Spring Friday 9:11 pm

X11 ANT

Hayate dropped the pen as he got a cramp. They had him writing for hours, explaining everything that had happened from the second he followed to when he lost consciousness. If that wasn't bad, they had Asuma guarding him and all he was doing was sleeping, eating and occasionally smoke. "So, when were you planning to ditch me for your hook-up?"

Asuma rose a brow, not entirely shocked he knew. "Well, the closet is right there… and you're a deep sleeper, so." He watched the man nonchalantly shrug, his eyes drifting to where he thought they kept his medical equipment. "Just kidding, but your reaction was funny!" The joke flew over his head as he listened to Asuma laugh.

"What's in your pocket?" He could've sworn he saw a condom peeking out. Asuma stood stuffing his hands in his pocket, looking out of the window.

"So, what do you think the spies were looking for?" He disliked their abrupt change of subject, but went along with it, preferring that to discovering the truth. Still, he could not get that image out of his head.

"I'm not sure, but that person in the owl mask is probably still in the village, waiting for me to leave." Their aim was probably to catch him alone, or failing that, to make their escape.

With the window open, Asuma stared out at the stadium. "It's a soft lockdown, so no one can come or go, giving them only two options—force their way out or set someone up. Then again, they could wait it out, lie low until it's the right time." That was highly unlikely. Igniting a cigarette, he exhaled a steam of smoke outside, which dissipated into the humid evening. "I have a feeling we'll uncover useful information at that stadium."

"Yeah, but I'm not allowed to move, so good luck with that." A fit of coughing wracked him as he rolled over, grumbling incoherently.

"I'll do your paperwork." Asuma pouted, raising the stakes when his initial offer failed to motivate him. "I'll handle the rest of the paperwork for the next few days," he added.

With a lift of his head, Hayate's dark circles seemed to gleam. "I need some exercise; a brisk walk would do me good." Standing, he fixed the hospital bed, stretching his arms joining his friend at the window. "Get the job done, no liquor, and we're out of there."

"One drink, get the information or culprit, then leave… after another drink." Asuma countered.

"Deal." He accepted, not trying to reopen his wounds. "Before we leave, can you wrap my chest up?" Holding out some gauze, he tossed it in the air as Asuma swore under his breath before snatching it out of the air and starting.

Nazorashi stood in line, a note in hand from her mother given to her by her little brother. She wanted to be anywhere else but here, but here she was, picking up something for her sick mother. Relatively, she only stepped outside cause it would limit her catching whatever her mother caught. Still, what kind of mother sends her daughter out in the middle of the night? Finally, making it up to the guards, they laughed at her.

"What's Umi's son doing out here?" Mis-gendering her was normal, not like she cared. "Umi has a son?" Both guards then started a long drawn out conversation about her mother, and the deeds she's done with some friends they knew all while she held out the note. In the end, they let her in.

She wasn't new, but neither was she a familiar face among the regulars. Most of the time she was here was for her mother. Still, now and then they would redesign the area, which made finding what her mother wanted more tiresome.

Squeezing through a few drunks, her eyes settled on the ring where a woman was currently beating a man to death. Moving before the cheering could get any louder, she ventured around, searching for anyone that would question why a child was here. Alas, everyone ignored her, and this trip would've failed if she hadn't spotted a familiar set of white hair. It was like last time, whatever relationship they had was conventional. Convenient to use at times, but overall just another person. Funny enough, it seemed they had more in common than she would've thought.

Walking up to the boy sitting, she failed to notice the looming figure next to him, scars painting his face. She would've chalked it up as just another body in this jaded world, but the pressure he was emitting was something she only read in books. It was as if he could kill her with a flick of his wrist and as their eyes met; the feeling intensified. She could only question why the boy wasn't visibly affected.

"Brat, it seems you start young." His voice was burly, "and here I was starting to think you preferred men." That was new. He could tell her gender, something lots failed to do. What gave it away? How did he know? What was so different? These questions plagued her mind as the obvious boy turned to look at her.

"I don't know her." The words left his mouth effortlessly, and he turned back around to watch the fight. Even if they used each other in certain scenarios, most of the time he had a bargaining chip and here she was empty-handed.

