The Scroll Two
Kakashi sat in his office chair looking up at the redhead Karin who stood next to her daughter. It wasn't everyday that he had the attention of Sasuke's family. They now were the Uchiha clan.
"As I said I am well aware of the whereabouts of Sasuke and you and I both know how he would like to keep that information under wraps," Kakashi said.
"That is fine. I've made my peace," Karin said.
"You don't sound convincing. Anyhow Naruto should be heading back from a mission with him if you wish to-
"That jerk will have to do better than to speak to me through his friend," Karin said.
"Oh um. Well I have better news for you and is actually the reason why you were called here to beging with," Kakashi said.
"Yeah what is it," Karin said.
"About your status with Konoha. These are all correspondence with Kusagakure and the five Shinobi villages about your status. This is the result of Shikamaru and all the others hard work. You are now an official citizen of Konoha…officially recognized as a head of the Uchiha clan alongside your husband with all the political power that position holds in this village. You are also recognized alongside Naruto's clan the Uzumaki and the small faction of power that they possess.
This all means you are free to come and go as any citizen of Konoha. If you wish you may serve the Konoha Shinobi. You are to be a loyal Konoha citizen," Kakashi said.
"So basically I am in and you are telling me to be on my best behavior," Karin said.
"Yes," Kakashi said.
"At a time when my husband may not even want to settle in Konoha. What am I to do," Karin threw up her hands.
"I think you might be surprised," Kakashi said.
"Do you know something that I don't," Karin asked.
"This is Sasuke's home," Kakashi said.
"It was," Karin said.
Karin took a deep breath. All the days of running were over. Now she could walk the streets of Konoha freely. The only thing missing was Sasuke. She wasn't like other women and she wasn't about to let herself miss him that much she convinced herself.
Leading Miyako out of the Hokage offices she wondered what it would be like with her daughter sitting behind that desk. It never clicked with her that she had the keys to the clan of the Uchiha until today. Walking the streets she knew just where to head. Karin was going to prepare to buy some land in the village.
She was in for quite the shock when she learned how much land was already in her name. Perhaps Sasuke was planning on returning a lot sooner than later. Regardless Karin went back and forth on whether or not to forgive him for leaving at all.
000
The code was cracked. Shikamaru's group worked closely with the original team lead by Yurika. Shiho of Shikamaru's group came into the office announcing that they had cracked the code on one of the scrolls.
"The only way to break the curse is to remove Tori's soul and return it to her own body," Shiho said to the group of shinobi in the office. The group included Juugo who knew a lot about Orochimaru's experiments. The nuke nin was an asset to the group for several weeks now as a part of an arrangement made with Sasuke.
"By curse we are referring to the Nightmare Jutsu," Juugo said speaking up.
"Yes that is what we are calling it," Shiho clarified and blushed at the taller man's intense stare. For several weeks now Shiho worked with this mysterious man decrypting many of the secrets of Orochimaru's hideouts. Wherever Sasuke needed help Juugo would assist. Shiho found herself getting closer to him as the weeks went on.
"Can we say with certainty that Tori's jutsu is similar to Orochimaru's," Shikamaru asked.
"They are similar from everything I see so far. The way I understand it she would need cells from someone like me to initiate the curse mark jutsu," Juugo said.
"And you haven't willingly participated in any of these experiments have you," Shikamaru asked.
"No. I'm not the enemy of the village," Juugo said.
"We have the coordinates for Tori's latest whereabouts. She is held up in one of Orochimaru's oldest hideouts. We're going to need full cooperation from you Juugo to help us with the schematics of the hideout," Yurika said.
"I have helped so far and I will continue to help," Juugo said.
"What are your reasons for helping," Yurika asked. Juugo looked around the room at everyone but didn't feel the need to explain his actions.
"I have my reasons," Juugo said. The blonde woman with the glasses staring at him started to make him uneasy with all the attention she was giving him. Shikamaru glanced at her then back to Juggo ever observant.
"At this point it doesn't matter. Sasuke has made a deal and we are supposed to be here looking into the Nightmare Jutsu nothing more," Shikamaru said.
"I trust the big guy," Naruto spoke up from the doorway.
"Just because he's Sasuke's friend doesn't make him trustworthy. He's still a criminal," Yurika said.
"Not anymore. He is a friend," Naruto said. The years since the war he had made friends with many people and Juugo was no exception. Team Taka had been beneficial to him over the years. They were Sasuke's friends and closest teammates but earned the trust of the blonde after helping in many affairs. Naruto used his political power to help out the group that helped so much saving Tsunade's life, fighting the enemy in the war alongside the Allied Shinobi.
"Naruto's right he earned it," Shikamaru said.
"Thank you," Juugo said.
"Well since I'm here please tell me what we know so far," Naruto said.
Shiho spoke up explaing all that was previously stated about the Nightmare Jutsu and Tori's body switching. Shikamaru and Naruto left to inform Kakashi about the plans to invade Orochimaru's hideout and return Tori's soul to her original body.