Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Law of Large Numbers
When an experiment is replicated multiple times, all the while achieving the same outcome, the mean of that outcome grows closer to the population's average. The closer the mean is to the average, the more likely a hypothesis can be accepted as fact.
It is the same for large sample sizes. When there is a large pool of participants, the results of a study are more likely to be representative and relevant to the population as a whole. A rule of thumb when analyzing the validity of a study is to look for a sample size that consists of at least one hundred participants. Although, more is always welcomed.
The restaurant buzzed with the lunchtime crowd. Meat sizzled and fat bubbled and popped on the grill at our table. In their favorite booth, team ten shared their celebratory lunch with me. The mood was light and energetic… at least for Ino and Chouji's side of the table. "With that chunin vest, even you are starting to look respectable", Ino giggled as Shikamaru slumped over the table; his head propped up by his hand.
Shikamaru scowled at Ino as Chouji let out a heart-filled laugh. "Ino's right. But the look doesn't suit you".
I tried being present in the moment; rolling my straw around in my glass of orange juice. I hadn't seen Chouji since the invasion. Shikamaru a bit longer. There hadn't been time to catch up after bringing Tsunade back to the village. Team Ten had been busy pulling extra missions for the village. And I had been… I don't know what the right word is… implicated?
"It's not funny", Shikamaru complained. His shoulders hunched and the collar of his new rank raised to his ears. Out of everyone at the table, smooshed between me and Asuma, Shikamaru sounded the least pleased with his promotion.
My being here was a fluke but a welcomed one. Having completed a couple of morning D-ranks, I stepped out of the mission hall at the same time Shikamaru was climbing down the stairs from the Hokage's office, new chunin vest already in place. He saw me. I saw him. We paused and stared with a searching silence. The last time I saw Shikamaru, we were planning for the invasion. The last thing he'd have heard about me was my MIA status and probably Chouji assuring him that it was true.
Scanning him with my eyes, I could feel Shikamaru doing the same. No injuries. No missing limbs. The vest was also very telling. He'd survived Temari and all the troublesome events that followed. There were questions in his eyes. Where were you? What happened with Kabuto? Why were you reported MIA?
But he refrained from asking any of them; sensing this wasn't the place. Instead, Shikamaru stepped off the last step and bumped his shoulder against mine. "Let's go", he said; heading for the exit. "Asuma-Sensei is treating us to barbeque".
Which is exactly how I ended up here. Chouji welcomed my presence with a back-cracking hug. Asuma hadn't even batted an eye at now having to treat a fourth kid to a meal. Only Ino huffed at the intrusion. Though her ire was quickly forgotten in favor of teasing Shikamaru about his new vest.
The corners of Asuma's lips pulled back as he offered Shikamaru a proud look. "No matter how you feel about it, making chunin is an important milestone. So, let's do this right and have a toast".
"Yeah!" Ino and Chouji agreed. However; when Ino reached for her glass, Chouji reached for his chopsticks.
"Let's eat", he declared; snatching cooked pieces of beef from the grill. Most ended up in his bowl. But a couple of slices were flicked around the table until every bowl had at least one.
"Chouji!" Ino complained while Shikamaru grumbled something under his breath. "Leave the meat alone. You don't toast with food!"
Mouth already full, Chouji chewed and talked at the same time. "But if we waited too long, it would overcook. Right, Rion?"
"Uh…" Looking up from my glass it took a moment for my eyes to focus on him. "Yeah. Overcooked. Wouldn't want that". Ino glared across the table as I felt Shikamaru scrutinize everything about me. Maybe he was already aware. Maybe he was already connecting the dots… Asuma most likely knew as he patiently redirected everyone to the food sitting in front of us.
Last night, Danzo was arrested on charges of; human exploitation, kidnapping, and treason. With probably more charges to come as information was pulled into the light. This morning, Tsunade made both the arrest and the investigation public knowledge… sort of.
It was public knowledge Danzo had been locked up by Anbu and it was shared that he was locked up because he was being investigated for those charges. But the gritty details were still marked as classified. The prenatal vitamins. Root and the missing children. "It's for the protection of the victims", was Tsunade's reasoning for secrecy. Though, in truth, it needed to be secret so evidence couldn't be destroyed before it was found. Tsunade also needed time to decide what the people needed to know and what was better left alone. No doubt the remaining village elders were already making a fuss.
