"Boss, we have something to report." Mokira and his scout, who was a minion to the group, said as they came into the meeting room.

"Oh? Do tell, Mokira." Fujisaki smirked maliciously and looked up from the crystal ball.

"The Nine-Tails and his group, along with the Princess, are soon heading back to their village. The Princess was given medical herbs from the Shamaness." He said.

"Mm-hm...I see. Anything else?"

"This is irrelevant, but we have reason to believe that the Princess has very strong feelings for the vessel of the Nine-Tails...his name is Naruto, Naruto Uzumaki." Mokira explained.

"I knew that." Fujisaki sighed, and then looked up with interest. "Strong feelings, you say? Well...this is certainly interesting...yes it is. The Princess, in love with a mere peasant like him! Not to mention, the vessel of a dangerous demon! Oh, this is quite rich! Yes...oh yes, we could use this to our advantage... Mokira, you and your scout go back to Konoha and keep an eye on them, and report back to me in a couple of days."

"Understood, Boss." Mokira nodded, and then he and his scout left the room.

"Hmm...well, so this is quite lovely...yes indeed...." Fujisaki chuckled to himself. "Oh...yes. Hmmm... Himetsu!"

Immediately, his right-hand man was at his side.

"You wanted to see me, Boss?"

"We will set a new plan of action, Himetsu...given this quite juicy information. We will capture the Princess, as planned. And of course, we will hopefully lure in the Nine-Tailed Fox boy, Naruto Uzumaki...now of course, as Mokira had said, the Princess apparently has strong feelings for him. So when we lure him, she will be forced to choose. To surrender, or he dies. It's perfect, Himetsu...just perfect!"

"Absolutely, sir. Shall we begin operation kidnapping?"

"Not just yet...I want to have a little fun first. And in the meantime, our little Jason is doing quite well...quite well."

--

"Goodbye, Himekawa-sama!"

"It was lovely to be here!"

"We'll definitely come back! Thanks for the food!"

"Thank you, dear wonderful woman for your hospitality! I can only say how much I appreciate your utmost kindness!"

Naruto and the rest of them were all saying their goodbyes to Himekawa as they were departing back for Konoha. It was the next morning, and very cloudy, promising rain at the very least if not a pretty bad rainstorm.

"Do come back again, all of you!" Himekawa waved to them. "It was an honour to meet you, Princess! You are most welcome to return!"

Teah smiled. "Not a problem, and thank you too, Himekawa-sama." She bowed in respect, and then followed after the rest of them.

"Let's go guys, we can hopefully make it back before it starts to rain." Said Kakashi. "Okay, let's move!"

On cue, they all leaped off beyond the village gate and into the trees, where they proceeded in running and leaping from tree to tree, creating the illusion that they were flying, even if they weren't. Kakashi and Yamato went ahead, followed by Lee and Sakura, Kiba and Shikamaru, and then Neji. Naruto and Teah followed behind them, side by side.

"Listen, Naruto..." Teah said softly, blushing a bit. "About last night...I just wanted to say, I'm sorry."

Naruto blushed a little as he remembered what had happened the night before. After she had kissed him, she asked if she could sleep in his room with him, because she didn't want to be alone. He of course said yes, and they slept in the same room together.

Before falling asleep, a rush of emotions came over them and they ended up kissing again, which was surprising on both their parts. It even led to making out. Although not passionate, hungry, leading-to-sex making out, just loving, sweet and a little passionate. Naruto didn't understand why it was happening, even with the hypothesis he had about her having feelings for him.

And it was nice, really nice. He convinced himself that was a part of why they just kept kissing. It was nice, very pleasant, and they were close friends, so it wasn't too, too bad, right?

Now he didn't know what to think.

"Don't worry about it, Teah-nee-chan." Naruto smiled. "It really wasn't bad at all. It was really nice, I enjoyed it. So don't worry yourself over it."

"No, it's not that..." Teah looked away. "I don't want you to feel uncomfortable and awkward around me, and feel that now that we've kissed, you have to keep doing it. I really don't know what came over me, and I'm sorry. Friends don't kiss, and even if we didn't do anything, it was definitely sexual. Naruto, I really, really don't want this to ruin our friendship...and I'm scared it will."

