She had been running for hours. The cramps on her leg muscles were telling her to slow down, her throat and lungs were burning for the repeated breathing. She hadn't sensed anyone following her until then, and even if they started looking for her a couple of hours ago, she considered she put enough distance between her and the village so she could slow down a little and proceed with her journey by walk.
She knew she would have to think about her next steps soon, but at the moment she only wanted to enjoy the beauty of the forest at night.
Looking up at the sky, she couldn't help but think that, finally, for the first time in her life, she was free. She had dreamed of this moment all her life and, although the circumstances were way different from what she had expected, it finally became a true. It had been enough to chase away any feeling of guilt and despair that was haunting her when she left the village. Adrenaline was rushing to her brain as she started fantasinzing about all the people she would meet on her journey and with how many people she would be able to befriend with. Perhaps she would find a place were she would befit better than in Takigakure, where people would accept her as she is. Feeling energy returning to her, she climbed on a tree once more and jumped from one branch to another.
The first sunrays were changing the dark blu color of night into an array of clearer shades. The adrenaline that had fueled her until seconds ago had burned out, and the excitement that had moved her had slowly changed into doubt. Gravity was pulling her down, making her body feel even more heavier. Her eyes were itching and she was struggling to keep them open. She had spent a lot of chakra the last few days and now she was getting out of energy. She needed to rest but having no idea of where she was – all around her were the exact same tall trees than the ones she had seen when she had first entered the forest – she had no choice other than keep going on. Uncertainty invaded her as she started questionning the decision she took.
Why did she leave in the first place?
For Chomei, of course, she thought. She needed to find a solution for the mistake she made, and she had no idea how she could do it if she stayed in the village, and Chomei said they had to leave... but where?
Upon realization, she abruptly stopped. Where was she going? She had no idea. She had just been so overwhelmed by the recent events that the only thing she wanted was to escape that feeling of anxiety and oppression sthat was overwhelming her back at the village. This was the reason why. Not because of Chomei.
She had wanted to be free, but thinking back at her choices, she realized how bitter freedom tasted. It's not fair. There she was: lost, tired and alone. She wanted to go back, apologize for her mistakes, beg Shibuki for forgiveness, and accept whatever punishment would await her. But she didn't even know how to go back. Once again, that burning feeling of anxiety was burning her down. She didn't have the slightest idea of where she was going, nor she knew how to go back. She could wait for a shinobi of her village to come and find her, but realization hit her again. A ninja that left his or her village without the permission was labelled as rogue; and no matter how hard he or she could justify it, a rogue ninja was a traitor, and the punishment that expected him or her was emprisonment in the best cases, death if he or she was proved to have committed unforgivable crimes. Although she would never fall on the second category – her power was too precious to be waisted away – emprisonment was not only an option in this case. What she had done had only confirmed the need to put her under strict surveillance. The idea of spending the rest of her life in these conditions sickened her – she would sooner or later lose her mind.
She felt her heart sinking. She had just given up the only place that would have ever welcomed her. If only Chomei was here, she complained. He would have been able to stop her from... Wait a second. Comei told me to leave! It's all Chomei's fault! And then he just plays dead and leave me in this impossible situation. What a stupid thing to worry about him, he didn't even show up once from yesterday night. And I considered him as my kin... I've been so silly. He wanted to leave me, that traitor! Of course, he told me to escape from the village so he could be extracted and stuff, and what about me, uh?! I would have been alone like I've never ever been before, with no place to go back to, and HE would have lived his free life as he pleased?! YOU KNOW WHAT? I've made the first step, and I'm in a mess now, ARE YOU HAPPY?! But I'm not gonna let you get out so easily, you'll have to find me a solution first. ARE YOU HEARING ME CHOMEI?!
No one replied to that question, only the sound of wind stroking the treeleaves was filling the void. Shame washed over her. She had never felt so stupid before. There was no way back; but there was no way forward either. So she crouched on the the enormous branch she had stopped on and laid her head against the trunk. She really needed to cool down. Pulling her knees up to her chin, she entered into silent observance.
She had always wanted to see the outside world. That's why she had sent the request to participate at the Chunin Exam. She had even threatened Shibuki so he would have let her go. Whatever Chomei had meant with those words last night, the decision she had taken was hers, and now she would have to face the consequences.
