Chapter 44: Kato's Mystery

A/N: Hello my lovely readers! HAPPY NEW YEAR! Sorry I am SOOOOOO late updating (It's been a year but we won't talk about that). But here it is! Finally the next chapter in the mystery around what is happening. I read the whole thing again and I remember where I am heading with this story. Reworked a few things but that is for surprises to come. Even wrote out the Kato's history and BOY you guys will love it when it all comes to light. I won't be updating as frequently as I am busy and my life has been taken over by my job. But, I will try to update once a month, I know... it isn't much but its what I can do with everything I have right now.

Anyway, I shall let you read! Please like, comment or something! I enjoy hearing from you guys!

Shikamaru:

Kiba lands in front of the hospital before I do. He takes Tooru inside and I can feel my mind turning, maybe even a little too fast for me. What are the Kato's… what was that memory about? I can feel my eyes narrowing as I try to think of the possible connections that could be happening. Again, though, nothing's making sense. Not even her history and the long string of it. Not even Lady Fifth noted everything down. And for a fact...

Unless…

I walk inside the hospital. I should run this thought by Kiba first. If my assumption is correct, maybe Sai will be able to help up in this situation. I hear Kiba's loud voice and walk over to where I can hear it. I walk in and see him and Sakura talking.

"I don't know! Why would I know that!" "At least know a few things before rushing in here. It could help her with any information!" Kiba turns and sees me, "Oh Shikamaru! Do you know how long it's been since Tooru has eaten anything?!"

"Learn to be quieter in a hospital." I look at Sakura, "My guess is at least 24 hours. After her talk with Kakashi I can only assume though. Yamato didn't say anything, we took her so he could go and inform Kakashi."

"I see, well, I'll start an IV and hydrating her. We should keep her here for a few hours."

Tenzo:

Stopping in front of Kakashi's door, something still doesn't make sense. And I know Shikamaru and Kiba feel it. For sure Kakashi has to know something doesn't feel right. Everything about Tooru is going to be… I want to say a mess. But as of right now we cannot draw that conclusion. Everything about her has been a mystery, ever since she was a child.

I enter the office.

Kakashi:

Tenzo.

"Yo."

Something must have happened. There is no Tooru in tow with him. She comes with Tenzo to check in but I haven't seen her since the rules. And I haven't done anything else with the rules. Only crossing them out. But something has changed.

Even an idiot can feel that in the room.

"Kakashi, something happened."

I motion for him to continue, "So? What happened."

"Tooru passed out. She hasn't eaten in a few days. Kiba and Shikamaru took her to go see Sakura. I thought I should come and let you know right away."

I snicker. Tooru hasn't done this before. For as long as I have known her, she always eats three meals, and snacks. She is one of the healthiest ninja I know since she doesn't go out to eat and that she always cooks meals at home. Nothing stopped her. She even could make food pills.

No one is ever allowed to touch her food, even Tenzo isn't allowed. If he does he has to record everything and put a list next to anything he makes for her. Something smart that she was made to do. But it kept track of what she always needs.

"Also… Kakashi… Something else is bugging me."

"What is it?" I lean back in my chair, this is something taking turns for the worse or for the better.

If Tenzo has something bugging him, it must be something.

"I don't really remember her in the ANBU. I think I would remember someone younger than me. I knew all about Itachi, and you. Seeing as we were all the younger ones. I would have noticed someone with the green hair in the ANBU, let alone someone with her power. A kid with the outlook she did? No way I would have missed her."

I think about this. He brings up a good point. Tooru in the ANBU, I don't even remember her as a jonin. Which isn't good Lord Third really did want her to be a mystery to everyone.

"No… something isn't right about it…" No point in making Tenzo worry about it, "Let Shikamaru and Kiba know. They are looking into her past and her clan."

Tenzo bows, "I will sir. I'll take my leave now."

Once Tenzo walks out, I can't help but wonder… just what did Lord Third do to this poor girl.

Shikamaru:

Once Tooru is asleep I lean against the wall. Sakura said that Tooru would be out for a while. She would come back in an hour to check on her.

Should we ask Sai about the Foundation? He would know more about it than anyone else would. It bugs me though, not knowing something. Maybe Danzo kept records of Tooru and her progress. He would have to know or could get the information for us. Sai is our best bet for getting these missing moments. The only problem is, there is little to no proof that something like this happened. Sai had become more open since he and Ino started to date, but it didn't stop the fact that something is very wrong with how everything is playing out. And I don't like it at all. Being a Nara, I am lazy, but being a Nara with a puzzle? It motivates me just enough to want to do something. A lot of things are bothering me.

