Chapter One

There are three main rules we must follow… Rule one… Kill or be killed. Rule two… If you betray your owners, you die. Rule three… Live to fight. That is our guidelines. What we have to do to keep in line. A cruel fate, but people like us have nowhere else to turn.

I stared down at my pistol and let out a heavy sigh. "Today's going to be a long day." I muttered to myself. I just had a really bad feeling that the day was going to end badly.

"Desert Eagle .50 Cal right?" A voice asked me.

I looked up to see my subordinate standing there, the perky little blond who doesn't belong here… This is no place for the kind of heart… Yet, he's here so there is no helping it. His beautiful blue irises shinned as he stared at my gun admiring it. I looked back at my gun. "Yeah, you already knew that though." I looked up at him curiously. "What are you up to?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

The blond looked down and handed me his gun. "I-I think I messed it up." He muttered looking away. I should have known. He is a complete idiot.

I sighed and looked at the gun. Somehow the idiot got it jammed. I mumbled to myself and stood up. "You dented up my gun idiot."

The blond winced and looked away. "S-Sorry." He began to fidget. "I-I didn't mean to." He said looking at me with those big blue eyes.

I let out a sigh of defeat. "It's fine… You can borrow my M9 Beretta." I glared at him. "Naruto… If you put even the slightest scratch on it I'll kill you." I growled harshly as I opened my gun locker and pulled out the gun.

Naruto nodded and held out his hands as if he was a little kid begging for candy. I don't see how Master thinks this kid will be a top assassin but whatever. I don't think even I, Sasuke Uchiha could help him but sadly that's exactly what I have to do. I'm forsaken.

I looked at the other gun. I can't believe the idiot jammed it. I told him exactly how to use it and he still messes it up. I mean what the fucking hell is wrong with this kid? He always smiles and he's an idiot. Well I guess the smiling will stop after his first real mission. I let out a heavy sigh and tied up my boots. "Master wants us to go see him in five for briefing. Be ready." I stood up and walked out the door. I think he might be contagious… Like, if I stay close to him for too long I'll become an idiot. I don't know. Maybe I'm being paranoid, but I've seen it happen. I mean that Kiba idiot, he made me trip on my own feet okay. He was talking and I suddenly tripped. I don't trip it's unnatural.

"S-Sasuke…" A girl suddenly walked up to me and held out her hand. "I-if you need repairs I can take them to Neji…" She said looking down at the floor.

I smiled. "Yeah I actually do have one that needs repairs." I handed her the gun that Naruto jammed. "Thank you Hinata." I said smiling at her.

She returned the smile and retreated down the hallway.

I found myself in front of Master's office and knocked on the door waiting for the usual. 'Come in.' I opened the door when they allowed me entrance.

"Early as usual Sasuke..."

I turned my head to see Master sitting there with a glass of red wine smiling. "You know I dislike being late." I said looking around the room. To be honest I've never saw Master's face before. He always wears a hood that makes it hard to see his face but it's never really bothered me. All that matters is his word above all else. I frowned. "That… Kid you told me to train, are you sure he'll become an assassin?" I asked curiously as I fixed the collar of my shirt.

"Sasuke… Please don't doubt me." He muttered.

I looked up at him and smiled. "I do not doubt you… I doubt that kid." I looked away. "He's so innocent compared to the many that have come here." Yes, I remember the select few that failed to become and stay my partner because they all died. I hate thinking about them.

I heard master let out a laugh. "Sasuke… That kid was found covered in the blood of his own family. He saw them being murdered and survived. When we went to retrieve him he killed seven of my men. I don't think this one will disappoint."

I stared at him blankly. "He watched them die?" A shiver went down my spine. My family was killed… But… I didn't have to watch it. For him to go through that, and smile… It's… Incomprehensible.

The blond suddenly burst through the door. "I'm sorry I'm late!" He ran to my side and stood there panting. "I had to… Go to the bathroom." He gasped out.

I glared at Naruto. "You little…" I growled under my breath. What a disrespectful child.

