'Fuck.' I thought to myself, knowing that now I was in deep shit. I have been running for hours now, and they were still after me. I was out of ideas, it was quite impossible to get away. They have even sent dogs after me. I was totally screwed, for the first time during my whole existence. What was going to happen now? Was there actually a chance for me to escape? I knew I shouldn't have underestimated the power of those people. I have known that they were strong and that they were quite different than me, regarding fighting techniques, at least, but I still did that stupid mistake just so I could complete my mission quickly. What a retard I am.

"There she is!" I heard someone yell from my left and suddenly I could see all of them were getting closer and closer.

I tried to jump higher, climbing up the trees in the hopes that they would lose my traces and I could win a good two minutes. Such high hopes for nothing. I felt them getting closer and closer.

'Fuck this.' I mumbled to myself, my brain was off at this specific moment and I decided to act on my senses.

I jumped down on the ground, heading towards the river I had seen when I was up. The flow was strong.

The plan was to simply jump in the water and let it take me away, however I came to an urgent halt when I saw that I was on the edge of a waterfall. A massive waterfall.

"Stop!" I heard the voices.

No way in hell was I going to surrender. I turned my head to see if they have still reached me, already hearing the footsteps. I looked before me, gazing the moving water.

"Well, it's the only choice I've got." I said to myself out loud, inhaling as much air as I could and jumped.

I was sure I was going to have a few bones broken after this, I was just hoping that it wouldn't be my neck or back. The fall was relatively long as I had merged with the water. I managed to look down, relief written all over my face that I would not be falling on rocks but in a small lake.

The collision between the water and my body was impossible to bear as I let out a scream in pain. I was in shock because of the pain, forgetting that I was under water and almost letting myself drown. With all the power I had I managed to swim on top of the water, slowly but surely reaching the nearest rock under the waterfall so they would not see me.

Maybe if they thought I was dead they would leave me alone?

I climbed up, breathing heavily and laid on the rock.

'I mustn't fall asleep…' I told myself. I had to stay awake, or else, they will find me and who knows what would happen to me. If they find me, everything will be over. All I have been fighting for all these years will be gone.

I took a few more deep breaths and got up with a lot of effort. I examined my body and came to the conclusion that my ankle was sprained, but nothing else seemed bad – just a few scratches from branches and the kunai thrown at me, and the fact that I still felt my whole body numb from the fall. It was as if someone had poured impossibly hot water over me and my body was burning, but that was pain I could go through.

I checked my bag to see if everything was there, nodding when I saw the sword was there. I was still wondering why would they pay me so much just to steal some sword from Konoha. Probably because of all the well-trained ninjas. Who knows…

With a slow step, I managed to leave the waterfall, trying to pull myself together and escape these grounds as fast as I could.

I had been walking for an hour now, when I heard noises. I did not stop, but my steps became silent as I was trying to understand where they were without them knowing I had sensed them. Something fell to the ground and I couldn't help myself but turn around – a big branch had fallen right behind me. With a sigh I turned around again and what I saw before me took me off guard.

"Where do you think you're going?" The man spoke calmly, his hands crossed before his chest. He had red hair and teal blue eyes, wearing black robes and I could see something that looked like a bigass peanut on his back. Very random.

"None of your business." I spoke, glaring at him, mentally getting ready for a fight. I couldn't accurately estimate his power and size because of the robe, but he looked slim, which gave me some hope.

"It is my business. You have stolen something important from my allies." He didn't move an inch, but I did take a step back. Judging from his confidence I was pretty sure we were not alone. Was running still an option?

"I am not very fond of what you're speaking of." My sass did not amuse him even one bit.

That is why I took another step back and was about to turn around and yet again run, but something happened. Something awfully strange. I was up in the air, upside down, as if my legs were tied with a rope. I looked up and I saw sand.

"What the fuck!?" I yelled, trying to wiggle out. 'Breathe.' I tried to stay calm, but it was hardly possible.

He walked towards me with timid steps and my body lowered, so we were at eye sights.

"I am sure you know what I am speaking of." He said, extending his hand and I closed my eyes defensively, thinking that he would hit me, but when I opened them again he was holding the sword before me. "This does not belong to you. Why did you take it?"

He was looking at me for a while and all I did was stare back at him.

"What is your name?" No way was I going to answer anything, it was against the laws of my job. "Who do you work for?" He was looking at me for minutes and the only thing that could be heard was breathing. "You refuse to speak?" Wasn't he slow? "Very well then."

The ropes loosened and he caught me, throwing me on his back. My feet and hands were tied with sand but I did try to move, wiggling.

"If you don't stop moving, I will knock you out." Of course, I would not listen to his threatens as I continued trying to get away from him. He stopped suddenly and with one sudden movement I blacked out.