"But why? Why can't go with my brothers to Konoha ?" Kaori whined, she knew it was beneath her to do so, but she couldn't help it. Once again her older brothers got to go out and she was stuck at home. Her father, the leader of the Sakamoko clan, sighed and looked up at his daughter. She was standing stubbornly in front of his desk, her ice blue eyes flashing. Most of her personality she got from her mother, except for the stubbornness, that is what showed the most from her father. Though she wasn't very strong, she was good at shuriken and kunai, small and fast. "Kaori, please dear, its just a boring medicine run. Besides your brothers always bring you something anyway."
"If its just a medicine run, I'll go. It would be better since I'm the youngest and you wont have to risk Takaru anymore."
"No! It's too dangerous, and I'm not sending Takaru, he's to busy with his training." Kaori's upper lip rose into a silent snarl. Takaru, being the eldest and the heir, was completely infatuated with his training. Being the 6th child of the family, she should be the one to go. She was definitely old enough, though she never had much of ninjutsu training. But she was the best in the clan with shuriken and kunai, she also could sense anyone with chakra nearby. Crossing her arms she looked out the window. "I still don't see why I can't go even with my brothers!"
"The enemy could use you against them." he stated, trying to keep his attention on the papers in front of him.
"If the could get near me, father please. You know I can do it, please, please let me go." she begged, something that she thought she would never have to do. Her father looked at her again, and sighed. "Alright Kaori, I can't win when you beg me like that." he smiled at her.Filled with excitement, she hurriedly bowed to her father, and ran out whooping. Once again the Lord of Sakamoko sighed. What had he gotten himself into?
XxX
"Must, hurry, I can see the gates up ahead, hurry up!" Kaori panted, excitement ran through every vein. Happy to finally see Konoha and all its wonder, she jumped to the trees despite her father's warning about hiding ninjas. Jumping from tree to tree she sensed another presence close by. Not sure if they were friendly or not, she pulled out a kunai. Prepared to defend herself, she kept jumping from tree to tree. Suddenly it disappeared, which had to mean they were much stronger than her senses. Puzzled she dropped to the ground and warily walked through the gates and into Konoha.
It was hard to follow the map, noises and bright colors were everywhere, there were thousands of smells and sights. Being cooped up in a estate most of her life she had never seen so many wonderful things. Many vendors were boasting about how their produce was better than the others. After nearly getting lost for the fifth time she grabbed a scarf from her pack and tied it so she could only see straight ahead, it was a risk, but it was better than getting lost in a town this big. Finally, her stomach started to complain enough for her to stop at a raman shop.
XxX
*Two days earlier* "Itachi, Itachi! Come on, un. Leader wants you to go on a mission un." The eldest Uchiha opened his eyes. Letting his emotionless mask slip, he glared at Deidara. He still had the annoying habit of ending his sentences with "un". Sighing he stood, it was not good to keep the Leader waiting. Silently walking off, his unreadable, and ever known emotionless masked returned. After arriving in the Leader's office, he bowed. "You wished to speak with me Leader?"
"Yes Itachi, as Deidara probably informed you, you have a mission. I want you to capture Kaori Sakamoko and bring her back here. Right now she will be located at Konoha." Nodding and bowing again, he left, and headed back to his chambers. This mission surprised him, why would Leader send him, an S-class missing-nin assassin, to capture a mere girl. Grabbing his pack from his room he set off to Konoha.
XxX
She had reached the bar in the late afternoon and was now sitting with the client. The Sakamoko clan were famous for their medicine, this was just a delivery run. Kaori sat politely, looking at her hands while the man counted the coins. When she had stopped at an inn she decided it would be safer to dress as a boy. She had heard stories of women being raped in big towns. Not that she was worried, she just didn't want to have to waste her time. Turning her attention back to the customer she smiled and thanked him for his business. He bowed and thank her as well. Now alone, she noticed the atmosphere around her was loud, filled with drunks, and the air smelled of stale beer, unwashed men, and rotting food. Eyes sweeping across the room she noticed a girl trying to tug her hand out of a man's grasp. Twitching, she watched, looking for something that was too out of line. Finally, when he yanked her closer and tried to force her, did Kaori stand and walk over. Her ice blue eyes flashing and her expression cold. "I suggest you let go of the lady, sir. Unless you want those ugly lips cut off your head." Her voice was like ice. She hated the mistreatment of woman, whore or not. The man, a large potbellied disgusting mineworker, looked up and glared. "Woch this? A wee lad wantin' some fun?" he burst into laughter, and this fueled Kaori's anger. The man tightened his grip making the woman cry out in pain. "Let go of her, you pervert!" Kaori cried. The man laughed. "You sound like a girl, pretty boy, whatcha gonna do, tell mama?" he roared with laughter. The other men joined in, but some were more wary, one shouted. "Watch out Kilo! He could be one o' them ninjas"
Kaori moved for her kunai. Slashing at him she cut Kilo's hand. Yelling, he let go and charged at Kaori. Easily dodging his attack she made another small cut on his back. Motioning for the woman to run, she turned around little too late to doge the man's seconded attack. Kilo jumped her, pinning her, and raised his fist to strike. Kaori closed her eyes, expecting pain, but she was surprised to hear a gasp. Opening her eyes, a black cloaked figure held Kilo's raised fist . By the way Kilos hand was turning purple, the newcomer was gripping his hand pretty hard. The man was dressed in all black except for a straw hat with white strips of cloth around the rim. There was also a bell attached to it, the small chiming was heard thoughout the bar. Who is he? Why did he save me? Kaori suddenly realized she had a free hand, and decided to ask about the stranger later. It was also her left, the same side as her kunai pouch, allowing her to be stealthy.
