(Chapter 11: A Rocky Assassination)

It would be the middle of September later as Sasuke and Sakura would be going on their joint assassination job to Tanzaku Town, and meeting up with their contact who would be further informing them on the details of such. The travel time went incredibly fast due to Naruto using Teleport to get them there in the blink of an eye; before heading back as the two made quick use of their time there to get settled and ready for what was to come.


(September 17th, 996 S.E, 12:40 Pm, Tanzaku Town)

It was 20 minutes till 1 in the afternoon, as Sasuke and Sakura had gotten settled into their hotel room of where they'd be staying in; before they did their mission. With them currently walking through the streets of said town to meet with their contact to inform them further of the details of their job.

"I am still surprised that we were able to get out of having to go to the academy; while we're taking care of our target." Sasuke said as they headed towards the bar where their contact was at
"Well, my family was able to pull some strings, and make it so that we're able to have a few 'excused' absences." Sakura replied

"They bribed our instructors didn't they?" Sasuke queried

"Oooohhh, maliciously. But in our defense, you can't pretend like we aren't the only clan that does it." Sakura answered back

"Fair…To be honest, I'm pretty sure that that's what the Hyuga's are doing with Hinata. Otherwise, she would fail outright." Sasuke spoke in regards to the Hyuga

"I swear that bitch is gonna get obliterated when she goes out on a mission. That girl has absolutely zero killer instinct in her at all." Sakura replied in regards to the soft-hearted Hyuga

"At this point, she's basically a walking meat-shield with a bloodline and fat cow tits and not shit else on her." Sakura added derisively

"To be honest, I feel sorry for Hanabi. How it is that someone such as her is related to Hinata; is beyond me." Sasuke said in not seeing how the two Hyuga were related given their opposite natures

"Well, given that she's a badass Chunin going on Jonin pretty soon. I can't say I don't blame her for not dealing with Hinata all that much." Sakura replied in note of Hinata's elder sister

"Which reminds me, Sasuke. Do you think that after we graduate that we could try and set something up with her and Naruto…The two seem like they'd be good for each other." Sakura said in regards to her friend and the elder of the Hyuga sisters

"How about we worry about setting our friend up with Hinata's older sister; AFTER we complete the assignment at hand." Sasuke said back in preferring to stay on target with the matter hand

"Fair point. I just figured it wouldn't hurt to set him up with someone strong as hell." Sakura replied with a shrug of her shoulders

"What is it with you and Naruto's fascination with deadly women? First Anko and now Hanabi...I swear that those choice in women are going to do him in one of these days." Sasuke said back in having sensed a pattern in regards to the women that either Naruto chose or Sakura wanted to set him up with

"Oh come on, it's not gonna hurt if he gets someone who can keep up with him. I mean what's the worst that'll happen?" Sakura asked back

"They drive him insane, and we have to help hide the body after a particularly bad argument." Was Sasuke dry deadpan of an answer

"...Shit, I can't argue with that...But at least it won't be my first time hiding a body for someone." Sakura replied as the two continued to head toward the location of their contact

From there the two continued meandering through the streets of Tanzaku Town until they reached a bar called the Laughing Oni; which was a moderately sized establishment that had a slightly rowdy yet down-to-earth atmosphere about it. The duo in question was able to blend in given there casual state of dress and Sakura and Sasuke wearing contacts to mask their eyes; with Sakura wearing a pair of bright green ones and Sasuke having a pair of stormy grey contacts in as they searched for their contact.

Something that didn't take them too long to find as said contact was sitting at a table; with the person in question being a man of average height and slim build; with bright teal-colored eyes, a frizzy mop of scarlet hair that went to his ears; alongside his very angular facial features that gave him an almost impish look about him. The man in question wearing a brick-red colored button up shirt, a pair of khaki slacks with a black leather belt wrapped around his waist, and matching dress shoes; that combined with his semi-smug demeanor about himself made him look like someone who would be right at home at a high-stakes poker game or casino.

