A/N:- Well, here we go again. As promised I am back. The sort of build-up in the last chapter culminating in this one. Hope I did justice to this.

And why can't I get more than 3 reviews per chapter? Anyway enjoy!

The Pretender

Naruto tried his best to focus. In preparation for the tests which were beginning next week, Asuma had sprung a test on them.

But the one problem he had was that he was still in mission mode. He was still trying to figure out what would be going down today. He had never flown quite this blind before.

Talented basketball kids, drugs and a sports tournament. What was the link connecting all of them?

Maybe it was just a regular sports tournament. Maybe he misread the situation with Daichi. But his gut was still telling him something was going to go wrong.

Shaking his head he turned his attention back to his answer sheet. He barely had 15 minutes left and he had only completed three-quarters of the test.

Giving it up as a lost cause, he wrapped up the paper with a few more answers and proceeded to look around the room. Sasuke had finished his paper and was looking his usual cool, stoic self, Kiba on the other hand seemed to be struggling.

Ino and Sakura were bent over their sheets, trying to squeeze in that extra something. That wasn't surprising. Both were straight-A students after all and always gave their all.

His eyes went back to Kiba.

He couldn't deny that he was a little worried.

"Okay guys you can stop writing now." Asuma announced indicating the end of the test and started collecting the sheets.

Well sometimes a man has to do what he has to do. That was all there was to it.

Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to go and keep an eye on things, just to be safe.

That day during their lunch break, Naruto sat in his usual place, watching Sasuke soak in all the attention that comes with becoming a sports star. Kiba looking morose, came and took his seat next to Naruto.

"What's eating you?" Naruto asked him.

"Nothing." Kiba twirled his spaghetti over his fork as he sighed audibly.

"Is it about Sasuke?"

Kiba looked like he would start protesting for a moment, before deflating.

"You know how many people have come up to me to say 'Good game Kiba' or even, 'congrats on your victory'?"

Naruto remained silent, knowing a rhetoric question when he heard one.

"None." Kiba said after a while, answering his own question.

"With the way things are going, you would think he was the only participant." Kiba started. "Its as if I am not even a part of the team. Everyone only has eyes for him."

Naruto stared at Kiba, but refrained from saying anything. Kiba took this as encouragement to continue.

"Its always Sasuke this and Sasuke that. It has barely been a week since he has arrived here, I have been coming here for 7 years and yet more people know him than me."

"Its like I don't even exist." He tore up his packet of milk shake and chugged the contents.

Having calmed down somewhat, Kiba continues. "Its not like I hate the guy or anything. Its just it would have been better to get some recognition for myself too. I'm not asking for much am I?"

"I don't know what to tell you Kiba." He really didn't. He didn't understand where Kiba was coming from either. Having never craved acknowledgement himself, he was a little out of his depth here.

But then his work involved blending in the shadows. So he really wasn't the best person to be having this conversation with.

But he gave it his best shot.

"But yes, I agree you deserve recognition for your hard work and efforts. But I suppose we don't always get what we deserve." Naruto had no idea what he was saying, but he continued anyway. "I guess that's just how life works."

Naruto was sure he had said something wrong seeing the way Kiba was gaping at him. Why did he have to open his mouth again? He could have just let him vent.

"And what have you ever wanted, you felt you deserved and didn't get it." Ino asked as she plopped down next to him. "As a matter of fact have you ever really wanted anything?"

"God damn it Ino. We are having a serious discussion here." Kiba groused at the pretty blonde.

"Yeah, sorry for interrupting your emo trip." Ino rolled her eyes at Kiba.

"Why you blonde bimbo..." Kiba began.

"Okay so what can you tell me about Sasuke?" She interrupted Kiba, before he could really begin his tirade.

"See what I mean?" Kiba said turning to Naruto. "How about he Kiba, good to see you, or in your case hey Kiba how can I make your life a little more miserable. Oh wait..." He held up a hand as if doing a grand reveal. "You're already doing that."

"Anyway I was hoping you would have some dirt on the guy. But since you don't want to talk." Ino trailed off.

