I do not own any Naruto characters or settings.  I only own my OC, Akuma Izoku.

This chapter does not contain any descriptions of blood or violence.  

I hope you enjoy the story of Izoku, Avenger of the Akuma Clan of the Village Hidden in the Shadows!

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Izoku woke up late in the morning. She opened her droopy eyes only to see the bright rays of the sun, streaming in from the slightly open blinds. She nuzzled her face into the pillow...

No...it wasn't a pillow.

Izoku flashed her eyes open again. She turned her head to look up; Kakashi was sleeping soundlessly as she rested her on his gently rising and falling chest. Izoku smiled and then placed her head down on his chest again. Slight mumbling made her ears prick up.

“Izo...chan...” Kakashi muttered softly. Izoku sighed as she realized he was dreaming of her, her hand next to her face as her fingers played with the loose material of his t-shirt.

What was this feeling? It felt oddly familiar...but somewhat different. When she was with Asuma, an aching feeling would stir inside of her chest, but it felt rather pleasant. It was something she didn't feel when she was with Gai, which led to them breaking up a few weeks later. Izoku thought of Asuma as she listened to Kakashi's heart beat against her ear; the sound was soothing and calming.

“Kakashi-kun...” Izoku whispered. She closed her eyes slightly as she sighed again. “My dear friend...I think I'm falling for you...”

“Izo-chan...” Kakashi murmured again, his head tossed to the side. Izoku grinned again. She wanted it to stay like this forever; his arms wrapped around her, her head resting peacefully on his chest as his lips kissed the top of her head. She realized at this point that Kakashi wasn't just a crush.

“Kakashi-kun...”

His heart started to beat quicker now, puzzling Izoku. She sat up and watched over the sleeping man.

“Kakashi?” she asked, confused. She laid a hand on his cheek and then recoiled as she felt it ran slick with sweat. Izoku noticed now that his face was scrunched up into a pained expression. “Kakashi?”

“Izoku!” Kakashi jolted up into a sitting position, Izoku squeaking and jumping back in shock.

“Kakashi!” she screamed.

“Oh Kami." He reached out to her and grabbed her hand. “Come here.”

“Wha –?”

“Just come here please!” Kakashi insisted, desperate.

“Kakashi-kun...”

She crawled over to him and sat next to him. She put a hand on his face and looked into his glimmering charcoal eye. “What's wrong, Kakashi-kun?”

“J-just a nightmare,” he stammered as he wrapped his arms around her. Kakashi pulled her close so that she was almost sitting in his lap. Izoku fastened her arms around Kakashi's neck, closing her eyes as she sighed.

“Was it about me?” Izoku murmured. Kakashi looked up at her, panicked. “There's no need to be embarrassed.”

“W-well...” Kakashi stammered, avoiding her gaze. “You were dying in front of me, under the hands of someone.”

“Someone?” Izoku nuzzled closer to him. “Who was this 'someone?'”

“An older lady.” Kakashi nestled his face into Izoku's neck. “It looked like the Kuraikage.”

Izoku stiffened. Her eyes stared blankly at the window, the natural light gushing in from the half-opened metal blinds. The Kuraikage? Killing her? Was this a sign?

“H-how do you know it was the Kuraikage?” Izoku laughed nervously. “We haven't even seen her yet.”

“She had on the robes.” Kakashi explained, his voice low and soft. “Purple robes with the character “Kurai” on her Kage hat.”

“Kusso,” Izoku muttered under her breath.

“What?” Kakashi broke from her and gazed into her eyes.

“K-kaimu (nothing).” Izoku shook her head and then draped it over Kakashi's shoulder, her head fitting perfectly into the crevasse of his neck. “What are we going to do today?”

“I was thinking of job-hunting,” Kakashi suggested, not minding the change of subject. “So we can actually look like normal people.”

“Considering your performance last night,” Izoku chuckled. “We're anything but normal. Well, at least you are.”

“You're right,” Kakashi huffed. “That means you'll have to get a job.”

“And what will you do?” Izoku removed her head from his shoulder and looked at him. “You're not going to stay in this apartment all day, that's for sure.”

“I'll be hanging out,” Kakashi said a little too firmly. “Looking for any signs from ninja that there's going to be some kind of plan attacking Konoha.”

“But in order for you to find that information,” Izoku protested. “You'll have to join the Shadow Ninja Squad.”

“I know.” Kakashi loosened his grip on her waist. “As an ANBU ninja of the Village Hidden in the Leaves, I must do anything and everything to protect my village and everyone I love.” He gazed at her with sincere eyes.

