From Orphans to Thieves

Chapter 7: Indirect Encounter

By Kikoru Sijan

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters. I don't own The Thief Lord either.


"Regular speech"

'Thoughts'

'Sounds'

"Inner thoughts"


A/N: Hellos! Late again. –sighs- I'm getting too used to this, aren't I? I want to say that, sadly, I probably won't be able to keep up with FF as much during the school year. Sorry about that. Very sad, you knows. I'll try my best though. I'm going to be loaded. A lot. You probably won't be seeing anything from me for months. But that's when September comes. Remember, I still love you guys. By the way, this probably won't go on for too many chapters. I'm thinking maybe around 10-13 or so. Maybe even less, but no more than 15 though. I don't know. As for HSL, that's unpredictable, but I have it pretty much planned out.
Recap

"Dosu, how is the investigation going?" a shadowed figure asked.

Dosu smiled beneath the white bandages that wrapped around his head. He bowed. "Wonderful, Orochimaru-sama. We shall attack very soon."

Orochimaru grinned, golden snake eyes glowing eerily. "Good...make sure Kin and Zaku are ready for this."

A man pushed his glasses up, which were glinting in the light. "Would you like me to assist them, Orochimaru-sama?"

"Not yet," Orochimaru replied as Dosu walked away. "We'll...test their abilities first. Anyway, I don't want to reunite with Jiraiya and Tsunade-hime just yet."

"But," his subordinate said, "they know we're here. It seems Mitarashi-san gave them a slight warning."

Orochimaru licked his lips. "More pain, wonderful. How long do you think I can last in this body, Kabuto?"

Kabuto grinned, pushing his glasses up again. "I suppose...another two or three months."

Orochimaru grinned. "Then, we'll have to get Sasuke-kun quickly. This won't be too hard."

"Orochimaru-sama," Kabuto argued, "Not to be disrespectful, but they are not to be underestimated. This is a warning."

"Fine," the long haired man spat as he strode out of the room.

End recap


"Good job, ototou. Your guys have gotten a lot better—probably better than most agents here," Itachi said as he turned the simulator off, glancing at the progress reports Shikamaru had laid out for him. "Shikamaru-san, you actually did all these." Shikamaru gave him an 'are-you-kidding-me' look before returning to his normal state, causing the older man to chuckle, shuffling at the profiles.

Name: Uchiha Sasuke

Birthday: July 23

Blood Type: AB

Occupation: Assassin

Primary fighting style: Ninjutsu

Progress: January 18 – Has passed level 17 simulation recently. Can effectively use bloodline limit and is rather skilled in hand-to-hand combat. Has become a close-mid range ninjutsu user. Specializing in fire techniques.

January 14 – Passed level 14. Is able to use powerful eye genjutsu. Is willing to help teammates.

January 10 – Passed level 11 with ease. Was fastest out of all others. Did not need ninjutsu.

January 6 – Passed level 8 in only forty-five seconds. No other significant progress

January 2 – Has increased greatly in using weapons and throwing at moving targets. Can move at top speed. Has the ability to use Hatake Kakashi's Chidori (Raikiri) multiple times with no problems. Works well with Uzumaki Naruto and/or Hyuuga Neji.

December 29 – Just joined Konoha Headquarters in Venice, Italy. Brought by former 9th ANBU Brigade captain Hatake Kakashi with seven others. Can pass level 3 simulation with almost no trouble.

Itachi grinned at the report. His little brother was getting good, and fast too.

'So, they do a progress report every four days?' he said, throwing the stack back down. Shikamaru nodded lazily, eyes still closed. Itachi watched as his brother and his friends walked out of the room, only panting slightly. Naruto seemed to be yelling happily. When they escaped the sound-proof walls, Itachi heard it.

"RAMEN HERE I COME!" the blond yelled. Itachi smirked. He had learned his brother's best friend, preferably rival, was ramen obsessed. He practically had it for every meal. Itachi had always wondered how the hyperactive assassin-to-be didn't already die from sodium overdose...or something along those lines.

"I'm going to have some lunch, too. Ja, Itachi," Shikamaru said casually as he stood up from his chair and began to stretch on his way out. He held up a hand as a 'good-bye'. "Lock up for me, will ya?"

Itachi nodded. "No problem." When the door closed, he dropped himself onto the comfortable swivel chair and began to look at the sound-proof white room he used to use so much. His lips formed a slight frown.

'You've improved immensely, but is that enough to protect you from Orochimaru?'


