A/N: Anyhoo... I wanted to put in Izumo and Kotetsu to show you that not everyone likes Hana. Dammit... my computer broke down so I'm writing this from my cousin's computer... I lost all of my saved files, one-shots, and chapters... so I'm totally screwed. Agh... sorry about the late update.
Disclaimer: Don't own... don't sue.

Chapter 25: Dango, Rumors, and Murder

What's with guys and dango?

Hana sat in the dango shop, staring at the dango on a stick in front of her. She fed most of them to the three gray dogs Kiba was sitting across from her, eating, well, dango. Hana noticed that most of the customers walking in were male, most of them other ninja.

She saw Kamizuki Izumo and Hagane Kotetsu, who were 6 years older, putting salt in Shiranui Genma's tea. Genma then switched the cups around when Izumo wasn't looking. Hana smiled and looked away, gazing at her brother. He had ordered a hefty amount of dango for his age and size and was busy inhaling them.

"Eat slower Kiba or you're going to choke," Hana sighed, feeding Akamaru, who Kiba was neglecting.

Kiba ignored her.

"I hear you became Jonin," someone sounding like Kotetsu said.

Thanks to Hana's sharp sense of hearing, she could hear them perfectly (which was very good for eavesdropping.) She turned slightly without thinking to listen to them talk

"Yeah," Genma said in a bored tone, moving his senbon to the other side of his mouth.

"What's been happening lately?" Kotetsu popped a dango in his mouth, chewing loudly. Somehow, it sounded exactly like Kiba. Hana glanced back at the boy. Kiba had finished his plate and wanted more.

"Want more nee-chan!" Kiba yelled.

Hana, desperate to quiet him down, pushed the rest of her plate to Kiba. She listened back to the conversation the three shinobi were having. She just caught the end.

"An Uchiha's been found dead. Suicide... or murder."

Hana's voice was stuck in her throat and breathing went ragged.

Genma continued, "Uchiha Shisui."

Uchiha Shisui was the, as everyone knew, the most skilled Uchiha member. Hana had once met him. Shisui was tall and quite handsome, with the usual black hair and eyes. He was another Uchiha genius, but not arrogant like Itachi. He treated her courteously and not inferior because she was an Inuzuka. Now Shisui was dead.

Hana sighed. Why did the good always die first?

"Explain," Kotetsu said. Hana was abruptly taken out of her grief and perked up her ears, sending chakra to them to hear them better.

Genma continued, "He apparently committed suicide by drowning in the Nakano River. He didn't show up to an Uchiha clan meeting. Konoha police found his body, and they also found a suicide note in his own handwriting."

"So it was suicide, not murder," Izumo said. He took a sip of his tea, then his eyes widened. Kiba couldn't help but snigger as he noticed Izumo choking, drinking more tea, and getting more wide-eyed. The conversation ended as Kotetsu helped his choking friend frantically. When Izumo was better, the conversation continued, and Hana listened carefully, concentrating.

"So... it was suicide," Izumo repeated, flushed.

"Not necessarily," Genma took out his senbon, wiped it carefully with a napkin, and put it back in his mouth. "Anyone utilizing the Sharingan could have copied and mimicked his writing style. Also, the note said Shisui was tired of the Uchiha duties and the clan had no future."

"Shisui would never write that..." Izumo and Kotetsu said together.

"Exactly. Police Corps found it hard to believe that Shisui of all people would give everything up. He does value his life."

"So it means murder," Kotetsu said.

"Police Corps have a suspect," Genma paused dramatically. Hana hated how these storytellers always pause 'dramatically'.

"No one understands why, but they have reason to believe it was Uchiha Itachi."

Hana gasped.

"Itachi would never!" she said exasperated, standing up. The three men looked over at her.

Izumo, Kotetsu, and Genma saw a girl looking absolutely horror-struck and a boy stuffing his mouth with dango. Three dogs bristled under the table, eating at more dango and a white puppy sat on the boy's head, growling. Izumo was shocked, Kotetsu glared at them, and Genma just gazed lazily over.

"Inuzuka," Kotetsu said lowly, his eyes narrowed.

Hana stood up and walked to their table. "Hi. Couldn't help but hear your conversation."

"Damn eavesdropper," Kotetsu snarled venemously shoving a dango in his mouth. Hana glared at him.

What does he have against me?

The Haimaru Sankyodai padded out from under the table to join Hana looking at the three men. They growled deep in their throats, sensing hostility towards their owner.

"Sorry to intrude," Hana said forcefully keeping her voice from exceeding the normal talking tone, "But what you're talking about... I don't believe it."

Kotetsu smirked. "Go on, Genma. Tell little Inuzuka-san about it."

"The details aren't clear," Genma said lazily, not at all offended by seeing a far younger Chunnin and her three dogs eavesdropping on his conversation. But Genma was always like that, impassive.

"Itachi was the only other Uchiha who didn't show up to the Uchiha clan meeting, according to records. He is also Shisui's close comrade, but their relationship was rather rocky. Itachi just recently learned a new... thing. I'm one of the few that have seen it... just a faint glimpse of his eyes on a mission."

"What?" Kotetsu and Izumo said together. Hana was silent.

"I'm not quite sure, but after a little bit of research, getting a couple of Uchihas drunk..."

"Cross-dressing and getting a couple of Uchihas drunk," Kotetsu sniggered.

Genma ignored his comment. Hana suspected that he really did dress up like a female and seduced a few unsuspecting Uchihas. But... that didn't seem so Genma-like, so Hana dismissed it as Kotetsu is a baka and kept listening.

"It's called the Mangekyou Sharingan."

"So?" Hana growled, her arms crossed against her chest. Genma continued, glancing at the angry girl.

"There's a rumor... that to get the Mangekyou Sharingan... you have to kill your best friend."

A/N: Dun dun dun! It'll be a while until the next part... my computer broke down and all my files are lost. I'm screwed because I had a lot of stuff half done. Er... yeah. Hope you liked it! Please review! -nice guy pose-