[OP: "Rio Grande"--The Oh Hellos]

"Mama, can we go?" Haruki tugged at Ami and whined.

"They're talking to their friends," Ami told her with a firm look. 

"I'm tired," Haruki said anyway. "And cold."

"Yeah, we've walked 1000 miles," Daiki began to whine too.

"Not even close," Eichi said. "Besides, you didn't even walk for most of it."

But that didn't appease his siblings.

"I don't want to walk anymore," Emiko sniffled. "I want to go home."

"We don't have a home," Yui snapped at them. "Be quiet."

"Yui, please," Ami said. "They're tired."

"Don't spoil them, Ami," Yui replied. "They'll think they can get away with it with you."

"But you know they don't mean it. There's no need to make them more upset," Ami began to argue with her.

The kids, seeing that their mom was distracted, began to cry or else bicker with each other more.

"Oh, the joys of having kids," Dabi said to Hanabi. 

"Hinata and I never act like that," she said primly.

Hinata smiled faintly. "I remember you once threw a tantrum about not getting to eat mochi for dinner."

"What? That was...I was 3, wasn't I?" Hanabi said.

"Well, some of them aren't that much older," Hinata said.

"No way, 6 and 8 are way older than that and too old to be throwing tantrums," Hanabi insisted.

"Glass houses, Firecracker," Dabi said. "I've known grown men who throw tantrums... I mean, they had major issues, but still."

"If you mean Shigaraki, I think he's a special case," Shoto said. "My father would never allow this behavior...not that that's a good sign."

"And for once maybe the old man is right." Dabi felt weird saying that. "This is pretty irritating."

Sai took out his pen and made some small drawings.

They jumped up and turned into rabbits and chipmunks and jumped in front of the kids.

They were so surprised they stopped talking.

"Oh, that again," Daiki said. "Those are cute little rodents. That's not that cool. Can you make...oh, I know--a big elephant."

Sai didn't want to use that much paper.

"Maybe one that's small--we could have it fight the other stuff," Asahi said.

Sai looked a bit horrified at that idea. "Fight?"

"Yeah, yeah," Daiki said. "And maybe we could get a lion too."

"I don't know about that..." Sai felt this idea had backfired on him big time.

"I like the bunnies," Haruki said, picking one up. "Can I have a real pet bunny?"

"Uh...we'll see," was all Ami was willing to say.

But at least they weren't crying anymore.

"Wow..." Ino was impressed. "Sai, that was some quick thinking. How did you know to do that?"

"Oh, I suppose because I tried it once before and it worked," Sai mused. [This is canon. It happens in "Sai's Day Off", which is a cute episode.] "That's how my brother and I used to amuse ourselves with that jutsu."

"I love a guy who's good with kids," Camie said. "Maybe you should be a teacher, Sai."

"I...don't know if that's a good idea." Sai was just a bit too aware of his own weakness at this point.

"I'm good with kids," Bakugo said to Camie.

"Well...yeah," Camie said. "I mean, as good as I am. Didn't Wally train you in that?"

"Sure, he said to just act tough without scaring them and kids like that," Bakugo said.

"And did you pull that off?" Shoto asked him with interest.

"Shut up," Bakugo said. "Of course I did. Did you?"

"I never thought I was bad with kids," Shoto said. "Only they said I had 5--"

"Don't finish that," Bakugo cut him off. "You want those little brats to hear you?"

Shoto thought better of it.

"Five what?" Sasuke didn't get it.

Camie made some signs at him that he must have understood. He looked put out. "That's disgusting."

"That's kids," Camie said. "Some kids anyway.... Those ones were delinquents. Bakugo fit right in."

"Shut up," Bakugo said to her too. 

"You shut up,." Camie winked at him.

Bakugo smirked. That was a call back to one of their exchanges at the time.

"Is that supposed to be a healthy relationship?" Sasuke wondered.

"Since when do you care?" Shoto asked blandly.

"I don't," Sasuke said more sullenly.

Meanwhile Guy and Iruka had been filled in by Lee and Naruto on--some of the team's activities. 

