"Tainted Demon Eyes"

By Nes Mikel

Acknowledgment;

I herby acknowledge that the work of fiction presented here is for my own personal amusement and entertainment purposes alone. Most of the story, characters, place names and other etc stuff in this fiction are copyright Naruto, Kishimoto Masashi, Weekly Shounen Jump, and any others I might have forgot. Enjoy.

- Chapter Six -

"Keep the Customer Satisfied"

"Are you really a Ninja?" – Tazuna

"This is all your fault."

Those were the first words Uchiha Obito heard when he opened his eyes, but as soon as the rays of light assaulted his irises he quickly squeezed his eyelids shut again. The light, although rather dim thanks to the dark red curtains drawn across the windows, was still too bright for his liking. It was one of the two after-effects of alcohol that he didn't practically grow fond of over the years. The other after-effect came to him soon enough, when suddenly the insides of his head registered a pain similar to a giant metal sledgehammer smacking his head. A headache. A bad one to boot. Looks like he had a damn fine time yesterday if he had this much of a hangover.

Too bad he couldn't remember much of it. Oh well, the memories will soon come, although most likely it will come in fragments and will remain cloudy throughout. But right now, he had to do something about this headache. Rather reluctantly, he opened his dry mouth and gurgled out the next few words. "Pazz me ze boddle… Gagashi…"

Something cool smacked against his chin. Obito managed a weak smirk at the response the other gave and struggled meekly to move his left arm to grab the small bottle that was thrown at him. He failed miserably, and only succeeded in making his arm fall down limp from the side of the bed. His fingers brushed the cold wooden tiles of the floor.

"Gah…"

"I already talked to your Uncle. He says you can have today off." The other spoke up rather suddenly. It was so like him.

"Thangs…" he managed. Obito tried to open his eyelids just a crack. This time it didn't hurt as much and he managed to keep it open for a good three seconds before his brain decided that taking comfort in the darkness was better.

Obito couldn't see it, but he was sure the other was shaking his head sideways at the miserable sight before him. "To think that this man before me is the Deputy Chief of the Hidden Leaf's Police Force… and right now he's so hung over I had to make excuses to his boss, the Chief of Police, just so he doesn't have to go to work today."

Heh, he just had to mention my title didn't he?

"Oh shaddap." Obito replied dryly. He was starting to have better control with his voice now. Slowly, senses were starting to return to his body. He quickly confirmed it by wiggling his fingers a bit. "Uncle knows about… my habits."

"Obito."

Obito didn't miss how the tone of the other man's voice had changed drastically. Instead of the usual mocking tone he was accustomed to, it changed into something much colder, something Obito didn't like. It was something Obito wasn't comfortable with. But this man was his friend. Might as well.

"What?"

"You should stop drinking. Itachi was just an excuse, wasn't it?"

Oh great, not this again.

By this time his left arm regained functionality and he weakly grabbed the small bottle that was leaning against his messy hair. Twisting the top open, he tilted his neck slightly to the side to expose the mouth that had been kissing the mattress and poured the contents of the bottle into his mouth. The cool liquid traveled down his throat, and the pain in his head started to recede thanks to the medicine. Obito then finally opened his eyes and stared at the friend that had dragged him back to his apartment after the wild party yesterday eye to eye.

"Kakashi… we've had this conversation a zillion times."

The eyebrows of the masked man narrowed a little in a frown. He saw Kakashi lean back a little in the chair he was sitting in not too far away from his bed. "It wasn't your fault." he said.

Obito grudgingly sat up from the mattress as he rose from his slumber, and nodded once. "I know." he repeated the same reply. The reply he always gave when he had this conversation with his best friend. Then, "It wasn't your fault either."

"…"

The usual silence.

He decided to try something a little different. "You know, it's funny." Obito continued, forcing a weak smile. "We're feeling guilty about the same thing… and yet, you tell me to just forget it and move on? Come on Kakashi, you know damn well that I'm not going to let you carry the burden of guilt all by yourself. Besides!" he clapped his hands together for emphasis. "She's still alive. She's just sleeping, only sleeping." he finished cheerfully, as if to convince himself it was true. It was, somewhat, but one didn't have to be a doctor to know that being comatose and being asleep were two different things.

"She may as well be dead." Kakashi said it bitterly. "The village…"

Kakashi never finished his sentence. Obito reacted instantly, and a hard punch to the chin knocked Kakashi all the way back to the wall of the room. A few pieces of china fell to the floor and shattered into pieces due to the impact Kakashi made when his back hit the wall, but Obito could care less about that right now. Obito's eyes certainly registered none of that as two furious Red Sharingan eyes flared into view. "Bastard! Don't you ever speak of her like that! And you know damn well you don't believe what you were about to say too!"

Kakashi wiped the small trickle of blood that flowed from his mouth with his hand. Ever the cool man, his expression was unreadable, but Obito knew better. It was easy to miss for the ordinary man, but Obito certainly was not ordinary. He clearly had seen the brief pang of pain in Kakashi's visible eye. Shaking his head, Obito flopped back onto his bed and uncaringly stared at the ceiling. "Goddamn stubborn bastard." he muttered.

"…sorry about the china." He heard his friend say across the room.

"Yeah yeah." Obito rolled over to the side, his back facing Kakashi. He heard the sounds of the other man slowly getting up from the floor and walking over to the door of his apartment. He was going to leave.