"Why would you want to get dirt on the guy?" Kiba asked a bit suspicious.

"Well Sakura seems to have taken an interest in the guy, and I am only doing what a good friend would do." Ino shrugged. "Running background checks on the potential crush."

"I don't know, but I am quite sure that's wrong on quite a few levels." Kiba said. "Does Sakura know about your supposed background checks?"

"Do you have something for me or not?" Ino's face had turned red at his insinuation.

Kiba finally relented. "Don't know what to tell you. He doesn't talk much. And despite his growing club of fan girls he doesn't seem to have any friend. Come to think of it I have never seen his parents either."

"Seriously that's all you have for me?" Ino said. "You spent 2 days in close proximity to the guy and all you've given me are things I had worked out on my own."

"Well excuse me if I am not a busy-body like you who has nothing better to do than to spy on the next source of gossip." Kiba's tone suggested mild irritation, though it had more to do with Sasuke than Ino.

This definitely wasn't going in a good direction. Ino was poking her nose in things she shouldn't. Naruto had to nip this in the bud. Because if he didn't, Ino wouldn't get herself hurt so much as she would get herself killed.

But how to go about it?

Telling her to back off would only fuel her more.

He had to be a bit more subtle about it.

"Why don't you go talk to him? Maybe you will find something yourself." He said.

Reverse psychology. If this didn't work he didn't know what would.

Ino looked at him and Naruto returned her stare with a nonchalant one of his own.

"Yeah why don't you get your own hands dirty?" Kiba exclaimed.

"I tried that, the guy isn't so much elusive as he is a closed vault." Ino said. "Not unlike someone else I know." She shot Naruto another look.

Good news he had gotten the attention off of Sasuke, for now at least. Bad news, she was back to focusing on him.

"Break's almost done. We should get going." Naruto said picking up his food tray and dumping it in a dustbin on his way out of the cafeteria.

"Is it me or did he just blow you off just now?" Kiba said barely managing to suppress the snicker that threatened to escape his lips.

"Shut up." Ino muttered, but her voice lacked the usual venom.

Sasuke dribbled the ball, never taking his eyes off his opponent. There were just a few seconds on the clock. Their opponents trailed them by 5 points. To win all he had to do was hold on to the ball.

He made Kiba in his peripheral vision, being blocked by the member of the other team. Feinting to his right he suddenly went left, his opponent anticipated his move and proceeded to intercept him, only for him to change directions once again.

Leaving his opponent gaping Sasuke proceeded to take a lay-up and scored a last basket in the dying moments of the game.

The crowd went nuts at such a masterful display of skill and spontaneously broke into applause. Earlier in the day Sasuke had entirely decimated their opponents in the semi-finals, to make their way to the finals. As said earlier Daichi had somehow gotten Hiroto Higarashi to take time off his busy schedule to come and preside over the finals.

A special dais had been set up for him and he had been politely clapping, flanked on either side by his two bodyguards.

Despite himself Naruto found himself looking for ways to get close enough to assassinate him. He was on his 9th when he shook his head to banish those thoughts.

Old habits die hard.

Kiba and Sasuke went up to the dais to collect the winner's trophy along with the cash prize. Kiba for once was looking happy, basking in the shared glory.

Naruto for his part kept his eyes on Daichi, who was now talking to some of the organizers.

When he saw Kiba approaching him. He looked pretty pleased with himself.

"Hey Naruto they are throwing a party to celebrate the success of the tournament. Wanna come?" He asked him.

"Yeah sure, why not?" Naruto shrugged.

"Well, that's okay. I just felt I had to ask." Kiba said, before his brain caught up to what he had just heard. "Wait a minute, did you just say you are going to come?"

"Yeah, you winning the tournament calls for celebration." Naruto smirked at the dumbstruck expression on Kiba's face.

"Okay who are you and what have you done to my friend?" Kiba said looking suspicious.

Naruto rolled his eyes at this.

"Come on we have a party to get to."

The said party was taking place in Daichi's private loft. It was a big place. A double-storeyed white structure with a huge lawn up-front.

