Author's Note: fiuh, at last this chapter is finished. I spent my days completing my assignment, playing tradewinds2, and reading English mystery/detective books that I bought in a book fair to improve my vocab and better story writing. Notice that I don't write better 'grammar', though hopefully it will improve too. They were really cheap, the books, I mean. Though it was probably because they were old books (still in good condition though). Only Rp.6000,00 – Rp.7500,00, mostly Rp.6000,00, that's probably 60 cents (100 cents to a dollar, right?) if a dollar (US) equals to Rp.10.000,00. I bought 9 books. I am only able to read a book for now, and it isn't even finished yet. Hopefully after my mid exam, which is in this week and next one, I'll be able to.

If you already read my other HPN crossover you'll know right away whom the main character is. Yep, you get it: Naruto. Who else a canon chara with blue eyes, blonde hair, and pink haired girl as a teammate? I have never written any HPN fic without Naruto before (except for Ashura, but that was because Naruto hasn't entered the fold yet, but he'll be, later). In my HPN and Naruto fics, I have portrayed Naruto as a guy with similar manner with the original, as a badass, as a leader, as an avenger, etc.

And now I'm trying to portray Naruto as a missing-nin, not that it is his choice of career, but it is for his survival. This Naruto accepts mission from everyone ranging from poor old man to crime lord (as long as his client doesn't annoy him). He only accept mission if he liked it, which meant good payment (not just in cash form), challenging, when he is in mood, and get respect (or at least fear) from his client. A solemn and cold missing-nin Naruto if you catch my drift.

I'm trying to make another version of Naruto guarding Harry. I'll try to make him as a cynical, sarcastic, and cold ninja as best as I could.

Some of the dialogues and sentences were taken from HBP canon cuz I'm too lazy to make them up on my own.

In the end I didn't say the Naruto's identity in this chapter. But since most of you were right in your assumptions, I didn't really care to spoil that it was Naruto.

My flash disk is gone! I still have the part with the battery place, but the flash disk part is gone! O man, my bro is gonna have a fit when he hears it. He's the one who gave it to me. Alright, part of it was from my mom, but he paid the rest. To make matter worse, there are my notes there for my lesson and the exam for that particular lesson is next Monday! I'm screwed! If I don't find it, I think I have to eat instant noodle for a loooong time and cut my Internet time to replace it. T-T That's the only way I can do without alerting my mom and bro that it's missing! Too bad I won't be able to get flash disk with the same capacity as my first without having to reduce my expenses for months. Ugh…I think I'll just have to be satisfied with a 128 or 256 MB without MP3. Goodbye my 512 MB flash disk! Hiks! And I only have it for 4 months! Whoever took it, I hope he/she dies of horrible death! Son of a bitch!

Chapter Two

Many Hogwarts' staffs, order members, and several students were occupying the Hospital Wing. Some were treated and rested on the beds, while others were trying to find any information whatsoever about what had just transfixed on Hogwarts tonight. The Weasley clan however, was most anxious to hear about the condition of one of their members, Bill Weasley, who had been bitten by Fenrir Greyback, the inactivated werewolf. Half of the clan wasn't there yet though.

"—No cure for werewolf bites," the nurse of Hogwarts said forlornly.

"But he wasn't bitten at the full moon," Bill's youngest brother cried out in denial before looking at the only werewolf on the room for hopeful confirmation. "Greyback hadn't transformed, so surely Bill won't be a - a real - ?" he choked.

"No, I don't think that Bill will be a true werewolf," said Lupin, "but that does not mean that there won't be some contamination. Those are cursed wounds. They are unlikely ever to heal fully, and - and Bill might have some wolfish characteristics from now on."

"Dumbledore might know something that'd work, though," Ron said. "Where is he? Bill fought those maniacs on Dumbledore's orders, Dumbledore owes him, he can't leave him in this state -"

"Ron … Dumbledore is dead," said Ginny.

There were cries and panic from the mass of people.

"- more Death Eaters arrived - and then Snape - and Snape did it. The Avada Kedavra." Harry couldn't go on.

