Hi! And I decided I'm going to post on Sundays, I have stuff planned on Fridays.

Thanks for the reviews! And keep them coming!

July 31, 2018- Finished.
August 26, 2018- Edited.

-Line Break-

Orochimaru made jounin first, never one to shy away from blood and cut out meandering time others unconsciously spend during missions with cold efficiency. He made my six mouth minimum with absolute ease despite working in between his experiments and other medical demands that Tsunade pushes on him. A little part of me was miffed at the fact that his attentions was split, especially when his peers don't even appreciate his efforts, but it wasn't too noticeable with my Hunter-nin status.

Unsurprisingly, Tsunade and Jiraiya easily took offense at the fact that their teammate was unrepentant in leaving them behind. My expectations were exceeded once again and they made their jounin status a few months after. Jiraiya's seals and defensive capabilities along with Tsunade's unforgiving and yet healing hands, it didn't help that they were all just that good of a team when paired together. It also helped that the two did help curb Orochimaru's inability to play nice with others.

And despite the fact that I was also rising in my own skills for the past year, it didn't mean that I was getting the opportunities to show it. Or more like the Hunter Corps really did not want to share me at all. I was still a lowly chuunin because of their egos, but I couldn't muster up any anger towards them when I have a pack of emotional teens that gets angry for me. I honestly could care less about the promotion, but my esteemed, up-coming boss still gives me the stink eye for enjoying his pain when his students give him the cold shoulder.

As if it was my fault that they somehow figured out my position in Konoha's ranks, like as if I would keep such a big part of my life a secret from my big brother.

Tsunade and Jiraiya just came with the package, it was like trying to bake cake without flour.

"Hunter-chan, please get off the target."

A pained whimper came right after and I got up from my human chair before taking in the sights. I didn't even register or even remembered what could've possibly happened to have our target to duck under his arms and curl up in fear of me. The senbon in my hands that twirled and spun nimbly were supposed to be hidden in my sleeve and a few of them were missing for some reason.

No, wait. They were sticking out in some other body, we were staking out something and my Anbu teammates decided that it was a good idea to jump them. It was a good idea, this side bar of an ambush was successful but all we did was kill some poor guard-mercenaries and scared the daylights out of a civilian who I was sitting on. It was a bit of a stretch to call the man a target.

The twittering of the birds nearby started up happily again, which was weird because they all should've been gone. Should've flown away from the fright of a sudden battle and blood bath that splashed nutrition to the forest floors.

It wasn't hard to listen, listen for the wallowing wind that you would hear near cliffs. The crumbling rocks that slowly gave way to the tides and gales, and the not so quiet rush of water that most would ignore.

But this was a forest.

It was always a thought at the back of my head, that I needed help. It was definitely mentioned too many times for me to not think about it. But I couldn't bring myself to care though, the lapse in my memories from listening to a cliff's edge to sinking a kunai in someone's flesh didn't bother me. The high of determining somebody's life was long lost and maybe there was something wrong in emulating Orochimaru's disinterest in the act of killing but it was hard not to.

People were so shallow, they make it easier to look at them like ants. They practically justify the lapses in my memories because they were so insignificant, not even a passing thought to remember them by.

"Do you have to be so brutal, Hunter-chan?"

I stared down at the new corpse for the forest to devour and shrugged. "It was more than she deserved, she should've ran away when she had the chance."

"Geez, since when did the Hunter Corps became so vicious? Or is that only you?"

Seeing that our two organizations don't even like the thought of working with each other, I'm surprised that I keep getting paired with Anbu regularly. Though, with Coyote always being in the teams, this might be some sort of ice breaker to collaborate the organizations better in the future. A tentative, easily breakable relationship that was trying to wipe away the bullshit between the two.

"Hunter-chan, it's not nice to ignore me!"

"...I wonder if this is what nii-san means by prospects as well." I gave the masked man a once over. "He can certainly make something out of you."

"Come on, there's no way your nii-san would ever match up to me. We're Anbu, the elite of the elites."

