Chapter 6
Well, he didn't lose his arm. It seemed Yahiko was lucky; if the bear had mauled him just a bit harder, the beast would have ripped his arm clean off. The doctor didn't think Yahiko would survive that.
But since he was lucky as the bear's teeth didn't even damage his bones, it would only take a month before he could use it again, and another six months for full recovery.
Yahiko didn't feel lucky at all. First, a shinobi had stumbled into his home. Then a bear destroyed it. And Yahiko had overestimated how much money they had—it had barely been enough to pay the doctor. Now, they had nowhere to sleep.
"Come on, there has to be some work," Yahiko argued with the fishmonger as they left the doctor's office.
"There's always something to do, but not for kids like you."
"Seriously? First, people complain that we're useless and lazy, but when we try to work or help out, suddenly there's no work for us. We have nowhere to go."
"I'm sorry, Yahiko, I am—but there's nothing I can offer. I barely scrape by as it is. I like you, kid, and if I could help, I would."
"Just for a month. Until I recover a little," Yahiko persisted.
"I'll ask around, alright? You can stay with me for a couple of days. But I won't promise you anything."
"Anything is better than nothing."
While Konan and Nagato worried about him, Yahiko was worried about all of them. They had no place to go, no money. And he was completely useless with only one functioning arm. Even though he knew no one would hire them, he still had to try his luck.
The first time he came to this town, he had tried to get a job—anything, from cleaning to waiting tables at the inn. He showed he was smart and could do sums better than most vendors. But it didn't matter. He was just a kid. Nobody needed them for anything.
And in times like these, people were barely scraping by themselves. They couldn't afford to be generous when their own families struggled to put food on the table. Who knew when a group of shinobi would show up and destroy the town?
Even though the town had some protection from Amegakure, it wasn't a big enough force to be everywhere at once. Everyone knew it, even if they didn't want to admit it—and even less to speak of it aloud. If the town were attacked, before any shinobi could come to help, it would be too late.
"We're leaving soon," Yahiko said, making his decision.
"What? Where?" Nagato asked, surprised.
"What about your arm? We could still find work and earn enough to stay—at least until you get better," Konan said, worried.
"I don't think we'll be able to find anything," Yahiko replied, bitterly. "But we'll be fine. Sure, we won't have a roof over our heads, but we'll live off the land like we always have. And I'll be okay—I have you two to look after me. We'll fish, gather berries and mushrooms, and find somewhere to sleep. Nothing changes."
But everything had changed.
The cave wasn't just a place to sleep. It had been their home—a second home they had now lost. It had been safe, warm. And now it was gone. But they had to move on; they wouldn't survive in town.
Here, they were prey. Even if Yahiko had a good relationship with the market folk, they couldn't—and wouldn't—help them long term. At most, they'd offer a little to ease their conscience, then leave them to fend for themselves.
And bullies and bigger kids wouldn't even be the least of their worries. As much as Yahiko didn't like to believe it, he had heard what happens to kids who have no one to rely on. He couldn't let the same fate come to Konan and Nagato.
"You can stay on the couch," the fishmonger said, pointing to the living room, once they arrived at his home. "Just rest for today. I'll go see if I can find any work for you."
Yahiko had no choice but to obey. Even if he hadn't been dead tired and desperate to sleep, Konan and Nagato insisted he lie down on the sofa.
…
The fishmonger's house was small. With the three of them and the fishmonger's wife, it felt full. Yahiko rested as instructed, sleeping through most of the day. When he woke, the housewife was kind enough to cook food and draw a bath for him.
Yahiko had missed a hot bath. It had been too long. Still, he couldn't get used to it, so he washed quickly and put his injured arm in a sling to keep it from moving too much.
Konan and Nagato helped the housewife with the chores, but Yahiko noticed—kind as she was, the woman was worried they might overstay their welcome. That only made Yahiko more resolved to leave as soon as possible.
"Do you think he'll find any work for us?" Nagato asked.
"There are a lot of people in the market," Konan said, trying to sound hopeful. "I'm sure someone will need help."
Yahiko stayed quiet, hoping she was right. But he doubted it. If only they were five years older, then people might consider hiring them. But in these small, weak bodies, any real work was out of reach. People saw kids as clumsy and more trouble than they were worth.
Even if they didn't have to pay them much, they'd still be expected to provide food and shelter. That alone was too much. And worse, they'd have to waste time teaching them how to do the work.
None of the market people were bad. Yahiko knew that. He'd always gotten fair prices, and no one had tried to scam him or steal from him. But in times like these, even kind people didn't have the luxury to help.
When the fishmonger returned later that day, Yahiko could tell from his expression that he hadn't found anything. He had already accepted it, even as Konan and Nagato met him with hopeful eyes.
"Sorry, kiddo. I tried."
"I know. Thank you," Yahiko said—and he meant it.
If times were better, the man might've taken them in himself. But they weren't. So Yahiko made up his mind: they would leave before sunrise, before the fishmonger woke, before his wife could feel guilty for letting them go.
…
The rain was heavy.
