Name: Requiem

Chapter Name: Chapter 3, Deny Everything


SURGEONS must be very careful

When they take the knife!

Underneath their fine incisions

Stirs the culprit,—Life!

-Emily Dickenson


RARELY DID Naruto lock his door anymore. He had found no need for it, living as he did. Friends and people he worked with came by hourly, often unexpected. Leaving it unlocked saved him the hassle of going to answer it every single time there was a knock, especially on the increasing number of days he felt like total crap.

Of course, there were times he regretted this decision. For example, times like now. He had just changed to his lounging cloths (a long sleeve white cotton shirt, and white scrub pants. He couldn't get his hair to spike anymore, even with incredible amounts of hair gel, so he had just thrown it back into a rather stubby ponytail), and started to boil water to mix his new daily meds. The white powder was already measured out to the proper dosage in a cup on the kitchen counter, ready to be made into a hot drink. He had just been thinking how it didn't always help with the side effects, but it was better than nothing.
Then she had to come bursting in. Her frazzled appearance reminded him vaguely of Chicken Little, right before he began to yell that the sky was falling.

"Well, good to see you again. Mind shutting the door? I have the air on." He kept his voice level, only giving her a quick glance. He had learned, that in order to get from her what he needed, he had to be a little… Different in his demeanor and actions. He had to be harsher than his usual self, and start thinking before he spoke. 'Course, he had to do the thinking bit anyway, now that they had started to lie to those he was involved with. Damn snowball effect. "Did Shikamaru say something, Tsunade?"

Tsunade snarled, breathless as she slammed the poor door. Windows panes rattled, as did half the dishes in his cabinets. He thought he heard one break. He continued what he was doing as she began to rant on her way through the living room to the kitchen. "He's already figured out that this has been going on for longer than what we mentioned on the records. Don't you dare say I told you so, I don't want to hear it. We had to say something, as your side effects are starting to show noticeably. I mean, look at your hair… Your mum did label this… Thing as a genetic disorder when she was alive, so I thought doing the same would be an easy out." Tsunade took a little bit on the defensive there, he noticed.

"I just want to know how the two of you are going to fix this. I will not have my reputation ruined because of your parent's legacy-"

"I don't think anything they did, or I've had you do could ruin your reputation worse than your own drinking and gambling habits have. Besides, if this succeeds, you'll most likely gain an honorable reputation." He shrugged, rather mercilessly, as he poured the boiling water onto the powder, just falling short of the rim. At least she had been shocked into silence. Her comments on his parents could not be tolerated. Honestly, their research was crucial, so important... At least Danzo and the Raikage understood. If Tsunade decided not to help him, he still had them. "Though I DID say it was a bad idea, for the record… Are you sure that's all Shikamaru got wind of? What exactly did you say to him?"

After a moment, she did begin to relay the conversation as best she could. "…"

When she finished, he inwardly let out a gasp of exasperation. Did she seriously own up to his accusations? He had specifically told her to deny everything if someone should begin to put the pieces together. Now that Shikamaru had confirmation on his thoughts, Neji would be in on it, and probably Kakashi… Maybe even Sakura. He would have to spend tonight figuring out who all would be of advantage to Shikamaru, those he would have to be careful around (And warn Tsunade of).

This made things worse. Why did she have to come here as soon as she was certain they were under suspicion by the village genius? A simple phone call would have sufficed to relay the info.

Well, if need be, he could play the victim here, considering what they had going it wouldn't be too difficult… Tsunade might mention the Raikage's name, as she knew he was involved, but that would only lead to a deeper grave for her. The Hyuuga's hate'em with a passion and own a large portion of the village politicians.

"Naruto if they find out about that-" She looked at the drink he had begun to sip on, as if it were the bringer of doom. "Then not only will my reputation be blown, so will Kushina's and Minato's, for doing such a thing to their son. I mean hell, all it would take is them to test your blood-"

"No, Tsunade, only you would go down." It was important to have a Hokage in his corner, but it was more important that he stay out of prison… After all, his contamination had been an accident.

He was hoping telling her this tidbit would make her at the very least 'deny everything'. Now, to finishing putting in the nail… "How will they know? You deleted all the original medical files that mum worked with, didn't you? Yours is the only name on this. But of course, that is why you do all my tests."

"Of course I deleted them, but…" She stopped, her expression narrowing into a glare. Ah, as the age old saying goes, if looks could kill… "Did you just say… I'm your scapegoat then, if we're caught. Because you would be the victim, and how easy a card that would be for you to play."

"Right you are. At any rate, I merely said that to give you incentive to do your best. So you don't have to worry about me turning you in or anything…" Best meaning here, doing what you're told. "I'm sure you will, now that you understand what exactly is on the line."

"Tch. You are one slimy bastard. I liked you better when I first met you."

"Well, I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a better time…" Naruto dazed off, looking out the window, thinking on when he first found about this from Danzo… Then that first change… What was it Danoz had called it? Bone marrow transplant? Of course it hadn't been that, he had seen what they put in him, and there wasn't such a thing a black marrow…

He tensed, coming back from his memories. They weren't alone. How long had he been here, listening in at the door? Revert back… He had to go back to that mentality… "Also, could you try flavoring this a bit better next time it's made? It tastes gross, y'know?"

"Now Naruto, you know better than to drink or eat anything that doesn't taste right. Haven't you learned that a few times over with spoiled milk?" Kakashi's drawl came from the other side of the door. Obviously, he knew he had been caught. "Can I come in?"

