Konohagakure was as different from Sunagakure as day is from the night.
Where there were endless dunes and pounding sunlight in Suna, Konoha was covered in green and muted browns, the buildings painted riotous colors in mimicry of the flowers that bloomed there.
Despite the familiarity to her home, Hikari could not help but wish she was still back in Suna instead.
"Do you have to go?"
Swallowing back the tears those heartbroken words had stirred, the young brunette followed the insistent tugging of her heartstrings.
"Yes, I do. But…"
Determination steeled her resolve, an iron armor.
"But I promise, I'll always come back."
"Hey!"
The shout cut through the baby Pokemon's wails, and the young boy's attention snapped to the younger blonde facing him from the alley's mouth.
"Leave that Pokemon alone!"
As if in agreement, the Togepi's wails heightened in volume, stubby limbs flailing against the hold on her shell.
"What do you care?" The culprit sneered, an older boy in the Academy and only a few weeks from graduation. "It's not like you'll ever get one!"
"I will, too!" The young Jinchuriki shouted back, eyes burning with blue flames. "And it'll be way cooler than whatever you get!"
Togepi howled in agony as another crack appeared on her shell, a spider's web of damage across the once-smooth surface, and Naruto leapt into action.
"LET HER GO!"
Quicker than the inexperienced blonde could follow, a foot slammed into his stomach, shoving him back and out of breath into a damp brick wall before he could so much as make a grab for the distressed Pokemon.
"And who's gonna make me?" The almost-Genin taunted. "Some dead-last punk?"
"No."
A hand clamped on both wrists, fiery blue eyes glaring right through the boy's soul.
"I am."
Hikari's foot came up and slammed right into his chest, sending the bigger boy across the alley and into a pile of old garbage.
Togepi squealed as she was suddenly dropped and caught up in another hold, blinking up with dark eyes at the girl that had saved her.
"Are you alright, little one?" Hikari fretted, gently pressing on the cracked shell with a chakra-cloaked palm.
Wiggling as the pain faded under the soft touch, Togepi grasped the girl's thumb with stubby hands, worry shining through the tears.
"Boy hurt?"
A yelp drew their attention to said blonde, who flailed as Cyndaquil clung to his chest and laughed, obviously enjoying himself.
The brunette smiled as a white shadow fluttered around the boy's head, sleek and feather-light, and cradled Togepi's newly-repaired shell in both hands.
"I think he'll be just fine."
