Beep. Beep. Beep. Bee-
I clicked the alarm off, sitting up. I slipped off the couch, where I slept every night. I never slept in my room anymore. There were too many bad memories carved in to those walls, to be there for eternity.
A quick shower, dress, pack, make a few lunches and breakfast, and I was out the door. We were meeting at the gate at five o'clock; it was about 4:30.
I enjoyed walking while there was no one around, while quiet was settled through out the entire village. Before parents woke up and headed to work; before children awakened and dashed through streets, making it harder for me to navigate on my own. My almost silent footsteps caused the tiniest echoes to ring off the nearby buildings. Only a blind person, with their heightened sense of hearing, or someone with the very highest ability to enhance their hearing abilities, could hear the tiny sounds.
I let a soft sigh slip through my lips, closing my eyes as I continued down the memorized path.
A soft whine.
I stopped, feeling something soft, yet dirty run under my hand. I kneeled down, and felt another whine.
A dog.
I smiled slightly, gently petting the animal's head. "You must be hungry," I said softly.
Another whine.
I slipped my backpack off, placing it on the ground beside me. A few moments of rooting through its contents revealed I had a few extra pieces of meat stashed away for the journey ahead. "I'm sure I can spare a few." I lay the pieces on the ground.
A few sounds of chomping and chewing, and the meat was gone.
I smiled and pat the dog, feeling it run its tongue on my cheek in a few licks. I let out a short giggle before standing up. "Bye now."
He padded off, and I continued on my way.
I sat against the gate, when I arrived, seeing as no one else was there. I allowed my eyes to close, waiting for the others to arrive.
Heavy footsteps, but quick. Rock Lee.
Slower paced, lighter, female. TenTen.
Careful, quiet, almost sharp. Hyuuga Neji.
With a small poof and a quick breeze, our sensei appeared. "Rai! My youthful pupil, you are safe! I'm glad to see our mission was a success. Now, let's not burn our light! Ready?" There was a round of sleepy mutters, mostly around the idea of more sleep. "Okay, everyone, let's go!"
"Yes sir!"
I stood up, stretching slightly and tightening the bandages around my eyes. TenTen touched my hand, leaving a chakra string to lead me. I nodded thank you.
We walked for hours, the heat of the sun had long disappeared, before we stopped, the fact that none of us had food in our stomach to provide calories when that much walking was taking a strain on everyone.
I pulled the food I had prepared from my bag, thankful it was still warm in the boxes. "I made dinner. I hope it's okay." I held out the stack of food and felt them leave my hands one at a time, until there was one left for me.
Dinner was silent, other than the tapping of chopsticks. "The boxes, feel free to leave them. I have plenty," I said quietly. Everyone one was silent. Even Lee and Gai weren't talking. I was very confused. This wasn't their normal behavior.
"Is something wrong with the food?" I asked softly. It had tasted fine to me, but I wasn't sure.
"No, no. It's great Rai. Thank you," TenTen said hurriedly.
I sighed, "Something is wrong. Please tell me." I had learned to pick up even the subtlest sign in someone's voice, hinting that something was wrong. No one spoke. I sighed again and stood. "I'm going to collect water." I picked up the water bag and headed off in to the woods, towards the sound of running water.
I felt the water lap at my toes as I stood on the bank. I bent down and started filling the bag. I corked it when it was full and looped it over my shoulder.
A hand slapped over my mouth. "Well, well, well. What do we have here? A little leaf genin, how cute."
