EDIT (8-8-18): Edited for clarity and formatting
Part II of the Convention Center arc.
Chapter 4: Big Brother Makes His Move
"Oi, it's Sasuke!"
The Uchiha cursed and quickly ducked into a pub display. Glaring, he recalled how he had specifically ordered Team 6 of the Uchiha Police Force to keep a close watch out for Naruto. He was adamant to the extent that he even had his personal guard about. Speaking of, where was that trio of idiots..?
"Itachi-san!"
A few yards away, Itachi and Kisame sat in a working teahouse display, peering out of the building after hearing their target's voice.
"Hm, he seems to have located Sasuke," Remarked the older brother.
Kisame nodded as he slurped his tea. Once finished, he clanked his cup down and grinned.
"Honestly, I didn't think we'd actually end up here. I mean, what are the odds? I can't believe they were leaving at the same time as us."
In a strange twist of fate, as Pain and the others were loading into the work Hummer and as Itachi and Kisame prepared to skulk about Naruto's house, the Fujioka household ambled along across the street, discussing what they would do at the regional fair.
While talking recon strategies, the Kyuubi duo was interrupted by Pain bursting into their room and dragging them out by the arms before shoving them in the car.
"But," Kisame continued, "It looks like you won't be too much help, y'know, because of your brother and all."
Itachi swallowed his bite of dango and set the now-empty skewer down on his plate.
"On the contrary, Kisame, I may prove to be the most helpful."
While Kisame pondered this, Itachi stood up and ambled out of the building. Shocked, Kisame floundered to his feet, darting after the prodigy.
"Itachi-san, what exactly are you trying to pull? If you go out on the street right now, Sasuke might see you."
"True. But I might have to bait Sasuke."
"What?"
"Just watch, Kisame."
Itachi wandered out of the venue and instead of heading down the aisle where Sasuke was spotted, he approached the loud blond with whiskers on his face.
"I don't see him, Naruto. Maybe he left?"
Naruto shook his head.
"Nah, Sasuke's just scared to be seen with me in public."
"Yeah?"
Rin's eyes opened wider, his interest piqued. He remembered when he tried denying friendship with Shiemi, and even if it was out of pride's sake, he knew it was wrong.
"Yep. Sasuke and I used to be friends. Even though we've both gone through a lot, we knew there was a path for us. Sasuke wants to catch his brother, who killed their family, and I want to prove myself! Unfortunately, Sasuke listened to the wrong people. His hatred for his brother was so strong that he ignored everything we were taught and has sunk to manipulating the police and wanting to kill his brother."
"Whoa, that's really intense… And terrible!"
"I guess so, but I'm going to bring Sasuke back! I'll make him see that he has enough and is really a good person."
"That's really cool of you, Naruto."
Rin, rather new to the house, had never heard Naruto's backstory, so he was rather moved. Ichigo had mentioned something about it to him, but hearing the words from Naruto's mouth made the exorcist-in-training realize how determined he was.
"Thanks. Anyway, I remind Sasuke of the good side, so he avoids me. I'm used to it though."
"I totally get you, man. Even Yukio avoids me sometimes… When he turned on me, I really didn't know what to do."
"Excuse me."
The two boys turned from their deep conversation to see a black haired man a bit shorter than them standing before them.
"Oh, sorry, did you need something?"
Itachi nodded.
"Could you pass this message on to Sasuke Uchiha?"
Naruto's eyes widened.
"Sasuke? What is it?"
Itachi, aware of his brother's hidden presence, replied determinedly.
"Tell him, 'Your hatred still isn't enough.'"
"His hatred isn't enough?"
From behind the walls, Sasuke's eyes shot open. He swore he heard his brother's voice. Quickly, he ran out of the building and into the aisle.
There he saw Naruto and that black haired boy he lived with. Dashing toward Naruto, he seized him by the collar and started shaking him.
"Naruto! Was someone just here?"
Naruto, with a dubious expression on his face, slowly nodded.
