I've already stated the disclaimer. Don't make me do it again.

--~~--

Smirking in satisfaction, Fujiaki sat back in his chair as he continued to stare into the swirling crystalline ball, showing the vision of Jason heading toward Konoha. Not to mention the killing he had just committed.

"Hmm, it's quite strange he didn't attack that other ninja, Kimehawa-sensei and his students." Fujisaki remarked. "Oh well, at least it works to bring attention to his rather formidable killings."

"Right, Boss." Said Himetsu. "What will we do next?"

Chuckling in an ominous manner, Fujisaki leaned over the table, his eyes on the ball, watching the Hockey masked slasher wandering around in his confused daze. He lay his chin on his hands, grinning. "We wait, my good man. We wait."

--

"So guys, you ready?" Naruto said eagerly to his friends that were all gathered about.

"Ready, Naruto!" Sakura cajoled, pulling on her gloves.

"You bet I am, no question!" Kiba declared.

"As ready as I will ever be, Naruto! I have never felt so much more pumped than I am right now!" Lee declared, throwing his fist into the air.

Neji rolled his eyes at his fellow teammate, but nodded. "I'm ready too, Naruto."

"Yeah yeah, I'm ready." Shikamaru sighed. "Man, this is such a drag."

"Don't be such a Downer, Shikamaru!"

"Whatever."

"I'm also ready." Shino said, pushing his sunglasses further up his nose.

Naruto grinned happily. "Good! Now we just gotta wait for Teah-nee-chan and then we can be on our way!"

"It's odd for her to be late." Neji remarked. "Did she say why?"

"Nah, I think she might've been delayed?" Naruto guessed.

--

Wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead, Teah took a breath as she was exiting the training grounds. Before embarking on the mission with the others, she had decided to squeeze in some extra training.

"Hope I won't be too late...can't set an example like Kakashi-sensei." Teah said to herself. "Oh well."

Toward the entranceway leading from the training grounds into the village, she then passed by Jason's hulking figure as they were going toward the same direction.

She looked up at him, and could hardly believe how tall he was, especially compared to her 5'9" stature. He was incredibly tall, probably a few inches short of seven feet. (Note: Jason is 6'6", in case you wanted to know)

On top of that, he wore a Hockey mask. A quirk, maybe?

Jeez, who ISN'T wearing a mask these days? She thought. I can only imagine why.

She could see he didn't have any hair, and a very bulbous head. Through the eyeholes of the mask, she caught sight of droopy brown eyes, looking down at her. Their eyes met, and she then kept going without much of a second glance. Although the machete in his hand didn't go unnoticed to her.

All Jason could think about was the fact that she had the strangest coloured eyes he had ever seen. He had no quarrel with her, so he just let her be on her way as he too made his way inside. A sign nearby indicated an arrow pointing toward what stated "Konoha Main Square".

--

"Sorry I'm late, guys." Teah said as she walked up to the group. "I, uh...decided to get a little training done before we headed out."

"Ah, no problem!" Naruto assured her, waving it off dismissively. "We've still got time before sundown. Let's go, off to the Hirenshi Village!"

Everyone gave a nod and they started to head toward the village gate, where they would meet up with Kakashi and Yamato, and they would embark to the Hirenshi Village that was northwest of Konoha. It was a fairly dangerous area, and although Tsunade would normally send more elite ninjas, it was by special request of the village's elderly Shamaness, Himekara Ujimoto, that she have an audience with the Princess of the Northern Mountain region, which was Teah herself, so Tsunade figured it would work out better to send Naruto and his friends, along with Kakashi and Yamato to escort her. She had no doubt in their strengths, and knew that this would indeed be beneficial in growing stronger as a ninja.

Because of the dangers lurking near the village, especially toward outsiders, it was always best to be sent in numbers, which was why Tsunade decided to also send Kiba, Sakura, Neji, Lee and Shikamaru along with Naruto. When Naruto had overheard Tsunade speaking of this mission, he had begged her to let him escort his friend. It was the closest thing to actually escorting Royalty, since he was good friends with her and all.

Naruto glanced at the Uchiha as he noticed her looking a little dazed, and would sometimes glance around nervously.

"What's up, Teah-nee-chan? You look a little dazed today." Naruto remarked.

"Huh?" Teah looked toward Naruto, and then forced a smile. "Oh, it's nothing. I'm just thinking."

