A/N: Wow I meant to finish this sooner but since school ended I have been working very hard with my full time job. Sadly that job had me living there and little time for me. Finally after four or five months I have found a better job and I now have more time. So updates will be happening more often...provided the chapter writes well.
Also please forgive some of my grammar. My beta I believe may have gone on vacation or is so busy that she can't beta. I understand for some of you bad spelling and grammar is really frustrating so bear with me as I work on that. If there are any glaring mistakes let me know, it could have been me...or the attack of the dreaded vista (it likes to place random consonants in words...weird thing)
As for this chapter, its still a little bit of filler. Very soon all of these chapters will work their way together. Right now I was working more with the characters. The next chapter I am working on might just be a very funny one.
Thank yous:
SuperTay: I only hope you see the new update. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 21: Behind a Wall
"Tell me again why she wanted you to look through these?" Izumo asked as he looked up from the large pile of files Sakura had.
Sakura looked up and waved them off. She didn't have time for their questions. "It's just something she wanted to look up, nothing major; stop asking."
"Really?" Clearly they weren't too sure what she was talking about.
"Yes, now go, I can close up without you two." Sakura sighed; they were really getting on her nerves.
"Geez she's starting to sound like Tsunade-sama more and more everyday." Kotetsu laughed and said something Sakura couldn't hear as they both left the room.
"And Iruka sensei says Jounin are nuts." She sighed as she looked at the third last file.
Although she didn't think it was a common name in Konoha, Akane was a name that appeared a lot within the last decade. However she wasn't really sure why she bothered with it, the girl she was after was at least Kakashi's age.
To be on the safe side she had pulled out his file as well. It was the first thing she looked through. There was not much in there besides the obvious exemplary record. However there was only one small blemish on his record that caught her attention. At the age of ten he and another young shinobi got into a fight. The other was reported to be a female Genin. Both were hospitalized; Kakashi with a broken leg and the girl with a broken arm. It also stated that the two seemed to always have problems, usually a disagreement; even at that age. Sakura found that a little strange.
Kakashi was a Genin as well but close to becoming Chuunin, at that age he probably knew better. There was some reason for it, but there was no way to get to the bottom of that. After all she had no idea who her sensei was when he was younger. From what she did know he wasn't the same person he was now.
"He was weird even as a kid." She muttered. In a way she was expecting this. Kakashi was so eccentric that it just had to be natural for him.
She also found out the reason for some of his weird behaviour. At that same age his father had committed suicide and the Fourth took him in, not only because he was his student but because he owed the boy as much. He raised the boy for as long as Kakashi could be contained. By the age of fifteen he was already on his own. That alone explained Kakashi's independence.
There was a time when he had a female teammate but Sakura had heard stories about her. When she was alive everyone was sure she was going to be like Tsunade but then one day on mission the girl had gotten injured and suffered a weird illness that no one could cure. Her death was a shock to everyone, especially her last remaining teammate.
The other teammate; had a record that reminded her of Naruto. A loudmouth, an idiot and a boy stuck in a war full of ideals. All she knew from his file was he died on mission. One Kakashi was the team leader. This also explained Kakashi's ideals of protecting his entire team all by himself. It was a suicidal frame of mind as far as she was concerned.
But all of this she knew, at least for the most part. There was no point in going deeper into his past at least not that far back. Picking up another file with the same name as the woman Yamato gave her, Sakura began to read. It didn't take her long to see a problem with that one.
Putting down the file she had picked up she realized that girl was not the one she was looking for. She was married and with kids, on top of that a Chuunin and no longer taking missions. Most women wound up raising kids and living at home. Rarely did they resume their mission duties. However there were a few.
Picking up the next file she froze.
"Akahoshi Akane" Sakura read the name on the tab out loud. "Akahoshi?" She had heard the name before.
Thinking on it for a moment it came to her.
"The Akahoshi, in the academy I remember reading about them, they were a clan that lived here in Fire Country centuries before Konoha was established. They were a war-like race not much different than the Uchiha; they were still here until a few decades ago." She said to herself. She then shrugged. "I have no idea what good that does me." Half the village heard those stories.
Although, I do remember Iruka-sensei skipping parts of their history...I wonder what that was about. The other teachers covered them more fully...then again Iruka-sensei also made them sound much nicer than the others did.
Opening the file she first found a sheet inserted. It was a death certificate. It was the usual certificate, time of death, the date, where and so on. The only thing that was strange was that there were no remains found. Essentially she was either completely obliterated or she was missing be it on mission or as a rouge.
"Well that's common as it is"
Turning to the basic mission report she noticed this was no push over. She was far from it; her file for the most part was spotless. It was no surprise considering Sakura found it hidden under empty folders. Why it was kept there was a mystery. It was almost as if someone hid the file there for safe keeping. The only person she knew who used that cabinet was Iruka. He was in charge of literally all missions, these happened to be the shinobi who were connected to ANBU.
