Yay! My first fanfiction! Wooot!! But that's beside the point, so I'll get straight to it: I don't own Naruto and its characters (sometimes I wish I did but hey, I'm probably too much of a loser to pull off somethin' like that). Pairings have yet to be chosen.

"iii" speaking

iii thought

Chapter 1: Kidnapped

The third Hokage sighed, exhausted, exasperated, and miserable. Reports of people disappearing in more than one area of the country can drive anyone up the wall. A five-year old girl here, a twenty-eight year old husband there; hell, even the baker's wife went missing and she lived inside the hidden village's walls. The situation was getting worse by the day, and that wasn't even the half of it. Strange noises and marks were reported in the same areas, proving whatever was snatching people wasn't very friendly. No witness reports, people in a panic, my head hurts, and Team 7 has yet to return from their latest mission. I'm definitely hoping nothing happens to those boys. As much as they'd hate to admit it, their friendship stretches farther than they think and Naruto means more to this village than he realizes. Turning to the window overlooking the village, puffing on his pipe with a worried look in his eye, unaware his silent prayer would go unheard by whatever gods that roamed the ninja world.

Running… running, looking, seeking. Something powerful nearby. Must have it, retrieve and take back. Ahha, there it is, young male, pale skin, black hair… small but powerful. Perfect. familiar too. A lot like the red-eyed man. No matter. He's the ideal candidate. The creature moved swiftly like the shadow it represented, quickly closing in on his unsuspecting target. Some of his earlier targets had proven to be easy but lousy catches, but this find was going to get him some very cool compliments back home. Hiding in the shadows, his demons eyes aglow, he closed the distance between him and his newfound prey.

Uchiha Sasuke walked with his annoying teammates back to the bridge. Naruto was being loud and cocky, Sakura was trying to talk to him and Kakashi was chuckling over that book of his. I shouldn't have to put up with this shit. Nothing but D-rank missions all week. Argh, I just want to go train, maybe sleep. Whatever that will get me away from this stupid girl. Why can't she just take no for an answer? Is this what I have to put up with to surpass you aniki? He thought in aggravation as she chattered continuously to a point where he knew he'd go deaf by the time she was done; all the while, completely unaware of the approaching danger.

Moving in, closer, closer. He still doesn't know. I wonder if the pink one is worth my time… nah she's worthless. Hmm… he seems weaker than I thought, and the blonde one is probably a better bargain but who cares? My master will be pleased either way. Black it is then… with that thought, the thing moved in for the kill. The blonde did look, smell and seem powerful, but it'd worry about preferences later. It was time to collect his dues.

A rank odor filled the air in the path ahead. Shutting his big mouth, Naruto sniffed and almost sneezed in disgust, suddenly quiet. His silence caused his team to stop and stare at him, curious in as to why he was acting in such a way. Looking left and right, he growled in frustration, angry he couldn't find the target. His stench was everywhere, like rotting flesh and fresh blood. Turning to face the others he asked, "You guys smell that?"

They only nodded in response, Sakura close to coughing, Kakashi had put his book away and was on the alert, Sasuke covering his mouth and glaring at nothing in disgust. Sasuke tried to find the source, only to turn around, a large blur coming out of nowhere, pain exploding in his head… oblivion, Kakashi shouting orders, Sakura screaming… Naruto's war cry only to cut off with a grunt of pain and a curse. The smell was suffocating, he couldn't move, couldn't focus… everything was blurry and faded.

The thing moved swiftly, cackling evilly as it escaped with its prize, though slightly annoyed by the fact he was being followed closely by three other blurs. Kakashi tried to keep up, only to find the cloaked, stinky thing was moving faster than he anticipated, putting his unconscious student in a worn out sack and moved further into the forest. My master will be so proud, my reward might actually greater than anything even he can think of… now how do I rid myself of these pests? Hmm… oh I know… chuckling darkly, the thing stopped on a tree branch and turned to face them, allowing them to stop and catch their breath.

"Why do you follow me? Don't you know it's futile to save your little friend?" he hissed in his inhuman voice. Its deformed body was well hidden by the cloak only to be revealed by the wind as the most disgusting thing to see. His clothes were nothing more than large rags and pieces of clothing stitched together, even his shoes were two different styles. His face was full of stitches and mismatched patches of skin, even mismatched eyes said a lot about the guy. He wasn't normal, let alone human from their perspective. Going on the defensive, Kakashi barked, "Who are you and why are you here? By capturing my student, you've committed a great offense and I need to bring you in for questioning. Will you come quietly, or do I have to get serious?"

