Chapter II
If he were to question the validity of his urges as a man his inner wolf would be laughing. Not long after leaving the brothel with the unknown woman had he walked through the dimly lit forest in search for a river. Food. He had eaten his last ration bar hours prior and now that he had another person with him providing sustenance was a task that had now become an obligation.
As a ninja, he could have easily disregarded eating for three days because he would have used Soldier Pills to enhance his adrenaline until he crossed into the borders of the Land of Fire. But the journey back to Konoha would have to have a few detours. And it was thanks to the woman that had no name to go by.
Her intelligent gaze was unsettling. And the silence between them made his insides jumble. He should not be feeling an instant attraction toward the woman. And yet her umber skin in the moonlight was like a drug. She was a siren that constantly tugged on his mind.
Was this how his father felt when he first saw his mother?
He could smell the incoming rain coming in from the northeast wind. And though he would rather spend his travels hunting wild game to increase his awareness he did not want his senses to be muddled under the cleansing power of rain.
Like all Yoshikawa males before him his sense of smell was powerful. But the thing that made him unique was his white chakra. It was different from the blue of normal ninjas but if anyone asked why his chakra was dense he would say that he had inherited it.
Others during his childhood had called it the ghost chakra - as if it pulled on the life force of its user to do strange things. It would also explain the reason for graduating the Ninja Academy at a young age.
But for him being underestimated by those with more experience was both a gift and a curse. He would always have to do the unexpected to get approval and when he surpassed all those that had doubted him that is when they would call him freak.
Like it wasn't a word he had heard before.
He had lived with that word through his career as a ninja. That is why he preferred being alone.
Until...
"Aren't you going to ask my name?" The woman asked as they continued their stroll near the river.
"No." He said.
He continued looking into the reflection of the water letting his senses free. Hoping to hear the subtle splash of water so he can catch some fish.
The growling of her stomach was loud to his ears but who was he to deny himself the need to have something that would replenish his body.
He pulled three senbon out of his pouch and waited for the fish in the river to jump.
Shish. Shish. Gloop.
His throw was quick. And the fish were pinned by a single senbon each onto a tree.
The gasp that came from the woman made him smile. As he pulled on his chakra that was linked to his senbon like a puppet master the fish came sailing into his brown pouch that was filled with herbs.
"Wow." She said. "You are very talented."
He hmm'd in response. Glad that his white and black Tanuki mask hid his warming cheeks.
She wasn't wrong about that.