Author's Note: Been a while, anyways more of the past is revealed here and I suck at mystery so I might as well reveal it. I kinda think you guys expected this, am I right? I'd like to know what you guys think of the chapter please! Also some critique on the OCs. I'm very fond of Maro and Ryumeki both.

Special thanks to: Guest (who I have also thanked last chapter) and Dragon77

It had been a solid week. Naruto ducked his head as he walked into the coffee shop. It was kind of crowded since it was a Saturday so the teenagers had all hit the malls and it was also kinda close to pay day which kinda explained the overstuffed Starbucks.

It was perfect for his meeting with Kiba. After Naruto found out that Kiba had sent Fuge his very much informal message, Kakashi had made it a point to search and print every single sheet of information on every person Namikaze Menma had interacted with for the past five years.

Naruto eyed the pile of papers and folders sitting innocently on the coffee table that Kiba was settled in, along with a half-asleep Shikamaru and (hala lagot)Asa who was nursing a cup of coffee and staring at the open laptop in front of him next to the papers.

Do I stay? They haven't seen me yet, I can't still get out of here.Naruto took in a deep breath (something he's been doing often nowadays) as he contemplated the pros and cons of playing hooky on this meeting. Pro: He wouldn't have to deal with Asa's awkward hero-worship stare, Con: He wouldn't have the info he needed. Pro: He could avoid Asa's longing gazes, Con: Kiba would have a major bitch fit. They're tied. Shit.

Naturally, the universe made the decision for him with Asa looking up, a huge smile splitting his pale face, his big gold eyes brightening his entire face like the reason of his whole existence just walked through the door (which in his case, it might have been what had happened).

"Naruto!" He waved a hand for him to come over.

'Kalma lang.'Naruto thought tiredly and smiled back. He meant the smile though cause Asa was a good kid. Just a little… ugh, well he was young.

"Do you want something to drink?" Asa asked once he'd been seated. The ravenhead was already standing. "Latte? Frap? Shake?"

"Just plain coffee Asa, thanks." Naruto watched the kid towards the counter, getting in line. The moment he was out of ear shot, he reached out and gave Kiba a smack on the shoulder, sparing Shikamaru who he knew had nothing to do with this. "You brought him with you!"

"First off, Ow!"Kiba grinned at him and rubbed the abused shoulder then gestured to the pile of papers. "And second off, you kinda need him to explain all this crap."

Naruto huffed. "You couldn't have done it?"

"No." Kiba deadpanned. "You already know that this is his forte. Let him do his job."

"Fine." Naruto slumped into his chair. He tossed a look towards Shikamaru. "Didn't expect to see you here."

"Kiba sent me a message." Shikamaru replied, eyes still closed. "Said you wanted to know about Enko?"

"So you do know about him?" Naruto asked. "Damn Nara, you're a father? How the hell did that happen?"

Shikamaru opened one eye and stared at him. "Well, Naruto. When a man and woman have at it for a good straight three days-."

"Gah, no, Diyos ko! Not that." Naruto shuddered. "I have no desire, whatsoever to know anything about what you and any woman have done in bed."

Kiba piped up, looking a little queasy. "Yeah, I don't wanna know either."

"I was speaking in general." Shikamaru reminded them. "And Naruto, you asked."

Naruto rolled his eyes. "I meant how that happened between you and a Namikaze heiress, who I knew nothing about, thank you very much. You could have warned me when you saw me at school!"

"I thought Fuge gave you all the files." Shikamaru shrugged. "Besides, Menma and I don't talk much. The small conversation we had was the extent of a weekly meeting between him and me."

"You call him Menma." Naruto noted.

"He calls me Shikamaru." The man returned. "I call his noisy cousin Karin and I call his best friend Sasuke. No last names at that place. It's a rule."

Naruto sniffed and pursed his lips. He was saved trying to come up with a reply when Asa came back to the table carrying a tray that held his black coffee along with what looked like an assortment of Danish.

Kiba reached out immediately taking out the blueberry ones that Naruto hated and he mentally thanked his best friend.

Asa smiled at them and said nothing for a while as they munched on his bought pastries. A good five minutes of silence though and the ravenhead cleared his throat and gestured towards the files. "Umm… let's get started?"

Naruto nodded as he chewed and sipped at his coffee.

Asa, his cheeks losing the flush he'd had since Naruto smiled at him, nodded to himself and turned the open laptop to Naruto because neither Shikamaru nor Kiba needed to see it since they'd had a debriefing of their own.