To prove it, he prepared to uncover the Sharingan eye. Confused, the strange creature lifted an eyebrow (if he has any) at Kakashi's move. Not wanting to take chances with the one-eyed man, he lifted his free hand that began to glow eerily almost immediately. Preparing for attack, the three members stared in confusion at the strange man, as he seemed to be powering up. With a hideously toothy grin, the thing fired blue flames at them through his palm. His pursuers easily dodged the projectiles, only to find it turned in the air and continued to follow them. Chuckling evilly to himself, the being continued on his way. Jumping from branch to branch, his cargo going up and down with him, he moved farther away from the hidden village and further into the forests' dark innards. Almost there… the gate shouldn't be too far away now… oh how Master will be pleased with me. The thing thought still chuckling to itself.

Sasuke tried to stay awake, but the world had gone black, the smell was stronger than before, making him want to gag. He struggled to right himself in the bag, only to find he had been tied and gagged to reduce struggle and noise. Stubborn as usual, he brought his hands out from behind him, (sending them under his feet) and reached for his kunai pouch on his leg. Managing to get one, he began the tiresome task of getting the rope off. Minutes stretched into what seemed like hours, hoping Naruto wouldn't do something predictably stupid in attempting his rescue. He heard his monstrous captor chuckle, its movements almost making him sick to the stomach. Concentrating on the task at hand, he finally got the ropes off of his hands and legs. But before making a move at the sack's interior, he heard Naruto's battle cry for the second time that day and the distinct feeling that things were about to go from bad to worse. Ignoring the events unfolding, he grasped the kunai once again, and aimed for the outside world.

Naruto was determined to get his friend back, even if it meant getting a little burnt. Performing the proper katas for the jutsu, he sent several duplicates to assist his teacher and teammate, others to get the fireballs off his trail, and finally went after the culprit personally. No one takes a friend of mine and gets away with it! Naruto thought angrily as he managed to finally catch up with the target. Seeing the shadow in his sights, he calculated the possibilities of taking it down. In a single chakra powered jump, he attacked with a kunai knife in hand. With a battle cry and anger flashing in his eyes, he successfully knocked the thing off course, making it almost drop the sack.

That should keep them busy for the time being while I… the thing never finished the thought after being battered from his course by an orange blur and a flashing blade cutting the arm holding the sack. Already aggravated that things weren't going his way, he landed on the forest floor and turned to face the fox boy. Growling angrily at the cause of his delay, his right arm went watery and formless to become a rusty but a very sharp and dangerous blade. It attacked furiously, swinging and slashing at Naruto, who retreated to avoid the strange blade. Kakashi managed to catch up in time to assist his student, smoking from the blue fireball attack, Sakura just barely able to keep up. Staring in surprise at the thing's new improvement, Sakura turned to her teacher and asked, "Kakashi-sensei, what is that thing? And why did it take Sasuke-kun?"

"To tell you the truth, I have no idea who or what that thing just might be but there's only one way to find out and that's to take it dead or alive."

Nodding at the command, Sakura threw several shuriken at the sword-armed creature. It didn't even try to dodge. Hearing the strange sound of flying objects caused it to break its attention away from Naruto only to realize a little too late of the impending doom. One in his shoulder, two in the arm, one in the face, the weapons hit their target head-on. It stumbled backwards, trying to maintain its balance as Naruto yelled in triumph and Sakura inwardly celebrated her success. They probably would've gone on for hours, only to be cut short by the would be 'dead bad guy' to put the sack down and reach for the shuriken sticking out of his face. Grinning like a mad man, blood covering his face like paint, and said tauntingly, "Is that all you've got? Or do I need to be such a gentleman and not counter your 'attack'?"

Gapping in shock and horror, Naruto finally exclaimed, "No. Way. No fucking way! How the hell is he still alive? What the hell is this guy?!"

"Oh come now, and to think you people had noticed by now." It said, the nasty grin on his face growing wider, unnaturally wide, revealing animal-like sharp teeth and the eyes glowed an eerie blood red. "Why try to kill something that's already dead?"

Cackling at the horrified looks on their faces, he mockingly saluted them, picked up the sack and said one last thing before once again going into the forest:

"Now if you'll excuse me, I have a new recruit to deliver."

To Be Continued…

Oh how I laugh at your agony! Bwahahahahahaha!! Man, leaving people hanging can be fun but understandably not funny to the reader. But worry not, I shall update soon. Please review. No flames accepted.

Next Chapter:

Ch 2: On The Other side of the Door

Naruto, Sakura and Kakashi still have yet to retrieve their stoic companion, but who and what exactly is this guy/captor with extremely inhuman and not exactly ninja powers and where is he headed? And why Sasuke of all people? Find out in

Ch 2: On The Other Side of the Door!