"Tsunade-obaachan really knows which instant ramen to buy!" Naruto exclaimed as he slurped up his sixth bowl of miso pork ramen.

Sakura lazily flicked a piece of astray, pink-colored hair and gave Naruto a hard stare. "I assure you, ramen is not Tsunade-shishou's favorites," she said in a know-it-all manner. "I bet she got somebody else to buy it. Why don't you go into the kitchen and thank everyone that's there," Sakura remarked, voice dripping with sarcasm.

Naruto's blue eyes began to glow as he quickly finished his soup in the bowl and ran into the kitchen. Sakura sweat dropped. "I didn't mean for him to go for real," she said, sighing as she lay her head on her crossed arms.

Sasuke shrugged. "Sakura, you're forgetting it's the dobe we're talking about," he said, smirking slightly. Sakura mock laughed.

"Ha ha, yes it is that idiot. But he can be smart...sometimes," she argued half-heartedly.

"I agree," said Shikamaru, who just took a chunk out of his club sandwich. "He is right about the food being good here.

Sakura sighed. "Shikamaru, don't become like Chouji. I don't think Ino would like it anymore," she commented. "She's never liked people that are too overweight. But I suppose Chouji's an exception. He's done something that's made her a better person."

"I'm glad you see that," Ino replied, finished up the last crouton in Caesar salad she had. "But I was always a better person, Sakura. Much better than you."

"I disagree," Sakura argued, an amused smile tugging on her pink lips. "I've always been better. I mean, can you cook?"

Ino flushed and began to mutter after giving out an arrogant, 'Hmph.'

"I thought so," Sakura said, closing her green eyes for some rest.

"You better not fall asleep again," Sasuke said, patting her head in a friendly manner.

"Why?" she whined, the word being muffled by her arms. She was definitely not happy about this.

"Because you and Sasuke-san have a mission today," Hinata said.

"WHAT?!!" Naruto exclaimed. Apparently he had gotten back to the table after grabbing another jumbo-sized bowl of miso pork ramen. "Tsunade-obaachan gave teme a mission?! How come Sakura-chan gets to go too! Sakura-chyaaaaaaaaaaan can I come?!" Naruto had been waiting forever to get a mission, and now two others got it before him.

"Sorry, Naruto," Sakura said apologetically, "You gotta talk to Tsunade-shishou about that. I have nothing to do with it—besides the fact that I'm going on the mission."

"Sakura-chyaan!" Naruto said, bursting into fake tears. "You don't have to be so mean about it! Rubbing it in a poor guy's face."

"Sorry, Naruto, I couldn't help it," Sakura said, lifting her face up fully, showing a bright smile.

Sasuke began to cough violently at the second.

"Hello, ototou! I came to wish you good luck on your first mission!" Itachi exclaimed, nearly choking his younger brother with his embrace, which happened to be on the neck.

"Let go," Sasuke rasped, trying to pry his brother off of him. "Go to Hana-san or something."

"I see, I see, you're even addressing her with a respectful suffix," Itachi said, letting go of his brother. "Do you really want me to leave?" His lips formed a false pout. Sasuke glared at him and answered with a firm, 'Yes.'

The type of grin Itachi showed next was the type that says, 'I'm so not going even if you're telling me to.'

The type of scowl Sasuke showed next was the type that says, 'Get the fuck away from me.' This was a combo with the Uchiha death glare.

The type of widened eyes Naruto showed next was the type that says, 'What the hell? Is there incest going on?'

"No, Naruto, none of that," Itachi said, surprising Naruto just a little bit. Or maybe it was a lot.

"Um...what?" Tenten exclaimed, not understanding, like the rest, a thing that Itachi was saying to Naruto.

"Oh, you don't need to know," Itachi said, sitting down next to the dozing Sakura. "Well, you wanna here about the mission?" Sasuke nudged Sakura, causing her to wake up and accidentally smack Itachi in the face. When she realized she was in between two Uchihas and not just next to one, she turned to Itachi and apologized at a rather rapid rate.

"I'm sorry, so, so, so, so, so sorry," she said, holding her hands up rather defensively. Itachi groaned but he managed to grin slightly.

"I come to tell you about your mission, and you hit me? Tsk, tsk, tsk, have you no manners, imouto-chan?" Itachi said teasingly, patting her head in a manner not unlike Sasuke. Sakura flushed from anger.

