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Chapter 13

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Family Ties

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Pumpkin lanterns lined along the neighborhoods with subtle lights as I walked down the street. There were Halloween faces carved on them in a humorous way. Some of them were rested along the sidewalks. Some were hanging on the street posts. It was much colder now in the late months of the year.

I was off to the comic store to return the latest novels I borrowed, wearing my thick, white turtle-neck sweater. It was a cloudy weekend afternoon. I was nearly in front of the shop when I noticed someone familiar, with that very recognizable black jacket, across the avenue. His motorbike was parked at the side of the street and he just removed his headgear off his head.

Sasuke stood down the steps, in front of a tall, glass building. He was looking up at it, not noticing me across the avenue. I saw the name of the building: Sharinggan Tower. The label was in silver, suave lettering engraved across a huge block of granite at the center of the facade. A symbol of a red fan with white circle at its lower center was situated at the top of the lettering, serving as the insignia.

I was embarrassed to admit that I'd researched Sasuke's biography and profile in the internet before. It was easy to find some information about him in the worldwide web. I'd read that his parents were a wealthy couple. They had their own properties and run their own corporation. They were rather big in the real estate industry and were into importing and exporting vehicles and different gadgets. Sasuke and his brother were the only heirs to the businesses. I wouldn't have guessed his background that quickly since Sasuke didn't seem to be the type of guy who flaunted his stuff. He didn't wear any jewelry nor liked to drive in big shiny cars. But who knows, I didn't know him that well, anyway. He just probably liked to hang out with the regular dudes like Naruto and his friends.

He had mentioned his family before and there was a somewhat bitterness tint with it. I reckoned his parents were no where around most of the time, seeing how big their family businesses were. He must had felt lonely sometimes. He just liked to keep his personal problems to himself. I bet his friends didn't even know much about it, either.

There were about four bodyguards at the entrance of the tower, wearing black suits. Two guard dogs were also there at each side of the entry. Sasuke walked up the steps toward the entrance, only to be blocked by one of the muscular bodyguards. The guy in the suit addressed him in a courteous manner but he didn't move to the side to let him pass.

I was too far away to even hear a single word they were saying, not to mention the avenue was filled with loud cars and passers-by. I could only see Sasuke's face turning into a frown. One of the men in suits also approached them, talking to him. I could see one of Sasuke's fists clenched already and he tried to walk pass the two men. The two, however, only blocked his way again. Sasuke looked angry now. I thought he might throw a punch at them by now, but he just stood on his ground and glared at them. He shook his head and yelled something at them before turning around and trudging back down the steps.

I could see his handsome face twisted in anger even at this spot.

He just jumped back to his motorbike, kicked it start and drove away in a swift speed, ignoring the fast car which honked noisily at him as he cut his way along the lane. He didn't even put his headgear on.

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Sasori was right.

The hillsides outside the city were magnificent. He took me one day with him. He was going to take photographs for one of the leading newspapers in the country. He didn't bring anyone along, except me. I was suspicious about it at first, but I finally gave him a second chance to be my friend since he seemed really sincere now. And I was interested in some of his hobbies.

He parked the black jeep we used at the side of a field where there were once a collection of blue blossoms, which were all going leafless now in the chilly weather. I watched him as he took shots of the fields and sparrows around us. This was the first time I agreed to accompany him. I was curious of what was outside the city, too.

"So… do you ever miss your hometown?" Sasori said as he adjusted the lens, his camera pointing at the hazy horizon.

I stood against the door of his jeep. I was wearing my school uniform since I still had a late afternoon class to attend that day.

"A bit. I miss our house."

"How about any of your former lovers?" he said. I could imagine the grin on his face. His back was turned to me so all I could see was his back and his red head.

"Well… there's no worry about that. I've been alone since birth."

"Really." he sniggered. "I thought you were going out with Uchiha."

"No."

"Well, he certainly has a special thing for you. It's obvious." he said it as if the thought was absurd.

"It's… hard to understand his way of thinking." I said.

Sasori laughed. "You said it." He turned around to me and saw me just standing there quietly. "You mind if I take a photo of you?"

"I—uh… It's okay, I guess. Just as long as you won't do any stupid and perverted stuff with it." I said with a scowl.

