The Stranger

Warnings: Not edited

Author's note: I think this is the first time I'll be using places that are similar and are actual in real life. O.o I don't know how to go about that kind of disclaimer though…the plot is fictional though, so any similarities on mentioned place is purely coincidental.

000 000 000

Nothing is more daunting than meeting a stranger.
Under normal circumstances you would say the phrase "Hajimemashite", introduced yourself then followed by "Yoroshiku onegaishimasu"

But Uchiha Sasuke was anything but normal. Petty formal greetings are meant for people who are looking forward to promising relationships and he had no desire to form one...again. For the young avenger, strangers were the people who had clothed, fed and trained himself he had lost everything...only to find out that they were the people who were also responsible for the murder of his family. Because the truth of the matter; despite countless hours of trainings, orientations, missions, debriefings and gatherings he knew nothing about the agency that took him in. But he was not a naive puppet soldier they had hope for him to be and he would relish the day when Hidden Leaf is destroyed by the very monster they had molded.

Five years since he had officially been declared as a MIA Leaf agent. A rouge for hire who walked quietly and stealthily amongst the Asians' underworld population and doing their dirty work in exchange for information and money. The very society he was trained to destroy and in those years offered nothing but room for his hatred to grow. Every under handed discovery, cover ups and manipulating stunts Hidden Leaf pulled had done nothing but strengthen his resolved.

He adjusted his hood that sheltered his head from the downpour. The weather man had declared the day rain free but that is information was always a fifty-fifty chance no matter how much data was gathered. His next mission however was a different matter. Dark obsidian eyes stared at the figure that sat behind the window from across the street.

He could tell by the form that the person was a female with uneven red hair and thick dark rimmed glasses looking no older that your typical university student.

As was he but he had done his research. This woman was the perverted snakes' tracker, Karin. She was well know in the underground for coordinating and making sure the Snake-bastard got the victim, specimen or person for hire through any means. A highly observant and manipulative figure, the kind he found no desire to be around.

Sasuke readjusted the large document tube slung behind his back that carefully carried the ninjaken it had inside. In this path, greater rewards await to those who knew how to be cautious. With long and precise strides, Sasuke walked straight to the front of the entrance door and opened it. What greeted him was the warm temperature from the heating system in contrast to the biting wind and rain outside; the light jingle of the chimes as the door struck against it; the smell of coffee freshly brewed and the young waitress part timer that was daintily walking towards him. He stopped the young woman from approaching any further though and instead pointed to the occupied table he had stared at from when he was outside. It was no surprise when Karin was already looking at him from head to toe. What he did not find in approval is the way she sultrily crossed her exposed legs and slowly licked her red tinted lips.

Without breaking eye contact with the snake's subordinate, Sasuke slowly walked towards the woman who did nothing but lean in to show her peeking bosoms and bat her eyelashes at him.

"You must be Uchiha Sasuke"

"Hn" He invited himself to the opposite seat directly in front of the red head.

Sasuke was no holy man by any means and was perfectly aware of his more than ordinary looks and physique and looks that easily let him slide in bed with a woman or two whenever he wanted sexual release. But it will not happen with this woman now or anytime soon despite her flirty and provocative innuendos.

"The silent type eh? I've encounter a lot of those but none as hot as you."

"Not interested." His short refusal seemed to have taken the lady aback. She was clearly not someone who was used to taking no for an answer.

"Not yet~" She licked the spoon used to stir the half filled cup of latte.

"I'm here for the job."

"Is that the only reason you're here Sasuke-kun." He did not even bother to hide how his eyebrow twitched at the over the line honorific.

"It seems that you have none to offer though so I'll be taking my leave and…"

"No, wait! Geez!" Sasuke paused in the middle of standing up and glared at the red head.

"Damn, you're hot but you're no fun, hun." She huffed out; took out a sealed manila envelope and slid it across the table to Sasuke's end."

"You'll find everything you need in there."

"And the info he promised?"

"My employer said that you'll have it when you have completed the job." Sasuke opened the envelope and briefly read the first few pages. "A runaway lab rat experiment? Wouldn't it be better to hire those street thugs to do this?"

Karin studied absently studied her manicured nails. "Those hooligans are clumsy and squirms information too easily. My employer wishes to keep himself under the radar as much as possible…for now." She had said the last part a bit sarcastically. "Besides, Orochimaru-sama said that you'll enjoy hunting the lab rat down." She ignored the disbelieving stare Sasuke gave her and smirked. "She's currently in Hidden Leaf's custody."

