Chasing After You || Itachi

Ch. 11 - Feline Intuition

Hana crossed her arms as she stood in the animal clinic. In front of her was her best friend, Tora, who was currently spinning around on the stool like a child. With one swift kick, she knocked both the chair and the girl onto the floor. "I swear, you are such an idiot! You delayed your jounin promotion to take a vacation?! Do you understand what that even means? No, you probably don't!"

"Ow, that hurts!" Tora grumbled as she sat up. "I'm not stupid. I just don't want to climb up in the ranks yet. Honestly, I don't really know what I want."

"Yeah, that's pretty obvious. Koji would have a cow if he was here right now." Her best friend was fuming with anger and, although she didn't want to continue being a victim to it, Tora could understand why. Wasn't it expected that your closest person would want the best for you?

About five years had passed since Jaga told her daughter who her father was. Since then, the two kept that information between them and somewhere along the line, Tora called off the search with Hana and Koji. Even so, the three had grown close and each year, no matter how busy they were, they planned to come together to see Izumi. Hana passed the chunin exams a year after Tora and Koji and took over as the director of the animal clinic after Jaga retired from active duty last year. Koji accepted his jounin promotion, then was promptly recruited by the Anbu. Not knowing what she wanted, Tora stayed as a chunin, went on various missions, and occasionally taught as a substitute at the Academy.

Standing up, Tora picked up the chair and grinned at her best friend. "Want to go get tattoos together again?"

"I think our one tattoo is enough for now. When you get promoted, I promise we'll get another one together. This time we can even get matching tattoos."

"Boo! Why don't we just go on a trip instead? Me and you! It'll be fun!"

"I have obligations here at the clinic. I can't just up and leave and neither should you." Hana sighed as she leaned against the counter. "Still no leads on Itachi, huh?"

Tora frowned as she shook her head. It was like he didn't even exist anymore. In all honesty, she hadn't seen Itachi since that night in Amegakure. Although she constantly wondered what he was doing and wished him well, she had been hesitating with continuing her search. He'd told her everything she needed to know and there was no pressing reason to find him anymore. Was wanting to be his friend seriously a good enough reason?

"You know Tora-"

"Oh, look at the time! I'll be back!" Tora's eyes widened and rushed out of the clinic.

Hana dashed to the doorway and watched her best friend run down the street. "This conversation isn't over!"

The Dakuo ran through the streets of Konoha and slowed to a jog once she was near the Academy. Once Hana entered one of her moods, conversations she knew she didn't want to have would be brought up, so it was always best to find the quickest escape route. Along the way, she'd stopped and picked up some senbei since she was thinking of meeting someone. Almost to her destination, she bumped into the very person she was looking for.

"Ah, good afternoon, Sasuke-chan." Tora grinned. "Are you busy right now?"

The raven-haired teen sucked his teeth and shoved his hands into his pockets. For some reason, it felt like everyone annoying was in his way. "What do you want?"

Tora ignored his usual attitude and shoved a rice cracker into his mouth. "I'm just checking in on you. Making sure you're eating properly and stuff."

"Getting close to me isn't going to help you with him." Sasuke reluctantly ate the treat and walked around her. All of this would've been avoided if his sensei hadn't bailed on him earlier.