Please Believe Me
Chapter 9
(One month later)
Dressed in a very classy black tuxedo and his hair slicked back out of his face, Naruto stood in the corner of this snazzy looking room filled to the brim in blinding gold and frosted white decoration. Everyone around him looking equally as extravagant and even more so. The women in beautifully expensive looking gowns and the men in suits somehow more expensive than his own with jewelry unnecessarily flashy. This ball was for only the rich and everyone here was determined to prove they had a right to be here. He's been here for about five minutes already and he wants to go.
"Ah, here he is. Naruto." Came the voice of Sasuke who flagged him down. He was walking through the crowd, talking to a man with brown hair and intense black eyes. Naruto walked towards the two with his hands in his pockets. "Naruto, this is Yamato. The Section Chief of the Behavioral Analysis Unit. Yamato, this is my friend Naruto Uzumaki. I promised to introduce you two and I have. Now, if you'd excuse me." He said as he walked away.
The brown haired man nodded and stuck his hand out. "A pleasure to finally meet you." He said with a nod. Naruto took the gesture with a nod of his own. "I've uh.. I've spoken with Sasuke on many occasions about bringing you onto the team. We could more than definitely use a man with your knowledge regarding the things you do."
Naruto nodded. "And do you know what it is I do?" he asked curiously.
"If I'm not mistaken, a wide variety of tactics regarding demonology and the likes." Naruto chuckled lightly. "The actions you choose to perform outside of work are really of no concern to me. I am simply interested in your knowledge pertaining to the extensive cults and religious rituals."
Naruto nodded. "Right, well I think what you could really use is a man with a much more broad range of knowledge."
"We've got one of those." He quickly responded. "Dr. Muku Raio. Brilliant young man whom I believe graduated top of his class at Kumo's peak University same as yourself. A year or two after you graduated."
Naruto nodded. "Then it seems you're pretty much set then."
Yamato was still persistent. "Again, he lacks the knowledge you have regarding the various cult and religious rituals that can be vital in solving these cases."
"How often do they accumulate?"
"Too often for comfort." He replied. "I am aware of your status as an exorcist and though I don't know if I fully agree with or understand the practice, as I said it should not affect your ability to effectively contribute to the team… It's really good money."
Naruto smirked and scratched his cheek. "Uh yeah… well salary isn't the issue. In honesty it's the responsibility aspect of the entire process of working there. I prefer to move around as I please. Paperwork is also a bit of a problem as well. In other words, I very much appreciate the offer. I've declined them when they've come through Sasuke on multiple occasions. I have no problem helping out when you ask, but as far as having a solid job it's a no."
"Alright, well in the hopes of convincing you myself, I figured I'd give it another shot." He said with a nod. "If you ever change your mind, there will always be a spot for you." He stuck his hand out for a final handshake. "If I may, I would like to have access to your number so that I can further inform you of cases that could use your assistance." Naruto nodded and took a sip of the glass of wine he stole off a passing server while he was talking. "Then I'll retrieve it from Sasuke at some point. Thank you again Mr. Uzumaki, and enjoy the rest of your evening." With that said, he turned and made his way through the crowd.
With a sigh, Naruto nodded at a few people who glanced his way. He was starting to feel a bit clammy in this atmosphere, so he made his way up to the second floor of this prestigious venue. As he walked, he tugged at his collar. When he made it to the top there was a set of double doors at the end of the way that lead outside onto the balcony. There were people coming and going, but there weren't too many people out there.
He made it down the hall, sparring just a few of the passing ladies a kind smile before he continued on. He stepped outside and was hit with the cool early December air. It was cold, but not uncomfortably so. As he stepped up to the edge of the stone balconies railing, he dug into his jacket pocket and pulled out his pack of cigarettes.
"So how'd it go?" Sasuke asked as he came walking up with his hands in his pockets.
Naruto plucked his cigarette out with his lips and held the box out for Sasuke to take one which he did. "Guess we're partners."
"Really?"
"No." Naruto said quickly receiving an irritated glance from the dark haired man. "I came. I talked to him and I denied just as always." He said with a shrug as he lit his smoke. "That was the favor."
