The Life of Ki (Naruto Fanfic)

A New Beginning

3 Months Later: Land of Winds

The Land of Winds isn't all I'd hoped it would be.

For starters, it is MUCH hotter than my home.

Rain is less frequent, and I often feel uncomfortably exposed without the familiar presence of trees.

The worst part of it all is the Loneliness.

Slowly but surely, I'm making my way to Sunagakure in order to obtain information regarding Sasuke, the Akatsuki, and Orochimaru, and also to find opportunities for training.

I'd exited the Land of Rivers that morning, and needless to say, the geographic change is terrible.

The desserts surrounding the Hidden Village in the Sand are vast and arid and I have to be sure to stay hydrated.

Back in the Land of Rivers, there were trees and water sources at every turn.

Here...there is sand.

I prefer the Land of Rivers.

I had spent several weeks in the Land of Rivers traveling and getting situated in village after village.

Eventually, people began to recognize me, and I knew I needed to move on.

Currently, I'm in the Land of Wind, trying to figure out where the nearest town is.

I have a map, but with no major landmarks in the desert, I'm practically lost.

I know I'm heading in the right direction.

I know there's a city pretty much in every direction, but it depends on where I want to go or which direction I head.

Sunagakure is northwest, and Rin Lake, Hama Oasis, and Kogetemamida Oasis are to the northeast, southeast, and southwest...at least I think...

Without a compass, I've been trying to follow the sun through its sunrise and sunset, but it is remarkably hard.

My best bet is to keep walking in a chosen direction until I reach one of those settlements.

Sunagakure and Rin Lake are a little farther from me than the other two oases, but other than that little difference, I don't care where I end up, so long as it is before nighttime.

I just want to make it out of this desert alive.

Every once in a while, a caravan or two will pass by in the distance, completely oblivious to me.

Whether this is a good or a bad thing...who knows?

I walk for several hours before finally taking a break.

I don't bother sitting in the sand, and I take out my water bottle and drink the small amount of water I've allotted to myself per break.

If I'm not careful, I'll run out before arriving at an oasis.

Looking around, I take in the desert.

Sure it's incredibly lonely, but it's not that boring.

Every small sign of life in the desolate place is exciting, and it really puts things into perspective.

Even a minuscule grain of sand can add up to something huge.

I put away my small water bottle, but this thought stays on my mind as I continue my trek through the sand.

After a couple more hours of walking, I begin to make out a town in the distance.

Definitely not Sunagakure, but as it's getting closer to sunset, any town will do for me.