"It's unlocked… Sensei, what are you doing here anyway? I thought you went home." He glanced at Tsunade. Her face had hardened, which wasn't quite as bad as a look of guilt… Kakashi sensei was a Jounin. He knew what to look for in people's expressions to see when they were lying.
"We're in the kitchen."

"Oh, passing through. I never really know where the road of life will carry me. Hokage Sama, what are you doing here? We were just at your office..." Kakashi cocked his head to the side questioningly as he stepped into the doorway. He wouldn't have been hiding if Shikamaru hadn't already said something. Naruto nearly laughed aloud- Well, at least things weren't as monotonous situation as they had been. He had people to play a game with now. Who would win? Of course, game or not, he had to treat his sensei like…. Well, as Tsunade had said during one of her less eloquent moments, 'Treat'em like mushrooms: keep'em in the dark and full of shit.'

"His new meds. I forgot to give them to him, as my mind was on other things when we last spoke. Naruto, you understand the dosage instructions, right?" Her poker face wasn't the best, but at least she had a relatively quick tongue when it came to believable excuses. "You'll have to follow them pretty strict, as those meds aren't the type you can be lax on."

"Yeah, I've got the gist. I'll call you tomorrow to tell you how it made me feel." Naruto threw on a lopsided grin, putting a hand on his hip. Mindset wise, he was now back to the old Uzumaki Naruto, happy, carefree, occasionally pissy, and a little over obsessed with Ramen.

"You do that… I'll be sending Sakura here if you don't. And Kakashi, I want that report on my desk by tomorrow morning." Tsunade nodded solemnly at Kakashi, leaving the apartment with an air of superiority. Yet again, she slammed the door. Everything rattled again.

Silence fell on the apartment, which, Kakashi sought to break as he wondered around the room, as if trying to decide where he should go. Finally he chose the countertop beside Naruto to lean on. He could feel the Jounin looking at his change in hair styles, though fortunately he didn't make any comments. "She certainly works fast. Already got you on meds… I was under the impression it'd take longer than that."

'She's not the only one who works fast, is she sensei?'

"Same here… I think it's something left over from my mum's issue, though I doubt Tsunade would ever say so. You know, make herself look like a medical genius." Naruto shrugged, playing dumb. He chugged the last of the drink. Ew, It was chalky there at the bottom, he had let it sit too long.

"This it?"

Naruto didn't look, rather, he squeezed his cup till his knuckles turned white. Damn. He had forgotten to put up the powder. Here he was scolding Tsunade over doing stupid things… Damnit. Finally looked down, watching as Kakashi stuck his fingers in it, pinching a bit out to look at more closely. "Yeah, that's it. Not very impressive, I know."

"Bleh, it's nasty."

"… You didn't have to taste it-"

oO0Oo

"BLEH, IT'S nasty…"

Kakashi could have kicked himself for being caught. He hadn't heard anything of value, save that Tsunade now thought of Naruto as a 'slimy bastard'. And that Naruto's meds tasted nasty (Of course, he had taken the liberty of confirming that, which he regretted). The Hokage had come rushing over here, which she wouldn't have done unless she was really alarmed by what Shikamaru had learned.

He could tell that her presence there had only annoyed Naruto. That was the energy he had felt before being caught. Panic and annoyance. Then, it all the annoyance disappeared on Naruto's part, it changed being happy go lucky… He had only known one person to be able to do that, the late Uzumaki Kushina…

"… You didn't have to taste it-"

The Jounin's thoughts shifted, as the cup Naruto had been drinking out of fell to the ground, breaking on the tile floor. He grabbed Naruto's shoulder as his student covered his mouth with both hands and was overcome with coughs and body convulsions. Droplets of dark blood began to spray through cracks between his fingers, going down his white shirts front and the tile.

"The hell, Naruto?" Kakashi yelled, keeping a tight grip. The blood flow from his mouth worsened, as did the convulsions. The coughs turned more and more into gurgling chokes from there being too much blood. Could Naruto breathe for it? "Hold on! Tsunade couldn't have gotten far-"

He stood up, making a move for the door. But a wet hand on his wrist stopped him, and made him turn back. The convulsions had slowed, and seemed to be stopping. It was over just as quickly as it had begun, though Naruto seemed considerably weaker and dirtier. "Don... Don't… these… spells are really short… Just… help me to the couch…"

Kakashi did so, lifting his student up by his arm and putting it over his shoulder. He helped walk him over to the couch, and laid him on it, on so gently. Naruto sighed as he was laid on the couch, now not paying Kakashi any mind.

He hadn't thought it possible, but the blood had gotten a shit load paler.

Shikamaru needed to know. was definitely big… Kinda reminded Kakakshi of TB, except that he knew better… Where the hell did this idiot keep his team radio?


A/N: PIRATE LIVES ON! Sorry for the first thing, I posted the wrong chapter... And uh, I didn't seem the content replacement, thingy, until after I had deleted it. ;

OMG, an update! No, I'm not dead... I realize its been a while... But time's been flying on my end. Between college, Competition team, and everything else... Well, let me put it this way, it seems like to me I posted yesterday.

Anywho, I hope people are still into my story, and will continue to read it. I've actually started on the next chapter, so it should be up pretty soon, I promise!

I hope everyone likes this chapter, and that I don't ramble too much... Please tell me when you review! The last bit feels kinda rushed, so you'll have to tell me if you feel the same...