This story was based on something I wrote a while ago and obviously I don't own Naruto.


Prologue

Threading her fingers through her long copper-colored hair she let a faint growl escape her throat in frustration. She was never very good at being patient and no matter how hard she tried the fact of it wasn't going to change. Besides her sensei knew this all too well so what was taking him so long? Her nerves started to make her more anxious by the second.

Silently jumping down from the thick branch she was crouched on she quickly ran to the other tree she spotted to hide behind. This way she could get a better view without getting caught. Her thoughts traced back to the half an hour prior when her sensei told her to run, but there was no way she could leave him especially not when she felt such strong chakra approaching the country estate.

Her speckled light-green eyes finally caught movement—it was the two men she sensed earlier. Looking them over she analyzed the long black coats bearing red clouds. Instantly she concentrated on her own chakra to completely mask her presence and waited to see what would happen.

Who are they? Her mind thought as she narrowed her eyes at them.

The dark haired member of Akatsuki watched as his partner grinned at the large estate in front of them. They were on a mission from their leader and he wanted to get it over with as quickly as possible, but unfortunately something usually goes amiss.

The man studied the structure, "Kisame, find the girl." he spoke with no expression in his voice.

"No problem, Itachi-san." The blue-skinned partner flashed out of view and the man named Itachi stepped up and kicked in the door to the estate.

A gasp escaped her mouth as she stayed hidden behind the tree watching and dug her nails into the tree bark. Senseiwhat should I do? She had no idea where the other cloaked man went and she didn't want to risk being spotted, but her body was betraying her mind. All she could think about was her sensei and before she knew it her legs were taking her back to the estate. She couldn't leave the only person she had in her life—the man who raised her and took care of her showing her everything he knew.

Running as fast as she could out of the woods and across the field to the large house she was stopped by the missing partner Kisame who appeared in front of her. Kisame looked the girl up and down eyeing the resemblance she had to their target. She had the same long hair and pale eyes with her age to match.

"Ah, you wouldn't be Ezakiya Asa?" He flashed his sharp teeth in a grin and unsheathed the large blade from his back.

In response she took out her own kunai and pointed at him, "Leave, you have no purpose being here."

His short laughter caused a chill to go up her spine, "Oh, but we do kunoichi. So don't be troublesome and come along—."

The man was interrupted by her kunai barely slicing into his cheek. He glared at her and swung his blade in her direction causing her to leap out of the way.

"Now you're being difficult."

Just as he replied Kisame felt the sudden spike in chakra from inside the house and by the young woman's change in focus she must've noticed as well. Itachi must be fighting someone…he reasoned and glanced back at the estate.

He turned his head back to see the woman was gone and hissed under his breath, "shit." He leapt after her, but was blinded with her ability to mask her chakra so well. Itachi-san won't like this.

Jumping from wall to wall Asa climbed into the second story window of the estate and followed the flow of intense chakra. "Teiji-sensei!" She cried out and raced through the rooms looking for the man who was her teacher as well as her father figure.

Hearing a loud crash downstairs she concentrated to mask her chakra even more and followed the noise of battle. Trying to be as careful as she could, she ran to the door that led to the stairs, slid it open and quietly stepped down them into the kitchen. Her body started shaking with fear as she saw signs of fighting and blood outside her teacher's office. Suddenly another huge crash came from inside the room and sounded as if they were bringing down the entire ceiling. She swiftly hid behind the archway across the hall from the office listening and trying to figure out what was happening inside the room. After a few moments it was silent. Without hesitation she ran to the door and swung it open to see a huge hole in the wall of the office that led outside. Hearing a grunted moan she looked down to see the man she was searching for lying against the large desk with two kunai sticking from his chest.

"Sensei!" she rushed over to him and held him up.

His dark eyes searched her face that was filled with fear and horror. "Asa-chan, you must run from this place." He spoke and she shook her head with tears filling her eyes.

"I can't just leave you, Teiji-sensei! Please don't die!" Her voice was as shaky as her body.

Pressing her hand to his chest she focused her chakra to heal him. Even though it wasn't her specialty she thought it would at least help him live or subdue some pain. She had never seen her beloved teacher at such a weak state regardless of his age which was nearing around 60; he was as strong and clever as any elite shinobi. She assumed that the man who took him down must've been incredibly powerful making her more afraid than before.

She felt her sensei's hand touch her own hand on his chest, "Don't. You cannot save me, Asa-chan. But take this." He took an aged scroll from his belt and handed it to her.

Confused she stopped her chakra from healing him and watched as he smiled at her, "This scroll is for you and only you. Read it, learn it and use it well."

Before she could reply Teiji-sensei lightly pushed her back from him and made hand signals, "Go, Asa-chan and hurry. They're on their way back."

As she stood up she watched him rip the kunai from his chest and was surrounded by a faint golden light that appeared to be healing his wounds. Backing up to leave tears poured out of her eyes knowing that her sensei was about to sacrifice himself for her.

"Arigato, Teiji-sensei." She whispered and did as she was told.

She ran as fast as she could. Using her strength and her chakra she pushed herself further and further from the estate and the life she was leaving behind. It would be the last time she would see the one and only person she knew and loved.

Teniji watched as his student ran and felt his eyes water hoping she would find safety. Turning his thoughts and body back to his fight he watched as the shinobi named Itachi stepped back into the office using the new entrance they both created.

"You're making Itachi-san impatient, old man." Kisame appeared next to the other man he previously fought.

The older man glared at both of the Akatsuki members, "Why are you after Asa-chan?" He asked and Itachi turned his Sharingan on.

"It doesn't concern you. You're going to die anyway." The shark yielded his blade with a quick laugh. "Ah, he will die fast huh, Itachi-san?"

But even before Kisame spoke his words Teniji already knew this would be his death.