Chapter Fourteen

"What! They think that my broth—that Uchiha-sama is the one that attacked Haruno-san? That's absurd!"

"Of course it is," Kakashi said. "That's why we're going to help find who the real perpetrator is."

"How are we going to do that?" Sakura said; her voice tight. "We don't even know where to start."

"Who the hell cares?" Naruto said. "We all already know who did it!"

"Not necessarily Naruto." Sakura said. "It could be any number of people. Hikari isn't exactly well liked because of her relationship with Itachi."

"Yeah, but…Fangirls wouldn't really get this violent would they?"

Sakura shrugged. "It's entirely possible. People who obsess sometimes go to extreme measures to get what it is that they want. Although, they would have to be completely certifiable to believe that Itachi would want to do anything but kill them if and when he finds out."

"We're approaching this from the wrong angle, I think." Sasuke said; drawing his teammates' attention. "Maybe the question we should be asking isn't 'who would hurt Hikari', but 'who would gain something from it'."

Sakura nodded slowly. "That may narrow things down a bit, but still not by enough."

"Should we make a list or something?" Naruto said. "At least that way we'd have something visual to start with right?"

"Good idea, Naruto." Sakura said. "Ne, Kakashi-sensei? Do you have anything we could write with?"

"As a matter of fact, I do," Kakashi said as he suddenly whipped a large note pad and three pens from seemingly nowhere.

Sakura blinked in surprise as she slowly accepted the objects; slightly wary of where they may have come from.

"Um, arigato, sensei."

"Sure." Kakashi said. "Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to sit over by that tree and read—I mean, observe your brainstorming session."

Sakura rolled her eyes. "Right."

"Oi! Forehead girl!"

"Hey Ino-pig." Sakura said without looking up. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm not really sure. Asuma-sensei just sent us over and said we had a mission. Something about your family."

Surprised, Sakura finally looked up and noticed that Ino was, in fact, flanked on either side by her male teammates, Shikamaru and Chouji. Both boys looked unusually serious letting Sakura know instantly that they knew why they had been sent to team up. Sakura sent them all a small smile of thanks before she motioned towards her own team.

"Why don't you join us?" She said. "We were just discussing the mission and how we might deal with it."

"Good! Then I guess that means we aren't late!"

Sakura and Ino both jumped at the unexpected voice while Shikamaru just lifted his hand in a lazy greeting.

"Kiba, Shino, Hinata."

Shino nodded in acknowledgement before moving over to lean against the tree where the two male members of team seven were waiting for everyone to assemble.

"Not to break up your little 'fun-fest' or anything, but we have a homicidal maniac to kill!" Naruto said. "So are you guys coming or what?"

After several minor word exchanges (mostly on the part of Ino) the group moved over to form a circle around the notebook that Sakura had placed on the ground. She was about to pick up where she and her team had left off when Kiba suddenly spoke up again.

"Before we start planning don't you think we should know what we're planning for?" Akamaru gave an agreeing bark. "And what's this about a 'homicidal maniac'?"

Sakura sighed. "My sister was attacked last night on her way home from the Uchiha compound and Itachi-sama has been charged with the crime. We all know that's completely ridiculous so Sandaime-sama let Yotaro-kun form a team to find out who the real culprit is, but I didn't know that all of you would be asked to join also.

Ino scowled. "What? You don't want us here forehead girl? Well to bad! We all care about Hikari and we're not going to let you—!"

"She didn't say anything like that Ino," Shikamaru said with a sigh. "She just said she didn't know we were coming."

Ino opened her mouth to argue, but before she had a chance to speak Shikamaru interrupted her.

"What do we know?"

"Not much I'm afraid," Sakura said. "We know that whoever did it has something to gain by it, either from Hikari herself or by Itachi being convicted. We were going to make a list of who we thought would benefit and then narrow them down by probability."

"Probability?" Kiba asked. "What do you mean by that?"

This time Naruto was the one that answered.

