So this one came up after reading another fic with Sakura and Genma as a pairing. It's quite an unusual pairing but I like it.
It will be a crime mystery with a slow-burn romance. So it will be quite long I'm afraid. My other fic will not be forgotten. I have the next chapter ready to be finished and edited, hopefully, by the weekend it will be up.
Have fun with this one.
Naruto stood with his back to the sun, feeling its comforting warmth seep through his black shirt and onto his skin. But what lay before him was a stark contrast to the soothing rays. A gentle breeze stirred in the alley, causing a few strands of hair to lift from the woman lying on the ground. Her hair, matted with dried blood, clung to her head. A couple of flies crawled over her face, and Naruto had to resist the urge to brush them away.
"Oh fucking...," Sai started as he entered the alley, his voice filled with shock.
"You could say that," Naruto whispered, not wanting to disturb the woman who lay lifeless before them.
Sai knelt next to the woman and gently waved his hand to shoo away the flies. Her vacant eyes stared up at the clear blue sky, devoid of any life. The deep, jagged red cut encircling her neck told a haunting tale. Naturo took a step back, allowing the forensic team to carry out their work. The alley had been secured, and most of the evidence surrounding the woman had been collected and prepared for analysis. They were now awaiting the arrival of the medical examiner.
"How old do you think she is?" Naruto inquired, his voice filled with a mix of concern and sadness, as Sai stood upright.
"Maybe in her early twenties, around 25," Sai estimated.
"About our age," Naruto sighed, "Fuck." Shaking his head, he turned away and exited the alley. Outside, the sun appeared to shine more brightly, and the air felt lighter and fresher. Kakashi stood a few steps away, engaged in conversation with the man who had discovered the woman. The poor guy had been disposing of his trash when he stumbled upon something unexpected. Naruto feared that he wouldn't find peaceful sleep tonight.
Sai emerged from the alley, briefly shielding his eyes from the glaring sunlight. Kakashi wrapped up his conversation with the man and redirected his attention to Naruto and Sai. "He didn't see anyone in the alley or hear anything," Kakashi reported.
"Wouldn't think he did, she's been deceased for quite some time. My guess is sometime during the night," Sai remarked, glancing back at the dimly lit alley. "Wasn't Nobu away on family business?" He mentioned it as an afterthought.
"Nobu?" Naruto questioned, a hint of confusion in his voice. "Who is he? A suspect?"
"He's the medical examiner," Kakashi clarified for Naruto, then turned his gaze to Sai. "I believe so. If he's unavailable, we don't have anyone else."Kakashi sighed. Looking up at the sky and back to the alley where the woman lay. "Given the heat, inform them that they can transport her to the morgue," Kakashi observed as Sai went off to relay the message and then redirected his attention to Naruto. "There's no identification on her, and no one nearby seems to recognize her. Her fingerprints aren't in the system either." Kakashi sighed, slipping his hands into his pockets. He glanced over his shoulder briefly before setting off in the direction of the Hokage tower. "I'll inform Tsunade and see if we can arrange for a replacement medical examiner. Hopefully, there's someone available."
Kakashi made his way to the Hokage tower, determined to inform Tsunade about the grim murder they had encountered. He reached her office and found her engrossed in paperwork, as usual. Tsunade glanced up from her desk, her expression a mix of curiosity and annoyance. "Kakashi, what brings you here?" she asked, her tone no-nonsense.
"Sorry to disturb you, Tsunade," Kakashi began, his voice respectful. "We have a situation. We discovered a murder victim in one of the alleyways. The medical examiner, Nobu, is away on family business, and we don't have anyone else available."
Tsunade sighed and rubbed her temples. "Murder, huh? Just what we need," she muttered. "And Nobu being away complicates matters further. We can't leave this case without proper examination." She sat back in her chair, "Do we know who she is?"
