Title-Konoha under the Red Sun
Rating- T (language.)
Genre- Cop Drama/Romance
Authors Notes- Oh My Gawd: I'm sorry for the wait! School's been a pain and my hobby of Shinobi RP kinda makes things a bit harder to work around. My schedule is nuts T-T
Disclaimer- I own nothing. The characters belong to Kishimoto-sama!
Act One, Scene 2 –Sasori, The First Master
Kakashi sat at his desk with a book over his face, one that the other officers in the room could only scowl/drool at…until Sakura came in.
"Chief, don't you think that's unprofessional?" she asked sharply, as Kakashi dropped that book like it was on fire.
"Oh Detective, don't you think that's a rude statement to a higher officer?" asked Kakashi with a grin under his police vest, Sakura raising an eyebrow.
"You're reading explicit sexual material during a case with people in your office. Personally I think that's unprofessional."
"It's not considered unprofessional if I do it, because dear Detective, I am a professional. Therefore, since I am a professional, makes my literary enjoyments professional."
The book sat on his desk, now devoid of any protest from the lower officer, (Damn his logic). In fact, all the other men in the room seemed all the more tempted to pick it up. However, Kakashi shoved it in the top drawer of his desk, so as not to tempt the temper of the pink-haired detective.
"Well, now that you're all here, we'll get down to business." He slid over a little and took down a screen, tapping a button on his laptop. A picture of a red haired man came up, a collar with a red cloud on it blocking most of his young face, a chilling sort of expression in his eyes.
"Sasori of the Sand is wanted in five different countries and territories. He and his people are known for kidnappings, and they're the kings on the domestic and international slave trade. He makes no discretion either- Male or female, young or old, they're put up for bidding. This is only part of our trouble, however. Not only is he a part of our new family of criminals, he's a very slippery character to catch. We've tried to nail him on numerous occasions, but we had little evidence and unwilling witnesses. We really need to catch him in the act of kidnapping and selling."
Naruto raised his hand from the back of the office.
"How're we gonna do that?"
Kakashi put up the screen.
"You and Officer Hyuuga are going to be our bait. You, because you somehow miraculously bring back information and evidence like it's air, and because Officer Hinata is our best hand to hand officer. If something were to happen, I would go in with a S.W.A.T. team and shut down the place. " said Kakashi simply, as Hinata seemed to sink into the wall in embarrassment and Naruto looked up at the ceiling, figuring out if Kakashi had just insulted him or given him a complement.
"Sakura and Sasuke, you two are to gather information from our favorite informant. Be nice this time, Sasuke. We don't want him in hospital again." He tossed a folder at Sakura and Sasuke, which Sakura caught. Sasuke walked out with the usual noncommittal grunt and Sakura followed, sheepishly grinning as she closed the door.
Hinata raised her hand timidly and Kakashi nodded at her.
"Yes, Officer?"
"How are we going to… find this trade?"
If Hinata could see Kakashi's whole face, she would be even more worried than she was.
Sakura pulled into a shady parking garage and the two got out, Sakura with a notebook. They walked up onto the sidewalk and down an alley, reaching a door that read- Inuzuka Kiba, Emergency Services- in dull, faded letters. Sasuke heaved open the door and a rusty bell rang above them, a woman at the front desk looking up. Her hair was a bright salmon, and she was wearing a skull-cap like hat.
"May I help you?" she asked bluntly, "Because if I can't, you can get the hell out."
Sasuke walked up to her, "We're here to see Inuzuka. Think you can handle that?"
The woman smirked back, "Well, well, aren't we an impatient little bastard? I'll go get 'im." Just as she got up, Kiba walked out, arms out and a grin on his face, a large white dog following him.
"Hey! We got visitors! How are ya?" he stuck his hand out and Sasuke merely looked at it. Sakura sighed, taking it promptly.
"Kiba, we have some questions about gan-,"
"Oi! Boss! Ain't 'cha gonna introduce me to these motherfuckers?"
Kiba glanced over at the woman with a bored expression, who was now blowing a large bubblegum bubble half as large as her face.
"Right, Sakura, Sasuke, this is Tayuya, she's my new secretary."
Sakura raised her eyebrows.
