Disclaimer: I, Lady Sassy Sas, do hereby disclaim all rights to the wonderful world that is Naruto.
Have you made contact at all?
No. We haven't been able to figure out who she's disguised herself as.
Alright, start trying to take a more forward approach to it. But Kakashi, make sure you don't do anything to endanger her.
I'd give my life before I let that happen.
I know. Good luck.
Thank you, Tsunade-sama.
He opened his eyes and watched as Ino visibly relaxed. The blonde opened her turquoise eyes and gave him a knowing look. He just nodded before falling on his backside and brought his arms to rest on his upraised knees.
"What did Baa-chan say?" Naruto exploded from impatience.
Everyone gave him an annoyed look but Kakashi just turned his lazy gaze towards him and stared at him before answering, "We have to be more forward in making contact with her."
"How the hell are we going to do that if we have no inkling as to who she is?" TenTen's voice captured the frustration radiating through the room.
"I don't know. Does anyone have any idea who she could be?" Kakashi's gaze swept over them all.
"What about the Red-headed woman?" Hinata spoke out quietly.
"No way. Sakura wouldn't put up with getting beaten. Hell, she'd do the beating before anyone got anywhere near her!" Naruto argued.
"Would she? I mean if it's for the sake of completing a mission would she forfeit her advantage of surprise to save herself?"
Kakashi didn't respond choosing instead to let the arguing wash over him as he contemplated. Sakura wouldn't give up her position just to save herself; wouldn't risk the lives of the innocent. But at the same time she would've let them know who she was when she was safe to do so, wouldn't she?
So does that mean she's not safe? But if she is why hasn't she been in touch? Did I-
No. You didn't, Kakashi. Forehead's not a sadist nor vindictive. She didn't take this mission to get away from you. She couldn't do that, not in the position you're both in. Besides she got this mission before that argument or whatever it was.
How do you know that?
Head Interrogator, remember? Besides, there's not much she doesn't tell me; confidential to herself or as a shinobi.
Did she tell you what-
Hai. The corner of Ino's lips turned down slightly when she 'heard' Kakashi groan and his all-consuming guilt. To the others in the room it would look like she was displeased by the debate taking place rather than having a mental conversation with the silver-haired jounin. Mentally sighing herself she took pity on the man and tried to stop him from wallowing.
Look, I honestly don't care what happened or what was said. I'll tell you I am slightly annoyed because she was pissed and rather upset before she left for this mission; her head wasn't clear. But what I do know is she already forgave you as soon as it happened. If you want my advice; suck it up. Get your head into gear and your ass off the ground and find her. You can tell her sorry when we get back to Konoha.
Kakashi blinked in surprise and looked at her piercingly. But she saw the truth behind the lie and gave a curt nod in acknowledgement.
You could be a shrink.
Hell no!
He chuckled softly so that nobody could hear. Looking around the room he could see Genma facing Naruto and Sasuke, all looking ready to throttle the other. Anko was shouting at Yugao. TenTen, Hinata and Hanabi all sat on the bed quietly discussing their opinions. Chouji was eating a bag of crisps watching on in slight interest. Shikamaru was on the floor beside him directing his gaze up at the ceiling trying in vain to hide his irritation. Sai was staring blankly out the window.
Kakashi shared a look with Ino.
"Shut up all of you! Kami sake, we're not here to attract attention to ourselves by shouting and causing a commotion. We're here to help Sakura!" Ino yelled.
Kakashi smirked under his mask and shot a sneaky glances at both Genma and Shikamaru. His smirk got deeper.
Jumping to his feet, stuffed his hands in his pockets and slouched looking at each occupant in the room.
"Ino's right. Here's what we're going to do. We're going to split into six pairs and keep tabs on one girl between a pair. The person left over will collect the information and then try to find something we can use. The pairs are…"
An hour later and everyone was in their assigned pair and they had a full plan to follow. As everyone started to leave the hotel room Kakashi motioned Ino aside.
"I've got a sort of side mission for you. I want you to use your clan's jutsu and read the girls' minds. Go as far as you can to find out which is Sakura."
Ino bit her lip, "You do realise I can't move while I do that?"
"I know. Which is why I'm telling you to do this during the nights. You'd also have a better chance of getting in without them resisting, right?"
"Yes, although civilians aren't adept at keeping me out."
"Which means if one of them has stronger resistance it's more than likely it could be Sakura."