"Agent 7259," Asa began. "Yesterday, February 26, 9:30 a.m. you started mission incognito with little to nothing on your files case. Fuge apologizes as they'd expected, and I quote, for you to go as you went along. We never foresaw that you'd need more than just the basic info since you are pretty known for your winging it."

Kiba snorted into his drink and Naruto kicked him underneath the table.

"There are multiple files here for you to evaluate but we've made a list that's determined the individuals you'll most probably meet while undercover."

Asa gestured to the computer screen and they read it together.

1)Namikaze Deidara

2)Namikaze Ino

3)Namikaze Enko

4)Namikaze Minato

5)Uzumaki Karin

6)Uchiha Sasuke

7)Sabaku Gaara

8)Hozuki Suigetsu

9)Hotori Maro

10)Sugiyama Ryumeki

"That is our top ten." Asa concluded.

Naruto rested his chin on a propped up palm. "There are only ten?"

"Topten." Asa repeated. "You might meet other people on the list but these are the most likely."

"Okay." Naruto nodded. "Lay it on me."

"First off, Namikaze Deidara." Asa pulled out a piece of paper that had Deidara's picture and profile. "He is Menma's brother, senior by four years. He declined the takeover of the Namikaze business and instead turned to starting a music career which he's successfully done for himself. As far as conversation should go, rejecting the takeover is a sore subject for him and would rather not talk about it. He's currently on leave from any of his activities since it seems that they're planning on taking a vacation."

"They mentioned that." Naruto confirmed.

"Right." Asa nodded. "Deidara-kun also prefers to stay close to his siblings as well as their father if ever he is home."

"You're everyday family guy." Kiba grumbled. "Basically, when he acts like an idiot, you're still related to him so you'll just have to deal."

"Kay." Naruto chuckled. He looked at Asa. "I can read his file later. Just give me the down-low on everyone on the top ten and I'll handle the rest."

Asa smiled back at Naruto before he pulled out a picture of Ino then another paper that had Enko's profile. "Namikaze Ino, Menma's younger sister by two years and just turned eighteen two weeks ago. Supposedly the debut had been a big bash. This is her son, Enko who you know the parentage and info of. Menma is often taking care of Enko, according to our sources he is his favorite baby sitter. Ino-san is currently a stay at home mom but is also taking business management classes online for the sake of the Namikaze flower shop that's been in the family for the past two decades. Ino is much like her siblings, very loud, very eccentric. As the only female in the family right now, she's taken to mothering her brothers and her father. It's best to just appease her whenever she gets angry."

"Don't mess with Ino, got it." Naruto nodded. He looked at Shikamaru. "You can tell me about that when you're ready."

"When did you become such a gossip?" Shikamaru wondered.

"I'm not a gossip." Naruto stuck his tongue out. "I'm pretty sure Ino would have told Menma what happened between you two. What if she asked me questions?"

Shikamaru mulled over that. "I suppose you're right. Enko's birthday is coming up."

"It is?" Naruto asked.

"Yeah," Shikamaru sighed and ran a hand over his face. "March 31st. It's his second birthday party. Ino wants a big celebration and all that."

"Wait," Naruto said, mentally counting. "She's just turned eighteen and he's turning two. So she was what when she had him? Sixteen?"

"Yes." Shikamaru said flatly.

Naruto got the message clearly. Drop it. He turned to Asa. "Next?"

"Namikaze Minato." Asa produced another paper. "He is the Namikaze patriarch who is often going around the world handling their business personally. He's been widowed eighteen years, losing his wife Uzumaki Kushina in a car crash back in 1996. Minato-san is quite the single father, managing to keep himself and his children happy for over the time he's been looking after them. The records show that there has never been a stay at home nanny or any of the sort. He really did the raising part himself."

Naruto nodded. "That's good. I wanted to know that."

"I thought you would." Asa flushed before he cleared his throat. "U-Uh, next. Uzumaki Karin."

"I've met her." Naruto said.

Asa pulled out another paper. "Uchiha Sasuke."

"Met him too."

Asa raised an eyebrow. "Sabaku Gaara?"

"That one not yet." Naruto grinned.

"Good." Asa said. "He's Menma's best friend, not as physically close as Sasuke but definitely up there with the Namikaze's. Menma considers him family and they've been attached on the hip since they met in school at the age of eight. Menma comes to him for comfort when he's had fights with his brother or sister. That's the friendship that they have. He could blow your cover if you aren't careful."

"Gotcha." Naruto nodded. "Be wary of Red."

Asa smiled. "Hozuki Suigetsu, Hotori Maro, and Sugiyama Ryumeki are friends of Sasuke's. They're often tagging along after the Uchiha so you will be seeing them often. In fact you'll be seeing them a little later this day for a luncheon that Sasuke will be inviting you to."

