An hour later, those whom Haruka had asked gather at Sasuke's door, one, two, or three at a time. Neji, Kiyoko, Mitsuki, Naruto, and Lee come as Mitsuki leans over to Naruto, carrying a bag of chips.
"…why did Haruka-san say we should make it look like we're having a party again…?"
"The party's cover." Naruto explains sagely, nodding a few times.
"Oh… A cover for a meeting to tell us something…?" She asks further before biting her lip. "I hope it isn't bad…"
…They're perfect for each other. Neji thinks while listening to the two. Kind-hearted, and dense…
In very little time, the group finds themselves sitting in Sasuke's home, Rinsu, Kakashi and Jiraiya there as well as Haruka explains quickly as Mitsuki's butterflies dance decoratively around the area; serving a dual purpose of keeping watch. "I trust Danzo less now than I did before. He wants to manipulate Rinsu; that much is obvious, and he's more than a little underhanded. Also, he not only can use Mokuton, but there is also something odd about his arm and eye. He claims they are from an Uchiha and unusable, but I highly doubt the last. He compared it to Kakashi's eye, which I believe closer to the truth. He also said it was donated, which I do not know if it is true or not. …There is something very odd about his arm… And he isn't nearly as much of an invalid as he says. He got back to Root far before myself when I left after him quickly after he left."
Blinking a few times, Sasuke asks quickly. "Did he give the Uchiha's name?"
"Shisui." Haruka offers, causing Sasuke to stand suddenly and stare at her incredulously before frowning and turning off.
"…Shisui… Shisui was a friend of my older brother. Some say he committed suicide, while others say that Itachi killed him and faked the suicide note…" What if both of those were wrong and it was Danzo who did it? Gritting his teeth, Sasuke's eyes narrow dangerously. After what Ino has shown me, I'm willing to believe it…
"That obviously isn't exactly something you wanted to hear." She utters up to him, seeming a bit surprised.
Closing his eyes and sighing, Sasuke then explains. "For years I lived in fear and hatred, believing my brother slaughtered our family… It wasn't until recently that I learned he was under orders to assassinate them… Someone who believed the Uchiha clan was trying to usurp power from the Third Hokage." Narrowing his eyes dangerously, Sasuke implies coldly. "My brother was in ANBU when he was thirteen… That order could have come from Danzo! The bastard!"
"Hrm…" Crossing his arms, Jiraiya closes his eyes thoughtfully before he opens his eyes. "That's not doubtable. With any luck, our twenty squad group may be able to find Itachi and bring him back, but based off of the time that I fought him myself, that won't be easy. Only Itachi would be able to tell us who he received orders from."
"Even then…" Sasuke shakes his head. "The chain of command could lead back to Danzo, while Itachi may have gotten his orders from the ANBU captain, which was…"
"I didn't give any order like that." Kakashi denies. "I may have been ANBU captain, but I quit several years before Itachi's 'defection'."
"Wait." Neji states suddenly, before frowning. "Haruka, is everyone here?"
"…Yes." She answers before narrowing her eyes and looking around slightly. "…Do you see someone coming this way?"
"No. Someone is already here…" The Hyuuga states before standing and turning as Haruka stands at his side.
"Everyone, quickly finish setting up the food and music I had you all gather. This must look completely innocent. Rinsu, follow my lead, but act as you normally would."
"No, Haruka…" Neji states sounding worried. "He's here."
Moving quickly in the direction Neji is faced, his eyes already showing his own Kakkei genkai, Sasuke throws open a shoji screen just as a black form zips away. Damn. He's fast… but…
Coming to Neji's side, he sprints ahead with his arms swept back. "Sasuke, we'll find him together."
Nodding and following the Hyuuga, the two shinobi move through the house in pursuit of the spy before coming out onto the typically empty streets of the Uchiha clan's mini village.
"He took to the roofs at this point." Neji examines while Sasuke frowns.
"With all the precautions we took… how could someone…?"
"We'll hope whatever information he got was not incriminating to Haruka… He's faster than both of us…"
"Then he was probably ANBU. And if he was ANBU, he was most likely a member of Root. Danzo was spying on us."
"So she's also cooperating with Sasuke Uchiha?" Danzo asks of a masked ANBU who nods. "Hmph." To what end, Haruka? Its true what they say, once a traitor, always a traitor. But who are you trying to betray? "Bring me Fu. The next time Haruka and I meet, I want him present."
Returning with a frown, Sasuke looks around and then slowly sits, sighing deeply and closing his eyes, allowing them to return to normal. "An ANBU, Root member."
"Hmm… Danzo is good at covering his tracks…" Kakashi comments, pinching his chin between his fingers.
"Haruka…" Neji steps up to her side as she starts to breath difficultly.
"Calm down, Young lady.. You'll be fine…" Jiraiya offers, rubbing her back gently and incidently moving his hand a little lower than necessary. Hmmm… nice…
"…We could ask Sai." Kiyoko offers hesitantly.
"…he's going to kill me… you don't understand…" She urges, trembling slightly as she keeps her eyes down, her face completely flushed with frustration before it begins to grow abnormally pale. "…I'm used to being elite. …I thought I had everything planned… …he knows I am not on his side now, and…I've made a pact with him… he'll surely kill me for this breech…"
"Even if he were to do something like that, he couldn't possibly get away with it! We'd all be witnesses!" Naruto states with a frown before Sasuke narrows his eyes, folding his hands against his chin.
"Shisui… also known as Shisui of the body flicker, could use his sharingan to control a person's mind. Danzo no doubt has this ability now."
"I won't allow something like that to happen!" Neji snaps to Sasuke before offering to Haruka. "Haruka… please, come stay with me until we know one way or the other… I know I failed you this time, but with my family's help, he will not be able to use the same trick twice."
"I will not run away..!" She yells at him before turning, pacing back and forth in her area with a gentle frown of worry. "…there are many things he could do to me…even if he does not kill me…there is…s-so much worse he could do. …that look in his eyes… no matter how well he covered it…I've seen it too many times… …I'm so afraid… I've never felt this…" She almost rambles, her eyes starting to water before she closes them. "…you weren't down there… the feeling he gives when he feels in control… I feel he could kill his own child if it furthered him in some way…"
While Kiyoko watches worriedly, she looks to Rinsu in a knowing way, since the two used to be on the same team, back in the Daimyo's city.
Seeming worried as well, the green clad girl swallows harshly, furrowing her brows deeply. "…do you think…he'd kill me too…? …I'm like…opposition…"
"Oh no, Rinsu… don't start thinking like that…" Kiyoko cautions as she scrambles up to her side, and reaches up to put her hands around the brunette's shoulders.
"You always have someone around you, it'd be impossible to kill you without spilling too much 'unnecessary' blood." Kakashi points out.
"And it's far too obvious." Jiraiya adds. "If you end up getting harmed between now and the Hokage election, Danzo will be the prime suspect and I'll personally testify against him."
"We won't let anything happen to you, Rinsu!" Naruto points out while Lee nods in agreement.
"Even if he were to attack you, I'd defend you until I die!"
"Naruto…" Rinsu, as well as Mitsuki utter to the blonde, their brows furrowed in different ways before Rinsu turns off and Mitsuki looks down, biting her bottom lip thoughtfully.
"Kakashi… what do you think would be our best course of action now?" Sasuke asks, making the grey haired ninja turn thoughtful.
"Hmm… right now I think the best course of action…. Is… to relax and enjoy the party." He offers with a typical grin.