Of Tales now and Long Ago

Of Swords and Snow

Chapter TEN

Sakura watched the two boys on her team wolf down the food, glare at each other, then eat some more. Even Ino, who had been clinging onto Sasuke's arm every chance she got, was leaning away. However, no one seemed to be able to look away.

Kakashi couldn't blame them. It was, in a way, fascinating, how the food seemed to disappear into nowhere.

Finally, Sakura snapped out of it. "Inner tells me to tell you that eating so much is not-"

Naruto held up his hand, food flooding out of his mouth. "Dun Rurry, Gagra-gan!" He mumbled. "Ih ferfctly fin."

Kakashi sighed. Sakura whacked the back of Naruto's head. "Inner says it's rude to speak with your mouthful."

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-  

The next day, Sakura accompanied Tazuna to the village while Sasuke and Naruto continued trying to climb their trees. Team Ten was also with them. Kakashi was off who-knows-were reading his explicit literature (Not porn).

Kakashi found himself back at Tazuna's house while he had been read-waling. He decided to stay there.

A few hours later, Tazuna came back looking pale. Sakura was behind him, shaking. This was unlike her, as she always ad her emotions in check.

Kakashi approached the girl. Tazuna quickly rushed off, leaving the Copy-Ninja with Sakura.

"Did something happen?" He asked.

"He grabbed my pouch, so I went and snapped his arm." Sakura blurted out. "But then I healed him afterwards." She quickly added. "But I don't know. Inner said I did the right thing, but..."

Kakashi ruffled the girls hair. "You should have sen how desperate the people here are. The man who tired to steal from you was willing to take form you to help himself. You healed him afterwards, right?" Sakura nodded. "Then it's okay."

Sakura's eyes brightened. "Okay.

Kakashi smiled.

"Where's Ruto and Suke? And Shika?"

"Still tree climbing" Kakashi told her.

The girl darted off, leaving Kakashi to his thoughts. Was it supposed to be that easy to convince the girl?

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-  

"Why do you try so hard?" Inari asked. "You're all going to die."

Ino glared at the boy, a 'Sasuke-kun is awesome' already on the tip of her tongue. Naruto glared at the boy, and he opened his mouth. However, Sakura beat him to it.

"How do you know?" She asked. "Why don't you prove it to us that all our hard work will end with us dying." She smiled cruelly. "Maybe then we'll believe you. But then again, you won't be able to tell us I told you so, cause you'll be dead already!"

Inari looked shocked for a moment before he scowled and ran off.

"Inner-chan, please return Sakura-chan's body." Naruto winced at the glare he received.

"I was merely protecting Kura-chan from a major headache." She snapped. "There is nothing wrong with that."

At the increasing hostility behind the glare shot his way, Naruto nodded rapidly. "Yeah! Nothing wrong...nothing wrong..."

Inner huffed and sat down on the closest chair around. She lay her arms onto the table then lowered her head. She closed her eyes, only for them to blink open a few seconds later.