Disclaimer:

I do not own Naruto, Masashi does.

I do not wish to own Naruto. Why? Because the buyout clause would probably bankrupt me. That and Japan seems so far away from my home.

I do not own Naruto… but I guess I've said that before (shrug), so there! On to the story!

a/n: This chapter holds a bit of an attachment to me because it is where I finally introduce the female heroine! I needed a strong, versatile female character and neither Ino, Sakura nor Hinata seemed to fit the bill (that or it had all been done too much before to seem original). Sorry, loyal Naruto fans.

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Chapter Three

To Be A Mercer

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"KYUUBI-chyaaan, you're awake!"

The addressed girl scowled then snarled angrily at the man who had just barged into her room, "What the hell, dad? Can't you see I'm changing here?!"

"Meh, it doesn't matter, Kyuubi-chan! I held you while you were still a wee baby! Naked and straight out of your mother's…"

"MOM! Dad's doing it again!"

An older woman breezed in at the noise and grabbed the man by the ear, tugging with barely concealed might, "What did I tell you about letting her rest, Gin? She woke up a little over a while ago. Give her some time."

"But my baby needs me, Senna-chan!"

"Don't let me repeat myself, Gin", she growled, sophisticated features darkening with menace. She then proceeded to bodily throw her husband out of the room.

"Are you sure you're alright, honey?", the woman asked, pausing at the door to regale her teenage daughter with warm eyes, the colour of flowing blood, "You gave us quite a scare three days ago, you know. Maybe I should go get the doctor? Or perhaps that kind old man to check on you once more?"

The girl stilled, her hands fisting over the hem of the jeans she was currently trying to don, "I'm fine, mom."

"I've heard you say that a thousand times before, Kyuubi, and each time you meant the exact opposite."

"Mom…"

"Alright", the woman sighed, "I'll be waiting outside with your father. Come get us when you are ready to leave."

She then shut the door, leaving the young girl alone in the privacy of her room. Kyuubi bit her lip and pulled the hospital gown over her head, revealing firm, supple breasts. As she fixed her bra, a lone tear fell from her eyes.

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"Naruto, you idiot", Sasuke hissed. The blonde had called him earlier in the day to inform him of his current predicament causing the Uchiha to wonder just indeed, how many fights one man could get himself into. It wasn't so long since the last one Itachi scolded them for...

Apparently, Naruto had come across a turf war on his way home and being who he was; couldn't help but join in on the fray. He had escaped shortly before the police had arrived, but not scot-free, as a bowie knife had been hurled deep into his side. Luckily, a good samaritan had picked him up and the nurses at the hospital had taken him in, no questions asked. They were used to such cases after all.

Nontheless, Sasuke could barely hide his irritation at his friend's inability to keep away from trouble at any given moment of the day.

"Hn. You're a dobe", he uttered tiredly, watching the jumped-up blonde argue with a disgruntled nurse.

"Aww, love you too, Sasuke", Naruto replied, giving him the middle finger.

The nurse whacked him over the head.

As they waited at the reception to be discharged, his blonde friend gingerly inspected the sewn wound, "No major organs. I'm telling you, Sasuke, that guy nicked me as I was trying to flee the cops. It was a lucky shot! I was even able to run on my own for a little while before I collapsed."

Sasuke just sighed; focusing intently on the polished tiles of the floor, "And you didn't know who brought you here?"

"Er… nah, still can't remember. Nice guy, brown hair, big van. Gave me some first-aid and stuff before we got here though."

"You're lucky it wasn't an enemy, dobe. This 'guy' actually abducted you at your weakest and admitted you into a 'high-brow' hospital facility. It was the perfect opportunity to kidnap an unsuspecting teen or... get a bit of their DNA."

Naruto stared blankly at his friend for a moment before rolling his eyes, "Not everyone comes from a clan of highly coveted dojutsu, Sas-gay."

The Uchiha grunted, standing up and smoothening the wrinkles on his school uniform; the greys of their beloved Shounen High, "I'll be waiting outside. Just grab your card and come meet me. You have school work to catch up on, by the way."

It was a little while yet till Naruto was done and as he raced to meet his friend, he bumped into someone, sending both crashing to the ground.

"Owww. What kind of a jerk are you? Hospitals are not places you run around in, moron! They are meant for sick people!"