He's annoying. I don't like his flirty attitude and I'm tired of having missions with him. Maybe I should lure him into the house, Orochimaru's been short of volunteers after all.

Not to mention it'll be a good way to neuter this dog, especially with the way he's been trying to uncover my identity. He's an absolute failure if he can't even guess that.

"Ouch, talk about a shutdown."

"The captain's stalking a Hunter-nin?"

I brought up my sleeve to my masked mouth. "Did I say that out loud? Sorry, that only happens when there's too much time being wasted." I turned away before continuing down our intended path. "Nii-san says that it's a defense mechanism to stave off conversations that would lower myself to your levels."

That's not partly true but Orochimaru would still agree to that statement.

Now how to get rid of this dog.

-Line Break-

The slow crawl of the people below were like a cooling syrup on glass, the movements were sluggish on all my senses and it was as if I was running a fever, only without the pain and all the cotton-headed symptoms. Listening to them was like listening to someone press a single, low-key tune and they were extending the tone as long as possibly before pressing the next low-key note.

It was the kind of moment where I would blatantly smash any other key to toss up trouble and watch the ants race and run rampant.

"Wait, please! I- I don't even know what that is!"

And yet the only thing I could do it to tuck my blue hair away underneath this scarf that I've tied to keep it up. Having longer hair than what I was usually used to required some kind of adjustment, scarves and headbands were only the start of my experimenting to keep it out of my face.

Orochimaru was his usual self and said the colour was absolutely atrocious on me.

"You lying, cheating bitch! I knew I should've listened to Kenshiro, there was no way you would've changed so quickly!"

Was it petty of me to continue to stir trouble? Cruel to toss an despair to alleviate the fast forward of time and maybe lessen Orochimaru's worries?

"Don't touch me!"

"We've talked about this, Haruka."

I gave an indignant pout. "I didn't do it!" I bit my tongue at the bad lie. "She practically set herself up for that."

"I knew teaching you the Shadow Clone Jutsu was a bad idea."

"Nii-san, I can only make one!"

"And apparently one is enough." His voice drawled as he watched the commotion along the crowd. "Was there a meaning to this?"

My body shifted in a hollow feeling, a mixture of wanting and being uncomfortable with the question but unable to even muster up to even care at the misery I was stirring. I couldn't care, I was petty and vindictive and bored, and the same hollowness was getting harder to ignore.

I wanted to see others suffer quite honestly, even if it's a shallow thing to do.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, nii-san." I feigned innocence. "Maybe it's finally showing that you should get out under the sun more, obviously it's not healthy to keep locking yourself in your rooms."

"How you get away with this is beyond me, the fact that you're allowed to do this is unbelievable." He frowned in annoyance. "You always do this every time we go out."

A hiss sounded inside my head at the reminder, the reinforcement that justified my pettiness, my shallowness, my silent anger against the world. Their circus driven laughter, derisive amusement that stemmed from caging abnormalities. Low light tones to hide how ugly people truly are.

Murmurs that gossiped with a child-like eagerness made me smile happily. "Come on, nii-san. Everyone is distracted, we can pick out the best deals right now."

"Ah, Haruka-chan!"

Orochimaru and I both turned in a degree of surprise but I turned to wave back at the laid back figure. "Hi, Sakumo-chan!"

"It's the mutt."

The side ways glance the white-haired teen gave to the crowd said everything about his own current thoughts. "I see you've been doing well, both of you."

"I can't say much for you." Orochimaru gave a sharp assessing look. "You've all but disappeared."

Sakumo gave a nervous laugh. "Isn't everyone busy these days?"

The Snake Summoner just scoffed at his poor excuse. "Obviously we are doing much better."

"Come on, cut me some slack." Sakumo almost pouted. "We're all getting stronger in our own ways, I even got the Wolves to start training me."

I cooed. "I know what you're going to be called."

Shoulder's tensed and I giggled at his demeanor. His eyes became wary and I smiled knowingly at him, the claws of the shadows aren't that hard to find. Especially when I'm apart of that and the shadows seem to have looser lips than they should. They have a much more relaxed atmosphere when things are familiar.