Izoku suddenly pushed him over, the two tumbling on the ground. She wrestled with him, Kakashi lashing out in confusion as she attacked him.

“What the –?!” he shouted. Izoku slammed him head on the ground, smirking.

“Two out of two,” she laughed.

Kakashi grunted.

“You little...”

“As our deal, you have to tell me your deepest darkest secret!” Izoku smiled.

“Is this really an appropriate time to be doing this?” Kakashi sighed.

Izoku only nodded. Kakashi exhaled once more and then groaned, letting his face fall onto the wood floor.

“Fine, but not now, okay?”

“As long as I get to know it!” Izoku let him up. “Remember, it has to be something no one else knows but you!”

“Yeah, yeah.” Kakashi stood up, rubbing his nose. “Anyways, do you want to go job-hunting by yourself or do you want me to go with you?”

“I can do it myself,” Izoku said, walking over to the dresser. She opened the top drawer and pulled out a sleeveless kimono top with thin golden scrolls adorning the midnight blue fabric. She picked up a long dark blue skirt, matching with the small scrolls stitched into the fabric, and started her way to the bathroom. She closed the door and placed the clothes on a towel rack. She brushed her teeth for a few minutes and then spit into the sink, rinsing her mouth clean. She washed her face in cold water and then changed, taking her sleepwear in her hand as she opened the door. Kakashi was leaning on the windowsill, shirtless once again, staring out into the village.

“Erm...” Izoku sputtered. “Kakashi-kun?”

“Hmm?” Kakashi turned around and looked at her.

Izoku looked away, blushing deeply.

“Y-you can change now.”

“Oh, right.” Kakashi nodded and then grabbed a black t-shirt from the bottom drawer and a pair of faded blue jeans. He walked past her, his warm skin brushing against her, making her shiver violently, and went into the bathroom. As Izoku heard the door click shut, she let out a massive exhale.

Kusso... Izoku pinched the bridge of her nose. Get yourself together, Akuma! He's only a boy!

Izoku put her pajamas in her drawer and went out into the kitchen. She opened the door, hoping there was some food inside, but was deeply disappointed.

“Look's like we're going to have to go out for breakfast.” Izoku sighed. “Then I'll have to do some grocery shopping.”

She grabbed a tall glass and filled it up with water from the sink, draining it in five seconds flat. She washed the glass and then set it aside to dry. She turned around and saw, to her sanity's relief, a fully dressed Kakashi.

“So I guess I'll be hanging out at pubs and stuff all day?” Kakashi grunted.

“You could come with me if you want.” Izoku shrugged. “I mean, job-hunting isn't really exciting.”

“I guess I'll go,” Kakashi laughed.  "We might even get to explore the town more."

“Let's start off with some breakfast,” Izoku suggested hopefully. Kakashi nodded and they left the apartment, Kakashi placing the keys to the room in his pocket. They walked into the cold afternoon. They went down the stairs and down the street, where people have began their daily errands. They stared at the masked man walking with the beautiful raven-haired girl, instantly recognizing them from the brawl from last night. Izoku smirked as she walked beside Kakashi, unresponsive to the whispering and glances coming their way.

They walked inside a restaurant, sat down and ordered some traditional Japanese breakfast foods: miso soup, tamago kake gohan (hot steamed rice mixed with a raw egg and soy-sauce), takuan (pickled daikon radish), and nori (dried seaweed sheets), along with some hot green tea.

“What are some ideas you have in mind?” Kakashi asked as they waited for the food. “For the jobs, I mean.”

“Well...” Izoku took a sip of her water. “I could work at a restaurant; there are plenty of those here. I saw a ninja tool shop around here, and a clothing store. Or maybe I could work at the shop you left me at.” Izoku glared at him.

“In my defense,” Kakashi raised his hands, palms facing towards her, “I went around to see if I could win you something at the game stands like a good boyfriend would.”

“But a good boyfriend wouldn't leave his precious girlfriend in a strange place alone at night” Izoku raised an eyebrow.

Kakashi rolled his eyes.

“Gomen,” he groaned. “Please pardon my sins, oh dear Goddess. I repent deeply for the mistakes I have inflicted upon this world.”

“Urusai,” Izoku giggled, “baka.”

The waitress brought them the food, eying Kakashi a little bit.

Achi ike (get lost). Izoku snarled at her. The waitress seemed to notice Izoku's threatening glare and shuffled away quickly. She lifted her chin up and puffed, victorious.

“Ikadakimasu.” Kakashi smiled at her, not noticing what just happened.

“Sodesu.” Izoku nodded, breaking the wooden chopsticks. She ate gratefully, taking a clump of rice into her mouth, followed by a piece of daikon. She drank the miso, the warm soup thawing her chilled insides.

