Acknowledgements/Foreword: Hello everyone who is still following this story into 2017, despite a far too long gap between updates, with reasons varying from life to changing locations to laziness. My editor and co-author, Zinmaster24 and myself, XemnasO01X, are happy to bring you great people chapter 16 of The Rogue Two. remember we own our custom characters only and do NOT own Naurto. so enjoy this long overdue chapter.

Chapter 16: Into the Eye

-The calm is meant to usher in relief, except when that calm is in the Eye of the storm. -

-Town in Yu no Kuni, small convenience store; 1300-

Xevhiroth walked just behind Zikito, using his arm to hold open the door, as the man in front of him only opened it as shallow as possible. Whether this was done to minimize their respective profiles or to just hit him, Xevhiroth didn't know and would probably never know but he didn't really care.

He had already pieced together that Zikito was an excellent fighter, clever combatant, and possessed a strong moral code. He also had his flaws such as being brash, distrustful of others, having a gambling problem, and he getting his kicks out of messing with others near him. Xevhiroth was certain that he was going to get them both into a lot of trouble but knew he could get them out of it. There was a fact Zikito couldn't escape. He needed Xevhiroth, though he would never admit it.

Pushing this out of his mind, Xevhiroth scoped out the store his was currently in. He had switched his armor for a plain black shirt and beige shorts and a piece of cloth to cover his face. This town had a bounty office which meant that there would be posters with his face on it somewhere in it, but as luck or fate would have it they had yet to come across them. Zikito had remarked that the pair might at least get some minor supplies before departing this town, which Xevhiroth agreed to. However, it would be limited because while they had money, it was always best to ration it, especially around a compulsive gambler. Zikito walked into the store, basket in hand, and was already starting to pick out a few things that made life on the run easier. Xevhiroth took a step inside, after the greeter came out from the back-

-and stopped dead. Something in the air felt different and he didn't like it, like the smell of the air or the way the wind picks up before a storm. He had been on the run long before Zikito, so he had developed an uncanny second nature when it came to being hunted. When your life could be taken at any time and you were be hunted across all nations, you have to be able to sense when things are not as they seem.

'I got keep my eyes open. Something is in here-'

Any thoughts Xevhiroth had about being hunted, or bounties, or anything that concerned his life came to a screeching halt. Because, what he saw before his eyes was a the most beautiful looking thing he had ever laid eyes on.

"I DON'T BELIEVE IT!"

XxX

Zevela tried to act as casual as she could, acting like an ordinary girl just doing some everyday shopping for herself. Which, being almost completely broke, meant she had to juggle between what she could and couldn't buy. But this wasn't easy because the prize that could net her meals for a lifetime was within ten feet of her and she had to wait to grab him. Yet, however she may have felt about waiting, it was a needed tactic at this point.

'Be a normal person, don't act like a bounty hunter, wait for the right moment, and above all don't let anything surprise you.'

"I DON'T BELIEVE IT!"

"'Yeep!"

Zevela let out a yelp as she heard someone shout.

XxX

Zikito had been looking for a selection of things when he heard Xevhiroth shout, and was over there in a heartbeat.

"What?! What is it?!" He shouted as he stopped right next to Xevhiroth. He was standing near the store's very limited selection of books. Xevhiroth's knees were shaking, and his eyes were wide as plates. Zikito followed Xevhiroth's line of sight to the bookstand, as Xevhiroth's eyes were about to pop out of his head as he stared at a book:

Icha Icha Renaissance

By Kakashi Hatake.

Zikito's jaw just dropped a bit as he could only stare in absolute disbelief. But moreover, he didn't care about his find at all, which he voiced with a dismissive tone.

"Oh, great. Smut."

Xevhiroth had already picked up the book as he turned to Zikito, his eyes widened with shock and offence to Zikito's statement.

"IT IS NOT SMUT!" Xevhiroth shouted in defensive anger, but trying to keep his voice down.

"It is the culmination of man's ever constant struggle to find love in this lonely world. A heart-warming and gut-wrenching tale that speaks to every man on the face of the Earth that has ever dared to love. It is not smut, it is a romance novel."

Zikito, just as before when he went on his rant, gave Xevhiroth an "are you serious?" look. So he grabbed the book from Xevhiroth, flipped it to a random page, and read a line.

"Oh Ren, I know our love is forbidden, but I still want to bear your child." He said in an exaggerated tone.

But Xevhiroth, grabbed the book back from Zikito's grasp, seemingly insulted.

"You just can't grasp the genius of this book. One single sentence and a river of emotions convey through like a flood. A love forced apart for reason that are unknown but still it wants to be and exist. Can anything else be more magnificent?" Xevhiroth said, as Zikito looked behind him to see a girl with blonde hair walking towards the counter, and immediately decided to silence Xevhiroth and his stupid obsession with that book.

"You could never get a girl with any line in that 'book'." Zikito said, issuing a challenge he knew Xevhiroth would not turn down.

"Ha. Yeah I could." Xevhiroth said with full confidence in his voice.

"Then prove it, Casanova." Zikito smirked, as he pointed behind Xevhiroth, to the blonde at the counter. Xevhiroth held onto the book in one hand, money in the other as he walked to the counter.

Zikito took a step back, turned around, and waited. After a minute or so, he walked over to Xevhiroth, who had been clocked by the storekeeper and lay next to the door.

