Kari says, "Then say hello and ask him what he's doing in the forest!"
Kakashi was a little nervous when he watched them and Sasuke seemed to feel the same way. Kari just twitches as Katana rants on and on.
Katana stops talking all of a sudden then says, "You're pissed?"
Kari turns to her and yells, "Yeah, you think?"
Katana steps back before she says, "Um... I'll just end this."
Kari sighs and says before Katana took off, "Hey, Sam..! You got something in your hair."
Kari reaches up and takes out a leaf. Katana smiles giving her thanks then quickly looks over to the others only to crack up before she took off toward him. Once she was up to him she taps on his shoulder.
Katana's face turns red as she responds, "Hey Matt, what are you doing in the forest?"
Matt crosses his arms as he says, "Oh I'm taking my little brother on a camping trip and what better place than a forest. What about you?"
Katana fidgets as she responds, "Oh I'm going on a mission so I'll have to go soon. But it was nice to see you."
Matt hugs Katana making her blush a deeper red.
As he pulls away he says, "You too. I'll see you when you come back ok?"
Katana begins to walk away as she says, "Yeah..."
Kari smiles and says, "Are you done?"
Katana smiles all giggly and says, "Yep... All done... Wasn't that awesome?"
Kari nods and says, "Now, we should keep moving if we want to cover more ground."
Everyone nods and they start walking again. They stop when the sky turns to a hazy mixture of gold, orange, purple, and yellow. The sun was setting just as they reached a good campsite.
It was surround by trees and the sky was visible so Kakashi stops and says, "This is a good place to rest, so let's stop here and start making camp. Naruto and Sasuke, get firewood. Sakura, you can help set up camp by unrolling Naruto and Sasuke's sleeping bags for them and then doing yours."
Katana cuts in and says, "If there's anything particular you'd like me to fix, I packed some things to make a meal so I can cook for all of us."
Kari nods and says, "Yeah, and I'll go take a look around the area for spies and such."
Kari drops her stuff on the ground and says, "Sam, will you set up my sleeping bag for me while I go look around?"
Katana nods and says, "Sure, as long as you come back safely..."
Kari nods and jumps up into the trees. She jumps from tree to tree, checking the area through chakra scribing, sight, and sound. She gets a long way from camp and stops to check around. She suddenly feels a chill go down her spine and cold metal pressing against her neck.
"Fancy meeting you here... What are you doing wandering around in the woods at night?" a male voice said.
Kari doesn't speak for a moment till she says, "Making sure people like you learn their place".
She elbows the person behind her and he falls out of the tree, landing on his feet. Kari jumps down and is staring at Sasuke.
She sighs and says, "What do you want Uchiha? I'm busy."
Sasuke grunts and says, "I want some questions answered. Why are you working for the Hokage when you are from the Village Hidden in the Mist? Why is a Chunin like you acting like a hard ass? And why did the Hokage put you in charge of us? Do you think you are better than us because I don't like that?"
Kari sighs and says, "Poor little Sasuke... Do you feel left out? Well, Katana and I moved to Konoha for a better life and found a job working for the Hokage so that's what we do. I act like a hard ass because I know that if I don't I won't be heard. No, I don't think I'm better then you, but I do believe I think better then you. Now go back to camp before I use you as a punching bag."
Sasuke growls and throws the kunai in his hand at Kari and she catches it and throws it at his feet. She turns and walks away while Sasuke stands there fuming in anger.
Before she leaves Sasuke yells, "And what about Katana?"
Kari turns around saying, "What about Katana..?"
Sasuke crosses his arms as he says, "How can she be a ninja or work for the Hokage, when she is too kind hearted. Matter of fact how can you two work together when you're both totally different. You could break Katana in half if you want to and yet you put up with her, why? I don't understand that either. I don't understand why the Hokage would send someone like her on a mission to help me."
Kari looks at him and says, "Because she's a good friend and we're good at teamwork, unlike you and your friends. I've been friends with Katana longer than you've known Sakura and Naruto. Katana can talk me through hard times and she keeps me in line. I can give her good advice. Excuse me, Katana's probably worried about me by now."
As Kari walks out of sight Sasuke just stares at the ground before taking off. Back at the camp Katana was stirring a pot full of soup.
As Naruto stood over the pot he replied, "Aw man that smells wonderful!"
Kari then walks out of the shadows happily smiling at Katana.
Katana looks up at Kari waving as she said, "Hey Kari! I was beginning to get worried! So how did things go?"