"She's been eyeing you as if you owe her a favor." His uncanny ability to pinpoint her exact reaction was strange, especially since her expression hadn't altered since entering the room. Hearing the boy's sigh, she moved aside as he rose from his chair. Was he always taller than her? Why hasn't she noticed this before?

"Hey," his voice was dull and devoid of any warmth, like he was tired of her being around. "Kick rocks." This was new; even when he argued with Ino, he never exuded this venomous aura, it was like he was a different person. Was he putting on a facade for the person around him or was this his true self?

"Forget it, I'll have one of my girls take care of her," the man signaled someone forward, and she looked between everyone around, unsure of what was going on. Because of the proximity, she could make out every word Fuko uttered underneath his breath until he spoke out-loud.

"Touch her, and I'll cut you carotid arteries." He threatened the big guy who she assumed ran everything, and she'd be lying if she said his threat didn't mildly amuse her. Would they have to fight their way out? Nazorashi watched Fuko get right back in his seat, ignoring all the gazes that lingered on them. She was suspecting he was crazy, if not dumb.

"Take a seat, girl, and give me what's in your hand." She was here for her mother, nonetheless she listened, taking out the note and two coins. Somehow, she got through everything without uttering a word. She didn't know whether she liked that or hated it. The fact was, the man across from her was the real deal. "Someone bring this girl a bottle!" People rushed to his word, and the long bell signaled the end of the match.

Fuko stood, heading towards one of the many back doors, and she sat still waiting, unsure what to do. But as the bagged item came, she reached her hand out only for that man to take it. "Umi's daughter, right?" He knew her mother, and that didn't surprise her; in fact, it lowered her opinion of him. "Let me show you something." He stood and walked to the door and she followed behind.

It was gloomy inside; the person laying on the metal table bleeding beyond comprehension. If the man was trying to get a reaction out of her, he was mistaken. Something of this magnitude wouldn't work. She listened to him toss a bag of what sounded like coins on the table, his next set of words making her raise her eyebrows just for a nanosecond. "Kill him, boy."

She watched Fuko pull down his mask, a smile on his face as he grabbed the bag. This was new to her. She never expected it. Ultimately, it didn't concern her; she'd forget the whole thing in a matter of days. But she had one burning question in her gut. Before anything could start, someone ran into the room screaming that some jōnin had come in questioning people.

The man looked at the children, tossing her the bag before storming out of the room. In an instant, Fuko grabbed her arm and led her out the back exit. The outside air was chilly, but not chilly enough to follow along anymore. Removing herself from his grip, she turned her head, unsure exactly where they were. She understood why they ran, but now she had no clue how to get home, at least from here.

Fuko ditched the mask and gloves, as if he did this numerous times, before tossing the girl his sweater. "Just follow me, and put that on."

Nazorashi turned her head as the boy undressed, changing out of the slightly bloody outfit. "Have you done what he asked before?"

Her decision to speak shocked him; he wouldn't be surprised if everyone inside thought she was a mute crazy girl from how quiet she was and how often her eyes moved. "Of course, I'd even sell you for some money."

"Was it hard? Did you feel anything afterwards?" She tried to stop herself, but the questions she had earlier could finally come out.

Fuko rolled his eyes, leading her back to the main road. "Listen, people like me and you were born in this hell-hole. I wouldn't be able to do it if I felt something." He cleared his throat. "Remember, tell anyone they'll kill your mom and brother!"

Nazorashi observed him vanish into a crowd of people, puzzled why he forgot to retrieve his sweater. She was unconcerned; their interactions were solely opportunistic.

While Hayate ordered drinks, Asuma scanned the surroundings; everything appeared normal except for the owner. Pushing his way through the sea of people, he stopped at the man wearing what appeared to be a face mask. Although they had successfully tricked numerous people with the mask, he recognized it without fault.

"Man of a thousand faces, what are you doing here, Moxie?" his question felt sharp, like a knife cutting through the silence. Their history was insignificant, yet his presence in Konoha was always a blessing and a curse.

Moxie, otherwise known as the boss, shook his head, frowning that his disguise was see-through. "Work, everyone pays well for information… of course you know this."

Rolling his eyes, he patted his pockets, his thumb outlining his packet of cigarettes and then throwing his hands up. "You still smoke?"

"No," Moxie said, crossing his legs and gently folding his hands, his chin resting on his knuckles as he shifted.

