Author's Note:

I'll use a moment to discuss the main romantic pairing, and the side pairings. Chances are, you know the couple Naruto and Hinata. For this story, it's a slow fire. (This is an enormous understatement. At this point of the story, Hinata is still in her mother's womb.) I want to portray it as a friendship blooming into love, with the natural problems any relationship (friendship, dating, etc.) faces.

As for side pairings, I have an open mind – if there is enough demand, I'll go with it. I also don't mind the unusual or crack couple (e.g.: Ino-Kankuro, Sakura-Shino, etc.)

However, I will reject two types of pairings; incest (e.g.: Neji-Hinata, Gaara-Temari, Itachi-Sasuke, etc.) and pedophilia (i.e.: any adult and pre-adolescent pairing.) Some people find them interesting, but more often than not, I find those stories more disturbing – and I'm not an easy person to agitate.

Now, on with the story!

x X x

Chapter 2: Holding a Page for Death

"Are you sure this girl is a ninja? She looks like a bookworm!" Daichi said, taking a drag from a cigarette. Raising an eyebrow, he added, "I've seen more imposing kunoichi working at the Hokage tower."

"Deception is part of the trade," the shinobi said in a calm tone as she adjusted her glasses. She opened her shinobi passport, and tossed it to Daichi "If the enemy underestimates their target, they won't live long enough to regret such an action."

"So you're Shiori Niwano," Keito said as he looked at the passport, and pulled a Konoha Bingo Book from his briefcase. She stood silent as he read verbatim from a page in the guide. "Eighteen years old. Promoted to jounin recently after the events of the Third Shinobi World War. Shiori is an espionage expert, known for her infamous depictions as a civilian tourist and an academic scholar."

"That's how you got inside Konoha?" Kazuo asked.

Shiori gave a silent nod as Keito finished reading. "Although not a heavy user of ninjutsu, she uses taijutsu to disable opponents. She also uses genjutsu, often to maintain her cover or as means of escape. We recommend to capture her alive, as interrogation specialists may obtain vital information."

"We could've hired someone better for this," Daichi whined, scanning the young woman as she folded her arms. "This isn't a spy mission. We're looking to kill. She can murder the other two with ease, but if that woman is any good, this runt will be over her head."

"The report in the Bingo book doesn't show all my skills," Shiori said, leaning forward as she glared at Daichi. "I've done assassinations, and I leave no traces of my work."

"When can you accomplish this?" Keito asked as he snatched an envelope from Daichi, and gave it to her.

"In two days," Shiori said. "I need time to review the information and survey the targets before I devise a strategy—"

"You don't need to do anything else but slice open a few throats," Daichi interrupted as his stare burrowed into her eyes. "Kill them. I don't care how you do it, just complete the job—"

"If I do this sloppy," Shiori interrupted as she strained the words through her teeth. "Evidence can be traced to me, and by association, you."

"Don't talk to me like that, bi—" Daichi said. However, his posture stiffened, and the cigarette dropped out of his mouth when she pointed a kunai towards his chin.

"This is why I'm the shinobi hired for the mission, and you're the client that needs my assistance," she said with an icy tone. "Don't tell me how to do my job like I'm one of your waitresses in this dump."

"I didn't see her grab the weapon," Kazuo whispered to Keito while she returned the kunai inside her sleeve.

"The payment already cleared yesterday. Once I'm done, I'm leaving Konoha." She turned to Keito and Kazuo, handing the latter a paper with information. She turned to Daichi, adding with a venomous tone, "I'm not liable for anything after that."

"Great," Daichi mumbled after Shiori left the room, relaxing his posture. "Another woman with an attitude."

"You're smooth with the ladies," Kazuo stated as he gave a tolerant smile. "I'm surprised she didn't threaten to cut your balls like Kushina."

"See why I hired her?" Keito responded, tilting his hat up slightly. "A majority of people, including shinobi, don't think about the consequences of their actions." He moved his hand to the edge of the table as he continued, "Even Minato Namikaze, a man I respect, didn't realize the repercussions of sealing the demon inside his child." He looked at Daichi before adding, "Shiori is different. That is why Iwa holds her in high regard, despite her age. It's the same reason why Konoha and Suna list her in their bingo books."

