"Get back here and die you little fucker!" Sakura cursed. She was shoulder deep in the final barrel, chasing around the last fish. It was actually a very tiny shark to be precise, a tiny shark with a huge amount of conviction to live. So far she'd been attempting to catch it for five minutes and had been bitten twice.
"OUCH!" Sakura withdrew her hands and began to heal a third bite mark.
"How about you leave that one to me then little lady?" Joji offered.
"I have a better idea. You said I could pick out an average sized fish, does a small shark equate?" she asked.
"Ya want em, he's yours. You certainty earned it, finished five hours of work in only three! I've had people diddle around just to get paid more, but you're all about efficiency aren't you?"
"You bet." Sakura said as she washed her hands. "I'll carry out the entrail buckets and then be on my way."
"Still got a ways to go?" he asked.
"A few days travel." Sakura offered, making sure not to give him her exact destination. When on the run, one couldn't be too careful.
She grabbed two buckets in each fist and carried them out back. She placed them in Joji's cart so that he could return them to the water. It was important to keep nutrient levels high in small fishing ponds.
She returned to the kitchen and found that Joji must have gone out front to count her pay. Now was her chance. She quickly located the live scroll in her pack and unrolled it. This particular scroll was capable of sealing live animals, very rare and expensive. Thankfully her shishou was besties with the number one seal expert in the world and convinced him teach Sakura how to scribe her own.
Of course she couldn't just seal the shark without water, so she spread the scroll over the outside of the barrel. Sakura would have to seal the whole thing, something she hadn't done before. Usually it was something much smaller, like extra shuriken or a change of clothes, meaning a whole barrel was going to be a challenge.
Making the correct hand signs she focused very carefully to perfectly manipulate her chakra into preserving the barrel of water inside the scroll. It wasn't as difficult as she had thought, but it certainly took a small chunk out of her chakra reserves. Why would she go through such trouble for a bitey little bastard? Simple. This baby shark had a higher chakra signature than normal, meaning it was a low level nin animal. A fact which was further proven by it's intelligent evasion of her attempts to capture and kill it.
Once the deed was done she threw the scroll back into her pack and went out front to collect her pay.
"Nice working with you, come back any time." Joji told her as he extended an envelope towards her.
"Thank you." Sakura said as she took a peek inside the envelope to make sure it was all there. Happy with what she found she slipped the envelope into the side pocket of her thigh holster. It was better to keep money on your person just in case you had to ditch your pack.
After a quick meal Sakura would continue her journey, this time in the correct direction. She could still stop and rest during the night, but would have to travel hard for the the next few hours. A meal would fuel her, plus she was just plain tired of soldier pills.
"What will it be miss?" a young man asked her, she had decided on a simple food cart with grilled kabobs.
"Two salmon sticks please." Sakura requested, handing over the correct amount of money. A moment later she was given two wrapped kabobs with speared salmon and vegetables. They smelled absolutely delicious. Biting into one she was happy to find it was aproapriately seasoned and cooked to perfection."Did you happen to buy these salmon at the fish market just down the road?" she asked.
"Why yes, Joji would be the owner. Does a fantastic job doesn't he? Won't share his seasoning recipe with anyone though, hmph! His family's been here since this town was just a muddy watering hole."
"Great guy. Thanks."
"You're welcome miss, please come again!"
She walked to a close by park to sit on a bench in order to finish her meal. As she was biting into the last piece of fish she felt a shadow come over her. Looking over, none too worried as she sensed it was a civiliean, she saw a rather eccentric young woman.
"Oh my gosh! Is that your real hair babe?" the woman gushed. She had platinum blond hair streaked with pink down to her waist and wore the most colorful outfit Sakura had ever seen. It consisted of red high heels, purple spandex, a orange tunic and large blue hoop earnings. To top it off her eyes where green and she wore yellow lipstick. This woman was a walking rainbow, and a rude one at that.