"No need to worry 'bout that." he smiled and I heard the soft click of his camera. He stared at me after holding his camera down. I knew he was wondering about the resemblance between me and his ex-girlfriend.

"Listen." I spoke.

"Hm?"

I stated clearly and slowly. "I've, well, said this before... I'm not your ex-girlfriend,. And I don't want you to think that I'd be a good replacement for her." I said it gently.

"Yeah. I know." he said. "You look like her but you two are far from being the same."

He looked around us. We were like drowning in the wide, brown fields.

"She didn't like photography much." Sasori spoke, looking at the horizon. "She said they only make people satisfy with just the pictures but not the real thing. She preferred being there at the setting itself rather than just seeing the photos."

The solitude was apparent in his voice.

If I would've met Sasori in a different way, I would've probably been thinking of how good-looking he was. I didn't often see guys as attractive creatures and it was unlikely for me to meet a few in this new world of mine. His big, brown eyes were striking against our background. He looked so juvenile and yet so experienced at the same time. But I had first known him in his drunken state so that sort of changed my image about him—although I could tell he's deeper than I thought he was.

I was also beginning to wonder if the reason why I was finding him good-looking was that he reminded a lot of Sasuke. I couldn't get that snob off my useless head.

There was a sound of another vehicle approaching and we both turned around to see a red car pulling to a stop behind the jeep. A man with blue eyes and long blonde hair, which was pulled up into a ponytail, stepped out from the driver's seat. One side of his bangs was loose, covering a small part of his face, including one of his eyes. He wore a tangerine sweater.

"Yo!" he greeted Sasori, pushing the car door closed. "I've been looking for you everywhere. I finally figured you'd be here. You weren't answering your stupid phone."

"I left it inside the jeep. What's up?" Sasori said, putting the camera at his side.

The blonde guy started walking up to him. "There's a party at the beach tonight, wanna go?"

"It's cool, I guess. I won't be doing anything tonight, anyway."

The blonde guy turned his head to me, surveying my features with his bright blue eyes. I could see a small, lopsided smirk forming with his lips. "I see you got company. She looks kinda familiar." He spoke with a bit of interest. "Is she Ayya's sister?"

Ayya. Sasori's… uh… legendary ex-girlfriend.

"No." There was a hard tone in Sasori's reply. He knew I felt uncomfortable whenever someone mentioned our resemblance. "I met her a couple of months ago. She's a transferee in Konoha Academy."

"I can see that." he mused, seeing the uniform I was wearing.

"Sakura, this is Deidara." Sasori said. "He's my best friend in Ame Institute. Don't listen to most of the words that's coming out of his mouth." he said with a chuckle.

"Tsch—asshole." The blonde guy bit back at him. He gave me a salute as a greeting. "Yo. Nice to meet you, Sakura."

"Same here." I tried to smile.

The three of us lingered there at the side of the field until Sasori was done taking his shots. I felt a bit uncomfortable having Deidara there. He was the joking, proud, playboy type. Most of the time the two of them were the only ones talking, and I only pretended to listen while I was savoring the scenery. One look from Deidara, and I could tell what he was thinking: wishing I had bigger breasts and buttocks.

They invited me to the beach party too, but I refused and explained I had a lot of studying to do. After parting with Deidara, Sasori drove me back to the city since I still need to be back at the academy. The two of them would be meeting that night again for the party, anyhow.

"You can drop me off here. I can walk there by myself." I said when we turned to another corner.

We were only a few blocks away from the academy and I didn't want any student of my school seeing him there since it might trigger another feud again. He understood and pulled the jeep to a slow stop at a sidewalk without any complain.

"Hope you had a good time." he said. "I'll be seeing you again, won't I?" he said.

"I guess so. But I might just bore you sooner or later." I said, pushing open the car door. "Thanks for the ride. Take care, Sasori."

He just gave a small smile at me and I was glad he didn't try to reach and give a peck on my cheek. I guess he didn't want to freak me out again. He probably understood how I was feeling now.

"I'll see you around, Sakura." He did that salute gesture like what Deidara did, as a bid of greeting and farewell, before I pushed the door closed.