But they left out the parts that might have raised too many questions.

Guy did ask Momo more about her abilities, and she really didn't know what to tell him, but he found the answer of "divine gifts" pretty intriguing anyway.

"I guess we should introduce our other guests," Shine said finally. "We're escorting them from Stone Village... They're...refugees of a sort, I guess. This is Ami--do you have a last name, Ami?"

"No," Ami said. "I'm not from a big clan, I'm afraid."

"Ami and her son Eichi--they're ninja," Shine said. 

Eichi nodded politely.

"Eichi is going to join us as our Land of Earth representative," Shine added.

"Someone so young?" Iruka said. "That's impressive. How did he earn such an honor?"

"He helped us route some bandits out of Stone Village. Long story," Wally said.

He didn't add that Eichi had been working for the bandits at the time--not by choice, but it didn't seem to matter to shinobi about that.

"It was nothing." Eichi was embarrassed by it.

Ami bit her lip. "Yes...well, we should be thanking you, really, for all your help."

"They're going to Leaf Village now," Gaara said. "Kakashi said it was okay."

"Oh, did he?" Guy said. "He didn't mention it to us."

"You must have left after he got our message," Temari reasoned. "But since you're here, you and Lee and Suzushi can take them the rest of the way. We need to head toward Cloud."

"We could make up our lost time?" Gaara said.

"No, but we could at least not add more," Temari said.

"Well, better than nothing. I have a bad feeling they may get impatient if we keep delaying," Gaara said.

He was quite right about that, but they didn't know it yet.

"Okay..." Iruka said. "Well, this is unusual, but if it's all right with Kakashi, then we have no reason to question it."

"You could have a little reason--" Dabi began, and Shoto shoved him.

"Ow," he grumbled.

"Iruka teaches the pre-Genin children," Shine said.

"That's how we became friends," Guy said. "Hey, perhaps that's why Kakashi asked him. He's very good with youngsters. I have to admit I prefer the Genin and Chunin. Youngsters don't like to work out."

"Only if it's a game," Shine winked.

"I didn't think of that," Guy mused.

"Oh, that's good to know," Ami said to Iruka. "My young boys might be interested in becoming shinobi, so perhaps I'll be checking out that school...if the Village allows us that privilege."

"You have to take that up with the Kage, but you're welcome to come any time," Iruka said with a friendly smile. "Not that there's much to see... Naruto used to cause a bit more excitement, but I've had much better behaved kids since then."

"Give hers a chance," Yui muttered.

"Sister, please," Ami hissed at her.

"This is Yui," Shine asked. "She's their aunt, as you can tell."

"And she's not as bad as she seems at first," Wally joked.

Yui was not amused by that.

"And is your husband also going to come to Leaf?" Iruka asked.

Ami looked down. "He...was lost in the War."

"Oh." Iruka wished very much he had not asked. "I'm sorry."

"Well, that was months ago," Yui said impatiently. "We need to move on. Don't cry, Ami. Think of the children."

Ami frowned but she nodded.

However, they weren't listening, thankfully.

Eichi was sad too.

"Dad was away so much for work," he said to Hanabi. "I think Emiko hardly remembers him anyway, and the others kind of had to go without him, with the moving and stuff, but I remember him a lot. I hope he'd be happy with how things worked out, but the bandits..."

"I'm sure he'd be proud that you helped stop them," Hanabi said. "I wish my dad would be proud of me... The thing is, we have to hide from him what I'm really doing here. He thinks I have to be protected. I think I can handle myself...but that's how fathers are."

"I think fathers just are trying to protect their kids," Eichi said. "But...I mean, you seem pretty tough... Does he know that?"

"He wouldn't pay that much attention to me." Hanabi frowned. "Honestly, he liked Neji best. Neji's not coming back to Leaf, so now I wonder what he'll do."

"You ever wonder if that could be guilt?" Dabi mused. "Like he felt guilty for his brother dying, so he took Neji under his wing? And could it be that some of his disdain for Hinata could be internalized disdain for himself for letting that happen to his brother, though it was him who defended her?"

