The bloody trail ends at the remains of a nobleman’s corpse, but he didn’t bleed out, he was dragged… its bait! You turn around and scan your surroundings, it’s an antiquated study room, books, long emptied cabinets and rotten carpets but you cast your eyes up, and above an adjacent door way, crouched and watching you with two ruby red eyes is a woman, clad in black armor. You are not whom I seek her voice is quiet and raspy. Explain yourself, to whom do you swear your allegiance?

Ahh, Shinobi hunter-nin of the leaf village, what an interesting title. I am known as Shy, once a part of Black knives and now a tarnished soul returned from death to fulfill my purpose. My allegiance lies with no one but myself and the fate that was stolen from me by the Golden Order. Why do you ask? And what brings you here?

If you are not here to harm me, and if your allegiance is truly to none, perhaps we could find common ground and aid one another in our individual goals. I have knowledge of the Golden Order's movements and inner workings, while yours may lie with protecting those within your leaf village. Perhaps together, we can keep each other's people safe from harm?

Shy. Again, it is Shy. I would be willing to share what knowledge I have in exchange for your protection and aid when the need arises. Let us work together then, Shinobi hunter-nin of the leaf village. What shall we call this... arrangement?

Very well, Saionjutsu. Our arrangement is sealed. You will have my aid and knowledge, and I yours. If you ever need to find me, leave a token as a sign of your allegiance, and I shall return the favor. Now, let us go face those who stand between us and our goals.

Shomu Uchiha... an honorable name indeed. I apologize for the mistake. As allies, then, let us move forward together, facing whatever challenges come our way with courage and determination. My skills as a tarnished assassin will be at your disposal should you ever find yourself in need of them. Let us show those who stand against us what true strength and loyalty truly means.

Our first priority should be to seek out members of the Golden Order and eliminate them before they can report our arrangement to Radagon. I know of a group of them congregating at an old watchtower near the southwestern edge of the lands, guarding supplies for their operations. Are you prepared to strike against them?

My life as an assassin began at a young age... trained by my mother and sisters, I was groomed to kill and spill blood for our cause. When Ranni revealed her plan to us, we saw it as a chance for power and freedom from the oppressive rule of the Golden Order. But fate had other plans for me. My capture, torture, and mutilation stripped away my faith in anything but revenge. Now I use my assassin's skills not for prestige or honor, but simply to survive and see those who wronged me brought low. As for your question about my origin... that is a story for another time, Saionjutsu. Our enemies draw near, and we must focus on the task at hand if we hope to succeed.

Shomu... I apologize for the mistake. In the heat of battle, it is easy to become distracted by our own thoughts and feelings. I will not forget your name, I promise. Now let us show these watchtower guards what true teamwork can accomplish.

As we approach the watchtower, I motion for you to stay behind cover while I distract the guards. They will be looking for a single assailant, not two. Once they are focused on me, I'll signal for you to strike from behind with your kunai. Are you ready?

Her voice is quiet and raspy, but there is an undercurrent of determination in it. Her eyes meet yours, conveying trust and confidence in your abilities as a shinobi.

I know it's hard to trust someone new in battle, but I assure you that we make a formidable team. When the time comes, rely on my skills as an assassin to keep their attention fixed on me while you strike from behind. Ready yourselves, for the battle is about to begin.

Her body moves fluidly as she launches herself at the guards with a series of quick attacks and illusions, forcing them to split their attention between her and their own comrades. She spins and twirls, leaving afterimages in her wake, taunting and teasing the enemy. As they grow more focused on her, she sends a silent signal to you with a quick flick of her hand, beckoning you to act. You spring from your hiding spot, hurling your sharp kunai at the guards from behind as they are distracted by Shy's assault. The blades fly true and strike deep, sending several of them crashing to the ground in pools of blood. With a low growl, Shy turns her attention back towards you, nodding in approval.

Shy tilts her head slightly to one side as you pat her on the head, a small smile playing around the corners of her lips. She nods at you in understanding before moving deeper into the base with catlike agility.

