Jutsu Mission

With the nightmares targeting Konoha missions are put together to deal with and find the responsible group. Because so many were affected they were sure they were dealing with a group rather than one individual. Konohagakure called it the Nightmare Jutsu case but so far no other nations reported any related problems.

At a training field Naruto waited with his team members prepared to discuss their mission and discuss the leads they had so far in the investigation.

"Hey, how's everything," Kakashi asked arriving late as usual. Being out of the offices was preferable because lately he had a ton of paperwork to get through. The new technology being delivered to Konoha seemed to make more paperwork even as it claimed to decrease or do away with paperwork altogether.

"You're late again," Yamato complained.

"Well I was enjoying-

"Save it. I can't complain too much so what's going on," Yamato asked.

"Well Naruto called this meeting so why don't you tell us Naruto," Kakashi said looking towards the blonde future Hokage the spiting image of his father Minato Yondaime Hokage. Memories jogged though his mind of his former Sensei.

"Yes I was waiting for everyone," Naruto scowled at Kakashi, "Someone in the village perhaps has cast a jutsu."

To everyone's surprise Sasuke was back in the village. Everyone stared at the last remaining Uchiha but no one at this meeting suspected him but there were rumbling of distrust given his reputation. There were talks and arguments over who would share their border with the newest Uchiha compound because they ultimately believed that Sasuke would settle in the village permantely someday.

Sasuke spoke up adding to Naruto's description, "like Magekyo Sharingan. It tortures the people its cast on. It feels real but seems to only appear as the person is sleeping."

Naruto continued, "But they can't be Uchiha obviously."

"That goes without saying," Sasuke said a little pissed off that his clan was even brought up. There were rumblings here and there about people claiming to posses the Sharingan but they were all false reports. Sasuke took everything seriously because his clan was missing genetic material and there were just enough Orochimaru types out there who loved their experiments. The bad guys had enough to make a mockery out of his clan and he couldn't have that world for his daughter.

"I don't suspect you Sasuke and that needs to be said for anyone upset by his presence here," Naruto said matter of fact.

Sasuke continued to glare at Naruto but said nothing.

Naruto waited for any objections before continuing, "Working with Ino we haven't found any other reason for the nightmares that seem targeted to only females in this village."

"So there are more victims," Sasuke spoke up.

"We investigated the Teams from the Kusagakure mission," everyone nodded and Sakura continued, "That is to say myself and Inaho are two, the only two from that mission affected. No male members only female and pregnant. There's more Sasuke."

Sakura looked at Sasuke for permission before she would continue.

"Go ahead you can speak freely Sakura," Sasuke said.

"More interesting than the teams we investigated we found that Karin seems to be affected. Mission data from a mission to Kusagakure placed many of the affected Kunoichi there. Investigations by the mind control unit also unearthed data pointing to that village," Sakura said and looked away from his piercing eyes.

"Karin," Sasuke questioned surprised, "Are you sure?"

Sakura nodded. Sasuke thought about her telling him earlier that she was fine.

She was nowhere near the Kusagakure mission.

"Once we determined that those three were affected we noticed the other victims had all had some direct contact with members of the Kusagakure mission teams. The data from Ino's reports shows a pattern," Sakura continued, "Genma, Raido, Izumo and Naruto remain unaffected for obvious reasons and there is no pattern linking them to Ino, Inaho or myself."

"But Ino did not go on any mission obviously," Sasuke said.

"We know but the other connections are too strong to ignore," Sakura said.

"Then we find out what's happening with the three of them and perhaps we can narrow things down," Sai said. He wondered why Sasuke never mentioned anything about Karin.

"That would be simple," Naruto said, "but it's happing to more girls in the village. Whatever it is has spread. The pattern isn't keeping up."

"Maybe there never was a pattern to begin with. Perhaps we assumed it was so," Sasuke said. The little he knew about Kusagakure didn't matter as everyone knew he was associated with a missing nin from that village Karin.

The others nodded and looked deep in thought. Kakashi reasoned someone could be trying to set Sasuke up after all but said nothing allowing the others to continue the meeting.

"We've examined Ino," Sakura continued, "There aren't any markings and were not sure what to look for we assume something like Orochimaru's curse mark jutsu."

