Chapter 26

"Are you sure?"

Itachi looked at the man behind the desk, pipe clutched firmly between clampped teeth, before turning to the photos on the desk. Itachi looked atthe photo of his great-uncle. He hated that Uchiha men were viril even in their late sixties. Itachi's great-grndfather, Taki Uchiha had only been in his twenties when he married his wife and had Itachi's grandfather, but have been known through the family to have a number of mistresses. Always young women with super model looks. Madara's mother had been Taki's secretary when Taki started up their affair. She had only been twenty and the affair lasted a year until she becamme pregnant with Madara. Unlike Fugaku who had been able to cover his tracks with Sasuke, because Uchiha's learn from their mistakes, Madara had been label the Uchiha Bastard when the affair had been revealed. A distinction Itachi was glad Sasuke had been spared from.

Itachi turned back to the governer of Konoha. Hiruzen Sarutobi was a fair man who won the election for his current position, beating Danzo by a landslide. Despite that, Danzo still became a District Attorney, much to the annoyance of most in the Konoha District.

"Very sure," said Itachi. "My investigators gave the information to me personally and I trust them implicitly."

Hiruzen looked down at the information in front of him. He would be treading a dangerous line taking these to court, but he couldn't deny the evidence in front of him. Paper reports and photo graphs of the shady business Madara had been doing behind Itachi's back.

When first investigating Madara, Itachi had been a suspect of helping him, but that had been quickly dissuaded.

"And your brother?" Hiruzen asked. "Do you think he's in league with Madara?"

"I have a feeling Sasuke isn't there willingly. Madara is holding something over him."

"He had been missing for a long time," said Hiruzen. "He could be playing you."

Itachi steepled his fingers. A move he learned over to time to make people think that he was thinking over a proposal, but in truth, buying time to direct the meeting his way. It fooled many a boardroom member in the years he had been in his family's company.

An added bonus to the position was that it made him look menacing. Most would be intimated by it, except Hiruzen.

"Well, Itachi?"

Itachi sighed and answered.

"It's true Sasuke is still reluctant to reveal his actions and whereabouts during the ten years he had disappeared, and truthfully, I have no wish to find out. Whatever had happened to him turned him from the rebellious, bitter teen he was into the thoughful, grown man he is today. I may not know the man Sasuke is today, but I know Sasuke. He would never willingly help criminals."

Hituzen studied Itachi for a long moment. Despite his family history, Itachi had proven to be an unstanding businessman. in the past five years, he had helped taken down many of the corrupt businessmen in his company. Hituzen had been as happy as anyone that Sasuke had returned but was worried that Sasuke may have been with some unsavory people during his disappearance. He knew more than anyone people would do anything to survive.

But he did hope that Itachi was right and Sasuke was a good person. It would meant hat he didn't have to arrest the youngest Uchiha so soon after his return.

"I hope you are right, Itachi," he said. "Thank you for this. I'll keep you informed."

"Thanks, Hituzen," said Itachi.

Sarutobi nodded and Itachi left. He looked at the evidence in front of him and sighed. This was going to be a shit storm.

XXXXXX

Sasuke glared at the man across the limo from him. He had been having a nice dinner, alone unfortunately since he gave Aoi to Naruto, when Madara had called and told him to come down for a meeting. Of course, when Sasuke entered the limo, Madara mmade not mention of where the meeting was or who they were meeting with.

He thanked whichever god that was watching out for him. He almost got enough evidence to put his uncle away for good, but he still needed a couple of things. After being held captive for a year as a dog in the dog-fighting ring, he had learned a thing or two abouti illegal businesses. There were alway sassocoates to help move product around, and a ledger of who was owed how mcuh.

Madara, unfortunately, was smart. Although he introduced Sasuke to a number of assicaites to prepare him to take over the business., he never showed Sasuke his ledger. Sasuke guessed it was in the old-fashioned Blackberry Madara kept in his pocket. The man was rarely without it. Sasuke could only count on one finger the number of times it had been out of Madara's sight, and that was because he tossed it to Hiden to look up a number. Other than that, it was constantly in Madara's sight.