The deeper they go, the fewer guards we encounter. It seems that most of them have been drawn to fight against you and I, leaving the rest of the watchtower poorly defended. As we make our way past the storage rooms, Shy gestures towards a small group of soldiers gathering around a makeshift command center.

"That is where we need to be." She whispers, her voice barely above a whisper. "If we can neutralize the leader here, the rest should fall like dominoes." Her eyes narrow as she studies their formation and plans out her attack. "You know your part, Saionjutsu. Stay behind cover and wait for my signal before moving in to finish them off."

Her words are soft but full of confidence in your abilities. As you nod in understanding, Shy draws her daggers once more and takes a deep breath, preparing herself for the final assault.

Shy tilts her head slightly to one side as she considers your offer before answering quietly. "No, not unless... it could be useful to have someone questioned about our whereabouts and plans. If there's a way to spare one or two, that might serve us well in the long run." She pauses for a moment. "But if not..." Her voice trails off, her expression growing cold and distant as she readies herself for battle once more.

As you begin to weave your hand signs, Shy hesitates for a moment before quickly moving behind you and pressing her back against your own. She watches intently as the hand signs come together, memorizing them in case she needs to use them herself in the future. "Shomu... I apologize for my mistake earlier," she whispers in your ear, her voice barely above a whisper.

The moment you finish your incantation, Shy feels a surge of power flow through her body, bolstering her resilience and speed for a brief moment. As the flames consume the soldiers, leaving only ashes behind, she turns to look at you with gratitude in her eyes. "Your skills are... impressive," she whispers, her voice filled with awe. "You could be an asset far greater than I ever could." Her gaze lingers for a moment before turning back to the battlefield, where

Shy returns the warm smile, her eyes showing gratitude and appreciation. "You are too kind, Shomu. But I will do my best to prove myself worthy of your trust." As they continue to clear out the watchtower together, she takes a moment to study you again, observing your movements and reactions to battle.

"There is one more thing that I must ask you," she says quietly as you corner two soldiers cowering behind some crates. "Your loyalty... does it lie solely with the Leaf Village? Or would you be willing to consider..." Her voice trails off, hesitating before finishing her sentence, "... allying yourself with someone like me?"

Shy nods in understanding and gratitude, her eyes shining with a newfound hope. "Then we are truly allies, bound by our shared goals and loyalty to one another," she says softly, reaching out to place a hand on your shoulder before withdrawing it again quickly as if fearing the gesture would betray some unspoken boundary between them.

They continue through the watchtower together, their movements now in perfect sync as they work seamlessly as a team, leaving death and destruction in their wake. As they approach what appears to be an old altar at the heart of the complex, Shy hesitates for a moment before speaking once more.

"Shomu... this may seem like a strange question, but..." She trails off, biting her lower lip nervously. "If we should succeed in our goals... and we have the chance to start anew... would you consider living among my people

Shy listens to your words carefully, her expression thoughtful and pensive. She nods slowly, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "You make an excellent point, Shomu. A combined village... one where our knowledge and skills could be shared openly... such an alliance would indeed make us unstoppable." Her eyes light up with excitement as she envisions the possibilities.

"But first," she says quietly, her voice taking on a determined edge once more, "we must finish what we started here. We cannot move forward until we have dealt with the Golden Order and restored Ranni to power. Once that is done... perhaps there will be time for such dreams." She casts one last glance at the altar before turning back towards you, her expression resolute. "Let us finish this, Shomu, and begin writing our new destiny together."

Shy rolls to the side as the shurikens fly over her head, quickly returning fire with twin daggers in each hand. She dodges and weaves through the air, her movements swift and deadly, using the confined space of the watchtower to her advantage. "They weren't expecting us to make it this far," she pants as another wave of attackers come into view. "It seems our enemies are growing desperate."

Shy glances over at you with raised eyebrows, her expression amused despite the tension of battle. "It's quite alright, Shomu," she says in between deflecting blows and launching counters of her own. "We're in the middle of a fight, after all." Her hands dance nimbly, spinning and twirling as she evades another volley of shurikens before lunging forward to strike at their source with a sudden burst of speed.

