Disclaimer: I own nothing but the name

Authors note: Sequel to "The Beginning" and this is in the Shippuden years. Review and/or comment. Enjoy!

6 Years Later

Prologue

Have you ever had your heart broken? Shattered, stepped on, grind into dust and buried underneath the dirt? Have you become so hollow that you no longer feel any pain? Has your whole world shattered before your eyes and cannot do anything about it?

In a split second you were on top of the world, high on life itself and feeling like a millions bucks, and then the next second, you're falling in darkness.

Six years it has been since I've seen the light, six years since I gave a damn about anything, six years ago was the last time my heart beat a single rhythm. The last time my heart was even alive, I cared, I loved and I mattered. The day it stopped being those things was the day I died. I am no longer who I was when I was younger.

I embraced my darkness, I welcomed it with open arms and it has helped me become the creature of the night, a hunter in the shadows and a ruthless killer with the strength and speed unknown to humankind. The training I endured would have killed any man, killed or went insane from the gravity of it all. My identity is hidden to the world, my feelings stripped from my very being; I am now a shadow, without movement, without sound.

And now: I am going back to the one place that started it all. They are in need and I will help but for a price, a very LARGE price.

Who knows, I might stick around for a bit, to let those that have hurt me know: I may have forgiven but I have yet to forget, even after all this time.

In life you realize two things: some things stay the same and most things change. They change for the better or just got tired of the same routine, whereas others stay the same to stay original.

In life things happen for a reason whether they are horrific or delightful. I've experience both on my short life so many times and more one then the other. I've accepted it over time, just like I've forgiven certain things but forgetting them is a whole other matter. I mean how do you forget those that you have given your whole heart to and it ended up being torn to shreds? To have a heart that can hold so much love and to give your life for theirs but instead of accepting it, they broke it into a billions pieces, unable to be fixed.

I've accepted life for what it is but I have yet to forget those that have taken my heart away from me, something that takes a lifetime to put back together.

Life is harsh, so harsh that there is a wound that won't close, no matter what is done. If life can be harsh then I can be as harsh and as heartless and do my job without these human emotions clouding my judgment, I can kill and slaughter with ease, for the right price, of course.

Assassin, murderer, killer, monster and demon are just a few names I have been called over the years however, for hire, I am known as KE#O.

Only one in this world knows who I really am, knows how to get hold of me and knows what I do for a living and that one person has asked for me to come back to the one place that has made me who I am today.

So I will head back, for they are in need of 'assistance' and I will come to 'assist', in doing so, I will have fun and oh what fun it will be.

Heading Back

These walls, all these years and these fucking walls are still high and still the same fucking color. Still with two guards at the entrance of the gate and 4 man shifts on the tops of these walls. Same goes for all the other entrances, typical and well routine I might add. Standing thirty feet and camouflaged in the high and well hidden trees nearby, I wondered if 'she' let them know I was to be expected. Probably and most likely but under a different name and that is a big waste of my time if they think I'm waltzing through those gates. In and out is just how I like it, unless it gets messy, and then loving it rough and with a lot of blood.

You know what else I just love? Technology: I had to go far and wide to get what I needed to make something that is very beneficiary to my living. It's small and wraps around my wrists, ankle and tail, so to others it looks like training weights, small but useful. It benefits me because it conceals my scent, chakra signature and strength levels. It also duplicates earth's gravity so the higher the gravity gets, it weighs heavy on my body, like carrying an elephant on your shoulders but after years of training with this on, I've gotten way higher than an elephant and I'll keep getting higher. 500 times earth's gravity is where I am now and I feel light as a feather when it is turned off but I don't usually turn it off. This device is also waterproof and DNA encoded for my fingerprints only or else anyone, whom tried to fiddle with it, will get a shock of their lives, ten thousand volt shock. Too much: I don't think so, I don't want anyone trying to get their hands on this one of its kind because it is my prize possession next to my tail, of course. In a recon mission, this little device comes in handy, along with a one of a kind jutsu I've personally made: it is like the 4th Hokage's Yellow Flash Jutsu but more advanced and without any seals littered everywhere and no hand signs needed for this particular one. With this jutsu, if I can call it a jutsu, I can actually sense chakra signatures everywhere; even long distances away and in a snap disappear and reappear in different locations. Between both, I can travel at the speed of light and it is so cool and helpful if you want to make a quick exit.

