Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

It was quiet and empty on the streets of Konohagakure no Sato, also known as the Village Hidden in the Leaves... even if it was bigger then most towns. There was no move in the night, not even stars were shining, hidden behind the heavy clouds. The only source of light were street lanterns and few still lighted windows.

There weren't many people in the northern part of the city, where were placed more of the biggest mansions. Apart from the three shinobi returning from their mission and one drunk man, who was returning, or at least trying, to his home only the occasional ANBU patrols were disturbing stillness of the night.

There was one more figure in this quarter. Small one. No higher than twelve, thirteen years old child. From its build it was clear that it was a boy. Clad in a tight matching pants, long sleeved shirt, a coat with deep hood and wide sleeves and soft leather boots, everything in grey camo marks. The hood was up, covering his hair and hiding a part of his face in the shadows, already hidden by a black, blank mask. He also had a grey pouch strapped to the back of his waist.

The grey clad boy was sneaking through the streets, sticking to the shadows. The ANBU patrol walked just a few feet from him, but even when one of them looked directly in his direction he didn't saw him. No wonder. While moving in the middle of the street the boy's figure was melting with the surrounding. In the alley's shadow, while motionless, it was more possible to walk on than see him.

Finally, the boy reached his destination. Noticing the good one on the right, he climbed up the tree and looked at his target for this night.

The target was a big, two level mansion, build in the western style. From this side the second floor was slightly smaller, leaving place for two balconies and a bit of a flat roof. The mansion was surrounded by gardens, with flowers, few trees and a small pool. Two roads, to the south and to the west, were leading to the gates built in the ten six feet tall stone wall that was surrounding the whole area.

The grey clad figure was looking around, trying to remember position of the various rooms, potential hides and shadowed places. He noticed a few guards, smiling with satisfaction under the mask when he saw that they were just normal thugs. He was able to sneak behind the shinobis' backs, it was harder, but still possible, but there was always a risk that he'd walk on a sensor. Here, he already found at least four paths that would easily lead him in.

Of course, that could also mean that at the end of those ways awaited traps. This was actually quite regular. If they were the standard traps, then they weren't a problem. Disposing, or finding another way, if disposing is impossible. He found an undisposable trap only once. He wanted to enter through the attic, going in through the clap in the floor, but to the downside of it was attached a wire. He was about to cut it through the small crack when he noticed the whole mechanism. The wire was attached to the sound bomb that was placed in weak balance on a steel rod. Only the wire was holding everything up, so if he would open it, he would trigger the bomb, but if he would cut the wire, everything would fall, triggering itself. If he would have one more person with him, he would be able to get through, but in his position he had to find another way.

The homemade, nonstandard ones were diferent. They're slimy, unpredictable, painful or all at once. To this last group he could count that damn bee hive above the balcony door in the unused bedroom on the second floor. Thankfully he dropped it when he was running, so he was already gone when the angry bees came out of their ball. The two chasing him guards weren't so lucky

When he saw almost everything that was there to see (almost, cause he always assumed that he had missed something. That way he was always on guard. Better safe than sorry) he rushed into motion. Jumping forward from his tree he landed on the wall that was surrounding the whole mansion and quickly slipped down, hiding into the wall's shadow. He looked around, just to be sure that what he saw earlier and sensed now was accurate, and there wasn't anyone around. Once sure, he sprung into action, running to the nearby tree, using every bit of shadow to hide. He regretted that there wasn't any gaps in the layer of cloud. A bit of moon light would made the shadows deeper. Nevertheless, using the same technique he passed the distance between the wall and the proper mansion, disappearing every moment, melting with the surrounding like a ghost. No one saw him, not even when he run a few feet in front of patrolling guard.

When he was close to the house he speed up and run up the wall. After making seven steps he jumped and caught the roof of the first floor, pulling himself up. When he was already on the roof he crouched and looked around for any sign of alarm.

Every single move, from the jump on the wall to the crouch and look behind was done quieter than falling of the leaf.

There were three scrapes of a tiled roof with two balconies between them. The boy was standing on the far left scrap. He crept to the nearest window, looking through it. Inside he saw a kitchen, with two maids still working. He knew that he wouldn't go through this one since he saw the light in the window when he was still on the tree, but it was good to know a few more details. This could help him later.

