Adult-FanFiction.org : Naruto

Underneath The Leaves	By : ChaCha92 Category: Naruto AU/AR > Het - Male/Female Views: 4798 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Don't own anything in the Naruto universe. Some dude in Japan does. Make no money on my stories either.

Chapter List
- 4
- 5
- 6
The days grow hotter as the chuunin exams draws near and the investigation slows considerably to accommodate Sasuke’s training schedule.
Naruto’s attitude towards Kakashi cools considerably since he refused to clue her in more about him and Sasuke having to live in someone else’s shadow. Part of her understands why, so she hasn’t tried pushing him. The two shutting her out still bothers her, though. She can’t fathom why neither have enough confidence to trust her to understand.
Kakashi’s well aware of her struggle. Feeling space is needed for her to work through it, he’s made himself scarce when they’re not helping Sasuke train by taking longer missions outside the village. It doesn’t take Naruto long to figure out what he’s doing and can’t help feeling hurt about it, straining their relationship further. Where they had an easy rapport before now feels awkward and stilted. Instead of dwelling on it, she focuses more on helping Sasuke and the investigation.
Less than two weeks before the exams, she discovers an interesting entry in one of the council financial records. The file tracks ongoing debits and credits from council controlled accounts with entries dating from the present and going back years.
Her eye catches on payments made to a produce distribution warehouse in one of the older industrial districts. She’s not surprised she’s unfamiliar with the warehouse because she rarely goes to the part of town it’s located in, but something about it strikes her as odd since no reason is given for the payments.
Continuing to root around for more information on the warehouse she doesn’t find much, but discovers the name of an Uchiha listed as a co-owner, piquing her interest further. She checks out the names of the other three owners and doesn’t find much except they’re civilians. By all appearances the warehouse is still operational, so she decides to check it out personally.
She briefly entertains the idea of waiting and sharing her discovery with Kakashi and Sasuke, but discards it. She doesn’t need an entourage and only intends to visit the warehouse. Plus, it’s better to keep it low key. Also, Sasuke is busy training and she’s just not in a sharing mood toward Kakashi right now either, even if he’s currently on a mission outside the village.
The beautiful morning makes Naruto grateful to be outside for a change. Instead of racing across the rooftops, she opts for a leisurely pace to enjoy the scenery. To her surprise she runs into Genma about halfway to her destination.
Smiling when he sees her approaching he saunters up and grabs her in a hug to kiss her breathless. After a couple of minutes he pulls back and asks, “So, how’ve you been?”
Looking up at him as she regains her senses, she debates on unloading her woes about Kakashi and Sasuke before deciding not to. He’s been better about talking lately, but most of her problems with those two are too personal to share, even with him.
“Fine, how ‘bout you? Are we going out again soon?” she asks with a smile.
Genma’s smile drops as he tenses and his tone becomes biting.
“You’re getting clingy again.”
Arching a brow, Naruto cocks her head, giving him a sardonic look.
“We haven’t seen each other in little over a month,” she pointedly states. “It’d be kinda nice to act like boyfriend and girlfriend once in a while, Genma.”
Opening his mouth to protest, his brain catches up with the calculations and he promptly shuts it, realizing she’s right. Closing his eyes briefly, he breathes deeply before speaking.
“Sorry, didn’t think it’d been that long.” He blinks in surprise at her disbelieving look. “Honest! Okay, to make it up, I’m meeting Raido and the others for pool later, do you want to come?”
“Won’t I be too clingy if I go?” Naruto couldn’t keep the snideness out of her tone.
“Look, I’m sorry, okay?” he sighs in exasperation. “I’m still working on that knee jerk reaction.”
Closing her eyes briefly she sighs softly before relenting.
“Okay, I wanna go.”
Grinning he kisses her again.
“So, what are you doing in this part of town?”
“Running an errand,” she replies innocently.
Both eyebrows rise slightly as he studies her.
“Does it have something to do with your investigation into the Uchiha massacre?”
Naruto couldn’t help gaping in alarm. No one is supposed to know about the investigation.