"Yeah, he told me to tell you that-"
"I heard! Where did he go?"
Naruto looked at Rin who shrugged, and he mimicked the motion.
Sasuke growled.
"You don't know where he went?"
"Nope, he just disappeared. Went around the corner, I think."
Sasuke's head snapped to the direction Naruto motioned toward, and he quickly threw the blond away from him and ran off, calling the police force all the while.
"Suigetsu, Karin, Jugo. I want officers at every entrance and exit to this building. Yes! This includes bathrooms and windows!"
Naruto looked at Rin and shrugged.
Back in the teahouse, Kisame gave Itachi a skeptical look.
"I'm not sure what that accomplished, Itachi-san."
"You'll see." Murmured the Uchiha as he took another sip of tea.
Kisame frowned and looked back at the aisle, where Naruto and Rin were leaving.
"Ah, they're on the move, Itachi-san."
"What's with these booths?"
Ciel scowled as he looked around. They were amidst the busiest section of the convention, where booths selling jewelry, face painting, and snacks mingled with school booths, job opportunities, and talent agencies.
"Look! There's Nekozawa-kun!" Pointed Honey-senpai.
Sure enough, next to a booth labeled "Seirin High" sat the Black Magic Club. Tamaki retreated to the back of the group.
"Is that on the list for ratings?" Asked Kyoya to Byakuya, whose bodyguard held the clipboard with information.
Renji flipped a few pages and scanned down the list of names.
"Yup, it's in the running for 'Most Creative.' What score should we give it?"
While Tamaki cowered behind the twins, Ciel Phantomhive boldly approached Nekozawa, who sat behind a crystal ball.
"Why hello, sir. Care for a fortune telling?" The president kindly offered.
Ciel glanced at the table's contents.
"What's good at dealing with demons?"
Sebastian allowed a coy smirk to grace his features.
'Of course, young master. When given any chance, you search for a way to keep me under your lock and key even more.'
Nekozawa appeared thoughtful.
"Well, verses and chants usually do wonders, but I would consult those of the Church for further guidance. The True Cross branch even has exorcists, so I would rather send you to the professionals. Why? Are you possessed? How fortunate…"
The man dreamily sighed. After waiting a few moments, Ciel replied.
"That will be all, thank you."
He turned around and returned to the group.
"Didn't seem very successful," Commented Renji.
"I suppose not, but at least his customer service was decent…"
"Hidan, you really should get a job. Leader-sama will go crazy- Well, crazier- if you never have a source of income."
Hidan glared at the redhead chiding him. In front of them, Tobi was ambling along, somehow sucking on a lollipop beneath his mask. In his hand he clutched a plastic bag brimming with snacks and candies Jushiro Ukitake had given him.
"Whatever. If he'd just let me kill people again…"
Sasori rolled his eyes.
"That will never happen. We're supposed to be off-the-radar. We've already committed crimes so we need to focus on kidnapping right now. Kakuzu was right; religion is a honey pot. Why can't you just tax for your priestly duties or something?"
Hidan huffed.
"No way, Jashin-sama is free to all."
Sasori sighed.
"Your choice to self-destruct, brat."
"Ooo! Sasori-san, Hidan-san, can we stop to see the show?"
Sasori glanced to his right, where he saw a large gathering of people surrounding a stage. Above it, a banner proclaimed the name, "Karakura Rangers" on its surface. On the stage, an older man with a cape was making dramatic gestures.
He sighed.
"Fine."
"What?"
Sasori shrugged.
"You know Tobi loves the Karakura Rangers."
"You stopped for this but not for that live surgery?"
"That was clearly illegal, Hidan. Everyone knows Mayuri Kurotsuchi has been in prison before. He's no different from Orochimaru, and Kami knows I've spent enough time around people like that. Plus, as I said before," The redhead emphasized, annoyed, "We need to keep off the radar."
Hidan groaned. Across the aisle, a booth caught his attention and he wandered over.
"Hello, sir, have you ever wanted to become an exorcist?"
Hidan scoffed.
