[Hiruma is an OC]

Going Nowhere

Kakashi fumed behind his mask at his desk listening to the news that the ANBU guards had given him.

"Hiruma had to have help we are quite sure it was an inside job," The masked man finished his reporting.

"That woman managed to out smart all of our effort and escape," Kakashi asked.

"Yes sir," The masked man asked.

"The other villages were counting on this capture. Everyone wanted a turn too at the latest captive from these attacks," Kakashi said thinking outloud.

"It is clear to everyone that it was an inside job sir," The masked man said.

"Steps have been taken to weed out the responsible party correct," Kakashi asked.

"Yes sir we were able to speak to the woman you met on the road Yume and question her. She is no doubt involved," The masked man said.

"Send in team Kiba to my office and you may leave," Kakashi ordered. This day was about to get interesting.

000

Hiruma had escaped. It was likely an inside job. Just as the scouting team returned with nothing and they were getting closer to answers their unlikely lead escaped.

Sasuke along with Team Kiba members summoned his ninken to aid in the search. The group picked up her trail along with three others who seemed to be accompanying her. The team followed until the trail suddenly went cold forcing them to return to Konoha.

Meanwhile back at the Hokage tower hoping for more concrete leads on the cases piling up on his desk Kakashi waited patiently. His office was quite crowded. The teams were a bit delayed this afternoon as they brought in the woman named Yume. Yume was the woman Team Naruto found while searching for leads in the Nightmare Jutsu case.

Yume was willing and ready to cooperate with all of Konohagakure's demands as she stood before the Hokage. Naruto stood to the side of Kakashi's desk having just given a report of his latest mission. Sai stood in front of the Hokage desk a part of Naruto's last mission. And Tsunade was there to lend her expertise about the medical side of things.

"Tell us what you know," Naruto asked.

"It's real simple, her plan. Tori's group wants to find members. Tori didn't plan on Kota getting caught that and I didn't let her know but I pretended to go along with their group. I went along with them to gather information."

"Why impersonate Kaka-Sensei," Naruto asked.

"They want Sasuke, Ibiki and others," Yume replied.

"And we played into their demands," Naruto said.

"There is a whole shopping list of Shinobi from the village," Yume added.

"You speak now but when we needed your help you were unable to come forth with the details. Why should we believe you now," Kakashi asked.

Naruto held up his hand, "It is fine she'll tell us everything."

Yume looked from Naruto to Kakashi in surprise that he would trust her and continued, "They figure these Shinobi will not be missed or are already considered missing. There may be more to it than that but I don't want to speculate on the reason just report what I know."

"Tell us why starting with Yamato what are they looking for," Kakashi asked and added, "Are they looking for Shodaime's DNA again."

"Tori wanted Yamato. I don't know much about it but she's obsessed," Yume shrugged and seemed to remember that Tsunade was the granddaughter of Shodaime Hokage the master of the wood release technique, "Godaime-sama…Her genes are impressive."

"Never mind that! What of the DNA or Kekkei Genkai of the unborn children," Tsunade asked.

"The Kekkei Genkai wasn't too far off a theory when looking at some of the women targeted. Tori wasn't in on all the plans. I'm not quite sure why they targeted the Yamanaka woman and she claimed they never intended to go after Sakura. They wanted to use the Hyuuga clan but too many obstacles presented themselves and you are seeing the results of them going after Sasuke," Yume said.

"Well their plans don't quite make sense," Naruto said.

"Their plans weren't as concrete because the people behind it are not so bright. They are a distraction designed to take our attention off whoever is truly behind the scenes. Tori is not a lovesick girl she definitely had a plan for Shodaime's DNA I am convinced but I don't know for sure so I only told you what I think I know," Yume said.

"Sakura-chan is a target for a reason as is Ino and we will find out the reason one way or another," Naruto said.

"Like I told you I've never even met most of those people before. I can only tell you what I know," Yume said.

"But you've met them now. You've met my Sakura-chan and you-

"I've told you what I know," Yume interrupted she didn't wish for things to get personal.

