I started this a while ago and it got long. I hope all of you are safe from COVID and stay healthy.

I thank my friend lexkixass for use of her twins. As always, Naruto belongs to Kishimoto.

Osamu wanted to kick his cousin. There was being stubborn and then there was being stupid. Neji was currently suffering from the later affliction. "Come with us. No one is going to be of use in the next fight if we don't get treated. Are you really going to make me tell Hinata-sama that you got yourself killed because you were too proud to see a med-nin?"

Neji shrugged and went back to scanning the empty forest. "I'm fine. I'll stand guard while you're gone and rest a bit when you get back."

"You know, Aniki, as weak as he is, we might be able to drag him off to the medical camp."

Neji turned his head to glare at Osamu. "Just try it."

Osamu waved his brother off. "Come on, it'll be easier to drag him away if we're healed and he's worn himself out. Just wait, Neji. When we get back, you are going."

Isamu nodded and Osamu led the way to the medical camp. There was no arguing with Neji yet, and Isamu was favoring a nasty shoulder wound that would impact his ability to fight if it wasn't treated. Osamu wasn't doing much better; his vision blurred from the hours of fighting.

Isamu kept a step behind Osamu. "Do you think Hinata-sama's okay?"

That wasn't the question he was asking, and they both knew it. Did Hinata-sama make it in time? was the real question that lingered on all their minds. Osamu and Isamu had been part of the Second Unit that went as reinforcements to the First Unit. With Hinata and nearly all of the Sealing Corps in their Unit being ordered out, they were happy she wouldn't be alone. Then came the order for all Hyuuga to avoid the battle at the coast. Hiashi was among the resurrected. No Hyuuga could enter that fight—except Hinata. The understanding and conflict on her face as they doubled back, leaving her alone to face her father, who by the time she arrived might have killed Hizashi and every other Hyuuga in the First Unit . . .

Osamu cursed the seal.

"Kiba and Shino are with her," Osamu said to comfort himself as much as his brother.

How her team knew she needed them was a mystery Osamu hadn't figured out yet. They'd crossed paths with the rest of Hinata's team not long after the Hyuuga turned back to rejoin the remainder of the Second Unit. When Isamu filled them in on Hiashi's presence, Osamu read understanding, not surprise, on their faces. They knew Hinata needed help, but not why, which would mean that they didn't get the order to join the reinforcements from headquarters.

"I know. Just worried." Isamu grabbed Osamu's shoulder for balance as they climbed over some rough underbrush. Neither were fit enough for even basic acrobatics at this point.

"Maybe the med-nin will have word from the other camps about how bad the Hyuuga casualties are there."

Isamu nodded, lips set in a grim line. "They're bound to be obvious."

Osamu didn't reply.

They walked the remainder in silence, neither wanting to acknowledge the truth of the situation. If Hizashi died, then Hinata would be clan head now. She was young, but not so young anymore. The clan would suffer upheaval during the first year or two as she learned, but it would stabilize with a legitimate main family leader for the first time in thirteen years.

Hinata would be the one who suffered. Her life outside the clan would be over. She wouldn't even have Hizashi there to help her through it. Hyobe would be her only guide, and that relationship wasn't strong enough to fall back onto.

Osamu didn't want to think about what it would mean for the branch and main family tension. The war brought them all a common enemy, and that would hold for a while after. If the first branch leader of the clan were killed because of the seal though, along with so many others in the First Unit, the bitterness would fester no matter how competent or liked Hinata might become as clan head. The seal was justified as a way to protect the clan, while the dominance it offered the main family was tolerated by necessity. If it were used as a direct weapon to kill en masse, what justification remained?

Isamu leaned his good arm against Osamu's. "Stop thinking so much. You're depressing me."

Osamu gave his brother a sardonic grin. "Stop reading me and you won't get depressed."

"As if that's possible," Isamu snorted.

Too true. Seeing too much was a problem before they'd joined Interrogations, but now it was their default mode of experiencing the world. Ibiki managed to hone a talent in them that few outside the clan could understand.

A guard at the medical camp stopped them, eyeing each brother with more suspicion than was necessary. "Stay there, we need to check your chakra."

To make sure they weren't the enemy in disguise, a realization that made both of them chuckle a little. Posing as someone's twin would be a good way to infiltrate the enemy camp, if it were anyone but them. There was no way the enemy could deceive their eyes, no matter how blurry Osamu's vision was.