"This is getting complicated." That was what she was afraid of. When things got complicated they often got messy.
Standing up she froze on the spot. Someone was coming; someone with a lot of chakra. If it was an ANBU she would be in a lot of trouble, especially since they weren't usually as gullible as Kotetsu and Izumo. Threatening them also wouldn't work; it would only get her into trouble.
Ducking behind the table she waited, hoping this person would keep walking, but they didn't. Instead they walked right up to the door and into the room.
Sakura held her breath as she watched the shinobi move across the room directly towards her. Bunching a fist she got ready to strike.
"Hitting me might not be a good idea Sakura-san." The familiar voice of Yamato laughed.
"Ya...Yamato-sensei?"
"Ha ha who else would know where you went off to?"
He didn't think he had startled her so much. It wasn't like he was trying to hide his prescience. He came because he felt the situation would make more sense if he was there with her, rather than leaving her with the task alone.
"I felt bad letting you do this on your own."
"It's not so bad. I found something interesting but I first want to check something. I was hoping to ask you if you could look for me."
"Oh?"
"Well see that cabinet?"
"Yes the blue one."
"It's for missions done by ANBU operatives, not just them, but also those who worked in the ops in the past as well."
"Right, that's correct."
"The only person I know who is able to get into it is Iruka-sensei and other ANBU when they need to. However on most cases it's the captains who used those files. Why would Iruka-sensei be able to go into it, he's just a Chuunin." Sakura asked as she walked to the cabinet and dug around.
"Well ANBU is not only for Jounin, Chuunin can join up as well, but they have to be highly skilled."
"I thought that too. Then it struck me that Iruka-sensei usually got a lot of the kids none of the other teachers wanted to teach."
"That could be rumour though?"
"Maybe but lets just play on that." She continued as she riffled through the lower sections. "Then if he is so talented why is he not an ANBU?"
"I would be asking why isn't he a Jounin?" He had seen something in the man the day he met him at the ramen stand. Iruka was not a fool and he was more intelligent then he led on. Actually the man seemed more wary of him than he should have been. Iruka knew he was up to something and may still think that.
I find this situation interesting, even the academy sensei isn't quite what he seemed...the same went for all of the other rookie nine and their teachers. It's as if the Third had a plan in mind.
"Okay let's ask this..." She said as she turned around with a file on hand and passed the one she had earlier to Yamato. "Why was this one placed under a bunch of empty folders? Someone wanted to hide it."
"Perhaps it was forgotten." It was possible. Iruka was not working in the office his entire life; there was someone there before him.
"The body was never recovered. I read about it, something must have been left, teeth at least, but nothing. They stated that the area was completely empty, there was nothing." Sakura pointed to the report.
"Perhaps a special mission was assigned." Special missions were very secretive. Some were so secretive that they required the person to be 'dead' to all who knew them due to the increased mortality rate involved. In many cases those who had accepted those missions never returned. However this would be quite the mission. Usually operatives would be back within a year or two, if this is true this operative has been gone for eight or nine years. What mission could possibly take that long?
"I thought that too. Then I thought about the fact it was hidden."
"Okay."
"Did you know no one can find Akahoshi Kaji's file anywhere?"
"No, I didn't, that is strange, especially since he was trained here, or so I heard." It was a rumour but he felt it was the truth. He had watched the younger man after team seven came back from their mission the first time. He was a clam relaxed man who knew the streets of Konoha like the back of his hand. Only someone who grew up there would know them that well.
"Yes, he was Iruka-sensei's teammate."
"This is getting complex." Now Iruka was dragged into this entire fiasco.
"Think about it." Sakura said as she sat in the chair. Yamato was surprised at how quickly she was able to analyze the situation. He had to give her credit; she knew what she was doing.
"Lets see Akahoshi Kaji was Iruka-sensei's teammate, this folder was hidden away in a cabinet only he has access too...how did you get in there?"
"Oh...I broke the lock...let's not get into that."Sakura giggled. Yamato blanched.
Her abilities scare me a little.
"So where are you going."
"Simple, take a look." She handed him a separate file. Each ANBU file had a photo accompanying it, and on that photo was a young Iruka. The scar on his nose gave him away.
"So now this is getting messy."
"If he hid that file, then he must have the other one."
"Where would he put it, under more folders? That would be rather easy." Yamato knew Iruka from the rumours around the village; the man was far from stupid.
"No I think he has them in his home."
"I see...since he's rarely away, it would be the best place to hide something, and no one would investigate."
"Exactly, so that's the next stop."
"So this file might be the one?"
"It's weird though...there's no photograph." Sakura sighed.