"Fuck no. I'm already a priest hunting demons, what more do I need to do?"
The man in a black coat raised his eyebrow.
"You hunt demons?"
"Hell yeah."
"I see… Are you in the Order? Hunting demons should only be done by professionals."
This time Hidan raised an eyebrow.
"Bitch, please. I am a professional. Caught the Two-Tails myself, not to brag or anything."
"The…what?"
"Ichigo?"
Upon hearing his name, the orange haired teenager turned around.
"Oh, Yukio. What's up?"
Yukio averted his eyes and frowned, his thoughtful expression.
"Well, I can't seem to find Rin or Naruto anywhere so…"
"Huh. Sorry, haven't seen 'em. Then again, this place is pretty big."
Slowly, Yukio nodded.
"I know but… It's my task to watch Rin. Plus, those two together never makes for a happy ending."
Ichigo threw his arms behind his head.
"Yeah. I have no clue where they'd be though, besides around food or something."
Yukio nodded in agreement.
"So what have you been up to?"
"Nothin' much. I'm meeting my friend Chad here in a few. Earlier I saw Kyoko signing autographs at a booth. She had a pretty long line." He remarked.
"That's good; she's earned it. Maybe I'll stop by after I find the guys."
Ichigo laughed upon seeing Yukio's worried expression.
"It's like you're their dad or something. Man, you worry more than Ranka or my dad do. Just take it easy, okay?"
Ichigo's eyes darted past Yukio.
"Sorry, Chad's here. See you later!"
As Ichigo jogged off toward a taller man with long hair, Yukio sighed. The redhead was beginning to sound like another ginger he knew.
"What are these?"
Haruhi looked around in wonder as the Rich People's Association, as she had dubbed them, mimicked her curiosity in a more dignified manner.
"It appears to be the sculpture section of the art show," Noted Byakuya Kuchiki, glancing the ice soul reaper he stood beside.
"Look at all of these ice sculptures," Murmured Haruhi as she began to walk around. "An ice dragon, people in kosodes and yukatas, weird beasts with no hearts…"
Next to Byakuya, Renji smirked.
"Heh. Looks like Captain Hitsugaya's outdone himself this year."
"Whoa, look at these!"
A few yards away, the Hitachiin twins stood before an enormous sand sculpture of the infamous Nine-Tailed Fox.
Etched into the sand were its growling features; its pose one of a predator about to pounce. Across from it, behind the twins, loomed an equally huge sand sculpture of the terrifying Shukaku, or the One-Tailed Beast.
The Host Club members quickly gathered around, judging the pieces.
"It's incredible." Tamaki commented, a serious façade worn.
Unusually likewise, Kyoya nodded, looking thoughtful.
"Very accurate, I'd say. The Wind Region's governor has outdone himself this year."
"It's certainly impressive," Added Ciel as he joined the others to appreciate the statues.
Sasuke also drew closer, still reeling from his encounter with Naruto. As his eyes landed upon the Kyuubi, he frowned.
"Don't get too fond of them; these things are monsters."
Neji Hyuuga furrowed his brow as he considered the younger man's remark while passing the Uchiha to gaze upon the other sculptures in the show.
"Hey, Sasuke," The Uchiha winced at Tamaki's casual addressal of him, "check this out."
The Suoh motioned his fellow plutocrat over, a few sculptures past the legendary beasts.
"It's a bird with the Sharingan in its mouth."
Sasuke's eyes shot wide open, but quickly changed into a glare.
"How do you know what that is?"
Tamaki stared at the Uchiha blankly.
"You know, from that folk tale? The one about how the world was created? That lady had the Byakugan and the Rinne Sharingan, right?"
Sasuke blinked.
"Yeah. But what makes you think-"
"Legend has it that the Uchiha clan inherited the Sharingan, the Hyuuga clan the Byakugan, and the coming savior will have the Rinnegan."
Again, Sasuke stared at Tamaki.
"You think I have the Sharingan?"
Tamaki brightly laughed, causing Sasuke's glare to return.
