Disclaimers:

Naruto isn't mine..TT..(Neji will be mine, I swear!)

"…" speech

'….' thoughts

When the Snow Melts..

Chapter I

White snow blanketed the vast field of what used to be a wide field of wild flowers. In the midst of the pristine plain was a figure garbed in pure black, creating a sharp contrast with the background. The figure was kneeling in front of a memorial carved of obsidian. Slowly, her hands lifted to touch a sole name etched on the cold stone as if to caress it. Her green eyes were now glistening with unshed tears as she continued to trace the letters of a name with her fingers.

Flashback

"Have I ever told you?"

A deep baritone voice vibrated from a figure standing in the doorway of a spacious room.

"Told me what?"

A person was seated in the edge of a bed, brows raised at the first speaker, daring him to continue. She was dressed in a white robe, having finished bathing not too long ago. She was in the process of drying her candy colored locks when she was disturbed.

In a flash, he was kneeling in front of her, eyes in level with hers. His normally jovial silver eyes seemed somewhat serious, like telling her a secret of some sort.

"That I love you."

Silence.

"And you look like a little girl when you're wearing white!"

He suddenly laughed loudly at the woman's reaction, earning a huge whack in the head courtesy of his incredibly kind but occasionally violent fiancé.

"God, you punch like a man!"

She cupped his cheek and without warning pinched it as hard as she could.

"You're a pain you know. Maybe I shouldn't have agreed to marry you, you dolt."

He stuck his tongue out and in one swift move, she was on the bed on her back with the silver eyed man hovering above her.

"Yeah, I know I'm a pain, but I'm your pain and yours alone."

"Another pitiful attempt at romance, I see."

They stared at each other before their laughter echoed in the walls, hers soft and feminine, his deep baritone.

"But the answer to your question, I know. You've told me so many times, even just like this. I know."

His face turned serious again as he watched her face. Her eyes reflected pure love, kindness and understanding.

"Then I'll tell you again."

He lowered his face to hers, capturing her lips in a soft and melting kiss.

End of flashback

"It's time onee-sama. They are waiting for you."

A man with sandy brown hair spoke behind her. His amber eyes seemed to stare at her without emotion but upon closer examination, his orbs had also a trace of sadness and pity as he stared at the person he regarded as an older sister and the tombstone.

Without saying anything she stood up and glanced at the figure behind her.

'You look alike so much.'

It was cruel.

That thought had brought out so much emotion within her, she had to fight back the tears that threatened to fall. It wasn't fair, the feeling of sadness overwhelming her because of the similarities of the man's face with another, happiness for it was like being able to see him again-an impossible feat. For someone who has already surrendered to the unyielding arms of death was forever gone.

He took a last look at the tombstone, and started for the opposite direction. She did the same, but added with an almost inaudible whisper..

"Happy birthday anata.."

With that she followed the figure towards the rising sun..

KONOHA

The office of the Hokage was where most of the missions were given to the Leaf shinobi. To her right, three figures garbed completely in black, not even allowing a strand of hair to be seen, they were standing quietly, not one moving, not one speaking. White masks with blue lines painted on the cheeks covered their faces. The silence was broken when the doors leading to the office opened, revealing Konoha jounins who were summoned for a mission. The one who walked in first was practically yelling at the others for being too slow, jumping up and down, obviously being very cheerful.

"Oi Tsunade-baachan, what do you have for us today? Something worth my while I hope!"

A man with red markings on his face scoffed, seemingly annoyed with the golden haired man.

"Shut up Naruto, you're so fricking noisy."

At the moment, the man in question was too busy staring at the four people in the room to hear what was said.

He looked at Tsunade who was currently fuming from being called grandmother. Her eyes narrowed to slits as she glared at the giddy but currently trembling blond boy who more often than not, has got his foot in his mouth-Naruto.

"They are Mist hunter-nin Naruto. WILL YOU SHUT UP FIRST AND LET ME EXPLAIN!"

Everyone in the room was quiet. There was no messing with the Hokage when she was mad.

She cleared her throat and continued to speak again.

"Some Mist missing nin are in our territory. The Mist hunter nin were tracking them down when they ventured here. I want you to go with them and assist them in hunting them down. They are wanted in three countries, including Fire country so it is still our responsibility.

A brow was raised by a certain pearl eyed man in the room.

A dark haired man seemed to be no more amused than the other but was more verbal about it.

"So we are supposed to baby sit them while hunting missing nin down?"

The Godaime looked affronted and gave the Mist nin an apologetic look.

"Sasuke.."

"Hokage-sama."

All heads turned to one of the Mist nin who was standing nearest the table.

"We are not in need of your assistance, Tsunade-sama. The three of us are enough to eliminate the traitors; we are just here to inform you of our presence, a part of protocol, nothing more. And frankly, I'd rather not be under the care of a former missing nin."

The room was silent.

Sasuke's brows were raised, face twisted due to anger as the words sunk in. She was a female no doubt, her cold feminine voice gave it away. She was also the shortest of the three and their leader from the looks of it.

"He didn't mean to offend you."

Naruto was currently glaring at Sasuke, while the others stared at the hooded figure.

"You are to be accompanied by my shinobi, you do know what the protocol of Konoha shinobi are. After all, you used to be, no, you are one of us."

Shikamaru looked at the figure, brows closely knit, obviously thinking.

"She has an accent. Knows the protocol of Konoha which most shinobi-even those from this village-

He looked at Naruto from the corner of his eye.