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I was on my way to one of the back buildings, where my late class would be held. I walked under the trees which were lined at the side of the school grounds. I could see Ten Ten, Neji and Rock Lee playing baseball. Rock Lee hit the ball too hard and it flew across the grounds and knocked Professor Gai on the head, who was just trying to sip water from one of the drinking fountains. He fell flat unconscious. And there was a scream of some girls afterward.

I continued my walk and was soon at the back of the field, where some of the old buildings were.

Then someone hooted loudly from the side.

I turned my head and found my eyes staring at a shirtless Sasuke, grinning at me impishly. He had a couple of white paint smudges on his cheeks and solid chest. He was only wearing baggy pants which were filled with paint stains, too. He was in his usual mocking mood today.

"Hey, nerd." he greeted in a supple yet ridiculing voice. "Miss me?"

I abruptly went frozen, stopping my stride about two yards from him. I couldn't help staring at his perfect upper body. I had never seen him shirtless before. The weather was even chest and shoulders were fittingly toned. His skin wasn't as pale as I thought it was. There was a slight shade of tan there. I could feel my cheeks burning red.

He saw the expression on my face and was soon laughing in an entertained way.

What a cocky asshole.

"Ohayou, Sakura-chan!" Naruto greeted in his typical merry way. He was also there, shirtless and full of paint blots. A brush was in his hold.

"Ohayou." I greeted back.

After the wreck in the Private History Section the other day, Tsunade immediately called them to the head office. Of course, the faculty already knew who the culprits of the wreckage were after knowing them for years. The senior boys top the charts of their delinquent list. The headmistress' booming voice echoed along the corridors when she found out about it. And as a punishment to the four of them, they would be paying the renovation expenses, would be doing some community works, and would be fixing some parts of the old buildings—including renewing the wall paints. And as of now, they were trying to paint the façade of the building where my next class was going to be held.

Kiba and Chouji were also there, both topless and holding roller paints. Chouji was sweating and was trying to cover the upper parts of the wall all white, balancing himself on a metal ladder. He was cursing under his breath. Akamaru trotted in, holding a handle of another bucket of paint from his mouth. There were several empty buckets scattered around them.

"Care to join us?" Sasuke ribbed.

"Huh. No thanks, I'm good." I stated. I tried not to look at him since he could easily tell what I was thinking.

No wonder there was a group of girls hiding behind the bushes several feet away. And I thought I just saw Hinata there as well.

"I see you're still trying to fit in. Failed any exams lately?" he sniggered.

"What do you care, anyway?"

Sasuke shrugged. "You can ask for some help, you know. I can teach you some tricks. I figured you couldn't get any more pathetic."

"Well, what do you expect for a conceited bastard like you to say." I gritted my teeth in annoyance. I turned to the entrance.

"Good luck, nerd."

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It was past six after my class finished. It was more difficult to had irregular classes being a transferee. Ino got off early today from school since her class schedule wasn't as tight as mine.

I went off to my locker before going home. It was no surprise that I came to school the other day and found it vandalized with the word LOSER with some stupid doodles, thanks to some bullies in this place. My locker now looked like it belonged to a garbage dump somewhere. Those shitheads could do whatever they want, but I wasn't going anywhere.

That afternoon I found a small note taped on the surface.

Urgent meeting at the Mortis Org quarter NOW. Proceed there after your class. Your teammates already went ahead. Be sure to bring your parental consent. First missions are always appetizing. -Kakashi

I took the letter of consent from my locker and jogged to the Mortis Org quarter right away. As the note said, my teammates were there. Naruto and Sasuke sat opposite Tsunade across the large, rectangular table. Both of them looked like they just got off the shower. They were wearing casual clothes now. Most of the classes in the academy were over at this hour, anyway.

Tsunade, although infuriated by Naruto and his friends, maintained her professional side when it came to her duties in the underworld. Kakashi and Iruka were also present, standing near the table and listening to what the headmistress was saying. They were discussing something when I arrived. The multiple monitor screens were open behind them. Several of them were showing the school grounds, some were showing news reports on air at the moment.

