Desert Flower

Sora

  "Sayuri, help me!" Naruto whined while coming up behind me.

  "What's wrong now? Mission go wonky?"

  "Mission got something." Naruto shot his eyes to the side, and I looked at the dark-haired male standing a few feet away. His hair was straight and cut below his jaw, his eyebrows were small, and his eyes were brown. He also was dressed like a monk with one arm entirely covered by a longer sleeve.

  "Aw, you made a new friend?" I gave a toothy grin, and Naruto narrowed his eyes at me. "Well, your friend is picking a fight with Akamaru now."

  "What?!" The blond spun to see the boy baring his teeth at a snarling Akamaru. "This is bad! If Kiba sees this...."

  "I got it. Akamaru!" I called out, and the dog's head perked up as his tongue lolled out of his mouth. "Come here." I waved my hand at the dog, and he bounded over and shoved his nose into my hand.

  "Are you his owner?" The boy stood up and gave me a dirty look.

  "No, just a friend." I replied while ruffling Akamaru's ears.

  "Well, tell his owner to keep him on a leash and teach him not to howl."

  "How about you don't pick a fight with a dog big enough to fit your head in his mouth?" I suggested while looking at the boy, and he paused under my gaze. He opened his mouth as if to snap back with something else but nothing came out. Instead, his brows furrowed even further and his cheeks were dusting pink. "Naruto, what's wrong with your friend? He can't possibly be speechless with anger already." I muttered to the blond next to me.

  "Honestly, your guess is as good as mine." Naruto looked just as confused while crossing his arms.

  "Hey, you okay? You're not sick, are you?" I questioned the boy while brushing some of my hair behind my ear that had been blown into my face by the breeze.

  "No!" His entire face was red now as he had his hands in fists. Quirking up a brow, Naruto and I exchanged glances.

  "Akamaru! So this is where you went!" Kiba walked up, and the dog bounded over to him. "Hey, Sayuri. Naruto."

  "Kiba, hey!"

  "What's with the sunburnt guy staring this way?" Kiba raised a brow, and Naruto rubbed the back of his head.

  "He's actually on my team now. His name's Sora."

  "I'm not sunburnt! And I'd never be on a team with that goon!"

  "Whatever! Just shut up, Sora!"

  "No fighting, guys." Choji called out while stuffing his mouth with chips. "Let's all stop getting worked up and try to get along-"

  "Beat it, fatty." Sora popped off, and we all froze as Choji dropped his chips.

  "You just called me....fatty, didn't you?"

  "So what?" Sora taunted.

  "Oh, crap...."

  "Okay! Time for a battle royale! Mangy mutt, mangy mutt's owner, and the fatty!"

  "Who're you calling a mangy mutt?!" Kiba snarled, and Akamaru barked.

  "You called me 'fatty' again." Choji shot behind Sora and started shaking the daylight out of him. "I'm not fat! I'm just husky!"

  "Idiot! Stop it!"

  "Okay! Hold him still, Choji!" All four of the boys fighting fell into the bushes, wrestling around while Akamaru was still barking.