(Unknown location two days prior to Naruto's departure)

A man sat in a Traditional Japanese the simple one room hut placed at the very back of a small walled off section of the mountain he resided on. The compound had a large Sakura tree in the middle of it, a small chicken coop also resided to the left of the compound opposite a small fountain which gave off the sound of water moving.

Aside the man was woman who was playing a Shamisen completing the almost stereotypically Japanese feel to the compound. All in the entire place was at peace as the man meditated and the woman played slowly.

The peace was broken however when a man dressed in simple black robes burst through the gates running straight towards the man, once he got with a meter he stopped and bowed to the man.

"Lord Shogawaki I came as soon as I read your message!" the man's face was clean cut and he had a small pair of glasses balanced on his nose, his black hair was done up in a traditional samurai knot even though it was clear he was a ninja rather than a warrior.

"Ah agent Tanto, I was wondering when you'd get here, Do not worry about protocol for now come sit beside me we have much to discuss." Tanto appeared uncertain as to whether or not he should do that but gave in to the stare Shogawaki was giving him, he sat down and Shogawaki sighed.

"It seems that I have a new mission for you;" Shogawaki stared at the Sakura tree watching as a few pink leaves rolled in the breeze.

"Do you know how difficult it was to grow this tree here? In the mountains of Iwa?" Shogawaki smiled at Tanto motioning towards the tree.

"No, my lord;" Though the agent was impatient to find out who his next target was he knew that being impatient would only delay the answer.

"Very difficult, it reminds me of you; a true shinobi, a stealthy assassin, rather than those loud blundering fools in the villages." He stared at the tree deep in thought. He clenched his fists though and turned to his agent.

"There are those who would destroy this tree, who would gladly kill you and me, simply because we do not follow their way, Konoha is one of these places." A certain edge entered his tone when he said the village's name, "And we have now just found out from one of my sleeper agents in Waves that Konoha has a jinchuuriki, we long suspected that there was one in Konoha after the Kyuubi attack but we never were certain as to his identity. Now we know however, the targets name is Uzumaki Naruto," at this the man drew out a photo taken by the spy. "You are to eliminate him as soon and stealthily as possible. Do not get involved in a direct confrontation with him, simply ambush him and cut off his head so as to prevent regeneration."

Tanto rather than looking scared as most men would be at the thought of fighting jinchuuriki, looked determined and a hard light entered his eyes.

"Very well my lord, shall I leave now," Tanto began to stand up,

"Yes," Lord Shogawaki tone was bored all of a sudden as if after making sure Tanto needed no more information than the agent was suddenly useless.

As the agent jogged out of the compound Shogawaki smiled, a cruel edge to his expression, and killed the shamisan player who had stopped playing.

Useless things these foreigners were couldn't even learn a three stringed simplicity.