"Nice of you to join us, Haruno." Tsunade turned to me when I entered the room. There was a single fluorescent bulb open at the center of the table, keeping most of the surroundings at the sides hidden. "Sit down and I'll explain to you the mission for tonight."

Tonight?

I took the vacant seat beside Naruto, who beamed at me when I came. I sensed Sasuke watching me from his peripheral vision the minute I entered. There was a pile of files spread out on the table.

"So as I've said earlier," Tsunade proceeded talking to them. "The bar is located at the west urban. The name written outside it says Diablo Shots, but according to the reports, the demi-humans call it the Burrow—this makes it hard for others to figure out where it is. You probably know there's a lot of inns and a lot of illegal things going on down there. It's the red-light district of the city. There was a report yesterday that Kabuto hangs out there, meeting with other demi-humans to gather restricted information about the Mortis Guild. There's also a rumor that they're shifting drugs there but this isn't certain yet."

There were photographs of the inn that she spoke about on the table. I took one. It looked like it had been taken inside a vehicle, like from a spy camera. The bar in the photo was small and narrow, with rows of other pubs next to it. It looked like an old pub, with wooden walls and windows, and you couldn't decipher anything clear from the outside of it. The background was dim in the shot.

"Sorry, but who's Kabuto?" I asked, interrupting.

"Yakushi Kabuto. Orochimaru's top assistant." Kakashi answered. His arms were crossed together over his chest. "He's almost as guilty as his boss. He carries out most of the tasks Orochimaru needs. He's his left hand."

"Oh."

"Your mission for tonight is to seize him there and bring him to the guild alive at most costs. We need him for interrogations." Tsunade said as she drew a photo across the table to me.

It was a mug shot of a silver-haired guy with round glasses that were slightly askew over his nose. He didn't show any emotion in the photo. His face was held still.

"This is gonna be exciting." Naruto grinned, unable to stay still on his seat. "I've met him twice in a mission already. He's one sneaky bastard." He said to me.

"How many demi-humans do you think will be there?" Sasuke asked, who was seated at Naruto's other side. His right elbow rested on the table, his fingers touching the side of his mouth.

His nude upper body instantly played in my head after hearing his voice. I had to pinch myself to stay still.

"We're not yet sure about the exact numbers, but I'm guessing a few. You need to blend with the crowd as much as possible. You need to spot him there quickly and follow him when he gets out." Tsunade discussed, her shiny red lips gleamed under the light. "Kakashi and Iruka will also be there and you're going to split your group into two."

"Ibiki is on his way here with the weapons that we'll be using." Iruka said. He had a scar across his nose and he was a bit smaller than Kakashi. He handled the lower years.

"Good. You'll be going there at 9PM tonight." Tsunade continued. Then she turned her eyes to me. "This'll be your first mission, right, Haruno? I'm expecting good results from you."

"You won't be disappointed." I said.

Kakashi stepped up. "I'll discuss the tactics."

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There were weak lights glowing from the windows of the district. There were no street signs or stop lights on the streets. There were shadows casted on different corners of the lot. There was an aloof aura in this side of town.

I could see some prostitutes trying to get hooked up at the sidewalks from where we stood. Kakashi, Naruto and I stood in the shadows of an alley, peering at the targeted inn. The signage were made with thin, bright reddish laser bulbs. A drunk was hanging outside its door. Three cars were parked outside the whole lane, where the rows of bars and inns stood. There was only a faint yellow light emitting from its windows, but no shapes could be distinguished. The windows were made with thick, blurry glasses. It didn't look too different from the other pubs around it.

Sasuke and Iruka were at the other side of the block, also unseen in the shadows.

"Remember what I instructed, all right? Don't do anything hasty." Kakashi murmured at my side.

Naruto and I both gave one nod.

Both he and Naruto wore large bonnets that night, casting shades on their faces to conceal from the public eye. I wore a scarlet muffler, which almost covered the lower part of my face. All of us carried long, dark trench coats. I was already wearing the gloves I use for training. They were all fit for the cold weather tonight. Only a few days to go and snow flakes would be soon falling from the sky.

With Kakashi giving one signal with his index finger, we stepped out from the shadows and walked our way toward the entrance of our targeted spot. We passed by some guys smoking at the side of the street. I felt the same tenseness like the first time Sarutobi tried to hide me from a loose demi-human. And here I was, joining his world.

