Chapter two: Bloody River
Under the cover of night, a man ran through the trees, panicking as he tried to escape his fate. Ducking under branches and around trunks, the stench of his fear permeating around him like a thick blanket. As he burst through the brush, he tripped over a gnarled root and tumbled into a nearby river. The shock of cold water caused to flinch and he immediately struggled to reach the surface. The dense liquid kept pushing him down and for a moment, he feared that he might drown. Just as all hope seemed lost, a hand plunged through the surface and yanked him through. Spluttering, he whipped at the water dripping into his eyes as he slowly regained his breath. Before he could regain enough sense to thank the stranger, he felt a cold blade at his throat. His blood froze in his veins. "P-please, spare me. I-I-I don't want to die." The stranger was silent, as though contemplating the man's pleas. A strange, gravelly voice answered, holding a scroll in one hand. "Your death has been ordered. For the murders of eight village women in Yukigakeru, you will die, Akamura-san." The man began to weep bitterly, his pleads growing more and more desperate. "Oh god, I'm going to die. I'm going to die by The Red Death. Oh god, why? Why?"
The Red Death growled, slashing the blade through Akamura's throat. Blood gushed from the wound and the corpse fell back into the river, dyeing the water red. In the figure's right hand, a gold chain rested, the proof of Akamura's demise. The Red Death's left hand was folding into a one-handed ram seal, a bloody gash on their thumb. "Summoning jutsu!" A puff of smoke appeared before them and a demon appeared. He had shaggy black hair that fell into venom green eyes. His skin was a pale stone-grey. "I need you to take this to Yukigakeru for me, Takeshi. Make sure to get the payment as well." The demon familiar bowed, gently taking the necklace from the outstretched hand.
"When are you going to reveal your identity, my mistress?" The Red Death chuckled, her voice still disguised. "I don't know. However long it takes, I guess. Report back to me on how the others are doing once you are finished." Takeshi bowed, disappearing in a puff of smoke once more. She pulled a map from a hidden pocket, searching for something. "Ah, so I'm in the land of fire. Which means that the closest village is…. Konohagakeru." She stiffened, feeling a murderous presence nearby. Placing the map back into her pocket, she pulled a small bracelet out, turning it into a dagger, and disappeared into the trees. She sent her chakra out and found them, hiding in a tree four yards away. She smirked, transporting right behind them, her chakra disguised.
She placed the dagger against the other's throat. "Who are you, and what the hell do you want?" She felt a pinch on her thigh and stabbed them, the figure disappearing in a puff of smoke. "Shadow clone." She murmured, scowling. All that was left was a chakra bomb. Her eyes widened. "Shit!" The bomb went off, splintering a tree as she was forced backwards. A splintered-off chunk of wood gashed her stomach open and she hit her head against a boulder. Groaning softly in pain, she slowly pushed herself up and used the last of her chakra to transport herself away. She landed roughly by a creek, inside Konoha territory, she noticed. She felt a presence nearby and looked, seeing a spikey-haired blonde with blue eyes and curious whisker-like scars on his cheeks. He stared at her in open shock.
Her eyes fluttered and she fell into unconsciousness, praying that she would wake up unharmed.