“Relax,” he assures her quietly, pulling her closer. “Remember there were a lot of ANBU around when you apprehended Sasuke and promised to help him. Don’t forget I was also in ANBU and as you know we sometimes tend to share even though we know we’re not supposed to.”
“But if everyone’s speculating it could get out to the wrong people,” Naruto protests, with a concerned frown.
“Don’t worry about it. No one’s speculating too deeply, nor are they sharing it with anyone outside the ranks. They all know better. It’s just obvious since you’re shadowing the Hokage and been neck deep in the archives. It doesn’t take a genius to figure it out.” He squeezes her waist slightly in reassurance. “I’m not interested in all the gory details, just curious why you’re out this way.”
Smirking, Naruto shakes her head.
“I found an entry in the council archives of payments made to a produce distribution warehouse down here. It’s over by the old wastewater treatment plant. The monthly payments have been made like clockwork for ten years in the exact same amount from a miscellaneous account that’s supposed to only be used in an emergency if a department runs out of funds. The balance from the emergency funds always stays the same, sustained from somewhere else.” At his arched brow she nods. “Yeah, I know. Like someone doesn’t want anyone to notice a dip in the balance. I haven’t figured out where that somewhere else is yet. But that’s not the really weird part. Turns out the business is co-owned by an Uchiha along with three other civilians.”
Genma blinks in surprise.
“That doesn’t make sense,” he frowns. “Uchihas were more white collar, upper class. Owning and operating a produce distribution warehouse is too blue collar even for their lowest members, especially in this part of town. And if they co-owned anything, it’d be with another Uchiha, not anyone outside the clan. Why are you checking it out? Wouldn’t you find more info on it at the tower?”
“That’s just it. Either documents are missing or the info just isn’t there. I keep running into dead ends. I’m curious to see who’s running this place, assuming it’s what it’s supposed to be. Then I figured I’ll ask Sasuke about it later.”
Chewing his lip for a moment while looking off, Genma finally meets her gaze.
“I’ll go with you.”
“Ah, wait a sec, Genma,” Naruto begins reluctantly. “I’m working an investigation. ‘Sides, I’m a big girl and can handle checking the place out on my own.”
“Eh, it’s not like I have anything better to do,” he shrugs offhandedly before eyeing her shrewdly. “Or is it you don’t want to be seen with me?”
“NO! It’s not like that at all, I just mean…” Naruto protests in a rush.
“Okay, how ‘bout this?” he offers with a rakish grin, cutting her off. “Let me go with you and I’ll take you to lunch afterwards so we can catch up. Sounds good?”
“Somehow I think even if I still said ‘no’ you’d follow me anyway,” she smirks before relenting. “Alright. Let’s get this over with ‘cause I’m hungry!”
Genma’s grin widens as they continue on to the warehouse together. Naruto keeps double-checking her directions, causing him to eye her curiously.
“Sorry,” she apologizes when she notices his look. “I’m just really unfamiliar with this area. I kinda know where the old treatment plant is, but I’m not sure.”
“I thought you knew the entire village inside and out?” he asks surprised.
“Not really,” she replies. “I went pretty much where I wanted to, but the Old Man warned me to stay out of this area in particular. There aren’t many shinobi living out this way and if I ran into any trouble he was worried I wouldn’t have the benefit of any nearby to help, especially ANBU.”
“Did the Third really expect the civilians to give you trouble?”
“Yeah, ‘cause they were always the most likely. They don’t have the same self-discipline ingrained in them like shinobi and have the tendency to act first without thinking. Learned that lesson early when I’d try coming down this way when I was younger. Never got far before I ran into one or two who weren’t exactly welcoming. All it took was a couple of close calls to convince me to stick to my own turf.”
As if to emphasize her point, a large stone flies at them. Both easily dodge it.
“Stay the hell away from here, monster!” a disembodied voice shouts.
“Some things never change,” Naruto mumbles while rolling her eyes.
Looking around Genma quickly pinpoints where the rock was thrown from and points to a cluster of bushes and trees.