"I AM I NOT AN UCHIHA!!! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO CALL ME 'LITTLE SISTER'!!" she yelled, punching Itachi hard in the face, causing him to fly to the other side of the room.

-Beep-

--------------------------------Intermission – Sakura apologizes for any inconveniences she might have caused.

"Humph, Itachi-san, you shouldn't underestimate me," Sakura said as she healed Itachi. He laughed nervously as he watched his younger brother shake his head at him in shame.

"Gomen nasai, Sakura," he said, giving her a small grin as the girl wiped a drop of sweat off her delicate eyebrow. He stood up and dusted himself off. "Now, for the mission explanation that I was supposed to tell you two about, but I suppose the others want to here this as well.

"Sakura, Sasuke, you guys have been assigned to go spy on a possible hideout of Orochimaru's. It is believed to have been used before—we're not exactly sure if he's still there. Chances are that he didn't move to far—it is said by others that have gone to that area that they still see some recognizable agents that work for Orochimaru.

"Basically, your job is to go around that area and possibly find some Sound agents. By the way, Sound is Orochimaru's organization. Truth to be told, Sound used to be one of the branches of Konoha. However, the commander, Orochimaru, turned on us. The main headquarters of Konoha, of course, was originally placed in Japan. Sound was placed in Venice.

"The downfall of Konoha was actually Orochimaru's fault. The fourth leader had died on a mission unexpectedly, and the retired third was forced to take over again. There was no acceptable replacement found. Then, Orochimaru killed him. Tsunade-sama was actually hard to track down. It took the agents years to get to Tsunade-sama. They had to go all the way to England.

"Anyway, back to your mission, find some Sound agents and try to bring them back here so Ino and Ibiki can interrogate them. If you can't successfully bring them back, make sure not to leave them there and at least leave them unconscious. Do not run back to headquarters. We don't want to lead them here. That would cause disaster. Understood?" Itachi finished, eyebrow raised in question. The two teenage agents nodded their heads in a determined manner. He handed them a map.

"The 'x' mark should show where it is," he explained.

"Question," Sakura said after a few moments, "What would happen if we can't defeat them? What if we were...captured?"

"You'll have communicators. Also, Hinata and Midori will be tracking you as well. So, no worries...hopefully."

"Also, how are we going to recognize the Sound agents?" Sakura asked. Itachi grinned.

"Remember the simulations you all had to go through for the first part of training. I have no doubt Tsunade-sama trained you after that but I'm sure you remember the faces of the people you fought," Itachi explained.

"Aw!! That's such an awesome mission. I am totally going on the next cool mission!" Naruto declared, pointing accusingly at Sasuke. "Way better than your mission!"

"Yep," Sakura said sarcastically, "We'll see when it happens." She stood up and gave him an infuriating smile.

"HEY, SAKURA-CHAN, YOU'RE RUBBING IT IN AGAIN!" Naruto yelled as Sasuke and Sakura walked out of the cafeteria to begin their mission. Sakura ignored the screams and cries of Naruto.

"Sasuke!" Naruto yelled before they exited. The raven-haired boy turned around to see his ramen-loving best friend. "Don't let that pedophile get ya!" Sasuke gave an amused smirk and a slight nod before turning back around. There was the clanking of the benches legs on the dully tiled floor.

Sakura narrowed her eyes. 'How hard is this going to be?'

"Expect anything from Orochimaru. Jiraiya and I are probably the only living people that were close enough to figure out his twisted mind. Sakura, be careful."


"Orochimaru-sama, it seems Tsunade has sent somebody to come," Kabuto said, pushing his flashing glasses up with a grin on his face, "and it's actually Sasuke-kun with Sakura-san, a high medic there and Sasuke-kun's close partner."

Orochimaru smiled maniacally, licking his lips in a disturbing manner. "Perfect. We might be able to use that girl sooner or later," he sneered, golden eyes glowing with joy. "Sakura-san...but I thought they were rather recent agents. How did she rise to be a high medic."

"She is second," Kabuto explained, "only to Tsunade." The snake sannin's eyes widened slightly in wonder before they returned to their normal state.

"Excellent. We might even keep her," he said. "A two in one prize, don't you think? I trust that you can help Sakura-chan push her medical skills even further."

"Hai," Kabuto answered. "I'll send Dosu, Kin, and Zaku out immediately, Orochimaru-sama."


"Sasuke-kun, can you find anything? I know we'll be able to recognize the people we fought vaguely, but what about the ones that we don't know?" Sakura asked her longtime companion.

