Heroes [Naruto]

24 ; BETTER EVERY DAY

Tenzo smirked underneath his mask. "You could've ended it sooner," he looked at the small red haired girl.

"I tried doing it the harder way," she admitted, "it helped me realize something-- I'm not strong enough."

Tenzo stayed silent, nodding once. "You've shown some skill in the fight though, next stage show your strategy planning, and I think it'll be enough to pass. Though the whole thing with sitting in the tree and watching everything as your clones fight- kinda good too."

"Thanks, Mr. Tenzo."

"Now get on, Kakashi and Sasuke are here, you should go and see them before his fight starts."

Ushio nodded, rushing off. 

"USHIO! THAT WAS SUCH A COOL MOVE! SITTING ON A TREE THE WHOLE MATCH, THAT WAS SO COOL!" Naruto fussed, making Ushio laugh.

"I actually thought the whole fight was kind of lame," she laughed nervously. "Yours was the best," she flattered, giving Sasuke a glance. "Could you beat it?"

"Is that even a question?" he scoffed. 

"Well, obviously. Naruto gave Neji's ass a proper beating," Ushio smirked. "Well, either way," she gave Gaara an uneasy glance. "You should go, Sasuke. Your match's starting," Gaara stared disappearing, grains of sand slowly trailing down. "He's kind of creepy, so be careful."

Sasuke nodded, "I'll take it as a goodluck."

"Sasuke, you better not lose!"

"We might fight each other," he smirked. Ushio turned to the side, looking at Kankuro as he told Temari something quietly. Kankuro caught her looking, looking grim. Ushio frowned, not understanding the look on his face. He gave a small smile.

"Good fight," he complimented.

"Thanks, Just Kankuro."

"I'll be heading down," Sasuke said simply.

"I'm gonna go to where the crowd is," Kakashi said, the two of them leaving.

"Oi, Naruto," Shikamaru said. "Shouldn't we tell Kakashi about what we saw...?"

"Oh, right!" Naruto gave an uneasy look towards where Gaara and Sasuke were now, and they ran off after Kakashi, leaving Ushio with Kankuro and Temari.

"Where's Shino?" she wondered, looking around. He was always a weird one; she didn't dislike him, or anything, it just said a lot about  a person when his bugs are friendlier. Kankuro shrugged silently, stepping closer to the railings. 

Temari's face was one of embarrassment. "Of all times..." she mumbled. "Kankuro, I need to go to the bathroom real quick," she informed quietly, "I'll be back in a moment."

"Sure," he waved off, feigning his distracted tone.

Temari walked off, leaving the two on their own. "Ushio," he said, voice tense. "You know where's the shelter?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Go there, and stay there."

"Huh?" she turned to look at him, confused. Nothing added up. 

"Just do it," he requested.

"But what about the next stage? What are you talking about? The shelters only open at emergencies." Kankuro squeezed the railing in anger. 

"Have it your way." he huffed, walking off.

Ushio furrowed her eyebrows, turning to the fight for a moment, before it felt like something slammed into her brain. Everything suddenly made sense.