Naruto: Kakusei Heroism – The Hero Without A Name

A/N: Well, this was a project. This was to originally be a short story for my other story As the Heavens Cried that just kept going and going and going… So, it is now a full story that I finally finished after many months. Thank Sakura-Con, as since I spent most of that weekend waiting for panels and autographs, I typed up the end of story on my iPhone.

Also, since I tend to go to my iTunes to pull song names, this is the second opening of the series Darker Than Black by An Café. I love this song and that series and it fit better than my rough draft name.

Anyways, please be kind to this first chapter and review to let me know what you think!

Kakusei Heroism – The Hero Without A Name

Chapter 1: The Girl

"Well, well, boys. What have we here?"

Glancing up from where she had bent over to tug on her uncomfortable shoes, Sakura slowly pushed her hair from her face as she straightened. The street was poorly lit and dead this time of night, but Sakura wasn't worried as she flashed the three men staring at her what she hoped appeared to be a coy smile. She was freezing in the skimpy black dress that showed too much skin and a useless wrap to keep away the early summer chill, but she ignored it as they started towards her.

"Well, aren't you an exotic piece of flesh," the middle one sneered as they surrounded her.

Oh, he was an ugly one, Sakura mentally groaned, with a broad nose that had been broken more than once, making it crooked, and a flat forehead leading into a receding hair line. His two companions weren't exactly lookers either, or the more fragrant she realized a little too late as she was surrounded by the scent of overly ripe males.

"What's your name, sweet stuff?"

"Whatever you want it to be, handsome," Sakura teased him, leaning forward so that her gown gapped just enough to draw their attention. Thank god for push-up bras.

"I like the sound of that, Tokuwa," one of the other guys chuckled and Sakura barely kept the glee from her face when she realized she had her target.

Tokuwa Kenichi was one of Konoha's most wanted yakuza members. He had originally moved to the city nearly fifteen years ago and since then had driven up the amount of illegal drugs, crime, and sex trafficking in the otherwise peaceful city. And now she had him just where she needed him.

"Can't say I disagree with you guys, so what do you say, sweet stuff? How would you like to spend the time with a group of real men?"

"Well, sure," Sakura said before fisting her hands on her hips. "But I'm a working girl, so we need to talk a little business beforehand."

"Oh, it seems we have a little misunderstanding. See, this is my turf," Tokuwa explained as they all started chuckling and surrounded her. Backing up until she bumped into the wall, Sakura swallowed nervously as she stared up at the three of them. "And everything here? I own. Which means, babe, I own you and that tempting little body of yours.

"And there is nothing I like better than a free fuck," he chuckled, motioning at the man to her left forward. When he grabbed her for arm, Sakura evaded before catching him behind the knee with her foot and sending him to the ground.

"You bitch!" he roared, lunging back to his feet and at Sakura. Feeling his hands wrap around her throat, Sakura attempted to break the hold as the other two fell back. "Boss, let me teach her a lesson she won't be soon to forget!"

"She's all yours. I don't like my woman that feisty," Tokuwa dismissed with a chuckle and Sakura watched as he turned and started to walk away.

"Keep it up honey," the thug chuckled as he kept Sakura pinned with one hand while the other drifted down to start tugging on her skirt. "I don't need you awake to enjoy myself."

"Fuck off," Sakura gasped, pulling back her hand and punching him straight on the nose.

Stronger than she looked the man went flying again as Sakura gasped, trying to recover her breath. Her head swimming, she ignored it as she went to chase after Tokuwa only to feel the man grab her leg and yank her to the ground. Landing before she could brace the skin on her elbows and knees were scraped from the force of the fall, but she ignored the pain as she twisted to defend herself, only to find herself held immobile by the weight of him as he pinned her against the ground.

"I'll kill you for that," the man growled as blood dripped from his broken nose, wrapping his hands around her neck again. Not recovered from before and with her arms pinned under his legs, Sakura could only struggle futilely.

