How long would he be forced to wait here like a damned fool? Kanzo paced the Hattori dining room impatiently. The room, usually bursting with the Hattori's contagious energy, seemed lifeless and empty save for the echoes of his footsteps. It unsettled him to think that those joyful evenings were possibly over for good. Kanzo shuddered. He did not want to tarry here a moment longer than was necessary.
Where was Hatsuharu? Earlier, a note from the boy had arrived instructing him to meet here. But that was half an hour ago. Kanzo debated whether to continue on with his investigation and rendezvous with Hatsuharu later. Fortunately, the sound of footsteps outside the dining room door put an end to Kanzo's dilemma. Hatsuharu entered, drenched to the bone and in a mood as foul as the weather outside. "What news?" Kanzo asked, sensing Hatsuharu was in no humor for pleasantries. Frankly, neither was he.
"First," Hatsuharu slumped into a seat by the table, "did you bring what I asked?" With a terse nod, Kanzo pulled a deck of photographs from his pocket and handed them to him. Bitter emotions flashed across Hatsuharu's face as he was forced to revisit images of the crime scene. After a few moments, he pulled an image from the deck and laid it upon the table. "This sword," he pointed to the photographed katana, their one and only piece of evidence, "I thought it looked familiar." Reaching beside him, Hatsuharu thrust an identical, red-hilted blade onto the table.
"Where did you find this?" Kanzo closely examined the blade. This could be a vital clue.
"You are familiar with the Akatsuki?"
Kanzo nodded. "Of course. They're celebrated in the countryside as heroes and pacifists, and from what I've seen, their praise is well-deserved. They've put an end to many small skirmishes through words alone, supposedly on your father's behalf. You think there could be a connection?"
"Perhaps," Hatsuharu folded his hands under his chin in thought. "This is the blade their members carry. I have observed it on them during my dealings with them in the past. After I left you at the scene, I went to their city headquarters to interrogate my contacts there. The band's leaders were curiously absent, 'patrolling the countryside,' the underlings said, but I did manage to confirm my suspicions about the blade."
"At last, a prime suspect. Tell me, what are your dealings with them? Do you have any idea as to their possible motive?"
"For many months now, I've worked with them to investigate a foreign spy network. They were very effective, too effective, actually. I fear it has emboldened them. Last I met with them, they demanded Hanzo's recognition as payment for their services. It seems they would like to become his official 'peacekeepers.' I have not delivered on their wishes. It is possible they have grown impatient and feel I have betrayed them, but that seems an unlikely motive to murder the first lady."
"I agree," Kanzo frowned in thought. "For a peaceful group to suddenly resort to murder seems farfetched. However, perhaps it's not the organization as a whole, but a rogue member. Or perhaps someone is framing them."
"Both are possible. We cannot know until we've interrogated them all. Let us make that our first priority. Now, what news have you for me?"
"Regrettably little. Besides from the sword, investigators have found no further evidence at the crime scene. The coroner's report is a little more interesting. Before Lady Shiori passed, she inflicted a severe wound on her presumed murderer judging from the amount of foreign blood found under her fingernails. I suspect our murderer is currently injured."
"This is good to know. Did he pronounce the cause of death?"
Kanzo hesitated for a moment. "Blood loss from her wound."
Hatsuharu's eyes clenched shut as though he were in pain. "Then we were moments too late," he exhaled shakily. The thought that he could have prevented this, that perhaps he had even played a role himself, filled him with self-loathing. He would never forgive himself, but slaughtering everyone even remotely responsible promised some comfort. "How about Rika? What did you learn from her?"
"Her death was caused by internal injuries from her fall," Kanzo said, struggling to remain dispassionate. "Shortly before, she was paralyzed, likely from one of her own darts. I did manage to speak with her briefly before she passed."
"And?"
"She was not very lucid, but she did mention one thing. When I asked if she knew the murderer, it seemed as if she did but could not recall their name. She said something about 'iron.' Does that mean anything to you?"
"No," Hatsuharu shook his head. "And it doesn't appear to implicate the Akatsuki either. What a puzzle, this." Returning his attention to the images upon the table, he struggled in silence to make sense of it all until a commotion downstairs interrupted his thoughts. "Father must be home. He will not be pleased that we do not have answers."
"No, but we have a good idea now of where to find them. That will have to satisfy him for now."
Soon after, Hanzo's immense presence filled the doorway. His usually broad, straight shoulders appeared to slump under the weight of his drenched cloak. Mud caked the bottom half of his trousers, suggesting that wherever he had been these past twenty-four hours had been outside the city. Though he had given no reason for his departure, Shiori's missing body was all Hatsuharu and Kanzo needed to explain Hanzo's mysterious errand. "It is finished," he said, a tinge of weariness softening his usually powerful voice. As soon as his tired eyes landed upon the photographs strewn across the table, however, they awakened with a sudden flash of anger. "Enough of this grief. Tell me now who did this so I can destroy them with my bare hands. You," he growled at an attendant. "Sake."
Kanzo and Hatsuharu exchanged a wary glance. Their report would not be enough after all. "We have a prime suspect," Hatsuharu started, "but first we must–"
"My lords, I am sorry to interrupt," the attendant said, returning with sake in hand, "but there is a group here from Konohagakure that must speak with you. They said they have crucial information surrounding Lady Shiori's case."
"Then let us hear what they have to say before we finish our report," Kanzo silenced Hatsuharu.
"Show me to them!" Hanzo barked. Obediently, the attendant led Hanzo and his company to the outside terrace. There, a heavily bandaged man and his entourage stood solemnly in the rain. What caught Hanzo's eye, however, was not the men themselves, but what lay at their feet. Strewn upon the ground was a massacre, nine bagged bodies aligned in a neat row. "You! Who are you, and what the devil happened here?!" Hanzo asked the band's bandaged leader.
