A note from me- so basically as Akatsuki comes closer to acheving their dreams, the fox inside of Naruto starts to act funny. not only that but his team is faced with another problem as they deal with the mysterious woman who's been killing folk lately who will turn out to be a form of a hero. there's no pair ups of anybody yet. this is also a test chapter. any questions/confusions dont be afraid to send me a message. thanks.
The man kept running as the moon shown down on him. His only thought was to get away from her. He tripped over something and fell but was right back up again. He finally stopped in a clearing. It was a beautiful night. The stars shown brightly. There wasn't a cloud in the sky. Yes, it was a beautiful night or at least would've been if he hadn't been so fearful of her. He tried to catch his breath, all the while looking around to see if she was there. He couldn't believe he was in this situation. Just a couple hours before he'd been an elite shinobi. He'd been considered one of the best. Now here he was trying to make it to Konoha. He knew or at least hoped he'd be safe in the Leaf Village. Their Hokage was a good person. She'd help him. He prepared to bolt again when a strange sensation came over him. He tried to move but couldn't. Panic began to set in. She'd found him. A cold sweat came over him as he waited. A minute later a figure slowly began to approach him. She walked with a purpose. A black kimono, with sleeves so long they touched the ground, covered her. A white mask similar to what ANBU black ops wore was over her face. Her long hair was pulled into a bun with a few strands sticking out.
"Its time Suzuki" The woman said. He darted his eyes, trying to find a way to escape but knowing the whole time it was pointless. She stopped a few feet from him. Slowly she pulled her mask off. The man was in shock. It was the face of an angel. Reality sank back in, an angel of death. "Don't worry, it'll be painless" The last thing he saw was death smiling at him.
"I need you to do this for me Naruto, it'll be good for you" Tsunade paced back and forth in her office practicing "How did that sound Shizune?"
"Maybe change it a little bit" She responded. It was a beautiful spring morning. The temperature was just right and there was a gentle breeze. Tsunade had opened her window to feel it. She'd rather be taking a day off but instead she was practicing for how she'd break it to Naruto that he couldn't go on this next mission and would have to be an escort for a guest coming to town.
"I think it be better if you just told him. You've been doing this for an hour and besides I want to enjoy the day"
"I know, I know" Tsunade snapped a finger. In a poof of smoke a ninja appeared
"Yes Hokage?"
"Get me Naruto"
"Yes Hokage" He disappeared.
"So will you replace him with someone else?"
"No, the mission isn't hard. Sakura, Sai and Yamato should be fine"
"Hey old lady!" Naruto appeared next to Shizune. Tsunade couldn't believe how much he was starting to look like the Fourth. His hair was longer. His voice had matured. He was almost taller than her. He wore plain black pants and a shirt. By the way he looked she could tell he had been sleeping. She was proud of him. He was only nineteen years old but was still one of the best ninja in Konoha.
"How've you been Naruto?"
"Sleepy" He yawned "I was enjoying my day off. Whats going on?" Tsunade hesitated
"Well…I…ummm". A loud sigh came from Shizune
"You're not going on the next mission, honestly Lady Tsunade you would think someone told you to tell him he couldn't be a shinobi anymore"
"Wait, what do you mean I cant go on the next mission?!" He was fully awake now
"Naruto you've been pushing yourself too much. On your last mission you fainted from exhaustion. I know you want to train hard so you can beat Sasuke but you need to take it easy". Naruto growled in anger
"There's nothing wrong with me!"
"Yes there is and besides I think Akatsuki is getting ready to make their final move. They have all the tailed beasts except yours. I'd rather you stay here. It'd be easier to protect you"
"I don't need protection! Sasuke will when I find him!" In their last meeting a couple of months ago Sasuke had almost killed Sakura. That was when Naruto decided that it'd be a death match the next time they met, he couldn't hold back anymore.
"Look Im the Hokage and I make the decision" She raised her voice a bit "You will stay here. Its not like you'll be completely bored. An important guest has requested an escort"
"Just great" He mumbled
"You're dismissed". He disappeared
"That wasn't so bad" Shizune said. Tsunade looked at her then rolled her eyes.