"That could also just be based on the time these were made or updated."
"Maybe." He didn't blame her for not believing him.
"During the war it was dangerous for ANBU operatives to reveal their identities. If they did then they were sure to be dead. When Iruka-sensei joined up it was after the war when it was peaceful.
"So then she was...no...that doesn't work. She would have been fifteen or so when she was ANBU."
"Well from on here it says she's an Akahoshi. Most of them reach ANBU at a young age; we had a few who were considered unofficially in the ranks at the age of twelve. Sakura I know most of you were told they were enemies of Konoha, but most of these people were trained as shinobi from the days they could walk. It's their culture."
Sakura stared at him as though he told her something revolting.
"That's almost as bad as abuse, what if they didn't want to be shinobi."
"Did Neji choose?" He knew that would prove his point; however in the end yes it became Neji's choice.
"I doubt it."
"Then most of our other clans were no better, perhaps not as extreme."
Sakura seemed to consider this and then pushed it aside.
"So we need to go look at Iruka-sensei's place?"
"Well I would rather not but we need clues we can use. Kakashi-senpai is not the most cooperative person with these matters."
"I agree."
"So let's get started there." He said as he waved her to the door, a frown on his face. Something told him the academy sensei would not be impressed.
Iruka sat on a flat stone at the edge of a large clearing. He had been there for at least two hours. Akane was training both his and her own team. His was faring okay, but her team was falling behind. He had a feeling he knew just why that was.
With the approaching storms, her team was used to help lash the village down. Most of them don't have their families here and so they had no choice but to help. My men are more rooted; they don't sleep in the barracks and get twice as much rest.
He smiled as she landed what looked like a rather awkward flip. If anyone could out manoeuvre anyone it was her. Akane had a very unique ability. She was as far as Iruka knew the only person who could control the air around her. However that was connected to her darkest secret, the very secret that caused the entire mess with ROOTS in the first place.
"When will you be able to face that power Akane...we might need it soon." He sighed. It was bad enough the Fourth had sealed it up, but also that Akane believed every word he told her. Iruka on the other hand believed there were exceptions to each rule. Right now there was one. Akatsuki.
Iruka wasn't really scared of them. He meant nothing to them, so there was nothing to worry about. But it was others he was concerned for; it was people like Naruto, Akane and Kakashi. They were Fire Country's powerhouses when it came to ability and knowledge.
Naruto's going to blow them both out of the water when he learns to control the Kyuubi. If I can play this right I could get her to help him. That would be best; he could get the best teachers around.
He only hoped Akane would go easy on the boy. Naruto wasn't a genius like she and Kakashi are, he just can't access the same information when things are calm. He knew he had to tell her to first throw the boy in a difficult situation before she could see his potential, otherwise she would label him an idiot...which most people do anyways. Still Iruka knew the truth and for Naruto, that was all that mattered.
The training ended rather quickly after Akane slammed one of the largest members of the team into the ground with just sheer momentum. In her case she had to augment all her strength with speed, otherwise she would have lost ages ago. For her brains won out brawn.
Watching closely he realized there was always a drawback to this type of fighting style. No matter who the opponent is, bigger or smaller; the user will always receive some damage. Akane had done that, she had somehow dislocated her arm.
Just as soon as the damage was done, it was fixed. Although not a medic, Akane had the ability to heal quickly and knew anatomy well enough to fix her own breaks, as well as those of teammates. Enemies, were usually victim to this knowledge, and the more he thought of it the more he was pleased he was friend rather than foe.
"Iruka!" She called as she waved. Training always left her in a good mood. He waved back slowly but couldn't help the foolish smile on his face. That smile was never going to leave, but either way no matter what happened in the past or the future he would still love her, if not as a lover, than as a friend. After all there was someone in the village he was considering.
She quickly dispatched her team, most of which had their heads hung low from a reprimand. Akane was always good at putting people on the spot.
"What are you doing here?" She asked as she approached him. Iruka simply shrugged.
"Not much. I need these things and I hate them, the less time I use them the better." Crutches were painful, they had their place, but he felt it was never worth it.
"I agree."
"Says the one who never had to use them yet." Iruka pouted.
Akane laughed and sat next to him. Sometime she had this child-like personality that made you want to grab her and squeeze as hard as you could. Then again if he did that she would hurt him severely for that. Akane was the kind of person who rarely liked human contact. Only a select few are allowed to be close with her.
"It's not my fault, he doesn't give me much choice."
"Which is the right thing to do in your case, with the way you act." Iruka laughed. Akane had a hard life, there was always a chance of someone after her. He'd seen people try to assassinate her for her family's wealth. Some tried to kidnap her for her rank, and others wanted to kill her for the bounty on her head. The poor woman had to watch herself all the time.
