☆A Flower That Blossoms in Adversity☆

𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 4

𝐁𝐞 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐦

𝐒𝐚𝐤𝐮𝐫𝐚'𝐬 𝐏𝐨𝐯;

I was dreaming of home and we were all having nice conversation about who the girls where to marry when a weird ringing sound startles me awake and I see the poor cricket moving before Shukaku starts shouting joyously "Alright, rise and shine sleeping beauty! Come on, up, up." He knocks on my noggin 'Too early. . .' I think and pull the blanket over my head when they fly off of me and cold morning air hits me making me shiver.

I feel around for it "Get your clothes on, get ready I got breakfast for you." He says as I slowly sit up with that groggy feeling so I stretch 'I miss my bed . . .' "Look I got you porridge and it is happy to see you." Shukaku holds a bowl up that I look at through slit eyes.

The cricket appears and Shukaku throws him out of the food "Get out of there! You gonna make people sick." He scolds Crickee "Am I late?" I ask him when he starts shoving the food into my mouth "No time to talk. Now remember today is your first day of training," he says motherly and I stare at him "Listen to your teacher and no fighting, play nice with the other kids unless, of course, the other kids want to fight then you have to kick the other kids butt."

"But I don't want to kick the other kid's butt." I say but he turns those eyes on me in with a dad's scold "Don't talk with your mouth full." Then he smiles "Now let's see your war face." I look at him with my cheeks full off porridge "Oh I think my bunny slippers just ran for cover." He says sarcastically and I swallow the mass amount of food.

"Come on scare me girl!" he shakes me by my shirt's collar so I growl at him "Arrggh!" He falls and rolls up to his feet with victory "Yeah! That's my tough looking warrior!" he picks up my hair ribbon, runs up my arm, and pulls in up into a bun "Now get out there and make me proud." Cheers and scurries around my lap.

Khan neighs and pokes his head into my tent with small huffy noises afterward and I pull on my shirt "What do you mean the troops just left?" Shukaku asks him "They what!" I panic jump to my feet and tug on what clothes and roll out of my tent, knocking it down, and yank my shoes on as I hop toward the inside of camp.

"You forgot your sword!" Shukaku yells but I ignore him and run faster as Shukaku smiles with teary eyes "My little baby off to destroy people."

As I find the others they are talking and others are horse playing. I can spot Ebisu, the grouchy man whose name I finally learned, ahead "Order! People order!" suddenly the troops start shouting and raising their hands "I'd like a dango and green tea!" "Barbeque meat please!" "Large order of Ramen!"

"That's NOT funny!" he says and walks away from them then those blue eyes land on me and Naruto hits Kiba's arm "Looks like our new friend slept in this morning." He announces loudly and I watch everyone's demeanor change as I start walking by them.

As I pass Naruto he smiles at me "Hello Kurama." I stop and look at him "Are you hungry?" his eyes glint with violence "Yeah," Kiba says as I turn to give Naruto my sassy remark, but Kiba pulls on the front of my shirt and I spot the small smirk on Gaara's face from the corner of my eye where he stands "Cause I owe you a knuckle sandwich." Kiba swings and I cover my face.

"Shinobi!" Captain Uchiha yells and my face is spared the beating. I part my fingers and look at him approach us when we all snap into a straight line. I peek around the man to my left to see him "You will assembly swiftly and silently every morning." He pulls off his over shirt 'Oh sweet ancestors look at his body! Can I take him home as a souvenir? Shhh, bad mind.'

He grabs a quiver and a bow "Anyone who acts otherwise," I lean back into place and he walks past me and down the line "will answer to me." "Oooooo tough guy." Kiba mocks "Kiba," he suddenly points an arrow at him and draws it back completely 'He's going to shoot him!' my mind shouts and we all step back, abandoning him to the Captain's whim.