This chapter was supposed to be the date chapter, but there are things here that happen before the date, so I figured it was better to go with this one first. This is part one of a two part chapter but in between will happen the date chapter just to keep things in the timeline. This chapter is almost completely Sasuke as he only makes a small five minute appearance in the next chapter. SO enjoy all you Sasuke fans, and enjoy all you Sasuke haters as I don't think he comes off very nice in this chapter, it'll take a little bit more to crack this boy's shell. For anyone who's asking why in hell's name is she doing this story like this, it's becuase life is full of many main characters, and to understand why someone does something you need to live the lead up. So here we go...

Disclaimer; Even Sasuke is wearing too many clothes! So not mine! Vive les fanfictions!

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Obligations, links of chain and friendship.

Sasuke

Centre Area Market, Konoha.

Rei tried to stifle her giggle as she eyed the young man leaning back against the wall. She was waiting in line at the fishmonger's, the young man had already ordered and was waiting to have his fish packed. He was perfect right up to his coal dark eyes and ash dark hair just brushing his shoulders in a thin ponytail. She adored dating shinobis and he screamed shinobi even without the usual forehead protector. She considered dropping her basket at his feet so that he could offer to help her pick it all up. Seeing him reach for his packet she realised she'd have to move quickly if she wanted to snare her newest conquest of the week. Her fingers loosened just as she saw his back turn towards her and the fan emblazoned on his black jacket showed. Her jaw dropped at the same time her basket hit the floor fruit rolling everywhere.

His eyes flicked over to her standing white faced and shocked. Gabbling apologies she fell to her knees gathering up her food as quickly as possible. Avoiding his gaze she flinched as his pale, scarred hand showed up in the range of her down turned eyes holding a missed apple. Without rising from her knees she took the apple with trembling hands. With her eyes still on the floor she saw him turn on his heel and walk out of the shop. Looking up at the back of the infamous Sasuke Uchiha she saw the missed forehead protector that by law all shinobi had to wear as a mark of status, looped around his beltpack. Relief made tears leak from her eyes.

Outside on the street Sasuke felt the familliar derision rising inside him. He'd wanted to slap the idiot girl. Did she think he hadn't noticed her eyes on him? That he didn't realise the basket was meant to attract his attention, and that her face had meant she'd seen the Uchiha symbol and realised who he was? Little flirting idiot, she had no idea how dangerous a game she almost played. That look, he saw it too often, even in the eyes of the kunoichi who were supposed to be his social equals. Except in the eyes of Naruto and Sakura, even Kakashi-sensei looked at him as if he was a bomb waiting to go off. But then Kakashi-sensei knew the best what he was like, Naruto and Sakura lived in some perfect world where their love for him would save him and wash away all his sins and darkness.

Sasuke's lip curled as he stalked back towards his house, fish heavy in his hands.

"Sasuke."

Sasuke paused and looked over his shoulder, impatience clear in every frown line on his face.

"Kakashi-sensei." He said curtly.

"Well hello! How're ya doing this fine afternoon?" Kakashi said brightly eyeing the young man.

He noted the faint dark circles under Sasuke's eyes, the way Sasuke's clothes were slightly threadbare. None of those things could be said without risking a temper flare from Sasuke, and he needed him pliable. Focuing on the fish in Sasuke's hands he said conversationally.

"What a lot of fish! Are you having another party? Why your friends are only just setting themselves right after the last one! I hope I'm invited this time." Kakashi smiled aware that his manner was irritating Sasuke.

"Why don't I invite your ANBU friends aswell?" Sasuke said sarcastically, referring to the 'secret' squad assigned to watch over him since the incident in the Rain country.

Kakashi smiled harder. Sasuke narrowed his eyes.

"No, I'm not having another party."

"All that fish is for you?" Kakashi asked slipping out his battered copy of Come Come Paradise.

Sasuke felt his irritation rise a notch.

"Yes."

Kakashi raised an eyebrow.

"Some of it's for a friend."