"I take it your Erioh's grandkid, and that's your plus one?" The red-headed man asked as Sasuke and Sakura approached him

"Wait, how do you?..." Sakura wondered

"It takes a lot more than some contacts for me to miss that your Kure. The constant bloodlust you got going on reminds me of Raian." The red-headed man replied

'Man I need to get a handle on my being a menace when I'm out in public.' Sakura said cursing her ever-prominent bloodthirst and desire to kill

"Regardless, of my friends' bloodthirst. We are here for the premise of why we are to take out our target…Apologies, we weren't informed of your name." Sasuke spoke

"It's' Eijiro, kid. And the reason why I couldn't inform you more on what's going on; is due to things getting pretty hairy around here." Eijiro replied

"How bad are things getting that we need to take whoever the hell this guy is; out of the picture?" Sakura questioned

"Well, you see these two wanna be gangsters Gantestu otherwise known as the 'Legendary Dark Shinobi' back in Iwa and his 'leader' Choseki have been making some waves lately. Muscling in on territory, getting more and more recruits, and being menaces to society…However, a couple of months back they found something that's caused them to start getting too big for their britches." Eijiro told the duo

"How so?" Sasuke inquired

"Apparently, and from what I've heard and what my people on the ground have told me. They found some weird tablet that the moment those two found it; it gave Gantetsu the power to control darkness." Eijiro spoke causing Sasuke and Sakura's eyes to widen at that

"So, wait a minute. You're saying that he found something that allowed this Gantetsu guy to turn into a bootleg Nara?" Sakura queried in curiosity of what she was hearing

"Not exactly. It's less him using shadows to make people do what he wants, or making shit out of it. So much as it is him literally taking darkness itself, and using it to tear people to shreds…Thanks to the crap he can do with it; those two have been able to build up a pretty decent-sized army of rogue ninja and mercenaries." Eijiro answered back

"I assume that the amount they've been able to put together is rather bad?" Sasuke questioned

"Considering their antics in muscling in on competition from not just here, but other places in Fire Country. Has started to get the attention of their former home; to possibly start sending them support…I'd say its pretty bad." Eijiro informed the duo

"Alright, so were basically dealing with someone whose a possibly high-tier jonin level threat. On top of who knows how many ninja and other fuckers they've got with them?!...No pressure, right?" Sakura remarked at what they were up against

"Lucky for you two, they shouldn't be anything you can handle. After all, when I put this hit up for your family to take up. Your grandfather Erioh; said this would be something you could handle no problem." Eijiro told the pink-haired assassin

"Wait, really?" Sakura questioned

"Yup, it was him and your mom that recommended you for this. Saying that if anyone could handle this kind of stuff; it would be the newest up-and-comer in their clan." Eijiro answered back eliciting a small smile from the pink-haired assassin
"Damn…don't I feel special." Sakura replied

"Given your grandfathers' reputation as an incredibly fierce man, in tandem with how much he cares for his clansmen. I'm not surprised he would think so highly of you, Sakura. You are one-of-a-kind, after all." Sasuke piqued up

"I swear if I get any more compliments I just might blush." Sakura said, earning an eye-roll from the Uchiha beside her

"Don't push it, the last thing I need is you going soft before we get started." Sasuke replied as he garnered himself a 'light' punch in the arm

"Anyways, do you know where Choseki and Gantetsu are holed up at?" Sakura questioned

"They're located at the southern end of Taanzaku. Trust me, if you two do a little bit of recon around that area; it won't be too hard to miss…Especially with the guards he keeps patrolling the place 'round the clock." Eijiro answered back.

"Good to know. Anything else we should know about our marks?" Sasuke questioned

"If you take out Gantetsu; then Choseki shouldn't be much of a problem. Especially since it's him that's the muscle behind everything…Without those two in charge; everything else they've built up should fall apart within a matter of weeks." Eijiro informed them

"Gotcha, and thanks for the info." Sakura thanked the redhead

"No problem. Plus it's a lot better than having Iwa get these guys back under their thumb…Then they can fuck things up in our home court a lot more than what we can afford." Eijiro spoke

After all, it didn't take a genius to know that if Iwa got a foothold in the crime world in Fire Country then it could wreak a lot of bedlam and havoc for everyone that ranged from Konoha shinobi, commoners in Fire Country and the warriors that served under its daimyao.

"Well, leave it to us, Eijiro. We'll get this taken care of before next week." Sakura swore

"I hope so. Otherwise, things are gonna go from sugar to shit at the rate things are going." Eijiro replied

"Since I'm pretty sure there's not shit else you got to tell us about. We'll be on our way…Come on, Sasuke; we've got recon to do." Sakura said back to Eijiro as she stood up from her seat and left with Sasuke close behind

'Let's see. Someone who possibly has the power of one of the plates that Naruto's looking for on 'em…This oughtta be real fucking' good.' Sakura remarked to herself as a feral/excited grin began to spread across her face at the prospect of fighting someone with such power


(4 and a half days later, Southern Tanzaku Town, 4:46 Am, September 22nd, 996 S.E)

It would be a few days later after Sasuke and Sakura had done their surveilling of Gantetsu and Choseki's base of operations, and were currently garbed away in camouflage attire to better blend in with the dark of the early morning, as they readied themselves to begin their operation.

