MLC

Author: Ladelle

Raintg: M

Comments: Thank you for all of your reviews and I'm sorry it's taken me seven chapters to get to something exciting. I've put a new link on my profile to Ochiba . net, which is hwere I've posted some more Naruto fanfics and such...but the server seems to be having problems at the moment, lol.

Enjoy!

Chapter 8:

Naruto shifted in his seat, taking in the prefatory entrance to the Purple Martini from the passenger side of a very normal looking hover vehicle. Haku had parked in a parking garage across the street, and while Kotetsu made an egregious effort to pay for the space electronically, Naruto merely stepped out of the car and took a long and deep breath.

Despite the fact he considered himself well versed enough to survive in the future, he had never been to any place more social than the bar that Shikamaru worked at. And looking at the giant stained glass purple doors that welcomed visitors to the breezy night club made his stomach turn a little, his excitement growing nerves.

"Are you alright?" Haku asked and Naruto nodded, not bothering to turn and meet the other officer's eyes. His vision was still set on the plethora of guests lined outside of the doors, waiting to be allowed entry. It reminded Naruto of the after football parties in Boulder—everyone crowding into familiar pizza parlors with loud voices and eager attitudes.

A hand on his shoulder made him jump a little, but when he turned Haku was only staring up at him with wide eyes. Naruto was sure that the other man was concerned for him, but in his mind, he decided it was a waste. He was going to go through with the mission no matter what, and feeling nervous would only make things more difficult for him.

"I'm cool," Naruto said, and he smiled to prove his point. Scuffling back from the electronic parking meter was Kotetsu, and the wild-haired officer looked more upset about how much he ended up having to pay than about the current situation.

"I hate downtown," he muttered, and Haku shook his head, trying to be serious. When Kotetsu glanced back up, his expression sobered somewhat.

"Alright, are we set?" he asked, and Naruto nodded, once again letting his tongue roam over the small device stuck to the roof of his mouth. He had grown more accustomed to it over the past couple of hours, but it was still awkward.

"Kotetsu and I will be listening for a trouble signal," Haku said evenly, poking a finger inside of his ear to activate his own listening device. Kotetsu followed in suit, and Naruto pulled his right hand to his jean pocket, letting his arms sag casually at his side.

"Right. If I'm having any problems I'll say the codeword." Naruto wanted to make sure that he had control over whatever situation he was rushing into. He would feel awkward if the two other men were constantly brushing past him, waiting for some subconscious cue to jump whoever he spoke to.

"Look down there," Haku said, and he pointed down the street to an alleyway junction where the building seemed to end. There was a giant walled water tower next to it and a smaller avenue for street parking. "That's where Neji will be, so consider it a safe zone if things get out of hand."

Naruto made a mental note. Kotetsu ruffled his hair from behind, and action that made Naruto slap the older man's hand away. "Hey, hey—stop it," he said and Kotetsu grinned down at him.

"When you look serious is makes me nervous for some reason," he explained and he turned to follow Haku as he made his way to a stairwell that led to the lower level. He nodded in agreement after Naruto caught up. "I agree. Focus but…don't lose your personality," he concluded.

Naruto resisted the urge to snort.

If he was going to lose his bubbly and confident personality, it would have happened long before now. Probably around the time they stuck him in wide-leg dress pants and a white button-up, topped with a mid-torso vest that was black and decorated with thin lace. He felt strangely formal and uncomfortably feminine, although in the mirror he didn't look half bad.

He looked like he had money, for one, and he looked ready to stand out of a crowd. Kotetsu was wearing an arrogant amount of black leather, and Haku had managed a formal pair of pants and a classy v-neck top. From the looks of it the Purple Martini was a tasteful sort of night club, and Naruto fiddled with his hair to reverse the effects of Kotetsu's earlier ruffling.

"You better be ready," Kotetsu said smoothly, and Haku swept alongside the long line of waiting guests to speak with the bouncer lingering in the front. Naruto watched as he whispered something into the man's ear and was caught off guard when the usher immediately opened the front door, waving them in somewhat impatiently.

