The next morning, Nagato was the first to wake, hearing the whining of Chibi in his ears, for the first time since his parents had died, he was warm and dry, though he was hungry, he wasn't starving, Nagato rubbed his eyes and peered down at his side.
It hadn't been a dream, she, they were still there "Sakura-chan, Yamato" he whispered nudging them away gently, the pinkette and brunette jerked awake, their pulses skyrocketing in fear that something had gone wrong.
Before Sakura managed to remember "What is it Nagato-kun" she blinked, her eyes adjusting to the darkness of the cave, as Yamato started a fire, a couple minutes later she could see her companion, hopefully they'd be able to find Yahiko and Konan soon, then there would be more in their little group.
"I thought maybe I had hallucinated you two and that you guys were just a dream" he looked down at the ground as he spoke in a small voice, Yamato and especially Sakura felt for the boy, instead she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and gave him a hug.
Thanks to the fire, the trio could see and the blanket was sealed in a scroll "I'm going to go out and scope the mountain" Yamato announced heading towards the cave entrance leaving Sakura to deal with Nagato for a bit.
Sakura sulked inwardly 'Males' she huffed before remembering what Nagato had said "You know I think I'm just gonna take that as a compliment" Sakura teased and predictably Nagato's cheeks flushed beet red "Now who's ready for breakfast" she asked over her shoulder at the red head.
He was on his feet in a flash trailing over to her sheepishly with Chibi on his heels, ten minutes later, Yamato returned shaking his hair and slinging water droplets everywhere some of which landed on the fire "Yamato" Sakura scolded lightly.
"Sorry, sorry" he raised his hands with a grin, this was his only chance to completely redo his childhood even if he had to spend it protecting a few people, Sakura rolled her eyes and fifteen minutes later, breakfast was done.
The three of them plus Chibi sat down to eat their meal, unlike last night instead of digging straight in Nagato took a moment to say his thanks "Thank you for this meal" he murmured softly eating slowly, though he was still finished before Sakura and Yamato who put out the fire when they were done.
It was silent for a few minutes "What are we going to do now Sakura-chan, Yamato" Nagato asked watching the pinkette poke her head outside the cave, unlike earlier now it wasn't raining, Chibi pawed at his arm and Nagato scratched the puppy on the head.
Sakura returned and nodded at Yamato, they both took up their packs, but it was the brunette who answered "We are climbing further up the mountain" he announced wanting to make the boy trust him like he already seemed to with Sakura.
"Yeah I feel like we'll meet someone up there" Sakura admitted, in truth they were just going off on a hunch, Naruto had told them Nagato's story once, he'd told everyone actually, of how all the Rain Orphans had met initially.
If this was the same mountain that was still up for debate, if not then they'd all search elsewhere, but it had to be close to the village, otherwise they wouldn't be able to steal food to survive, "Oh okay, come on Chibi" Nagato stood beckoning with his hand for the pup to heed his call and follow them.
They didn't have to worry, because the minute they left the cave trekking further up the mountain Chibi scampered after them, at least he no longer looked starved, in the original time line the pup had died, and they would have to prevent that, because Chibi would be a great companion in the future.
"You really think people are up there" Nagato spoke softly and Sakura craned her neck around to meet his gaze, while Yamato didn't even so much as glance back, before nodding, though it wasn't completely confident, the red didn't know that or quite understand it either.
Yamato smiled to himself, he was glad that out of all the people Tsunade could have chosen, he'd gotten stuck with Sakura, she truly was a genius at medical ninjutsu, and perhaps he'd learn a little in case something ever happened to her.
Of course he was never going to let her out of his sight again not after the catastrophe of the other day when he'd forgotten to make some tracker seeds 'I can't believe how much of an idiot I was' Yamato scowled his smile fading from his lips.
Suddenly a hand was on his shoulder and Sakura's voice shouted over the rain "Yamato, it's been a couple of hours, let's find a cave and I'll make lunch" she flashed him a bright smile and he breathed a sigh of relief that nothing had happened.
And so two hours into their trek up the mountain, they took shelter in a cave to eat lunch "If you're wondering, my parents were teaching me how to cook as well, though Yamato is absolutely pants at it" Sakura teased when she felt Nagato watching her closely from his spot by the wall.
Her brown haired companion was keeping his onyx eyes glued to the entrance not wanting to chance anyone stumbling across them and causing a commotion in which something bad would inevitably happen, though at her teasing he chuckled "Bah cooking is for girls anyway" Yamato grinned.
Nagato however quickly waved his hands "Nothing like that" he mumbled shyly, "It's just that I'm really grateful you two are here with me" he avoided Sakura's gaze choosing to look at the ground, his cheeks turning pink again, he missed the smile Sakura shared with Yamato.
Though she was just glad that she was doing something right for once and that she wasn't wholly useless, "We're glad to Nagato" Yamato whispered quietly, the red head didn't hear him because the fire chose to crack of a piece of wood loudly drowning out her voice for just a moment.
After lunch which consisted of some canned green beans and some baked potatoes, which neither she or Yamato sadly didn't have butter for, all three of them set out again, this time under an umbrella Yamato unsealed from his pack as it started raining again.
As they got further and further up the mountain path, Yamato could make out the familiar glow of a burning fire, Sakura's hunch had proven correct "Come on Sakura, Nagato" he grasped Sakura's hand at the same time Nagato did as they started running as fast as they could through the mud up the mountain.
"Come on Chibi" Sakura called to the pup and he sped up trying to keep up with the trio of humans he'd been saved by and subsequently saved, it was a difficult task trekking upwards in the mud as they kept slipping and sliding.
