Bloodhounds and Wise Men
By Detective Ryoshi
Author's Note: This is a continuation of the lives of the characters in my previous story "The Man Who Envied the Clouds." For those who are reading this and want to catch up, the story is a noir take on Naruto taking place after the Fourth Shinobi War. Naruto Uzumaki has become a corrupt hokage, and has flooded Konoha with violent Yakuza and gangsters. Shikamaru Nara, an intelligent, yet lazy jonin who fought with Naruto during the war, has become a detective who resents Naruto and Konoha. Shikamaru had recently fallen into alcoholism, desperately trying to drown the memories of the war and present day Konoha. However, with the help of his friends, Shino Aburame, his assistant, Tenten, his hired bodyguard, and Temari, one of his oldest, most trusted friends, Shikamaru has overcome his demons. Now Shikamaru is back on the job, confident and ready to save Konoha from what it has become.
Chapter 1:
Bury your Dead
Shikamaru's eyes darted around the filthy, narrow area. He was moving, slowly, smoothly, but still it was his aim to walk out of the alleyway as quickly as possible. To his left, a mother and her infant were begging for enough money to eat. To his right, a child, perhaps seven or eight, purchased some heroin from a solemn looking Yakuza. In front of him, a dead dog. Flies poured out of its old, open wounds. And behind him, an old man's throat was being slit. He had not paid his protection money, and the Genshukuna family needed another yacht. Two of the family's sons, were a bit bored that morning. They needed a little fun to do. And no one would mind. Their actions would have no repercussions. The Konoha Ghetto was their playground. Shikamaru bowed his head in grief. He was used to this disgusting imagery. It was so common. The detective couldn't count all the times he had walked down that alley. But still, it disturbed him as if he witnessed it for the first time. No, it disturbed him as if he were a small child, seeing it for the first time. His recoils, his flinches to the sights in the Konoha Ghetto. They were primal. Too primal for Shikamaru's own comfort. The Ghetto was so strong for him, that the thoughts of hatred towards Naruto that flowed in his head regularly, were drowned out with melancholy. Melancholy, and pity to the failure that was man. He turned a urine-stained corner and calmly exited the Ghetto. I need to change this, thought the detective, I need to stop this village from being any worse.
"Mornin', faggot!" exclaimed an aggressive, rugged voice. Shino flinched. This was his least favorite part of his morning commute. It was always happened in the same place, thought Shino, as hot breath and the stench of meat and blood filled the air. He always comes when I'm only ten blocks away from the office, thought Shino, wincing. As the sound of the great dog's breathing hit him, Shino calmly turned, the consternation disappearing from his face, and said, "Good morning, Kiba." "Ha! You haven't changed at all from when we were Team 8. Still a little bitch!" declared Kiba. God, Inuzuka, what happened to you? Thought Shino. Although he didn't like to admit it, Shino did know. It made Shino feel a little depressed every time he thought about it. "So, how's your detective gig doing?" asked Kiba, scratching Akamaru's friendly, panting, long face. "It's fine. We recently found the murderer of that Karin Daratsuki girl. He's facing trial next month." explained Shino, "Me and Shikamaru have some heavy-lifting to do with the next couple of cases, though they're pretty minor. Some theft and vandalism issues. But, even the small ant can lift twi-""Karin, huh?" interrupted Kiba, "She was a good girl. Great body. I was easily one of her most popular clients. But, I mean it's only natural. Girls like her love ANBU Black Ops guys…" Shino flinched again. He absolutely hated it when Kiba brought that detail back up. It reminded him of what had changed Kiba, what had changed Team 8, and what had changed Konoha. Kiba stopped petting Akamaru and took out one of his thick, expensive cigars. "Hey, light me up will you?" he requested. "Sorry Kiba. I don't smoke. It disturbs my inse-""Hmmph. Pussy." Remarked Kiba. Kiba pulled his free hand and performed some quick hand seals. A small, yet sharp flame burst from his finger tips and lit his cigar. Kiba put down his free hand, bit hard on his cigar, and slowly inhaled. The ANBU slowly turned his head to Shino. "Look what you made me do. I wasted valuable chakra. When you're in Black Ops you need that shit. You wouldn't understand. C'mon Akamaru, let's go." Kiba was leaving with his dog. "See ya later, fag!" Kiba exclaimed, and then re-continued his walk. Shino waved goodbye, and then turned and left for the office.
Shino hated to remember it. But, he always knew it did no good to deny reality. The problem persisted in his mind. The eternal cycle of hate. It started and never stopped. After the war, Kiba finally summed up enough courage to tell Hinata Hyuga, whom he now referred as "emo bitch", how he felt about her. Hinata, who Shino knew as having her head in the clouds, always dreaming about becoming Naruto's spouse, rejected Kiba. She just couldn't afford to not be in a relationship with Naruto, no matter what anyone else felt or thought. After that Kiba became more accepting of violence. He grew selfish and very, very angry. Naruto's reformed ANBU Black Ops could use rage like that. Kiba joined, refined his feelings of hate and anger, and reaped the awards the Black Ops had. As Kiba was the one that carried out Naruto's dirty work, he enjoyed the prizes of power, women, and wealth, which caused Kiba's selfishness to grow even more. The events that occurred after the end of the war had led Kiba to embrace nihilism. It hurt Shino to remember this aftermath. He then saw Shikamaru's office. The assistant swallowed, cleared his mind, and then entered.
Shino found Tenten waiting for him on Shikamaru's desk. She smiled and greeted. Shino did the same. "Have you seen Shikamaru?" asked Shino. "Nope. He's late again today. But I can't blame him, he lives on the other side of the village. It's a long walk." Replied Tenten. "Yeah. But still…" continued Shino. "Don't worry about it, big guy. Today will be fine." Said Tenten. She always this optimistic. It was a good trait to have, and it always stopped his and Shikamaru's days from being too gloomy. Shino was quite thankful for it. "Hey! Here he is. I told you not to worry Shino." Exclaimed Tenten. Shikamaru entered his office and gave the two a lazy wave and a slow smile. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long," said Shikamaru. "Not at all," said Shino politely, "now let's get started on that case that old woman from down the block brought up. She insists that it was her neighbor's son that was guilty of graffiti-ing on her-""Sorry Shino," interrupted Shikamaru, "but we're going to have to put that case on hold. We have a new case. Special request from our very own hokage…" Shino and Tenten were shocked. "You mean, he wants us to investigate something? I mean… does it interfere with Black Ops or someth-""Nope. He especially wants us to find the perpetrator of a murder," continued Shikamaru. "Of who?" asked Tenten. "… Sasuke Uchiha." Said Shikamaru.
To Be Continued in Chapter Two