Taking a deep inhale to herself, Maki looked out upon the horizon from atop the position of a run down wall where she had perched herself. The rain that reflected and refracted what little sun shone through the grey blanket above. A sight that had been with her as long as she could remember, the towering and looming buildings of steel making up the village of rain acting as her comforting reminder of home. Clad in rather casual black and red clothing, with a bag on her back, Maki simply gazed out, quite comfortable and happy. Yet, as she let out the breath she had just taken, the girl jumped up, shaking her head. This little raven chick had to take flight from the nest.

And with that, she took a step, dropping from the broken barrier onto the ground, rolling from a standing position, onto her back, then back up to her feet, utilising the momentum to go from a standing drop to a walk without causing any risk of injury to her legs or ankles. None of her clothes or items on her back damaged, as within the bag was merely some basic supplies, and spare sets of clothing, all kept safe within the leather confines. She took a single look behind her, a small, almost sad smile crossing her lips. For the first time, she was leaving home, the towering village that she had lived in her entire life. She had been sure to talk it through for quite some time with the old lady that ran the orphanage, not wishing to make it seem like she was just abandoning home. Of course, the old lady wasn’t too happy about it. Maki was like a daughter to her. Maki wasn’t too excited about it either. Yet they both mutually agreed times were tough, and so, Maki left, on the promise that she would be back to visit. That she would never forget her home.

Travelling to the main bridge in and out of Amegakure, Maki went to the nearest caravan of merchants, signalling them and going to meet with the one in charge. “Excuse me sir. I noticed your caravan is marked as making a delivery to lightning country. I hope you don’t mind, but, may I come along as well? I’m willing to pay.”

The man laughed, shaking his head as he gestured to the cart at the back, pulled by two donkeys. “Go sit at the back. No fee needed, so long as you’re fine with helping look after some things. Just be prepared the journey will be awful boring.” At this, Maki gave a swift nod, keeping her hood up as she turned to the back of the wagon, moving and jumping on the back. The wares were simple, foods that were grown with the intention of surviving long journeys, as well as a bundle of reeds, likely for a minor company or perhaps simply for independent trading. Maki simply curled up, taking her bag off and setting it next to her as she pressed her back against the oaken wall, face down as she side eye glanced towards the slowly disappearing village. The rain pattering the entire way out.

As time passed, Maki ended up allowing herself the luxury of a quick nap, fully preparing herself to pay the merchant man regardless of what he said, for the good will. As she awoke, the caravan arrived in the land of fire, a total of six carriages, four shinobi leaping among the trees and hiding in the leaves when the caravans stopped to rest the mules. The escorts no doubt, on their shinobi mission from the land of rain to make sure the caravans were safe.

Time passed and progressed fairly simply. Yet from her nap, Maki was soon awoken with a sudden shout, the caravan stopping a lot harsher than it had previously. Looking around, the signs of the shinobi had disappeared, and Maki found herself subconsciously pulling her kunai out from the pouch at her waist. Cautiously, she stepped off the back of the caravan, looking around. The merchants in the caravans behind hid, seemingly keeping sure that they themselves were safe, the animals rearing upwards every now and again as shouts resounded from out the front. Worried now, Maki took the kunai in her grip proper, looping it around her finger as she took off in a run towards the front. When she got there, the driver of the wagon was ducked down in his position, clutching his arm where blood seeped out and down, a singular senbon indicating where he had been struck. Yet Maki moved her focus to beside him. Not prone, there sat the man, his face in a seeming grace, smiling. It would seem unnatural, for one to be smiling in a clearly battle situation, yet the reason why soon occurred to Maki.

The man was already dead, blood seeping from his lips, and an arrow lodged in his chest.

The sight burned its way into her mind, Maki feeling the intensity of emotions begin to cause her to shake as everything just merged into one. Anger, sadness. She clutched at her ears in that moment, crouching down as she simply let out a scream, reminded of the cruelty of the world she had witnessed before, memories of the woman in an alleyway clawing their way into her mind. The sounds of conflict ahead, where the escorting ninja were clearly in conflict with the attackers, mattered not to her, as it all blurred out. Her eyes burned, tears streaking down them, before the deep blue of her eyes shifted, morphing into a sight she knew not that she was capable of. Darkness first replaced the blue, a deep red humming into life among her eyes, before a singular, tear shaped orb of darkness formed. The one tomoe form of the copy wheel eye – the sharingan.

The screaming stopping, Maki now just stared emotionless, before turning to face where the conflict was occurring. A single breath, and the bent over posture returned to an upright composure. Her eyes looked, from one point, to another, tracking where she believed the attack to come from given the position of the arrow. Finally, amidst the conflict ahead, there stood a woman with a bow and arrow in hand, darting backwards and clearly trying to get her distance from the four rain shinobi.

Taking off perpendicular to the aggressor, Maki dashed into the woodland, much to the surprise of the injured driver. While not particularly fast, she sprinted, making sure to get behind the attacking archer, who kept backing up. And backing up. As the bandit was just moments away from touching Maki, the girl stepped to the side, spinning on her heel as she swung her kunai into the neck of the archer, red eyes glaring daggers. And to compliment the deep crimson that stared, the dagger that she herself had used soon became stained the colour, not quite hitting the neck, but striking into the shoulder blade of the archer, who in a panic rushed forwards and away from Maki – right into the rain shinobi who took the time to finish her off.

Breathing deeply, Maki looked to her knife, hand shaking, the rage and intensity fading from her eyes as the battle around her swiftly drew to a close. She felt… Quicker. Yet, despite feeling so much lighter than she was before, she also felt regret. Not for killing. For being unable to repay the man who had offered her a lift. The fact she had killed, however, sank on her as well. The first life of many that she had taken. Yet this was the life she had chosen for herself. As if it were a practiced move, she flicked the blood from the kunai, putting it away as she walked back over to the caravan, making sure her hood was over her face sufficiently as she returned to the body of the kind man, whose name she had yet to even learn. Leaning her hand up and forwards up to him from his seat, Maki placed a finger over each of his eyelids, carefully, gently, and softly closing them as if to give the deceased peace. She gave a slight bow, before returning in silence, sitting back at where she was prior. However, as the journey picked up once more, she made no sounds, nor did anyone else, the rest of the trip going in grim silence. The body had been left behind, and when they left, Maki bowed her head to it in another sign of silent respect, before returning to gazing out among the journey. In due time, the group arrived in Kaminari no Kuni, and not long after, Kumogakure no Sato. Yet all were tired, and injured, and sad. Upon getting off the caravan at the gateway for Kumogakure, Maki bowed her head to the caravan in farewell, shaking her head to herself as she began to walk off into the streets. She had arrived, but at what cost?

Now. To go sign herself in.

1521
[EXIT]

Training: