Well, it took a while for this to come up. Been getting sidetracked my reality for a bit too long. Oh well, enjoy!
"No, you don't get it, that's why I'm telling you. You think you get it, which isn't the same as actually getting it. Get it?"
- Hatake Kakashi
Naruto was struggling to practice his new technique, a hundred shadow clones surrounding him and doing the exact same thing. Every few minutes some clones would puff up into a cloud of white smoke out of exhaustion. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead as he struggled to stay in focus.
A couple hundred feet away Kakashi was explaining the day's earlier events to Yamato. Tsunade had agreed that he was the only other person who could be told the truth. Everyone else would just be told that Mattie was a distant relative of Sakura's from another village.
Something was starting to form in his hand. Naruto could feel it, he was so close! He just had to concentrate. No distractions.
"Hey Naruto?"
It disappeared. Whatever had clicked and started to work was gone.
"What?" shouted Naruto as shadow clones quickly started poofing away around him. He turned to Kakashi. "What. is. It?" asked Naruto slowly through gritted teeth, struggling to keep his temper down.
"I think you have an admirer," he said, pointing behind Naruto. Naruto couldn't tell whether Kakashi was smiling, but Yamato's grin gave him a clue.
Forgetting everything he had been mad about Naruto spun around in anticipation, expecting to see Sakura standing there, ready to tell him what a strong ninja he was.
"Oh."
It was not Sakura. Instead Naruto saw a girl at the edge of the woods jumping up and down and waving at him frantically, trying desperately to get his attention. Even in the new outfit and the absence of pink bunny slippers Naruto immediately recognized who it was. The hat that happened to be the exact same color of her pajamas also served as a hint. Forcing a grin on himself Naruto gave a small awkward wave in return.
"Hey Mattie, Naruto needs to concentrate, so no distractions ok?" shouted Kakashi across the clearing.
Mattie nodded vehemently and sat down where she stood, staring intently.
"Kakashi, I can't train like this!" complained Naruto in a low voice.
"Nonsense Naruto," Kakashi chuckled, obviously amused. "She's just sitting there. Besides, she'll get bored eventually and run off. Don't worry and focus on your training. True ninjas should be able to deal with such miniscule distractions."
Yamato grinned widely behind Kakashi. He was enjoying this as well.
Groaning loudly Naruto reluctantly returned to his training. Kakashi was right, he quickly became consumed once more by his goal and forgot all that was around him. But when the afternoon was more than half over and Kakashi suggested they stop for the day Naruto remembered. He looked over at where she had sat down, expecting an empty spot. But Mattie was still there, sitting with her hands hugging her legs and her chin laying gently on the tops of her knees. Her eyes were wide with awe and admiration.
After Sakura had kindly bought me my new outfit I found Naruto and watched him train for most of the day. But in the middle of the afternoon Kakashi forced him to go home and rest, then told me to go spend the rest of my day doing something that didn't include Naruto.
This was going to be tough.
Watching Naruto train had been amazing. He had been so focused on the task at hand. I've never had that much of an attention span. I was so easily distracted, yet he was able to concentrate on one thing for hours. Lucky. My parents would have loved it if I could concentrate that well on something besides anime. Well, there was my drawing, but since I mostly drew fan art that didn't really count.
Well, it was only the middle of the afternoon and I had no idea what to do next. This already felt like the longest day of my life so far. So much had happened. Walking down the street other people brushed by me, oblivious to who I really was, how much I knew about this place, and where I really came from. It felt so weird to be a stranger in another world and to have everyone around you think otherwise.
"Are you Mattie?"
I jumped. I thought nobody knew me.
"Yeah."
"Kakashi told me to show you around town. He said you were a visiting cousin of Sakura's. Am I correct?"
Wait. I recognized that voice.
"Sai!"
I turned around and hugged the pale ninja. When I backed off he had a surprised look on his face and his cheeks were slightly pink with embarrassment. Unfortunately, Sai quickly regained his composure and gave me one of his smiles. That creepy one he always does when he talks to people.
"Is that the customary greeting where you are from?" he asked.
Whoops. I'd forgotten that Sai hadn't been told the full story of where I was from. It was too dangerous since he worked for Danzo. And if Danzo found out that I knew the secrets of Tsunade and the others then who knew what he would do try to get that information. I shuddered. Nope, I'd rather Sai didn't find out.
"No, uh...Sakura told me a lot about you and what a great ninja you were. I guess I got a little over excited at finally meeting you."
My fib was followed by a nervous laugh. Luckily Sai seemed to take my word for it. He pulled out a book and quickly flipped through the pages, searching for something specific. With his attention fully on the book I tiptoed around him and read the title of the chapter he had finally stopped on.
"How to make friends upon first impression," I read aloud.
Sai slapped the book shut. I burst out laughing.
"I can't believe you're still reading those Sai," I managed to let out between laughs.
"Still?"
I froze, realizing my mistake.
"Oh, my bad, I meant to say that I can't b-believe you actually read those things," I stumbled and quickly raced to change the subject. "You shouldn't have to rely on books to tell you how to make friends."
"Then how can I expect to I do it without a book to explain it?"
I paused, not sure how to explain it myself.
"I can't really explain how to make a friend, it just sort of happens."
Sai stared blankly at me.
"Well, uh, don't you have friends that you didn't plan to become friends with, you just did?"
Sai stared off into the distance. No doubt remembering how his friendship with Naruto came to be, I thought.
"I guess so."
I let out a relieved sigh, happy we could finally move on from this awkward subject.
"Tell you what, you just made another friend today."
"What?"
I grinned widely.
"You are officially my friend," I stated matter-of-factly. "Now, is my new friend going to show me around town or what?"
There. I saw it. It flashed for no more than a mere second, but it was there. Sai smiled for real.
Yeah, I know, another short chapter. I'm just not a long chapter person. Besides, nobody even reviewed my last chapter. If nobody's reading this, then what does it matter? Nobody doesn't care. Right nobody?
Kakashi: She's doing it again. Talking to this 'nobody'.
Yamato: I know, starting to think she might not have all her slices from the same pizza if you know what I mean.
Kakashi: No, actually. I don't know what you mean.
Me: I'm not crazy! All I wants is some reviews. Is that to much to ask?
Kakashi: It is when your story stinks.
Virtual brownies for all reviewers. Let me know that somebody is actually reading this. That way nobody won't be all alone and stop reading this too.