They headed for the tent the guard indicated and waited with the rest of the injured. Several med-nins worked in screened-off areas further in the tent. When it was their turn, Isamu went in first. His wound was more serious, and Osamu's big brother instinct—for all his two minutes of extra breathing time gave him—itched to see Isamu treated. Osamu waited a few minutes more before the next med-nin was available.

Osamu grinned when he saw the med-nin on duty. His eyes weren't as clear as usual, but that pink hair was difficult to miss. "Sakura, I hope we're not keeping you too busy."

Sakura visited Hinata at the compound enough to recognize him. "Unfortunately you all are, but that's what I'm here for. What seems to be the problem, . . ." She looked at him expectantly.

"Osamu," he said, too tired to play games. "My vision's been blurry for a couple hours now. Not a good state for a Hyuuga, I'm afraid."

"You're not the only Hyuuga I've seen like that." She motioned for him to sit down in front of her and placed her hands on either side of his temple. Chakra danced into his muscles, relaxing his face. No doubt more was happening, but the relaxation was all he felt, and that was okay with him.

Osamu waited a few minutes to let Sakura work, but curiosity, or maybe dread, got the better of him. "Speaking of other Hyuuga, have you heard from the other medical camps? We got orders not to let Hyuuga near the First Unit because of one of the reanimated. We've been wondering if any of the clan there survived the battle."

Sakura gave him an interested look. She had gone to Hinata after the battle with Pain, where Naomi went with the seal uncovered. He saw the pieces floating around her mind, but it lacked a through line to tie it all together. "Who could target just the Hyuuga clan?"

Osamu weighed his response carefully. The seal itself wasn't a true secret. The fact the clan wasn't being constantly hunted despite the lure of byakugan meant that the other villages knew the clan had a way of destroying byakugan when a member of the branch family died. The secret was the precise mechanism of destruction and the cost the branch family bore for their safety. That secret could no longer be hidden, revealed only to those a Hyuuga trusted. Whether his clan was alive or dead, all the villages witnessed the Hyuuga's shame.

But did Osamu need to spread the truth further? There were questions about the order to stay away, but this was war and it was likely other matters would soon overshadow any rising curiosity. He didn't have to explain anything.

Except, Sakura wasn't going to answer his question without first getting an answer to hers. Osamu sighed. It didn't have to be the whole sordid affair, just an answer.

"You saw Aunt Naomi after the Pain fight—with her forehead uncovered. You saw the seal there." He tapped his forehead protector. "It destroys byakugan when we die, so the enemy can't steal our eyes, but it also gives the main family the ability to hurt or kill us. The order for Hyuuga clan to stay back came because Hinata-sama's father was among the reanimated dead. He could kill all the Hyuuga in the First Unit with a single gesture."

Sakura's green eyes widened, making her appear younger in her shock. "Why would your clan do that to you?"

Osamu shrugged to try and pass off the discomfort talking about the seal caused. "It's the way it's always been."

"Hinata," Sakura paused, her gaze drifting away from any direct eye-contact. "Neji's mother said Hinata used the seal on her. It was that?"

Osamu tried to nod, but Sakura's hands kept his head from moving. The slight confinement irked him. Movement was a way of expressing what he didn't want to say aloud, and the inability to provide subtle cues, even if only Isamu would be able to understand, made him feel deceptive. Osamu and his brother were very honest people. It was easy when little of that honesty was said aloud.

"To keep Aunt Naomi from stopping Hinata-sama or joining the Pain fight along with her. As far as I know, it's the first time Hinata-sama used the seal on any member of the clan."

That, too, was an honest statement—as far as he knew. Any suspicions otherwise did not belong under the truth of what he knew. They were what he deduced from the sad or guilty expressions Hinata would hide from the family whenever Neji came home with a headache and his forehead protector a tad looser than when he'd left. Just because Osamu's deductions were generally correct, didn't mean he knew for certain.

Sakura shook her head, disapproval dripping from her professional demeanor. "We always knew there was something weird with Hinata being main, but it's hard to imagine her using something like that on anyone."

"Hinata-sama understands the utility of the seal, but she's never hidden her dislike of the power it gives her. That alone keeps the clan from fearing her the way we've feared clan heads in the past. But you can see why we're anxious to hear what happened with the First Unit after learning Hiashi-sama was among the reanimated."

"Of course." Sakura lowered her hands and released him to stretch out the now relaxed muscles in his neck. "That should be enough to clear up your vision, but you need some rest. Go ahead and lie down and I'll see what Shizune's heard from the other camps."

Osamu gave her one of his more charming smiles, though playful enough not to show any serious interest. "Thank you. Otouto's with another med-nin for a shoulder injury. I'll join him and rest there."

