violetpetaldancer:
Sakura watched him carefully as he frilled and winced, his attitude key in her decision if she really would tend to his injuries. To be fair, they had not had a great introduction, so his response was completely fair and in no way insulted her. She hadn’t worked her butt off to not be a little intimidating. But his Kiba like response made her feel nostalgic for her old friend back home.
She slowly blinked at him eventually, a wry smile forming on the corners of her lips. “I never said you were. And I’ve seen worse. I’ve seen real monsters.” She said simply, setting her clip board down and finally fully entering the room, not hesitating to walk right up to him and peer at his broken nose.
“However I will admit you got me good. It’s been a while since I had a good enough spar. Let alone where someone could have beaten me in hand to hand. My strength usually gives me enough of an edge.” Sakura openly praised, her time to cool off in a jail cell allowing her to be humbled by her former opponent.
“It seems like you have just as much a habit for trouble as I do. If that nose isn’t set you wont be able to smell a skunk slapped on your face.” She reached out, palm open to cup his chin if he allowed her, giving him a smile.
It was a testament to his own growth that he simply huffed, nodding as Haruno spoke to him. The talk of her own strength made him smirk, perhaps a little cocky, but hey, his pride was two-fold.
“Not often I get my ass sent flying by a human,” he complimented. “I could sense it was some kinda...I dunno, magic, energy, or somethin’ powerin’ you up. Caught me by surprise too with that kinda control. Knew a couple demons three times our age, and they couldn’t do that kinda subtle shit.”
He leaned forward at her offered palm, plopping his chin in her grip and sighed with a grimace. It was gonna hurt like hell, but whatever.
“Spar, huh? Feh, that was a killshot, woman!” His glare was only slightly genuine, but between the banter, the fact that he was still alive, and--and her words--
You’re not a monster.
--well, he wasn’t as pissed as he could have been.
“You want an actual spar, you let me know before you go bustin’ up my favorite tree and callin’ me names. More than happy to get trainin’ in.” He twitched his ears curiously. “Haruno your first name?”

