Light conversation between Asuma and Ino filled the table as Chouji hummed happily to himself. He kept the grill full of meat and vegetables to sear. While Shikamaru lazed next to me. Taking bites of food when he felt the motivation, but contented just to sit and listen. It would be a different story if he managed to get me alone. Lying to Shikamaru was maddingly impossible.
Danzo would be in T&I headquarters right now. Restrained to one of the chairs in an interrogation room with Ibiki and Anko hard at work. What toys did Anko select for their first session? How was Ibiki pacing their work? I wouldn't be able to find out until I went in this afternoon to start on all their paperwork. Had Danzo said anything? What if… What if the eyes on his arm had already been discovered?
"You're going to end up in the hospital again", Ino warned as Chouji stuffed his face.
"Don't worry about it", Chouji said in an easy-going nature; plucking the last piece of beef from the grill.
Though Ino did the opposite. "No! That's the last one. I grilled it. It's mine!" She tried to wrestle him for it. But Chouji valiantly kept his chopsticks out of her reach with an agility that proved he was just as much a shinobi as everyone else at this table.
"The last bite", Chouji said; holding it close to his mouth and suddenly taking on the persona of a seasoned monk. "It represented the conclusion of our entire meal. It is sacred and must be consumed with the greatest level of appreciation and care". His eyes flashed in Ino's direction; glinting with seriousness. "You cannot handle this cherished duty". And with that, Chouji popped the whole morsel into his mouth with a loud appreciative noise.
It was too much for Ino. "You idiot!" She exploded; making heads turn. "Don't you see this is why people make fun of you?!" Shikamaru sat up straighter with a sigh and a hardness in his eyes. I gripped my chopsticks just a little tighter.
Ino was out of her seat. Pointing a mad and shaking finger in Chouji's face as she stared at her a bit apprehensively. "What is wrong with you? All you ever think about is food. You're just a f-"
"Ino, knock it off", Shikamaru barked; sounding uncharacteristically authoritative and very much like the chunin he now was. At the same time, he over and grabbed ahold of my wrist. Preventing me from throwing a chopstick aimed at Ino's head. "And Chouji", Shikamaru moved on; ignoring the frown I shot in his direction. "Turn it down a notch. We're trying to relax".
In an angry put-out huff, Ino dropped into her seat with her arms crossed. While Chouji snickered; back to his usual good-natured self as Shikamaru pulled my chopsticks from my hand. He handed them to Asuma and only then did he let go of my wrist.
Spoilsport. I thought, rubbing my wrist even though it didn't hurt. Ino wouldn't have been injured… a small bruise a most. I mean, it wasn't like I was aiming for an eyeball. I had to resign myself by staring annoyedly at Ino instead.
"What?" She asked after I stared a little too long. Her eyes narrowed. This was her team. She didn't like me intruding.
But these were my friends and I didn't like how she talked to them. "You lost your match against Naruto, right? During the tournament?" Ino visibly bristled. "I'm starting to understand how you lost".
Ino was on her feet again; making the table rattle at her urgency and force. "I'm going to the restroom", she announced; stomping off and swinging balled-up hands at her sides.
Sighing and mumbling to himself, Shikamaru inched into my space. "Move", he said; jabbing two fingers into my ribs. "I'm going too". Standing to let him out of the booth, I watched Shikamaru closely as he lazily walked in the direction Ino had gone. There was no heat. No pointed stares. Maybe Shikamaru really did need the bathroom.
Rejoining the table, it was just Chouji, Asuma, and me. Asuma was taking a long drink. As if trying to swallow anything he might have to say. While Chouji stared. A thoughtful look on his plump face. "Rion", he started. "Are you okay? This is the first time I've seen you since…" He trailed off.
Since the invasion. Since Kabuto attacked. I forced my muscles to release some of their tension; nodding once. Though the answer I offered held more truth than my actions. "I can't talk about it, right now. Soon. Hopefully. But not right now". My arms folded around my torso as Chouji accepted my response with eyes too kind for me to handle.
Damn it. I wanted to tell him everything. He and Shikamaru. Talking things through with them, even if they only passively listened, helped cool nerves and formulate new theories or plans. But… Did I want them to know about the pills? That my mom had taken them?