Sakura nodded and started out of the tent, but she stopped short of leaving to glance back with a very med-nin look he wasn't about to disobey. "No byakugan for a while. Let your system rest."

"Yes ma'am."

Osamu found his brother with a much less damaged shoulder still in the process of being healed and informed him of Sakura's help and orders. The med-nin treating Isamu indicated a vacant chair next to Isamu's cot. Too worried to banter and too tired to pretend, Osamu sat down, closed his eyes, and promptly fell asleep.

"Aniki, wake up," a groggy Isamu said, shoving Osamu so he swayed in the chair.

Osamu blinked a few times to clear away the sleep clinging to his mind. The med-nin who'd treated Isamu was gone, Isamu's shoulder looked healthy again, and Sakura stood in front of them.

"You have word?" he asked.

She nodded and both brothers sighed in relief. Sakura showed none of the tells for breaking bad news—no avoiding eye contact, no tense jaw, no physical ticks to reassure herself. There was no way every Hyuuga in the First Unit died.

Sakura's brows drew together at their reacting before she talked. "There were causalities among the Hyuuga, but just as many are responding well to treatments since Hinata was there to explain what kind of damage occurred from the seal. Hizashi-sama has already been treated and is resting with the other Hyuuga that survived."

Osamu lowered his head and let the news sink in. Both Hizashi and Hinata were alive. That meant no transition of power, no main killing branch complications, and to add to the good news, Hinata's role as main family meant she could help the med-nins. This would be good for the clan when the war was over.

"You have no idea how much I needed to hear that," Osamu said.

Isamu took his brother's hand for the tactile connection that cemented their relief. "I know a lot of people are worried about their loved ones. You didn't have to find out for us, so thanks. Aniki has a bad habit of over-thinking things, which only gets me thinking them, too."

"It was nice to have good news to tell," Sakura said, smiling a tired expression. "I have to get back to work, but you two can rest here for as long as you need."

Osamu waved her concern away, though the thought of going back to sleep sounded tempting. "We should head back. Neji's being stubborn, but even battered and exhausted, it might take both of us to drag his arrogant ass here."

Sakura laughed and it chased a bit of the weariness from her face. "You get him to the camp and I'll take care of the rest."

Osamu stretched the stiffness from his muscles and followed Sakura and Isamu out of the tent. Many wounded needing treatment remained, but the camp felt a bit calmer than when they'd arrived. With the fighting stopped and the enemy not yet revealing its plan for the night, the world felt a little more in their control.

"Be careful out there," Sakura said. "Who knows what's going to happen next. And tell Neji, I don't plan on Hinata blaming me for getting him killed because I couldn't go out there and heal him. He needs to get down here so our best is at full strength when we need him."

Osamu nodded in approval. "Guilt trip and ego stroking in one order. It's almost as if you have experience with arrogant ninjas."

Sakura rolled her eyes. "That's an understatement."

Isamu tapped Osamu on the arm and motioned to someone walking in the camp. "Looks like he isn't as stupid as we thought."

Neji actually came of his own free will? Osamu was both shocked and impressed. Neji caught sight of them and changed direction, intent on talking to Sakura.

Osamu blinked a few times. Something felt off in the way Neji walked, like he was stronger and less tired than he should be. Osamu's vision had been bad by time they left, so maybe Neji wasn't as weak as he thought. He glanced at his brother. Isamu's wound forced him into a more supportive role, so his eyes weren't as strained as Osamu's at the time.

Confused as his brother was by Neji's unhindered gait, Isamu simply shrugged. This is Neji. He would get up with two broken legs out of sheer will to show us he didn't need to be healed.

Osamu snorted lightly. He would do that.

"You ruined all our fun," Isamu told Neji once he was close enough to hear. "We were just plotting how best to drag you here."

Neji glanced over Sakura's shoulder with annoyance in his eyes, but gave them both a brief smile. "No point wasting everyone's time with that. I can walk, but I could use some medical attention, Sakura."

Isamu froze beside Osamu. Did you see that?

Osamu let out the breath he held. So that was real. I thought my eyes missed it.

Neji didn't recognize us. Isamu side stepped to stop Sakura from moving toward the medical tent. "Neji, you better have Sakura check your eyes. They're as bad as Otouto's if you don't recognize us."

