The rain was coming, he can smell and feel it coming. Normally Asato Takashi or The Silent Death as those know him best by never took on these kinds of missions. He kills slowly, he's best known for his poisons. But his target seems to have a good 'Ninja' working under him and found his poison's. He's forced to do this quickly now. While on the lookout for that 'Ninja'. If he can find this ninja and reason with him-

A light.

Takashi concealed himself in shadows as he watched the light move about through the halls. Guards, he can hear the metal clicking behind the target as they followed their beloved employer. This was strange, guards don't follow their employer. This was a trap. An obvious-

A swift shadow charged forward, Takashi watched in silence while the shadow died on the ground before they even reached their desired target.

An obvious trap for any low ranking ninja to fall for.

So he wasn't the only one on this job.

"Pathetic, don't you think?" Takashi said to the other ninja's nearby. In a quick movement, he changed his position to stand behind another ninja that was watching their shared target. He sniffed lightly at the ninja before him and instantly recognized them. This was The Still Tiger. He was still new to the world of assassinations, but very skilled. His mark is starting to become famous. But no mark was more famous than his own. In a quick movement, he attached his mark on The Still Tiger's arm.

With this, the ninja before him will get an ego boost, and be killed instantly because of his recklessness. Or they will get too scared to even leave their hut. Either way works, as long as they are out of his way. He searched the area for the rest of the ninja's nearby and placed his mark on each and every one of them.

The Agile Hunter.

The Rapid Master.

The Mysterious Basilisk.

The Falling Jackal.

The Fast Silence.

The Swift Crane.

The Unknown Raven.

The Cloaked Scar.

The Golden Assassin.

They were all low ranking ninjas.

Soon, he'll hear-

A movement in the wind behind him.

He quickly turned weapon always ready.

Nothing.

But a black fabric with a red Sharingan in the middle of it was on his shoulder.

This was The Scarlet Crow's doing.

Silence throughout the forest.

Then a ninja spoke up, it was The Fast Silence.

"The Silent Death and The Scarlet Crow are working on this one, leave immediately!"

"Tsk," Takashi gave a small dry laugh. "Well, that takes care of them," he said to himself as he followed quietly, following the light to get its movements. In two turns he noticed that it was the same pattern.

"I suggest you hurry up and die," The Scarlet Crow muttered, somewhere close to him.

"Then kill me," Takashi said back.

". . . No."

"You get me in, I'll get you in. You take the pay."

"Not interested."

"We need to work together on this one-"

"Why do you still have my mark on you?"

"I like it. Feels like I'm owned by someone."

"Shameful."

"Hehe, the light travels in the same direction-"

"Guards are traveling in a different direction behind the light."

"Good catch, here comes the rain." As if on cue, the rain started to fall.

"How do you know when it comes?"

"How can you see in the dark?" His question was met with silence, Takashi smiled at his small victory, "Not every secret needs to be known." They stayed in silence; watched the guards pace around their target. Takashi felt a small tug on his shoulder, he turned a bit to see what it was but was met with nothing, and The Scarlet Crow's mark was gone. "Aw. . . now I feel empty inside," he turned his eyes back and seen an opening. Without waiting for anyone he bolted forward and was in the mansion. He glanced in all directions only a fraction of a second he noticed that The Scarlet Crow's mark was back where it was before. "I was only joking. . ." Takashi whispered then started to clear a way for his temporary partner.

He wasn't sure if The Scarlet Crow had followed him, or waited for him to clear it out, but at least this way there is less of a hassle for them to escape from. Takashi went in deeper through the mansion, taking care of a few stragglers as he went. He heard hushed voices, one he recognized as The Scarlet Crow's. He moved quickly to the voices and heard the conversation.

"Brother, what are you doing here!"

"My mission," The Scarlet Crow's voice, the other, he had no idea who it was. But they seem to be actual brothers or from the same clan.

"Impossible! This is my mission!"

"To protect the tyrant that is tainting this-"

"I choose who to follow!"

"So do I," and with that, the two started to fight. Takashi kept to the side watching for any guard that comes close. The two brothers were evenly matched, and Takashi took care of the guards while the two fought.

Now they are at a standstill.

"Hate to interrupt," Takeshi said as he stepped out from the shadows. "Scarlet Crow, this belongs to you." He held out a severed head of the once 'Tyrant that tainted these lands'. "He disguised himself as one of the guards." The ninja that marked him was frozen, the other ninja was shocked. "Thanks for distracting him," Takashi smirked behind his hooded mask. With that, the head was left on the floor, while he spirited himself away back to the safety of his trees and rain. He got to a small clearing and almost bathed in the shower of chilled rain. This mission was a success, but not in his hands. It was okay, this wasn't his specialty anyway. He wondered what it would be like to be alone, to go by his own rules. Without the protection of his own clan, and have all the clans against him. It would be strange. He's always lived by his own clan. He shook his head and went for the trees, instincts took over as he got out of the way of a kunai. He turned to the source quickly readying he weapon for a fight. Only to have The Scarlet Crow walking out with the severed head in a bag.

They were enemies once more.

"Silent Death, give me your mark."

"Already have."

"What?"

"You got to close to me, so I just put one on you."

"When did you accomplish that?"

"When indeed," Takashi's voice held humor in it.

"Hn. I owe you a debt, I would never have finished this if that fight had continued."

"I like debts, but without your insight be both never would have gotten in."

"Name your terms."

"Name yours first."

"Not likely."

"Until next time then," Takeshi turned to leave but was stopped immediately by a hand on his shoulder.

"Wait. . . you work for me."

"For how long?"

"Until either of us dies," The Scarlet Crow said. 'Well shit, I just got hitched,' Takashi thought as he watched the other ninja carefully. He didn't buckle under his gaze, which means this guy was serious.

"Very well then," Takashi held his right hand out that shows he wasn't a threat to the other no more. What happened next was unsurprising when a kunai sliced across his palm and blood started to seep out. The kunai was offered to him and he in turn done the same thing but the right hand of the other was occupied and he wasn't holding that hand out. This made him uncomfortable, meaning that this guy didn't see him as an equal but an underling. He sliced the offered left hand, and in a quick movement from the other, their hands linked.

This felt more intimate then it should, it made him feel even more uncomfortable.

Then his new 'master' broke the link and disappeared.

His hand throbbed momentarily, and all thoughts on the interaction were left alone as Takashi made his way back home.

He arrived in front of his master and reported what happened, leaving out his new contract.

"Hm, Takashi-san I never expected this to be your worst specialty. If I'd known other ninjas were on this I never would have sent you after them."

"A near fatal mistake was grabbing onto a katana aimed at my head for trying to get the target."

"I assume the attacker was The Scarlet Crow?"

"Yes, I didn't think he was serious about his mark, if I went further then surely I would have failed."

"Hm, go rest, no food tomorrow, nothing but training."

"Yes, Master Ryosei," Takashi bowed and went to go rest with the other ninjas in his clan.