"Shikamaru? You really are thinking over there. Spill it." I look over to Kiba, letting out a long sigh.

"I think we should go talk to Sai."

Kiba narrows his eyes, "Why should we go talk to Sai?"

"He might have seen her in the Foundation."

This causes Kiba to pause. I see him really thinking about the possible outcomes and the evidence. Which isn't a lot to begin with. Nothing we have is a lot, everything we do at this point has to be based on hunches. Which isn't something I normally would like to do. This case though? It's special.

And it could unlock a whole world of ideas about Tooru that we didn't think would be possible. Of course it's all a guess on if Sai remembers her. Which… none of us would know if he does. Sai talks about his brother he lost but not much after that.

Kiba let's out sigh, "Why can't anyone else do this? She doesn't like us and being forced to-"

"Kiba, we were asked to for a reason. I don't know why yet, I'm working on that. We need to work on figuring out why this is happening." They stand there looking at each other. I know something is wrong. And Sai could be one of the answers we are looking for.

"Lead the way." Kiba motions for me to walk. Which I begin to walk. I know there is a lot at stake here. But this is a puzzle that I am determined to find out about. Tooru is someone who isn't known and I like to know things, with feelings aside, I can't help but wonder what happened. Why did this happen to her? What was lord thirds motives? Was it even lord third? Could all this be Danzo? There is a high chance in my mind it could be Danzo.

That begs the question of why? Why isolate Tooru from a young age? Due to her powers she has and the chance she hadn't been taught how to use the powers yet would make her useless. It's like Saskue not learning anything his family. He had all the readings, but we don't know if her family wrote anything down. Leading me to believe that no one outside the Katos knew about what they fully could do. Hence why Danzo would take any amount of interest in her. She would be a new shiny toy for him to play with. Unless there is a secret room her family home, it's been abandon I believe. I can't say for sure where her family home is.

"What's the theory?" I glance at Kiba and see his hands in his pockets.

"The theory is that she was in the Foundation. It would make sense why we never saw her, and how she became and ANBU at such a young age. What we know now is that Danzo liked to collect ninja with special talents. Someone who was alone, Danzo wanted to be the most powerful man in the Leaf. How did he get that? By his special ANBU members that were loyal to him. I don't know how Lord third was involved in this, nor how Danzo got Lord Third involved in the isolation of Tooru, what I do know is that Lord Third would have never put Tooru in isolation. Look at Naruto and Saskue, neither of them were isolated. So why would he do it to Tooru? Our best lead right now is Sai. He might know something and since the foundation isn't around? That gives us a chance." I pause when Kiba gives me a look, "It's a puzzle and my mind will work on it."

Kiba smirks, knowing full well I would work something like this out. "Oh, I'm aware my friend. But this puzzle has a special tone to it, doesn't it?"

I look at Kiba confused. "What is that supposed to mean Kiba?"

"Just that for once in our lives the puzzle isn't around Naruto or Saskue. Of any of team 7 for once. It a new game Shikamaru and you are loving figuring out the rules. Even if its with a girl that hates both of us and could possibly kill us at any given time during this whole thing."

I narrow my eyes at Kiba. While it is true that for once… we aren't dealing with Naruto or Saskue and their drama that happened when they were younger, seeing as Saskue has been traveling and Naruto is doing more or less his own thing without putting everyone in danger… Tooru is a new person. And with a new person means new rules and changing in standings with people all over the village.

Not to mention her family is so different. I let out a sigh. Knowing for one of the few ties I have known Kiba, he is correct in his line of thinking.

"I know I know." Rolling my eyes I turn away from Kiba. "You like this too. Out of all of our group, you're the one who is the most social after Naruto."

It still bugs me why Kakashi is having Kiba and I work together. I can understand myself, I look into things and I have the brain power for it. But Kiba is a different story. It makes no sense to me for Kiba and I to be working together. Sakura or even Hinata would have made better choices. Having a female around would help ease Tooru and Hinata and Sakura can keep up with the ever changing ideas that flow through. Especially since there is little record of the Kato's anywhere in the village.

Kiba snorts. "I know. I don't get why either."

While we walk we run into Hinata. A pleasant surprise for us.

But we don't have time to chat.