Naruto; dazed, tried blearily to rise to his feet only to notice that he was lying on something or rather, someone, soft.

Below him was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen (excluding the exotic pictures of Koyuki Kazahana he kept back at his apartment of course). She had fair skin, wavy, red hair and strange, crimson eyes (not unlike Itachi-nii's sharingan) but what caught his eye was the vision of the most perfect pair of pouty lips he had ever seen on anyone. Without meaning to, he blushed and stammered slightly,

"Umm, h-hell-o, I'm..."

"...a pervert", the girl supplied, "Now, get off me if you don't want to die."

It was then he realized that her plump chest was pressed up firmly against his broad ones. The blonde sighed and promptly passed out due to the lack of oxygen to his brain.

Sasuke had come to see exactly what had been taking the blonde and had had the privilege of watching the whole scene and even getting some of it on camera. It was hilarious! He'd never let Naruto live this one down. Not on his life!

"Excuse my friend", he intervened, as the girl angrily flung the limp blonde off herself, "He has low blood sugar."

"I can see that", she replied, dusting herself off and rising to a height equaling that of Sasuke. She looked appraisingly at him, "And who are you?"

The Uchiha smirked, "Depends on who's asking."

"Niiice", she replied, smirking back, "I'm Kyuubi. Hanataka Kyuubi."

"Uchiha Sasuke", he extended his hand. She took it.

"Er, why exactly are you here?", she asked.

Sasuke pointed at Naruto, "Dobe was admitted yesterday. We were waiting to be discharged. What about you?"

"I was... ill. My parents are handling the check out."

At that point, Naruto came to with a groan and cradled his dizzy head in his palms, "Oi, teme, I just had the weirdest dream. There was this fine ass chick and - and..." He stuttered as he took in the sight of Kyuubi once again, "H-hello..."

The Uchiha sighed and helped the dazed boy to his feet, "We'll be going now. It was nice meeting you."

"Oh, Kyuubi-chan? Are these your friends?"

Sasuke turned to see an older version of the girl and immediately put two and two together.

"No, mom, I just met them today", she replied.

"My little hana has already started dating boys?", an energetic voice boomed, as another person; a man this time, appeared next to his wife.

He gave Sasuke a once-over before turning to look at Naruto who was still gaping blearily at the redhead.

He looked at Naruto.

And he looked.

And he looked again.

"YOU!"

The boy immediately snapped out of his self-induced stupor and glanced at the man.

Oh, shit.

The newcomer was pointing wildly at him, eyes dancing about in his head, "You ungrateful scoundrel! I give you a ride to the hospital and how do you repay me? By stealing my wallet! You little rat..."

He lunged but Naruto was quicker. Giving a hasty salute, the blonde grabbed Sasuke by the arm and announced, "We'll be going now!", then proceeded to make a bee-line out of the hospital - but not before taking one more second to stare adoringly at the red-haired girl.

'So that is the true story behind it all', Sasuke mused as he and Naruto fled the building. He chuckled. And here he was thinking that some things could actually change over time.

Kyuubi gawked a bit stupidly at the fleeing boys while her mother struggled to restrain Gin from carrying out his threat of 'gutting the blonde runt alive.'

She wondered briefly if her day could get any weirder.

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"Stop it, Sasuke", ordered Naruto, his eyebrow twitching irritably. This, however, didn't stop his friend from playing the embarrassing recap of the hospital fiasco over and over again.

"Teme, I said, stop it! Before I break that fancy phone of yours."

Sasuke eyed him smugly, "You can try."

They were currently aboard a train, heading towards the district wherein Sasuke lived. Naruto had actually considered attacking his friend inside the moving vehicle but thought better of it. He was in no shape to be fighting, especially not with the stitched up wound at his side. However...

BEEP "U-um, h-hell-o, I'm...", "...a pervert. Now, get off me if you don't want to die." BEEP

... some things were definitely worth breaking stitches for.

"TEME!"

XxX

Minutes later, the blonde was alighting the train; a large bruise on his cheek and a severely busted lip adorning his face, though it did nothing to dampen his mood as Sasuke emerged shortly after, sporting a swollen, black eye.

"Wow. Is that the new type of sharingan you wanted to show me, Sasuke-kun?", he mocked.