Even with the cloaks they had bought with the last of their money, they couldn't avoid the cold downpour. Yahiko felt sorry for Konan and Nagato—it felt like they'd come full circle, back into the cold.
Chibi trotted silently behind them as they walked for hours. Cold, wet, and exhausted, none of them complained. Konan and Nagato chatted about places they wanted to visit, as if the rain and mud didn't bother them.
Yahiko felt foolish for being the only one worrying. It wasn't like him. Sure, it was cold, and they didn't know where they would sleep tonight, but they were together. And he had no regrets.
"Look," Konan pointed to a massive hollow tree ahead.
"Well, that's as good as it's going to get," Yahiko replied.
The rain still poured through the leaves, but the inside of the hollow trunk was dry and just big enough for the three of them to squeeze into. Finally, they could warm up and rest after half a day of walking.
They still didn't know where they were going—but knowing wouldn't have changed anything. They had picked a direction and started walking, trying to find a place they could call home.
It was refreshing to see so much green after so many ruined towns and grey skies. Yahiko's eyes were getting tired of the endless wreckage. Maybe it was time to leave this country. Go somewhere far away, where no one can find you.
"Eat up," Yahiko said, noticing how hesitantly Konan and Nagato nibbled their rations. "Don't worry about how much we have. You need to keep your strength up and lighten our load. I'm sure we'll find more food later. You know how good I am at fishing. In no time, you'll be sick of fish."
"You eat too," Konan said.
"Oh, I ate while we were walking. Sorry," Yahiko smiled. "I'm already stuffed."
"Do you think the shinobi will find us before we find somewhere to stay?" Nagato asked, changing the topic.
"No one's looking for us," Yahiko replied. "We might stumble into them, but even then, they'll probably leave us alone—so long as we stay away."
Now that they finally had time to think, the worry crept in. So this time, it was Yahiko's turn to be the one who reassured them. He smiled and joked about how they survived the worst the world could throw at them already; they were unbeatable.
…
Weeks passed as they continued to explore the countryside.
They stumbled across abandoned villages—just crumbling buildings and silence. They'd stay a few days, hiding from the rain, drying their clothes, looting what little remained, then move on.
Sometimes they found lonely huts in the middle of nowhere—barely standing, but it was a good shelter for a night. Other times, they weren't so lucky and had to build makeshift shelters, only to have them collapse in the rain after a few hours.
The towns they found turned them away like they were pests. By the second week, they stopped bothering with them. At least, so far, they hadn't run into anyone dangerous.
But their food was running low. Even with fishing and foraging, they couldn't keep this up for much longer. The days were getting colder, and Yahiko still smiled and told them they'd find a place soon.
They needed to. If winter hit before they found proper shelter, they wouldn't survive. The cold was already sapping their strenght and will as it was.
Still, Yahiko didn't regret anything. Konan and Nagato were his best friends—people he could trust. Something he'd never had in his last life. No matter what happened, he wouldn't regret this.
If not for them, he doubted he'd still be alive. If not for them, he wouldn't have stayed strong while feeling so lost. So, as long as they were together, Yahiko felt like they would just make it, no matter what.
"Yahiko, look over here." Konan had sharp eyes—she'd spotted a cave in the hillside ahead.
If it was big enough, maybe they'd finally found a place to stay. There were no woods or rivers nearby, but Yahiko was sure they could find both with an hour's walk.
"Let's check it out," Yahiko said, leading them.
He hoped this place would be it. A place to settle down. He could see how tired Konan and Nagato were, even if they didn't say anything. They couldn't keep going like this much longer.
"Wait," Yahiko said suddenly, stopping as Chibi began sniffing the ground ahead, ears perked. "Let's go in slowly."
Yahiko trusted the little dog. If he sensed something, then there was something—or someone—nearby. Maybe an animal. Maybe someone had passed through recently. Either way, Yahiko couldn't pass this place up. They were too desperate.
He walked just out of sight of the cave entrance, creeping closer with Konan and Nagato right behind. One look inside would be enough. If someone was there, they'd wait them out. If it were wild animals, he'd see if they could be scared off.
But first, he needed to know if it was worth the trouble.
"We know you're hiding. Show yourselves." Yahiko heard a woman's voice calling them out, sharp and clear.
Yahiko tensed. He nodded at Konan and Nagato. No point running now. They'd reveal themselves and hope the people inside weren't hostile. All they could do was act like pitiful children and hope for some compassion.
Yahiko walked in first, showing his arm in a sling. Konan followed with her head lowered. Nagato came last, his red hair covering his face. They were drenched, filthy, exhausted—it wasn't hard to look pathetic.
Inside, three people waited. Two men and one woman. They wore Konoha headbands.
Yahiko stiffened with unease.
The blonde woman looked them over calmly. The tall, white-haired man gave them a friendly smile. The lean, dark-haired man stayed on guard, watching them warily.
A.N. As always, thanks for reading and supporting me, so I can continue writing without any concerns, and if you want more, up to 7 more chapters of his story and 28 chapters in total with all my other stories combined, you can support me on pa treon. com \ ironwolf852.