He figured either the club was expecting the police, or some sort of reservation had been made. For enough money Naruto was sure you could get wherever you wanted, and he didn't really care how he got in as long as he was past the initial qualms of entering.

He felt Kotetsu brush up against him from behind, motioning him forward. And as much as he tried not to stop and stare, his efforts seemed pointless.

The Purple Martini lived up to its name.

The entirely of the club was purple and black, with sheer tapestries clinging to the walls and falling like delicate dividers between different rooms. Naruto could hear music pulsing from adjacent doors as a heavy bass made the floor rumble, and in front of him was one of the largest bars he had ever seen.

At least six bartenders hustled around the counter, each in a suit and tie, expertly working the taps. Servers rushed up to place drink orders before dashing back out to the dance floors, and as Kotetsu led the way into the room that was producing the bass, Naruto took in just how expansive the space was.

Aside from a wide dance floor that was being skillfully occupied by a good amount of young and well-to-do males, the surrounding area was decorated with several couches and tables meant simply for conversing. People were laughing and drinks clinked from every direction, and Naruto found himself reverting to his cool and collected college self.

If anyone could handle a party, it was him.

"The bar is a little crowded," a voice said from beside him, and Naruto turned, catching the eye of an attractive young server. "Is there anything I can get for you?"

Naruto glanced to the side to see if Kotetsu planned to order, but to his surprise, the other two had already managed to disappear into the crowd. In his mind, Naruto let out a serious sigh. It was all on him now.

"I'm a little new here," Naruto supplied, not wanting to order something that didn't exist. "What would you recommend?"

The server grinned and held up a hand before weaving out of sight, obviously to retrieve whatever they deemed praiseworthy. Naruto took the opportunity to soak in the atmosphere; a tone that reminded him of a wealthy little club he had once read about in Las Vegas.

Everyone seemed to fit into a certain crowd—and he just needed to find one. And the best way to find people in a club was to use the people who worked there.

"We call it the Triple," the waiter's voice made Naruto twist his head to the side before he smiled an accepted it. He laughed a little, turning on his charm.

"I hope you're not trying to get me hammered with only one drink," he said and he took a sip, letting the cool liquor bathe his throat. "Although, this is so good I probably wouldn't mind it."

Even though it was strong it was smooth, and almost sweet. He grinned at the waiter, who was searching his face for approval. He looked appeased and he gently pulled Naruto to the side of the room and pointed to various areas.

"The main bars are all on the western sides," he motioned towards them, "and the private rooms are in the back. Are you here on your own or were you invited?"

Naruto stood up a little straighter, letting his eyes casually roam the room. He felt really confident about himself and he was sure that the feeling was translating, because the waiter looked almost possessive over him as other servers passed by.

"It's more like I'm looking for someone," he mentioned coolly, and he took another sip. The server looked as though he was going to ask 'who' in order to help, but Naruto beat him to the chase with a description.

"I don't know his name or his face," he explained, "but his reputation is probably enough to point him out."

The server looked a little surprised before Naruto noticed the cautious look that overwhelmed his young features. Hazel eyes examined Naruto's blond hair, and locked on his blue eyes, now more obvious due to the way the lights flashed about the dance hall.

"The back table, number 13," the server said, and barely made a glance towards the area he had identified. Naruto watched as he quickly scuffled away, obviously wanting to stay as far from the situation as possible. It made Naruto's mind go blank momentarily, wondering just how much of a reputation the man had.

Enough, apparently.

Naruto paced down the walking aisle of the club, watching men on the dance floor, winding and grinding to the music that played. It was strangely matched with how they were dressed—so formally. It was almost like a scene out of a b-rated movie, except it was real, and the emotions were genuine.

He tore his eyes away, somewhat irked. Even if he had strong feelings for Sasuke, for some reason…places like this still bothered him. It made him laugh to think he was only gay for one man, but that was the only way he could explain it. Sasuke was the only person for him.

