ANBU
He kicked a pebble and watched it meander up the path, kicking up the occasional mini-explosion of dust. When he decided to become a member of ANBU it seemed the right decision. Steady work that would enable him to support his family back home and restore pride in his clan. The work did come, but it wasn't near as freeing as he hoped. He missed them terribly; the nightly doses of sake never enough to quell his loneliness. The sun drooped lazily off in the distance, preparing for its slumber. Tilting his last bottle of sake skyward, he drained it completely, leaving nothing but a memory of its prior contents…
'Is this what I'm here for? The endless string of failure. The sake tasted sweeter back home. I shouldn't be thinking this. As bad as it is, without me they won't have anything. Even with me they don't have enough…'
He unsteadily changed direction, swaying around the corner he found himself walking into Otogakure. Through glassy eyes he peered at the house and contented ninjas occupying them. Returning to their comfortable lives. The moisture blurred the vision in his left eye till a drop cut itself a path down his hardened, dirt stained whiskered face…
"I tried, Kami. Please forgive me"…
Stepping into the village of awaiting nin, he prayed it would be quick.
'Goodbye, Sakura-chan.'
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Blanket Disclaimer: I do not nor will I ever own Naruto.