"So, you really are Orochimaru's daughter?" Sakura asked, striking up a lousy topic... It was obvious that I was the offspring of the Serpent Sage, my eyes said it all. More catlike than a snake however, the shape is more like my mother's than my father's.
"Yes." I said, trying to be polite.
Naruto's teeth clenched, "I HATE your father!"
"I'm so-" The chef at the Ichiraku stand cut me off.
"Naruto! How about another one… On the house!"
Naruto's eyes sparkled, "Really?" All traces of sadness disintegrated, he was that jolly happy-go-lucky kid like before.
"…Yeah!" The chef said.
"With pickled fish?" Naruto's face made it impossible to say no.
"Sure!" the chef's enthusiasm was genuine.
"YA~Y!" Naruto shouted.
I smiled at Sakura. She smiled back, though she seemed depressed about the lousy topic.
"Forgive me Sakura." I said.
"You can't ask for me to forgive you… If anything I should be thanking you. You to-" I broke into her sentence.
"It was a joy of mine, really." I said.
Sakura smiled, "Sorry we're causing trouble for you."
"Other than my whole world crashing to its death before my feet and being totally unfair, there isn't any trouble you guys are creating."
"Well we still have to go see Tsunade-Sama later today."
"The Hokage?" I asked in a state of disbelief, "She scares me!"
Sakura laughed, as Naruto began to speak.
"O~OKAY! You guys done?" I looked at Sakura's empty bowl, and the full one that was laid out before me.
"Naruto, I-I'm sorry!" I exclaimed, "I just realized I don't like ramen! … What should I do with it?"
The chef looked at me, and I shivered.
"I'll eat it!" Naruto volunteered.
I pushed to bowl towards him, and he quickly gulped it down.
"We ready to go?" Naruto was way to hyper, that I started to think that I shouldn't have given him that extra bowl of ramen.
"Ashi?" Sakura asked.
"Yep." I tried to be full of pep and spirit, but I was actually terrified on the inside. So much so, that I was biting my lip (A habit that I broke when I was younger, right after an accident my mother's clan had stumbled into).
"Are you okay?" Sakura asked.
I inhaled deeply, and attempted to nod, but my stomach twisted when I tried. I stood up, my thin wrists were screaming out not to budge, but my pride forced them to bear the pain that the dreaded fear brought on. My knees protested be buckling, but my pride immediately forced them to work. Every part of my body, every cell was screaming that there would be trouble ahead and ached, making my refreshed body worn out.
"Chicken!" Sakura snapped, grabbing my shirt collar and pulling me around town, to the evil Hokage's lair.
The pain of my cells fear made tears stream down my face.
"Ashi doesn't look so good." Naruto said, as Sakura dragged the lightheaded-and-crying me into the Hokage's office.
As soon as the door clicked I jumped up, wiped of all traces of dirt that I had attracted, and looked almost nice (Except for my pale face and sweaty palms, not to mention my buckling knees.), by the time the doors opened and accepted me in.
Sakura nearly pushed me, when I was focusing on controlling my breathing so I wouldn't hyperventilate, when my legs wouldn't move.
"H-hello," I stuttered.
"When did you voice get light like that?" Naruto snapped.
"Naruto," Sakura grumbled.
I tried to smile.
"Ashi," Tsunade said.
I flinched at her powerful voice, I could probably have easily killed her if I wanted to, but she was tough looking and I was a tiny little thing that could have been mistaken for a bug and stepped on (Even though I was only about half an inch shorter than Sakura…)
"Y-yes?" I stuttered.
"Thank you for protecting Sasuke Uchiha for as long as you did…" Tsunade looked disgusted for having to thank me.
"Oh no!" I said, "I should be thanking you, for taking me in at my time of need! And for letting me protect his life for as long as I did!"
"Well, you are welcome then…"
"I am also apologizing for appearing out of the blue!" I said bowing.
"Sakura!" Tsunade said, with such ferocity in her voice that I felt that the ground shook, "You will have Ashi room with you."
"I don't think I could deal with that." Sakura muttered, looking ashamed.
"Fine then, Naruto?" Tsunade asked.
"I'd be glad to have a roommate!" Naruto sounded jolly still.
"That may not be the best for her… Forgive me for just walking in." Sai said walking into the room, "His apartment is filthy."
"What about you?" Tsunade asked staring Sai in the eyes, as if trying to see if he was plotting something. She seemed satisfied with the conclusion she had sucked from his blank eyes.
"Sure," Sai replied, smiling at her.
I glared at Sai, and he glared back…Then chuckled unexpectedly.
I rolled my eyes.
"Sai, How much cash do you have on you?" Tsunade asked.
"A bit, why?" Sai asked.
"May I see you wallet?" Tsunade asked.
Sai nodded, and walked over and handed her the fat thing.
"Hmm, this should be plenty." Tsunade said, "Take her to buy clothing."
My eyes widened.
Sai turned and walked over to me, after taking his wallet.
He leaned over and whispered in my ear, "Don't make that face, you look evil."
I sighed and followed him out of the room after we were dismissed. We walked through the halls, past every window, till we reached the outside. The air was sort of fresh, but smelled of food.
I looked at Sai, and he tried to smile, but seemed to be caught in my eyes.
He turned his head, "The shops are this way."
I nodded as we lost eye contact.
I focused on the back of his head, till we made it to the shops.
He sat on a bench across from the outdoor shop, watching me. Analyzing my every move, trying to learn about me… He quickly pulled out a book and studied a few sections. I saw my favorite color that complimented my skin very well, and I scurried over to a hanger covered with grey, and white. I smiled and grabbed some of the clothing in my size and sprinted into the changing room. I tight-ish grey Chinese looking belly shirt with black leggings was my favorite outfit out of the selection, so I grabbed a whole bunch of the same design.
I motioned for Sai to come over, when I walked out of the mob of shoppers.
The clothing I found was made of a nice material, but priced cheaply. It barely thinned out Sai's wallet.
He seemed happy, but I figured it was just an act.
"T-thanks" I stuttered.
"Don't mention it." Sai said politely as I followed him to his apartment.. I didn't really want to be in the leaf, let alone having to room with an Anbu Black Ops…