"Besides," Kazuo added, "considering our target, it's everyone's best interest that this doesn't gather attention. From what I understand, she'll make it look like a painless accident." Glancing around, he added with a whisper, "At least they will die peacefully."

"She just better do the job," Daichi said, resting his head on his fist. "I don't care how it's done!"

x X x

"You have to leave tomorrow?" Kushina cried as she widened her eyes. "Konoha needs you at a time like this!"

"Ironic," Jiraiya said in a flat tone. "I'm leaving for the same reasons. Rumors are spreading about enemy contacts within Fire Country. The old man wants me to investigate."

"Can't Sarutobi-sama send someone else?" she asked. Her tone flattened as she added, "Or is this another excuse to peek on naked women in bath houses?"

"If I can get away with it," he said with a childish giggle in between, "both." Returning to his normal tone, he asked, "Will you and Naruto be okay?"

"Of course," she said. "Would you want to face the wrath of a mother?"

"Nope," he said. "Unless it's to watch a woman breastfeed. Then I'm all in!"

"Old pervert," she said, sighing as she crossed her arms on her chest. "Can't you at least look at porn instead of peeking around like normal men?"

"I need to peek for literary research," Jiraiya said as he revealed a notepad. "The publishers say more sexual innuendo will give better sales. Who am I to disagree with the experts? Besides, it's good training if I can do it without the women noticing."

"Oy," Kushina said, sighing as Jiraiya left via the open window. "Just what the world needs. Valid reasons for being a pervert."

x X x

After discussing other matters at the Marena, Keito left, while Daichi and Kazuo stayed behind Silence ensued between the two men as they ate.

"When you spoke to Shiori," Kazuo asked, breaking the silence, "What did you mean by killing three people?"

"What?" Daichi stated before he opened his mouth, covering it with his hand. "We are only killing the brat and his mother. Last time I recalled, that was only two people." Daichi folded his arms as he finished, "As a successful businessman, I assure you that I can count to three."

"You clearly said, 'Kill three people' to the girl." Kazuo said, moving forward on the table with his arms folded across his chest.

"It's a slip of the tongue," Daichi added, "I have many enemies that need to be dealt with. It is a common practice with my other enterprise—"

"I don't care about your drug cartel," Kazuo interrupted with a tense tone. As Daichi smoothed the sleeves of his suit, Kazuo continued. "What you said wasn't a mistake either. You also said that she wouldn't have problems with the first two targets, but may have problems with Kushina. What exactly is that supposed to mean? Who's the third person?" There was a brief pause as Daichi shifted his eyes away before Kazuo added, "Is it Heisuke?"

"You're a smart man," Daichi said in a relaxed tone before he sipped some sake. "What will you do about it?"

"I thought we agreed to leave him alone!" he yelled.

"Keito agreed to it. I never agreed to anything," Daichi said in a calm voice as Kazuo clenched his teeth. Daichi was the one who organized the files for Shiori, and likely slipped in Heisuke's information. "He may be your best friend, but he'll turn us in. I am not willing to take such a risk."

"Excuse me," Kazuo said as jumped out of his seat. Leaving for the exit, he added, "I have business to attend to—"

"If you decide to warn Heisuke," Daichi stated in a venomous tone as Kazuo stopped walking. He lowered his voice as he finished, "I'll deal with you as well." Kazuo glared at the man, leaving without saying another word.

x X x

The following afternoon, Shiori purchased a map of Konoha and studied the locations of her targets from the information she received in the envelope. She sighed in relief as she realized her targets lived within reasonable proximity. Not too close that the Konoha police or ANBU discovered her at one area while examining another. Not far enough that she risked encountering multiple patrols. Evading the Konoha Police may be a problem, but from her last infiltration mission, she heard rumors that the Uchiha on patrol did not have the Sharingan, and could not detect chakra instantly.

Several questions formed in her head as she glanced at the target list, her eyes focused on the surname Uzumaki. It's the same surname of her mentor, before she married the only son of the Sandaime Tsuchikage. The surname is rare, but perhaps it is just a coincidence.

She also thought about the mission and the circumstances around it. Why ask for a mission from an outside village, when you reside in a shinobi village. For men with great financial backing, hiring a shinobi within is a simple task. Also, the amount of information on the targets was lacking, like their ages.

