A relieved sigh slipped over my lips as I reached the forest. I had made it. And this time actually, without being pursued. The day promised to become really still good. Now I would first find my hiding place and store the apples in it. Afterwards I could go again back into the village to the academy. Of course invisible.

Because next to one of the classrooms grew a high tree, whose branches were so strong that they could carry me. Often I made myself comfortable on a branch and listened to the lessons. Everything that was taught there, I could also practice and apply. Thus I had managed to teach myself the jutsu of exchange or that of doubles. Extremely effective for a thief like me. One day I wanted to master the Shadow Clone Jutsu as well, but I would have to be patient for that.

Somehow I missed my time at the academy, even though I hadn't really gotten along with the other kids back then. What was actually also due to the fact that I had withdrawn myself very much. At that time, I hadn't really known what to do with others. I had preferred to be alone and daydream. Now, a few years later, I wanted nothing more than friends. But in my current situation, such a thing was almost impossible. I would be sent back to my father and hell would begin again. Every time I thought of my father, goose bumps ran down my spine.

I had already seen him a few times in the village from a distance and had then preferred to avoid him. I did not want to run into this person for anything in the world. There I preferred still rather an encounter with the Kopierninja Kakashi was also so much more sympathetic to me. Even if they had already once nearly set him on me. But the Hokage had dismissed my case then as nothingness. For which I was also very grateful to him.I had been able to take all this from the conversation of two ANBU and had nearly fallen from the roof. That had been the shock of my life, after the situation between me and my so-called father. Just the renewed thought of the person who had made my life a misery made sickness rise in me. Resolutely, I pushed him aside.

I deftly weaved my way through the dense undergrowth, carefully avoiding leaving any traces. The ground was still slightly damp from last night's rain. The days before had been abnormally hot, all the more I had now welcomed the cool wet. Some would call rain annoying, but for me it was an important part of my life. Water was precious and essential for survival.

Deep in the heart of the forest under the leaves of the trees lay my small but safe hiding place. Directly under the roots of a large old tree I had set up a small cave, which was almost completely covered by the rampant bushes. I had sealed leaks with moss, clay and resin. My dwelling was small, but it was enough to spend the night in it and to stow things. Especially since I myself did not have a really desirable body size. Hopefully that would change in the coming years. I didn't want to stay this small all my life. On the other hand, this size was also really practical for me as a thief. Especially when being pursued. I fit through the narrowest gaps and was also quite agile. Yes, my small stature also had its advantages.

In spring, summer and autumn it was easy to live here. However, in the winter I had to come up with something every time in order not to freeze to death. Even though I had a winter coat made of animal fur, not even that could protect me from the deadly cold. During the day I was always on the move, trying to keep my body as warm as possible. Either by exercising or visiting the village. So far, this had always worked and hopefully it would continue to work in the future.

Quickly I had stowed the freshly stolen apples inside the cave. Except for two. I would save those for the rest of the day. Satisfied, I patted my fanny pack. Now it was time to go hunting. It had been a long time since I had last had rabbit meat between my teeth. Maybe I had a little more luck today. Otherwise I would have to feed on stolen bread and fruit for the rest of my life. Not really very desirable. Variety had to be. I grinned slightly. Today I would catch something, I was sure of it. Always stay optimistic.

Just as I was about to set off, a loud crack sounded not far from where I was hiding, followed by an angry scream. I froze. No one had ever come this close to my den before. Even though this someone might not be after me, I still had to watch him to lure the unannounced visitor away from here in case of emergency. "Jutsu of invisibility," I whispered. Immediately my body disappeared. Habitually, I looked down at myself to see if it had really worked. When I couldn't find any fault, I set off in the direction from which the noises came.

Silently I jumped from tree to tree. The "visitor" had been easy to find. With the volume he was currently making, he had scared off all the game within a radius of at least five kilometers. I shook my head. How could anyone make such a racket? Slightly annoyed, I shook my head. So much for hunting. And I had been so optimistic.

It was a boy about my age. His blond hair was sticking out in all directions. Whiskers stood out on his face. I tilted my head. Somehow he looked familiar. My eyebrows drew together as I pondered. Cautiously, I crept closer to him.

On a wide branch fork, I finally found a suitable place to watch him. Doggedly, he threw his kunais into the bark of my tree. Beads of sweat ran down his young face as he lashed out again and again. "One ... one day I will become Hokage, count on it." Realization flashed through me like lightning. Of course. Why hadn't I thought of that in the first place. The boy was none other than Naruto Uzumaki. In him, the Kyuubi in the form of the nine-tailed fox was sealed shortly after his birth. I had had little to do with him. Unlike me, however, he had not shut himself off from the other children. No. He wanted to belong. But everyone had seen in him only the fox, of which he himself knew nothing. And apparently both were still the case.

Now I understood his anger. It was certainly not easy for him to live in a world that wanted nothing to do with him. A stab went through my heart. I understood him. Probably better than some others. Even though we didn't share the same fate, we were both in the same situation. Alone.

All at once, the air hissed. A pain on my arm made me gasp loudly. Damn, that burned. Apparently he had thrown one of the kunais incorrectly and had hit me instead of the tree. What was I also so careless and sat down directly on the tree, at which the young Shinobi trained. I had to leave here, and as quickly as possible. I was already about to start moving when something held me back.

"Who's there?"