"You ready for this, Sasuke?" Sakura asked the Uchiha who nodded with his chokuto drawn

"Let's do this already, the quicker we begin the better." Sasuke answered back

So after exchanging a brief glance with each other; the two dashed towards the hideout like thieves in the proverbial night, with Sasuke quick to take out the two guards posted at the front of the gate with lightning-quick sword-thrusts to their skulls. With Sakura quick to catch the corpses before they could fall and potentially alert those around the perimeter to them, once Sakura had drug them away far out of sight; the two then used their equally exceptional amounts of athleticism to jump over the gate and make their way inside.

Once they dashed around, and reached a side-entrance after Sakura eliminated another guard with a quick neck-snap; said assassin took from out of her satchel a small knife and lockpick, and went to work on quietly but swiftly unlocking the door to inside the building…Within not even a minute the door soon unlocked with a small click, and from there the two crept inside as quietly as possible, with Sasuke quick to shut the door behind them as they entered the premise.

From there they quickly used their chakra to climb onto the walls and soon enough the ceiling of the area and quickly crawl across it's surface and traverse the building to not only reach their targets in Choseki and Gantetsu, but to do so without having to risk major confrontation with the possessor of the Dread Plate. All the while they made sure to make quick work of any guards patrolling the premise; with Sasuke either quickly stabbing them through the skull or the back of their throats to silence them, or Sakura leaping forth with the ferocity of a tiger to either break their necks or pierce their chests to crush their hearts or lungs.

Yet it was as they traversed their way towards Gantetsu's quarters to dispose of him and keep their chakra signatures at a minimum; they also made sure to constantly keep their heads on a swivel; just in case Gantetsu somehow came from out of the darkness around them, and tried to land a surprise attack…Every step and creak across the floorboards was a nervous glance around every corridor in the event that Gantetsu decided to use his powers of darkness to get the jump on them, and as such made the traversal that much quicker to get to him.

As such within the span of minutes as they reached the 2nd to last floor where Gantetsu resided in, with a small corpse trail of guards that were left in the duo's wake, and one in where the duo of Sasuke and Sakura as they approached the room of the Dread Plate wielder did so with caution…Granted both were equally confident in their combative abilities should they have to engage in direct combat, and yet even Sakura being the battle maniac she was knew it would be the wiser decision to stick the agreed upon plan of killing him in his sleep.

"Are you ready, Sakura?" Sasuke quietly asked as Sakura took out a modestly sized storage scroll

"Yep, I'll sneak in and get that weird darkness plate he has, and you rush in and take his damn head off...Easy peasy." Sakura said back

From there Sakura went to unlock the door, but found that said door in question was actually unlocked to reveal a room covered in ebony pitch to where not even moonlight could break through the darkness, and yet the only thing that did illuminate the room was the soft silverish-onyx light of the Dread Plate. Said tablet lay on a small bookshelf that sucked in any available light in the area, and pulsed with an aura of thick shadow to a rhythm that would be synonymous with the heartbeat of some otherworldly creature.

So the very moment that they saw it Sakura went in first and as quickly as she could had swiftly dashed into the room and using every ounce of agility and swiftness at her disposal, and training from her cousins she made quick to grab the Dread Plate. The pink-haired assassin sweating bullets as she swiped it and quickly stuffed it within the storage scroll, but not before looking over to Gantetsu who still slumbered as she did the only sensible thing and quickly leapt back to where Sasuke was; her heart racing from what could've been an utter disaster.

Sasuke then channeled a large amount of fire chakra into his sword; turning it a brilliant cherry red in order to illuminate the obsidian void that was Gantetsu's room, before he quickly rushed in and plunged his sword hilt deep into the center of the rogue Iwa Chun's skull. Before he then dragged it downwards in order to split it in half; the Uchiha refusing to take any chances as he continued until the scorched form of Gantetsu had been split from his skull to his sternum, leaving 3rd-degree burns in the wake of him partially bisecting him.

