"Let me go!!" cried Naruto as he desperately tried to break free.

"Like hell I'll let the perfect bait go to run to the police and rat me out," said a deep, murky voice.

"He won't give you the money! I know he won't, so you might as well let me go! You're doing this for nothing! He'll come to get me and kick your--" Naruto was hammered by the oncoming fist and lay there with a blood-soaked body from the countless beatings he endured.

"What an annoying brat.." thought the captor.

----

"What the--" Sasuke's voice trailed off in his amazement of the transformed apartment that had small pools of blood on the floor and a bit on the wall. Realizing the worst, he called out everywhere for his roommate, who was nowhere to be found. He continued outside running and hollering, but unsuccessful in his search. He grew a great sadness in him, and his whole body froze, chest tightening. "What happened.. ?" Small, sorrowful tears ran down his delicate cheeks, that started to redden. He suddenly regained his composure and ran inside. He searched through the many piles of debris on the floor. When he found what he was looking for, he picked up the phone and frantically dialed the number.

"He-hello?" Sasuke said with confusion and sadness.

"Sasuke?? What's wrong? Why do you sound like you're crying?" The female voice questioned Sasuke with a sort of pity.

"I need you to come to my apartment. We have to find out who did this...!"

"Huh?! What happened?!" The other end of the phone hung up as she spoke. Worried, she hung up the phone, grabbed her keys, and headed out of the door as fast as she could.

Once she reached the apartment, she saw Sasuke in front of a kicked-in door. Her eyes widened in curiosity. She then realized, where's Naruto? They walked towards each other and exchanged silences. He then led her into the apartment and explained what happened. She took in a quick grasp of air and put her hand at her mouth.

"Where is Naruto?!" she cried with deep worry.

Sasuke just shook his head and looked at the ground with clenched fists. "We WILL find him, Sakura.."

----

When they left the apartment, a loud beeping noise sounded from the victim's door. They both looked behind, then realized it was a bomb. They ran across the street, being slightly charred by the explosion that had just occurred. Sasuke then got on his knees, jaw opened, eyes widened, and broke down. Sakura sat beside him and let him weep on her shoulder as she attempted to comfort him. "What the hell happened? Why was Naruto missing? Who did this?" These thoughts ran through both of their minds.

Once calmed down, they got up and went to Sakura's car to Sasuke's private work building. Several minutes passed until they pulled up to a large, grey-blue building, with rather few windows. There were only two doors, one of which had been broken. The building, although large and previously elegant, became broken down and cracked. They searched the 3rd floor (the one Sasuke's cubicle was located at) to make sure there wasn't anyone else around. This case had become personal.

Sasuke buzzed to the computer as Sakura worked her way to the incarcerated major criminals' cabinet. Sakura(28) and Sasuke(28) had worked together for about 8 years. They, along with Naruto, had been friends since early middle school and were always hanging out with each other. Naruto was considered a "job-jumper" because he would never be at one job for more than a month. He had recently moved in with Sasuke because he had gotten another job nearby. Sakura had worked as a criminalist, dealing primarily on the aspects of finding and experimenting with physical evidence, while Sasuke worked strictly as an investigator and rarely, an interrogator. Naruto was never too happy about working as a criminalist or an investigator, even though he wanted to help his town's citizens.

"Aha!! I found it!!" exclaimed Sakura with excitement and a bit of relief.