Darkest Before Dawn

Gato's a Dead Man

Zetsu was not a happy camper. He was in the corner of the inn room with his arms crossed and his lips twisted in a scowl. The brat's sensei was currently on the bed. His breathing was even and all his wounds were completely bandaged.

"The goddamn pipsqueak better be thankful that we helped her. What in hell is she doing anyways? Well, you know her, always out and about. But even in this shady city? That girl knows no bounds."

~

Kisame and Sakura were positioned on a high branch just a mile away from where Gato's hideout was. A katana was in the Kiri shinobi's lap, and the girl was quietly reading a book. An oddball, that pint-sized kid was. She knew he was a dangerous person and an enemy to Konoha, yet here she was. His partner for this assassination.

"Hey kid, how old are you anyways?"

"I'm five!"

Well shit. 

"Really? What are you doing out here with that interrogator?" questioned Kisame. The girl closed her book and smiled up on him.

"He's my sensei. He allowed me to come with him, but I didn't know what for." she answered. He let out a low whistle as he slung his sword across his back.

"You're kinda young to be learning. You a prodigy or something?"

"Hm... I don't think so."

"So why's he training you?"

"I made a big water dragon!"

Kisame furrowed his brows as he leaned forward. He tried to decipher just exactly what making a water dragon meant, because surely it wasn't that justu. Sakura saw the man's confused look and nodded gleefully.

"It was Ja no Kuchi." she confirmed. He stared at her in awe. Her knowing that jutsu and being able to execute it... she must really be something. He then turned his attention to the hideout. The guards left from their posts, for guard change he presumed, and left a perfect opening.

"I'll disguise as one of the guards. And you'll be-"

"The intruder you found walking around!" she exclaimed. Kisame chuckled and henged into one of the guards. They lept down from their hiding place. The Kiri nin clasped pseudo-chains around the girl's wrist, and began the walk to the mansion 'hideout'. The new guards immediately stopped them before they reached the iron gates.

"What the hell is that?" one of the guards hissed, pointing a kunai at the bound girl, "Gato-sama doesn't like mangy dogs."

"Found the brat lurking around. I just want to see if Gato-sama wants to kill her or keep her for other reasons." Kisame replied from behind a porcelain mask. The two guards shared a look.

"Tch, go the fuck ahead. Don't expect anything less than her turning into a bloody mess." one of them said. They stepped aside to let the two in. Kisame immediately pinpointed Gato's chakra towards the west. With Sakura still in chains, they walked towards Gato's office. Soon, enough they arrived at a set of double doors. Kisame knocked once.

"Come in."

Kisame walked in and gently pushed Sakura forwards. The pudgy form of Gato sat in a thick, leather chair. A cigar hung from his stubby fingers that bent as he took a long drag. He pushed up his glasses and stood up. He walked towards the two and peered down at the pink-haired intruder.

"And who are you?"

Sakura spat in his face.

The disguised Kiri nin coughed to hold back his laughter. Gato growled and snappishly wiped the spit off his cheek. Luckily, he refrained himself from smacking her. She was only a child, after all.

"Well, what do you have to say for yourself? Just what did you think you could accomplish by bringing this... thing here?" he demaned. Kisame reached behind him and unsheathed his katana. Without a word, he sliced Gato's throat and let his fat body fall to the floor. Sakura broke her chains and stared down at the dead body.

"Does it bother you that I killed him so easily?" asked Kisame. She stayed quiet for a while before she looked up at him and smiled.

"No."

He had to admit, the carefree answer disturbed him a little. He picked her up, formed a hand sign, and disappeared in a pool of water.

~

He reappeared just outside the village he was staying in. Suiren was pacing back and forth just at the outskirts. When she saw Kisame and Sakura appear, she immediately ran towards them. Sakura jumped out of his arms and watched with a wide grin when Suiren tackled him in a hug. The woman soon turned to the five year old and held her close as well.

"I told you, Suiren san!"

"Yes... Yes you did."

Sakura waved at them before turning around and walking towards the village she was staying at.

"Oi, kid."

She spun around just in time to catch a katana with a scroll tied to it. She looked at him in surprise, her sparkling emerald green eyes wide.

"W-Wha...? Your.. this is your sword..."

"Think of it as a thank you gift."

A look of true happiness crossed her face.

"Thank you, Kisame-san!!"

~

*My new story 'The Crossover' is now posted! As the title entails, it is a crossover of my three favorite anime: Attack on Titan, Naruto, and Black Butler! Please go check it out if you can!