Third Person
Azumi glances up at the sky, the hot afternoon sun high above her and a soft breeze flowing through her hair. The young Kurokawa was currently on her way to a dango shop as she suddenly had a craving for the sweet treat. Her guard shinobi trailed behind her as she walked along a wooden fence before catching sight of her bright orange clad friend who was being supported by Sakura and Sasuke as they helped him walk.
"Sasuke! Sakura! Naruto" She calls out running slightly to catch up with them. It had been a while since the four of them had hung out as they've been busy with missions. They even just got back from a mission outside of the village to the land of waves. Sasuke had told her all about the mission when he got back. His story bringing a new found respect within Azumi towards her friends for defeating one of the Legendary Swordsmen of the Mist.
"Hey Azumi" Sakura calls out, all three of them stopping to wait for Azumi to catch up. Sasuke and Naruto greet her as well once she finally reaches them.
"Oh Naruto are you alright?" Azumi asks taking in her friends battered up appearance.
"Don't worry about him Azumi! And look at you Naruto, you're hopeless!" Sakura continues, turning her attention back to the boy to scold him. The four of them begin to walk in step, Azumi dismissing her guard as she is now in the company of her friends.
"Hn, you really are just one big problem" Sasuke adds smirking at Naruto which annoys him.
They say all this but I know they mean well, Azumi thinks to herself before she catches sight of their Sensei, Kakashi Hatake waiting ahead for them. She had met him a couple of times as he was a friend of her brothers and would sometimes go out on missions with him.
"Kakashi-san" Azumi says walking towards him and ignoring the three genin arguing behind her. He was immersed in a book and didn't look up at the girl until she was a few steps away from him. He always seemed to be reading the same books and when she had tried to ask him what the books were about her brother had made a fuss about Kakashi not reading those books in front of her.
"Ah Azumi, and what brings you here?" Kakashi says, closing his book and putting it in his pouch greeting her with a smile.
"I was on my way to get some dango but then I saw your team so I came here" She replies with her own smile, glancing behind her at the three who had now stopped a few steps away from them and were arguing. The two of them stopped their conversation as they watched the three of them continue to banter.
"Huh... I guess we're not making a lot of progress on the teamwork stuff eh?" Kakashi says aloud, stuffing his hands in his pockets. Azumi nods her head with a sigh.
"Yeah that's right our teamwork's all messed up and that's because of you Sasuke! You think you're better than everyone else!" Naruto yells out having heard Kakashi's comment. Sasuke just begins to walk away boredly.
"Not everyone, just you. Face it. I'm better and stronger than you are. It's a fact. Unless you have what it takes to prove me wrong?" Sasuke replies stopping in his tracks and looking back at Naruto in silent challenge. Azumi and Sakura mentally face palmed at the two.
Why do I feel like they've gotten worst? Sakura mentally groans.
Their little staring competition is broken up as a hawk star crowing above everyone.
"Anyway guys, let's call it a day. You can beat each other to a pulp some other day, I've got to file my report for this mission" Kakashi says looking at his book again that he took out during their argument before he disappears in a puff of smoke.
"Whatever I'm out of here. I'll see you later Azumi" Sasuke says, turning around and continuing to walk away.
"See you Sasuke" Azumi replies as she turns towards Naruto who is still glaring at Sasuke's back.
"Wait! Sasuke I'll go with you!" Sakura calls out enthusiastically running to catch up with him. Azumi looks towards her blonde friend who is staring sadly after Sakura who didn't hear him quietly call out to her.
"It's okay Naruto! I was going to go grab some dango if you'd like? We can even switch it up and go Ichirakus instead! Your choice" Azumi says with a warm smile, patting her friend on the back as she tried to comfort him. She was a bit taken aback at the small pit that began to form in her stomach when Sakura had run after Sasuke but chose to ignore it.
"Yeah, Ramen sounds good. Thanks Azumi" Naruto replied, a wide grin on his face as he was instantly comforted. Azumi smiling back at him happy that he accepted her offer. The two of them stopping their conversation just in time to hear Sasuke call Sakura annoying after she asked him if they could develop their teamwork alone.
"Don't worry Sakura! You and I can work on our teamwork together!" Naruto calls out with a big smile waving his hands around. Azumi looks at him with a raised brow.
I thought we were going for ramen, but I guess in the end he's just want to spend time with the girl he likes.
Azumi is then distracted by the sound of shuffling she hears behind her. She turns around to see a very poor disguise of a rock. It continues making its way towards them and she sees that Naruto has now noticed it too as he's looking at it suspiciously. He begins to walk forward but the object follows him. He then starts running back and forth however the box still continues to follow him. Azumi begins to chuckle at the scene in front of her.
"That's the worst disguise of all time! There's no such thing as square rocks! It's completely obvious!" Naruto yells, pointing an accusing finger at the box.
He's not wrong, I noticed it and I'm not even a ninja
"Heh, you saw through my disguise again! You're slick boss, just what I'd expect from my greatest rival!" A voice calls our from within the square rocks. It then explodes, colorful smoke surrounding the area as three kids reveal themselves. They begin coughing due to the large amount of smoke.
