Disclaimer: I. DON'T OWN NARUTO! (Otherwise, episode three would have been much MUCH more interesting, and the dubbed voices wouldn't suck.)

Chapter 2: Some Interesting Conversations

That Night…

Ayumi went back to the inn that night, after a long and irritating day spent with Naruto. He and his obnoxious self had dragged the girl all over Konoha, telling about all the different people and all about the many times he had gotten into trouble with said people. It was practically murder to have to put up with him all day. But soon, Ayumi thought to herself, soon it would not simply feel like murder. She adjusted her wig as she thought about her plan.

Soon, the Kyuubi will be no more. My clan will be avenged. I wonder if the blonde brat even knows anything about what the fox did before it was sealed. Probably not. I can't imagine the Hokage telling him anything about what is really within him.

She turned toward the window, sensing a slightly familiar presence.

Hm, it seems their sensei has followed me here. He doesn't trust me. She smirked to herself as she walked toward the open window. Good. He shouldn't trust me. I am not one to be underestimated.

Ayumi faced out the window, looking up to see the tell-tale silver hair hiding in the top braches of the tree.

"Kakashi, are you really so desperate for a woman that you would spy on me?" she sang out in her prettiest voice, drawing the man from his hiding place.

"Can I help you O Mighty Copy-Cat Ninja of the Village Hidden in the Leaves?"

This startled him, she could tell. He hadn't been expecting her to know this. Why befriend Naruto? How did she know who he was? But most importantly, who was she?

As if reading the older man's mind, Ayumi smirked and calmly stated: "Kakashi, I come from the Village Hidden in the Mist. I am a ninja. I was not present at the time, but I know of the events concerning the bridge-builder, Zabuza, and Haku."

Kakashi played it cool, he couldn't afford to show any surprise around her. "So, where were you when the fight was being fought? And what are you really doing in Konoha?"

She thought for a minute, and then responded "I was fighting a different battle at the time. And about what I'm really here for? Well, that'll all come in time, I can assure you."

"I see." Kakashi had his best mask of indifference on, but it was threatened to be replaced with a look of extreme curiosity. "But as I recall, only Zabuza and Haku ever called Tazuna 'bridge-builder'. Care to explain that?"

"Not really. My family never liked Tazuna's family much; they only admired his talent of building."

The two ninja enjoyed a moment of silence, Ayumi standing at the window staring at Kakashi, and he staring at her. He seemed to be simply looking at her, but his mind was racing.

Who is she? She is from a clan of the Village Hidden in the Mist, one that never got along with Tazuna's family, but kept a respectful appearance. I never heard of a clan such as that when we were in Wave Country. She is not one to underestimate; I need to keep an eye on her.

Ayumi was the first one to break the silence. "Well, Kakashi, it's been nice talking to you," He could just hear the sarcasm oozing from her crystal clear voice, "But I need my beauty sleep. Good night, Copy-Cat." And with that, she shut the window and drew the curtains firmly closed.

Ha. Ayumi smirked to herself when she was sure nobody could see her. He knows now. He won't tell them, though. Kakashi will want more evidence before he arouses worry. He might tell the Hokage, however, about some suspicions of a questionable ninja. In retrospect, I probably shouldn't have given him all that information. Kakashi might be uninformed enough not to know, but if the Hokage finds out who I am…it'll be trouble. I have to complete my mission soon, and then get away before the trouble really starts.

The Next Day…

Sasuke was waiting for his teammates at the bridge, as he usually did. Today however, Sakura was late. This was unusual. Usually she would arrive shortly after Sasuke and bug him about going out. He rudely declined, of course, but the annoying girl just wouldn't ever stop. One day the raven-haired shinobi would just snap and kill all of those annoying girls that insisted on chasing him.

There was that one girl yesterday, though. Naruto had said her name was, what, Ayumi? She didn't seem to like him that much. Sasuke didn't like her either. There was something about her that he didn't trust.

He 'hn'ed to himself and whispered "Idiotic girls."

"If you're talking about the pink-haired one, I'd have to agree with you, Uchiha."

Sasuke turned around in surprise to see that stranger from yesterday standing a few feet behind him. He was shocked, needless to say. How had this nobody sneaked up on the great and fabulous Uchiha Sasuke?

"How did you sneak up on me like that?"

She just shrugged her shoulders and said "Well, it's really not that hard, you see. Because when you're zoned out like you just were, you're not all that alert."

He twitched at her insult, but only mentally. Who did this girl think she was? And more importantly, does she know how pissed Sasuke is right now?

Ayumi however, noticed how much she was annoying Sasuke and how he really wanted to kill her right now. She mentally smirked to herself, and decided to play with the fool a bit.

"Yes, Uchiha. You really aren't. I bet even Naruto could have snuck up on you, unobservant as you are."

She smirked in triumph as Sasuke glared at her with a very offended look on his face.

Oh, that is IT! This girl is going down, right now, right here.

While Sasuke was busy fuming to himself, Ayumi chuckled.

They said he had an unbreakable mask of indifference. Fools, they know nothing about how to get under a person's skin. It's ironic that I can get under a person's skin both metaphorically and physically.

Sasuke Sharinganed his eyes and prepared to attack.

Ayumi stood there with a blank, maybe even amused, expression on her face, patiently waiting for him to make the first move.

He pulled out a couple of shuriken and threw them at her with blinding speed. But, even with Sasuke's aim they missed and lodged themselves in the tree behind her. He charged her next, but she jumped and landed perfectly on one of the branches above her.

"Sasuke," she sang in a teasing tone, "you missed me." And then she laughed. It wasn't a happy laugh. It stabbed Sasuke's ears like ice daggers, and sent shivers down his spine.

He tried to ignore the feeling and attacked again. She easily dodged this one, as well, and laughed again, if that empty noise could be called a laugh. "Is that all you've got, Uchiha? I swear the rest of your family had multiple times your strength. And you, the final heir? You are weak."

Sasuke jumped at her again, a raging fire fueling his attacks. He kept missing, however, and she was dodging him like it was nothing.

"Yours was one of the strongest clans of the Village Hidden in the Leaves, and this is all it left behind? I am disappointed, Sasuke."

He was furious, that was obvious, but no longer because of her taunting.

"You… How dare you talk like that?!" Sasuke's voice rang with uncontrolled rage as his attacks became more and more erratic and useless. "You don't know anything! Not about me, or my brother, or my family! You are an outsider, you don't know what it's like to lose something precious to you!"

She stopped then, her blank expression gone, replaced with one of intense anger. He ran at her again, only to be stopped by a swift punch to the stomach. He froze for just a second from the pain, giving Ayumi an opportunity to deliver a strong punch to the face, which sent him flying a few feet away. She calmly walked toward him, and before he could get up, kicked him hard in the stomach and said in that icy-cold voice "Never assume anything of a stranger, Sasuke. You have no idea who I am or what I have suffered."

The younger boy gave her a confused look before succumbing to unconsciousness.

Ayumi began to walk away then, but a figure appeared before her.

The intruder was obviously female, wearing long black pants, and a black shirt with netting on the arms. An ANBU mask hid her face, but her blonde ponytail swayed in the morning breeze.

Ayumi seemed unfazed by this newcomer, and asked "Well, did you enjoy the show, old friend?"

Cliffhanger. Boy, Sasuke was egotistical in this chapter. So, who IS the old friend? Find out later! (Please review while you're at it? Please!?)