Sasuke glance back toward his great-uncle. That man was completely engrossed in whatever was on his phone. More than anything, Sasuke wished that he could get out of the arrangment Madara set on him, but until he found out who inside Itachi's work staff was leaking information to Madara, he couldn't risk his nephew.

Sasuke glanced out the tinted windows. He could barely see anything out of the glass, and he didn't recongnise what he did see. Madara had apparently wanted this meeting to be a secret, even from Sasuke, but was too polite to put a bag over his head. He just hoped that it wouldn't take long.

The limo slowed and pulled to a stop what what Sasuke recognized as the warehouse district. Sasuke waited until the driver got out and opened the door before getting out. He hated being waited on, but Madara told him that he had to observe propriety and allow the servants to serve them.

Sasuke waited a couple steps before following Madara. He learned early on to never step next to or infront of Madara. Madara didn't like to have his associates look equal to him. Even if they were related and slotted to take over.

They enter the warehouse and Sasuke looks around. The warehouse was nearly completely empty, except for a few boxes set against the wall and various debris scattered around the floor. a table and chairs were set in the middle of it all, with wine in a bucket and wine glasses. A white table clothe was laid across the table and there were breadstick in the middle of it. It looked more like a dinner date than a business meeting.

"Orochimaru will be here shortly," said Madara.

Sasuke had to keep himself from lashing out. Orochimaru was the cause of a lot of pain for him, and Naruto. It hadn't taken Sasuke long to hear about what had happened during the raid that had lead to the death of Kurogane. He had been surprised that they had a physical body to bury, but when one had magic, making bodies was probably easy.

Sasuke wished there was a way for him to contact Naruto. A meeting like this was too good for the police to pass up, but Madara monitored everything Sasuke did, including his phone.

"You're to observe Orochimaru," said Madara. "He may be an ally, but he still can't be trusted. That snake would do anything to help himself."

"Yes, sir," said Sasuke automatically. He didn't need to be told that.

"The cargo?" asked Madara to Sasori.

"Waiting for everything to finalize," said Sasori.

"Good. We shouldn't have to wait long."

They hadn't. Not even five minutes had passed when the warehouse doors opened and Orochimaru walked in with his entourage. Sasuke had to really force himself not to attack the man, just to get rid of the manthat made the last two years of Sasuke's punishment hell, but held back. He had to remember why he was here witht hese men. Yahiko, Itachi, Naruto. He wasn't a cop and he didn't know how to fire a gun, but he had to protect them, any way he could.

Orochimaru walked in like the snake he glanced at the men Madara had brought until his gaze slide to Sasuke. Sasuke forced himself not to shiver. The gaze made him feel like oil had just covered his skin.

"Madara," Orochimaru greeted, finally looking away from Sasuke.

"Orochimaru," said Madara, steepling his fingers while his elbows rested ont he table. 'How has your little operation been?"

Orochimaru sneered angrily at Madara's comment.

"Very nicely. You'll be happy to know you'll get your cut at the end of the month."

Sasuke had learnedearly on that Madara got eighty percent of each transation from every low-life dealer and crime lord in the city. Madara kept the operation going smoothly by installing spies in each syndicate. No one knew who the spies were except Madara.

"Very good," said Madara. "I'm glad that our friendship has been so rewarding." Madara waved toward the second chair. "Please, sit. Let's begin our negotiations."

Orochimaru sat down, glancing at Sasuke as he did. Sasuke glared at him until movement behind Kabuto caught his attention. He had to force himself to not look surprised.

Sasuke had only met him once, during his security detail while he was in the hospital recouperating. with a hood covering his head and a scarf his face along with sunglasses, the man had the creepy look down pat. Sasuke searched his memory for a name. Shino Abarame. A friend of Naruto's. Sasuke could think of no reason of why he was with Orochimaru other than he was an undercover cop. He quickly looks away, hoping he hadn't given the man away.

