Chapter 23

Naruto lead Toboe through the course and carefully watched the pup as he complete the task. Still a puppy with the tendancy to play instead of keeping his attention on the job. It was during these times that he missed working with Kyuubi and Kurogane. Kyuubi had came from a long line of police and military dogs, so it was easy to teach him, and Kurogane seemed to know what Naruto had wanted before even he did.

Remembering Kurogane sent a pang in Naruto's chest. He had beena good dog. It was hard to find a dog like that again. Kyuubi and even Toboe had been breed from military and police dogs, so the job had been ingrained in their breeding, but Kurogane had been a rare find. It wasprobably due to him already being trained as a fight dog, but after Naruto trained that fighting response out of him, he had made a great K-9 dog.

He lead Toboe through the course one last time before giving him a treat and leading him back to his kennel. As he did, Kakashi walks over to him.

"Hey, Naruto, how's he doing?" asked Kakashi, indicating toward the puppy.

"Still thinks he's playing a game then a job," said Naruto. "I don't think he's cut out to be a K-9 dog."

"Well, if anyone can train him up, you can. Meeting in the bullpen. Got some new info with Vice."

Naruto nodded and followed Kakashi to the bullpen. Everyone was already standing or sitting around a rectangular table with Shikamaru typing on his computer.

"What do you got?" asked Naruto.

"The warehouse that hosted the dog fighting and the drugs found was only a sublet for a shell company," said Shikamaru. "But that company had been out of business for the last thirty years."

"Who was the major contributor?" asked Naruto. Neji and Shikamru look between each other a little worriedly. "What?"

"Uchiha Corporation," said Neji.

The pause was all Naruto needed to know what his friends were thinking.

"No," he said angrily.

"Naruto..." said Neji, but Naruto interrupted him.

"No! Sasuke wouldn't do be involved with something like this!"

"Sasuke had been missing for ten years," said Kakashi over the shouting. "You don't know what he could have been doing."

"Not this, and Itachi wouldn't do it either," said Naruto. "There must be someone else using them."

"They are empty warehouses, so technically, anyone could use them for a day or two without anyone noticing," said Shikamaru in thought.

"See, said Naruto gratefully. "Anyone." He turned to Ino. She was their forensic technician as well as their criminal psychologist. "What do you think?"

"Until I meet Sasuke, I can't really say," said Ino. "I only remember Sauske from our school days, and I have to say that it's not a good start."

"He's changed," said Naruto. "I swear, he's changed."

"We'll see," said Kakashi, breaking up the argument. "The fact of the matter is, the warehouse were once owned by Uchiha Corp. the significance of that is still to be determined. Naruto?"

Naruto turned toward the man.

"Since you're close to Itachi, I want you to question him. Take Neji with you."

"Fine," said Naruto reluctantly. He was happy that he was talking to Itachi, but he'd rather have done it himself. Until he got a K-9 partner, he had to put up with a human one.

Naruto turned to Neji. The man had his usual stoic face. Sometimes Naruto swore nothing sets the guy off, but he knew better after spending years with him. The man can face down the barrel of a gun and not bat an eye, but place his friends and family in danger, and he rains down hell.

"Why are you doing this, Neji?" he asked. "Itachi's your cousin."

"Cousin or not, it was his warehouses that came up," said Neji. "If he's innocent, he'll tell us everything he knows. If not, then we'll take him in."

Naruto looked in shock at the man. He was going to take his cousin in if there was even a hint of something hinky. The man was as good at detecting liars as Ino.

They drove to Uchiha Corporation and parked in the garage parking lot. The Uchiha's originally made their money from a shipping business, and as they accumulated money, they expanded to insurance, technology and military contracts. In the past, some of the CEOs had done some shady deals, but nothing that the police could pin them on. So far, since Itachi took over, he cut ties with the less savory parts of the company, and even lead the police to arrest a few. There was no way Naruto would believe Itachi would help people from those circles.

The walked up to the receptionist and flashed their badges.

