amethyst solitary (naruto u.)

runaway

Manaka found herself in a bewildering situation. She didn't know how she ended up being forcefully pulled out of the hospital by two men, each gripping her arms with a harshness that bordered on stubbornness.

"Hey! What's going on? I already told you, I don't intend any harm, where are you taking me?! Ouch, stop it please! You're ripping my arms off!!" Manaka mortally choked out, attempting to scurry herself back from the guards' grip.

"Tsunade listen to me! I promise, I'm not planning to commit harm to your village! J-Just let me go and I promise I won't bother anyone!"

Tsunade released a scoff. "Stop wasting your breath." She jeered from the front, motioning her legs as the two men kept their distance not too far from hers.

Manaka gulped down the lump stuck in her throat and suppressed the urge to cry.

'Can't believe this is actually happening to me...' she quivered deviantly.

Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, exacerbating the anxiety already coursing through her. Nothing seemed to click or make sense in her mind. Even as she tried to piece together the events of last night, everything remained too jumbled to grasp fully.

Just what happened when she was out of it?

Awestruck, her violet irises shifted around, glimpsing at the bewildered faces being thrown at her, obviously owned by the villagers of the supposedly Plant- Leaf Village: A wretched look with a mixture of distaste.

'What's the matter with them?' Is it because they assume she's a criminal? Well, in their defense, she was in fact handcuffed and escorted forcefully by two guards which certainly affirmed a misconceived scenario. Her eyes filled with tears. She felt humiliated.

The more the walk lengthened to god knows where, the more the retro-like environment around her perked her interest. Despite its small and narrow size, the street was lined with traditional vernacular houses and wooden stalls displaying a variety of market goods, drawing in customers to browse and make purchases. The locals' unique sense of fashion captivated her attention, with many dressed in kimonos and sporty attire that differed significantly from the modern day fashion trends.

Even the guards holding onto her wore strange outfits she wasn't familiar with.

'Maybe they work for the police?' She sniffed her now reddened nose.

But still, the police would've informed her of the circumstance she was in, thus the place she was going to. She glanced to her side, laying eyes on the brown-haired man who's bangs were shielding the right side of his face.

Before she was able to throw a comment, although she knew they hardly care about what comes out of her mouth, the smell of freshly grilled ikayaki from a yatai emanating through the air paused her thinking and made her stomach growl.

She pouted innocently, her eyes widening like those of a puppy, longing to grab a stick. "Say, is it okay if we can stop at a food stall and get something to eat? I haven't eaten anything and I feel lightheaded..."

The guard scoffed without even sparing her a look. "No way!"

Manaka sulked. How disappointing. And she thought her math teacher was a pain in the neck. If she wasn't going to be released anytime soon then she needed to take action before who knows what would happen once she reached wherever Tsunade was taking her.

Maybe jail? Well, she definitely didn't want to go there!

'I need a plan, but where do I even start?'

Her troubled eyes scanned left and right, searching for an excuse or an escape route. To her luck, the corner of her eye caught sight of a dimly lit passage between two food stands. Determination surged inside her, prompting her to run through.