Master suddenly spoke. "Naruto, I expect you to not do this all the time."

The blond nodded unable to speak from trying to catch his breath.

I looked at him again and sighed. I truly hope this mission is a success… I bit my lip and looked back at Master. "What's our mission?"

Master walked over to me and touched my face. "Don't be so impatient…" He looked at Naruto then back at me. "You're missions is a simple search and rescue, Mina Melrose the daughter of the town Major has been kidnapped. Try to be as clean as possible with this job and kill whoever gets in the way. It's a very simple job not like the ones I usually give Sasuke but one that will test Naruto's skills." He ruffled my hair. "Go."

I bowed and dismissed myself. It's true I'm use to more difficult missions. I looked back at Naruto who seemed deep in thought. But it will be fine; I'll probably be working on my own soon anyways.

Naruto looked up at me and smiled. "The Master is really nice." Naruto said as he fixed his watch.

I sighed. "You need to get serious."

Naruto saluted at me. "Yes 'sir!" He said grinning. I swear he's going to get shot before we even start the mission… He's getting on my last nerve.

As we got in the car Naruto began to run his jaw non-stop. I finally pulled over and pointed my gun at him. "Look kid, I don't really want to do this mission with you but Master told me to so I have to. Now just shut the fuck up or I'll blow your brains out and say you ran right into the gunfire like the incompetent idiot you are."

Naruto looked at me un-phased by my threat then looked out the window. "I'm sorry… I'm just happy." He folded his arms across his chest. "You see… I… I have nothing, or nobody. So now that I have a purpose I… I don't know. I'm just so happy." He muttered.

I put my gun down and looked away. "You're just like me when I came here." I let out a heavy sigh. "I'm… Sorry I got so mad; I'm not used to working with someone else…" I pulled back onto the road. "Just be careful today… Okay?"

The blond nodded. "Yeah."

When we arrived only a few minutes later and I got out and scoped the area then walked back to the car. "Okay… We're going to go… What the hell." I looked around in the car. "Where did he go?" I looked at the main entrance to see the idiot getting ready to bust through the front door. "Shit…" I ran over to him before he got a chance to kick down the doors and began to drag him around back. I glared him in the eyes. "Don't you remember any of your training?" I growled harshly.

Naruto looked away pouting. "I just wanted to show you how good I am." He mumbled.

I sighed. "Idiot… Stay behind me…" I leaned against the wall and Naruto did the same. I kicked down the door and began to shoot my enemies so fast Naruto didn't even get a chance to shoot. I looked at him. "Keep up."

Naruto suddenly shoved me back and fired his gun and struck down an enemy. "Y-you missed one…" He mumbled looking away.

I smiled. "Thanks."

His eyes widened. "You're welcome." He said looking down, his face turning slightly pink.

I scoped out the hallways. "Clear."

Naruto nodded and followed closely behind every once in a while backing me up.

I looked around when I realized we reached the area where the Mayor's daughter was being kept. "Be alert." I whispered then kicked down the door and began to shoot. There were at least thirteen of them but they went down quite easily and we finally found our target. She was only about fifteen so she was probably scared out of her mind.

Naruto ran over to her and quickly untied her. "Mina Melrose?"

The girl nodded. "Where is daddy?" She asked as her eyes filled up with tears.

Naruto smiled reassuringly. "We're going to take you to him soon. It will be fine." He said lifting her into his arms.

The girl tightly hugged him. "Thank you…" She whispered.

I looked around. "Something isn't right here." I looked around thinking hard about our situation. "Maybe…" I bit my lip and looked at Naruto who looked at me.

Naruto frowned. "What's wrong Sasuke?" He asked in a worried tone.

I shook my head. "This mission is—" I was suddenly cut off by a gun shot and an agonizing pain in the left side of my chest. Before I knew it a horrid sound erupted from my throat and I fell to my knees. I could hear Naruto scream and shoot but for some reason I couldn't see. It was as if I took a sudden plunge into the depths of hell without any way of escaping. I put my hand over the wound gasping. I have been shot before but it occurs very rarely and so you could say that I'm not exactly accustomed to it. I fell to the side and curled into a ball. I suddenly felt a warm arm wrap around me. "Sasuke…! Sasuke please talk to me!" It was Naruto and I think he's crying.