Sasuke shrugged. "Make a right here," he ordered after glancing at the map. They turned and met a dark alleyway. The only sound was the melting snow dripping from the side of some rooftops and the soft clicking sounds of their shoes against the hard floor. Everything echoed from all around.

"Yare, yare, they finally came," a smooth, feminine voice said. A quick swooshing was heard momentarily. "Orochimaru-sama sent us out too early. If he was so free, why didn't he come himself?"

"Urusai, Kin," a muffled voice scolded. "Do not speak about Orochimaru-sama like that. You should have more respect."

"For a wacko man that killed my parents, leaving me nowhere to go to except him?!" the voice named 'Kin' spat. Sakura and Sasuke had already stopped in their tracks as the argument went on.

"There are three other people here, besides us," Sakura whispered. "I'm sure you can sense the last one's chakra." Sasuke nodded.

"Are these really Sound agents, or are they just trying to trick us?" Sasuke replied in a hushed voice, a line of amusement in his voice. Sakura stifled a giggle. She'd want to make their presence unknown.

"Ne," she murmured after a few moments, "Weren't these the low-level ones?" Sasuke nodded, smirking slightly. "Dosu, Zaku, and Kin."

"You have no right to tell me such things!" Kin yelled, her high-pitched voice echoing throughout the otherwise rather silent alleyway. "You don't know what happened! You should shut up! Moron!"

"Dosu. Kin. The enemy is still here," a third voice interjected, presumably Zaku. "I don't think you should let your guards down like that. These people have already been merciful, not attacking when they had the chance."

"How unprofessional of you three," Sasuke sneered, turning his Sharingan on.

"We have no intention of harming you," Sakura said, making sure to take out a kunai, "but if we have to, we will. Will you come with us to be interrogated?"

"Tch," Kin growled. "Like hell we would." Sakura gave an eerie smile, which looked even more sinister in the lighting and setting.

"Wonderful," she said sweetly yet sarcastically. "Some blood must be shed. I was hoping this would be rather peaceful, but I guess not."

"Who takes who?" Sasuke muttered under his breath. Sakura shrugged. He sighed in response. "Just go."

Kunai were already raining down on them. "Sakura, move!"

"I know, I'm not stupid!" Sakura said, avoiding all the falling kunai. Just then, she saw one aimed at her heart, which she easily deflected. Her quick eyes glanced around at their surroundings.

'I wish I had the Sharingan. But I don't. I even said I wasn't an Uchiha.'

"Why would such a pretty face have to get hurt?" two voices purred simultaneously. Sakura knew one of them was Zaku, who was right in front of her, cupping her chin while Kin was stroking Sasuke's cheek. She grimaced at the sight, yet she almost laughed hysterically. It seemed as though Dosu was trying hard not to sweat drop.

"No messin' around here," he ordered. "Get straight to the point."

"Gladly," Sakura hissed, punching the ground and jumping, motioning to Sasuke to dodge her attack. They landed on the rooftop and began to bombard the three with several kunai.

'If only Tenten was here...she'd love this,' Sakura thought absentmindedly as she continued to shower her opponents with kunai.

"This isn't gonna work," she heard Sasuke say. "We have to get down there." They jumped down only to meet immense pain in their ears. Dosu was grinning under the white cloth.

"Gotcha." Sakura took a kunai and flicked it towards Dosu's arm, the source of the pain. Dosu almost laughed.

"Silly girl, you can't br—" He stopped as he watched his metal attachment stop working. "H-how?" the three said as the two newly recruited Konoha agents stood up.

"Simple," Sakura said, grinning widely. "I infused that kunai with an enormous amount of chakra to possibly clog the holes, though I do believe watching Kakashi-sensei or Sasuke-kun hit it with Chidori would have been far more entertaining. After all, metal is an electricity conductor."

Zaku released air pressure from his hands. "I bet you've never seen this!" he exclaimed. Sakura smirked.

"No, I have, believe me," she said. Sasuke showed an identical smirk, just a little bit more twisted, with red eyes and all.

"Not hard to defeat," Sasuke said. "I'll take this one." He quickly jumped up into the air where Zaku was and did hand signs. He successfully executed his fire jutsu before jumping down and tying the two male Sound agents to a lamp pole with metal string.

Kin was already fighting Sakura, who obviously had the upper hand. Sakura was easily hitting Kin with chakra-infused punches, which the female Sound agent was desperately trying to dodge. Sasuke pulled the string tightly to make sure the prisoners wouldn't escape as he watched the ongoing match. He knew that Sakura would get pissed if he interfered, so he stayed where he was.

