A boy of only fifteen could be seen running quickly through a dark forest; his messy raven hair whipping through the wind as he dashed away from a dark figure. His dark eyes were widened a little in fear. He was going to die. He just knew it. No… He pushed himself to go faster, he had to protect her. Rin… Determination crossed his face. I won't let anyone hurt you, especially not some creep who refuses to show his face. His heartbeat sounded in his ears as adrenaline coursed through his veins. A dark voice from somewhere behind him chuckled, "You call yourself a shinobi?" The boy gritted his teeth. "Running away without a fight? Sounds like the act of a coward." He wasn't going to let some shadowy creep get the best of him. "You're ignoring me?" that voice chuckled again, "Isn't that a little rude?" His eyes narrowed, this guy just wouldn't give up.

"I don't care…" the ravenette growled lowly under his breath. This man was really beginning to irk him. If he wasn't running away at the moment, he would surly kill the man. That is… if he could touch him. The man was much too fast. Even if he speeds up, the man is just a couple feet behind. He had a feeling the being chasing him wasn't even using his full capacity of speed. How he knew that he wasn't sure, but he couldn't shake the thought away.

"Rude."

He gritted his teeth. I need to lose this guy before I run back to Rin. He chanced a look back and noticed the man wasn't there anymore. Great… he can disappear too. Just great… The boy sighed, trying to locate him without seeming to obvious. Dang… I can't sense him! Slowly the boy closed his eyes and began concentrating his chakra energy to his eyes. When he opened them, the normal dark grey changed to a blood red with three spinning tomoe. He ran under the towering trees above and passed about twenty trees roots sticking up from the ground, his eyes shifted back and forth. Not even my sharingan can sense him! How can that be…? He bit his lip drawing blood, is he even… human? He shook his head. What was he thinking? Of course that guy was human. What else could he be? A supernatural being? A humorless laugh slipped passed his bloody lip that sounds like something he'd believe as the naïve kid he used to be.

"What's so funny?" The same man from before asked, a trace of curiosity in his voice.

"None of your business." The ravenette growled. "Who are you and why are you following me?"

"Following you?" The voice chuckled, "How do you know I'm not just going to the same direction as you?"

"Behind me?"

"Maa… I suppose."

"That's called following moron." He reached into the pouch on his left hip. Maybe he could get the guy out in the open. It'd give him a much better advantage if a fight were to break out. It won't be like earlier…

(Flashback to 11:20 P.M.)

"Who's there?" the gray eyed ravenette called out to the trees looming above his head. "I know you're there so no need to hide." He was on high alert ever since he arrived to these woods. Too many deaths and disappearances had occurred in these exact woods for his liking. It was no surprise that's exactly what he was sent to investigate. People might just call him crazy for agreeing to such a thing alone, but he has no one that'd care that much. Sure he had Rin, but he could never lead her to such danger. Never. Despite the fact he may just die tonight, that's not what he feared most. The worst part is the image of the girl of his dreams crying her heart out because of the death of her best friend (she never viewed him as anything more) and hating him for never telling him of what kind of mission he had accepted. That's the reason why he promised himself he wouldn't die on this mission. No matter how tough, he would not die. He had to stay alive for her. She was the light in his darkening world so it was the least he could do for her.

"So you could sense me huh?" A chillingly smooth voice asked from somewhere in the trees. Taking his chance, the black haired boy through a sharpened kunai knife towards the sound of the voice. "Ow…" the voice spoke throwing the kunai back at the young teen. Quickly he back flipped out of the weapon's path. "That could have hurt." A chuckle that sent chills down his spine came from within the tree branches.

Was this the person behind the disappearances? His eyes narrowed in concentration, if so, he was utterly screwed. He hadn't planned to actually run into him so early on during the mission. Kuso… I know close to nothing about him… No known survivors have appeared anywhere so asking them is ruled out. He grits his teeth before forming a series of hand signs in rapid succession. "Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!" Holding his gloved hand in front of his mouth in the shape of a 'C ', he blew a giant ball of fire towards the place he last heard the voice from.

"Maa…. Gotta do better than that," the strange voice teased, "however, I believe it's my turn." Suddenly a bright electric ball of energy came soaring towards him in record speed. "Raikiri!"

"Kuso!" He narrowly dodged the attack, but not without getting his black shirtsleeve under the green flak jacket he was currently wearing torn by the attack's shear force. This guy's fast! He glared at the tall tree in front of him; I need time to think of a plan… His eyes turned towards the path left of him. I'm not one to run from a fight, but all of Konoha – no, all the other villages as well – are counting on me! With the throw of one more kunai, he took off running towards the left path, trying to calm the frantic beating of his heart.

(End of flashback. Present time: 12:05 A.M.)

He would stop this guy from his reign of terror right now, even if that very thing kills him. I'm sorry Rin… He pulled a kunai from his weapon pouch and threw it past the other before he used the Shunshin no Jutsu to teleport behind him. "I'm not going down without a fight!" he growled determinedly.

The other male sighed, "I was afraid you'd say that…" The figure pulled out a short sword. Its blade reflected the light of the moon above eerily before he rushed towards the ravenette. His eyes widened when he noticed a blade coming towards his face. In an attempt to block it from slicing him open. He licked the dry blood on his lip before pushing chakra to his hand. The other male pressed down harder against the Konoha shinobi's kunai with his own weapon causing them to slide back.

"Kuso…" He's strong too. Really strong… Does this guy have any weaknesses?

"Maa… such foul language."

"Shut up!" he growled out, still sliding back from the other's force upon his kunai. He should really invest in a stronger weapon choice… Maybe when he gets back to the village, Rin can go shopping with him… Suddenly his kunai broke in half. Great… I'm done for. He closed his eyes, knowing he couldn't dodge the attack quickly enough. Just hurry it up… He groaned internally. To his surprise, no pain came. There wasn't any blood either. "Huh?"

"…Go to sleep…" The man whispered in his ear huskily, sending chills down his back. Almost as soon as the man uttered those words, he began to feel sleepy. His body started swaying side to side in a sluggish manner. What's happening…? Why am I, he yawned, suddenly so tired…? He tried to open his eyes, but they felt like heavy sand bags were holding them down. With one more yawn, he fell backwards into the other male's arms. The soft murmur of "We'll meet again. Soon…" was the last thing the teenage boy could make out before sleep whisked him away.

I'm sure the shadowy figure is such a mystery, right? *wink wink*

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this, it was fun to write.

Until next chapter…

Ja ne~