Such laxness was a little disappointing, but not unwelcomed. If anything, it could be a start of a downfall.

"Would you like to come with us, Sa-chan?"

"Please don't call me that."

"What do you mean, Sa-chan?"

"I don't want nor need a pet name."

"Nii-san, we can take Sa-chan to that bookstore with us." I tugged at Orochimaru's sleeve. "I bet he would like the opportunity to get the best deals right now."

The look of contemplation was there only for a second before he nodded. "He can suffer with me."

Sakumo squawked. "B-but I have other things I need to take care of!"

"You should've thought about that before bounding up to us." Orochimaru muttered.

"Sharing is caring after all, there's no need to not spread my misery."

The whispers were still going and the nervous glances along with the look of resignation made me reach out to grab Sakumo's hand with a warning grip. It was kind of funny that a snake can stare down a wolf, silence it's whimpering with a single glare. He took the chance to brave us, now he's going to have to follow through on his choice.

"I promise I'll get you something interesting."

"I really don't want to be an accessory."

"I can get you some."

This was the best part about outings like these, forcing Orochimaru to actually socialize in a manner that anybody can see is more humanely exasperated than the steely indifference he carries. The spark of dread that flicker in his eyes that's easily exchanged for a satisfied air of dragging others to suffer with him. As if I somehow bring the ultimate torture when I feel like going shopping.

It's like he doesn't know I won't get in trouble for my outings, it hurts a little too that he doesn't trust my increasing awareness of my stealth abilities and chakra sensing. Or rather, he does seeing he still let's me do these things with little protest. That almost makes me believe that he actually cares about these people.

Maybe actually, Orochimaru can be self conscious like that. But in the end, that's what these trips were for.

"Hurry! They're planning on closing shop today!"

"In other words, the perfect time for her to strike." Orochimaru muttered. "I wonder what exactly she's after."

"You mean she's really-"

The withering glare Sakumo received made him close his mouth quick, I laughed and continued down the road. The shop that I'm particularly am interested right now is far more out of the way than the ones here. Everything out in the open where everybody can freely judge, eyes blinded by the shiny objects and ears seduced by vague promises.

"Beautiful things shine in the light."

"But valuable treasures hide in the night."

"Uh, Haruka-chan? Are you sure we're in the right place?"

The two males tensed the moment we turned into the alleyway, the noticeable difference in the atmosphere and people. Wary looks and the shady rush of steps that deliberately brushed against other people, beggars and dirtied rats that made it unbelievable that this resided in Konoha.

But despite the high risk takers, none of them would dare to challenge a shinobi.

"Who is it? Can't you see I'm busy?!"

I put a single finger over my lips gesturing the boys to stay silent before a wash of chakra settled like dust. Everything seemed a little darker as if the day was almost over and fear crept like a faraway memory as it flickered on occasionally like a reminder. And for now, all that mattered was me and the packing man before me.

It's a shame, but this green scarf was only good for hiding my hair. It's a lovely shade, but it definitely wasn't my colour at all. This was something that Tsunade would wear, weave it into her pony tails and display it like it should.

My eyes flickered at the carriage and the boxes and various stuff that's within it, the speed in which the man was going told me he was tipped off of something bad coming his way and I giggled slightly to myself.

"Hey, mister? Maybe I can help with lightening some of that load." Gray eyes flickered up to the taller man. "I would hate to see someone like you work so hard at your age."

"All that glitters isn't just gold."

"You seem to have a lot of stuff that's too valuable to move all on your own."

-Line Break-

"You." Orochimaru tensed at the tone of voice the paling, narrow-eyed man used. "I- I know you."

"Oh? But this is the first time we've ever met, mister."

There was always a degree of nervousness when he watched Haruka con and blackmail people, but this time his nerves were on ends. The man, short-haired and balding, recognized her. This crawling thing that was twisting in his stomach was more prominent and this is what he would imagine what fear outside of steel and blood was like. A type of battle that he had yet to truly understand, only practice a set of motions that kept him farther ahead of others.