Once the deed was done, Sasuke quickly left the now deceased Gantetsu's quarters to rejoin Sakura who held the storage scroll in her hand; albeit said scroll radiated a silvery-black miasma of darkness that warbled and shifted every so often… Yet with that being said as they quickly closed the door to his room; they then quickly sprinted off towards Choseki's room to finish off what they'd started, with Sasuke using more of his great speed and Sakura using 5% of her Removal to speed alongside her compatriot.

The effort of which didn't take too long given that they only had to traverse another floor to do so, with Sasuke and Sakura able to make quick work of the guards stationed around Choseki's quarters with the greatest of ease. From Sasuke using his Chokuto to slice their heads off like a farmer would use a thresher to cut wheat, and Sakura using her Flame Kata to quickly blitz them and cave in their throats with a left hook or right cross, or quite literally rip their hearts out with a thrust of her hands.

"...What is it with you and ripping out people's hearts?" Sasuke questioned as Sakura finished crushing said heart in her hand

"I just think its a dope way to kill people is all. Got a problem with it?" Sakura answered whilst flicking the gore off her bloodied hands

"Not at all. I just thought it curious that you continue to do so." Sasuke replied

"I could ask the same about you and taking peoples' heads off. But we got other fish to fry, so let's hop to it." Sakura said back

So from there Sakura, figuring that they'd made it far enough in their venture, decided to forgo the subtle approach and quite literally rip the door to Choseki's quarters off its hinges and fling it to the side like it was made of wadded-up gum. After that, Sakura then proceeded to leap upon the slumbering Choseki and in a single motion proceeded to ram her fist through his skull at full force; blowing apart the top half of it and sending gray matter, skull fragments and blood flying across the room.

After that, Sakura had Sasuke help her to look for any valuables that the former Iwa Chunin turned gangster had in his room…which despite the semi-opulent state of his room wasn't hard to find; given that the moment they went into his closet to search for something valuable in their ransacking of his quarters did they find something. That something being a modestly sized safe that nearly came up Sakura's knees, and said something that was then put in a storage scroll by Sasuke, and put within Sakura's satchel immediately after.

Soon after they'd ransacked the room, Sakura opened up the window with a mischievous grin across her face, as they eventually went out of the hideout and rushed out and away from the hideout; until it had nearly faded from view. Yet it was when Sasuke saw Sakura going through a short sequence of hand-signs as they continued to dash away from the scene at hand, before she eventually settled on the Ram seal, and her smile widened even further as the hideout grew further and further away.

"Sakura, what did you do?" Sasuke questioned

"Well, you see, Sasuke. I left a little insurance policy back there in case shit went sideways. So come sunrise, it's gonna kick in and they'll get one hell of a wake-up call." Sakura said with a fiendish grin

"How bad is their wake-up call going to be?" Sasuke questioned

"Well, by the time sunrise comes. They're gonna be dealing with a couple dozen of explosive tags going off. So that should be fun." Sakura answered back

"...It is quite literally too early in the morning for me to question why you did this." Was Sasuke only reply as they continued to dash into the night

"Fine by me, all I know is we got shit done, and that's it." Sakura said with a grin as they continued to head off

'Well, at least I can put assassinating a would-be crime lord on my resume.' Sasuke remarked to himself over the events of the night or rather encroaching morning


(2 days later, September 24th, 996 S.E, Tanzaku Town, 2:48 Pm)

It was a short time after the duo had completed their assassination of Gantetsu and Choseki, and were currently out and about having lunch before deciding what to do given that they had the Dread Plate in their hands.

"Let me get this straight...you want to give this plate to Naruto for his birthday?" Sasuke asked the pink-haired assassin

"Sure! I don't see why we shouldn't. It would make the perfect birthday present for him; considering we saved him a butt-ton of time in searching for it." Sakura answered back with a proud smile at her idea

"Unless you have any other ideas on what to give him for his birthday?" Sakura questioned

"Not at the moment, no. But that does make for a good present nonetheless…However, I am concerned about what will happen once Naruto absorbs it." Sasuke replied in still remembering the large tree that spawned when Naruto absorbed the Meadow Plate

"Oh yeah, I wonder what's going to happen when he absorbs this one?" Sakura wondered at what cool bullshit would happen when Naruto absorbed the Dread Plate

"Considering that what we stole from Gantetsu has the power of darkness. I assume that it won't be as benevolent as growing a tree with strange flowers." Sasuke surmised

As Sasuke figured that with the plate being connected to darkness that the after-effects of Naruto absorbing the Dread Plate would probably yield more malefic or sinister results than his prior absorption had done months prior.