The ninja who stayed in the shadow frowned when he heard the news, ignoring the rackets created suddenly by people there. He was, however, looked up when he heard the sad singing of phoenix, his client's phoenix, correction, his dead client's phoenix. He had never heard it before. It was apparently true what many people said about the firebird's singing. It was beautiful, even when the tone was heartbreaking. For those magic users maybe, because he couldn't muster any kind of pity to the now dead man. He was too used by death. The only thing bothered him was his payment. With his client died, who would pay for it? He sure as hell wouldn't just give a free service. He wasn't a social worker. He was a mercenary.

Beside it wasn't like it was his fault the old man was now dead. It was because of his own ignorance to keep information from him. He had finished his objective which was to protect the castle until his client arrived back, and since he had arrived on Hogwarts, his mission was already over by then.

The blonde figure looked at the grieving looks of everyone inside the room, excluding those who were sleeping. For some reason it reminded him of an event years ago. At his first chuunin exam. Many people too mourned sandaime's death.

He looked up when the door to the hospital wing was opened by a plump woman followed by a nervous looking man and the last, a beautiful young woman.

"Bill!" she cried out when she saw the state of her oldest son. "Oh Bill!" There was hushed conversation after that.

The ninja was bored. He wasn't one for drama, and seeing a mother fussing her son made his heart clenched. He didn't have a mother to fuss over him as he grew up. The only one to ever do something remotely resembled it was his second sensei's teammate, and she was much more of a big sister than a mother.

Growling in annoyance and shoving that thought to the dark of his mind, the figure stepped down and revealed himself. No one noticed him, as there was no sound coming out from his steps. Only after he appeared behind the man who first approached him and spoke did they notice his presence.

"Send the rest of the payment to the vault I wrote here," Mundungus Fletcher jumped a feet when a voice said it behind him. He felt something was shoved to his hand. When he looked at it, he found that it was a piece of paper with numbers written on it.

The others were backing off, remembering what he had done to the death eater on the hall. Mr. Weasley drew his wand, not knowing who he was, while Fleur and Mrs. Weasley shrieked in fear, thinking he was a death eater because of his black clothes and white mask.

"W-what? But you fail your mission! If anything, I shouldn't pa—," Fletcher wasn't able to finish that sentence he was shoved to the wall in the same manner of what he had done to Ron, only rougher. The red head winced sympathetically.

"Fail? What do you mean by 'fail'? The mission is a success. I had to protect this castle when the client was gone for an errand, which mean Dung," he sneered, "That when he arrived, the mission was over. Do you hear me? Over. And it wasn't like my mission was to protect him. If anything your abysmal information had to be blamed," he increased the force if his hold, making the man squirmed painfully. "So please, don't tempt me to hurt you," he hissed furiously. Mr. Weasley's hand was being held by Remus who shook his head.

"Or would you like to join those corpses in the hall?" the smuggler quickly shook his head vigorously, while pissing his pants, making the mysterious man grimaced, though they couldn't see his expression. "Afraid of me, Dung? You should. I'm professional and I always get my job done. Now it's your turn to be a professional client. Do not upset me, or you'll end up as those people that had double-crossed me," the shaking man didn't have the gut to ask what he had done to them. "Good!" the man put him down and turned his back. He stopped halfway from the exit. "Oh and Dung, if I find the amount of money is less than what we had agreed on…I won't be nice," he gave a mocked salutation and walked to the door, leaving the man shaking on the floor, unable to stand.

"Wait!" McGonagall's voice rang throughout the room, making him stopped. The others thought that she had gone batty. The black clothed man stopped for a moment before he turned.

"Yes?"

"I'd like to hire your service," the transfiguration teacher stated without hesitation.

"WHAT!" the others shouted in disbelief. What madness has entered her brain to ask him for his service?

"I refuse," he replied.

"But you haven't heard my request yet!"

"Judging from your characterization and your eyes, I already conclude that you want me to guard the castle and its inhabitants for next year, am I correct?" The old woman appeared to be shocked, before she nodded slowly.

"Yes, your are correct."

"I don't stay in a same place for a long period, no matter how much you offer me. I don't do boring job, and I certainly refuse to babysit hundreds of stupid brats," the students looked affronted by this. "If you want to hire me, the mission duration should be short, or if it is for long time, it has to be a mission in different places. It should be challenging. No question or complains on how I handle the situation. No transgression on the contract. No questions ask about my life, my past, anything about me. The conditions of the missions could not be changed the moment we agree on it. I'm a mercenary, I kill," they winced, remembering the sight on the great hall. Hopefully the order members were done fixing that place at this time. "Not doing a lame mission. And my service is not cheap," he finished his conditions. "Ask Dung for more information. So what job other than babysitting you need me for? I do better in assassinating someone."

