of wet wipes. “Before we get a move on then I’m going to take care of this blood.”

Even though she was confused, Kiaria put up no resistance as Sakura began wiping up and down her arm that had been healed. “What blood? I can’t see any.”

Sakura’s ministrations didn’t stutter as she answered, “that’s because Kangae here casted a genjutsu on you to vanish it to ease you from a panic attack.”

“Genjutsu? Your raven casted a spell on me?” Said bird seemed to preen under the attention.

“Yep!” he chirped, “it was supposed to vanish the wounds too but I’m still learning.”

Kiaria watched with her own wide eyes as the bird spoke, if just to confirm that she really had seen him talk.

“Yes and you did a wonderful job, Kangae.” Sakura was wiping Kiaria’s cheek and neck before moving to wipe the odd spots on her legs though she couldn’t see what the medic was wiping. “But it’s not a spell or magic or anything, just chakra.”

Before she could elaborate, Sakura had finished her cleaning and pulled off the grey yukata cloak she was wearing, leaving her in only a plain black yukata. She stood up and held out a hand to help Kiaria up as well. She swayed a little on her feet but steadied as Sakura helped her put on the grey cloak. Sakura stood roughly a head taller than her, though Kiaria was small for twelve and her birthday had only been a month ago.

“I wiped your skin clean but I can’t do anything about the blood on your dress until we find somewhere safe to wash it. So I want you to wear this for now until we can get you washed up, okay?” Kiaria nodded her head and allowed the girl to tie the cloak around her, it would drag on the floor, the sleeves engulfed her hands and the material on the skin of her arms was a little scratchier than she was used to. But Kiaria didn’t want to see blood and she already felt so grateful for having her life saved that she ignored the mild discomfort and thanked the other girl.

“Ok, Kangae, you can release the genjutsu now.” The bird fanned his wings and Kiaria’s vision spun again, Sakura steadied her with a hand as she blinked back into focus. Kiaria looked around, not seeing any change, until she saw the bloodied wipes Sakura held. Sakura released her now she could stand on her own and then did something peculiar. She pulled out a thin piece of paper with some odd markings on it, she held it up between two fingers and in a flash it caught fire. Kiaria startled as the medic nonchalantly threw the bloodied wipes to the floor and threw the flaming paper to them. They caught fire quickly and in seconds the tiny pile was ash.

“H… How… Was that like the spell Kangae did? Was that chakra?” Kiaria asked, her eyes shining with curiosity.

“Not a spell, no that wasn’t a genjutsu, but yes chakra was involved in that.” Sakura said calmly, “I’d be happy to explain how I did that but we should get on the move.”

“Oh, right.” Kiaria agreed. She looked at the door nervously, “are… are you sure it’s safe?”

“My teammates are taking care of the bandits and taking them to be put in Rain village’s custody,” she offered a hand, “you’re safe now.” Kiaria slowly took the girl’s hand and followed her to the door. Before they reached the door, Kiaria realised she was still wearing Sakura’s bamboo hat so she pulled it off and handed it back.

“Here,” she offered and Sakura thanked her before putting it back on then continuing to lead her out the door.

“Tobi found some stuff!” Kiaria jolted in place and hid behind Sakura from the loud masked man. Said man was spinning around her bag she had been wearing when she was taken and dangled her shoes in his other hand.

“My things!” Kiaria voiced, though she stayed safely tucked behind the other girl.

“Huh, Tobi thought they looked too small to be the bandits shoes.” He shrugged and dropped the shoes in Sakura’s outstretched hands.

“They took them when they caught me.” She muttered as she took the brown Mary janes and began slipping them back on her once white socked feet that were now dirtied and filthy. “And my bag!” Sakura was already offering it back to her. She hugged the brown messenger bag sown with yellow flowers close to her chest.

The man named Tobi shrugged. “No money in there or anything, just a couple books and other nerdy stuff.” Kiaria figured the bandits took the money she’d had on her but she was happy to see her other things intact. She crossed the long strap of the bag across her chest and settled the familiar weight on her side before taking Sakura’s hand again for the added comfort.

“Should we find somewhere to stay in Overpass? Or should we find somewhere on the road?” Sakura voiced and in response, Kiaria gripped the girl's sleeve with her other hand.

“Could we… Could we stay somewhere else, please?” Kiaria didn’t want to stay in Overpass any longer. Sakura soothed her by rubbing her hand over the other girl’s death-grip on her sleeve.

“We can find somewhere on the road, it’s alright.” She turned to look at the taller man, “Tobi, could you please find us some food for the road and we’ll meet you back on the cliff?”

Tobi seemed happy to hear this as he threw his arms in the air, “yay! No gross food bars! See you there!” and he sped off.

“Are you sure you’re feeling well enough to leave? I’m happy to carry you if you need it.” Kiaria shook her head and released her grip to leave their connection to their held hands.

“I’ll be okay, I just really don’t want to stay here.” Sakura nodded and began to lead Kiaria out down the alley through to the open market area. 

Kiaria felt momentarily overwhelmed going from being alone and around violent bandits to suddenly entering the bustling streets. Sakura must have felt her tense because she squeezed her hand and stood closer to offer protection as they walked.

Wanting to keep her mind from panicking, Kiaria spoke up, “I know you probably know already but my name is Kiaria Nakaya.”

Sakura’s hat tassels fluttered around as she turned to keep Kiaria in her line of sight. “Well, it’s still lovely to meet you, Nakaya-san. I’m Sakura.” Kiaria assumed her last name was secret, possibly a shinobi thing?

“Just Kiaria please, and I wanted to ask you something.” Sakura waited with a smile.

“Is my grandfather alright? I’m worried his health has worsened over the stress he’s been under regarding my kidnapping.” She gripped the strap of her bag to give her hand something to fiddle with.

“Well, he’s due for residence in Petrichor Centre which means he’ll be taken care of by the best of the best so he couldn’t be in more capable hands. He also mentioned that he’s hired some help to care for the two of you that should be with him now. I won't promise anything but he couldn’t be in better care.” Kiaria let out a long breath in relief. She’d feel truly better once she could see and hug her grandfather again but it was still a reassurance to know that he was alive and well.

