Sorry I didn't update till now. Don't think many people are interested in this story, so I might move onto something else soon...Thank you for the reviews and likes I did get though! :D and I hope you enjoy the new chapter of bounty thief! as always please read and review! also I don't own Naruto, only Saeko!

chapter 10

I didn't waste any time, I quickly packed my stuff, and opened the room's only window.

"urrrgh!"

the damn thing was jammed with grim and dead bugs. Was everything against me leaving? It seemed to me that fate just liked seeing me struggle in this life. I jerked the window to the side with all my strength but ended up ripping it right out of the wall due to rust on one side. I screamed as the glass shattered all over the floor, but I couldn't let this slow me down. Why not just leave out the front door you might ask? well for one I was just dramatic like that, and I didn't want to run into mean and meaner on the way out. So with that in mind I heaved myself out of the now large hole in the wall and leaped to the adjacent roof top. It was time for me to move on before they decided to off me themselves. I'd have to come up with another plan to earn all that money now that my previous idea now proved to be close to impossible. I jumped from roof to roof, making sure to keep an eye out for the pair. My goal was to make it back to Konoha, and possibly try to beg my way back into good favor there. I missed my friends, and I needed to still explain myself. I was a fool to think I could ever take on someone like those two by myself. This time I was just going to be honest with Naruto. He was the type to be understanding of people and was a kind soul.

Before I could even make it to the edge of the village though my stomach let out a loud groan. "stomach-san!? why do you protest now..." my eyebrows furrowed as I neared the wafting smells of restaurants and food stalls. I'd of just bought something if it were for that jerk taking all my money for my 'debt'. That's when a devilish plan began to hatch in my mind. I spent some time searching for the nastiest bug I could find and placed him in a small thrown away bottle. I needed a distraction long enough for me to nab some of those delicious looking kabobs from a grilled meat stand. Just thinking about my prize made my mouth water in anticipation. it'd be just like old times when I was on the run. That and I happened to learn from the best prankster in Konoha! Naruto was always telling me stories of the tricks he pulled when he was younger.

"let's go my friend!" I jumped up a roof from an ally way and searched for the poor victim of my prank. Someone far away enough from the stand, but close enough for me to do my swiping. That's when I spotted a very thin man with a bandana tied around his forehead. It looked like he was trying to look tough to a neighboring stand by threatening the older stall owner. He didn't look the remotely scary type, but the owner seemed to be worried all the same. I grinned and snuck up directly above the small man and opened the bottle.

"alright its your time to shine lil guy" I whispered encouragingly as if it would understand me. I shook the bottle upside down till the black bug slipped from the mouth of the bottle and landed right onto the shoulder of the 'brute'. The stall owner seemed to have noticed and started pointing to his assailants right side.

"what old kook!? Aren't you listening? I told you to pay up! boss doesn't like waiting for his money." He just ignored the warning and continued with his ranting. The bug didn't like all the noise and decided to take refuge in the man's shirt.

"If you don't have the money by this evening imma round up my- URK!" He froze up as he felt the little legs on his back. I immediately started my way to the food stall next door and prepared myself for the nabbing.

"AHHHH!" the guy started trying to reach behind him but couldn't quite get to the bug, now that he was moving the bug started to panic too and squirmed to the front side. Before you know it the pretend thug was dancing in the streets shrieking like a little girl. All eyes were on him as everyone started to point, and some were even laughing. The cook below me left his grill to peek out to see what all the ruckus was about, and I took this as my chance to claim my prize. I swooped in quickly and grabbed about three sticks of juicy meat and left before anyone even noticed.

"oh my gosh! So worth it..." I savored the flavor and ate proudly, walking down the streets.

"HEY! YOU! that's not free you know! I saw all that!" I froze and slowly turned around with a meat kabob still shoved into my mouth

"I don noh wha ya tashin aba..." I said with a mouthful. The person before me was a bit bigger than the beetle's dance partner, and even looked familiar too.

"Think you can just mess with the Yuba Gaaba brothers and get away with it? My older brother doesn't like being pranked!" I nearly choked on my meal as I laughed

"that guy's the older brother!? hahahahahhah!" I whipped my eyes and finished the last piece of meat from the stick.

"Grrrr, if you knew who we were you wouldn't be laughing at us!" he growled and pointed at me "Boss wont like to find out that you stole from his stands!" I rolled my eyes at the joke of a man and turned my back to him to continue my way out of this shit hole.

"That's it! keep walking to your grave lady!" his voice faded and I didn't get to hear the rest of his ranting, not that it was important anyway.

Kakuzu's POV

All I wanted now was to get back to the room, and relax, I was tired of hearing Hidan complain about how he didn't get to do the ritual properly and how Jashin was now upset. I never understood his obsession with something that wasn't practical like money. The whole way back I drowned out his ranting with Saeko's words echoing in my head. The little idiot didn't understand either, but seeing her so upset over this nobody had hit a nerve with me. Part of me was indifferent but something there was gnawing inside me, I was glad this man was dead. When they arrived the two were standing close, both of them covered in sweat and she even begged for his life. I didn't bother to chase after her since I knew she was just going to head back to the room. She knew what would happen if she decided to run off too.

