The Monster Within Me

Chapter 9: Tiger As A Babysitter

Sakura bit her thumb and summoned her white tiger. "Shiro, I want you to look after a kid with white hair and blue eyes. Report to me immediately if he is harmed, please." Sakura ordered the white tiger. "As you wish, Sakura-sama." The tiger said, disappearing mid-air.

3 days later...

Shiro sat atop a tree, watching the boy drink from the river. A few peaceful minutes later, "Come with us!" A rogue nin appeared, grabbing the kid's arm roughly. 'Come on! That's the tenth time in three days!' The tiger thought in annoyance, jumping behind the rogue nin.

Shiro gave a loud rawr, startling the rogue nin. The nin turned around with wide eyes. "Whose summon are you?!" The nin shouted, making hand signs. Shiro clawed the nin's hand before he can finish. The tiger rawred once again, this time, making the nin run away.

Shiro turned to the boy only to see an empty space. "Such a troublesome boy." Shiro mumbled. She disappeared mid-air and re-appearing in a clearing atop a tree. The boy lied down, defensely falling asleep. "He needs a lot of training. But why is he being hunted down?" Shiro mumbled, sighing.

The boy sat up and looked directly up at Shiro. "Why are you following me around?" The boy asked. Shiro blinked at his ability to sense Shiro's masked chakra. Shiro jumped down in front of him. "Sakura-sama sent me to protect you." Shiro said.

The boy merely blinked at Shiro. "Please take me to her." He said. The tiger gave him a soft look and asked him to sit on Shiro's back. The boy did and Shiro darted back to the hide out.

They arrived in the base a few seconds later. Sakura looked at them from the sofa. Sakura grinned at the boy and Shiro as she approached them. "I'm glad you two are alright." Sakura said. She turned to Shiro and gave her an apologetic look. "Please look after him for a few more days, I have a solo mission in snow country." Sakura said as she walked out the base.

Shiro turned to the boy and saw him staring at her. "What's your name?" Shiro asked, sitting in front of the boy. "Koori." The boy said monotonously as he stared into Shiro's black eyes. Shiro blinked and nodded, also stating her name.

"I need to train." Koori said monotonously. 'Great, another Sasuke.' Shiro thought, twitching. "Sakura-sama will be the one who will train you. For now, why not just relax and have fun?" Shiro said.

"Oi, kiddo. Let's do something." Suigetsu said, grinning. Koori gave him a questioning look. "Let's go the the village nearby. I heard they're having a festival." Suigetsu said excitedly.

Koori nodded and looked at Shiro. "What is it?" She asked. "How can you go with us if you're a monster size tiger?" Koori said, making Suigetsu laugh. Shiro twitched and hit Suigetsu over the head with her tail.

"I can turn into a human." Shiro said, turning into a little girl with white hair and black eyes. She wore a black kimono with her white hair in a bun. "Can you not turn to a kid? It'll only mean I'll have to look after you too as an adult." Suigetsu whined.

"I am still a cub." Shiro said, making Koori's and Suigetsu's eyes widen. "What's with those looks?" Shiro asked, pouting. "I can't believe that that huge tiger is actually just a cub." They both said at the same time. "Believe it then." Shiro said, pouting.

The trio went to the nearest village and saw lights and decorations everywhere. Shiro looked at Koori only to see his eyes gleeming with happiness. 

Until a kunai was thrown towards Koori. But luckily, Suigetsu reflected it.  "Give us the brat!" Mist nin said, grinning as villagers ran for their lives. Suigetsu turned to look at Koori and returned his gaze to the nin. "What for?" He asked with an eyebrow raised.

The mist nin gave him a sadistic grin and said "He's worth a hundred billion!" The mist nin ran towards Suigetsu with his katana. Suigetsu blocked every attack. But one attack got Suigetsu's arm.

"The poison will take effect in a--!" The mist nin got cut off. Koori turned to Suigetsu and Shiro with a beating heart on his hand. The mist nin weakly looked turned to Koori. "Th-th-that's mine." He said, trying to walk towards Koori with his arm stretched out.

Koori simply watched the nin with cold dead eyes. A few feet away, the nin finally fell with his palm facing upwards. Koori bent down and layed the now unbeating heart on the mist nin's palm. "Here you go." He said, making his way towards the staring Suigetsu and Shiro with their jaws unchanged. A few steps away, Koori fell down unconscious, Shiro caught him just in time.

A few hours later, the trio returned to the hideout with Koori on Suigetsu's back. 'This kid is something else. I must report this to Sakura-sama quickly!' Shiro thought as she watch Suigetsu lay the kid down gently on a bed.

To Be Continued...