Sasuke made a quick jump to his feet and sped straight for Rya. The poor girl didn't even have time to react before a solid punch collided with her nose. A small, pained cry escaped her lips as she clutched her bleeding nose. Sasuke took the opportunity, he grabbed a fistful of her hair and slammed her to the ground.
"SASUKE!" Kakashi yelled furiously. "THAT'S ENOUGH!"
Sasuke wasn't even paying attention. He was so engaged, nothing else seemed to matter. He pulled his hand back into a fist, but it was caught before it could connect to its target. Kakashi held Sasuke's arm in a firm grip.
"When I say "enough" I expect you to listen." He said through gritted teeth. Sasuke scowled and yanked his arm away. Kakashi gave him a stern look before helping Rya to her feet. She flashed him a glare.
"What is your problem?" She rasped in between breaths. Sasuke's face softened, that was a good question. He looked down at the ground. What the fuck was up with him today? She waited for several moments before rolling her eyes in disbelief.
"SASUKE!" came the insufferable blonde's booming voice from behind them. "WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU TRYING TO PULL BACK THERE? YOU COULD'VE SERIOUSLY HURT HER!"
"Will you just shut up, you're giving me a headache, idiot." Said Sasuke, massaging his temples.
"YOU KNOW WHO I BET HAS A HEADACHE? RYA! DON'T THINK NONE OF US SAW HOW YOU USED HER FACE AS A PUNCHING BAG!" Kakashi's hand clasped Naruto's mouth shut.
"Naruto," He said in strained kindness. "If you open your mouth again in the next five minutes I will close it for you, understand?" Naruto nodded his head vigorously.
"Good, now if there are no further problems I'll leave you guys to get to know each other better" And with that, Kakashi disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"Alright," Sighed Naruto, stretching his arms over his head. "All that drama just worked up an appetite, how about you guys?" Sasuke shrugged, it didn't really matter to him.
"I guess I am a little hungry," admitted Sakura putting a hand on her stomach.
"Same here," Rya added awkwardly, "So, where is there to go?" A sly smile widened across Naruto's lips.
"Oh the innocence of being new to the leaf village." Naruto sermonized, "Let us show you the best place to get Ramen in town!" He exclaimed throwing a playful arm around her neck. She smiled kindly at him as Naruto led her away towards the village. Sakura and Sasuke stayed behind.
"We should probably follow them," Sakura suggested, "we don't want Naruto to be the one to give Rya her first impression of the village." Sasuke half-smiled.
"No," he said crossly, "we wouldn't want that at all." Sakura ran several steps ahead of him.
"You coming?" She asked, noticing him not following. Sasuke pressed his lips together and hesitantly followed his team.
There was something that told him not to go. He knew his limits and he was in no shape to be socializing with people, not after that freak voice attack. He cringed at the fresh memory. He tried to push these feelings aside. Besides, he had bigger fish to fry, this new girl was going to cause him nothing but stress, he could feel it.
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It was late in the afternoon by the time they reached the Ichiraku Ramen Shop and the sun was starting to disappear behind the trees. It would have only taken them fifteen minutes had it not been for Sakura's insufferable need to drag them all around the village, showing Rya the "trendiest" places to shop and hang.
They were all seated in the small, steamy shop, Sasuke was seated at the end and Sakura an Naruto sat on either sides of Rya, viciously interrogating her with their snooping questions.
"So, Rya," Naruto began, scarffing down his eighth bowl of ramen. "What was your life like back at home?"
"It was very quiet," Rya admitted, "I hardly anything ever happened, there's just no action for ninja in the Western Region." She said taking a bite of ramen.
"Yeah, yeah, I 'otally ge' wha' you're saying!" Said Naruto in between bites. "I can't imagine no' having my kick-ass missions to ge' me through the boring week!" He swallowed, "I can't wait until our first mission together!"
Rya smiled genuinely at him. Naruto smiled back. This girl was easy for him to get along with, not too complex and easy-going.
"This is probably a touchy subject," Started Sakura nervously, "But would you mind telling me about the situation with the war?"
"Oh no, not at all!" Rya shrugged and started engaging Sakura in the details.
Sasuke was leaning with his back against the counter looking out at the setting sun. He was so wrapped up in his thoughts he didn't even hear Naruto running up beside him.
"So," Naruto said slyly, elbowing his friend in his side playfully, "What do you think of Rya?" Sasuke's eyes narrowed.
"What are you talking about,"
"Oh come on, you know!" Said Naruto nodding his head.
"No, actually I really don't."
"What do you think of her? Do you think she's nice? Pretty? Or what? I think she's okay, but sakura's way hotter let me tell you." Naruto whispered so that only Sasuke could hear. Sasuke gave him a funny look and glanced over to where Rya was deep into her story. Well she's certainly not hideous, I guess he thought. He never really paid much attention to girls and Rya was no different.
"I don't exactly know her enough to tell her personality, but she seems nice, I guess." Sasuke mumbled, munching on an apple he had bought while exploring the village, he didn't care much for ramen.
"Yeah, she does seem nice, doesn't she." Said Naruto, meandering back to his seat.
"So Rya, where is Lady Tsunade having you live?" Sakura asked curiously, after the tale of the war had finished.
"I honestly don't know," She said with slumped shoulders, "She never got around to telling me."
"Oh my God!" Cried Sakura, "I wish I would've known sooner! My Aunt and her niece are both staying in my house for the next few weeks, if I had known I would've been able to pull some kind of arrangements!"
"That's perfectly fine," Rya assured warmly, "I'll find someplace."
"Don't even worry about it, Rya," Said Naruto leaning back in his seat grinning at her. "I have plenty of space in my apartment!" Sakura wrapped her arms around Rya's neck in some attempt to protect her.
"No way I'm letting her stay with you in your filthy pigsty!" She screeched.
"Well, then what is she going to do? Stay with Sasuke?" She suggested jokingly. Sakura's eyes brightened. A light bulb just went on!
"That's actually not a bad idea!" She said. Sasuke's head whipped around faster than a bullet.
"Excuse me?" He said in utter disbelief, had he heard that correctly? Rya seemed to shy away from the situation as well with her shoulders slumping and her hair falling in front of her face again.
"Its okay, Sasuke, "She spoke softly, "I would hate to inconvenience you."
"Are you kidding?" Naruto yelled, " you'd be no trouble at all!"
"Please Sasuke?" Sakura asked staring at the floor. "She has no where else to go." Sasuke sighed deeply. The things he did for other people surprised him sometimes.
"Urgh, fine." He grumbled crossing his arms and turning away from his company. Sakura's face brightened.
"Oh thank you, Sasuke!" She squealed, throwing her arms around him. "I knew you would!"
Sasuke was so frustrated with himself. Why couldn't he just say no? Just the thought of this girl in his house put him on edge, imagine her touching his stuff and sleeping on his couch! Yeah, he would let her stay with him, but he was not going to like it. Nope, he was not going to like it one bit.
A/N: End Chapter Two!