"I'll leave your keys by the counter here." Obito heard him say. "I'll be going now."

"Wait." he called out, stopping Kakashi.

"What, Obito?"

"You're going to the hospital right? Say hi to neechan for me."

"…will do." he barely heard him as he heard the door shut, leaving him alone in his apartment with his thoughts. For a while, all was quiet, but soon Obito started to laugh at himself when he was sure Kakashi was out of earshot.

"Hah. That show-off. I wonder what his students will think of him when I tell them the real reason why that guy is always late?" he shifted his head over to the side to see a small picture frame that stood atop the wooden cupboard. Inside the frame was a picture, taken over fourteen years ago just before that fated mission to Kanabi Bridge. His Genin team.

A boy with goggles with a piece of grass sticking out of his mouth. Himself. The one who was called the shame of the Uchiha Clan, who now had risen to one of the most important positions in the Village of the Hidden Leaf.

Uchiha Obito.

A masked boy who stared at the camera looking totally bored. His best friend and rival. The son of the famous White Fang, and the annoying bastard that always cared about rules and regulations. How ironic Obito himself was in the position to enforce that very thing right now. They had bickered over so much about that back then.

Hatake Kakashi.

A smiling man with bright yellow hair who held the heads of the two boys with the palm of his hand in a caring manner. His sensei. A man who later became the Fourth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf, and the hero that saved the village twelve years ago. He was the best teacher and commander Obito had ever had the privilege of serving under.

Kazama Arashi.

A giggling girl who held both or her hands up in a peace sign between the two boys. His older sister. She was the guilt he and Kakashi shared. They were unable to protect her, unable to save her, unable to stop her. She was the one responsible for unleashing the Nine-tailed Demon Fox, the Kyuubi no Youko, upon the Village of the Hidden Leaf that ominous night twelve years ago.

Uchiha Rin.

Maybe having a headache was better. Obito silently mused.

Someone once said to him, that the first mission was always the hardest and the most memorable. It was an experience that all shinobi would carve deep into their hearts, so they will remember who they are, and what their purpose was in this village. The first mission was the day when they were reminded of themselves of their devotion to their destined profession, so they could serve and protect the village they swore their allegiance to.

Naruto silently vowed within to later strangle the person who said that.

Sai had obviously exaggerated in his often-artistic reviews of his past missions that he had the clearance to tell. Heck, even his Jounin teacher had said it himself: for a ninja, missions are all life-risking jobs. Their words had worked Naruto up so much that he was nervous for nothing.

When, for the first time, his team had walked up to the mission counter where the Hokage was seated to receive their first ever mission scrolls, he had to struggle fiercely in his mind to keep his excitement down to protect his cool exterior mask. He noticed that his other two Genin teammates were tingling with anticipation too, although at the very least Sasuke made the effort to conceal the enthusiasm like all ninjas should. His other and only female teammate made no such attempt.

All of that built-up tension was in vain, when they learned that their supposedly to-be memorable first mission revealed it to be mowing and weeding the lawn for some lady down by the nearby farmlands.

Naruto had to remind himself that it was only logical, of course. After all, they were still Genin, just fresh out of the Academy knowing nothing about how exactly the world they stepped into worked and how cruel and punishing it could be. Not to mention, no previous battle experience. It was only fitting that their team was assigned errand duties for their first mission. It was something that was safe, something familiar and easy to do, and still worked up a decent pay.

Still, Naruto couldn't help himself but think that this was something a ninja shouldn't be doing. Sakura obviously had addressed that issue in a very loud fashion and had complained to no end – in fact she was still grumbling her displeasure of this mission as he saw her push a wheelbarrow full of freshly cut grass to the pile not too far away – and Naruto had silently agreed with her. But he supposed that all ninjas had to start somewhere. They all had to start at the bottom in order for them to work their way towards the top. It was only a matter of time.

"Hey, you."

He was so distracted with his thoughts that he didn't notice the elderly lady that was his client standing besides him until she spoke. He turned slowly and Naruto gave his best fake smile, something that he had picked up from reading Sai's books about emotions.

"Ah, lady. We almost got all the weeds in this area." he replied, tilting his head slightly to the side indicating the large pile of grass nearby. "Just give us a few more minutes and we will be…" he stopped mid-sentence when he noticed that the woman's large frame was shaking. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"Those… weren't weeds."

Naruto blinked once in confusion. "Eh?"

He realized only too late that the woman standing in front of him had been shaking in anger. "Those were… the herbs I was growing in my garden!"

For Naruto, it had turned out that his first mission was indeed, one of the hardest and certainly one of the most memorable. He was going to have those dark bruises on his face for days to come.

The blonde girl sighed in utter annoyance for what seemed like the… like what? She had lost track of the count somewhere back in the thirties. Not really caring, she bent down and dipped the metal clippers she was holding into the flowing water and pulled out an empty soda-can. Ino tossed the can over her shoulder and into the basket she was carrying behind her back and sighed in defeat yet again.

She didn't mind at how easy her first mission was. In fact, it was rather pleasant (if one didn't count that the mission involved getting wet) and the surrounding natural forest scenery was pleasing to the eye (if one didn't count the idiotic amounts of garbage that littered the river floor and the immediate area), and… Who am I trying to kid, myself? Get a grip, Ino. she slapped herself mentally. Face reality.