"You were saying?" Zikito asked with the same smirk on his face.

Xevhiroth was about to open his mouth when a shadow fell on both of them.

It was the girl from before, she had a bag in her hand and was standing over Xevhiroth looking down at him. Her face was red and she looked a bit nervous, but then she quickly knelt down to him. She then shoved a piece of paper in Xevhiroth's hand, blushed, and ran out of the store. Xevhiroth managed to open the note, read it, and showed to Zikito.

8:00 P.M..

Aiko's Tavern, western end of town.

Just look for me. See you there.

Zikito couldn't believe it.

"Told ya." Xevhiroth managed to say before he passed out cold. Zikito shook his head as he grabbed Xevhiroth's leg and dragged him out of the store.

XxX

Zevela stood at the corner of a nearby building, out of direct sight of the store she had just come from. As she saw the Uchiha being dragged by his 'friend'.

'More likely some poor stupid fool that the Uchiha had tricked into getting him to do whatever he asked.'

He was a tall, athletic, fit, and obviously had no reason to be associated with the Uchiha at all.

She wanted to follow them, her feet were aching to move now to take her prize. He was out cold and she was certain that his 'follower' would be grateful, but she couldn't risk it.

There was also the chance that he could be a loyal follower and could pose a threat. Whatever she wanted to do however, Zevela forced herself to be calm.

'Remember To'ver. Just remember that.'

Zevela's career as a bounty hunter had not been without some close calls and that one almost cost more than her life. Zevela took a deep breath in and out, closed her eyes, counting to a hundred by twos. And when she opened them, she walked towards the western end of town.

This town was one she had visited many times in her travels and knew every bar and restaurant in it. The one she chose was a bit ways away from the bounty office, but no other bounty hunters would be there making it perfect. She moved a bit faster, she had a date to prepare for… and a target to capture.

XxX

-Town in Yu no Kuni, cheap hotel, time: 1925-

Zikito sat at the desk that came with the room, writing out a detailed list of their money, supplies, rations, and possible points of egress from the room, town, and country.

They had spent a bit of the money they had on hand to get here and more to restock. All in all, they had 750 ryō left after everything was said and done. A full assortment of kunai, smoke bombs, and scrolls, enough food to last a week or so, and approximately six ways out of the room, five ways out the town, and twelve ways out of the country.

'Seems like that covers everything… except what my partner is going to spend what money we have left merely just to get lucky.'

CLICK

Xevhiroth walked out of the small bathroom, having taken a shower, shaved, and combed his hair. All to seemingly have drinks with a girl he knew nothing about. He was wearing something simple for a bar-side rendezvous, leaving all his gear there for Zikito to look after. The tattoo on his right arm was fully revealed and looked more like a sealing pattern than an art form.

Zikito sighed as he turned to Xevhiroth, he seemingly had a silly expression on his face, like any tail seeker would have when he knew what he would soon have.

'Damn idiot. Doesn't even realize what he's gotten us into.'

Zikito didn't know why a girl like that would go for such a cheesy line. It was piggish, overstated, and obviously, crap. Whatever the case, Xevhiroth was going to attract only the wrong kinds of attention and this was not the kind of chasing Zikito had in mind!

'He is an absolute, damned IDIOT!'

"I'll catch you later." Xevhiroth said, as he walked to the hotel door.

Zikito stood up, unable to keep his composure any longer. This was short sighted and stupid to say the least and he was just going to walk into a bar for drinks with heaven-knows-who's- watching, just to possibly get laid.

"We're not going to find them sitting here." Xevhiroth said, as Zikito stared at him. Ready for anything that the Uchiha said but not that, and choose to remain silent as Xevhiroth continued to speak.

"They are a shadowy criminal organization with a structure that many people consider to be destroyed. If you think we're gonna find Unity by chance alone, we will never be able to stop them."

Xevhiroth turned to face Zikito. He held a somber and focused expression, a complete contrast to his mood a minute ago.

"They are underground, worming and scheming their way back into places they once controlled. They may be on the wrong side of things but they are not stupid, not after what you did to them."

Zikito kept his cool and said nothing, but could not suppress a smile as he pictured Hideaki, wallowing in his big failure that cost Unity nearly everything.

"When they surface to kill you, do you think they'll attack using their colors and wave their banners? No. They'll use headbands and garbs from other nations to cement you as a traitor and rogue ninja. All the other nations will join and you will have played into their hands perfectly. Unity may want you dead, but do you think Hideaki won't try to push you down the same path as your grandfather? Your entire family will be outcast if you just kill every person that says they are Unity. If you kill their members or leaders, no one will believe you. They have already burned you. How are you going to find them? Kick in doors? Hold people at knife point? Are you looking to stop Hideaki or become him?"

Zikito wanted to punch the Uchiha in the face but refrained from doing so because he could sense what he was doing. Though, it still didn't help with the urge to break Xevhiroth's face.

"How do you hunt?" Xevhiroth asked suddenly.

Zikito only looked perplexed till he thought for a moment.

"To hunt a prize animal, you need to find where it's nests. It's home and where it takes its prey but to do that, you need to know what it likes to eat. It's preferred prey." Xevhiroth gave a smile.

"What is Unity after?" Xevhiroth asked Zikito with the same smile on his face.