"Shikamaru, Kiba. Hello." Hinata bows, her voice, while still soft, has been gaining new strength to it since she gained more confidence in herself.

"Hello Hinata! What are you up to this fine day?" Kiba pauses and I can't help but roll my eyes, we have a mission and a puzzle to figure out.

Hinata blushes a little, "Waiting on Naruto, he should be heading back from a mission soon."

Kiba nods in agreement, the village is quiet while Naruto is away. Even with the Leaf growing in population, it's never the same without the idiot in the village.

Still, thinking about Naruto won't help us in solving the mystery that surrounds Tooru.

"I see. When is he due to come back?" I clear my throat with Kiba talking causing him to look at me. "Right."

Hinata looks between us. "Is there something wrong?"

"Kiba and I are looking for Sai, have you seen him?" Better to ask if Hinata has seen Sai than sit here talking about Naruto and their relationship.

"He was at the flower shop, something about getting flowers for Ino, even though she works there." Hinata tilts her head in the direction of the flower shop. "And he should be at the gate any minute now."

Hinata waves bye to us and walks off. I glance at Kiba. And I can see the same thought crossing his mind. Sai is a romantic? Letting out a sigh I begin to walk towards the flower shop. Only to hear Ino squeal.

"Sai! You're too sweet, but next time buy flowers when I'm not here."

"I thought it would be cute, and I have no idea what flowers you like."

Kiba comes into view first, but Ino ignores him, as is normal for her. Until she sees me. "Shikamaru! Look at how sweet Sai is!" Ino holds up the flowers, which ones they are? I have no idea.

"Ino… I don't know what flowers those are." Ino pops her face out from behind the flowers and smiles. While Ino and I have never had any… romantic relationship, her, Choji and I all treat each other as siblings. And that is all that matters between us. "Besides we came here to talk to Sai."

"You really didn't know he was planning this? Or a special date night?" Ino shifts her stance and crosses her arms. And I can already tell she will be willing to fight us on taking Sai away.

"Darling, they aren't taking me away away. Besides, you need time to get ready for our date night which is in a few hours." Sai pats Inos head as she goes red in the face. "I am sure they wouldn't intrude unless it was something important."

Kiba and I look at each other as Ino gives Sai a look. The exchange a few words before Ino heads upstairs.

"Now, what is so important that you guys have to ask me tonight?"

Kakashi:

Having pondered on what Tenzo told me a moment ago… I still feel my head pounding. While I have much better things to think about in the position I am in. The steps that Lord Third took with Tooru seem out of character for him. He willingly let Saskue and Naruto run free. One with revenge on his mind since his older brother had killed everyone he loved dearly and the other has the nine-tails within him. While the Kato's had become hermits within the village for good reasons, well… as far as everyone could guess. The Kato's had come to the village shortly after the first war. All of their history had been unknown to the village at the time. Even their justus they possessed. People assumed their homes were destroyed during the war and they needed somewhere else to settle. They never had more than 15 people in their clan at any given time. The reason was always unknown. They are a minor clan compared to some of the others in the village, but the reason they came has always troubled Kakashi. The Kato's have a unique power, one that barely anyone knew about, yet somehow their village got destroyed. It had to have been a suicide mission, unless the Kato's wanted nothing to do with the war? But even then, they hadn't spent that long in the village before the third war broke out, and after that? One day the Kato's are just gone. Kakashi remembers hearing that the Kato's heir was born, but the Fourth was concerned about his own wife and Naruto. Everyone knew that Lord Fourth was expecting his first child, and most other births had been overshadowed. So… no one knew the Kato's had even had, who I assume is Tooru.

What a tricky situation I seem to have found myself in.

There is a knock on the door. "Come in."

I glance up, expecting someone to come in. But no one does. Rarely does anyone knock and not come in after. And they have to have a good reason to be coming in. The door knocks again. "Come in."

Still nothing happened at that moment.

I stand up and go to the door. Opening it. Seeing that nothing is there. I close the door again and the knock happens again. I open the door right after only to see nothing there.

"Apologize…" A small voice catches my attention.

I look around, trying to find where the voice came from. But I hear nothing. "I… I didn't mean to be late my lord…"

Why does this voice sound… scared? Why does it sound like this voice belongs to…

"But… Lord Third! I didn't do anything wrong! I was just a fe-" The voice cuts out as there is a squeak. It has to be Toorus voice, a time when she missed something. "I shall leave… no? I see." As fast as it came, the voice fades into crying.

Was that a memory? Or a warning?