As he rounded his way towards the table he paused, sipping at his drink. It was hidden behind a curtain of cheer purple material, and he saw shadows moving behind it. It was too loud to hear voices, but in his mind, Naruto contemplated how to approach the situation.

Calm and calculating, or abrupt and bubbly? Either way, poking his head into what was obviously a private affair would be dangerous. He frowned and tensed when hot breath fell moist on his ear.

"Hey," a voice said, and Naruto felt a body press against him from behind. "Do you wanna feel pretty tonight?"

Naruto smirked. For a moment he understood why Sakura used to always complain about men and their cheesy pick-up lines.

He twisted around to view his suitor, taking another sip of his drink before raising an eyebrow. "Am I not already?" he retorted, and he tried to take the man in past the flashing lights above. He was slightly taller, though not by much, and around his age. His hair was light and so were his eyes, but in all, he was really attractive.

He smirked. "Mm. But one night with me could make you beautiful."

Naruto couldn't help but laugh, mainly because he could tell the other man wasn't completely serious. Something cheesy had now turned into a battle of wits, something Naruto wasn't afraid to be challenged at.

"You would have done better just asking for my name, you know," Naruto said smoothly, taking another sip and looking amused.

"You'd give me your name?" the figure asked, raising an eyebrow. It was then Naruto realized that the lights in this particular dance room had lifted to oranges and reds, and he could only assume that he genuinely looked like a blond-haired man. He smirked at the figure across from him, suddenly noticing that his hair was nearly the same shade.

"Well, you know how it is," Naruto said casually before downing a small bit of his drink. "Blond is the way to go, these days," he attempted to play it off, only leading to the other man smirking down at him dubiously.

"Hm," he said, and reached out a hand to take Naruto's. "Dance with me," he raised an eyebrow and gestured towards the floor, even holding out his hand as if to take the drink from Naruto's hand. Naruto frowned.

Fitting in was obviously what he wanted most. But he was an honest man, and honest men didn't 'dance' (or innocently grind) with random strangers when they had their sites set on someone in particular. He shook his head, pulling his glass out of the figure's reach.

"I'm here for someone," he said truthfully, although the context may have been different. The figure across from him stepped closer, and Naruto felt his eyes widen in surprise as his hand was gently gripped, warm fingers brushing across the palm of his hand, drawing him forward.

"Oh, I know," the man said, and Naruto stood frozen as pink lips descended on his, the grip on his hand growing somewhat tighter. His mind was screaming at him to pull away—to push this idiot off of him, but another part of him took in the situation analytically. The man was kissing him, but it wasn't a kiss.

Naruto tilted his head upwards as the figure brought a gentle hand under his chin, and a tongue ran laps in his mouth. Naruto's eyes widened as that same tongue drifted over something very thin at the roof of his mouth, rubbing and deepening the 'kiss' in order to loosen its hold.

And as Naruto inhaled through his nose he let out a pained groan as the device was set loose, the man in front of him grinning confidentially with the small metal chip in between his teeth as he pulled away. Naruto heard it sizzle before the man spit it out casually, the small listening chip lost on the dance floor, most likely crushed by an onslaught of clumsy footwork.

"Now that that has been taken care of," the figure said, still smiling, "I am Deidara…and the person I'm sure you've been sent here to see," he yanked Naruto forward, their hands still intertwined, "is a man from hell itself."

In any other situation Naruto would have laughed at the comment, but his heart was beating quickly, trying to take in the situation. The waiter had to of warned this person of his presence—told him that Naruto was seeking out the Akatsuki member. And now he had lost his only in with Haku and Kotetsu who he didn't dare turn to find in the crowd.

Even though it was a miracle he had managed to lose his chip, he wondered if the next loss would be his life. No person with a wire was considered a friend—his workload had just sprouted wings and took off.