The raven-haired Uchiha glared at him with his good eye, "Hn. You're one to talk. You get beat up and I still get to keep my video. How exactly can you feel good about yourself?"

"Because I'm awesome?"

"Whatever."

The two resumed walking in silence, Naruto thinking about the events that had happened earlier in the hospital.

"...Kyuubi."

"Whatcha say?"

"I said 'her name's Kyuubi'", repeated (more like grunted) his friend, "It's what you were thinking about, wasn't it?"

Naruto wondered if Sasuke could read his mind. "Well yeah, I guess. But I wasn't thinking about her, per se. Well, I was. But, it was more like deja-vu, you know... like I should know her from somewhere."

Sasuke just shook his head, "If you did know her before, I doubt you'd be able to keep quiet about it."

"What does that mean, teme?"

"You know what it means..."

The two squabbled again before arriving at the Uchiha clan estate.

The Uchiha was one of Konoha's biggest clans with lots of money, power and political influence. On the outside, they specialized in producing weapons which were used by virtually the entire Fire Nation (including the tasers the Police force were rather well known for), but on the inside; it was a well known fact that the family consisted of an elite group of mercenaries, possessing secret jutsu and a legendary bloodline, which had always been handed down from generation to generation.

However, similar to the main family in Mafia stories; although suspicions were abound of their roots, they still enjoyed partial immunity from the brunt of the law. (It helped too when the eldest son of the head family was the most renowned detective Konoha had to offer).

As the two boys walked through the district, Naruto spied a few Uchiha going about their duties. They all looked alike. Black or dull brown hair was common, along with the same set of onyx eyes. The blonde wondered how he'd feel were he to be part of such a matchbox set.

Seriously. He did.

The surrounding Uchiha greeted Sasuke respectfully as he passed but they had nothing but unkind looks for Naruto; who they knew was the farthest thing from nobility and a riff-raff above all other.

Naruto easily flipped them off. He wasn't taking shit from nobody and although he knew that most of them could probably kick his ass ten times into saturday; they wouldn't try jack-squat as long as he was with Sasuke.

They finally arrived at the main house; the largest in the entire estate, though it was a simple duplex with hardwood walls and polished oak floors. Despite their riches, the battle-loving nature of the Uchiha compelled them to live a simple but elegant lifestyle.

The black Lexus usually parked in the driveway was missing; signaling the absence of the head of the house. Naruto heaved a sigh of relief. Although Fugaku had never once maltreated him, the blonde and the patriach shared no love for each other.

Itachi's black Mitsubishi was also missing, entailing that the elder Uchiha was probably still at work. All that was left was the small (also black) Golf that the matron used whenever she had an errand to run.

"Father's not home", Sasuke announced offhandedly, as they crossed the driveway, heading to the threshold of the building, "He's off in Suna, running some business or the other."

They took their shoes off at the entrance before stepping onto the polished wood; Sasuke in socks and Naruto barefooted. Immediately, their ears were assaulted with beautiful singing which floated down the halls causing the blonde to leer humorously at his friend.

"Dude, your mom's like singing in the bathroom. I should go check if she's alright."

Sasuke ignored him. It was obvious Naruto wouldn't be getting over his crush on Mikoto anytime soon. Not that the Uchiha could blame him. His mother was HOT and he knew it.

The two headed to the living room as Mikoto continued her song. Sasuke knew she got like this only when Fugaku was absent. Sometimes, he wished she'd liven up more whenever they were together. She didn't have to show that she had obviously been forced into an unhappy marriage every single time.

That thought was quickly thrown aside the moment he and Naruto began their arcade battle.

No way in hell was he Gonna let Lei Wulong get the drop on his Jin Kazama.

"Oh? Back already, Sasuke-kun?", a towel-clad Mikoto asked, happening unto the scene of her younger son and his best friend gaming it out on a school day. Naruto dropped his controller the moment she walked in.

"Dobe here got admitted yesterday", explained Sasuke, not letting up on his beating despite the fact that Naruto's combatant was now totally immobile. "I took an early leave to go get him."

"Oh, okay. And how are you now, Naruto-kun?"

"Fine, Mrs Uch... I mean, fine, Mikoto-san!"

