Please Enjoy and I only own Ami and her unique Justus. The chapters of the story will occasionally combined some episodes in to one
Chapter 7: - Blossoming Flowers
Sakura slept soundly in the alcove as we watched over the boys, I went through my kenjutsu motions, not wanting to waste away. Both of the boys were still unconscious after our ordeal with Orochimaru, the day had come and the sunlight was barely able to enter the shrouded area.
Me and Sakura had been taking shifts, watching for threats. Currently Sakura was resting but she was nervous worried that something bad would happen… I couldn't blame her I was also nervous about anyone attacking us and potentially harming the boys.
I rubbed my eyes as they began to droop with exhaustion, my Insomnia was starting up again, preventing me from getting any sort of sleep. I stopped practicing and walked over to the boys, I grabbed a cloth and wet it with water Sakura had gathered, I squeezed out the excess water and placed the cloth on Sasuke's forehead, replacing the dried out one.
The raven gasped and his body trembled due to the pain he was feeling, I looked at the seal on his neck and scowled. Sakura gasped and I saw that she was awake, her head whipped around as if she was looking for someone, her chest heaved as she took in air rapidly.
"Sakura, it's alright we're safe," I reassured the girl. She looked at me and slowly calmed down as she nodded her head, suddenly something rustled behind us. I turned and we took out weapons, Sakura began to shake as she held her kunai, my body was instead tense, the muscles coiled tightly.
Sakura turned and out of the bush came a… squirrel. We both gave dumb founded looks, I let out a sigh before noticing the squirrel was running towards us. I quickly threw out my kunai and Sakura joined in the blades scared off the little rodent.
I looked around, feeling as if we were being watched but I couldn't see anyone, although they could just be hiding themselves from us. I went over and pulled out the kunai, I walked back over to Sakura and I handed the girl her weapon.
"Thanks Ami," Sakura whispered. I could tell that the girl was worried, she hadn't been able to rest since the attack. I clasped a hand on her shoulder and I gave her a smile.
"You have great potential Sakura, you simply need the right drive to unlock it," I told the girl. She looked at me confused by my sentence, I stood up and rest me body against the bark of the tree.
Time passed by and Sakura was struggling to stay awake, I frowned wondering why she wouldn't just rest. I could handle being the lookout for a few more hours, I had a lot more stamina than she did.
"Some lookouts, you're both half asleep," A voice called. I twisted around to see that the Sound ninja were here, I gritted my teeth in annoyance at their presence. "At least you don't have to keep watch anymore. What's the point after we've already found you? Now wake Sasuke up, we want to fight him!" The leader ninja demanded.
"What do you want here?" Sakura asked as she stood up. I stood up along side her and I stared down at the ninjas.
"We mean, what do you really want? We know that Orochimaru's calling the shots from the shadows," I told the ninjas. They were shocked by the revelation, I gripped a shuriken in my hand, watching the three for any movements.
"What's that strange bruise behind Sasuke neck? You're behind this to aren't you? Now you want to fight him when he can't defend himself," Sakura questioned. They seemed confused obviously not understanding what we were talking about.
"What in the world could he be thinking?" The lead ninja muttered under his breath.
"I can't stay quite after hearing you talk to us like that. First I'm going to kill these girls and then I'm going to kill Sasuke," The other boy taunted as he stood up. I repressed a chuckle at his boast, wanting to rip him a part.
"Wait Zaku!" The lead ninja ordered. The boy argued but the lead ninja then walked forward and bent down. "It's so obvious, this is the colour of dirt that's recently been dug up, and this kind of grass doesn't grow in a place like this. You know if you're going to lay a trap there's no point unless you make it actually hidden," The leader explained.
"Ha you two are just a joke. You threw your kunai so that squirrel wouldn't spring the trap you set," Zaku taunted.
"Now we kill them," The leader stated and they charged. I smirked and began to run up the tree whilst Sakura launched the real trap, a large, branch covered tree truck.
"A log!" I heard Zaku cry out. I reach a point and I twisted my body around and sprung off of the tree towards where I heard the ninja.
"They planted a trap above. Watch out!" The leader called out. Suddenly the log shattered before me. "Foolish girls you really have no talent as ninja. Someone like you should make a more of an effort don't you think," The leader taunted. I smirked I was above them and they hadn't seen me, I pulled out weapons and tossed them at the unsuspecting ninja.
