The Uchiha Princess

Chapter - 31

Makaira was on the bridge along with Sakura, the one being built by Mister Tazuna. She sat on the side while Makaira stood next to her. Sakura yawns, stretching her arms out,

"You always this lazy?" Mister Tazuna walks towards them.

Sakura frowns, knowing he was speaking to her. "Where's that weird blond kid and the one with the attitude?" Mister Tazuna asked her. "They're training. Climbing trees" Sakura answered him.

"Too tough for you two?" he asks curtly.

"No, in fact, I'm the best. That's why the Sensei sent me here to guard you. That one, on the other hand, is a lost cause." Sakura said proudly. Makaira was grateful for the mask hiding her smirk as she listened to Sakura pointing at Makaira. Makaira turned to Tazuna looking straight into his eyes,

"And just so you know, Sasuke's attitude is fine the way it is. You shouldn't judge people you don't know" Makaira added with her arms cross and a serious look in her eyes as her face was covered with the mask Kakashi gave her. This might be a place where there were fewer ninjas but still, they couldn't take the risk of her identity getting exposed.

"You're joking" Mister Tazuna looks at them rudely, Makaira could feel Sakura's dark aura beside me. she looked at her, sweat dripping and with concern.

"AHHH! How dare he underestimates me. She is the joke here." Sakura mumbled to herself, side glaring at Makaira who ignored it and continued to look around for anything out of ordinary, she was here on Kakashi's orders cause, one, they both had to honour their bets and two, Leaving Sakura alone would also not be a wise decision. So, Makaira was a little happy with the order to engage in battle if there is no other choice but she doubts there will be any attacks today, she sighed as she saw that Sakura took Tazuna's word to heart and was all heated up about it.

"I'll suggest ignoring his comments, you know how strong you are, one drunk old man opinion hardly matters," Makaira told Sakura as she continued to keep an eye on the old man as one of the workers approached him. She did see that shocked look that Sakura was throwing at her as she focused on the conversation going on between the two.

 "The thing is, I've been thinking, a lot about the bridge. And I've decided I've pushed my luck far enough. I want out" the worker said. "Now you're just going to quit just like that? You're kidding" Mister Tazuna yelled at the worker angrily. "You know. I stayed on because of our friendship. But I'm putting my life on the line every day I stay here. Gato and his tugs will show up eventually. When they do, they'll kill you and the bridge will never be finished anyway. It's a lost cause, Tazuna. Why don't we stop now while we can still get out of this alive?" The worker sighed.

"Oh..." Sakura murmured, Makaira was not sure if it was for what she said or what was going on between Tazuna and that worker.

"No chance. This is our bridge. Our island is poor, and it will stay so until this bridge connects us to the mainland! Commerce, trade, and hope. That's what we're building here!" Mister Tazuna replied.

"There's not gonna be much hope if we're all dead"

"It's already noon. Let's take a break for lunch"

"Tazuna. Let's not end it like this" says the man

"Save your breath. Oh, and Giichi, don't bother coming back after lunch" Mister Tazuna walked away as Makaira followed after him soon followed by Sakura who finally snapped out of it. They walked towards the market to get materials for dinner since Makaira had taken the responsibility to make food for everyone.

"Thief! Thief!" a voice yells from one of the shops as a little boy run away with some food

In the streets were kids, just sitting there, with no one els, Makaira could feel a pang in her heart as she looked at their state. She was aware of their conditions but reading about something and seeing it for yourself are two different things.