She would pursue her journey, she would find a way to reach Chomei. And if he asked to be freed, then they would find a way to do so. He had seemed to know what he had been talking about so she would just need to follow his instruction when the time would come. Chomei had been in the same situation for an immemorable time, and he never once complained to her or made her feel guilty for that. He had been kind and supportive, taking good care of her while she was his very prison. He deserves better than to be trapped inside me.
Having her heart at peace, Fuu decided to climb up the tree to reach the top of the canopee so she could have a better view of her surroundings and look around for any human activity in the closest range. However, the landscape was showing something quite unexpected: around a kilometer on her left, the forest was slowly replaced by a wide range of rocky pics that ultimately led to a desertic plateau. If her memories were good, it meant she was at the borders of the Land of Earth. Looking at the desertic landscape in front of her, she hoped she would soon find somewhere she could eat and rest.
It was probably close to twelve when she finally spotted a couple of beige buildings that included an inn and a small eating place. All around was the same rocky and desertic environment she had seen in the past few hours. The sun was high in the sky. From time to time, some wind would blow but instead of giving rest to the travelers from the tormenting heat, it would only add to the suffocating oppression that touched whoever had the crossed the desert at this time of the day. She was all covered in dust and sweat, and some weat locks of hair were glued to her cheeks and temples. She thought she had never felt so dirty before. So, at that very moment she sighted those two cement blocks, she thought it was worth all the money of the world. Feeling energy regaining her body, Fuu ran towards the inn, stopping only a few meters in front of the main door to drop her backpack on the floor and look for her wallet. There, life was as desertic as the environment. The only other living being she sighted around was a man sitting outside the eating place, quietly sipping a cup of something. As she pulled the wallet out of her bag, she pushed the plexiglass door and went straight to the small reception desk on her left. Behind the counter was a middle-aged man, with greying hair and a pair of glasses hold by a lace hanging down his neck. Head low, he seemed to be too focused on his reading, as he didn't even aknowledge the person who just entered his place. Fuu didn't have the time to greet the receptionist as he mechanically said: "Welcome to the Taiyo Inn. Single room 4,500 ryos; double room 8,400. Check-out at 9:00. Caution 1,000 ryos. No-smoking rooms. If you do, anti-smoke will activate and it will be 1,200 ryos of fees. No laundry service or restauration. If you want to eat, there is eating place right next to the inn, and behind it you'll find grocery store for essential needs." Then he pointed his index on a pile of flyers on his left. "Here you can find the maps and all the useful information regarding the Land of Earth. Closest village: Kuroishi, 17km northeast. Meteo for today: sunny, 38°C. Tomorrow, windy. Average temperature 40°C. So, single or double?" The man said, keeping his eyes down. Fuu was a little unsettled. She had little to no experience when it came to these kind of services, but the place was anything except welcoming. There was a lot of information to take in – she wasn't even sure she memorized everything. The reception was a small hall with greyish walls and a tight staircase that was leading to the upper floors – probably leading to the rooms. And to add to the picture, it smelled hot dust and old paint in there. Her first experience of the 'outside world' alone was rather disappointing.
After a few seconds of silence, the receptionist decided to take a look at the client and see what was wrong. Hearing the noise coming from behind the desk, Fuu turned her attention back at the man that was now standing, wearing a concerned look on his face. "Are you lost kid?" was the only thing that came out of the man's mouth. Fuu didn't know how to answer that question. Was she lost? Yes, but why would that matter? She wasn't a child anymore. In the shinobi world, after graduating from the Academy at the age of twelve, you weren't considered an adult. According to your strength, you could be assigned missions that were more or less deadly, and severe injuries were a commonality. In the world they were living in, with alternate periods of wars, childhood was a priviledge that reserved to few groups of people – not to someone like her. As a Jinchuuriki, it had been all the more true: she had been born with an immense power that made her the most powerful weapon of her country, and so she had being raised up.
So when the man had said those four words, all the concern and disappointment she had against the inn and its owner melted away. No one had ever cared for her before, if it wasn't for what was inside her, and that made her genuinely smile " I'm fine, Sir. Thank you. Could I have a single room please?"