Chapter 1: Departure

I stare blankly at the cold cube of a slate-like stone in front of me. Freshly disturbed soil extends from one side of the grey rock. The other side still has a scar in the earth where the grass has not reclaimed the soil. A third side has recovered completely. Only known to be the final resting place by those who knew.

Extending from the gravestone to the North is the body of my father, to the South, my mother, and to the West was my big sister.

I was alone. I looked around. One of my dad's old co-workers had come and dug the grave, but had left as soon as he was done..

The funeral had started several hours ago, but only three people had come. I didn't really understand the war. But I knew that was where everyone was. Fighting. Fighting who knows what or who. In the name of a hidden village or country; fighting for honor, family, fortune, or revenge. I don't really understand why. But I knew that was what had taken my family away.

"War. War is bad. Evil. Unacceptable. I will destroy war." I yell at the sky. "You hear me? I will destroy war!" I yell, louder this time. My voice lowers, as I speak again. "I will end it all." I drop to my knees, as tears start running down my face. My five year old hands sink into the fresh soil of my mom grave. "I promise mama."

I turn and run home. I feel like if I were to stay at the gravestone any longer I would loose my mind. However, my home doesn't look like it did when I had left. The sliding front door was knocked off it's tracks, and laying across the lawn. I pulled the Kunai my older sister had given me. It's quite large for me. Both of my small hands fit around its handle.

"Look at this!" A man's voice boomed.

I jump, my feet lifting a foot into the air. I land awkwardly. Making a lot of noise. However, the man did not seem to notice.

"Wow!" A women's voice responded, "I knew these people where rich, but this is ridiculous! I mean, this tea set, the stables, the books, the jewelry!" The couple laughed. "Why don't we just kill the little brat and take this all for ourselves?"

"Yeah, we'd do the orphan girl a favor by… putting her out of her misery." The man responded.

I gulped. My hands squeezing the Kunai even harder. I want to run to my room and hide. My room's always been a safe place. But all the bedrooms are past the kitchen. Instead I turn and run to my dad's old office. I slide the door open and shut. Using the lock latch to seal the door behind me. I look for a place to hide, but with how organized my father had been, I found nothing to conceal my presence.

I approach the desk, that looks out over the garden. I look for a way out. I open the top drawer of the desk. A lone scroll rests inside. My given name written neatly on the outside of the wound paper. 'Aimisouma' I wrap my fingers around the little scroll, and unroll the letter.

Dear Aimisouma,

If you are reading this than both your mother and I are gone. After we lost your sister last year in the war, I knew that a time may come when you are left alone. For that I am sorry. I hope that you are old enough to be attending the academy if it happens. They take care of orphan ninjas very well there. If you are not, I need you to run.

Run? I think. What is he talking about?

You have an older half-brother who lives in the fire country. I heard whispers about him at the start of the war. Then, in the Bingo book, they added a 'flee on sight' order for him. He is a strong and brave warrior. I believe that if you start at the academy now, they will try to use you against him. I believe that the leaders of Kusagakure and Iwagakure would do anything to weaken him. Even hurting you.

A brother? Why haven't I met him?

I need you to run. Your mother promised me that if anything happened to me, she would teach you her family's secret scroll jutsu. If she has, pack everything you need, food, water, clothes, weapons. Everything you can find. Seal it into the scrolls. Take your horse and ride to the Fire country to the East. Go. Run. Cover your hair. It is the same color as his. People might attack you if they think you are him. Wear a hood, or rub charcoal powder into your hair to darken it. Don't tell anyone our last name. It is not safe.

Aimi, I love you so much. Please be safe. I wish I had been here to protect you. I believe you will grow into a fine young woman. You have great potential. You can do anything you set your mind to.

I attached the bingo book page about your brother in this book. The people of Konohagakure are very welcoming to outsiders, especially children. Go find your brother.

Be safe,

Dad

I open up the folded page inside the scroll. Inside is an adult who looks a lot like me. He has the same bright hair and eyes. However, he looks kind of scary holding an odd type of Kunai. I refold the paper, roll up the scroll, and shove it into my pocket.

"Let's go get some of our stuff to move in," I hear the women's voice again. "Maybe she'll be back by then." I hear the man grunt, and the two people shuffle out of the front door.

I watch them, from the edge of the window, hiding to not be seen.

As soon as they were out the front gate I sprinted to my room. I flung open the door and rushed inside. It was just as I had left it this morning. I drop the empty scroll on the ground and set everything I can find onto it. I remove the letter from my pocket and add it to the scroll.. I pause and focus my chakra. I do the hand seal my mother taught me.

Open Scroll Seal — Outside Seal — Inside Seal — Merge Seal

Then I Touched the scroll and the supplies that I had piled across it. *Poof*

There was nothing left in the room except my open scroll. I next went to the kitchen, library, dojo, my parents bedroom, and my sisters room. Every object I could find was added to my scroll. The scroll was getting heavy. It didn't weigh as much as the objects that I am putting in it, however it got a little bit heavier with every object you store, and I had a lot in there. Or, maybe it was because I had used more chakra than I ever had. I noticed how heavy my arms and legs felt.

I had to drag the scroll to the stables. We only have one horse right now. Some foreign Ninjas stole the big horses a long time ago. But I have my little Noma pony. Uma-y. I tack-up the saddle that daddy had bought for me. I add several bails of hay, a barrel of water, and the box of horse tools to the scroll. I tie the large scroll to the back of the saddle. I push open the barn door, and pull the horses reins.

I want to get far away before the people who want my house come back. I mount the horse, and just as I go to leave the front gate, the man and woman reappear.

"There you are, little one." the woman says to me. "We have been looking everywhere for you...Where are you going?"

What do I do? Lie? Tell the truth? Run? Fight? No... I'm not good at any of those. An idea pops into my head.

"I have family that lives far away. I'm gonna go and find them. I don't know if I will ever be back... but I don't want my home to fall apart. Will you take care of the house for me?" I widen my eyes, and pout a little. Daddy could never say 'no' when I would make this face. The couple looks guilty at my response.

"Sure, kid." He says roughly. He seems relieved that he wasn't going to need to kill me to get my property.

I nudge the Uma-y with my heels, and he starts walking. The couple stands at the gate as waves as I ride away.

As soon as I am out of sight, I urge Uma-y into a canter. I need to be far away when they discover there is almost nothing of worth left inside that house.