The Faceless Killer

Summary- When Kunoichi begin to vanish in Konoha, will anyone be able to get to the bottom of the disappearances before it's too late…?

Disclaimer- Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto

Rating- this chapter is T, but further chapters will most definitely be M

AN- The story takes place after the Sasuke retrieval arc. The rookie nine are older than 15, but still underage: I still haven't decided exactly. Kokoro Jūjun is a civilian OC. Ch.1: The Bar

---

"Are you sure this is a good idea, Ino-chan? We could always just go see a movie…"

"I thought you said you were bored and that there was nothing fun to do anymore, Jū-chan. We won't be caught, so don't worry." Ino gave her friend a persuasive smile. Jūjun rolled her eyes and tried to look inconspicuous as she followed her blonde friend into the bar. From the casual way Ino strutted in, if Jūjun hadn't known any better, she would have thought Ino spent nights at bars on a regular basis. She eyed Ino slide herself next to an attractive guy at the counter and order some drink she had never heard of before.

If I were a trained ninja, would I have that kind of confidence? Jūjun enviously had a hunch Ino would be the same even if she didn't have special training. She shook her head and took the empty seat on the other side of Ino, next to a middle-aged man with a bald spot and a round stomach visible through the folds of his shirt. Jūjun glared at the side of her friend's face before eyeing the hottie two seats away. She could almost see Ino smirking into her drink. You snooze, you loose, Princess.

"And what would you like tonight, miss?" "Sake please." It was the only alcoholic drink she could think of off the top of her head. The bartender squinted at her face for a minute before turning away to get her drink.

"Having fun yet?" Ino smirked as Jūjun tried not to gag on her first sip of the warm, bitter alcohol. "Of course I am," She replied, motioning with her head to the middle-aged man next to her. Ino rolled her eyes and lowered her voice, "Just be patient. I picked this bar because the most attractive men supposedly come here." Her eyes shifted to the young man sitting on her other side, who was now checking her out with his peripheral vision. She smiled coyly before taking another sip of her drink, pretending she hadn't seen. Jūjun shook her head. "If the other ones don't show up in about twenty minutes, I'm leaving."

By the time twenty minutes had passed, the warm effects of the alcohol had successfully soaked through Jūjun, making her irritability melt away like wax. Ino had successfully begun to flirt with the attractive man (Takeshi, 23, Pisces, blood type A) and the old man sitting to her right finally paid, got up, and left.

"Halleluiah." Jūjun sighed and turned her attention back to the other two.

Jūjun had always been somewhat fascinated by Ino. When they had met as kids, she had always admired Ino for her sense of style and outgoing attitude. Over the years, she had grown up, matured, and still managed to have the attitude along with an attractiveness that was beneficial in situations such as these where Ino could pass as a legal-age young woman. Though the latter was hard to tell for sure: Jūjun suspected the age thing might have been a result of the clothes they were wearing.

For their night out, Ino let her borrow some of the clothes she had hidden in the back of her closet, saved for just the occasion. When she first tried on the skirt Ino handed her, she had been uncomfterble, but now she felt as powerful as Ino looked. Not mention it was a fairly warm night, and a breeze felt pretty damn nice.

When Ino first suggested a bar, Jūjun had been firmly against it. Her friend had been a little off ever since her sensei had been killed. Sarutobi Asuma, wasn't it? She vaguely remembered meeting him a few times.

But when he died, it was like something in Ino died along with him; a piece of her common sense or something else vital. Not that she was the only guilty one. Her other teammate, Nara-san, had taken out his frustrations and grief with smoking. That, however, Jūjun could link with the loss of Asuma, because he had been a heavy smoker. Ino on the other hand, no longer seemed to care about self-preservation.

Sneaking out, bars, clubbing, and doing other underage, illegal things only scratched the surface. A few times by accident, she had seen Ino hanging around with men. Not that she was a slut or anything, as far as Jūjun had seen. Ino only played with them, doing everything possible without actually doing it before seemingly loosing interest; leaving the men confounded, half-naked, staring after her, pleading for her to come back.

Ino did crazy things. Maybe it was just a phase. Jūjun shook her head, watching in fascination, as the room wobbled afterwards like an aftershock.

Well it wasn't really her business. Jūjun figured the best way to help her friend was to go along with her crusades and make sure she didn't get into too much trouble. Besides, it looked like Ino was having a normal good time with Takeshi. She needed some healthy fun. Maybe Takeshi would be someone Ino could have a real relationship with?