Chouji's stomach grumbled. And not in the hungry sense. Chuckling and rubbing the back of his head, Chouji inched out of the booth. "Be right back", he excused himself before heading after Shikamaru and Ino.
Leaving Asuma and me behind. Setting his glass softly on the table, Asuma carefully glanced around the restaurant. "You know", he spoke softly; confident no one was listening. "It's normal for ninja to keep secrets to themselves. Just because Shikamaru and Chouji are your friends does not mean you have to tell them anything". I squinted my eyes at him. "But they will find out about Lord Danzo. Everyone will. You should think about who you want to tell them and how you want them to hear about it".
Confirmed. I thought, slowly rising to my feet. Asuma, and probably most jonin in general, know more than the general public. Was Tsunade already mobilizing more than just her Anbu in this matter? "I'm going to pretend to need the restroom too just to avoid this conversation", I said; causing Asuma to laugh as I stalked away.
T&I was busier than I'd ever seen it. Anbu were stationed in front of the door leading to the interrogation rooms. And I wouldn't be surprised if there were more behind that door. The Anbu I expected to see. Danzo was a high-profile prisoner. He knew the village and was well-versed with the different departments. And who's to say he didn't have contingency plans for something like this?
What I didn't expect to see were the med-nins loitering about. Dressed in their white scrubs, they stood by Ibiki's office; muttering between themselves. "There were ten eyes", I heard the one on the left say as I went to my desk. Which was already stacked high with paper. "Can you even imagine?" She sounded horrified.
"I want to know how he managed all the optic nerves", said the second. "And how he attached it to the occipital lobe". Listening, I slowly sank into my chair and started organizing the papers to make it look like I wasn't paying attention. "I mean, he must have. For eyes to work…" Danzo's secret (or one of them) was exposed. But there was much still to learn.
The paper I held was a standard intake form. Danzo's personal information was listed on the top. But I barely read it. "Still though", the first medic continued. "Ten eyes with the sharigan. He must have harvested them after the Uchiha massacre. Do you think… Lord Danzo was involved in that?"
That's wrong. I thought to myself. Dropping the first page in favor of trying to find notes on the actual interrogation. Danzo got that arm through other means. But they needed to figure that out themselves. This wasn't a piece of information I could just drop or even hint at.
"That's T&I's job to find out", said the second medic. "You and I have to focus on the amputation. It sounds like that arm can cast genjutsu. If we don't cut it off, Ibiki and Anko will have a difficult time pulling the truth out of him".
Transcript in hand, I paused. Genjutsu. I hadn't thought about that. Or how it could impede an investigation. Even help Danzo escape. A shiver shot up my spine and I suddenly feared that the Anbu and doors keeping Danzo and me apart wouldn't be enough.
'The subject was escorted in by Anbu of the Hokage's personal guard at three-hundred hours'. I started to read. The transcript was written in Ibiki's neat scrawl. 'Initial questioning started at five hundred hours. The subject was provided water. Other sustenance was denied. Food will be used covertly as a reward until vital or rapport is established'.
Frowning, I found a pen and the forms I needed to start processing all this. Two tactics were already at play. The early hours tended to throw the unsuspecting off their game. And food was frequently used to coerce cooperation and build a positive association with the interrogators. But it felt like a weak attempt for someone as knowledgeable as Danzo.
'The subject resisted questions for the first two hours. Instead, the subject insisted this was an offense against him and claimed-'
The door leading to the interrogation rooms swung open. It would have smacked one of the Anbu in the face if they hadn't stopped it with the palm of their hand. Anko strolled through without a care. She was wiping her hands on a paper towel as she waved the two medics in. "Rooms all ready for you", she told them. "All your equipment has been set up". And then she looked eyes with me. "Kid, you're here!"
As she hurried over, I caught sight of the dark lines under her eyes and the little speckles of blood yet to be wiped from her hands. It had been a long night and undoubtedly, Anko had been working since then. Though based on her energy, you never would have guessed it.
"About time", Anko said as she tossed the paper towel in the direction of the waste bin. "Come on, let's go. There's something Ibiki and I want you to see". As she talked, Anko pulled the pen from my hand and snatched the transcript free.
"But I just started to-" My protests were cut short as Anko gripped my shoulders and hauled me to my feet.
