Hi and hello, dear readers.

First and foremost I must apologize in the delay of update. My schedule has been tiring this past week. Practice every day after school, end of course testing during school, and nerve-racking AP tests can make any week tiring. It doesn't help that my mother believes that I must be her humble servant and have to do everything she says. -.-

Sorry, am I ranting?

Anyhow, although I do appreciate the positive 'love' –cough reviews cough- I have been receiving, I would appreciate any criticism to help improve my writing.

Well, I do report one positive thing during the week was that I could write after testing. \(o_o)/

On with the story!

Natsuki arrived inside the large warehouse district. Many foreign companies used the area to house certain materials needed to operate their company, but the district was not guarded at all and located in the middle of Wave country. A vast majority of the warehouses looked similar to one another, being large and white, and easily blended into each other.

Natsuki slowed her bike into a complete stop near a corner of one of the larger warehouses. Taking off her helmet, Natsuki closed her eyes and listen intently for the grand pulsing of the music. This was how she could find which one of the warehouses that the underground was taking place in this week. Usually the address would have been texted to someone who was known to attend, but Natsuki was completely lost when it came to directions, so instead, Natsuki relied on her sensitive hearing to get where she was going. Finally haring the music that made the ground throb, Natsuki smirked, put back on her helmet, and turned to her left, gradually feeling the pulsing of the music as she drove through the district towards her destination.

She knew she had finally arrived at the correct warehouse when she began to notice more and more cars parked closer together. Most knew to park their cars in a fashion to make a quick getaway in case of cops who liked to bust the party on random nights. As she got closer to the pulsing music, more and more people were popping up in the same direction she was going. Some of them were fashionably dressed men and most were skimpy dressed women, hoping to have a good time tonight. The crowd became thicker, and soon Natsuki had to rev her engine so the people in front of her would get out of the way. Some of the passersby stared in awe at the small figure on a nice bike, while others stared at the same person in awe for a different reason; She was rather famous in the underground, most often called the 'Demon of the Ring' because of her intense skill inside of the fighting ring. She was known to have no mercy on those who were unlucky enough to share the ring with her.

Continuing on, the crowd soon began to separate like the Red Sea, allowing her to quickly get inside the warehouse. Most knew not to get in her way as she drove inside the warehouse, but there were always the few who were either too stupid or too naïve to move from where they were standing, but there were always those good bystanders that quickly pulled them out of the way to avoid any blood stains on her tires.

Easing into a stop, Natsuki pulled off her helmet and quickly looked around the warehouse for the familiar mop of red hair that was her brother's. Quickly spotting the red headed male, surrounded by their own adopted family, Natsuki smirked and eased her way towards them all the while ignoring the looks she was receiving from onlookers.

As if sensing her eyes on him, her brother, Kurama, turned his head to meet his blue eyes to her own. All around were the people who they considered family, they had all grew up the same as them, unwanted by their own village and unloved.

Nii Yugito, known as Ito-chan by Natsuki, was the first of their family. She was only a few years older the Kurama, who was 21, but still looked up to him as if it was the opposite. She had pale straight blonde hair that tied into a low pony tail that reached the middle of her back while her eyes were a dark chocolate. She stood tall at about 5'7" with fair skin. She wore a slim fit black fully sleeved shirt that had an outline of a purple butterfly near the right of her hip and matching black pants. She was also one of the few that hand a last name. Her stance screamed confidence as she talked to Fu and Killer B.

Fu was only two years older than Natsuki herself, but often acted younger. She had short spiky mint green hair and orange eyes. She was about 5'5" with tan skin. On her right arm a small but noticeable tattoo of a blue koi fish. She was one of toughest out of their makeshift family and often spent more time in the garage Roshi owned to earn some extra cash fixing up cars. She enjoyed things like sports and cars more than anything else and often neglected her appearance, much to Yugito's dismay. She wore a white midriff daring shirt that hung loosely over her figure and tight fitting jeans.