As the bartender refilled her cup again, someone filled the vacant seat the old man had occupied not to long ago. The man was checking her out, causing warmth separate from the sake to seep across her cheeks. Speaking of relationships…I could see myself marrying him. Before Jūjun could think of a conversation starter, he was already chatting away. She smiled coyly, noticing Ino glance over.

Was she jealous?

Jūjun couldn't remember the last time she had such an interesting conversation with a guy. And he kept turning the conversation to her, like he was genuinely interested in her life. He was considerate. And, she noticed vaguely during her fourth cup of sake, better looking than Takeshi.

"So, are you a kunoichi or something, I noticed your friend has a hitae-ate." A slow, sexy smile played across his lips. Jūjun couldn't hold back a giggle. "No, are you?" The man let out a laugh at her joke. "Of course I am." His eyes slid from hers for a moment, but then he leaned in close, their noses almost touching. "Would you like to dance?"

If Jūjun had been in her right state of mind, she would have been very aware of the fact she wouldn't be able to balance properly, let alone dance. She also would have been able to remember when she ended up switching dance partners. Or remember just how long she stayed out there, dancing. Before she had time to blink, it seemed, the floor was half empty, and most of the people had already left.

Dancing, time, or some other factor seemed to sober her up a little. She realized that neither Ino nor the man she had been sitting with earlier were there. Takeshi, however, was still sitting on his stool with his shoulders slumping slightly. She grabbed his shoulder for balance.

"Have you seen Ino? The blonde I came in with?"

Takeshi raised his head, his slightly bloodshot eyes fought to focus. "Yeah, that bitch left with the asshole you were chatting with about two three hours ago. She said that I should tell you to go home." He let out a loud mirthless laugh as Jūjun wobbled out of the bar and into the warm night, feeling betrayed.

What right did Ino have to leave her alone at a place like that, dancing around drunk with legal-aged strangers just so she could play around with guys again? And if that weren't enough, Ino stole the guy she had been flirting with. She had Takeshi for God's sake, why couldn't she ever be satisfied with what she had? Some friend she was.

Jūjun's face felt wet in the warm night wind. She stumbled home, climbing inside through her bedroom window silently, because she had told her mother she was sleeping over at Botan's. She collapsed on her futon, and before she knew it, she was fast asleep.

---

For some odd reason, the man Jūjun kept flirting with bothered Ino. She couldn't place what it was exactly; there was just something off about him. Ino settled with watching over her friend as long as the guy kept his hands to himself.

But her gut instinct was quickly replaced with a sense of real danger as he cast the genjutsu on her friend. It was very subtle. Very smooth. Almost invisible, in fact, Ino would never have caught it if he hadn't pointedly made eye contact with her the moment he cast it. Jūjun, a dreamy smile plastered across her face, staggered alone to the dance floor, and began dancing by herself. The other couples got a laugh at the visibly inebriated young woman making a fool of herself amongst the mass of moving bodies. Takeshi nudged Ino, turning her attention back to him, "Hey, is your friend alright?" "Yes, I think she just had a little too much to drink," Ino laughed casually. Takeshi smiled, taking another sip of his beer.

"Hey, don't I know you from somewhere?" It took almost all of the self-control Ino had to keep from flinching. Without a sound, the man had moving into Jūjun's recently vacant seat, cornering her. "I don't think so." Ino pointedly turned back to Takeshi, who was now glaring over her shoulder. "Whoever you are, why don't you dance with Jūjun-san? She might hurt herself dancing in her state." His voice plainly read 'back off she's mine.' Ino smiled at Takeshi before looking calmly back at the other man. His voice was so low she almost didn't catch it. "It's your choice, have a chat with me outside, or I will do the same to Takeshi-san as I did to Jū-chan. Or worse." Then he got up and walked outside.

Anger flared up inside Ino. She would teach this imbecile a lesson he would never forget. Did he really think he could mess around with this kunoichi? She was going to kick his ass. Ino snorted indignantly, then slid off of her stool. Takeshi looked at her questioningly. "I just remembered who that guy was; I need to give him a message." Ino grabbed her purse, and smiled at Takeshi, who was about to get up and follow her.

"Should I come with you?"

"No. Stay here, I'll be back in five minutes. If Jūjun comes back while I'm gone, will you tell her to go home for me? She's had more than enough fun for tonight, don't you think?" They exchanged knowing smirks.

But when Ino stepped out into the street, no one was waiting for her. A scowl crept its way onto her face and she swore under her breath. If she ever saw that son of bitch again, she would give him a beating he would never forget. Nobody ruins a Yamanaka's night out.

Nobody was waiting for her, hidden out of sight on the roof, chakra suppressed. He scanned the street, crouched, and pounced.