"Well that's nice." Kakashi said aware Sasuke was a hair's breadth from pulling a kunai and trying something stupid.

Snapping his book shut Kakashi regarded the sky.

"The Hokage wants to see us at eleven. So if I were you, I'd drop that fish off with your friend and get over there."

Unable to stop himself Sasuke felt his eyes slide over to the tall Jounin, his heart rate stepping up. A mission? It'd been two weeks since they'd had an outside mission. Two weeks normally wasn't so long, but now that he knew that Kabuto was out there somewhere, the two weeks seemed like prison sentance. If only he could get outside the village without his ANBU tailguard he could maybe pick up a trail and find the mad doctor. Sasuke fought to control the eagerness on his face.

"Hn." He managed, but it wasn't as colourless as usual.

Saluting, Kakashi dissapeared around a corner already reopening his book.

Sasuke hurried home, only his own pride stopping him from running full out. Crossing the entry of the compound he broke out into a run through the empty streets heading for the only occupied house in the entire complex, his. He'd never understood why the Village Elders hadn't sold the compound when he'd been a child, but it didn't matter now. When he died the place could rot.

Entering the house in a rush he kicked off his shoes and hurried into the kitchen. Once there he saw her in her usual place waiting for him, a cross look in her eyes.

"Eh, sorry I ran into Kakashi, I have to go out again, but I brought the fish you like."

Resigning himself to pain he approached and bent over to place the fish in the refrigerator.

"Ow!" He said as she scratched his outstretched hand.

He'd known she meant trouble from the first time he'd seen her.

Three days ago, Uchiha Compound, Konoha

Sasuke tried to ignore the itch in the back of his neck. He'd tried to put it down to the tickling of the tip of his ponytail, but it was too high. He'd tried to convince himself that it was the sweat running down his skin, caused by gardening in the sun. Only this was different. He sighed and gave into the paranoia, there was somebody watching him. He figured it might be Sakura, but it'd been years since she'd tried anything so childish as to hide while watching him.

Besides, she knew by now that her camouflage technique was too inferior to fool him. Slowly scanning the garden casually he straightened up. The small trowel he held would make an excellent weapon, he bounced it nervously in his hand, testing its weight. Eyes shaded by the broad brimmed straw hat, he squinted into the shadows of the porch. The sun beat down relentlessly, it was the last few days of true summer before autumn started.

Sasuke glanced at his arms and bare chest. There was the lightess of tans beginning to turn his otherwise white skin slightly brown.

One week ago Kakashi-sensei had set Sasuke the task of setting the house in order. He'd overseen the small refurbishments and forced Sasuke to clean it from top to bottom. Once begun Sasuke had found it hard to stop and one day he'd found himself working in the garden.

Sasuke found it gave him exercise, and time to relax while not giving time to think too much. Most importantly it meant he was alone. He'd worked a couple of hours fully clothed, no hat, pulling up weeds, until he realised he'd be better off dressed for the job.

His nose had blistered that night. He'd surprised himself at how much it'd mattered to him that his nose looked ugly. The next day he'd brought a big hat and suncream so he could work shirtless without burning. He'd also brought some small tools and gloves to keep his hands from getting too dirty. He'd laughed at his own vanity, and it'd felt good.

Sasuke liked the tan, but not on his face. He just couldn't bring himself to let his face tan. Fair skin was too highly prized in Konoha as a mark of beauty, and he, he'd discovered, was too vain to ruin it. Another sign of Uchiha pride.

Raising his hand to absently scratch at his neck, it naturally dropped to the curse seal still burned onto his neck. Neither Sakura, nor the Hokage had succeeded in removing it. They had assumed it would dissapeared with the death of Orochimaru, like Anko's seal. But his had stayed, a little faded but still distinct. Sasuke didn't like to touch it in public, it reminded people of bad things, bad things he'd done. And he never touched it, mentioned it, or even raised his hands towards his neck when around Sakura.