"Later", she said. Already dragging me out of headquarters. Leaving the Anbu to stand stoically and stationarily behind.
"This better not be a dango run", I grumbled once we reached the outdoors. I wouldn't put it past Anko. Especially if there was an amputation taking place in Danzo's cell. Maybe they didn't want me around for that. There could be difficulties. Genjustu-based ones.
But Anko didn't lead me to the market. Instead, it was a straightforward and fast-paced walk to the hospital. The very place we planned to hold and assess the members of Danzo's foundation. Amazed, I hesitated at the entrance. "You rounded up all of Danzo's ninja already?" It had been less than a full day!
"No", Anko snorted as she pushed me inside. "Just some. Ibiki's thinking some might be out on mission or hiding". Anko waved to the nurse behind the front desk; leading the way to the stairs. "And not everyone brought in is being held here", she explained; taking the stairs at a slower pace. "There was some resistance. The Anbu reported a few casualties. The ones who fought had to be taken to the prison instead". Anko reached the top of the stairs and turned left; entering a different wing of the hospital. "The ones who didn't are here. And they're… Well…" Anko stopped in front of a door and looked at me from over her shoulder. "They haven't completed Danzo's special training".
You mean, Danzo hadn't finished disposing of all their emotions. I thought as Anko opened the door. The room it led to was designed like a small theater. Two rows of chairs faced a large window connected to another room on the other side. And there was soundproofing on the walls to prevent the occupants in the other room from hearing any activity. This must be a two-way mirror. Anko and I stepped closer. And these rooms must belong to the psych ward.
On the other side of the glass were eight kids and adolescents of varying ages dressed in hospital pajamas, and four Anbu who appeared to be supervising. Efforts had been made to make the room welcoming. A soft rug with the Konoha insignia had been rolled out. Couches and bean bags were brought in for comfort. There were toys and books scattered about. Probably brought down from the pediatric wing. There was even a low table set up close to the two-way mirror stocked with crayons and paper. Except hardly anyone seemed to be playing with anything. One was doing push-ups. Two were meditating.
The youngest appeared to be a little brunette girl about six or seven. She sat with her back against a wall and knees drawn up to her chest. Nervously casting glances at the Anbu stationed nearby every few seconds. But trying to hide it.
The two eldest seemed roughly around my age. They occupied the low table. One with dark gray hair and the other with cobalt black and pasty skin. He sat with a piece of paper in front of him. Putting the crayons to good use. While the gray-haired boy sat next to him; trying to pull some of the others into a conversation. A small gentle smile on his face. Other than the little girl huddling against the wall, he seemed to be the only one capable of emoting.
"Recognize anyone?" Anko asked; watching and observing the same things I was.
Forcing myself to look away from the two eldest, I shook my head. Can't recognize people you've never seen or heard about before.
"That's too bad. If one of them used to be your neighbor or a classmate, you'd have saved us a lot of work. None of them have been identified", Anko explained; tone professional. "No documentation has been found. And when asked, none of the brats have been able to give us a name. Or they've been taught not to".
"The older ones might not remember". I hedged a guess.
Anko hummed in response. "The littlest might be Koharu". She pointed towards the girl against the wall. "She went missing a few months ago from the Red district". Anko scratched the side of her face.
Eyes troubled, she started pointing to each of them in turn. "But we're thinking that's forty-six" Her finger landed on the eldest. "Forty-seven", she moved on to the pasty-skinned boy. Then turning to me and ignoring my huff of agitation she pointed a finger at my nose; making me go cross-eyed. "Forty-eight". Anko couldn't help the small smirk that slipped out in response. Though it was short-lived and she was back to counting and pointing. Stopping on the little girl and ending with "Fifty-four".
If that assumption proved true, would they all be chakra adaptive? I shoved my hands in my pockets and let my eyes fall back to the two eldest. Sai and Shin as I knew them… or whoever they were… "When will they be tested?" I asked.
"Tomorrow. Or the day after", Anko said stretching her arms over her head. Like me, she was struggling to tear her attention away from the kids on the other side of the mirror. So many unknowns. So many pondering thoughts. "They had a health screening when they were brought in. But Inoichi said it was important to let them settle first".
My forehead wrinkled; dissatisfied. "What will happen to them?"
Anko shrugged. "That's up to the Hokage". She sounded just as I felt.