Recognize
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Disclaimer: This belongs to Kishimoto, I'm just borrowing a few people for a bit.
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I know I haven't ever shown any interest for Naruto on yet, but I have been writing things here and there. This is a crack drabble for Phoenix of Eternity. Happy 20th!
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He has devoted his whole soul to Orochimaru, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have desires. Even if they are foul-mouthed and red-haired.
It started as small things. A smile here and there, a gentler punch as they sparred, a compliment on her music, even a gradual softening of how she said "brat".
She realized it first, but never felt the need to follow through. She had too much to do and if he was too stupid to see it then it was his own loss. She was fine with things as they were. At first she had hated him for being stronger than the rest of her team, but over time she didn't mind it so much. She'd still yell at him, but the words got softer without her wanting them to.
It took him a little longer. He had been so entirely focused on Orochimaru that it was a shock to see that he depended on her glances and insults. He would scan a room for her chakra signature and feel the slightest bit of disappointment if it wasn't there. He would always spot her red hair before anything else.
The last offering of friendship – neither one would admit that there was possibility for more aloud – was a cloudy afternoon where she broke her flute and was cursing up a storm. He simply formed another ulna in his left am and pulled it out. She stared at it for a moment and then smiled as she saw that he'd even done her the favor of making it hollow and forming the finger holes.
She'd never played a better flute.
He got sick after that and she couldn't see him very often. But she still smiles at that flute and while she doesn't use it in battle, it's still her favorite.