"Get that thing away from me!" Chihiro Okami shouted as she backed away.

Kankuro Sabuko no sighed as he gently placed his puppet on the ground & released his hold on it with his chakra strings. "What did you expect? You're the one who wanted to spar."

"I didn't know you were gonna use THAT thing!"

"Well, yeah. Why do you think I carry it on my back?" Kankuro asked like it was obvious.

"I don't know! I never knew what that thing was!" Chihiro finally stepped a little closer as she examined the puppet on the ground.

"His name's Crow."

"You named it?" Chihiro asked.

"Of course I did. After all, I always use it in battle. It's what I do; I use puppets."

"Hmm...," Chihiro thought. "& you use chakra strings to control it?"

"Yep. Have you never seen a person who uses puppets as a weapon before?" Kankuro asked, still slightly confused by her initial reaction.

Chihiro shook her head. "Nope, you're the first."

"Then let's spar. I can show you how well I can use it," Kankuro smirked. (If she's never seen a puppet user before, she won't know how to fight one.)

"Alright, fine. I'm not gonna go easy though," Chihiro warned.

Kankuro scoffed. "I wouldn't expect or want you to. Now come on!" He helped his puppet back up with the use of his chakra strings & got ready for battle.

Chihiro also stood in her battle stance, ready to see how well Kankuro worked with this "puppet" of his.

-

Kankuro lay on the ground, his puppet next to him, & Chihiro towering over him with a kunai at his neck. It was official; Chihiro had beaten him.

She put the kunai away & sat down next to Kankuro as he sat up as well.

"I hate to admit I lost, but..." He looked at Chihiro who just smiled at him.

"Never underestimate me~," Chihiro sang.

Kankuro smiled. "I guess not."

They both sat there in a sort of silence that wasn't particularly comfortable nor awkward. But neither of them knew what to say next, so it stayed silent.

Temari Sabuko no came walking over the hill & spotted the two ninja sitting on the ground. She rolled her eyes as she walkes over to them. "Kankuro, I've been looking for you! It's time to go back home."

Kankuro stood up with a confused look. "Really? I thought we were leaving in the morning."

"Last minute change of plans," Temari answered.

Kankuro sighed. "Sure, I'll be right there. Just let me wrap up Crow."

Temari walked off without another word. She wasn't particularly fond of the sudden schedule change either.

Kankuro began to wrap up his puppet & Chihiro stood up & stretched.

"Well, that was a good fight, but now I'm hungry. See ya!" She began to walk away when Kankuro stopped her.

"Hey, wait!" he yelled, catching up to her. "Maybe we could hang out next time I come?"

Chihiro smiled as she turned back around & continued to make her way back to the busy streets of Konoha. "Maybe," was the only answer she gave.

Kankuro smiled as he watched her go. When she was finally out of sight, he made his way toward the gate to head back home.