Xevhiroth turned back to the door. Zikito wanted to say what his part was in this and what he should do.

"I know." Xevhiroth said as he stood near the door. "Kirigakure ANBU Rule #35." He quoted and then walked out of the room.

Zikito stood still only for a moment, his mind baffled by the words his partner had just said and a smile grew on his face, only because of the truth that may come from them. Bounty hunters may frequent that kind of place, but others will too.

If Unity had its reach everywhere, then places like that would also be on their list. Zikito pulled his scarf up to cover his face and grabbed his jacket. Pulling the hood over his head, he followed Xevhiroth wanting to berate the man for telling him something Zikito created… And thank him for reminding him.

'This isn't about one man. It's about an entire syndicate that's after someone. We make them run straight into the major nations, or us. This is a hunt after all.' Zikito thought on as he verbally spoke the rule Xevhiroth had told him, the Kirigakure rule, that Zikito wrote himself:

"Always watch the watchers."

XxX

-Yu no Kuni, Aiko's tavern; 2000 -

Xevhiroth had seen more than his fair share of bars and hang-outs for all kinds of people. His time trekking across several nations, evading people, was what got him acquainted with this in the first place.

'But this place isn't too bad.'

A fairly in good shape sign greeted him on a well-lit street. Walking inside, Xevhiroth noted that the bar was in good condition. There were no broken chairs from age or brawls, all the lights at the booths were lit, and both the waitress and bar keep were well mannered and orderly. Its current patrons were a mixed bag of people ranging from a lonely man sitting at the edge of the bar, to a party of people sitting together using two long tables pushed together. Some couples sat at the booths, all merely talking amongst themselves and having drinks. Everything in the bar was clean and well-kept. It seemed more like every other tavern he had spent more than ten minutes in.

But this didn't concern him in the least, because he had already found what he was looking for. Sitting in the middle of the bar lane, his date. She was wearing a simple outfit more fitting to the scene around her, much like himself. A single drink or malt, maybe, was in front of her and still on its napkin. Which meant she hadn't been sitting there long.

'Good. If there's one thing that book taught me, it's to never keep a lady waiting.'

Xevhiroth was not a terribly vain man, so he didn't feel the need to check himself over again. He merely patted his pocket and walked over to the lady in the green shirt.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." He said with a smile on his face to begin his date.

XxX

-Yu no Kuni, Aiko's Tavern; 2025-

Zevela kept her tone playful and a bit bashful to the Uchiha's advances. He was asking for her name and gave his own in return. He told her that she looked good in what she was wearing. She, played it off like she had all of her other better looking clothes were in the wash. But, he was good at making her seem like she still lit up the room. In between drinks and jokes she answered his questions, telling him she was a local who had been in-between jobs, and who normally would not meet up with a stranger she just met. However, she was so taken by his line at the convenience store, she just couldn't resist. He bought it of course, as he seemed more interested in her than her story, and then came when she asked about him.

"So tell me, what brought to this town? I doubt it was the food or the 'popular' bars… So what's a handsome man like you doing in a town like this?" She asked with a hint of allure in her voice.

The Uchiha took a sip of his drink, sake of course, and leaned against the table then closed his eyes. She couldn't see his face very well and he took a measure to ensure she didn't, but his expression turned to one of reluctance and a hint trace of dread. He had decided to remain silent when she asked him that question.

Zevela gave a slight look of concern, her mouth frowning slightly and her eyes becoming apologetic. With one hand still holding her drink, she reached with the other into her purse grabbing a syringe with a powerful tranquilizer inside. Throughout the evening, she had been steadily slipping a tiny amount of the same drug into his drink every chance she got, and its effects were starting to show.

The Uchiha was becoming unsteady and sluggish, his eyes were steadily becoming unfocused and any movement he made had more momentum to it. Though he wasn't slurring his words yet, she was prepared for him to react if he figured out what she was doing. He then lifted his head and turned to face her.

"I'm just a good-looking guy, who happened to be at the right store at the right time. And said the right things to the right girl." He said without a laugh or smile.

Zevela stared at him for a few moments before she started giggling. "You're very funny you know that, don't you?" She asked playfully and honestly. She couldn't stop herself from laughing at his response, because it was so stupid that it was hilarious. It was something she early on in her career learned, never stop your natural reactions. Targets are more likely to believe you if you react naturally, otherwise they'll know, no matter how dense they are, that they're being played.

XxX

-30 minutes later-

After another half-hour of this back and forth, she saw that the drug was starting to overpower him and didn't want to cause a scene here if he fell unconscious, and decided to 'offer' him a place to sleep. Putting her drink down, Zevela stood up from the bar stool, took a step closer to the Uchiha and whispered into his ear.

"How about we get out of here and go to someplace more private?" She asked with a seductive tone.

The Uchiha turned to face her with a smile on his face but she could tell, with the drugs in his system he wouldn't make it to the first alley.

Paying for the drinks, he 'walked' out the bar with his arm around her shoulder, all the while she wondered how no one had managed to capture him before. Then she put her hand in her purse and made sure that the syringe was held tightly in her hand as they walked out to the empty main road.

"Don't worry my place isn't that far." She lied as she tried to lead him down an alley but he slumped onto a bench that had been outside the bar on the main road before she could. "Come on now, I don't bite… unless you want me too." She said as he raised his head.

"Why are you doing this?" He asked.