“That’s where the voice came from.”
“Ignore it. It’s not worth it and might cause more idiots to join them. Let’s just stay on our toes and get this over with so we can get out of here.”
Genma shrewdly scrutinizes her, but doesn’t say anything more.
Minutes later they arrive at the warehouse located at the outer edge of the district. It’s a solitary, decaying, two-story steel and wood structure that appears to have been sitting empty for longer than Naruto has been alive. There are no other buildings in close proximity and the weed choked area surrounding it is wide open, providing little cover for anyone to hide in.
Suspicious, Naruto and Genma cautiously check out the grounds surrounding the structure first before entering. A large, cavernous, two-story open space dominates the building and is bordered at ground level by several smaller rooms that aren’t higher than the first floor. These rooms were obviously used for storing and sorting large amounts of merchandise for shipping or receiving.
The second level was constructed over some of the ground floor rooms on one side of the building. Offices line an open walkway overlooking the cavernous cargo bay and are connected to an aerial catwalk dissecting the open space before connecting with a metal spiral staircase. Another enclosed, wooden staircase is located toward the back of the building, offering a more private access to the office spaces on the second floor.
As they cautiously step further into the warehouse, they begin examining the rooms on the ground floor first. The building hasn’t been used in so long they mostly find dead animal carcasses and debris from where sections of the ceiling caved in. They methodically search each room finding nothing.
“This looks like wild goose chase,” Genma mutters.
“Looks that way,” Naruto nods. “All the more reason to it out. Might be a clue somewhere. If there’s any abandoned files we might have better luck finding them upstairs.”
“Yeah,” he agrees, carefully scrutinizing the area. “We should split up and start at opposite ends. Besides, I’ve had the feeling since we arrived we’re being watched, but haven’t been able to detect any chakra signatures. Likely a high-level shinobi masking their chakra. We might pick them out if we move separately. If not, at least we’re no longer a joint target.”
“Yeah. I’ve got the same feeling.”
Deftly drawing out a kunai, she spins it on a finger before abruptly stopping the motion by catching the handle. Stretching a little, she leans over to give Genma a quick kiss on the cheek.
“Be careful.”
Pulling out his own kunai, he nods and moves off to the spiral staircase while she approaches and climbs the enclosed stairwell. Once he crosses the catwalk to the first office, he begins carefully searching each room.
Naruto ends up in a slightly more private area. There are four offices across from the main row of offices on one side of the building, creating a short hallway before it opens onto the open-air walkway. Carefully she examines each small room to find them mostly empty save for a few pieces of abandoned furniture. It doesn’t take long until she reaches the catwalk.
Genma had more rooms, so she continues working her way toward him and they both meet in the middle at the final room.
Opening the door he enters first just as Naruto is hit by a senbon in the shoulder. Swiftly he spins around and grabs her as she grimaces in pain, dragging her inside and slamming the door as a barrage of senbon strike the doorframe and door.
“What the hell?” she mutters. “My hands are tingling and starting to feel numb.”
Shifting his gaze where she sits on the floor where he’d fallen back into a sitting position while awkwardly dragging her down with him and watches her flexing her fingers.
Pulling her forward to bend over his right leg he quickly extracts the needle to prevent any more of the substance it’s coated with from entering her system. Helping her straighten up and holding her close he lifts the senbon to his nose and carefully sniffs the bloody end.
“It’s not poison,” he grimly confirms.
“Gee, thank kami for small favors,” she gripes, rolling her eyes. “Shit, now I’m losing mobility.”
She holds up her hands to show how limp they’ve become.
“Must be a paralytic. You’re still conscious, but it’s affecting your coordination, starting with numbing your extremities.”
“No kidding, I can’t feel my feet and lower legs anymore. I wonder why a paralytic, though,” she muses.
Before Genma can answer, both share a look as they simultaneously hear the distinctive sound of paper bombs sizzling inside the room.
