A/N: Hi everyone! I was really pleased by the response to the prologue, so I'm going to keep this story going. I have a lot planned, and I'm excited to see how it goes.
In this chapter, we learn how Naruto and Sasuke are doing on their own, and see two familiar characters who will be important soon. There will also be some hints about plot development, and more details about the world of this story. One thing to keep in mind: it's not as technologically advanced as the Naruto world. Think Middle Ages, with guilds, swords, cavalry, that kind of thing. There will be some Western influences, so don't be alarmed if you see something that you wouldn't expect to find in the Naruto world. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
Chapter 1: Thieves in the Night
At night, the city of Konoha was a dangerous place. If you wandered too far down unfamiliar streets, you risked getting mugged, or worse. Many of Konoha's homeless were beggars by day, but tried their hand at less lawful occupations at night. Moreover, the peace-keeping guards that walked the streets during the day, maintaining order, almost completely disappeared when the sun went down. Those unlucky few who drew night duty kept to the main streets, not daring to interfere with the criminal element when they were so drastically outnumbered.
But for some, Konoha at night was not as frightening as it could have been. The dead-end streets and alleyways in which desperate men and women lurked held no power over a small minority of Konoha's citizens. For most of these select few, they had no fear of the streets because they didn't use them to travel. Instead, they navigated the city by jumping from rooftop to rooftop, safely avoiding the risk that awaited them below.
Traveling by rooftop was itself a risky thing to do – although most houses were grouped close together, there were spaces with large gaps that had to be jumped across, and sometimes citizens kept vicious dogs tied up on the roof to discourage nocturnal visitors. Yet for those who were brave or foolhardy enough to persist until they knew how to avoid the dangerous areas, Konoha at night became their playground. In fact, among the criminal element in Konoha's poorer district, such people had a name: they were called "Nightrunners," and they were looked up to by the lowlier classes of criminals like pickpockets and petty thieves.
To be a Nightrunner didn't just mean that you knew the complicated layout of Konoha's rooftops like the back of your hand – it also meant that you used your knowledge for the most dangerous, but also the most lucrative form of theft: burglary. If you had the skills, breaking and entering under the cover of night into the wealthier compounds of the city could make you rich. That is, if you weren't caught by the guards and executed. Most thieves preferred to keep their feet on the ground, and stick to targets less exalted.
But there were always a few for whom the reward was worth the risk. And that night, two of them had taken to the rooftops, looking like nothing but dark patches of the night moving swiftly through the city. They were of a similar height, and they looked to be not quite men, though well into their teens. Both wore close-fitting black suits barely distinguishable from the darkness. On their backs they wore black satchels, which were not empty but still had a lot of room in which to carry valuables. One of them had wrapped a black bandana around his head, presumably to keep his hair from reflecting any light. The other needed no bandana, because his hair was already black as coal, or the dark hue of a raven's wings.
Despite their youth, the two thieves navigated the maze of rooftops with the assurance of old veterans. Their shoes, which were specially modified to make as little sound as possible, met roof tiles with barely a whisper. With each minute that passed, they went farther away from the poorer sections of the city, and into the more prosperous business district. Here the guilds were located: the artisans, the merchants, the blacksmiths, and more; if their profession was honest and they had money, then their homes were located in the business district. The roofs were higher and farther apart, but the two nocturnal teens threw themselves across the widening gaps without a hint of fear. They began to roll when they landed, to absorb the impact. Still, they made almost no sound, and their passage went unnoticed.
The outer boundary of the business district was shaped like a horseshoe, or a crescent moon. Along that boundary were located the compounds of Konoha's wealthiest and most powerful families. They lived in walled compounds that were completely separated from the rest of the city. As the compounds were arranged on the crescent-moon shaped border of the business district, portions of their outer walls ran right up against that border.