I found out a long time ago, a very long time ago, probably when I started walking, that I was different and at first I thought it was because of my tail but over the years, I developed a huge appetite, freakish strength and speed. Then I few years ago I developed a new trait: to fly.

I mean actual flying without wings. I stumbled onto it when I was rock climbing in the mountains. Halfway through the high cliff sides, I slipped and was dangling with one hand. I tried pulling myself up to get a good grip with my other hand but it didn't work out to well. While I was hanging out (LOL) I had this intense feeling overcome me and I guess now that it was my instincts, to concentrate all my energy to my feet. I don't really know why I did it, I just did. I focused on it and then felt lighter, like a feather, and then slowly I started to rise up. Higher I went and open my eyes, never knew I closed them, and I floated to the top, never stopped concentrating and then set my feet down by the edge of the cliff and relaxed. Looking over the edge, I started to wonder how this happen, so I sat down and started thinking and set a plan into motion. For the next month, I practiced until I could practice no more, until learning to fly became second nature and as natural as breathing, it came to me as is. I set one rule for myself for this ability and that is to limit my flying to night time, since I know people will freak out if they saw a person flying without something to help them. It helped sharpen my senses more and more, in which I am grateful for.

Anyways, to the task at hand, me outside the village walls and wondering how to make an entrance: should I waltz right in and create a ruckus or pop into the Hokage's office and surprise her. The latter one sounds better since only 'she' will know I'm here and I won't get hassled for some identification. Besides, the less people know, the better and I like to surprise 'her'.

Closing my eyes, I spread out my senses over the village until I reached the office of the Hokage and "seeing" that only 'she' and her assistant are there with no one else, I smirked and popped out of that tree.

Great looking office, better than what it was back in the days and it's clean. The assistant, surprised at my entrance, jumped in front of the desk and got into a defensive stance. The Hokage stood up from her seat and locked eyes with me. About a second or two later, we nodded to each other and before the assistant could sprang into action; 'she' stopped her assistant with her commanding voice:

"Shizune stand down! This intruder (gesturing with her hand) is the one I'm waiting for, for our meeting today regarding the important mission" Shizune eyes widen for a second before relaxing her stance and bowed lightly to me.

"My apologies, I did not know you were the one Tsunade-sama is supposed to meet with" I nodded in thanks for her apology and she went back to her spot behind the Hokage's chair. Tsunade cracked a smirk in my direction, opened a drawer and retrieved a small scroll. Setting the scroll on her desk, Tsunade leaned back in her chair and clasped her hands together, staring intently at me.

"How is it that someone whom looks suspicious, could walk pass our guards: at the entrances, the Shinobi wondering the busy streets and the guards here in our building, in broad daylight and NOT get caught?" Tsunade asked out loud and Shizune, standing behind her, chuckled nervously and fidgeted in her spot. I smiled at how calmly she could say this and:

Do I look suspicious?

"Tsunade-sama, I have trained in many ways and in many years to go undetected, getting caught will not do. Maybe the Shinobi of this village are too laid back to realize they got infiltrated by an unknown. I don't know" The Hokage's eyes narrowed a little at the small insult but brushed it off with her hand.

"Anyways, let's get down to the business at hand, the reason I have asked for you personally is for your reputation that states in this nation and the other nations: your ability to capture and/or kill S-classed ninjas. You do one hell of a job getting your hands on any traitor that has been impossible for others to try and capture them: dead or alive. Which is why I have chosen you for this important mission: no one and I mean no one has been able to locate or capture this particular individual without harm or death or getting captured themselves. I just hope your reputation precedes you and I also hope you bring this missing ninja, alive. Do you accept?" Listening intently and still standing, I search into my pocket and took out a pack of cigarettes and my lighter. Lighting up and smoking for a good minute, I stared at the Hokage:

"Depends, you know, on a thing or two: you see I have this little black book, an updated black book, of every wanted criminal in every county and I do happen to know the bounty on all their heads. So let's assume this little traitor of yours happen to be in my book and you want him alive, then the bounty on his head will be doubled" Walking over to a window, I sat down on the sill, smoking out of the window and waiting for a reply.

Shizune's eyes widen at the price mention "Hokage-sama that price range is a bit much, don't you think? I mean how do we know this man can actually do the job?"

The Hokage then closed her eyes, took a breath, open them again and locked eyes with me and we smiled.