"Look up," I called out, The leader turned at the sound and his eye widened as he saw the weapons racing towards them, he thrust his arm upwards. Suddenly a cry went out and a blur caught his arm and forced all three ninja away from Sakura. I landed on the ground by the alcove and looked up to see Rock Lee standing in front of us.
"Wh-what's he doing?" Sakura asked. I shrugged in response not quite sure why the Taijutsu user was present
"Looks like you also need to make more of an effort," Lee taunted. I was a little relieved that someone else was here but I was worried that Lee wouldn't be able to truly combat these people with only Taijutsu.
"Who are you?" The leader asked.
"I am the handsome devil of the Leaf Village and my name is Rock Lee," Lee introduced. I raised an eyebrow at his introduction as it was awfully odd.
"What are you doing here Lee?" Sakura asked. I also wanted to know that answer.
"I will always appear any time and any where that you are in trouble Sakura," Lee declared. He then removed a squirrel – the same one form earlier – from his shoulder. "This was really all thanks to you little one. But know it is time for you to run along," Lee told the animal, which ran into the alcove.
"But right now on this test I'm your enemy," Sakura tried to explain to the boy. I carefully watched both teams wondering if this would turn into a three way battle.
"Sakura I already told you, I will protect you until I die," Lee declared. I sighed happy to have some back up for this fight
"Yes thank you, Rock Lee," Sakura accepted.
"It looks like I have no choice. Zaku I'll let you have Sasuke, I'll take care of these three," The leader complained and he tossed and Earth scroll back to his teammate.
"The guy with the bushy eyebrow is pretty good at Taijutsu. Look like I get to have some fun," The leader stated and he then charged forward. Sakura threw a kunai at him causing hi mto dodge this allowed Lee to reach into the Earth and pull up a tree root which blocked the in coming attack.
"I am positive there is some kind of trick to your attack, therefore I will not waste my time trying to dodge it. After all I have seen your jutsu before," Lee announced. I began to step forward, prepared to fight when a hand fell on my shoulder, preventing me from moving forward.
"You are exhausted and must rest. I will protect Sakura, you and your teammates," Lee persuaded. I glanced back at him and I nodded stepping back, I didn't like letting other people fight my battles but at this moment I need to regain my strength.
Lee then began to unwrap the bandages around his hands, I could only assume he would use the technique that Guy stopped him from using on Sasuke, or a variant of it at least. The leader began to charge again but Lee disappeared, shocking the Sound ninja.
"He disappeared!" He cried out. He was then kicked into the air by Lee attacking his chin, Lee then used Dancing Leaf shadow to get behind the ninja. The bandages took a life of their own and began to wrap around the ninja, Lee then turned them upside down and they both began to spin at a high speed pace.
"Primary Lotus!" Lee declared. They impacted onto the ground and Lee leapt away just in time to prevent injury to himself. The dust began to clear and I saw that the ninja was lodged in the ground but it looked like the ground had been puffed up.
"Got you just in time. That impact could have been much worse for you," Zaku stated. Lee landed in front of us whilst the lead ninja pulled himself out of the ground.
"What this cannot be!" Lee cried out, disbelieving that the ninja had been completely unharmed by the assault.
"That is a frightening jutsu. It almost took me out even though I landed on this soft dirt," The leader admitted. I saw that Lee was breathing heavily, the technique had obviously taken a lot of his energy. "And now it's my turn," The leader stated as he pulled up his sleeve to reveal the grey object on his arm.
He charged at Lee, who was still exhausted, Lee dodge the physical attack but it seemed that something happened to him.
"Your jutsu is indeed fast but ours is even faster because it travels at the speed of sound," The leader explained. Lee collapsed to the ground, his breathing still ragged. "Effort by itself does nothing, now watch were going to show you something called the wall," The leader taunted. I scowled at the ninjas, angered that they would talk down to someone like that. Lee slumped over and he began to cough, he then raised both his arms and covered his left ear.
"Oh, I forgot to mention this little gadget I wear. You might be able to dodge my blows but you can't get away from it. I don't need to strike you with my fists, I can hit you with the power of sound," The leader explained. I raised an eyebrow at that, and I looked at the object of his arm. "What makes it possible for the era to hear things, what is sound really?" The leader asked.
"Vibrations," I replied. My strength was coming back so I could take over the fight, I just had to wait for the right moment to strike.
