"Aw man, you have got to be kidding me!" I shouted in frustration. I had been traveling for a week on foot when I had come across the biggest fallen tree trunk in the history of trees and falling. The thing was ginormous! It'd give the wall of China a run for its money. Oh well. Not everything can be rainbows and sunshine.

I was dirty, exhausted, and hungry. My stock of berries and other wild fruit had run out this morning. It was nearing dusk and if I didn't find somewhere safe to camp out then I was screwed.

Just the other day I narrowly avoided a group of bandits lurking around back a few miles. It had bee kinda weird. Like all of a sudden, I was trudging along the path and whoosh! I guess whatever body I'd been graciously dropped in had been some kind of sensor ninja like Karin or maybe all ninjas could feel chakra. Now I could feel and see the chakra signatures of the other shinobi. Well, I couldn't see it with my eyes, per say, it was more like a color in my head with the aurora of the person's spiritual and physical energy making up the sensation of it, giving me a feel of their personalities. It was an odd yet exciting new sensation that I found to be very helpful.

I sighed tiredly and looked at my map. This was the nearest and only trail that didn't lead further into the forest. I was already miles away from any kind of civilization and I really didn't want to stray further away. I was almost there too!

I grit my teeth as an overwhelming sense of determination overcame me.

"I WILL get past you, tree-san!" I found my high voice saying. I walked a few paces backward and surged forward. I crouched slightly in mid-run and leaped. My long hair whipped around behind me as I sailed through the air. A part of me thought I could actually jump over the thing. That hope was quickly squashed

I sweat-dropped when I realized I wouldn't make it.

"GAH!" It was too late to try and move. I ended up slamming my still tender chest against the thick tree trunk. Luckily my chest plate was still functional so at least I didn't break anything else. My body sluggishly slid off the tree and landed with a loud thwack on the dirt floor.

I wheezed from my position on my back and clutched my stomach. My ribs were no longer cracked, but they had just healed and were still sensitive. My body stilled as I sensed a group of rapidly approaching chakra signatures. Great, my little stunt must have attracted attention.

I scrambled to my feet only to have a heavy boot slam me back to the ground. My armor took the brunt of the hit, but my head had hit the ground pretty hard. Stars clouded my vision. I blinked, trying to clear my head. I guess even my new body had a penchant for passing out too. I looked up to see a group of four straggly looking men gathered around me.

I looked up to see a group of four straggly looking men gathered around me.

"What happened, kunoichi-chan?" The greasy man taunted, and dug his foot deeper into my armor. "Did the little girl fall?" I grunted in pain and felt my pride deflate. I might be in the most girlish-looking male body ever but there was no way I was letting this man getting away with calling me a girl even though I was a girl mentally. Gosh, this is weird.

The shinobi finally relieved the pressure off my chest as he stepped back. I gasped loudly. Sweet air! Oh, how I've missed you! My moment was short-lived as someone else grabbed hold of my ponytail and yanked me onto my knees. I let loose a high-pitched scream, further convincing my attackers I was female. I shut my mouth as I felt something cool press against my neck dangerously.

"Move or scream again, girlie and I'll slit your throat." I kept quiet as another bandit searched through my pockets and backpack. I kept my mind calm, knowing that if I lost my cool I would also loose my life. Growing up on the streets as an orphan in Los Angeles did that to you.

"What the hell is this?" He asked, pulling out Bunny-chan. The group of bandits could only stare as the world's most grotesque stuffed animal slowly swiveled around to face them and stared at them with its horrendous empty eyes. I felt my captor's grip loosen on my hair. What happened next was complete and utter chaos. And also badass, confusing, and scary as hell.

What happened next was complete and utter chaos. And also super badass, confusing, and scary as hell.

Acting out on pure instincts and the adrenaline rushing through my body, I tossed elbows backwards with as much force as I could muster into my captor's kneecaps. Again, chakra surrounded my arms, strengthening the blow. I heard a sharp cry and the crunch of bone marrow fracturing before the man completely let go of me and fell onto his back, clutching his shattered knees in agony.

"AGH SHIT!" He fell to floor. "The bitch broke my knees!" I was already up on my feet before any of the men could blink. I breathed in deeply, the foreign sensation of anger riling me up.

"I'm a guy, 'ttebaru! Get that through your thick heads ya mutts!" I yelled in indignation. A man built like a refrigerator charged towards me, fist reeled back and a face full of fury.

A man built like a refrigerator charged towards me, fist reeled back and a face full of fury.

"Duck!" My body and mind screamed. I obeyed and crouched down low, feeling the dirt beneath my fingertips. The sound of flesh hitting flesh sounded above me. I looked up to see the large man had knocked out another man that had been charging behind me. They both dropped to floor. I stood up and my body automatically slid into a stance I didn't recognize but it felt natural. My eyes met my attacker and I guess whatever they saw in them was enough to have them running with their tails tucked in. The three other unharmed men looked at each other before sprinting off into the woods with their fallen comrades dangling over their backs, dropping Bunny-chan in their haste. I sighed and allowed myself to relax as the battle-produced adrenaline wore off. I picked up Bunny-chan and tucked the ugly guy away. I bit my lip and tentatively patted his head fondly. Who knew the little squirt would come in handy?

I focused my attention back on the tree in front of me. I walked to side and noticed the tree hadn't fallen naturally. The jagged yet clean cuts along the base spoke of foul play. I rummaged through my backpack and pulled out some ink I'd found back home.

Home. The word felt right when referring to the fallen Country of Uzu. I smiled and my hand naturally wrote the kanji for "bandits" and "danger". I looked at my hand oddly. It was strange. I had no knowledge prior of the written or spoken Japanese language before my death but after being revived it felt like I've known the dialect my whole life. I shrugged and spent a few minutes climbing over the tree trunk. I sighed and continued my journey. From the looks of it I should only be a day's travel away from the unfamiliar yet familiar gates of Konoha. I sighed and drudged onwards, looking over my shoulder every once in a while. Better safer than sorry! Curse that sexy man for bringing me here…