Deidara pulled him towards the curtained table and glanced back at him, looking keen and interested—and also dangerous. "Don't make the mistake of upsetting him," he said, and Naruto narrowed his eyes as the light better hit the person in front of him. "And don't make the mistake of assuming that there is only one member here," he smiled, and Naruto was taken aback by blue eyes slightly lighter than his and blond hair that also wasn't far off.

Was this person a traveler? A traveler and an Akatsuki member?

He didn't have time to contemplate before he was shoved into a small curtained room, only big enough for a table that held a few people. There was only one person sitting at it, however, and when Naruto saw him, he fought back the urge to become invisible.

The man was huge. He was bulky and muscular—more than any officer at the station—and his skin was the color of someone malnourished and emaciated despite. Bags played under his eyes and his skin was coarse and rough—even his pupils were dilated to the point of him looking more like an animal than human. The man sneered up at Naruto, revealing a pin-point canines, and Naruto felt himself melt into the chair across from him, transfixed by both curiosity and fear.

The man who kissed him only lingered for a moment more, his arms across his waist, the light better revealing that he looked very much like a traveler himself. Naruto wanted to ask, but he bit his tongue.

"He had a chip," said the blond, and as he cocked his head over to Naruto, his high-set ponytail bobbed against the back of his head. The shark-looking man growled passively, motioning the blond out. "They all have chips, Deidara," he countered and the other man laughed lightly.

"Be nice to this one, Kisame," he advised and half-ducked out of the room, the curtain resting on his shoulders. "He's a cutie."

Naruto watched as the curtain fell, signaling his departure, but not enough to block out the entire dance floor. He could still see the bar and a great deal of the outside, something he was grateful for. As much as he wanted information on Itachi—he certainly didn't want to die trying to obtain it.

Naruto shifted as he settled into his chair, trying to keep his expression unreadable. It was nerve wracking to think that such a dangerous person was seated less than two feet away from him, soaking his presence in like a sponge. It made him want to glance around to locate Haku and Kotetsu, but just to be safe, he resisted the urge.

"You're pretty brave to come here all alone," Kisame said and as he spoke, sharp teeth jutted out above his lower lip. Naruto couldn't help but stare at the pointed extensions, feeling his stomach turn at the site. This was a man who had killed people, his mind kept repeating, but he forced himself to maintain a somewhat stoic expression.

"You're pretty brave yourself," Naruto said and he settled his glass on the table top, running his finger along the rim of it. "Being out here in public with your reputation is pretty dangerous." His finger made a whirring noise as he continued, a sign that the glass was made of pure crystal.

"Don't think that a mere crowd will stop me from living out that reputation," Kisame warned, forming a cruel and playful expression that affirmed his words.

Naruto raised his glass to take a drink, fully believing the other man's statement. He ran his tongue across the sore spot in his mouth, wondering how he was going to get the information he needed—and manage to get Kisame into police custody. It was obvious that Kisame was skeptical about him but he was determined to get information about Itachi before luring the man outside.

There was a moment of silence before Naruto spoke, pulling his tone into something serious. "So I'll be honest," he prepared a lie, "I've had a difficult time in this era and I've heard you have the possibility to make it better."

Kisame snorted before downing half a glass of an amber beer in one gulp. His face contorted into a funny expression and Naruto assumed the beer was much harder than he originally would have guessed. When the other man spoke it came out as a growl.

"Tell me who your friends are and I might consider it," he said, keeping his eyes steady and cautious. Naruto took the opportunity to glance out towards the dance floor and bar, searching for his partners. He couldn't spot them through the crowds and but his lip, adding leverage to his act.

"I haven't seen them since you de-bugged me," he admitted, and at least that was the truth. Kisame looked skeptical and Naruto frowned. "You know how the cops are. I was their in and now that I've been found out, they won't do shit to make sure I make it out alive."

He downed another mouthful of the hard liquor in his glass, turning his attention from the scratched table coverlet to the Akatsuki member in front of him. Kisame was staring intently, as if trying to make sense of him. After a minute he cocked his head upward, looking sly.