"Teah-nee-chan, don't say that!" Naruto stopped on a branch, and held her hand to stop her also. "Nothing could ever drive me away from you, you're one of my best friends, and like a family to me! Plus, I know you would never do anything to hurt someone on purpose." He smiled at her fondly. "I know most people never really see you, that they always refer to you as Sasuke or Itachi's cousin, but no, I don't see them in you. I see you, Teah-nee-chan. You're a strong, kind, honest and caring woman, doing the best you can to one day serve and protect your people as their Princess. And Sasuke may be my best friend, and I want to drag his ass back here, but there's so much you have that he doesn't. Because unlike him, I know your heart is in your home."

"Naruto, I..." Teah began, blushing harder.

"And hey, you're going to find a wonderful man who will love you, and never leave you, none of that. Sasuke had his chance, but he doesn't deserve you, not after how he treated you." Naruto went on. "Trust me, Teah-nee-chan...if I knew you before I met Sakura, you can bet I would go out with you. I see myself with you, no doubt about it."

A gasp escaped the ravenette and her cheeks became as red as parts of her outfit and skirt, making her weak on her knees that nearly caused her to lose balance. Her heart beat with so much love and adoration for him, it took all of her strength to resist the urge to kiss him again.

"Oh Naruto..." Teah uttered passionately. "I...I lo-"

"Hey you two!" Kiba called to them from a nearby tree. "You guys done chatting? Hurry up! It's beginning to rain already!"

"Yeah yeah, we're coming!" Naruto called to him. "C'mon Teah-nee-chan, we better go."

Nodding, Teah mutely followed after the rest of them, her mind wandering.

--

There was loud, strumming music coming from a small house within the outskirts of the Sand Village. This house was different from the rest of the very unique, sand-like architecture of the rest of the village. It was kind of hidden, abandoned, and often used for parties that teenagers would throw. Not many knew of this, and yet when something was to be done, no clear evidence was presented. So of course, often, the teenagers got away with it.

Little did they know that punishment was going to come their way.

Jason, having heard the music as he was walking by, was curious and wanted to see what was going on, and even see if there was any potential prey inside. This village was his next destination after all, and he had to make the best of it when it came to what his mother asked him to do.

--

Inside the house, a mad, rave-like party was going on. With loud music, groups of teenagers of the Sand Village, and even some visiting from the villages within the Wind Country. There was of course alcohol, drugs, dirty dancing, and of course, having sex. Sometimes in one of the rooms, and even right in the middle of all the action. No one cared, most encouraged it, and there were even some girls who were going all around throwing themselves from guy to guy. It was sickening to anyone who wasn't into partying or anything like that.

Oh, and it was a big surprise party for Kideki Kosharuga, a resident of the village.

"Yo, did the guy even get here yet?" Slurred one boy.

"Not yet, he should be here soon." Said one girl.

"He's late for his own party, how retarded." One guy said. "Hey, I'm gonna go have a butt outside, be back." He went outside and shut the door behind him.

It was pretty dark into the evening by now, and in a desert territory like this, it was pretty chilly out. Funny thing about deserts, sweltering heat during the day, and freezing cold during the night.

With a sigh, he took out a cigarette and lit it, inhaling it and blowing the smoke from his mouth. He sighed happily at the feeling. He loved smoking so much, it was everything to him, even more than his girlfriend.

"Ah yeah, this is the fucking life." He said to himself.

A sound was heard behind him and he turned around, puzzled.

"Yumi? Yumi that you? ...Come on Yumi, no need to scare me now." He walked toward the nearby tool shed, thinking she was in there. "Yo, Yumi? Hey! Hello? ...Hayato? Hayato that you, man? ....Gogo? Gogo?"

Slowly he wandered inside, sipping alcohol from his flask as he went. The inside of the tool shed was dark, with still a few tables and old, rusty tools laying around.

"Hello? Yumi? You in here? Man, if you wanted to fuck right here all you had to do was say so. Hello? You in here?"

The moon was shining in through a dusted, old window on one side. A few of the old tools left there were hanging on a peg board, scattered on the table, and there was also an axe sitting on a chair below the window. Some nails, broken glass, were also scattered about in various places.

