AN: Does anyone actually read these? Hm. Anyways, quick update cause I'm on a roll! Here's hoping you'll all enjoy this. Review to keep my spirits up and for a quick update :)

21

The Truth and Nothing but the Truth, So Help Me God

Lili's Dream - Alexandre Desplat

In the Konoha interrogation unit there are categories that the 'interviewees' fall into.

Some are violent kickers, other can't wait to suck their snot into their mouths and spit it back out into your eyes. The nin of this unit classed all the 'interviewees' like this. The most annoying of the classes were the biters and the spitters.

Maria was a biter. If anyone neared her and her precious scroll, they risked getting quite a few digits chomped off. One man already had to get a shot after she broke his skin.

Kakashi paced around the metal square room. She sat before him, just in front of a small table. Her arms wrapped around her chest, holding the scroll which sat inside of her shirt against her breasts.

"Maria," Kakashi said softly, bending down to her height. "Just give me the scroll, all this fuss will be avoided."

Her green eyes narrowed dangerously. "You could be the masked man."

Kakashi sighed, straightening to his original height. "I could be your fairy godfather if we were to use your logic-"

She snorted. "He has the Sharingan! I still could be under a genjutsu-"

That was the first piece of evidence she had given them so far. Kakashi eased slowly into the chair across from her. He could develop this information. If he was careful.

"-and I'll be damned if I don't think my plans through from now on."

"Itachi dis-spelled the genjutsu," Kakashi assured her. "But, let's talk more about the masked man, shall we?" He eased back into the chair, portraying a casual and calm person, hoping he could lead her with his emotions.

Her eyes narrowed. "Well, I guess he wouldn't ask me questions about himself... or it could be a ploy."

"Maria-"

She carefully took the scroll out from under her shirt, but still gripped in tightly. "But," She muttered, her eyes leaving Kakashi's and looking down to the scroll. "If you really are Kakashi, the safest place to read this would be in your presence."

"I can't let you do that Maria. That is a level 7 document, I'm not even allowed to look into it."

"How about a deal then," She leaned forward, "You let me read this and I'll give you my information."

Kakashi sighed. He couldn't take a deal like that. However, he gave her props for trying.

Suddenly, the door was pounded upon and muffled shouts came from outside. Kakashi stood quickly, apologizing briefly to the frightened girl. Maybe this would give him time to think. Kakashi exited the room.

It was Danzo. He stood, in a shouting match with the guards. The other council members, Homura and Koharu, stood behind him frowning slightly.

"What's all this?" Kakashi asked, placing himself in front of the the closed door. Danzo focused his infuriated gaze upon the white haired nin.

"That girl," He growled, jabbing a finger at Kakashi, "She stole a level 7 document! Level 7! And you fools can't even get it back!"

"Well, we don't want to pry it out of her arms." Kakashi smiled.

This smile only seemed to anger the man more. He took a menacing step towards Kakashi, but a hand firmly came to grasp Danzo's shoulder. Homura stood behind him, eyeing him with an odd look. "Danzo please," he said calmly, "she is not a ninja. We have respect for a civilian girl."

"A spy!" Danzo yelled, "She must be a spy, working with Itachi Uchiha-"

"Lord Danzo," Kakashi interrupted. "It may be best for you to return to wherever you came from."

Danzo's face turned red. "Why you-!"

"Danzo!" Tsunade's icy voice cut through his yelling mercilessly. She stormed down the hallway. Danzo turned to face her and she stuck a finger to his chest. "Leave now."

The man grumbled, and took one last look at Kakashi before storming down the hallway.

"Well, he sure is angry." Kakashi murmured, raising an eyebrow.

Tsunade crossed her arms, staring down the hallway after him. "Koharu, Homura, go with him and make sure he doesn't do anything stupid. Don't let him know where Itachi is being held."

The two bowed slightly, then turned to follow the retreating man.

