A/N: And welcome back, dear readers and lurkers. Please enjoy! I also use the term SOP to mean "standard operating procedure".

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

Kiba and Team 8 in Water Country: 2

Madame Sakana, who Kiba assumed to be the owner of both the tavern and the brothel housed above them, was seated on a wooden barrel, empty of beer, with her shapely legs crossed at the knee. The lengthened day cast enough light into the crevice between buildings to show her forty-ish face, flush from the heat of the tavern, and cleavage. She held the cigarette deep in the crook of her first two fingers.

"You all they sent?" she asked, without preamble.

Mako stepped forward. "No, we came with others. As you guessed, we've been sent to investigate the battle that occurred a few days ago."

"A few days ago? Heh. Time must run differently in the big bad Bloody Mist Village," said Madame Sakana. She toyed with the cigarette and assessed Kiba with a long look from his head to his toes. "The giant mutt out front yours?"

"Yeah," Kiba answered, bristling. "Akamaru's purebred. He ain't a mutt."

She shifted her shoulders. "What do I know, purebred or mutt? Shinobi are dogs around impoverished communities such as Sorutotaun. They come in, they tear a place apart, and don't stick around in the aftermath. It's what your friends did. You may come from more 'civilized' parts," she said, bringing the cigarette to her lips, "but we aren't barbarians here, either. We're simple people, with simple needs."

"You have information to share with us?" asked Mako in the silence after her spiel.

"Yeah, for a price."

Kiba, internally, snarled at her mercenary attitude. They should've seen it coming, and Kiba was of a mind to force the information out of her or, better yet, uncover it for themselves. Had she no respect for shinobi? Had she no compassion for their missing people? The fury burned a hole in his chest.

Beside him, Mako remained cool and diplomatic. "Kiri will be happy to send a crew to rebuild the warehouse and pay reparations for damages incurred during the battle," he said. "Kiri's SOP is to not bribe or pay informants as it sets a poor example."

She blew a long breath of smoke from her nostrils. An appraisal was in her exhale, a calculation. "Very well. The warehouse manager is Furizu Iriamu. Here's his address." She handed Mako a slip of paper. "Let Madame Sakana know of anything else she can do to help. Perhaps a warm bed with a soft body, yes? My girls come from all over the Five Nations. I've got two new beauties from Fire Country, in fact. A redhead and a blonde."

"A redhead and a blonde…" Kiba's heart thumped hard in his chest, but he allowed no outward show of suspicion. "Could be the start of a dirty joke."

"Oh, haha, I know many dirty jokes starting with 'a redhead and a blonde'," she said, "but my two firebrands are no jokes. They've already doubled our income with their exceptional skills, and we've opened a whole new market with the local women. Our patrons always leave satisfied…and wanting more."

"So two women?"

"Yes."

"How recently did they arrive?"

Kiba had already concentrated a quantity of chakra into his nose. Perfume and incense coated everything; unwashed bodies of the patrons, beer, liquor, salt, and someone was in the bathroom defecating. A tangy sex-smell from the prostitutes and the men enjoying those services. He smelt the cooked fish dinners and spices from the neighbors. But through those potent smells, he did detect a Takahino-like scent upstairs and a Yamanaka scent, but not Ino. And the not-Ino scent spread a wash of relief through him. He'd hate it if Ino was forced to offer her body to other men to survive. Takahino's scent wasn't as spot-on as it had been outside in the Konoha forest or in Yu, but it was pretty close, and Kiba was aware his nose could be tricked.

Madame Sakana opened her mouth to answer, but after a moment, her face scrunched. "Hunh. Strange. I don't remember exactly, and I can remember each and every date my other girls were hired. I think they've worked for awhile." She frowned and said under her breath, "I'll have to look in my account book."

