Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Naruto fumbled with his coffee, peering around the corner. Ichiraku's café had quickly become his favorite in Japan. No one of importance ever came by, which made his job more difficult than usual. But it was nothing he couldn't handle. It was a broken down cafe, one with cheap food and a place where poor folk gathered. No one of real money ever came in.
Until today, when multibillionaire and owner of the most influential company in the world waltzed through Ichiraku's doors.
Naruto had been in Japan for a couple of days, and he still hadn't had the chance to even get close to anyone from Uchiha corporations. The council expected him to have the job done within the month. Karin was against moving here, but being the sister she was, had obliged even when Naruto told her she didn't need to come with him.
It was too convenient. Fugaku must have had some motive for entering Ichiraku's. Multibillionaires don't just walk into an old, broken down café made for the poor. Especially this man. From the research Naruto had done, Fugaku Uchiha never went anywhere near people or places who didn't have at least a million yen.
Naruto licked his lips. Coincidence or not, this was a chance he couldn't pass up. He straightened his clothes, taking a deep breath. This was by far the hardest job the council had ever given him. Not only because Japan was a country no shifter wanted to end up, but because he'd have to infiltrate the company that created The Cage.
The pay was worth it though. When the job was done and they'd gone back to the states, the cash they'd make would set them into early retirement. They could stay in one place and live their lives without the council.
Once the job was done.
He seated himself across from Fugaku, who merely sipped his drink and browsed the menu. Naruto shivered, suddenly understanding why Karin was so against him accepting this job. He never understood danger until he was face to face with it, and here, in front of a man whose career invested in the murder of shapeshifters, danger was the only presence.
For early retirement. For a new life.
"Hi, I'm Liam Avera, a huge fan of your work."
What does one say to a man who murders your kind to near extinction?
"I tried applying for Uchiha corporations a week ago, but your website went haywire and I can't figure out how to make it work. I tried going to a few tech wizards for help, but none of them could fix the problem. So, I tried walking into your building and asking for an application. But that requires security I don't have. Since you the owner of the corporation, I thought maybe you might know what I can do?"
Fugaku stared at him, sipping his coffee. Naruto swallowed. None of his previous jobs required interacting with multi-billionaire's dead set on killing him before. But that was why the job was such a high pay. Not even the damn council could deny this job was worth every penny they offered.
"You understand that only the best gets hired into my corporation, correct? You hardly look like you know anything about shapeshifters."
"I majored in shapeshifter psychology and since then have participated in many different shapeshifter experiments. I would have brought the paperwork with me as proof. But I had no idea you'd be here today."
The paperwork was extracted off of some dead woman's accomplishments. The council hacked into a woman's life and put his name down for her less known but important experiments. They'd changed the end result and a few variables to make the experiment seem new and original. The council seemed fairly certain the paperwork would go through. But Naruto knew nothing of Uchiha's security, and had no way of knowing if the council's confidence was mere arrogance.
If this job failed, then he was dead. But if it succeeded, he and Karin could finally go home. Whether it was worth it, he still wasn't sure. But Karin should be left out of everything. So, if he failed and died, she would still live and acquire some of the money.
"Bring the paperwork to the corporation tomorrow morning. I'll have an application ready for you." Fugaku said.
"Thank you so much. You have no idea how much this means to me. Just getting the chance to work with you is—"
"Avera-san, we do not tolerate excitable monologues."
Naruto frowned. "Right, sorry. I don't usually get so worked up. I promise that if I'm you hire me, I'll never monologue."
Uncertain about his next move, Naruto remained seated across from Fugaku, trying to ignore the way his eyebrow rose and how his hands clenched the menu. The first step of this job was nearly done. Once he had that application and got hired, step two would unfold.
"How long do you plan on sitting there?"
"I was just leaving."
Slipping into other people's good sides was never difficult for Naruto. He always managed to get a feel of another person based on the first encounter, and from there, he simply charmed his way through. He anticipated this job being difficult because of The Cage and the place of infiltration. But charming multibillionaire killers? That was a skill Naruto was unequipped for.
Standing up from the chair, he paid his bill and left the café. It was doubtful Fugaku would meet him in person tomorrow. But all he really needed was the application and he'd be considered. The council was confident he'd get hired, and Naruto took it in stride. Karin had her doubts though. Not only about his job application, but about the environment.
He'd be working for the people who stuff shapeshifters into The Cage, after all. If Karin didn't worry, Naruto would've turned down this job and sent her to therapy.
Their apartment was on the outskirts of Japan, with a magnificent ocean view. The council paid for it all. The flight, the apartment. They even gave him a few extra thousand yen for food, transportation, or whatever else they might need. That only proved how much they wanted this job to be a success. The fact that they'd chosen Naruto for it…
He shook his head. The council probably sent dozens of other shifters on this same job. Either that, or they hired shifters to watch him and ensure his success. Either way, he did not have a special spot on the council, and had no reason to believe they'd chosen him for his actual skills.