"Who the hell…" Kilo started, but it was cut off by a yowl of pain. Kaori had cut his other hand. Trying to pull away from the stranger, he glared at Kaori. "You bitch, I'll get you for that!" Kaori slipped into a defense stance but it wasn't necessary. The man grabbed the mans other hand and pushed him into a table. Unfortunately, it was where Kaori had dropped her other kunai. Picking it up, Kilo spun with murder in his eyes. Seeing as the other man was much stronger, he charged for Kaori. Surprised, she stumbled and the kunai tore her shirt. Falling to the ground she blushed, the now open shirt showed her breast band and the figure of her breasts. Highly embarrassed, she wrapped her arms around herself and turned around. Kilo stuttered, then a grin spread across his face. Making for her, eyes mad, he found himself on his back. The stranger held a kunai to his throat, and Kilo could see his red eyes.
"How low. A man going for a unaware woman, after vandalizing her." The strangers voice was cold, soft, yet filled full of anger and hatred. Kilo gasped and gurgled noises, then finally managed out. "W…who are you?" the stranger, smiling, leaned in and whispered. "Itachi Uchiha" Kilos eyes widened with fear, then rolled into the back of his head. Itachi had stealthily hit his temple with the butt of his kunai. Keeping his hat low he turned around, and walked over to Kaori. She stared, he had to be a ninja, not only that, but at least Jonin, if not an Anbu! Realizing that she was staring she blushed, looked down, stammered. "T…thank you f…for helping me" Helping? More like saving. Itachi thought, amused. Keeping his emotionless mask, he nodded to her and walked off.
Kaori opened her mouth to tell him to wait but decided against it. Standing she collected her kunai and looked about, most people had run out when the fight had started, but the ones that were still there were shocked. Sheepishly, she bowed and repeatedly apologizing. One woman came forward and wrapped her arms around Kaori. "There child, ye did what was right." turning to the others she said "Well ye just gonna stand there or start cleaning up? This poor girl was attacked!" Several men jumped while the women went to get baskets to put the broken things in. Turning back to the girl, who was trying hard not to cry, her expression softened. "Here now child, what are ye doing here alone? And where are you staying?" Kaori looked up tears brimming her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. "I… I'm staying at the, the," her voice broke and tears streamed down her face. Holding the sobbing girl the women half-carried her to a room upstairs.
Kaori, after crying herself to sleep, woke the next morning with her things by the door. Stretching, she looked outside, it was bright and sunny. Walking over to the window, she opened it and felt the cool breeze rush in. Perfect conditions to travel. Washing her face in a basin of fresh water from the river, she grabbed her pack and headed down stairs. The woman from last night smiled when she saw Kaori, walking over her, her grin widened "Well missy, ye caused quite a commotion last night." Kaori ducked her head. "I'm sorry if I was trouble to you ma'am" "Please call me Saksuki, and Kilo needed to be taught a lesson." ruffling Kaori's hair, she arched a eyebrow at her pack. "Ye leaving? My, my, I'll prepare an escort for you. Though I wished ye'd stay."
"An escort? Ms. Saksuki, I'll be alright on my own. Its only a little more than half a days walk, and if I run I should be there by mid-afternoon." Kaori reasoned, Saksuki sighed "As ye wish, but ye will come again wont ye? Ye such a nice girl" Kaori grinned and hugged the other woman "Thank you for your help Ms. Saksuki." bowing, Kaori hitched her pack higher, and walked onto the road.
XxX
Itachi was puzzled, why had he helped that girl? He knew it was his target, he had watched her give medicine to that other man. And who other than a daughter of a nin-clan would carry kunai? Still, why had he saved this girl? Leader would've been… upset if his prisoner had bruises before she got to Akatsuki. An impulse perhaps, to make sure I didn't get into any crap. Itachi liked this reason better than the thought of an impulse to save a life. he was a murderer, a cold killer and one of the best. He did not save lives,he took them. Feeling another presence, he masked his own, and looked at the road from his perch in a tree near the gates. There, his charge, not knowing her danger, walked past him. Following her, Itachi planned how he was going to capture her. She was strong, very strong, not close to his power but still, enough to be a Anbu. The question was weather she knew or not, he wasn't sure. A ninja wouldn't have let his guard down when the enemy had a weapon in hand, she could have defeated him long before he pinned her. Plus the fact that the other man had pinned her, no ninja is that weak. Deciding that she wasn't a ninja, he moved closer. His plan was the simple blackout, surprise her and knock her out. Jumping a few trees ahead he waited.
Kaori walked out of the gate warily, she knew there was another presence near, though they had tried to mask it. She was close enough to still feel it. What surprised her is that it was the same as the presence she felt when she arrived. Pulling out a kunai, she kept walking. Wondering who was watching her and why, she didn't have wait for long. Something hit the back of her neck, then everything went black. I should have accepted the escort…