If she was annoying now, he shuddered to think what she would be like if he told her it'd started twinging again. He put it down to muscle spasms, or phantom pain brought on by the reappearance of Kabuto. Rolling his neck he scanned the garden again. Finding nothing but realising he was too tense to continue, Sasuke gathered up the few tools he used and walked towards the house.

As he reached the steps leading up to the porch, Sasuke felt the eyes watching him again. This time the sensation definately came from just next to him. Resisting the urge to open the Sharingan, he paused to shift the tools evenly in his hands, as afraid to drop them. He still hesitated to walk forward, wondering if it was a member of the ANBU squad currently assigned to watch him. He curled his lip in impatience, but before he could place his foot onto the first step, a white shape glided up the steps in front of him

He drew back instinctively, tools at the ready as weapons, straw hat knocked back forgotton.

At the top of the steps, sat a white cat with grey paws, tail flicking irritably. Even through his confusion, Sasuke had the uncomfortable feeling that the cat was pissed because he'd made it wait while he 'dug in the dirt'. But what really made him stare were it's eyes. Green, alot of cats probably had green eyes, Sasuke remembered something about cats and green eyes being common. But this green was the same type of green as Sakura's eyes.

It was like looking at a smaller, feline, pissed off version of Sakura. Sasuke shuddered at the resemblance and tried to brush past the young cat. It ignored him and stalked into the house first. Sasuke wondered if he should try and push it out. It might belong to someone, but judging by its thin body, it was more probably a stray. Deciding if he just ignored it it would get the hint and go away Sasuke started to clean himself up for dinner.

Returning from the bathroom, Sasuke didn't see the cat in the living room, and figured it'd decided it wasn't getting any food here and had left. Relieved, Sasuke entered the kitchen. Instantly the cat started to berate him in a high, whining voice.

"Shit, it is Sakura in cat form." Sasuke said aiming a kick at it.

The cat hissed and jumped onto the counter. It arched its back and raised one clawed paw in warning. Deciding to ignore it Sasuke opened the fridge and started to search for dinner. Immediately the cat wound itself around his legs trying to climb into the fridge. Shutting the door suddenly Sasuke smirked when the cat was forced to jump quickly out of the way and start complaining again.

Sitting down at the table Sasuke tried to eat his food, only to have the cat jump onto the table and stick its nose into his plate. Finding nothing it could eat it put its front paws into the rice and started whining directly into Sasuke's fuming face. Sasuke picked it up by the stomach took it outside and tossed away from the porch.

"Go home." He ordered.

He hadn't even turned around before a white blur was streaking back into the house before him. Sasuke felt his anger mount.

"Bloody cat." He growled.

Half an hour later tired and scratched Sasuke admitted defeat and dropped the angry cat inside his house. Smoothing down his hair with angry hands he saw the cat smoothing down its fur with a disgruntled air beside him. Immediately he stopped. Stalking back into the kitchen Sasuke started to recook himself some rice and opened a packet of curry sauce. The cat installed itself at the low table on Sasuke's cushion. The table was low enough that it could see over the top. It started whining again.

"Now you resemble Naruto." Sasuke complained.

Rummaging in the fridge he pulled out the last salted fish he had. Looking at it sadly, he loved salted fish for breakfast, he put it on a little plate and placed it on the floor. The cat looked at the position of the plate and started whining again. Sasuke looked at it with disbelief.

"You can't expect to eat at the table?" He said as if the cat would understand him.

The cat continued to whine in a higher octave, whincing Sasuke slapped the plate down in front of the cat.

By the time he'd sat down at the table to eat his curried rice the cat had finished and dissapeared. Sasuke growled at it's lack of manners.

He didn't see it again until later that night when he opened the door to his bedroom.

"AH HELL NO! Get off my pillow!"

