Shades of Grey

Chapter 17

Sakura checked her gear again making sure each weapon was deadly sharp and within easy reach. Once satisfied she laid down her bedroll and looked up at the stars. That is right she was on the move again. After deciding to become a hunter nin she had begun work immediately.

So far, she had managed to bring in three rouge nin who had made their living preying on innocent civilians. She was always careful when selecting her marks. She only went after those who caused problems. The ones that she had tracked to this point had been fairly easy for her to bring in. She had even managed to get in quite a bit of practice with her katana and was in love with the blade.

Unfortunately, she had only been able to bring one of them in alive. Sakura took comfort by telling herself that she was saving countless others by taking them out. But she was well aware she was staining her own soul in the process. She really was not any better than them if she stopped to think about it. True their hands had been stained by the blood of many, but who was she to cast judgement upon them.

Sakura knew that she had taken many a life in the service of her village at the order of her Hokage. Now though on nights like these she knew that those deaths had been the same as the ones she now caused. Every life that she had taken, on orders or to collect a bounty, had once meant something to someone. How many people had she left devastated at a loss brought by her hands?

"Stop." Kurama spoke up. "You are not the same as them. You must not let things lay so heavy on your conscious."

"Maybe before when I was protecting my village, I could have argued that." She sighed. "Now though I pick my own targets, just like they pick theirs."

"You are wrong little one." The fox tried to soothe his container. "They are scum who prey on the weak. You fight now to protect those that no one else will."

"Maybe you are right." Sakura relented. While she did not agree she also did not want to argue. "We should rest, our mark is close. It won't be long until we cross his path."

She did not get an answer, but she really had not expected one. She turned to face the fire and enjoy the warmth it had to offer.

At last they were able to step foot on dry land again. Itachi watched as the other passengers were careful to leave quite a distance between them. Perhaps it was their cloaks which made them nervous, or maybe even the civilians shied away from their chakra, then again, he could not discount his partners blue skin and toothy smile. Whatever the cause he was happy not to be bothered with them.

"He should be easy to find." Kisame spoke up. "Apparently he isn't exactly trying to hide himself."

"Very well." Itachi replied. "We begin our pursuit tonight. I want to end this without delay."

"Whatever you were up to sure has you in a hurry to get back to it." The blue man chuckled. "Don't worry kid, this will take no time at all."