Folding the map, she heard several taps on the door. She leaped from the bed and grabbed a kunai, but opted to conceal it in her sleeve. If Konoha learned her identity already, they would've shattered the door and windows to capture her, but she did not rule out a possible ambush. When she answered, it was one of her employers, much to her surprise.

"I'm sorry Kazuo," she whispered, "Can't talk now. Prepping for sightseeing in twenty minutes."

"I'll only take five minutes," Kazuo replied with a deadpan tone clutching an envelope in his hand, "and Konoha doesn't have tours. It's counter-productive for a shinobi village to have them."

"That's not what I meant! Read between the lines!" she said through her teeth, pulling him inside the room as she closed the door. When his eyes shifted around the room, she groaned before she stated in a slow place, "I'm going to scout the targets."

"Oh. Why didn't you say that?" As she rubbed her temples, he continued, "Anyway, I came to talk with you—"

"Don't say you're canceling the mission," she interrupted in a harsh whisper.

"Not exactly," he replied, hoping that the kunoichi didn't decide to kill him. When she sat down on the bed and placed her palms on her thighs, he continued, "It's about Heisuke Mikata, one of the targets."

"What about him?" she said, leaning forward.

"He's my best friend," he said, which caused Shiori to raise her eyebrow. "Daichi slipped that order in without mine or Keito's knowledge. Is it possible you can leave Heisuke alone?"

"I can't comply with your request," Shiori said with a lighter tone as he covered his opened mouth. "According to the contract, you, Keito and Daichi are my employers. I need the consent of all my employers for a mission change, or a direct order from the Tsuchikage." Kazuo slumped over. He thought he could convince the young shinobi to spare his life, but he understood she had an obligation to honor the agreement – even if it was made under false pretenses.

"The best I can do is tell him to leave Konoha for two days." A smile appeared on his face as she continued, "I'll be out the village by that time. If he isn't here, I can't accomplish the task, as the contract states the murder must occur in Konoha." She looked over at her desk, before returning her gaze to him.

"I don't know how much to thank you," Kazuo said with a cheerful voice, jumping to his feet. Handing her the envelope, he added, "Take it."

"You had a bribe in case my answer was no?" she said after she checked the envelope, stuffed with several ryo notes. When he nodded, she added, "Not all shinobi act for financial reasons. Some act out of pride to complete the mission."

"I understand what you mean," he said with a melancholy tone. "I've met several shinobi in Konoha with that mindset."

"Also," she said as she eased off the bed, "There'll be other attempts at his life. I suggest you and your friend leave town as well. Daichi has enough wealth to hire another shinobi, and will likely realize your involvement. Go on vacation, or move away from Konoha."

"I understand," he said as he thought about leaving behind his position on the council. However, his life was by far, worth more than power. "I'll leave town as soon as possible."

"In the meantime, I'll keep surveillance on him." She passed the envelope back to him as she added, "If he is still here, I must do my job. I have a reputation to uphold as an Iwa kunoichi."

"What?" he yelled. His voice turned to a harsh whisper as he added, "Do you seriously trust Daichi?"

"No, especially after what he said last night, and what he pulled in the contract." she replied in a flat tone. Her eyebrows rose as she added, "But should I trust you? You're associated with him."

"I see your point," Kazuo said as he lowered his head, walking toward the door. "Be careful, Daichi betrays both clients and customers in shady deals."

"Thanks for the information," she replied as she held the door open for him. "I'll keep it in mind."

x X x

At the Marena, Daichi entered the room with another man. The man waited to speak with him for over half an hour, and began to lose his patience.

"Hayaji Teisei, I presume?" Daichi asked. When the man nodded in agreement and showed his shinobi passport and Kumo hitai-ate, the portly man smiled. "You're probably aware of—"

"Enough of the formal bullshit," Hayaji said with agitated tone, folding his arms. "Get to the details of the job."

"I need you to assassinate six people," he responded as he gave the list of people to the shinobi, who snatched it out of his shaky hands.

"Are you insane?" he exclaimed, his eyes widened after reading two names. He recognized the name Minato Namikaze from the war, and knew Kushina Uzumaki was the wife of Minato Namikaze. However, it became clear he never saw a picture of them. "Moving in so soon to kill an old widow and his civilian son? Didn't know Konoha had vultures."