"Detective Hyuga and Officer Uzumaki here to see Mr. Uchiha," said Neji.

"Just a moment," said the receptionist. She picked up a phone and dialed. "Mr. Uchiha, a Detective Neji and an Officer Uzumaki are here to see you? … Understood." she hung up and turned to them. "You may see him now. Twenty-third floor."

"Thanks," said Naruto with a grin as Neji just walked past.

They walked into the elevator and Neji pressed the button to the floor they needed to go to. Naruto turned to Neji curiously.

"Are you sure it's okay for you to interview Itachi? Him being your cousin and all. Or me, for that matter."

"Kakashi wouldn't have assigned it to us if he wasn't confident," said Neji. "polus, that's why I have this."

He holds up a digital recorder. Naruto thought that would be a good idea. It would look incriminating enough with Naruto talking to Itachi, who had been a volunteer in the search for Sasuke, but for Neji. Usually it would force Kakashi to use someone else, but no one was as good at spotting a liar than Neji.

The elevator door opens and both stepped out. The secretary looked up from the computer she was typing on and nodded to them.

"Mr. Uchiha is expecting you," she said and returned to her computer.

Neji walked to the office door and knocked.

"Enter," said Itachi's voice on the other side. Neji opened the door and entered.

Itachi was different from the corporate business type that Naruto expected to see. For one, he wore his tie loose with a couple buttons undone at the color and his black jacket opened. He turned to them with a smiling of greeting.

"And what can I do for the illustrious law enforcement officers today?" he asked.

"We have a few questions about your warehouses," said Neji.

"My warehouses?" asked Itachi. "I have many. Which ones?"

"The ones by Mizu Port," said Neji "Specifically B12 and K24."

Itachi frowned.

"Why those specifically?" he asked.

"A dog fighting rings was discovered in those warehouse," said Neji. "Plus guns and drugs. Likely human traffiking too."

Itachi sat slowly in his chair.

"Do I need a lawyer?" he asked.

"Did you do somehting wrong?" asked Neji.

Naruto watched the entire exchange. He still couldn't believe that Itachi had anything to do with anything that happened in the warehouses.

"If you feel you need to," said Neji.

Itachi sighed as he paused to think.

"Itachi," Naruto said softly. "If you know anything, please tell us."

Itachi glances at Naruto, but nods.

"Those warehouses are kept for tax purposes," he said. "I actually haven't used them in years. They're supposed to be empty. My uncle manages the import/export business. It was to keep him occupied and out of the main branch's business."

"Do you think he could have used the warehouses?" asked Naruto.

"If he has, then you likely won't find anything," said Itachi. "Madara is very good at his job. It was why I assigned the business to him."

"So he would have covered his tracks," said Neji.

Itachi nodded.

"It's what's made him a shrewed businessman," said Itachi. "He is willing to do anything to get what he wants."

XXXXXX

Sasuke was in the middle of training Ai when Kagome, the household maid, stepped out into the backyard.

"Master Sasuke," said Kagome nervously. Sasuke turned to see her wringing the rag she had been using for her dusting. "Your uncle is here to see you."

"I don't want to see him," said Sasuke without looking was at the local playground with his nanny, Chio. Now, Sasuke was glad he was. He didn't want his nephew anywhere near Madara.

Kagome was about to speak when Madara pushed his way though, shoving the middle-aged maid hard enough for her to stumble. Ignoring the woman's distress, Madara walked up to Sasuke. Ai started growling at him and Madara gave her a disapproving scowl.

"Kagome, are you okay?" asked Sasuke.

"Yes, Master Sasuke," said Kagome still look apprehensively between Sauske and Madara.

"Yes, go back to work. I'll deal with this."

"Sasuke, I've come to hear about your decision," said Madara without and preamble. Sasuke gave him a studious look.

"Decision about what?" he asked.

"Your position in the company."

Sasuke gave his uncle an iritating look.