Killer B was almost the same age as Yugito, with only being a few months older. His blonde hair was in corn rolls that held small beads at the end while on his face was the same hair in a goatee on his chin He was darker than the rest, and stood at the same height as Kurama, if not a tiny bit shorter. B usually wore only khaki shorts that hugged his hips lovingly, showing off the muscular body for all to see. On his right arm was a tattoo of the kanji for Iron. B always wore dark sunglass, and no one has seen him without them. Next to B was Roshi and Han, who often talked to one another, being the two oldest.

Roshi was almost 45 years old, and easily the oldest in their family. Most of the group looked to Roshi as a father figure. He was only a few inches shorter than Kurama and B, but he was a bulky looking man for his age. His red hair was tied up to the top of his head and looked like a flame when the wind blows. Framing his chin was his out grown mustache and beard. He wore dark pants and a long sleeved light red shirt. He was tough old man, Natsuki could admit having her fair share of arguments with him, and stubborn too. He wasn't soft hearted by any means, but had taken in several of the unwanted children during his travels. Most of them had left, much to his secret dismay, but the few –B, Yugito, Fu, Han, Utakata, Yagura, Kurama, and Natsuki- who had stayed would think of him as their father they never had.

Han was the oldest one out of them, only a year ahead of Yugito, and was the first Roshi had adopted. He was the tallest out of the group, standing a head taller than Kurama and B. He wore a plain black kimono with red accents in various places. He wore a straw hat that covered top of head and a white cloth that covered the bottom of his face, only leaving his light brown eyes visible. Although he wasn't a lazy guy, he held himself in a very laid back manner. He didn't speak often and was usually the calmest out of the group followed by Utakata who was having an interesting conversation with the most outspoken of the group, Yagura.

Utakata was a calm, not very talkative man. He, like Han, often wore kimonos. His was a light blue kimono decorated with three bubbles on his back. He was only an inch shorter than Kurama and wasn't bulky like B. His eyes were a pale golden and he had brown hair that reached his shoulder. The front part of his hair was parted so that it would almost completely cover the left side of his face. He was a year older than Fu, about 20 years of age. Although he was a calm man, he also had a carefree personality. Next to Utakata was Yagura.

Yagura was the most outspoken of them all. He was the same age as Fu, two years older than Natsuki. Although he was outspoken, he was also very formal and composed most of the time. He was very loyal to those he considered family. He had messy light grey hair and pink eyes. He has a scar under his left eyes going all the way down his cheek. He wore a grey short sleeved shirt with khaki shorts. He stood at about 5'8".

When Natsuki had reached them, she looked at her makeshift family and inwardly smiled. They were all there, taking to one another with the edges of their lips tilting upwards, while not bothering to talk to, or meet, anyone else around them. There were a large number of men and women surrounding them, taking in their beauty, but none of Natsuki's family noticed as they were too engrossed into the conversations they were having with each other. It's safe to say they were pretty much an exclusive group.

"You're fighting tonight?" Kurama asked when Natsuki had gotten off her bike.

"Geez, no "Hey sis, how are ya?" first?" She said sarcastically as she kicked the stand for her bike to rest on.

Kurama grinned at his little sister, his blue eyes lighting up. He quickly pulled his tiny sister into a large hug and said, "Missed ya, sis."

Natsuki rolled her eyes at her older brother, but nonetheless accepted his embrace and returned it.

"Hey! Stop hogging Natsu-chan, Kura-kun!" Yagura and Fu yelled simultaneously.

Natsuki released her brother and smiled at the rest of her family. Utakata, Fu, Yugito, and Yagura were the closets one to her and quickly embraced her in a tight hug, followed by B, Han, and Roshi.

Turning back to Kurama, Natsuki said, "I always fight, brother."

Kurama grimaced slightly, but Natsuki saw it, "I hate seeing you fight."