Iruka never understood those others. Making enemies of the Akahoshi was stupid for anyone.
"Well when are you going home?"
"Not sure, whenever Kaji is done what he's doing."
"Oh...probably telling my parents all about Konoha." Akane laughed. Her parents considered Konoha theirs...well all of the Akahoshi did, they were rather possessive. Iruka usually found himself an object of that possessiveness mostly by the main branch, they thought he was something like a saint, only Akane knew better and everyone outside the clan.
"Why aren't you with them?"
"Me?"
"Wasn't that what I asked?" Iruka said getting slightly irritated by her carefree attitude.
"Oh, well technically I forgot...I remembered as soon as I stepped out of the house."
"So you're saying you ran off before they could get you." Iruka said giving her a glare. He hated her attitude towards her family. She wanted nothing to do with them, and he didn't understand that.
She has to realize that no matter what happens they're her family, she can't push them aside like that, even if she didn't grow up with them, they still care, at least somewhat.
Still he knew why and part of him couldn't blame her, it was part of the reason why they were never in the same room with her parents at the same time, aside from dinner and breakfast. They were always trying to set them up again, always saying that things can still work out. Both Iruka and Akane knew better, they were too much alike. There were many times now he wanted to drop a hint that there was someone else who had their eye on her.
Why they want me makes no sense, there's nothing to my name. I'm a teacher nothing more. Kakashi would be much better. The last member of a strong clan that always rose above the elite of Konoha. Maybe there was a plan for that, and the suicide made them change their mind.
"I didn't do it on purpose, I might have wanted to, but since I was already out the door I felt it was best just not to bother. Besides they were probably going to ask me more stupid questions about you."
Like his father Kakashi tends to do reckless stupid things...but maybe that's too harsh; Kakashi is just protecting everyone. Well I could always drop a hint...but only when she's not there. Otherwise I'll get the beating of my life.
"They seem to have this fascination with you, I don't get it. You're loud mean and annoying for the most part. You get moody in the morning...
She would rather keep him a secret. I can understand that. Konoha would not stop at killing them both if the elders found out.
...if you don't get like three cups of coffee you're like a demon, out to kill all who wake up happy, and if you can't kill them you make them miserable with you. Let's not go into the constant obsessive compulsiveness over your home.
If not that then Danzuo will kill her first. Then Kakashi would kill him and die at the hands of someone else...probably Tsunade.
...When you get back after teaching you always sleep, they're smaller than you, considering the coffee you consume you should be on a higher high than a sugar high.
Although she might let him, she hates him. That would solve a problem...but that would be a
sad day...Akane dying would push Kakashi over the edge either way, he would definitely find a way to follow his father's example, of course not by his own hands anyways.
"Are you even listening to me? HELLO!!" He hadn't even noticed her talking, he realized quickly that he had spaced out.
"Oh...I'm sorry, I was thinking about something...what did you say?" She seemed to consider it.
"Um...it...was...nothing." She said quickly. Something told him it was something he would not have agreed, the stupid grin on her face tipped him off.
"What was it?" He asked narrowing his eyes.
"Nothing." She gave him a sheepish smile while leaning back a little, raising a shoulder ready to defend herself should be attack.
"What was it?" He demanded again.
"Oh look at the time, dinner!"
"Dinner!" Iruka had seconds to react as Akane shot up to her feet and two feet away.
Sometimes you can be dense.
Shaking his head he grabbed a crutch and swung it hitting her in the side.
"Foolish woman, its two in the afternoon, your family would consider that blasphemy!"
"Ow..." She said in reply as she rubbed her side.
"Should have realized that Nariko gave me a weapon to beat you with." He laughed as he tucked both crutches under his arms and hobbled a few steps.
"Well, we should check what's happening in the mission office."
"What office?" Akane laughed at his joke.
It was a local joke. The Office for the Wind Village was...almost a closet. They never got enough missions so most were either stupid and thrown away or so dangerous only a select few could do them.
"Well its not like there's one for you."
"Rub it in."
"Oh trust me I will."
"Watch it Akane, I may be injured but that doesn't mean I can't put you in the same position."
He dreaded saying that. "Try me!" She said as she ran off. "Race you."
Sighing Iruka started his long 'walk'
I'm always stuck with people who like to rub it in, no matter what it might be. Hell it could be what I had for breakfast if I wasn't careful. Guess I deserve it considering my past.
As he walked back he couldn't help but notice the darkness of the sky and the chill in the air. Canyon Country was in for a rough winter.
"Tell us what is happening in Konoha?"
"Any specifics you need, or just in general?" Kaji asked as he watched his parents' reaction.
"Lets begin with how the village looks." His father started.