At the center of the horseshoe was the middle, and largest, compound. This one didn't belong to any of the clans, but was instead home to the Hokage. The compound was enormous, twice the size of any of the clan's residences, and was guarded by hundreds of soldiers. This was not the target of the two thieves – not even they were mad enough to try and breach the security surrounding the most powerful man in the city.
Instead, tonight's target was the Hyuga clan. Their compound was directly to the left of the Palace grounds, though a high wall and hundreds of yards of carefully tended woods and lawns separated them.
The rooftops of the business district brought them to the foot of the high wall surrounding Hyuga-owned property. There was no way they could scale the wall; as high off the ground as they were, the wall was more than twice as high as the roofs they were using. But it seemed they had come prepared.
Without pausing, the teens each took out a coil of rope from the satchels they carried on their backs. The ropes had been knotted at the ends, to form crude lassos that could be tightened by pulling on the rope, after it had caught something. They stood side-by-side, peering up to the top of the wall.
Evenly spaced around the top of the wall were brass fixtures, cemented to the wall for the purpose of holding torches. Some noble houses kept such torches lit through the night, but the Hyuga were either so arrogant or so careless that they didn't bother.
The boy with the bandana paused, and looked at his partner. "All right, Sasuke," he whispered. "Once we get to the top of the wall, there's no time to waste. We get in, we get out."
The boy with the night-black hair snorted quietly. "Quit worrying, Naruto. I've been doing this as long as you have. I'd think by now, I understand that we can't waste time."
"I know," Naruto said. "I just want to make sure you're not going to pull any loose-cannon stuff. We're a team, and we need to have each other's backs."
Sasuke tossed his head proudly. "I've never let you down before, Naruto. I'm not going to start now."
He clapped Naruto on the shoulder, and then focused his attention back to the brass fixtures. "Let's get going – we're wasting perfectly good darkness."
He whirled his lasso a few times and threw, aiming for the torch-holder. He missed the first time, but his second cast was more accurate. The end of the rope slipped over the metal holder, and Sasuke pulled it tight. He tugged on it a few times, testing that it could hold his weight.
Naruto followed suit, although he needed four casts before he caught hold of his fixture. Then the two of them scurried up the ropes, like rats climbing on a ship's rigging. They made it to the top of the wall in seconds, and paused, perching on the walkway, to scan the area. Their eyes were used to operating in near darkness, so they were confident that they would see any threat.
The business district was empty and quiet; the law-abiding merchants and craftsmen were probably snug in their beds. On the inside of the Hyuga compound, there was a small amount of activity. Across the lawn, stationed in front of the grand entrance to the principal mansion, stood two guards wearing Hyuga livery. Even at that distance, they looked tired and bored – they certainly hadn't seen the tiny forms of Naruto and Sasuke blending into the darkness at the top of the wall.
In the distance, Naruto and Sasuke could see the kennels where the nobles kept their dogs, and the gardens where they grew specialty foods to satisfy the appetites of the aristocrats who lived there. But that night, Naruto and Sasuke were only interested in the mansion – after all, that was where they kept the valuables.
Swiftly and silently they untied the ropes, coiling them and slinging them under one arm. They would need the ropes to get down off the wall, and then later to make their escape.
Sasuke began to move quietly and slowly along the wall, ducking down so that he was completely hidden by the crenellations. Naruto followed, and the two of them circled around to the side of the compound. There was a good deal of open lawn to cover, but some truly gigantic trees offered a screen from most of the windows on that side of the mansion.
When they reached the point closest to the side of the mansion, and out of sight of the guards at the front, the boys stopped. They tied the ropes to fixtures on the far side of the wall, and then let the ropes down gently down the inside of the wall. They climbed down even faster than they'd ascended, reaching ground level almost immediately. Then they sprinted across the lawn, angling themselves to try and keep at least one tree trunk between themselves and any lighted windows.
They reached the base of the mansion without being seen. They could hear the guards at the front conversing in hushed tones, but apart from that the night was silent. The Hyuga aristocrats were sleeping, oblivious to the threat that was growing ever closer.