Unceremoniously tossing her over his shoulder Genma races out the door. He promptly leaps over the catwalk railing. Hitting the ground running he races for the exit as the bombs start going off. Throwing Naruto onto the floor he shields her with his body, wrapping his arms protectively around her head as flames and debris rage around them.
Naruto has little awareness of anything.
Slowly her mind emerges from the murky depths, growing increasingly aware of only one thing, pain and lots of it. It feels like an eternity before she can focus on something else and hears voices penetrating the haze. She can’t make out what they’re saying; only their tones are familiar. She struggles to figure out who is there before attempting to open her eyes to look. A low grunt escapes her throat from the effort, effectively silencing the voices.
“Gaki?” Tsunade’s worried voice breaks through the fog.
Naruto attempts to reply, but the dryness in her mouth makes it come out a croak.
With her eyes still closed, she feels her head being gently lifted a little and a cup of water tipped to her lips so she can sip. Her head is then eased back onto the pillow. Finally she manages to open one eye, belatedly realizing the other is swollen shut. She blinks a few times to clear some of the dry fogginess blurring her vision.
Once she can see, she scans her surroundings. Baa-chan hovers off to one side, smiling next to an equally relieved looking Iruka and Yugao. To her surprise, sitting on the other side of the bed is Sasuke and Kakashi. Opening her mouth to ask what happened, the memories of the explosion rush back, causing her to suck in a startled gasp and throw her into a painful coughing fit. As soon as it passes she groans in pain. Her head is tilted again and the water glass is pressed to her lips.
“How’s Genma?” her hoarse voice tiredly asks when the pain is tolerable.
“Alive, but in a coma,” Tsunade explains gently.
“Is he gonna be all right?” she asks worriedly.
“You need to concentrate on healing since you’re in worse shape, gaki,” Tsunade pointedly states with a glare.
“C’mon, Baa-chan, I wanna know!”
“Fine,” she blows out a harsh breath. “He suffered a severe concussion, two broken and cracked ribs, a dislocated shoulder as well as other minor injuries.”
Shaking her head and rolling her eyes, she adds, “He’s tough and I expect him to make a full recovery.”
Closing her eye briefly, Naruto sighs softly in relief.
“It’s my fault. If he hadn’t gone with me to check out that warehouse he wouldn’t have been hurt.”
Looking pointedly over at Iruka and Yugao, Tsunade declares, “Iruka and Yugao will come back later to visit.”
Catching the not so subtle hint, Iruka grins while Yugao rolls her eyes. Rising from his seat he leans over Naruto and gently kisses her forehead.
“I’ll be by after work tomorrow.”
Naruto nods and returns Yugao’s wave as Iruka turns and leaves with her.
“Alright, gaki,” Tsunade begins once the door shuts behind the couple. “What happened?”
Taking a deep breath Naruto explains what she found in the records earlier that day and how she ended up checking the warehouse with Genma.
“Neither of you noticed anything about your attackers?” Tsunade pushes.
“Nothing,” Naruto shakes her head. “They were skilled. They masked their chakra so well neither of us could detect it. We just felt like someone was shadowing us. We thought poking around some more might help us get a bead on them, but whoever it was didn’t take any chances. They hit me with a senbon coated with the paralytic. Genma had to throw me over his shoulder and race outta there when we heard the tags start burning ‘cause my mobility was totally gone.”
“I wondered how the drug was administered,” the blonde muses absentmindedly. “We couldn’t tell with all your injuries.”
“He almost made it out before he threw me to the ground and tried covering me with his body. I don’t remember anything else after that.”
“Genma shielded you?” Tsunade asks in confusion, prompting Naruto to nod. “He was found a couple of meters away, lying against an old forklift. The machine actually helped shield him from the falling debris.” She pauses in thought before adding, “The concussive force of the explosions must’ve knocked him off or he would’ve been trapped with you.”
“How bad is it, Baa-chan?”
“You got the worst of it, gaki,” she sighs, reaching over to brush her fingers through red bangs. “We found you pinned under two steel girders and buried under debris. Your left leg is broken in three different places and your pelvis in one. Six of your ribs were broken and cracked on top of several serious internal injuries.” Giving her a pointed look, she adds, “You were lucky you weren’t killed or the lower half of your body wasn’t crushed by the weight of the girders.”
