soul_campaign | [ VIDEO ] ✿✿ [ March 5 ◦ Afternoon ]

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[ VIDEO ] ✿✿ [ March 5 ◦ Afternoon ]

[ When the screen comes to life it doesn't show a face or anything of the sort. Instead, there's a pair of feet with the remnants of green nail polish along the toes, surrounded by papers everywhere. Papers with various scratches on them litter the floor of a common apartment, notes taken in a hurry of the area and of the people she's seen in passing. Not that the owner of these feet have interacted with them, no, these are definitely the notes of being watched in silence. Maybe one of them is a bit too recognizable for one's liking, but there's not much time to read before the scene abruptly changes. The blur is quick and then suddenly there's a girl with an irritated expression on her face. Holding her hair back is a significant band and while it's a risk to be seen with it, there's a brave disposition in showing it so freely. Well, to her at least. For those who are unaware, it's just another accessory for a girl's hair. ]

So there's no button to just turn it on, no, it just decides when it wants to start recording. [ Clearly a novice, but a quick thinking one as it didn't take her long to realize it's working. ] That's how it is, huh? Telling me I'm the type that will probably need a second communicator because I'll shatter my first one. [ Twitch. Twitch. ] Turns out this thing is pretty resilient. I'm grateful, really. I don't need seven more years of bad luck.

[ The angle of the view changes as she seemingly balances the communication device on her knees, staring down at it with a curious look. After spending a few days here, the darkened proof of exhaustion has just about left her face, but etched in her expression is concern, almost as though she's worried about something unspoken. Her thoughts are never brought up thought as she waves her right hand as a nervous gesture, trying to lighten up the mood with a half-hearted smile. ]

Sorry, sorry. It's common procedure for those who are new to introduce themselves, right? [ Although she suspects that she's not alone here, hence why she chose to wear the protector. ] My name is Sakura Haruno. Now that that's out of the way, I have to ask a question.

[ With as serious of an expression one can muster when asking a ridiculous question: ] Is there a reason for the toys of Kakashi-sensei?

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[ ~~Take that stuff to adultff.net~~ ]

Yeah, I have. I wouldn't have said it if I wasn't! [ Now he's making her talk improper. Way to go, Naruto. ] Don't you remember?

[ Groaning................. ]

You don't know, do you? This is becoming more trouble than it's worth. We'll just talk about it when you show up here, alright?

[ Tossing her mirror onto the bed, she'll disappear 'off screen', presumably to get some last minute cleaning in. The sound of papers gathering up, crinkling and ripping, can be heard in the background to confirm this. ]

[~~Ahaha. Ahem. >_>~~]

[Whoops-- already upsetting her? What the hell he didn't say anything bad did he!?]

Uhm. Yeah. I'm just--

[Getting off the bed properly and wandering to the door again.]

See? I'll get right there. We can talk and stuff

[Apparently he's not talking to anyone though. Even so, he's grinning as he hurries out of his room, communicator still on in his hand. Nice shot of, the wall, then his side, then the wall, and back again-- and back again.

It's good to see her though, and the fact that they'll be able to talk is good. Even if he doesn't really want to think too much about back home, where things are as they are and there's nothing he can do to change any of it. Not from here, anyway.

They have to talk a little bit about it though. Right?

Oh, wait-- He's on the right floor but.]

Oi, Sakura-chan? Which number was it again?

I said the thirteenth floor! [ That's what he meant by number, right? At least she's still paying attention to the talking mirror long discarded in favor of notes. ] Don't tell me you forgot already!

[ Silly Naruto, don't you know? Everything has the high chance of upsetting Sakura.

Maybe she shouldn't be so quick to anger in this situation. While she's wholly frustrated at being placed in a strange world in the middle of a war when there's one she needs to be fighting back home, there's a big part of her that's relieved that Naruto was there with her.

Besides, if Sasuke ever made a return to this place, then what was it she was told? That he had a way of changing people, wasn't it? Sakura's witnessed it more than enough times on her own, but she always thought it was just coincidence. Maybe, just maybe, there was hope for a happy ending again.

What a naive manner of thinking. Statistics told her otherwise, so why expect anything else? Shoving her 'research' of the place thus far into a drawer, she spares a glance at the door, surprised it still hasn't been knocked over. ]

Naruto-kun, did you get distracted? [ Yelling back at the communicator. ] Thirteenth floor, letter M! It's not that hard to find!

"Yeah yeah, I knew that but--"

Mm, he's just going to have to try each door then, isn't it? In fact, he managed to get all the way to room G before there's another yell down the line of communication.

The moment that it takes for him to fully process what she's saying is a moment too long to stop him knocking on the next door - which he promptly pulls a face at-- and runs off, trying the handle of her door with a knock.]

Sakura-chan? Er-- quick?

