A Blooming Flower ( Orochimaru x Oc) [Discontinued]

Chapter 16: A chat with Inari

Karen walked with Tazuna and Sakura to the bridge. The two girls didn't have to do training today since they both have good chakra control. Karen wanted to go and train, but Kakashi said she should take a break and try to work with her sister, which she had no interest in. Sakura, however, was happy to have a break from training.

Karen sat on the bridge railing, cleaning her sunglasses in her hand, and Sakura sat below her on a chair and yawned as Tazuna walked over to the two girls.

"So training is hard for you two?" He asked.

Karen scoffed and continued wiping her sunglasses. Sakura crossed her arms.

"No, are charka control better than the boys. So Kakashi-sensei sent us with you," Sakura said in a snobbish way. Tazuna scoffed.

"I personally trust the red hair one more than you to protect us," He retorted.

Sakura got upset about this, and Karen smirked at Tazuna's insult toward Sakura. See, nothing else interesting was going on. Karen put on her clean sunglasses back on as she stared at the ocean.

'This village is so small compared to home.' She thought as she looked at the oceans with the sunlight reflecting off of it.

She was then brought out of her thoughts as have heard someone yelling. She turned to see that Tazuna and another guy were yelling at each. Karen jumped down, now standing next to Sakura.

"Not that you care, but all the workers are scared that Gato and Zabuza will come. None of them want to be part of the bridge building anymore because there afraid they will get killed," Sakura said solemnly.

Karen shrugged. She couldn't blame them. Not everyone has the guts to risk their lives. Which she found stupid why would you do something dangerous if you are afraid of getting killed?

She then noticed that Tazuna was heading toward them.

"Let's go get some lunch," He growled out.

Karen walked past Sakura and followed him with Sakura, finally following as well.

**

As Karen walked through the small village with Tazuna and Sakura, she noticed that the open shops didn't have much to sell. Sakura looked at the village with sad eyes. At the same time, Karen's face was in her usual emotionless state.

"The village is poor. We don't have enough money to survive. That's why the bridge is so important. It will open us up to the mainland, and we will be able to start prospering again. Although, with this Gato business. It is driving people away from even wanting to work on the bridge. That's why we need you ninja to help us prosper again," Tazuna explained to the girls.

The girls could now truly understand the importance to them of the bridge. It was thing to hear about the situation, but others to see the situation with their eyes. It really opened their eyes to why the bridge was so important.

"I don't show much emotion, but you can trust me when I say we will do everything we can to complete this mission and get that bridge built," Karen said, taking her sunglasses off and giving Tazuna a serious look.

**

At the end of the day, the three returned to the house. Even though the girls didn't actually do anything, Karen was tired from doing anything but watching the men work. Boredom was exhausted when the house came into view. She sighed in relief.

"Hey, you shouldn't be tired, brat," Tazuna said.

"

If I could've done something today, I would have a reason to be tired. Yet no, I had to sit and watch you work all day! You have no idea how much torture and exhausting that is,"  Karen replied in a monotone voice.

Tazuna looked at Karen, confused, not understanding what her deal was. One moment being caring, then back to being emotionless.

"Quit acting like you are better than everyone, Karen!" Sakura said, annoyed.

"How about you just shut your mouth!" Karen snapped.

They walked up the stairs to the house, but Karen was now in a bad mood due to Sakura and didn't want to go inside yet. So she walked around the porch area where she sat and looked at the moon shining on the ocean.

'The moon looks beautiful reflecting on the ocean.' She thought, stared at the ocean, ignoring the commotion inside of the house.

"What are you doing out here?" A voice asked.

Karen turned around to see Inari.

"I'm just looking at the moon to clear my mind," She replied."What are you doing out here instead of eating dinner inside?" She asked.

"I come out here to think," He said.

Karen nodded and signaled for him to sit next to her. Inari was reluctant but finally sat down next to her.

"What do you come to think about out here?" She asked, still focusing on the moon.

"It is none of your business," He said.

"That's fine. You don't have to tell me, but I would be willing to listen to get my mind out of my thoughts," She said.

Inari continued to stay quiet.

"I don't know everything, but I did hear some of the story going on inside about your father, and it's pretty tragic. Letting what happened to him control your life is not good for you. Instead, you should grow from it and take what he taught you. I understand that it is not easy. However, that anger you feel will just lead down a dark path," She said in her usual monotone voice. Inari looked at her.

"Why tell me this?" He asked.

"Because you're young still. I'm going too, and we both had are a fair share of pain. It would be best if you didn't ruin your life over it like me. I spend every day being emotionless and angry because of my own pain. You should be better than me and live a life without anger and never block out your other emotions," She said, standing up.

"Does that explain why you fight with your sister?" He asked.

"I don't think why I fight with her is important," Karen replied.

"Why mention it if you don't plan on sharing your reason for anger?" A voice asked.

Karen and Inari turned around to see Kakashi standing in the doorway.

"It was just an example of why he shouldn't live his life how he is now," Karen stated. "I didn't plan on sharing anything, and I'm going to bed before you try to get me to talk about my problems," She said, walking past Kakashi and inside to turn in for the night.

"Aren't you going to eat?" Kakashi asked.

"Not hungry for dinner," She replied.

As Karen entered the house, she passed the kitchen where her other two teammates were still eating dinner, and went upstairs to her and Sakura's room, and laid down going to sleep, ready for this mission to end.

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