Illusions
September, 1963: The assignment

The unbearable tyranny of August spilled into those first weeks of September, trying even the most patient of souls until they were desperate for the first, brave leaf to turn and signal the season's surrender.

Naruto was considering leaving the office early, getting dinner, and finishing the bottle of Gilbey's he'd bought earlier that week, when he and his partner were summoned into the Captain's office.

"Close the door behind you, and have a seat, gentlemen," he motioned to the chairs across from his desk.

Naruto and Konohamaru exchanged a look before Konohamaru closed the door and took the seat next to Naruto. Kakashi was in no hurry, perusing a stack of papers before tapping them into order on his desk and putting them to the side.

"I have a new assignment for the two of you," he said lazily, handing them each a file folder. "For right now, all details will be discussed only in here, with me. I don't think it will take you long to see why."

Naruto flipped open the file, and was only halfway down the page before Konohamaru gasped "No way!"

"It looks like it is an assignment for some proposed exhibit at the Senju Institution," Naruto looked between him and the captain with a frown. "Are we that low on security guards that KPD has to patrol museums?"

"This isn't just any exhibit," Konohamaru glanced at him before scouring the pages quickly. "This is the Hyūga Collection! Gramps said it was supposed to go on a world tour and stop in Konoha, but after the plane crash they cancelled everything, and it's never been attempted again."

"Until now," Kakashi agreed. "The Hyūga Collection is considered to be a Japanese national treasure, but is under the complete control of the Hyūga family. The collection itself has never been taken out of Japan, despite many years of interest from all over the world."

Naruto's eyes skimmed the page. "So, it's art and jewelry?"

"Oh, man, it is so much more than that," Konohamaru shook his head. "The Hyūga have been a powerful family for something like five hundred years. They have armor, weaponry, rare jewels, vases, silks, robes from the emperor – you name something you'd see in a museum and they have it. Haven't you ever seen that book at Gramp's house? The massive one on the coffee table?"

"The one with that giant sun on the cover? That your Grandmother never wants anyone to touch?"

"Yeah, that one. It was published about fifteen or twenty years ago, and is the first official photographs of the collection ever released to the public. And get this – what makes people in Konoha really get excited about this stuff, is some of them own pieces that started out as part of the collection."

Naruto looked to the Captain. "Now I am confused."

"The Hyūga were known to gift unique pieces or weapons to those they favored, or to include them in certain political deals. Every piece made for or by the Hyūga was meticulously logged and catalogued by them before it was gifted, commissioned, or otherwise traded hands. After the family head and his children died in that plane crash 10 years ago, the exhibition was cancelled, and "authentic" pieces began to show up all over the place."

"Gram is still angry about that," Konohamaru snorted. "Don't ask her about it unless you want to hear at least a thirty-minute rant about vultures, no respect, and dishonor."

"Plenty of people in Konoha were angry, too," Kakashi nodded to the file. "In response to the surge of false pieces, the Hyūga issued a statement that only pieces authenticated by their own appraisers would be deemed authentic."

"And you had to either travel to Japan," Konohamaru added in, "or formally petition an assessment, which took ages to schedule and was a stupidly complicated process."

Naruto looked between them. "And people cared because…?"

"Pride, mostly," Kakashi shrugged. "But it didn't hurt that an authenticated piece quintuples in value, at minimum, and insurance companies refused to insure at any significant value without authentication."

"Ah," Naruto smiled crookedly. "Now that makes more sense."

"So, when does the collection come?" Konohamaru began flipping through his file.

"That depends," the Captain turned a page in his file. "The tour schedule has yet to be determined, and the first leg of it is by invitation only. Each of the cities considered will be visited by a committee to determine if there is sufficient interest, as well as local investment."

"Local investment?" Naruto glanced at the Captain's file to make sure he was on the same page. "Konoha has to pay to do this?"

"Konoha is already 'locally invested.' The city has been invited to apply on behalf of the country, because there are records of pieces traveling to the Land of Fire."

"Because of our make-up, we have more previously authenticated pieces than several larger cities combined. We will be one of the first places visited by the evaluation team. That is where the two of you come in. They requested you specifically, Uzumaki, after they read all about your bravery in the papers."

"Not sure what bravery has to do with antiques and jewelry," Naruto half smiled.

"It works for us," Kakashi shrugged. "Right now, you are recognizable to too many people for field work. This puts your notoriety to better use, while at the same time largely removing you from the public eye, and the Hyūgas can rest easy knowing Konoha's finest are on the job."

"Wow," Konohamaru leaned back in his chair. "For a minute, you almost sounded like you believed that crap."

"As for you," he turned his good eye to the young officer, ignoring his remarks. "They had no idea who you are, but your Grandfather did some liaising with their clan back when he was stationed in Hong Kong, and then later helped them in some way in London."

Naruto hid a smile behind his hand as Konohamaru gave a petulant frown.

