Let It Burn: Death [Sasuke Uchiha]

Chapter 41

Mai stretched on the porch of her home early that evening, upper body bending over to reach the toes and work out tight areas in the legs and lower back. That was when she felt a presence behind her. Letting out a deep relaxing breath she sat upright and noticed a pair of propped up knees on either side of her. The Be Fong leaned back to fall into a hard chest.

"You're back early," the older teen commented. Glancing over a shoulder her eyes locked with Sasuke's.

"Only a day," he answered. An arm wrapped around her middle to keep the ninja in place.

"What's the occasion?"

"Nothing, I finished business early and wasn't tired last night to stop."

"You must be exhausted then."

"A bit." His stomach suddenly growled, causing her to smirk.

"I have leftovers in the fridge. Help yourself." He nodded, but neither of them moved, watching the sunset. "Sasuke..."

"Hmm?"

"Have you heard anything out of the ordinary when you've been traveling?"

"Such as?"

"Random rogue killings."

There was no point in beating around the issue, or trying to talk about it in a hypothetical manner. She needed answers for whenever she did have to leave the Village to join this manhunt. Despite the security protocols in place since Ibiki's meeting.

"Yes, from a few people," the Uchiha said.

"And what are your thoughts on it?" Mai mused.

"Is the Village worrying about it?"

"There were meetings called today regarding it. Saying it's a serial killer."

"Any motive?"

"None that we can tell at the moment. Just someone who carries a grudge towards rogue ninja." They sat in silence for a moment longer. "Just be careful out there. You don't carry a headband anymore and could be mistaken as a rogue if this person isn't willing to listen to reason."

"I wouldn't allow myself to be killed so easily."

"I'm sure that's what the others said before they were killed off. I looked at some of the names on those lists. Sure, many were lower in rank and hadn't accomplished much in their short time distancing themselves from a Village, but others were more than qualified to take out whoever this is. That's what worries me. We don't know who this person is, their strength, or mental state."

"But we're aware of them now, so all will be on high alert. That goes for me as well now that I know you're worrying about it." He kissed her temple trying to calm her down. "I've faced off against worse."

"And who's the one that had to come and save your ass sometimes or try to knock some sense into you?"

"Well, you were getting bored here."

She nudged him in the gut in a playful way, earning a chuckle as she bit at her lower lip to hide her own laugh.

"Come on," the Phantom Ninja said. "Let's get you some food and to bed."