Until finally ten minutes later, the three of them collapsed exhausted right outside the cave, Chibi gave a howl and an orange haired boy came flying out of the cave holding a wooden club, he froze and lowered his weapon as Sakura and Yamato pushed back their hoods, their faces caked in mud.
"Do you mind if we take shelter in there with you" Yamato asked pushing himself to his feet since had better traction because of his wood style jutsu, Nagato and Sakura weren't faring any better as they slipped and face planted in the mud, flailing their arms as they tried to get back up.
Yahiko frowned and moved over to the red head as Yamato helped Sakura to their feet, letting the trio come into his and Konan's shelter "Wow Sakura-chan, and I thought you had a lot of food" Nagato stared around at all the crates of food with wide eyes and the orange haired boy tensed.
He took a step forward "Don't even think about stealing any of it, we worked hard to get all that" Yahiko crossed his arms "By the way I'm Yahiko, and who are you three anyway, why are you so far away from the village" question after question flew from his lips before he paused.
While Sakura tried to get as much mud out of her hair as she could, Yamato and Nagato sat down next to the wall as the pinkette answered Yahiko's question "Well Yahiko-san, I'm Sakura, and the red head is Nagato-kun, and of course Yamato" she introduced the three of them all in one go.
Before Yamato could cut in and tell Yahiko that he was Sakura's cousin a new voice, another female called out "Yahiko-kun I'm back" a blue haired girl entered the cave oblivious to the newcomers as she shook out her umbrella and placed it next to the other one, she blinked her amber irises before turning in confusion and finally spotting them.
Their task had just gotten ten times easier now that the rain orphans had gathered "Who are they" Konan hid slightly behind her friend, peeking over his shoulder at the three other kids, one of which looked younger than the other two, all orphans considering their attire, like them.
"That's Sakura, Yamato and Nagato" Yahiko pointed at the pinkette first, then the brunette and finally the red head "Guess they are staying here for awhile, but you all have to help out if you want to stay here is that understood" he narrowed his brown eyes on the three kids.
Nagato gulped and cowered while Sakura heaved an inward sigh, great stealing food as if she and Yamato didn't have enough food themselves "That's fine and all" Yamato nodded as Sakura sat down next to him Chibi jumping into her lap without hesitation.
"Oh by the way this is Chibi" Sakura introduced the young pup who was still as thin as a rail and had no meat on his bones, not yet anyway but soon he would and that's all that mattered, because as certain as she was her name was Sakura, she would keep the pup safe.
Yahiko threw his hands in the air "Great another mouth to feed" and sat down on a chair situated before the fire, his brown eyes reflected the glowing embers making them glow as he sunk into a sulk and Konan giggled at him.
The bluenette skipped over to the pinkette "I'm Konan, you have really pretty hair Sakura-chan" and reached out to run her hand through the short pink hair, Yamato could tell she was resisting the urge to slap the girls hand away, but sat there stiffly for a moment before finally relaxing.
Feeling a little bit left out, Nagato scooted over to Sakura effectively sandwiching her between him and Yamato, the pinkette sent him a small reassuring smile and wrapped her arm around his shoulders, Konan blinked "You sure seem close, are you two siblings" she asked kneeling before the trio.
The red head shook his head silently but it was Yamato who answered "Sakura and I are cousins, our parents left us with a sitter before going out on vacation, they wandered to close to a fight and got hit by an explosion" the brunette finally explained.
At least part of her question had been answered "How long have you guys known each other" Konan prodded gesturing at Nagato indicating that he was the one she was asking about, Nagato shared a look with Yamato and Sakura and the pinkette nodded assuring him that it was okay to talk freely.
"Just a day, but Sakura-chan and Yamato are the first ones to not ignore me" Nagato mumbled softly but Konan heard him just fine, the pinkette at his side flashed him a proud smile, and Yamato grinned, Nagato's cheeks glowed from his sudden happiness, it had been awhile since anyone had been proud of him.
Suddenly Sakura remembered what Yahiko had said "Don't worry about feeding Chibi-kun, we'll do it ourselves" she gestured at herself, Yamato and Nagato, their goal was to make Yahiko and Konan trust them and Nagato, that didn't include causing any problems right off the bat for them.
Yahiko raised an orange brow "How do you intend to do that without any food" he smirked thinking he had her and that she'd be unable to answer, it was Yamato who removed his pack from his shoulders and pulled out one of the storage scrolls from within.
He unsealed it easily then revealing an assortment of items letting Yahiko look his fill, before it was all sealed away again, the scroll put back in his pack, and then he slid his arms through the straps till it was on his back again "That answer you're question Yahiko-san" Yamato asked innocently.
The orange haired boy spluttered in shock and Konan smiled softly in amusement "Wasn't that a shinobi trick, are you learning to be a ninja" Yahiko went real quiet after he asked the question, the only noise was the fire crackling as it ate at the wood in the pit.
Sakura answered "His parents were teaching him and he was teaching me, I've learned a bit and can manipulate my chakra to" the pinkette shrugged as if it was no big deal "I want to be able to protect my precious people" she explained getting comfortable.
"Yes, we've lost our parents and if teaching her what I've learned so far can protect her and those we make friends with, I'll learn to be a shinobi" Yamato shifted around grasping Sakura's hands as they sunk into their meditation session for the day.
Somewhat use to this, Nagato settled in for a long silence, while Yahiko stared at the cousins in horror, wondering who all they'd lost to say that, and Konan frowned feeling sad for all three orphans that had stumbled across their hideout in the mountain.