"Despite the profile of people this is bound to matter to, it's a straightforward assignment. You play nice with the representatives sent from Japan while they are in Konoha, accompanying them when needed. Examples of outings are, but are not included to, inspections of any pieces in private collections, several private parties and at least one grand, swanky yet highly exclusive reception where the local pieces are displayed, whether they are approved for the final exhibition or not. Once the collection is given the formal go-ahead to travel to Konoha, you'll return to work closely with those sent to attend the exhibit, and be on hand to transport the pieces chosen to be displayed."

"Says here the evaluation group will be headed up by some guy named Shino Aburame," Naruto read a name from the file. "That sounds familiar. Come to think of it," he tapped his pencil on his folder as he thought, "in the early stages of that last case, Sasuke was researching leads at the docks, trying to figure out who was shipping out the drugs. One of the first shipping companies we ruled out ultimately traced back to the Hyūgas, but it was all legit. I think that's where I heard the name."

"Yes. The shipping end of the business empire is a merger with the Aburame Family."

Naruto sat back in his chair. "So how do they fit in with the Hyūga Collection?"

"Shibi Aburame, head of the Aburame clan, as well as the Owner and President of Aburame Shipping, is on the Hyūga board, and has a large stake in the business, both financially and personally. As a close friend to the former clan head, he funded the search for the plane, and ensuing investigation. There are rumors that he had to identify the deceased, personally."

"Wow," Konohamaru breathed.

"So, you can imagine what he thinks of your 'Hanabi.' Both he and Neji Hyūga have made a point to denounce her, emphatically denying that she has any tie to the family. I think she'll steer clear of the Aburame, but have no doubt she will try and weasel herself into the parties and other events. When she does, it will be your job to escort her from the premises and to the cells if she gets belligerent."

Konohamaru's grin was impish.

"I can work with that."

Naruto shook his head. "So, if Shibi is the guy in charge, who is this Shino Aburame listed on the file?

"Shibi's son. He will come with a team of experts and serve as the Hyūga family representative. As the one ultimately in charge of determining if bringing the Hyūga collection to Konoha is a worthwhile venture, I fully expect his company to be solicited often, and by the elite of society."

"And if he green-lights this show?" Naruto asked.

"Then the exhibit would open the first week of spring. Installation would begin three to four weeks prior, depending on the final scope of the items sent."

"So," Konohamaru looked between Naruto and the Captain. "Basically, we are being brought on as extra security for a rich guy who is in charge of determining if some really rich people will get what they want, and who will be trying to convince him with all manner of rich people get-togethers, and it is almost guaranteed to attract Hanabi Hyūga's attention and bring her to the door of these parties?"

"That is about the extent of it, yes."

"And once the installation goes forward, we are just extra security for the installation and investors themselves?"

"Essentially."

"I don't know," Naruto rubbed the back of his neck. "This is really more in Sasuke's wheelhouse than mine."

"Sasuke isn't cleared for field work for some time yet, but we pulled a few strings. He will be a liaison on the case through an outside security entity. It is helpful that he is fluent in Japanese."

Naruto blinked. "How're we supposed to talk to these people? My Japanese is mostly curse words and a few things we had to say to be polite to the old woman that lived next door to the Uchihas."

"It's been taken care of," Kakashi shrugged. "Familiarize yourself with the file. Tomorrow you will report to the Japanese Embassy. There, an ambassador will be instructing you on protocol and the finer points of this case."

"Oh, no," Konohamaru groaned, putting his head in his hand.

"Ah," Kakashi smirked. "I see you got to the protocol section. The ambassador was kind enough to send it over for me."

Naruto flipped to that section of the file. "Looks pretty standard."

"Nothing involving Ebisu is ever standard," Konohamaru groaned into his desk.

"Ebisu…?" Naruto frowned. "Who's that?"

"An expert in all things protocol," Kakashi answered cheerily. "He works with several embassies and is fluent in multiple languages. I know he worked rather closely with Professor Sarutobi before he retired."

"Maybe he won't remember me," Konohamaru pressed his palms into his eyes. "I haven't seen him since I was about eight."

"On the contrary," Kakashi's voice was calm, and the glint in his eyes wicked. "He had no trouble recognizing your name, and is quite looking forward to working with you. I suspect I don't have to tell you not to be late?"

Konohamaru shook his head no.

"Then that is all, gentlemen. You are dismissed. Go home and report to Ebisu first thing tomorrow."

"Yes, Sir," they answered.

As they closed the door on Kakashi humming to himself, Konohamaru might've started complaining or making wisecracks, but he saw the strangest thing.

A smile.

An actual-not-big-but-real-and-not-fake-smile flitted across Naruto's lips. If he'd waited even a fraction of a second longer, he would've missed it, but it had been there – and it was the first one he'd seen since before the accident at the docks.

There was still a hint of it there as Naruto picked up his bag, and grabbed his coat.

"Get some sleep," he put a hand on Konohamaru's shoulder. "We've got a busy day tomorrow."

"Yeah," he half smiled. "You, too."

Konohamaru watched Naruto walk out of the bull pen with something lighter and just more Naruto about his person.

"Alright," He gave a determined exhale as stuffed the folder into his briefcase, resigning himself to his fate. "This one's for Naruto."