Unlike with the wall, Sasuke and Naruto needed no rope to help them climb the exterior of the mansion. Their hands were calloused and rough, and used to climbing surfaces with very little purchase. This mansion was made with stone and expensive wood, and there were many outcroppings for skilled climbers to make use of.
Sasuke went first, and stopped climbing when he reached an un-lighted window on the second floor. He clung to the frame with one hand, while with the other he took out a small tool from his satchel. It looked like a metal wedge, and wasn't at all impressive. But after a few strategic applications of pressure, he managed to crack the mechanism keeping the window closed.
A second later he was inside, landing with a muffled thump. Naruto followed, and the two waited a few seconds for their eyes to adjust to the different kind of darkness inside. Outside there had been some light from the moon, but inside there was not so much as a candle to help them. But in minutes they were able to make out most of the darkened interior, enough so that they could move about without bumping into the furniture.
From the writing-desk in the center of the room, and the wall-to-wall shelves filled with dusty books, it seemed that they'd found someone's study. Naruto knew that there were people who'd pay a fortune for valuable books, but as he'd never even learned to read, he had no way of knowing what books might be valuable.
Sasuke could read, Naruto knew, but he didn't want to make his friend uncomfortable by asking him to take a look around. Naruto never alluded to Sasuke's past, because he knew it was too painful for the other boy to remember. All Naruto knew was that Sasuke had been an aristocrat, but then had been forced to run away.
When all was said and done, though, Naruto didn't really need to know. He and Sasuke had been together for nine years, now, and they were as close as brothers. Sasuke had lived on the streets with Naruto for longer than he'd been an aristocrat – it was best if he could put his past behind him, and focus on his future. That future concerned the two of them becoming very, very rich. And tonight's haul was going to go a long way toward making that happen. They'd been planning this burglary for weeks, staking out the compound and figuring out the rotation and placement of guards.
"Let's go down to the dining room," Naruto whispered. "That's where they'll keep the silver."
Sasuke nodded, avoiding the need to speak. Together, the two slipped out of the study and into the hallway. They stepped gingerly, knowing that all it took was one creaking board to wake someone and give the game away. But their specialized shoes, together with their extraordinary sense of balance that was honed by years of crime, served them well. They made no more sound than a mouse, and found the grand staircase without any sign that they had been discovered.
After descending the staircase, it took only a few more minutes to locate the primary dining room. One could spend hours wandering around such a huge mansion, but after similar burglaries in other aristocratic mansions, Naruto and Sasuke had a decent idea of how such large houses were arranged.
The Hyuga's dining room was dominated by the table, an enormous oak creation surrounded by high-backed chairs. It was empty, though during mealtimes it was doubtless covered by a rich, satin cloth and set with priceless silverware and gilt plates and cups. An enormous chandelier hung from the high, arched ceiling, taunting the two thieves with its tantalizing crystal. The amount of money they could get for that chandelier would feed them and clothe them for perhaps a year – unfortunately, there was no way to steal such a bulky and noisy item without betraying their presence.
Instead, they turned their attention to the wooden cabinets standing against the wall. These chests had shelves covered with glass sheets, behind which were silver goblets and delicate china plates.
"Jackpot," Naruto whispered, pointing out the cabinets to Sasuke. He advanced on them gleefully, taking out his lockpicks from an inside pocket of his black suit. These lockpicks were the tools of his trade, and he wielded them with consummate skill. The locks resisted for mere seconds before yielding, allowing him to open the glass doors and access the treasures within.
Sasuke and Naruto began taking the precious items one by one, wrapped them in cloth, and placed them gently in their satchels. By wrapping the items individually, they could walk and even run without the metal objects clinking together. In a very short time, their satchels were full. They hadn't taken much, only fifteen plates and six goblets, but the jewels encrusting the stems of the goblets alone would fetch a hefty price.
