Chapter 37: A Quiet Departure
Ren had watched the entire scene unfold from the shadows—Sasuke returning home, packing his things, the confrontation at the gate, Sakura's desperate, tearful confession, and the cold, efficient punch that silenced her. He knew, with a final, certain clarity, that his own time had come.
*The second young master has left the building,* he thought with a trace of dark humor. *And now, so shall I. With Sasuke defected to Orochimaru, there's nothing left for me here. It's time to say goodbye to Konoha.*
He stepped out of the darkness, walking with a deliberate, unhurried pace toward the village's main gate. *Konoha's security is a joke. First Itachi and Kisame waltz in, and now Sasuke and I can just walk out. No guards at the gate at this hour? Pathetic.*
He passed by Sakura's unconscious form without breaking stride, a flicker of disdain crossing his features. *Idiot. What a eyesore.* He didn't spare her another glance, his focus solely on the open road ahead.
Stepping past the village boundary, he paused and took a deep breath of the cool night air. A thrilling sense of liberation surged through him. He was finally leaving the cage he'd lived in for over a decade. Though Konoha had been his home, since the night of the massacre, he had only ever existed within its walls, never truly belonging. His only tether had been his brother. In his past life, he'd disliked Sasuke, even hated his arrogance. But in this life, bound by blood and Sasuke's gruff, unspoken care over the years, a complicated bond had formed. Now that Sasuke was gone, that bond was severed. Konoha held nothing for him anymore.
He chose a direction at random and began to run, his body a blur in the moonlight. He didn't know where this path led, and he didn't care. All that mattered was the freedom, the ability to move without hiding, without pretending. He ran through the silent forests, the wind whipping past his face, and for the first time in years, he let out a wild, unrestrained shout into the night. "I'm free! I'm finally free!"
He ran for hours, until the first hints of dawn tinged the sky. Eventually, he emerged from the woods onto a well-traveled road next to a large pipeline. The night was still deep, and he encountered no one.
*I've run all night. I should be a good distance from Konoha now. I'll rest here. This is a main road; there will be caravans come morning. I can move on with one then.* Finding a large, comfortable tree beside the road, he leaped up into its branches, found a secure nook, and drifted into an exhausted sleep.
The next morning, Sakura was found unconscious at the gate. The news of Sasuke's defection raced through the village, reaching the Hokage Tower. Tsunade, the newly appointed Fifth Hokage, immediately ordered Shikamaru Nara to form a retrieval team. But these events were distant echoes to Ren, of no concern to him now. He knew how the story unfolded from his past life; Sasuke wouldn't be caught. His own presence hadn't altered that fundamental plot.
Ren was awakened not by the sun, but by a sharp, gnawing hunger in his stomach. He opened his eyes, disoriented for a moment, expecting to see his room. The sight of unfamiliar tree branches jolted him fully awake, followed by a wave of pure elation.
*This isn't home. This isn't Konoha. I'm out! I'm really out! This isn't a dream!* He laughed aloud, the sound echoing slightly in the quiet morning air.
His stomach growled again, insistently. *Right. Food. I haven't eaten since yesterday.* He dropped down from the tree and quickly gathered materials for a small, concealed fire. "Time for a hunt."
A small puff of smoke appeared, and the Lion-Dog, the Six Paths King, materialized, though it had shrunk to a more manageable, large-dog size for ease of travel.
"Erha. I'm hungry. Find us breakfast," Ren commanded.
The beast sniffed the air, let out a low grumble that might have been assent, and bounded into the undergrowth. It returned moments later with a large, rabbit-like creature in its jaws. Ren skinned and gutted it with practiced efficiency, skewered it on a stick, and roasted it over his fire. Though it was bland without seasoning, the meat was filling and satisfying.
As he ate, he contemplated his next move. *I'm broke. Priority one is getting money. I can't let my training slide, either.* A idea sparked in his mind. *The Bingo Books. The underground bounty exchange. Perfect. I can hunt down wanted criminals. It's good practice, it pays well, and most importantly... it earns me points.* The plan solidified. *I'll do that for now. I don't have a specific destination anyway. I'll just find the nearest exchange.*
He finished his meal, extinguished the fire, and scattered the ashes. He began walking down the road. Before long, he heard the creak of wheels and the clop of hooves behind him. A merchant caravan was approaching—several wagons laden with goods, pulled by horses. About seven or eight men accompanied it, all looking strong and capable. Two rode ahead on horseback, swords at their hips—clearly hired guards. One of the wagons had a covered compartment, likely for passengers.
The caravan slowed as it neared him. A kind-looking old man peered out from the covered wagon, his eyes curious.
"Young man," the elder called out. "Where are you headed? Why are you out here all alone?"
Ren saw his opportunity. He put on his most harmless, polite expression. "Hello, sir. I'm trying to get to the next town. Would it be possible to ride with you? Just until the next stop?"
The old man studied him. Ren's youth and non-threatening appearance worked in his favor. "The next town is still a fair distance. It's not safe for a boy to travel these roads alone. Very well, you can ride with us. But you'll need to disembark at the next station. Zongten!" he called to one of the drivers. "Let the boy ride with you."
One of the guards on horseback shifted uneasily. "Sir, are you sure—"
The old man waved him off. "It's fine. He's just a boy. We must make the next station before dark, or we risk trouble at night. Hurry along now." For more chapters visit noⅴelfire.net
"Thank you, sir. I appreciate it," Ren said, bowing slightly. He walked over and climbed up onto the seat next to the driver, a large, silent man named Zongten.
The guard gave the signal, and the caravan began to move again, the wheels creaking as they rolled down the road toward an uncertain future. Ren sat back, watching the forest slide by, a silent passenger on his first journey into the wider world.
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