Hokage Office, Konoha present day

Sasuke rolled his neck, there was a crick that just wasn't going away. Damn cat hogging all the pillow again. He stood stiffly to attention as the Hokage's attention slid to him. He almost envied Sakura's familiarity with her teacher and Naruto's lack of excessive respect for the person place-holding his spot. Tsunade-sama had always secretly scared him. It was something hard in her eyes that said she could and would destroy him utterly. For a reason unknown he believed that look. She was different from the old man he'd known in his childhood.

Iruka-sensei held out a paper which was taken by one of the three other men in the room. Kakashi-sensei was no where to be seen. Sasuke glanced around him without moving his head, but he still had no clue who these three were. It was true he didn't know every shinobi in Konoha, it was possible they were ANBU, but something didn't say shinobi in these men. There was something that said they didn't walk in shadows, they walked in the sun, where everyone could see them.

They carried only one shorter katana blade each along with their chosen weapon, one carried sai, one carried tonfa batons, the third carried nothing Sasuke could see. They all wore white shirts and had very close cropped hair.

"Gentlemen," the Hokage began, "as you are aware a dangerous criminal has been successfully captured by the authorities in Little Twin River. However they do not have the necessary manpower to escort that criminal to Central Headquarters. This is a personal request from Central's Commandant to Konoha for help."

The three men in the room straightened at the words.

"And given some new information recently brought to light by their investigations, and the Commandant has requested shinobi back up." Here the Hokage indicated Sasuke. "I have assigned Hatake Kakashi, and Uchiha-"

"There's no need to inform us of his name." One of the men said.

Sasuke stiffened imperceptibly, this reaction was common all over the village. It would be better like this, better to start out on the right foot after all. Cold, and professional.

The paper was passed from man to man, but somehow Sasuke missed out. He knew better than to ask to see it, if it contained information he needed to know Kakashi-sensei would tell him.

The meeting ended quickly and the four men separated without exchanging a word. Leaving the Hokage's building Sasuke felt the sun warm on his face. Looking at the angle he calculated the hour. He had a little time before he was supposed to meet Sakura and Naruto for their afternoon shopping errands. He stretched and considered trying to beg off because of mission preparation. Imagining the circus that would start when they found out that he was going on mission without them he decided to let it drop. A hour or so trailing around after them and they should be happy. That would still leave him with plenty of time to get ready and get to the main gate before leaving time. He just needed to think of something to do with, The Cat.

Damn cat.

Sakura's house, Konoha late that afternoon

Sasuke looked at the simple white envelope in his hands. For the thousandth time he considered just letting the cat starve, at least like this maybe by the time he got back from mission the damn thing would've left. Shuddering at the thought of the cat's revenge Sasuke knocked resolutely on the door.

Damn cat.

He'd just leave the note with Sakura's Mum, Sakura'd be happy to do this little service for him. And then she wouldn't feel quite so slighted from this afternoon when he'd cut out so early after suffering Naruto and his questions about short shorts, and 'butt' pants. He was supposed to be relieved that she felt slighted, that maybe she'd give up and go away. But he knew she wasn't going away, and Sakura slighted and moping was worse than Sakura happy and clingy. Besides he didn't dare ask Naruto to feed the cat, that left Sakura. Sakura could feed the cat, the cat wouldn't be angry, Sakura wouldn't be angry, and when he got back he could restart working on keeping her away. But he needed someone to feed the damn cat.

Instead of Sakura's Mum, Sakura herself opened the door. For a moment she stood frozen in shock, then she poked him hard in the forehead.

"Ow, Sakura." Sasuke said, wondering if maybe she was really mad at him.

Sakura pinched herself, it left a little bruise. She shook her head hard, then closed her eyes and counted to 10 before peeking out through her lashes at the image of Sasuke on her doorstep.

"Oi stop being stupid." Sasuke muttered embarassed at her behaviour, it wasn't as if he never got out to see people.

"You're really there aren't you?" She asked grabbing hold of his arm.

"Yeah." He grunted trying to shake himself free. "Gerrof you stupid female."

"Humpf." Sakura said holding on harder.

"I just wanted to ask you to feed my cat for the next few days." Sasuke said prying at her fingers.

