Chapter 11

Konoha SVU Squadroom, 225 E. 85th St.

"She'll probably kill me for this," a woman began while walking into a tall building. "But if it'll catch her attacker, so be it." The woman rode the elevator to the fifth floor, hoping the man she wished to speak with would still be there.

Meanwhile, Detectives Uzumaki and Uchiha watched as Nara and Aburame waited for Momochi to either crack or show his temper. "This is taking too long," Uzumaki whined. "Why can't I just beat answers out of him?"

Uchiha groaned. "Do you really have to ask, Dobe?" he asked his hot-headed partner.

Before Uzumaki could retort, another detective walked toward them. "You have a visitor," a man said.

Uzumaki walked toward the entrance to the squadroom and spotted his visitor. "Ms. Yuuhi," he said in greeting.

"Detective," the woman greeted in return.

"What can I do for you?" Uzumaki asked, curious.

Kurenai closed her eyes before speaking. "We need to talk," she began, "about Hinata."

Uzumaki escorted them to a room often used to help victims relax. Soft couches lined two of the walls. A small counter containing a sink, coffee maker and mini fridge lined a third wall. Uzumaki escorted the two to one of the couches. "What's going on?" he asked. "What can I do?"

Kurenai sighed, wondering if she should be telling the man such things about her dear friend. "I don't know if this will help your case or not," she began. "Hinata came up to me a few months ago, upset. I didn't know why at first, but she began telling me the story of her son and his father."

Uzumaki sat up, officially intrigued. "What did she say?" he asked.

"Her father is the reason her first marriage ended," Kurenai said, beginning her tale. "She claimed that her father ended her marriage because she hadn't given him a new heir, but I suspect there's more to the story. When she finally did give birth to her son, her father disowned the boy. He claimed the boy was a stain on the family legacy."

Kurenai began to cough. Uzumaki walked away, returning a short time later with a bottle of water. She smiled her thanks, then continued. "One night, she overheard a conversation between her father and his bodyguards. They asked him about the man her father was going to force her to marry. When they asked him about the man possibly rejecting Hinata because of her child, her father growled. He told them to get rid of the child by any means necessary and guarantee that she'd never be able to find him. Within three days, she had packed their things and ran. She eventually returned to Konoha and began teaching at the Academy. To my knowledge, she only keeps in touch with one of her relatives. A cousin, I think." She laughed. "I thought he was her brother at first. Whenever he stopped by the academy to see her, he made it a point to growl at any parents and teachers that showed any sort of sexual interest in her." Uzukaki chuckled. "She finally decided a few months ago to try contacting her son's father. By then, I'd convinced her that he deserved to know he had a son out there. She was afraid he'd disown her and her son, just like her father had."

Uzumaki took in everything Kurenai told him. At times, he felt sorry for his ex. At others, he wanted to personally drop kick Hiashi into the middle of the next century. He tried to keep his temper in check, however. Finally, curiosity got the best of him. "So whatever happened between her and her son's father?" he asked. "Did she ever tell him? What did he say?"

Kurenai looked at Uzumaki, confused. "You went to see her yesterday, right?" she asked.

"Yeah," Uzumaki replied, uncertain where her line of questioning was headed. "What about it?"

"When you two talked, Hinata never brought up her son?" Kurenai asked.

"Only to ask if he was okay," Uzumaki replied.

Kurenai sighed. Enough is enough, Hinata! her mind screamed. "Then you'll have to ask her about what happened with Arashi's father," Kurenai finally said. "I've probably already told you too much. Plus, as I said before, I don't even know if what I told you will help."

Uzumaki nodded. "I know," he said. "But I appreciate the information." Just what ARE you hiding, Hinata? he asked himself. Do I even wanna know?