Kakashi paid for the meal and they left, satisfied and full.

“Have you thought of what you're going to tell me?” Izoku smiled.

“I have a few ideas.” Kakashi shrugged.

“So?” Izoku stepped in front of him, stopping him in his tracks. She tip-toed up and clasped her fingers behind her back, rocking back and forth from her toes to her heels.

“What?”

“Aren't you going to tell me?” Izoku asked.

“Later.” Kakashi brushed her to the side and continued his way.

Disappointed, Izoku caught up with him again.

“Tonight. Promise?” Izoku grabbed him arm and stared up at him with round violet eyes.

Act kawaii, act kawaii...

“Promise,” Kakashi grunted, giving into her cute gaze.

“Arigato!” she giggled into his sleeve. Normally, she would hate acting kawaii; it was a sign of insecurity and weakness, as her mother had always said to her as a child. But for some reason, it came naturally to her whenever she was around Kakashi.

“Now,” the silver-haired shinobi pulled his arm from Izoku to wrap it around her waist, “job-hunting; where to first?”

“Well...” Izoku pondered, serious. “If I'm going to get a job, I think it should benefit the mission somehow. Where's a place I could spy and work at the same time?”

“Didn't you mention a ninja tool shop earlier?” Kakashi suggested.

“Hai.” Izoku nodded. “That's perfect. Let's go there first.”

The two headed east towards the plaza, which was bustling with frantic people getting ready for another festival that night. They branched off of the town square eastbound, towards the ninja tool shop. After about twenty minutes of moderate walking, they reached the entrance of a store called “Misuta Buki no Buki” (Mr. Buki's Weapons). Izoku pushed past the cloth curtain at the door frame and entered the shop.

“Kangei! (Welcome!)” an older looking man, who Izoku presumed to be Mr. Buki, greeted her at the desk. “Shuriken today are a dozen for one thousand ryo!”

“Arigato.” Izoku dipped her head respectfully to the man. “Demo, I'm not here to buy weapons, Misuta.”

“Well, my dear.” He leaned against the counter. “How can I be of assistance for you today?”

“I want to get a job.” Izoku blinked.

“Splendid!” Mr. Buki threw his hands up in the air. “I've been wanting to have an assistant for the past few months. What's your name, girl?”

“Ubu Yoru.” Izoku used her alias she had given the three Chunin last night.

“That's a nice name,” he man commented as he pulled out a form and filled it out. He pushed the piece of paper over to her. “It goes togther perfectly.  If could sign this, please.”

“Certainly.” Izoku's eyes scanned over the paper, using Korosu to thoroughly analyze the form in great detail. Korosu declared nothing was unusual or odd about the paper and Izoku signed it. She gave the form back to Mr. Buki. “And I am assuming you are Buki-san, yes?”

“That's right,” the man beamed. Korosu took a moment to analyze him.

Yamamoto Buki, age thirty-one. No ninja experience; though, is highly trained in hand-to-hand combat for a civilian. Has a young son who just graduated from the Shadow Academy; Genin rank. Total missions: 0.

“When can I start?” Izoku smiled innocently.

“Actually, if you don't mind, I'd like you to start now.” Mr. Buki nodded to the pair of guys who were looking at some kunai. “I'll teach you how to work the register and I'll go into the back to do some taxes.”

“Sounds good.” Izoku nodded. She turned to Kakashi behind her. “Alright love, I'll see you tonight at the apartment,”

“Bye.” Kakashi pulled her into a hug and kissed her softly on the forehead, his lips touching her through the fabric of the mask. He turned and left, hands stuffed in his jean pockets.

“What a lovely young couple,” Mr. Buki commented sweetly.

“Arigato.” Izoku grinned. “He's actually also a childhood friend.”

“That's so sweet!” The man nodded, beaming at her. He then he motioned her to come behind the counter; she obeyed. “Now Yoru, I'm going to show you how to use the register, and then you'll help those men over there, okay?”

“Hai.” Izoku nodded. Mr. Buki showed her the mechanics of the register, which was painfully easy to follow. After a few minutes of training and learning the shop procedures, Mr. Buki left Izoku to work.

“Shop closes at seven at night.” Mr. Buki waved to her as he went to the back. “So you'll be working until then.

“Arigato, Buki-san.” Izoku dipped her head. When Mr. Buki shut his office door, Izoku went over to the two men looking at the dull kunai knives.

“Oi! Miss?” A man with brown hair turned around to look at her.

“How may I help you?” Izoku smiled.

The man blinked and then shot a nervous grin at her.

