Thank you to all my reviewers. Keep them coming, they keep me going. Also, don't own, yada yada.
Nara Shikamaru was, in Naruto's estimation, the brightest guy he knew. Although Shikamaru still had his "everything is a pain in the ass" attitude, Naruto knew that he was simply the best man for the job. As Naruto walked down the street counting off house numbers, he knew that Shikamaru was not going to be happy to have to work on his day off. Finally, he reached the address and knocked on the door. Normally, he would've sent out a missive, but this required his personal attention.
After waiting for a few minutes, seven year old Shouji Nara answered. Like his father, he had the familial topknot, but his blue eyes were calculating and measuring up Naruto. He was also sporting what looked like BBQ sauce all over his face. Then it dawned on Naruto, it was Shouji's birthday, hence Shikamaru's day off. Oh, he was really going to be pissed off.
"Can I help you mister?" Shouji asked while wiping his BBQ stained hands on his shirt.
"Yes, can you tell your father that the Rokudaime is here to see him?"
"The who? Hold on, let me get him." SLAM! The door slammed shut in Naruto's face.
Beyond the paneling of the door, he could hear little Shouji call out to his mom and dad.
"Dad! There's some weird dude outside who wants to see you."
"Did he say who he was?"
"He said Raku-something or other. I don't know, it was too troublesome to remember."
"Damn it, Shika. I told you not to teach our son that phrase."
"Ino, calm down. Let me go see who's at the door."
Naruto heard the lazy footsteps of his Chief of Military Strategy. Shikamaru answered the door and just stared blankly at Naruto.
"Oh, so you're the weird dude my son was talking about. Sorry about that. Come on in. We're having a picnic. Something to drink?"
"No. Listen, Shikamaru, we need to talk. This is official business."
Ino walked in the kitchen and waved to Naruto. He couldn't believe that she was pregnant again. He remembered the first time she was, and his chief advisor went through hell.
After she walked out to join the rest of the party, Shikamaru led Naruto into one of the living rooms.
"OK, what is this visit all about?"
"Sakura has been arrested for suspicion of treason. We need a logical head and a damn slick legal expert. Interested?"
"Treason? Sasuke, I presume? Man, the new ANBU Chief is really taking his job of hunting down possible spies seriously. Damn. He's turning everything into a giant witch hunt. Kaneda is such an ass. This will be troublesome, but I will do it."
"Thank you, Shikamaru. I really appreciate it."
"I am only doing it because I don't want to listen to my troublesome wife if I don't. Plus, Sakura's part of the Rookie Nine. We look out for each other."
"Thank you, again." After relaying the rest of the story, Naruto took his leave and headed back to his office. He needed to make a few phone calls.
The Village Hidden in the Sand was in the middle of one of the most scorching summers ever. The air was dry and the desert oasis was starting to dry up. It was so hot, it was jokingly reported that the birds had to use pot holders to pull the worms out of the ground. Gaara's office was no different. He was sitting at his desk and had the fan blowing to circulate the stagnant air. He was browsing over reports and such but the constant sweating of his fingers kept leaving finger prints on the documents. He finally gave up and was about to head home for the day when the call came in. There were only several people who had his direct line, Kankuro, Temari, and Naruto-sama. Everyone else was redirected and redirected again until they eventually hung up. He liked it that way.
"Godiame Kazekage, here."
"Gaara-sama. Hey, it's Naruto from Konoha." Gaara mentally slapped his head. There was only one Naruto anybody knew and they all knew he was from Konoha. Naruto was legendary.
"Yes?"
"Listen, I was wondering if you wouldn't mind making a side trip to our village for a couple of days. We are in a jam here and your support would greatly help us."
"What kind of support do you require?" It was interesting that through the years, Gaara actually may have formed a friend. Although a distant one, he thought to himself, he and Naruto understood each other very well.
"I simply need a statement concerning your involvement with Sakura and a statement regarding her character."
"And I would be doing this why?"
"She is in a lot of trouble for her involvement with Sasuke. I had hoped that with your statement, and a few others, the new Chief of ANBU would drop the charges laid against her."
"Ahh, using your friends in high places to help a friend. Very interesting. Hmm. I will think on it and let you know. I know for certain I can't be there until next week. My week is booked with official business and what not, but, I will send a missive one way or another.
"Thanks, Gaara-sama, you are a life saver."
Funny, that was the first time in his life he had ever been called that. Talk about an oxymoron. Gaara smirked to himself and gave Temari and Kankuro a call. They would get a kick out of this bit of information.
Back in Konoha, the tension at the Correctional Facility was thick. After being escorted back to her cell, Kaneda paid Sakura a visit.
"Look Sakura-san, if you just sign the waiver of guilt, you will be able to get out of here in no time. You will be able to see your kids and remain under house arrest until your trial. Why put yourself through this? Sasuke isn't worth the trouble he's placed you in. Just confess and this will all be over."
