The trees shivered as Sasuke jumped from branch to branch in silence. He was headed toward the Hōjō clans territory. Lord Shingen had sent him there to try and forge an alliance with the older man. Sasuke stopped dead in his tracks and listened carefully. He frowned, the woods around were absolutely silent. There was no wind and no sign of life anywhere.

Then a red bird suddenly appeared before him. It was the color of blood; it had a long feathery tail and a wide wing span. It had dark purple eyes that were trained on him. The bird let out a piercing cry before it flew straight for his face. Sasuke dodged easily and glared at the strange bird.

"What was that for?" Sasuke hissed, the bird landed on a nearby branch and glared. Then it took off and landed on a branch a few feet in front of him. It cawed at him and flew to another branch and waited.

"So you want me to follow you?" The bird, much to Sasuke's surprise nodded at him. "Sorry can't I'm a bit too busy to be playing games." The bird glared and flew off, leaving Sasuke alone. Sasuke shrugged and continued on his path. It wasn't long before he arrived at the Hojo family's gate. He stared in shock to see body laying everywhere. 'What happened?' He wondered as he proceeded past the fallen bodies.

Sasuke jumped as he heard a loud wail. He turned to see the red bird from earlier. "Not you again," Sasuke grumbled, the bird glared and beckoned its head toward the main building. "I think I underestimated you. Do you know who did this?" Sasuke asked, he briefly wondered if he was losing his mind; after all he was talking to a bird.

The bird nodded and took off toward the main building. 'Eh, why not?' He thought as he fallowed the bird past all the fallen soldiers. Sasuke stopped as they arrived at the main building with the door wide open. Sasuke frowned, "Please! Don't you win! Just don't kill me! I'll give you anything you want!" He heard a familiar voice beg. Sasuke quickly hid in the shadows as he listened, "Sorry, doesn't work that way." A female voice coolly replied. "Oh! Please, I beg of you!" Sasuke sighed and revealed himself, "Now, Now is it really necessary to kill the old guy?" The woman jumped and turned to glare at the ninja.

"Who are you?" She said as she frowned. "Funny that's what I was going to ask you." She glared at him obviously not amused. Sasuke ducked as the bird came from behind aiming for his head. The bird landed gracefully on her shoulder and glared at the ninja. "So, I take it that bird is yours?" Sasuke asked with a smirk.

The girl sighed and stepped away from the Hojo clan leader who had become oddly quiet. "I guess you could say that." Sasuke was taken aback by the girl. She had long, light brown hair that was up in a high ponytail that was held by a dark purple ribbon; her bangs were left out framing her face. Her eyes were the oddest thing about her. Her left eye was a dark purple color, while the right shined a brilliant gold. She wore a dark green shirt that fit her mid-section well and flared out. The sleeves were loose around her small arms. She wore a skirt that resembled a stained glass window that wasn't see through. She wore black boots that went to her knees. She also had a necklace with a symbol that Sasuke couldn't quiet remember. Sasuke had to admit, she was pretty.

The girls eyes suddenly widen and turned her attention back to the Hojo clan leader to find that he was gone. She let out a curse and ran past Sasuke paying him no attention, until he grabbed her wrist. "I don't believe I caught your name." The girl scowled at him and jerked her wrist from his grip. "That's because I didn't give you it." She spat and ran off in search for the old man. "He couldn't gotten far." She mumbled the bird quickly flew from her shoulder and joined in the search. "So, that's it? No name, no nothing?" He asked buying the old man some time. The girl turned and glared at him.

"There is no reason for me to give you my name. Besides it's a common curtsey to give your name first when you wish to know another's." Sasuke smirked and bowed, "Right, forgive me my lady. My name is Sarutobi Sasuke I am part of the Takeda army." The girl frowned at him. She turned as her bird screeched and beckoned her to follow. "Well, Sarutobi Sasuke this is where we part." She said turning her back and took off after the bird. "Now, wait a minute I never got your name." Sasuke said again, the girl sighed irritated with his constant pestering.

"And again I never gave it." She growled and picked up her pace. Sasuke caught up with her easily matching her pace step for step. "You're not getting away that easily all I want to know is your name." The girl huffed and chose to ignore him. Then her bird suddenly screeched and the cries of the man could be heard. The girl smirked and her eyes changed to completely purple. Sasuke was startled by the evil look she had in her eye. He quickly got in front and stopped her dead in her tracks.

"Move!" She growled as she tried to get around him. Sasuke glared, "afraid I can't do that." The girl's eyes turned darker as she got more frustrated. She needed to do this and she needed to do it now. The girl racked her brain trying to think of a way to get past the stubborn ninja. Her eyes widen with a solution.

"What if I give you my name? Then will you move?" Sasuke laughed, "I'm afraid it doesn't work that way." The girl sighed with frustration. She was getting more annoyed by the second. Sasuke jumped when he felt the clan's leader grip on to his arm. "Please you have to save me! She's crazy!" He whispered urgently.

The girls eyes suddenly lit up and a smirk graced her lips. She unsheathed her blade from her left and pointed the tip at Sasuke and Ujimasa. "Fine, have it your way." She then threw the blade aiming straight for Sasuke's chest. He quickly brought out his shurkiens to block the attack. The blade went straight threw Sasuke without a scratch.

He let out a sound of surprise, and then he heard Ujimasa scream. Sasuke turned to see the blade had penetrated his heart. The light went out of his eyes as he fell to the ground. "It's about damn time!" The girl huffed, putting her hands on her hips. She walked past Sasuke and yanked out the sword of the dead man's body. She then swiftly pulled out the blade from her right and stabbed him in the same spot from earlier. Sasuke's eyes widen and he quickly grabbed her wrist and yanked the sword from her grip and from the body. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" He yelled like he would at a child who had just almost gotten himself hurt.

She was young after all, younger than himself by at least a couple years. She glared and tried to yank her wrist away to no avail. "Let me go!" She shrieked, his grip tightened willing her to look into his eyes. He finally grabbed her chin and forced her to meet his eyes. A light blush dusted her cheeks; she had never been this close to a man before, except maybe to end his life. But right now she couldn't, she was physically unable to. "Why did you do that?" He asked again saying each word slowly and carefully. She snapped out of her stupor and jerked her chin out of his hand and whistled. Sasuke cursed as the bird hit him solidly on the head. She took the opportunity and jerked her wrist away and ran off, disappearing into the black night. Sasuke cursed as the bird distracted him and flew off. 'Damn it all to hell. How am I going to explain this one?' He wondered.

So new story, yays! Lol maybe not a good idea buttt i wanted to write it! And this is set before Shingen gets sick! Anyways tell me how i did. Thoughts comments? So please review they are appreciated!

-Keari