Sasuke lit his as well. "So where are you off to?" he asked curiously.
Naruto sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "Not sure yet. Bug's been busy looking into the few cases here in Iwa. I might have a case, might not. If not, I'll probably head home."
"Deidara must be sick of you." Sasuke said with a shake of his head.
Naruto shrugged. "I pay him." They both nodded and looked out towards the party goers down below. All snobs talking with those smug looks of dominance on their faces. "So… The girl you came with… You hiding her?"
Sasuke glanced over to him out the side of his eyes. "Not at all. She doesn't like the cold wea-.."
"Sasuke! There you are!" Came the voice of Sakura as he cringed at being found out. Naruto smirked lightly and turned towards her. She was wearing a very extravagant dark green dress that seemed to fit her nicely and her hair was done up into a politely messy swirling bun on the top of her head. "Geez, I head to the bathroom for a second and you run off… Oh, hey! It's you!" she said recognizing the blond standing next to him. "Naruto right?"
He nodded at her and stuck his hand out the closer she got. "That's right. And you are Sakura if I'm not mistaken." She nodded her head with a smile and shook his hand. "Well, Sasuke here talks a lot about you." He said, throwing a mocking grin towards his cold friend.
"Oh does he?" She quipped happily. "Hah, that's nice. All good things I hope." She said as Sasuke wrapped an arm across the top of her shoulders.
"Great things. All just… great things." His tone sounded normal enough, but Sasuke could feel the mocking undertone beneath it.
He just shook his head at the idiotic smirk on the blond's face. "Of course all great things." He said as he flicked his cigarette to the ground, stomping it out with his shiny black shoes.
Sakura smiled and pecked his cheek. "You should have told me your friend was here. Especially him." She said as she looked back his way. "I'm sorry, I never did thank you for that whole cabin thing." She said.
"Oh no worries. It's sort of what I do." He said with a shrug.
"Oh yeah! Sasuke was actually telling me you were going to be working with the team." She said. Naruto cocked his head and looked up to the black haired guy.
"Actually, I said he was considering it." Sasuke corrected.
Sakura seemed confused. "What's there to consider? I mean, that's like a perfect job. Who could turn down a job opportunity like that? I mean, that's a lot of money."
Sasuke scoffed. "Believe me, it's not as much as you'd think. It'd be more or less a hobby." He said as he shook his head. "Uh, so you're heading out now right?"
"You're leaving already?" Sakura asked. "This party's amazing."
Naruto shrugged and looked down to his phone. "Yeah, it's pretty nice." He said as he flicked his cigarette away. "Not my taste though. I'll uh.. I'll see you guys later." He said as he shook both of their hands. "Enjoy your night."
Making his way to his car, he popped the trunk and removed his jacket. He tossed it into the trunk along with his bowtie, leaving him in his black slacks, black dress shoes and his white long sleeved dress shirt. He shut the trunk and walked around to the backseat door. Knocking on the window, he peered inside to see Ghost pop up from his seat and immediately start barking. With a small smirk, he opened the driver side door and got in.
Immediately a volley of licks and sniffles met the side of his face. "Heh-hey boy. Down." He said pushing his head away with a chuckle. "Wasn't too long." He cut the car on and kept it in park as he pulled his phone up. Dialing a number, he waited for a few moments.
'Naruto. Finally done with that party nonsense?' the voice of Shino came, sounding out through the cars Bluetooth.
"Yes I am."
'Good. Why? Because I've got a bit of a busy night for you. A few counties over a small frat house was denied a full house cleansing from the church as the Vatican deemed it too close to a hoax. From the information they have presented, I'd be inclined to agree.'
"Send that address, I'll check it out when I can. What else?"
'If you are willing to get your hands dirty, there is a group of cannibals in the next town over who have created multiple websites in which they broadcast their killings. The FBI has yet to find them, but I believe I can hack into the IP and pinpoint the location. I'd likely have to bypass their torrent, but seeing how easily I was able to get an accurate ping on the general web strength it shouldn't be too hard. They're likely new to the dark web.'
"How many?"
'From previous showings, there are three of them. Two who are on screen, and one who operates the freelance camera. This information is inaccurate however as there could be more.'