Yoshiro was not the largest man in the village, but he was the most powerful. Among most of the Fire Country clan leaders, Yoshiro had the most prescience. It was one of the reasons why many didn't trust them. During his time in Konoha, even the Hyuuga clan leaders would answer to him, however due to his time away they had gained the control the Akahoshi feared. Still Yoshiro knew how to deal with them from a distance.
Kaji was naturally the heir and this was very clear to him in Konoha. Many were worried that Tsunade allowed him to come back, to take his rightful place as her personal guard. However Kaji unlike most, knew times had changed and there was no need. Still something had the Akahoshi clan worried. Soon someone was going to have to keep a close eye on the Hokage, if things kept getting as worrisome as they were.
"Well, since I've seen it last, it's grown but overall it hasn't changed very much."
"How about the estate?"
The estate his father was asking about was where the Akahoshi lived before they had to flee. The complex was large enough to hold a total of ten to fifteen families, depending on their size. Usually it held as many as twelve all year round. The rest of the clan usually lived in the area surrounding it. The complex also had a wall surrounding it with the usual gate that bore the family name. It was essentially not much different from the Uchiha compound.
All the small houses surrounded a large floating garden. This was an area the heads of the clan would use for discussions, meetings with other clans and ceremonies. If nothing special was happening the entire area was just somewhere for clan members to relax.
Most of it now was over grown. However the complex itself was still in pristine shape. The Akahoshi knew better than to leave it unprotected. After all they planned to come back and reclaim it.
"Well it's the same as last time." He said shrugging. Yoshiro wasn't surprised.
"So Akanke's ghost idea worked?"
"For now yes. Many of the villagers are superstitious. There was evidence though that someone had been there recently but I might know who that was."
"Who, not Iruka, he avoids it."
"No, someone else."
"There aren't many people who dare to go near due to the traps."
"Either way it doesn't matter, they're no threat to the clan, if anything they're on our side." Kaji stated trying to keep them from going further into the subject. Telling his father that Hatake Kakashi had been snooping through the estate would not go over well. Instead he was going to move on, "So far from what I saw the economy is stable, if not flourishing. Many people are moving within its walls recently, probably due to those rumours of a war." Kaji reported.
"That would be expected, especially near the beginning of winter. The people of Fire Country haven't forgotten the past wars. They're wise enough to know larger numbers are always better."
"Makes me wonder where that leaves us." His mother sighed.
"With Akane here we will be safe, for now."
Kaji rolled his eyes. He knew there was something happening in Konoha with Akane and Kakashi. As far as he could tell the man was sincere in a very clumsy way. He had a feeling he was not good with relationships or that he never had one.
"As long as you stop trying to marry her off."
"Kaji, your sister is getting older, how long do we have to wait." His mother commented not all to happy with his outburst. They had this argument often.
"Old?" He scoffed.
"Yes."
"I get a choice, can't she?" It was getting on his nerves with how they treated her. Akane became a thing as soon as she turned eight. Since then the family has tried its best to keep her busy or out of the village. The last time they tried to marry her off Akane had attacked the poor bachelor.
"Of course she can. Iruka-sensei or someone from Cloud."
"That's a bit one sided don't you think. Cloud would kill her once they get her, that way they can see what gives her that stamina that had beat them in every battle in the past." He rolled his eyes. Akane didn't want Iruka. He couldn't blame her. Iruka was more like a brother now. He was too special to them, to close, and knew far too much about everyone. There was just no way. As far as Akane was concerned he was the one who consoled her and protected her from persecution. Other than that he was a friend.
What would Kakashi be? He must be a potential lover. There's no way he's something less. Those two seem far too close.
"Either way I want her to give us grandchildren, I want her to continue the line."
"I thought that was my job."
"You're slow son." His father chuckled. "You've been busy trying them all out but haven't decided yet."
"Well I wouldn't go that far. Half of them are from here and rather blank."
"Like a slate?" Akane interrupted.
"Yes thank you." He laughed.
"No problem. Mother Iruka's whining in the kitchen, he wants to know when the laundry was taken."
"That's it?" Kotone asked as she raised a brow in confusion. Often Iruka seemed to make weird demands which lead to some very funny moments.
"Okay he wanted me to make him food...but I solved it." She smiled. Kaji had a feeling there was a threat involved.
"AKANE!!" Everyone winced. Iruka was sometimes very loud. Kaji silently corrected his earlier thought.
"Looks like I'm going away now."
"Okay see you later then." Kaji waved her out.
Yoshiro and Kotone looked at one another in confusion.
"What exactly is your point?"
"Akane doesn't want Iruka-san either."
" Then who?" They both said in unison.
"In the end, whoever she wants."
"What about that young man she found years ago?" Kaji sighed and got up. He had had just about enough of this.
"Yes that one is a good one. Speaking of which where has he been, he's been missing for a week..."