"An ethics lecture from an assassin for hire," he stated in an annoyed voice. "Do you find the irony in that."

"Kumo doesn't kill their allies," he said, as his eyes narrowed.

"But they'll sell them out to the enemy," he countered. "From my knowledge, Kumo goes to the highest bidder, regardless if it causes negative results. Such actions cost you, for instance, the presence of the Hyuuga clan." Hayaji remained quiet as Daichi continued with his index finger pointed at him, "If you don't have more moral lessons, do the job, or I will report your insubordination."

"Fine. I'll do it," he said. "Not for you, or for Kumo, but my daughter needs the funding for her oper—"

"I don't give a shit about your daughter," the entrepreneur yelled. "You have two days to complete the task."

"Until I get my money, I'm not doing anything." Hayaji glared back as he walked to the door," Not even the Raikage cares about complaints from a fat-ass deadbeat." Taking a shuriken from his holster, he threw it.

"Your money should have arrived in Kumo," Daichi stammered, as the weapon landed to the left of his neck.

"Good." Hayaji said, "And don't insult me again. Nothing stops me from accomplishing my mission, and killing the client afterward."

When he left the room, Daichi slumped and exhaled.

x X x

"Kazuo!" A woman with azure hair said with exuberance in her voice. "How's everything? I haven't seen you in a while."

"Yuriko! It's been a long day. Makes me wonder why I considered a career in punching numbers." As she nodded in agreement, he asked, "Is Heisuke here?"

"I told him to change Asuka," she said, motioning him to come in. "Give him a few minutes."

"Sure," he replied. He knew Heisuke and Yuriko from childhood, and knew that Heisuke was not the dominant person in that relationship. "How's everything with you?"

"Parenthood is a hassle," she responded with a laugh as both eased into opposite ends of a couch, "But I wouldn't trade it for anything else."

"Heisuke talks about Asuka for hours," Kazuo said with a smile. "He's definitely proud of his child."

"Kazuo, what are you doing here?" Heisuke said with surprised in his voice, as he entered the room with an infant girl in his arms.

"Speak of the devil," Kazuo said. "A friend can't stop to say hello?"

"I'll let you two talk, while I feed Asuka." Yuriko said, taking the infant from Heisuke.

"Wait," Kazuo said, "I haven't seen you in a while. You can feed Asuka here." Yuriko and Heisuke stared at him. An awkward silence ensued, while Kazuo appeared confused by the silence.

"She's breastfeeding," Heisuke said in a monotone voice. "Yuriko-chan doesn't want to do that in front of us. Well, you to be more exact."

"Oh! I forgot that babies could be fed through..." Kazuo trailed off, his cheeks tinged red. Regaining his composure, he added, "I get it. Just go ahead Yuriko."

"What brings you here?" Heisuke asked, as Yuriko left. A door closed, and the sound of muffled feminine laughter echoed in the house.

"Remember how we talked about a vacation outside Fire Country?" Kazuo asked with a grin on his face. "I'm going tomorrow. Want to come along?"

"This isn't the time," Heisuke said with a frown. "Yuriko and Asuka need me. I also need to hire shinobi to supervise the repair two shops and a factory in southern Fire Country."

"So we'll bring the girls!" Kazuo said with a smile. "Don't worry about the contractors. I'll hire some genin for C-rank missions to handle the repairs."

"Repairing a building is a D-rank mission," Heisuke added.

"It's C-rank if they must leave Konoha for an extended time," Kazuo retorted, twisting the tip of his shoe on the ground. "Getting back to the subject, isn't it a great time to relax on the beaches in Water Country?"

"It's autumn," Heisuke grumbled, "The temperature is cooling."

"How about Wind Country?" Kazuo asked. "I've been to the Great Western Desert once, and it's a fun adventure." When Heisuke deepened his frown, Kazuo added, "I'm sure you'd like to expand your business outside of Fire Country. Think of it as a trip for pleasure and business."

"Sounds great!" he said with a higher tone and a grin. "I hear Suna has a more active business district with the treaty, and Yuriko always wanted to visit."