Kakashi leaned against the door and sighed. He ran a hand through his hair. "What a mess." He muttered. Tsunade nodded in agreement.

"Bring me up to speed." She said, looking to Kakashi.

Kakashi nodded, then began to explain the situation. He talked about how the nurses had called him about Maria's disappearance, then not even two minutes into his search for her he had seen a torch being thrown from the top floor of the tower. Kakashi chuckled.

"The document she stole," Tsunade said, "What is it?"

Kakashi hummed. "She bites anyone who gets near it. But I have a good idea it's the Uchiha report."

Tsunade's eyes widened. "The Uchiha report? Why the hell would she want that thing?"

Kakashi smirked. "She is a rather smart girl, Tsunade. Although many, including herself, doubt it."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "Has she read it?"

Kakashi shook his head. "She did offer information in return for being able to read it."

"Information?"

"When we arrived at the scene, Itachi Uchiha was locked in a fight with an odd masked man," Tsunade's eyebrows raised. "Itachi warned us about him, then the odd man disappeared into thin air. The Anbu are still looking for any signs of him, but so far... there are none. He vanished."

Tsunade clicked her tongue. Her brows bore down and she appeared deep in thought.

"The document requires a level 7 clearance. It's only you and the council who are allowed to read it." Kakashi stated.

"That seems rather high for a simple case report..." Tsunade murmured, looking even more perplexed then before. She sighed. "I'm familiar with this girls case Kakashi. Everything about it is ringing alarm bells in my mind."

Kakashi nodded his agreement.

"Let her read it, maybe it will finally convince her of Itachi Uchiha's insanity. See what information she has to offer."

Kakashi almost smiled. He turned to return to the room, but Tsunade raised her hand to stop him.

"I have a bad feeling about Danzo. Watch out for him. When you're done in there bring the scroll to me. From there we'll interview Itachi."

This turn of events was proving to be very interesting. Tsunade waved her hand, then turned to stalk down the hallway. Kakashi watched her leave, then composed himself. He himself didn't know what to expect inside that document. But, he was sure whatever it was wouldn't be what they all were expecting.

When he entered the room he saw Maria holding a shaky hand to her mouth, gnawing on her fingernails. The scroll laid on the table, and she eyed it cautiously. Her gaze immediately found Kakashi as he closed the door.

"What was that about?" She questioned, her eyes narrowing.

Kakashi sat down and waved his hand absentmindedly. "Nothing important," he smiled, "What is important is that you have permission to read your scroll."

Maria's mouth opened a bit, but she quickly shut it. Kakashi expected her to say something, but she stayed silent. Her hand came down from her mouth, coming to secure itself around the small scroll. She looked to Kakashi as if he were about to snatch it away, but when he didn't she began to unroll it. She looked to Kakashi one last time before her she began to read.

Several seconds passed and her face paled.

"I think I'm going to throw up." She said quietly.

Just as Kakashi reached a bucket and snuck it underneath her mouth, she coughed out a small bit of bile.

Her hands shook as she pulled her hair back from her face. When she looked to Kakashi, her eyes were as angry as a wild fire. "You bastards." She growled.

Kakashi arched an eyebrow, reaching slowly for the scroll. She didn't stop him. He gripped its edges and brought the small piece of paper before his eyes. It wasn't that long of a passage, it must have been some gory detail Maria had gotten upset about-

Kakashi stood quickly from his seat. He read it over again. And again.

A mercenary order. Signed by the one and only, Danzo.

"Excuse me." Kakashi said, rolling up the scroll and quickly leaving the room.

No wonder Danzo was so upset, Kakashi strode down the hallway heading for the direction of Tsunade's office. That damned man...

It took him mere minutes to reach Tsunades office. He let himself in without knocking. Tsunade looked up from her desk, surrounded by Anbu. They must have been reporting their findings. But that could wait.

"Everyone out." Kakashi said.

Tsunade leaned back in her chair, giving Kakashi a worried look. When the men had cleared out Kakashi tossed the scroll into onto Tsunade's desk.