“Before we head to the gate, do you know if you’re missing anything else?”

Kiaria shook her head, “I organised the shipment of our other belongings before I was taken, apart from the money I had in my bag for food and accommodation that was taken I have everything.”

Sakura’s brow furrowed and her tone was soft as she spoke, “I’m sorry that happened to you. I can’t imagine how you must be feeling.”

Kiaria looked from the other girl's honest eyes to their connected hands, she gave a little squeeze, “I feel better now.” She did. She felt dizzy from exhaustion, hungry from starvation, and nauseous from the fear that had carved out a hole in her chest and festered over the course of her kidnapping. But in this moment she was outside with the sun in view and in the cool shade, her shoes on her feet as she walked a bustling street, her bag hanging as a comfortable and familiar weight on her shoulder, and holding the hand of the medic that had saved her life. She didn’t feel normal yet, but she felt better.

Sakura returned the gentle squeeze of her hand and very soon they were at the main entrance to the Village under the Overpass.

Kiaria self-consciously tucked the long grey cloak across her neck, despite the blood on her dress being easily concealed under the too-long garment. They waited behind a few people seeking to leave while the single gatekeeper allowed a couple to enter before turning to them.

Kiaria felt momentarily self conscious, realising what a state she must look like, her hair a curled mess that had once been in a cute up-do but had been pulled roughly under the mishandling of her captors. She pulled out the lackey that pathetically clung to only a portion of her hair, knotted painfully in two copper curls, but was too late to fix this as the people ahead were allowed out and Sakura was motioned forward.

Kiaria quickly, and painfully, yanked the lackey free and slid it on her wrist before trying to ease her curls down to appear more presentable. The gatekeeper had been nothing but kind and helpful when she had organised her luggage transportation through him and told her of the best fooderies when she had tipped him for his service.

“Hana, I registered an entry a short while ago, I’m seeking to leave with my friend.” Kiaria restrained herself from looking at the girl with mild aghast at how rude she sounded. Her voice was as controlled as a tensing fist, as if waiting for the inevitable response that would justify using it to send teeth flying.

The gatekeeper looked her over with dull eyes before he saw Kiaria’s shoes peeking out from the grey material, her embroidered bag in her grip, before settling on her face.

His expression lit up, smile beaming and eyes bright. “Nakaya-san! How are you? It’s been some time, how’d you find your time in the city?” His movements were animated and he leaned over the podium to get a good look at her.

Kiaria politely nodded her head, she didn’t want to say that her experience of Overpass was stained with the experience of a traumatising kidnapping , but she acknowledged that hopefully wasn't a universal experience and in better circumstances she probably would have had a lovely time here.

Her smile was courteous and she held herself better than she felt.

“I’m well, truthfully I didn’t expect my stay to last this long either.”

He laughed deeply, “great to hear! How’d you like the bakery I recommended? I pride myself on being a great judge of character and I can tell from just one look that you appreciate baked goods.”

Kiaria controlled her body’s urge to stiffen, she had only left that bakery after a breakfast trip when she had been pulled into an alleyway and the beginning of her torment began.

Manners dictate she respond well, “you’re right there, the cinnamon rolls I purchased were delicious.”

He perked up and cocked his head, “would you like some for the road, I’m sure I can have someone run and pick up a couple for you. Would be no trouble at all!”

Sakura’s stern voice cut through the polite conversation with all the grace of a slamming door. “That won’t be necessary and we must be on our way.”

Kiaria bit her cheek to keep from gaping at the other girl’s bluntness. She took Sakura’s hand in hers once again, hoping to calm her from whatever pushed her on edge.

“My friend Hana is right, my stay has us running late and she was kind enough to come pick me up. If you’d be so kind as to let us out?” She smiled civilly.

“Of course, not a problem!” He looked through his notes and wrote a few things down, “Hope to see you again, Nakaya-san!” He didn’t acknowledge Sakura with even a look. The girl’s expression soured, her lip twisted as if the complete dismissal was worse than whatever conversion she had been expecting.

“Lovely to see you again,” Kiaria bowed her head briefly and almost had to pull Sakura from where she stood rooted to the ground with eyes boring holes in the gatekeeper. She allowed herself to be led out and Kiaria felt herself grow lighter with each step she took further and further away from the Village under the Overpass.

While they climbed the cliffside stairs Sakura held up her wrist and Kangae perched atop it. “Kangae, I need you to scout the paths for any nearby inns then report back to me what you find. Can you do that?” The bird jumped excitedly in place.

“Yes! I can do that! I’ll be fast!” He flapped his wings and took to the skies. Desperate to keep a quick pace to carry her away from Overpass, Kiaria took Sakura’s hand in hers and nearly tripped up the stairs in her eagerness. Sakura was quick to keep pace with her and when she stood safe atop the cliff, able to look down and see the Village under the Overpass, did she stretch her arms above her head and allow the biggest smile she could muster to grace her features. A small part of Kiaria wanted to scream and laugh and cry.

She was free and safe and on her path to her grandfather. She was alive!

Sakura waited patiently with a kind look in her eyes. Overcome with the urge to externalise her emotions that didn’t involve a scream or cry that was unbecoming of a lady of her standing, Kiaria found herself throwing her arms around the girl.

Her forehead met the crook of a shoulder and paper tassels fluttered atop her head. Only when Sakura returned the hug with a squeeze and a pat on Kiaria’s head, did she feel embarrassed. Kiaria pulled away, flushing at her forwardness. Perhaps laughing like a fool would have been more fitting than throwing herself at her saviour?

Sakura, despite being pulled forward in one moment and shoved away the next, gave Kiaria’s messy hair an affectionate pat.

“It’s alright, I’m happy you’re here too.” Kiaria refused to allow her cheeks to redden any more, she took a deep breath and allowed it to calm her down.

“Thank you,” Kiaria’s voice was even and her smile polite.

“Tobi brought sweets!” Kiaria felt like her heart nearly erupted from her chest in surprise and she was immediately tucking herself safely behind Sakura as their companion made himself known.

Sakura didn’t react to either Kiaria taking refuge behind her nor her masked teammate running to them. Kiaria was confused over just where he had come from as he wasn’t on the stairs but already on the cliff a short distance from the girls and yet she hadn’t seen him when they arrived.