"Damn," that would make things difficult for him, just an obstacle for his plans. "And what about that other question?"

"Someone promised me a toy here." Things were never easy for him. He was the least interested in hearing riddles. But for the time being, he'd play along.

"What kind of information are you looking for?" He almost tore off the mask, but the rumors following the information broker's death could severely damage his business in certain areas. The silence that followed his question was answer enough. "Where's the guy in the owl mask from the attack a few days back?"

"Would you believe me if I said they were already dead?"

His eyes narrowed on the man as if he could tell if they were lying. That would have been worse than them living, if it were true. "What's the address?" There was no point in asking them to leave Konoha; he would keep altering his appearance until he found what he wanted. "Unless you cleaned up already?"

"No, it's untouched, though. Leave out of your report how some things are missing… everyone's gotta eat somehow, right?" As if expecting the conversation's trajectory, Moxie held out a piece of paper.

Snatching the piece of paper, Asuma rolled it into a ball as he turned on his heels. "Some advice?" He stopped to look back at the man, his eyes lingering on the man as their skin bubbled. "You're in the way of someone's plans." He pushed forward, his ears deaf to the warning as he looked for Hayate. Given that Moxie went out of his way to deliver a warning, it's highly probable that the person in question was either an acquaintance of his or someone with whom he had strong ties. The list was endless.

The search for Hayate did not take long; yet his dismay was palpable when he realized his friend had drunk his drink. "We've got an address; time to roll." The more time he spent there, the more he craved alcohol and violence. This environment fostered strange people, and Moxie, as was his nature, gravitated toward the bizarre.

"You gotta try their drinks, they're so damn good." Hayate received only a sigh in response.

Spring 10:34 pm

With a skip in her step, the young girl navigated the crowded walkways, bobbing and weaving through the dense mass of people, and she made sure to greet every single person, even if those people did not greet her back. Her mother sent her on some late-night errands, and although she promised to come straight home after picking up the peppers, she spotted a familiar set of pink hair. "Sakura!" With a joyful squeal, she launched herself onto her friend's back, wrapping her arms around her in a tight hug, the familiar scent of flowers enveloping her and filling her senses with warmth.

"Aju?" Sakura was one of the people that put up with her over the top antics, and if anyone asked her, they were best-friends. "What are you doing out around this time?"

Sliding in front of her friend, Aju shook the bag in her hand. "Mom needed me to pick up some peppers for a late night feast-." Sakura cut her off, and before she could protest, pulled her behind a wall.

"Sasuke always heads out around this time." Aju squirmed until Sakura let her go. "It's usually for a few hours, but when he comes back, he's always sweaty." Ignoring the mental image that threatened to come to her playful imagination, she gagged. "I'm going to follow him and see what he's doing." Although not invited, and feeling a tad off about following a boy in the dead of night, she wanted to spend time with her friend, even if she had limited time.

"Can I come with you?" She tried to think of an excuse to give, but ended up following regardless. "Soooo, why are we doing this exactly? You could always ask him." She asked Sakura, unsure why many of her friends stalked the brooding boy. She understood the idea of following someone without them knowing, but why him?

"I'm curious why he comes back sweaty and tired every night." Sakura replied.

Reading wasn't really her thing; the last book she read was a picture book, and it was more of a visual experience than an actual read. But even in these times, her imagination got the best of her. "Could he be fighting crime?" Her suspicions hardened as they watched the boy disappear into the dark alley. Watching Sakura run forward, she picked up her pace marginally. "Or he's visiting his mistress!" She was quick to switch her idea. Losing sight of her friend, she clicked her tongue. Her heel dug into the ground and she leaped forward, catching up in seconds.

Reaching a dead end in the alley, Sakura kicked rocks in frustration, while Aju, eyes wide, pieced together the puzzle. "He's a vampire." Hand on her chin, she felt as if she was close to figuring out the puzzle, ignoring the defeated look Sakura gave her. Watching her friend's mood shift, she looked at the comically large wooden gate blocking them.

"Let's go back. It was dumb anyway." Aju balled her fist, walking up to the gate. She wanted to break it down, so at least she could see her smile. With the wall that blocked their path within reach of her destructive capabilities, Sakura was quick to react, dragging her away from the wall before she could unleash her strength. In hindsight, they could've climbed over, but neither thought of it.