Deep down, though, Ino really didn't want to face the harsh reality that was, well, reality. If she could, she wanted to just dump everything she had and just flee to the comforts of her boyfriend. If he didn't push her away again, that is, which he most likely will since he was probably on his first mission too. But behind the excuses, she had a sinking feeling that Sasuke was slowly drifting away from her. She growled inwardly at the thought, her teeth clenching. DAMN that forehead girl! She's probably seducing Sasuke-kun! WHY did you put me in this forsaken team, stupid Iruka-sensei!

The team was everything she wished not to be. If there was anyone whom she didn't want to get teamed-up with, they were her 'former' friends from her childhood years: Chouji, and Shikamaru. It wasn't a lie if one said they all knew each other since they were babies. All three of their fathers were former Genin teammates, and their friendship had extended into their adulthood and had even been best men at each other's weddings. It was only normal for their father's children to be brought up together, their fathers wishing to carry on the famous Ino-Shika-Cho trio.

Looking back at it now, it was a source of major embarrassment for Ino. In a way, perhaps she was secretly thankful that her father's dream wasn't fulfilled in that the trio didn't carry over to the next generation – she could imagine hearing the teases from other girls to no end if it did come true. The problem was, though, that it did come true partially: Chouji was in her team. And of her two childhood friends, it was Chouji she wished not to be partnered with the most. Shikamaru, although utterly lazy and ultimately annoying, would actually be considerate enough to get out of her face lest he get himself involved, and thus was tolerable. Chouji, on the other hand, had a habit of stuffing his face with food, something that was incomprehensible to someone like her who constantly had to watch her weight in order to maintain her beautiful form. She had to admit he was caring and kind, but perhaps too kind as he had a habit of getting himself too involved in other people's problems. She certainly did not need any of that right now.

Her sensei was no better. Her first impression of him was that of a heavy smoker, brash, and wild from the outward appearance he presented himself with when he first stepped foot inside the classroom. Her displeasure progressed when Ino's guesses had indeed turned out to be right. She was slightly impressed when she later learned that Asuma hailed from the same Saurtobi clan that the Third Hokage belonged to, but her disrespect for him didn't change in the slightest. Indeed, it wasn't really helping when she disgustingly stared at the teacher relaxing atop the tree branches smoking a cigarette lifting not a finger to help his students clean up the mess in the river. Clutching her bangs to ease the rapidly growing headache, she sighed again as she bends down to pick up another old soda-can that had been thrown in this otherwise beautiful creek.

Then, the unthinkable happened.

Ino, the beautiful princess-kunoichi of the glorious Yamanaka family (self-declared) had slipped. She fell into the water with an excessively louder-than-she-wanted splash. Ino struggled fiercely in the water to regain her footing, but the current was stronger than expected. The reason for that became clear soon enough when she heard the rapidly approaching sounds of falling water. She was destined towards a freefall from a waterfall! She was shot out from the water too soon for her comfort and was exposed helplessly in midair, and started to scream as she descended downwards. She squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to see the impact she would make when her fragile body smashed against the harsh stones splattering her in a mass gore down below.

How can I be so stupid! her thoughts screamed. Why did it have to end like this! What did I do to deserve this? She was even beginning to see images of her short life flashing before her eyes. The dread and despair hit her full throttle. I'm going to die! I don't want to die! No! No! NO!

The impact never came. She felt a thin piece of wire wrap around her waist, and jerked her up harshly as it halted her sudden fall. She slowly opened her eyes to see what had happened. She was suspended in mid-air by wire, the falls just behind her. Ino heard a sound above, and looked up to see her savior.

"Don't worry Ino-san! I told you I'd protect you even if I'd die!" the boy clad in a simple brown gi dangling above her from the wire said as he smiled a toothy grin, the protector tired around his forehead reflecting back light a little too brightly as if to enhance his cheerfulness.

Ino didn't know which was worse. Narrowly escaping death in her first ever mission that was meant to be easy, or to be saved from her death by the thick eyebrow boy with zero fashion sense. Rock Lee, teammate of Yamanaka Ino and Akimichi Chouji. Together, under Sarutobi Asuma as their instructor, were Team Eight.

She was glaring daggers at the boy besides him.

Again.

"Neji, I told you, I am perfectly capable."

"Hinata-sama, it's just…"

She interrupted him. "Like I said, I am perfectly capable. I don't need your concern."

"You know I cannot do that, Hinata-sama." Neji solemnly replied. "It is my duty."

At first, he was standing besides Neji, but he slowly had retreated back as he now stood off to the side, watching the two argue back and forth. Nara Shikamaru, teammate of Hyuuga Hinata and Hyuuga Neji. Together, under Yuuhi Kurenai as their instructor, were Team Ten. And currently Shikamaru was in the middle of yet another argument between his other two teammates. It was for such a ridiculous reason too, and if it weren't for the fact that they looked as if they'd erupt into another fistfight anytime soon, it could almost be humorous.

Shikamaru knew that these two would be nothing but bothersome the minute he saw those two glaring at each other when Iruka-sensei announced the teams. Just what were those administrators in the Ninja Academy smoking that made them think that paring up two cousins of the same clan who obviously hated each other's guts in the same Genin team was a good idea? Did they honestly think that their relationships would improve? And they just had to involve him in this mess, didn't they. He was hopelessly caught in the middle.

Any time now… he thought to himself.

"Shikamaru." Hinata turned to him.

