Chapter 6

I couldn't stand the heat any longer and decided to rest under some tree. I walked towards the forest behind me, on the mountain. This forest was where many ninjas train and hence, civilians usually don't go there.

I wasn't going to go into the forest. I sat down under the closest tree and closed my eyes, but I had to open them again as I heard someone say "Move, or you will get hurt."

I opened my eyes and looked at the woman who was standing before me. She had straight purple hair and wore the Anbu costume. She also covered her face with a mask resembling a cat.

I looked at her and said "You can clearly practice anywhere else, but I can't go into the forest." and said "I was going to practice inside the forest. I just wanted to warn you that ninjas train to control their jutsu. So, sometimes, they might not control them properly and you will get caught up in their training. So, I suggest you go down the mountain and rest somewhere else."

"Thanks for the warning, but I don't think I can go out in this heat. I will watch out for attacks though. Thank you." I said and she looked at me for a while before leaving into the forest.

And only after a few moments, what she said, happened. A kunai came flying towards me from my side and I heard some man scream "Watch out"

I didn't have to do much though, as I saw the trajectory of the kunai and I could tell that it would hit me. So, I didn't move and when the kunai came close to me, it proved me correct by landing above my head.

The same Anbu member from before appeared before me again, but this time, with her knife pointed at me. She asked "You knew the kunai wouldn't hit you. It isn't possible for people who didn't train with a kunai. Tell me, who are you and who sent you?"

She suspected me for being a spy and although I am just 10 years old, there have been spies who were only 7 and infiltrated a village. They grew up there and kept sending info about the village till they were discovered and killed.

I said "I am Hatsuo" and that was enough for her to draw her sword back. She said "You sure look like how they described you." and this was shocking to me as well.

I asked "Who described my appearance? All I know is that the whole village hate me and no one would praise me or talk about my looks."

"Sorry kid, can't disclose confidential information." she said and begun walking into the forest and said "Sorry for throwing the kunai" before leaving.

I immediately stood up and asked "Wait, can I watch you train?" because she looked like she knew me and I wasn't going to miss watching an Anbu ninja train. Till now, I only fought with genin ninjas. I needed to see the pros in action.

She didn't even think before saying "No" and ran into the forest. I didn't give up though. I followed her and ran behind her. That's when she immediately jumped upon the branch of a tree and started running faster.

I also tried doing that, but I couldn't even get to the branch without climbing. So, I instead started running on the ground itself and followed her.

She saw me following her and increased her speed and I was barely able to catch up to her. I was left way behind, but I still had her in my sight.

After a few minutes of persistence, she stopped and appeared before me. She asked "You are starting to get annoying. Why do you want to watch me train?"

"Well, I just want to see a pro train. It might help me learn something." I said and she gave up in the end. She said "Fine, but I want you to stay far away and don't interrupt my training. And you have to save yourself if I something happens during the training.x and I agreed.

She then ran to her training spot and it was surrounded by target boards on many trees and many bamboo sticks in the ground everywhere.

There were half cut bamboo sticks lying on the ground. She then moved to the centre and jumped up. In mid air, she threw multiple kunais, one after the other at a rapid pace.

Then then landed down and looked at the targets. While some hit the target perfectly, some didn't even get close to the wooden board.

She picked up her kunai and pulled out the ones stabbed to the wooden board and repeated it again and again.

I was expecting some great taijutsu moves or some great kenjutsu from her, but she is just trying to imitate Itachi or Kakashi.

I said the same thing to her. I asked "Are you trying to imitate someone." and this caused her to turn to me and ask "What made you think that I was copying someone."

"Your movements. They don't look natural and look forced. It shows that your body isn't used to this style and it shows that it isn't your style of fighting.x I deduced and she came to me and said "You sound like you can analyse anyone's movements. I know that you are also an Uchiha, but you don't have chakra. You can't even awaken your sharingan. So, be a good boy and go do what you were doing, without commenting on my training."

I raised my shoulders and went back to my spot. She continued doing what she was doing and before long, she also realised that she wasn't improving even after trying repeatedly.

She then looked at me and asked "Is it true that I can't do this?" in a disappointed tone. I replied "Yes, but you shouldn't feel bad about that. Every person has their own way of fighting and their own fighting style. Trying to learn others fighting styles would only be useless and waste of time."

"You talk like a grownup even though you are only 10 years old." she said and I asked "You even know my age? That makes me even more curious as to how you know about me."

"Sorry kid, ninjas aren't ninjas if they can't keep secrets." she said and looked at me before saying "I heard that you beat up many genin of our village. What do you say? Wanna spar with me?"

"Of course" I replied and although I didn't plan on training today, I can't miss this chance. She handed me a wooden sword and held one too. She said "Now prepare to see my style of fighting." and came at me with her wooden sword raised up.

She brought it down, aiming at me. I blocked it, but it still was a heavy hit. Without giving me time to recover, she raised her sword again and slashed it diagonally, aiming at my shoulders.

She kept rapidly attacking me with slashes from all directions and I couldn't defend against all of them. Some landed on my body leaving behind bruises.