Natsuki looked up at him, taking a good look at her handsome brother. He was tall, a great deal taller than her, standing at a good 6'2". His red hair was choppy; framing is fair skinned face and barely met his broad shoulders. His eyes, like Natsuki's, were a brilliant blue like their father's, while his hair was red like their mother's.

Natsuki smiled, "It's the only thing I'm good at besides eating."

Kurama laughed openly, knowing what she said was true. She was really good at eating.

"Hey, Natsuki, you're first round tonight!" Asuma said.

Asuma was the person who usually hosted the fighting match. He was the guy you go to when you wanted to put yourself in the ring. He was also the one who set up all of the matches. He was an average sized man with brown eyes and dark brown hair that matched his beard. He often had a cigarette in his mouth and socialized in a very laid back manner.

"Damnit, Asuma! Why do I gotta go first?" Natsuki growled as she made her way towards the ring.

The crowd before once again separated themselves, making room for the small girl to walk as she pleased with her brother and their makeshift family following.

Standing in the middle of the ring in front of her was a large brute of a man. He was taller than Kurama, but not as tall as Han. He was just as, if not more, muscular than B. He was fair skinned with a black bandana resting on top of his head, hiding any hair that he possibly had. He wore a large black overcoat, a white tank, and faded blue jeans. His only visible eye was narrow and looked to be a light brown while the right side of his face were his eye was suppose to was a black eye patch. Natsuki could see a large scar going from his chin to the top of his head, crossing were his right eye should have been. When he spotted Natsuki standing inside the ring before him, his lips moved into a lecherous grin.

"I get to fight this little shrimp?" The large man boasted loudly.

Several onlookers in the crowd who had seen some of the Demon of the Ring's fights winced at the man's words while Natsuki just kept a blank expression on her face.

"What's wrong little girl?" The man began, "Too scared to fight?"

Natsuki yawned loudly, "Let's get this over with." She said bored.

The man was slightly put off by the girl's bored tone, but quickly put it in the back of his mind.

"What are you waiting for, little girl?" The man sneered.

Natsuki looked at her nails and picked at them, "For you to grow some balls and hit me."

Several male members of the audience snickered at them man's now red face.

The man's face soon turned even redder with rage as her words sunk in. "I'll show you, you little bitch!" He yelled as he swung his meaty fist.

Natsuki dodged with ease as the man tried to hit the girl. He came at her like a raging bull as she danced around him like the wind. The man was becoming more and more angrier as the girl continued to make a fool out of him by dodging all of his attempts to hit her. Onlookers watched in awe as she continued to move around the man without using her arms, just her legs. Some of them could swear that she didn't even have here eyes open.

Hearing some of the bystanders were saying, the man's anger grew. He looked at the small girl with pure fury raging in his eyes.

"Come here and be the whore you're mother taught ya to be, bitch." He yelled in rage.

Natsuki's left eye twitched while Kurama's jaw clenched. Natsuki didn't move from where she was standing and just stared at the man with an unreadable expression.

The man growled and pulled out a switch blade from the pocket of jeans. "Come on, fucking whore!" He roared, taunting her to come at him while all she did was simply stare at the man.

"What's wrong, bitch? Too scared to get a cut on that smooth skin?" He sneered.

Natsuki's unreadable expression soon changed into a smirk. "Too scared to get cut?" She mocked.

She clutched her laughed and clutched her stomach.

"What the fuck you laughing at?" The man roared.

Natsuki smirked at the man, "I'll show you what little 'smooth skin' I have!" She yelled with her eyes wide, giving her a crazed look. Quickly taking off her jacket, she revealed the scars that ran all over her arms and upper chest.

The man gapped at what she revealed. Obviously he wasn't expecting that.

Natsuki threw her jacket at her brother, knowing that he would hold it until she finished.

With a sadistic grin, she yelled at the man, "I don't need toys to make someone bleed!"

The man tightened his hold on the knife, "I'll bleed you dry."

Natsuki's sadistic grin widened, and with two words the large man would meet the beast they call the Demon of the Ring.

