Chasing After You || Itachi

Ch. 2 - Operation Get Closer

"If you don't beat him, you're not eating tonight, brat!"

Tora clenched her fists as she stared down her opponent. The male in front of her smirked as the sun caught on his two week old hitai-ate. He crouched down onto all fours, positioned to lunge at her again. "Ready for me, Tora?" His name was Ashi Inuzuka, a cousin of Hana and Kiba who lived towards the back of the Inuzuka compound. Recently, he graduated from the Academy at age twelve. His companion, Shiromaru, was comfortably lying under a tree next to a portable water bowl and gazing at the two humans in front of him.

The ten year old female crouched on all fours as well, mimicking his position. She didn't respond, so the male took that as his cue to continue the spar. Tora opted to stay towards the ground, giving her an advantage to use her speed to its utmost ability. When given an opening, she threw her arm out and swiped at the older boy's body. Instead of going for his torso like he thought, she swiped at his face and snatched off his hitai-ate while leaving a deep scratch mark down the side of his face. Shiromaru immediately jumped up and ran over, barking at the little girl.

"That's it! Let 'em have it!" Tsume smirked as Tora held up the headband victoriously. Assuming she had won, she let her guard down and didn't expect Ashi to tackle her to the ground, wrestling her in order to retrieve his hitai-ate.

It had been three years since Tora found out that her crush had a girlfriend. Trying her hardest not to be disheartened, she focused on hanging out with her best friend instead. No matter how hard she tried to push it away, she still liked Itachi Uchiha. She didn't really talk to Izumi outside of class, nor did she feel a reason to. In a couple months, they would be able to take the graduation test so the female was excited as she was trying to make sure she passed so she could see Itachi more.

"Get offa me!" Tora hissed once she recovered from having the wind knocked out of her lungs. As she laid on her back with Ashi on top of her, she clawed at his face repeatedly. Once Ashi got a hold of his hitai-ate, he clambered off of her, tying it back overtop his forehead and feeling the scratch marks that littered his face.

Tsume walked over to the two with her hands on her hips. She stared down at Tora before flicking the child in her forehead, causing the girl to cry out in pain. "You never let your guard down until you know the fight is finished and your opponent is down. Go with Ashi to the clinic."

"Do I still get to eat?" Tora asked as she rubbed her slightly bruised forehead. Tsume ignored her question and turned around to walk back inside the house. The little girl huffed and turned around, heading towards the clinic with Ashi at her heels.

Ashi pet the top of her head with his signature smirk. "Don't worry, kid. She's not gonna let you starve. Your speed was pretty impressive. If you want to get faster, you should start practicing with weights."

Tora swatted at his hand and fixed her hair. "Thanks. I'll think about it." Ashi laughed at her response, but Tora's pout stayed etched on her face. The Inuzuka matriarch was usually pretty set with the things she said, so she might not be eating tonight after all.

When the duo reached the clinic, they stepped inside and walked past the receptionist with small waves of acknowledgment. Once they reached the last room on the right, Tora knocked on the door. Given the okay to go in, she slid the door open and walked inside. The room was a clean lab used to create medicine. Jaga was standing behind the lab bench in her medic garb and her hair tied back in a low, short ponytail. She greeted the children with a soft smile before walking over and inspecting their scratches and bruises.

"You really did a number on his face, Tora." Jaga examined the shallow scratches littering the boy's face, then moved to the much deeper gash along the side of his face. "Honestly, next time you two should go to a shinobi clinic. This is an animal hospital." She sighed before standing up straight and pulling Ashi to an empty lab stool. "Hana, get me the first aid kid and salve."