Leaping over the the rail the figure jumped on the first balcony. The glass doors that led inside were also lighted, so he approached them carefully, looking inside to see an office, with wooden walls, a desk and few cabinets full of books. He also saw the back of a man in dark blue kimono with brown hair, that were showing signs of graying, sitting behind the desk. In front of the desk another man was standing. This one looked to be around thirty, had dark hair and wore plain, brown kimono top and black baggy pants. He was standing with his hands nervously folding in front of him and his eyes in his brown sandals.

The one behind the desk was yelling at him so loud that the boy heard him through the closed doors.

"...before, don't you dare to sell anything to that boy, do you understand!?"

The standing one said something, which he didn't heard, but was interrupted by another yell.

"I'm not paying you for thinking, I'm paying you for working and listening to orders! And right now I'm ordering you to throw that demon out if you see him ever again in my..." The boy crept away, no longer interested. He jumped over the railing, landing on second scrap of the tiled roof. He looked through the window, this time dark, and grinned under his mask.

What he was looking at was a wardrobe. Judging from the dresses, it was a woman's wardrobe, and judging from their sizes, the woman was big. Without too much trouble he quietly opened the window and jumped inside. Looking around he searched for something interesting. Ignoring the dresses, gorsets, kimonos, scarfs and many other things he walked to one of the walls where he found a few cabinets. On their shelves he finally found what he was looking for.

He reached to his pouch and drew a book with a blank, brown cover. Opening it at one of the first pages he revealed a seal and started putting his findings in it: three necklaces, one of them with small diamond in it, six pairs of earrings, bracelet and at least eight rings.

He was counting in thoughts his earnings when he heard the door's opening. He was hidden behind the labyrinth of clothes, but he had to silently made it to the window. Silently and quickly, before...

"Ehhh... who leaved the window open?" He heard a young feminine voice, few steps of boots with heels and sound of closing the window.

'Just great...' The boy thought. Deciding that there was nothing he could do about it now the thief started sneaking towards the, as he now noticed, still open doors. When he was walking out on the hall, dimly lit, with a blue carpet through the middle, he stole one last glance behind to see a blond haired girl in a maid outfit ruffling through the clothes. He crept through the hall, straining his senses to make sure that he wouldn't bump into someone...

"Is somebody there?" 'Damn it! She had to see my shadow!' Hearing the maid's steps approaching he quickly reached the nearest door and jumped inside, hoping that she didn't hear the click of the closing doors. He stood there for a few seconds, straining his hearing and sixth sense, until he heard the footsteps fading away. Breathing inwardly with relief he looked around.

He found himself in a bedroom. Judging by the pink color everywhere it was a girl's bedroom. Opposite to him he saw a door leading towards the balcony, open. On left was a closet and a small cabinet with a small mirror and few cosmetics, on right a king sized bed and a night table next to it. He also saw someone under the sheets.

He was heading to the balcony when he saw something shining on the night table in the slight light of the street lanterns. When he came closer, apart from a lamp and a photo of a dark-blue haired women in mid-twenties, he saw a beautiful bracelet. Made of silver, in a shape of two dragons, with intertwined tails, that were holding small emerald with their fangs. He picked it up. It was greatly made, with care to the details. Someone who knows about jewelry would pay a lot for it.

"Don't take it."

He flinched inwardly, but his body reacted on its own. Out of nowhere a kunai appeared in his hand, and he put it just under the girl's jaw. She was looking at him with green eyes, still covered by her blue hair, but he didn't saw fear in them. He only saw pleading.

"Please," she begged, seeming to not caring about the blade on her throat, "It's from my mother... don't..."

Her eyes rolled to the back of her skull when he knocked her out with the ring of another kunai that appeared in his other hand. He picked the bracelet from the sheets where he dropped it. He looked at the unconscious girl with understanding in his eyes. Somebody might say that it was stupid to think about bracelet when facing an armed stranger in the middle of the night, in the middle of someone's bedroom, but he knew why she had done that. He knew her after all. He would do the same if he...

"HELP! Someone stole Karuski-sama jewelry!" 'Damn. That maid must have seen the empty shelves.'

"Go downstairs and tell the others! Hami, intruder might still be here! Go check Kaisha-sama bedroom, I'll go to the office!" Deep male voice, one used to giving orders. Few quick steps were heard approaching the bedroom's door before they were opened quickly, though quietly.