The door creaked, causing the boy, Ukeshi to turn around in a startled manner. But nothing or no one was there, so he assumed the wind had caused it. He chuckled to himself and took another puff from his cigarette and turned to leave, when he suddenly met with Jason's hulking, towering figure standing right behind him.

"Oh! Oh man, you scared me! Hey, nice mask ya got there." Ukeshi laughed, not quite realizing what he was in for. "But really no need for a mask, here, I'll take it off your fucking hands and-"

As he reached up to take the mask, Jason's hand shot up and grabbed him by the wrist, pulling it away and twisting it. Ukeshi let out a cry of pain as his arm was being twisted to the side until the bones snapped, but Jason wasn't though. He snapped his wrist in one squeeze and then let go, grabbing Ukeshi by the collar and tossing up against the wall.

Ukeshi rolled to the ground, groaning and trying to get up, and reach for his discarded cigarette. Just before his hand touched it, Jason's boot stepped down on it, and his fingers, crushing them.

"Agggh!!! What the hell?!?! Aaggghh!!!" Ukeshi screamed, trying to pull his hand away, but with no avail.

Suddenly, the door of the shed opened up and a feminine scream came from the doorway. It was Yumi, screaming for her life.

"G-Get the fuck out of here Yumi! This guy's a madman!" Ukeshi yelled.

Yumi, terrified, turned and tried to run, but Jason grabbed the axe from the chair and threw it at her, striking the back of her head. She cried out, and then fell to the ground, dead.

"Noooo!!! You fucking bastard!!" Ukeshi tried to free himself, but he was soon silenced by Jason's machete stabbing him in the head.

Pulling his weapon out and walking away from the corpse, Jason left the shed and went back toward the house, staring in through a window as he approached.

--

"Oh quiet, shh shh! He's coming! He's coming!" A girl whispered, looking out the front door peep hole. "Okay everyone get ready!"

Kideki went to the front door and was about to open the door, when he heard a sound behind him. Turning, he met with Jason, who thrust his machete in through his forehead with such speed and force, he didn't even have time to scream.

The blade also went through the door and came through between the girl's eyes, with in turn caused everyone around to gasp and scream in fright at the sight.

--

"What!? What do you mean, all those people were killed!? What happened?!"

Tsunade sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "Listen brat, it really doesn't have to concern you, we'll handle it."

"No way, I can't just walk away when the village is in trouble!" Naruto protested, slamming his fists against her desk. "What's been going on here?!"

"Well apparently, they said some guy carrying a machete and wearing a Hockey mask killed these teenagers outside the new Tavern that opened up recently." Tsunade explained. "Don't have anything further."

Naruto's eyes widened, he couldn't believe it. Could it had been the same guy he saw the other day? No way, it couldn't...could it?

"Tsunade-sama...are you serious?" Teah finally said. "I...we've seen him before!"

Sakura looked at the ravenette with surprise. "You have? When?"

"....Yesterday." Naruto answered for her, clenching his fists harder. "We saw this real tall guy wearing a Hockey Mask before we left to the Hirenshi Village."

"What?!" Now it was Tsunade's turn to be surprised. "Did you see anything at all?"

"Nah, he seemed normal. I mean he didn't talk or anything, and sure his clothes were kind of dirtied and tattered, but I didn't see anything." Naruto said.

"...I did." Teah admitted. "...Before I met with you guys, I passed the guy while I was leaving the training grounds. He didn't do or say anything there either...but he was carrying a machete."

"Say what?!" Naruto gasped, whirling around to face the Uchiha. "Are you serious?! Why didn't you tell me?"

"I'm sorry...I figured it was nothing, and I didn't want to worry you, either." Teah said, looking away in shame. "But now that this happened..." Her voice trailed off.

"Well, we're going to definitely do something for sure." Tsunade said. "I've got the ANBU Captain doing some investigating now anyway. So I'll let you know if I find anything else. Go on home, brat. It's past your bedtime." She teased, smiling.

Grumbling, Naruto nodded and then he and the girls left Tsunade's office.

With a sigh, Tsunade leaned back in her chair and looked up at the ceiling. All this murder business was no surprise, since they occurred everyday in almost every place in the entire world, but once in a blue moon, it was unsettling and more mysterious than usual. And this one definitely fit the bill.

