Chapter 8: The blink of a fire

I DO NOT OWN NARUTO

Misty was the last one for the shift, at the sun was already starting to break in. Syng was already awake, so he had been given the task to wake everybody, and so he did.

-Hungry, said both Kiba and Syng while looking at their stomach.

Akamaru barked, probably hungry too. Hinata took her bag.

-Maybe there's still some mushrooms left... we still have four days to go to the tower... We can take time to eat, said Hinata, blushing a little.

-You're cool! Eh... hum...

(Its Hinata) whispered Kiba at Syng's ear.

-Of course! You're cool Hinata!

-I'll go get the mushrooms, said Misty with a straight tone.

-I'll go too, immediately said Shino, looking at the girl he didn't trust.

The two left in a jump, looking around for food while being careful about other ninjas who could be lurking around.

-Damn... anyone noticed a river near here? I could sure enjoy a bath right now, said Kiba, massaging his left shoulder.

-We're on a survival, sigh Tifa looking at the boy who reminded him of Syng.

In a way, Naruto, Syng and the dog boy would be great friend, since they all were so alike.

-I-I t-think I saw one nearby, said Hinata.

-Great! I'll be going then with Akamaru (who was still looking at Tifa while growling).

-I'll come too, said Syng while looking on the dried blood on his hand.

The boy went in the direction Hinata had showed them, leaving the girls alone together. Hinata was preparing a small fire. If she made a too big one, other ninjas would smell or see it, or even smell the scent of the cooked food. Tifa was sitting on the rock were she had spent her shift last night, before Shino's.

-You know Hinata, Konoha's ninjas are a little too confident in others...

Hinata stopped what she was doing, feeling Tifa standing behind her.

-Your whole team is separated, each member alone with a stranger from another country...

Hinata was starting to shake, not sure how to react... were they enemies!? Why did they not attack during most of them were asleep!? She scream a little when she felt Tifa moving.

-You're not doing it the right way, smiled Tifa, taking the rocks in Hinata's hand.

Tifa was kneeling before a panting Hinata, trying to start the fire.

-Don't worry Hinata, we're not fiends at Tsurugi, we have valors, smiled Tifa.

-O-okay... I trust you, answered back Hinata.

The two girls talked quite a while... Tifa was more outgoing, Hinata shyness making her laugh most of the time. Hinata wasn't hurt by Tifa's laugh... maybe she could learn from her new friend, maybe she would help her with... Naruto.

During that time, both Kiba and Syng were already undressed and bathing in the cold river near their camps, but still far enough for the girls not to hear them.

-Hey, you know Syng... I trust you, said Kiba.

-Good thing to hear... people from Konoha sure are good person... Answered Syng, while he remembered about Naruto and Sakura who had helped them last day.

Akamaru was slowly swimming doing the "dog paddle" around the boys. Syng got out of water and didn't dressed. Both tanned enough, Syng wanted to feel a little bit the sun on him before running to the tower. He shivered when he felt a cold nose on the side of his chest. Akamaru was waking him up.

-Come on, you've been sleeping for ten minutes! We should head back to the girls... We'll have to get to that tower fast, then we'll rest! Said a naked Kiba while dressing.

-Okay, sighed Syng, pushing Akamaru (he was used to Tifa's cats, but not to dogs...)

Neither Bathing nor talking, Shino and Misty had found enough herbs to head back to the camps. Neither had said a word since they had left together, not trusting each other. They had caught themself coldly looking at the other, like if one was to attack the other. After a while, Misty caught again Shino looking at her... Usually, she would have watched the eyes of the boy and read his mind... but that boy was hiding them under his glasses...

-You know, you could say your name, said coldly Misty.

-I already told you yesterday, answered Shino.

Misty smiled. He wasn't like that Uchiha boy.

-Why are you smiling? Said Shino in an incomfort, stopping on the branch he was on.

It was rare for Misty to smile that way under her scarf, where she was always hiding her emotions.

-You know. I don't talk much, so I've learned to feel people in their eyes... we both hide our smiles and mood under something. Your coat, and my scarf... but I ain't afraid to show my eyes... unlike you, explained Misty.

Shino blushed. His father had once told him that people didn't need to talk for them to understand each other. Maybe she had understand that?

Now that the six were together, they could eat as Hinata was finished with cooking the food Misty and Shino had brought.

-What about the smell? Won't the other be able to know where we are? Asked Syng.

-Not with this! Said Kiba, showing little balls in his hand.

-What are those? asked Tifa.

-Anti-Scent bombs. They remove every odours in a small area. They are used in stealth missions, explained Kiba.

After they finish eating, both team packed up their respective things.

-We are to separate. A six-man team would be easy to spot, so we'll go each other on our way... Be sure to meet us at the tower, right? Said Syng while looking at team 8.

They were now heading to the center of the forest... Jumping from branch to branch, trees from trees... Strangely enough, Syng wasn't talking... Misty was lost in her mind, and Tifa was thinking... The last one sigh.

Konoha's genins sure are surprising... First the team of Naruto... an hyper-active boy acting like Syng on sugar... a gently and soft girl, yet strong... and the Uchiha avenger. Sakura had told her their individual story and deep within her heart, Tiffany was feeling their emotions. Hinata had talked about Kiba, her family and Shino's. She also had learned from Tenten a little about Neji, herself and the beautiful Lee... Konoha was full of surprise... Each genins relying on each other by a strange bond, yet, a great rivalry was always planning over their heads. It would take time to understand this kind of bonds... But at least, Misty and Syng were with her. The three of them had a certain bond, a certain will...