Before she could react, he reached out and grabbed her arm that held the syringe.

Surprised, Zevela tried to pull her arm free, but instead found his grip strong and unyielding. Even as she tried to pull away, she discovered that she couldn't. She tried to turn her head as she felt something tighten around arm, then around her legs, first the left then the right. Then, Zevela felt a rope wrap around her neck tighten vigorously, not to the point where she couldn't breathe but to where she couldn't move her head at all. Her eyes still able to move, she looked as best she could to see whom was holding her and where the ropes were coming from.

Gasp

Her mouth opened but her gasp was exhaled through her teeth as she gazed into the night sky. A blackened sky, gray pitched clouds, and a red moon, colored the sky with a hue of fire and blood. Shining in its glow, filling it and her with an ambiance of dread and death.

Zevela looked back down as her gaze was directed as the rope pulled her neck and her head down, to meet with the gaze of the Uchiha. The Sharingan was reflecting from his eyes and she couldn't tear her own away.

"Oh god. He knew all along and was toying with me! Damnit!" Her thoughts buzzed with alarm and prayed that the sedative took effect quickly as the Uchiha continued to speak.

"If you are in it for the bounty, I understand. The allure of a grand payoff is something that many can't overcome. But if you're working with them, then you are on the wrong side of things. You may think you're doing the world…a favor… but you're wrong." He said, stuttering as he did.

Realizing it was working, she let her mask slip, as she replied honestly. "Who is, them?" She asked, curious.

The Uchiha's expression softened and his eyes became concerned, and though she couldn't be sure, she believed it was for her.

"I see. If you're turning me in for the money, go ahead. But they won't give it to you, instead they kill you… They won't give you anything. U-Unity only want's me and if you do this, you'll be giving them all they need to bring down…everyone…t-they wish to… c-cleanse the world and they need me. We're trying…to stop them before they…regain…everything… they reached b-before he brought them down. P-Please don't…." He stuttered out, as his grip relaxed and his Sharingan slowly disappeared from his eyes as one last plea meet her ears but didn't see his mouth move. "… Don't give them what they want…"

And as his grip fell limp and eyes closed, the Uchiha slumped over on the bench. Zevela, able to move again, stood still and tried to understand what just happened. She had met and caught various bounties across all the countries. She had heard it all from pleas, to threats, to bargains for her targets release. She had even gone up against entire small armies trying to bring them in. But this was something completely new to her, a warning.

"What was he? Unity…" Zevela was completely unsure of what to do. He said, that she could turn him in for the money and they would kill her. She had already turned bounties on those confirmed Unity agents and never once did she ever see them again. They were locked away, shattered, and broken. Right? Something about them had the Uchiha spooked and her as well.

Unity was a group that she had heard well enough to know that they were some bad guys, but they were gone, destroyed by Zikito Hoshigaki. Yet, why was the Uchiha so scared for her if she turned him in, that they would come?

'Those words... like the ones my brother said.'

Zevela shook her head, she had come this far, and would not be denied a chance to save her homeland by a vague promise, by a member of a hated clan, about a group that no longer existed. But she couldn't help feeling as she picked him up that this was a mistake.

'Am I doing the right thing?'

Shaking her head, she answered her own doubts with "Yes" and in the time, it would take to carry him to the bounty office. Zevela was sure she would come to believe it herself.

-10 min later-

Zevela was only a few feet from the door to the bounty office, the last stop for the Uchiha and her last bounty ever. All she had to do was walk through the door, lay him down on the floor, sign some paperwork, and she would forever be done with this life as a bounty hunter. Standing before the last bounty office she would ever have to step into, everything she had suffered and fought for would all be worth it now. She couldn't help but feel like it was ending everything her life had been up to this point. It would be a change, one she had been longing for, and Zevela couldn't help but remember everything that lead to this moment.

Zevela had already been a good hunter-nin even before the collapse of Ame's ninja system ten years ago due to infighting, corruption, and generally low quality ninja had forced the only academy to close. That's when her life and Ame itself changed for the worse. The few ninjas that populated the village were outnumbered 3 to 1 by several factions; united gangs, criminal groups and a revolutionary front led by a former elite Ame ninja. Her group along with others, tried to keep the peace.

Though better trained than the other groups and better equipped, their victories eventually becoming nonexistent. It was by sheer will and a determined leader that kept them and Ame from the brink of a civil war. After the academy's headmaster was killed in a supposed coup, everything fell apart, civil war was no longer just a fiddling rumor, it had fully gripped Amegakure and everything went to hell once again.

Zevela remembered those hellish days. Full on battles in the streets, people being ambushed for food, even kids drafted to fight for no cause at all. After several years of turmoil, something caused the factions to stop fighting and peace was ushered in. She believed in it until….

Zevela felt her chest tighten, as she recalled the last thing she did for the corps-

"No." She said interrupting her own thoughts before they could go any further into the past. Her eyes opening looking towards the door that would lead to her and Amegakure's brighter future. "That all ends now."

'No more watching people struggle to live day after day. No more seeing my friends get sold into slavery. No more people getting shook down for protection money. NO MORE! This will bring back peace to my home. I can right the wrongs of my ancestors. Show the people they were right to keep hope alive.'

