Hi guys! This is a little memo about this story. Yes, this is a new adaption of a story that written in 2012 called Crescendo. Yes, I am the original writer and I used the penname BreatheAngel. I thought about it not too long ago and re-read it to be disappointed, lol. It had potential but I couldn't hit the nail on the head and missed. Terribly. So now I'm re-writing it, hopefully getting more into character development and relationships better. I also have another story Two Faced with the same characters but in an alternate universe which I'm not too disappointed in, I'm a lil' impressed. Haha.

Let me know what you think!

-A

Track 1: Opening

My feet took me to a lake, it's shimmering waves like blinding bubbles in my failing vision. I couldn't focus on an individual lap, just each glittering brightness blending into each other. A strong breeze blew my hair back, thrashing the trees around like they are yelling at the wind, displeased with the disturbance of their peaceful life. The sound morphed into white noise and I closed my eyes, lights dancing on the back of my eyelids. I stood like that for what seemed like hours, soaking up the energy around me.

"It's quite a beautiful view, isn't it?"

I swiveled my head to see a crown of red hair beside me and I sidestepped quicker than intended; nearly twisting an ankle in the process. The girl beside me didn't come off dangerous, mid-height but slight and fine boned, her fingers clasped behind her back. She gave me a welcoming smile, clear brown eyes twinkling in the sunshine. Everything about her was screaming FRAGILE, but how could she just sneak up on someone like me? I glared at her and saw her start, the smile slipping off her face.

"I'm sorry if I spooked you! I didn't mean to!" She brought her hands up in defense, her slender eyebrows turned and bunched up in a way that a flicker of recognition passed through my mind. I turned on my heel and walked away.

She did spook me. How did she get that close to me and I didn't hear a thing? I didn't even feel her approach.

Zetsu morphed from the ground, it's two faces barely coming above the dirt. "Madara requires your presence." The white voice said, sounding like a snake slithering in the grass.

I rolled my eyes, "What for?"

"How should we know?" It shrugged, slowly sinking back into the earth.

"Like hell you don't."

Torches lined the wall, flickering long shadows across the stone. The sound of my footsteps rang high and echoed back at me. I turned into a room lit by a single candle, the murky darkness clouding my already shitty vision.

Madara leaned on the other side of the table, his back turned to me and stooped in a way that I knew he was thinking. He only stood up straight when I sat down and faced me, an orange swirled mask covering most of his face except a small void where one of his eyes would be. But it was shadowed, hidden in the depths of mystery.

"I got some interesting information this afternoon." He said in a low tone, idly turning the candle dish and causing it to flicker.

I remained silent, knowing he will speak unprompted. He stopped playing with the dish and finally looked at me, "Someone very important will be playing a vital role in your revenge."

I felt my eyebrow twitch up, but kept my face passive, uninterested, "Oh yeah? Who would that be?"

He cocked his head and shrugged, "I'll tell you in due time, Sasuke."

I sat back in my chair, "Tsch, of course."

I felt that he was smiling behind his mask, mocking me, "But there is something that I will have you do in the meantime. There is a village not too far from here, across the lake, there is a girl there with red hair. I need you to keep a close eye on her."

A flash of brown eyes came to my mind, "What for? I don't have time to babysit."

"She will become useful for the both of us."

Done with the conversation I stood up, "Whatever."

I found her. Ruffling through some bushes with plump, red berries nearly falling from their stems. It had rained the night before and the bark beneath my hand was still damp and soft. I slowly started scratching it off with my thumbnail, staring at her profile, trying to figure out what made her so special to Madara. She looked harmless enough, kneeling there humming to herself; fingers stained red.

She plopped each berry in a bucket, making a pinging sound that caught the attention of a squirrel. It's bushy tail twitched more as it stalked towards it's plump prey, and the girl remained aloof as it sprung. The bucket tipped and fell, exploding it's contents in a bouncing river of red and a screech. The furry burglar stuffed it's stolen goods in it's mouth and disappeared into the thick underbrush.

"You thieving beast!" She exclaimed, trying to save the remaining berries sloppily and failed. She moaned and fell backwards, red hair splaying. "It took me an hour and a HALF to collect that much!" She yelled into the air, thrashing her arms and legs like a toddler. She started rubbing her eyes hard, and sat up.

"You will not cry." She whispered to herself, stood and brushed herself off. She collected up the remaining berries that were not squashed or plundered by other animals into her bucket, stood up straight and made her way up a trail.

I stayed to the shadows, following her up a winding path to a grand, but rotting house. She looked behind her then, her eyes scanning the forest but not finding anything. I was too hidden. She raised an eyebrow and suddenly clapped her hands together.

"Leave us be evil spirit!" She prayed, and opened an eye. Nodding to herself, she unshrugged her shoulders, turned and bolted into the house.

She couldn't have felt me. Could she? I thought. No, she probably does this every time. Country folk are strange like that.

As I made my way back and the thought occurred to me that the eye that she opened happened to be in my direction. She did feel me. I never thought of myself of having an evil presence, dangerous yes, but not evil. The feeling of power shuddered through me and something dark slithered and stretched deep inside my soul.