Part 11 – Lunchtime

After Sasuke left Tsunade's office, the first call he made was to Mikoto.

"Uzumaki Residence," Minato said.

"Hokage," Sasuke said, "I have an update on why Naruto, Sakura, and Hinata can't remember anything."

"Come to the palace," Minato said, "I want to hear this news in person."

"Yes sir," Sasuke said, "Has Naruto eaten yet?"

"No," Minato said, "I don't think so."

"Will you let me stop off somewhere first," Sasuke asked.

"Make it something fast that we can make in-house," Minato said, "Hokage's orders."

"Yes, sir," Sasuke said.

"Ichiraku," Metal Gear asked.

"You know it," Sasuke said.

As they climbed back into the Bobcat,

"Hey, Sasuke," Teuchi said as he saw Sasuke walking up, followed by a small mob of press.

"Teuchi," Sasuke said as he walked up to the stand.

"What'll it be today," Teuchi asked.

"I need to pick up the cups this time," Sasuke said, "Official state business. I have to get to the Presidential Palace."

As he pulled up, he saw press waiting outside, and when they saw him, they instantly swarmed his car.

"Sergeant Uchiha! Sergeant Uchiha," they chanted like those annoying seagulls from Finding Nemo.

Guards from the ANBU pushed the press backward as Sasuke rolled down his window, and tapped the intercom button.

"State your business," the guard asked.

"Sergeant Sasuke Uchiha, Konoha Police," Sasuke said as he held his badge out to the camera where the guard confirmed his identity.

"The Hokage is expecting you," the guard said as the gates opened, and he drove inside.

As he stepped out, one of the ANBU held out his hand, which Sasuke placed his AS-10 into.

When Metal Gear jumped out, Sasuke reached back inside and pulled out the Ramen.

As he walked up to the front door, and he went to knock before Kushina opened the door to see him there.

"Sasuke," she said as she hugged him.

"Hey, Kushina," Sasuke said as he wrapped his free arm around her.

"Come in," she said as she dragged Sasuke inside, followed by Metal Gear.

The inside of the Presidential Palace was always beautiful, it didn't follow the motif as it's host nation of Japan and went its own route with wood accents, and areas of gold and orange.

As they walked towards the study, Naruto came down the stairs to see the bag of food in his hand, "That for me," he asked.

"Why don't you take it to the kitchen," Sasuke asked as he held up the bag to his friend, "Straight from Ichiraku."

"Sweet," Naruto said as he took the bag, and walked toward the kitchen, "Ever since you told me about them, I've been dying to try this out."

The study in the palace was nothing but bookshelves that went from the floor to the ceiling, Minato kept a drink globe off to the side of his desk, the desk itself was made of thick oak wood that was varnished in a deep red finish, and the floors were made of recycled bamboo.

"Have the proposal on my desk when I get into the office tomorrow," Minato said as he turned to see Sasuke, and gave him a small wave, "No, no leaks to the press. Alright, see you tomorrow," he hung up, and turned toward Sasuke, "Good to see you, Sergeant."

"Hokage," Sasuke said as he saluted him.

"At ease," Minato said as he pointed at the chair in front of the desk, and ushered Kushina over to him, "Word is, you just came from the hospital."

"I did," Sasuke said as he walked up to the chair to sit down as Kushina sat on her husband's lap.

"What news do you have," Minato asked.

"Besides the fact that Tsunade is one of the most underappreciated women you've employed on this entire island," Sasuke asked.

"Yes," Minato said, "Besides that."

"Whoever took my friends makes James Bond look like a rookie desk agent," Sasuke said, "Never been photographed, or captured on camera once."

"What else," Minato asked, "Why can't they remember these last four years?"

"Because of what they were given," Sasuke said, "Tsunade found a drug known as Vorfloxiren in their bloodstream."

"Never heard of it," Minato said.

"Neither did I, until Tsunade described it to me," Sasuke said, "It's a drug given in small doses to soldiers suffering from post-traumatic-stress-disorder. In larger doses, it can cause amnesia."

"So how much of this stuff was given to them," Minato asked.

"It seems they were given doses of this drug once a day every two weeks over a timespan of about sixteen weeks," Sasuke said, "It has to be dissolved into the bloodstream completely which can take anywhere from one to two weeks, and if it's five CCs over, it's lethal."

"So this guy knows someone who can get this drug CC perfect," Minato asked.

"Yes," Sasuke said, "He also knows someone who can perform prosthetic replacement surgery with laser-like precision, they know how to steal high-end prosthetic limbs without being caught, and they know someone who can make an IRVING-2 spike fit into the port that is designed for a JEHUTY-4."

"Good shit," Minato said as he sat back in his seat, "Who is this guy?"

"Someone good, and I mean really good," Sasuke said, "If I had to guess, he's probably someone who spent a lifetime in intelligence work. He's probably never been accused of anything serious because he's well-liked, and he probably left intelligence work shortly before Robo October."

"I see all those weeks at Quantico weren't wasted," Mikoto said, "Is that everything?"

"No," Sasuke said, "There's one more thing: he said he joined FALA, so he's probably never been shy about expressing his objections to racism, and above all, because he joined FALA, he's probably someone who to this day is trying to secure rights for robotic lifeforms."

"That's a good profile," Kushina said.

"It is," Sasuke said, "But he made sure they were cared for after all these years, got them the best surgery, the best prosthetics, he didn't abuse them, maybe, and he made sure they stayed alive. And there is one more thing."