With her head held high and shoulder aching from the weight of the heavy Uchiha, Zevela walked into the bounty office. Plopping him in a chair, a soft creak sounded as the chair protested under his weight but she ignored it. If it broke, she'd pay for it. Hell, she'd just make a new one herself if it came to it. With hardly a moment between his landing, Zevela slammed the bounty poster onto the front counter, with the most shocked look plastered on the bounty officers face as she spoke.

"Where's my payout?" She asked with pride in her voice.

The man behind the counter told her he would be right back to send a message to the world that the Uchiha had been captured by the Bloodhound of the Rain. Zevela could barely open her mouth to speak again, before he was out the back door. The loud and slow creak of the closing door was all that answered her in turn.

Beaming with her own pride, Zevela sat down in the other chair next to her prize and kept a careful eye on him, his breathing was slow but steady. She knew that the bounty on him was substantial, in fact it was the most it had been with various nations now confirming his existence. It had nearly doubled to over 30 million ryo. It was three times the size of the next biggest bounty, in fact that bounty was hanging on the wall just behind the counter and Zevela merely give it the once over.

10 million ryo, for 1 count of high treason, and 1 count of capital assault and attempted murder. If captured alive, deliver to the Hidden Mist: Zikito Hoshigaki.

Zevela looked at the picture-

"Son of a..."

-and wanted to hit herself. It was an almost carbon copy of the man she saw with the Uchiha earlier in the day. If she had acted earlier, she would have been able to claim and net herself two high profile bounties, which would have meant a higher sum of money to be used to rebuild Amegakure.

'I could go out and find him, but who the hell knows where those two decided to make camp. Oh well, I have my target and a massive reward for bringing him in alive. I shouldn't be greedy. I need to secure the Uchiha first and if I need more…'

Zevela continued to wait for the officer to return. She was certain her life and career as a bounty hunter was over. It wasn't an easy life for her but, she knew and she wouldn't miss a single moment of it at all. As she sat waiting for the guy to return, Zevela kept her eyes going all over the small office as her captive slept on. She looked all around at the door, the nearby window and at the floor just underneath her chair and her eyes fell immediately on a very faint stain. It had barely been cleaned and not even scrubbed out of the concrete floor well enough, because it had melded into the floor. It was of a dark red hue and was something she had seen many times in her life. It sent Zevela to her feet just in time to see a shadow pass by the window right next to her.

Stepping forward, Zevela gave the door she had come through a hard kick-

"GAHH!"

-as a scream from a man behind the door reached her ears, two more figures darted in. She didn't have her blades or any of her gear with her but she didn't need them. So she opted for using her own strength to deliver a punch to the closest one to her, straight to the jaw. The second brought out a kunai, stabbing it overhead to her face to end her life. However, Zevela curved her arm and delivered her elbow to the attackers face. Grabbing his arm by the wrist with her free hand, she flipped his body onto her chair breaking it into pieces.

Zevela clapped her hands together at the three collapsed men and then put her hands on her hips.

"Wow, Good job. You guys suck at ambushing. You know, maybe next time you should try using tranquilizers instead, less headaches." She mocked them with a look of disappointment on her face.

She had just finished when she felt a prick on her calf and on her neck. Pulling the one on her neck free, she could already feel her body becoming heavy. As she fell to the floor, she heard a set of heavy footsteps approaching and a voice as she passed out.

"Thanks for the advice." The voiced called out with a smirk on their face.

XxX

-Unknown location; Unknown time-

"…. Make sure it's secure."

Zevela heard a voice not too far away as her consciousness came back to her in a rush along with the headache of whatever that had pumped into her. She couldn't feel most of her body yet, but as her senses returned, one by one, she took careful note of where she was. Her eyes were blindfolded so looking around was out, but her ears still told her what she needed to know. She was in a big building because there was an echo, both of voices and footsteps.

"He's not going anywhere."

Zevela felt her blood boil. She knew whom they were talking about. Her prize catch, the Uchiha. That alone made her body start to wake up faster, the ache of her muscles and the coldness of the floor.

'He's my catch! No one's gonna take him from me!'

"Yes. Can't believe we got him. Lord Tengi is going to give us a big raise for this."

Zevela limbs began to awaken and her thoughts raged.

'Hell no! That bounty belongs to me! You and your lord can go suck a dick!'

Another set of footsteps grew closer and another joined with the two she had already heard.

"I've sent word to both him and Lord Hideaki. Soon everything will be ours again. Guess we owe the Bloodhound here ours thanks. Once Lord Hideaki gets here, the Uchiha will be long gone, and you won't have to worry about getting paid, Bloodhound. Oh yeah, we plan on killing you, obviously, maybe even collect the bounty on your head too." The voice said as he walked up to the other two.

"WHAT?!" Zevela shouted, unable to restrain herself any longer. She used every ounce of her strength to pull her arms, but found that they didn't even rise an inch. Her wrists had been bound to something and tied with strong rope, keeping her still.

The footsteps grew louder-

Pull

-as the blindfold was pulled off her head. And the dim light of a single candle, seemed like the sun to her eyes.

"Unh." She groaned as her eyes adjusted to the only light in the dark room. It was a big room roughly thirty by thirty feet maybe, with high windows and stacks upon stacks of boxes. Some of them were broken or rotted to where what was in them had spilled on the floor, which was concrete. It all looked old, mold and cobwebs had overtaken most of the inside, even with the low light, she could see most of the corners were covered with them.