“Sweet’s are great, Tobi. But did you find us appropriate meals too?” Sakura said.

The man reached them and nodded, “uh-huh! Tobi figured the rich little princess wouldn’t want junk so he got some good stuff.”

Kiaria spoke up, “I don’t mind whatever food you have! Honestly, I’m not picky.”

It wasn’t exactly a lie. True she had been raised eating delicious meals prepared by her family staff so it would be natural for one to develop a refined palette. But being fed nothing but gruel for the last few days left one appreciating a simple apple like it was the rarest delicacy. Kiaria would eat whatever Sakura gave her without complaint. 

She did protest one thing however, “...but please don’t call me that.”

Tobi cocked his head, “...but you are little.”

He was a giant! It wasn’t her fault she was small for her age and he towered nearly double her height! “Not that!”

He tilted his head the other way, “but you are a rich little princess, Tobi isn’t wrong!”

“I’m not a princess, I’m an heiress, and I don’t need to be reminded of that right now!” She tried to keep her tone calm as she peaked around Sakura but her words cut sharp at the ends.

Tobi bent practically in half to get near her eye level, “ heiress, princess , what’s it matter how Tobi says it, little rich- ess ?” He stretched out the last syllable and despite being presumably an adult under that mask, Kiaria could swear he was poking his tongue out at her.

Kiaria bristled, ready to argue back, forgetting her composure in the face of such childishness. But Sakura spared her the indignity by blocking her with an arm.

“Tobi, don’t pick fights with Kiaria.”

“But she started it! Tobi isn’t wrong!” He whined like a petulant child and Kiaria straightened her back.

“That doesn't matter-” she pointed to his chest as he stood straight and drooped his arms by his sides “she doesn't like it and we’re not going to give her any more discomfort after everything she’s been through. If you’re going to say something rude then I won’t acknowledge you as my senpai.”

He gasped and clutched his chest as though he had been struck. Kiaria looked confused as the two bickered. Sakura stood unflinching and angry on Kiaria’s behalf while the man named Tobi behaved like a child trying to convince the wind to change direction. A pointless endeavour accompanied by immature flailing and complaining as Sakura remained unmoved.

Eventually the two were interrupted by the flapping wings of Kangae returning. The raven swooped between the two and rested when Sakura raised her forearm for him.

He chirped happily, “I found an Inn not too far off the path! Not too many people there but it looked big enough to fit everybody. I saw a lady who someone that left gave money to, so I think she’s one of the owners.”

“That’s wonderful! Thank you, Kangae.” Sakura praised and gave the raven a scratch to his neck that he happily dropped his weight on to.

He chittered a sound that could have been a laugh as he soaked up the praise, “yeah, I tried to ask her what her rates were but she just screamed and tried to hit me with a broom. Couldn’t catch me though!” he puffed up proudly as though he expected more praise.

Sakura’s brow furrowed but her smile felt like a fond ‘what am I going to do with you?’ and she scratched him under his chin.

“How long do you think I’ll take us to reach the Inn?” She asked.

“Not that long, it’s just off the path we came on. Even with your human legs it’ll take you an hour.”

Sakura brought a finger to her lip in contemplation for a second before she looked at Kiaria. Said girl realised she was still tucked behind the medic and hurried to stand at her side instead, reflexively patting down the grey yukata cloud of non-existent dirt.

“That’s if we run, isn’t it?”

Kangae nodded, “yeah, if you wanna get there fast .”

“How long if we walk?”

Tobi piqued up, seemingly over his depressive state at being scolded, “why would we walk?”

Sakura gestured with her free hand to Kiaria and she righted her posture in response. “Kiaria is most likely malnourished and still suffering from her recent ordeal. Even if one of us were to carry her, doing that with her in such a state would be dangerous to her health. Especially when we factor in that she’s never been transported like that before since she didn’t know what chakra was when I healed her earlier.”

Tobi cocked his head to Kiaria, “she doesn’t know what chakra is?” and she felt herself bristle again.

“Regardless.” Sakura said before another petty argument could begin. “She’ll definitely be motion sick and mix that with her current state, I can’t agree to running with her. It’s best if we walk at a safe pace to the Inn, then I can properly check her over for injuries and know how to heal her.”

Sakura turned to Kiaria, “I’m sorry it’ll take a bit of time to get you back to your grandfather, but your health is my number one priority.” Sakura rested her hands gently on Kiaria’s shoulders and the look in her eyes shone with a stone carved seriousness that Kiaria lost herself in marvelling. Sakura truly wanted her to be healthy and safe, with every bone in her body, and Kiaria believed her.

She nodded, “thank you,” and Sakura took a second before nodding back and releasing her shoulders.

“We’ll head for the Inn now. We can have lunch on the way, that is if Tobi really did find us some good food.” Sakura gestured to the path, Kangae fluttering to her shoulder, and the group was quick to begin their journey.

Tobi perked up happily, “I did! Tobi promises you’re gonna love what I bought!” Kiaria tuned out the man’s rambling of how eager the street food sellers of Overpass were to convince him to buy their meals. She hurried to walk step by step with Sakura, matching her pace and smiling as the girl looked to make sure she was there as she engaged Tobi in conversation. Kiaria closed her eyes briefly as she felt the sun warm her cheeks and a slight chill breeze ruffling her hair. She was happy she was alive.

❀

At first, Kiaria had been able to keep pace with Sakura and Tobi. But Sakura noticed as time passed the smaller girl’s steps had begun to slow. Kiaria noticed as well as she had moments where she spurred into her steps with more energy almost in a childish attempt to make up for her prior slowness. But a few moments later she would begin to falter.

Sakura at that moment wanted nothing more than to properly check the girls health but she knew their top priority was to reach a safe place where they could stay while Zetsu finished scoping Overpass for any straggling bandits.

So Sakura came to a stop when Kiaria couldn't keep herself from stifling a yawn and crouched down.

“Hop on.” Kiaria’s expression shifted from confusion to embarrassment and she protested.

“No! No, there’s no need. I promise I’m alright.”

Sakura refused to budge and met the girl's eye, “we can’t be that far away and I don’t want you pushing yourself. So please.”