Finally, Kin was knocked to the ground, small amounts of blood coming from scratches with a trickle from the corner of her lips. Apparently, Sakura had a few injuries of her own.

'How did she even managed to hit me like that?' Sakura said, getting up and carrying Kin bridal style. She grinned cheekily at Sasuke.

"You...get the other two," she exclaimed, making sure to put Kin in sleep mode.

"Kin!" Zaku exclaimed as he watched his teammate go unconscious. Dosu narrowed his eyes slightly.

'They're definitely not just working together for Orochimaru-sama. Something's up,' he thought as he watched the astonished face of his teammate.

Sakura did the same technique to the other two Sound agents, who were, indeed, carried by Sasuke.

"Why'd you put them to sleep?" Sasuke asked as he dragged the two bodies.

"Well," Sakura answered, "we don't want them to see how to get there, do we?"


"Kin, Dosu, Zaku, what exactly is Orochimaru planning to do?" Ino asked sternly. Everyone was gathered inside the barren interrogation room, seeing what the captured agents had to say.

"We…" Dosu answered. "Don't know. We really don't. Orochimaru never told us anything specific—he just sent us on tasks to 'help' him."

"Do you have even a vague idea?" Ino asked.

"We know his motives are to capture Uchiha Sasuke, and possibly Haruno Sakura as well," Zaku revealed. Tsunade's eyes widened, "but he didn't seem to interested in the pink-haired lady." Both Ino and Tsunade inwardly sighed in relief.

"Alright. I really don't think that we will get much out of these three," Ibiki said, interfering with the interrogation.

"Actually," Kin said. "We do know one more thing that might help. Kabuto...his loyalty to Orochimaru is...questionable." Many people in the room gasped, which Kin ignored. She continued. "Kabuto was definitely close to Orochimaru, almost like a deputy. But, we have our suspicions. He might have a motive...an unknown motive, for joining Orochimaru."

Tsunade took the information in and nodded. "Thank you for your time," she said calmly. "Midori, please escort them to their cellar. They'll be staying here for a while."

"Hai, Tsunade-sama," Midori said, bowing before taking the three out to the hall.

"In this case," Tsunade said, glancing at her green-eyed pupil. "Sakura may be in danger as well. It's not just Sasuke now. However, why would he want Sakura? And what was that about Kabuto not being trustworthy to Orochimaru? I've seen him following my former teammate for a while."

"I don't know, Tsunade-hime," Jiraiya said seriously. "Those Sound brats looked like they were telling the truth. And I'm guessing Orochimaru heard about Sakura's medical skills—maybe that's why he wants her. Maybe Orochimaru is even suspicious of Kabuto. He always went by the you-can't-trust-anyone-but-yourself theory. Always. No exceptions."

Tsunade nodded, deep in thought. "In that case, I suppose we can't let too much danger come of this."

"Will Sakura-chan be targeted often?" Hinata asked in a worried way. "What should we do then? What if the three had trackers on them? Orochimaru could easily find us."

Tsunade shook her head. "They don't—we checked from a few blocks away. Orochimaru probably though they could take care of the two," she said, her two blonde pigtails swishing as she left the room.


When Sakura went to check on the three Sound agents, she nearly screamed. She stopped herself, however, and kneeled down in the cellar.

Inside, the three agents laying dead. Kin was in Zaku's arms, which were hovering protectively above her. Blood was splattered on the floor.

"Get some specialists down here!" Sakura yelled, ordering lower medics to get somebody to analyze the blood type and so on. They needed to find a way that would prove that, perhaps, these people didn't commit suicide.

At least Sakura knew that Zaku and Kin didn't kill themselves. It didn't seem plausible. Especially since Zaku was trying to protect Kin. That didn't make sense.

But what about Dosu? Did he kill them? It seemed possible, since the wound inflicted on him seemed possible to inflict on oneself.

"Sakura-san, wha—oh…What happened?" a medic said when they came to the scene. Sakura scowled.

"You think I'd get you to run tests otherwise?!" Sakura snapped. The medic frowned slightly and muttered a quick apology. "Quickly, collect some samples of the blood on the floor and that of the victims. Make sure to test which blood type it is. We need to know if this is suicide or not."


A/N: Okay, finished. I really have nothing to say. Well, hope you enjoyed. Ja ne.

Kikoru x3