"Go to hell, Kaneda. You know nothing about me or my situation. I won't confess and you can't make me."
"I am not Chief of Operations for ANBU for nothing. I will make you confess, one way or another."
"Try anything and I will kill you. I am a ninja first and foremost. Don't play head games with me. I can be very dangerous."
"Now, Sakura-san, you wouldn't be threatening me would you? That won't look very well on you trial date." He lit a cigarette and paced to and fro in front of the bars.
"Put that disgusting cigarette out. I am innocent of any wrong doing. Give it up, Kaneda. I am one nut you won't crack."
Kaneda clearly frustrated slammed his fist against the wall. "See that hole I just made? That will be you if you don't cooperate."
"Tsk. Tsk. I expected more from you. Resorting to using violence against a woman to get your way. You truly are a sick bastard. I have friends in very high places. It wouldn't look too good on your personal safety either if you were to lay a hand on me."
"Your friends are powerless in this situation. You better hope you get great legal counsel, sweetheart. Oh, by the way, I feel I should inform you. Your children will be placed under the protection of the village until your verdict. Have a good day."
"Don't you dare lay a hand on my children, you jerk." Kaneda just walked off and minutes later, Shikamaru arrived on the scene.
"SHIKAMARU! Boy am I glad to see you. Listen, you need to get someone over to the school to pick up my kids before that jerk gets there. I wasn't able to leave a note or anything. They will worry when they see I am not home. I don't want them drug through the mud of this mess I am in. Please you have to hurry."
"Sakura, calm down. He won't touch your kids. They are over at our house right now celebrating with Shouji. Kakashi-sensei picked them up early from school and dropped them off. That was just half an hour after Naruto told me what was going on. Don't worry, they are safe. Ino won't let anything happen to them."
"Wait, why wasn't Shouji at school then?"
"Oh, birthday's are the only days he gets a break from the academy. We had a BBQ."
"Ha! That's great."
"OK, Sakura, I will be representing you so I will need to know all the facts. I will need to know everything about that night and the night he left the village when you were twelve."
"Ok, but it's going to be a long story. You might as get the bars open and come on in." He nodded at her and yelled for the guards to unlock the cell.
An ANBU guard wearing a tiger's mask strolled up to the cell and denied permission to open the cell courtesy of the orders given by Kaneda. Shikamaru was less than pleased.
"Captain, if you value you position, I would recommend opening this cell. For future reference, I out rank him. Don't make me pull rank."
"Yes, sir." The door slid open and he entered the narrow 5'x5'x5' cell.
Three hours later, Shikamaru had most of the information he needed. He needed to meet with a few other people to put a reasonable defense strategy together.
Across town, Kakashi and Jiraiya were comparing notes that they had unearthed from the bowels of the underground. It seemed there had been a surge of missing-nin that had been reported to have entered the city. This had been a trend and the leak in the system was still baffling to the Rokudaime and ANBU alike. For months now, Akatsuki activity had been increasing in the Lamda sectors according to a lot of the locals. Several of them reported seeing men in black robes with red clouds. However, reports from the borders all negated the sightings of these criminals. Somewhere, there was a string of inconsistencies that were either typographical or premeditated. They both agreed to research the idea further. Also, the topic of the Uchiha kids came up.
"Kakashi, Tsunade and I will look after the children. Sakura will be stuck in that cell for a spell and those kids are a walking target without her. With Itachi still alive and Sasuke gone, those kids will need all the protection they can get."
"I appreciate the offer, Jiraiya-sama, but, she is on my team. I can keep them at my place for a while that way they will think they are visiting Uncle Kakashi and Aunt Shizune and not ask too many questions. Plus, Obito wants to earn some extra money, so he can babysit for me if needed. Also, I will be preparing the children in case they get subpoenaed to testify in court. I don't think Sakura's told them everything, and unfortunately they need to know everything."
"True, but, Sakura will need to be informed. Go, tell her the plan, then meet me and Naruto at Ichiraku." Jiraiya pulled out his trusty telescope and mentally cringed at the thought of more ramen.
"Fine, but you are paying." Kakashi smirked and poofed off to the holding cell.
The trip to the jail cells was less than stellar. The hot wind whistled through the bars and the aroma of what appeared to be old sweat and old fish hung in the air. He found her cell and looked at his watch. Visiting hours would be over shortly so he had to make this quick. But when he looked at her sleeping form, he saw how the recent stress played out across her face. She truly had grown up into a wonderful woman he thought. Her job occupied most of her time, yet, she was able to raise two beautiful children. What the hell was Sasuke thinking? He mentally groaned and thought back to earlier in the day when he picked up the Uchiha twins.