"Are they armed?"
'Yes. The room they conduct their experiments in is filled with firearms.'
"Put it on the list. What else?"
'There is a possible possession case in a children's hospital for the mentally ill a few miles north. There is nothing confirmed, but the claims have spread into a few dark websites with fairly convincing footage.'
"It's on the list. Anything else?"
'Yes, there is a-… actually, you may want to prioritize the cannibal case. There was a recent missing person's report around the county near their area. A twelve year old girl by the name of Fu. She was taken last week and on their latest website they describes a showing tonight. They commonly butcher the victims alive so if you make it, you may be able to intervene. The show starts in two hours.'
"I'll head that way. Let me know when you pinpoint the location. Send me the directions to the town." With that said, he hung up and drove off in some random direction.
"No way." Ino said with finality as she used the wet rag in her hand to wipe the counter of the diner clean.
The redhead on the opposite side of her with a plate of half eaten food and a coffee didn't seem too pleased with her denial. "Ugh, come on Ino! Don't be such a pussy." She said with an exasperated tone. "Dude, its for like a few hours at best. I'm being roped into it with my sister and her asshole boyfriend. I just don't want to be there alone."
Ino sighed and looked around, checking on the few customers they had remaining. The late hours bringing in only the Friday night bar goers. "Tayuya… I really don't want to do that. I mean, I'm afraid of the woods already. I told you about that whole cabin incident."
"I know, but come fucking on. What are the chances of that happening again?" She asked with a condescending tone. "It's just gonna be a few hours. Stop being so paranoid. Besides, her boyfriend is like this fucking… police force trainee or something."
Ino chuckled and rolled her eyes. "Ohoh, I'm completely convinced." She said sarcastically.
Tayuya caught the tone and chuckled as well. "Alright he's sort of a pussy, but I know he owns guns. He goes hunting with his friends and shit all the time."
"Ok but… I just don't know…"
"Ugh, come on. Dude, look if something goes wrong just look on the bright side! We could possibly see that sexy ass badass piece of fucking golden Jesus again. I mean, you do still have his number right?"
Ino just continued cleaning. "y-Yeah, but. That's only for emergencies only." She said, not liking the fact that she wanted to exploit its use just for something stupid.
"Duh dummy. I'm saying it's a win-win. We go, nothing happens, fantastic. If something does happen, we have his number, we call him and he rides in on his fucking white horse and saves us again. I bring my make-up kit with me, make sure I look drop dead fucking gorgeous and BOOM, we're married in two years with a billion kids, end of story." She said with a joking tone.
Ino just smiled and shook her head. "I don't think he has a white horse."
Tayuya chuckled. "Well that's what he was riding when he saved us last time… well, that's how I remember it." Ino giggled. "But I'm serious. Dude, we should be fine. I mean, it's just a party. And it's not even a party. It's like literally my sister, her boyfriend and I think another couple. It's just a get together… with a bonfire…"
"Uh, yeah. In woods that we've never been to. And I don't know those people." Ino argued as she refilled the coffee maker behind her. "I mean, it's just… it sounds dangerous."
Tayuya rolled her eyes. "It's not dude. They go there all the time. There are no crazy ass cults around lurking in the woods. If there were they would have shown themselves already… I mean, there would've been a missing person's report or some shit."
Ino still wasn't convinced. "I don't… I don't know. Let me think it over tonight."
"It would mean a lot to meee." The red head said in a begging tone.
Ino chuckled and shook her head. "Let me talk to my parents about it."
"Oh god. You're twenty-one. Not nine." She said with an exasperated tone. The look Ino gave her told her she was ruining her chances. "Ugh. Ok-ok. I'm sorry. Look, just think it over. Hopefully before tomorrow afternoon… Because that's when we're leaving."
"Ok yuya, I'll think it over." She said as she grabbed her note pad and headed around to help the customers who just came in.
"By think it over, you mean of course you'll come?" She shouted out to her as she grabbed her stuff off the counter.
"No, I mean I'll think it over." She said back to her.