"Give us a moment to discuss matters. We'll be right back," Kiba said. When Madame Sakana nodded, gesturing with her hand for him to get on with it, Kiba hurried Mako out of her earshot. In a rush of whispers, Kiba explained his thoughts. "Listen, it's gonna sound crazy, but we might have a lead on our missing shinobi. Takahino and Ino are good at blending in, and I know for a fact they're trained to use seduction as a tool. I think I smell Takahino upstairs and maybe another Yamanaka. I really think we should check it out."

"We have to notify the others," Mako replied. "I'll inform Rojin of our suspicions and bring back-up. You stay here and monitor the exits with Akamaru. Once we've assembled, we can plan our attack." The black fish-eyes took in Kiba's obvious discontent. "Don't worry. They won't suspect a thing. Stay vigilant and stay patient."

At least Mako believed it was worth looking further into. Kiba whistled Akamaru to his side, and together, he and his ninken took cover on the roofs of neighboring buildings. Akamaru settled in to watch the front of Madame Sakana's tavern; Kiba watched the back. No one house gave Kiba and Akamaru enough cover to remain together. Ino and Takahino had proved more than a match for Team 8 (and Sai when he was with them), so Kiba's worry was they'd have hypnotized the locals into reporting any new faces to town. There was a good chance they'd be notified of Leaf and Mist forces in the area. And furthermore, how'd they escape their clan's detection?

Kiba's nose monitored their scents. As night covered the world, the temperature dropped. A breeze lifted the dry saltiness of the salt flats which lay beyond the town's perimeter. His eyes adjusted as the night darkened; his nose told no lies. The Takahino-scent and the other Yamanaka scent hadn't moved positions in hours. And hours were how long he'd watched. In those watchful hours, the tavern had continued a brisk business, with patrons drinking into late evening. By handfuls and clusters, the village fishermen left to return home for their suppers and an early night, as they were awake in the pre-dawn hours on their boats to catch and sell their fish.

While he watched, he worried. At least a dozen times he considered a brief visit to the docks to see why Mako had not returned, but each time, he believed the moment he stepped away, Takahino and the other Yamanaka would elude him once more. No. Hunkered down and patient, like the wolf hidden among the shrubs, behind the trees, was the surest path to victory. The town was near the docks, so he could smell his team's and the Kiri shinobi's scents- -they had left the docks and traveled further inland into the salt flats. For what reason, Kiba did not know. Soon, the members of his squad were outside the normal reach of his nose.

The boisterous noise from the tavern had died away as more and more patrons left. Overhead, stars were faint white dots, clustered or aligned together, random and far flung in the universe but to Kiba's evolved brain, he outlined the various constellations. The starlight, in addition to the various electrical lamps in town, augmented Kiba's night vision. While distant details were fuzzy, he could read a book in his current situation. A cool breeze wafted the scent of water, salt, wood, and baked earth; a refreshing change to the heavy humidity of the afternoon air.

He'd been crouched in place so long his thighs and calves were numb, so he stretched without a groan or whine until the feeling came into his nerves and muscles. Ino'd always get on his case about the sheer amount of space he'd take up in the bed, how he was in her way blocking the doorway or in front of a cabinet she needed when she fixed dinner. The might-be Ino scent was so like Ino, and while it was true an Inuzuka nose picked apart inconsistencies (such as sexual attraction or lying or pregnancy) perhaps Ino had disguised her scent.

Once the thought occurred to him, he couldn't leave it alone.

What if Ino was with Takahino in the brothel?

None of his teammates were in the general vicinity. No one would have to know he talked to Takahino to clarify matters. If there was even the slightest chance Ino was within reach, Kiba ought to extend his hand and take her; or rather, take the opportunity to really talk with her, to see what was the danger which contracted around her. He'd be in and out, no sweat.

A quiet voice inside his head reminded him of the consequences of defying direct orders- -and, by the way, his orders were to track Ino and bring her safely home, and apprehend Takahino, subdue him, and bring him to Konoha for interrogation. Shikamaru never mentioned how they were to obey the orders as long as they were fulfilled. So Kiba decided, as the captain of his one-man squad, a preliminary discussion with Takahino and maybe-Ino was necessary, and he was well within his rights as captain to initiate a truce.