Sasuke felt his insides turn cold at the mere mention of the hidden agency and did nothing to hide that fact in front of his current employer's representative. He knew she had gotten the clue through her sudden rigid posture that had leaned further back and the uneasy expression she was sporting.

"So…um…the details on how to contact me when the job is done are all there." She grabbed her sling bag that sat was placed on the chair beside her; eye contact deliberately avoided with him

"I'll see you around Sasukekun." …yet clearly not dithered by his rejection on her first offer.

"Tata~" She gave a winked but he did not bother to give even a simple nod back and continued to immerse himself in his thoughts.

He had never received a mission that directly confronted Hidden Leaf. It was usually the other way around. His employers would hire him as a way to slip by the radar not directly confronts the organization and being a former Missing Leaf Agent boost his credentials to the underground society. He more or less knew how Hidden Leaf thinks and operates. The agency was never one to take the white side of the chess's table they wait in the shadows for your first move then strike.

"I'm sorry I'm late this rain's just-ack!" Are you okay?"

How careless. He must have been too distracted by the fact Hidden Leaf is involved.

"I'm so sorry." The new arrival had immediately bowed before the red head. The hood of his soaked coat covered his head and half of his face.

"My, I can tell that you're a good boy type huh? I'm fine, I'm fine I'm in a hurry now so please move"

Years of rough training had honed his senses to detect even a person who was trying to keep within a 15 meter radius. There was no way a loudmouth klutz that knocked the informant aback could escape him under normal circumstances unless he was that idiot.

" Eh? But the rain is terrible outside." The young man pulled down his hood to reveal a shocking of familiar sunshine soft spikes of hair and haunting sky blue eyes.

Sasuke could literally feel every blood cell in his veins stop and rapidly switch from hot to cold. This was impossible.

"Naruto don't just stand there, lend the lady an umbrella." The old man from behind the bar cited aloud. The young man handed the umbrella he had used earlier to the red head without a second hesitation.

"I can't take that. I'm not sure I'll be able to bring it back."

No matter what angle he looked at; unless he had an unknown identical twin somewhere, this was Kyuubi of Team 7. His ex teammate and, as a witness and participant, killed in action five years ago.

"Of course you will. Everyone comes back here once they tried the old man's coffee."

Yet from the stupid grin down to his hyperactive gestures, it screamed fox-idiot. The only difference he could outwardly point out was the three lined scars that were on each cheek similar to the assigned masked to him.

"The latte was indeed very good."…and when did that lecherous bitch turn into a perfect description of a blushing virgin? She did not look…no she definitely is not the type to hesitate nor feel guilty when it comes to the things she needs and wants.

"So here take it." The orange umbrella was insistently placed on her free hand then she could do nothing but nod. "Thanks. I'll return this as soon as I can."

"No worries." The blond replied as he sidestepped to reveal the entrance door. "Just make sure to return it when I'm here so I could treat you coffee."

The redhead awkwardly nodded and walked towards the portal.

"Thank you for coming!"

Karin did not say anything back but Sasuke's sharp eyes did not miss her ears that turned red the shade of her hair.

Tsk~ The idiot never ceased to frighten him on how easily he could sway ones emotion and thoughts and turning them to empathize with his own. He had almost remained a victim of it too if not for his unexpected short reunion of his brother that lead to the discovery of the real reason his clan was destroyed.

Your still just a child little brother. Not everything goes the way we want it to. Sometimes people must make painful choices.

"Naruto-kun. Ayame is on her break. Dry yourself up and don't keep the customers waiting." The barista from the counter scolded.

"Sorry owner."

Sasuke watched the drenched blond stuble to the staff room and got out not a minute longer all dried up with the standard café apron tied around his neck and torso. He snatched the pen and paper on the counter and scanned the whole café for tables that had not been waited on.

It took a few seconds before ocean blues zeroed on him. And while not one to believe in the supernatural, Sasuke could not help but relate this to characters in Hollywood Movies who stoned still as they watch the person they knew to be dead slowly approach them.

"Sorry for the wait." The blond gave a sheepish grin as took out the pen and paper, poised to receive an order. "What would you like to have?"

Five years was a long time. Since when did the idiot get so good at feigning character? If he remembered correctly the dead last had the lowest scores during impersonation training. He was a trickster and a prankster but never a deceiver. What you see is what you get with him.

"Nice try dobe..."

The man with the nametag, Naruto, blinked once then twice then scrunches his eyebrows together.

"Excuse me?"

"Stop pretending idiot."

The blond stared at him like he grew and extra head.

"Um, do I know you?"

TBC