What the fuck i just sat down!

Closing my eyes I scan my surroundings for chakra fluctuation. Feeling nothing I go back to paying half attention as I let my mind wonder. Probably not the best idea but I've been here for two months and was seriously considering just leaving.

Seems my allotted time of staying in the village had run dry. I wonder if I experience another potentially traumatic situation if I would be sent home?

After giving it some thought I dismissed the idea. I didn't really show any issues with my whole team dying, at least I think I did, so the village won't cut me as much slack. Plus my team is made up of children, I'd rather not be responsible for their untimely deaths. I probably should have dwelled on it more often, cause it's not like it didn't affect me I just didn't acknowledge it. Just push it down where I don't have to deal with it.

A classic technique.

But in all seriousness I should avoid situations where I am rendered helpless, it's not good for the mind.

My thoughts were interrupted by Taki who got much closer than he should have before I noticed him.

Taki and Anko were sent with me to waste away at this base. They were quite excited to receive this mission, guess I'm the only one who would rather never leave the village.

Guess glory through combat is what's popular with kids these days.

Maybe I should be paying a bit more attention? Nah, it's likely just because I'm used to ignoring his chakra. 

Chakra sense such a useful advantage, at least tell it's used against me. But thoses capable of such a feat are rare and if I was up against one I was already dead so what does it matter.

There are a couple other drawbacks as well. The most obvious one would be the near constant stimulation to my chakra. I can only ignore so much until it either gets overwhelming or just annoying.

Most of the time its just annoying.

It's not my area of expertise but maybe I could make something together with Fuinjutsu to help ease things. Only if necessary though, my chakra sense is too valuable to just turn off because sometimes it's annoying.

I may be quite sensitive but my tolerance is also quite high. Clan compounds weren't an issue and they have a lot of chakra compared to most. Well the Uchiha compound was definitely pushing it but I was an inexperienced sensor the last time I was there so it's hard to say if I would have such issues again?

It either takes a whole bunch of Shinobi all in one area or Orochimaru.

But Alas I am a sensor-nin and I must walk the path of a living radar.

"Sozo!" Yelled Taki from the forest floor.

"Yeah!" I yell back Leaning forward tell I could see him.

"Food," he spoke, holding up what looked to be soup of some kind.

"Food," I responded as I dropped down next to him.

My ever vigilant watch continued for another few weeks until finally the replacement arrived relieving me of my prison.

…

I've been doing some thinking and I've come to a conclusion.

I like this world.

I may not be a huge fan of this world's status quo but those change with time. All I gotta do is wait, I'm young I can afford to see how things turn out in a decade or two. In the meantime I'll just… ah.. um.. I haven't really figured that out. 

At times like these I reflect back on my least favorite question growing up.

Where do I see myself in five year?

I'll be 12 or 13, still unclear exactly when my birthday is. Hopefully this war is over and things calm down. I will need to become someone integral to the village, someone they can't throw away. I can't just be an impressive Shinobi. I need to bring more to the table. Becoming a Fuinjutsu master is what I would like but that's definitely gonna take a bit longer than five years.

Leaning back against the massive fallen down tree I was inside, I toss another piece of wood into the fire. Anko and Taki were sleeping on either side of the fire. 

I was supposed to wake one of them two hours ago so I could sleep but decided against it, I wasn't tired anyway.

I grew up on stories of those who came before us, those who pioneered into the great unknown. The risks they took. The things and places they discovered. I wanted to do the same but never got the opportunity, and in time the dream faded away. But now I have another opportunity.

And I'll be damned if I let this opportunity slip through my hands again.

…

Finally back in the village I leave Anko and Taki to fight over who had to write the mission report. 

Kakashi wasn't home so I could just toss my things on the floor for now. I grabbed some food to go on the way home as there was nothing in the fridge. Pulling off my forehead protector I leave it on the counter.

Just as I'm about to eat, someone knocks on the door. Getting up I answer it.

It was Orochimaru.

"Grab your things, we have a mission," Orochimaru said, already fully geared.

"Can we go tomorrow?" I ask distraught that I was already being sent back out.

"No."