A/N: This is an older story that I started on DeviantArt. I never finished it, but I will be starting it again here with a few touch-ups to hopefully make the story better than it was before. This story does go along with the main Naruto story-line up to the point where Sasuke left and then when Naruto eventually left. Sakura's still been trained by Tsunade and she's as strong as an ANBU. (Just wanted to make that clear!) Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

The Slayer - Prologue

She walked through the abandoned village with her head held high. She had a goal in mind, and she knew exactly where she had to go. After all, she'd taken this path a few times in the past. Walking along what looked to be an old alley with recently burned buildings, she made sure no one was following her. Opening a hidden trapdoor, she took a candle out of her pack and lit it before continuing down the stairs into a damp hideout.

After passing through the main hallway and opening yet another hidden door, she finally emerged into a room full of light. There was a man sitting behind a desk, looking busy with many different tasks to do. Behind him looked like filing cabinets, but anyone who knew the location of the hideout knew that files weren't being kept in store there. The girl approached the desk, waiting for the man to take notice of her. He gazed up to see the beautiful woman standing in front of him and he cleared his throat.

"Hello Miss, and welcome back. What are you here for today?" said the man behind the desk. He'd seen her a few times before, but she'd been younger and more clumsy. This time, she had snuck in without him even noticing. She was getting better, which was good for him and bad for the ones who were on her list.

"You know what I'm here for," a cold, hard voice said, "I've finished another mission and I am here for my reward," the girl said in a manner that struck fear into this man's soul. He hesitated only for a moment in order to remember to breathe again.

"Oh. Right, yes. What is it you've got for me this time?"

The girl replied easily, "It's someone of high value. Though, it may be a little shocking to you."

Pushing for more details, the man behind the desk inquired, "Well, if you want your reward you need to tell me who you've brought me. Otherwise, I won't be able to help you this time."

Annoyed, she replied, "If you must know, I have brought you the body of one of your best customers. Kabuto."

"K-Kabuto!? You've got to be kidding me! He was put out on the list only days ago," He was barely able to suppress his shock.

"Of course I'm not kidding," she had a hint of impatience in her voice, "Me and my village have wanted him dead for a long time. It was bound to happen sometime, so why not get it out of the way now?"

"Miss, do you even know why my most valued customer was put on that list?" He asked. He hated losing business, especially when he was stuck down here running this dump of a collection office.

"Hai. Orochimaru had just finished conducting a top secret experiment on him. I'd thought the bastard would never harm his most precious pet. Anyway, the experiment didn't go as planned and Kabuto turned into a beast. I guess, you could almost call him a vampire. But they don't exist, now do they?" She asked in her sickly sweet voice.

The man's voice was only a whisper.

"That's right. They don't exist, they can't. Can they?"

The girl simply shrugged her shoulders as he handed her a suitcase full of money.

"Orochimaru is a very sick person. He's a snake who can bring the dead back to life. I wouldn't put it past his capabilities."

The man just stood there, blinking. The girl turned her back to him about to leave when she called over her shoulder, "Thank you for doing business with me again."

Before she rounded the corner, though, the man exclaimed, "Miss! You must tell me your name before you go!"

She turned around, a small smile gracing her lips. "Haruno Sakura," she replied, and then disappeared from the man's sight.