Right on cue.

Back at the Academy, Hinata had a different impression on him: a timid and polite girl, and someone who gave her best despite her not-so impressive natural talents. She ddn't always perform very well, but she seemed nice enough. But boy, do things change once you actually get to know them on a more personal level.

She was no longer the same kind of girl he knew at back at the Academy. She had this side of being quite open and direct with people she knew, and especially brash towards her cousin, Neji. For reasons unknown to him, Hinata hated Neji, (not that he wanted to know, he assumed it was some clan business, and those things were usually quite nasty) and ever since they were teamed up for good she constantly pushed him away and attempts to do all the work all by herself as if to prove something.

The problems start there. For some incomprehensible reason, Neji acts as if he is a personal servant or guardian or some sorts for Hinata. He is so overprotective of her, so instead he pushes her away and tries to do all the work by himself, just so Hinata doesn't have to. Shikamaru would've loved having someone that willingly did all the troublesome work for him, but Hinata had obviously thought otherwise and instead it infuriated her. Which, in turn, infuriated Neji because he feels that her attempts are unnecessary since he can do them for her.

It was an endless cycle of trying to up one another.

It could've helped the relationship, Shikamaru supposed, if they were actually more on even terms, but even the lazy Shikamaru could see that Neji was very talented as a Ninja. He was even a year older than them. He later learned that he had actually stayed back a year in the Academy so he could end up in the same class as Hinata. Talk about dedication.

In the end, Hinata had not once succeeded in upping Neji when it came to accomplishments.

That didn't stop her from trying, though.

"Shikamaru?"

He snapped up from his thoughts and turned to his white-eyed female teammate. "Yes, Hinata…?" he said, almost yawning.

"Please make Neji listen to me." she was trying to drag him in the argument now to gain support for her cause. It was always like this, for both of them.

Shikamaru glanced at Neji standing not too far away from Hinata who had opened his mouth probably to start a protest, but at the last moment he had wisely decided to stay quiet and not retort at her words. Shikamaru opted to shrug. "You're asking the impossible…"

This time Neji broke the silence. "It is unreasonable for her to walk such a large dog." he argued.

It was ridiculous. These two cousins was arguing and bickering like some old couple over something trivial like who would get to walk the largest of the three dogs! And this was Team Ten's actual first and current mission assigned from the village. Shikamaru was certainly not looking forward to the other missions they would get assigned to if this sort of thing continued regularly. He just wanted to curl up into a fetal position right there in front of them and moan at the unfortunate predicament he was in.

The three of them turned at a clapping sound calling for their attention from their Jounin instructor. "Now, now, don't be like that." she said. "Let's end this. I will decide who gets to walk the largest dog."

Shikamaru was thankful for his teacher's interference, but he was suddenly overcome with a bad feeling. When he was first introduced to his Jounin instructor, it was actually a surprise because he knew her well. Kurenai and Shikamaru's mother were childhood friends, and she had visited his house a quite a number of times. When he told his mother about whom his teacher was, she had actually jumped up in joy, a very rare site for someone strict as her. She was giggling to herself like a schoolgirl, and Shikamaru was horrified when he overheard his mother muttering to herself to ask her friend to take good care of her boy.

Just how much more troublesome could this team get?

"But Kurenai-sensei…" Hinata tried to protest.

"No, Hinata. The largest dog is quite a strong breed, and one of the paths we're assigned from the client passes by one of the training fields filled with land mines. What if he suddenly decides the fields are suddenly more interesting and you get dragged along with it?"

Shikamaru knew where this was going already.

"So," Kurenai tuned to him. "Shikamaru, I'll entrust you to the largest dog. You have means of restraining the dog should it decide to run off."

I knew it.

"How troublesome…"

A few days had passed.

The eyebrows of the Chuunin rose from surprise at the masked man in front of him. "Didn't expect you back so soon."

Sai slowly pushed away his Rat-faced ANBU mask to reveal the left side of his static smiling face. "You should know better to underestimate me, Izumo-san." he said, glancing back and forth at the two Chuunin guards posted in front of the large gates of the Hidden Leaf. "Guard duty again? You two must really suck."

"Why you…" The other guard, Kotetsu, balled his hands into a fist, but didn't charge at him. He knew his place. Although Sai was only fifteen, nine years younger than Kotetsu and his partner Izumo, he was quite the talented individual, having made ANBU three years earlier upon his promotion as Chuunin. Although they were technically of the same rank, actions proved louder than the words. The reality was in front of them, after all. Sai had just come back from an ANBU A-class assassination solo mission, and these two were posted as gate guards for the umpteenth time. Sai could beat these two down into the ground without having to break a sweat.

Kotetsu had instead decided to mope and glared off to nowhere in particular. "What are you loitering around here for, then? Go report to Hokage-sama."

"I intend to, Kotetsu-san." he replied in an attempted cheerful tone. To his glee he saw Kotetsu's knuckles slowly turning white in anger. Perhaps he's teased them enough already. Sai crouched down low and leapt across the giant massive gates in a single bound leaving the two behind to their duties. After jumping across a few more household roofs in the village, he had arrived at his destination so quickly that he slightly regretted that he had to cut his teasing of his two Chuunin comrades so short. But when he saw Iruka through the windows of the office posted at the mission desk next to the Hokage he quickly changed his mind. He had a new target. Tugging on his standard-issue ANBU uniform to quell a slight discomfort, he calmly strolled towards the window. He knocked on it once for attention and slid it open, successfully drawing distasteful glances from everyone sitting at the mission counter save the Hokage.