"What a terrible thought," Momo scolded Dabi. "And to say it right in front of Hinata."

But Hinata shook her head. "I wonder... He may be right. I feel as if Father has never treated me the same after that..."

"And now we're going to Cloud, the very nice people responsible for that," Dabi said. "Last chance to change your mind, Hinata."

"Why are you trying to get her to leave us?" Shoto asked.

"I'm not. I just wouldn't go to Cloud for anything if they did that to my family," Dabi said.

"But what about forgiveness?" Hinata said. "Isn't that what you all teach?"

"There's forgiveness, and there's going there and saying, 'Take your best shot,'" Dabi said. "And while Shine and Wally do both those things frequently, I didn't think you'd be so quick to."

"I want to finish the mission," Hinata said, almost sharply for her. "And I don't care if it's Cloud Village or anywhere else."

Dabi backed off. "Okay."

"Yeah, you tell him, sis," Camie said. "We'll make sure nothing happens to you anyway. They can't take on all of us. And no worries, if they try to blame us for something they did, Shine can talk her way out of anything. She's like a lawyer,"

"I've seen that firsthand," Sasuke said. "But her mistake is thinking that Cloud Village cares about reason."

"Big talk from the guy who actually gave them a reason to hate him," Dabi said.

"Technically, we didn't actually kill or kidnap Bee," Sasuke said. "I don't think that is going to help us, from what you've said about the Raikage... I only met him once, and he tried to kill me... and I burned his arm off."

"You didn't even do that on purpose," Shoto scoffed. "He just hit you when he shouldn't have, because you were using the black fire."

"Yes, anyone who would do that doesn't sound insane to any rational person?" Sasuke replied.

"Coming from you?" Dabi scoffed. "The guy who started the fight?"

"I was only there for Danzo," Sasuke said. "And that worked out...sort of."

"For the record," Dabi said, "Danzo is the only person you ever tried to kill who not only completely had it coming, but no one was sorry about, not even his own followers. That guy was one twisted b-----d. But you sure went insane after that."

Sasuke looked troubled. "I wonder now if that had to do with the Sharingan going out of control. That was when I went blind. I remember feeling powerful, but also it was painful, and...I don't know, once I saw all those eyes in his arm, I stopped thinking."

He glanced toward Karin and then looked away.

"Did you just admit that?" Dabi was surprised. "Hey, what's gotten into you?"

"Perhaps we shouldn't shame him for something we can actually agree with it," Shoto told Dabi.

"You're one to talk," Dabi said.

"I'm starting to get better," Shoto said. "Are you?"

Dabi huffed. "Fine, whatever. I still think something is up, Sasuke. Something's different about you these days, and I think I know what it is, but, it's fine, don't explain it."

Sasuke had been going to say something, and now he frowned. "Why not?"

"Oh, this way, if anyone asks, I have plausible deniability," Dabi said. "If you admit it, then I have to admit it, and that's no fun, and plus--people will ask me about it, and I'll have to tell them. I hate that."

"I concur," Shoto said. "I'd rather not have to talk about your behavior to anyone. So unless it's dangerous, I'd rather not know."

Sasuke didn't understand them at all...or he did, and that was what annoyed him.

Sakura shot them a glare, and then she huffed to herself.

"Do you know what they mean?" Tenten asked her.

"Of course not," Sakura lied. "It's just their usual banter."

"I am getting tired of standing," Kankuro complained. "We have the escorts. Can we just go now?"

"Speaking my language," Temari said.

Shikamaru was talking to Iruka.

"Just tell my mother we're fine," he said, "snd not to worry...and don't mention anything dangerous to her. You know how she is."

"Yes..." Iruka tugged his collar. "It's a shame you're not coming back to at least visit, but, I understand the need for speed at this time. She's fine though. Not that I've seen much of her, but the clans take care of each other, so she'll be fine. Yours too." To Ino.

Ino nodded. "Can you tell her I said to plant primroses when you see her next? Or maybe just give her a primrose on my behalf?"

"If you want..." Iruka was confused.

"Oh, I know that one." Sai opened his book about flowers. "Yes...primrose means protection, also new life, and new beginnings."