Kakashi shifted his weight uncomfortably before replying, "Unfortunately, no. She didn't have any identification on her. But we were able to obtain her fingerprints, although we haven't checked them yet."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, sensing Kakashi's unease. "You managed to get her fingerprints... I probably don't want to know how," she said with a hint of amusement. "Regardless, we need to find a new medical examiner. Since nobody else arrived at the crime scene, we can assume that the previous examiner didn't have a replacement."
She sat up straight in her chair and began rummaging through some files, her face lighting up as she found a particular document. "Ah, here it is! Yes... Oh, never mind," she said, her excitement deflating. She placed the paper back down on the desk. "Nobu did appoint a replacement, but unfortunately, that person can't make it. The idiot fell ill."
A knock at the door interrupted their conversation, and Tsunade called the person inside. Sakura entered the office, holding the papers Tsunade had asked for. When she noticed Kakashi, she greeted him, "Oh, hello Kakashi. I hope I'm not disturbing you?"
Sakura turned her attention to Tsunade and noticed the small smile on her master's face. "What's going on?" she asked, feeling a bit apprehensive.
"Sakura, right on time," Tsunade began, her smile growing even bigger. "If I remember correctly, you worked under Nobu for a while during your training, didn't you?"
Sakura took a careful breath before answering, "Your memory is correct. I did work under Nobu for a year before Naruto returned to the village with Jiraiya."
"Perfect," Tsunade exclaimed. "Kakashi, starting today, Sakura will be the medical examiner until Nobu returns. Of course, I'll send a message to him to come back as soon as possible."
Sakura's mouth dropped open in astonishment. It was the last thing she expected to hear. "Master, me, the medical examiner? I assisted him years ago. I don't know much about securing evidence and all that."
Tsunade waved away her objections with a dismissive hand. "Don't worry about that. I'll have Shizune help you. She has also assisted Nobu in the past."
"Yes, but still..." Sakura tried to voice her concerns but was interrupted by Tsunade.
"A woman was murdered within the village, Sakura. We have to find the culprit," Tsunade stated firmly. She turned her attention back to her papers. "Kakashi will fill you in on the details."
Sakura sighed, resigning herself to the situation. She left the office with Kakashi and they walked together for a while, discussing what Kakashi knew about the case. As they reached a point where their paths diverged, Kakashi turned in a different direction from Sakura.
"Don't worry, Sakura. I have faith that you will do fine," he said encouragingly before parting ways.
Sakura closed her eyes for a moment, feeling the warmth of the sun on her face. She had been so delighted that the weather was finally sunny, and she had rushed through her work to ensure she could enjoy the rest of the afternoon outside. Now, it seemed she would be spending the rest of the day in the cold autopsy room.
Gathering her resolve, Sakura set off toward the hospital. The morgue and autopsy facilities were located in a small building at the back of the hospital. Although there was a direct route through the hospital, Sakura chose to take the path around it, hoping to soak in a little more sunshine before heading indoors. As she walked, her thoughts drifted back to what Kakashi had shared about the murdered woman.
Sadness washed over her as she considered the woman's fate. They believed she was a civilian, around the same age as Sakura herself. It struck a chord within her, realizing that this woman would never get to experience another day. Sakura had been a shinobi for many years and had encountered death numerous times. When she embarked on a mission, she understood the risk that she might not return home. However, civilians like the woman she was about to examine didn't live with death lurking so closely as shinobi did.
As Sakura rounded the corner of the building, her gaze fell upon Naruto, seated on a low wall outside the morgue. He seemed deeply engrossed in something clutched within his hand. Drawing nearer, Sakura could discern that he was poring over a collection of photographs.
"Naruto?!" Sakura called out, diverting the attention of the blond toward her. In the process, she caught a fleeting glimpse of the photos. Sakura closed her eyes momentarily, bracing herself. "Is that the woman?"
"Yeah, do you recognize her?" Naruto lifted one photo for her inspection. Sakura could make out the image of a woman, albeit with a severely disfigured face that eluded recognition.
"No, I don't. Have you managed to discover her identity yet?" Sakura inquired.
