Okay here is the next chapter.
Warnings: I apologize for any and all grammatical errors.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
"Okay Iruka, I've got everybody online now, what did you need to talk to us about?" Shikamaru asked the older brunette, yawning as he spoke.
"Thank you Shikamaru, I know how much you enjoy your naps, and I apologize for interrupting but it's important." Iruka answered.
"OH YOUTHFUL IRUKA,"
" Indoor voice,Lee use your indoor voice." Iruka chastised the young man.
"Sorry, now as I was saying what has you worked up, should I get Mighty Gai sensei to vanquish whatever evil has caused you such distress!" Came the slightly less enthusiastic reply from Lee who was trying not to jump up and down.
"No Lee, that won't be necessary, but thank you, now back to the reason I gathered you all together, I assume Naruto phoned all of you." Iruka didn't so much ask but stated the fact.
"Yeah, he called but I was busy and didn't really want to deal with his nagging about going out to eat ramen," Sasuke replied as he wondered why Iruka wanted to talk about the dobe.
"He called me too, but I was in the middle of training with Gai sensei and was unable to answer my youthful friend!" Lee yelled fist pumping.
"It was too troublesome to pick up the phone," this from Shikamaru, who looked ready to fall asleep at his desk.
"I was eating," Choji answered in between popping chips in his mouth.
"It was Naruto and I didn't really care what he had to say, after all he stole my Sasuke pooh from me." Sakura cried as she looked at Sasuke.
"Nevermind why none of you answered, the point is that Naruto is in trouble and we need to find a way to help him." Iruka informed his motley gang of misfits, most of whom with the exception of Sasuke had worked for him or are working for him at the bookstore.
"WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY YOUTHFUL FRIEND?" Lee exclaimed looking devastated.
"I SHOULD HAVE ANSWERED, WHAT IF I HAVE CAUSED IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO MY GOOD FRIEND, I SHOULD RUN AROUND OUR FAIR TOWN 500 TIMES TO MAKE UP FOR BEING A BAD FRIEND." Lee cried tears falling down his cheeks.
"Lee calm down, I'm sure it's not as bad as you think, NOW SHUT YOUR MOUTH AND LET IRUKA FINISH!" Sakura yelled at the green clad boy.
"As I was saying Naruto got into some trouble, and got arrested, he is currently sitting in one of the jail cells at the sheriff's office." Iruka calmly explained to the group watching him intently.
"Jail, what the hell did the dobe do, don't tell me Ichiraku's finally got tired of him and filed a restraining order which the dobe definitely violated." Sasuke asked not wanting to show concern for his blonde boyfriend.
"I'm afraid it's more serious than that, Naruto is accused of stealing a priceless Mayan artifact." Iruka informed them.
"That's not possible, Naruto maybe a lot of things, reckless, dumb, loud, color blind, but he is not a thief." Sasuke stated confidently.
"I hate to agree with the Uchiha, but there is no way blondie stole anything." Sai spoke up for the first time.
"WHAT AN INJUSTICE, HOW DARE THEY ACCUSE MY DEAR FRIEND NARUTO OF SUCH AN UN YOUTHFUL CRIME!" Lee exclaimed.
"Not that any one of us actually believes that Naruto is capable of theft, but what exactly is he accused of stealing, an ancient Mayan artifact can be anything." Shikamaru asked coming fully awake at the predicament his friend was in.
"The ceremonial bowl that was in the traveling exhibit." Iruka sighed the whole thing had taken a toll on him and he was tired.
"Seriously, that's what they're accusing him of stealing, that's just plain ridiculous." Shikamaru stated gravely, causing Sai to giggle.
"Shikamaru is right have you seen the bowl, it's tiny, there is no way Naruto stole that thing, it wouldn't hold a decent amount of ramen, it's completely useless to Naruto." Sasuke growled upset that his dobe was spending the night in jail instead of with him, damnit he had plans and whip cream, not to mention chocolate sauce.
"The Mayan bowl, I don't see that at all, maybe if they had accused him of stealing a sarcophagus, was there a sarcophagus at the exhibit I'm sure that can hold a nice amount of ramen." Sai deadpanned completely serious.
"It doesn't matter what they accused him of stealing, the point is that he is the only suspect and therefore unless we find out what really happened I'm afraid it doesn't look good for Naruto." Iruka told them, rubbing the scar across his nose, he could feel the migraine coming on.
"Iruka's right without another suspect or the police finding the actual thief Naruto will more than likely be convicted and sentenced to jail time." Shikamaru predicted, having helped his parents out on research for a number of cases, he was pretty familiar with the way the court system worked.
"Shikamaru has a point, the only way we are going to be able to help Naruto is to find the real thief and figure out where that damn bowl is, because let's be realistic there is no way Naruto will survive in jail." Iruka put his head in his hands, he never thought something like this could happen in their small town.
"Of course he won't survive, there's no ramen in jail." Sakura commented.