"You have told us everything," Kakashi asked unsure she could trust this woman. However it wasn't the first time some group wished to use Hashirama's DNA. Naruto and Sasuke also had cells but weren't the easiest targets.

Yume took her time before replying, "that is not all as you know. The mask that you found me with belonged to me. ANBU, Kirigakure. My mission simple. Who I work for and what I was doing is classified."

Suddenly she was being uncooperative and she looked nervous too. Naruto walked up to the woman and stared her down. She didn't seem likely to use the same methods that Kota had and she wasn't about to run either.

"We talked about this. You promised to be cooperative with everything," Naruto said.

Sai was quite for the meeting until now he spoke up, "So the story about that man-

"Was the story programmed in my subconscious," Yume said cutting off Sai, "The connection to Tori's group came via Danzo and this woman's father."

"You are keeping secrets and you cannot afford to. Do you know who you are dealing with," Kakashi asked upset by the sudden shut down of their latest lead.

"I care about my past that is why I am talking. There is a conflict of interest here. I love my husband and I don't want him involved in anything that will compromise him. He is loyal to Konoha. So I offer you full disclosure as much as I can. Your move now."

"I see," Kakashi said.

"Exactly. I can also add that I could have left the village at any time," Yume said.

"That proves nothing," Kakashi said.

"I stayed because this is where I chose to start a family. I am loyal to Konoha and my family. They are everything I have," Yume said.

Naruto was extremely unhappy by the way Yume suddenly switched and shut down on him. He believed he could trust what she was saying. He thought she would tell everything willingly. Part of him felt like a fool. She had to know that they could use other methods to get the information she was hiding he just wondered why she stopped cooperating.

"We can't let you go now," Naruto said. Yume simply stared at him expressionless as Sai and said nothing. She was used to being emotionless when the job called for it. Naruto wondered at how someone could turn their emotions of and on like a faucet.

"Have her taken to the interrogation building," Kakashi said.

"Yes," Sai said and led the woman out the office.

"I really thought-

"Naruto it is fine. She is playing games but I think she is telling the truth about a lot of things. We just have to trust that our plans will work. Trust in our comrades and the job they are doing on the cases," Kakashi said. Tsunade began pushing the scrolls aside to pour a measure of sake in a cup on his desk.

"Don't say a word about it. I shouldn't even be here," Tsunade said.

"You know I can take over at anytime," Naruto said.

"As you should have already Naruto. Don't think I want to keep you from your dream one second longer. As a matter of fact you should help with the paperwork sometime as practice," Kakashi said.

"Yeah I'd even accept paperwork but I think I'll have a lot of assistants to help me out anyhow. Like you," Naruto shrugged.

"Yes I suppose the workload wouldn't dissuade you," Kakashi said.

"I have a lovely wife waiting for me otherwise I would take your workload on happily," Naruto sang.

"Boys it is time I take my leave," Tsunade said standing to her feet.

"Baa-chan have you been drinking the whole time," Naruto asked.

"Maybe. So speaking of her how are things going with you and my apprentice," Tsunade asked.

"Fine when her workload doesn't get in the way. We're both really busy lately," Naruto said.

"Naruto you've grown wonderfully. You remind me so much of your father," Tsunade said.

"I get told that by all you old folks lately…"

"But so much like your mother."

"Eh. Thanks."

"Goodbye." Tsunade said her goodbyes leaving with her sake in hand.

"I think I'll head home for the day," Kakashi said.

"Are you leaving me to receive mission reports for the day," Naruto asked.

"Yeah it is great practice," Kakashi said.

"Like I need that what part of lovely wife waiting did you not understand Kakashi," Naruto said frowning.

It was going to be a long week he could tell. Things were falling into place as they were finally getting some answers. Hopefully they could trust this latest source.

The best part of being a married couple was that their schedules somehow ended up working to their benefit. Most likely Sakura would be waiting for him when he got home. Those nights were the kind of nights that Naruto preferred to get cozy in her arms was the best feeling after a long day. He used his shadow clones to set himself up something special and went back to work with the remainder of his energy and attention.