"My position in the company is the twenty perscent of stock I have in it," said Sasuke. After Yahiko's birth, most of what had been Sasuke's share moved to him. Sasuke didn't have a problem with the decision. He had never wanted to be a part of Fugaku's business anyway and preferred going his own way. If he could, he'd give the rest of the shares to Yahiko, but Itachi insisted on Sasuke having something. Claiming Fugaku owed it to Sasuke.

"Surely that isn't all you want," said Madara. Sasuke didn't like the tone of his voice or the look in his eye. As if he knew exactly what was in Sasuke's mind.

"What do you mean?" asked Sasuke.

Madara smirked.

"Come with me," he said.

Partly curious and mostly annoyed, Sasuke followed his uncle out of the house. Aoi attempted to follow him, but Sasuke motioned for her to stay. She whined, turned in a circle, sat on her hunches and howled as Sasuke walked into Madara's car.

The drive was silent as they drove through town and headed toward the port. At first, Sasuke was confused over where they were going until they pulled into a series of warehouses with the Uchiha logo on them.

"Why are we here?" asked Sasuke as they got out of the car.

"Have you ever wondered how the Uchiha's became the second richest family in the country," asked Madara as they walked into the warehouse.

"Import and export and good investments."

Madara laughed.

"Cute," he said. "It's true we made good investements, but we also did what we had to do to expand the business."

"What we had to do?"

Instead of answering, Madara walked over to a red haired man standing over some boxes. The red head glanced at Sasuke before turning back to Madara.

"Everything all right, boss," asked the man.

"Fine, Sasori," said Madara. "Just showing Sasuke the ropes."

Sasori nods and turned to the crates.

"Latest shipment from our clients," he said.

Madara opened the crates and pulled out what looked to be a doll. Turning it over, he opened the dollup and instead of stuffing, there was a bag of white powder. Sasuke had to school himself to keep the shock from his face.

"You ship drugs," said Sasuke.

"Drugs, guns, people, whatever our clients want," said Madara tossing the doll back into the crate. He turned to Sasuke. "Did you think it was like in the movies? Secret meetings at the docks and the police never know? It's that way because they pay us to look the other way and keep them off camera. They also pay us to ship their product overseas. This is how the Uchiha made money."

"And you want me to continue it," said Sasuke. He was more than ready to refuse and go to Naruto and report it.

"I want you to bring the Uchiha's back to the reputation we once had," said Madara. "The respect and fear of our family before your so-called brother flushed it down the toilet."

Sasuke looked at him in shock.

"You want me to take over the company?" he asked. He shook his head. "I won't."

"Itachi is weak. That illness of his was a sign, but Fugaku was too stupid and proud to see it. He should have let Itachi die. Instead, he survived, married a weak-blooded woman and had a weak-blooded bastard. They don't deserve the hard work we put into the company."

Sasuke's hands tightened into fists at each of Madara's insults. Itachi was anthing but weak, and neither was Konan or Yahiko.

"Forget it," he said and turned to leave.

"If you refuse, I will kill the boy."

Sasuke turned to him in shock.

"You'd kill your own nephew?" he said.

"Please, Sasuke, don't look so surprised," said Madara. "Itachi is leading the company to ruin, and his son will do the same."

"Easy to let something like morals not get in the way," said Sasuke through gritted teeth.

"Morals mean nothing whenit comes to making money. We're the same, Sasuke. Bastard son ignored by our fathers until we're useful. Unlike you, I had to force my father to look at me, but don't worry. Work for me and play your cards right, you'll be running the company someday."

Sasuke was too shocked for words. Madara was thinking of taking over the company with Sasuke as the figure head. Hehad to tell Naruto somehow.

"And if you're planning on telling anyone, especially Itachi or that blonde cop, I will kill the brat," said Madara. "I'll hire another trainer. One that'll make that bitch a proper guard dog. Maybe we'll breed her. She has spunk." Sasuke continued to look at him in shock and Madara smirked. "Don't worry. You'll learn."

He walks away. Sasuke watched him leave in shock and Sasori followed.

TBC