"Hey, I don't care what it does. Just as long as it helps Naruto to get stronger. Then I could give a hot shit about what it does when he roids out on the stuff." Sakura spoke as she took a bite from one of her teriyaki skewers

"I am all for helping Naruto to grow stronger too. However, I still feel that we should exercise caution for when he does. Seeing as how we are dealing with stuff well beyond our capacity to understand." Sasuke said back, in concerns about the otherworldly powers that Naruto could call upon

"Look, Naruto knows what he's doing for the most part. So I trust him to know what he's doing with all this stuff." Sakura spoke whilst Sasuke ate his dumplings

"I mean I worry about Naruto too, Sasuke. Especially since he's the closest thing to a little brother I have…But at the same time, I trust him to know what he's doing and come out the other side all the better for it. Since if there's anyone who can handle what life throws at him, then it's our friendly busted as shit blonde." Sakura added, having complete faith in Naruto

"I trust in Naruto as well. However, someone has to look out for him…The man is a chaos gremlin with enough power to start rivaling Kage's soon. This is why, someone has to look out for him when and if he does dangerous things. Even moreso when his own family won't." Sasuke replied in earnest concern for the dangers that could befall the superhuman blonde

"That's why he has the two of us beside him. While he may do dumb and incredibly dangerous shit as we keep gettin' older. We're gonna be right there to help him up when he falls on his face. Because that's what friends do for each other. We help pick each other up when we get caught lacking'." Sakura said

"Fair enough, Sakura. I am just worried for his general safety; given that he's playing with powers that can make the 9 tails look like a stuffed animal by comparison." Sasuke spoke as he took another bite out of one of his dumplings

"I'm just as worried as you are, Sasuke. Especially since I live with the guy. But that's neither here nor there. What matters is that we give him this plate as his birthmas present, and help him celebrate his 17th birthday and get him hooked up with Hinata's big sister." Sakura replied

"Speaking of Hinata's sister. Why exactly do you want her and Naruto to get together?" Sasuke queried

"To be honest they're the two best people I can think of that go well together. Since they're pretty similar to each other when you think about it." Sakura said to the swordsman beside her

"They're both super-skilled at martial arts, both of them are super chill to hang around, they're both the best out of anyone in their clan, and to top it off they happen to be people who go over and above for whatever they want." Sakura listed off in all the similarities she saw in Hanabi and Naruto

"I can see where you're coming from with that. In fact, even I would be foolish to not give credit to Hinata's sister for being one of the most lethal Hyuga…If not the most lethal of them all as far as her other clansmen go." Sasuke spoke in agreement

"Plus she's probably one of the only other people that could even Naruto out. Since, let's be real with each other Sasuke. There aren't many people that Naruto could end up with; that can help him mellow out." Sakura replied in seeing Hanabi as one of the few that could keep Naruto on an even keel

"Again, you do make a good point. Seeing as how I doubt that there would be many women who could handle Naruto and all his eccentricities. Especially, seeing as how the moment we gain our headbands; he's going to want to go out and see all of the world for what it's worth." Sasuke said back in regards to Naruto's chaotic spirit desiring more and more freedom

"Can't say I blame him. After getting shafted by your folks; who barely wanted anything to do with you, on top of disinheriting you, and letting your shitty brother sister get away with just about anything. I'd wanna go see the world and get as far away from them as possible too." Sakura said in knowing her 'brothers' adventurous spirit more than almost anyone

"To be totally honest with you, Sasuke. I'll happy for him to get out of the village, and be on his own shit…The guy deserves to go on his own adventures without his family messing things up for him more than they already do...If anything the further he's away from them, the better for his own health." Sakura added

"That is more than an accurate statement to be made. Especially with there being people out there who can get ahold of these plates, that Naruto is after. I'd say the time to go forth and adventure is something that is a necessity. Seeing as how Gantetsu and Choseki's finding that and even tapping into its power; shows that the world is changing." Sasuke responded

'But what it is even changing into, is the bigger question at hand?' Sasuke wondered to himself

"Whatever, the world's coming too. I'm pretty sure you, myself and Naruto can handle it no problem...I mean we're gonna be the village's strongest menaces pretty soon. So if anything I say the world should be scared of us!" Sakura said with a pugnacious smile as she bit off another chunk from her teriyaki skewers