The house was a few miles outside the main city, leaning towards the suburbs. Naruto and Kiba had hitched a ride from Daisuke. Sasuke wasn't with them. He hitched a ride with one of the other players.

The ride was a pleasant one. Spending most of it discussing the other teams in the tournament.

"The team from Ohara had been serious threats at one point. I suppose the nerves did them in." Kiba said sounding wise.

"You're being a little too humble Kiba-kun, its just that you guys were too good." Daisuke laughed genially.

"You mean Sasuke was too good." Kiba grumbled.

"No, I meant what I said." Daisuke said seriously. "Its a team sport and a team is only as good as its players, I am sure Naruto-san would agree."

"Absolutely." Naruto said in a tone of assent. Yes, it was true that Kiba was overshadowed by Sasuke, but he was a very good player and had his moments in the tournament. "I am sure they would talk about that feint you pulled off in the heats for years to come."

Feeling a little better about himself Kiba allowed the conversation to drift to other channels.

"Just as well, cause as the champions now, brace yourself for some attention from the opposite gender." Daisuke smirked at Kiba.

"Speaking of which where is Mai-san?" Kiba asked talking about Daisuke's gorgeous girlfriend.

"Oh she said she didn't need a ride. She would meet us at the house." Daisuke turned the car left leading his car into a garage. "Well guys we're here."

"How long have you known each other?" Naruto asked him.

"She is the new transfer student in my school. Apparently her folks move around a lot. We hit it off really well the first time we met and we haven't looked back since." Daisuke explained. "The party was her idea, you know."

"Sweet!" Kiba vocalized his admiration for Daisuke's girlfriend.

Several cars were already parked near the house. It seemed the party had started. As soon as they disembarked they were ambushed by Daisuke's friends.

The crowd was good-natured, if a little rowdy.

The chairs in the dining room had been pushed to the wall, to create enough space for dancing. Teenagers swayed to the beat of the music, with plenty of alcohol to keep everyone happy.

Daisuke was a good host. He made sure everyone was having a good time and the music remained good. Kiba was goggling at the DJ and his turn-tables.

"Is your brother here?" Naruto asked Daisuke over the din of the music.

Daisuke brought his head closer to Naruto's to make out what he was saying, prompting him to repeat his question.

"He is in his office. I think he is entertaining some guests."

Well, coming here wasn't a total waste then. He had his doubts before, but following his gut proved useful. Now if he could only listen in to the conversation between Daichi and his guests.

Meanwhile a welcome distraction was created by the arrival of Daisuke's girlfriend Mai. Dressed in a short sleeveless and strapless silver dress, which accentuated her long legs and curves, she had all eyes on her right till the moment she walked up to him and putting her arms around his neck proceeded to kiss his cheek.

"Hey babe." Daisuke's face broke into a smile at his girlfriend's ministrations and then proceeded to kiss her properly.

Breaking away from the kiss she turned to Naruto, a playful smile playing on her lips.

"Do you mind if I borrow Daisuke for a bit?" Her request led to a round of whistles and cat-calls from the surrounding boys.

"No, not at all." Naruto said being the perfect sport.

With a wink at the guys she grabbed Daisuke by the hand and dragged him away from the party, leading him upstairs, Naruto's eyes following them all the way.

Kiba joined Naruto as soon as Daisuke left.

"Gods she is hot!" He exclaimed. "Wonder what a mortal has to do to get a goddess like that."

"Careful what you wish for my friend, romances with Goddesses tend to be one-sided" Naruto said in a warning tone, when he spotted a blonde haired girl walking towards them.

"Hey guys." The figure spoke.

Kiba who had been running his hand through his hair in anticipation of a chat with a hot girl, dropped his jaw in shock. Ino looked different than she usually did, with her hair left open instead of the ponytail, she usually had, hence the reason for Kiba's surprise.

"Ino!" He exclaimed.

"Why the shocked tone dog boy?" Ino smirked at him, knowing very well the effect she had on him, leaving him spluttering. "Hey Naruto."