Kiaria bit her lip and looked at Sakura as if weighing if she should or not.

Tobi dropped down to mirror Sakura’s position. “Let me! A good senpai should always shoulder their students' burdens.”

Kiaria’s eye twitched and she got on Sakura’s back, much to the man's dismay.

His noise of complaint went ignored as Sakura scooped Kiaria under the knees, rose to her feet, and helped shift her to a comfortable position. She felt Kiaria shuffle her head through the paper tassels of Sakura’s hat and rested her cheek against her back.

“Thanks Kiaria, rest if you need to and I’ll wake you up when we get there.”

Kangae, who had been happily perched on Sakura’s other shoulder, piqued up, “oh! I can nip her!”

Sakura giggled, “that’s very helpful of you, Kangae.” Tobi sadly stood and dragged his feet to keep up with the group as Sakura continued their trek.

Sakura could feel Kiaria slowly succumbing to the ever present allure of sleep as time passed. This didn’t surprise Sakura as she had to have been on alert and tense her whole capture, the turmoil of today alone must have left her completely drained. It wasn’t too long before the hands that had rested on Sakura’s shoulders slipped down to rest curled upon her back, the legs she held coming to sway unhindered at her sides, and Kiaria’s breathing evened out close enough for Sakura to hear.

She made a conscious effort to steady her walk so the younger girl could rest unhindered and hushed Tobi when he spoke too loudly.

She’d originally hoped they could rest for lunch and then Kiaria could nap but that would have to wait until they reached the Inn.

Thankfully, despite walking at a calm pace, the group passed the forest they had come from that led them to Mud Town and not even an hour later they spotted the Inn.

It was a simple ryokan, the wooden structure looked like three buildings pushed together, presumably the front being the main area, one side for the Inn’s family to live in, and the other for customers. Though the ryokan itself wasn’t painted and suffered clear wear and tear at the hands of mother nature, next to it stood a small farm area for horses and trees tamed by hand and shears sheltered the buildings. Flowers grew and gave the isolated inn a welcoming feeling.

Sakura smiled, ready to ease the slumbering girl awake but was beaten by Kangae who nudged his beak to her ear and tugged on a lock of her hair. “Time to wake up, time to wake up.” He encouraged and Kiaria pulled her head up with a sleepy groan.

“We’re here, Kiaria. We’ll get settled in then I can check you over and we can have some lunch.” 

Still half asleep, Kiaria merely nodded, the hat tassels still covering her head from outside view and she wiped her eyes with a fist. 

Sakura crouched and allowed the girl to slide like water from her back to her feet. She stretched and mumbled a thank you as they closed the gap and reached the inn.

Sakura was ready to open the sliding door as they approached but Kiaria suddenly stopped, she unconsciously gripped Sakura’s sleeve bringing her to a stop as well.

Sakura turned her head to ask what was wrong but the look on Kiaria’s face told her what she needed to know.

Kiaria had no doubt suffered the last week locked away in an unfamiliar room and bereft of sunlight or any semblance of the outside. She’d longed for it so much that just being in the comfort of the sun had her so relaxed that it had eased her into sleep. But now she was staring down wide eyed at another building she was unfamiliar with and under threat of losing the sun once again.

Sakura rested a hand on hers, making Kiaria jolt in place and stammer out an apology. “I’m being ridiculous. I’m sorry. We should go in.”

Sakura shook her head and looked to Tobi who was entertaining himself by waving at a horse by the stable who stared at him without reacting. “Why don’t we sit down for a minute, then we can go inside when you’re ready.” Kiaria looked conflicted but eventually agreed and allowed Sakura to guide her to the side of the building closer to the horse so Tobi could further entertain himself by diving over the fence and grabbing a fistful of hay to use as bribery for the horse's attention.

Kiaria came to a tree stump and sighed as she sat down. Sakura decided to leave Tobi and his endeavour alone as she came to Kiaria’s side. Said girl had hunched in on herself and began twirling and tugging a shorter curl of hair in her fingers.

“I’m sorry that I’m being unreasonable. I know that you aren’t going to hurt me. I know that we’re here for my safety. I know that you’re only trying to help me… But my body keeps acting on its own.” She brought her knees up and hid her face in them. “I feel like if I have to go inside again that I’ll never come back out. I feel like I’m going to throw up and my heart is going to beat out of my chest and I hate it … I’m sorry.”

Sakura hesitantly rested a hand on Kiaria's back and rubbed soothingly, cautious of the bruise there, “you have absolutely nothing to apologise for.”

Kiaria sniffled and pulled hard on the errant curl. Sakura frowned at the action before Kiaria shot her head up and gave her cheeks a harsh pat as if to force her nerves away.

“Come on, Kiaria,” she muttered to herself and attempted to pat her curls down.

Sakura was about to ask her something when a new voice called the group's attention.

“Are you alright over there?” A middle aged woman in a simple blue yukata and her hair braided to her side voiced up. She held a broom in one hand and rested her other on her hip.

Kiaria sprang up from the stump and bowed politely. “Yes, good afternoon. My name is Kiaria Nakaya and my friends and I were just taking a short rest before we were planning to ask for your services.” Her voice was polite and her posture perfect, one wouldn’t have known she was on the verge of a panic attack not moments ago.

The woman's demeanour brightened. “Ah customers!” She thumped the door with her broom, “honey! Prepare a room!”

“Thank you,” Kiaria bowed again.

“How long do you plan on staying with us?” The woman asked.

Sakura came to Kiaria’s side, “We’re expecting to stay the night if that’s alright.”

Kangae chose then to make himself known as he jumped from Sakura’s shoulder to flap in front of her and ask, “Yeah! What’re your rates?”

The woman startled before catching herself, “it’s the bird from earlier!” 

Sakura sighed and held out an arm for Kangae to land on, “yes I’m so sorry if my little friend here startled you.”

The woman waved a dismissive hand, “just spooked me is all, we don’t often get shinobi stopping by as we work mostly with civilians but hey customers are customers.”

A man's voice from inside the house then yelled, “room’s ready dear!” 