"What," Mikoto asked.

"If he made sure they were safe, well-fed, and gave them the best treatments possible, then not only is he someone who cares for them, he's possible someone we know," Sasuke said.

"Now that's scary," Minato said, "The question is, who?"

"I'll find out, eventually," Sasuke said, "At least we can narrow our suspect list."

"Yes, you can," Minato said, "Good work."

"Before we continue," Sasuke said as he stood up, and walked over to the door, "I think it's safe to say this conversation is no longer private."

As he pounded the bottom of his fist against the door, there was an audible, "Ow," from the other side.

Sasuke opened the door, and Naruto was rubbing his ear, "Hey bro," he said.

"Thanks for the ear-ache," Naruto said as he stood up.

"Serves you right for eavesdropping," Sasuke said, "Now you know why you can't remember. Right now you don't need to."

"Why not," Naruto asked, "He erased my memories, and chopped off my arm! I want this bastard dead as anyone else!"

"I know," Sasuke said, "Right now all we have is speculation. What I need you to do is wait, and find a job. When I find him, then we'll come at him swinging," he held out his hand, "I'll need my boy back."

"You'll have him," Naruto said as he grabbed Sasuke's hand, and tried to twist his wrist in a way that would make him bend his arm.

Sasuke countered, and bent his arm sideways, "Make it easy on yourself bro," he said, "Come on, let's eat."

As they walked into the kitchen, Naruto had the ramen cups out on the table, "You got us Ramen cups," Kushina asked.

"From Ichiraku," Sasuke said, "Teuchi just started making these. They're cheap, they're good, and they're filling."

"They look great," Naruto said as he picked up his chopsticks, "Come on, I'm starving."

"When are you not," Sasuke asked.

As they sat down to eat, Sasuke made sure to move the ingredients around in the cup a little before taking his first bite.

Naruto mimicked what Sasuke did before eating.

"Oh my gosh," Naruto said with a cheek full of warm ramen, "That's amazing!"

"I told you Teuchi went far when he got back home," Sasuke said, "His ramen stand is one of the most popular food destinations on the island."

"Looks like I need to go there as soon as the media attention dies down," Naruto said.

"You also need to find a job," Minato said.

"Yea, I do," Naruto said.

"Why not go to work for you," Kushina asked, "You could use some help around the office."

"So my son becomes my Personal Aide," Minato asked, "Doesn't that sound like favoritism?"

"You know he was a massive help to you," Kushina said, "Why shouldn't he be able to help you out around the office?"

"You always did have great ideas," Sasuke said as he continued eating.

"Fantastic ideas," Naruto said, "You always did have them, mom."

"Anything for my boy," Kushina said as she ruffled his hair.

"Mom, come on," Naruto said, "Don't mess up my hair."

"This of course means waking up the same time as your father," Sasuke said, "It also means late nights and no oversleeping."

"I can deal with it," Naruto said as he continued eating, "The flavor of these cups is phenomenal."

"Teuchi packages them himself," Sasuke said, "He learned when people are on the move, they'll either go for a burger and fries or a sandwich which can be eaten on the go. He knew if he packaged the ramen in a water-tight container, such as these cups, he could sell them to go."

"Smart businessman," Naruto said.

"You know it," Sasuke said.

As they were cleaning up, Naruto posed a question, "By the way, you said I have an IRVING-2 spike. What does that mean?"

Sasuke looked at the Hokage who waved his hand to symbolize, "Go ahead."

Sasuke grabbed hold of his wrist, twisted it sideways, then clenched his fist, and extended the data spike, "This is a JEHUTY-4 spike which is the Phantom-Limb counter-part to the Omni Corp one you have in your prosthetic," he said, "Just apply more pressure with your middle finger."

Naruto gave his wrist the same twist, and after squeezing his fist, pressing down hard with his middle finger, the spike popped out, "That is sweet," he said, "What does it do?"

"It's meant to store classified information," Sasuke said, "And in the event, it can be used as a weapon."

"Sweet," Naruto said before Sasuke noticed something.

"Actually," Sasuke said as he walked up to Naruto, then looked at Metal Gear, "Metal, can you give me your voltage tester?"

"Sure," Metal Gear said as Sasuke put him up on the counter so he could extend the two nodes from the compartment in his body.

"Hold still," Sasuke said as he attached the nodes to the spike.

"Taser-model," Metal Gear said, "I've got a reading of 50,000 volts at 25 watts."

"So this is a law-enforcement model," Naruto asked.

"That is an understatement," Sasuke said, "Do me a favor, retract the spike, and hold your hand up like this," he held his hand up with his fingers slightly bent.

"How do I…" Naruto asked.

"Same deal," Sasuke said, "And make sure to lock it, just twist your wrist in the other direction."

As Naruto retracted the spike and made it safe, he held up his hand like Sasuke said, who then pressed down on the base of his palm which revealed a series of metallic nodes on his fingers.

"That's trippy," he said as he looked at them, but as he went to touch it, Sasuke grabbed his wrist.

"Don't," Sasuke said as he moved his fingers away from his prosthetic, "That's a self-defense attachment. You essentially have a stun-gun built into your hand there."

"So Mr. White gave us offensive tech," Naruto asked.

"Yep," Sasuke said, "There's another mystery."

The mysteries just keep on coming…