They were just turning to go, when they heard the soft sound of footsteps, gradually growing closer. There was no doubt that someone was approaching the dining room. Panic set in, but it was controlled by a strange kind of exhilaration. Adrenaline flooded Naruto's veins, and he couldn't control a grin. These kinds of risks, though to be avoided at all costs, were part of what make Naruto enjoy his work so much. There was nothing like almost getting caught to keep a thief on his toes.
Naruto motioned to Sasuke, and they both moved silently to the entrance. They took up positions on either side, and waited as the footsteps grew louder. Finally, when the tension was almost unbearable, the mysterious newcomer walked into the dining room.
Sasuke sprang into action. He wrapped his left hand around the person's mouth, muffling any sound, and brought his right hand up to neck level. In his hand was a small, sharp knife, which he brought to rest gently against the person's throat.
The first thing Naruto noticed was that the person was small - at least four inches shorter than himself, and he was short for his age. The second thing Naruto noticed was the small cup of tea that the person had been carrying, which started to fall when Sasuke had made his move. Naruto lunged forward and snagged the cup out of the air neatly, managing to spill no more than a few drops, and avoiding the disastrous noise that would have rang out if the cup had shattered on the floor.
And the last thing Naruto noticed, after looking up with the cup in his hand, was that the person who'd interrupted them was a girl. Even in the darkness, her glossy, shoulder-length hair was clearly visible. He couldn't be sure, but from the intelligence in her large, pale eyes, Naruto guessed that the girl was about the same age as they were. Naruto swore internally. Of all the embarrassing… they had been caught by a girl!
"We should just kill her," Sasuke whispered, trying to sound as if he killed girls every day. His prisoner gave a muffled "eep," and stiffened in fear.
Naruto drew a hand across his forehead wearily, wiping away the few beads of sweat that had escaped his bandana. "We're thieves, not murderers. We don't need to kill her unless she refuses to cooperate."
Naruto wasn't going to let anyone be killed if he could help it, but he guessed that keeping their prisoner scared was the best way to proceed. "Let her go for a second. We'll tie her up."
He wagged his finger at the girl, as if admonishing a naughty child. "Listen here, you! We're only going to tie you up, and then we're going to leave. We won't hurt you, unless you scream for help. If you do that, we'll have to kill you. I don't want to, but that's how it is. My buddy here, he wants you to scream. But me, I think you look like a nice girl, and I'd prefer if you lived to a ripe old age. So don't scream, ok? Nod if you understand."
The dark-haired girl bobbed her head up and down gingerly, trying not to make contact with Sasuke's knife.
"Good choice. All right, Sasuke, she'll behave."
Sasuke took his hand away from her mouth, slowly, though he kept the knife poised to strike. Naruto took his bandana off, folded it so the clean side was facing outward, and knotted it around the girl's mouth, as a makeshift gag. It wouldn't muffle a loud scream, but it would dampen it enough so that the sleeping members of the household might not hear anything for long enough to get away. Then Naruto took out another bandana, and used it to tie their prisoner's hands together.
Naruto went to the dining table, and gently placed the girl's cup of tea. Steam was still rising from it in gentle spirals. "Come here," he said, gesturing to the girl.
She walked over, although for a second he was worried that she might try to run. He pointed at a chair. "Sit down."
She sat.
"I want you to count to one hundred," Naruto said. "Silently. After that, you can do whatever you want. I know there's nothing keeping you from yelling once we leave, but I'm going to trust you, ok? I'm a good judge of character, and you seem trustworthy. Plus, you have nice eyes."
By the door, Sasuke snorted derisively. Naruto pointed an accusing finger. "That's enough out of you! But you're right - we should go. Start counting, Miss!"
Naruto flashed her a wide grin, and then he and Sasuke raced away to the second floor study, where they would use the window to escape. With every step he half-expected to hear the girl start to scream, bringing guards by the dozens in pursuit, but it never happened.