'Probably why they choose this place. This looks like some kind of old abandoned warehouse. What sane person would come to place like this?'

"Well look who's awake, boys." Zevela eyes darted to the man who was speaking, the one who pulled off her blindfold. It was the same man whom had given her the Uchiha bounty.

"Glad you could join us." He said with a smirk, as he walked back to his cohorts. One was a lanky man that looked like a merchant and the other had a massive frame, wearing gear from Tsuchigakure. But clearly, on each of their shoulders was a tattoo of a circle and bird within it. They all had to be part of the same group but what group was it?

"If she hadn't shown up, we'd have never found him." The lanky one spoke, as he pointed to her left. Bound up in chains and ropes, kept suspended in mid-air, was the Uchiha and he still appeared to be unconscious. "Now we'll get our reward."

Zevela snapped at him instantly. "I FOUND him first! You're nothing but lowly thieves! His bounty belongs to me!"

For a moment, they all looked at her in silence and this confused her.

"HAHAHA!" They all started laughing and the 'bounty officer' got close to her. "Ha. Oh… oh man, you think this is about that stupid bounty?" He asked in between his fits of laughter.

And Zevela looked surprised by his question. After all, the Uchiha bounty was enormous, how could it be about anything else?

"We're not in this for the stupid bounty." The one with the massive frame said as he stood up. "We're in this to finally bring about a true change. The foolish 'Great Nations', who hide they're weak and cowardly ways with bold statements and grand intentions. They put a bounty on him, and they would do anything to stop anything that is a threat to their 'power'. The Uchiha will force them to bow to us, to Unity."

He walked to Zevela and looked down at her, as he smiled. "And we owe it all to you. You've given us the Uchiha. Once the world has accepted our way, you will be greatly honored." He said as he looked to see her expression of defeat.

However, Zevela only gave him a deadpan stare to mock the pudgy man's long winded rant. She had been played before and people had always said she going to suffer a horrid fate. She was a seasoned bounty hunter after all, so this was nothing new to her.

'And you will be killed and we will blah blah blah blah blah yeah yeah same old bull. Come on! Get some new material for Kami's sake.'

"Hey, you should feel honored." The bounty officer said… as her hands formed fists and she spat in his face.

"Go to hell." She replied in a dull uncaring tone, as the man wiped the spit from his pudgy face.

"Why, you!" He shouted and brought his fist back but she just smirked as he punched her in the face. Zevela felt the blow, her cheek becoming swollen and the taste of blood filling her mouth but she merely gave him a bloodied smirk now.

"That all you got? You hit like a girl." She said and spat at his feet. To which he raised his hand to hit her again, only to have it pulled back around his head.

"Now that's no way to treat a lady." Zevela recognized the voice and looked up and saw the Uchiha standing there holding the man's arm. The sound of bones snapping could be heard as it was pulled ever so slightly backwards.

The other two quickly stood up, looking as surprised as Zevela was herself. She looked to where the Uchiha was restrained previously and saw all the ropes still had their knots, and the chains had been neatly folded on the ground.

'How did he?... I gave him a shot of drugs before I dragged him to the bounty office. He should still be out cold.'

"We gave you double dose of sedatives! There's no way you should be awake!" The thin guy shouted in surprise.

"True. I must admit, the combination kept me out longer than I'd like, but I was already awake by the time we got here." He said, with an almost casual tone. Even as the pudgy bounty officer struggled to free himself from the Uchiha's iron grip.

"LET GO MY ARM!" He shouted in pain as he could feel his arm straining against the iron grip.

"Hmm? Oh, ok." The Uchiha answered nonchalantly.

Xevhiroth picked him up by the arm he was holding him with and threw him at the other two, sending them flying into a stack of boxes. This caused the three men to crash into the boxes and it knocked them out cold.

The Uchiha looked like he hadn't even used a quarter of his strength on those three. He also somehow had escaped several chains and ropes, without making a sound while being drugged. Zevela felt herself pale because he was gonna kill them and her-

"I warned you." He said his back to her. Turning around, his Sharingan was not active and his expression was… calm? Like there wasn't anything wrong in the world. "They were waiting for you. Oh well." He said with a simple shrug of his shoulders.

Zevela couldn't believe that he was being so casual about all of this. She had captured him and drugged him to turn him for money. All the while, he warned her about what would happen and even though he was right, he didn't seem to want to be right.

"Hey what was that?" A voice just called out followed by another.

"It came from the warehouse!" A small chorus of footsteps quickly grew quickly and drew closer.

"Get the hell in there! Make sure he's secured!"

"Yes, sir!" Several voices called out, five from the sound of it, and the door to warehouse was flung open. Zevela had to turn her head to see but saw six people. All were dressed in ninja gear from several different hidden villages, but they all had the same tattoo as the ones the Uchiha had tossed a few seconds earlier.

"He's free!" One of the guards shouted and immediately all of them drew kunai and began forming hand signs.

