Ritoru Taikoku

The Next Morning

The next morning Raku awoke in a pile of dirt. She looked around at the mess she made and frowned, then returned to her tree where she stored her food. She sat outside to enjoy the morning and at a couple of peaches and raw potatoes, sipping creek water.

She wondered if that man got away safely. She hoped he did, and that he would not seek her out. She then went to a nearby stream to wash her body and her pillow case dress. She frowned as she looked at how short it was now, she had gotten almost too tall. Her potato sack undies would soon be exposed. She found a secluded area and stripped down, wading into the cool water. It turned light brown for a moment as the dirt and grime was washed away. She dipped her makeshift clothing a few times then rung them out until they were only damp.

She combed her rather long hair with her fingers then put it up in a leather strap she used as a hair tie, then put her clothes back on. She needed new clothing. Then she would move on to the next village. She needed to save food for the journey, the next village was far away.

The girl, an attempt to blend in, used a tiny bit of chakra to turn her hair the flat brown most people in the village had, and she let it fall down her back in natural waves and curls. Her hair was a mess but there was nothing she could do about that. She cautiously made her way into the village then blended in with a crowd of girls a bit younger than her as they swooned over some "Sasuke" guy.

What she did not know was that there were ninja in the village on the lookout for her. A skinny, white haired teen with yellow eyes and no headband.

Raku's eyes scanned the area as she looked for something to cover her clothes, she was sure they were informed what she was wearing. And it did stick out a bit more than she'd like.

She followed one of the girls into a cloth shop, sticking close enough that one could think they were friends, but far enough that the girl didn't notice.

"Hello! Welcome! Let me know if you need any assistance looking for something!" she elderly shop keep waved and smiled. Raku looked at the woman critically. Mid 60's, long hair; suggesting she was once beautiful. Caloused hands, determined and hardworking. Smile lines, suggesting she smiled often and was kind. Her clothes were carefully pressed though relaxed, she dressed up for work today but normally is more casual.

"I will, thank you!" the girl smiled.

Once in the shop, Raku walked around confidently, so she did not appear suspicious. She went to the clearance section and found the cheapest cloth. She frowned, feeling awful about what she was going to do.

She glanced around to see the girl in the next asile and the shop keep out of view. She pulled the kunai knife that grey haired Jonin dropped the other night from her waist, where it was tied there with a string. She rolled out the solid blue fabric to the desired length and made a swift cut to sever it from the roll. She folded it and pretended to browse the shelves more as the other girl (with flat brown hair) walked up to the counter with her bag of fabric. She set it on the counter and the shop keep pulled out the fabric, expertly cutting it where the girl asked.

Raku watched the shop keep welcome the girl to return and handed her bag with the folded fabric. She was sure the woman would try to have a short conversation. And sure enough, she did. The elder inquired about what the cloth was for and what projects the girl hoped to complete someday.

She walked behind the girl, dropping her stolen cloth into her bag and swiped a needle and thread from in front of the counter. She left the store and walked a ways down the crowded road, she would not be so nieve as to wait for the girl when she left and follow her. She ignored the people that stepped on her feet accidently and stopped walking, pretenting that she had forgotten something. She went back and passed the girl, who was walking her way. She seamlessly dipped her small hand in the bag and pick pocked her fabric, hiding it in the top of her pillow case dress, creating the illusion that she had breasts.

The amber eyed girl felt weak, her hair would loose it's false color soon. She had to leave, or hide. A hawk cried from above her head and circled around a few times.

"I'll be late for lunch!" she gasped, using the words as an excuse to run. "Mom's making salmon!"