Chapter 1: The Stranger

Disclaimer: Naruto and all related characters are copyright Mashashi Kishimoto. The mysterious person in black is copyright me!

The long black cloak swirled around the ankles of black boots. The dark figure was clad entirely in the colour, it's hood obscuring it's face. The only pieces of flesh visible were slender fingers clenched into determined fists.

Konohamaru was sitting in the shade of a tree when he saw the stranger come up the quiet road. What kind of person wears all black on suck a friggin' hot day? he thought to himself.

"Excuse me," said the stranger, walking up to him, "could you please direct me to the warehouse where Python was based?" It was a female's voice, low and with a heavy accent.

"I-it's in the northern district, b-but why would you want to go there? That's where all the gangs hang out!" Konohamaru tried to hide the fear in his voice.

The stranger stared at him for a moment. "Thank you," she finally said, and walked off in the indicated direction.

Konohamaru watched the figure disappear over a hill. Odd, I couldn't see her face... The boy shivered as he remembered the twin glints from unseen eyes. Wait a minute... She didn't have any village markings! He stood there a moment before...

"NARUTO!" He ran off in search of his idol.

The energetic blond was found arguing about something pointless with Sasuke. (Something about the chemicals in table salt. Sasuke said it was made up of poisonous elements but Naruto simply couldn't believe it.)

"But if it was poisonous, why are we still here?"

"Because  " Sasuke was about to launch into a lengthy explanation about acids and bases when Konohamaru busted in.

"Naruto! There'sthiswierdgirlandshedidn'thaveanyvilliagemarkingsbreathandshewantedtoknowwherePythonhadbeenbasedbreathsoItoldherthenIcamestraighttoyou!"

Sasuke looked at the kid and blinked. What did he just say? But Naruto seemed to understand.

"What? What did she look like?" he asked his one-time groupie.

"Icouldn'tseeherfacebutsheworeablackcloakandblackbootsandblackpantsandablackshirtandtherewasblacknettingonherarmsandshehadawieredaccent!" The boy stopped and gasped for breath.

"All right, we'll tell Kakashi! We were on our way to meet him, anyway! C'mon Sasuke!" With that, Naruto dashed off.

"You understood what that kid said?" Sasuke asked when he caught up with his team mate.

"Yeah, didn't you?"

Sakura was already under the tree that was their meeting place when Naruto and Sasuke arrived. Kakashi was - of course - nowhere to be seen.

"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!" She yelled the moment she saw her comrades in arms. "You're an hour and a half late!"

The guys skidded to a halt in front of her. "We are?" Sasuke asked.

"Never mind that!" exclaimed Naruto, "We were discussing things of utmost importance " Here he was interrupted by Sakura's "I doubt that!" " when Konohamaru shows up!

"You mean that annoying little kid who used to follow you around everywhere?"

"Yeah, him." Naruto then recited what his friend had said word-for-word, though allot slower.

"So that's what the kid said, all I could hear was black!" Sasuke commented.

"Well we cant just run off without Kakashi knowing, but he should be here soon!" Sakura said, "When he shows up you can tell him what you told me!"

One hour later

"Hey you guys!" Kakashi said, striding up to his cell, "A funny thing happened on the way here, I had sudden amnesia!" He paused for Sakura and Naruto to groan. Sasuke stared at him with a blank expression. "No, seriously! First I couldn't remember where the meeting place was, then I couldn't remember why I was meeting there, then I couldn't remember who you were and by that time I was on the other side of the village!" He smiled sweetly as Sakura and Naruto yelled at him and Sasuke stared blankly.

"... And of course you're even later than usual the day Naruto gets information about an unidentified traveler asking about Python!" Sakura finished her rant and glared at her teacher.

"A stranger asking about Python!" Kakashi's smile disappeared as his brows knit together. "Tell me all you know."

Naruto retold Konohamaru's description. As he did, Kakashi's eyes got darker.

Probably a miss-informed shi-tappa!" he reasoned, "Python hasn't been around for a year at least... All right! Lesson's canceled! Let's investigate this stranger!"

Author's Note: I hate this chapter! It gets better! Really! Know what else I hate? Typing Konohamaru's name! Ack! I did it again! Also, I apologize for making Sasuke seem out of character in my pursuit of trying to be funny!