"Since she was stabbed we figure that she was either taken by surprise or the culprit was someone she trusted."

"Hikari-san doesn't trust easily," Shikamaru said. "So we can rule out the second option. But there is also a flaw in the first one as well. Considering that you, Sakura, and your sister both have an abnormal awareness of chakra signatures it would be highly improbable that someone could manage to sneak up on her unless they knew an advanced cloaking jutsu."

"So what you're saying is that the only people that could have done it would have to be jounin level," Sakura said. "Since they're the only people who would have the knowledge of a jutsu like that."

"Not necessarily," Shikamaru said. "Any Uchiha with the sharingan could have done it as well as long as they have copied the technique."

"Do you know who in the clan would have an ability like that, Sasuke-kun?" Ino said. "Or is it something that anyone could do?"

"No," Sasuke said; his voice distant with thought. "The clan is very careful about who they allow to be exposed to high level jutsus of. More then likely only the jounin would know it. Maybe a chuunin if they copied an opponent while on a mission."

"That still doesn't narrow us down to few enough options," Sakura said. "If anything it only gives us more suspects."

"U-um…"

The group suddenly fell silent, turning their attention to Hinata who flushed a heavy shade of red.

"Um-um…I-I was just…I thought…"

Naruto slowly reached forward to lay his hand on Hinata's forearm as he gave her a reassuring grin. "It's okay, Hinata-chan. You can tell us."

Hinata visibly relaxed at Naruto's words and she swallowed once before steeling herself to speak.

"I was just thinking," She said. "W-what if it wasn't a jutsu at all?"

Even Sakura was puzzled by Hinata's words but the sudden look of understanding on Shikamaru's face encouraged the Hyuuga heir to continue.

"What if it was a-a bloodline limit?"

Everyone was dead silent in surprise before Sasuke managed to speak up.

"What do you say we visit Hikari's old friend Yamataro Makoto?"

Everyone instantly agreed.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Uchiha Arai wasn't well liked or accepted among the Uchiha clan. If truth be told she was only one step higher then Sasuke had been before he was stricken from the records which, naturally, made her the next target on the Council's list. Fortunately, despite her unfortunate familial connections, Arai was backed closely by Uchiha Itachi who supported her role in the clan (though she imagined that it had more to do with her friendship with Hikari rather then any over partiality on the Clan Head's side) which made it a lot harder for the Council, or her brother, to do anything about their distaste.

Unfortunately, with Itachi being tried for the attempted murder of Hikari (which Arai knew for a fact was completely ridiculous) Arai was now wide open for any ridicule that the council, or her fellow clansmen, felt necessary to inflict. She soon learned that they had a lot of pent up ridicule to share.

Not for the first time in her life Arai cursed the fact that she had never been able to activate the sharingan when another rotten tomato (why did Sasuke-sama like those things again?) smacked her hard in the back of the head. Her only real consolation was that rotten fruit was a great deal softer then ripe fruit was.

"Where are you headed Arai?" The motherly tone of Uchiha Senbei called out causing Arai to turn back in surprise.

"Ah! Senbei-obaa-san! I didn't mean to walk past you, I was lost in thought."

Senbei's smile was sad as she gave the girl a knowing nod. "I would be distracted to if I had sour tomato juice soaking into my hair."

Arai flinched slightly before she grinned broadly and rubbed the back of her neck with her palm. "I guess one of the venders was throwing out some of his bad food and wasn't paying attention. Maybe it was Iota-ji-san. He is kind of getting old don't you think?"

"Aa, he is. But I happen to know that Iota-san rather likes you Arai-chan. Unlike, say, Gaeta-chan."

Arai sighed with a small shrug. "I still think it was an accident..."

"No you don't," Senbei said. "But it's admirable for you to pretend you do. Now come inside dear and wash up. My house is close to the gate you know so you'll be fine on your way out and besides, you don't want Uchiha-ehem, I mean Haruno-sama to think poorly of you dear."