Oh, to see Ino, to assess her condition, to hear her voice and smell her...Kiba's body actuated movement prior to his brain's commands. He hit the dust of the road with his toes, Akamaru landing next to him, and as a single unit, they sidled around the outer wall of the whitewashed tavern to the back doorway. The curtain fluttered in the tiny breeze; enough light shed from nearby houses to give Kiba a visual on the door. From within the tavern, he heard chairs bark across the floor and the clatter of dishes, glassware clinked, as Lady Sakana and her barmaids cleaned the place for the night.

Kiba and Akamaru slipped through the curtain, unseen. They tread the stairs to the second storey, unseen. And as he moved in on the room, Takahino's scent and maybe-Ino's scent flush in his sinuses, his heart pummeled the inside of his chest. Cold sweat had moistened his palms. Shit, why am I so nervous? But he knew why. He'd not seen Ino since their break-up outside the Office of the Hokage two weeks ago. Strange events had occurred since then, worrying events.

The second storey, like the tavern, was circular, and the rooms went full in a circle from the top of the stairs. Like with the rest of the town, no solid doors separated the rooms from the halls so privacy was lost. Evidently, patrons of the brothel had no need for privacy as lusty grunts and groans, high keens, and low laughter punctuated the air. He didn't hear bedsteads thump against the wall so either none were on the beds or the frames were padded to prevent more noise. At least everyone had fun. Covering the doorways were sturdy woven curtains in varying bright colors. Reed mats were at the threshold of each doorway as well as discarded pairs of shoes or sandals.

Kiba followed his nose forward, and he felt he had wandered into a dream of sorts. Since his separation from Ino, he'd often wondered whether he'd done the right thing by her, and whether she was okay with the break-up. No more time to think. He was face-to-face with the curtain to the room. His throat had tightened with his nerves, and briefly he considered the courteous way to introduce himself without inducing panic or a fight. Should he enter, as no customer occupied the room? Knock? Clear his throat? As Takahino and Ino were tricky, he decided surprise was his ally. With a quick hand gesture to Akamaru to stay, Kiba boldly flipped away the curtain and entered the room.

Though noise was heightened in the other rooms, Kiba was greeted with quiet and darkness. A window, covered with another type of woven blind was opposite the door. On the right side of the room was a low boxy chest. Some other minor bits and baubles were scattered about the room. Two figures were side-by-side on a futon against the wall on the left. Their breathing was of a healthful sleep, unconscious of danger. Ino could be here. Kiba had night vision, yes, but he couldn't see colors in the darkness of the room. In silence, he peered down at the two faces. Ino, are you here?

One was Takahino and the other...wasn't Ino.

Kiba must've sighed in disappointment. Takahino stirred. As his hopes popped like a soap bubble, Kiba clamped a hand over Takahino's mouth and in one fell maneuver, hauled him from under the covers and into the light of the hall, where he pinned back his arms and wrists. Takahino's red-brown hair fell in tousled waves down his shoulders and back, and despite Takahino being an inch or two taller than Kiba, Kiba's strength was in his upper chest, arms, and back. Ino's cousin squirmed in the iron grip, voice and cries muted behind Kiba's hand.

"I won't hurt you, so stop struggling," Kiba said. "Please, I don't wanna fight. Truce, truce!"

When Kiba did not carry him off into the night, Takahino ceased his squirming and distressed cries, but his muscles remained tight with readiness. Kiba said, "I'm removing my hand. No yelling. I'll gag you if I have to."

Takahino nodded his head. Testing, Kiba removed his hand from Takahino's mouth, but kept a firm lock on his arms and an eye on his hands. Takahino calmed his rapid breathing before asking in a hoarse whisper, "How can I trust you?"

"I haven't drawn blood from you," Kiba responded. "It would've been easy for me to wrap you up tighter than a spider does a bug, but I haven't. Also, I have important information to share and I need the same from you."