"Sai…" he heard Iruka start, but the Hokage put a comforting hand on the young Academy Teacher's shoulder.

"It's okay Iruka." he told his subordinate, and then turned his attention to him. "You're back early."

Sai quickly removed his ANBU mask still hanging loose from his face and tucked it behind his tool pouch as he climbed through the window. He then kneeled down in front of his leader in a respectful gesture. "Mission Accomplished, Hokage-sama."

The elderly man chuckled at this. "I wish you could be better mannered like this more often, Sai-kun."

He grinned in response, but didn't reply. He stood up and walked around the long desk so he was properly in front of them. Thankfully there were no other guests or customers in the briefing room, although Sai did detect a presence or two in the nearby waiting room. Not really that curious to see who they were, he snapped to attention as he begun his mission debriefing. "I managed to lure the target into a nearby inn, got him into the same room, and killed him in his sleep undetected. There were a few pursuers but nothing I couldn't handle. It really should've been classified as a B-rank mission, Hokage-sama. Quite easy."

His leader raised an eyebrow at this. He calmly reached for his pipe and puffed in a little. "He was an corrupt but important official in the Fire Country politics." the Third Hokage said. "I had expected you to take a few more days to infiltrate his inner-circle."

"Oh, that part was simple." Sai shrugged. "He was gay, so I seduced him by posing as a male prostitute." he replied casually, as if it were something totally natural.

That got them. He smiled callously as the Hokage almost choked on his pipe at his words. Iruka glared at him distastefully, but didn't comment. After all, Sai was told to use any means necessary to eliminate his target.

After coughing some more to get some misplaced smoke out of his lungs, the Hokage looked at him awkwardly. "We were not… aware of that information."

Sai nodded once at this. "After he bought me for a few thousand ryo, he took me to his favorite inn where he must take his toys of the night for his dirty little fantasies. His bodyguards must've known of his 'habit', since there was only one guard posted with him during the excursion while there were like six or seven around him at all times under normal circumstances. How careless. Quite the charming man, though, and really direct too, pressing me for a deep kiss just when we reached the room, moaning like a sex-crazed maniac. Why, he even began to undress me at the door, and by the time we reached the bed I was almost stark nake-"

"That is enough!" Iruka suddenly rose from his seat and slammed his hands down at the table, interrupting him. Sai noted happily that the young teacher's face was beet red like a tomato. How naïve. And cute. "You don't have to go into such details for your debriefing!"

He tried to look disappointed. "Aww, but Iruka-senpai, I was just about to get into the juicy details…"

The Hokage coughed once, signaling for their attention. "Iruka is right, Sai-kun. There is no need. What matters is that you have completed your mission, and you have come back safely. Good work."

He overheard Iruka grumbling something under his breath as he reluctantly sat back down, but he paid little attention to him as Sai beamed at his leader's words. "As you wish. Is there anything else you want to ask of me, Hokage-sama?"

"There are no scheduled missions for you at the moment. Take three days off; we will notify you with usual means when something comes up. Also…" the Third Hokage seemed to contemplate the thought for a moment. "There is one thing. How is Naruto?"

"A stubborn idiot, as usual." Sai was direct in his answer.

The aged leader asked in a careful tone. "Is he still…?"

"Thinking about killing that woman? Yes." There was no point in lying; not that lying would amount to anything anyway.

Iruka looked displeased. "I hope you aren't encouraging him. She is a dangerous individual." he said, shaking his head sideways in disapproval. "I still don't understand why you had decided to take him in after that incident."

"Why would I encourage Naruto-kun, senpai?" Sai asked in his sweetest voice. "After all, that woman had murdered almost everyone who he had considered as his second family right in front of his eyes. And Danzou-san was only like a father to my brother and I, and she killed them both that night too. So why would I encourage him?" his idle smile widened maliciously. "Surely, Iruka-senpai. You of all people must understand how we feel about the incident, as a former member. Kakashi-senpai and Itachi-san too… we are all that's left of 'Ne'."

Iruka stared at him with glaring eyes, but didn't say anything. The Hokage too, was silent. The other village elders sitting around the table shifted in their seats in unease.

"As for why I had taken him in…" Sai continued. "I think it is rather self-explanatory. He's the closest thing to a younger brother that I'll ever have. I guess you can call it obligation."

"That's surprising, coming from you." Iruka threw in a stab.

Sai merely chuckled at this. "You're the one to talk, senpai. 'Ne' has been disbanded for three years already, yet you're still keeping watch over Sakura-san. It's not like you have to anymore. Is that why you have been refusing to be reassigned to another ANBU squad like me?"

Hate was clearly visible in Iruka's eyes now. He knew Iruka cared deeply about the container of the fox, and using that to his advantage Sai had successfully made him angrier.

"Watch where your flaunt your words, Sai." Iruka said. "My status in ANBU is meant to be confidential. Besides, Kakashi-san is taking care of Sakura now. She is in good hands."

"Is that so? Can't say assigning hentai taichou to watch over her is a good idea." Sai said as he rubbed his chin with his hand in a thoughtful manner. "Not to mention putting not only Itachi-san's younger brother in the same team as her, but Naruto-kun as well. After all, Sakura-san is also that woman's…" he trailed off, feeling slightly uneasy from talking about a past they rather not remember. Still, everyone present there knew very well where Sai was getting at.

