When The Fine Line Is Crossed

“When The Fine Line Is Crossed”

  Anarchy, corruption, and murder fuel syndicates, each run by a powerful family. The Senju were at the top, with their light and force of nature abilities. The Uchiha with their eyes that held the ability to alter memories, create illusions, and so on. Then came the Hyuga who had an ocular ability to see almost completely around them, even see some feet in front of them, and the pressure points of their enemies. There were Uzumaki as well. In addition to posing a threat to the lesser syndicates, their abilities also posed a threat to the higher syndicates. Their healing and chain subjugation were above any other. Their hierarchy was quickly destroyed, so few of them remained and were absorbed into the Senju family due to the marriage of Hashirama Senju and Mito Uzumaki. Much to Madara Uchiha’s chagrin, the man always had an unhealthy obsession with that particular Senju. 

Then came the lesser syndicates that were not quite as powerful, but just as deadly if underestimated. The Hoshigaki were the highest of the lesser Yakuza groups. They were a strange bunch, opting for physical mutations, mostly those of sharks, giving them the ability of being able to breathe underwater as well as tame and communicate with the super predators. Making them one of the most feared of the lower syndicates. Escaping them is a feat few get a chance at, and it is most likely because they let you flee. These caste systems within the families were stable. Each one respecting the territory of another…

Sakura closed the book with a sigh and leaned back in her chair. She hated having to learn about the caste system of the Yakuza. If she was perfectly honest even though she served her family with the utmost loyalty, she wanted to be a healer above all. She hated being the ‘Princess of the Senju’ like her cousin Tsunade was. Her cousin was smart though, fleeing with an up-and-coming author named Jiraiya to escape the death and destruction.

“Sakura. You need to take this seriously. Your father is only trying to help you understand the threats that are out there,” a woman with fiery hot pink hair scolded.

“I know Karin. You don’t have to remind me. I just hate having to kill all the damn time,” she huffed in annoyance.

“I understand that more than anyone. Hell, we grew up together. You, me, and Ino. It’s a shame her family was absorbed into the Uchiha family. It sucks that we are enemies now,” Karin said, her tone similar to Sakura’s own. The young Senju princess frowned as she remembered the day that happened. Ino was all too quick to throw their friendship away for the sake of her family loyalty, but hadn’t she and Karin technically done the same?

“I have training with Hatake. I will see you later,” she sighed, getting up from her seat and walking away.

“Good luck,” Karin called out to her, Sakura missing her friend’s wince and sympathetic look. The Hatake family was a personal friend to the Senju family and trained her when her father Tobirama and her uncle Hashirama were unavailable…

Her back landed on the ground with a silver-haired man above her, his blade to her throat.

“You usually do better than this Kura. Something on your mind," he asked, his half-masked face barely showing the hint of a smile.

“It’s nothing Kakashi,” she sighed before wrapping her legs around his head and flipping him off her. She rolled onto her shoulders using the momentum to quickly spring to her feet. Her eyes rolled. Of course, he landed gracefully on his feet and was ready for her next move.

“You were never good at lying,” he chuckled out.

“I know. It’s the party coming up. Killing the heir to the Hyuga was not on my to-do list,” she frowned, and her mentor nodded in acknowledgement of her plight.

“It could be worse. Your father can tell you to marry one of the Uchiha men,” Kakashi shrugged, ignoring her glare.

“I swear Shisui and Obito are the only sane ones from that lot. Itachi is basically mute, but at least he can hold an intelligent conversation, and his brother Sasuke is emotionally constipated. As much as I love my family, I praise Kami. They haven’t thought of marriage yet,” she shuddered at the thought of getting married. Not because no one tickled her fancy, it was because she was not ready for it. Her teacher’s laughter echoed in the room…

Kami, she hated parties like these… All the rich as hell families flaunting their riches and their hold over the city. Most of all she hated dolling herself up to masquerade as a debutante when she was really a ruthless killer for her family. A princess of the Senju line. She smoothed the wrinkles out of her ocean blue velvet, form fitting dress, before downing another glass of wine like it was a shot of something stronger. Just as she thought she could go without having to be harassed by the party guests. Two old men practically killed themselves to sit at her table. She bit down a groan of disdain…

Kisame stuck out like a sore thumb compared to all the others at the party. His blue skin, piercing white eyes, his tall muscular frame not hidden much by his suit, The shirt slightly opening to reveal just a piece of his tribal shark tattoo, and his shark-like features told everyone who he was and what family he belonged to. He scanned the crowd, and they landed on Sakura. The dress she wore hugged all the right places. He watched the slit of her dress rise slightly higher as she crossed her legs. Pretending to enjoy the conversation as if she was having the time of her life. He casually made his way over to her.