"Cat?" Sakura asked letting him loosen her grip, but keeping a grip on his hand, the touch of him was still important to her.

"Yeah, some stray has set up camp in my house. If I don't feed it, it gets nasty." Sasuke said wondering if he could just drop the whole thing, why did she have to touch him?

"Uh, Ok. Where are you going to be?" She asked supsiciously.

Sasuke sighed, it really had been a dream that she would just say yes and not ask questions. Why did she have to be home right now? He took his eyes off her offending hand and looked at her impatiently. He paused as he looked at her properly. The lightest touch of makeup turned her skin from pale to smooth white rose. Her hair was caught up with a ribbon that matched the yukata she wore. She was not dressed for a night in, nor was she dressed to work at the hospital. Before he could stop himself he asked.

"Where are you going dressed like that?" He wanted to kick himself as she pinked slightly and looked down at herself.

"Some guys are going to the Latern Festival tonight, I'm going with." Sakura said, she looked up hopefully. "Are you thinking of going? We might run into each other."

Sasuke looked away his lip curling automatically even while his stomach clenched.

"I'm not gonna be there." He said.

"Oh," Sakura said dissapointed, "well if you change your mind I'll be there with Naruto."

Sasuke wondered if he'd imagined the slight tone of accusation in her voice. His brow furrowed as he thought of Naruto and Sakura together while Sakura was dressed like that.

"You seem a little fancy to just go hang out with the guys and Naruto." Sasuke wondered if he'd imagined the slight tone of accusation in his own voice.

"It's our first date." Sakura whispered looking down.

"."

Sakura saw his hands spasm around the envelope he carried.

"Well I hope you have a good time while I'm out on mission." He said shortly thrusting the envelope at her. "These are the instructions for the house protections and the cat."

Sakura took them slowly, Sasuke turned abruptly on his heel and jumped away ignoring Sakura's surprised 'Sasuke-kun!".

The late afternoon air was still hot and he had a heavy feeling in his chest that had nothing to do with his current physical exertion. He needed to get away and finish this thing with Kabuto. Because he understood now, since he'd seen Naruto and Sakura growing closer and closer, since he'd some how survived the destruction of Orochimaru, the death of his brother. He understood that the reason he was still alive was because destiny needed him to kill Kabuto. He'd found his reason to live at least a little while longer, Kabuto was tied up to his years with the Sound, if he finished Kabuto everything about his old life was finished and he could just fade away, finally.

Konoha Forest two days from Little Twin River

Sasuke shuddered every time he saw the jackets the men wore. The Uchiha fan overtopped by a throwing star, his speciality. They were Konoha police.

No wonder they didn't need to know my name.

He thought shifting his pack for the hundredth time. They were sooo slow. Not being ninja they were confined to walking, like normal people. It was like babysitting, which Sasuke reflected, it probably was. But if this was babysitting, where the hell was babysitter number two? Kakashi-sensei hadn't even turned up at the gate, the Police officers had waited until everyone was there and then left. When Sasuke'd asked the officer in charge where Kakashi-sensei was the officer replied that he'd gone ahead to clear the path.

The were a silent lot at least, no awkard chatter or useless conversation thrown around while marching, just walking. It'd been two days already, Sasuke reflected that he didn't know how Sakura and Naruto's date had gone. Not that he cared he added hastily. It was exactly what he'd decided he'd wanted.

After he'd returned from the Sound, when things were still crazy about setting the village back into order, he'd had a few weeks of madness were he'd thought that things really could go back to normal. A few confusing weeks where he let himself believe the idiocies Sakura and Naruto were spouting.

He'd even, may the Kamis help him, considered restarting his clan with Sakura. He'd even gone so far as to find his mother's engagement ring and start to carry it around in case a good opportunity presented itself to ask her to marry him.

Not right away, after all he'd been only 14 and she'd been still 13. But like a promise for when they were older. In his head he had Naruto as best man, and Kakashi-sensei as witness, he didn't think anyone else would be interested. But somehow the chance never came.