"Let me go. I'd like to see you."

Kiba hesitated, but with Akamaru three feet away, he didn't think Takahino would pull any funny business, so Kiba released the firm hold on Takahino's arm. They shuffled apart in the narrow hall. Takahino turned to look at Kiba and they each sized up the other. Kiba attempted to exude an inoffensive aura. Takahino crossed his arms; he wore clothes similar to the ones the Sorutotaun townsfolk wore, and Kiba admired the effort the other had put forth to be as invisible as possible.

"Ino has told me a considerable amount about your sex life," said Takahino. "What is your favorite sex position?"

"Her on top, face-to-face. Doggy-style a close second."

"Inuzuka Kiba, as I live and breathe," said Takahino, sparing Kiba any snide remarks about dominant and submissive positions. His fine eyebrows had winged to his hairline, probably wondering what the hell Kiba, as Ino's ex-lover, had to do with anything. "Spill it. What information do you have?"

"No so fast. I'll tell you in a fair exchange. Can you agree to answer my questions?"

"What about?"

"I'm worried over Ino." Kiba shifted his weight. "I only want to know how she is."

"Well, you're in luck. I do have information which may interest you."

"First, tell me a fact about my appearance."

Takahino's mouth slanted with a smirk. "Trying to establish a baseline, hmm? I'll play. You have two red triangles on your cheeks."

"How many fingers am I holding up?"

"Three."

"What's your name?"

"Yamanaka Takahino."

"Yeah, okay, you pass." Kiba's three questions allowed him to monitor Takahino's reaction; a lying person had a reaction to telling lies at the chemical level. Takahino was who he said he was. But still, Kiba hesitated. Once he gave his information, Takahino had the advantage. At this point, Kiba would have to trust Takahino's decency and integrity. "I'm part of a seven-man squad of Kiri and Konoha shinobi. The Mizukage's Office heard about the fight you had with yer clan, so we came to investigate. We're camped out on the docks, so now's a good time for you to skedaddle. Yer turn."

"We spoke to Ino earlier today. She's safe and healthy, but homesick. As far as I know, she hasn't been captured. I can't tell you where she is."

"I don't care as long as she's safe. Is it true you kidnapped her to marry her?"

"No. We escaped with the faction to avoid a...an assimilation. I can't exactly explain it, but Miyazato has control over the clan. Like, mind control, but not. Ino and I haven't the faintest idea what happened or how to stop it."

"Are you fuckin' kidding me?" Assimilation and mind control over the Yamanaka…what the fuck? On the heels of the thought came the strangeness of Takeshita Shijo strangling the woman he claimed to love, murdering the woman he had planned to run away with. How he had seemed forced into behavior unlike him in every conceivable way. He recalled Ino's usage of Saiko Denshin on Takeshita Isao and the violent mind jutsu which had cast her from the guy's mind, weakening her and depleting her chakra so they had to hurry to the hospital to save her.

Takahino closed his eyes, and sighed heavily. "No. I wish I were."

"Who's with you?"

"Hikarino's one of the cousins. She was used to lure Ino and myself into a trap in one of the nearby warehouses. You've seen it at the docks. I managed to avoid capture and hide both of us until the coast was clear. Blending in with the townsfolk seemed the best idea until everything cooled down. Mind jutsu works wonders in our current situation. Luckily, the patrons who request sex work are satiated with a good genjutsu or a transformation jutsu. They leave none the wiser and their purses lighter." Takahino glanced aside into the darkened room. "She hasn't been well the last several days, so I haven't attempted to move her. Do you think you could hold off on any maneuvers to capture us until morning? It'd give her one final night of good rest before we run."

"I'll do what I can, but I can't guarantee anything. I sent one guy I was with for back-up, but then the whole group left and haven't come back. Something weird's going on. We found a strange gold frame thingy in the collapsed warehouse," Kiba continued. He spread out his arms to demonstrate. "Yea high and wide. Ugly little cocksucker starin' out from the top. I had the heebie-jeebies just standin' in front of it."