"You're pretty clever," he laughed, showing those pointed canines yet again. "Saving your ass with clever words."

Naruto smirked, holding his glass up as if he were doing a toast, "I value my life. And if you've got a better one to offer, I'm definitely for the highest bidder." He smiled genuinely before drinking another sip of the Triple, feeling his mouth beginning to go numb. He needed to drink slower—he had to be sober enough to draw out the conversation

"Anyhow, the police department seems to think you've got it out for travelers," he continued, and he waved his arm passively, "And I guess I was hoping that was the truth."

Kisame sat back in his chair, still glancing furtively over Naruto. He didn't look as questioning anymore as he did curious. "Travelers of value," he explained hotly, "and I can honestly say I have no idea who you are."

Naruto's expression thinned somewhat. He didn't want to say his name—he was positive it would be recognized. He decided to play a different angle.

"I am someone of value," he catered, "and someone who knows an awful lot about the Denver PD."

Kisame nodded slowly in answer. "You may know a lot, but do you know enough? You were right about what you said earlier," Kisame poured himself another mug of the honey colored liquid before slurping some of the froth on top. "The cops don't give a shit about travelers…so how you claim to be so informed is mighty intriguing."

Naruto sensed disbelief in the Akatsuki member's voice and let out a deep breath. Before he could speak, Kisame countered his claim of importance.

"On top of that, if you were important, your tailgaters wouldn't have abandoned you so easily," he stated, his voice forming a confident growl. He smirked suddenly and Naruto shrugged, taking a small sip of his liquor.

"They don't know my true value," he said honestly, "and because of that, they say things they should otherwise keep to themselves."

Kisame was quiet for a long while, watching the dance floor with a muted amusement. Naruto could tell he was thinking to himself and decided to let his thoughts, whatever they were, run their course. After a few minutes of the bass vibrating under their private table, Kisame frowned.

"Give me one reason—one bit of information that would make me offer you anything," he said, and Naruto could feel that beyond hid almost playful voice he was very serious. He leaned forward, more threatening than before. "And make it good, considering your little police friends are making their move."

Naruto took a moment to look surprised and he turned his attention out towards the dance floor, trying to catch a glimpse of what Kisame was talking about. Hadn't Haku and Kotetsu left already? Didn't they trust the situation in Naruto's hands?

If they came out and tried to do something now…he would lose his chance to get any information on Itachi. And he didn't want to let the fact he had managed to lose his device go to waste.

He inhaled, wondering what the outcome of his next statement would be.

"If you give me information on the Akatsuki, I'll tell you how to get out without them catching you," he said quickly, as he spotted his two counterparts in the crowd. They looked too normal to just be watching him, and Naruto assumed that Kisame was correct in assuming that they were up to something.

Kisame's features distorted at the request, seemingly caught off guard. Naruto chanced to explain himself. "Both of us can't get out of here together, obviously," he explained in an attempt to hold up his act. "And if you give me enough information, I can work my position at the department to your advantage."

Kisame looked disbelieving still. Naruto forced a more serious expression onto his face.

"I know you're looking for the medic traveler," he said smoothly, "and you're obviously not having any luck. You need someone from the PD on your side," he continued, and he grew anxious when he saw Kotetsu take a seat at the bar, staring at the outer windows that overlooked the street. Whatever they had planned—it was about to happen.

Kisame snarled. "Fine," he motioned impatiently for Naruto to give him his icon extension and Naruto felt his chest swell. He frowned and leaned in over the table, holding out his icon as Kisame transferred communication numbers. He gave Naruto an examining look as soon as the process was complete.

"Where do I go?" he asked smoothly, and Naruto tried to contain the anxiety running through him. Just what was his plan? He had no intentions of letting Kisame escape—in fact, he had every intention of making sure the Akatsuki member never made it back to his headquarters after seeing his face.