[ Sakura makes a mental note that next time she should be the one to find him. Now they're going to possibly have a situation on their hands. ]

Sheesh. [ In a quick fluid motion, she'll open the door and try to grab at him with the full intent of dragging him into the room herself. ] Hurry up and get inside.

[He's just a little bit too busy staring at the door he'd just knocked on to realise that the door was open-- being yanked in was nothing new. Sakura was always pretty forceful about what she did but at least she might have warned him! No, verbal warnings obviously weren't good enough.]

ACK! Sakura!

Quick! Close it!

[Just shoving his whole self against the door. Nevermind the sound as it slams closed. Aha.]

[ She can warn him with her fists if the verbal warnings aren't enough. ]

What did you do? [ Naruto, she hasn't been here for a week yet, she doesn't need her neighbors to hate her. ] Oh forget it, that's not worth catching up on.

You need to tell me what you, wait, hold on. [ Releasing him (thank whatever gods this place has), she books it back to the bed to turn off that mirror. Then for extra measure, she tucks it into the pillowcase of her bed before turning back to Naruto. S.S.S.S. Super Secret Shinobi Stuff alright?? ] Alright, now tell me what you know.

Ijustknockedonthedoor. I thought it was yours.

[PUT THOSE FISTS AWAY. Come on, he hasn't even done anything yet.]

I guess they won't know it was me now? Heh. [Ahem.]

Er, okay? [He waits. Of course... and presses his lips into a pout before reaching up his own communicator, just-- turning it off and setting it down on the table beside him.]

Uhm. Okay, well... This place is huge, and there's this big war going on--

[ Sakura's in a permanent state of willing to deck Naruto though. She can't help it if her fingers curl up instinctively... ]

I didn't mean about this place, Naruto-kun! [ Dramatic sigh. It's her fault really for not being specific. ] What do you know about back home? I'm told some people remember things differently, so I just want to confirm we're on the same page.

[ And if not?
She needs to know what to keep a secret from him. ]

[He'd sort of gotten used to being able to detect that-- so that familiar tightening of fingers against her palm makes him recoil slightly.

Once he actually understood the question though, at least there was a little confidence to shine through in what he said.]

Right right-- [A quick look at her forehead was a quick reminder of what he already knew. Ah. Right, everyone wanted him to be away 'training' that must have been what she meant earlier...]

Well, there's the war right? Against that masked man. It's okay though, don't worry Sakura-chan, 'cause I got it all under control. Me an' Kurama.

You do? [ His confidence struck her in a manner unlike her briefly, as she looks him over. ] That's a rel---wait, what?

[ Who was this Kurama? Tilting her head to the side curiously, she looks him over as though wondering just how far behind she is. He spoke about the war and then mentioned someone by name, a someone Sakura's not sure she knows. ]

Um, who's Kurama? [ Apprehensively asking. ]

Yeah yeah! 'Course I do.

[The grin is still there, even as she asks that question and he realises how much he might have to explain--]

Oh. Right, that's Kyuubi's real name, y'know? I learnt a whole bunch of 'em, all of them, the bijuu I mean. I wish I could show you. I had to go to the waterfall of truth, an' fight this 'dark' me. Well, anyway after that I fought Kyuubi, but then he almost got the better of me, yanno? So, well when Mum an' Dad died they left a bit of 'em inside me?

[It's then that he very gently touches his stomach-- affectionately almost, there's a smile to match...]

I met Mum. She helped me fight him, and told me a bunch of stuff... you know, about how her an' Dad met. So, I can use Kurama's chakra now? Well-- I mean that was before but them me an' Bee went to the battle field. Iruka-sensei let me. I know, I know - but it's gonna be okay, trust me! Even Kurama's helpin' me out now.

[ All of that is a bit too much to take in at once and the kunoichi who normally can keep her cool in pressing situations felt herself even waiver at this thought. Maybe it's due to past experiences with that part of Naruto, but she's reluctant to really accept that a demon would help.

Swallowing hard, she does what she can to keep that part of her opinion to herself. Naruto's rarely like this and it would be in poor taste to kick him while he's exposed. ]

You met your mother? [ Her voice is soft, encouraging him to continue. ] Was it scary after all this time?

[Even he'd been on edge initially -- but things had changed now, and he had enough optimism to carry him through. Besides, if she'd been there if she'd seen the things he'd seen, heard the discussions they'd had she would probably accept it as readily as Naruto was doing.

It's nice-- that's she's asking him about how he is though, and for once he actually recognises that she's interested. Even though she'd told him she loved him, and that felt like such a long time ago, he never really accepted it. They were friends, all four of them, even if Sai and Sasuke would never meet, there was a bond between them that he would never allow to be broken.]

