{I'll think on it. You mentioned bloodlines, do new ones ever turn up? But it's not urgent. We'll figure it out.}

{I don't think I've ever heard of that happening, but we might be able to do some research later.}

{Oh, thank the kami!} As they approach Hokage rock, she can begin to make out a figure in an orange jumpsuit sitting atop it.

Ooh. Lucky break there. 

Okay, so they're probably not revealing Sable yet, and their goal is to get him to infodump about the Hyuuga girl and be less intense about attention demands, and what they're prepared to trade is sparring partnership and maybe friendship?

That sounds right to her!

{Should I ask about the girl first, or start off by offering to train together?}

{Hm. Ask about the girl first. Segue into the offer by asking if he's had enough people to train with, if he doesn't give you a good opportunity on his own.}

{Sounds good to me!}

Sakura considers calling out to her classmate before approaching, but decides to stay quiet rather than attract attention from potential onlookers.

She quickly makes her way up the side of the massive monument, using stairs where necessary but scaling rock where she can.

She quietly approaches Naruto from what she's guessing is just outside of his field-of-view.

{Last check before I talk to him: Nothing seems off?}
They're probably being watched, but this conversation shouldn't be suspicious enough for that to matter.

Nothing it's seen from Sakura's vision, whether she noticed it or not, is concerning. They're good to go.

{All good.}

Alright then.

Bracing herself internally for the boy's excessive enthusiasm, Sakura quickly saunters into Naruto's field of view.

"Hey Naruto! Got a minute?"

"Hey, what's—"

Wait, oh shit is that Sakura? Talking to him?

"Oh hey Sakura! Sure, what'd'ya need?"
Don't fuck this up, don't fuck this up, don't fuck this up…

Huh. She was expecting worse. Maybe this won't be so bad?

"You're friends with that Hyuuga girl, right? Dark hair, quiet; seems kinda shy?"

"Oh, Hinata?"

What does Sakura want with her?

"I dunno if I'd say we're friends, but sure, I know her."

Oh, Hinata! Right!

"What do you know about her?"

And… hmm… how honest should she be here? Maybe honest but vague?

"I wanna meet up with her after class tomorrow, but we've never really talked."

Huh. What's that about?

Those two seem pretty different: He wonders why Sakura would suddenly want to get to know Hinata.

"I don't really hang out with her much, but she's pretty nice!
I've met a few other Hyuuga, but she's the only one that doesn't look at everyone around them like some kinda bug."

Naruto shivers.

"She doesn't really have many friends, and I know she was getting bullied by some of the kids in our year a while ago."

"That stopped a while ago," he grins—teeth bared, "but she still basically only hangs out with me."

{Okay, I'm officially worried about both these kids. We need to befriend Hinata anyway for the sake of keeping our secret, so maybe we start a three-person training group?}

{That sounds smart to me! I could honestly use the opportunity to practice.}

That, and it's not as though Sakura has a lot of friends in class, either.

Yeah that squares it. All three of these ninja trainees are Sable's now, it's keeping them and protecting them and anyone who wants to argue can fuck off. 

Besides, it's not like Sable's had anyone it can be close to for the past few years either.

Sakura catches that thought, and gives Sable her best approximation of a mental hug.

Warm mental hug right back, full of vivid gratitude and fondness — and some degree of physical hug, too, because she's threaded all through Sakura's body and can do that.

{Thank you, sweetie.}