"My guess is you haven't read it."

"Of course not," Tsunade scoffed, reaching for the paper, "I've been so damned busy with the whole Orochimaru fiasco I haven't had the time to re-read such old..." Her voice trailed off as she read the part Kakashi himself had froze on.

She slammed her fist onto the desk. Paper fell to the floor. "How could the third let this happen!" She yelled.

"My guess is he never knew," Kakashi strode over to the desk and pointed to the signature at the end of the page. "See this?" He tapped the name.

"Danzo..." Tsunade growled. "I'll go get him myself. Bastard won't get away with this..."

Kakashi nodded in agreement. "What should we do about Itachi?" He asked.

A pained look crossed over Tsunade. She rolled the scroll and stuck it safely into her sleeve. "Question him. We still have to figure out this masked man after all," she paused, "You're a good interrogator, I trust you'll do the right thing.

Kakashi smiled, the fabric of his mask twisting. "I'll do my best."

Tsunade got up from the table, coming around it and laid a hand on Kakashi's shoulder. She leaned in close next to his ear. "...and be careful."

Kakashi nodded. "You too."

With that Tsunade was gone, yelling for Anbu. Kakashi tilted his head back and breathed in deeply. It had been a while since he had interrogated anyone. He hoped Itachi would take it easy on him. He set off for his holding cell.

The room they kept him in was large. He sat in a metal chair, hands and feet bound in chakra chains. He was blindfolded. Kakashi waved his hands to the guards to take of the restraints. They hesitated.

"He's not stupid enough to try and escape." Kakashi said.

The guards looked at each other, but obeyed Kakashi. Once they removed Itachi's restraints Kakashi waved his hand for the guards to leave.

Itachi rubbed his wrists, looking at Kakashi with searching eyes. Kakashi sighed heavily and sat across from the man. "There's no point in hiding anything anymore. The document Maria stole was your mercenary order."

Itachi's eyes narrowed. "I see. I assume the Hokage has read it?"

Kakashi nodded. "But that's a topic for another day," Kakashi leaned forward, "What I've come to question you about is the man you were fighting."

Kakashi knew Itachi must have know that question was going to come up. He lowered his head a fraction, but his facial expression didn't change.

"I'll tell you everything I know."

It was disgusting, barbaric, hideous.

Ordering a man, no... a child, to kill his entire family. Not just his immediate family, but everyone. My stomach ached. How the hell was Itachi still sane? She couldn't even imagine the emotional turmoil he must have went through. Especially knowing what he put Sasuke through. My problems suddenly began to shrank. Of course he wouldn't pity me.

I was glad Kakashi took that scroll away. It felt like fire in my hands. I didn't want anything to do with this anymore. Stare into the abyss long enough and the abyss will stare back.

I laid my head down on the cold table, crossing my arms underneath to cushion it. I sighed. Itachi was right, ignorance was bliss.

The door opened. I didn't bother looking up.

"Maria." It was Kakashi.

He was probably here to tell me that I was going to be sentenced to death. I squeezed my eyes shut. I knew something like this would happen sooner or later, but it was still hard. It's not like I wanted to die.

"You're free to go."

The exact opposite of what I was expecting. I looked up, trying to identify any expression on the mans face, but there were none. How could they let me go so... simply? "Huh-?" I mumbled.

"The currant Hokage was not aware of Itachi Uchiha's... predicament. That order was sent out in secrecy a long time ago."

"So does that mean they'll excuse him? Will he get a normal life?" I was hopeful, and couldn't keep it out of my tone.

Kakashi smiled. "No."

Hot anger rose in my stomach. "Why the hell not? You guys should be begging his forgiveness."

"This situation is.. very complex."

"The hell with complex..." I growled. I crossed my arms and leaned back in the chair.

"Itachi never explained anything to you. I don't blame him," Kakashi sat in front of me, "but I think it's time you were told the whole truth."