"Ah. Nice to… meet you…"
"So, let's go into my office…Akamaru, bark if anyone important comes in."
The dog sat next to Tayuya with his tongue sticking out and tail wagging, Sakura and Sasuke walking into the back office. Kiba swung into a giant, ragged chair that was positioned in front of a window and behind a dusty desk.
"So, what's going on now?"
The office was dark from the dusk time settling in, and it made the room more malicious. Sasuke leaned up against the wall.
"We got a hit. There's a new organization in town and we want to know about it."
"Ah. The Red Sun? You better know about them. They'll do anything for money, power, or even women for that matter." Kiba's hyperactive nature settled down as he dished the new information.
"I wouldn't go around screwing with them. They've got people, you know? Even my secretary's been… involved with one of them. Can't say who's connected 'em, you know? They could be anywhere. But I know for sure of this Kabuto guy."
Sakura scribbled a few things down.
"Do you know any other big names?"
Kiba picked up a pen casually, "Kabuto ain't that big, he's just the informant. You know, a pet of a real mastermind." He glanced over to Sakura.
"As usual, you didn't hear it from me, but there are three masters that I know of." He scribbled down something on a wrinkled notepad.
"There's more than those though, all in different businesses. The newly local ones are Sasori of the Sand, Orochimaru of the Sound, and Pein of the Rain. Pein and Sasori do a lot of business, since they're in the same money-making boat. Human Trafficking and the Sex business."
Sasuke snorted, "You met them?"
Kiba shook his head, "Nah. I don't deal with the bigwigs, just their first trustees. Orochimaru's man, Kabuto, -I mentioned him, right? Yeah,- was in here the other day with Tayuya, and you don't want to know what theywere doing. On that couch, too." He pointed the pen at the couch and Sasuke moved a noticeable inch away. Sakura finished writing the information down, Sasuke's phone ringing in the process.
"Detective Uchiha."
"Sasuke. Meet me at Fifth and Main, back room of the bar. Bring the documents." Itachi's voice came through the receiver, unnoticed by Sakura, who was continuing her interrogation with Kiba.
"Yeah."
He shut his phone.
"Sakura, I have to leave. Are you alright dealing with this moron on your own?"
Sakura nodded, "I'm not a two year old, Sasuke. I'll recap with you tomorrow, and for Kami's sake don't be late for once in your life." Sasuke merely nodded and she turned back to Kiba.
"Any more on this Sasori?" she pressed, as Kiba rolled his eyes.
Sasuke left the room and shut the door, passing Tayuya on the way out, who was filing her nails.
"You trust Kiba with her?" she asked, as he looked back.
"Sakura is responsible enough. You and Kabuto, apparently, are not." He responded coolly, shutting the door with a noticeable snap.
He strolled down the alleyway and turned the corner, walking a few blocks down the street before crossing diagonally, the neighborhood becoming friendlier. He entered the front of a fancy pub and walked up to the waitress that stood at the front.
"Uchiha. Back room."
The waitress bowed and escorted him back, opening the door. He walked in and the door closed, a long table in front of him. There were four others sitting at the back, two in suits and the others in trench coats. Sasuke took the envelope from Sai's apartment out of his inner pocket and threw it on the table.
"The evidence that can ruin our connection. Sakura knows about it, but we can replace it."
The man at the end gave a wry smile, his deep voice filling the room as he opened the envelope, his red eyes scanning the papers greedily.
"Your partner isn't that sharp, is she Sasuke... you were able to filch this out from under her?"
"Would it be there if I didn't, Itachi?" shot Sasuke, "If it wasn't for Sasori getting caught on camera, I wouldn't have been able to meet you so soon."
As Sasuke sat down he got a better look at the speaker, and instantly recognized him from the picture Kakashi had shown them. Sasori was sitting back in his chair, looking at Itachi.
"I'm rather aware that I'm wanted."
"You need to be more careful, Sasori. Everything will be ruined if you keep your face up like that." Drawled Itachi, still looking over the papers.
Sasori gave a huff, "Is there something you wanted me here for? Kakuzu and I don't have all day."
Kakuzu was a man with visible stitches in his face that stood behind Sasori menacingly. Sasuke looked at the man blankly. Itachi shifted in his chair as he spread the contents of the envelope on the table, ignoring the two.