"Things are a bit blurry." Again, annoyance, but not the correct annoyance. Half blind or not, Neji should recognize them by voice, and even granting him that much more leeway, by using Otouto instead of a name, Neji should have expected they were tricking him to tease his infirmity. His annoyance should have held recognition, pride, frustration, and a slew of other emotions that make up a life-long friendship. This Neji was just annoyed at being kept outside. Any attempt to trick Neji should have brought him to the correct conclusion that it was Isamu, not Osamu, who talked to him. Neji knew them that well.

"Don't worry, I can take care of that," Sakura said as warmly as before, but her gaze questioned them enough that she didn't try to move Isamu yet.

We have to be certain, Isamu glared, terror coloring his face in a way only Osamu noticed.

Osamu plastered on a bright grin and plopped a hand on Sakura's shoulder. "You better take good care of him. Hinata will be upset if anything happens to him."

Just saying Hinata's name without the honorific in public made his mouth go dry, but Osamu let none of his discomfort leak into his demeanor.

Very-Much-Not-Neji nodded. "With Sakura's skill, Hinata doesn't need to worry about me."

Two kunai surrounded the impostor's throat, one held in front by Isamu and one behind in Osamu's sure grip.

"You really shouldn't have used that form to try and deceive us." Osamu said. "Care to tell us now how you got past the guards or do we need to get it from you in interrogation?"

Not-Neji remained calm, but held out his hands as if to show he wasn't a threat. "What are you talking about? I'm Neji."

Sakura moved so that all three of them were in striking distance. "No one can enter the camp without their chakra being checked. How can you be certain he's an impostor?"

Sakura wasn't Hyuuga to understand Not-Neji's lack of reaction meant he wasn't Hyuuga. "This person didn't have the correct emotional ticks he should have, which made us suspicious."

"But what convinced us was his failure to respond to what Aniki said," Isamu continued as they fell back into the pattern of unnerving the suspect that Ibiki encouraged.

"Have you ever heard a Hyuuga not in her immediate family ever call our heir as anything but Hinata-sama?"

"In past generations, doing so was a punishable offense . . ."

". . . and things haven't changed so much we'd risk such familiarity in public, even if Hinata-sama might prefer it."

Sakura's face scrunched. She almost believed them, but not seeing what they could nor living a Hyuuga life, doubt remained.

Isamu nodded toward Not-Neji. "Ask him what our names are if you want more proof. Even blind and half dead, the real Neji would know by now."

Sakura looked at Not-Neji expectantly. Benefit of the doubt only lasted as long as he could prove them wrong. The smiled that twisted the impostor's face felt callous and so unlike the real Neji that Osamu wanted to carve it off.

"Do you think I'm the only one?" he asked, dropping his hands to his sides. "Or that I'll go quietly."

Osamu and Isamu readied as the impostor drew a kunai from his hip pouch, but before any of them attacked, a fist slammed into Not-Neji's face accompanied by the fatal crunch of bone. Not-Neji flew out from between them and carved a groove in the ground ten feet long before depth and friction stopped him. The body melted away into one of the white-bodied creatures they'd fought. Both brothers turned to Sakura with a profound respect for what it meant to be Tsunade's student.

"Grab the body and take it inside and don't let anyone near it," she ordered, pulling her hair back into her working style. "I'm going to find Shizune and let headquarters know what happened."

Osamu and Isamu did as instructed, careful to avoid too many onlookers in the process. There shouldn't have been a way for an intruder to get past the gate guards checking chakra, yet this thing did. And the clone—however it accomplished the illusion—had been flawless. Only the inconsistencies from knowing Neji gave it away. If it had been someone else, someone from another village, it wouldn't have been obvious even to their insight.

"It said there were more of them," Isamu said after reading Osamu's expression.

"Sakura and Shizune will figure out how they do it." Osamu didn't believe that, but his brother was kind enough not to point that out. Sometimes everyone needed to hope for the best no matter what they actually thought.

A few moments later, Sakura entered with Shizune close behind. Before they could reach the body Osamu and Isamu stopped them.

"I'm sorry, Sakura," Osamu said, "but this thing did say there were more like him out there, and you've been out of our sight. We don't want to let any creature destroy what might help us identify them."

Isamu nodded toward Shizune to include her as well. "Indulge our paranoia a moment and let us make sure you are who we think you are."

"Can you really do that?" Shizune asked. "For certain."

Osamu nodded. "For you both, yes. People don't realize the plethora of emotional cues they give off."

"And no Hyuuga can read those better than us," Isamu finished.

Osamu shared a glance with his brother and both activated byakugan. They focused on Sakura, the easier of the two.

"Uchiha Sasuke," they said in unison.