Opening her mouth to make a snappy retort, Naruto is overcome by another agonizing coughing fit. When it’s over Tsunade helps her drink more water to soothe her throat.
“You need to rest, gaki.”
“I’m fine,” she hoarsely protests. “How long has it been since the explosion anyways?”
“Four days.”
Naruto blinks in shock.
“I wonder why it’s taking the old dust mop so long to heal me?”
“Could have to do with the paralytic. We already know how some things not only affect you, but also the fox,” Tsunade reasons.
“Probably,” Naruto nods slightly in understanding. “‘Cause whatever isn’t hurting in my hands and feet still feels tingly and numb.”
“This particular drug slowly breaks down in the body and it may be another day or two before it’s completely gone. It’s difficult to tell if the fox will need more time to recover from the effects before it can heal you. So in the meantime you have to rest.”
“She’s correct, Naruto,” Kakashi interrupts when she opens her mouth to argue. “You need to rest.”
“But I’ve been resting for four days!”
“That doesn’t count!” Tsunade snaps in annoyance. “Now, either comply or be given a sedative, which may hinder the fox further in healing you and keep you in the hospital longer. Which will it be?”
“You wouldn’t dare,” Naruto growls with narrowed eyes.
“Just try me,” Tsunade challenges back, looming over ominously.
Naruto looks at her teammates for support, but judging by their expressions she finds none. With a defeated sigh she relents with a nod.
“Knew you’d see it my way,” Tsunade gloats with a grin before turning to leave the room.
“Get some rest, Naruto,” Kakashi adds, rising to his feet and walking out.
“Goodnight, dobe,” Sasuke says before following Kakashi.
“Goodnight guys,” Naruto calls out before sighing heavily into the darkened room.
She wonders if she’ll be able to talk to the fox to find out if the paralytic did affect it as she closes her eyes and drifts off to sleep.
Tsunade silently leads the two men to her office in the hospital. Once settled Sasuke is the first to express his thoughts.
“It’s strange an Uchiha’s name is listed as the owner of the warehouse. I don’t recognize it, but he was probably a distant cousin I wasn’t familiar with. I’m certain no one was involved in shipping and distribution, though.” Pausing, his frown deepens before continuing. “Even if they were, it wouldn’t have been located in that part of town. It’s too far from the main road when they would’ve had no problem obtaining a better location.”
“Judging by Naruto’s comments, the information may have been planted as a lure,” Kakashi reasons. “Whoever did it knew she would check a physical lead in person.”
“It’s a possibility,” Sasuke nods. “But how’d they know she’d be checking those files when we didn’t even know? It’s more likely she was followed and her attackers took advantage of the opportunity.”
Tsunade rubs a hand across her tired eyes before looking between the two men.
“Either way the situation paints a disturbing picture. This is the second attempt on her and the evidence strongly points to highly trained Konoha shinobi.” Taking a deep breath her gaze hardens. “The paper bombs used to blow up her apartment were traced to tags reported missing from the academy before the explosion. The same stolen tags might’ve been used in this attack. Also, the paralytic drug used belongs to Konoha. Other villages have similar drugs, but each is distinctive chemically. The question becomes whether Naruto is being targeted because of the investigation or because of who she is. I’m leaning toward both.”
“Must be because of who she is because why haven’t Kakashi and I been attacked?” Sasuke argues. “If killing her is designed to cripple the investigation, that doesn’t mean someone else wouldn’t pick up where she left off.”
“The motive is very likely a combination of both threat and grudge,” Kakashi agrees with Tsunade. “The ones obviously interfering with the investigation may have a long-standing grudge against her and see her as a potential future threat.”