“Wonderful, the rates for a room fitting three people would come to 4500 ryo, for any requested meal it comes to just 400 ryo per person, and a hot bath can be arranged for only 200 ryo.” She smiled before her eyes shifted to the stable and she furrowed her brow.

Sakura spun to see Tobi had fallen over the fence, into the hay bin below and was struggling to pull himself out.

“Tobi!” Sakura ran up and yanked the man out by his collar, his hat tumbling to the side and full of hay.

He shook his head before happily exclaiming to her, “I made a new friend!”

Sakura sighed, “That’s great Tobi, let’s go sort out our room shall we?” He jumped to his feet and agreed while Kiaria was busy bowing and apologising for the man's behaviour. 

The exchange went well, the woman warmed up to Tobi fast when he handed over the money for the room and a bath. Money did have that effect on people, no matter how kind or rude a person was, favour was easily bought. With how that gatekeeper treated Sakura compared to Kiaria it showed as much.

The room they were presented with was simple enough with a main area, a sliding door to a bathroom and a sliding door to three futons neatly laid neatly in a row.

No sooner had they claimed their futons and taken off their bamboo hats was the woman back to inform them that the bath they requested as soon as possible was ready.

“Kiaria, could you go first and leave your dress with me to get it cleaned up?” Sakura asked.

“Oh, of course, thank you.” The two were escorted to the bathing area, Sakura leaving Tobi with a stern “don’t move.”

Sakura waited outside the bathroom once Kiaria cracked the door open, slid a neatly folded dress out and closed the door.

“I’ll come back when I’ve got this all nice and cleaned up, okay?” Kiaria responded from inside with an agreement and Sakura returned to their room.

She immediately went to the bathroom which contained cleaning supplies and immediately got to work scrubbing the blood from the expensive garment. The silky material felt so smooth it slid from Sakura’s fingers like the water she was washing it in. Thankfully after a good work of scrubbing, rinsing, and replacing the water a couple times, the blood was eventually gone. The dress was left as it once was. Sakura then walked through the room, and to an open door that led to an engawa where Tobi sat with legs dangling as he pulled straw and hay from his bamboo hat into a pile. Kangae evidently was in that pile because as Sakura passed, he poked his head out and shook hay off of his head. Close to the engawa stood a clothes line where Sakura hung the dress out to dry. Thankfully they would have enough sun for the rest of the day for the dress to dry in.

Satisfied, Sakura returned to the bathing room and after a knock, Kiaria emerged wearing a basic beige yukata with brown stripes. She followed Sakura back to their room and Sakura could finally look over her injuries.

“Tobi, I’m going to close the doors and leave you and Kangae out here for a bit while I give Kiaria a check up, okay?”

He flopped back to lay on the wood and shot two thumbs up, “Okie dokie~” he sang and Sakura slid the door shut.

She slid the other door to the main room shut which left the girls in the sleeping area.

Sakura sat herself in front of the other girl who looked to be prepared for what Sakura was about to say. “Alright, before lunch I’d like to look over your injuries. Is that okay?”

Kiaria nodded, “I’m pretty sure I’ve got some bruising on my back but I think that’s about it.”

“Alright, could you please show me and I’ll get straight to healing it.” She nodded and turned to present her back and slipped her arms from the yukata. Immediately Sakura was staring down the angry colouring of recent bruises layered atop the faded yellow of older ones.

Kiaria looked over her shoulder with a bit of a twinkle in her eyes. “Are you going to use that chakra ninjutsu thing again?”

Sakura nodded and raised her hands which began to glow with her green healing chakra. “I’m influencing my chakra to use medical ninjutsu which I can use to heal your bruises.” She met the skin and immediately her healing chakra had the desired soothing effect as Kiaria’s shoulders drooped under its effects.

“Skin contact helps as there’s less barriers to get through, usually ointments would be preferential as bruises aren’t life threatening but I want you back to perfect health by the time we get you back to your grandfather.” As she spoke she watched the skin’s discolouration fade and fade under her care.

“That’s amazing, and Kangae has chakra too? Since he could make blood vanish?” Kiaria asked eagerly.

“Every living being has chakra. Animals do too, Kangae as a summons has more chakra than your average animal and his intelligence means he’s able to harness his chakra and use it to make genjutsus.” As Sakura finished explaining so too had she finished healing Kiaria’s back. She pulled away with a smile.

“Your back is all healed.” Kiaria felt her back as far as her skinny arms could reach and upon her rubbing and prodding she smiled as she felt no pain. She pulled her yukata back in place and spun around.

“ Every living being has chakra?” Her expression practically beamed with the force of her curiosity. “Do… Does that mean that… I have chakra?”

Sakura nodded and held up a hand to which Kiaria unconsciously rested her own in and watched in fascination as Sakura’s hand glowed that familiar green and she began to feel through the girl's body with her healing chakra.

“You do. What I’m doing right now is sending pulses of my healing chakra through your own chakra system to search for irregularities or issues.”

“Kind of like echolocation? Like bats or whales?”

Sakura giggled under her breath, “something like that. Whales use echolocation?”

Kiaria nodded enthusiastically, “they do! Bats, whales and dolphins to name a few but narwhals have the best. While Their horn -which is actually basically a giant modified tooth- can detect temperature, water pressure amongst other things, they can focus their clicks to scan a larger area than any other animal on the planet! Oh does that mean there are narwhals that can talk?”

Sakura couldn’t stifle her laugh as she finished her scan, “I wouldn’t rule it out that there’s a narwhal summons out there somewhere but I don’t think I’ve ever seen one before. You seem to know a lot about them though.”

Kiaria flushed, “I… I just love animals. I tend to obsess over an animal then read everything I can about them before jumping to the next. I’m sorry for rambling.”

“It’s alright, where else am I going to learn that a narwhal's horn is actually a tooth?” Suddenly a thought popped into Sakura’s head. “You wouldn’t happen to have read about sharks, would you?”

Kiaria nodded, “oh yes! I’ve read all about them! Did you know there are over five hundred living species of sharks in our oceans right now? And some can even live for hundreds of years.” She tilted her head, curiosity evident and eagerness bubbling. “Are you looking for a shark summons?”

