Accidentally Uchiha || stuck in Naruto

Chapter 19 || Towards The Waves

Chapter 19 || Towards The Waves

It was early when the team met up at the gates. Ace had packed light, sealing only a spare set of clothes into a scroll and stuffing it into the bottom of her weapons pouch.

That sinking feeling in her gut had never truly faded away, her nerves set on edge as their mission grew closer. She had barely slept, the anxiety in her gut gnawing away at her.

As she approached the gate, there was only one other person there. A head of bright pink hair that had become quite familiar in the past week. Sakura was early, even earlier than Ace who had begun walking down an hour before their meet up time.

"Good morning Ace!" Sakura greeted enthusiastically, beaming brightly. "Are you excited for our mission too? You're just as early as me!" She exclaims.

Ace smiled politely in return, "good morning Sakura" she greeted, "Yeah I'm super excited." She lied hoping that maybe if she acted enthusiastic, she could trick herself into feeling it.

"I can't believe we're going on a C rank mission so early," Sakura started rambling as Ace found a comfortable place to sit down.

"Mm" Ace nodded in agreement, leaning against the visitors booth tiredly. The ninja inside paid the two girls no mind, hard at work behind the sliding panel.

"I mean, we just graduated!" She continued nervously, rocking on her feet lightly.

"None of us have even been outside of the village before," The girl kept muttering to herself, gesturing vaguely as if having a conversation with Ace, who hadn't responded in a good minute or two now.

"Sakura, did you get any sleep last night?" Ace questions, interrupting her mutterings.

Sakura freezes with wide green eyes, as if she was caught doing something wrong.

"W-what? Of course I did" she scoffs, crossing her arms, adverting her eyes from her friend on the ground.

Ace blinks doubtfully.

"If I look tired, it's just because I didn't have time to moisturise that's all." She deflects.

Ace nods with a hum. "That makes sense," she agrees.

A jolt goes through the air at her words, "What's that supposed to mean?!" Sakura whips around, an offended expression on her face. "Does my skin look bad?!" She squeals.

Keeping a blank expression on her face, Ace stares at up at the girl. "No, your skin is always perfect." She compliments genuinely.

"Then what do you mean it makes sense?!" She questions, stepping in closer, an irritated expression on her face. "What if Sasuke gets here and I don't look perfect." She fretts.

Ace scrunched her face up, "the last thing that dickweed would notice is if you look moisturised or not." She comments, rolling her eyes. "You're gorgeous Sakura don't even worry"

Sakura's face flushed red at the compliment "y-you think so?"

"Earlier I just meant it made sense, because you got here early." Ace explained, leaning her head against the booth and stifling a yawn "you wouldn't have had time,"

Sakura smiles bashfully before turning back to Ace, "did you get enough sleep last night?" She returned the question, noticing finally just how tired Ace looked.

Instead of responding Ace just patted the spot next to her, inviting Sakura to wait with her on the surprisingly comfortable stone path.

Sakura graciously takes the spot next to her, leaning back against the visitors booth as well.