Takahino grimaced. "Be careful. As far as I know, those frames can be used as portals. When I came for Hikarino, my clan poured out of them, down to the last member. From where, I didn't see, and I didn't notice whether the mirrors were two ways or not. I almost didn't make it out alive."

"I don't like it one bit," Kiba growled. A portal, hunh? Could the frame have activated and sent his squad packing? "By the way, while we're chummy, have you seen Sai? He was with us when we left Yu, but then he disappeared into thin air. We found his scent tangled with yours outside Merodichi, and again out around the warehouses."

"Honestly, the battle at the warehouse was chaotic. I can't tell you who was in the fight or not," said Takahino. "I'm sorry."

Kiba narrowed his eyes because the statement was the first one Takahino had uttered which smacked of a deflection, not an outright lie, but it was odd considering how Takahino had been forthright with information so far. "All I want to know is how he's doing."

"Sai is a capable shinobi. Whatever the situation, he'll be fine. Trust him." Before Kiba could continue, Takahino yawned, stretching his arms, and blinked away sleepy tears in his eyes. "This has been a great chat, but I'm beat. I've got a long day of dodging authorities ahead of me. Must get my beauty rest, etcetera."

"Hm. Keep yer secrets. I should go, too." According to his nose, the cluster of his squad's scents regrouped a little beyond the outer limits of the town. Kiba's nose was more long-range than Hinata's eyes, so she wouldn't see him with Takahino should her Byakugan be in use. "Everyone's back from their adventure, so I'd better take my position. You need anything before I head out?"

Takahino's look softened. "No. Thank you. You always were a true and loyal friend to us. And keep one eye open in the back of your head. Shit is about to get real."

"Yeah, you too. Stay safe."

Kiba left Takahino and felt satisfied with the results of the conversation. He'd have the opportunity to mull over Takahino's specific information after he stalled the search party somehow. As he resumed the position he'd left earlier, Mako and Hinata broke off from the others and while they dashed to his location, everyone else in the squad returned to where they'd anchored the Sea Queen. After a moment or two, Hinata and Mako greeted him in low murmurs. They had edged around the building in the shadows before joining Kiba on his rooftop. Together, the three of them gazed across the road at the tavern's second level. Once Mako and Hinata had settled on either side of him, Kiba spoke.

"Took you long enough. I sent you for reinforcements hours ago."

Mako lifted his shoulders and let them drop. "We experienced extenuating circumstances."

"Yeah, yeah, extenuate my ass," Kiba replied with a fair bit of snark. "I may as well have gone after those two piggies myself. Anyway, we ought to save it 'til tomorrow."

Hinata touched his shoulder. She had since activated her Byakugan, but didn't keep the dojutsu activated for very long. "It is Takahino, but Ino isn't with him. I think she's another member of the family, not one I've seen before."

"They could be tryin' to throw us off Ino's trail." Kiba pressed his knuckles to his eyes. They burned from the salt and from exhaustion. "But we can regroup and plan for an ambush tomorrow when we're fresher."

"Yes, I agree. We ought to update Rojin on the current circumstances," Hinata said in her soft conciliatory tone, "and we shouldn't attempt a capture mission until we've had a chance to talk and organize. You're needed with us at the campsite."

Mako nodded. "She's right. A lot has happened in the meanwhile."

Kiba hid the relief he felt; he couldn't stand lying to people he respected. "Fine. Sounds good to me."

And so they left the rooftop and the surveillance behind to join with the squad. The waves slapped against the wooden piers, and the quiet hish of water lulled the night creatures. Townsfolk in Sorutotaun had switched off lights, snuggling into bed for the night. As they approached the campsite, Kiba smelt dinner on the fire; his stomach growled as he'd had nothing since lunch. Akamaru whuffed the air and whined, as hungry as Kiba was. Atop the fire roasted enough fish for each of them.