A tall man with brown hair came inside. Light was coming from the hall, hiding his facial features in the shadow. His hand was resting on the katana's hilt, while his eyes were scanning the room. When his look rested on the right side of the room he relaxed. Nobody was here.

The guard walked to the balcony and closed the doors. Comfort aside, if there was a thief somewhere in the mansion, Kaisha-sama's safety was more important than a bit of fresh air. He looked at her sleeping figure, wondering why didn't she wake up. They're shouting quite loud. Shrugging it off he walked out to report that there aren't and rather weren't anyone inside.

After all, Kaisha-sama's bracelet was still lying on the night-table.

Fujio sighed, reading a report from one of his informants. Konoha's shinobi found another one of his magazines. Thanks whoever was up there this one was empty in that moment, but he has already lost two in this month. As well as at least eight men.

Managing underworld in the shinobi village was a hard, dangerous and worthy business. Hard, cause Hokage's shinobi were more than willing to hunt every criminal in the village, encouraged by a prize for every one of them. Good prize. Dangerous, because of the great interrogation techniques that the shinobi possesed. There weren't many thiefs that could withstand it, which meant that every caught thug could give him out. Fujio managed to avoid it only because there was only a handful of people that knew his real identity. He was hiring a few men to deceive most of the people about their leader true identity.

And as for worthy... selling informations from and to the shinobi village was a very good business.

Fujio cursed, reaching the name of another caught man. He was one of the bests. Of course, to work in Konoha he had to be at least great, but Kugo was an elite. Experienced missing-nin from Kumo. But it looked like it wasn't enough. Of course, Fujio could get him out. The current Hokage was old and weak, even the council, this band of loud, self-loving idiots, managed to trick him to pass a few laws, for example to lower academy standards so more of the councilmen's children could graduate. But while getting Kugo out was simple, just a few bribes in the proper hands, he was already burned. Fujio had to find him a new city.

Sighing, he tossed report on the desk and reached for a bottle with sake.

"Problems?"

Fujio nearly fell from his chair hearing the quiet voice. Looking up he saw grey clad boy sitting in the chair in front of his desk. "Damn it, Kokuei! How..." He trailed off. He would never know how this child managed to sneak to his guarded office without him, or anyone else, noticing, "Couldn't you knock?"

"You're asking a thief why didn't he knock?" He heard amusement in Kokuei's voice.

Fujio sighed, "You know you should announce yourself, right?"

"Really? Why nobody told me about it?"

"I did. At least hundred times."

"Oh sorry. I had to forgot. Otherwise I would announce myself. Cause I really care, you know?" Kokuei didn't even tried to hide irony, "So, what happened?"

Fujio thought for a while and decided that he would learn anyway, "They caught Kugo and found another hideout."

"Another? Something happened around there? Or are they just went there out of nowhere?"

"Out of nowhere"

"Than maybe you have a rat?"

Fujio's eyes widened. There was going to be a delivery today, but it was delayed. If everything would go as planned this magazine wouldn't be empty. It could have been just a coincidence, but this sudden attack... If something would have happen around the hide, the ninja that would came there might found something. Bad luck. But it was calm around for the last few days, even the Rabbits, young slums kids, didn't attack anyone in the last few days there.

"Looks like I have more work," Fujio muttered, "Okay," He said louder, looking at his guest's black mask, "What did you came here for?"

"Oh? You don't like me here?" Kokuei asked in a mock hurt tone. Fujio only send him a glare, "Okay, I was on a trip and have a few souvenirs if you're interested."

"Really? Vacations? Where, if you don't mind my asking?"

"You don't know already? You said yourself that you have every information in Konoha," Fujio cursed inwardly, almost seeing mocking grin behind that damn mask, "Karuski," Kokuei added, probably because he knew that he would learn about it before noon. Or in half an hour if he try.

Fujio only nodded, not showing any emotions, "Okay, show me what you've got."

Kokuei stood up and drew a book from his pouch. Opening it at the proper page, he unsealed his loot.

"Hmmm..." Fujio started picking jewelry muttering to himself, "Silver... real... nice sapphire... ruby... oh, gold one... hmmm... I would say, about... 200 000 ryo."

