“Hawks, huh?” She would have to remember that. Those were useful birds, even normal ones not belonging to a summoning contract or anything. And at least he didn’t hate cats. That was good. She was going to get another soon. As for who would watch it… well she could think of that when it came to it. She was told that protecting Sasuke was her mission indefinitely. She wasn’t extremely happy about that. But she would have taken an interest him no matter what and she wouldn’t want to leave him too soon. But not knowing whether she would ever be allowed on a mission ever again? Her career was over at the level of a chuunin? That was harsh.

She put it from her mind. 

She glanced around the street. Some civilians were still paying attention to them, but not everyone had stopped to gawk or gossip. So it wasn’t that bad but she hated that it was making Sasuke so down. When the people noticed Naruto the mood changed even more. She saw people openly scowl and turn away. Some even left the vicinity. All of the sudden everyone remembered things they had to do and hurried on! It was done so automatically, like it was habit. It gave her a chill. 

But this wasn’t the first time she had seen it happen. She hadn’t been away from the village THAT long. Sure at lot had changed in her absence… but of course things hadn’t changed for the dangerous kyuubi boy… why would they? She’d never had anything to do with him so she never paid attention to what his life must be like or anything. But now it struck her how unfair it was. AND how much he might have in common with Sasuke now… Maybe it was just the juxtaposition of the crowd’s reactions to them a moment ago, and the fact that she was outside of things now too. She was seeing with fresher eyes.

Then Naruto came over. She had a brief sense of Sasuke’s flight instinct but he controlled it before she had a chance to put her hand back on his shoulder and stop him. She was a little surprised by how cheerful the blond-haired boy’s greeting was. But pleasantly surprised. She actually smiled. 

Then he approached and frowned at her consideringly. She kept smiling, in a friendly way. But it only took him a moment to make a statement that wiped it away. 

Yura almost dropped her groceries. ….the hell had a little boy just said about her?!