Bounty Thief

Chapter 1

My eyes were getting dry and sore from flipping through several papers in such poor lighting. Bounties were become rare nowadays, what with all the ninjas about. Just recently though all the demands for bounties have vanished. Even my own stock pile of VIP targets were getting taken from me everyday it seemed like.

Without the bounty money I was in big trouble. Loan sharks from almost every village were after my head. My father was a merchant of sorts, a very poor one at that. He made bad deals, and lost a lot of money. The only way he could keep my mother and I safe and fed was to dip into untrustworthy sources.

He was never able to repay them of course, and whenever they came to collect, we had already skipped town. I didnt know if I should be thankful to him for trying so hard, or hate him for the fact that I was now on the line for his mistakes.

Sighing deeply I trashed the stack of bounties. They had all been claimed, and I was now jobless. Who was doing this? Obviously someone with a lot of time on their hands, and extremly powerful to take down the more difficult targets. I couldnt let this stop me though, I had to keep moving to the next town in the morning. Just yesterday a bunch of grunts were seen shaking down poor peddlers for payments. I knew who they worked for, and I didn't want to gain his attention.

Before the sun was even up I was throwing what little I owned into my pack and leaving town. The next village wasnt far, but it was well known and much larger then I was use to. Konoha land of fire, and home to some of the most powerful ninja. I remember hearing stories all the way in the country of lighting about a young boy taking down several known ninja that even the anbu had trouble with.

Part of myself always wanted to be a full fledged ninja, but I was never given that chance due to my upbringing. What I did know, I learned on the way in my travels. Nothing fancy, just basics to survive in this world.

As I finally neared the gates of konoha, I had to come up with a false ID. I didnt want anyone to possibly know who I really was. Names...names...something easy to remember...saeko..meaning serene. Fuji, meaning furtune. Two things I never have. My old name has long been lost to me since I've changed it so many times. I'm sure it was beautiful, defiantly not fitting for me anymore.

The ninja guards were chatting it up at the gate, sharing mission stories perhaps. They spotted me as I neared and stopped talking to confront me. "Good day miss, ill need a name and purpose before you can enter". I looked up at the man, he towered over my small body. I flashed him the best smile I could muster.

"Saeko fuji, sir! And im here for the site seeing. Quite a beautiful village here..konowa was it?" I said playing the innocent bubbly travler part.

"Ah...konoha actually..just keep outta trouble miss saeko, we have a lot for you to enjoy here" he replied while rubbing the back of his head, glacing at his partner with a 'really..this girl must be a hermit' look. His partner replied with a shrug and let me pass.

I didnt like jumping towns so much, I missed my home, my parents, having better shoes. My feet were killing! The state of my attire was poor, but I barley had money to eat on. I wasn't about to blow it on materialistic items.

The site of an inn was much welcomed after the long trip. "Hi, id like a room for one please." I asked taking out my money pouch. The site nearly made me cry. I had barley enough for one night and maybe some cheap food for two days. "Of course! You look exhusted, poor thing out there all alone."

I frowned at her "I can handle myself.." I said with more venom than I intended. I said more to reassure myself that I could in fact handle myself.

I must of had a scary look on my face because her face paled as she handed me my room keys. "Did ya hear? The kazekage was kiddnapped by this group of rouge ninjas called akatsuki." A konoha village ninja was talking with an outsider, the headband around her neck showed that she was from Suna.