"Stop sulking, its not the end of the world" Sakura said. She also had matured. She had let her hair grow back out and lost some of the naivety that she once had. She no longer cried over Sasuke. Naruto hadn't been the only one who pushed himself. She had too, in the process becoming one of the best medic-nins in the village. She wore her medic uniform as she, Naruto and Sai sat at the ramen stand
"The Hokage is right" Sai piped up. He still looked the same though he wasn't as pale as he used to be and he no longer wore the half shirts.
"Im OKAY!" Naruto said
"I wouldn't consider fainting off a rooftop during a mission normal" Sakura replied "You could've been killed"
"I don't want to stay here, couldn't I go and just watch or something?"
"Of course not"
"I wish everyone would stop worrying about me. I know my limits" He jumped up then walked away.
"He must really be angry because he left his ramen untouched" Sai remarked but then Naruto raced back grabbed his bowl ,downed the contents, left money and walked off again "Never mind" Sai said.
Tsunade looked over the body. A ninja had found it just on the outskirts of Konoha. Shortly after Naruto had left she had been asked to look at it. Usually she didn't concern herself with things like this but she had been told something was weird about it. So instead of enjoying the morning, she and Shizune had gone to investigate. It was the body of a young man on his back. He was an average height with dark hair and eyes. The first thing that struck her was the fact that he wore a shinobi uniform, granted it wasn't Konoha's but it was shinobi none the less. The second thing was there was nothing to indicate what had happened.
"Very strange" Shizune mumbled as she examined the body. A small group of ninja had returned from scouting the area
"Anything?" Tsunade asked
"No Hokage" The leader shook his head. There was silence as the two continued inspecting
"The expression on his face shows that he may have died a painful death" She said
"Hokage, look!" Shizune stood a little a ways from the body
"What is it?" Tsunade asked as she walked over. Shizune simply pointed at the ground. There was the faint impression of foot prints . She began to follow them
"He was running" Tsunade said. She stopped then followed the footprints back up "They stop a little from the feet" She came to the foot of the body
"Well from what we've seen here, he was running then stopped and ended up dead on his back yet there's no sign to show what could've done it" Shizune whispered
"What would you like us to do Hokage?" The leader from earlier asked
"Take the body back home. I want to look at it more" They nodded. In an instant they were gone with the young man.
"Lets go Shizune" Tsunade disappeared. She was about to follow when something caught her eye on the grass. She knelt and picked it up. It was a very slim, almost clear needle.
"Interesting" She mumbled then raced back to Konoha with the needle in hand.
Yamato and his team, minus Naruto, left later that day. Naruto came to the gate to watch them go. He was still sulking. He gave a half hearted wave to everyone then watched til he couldn't see them anymore
"I heard they found a needle next to the body" He heard two medic nins 'whispering' not too far from him "Only SHE can use needles in that way". His friend nodded in agreement
"But of course they're not sure its Her. She's never operated this close to our village before"
"Who?" Naruto asked letting his curiosity get the better of him. They gave him annoyed looks then the first answered
"Lady Death" That got his attention. He walked over to them.
"Is she some kinda shinobi or something?" The first gave him an incredulous glance but then his friend said
"Remember Ibuki not many outside of the medic circle know of her or at least would connect the dots" He turned to Naruto "Lady Death is the name of a mysterious woman who has killed a number of people lately"
"Important people?"
"Not really, there doesn't seem to be a pattern. Just last week it was reported that the body of a well known art collector was found and today the body of a ninja…"
"From here?!"
"No" He sighed in relief "Well how come she's only known with medics?"
"She started off as one or that's how the story goes"
"Most regular shinobi dismiss her as made up" The man named Ibuki added "So we don't talk about it with them"
"Hmmm…thanks guys" He darted off to find the Hokage
"Odd kid" Ibuki said
"Yep"
"Hey, wasn't the art dealers body found near the capital?"
"Yeah why?"
"I think that's where the Fifth sent the demon kid's team"
"Shizune this is amazing" Tsunade said in awe. She was looking at the needle through a microscope "The poison on it is like nothing I've ever seen, not even yours. Actually the poison is almost gone. Its like its evaporating right before my eyes"
"The needles are her trademark"
"I wonder what kind of poison this is" She mumbled.
"You sent Yamato's team to the town where she was last reported"
"I know but their mission has nothing to do with that. It was coincidence" She stood up and grabbed the book that was next to her on the table.