Iruka's gaze drifted over to his leader's side that had continued to stay quiet. "It was Hokage-sama's decision."

Sai's eyes widened by just a fraction, the only sign of surprise in his otherwise expressionless face. "Hokage-sama…?" he turned.

The Third Hokage put down his pipe on the desk as he addressed his two men. "It is for the best." he answered, but left it at that. It was clear he wasn't going to say anything else about the issue, nor would he be moved by any means of persuasion.

The youth's eyes closed briefly to digest this new information. When he reopened them, he nodded once to leader. "I think I understand." Sai said. The Hokage smiled at him warmly and titled his head forward in appreciation.

It was then when Sai's senses picked up four approaching presences to this large room. His lips cured in another sly smile. "Well, well, how convenient. The topics of our conversation are headed here as we speak. I think I'll excuse myself and drop by to say hi."

Even before Iruka could stop him, Sai was already out of the door.

The cat with the ribbon on its left ear just wouldn't stop clawing at her. Perhaps that's what she deserved for insisting on carrying the damn pet from the woods all the way back to the Hokage Tower they were now headed towards. As they entered the residence, Sasuke, ever acting out the 'ladies man' image had offered it to carry for her instead. Sakura was more than happy to, not because she was flattered, though. Let him have a taste of its steel-like claws. She giggled in glee as he struggled with it, holding it front of him trying to maximize the distance between him and the cat lest the claws scratch his face. Naruto walked alongside the two with his usual uncaring attitude, and Kakashi was behind the three of them engrossed in his latest chapter of the perverted 'Icha Icha Paradise' series.

The group climbed up another set of stairs and entered a hallway. At the end was a door, to which they were headed towards. They were on their way to report on successfully competing the "Lost Pet Tora Search Mission" to the Hokage, and perhaps receive a new mission. It was still early in the day.

Truthfully, Sakura wasn't really looking forward to it. For the past few days, the only so-called 'missions' her Genin team had been doing were errand duties for random people around the village. Unless she did something, she had an inkling that they would get another mission like the ones they've been doing before.

She broke into a small run through the hallway and approached the door with the intent to throw it open demanding the old man Hokage to give her more 'proper missions', but before she could do so the door opened from the inside. She instantly recognized the youth that stepped out from the room for what he was. Clad in a very familiar uniform designed for maximum movement and protection, before her was a member of the ANBU.

Ah, so cool! This was the first time she ever met someone from the ANBU directly. She had heard countless heroic stories about the elite Ninja squads composed of Chuunin and Jounin, and was fascinated by them. They were the village's most elite, the ones who truly deserved the titles of real, accomplished Ninjas. She was suddenly overcome with a sense of envy. The black-haired boy in front of her was young, perhaps only three or four years older than herself. And already he was at least a Chuunin, and a member of the squad she idolized.

Sakura then noticed that the ANBU member spared a glance down at her, and smiled. His face was quite pale, his eyes were thin, and his smile… it looked so unnatural, almost mechanical. Something about this guy unnerved her. She almost jumped out of her skin when he spoke. "Nice to meet you, Sakura-san."

Her eyes widened. "You know me?" she asked.

"I know a lot about you. After all, you're…" the briefest of pauses. "The village's most famous prankster girl."

"And Future Hokage!" she declared. "And I'll be in ANBU someday too, just like you!" Sakura didn't quite understand what came over her to suddenly announce her dream like that. Why was she so nervous of this guy that caused her to be so defensive she had to act out as if she were strong?

"Ah, that's nice." he nodded once, unfazed by her words as he strolled past her uncaringly.

"H-hey!" she quickly turned around. "You don't care?"

The ANBU didn't reply, and approached the rest of her teammates. She noticed Kakashi fidget a little at the ANBU's presence, and Naruto hastily looking away as if avoiding eye contact. Sasuke was the only indifferent one, still battling with the cat he held firmly within his grasp.

"Hello, Kakashi-senpai." the ANBU man bowed forward a little in front of her teacher.

"Back so soon, Sai?" Kakashi asked behind his masked frown.

"Why, is it so wrong to try to make small-talk? After all, you're taking care of this little unappreciative brat here for me." he gestured to his side towards the boy who was trying his hardest to ignore him. "Isn't that right, Naruto-kun?"

Huh? That guy is… related to Naruto?

The ANBU chuckled at the boy's display, and continued to stroll past her team. "I'll catch you two later." he waved at them with his back turned. "And I hope you realize your dream… scary little devil girl."

"HEY!" she called out after him when she realized that insult was directed at her, but the ANBU youth had already left the hallway and was nowhere in sight. Confused, she turned to Naruto and decided to shoot off a question. "Just who is that guy?"

His blue eyes downcast, Naruto at first didn't reply. Sakura was just about to give up and resume her course when he answered. "He is my caretaker of sorts."

"Caretaker?"

"We're not related, but he treats me like his younger brother. Only very annoyingly."

Sakura could've sworn he was growling as he spoke. Must be some one confusing relationship… "Ah, okay." It was clear that he was going to say nothing else, and she wasn't that curious to try to pry any more information off him. She knew Naruto wouldn't have liked it if she tried, anyway. Besides, she had much more important business to take care of.