"Okay I'm going, talk later." The door shut and Kaji laughed. The two of them seemed to have a one track mind usually. The fact was they didn't care where she went as long as Akane was not there anymore. He understood that reasoning in a way, trouble liked to follow Akane, but so did rumours and persecution. The people of the Wind Village were kind but they were not as patient as Konoha would be. After all they had the nine tailed fox living with them, what was another monster.
Sakura stared at the dark apartment from the side of the street where she stood. They had no choice but to do this and either way it had to be done, not matter if she liked it or not. Even Yamato was sombre about it.
"We have to do this." His voice calming her nerves only a little bit, at least she wasn't completely alone.
"I know." She sighed as she looked towards her former team captain.
"Do you know if he places traps?" Yamato was clearly worried. Sakura was not so sure why. Iruka was one who hated hurting people. Even harming someone breaking in would be Iruka's worst nightmare.
"No, he doesn't believe in them. It wouldn't be a good idea especially when he has students showing up unannounced all the time."
"Aren't we lucky then, but that isn't a very safe way to live as a shinobi."
"I'm more worried that we won't find anything. We could get into a lot of trouble."
"I know but that won't make things better."
"True." She took a few steps and opened the door. "You first."
"Isn't it ladies first?"
"Usually, however you are stronger than me, should there be anything you would be better to deal with it."
"Someone's been learning from her sensei." Sakura smiled, she had to learn something.
"Ha ha he still manages to talk circles around us." She laughed as she followed behind him.
"To think someone who doesn't talk much he sure knows how to manipulate everyone."
"It's ironic really, but I bet he's not so good with women." Sakura had guessed this a while ago. Kakashi seemed to spend most of his time alone.
"Ha ha ha he's terrible." Yamato had seen it a few times, "Kakashi seems set to fail every time. I honestly think he's after a specific kind of person; he always chooses the strong women. Most of which would leave right away. Who would want a man who hid himself all the time, or would keep you as far away from him as possible? It would get immensely annoying."
"Iruka-sensei would probably be better at it."
"Most likely he already has a fan club of mothers."
"Ha ha yes I think he does, I know my mom has a slight crush on him." Sakura always criticized her mother for that. However she could see the reasoning behind it. If Iruka smiled he was someone that would stand out. Not to mention he had a kind heart and was sincere.
Okay here we are.
"How will we open it?"
"Simple." Yamato said as he held out a finger. Placing the finger to the lock he used Moukuden on it. The wood jutsu formed within the lock creating a perfect copy of the key and the door clicked, signalling it was unlocked.
"Just in case." Sakura kicked the door open slowly as to not attract attention.
"I thought you said there were no traps?"
"There aren't yet, I wouldn't believe everything he says." Sakura laughed. "He is a shinobi."
"Ha ha very true, okay down to business. Look for portraits, images, papers and anything suspicious."
"Okay." Sakura smiled as she teased him by giving him a salute, in return she got a dirty look. Sakura sheepishly giggled and started her search.
First she looked in drawers. Iruka was very clean. His kitchen was average, as was his living space. His home was mostly open plan much like Kakashi's only slightly bigger. Teachers got a steady pay check and tended to amass items. Iruka was definitely a minimalist which lead her to think he spent a lot of his free time either talking to villagers, working or training. Since this was Iruka it was most likely all three every day.
"I got nothing from here." Yamato pulled his head out of the small storage space in the wall. "I'm going to try the bedroom."
"Be careful. He might have booby trapped that one."
"No worries." He smiled and walked off.
"Lets see, nothing there." Sakura said as she finished with a bookshelf that was sitting next to the smaller drawers. It turned out he only kept the papers from students who wrote exemplary papers, including a few of her own. Leaving that behind, she moved across the room, back towards the door.
She stopped in front of a small shelving unit with a few drawers. Iruka was clean but there was no way he'd throw out the things students made for him. If anything this was as good a place as any. It made some funny sense considering the thing was facing the door. He probably got home and first put miscellaneous pictures, art projects and other gifts in there, that way he could simply sit down and mark. At least that was her guess.
"Lets see." She said as she moved closer to it. The cabinet was made of dark wood and seemed to melt into the darkness of the corner it was nestled against. If there was something hidden there that would also work. After all he was the one who taught her that if one wanted to hide something it is always best to hide it in the open.
Opening a drawer, sure enough her guess was right.
"Not this one then." She wasn't after that. If their guess was right, this woman was as old or just shy of Iruka's age.
"Lets try this side...bingo." She pulled the next drawer, this time rather than the last it held some larger books, what looked like photo albums.
"I found it!!" Yamato called. As he came into the room holding the file high.
"Great."
So he was hiding that file. I wonder how he got his hands on it. I know Tsunade-sama had it when the guy first got here.