"Shizune, have you heard of a mysterious Shinobi whom cannot be found, whom is never seen and whom has gotten the reputation of a stone cold killer? I've heard of such things, like if you do see him than you are the one he's looking for and it's the only way he can be seen, even heard that he only has a taste for missing ninja or traitors to their own village, the bigger the bounty, the better because he always gets his man. This one time or a few times, I don't know but someone told me there was this group of bandits, about 30 or more, raiding this one village in the water country, murdering, looting and almost burning the whole village to the ground. Until someone showed up and one by one, quicker than the eye could see, the bandits were captured and tied up securely. Most of those bandits combined together were worth a hefty price and the village rejoiced and asked for the stranger's name, in which he answered in a low voice: KE#O, my name is KE#O. Shizune, I do believe you know that name as well? (She nodded) Good, then I would love to introduce to you, KE#O in the flesh" Shizune gasped and her hands flew to her mouth in shock and surprise. Eyes wide and unspeaking, Shizune stood in her spot as the Hokage leaned back in her chair, smirking and relaxing. Standing up again from my perch on the window sill and made my way to the desk.

With a deep male voice, I addressed Shizune: "The pleasure is all mine, Shizune and let me apologize for my rude entrance. I didn't think the Hokage's assistant would be so young and beautiful"

With that said I bowed my head, my right hand over my chest and my left arm stretched out behind me, looking very elegant. I didn't waste any training in the fine art of etiquette and proper gentleman skills in the royal court for a year for nothing. Sometimes it pays off in both gender to see them blush or giggle and like right now, Shizune blushed a cute pink and started to ramble on about how polite and courteous I am being.

Tsunade then cleared her throat and asked Shizune to prepare some tea, sake and possible some cake. Shizune nodded, bowed a little, looked at me, blushed and was out the door within 10 seconds. Tsunade and I chuckled at her retreat as I snapped my fingers to put up a shield of sorts for privacy.

"My my my you have change somewhat, haven't you, Roxanne? Learning the traits of a male identity and especially dressing like one, you even had poor Shizune blushing out of her skin. So tell me, how have you been doing all these years?" Tsunade crossed her arms over her chest and truthfully, I have no idea how that's possible, it's a mystery.

"Well you see Tsunade; I find it useful to go both ways because it is FUN! As a male, I can intimidate people and scare the crap out of them. I can demand attention in a room without as much as a word being uttered. Apparently the female population like that sort of thing, you know the alpha male stereotype. Guys hate it and try to upstage me but it usually ends with them flat on their faces and besides, if I get tired of girls swooning over me, I disappear and clone myself so there can be 2 sexy me, the male and female version of Roxanne. In the end I get the best of both worlds and with no one the wiser.

Other than that, I've been great: I have seen the world, the sea, the sands, the rain, and the forests and beyond. Met peoples of all ages, trained with the swiftest, the most silent and the strongest. I've learned everything this world has to offer and more. I just didn't plan to hear from you or anybody else from my previous life, ever. You knew I never wanted to come back here BUT you called and I answered, so tell me: are you willing to pay or can I leave and never return? Choose your words wisely, Tsunade or it'll be the last thing you say before I disappear" Crossing my arms, waiting for any reaction and standing with determination in front of her desk. Tsunade's eyes narrowed into slits at first and then soften and smirked at me.

"Wow, I must say you have been very busy and yes I expected you to be eager to leave right away but I did not expect you to be confident in your training, to have the audacity to threaten me with such options! You know damn well that we can get someone else for this mission! You ain't the only one in the world that is capable, you know that right?" Slamming her hand down on her desk, it shook under the sudden impact and it so didn't faze me one bit. Sighing, I uncrossed my arms and put them on my hips

"Tsunade, tsk, tsk, tsk, and anger will get you nowhere and will give you more wrinkles if you keep looking at me like that. Chillax or else you'll cause yourself a stroke. Just simple yes or no thanks will suffice before Shizune comes back with the beverages and I'll tell you this: I'm thirsty for something strong myself" Walking around the desk, I sat myself down on a chair by the window and right next to Tsunade's desk. I smiled, knowing I won't hear any more from Tsunade until the beverages come and mentioning something strong hit its mark just like I wanted it to. Liquor, especially hard liquor, is one of the top things she craves and I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes and relaxed. I got all the time in the world, even if Tsunade doesn't make a decision now and I crossed my legs at the ankle and I listened to the world outside the office walls.