Ino nodded and turned on her heel and walked out with a determined stride.
Sakura tried to force her way through the crowd that surrounded the entrance to the club. She wondered what was happening that had garnered so much attention. With a final shove she forced her way to the front…and stopped dead.
There lying on the ground was Aimi, clearly dead as her once vibrant gold eyes stared at nothing. Her body was sprawled at awkward angles indicating that she had fallen from the top of the building. A gap in her kimono showed bruising around her ribcage. And a red mark could just be seen around her hairline.
"Yua! Thank god. That's everybody else accounted for," Kouki looked relieved as he came to a stop in front of her.
"What happened?"
"T-they don't know. Looks like suicide."
Sakura frowned. Aimi was cheerful and bubbly. She had never given any sign that she was depressed.
But then, some people don't.
"Where are the others?"
"Inside, which is where you have to go. The police are questioning everyone."
Sakura nodded and walked around the body, giving it one more look before heading inside.
She felt Kouki come up behind her, "She's here Masamune!"
Sakura lifted her silvery eyes to meet those of the owners. They met, he nodded and turned his attention back to a man beside him.
"Looks like he's so very concerned about his employee's." she grumbled.
Kouki rested a hand lightly on her lower back and guided her towards one of the booths that was being used to interview everyone. The curtains were drawn over to give the occupants privacy.
"He is worried. He just doesn't have the time to console everybody. He needs to keep running this place," at her look of disgust he shrugged. "Business is business."
She watched him walk away before leaning against one of the posts that separated the booths and held the curtains. She didn't know what was going on and that grated on her nerves. She had been here long enough to know.
Why had Aimi jumped? Sakura was positive the girl was happy. And if she hadn't jumped who had forced into doing it?
Or maybe she was already dead and somebody threw the body of the roof to make it look like a suicide. And if that's true I'll need to see the body but how?
"Miss?" startled out of her musings she blinked at the man in front her holding the curtain aside, "You're next."
Her red hair swished as she nodded and headed in. Throughout the interview Sakura's mind was focused on how she would be able to examine the body.
Around midnight, Sakura left the club and made her way into the village. All was silent except from some insects chirping away. The moon was full and lighting her way.
She stopped outside the police offices and gazed at it intently unsure of how to go ahead. She shook her head and walked on not wanting to look suspicious. She carried on past a few food stands that were still open and made it to the other side of the village where she exited and carried on through the forest across from the entrance.
Fifteen minutes later brought her to a small clearing with the trees making a ring of defence and giving off a sense of solitude to any person there.
She was about to sit down when something caught her eye; there were holes in one of the trunks that hadn't been there before. As she drew closer she made out the distinct shape of a kunai. She traced the holes with her finger-tips.
So, one of the others had been here. And her guess was Kakashi as he was the only one who liked to be on his own to think.
I wonder what go him so worked up to lodge his kunai in the tree…
She toyed with practicing her katas; she had lost her two tails so knew she wasn't being watched. But the phrase better-safe-than-sorry came to mind. Something was making her anxious and she couldn't pin-point it.
Shrugging it off as paranoia she got into stance and flowed through the motions, making the transitions effortless and fluid. Emptying her mind she let the movement over-take her body and carry her to somewhere where nothing but herself and the katas existed. There was no murder. There was no death. There was no mission.
Just her and the katas.
She whirled around letting her own centre of gravity keep her grounded. There was something soothing about repeating defensive motions and not actually out of self-preservation.
Maybe that's why Gai is always on the go…other than being a complete lunatic. She snorted softly. As if!
Finishing off, she wiped her forehead and rested for five minutes before making up her mind. She sprinted back to the village and then slowed to a walk as she entered. She let her senses pick up anything off such as people following her but there was nobody around. She slid into a side alley and quietly and quickly made her way to the back of the offices.
She went and gave a tug on the door there but found it locked. Luckily for her she had picked up a few skills over the year such as picking locks. Making quick work on the locks she found herself inside in no time.
She took in her surroundings and stealthily made her way towards the front looking at signs as she passed and took a right when she spotted the one she was looking for.
It was a small complex so it wasn't hard to find the body. She scoped the room before going in completely and crossing the tiled floor to another door. Pulling on the handle she quickly stepped into the cold room and took the cover off Aimi's body.