"Yes this is my real hair, can I help you?" Sakura replied with a full mouth, not caring if that was disgusting. Maybe the woman would go away if she became grossed out with Sakura's "eating habits". Truthfully she only talked with her mouth full when she wanted to intentionally irritate Kakashi. He had so very few pet peeves but people who talked with a full mouth happened to be one of them. Naruto did it too, although she suspected her knucklehead teammate didn't know it bothered Kakashi and just had poor table manners. Either way it was hilarious to watch Kakashi's one eye twitch in aggravation every time.
"For real? It's not dyed or anything right?" The woman pressed. After only receiving a raised eyebrow as a response she continued. "I'm Ayaka, the only hairdresser in this town. I just got to get my hands in that hair of yours, would you mind following me back to my shop?"
Shit. Sakura had completely forgotten about the warning she'd been given earlier by the woman who ran the travelers den. So this was the hairdresser huh? With a name meaning colorful flower her outfit almost made sense.
"I'm actually leaving town at the moment." Sakura said, walking over to a nearby bin to throw away her kabob wrappers.
"Oh no! But you're the only person I've ever seen with natural pink hair! I promise I'll make you look ethereal! Pleeeeeeeeease?" Ayaka begged.
"I really don't have the time or money." Who used the word ethereal in a casual conversation anyway?
"Absolutely free of charge! It won't take more than an hour of your time. I'll even pay you!" Ayaka offered, sounding desperate.
"Pay me? For what?" Sakura was quiet puzzled, turning back around to give Ayaka a look of strong skepticism. This woman wasn't just eccentric, she was no doubt obsessed.
"Your hair is such a beautiful shade! I would like a small lock of your hair so I can use it as reference to color match my dye. Afterwards I can shampoo, condition and style it for you if you'll let me."
Sakura paused, touching the ends of her hair which had grown down to her collar bone. She had been planning on getting it cut before she was sent on this disaster of a mission...and a wash would be nice too. Sakura hadn't been able to bathe for a couple of days, not since she was chased out of the daimyō's home. Of course she wasn't as vain about her hair as she used to be, but why turn down the opportunity when it was offered with money she could really use?
"A few inches trimmed and a quick wash. No style. You have half an hour. Deal?" Sakura offered.
"Deal!" Ayaka screeched, grabbing hold of Sakura's arm and practically dragging her across the street to the hair salon. She was promptly sat in a chair and told to lean back until her head was over a sink. The whole time her hair was being washed Ayaka chattered about anything and everything, something Sakura promptly tuned out. She secretly loved it when someone had their hands in her hair, rubbing her scalp and gently playing with the pink strands. After the wash she was relocated to a chair across the room in front of a mirror.
"How many inches babe?" Ayaka asked, picking up her shears.
"Short enough so it doesn't touch my shoulders but long enough that it can still be tied back." Sakura replied.
Ayaka began snipping, making sure to collect the hair in a small container instead of letting it drop to the floor. "Have you ever considered growing your hair out really long?" she asked, sounding almost dreamy.
"I had long hair when I was younger."
"Oh really? What made you cut it?"
"...It made me hot at night" That wasn't the main reason why she kept her hair short, but it wasn't a complete lie either. Sakura definitely didn't miss waking up with her hair wrapped around her face and neck like some sort of smothering death beast.
"That's too bad babe, I think you'd look darling with long hair. Well, all done, what do you think?"
"Looks good, thank you." Sakura said. It wasn't as choppy as she usually liked it, but she wasn't that picky.
"No, thank you! You really made my day. I know that sounds silly but it's true. Here you go babe." Ayaka offered her an envelope with money in it. Sakura didn't check inside it this time because honestly she shouldn't be paid any amount of money for letting someone wash and cut her hair. Normally Sakura wouldn't even accept it, but she was in a tight spot so her pride would have to take second place for now. She said goodbye and stepped outside.
Her break was over, it was time to finally head back out.