"Cool," Camie said. "The Hunger Games just took on a lot darker of a meaning though."

"Huh?" Sai said.

"Nevermind." Camie shook her head. [How can The Hunger Games get any darker than it already is, though?]

"All right, let's go." Temari finally grabbed Shikamaru by the shoulder. "We're losing daylight."

"You know, that phrase means nothing at all," Shikamaru said irritably. "You could just as easily say we're losing night light also."

"You would lose both," Temari shot back.

Iruka and Guy both looked amused.

"I see they're as close as ever," Iruka said.

"I still think there's something there." Naruto apparently had no problem seeing this for Shikamaru but not for himself.

"Better keep an eye on them, Naruto," Iruka said. "And you're doing okay without...your friend?"

"Huh? My friends are still here," Naruto said. "Oh, wait, do you mean Kurama... Yeah, I'm okay...just a little less clones."

"A little?" Sakura muttered.

"Oh, I almost forgot--" Naruto tugged Karin from where she was trying to hide behind Jugo. "Iruka-sensei, you haven't met Karin. She's my distant cousin!"

Iruka handled it better than you'd think, which is to say he only blinked a little bit, and then said, "What do you mean?"

"Long lost Uzumaki," Shikamaru explained. "Long story."

"She...does kind of look like your mother." Iruka was old enough to remember Kushina slightly, though he'd been a kid at the time.

"She does," Guy agreed. He remembered better. "In fact, she looks a lot Iike her, if she took her glasses off. How close cousins are you?"

"We don't know," Karin said, a little self conscious. "I didn't even know Naruto was an Uzumaki when I met him."

"She's gonna move to Leaf when we're done with the mission," Naruto told Iruka proudly. "She's cool. She's really good at tracking people, too. And healing. "

"She would be great family for you then," Iruka said dryly. "We could use a good medic on standby for you other than Sakura."

"Hmph, I agree," Sakura said.

But she felt almost as if that made her replaceable.

She hadn't thought about it before, but...did Naruto really need her anymore if he had Karin, someone who was actually his family, sort of...?

Is that how everyone was going to see it? Sakura was just his stand in now...

She didn't like that idea.

"I suppose Naruto will keep bragging about her," Sasuke noted. "He's the only one who would. But no one will have the gall to attack her, if they think she's related to the world hero. I don't think he's doing that on purpose, but..."

"Why do you think we told him?" Camie said. "I mean, sure, I thought Naruto should know, and who else was gonna say it? But also so Karin would be okay."

"I still can't believe you never thought to mention it to him," Shoto said to Sasuke.

"I really didn't even remember," Sasuke finally explained himself. "If I even knew. If I ever heard her last name, it must have been ages ago, and I wasn't paying attention to it. I didn't even know Naruto's clan was wiped out."

"Does it bug you how similar your lives keep being?" Dabi asked.

Sasuke felt uneasy. "It never bothers him."

"I think it's not real to him because he wasn't there," Shoto guessed. "I would still be furious if I was him, but some people are like that. I don't know how."

Iruka was asking Karin where she was from, and when she said from Kushina's village, he said it was amazing she had survived.

Karin told him that she was talented at medical ninjutsu--she didn't show him her scars to explain how.

"Well, Kakashi will be sure to let you in," Iruka said finally. "I'm happy for you, Naruto. I had no idea you had anyone in your family left."

"I know! I'm not as alone as I thought, in more ways than one," Naruto said. "Actually, it was thanks to the DJs that I found out. Turns out no one knew."

"But how did they know?" Guy asked.

"I...don't really know. They know a lot of stuff," Naruto said.

"Naruto, we need to go." Shine decided to cut this off now. "Sorry, but Temari is right. We should use what's left of the daylight to head back northeast."

"It's a long way to get to the Land of Lightning," Guy said. "Even for shinobi. I hope they know you'll be there in a week or so."

Cloud was the farthest Village of all, save for the Land of Water, and that was partly why it got away with being so exclusive. 

Reluctantly, Naruto said goodbye to his mentor, and Lee said it to Tenten cheerfully enough.