From there she took her time looking over every inch. There was bruising all over her ribs and on her cheek bone. There was skin under her fingernails from when she had tried to – assumedly – claw at her attacker. Scratches covered her knees. When that was all she found on the outside she placed her hand on Aimi's cold forehead and sent a stream of chakra into the body.
And what she found had her recoiling and stepping back quickly. She was right about her being thrown off the building. She was also right in her suspicion of Aimi already being dead before being thrown.
But the coroner would never know that. Only a medic-nin would know what had really killed her, and even then they'd have to be up there with Tsunade.
Her hands shaking, she quickly threw the sheet back over the body and fled from the place.
It wasn't until she was safely back in her room did she allow herself to break. She slid down the door to floor and there she bit her hand trying to stifle her sobs, her terror. She started shaking uncontrollably and tears flowed free down her face.
She wasn't safe. None of the girls were. They would all die. They didn't stand a chance.
Feeling the sour taste of bile rise up her throat she raced to the bathroom where she threw herself over the toilet bowl and promptly vomited. She didn't even bother brushing her teeth instead choosing to rinse her mouth with tap water.
Making her way unsteadily towards the bed she collapsed upon the mattress and shivered as the sheen of sweat on her body started to cool her down.
How was she meant to do this? She was alone.
But I'm not! The others are here. All I have to do is get in contact with them and…they'd die. Sakura groaned. Was there really no way?
Kinjo had spies everywhere. And if he thought there was a threat he'd not hesitate to take them out.
Was that why he murdered Aimi? But how was she a threat?
She couldn't find out. Going to see her body tonight was already a huge risk. She couldn't afford to get caught. She needed someone else to help her. But who? Kakashi was out the question as were the rest of Team Kakashi. Genma, Yugao, Anko and TenTen were out.
That only left a few.
Ino woke up earlier than usual the next morning. She had been out trying to read the girls' minds and it hadn't amounted to much. By the time she had finished, Shikamaru had to carry her home she was that drained.
Rubbing her eyes she sat up and looked around blearily. What the hell had her up so early?
Groaning she got out of her bed quietly, making sure not to wake Chouji or Shikamaru. She tip-toed to the other side of the room where she had left her watch.
05:40? Really? Ugh.
Rubbing her eyes and yawning she was about to go back to bed when something white caught the corner of her eye. She turned to the door and saw a white rectangle on the floor. Obviously somebody had slipped it under the door during the night. How had she not noticed it before?
Shaking her head hoping it would jump-start it she trudged over and picked it up before making her way to sit on the end of her bed.
She checked it over for any obvious traps and sent her chakra out to feel for any shinobi ones. Finding nothing she cautiously opened it up and read the unfamiliar hand-writing.
I need your help. Don't tell anyone except for Shikamaru. The less who know I've been in contact the safer we'll all be.
There'll be a booth reserved for the two of you tonight.
Forehead.
Ino gasped and tightened her grip on the page making it crumble slightly.
"Ino? What is it?" the bed dipped behind her as Shikamaru tried to read over her shoulder.
Wordlessly she passed it to him.
"How are we going to explain a booth being booked for us?"
Shikamaru was silent, his brain running a hundred miles per hour. Finally, he shook his head and moved to sit beside his blonde team-mate.
"Easy. We're covertly trying to figure out who Sakura is posing as. Only we'll know by tonight without much work." Shikamaru scratched behind his ear and yawned.
"Shikamaru, we don't even know if that is from Sakura."
He sent a sidelong stare at her and frowned, "It says 'forehead'. Who else does she allow to call her that?"
"I know that, Shikamaru!" Ino snapped, "But it's not her handwriting."
"Still, it's better to go and it not be her than to not go and leave her without aid." Shikamaru's calm reply made Ino want to smack him.
"If we die, I'll kick your ass to hell and back."
She relaxed when he chuckled, "I'll bet."
"Well, one thing is for definite." She sighed.
"What's that?"
"Whoever wrote this is definitely afraid."
"How so?"
Ino rolled her eyes. He was sometimes the dumbest smart person she knew. She gave him a cryptic reply instead that she knew would drive him insane, as there wasn't anything to see.
"It's all in the handwriting."
Had a bit of a panic over this chapter. Thought I'd lost it but it had just saved to the wrong folder! Phew!
Again it is un-beta'd so all mistakes are mine!
Read and review or lurk and read!
Lasy Sassy Sas xXx