"Great! Let's leave tomorrow morning!" Keito said. He paused briefly before adding, "It takes a few days to arrive in Suna."

"That's impossible!" Heisuke responded with a frown, "I need time to make plans! We need to hire shinobi escorts, make reservations in Suna, contact my employees—"

"What happened to spur of the moment?" Kazuo replied with a smirk. "Ever since you got married, you started planning in advance." Knowing he has his friend cornered, he whispered, "People are saying how Yuriko wears the pants in the family."

"Fine," Heisuke stated with a noticeable sigh. While it was technically true that Yuriko was the dominant person in the relationship, such relationships were frowned upon in the business and political world. "But we're leave tomorrow afternoon, and I'm telling Yuriko it's your dumb idea."

"That's great," Kazuo said as he leaped out of his seat. "I'll meet you here so we can leave from the western gate—"

"All done," Yuriko interrupted as she carried the baby, "So what did I miss?"

"Oh, just a vacation to Suna we're planning for tomorrow," Kazuo said with an innocent tone as he walked out the house. "You're going to enjoy it!"

"A vacation?" Yuriko asked Heisuke with edginess in her voice. "Now?"

x X x

Kazuo walked on the empty road of Konoha, thinking of what he could do in Suna. There wasn't much in terms of tourism, but like any other village, Suna had several historical sites and landmarks, in addition to various forms of entertainment.

Several streets away from his home, a shuriken whizzed by his face, striking a wooden pole a meter behind him. He screamed for help, but a hand muffled any sound leaving his lips.

"Nothing personal," The assailant whispered in his ear as Kazuo widened his eyes. "But this is business." After those words, he fractured Kazuo's neck with a sickening twist. For good measure, he turned his neck in the opposite direction and struck him in the back of the head.

As the body dropped to the ground, the assailant checked the pulse of the unconscious man. Realizing there was none, he grabbed a slip of paper from his pocket. Looking at a list of people, he crossed off Kazuo Natsugawa with a pen.

"One down," Hayaji whispered, "Five to go." He knew that two targets were close, but he knew Konoha ANBU and Uchiha Police Officers would arrive soon. He left, opting to reach the other targets once the scene cooled down.

x X x

Shiori began her surveillance after an incident in the hot spring, where several women caught a middle-aged man with white hair peeking. She thought it'd be easier to visit a strip club and pay to see a naked woman. Maybe the man was too poor to visit one, but no woman will give a free show to a random stranger, at least without some consequences, like a face-crushing fist.

Her trip to the springs shortened, she watched the home of Heisuke Mikata. Calculating everything, she realized that although she didn't want to after the conversation with Kazuo Natsugawa, murdering Heisuke seemed simple. When she noticed Kazuo knocking on the door moments later, she crossed Heisuke off her hit list of potential targets. Satisfied, she strolled away from the scene, taking the role of an Earth Country tourist once more as she moved to the next target.

After traveling through various hills, she found the home of Kushina Uzumaki. To her surprise, she entered an area where many ninjas resided. Although she lived in an apartment, it seemed that each tenement occupied one complete floor of the six-story building, with the stairs leading to each floor on the outside. Fortunately, Kushina lived on the first floor of the complex.

Knocking on the door, she thought the woman either was a high-ranking shinobi, or owned connections to an important shinobi in Konoha. Much to Shiori's dismay, the woman who answered the door resembled a person she knew. Despite the thought, she must accomplish her mission. Kushina crossed the wrong people and she received the contract from the Tsuchikage to assassinate her.

"Umm, excuse me. I'm lost." Shiori stammered. "I left a restaurant and can't find my hotel. Can you give me directions?"

After Kushina gave her detailed directions to her hotel, Shiori noticed the baby in her arms, which reminded the Iwa kunoichi of her mentor again, as she gave birth to a child recently as well.

"Your child is adorable!" Shiori said in a sweet tone. It helped that her statement held sincerity. "What's his name?"

"His name is Naruto," Kushina replied. The color in Shiori's face turned pale. She looked at the baby, then looked at the sky, surprised that one of her assassination targets was a baby.

"Are you okay?" the woman asked asked. "You look surprised."

"I'm fine," the young shinobi stammered as she snapped out of her thoughts. "It is surprising that your child is ... " her voice trailed off before she added while regaining her composure, "Named after a ramen topping."