“I see the uptight Senju let his little dragon out to play all by herself tonight,” he slid into the seat next to her.

“It seems you have escaped the aquarium again and have even dressed up, Kisame," she looked at him with an unamused expression on her face. If Kisame was soft, that comment may have wounded him, but he was a jokester as much as he was a fighter.

“You wound me little dragon. I felt that go straight to my cold-blooded heart,” he grinned and let out a chuckle when he saw the twitch of her red painted lips. She narrowed her eyes and said nothing but watched him carefully. He slowly leaned closer to her, his eyes never leaving her face. She could feel her heart pounding against her chest at his close proximity.

It was always like this when they crossed paths. He would say something snarky, and she would always have a retort. He liked her fiery nature and sharp wit.

“I find myself curious about something Kisame. Why is it you always seem to only want to bother me? There’s a fish tank over there with all your brethren to talk to. They are practically shark bait,” she looked everywhere but directly at him.

“A Finding Nemo joke? I suppose I should say Ooh ha ha right. That was a horrible dad joke, little dragon,” his grin widened, and he heard her release a strained giggle. He waited until the old men at the table took the hint and left them alone.

“Who’s your mark? I have a feeling we have the same target. Do you think the Hyuga are really trying to start a war with all the syndicates,” he questioned, whispering to her.

“No, I do not. The Hyuga are powerful but not to the extent of challenging my family much less the Uchiha,” she answered, her eyes looking down at the table.

“I agree. Making a joke at my expense. It all smells fishy,” he sighed, usually he didn’t mind killing anyone or anything his family told him too, but something was not sitting right in his gut.

Sakura felt herself agreeing to Kisame’s instincts, he was after all an animal, but she had no reason to doubt the information given to her family. The informant was trusted by her grandfather Butsuma, and he was infuriated when she and her father questioned the intel. Her father was also infuriated that she was picked for the assassination opting for Kakashi to do it. She, however, wanting to prove herself, had accepted. For Kisame, she was certain that he just wanted a fight. They had been set up, Kisame was sure of it. The security was too lax in his honest opinion, he looked over to the woman he had spent most of the night with. Her eyes narrowed as her mind was no doubt thinking the same thing. He watched as she stepped back into the shadows and was gone. He found himself unwilling to allow her to have all the fun after all…

The Hyuga heiress was already dead by the time they had gotten to her. A knife sticking out of her throat. Blood pooled around her soaking into the sheets. Her pupilless eyes were dull and lifeless as they looked at the sky. As if she knew her attacker, Sakura made her way to the body.

“Whoever did this knows anatomy… It hit the IJV with sharp precision. This blow was quick and effective. She didn’t see it coming until it was too late,” she said, investigating the wound.

“IJV,” he looked at her confused.

“Oh, sorry the internal jugular vein. It’s one of the major veins which caused the massive bleed out,” she answered him.

“A medical dork huh,” he teased, and she rolled her eyes.

“You or I were meant to take the fall. Let’s get going little dragon before we give whoever did this their scapegoat,” he added, walking over to the window and opening it. 

“It will look suspicious if we just up and leave. I have a better idea. It will buy us some time to figure out who wants to cause a war between the syndicates. You get out of here and find another way back to the party. I am going to put my acting lessons with Hatake to the test,” she informed him, pushing him toward the door.

Kisame didn’t trust many people outside of his family unless you counted Obito and Itachi on occasion, but he had no choice other than to trust the Senju princess. They were in the Hyuga estate and as much as he was sure he could take most of them out he would not survive them all, much like she wouldn’t have. He made sure the coast was clear before making his way back to the party…

The sound of a blood curdling scream almost made him jump out of his skin. His eyes went to the staircase when there was a Hyuga walking a ‘distraught’ Senju princess. She looked at him, her eyes gleaming with a sparkle of victory within them and he bit down a grin. 

“What happened,” Kisame asked the Hyuga, feigning concern.

“None of your business Hoshigaki,” the Hyuga spat.

“Well, aren’t you just a bundle of sunshine? If need be, I have got Sakura. You take care of whatever has gotten wedged up your ass,” he countered, and the men glared at each other. 

“Thank you, Neji. Kisame is just trying to help. You go on and handle what you must,” Sakura intervened and pulled away from him and to Kisame’s side. Feigning, wiping her eyes…

Once the Hyuga left, the two nodded at one another and left the party. 

“Nice acting there little dragon. Your mentor Hatake better be damn proud of you,” he broke the silence that fell between them. 

“I am sure he would be, but it’s easy to fool the highfalutin part of our society. Always ready to be a hero to the damsel,” she dramatically placed the back of her hand to her forehead and acted faint. 

