* Naruto's Point of view *

The foot steps of Shino and his men were nearing me. They wouldn't stop chasing no matter how much shit I threw in their way. "Naruto Uzumaki! What happened to you? When did you become such a coward?" Shino laughed at me, his words shot me right in the heart but I knew what was he doing. He was calling me a coward so I would stop running and face him.

Not happening, buddy.

I thought to myself as I ran through a crowd. Luckily, I was small enough to fit and squeeze through. Unlike Shino and his men. They instantly lost me through the crowd. As soon as it was safe enough and I was distant from the crowd, I halted to catch my breath. I pulled up my hoodie to cover my bright-ass blonde hair to stop attracting unwanted attention. I quickly continued my journey to Orchid park in shame.

I finally reached my destination, being about twenty minutes late. I glanced around for a bowl haircut man with thick eyebrows. "Hey Naruto!" Lee tapped me on the shoulder and it made me jump. I was so paranoid and panicky from Shino's encounter. "Ah, shit Lee, you scared me." I squeezed onto my jacket, fucking ashamed for a former man of mine to see me in this state.

"Are you ok? What happened?" He asked with an concerning expression. I was surprised after all this, he still stayed true to me. I shook my head and brushed his kindness away. I best distant myself from everyone and cut these connections. It will be more painful if something were to happen to them again. Everyone I knew and everything I had, had been stripped from me. I didn't want anything bad to happen to Lee.

"So, what's the job?" I was quick to change the subject. Fortunately, Lee was better at fighting than using his brains, he didn't grow suspicious one bit. He immediately answered and explained what my job scope was. Basically, I was smuggling drugs.

Though I used to have control of a smuggling ring, I had no experience of how to actually do it. And I feared that I would be caught and sentenced to jail. But it couldn't back out now could I? I had to scrape up whatever pride I had left, and I had to save my home. Enough valid reasons for me to risk it. My life was hell already, jail wouldn't be worst.

That was me convincing myself.

I sighed heavily and accepted the job.

"OK, Naruto. I'll meet you at the abandoned warehouse near the Front bay avenue at midnight. You CAN'T be late this time." Rock Lee demanded, it was so weird to see our roles being exchange as I nodded to whatever he said. He patted me on the back and walked off.

I stayed behind, sitting on the wooden bench motionlessly and restlessly.

What has my life turned into?

Half of my face buried deep in my jacket as I spaced out. I was staring at nothing, thinking of everything. I was shaken scared of tonight. The drugs would be on me, and I would have to be one the smuggling instead of the one giving the orders. What if I was caught?

"God fucking dammit." I cursed again, as my fingers ran through my hair stressfully.

It was an hour before midnight and I woke up to have a quick shower. I ate whatever I had left in the fridge and left my mansion. I took the last bus and alighted at a secluded bus stop closest to Front bay avenue. I walked along the cracked stone pavement to the bay.

It was a real cold night as I held onto my jacket tightly while the strong breeze blew past me. I looked at the dimly light bay, with four medium sized boats along the shore. Rock Lee waved to me and I hastily walked over.

"What a windy night, eh?" Rock Lee greeted as he was wrapped in a coat much thicker than mine. I nodded silently. "Alright, every one of you listen up. I don't want any failures. Stay alert and don't fucking screw up. Got it?" A man with a strict and fierce deep voice coldly instructed behind me. I turned around to meet the ring leader, the position I was once in.

I turned around to face the leader in respect. "Yessir..-" my voice trailed off when I realized who he was.

"Lee.. You're working for.. Sasuke?"