I wish I could say it was nothing. But I can't get my mind off that guy wearing the Hockey mask. There was something about him I couldn't put my finger on. And that machete.... Teah sighed and shook her head of long black hair. Get over it, Teah. It was probably nothing. You're overreacting, just because he's a little...well, different.

"Well you sure look spaced out today!" Naruto remarked. "Thinking of a certain someone named Sasuke?"

Deciding to take that safe route and not cause worry, she just nodded. "Yeah, I was thinking of him."

"Awww, don't worry, we all miss him!" The blonde brought his arm around her shoulders, despite her being taller. "And we'll get him back, believe it!"

Teah blushed a little and smiled. "You're right. I have faith, no matter how much it may slip."

"That's the spirit, Teah-nee-chan!" Naruto grinned, and looked up just as Jason walked by them. "Whoa! What a tall guy!" He waved. "Hey, nice mask! Practicing for Halloween?"

Teah's complexion became paler than normal and grabbed a nearby newspaper to hide her face.

Jason glanced at Naruto, studying him for a moment, and caught the waving gesture. He didn't understand what Naruto was saying, but it didn't sound like he was insulting. Not sure what else to do, Jason lifted his hand in greeting before he continued on.

"Wow, that guy sure is tall!" Naruto remarked. "Must be seven feet, I bet! And here I thought YOU were tall. Man, that guy takes the cake! Wonder why he's wearing a mask...could he be like Kakashi-sensei? And why didn't he talk?" He turned to his friend. "Teah-nee-chan? What's with the newspaper?"

"Huh? Oh, uh, nothing." Teah lowered it. I don't get it. Why do I feel nervous and scared? Jeez, get a hold of yourself. "I was just bored."

Naruto didn't buy it, but he decided to humour her anyway. "Whatever you say!"

--

"That was...that was the Princess he had passed!" Fujisaki exclaimed, jumping up from his seat to stand as he looked into the visionary crystalline ball set there on the table. "Orivia Uchiha...the Princess of the mountain region to the north of the Fire Country...that was her, no mistake. And Jason didn't kill her!"

"Boss, that was also the vessel of the Nine-Tailed Fox." Himetsu pointed out.

"And the Nine-Tails! Damn it!" Fujisaki nearly ripped at his bandage. "What is he doing?! Jason is supposed to wreak havoc, but he hasn't done a thing so far! Damn it, what is wrong with him?!"

"Maybe he has his own Agenda, Boss. His mother's orders to kill off all those naughty kinds of teenagers." Yakita suggested.

With a heavy sigh, Fujisaki sat back in his chair. "Then we had better hope that someone will stir up that very situation."

"Right, boss." Himetsu said with a nod.

--

Walking along a fairly quiet, residential area of the village, Jason wandered around to try to find something to do. Although he was in a new place, with new people and new things to do, he was quite bored. Nothing had happened since his first killing.

Well he did do the deed, didn't he? Maybe it was time he went back=

"You were supposed to be watching your brother and sister, and you actually went out to drink, meet a girl, AND come home late?! You're going to be punished, son."

Jason paused in his tracks and stared toward the house, seeing a father and a teenage son no older than 17 on the front lawn.

"Fuck you dad, I need some space you know!" Said the teenage son, Hikoshi. "I don't have time to watch those stupid spawns of hell! They're big, they can take care of themselves!"

"I don't believe you, Hikoshi." His father sighed, going into the house.

Jason continued to watch through the leaves, and then he walked away, turning back to take one last look.

Taking a breath, Hikoshi sat on the front lawn, taking out a bottle from his bag. It was a bottle of Konoha Red Hot Whiskey, very high quality. He took a long, good drink from the bottle.

Unbelievable. He was supposed to be watching his younger brother and sister, and he was drinking. The temptation was too much for Jason by now.

With his machete in hand, his droopy eyes narrowing behind his mask, Jason went in and approached.

Completely oblivious, Hikoshi continued to drink down the whiskey with a very contended sigh.

"Ah yeah, this is the life baby. Nothing can stop me n-"

His sentence was cut off when Jason's large, gloved hand yanked him up to his feet by his hair and before Hikoshi could properly scream, the gleaming blade of his machete instantly came into view and stabbed him right in the throat. With a choked gasp and coughing up blood, the teen shook hard and then went limp.

With his rather inhuman strength, Jason easily tossed him aside onto the ground before he walked off.