"Lord Hanzo, I am Danzo Shimura of Konohagakure and an officer of the Hidden Leaf's anbu.
"Danzo?" Kanzo asked, suddenly recalling the mysterious shinobi. "You and I have met before at a mediation in the Land of Iron," he frowned remembering Rika's final clue. "I almost did not recognize you through the bandages. Tell me, is that a recent injury?"
"An elective surgery," Danzo corrected. "Lord Hanzo," he quickly changed the subject, "first, allow me to express my deepest sympathy. Word has spread throughout the shinobi world of Lady Shiori. Her death is a loss to us all."
"I need no reminder of what I have lost," Hanzo growled menacingly. "Why are you here? And what is the meaning of this?" he motioned to the bodies.
"My lord, please forgive this gruesome display. These men are yours. I was too late when I found them. We were on the way to a peace conference with the Land of Earth when we found their remains. From their forehead protectors, we recognized them as your shinobi. After some investigation, I believe these deaths have a connection to Lady Shiori's murder."
Hanzo's eyes widened in alarm. "Did you see the perpetrators!?"
"Not in action, but I have no doubt it was the Akatsuki." Hatsuharu and Kanzo exchanged another look of surprise. The fact that a mysterious stranger from the past would suddenly emerge now with evidence incriminating their lead suspects seemed too convenient to be true.
"The Akatsuki?" Hanzo asked, equally confused. While he had known of the group's existence for some time, it had never posed a threat. In fact, quite the opposite. In the past, he had approved of their pacifist means to help him bring stability to the countryside. "This cannot be. The Akatsuki is a group that expounds peace and has been growing in influence lately in this village. They claim to be an organization that shares my will! So why–"
"Hanzo, you left them on their own too long. It's fine to be idealistic, however, therein lies your weakness."
"My weakness?!" Hanzo repeated, affronted.
"Because of your high ideals, you are blind to those with similar motives. But they became the enemy and turned against you. That is what caused this tragedy. However noble your ideals, not everyone will buy into them. They may act like they share your hopes, but they're just a disorderly mob. Ultimately they'll let their obsession with greed and power grow into an evil that spreads across not just your land, but the entire shinobi world. I have reason to believe this organization is responsible for the death of my men as well. Recently, we were able to capture a team of them. After a lengthy interrogation, they revealed their ultimate goal to me: to destabilize all establish order and after winning the trust of the people, to seize control out of the chaos."
"That's some theory you have," Hanzo's eyes narrowed, "but thin evidence. What does any of this have to do with my wife?"
"Everything," he said, withdrawing a red-hilted katana from his side and presenting it to Hanzo. "Does this look familiar?"
"That–" Hanzo gasped.
"Resembles the blade which struck her down? I am not surprised. Her death and the death of these men are a sign that they are about to make their move to displace you. Lord Hanzo, join me and avenge your wife. Cast off the sheep's clothing from the Akatsuki, and you'll find they're just wolves out to take over the village. My lord, if nothing is done, that is exactly what they will do."
Alarmed by the persuasive effect of Danzo's words over Hanzo, Kanzo decided it was time to intervene. "Lord Danzo, last time we met you and Lady Shiori were not on good terms. Why concern yourself with avenging her now?"
Danzo's mouth frowned in annoyance. "As long as Konohagakure and Amegakure are at peace, I have no qualm with her. After all, the blood of the Land of Fire ran through her, and any spillage of that blood calls out to me for justice. But if you'd prefer me to speak candidly, I care because my men died too. This terrorist organization isn't just a threat to you, Lord Hanzo, or to my men. It's a threat to us all. I entreatyou to join me."
"I thank you for your offered assistance," Kanzo continued, "but I should like to discuss this matter privately first, Lord Hanzo. We have further need of proof–"
"No," Hanzo boomed. "This is all the proof I need. We will act before they suspect anything. I have granted these criminals too much leniency, and for that, I have paid the ultimate price. Now it is their turn to suffer."
"Lord Hanzo! I must–" Before Kanzo could finish his thought, Hatsuharu cut him off with a swift move of his hand.
"Father, I know where we can find them. They have claimed before that they desire your legitimization. If you offer this, we can draw them into the open. Otherwise, they will be difficult to capture. Their numbers have been growing lately and the organization now operates in the city as well as the countryside. We need to better understand their scale and location before we strike. Send word that you have agreed to recognize them, and they will reveal themselves."
"Very well. Tell them that without Shiori, I now require their assistance negotiating peace with the great nations. We will pretend to play into their hands, at least for now. Then we'll spring the trap."
"As you wish," Danzo bowed. "I will send word to Konohagakure that I have been detained so that I and my men may offer you our full assistance."
"How generous of your, sir," Hatsuharu shot Danzo a curious smile. "Now, if you'll all excuse me, I will begin with preparations."
"Wait," Kanzo followed him inside and trailed him down the stairs. "We are acting too hasty. Surely, you must see through this Danzo character. How could he possibly know all he does? About the Akatsuki? The sword? There is no doubt in my mind that he should be our suspect of interest rather than the Akatsuki he seems so keen on implicating."
"Oh, I agree wholeheartedly, Kanzo, rest assured. This Danzo could very well be our murderer. But we can't arrest him on grounds of suspicion. We'll need to gather a lot more evidence first, which is why I need to interrogate the Akatsuki first before Father does anything . . . drastic. Causing an international incident by accusing the Leaf's chief anbu operative could be costly at this stage."
"Then what are we to do? Allow this stranger to manipulate your father while we stand around and wait?"
"Precisely," Hatsuharu patted the older man consolingly on his arm before stepping out the door. "They say all good things come to those that do."