Chapter Three: The Elite Jounin of the Shadow's Heart by edlovergirl

A young boy with a marking on the front of his neck sat on the outskirts of the village of shadows. He had his face in his hands and was turned away from the mocking of the village people. A young girl pushed through the crowd and tapped him on the shoulder. He looked up afraid to see if the person would yell or slap him from their hate also. She bent down to his face and smiled. She reached out her hand as the crowd yelled for her to back away for he could kill her. Her smile brightened him up and for the first time in the young boy's life, he took someone's hand with all his trust and followed her wherever she went.

Through the shadowy trees a young man of nineteen could be seen on a tree branch grinning widely. He was an elite Jounin and only for one main reason: to impress one single person and hope that she would smile like before. This girl was always in his thoughts. She was the only one who had ever cared for him or glanced at him. Most people were afraid because he had a demon inside of him called the Shichibi no Kaku, or the seven tailed demon. Everyone else had looked down on him until she came along and stood by his side. He was actually of the Sound-nin, but for twelve years he had been a part of the now burnt Hidden Shadow Village. The girl below him was one he knew by heart, yet she seemed like a stranger now.

He jumped down after she walked past the branch, and he seemed to have caught her a bit off guard. She turned quickly and threw three kunai at his head. She was more skilled with weapons, but the man had better speed. He took tree kunai out of his pack and threw them to intercept the kunai already in the air. She looked sharply at him. He had long silver hair with bangs that hung in front of his face. He wore a red scarf around his neck to hide the demonic deal and a black mask on his face. He wore baggy black pants with his hitai ate and shuriken holster on his right thigh along with a black tank top partially covered by a white vest and black gloves that reached to just above his elbows. She looked at him with awe and he saw for a split second softness come across her face. Tears filled her eyes before quickly changing back to the cold bitterness that was in them before.

"You've change Kasi-chan," he finally said, getting the lump out of his throat.

"What are you doing following me, Ryu-kun?" she asked resentfully.

He looked at her strangely and stared at the bandages wrapped around her body. He walked over and tried to touch the bandage around her right shoulder, but she quickly moved away as if afraid, the same way he had when she first stretched her hand out to him.

"What- What happened to you, Kasi-chan?" he asked, noticing the X-shaped scar below her left eye.

"My nee-san killed my family and my soul, Ryu-kun. I plan on getting my soul back, even if it means my death. Do you understand?" she yelled, frustrated, letting her pent up anger out.

"I shall follow you wherever you go and become your guardian. Anything I do will be for you. I shall die for you in the means of battle and be cast away like an empty shell." He bowed down before the one person he loved and respected the most. "To you I give myself up, Kasi-kun."

Kasumi stared at Ryu in awe and took a step back in shock. "Ryu-chan, you have become more foolish than before. I won't stop you from doing this. But I'll have you know idiot,

that I WILL use you often," she said before turning back around.

This isn't the Kasumi-kun I fell in love with and honored. I will kill her nee-san for taking her from me. I will DESTROY her and offer her lifeless body up to Kasumi-kun. Kasumi-kun will be mine again and smile sweetly like before. Even if I have to die to see her smile. I shall become the heart you lost, Kasumi-kun and give you everything I have.

Ryu followed after her quickly and walked closely behind her. He scanned the trees often and realized they were walking in the direction of Konoha.

He had heard many stories about the Shadow Heart assassin. He now realized that this had been Kasumi all along. Her genjutsu was so strong that it was palpable. Ryu felt that when he looked into her eyes she could see all of his faults. He was used to a Kasumi who was kind and sweet while he was bitter and resentful. Now he could do for Kasumi what she had done for him, and hopefully would keep doing.

"Kasi-kun I live only for you," he said. Kasumi stopped walking.

"Ryu-kun, please. If I start feeling emotions now, then I won't be able to kill my nee-san. My sister. My enemy," she said.

"Right… Sorry, Kasi-chan. I just care for you deeply," he said before realizing what he had said.

She turned and looked at him with wide eyes. The wind blew hard and tossed her hair all around and the sun falling in random places from the trees shone down on her. She looked so gorgeous he stopped in his tracks to blush and stare, until he realized she'd moved and was hugging him. She wrapped her arms around him and cried. He felt all the anger and sadness she'd held inside as she held him and wondered if anyone had held her after all of it had happened. He wrapped his arms around her till she stopped and got up with a smile. He could see that she would only show her true self around him. He felt proud as he thought that he would be the only special person around whom she would be comfortable. As they walked towards the village, he held her hand tightly until they were only a few feet away from the village and she let go.