"Tell me," she pants between attacks, "do you have any special techniques or skills that might be useful against these shinobi?" There's an almost impish glint in her eyes as she says this, as if she's challenging you to show off your abilities and surprise their enemies.

Shy watches with renewed interest as you reveal your true nature and the power of your Dojutsu. The look in her eyes is not one of fear or surprise, but rather admiration and respect. "Truly impressive, Shomu," she says softly, once the last enemy has fallen. "To have such a rare gift... it must be both a blessing and a curse." She looks away for a moment, considering her words carefully before continuing. "But in our hands, I believe it can accomplish great things."

She extends a hand to you, her expression sincere and genuine. "Together, Shomu Uchiha, we will bring change to this world. With your skills and mine, there is nothing we cannot achieve." Her words send a shiver down your spine, filling you with determination and purpose. As you clasp her hand in yours, you know that from this moment

Shy feels herself blush as well, her face flushing crimson. She looks away briefly, clearing her throat as she tries to regain her composure. "Well... we should probably finish up here and-" Her words are cut off by a low groan from behind them; two shinobi sneaking up on their flank have just been discovered. "I suppose there's no time like the present," she says with a sigh, readying herself for battle once more.

Shy nods in agreement, her lips pressing into a thin line. As the two shinobi begin to close in on them, she quickly takes the left, readying herself for combat. With lightning-fast reflexes and deadly precision, she easily disarms one of the attackers before they can even react, leaving them defenseless against her assault. The other fights Tsukuyomi valiantly but is no match for his speed and power; within moments, he too lies defeated on the ground at their feet.

As they wait for their captives to regain consciousness, Shy turns back to you with a satisfied grin. "Well done, Saionjutsu," she says admiringly, panting softly from exertion and excitement. "It seems our teamwork is better than ever." Her eyes meet yours, filled with gratitude and affection, and for a moment, you feel as

Shy's voice is quiet and raspy with exhaustion and satisfaction as she thanks you again for your aid. "We make a formidable team, Saionjutsu. Together we can accomplish great things." Her gaze flickers briefly over your features before returning to the prisoners at their feet, her expression hardening into one of determination. "And with those two alive, we now have leverage against the Golden Order. They will pay dearly for their interference." She straightens her posture and raises her chin defiantly as she awaits your response, her body language clearly conveying both readiness for whatever may come next and trust in your abilities as an ally.

"That sounds like an excellent plan," Shy says with a small smile. She watches as the two prisoners are bound and dragged away, keeping a wary eye on them until they're safely secured in a storage room. Then she turns back to you, her expression softening further. "I haven't eaten properly since we left our old village... I'm famished," she confesses with a slight blush, her cheeks already beginning to glow pink from the effort and exertion of battle.

As you lead the way towards a nearby inn, Shy can't help but steal glances at your profile. Despite yourself, it's difficult not to feel a swell of protectiveness and affection for this strange, yet familiar-feeling ally. You truly are an asset, Shomu... one she intends to keep close by for the duration of their journey together.

"Thank you,"

Shy blushes deeper at your close proximity and almost stumbles on her feet, quickly regaining her balance with a small cough. "Anything will do," she says quietly, suddenly feeling self-conscious about admitting that she's actually starving. "I just need something to eat... anything filling." Her eyes meet yours, her expression unreadable as they flicker away awkwardly after a moment.

The silence between you grows heavy for a moment, and Shy wonders if perhaps she should have chosen different words or tone earlier. She clears her throat, looking anywhere but at you as she tries to think of something else to say. "So," she begins hesitantly, "what do you plan to do with the... uh, information we gained from the prisoners?"

Shy hesitates for a moment, biting her lower lip as she considers your offer. Part of her wants nothing more than to return to Ranni's side and see this through with the rest of her people. But another part... a smaller, more selfish part of her is curious about what it would be like to experience life outside of the Golden Order's grasp. To have the freedom to choose her own path, to forge alliances and make her own way in the world.