"Of course. After all, with our talents and abilities combined. It only stands to reason that we will come out on top most of the time…The only thing we need to do to ensure that once we're of proper rank, is to act competently and with a plan in mind for what is to come." Sasuke replied with a small smile of his own

"For we may be powerful in our own rights. But without a well-formulated plan to properly utilize our abilities, and play to our strengths. Then our strengths will serve no purpose in the end." Sasuke spoke before eating another dumpling

Sasuke knew full well that if he and his companions were going to make a worthwhile team, and as devastating a threat as they intend to become; then they needed to act as a competent fighting unit that could act with a consistent battle plan and or strategy at anytime; that could allow them to adapt to any given situation.

"And that's why you're going to be team leader; when we get our headbands. Since we need someone who can help keep us on target." Sakura said back

"Given that we already have a fantastic amount of combat synergy with each other. On top of working well together, with one another. Then it shouldn't be too hard to keep you two in line, and make sure we get the job done." Sasuke spoke in knowing that such things shouldn't be too hard

"...In any case, I say that we enjoy the rest of our days here. We have another 2 to 3 more days, before Naruto comes to return us back to the village." Sasuke told the pink-haired assassin

"Then we may as well turn up while we're here…You wanna come see me be a fucking menace at a pit fight?...Since we know that I'm gonna demolish whoever the sorry mofo they've got a champ around here." Sakura asked

"Sure. It'll give us something to do, and not to mention, it will give me a chance to see more of this Niko-Style of yours in action." Sasuke answered back as he finished his plate of dumplings

"Sounds great to me. Let's hop to it, my match starts tomorrow and I wanna be ready to kick the shit out somebody." Sakura said with a vicious grin on her face

"I'm sure you will. In the meantime, let's be on our way. You have training to do for your match, and I want to go over katas for my swords." Sasuke said back as the two got up and left after paying the tab for their meal


(September 27th, 996 S.E, 3 days later, Konoha, Haruno Household, 3:35 Pm)

It would be the day after Naruto came and retrieved his friends from their time in Tanzaku Town, as he was currently hanging out with Sakura whilst Sasuke was training with his father at the current moment.

"I still can't believe you and Sasuke pulled that off!" Naruto said, still in amazement of Sakura's recent accomplishment with the Uchiha

"Well, when you got someone like Sasuke to back you up. On top of being awesome like me. Then it just makes sense that we'd kill it…Both figuratively and litterally...no pun intended." Sakura replied glad she had Sasuke to aid her

"Can't really argue with that. Especially since you blew up a gang hideout on top of assassinating two wannabe crimebosses…You are definitely on a role with this assassin stuff." Naruto said back

"Thanks! But I'm just getting started, Naruto. These are just the baby steps on my way to being the greatest assassin the Kure's have ever seen!" Sakura said with a confident smirk

"If this is you doing baby steps. Then I GOTTA see what you without the training wheels is like." Naruto replied in wondering what his 'sister' was gonna be like when she had the proverbial training wheels off

"Probably me turning into a one-woman army, and turning a place upside down like I'm a goddamn blender...Oh that's gonna be some fun shit down the line" Sakura told the superhuman blonde with her smirk turning into a monstrous grin

"Since we both know that by then I'll be a certified smoke-demon." Sakura added with a malefic bloodthirsty chuckle

"Won't that be the truth. Because at the rate your going, your gonna drop more than enough bodies to make a mortician rich." Naruto said knowing full well of Sakura's capacity for murder

"Hey, its not my fault the hurt business chose me. All I know is that I'm damn good at it. So if I just happen to make a killing off it, and absolutely slay at my job on top of being a kickass kunoichi…Then that's just me winning' at life." Sakura replied

"Well, when you do make it in the history books as a kickass super-assassin. Can you give a shout-out to your main man?" Naruto requested

Of course, I'm gonna give you a shout when people are saying my name decades from now. You're my brother and the homie! So you can bet your overpowered ass I'm gonna say shit about you." Sakura swore to the inhuman blonde

"Ok, I am not that broken, Sakura." Naruto replied

"Let's see you've got fire, lightning, poison, psychic and nature powers. Can run fast as fuck, you've got telepathy, can sense people from a quarter mile away, have super healing, and whatever else the fuck your gonna get later on…How do you not sound busted as all hell?!" Sakura retorted as she listed off the abilities that Naruto had thus far