Ah-- It was... [Well he cried, but he's not going to tell you that.] It was really nice. She's-- got this real long red hair, yanno? She's real soft too, and pretty. I wasn't scared. Not really.

[ She's happy to hear that. Even if she doesn't know why her nose is runny, it's great to see that look on his face. The way he holds onto his stomach only makes the corner of her eyes well up, leaving her to quickly run a hand along them. ]

Naruto-kun... that's great. [ Long red hair though? She looks him over as she tries to picture how he would look with red hair. It's enough to make her let out a giggle even if she tries to contain it by covering her mouth. ] You'd look really strange with red hair!

[Luckily for you, Sakura-- and terribly unluckily for him he totally misses that very simple and telling gesture, too busy lost in his thoughts. Not until he hears her voice does he snap out of it, still wearing a proud grin.]

Ah-- Yeah. Guess it is, I mean--

[... Okay, so he'd thought about it too and... WHY ARE YOU GIGGLING LIKE THAT?]

Hey, it would have been really cool, dattebayo!

[ It's alright, she's used to being ignored, it comes with being a female in a Kisihmoto manga. ]

Because red and orange would clash badly. [ Laughing still. ] It'd be like a very spicy dish. You wouldn't be very subtle if you had hair like that.

[ Sniffle. ] So you're going to be okay?

[Well someone's got to do it. Hey! It could be worse. You could be what's her name? Yeah.]

Oi. It'd be amazin', yanno? [Just gonna grin, and lift his hand up to flick his hair, before doing a sort of piruet thing and drop down to sit on the bed there.]

Yeah. Reckon I've got it all under control.

[ Silly Naruto, there are no girls in this manga. Just really pretty boys. ]

You're not going to dye it or anything, are you? [ Because she already has a bias against redheads. ] If you want help with it, I guess I could offer my assistance.

[ As bitter as she would be, it's best that he gets help with it before he really ruins his hair. ]

I'm relieved to hear that. That means we can just focus on ending the war here instead, yeah? [ She's a tad bit eager to hear his response, but it's been a rough week. Enjoy the rare spike of attention in the meantime. ]

[... Sakura-chan... What're you saying?!]

What? My hair? [As if it needs pointing out he reaches up again, tugging some of it up to stand on end.] Mn, I kinda like it like this, just fine. Like my Dad, yanno?

[BEAMING, just for you.]

This war? Man, it's kinda harder than I thought but I reckon we can do that too. Just gotta find a partner and go out on all those missions...

[aaaand, if you thought he was on a downward slope with those thoughts, that grin he flashes might just change your mind.]

We can do it though. There's a whole bunch of real strong people here, even if we ain't got-- you know stuff from back home.

[ Would you like to find out? /eyebrow waggle ]

A partner? [ Tilting her head to the side. It shouldn't come as a surprise, but she needs the confirmation. ] Naruto-kun, don't you have a partner already? You've been here for a while, so I thought you would have already gone through all of that.

Even without that 'stuff' as you word it, we'll manage. I can think of a way. So just rely on me and I'll rely on you in return.

[... Is that honestly a question? YOU'RE NOT A MAN. You just-- have weird... manly strength.]

Er... Heh. [Oh boy. He's not good at this stuff is he?] Well - it takes a while t'get used t'this place, yanno? I guess - I mean I've been practisin' resonatin' with this girl Clare, but er---

[Oh hey! Topic change. Uhm, briefly.]

Yeah. That's kinda how it is, there's a bunch of us from back home, an' I reckon we're all lookin' out for each other right?

[ How do you know? Maybe this flower has a hefty stem =T ]

Yeah, I hope that's the situation, Naruto-kun. I've heard of a few others that were here. I'd like to be able to help where I can. Ah, but Clare...

[ Back to the other topic so quick! ]

Oh, so you do have a partner? [ Is that just a twinge of disappointment in her voice? ] I'll have to find a Meister right away. I don't know much about this resonating business, but I suspect it's better if you're with someone you can trust.

[ She'll just ask someone like Kakashi! ]

[D-Don't say things like that! =O]

Ah-- Well, I mean yeah we like resonated a couple of times but it ain't-- we ain't partners or anything.

[Uhm. That sounds completely normal. Was that disappointment? It's-- Sakura. The girl who lied. He's still struggling to deal with that but it's a different story here. Isn't it?]

I guess-- we could try too? Loads of people just train together and try and-- er, resonate and stuff, even if they ain't partners.

[ Somewhere out there someone has drawn it. ]

We could? [ Quickly adding on: ] They do? So there's no real loyalty or anything when it comes to trying to resonate with someone?

That seems so wrong. [ She mutters under her breath as she shifts uncomfortably. ] It's just like teamwork then, right?

[ VIDEO ] ✿✿ [ March 5 ◦ Afternoon ]

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