"don't even bother to know. Even as a hunter nin, you won't be able to know that Sasuke used to be a missing nin, since he was elusive as hell and most shinobi who actually get to see him in the battlefield are 6 feet below. So you must have seen him in person before. Plus, you said Tsunade-sama, which means she must have known the Hokage before coming here now-most likely in close terms."

He looked at her for any sign of acknowledgement but there was none. She didn't even flinch or even move, she was still facing the Hokage.

Nobody spoke afterwards; Shikamaru's words seemed to bounce on the walls.

"Very well then. But stay out of our way."

Tsunade nodded and gave them each a folder.

"You leave in two hours. Meet in the Southern gate. Go."

The Mist nin disappeared in a whirlpool of water, leaving only Konoha jounin in the room.

"Man, what an ice cube! Did you hear that voice? It was like she was the empress or something."

Kiba was glaring at where they stood a while ago while scratching Akamaru behind the ear.

Tenten, who hasn't said a word since she came in was, had her lips set in a grim line.

"I've heard that voice somewhere. I know it."

Naruto didn't hear her, but his thoughts were on the same track.

Who are you?

The trip to the place rumored to be inhabited by the shinobi was reached in less than three days. During the trip, the Konoha shinobi did most of the talking- well Naruto and Kiba; who practically fought about everything since they left the village, and Shikamaru, who was their tactician. The Mist-nin didn't even bother to talk, and didn't take orders from the genius, only from their captain-the female.

I'm near, I can feel her. The traitor.

Her face was hidden by her mask. Even without it, no emotion will show for she could suppress what she felt and look impassive and indifferent if she wanted to. Everything in her life changed more than a year ago, something that had scarred her for life.

Shikamaru came to a halt, alerting the shinobi following behind him.

'"We're 10 miles away from the enemy camp. We should take a rest while we finalize the plan and recharge our chakra."

The Mist nins looked at their captain waiting for approval.

"We rest."

The laidback shinobi sighed and nodded at the others.

She listened quietly to his plans, once in a while looking at her comrades.

"And so, by dividing ourselves into groups, we have more chance of covering more ground and eliminating all the enemies."

"No."

Everyone turned to look at her, except for Uchiha Sasuke who was currently looking at another direction indicating that he did not care.

"What's the problem now? Mendou kusai ne.."

"The shinobi with the red hair. She is mine."

"Care to elaborate?"

Neji was staring at her, eyes showing mild curiosity.

"She is mine to kill. Anyone who interferes dies."

She looked at the other Mist nin who nodded in reply. The last one, seated at the farthest side sighed and shook his head.

"You heard her."

It was the first time he spoke, his voice showed exasperation.

"She won't hesitate to annihilate anyone who bothers or stops the fight even with good reason. And..."

His hands clenched in tension as he spoke the next words.

"If for any reason whatsoever that she cannot accomplish it, I get to kill the bitch."

The woman seemed pleased with the answer and turned her gaze to the others.

"Who the hell do you think you are? You are in Konoha soil.."

Kiba's angry tirade was stopped abruptly as Shikamaru placed a hand in front of him.

"Do as you wish. But if I see that you are in need of any help, I will personally intervene."

"I assure you, that time will not come."

She replied smugly, much to Sasuke's annoyance.

Shikamaru scratched the back of his head and sighed in resignation.

"We attack in four hours."

Time passed slowly, only the occasional sounds of birds were heard. Tenten was seated across the group of the hunter nins who were leaning against tree trunks.

"Ne, Neji."

The Hyuuga prodigy didn't move his head, eyes focused on the cloaked figures.

"Can you use your Byakugan to see through masks?"

He looked at her like she asked the dumbest question in the world before realization dawned.

"A strong genjutsu cloaks them. Especially the woman, the one that surrounds her is the strongest."

Tenten nodded, but continued to stare at the captain of the hunter-nin whose back was turned to her.

"Why do you want to know Tenten?"

He finally looked at her face, eyes hinting curiosity.

"She reminds me of someone. I can't remember who though."

Kiba walked by them, grunting a bit since Naruto was in hyper mode again.

"Shikamaru says we start in 30 minutes. Get ready."

Moonlight streamed in the forest canopy, adding a feeling of an ominous sort. Ten bodies moved swiftly in the dark to approach their targets, adrenaline pumping into each one's body. Life made so many promises to a kunoichi, but broke them all in the end. But tonight there was no pain, no anger, no unease, no loneliness. Only pure vengeance.

'Tonight you will be avenged, anata'.

Notes:

This is a multichaptered fic. I didn't really reveal anything yet, maybe in the next chapter. NYAHAHAHA! Arigatou gozaimasu to those who reviewed Yellow Roses!

To those who read the fic, thank you so much! I hope you'd review too, you know, at least I'd know what I could improve/delete from it.

Also there is a possibility that Yellow Roses would have another chapter, or maybe another story that continues where it left off. (more angst, anyone?)

Salamat sa mga nagreview ng yellow roses, at yes, nahirapan ako magstudy, si Neji kasi eh, panggulo!

This fic will have lots of flashbacks since everything stems from the past.

Do you know who my mystery girl is? (Duh, it's obvious as it is!)

Well that's it for now, please review ne?

I'd really be happy if you could point out typos, give suggestions or just comment.

Flames are accepted.

Thank you very much!

Arigatou gozaimasu!

Maraming salamat po!