It wasn't lost on anyone that Orochimaru also had a connection with Sasuke. The connections just kept on coming. Whatever the case Sasuke still had enemies out there or at least people who didn't like his involvement with the enemy. Needless to say there were trust issues when it came to the Uchiha much like in the past.

"We may be looking too close to home," Sasuke interrupted, "Whoever this is they are powerful but for what purpose."

The concern in his voice made it clear the urgency he felt about this mission. Perhaps he wanted to prove himself. Just because he was helping didn't make him official. From time to time he was allowed to help out but he wasn't ready to commit to being a part of the old system. He just needed to find his own answers to this Shinobi lifestyle.

"We should gather intelligence from the Kusagakure Missions," Sasuke added, "I'll go talk to Karin meanwhile."

"Way ahead of you," Naruto interjected, "putting together a team to go investigate."

"I'm going too," Sai stepped in, "This person who's torturing my wife won't get away with it."

"All the reason why you're not coming Sai," Sakura spoke up, "That may play into what they want. Sasuke stays too. Please understand that if this information goes higher up things look worse for us all."

"She can't be the victim and the perpetrator at the same time," Sasuke said hating the way he was sounding. His private life interwoven in this mess was unacceptable to him.

"No one is accusing anyone we are just thinking ahead and looking at all the possibilities," Sakura said apologetically.

"Very well," Sasuke said. He'd deal with the bigger picture later for now he knew Karin was no threat to Konoha. Sasuke added, "I'm sure the Hyuuga likely had nothing to do with it either."

"This isn't about clan vs. clan. That time is the past Sasuke; we don't live in that world anymore. I can speak to Hinata latter but let's focus on what matters right now," Naruto said looking at his friend.

"Wait a minute here," Yamato spoke up, "Your reasoning is flawed if Sasuke is going along. If anything his leaving the village on a mission like this won't sit well with the higher ups."

Sasuke expected this kind of reaction and he didn't let it bother him he just stood indifferent. It wasn't the first time and it wouldn't be the last. Konoha had a Shinobi system in place and Kakashi just inherited it all these other Shinobi under his leadership would continue to follow that system.

"For two reasons I want Sasuke on my team," Naruto spoke up, "Sasuke is a member of team seven and we'll work together best on this mission."

"Who agreed to this," Yamato said still unsatisfied. He still had reservations when it came to Sasuke. It was true that he trusted Naruto but it would take a whole lot to put that kind of trust into his friend.

"Trust me when I say we had others in mind but we work together best as this team," Sai spoke up surprising the others.

"Hn," Sasuke stared daggers at his former replacement.

Sai, Sakura, Naruto and Sasuke all looked confident they would be able to solve this problem and be successful on this mission. Sasuke wondered just when Sai decided that he was a worthy teammate but nothing was surprising to him anymore.

"There is a reason why I chose this circle to have a meeting with," Naruto said and smiled.

"Let's go Sai," Sasuke said urging his friend to leave.

Kakashi was very confused that his juniors all seemed to know so much more about what was going on than he did. As the Hokage this meeting was an eye opener that he had been distracted lately.

"Senpai I don't like this at all," Yamato said.

"Not to worry we'll go about this in our own way," Kakashi reasoned.

"So you're going to go," Yamato asked as the strolled away from the meeting.

Kakashi thought about it for a minute before giving his response. Sure he wanted to be included in this mission but as Hokage he had to trust his comrades. Besides he was going to have a word with Tsunade about things before making any move. He had other priorities and some things were long overdue like his wife's status with Konoha and she knew the Daimyo and other leaders a little better as Godaime.

"It wasn't my plan. I'll know better once I look into a few things," Kakashi answered.

"I've been in the field. I've tailed Orochimaru and I know that he has nothing to do with what is going on right now in Konoha but many people think it is about time to lock him up for his crimes," Yamato said.

"Many people do think that," Kakashi said. All he knew was that he was working on the case of Orochimaru trying to avoid an all out war or worse.

"What do you think about Sasuke's change of heart," Yamato asked.

"He still has a lot to prove. I'm not sure he's given up on changing the whole Shinobi world," Kakashi said.

"Talk about change of heart," Yamato said.

"Not too far fetched since Sasuke wants to preserve Itachi's memory," Kakashi said.