We arrived at the narrow and crooked wooden door of the inn and Kakashi pushed it open, Naruto and I trailing after him. The smell of cigarette smoke and liquor instantly met us the moment we stepped in.

The room was filled with faint lights. About eight round tables stood at the center of the tight place. There were a few tables situated at the far corners of the room. It was mostly filled with drunken men and whores.

Most of the visitors were wearing thick coats. Some were even wearing hoods which covered their appearances. Some tables were filled with groups of people, and some only had one occupant.

I kept my head bowed low. Kakashi found a small, empty table at the corner, near a table of three big men with four busty women laughing loudly.

"Stay here. I'll order some drinks." Kakashi said as he moved away to the bar, where a bulldog-looking man stood as the bartender, shining a glass. The collection of alcohol drinks were lined behind him. Two men sat at the bar stools before him.

"I don't get why old men likes this sort of place." Naruto whispered beside me. He wrinkled his nose from the stifling smell.

"Can you spot a demi-human in the area?" I whispered. I could see a few heads turned to us, perhaps sensing new faces in the place.

Naruto nodded. "I'm guessing the hooded guys in the other corner. They're all sitting so stiff as if surveying us."

I took a glimpse at their direction: two black-hooded figures sat at the side, barely moving. Some empty bottles rested on their table.

I was beginning to have goosebumps.

A few minutes passed and the entry swung open again. Iruka and Sasuke entered. They stood beside the door as planned. Sasuke wore a cap and a black jacket, while Iruka had a bandana on his head. They only pretended to smoke near the door.

Kakashi lingered at the bar, sitting at one of the tall stools. He left a good gap of two stools from the other man, who was gulping down a huge mug of beer.

It didn't take long and the entry swung open again. A guy with thick, dark blue coat stepped in, its hood covering his head. He paused at the entrance for a moment, before striding toward the unoccupied stool next to the drinking man.

"Whisky." I heard him grunted to the bartender as he settled himself.

"I think that's him." Naruto whispered to me.

"Can I get you something, sweetie?" A blonde, curvy waitress approached us. She was holding a tray of beers and was chewing gum.

I could see Naruto's eyes staring at her cleavage in amazement, his mouth drooping down open.

"Two beers, please." I spoke.

"Gotcha."

She took two from the tray she was holding and settled them on our table. Before moving away, she caressed Naruto on the side of his cheek. "If you need anything else, come to me, okay sweetie? You're kinda cute." She swayed her hips away.

Naruto was left gaping at her and blushing furiously.

One of the hooded fellows at the corner stood up and approached the man who just arrived. He took the seat next to him. The other hooded man remained at the corner. I could tell Kakashi was listening and watching their every move as he pretended to drink a mug.

They stayed there for a while. We only watched them several meters away and pretended to drink.

It was quite rowdy inside the inn. Groups of men would just suddenly burst out laughing, others were talking in noisy voices as if they were daring each other. Some were even making out on their table.

The man who just entered threw his hood off his head as he spoke to the figure next to him, revealing his dark grayish hair. Kakashi gave a small hand gesture under his table. It was an indication.

"That's Kabuto, all right." Naruto murmured.

I saw the suspect handed something to the other hooded guy under the table between them. We were too far to see what it was. Then, the other man leaned onto his side and said something against his ear. Kabuto went still for a moment. He stood up, threw a bill on the counter and moved to the other side of the inn, disappearing at the corner. The hooded guy finished his gin shot and followed him.

Kakashi turned his head a bit to the side, trying to see where they went. He, then, gave another hand signal under the bar. He moved off the stool and went to the corner where the two men just vanished. I saw Iruka and Sasuke stepping out of the door and withdrawing back to the streets.

"Let's roll." Naruto murmured in an eager tone as he and I stood up from our seat and followed the way where Kakashi just disappeared.

We turned to the corner and found a deserted, narrow walkway that had a wooden door at its end. We pushed it open and the chilly wind of the night met our faces again. It was a back door, leading to another alley. It was darker here than the other street up front. There was only a single light post at a distance from us.