“How no man has snatched you off the market, yet I will never understand,” he laughed out as they continued their stroll.

“It’s not that they haven’t tried… It’s just. I am not into them I suppose,” she sighed looking ahead.

“Well maybe they are not trying hard enough,” he muttered, sticking his hands in his pockets…

That earned him a melodic laughter, as she playfully shoved him.

“You know, ever since I met you at Obito’s birthday party. I don’t know, I always liked that spunk of yours. The way you shot down Sasuke with that rapier wit of yours. I knew you were not like the other women from the syndicates. That’s why I like bothering you… You intrigue me,” Kisame admitted kicking a loose piece of concrete from the sidewalk watching it bounce a ways ahead of them. 

“Not to mention… Have you seen yourself? You are a damn fine woman,” he added, and Sakura looked up at him.

“Trying your hand at flirting Kisame,” she snorted with amusement.

“Not to be boastful little dragon, but once you go shark there’s never any going back,” he grinned.

“Oh? That was a horrible pick-up line,” she laughed while they continued their stroll. Truth be told, his words did peak her curiosity at his proclamation. There was always something about him that drew her to him. Not that she would admit that willingly to his face though…

The next time they had crossed paths she was being used as bait for the Inuzuka to flee. 

“Looks like you are shark bait tonight, little dragon,” Kisame’s sharp teeth gleamed in the moonlight from his wide grin and gave her a wink.

“Ooh ha ha,” she leaned her head over and the resounding gunshot echoed in the night air. Blood splattering across her face, she used the distraction to take out the other with a fist to the throat. Before her hands gripped his head and spun it. The sound of her enemy’s neck snapping brought a small sense of satisfaction. Dogs barking in the distance caused them to look at each other and run…

Both of them ran into a restaurant and sat down at the table to catch their breath.

“I think they gave up.The Inuzuka going after the Senju is something I never thought I would see. What did you do to make them come after you,” Kisame questioned her, and she leaned back in her seat.

“I was doing some digging. Almost all of the syndicates have the same informant. Sugaru Aburame. The heir didn’t like that I was accusing one of his friend’s family members of being a shit starter,” she responded, giving him a glare when he gave her an amused look.

“You are just like your old man. You don’t give a damn who it offends. You’ll just come right out and say it,” he laughed heartily when her cheeks heated up.

“I am not like my father,” she spat, crossing her arms.

“You pout like him too,” he laughed harder when her eyes narrowed into slits.

“Seriously though, if Sugaru is pinning syndicate against syndicate… Why not make the Senju and Uchiha go at each other’s throats,” he questioned, his expression turning serious.

Sakura’s lips pursed for a moment, placing her cheek into her palm.

“If I wanted to cause problems within the syndicates that would be what I would do, but this approach is a bit unorthodox,” she responded with a huff.

“What does Hatake have to say about it,” Kisame waved a waitress down.

“Not much. Not to me anyways. He and my father have been having a lot of meetings though,” she answered and promptly quieted when the waitress came to their table, and they ordered coffee.
“If you didn’t have to be in your family’s syndicate… What would you be,” he asked her, not missing the slight frown that appeared on her face.

“I want to be a doctor,” she answered with a sigh and Kisame’s eyes roamed over her face.

“You would be a damn fine one. You in a doctor’s coat has quite the appeal to it,” he said, missing her glance at him and the ghost of a smile on her face.

Once they finished what they ordered and were sure the coast was clear, they left.

“Walking with me again,” her eyebrow rose when he fell into step with her again.

“There are dangerous bug men and ravenous dogs about. Not saying you need protection… Just call me some much needed back up,” Kisame grinned, causing Sakura to roll her eyes and smirk.

“More like you don’t want me having all of the fun,” she gave him a knowing look.

“Guilty as charged little dragon. It’s only part of the reason you know,” he admitted not once looking at her.

“And the other reason,” she asked with a soft smile.

“I’ll tell you when you’re old enough,” he teased, and she punched his shoulder.

“Animal cruelty. People go to jail for that you know,” he feigned being hurt and teased her further.

“They will just send you back to the aquarium,” she countered.

“Good point. You know I’ve got your back. We’ll find out what’s going on before more people have to die,” Kisame said with a grin.

“Thank you. You are one of the few people I can call a friend and trust. I don’t know how I would’ve survived this life without you,” she admitted.

“Likewise little dragon,” he responded, even if deep down he wanted more. The thing with life is there is always that fine line. The line that tempts you and would change everything for better or for worse was always the gray area of it. For Sakura and Kisame it wasn’t a matter of if, but when they would cross that fine line…