Dammit, where are Naruto and Sasuke? Sakura thought as she started to lose consciousness. If they weren't here yet, Tokuwa would get away and she would be left at the mercy of his crony.

As her vision started to fade from the lack of oxygen, Sakura could only watch through a fog as the man above her way suddenly pulled away and she caught sight someone dressed in black standing above her before finally passing out.

sSs

Bolting awake a little while later, Sakura winced at the pain radiating from her joints and back. Confused at finding something soft under her and not the hard asphalt from before, Sakura glanced around as her eyes widened when she found herself back in her apartment. Feeling the pull of something on her knees, she glanced down to see both covered by bandages, as well as her elbows. She was still in the dress, but someone had draped her with her robe which she pulled on as she stood up.

"Naruto? Sasuke?" she called out to her team members, figuring it had been them who had taken her home, only to be met with silence. Glancing down when her home line started ringing, she took in the Caller ID before picking it up. "Naruto?"

"Sakura, what the hell?" Naruto yelled at her from the other end and Sakura frowned. "We got to the scene and you weren't there, but Tokuwa and his men were knocked out and tied up! We've been looking for you for over an hour! Where are you?"

"I'm at my apartment. Listen, Naruto, I got to go," Sakura told him softly and before the blond could yell at her more, she hung up while bending to reach for the gun she kept under her bed.

"You will not find your gun," a voice said from in front of her and Sakura spun to stare at the entrance to her room. A figure dressed in black with a porcelain mask was all she took in before she noticed the gun held lightly in his hand and she lunged towards the dresser where she had more weapons stored. "I took your other weapons as well."

"Who the hell are you?" she snapped, turning to face him again. He was larger than her, most men were, and Sakura wasn't sure in her current state if she could take him. "How did we get to my apartment?"

"I brought you here, after taking care of Tokuwa and his men," the figure said, tossing Sakura her gun. Catching it, Sakura checked it only to scowl when she realized he had taken the firing pin, making it nothing more than a paperweight. "I did not feel right leaving you lying on the sidewalk alone while unconscious."

"I had back up," she huffed, tossing the gun on the bed as she glared at him.

"Who were late enough that man would have killed you and Tokuwa would have gotten away. When did Konoha's police force get so weak?" he asked and without warning Sakura lunged at him.

He blocked her first punch, took a swift kick to his side, before grabbing her outstretched arm and spinning her out and away from him. Startled, she stumbled before finding herself caught again and pinned to her bed with the stranger holding her down. As she panted, trying to catch her breath, she felt the heat of him through the thin material separating them and felt the brush of his long ponytail on her cheek as he bent down over her. Still, his hold on her was light and non-threatening, which only pissed her off more.

"Now Officer Haruno, is that how you thank the person who saved your life?"

"It's Detective. And get off me," Sakura ordered him and after a short pause to show he was doing it by his choice and not her command, he finally let go and moved away, leaving her on the bed. Sitting up, Sakura glared before finally letting out a grudging, "Thank you."

"Going after Tokuwa was worthless," he said in response and Sakura stiffened, snapping her head around to look at him. "He's nothing more than a pawn for a much bigger threat; a sacrifice to throw the force off another man's trail."

"Who?"

For several minutes the masked guy remained silent and Sakura was figuring he was debating on telling her before finally pulling something out and tossing a small, flat object at her that she caught. It was a portable memory drive and she frowned at it before glancing up to realize she was alone in her apartment.

sSSs

Ending A/N: Yeah…I struggle (read: suck) at writing action scenes. They're awesome in my head, but getting them into word format is something I'm still trying to get better at. And Tokuwa is a completely made up character for the series, couldn't figure out an in show character worth trying to us.

Anyways…what did you guys think? Sound intriguing? Mysterious? Wondering who the masked man is?

Review and I'll update!

Disclaimer: Naruto does not belong to me, nor do any of the products mentioned in this story.