Hatake

1

My life is as hard as it's always been.

I brush the dirt off of my knees and keep walking through the lush forest.

All my life I've been looking over my shoulder. Dreading that one day I'll be forced to go back there.

For now I'm staying in a small wooden cabin nestled in the hills. It doesn't have an impressive view but I can hike up the hill behind it and see the whole sky from there.

I pick another mushroom and decide that my basket is full enough to go home.

The days blend into each other. Because of all my traveling and crossing borders I have no clue what day or season it is.

The warm breeze shakes the shrubs and runs through my hair.

As I pass the neighboring settlement I stop and watch the people. Nothing but a few houses and a couple traders.

Simple life.

I wish I could be like them...

I continue my walk back home.

Right as I see my shabby cabin in the distance I freeze and hide behind a tree.

Two or three shinobi? Why are they wandering the woods?

I try to calm my breathing. I squeeze the handle of my basket hard.

I wait a few minutes after I hear them leave.

...

I toss a small sliver of wood into my stove and relax. They weren't looking for me. They weren't looking for me.
I repeat over and over in my head.

Once it's nightfall I blow out all of my candles and take a walk outside. Something that I've gotten into the habit of doing.

I don't sleep much maybe a few hours everyday.

Last time I saw my reflection I looked terribly exhausted.

I breathe in the fresh air and wander the forest. I've been here for a few weeks now and I'm pretty confident in finding my way back.

In the clearing I see a man sitting his back against a tree.

He sees me before I can run off.

My fingers tremble as they touch my belt not feeling my knife.

"Please." The man says weakly.

I squint my eyes and walk forward carefully.

He's injured.
His face paint smeared and his clothes are blood soaked.

"I have a son..." he starts but coughs violently.

I can see now his wound is fatal.

My eyes flicker to his insignia. I do not know that symbol.

I wait for the man to resume talking but he doesn't. His eyes staring at me blankly.

I stand and look around quickly.
No one's here.

I look back to the man lying limp.

What do I do?

I check to see if he left anything around the tree. As I circle around it I see another person.

I yelp in surprise when I see them. Immediately scrambling away back to the clearing.

"No need to be frightened civilian. I'm bringing his body back to our own land." The masked figure says.

"He..." I say trying not to faint, "his last words were that he had a son."

The masked figure turns to me and bows.
"Thank you. He will be returned to his family."

And in a flash both of them are gone.

I don't sleep a wink that night.