"I get that reaction sometimes." Kushina said with giggle. "My husband and I named him after a character in his mentor's book."

"Ah, that's understandable." When Kushina mentioned her mentor, her memory shifted for the third time in five minutes. "I should return. T-thank you for the help..." She hesitated before adding, "I'm sorry, but I don't know your name." She said with a respectful bow, hands clasped in front of her. "My name is Shiori."

"Kushina Uzumaki," she said, with a smile, unable to bow in return with Naruto in her arms. "Pleased to meet you, Shiori—" She stopped when a glass bottle shattered at the wall near the two women, thrown by a man staggering on the street, reeking of alcohol.

"Why did you do that, jerk?" Shiori yelled, resisting the urge to throw her kunai at him. Doing so would completely blow her cover against her target.

"Why do you protect that Kyuubi brat?" the drunken man slurred. "The monster killed my brother, and thousands of others." Taking another bottle and consuming more liquor, he continued, "He deserves to die, just like the way he assain ... asssashin... killed everyone." Raising his fist, he added, "It's only fair that he dies too!"

"My son is not a monster, and he didn't kill your brother!" Kushina yelled. Shiori looked around, thankful no one else was around to witness this debacle. Yet, she found it perplexing that no patrols passed through the area yet, as if they're busy with something else.

"Yeah, yeah," the drunk waived her off as he continued, spewing saliva, "You're Minato's widow, but the villager hates the brat. Don't get in the damn way, or they'll turn on you."

Shiori absorbed the information from the drunk, watching as he tripped and landed on his face. He scrambled to his feet before staggering away. She glanced at the child in Kushina's arms. There were no mistaking the features, especially the blue eyes and the color of his hair.

The child is indeed the son of Minato Namikaze, the most reviled man in Iwa.

"I'm sorry you heard that." Kushina said in a serene tone, snapping the young shinobi out of her daze again.

"The drunks riot over anything in my hometown." Shiori replied and sighed after. " I know about the Kyuubi because I've been in Fire Country for two weeks." Glancing around the area, she added in a softer tone, "I thought Namikaze-sama killed the beast. Didn't know he sealed it inside his child."

"The villagers are angry," Kushina said as she glanced away. "They fail to realize Naruto and the Kyuubi are not the same." Shiori nodded in agreement, understanding the preposterous situation.

"Maybe you should leave the town for a while?" Shiori said as Kushina raised her eyebrow. "Allow the villagers to grieve, and escape the morons trying to kill him."

"Can't do it," Kushina said with a soft tone. "I don't trust certain people in Konoha. If I leave, I wouldn't be surprised if they said I was exiled and wouldn't be able to return."

Nodding in agreement, Shiori gave another polite bow to the woman, and returned to her hotel. Several thoughts weighed on her mind.

x X x

It's an unfavorable mark on her record if she did not finish the mission assigned, but Shiori learned about her three targets. An innocent man that opposed the mission, the widow of Minato Namikaze, whom resembles a person she knows, and a newborn child. The child was the most perplexing, a demon container, and the son of Konoha's Yellow Flash.

She could understand if someone from Iwa wanted this mission, as everyone sees Minato Namikaze as the devil in that country. However, Konoha reveres him as a hero. She rationalized that there is only one legitimate explanation. Gathering a stationery pad and a pen, she scribbled a short letter:

To whom it may concern,

I seek a formal request from the Tsuchikage office to abandon mission No. 091008. A client seeks to implicate Iwa as a scapegoat for three politically motivated killings within Konoha. Continuation of this mission will result in a serious dispute with Konoha, which we cannot afford at this current time.

Shiori Niwano

She used a kunai to draw blood from her thumb, and summoned a small bird. Attaching the note to the bird, she ordered it to fly to Iwa and the Tsuchikage building.

x X x

This ends the second chapter. Kazuo Natsugawa is dead. Will Kushina, Naruto, and Heisuke survive, or will Hayaji eliminate them first? What will Shiori do now that she opted to abandon the mission? Find out this and more when you read Chapter 3: Tragedy, Whispers, and Secrets. Until then, please review the story, and enjoy the rest of your day (or evening).