To a normal person, the most Sakura showed was a flash of sorrow and regret at hearing that name. To them, sorrow and regret were but a shadow of the turmoil that name conjured. Loss, grief, pain, love, anger, frustration, helplessness, determination, need, and even hate—hate that Sasuke chose to become what he did, hate at herself for failing to stop him in the past . . . and more recently. Tiny clues that revealed a relationship she couldn't deny.

"Thank you, Sakura," Osamu said.

Isamu offered a slight bow of his head. "We're sorry, but it's a fast and simple trigger to confirm you are you."

"The doppelganger wasn't able to mimic Neji's emotions correctly."

They turned to Shizune and considered what best to use as her lodestone. After a quick back and forth, they agreed on "Tsunade-sama."

Respect, admiration, love, exasperation, concern, trust, and a flurry of minute cues that became family in their enhanced sight. A clone might try to convey those emotions, but deception would always slip in as well. She was the real Shizune.

Osamu and Isamu bowed and moved aside to let them go to work. The sooner they found a way to identify these things, the safer everyone would be.

"Please guard the entrance and make sure anyone who comes near is who they say they are," Sakura said as she took her place opposite Shizune with the body between them. "Until we figure this out, you're the best we have."

Isamu plastered on a bright smile that fooled no one and gave a quick salute. "Don't you worry, we have a lot of experience guarding entrances."

Osamu couldn't help but laugh at the truth of that statement, which was the real reason his brother said it.

You're too serious, Isamu chided with a roll of his eyes as they took up guard in front of the tent. Don't let Ibiki rub off on you.

Osamu shook his head with a smile. Never.

The familiarity of standing guard fell over them like a well-worn blanket that they'd set aside and forgot about. Only this time the danger wasn't a possibility, it was present. Here. Now. They never tarnished the veneer of the pleasant sentry, but to each other their sight remained active even without byakugan. Every move was analyzed, every laugh or complaint dissected for markers of deception—skills honed these last few years under a master interrogator. They silently cataloged each person to come into their view, just in case they needed to know who they trusted and who they couldn't discount.

One woman was easy to confirm as she approached them with all the relief and worry of a mother. Not their mother, but close enough in family for the sentiment to hold true. Plus when she looked between them, she did the same thing everyone who knew them well enough did: she tried to guess who was who. Less than a handful could tell successfully, but everyone silently guessed.

"Always good to see you, Aunt Naomi," Osamu said. "Things quiet on your side of the camp?"

Naomi massaged the back of her neck. She was assigned as one of the perimeter guards to the camp. "Most of the action hasn't gotten close enough to threaten us, but we can't be too careful. And with reports of murders spreading like wildfire, people are getting scared. Scared people aren't always smart people."

"Murders?" The brother's asked in unison.

"You haven't heard?"

Osamu shook his head. "We've haven't talked to many people since we came, though that would explain some of the things we've overheard."

Isamu glanced at him. We may need to reassess our list if people are getting paranoid. Changes the emotions.

Osamu tilted his head in agreement.

Unperturbed by any conversation they were having, Naomi continued. "Several bodies have been found inside the camp, but since we check chakra, only allies could be in here. Unless the rumor about a white creature infiltrating is true. You two wouldn't know anything about that, would you?"

If the sarcasm in her voice were a kunai, it would pierce stone. Obviously the rumor going around included them, or perhaps just the mention of a Hyuuga, and didn't they look suspicious standing in front of one of the medical tents for no obvious reason.

"We know only what we've been told," Osamu said honestly. That he wouldn't tell her what he knew was besides the point.

Isamu followed up with the distraction. "One thing we've been told is the fate of the First Unit, where Hizashi-sama and Hinata-sama are."

Naomi knew what they were up to, but the information was too tempting to force them back to the original topic. "I thought Hinata was with you and Neji. She left with the reinforcements then? I assume you heard she and Hizashi are all right."

Isamu nodded, and true pleasure in delivering the news warmed his tired face. "Both alive and so are others in the clan. Hiashi-sama didn't kill them all."

The relief that eased her tension fled at his last sentence. "Hiashi-sama? He was among the reanimated?"

Osamu shared an uncomfortable glance with his brother. They didn't realize Naomi didn't know about that.

"We were supposed to go to the First Unit with Hinata-sama," Osamu said, "but all Hyuuga were ordered back because Hiashi-sama was there—using the seal."

Naomi's silent rage at the mention of the seal was something only a Hyuuga raised with it could produce.

"Uncle Hizashi's alive," Isamu said, drawing on family ties instead of hierarchy to comfort Naomi. Since Hizashi was branch and close family by marriage, there was a bit more leeway in how they referred to him in public, and Naomi needed the familial reminder to let her anger subside.