Madara and Orochimaru spent several minutes talking. Sasuke tuned most of it out, only listening when he thought something important was being said. As they talked, they sipped wine. Sasuke couldn't get how casual both were as they discussed distrubution, kilos and various other illegal activities., but he guessed this was so normal to them that it didn't effect them, or they simply didn't care who got hurt. All for money.

Over an hour later, after all the pleasantries and negotiations, Orochimaru set his glass down and stared seriously at Madara.

"Now that we have haggled the prices, the merchandise?" he asked.

Madara nodded.

"Of course."

Madara stood and lead Orochimaru toward a crate. Sasuke walked slightly behind with their entourage behind them. Madara opened the crate and Orochimaru reached in to pull out an automatic rifle. Sasuke had to force himself to keep calm.

"Armed?" asked Orochimaru.

"For the demonstration only," said Madara. "Amunnitions cost extra."

"Of course."

Orochimaru pointed the rifle at an empty crate a few yards away and Sasuke had to try not to flinch when a spray of bullets hit the crate.

"You'll never find anything better outside of the military," said Madara. "Your men onthe street will have no trouble selling theses to their customers."

"Impressive," said Orochimaru. "We'll take the whole crate."

Sasuke saw Shino make a slight movement with his hand and Sasuke only had a second to realize what it meant before the doors of the warehouse flew open and there were flashes of light and yelling.

"Police, stay where you are and put your hands in the air!"

People scattered. Sasuke saw Shino pull out his gun and aim it toward Orochimaru, and then saw Sasori aim toward Shino. Sasuke didn't hesitate before running toward the officer.

"Get down!" he yelled shoving Shino to the ground just as Sasori fired. Both grunted and Sasuke felt a flare of pain across his shoulder.

"I suggest you don't move, Mr. Uchiha."

Sasuke looked up and Ssaw Kakashi's face looking down at him. Although his weapon was to his side, Sasuke knew the man was being very serious. Sitting up, he held his hands up.

"I surrender," he said.

XXXXXX

Naruto laughed as he tossed the knotted rope as faras he could and, like the puppy at heart Kyuubi was, Kyuubi ran after it, Aoi behind him. Kyuubi grabbed one end and Aoi grabbed the other as Kyuubi lifted his head up. Both started a game of tug. The scene was too cute to pass up. He took out his phone and started recording.

Naruto wasn't much of a sentimentalist, but lately, he had taken to making memories of Kyuubi. His parents had done the same. His father had even recorded proposing to his mother and backayrd barbeques with his fellow cops, and Kushina had recorded every birthday and holiday almost religiously. She wanted Naruto to have memories, and in a way, he was glad for them. Through the homevideos and stories, he got to know his father, and now he was making ones of Kyuubi.

Naruto had the morning off, so he decided to spend time witht he overgrown puppies at the park. Both dogs had been more than up for the idea and they had spent nearly an hour playing fetch and tug with each other.

"Come on, you two puppies," he said. "Heel."

Both came right over to Naruto, the knotted rope still between them. He grabbed the rope in an attempt to throw it again, but the canines decided to gang up on him and tugged against him.

"Sit. Drop."

Both sat and dropped the rope. Naruto picked up the rope and flung it again. He watched as both dogs ran after it.

In the month since finding unexpectedly finding Aoi, Naruto worried over Sasuke. He wondered if Sasuke was all right or if he was hurt. He was also worried about Itachi and his family. By sending Aoi to Naruto, it was obvious that Sasuke didn't trust Madara as well. Madara would have thought of everything in order to keep his organization going. Naruto didn't know what to do now. He couldn't get close to Sasuke without consequences, and the thought of Sasuke getting hurt angered him.

Naruto didn't know when it happened, but somewhere betweent he soccer matches and training Aoi, Naruto had begun to fall for Sasuke. He knew Sasuke was a troublemaker in the past, and that made it easy for everyone to believe he was Madara's faithful lackey, but Naruto knew the man underneath. The scarred man with a caring heart.

Naruto bent down to pick up the rope as his phone went off. He was surprised to see Kakaishi's number flash on the screen.

"It's my morning off," said Naruto.

"We need to you come in," said Kakaishi. "We arrested Sasuke, and he'll only speak with you."

TBC