"So our mission is to basically make sure this party goes ok?" Sakura asked.. The team was outside of the Land of Fire's capital checking over their mission.
"Yes, the host of the party is worried someone might try to steal the art work he'll be showing" Sai answered
"I'd rather be back home making sure Naruto is ok or even doing some crazy task for Master Tsunade. Why'd she choose us to do this?"
"From what she told me the host of this is a friend of hers" Yamato said. He looked at the sky. It was getting dark "Lets go, he'll be expecting us"
The party was medium sized and held inside of a tea house. Everything had been moved around. The different art works were set on small tables throughout the room. Sakura walked around observing the beautiful vases that Mr. Sato had collected. Mr. Sato (their host) was paranoid that they would be stolen. Besides Sakura and her team he had guards throughout the area and outside.
"Would everyone please gather around here?" Mr. Sato called the guests toward him "I want everybody to gather in a large circle around this central vase" The vase he referred to was white with orange flowers. It was sitting on a short stand. The guests did what he asked then he said "There will be a performance by a dancer. I've seen her work and I hope the rest of you enjoy it" The lights dimmed. The crowd scooted back a little to make room, many of them sat down on cushions that were provided for them. A single young woman emerged wearing a white mask. Her hair was pulled back into a bun. Her kimono matched the vase, white with orange flowers. The only thing that some found odd was the fact that her sleeves were so long that they touched the ground. Sai, Sakura and Yamato managed to sit near Mr. Sato. As the woman danced Sakura daydreamed.
"Sakura, Im sorry for the pain that I caused and I hope that you'll forgive me" Sasuke said. He looked so beautiful. Sakura grabbed his hands
"Of course I forgive you". He smiled. She blushed. He took a hand and titled her chin up then leaned down to kiss her…
"Sakura pay attention, something isn't right about this" Sai snapped her back to reality. So she wasnt completely over Sasuke. She frowned then watched the dancer again. Her moves were graceful as she danced around the vase. Everyone was caught up, even Yamato. Sakura smiled and was about to start daydreaming again when the man standing next to her choked. He was one of Mr. Sato's guards. He started to cough then fell to his knees. Before Sakura could help him she heard the same sound from around the room. Several of the guards were collapsing. People were starting to panic. The dancer kept dancing as if she didn't know what was going on. Then the lights went out. Women started screaming. People were trying to find their way out
"Sai, Yamato-sensei" Sakura called but got no answer. As she tried to get her bearing she heard a voice pleading
"Don't kill me please" Sakura recognized the voice as Mr. Sato's brother
"Don't worry, it wont be painful" A voice responded. There was a pause then a scream. Sakura moved towards it. Her eyes finally had adjusted as she looked down to see a body.
Meanwhile Sai had found a way outside and had brought out some of the vases so they wouldn't get knocked down by the panicked guests. It was dark in the entire area except for the moon shining above. He put them off to the side and prepared to go back in when he saw a figure walking slowly out of the building with her head down. He stepped back to see it was the dancer
"Are you ok Miss?". She didn't answer but continued to walk by him down the street. He appeared in front of her. She slowly lifted her head up. The mask covered her face but he could tell her eyes were watching him
"Stay out of my way" She whispered
"I just want to ask you a few questions then you can go" Sai had an uneasy feeling about her
"Last warning, Boy" She stressed the last word. Sai moved to grab her wrist but she moved it then before he could think, he was on the ground on his back. The woman stomped one foot and a small blade came out of the end of her heel. She stabbed him on the side. He didn't scream. She dug the blade deeper.
"Stop!" She turned her head to see a pink haired young woman with and older man standing near the door. "I said stop!"
"Sakura no!" Yamato said but it was too late. She ran towards the woman prepared to attack when the woman flicked her wrist and Sakura fell on the dirt. Yamato ran to her, he knelt down and checked to see if she was breathing. He looked up at the woman who had removed her heel from Sai who had fainted from the pain. She stomped her foot and the blade retracted. She walked slowly towards Yamato
"What did you do to her?"
"Poison, it will kill her in fifteen minutes if you don't get the antidote. There's one at the hospital"
"Why would you tell me that if you were trying to kill her?"
"I wasn't, it was only a warning. I didn't hit any vital organs in the boy so both should live also"
"Who are you?"
"Death if you interfere again" A chill went down his spine. She disappeared as he picked up Sakura..