But it wasn't in vain though. Slowly, but steadily, I was starting to see her movements and learn how to dodge them. As we went on with our training, I was perfectly able to block or dodge every attack from her wooden sword.

Before long, I also found an opening and attacked her with a thrust. Before it could hit her, she jumped back and said "Don't get cocky" and she rotated her arm holding the wooden sword and there were afterimages of her hand.

Before I even knew what was happening, I saw her wooden sword fall on mine, which I held above my head to protect myself, and broke it into two.

I fell down due to the force and she immediately came to me and asked " Are you ok? I got too carried away back then."

I nodded and she helped me get up. She said " I have to accept though, you learn very quickly. You have improved a lot during this spar."

"I had a great teacher." I said and it was true. She gave me pointers everytime I did a mistake and taught me pretty well.

"I didn't even realise the time when I was sparring with you. Well, I had fun." She said and was leaving when I asked "What's you name?"

She was quite for a while before saying "Yugao Uzuki"

"Bye sensei" I said and she chuckled before disappearing with her body flicker jutsu. She was the first person to actually teach me something useful in my life.

I looked at the setting sun from the mountain top and admired the view one last time before I headed to the park where I was supposed to meet my friends.

When I got there, they were already sitting near a tree and talking about something. I walked to them and Hinata noticed my presence and turned to me. She waved her hand ahd said "Hatsuo Kun, how was your day?" in a low voice.

"It was good. Thanks for asking" I said and then turned to the rest, who also noticed me, but went back to their usual talk.

Then Sakura walked up to me and asked you "So Hatsuo, why did you call all of us here? Are we doing something fun together?" as we were way past the playing age.

I shook my head and said "About that.....I don't know how to tell you all this....I am leaving the village today night." dropped the bomb.

Ino immediately got up and asked "You are joking right?" and I was silent. Seeing me not agree to her, she went dead silent and then immediately asked "Why? This village is your home. And where are you going? How are you going to survive outside?" hit with the same questions from earlier, but louder and with multiple sources, I had to wait till all of them calmed down and then replied with the same answer I gave Ayame.

And they weren't happy with this news. Hinata even had tearsbin her eyes and Ino and Naruto were close.

I said "I know it isn't something you want to hear and I also don't want to leave you guys, but I have to. And don't worry, I will be back in a few years." but it didn't improve the mood.

"I am sorry for doing this. To show my sincerity, I will treat you all to dinner at Ichraku ramen. Let us atleast enjoy before I leave." I said and although it didn't fix the mood, they decided it would be better to stay with me before nI leave.

Naruto wiped his eyes and said "I won't be satisfied with a single Bowl" and I smiled and said "Eat how much ever you want."

I then looked at each of their faces and even I didn't want to leave. Sakura looked sad and kept looking down while mumbling something and Ino was also no different. As for Kiba, Choji and Shikamaru, they didn't say anything. Hinata was also looking at the ground, but unlike the rest, she was lost in thoughts. The last person was Akari. She is a girl with blonde hair, with two bangs on either side of her face. She has green eyes and was fairly tall. Tenten was also strangely silent the whole time.

She is a cheerful person who wasn't introduced in the show. She is Sakura s classmate and they both compete to come out on top of their class. She is quite smart and I met her when she was reading a book about stars all by herself near the academy.

We all headed to Ichraku ramen stall and ordered our ramen. Teuchi and Ayame greeted us and Ayame still looked sad about me leaving. I did work in the stall for more than three years and we both were pretty close, constantly bickering everytime.

The cheerful atmosphere returned with Akari, who helped lighten the mood with her usual cheerful behaviour. Before long, everyone were laughing and enjoying our meal.

We all finished eating and when I was going to pay for the food, Shikamaru stopped me and said "You are going to travel and you will need money. Keep that money, we can pay for our meals."

Everyone agreed with Shikamaru and started taking out cash when Ayame said "You don't have to pay now. I will take money from Hatsuo after he returns to the village. So you better come back and pay me back in the future."

I didn't say anything and just stood there. Ayame pulled me into a hug and before long, the rest joined in and this time, even I couldn't hold back my tears.

Everyone started crying and after a while, I said I had to go and broke free from the hug. It looked like everyone had something to say, but I didn't have time to extend this farewell and just ran off. I heard Ino shout "I will come find you if you don't come back" and I smiled as I ran.

It was already dark and I didn't know the exact time Itachi will start his massacre. So, I ran back to my house and picked up my bag.

I then locked the house and I headed towards the east side, which is behind the Uchiha clan. So, I had to pass through the forest behind the Uchiha clan and only then will I get to the east gate.

As I was slowly walking through the forest, I heard someone shout "Hey you? Please help me" and I looked around and found a small opening in the raised land.

I walked towards the hole and peeped inside, to find a girl with long blonde hair and green eyes in a cell made of Earth style.

She said "Please help me. I have been kidnapped by the Uchiha clan members. I am Shion, the daughter of the priestess of the Land of Demons and the next priestess. If you help me, I can ask my mom to pay you how much every you want."