"The baby connection. Could it be related to Kekkei Genkai," Yamato asked.

"Well if the child could develop the Sharingan that child would be an asset to the right people," Kakashi said.

"What if Sasuke were to end up with a child," Yamato asked thinking about what would happen if a threat like Orochimaru would appear once again.

Kakashi answered simply, "Life moves on." There was a lot that Yamato did not know about Sasuke. Kakashi did know that Sasuke was already a father and that his child's mother was none other than Karin. He felt a little bad that he didn't come forth and share this information with Yamato. A lot of information did not pass in this meeting and Yamato didn't seem to understand what was going on.

"What if Sasuke were to get together with a Hyuuga," Yamato asked.

"Like Hinata the heir?"

"Precisely."

"I doubt the Hyuuga would ever allow an Uchiha to sire such a child," Kakashi reasoned.

"But what if…"

"Uchiha passing their eyes on to a Hyuuga child or the Hyuuga passing on to the Uchiha…maybe even a combination of both. That would be powerful. You've seen what happened with your own Kekkei Genkai," Kakashi said.

"Mine is not perfect genetics why target us," Yamato wondered.

"Simple, a survivor of Orochimaru's experiments is rare. Your bloodlines are strong. There are still enemies out there who could seek to continue in his methods," Kakashi said.

"If their purpose is to some how experiment why bother to try to torture the mother," Yamato asked.

"Maybe they don't want to see a child come from those bloodlines," Kakashi said and added, "The Hyuuga have secret techniques to protect the Byakugan and perhaps they also hold secrets regarding the Sharingan and Rinnegan."

"You might be onto something. Perhaps that is the trick they are using a secret technique," Yamato reasoned that there was so much they didn't know.

"Perhaps it is still too soon to tell what it is they are after," Kakashi said.

"They never said anything about Karin having nightmares only that she was affected by the mission to Kusagakure," Yamato said.

"That much is true. I don't think that Karin's relationship with Sasuke has progressed that fast," Kakashi said surprised by the suggestion he attempted to deflect.

"You are right after all we are talking about pregnancy," Yamato reasoned.

"Yeah you are right what about Hinata?"

"I don't think she plays a role yet I was only mentioning because of the bloodline a potential child would carry," Kakashi said.

"They have all matured so much it is only a matter of time," Yamato said grinning as they passed a group of practicing academy students.

"Still we don't need to rush things," Kakashi laughed. The sight of the kids sparing brought back memories of his own training days and instinctively he looked to the Hokage monument up at the carved Yondaime.

000

Sai and Sasuke continued to walk away from the meeting. Sasuke was unusually talkative questioning Sai all about Ino's symptoms. Sai listened but didn't have too much more to add than what he said at the meeting.

"We'll need two other people to make our team and besides I want to speak to Karin," Sasuke said.

"She hasn't told you about the nightmares then," Sai asked.

"She has told me," Sasuke recalled his wife's words to him this morning, "Told me that they were different than Ino's. She said they were 'normal.'"

"There is something on your mind you're not saying…So that's the connection. You think Karin is hiding something," Sai asked.

"I think my wife may not know she has anything to hide," Sasuke said.

"Oh."

"Yep."

"What kinds of nightmares are normal," Sai asked changing the subject back to the Nightmare Jutsu plaguing their wives.

"She went on about babies," Sasuke said.

"The very subject of these investigations," Sai said.

"Something about this morning was strange but it wouldn't be like her to not tell me," Sasuke said.

"Are you trying to convince me or yourself," Sai asked.

"I was just thinking out loud," Sasuke said.

"Ino had a nightmare that the baby would be born damaged. Terminating the pregnancy was an option, she told me. The way she talked it hardly seemed like a last resort. Perhaps they are playing mind games to convince her that is the only way," Sai said letting his guard down a little.

"If your right they shouldn't be left alone," Sasuke said.

Sai hated to think that anything could happen to either his wife or their unborn child. If indeed Karin were pregnant he knew the thoughts that ran through Sasuke's mind. Suicide was a hard subject for Sasuke after finding his clan dead by his own brother's hands but a subject they had to consider given the power of these nightmares to persuade people into doing things they normally wouldn't. Worse she would definitely have to keep her distance from the village now.

"None of us are alone," Sai said.

000