Contrary to popular belief, Naruto didn't have a crush on Uchicha Mikoto, rather, he adored her. She had been a surrogate mother to him right from the moment he'd met Sasuke and she' never once judged him for being an urchin. It was for this reason that he was always well behaved whenever he was in her household or presence.

Well, almost always well behaved.

He had snuck into her room and peeped on her in various states of undress numerous times. He had even once watched her have sex with Fugaku through a small crack in the master's bedroom; albiet briefly. There was also the time he had fondled her boobs and stolen a kiss while she had been asleep. And not to forget, the set of black, lacy panties stashed under a drawer somewhere in his apartment.

Not that he'd be telling anybody these things anytime soon. Sasuke was the closest thing he had to a best friend and he knew he'd end up with a kunai deep to the balls should such a thing ever get out. Besides, those were the good old days, when he was still a street urchin, doing any and everything to make ends meet. Kami, his life was such a gutter those times! It really was incredibly fascinating that he'd managed to come this far.

So, he simply put on his best smile and tried to hide his boner as Mikoto talked, fighting desperately with himself not to mentally undress the skimpy towel she was currently wearing.

"Alright, I'll get changed and see if I can make you boys a little snack to eat."

"Thanks, mom."

"Thanks, Mrs Uchiha!"

"Naruto-kun..."

"Oops, sorry. Thanks, Mikoto-san!"

Naruto then turned back to the screen, only to see that Jin had just defeated Asuka Kazama flawlessly - with a perfect 10-hit combo.

"What?! You cheated, Sasuke-teme!"

"Hn. It's not my fault you were busy staring at my mom. Score is now 31 to 23."

"But that's not fair! You only use Jin Kazama!"

"That's because you use every player else."

"I bet you can't win if you stop using Jin. Stupid duck-butt pair of freaks..."

"Hn."

"Mrs Uchiha! Mrs Uchiha! Sasuke-teme is bullying me!"

"Play nice, Sasuke-kun."

"Can I have ramen, Mrs Uchiha?"

"Naruto-kun..."

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Sasuke, Naruto and Mikoto were seated at the table, playing shogi and eating dango ('You know how much I hate sweets, mom!', Sasuke complained) when Itachi walked in; half his work shirt open and his hat balanced precariously in his hand.

"Afternoon, mother. Sasuke-kun, Naruto-kun, I'm glad the both of you are here."

He joined them at the table, sharingan spinning languidly, as Mikoto got up and cleared the last of the dishes.

"Would you like some sweets, Itachi-kun?"

"That would be nice, mother", he replied, seating his hat and regaling the two before him with triple-tomoed eyes.

Naruto cringed mentally. Did Itachi already know about the fight he got into yesterday?

"Yes I do, Naruto-kun, but as you didn't get into any trouble, that's beside the point."

For the second time that day, Naruto wondered when he became so damn readable to the members of the Uchiha clan. Maybe, he should stop hanging around them so much!

Itachi settled down with the treats along with a cup of tea. Sasuke and Naruto waited patiently for him to speak but when he had slowly - painstakingly even - finished a third helping along with two cups of tea; and was now lazily humming the tune of Bring me to life (his favorite Evanescence song), the two boys couldn't take it anymore.

"You wanted to tell us something, Itachi-nii?", they asked at the same time.

The Uchiha smiled, "Oh yes, I did." He then reached into his pocket and procured two envelopes.

"Your mercer admission forms got delivered earlier than expected."

Suffice it to say that the entire Konoha heard the subsequent cheers that followed that statement.

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"Oh man, I can't believe this", said Naruto; reading the letter in his hands over again, "We've been accepted into the Oniwabanshu. I could explode with joy!"

They were now in the backyard of the main house. Sasuke had chosen to recline on the steps while Naruto was busy running around the yard. Itachi was resting on the porch; letting the last rays of the sun warm his pale skin. The elder Uchiha smiled softly at Naruto's comment while Sasuke smirked.

"You shouldn't get too happy yet, dobe", he said, "After all, before registering, you must pass an exam showing you have mastered all three basic aspects of mercenary ninjutsu."

Naruto stopped running at that, "Eh?"

"Didn't you see it, Naruto?", Sasuke sighed, "You've read that letter eleven times so far."

Naruto scratched the back of his head and laughed sheepishly,"Didn't see that. All I was reading was the part that said, 'You, Naruto Uzumaki...' Anyway, that won't be a problem, I'm a master of ninjutsu!"