“U-uhh, well, my friend and I were thinking about strategic ways to use our money. What do you suggest is the best combination of weapons for three-thousand five hundred ryo?”

“Hmm...” Izoku walked over to the basket of dull kunai. She read the price. “One hundred ryo for a knife?” She scanned the other merchandise on the shelves and counters. “And the special today is a dozen shuriken for five hundred. Well sir, I think I have just the combination for you.”

“What is it?” the other man, possessing darker hair that his friend and black eyes, said.

“I suggest getting the shuriken special, combined with six kunai, fifteen explosive tags, which are fifty ryo per tag, and three meters of wire for two hundred fifty ryo.” Izoku leaned against the wall and crossed her arms, smiling again.  "That totals up to three thousand three hundred fifty ryo."

The guys counted up the prices and then turned to her.

“Miss,” the brown-haired one said. “You've been a great help. We'll take those items, please!”

Izoku nodded and gathered up the merchandise. She brought them to the counter and rang them up.

“So,” Izoku pressed the prices and quantity of each item into the register,“you're Chunin, am I correct?”

“Hai.” The dark-haired shinobi nodded. “We just passed the exams two months ago,”

“That's so cool.” Izoku flashed them yet another friendly smile. I passed my Chunin exam when I was six. “Stocking up for a mission or something?”

“Not particularly.” The brown-haired Chunin scratched the back of his head. “Just getting ready.”

Izoku's ears pricked up.

“Getting ready?” Izoku asked, bagging the weapons in a paper bag. “For what?”

“Haven't you been listening to the news in the plaza?” the darker-haired shinobi asked.

Izoku blushed.

“I just got into town two days ago,” she murmured. “Gomen'nasai, demo I'm not up-to-date on these things right now.”

“I see,” the brown-haired ninja laughed. “Well, In'ei is stirring. Yondaime-sama is requesting for more Jonin, but as you know by now she's very strict. She'll dispose of all the weaker Chunin and reward the stronger ones.”

“Why is she requesting more Jonin?” Izoku cocked her head to the side. “Doesn't she have enough already? How many Jonin are there now? I'd say about twenty-five, right?”

“Hai.” The brown-haired Chunin nodded. “Twenty-five, but the numbers are going to deplete tremendously due to more ANBU being selected.”

Izoku's violet eyes widened.

“More ANBU?” she gasped. “Why in the world is she in such a hurry to recruit more ANBU?”

“The Konoha Invasion of course!” he laughed. “Oya! You're really far behind, aren't you, miss?”

“G...gomen'nasai...” Izoku whispered. Konoha Invasion? When was the invasion? Is is going to be soon? “The invasion...when is that going to be?”

“Whenever that Akuma girl is captured.” The brown-haired nin reached out to take his things. Izoku gave the bag to him.

“I see...”

Her voice trailed off.

“Oi!” The nin looked at her in confusion. “What's the matter?”

Izoku looked up at them, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and anger.

“K-kyo (nothing),” she stammered. “It's just...I have family over there.”

“Ahh...” the darker-haired Chunin sighed. “That's rotten luck. Maybe you should talk to Yondaime-sama about that. With your charming looks, I bet you could get anyone to do what you wanted!” The two Chunin laughed as they turned around to leave.

“M-matte (wait)!” Izoku cried out to them.

They both turned around in confusion.

“What is it?”

“What are your names?” Izoku asked almost frantically. “Ubu Yoru desu!”

The brown-haired shinobi's face brightened.

“Keikaku Oen desu.” He smiled.

“And Baizo Shien desu,” the darker-haired Chunin chimed in. Both of the boys bowed. “Hajimemashite (nice to meet you), Ubu-san!”

“Please,” Izoku laughed uneasily. “'Your-chan' is fine. Also, would you two like to come to dinner with me tonight? You guys seem like a promising pair for my first friends in In'ei,” Izoku tilted her hips to the side and clasped her hands behind her back, giving them a nervous close-eyed smile.

“Sure!” Oen immediately accepted, almost thrusting himself back towards her.

“Where do you want to meet?” Shien nodded excitedly.

“How about Taste of In'ei at eight.” Izoku pondered. “I end my shift at seven, so that seems like a good time. Thoughts?”

“Sounds great!” Oen gave her a thumb's up. “See you then, Yoru-chan!”

Izoku laughed a bit awkwardly.

“Eh. Erm, you two, Oen-kun, Shien-kun!” she called out to them, the corners of her mouth twitching. The two Chunin ran out of the shop, shouting at each other which one Izoku liked the most. She sighed and slumped against the wall. "This will certainly be interesting...”

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