Serenity

Ch. 39; Part 2

PART 2

The pinkette bristled. How dare Naruto do this?! Steam was bursting from her ears. Enough so that it fogged up her vision. "Hm?" She hummed confused. She turned to see that the steam shrouding her vision was from behind the screen door.

Hesitantly Sakura stalked to the door and slid it open just a bit. What she saw made her turn red in embarrassment. How could she not figure it was the bathroom she was in-well the changing room connected to the bathroom.

Tsubaki who sat in the hot water turned slightly hearing the sliding door. She saw Sakura, whom was as red as her dress. "Sakura?" Tsuki questioned genuinely confused. "Oh. Are you taking a bath too? Here I'll move over..." Tsubaki scooted away from the middle to one of the corners of the five foot tub.

"Ah..." Sakura strangled out not knowing what to say. "Why are you still in your clothes?" Tsuki asked pointing out the pinkette's dirt and moss covered clothing.

Sakura looked down at her clothes and realized just how dirty she was after the trip from Konoha to this village. 'I guess a bath doesn't really sound that bad. But I'm not doing this for you Naru-baka!!!' 

Sakura nodded to Tsubaki and slid the door back shut and got out of her clothes. Securing a white towel around her she reopened the door and stepped inside. She couldn't help but to release a sigh of contempt feeling the steam weave itself into her slightly chilled, tense skin.

Breathing in deeply the girl turned to the showers quickly scrubbing away the dirt and grime so she didn't dirty the steamy water within the tub.

Once cleaned she walked over a little self-conscious and set herself into the hot water. "You've been quieter than normal...You're not scared of me are you?" Tsubaki spoke up, startling the young Haruno. "I-" Tsubaki turned to look at the taller girl, her head tilted, listening to the shuddering sounds as they tried to make words.

"There is nothing to be afraid of...I'd protect everyone of you with my life...I'm sorry I set off on you earlier today...Even though you need to know these things I could have said everything less...harshly." Tsubaki spoke to Sakura. The preteen looked at the blonde with wide eyes not expecting that to be said.

Feeling enough courage course through her bloodstream Sakura opened her mouth. "I want to prove a civilian born could make just as a good of a ninja as a ninja clan born."

Tauki looked over at the pinkette. An eyebrow rose upward. Eyes twinkling with happiness. "You've remembered why you wanted this career in the first place?" Taubaki asked delighted.

"That's a good reason. Working hard to prove something. And I'm glad it isn't like those other girls in our class. They literally came there because their mothers wanted to be the grandparent's of the last Uchiha's children. Boosting their money funds even higher." Tsuki said nodding to herself.

She's seen it personally. While taking a walk in the dead of night she has overheard a few so called mothers trying to whore off their daughters to appeal to the eyes of the Uchiha.

They even said 'If the boy is gay he'll grow straight the moment he sees you.' to their daughters and approved of the silly school girl's crush on a boy and not the type of work they signed their child to if they did somehow pass the true genin test.

Sakura hearing what the blonde said wrinkled her nose in disgust. That was just-just ew. It didn't sound right and the feeling of once falling into the same category sent shivers of disgust. She never wanted that. There is a true reason why she is in love with the last loyal Uchiha. And the looks are just bonuses.

Tsubako noted the nose wrinkle and shiver in confusion. "You...you are actually in love with the Uchiha?" She asked confused. Sakura looked down bashfully. "Yeah...but let's...let's not talk about that now." Tsuki nodded silently sinking into the hot water in thought.

"What's your motivation on this line of work?" Sakura asked, hugging her legs. "I...I once was used as a weapon to destroy and destroy. I took away not gave back. I was just a tool formed to deliver ruthless death...I hate what I once was. So I'd rather be a shield...a tool to protect, to nurture." Tsuki said looking at the swirling steam as it danced in front of her face.

Lost in a memory of long ago where she was just taught childishness and felt the love of a family. Only to watch it crumble and burn to toxic ash.

"So you do this to protect the people you care for?" Sakura asked calmly liking that reason to do this. To be a knight of shadows and death. "No." Tsubaki said firmly, shaking her head.

"Not just the people I love with my heart. But every person. Every single one I see as friend. Every innocent. That motto that you said is my brother's but it is a lot like mine since I swear he can make friends with anyone he tries to do so."Tsuki joked slightly smiling. Sakura snorted at this relaxing into the bath.

"Hm. Yeah Naruto. He...he seems different all of a sudden..." Sakura said looking up her eyebrows scrunched up together as she thought about it. "He isn't suddenly different...He is coming out of his secrecy. You'll know more soon enough it's just not my place to say anything."

"But be open minded. Both of us had harsh childhoods. Calling for different things to survive this world till we found each other." Sakura nodded in agreement she has heard the sorrow in her father's voice whenever talking about these two.

She could never understand why but now learning that they weren't always with each other. Tsubaki was with a mad man. And Naruto...she wasn't entirely sure how he was affected yet.

Sakura shifted lifting her hand to study her pruning fingers. "Maybe we should head out soon. My fingers are pruning." She said. Tsuki nodded standing up; her hair flew down like a veil covering her body almost in strategic places. Sakura couldn't help but to stare at the blonde's chest in annoyance and jealousy.

Tsubaki stretched not seeing the irritated glance Sakura made to her chest. "The water is quite chilled now. We should head out, and rest. I sensed Naruto already set up multiple layered traps around the property. Not even a jonin will be able to get through. So we can risk some rest..." Tsubaki said stepping out of the water strolling to her dry white towel.

Grabbing it she grabbed the second one originally for her hair and handed it to the standing pinkette. Sakura grabbed it wordlessly watching the blonde make her way to the changing room.

"Tsuki wait!" The blonde stopped turning her head slightly to look at the taller girl. "Hm?" "We...Could we be friends?" The blonde's eyes widened amazed, her entire body stiffened as thoughts whirled around her mind.

Relaxing Tsubaki smiled brightly at the pink haired girl. "Hmmm Yeah. But just because I'm now your friend doesn't mean I'll go easy on you when training comes about!" Tsbaki told her leaving the bathroom and closing the sliding door behind her with a smile painted on her lips.

While back in the bathroom Sakura felt a swell of happiness swell inside her. "Really?!" Sakura shouted in joy as she followed the blonde quickly drying herself off and entering the changing room as well.

That's part 2, lastly part 3
Hope you like it!
Love, Kisacatdemon