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Fuge is tracking Uchiha?"

"He's a possible suspect." Shikamaru answered. "It's why I'm coming to school more often. Gaara, Karin, Maro, Sakura, Suigetsu. They're all possible suspects."

"Sakura?" Naruto echoed, hearing a name without a face.

Asa checked his files. "She's number thirteen. Haruno Sakura, Sasuke-kun's lab partner and defense instructor. She's not really in your groupas opposed to that she tags along when she feels like doing so."

"A g-jumper then?" Kiba asked, wrinkling his nose.

"No, not really." Asa continued to read through her file. "It says here it's a little awkward for her since she and Menma used to date and apparently Menma has been having a rather physically intimate relationship with Sasuke-kun."

"An ex." Naruto cried in dismay. "I kinda expected it."

"Good luck dude." Kiba saluted.

Asa rolled his eyes but kept on a professional face. "That's all about the top ten. You good?"

"I am." Naruto nodded and pulled out his phone which had been vibrating for a while. He winced at the caller ID. He answered it quickly. "Hello?"

"Why weren't you answering?"Sasuke's voice was equal parts frustrated and panicking.

"I'm answering now." Naruto said pointing a finger at Kiba to keep him from talking. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Something."A deep sigh. "Everything. Itachi's having this unveiling party, for the Veyron, and I think it's stupid."

"It isstupid." Naruto agreed which made Sasuke chuckle on the other end. Inwardly, Naruto smiled at his advancement involving Sasuke. It was easy to adapt a persona that pleased him so much and evidently it was much like what Menma acted like around the Uchiha.

"I knew I liked you for a reason." Sasuke said before he audibly deflated. "The lunch is in two and a half hours and I'd just like for you to keep me company through it all, please? I know you just got back but you abandoned me for a month. You owe me."

Naruto rolled his eyes. "Such a drama queen."

"And you love me." Sasuke deadpanned.

"All right." Naruto sighed defeated. "Can't argue with that kind of logic, right? I'll pick you up at eleven."

"Whatever."Sasuke answered. "Maro and Ryumeki are coming too. Dress nice."

"Right." And then he hang up. Naruto looked up at his table mates, pursing his lips and idly taping his fingers. "Anybody have any idea whatsoever on what I should wear to the unveiling party of a Veyron?"

.x.

Sasuke was a very stoic man when Naruto picked him up and drove to the restaurant. He looked plenty nice in his cashmere sweater and slacks. Of course, there was the heavy coat and the loafers too. Naruto was taking the opportunity to study the Uchiha. He didn't know for how long he would be sticking to this mission. Should the need for presents arise, he should have an idea as to what would work on him.

"You look nice." Naruto tried to compliment as they made their way to the restaurant.

Sasuke remained quiet for a moment before he said, "You do too."

Naruto wondered if it was always that awkward in the car between them. The silence was stifling and he ached to turn the radio on but found that he couldn't in fear of pissing Sasuke off. The Uchiha did not look like someone Naruto would want to cross. Sad enough he was much more used to a happy and chattery Sasuke. Not soon enough, he was pulling over and parking the car and Sasuke was staring at the dashboard. The blonde took a deep breath. "Are you okay?"

"I don't wanna go." Sasuke mumbled. "Menma, tell me why I have to go."

You had to ask.Naruto inwardly grimaced. You should have just let him stew and sulk instead of asking. Now what are you gonna do? He fished for anything to say in return, something the Namikaze heir would say. "He's your brother?"

Sasuke snorted and turned away from him, his arms crossing over his chest. His eyes seemed to be seeing something that Naruto couldn't and his thoughts were loud enough that he didn't notice the questioning tone in Naruto's voice.

"Okay," Naruto smirked, calming down some. "Let's try that again."

Sasuke turned back to him, eyebrow raised. "Menma… tell me why I have to go."

"As an Uchiha heir it is good publicity to show that you have family unity. It'll keep the gossiping paparazzi away and this way it'll be easier to make sure the pictures are good and the quotes are in verbatim." Naruto smirked. "And think of Itachi."

Sasuke stared at him for a moment before the ravenhead shook his head, once again rolling his eyes. "That was better. Much better."

"I live to please you." Naruto mock bowed before he unbuckled his seat belt and made to get out of the car. He hurried to get to the other side and opened Sasuke's door for him, ignoring the most definitely not amused look on the pale face. "I open the door for my highness."

"Highness." Sasuke echoed as he got out, smacking Naruto's hand away so he could close the door himself. "I am not a girl Namikaze."