"600 000."

Fujio looked at him, wondering if the thief knew what he was talking about or is he was just trying to bargain with him.

When silence grew longer Kokuei sighed, "Fujio, I know you like boys, but I'm not interested, so stop your daydreaming and decide. I don't have all night. I have to sleep well. I'm still a child, you know."

The Head of the Konoha's Underground gritted his teeth, but he didn't respond to the insult. He wouldn't dare. This boy was intimidating.

He knew Kokuei for two years already, but he was still felling uncertain, to not said scared, in his presence. And the fact that the thief was only a child didn't help. Always clad in his grey outfit, not showing even the smallest part of his body. Only those eyes, piercing into Fujio. Two icy blue eyes, big as child's, warm as said ice, full of irony, or emotionless, blank. Eyes of someone who has done a lot to survive and who could do more. His voice was the same. On one side, it was a voice of a small boy, even before the mutation. But on the other side it was full of sarcasm, cold and experienced. Voice of someone who knew how tough life could be.

"Fujio..." Kokuei's voice brought him out of his thoughts.

"Oh yeah, right... mmm... you said 600 000? Not too much? They're pretty, but..."

"You're doing this on purpose or are you just so stupid?" Fujio stopped himself from throwing something at this brat, "I don't have time to bargain, so I said straight what I want."

Again. This was happening again. It was a conversation between an adult and a child. An Employer and an employee. So why it was an adult and an employer that was sweating and trembling? Kokuei didn't even say anything threatening. Only this cold voice. Those blank eyes. And maybe this kunai, that appeared out of nowhere in his hand, that was spinning between his fingers like a coin.

"Okay, as you want then," Said Fujio, standing up, hiding the fact that his hands were shaking, "Wait a second, I'll be right back," With that he walked out of the office.

Kokuei leaned deeper into the chair and focused on his senses. He felt someone behind the wall on the right, probably a hidden door, as well as two more in the hall and three in the room on the other side. All six were waiting for any sigh of hostility, or Fujio's sign, to show him a way out, very gently. Not that they would manage to. They were no match for him.

It was stupid actually. Meting with a ninja and thinking that normal thugs will help.

The door opened again and Fujio came in with a bag. He tossed it on desk in front of the thief.

"Here 550 000 ryo. Those toys are worth more than 600 000, but since they're from Karuski, treat the rest as a compensation for my risk," He had to play hard. His subordinates were watching. He couldn't lose his face. And Kokuei knew that. If he decide to destroy him...

"Ehhhh... Okay, let it be like that," Fujio sighed inwardly in relief and remembered something, "Oh yeah, I have a job for you..."

"Not interested," Kokuei interrupted, standing and taking the bag, his kunai disappearing. Fujio was about to stop this cocky brat when he continued, "Don't try to find me."

And before he could say anything else, Kokuei was out. Fujio gritted his teeth, frustrated. He wanted to send someone to bring the brat back, to teach him some respect. But he couldn't. First, if Kokuei didn't want to be found nobody would find him.

Second, he already has lost few people that he send to follow the young thief.

Kokuei walked out of the hideout's hidden entrance. He took a deep breath, tasting the night air, and drew his book to seal the money. Once done, he concentrated and sensed two men walking down the nearby street, few kids sleeping in the old shack in front of him, guard observing him from his hide on left and a patrol of shinobi jumping through the roofs. With that knowledge Kokuei retreated deeper into the alley. Later, the guard was swearing that he melted with the shadows, like as if he was part of them.

The young thief appeared again a few streets to the east, jumping on the roof of the building from the alley next to it. Once there, he took off his hood and mask, revealing a mass of wild red spikes and a face of a young, around thirteen years old boy with three whiskers-like marks on each cheek.

The boy jumped to the east, in the direction of his apartment, noticing the sun that was starting to rise.

'Great,' Naruto thought with resignation, 'Another sleepless night.'

Author note:

This is my very first attempt at writing a fanfiction so, as much as i appreciate your opinions and suggestions, please don't be TOO hard on me.

I'll try to upload it once per two-three weeks but I don't know how it'll work.

Oh, and sorry for any spelling mistakes. English is not my mother language so if you find any mistakes please point it out for me. I'll try to fix them.

Well, until next time!

Updated 01.04.2015.