"Forget the damn ramen, have you seen my dobe, he's too damn cute to be in jail, some bastard will more than likely be after his perky ass." Sasuke growled thinking about his blonde.
"We need to find the bastard that actually stole the damn thing, because there is no way I'm letting my Naruto spend anytime in a real jail with actual criminals." Sasuke stated firmly, thinking of all the non extradition countries that he could flee to with his blonde.
"Calm down Sasuke, no one is going to let Naruto go to jail." Iruka reassured the young Uchiha.
"So what do we do to help Naruto?" Choji asked finally putting the bag of chips down.
"We solve the mystery of course, we find out who the real thief is and clear Naruto's name."
"Ooh, a job for mystery inc. how hip and youthful."
"No, nothing like mystery inc. that's just some dumb cartoon with a talking dog, what we need is some real ideas and a plan." Shikamaru continued ignoring the manly tears flowing from Lee's eyes.
"But I would have been Fred and my lovely cherry blossom (Sakura) would have been the beautiful Daphne." Lee continued not even flinching at Sakura's cry of outrage.
"LEE! Focus." Iruka slammed his hands on the desk, causing the others to jump even though they weren't in the same room.
"We need to get this done right and as quickly as possible, so listen up I have a plan."
"Sasuke, can you get Itachi to find out all he can about the visiting curator at the museum, the man gave me a bad vibe when I meet him and it's his accusation that landed Naruto in jail; and Sasuke ask your brother I don't want you going after the curator yourself."
"Hai Iruka."
"Shikamaru, do you think you can get your mom to represent Naruto for now, I don't know any other attorneys, I don't know if it will be a problem with your dad being the prosecutor and all, but I want Naruto to have a shot if we fail to find anything." Iruka asked.
"Not a problem boss, mom likes nothing more than destroying dad in court, it makes her feel all giddy inside when she can beat him in case, I know it's a very weird relationship, but the competition makes them stronger as a couple." Shikamaru responded.
"ME, ME WHAT ABOUT ME, HOW DO I HELP MY HIP AND YOUTHFUL FRIEND!" Lee yelled causing Iruka to cringe.
"Lee I need you to discreetly, keep tabs on the museum itself, see if anything weird is going on."
"OF COURSE I WILL DO MY BEST TO CATCH THE CRIMINAL!"
"Discreetly, Lee, DISCREETLY!"
"Don't worry Iruka, I'll keep an eye on him." Sakura offered fearing that the older man's head was going to explode.
"Choji, you're in charge of the coffee and snacks." Sakura ordered.
"Huh, for the stakeout?" Choji asked confused.
"Yes and for all other meetings we need to have we can't really think on empty stomachs." Sakura clarified getting nods of agreement from the others.
"What are you going to do Iruka?" Sasuke asked.
"I'm going to befriend a sheriff and see what I can find out." Iruka stated calmly his face blushing.
"What! Hell no, you stay away from that creepy cyclops." Sasuke growled.
"Sasuke, you don't even know the man, and he seems nice so there's no reason for you to panic."
"Iruka, he's a pervert what if he does something to you, you know you live all alone out there, no one will be able to get to you in time, and before you say that I don't know the man and that I'm jumping to conclusions do you know that he spends his time reading Icha Icha, so you know he's up to no good." Sasuke continued, his throat hurting, this was the most he had ever spoken in one go.
"Sasuke I think you're overreacting, now it's late and we all have something to do early tomorrow, so I'll let you all go for now, if the weather permits, let's meet here at my place tomorrow to discuss what we've found out I'll cook dinner." Iruka said with finality, watching Lee's, Sakura's, and the others screens go dark, before he switched his computer off.
"Shikamaru, I want you to find out everything you can about the new sheriff, I don't like the idea of Iruka getting close to him, what if he turns out to be a bastard like Mizuki, I don't think Iruka could handle another betrayal like that." Sasuke finished looking at his friend, who had remained online after a silent nod from the Uchiha.
"You need to give Iruka more credit than that, but I'll see what I can find, wouldn't it be easier to have your brother do it, he has the resources and connections to find out everything you want to know?"
"No, if I told Itachi, he would probably blow it out of proportion, you know how guilty he feels for Mizuki, he can't even look at Iruka without wanting to punch something."
"Fine, but what happens if Sheriff Hatake turns out to be a bastard like you fear, then what?"
"Then I destroy him before he hurts Iruka."
"You're being awfully protective."
"I know but if anything were to happen to Iruka it would destroy Naruto and I could never live with myself." Sasuke sighed.
"I got it, I'll see what I can find and let you know as soon as possible, now moving on to the other problem what happens if we can't prove Naruto's innocence?" Shikamaru asked afraid of the response he would get from the usually stoic Uchiha.
"If that were to happen then I break him out of jail and we disappear, it will hurt to leave Iruka and you guys behind, but we both know that Naruto would never survive being locked up."
"I'll get started on finding the best non extradition countries for you to to disappear too.
Thanks for reading, please review.