Sakura was always working, either at the hospital putting people back together, or in the field with Naruto hunting down final strays from the Sound village. Even Kakashi-sensei had been too busy where as once he'd always found time to listen and give advice. Sasuke had been on polite house arrest. They didn't even have training together. Those first few weeks spent alone trapped in Konoha, trailed by the now familiar ANBU guard, hit it home to him that there was no going back.

Even if Sakura and Naruto had forgiven him, even if everyone else said the words, they didn't mean it. He was no longer one of them, he was the traitor. Slowly he realised how the cold looks given to him as he slunk around Konoha were extended to Sakura and Naruto whenever they were seen with him. He'd also noticed how serious Naruto was about Sakura, and that she wasn't completely insensible to Naruto. Feeling the familiar coldness settling into him he'd left the ring at home buried under a pile of old things best forgotton. He'd started backing off again, refinding his solitude from childhood.

Shaking his head Sasuke came back to the present, some babysitter he was if his charges got themselves killed while he was busy brooding. He noted how the men moved together like a unit, taking no care for the noise they made. Sasuke rolled his eyes at the overt displays of masculine strength. They had to be tiring, they were only police officers after all and they'd been on a forced march for two days.

The head officer called a halt for lunch, the men sagged gratefully to the ground while Sasuke stayed alert and standing. He didn't even put his sack on the ground, he just swung it forward a little and dug his lunch out. He wasn't one of them he was just their hired bodyguard. Biting into the rice ball he sighed mentally and wished he'd taken the time to learn to really cook. This rice ball fetish of his was getting old.

"Your father loved riceballs aswell." The head officer said in a grunting voice.

Sasuke looked at him surprised, though he didn't know which surprised him more, that one of them had spoken to him, or the mention of his father. None of the officers met his eye. Sasuke eyed his riceball in a new light and bit into it with a certain relish. His father loved riceballs as well? Interesting.

"That was because it was all Inari-chan could make when they got married." The oldest grunted back.

Sasuke started at the mention of his mother, he looked at the older officer carefully without turning his head fully towards him. Now that he looked at them properly he could see they weren't the almost carbon copies he'd believed them to be. The head officer was at least 40, tall, well built, square faced. The older officer was around 50 probably not far from his father's age, if his father had still been alive. His iron grey hair was probably cropped to hide the baldspots climbing both sides of his forehead. The youngest twinkled his smile at Sasuke as he caught his eye. Hastily Sasuke looked away trying not to seem interested in their conversation.

"I heard that Keji-sama had a hell of a time convincing his dragon of a mother to let him marry a woman who didn't know how to cook." The youngest said running his hands through his short brown hair.

His slightly slimmer body twitched with nervous energy. The older one glared at him.

"You be respectful you young punk. I don't know how you passed the academy, your big mouth should've gotten you kicked out."

The young punk shrugged, giving a smile.

"I guess they just knew I wanted to make a difference in the world." He offered holding out his hands in peace.

"I think it was pity." The older said. "The third always thought all the orphans in the village were his children."

"Jiro-san, I hope you're not suggesting that the Academy bowed to pressure to let Goro through?" The head officer didn't bother to put any force into it. "Even the Uchihas couldn't force someone through the Academy, and they practically built the Konoha police force."

There was a sadness in his voice Sasuke couldn't understand. Why did he care about the Uchihas? Sure the police had suffered a severe blow when most of their shinobi trained officers were killed, even the Uchiha's who had no Sharigan ability but were just regular officers had left a gaping hole in the ranks. But this sounded personal. Beside as far as Sasuke knew the police force was almost back to normal now. They had even overcome their reluctance and started training certain shinobi as police officers. Normally they were new parents or people who'd lost their team members and needed a new life inside Konoha walls for a while.

Jiro stiffened as if insulted.

"I know the Academy would never bow to pressure from anyone, not from the Hokage not even from Keji-san when..."