His first stop had been to the Head Master's office. Iruka-sensei was now in charge of the genin education program. He let Kakashi into his office and after hearing the unfolding story, he agreed that the Uchiha kids would be safer out of the public eye.
His next stop had been to room 2C where Akina Uchiha was currently located. He thought back to the time when he first met Team 7. He checked the doorway for erasers and stepped inside the room. Konohamaru was giving a lecture on correct balance of chakra and stopped the minute he saw Kakashi.
"Yes? Can I help you?"
"Yes, Akina Uchiha is needed immediately by the order of the Rokudaime. She will have an indefinite leave of absence."
"Understood, Kakashi-sempai. Akina, gather your things and don't worry about your class work. I will drop it by daily so that you can keep up."
"Yes, sensei."
Once they left the room, Akina turned her red eyes to her Uncle Kakashi.
"What is all this about. I've never missed a day of class."
"I can't tell you that now, but be patient. You will have your answers soon. Now where is your brother's class room?"
"He is in 3F with Sayuri Hyuuga." He smiled at her and ruffled her hair. They really were good kids, it was just a shame that their circumstances weren't better. He knew Sakura worked her butt off and that they house they had a second mortgage taken out on it. She was simply scraping by. But through all the hardship, her children were still able to smile. That spoke volumes about her capabilities.
When they reached 3F, the same routine was repeated and he was thusly excused.
As they were heading towards the market, Kakashi passed the Nara residence and got an idea. After confronting Shikamaru and Ino about his plan for the children for a few hours, they agreed to let them stay until Kakashi got off work.
Sakura had the sinking feeling that she was being watched. She jolted out of her slumber to be greeted by her sensei.
"Kakashi-sensei..."
"Sakura, listen, I just came by to reassure you that your children will be fine. They will stay with Shizune and I until your trial is over. They are the safest there."
"Are you sure? Shizune doesn't mind?"
"It's all been taken care of."
"Thank you so much. Um, I have a little money set aside for emergencies. You can use it for the upkeep of the kids..."
"Sakura, I am doing this for free because you and Naruto and Sasuke are precious to me, regardless of how wacky we all turned out."
Seeing the onslaught of tears that was about to ensue, he reached through the bars and gave her a hug. She hugged him back and he told her to keep her head up.
The next morning in the Hatake household was a mixture of kids and chaos. Shizune was making pancakes with the help of Akina. Nine year old Obito was griping about having to share a bathroom with Masato and Shizune was trying to placate him while not burning the bacon. Kakashi just sat at the table in stupefied awe. This was nuts, but in a good way. Finally, breakfast was over, Obito's lunch was prepared for the day, and grumblings about boring school faded into the distance as Shizune escorted her kid to school after kissing her husband goodbye. Kakashi reveled in the quiet house until he looked at his new charges. They both just stood there with their red eyes boring into him.
Kakashi sighed to himself and let the kids know what the day's itinerary was.
"Ok, guys, you will be off from school for a while. You will be learning under me and you will conquer things that aren't covered in class."
"Um, Uncle Kakashi? Where is mommy?" Masato Uchiha was anything but dull minded. He leaned into his sister for support and she ruffled his hair like a mother would a child. So that was the family dynamic.
"Um, your mom is in some trouble. But don't worry, she is safe and not harmed."
Akina spoke up, "Masato, think of this as an extended field trip."
"OK."
"Now that that is settled, I hear you guys can already create a clone. Can I see it?"
Three hours and two tired children later, there was a knock at the door. Kakashi picked himself up out of the chair and answered. Naruto and Hinata were standing there with the newest addition to the Uzumaki clan, Torao. He was seven months old and had blond hair and Hyuuga eyes. Interesting combination, but then again, his own son had silver hair. Guess anything goes when it comes to genetics in Konoha.
"Hey, just wanted to drop a few things off for the kids. Mostly clothes and such. I also heard some news that I thought you might want to hear."
"Come on in, please."
Hinata walked in and excused herself so that she could check up on the kids. They were sound asleep and totally depleted of chakra. What was Kakashi teaching them? She grabbed her son from his father's grasp and kissed him on the cheek.
"Naruto, I am going to meet Ino and Tenten at the market. Bye Kakashi-sensei."
She left and Kakashi turned to Naruto.
"You two crack me up."
"Oh, shut up sensei. Now, about that news..."
In Suna, an emergency family meeting had been called to relay the contents of the phone call.
"Well, Gaara-sama, are you going?" Temari asked after trying to cool herself off in the sweltering heat.
"Yes. She has been an asset to this village. Kankuro, are you going?"
"Absolutely. She saved my life, it's time I repaid that debt."
In a flash, the two brothers poofed out of the room. Temari shook her head and sighed. It was going to be a long week without those two. Guess it was up to her to cancel all of the Kazekage's appointments for the upcoming week. Boys are so troublesome.
