𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐤𝐢 | ɴᴀʀᴜᴛᴏ ꨄ︎ ꜱʜɪᴘᴘᴜᴅᴇɴ

Dyed Hair

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✧˖*°࿐

The instructions to a bottle of white dye have me squint at the small words in contemplation. A river of water streams right next to me where I sat on a rock, enjoying the sounds of nature.

After a long journey from the northern hideout, I and this new team of mine took a pitstop in a random village bordering the land Sasuke's guiding us currently to.

I don't really have any idea why or what Sasuke's after since we haven't picked up the scent of Itachi. Let alone Kabuto, for that matter.

"You need help with that or something?" Karin asked from behind, not surprising me of her appearance.

Her reflection was showing in the river next to mine.

"What?"

"Are you deaf?" She leaned her face toward me, glancing at the bottle of dye. "I was wondering why you went off and bought something random from a merchant. You wanna dye your hair, huh?"

I nod, quirking a brow at her. Karin wasn't one to get involved with me. When we first met three years ago, she took one short glance at me and couldn't speak a squeak out. Now she's carelessly talking like that never happened.

"Black isn't my colour." I look back at the rippling reflection below.

"Obviously." Karin insulted.

Man, she's a hard case.

"Eh? What's going on here?" Suigetsu appeared from the surrounding forest with a handkerchief at his sweating neck. "Thanks for this, by the way." He winked, throwing the cloth to me.

I catch it and shove it into my pouch without a further look.

Sasuke and Juugo were busy getting supplies elsewhere.

"Just thinking of a switch-up." I sighed, popping open the lid to peek down at the white cream-like liquid.

"Really? I didn't think you cared about stuff like that!" Suigetsu excitedly grinned, already at my other side.

Karin tightened her jaw. I couldn't help but notice how she genuinely could not stand being in his presence.

"So, you're dyeing it white? Have fun looking like an old person." Karin pulled a face, turning around to storm off toward our camp.

"Hey! Mine's a light blue, actually! What a bitch." Suigetsu spat, patting at a strand of his white-like hair. The insult definitely felt directed more so to him than me.

An incredulous snort escapes me. "So much for 'need help?'."

Suigetsu stretches his arms out behind me, smirking. "I'm better help than her, Suki-chan. Leave it to me, a pro!" His thumb pointed to the teal ends of his straight hair.

"Let's get this over with." I chuck the bottle over my shoulder, watching through my peripheral vision as he caught it and hurriedly began lathering his hands with the dye.

Suigetsu then ran his fingers through my messy hair, commenting on how unkempt it was. Unbothered, I zone out to gaze ahead of me where endless forest stretched. It was rather nice... view, I mean.