A/N: So here I am, rewatching Naruto Shippuden from literally episode one, and I'm watching the scene where Kankuro is fighting Sasori to try and get Gaara back, and I come up with a story idea. The cover for this story is, in fact, Shiho. Is it possible to control humans like puppets? Who knows? It's fiction! Enjoy. Also, image is courtesy of rinmarugames . com. That's where I made her.

"What's a sweet looking girl like you doing in a dirty place like this?"

The boisterous laughter and easygoing conversations settled into silence suddenly. She blinked once but didn't turn around to look at the man standing behind her. His voice was loud and obnoxious, gruff from many years of being far too noisy. She could feel him shift from one foot to the other as he waited for a response she didn't plan on giving him. His impatience made her fingers twitch in anticipation for battle. She craved it, especially today.

Needless to say, it hadn't been a very good day.

"You gonna answer me, sweetie?"

She shifted slightly in her seat and reached for her drink. The rim of her cup had barely touched her lips when it was suddenly knocked from her hand. It flew across the small room and shattered against the wall, splashing sake in every direction. She took a deep breath in an attempt to calm her frantic heartbeat and twisted slowly in her seat until she was facing the man. He wasn't much to look at. He stood no taller than perhaps five foot nine, and his dark hair was cropped short. He had scars crisscrossing up his arms, marring what would have otherwise been nice skin. His eyes were small and dark. His smirk was unkind.

His eyes widened slightly when he finally got a full view of her. True, she was small, but her expression alone usually kept anyone from approaching her. The girl's eyes were big and round like a child's, but they were cool and calculating, and as white snow. She had a deep scar beginning just above her right eyebrow that continued down over her nose and just under he left eye. Her hair was a pale green color, wild and untamed, with a slender braid trailing down over her shoulder as white as her eyes. She looked feral.

"What's your name, sweetie?"

Her lips twitched up in the hint of a smile. It was not kind. "Shiho."

"Well, Shiho, I asked you a question." His smirk deepened and he leaned forward, pressing his hands against the table on either side of her, caging her in. Her expression remained unchanged.

"I'm here for you."

His grin widened for a moment like he believed he'd won, until she shifted again and raised her hand, curling her fingers. He shouted in surprise as his body twisted away from her and crumpled to the ground. Shiho stood, keeping her one hand raised as she reached behind her with her other hand, unsheathing her katana. She stepped lightly over his fallen body and pressed the edge of her blade against his throat, wondering for a brief moment if she really should kill this man where he lay.

"I'm not feeling very merciful today." She sighed, tracing lines against his skin with the tip of her sword. She watched with mild interest as tears poured out of his eyes, making tracks through the dirt on his face. Shiho grimaced in disgust and twitched her fingers up. His body spasmed and rolled until his face was pressed into the dirt floor at a painful looking angle. She nudged him with her foot and heaved another sigh. "In fact, I'm not really feeling much of anything at all."

With those last words, she plunged her sword into his back, directly over his heart.

Shiho grunted as she let the man fall from her shoulder into a crumpled heap on the stone floor. She glanced down at her arm and grimaced at the sight of the blood that had soaked into her shirt, then looked back up to the group of well-dressed men and women in front of her. A man stepped forward and nudged the body at his feet with his foot, a sneer twisting his mouth down. Shiho straightened as his gaze moved to her and sized her up. He nodded one and flicked his fingers in her direction, signalling for the woman standing beside him to finish out the deal. She scurried forward and presented a small case to Shiho, bowing before taking a step back.

Shiho opened the case, peering down at the money inside. Satisfied, she closed it and inclined her head towards the man. "Thank you."

"You're the best of the best." The man answered with a cruel smile. "I pay with the knowledge you'll run back to me at the snap of my fingers. I fancy myself a generous man."

"Of course." Shiho bowed slightly in response. "If you'll excuse me now though, I would like to leave."

"You are free to do so. However, I do have another request for you." He stepped over the dead man in front of him, moving closer to her. "If you're interested. It's a high risk job." He smirked. "Fatter payout."

Shiho's eyes narrowed slightly. "I'm listening."