"No." Naruto agreed then he stuck his tongue out. "But I love you."

Sasuke laughed at that, his entire body changing, tension leaving.

"Well, well." A low voice hummed. Naruto turned to look to his left, where a Toyota just pulled up and the passenger door's window was open. The man behind it was smirking, not at him but at Sasuke. "Was the a confession we just walked into? We should think of arriving late more often Ryumeki, that way we won't miss things."

Naruto grinned at that and watched as the man got out of the car and stood in front of him in what seemed to be his five foot five glory. That was pretty short. The blonde wracked his head for a moment, if these people knew Sasuke enough that they all each other by their first names then he should know who this was.

White hair and vivid mauve colored eyes. "You didn't see anything Honda."

"I disagree." Maro replied as another man, this one at least a good head and a half taller than him stood by his side, an arm wrapping around his waist. Maro turned to him. "Did you not see what I sa Ryumeki?"

"I did." The brunette, apparently Ryumeki, smirked at Naruto, burgundy eyes brimming with absolute glee. He reached a hand out. "It's good to see you Menma. You gave us quite a scare."

"Emotional trouble." Naruto explained. "Just needed to be alone."

"It happens to everyone." Ryumeki nodded and began walking towards the entrance doors. Maro had slipped away from the brunette to walk beside Sasuke, the two engaging in conversation.

Naruto took this in consideration. Sasuke often left Menma to converse with other people despite the fact that they were supposedly together on this event. There truly were no emotional ties here, just a friends-with-benefits type.

.x.

Minato looked up from the TV as the door to his office opened. The scent of fresh croissants filled the room and he basically salivated for coffee.

"Need a break Sir?" Haku smiled and pushed the small cart into the room right up to the desk before settling it on top.

The blonde nodded his thanks and invited his personal assistant to dine with him with Haku refusing saying he had lunch with Zabuza in fifteen minutes. Minato smiled at him. "What are you waiting for though, go ahead."

"But it's not yet my lunch time." Haku protested.

Minato ignored this as he sipped at his coffee. "Don't keep him waiting. I'll be fine by myself for a while."

"If you're sure." The younger man pressed.

Minato smiled at the worry he saw on Haku's face. "I am. You mustn't worry too much Haku. Zabuza will never forgive me for making your hair turn white because of me."

"He will live." Haku said as he moved towards the door. He sent one last look over his shoulder at his boss before leaving the room.

Minato watched him go before he returned to his meal. France was such a beautiful country, not that he managed to leave his office too often, but when he did he saw so much of everything he couldn't help but wish his children were here with him.

Ino would love the clothes and Deidara would adore all the art galleries he'd seen so far. The food shops around were plentiful and Menma would get to have that food trip he's been wanting to have since their family had list visited Thailand. That had been a fulfilling day out on the floating market. Let it be said that their family had fast metabolism.

In all reality, Minato worried about his children. He hardly saw them anymore. Deidara was just as busy with his own business. Running it was hard enough without him participating in the band. Ino had to look after Enko and also handle the flower shops that were running scattered around Japan. Not to mention have to look into the gardens to make sure that all their products were growing without trouble. Menma, well he wasn't sure what his son was getting into nowadays.

Even though France was closer to home than most of his business trips, he never felt more far away from his family. From his home. From his heart.

Chewing on his croissant, Minato looked at his computer screen and smiled at their family portrait.

This one wasn't the most recent as it had both him and his wife in it, both of them sitting down on their favorite pair of arm chairs. Deidara was only six, his blonde hair cut short and spiking all over the place, standing in between the chairs. In front of him was Ino, at a year old wearing what had once been her most favorite dress and on each of his and his wife's laps had been a used to be blonde Menma and an equally blonde Nori.

Minato didn't know why he subjected himself to such torture. He hated the fact that his family was broken. He hated that his wife was no longer by his side. More so that he'd lost one of his children. He didn't know if Deidara remembered that he had another little brother or if the reason Menma was acting so differently was because he remembered that he was a twin.

That day eighteen years ago had been a very bad day for his family.

Minato wished he could bring back what he'd lost. If not for his sake then for Nori's. Lord knew how he wondered and searched and hoped and prayed that he would find Nori, find his son. He never gave up, never stopped searching, even now he hoped that one day he would come home to find not three of his kids but four waiting for him.

He'd take all of Ino's shrill questioning and Menma's harsh glares if it meant Nori would come back home.

Every day for the past eighteen years he had been angry. With the world, with the man that was now behind bars responsible for the car crash and with himself for not doing a better job. For not being a better Father.