"...and that's how I'm immortal so its very fucking important that I sa- Hey are you even listening to me!?"

"I'm all ears" I muttered sarcastically as we entered the shabby bedroom. Right away I knew things were off. Saeko's things were missing, the place was ransacked, and the window was shattered all over the floor. "The hell happened here Kakuzu!?" Hidan stuck his head out of the window and looked around. So she chose to run did she? Did she think I was just going to let her off the hook that easily?

"Let's go Hidan"

I shifted the body on my back and started to leave. My anger got the best of me, first she pulls the stunt of threatening me, gives me a good for nothing bounty, and then vanishes. This woman had a death wish, and I was going to grant it for her.

Saeko's trail was very easy to follow considering the shouting coming from the lower district, people were laughing and shouting talking about some prankster girl who stole from a stall. "She knows how to make a fucking scene...I'll give her that" Hidan sweat dropped upon watching two men scrambling in the middle of the streets, Then running toward the exit of the village. "We're going to follow those two, I'm sure our lost puppy will be near" I didn't pause to give the priest time to register that I just referred to the girl as a puppy. The two looked weak enough so I wasn't worried about being in any danger, but knowing that woman she was going to pull some kinda stunt and get herself into trouble. If anyone was going to kill her it was going to be me.

Saeko's POV

As I continued my way down the dirt road I finished the last stick of juicy meat. Now that my stomach was settled I could focus on my retreat back to Konoha. I was a bit surprised that I had gotten away from those two maniacs so easily, but ignored it. Good fortune must finally be coming my way. Once I made it past the village's shabby fence I looked on ward and drew up a mental map. I didn't want to head any deeper into earth country. Sooner or later someone was going to recognize me and my abundant debt to the man that pretty much ran the smaller villages in these lands. The last thing I wanted was to end up right back where I started.

I pin pointed the direction I needed to go and on I went. It felt nice to be traveling by myself again "ah don't you just love the weather here Mr. Rag Doll!?" I sighed into a smile enjoying the bright sun, but slowly frowned when I didn't hear Hidan's annoying snark comments and Kakuzu's persistent nagging to hurry up. Was this what it was like to be apart of a team like Naruto and Sakura? To suddenly lose that team...of course mine was made under different conditions, and we weren't exactly friends. I started to wonder if they would of come to my rescue knowing I was in trouble or something. I shook my head after imaging Hidan and Kakuzu in shiny suits of armor running to save me. I sweat dropped and laughed nervously "They would never save me like that!"

"you're right miss, no one is going to save you ever!" I nearly jumped out of my skin from the sudden response.

"who's there!?" I got into a fighting stance, my guard up in a second.

"I thought you looked familiar, only you were just a little runt when we met!" My blood ran cold as two figures approached from the brushes. Upon seeing the two faces in a much clearer light I gulped. Sure their bodies were much scrawnier then I remembered, but it was the two men that beat me as a child.

"HA! jokes on you two, I'm not scared of wimps!" I pulled out some small marble sized hand grenades specially made by yours truly. they both just chuckled and cracked their knuckles in unison "guess you didn't get enough last time you little brat", They both made hand signs of tiger, monkey, and snake. "Earth style! Mountain strength!" Right before my eyes the two limp and pathetically bony men rippled. Their once thin arms bulge to the point of splitting and their whole bodies changed into massive muscle freaks!

The transformation was pretty disgusting to watch, but watching them now flex into different poses was too much for me. "oh belch...I don't even want to touch those...things!" I shivered and backed away.

"that's fine, cause we're gonna pummel you till your nothing but dust! I'm sure boss will forgive us this one time."

They started to charge me, thankfully due to their new massive size they were also much slower then before. I took advantage of this and easily dodged their blows, and delivered a few of my own. Training with Sakura had greatly improved my speed and strength so I had to thank her once I saw her again. I was able to plant some of the small bombs on their bodies without them noticing. "hahaha that all you freaks got? I'm much stronger now idiots!" I let the situation get to my head I guess and didn't catch one of the brothers moving behind me "GATCHA NOW BRAT!" he roared and engulfed me with his giant arms. I was stuck in his bear hug from behind, and I couldn't even move my fingers from his tight grasp. "urrrgh! he's gonna crush me!". Since I couldn't move I couldn't detonate my bombs.

"time to go night night girlie..." The remaining brother advanced on me and swung an uppercut right into my gut. the sheer force was enough to cause me to gasp for air and cough, fighting to keep breathing. "I told you, no one messes with the Yuba Gabba brothers!" he swung again causing another grunt of pain, only this time I coughed up blood. My vision was swirling and darkness crept up all around me. I grinned at the ground and started to laugh "hehehe..." The brother paused his final blow and growled at me "what's so funny!?" I just kept laughing till he gripped my long hair in his gorilla fists and yanked my head back "I ASKED YOU A QUESTION!" I grinned, stealing Hidan's signature look and spat my blood right into his face. I wasn't going to die without a fight, even if that meant pissing off my attackers. Not smart, but what can I say? I wasn't the sharpest kuni in the pouch after all. "you're nothing but that disgusting man's attack dogs, and you'll die like dogs too!"