But he needed information…and because Haku and Kotetsu weren't giving him any time, he'd just have to hope he'd have a chance to get it after Kisame was in police custody.

He stood up and glanced to a back hallway, motioning the man across from him to follow. "Come on," he said and Kisame wasted no time. Naruto glanced over to where Kotetsu was seated and flashed the most dangerous glare he could muster, willing the wild haired brunet to stay put or detract from anything hasty he was about to engage in.

Don't do anything, his willed his eyes to read, and it seemed to work because Kotetsu looked surprised and didn't budge.

Naruto led Kisame down a long hallway, talking briefly. "They're all at the south end," he lied, "so you should be able to get out through here," he said, hoping his voice sounded as controlled as he wanted it to be.

Kisame was breathing heavily behind him and Naruto squinted his eyes in the dark hallway, growing anxious. The exit was in sight, no one guarding it and not a sound to hint that Neji was waiting outside, prepared to take advantage of Naruto's ploy.

Naruto glanced to the side as they passed a kitchen storeroom; a huge rounded area with metal cabinets and appliances. It looked disturbingly like a morgue and Naruto tried to wean the image from his mind.

The door was getting closer—and his heart was beating faster. If his hands weren't in front of him, placed casually in his jean pockets, he would have feared Kisame seeing them shake with anticipation. He hadn't gotten the information he wanted about Itachi…but he would have other chances in the future.

"You're not even going to give me the honor of kicking your ass out?" Naruto froze as a calm and collected voice echoed through the hallway from behind them, his breath coming out in a ragged gasp. He whipped around, as Kisame already had, to face the source of the smug question.

From in front of him, Kisame snorted. "Hn. It's about time you showed up," his voice was low, and irritated.

Naruto stepped to the side to gaze down the hallway, lights from the club still flashing against the farthest walls. A figure paced down the corridor in a stride that left Naruto completely bewildered. He lowered his eyes and glanced back towards the exit door, feeling a small rush of panic.

If the police were to burst in—whoever this person was, he'd get hurt.

"I think—" Naruto began but Kisame's voice cut him off.

"Don't play with fire, Suigetsu," his voice was low and grinding; like an animal cornered but ready to kill to get out of the situation. "You'll get burned."

The man at the other end of the hall, who was steadily growing closer as he casually strode forward, let out a chuckle. "Then burn me, shark-bait."

The next action caught Naruto by surprise; a blur of activity that made his adrenaline rush and his breathing still.

Kisame pulled a knife from beneath his black heavy-coat, clutching it tight within his bulging knuckled hands. He dodged forward like a beast towards the man named Suigetsu, and even though the civilian was wearing a slim tuxedo with an expensive looking collared undershirt, he briskly avoided the charging man by spinning to the side.

Naruto saw Suigetsu pull a gun out from the lapel of his outfit and the sound of it cocking in the small corridor was deafening, especially as the scenario ran through Naruto's head. It was as if things had turned slow motion, and his head was pounding. He wasn't sure what was going on, but if a gun was fired—every police officer on duty would charge in, weapons blazing.

He wanted to avoid that at all costs.

Even though he knew the police were aware they were in a public facility, he doubted that they would restrain themselves in an effort to capture the Akatsuki member that threatened Danzo's presence in their department.

There was a gap between where Suigetsu had his gun raised and Kisame stood, still smirking brilliantly in the darkly lit halls. Naruto dodged forward, standing between them, blocking Suigetsu's clear shot.

After all, if Kisame were killed, how would he ever hope to get information on Itachi?

"Both of you, this is not the place," he said firmly, and threw a glance back at Kisame before eying the strange light haired man before him. He was tall and attractive and his hair fell in stylish layers around his face, his eyes gleaming almost gold in the lack of lighting.

"This isn't a game for kids," the man said, and Naruto growled, urging the stranger to disappear.

"Right. That's exactly why you should leave," Naruto said smartly, and he tried to glare a little to assert his point. Suigetsu only glared back, looking irritated, and Naruto heard a hot growl from behind him before two massive hands shoved him forward, causing him to topple onto the expensively dressed stranger.