Yet despite having a finger pointed at her, her chakra twisted almost excitedly like an eager spark. Eyes shined a little brighter and her smile was curved a little more wider.

Anticipation.

His mind filled in the blanks and like always, his mind always name the title but he hasn't quite gotten around reading what it was about. He understands the basics, maybe a little more than what others do, but never with Haruka. Although thankfully, he understands one thing when it came to her moments, and it was that something interesting happened.

Where others would take a step back to reassess the situation, his little sister took a step forward in a confidence that shattered others. There was no doubt she was manipulative to fault, unwavering in the face of a larger foe, and undeterred in taking it down. Though physically she was strong, far more stronger than he could make out, her true strength and prowess will always be with the poisoned words that pierces like a silver-sharp knife.

Knives that were guided by an equal devastating force that was her fractured mind.

"S-stay away from me, I-I've been warned about you. There's no merchant in this town that doesn't know about you, and I'll have you know that I have friends in high places!"

Never has Haruka faltered her smiles, especially against weak threats no matter what they implied. She took almost everything on with a sort of amusement that told the world I know something you don't know.

Orochimaru liked to think his own words are just as cutting, but he was still learning just why people seemed so effected by them.

"I do too." Haruka approached the matter with her usual out-of-the-box ways. "But some are small though, like Sparrow-san."

Sakumo stiffened and the familiar feeling of disbelief and resignation of knowing what she meant rang through both of them. The pain of a dull ache that always associate with these moments were also coupled because things start to click in place, things that were said in small whimsy moments for seemingly no reason. Or rather, this time they understood the implication of a whimsy moment.

"How is she not, you know-" The Snake Summoner watched the other male teen waved in hand over his face discreetly. "Is she?"

Golden eyes swept back at the rapidly paling man as Haruka whispered something that only Sakumo could hear if the nervous sweat was anything to go by. There was also an undertone of slight anger but Orochimaru wasn't sure if it was for the man or Haruka.

"She turned down an offer for the IT unit." Sakumo blanched at that. "It could've been worse."

"So intelligence then?"

"She takes part in many investigations."

Reconnaissance and other information gathering missions were considered intelligence missions, if he ignored the fact that he could smell the familiar scent of blood on her every time she comes back. If he discounted the part of the fact what Hunter-nin are, then yes, she dedicated a lot of her time bolstering the Intelligence and Research and Development side of things.

If he ignored the creeping fear of her not coming back one day, Intelligence was a nice placeholder for what she actually was.

"Haruka-chan is scary."

"Well, when you're given free reign over the population that doesn't follow the rules quite well, what would you do?"

"It's true?!" Sakumo choked trying to keep quiet.

"I know the stupid oaf talks to you, I know you've been asking questions, mutt." Eyes slitted and the Wolf Summoner shifted nervously. "The only reason why I'm not letting my snakes bite you at this instance is because Haruka deemed you trustworthy. It helps that she kindly confirmed that you've truly became the animal that you are."

That got a reaction, but Orochimaru ignored the stuttering of denials as he turned to face back to scene before him. Haruka was still wearing that ugly scarf and this time it seemed the man was fully constrained to whatever despair that he tangled himself with.

And through it all, he could appreciate the show of skill that Haruka was displaying. He still doesn't understand how but she seemed to manage to spread her mist like chakra out to her advantage like a genjutsu despite the fact that she's absolutely terrible in casting them. Used it's unique properties to hide to where other sensors would have to be looking for it to actually spot it, have to be looking for them to notice them. Her 'haggling' skills were still something to be feared and he could now see the benefit of disguising oneself without fully relying on Henge.

What he doesn't appreciate was the fact that somehow by the end of this, they were taking home several storage scrolls of things, stuff, and junk. He felt wholly justified in what he was feeling when Sakumo looked absolutely horrified when he was given two storage scrolls as well.

There was just no reason to rob people so blatantly when you're bored. That's not a reason at all.