"This is where I take my leave," Suzushi announced blandly to the leaders as well as the Leaf.

"Good luck," Wally said. "Stay cool, man."

Suzushi didn't get the joke--and wouldn't have found it funny even if he did. [For those who did not read about Suzushi in the Stone Village book, his name literally means "cool" (not hot) and has to do with his jutsu.]

He looked emotionless, but he said to Sai, "Perhaps if we had more time, I would have benefited from learning how they do such unusual things."

Sai, surprisingly, thought he detected some slight curiosity in his tone.

Maybe there was hope for him.

"When we return to Leaf, I will tell you all about it," he said. "For...research."

Suzushi bowed politely and went to stand behind Guy and Iruka. Clearly he had no more interest in farewells.

"Aw, that's nice," Shine said to Sai. "I'm proud of you... I know he was difficult to deal with, but I was sure you would also feel sympathy for him."

Sai was surprised at Shine, because he'd never told anyone but Ino, Camie, and Bakugo about not liking Suzushi, and didn't think they'd have told her (and they hadn't).

But Shine always knew what was bothering everyone.

He was glad though, that she expressed pride and confidence in his ability to feel sympathy, even though he didn't understand what that was very well yet.

"You're still going, even though he doesn't need help anymore?" Tenten asked.

"Oh...well, I don't really feel Iike going to Cloud," Lee said. "And I think Guy-sensei will still need help, you know. He's not as fast as he was. But at least it's better than before. Did you want me to change my mind?"

"No, not really, I'm just surprised," Tenten said. "But sure, Guy still needs help. And you can't leave him alone."

She didn't want Lee to continue with them--a few weeks was all she could take of his constant energy.

"Well, then, be careful, Tenten, and represent Team 9 well," Lee said cheerfully. "I'm sure it will be an adventure... Oh...I still have to tell him about Neji..."

"Good luck with that." Tenten rushed to get out of there before she got roped into that explanation.

And they did get back on the road abruptly after that. Much as the girls would have been happy to have a chance to shower and change clothes, the ninjas were adamant.

* * *

Days 77-84:

The rest of the journey toward Cloud was surprisingly uneventful.

Part of that might have been that the bird Zoe was following them everywhere, and she probably scared off any larger animals and maybe any rogue ninja who were around .

Additionally, at this time of year there were few people traveling who didn't have to, and especially no one going towards the Land of Lightning.

They hit more bad weather, but nothing like the thunderstorm of before, thankfully, and the heroes almost got used to it as much as the ninja did.

Dabi tried to avoid getting too cold or too hot as well as he could.

Towards the end of the week it was taking them to get there, the weather changed again.

You could feel in the air that there was salt, and the temperature was much higher than before. It wasn't hot, not by Shine's western standards or the Sand's desert standards, but for the cooler climate people it began to be balmy. So the theory about it being tropical was correct.

Choji said it had been humid when he was in the Land of Lightning, now that he considered it. Though it had on be for a few days, so weather had not been his biggest concern at the time.

Shine was happy about the change. She said these was her peak environmental conditions, and she hoped it would stay that way. 

The others were not as happy about it being more humid and hot while they were on the road, but they were nearly there. The terrain had changed from the Lands of Earth's and Fire's trees and rocks and mountains to the more orange colored, sandy rocks and sandy dirt of the Land of Lighting.

Somehow, it was very different from Stone Village's spires of rock, though they were still rock walls. It looked a lot more rounded and warm.

As they went into it, they noticed some signs of war in the terrain. Scorch marks, cracked rock, the evidence of battle like discarded weapons.

Tenten glanced at some of those and shook her head.

"All the nations were here," she said. "I'm sure these are from all of us, if we could test that. It's a little creepy to think about how many people died here."

"And this isn't even the main area of the War yet," Temari said. "That was on the coast, but we ran past here."

"I ran past here too," Wally said, finally recognizing it, "when I went to that one Village... I only got a few people out of it, remember?"

"Yes." Shine patted his shoulder. "So that was here?" 