"Let's dance."

Kurama visibly winced when he saw his little sister's scars that riddled her body.

"To have so many scars and still stand strong is remarkable." Roshi said as he watched the youngest of them all fight.

"I wonder if she hates them." Yagura said as he followed the young blonde's movements.

"She bears them with pride, as she should." Han said.

Kurama narrowed his eyes, studying his younger sister fight, "I should have never left her."

With the questioning eyes of his family starring at the back of his head, Kurama continued to study his sister's fighting ability.

"Hurry up, man!" Kiba yelled as they made their way inside the warehouse.

Sasuke smirked at one of the girls who were giving him lusty eyes as their group passed by. In his pocket was only the money he needed and his keys. Sai stood to the left of him with a blank expression on his pale face. On the right of Sasuke was Neji, who was following the movements of some of the women surrounding them. Kiba was standing directly in front of the group, hoping to finally see the underground fights they had heard so much about, while not paying attention to the amount of lustful eyes on their group as they walked.

Sasuke was only dressed in dark jeans and a black button up shirt that was left unbuttoned at the top to show off his masculine chest. His eyes trailed over the many women around him, silently deciding which one looked good enough to deserve his attention tonight.

Neji dressed in a similar manner except instead of a black button up shirt, he wore a white one. His chocolate drown hair was tied in a low pony tail while his pale eyes were hidden by a pair of designer sunglasses. He, like Sasuke, was looking over the surrounding women, looking for one that looked good enough for some of his time.

Sai was wearing his typical black skinny jeans that hung low on his waist and a black slim fit t-shirt that had one of his designs decorated on it. He didn't care for the women who viewed him like meat. He didn't need a stress reliever tonight, much to the dismay of some of the women.

Kiba sported a pair of black shorts and a red short sleeved shirt that hugged his bulging biceps tenderly. Typically, Kiba's eyes would be roaming for some entertainment but tonight, he was in a hurry to see some of the infamous fights. Even then, Kiba didn't spare any of the nameless women a glance because he knew if what Itachi had said was true than he would be seeing a particular blonde girl, and having a slutty woman hanging off his arm would have just messed up his game.

"Hey, Sasuke, is your brother coming tonight?" Kiba asked as they made their way through the thick crowd.

Sasuke scoffed, "Which one?"

Kiba shrugged, "Any of them."

"Madara and Itachi for sure," Sasuke answered, "I don't know if Obito would bring Rin, and Izuna has a date. I think Tobi got in trouble with Madara."

Neji raised his eyebrow, "Izuna has a date?"

Sasuke shrugged, "That's what he said."

Getting near the edge of the ring, Kiba stopped to look around, hoping to see a familiar mop of blonde hair that he was so fond of.

"She's not here yet." A voice said from behind Kiba.

Kiba turned around quickly to see a smirking Itachi. Behind Itachi were Obito, Rin, Obito's best friend, and the rest of Itachi's crew.

In Itachi's crew was Hidan, Deidara, Sasori, Pein, Konan, Kakuzu, and Kisame, Itachi's best friend.

"Who do you think I'm looking for?" Kiba asked.

Deidara scoffed, "You're looking for Natsu-chan."

Kiba looked at the blonde long haired male with a glare.

Sasuke nodded, greeting his two brothers and future sister-in-law.

"Can't say 'Hello', Sasu-chan?" Kakashi, Obito's best friend, teased.

Sasuke growled, "Shut up, Hatake."

Obito laughed nervously while Rin looked between one of her oldest friend and her boyfriend's baby brother.

"I can't wait to see the Demon's fight tonight! I hear she's up first tonight." The group heard a neighboring group.

Kiba looked towards Itachi, "That is the 'Demon'?"

"They've never been to see the ring?" Kisame asked.

Itachi shook his head and Kisame laughed loudly. "They're in for a big surprise then." He said in between laughs.

