Chapter 67 - Ricercar Lusingando

When Inoichi came back from getting lunch the following afternoon, he found a few members of the Torture and Interrogation unit waiting for him. And all he could do was sigh. "And what can I do for you, kids?"

There were two of them, a red-haired boy and a black-haired girl, standing awkwardly in front of the flower shop, which he had locked in getting his meal. "Inoichi-sama, we need your help," the boy said.

"Well I can see that. What's going on?" he said. He began unlocking the door to his shop.

"We've been having some difficulty with a suspect," the girl said. "We've been working on his mind since early morning with no progress."

"So we thought to get you. You are the best."

"I was the best," Inoichi corrected. "Now I'm retired. And I seriously doubt I'm of any help to you."

"Inoichi-sama, please. Just as a favor," said the boy.

Inoichi put the plastic bag with his lunch in it on the till. "Aren't there any other superiors you can ask?"

"We already asked them. We got our top guys on it maybe a few hours ago and they're still working on him," said the boy. "And Moegi-sensei was starting to get impatient, so."

Inoichi took out his can of iced tea. "What's the mission classification?"

"S-rank."

He paused. "And who, exactly, is the suspect? If this mission is so very high-profile."

"…well, it's kind of confidential, we don't want many people finding out or-"

"It's Orochimaru," the girl replied.

"Dude!"

"What, we'd have had to tell him anyway." She turned to Inoichi, crossing her arms. "It's a very critical job, Inoichi-sama. We wouldn't have come to you if we didn't truly need your help."

Inoichi ran his fingers over his forehead a few times, thinking. "I thought he was dead," he finally said.

"Yeah, well, so did everyone else," said the boy, glaring at the girl with black eyes. "But he's here and there's a whole lotta stuff we gotta get out of him."

"We need to crack him, and as quickly as possible," said the girl. "Like I said, this is a very critical job."

"A critical job, huh."

"Yes, sir."

"As in, how critical?"

"Inoichi-sama, beyond the mission classification, the Hokage himself has been working on this in the meantime. It's of incredible importance to the city," the girl said. "I'm not sure about the consequences of waiting too long, but."

Inoichi took out his bento, and shoved the plastic bag into a box beneath the till, where he kept all the others. He sighed, again. "And Moegi-chan's the one who called for me?"

"More or less," the boy said. "We went as far as we could go yesterday, without breaking any laws."

"Moegi-sensei was very earnest," the girl said, smiling a little.

"I mean, she and Taro-senpai thought to go right to a mind-reading and stuff."

"Yes, exactly."

"So, please, Inoichi-sama? It'd really be helping us out."

Inoichi sighed, again. "Look, it's been years since I've done any sort of serious mind-reading. I've doubtlessly gotten rusty."

"But Moegi-sensei trusts you," the boy said. "At least try and look at him?"

And Inoichi considered this. "Just a once-over or what?" he said.

"Well we kind of wanted you to help in retrieving some information. That's kind of what Moegi-sensei was implying."

"She didn't imply, she ordered."

"Though she'd respect you if you didn't wanna do it, I'm sure, I mean you're an elder and everything," the boy said. He added, with an awed whisper, "You, um. You cracked one of the Paths of Pain, though, didn't you? You're a legend."

And Inoichi considered this.

He was old and tired, and out of practice.

"Give me an hour," he said, "and I'll come by with my replacement."

"Your replacement? Who?" the girl said.

"Just trust me. And let me finish my lunch first, okay? Go tell Moegi-chan that."

The pair then left, to do exactly that.

(Moegi, when told, crossed her arms and sighed. "Very well, then," she said. "Inoichi-sama is a good man. He knows his limits. I'll trust his judgment.")

Inoichi finished his lunch, quietly, at the till, and he threw away the plastic container and he recycled the aluminum can.

And reaching out with his mind's voice, he found that bright, bold consciousness in the broad network of Yamanaka brains.

Inou? Inou, are you there? It's your grandfather.

...what's going on, Grandpa, did something happen?

No, actually, I need to ask a favor of you.

Can it wait? I'm in the middle of training.

(In a park several blocks away, Chouko tilted her head and kindly waited when Inou suddenly stood still.)

What if I told you that it was a top-secret, S-rank mission that you'd be helping with, and that nobody else could do?

Inoichi knew his grandson, and his ambition, very, very well.

…why are you asking me to help with something like that? I'm not even a chuunin, I can barely do B-rank missions…

Because I know you're the right man for the job, that's why.

There was a small pause as Inou no doubt considered this.

…well what do you need me to do, anyways?

Mind-reading. You're the best in the clan, Inou, I know this.

No I'm not.

Yes, you are, Inou. I've known dozens of mind-readers in my time and you are, by far, the most naturally-talented reader I've ever known. I'm not just saying this 'cos you're my grandson, now.

Inou's silence was one born from a childhood lacking in compliments, and a severe difficulty in processing them.

The team needs some information from out of a suspect, and quickly. I know you can do it.

…well how long do you need me for, anyways? I gotta keep at my training today, it's super important. 'Cos the chuunin exams.

I know, I know. Well, knowing you, it shouldn't be more than a few hours. Just enough for a quick look-around.

Another pause.

You want me to pick you up?

I'll meet you at the flower shop, it'll be quicker.

Inoichi smiled.

I'll see you soon, then.

And in preparing for his grandson's arrival, he reached out into another mind, one soft and very quiet.

Nadeshiko, dear?

Grandfather. What is it?

Can you come and mind the shop this afternoon? It'll only be for a few hours. I have an errand to run.

Nadeshiko still came in every morning, very, very early, to do her arrangements. But she'd been staying at home, lately, afterwards.

Yakata was to be protected, she explained. He wasn't allowed to leave the house, for reasons she did not know, even after asking her eldest brother. And she didn't want for him to be lonely.

Inoichi knew this. But no one else could run the shop.

("It, it's okay Nadeshiko-san, um. If you need to help your grandfather with something then, um. You should go do that, I'll, I'll be fine…")

Yes, I can. I will be there very soon.

She arrived long before Inou did, but didn't say anything to him when he entered, his face pinched.

"So where are we going, anyways?" he said. His hands were folded under his elbows.

"We'll be heading to the underground facilities. Follow me," Inoichi said. "Take care, Nadeshiko."

Her farewell was a wave, and nothing more.

It was only Inou's age and his irrational hunger for perceived maturity that kept him from speaking for as long as he did.

"So who is it?" he finally asked. "This guy I need to read." A pause of excited speculation. "He, like… a murderer? No, if he was then I'd have heard of it…"

"Well, he… has killed a lot of people," Inoichi said.

"Oh, man…" Inou, in glancing up and seeing his grandfather's half-smile, cleared his throat and put on a more acceptable frown. "And he's keeping secrets, huh. About his victims? Or what?"

"I wasn't really told the details. But you'll get your information when we get there. I told them you were my replacement."

Inou's shoulders rose. "You didn't really."

"I did. Inou, I trust you. You're going to do magnificently. Better than me."

"Yeah, well, we'll see." Inou shoved his hands into his pockets.

Moegi greeted them with raised eyebrows. "Inoichi-sama, this is your replacement?"

"My grandson, Uchiha Inou. Yes, he's my replacement."

Inou's head bowed low, but he managed to maintain eye contact.

"I remember you," Moegi said. "You're one of the chuunin finalists. Your third attempt, isn't it?"

"Yeah," Inou said, clenching his teeth before further disrespect could fall out.

"Are you sure this is who we want?" Moegi continued.

Inou shoved his hands further into his pockets.

"Positive, Moegi-chan. Inou is very gifted. He'll be of use to you, I promise."

Moegi, in nodding, closed her eyes. "Very well. Uchiha-san, come with me, I'll debrief you. Do you wish to come with us, Inoichi-san?"

"I'll assist as backup, yes. But I don't think I have the capacity to lead in the reading."

"Fair enough. Both of you, then." She turned around and folded her hands behind her back, holding her fist in her palm. "This way."

The understanding of the situation had expanded greatly among the ANBU and further staff.

To say that it was now common knowledge that Uchiha Sasuke was keeping a genetic duplicate of his late brother in his house would be a slight exaggeration, still. But many more people knew this fact now than Sasuke would have ever been comfortable with, if he were aware of it.

The road in front of the Uchiha household was receiving a few more passers-by than usual, and there was purpose in their steps.

(As of yet, neither Hajime nor Takeru had been debriefed on the subject, kept home and on strange guard.)

Moegi handed a small portfolio of documents and photocopied photographs to Inou, in the hallway just outside of the cell. "Your target today is the missing-nin Orochimaru. I trust that you won't let his celebrity distract you."

Inou just raised his eyebrows slightly. "Of… course not, ma'am. I'll do my best." He flipped briefly through the documents. "And what is this? My debriefing?"

Moegi nodded. "We need you to find information on a large-scale human cloning experiment he's been heading for the past few decades. He's keeping details from us and we want them. What we need, exactly, is outlined in further detail in your portfolio."

"Any… specifics, ma'am?" Inou's hands were beginning to shake from excitement. (Oh, this was an S-rank mission…!)

"We need an exact number of how many clones have been produced, where they are living now, their genetic origins, et cetera. We are aware of three of them already, if it's of any use to you. I included information on them in the portfolio as well."

Inou did not have a Sharingan, but he was a very quick reader, and he had an even quicker mind.

Though it was a photograph and not a word that stopped him. It looked like it had been taken in a government office, and the face within it was apprehensive and very familiar. "Ma'am, what's Yakata-kun doing in here?"

Moegi shifted her expression into one with tighter eyes. "Honbo Yakata is a known product of this cloning project. I understand your father has been acting as his guardian for the time being."

Inou just nodded, eyes tripping over the words in photocopied pen, "Origin: Uchiha Itachi."

(His uncle…? Surely, that didn't mean…)

He tried not to look at his grandfather, fearing his expression would trigger some unprofessional reaction. He couldn't dare chance a slip in conduct here.

But the mission, first. They both knew this.

"You'll be given as much time as you need for your mind-reading. In the meantime, familiarize yourself with your objective."

Inou closed the portfolio. "I already have, ma'am. We can… proceed, if you want." A pause, an observation of presence. "That is, uh, if you're ready too, Grandpa…"

"I'm just here for backup," Inoichi said. He was smiling when Inou chanced a look. "Though I'd appreciate a look at the information, myself."

"Oh, sure, 'course, Grandpa." He handed the portfolio over, and Inoichi took his glasses out of the front pocket of his vest and put them on.

"I'll leave you two to prepare," Moegi said. "When you're ready, just knock on the door, and you'll be led in."

"Thank you, Moegi-san," Inou said. She glanced back at him, once, before leaving.

And, a while after, Inoichi said, "So, Yakata-kun…?"

"Yeah, that's got me confused, too," Inou said. "I mean—well, I don't know him all that well, like, not as well as my sister knows him or anyone, but it's still a little." A pause as a word was searched for. "Strange. I'm gonna have to ask my…"

Logic stayed his tongue and made him think things over a bit more.

(Because like hell he could talk to his father about this.)

"…ask somebody what in the world's up with him being at my house, and how my… dad found him. And stuff."

He ran his palm over his bang, trying to push it aside a little, like a cat washing its paw.

"But the… mission, first."

"Good idea," Inoichi said.

Inou moved closer, resting his forearms on his lap. "So you're my backup, right?"

"Naturally."

"Well… if it's... all right with you, I think it might actually be better if you take the lead."

Inoichi took off his glasses. "Inou, it's okay, I trust you."

"No, no, no, no, it's not that, listen, hear me out." Inou sat up, waving his hands. "It's not that I don't… think I can handle it, it's a tactical thing."

Inoichi's smile widened, slowly. "Go on."

"You're a… well, a much bigger mental presence than I am, Grandpa. A heavy-hitter. But even with that, we're still gonna be reading in tandem." He nodded a few times. "I don't… expect for you to do a lot of heavy exploration but if you make like you're gonna be the one doing that, then it means I've got a better chance of going by unnoticed."

Inoichi put his glasses away entirely. "Classic misdirection."

"Yeah, exactly," Inou said. "So is that okay with you, I mean?"

"That sounds like a swell tactic."

"And we'll make up the rest as we go."

"I trust you."

"Okay, cool." Inou was trying to hide his smile, but it shone through his eyes in the most marvelous way. "Do you need to read the papers any more? Because I got what I needed to get."

"I think I'm fine. I mean, I am only acting as backup," Inoichi chuckled.

"Yeah, but you gotta act like you aren't," Inou said. "As much as you can, okay?"

Another chuckle. "Okay. Are you ready, then?"

"Yeah, if you are."

"Then let's go." Inoichi rose, and his grandson followed, and he knocked on the door. "Moegi-chan, you may lead us in."

And the door opened, and they were indeed let in.

They had Orochimaru restrained in his cell with one of the facility's reading amplifiers: a collar of chakra-concentrating stone around his neck, and similarly heavy stone shackles around his wrists. Sutras had been written on his white arms and chest with ink, snaking over his bruises and bandages and up to the sharp line of his jaw.

He was, however, not sedated. A sedated mind meant a quiet mind, one from which memories had to be wrestled and pried out, rather than coerced and more-easily persuaded to emerge.

His eyes were tired, and his voice similarly exhausted, when he cracked his mouth open to speak.

"More friends to play with, I see…?"

Moegi didn't respond. The previous readers went to her and whispered things into her ear. They looked almost more exhausted than Orochimaru did.

(They hadn't been using the amplifiers when they had started in the morning, before the sunrise.)

And it was during this muffled talk that Orochimaru shifted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing in an attempt to focus. And, he asked, "Are you one of Sasuke-kun's children? You look ever so much like him…"

Inou lowered his head, covering more of his face with his black hair. He stayed behind his grandfather.

(Of all of his siblings, he was the one that most resembled their father, and he knew this.)

(This didn't help anything.)

Stay strong. Inoichi's voice in his mind. Don't let him intimidate you.

I am strong.

Though Inou despised this strength.

(He'd have traded all the minds in the world for one fireball that managed to last for more than a moment.)

(Though, in his growing-up, a rebellious notion began twining over his brain like a weed, and it only grew wilder with each passing week.)

(That he wouldn't have to rely on his father's strengths for praise. That the rings around his neck served more than just a pretty purpose.)

This was an S-rank mission and he was the only one that could do it.

So he'd do it, and he wouldn't fail.

He couldn't.

He could at least turn his shame into an advantage here, and use it to give his grandfather more visual authority by shrinking, making himself less impressive.

(Inoichi knew this, and it gave him no small amount of pride to see him adapting so instinctively, throwing himself into the mission so fully already.)

"We're ready whenever you are, Moegi-chan," Inoichi said.

"Then begin at your leisure, Inoichi-sama."

(Moegi had a talent for intimation and gathering data from whispers.)

And they did.