"Give the little lady a prize. Yes the vibrations of molecules in the air creates a sound wave. These vibrations are collected by the ear, then directed by the outer ear canal to your ear drum the rest, as they say, is anatomy. What interests me is the organs of your inner ear, the ones that control your sense of balance, you ability to move. Feeling a little dizzy, nauseous, that right best if you don't even try to stand up for a while," The leader explained and taunted at the same time.
"You see buddy that old fashion Taijutsu stuff won't work against us. Not that you're not pretty good at it, it's just that what's the point compared to our jutsu that stuff's totally yesterday's news. See I can manipulate ultra sonic waves and air pressure, I can do things you've never even dreamed off. I can obliterate boulders or make the ground itself as soft as a feather cushion. Face it little man you're up against the jutsu of the future," Zaku bragged and he opened his hands. In the centre of his palms were small holes and out of these holes gushed air that I could see due to the high pressure that was exerted.
"Now then little girls it's your turn," The leader declared and he charged for us. I began to form hand seals when suddenly Lee appeared in front of us, he attempted to attack again but his distorted balance weakened him. "Not quite as effective as before is it. Still it's impressive that you can still move at all, we'll have to do something about that," The leader taunted. He went to attack Lee but and Lee raised his arm to his ear, blocking the ninja's physical attack but the sound attack still got through, hurting Lee again.
"STOP IT!" Sakura screamed at them. I looked at Lee as the Taijutsu fighter clutched his ear in pain.
"Lee-san!" I cried out, as he collapsed. I looked at the Sound ninja who had smug expressions on their faces. "That's it, I'm going to kill you," I hissed. I rushed forward and lsammed my leg into the leader's stomach forcing him back.
Zaku raised his arms and fired at me, I formed the hands signs and I launched a Phoenix Flower attack at him, the air caused the flames to burn brighter. But they were eventually put out, however I had used the flames to disguise weapons that were unhampered by the attack as the fire had swallowed the wind, I had also appeared behind the leader and I attempted to disable his right arm but he dodged.
I flipped out of his range and he glared at me, I saw that the girl of the group then charged but went around me heading for Sakura and Lee. I began to rush back to protect her but I was suddenly seized and held against the leader his arm locked around my neck but one of my hands as attempting to push it away, my other hand was pinned by his other arm.
"Can't let you form any more hands signs now can I? You have some skill but your friend his another story," The leader taunted. I looked up to see Sakura threw some kunai and shuriken at us but Zaku got in front at used the air to blow the attacks, then the girl seized Sakura by her hair and forced her to the ground.
The girl had very long black hair, almost reaching down to the ground, tied by a violet ribbon right near the end, and black eyes. She wore a forehead protector, a pale green vest somewhat similar to a flak jacket, and snake patterned pants and scarf.
"My, my, what soft and shiny hair, but you know what. If you a little less time shampooing and a little more time practicing your jutsu, you might not in this fix," The girl taunted as she shook Sakura about. I tried to get out of the trap but I didn't have the leverage to escape. "Hey Zaku I know what would be fun. Let's make Miss Beauty Queen and Little Miss Doll watch as you finish off that Sasuke guy," The girl suggested.
"Why not? Sounds like fun to me," Zaku agreed and began to walk forward. Sakura attempted to struggle but the girl held her fast, then Sakura began to cry.
"Damn it all Sakura, snap out of it! You're the only one who can save us, you're a Kunoichi right, so act like it!" I yelled at the pinkette and she snapped her head up to face me.
"Hum. Like she can do any thing, she's pathetic," The girl retorted. Sakura then pulled out a kunai and held it upwards, I looked at the girl confused as to what she would do. "Come on, it's pointless, that won't work on me," The girl taunted.
"It's not meant for you," Sakura stated. Then she reached back and cut her hair, freeing herself from the girls grip. A fire burned in her green eyes, I smirked seeing that Sakura was finally getting her act together.
"Kin finish her!" Zaku cried out. The girl pulled out some senbon and attacked but Sakura had used substitution to dodge, then a kunai came towards me and the leader. I threw up my leg and used my chakra to catch the kunai, I then spun my leg backwards and stabbed the leader in his leg causing him to loosen his grip, I slipped out and after I plucked the kunai from my foot I threw it at the leader.
I looked over to see Sakura, bleeding, heading straight towards Zaku, she stabbed his arm with a kunai and then bit down on his other arm holding him there. All of us remained frozen stunned by Sakura's actions, I was surprised at her tactics, since I had never seen someone fight an opponent by biting them.
