Sakura recoiled in shock as the words left her sister's mouth, never would she have thought her sister, ever so forgiving and kind, would use that kind of tone with her. Shiori had always abode her every command, even when she screamed hate against her or when she snapped at her for caring about her diet, her sister had always been nice and forgiving towards her. Never had Shiori raised her voice, much less speak in that tone towards her, Sakura felt guilty all of a sudden, and mad. She must've pushed her sister too far, but what gave her the right to speak with her that way, it was her own life, Shiori can't run the way she lived. Sakura kept quiet and looked away if she ignored Shiori long enough she knows her sister would apologize and they can be happy again.
Perhaps she should feel bad, but truthfully speaking, she doesn't. Shiori can't bring herself to feel even an ounce of guilt even if her words were harsh.
"... Shiori-chan?" Shiori glanced to her right at Naruto who was fidgeting and had his eyes flickering around anxiously. "Yes, Naruto-san?"
"Do you really believe killing is the solution to everything?" he blurted out as soon as she replied to him. Shiori steeled her nerves and gave a sad smile to Naruto, "Never. I believe protecting is."
Naruto looked confused for a moment before he continued his questions, "Then why do you say we must kill?"
"Because," Shiori started, mind flashing to the tragic Chunin exam she had those years ago, a familiar face flashed in her mind, how the tanto she held sealed away was stabbed through the other's chest. With a sad smile in place and eyes closed, Shiori continued, "Sometimes, to protect those you love, you have to do everything you can– even if it means to kill."
Naruto straightened himself, "And if I am able to protect the people I love without killing?"
Shiori widened her eyes a little and give a small grin, "Then you're strong, Naruto-san. I'm not as strong, but I know I will do anything I can to protect those I love."
"Then from now on, I'll follow my own way! I'll protect everyone without the need to reduce to any type of violence! I'll never go back on my word, that's my nindo, dattebayo!" Naruto gave a shit-eating grin. "I'll protect you too, Shiori-chan, so you don't have to be hurt anymore!"
Shiori widened her eyes and broke into a series of giggles, "Of course, Naruto-san, in return I'll protect you too."
"What? You don't need to!" Naruto puffed his chest up, "I'm a man!"
"Of course," Shiori replied easily, she unconsciously allowed a smile to slip onto her face. As she listened to Naruto babble about Ramen or the arguments he had with Tazuna she failed to see the look of contemplation on Sasuke's face, the soft smile Kakashi had behind his mask, and the look of frustration on Sakura's face.
As they got into the sampan, Shiori sat all the way towards the edge of it, distancing herself from Sakura who had seated herself at the very front, right behind where the boat owner stood. Shiori was accompanied by Kakashi - and his beloved book - who took a seat across of her and Sasuke who sat quietly beside Kakashi. Shiori lifted her left sleeve up a little to reveal multiple black lines, each line indicates one storage seal, Shiori proceeded to push Chakra into the line closest to her palm and unsealed a book she had been reading, it was titled "Reincarnation", a story which centers around a woman who was reborn into their world from a world like no other. As Shiori flipped the page, someone called her. Shiori lifted her head and lowered her book, "Yes, Uchiha-san?"
"How is it that you do not have any luggage?" He inquired, lips curved down into a minuscule frown and eyes narrowing. Shiori suppressed the urge to frown back before answering, "Storage seals. I drew storage seals on my body in forms of tattoos."