Tayuya headed for the door with a smile on her face. "Let me know what you're gonna wear!?" she shouted as she left. Ino chuckled and went on about her work. After she took the latest customers order, she was left with virtually nothing to do as she waited on their food to be prepared so she just continued to wipe at the counter just to look busy.
The past month had been a lot of fun for her. Tayuya being the main influence in that department. Apparently surviving a life and death situation together can really strengthen a friendship. Of course they had just met so it did a great job at creating one first. Their spontaneous bonding throughout the month is what strengthened it. Apparently, Tayuya has a pretty blatant fear of being alone. She enjoys being in someone's company pretty much at all times.
It used to be occupied by Jirobo and Kabuto, but of course them leaving her for dead drove a nail through the coffin for her. She quit Kabuto's little fan website which they were pretty sure he shut down the day after the mill incident and she had one last verbal spout with Jirobo. That spout being a partial verbal asskicking rant about his weight. In truth, she never had an actual female friend other than her sister, so Ino became her best.
For Ino it was a great thing as well. She couldn't get a hold of Sakura who was apparently spending a monumental amount of time with her new boyfriend, and Tenten was always busy when she called. As for Kiba, he was supposedly visiting his sister in Kumo which was weird because she was fairly sure she saw him drive by on her way to work. All of her old friends were caught up in their own lives, so meeting Tayuya, as vulgar as she is, was like a blessing in disguise.
They've done an incredible amount of things in the span of a month. The first thing being breakfast with Ino's parents when Tayuya dropped her off after that dreadful night of horror. They sold a ridiculous story about Ino coming ill prepared for the scene they were performing and slipping, ultimately bruising her shin on a bar. Then, they oddly enough went on a double date with these guys Tayuya knew. Well, she knew one of them, Ino came along as a wing-man… wing-woman… They ultimately snuck out the bathroom window so it was definitely a funny tale.
It was a pretty eventful month of undeniable friendship to say the least. So it wasn't necessarily out of the ordinary for Tayuya to be asking something like this. It was in a way the usual crazy adventure. One that Ino really had a bad feeling about in all honesty.
Naruto sat in his car, his mouth full of the last bite of the burger he was just eating. A box of fries was resting in the second cup holder to his right. Leaning his face away from the wet snout of his pooch who stuck his nose up front, he chuckled. "You finished already boy?" He picked the box of fries up and turned in his seat. "Here. That's all I've got." He dumped the remaining few into the bowl in the backseat. Ghost wasted no time in devouring them without hesitation.
He turned back in his seat and looked out of his window to his left. Across the street of this suburban neighborhood was a seemingly normal looking one story house. A blue truck parked in the driveway and all the lights off. Looking around some more, his eyes wandered around the night drenched neighborhood. He spotted a family a few houses down getting out of their mini-van laughing and chatting as they carried the left overs of their meals into their humble home. All unaware of the sadistic monsters just a few houses down. It was disturbing in itself.
With a sigh, he checked the time on his radio. It was 10:54 which meant the show stared in six minutes. Cracking his neck a few times, he opened his door and hopped out. Rounding the car, he popped the trunk and removed his white button down shirt, leaving him in his white muscle shirt. He dug through the trunk a bit until he found a long sleeved white shirt to go over. He then found a pair of black cargo pants. Shamelessly, he removed his slacks, leaving him in just his boxers. He put the pants on before grabbing a pair of black boots as well. When he was fully dressed, he pushed the duffel bags of clothes out of the way to reveal a handle beneath it all. Grabbing it, he pulled it up, exposing a fairly good sized arsenal of weaponry ranging from assault rifles and pistols to shotguns and multiple bladed weapons.
He grabbed a chrome plated pistol and two of the various ammunition clips. Popping one in, he cocked the gun back, putting one in the chamber. Digging into his supplies some more, he grabbed a silencer and screwed it on. With that done, he looked around for anything else he could need. There was a slot off to the side of the case of ammunition containing what looked like wallets. Grabbing one, he flipped it open to show a fake ID for the FBI with his face on it. Shutting it, he shoved it into his back pocket. With a final sigh, he grabbed a black turtle neck jacket from off to the side as well and put it on. He left it unzipped and shoved the gun into the strap inside.
