Chapter 19 : The Runaway

Ya Yeet. Yurrr. Esketit.

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Kenji rolled around on the ground, screaming, wanting this nightmare to be over. He disengaged the chakra flow to his eyes, but the red and white strobe light remained. Blood covered his back. Wounds took his skin, again. Not many could have survived through Kenji's eleven years. He truly was, if not anything, stubborn.

Kenji felt the mountain of chakra assemble at the village. He didn't know what his home's aim was, but he surely wasn't playing into the hand. Kenji managed to pull himself to a stance, supported by his sword. He started jogging. That was all he could do. His eyes stung, and felt like 100 mile an hour winds decided to tear his eyeballs apart. He struggled to even try and open them.

With nothing but anger, Kenji slowed to a walk in the forest. He cursed himself, for the opposition was coming for him already. He squeezed out everything he had. At least find a hiding spot. Somewhere to die peacefully. Kenji didn't want to live anymore. He knew that his mother was probably being hunted down. If she wasn't dead already.

Everything had left him. His friends, mom, village, even his own self. All for an agenda that someone else had for him. He whimpered under the throbs and anger. The last thing he saw was a dirt road splitting the woods into two halves, and the sound of a carriage bustling to its destination.

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Kenji woke up as stiff as a board. He laid in a really uncomfortable bed, surrounded by two kids in the distance, peeking around the corner. He felt their presence, but his eyes were bandaged shut. Kenji attempted to move, even a little bit. He was stopped by a beefy arm and a deep voice.

"Please don't try to get up. I managed to stop that cut on your head and back from taking your life, but the stitches aren't that secure. I don't have the money for anything more."

Kenji heard the man sit on a stool close to him, examining his body. Kenji slowly nestled back into the bed.

"I found you passed out on the side of the road. You looked pretty bad, so I brought you to our vil-"

"Why are you helping me?" Kenji couldn't help his monotone voice.

He felt the annoyance from the big guy. The man questioned Kenji with suspicion.

"Why don't you tell me why you were like that first."

Kenji didn't even move a muscle, he stayed silent.

The man signed. "Fair enough I guess. You ninja never say anything...I'm the doctor for our village. I was picking up supplies and noticed you on my way back. My passion is helping people, my children, and my wife. That's it. I don't care what you did, I was just curious."

Kenji didn't move. He was still thinking. Sitting comfortably in the chair of the Uchiha hatred, for the Mist.

He was able to at least say "Thank you." Although it wasn't very convincing.

"Where am I?" Kenji asked.

"About three hours from where I found you."

"Ok"

Some silence filled the room.

"I don't have the knowledge to help with your eyes though. I've never seen anything like it." The man rubbed his chin with frustration that he couldn't help in some way.

"I'm Kaito by the way."

"Kenji" He shook the man's hand.

"Uchiha? I presume?"

His statement struck a nerve in Kenji, but he swallowed it down.

"Yes."

"Well, nice to meet you. I'm gonna get some water for ya, so don't move or I'll beat your ass."

Kenji didn't reply, he just nodded.

Kaito left the room, dragging the two kids with him, leaving Kenji to his thoughts. He knew he couldn't stay. The Anbu would be all over him. He didn't know how long he'd been out either.

He removed the bandages from his eyes, but the devilish chakra was still spiraling in his vision. He couldn't turn his Mangekyo off. He wanted answers about his new eyes, but that didn't concern him at the moment. The crazy pain was gone for the moment, so he jumped into action. Kenji grabbed a piece of paper from Kaito's desk and wrote a note. Despite his mindset, he still appreciated the help. He wouldn't be here without it. He wasn't able to meet Kaito's wife, probably better that way. But Kenji respected the man immediately. Raising a family, doing what he does. Kenji knew better than most what a family means, and he didn't want to destroy that. He wrote his thanks and his determination to pay Kaito back some day. And he left through the window.

The moment Kenji left, Kaito returned with no water. Just a smug smile. He knew this would happen. His smile turned into confusion when he saw the note on the bed. He laughed while reading it.

"Thanks for caring kid."

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Aya knelt beside a body. Hoping to anyone that would listen, that this body wasn't her son. She removed the shirt, revealing Hansuke's somber smile and peaceful death. She teared up and covered her mouth. Not only for her son's friend, but for the relief she felt when she realized it was him. She hated herself for that. Team 7 stood by and waited while Aya picked up the sword she gifted Kenji, still stained with the blood of two children. She knew what had happened. Kakashi sprang over and embraced her. He knew all to well what Kenji did. For he had been there. He still suffered nightmares concerning his own team. He held Aya, who was crying on his shoulder.

"There's still time." Kakashi resolved. "We can still save him."

He pointed to his own heart, hinting to Aya his meaning. She needed to be stronger. Aya quickly wiped her eyes and gripped Kenji's sword.

"Let's do it."

Kakashi nodded. "Rei, Sasuke, come on over. I'll tell everyone the plan now." Kakashi squinted his eye. He knew it was now or never.

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Kenji didn't know where to go. Should he chase after Aya? Maybe he could save her. Should he try to massacre the people who pushed him over the edge? He shook his head. He needed to heal first. He slowly hopped through the forest until he saw a sight that made him tingle with excitement.

A struggling Commander gripping a wound on his chest, tripped through the trees. Kenji's face turned into an evil smile, stretching from ear to ear.

"This will be fun." He said.

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Note : This one's a little shorter, but I love the stopping point I had so I had to. If you haven't noticed, there's some parallel between Kenji and Kakashi. I'm planning on making their relationship pretty special. Kakashi is one of my favorite anime characters of all time. Which is pretty normal I think. I'll be back tomorrow (in my timezone bruh) with another banger. I'm out. YERRR!