"Hey! Old man Hokage!" she yelled as she bursted into the room, the earlier conversations already forgotten. "Mission Accomplished!"

With Sakura's words, the door of the waiting room next door opened, and out stepped a plump lady dressed in noble's clothing that immediately stomped over for the cat Sasuke was still battling with. Snatching away the feline animal, the Fire Country Lord's Wife Madame Shijimi immediately smothered her favorite pet cat Tora in a death embrace. "Oooooh! My cute little Tora-chan! I was sooo worried!"

No wonder why that stupid cat ran away… she thought as Sakura felt a little sorry for the cat that was slowly being chocked to death by its owner.

"Well then." the Hokage shifted a little in his chair holding up a small piece of paper. "Kakashi's Team Seven, your next missions are… hmm… you got a choice. Babysitting the elder's grandson, shopping in the neighboring village, help with the potato digging…"

"No, no, NO!" Sakura hastily interrupted her village elder, holding up her crossed arms in denial. "I've had it already! I want to do, you know, more incredible missions! Find us a better one!"

Predictably, her beloved sensei that was sitting next to the Hokage was the first to react to her words. Iruka hastily stood up from his chair and scolded Sakura. "You idiot! You are just a rookie! Everyone starts off with the simplest duties and work their way up!"

"But it's not fair!" she reasoned. "We keep on getting the crappiest possible duties!" Sakura would've kept on going if she didn't receive a soft bop on her head courtesy of her sensei.

"Be quiet you." Kakashi said. "I thought it was about time you'd complain…"

The Hokage simply sighed at her. "Sakura, it seems I have to explain to you what these duties are all about. Listen…" he leaned forward slightly has he removed the smoking pipe from his mouth. "Everyday, the village receives numerous requests, from babysitting to assassination. Each request is written down in these lists and divided into A, B, C, D ranking based on difficulty. The village is also divided based on skill: from me down to the Jounins, Chuunins, and Genins. We then hand out the missions to the ninjas based on their abilities, and if the duty is completed successfully…" he gestured over to Madame Shijimi who was handing her mission fees to the village elder in charge. "We receive payment from the client. You guys just became Genin. D-rank missions are perfectly suited for you."

"I already know that!" Sakura huffed at his words as she sat down on the floor with her legs crossed. "All you do is give lectures, thinking that I'm incapable. But you know what? I'm not just troublemaking little girl you still think I am! Hmph!" her head snapped to the side, pouting.

After a brief uncomfortable silence, a low laugh echoed from the bellows of Hokage's stomach. "Ok." he said.

Sakura's head snapped back to attention. "Huh?"

"I'll give you a C-rank mission. It's the protection of a certain individual."

Hell yeah! Now we're talking! She hastily jumped up from her sitting position, and gestured excitedly. "All right! Who is it? A princess? Or maybe even a handsome Feudal Lord?"

"Calm down, Sakura. I'm about to introduce him." the Hokage turned his head towards the door that was connected to the waiting room next door. "Will you come in here, please?"

It wasn't quite what she expected. Behind the door emerged an elderly man with gray hair that looked quite drunk with his cheeks so red. In one of his hands he held a bottle of sake, which he took a chug of as he stepped into the room. "What's this?" he exclaimed. "They're all a bunch of super brats. Especially that shortest one with the stupid-looking face. Are you really a Ninja? Hey?"

Sakura quickly glanced to her left and right at her two teammates. After quickly comparing their heights, she realized immediately the man had been talking about Naruto. She chuckled to herself quietly when she saw Naruto twitch a little in irritation.

"I'll kill you…" he mumbled beneath his breath.

"What's the point of killing the person we're suppose to protect? Idiot." Kakashi whispered behind him as he crumpled Naruto's hair teasingly. He emitted a low growl in response.

"I am the super expert bridge builder Tazuna." the man introduced himself. "I expect you to provide me super protection until I get back to my country and complete the bridge!"

"They have been found."

The black and gray image of the figure flickered for a brief moment.

"That's the only reason you called us together?" voiced another image, as if irritated. The tone of the next words had confirmed that it was indeed. "You know I don't like waiting or making people wait."

"Oh shut up." the first responded with equal venom.

Surrounded by the darkness deep in the forest literally in the middle of nowhere, the two non-corporeal images glared at each other. It was rather useless, as their actual physical bodies were miles away and thus couldn't engage each other while they were using these means of communication. But they would be dammed before they will submit themselves to each other.

"Hey hey… calm down, you two." the third and last image said, cutting in-between the two. "So, Ku, you found them, yeah?"

Sparing a glance at the last image, the image of the first nodded at its given codename. "They were hired by a certain man. My subordinates had intercepted the information."

The second image huffed at the comment. "Hah, they're that desperate are they? For their whereabouts located by your spies, pathetic."

Ignoring the snide insult, the image referred to as Ku continued. "Their base is located in a small forest in the Country of Wave, just next to the Fire Country border."

"So are you going to directly attack them, yeah?" the third questioned as it retreated into its respective corner of the small clearing they were gathered in.

The gray image of Ku shook its head sideways. "Directly attacking them will be dangerous."

"What, are you scared?" the second image threw in another insult, partially chuckling as its low assemble shook a little in laughter.

"Will you please shut up Gyoku. Although he is not aware, he does have partial control of its abilities. And may I remind you that of the three of us here, I-" it paused a little for emphasis. "-am the only one who has free reign over their actions, unlike you and Sei. Both of you are still stuck in your villages. If it weren't for that, we would've been done with this ages ago."

