She is trying to communicate.
Kakashi's visible eye narrowed in thought. He knew his ninken communicated through subtle cues, body language, and simple gestures. The girl wasn't so different in that regard, except... she was human. She's trying to make herself understood without words. He realized. She doesn't know how else to talk to me.
The determination in her eyes was clear as she shifted her approach once more. This time, she started using her hands differently. Her movements were cautious, as though she expected him to understand what she was trying to say. It wasn't the formal ninja language of hand signs; it was something more instinctive. Ok… First Tag, now Charades.
Kakashi had been trained to deal with all kinds of situations, but this? A girl making animal noises, testing him with weird gestures, and... purring? I've faced S-rank criminals with less confusion, he thought.
She pointed to the ground, then to the sky, her fingers moving slowly and deliberately. She gestured to herself, then to him, made a small circle on her open palm, and followed it up with a running motion. Is she... asking me to race? He was just about to nod, thinking he'd take her up on the challenge, when she repeated the hand movements again—this time with more focus.
Kakashi tilted his head, still unsure of what she meant. But when she let out a soft hum, tilting her head as if to ask, Did you get that? something clicked. Oh. Not racing. She circled her palm again, looking at him with even more intensity. Together.
Cautiously curious, Kakashi nodded and gently reached for her wrist, imitating the way she had touched him earlier. His fingers brushed against her skin, and when she didn't pull away, he tugged her into a slow jog. They moved together across the clearing, not fast, more like... exploring? Yeah, exploring sounded right.
He turned his head to look at her, raising an eyebrow in question. Is this what you wanted?
The girl's response hit him like a bolt of lightning. Her face lit up in a wide, beaming smile—it was like someone had turned on the sun in the middle of the night. The uncertainty vanished from her eyes, replaced by pure, unfiltered excitement. She let out a delighted, breathy sound—something between a laugh and a hum—and immediately picked up her pace to match his, her bare feet moving effortlessly against the ground.
Kakashi blinked, struggling to process the sheer amount of enthusiasm radiating from her. Is this... what real happiness looks like?
They slowed down as they reached the other side of the clearing, near the forest's edge. The girl came to a stop and turned her attention to the trees, her expression softening. She gestured toward the forest beyond the village walls, her hand sweeping toward the distant trees. A low, calming hum escaped her lips as she pointed to herself, signaling that the forest was where she was safe.
Kakashi tilted his head. The forest...? He pointed to her, then the forest, mimicking her hum. "You live there?"
She nodded eagerly, her smile brightening as she placed her hands flat on the ground and slowly raised them to the sky, as if signaling peace or safety. She let out another "safe" hum.
Kakashi scratched the back of his head, feeling a strange sense of calm wash over him. He repeated her gesture, mimicking the way she had pointed to the forest and made that peaceful sound. So... that's where she feels at home.
The girl's smile grew even wider, her expression glowing with happiness that he had understood. But then her face shifted, becoming more thoughtful. She pointed to herself again, then to the forest, her eyes turning back to him with a questioning look.
Kakashi blinked. Is she asking me to go with her?
She made the same small circle on her palm, her eyes full of hope and curiosity. Kakashi's eyes widened. She is asking me to go with her!
He paused, glancing back toward the village behind them. He wasn't sure what to say, but the answer came naturally. He pointed to himself, then toward the rooftops in the distance. Mimicking her gestures, he placed his hand on the floor, raising them to the sky and made the same calm, peaceful hum. "My home... is back there," Kakashi said softly. Nice… I'm also a genius at charades.
The change in the girl's expression was immediate. Her bright smile melted away, replaced by a deep, profound sadness that Kakashi hadn't expected. Her wide eyes dimmed, and her lips trembled slightly as she glanced from him to the forest, then back again. Her shoulders sagged, and she looked as though she might burst into tears at any moment. Her lips curved downward into a sad, almost heartbroken frown. The quick change caught Kakashi completely off guard.
Whoa—wait, what? Kakashi's mind scrambled, trying to understand the sudden wave of pure, unfiltered sorrow she was radiating. Is this... what real sadness looks like? The intensity of her expression hit him harder than he expected. It wasn't just any sadness—it was the kind of sorrow that seemed to wrap itself around her entire posture, making her shoulders sag and her eyes glisten.
It touched something deep in him as another image reminded him of something familiar. She looks... just like Shiba when he doesn't get his treats.
An idea sparked in Kakashi's mind. Maybe Shiba could help. Quickly, Kakashi brought his hands together, forming the summoning seal. In a puff of smoke, a small figure appeared at his feet.
"Yo, Kakashi! What's the—" Shiba stopped mid-sentence, his lively eyes catching sight of the girl immediately. His tail wagged once, but then paused, his nose twitching as he sniffed the air. "Hey... who's this?"
Kakashi crouched down next to Shiba, his voice low. "Shiba, I need your help. I think... you might understand her better than I do."
Shiba tilted his head, his sharp ears flicking toward the girl. "Huh. She smells like... the forest."
The girl, who had been watching Shiba with wide, fascinated eyes, slowly crouched down to his level. The sadness on her face wasn't completely gone, but her curiosity was starting to peek through. Progress.
Shiba, with his naturally friendly and lively nature, didn't hesitate for long. He padded over to her and nuzzled his head against her hand. The girl's eyes lit up, and she let out a soft, tentative hum. The corners of her mouth lifted ever so slightly into a faint smile, the sadness not completely gone, but now mingled with something warmer—hope.
Shiba barked happily. She made a few more soft noises, and Shiba's tail wagged in response.
The girl, gaining confidence, gently petted Shiba's head, her movements more assured now. She made a few more of her soft noises, her gaze locked on Shiba as if he was the most fascinating thing she'd ever encountered. Shiba's ears perked up, and his tail wagged even harder, his enthusiasm contagious as he barked again.
Kakashi watched the interaction closely, feeling his eyebrow twitch. That... actually worked?