As Naruto and Sasuke climbed over the wall, using the rope that they had left hanging down as an escape route, Naruto reflected that maybe he actually was a good judge of character, and the rich girl had decided to let the thieves go free. Or maybe she had just been too scared of Sasuke's act to do anything but sit there while they escaped.
Either way, it didn't really matter. Naruto had more important things to worry about; specifically, selling tonight's haul before the Hyuga clan reported any stolen goods. The moment the theft was reported, prices would drop like a rock tossed off a cliff.
oOoOo
Hyuga Hinata remained perfectly motionless until both thieves had left the room. Instead of counting, as the blond thief had requested, she began rubbing her wrists together, clenching and unclenching her arm muscles, until the bandana loosened. It was a trick one of her guards had shown her once, when she had pestered him long enough. She was surprised at how well it worked, although she supposed that a cloth bandana wasn't exactly the most effective of restraints. In a few seconds she had freed her hands, and used them to remove the bandana stuffed into her mouth. Then she hurriedly sat on both bandanas, and arranged herself to look completely casual.
The reason for her actions became clear a second later, when a second figure came running into the dining room, holding a torch aloft. It was her cousin Neji, who was part of the Hyuga's personal guard. He was the son of Lord Hiashi's brother, but Hizashi had died in disgrace many years ago. Neji now suffered for his father's crime, whatever it had been, by forfeiting his high rank and serving like any other common guard.
Although he never said anything, Hinata was sure that Neji hated her father for what he had done to Neji's father. Not that Hinata blamed him, though. She knew her father was a cruel man. She had experienced his anger first-hand, and had nothing but pity for Neji. She couldn't show that pity, though - Neji would only meet it with scorn.
"Is there anything the matter, Miss Hinata?" Neji asked, his voice painfully respectful. "I thought I heard someone talking."
Hinata forced herself to give a huge yawn, covering her mouth delicately with one hand, and then took a sip of tea. "Nothing's wrong, thank you. I couldn't sleep, so I made some tea and brought it down here. I sometimes talk to myself at night… it gets lonely."
Hinata could see the faint light of scorn that entered Neji's eyes, but he didn't doubt her story.
"Well then, if you're all right, I should get back to my post." He bowed low, correctly inclining his head to the exact height required by propriety, yet somehow making the gesture seem like a backhanded slap.
Hinata almost sighed. She wished she could make Neji believe that she felt sorry for him, and wanted to be on more friendly terms, but it was hopeless. She was as controlled by her father as Neji was, and while Hyuga Hiashi was alive, Hinata didn't think Neji would be able to feel anything but hatred for his relatives.
"Thank you for your kind concern," she said finally. "I'll sleep safer knowing you are protecting us."
Neji bowed again, and left without a word. Hinata permitted herself a small smile - even if no one else got the joke, it was amusing to think that the Hyuga guards were out watching the front entrance, completely oblivious to the thieves that had already escaped with the household valuables.
Hinata supposed she should have been scared, but for some reason she could only feel excitement. There had been something about that thief, the one with the blue eyes and the wide smile, that put her at ease. She somehow trusted that he wouldn't hurt her. And the whole experience had been so much like a dream, that it seemed silly to be upset or scared. In a dream one always accepted what was happening, no matter how fantastic or unbelievable it was.
There was a part of Hinata that felt sad at seeing the intruders go. They were new, exciting, extraordinary… completely unlike her life as the eldest daughter of the head of the Hyuga clan. Hinata's days were an endless round of embroidery, needlepoint, lessons in manners, dancing, managing household accounts, and other pursuits considered suitable for a woman. At least Father let her ride, but he forbade her from taking the more spirited horses, and instructed the grooms to make her ride side-saddle!
Hinata hated being a rich noblewoman. She couldn't do any of the things that she liked, or was good at. She couldn't fight with a sword like the household guards, or ride fast horses across the countryside. Archery was considered suitable for women, but only with small, decorative bows and blunted arrows. Once Hinata had actually shown talent at archery, her father had forbidden her to continue, stating that no eligible nobleman would want a wife who could shoot better than he could.