"Of course not, though that would be pretty cool…" He added. "It's just a folk tale I came across while researching skit possibilities for our club."
The Frenchman gestured to the Hosts beside him for reference.
"That legend is how your clans got your reputation, too. The Uchiha clan could see through the deception and lies of criminals while the Hyuuga clan could see through one's soul."
Behind Tamaki, Neji gave way to a small smirk.
"That's not exactly correct, but if that is what our reputation is to the Suoh clan, I'm not sure if I should be honored or offended."
"That story is stupid." Deemed Sasuke with a 'hmph,' staring absently at the piece of artwork Tamaki had pointed out.
After what the Host had explained, the man would have realized that the piece before him was not one that Sasuke would hail but hate.
It was a large clay bird with an eyeball, emblazoned with the Sharingan, squished between its beak in the process of getting eaten.
Tamaki straightened up and held his arms out, palms up.
"Well, there's nothing I can do about that, Sasuke-kun. A story is a story, and I must respect the author enough to keep it sailing through time, unaccosted."
Sasuke rolled his eyes and chose to check in with his police units.
"Suigetsu, any news on Itachi?"
The radio buzzed.
"Nope, nothing yet, Chief. But we've successfully shut down all the exits, though people are pretty pissed off about that." Suigetsu chuckled, glancing at the angry patrons attempting to leave the convention.
From his spot at the front entrance, there were a lot of them.
"Good. The consumers will have to deal with it. We can't risk him getting away."
On the other end of the radio, Suigetsu sighed.
"You sure we couldn't just block all people who look like him from leaving? This crowd's getting pretty nasty." He noted, watching a woman slap a patrolman across the face with idle interest. "I mean, I highly doubt your brother would be posing as a middle-aged pregnant woman or a seven-year-old snot-nosed brat."
Sasuke narrowed his eyes.
"You never know…" He murmured.
Clearing his throat, he continued.
"Regardless, keep everyone locked in. We don't. Want him. Escaping."
Suigetsu smiled knowingly as he heard his leader's crazed articulation.
"Got it, Boss."
"Karakura Ranger Red! Go!"
"Suuuupeeerrrr… Kick!"
"Ranger Home Run!"
Hidan groaned dramatically as he attempted to make his way from the skit. Unfortunately, most people were drawn by the main Ranger's acrobatics and charisma, so the area around the stage was packed.
"Move the fuck out of my way," Ordered Hidan as he pushed past mothers and couples alike.
Sasori looked around as he heard a disgruntled murmur behind him.
Too late, he noticed a silver haired man haughtily striding out of the crowd. Shaking his head, he decided to let Hidan suffer with whatever consequences would befall him. At the puppet master's right, Tobi stood eagerly, squealing and cheering at the Karakura Rangers' actions. Glancing back to the act, Sasori decided to take notes. Who knew, maybe Tobi's childish likings would help his doll business more than the idiot's opinions.
"Stupid fucking kid's show. Only knocked-up whores and pedophiles watch shit like that. Jashin, that driftwood's a pedo, ain't he? Shoulda known…" Hidan mumbled to himself as he strolled back toward the only thing that caught his interest.
Prior to watching the show, his encounter with the True Cross Exorcists proved to be a stalemate. The man kept pressing for his certification, employer, etcetera, and it was all too irritating for the priest. He knew his religion, and it certainly didn't respond to some fat man in the Vatican.
The priest stopped, again before a familiar booth.
"Sir, I have to ask you once more to leave. If you don't, I can forcibly remove you from the premises. Er, sort of. Once the boss unseals the exits."
The lone police officer eyed the man on the platform warily.
"You're not Itachi Uchiha, are you?"
A sigh.
"Really, why must I always deal with idiots like these…" He muttered before facing the man with a disturbing grin. "How about you make yourself useful and help with my project."
"Sir, you need to leave. You don't have permission to perform a live surgery here. Plus, it's unhygienic, traumatic, humiliating, and illegal on so many other levels."