“Not exactly. I need to conduct extensive research on sharks for a personal mission.” Once she had delivered Kiaria back to her grandfather and if all went well, she would be returning to the base with scrolls full of medical equipment. But for Kisame who was a priority, she needed to get her hands on as much information on sharks as possible, more specifically if his anatomy was closer to a specific species of shark or if he himself was unique with various shark qualities.

Sakura returned back to her kneeling position, “from my diagnosis, you’re malnourished and suffering the lingering effects of stress due to how long you were held for. Healing chakra is good for immediate and physical injuries so the method for your current state will be gradually increasing your food until your body is comfortable with the average serving size since it will most likely reject jumping from small meals back to regular ones. You’re also going to take longer rests to allow your body to heal and with your permission I’d like to periodically hold your hand to use my healing chakra to influence your vitamin levels a bit. I’m lacking in vitamin pills right now so that’s the only option I have in the meantime and when you’re safely with your grandfather I’ll write down a list of pills I recommend you take to finish off any lingering vitamin issues.”

Kiaria listened to her with wide eyes and rapt attention, she came back to herself with a blink and hurried to nod. “Ah, yes, thank you! And I’m happy to let you do whatever you need to do to heal me. I’m just amazed you could tell all of that from just holding my hand.”

“Believe me, it’s a lot harder and a lot more complicated than it looks.” Sakura smiled and rose to her feet. She opened the sliding door leading to the engawa where Tobi laid back to stare up at the sky and Kangae rolled around in his little pile of hay.

“We’re all done in here Tobi, how about we have some of that lunch you brought us?”

This brought out an enthusiastic “yay!” from the man and a smaller “yay!” in agreement from the raven.

The group knelt around the sunken table in the centre of the main room and Tobi emptied his pockets of the bag of food he’d purchased. To Sakura’s relief, Kiaria was able to keep a small portion of food down -just a few takoyaki and a cupcake decorated with pink icing and chocolate sprinkles. She refused any more food after that. Then while Sakura finished her own yakisoba, she happily opened a small bag of assorted nuts and held a few in her palm for Kangae to happily and greedily peck away. “I remember reading that raven’s like things like soft fruits, grains and nuts.”

“And corn!” The bird chirped between beakfuls.

“Corn is a grain, Kangae.” Sakura smiled fondly.

Tobi, who had been engrossed in trying to stack into a pyramid the wooden skewers of his dango he had eaten while outside, spoke up. “I thought corn was a vegetable?”

“It’s closer to a grain or a fruit than a vegetable,” Sakura said but was cut off by Kangae.

“It’s my favourite!” He squawked.

Kiaria giggled at his enthusiasm and the little nips he was giving her palm as he nibbled away the remaining nuts. “Well maybe we can find you some later.” She said before bringing a hand up to cover a yawn. At that, Sakura wiped her mouth clean and stood up

“Time for a nap,” she held a hand out and Kiaria didn’t seem to have the energy to protest. She accepted the help to her feet and allowed herself to be led to the resting room.

The day caught up to her fast because she was tucked in the futon with an arm out for no longer than a few minutes before sleep reclaimed her consciousness.

Sakura made quick work kneeling at her side, gently taking her hand so as to not disturb her, and began focusing on the girl's vitamin levels. It was tricky work as she would really prefer vitamin pills but this would have to work for now if she wants Kiaria back to health as soon as possible.

Sakura knelt with her eyes closed and in complete concentration for close to an hour before she was finished. She sighed and wiped her brow. Kiaria’s breathing was even and her youthful face softened under the calming influence of sleep. No doubt her sleeping conditions over the last week had been abhorrent so just resting her head on a futon was enough to knock her out for a fulfilling nap. Sakura smiled, she tucked the girl's arm in, she shuffled in response and curled in on herself, Sakura quietly left the room but kept the door open. She wanted to keep Kiaria in her eyesight until the girl was back to her grandfather.

“Are you all done?” Kangae shuffled on the engawa closer to her and Sakura shushed him.

“She’s resting and I predict that she’ll probably sleep through the rest of the day and into the night so we should get comfy.” Sakura sat on the edge of the engawa and dangled her legs off. The sun was at its tipping point, bathing the sky in warm tones and the chill in the air brushed her hair to signal the night was creeping in. Sakura contemplated waking Kiaria up in a few hours for dinner but resorted to letting the girl get the sleep she clearly needed.

Sakura looked around the open area and saw Tobi standing not too far away by a few trees the inn owners had clearly cut to make the yard feel open and lush. Sakura recognised quickly that Zetsu was standing under the tree and was in talks with Tobi.

Kangae shuffled closer until he practically dove across Sakura’s thighs to rest comfortably across her lap where she reflexively dropped a hand to affectionately scratch his head.

“When did Zetsu-san get here?”

“Not too long ago, they came outta that tree.” Kangae said though he seemed more concerned with directing Sakura’s nails to his back.

“I’ve noticed they tend to do that.” She muttered.

Before she could say anything else, Zetsu had sunken into the ground and Tobi spun back to the inn. “Ah-” he spotted Sakura, “are you finished? Is the little princess all better?”

Sakura brought a finger to her lips and shushed him harshly. “I’ve done what I can but she needs to rest to recover. She’ll probably sleep through dinner so we’d best get comfortable. And I’ve said don’t call her that.”

Tobi nodded and came to drop himself at Sakura’s side, she looked to the open door and saw Kiaria’s rest remained thankfully undisturbed.

“Where did Zetsu-san go?”

“They came to say they took care of the bandits, they also said we shouldn’t dawdle and they were going up ahead to report back to the grandpa that we got the kid and were on our way.” Tobi listed off his points on his fingers and Sakura sighed.

“I’m thankful they took the bandits to Rain for me, I was worried they would be annoyed dealing with my request.”

Tobi dismissed her with a wave of his hand, “nah, if they were annoyed then you’d know. They just want the mission over as fast as possible.”

“I understand that,” Sakura’s eyes fell on Kangae sprawled on her lap content to let her scratch his chest. “I just… They’ve spent nearly this whole mission running ahead or behind us. I worry they don’t like me -and I know that’s a really childish thing to say, it’s just…” Sakura’s words trailed off and faded away like footprints in sand.

