Prologue:

The Name of the Game is Assassination

The party was like any party you would expect for a high-society charity ball; extravagant, expensive, and glamorous. The complete opposite of the "true" reason for the party. But good was still being done, and that was good enough for Hokage Sarutobi.

The Hokage usually avoided parties; they weren't exactly his favourite thing in the world. But tonight was about charity, and that was something he was always for. Leaf City was turning to garbage; more and more people were ending up on the streets, crime was rampant, drugs were everywhere. He swore that he would reverse all of this, and he was keeping up to his promise. And that's why he was still in office after all these years.

"Enjoying the party, aren't you, Dad?" The old man turned to see his son, Asuma, standing behind him.

He snorted. "Son, if there's one thing I've never liked, it's a bunch of people standing around doing nothing, and getting praise for it. Besides, the food here tastes like crap."

Asuma had to laugh. "I won't argue with you. I don't like the food either. But seriously," he handed his father a champagne flute, "I thought you would lighten up for the occasion. Have you been hearing what people are saying? 'Leaf City's turned over a new leaf.' Corny, I know, but couldn't be farther from the truth."

He motioned to a group of people at a table. "I was just talking to the Gokage, and they agree with everything. As a matter of fact, the Raikage couldn't stop singing your praise."

This time Sarutobi had to laugh. "Really? Getting a compliment out of that man is less likely to happen than growing wings and flying. Singing my praise, eh?"

Asuma nodded. "The way I see it, this whole thing is a tribute to you." He raised his flute. "Salut." The two men downed the champagne. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get back. Kurenai's mad at me for some reason, and I want to stay on her good side."

The Hokage had to laugh at his son's troubles. "See that you do. It took you this long to get married; don't blow it while your ahead."

Asuma left, and Sarutobi thought it would be best for him to take a break. He walked to the back of the ballroom, and went through the kitchen to end up outside, at the back of the building. The old man took out his pipe, and proceeded to light it when he heard a crash from behind him. He spun on the balls of his feet, but when he looked, nothing was there.

He pulled out a kunai knife from under his jacket. He may be old, but he still knew how to fight. He stood his ground, and called out into the alley. "Come out where I can see you!" After five minutes, still no response came.

The old man sheathed his knife. "Hmph," he grunted. "Getting paranoid in your old age, aren't you?" he said to himself. But as he turned to head back inside, he was paralyzed. Standing before him was a man in cloak, adorned with the symbol of a red cloud. But his eyes were what Sarutobi was scared of. For his eyes had a strange look to them. A strange pattern, that the Hokage sworn he had seen before….

An enormous fear weighed down on his chest. Mangekyo Sharingan. That what it was. No wonder he couldn't move.

He forced himself to croak out the words. "Is that really you?" The figure did not respond, but merely pointed up above Sarutobi's head.

What happened next happened in an instant. Sarutobi saw the blade coming in his peripherals, and, knowing he could not move away, put on a stoic expression and faced the inevitable.

The sword went messily through his neck, with great tearing and a wet SHKK sound. His head was launched into the far corners of the alley. Gore splattered the bricks walls of the surrounding buildings. And all in less than the time it took to blink.

The first man, the Sharingan user, stepped up to inspect the body of the once great Hokage. "Kisame," he said flatly, "was it really so necessary to make such a dramatic kill?"

The swordsman stepped out of the shadows, his shark-like features highlighted in the moonlight. "The point of assassination is to make a point, my dear Itachi." He gestured to the bloody mess all around them. "Point will be taken, I assure you."

Itachi sighed. True, he and Kisame were among the better partnerships in the organization, but he always forgot how thick his partner was. "Fair enough," he said. "Let's get out of here before anyone starts to wonder where the old man went."

Kisame holstered his blade, and the two men walked off into the night, leaving their handiwork behind them. As they looked upon the city's lights, they reminded themselves how, very soon, this city would be under their feet….