Chapter 6

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Good friends are hard to find, harder to leave, and impossible to forget.

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*3rd POV*

It had been some time since Haru had experienced the tragedy of her life.

Currently, she was sitting to the side in a merchant stand where her mentor, Kin, and another merchant were arguing about the fairness of a trade. Normally, she'd keep a close eye on the argument and attempt to mediate between the people, but, well, their argument was... idiotic to say the least.

"No, this trade isn't fair!"

"Yes, it is, just take the goods!"

"No, I really should pay you more!"

"It's fine, really!"

"30,000 yen? Please, that's clearly not enough!"

She let out a sigh, watching the two bicker among themselves. It was just after lunch when this negotiation started, and currently, it was the late afternoon. She was currently wondering how she even got into the situation in the first place.

Kin was a merchant with an ancient shinobi bloodline, who used her kekkai genkai to reduce travel fees, as the wings on the sides of her head could expand and, with practice, enable the user to fly. Apparently, her clan had died out after the Warring Clans Era, and had been going to visit one of her abandoned clan compounds when she'd found Haru after the incident, and taken her under her wing to help her in the lifestyle of a traveling merchant after hearing that she had nowhere to go. Now that she thought about it, Kin was a truly kind person, helping another knowing that they couldn't give her anything. Their travels had taken them far and wide, to places she'd never imagine she'd see in her lifetime. She'd mostly ridden on Kin's back whenever they traveled around from one village to another, and held on to the goods to make sure that they were secure.

However, it wasn't all rainbows and sunshine.

During their travels, she'd heard of Sasuke Uchiha, who she discovered was her father's murderer. She had also heard rumors of a brewing war among the shinobi. She tried to brush it off, but whenever they were in public, a wary glint appeared in Kin's eyes whenever anybody new came near them.

But that wasn't what worried her most.

"Let's go, Haru."

She snapped out of her trance, and shot up to her feet, catching up to Kin, who had already taken off, leaving behind a yelling merchant demanding for them to take the money. They walked in a peaceful silence for a while, enjoying the calm atmosphere that the village seemed to radiate.

The freedom of her travels, the exhilaration of an unknown journey, and the sense of companionship that she found with Kin....

She wished that she could live like this forever.

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[Edited]