Running For Our Lives

"Should we pursue, Orochimaru-sama?" The ever-loyal apprentice asked his mentor, poised and ready to follow.

"No" The Sannin replied, mirth dancing in his eyes as he stares off at the direction he felt the woman headed. Then he turned back on to the village as if nothing had happened.

"Do you believe that the world is small, Kabuto-kun?" He instead asks.

"Why do you ask, sensei?" The young apprentice follows beside him dutifully.

"Because it simply is" Orochimaru replied with a chuckle. "Kukuku... We'll see them again soon enough"

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My heart beats loudly in my ears as adrenaline rushes through my veins. The foliage zooms past me as I leap from one tree to another, pushing harder and harder even when my legs are burning from the strain.

Something is amiss, I noticed.

Where's Orochimaru?

I might be from the future but I am only a mere Chunin whilst my pursuer is a freaking Sannin. There is only so much distance I can put before he catches up. And that's the thing, he should've caught up ages ago! What's happening? Did he decide not to pursue? Am I not worth his time?! Am I in a genjutsu--?!

"Stop!" A hiss in my ear brought me to an abrupt stop, almost tumbling down the branch that I landed on. My grip on a certain unconscious redhead in one of my arms tightened protectively while the other reached down to take out a knife from one of my pockets. Turning my head slightly to the right, I could barely see the face of my younger counterpart. But I didn't need a visual to know her reaction. Her grip on my person are bruising, and her body tensed on my back.

It took me a minute to realize that it was she who had spoken.

"What?" I could barely recognize my own voice. It was hoarse from lack of use and water.

"I said stop" She repeated, burying her face on my shoulder and her grip tightening around me. "Let's stop for the night. Camp out here and-"

"We can't stop!" I hissed, tensing up and readying myself to take another leap. "We have to keep moving"

"No one is coming for us!" She hissed back. "No one has been following us for hours!"

"How would you know?" I growled. "You're not a ninja"

It took me a moment to register what I said and immediately regretted it. It was a low blow.

She was quiet for a while before she spoke again, her tone infinitely softer and... sad.

"I know that I'm not a ninja and I don't know shit about it" I could feel her worry her lips as she gripped my clothing by the shoulders. "But what I do know is that you can't keep this up any longer"

"I can still go on" I pressed. "We need to get somewhere safe before we could stop"

"Where is ′safe'?" She hisses back. "We're in the middle of nowhere! I could only see trees and trees and trees!" She frowns in displeasure. "Unless you're taking us to Konoha, then please do carry on"

"Why are you so obsessed with getting to Konoha?" I grumble.

"Because we're in a world where the only thing we know about it revolves around a certain number of people!" She hisses further in English. "You may be from the future and know everything, but I am NOT! I do not prefer to battle my everyday life wondering what's coming at me"

I was rendered speechless. I was honestly conflicted on how to feel about this. Some part of me wants to applaud her for such logical thinking, but some part of me also wants to smack her upside the head for such a foolish thing. Just because one knows and expects what the future would unfold doesn't mean it wouldn't change. I am the living testimony of it. Granted that she doesn't know what changes my presence did to my timeline, but still the main idea is in there. Nothing is truly set in stone. The future isn't constant. It shifts when things in the past change depending on the scale it would amount to. A ripple can cause a tidal wave, as some elders would like to remind the young.

"There is a town a few hours away from here" I finally said. "We could stay the night at an inn instead of another night here in this forest."

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Sleep didn't come easily to me that night. I was on high alert and every sound keeps me on edge. Every chakra signature that I could feel within my radius is monitored with vigilance and estimated for their threat levels.

There are five other ninjas in the inn, all of them are familiar signatures but I couldn't place my finger on who they are. For the life of me, I could not remember them. They are probably from an allied village that I had met briefly. I just hope they are friendly. I will not last an hour in a fight in my current condition.

One of the kids shifted and left the bed and I glance at them to see my younger self approach me. She yawned tiredly as she comes closer.

"Not sleeping?" She asked.

"I'm taking watch" I answered.

"Still?" She let out another yawn.

"Of course," I replied. "somebody has to keep an eye out in case something happens"

She frowns. "But you need rest too"

And she was right. I felt myself smile, but the action felt tight on my face so I faced the window as my smile dropped.

"I'm sorry" I couldn't find any better words to say other than an apology. "You were safe enough in the orphanage and I took you away from there, only to drag you around in a merry chase against one of the most dangerous people of this world"

It was silent but I could not bring myself to glance over to her.

"It's alright" she finally said. "When I was in the orphanage I felt... lost"

I knew what she felt. I was in her shoes once upon a time.

I felt her sit on the floor beside my chair. "I didn't understand anything until you taught me how"

I could only smile, but the burden in my chest didn't lighten.

This is my fault, and I don't even know how to make it right.