"I think the Beast was aiming at the Land of Lightning, yeah," Wally said. "Or close to here...well, for me, so it could be miles away."

"I know we've been here before," Suigetsu told Team Taka. "But this place sure is weird looking. Still, at least we'll be by the ocean. I guess that's an advantage."

He took a swig of water.

"I'm not liking the idea of this more and more as we get closer." Karin half wished she'd just stayed behind after all.

"It's too late now," Jugo said. "We must face it bravely."

That didn't make Karin feel better.

"There's something I probably should mention," Dabi said to the core team. "It's going to sound weird, but it's important... Camie, just don't say anything."

"Huh?" Camie asid.

"Remember that assistant you keep talking about?" Dabi said, looking sheepish. "I remember something... Well, it was a dream at first, like one of those flashback dreams."

"Oh, you had a dream with her in it?" Camie said, right on cue.

Dabi frowned. "This is why I didn't want to say anything, you sicko."

"Sorry, couldn't resist." Camie waved.

"Was it like a prophetic dream?" Shine asked Dabi more seriously.

"I can't say, but in it I was saying something, and I remember that I said it in real life too," Dabi said. "But I didn't remember anything about it till now. I guess I blocked it all out because the plant tree demon thing was taking up my attention at the time."

"You did seem out of it," Wally said. "So, what's going on? What did you say?"

"Did you confess to her?" Camie asked.

"Can someone gag Camie?" Dabi asked.

"Yeah, let the man tell it in his own way," Bakugo said. "And then we'll mock him afterward."

Camie nodded.

Dabi rolled his eyes. "It's nothing to do with her at all. I remember that I told her this stuff about us that I probably shouldn't have. If I'd known we'd go to Cloud for so long, I wouldn't have said it."

"For real?" Camie said. "You blabbed?"

"What did you say?" Shine pressed.

"Well, it wasn't that bad, but I did say that we don't use chakra," Dabi said. "And some other stuff like that--genjutsu doesn't work on us, yada yada. Which is all nothing, since we say that all the time. But it has crossed my mind now that, if she passed that on to Lord One Punch Man, and they've had time to look into it, that might be a problem."

"And after all the crap you gave Sakura about running her mouth," Bakugo said. "Wow."

Dabi frowned.

"To be fair," Shine said, "that's nothing we haven't said to any number of other people. Why should it matter if you told her? I'm sure we would have done the same."

"What matters about it is I think, if they have it on record, we can expect them to be watching us really closely," Dabi said. "I guess this one is on me."

"It does seem a little uncharacteristic for you to do that," Wally said. "But you didn't know we'd have to deal with it later, and any of us could have said the same thing to her or anyone else."

"I think I might have said it to Ay," Shine said. "So it's not just you. I guess both of us didn't think it would matter later. Joke is on us. Nothing we can do about it now."

"Is that all you dreamed about?" Camie asked.

"Camie, I swear." Dabi put his hands together.

"To be fair again, there could be significance in other details of that dream," Shine said "I mean, where was it? The battlefield or Cloud Village?"

"I didn't see that much about it. It was just a memory, like I said," Dabi said.

"Still, it's a possibility that she didn't believe him," Shoto said. "She could have thought Dabi was just messing with her and not answering, like some of them have thought."

"We can hope," Momo said. "But she'll no doubt have it in mind if shes at a part of Intelligence. Who would forget that if they were?"

"Hmpr, something tells me she'll expect Dabi to sing like a canary," Bakugo said. "Better watch what you say to her."

"Who says I'll say anything?" Dabi began. "I'll just keep to myself."

"I'm afraid that would only look more suspicious. You better just act normal," Shine said.

"He could act a little better than that," Shoto said. "We're trying to make a good impression. By the way, Shine, do you actually have a plan for Sasuke and Team Taka getting into the Village, or was that just...bluffing?"

"Of course I have a plan. I wouldn't lie," Shine said.

"Can we hear it?" Shoto pressed.

"No," Shine said. "It works best if you don't."

"I don't like the sound of that," Momo said. "Your plans that you don't tell us are always the ones we like the least."