Naruto hissed as he thudded down, trying to catch himself before he used Suigetsu for a pillow, and in the distance he could hear Kisame yell, "Thanks kid, I owe you!"

Footsteps raced towards the exit door and Naruto tried to brace his fall, but as Suigetsu hit the floor beneath him, the gun in his hand exploded. Naruto felt his mind go blank as he registered what had happened.

"W-why—" Naruto glared down at Suigetsu in shock and the other man looked a little pained as he had supported both of their falls. It was obvious the firing had been an accident, but the light-haired man's eyes shot open and he jerked upwards, shoving Naruto out of his way as he aimed his gun down the hall, trying one last time to take out Kisame.

"Stop it!" Naruto scrambled forward and tried to whack the gun out of his hands, trying to avoid the death of the one person who linked him to Itachi—or even worse, the death of an officer that was bound to charge through those doors at any moment in response to the accidental gun shot.

"Don't you know who you're protecting?" Suigetsu said vehemently, doing his best to ward of Naruto with his free hand. Naruto heard the exit door open, creaking in the distance and he jerked himself on top of Suigetsu right as he pulled the trigger for the second time. Naruto managed to force Suigetsu's arm up, making sure the bullet would fly too high to hit any of the officers that would enter—that were entering.

Naruto could hear them shouting for Kisame to get down; he could hear weapons charging and guns cocking, and even nifty electronic shields whizzing into action from a distance. Kisame was hollering and the hallway was chaotic, and Naruto didn't feel as though the battle had ended at all.

Was someone going to fire their gun?

"What on earth—" Suigetsu began, but Naruto scrambled on top of him and pushed him down, using himself as a cover. He wasn't prepared to have someone get shot on his first mission because he was too clumsy to organize a decent exit.

"Shut up and let the police do their job," Naruto said quickly, and as he made eye contact with Suigetsu, he was surprised to find a very angry man stationed beneath him. They were both too aggressive, he assumed, and it seemed like the person beneath him didn't like to have no control over a situation.

Gun shots were fired and Naruto lowered himself closer to the man beneath him, their eyes never breaking contact. Suigetsu's eyes widened a fraction before he frowned.

"Your eyes are blue," he stated, and Naruto narrowed them in return. He didn't say anything; he didn't need to. He'd let the man make whatever assumptions he wanted about his origins, considering he never planned on seeing the arrogant person again.

There was a rush of noise as something cracked against the floor, and Naruto whipped around, surprised to discover that it was Kisame's body. Panic surged through him as he feared the worst, imagining that Kisame had been killed, but Raidou's voice was heard devastatingly clear demanding an ambulance in the distance.

Naruto sat up, releasing his protective hold on the man beneath him, before taking in the scene—flashing lights, muggy gunshot residue floating in the air like a fog, and people bustling everywhere. His heart was beginning to calm as he wondered if it was over.

"You're a cop, right?"

Naruto's attention jerked back to Suigetsu who was looking at him incredulously. Naruto frowned before shuffling off of him, slightly embarrassed that he had been straddling him while examining the situation. He tried to look as confident as possible.

"Yeah, what of it?"

Suigetsu pulled a small appliance from beneath him and held it up. Naruto felt his heart skip a beat.

"You'll probably need evidence or something, won't you?" Suigetsu said coolly, and Naruto snatched the icon in his hand, throwing a glance back to Kisame's body to see if it was truly his. And with a rush of excitement he saw that the burly man's wrist was bare.

He saw officers rushing around in the distance and heard his name being called. Of course it was evidence and of course he'd have to turn it in—so he had to do something, fast. This icon was the answer to everything he needed to know about Itachi.

"How do you transfer numbers?" he asked almost desperately, holding out his own wrist to display his own icon. He held the other one near it and Suigetsu gave him a ridiculous look.

"Why on—"

"Please," Naruto said firmly, "I don't have a lot of time."