He shut the trunk and began walking across the street. He could hear the muffled yelp of Ghost, asking if he could come. "No." Naruto said as he turned around, speaking as if he could hear him. "Not this time buddy." He continued along the street casually, as if he were completely unafraid of the imminent threat. When he made it to the other sidewalk, the door to the next house over opened up and a pretty little girl with straight brown hair came walking out with the keys in her hand. He stopped on the sidewalk and watched her for a moment.
She glanced his way, but continued along to the car. Opening the car door, she scrambled inside as if she were looking for something, when she found it, she got back out and locked the door. She turned to Naruto again with a small smile. Naruto smiled back and waved as she waved at him. 'Mei. Hurry up dear.' He could hear her mother calling for her. She jogged back towards their front door and went inside.
Naruto lingered in his spot for a moment. With a final sigh he continued towards the door. Stepping up to the porch, he looked around the neighborhood once more before ringing the doorbell. It was so peaceful around here. He waited for a few seconds before he received no response so he rang again. Waiting for a few more seconds, still no answer. So, he rang again.
When he thought he received no answer again, he went to reach for it again, but he could hear the various locks and mechanisms inside being configured. Finally, the door opened up slightly, being caught by the golden chain lock. A bald man with intense black eyes peaked out. "… What do ya want?" he asked in a very gruff almost country accent.
Naruto examined him for a moment before he replied. "… Good evening sir. My name is Horo Rayu. I'm with the FBI. We are conducting an investigation on a missing person's report of a girl who lives a few towns over. We're basically going house to house checking things out and the likes."
The man glanced back into the house for a moment. "What for?" he asked, apparently not being convinced.
"As I said before it's uh—it's standard procedure. I just need to come have a quick look around is all." He said with a shrug.
The man still didn't seem too convinced. He just looked Naruto up and down as if judging him or his word. "… You got a badge?" he asked. Naruto reached into his back pocket and pulled the wallet out. Flipping it open, he handed the whole wallet over to him. As he read that, Naruto reached into his jacket pocket where his gun was hidden and he could see the guys eyes shift towards his hand. He pulled a pack of cigarettes out and the guy looked back to him with a small clearly forced smile before he continued to look at the wallet. Naruto popped one in his mouth and lit it aflame. "Alright then." He said with a nod as he handed his wallet back. "Give me a second."
Naruto nodded and the guy shut the door. There was silence for a moment or two. Almost too long as if he were stowing away the weapon he was planning on using or more probably grabbing one. Naruto shoved the wallet back into his back pocket and held onto the cigarettes. Finally he heard the chain being removed. Just as the door was being opened, he was shoving the cigarettes back into his jacket pocket which the guy looked at. He smiled and nodded for the very last time.
Making the switch, Naruto pulled the suppressed gun out and shoved it into his exposed gut, shooting him three times in the stomach, muffling any scream he was going to muster. Quickly, he grabbed ahold of the front of his shirt before he fell. The look in the guy's eyes was a mix of anger and regret. Naruto simply entered the house, carrying the guy towards the living room and setting him on the couch. With him stowed away, he looked around for what he was looking for. The corridor to the basement was directly in front of the front door. He walked back towards the still opened entrance. Reaching around, he pressed the doorbell three more times. He shut the door and locked it up with the four locks it had on it.
He waited for a few more moments, still nothing was happening. With a sigh, he beat on the door as if he were knocking from the outside. He could hear the door at the bottom of the corridor leading to the basement open.
"Itsuo!" Another voice yelled. "Get the damn door!" There was very loud rock music playing, likely muffling that undertone of the girl screaming. Naruto knocked again. "Itsu-! Goddamn it!" Naruto stepped up next to the corridor as he heard the footsteps storming up the steps. When the guy made it to the top of the stairs, he looked around until he spotted the head of his friend sitting in the seat in the living room. Naruto examined him. He was in a full body plastic suit with what looked like a gas mask in his hand, likely used to cover his face. "Hey! Jackass, I thought I told you to get the do-.."
Naruto cocked his gun. "Make a noise and I'll kill you." He informed him. Slowly, the man's hands began to raise. "Turn around." He told him. The guy did as he was told and turned towards him. He was nearly in tears already.
