Bonded and Broken

Chapter 16

Sumire's POV

Almost three years have passed since my training started, and a lot has changed since then.

I'm turning sixteen in a few months and very happy with how my progress has been so far. I already had a few techniques in my arsenal, most of my skills became impeccable as my sensei trained me to the ground almost every single day. My sensing ability might need a bit of refinement though, I knew I needed more practice in that area.

I rarely have rest days anymore since I became so busy with all the training that I do.

My body also felt more tired and heavier because sensei asked me to ingest a purple liquid daily for the past year, he never mentioned what exactly it was and just told me that it was to train my body's endurance. However, I barely noticed its effects anymore as time went by and felt my body adjust to it already.

It was already nightfall and my training for the day had just ended, so I decided to drop by the apothecary shop to get some herbal products for myself. I badly needed to apply some healing balms to ease my aching muscles from the bruises that I had from today's training, and grab a couple of the calming tea blends so I can relax for the night.

Kaito-sensei stopped his work as a fisherman and just focused on making the family business even bigger by delivering our products to other villages in smaller nations, it was more profitable and he only needed to sail out of our island a couple of times in a month. The elder couple would still be at the shop at this time since preparing the products for delivery was scheduled for today.

I was walking towards the apothecary with my hands tucked inside my sweater's pockets, briskly striding onwards, so I could arrive at my destination sooner and finally have warmth on my body. The wind has been chilly lately, the island's coast looked gray and bleak. It is mid January and the winter season is in full swing. The ambiance in the village didn't look lively since the streets looked very empty, and with the daylight gone, it's like the place had turned into a ghost town.

I could sense a few chakra signatures lingering around the area, but I ignored them since it was probably some of the villagers who were going about their businesses at the last minute before turning up for the night.

I saw Keiko-san's bookstore and was about to head towards my destination when I noticed a faint light illuminating through her shop's front door. She was closed by sundown on most days and it's rare for her to stay in the shop at this hour, that's why I decided to stop by and ask if she needed help with anything so she could go home sooner.

But as soon as I entered the door, I was horrified to see the whole place wrecked to the ground. Some of the bookshelves were thrown around, hundreds of pages have been strewn in the area. Even the artwork I gave to Keiko-san was also lying around the mess, its frame and the pieces of the broken glass scattered on the floor. It was a painting of the gardens from a home that I saw in my memories and I gave it to her last year as a gift.

I proceeded inside and sensed that Keiko-san was still within the premises. A very grisly sight welcomed me when I looked behind the checkout counter, there was blood all over the woman's clothes with her face barely recognizable. She was badly beaten up and a couple of wounds were visible on her body.

Fortunately, she was still alive but her breathing was very weak. I haven't done any training as a medic and only knew how to administer first aid, so I don't know how much I could help her since was in a very bad condition.

Suddenly, I sensed a presence entering the bookstore. I immediately asked the person for assistance to save Keiko-san, but the newcomer just stood by the door motionlessly. Her gaze was firmly locked on me and she did not speak a word. It was a woman with short blonde hair, she had a very rugged appearance since her clothes were soaked and dirty. I realized she looked like a shinobi because of the way she was dressed and how she carried herself, but her chakra was a bit suppressed.