AN: I know I know I haven't updated in a while, just been super lazy but now I'm beginning to focus on my fics more so I'll be sure to update faster. Hope this meets to everyone's expectations as I've been getting some very, very flattering compliments such as award winning fics, people like the dark theme I have, etc. Thank you so much and don't worry this fic will most likely be romance-free.

Disclaimer; I do not own Naruto in any way.

Now on with the fic!

The shrill screams were still fresh in his ears, flickering of the flames against his skin burning proof from the dark marks that covered his pale skin, and the blood, warmth of the life liquid slipping through his fingers. These entire he remembered as though it was only a few moments ago when in fact it had to be at least a few days. He wasn't sure, he had been running for a while and keeping track of the time and day was not on his mind. The harsh cover of bark rubbed against his barely clothed back, donned in only a black tank top and pants, he had little to cover himself from Mother Nature.

Dirt smudges, twigs, and leaves clung to his body as though he had been rolling around in the dirt along with a few specks of peculiar red. He could feel the dried parts of blood on his face but made no effort to wipe or wash them off as he did with his hands; the crusted liquid was his reminder of the deed that he, nor anyone, would ever forget.

The Hyuuga Massacre.

Twitching at the corner of his lips eventually gave way to curl into a self-satisfied smirk. Thinking back to the shock and fear on the Hyuuga faces as he begun to exterminate them one by one like cockroaches, the most that gave him pleasure was his uncle's face when the curse seal didn't activate, he took great pleasure destroying his uncle in the most slow, and painful way possible. Hanabi had been there to watch, the ignorant little girl had tried to stop his obviously unaware of his power, he could almost laugh that she thought she was the Hyuuga prodigy thus she would be able to. He remembered telling her as she lied drowning in her own blood, coughing and sputtering trying to gather air into her punctured lungs, she may have been the main house prodigy but he was the prodigy of the entire clan.

Then there was Hinata.

He remembered he was going to be Hiashi's present to the young woman as though he was a mere item! Not a human being, he was going to be used simply for breeding and nothing more. A forced fiancé when he had another life, things he wanted to do and not be dragged into the Hyuuga family even more yet when he protested his uncle has simply told him he was property, nothing more. He was going to kill her last, when he came back to finish her off she had been clutching to her father checking over his wounds as though she could bring him back to life.

The fear and confusion in her eyes made him angry, clench tightly to the kunai he had held in his hands and the questions she asked made him want to scream.

'Why?'

Why? She had to ask why? There was so much he could have said to answer her, so many things he could have brought into the light to make her understand that he had never forgiven the main house, he had never forgiven anyone. However it wouldn't have been long before the police force would be on the Hyuuga compound and though as skilled as he was he had no desire to take on a whole shinobi force at the time so he had replied in the simplest way he could.

'The Hyuuga created something they couldn't cage. You can cage a bird, but you can't cage a monster'

Then he had made move to kill her, a quick move to her heart for a sudden death but something stopped him. What he wasn't sure but he had left her there covered in his father's blood.

He was brought back to his senses by the light snap of a twig, on his feet and alert in a second he activated his byakugan and searched around him. Nothing…He wasn't stupid though, Neji was not called a genius for anything with lighting quick reflexes he turned on the branch he has been previously resting on hand moving out to strike what was behind him. Another hand blocked the hand as well as the one that followed; Neji scowled his opponent and himself were stuck in a dead-lock, it was then that he realized who exactly had been stalking him as white eyes met those of red with black spinning within them.

Itachi Uchiha.

A small shiver ran down Neji's spine, not because of fear but because of a feeling of recognition. The two murders of the two greatest clans in the shinobi clan remained in their deadlock, silence except for the occasionally chirping of birds in the far off distances.

"What do you want?" Neji broke the silence, his arm beginning to shake from the pressure he was putting out and receiving "I' am no longer with Konoha."

Itachi's face twisted into a smug expression though it was barely noticeable if it wasn't for Neji's byakugan and Neji found himself growing quickly irritated with the other man. His knee came up with the intent to injure the Uchiha briefly enough to perform his gentle fist. However Itachi managed to dodge gracefully landing on the tree branch next to the branch Neji occupied looking as though he had been rooted to the spot the entire time, his jacket barely making a sound as it flapped back into pace.. The Uchiha looked down and it was now Neji noticed another familiar face that of the shark faced man named Kisame. Mentally he cursed himself how he had been caught off guard, it wouldn't happen again.

"Kisame…" Itachi's voice brought his focus back on the other man who was still looking at Kisame below "We've found our latest member."

"We have no way of knowing where Neji's heading…" Shikamaru murmured, looking over a map of the hidden villages that lied stretch upon the table "Could be possibly be heading for another village?"

The wide, open space of the strategy room seemed to hold less room now especially with the entire anbu squad within it. Two jounin stood outside the door as guards so that the highest squad of shinobi would not be disturbed.

Shikamaru looked to the man with spiky yellow hair and electric blue eyes beside him who was staring hard at the map whilst idly rubbing his upper arm that held the tattoo of the anbu on it.

"Naruto? What do you think, you knew Neji almost as well as Tenten and Lee."

Naruto didn't respond at first, eyes darting around form village to village. The serious air didn't suit Naruto, the hyperactive blond that always seemed to have a smile upon his face.

"He won't head to a village."

"And why?"

"Because… he knows that people will be looking for him."

Shino looked up from his side of the table; at least his head was tilted up as his eyes were still hidden behind his dark glasses. A small buzzing could now be heard coming from his shoulder, everyone in the room grew hopeful as Shino silently communicated with the small insect that rested upon his shoulder. With each passing second Shino's body seemed to tense and the air in the room grew thick, when the bug rose and flew out the room everyone looked at Shino with an expecting look. Shino meet their looks with a cool gaze before saying one thing.

"Akatsuki."

Everyone in the room seemed to be thinking the same thing as their bodies tensed.

'Shit.'

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