His dark brown eyes looked into the barrel of the gun and back to Naruto. "I'm… I'm sorry. p-Please. Don't do this." He pleaded nearly in desperation. "Please, I'm not even wi-.."
"Shut up." Naruto said coldly as he removed his cigarette and flicked the ashes on the floor. He slowly took two steps back so that he was out of the view anyone coming up the stairs. "… Call your friend up. Act natural." He said threateningly.
The guy looked back to the corridor. "t-There are just two of us."
Naruto cocked his head with an incredulous look. He grabbed the gun in two hands, signifying he was making his aim straighter. "If I go down there and find someone else, I will kill you." He said as the guy began to plead.
"No-no-no-no! Ok! Ok.." he said, sticking his hands out trying to beg for his life. "t-… Takeshi!... Takeshi!" he shouted out. The basement door opened.
"What is it!?" A much deeper voice asked.
"It-… j-Just come up here!" He yelled. There was a pause before the door to the basement shut. There was no sound to be heard. Then, it opened again and footsteps could be heard climbing the steps very slowly. Naruto watched as the nozzle of a rifle came into view first. Naruto just glanced down to it.
"… Gira… where are you?" the man asked, speaking to the guy who called him up.
Naruto straightened his aim at the other guy who was just out of eyesight for the man in the corridor. He eyed Naruto's gun that was aiming directly at his forehead. "i-I'm here… in the living room." He replied, having no choice in the matter. With that being enough confirmation, the man in the corridor stepped up. Immediately, Naruto dropped his aim and shot Gira in the knee.
Before the other could turn around, he kicked the back of his leg out, forcing him to the ground. He quickly kicked the nozzle of the gun away before it could be aimed at him, and he shot the guy in his hands, making him drop it before he could shoot. The screaming of these two monsters drowned out the silence. Naruto bent down and grabbed his riffle. Throwing it behind him into the dining room, he shot Gira in his other knee as he tried to scramble away.
Naruto kicked Takeshi over so he was laying on his back. He examined him. Short cropped black hair, pitch black eyes and some kind of scar running through his eyebrow. "Cannibals huh?" he asked casually as he removed the cigarette from his mouth, blowing a puff of smoke out. "That's about as disgusting as it gets."
"Ergh… Who the hell are you?" Takeshi asked in a low growl, holding his bleeding hand against his chest.
Naruto stepped to the side of him casually and squatted down with the nozzle of the silencer against his gut. "I am… well, I guess it really shouldn't matter to you." He then removed his nearly finished cigarette once more, blowing the smoke right down into the guys face before taking the rest of it and pushing it into the hole in his hand.
The guy grimaced painfully but smirked regardless. "Ohoh, it matters… it definitely matters you motherfff... fucking... You came for the girl… Well, I'll get her eventually. More importantly, I'll get you!"
Naruto whistled as if he were impressed by his proclamation. "Gonna be hard to do from the dirt." He cocked hiss gun and placed the barrel of the silencer against his forehead, a hollow splat sound signifying the end of his life.
He then glanced up to see that Gira was gone. He must have crawled away during the altercation. There was a pretty heavy trail of blood that would lead Naruto right to him. As casually as ever, he stood up and began walking that way, cutting the lights on as he went along. He wasn't in the living room, so he continued on. Kicking the door to the kitchen open, he was surprised to see him on his stomach, reaching for the handle of the back door. Naruto just walked towards him slowly. Before he passed the fridge he opened it up and grabbed the case of beers inside.
As he opened it, he smelled it for no real reason and took a drink. As he was drinking, he heard the sound of a gun cocking that wasn't his. He turned towards Gira to see a black pistol in his hand. Shakily it was aimed at Naruto's chest. Naruto chuckled and shook his head. Then in a quickly game of quick draw, he pulled his gun up. A loud gunshot resounded and Gira's head snapped back, a bullet between his eyes.
Naruto sighed and looked down at his shirt. There was a hole through his long sleeved white shirt right in his gut. Poking his fingers into it, he slowly and painfully pulled out the little copper bullet. "... rgh.." he grunted as he looked at it. Shaking his head, he shoved it in his pocket, grabbed the case of beers and headed towards the basement.