As Hinata had grown, her father had kept her from joking and laughing with the guardsmen, from whom she had wheedled lessons in fighting when she was younger. She spent her hours instead with her lady's maids and tutors, preparing herself for the time when her father would auction her off like a prize mare to the highest bidder. Then her husband would be the new Lord Hyuga, while Hinata herself would stay shut up in her mansion, frittering away her time with needlepoint, dancing, and the occasional morning ride on a dainty horse that would as soon gallop as it would sprout wings and fly.
No wonder she felt drawn by the excitement and danger of the two thieves - they were as free as the wind, constrained by nothing other than their own fancy. They could enter Hyuga mansion and leave as they pleased, while Hinata felt like a prisoner in her own home.
For a few precious moments, while she sipped her tea, Hinata allowed herself to imagine what life might be like if she wasn't Lady Hyuga. Her sister Hanabi would be the heir, and Hanabi was the perfect little lady. She actually liked dancing and embroidery, and was surpassing Hinata in all the skills of a proper gentlewoman. Lord Hiashi, Hinata's father, would without a doubt prefer to have Hanabi as his heir. He'd said to, many a time, when Hinata had performed below his expectations.
Once free of her duty, Hinata could live as she pleased. No one would tell her she couldn't fight, or run, or laugh. But such thoughts, though satisfying, were of no use. Hinata was who she was, and no amount of imagination could change that. She would have to go through life as her father ordered, and the only thing that would ever change would be that she would trade her father's yoke for a husband's.
Still, when Hinata finished her tea and went back up to bed, she dreamed of dangerous but charming rogues, and what it felt like to be free.
oOoOo
"Here's the loot," Naruto said, as he spread out the contents of his satchel on the table in front of him. "Quality silver and gold, with gems that you can separate and sell off for a hefty profit."
Sasuke also emptied his bag, placing the goblets and plates carefully on the table. It was the only piece of furniture in the room, which was small and dingy, with no light except for a few wax candles. On the other side of the table stood their fence, a small, grimy man with a rat-like face. They called him Maka, but they didn't know his name, and he didn't know theirs. Real names were bad for business, and that's what they were doing that night: business.
Their fence unwrapped each item carefully, his ink-stained fingers peeling the cloth away deftly. As he stared at the goods, his face lit up with satisfaction and greed.
"Where'd you get these?" he asked.
Naruto wagged his finger. "Nope, you know the drill. We get it, you sell it. You don't need to know where it's from. Just know that we got it earlier tonight, so the theft won't be noticed for at least a day. If you sell the jewels separately, they'll be impossible to trace."
Maka deliberated for a moment, rubbing his thin wisp of a mustache with one hand. "All right," he said at last. "You've got a good haul here, and I can turn a profit with it. I'll take the lot. What do you say to twenty silver?"
Sasuke spat on the table, narrowly missing Maka's other hand. Naruto laughed sarcastically. "I'd say you can shove your head up your ass. These are worth ten times that. But we understand the risk you're going to, so we're willing to be reasonable. We'll take 150 silver."
Maka winced, as though the number was physically painful to contemplate. "Look, I've worked with you two before. You know I've always been straight with you. But times are changing. Word is, Iwa's campaign against Kumo is coming to an end. The Tsuchikage has had his eye on Konoha for years, but he couldn't do anything about it until he got his soldiers back from his campaign. Once Kumo's finished, he'll turn on Konoha, and that'll mean war. When war comes, the economy will go up in flames, and I'll lose all my contacts outside the city. I'm sorry, but I simply can't afford to do business the way I used to. I have to protect myself, so that when war comes I'll have enough to live on."
Naruto listened to this with growing astonishment. Iwa was the capitol of Earth Country, which was very close to the border of Fire Country. Only a few small territories acted as a buffer. Iwa's empire stretched far beyond its borders, deep into Wind Country and the smaller territories. For years, though, it had been locked in a seemingly endless battle with the mountain-dwelling tribes of Kumo. As long as that struggle had continued, Konoha had been safe from the Tsuchikage's predatory gaze.