Though the fish piqued Kiba's interest (and stimulated his salivary glands), he noticed the hang-dog posture of Rojin, Shino, and Kayu. In fact, Hinata and Mako hadn't been their usual selves. In the dim light the fire cast, their clothes and gear had rents, scuffs, and white streaks. Rojin's hand was bandaged, and everyone had an exhausted glaze to their eyes. Sea Queen was not where she'd been anchored when he'd left in the afternoon.

"Did I miss a fight?" he asked. "Where's Tensai? Sea Queen?"

"You'd better have a seat," replied Rojin, rubbing where his hand was wrapped. "The story's a long one."

Rojin, in a grave tone, outlined the events Kiba had missed. The squad had moved the gold frame into camp, so Tensai could continue to study it and take notes. Nothing happened of consequence until Shino's kikaichu had detected a large quantity of chakra in the salt flats. Hinata, Shino, Rojin, and Kayu left camp to investigate while Tensai remained with the frame and the Sea Queen. Once they were closer, Hinata confirmed the presence of a monster-sized jaguar. The single jaguar had drawn them into an ambush of three other jaguars, powerful beyond reason and with bizarre abilities which had neutralized most of the jutsu the Kiri and Konoha shinobi generated. Where these jaguars had originated, no one saw or could guess. Rojin had hoped to capture one of the jaguars alive for research purposes, but once defeated, the jaguars dispelled- -they'd been summonings. Whoever had summoned them wasn't present at the fight, so everyone returned to camp worse for wear and depleted of chakra and physical energy. Tensai, the gold frame, and the Sea Queen had gone missing without a trace.

"We'll have to remain at rest until we regenerate our chakra," Rojin continued after his account. "I see no sense in attempting to track Tensai over water until we've had rest. Mako says you think you've scented your missing shinobi? I'm sorry we're unable to capture them immediately."

"I thought I smelled Takahino, and Hinata confirmed it a few minutes ago. Takahino and one of the Yamanaka cousins are in the brothel above the tavern. Also, we have the name of the warehouse manager. I can go tomorrow and interrogate him," said Kiba. "Let Akamaru'n'me keep watch while you and everyone else get rest. We ain't going anywhere."

Rojin agreed, grateful for the reprieve, and as he looked dead on his feet, Kiba understood his relief. He and Akamaru made quick work of the cooked fish, and after his team sprawled out in varying positions shortly afterwards, they two remained awake and watchful. The night passed.

Early the next morning, Kiba fished off the pier and snagged a few decent sized sea bass, narrow and long strips of wiggling silver. He rebuilt the banked fire and while the fire blazed, he cleaned and descaled the sea bass. Once the fish were propped on sticks over the flames, they cooked nicely, as the first of his squad rose, he got water boiling for tea. Before Tesai had the Sea Queen's disappearance, the group had unloaded supplies to the shore and these supplies had been left behind. Kayu, who was their medic, slept the longest as she'd had wounds to heal after the battle with the jaguars and had the lowest chakra. Everyone drooped and was under the weather.

"Take Mako with you and go investigate the warehouse manager," Rojin said. By this time, the sun was well above the horizon. Kiba knew the priority would no longer be Takahino and Hikarino, but Tensai and the Sea Queen, as well as the jaguars and the gold frame. "We'll be safe enough while Hinata and Kayu continue to rest, eh, Shino?"

Shino nodded. "Yes. Between the two of us, we will provide adequate protection to the camp."

"I'm leaving Akamaru with you." Kiba signaled for Akamaru to stay behind and the goof took Kiba's command to mean, 'Lie next to Hinata,' which he did with evident glee. Hinata smiled and stroked the white fur. "Mako, you good to come with me?"

"I am low from the battle, but I have enough to defend myself. You may rely on me."