"why you little bitch!" He released my head by tossing my head to the side and raised both of his fists up above his head. he was going to smash my head in, what a fitting way to die I suppose. I kept my smile and lowed my head, waiting for the impact. When nothing happened I look up "what? did you deflate-?" I blinked in shock as I spotted thick threads tightly wound around the guys wrists keeping him from finishing the attack.

"tch useless as ever eh Kakuzu?"

"hmph..."

I couldn't believe it! the zombie team was there behind the giant man and helping me! I nearly had to blink back tears of joy from seeing the two impossible men. who would of known that they would come to my rescue!

"Oi move outta the way, we are trying to get by ya know! fucking heathens..." okay well not Hidan but Kakuzu saved me right!? he stopped the man from killing me.

"don't damage what belongs to me...That girl owes me money." Ow! my ego! ohhh my heart! Those jerks! now I wish they'd just leave me here. Kakuzu whipped the threads down, sending the giant backwards then plunged his detached arm right through his chest. "Brother!" the one holding me cried out and threw me to the side "oomph! yeah thanks..." I muttered and rubbed my sore gut where I was punched twice. Kakuzu ripped his hand out of the bloody hole, and was gripping the mans heart. "so weak...but it'll do...". The other enraged beast of a man charged at the two, but no way was I going to let them have all the satisfaction after 'rescuing me'. I made the appropriate sign and the bombs on the man glowed "move Hidan!" Kakuzu jumped away in time leaving a bewildered Hidan who got caught up in the massive explosion.

As the dust cleared Hidan was still standing there with a pissed off look "I just got these cloths too!" his blackened cloths smoked and were blasted away in some parts. The brother on the other hand had it much worse. His now original smaller form was laying in a crater. his body burnt and crispy. "What the fuck was that for!?" He yelled at me, patting out spots on him that were still smoking. I just shrugged innocently and started walking away from the two. Some heroes, not to mention Kakuzu is still hung up on that debt of mine. "Stop." His voice shattered the silence and I froze instantly as if under a control jutsu. "You still owe me." I clenched my fists and fought back my tears. I was sick of hearing that from everyone. No matter where I went I always ended up indebted to someone. "so what..." I mumbled, why couldn't someone owe me for a change? I saved both of them from their graves, I worked so hard, yet no one seemed to notice the things I did for them. "I don't owe you a thing!" I turned on my heels, rage building inside me, making me bold and forget just who I was shouting at. "in my eyes I don't owe you anything! I was the one that saved you! I dug Hidan out of the ground! I protected you from the Anbu! I took care of you when you were sick! I did those things!". Hidan was ignoring my ranting and Kakuzu just stood there with an eyebrow raised. I gritted my teeth and pointed at the tall dark skinned man "if anything you should owe me!"

"If I recall, most of those things happened because of you in the first place" he rolled his eyes and reached behind him with the heart still in his hand. His cloak was slid down around his elbows, and threads started to engulf the organ.

"I could of let you die..." I whispered under my breath

"fine, you don't have a debt anymore then since I have this instead" and he motioned to Ryu's corpse on the ground. I cringed at the sight, but nodded in agreement.

"however, you still owe me a heart..." once the one he had was now stitched away and a mask of a ram's face was now secured, Kakuzu began advancing on me.

"w-what? I thought we were past that? you said If I helped you I could keep my heart!" He scoffed at me and kept walking, his arm out stretched. I started to panic and backed up right into a tree "ok ok! I have a deal we can make!" I closed my eyes shut tight waiting for a response.

Kakuzu paused but I saw that he was severely irritated by constantly interrupting him. he waited for me to continue. "u-um...if you help me finish my mission, I'll give you my heart willingly!" I stuttered hoping to peek his interest. If only I hadn't run into those two guys I'd of been home free by now. I could see Hidan smirking like an idiot at my fear in the distance and I shot him a cold glare.

"why should I care? we are busy with our own problems.." the threads under his skin began to ripple in anticipation of another bloody heart.

"Cause my target is filthy rich!" I blurted out. This caught his attention and he retreated his threads. "hmm..?"

"ah come on already! fucking kill her Kakuzu! she has wasted enough of our time!" Hidan complained and picked up Ryu's body. "leader wont be happy if we are late again." he added.

Kakuzu ignored the priest and stared me down as if weighing the options. "You better be right, or I'll make sure your death isn't quick or painless" I nodded rapidly and let out the breath I had been holding. "great more time with the fucking useless bitch" Hidan griped and walked on ahead "you owe me new cloths by the way!" he shouted back at me. All I could do was thank my lucky stars and follow the two down the path. I figured they were going to cash in Ryu first then head deeper into the territory. Part of me wished this part of my life was over already, but the other half enjoyed the company and the new adventure, despite the danger.