He could only hope Kushina would forgive him, but until he had all his children home with him, he would never be able to forgive himself.

Swallowing the mouthful and chasing it down with some coffee, Minato grabbed his phone from his drawer and dialed a number he had been constantly hounding for the past eighteen years. The other line answered immediately and he smiled slightly in relief.

"Jiraiya, how are you?" Minato asked politely.

There was a small chuckled on the other end. "Hey kid, I'm good! How have you been?"

"Great." Minato answered, swallowing the lump in his throat. "Uh… nothing, huh?"

"I'm sorry Minato." Jiraiya's voice returned gravely. "We haven't got anything about him yet. The most I can tell you is that Orochimaru is still behind bars."

"Good." Minato nodded to himself, slightly assured. He conversed with his old friend for a while more before he remembered that he had much to do with his work.

The phone call ended after a good three minutes and Minato lowered his head to rest on his folded arms on top of the desk.

No matter how long it had been, he was still hoping.

.x.

"Is that what I think it is?" Naruto couldn't help but wince in sympathy as the food was served. He stared at the plates in mild disgust and regret. Just how many snails would have to die only for the rich people to pretend to eat them?

"It's escargot." Sasuke noted, stiffly eyeing the plates as well.

"It's snail." Maro repeated eyes wide. "You're serving us snails."

"This wasn't my idea." Sasuke hissed but he reached out and took a tong (a tong?) and fiddled with it for a bit. "Don't just sit like statues, they aren't that bad."

"Oh no! Please don't give food pronouns. That it most certainly not appropriate and…" Maro looked like he wanted to cry. "They're snails."

"Be thankful they aren't slugs." Sasuke snapped then glared at the rest of the table. "Eat dammit."

Maro glared right back but picked up a tong as well. "Just so you know you owe us big for this. I could be in the Caribbean enjoying a coconut right now but no, you just had to beg me to come sit with you at your brother's big unveiling."

There was silence for a moment before Naruto couldn't take the silence (and he really didn't wanna eat any of the snails either) and cleared his throat, directing his question to Maro. "The Caribbean?"

"Hmm?" Maro looked up from where he'd been staring into a shell, violet eyes tearing up. "Oh yeah, vacation. Stress isn't good for you."

"Just how much stressed can you get?" Sasuke snorted pointing at Maro with a fork. "I mean, all your hair's white anyways."

"Marie Antoinette Syndrome!" Maro shrieked, in a rather high pitched sound, jabbing a fork right back at Sasuke's face.

Naruto raised a fine eyebrow at that. "Marie Antoinette…? What's that?"

"In simple terms when something very big happens to you, you kinda lose all the pigment in your hair and it turns white." Ryumeki explained, his hand slipping under the table.

Maro sniffed and turned his head away but kept a tight grip on Ryumeki's hand. "You try losing a sibling. It hurts too."

"It's okay." Ryumeki smiled. "It looks good on you, much better than blonde."

Naruto gaped. "You were a blonde?"

"Strawberry blonde." Ryumeki grinned. "But he looks even more gorgeous this way."

"Oh be quiet." Maro huffed and stared hard at his plate.

Naruto leaned back into his chair and glanced at Sasuke who was playing with his Iphone in pretense of checking his messages. He leaned towards the raven, and nudged him with his leg underneath the table. Sasuke looked up and raised an eyebrow.

"How long have they been together?" He murmured lowly.

Sasuke glanced at Maro and Ryumeki and looked away disinterestedly. "Four years."

"Wow." Naruto breathed. "You can see they're committed."

"I do." Sasuke nodded.

Naruto's eyebrows furrowed. "Why are you so down?"

"I'm not." Sasuke shook his head before he seemed to collect himself. He shoved his phone back into his pocket and gripped the edge of the tablecloth. "At least I wouldn't be if you guys would eat the damn-!"

"Gah!" Maro shoved himself away from the table, both hands pressed to his chest. Conversation in the room stilled and almost every single eye was drawn to their table.

"Are you all right?" Sasuke questioned, staring at the white haired boy warily, eyebrow raised.

Maro lifted a shaking hand and pointed at his plate. "I swear… one just moved."

Sasuke looked at the plate in question before he glared at Maro. "Seriously?"

"No, really!" Maro insisted. "He was right by the radish on one second then the next he wasn't!"

Sasuke slumped against his chair and waved for the waiters to get the damn snails out of there. "The next time Itachi has a party I am hiding in my closet."

Naruto nodded and patted Sasuke's hand sympathetically. "Don't worry, I'll be there with you."