"Oh shit!" Zevela hissed and looked at the Uchiha, but he didn't look concerned until he disappeared. Then, Zevela found that the ropes holding her were no longer there. Zevela saw him standing in front of the group of people-

THUD

-and all but one of them fell to the concrete floor. The last, the one in the very back of the group, looked untouched and terrified, shaking and Zevela was certain he had pissed himself. There was a dark stain on his pants that could be seen even in the low light of the warehouse. The Uchiha stared at the guy as Zevela stood up, he was maybe about her age or younger, 21. The young man was terrified tremendously. She couldn't be sure, the Uchiha's back was facing her, but he must have been using the Sharingan to make the kid wish he was-

"Took your time, eh?" He asked suddenly. Which made Zevela let out an intelligent 'huh?' response, as the Uchiha turned his head to the left of himself and looked up.

"Oh my…" escaped Zevela lips as she followed his gaze and saw a man standing on a crate. A massive weapon, a scythe, poised on his shoulder and blood on the blade. He was taller than the Uchiha by half a foot and was more fit, and Zevela knew exactly who it was.

'That's Zikito Hoshigaki. Oh, man this is bad.'

Zikito didn't move his body at all, but merely turned his head to respond.

"Gimme a break." He said, turning his body around as the Uchiha looked back down at the kid.

"Beat it kid. Go back home, find a safer job, one that'll make you live longer." Xevhiroth said to the young man that was still shaking in his shoes.

With not even a moment's hesitation, the young man ran off as fast as he could. "And wash off that damn tattoo!" Zikito shouted out as the young man ran like a bat out of hell.

Zevela only could stare at what she just witnessed. Never had it crossed her mind that it'd be possible, an Uchiha or Hoshigaki showing mercy. She'd heard of the atrocities committed by the two but this was a new one.

Click

Zevela thoughts were broken as the sound of boots hitting the floor alerted her that Zikito had jumped off the boxes to land next to his 'partner'. The two stood side by side, Zikito's height and weapon loomed over the shorter Uchiha next to him. However, with the Sharingan, Zevela was sure that the Uchiha was the more ominous of the two.

That thought brought back other memories of stories she had heard in the past. Including a group that had controlled Amegakure in the past. This group had a Hoshigaki and an Uchiha as partners within their ranks.

'The Akatsuki… just like Kisame Hoshigaki and Itachi Uchiha.'

"Why'd you let him run? He was with Unity. For that matter, why did you block my blow against him?" Zikito said to the Uchiha.

"Huh?" Zevela let out in a soft voice as her thoughts were broken up. She hadn't taken her eyes off the Uchiha, and he hadn't even raised his arms since he threw that big guy. Then again, when had moved from being directly in front of her, she didn't see him move… he just wasn't there anymore.

"He's a kid." The Uchiha replied with an uncaring tone. "He was looking for a place to belong, but chose poorly. He was a scared and lonely kid." The Uchiha turned around, but continued to speak. "He'll find a new path."

Zikito didn't seem convinced, but didn't look like he wanted to argue the point.

"Won't he inform others about us?" Zikito asked.

"He won't."

"Why and how can you be certain?"

"Fear. Either of us or them. He'll go back to his normal life."

Zikito seemed satisfied with that answer, and turned to follow his partner. Zevela had been so fixated on what had happened, she failed to notice that the Uchiha and Hoshigaki were standing right in front of her now.

" So, what do we do with her?" Zikito said, his scythe still on his shoulder; blade pointing down at her.

Zevela felt her eyes open wide and a throat become bone dry as the blade was pointed at her now. Her brain finally caught up to the situation and was working in overtime to think of a way out of the this situation. These were two bounties that had the actual firepower to end her life if they so chose to do so. However, the same fear that the kid had been feeling, was starting to creep in on her now. They had caught her flat footed and everyone present knew it.

'Oh shit! They're gonna kill me or worse! I should have just ran away! Kami-sama, please take care of my family and I'm sorry for the life I've led-'

STEP

The Uchiha stepped closer to Zevela and simply stared at her-

"Want to make some easy money?" He asked and extended his hand.

"W-Wh-What?" Zevela asked in turn, as Zikito raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

"What the hell?" Zikito said to which the Uchiha turned to look at him.

"They sent word to both Tengi and Hideaki." He started to explain and Zevela noticed Zikito's ears perk up at that.

"Tengi may not make it, but Hideaki will. Possibly, along with several high-ranking Unity members. They'll be coming to admire their captured prey, and if we can capture them. Tengi can disavow them as Unity if you bring them in, or say that you turned on them for whatever reason. No matter what, they burned you already. Few will believe it. Any that may, could be Unity themselves. And me?…"

Xevhiroth merely shook his head at the craziness of that idea. "But her? She could turn them in. Consider it an apology. Besides, there aren't too many people that wouldn't believe the Bloodhound of the Rain couldn't track down some high-profile bounties."

"You knew?" Both Zikito and Zevela asked in unison. Causing the two to look at each other.

"Did you tell him? I didn't." Again, they asked and answered in unison.

"Please, give me some credit here." The Uchiha said with a smug look on his face at their expense. "You think I don't recognize one of the best bounty hunters around? I've seen some things in my life, enough said. Moving on, it's good for all of us. I don't get turned in, you get one to several steps closer to clearing your name, she gets a good amount of money, and Unity gets screwed and becomes more desperate. Everybody wins."

Zikito thought about it, evident by him placing his hand under his chin and closing his eyes. "It's not Tengi's or Hideaki's head on a platter..." He hummed in thought, before he opened his eyes and smiled "But, it's a start."

Zikito and Xevhiroth merely nodded at each other in agreement. "So, it all comes down to you." Zikito said looking to Zevela now.

