Contrary to popular belief, rabbits are neither defenseless nor harmless. Particularly if you wake up next to one and startle it.

The training with Sakura is going better than expected. Despite her inexperience and undeveloped combat skills, she's proven to be a fast learner. I was glad to find that she has something of a talent for defense. Nothing to brag about, but I'm proud, in a way I have hope for her.

Not that I ever doubted my judgment...

( Private to self )

While reorganizing my tent this morning--again; if I had known Sakura did so much flailing in her sleep, I would have been sure to move anything potentially dangerous the first night--I found a piece of poetry that I'd written down a while back. I first discovered it in the library a few months ago, and unfortunately, in my endeavor to remember the ( Read more... )

December 28, 17 AR:I'll admit it's a comfort to be back, but the change in climate could have been better. I've just crossed the border into the Fire country and I'm already missing the scenery of Tea--everything was so much more alive, not to mention warm. That's the cost of living in a northern country ( Read more... )

I'd like to think that brief instant wasn't enough to catch my magic signature, but I don't dare to hope. They were Akatsuki, after all, and they were on guard from the beginning. Even so, I have only been in the presence of the blonde one--Deidara, as I was recently reminded--in my true identity before; that was so long ago that I wonder if he ( Read more... )

( Read more... )

Hmm, yes, I seem to be doing this long after everyone else has (shut up, Lee), but...

1 - Sakura
2 - Asuma
3 - Kurenai
4 - Anko
5 - Lee
6 - Gai
7 - Rin
8 - Naruto
9 - Chouji
10 - Tenzou Yamato
11 - Neji
12 - Shizune

( Better late than never, ne? )

I can't say I regret my choice at this point. It's difficult to imagine that all of the rebels will agree with me, but I was not heedless of the consequences when I agreed to Sakura's request. Whatever the future may bring, in the end, my actions will have ultimately been the catalyst in her involvement.

What's strange is that I didn't even ( Read more... )

The sky erupted in color once again, a sequence of multicolored shades draping over the white city that rested on the horizon. Around Kakashi, the indiscernible trees were momentarily visible as they lit up in tints of red, green, and gold, only to fall back into darkness as the fireworks faded ( Read more... )

With a moan that he didn’t attempt to conceal, Kakashi stepped into the Blue Butterfly, running a hand through his untidy hair. The familiar din of chattering and dishes clinking helped rouse him, but he guessed that his one visible eye was still drooping from fatigue. He swiftly evaded a woman with a tray before making his usual route, a winding ( Read more... )