"You were sloppy, Sasuke." Noted Itachi, "Even that Uzamaki child could have found these counterfeit bills. Burning them too, very sloppy work indeed."
Sasuke sat there taking out his contacts so his red eyes shone at his brother.
"How would you have done it? You're not out there."
"I am, I'm just there in a different way."
Sasuke looked at his brother with a stare that could kill if it wanted to.
"Yes, an editor for a questionable publisher is certainly on the front lines." He said coolly, recalling the book on Kakashi's desk.
Itachi ignored this as he shook his head a little as he looked upon his own record, his surname highlighted.
"They're watching me and my connection to you. I can't be too much of a millionaire." He looked at Sasuke, "Make sure whoever investigates Sasori never gets close. We will make sure they stay as shallow as possible on our end as well."
Sasuke stood up.
"I'll make sure that everything is doctored so that it works smoothly. When's the next auction?"
"Friday." Said Sasori, as Sasuke turned around, "I'll need you to patrol the docks."
Sasuke nodded and walked out the door.
"If I must, I must. Isn't that what they say?"
"That's so." Mused Itachi. "I'll have the new documents by tomorrow. Swing by my office… and bring that lovely partner of yours."
Sasuke stayed quiet as he slipped in his onyx contacts, blinking a few times at the annoying objects in his eyes. He stepped on the street and walked down a few blocks to his apartment, unlocking the door swiftly and quietly. He took off his coat and turned on the news, listening to it as he grabbed a tomato out of the fridge and took a bite.
"Authorities today say that the death in the harbor area this morning was murder, and that the suspects are still at large. If anyone has any information, please do not hesitate to call the Konoha Police-,"
"Oh, they'll hesitate." Muttered Sasuke, taking out his contacts and sitting on the couch, still eating his tomato.
"On another note, hot young editor Itachi Uchiha was seen walking into a jewelry store on Monday-,"
Sasuke narrowed his eyes and changed the channel. Too much of a millionaire his ass. If the news crews were following him… wait until they got a load of his little brother living in a tiny apartment downtown. There was a hurried knock on his door and he got up to get it, finishing the last of his tomato and wiping his hands on his pants.
He opened the door to see a silver haired man with glasses standing along the wall, pushing them back up the bridge of his nose like they were likely to fall off.
"Sasuke-kun… so nice to see you."
"What do you want?" Sasuke's eyes narrowed at the appearance of the rather unsettling man.
"Orochimaru would like to have a word with you."
Sasuke turned around.
"Tell him he can forget about it."
"He's conspiring against Itachi."
Sasuke paused before shutting the door on Kabuto, the man smiling wickedly. Sasuke quickly sent a message to Sakura for a cruiser to come pick the silver-haired man up.
"You're not interested?" came the muffled voice, as Sasuke picked up his wallet, keys and phone, opening the door to see Kabuto's even more pleased face.
"So you are?"
Sasuke gave a non-committal grunt and walked in back of him.
"I'm placing you under arrest for conspiracy to commit murder, trespassing, and sheer idiocy." Sasuke replied in a bored tone as Kabuto backed up, hands in front of him.
"Whoa, whoa! What's all this then?"
Sasuke put his hand on his gun.
"Are we coming quietly?" murmured Sasuke, "because if you stay quiet I may just let you live long enough to carry my response back to that snake."
After a staring match Kabuto put his hands up and Sasuke cuffed him, walking him down the hall. Kabuto however, did not stay silent.
"He said there'd be a risk of this," said Kabuto, "But you'll see, it's going to blow up faster than you can track it. Faster than Itachi can run from it."
Sasuke paid attention to this, but pretended to hear it as babble.
"I do believe people have told you before Kabuto, but if you forgot, you have the right to remain silent, you have the right to a-,"
Kabuto chuckled, "I know, Sasuke-kun, a fair trial, assigned lawyer…I was in the academy once too, you know."
Sasuke pushed him outside towards a waiting cruiser.
"I'll be seeing you tomorrow." Said Sasuke, "bright and early."
Kabuto looked back with a gleam in his eye.
"I'll be looking forward to it."
(Reviews Highly Appreciated- Sorry for the Wait!)