Tobi leaned back on his hands and tilted his face towards the sky. His voice carried slightly deeper, almost like a sigh as he spoke, “I don’t think Zetsu… dislikes you. They don’t really like or dislike anyone. They work with people they find useful to their missions. Since they actually went on this mission and even went along with your ideas, it must mean they’re neutral about you. Which is pretty good for Zetsu. Neutral is better than bad! They’ve gone on missions with me so I must be doing something right. If they stopped feeling neutral about me then they’d probably eat me or something.”

Sakura snorted and laughed. Her reaction pulled Tobi’s attention back to her as if pulling him from his own thoughts. She worked to get her breathing back under control before nudging the taller man with her shoulder.

“Well I promise if I ever feel anything less than neutral about you, I promise I won't eat you.” She smiled.

There was a pause before his voice returned as chipper as usual. “Can you make a pinky promise?” he held out his pinky and Sakura giggled.

“Honestly, how old even are you. Yes I, Sakura, pinky promise.” She curled her finger in his larger one, his black gloved hands could easily engulf hers in size, but he must have been conscious of that as his touch felt like it made the conscious effort to be gentle.

They spent the rest of the evening in companionable conversation before eating the dinner Tobi procured from somewhere, which happened to be a couple toasted sandwiches that a little fire seal helped reheat. True to her prediction, Kiaria rested through the evening and well into the night. Tobi took the first shift, as they wanted to have eyes on the girl at all times, and he woke Sakura up when their shift changed.

Sakura was seated in the opening of the sliding door to the engawa, rested against the wall as she kept one eye on Kiaria and the other unfocused in the morning so early it was still dark out. She was wrapped up in her grey outer yukata as well as the chill of the morning made her breath visible.

She wiped her nose, before picking up the shuffling on a futon. She turned her full attention to Kiaria, the girl had shifted in place before only to fall back asleep, but this time she moved from side to side. Her breathing picked up and when Sakura stood she saw the girl's expression twisted in fear. 

Sakura was quick to kneel at her side and carefully placed a hand on her shoulder, “Kiaria. Kiaria, wake up, you’re safe.”

Under the barest touch of Sakura’s hand, Kiaria flinched away and sprang up in her futon. Her hair fell around her in curls and tufts, and her eyes were so wide the vibrant hazel was hardly visible in the sea of white fear. Sakura pulled her hand back and held them up to show she meant no harm.

“It’s alright, it’s me, Sakura. You’re safe, Kiaria. You’re not in Overpass, you’re in a ryokan and you’re safe.” With each word spoken with the gentleness of a petal, Kiaria’s shoulders eased down and her breathing gradually slowed.

“I… I’m safe.” She repeated as if confirming the fact to herself.

“You’re safe. Just focus on your breathing okay? Nice deep breaths in and out.” Kiaria closed her eyes and followed as Sakura repeated over and over when and how to breathe until she was safe from the cusp of a panic attack.

“I’m safe…” She whispered as she slowly opened her eyes.

“How are you feeling?” Sakura's tone stayed level, seeing how Kiaria still looked frazzled and Tobi slept sprawled out in his futon close by with Kangae equally as asleep atop Sakura’s pillow.

Kiaria looked from her shaking hands in her lap to Sakura’s eyes and finally to the dark outside. Sakura took notice and shuffled back to where she had been sitting.

“Need some air?” Kiaria nodded mutely and came to sit on the engawa. Sakura moved to meet her there, both of their legs hanging and nothing but the noise of crickets and leaves shifting in the barely-there breeze. The chill had returned, their visible breaths and pinkened cheeks evident of that. Though Kiaria’s thoughts were so consuming that hadn’t even shivered in the night air.

Sakura sat silently as Kiaria hugged herself across her stomach. They let the minutes pass by before Kiaria’s weak voice whispered out a pathetic, “I feel so stupid.”

Sakura blinked and furrowed her brow, Kiaria continued “I keep expecting that when I wake up… I’ll be back in that room.”

She hunched in on herself, “I keep telling myself that it’s okay and I’m safe and I know that. I just… wish I felt better.”

Sakura’s heart ached for the girl who looked so much smaller in that moment. “You went through something traumatic, Kiaria. Experiencing something like that… Living through something like that… Kiaria you’re so strong. You’re unbelievably strong to even be able to eat and sleep right now.” Sakura bit her lip before continuing, “I want to tell you that no matter what, it will get better. I’m sure you feel like you were a different person before all of this and no matter how much you want to go back to that girl you were, you know that’s impossible. You’re a different girl now. You’re a survivor and moments like this shape us. You may not be the same as before but I promise you’re just as remarkable now. It may take time to come into this person you are but I promise that it will get better, and you will heal.”

Kiaria sniffled and met Sakura’s eyes, “how long will it take?”

Sakura leaned closer and wrapped an arm around her shivering form, not from the cold but her emotions threatening to spill over, and rubbed her arm as Kiaria tucked her head under her chin.

“There’s no race when it comes to healing, it all comes down to you and there’s no shame in taking your time. You’re a survivor and you will heal.”

Kiaria sighed, “you sound like you’ve been through things like this before, moments that changed you I mean.”

Sakura’s brow furrowed and she blinked harshly as a dull thump pulsed in her head. It had been a while since she felt that pain but it was gone as quickly as it came. As if someone pounded a fist on a door as hard as they could but only once, the harsh sound echoing in Sakura’s head. But the following silence left her with nothing. Had she experienced traumatic things that shaped and reshaped her? She must have, hadn’t she? 

“Something like that,” Sakura muttered as she brought a hand up the back of Kiaria’s head to soothingly pat her hair.

“Thank you,” Kiaria whispered. She stayed close, comfortably leaning her weight on Sakura and allowing the medic to support her. Sakura didn’t know how long the two sat there huddled together as the sun began to peak over the earth but eventually Kiaria pulled away and stretched. As they detached, Sakura eased out her hand which had caught a few of Kiaria’s curls.

Kiaria brushed her hair down with more force than Sakura thought necessary, “ah, my hairs still a mess. I must look so unkept.”

Sakura giggled before offering, “would you like me to tie it back for you?”

Kiaria blinked, “you would?”

Sakura pulled her leg up and turned to face the girl, “well sadly I don’t have a hairbrush so I can’t say it’ll be perfect but I can at least tie it back for you.”

