I stared, my blue-green eyes hooded yet alert as I looked through the inky blackness of the night. Flashes of lightning appeared overhead and I reached up to move my bangs out of my face, blinking a few times to get the droplets of water off my eyelashes.

It’s time. I thought, darting out from the underbrush and launching myself onto the back of the Sherugakure ninja that had been tailing me. His three teammates instantly tensed, hearing the loud crack as his neck snapped beneath my hands.

Eyes narrowed, I dropped from the limp body and crouched onto all fours, my hands darting together in a quick set of handsigns. Knowing my fire style jutsu would be virtually useless in the heavy rain and that the muddy earth was too slippery for any earth style jutsu, I decided to stick to one of the more….lower ranked jutsu.

“Earth clone.” I murmured, two perfect copies of myself appearing beside me, the same exact stains of mud and everything. The three ninja rose kunai to protect themselves, glaring heatedly at me.

“Ikimono Tsukuru, you are ordered to return to Sherugakure and receive punishment for your crimes!” One shouted over the roaring wind and crashing thunder.

Grinning darkly, I felt my fang-like canines poking over my bottom lip. “I refuse to return to that hellhole. Especially after what the Sherukage did!”

With those words, I dashed forward, a kunai appearing in both hands as I ducked the oncoming blow of the ninja, sweeping my leg out so that they would trip. As they stumbled back, somehow keeping their balance, I lunged forward with a growl. One kunai plunged into his stomach while the other hit just above his heart. The ninja hacked, blood hitting my cheek as he glared down at me.

“I refuse to go back, even if I have to become a killer in the process.” I told him, my voice cold and emotionless as I smiled darkly at him, something wrapping around his neck as I spoke.

His eyes widened in realization before he tried to choke out a few words but the only sound that was emitted was that of his spine breaking.

Eyes still narrowed as I dropped his body, I glanced towards where my two clones were, only to hear two cracks and then the dual thumps of bodies hitting the ground. Staring between my two clones and the now lifeless bodies, I ordered for them to gather the two while creating a third clone to grab the other as I picked up the fourth.

Carrying them into the cover of the underbrush, I stacked the four bodies on top of each other after scavenging them for any supplies that could turn out to be useful.

The only important thing was traveling papers, something previously lacked. Smirking to myself, I stared at the bodies as I went through a couple of hand signs. “Earth Style: Grave Opening.”

I made it so the hole was twenty feet down, the bodies sinking along with the ground. A few seconds later and the ground was left like nothing had happened.

I’m so happy I had Jinsei-sensei teach me that jutsu. I thought before turning away and jumping up into the branches of the surrounding trees.

I was Ikimono Tsukuru, an outcast in my home village of Sherugakure, the Village Hidden in the Shell. It was located in Shade Country, all the way on the Temujin Continent, far away from where I was now. Currently, I was traveling through the forests of Fire Country, my destination set upon Konoha, one of my villages enemies due to the fact that we were allied with the Mist Village.

I had always been shunned and avoided in my village, due to the fact that I didn’t exactly look human. I had pointed ears, much like elves in childhood stories, though they were the same size as a normal persons, only pointed slightly instead of curved. Another odd features was my overly sharp canine teeth but the oddest of all was the sleek black tail that I possessed. It was attached right above my butt and was thin and long, reaching about four feet in length. Near the end, however, it got far more fluffier and reminded me slightly of a cat tail.

Since normal people didn’t have tails – a shame seeing as they improved my balance – I was constantly seen as a demon or a freak and was pretty much shunned by the entire population of Sherugakure. Due to this, I spent most of my time in the mountains that surrounded the village, exploring the hidden caverns and the rocky terrain. My speed, agility and overall strength improved, seeing as I did it since I was six years old up until I was twelve, my current age. I had just disappeared from the village a week ago due to what the Sherukage had decreed. The Sherukage, a ruthless man who foolishly sought to lead Shade Country (and Sherugakure along with it) into the supreme might the five great countries had. It was a disgrace, really. There were only five Kage, and he was far from being on the same level as them. The decree had been that any child that was unsuitable in the eyes of their parents could legally be disposed of with no opposition.

I was instantly wary, seeing as I knew my entire family thought of me as a burden, a mistake. I was a freak that didn’t deserve to live.

So, I did the only sensible thing to do. I gathered my things the minute the decree was issued and I left. I knew that ninja would follow me, seeing as the decree also issued that the child had no right to fight back nor to flee. It was a bloodthirsty, disgusting law and I refused to have any part in it.

I had decided that I would flee to one of Sherugakure’s enemies, any one. We were allies with the Mist Village, so I immediately thought of the Leaf, it was the closest enemy nation we had. Even if it was on another continent, I found that it worked out all the better for my cause.

So, I had hitched a ride on a boat that was crossing the ocean and I was in Tea Country within a day. I’d barely slept in the past six days, running solely on soldier pills. I had escaped any detection due to the fact that I had cut off my once waist length shiny black hair and instead now had it cut short, making me appear as if I was a male. I had even tucked my tail into my pants or had it wrapped around my stomach under my shirt.

It had worked, for a time. But then I had been seen on the fourth day as I trekked across Fire Country, and I had been on the run since. The unexpected storm had given me a chance to finally ambush the four pursuing ninja, and kill them.

I’m surprised the fight ended so quickly. I’m only a Genin, and those were all Chunin. I thought, my eyes narrowing slightly as I leapt from branch to branch. It could be because they were exhausted as well, and I did pretty much ambush them. Plus, I’m really fast.

Nodding to myself, I suddenly winced as I felt the need to rest and eat hit me full force. Sighing, I stopped momentarily on a sturdy branch and pulled a granola bar out of my weapons pouch. Eating it swiftly, I followed up by popping a soldier pill in my mouth and continuing on my journey, making it my mission to reach Konohagakure by sunrise.