"I-I don't think I'll hire you to kill someone," she stuttered at the information.

"A pity, I guess I'll be going then."

"Wait!" this time it wasn't McGonagall who shouted. All eyes were focused on the green-eyed boy. "I have couple of missions for you," he said in resolve.

"…" the masked man raised an eyebrow. "I'm listening."

Harry's eyes darted around the people on the room. "Not here. I want to talk to you alone."

"Very well"

"But Harry," Hermione and Ron cried out, but he shook his head stubbornly.

"I need to do this," he nodded to the blonde man. The figure flashed and reappeared behind him and wrapped his arm around his waist before taking Harry and vanished from sight in a black blur, causing the people on the Hospital wing to shriek, thinking he was apparating.

"But it's impossible!" the Gryffindor girl yelled. The others were too dumbfounded to say anything.

0-0 0-0 0-0

Harry's eyes widened when he was put down on the floor of an—if he bothered to look around him—abandoned room in Hogwarts.

"That's impossible! People shouldn't be able to apparate insi—"

"I didn't apparate," the man cut him off.

"But—"

"No question on how I did it. Now if you can start explaining to me just what does you want to hire me for?"

Harry stared before he nodded. "Two missions actually. One of them as a side effect of the most important mission. But first I want to ask how I will be able to know that you won't betray me?"

"I'm a professional," the man sounded offended.

"Not enough. The unbreakable vow," Harry interrupted. "I want you to do it."

The man scoffed. "If you don't take my words, there is nothing I can do for you. I don't like to be bound, by anyone. Beside it isn't like I can do it. I'm not a wizard," the man decided to drop the bombshell.

"You're not a what?" the Boy-Who-Lived spluttered in disbelief. "But those magics you perfo—"

"Those weren't magic."

"Then what—"

The blue orbs darkened and narrowed. "I believe you're taking too long in your explanation, kid. Take my words or leave it."

"I," the boy contemplated for a moment before he growled. "Fine! I want you to escort, protect me and to help in searching some artifacts. The other mission is to kill any death eater we come across during our journey. I will pay handsomely."

"Duration? And please specify these artifacts and the fee."

"I don't know. I know nothing of the locations of these artifacts. I got some hints, but they are too subtle. Because it is a search mission, we will have to move to different locations. I don't know how much I will pay you for now. I know I'm wealthy, but I don't know how much money I have."

"That is quite stupid," the younger man glared.

"Perhaps. I don't really need them before, so I don't care much about them. If you manage to kill any member of the inner circle of death eaters I will pay you double, triple, quadruple of the pay if you kill a normal death eater, I don't care. I want them dead. But I want information from them too before you kill them."

"The artifacts," the man asked, not giving up.

Harry sighed. "They're Voldemort's horcruxes."

"…"

Harry rubbed his forehead tiredly. "Horcrux is an object in which someone plant a part of his soul, to make sure he won't be able to be annihilated completely without destroying the objects with the souls on them. To make long story short: to kill Voldemort, I need to destroy his horcruxes first."

"How many horcruxes we're talking about?"

"Four. There are seven in total. His diary that was destroyed 4 years ago in my second year. A Slytherin ring that was destroyed sometime ago by Dumbledore. Hufflepuff Cup. Slytherin Locket. Something of Gryffindor or Ravenclaw, Voldemort's pet snake, Nagini and lastly Voldemort himself. The mission is to search for clues and destroy four of the remaining horcruxes other than Voldemort. I will deal with him my self, but perhaps I will need your help to do that too."

"Hm…any special thing needs to destroy them?"

"I don't know. It needs to be researched. Hermione will be able to help us."

"That bushy haired girl?" Harry looked annoyed, as if thinking he was insulting his friend.

"Yes, her. She's smart, genius even. I will need her ability to do this."

"I refuse to protect another one in the mission. It will be too troublesome," Harry shook his head.

"She won't come with us, and neither will Ron. Just both of us, you and me."

"Is this mission dangerous?"