As he entered, that strong smell of death hit him like a brick wall. It smelled like a slaughter house that had never been cleaned before. Couple that with the overbearingly loud rock music and it made for a very unsavory experience. He looked around and spotted the green haired girl who was squirming and trying to scream through the gag in her mouth. She was completely naked and hysterically crying. A few feet in front of her, their apparent broadcasting equipment including a laptop set up, multiple monitors, and a few cameras. Naruto shot the only camera facing the girl on the table.
With that done he found the source of the overbearing music and shut it off. Looking around some more, he found a green blanket. Finally, he walked towards the girl and began to unstrap her from the metal table she was lying on. As soon as she was freed, she bombarded him with the tightest hug she could muster and multiple shouts of appreciation. Naruto awkwardly pat her back waiting for her to release him as he gave her hollow words of encouragement.
"It's ok. You're fine now." She wasn't even concerned with her indecent nature as she refused to release her grip on him. He sighed and wrapped the blanket around her form. Finally, he wiggled his way from her grip allowing her to fully cover herself. "Let's get you out of here." He said as he led her up the stairs and out the house.
He sat in his car with the green haired young lady sitting in the passenger seat, watching as he filled out something on a piece of paper. The dog in the backseat vehemently trying to lick her tears away. She couldn't even form words as she continued to ball her eyes out. She was minutes away from death back there and she knew it. Hell, she was still in shock. This strange man just saved her life. When he finished whatever he was doing he drove off, not speaking a single word to her as he drove down the road.
A few minutes later, they were at the front of a police department. "Here." He said as he handed her the paper he was writing. "That's the address of the house you were being kept at. The basement is where they can find all the evidence. You don't know who saved you. It was too dark."
She was confused, but she got the gist of what he was telling her to do. Go in there, tell them what happened, don't describe him. "o-…Ok." She said between sniffles. "Thank you!... Thank you so much!" she said desperately as she reached over to give him one last hug. Naruto didn't accept it, but he didn't lean away either. Finally, she got out the car and shut the door. With a sigh, he took off down the road.
Dialing a number, Shino picked up on the other end. "Cannibals dealt with."
'Great. Is a cleanup necessary?'
"Nope. Cops should have it."
'Ok. Next up, I'd say the children's hospital.'
"Send the address." He said as he hung up and continued on.
Waking up to the Saturday sunlight, Ino stretched away her exhaustion with a yawn. As she rubbed her eyes she looked around her room, too exhausted to actually sit up or even move. She had a long night at work last night and she didn't get off until one in the morning. She had a list of things to do today though. Well, nothing necessarily mandatory, but still things she had planned. First things first, grocery shopping with her mom. Rolling over, she looked at the clock. It was already ten… TEN!?
She rolled out of bed, suddenly feeling so much more awake. She charged out of her room, the distinct smell of her mother's breakfast hitting her immediately. Her legs carried her down the stairs and into the dining room. "Mom?" She asked as she watched her setting the breakfast she made down on the table. "I told you to wake me so I could go with you."
Kiori waved her off and continued setting the table. "Ah, Ino dear it's no problem. You looked so tired I just wanted you to sleep in for once." She said as she headed back to the kitchen.
Ino followed her, still rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "Mom, you should've woken me." She said as she began to help her. "I wanted to go with you."
"Well, how bout next time?" She asked grasping her shoulder gently as she giggled lightly. "It's so funny, you used to whine to go when you were little too."
Ino chuckled lightly as well. "Well, that's because I wanted something." Kiori laughed as the two of them walked the last of the food to the table. Eventually Inoichi made his way down stairs, fresh out of the shower. Their morning conversation mainly centered around their individual current events taking place within their places of work. Funny tales were told as well as juicy stories until finally they were thrusted into silence from a sudden lack of topics. And it was sadly halfway through the meal.
Ino found this moment a perfect time to ask the question she had been thinking of. But, before she did, her mother spoke up. "So, did you hear how upset our little angel was about not being able to go with me to the store hun?"