Naruto shook his head, lowering the photo and carefully sliding it into a plain brown envelope that rested on the wall beside him. "No, not yet. We've spoken to people in the neighborhood where she was found, but no one seems to recognize her. We thought she might have worked at the hospital," he explained, his brows furrowing in frustration. As he rose from his seated position, Naruto stretched his arms above his head, arching his back. "There was a distinct scent of disinfectant surrounding her," he added, anticipating Sakura's unspoken question.
"Ah yes, Kakashi said something about that. You smelled it on the body?" She asked. After Naruto nodded Sakura turned her attention toward the morgue entrance. "Have you tried inquiring inside? Perhaps she was a new nurse or assistant?"
Naruto paused, contemplating her suggestion, before nodding in agreement. "I suppose it's worth a shot," he replied grateful for the suggestion. He began making his way toward the morgue, only to pause abruptly and glance back at Sakura. "Wait, weren't you supposed to have the afternoon off?" Naruto asked, his confusion evident. He remembered Sakura mentioning her plans to enjoy the outdoors when they had met in the morning.
A sigh escaped Sakura's lips, tinged with a small hint of disappointment. "Yes, I was," she confessed. "But since Nobu is away, I have the pleasure of filling in for him."
Understanding Sakura's predicament, Naruto nodded sympathetically. He gestured towards the morgue entrance, holding the door open for her.
As they stepped inside, an icy chill greeted them, causing Sakura to be thankful for bringing her spare coat. "She's already in there," Naruto informed Sakura, motioning in the indicated direction. Walking side by side, they approached the table where the attendants were gently laying the woman down.
Sakura drew closer to the table, her gaze fixed on the woman lying there. She appeared young, around Sakura's age. Her long hair, discolored and matted to her head by the blood, featured a few loose strands with a strawberry blond hue tinged with red. The woman's clothes, even in areas untouched by the blood, were soiled, clearly indicating that she had been lying on a filthy surface. Beneath the lingering scent of disinfectant, Sakura also detected another, more unsettling odor.
Her eyes traveled from the woman's bare feet to her exposed thighs, and a sinking feeling settled within Sakura as she deduced the source of the other scent. She shared her observations with Naruto, conveying the information she had gathered, before retrieving the camera from the cabinet. It was time to begin her work. As Sakura proceeded to capture photographs of the woman, Naruto set off toward the hospital.
—
The evening had settled in as Sakura found herself seated behind her familiar desk in the hospital, rather than the temporary one in the morgue. She had a good working relationship with Nobu, having collaborated with him on several occasions during her training. However, using his desk in his absence made her feel slightly uneasy.
Sakura and Shizune had completed the autopsy for now. Now, Sakura found herself engrossed in the task of writing the detailed report at her desk. The meticulous documentation was crucial in piecing together the puzzle of Jane Doe's identity and cause of death.
A gentle knock on the door interrupted Sakura's focus, drawing her attention away from the paperwork. To her pleasant surprise, she saw Kakashi standing in the doorway. She sat back in her chair, a smile forming on her lips, especially when she noticed the cup of coffee he had brought with him.
"I needed that," Sakura expressed her gratitude, reaching out to accept the foam cup from Kakashi. He took a seat in the chair opposite her, closing the door behind him. With a brief moment of respite, Sakura closed her eyes, inhaling the comforting aroma of the coffee and relishing a small sip. The liquid was still hot, but its rich flavor danced on her taste buds, providing a momentary respite amidst the demanding circumstances. "Thanks. But I assume you're here to discuss our Jane Doe?" she asked, setting the cup down gently, her focus shifting to the matter at hand.
"That, and to bring you coffee," Kakashi replied with a hint of amusement, crossing his ankles and settling back in the chair. He pulled down his mask, a gesture that Sakura had grown accustomed to over the years. It was a reminder of their shared history, the trust they had built through life-saving moments. She couldn't help but appreciate the glimpse of his face, a handsome visage that had remained hidden behind the mask for so long.
