Title: Our Truths Rewind

Fandom: Naruto

Characters:

Chapter: 7

Word Count: 1576

Warnings: Language
AN: So what happened last week? Allergy attack from hell. I spent most of the week in a damn fog and have only now gotten to a point where I can do things normally. Also…got my first covid shot on Tuesday so was enjoying the issues that came with that!

But I hope you enjoy the story!

The next day, he stared at the note that had been returned by Iruka along with his part of the list, Naruto tapped it against his lips as he thought about what he needed to do to get in contact with Kabuto. Making a thoughtful sound to himself, he turned around and headed to his desk, sitting down.

He still had a couple of hours before he was needed to work the mission desk since it was to be a lunch hour and most of the guys were finishing off their own reports.

He laid the letter to the side, reading over the list that he had already memorized.

He had found most of the files that the list had told him about, and his clone was already working its way through them, writing out notes about the missions on the computer and printing them off. He was just glad that Kabuto had used the same code that the Hokage had on record for the silver-haired man. It made his job easier.

Pulling the first file that had already been worked out, he flipped through the notes and frowned softly, looking to the letter again. With the way that the letter had been laid out, Iruka thought that there was a secondary code in the letter beyond the first code.

Sighing to himself, Naruto closed the file and pulled some specialized paper out, setting to work out the code. He mentally meditated while he worked, eating absent mindedly.

As he finished off the last of his rice and put the empty bento to the side, Naruto had figured out what Kabut0 had been telling him. It looked as if Orochimaru had also left his own information in the reports that had been planted by the two men. He moaned and rubbed at his face.

"You are an absolute asshole, piling all of this work on me," he muttered. He pulled out a seal covered binder that he had started to keep filled with notes on missing nin's from Konohagakure. He flipped it open and found Orochimaru's codes that they knew.

Luckily for him, the information included the codes that the Snake Sanin had only used for his own research, ones that were used with Jiraiya and even ones that had been used with Tsunade and Hiruzen. It made for quite the interesting web since the information said that the reports that he was looking for would be in a mix of three of Orochimaru's personal codes.

"When I see you, I'm going to flambe you for this bullshit. Grilled snake is on the menu," he muttered, starting to work out the code that he would find in Kabuto's files. He tucked the files away when the ANBU who had finished their missions started to filter in to turn their reports in. He read, stamped, and approved reports, giving out any new missions or rest orders as needed, thinking while he did it.

He let his mind work over what kind of code would be used, filing things away when he was done for the day, standing and stretching his back. He sealed away the files that his clone had pulled and smiled at Ibiki when the man raised an eyebrow at him when he collected him to head home.

"Are you holding up okay? Especially with all of the extra work you're being forced into?" the man asked. Naruto sighed as he gathered his things, nodding his head.

"Yeah, just going to end up decoding a lot of things," Naruto said, tucking the sealing scrolls into inner pockets. "As a career chunin, working for the ANBU or not, it means that I've had to learn every kind of code that has been or is used in the village," he said as he wrapped his growing hair into a bun. "I need to work on decoding these messages and probably go through all of the other reports that we've pulled because of the notes and the code that I was able to crack over lunch."

"Can you have any of the other desk chunin help you?" Ibiki asked as they walked through the halls of the ANBU headquarters. Naruto shook his head with a groan.

"No, not for this. Iruka-san is busy with other things right now. Genma and Raidou aren't allowed to read certain codes being tokubetsu Jounin. And Izumo and Kotetsu are good, but they're not the fastest when it comes to the codes. The few Chunin that are allowed outside of us would know the codes that are used, are all busy with other messages that they need to focus on," Naruto said. "And no ANBU are allowed at it because of everything that is going on."

"Meaning it lands on you alone," Ibiki said, Naruto nodding. "Are you going to continue to use your clones for this?"

"Since I've almost completed going through the ANBU Archives with them, yes. Most likely I will be able to. I only used one of them today because the files were so delicate, and he was working on recreating the scrolls using a chakra storage seal," Naruto told him. He tucked his hands into his pockets as they stepped out into the darkening sky. "I can probably use a couple tonight since we're leaving so early today. That way I can at least finish figuring out what codes I need."

"I take it that once you have that list, it will be easier to decode and find the messages," Ibiki said. Naruto smiled wanly. "Just don't drive yourself into exhaustion. I do remember hearing Iruka bitch about you falling asleep over your own research when you were first back in the village and studying to take the entry tests to become a desk chunin," he drawled.

Naruto groaned, covering his face in his hands. "Don't remind me of those days please," he whined. "I was going overboard yes, because I had to also learn all I could about the Uzumaki clan seals. Hinata-chan found some things about the Caged Bird Seal that she wasn't really happy about and brought it to my attention," he admitted. "There's a reason why any who are found to know about the history and didn't bring it to my attention or stick with the contract was taken in and stripped of their wealth," he said.

Ibiki grunted and shook his head. "I take it that it was an Uzumaki seal?" he asked.

"Prisoner seal that is rather easy to take off if you know how to use it. The new seal that me, Ero-sennin, Tsunade-san and a few others was able to create is much harder to get off and everyone gets it," he told Ibiki. "It can't be changed, removed or activated once it has been placed. It will only destroy the pathways to their eyes if they themselves activate it or die outside of the village," he continued. "Or if they die a sudden death."

"I had wondered about the new seals," Ibiki admitted, pushing open the door to the outside. "Still, do not overdo it tonight. Would you like to go get take-out for the night?" he asked.

Naruto pulled his small notebook out, opening to the schedule for work and life in general, eyeing what he had written down on it. "I have a couple of days off. I'm planning on working on the decoding during that time. Let's go ahead and grab some easy meals for the next few days so that I don't have to worry about cooking while you're at work. Whoever is going to watch over me will have to deal with their own food. I'm going to be a bit too busy to feed them," he warned.

Ibiki grunted, patting Naruto's head with a nod. "Kakashi is following you around tomorrow. I'll send a mole to him with a warning," he snickered, getting a cackle from his fellow nin as they walked to the market. Naruto picked up several snacky type foods that he knew would help to rebuild his chakra reserves without him having to dip into his collection of specialized bars and pills.

Ibiki also gathered a few things for himself to have while Naruto decided on the easy to eat options that he wanted to have at hand. Checking out with their chosen food, they headed home, Sakura giving them a look when they passed by her, Naruto ignoring her.

She was still a bit pissy with him, as far as he could tell, and it probably stemmed from the way that he had changed in the last year and a half.

Once she was far enough away, Ibiki raised an eyebrow as he shifted the bag of groceries that he carried. "It's just an argument that has been going on for way too long," Naruto told him. He shook his head. "I think that I'll do a leftover night for dinner tonight Finish off a few things before I get set up to work," he decided, eyeing where the sun was sitting.

Ibiki grunted. "I'll work on heating the food then. You go ahead and start to set everything up. I think there's a few of those pre-built chakra seals left in your desk drawer," he said.

"Lucky for me, there are always some left in my drawers," Naruto mused as they stepped onto the Namikaze land, closing the gates behind him before turning to walk to his house.