Zaku continually beat Sakura, causing her face to bleed, and eventually forced her off, I snapped out of my shocked state and I ran over to her, I knelt down by her side and I pulled her close to me as I took out some shuriken.
"Now you're going to pay," Zaku declared as he pointed his hands at us. I palced the kunai in my teeth and I began to form hand signs. "Say so long kids," Zaku told us. I was about to execute my technique when suddenly Ino, Shikamaru and Chōji appeared in front of us. "Heh. So what's this, the second string," Zaku taunted.
"Ino?" Sakura asked. I blinked in shock to see the three of them here… defending us.
"Surprised. I swore I'd never let you show me up didn't I," Ino responded. I didn't both prying into what they meant.
"These Leaf Village worms will be sorry hey squirmed they're way into something that doesn't concern them," The leader stated. This statement obviously terrified Chōji.
"Are you two crazy? What are we doing here? These guys are bad news man," Chōji protested, in fear.
"Don't look at me it was Ino's idea. But what are we supposed to do, just sit back and let a girl do all the fighting," Shikamaru shot back at Chōji. This caused Ino to start to laugh uneasily.
"Sorry for dragging you both into this," Ino apologised. "But we are a three man squad right, all for one and one for all," Ino added on. I stood back up but I was shaky, I wondered if I should use that jutsu to help.
"Yeah what's meant to happen will," Shikamaru stated. I was surprised to see him here most of all given his lazy attitude.
"This isn't teamwork, I call this suicide," Chōji stated. He then attempted to pull away but Shikamaru held tight to his scarf. "Let me out of here," Chōji begged but Shikamaru refused and told him to cut it out.
"Better a live sheep than a dead lion, right fatso," Zaku taunted. Suddenly the air thickened with tension instantly, I was confused by this at least until Chōji froze up and he fell, almost deadly, silent.
"Did I just hear that right? What did that guy just say?" Chōji asked, his voice eerily calm. I noticed that both of his teammates looked incredibly nervous, especially Shikamaru. "You want to try saying that again?" Chōji asked.
"I said, you're smart to get out while you can, fatty," Zaku taunted. Suddenly Chōji whipped around to face the ninjas.
"Who are you calling fat, I'm just a little chubby ok!" Chōji yelled at Zaku. Then his chakra became so intense that I could see it, he also yelled something I couldn't identify but. "That does it, now this is personnel. It's a fight to the death between Leaf and Sound," Chōji declared. Me and Sakura shared a confused glance before turning back to the confrontation
"Good job, thanks a lot. Now we got to live with him," Shikamaru sarcastically thanked Zaku.
"Don't worry it won't be for long," Zaku retorted. I glanced back and I saw that Sasuke was twitching in pain and faint purple light streamed off of him.
"Sakura, Ami, you're teammates are down, look after them," Ino told us. Sakura agre but I began to walk forward.
"I can still fight," I protested. A sigh escaped Shikamaru and he locked eyes with me.
"Yeah maybe, but you're far too exhausted and it'll be a drag if we have to save your butt whilst you're out there," Shikamaru argued. I looked at the boy and I had to agree, I couldn't get in their way especially when my team way in danger.
"Ok Team Ino, let's show them who's boss," Ino told her teammates. "Formation Ino!" Ino cried out.
"Shika," Shikamaru added on.
"Cho," Chōji finished up.
"Ok take it away Chōji," Ino told the chubby boy.
"My pleasure. Expansion Jutsu," Chōji said. His body then expanded until it resembled a giant ball. "Followed by Leaf Style Taijutsu," Chōji stated. His arms, legs and head suddenly tucked inside his body and chakra plumes gushed out. "Human Boulder Jutsu!" Chōji cried out and he then went rolling towards the Sound ninja.
"You got to be kidding. Maybe I'm suppose to laugh myself to death," Zaku taunted. "Slicing Sound wave," Zaku called out and his wind attack slammed into Chōji, however they ended with a stand still as neither gain an advantage over the other, even when Zaku increased the strength. Then Chōji jumped into the air and came spinning down towards Zaku.
The leader attempted to save him but Shikamaru was able to trap him by controlling his shadow. Chōji came crashing down and almost crushed Zaku if he hadn't dodged in time.
"What is it? Why are you just standing there like that?" Kin asked, until she noticed that what Shikamaru did, their leader was forced to copy, due to the fact that Shikamaru was able to control the leader's shadow by using his own.