Gyoku snorted at its words. "I can get my target and have free reign anytime I want." it declared.

"Sh." Sei put up a finger in front of the image of its lips. "Someone is coming… yeah."

It was only by chance the traveling medicine vendor stumbled upon the clearing. Pure chance. As he sat down on a nearby rock and opened his water canteen to take a small break, he never would have imagined in his wildest dreams that just seconds before, three images of figures that wore cloaks of red clouds were speaking a conversation that could've meant his immediate death if he had overheard.

Neechan… when will you wake up again?

When will you tell us that everything will be back the way it was before?

- Uchiha Obito

-

Tainted Demon Eyes

- Chapter Six -

"Keep the Customer Satisfied"

-END-

Author's Notes:

The plot thickens. Dun. Dun. Dunnnn.

First things first, I apologize for the lateness. For me, holidays are a busy time.

I had originally planned for this chapter to have two other extra scenes, but the chapter turned out to be a little longer than I had originally expected so they were cut. I'm trying to keep all of them at a semi-constant length. Well, actually, that's not really the only reason… I had wanted to publish this chapter before my self-imposed deadline that was the end of the year, so it came out rather incomplete (again). However, the two extra scenes have merely been pushed back to the next chapter (although I kind of regret having to cut out the drunken Itachi scene completely, oh wells, perhaps some other time).

I liked the ending scene for this chapter, quite the cliffhanger. Thought it fit well. It goes without saying it is rather obvious as to who (or what) the shadowy figures are if one follows the original Naruto storyline closely. I still tried to keep them as mysterious as possible without giving away too much, though.

This was a difficult chapter to write. With it being AU, it's really hard to keep the story flow as natural as possible introducing the changes while still following the correct timeline and events in the original Naruto storyline. I don't normally watch the Anime version of Naruto since it sometimes doesn't follow the real storyline in the Manga (which I base my work on), but I had to borrow a few elements from the Anime here and there. The reintroduction of the new and improved (?) rookie nine in this chapter was one such example; I borrowed a few scenes from the Anime and remodeled it in my vision in this chapter. Since we won't be seeing the other Genins for some time, I thought it was fitting to show some of their new personalities and relationships a little before the storyline in the Wave Country Arc takes place.

And Sai… he's a bastard (chuckle). But he's a good character to have around for the sake of plot development. Little hints here and there of what had happened in the past, although with the Wave Country Arc starting in the next chapter, it wouldn't be touched on for some time. It will be very important in the later chapters, however.

I'm also considering revising the formats for the first three chapters as they are now outdated and a few mistakes I've noticed in the fourth and fifth. I'm not really looking forward to it since sometimes messes up the format when I upload the chapters, and they're quite the pain to edit out. For this reason the next chapter might take some time for it to be completed. I apologize in advance.

Reviews, comments, criticism, always welcome! They are the very fuel that keeps an author going!

Happy Holidays!

- Nes Mikel

Japanese Word Translations in Chapter Six (in order of appearance):

ninja – a member of a class of 14th-century Japanese mercenary agents who were trained in the martial arts and hired for covert operations such as assassination and sabotage. Note that the ninja's in this fic is not based off real life, but based off the ninja's in "Naruto"

sharingan – literal translation: "copy wheel eye". In "Naruto", Sharingan are special bloodline limit abilities that can be used by members of the Uchiha Clan.

neechan – affectionate way of calling someone "older sister".

genin – novice-class ninjas on the ninja hierarchy.

hokage – literal translation is "shadow of fire". Title given to the leaders of the Hidden Leaf.

kyuubi no youko – lit trans: "nine tailed demon fox".

shinobi – literal translation is "those who stealth". Another word for ninjas.

jounin – expert-class ninjas on the ninja hierarchy

kun – attached after a name, basically it's used to call someone who is younger than you or about the same age. What makes it confusing is that it's used in some other situations that is rather hard to explain.

sensei – teacher

kunoichi – female ninjas. Literal translation is "nine is one." If one combines the three kanji's (one of the three types of the Japanese alphabet) that make up the word kunoichi, it becomes another kanji that means "woman".

san – attached after a name, it is a way of calling people out of respect. It could mean "Mr", "Miss" or "Mrs".

gi – common clothing worn by men in the oriental medieval ages. Think Judo/Karate uniforms with that are more loosely fitting and different colors.

sama – attached after a name, could mean "lord" or "master". Either work.

chuunin – intermediate-class ninjas on the ninja hierarchy.

anbu – literal translation: "dark squad". In "Naruto" these are elite ninja squads that accomplish the most dangerous missions such as assassinations. They sort of act like military police too.

ryo – currency in the world of "Naruto". To put it into relative terms, ten ryo equals to approximately one dollar in real life.

senpai – term used to call your senior in the same field

ne – literal translation is "root". In "Naruto", this is a name of an actual ANBU squad.

hentai – pervert. Typically used as an insult.

taichou – captain

chan – attached after a name, it is a way of calling people who are considerably younger than you, or a girl, or as a form of a pet name. Closest translation will be "Miss", but this word can be used for men, too, so it is rather incorrect.

sake – traditional Japanese alcoholic beverage

ku – lit trans: "air".

gyoku – lit trans: "jewel".

sei - lit trans: "blue".