I forced my eyes open and looked up at the blond. "Leave me…" I managed to choke out.

Naruto shook his head. "No." He suddenly picked me up on his back and looked at Mina. "Please stay close to me." He whispered.

I could hear gunshots but the sound began to slowly fade to background noise and I found myself by a lake. I looked around. It was surrounded by lush greens and its water looked so pure and untouched by man and their creations. I looked up at the beautiful cloudless sky. This place was all too familiar. I had been here before. I frowned when I realized where I was. "Itachi…" I muttered as I walked to the dock and sat down putting my feet into the water. "That's right… Itachi and I sat right here."

"Sasuke…"

My eyes widened and I looked back to see Itachi standing there. I stood up and slowly began to walk then began to quicken my pace and I collided with Itachi's warm body and hugged him tightly. "Anki…" I whispered.

I felt by beloved big brothers tears fall upon my shoulder and it brought me to tears as well. "It's only a dream." I whispered as I hugged him tighter.

He tightened his grip around me. "You're right… It's only a dream." He said smiling and petting my head. "But… You have to go… You can't live in dreams forever."

My eyes widened. "Wait… Anki I don't want to wake up! I want to stay here!"

He chuckled and poked in the forehead like he always did. "Sayonara… Sasuke… See you later."

I opened my eyes and tears began to flow from them. "No… I don't want to be here…" I sat up and began to rip the IV's off screaming at the top of my lungs. "Let me fucking die!" I ripped off the bandages that were over the wound on my chest. "Kill me damn it…! Kill me!!" The wound in my chest suddenly opened and I cried out in pain. Suddenly warm arms wrapped around me tightly. "Anki…?" I whispered weakly.

Naruto pressed his forehead on my shoulder. "Calm down…" He whispered.

I closed my eyes. Why? Why did I have to wake up? Why couldn't I wander in that dream just a little longer? Why couldn't I see his face just a while longer? I wrapped my arms around the blond and closed my eyes. Why? It seemed like that question kept racing through my mind and for some strange reason, I'm glad Naruto is here. I tightly clenched Naruto's shirt. "I want my Anki back…" I whispered into Naruto's shoulder.

Naruto rubbed my back. "It's okay… I understand."

Those words… Anyone else could say them and I'd tell them they couldn't possibly understand but Naruto and I… We're the same.

"Naruto." A voiced called from the doorway.

Naruto looked at the doorway. "Master." He muttered. He looked at me and gave me a faint smile. "I'll be back." He whispered. He got up and walked out of the room.

I reached out my hand. "Don't… Don't…" I put my hand to my chest and clutched my shirt. "Don't leave me…" I leaned back and stared at the roof. I feel weak. I closed my eyes and put my hand against the now bleeding wound then looked at the blood on my hand. I wonder how many more times my life will be stained with such a hideous color. How many days would go on that I would find myself alive but covered in this color? I'm so close to my wish but yet so far away, why? Why…? My left eye suddenly began to throb. I put my hand on my face and whimpered in pain.

Naruto walked back into the room and gasped. "Sasuke, your wound! And why is your face covered in blood?!" Naruto leaned out the door. "NURSE!"

I smiled to myself. He is so air headed to not notice when he hugged me. I sat up and smiled at him. "It's fine Naruto." I put my hand over the wound again. "It's just a little scratch." I muttered looking at the sheets of the bed. The bed creaked and I looked up at Naruto who began to rub the blood off my face with his shirt. I grabbed his hand. "It's fine really." I looked at his eyes and realized he was crying. My eyes widened. "Don't cry… Not for me." I just realized something… I just met him but I feel as if I have always known him. "Naruto…" I held his hand and stared at it. "Who are you to me?"

Naruto tightened his grip in my hands. "I…"

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