I don't know when it was the last time I had something to eat. The only thing I do know, is that I have to keep running and not to stop for anything. Because they will catch up. I may have the head start, but they have a higher rank than me and they will catch me.

CHAPTER 1

I don't know how long I have been running for, maybe 2, 3 days now. I'm tired, I'm hungry and I am in need for a serious bath. But I have no time for that. I have to keep running even if it kills me.

My name is Kagemusha Kaida and I'm the 'princess'(daughter of the leader)of my village. Well I was the princess, before the whole village disowned me and kick me out, all because I wouldn't marry an old man. Yes, he would bring money and protection to the village, but he would also destroy it. I just couldn't allow my village to get ruined by that man. He cruel and twisted sick man. Well, honestly most of the village is as well, but he is a 100 times worse. He wants my clans secrets for his own selfish needs and will do anything to get it. Such as, making up a god and saying I need to be sacrificed, but I need to sire his child first.

So yeah, thats the reason I'm running now. I snuck out late at night, every one was busy celebrating, as I was suppose to be marrying him in the morning. It was my maid that helped me escape. She was more my mother than my real one. I hope she stays safe..

God, I don't think I can keep running for much longer. I know I should be close to a village by now, and I really hope I am.

As I keep running through the deep green forest, I can see a crystal blue clear stream ahead of me. Strange. Debating whether or not I should stop for a drink, I come to the conclusion that there is no way I could keep running if I don't.

Reaching down at the stream, I look at my reflection. Wow, I'm a mess. All I could see was a wild looking girl. My once long, neat wavy golden brown hair. Is now dirty brown, matted with twigs and leafs sticking out in it. My once hazel eyes that were always so bright are now dull and sunken in. My clothes muddy and ripped with some blood smeared on them from the cuts all over my body.

Looking at my hair I sigh touching it lightly. Turning back to look out at the water, I standing up making my way into the water to have a quick wash. Tugging my fingers through my hair, to try get some matts out of it. I come up with a rash decision, I Reach for my bag, pulling out a kunai that I found lodge into a tree. Taking a deep breath in, closing my eyes... I cut a chunk of my hair off. I keep going until it feels even all around my head.

Opening my eyes, I look back down at the water and see what used to be my hair, floating gently a round me before following the current down the stream. Feeling my now short hair, it reaches just past my ears and comes into my eyes. I decide thats short enough and climb out of the water to dry off.

Before setting off, I take a few gulps of water and watch as my hair slowly drifts of with the current down the steam.

This is my new start, if I get away.

"Grrr" seemed to be the only sound I was hearing, accept for a few birds tweeting up in the tree. If your wondering what the 'grr' sound is...well it's my stomach telling me that I'm in need for food. Which I could tell without it telling me...by the pain pulsing through.

I've been running for a few more hours since the chopping of my hair. I haven't seen a soul and it looks like no one is following me. I really must of got a good start…

Running out of the tree line, I stumble on my feet and fall onto the ground harshly. Wincing I push myself back up. My palms are all cut open, with grazes up my arms and on my knees. Brushing my hands against my top I look at the ground. It's a road. No wonder it hurt so much falling onto it than when I fell before. Looking around to find any people, I come up across a huge green gateway with red writing and a symbol on the top.

This might be my chance to get some food. I've just got to try get my feet moving again. I feel like dead weight, they are so heavy…Steadily making my first step. A bit shaky, but not that shaky it will collapse underneath me. Taking my next step, I feel a bit better and I start walking towards the gate with a slow, yet shaky rhythm. The gates look about 10 meters away from me. I can make that, I hope.

Looking down at my feet as I walk, making sure I don't trip on anything. I notice to guards at the gates. One with crazy black spiky hair, with a bandage across his face. And one with a bandana with brown hair across his eye. Do you think just maybe they'll let me pass by if I just keep my head down and be quite. I just need food and I'll be out of their hair.

Suddenly I bump into something causing me to fall again and land hard on my hands. Biting my lip to stop myself from screaming. Quickly looking up, trying to ignoring the pain in my hands. I see a man with grey/sliver hair sticking up. His left eye covers up with a headband, with a metal plate with the same symbols carved into it. His mouth covered up with a blue mask. So only his right eye was showing, but I guess his hair gives away who he is. He was standing with his hands in his pockets with his head leans back, as though he would rather be anywhere else than here. Looking very relaxed, but you could see he was on guard.

"I'm sorry sir...I wasn't looking where I was going" I said sincerely with a strong voice, but then I mumbled of at the end. His eyes...eye? softened a bit, but he still looked at me as though I was a possible threat.

Flinching as he reached his hand towards me. He stopped for a small second but carried on.

"It's fine, you didn't hurt me. But are you ok? That was a nasty fall you took earlier"

Blushing. Ah, he saw that? Grabbing hold of his reached out hand, he helped to pull me up to my feet. "I'm fine sir, it wasn't that bad for a fall" I said quietly, brushing the dust of me. He looked as though he didn't believe my lie, as I wiped more blood on myself. "Sir?" he gave me a look for me to carry on. His one eye really tells you what he wants. "Can you tell me what village this is?"

His eye sharpened as he spoke "It's the village hidden in the leaf, Konohagakure"

What? But that's a 6 day travel. I'm sure I've only been running for 3 maybe 4 days. Has it been more? Looking up at him, he starts talking again.

"Well" he muttered taking his hands out of his pockets. "I need to take you to the Hokage"

"Huh?" looking up at him with my head tilted to the side a confused look on my face. "Why would I need to seen him? I only want something to eat and then I'll move on"

Sighing, he reached down and picked me up and put me over his the hell!

"Hey! Put me down you pervert!" I shouted hitting his back and kicking my legs about.

Looking back at me with a closed eyed smile "no can do. You could be a threat to the village young man." Young man? I'm a lady thank you very much…

"I'm not a threat!" I hit him again. If I was, I wouldn't be on your shoulders would I?

"Then what are you doing outside the village?" he questioned me. Seriously.

"I'm travelling. This looked like a good spot to get something to eat" I said. I'm not lying. I am trying to travel as far as I can go, but I'm not telling him the truth about running away, they'll probably try send me back.

He looks back over at me again as he carried on walking towards the gate "You're travelling alone?" hey kids can become ninjas at 7, I am 11 why is that so odd for me to travel on my own.

"Yes" I told him nodding my head.

"Where are your parents?" sharp inhale of air.

"I'm an orphan..." I said quietly, because god I am, realising the truth in those were selling me off, going to make me have a child at 11 then kill me when it's born. I'm better off as an orphan than those sick twisted people. I just caught the sad look that the man gave me. "It's alright sir, they weren't the nicest of people. I'm better off without them" I probably shouldn't of said that to him. He gave me a strange look, that I couldn't quite understand.

"Well thats more reason to take you to the Hokage! See if you can stay here for a while or permanently" he sounded so cheerful saying that. But I can't stay here. What if they find me and put the village in trouble. I don't want anyone getting hurt because of me.

Panicking, I push myself up from his shoulder "No! I can't stay!" I really can't!

"Ohh? Why not?" he raised an eye brow at me.

"Because..." because it'll put everyone in danger. But I couldn't make myself say this out loud. I don't know if he is a good guy or a bad guy. That man has people everywhere. So he might send me back to those monsters. I don't want to go back. Just let me move on please.

Narrowing his eye at me, he knows something is up "Well anyway, I still need to take you to the Hokage. You were outside the village and could be a threat" he said walking through the gates.

How do I get out of this one?

**End of chapter 1**