Sakura listened attentively as Kakashi expressed his hope for more information about the unidentified woman than what Naruto and Sai had managed to gather.
Taking a moment to collect her thoughts, Sakura responded, "I'm afraid I don't have much yet. The tests are still ongoing, and it may take several days to a week for us to gather more conclusive findings. What we have discovered so far, however, is far from pleasant."
Sakura took a few sheets of paper from her desk and handed them to Kakashi. "There were no defensive wounds, nothing that indicated she put up a fight, so we ran some tests," she explained. "Mostly for drugs. The results will come later, but I suspect she was drugged with something, like GHB, Ketamine, or Rohypnol." She waited as Kakashi read through the papers. His lips pressed together and his brows furrowed. "She was raped," Sakura stated solemnly.
Kakashi's inquisitive gaze remained fixed on Sakura as he posed the question. "He didn't leave any evidence behind?" he inquired, his curiosity evident.
Sakura's expression turned slightly regretful as she shook her head in response. "No, he was careful," she admitted, a hint of frustration creeping into her voice. She took a momentary pause to take a sip of her cooled coffee, the warmth providing a comforting respite amidst the weight of the investigation.
Kakashi's gaze remained focused on Sakura, his eyes searching for any glimmer of insight. "Do you have any clues about who she might be?" he asked, his tone filled with anticipation.
Sakura let out a weary sigh, her disappointment palpable in the air. "Unfortunately, we also didn't find any identification on her, and her face was badly damaged. Her fingerprint also didn't match anybody's in the system," she explained, a tinge of sorrow lacing her voice. "We're depending on tests like checking dental records and analyzing her DNA to help us unravel her identity. But for now, she will remain a nameless victim, a Jane Doe."
Kakashi focused his attention on the papers spread out before him, carefully scanning the gathered information once again. The room fell into silence, broken only by the faint rustling of paper. Lost in thought, Sakura broke the quietude with her pondering words.
"What strikes me as odd," Sakura mused, her voice laced with contemplation, "is the inclusion of disinfectant." Kakashi looked up from the papers, his single visible eyebrow arched inquisitively. Intrigued, he sought clarification.
"Disinfectants are typically employed on surfaces," Sakura continued, her tone thoughtful. "In hospitals, for instance, they are used to clean food-prepping areas. They serve no purpose within the human body. They are toxic. Yet she had it inside her."
"Inside her?" Kakashi interjected, curiosity lighting up his eyes. "Do you mean she swallowed it?"
Sakura shook her head, dismissing that possibility, and pointed to a particular section in the papers he held. Kakashi's gaze followed her gesture, his eyes widening as he absorbed the contents. A surge of surprise rippled through him, evident in his reaction.
"Oh... God," he muttered, his astonishment palpable.
"Yes, See disinfectants can, and most do, kill sperm. But he had already taken precautions against it." Sakura responded, reclaiming the papers from Kakashi and delicately placing them on her desk.
Sipping his coffee in silence, Kakashi's mind worked tirelessly to connect the newly acquired information with his existing knowledge. Sakura could almost see the gears turning as he delved deep into his thoughts.
"Naruto and Sai couldn't find anything about her," Kakashi began, his voice carrying a tinge of frustration. "It appears she doesn't belong to that particular part of the village, and there's a possibility that she may not even be from our village at all. Though I hope that's not the case, identifying her would be more challenging if she's from elsewhere. Well, it is still early days. Hopefully tomorrow we'll know more."
Rising from his seat, Kakashi discarded his empty cup into the trash bin. He paced the room, his movements reflecting his restless determination. "Sai has created a detailed portrait of her, as accurate as possible considering her facial injuries. Perhaps tomorrow we'll encounter someone who recognizes her or has reported her missing," he suggested optimistically. Adjusting his mask, he turned his gaze towards the door.
"Someone must surely be missing her," Kakashi muttered to himself, a mix of empathy and hope in his voice.
TBC