"I'm sorry. I should've been more help." Although the meeting was unexpected, she wanted it to end well. So she suggested some sweets before they went their separate ways, which the other girl immediately agreed to. The issue was her offer, knowing she lacked the funds to purchase either treat. Ultimately, Sakura paid when they finally picked a spot.

And so, both girls sat eating away. Throughout her endless talking, Aju would periodically fuss with her short, shaggy, snow-white hair, which sometimes tickles the back of her neck. Although she expected her mother's scolding upon returning home, it was still enjoyable. Spending time with Sakura was something she throughly enjoyed even if they were on limited time.

Asuma covered his nose, kicking over some decaying wood. Signaling Hayate to search around, he opened the door, using his lighter as a light source, until he found a switch. His fingers traced the wall until he found a light switch; flipping it on, he recoiled at the sight of the corpse. He had seen his fair share of dead bodies, but whoever did this was angry.

They left the naked, wall-nailed victim to bleed to death; minor cuts marred the body, and significant bloodstains covered the floor and wall. The most important aspect of the body was the missing head; the neck was a ragged, bloody stump. Whoever killed them was most likely long gone, which meant there was a spy in their walls. "The fact they did this whole display is a warning itself." The last time someone left him a threat like this, they were beaten to death.

Moving through the cramped one-bedroom house, Asuma noticed the worn books scattered across the dusty floorboards. He found what he assumed to be the remains of the owl mask next to the pile of books. He was considering two possibilities. It was either a real killing or a setup—the same two possibilities he considered before. At least that's what they wanted him to think.

They almost tricked him, but they tried too hard. As his hands dropped to his waist, he spoke, "Come out, bud." To pull off the trick, they would've realistically had to be nearby to see. As one wall collapsed, a heel pushed him back, nearly causing him to topple over the fake body. "That's more like it." Trench knives in hand, he put his guard up.

"More mask?" Asuma deftly evaded the kunai, parrying the elbow strike with his own elbow before countering with a heavy right hook. His jaw clenched tight, his gaze fell upon the book his attacker had kicked up. "Good one."

The fight continued, fist flying through walls, books being ripped, with some of the fake body parts being used as a shield. Asuma stepped out of the way, grabbed the man, and threw him out the window, subsequently leaping out after him.

The open area gave him room to maneuver. He bobbed his head to the side, his blade sinking into the man's thigh, and a torrent of blood flowed onto the ground below as he a kick landed on his jaw. With a sharp pain shooting through his arms, he shielded his head as the impact of another head kick sent him tumbling and sliding across the ground. Picking himself up, he kept his blocked raised as a fireball nearly engulfed him, dust picking up from his side as he rolled.

Sweat hit the floor, dust covered his vision, and a blade imbedded in flames cut his chest. Dodging the stab, he caused another gash in the attacker's thigh as the ground cracked and lurched beneath his feet. With a grunt, Asuma plunged one of his trench knives into their leg, the blade sinking into muscle and bone, his other hand holding the mask man still. He squeezed harder, sliding the knife up their leg as he pulled himself up. Though the masked man landed a knee and jumped back, leaving his knife in the victim, the fight was almost over.

If he wanted to interrogate the man, he would need to get him fixed up as soon as possible. The amount of blood they were losing was entirely his fault. "I won't be the last," they whispered weakly. He stepped closer, curious why they'd started speaking. Before he could get an answer, the man suddenly ignited in flames a wave of intense heat washing over him.

With the fire in sight, he offered the tip of his cigarette. Putting out the fire wouldn't have saved them; they were going to die from blood loss, anyway. Slowly removing the basic Konoha vest, he turned his head after placing the butt in his mouth. "You were a lousy spy." With a careless flick of his wrist, the burning body received the discarded cigarette, as Asuma rested on a nearby stump. He ran his hands through his hair, completely unconcerned with the blood that was still staining his hands.

He had no name, no information, just more worries toppling over each other like an endless ocean. Whatever was happening, he couldn't have a repeat of the Nine-tails attack, if that was their plan. In any event, he was beginning to regret Hayate's paperwork.

Went back and rewrote each chapter, at the top you will see updated and the date it was updated. In the future if I rewrite certain chapters I will add/change the updated message. That is only if I end up taking long-extended breaks! Otherwise, pm me with any questions or to talk.