Mayuri Kurotsuchi frowned, narrowing his eyes as he studied the officer. Hidan stood a few feet away, observing this exchange and wanting the surgery to hurry the hell up.
"See, this is why people are so weak. No one's willing to make the progress needed to get stronger. By studying the body for instance-"
"You could traumatize children!"
"I could educate them. Who knows if they'd ever get the chance to see a life saved or lost ever again? It's an invaluable experience, as is any."
The officer shuddered under Kurotsuchi's grin.
"I'm sorry, but you're under arrest for- Guh!"
A flash of silver and the officer suddenly fell backwards.
"Death is an experience as well."
Kurotsuchi's grin broadened.
"Let's see what I can do with this one."
Blood streamed from the officer's mouth, his eyes wide and fixated on the ceiling. What looked like a surgical knife was embedded deeply in his chest, directly where his heart was. Hidan raised an eyebrow. He was dead.
"Sir." A female's detached voice invited Hidan to face the platform once more.
A woman in a tight black dress stood stoically, her arm still outstretched from throwing the knife. She was looking at him. Indifferent, Hidan glanced about.
Despite the crowds and numerous people trotting by, no one seemed aware of the corpse lying on the ground, or of the woman who killed him. Hidan looked back at the platform, where the two soul reapers stared at him studiously.
How did they do it? Whenever he killed in public, the cops or shinobi agents were on the scene immediately.
"I see…" Muttered Kurotsuchi as he eyed the silver haired man standing indifferently before him. "I'm sure you saw that as necessary, no?" He called out a bit louder, catching Hidan's attention.
The priest shrugged.
"Hell if I care. Hey, are you gonna use this guy?"
Kurotsuchi's expression faltered a bit. A studious expression appeared once more.
"Hm?"
"Ya know, you gonna use this corpse for anything?" Asked Hidan, pointing at the body for emphasis.
"I was planning on salvaging it for spare parts. And… It never hurts having the body of an officer in one's closet."
Hidan scowled, eyes narrowed. Damn, this guy was just like Kakuzu!
"You sure? Actually, do you do this often? 'Cuz I'm kind of in a pinch…"
Kurotsuchi raised an eyebrow. Now here was something interesting to study.
Deidara idled through the convention, casting his gaze left and right with disinterest.
In the whole hour and a half he had been there, he hadn't found a job and was bored enough to consider planting a bomb somewhere near the stage for the Miss Dream Queen Scholarship Pageant; those skinny whores had it coming. After sauntering past earlier, one of the deluded teenagers nearly puked on him.
Whether it was from nerves or a disorder, he didn't care. All he knew was that within the next year, that bitch would be dead and he wouldn't have to do jack shit. One glare at her and he could practically count the number of homicidal ex-boyfriends who'd come after her for stealing their wallets and breaking their hearts.
Anyway, his bad luck aside, the only reason his bomb fantasy hadn't happened was because Konan, a model herself, had been in the vicinity with Pain. After puke made its way toward his shoes, he immediately felt the swirly eyes of a serial killer boring holes into the back of his head, practically daring him to do something and see what would happen.
Wisely, he quickly left the area.
Now he was bored, in need of a drink, and lacking quality art to take in.
"Let's play ski ball!"
"Yeah! Let's get some shaved ice too! Oh yeah, and we're 'sposed to pick up something for Ranka, right?"
Ears perking, Deidara weaved through the crowd toward a voice he couldn't miss.
Sure enough, a few feet away stood Naruto Uzumaki with one of the kids he lived with. It seemed they were deciding what to do. Deidara instantly scanned around, his eyes darting left and right. If Naruto was here, that meant Itachi and Kisame were around too.
As the duo ventured away, Deidara kept a keen eye out for his two co-workers, trailing behind the team as well. Finally, he noticed Kisame nonchalantly shooting hoops at a game booth with Itachi standing a few feet behind him.
"Hey, what's up?" Asked the artist as he sidled up to the Uchiha, watching Kisame score consecutive shots.