-Line Break-

Orochimaru grounded me, said it in a way that he wasn't but he was very much limiting my outside experience. He said that if I didn't at least get my theory in seals at Jiraiya's level, then he was going to get Jiraiya to seal the treasure room and anything I bring in will be thrown away no matter what it was. Said that if I don't improve, then he'll force me to improve.

'm-M-mov-ent.'

'Ener-g-gy.'

So here I was, listening to the endless whispers of Jiraiya's sketches, the half whispers of diagrams that ghosted feelings than words, and barely forming words that seem to speak out each letter than the word itself.

's-i-l-e-n-c-e.'

They rang in different tunes, I've noticed that depending on whose chakra that was powering the seals, there was a slightly different pitch to them. Jiraiya's seals hummed happily and radiated with a sunny warmth while the old scrolls that the old Shodaime's wife so graciously provided had a faint low tone.

But they all shared a common thing, power and control.

It was not hard to miss, with each line whether it was a diagram or not, there was an imprint of who was behind it. An echo that stubbornly clings to what it was, who it was, and the people who create the seals were always some sort of level of powerful. Well, at least in terms of potential.

It was hard for me to not listen to the faint humming, listen to the words that it needs to speak. That it can only speak.

"I'm sure you know everyone has their own styles, we all follow the same path but you already know that we like to do things differently."

These lines were like pipes, and the words that it formed were like the different materials that were used to constructed and build. What was said and how it's placed mattered, brittle and strong or weak and yet flexible, as long as the pipes and its integrity can hold the power, it whispers and sings-

"See? I don't really like mixing colours beforehand, it's a waste of time when I can do it on the canvas."

"And sometimes, it's better to let the colours be."

I'll admit that to a degree, I can hear chakra. I've always heard it but from before when I first discovered it, it came at me like a feeling than an actual song. It still is that way, but whatever melody that comes tends to stick like it was on repeat.

Sometimes it's scratchy, sometimes it's smooth. But the ones I've listened to and favoured by me seemed to be on an endless loop.

"Play that song, I'll paint that picture."

My world was violently shaken, upturned suddenly and I gave an indignant yelp and a half-scream as my side met the ground in a thud. My head was dizzied but I still scrambled to my feet in a hurry.

"Impudent, little rattler." A testy hissed sounded. "How dare you ignore me?"

I huffed in both relief and in exasperation. "I'm sorry, I was lost in thought."

The large snake narrowed its eyes. "Just because you're a bird doesn't mean you should act like one. The living feather dusters are always lost in the clouds, you need to remember you were taken in and trained by us Snakes as well." Her tongue flickered. "Though I guess some things can't be helped, one's nature can't be easily changed."

"I've always been like this." I shrugged. "And it's not like I'm doing it at a bad time."

"But you needlessly worry your broodmate." Kaguhime reared her head and shook it. "Us Snakes understands the carelessness the Birds have because of their flight, but Orochimaru doesn't. Learning to accept it, but still worries."

My body shifted back on my feet and I patted myself down. "I can't help it, and nii-san has his ways in getting back at me."

A steady hiss of frustration sounded. "You birds are hopeless, never caring for the consequences."

I laughed. "I like to think I know what I'm doing, and I think that whatever comes always comes out the way I want it to. Even if it comes with more or less for everyone else."

"What in the world are you two doing?" An irritated Orochimaru appeared at the door. "Why is your room a mess, Haruka?"

"The little rattler was in the clouds again." Kaguhime huffed before slithering her large body out the door. "I took it upon myself to ground her. Again."

My chair was flipped on it's side from where Kaguhime knocked it from and several of my pens and brushes were scattered across the floor. My room was simple, Orochimaru's family was definitely traditional but there was this modern flair that this living space had in terms of furniture. A bed with an aged wooden frame, an equally aged desk that was configured with various storage seals, and everything that cost a pretty gold was sealed behind the closet that was a room in itself.

I was vaguely aware that it was made to hide stuff to prevent too curious eyes whether it was to hide treasures or skeletons.

"Go to sleep, Haruka." Orochimaru shook his head. "It's late."