"Well, when you put it like that. I do kind of sound overpowered." Naruto admitted semi-sheepishly

"No shit! I mean seriously if you don't call all the stuff you can do overpowered, then I was gonna call bullshit." Sakura replied "Fair 'nuff…Anyways, are we still good to celebrate my birthday?" Naruto asked the pink-haired assassin

"Shiitiitt, of course, we are. There's no way we aren't gonna celebrate your birthday. You are my brother, Naruto, there's no way we aren't gonna turn up for you on your birthday." Sakura replied putting an arm around what was basically her little brother

"Thanks. It means alot, Sakura. Especially, after I've had to share a birthday with Mizore and Toshiro…and we both know how that song and dance goes." Naruto said back on a more somber note

"Dude, you don't have to remind me…I still can't believe your mom and dad would do you that dirty, and basically do the bare minimum for you. Then turn around and give them gifts up to their knees, like their the Daimyao's own daughter…Like what the actual fuck, man!" Sakura spoke in anger of Naruto's previous birthdays

"Doesn't help that they'd rub it in my face, and say I wasn't worth a hot-shit afterwards...Hell, Mizore made cracks here and there about how I was so much ain't shit; that mom should've just swallowed me to save me the embarassment of being her son." Naruto said in lamentation of those times

"How they can get away with that shit, I'll never know...Just say the word and I will stomp the shit out of them in a heartbeat" Sakura spoke back, having stomped one of the porch steps they were sitting on so hard that a large portion of it imploded

"You know you don't gotta get pissed about it. It is what it is, Sakura." Naruto said more or less unphased by it all now

'Even if it still, is a bitch to think about it.' Naruto said to himself

"I got every right to be pissed when those fox bastards dick with my brother. And your parents let them get away with it, then have the nerve to act all hunky-dory afterward. Like what the actual FUCK, Naruto?!" Sakura said as in a burst of anger she put her foot through the steps nearly knee deep

Since there was one thing that pissed Sakura off to high heaven other than weak people, it was the fact that Toshiro and Mizore got away with anything in regards to treating Naruto like he was lesser and having bullied him for shiggles. All the while, Naruto couldn't really do much about it given the fact that who were gonna believe his word over the 'heroes' of the village who kept the 9 tails at bay, and were prophesied to bring about peace to the shinobi world.

"Look, I've been angry about it for the majority of my life. But what can you do? They've got Pervy-Sage and Kakashi to vouch for them, on top of them pretty much using that I'm phased out of the family to get away with more bullshit." Naruto replied with a partly somber expression

"But there isn't much I can do until I get my headband, and work my way up the ranks. Since at this point, I'm not even angry anymore. I'm more just…tired of it." Naruto added in having felt more tired than furious or pissed at his family

"So what? You don't wanna get it back in blood against them?" Sakura questioned

"Oh no, and don't get me wrong. Just because on not all hopped up on white-hot fucking rage, doesn't mean I don't wanna beat the dog-shit out of 'em…All it means is that I'm just focused on being recognized as one of the best to ever do it, and showing that I'm just as every bit as good as they are. If not moreso." Naruto answered back

"Trust me, Naruto. When we get our chance to show what we can do; during the Chunin Exams. Then, I don't have a doubt in the world you'll show everyone how great you are." Sakura said putting a hand on his shoulder

"Thanks, I appreciate the thought. Because, even with all the stuff I've got under my belt so far. I've still got a ways to go before I can match up against the shit they've got…Especially when they decide to roid out on the fox's power." Naruto replied in knowing that even with his ever growing and immense power; that his siblings still had an equalizer up their sleeves

"Look, even with all the power they can pull out from that overgrown mutt. They still ain't shit compared to you. Because at the end of the day, the amount of bullshit you can do; sure as hell trumps whatever they've got." Sakura said back getting a smile from Naruto

"So trust me when I say that; when we get on a team together. Start working on our collective shit together, and become even better smoke-demons than anyone in the village. Then I know for fact, that we're gonna be able to stomp those fuckers' shit in…From there, everyone's gonna have to recognize how great you are. I mean, your already a pretty fantastic guy in my book." Sakura further spoke causing Naruto's smile to widen

"Daaaawwww. I swear, if you keep saying any more sappy stuff, your gonna make me blush." Naruto replied, earning a playful shove from the pink-haired assassin