"And so is Hinata." She took a deep breath and exhaled the worst of the emotions. "And Neji's all right?"

"Stubborn," Osamu answered cheerfully. "But he'll survive."

Sakura stepped out of the tent and interrupted Naomi's reply. Frustration and failure marked Sakura's face, yet a sliver of hope remained as she looked at them. "You identified me and Shizune, can you do the same to people you've never met? Could other Hyuuga do it, too?"

Osamu and Isamu rocked back and forth, a rare show of discomfort. Sakura's hope was on them and the Hyuuga clan, and they weren't sure they could fulfill that hope.

"It's possible we may be able to, but if we aren't one hundred percent certain, we won't risk accusing someone." Isamu said.

"As for other Hyuuga," Osamu continued, glancing at Naomi who listened intently to the conversation. "No. A few may be able to with people they knew well, but not strangers."

"There's also the problem that once news of the doppelgangers gets out, people have to trust us enough to allow us to test them without resistance. I don't know that we can convince them without proving we can do it first?"

Sakura tapped at her mouth as she contemplated the dilemma. "And if anyone could be one of them, who would trust you enough to be first?"

"The Hyuuga," Naomi said. "I assume this is about the rumors of the white creatures infiltrating. I trust these two when it comes to insight, and so will the clan. If they don't, I have the authority to order them as Hizashi's wife. There are a handful of Hyuuga in the camp between guards and wounded. If you need a test, I'll round them up."

Sakura nodded. "I'm going to inform headquarters of what we know while Shizune finishes up with the body. Why don't you gather up the Hyuuga in case we get orders to try, but keep quiet about the details. We don't want people panicking and attacking each other."

"If they need a neutral assessment of our skills, they can contact Morino Ibiki," Osamu suggested.

Isamu chuckled to himself. "No one's more critical of us than him."

"It's all out of love," Osamu said, failing to keep a straight face. "Deep down in a very tough and scarred heart."

Sakura smiled, but the amusement was lost on someone who didn't work with Ibiki. "I'll meet you all back here."

They nodded and separated, Osamu heading to the wounded while Isamu and Naomi went to find the guards. Osamu had no doubt that they could re-identify Naomi if she went off on her own, but keeping one of them with her avoided the need to suspect her at all. There's no way an impostor could deceive either twin with a copy of his brother, so if Isamu was the real deal, then Naomi was too. It simplified matters.

They all returned within fifteen minutes with six confused Hyuuga in tow. None asked why they were called. It was war and they trusted Naomi. While they waited for Sakura to return with orders, Osamu and Isamu couldn't help but watch their clan. Stress changed people's reactions and paranoia was no longer a clear indicator of deception as news of the murders spread. There were ways to be certain, but they'd wait for a clear decision from headquarters first.

Ten minutes later, both Sakura and Shizune, who must have left while they were away, returned—their faces pensive but without deception. Despite their familiarity with Sakura, Shizune took lead as the head of the medical unit.

"Headquarter is working with the other camps to find a way to detect these creatures and have authorized us to test your abilities. If the medical camp can't do its job, then the entire army suffers in the long run. What do you need?"

"We need this to be public," Isamu began.

Osamu nodded as they fell into the rapid back and forth of their interrogation style. "Half of our job is to make people uncomfortable."

"The other half is to make them trust us."

"In order to make people en masse trust us, they need to see us successfully identify the real from the impostors."

"Gather as many as you can to witness us work, and we'll take care of the rest."

"Just remember, if we don't feel one hundred percent positive, we won't accuse anyone."

Sakura and Shizune nodded and left to gather as much of the camp as they could spare. The growing crowd waited restlessly, whispers turning to a low murmur of fear and confusion. Some distrusted, some worried, some had no idea what was happening. Only when Sakura and Shizune returned did Osamu and Isamu move from their watch.

Osamu took lead so that the people would have a singular person to look to. Cultivating trust was as important in their line of work as creating unease. The back and forth was how they crafted fear and confusion. Trust required a more singular connection. It needed a lodestone for the person to come back to.

They jumped up to the support posts of the tent behind them. Osamu stood straight while Isamu stayed crouched to ensure all attention remained solely on Osamu.

"As many of you have probably heard by now, a white creature was found inside the camp in the shape of one of our own. No way to detect this creature when transformed has been found yet. Body and chakra appear indistinguishable. It was detected only because it didn't possess the same knowledge as the original it impersonated."