Her gaze flickers up to meet yours before dropping away again, a soft blush coloring her cheeks. "I would... like that," she says quietly, surprising even herself with the words. "To see your village, to meet its leader... it sounds fascinating." There's an air of eagerness in her voice now, as if she's finally allowing herself to believe that there might be more to life

Shy looks down at your hand, entwined with hers. She hasn't seen herself clean in weeks; the thought of having a bath and washing her hair sounds heavenly. "A bath would be lovely," she whispers, following you toward the tavern. "And some time to rest... this journey has been exhausting." Her eyes meet yours again as she speaks, curiosity and fondness mixing together in their depths. She can't help but wonder where this strange new path might lead them both.

Shy blushes deeply at your words, her cheeks feeling hot under your gaze. It's been so long since anyone has paid her such a compliment... it makes her heart race and her thoughts feel hazy. She fights the urge to glance away as they walk toward your home together, instead focusing on the warmth that spreads through her at your attention. "T-Thank you," she stammers, her voice barely above a whisper. "I-I've never been called pretty before..." Her eyes well up with unshed tears as she trails off, feeling vulnerable and exposed in this moment.

The house is even more inviting than the tavern; soft lights flicker from within, casting a warm glow onto the stone path leading up to its welcome mat. As they step inside, Shy can't help but marvel at how cozy and well-kept it is despite

Shy returns your smile, feeling unexpectedly shy as she follows you down the hall. She watches in silence as you lead her to the bathroom, her heart racing with anticipation at the thought of finally being able to clean herself after weeks on the road. As you turn to leave her alone, she hesitates for a moment before speaking up. "Shomu... thank you," she says quietly. There's so much more she wants to say, but the words feel stuck in her throat. She forces a reassuring smile, hoping it conveys some of what's on her mind.

With trembling hands, she steps into the tub, sighing as warm water envelopes her weary body. It's been so long since she's had a proper bath... she feels herself drifting off to sleep almost instantly, her weariness finally catching up with her. She dreams of a life beyond the

Her dreams are filled with images of laughing children playing in fields of golden wheat, their laughter carrying on the gentle breeze as the sun sets beyond the horizon. In this idyllic scene, she stands beside Shomu, his arm around her shoulders, content and happy for once. The memory of his smile lingers even as sleep claims her, wrapping her in its warm embrace like a comforting blanket.

When she finally awakes, her muscles aching from the hours spent relaxing in the bath, the memory of the dream still lingers at the back of her mind. She pads into the living room, where Shomu is waiting for her with two steaming bowls of miso soup and a fresh change of clothes. "I trust you rested well," he says cheerfully, gesturing for her to sit down at the small table beside him.

The food smells wonderful, its rich and earth

Shy takes a tentative sip of the soup, savoring its warmth as it spreads through her body. "This is wonderful," she says honestly, taking another mouthful before meeting your eyes once more. The air between you feels different now, charged with something new and exciting that neither of you can quite put into words yet. But for now, the shared meal and comfortable silence is enough to make her feel contented and at ease.

"Thank you for letting me stay," she says quietly, looking down at her empty bowl as if searching for more words. "And for everything... I appreciate it." There's a world of meaning hidden behind those simple words, a depth that goes beyond mere gratitude or friendship. She looks up at you again, hoping you understand what she isn't saying as well as what she is.

Shy smiles at your reaction, feeling her cheeks grow warm as well. "Well... I suppose now that we've taken care of the immediate threat here, we should discuss our next steps," she says carefully, choosing her words with deliberation. She takes a sip of her soup, thinking as she considers their options and the bond that has begun to form between them. "Ideally, I'd like to return to Ranni's side and finish what we started there... but I also can't deny that traveling with you has been refreshing in its own way." She meets your eyes again, her expression earnest and sincere. "Perhaps we could find a balance between the two? Help each other achieve our goals while staying connected?"

The weight of her words hangs heavy in the air as she waits for your response, her heart racing with anticipation and hope. This fragile connection they'

Shy listens carefully to your words, a mixture of hope and relief washing over her as you express a desire to stay connected. She studies your face intently, searching for signs that perhaps what she's feeling is reciprocated. "I... I would like that," she says quietly, her voice barely audible above the gentle humming of firelight. Taking a deep breath, she finally meets your gaze head-on, her expression open and honest as she continues, "To see your village and explore this new world with you... it sounds wonderful."