"That's bullshit!" Naruto exclaimed. "Everybody knows that the war isn't going to end for years. The Tsuchikage will be cold in his grave before his warriors conquer those mountains. You're just making excuses so you don't have to pay us full price!"
Maka waved his hands in worried negation. "No, I promise you I'm not lying. The word is all over the business district - prices are going up everywhere. Nobody wants to be caught unprepared if war disrupts the trade routes. I'm sorry, really I am, and because it's you two I can bring my price up to thirty silver. But that's the best I can do."
Sasuke shifted his weight, giving the impression of a hunting cat preparing to spring. He locked gazes with Maka, and the fence gulped. "You know us," Sasuke said slowly, "so you know what we're capable of. We're Nightrunners, and there's no place in the city that we can't get to. If you're extorting us, what makes you think we won't pay you a visit? We know where you live, Maka, and getting into your pathetic hovel will be much easier than breaking into the clan mansions. So think carefully: is cheating us really worth the risk?"
Maka had become pale, his face looking deathly white in the candlelight, but he didn't back down. "Threaten me all you want, but it doesn't change the way the world works. With war coming, people don't pay as much for stolen goods, especially luxury items like jewels or gold. If you two aren't going to be reasonable, then I won't be able to do business with you anymore. And before you threaten me again, check with the other merchants. I'm not trying to swindle you, and take an hour or two next time you're in the marketplace you'll find that out for yourselves."
Naruto sighed. "Look, we're not trying to threaten you. Sasuke just likes to be dramatic, and he's trying to make sure we're not getting screwed over here. But I trust you - like you said, we've worked together before, and you've never steered us wrong. Still, thirty silver just isn't going to cut it. We can't part with this haul less than fifty."
Now that they were haggling again, Maka's face regained its normal color, and he stopped looking at Sasuke as if the dark-haired teen was about to attack him. "Forty-five, and that's it. Any higher and I might as well give you the clothes off my back."
"Done." Naruto spat into his palm, and Maka followed suit. They shook hands, and Maka pulled out a purse that jingled with coin. He counted out the heavy silver coins, on the table where Naruto and Sasuke could see, and then pushed the pile over to them. Sasuke and Naruto secreted the coins in various different locations around their bodies, ranging from hidden pockets sewn into the lining of their outfits, to the insides of their shoes. One of the cardinal rules for thieves was to never carry all of your money in one location. It was too easy to lose it, if you were unlucky enough to fall afoul of footpads or a large group of one of Konoha's street gangs.
"Thanks, Maka," Naruto said to the fence when they had concluded their business. "And thanks for the tip about Iwa. We'll check it out for ourselves, but I appreciate the heads up."
"No problem," Maka answered, rubbing his greasy hands together. "Make sure you boys keep a sharp lookout. There's no telling what happens once there's a war on. The Hokage will probably send his guards through the city, and force poor young things like you into the army. Watch out for each other, now, you hear?"
Naruto clapped one hand on Sasuke's shoulder, and grinned at his friend. "Don't you worry about that, Maka. We always do."
Sasuke and Naruto left the dingy pawn shop and ascended to the rooftops. With the cool air hitting their faces, and the comforting weight of many silver coins that they would soon be able to spend, the two friends felt like a pair of kings.
But morning was coming, and soon the rising sun filled the sky with its crimson rays, turning it into a bloody sea - an omen, perhaps, of the new danger coming closer with each new dawn.
A/N: That's it for the first chapter - what do you think?
Just a quick word about characters: they're living in a completely different world, with different traits and roles in society, so some might seem OOC. However, I'm hoping that most of the characters' personalities will be recognizable. After all, the whole point of this story is to place the characters we know and love into a setting that is unfamiliar and mysterious.