The head officer made a shushing motion. Sasuke stiffened, he knew they were talking about Itachi. He didn't know what they meant about his father, the Academy, his brother, and pressure, but it was clear they didn't want to talk about in front of him. Sasuke turned more fully away from them stuffing what was left of his rice ball into his mouth.

"Yo." Kakashi said slapping Sasuke on the back.

"PAFF- uck-PAFF-hack-hack-COUGH!"

Spitting out what wasn't currently choking him Sasuke glared at Kakashi. The effect was a little ruined by the grains of rice sticking to his lips and the purple colour of his face. The three officers tried to stiffle their laughs.

"Finished with the scouting chief," Kakashi said lazily, saluting the head officer.

The head nodded dusting off his hands and standing up. Groaning the other two stood up aswell. Even Sasuke couldn't stop a little grimace crossing his face at the quick restart.

"Once, I did a forced march for two days without rest." The head said. "But of course when you have a chief like Keji-sama..." he trailed off his features hardening.

"Rather than relive your glory days under the command of the great Uchiha Keji, can we just get going so I can get some rest tonight?" Goro complained.

Jiro slapped the back of his head.

"Mind your mouth pup, it shows you had no mother to slap some manners into you."

"But now there's you! And you make up for my mother never being there!" A glint came into Goro's eyes as he quick stepped after the head officer. "Maybe I could call you Mama-Jiro?"

Muttering threats under his breath Jiro started after them. Silence refell over the group as the march took all their breath.

Camp, one day from Little Twin River

"Can I sit with you?" the head officer asked Sasuke.

Sasuke considered saying no, changed his mind and shifted ever so slightly to the right. Taking it for an invitation the officer sat down.

"My name is Uo Keji, I trained under your father in Konoha. You might say he's the reason I became a police officer." Keji stopped talking and stared at the fire.

Sasuke didn't know what to say so he said what he always said when he wanted to show he was above normal concerns.

"Hn."

Keji smiled, hiding it behind his mug. He indicated Jiro currently trying to shut Goro up beside a laughing Kakashi.

"Jiro graduated the Academy with your father, they were classmates. Goro was the last to know your father."

Keji looked sideways at Sasuke's carefully blank face. He smiled again.

"Goro and I were both deliquents when we were young, I don't know everything about Goro, but I know I was pretty far gone when your father brought me into the station for the first time." Keji leaned back staring at the stars.

"Your father had a way making you listen to everything he said. He caught me robbing a store with some older friends. I was the one holding the knife on the old storekeeper so when your father busted in there they got away but I hesitated and he nailed me good. The funny thing was the shopkeeper was almost as rude to him as he was to me." Keji looked into Sasuke's eyes and tapped his own forehead.

"It was the Sharingan you see, freaks people out to see powers like that up close. I think that's why the bloodlimit families form clans, so they have somewhere people don't look at them like they're monsters."

Sasuke stayed silent, he knew well the treatment some of the bloodlimit families suffered. The Hyuuga's for instance with their easily visible white eyes, or Ino Yamanaka when they learned she could control people's minds. Even within the shinobi world they were feared. Him as well, at first for the technique stealing Sharingan, and now for his own reputation.

"Anyway I asked him why he bothered to stop me killing an old man that practically spat in his face. Your father turned around and said, 'Because it's not right.' Seriously, there he was dragging a swearing brat down the street, and he says, like he's right out of some hero novel, because it's not right. By the third time I'd been caught I guess he'd gotten sick of seeing me, because when my case came up before the judge he asked that I be given the choice of either going to jail, or joining the Police Academy. I guess I kinda looked up to him by then, so I chose to go to the Academy thinking if it didn't work out I could always run away and restart in the big city."

"And Jiro?" Sasuke asked wanting to change the subject from Keji's 'father worship'.

"Jiro? He was pretty much your father's best friend in the Academy, they started out together in Konoha as well. But then your father was promoted, and then he was made head of the Uchiha clan, and he just got too busy to keep up old ties. Apparently your father was always the brains of the pair anyway. So Jiro made a solid grade and does solid work, and misses the old days when it was him and your father spreading law and justice through out Konoha. At least that's the way he tells it."

