The Life of Ki (Naruto Fanfic)

Pathways

The sun is almost completely set when I return to my apartment complex.

I push open the door to my small room, easing it shut behind me as I head towards my window.

I draw the curtains tightly from the outside world, yet rays of red and gold sunlight still cast a feeble glow upon me and my room.

I think...I've made my decision.

There is something important to take care of outside of Konoha, and I have to pursue it.

I won't find peace until I do.

I'm going after my family, or answers in general.

I grab my travel backpack off the floor as I begin to gather the necessities for a journey: clothes, food, and weapons, and even a few personal items.

I don't know how long I'll be gone.

Probably a week or two, I figure.

I pause for a moment, catching myself in the action of putting a seemingly useless item into my bag.

It's a silly thing really, and I wonder what compelled me to grab if off of my nightstand. It would be better to leave it here, just so it is safe when I return.

Just my old journal.

I'd take it with me, but I don't plan on writing in it much. 

It's in pretty bad shape.

I've used it to write ideas, doodles, and even some dreams.

I better hide it, or Shikamaru, Kiba, and Choji will probably read it while I'm gone.

It doesn't take long for me to pack the remainder of my supplies, and soon I'm looking around my near-empty room in quiet contemplation.

Swinging the bag over my shoulder, I stop in the doorway.

There are plenty of memories in my cozy apartment, most of them physical marks: the scratches on the door from Akamaru wanting to go on a walk, the etches in the doorframe from my friends engraving their initials, and the small nicks in my wood flooring from the countless number of things that have fallen on it.

I frown as I trace the initials of the person I'll miss the most.

With one final look, I close the door to my apartment behind me and head downstairs.

It is just after dusk, and this might make it easier for me to leave without raising suspicion.

Only one or two people are on the streets as far as I can tell: a majority of people would be settling down at home.

Speaking of leaving, I realize that I'm not exactly sure where I'm going.

I can't be positive about the direction Sasuke was heading when I last saw him--the same goes for Orochimaru, the Akatsuki, and my own origins...

No matter what my genuine intentions are, it wouldn't hurt to kill two birds with one stone.

My best bet for this is to head to the Land of Winds first.

The Land of Wind has become increasingly friendly towards the Land of Fire in the past few months, not to mention it is decently close.

What do I know about the Land of Wind?

Literally nothing.

Before worrying about all that, I first have to get out of the village.

I have a couple of ideas on that matter, but I'm still attempting to decide the best course of action--I don't want to pull another Sasuke and injure any of my friends in the process of my departure.