"I don't know," Harry said bluntly. He didn't want to repeat Dumbledore's mistake by keeping the information. "Perhaps, but perhaps not. But it most probably is dangerous. I doubt Voldemort put them in an unsafe and unguarded place. They are his lifelines. So, do you accept the mission?" he asked nervously.

"Will this mission destroy Voldemort?"

"Only if we succeed." Money, a challenge, and a possible way to acquire knowledge…all just for killing a snake…

"Check up your finances and we'll negotiate the price. As the killings are only side effects, I won't ask for reward to kill them. But I won't refuse any bonus you want to give me though for killing Voldemort's elites," the sixth year Gryffindor nodded.

"Oh then I'll ask for another mission. A mission to capture two particular death eaters if we meet them during our journey or if you meet them in another place not during our hunting. I want information they can provide me with. I don't care if it's by truth serum or tortures, preferable the latter. I want them suffer before they died."

"Who are the targets?"

"…Severus Snape and Bellatrix Lestrange."

0-0 0-0 0-0

"What do you mean you're not going to attend Hogwarts next year?" Hermione asked stubbornly at the boy who was packing his things into his trunks.

"I tell you that I need to search for horcruxes," her best friend said without looking at her.

The red head who was watching the argument in silent opened his mouth, "Hermione, Harry has told us that he wouldn't coming back here even it did reopen. I too think that this search is more important. He can study later when everything is allright," the girl glared at him before she turned toward her other best friend.

"Then we'll come with you," she said firmly.

"You can't."

"What do you mean we can't? Of course we can. We have the time, and-and you're right to say that it is more important than study."

"No, I need both of you here. You're safer here—"

"We want to be with you. I don't care if it is safer here."

"—And I need you here as my informants. Beside I have told him that it would be only two of us. And as he said, the conditions of the mission couldn't be changed after we agreed on them."

"But he's dangerous, Harry," she reasoned.

"I know," Harry nodded carelessly as he closed the lid of his trunk and faced his best friends.

"But what if he betrays you?"

"He's a pro, Hermione. And for some reason I think he doesn't like Voldemort, hate even…I could see it on his eyes, though of course his mask didn't help me with that."

"How can you be sure of that?" Ron asked, picking his words carefully.

"Call it intuition, Ron," the dark haired wizard sighed. Why were they being difficult? Couldn't they see that it would be easier to search the horcruxes in a small team?

He looked at their unconvinced looks. "Look! It isn't like we won't be able to communicate!" he threw his hand in annoyance.

"Owl post isn't safe, Harry," she pointed it out.

Harry went to his bed and took 3 parchments from the drawer of his side table. "I'm not talking about owl post. Here," he shoved 2 parchments to their hands.

"What's this?" Ron asked confusedly.

"A parchment," Harry rolled his eyes, causing his friends to glare. He scratched his head, causing his hair to be messier. "If you wrote on it and write my name, it will be shown in my parchment," he pulled up his parchment. "That way we can relay information among us without concern of being intercepted."

"Where did you get these?" the bushy haired girl frowned.

"Knockturn Alley. I ask him to buy something that will enable us to communicate without owl post. And he gave me these."

"Harry…about this man…I have drilled Fletcher for any information about him…" she sounded worried.

"And?" he seemed interested.

"Harry, he's a killer!" she shouted. "He did everything to accomplish his mission. He killed many in cold blood and didn't give any mercy."

"That was why I hired him. I want to destroy Voldemort's ranks of death eaters. Who is better on it other than him?"

"And he was also known to kill his own employers!" she waved her hands in frustration.

"Only when they tried to double-cross him, I'm sure. "

"ARRGGH!" she cried out and stomped in anger, frustrated. "Ron, tell him!"

"Uh…Hermione…" he frowned and sounded worried. "If Harry cancel the mission, doesn't it mean he double crosses him?" She froze on her track and turned around, her eyes wide. It seemed that she didn't think of that possibility.

She couldn't say anything.

The silence on the male dorm of sixth year Gryffindor was only broken by Harry's owl hooting.

TBC…

See? I'm not abandoning my stories. I'm just not in the mood, stupid exams, many books to be read, many games to be played, and many animes to be watched.

Snape will have to watch out! There's a bounty for his head! And Bellatrix too.

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