A small smile played on the corner of Arai's lips but she said nothing about the accidentally-on purpose slip of Hikari's clan name. It was no secret that most of the clan was anticipating Itachi's marriage to the Haruno girl. In fact, some had started placing bets the first day they had become a team ten years ago on when Itachi would finally wise up and propose. If she remembered correctly it was actually Senbei who had won the bet having predicted the exact month, day, and hour. Secretly Arai believed that she had somehow set the odds in her favor by conspiring with Itachi but if that is what happened no one would ever admit it.

After finishing up in the bathroom Arai borrowed one of Senbei's towels to dry her, now clean, hair with one hand while she used the other to wipe the remaining tomato juice into the sinks running water. Once her hair was dry she dropped the used towel into the hamper by the door and hurried out to the front of the store.

"Wait a moment Arai-chan," Senbei said making Arai pause once again. "Take these to the hospital with you." Arai tilted her head slightly in confusion as she accepted the small bag the older woman had handed to her.

"What is it?"

"They're some treats for Haruno-sama," Senbei said. "If she's awake I want to make sure that she's got some extra iron to help thicken up her blood."

Arai smiled and tucked the package into her ninja pouch with a nod. "I'll make sure she gets them Senbei-obaa-san."

"Good girl. And while you're at it will you please deliver this to Sasuke-kun? Goodness knows he must be eating nothing but rice balls and tomatoes living out there on his own."

Arai bit back a snicker as she accepted the large obento, tucking it into the carrier Senbei's husband, Raito, had held out for her to take.

"Let him know that even if the Council is a bunch of morons we'll always know that he's what true Uchiha's are made of." Raito said, pulling his pipe from his lips.

"I promise," Arai said before she lifted her hand in a small wave. "I'll see you when I get home!"

"Don't stay out to late!" Raito called. "Your rat of a brother set up a curfew to curb suspicion. You don't want to be accused of hurtn' yer friend!"

"Kay! Bye!"

After Arai had disappeared through the gate Raito sat back with an irritated puff of his pipe.

"It ain't right what that brat's done to his kid sister. She's too good fer that."

"It won't do us any good to dwell on it, anata." Senbei said. "Kenta-san has his hands in deep with the council and if he says Arai had a part in that night with Sasuke-kun then they'll readily believe it. They'll blame anyone as long as they don't have to blame themselves."

Raito sighed. "That may be so," he said. "But I'll durn well hate it as well as I please."

"You and I both, Raito," Senbei said. "You and I both."

End Chapter Fourteen


Kaliea: And the plot thickens…again…anyway. Please review!


Review Answers:

grim reaper sakura: (Said like a NASCAR pit-crew member) Done! How was my time? ;P

Music 1s my s0ul: Hmm…decisions, decisions…(evil grin) I've decided! Unfortunately, you'll just have to wait and see which one I chose ;)

Lover of Stories 24: That's okay, I actually feel really flattered. I'm glad that you like my story enough to take the time you do to check it over for me. It will make it loads easier if I ever decide to go back and re-do this story later.

waveblader213: Yeah, but that would give away the whole thing! I can tell you one thing though, you'll be totally shocked to find out who really did it.

Dragon Man 180: Unfortunately Naruto doesn't know the sexy-no-jutsu in this fic. At least, he's not supposed too…(whispers) don't tell his mom!

Sasu-Saku-cherryblossom: Thank-you. I figured that the two of them would be rather good at reading each other's body language since their only real sparring partners would be each other. Anyway, I'm glad you liked it!


Kaliea: Thanks for all of your reviews and continued support! You guys are the only reason I keep writing (aside from the whole being in love with my own stories thing ;P) I should let you all know though, I'm going to be out of commission for about a month or so cause I'm working on scholarships, am going on vacation, trying to find a job, and am submitting my book to publishing houses (wish me luck!) I will however do my best to update at least once a month and hopefully things will mellow out a bit after I start school in the fall (yeah right). Anywho, till next time, Ja ne!