A/N Hey guys, welcome back! I'm having so much fun writing this, hope you are enjoying reading it:) Thanks for all the nice reviews:)

Just wanted to say that about 100 people read each chapter; it would be nice if just 10% of you readers would take the time to review; I would really appreciate it:)

Ok, enjoy!

Chapter Three: Central Park

You are scouting around The Lake in Central Park. Your stomach is still queasy from your second Hiraishin ride of the day, but you grit your teeth and steady your eyes: there is a job do to, and dammit, you will not fuck it up.

Uchiha Sasuke was last sighted just a few hours ago in this park, preying on victims as twilight set. The report they had received at their Boston headquarters had included at least ten victims, mostly women, but also a few men. You shiver; you know how Naruto and Sakura feel about their prodigal ex-teammate, but Uchiha Sasuke gives you the creeps. First he ran away from Konoha and joined the Snake—the legendary mafia run by infamous Ex-Nazi Orochimaru—and now, there are rumors that Sasuke has made himself into some kind of vampire after slaying his old master.

You would never tell Naruto this, but if Sasuke had been your teammate, you would have given up on him a long time ago. Though you certainly don't believe the rumors that he's actually a vampire; probably he's just carried on in the tradition of Orochimaru's weird and deadly human experiments. Certainly, looking like a vampire would give Sasuke power over his subordinates and victims; but if anything, it's probably nothing more than a cosmetic change. Sasuke always was a bit goth, after all…

Biting your fingernails, you press the button on your walkie-talkie. "N-no sign of him, Naruto-kun. Do you…?"

There is a sigh on the other end. "No, we haven't seen him either. Neither have the others. Let's regroup by the boathouse."

You raise your eyes and look out over the vast lake. The romantic, columnar boathouse is not far; its outline is clearly defined by strung lights, making its reflection shimmer on the lake's surface. You muse that this is a more likely place to hold weddings, what with the boathouse's beautiful stone arches and crystalline lights; it is less suited to the covert activities of the Forest. You leave your perch in the tree and run soundlessly, straight across the lake. The moon hasn't risen yet, and besides, your Byakugan-enhanced eyes don't see anyone dangerous nearby; you prefer efficiency to staying under the tree-cover, for you assume Sasuke and his cronies are long gone.

But you are wrong, dead wrong—suddenly the water materializes into a pair of liquid hands that try to grab you. But just as the hands swipe at you, you swing out of the way at the last minute, frantically pushing the button on your walkie-talkie. "Help! I'm being attacked! The Lake—" A kunai whizzes past your face and dislodges the communications device from your hand; it hits the lake with a sickening fizzle before it bubbles and sinks.

"Aw, come on little girl, I won't hurt you." The hands part to reveal a face smirking with shark-like teeth. The man hauls himself out of the water, a giant sword strapped to his back. If you weren't sure who it was before, seeing that legendary sword Kubikiribocho—its wicked blade notched like an oversized meat cleaver—makes everything clear: it is Suigetsu. Though unlike his Bingo Book picture, his canine teeth are elongated and pointed like a snake's.

You don't have time to analyze that last piece of information though, because you have to act, and fast. Suigetsu looks at you askance, as if he is confused; you take his moment of hesitation to channel chakra into your Hirashin tattoo. If your walkie-talkie communications haven't gone through, then this will certainly get Naruto's attention.

"You're wasting your time, Hyuga," Suigetsu barks. "The rest of your comrades are already under attack; I was told to take you on myself." Your heart sinks as the rogue syndicate member swings his blade in an arch, his blue-tinted skin rippling with muscles. "Don't give me that petrified look. I'm under orders not to kill you—and I'm not allowed to turn you, either." He licks his lips at that and you quiver—what the hell does he mean, turn you?

Before you can interject, Suigetsu mutters, "Though how much I want to sink my teeth into that tender, white skin, you have no idea—you look and smell delicious. But that's for the boss," he sighs, shrugging theatrically. "Well, do you give up, or will you fight?"

Your fists are shaking from a combination of fear and determination. Is this guy one of those creeps who rapes, kills, and eats his victims? Sasuke and his cronies are more depraved than you thought. "I will never give up. For it is my way!" you roar, coming at the enemy, fists flaming with chakra, your heart beating wildly with fear and adrenaline.

But Suigetsu is the worst kind of opponent you could fight: while you are a close range fighter, Suigetsu is able to keep a wide berth around him on account of his giant sword. Worst of all, when his blade bears down on you, it is difficult to defend against: the metal seems to scream for your blood. It cuts through your pitiful defenses time and time again; your arms are soon covered in deep, bloody lacerations. The more blood he sheds, the wilder his purple eyes become, and the more he swings his terrible sword with gusto.

Your eyes grow wide with jutsu and with fear: this overwhelming bloodlust, this is why Suigetsu is called a prodigy in the art of murder. You don't stand a chance. You know this, Suigetsu knows this, but still, you funnel your pitiful reserves of chakra into your fists and prepare for another futile attack. At least you will have died trying—

Suddenly, the boathouse on the far bank bursts into flames—you can feel the chakra around your Hirashin tattoo quiver, and you know your lover is in danger. "Naruto!" you cry, terrified. The enemy takes advantage of this moment of shock to whack you over the head with the flat of his blade. The world lurches around you. You do not even have the wherewithal to curse your own ineptitude as everything goes dark, and you sink into a deep, black oblivion.

a/n make your fanfic author smile—review today:) Thanks!