Azumis smiles as she recognizes the three who have begun introducing themselves and identifying themselves as the 'Konohamaru Ninja Squad' ending their introduction with a flashy pose. Azumi gives them a round of applause as she laughs at their little act.
"Hey it's big sis Azumi!" Konohamaru yells pointing a finger towards Azumi with a cheeky grin.
"Hello Konohamaru, Moegi and Udon" Azumi says with a little laugh. Moegi's eyes sparkling at the sight of the young Kurokawa, someone she looks up to.
"Ah Big sis Azumi! You look so pretty today! I love your kimono!" Moegi gushes running over to Azumi and holding her hands together, stars in her eyes.
"Thank you Moegi, you're looking quite beautiful yourself today too" Azumi responds pinching the small girls cheeks lightly.
"Heh, what else do you expect from my Big Sis? She's the most beautiful in the village" Konohamaru responds proudly, folding his arms and sticking his nose in the air. Azumi chuckles lightly beginning to get embarrassed by the childrens high praise.
"Huh? You know them Azumi?" Naruto questions, having stood there and watching their interaction in confusion.
"Yeah, I sort of grew up with Konohamaru. My mother was actually war orphan and was raised by Lord Third so I've been with Konohamaru since he was a baby. I met Moegi and Udon through Konohamaru during his first day of preschool" Azumi explains with a smile, Konohamaru nodding his head at every word.
"I see. So what's with those things? On your heads?" Naruto asks, putting his hands at the back of his head. Azumi looks at each of the children's heads and notices them all wearing a pair of green goggles on their heads, identical to the ones Naruto had wore when she first met him.
I see now, they look up to him, Azumi thought to herself smiling fondly at the young children in front of her.
"You used to wear goggles remember? So we're copying you!" Konohamaru stated, the three of them showing off their goggles proudly. Naruto just looked at them uninterested.
"Eh come on boss! Why are you being like that? You ought to be more excited!" Konohamaru yells out angrily.
"He is right Naruto, you should be really happy that you have such cute followers" Azumi adds with a giggle, ruffling Konohamaru's hair.
"Huh? Yeah. So did you guys want something?" Naruto asks still looking uninterested, Azumi just shakes her head at her friend.
"You know what we want! Aren't you busy now?" Moehi asks looking up pleadingly at Naruto.
"Hm, I have to train. Believe it!" Naruto responds, Azumi narrows her eyes playfully glaring at her friend.
"Seriously Naruto? First you agree to go with me for ramen, then you ask Sakura to work on teamwork with you and now you've got training?" Azumi replies pretending to be mad at her friend. He seems to genuinely believe that the girl is upset with him as he starts waving his hands nervously, frantically apologizing.
"Yeah! And you promised you'd play ninja with us today! Come on!" Konohamaru added also glaring at Naruto.
"Uh.. oh... did I say that?" Naruto asks, nervously chuckling as he sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.
"Huh? A ninja playing ninja? That is so twisted" Sakura finally adds, walking over glumly to the group.
"It is quite funny Naruto. Although, I do think you should keep your promise with them" Azumi tells Naruto with a chuckle.
"Yeah uh hey Sakura" Naruto says, completely disregarding what Azumi says. Azumi doesn't take it to heart, finding it amusing how much a person's demeanor can change with the person they like.
"Hey Boss! Who's that girl anyway?" Konohamaru says, the three younger ones looking at Sakura in curiosity.
"Ah! Oh I get it! You're a smooth operator boss! Come on... I know that she's your girlfriend" Konohamaru says smugly, pulling on Naruto's shirt. Azumi begins to laugh at Naruto, his face turning a bright shade of red.
"Well.. You can tell she's very crazy about me" Naruto replies proudly. Sakura not liking what the boy says gets angry and punches him across the face. Azumi and the kids quickly stop their laughter as they didn't want to be on the receiving end of Sakura's anger.
"What kind of girlfriend are you!" Konohamaru yells out angrily at the pinkette. Moegi and Udon running to Naruto to check whether he is alright.
"You're a witch! And you're ugly too!" Konohamaru screams making Sakura even more angry which earns him a punch as well before she begins to walk away.
"Konohamaru! Are you alright?" Azumi asks rushing over to the little boy, she shakes her head at the mess the two got themselves into.
"Konohamaru, you shouldn't say things like that about people" Azumi scolds the boy as she helps him up.
"I don't even think she's human! Did you see how wide her forehead is!" Konohamaru says, groaning in pain. Azumi is about to scold him again for commenting on another person's appearance when she notices Sakura stopping in her tracks. Sakura turns back around slowly to the group, a dangerous aura now surrounding her. Sensing the danger everyone immediately begins to run away from her.
Why am I running too Azumi thinks to herself running a bit behind Konohamaru who has managed to run further away. He doesn't watch where he's going, bumping into a person and falling down.
A boy who looks to be a bit older than Azumi, Naruto and Sakura grabs Konohamaru by the front of his shirt holding him up. He's clad in a black jumpsuit wearing a Sand Village headband with purple markings on his face.
This can't be good