Summary: Recca, Kagero, and a SI are placed in the world of the Nine Tails

Crossover: Flame of Recca, Naruto, Hitman: Contracts

Disclaimer: I don't own what other people do. I do own me, though.

Feedback: Sure thing... I like hearing how I can improve :) I also like hearing people's opinions on things. I have a fragile ego and low self esteem -- please review?

BandsThisWasWrittenTo: Oasis

Pre-fic Comments:

If anyone knows of any Naruto fanfic mailing lists (general purpose anyone-posting-fic ones, like Potters Place for HP fics, and XanderZone for Xander-based Buffyfics), I would definitely like to know of them. If I am directed to one, I'll post the link and the referrer in my ffnet bios!

ChaosRonin: Thanks!

Aikuchi Shikaku: It shouldn't be too long before you find out. Well, fic-wise, I'm not sure as to how long it will take me to get to the end of the Third Exam. The only thing I don't like about this fic is the SI element -- I don't want to overpower anyone.

KamiKaze no Kage: Number 47 is the main character from the computer game 'Hitman'. He is a trained assassin based in Eastern Europe. In the game, if you pass a level with no alarms sounded, no one alerted, and only the target killed, then the game rewards you with a bonus weapon and the title 'Silent Assassin'. If ninja didn't have chakra or jutsu, he'd probably be an extremely good occidental variant of one. If it helps any, think of him like the ninja dude from the start of Kenshin, whose boss was working for the drug dealer, but without the messed up face and tattoo'ed arms.

"Congratulations, bro," Naruto cheered once I returned to the stands.

"I probably shouldn't have won that -- that was a complete stroke of luck that Neji mistimed it like that," I admitted. "Normally he would have ground me into the dirt, regeneration or no regeneration."

"Still, you acquitted yourself well," Kagero-kaasan said.

"Who's up next," I asked.

"Naruto and Fuuko, I think," Recca said.

The fight was a strange one -- Naruto went for his usual 'Kage Bunshin Dog--er, fox-pile' tactic, while Fuuko kept running, dodging the Naruto clones, throwing senbon, and reclaiming senbon that had broken up clones.

"Where's Sasuke," I asked. "It's strange that he isn't here."

Shigeo-tousan smiled. "He... found pressing business at the hospital."

Sasuke looked disdainfully at the clerk.

"You're sure of this," the clerk asked. "I have to go through this one more time to make sure you understand -- this is a pretty serious thing."

"Do it if you must," Sasuke said.

"Okay," the clerk began, finger trailing through the document. "The undersigned, Uchiha Sasuke, agrees to donate sperm, blood, and hair samples to the Konoha Hospital Genebank under the conditions that, in the event of the death of the Uchiha Clan as a whole in the eyes of Konoha, or the permission of the undersigned, the genetic material will be used to perpetuate the bloodline in Konoha Village, under the direct guidance, supervision, and guardianship of the Hokage. The genetic material supplied may not at any time be destroyed and, in the event of the undersigned leaving Konoha Village, the distribution of the material will be carried out."

Sasuke nodded. "Give me a pen."

The clerk gave him the pen. "It's not very many bloodlines at all that use this facility. Even though we have the best security vaults in the village."

"Okay," Sasuke said. He blushed bright red, as he pulled out a small jar. "I... uh... brought samples of blood and... uh, the other stuff."

The clerk snorted, shaking his head. "That stuff's too old. Go see Doctor Storey through that door there, he's expecting you."

Sasuke put the jar away. As he began to turn towards the indicated door, he stopped, turning back to the clerk. "What bloodline in here is the most famous?"

"Uchiha's Sharingan."

"Oh, okay," Sakura said. "I hope he hasn't hurt himself -- I'll have to buy some flowers for him."

Kagero-kaasan laughed quietly. "I don't think he'll be in there that long, Haruno-san."

I looked down, eyes following the movement below. "I see."

"What," Domon asked. "It shouldn't be long now until Fuuko-chan finds the real Naruto."

"No," I disputed. "Sakura, remember when he caught Kakashi-san from behind?"

"Oh," Sakura said, just as another Naruto clone burst up from beneath the ground and grabbed Fuuko's arms, holding her.

"What on earth is he going to do now," Recca wondered. Naruto wasn't the most predictable of people.

Naruto knew what Fuuko was capable of, and so he got four extra clones to hold onto her ankles and wrists before turning to the galleries.

"Except for one chakra control exercise, behold the single technique that Hatake Kakashi thought worthy of his genin team!"

I was confused at this. "Oi, Kakashi, you didn't teach us shit. What's Naruto on about?"

Kakashi, being an experienced ninja and also having seen Naruto's vindictiveness in action, paled. "He's still pissed at me for the genin entrance exam."

"Hidden Leaf Ancient Taijutsu Supreme Technique," Naruto roared. Kakashi hid behind Kagero-kaasan's seat. "A Thousand Years Of Pain!"

Needless to say, Fuuko got a very powerful asspoke from Naruto that sent her flying into the wall, knocked unconscious.

"Winner: Naruto!"

Everyones' eyes turned to find Kakashi, especially including Gai who was spouting how disappointed he was in his rival.