"Whatever. But you get where I'm going with it right?" Sakura said back as Naruto let out a earnest chuckle in response

"I do, I do…Anyways, how are you gonna explain the hole you put in the porch?" Naruto asked as he now noticed the decently sized hole that Sakura had stomped into the porch

"I, uhhhh…Mom's gonna tan my hide, ain't she?" Sakura said in realizing she was fucked once her mother returned from grocery shopping

"You and I both know the answer to that one, Sakura." Naruto answered back, whilst Sakura internally cursed at her anger getting the best of her

"You wouldn't happen to have any powers that can repair broken steps, wouldn't you?" Sakura asked

"Look, I'm good. But I'm not that good. So your on your own with that one." Naruto told her

"Fuuccckk. Well, unlike you I can run fast as fuck, or teleport. Which means, I gotta take this one on the chin." Sakura said, knowing she couldn't hide from an angered Mebuki

"My advice. Just close your eyes, brace for impact, and thank happy thoughts." Naruto replied as Sakura just gave him a sardonic look in response

"You are so not helping, Naruto." Sakura said back

"Hey, its the best I've got…But since your already fucked, I'm gonna go train. Have fun getting an ass whoopin'." Naruto said before teleporting away

'Well, at least when I get my butt whooped. It'll make great practice for using Ironbreaker to toughen up.' Sakura said in full acceptance of her fate

"Sakura, could you come inside and help with groceries? I need help getting dinner ready for tonight!" Mebuki called out as she had recently come back from the farmers' market with armfuls in each hand

"God, if your listening. Then please have mercy on me as my mother tans my hide to hell…amen." Sakura prayed before entering the house with a slight stagger as she removed her foot from the step

So with Sakura and Sasuke having completed another assassination and gained the Dread Plate, as an unorthodox birthday present for Naruto's upcoming birthday. It seems as though good fortune continues to come on the horizon…So with Sakura as an upcoming assassin having completed yet another mission, how will things go for her and hr companions in the months to come? Find out in the new chapters of, Naruto: The PokeSage!


Alright, that takes care of that as I hoped you guys enjoyed this chapter and everything that went in it. Since I thought it would be a nice switch-up to make things go more of a stealth mission; given that even in Naruto stories you don't see everyone trying to sneak and use stealth in order to get stuff done.

That all well and done, I hope you guys will enjoy this story since I have more fun stuff to come down the pipeline going forward, so I hope you guys will stick around to see those things happen in Naruto's misadventures. Also, any favorites, follows, reviews or suggestions are more than welcome, as I'm happy to take suggestions on what can make the story better.

So without further delay and such, this is Pravus666 signing off till next time. Since the next chapter is gonna go on in Naruto's birthday and the aftermath of what that's gonna bring about, so stay tuned for all of that good stuff.

Part 1: Evolution by Korn

Random End Song: Ricochet by Faith No More


Now then onto some of the reviews from the last chapter.

Kourtney Uzu Yato (Chapters 5-10): Again I wanna say thanks for keeping up with the story so far, and I'm glad that you like everything going on thus far. Furthermore, I'm glad you like what I've been doing with Sakura as I really am enjoying the whole making her a menace considering that what she did to Aoi and his genin isn't even her getting serious and is more a case of her dicking around if that puts into perspective of how much of a menace she can really be. Furthermore, I'm glad you like this iteration of Danzo since I figured it would be pretty cool to go with the old war veteran who after seeing a lot of shit is just trying to do his best to support his village the best way he knows how...with the occassional blunt between it all. And I'm glad that your enjoying Naruto's relationships with Choji, Sasuke, Sakura and Mizuki because I really have liked building on this side of Naruto that not many people get to see out of him. Also, trust me your gonna see just how big of bastards Toshiro and Mizore are in concerns to Naruto as we move further into the story, because there's a lot that shows how they've affected Naruto in his emotional state, and also I wonder how your Naruko from the She Devil would feel about my Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura if she ever intereacted with them? Other than that good luck and godspeed with your tests I know you can kick the shit out of it all!

God of Wind 200: That's actually a pretty good analogy for how it works when he absorbs plates.

Obsidian Nova Arc: Yeah, Choji stomping Kiba's shit in is why you don't make fat jokes about peoples' moms' especially when Choji could if he really wanted too turn into a 15+ foot giant and body-slam you into a paste. Oh no, give it time and they'll do themselves since its really a matter of their ego's eventually fucking themselves over at this point.