Chapter 1:

Let Investigation Commence

"How do I look?" Naruto stood in the middle of the office, his new trench coat ruffling around his ankles.

Sasuke looked up from his newspaper. "In all honesty? You look like a gay carrot." He set down his paper and stood up. "I still don't know why you insist on wearing that thing. An orange trench coat?"

Naruto shrugged. "It was the cheapest thing they had. Besides, I like orange."

Their banter couldn't disguise why they were talking; they were both bored out of their skulls. It had been over two weeks without a case; not even a simple home robbery. The two friends were starting to think that it was time to hang up their hats. The Hokage's promise of cleaning up all the crime in the city seemed to be in full swing. Pretty soon there wouldn't be any use for private detectives, much less ninja private detectives…

Naruto sat down at his desk, and started sharpening his shuriken; a nervous tic of his. Back when he and Sasuke were kids in the Academy, they made a pact to be the best ninja's they could. They swore to use all their skills to help people, but when there weren't people to help, what were they?

"Thinking again?" Sasuke asked.

"No."

"Bull. Your doing that thing you always do when your thinking. And don't deny it; I've known you long enough to pick up when you're lying." Sasuke leaned against his desk, and began to polish his sword. "So, what are you thinking?"

Naruto sighed. "Do you think it's time to let go?"

"I wasn't aware that someone died."

"Not that kind of let go, smartass. I mean, do you think it's time to retire?"

"Why? Do you?"

"I don't know." Naruto looked out the window. "Business hasn't been good. It's just, this isn't what I had in mind when we started."

"So you want to quit? That's a real half-assed plan you got there, pal. Trust me, business isn't going to be like this forever."

And, as if the Universe was proving Sasuke right, in walked their secretary.

"If you two aren't busy, I have a job for you."

Sasuke sent a smirk flying at his friend. "Whattaya' got, Ino?"

Ino brushed a locked of hair away from her face. "Commissioner Hatake just called. He wants both of you at the banquet hall on Shishu street right now."

"The Commissioner wishes to be graced with our presence?" Naruto said, his sarcasm laid thick. "What happened, not enough champagne for the rich people?"

Ino scrunched up her face. "All I know was that it involved the words 'Murder, Hokage, and decapitation.' Ick."

Naruto shot at glance at Sasuke. This was it. The big, career defining case every detective hopes for. Sasuke seemed to get the message. In one swift motion, he got his coat, hat, and blades, and promptly strode to the window. "Shall we take the rooftops?"

Naruto smiled. "Probably. It's the fastest way. And considering how slow you are, that's a good thing."

"Oh, it's on, fox-boy."

And with that, they jumped out the window, scaled the building wall, and in no time were leaping across the rooftops.