AN: Thank you to all of those who added my story as a favorite or followed it. In response to a guest review proposing Misa as a harem pairing option for this story I will have to post a response. Naruto will not have a harem. I feel that working Misora into a harem would not be realistic. She doesn't strike me as the type of girl to tolerate a harem. It would make for awkward story telling. Also Misa is totally devoted to Kira/Light so trying to twist that into a usable pairing would throw off the dynamic of the story. Sorry if this breaks some hearts but that's how I feel. While Naruto does have the same attitude in general he is also very withdrawn in matters of the heart. He uses masks to project ho he wants to be perceived and avoids forming bonds with people he knows are going to die. So while he still may act goofy and have moments of stupidity don't expect him to suddenly start having friends or sharing his secrets, let alone taking two girlfriends. On with the chapter.

"Speech"

"Thoughts"

"Speech through voice filter"

Chapter 3: Dealings

Naruto was nervous, very nervous. L shouldn't have made a move on him yet. He had planned on using the police as a means to get close to L, but he hadn't planned on interacting directly with L yet. Naruto sat down in the back seat careful to keep the computer facing him. Watari got into the driver's seat a moment later and they began driving. Naruto gave him his address and Watari typed it into his GPS.

"I'll get straight to the point Uzumaki-san. I want to know what you discovered in those notes earlier." L's mechanical voice said as soon as they began moving.

Naruto internally sighed in relief he had thought L was suspicious of him. He had hoped to investigate into this matter on his own and try to prove or disprove it before bringing attention to it, but now was a good time to start earning L's trust. If he wasn't honest with L now though it would be even harder to work with him in the future. "I noticed, that all the criminals murdered seem to have had both their names and faces shown on either the T.V. Or internet and there was two criminal files in particular that caught my eye." He paused there and took a breath.

"The files in question belongs to Arata Hideyoshi and Yoshio Kozo. Both of their crimes were announced on the evening news back to back. Yoshio who killed his neighbor was killed immediately. Arata kidnapped, tortured, and raped a mother and her daughter before killing them and dumping their bodies in a park. He wasn't killed until the next day when the news station aired a second report on him, in which they apologized for spelling his name wrong. All of the criminals Kira has killed have had their name and face made publicly available. The circumstances of these two criminals suggest that Kira needs a name and a face to kill. I was going to do more research into it to be sure before I told anyone." Naruto ended his speech and stared at L's screen expectantly.

-L POV-

As Naruto finished speaking L was astounded. This boy barely out of college whom he had never heard of before, had deduced his own suspicions in so little time. How had this blonde avoided notice for so long? There was something beyond suspicious about Naruto. L's network was the best in the world he had files everyone with the political, financial, and intellectual power capable of infiltrating one of his investigations, but Naruto was nowhere. He needed to get closer Naruto and determine his secrets, so for now he would play along. L noticed that Naruto was waiting and looking expectantly at the camera. L wasn't fooled, he was certain that Naruto was an excellent actor. Finally he spoke.

"Uzumaki-san, it is imperative that you not share your hunch with anyone yet. As I announced at the end of the meeting I would like for the task force to investigate the availability of information pertaining to the criminals and the ways which it was made publicly available. I would like to ask, however, how someone of your caliber has remained hidden for so long."

L noticed the subtle tightening around the blondes eyes that betrayed his surprise. Most people wouldn't have noticed and under the circumstances L had to give him credit; the blonde had excellent control over both his body and emotions but not enough to escape his notice. L spoke again not giving Naruto time to play dumb. "Don't look so surprised. Surely you don't think you could infiltrate my investigation and not expect me to find out. You are a ghost Uzumaki-san. Simply put you don't exist. Yes you have the proper papers and connections but no true history here. All surveillance of you including photographs mysteriously vanishes. After looking closely into your recent stint to the U.K. I found out that you were only there long enough to leave. You popped out of nowhere and I don't like unknown variables in my investigations. It's only natural I would investigate you."

L watched as Naruto digested the information that L had just divulged. It was amusing to watch him process the fact that his cover was blown. He clearly underestimated L's power and resources. Information was his life, his domain, and if Naruto thought he could walk in under his nose and avoid detection he was sadly mistaken. Suddenly Naruto's facade broke replaced with a cool mask of indifference and he spoke.

"I see that rumors of your abilities were greatly downplayed L. I had expected you to crack my alias but not so soon. I was hoping to have more time to earn your trust and convince you of my sincerity before that happened. I've underestimated you, that won't happen again." As the blonde stopped to choose his next words, L was thinking. The enigma had all but admitted to forgery to him. It would likely be pointless to file charges against him. He had friends in high places, as the expression went, and would likely disappear if L pushed too hard. Finally the blonde spoke again.