"Turns out this Akahoshi Kaji fellow was a very busy one. He spent a few years completing his Genin training with Iruka-sensei's team, he was a member actually, and they were the only four man Genin team."
"Why?"
"Think of the times, you had to produce as many warriors as possible. Although he has a very messy track record. He left when he reached Chuunin never to be seen again. However like that other Akahoshi we found, he excelled in all his classes, like Iruka-sensei though, he was a trouble maker, so it took him a while. He was sixteen before he became a Chuunin. From what I heard about him recently, he probably reached the level of Jounin a year later if not sooner."
"So he's no pushover either." She always knew there was something Iruka wasn't letting out. She noticed from the first day of the academy the amount of control the man had. It was this very control that made the class behave as well as they did.
"But there must be a reason he's hiding it." Yamato said as he flipped through a few pages, but it seemed he found nothing else of interest as the manila sleeves shut.
"Could he be protecting him?"
"That might be it. I do know ROOTS does not agree with the Akahoshi."
"So maybe due to his medical file being included, Iruka-sensei felt it safer if he kept it. No one would have guessed."
"No they wouldn't" Yamato said but for the moment he wasn't paying attention. The folder was once more open. "Listen to this...Joined ANBU ranks in Konoha at the age of twelve...father Yoshiro, Mother Kotone...those are the Akahoshi clan leaders, that's a little intimidating, no wonder people fear him and his team...Wait a minute, there's something...siblings...Nariko, older sister and Akane his twin...she's a twin...this could explain the secrecy...that would be the reason he's hiding it."
"What does that mean?"
"Did he not teach that?" To say that she didn't know would have been an understatement.
"Twins are rare as shinobi, at least in powerful clans. Sometimes one doesn't make it."
"True, however the Akahoshi are notorious for twins." Yamato said as he raised a finger to illustrate his point.
"They are? They seem almost too good to be true." Was there something the Akahoshi couldn't do? They seemed almost quite capable to rule Konoha even if the Hokage was in power, or maybe they wanted one of theirs as Hokage? Could that be why ROOTS considers them to be a threat?
"Sakura they're one of the oldest clans to exist, they've had time to iron out their issues."
"Right."
"Anyways twins can be a powerful tool for a shinobi village. One will always know where the other is, they are somehow connected and when in battle they rarely suffer from friendly fire. At the same time they can develop techniques that require two people and have a higher success rate." Sakura had a feeling there was a catch to this.
"However to achieve this they must be kept together. Clearly this Akane character left when she was eight. Kaji-san stayed until he was sixteen."
"So they were trained separately."
"Right so chances are those bonds may not be as strong."
"Hmmm.." She thought about this as she picked up a picture book. It was very old and she could tell if Iruka were there he probably would have taken it away and hid it. The man never liked people to know much about his family. He was still sore from what happened.
Opening it she purposefully avoided the first few pages. Luckily the photos she saw were of a gathering.
"Who are these people. They're very traditional." She asked as she looked at the older couple smiling beside Iruka who was younger in the middle.
"I'm not sure but those aren't his parents."
"Maybe there's a note on the back."
Taking the picture out she read the inscription. "Yoshiro and Kotone...so that's them...wow...they sure know how to dress." She said as she took a closer look.
"Sakura lets not do this for fashion pointers."
"Opps. Ha ha okay."
From the picture Iruka was at least six or so. She couldn't help but smile. He was really cute as a kid.
"Next."
"Whoa, who's that?"
Suddenly Yamato laughed. "Look at that one."
"What this one of Iruka-sensei?"
"Look in the back ground."
Looking at it closer Sakura could not believe what she was seeing. It was still the same gathering and from how blurry Iruka was it wasn't intentionally taken of him. It was the goings on in the background the photographer wanted.
"Wow...those two are not getting along." There was a girl who had a stick in one hand and a boy lunging for her with a stick as well. The girl had what Sakura guessed to be brown hair and a kimono. The boy had white hair and wore a yukata. Off to the side was a girl around the same age as the white haired boy crying.
"Who's that girl?"
Turning it over she read it once more out loud. "Akane and Kakashi at it again."
"Wait Kakashi, as in Kakashi-sensei?" This was a new development, they had never seen any pictures of their teacher as a kid.
"Apparently...he was a bit of a hard ass when he was younger."
"No kidding, picking on girls younger than him...I like that she's trying to fight back."
Turning the page she started to laugh and turned that one over as well.
"Kakashi, Akane, Iruka and Kaji in deep deep trouble." The four children were covered in mud and making sad guilty looks.
"They were busy." Sakura giggled.
"Okay so there was an Akane when they were children but what if that was just a coincidence."