Suigetsu looked annoyed and disgusted at the same time and fiddled with the devices while Naruto glanced around to see if anyone was approaching.

"Fucking cops," Suigetsu muttered. "You're all a bunch of corrupt assholes."

Naruto heard Neji's familiar voice from behind him and Suigetsu released him, signaling the transfer was complete. He didn't have a chance to thank him before Neji yanked him up to stand from behind, his face pale and concerned.

"Are you alright?" he asked worriedly, running his eyes over Naruto for any physical injury. Naruto shook his head and let out a couple long breaths, his adrenaline finally settling.

"Hey, are you alright?" Neji repeated, and Naruto glanced back, not even realizing that his attention had wandered over to the paramedic squad that was escorting Kisame out of the building. He shook his head before nodding. "Yeah, I'm good," he said slowly, and Neji raised a disbelieving brow.

"Uzumaki man, are you alright?" Kotetsu slapped Naruto hard on the back as he came forward, and Haku followed in suite, his doe eyes looking more concerned than Neji's.

"You handled it so well," he said. "I'm glad you're alright," he continued, and suddenly glanced over to where Suigetsu was finally standing. Neji had come to stand side-by-side with Naruto before he spoke hastily to the other man who was attempting to straighten out his tuxedo.

"Your department should owe me a new suit," he said with a glare, and Neji was quick to respond.

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience; if you have any injuries the medical team will be happy to help you." Even Naruto was surprised at how cold Neji sounded.

Naruto felt the smooth contour of the icon slide from his hands and Kotetsu looked surprised. "Is this Kisame's?" he asked, and Naruto nodded, causing the brunet to grin and ruffle his blond hair.

"You're a god, kiddo," he said before dodging off, and Naruto caught the knowing look on Suigetsu's face before Neji grabbed his wrist and yanked him towards the exit of the building.

Naruto glanced back at Suigetsu only to realize he had disappeared, assumably back out into the club, and wondered just who the hell he had been. He had a connection to Kisame, that was for sure—and he had a weapon. Were so many people in the future dangerous?

"Neji—my hand," Naruto said, because his partner's grip was beginning to hurt. Neji didn't let go however, only continued dragging him until they were outside and slightly down a block from all of the commotion still taking place.

"Neji—!" Naruto finally said firmly, and he yanked his hand back, surprised that when Neji turned to him, his expression was livid.

"What did you tell him?" he asked, and Naruto frowned stupidly.

"Who? Kisame?"

Neji frowned and stepped closer, his stance intimidating. "Kisame's in our custody—whatever you told him doesn't matter," he explained before repeating, "What did you tell Suigetsu, Naruto?"

Naruto raised an eyebrow, confused, and also upset that Neji was being so cold to him. What had he done wrong? He had managed to get Kisame bagged as well as risk no civilian life. What was Neji possibly angry about?

"I didn't tell him anything," Naruto said hotly. "He came from the club threatening Kisame and when you ordered everyone in I protected him," he finished. His arms were crossed against his chest.

"Fuck," Neji said, and it surprised Naruto, because Neji rarely cursed. The long haired brunet looked worn—his face was smudged with muggy firearm residue and his hair had come loose from its ponytail. He rubbed his temples and Naruto felt his anger falter a bit, turning to concern.

"What is it? Who is he?" Naruto asked, and Neji shook his head before balling his fists.

"Stupid Kotetsu," he said, "he said your name in there—he said 'Uzumaki'."

Naruto felt hiss stomach tense for a moment, but then he raised an eyebrow. "What does it matter? I don't know him," he said, and when Neji looked at him, his crystal-blue eyes were the lightest and most focused Naruto had ever seen.

"He's the one, Naruto," he stated and when Naruto only felt more confused, Neji shook his head grabbing his temples again.

"He's the one dating Sasuke."

A/N: Yes, and if you can't tell...Sasuke will be arriving extremely soon. :cheers and runs off to work: