Murder
'I am the last surviving Uchiha; trained by one of the legendary Sannin. I have infiltrated enemy strongholds surrounded by elite ninja without them ever knowing I was there...' Itachi thought as Natsuki spoke about him to her class for today. One of their teachers had fallen ill so whenever she's able to, Natsuki takes over '...and now I am here because some child saw me outside the door. All I was supposed to do was give Natsuki her lunch that she had forgotten at home that Dairuko just handed- no, more like shoved into my hands before leaving for "something important."' Itachi came back from his thoughts to Natsuki swinging a sword at him which he dodged in the nick of time.
"See class, the reflexes of a true shinobi means that even some sneak attacks are ineffective." Natsuki said and a boy picked up his hand.
"Yes?"
"Sensei are you and Itachi-sensei on the same team?"
"Yes, we have been a team for thirteen years." another hand came up.
"Are you and Itachi-sensei dating?" Itachi remained unmoved by the question while Natsuki on the other hand pulled her shirt up to cover her cheeks- how she did it while wearing her jounin vest remains a mystery.
"Noooooooooo." she said shaking her head when, just then, Dairuko came through the door with Iruka-sensei.
"Hey you two we got a thing to do." Dairuko said with a jerk of his thumb over his shoulder and in an uncharacteristically serious tone. Itachi instantly walked over to Dairuko, not wanting to stay in that classroom any longer.
"Natsuki, I'll take care of your class you go on ahead with your teammates." Iruka said.
"You sure, Iruka-sensei?" she asked.
"Yeah, I teach here too remember? I'm great with kids."
"Right. Ok." she said to Iruka then turned to the class "Sorry kids I'm afraid that I gotta go, urgent mission came up." A lot of moaning and groaning followed once Natsuki left.
As the three made their way toward the meeting point, they were joined by Genma who informed them that there had been two murders. One was a Sound Ninja taking part in the Chuunin exams and the other was the proctor for the exams. The four of them then split up; Itachi and Genma left for the proctor's scene and Dairuko and Natsuki left for the Sound ninja.
"I can't believe Hayate's dead, Dairuko." Natsuki said.
"I know I teased him about all that coughing but damn, wasn't expecting it so soon." Dairuko stated.
"Unfortunately we have to solve the murder of Dosu."
"Who?" Dairuko asked.
"Dosu."
He shrugged, still clueless. "The Sound Ninja you baka." she said.
"Oh right. Him... What? He's forgettable." He responded to her annoyed look.
"Honestly Dairuko your memory for people is terrible... I sometimes wonder how we're related."
"Ha! Aren't you one to talk? 'Cause as I recall it was a certain someone who tried to tie their sandal like this." Dairuko put his one foot on a elevated area but was stretching for the one on floor.
"That was ONE TIME!"
"One time too many, sister."
"Ahem are you two done yet?" a medic ninja asked, clearly irritated.
"Yes, we are." Natsuki said in a matter-of-fact tone and they proceeded to examine the body.
"He looks like an animal got hold of him." Dairuko stated.
"Yeah well unless there's a cat or dog that grows into a rabid, man-eating bear it wasn't an animal." Natsuki said.
"I know, but why can't these things be easy to explain every now then? Its always some murdering psychopath."
"You two sound like you have had a lot of experience with investigations." the medic snidely remarked.
"Tsche, Yeah we do actually-" Dairuko was interrupted by Natsuki.
"Dairuko I need you to break one of those lamps." the medic was about to object but Dairuko already broke one.
"Done." he said as Natsuki observed its contents.
"I see."
"That's it! I'm calling it, the Sound can solve their own murders." the medic said agitatedly.
"But we don't have anything to help the Sound once they start their own investigation."
"Who cares? Not our village's problem." and the medic walked away with his team.
"Asshole." Dairuko stated as he stood next to his sister "What did you find?"
"Sand."
"Sand?"
"Yes."
"Might I ask what exactly is the significance of sand?"
"There is no way sand should be up here let alone sand with traces of chakra in it."
"Alright so our killer can, what? Control sand."
"Maybe... I'll have to look deeper into it."
"Well best of luck to you I'll be in the hospital if you need me."
"The hospital?"
"Yeah ol' Hokage put me on guard duty while the exam finals are going on."
"Ok then I'll let you know if I need any help." Natsuki said as she and Dairuko went their separate ways.
MEANWHILE
"He used his sword before he died;" Itachi noted as he examined the sword "the blade is less sharp around the middle which means he was able to land a successful hit."
"But where's the blood?" Genma asked.
"Whoever Hayate attacked must have had thick armour... thicker than our jackets."
"They also must've been highly skilled Itachi, because Hayate is no pushover in combat so we're looking at jounin or ANBU or quite possibly a group."
"Agreed. Let's have a look at the wound, might help narrow the search." Itachi and Genma walked towards the medical ninja team.
"What's the latest do we have a cause of death?" Genma asked.
"Yes. It seems like it was a wind style based jutsu. I'll have to do a more thorough autopsy to determine the actual jutsu."
"Well that should narrow it down seeing as wind style is associated with Suna."
"Seems like Hayate's killer must be from the Sand." Itachi said.
"Hai, Senpai."
"Dismissed." Genma said. When the medical team left, he turned to Itachi.
"What now Itachi?"
"We need to have a contingency plan in place."
"Yeah? What do you have in mind?"
"I'm taking over as proctor for the exams."
"What? Why?"
"If anything is going to happen, it will start there. I'm sure of it." Itachi said and walked to a woman from ANBU who was standing by the body. He put his hand on her shoulder "I will find whoever did this I promise."
"Thank you, Itachi." All three of them left.
Itachi made his way through the village thinking of different contingency plans should the worse come to pass when he bumped into Dairuko who was running errands for the hospital.
"Dairuko, where's Natsuki?" Itachi asked.
"Oh she went looking for you-know-who because of his little card trick. It can help us pinpoint who killed the Sound ninja at least, that's what we're hoping for." Dairuko replied.
"Him." Itachi said with a bit of disdain.
"Don't bother hiding your distate. 'Cause I swear its hardly noticeable." Dairuko added sarcastically.
"Don't pretend like you feel any different."
"I never said I did, but Natsuki's not stupid she knows what she's doing besides, he's pulled through with viable information before."
"Fair enough... need some help with whatever you doing?"
"'Need help' no, but I could use the company and seeing as you offered it must mean you're trying to distract yourself."
"How can you tell?"
"Simple. We don't spend time together unless Natsuki is here or we're on a mission."
"That should hurt my feelings." Itachi said in his usual monotone.
"Itachi, we're friends but we're not really, y'know... friends."
"That is true." Itachi said and Dairuko handed him a list of items the hospital needed.
"Here's my half of the list. That's your half. You get how it works; get the items; head back to the hospital. Simple." and the two of them went off to get the supplies.
Natsuki waited near the most secluded part of Konoha for her contact. He was a spy in every nation, if he wanted to, he could start a war but then he would have to contend with Natsuki who had made it perfectly clear that -if he betrays her or does anything other than gather information- she will not hesitate to kill him.
"Why hello Natsuki. To what do I owe the pleasure?" her contact said while he adjusted his glasses.
"Spare me the pleasantries, Kabuto. I'm investigating the murder of a Sound ninja named Dosu."
"Well I see you haven't lost your spark but why come to me? I forfeited the exams remember?"
"I need you to make those cards you always brag about. I want everyone in the finals and those who might have had a reason to kill Dosu."
"I thought you were going to ask me to do something more challenging..." he sighed "it will take some time. Come back in 2 hours."
"Alright just get it done." Natsuki left unaware that her meeting with Kabuto was being watched from the shadows.
"Well now is that the great Natsuki you speak so highly of Kabuto-senpai?" a man bearing the Sound's headband asked.
"Why yes it is, Ren." Kabuto said turning toward the man with a smile.
"So she's the one Orochimaru-sama wants as a vessel huh?"
"Yes."
"It's a shame."
"What is?"
"She is beautiful. Almost wish I could meet her under different circumstances."
"Ren are you having second thoughts?"
"Of course not. I know where my loyalties lie, senpai."
"Good to know Ren... now come. We must prepare for the invasion."
"Hai."
As they turned to walked away, Ren glanced back in the direction the kunoichi had left, "Almost" he smirked.
The day of the Chuunin Exam finals was here. The majority of the village was in attendance with the exception of Dairuko who was enjoying a bowl of ramen and the company of Ayame; and Natsuki who was watching the main entrance for security reasons.
Itachi was proctor for the exams which went on without any trouble minus the fact that one of the finalists was late, but then again his sensei was the legendary Copy Ninja Hatake Kakashi who was just as legendary for being late. Just as Itachi was about to award Gaara of the Sand victory by forfeit, leaves began to swirl and suddenly Kakashi- with his student Sai- appeared.
"Sorry we're late." Kakashi said.
"We got lost on the path of life." Sai added with a smile.
"Well either way you have a match to begin." Itachi stated, unmoved.
"Aaah yes with the red-haired panda."
Unable to shake the feeling that something huge was about to go down, Itachi called, "Begin!" and the battle between Konohagakure and Sunagakure commenced.