"It's some kind of paralysis jutsu," The leader hissed out through gritted teeth.
"Ino I'll leave the girl to you," Shikamaru informed the blonde girl.
"Ok you got it. Just take care of my body whilst I'm gone," Ino responded. "Ninja Art – Mind Transfer Jutsu," Ino called out and she thrust her arms forward, her thumb, index and middle fingers making a circle. Then Ino collapsed and Shikamaru caught her before she fell to the ground.
Zaku was still being hounded by Chōji however when he called out to Kin, it was revealed that Ino had taken control of the Kunoichi's body. Ino-Kin then proceed to threaten the girl if her Teammates didn't comply, however I knew that something was off when they seemed to be unfazed by the threat.
"What is it? What are they up to?" Sakura asked. Then Zaku raised his arm and fired an attack at Ino-Kin, the attack hit and it managed to hit both Ino-Kin and Chōji forcing the two of them back and doing harm to both Kunoichis.
We were all shocked by the blatant disregard these two had for the life of their teammate, someone they were meant to trust and protect. The leader then revealed that they only want Sasuke, then Shikamaru's shadow jutsu collapsed.
'Shit looks like I'll need to step in.' I thought. I then began to form hand signs for the only jutsu that would help. The leader and Zaku threatened to kill Kin, as whatever happened to her happened to Ino and then they proceed to insult the others and they called the Leaf Village a second-rate village.
"They might be hacks… but I'm far from it," I hissed out. This caught their attention as I smirked at them. "Fire Style – Phoenix Rebirth Jutsu," I declared. Then I was surrounded by blazing green flames which took the appearance of the legendary bird I named the jutsu after. When the flames died down, all of my injuries were healed, my stamina was restored… however my chakra was severely depleted.
"It seems you can back up your boast. As for you Sound ninja that's pretty tough talk," A voice called out. We all snapped our heads up, to see Neji Hyūga and Tenten settled in a tree branch. "I guess that makes your village third-rate. I wonder if any of you amateurs are ready to take on the real thing," Neji taunted.
"What?" The leader demanded.
"It's Lee's team. I wondered when they'd get here," Sakura stated. I had to agree, I was beginning to wonder if they would ever arrive for their teammate.
"Lee!" Tenten cried out when she spotted her severely injured teammate.
"You blew it," Neji stated, although I wasn't too sure who he was talking to. "It looks to me, like somebody used our teammate as a punching bag. No one does that and get's away with it!" Neji declared as he activated his Byakugan, his clan's Kekkei Genkai. "No more playing around Tenten. Full power!" Neji ordered. However when Tenten prepared to strike Neji deactivated his Byakugan.
"What the matter? Neji?" Tenten asked, also seeing the deactivation of his Dōjutsu. The leader taunted the Hyūga to attack, however I felt something tingling up my spine, it was a dark heavy aura that pressed down on my form.
"Actually it looks like it might have been taken out of my hands," Neji admitted. I looked behind me ad saw that the pale purple chakra from before had gotten even darker and more intense having turned black in places and it was rising off of Sasuke in a more intense fashion.
Soon the chakra engulfed him fully, I clenched my fist as it began to shake from fear at the eerie chakra. Sasuke then stood up the dark chakra rolling off of him in waves as the chakra itself began to wrap around him like a swirling vortex.
"Sasuke-kun! You're awake!" Sakura called out in happiness before she noticed that something was off with Sasuke. Blazing red flame marks appeared on the left side of his body.
"Sakura who did this to you?" Sasuke asked. Sakura and me didn't answer, far to stunned with fear to actually speak, I saw that the flame marks were in fact pitch black, Sasuke's eyes averted up to me and they narrowed. "You've been hurt as well Ami, who did it?" Sasuke repeated. My eyes widened in shock, only three people had been able to see I had be hurt before after using my Phoenix Rebirth.
"Sasuke, wh-what's happened to you?" Sakura asked, her voice unsteady as she spoke. Sasuke raised his left hand and looked at it, I noticed that his Sharingan was also activated.
"Don't worry, I'm alright. It's only the power flowing through me, in fact I've never felt better. He gave me this gift and he made me understand what I am. I'm an avenger, to follow my path I must have power, at any price even if it means being consumed by evil. Sakura, Ami tell me who hurt you?" Sasuke once more repeated.