She just hoped nothing would happen to Naruto and his friends among this whole thing. She would never forgive herself if something did happen.

--

"You sure you'll be okay tonight, Teah-nee-chan?" Naruto asked. "I mean, with that killer lurking around, and you being a Princess...well, you're a pretty potential target."

Teah let out a small, half giggle. "No no, I'll be okay, Naruto. Really. I mean, I've been alone and on my own since I was 12 now...I think I'll handle it."

After they had left Tsunade's office, Naruto had offered to walk Teah home that evening because of all that had happened in the village with the mysteriously committed murders. He was worried for her safety, despite that she insisted she would be okay. But of course she liked the idea of walking home with him. Any excuse just to spend a little more time with him was something she would jump at just about anytime.

Now they were at the dark, gloomy Uchiha Mansion, saying their goodbyes. They had the day off tomorrow, so it would be good for possibly investigating this further, and even getting some ramen.

"Besides, we can go get some ramen tomorrow. My treat." Teah offered with a smile.

Naruto grinned happily. "All right! Sounds good! It's a date!"

She laughed again, feeling exceptionally brighter with him around. "Okay then. It's settled. I'll meet you tomorrow, same time, same place."

"Awesome, so then I'll see you tomorrow! Night, Teah-nee-chan."

"Goodnight, Naruto."

Their eyes locked as their gazes met, and as if under some kind of strange directions from a movie director, they leaned toward each other and their lips met, hesitantly brushing each other's. Logic and sensibility was kicking in then, since they were friends, and friends didn't kiss. This was silly, just an act of possible frustrated hormones. It was not something they should do, in case of further complicating their friendship.

But all logic was tossed out the window then when Naruto initiated a full kiss on her lips, bringing her closer and having to tilt his head up further since she was taller. Teah's heart raced and she brought her arms around him, kissing back with equal fervor. Their lips clashed, their tongues danced, their bodies meshed together. It was just about a repeat of the night before.

Neither of them knew what came over them. Although she had feelings for him, it was impossible to deny, she knew she would never, ever put him in this kind of a position. And Naruto loved her as a friend, even a sister, and nothing much more. At least that's what he was sure of. But was this making him like her more than just as a friend?

It was all so confusing.

But they tried not to think about it as they just kissed, letting whatever was going to happen just happen.

After about a minute or so, they pulled back from each other with a string of saliva connecting them that soon fell away.

"Why are we doing this, Teah-nee-chan?" Naruto managed.

Teah sighed. "I don't know, Naruto. I wish I knew why."

Logic was tossed aside as they fell up against the front door, kissing again.

--

"Excellent...he's doing wonderfully!" Fujisaki exclaimed happily. "Oh, I can just taste victory now!"

It turned out, as confirmed on the visionary crystalline ball, that the entire group of teenagers at the rave surprise party were all punished in Jason's torturing manner. Now it showed that he was leaving the premises, lurking in the shadows of the village.

"Boss, we have news for you!" Came the hologram on the crystalline ball of Mokira.

Fujisaki sighed. "What is it, Mokira?"

"It seems that two Akatsuki members have been spotted in the Sand Village! They are currently in disguise under the pretenses of normal people. Along with fake I.D.'s and everything, but there's no mistaking their chakra. They were identified as Deidara, and also, he is with the survivor of the Kusabana clan."

Looking interested, Fujisaki pressed. "Is that so? The very Kusabana heiress herself is there? Oh, how awesome! Keep a close eye on them as well, see where they may locate to next. This could be good...very good. Now then, a report on the Nine-Tails and the Princess?"

"They have arrived back in Konoha, sir. They are currently at her Konoha residence, the Uchiha Mansion."

"Together?"

"Yes Boss, they were walking there together."

"I see...I see...well, good work Mokira. You and your scout get back to work and I will expect a full report soon."

"Understood, Boss."

The image disappeared, and Fujisaki went back to watching his little "puppet" continue in lurking the darkened shadows of the streets of the Sand Village.

--

Note: Hey guys! I just wanted to let you all know that I suck with filler space. I really, really do. Unless I get a good idea, I just can't do it right. So if you have any good ideas for potential filler space, that would be wonderful. I don't want this story to be too short or seem rushed.

Thanks!