And then, thudding sounds echoed in the alleyway.

CLANNGG!

Kakashi was thrown against the metal poles that divided the alleyway from another vacated park.

"I should've expected you'd be visiting here sooner or later, rogues." A deep voice spoke in the darkness.

The brawny hooded figure that was with Kabuto stepped out near the light post and drew his cover off his head. His appearance was one of the strangest things I had ever seen. He had a pale bluish skin color, with small round yellow eyes. There were fins visible across his cheeks, resembling a half-man, half-shark profile. He must be a demi-human.

"Special guests usually come unexpected." Kakashi said as he stood up and drew out a dagger from his back pocket.

"And I see you brought companions." His beady eyes landed on us.

"Pests." Kabuto hissed behind him.

The demi-human took a swift move and a rain of shurikens zoomed at us. Naruto and I jumped out of the way as he and Kabuto broke off into a fast run to the other side. Kakashi sprinted after them and Naruto and I hurriedly followed.

The alleyways were filled with different paths leading to other directions. It was hard to keep track of them. Kakashi threw a set of kunais at them, only to miss a few inches from their arms.

"I'll block them at the other side!" Naruto shouted to me as he turned to the other corner of the street.

The demi-human stopped and blocked the path as he let Kabuto dashed away. He drew out an enormous blade from his coat and swung it down at Kakashi.

THUGG!

It hit the cemented ground, sending fragments off the air. Kakashi moved to the side and aimed at his neck. The creature countered it with his blade and the two of them were off into a tight fight.

I hastily dashed toward Kabuto, remembering our task to capture him. He turned to an open gate at the other street, leading to a dark, vacated park.

"STOP!" I called.

I jumped off the roof of a car onto another until I was closer behind him. I tossed a kunai bomb a few feet before him and it exploded the second it hit the ground. He stumbled backward. I was about to seize his arms when he staggered up and swung a dagger at me. I stepped backward and threw a punch at his lower rib, sending him flying a few meters away.

"You've got some chakra there, missy." he smirked waywardly as he stood up again. There was a crack in his glasses now. "You must be a new recruit."

"It's over, Kabuto." Naruto landed at the right side of the grounds, holding a black katana with one hand.

Kabuto just gave another frenzied smile. "It will never be over."

With a fast movement of his hand, he pulled out a round object under his robe and shattered it against the ground, spreading a cloud of thick, white smoke among us. I couldn't see anything but the white clouds. I suddenly felt a blow on my stomach and I tumbled back down the ground. I heard Naruto shout and there was a sound of blades clashing.

By the time the smoke cleared, neither Naruto nor Kabuto was in sight. There were a few cracks on the pavements, indicating where their attacks hit. I immediately stood up and turned to the corner and broke into another run.

I arrived at another empty street. There was no sign or sound of anything. It was full of abandoned houses.

"Naruto! Sasuke! Where are you?" I shouted in the night as I clutched my abdomen, where I could still feel the strong blow Kabuto hit me blindly.

I suddenly felt a hand gripped my shoulder from behind me. I swiftly seized it and slapped it away, readying for another attack.

Then, it all happened too fast. I didn't even get to see who it was.

I was suddenly pinned against the cold wall and a hand gripped around my neck firmly. I couldn't see whom it belong to since there was a light post above me and it was blinding my vision from the shadow before me. I clenched around the forearm with both my hands, trying to break it.

And then, a pair of blood-red eyes emerged out of the darkness. My struggling soon stopped as I gaped at it. I couldn't take my eyes off them the moment I saw them. It was like a pool of blood and ink. I could see three black commas circling the cornea.

I had seen a sketch of those eyes before. I saw it in a history book of the Mortis Org. It was one of the special gifts that snob in our academy was famous for.

But I knew it wasn't him.

The face in front of me resembled Sasuke, only he looked older. But they had the exact same expression. He was a bit taller, and he was gripping me with my feet several inches off the ground. His jet-black hairs fell over his forehead as it swayed in the wind. Its ends were tied together on the back of his head. He was wearing a black robe, like the ones we saw back in the inn.

His lips moved.

"And what's a foolish girl like you doing in a place like this?" He spoke in a deep voice.

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