The Uchiha, with his hand still out, repeated his offer. "Still want to make some easy money?"

Zevela, for all of her years as a bounty hunter, had been offered plenty of outrageous things. Both to take a bounty and let one go. From ten times the amount specified to offering of valuable objects, to servants and slaves. But she had a moral code, a conscience, believed in karma, and refused to compromise who she was.

Zevela looked up at the Uchiha to respond-

"DIE HOSHIGAKI!"

Zevela turned her head to the source of the voice. It was one of the men the Uchiha had dealt with earlier.

Zip

Something slipped right by Zevela's head.

THUNK

And stuck into something behind her. She didn't see what, however, as someone picked her up.

"Move!" She heard somebody yell, and saw what had hit. It was a kunai with an explosive note attached to it. The kunai stuck into a box labeled; explosives, please handle with care.

"Oh... Shit."

XxX

-10 minutes later, Outside the warehouse-

Zikito felt like he wanted to punch his fist into the dirt, no, into somebody's face, as he stood outside the warehouse he had tracked Xevhiroth to. Before, it could have been the place that may have brought Unity down. The place where he could have seen Hideaki's smug face before Zikito popped a few bones in the man's arms or legs. Though he deserved more than that, it would have been enough, but now…

"We need to go." Zikito said, standing next to Xevhiroth and the Bloodhound, his scythe was sealed back into his scroll and a bright orange glow illuminating the three of them in the night. The embers that flaked around them, the crackle and roar of flames could be seen as the warehouse burned in front of them. There were sounds, though muffled, of people coming to see what happened.

Even he wasn't too sure how it all had happened. He had agreed to go along with Xevhiroth's plan, to wait for Hideki or whomever to show up, capture them and turn them over to one of the nations or something. Not quite what he wanted for them, but it would be enough to see Unity's high ranking members rotting in a cell. Xevhiroth had just turned to ask the bounty hunter if she was up for joining them. When someone yelled for him to die, Zikito looked to see an explosive tagged kunai fly and land in a box... a box filled with flammable objects. Then, faster than he could blink, the whole place went up in flames.

The warehouse was an inferno, the glass windows had already burst outward and some of the building was starting to collapse. They all were safe from falling debris and from being seen, as they were watching from the woods nearby. Zikito was disappointed but quickly shook it off as nothing could have been done about the situation. Maybe, he could have used a water style ninjutsu, but it would have been obvious from the outside what had happened inside. Besides, most people aren't deaf to explosions anyway.

"Yes, we'd better." Xevhiroth said as Zikito turned to start walking-

"Hey." A distinct female voice called out to the two of them.

Zikito stopped to turn and face the voice, it was the bounty hunter that Xevhiroth had saved from the fire.

"Where are you going? You're still my bounty." She said pointing at Xevhiroth "I'm not letting you outta my sight."

Xevhiroth sighed in exasperation. "Seriously? After all that, you still are going after my bounty?"

"Like you said, I'm the Bloodhound of the Rain. Never backed out on a bounty yet and don't plan to start now."

Xevhiroth thought for a moment, evident by his eyes closing and head tilting back.

"How bout this then? We're going after Unity, some of those guys are high profile targets. You come with us, you can turn in those guys."

Zikito had been silent till now, but no longer. "Are you crazy?! Why do we want a bounty hunter coming with us?! Are you trying to get us turned in?!" He shouted in protest to the idea.

"No." Xevhiroth replied calmly. "We can't take out a group like Unity by ourselves, no matter how much you think we can. More importantly, there are places we can't go such as bars, shops, and even towns because people are hunting for us, because of our bounties being the highest in years. Who is going to think that a world class bounty hunter would travel with the most wanted men on the planet? Besides, I doubt she wants anybody else to get my bounty." Xevhiroth explained to Zikito as he turned to face the girl now.

"So, I'll make you a deal. Come with us, help us take down Unity, and claim whatever bounties are on their names. Or, should we fail, you can turn me and him for our combined bounties. Think about it, the longer we're on the run, the more our bounties should increase right?"

Zevela merely raised her eyebrow, but soon answered with a cheshire like grin on her face.

"I'm in." She said.

Zikito gave a grave look to Xevhiroth who merely crossed his arms, almost as if waiting.

"Why?" Xevhiroth asked. The girl didn't even need a moment to think about her response.

"Because, they crossed me too. I've had many people, bounty officers, other bounty hunters and the like, all try to steal bounties for me. No one steals anything from me." She said plainly and with finality.

Zikito and Xevhiroth both gave her a smirk.

"Ok." Xevhiroth responded with a shrug. "My name is Xevhiroth Uchiha and his is Zikito Hoshigaki. And your's milady?"

"Zevela Yamaneko, Bloodhound of the Rain. I hope we can get along well, Zikito-senpai, Xevhiroth-sama."

"WOAH WOAH WOAH! What the fuck?! Why you calling him master?!" Zikito yelled out in protest.

"Huh, what do you mean?" Zevela asked, looking confused at the outburst. "Because, isn't he stronger than you?"

Xevhiroth only smiled and chuckled "Guess we know who the world thinks is better." He retorted as he started walking off.

"BULLSHIT!" Zikito shouted into the wind, as he unsealed his scythe and cut down a tree as a form of anger management.