"Alright then, what is the first jutsu in the beginner's kit?"

Naruto grinned before placing his palms together and yelling, "HENGE!". There was a brief flash of smoke, which upon dispersing; revealed a tall, whiskered, fully naked female with long, blonde hair and incredible assets.

"My very own Oiroke no jutsu!", she announced in a lust-filled voice, striking a sexy pose and blowing a kiss, "Like what you see, boys?"

There was no response from either Uchiha.

The woman deflated, "- Tebane, I get more reactions from dead pidgeons than you guys. I'm saying it again, you Uchiha are totally gay", she pouted, before reverting back to the original Naruto.

"Well, you've mastered that technique", Sasuke shrugged, nonchalantly retrieving a pebble at his feet, "What about replacement?" He then proceeded to throw the stone with incredible speed at Naruto.

It struck the blonde squarely in the forehead but didn't draw blood. Rather, the boy burst into smoke, a log of wood falling in his place.

"Kawarimi no jutsu!", exclaimed Naruto; appearing behind the trunk of an oak tree. Itachi nodded in approval while Sasuke flashed his friend a devilish grin, "And for the finale; Bunshin no jutsu."

Naruto paused at that, "Maybe we should just go ahead and skip that one, Sasuke."

"Just do the bloody bunshin, dobe."

"I... well, here goes. BUNSHIN NO JUTSU!"

Sasuke's eyebrow twitched as he stared down at the deformed hologram the blonde had just created.

"What's that, dobe?"

"A bunshin?"

"Hn. Most people can create up to five clones with just a single handseal yet you are barely able to make one that, obviously, would not be fooling anybody. How does that pass for a bunshin, Naruto?"

"Well, it's the best I can do, alright?! Besides, it's enough to get me a qualification as a mercer, so there!"

"It isn't enough, Naruto-kun", Uchiha Itachi offered, "You have seven days to master that technique before you are to report at the agency."

"Well, I'll get it down in three then, believe it!"

"I know you will, Naruto-kun. I have faith in you."

"I'll help", offered Sasuke, standing and walking towards his friend, "I doubt your thick skull will enable you to learn it in time anyways."

"Sasuke...", Naruto replied, looking at the raven-haired Uchiha with wide eyes.

"Besides I'm already more awesome than you. No need to add insult to injury by also becoming a mercer before you do."

"Teme!"

"Dobe."

"Sas-gay!"

"Usuratonkachi."

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Hanataka Kyuubi sat gingerly on the ledge of her open window. She could tell from the quiet within the house that both her parents were currently fast asleep, but try as she might, she couldn't bring herself to do the same.

She was scared.

Scared of herself. Scared FOR herself.

She was scared for the lives of her parents. Scared that the red chakra might just crop up again within her sleep to devour and conjugate her.

She could still remember seeing her flesh peel right before her very eyes - tasting the ashes that had filled her mouth; the rage that had flooded her senses. She could even recall the hate that had entirely consumed her, and the foul chakra that had seeped through her every being.

She had almost lost her parents and her home a fortnight ago and though the good man; Mr Sarutobi, had assured her that everything would be fine, she could still picture the perplexity etched upon his face even as he spoke those words to her.

What the fuck was wrong with her? What was her condition?

Kyuubi had seen the death of everyone she loved in her dreams that night, and she'll be damned if she ever saw it again.

Maybe, she wasn't entirely human.

Maybe, she wasn't some demon with fanged claws and multiple tails either.

But she was definitely a woman who made her own choices - no matter how horrible they might be.

She felt bad for the first; the one involving her desire to never, EVER, sleep again. True, she was deceiving her daddy - each time he tucked her in at night - but at least, that way, she kept him safe.

Someday, he'd understand.

Her second choice however, she didn't feel too bad about. Her whole future lay utterly in that nondescript envelope sitting atop her vanity desk. So, as she climbed off the ledge and ambled down the stairs to drink out the whole tin of coffee, she couldn't help but chance one more glimpse at it.

It read in bold writing:

'You, Kyuubi Hanataka...'

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Chapter end. The next one will be coming out next week. I'm still writing it but that would frankly have to be based on the amount of reviews I get with this one.

See you later then. Sayonara!

And please, be nice and click that button below.