"I promise I was studying." I sighed quietly and started to pick up the scattered writing utensils. "Sealing is a lot like painting, careful lines to trap whatever the creator wants, only with no colour."

"A picture starts with a single dot or a line."

I smiled softly as I picked up a brush. "But I was always better with music, my hands were too shaky to properly hold a brush, I think."

"A song starts with a single beat or a tune."

The low beat of slow storm, the crackling fire contained to warm the atmosphere, and the low voices that exchanged sunny days. I remember them somewhat, the tea that replaced the coffee, the slow flip of the page that replaced the quiet shuffling of stuff, I can barely remember it. The slow end of the day was when I could see the result of what came before.

"But not for hair though, I think I still remember how to do lots of styles with hair."

The end came too fast, there was still a lot of things I wanted to see.

"Come on, go to bed." Orochimaru shook my shoulder lightly. "You can dream in your sleep."

So many things to see and do but the things I miss most I think was the silly little things that haunt my mind. Happy memories of blank canvases, silent songs, and laughter that fall deaf on my ears.

"Nii-san, can I sleep with you?"

There was a pause before Orochimaru sighed. "Why I continue to indulge you is beyond me."

A smile played on my lips. "I love you, nii-san."

"And you're still insufferable, Haruka."

-Line Break-

"I can't believe you don't have a kimono." Tsunade complained. "Orochimaru should've at least influenced on your clothing even if all he wears is that stupid jounin uniform everywhere." She shoved another set of heavy clothes onto me. "He wears a light one to the labs at least!"

I laughed. "I never thought to get one, I like shirts and pants."

"But you can't just wear a shirt and pants to festivals!" The medic glared at me. "Even Orochi is dressing up for it."

Well Orochimaru didn't want to go, and I wasn't going as a participant either. In the past, we were either on missions or didn't feel like going alone when everyone else was gone. It also didn't help that as a Hunter-nin, my odd schedule prevented me from doing anything like this.

And it wasn't like this was my first festival, it was just hard to go to by yourself.

"Sakumo, what do you think about this one?" Tsunade held a nice dark green kimono up to me. "Ugh, nevermind, green is not your colour."

"Nii-san said so too." I nodded. "Blue is good for me though."

"No! It's summer and you'll look like some snow fairy if we dress you up in blue." Tsunade sighed. "Maybe a dark red? We'll have to find a matching hair piece for it though, your hair is too blue." She eyed me. "And maybe a little bit of blush too."

"Can I leave?" Sakumo looked wearily at us from his chair. "I, uh, need to prepare too, you know?"

There was a scoff on the other side of the pile of clothes. "Please, I believed that when the stupid pervert convinces me that he's not spying at the hot springs for his stupid research."

I looked up curiously. "Research? And I've been wondering about that, since when was Jiraiya-chan a pervert?"

"He's always been a pervert!" Tsunade practically wailed. "Ever since we were in the Academy!"

"Really?"

Sakumo rubbed his head sheepishly. "Shamelessly admits it, you never knew?"

"He's always afraid of me and runs away." I shrugged. "And I don't really care what he does on his free time so I never bothered to know."

It was weird, to discover things about Jiraiya like that, but I guess it was the same with me. Only for Jiraiya, he has his dramatics to hide behind and I guess with the combination of that and not caring what goes on in his life, it was easy to forget what he's becoming. Like a brighter version of me.

"You live in a happier world than we do."

"Haru-chan is practically in her world all the time."

I laughed at that. Sakumo somehow got strong-armed by the medic and got stuck with me on this clothes shopping hen we ran into each other. I've been seeing the Wolf Summoner more often these days and it was nice to catch up with my old genin teammate. Sakumo was telling me that Hiroshi was getting caught up in his clan's politics and that he's made friends with a new chuunin named Katou Dan.

My thoughts wandered away to think of how strange it was to realize how different everything was getting again. How time moved forward without me noticing again, but it wasn't as unpleasant as before though. It's not so bad to see the world turning, it may be a little conceited to say that I wasn't apart of that turn but I really do feel like the world moves on as I just watch. Being able to plant myself and uproot into another scene without remembering the transition was something I accepted and had to accept.