He took the subway home. At some point, he'd have to give the bullet train a ride. But it was too damn expensive and the only possible way he could use the council's money on the train was if someone was chasing him down and he needed easy transport.
Which was, unfortunately, a definite possibility.
He took a deep breath, holding onto the metal bar as the subway took off. It was too late to turn back now. Either finish the mission or be trapped with the council for life. Two bad options. Only his success in this mission could give them a third option. Until then, he'd have to grow used to being in the presence of murderous bastards.
Karin was at the dining table when he walked in. Something bloody and raw sat on their kitchen table, staining Naruto's fancy plate. He didn't mind that however, so long as Karin washed it when she was done.
"What is that?" He said. It smelt heavily of decay. Its head was missing, no doubt eaten already. And its abdomen was gaping open. The heart was sprawled inside a bowl of blood. Naruto breathed in the smell of a successful hunt. It had been so long since he'd had time to hunt himself, but coming home to a raw creature or ripe berries always lightened his mood.
"I'm not sure. I found it wandering near the ocean and thought we could try something new. I also bought a few fruits if you want. But I recommend eating this creature before I finish it all."
"That good, huh? It's bigger than our usual meals."
Her hands and face were dripping with blood. Some shredded bones still hung into her fingernails. Naruto smiled, seating himself beside her and digging in. She already ate most of it, as she should, being the one who made the kill.
"Get this." Naruto said, "Fugaku Uchiha was eating at Ichiraku's today. I spoke to him, and he's just as intolerable as we predicted."
The leg she'd been holding clattered on the table, leaving a spillage of guts she'd be cleaning later. Her shoulders recoiled, and body froze like stone. Naruto buried his hand into the stomach of this creature, ripping out an organ and biting into it. She was right. This creature was good. If only she hadn't eaten the head. That had always been his favorite part of any animal.
Maybe that was why she ate it.
"You met him? We've only been here for a couple days. What were you thinking? You can't be meeting your job this early on. Oh god, what if he suspects something? I bet that's why he was there. He knows something. He's a killer and he knows it. For someone to just walk up to him… he'll suspect you. I bet he already does and—"
"Correction: Anyone who walks up to a human killer with the knowledge they are a killer is suspicious. Fugaku only kills shapeshifters, and the world is in full support of him."
Karin's job was that of a bounty hunter. It didn't matter if they were a shapeshifter or a human. If they committed a crime, they were hers. Naruto and she came in pairs. Where one went, the other came. The council always managed to find work for both of them in the same city, so neither had to worry about separation.
The problem was how differently they worked. Naruto's job required more calculating than Karin's. Not only as an infiltrator, but a thief and spy. He had to eavesdrop and break in without getting caught, and get out before the alarms went off.
Karin's job was far more simple. Track, stalk, and attack. It wasn't easy, but it was simpler. However, hers was far more dangerous than his. While his required more calculating, hers required more fighting. One wrong move on her part and she was dead. One wrong move on his and he was in The Cage.
"Stalking before fighting. How many times do I need to tell you for you to understand. Always stalk before a fight. Only idiots fight before they stalk."
"I needed to take initiative, Karin. This job is tougher than the others and—"
"Which is why you need to stalk your prey. We're in Japan, Naruto. Japan. The Cage is here. Any mistake on this job lands us in The Cage. You can't act impulsive and just walk up to a man who kills us. That's insane. Madness. This job will take more time than—"
"It's my job. I'll handle it my way."
She was a bounty hunter. He was a spy. She didn't understand why he never stalked his prey, and he never understood why she did. They usually avoided work arguments for that reason. But with The Cage just around the corner, both their nerves were set aflame. It was only natural, he supposed, that they'd end up fighting about The Cage when danger loomed so close.
"You're going to clean this, right?" Karin asked.
"House rule number three: Whoever makes the mess cleans the mess."
There was so much blood on the table it was a wonder they had anything left. But there was still plenty of meat leftover. They'd have to refrigerate it, and tomorrow neither one will need to hunt.
She huffed but settled down and finished her meal. "Maybe next time we could buy raw meat from the store. It won't taste the same, but it won't make a mess." She said, then headed off to her room. Naruto gazed at the bloody mess before him. Sighing, he grabbed a towel and began to clean it.
If The Cage was a common topic between them on this job, they needed to understand each other's work methods to avoid more arguments.
Author's note: I had this idea a year ago. I wrote an entire outline and everything, but couldn't find the words to write what I wanted this story to be. I'm giving it another shot now, and hope people will enjoy it.