"That'd be me," Zaku stated proudly. However the look Sasuke gave him, made my blood freeze instantly, the flame markings began to grow, covering the right side of Sasuke's face. "Dosu what's wrong? You're not getting cold feet are you?" Zaku asked the leader, as he formed a hand sign.
"No Zaku, you don't understand!" Dosu cried out. But Zaku didn't listen, he attempted to attack us with his sound waves, but Sasuke had moved fast enough to get us out of the way. He then proceed to attack the two sound ninjas with a fire attack, however just like my earlier fire attack Sasuke pulled the same trick of hiding weapons in the fire.
The weapons sliced through his skin and then Sasuke appeared behind him, forced him to the ground and seized a hold of his arms, a sadistic smile appeared on his face and he began to pull on Zaku's arms.
"You seem to be very proud of these arms of yours. You just be very attached to them," Sasuke taunted. He then began to pull harder on the arms as he pushed down on Zaku's back, eventually Zaku screamed in raw pain as his arms were dislocated.
"It looks like you're the only one left. I hope you make things more interesting than your friend did," Sasuke told Dose, a dark look on his face. Dosu seemed to quake with fear but he was paralysed by it.
Sasuke began to stalk towards Dosu, I felt panic rush through my entire body, before I forced myself to move. I stood up and rushed over to the moving Sasuke, I then hugged him from behind in an attempt to prevent him from moving.
"Stop it!" I cired out as I hugged him. Sasuke tensed up but he looked down at me as I raised my head, our gazes locked. "Please stop it. Don't let it consume you, you are strong enough without it, please stop," I quietly begged Sasuke. His eyes softened from their ice cold gaze and they turned back into his normal onyx black eyes, the flame markings receded and he collapsed backwards, I followed him down, his breathing was heavy and ragged.
"You're strong Sasuke," Dosu called out. I whipped my head up to him only to see him placing the Earth Scroll on the floor, I looked at the Sound ninja confused by his actions. "Too strong. We can't hope to defeat you the way you are now. We'll strike a deal, I give you this scroll, you let us go," Dosu offered. I looked ta the ninja suspicious of his actions, he picked up his teammates, gave some final words and then went to leave.
"Wait who is this Orochimaru anyway? What's he done to Sasuke? And why Sasuke?" Sakura called out.
"I don't know. All I know is that we were told to target Sasuke and we did. I don't know why he sent us to assassinate on someone whom he bestowed such powers, I don't not why Sasuke even survived the Curse Mark, there are many things I don't know," Dosu admitted and then he proceeded to walk away.
"Just what am I?" Sasuke asked as he clutched his left hand as it twitched and he stared at it in shock, horror or something else. Suddenly a scream broke the tense silence and I turned to see that Naruto had finally woken up and was still panicking about Orochimaru.
"Oh no Sakura!" Naruto called out and he rushed over to us, he stumbled over his words as he spoke but he eventually managed to get them out. "Something serious happened to your hair," Naruto exclaimed.
"Oh that's all. I just wanted to change my look, I like it better long but when I'm out in the wilderness like this and moving around all the time it gets in the way too much," Sakura covered up. She looked at me and I agreed to hide it form Naruto to ease his mind.
Naruto began to question the others, so I stood up and began to walk about, first I picked up the Earth scroll Dosu left then I headed over to Lee. Tenten also appeared and said she would look after him… she ended up shaking him and yelling at him.
Lee woke up and I was relieved, however Tenten reprimanded him, Naruto yelled at Lee which caused Sakura to punch him. Seeing that everything was fine I walked off and settled by a tree and looked up at the canopy of trees.
"Hey Ami?" Sakura's voice asked. I perked up and turned to see both her and Ino standing behind me.
"Yes?" I asked. Both on them looked nervous but Ino took the initiative and stepped forward.
"Be truthful do you like Sasuke?" Ino demanded an answer. I looked at her confused for a moment before realising what she meant.
"As a friend yes, but romantic interest… sure he's good looking but I hardly know him, thus I can't love him. Why?" I responded. Ino and Sakura looked at each other confused.
"Then why did you hug him?" Sakura responded. I bit my lip and looked down at the floor, memories flooded back at her question. Burning screams, teary eyes, a flash of a familiar face before I clamped down on them and pushed them back.
"I had seen something like it before. Some being consumed by darkness. I had to stop it because I couldn't back then," I answered. Both girls fell quite and I walked away form them.