"I assure you L I want nothing more than to catch Kira. I want him captured, convicted, and executed. The world doesn't need another maniac with dreams of godhood or world domination." Naruto paused for a moment to take a deep steadying breath. Curious, the choice of words preceding that action lead L to believe that either Naruto had previous experience with maniacs of Kira's caliber, or really hated Kira. Then there was the possibility that this was an act to get close to him and divulge his identity to Kira. Before L could ponder further Naruto continued. "All I ask, L, is that you continue to allow my presence as an investigator on the Kira case. It allows you to keep easy tabs on me, stops me from investigating on my own and not sharing information, and allows me to pursue my goal of ending Kira. We all win."

L didn't even need to think about it. His own curiosity now demanded that the blonde's secrets be discovered. As the car got closer to their destination L kept silent as he watched Naruto.

-Naruto POV-

L was silent as the car got closer to his apartment building. "Really as if such cheap intimidation tactics would work on me. I could teleport away before you could finish an order to capture me." Having L's information to the Kira case was vital, however and he couldn't risk giving it up. L had to trust him if only a little. Finally L spoke as they pulled into the parking lot.

"Very well Uzumaki-san. I will allow you to continue investigating the Kira case without drawing attention to your alias with the task force. I will be keeping an eye on you though so don't think for a moment you are clear of suspicion."

Naruto sighed in relief then smiled slightly before responding. "Thank you L. Well I guess I'll see you at work tomorrow. Well I'll see Watari anyway. Thanks for the ride."

"Goodnight Uzumaki-san." Was L's short reply before Naruto stepped out of the car and watched them drive away.

As Naruto entered his appartment he let his mask dropped and clutched his head. "Dammit! I can't believe he found me out so fast! Ugh I wish I could get drunk!" He yelled before changing into his pajamas and slumping down onto his bed. He fell asleep that night fuming at L and how his plans were so easily foiled.

-Two Days Later-

That evening Naruto was unhappy. Somehow Kira had gained access to police information, successfully sowing the seeds of mistrust into the department. No doubt L was going to step up his investigations into the task force and Naruto himself. Kira was likely trying to get the police to form a resentment towards L and start investigating L. As if they would find anything. L was far too careful for that. Then there was the matter of Kira being able to control the time of death as well. Wherever and whenever, if Kira knows a name and face he can kill someone. The thought worried the blonde ex-shinobi. The theory that Kira only needed a name and a face to kill was all but confirmed. Now he found out he can determine the time of death beforehand. Kira sure was showing a lot of his cards letting the police and L know that they have a leak and that he can controll the time of death of his victims. Still if he was trying to inspire fear it was a good tactic. He could feel the fear clouding the emotions in the room. Three men got up and walked to Chief Yagami's desk and placed a three pieces of paper on his desk before Chief Yagami yelled.

"What's this about?!"

The man in the middle spoke. "With all due respect chief we're resigning. We're demanding we be assigned to a different case, otherwise you can have our badges right here and now,"

"But why?" Chief Yagami asked."You're good cops."

The man didn't hesitate before responding. "Isn't it clear, it's because we value out lives, sir."

The man on his right immediately spoke up. "If what L says is true, Kira has some ESP like power that somehow allows him to kill people indirectly, from anywhere." The final man of the group made his opinion known.

"Well if I were Kira, sir, I'd probably want to try and get rid of the people who are trying to catch me."

"Lets face it he knows he'll be sentenced to death if he's caught."

"We all sat here and watched as L decided to pull that media stunt and challenged Kira to kill him. Well it was all very impressive at the time, but then L never had to show his face or reveal his name for that matter. I'm sure you remember L's last request? He asked that we take a closer look at how these victims identities were made public and specifically to determine whether photos of the victims were available to the public prior to their deaths. Well it turns out he was right! Every single one of those victims names and photos were broadcast to the Japanese public and then they died! Unlike someone we know we're out there investigating this case with police ID's with our names and photos on them. Anybody with a computer can find out who we are! We don't hide our faces we're out in the open!"

"Sir' the truth is we could be killed by Kira at any time."

"So for these reasons we refuse to continue working this case. Excuse us. Chief."

As they walked out of the room and Chief Yagami yelled after them Naruto couldn't help but scoff. Cowards, the lot of them. Giving into their fear so easily and caving. Naruto was beyond disappointed in them. He knew more would quit, it was inevitable. Until only the most dedicated few were left. Naruto's eye's widened and he turned to look at L. "So that's your plan. Wait until only the most dedicated few are left before placing any amount of trust in them. That's pretty harsh." The man was a genius he had to admit, but he was also cold. He sighed before gathering his things and leaving for the night. Dealing with L was hard enough for him, and he was a very patient man. If the task force ever found out L's plan they would be furious.

AN: This chapter was particularly difficult for me to write, my muse was very fickle this week. Anyway hoped you enjoyed it and as always Rate and Review!