Inoichi gave her an amused look. "I didn't actually. But that sounds about as adorable as it was years ago." He said making Ino roll her eyes.
"She was sooo upset. Oh, she hasn't changed a bit." Kiori said, cooing over a matter Ino found to be not too interesting.
"Well, I'm a grown woman now… so there's that." She argued mockingly.
Inoichi just chuckled and shook his head. "Ohoh, I don't know. If you tally it up you're just the same. Still upset when you can't go somewhere, just as adorable, and still living at home. Only thing different is you got a bit taller." He and Kiori laughed as Ino attempted to chuckle along. In truth that was the most degrading thing he could have said.
Too degrading for her liking. "… Well actually. Uhm… I was going to go out with my friend Tayuya later on to a bit of a party… w-well it's not actually a party… It's uh… it's a bonfire in the woods… with her sister… and some of her friends…" Their chuckling slowly came to a halt.
Inoichi just glanced her way before looking back towards Kiori. Then, he began to shake his head. "… uhm… well, no…" he said, cutting into the silence.
Ino gave him a confused look. "Excuse me?"
Inoichi scratched his chin in thought. "I said no… You're not going to some party in the woods."
"Uh, yes—I am." She argued.
Kiori jumped in. "I don't want you going to that Ino."
She picked at her food. "Well, I am going… soo…"
Inoichi chuckled lightly through his mouth full of food. "Hmhm… Yeah no Ino. That's not how it works."
"That is actually how it works." She argued immediately.
"Nope. Not when you live here." An intense stare down between father and daughter ensued and Kiori jumped in to escalate it.
"Ino, your father says no. So, no. You're not going, we can—do something here or maybe go see a movie."
She shook her head. "No. Mom… no. I'm—I'm going out with my friends…" She tried to go back to her food, hoping they understood she was serious. She could almost physically feel her father's gaze on the side of her face.
Inoichi was growing increasingly more frustrated. "… You…" he stopped there, as if he couldn't even find the words to adequately deny her claim again. "… Ino you don't even know wha-… urgh…" he growled in frustration. "The woods? After the last thing that happened to you, you want to go back into the woods… with a bunch of people you don't even know…" his tone was mockingly condescending as if he were calling her stupid.
"I do know them." She argued back immediately, too quickly for even herself. "Well… I know Tayuya…"
Inoichi just shook his head. "Yeah, that doesn't help your case. I don't know who Tayuya knows, but I'm sure it's no one good."
"You met her once. That doesn't mean you know her."
"I know her enough to say that." Inoichi argued back.
Ino just shook her head and placed a hand on her forehead. "No, no you don't. Ok? She's—there's a lot more to her than that."
"Well great." Kiori said. "That does not change the fact that you're not going."
"Ugh, Mom."
"Your father's right." Kiori said, cutting her off. "You can't… place yourself in the position for stuff like that deer fiasco to happen… Ok, you've been away for a long time. You don't know how crazy this world can be."
Ino sighed and stood to her feet. "Mom, I'm sorry, but I am a grown woman. I plan on going to this party and I plan to eventually have my own life… I can't stay here forever."
"No one said you had to." Inoichi said. "Ino, you don't have any adequate real world skills yet alright? Not yet. You can't rent an apartment working for four bucks an hour at a diner that's running out of business." He finished with a slight chuckle at how ridiculous it sounded.
"So you don't think I can be on my own?" She asked in a clearly irritated tone.
Kiori sighed. "He didn't say that dear. You just… it's not as easy as you think it is. Just because you're pretty doesn't mean the world is gonna be nice to you. You should know that better than anyone by now…"
Ino chuckled sarcastically. "Thanks mom. You were so right to worry. I mean, I'm just so stupid I actually thought it was as easy as flipping my hair."
"Ino-.." Her father tried.
"My dumb-blond senses told me that I was just pretty enough to be whatever the hell I wanted." She grabbed her plate and began walking to the kitchen. They said nothing else to her on the way. "Guess I was wrong." Their conversation ended there, but it was far from over.
Quick Authors Note: Sorry guys, this is a quick little chapter. I am currently getting my ass kicked by finals so, bear with me here.