That being said, Kiba and Mako left the camp and returned to town. Kiba took a few deep breaths as they passed the brothel- -Takahino and Hikarino were no longer on the second storey. Instead, their scent trails led out towards the shoreline west of the docks. He assumed they had a boat on hand, perhaps borrowed from a fisherman, and they had used it to escape Sorutotaun. Kiba mentioned nothing as they checked the addresses for each abode. Within a cluster of buildings on a dead-end street, Kiba and Mako found Furizu Iriamu's home. Like the other houses in the town, Furizu's house was circular, single story and whitewashed with no wooden door and no glass in the windows. Bolted into the wall to the side of the door was a wooden block with a metal knocker. Kiba lifted the metal knocker and tapped it a few times against the wood.

A woman swept aside the curtain, dark hair piled high on her head. Dark eyes flashed at them. "Yes? Do you realize the time?" But her waspish attitude diminished when she took in Kiba and Mako's attire and hitai-ate. "Many apologies, shinobi. We don't have visitors so early. How may I help you?"

"We're looking for Furizu Iriamu. Is this his residence?" asked Kiba.

"Yes, you've come to the right place. I'm Furizu Akae, Iriamu's wife." Her chin notched up a few degrees. "May I ask why you are here?"

"We've come to ask some questions concerning the contents of the collapsed warehouse," answered Kiba. "I'm sorry we've come so early, but the sooner we have answers, the better, Mrs. Furizu. Is yer husband available to talk?"

She hugged the bright red and yellow wrap closer to her thin frame. "I understand. Please come in." Mrs. Furizu showed them to a stark white living room- -the white augmented the morning sun from the open windows and Kiba squinted against the brightness of the room. He and Mako sat on some comfy cushions on the floor while Mrs. Furizu left them to collect Mr. Furizu.

The interrogation was brief. Mr. Furizu had the warehouse manifest on hand. The collapsed warehouse had been emptied a week prior to the collapse. No gold frame had been listed on any of the manifests for the warehouse or for any of the other warehouses. Valuable equipment and items were secured and insured; Mr. Furizu assured them he'd remember something like a hefty gold frame on the manifest as more paperwork would've been associated with the item. He confirmed Swift Emperor Shipping transported their salt bricks and other island materials to other parts of the country and the continent. They thanked Mr. Furizu for his time and empty handed, they left to return to camp.

They reported their findings to Rojin, who shook his head in disappointment, not at them but at the situation in general. The town was too small to have an organized police force. Rather, it had more of a neighborhood watch with elected council members. Crimes were reported to the main island, who sent out officers and relayed more dangerous threats to Kirikagure. The next step was to inquire around town for witnesses to the battle. Rojin assisted them, leaving Shino, Hinata, and Kayu at the camp to recoup their energy. Kiba sensed an unsettled feeling among them. Hours later after dozens of interviews, they had a more formal outline of the battle. No one saw the initial attack; mostly everyone who gave a report was present after the warehouse had collapsed.

The damage to the roof on the neighboring warehouse indicated a fight with a cat, and based on the reports of the jaguars in the area, the inches-deep furrows in the wood were jaguar claw marks. Kiba noticed a mark from the denotation of a smoke bomb and silt on the roof swiped in a long stripe, as though the cat had swatted at someone or something. Two burn marks had scorched the roof, but had not incinerated the building. Over the edge of the roof, on the ground, was a scrubby bush with branches broken where a heavy weight had landed. Takahino mentioned the arrival of at least two large jaguars and the entire Yamanaka clan, but he'd managed to get away. Kiba did not know Takahino's skill level or the strength of the jutsu he possessed. However, the signs of this fight were overwhelming in the clans favor.

Unless Takahino's escape been sheer dumb luck or he'd been overlooked as unimportant, Kiba failed to see how anyone could've gotten away from such forces. Unless...Takahino had help from a shinobi of the finest caliber, a shinobi trained in the Anbu subsection of Root under Lord Danzo. He had the thought in his brain, and at the same time, a rush of wind brought...a familiar scent, so faint he thought he'd perhaps imagined it.

Could it be…?

A/N: See you next week!