"We're currently tailing Naruto Uzumaki and his friend."
"I can see that…" Noted Deidara as a buzzer rang and Kisame grinned.
The vendor frowned, muttering something as he moved to the back of the small stand to retrieve the prize Kisame pointed at.
"Forty-seven; new high score." Announced Kisame with a grin, a stuffed bear in his grasp.
"Uh, Kisame? I think that game's geared toward kids." Deidara finally remarked with an amused expression.
The man shrugged, handing Itachi the stuffed animal which he shoved in a plastic bag Deidara now noticed. By its contents, he could tell the two had been cleaning out vendors and collecting prizes all day.
"I know. Did you see the look on that kid's face when I took this bear he wanted?"
The man laughed, now cuing Deidara in to the small boy glaring their way.
"So, what are you gonna do with all these?" The bomber asked, motioning at the bag as they walked away, following the sound of Naruto and Rin's laughter.
"Donating them to orphans."
"Huh?"
"I was kidding."
Kisame howled in laughter, causing Deidara's expression to fall. Weren't they supposed to be on recon?
"Good joke, Itachi-san. Oh, and put your hat back on."
Deidara raised an eyebrow as he watched Itachi pull something out of the bag and plop it on his head. The blond's mouth twitched, and suddenly he was howling laughter as Kisame had been.
"W-w-what the hell is that?"
"It was the most popular hat we could find. Kisame won it for me."
Deidara continued dying, holding his stomach and wobbling as he attempted to walk straight.
"Have you been drinking, Deidara?" Kisame asked light-heartedly, amused at how his co-worker reacted to the hat.
"Th-that's not the point! The hell- the great Itachi Uchiha's got a panda on his head!"
Itachi remained stoic.
"Well, you know the great Itachi Uchiha can't go around without a disguise; especially since he so cleverly outed himself to his brother." Added Kisame.
"Oh yeah," Deidara remembered, recovering from his hysteria, "thanks for that. I had to take a piss really bad and-"
"Might I suggest stopping before you continue that idiotic and irrelevant tangent, Deidara?"
Fighting a glare, the bomber continued anyway.
"Like I was saying, I had to piss hella bad, but thanks to your stunt, your dumbass brother's gone and quadrupled the security around this place."
"And that has to do with your bladder…how?"
"Shh! Anyway, I went to the bathroom and apparently you can't take a leak without being stared at by a cop. Seriously. They had like three in there. Plus, they're peeking in the stalls. With that being said, the line was longer than the line for Mepphyland or whatever it's called… So…Due to your brother, I had to pee in a vase."
"You peed in a vase?" Repeated Itachi, the mittens dangling from his spirit hood swishing in-tune to his steps.
"Yup. Didn't get caught though. Just yelled your name and the cops pushed everyone out of the area, cordoned the place off, and I got to pee in peace."
Kisame laughed.
"Was that your plan, Itachi-san?"
"Nothing related to Deidara's bladder, but if you're referring to the hysteria then yes. Sasuke's out of our hair looking for me, and if we need to make a quick escape, we can do so with the yell of my name."
Deidara nodded. Despite hating ninety-five percent of the Uchiha, the guy had pretty good plans.
"Uh, actually...When are we leaving anyway? Have you guys found out anything on the Kyuubi?"
Kisame's eyes narrowed as he looked down on the shorter terrorist.
"Have you found a job yet?"
The blond scowled.
"Fine, fine. I get it. You do your job, I'll do mine."
Kisame grinned.
"Damn straight. Though it would be an interesting sight to see you go back to the house without any applications in…"
Deidara grimaced.
"Nope. I almost ran into the leader earlier, and that was enough."
On that note, Deidara issued a curt wave and strode off.
Kisame turned to Itachi.
"Well, what have we accomplished, Itachi-san?"
The prodigy was blank faced.
"Let's try leaving and find out."
x
Next time...
The Convention Center arc concludes with all the necessary chaos a terrorist organization, a paranoid police chief, and a group of teenagers can concoct short of a battle royal.