Itachi was staring out the classroom window of Physics class from his corner seat, picking up and dropping a pencil onto his desk. He had to run just about all over the entire school campus in order to get Deidara's papers to his teachers on time- and he didn't fancy having to hear the blonde yell at him because he lost a grade.
In reality, Itachi knew he harbored a grudge against Deidara because Pein excused him from school until he was feeling well enough to return. Just because he did well in the University didn't mean that he had to like going there. What he wouldn't give to just be back at the base doing nothing!
His thoughts on his warm bed were interrupted as the bell rang, his gaze snapping to the door.
Kabuto walked into the classroom, warmly greeting their teacher before going to sit down towards the front of the class, notebook and pen in hand. He didn't even look around, just sat patiently for the period to start.
It was only when their teacher, Asuma, called the class to attention that Itachi tore his gaze away from Kabuto. He looked at the lesson on the board before slumping down slightly in his seat. Scientific equations? He learned this back in the eighth grade. Just what was Asuma teaching them?
Itachi glanced at the boy on occasion during the lesson with his eyes narrowed, trying to figure out what his next moves were. Did he intend to act as if he wasn't the henchman of a psycho drug criminal? If that was the case, then it was his job to make sure Kabuto was put out of the equation.
He knew almost nothing about the younger boy. About his family, background history, motivations- he was clueless. The only one who might know useful information would be Deidara. And he and the blonde weren't exactly on good terms.
I suppose I'll have to tie him to a chair and make him answer… Itachi absently thought, tapping his pencil on the corner of his desk.
"Mr. Uchiha-" Asuma broke him out of his trance.
Itachi looked at him.
Asuma let out an exaggerated sigh, bringing a palm to his head before motioning to the board. "I asked you to explain the equation written. Don't tell me you were too busy gawking at Yakushi to listen."
Itachi felt the bridge of his nose turn pink at the class's laughter and amused glance from Kabuto. "No. Sorry." He explained the equation as fast as possible before working on making himself invisible for the rest of the period- still sneaking Kabuto a few looks here and there.
~X~
Kakuzu was dissecting the brain of one of the delivered corpses when Konan walked into the lab, glancing at the grey bloody part of tissue that he held before quickly averting her gaze.
"Oh- sorry, I didn't realize you were busy," she apologized.
Kakuzu sighed, wiping his forehead with the back of a gloved hand before carefully setting the strand of brain down. "No, it's fine. I was just double-checking something, that's all," he said, stepping away from the table the body laid on. He covered the head with a cloth and then started to peel off the gloves, speaking to his comrade as he did so. "I assume you're down here to find out what I've discovered."
Konan nodded, shifting uncomfortably. "Yes. Pein and Zetsu seemed close to discovering Orochimaru's whereabouts. There are several rumors going around in the black market about the base being removed somewhere remote from the city, but I haven't confirmed if they're true yet," she said. "Pein wants to know what we're up against so Sasori can forge a new round of weapons."
"Sounds good to me," Kakuzu replied, tossing his gloves in a trash bin before giving the blue-haired woman his full attention. "I've found traces of the drug Orochimaru inserted in these bodies' brains. Because their bodies aren't accustomed to a foreign source coming in and switching brain signals rapidly, the drug turns them mad- like a rabid dog. And after a while, just like we saw what happened to those at the factory, they're completely taken over. It alters their personalities and thoughts. In fact, think of it like a Zetsu inside they can't get rid of," Kakuzu came to a sudden realization as he spoke.
Konan looked at him confused. "I don't understand. Are you saying Orochimaru is giving them an alternate personality?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying," Kakuzu said. "But it seems as if the body isn't aware of the personality change. I doubt the person can remember what happened after they revert back."
"But how does this change happen?" Konan questioned. Her eyes were narrowed in thought. "If it happened without the affecting bodies knowing, wouldn't the city be in an uproar if the drug randomly turned on?"
Kakuzu looked at her with a slight frown. "Remember when Sasori shot at Orochimaru and those people protected him with their bodies?"
Konan bobbed her head.
"Well, what if Orochimaru made the serum so it activated if he was in trouble?" Kakuzu suggested. "Those bodies were only standing around until Orochimaru was attacked."
"What?" Konan looked startled. "How could Orochimaru make something like that? Is it even possible?"
Kakuzu softly snorted, crossing his muscled arms and looking away. "You forget Orochimaru was a genius in his own right. He always studied and experimented on the corpses of our enemies. He was teamed with Sasori who creates poisons that influence the body. I wouldn't be surprised if he took interest in that and combined it with his chemical knowledge." He paused. "The drug wouldn't be inserted manually- it would take far too long to get so many people to willingly come under his command. So I've deduced that it can be spread through foods and drinks; possibly physical interaction. No one would know what they'd taken and never realize they were now working for Orochimaru."
"That's…" Konan bit her bottom lip, "a scary thought Kakuzu. A new edible product would have had to come out recently- one that kids and young adults would be attracted to. If that's the case, we should tell Pein. The city is in danger!"
"Agreed." Kakuzu had already started walking out the door. "I'll get Kisame to run a check on the latest food products that have come out. There can't be that many. And when we find what it is, we'll take down whoever's behind the company and put a chink in Orochimaru's smooth flowing plan."
~X~
Kabuto wandered over to Itachi's desk at the end of Physics class, looking chipper and full of health. He waved at the Uchiha and said, "Good morning. Do you know where Deidara is?"
Itachi stared at him in silence.
Kabuto's mood slowly changed to confusion. "Um…I'm sorry, did I offend you?" he asked.
Itachi stonily glared. "You of all people should know why. What are you playing at? Trying to lure Deidara away from us and attack him?" he quietly asked, so as to not draw attention.
Kabuto smiled, tilting his head to the side. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said. "But Deidara always lends me his homework. Ask himself yourself if you don't believe me."
"That won't be necessary," Itachi replied, standing up from his desk as the class bell rang. "Maybe you should try and do a little schoolwork on your own."
Kabuto stared after him, baffled as the raven left the classroom. "I don't understand… did I do something wrong?" He placed a hand to his clammy forehead, suddenly feeling faint.
~X~
"New products?" Kisame looked up from where he was putting together a sandwich.
"Yeah. We think Orochimaru is spreading drugs through consumer food products," Kakuzu said.
Kisame stared, and then pushed his sandwich away from him. "What do you want me to research?" he quickly asked.
Konan smiled a bit. "Snacks aimed at those of younger ages," she said. "Please find out as soon as possible. Hundreds of innocent people may be eating this drug without knowing it."
Kisame gave a short nod of his head and said, "You can count on me." He started to walked out the kitchen and then paused, looking over his shoulder. "Um…does this mean we can't order take-out anymore?"
"Sadly, yes."
Kisame hung his head.
Kakuzu patted him on the shoulder consolingly. "It cost too much anyway," he said.
A/N: And the plot thickens... Again!
Feel free to let me know if anything confused you about Kakuzu's deduction.