"Hey Ino." Naruto returned her greeting. "What brings you here?" He spied Sasuke across the room, nursing a drink, a gaggle of girls surrounding him, a couple of the braver ones triying to engage him in conversation.

"I should be asking you the same thing." Ino remarked. "Last time I checked parties weren't your thing."

"Well I changed my mind, realized letting my hair down once in a while, would do me good."

"No, seriously what are you doing here?" Kiba nearly snarled, finally having recovered from her comment.

"If you must know I was asked out by one of the players." Ino replied frostily.

"You mean to say you're here on a date?"

"Wow Kiba, your deductive skills are getting astounding." Ino said faking amazement.

"Yeah whatever, I am getting myself a drink." Kiba left the two alone, making his way to the bar.

"What are you doing here?" Ino hissed as soon as Kiba was out of earshot.

Naruto knew this was coming.

"I came here to keep an eye on Kiba." He replied. Technically he wasn't lying. Keeping an eye on Kiba was one of the reasons he came here. And now it seemed he would have to keep an eye on Ino too. "I thought you hated everything to do with this thing, so why are you here?"

Ino glared at him, before her gaze thawed. "It wasn't my intention to come here, but then I saw you leave with that guy and I just had to come." Her tone was earnest.

Naruto fought down the urge to rub his forehead. He should be looking for Daichi, not reassuring teenaged girls, with messiah complex.

"Your date is looking for you." He said, trying to distract her, Ino looked around to see her date indeed was, as he approached her holding two drinks.

"There you are!" He said on spotting her. "I have been looking all over for you."

Ino turned around intent on apologizing for intruding only to find he had disappeared.

Finally! Naruto thought. He was beginning to think he could never get away. He made his way to the first floor passing a couple who was making out near the stairs.

From what he could tell, there were 3 rooms upstairs, two of which had to be bedrooms and one Daichi's office.

That was a fairly safe assumption to make.

Casually walking to the first door, which he knew to be Daichi's bedroom, having seen Mai drag him inside this one.

But something felt wrong.

His sharp hearing failed to make out any noises emanating from there. That certainly didn't feel right.

Turning to the door, he turned the handle, not surprised to find it locked. Fishing into his pocket, he took out a paper-clip and some pieces of wire.

It took him six seconds to defeat the lock.

Entering the room, he found Daisuke lying on his back on his bed, half naked. Rushing forward, Naruto checked his pulse, pressing his carotid artery, and was relieved to find it there.

After making sure nothing was blocking his airways, Naruto looked around the room. A bottle of beer lay on the night-stand.

He was definitely drugged.

And there was little doubt as to who could have done it.

But what really chilled his bones was the why.

He rushed towards the office, knowing it was too late, but before he could take more than a step.

The hallway exploded.

Only his honed reflexes and danger senses saved him from what could have been really nasty fall.

As it was, he found himself hanging off the railing, his ears ringing, but he could still make out the screams of the kids running helter-skelter below.

Somewhere in the back of his mind, he wondered if Ino and Kiba were okay.

With some effort, he dragged himself over the railing.

The corridor was ablaze, an inferno. The explosion had blown door to Daichi's office off its hinges. Naruto's timely dodge had save him from being flattened by it.

In that inferno, a figure stood dressed in black. With its back to him. Standing on the window ledge. He had no doubts as to what had happened to the occupants of the room.

Balancing itself like an Olympic gymnast the figure jumped down. Naruto prepared himself to follow, then his eyes fell on the fire that was slowly eating away at the corridor and soon would engulf Daisuke's room.

His decision had been made for him.

Hardening himself he turned to the unconscious figure of Daichi.

"Mission accomplished." Came a cold feminine voice from the intercom.

"Confirmed. Proceed to processing." The man said,

"Seems like the girl did well Leader." Said the man sitting across him.

"As was expected." The man 'Leader' replied. "Why are you here?"

There was a pause as the man waited a few seconds to allow the build-up for what he was about to reveal.

"We found Subject One."

And that's a wrap folks. Tell me how many of you saw that coming! Not many I am sure! So, do leave a line exclaiming your shock and surprise!

Until Next time.

Peace out!