"Hn." Sasuke said wishing the normally silent Keji would return to being silent.

Keji grinned.

"You're just like your father when you do that." Standing up Keji slapped Sasuke on the back and moved back towards the others.

Noting Kakashi's head movement Sasuke melted into the trees to do a little recon, relieved that he would have a chance to be alone and sort through some of what he'd learnt.

Little Twin River

Kakashi-sensei had been gone by the time morning had rolled around and Keji-san had kept up a forced pace all day to reach Little Twin River by late evening. Panting just slightly but determined not to show it Sasuke glanced carefully at all the darkened streets they passed. It seemed a quiet town to catch a dangerous criminal in. All of the houses were already closed up and there weren't even glimmers of light around the shutters to show that they were occupied.

They walked quietly through the dark town, Sasuke straining his eyes in the weak moonlight until they approached a sudden light source. Thinking it was a hotel he looked curiously until he noted the funeral decorations fluttering in the breeze. Drawing his head back and averting his eyes Sasuke marched quickly after the three men. Heads turned curiously to watch them pass.

Goro dropped back beside Sasuke.

"I guess it's the funeral for the last young woman he killed."

"He, who?" Sasuke asked more to keep Goro talking and himself distracted from the morbid sight.

"The bastard we're here to pick up." Goro indicated Keji and Jiro with his chin, his hands staying stuffed in his pockets.

"He was a small time criminal from what we understand, then six months ago bam, he hits the big time. Murder, with a capital M. A serial looney."

"How many did he kill?" Sasuke asked dragging his eyes away, again, from the sight of the funeral.

"'bout five." Goro said his shoulders jumping up and down seemingly without his control.

"Five!" Sasuke said a little too loudly. "Five? In six months?" He whispered looking furtively at the funeral goers to see if he'd disturbed them.

"Yeah they were all killed in the same way. Poisoned pretty gruesomely, and then the face and upper chest were burned away while they were still alive. We think it was to slow down identification of the bodies afterwards."

".." Sasuke didn't know what to say, so he played his cool and aloof card.

Goro took it as the end of the conversation and drifted back into line with the others.

Sasuke marched resolutely behind them, his face firmly controlled but his stomach rolling, bad enough to be poisoned to death, but to be burned alive aswell. He couldn't help the small shiver that escaped his control. A feeling of pity crept into him against his will. To be killed at all when all you wanted was a simple life. A family, a home, friends, to have all that taken away from you in one fell swoop, and then on the other side, what were the survivors going to do? Sasuke knew those feelings all too well.

He checked into the hotel automatically, they took two rooms next to each other. Jiro and Goro in one room, Keji and Sasuke in the other. It occured to Sasuke to ask where Kakashi-sensei was again, but he didn't want to seem out of the loop. So he stayed silent as he lay out the futon and lay down not really expecting sleep.

"You know," Keji began, Sasuke almost rolled over to better ignore him, "if you ever wanted to try the Academy I'd be happy to write a recommendation."

Sasuke felt nothing but cold when he considered the offer.

"I'm not my father. I'm a shinobi, I belong in the shadows."

"You are an Uchiha, you can't fight your blood forever." Keji said, his belief strong in his voice.

"My brother was an Uchiha and look how well he fought it." Sasuke said cruelly, though he didn't know who it would hurt more to say it, himself or Keji-san.

"Even he was an Uchiha, there was much of your father in him." Keji said yawning loudly. "Just think about it."

"I don't need to think about it. The Uchiha clan is dead, stop trying to revive the past. There's no point."

"Of course there's a point."

"Humph." Sasuke grunted wishing he'd faked sleep from the start.

"It would be the right thing to do."

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Next chapter the date between Sakura and Naruto and what will happen when Hinata finds out? How will Kiba feel about it? I promise it will be posted next week as it's already finished! Yay me!