Kari walks up to the pot smelling the food that was in it as she replied, "Oh nothing special. So what type of soup are you cooking?"
Katana smiles happily as she replies with pride, "It's my special soup, Jess. You're favorite soup..!"
"Ah! No way! You read my mind! I love bean and rice soup! Did you add the potatoes and carrots? Did ya, did ya, did ya?" Kari says excitedly.
Everyone stares at her in shock at the sudden un-seriousness she was showing. Usually she was a hard-ass but now she's all excited and squealing.
Katana nods and says, "Yep..! Sure did! Now grab a bowl and scarf it down! You, too, guys!"
Everyone nods and grabs a bowl before Kari can eat it all. Once everyone had their fill, Katana grabbed a bowl of soup and began to eat. As she did Kari came up to her and sat down next to her, and begins to chat with her happily.
Katana smiles and says, "So, it would seem Sasuke has been following you around lately. Could it be a crush?"
Kari raises an eyebrow at her and says, "Of course not..! Why would anyone like Sasuke like me? Besides, I don't need anyone!"
Katana rolls her eyes and finishes eating and says, "Oh come on. Don't be that way. I think it's cute. He's like a puppy."
As Katana says she giggles, causing Kari to slaps her head saying, "God…"
Katana smiles saying, "Hey, you know I'm right, like always."
Kari laughs at Katana remark then slaps her on the back saying, "I think it's time for me to retire for the night, for now at least."
Katana looks at Kari like she's crazy and says, "It's still early though!"
Kari shrugs and says, "We have a long day tomorrow. Nighty night..!"
Katana sighs and says, "I guess that leaves me the dishes."
Katana gathers up all the dishes, grabs a bottle of water, and dumps it on the ground. She does some hand signs and the water floats along with the dishes. She squirts soap in the water and makes the water and dishes swirl together in a washing motion. Sakura and Naruto watch her curiously and when she's done, the dishes are squeaky clean and she lays them on a towel to dry.
Sakura smiles and says, "That was cool Katana! Where did you learn that?"
Katana says, "Well, I am from the Village Hidden in the Mist.
Naruto says, "That was cool, believe it!"
Kari lies down in her sleeping bag, facing the fire. She stares at it with tired eyes until she falls asleep. As Kari sleeps Katana puts the dishes up and goes to the fire, sitting down and watching it next to Kakashi as she watches the fire burn and listens to the sound of the fire. As she does she picks up a stick and stirs the fire making a bigger fire.
As she takes some leaves in her hands and throws them in the fire, Kakashi finally says, "You know, you don't have to do that. That's what a man is for, not that you are incapable of doing it yourself, but it's rude of me to sit here."
Katana shakes her head and says, "Nah, I like doing this kind of stuff. I'm a fire bug when it comes to outdoors."
Kakashi smiles through his mask and says, "I see. So, do you mind telling me a bit about yourself?"
Katana places her finger to her lip as she looks to the sky saying, "Well, let me think. Um… I don't know. I love to cook. I enjoy a good read when I find the time that is. I love to swim and I'm really good at it. I'm the only one left from my clan. I'm the soul survivor. Though I'm not able to use the powers that they had. I have known Kari for many years and no she isn't from the same clan. Oh and even though I'm quiet I kick butt. Is there anything that you want to know that I missed?"
Kakashi replies, "Your love life, if I may ask?"
Katana blushes and says, "Um… my love life… Any other questions?"
Kakashi continues, "Do you like anybody?"
Katana smiles as she thinks, "Oh man I can't tell him about Matt. I could barely tell Kari."
She then replies, "Well no not really."
Kakashi smiles and says, "Then what's this?"
He pulls out the picture of Matt and says, "You know, bringing a picture of someone you care about on a mission is dangerous. I found this on the ground by your stuff."
Katana blushes and says, "Just because it's on the ground doesn't mean that its mine."
Kakashi gives her a look as she reaches her hand out taking the picture and looking at it as she continues, "I don't know where this picture came from, and I have never seen it before."
Katana then looks around; out into the shadows as she says, "I wonder where it came from. Maybe it blew here. I don't know."
Kakashi sweat drops and says, "Alright, well, it's time for me to get to bed... It seems Naruto and the others are asleep already."
Katana nods and says, "Alright, well, I'll see you in the morning, Kakashi!"
She hugs him randomly and goes to her sleeping bag and settles in for the night.
Authors Note: Comments make the world go round (got it memorized? ^_^)