Kiaria nodded, passing the hair lackey from her wrist and turning to present her back to Sakura in rapid succession. Sakura smiled and began combing the hair back with her fingers, the bath left the curls soft and bouncy as she held them.

“Any preference?” Sakura asked as she held the curls in one hand and combed the errant curls into the mass.

Kiaria spoke softly, “...a bun please.”

“Can do, I’ll also add a braid so we can keep this curl with the rest.” She gently held the curl shorter than the rest with her fingers. It was the curl she had noticed Kiaria tugging harshly earlier and she was quick to realise it was what remained of the lock of hair Nakaya had received.

Kiaria agreed with a barely-there nod and Sakura got to work taming the hair. Sakura wondered if she’d done this before. She thought fondly of her own bun that Konan had done for her before she’d left for the mission. She hoped Kiaria felt just as happy under her attention that she felt under Konan's.

Soon she was satisfied and patted the top of Kiaria’s head with a chirpy, “all done!”

Kiaria gently felt along her hair with hesitant fingers before spinning around with a smile on her face and happy flush on her cheeks. 

“Thank you, that feels much better.” She beamed only to be interrupted by her stomach demanding to make its presence known. Sakura laughed and pulled herself to her feet.

“Well you did skip dinner so let’s find you something to snack on since it’s a little early for breakfast.”

Kiaria stood up with more energy than she had displayed the other day and agreed. They returned inside and Sakura found a bag of jam biscuits in the food bag Tobi had presented the other night and Kiaria happily munched away as Sakura grabbed the girl's clean and dry dress from where she had folded and brought it in earlier.

Kiaria was quick to change back into the familiar material, spinning in place and practically glowing. Their chatter must have woken Tobi as the man emerged tiredly from the sleeping area to slump his head on the table. Kangae joined them by shuffling into the room and wordlessly throwing himself sleepily across Sakura’s lap for warmth, comfort and most importantly scratches.

The girls, and Kangae, eventually helped themselves to a breakfast provided by the inn with Tobi declining food as he wanted to eat his purchased snacks on the road. It wasn’t long that the group thanked the inn woman for her hospitality and departed to continue their journey to Mud Town. Kiaria seemed happier and healthier as she walked step by step at Sakura’s side. Kangae sat happily on Sakura’s shoulder and seemed content to join the conversation which Kiaria was more than happy to allow him to do so. It seemed the wonder at talking with a summons wasn’t going to leave the girl anytime soon, but if it kept that smile on her face then Sakura was happy to encourage her curiosity.

Tobi muscled his way into the conversation with his usual immature abrasiveness which unfortunately was not a quality Kiaria liked very much, nor were the nicknames he gave her usually pertaining to her wealth. Sakura would chide him accordingly and Kiaria would unconsciously show her own age by immaturely grinning at his whines and excuses.

Though at times Sakura felt like a mediator and the only one in the group actively trying to steer them to the goal of their mission, she would keep finding herself smiling. Yes, she hoped that the mission would be over as soon as possible so she could return and finally get to work healing some of her patients. But that didn’t mean she couldn't enjoy the time she was spending with the company she had. Surely she and Konan had these moments many times in the past.

It was then a thought occurred. On their way back to Mud Town, not far off from the path they would travel, they would inevitably pass Soil Town.

Sakura thought to herself, ‘Seeing how I might be from there… If we stop in Soil Town… Maybe I could remember something?’

❀

Tsunade was falling behind.

With every hour that passed she had papers piling up that needed her executive decision on, a seal of approval for something so menial that she would question every time why her choice was the one that mattered.

With every hour that passed she calculated in her head while ruling in break times, rest times, weather conditions and even human obstacles that could have possibly sprung up and held her disciple from her mission.

With every day there stood anbu officers in her office to report finished missions and handed her reports on any troubles they encountered that could either result in nothing or could be the fist string to a spiderweb of plans conducted by neighbouring nations to finally topple the great Village hidden in the Leaves. ‘Because the world and its people had absolutely nothing better to do than plan Konoha's downfall.’

With every day there was a notable pink absence in her office, in her library, in her hospital, in her soul. Tsunade’s eyes would wander to the places she would sit and help her file reports and requests, where she would study until she could barely hold herself up, where she would be waiting with eyes burning for knowledge and wisdom from her beloved mentor. Tsunade would force her eyes to unfocus from where the girl should be to where she wasn’t and instead sat a mountain of paperwork and scroll that Tsunade felt weren’t nearly as important. ‘Because I have nothing better to do than just sit here and worry about what’s taking my disciple so long.

She was staring blankly at a civilian's request that needed a team assigned, a low rank, probably a genin team. Her pen hadn’t moved and she momentarily wondered just how long she had been sitting here lost in thought when her door opened to an anbu with a cat mask coming to stand before her.

“Hokage-sama, I have a message from Shizune-san from the Town in the Roots.” Tsunade controlled her reaction. She placed her pen down and held out a hand in which the scroll the anbu held was dropped in.

“Good work, you’re dismissed.” The anbu bowed and vanished with the door shutting Tsunade back in the silence. She unsealed the scroll and read through.

Once she finished and re-read it to confirm everything, she sealed the scroll closed and rose to her feet with a slam of her hands on the desk. Tonton startled awake with a distressed noise and Tsunade rounded the desk.

Sakura never arrived. The only irregularity noticed was that a tree looked like it had sustained a strong impact and had been placed back in its place. Kakashi’s tracker summons’ scent had vanished at roughly that tree spot and around the other trees.

The poison was the same one Sakura encountered but being airborne meant Shizune would use Sakura’s antidote blueprint and modify it to work in the patients. She would stay for another week to monitor their conditions and would report back before she and Team Gai took their leave.

Sakura never arrived. Tsunade’s disciple had vanished without a trace and now Tsunade had to prepare to get into a screaming match with the village elders. It was going to be tough work convincing the old bastards that this single clan-less medic’s disappearance was worth spending village resources on.

But like hell, Tsunade would allow her disciple to vanish. Whatever happened, whatever took her, would have to pry her from Tsunade’s cold dead hands. She will see Sakura brought home where she belonged.