"I didn't say you'd like it, but I think it'll work," Shine said. "But I hope I won't need it. I'm hoping that Gaara will persuade him just by telling him the reasons behind it, but, if that fails, we need a backup strategy."

"Shine's plans always work, 99% of the time," Wally said. "No worries. Lord Ay won't know what hit him. And if the worst comes to worst, I can just speed run us out of there."

"At best, that's a temporary solution," Momo said. "We still have the far reaching consequences."

"That's what I thought too," Shine said. "But, I hope my idea will help with that."

"You all won't tell Sakura about this, right?" Dabi said. "I have to have some edge to keep riffing on her."

"It's not the same as what she did, since it's just what we tell people," Momo said. "But then, she didn't mean any harm, so isn't it only fair to let her know?"

"It's not relevant," Shoto said. "Besides, you should leave Sakura alone more. It's not good to keep asking her to punch you."

"Mostly, it's just because it's funny when she remembers she can't," Dabi smirked.

"I don't understand you." Shoto shook his head.

[To be honest, though, isn't that why he provokes Bakugo? Isn't he really more like Dabi than he thinks?]

* * *

https://youtu.be/NoxvJFZ4Fsg

["Passion Fruit"--A Million in Vermilion]

That last day, Sasuke had been pondering if it had been long enough to be sure of his decision yet.

Also, why Sakura hadn't been speaking to him since the flood...mostly, anyway.

Who knew she could hold a grudge this long? It was unlike her.

And for what? He really didn't know what he'd actually done this time.

It got to where Camie even asked him about it later that day, after they'd finished their private meeting.

"Did you and Sakura have another big fight?" she asked. "Girl has been glaring at you constantly all week. And since we updated your wardrobe, it can't be that outfit."

"Why would I tell you that?" Sasuke said. "Also that insult was juvenile."

"You'd know all about juvenile," Camie said.

Frown.

"Sorry...force of habit...but right, you're more sensitive than you used to be." Camie waved. 

Sasuke had not thought so...but it was true. The longer he'd been around them--and the more he'd stopped despising them all--the less easily their jabs rolled off his back.

Shine had apparently known this instinctively and stopped sassing him as much, but the others didn't all catch up to her so fast.

"So what did you do to Cotton Candy this time?" Bakugo broke into the conversation. "She's been b----ier than usual this week. I even tried showing her how to hit better and she got mad."

"You're teaching her how to hit better?" Sasuke repeated.

"Poor technique." Bakugo shrugged.

"Bakugo is Sakura's new mentor," Camie explained. "She finally agreed to it after sleeping on it for weeks, just to prove to him that it won't work. But if she won't even try, how does she know?"

"Why would you want to mentor her?" Sasuke asked.

"I like a challenge," Bakugo said. "And she's got...some potential..." Begrudgingly. "If she'd ever use it."

"I think you just like a girl who can kick your a--," Camie said. "At least, in theory. But Sakura could be pretty scary if she just applied herself."

"No doubt, but she won't," Sasuke said.

"Oh, you don't know that," Camie dismissed it. "So what did you fight about?"

Sasuke looked around, but no one else was listening.

"Well, it was something pretty idiotic," he said. He actually kind of wanted to talk about it-- because he thought it was ridiculous, and he thought other people should see it. "I don't understand how she can get mad over the stupidest things."

"Oh, sure," Bakugo said sarcastically.

"It really is stupid this time," Sasuke insisted. "She figured out that I had decided to...commit to this...thing you all do."

"Wait...to like...the faith?" Camie said.

Sasuke nodded.

"Oh, really?" Camie didn't react as strongly as he expected.

"It seemed like the thing to do..." Sasuke said, cautiously.

Bakugo sniffed. "About time. Took you long enough... And she got that?"

"Somehow." Sasuke was glad they didn't get emotional about it. "And that made her mad. I don't get it. Considering all the things I've done to her and Naruto--and Leaf--why is this the thing that she gets mad about? It's like she suddenly hates me only because now I'm finally trying to do something to improve."

They both looked at him for a second.

[This is a funny pair to ask for advice about this.]