"There must be another one of these books somewhere in the back then...Iruka sensei likes to keep records of everything." She had been subject to his organizational skills since she was little. He always had his class well organized and for the most part well behaved. Training was always done in steps and almost synchronized. She still felt there had to be one place he was not so clean and organized.
Reaching she felt there was something wrong with the back of the cabinet. It wasn't as deep as it should be. She felt it give way to her hand and suddenly fall in. Inside she felt there was something, something like another book.
Pulling out she noticed it was wrapped in an old piece of cloth.
"What is this thing?"
"I don't know...open it?"
Opening the book a few small pages fell out to the floor. One was facing them. Both Sakura and Yamato stared at it in confusion. It was a picture of something big, something big with red eyes. Sakura had no idea what could be that big besides the Kyuubi.
"Is that the Kyuubi?"
"No...I don't think so...but something just as big. It looks almost bird-like. I know the last time I saw Naruto transform he had the ears of the Kyuubi, this one has a crest; that makes me think of some kind of avian."
"So this is a Junkchuriki?"
"Well it could be but I doubt it. A tailed best is evil, something about this image makes me think Iruka sensei wasn't worried. The angle is straight and there's no evidence of tremors from handling the camera. It's as if it posed for him." Sakura had no idea what it was though, it defied nature. "There are more than just the tailed beasts out there Sakura, there are many creatures we don't know about."
"That is true, but to think there is something this big that no one has ever seen aside from Iruka-sensei? That's a bit weird."
"I bet someone else knows."
Picking up the rest of the photos she turned the one of the large red bird over. "All it says is Katon. Who is Katon?"
"That's a weird name...Katon...usually used before using a fire technique."
"Could it be a tailed beast?"
"Tailed beasts last I checked were named based on their power levels, this one is named by attribute, and I doubt that is its actual name."
Sakura nodded, turning another over she stared. "That...that's...the girl."
"What girl?"
"The one from the photo in Kakashi-sensei's apartment. He said she was an old friend of his...there's a mark on her face but I can't make it out." The girl was far younger than the one she saw from Kakashi's apartment. This one also was taking bandages off her face. Something made her think they were covering the marking.
"What's the back say?"
Turning it over she couldn't help but feel sorry for the girl. "It says 'branded'."
"Branded, what would make Konoha do that?"
"Maybe it was her people?" Perhaps it was something like the Hyuuga, either way the girl didn't look to happy about it.
"No, I've never heard of the Akahoshi doing that, they're generally a proud people." That didn't settle Sakura's racing mind.
She must be linked with that bird thing. Maybe Iruka-sensei was trying to help her with something.
"It doesn't matter right now, we'll just keep that in mind and work from there." Yamato nodded in agreement with her but it didn't make her feel any better.
"What's the book about?"
"It's a book on legends." Sakura said as she opened the book and looked through the table of contents but she soon had a problem. "But I can't seem to read the language. Does Iruka-sensei know that many languages?"
"He might. I know Kakashi-sensei knows a hand full. I know three or four from missions. It would only make more sense that Iruka-sensei knows a few. However his clan was usually involved with the Akahoshi so chances are that he is one of the few people able to read this that isn't related to them."
"So you think this is their language?"
"I'm pretty sure of it."
"Hmm."
She wasn't sure now what to do. She now knows they all knew each other; at least as children but she also noticed in the photos as she had gone through the book that Kakashi vanished very quickly. By the age of eight Kakashi was already out of Iruka's life. She had an idea when that was.
"Okay so we know there was an Akahoshi Akane in both their lives."
"Right, but what happened?"
"That we might never know, but I also noticed that the pictures of her here end at a certain time, there aren't any dates but the photos are only of her up to the age between sixteen and eighteen."
"So that would fit that file."
"Sure, but why does Kakashi-sensei have a more recent picture?" Yamato questioned looking once more at the photo they had been looking at.
"This is getting messy."Sakura said as she grabbed her head in frustration. It was supposed to be easy.
"I want to know where they went a year ago."
The problem was Tsunade had the file and there was literally no way she was going to get them.
"Okay we know now who she is, then where is she?" Sakura asked as she looked towards the door nervously. She heard Iruka-sensei would be coming back later than predicted due to his leg injury but if Yamato was right he could be able to walk within another week.
"Canyon Country."
"What! So even if one of them was..." Even Sakura knew Canyon Country was not on the best of terms with Konoha, actually aside from the last crisis they were enemies, although they were respectful enemies. Canyon knew that Konoha could defeat them with a small team if need be.
"It would be treason." Yamato said narrowing his eyes.
Sakura's jaw dropped and no words could come out. Treason was punishable by death no matter what the times were like.
A/N: Okay so I hope everyone enjoyed it. I don't really think this is one of my best chapters and it's been rather hard to write, so if it is bad let me know.
As usually please review...I could really use the comments.