Voices rose with the confirmation of their fears, and people began moving away from each other only to bump into another doing the same. Tensions rose with each accidental confrontation until a kunai with an exploding tag landed in the center of the group. The explosion was tiny for such a weapon, but it silenced everyone who turned to face the brothers again. Isamu tossed another kunai into the air and caught it, never adjusting his position, which read to anyone with eyes as enforcer.

To gain trust across the entire crowd they needed authority. Unfortunately, they didn't have the time to explain to everyone why they and not one of the higher ups was explaining this. They'd have to rely on fear of punishment to build quick authority. In a long term interrogation with a single person, it was a bad choice. Fear would make it harder to build trust. But in a group fear provided order. It was a delicate balance to walk, but that was where having two of them helped. Isamu provided the fear, and Osamu gained the authority without becoming the object of scorn.

"While we don't yet have a way to detect these imposters by sight or chakra, we are going to test another option. Those from Konoha, and perhaps some from the other village, know about a Hyuuga's skill at gaining insight on a person through byakugan. My brother and I have the best insight in the clan and we have several years of experience in interrogations honing this skill. Headquarters has ordered us to test our ability to detect the creatures the way we detected the first impostor."

Osamu motioned to the gathered Hyuuga. "We'll begin by testing our clan. If successful, we will ask you to split up into groups by village, and we'll test Konoha first. These two groups are the ones we know best and will help us refine our process. If at any point we do not believe we can tell the difference, we will stop."

Isamu stood up and addressed the crowd. The authority explained; the enforcer set the rules. "If we need more information to judge you, I'll throw a kunai at your feet to indicate who we are speaking to. Being nervous is not an indicator of guilt. We look at far more subtle cues. Anyone who attempts to attack another person before we have made our judgment will be killed on the spot."

The crowd murmured dissent, but didn't risk moving. Osamu ordered the people around the Hyuugas to step back and both brothers activated byakugan. Testing the Hyuuga was simple. They already knew how to trigger an emotional response in the clan.

Osamu nodded and Isamu removed his forehead protector to reveal the seal. They watched their clan. No Hyuuga, not even Hinata or Hyobe, could remain unaffected by the seal. The main family might show different emotions, but the seal caused them all to feel something. They were small gestures in some—a clenched jaw or a hand fisted—and more obvious shame and disgust in others. That's what made it simple to spot the one person among the white-eyed ninja who tilted his head in curiosity, not recognition.

Isamu's kunai flew straight into the imposter's head. The Hyuuga-like fell back, his long hair melting away and skin turning bone white before the creature lay revealed and dead on the ground.

"The rest of you are fine," Osamu said as his brother returned his forehead protector to its proper place.

"What the hell!" cried a young Suna shinobi at the front of the crowd nearest to the creature.

The crowd undulated with fear and suspicion, threatening to overwhelm the tired, weary, and nervous shinobi. An older man from Iwa pulled a kunai from his pouch and eyed his neighbors. If Osamu and Isamu of them didn't regain control of the situation, the crowd would turn on each other.

Kunai out, Isamu jumped down from their perch on the tent post to center the crowd's attention on them again. Osamu focused on the blue and green uniforms of Konoha's shinobi among those collected.

"The Hyuuga clan knows the skill my brother and I have, that's why they trusted us," Osamu said with a calm, even voice meant to lower the tension around them. "Now, we need those of you from Konoha, who understand what a Hyuuga is capable of, to trust us to identify the enemy. We will not let Konoha or this alliance down."

Osamu motioned for the Hyuuga to move back and allow the Konoha shinobi to come closer. Sakura and Shizune came forward first. Though they didn't need to be checked, their support drew one after another to gather with them. But not all trusted enough to put their lives in the twins' hands.

A man younger than Osamu but older than Neji balked, his paranoia masking any fear or deception. "Why should we trust you? What if you're one of them and plan to kill a few of the enemy so others can lay in wait without being questioned?"

Other in the crowd murmured agreement, shifting nervously around their neighbors. Osamu needed a demonstration of more than just their ability to sight the enemy.

"Sakura," Osamu said without looking away from the man. "Would you confirm that the enemy we found was not able to provide knowledge the original could have?"

"Yes," Sakura said loud enough for all gathered to hear. "They only look like us. They don't know what we know."

"If my brother and I were imposters, we wouldn't be able to interrogate someone the way Morino Ibiki taught us nor read someone like a Hyuuga. Thank you for volunteering to prove our identities."

The man fidgeted with the pocket of his flak jacket. "What?"