But overall it wasn't something that was too concerning to me, those blank periods just meant I wasn't missing out on anything interesting. And it wasn't like I was completely blanked out either, just unfocused by the daily rituals that I do to move on with the days. It's not like I'm not paying attention.

I flinched and yelped at a sudden pain on my forehead. "Ow!"

"Pay attention!"

"I am." I muttered and pouted. "We've been here for hours, let's just get the one that matches me and leave already! C'mon, let's move onto that hair piece you were talking about."

Tsunade scowled at me. "What's the point of having gems and other trinkets when you don't even wear them? And these kimonos are just as beautiful, if not prettier than your collection."

"No they're not." I put up an indignant front. "And they're not for me, they're for nii-san."

"Orochi pretends your treasure room doesn't exist."

"Maybe when you guys aren't around but he pokes around the room once and a while to see what I've added." I defended. "I find a lot of things he takes interest in."

"And I believe you, but there's still a pile of treasure in your house."

"So?"

"I think the question is why is there a pile of treasure at your house." Sakumo piped in. "I'm very interested in that."

I flashed a smile at him. "Nii-san needed to sate his need to explore the world that his clan did before. It's my job to bring a little piece of the world when I'm on missions so that he doesn't feel conflicted with himself."

"What?"

"See, I want that with Nawaki. Orochi is so lucky to have a devoted little sister."

I beamed at Tsunade. "Only the best for nii-san."

"Devoted it the right word." Sakumo said. "How is Orochimaru these days?"

"Nii-san's still chasing his stars." I hummed happily. "Though I wish he'd stop taking our dinner."

"I don't know what that means."

I ignored his comment. "How about you? Anything interesting going on?"

"I met someone interesting, his name is Maito Dai." He said. "He's a genin, but I think you'd find him interesting too."

"Isn't he the guy that can't do ninjutsu or genjutsu?" Tsunade piped in. "Isn't he, like, stuck in the Genin Corps as well?"

"Dai's actually pretty decent in taijutsu, and he's not a bad guy."

Maito Dai, huh? He does sound interesting but not enough for me to see what he was about. The only other wayward person that is scraping my radar was my old Hyuuga teammate. The poor teen was probably being drowned in his duties of being an heir. I was surprised that he was the heir of his clan. He was so bratty and opinionated and not to mention loud, it was hard to see him settle down into politics.

Or at all, but Hiroshi was also the most level-headed and had the most common sense out of all of us. Or rather, the most normal one on our team.

"She was supposed to be the nice one!"

But I guess that's what I like about them, Hiroshi may be the most normal but he certainly doesn't fit the mold. Even his own clan, he was honestly considered a black sheep, and a black sheep heir was far more interesting than a normal Hyuuga. So I wonder what happened to him.

Did he fall? Fall into other's routines? Was he the type to cow under pressure and become meek?

"You and me against the world-"

"-to god that they know!"

It would be a shame.

"Oh for god's sake, is it really that bad shopping for kimonos that she had to drift off like that?"

"Haru-chan is a bird, she likes shiny stuff."

"And like a bird, she'll just swoop in and just take whatever shiny thing in whatever shop we go to. I'm trying to have a girl's day out and that'll be ruined if I take her near anything with gems on it."

"Why am I here then?"

"You are our pack mule." Tsunade grinned. "Or guard dog, which ever works for you."

"Your brother will do anything for you, please take advantage of that."

Sometimes, or rather its always been hard to distinguish then and here. Conversations are blurring together and I wonder if I was properly distinguishing these experiences apart from each other. I know I was, I know and hear the differences, but it was a matter of if I was willing to separate them.

They flowed seamlessly, finishing the thoughts and also continued them. Words mingled like the pinions on a feathers, easily disturbed to pick out the small branches and yet they still brush back into place.

"Tell your stupid bird to shut up!"

The sound of feathers falling off of wings and mocking crowing made me look up.

I don't know why I was disappointed, we never left the store after all.

-Line Break-

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