Talk began to spread in the galleries. What a lazy and inconsiderate teacher, only teaching his student an asspoke!

The Sand daimyo turned to his guest. "Is the plan still going ahead?"

The guest shook his head, long unbound black hair staying tidy. "Not without Kazekage -- the plan relies too heavily on his skill to succeed now. We'd need the Oto leader as well, and he is not here."

The daimyo frowned. "Go, then."

The guest rose, leaving the gallery. One of his subordinates ran up to him. His Western-style suit, his hair, and his scar that greatly resembled Matora's scar were all highly distinctive.

"Sakyo-sama! Are we still doing the attack?"

"No," Sakyo said. "The unknown element threw our plans too far out. Cancel it, and start an investigation into who killed Kazekage."

"The plan is a waste of time, then," Sakyo's bodyguard asked.

Sakyo turned to look up at the tall man. "Not at all -- I've still got several bets to monitor."

"The BBC," the bodyguard asked, eyebrow raised. A shorter warrior appeared next to the taller one, waiting patiently.

Sakyo nodded, lighting a cigarette as he entered the merchants' private gallery.

Next was Aburame Shino versus Kankuro of the Sand.

Well, that was a big heap of nothing. Sandman gave up before he even started, making me wonder why he didn't resign before the Preliminaries.

"I'm surprised that Uchiha decided to go as far as I've heard he plans to," Kagero-kaasan said.

"You mean the hospital vaults," I asked. Everyone else looked confused, since the Konoha Gene Vaults were one of the blackest secrets of the village.

'Kaasan nodded.

"He wanted me to do one of those techniques to consult his parents again during the month of training," I explained.

Sasuke looked at me steadily. "I want you to do that technique again -- I want to see my parents again."

I looked at him, head tilted. "Are you willing to pay the price? It will be quite high -- last time, both your parents and I paid equally. But, since you are related so closely, the Keeper of Souls may charge a lesser toll."

"I'll pay it, whatever it is," Sasuke demanded.

"Hmmm," I said, agreeing. "Close your eyes."

As soon as his sight failed him, I began forming handsigns, flowing evenly through each form until finally I came to rest on a seal that was never taught in the Academy. The seal snapped into place, finishing the jutsu.

"Open your eyes," I said.

Sasuke's eyes snapped wide open, and he blinked as his eyes began to dry from their unnatural exposure. "M-m-m-mother!"

I turned, then paused. "Uchiha clan, I'll be over there. Sasuke, you've got a quarter of an hour. After that, I won't be able to hold the jutsu. Make it last."

Ignoring the emotional talk behind me, I concentrated on holding the technique. My best so far was five minutes, but that was after expending chakra and binding it into another technique.

"One of those techniques," Kaasan repeated dryly. "Be sure that you don't do too much, my son."

"I won't," I said easily. "Hey, it looks like Temari and the kodachi dude are on next."

'Kaasan nodded again. "Junko will be annoyed -- she is the medic-nin for the Hokage's box."

"So," I asked. "She can't do anything for Kazekage -- he's dead."

Kagero shook her head. "No, she's holding his body in stasis for Hidden Sand nin to take away just as it was when he was killed. Look, they're about to start."

"A swordsman," Temari asked, bringing out her large battle fan.

Hokuro smiled as he drew his twin kodachi from their sheaths. "Come, have a taste of steel to whet your hunger."

"Sorry, I don't like taking pain," Temari said. She flicked her fan towards Hokuro. "Just giving it out."

Hokuro blocked the blast of air, which was unfocused, mainly kicking up sand and dust. A series of thuds announced Temari's retreat -- from what he'd seen in the Preliminaries, her jutsu were mainly long range, with little close combat. He snorted -- if it weren't for the random order, he'd have chalked the match up to Hokage's funny sense of humour. Running forward, he charged out of the cloud, body leaning low to the ground to maintain a low profile.

"Nighty night," Temari said tauntingly, flicking her fan again, sending Hokuro flying again.

He lifted his kodachi to eye level, flickering them. Seasoned nin noticed that his hands, still holding the swordhilts, were moving through seals. "Bunshin no Jutsu!"

Several Hokuro figures appeared, charging towards Temari.

She flicked her fan again, almost automatically, swearing after the technique was finished. She should have not done a wind blast, but a wind blade! Shimatta!

As if to taunt her, the clones of Hokuro (and the real Hokuro, now indistinguishable from his clones to any save a Hyuuga) burst out of the cloud, forming a circle around her.

"Which one," they chorused, walking closer. "Take a gamble, Sabakuno. Which one of us is real? Which pair of edges will taste virgin blood?"

"None," she yelled, deciding that the southernmost clone was the real one -- it was closest to the original cloud, and she was assuming that he would go for the quickest position, thinking that she would assume he would be trickier than that.

Her fan swept through several illusions before it fell out of her hands, pale white becoming sullied by the dirt as she stopped. Holding the fan, she would have moved too far and have been beheaded by the pair of kodachi now circling her neck, Hokuro's shin preventing her moving backwards out of the trap.

"I am not very balanced here," he said, "but there are very little ways for you to escape this. You made your gamble, you lost."

"Winner, Hokuro," Genma announced.