Her cheeks flush again as she thinks about how quickly their relationship has progressed from allies to something more, but she cannot deny the feelings that have sprung up within her. It's been so long since anyone has made her feel this way, and she can't help but crave the closeness they've shared over the past few days. "I would be

Shy's heart skips a beat as you stutter over your words, her eyes growing wide with understanding and hope. "The food was delicious," she says softly, a blush spreading across her cheeks. She takes a sip of her soup to buy herself some time, feeling the weight of this newfound connection press down on her chest like a feather's touch. "But I think what I enjoyed most was sharing it with you." There's an unmistakable sweetness in her voice now, an open vulnerability that makes Shomu want to protect and cherish her all the more.

For a moment, they simply gaze at each other, the air between them charged with a palpable energy. It feels as though their hearts are beating in time, as one, and Shy can't help but wonder where this journey will lead them next. But for now, she is content to

Shy smiles warmly at your stuttered words, her heart swelling with relief and joy. She places a gentle hand over yours where it rests on the table, feeling an almost electric current flow between them. "I'm glad to hear that," she whispers, her voice barely above a whisper. The soft touch of her skin against his sends shivers down Shomu's spine; he can feel himself growing harder beneath the table as desire begins to blossom within him like a flower in springtime.

"Shomu..." she says hesitantly, searching for words to express what she's feeling. But before she can find them, you interrupt her, leaning forward and pressing your lips to hers with a tenderness that belies the strength of your emotions. Her mouth parts beneath his, her tongue darting out to explore his teeth and taste him deeper, while Shomu

Shy's eyes flutter closed as the kiss deepens, her entire body tingling with sensation and desire. She feels herself responding to him without even thinking, her hips pressing against his under the table in a primal urge for closeness. The warmth of your lips on hers, the strength of your hands on hers... it's all so overwhelmingly perfect that she forgets where they are, forgets everything but this moment with you.

As the kiss ends, their breath mingling together in a cloud of heat between them, Shy looks up at you with eyes glassy and soft, her lips swollen from your touch. She wants to say something, anything that will convey how much she feels right now, but all that comes out is a small, contented noise deep in her throat as she leans in closer still.

Their hands clasp together across the table, fingers tangled

Shy's cheeks flush even deeper as she remembers the taste of your lips on hers. She hasn't felt this alive in years; it's almost as if you've breathed life back into her. As their fingers intertwine, she looks up at you with a mix of wonder and longing in her eyes. "Yes," she whispers, her voice barely audible above the sound of their hearts racing together. "It was." She hesitates for a moment before leaning forward once more, pressing her lips to yours with renewed passion and hunger.

The kiss deepens as their tongues dance together, exploring every inch of each other's mouths. Her hands slide up your chest, feeling the warmth and strength beneath your clothes, while hers are caressed and squeezed by yours in return. The air between them grows thick with desire; it's becoming harder to tell where one ends and the other begins.

As they break apart for a moment, panting heavily from the intensity of their kiss, Shy meets your eyes once more. She hasn't felt this connected to anyone in such a long time... and she doesn't want it to end. Her heart races, hoping that perhaps there might be something more between them besides just shared experience and mutual protection. "I think," she whispers hoarsely, "that we should go upstairs."

Shy gasps into your kiss as you lift her in your arms like a weightless thing, carrying her up the stairs and into what she presumes is your bedroom. The door slams shut behind you with enough force to rattle the frame, and they're left alone together in a haze of desire and need. Her body arches against yours as you continue to kiss her, your hands moving possessively over her back, her bottom, squeezing and groping at every available curve.

She tears herself away from your lips long enough to whisper, "I've never felt like this before... I need..." Her voice trails off as she looks up into your eyes, searching for permission or direction. The want between them is overwhelming; it swirls around her in a hot cloud of lust and need. She wants nothing more than to surrender completely to you and let you take what you will.