Isamu jumped back up to be seen by the entire crowd. "Should we tell you about your family? Mother, father, siblings."

Osamu fell into the rhythm of their interrogations and watched the man's subtle reactions to Isamu's statement. "Mother alive, not shinobi. Father dead. No siblings."

"How did you…" the man stuttered, but Isamu talked over the question.

"Lover?"

"None," Osamu answered, then he grinned. "But he wants there to be. Someone here."

Both brothers tilted their heads in unison at the change in the man's facial cues.

"Not from Konoha, though," Isamu continued.

Osamu nodded. "Kiri. Iwa. Suna."

The man's jaw tensed.

"Suna," Isamu confirmed. "Convinced yet, or should we point them out?"

The man lowered his eyes and he quietly joined the rest of the Konoha shinobi, who appeared calmer after their display. Knowing Hyuugas have impressive insight and seeing it in action were two different things. Konoha, at least, trusted them now.

Osamu glanced down at his brother, once again crouching in his enforcer position. What trigger will work on everyone?

Has to be something simple, Isamu shifted. Childish.

Something every kid in Konoha would learn, Osamu nodded.

Isamu's brows rose. A song.

Osamu straightened to his full height and addressed the crowd. "In order to judge your reactions, we need all of you to sing the Will of Fire children's song. No matter what we do, continue to sing until I tell you to stop."

"What's that supposed to do?" a woman called out over the confused whispers snaking through the crowd.

"Trust us. This will tell what we need to know."

The shinobi glanced at each other uncertainly, but one by one a tone-deaf chorus sang a children's rhyme in the middle of a war. The twins searched each person's face and body, listened to the confidence in their tone and inflection, dissected every twitch and muscle contraction.

Most proved their identities easily. Memories danced in their eyes or curled the edges of their lips into a smile too slight for anyone without byakugan to see. Osamu glanced at one of the shinobi who mouthed nonsense to appear as if he was singing along. A glance to his brother, and a kunai landed at the man's feet, silencing the crowd.

"You don't know this song, do you?" Osamu asked.

The man swallowed and glanced around at the suspicious shinobi around him. "I don't remember it enough to sing it."

The twins exchanged a questioning look. That was plausible, but hard to tell. They needed more information.

"Where were you when Sandaime died?"

"I was ordered to guard the civilian shelter." This time genuine emotion softened the shinobi's eyes. Sorrow. Frustration. "It was important, I know, but I couldn't even fight for Konoha with the rest of the village."

Isamu nodded his agreement with Osamu's assessment. "You're Konoha. You can join the Hyuuga."

The mention of Sandaime provided confirmation for several others who held intense memories of the Suna attack. One by one Osamu questioned and indicated the safe shinobi until only four remained. These shinobi had conflicting emotions, which could be deception or a very complicated life experience.

"Naruto," they said in unison. For good or bad, everyone had an opinion on Naruto, especially after Pain's attack.

Osamu mirrored his brother's smile. That's what they needed. Isamu threw three kunai, each striking an imposter and leaving a very nervous woman breathless between them.

"Is that all of them?" Shizune asked as she examined the bodies of the white creatures.

Osamu nodded. "All the rest from Konoha are real people."

"And you can do this for the other villages?"

Osamu looked to his brother. What do you think?

Isamu shrugged, I think we can, but they're still skeptical.

Those from Konoha were relieved to be cleared, but the other villages hesitated to volunteer. Osamu jumped down and waved Sakura over.

"They need to agree," he said, quiet enough only Sakura heard. "We've done all we can to make them trust us, but they need a reason to take the leap of faith. Your and Shizune's position under Tsunade gives you both a measure of her authority in their eyes. You need to give them that reason."

Sakura might have been young, but when it came to her medical work, she had the presence of a seasoned veteran and the sheer physical power to back it up. Her body straightened and she stepped forward to face the crowd of paranoid shinobi. "This is what anyone expected tonight, but right now we're not able to do our jobs. The injured need us. If we can't heal them tonight, more will die tomorrow.

"You might still have your doubts about Osamu and Isamu's abilities, but to work, we have to secure the camp. They are our best chance to do that. For the sake of your friends and family who need us, we have to do something. Will you allow them to try?"

Like a slow-growing wave rolling onto the beach, the distrust resolved into shinobi conviction. Every mission risked their lives, but they went through with it for their family and village. If they refused to be brave now, when the medical camp was vital to the war, they'd fail everyone they loved. Osamu nodded his thanks to Sakura before returning to his perch above the crowd.

Isamu chuckled and tilted his head at Osamu. Time to go to work.