Nature's Friend

Calm Entrance

''I am so hungry!'' Naruto exclaimed loudly after an hour of walking, his stomach growling furiously to add to his statement. He clutched his belly and pouted. ''Can't we travel faster, Sensei?'' He complained to Kakashi, his big, ocean blue eyes sperred wide open. 

Kakashi offered his student a fake close-eyed smile as he glanced at him from the corner of his eye. ''We are travelling at Shizen's pace, so behave.'' Before Naruto could interject, I smiled broadly. ''In that case, shall we hurry it up, my new friends? I've been dying to try out the Leaf's Ramen.'' Sasuke scoffed, his onyx eyes glaring down at me. Why am I so small!?

''Can you even run without dying?'' He questioned me coldly, arching a brow. ''You are as thin as a twig, despite your obvious muscle build.'' He continued to list off reasons on why I wouldn't be able to make it, but my smile remained firmly on my face. I refused to feel any sort of negative emotion to anyone. ''That's quite alright, Sasuke-san. Its sweet of you to worry, but I think you all wouldn't be able to keep up with me. Kakashi-san might be able to, but not for long.''

''Alright, we'll race ya! Loser buys dinner, believe it!'' Naruto yelled loudly, fistpumping the air as he thought of an easy win and free ramen. Sakura rolled her eyes, but even she seemed determined to see the race between the boys and me. ''That sounds like a plan. Since I don't have any money, I just have to win to taste the ramen then.'' I fell quiet for a moment, before I blushed in embarassment, glancing up at Kakashi. ''E-eh, Kakashi-san? Can you point me in the right direction?'' I breathed out nervously, realising I had no idea which way Konoha was. Naruto burst out in laughter, and even Sasuke had to covered up his smirk.

I huffed at their laughter,  my cheeks dusting pink as they puffed up in a pout. Kakashi had to swallow a coo at my adorableness before he nodded his chin in a certain direction. ''Just straight down that way for a few miles.'' He ended the explanation with an encouraging nod, clearly hoping that I won from his team. ''Arigato, Kakashi-san! You are really kind.'' I rambled a continuous cycle of thanks and compliments about his kindness until one of his gloved hands covered my mouth. Is that pink crawling up from underneath his mask? Is he blushing?

''Y-yes yes, we know you are grateful. Now what happened to the plan of racing to win free ramen?'' He swiftly attempted to change the subject, and succeeded. I nodded hyperly and slipped free from his grasp, watching the two boys at either side of me. ''Ready, Sasuke-san, Naruto-san?'' Both boys gave a determined nod. I stared down the direction Kakashi had pointed. ''Go!'' I yelled loudly, the two boys dashing off in a mad sprint. 

I covered my mouth with my hands to muffle the giggle that slipped out as I saw them running as if their lives depended on it. Kakashi's head snapped in my direction at the muffled noise, and he cleared his throat before he managed to speak. ''Aren't you supposed to run with them in order to win?'' He questioned curiously. I blinked once, twice and a third time before I flailed my arms and my face turned red. ''Right! I knew that! I'll see you at the gates, Kakashi-san, Sakura-san!'' I huffed and added chakra to my feet, before launching off in a mad sprint after the boys.

I closed my eyes while I ran, letting my feet dig into the dirt with each step, the sound echoeing throughout the ground and vibrating objects and people on it. In my head, I could form a mental image of my surroundings without having to open and use my eyes. (like Toph from Avatar) I gathered the wind around my and with a swift handsign, it started to push me forwards. I was running so fast that to the naked eye, I was invisible. To a trained eye, I was a blur speeding by. Within seconds, I had found the boys and ran past them, coming to a sudden stop infront of the huge gates that allowed enterance to Konoha.