Hidan and Deidara hurriedly agreed and went back to their game of 'Spot the loosest whore' while Pein and Konan were having their one of many couples' moment, meaning they were heavily making out in the crowd. It was kind of cute it you think about it. Strongly think about it.

"Hey, Natsuki, you're first round tonight!" Kiba heard a voice to their left say.

Kiba and the rest of the group turned to see a tall bearded man walking back towards them,

"That's Asuma Sarutobi." Itachi said after a moment.

"Wait, Sarutobi?" Neji asked.

"Yep, like the head master for the high school!" Kisame answered.

"So… He's the head master?" Kiba asked.

Sasuke deadpanned at his idiot friend, "No, dobe."

"So then why did Fish Man say that?"

Kisame gasped in mock horror, "Fish Man, am I that ugly?"

Sasuke glared at the tall man, "Asuma's father is the head master."

Itachi blinked in surprise, "You already knew him?"

Sasuke nodded, "I'm not as dumb as you think aniki."

"Really," Kakashi said loudly, "I would've never guessed."

Sasuke glared at the older grey haired man.

A tick mark appeared on Kakashi's head, "IT'S SILVER!"

"Hey." Kiba said, looking at Itachi, "Didn't they say the 'Demon' was fighting first too?"

"Yep." Deidara said as he continued his game with Hidan.

"Natsuki might get hurt!" Kiba gasped.

Hidan and Deidara stopped their game, Pein and Konan put their couple moment at a pause, and Kisame stopped flicking Sai in the head to see if he could get a reaction out of the emotionless male, and they laughed, HARD.

Pein was even on the floor clutching his stomach.

That was incredibly rare.

"What did I say?" Kiba asked Sai, who merely shrugged in response.

"Let's just watch, dobe." Sasuke said as he pushed forward in the crowd to get situated near the front to get a good sight of the just beginning fight.

When Sasuke saw the sight before him, he gasped. Natsuki, the small girl that she was, was dodging almost every throw the beefy would make, almost effortlessly. She didn't look like she was even putting stain in any of her movements. Her body just flowed. It was beautiful, he could admit.

"Ah, Uzumaki Natsuki, a definite sight to see." A deep voice said from behind him.

Sasuke tilted his raven head back slightly to be greeted with the sight of his oldest brother, Madara. Looking back at the ever flowing body of the blonde Uzumaki, Sasuke nodded.

A deep chuckle rumbled through Madara's chest. "She will always be the best student I have ever taught."

"You taught her?" Sasuke asked as he kept an eye on the young girl's movements against the brute who was pinned against her.

"Yes. It was even before I came here. She was almost 4 when I had the honor of meeting her."

'Honor? Sasuke thought, 'Since when does Madara-nii speak so highly of anyone? Just who is this girl?'

"So she really is from Konoha?" Kiba asked.

Madara nodded, "Not the greatest past with the village, but she's unlike no one else."

Sasuke could faintly hear what his brother had said while his eyes continued to study the enigma known as Uzumaki Natsuki. He watched as her beefy opponent took out a pocket knife in attempt to scare her into defeat, but she said nothing. Her opponent then turned to insults which she made no indication of hearing, she just stared at the bulky man with a blank expression. But when the large man said she was scared of scars, her mind must have snapped back into reality. She smirked, and then began laughing, as if he was a famous comedian saying a great one liner.

Sasuke watched as the small blonde haired took off her black leather jacket and revealed her arms that were no stranger to scars. They were laced with them, all around, almost forming some sort of taboo tribal design. He watched as the man's lecherous grin faltered into a frown at the sight of her.

Not the greatest past with the village…. Those words rang in his ears, over and over in his mind.

Although Sasuke thought himself to be nothing short of a genius that could figure most plots of a book by just reading the first chapter, but he had to wonder, did her scared body and what his oldest and wisest brother's words have something in common.

There was only one simplified solution, he concluded, and it was to know and understand the enigma that was Uzumaki Natsuki.

That was a promise.