“If everything happening now, or even in the past with the Uchiha massacre, is simply setting the stage for future events, then she could be a potential threat to those plans,” Tsunade explains to Sasuke. “We all know she’d fight tooth and nail to protect Konoha. And she’d kill herself to fulfill her promise to you uncover the truth. She’s the driving force behind the investigation and obviously she’s finding things that’s making someone very uncomfortable.” She pauses briefly in thought before continuing. “Maybe I should keep an ANBU guard on her 24/7 and restrict her movements to try minimizing the threat.”
“Good luck with that,” Sasuke snorts in amusement.
“It won’t guarantee her safety,” Kakashi shakes his head. “It’ll feel more like a punishment to her. She’s always been at risk with plenty of enemies and short of sealing her in a box there’s no way to ensure her safety. Besides, she’ll not only fight against any restrictions, but she’ll resent them. It says we don’t believe in her.”
Tsunade mulls it over.
“Alright,” she concedes grudgingly. “As much as I don’t want the gaki to suffer anymore, I don’t want to hurt her. We’re all going to have to be extra vigilant and somehow get it through her thick skull she’s not to do anything on her own any more.” Her voice drops lower. “I hate to think of what would’ve happened if Genma hadn’t gone with her.” Steeling her resolve, her gaze hardens. “You two need to be careful because Naruto may not be the only target. Her attackers may decide to go through either of you to get to her. Now go home and get some rest.”
“I’d like to sit with Naruto a little while longer, Tsunade-sama,” Kakashi states mildly.
“Me too,” Sasuke concurs with a nod.
Tsunade rolls her eyes in annoyance.
“Fine, but you aren’t to stay too long or I’ll throw your asses out the window.”
Smirking and nodding in agreement both men get up and return to Naruto’s room.
Naruto sleeps undisturbed as Sasuke and Kakashi sit in silence watching her. Bruises of varying severity, countless lacerations and burns mar her pale skin. There is a painful sounding hitch to her breathing from the damaged ribs. Her left leg is splinted and her hips are in traction, held stationary by a framework of steel bars and pins drilled into bone.
After several minutes Sasuke breaks the silence.
“Even when I denied it, I still felt connected to everyone on Team 7. But I never felt it more keenly than when I heard Naruto was injured.”
Kakashi turns to scrutinize Sasuke who continues sitting with his arms crossed, staring at Naruto. He doesn’t say anything, patiently waiting for the younger man to continue.
“I felt it when I left her unconscious at the Valley of the End, but convinced myself I didn’t care. However, I never stopped caring,” he grudgingly admits. “The baka made me care whether I wanted to or not. She’s responsible for everything that’s happened and has been there from the beginning.” Smirking Sasuke turns to look at Kakashi. “Not that you haven’t been there either because if it weren’t for you two I wouldn’t have made it this far. But Naruto is the reason I returned and am doing all of this. I wouldn’t have bothered otherwise.”
Kakashi nods in understanding as he looks back over at Naruto’s still form.
“She’d be pleased to know that.”
“Probably,” Sasuke shrugs before rolling his eyes. “I won’t tell her. She’d lord it over my head and never let me live it down.”
Both men chuckle quietly before Sasuke becomes serious again and continues.
“Besides, it’s strange being concerned for anyone else when I’ve only had myself to worry about for so long.”
Kakashi nods as the silence washes over them again. Both continue observing the slumbering redhead before Tsunade reappears to chase them out.
Naruto isn’t sure what woke her up.
Everything is quiet and the building isn’t exploding around her ears again. However, something keeps niggling at her senses. Finally she opens her eye to peer into familiar green orbs. Without warning Sakura engulfs her in a tight hug that serves to reawaken all her dormant aches and pain.
To her immense relief Sakura releases her and begins fussing over her. Grateful for her concern Naruto answers her questions about what happened. She doesn’t worry about compromising the investigation since the information on the warehouse came from the council files, which are open to the public.
When the redhead finishes, Sakura frowns in concern.
“Although I want you and the guys to uncover the truth, I don’t want to see any of you hurt.” She pauses to roll her eyes. “I know you won’t back down now, but you’ve got to be more careful,” she chides gently.
Naruto isn’t sure why, but her control slips and she starts tearing up.
“Naruto?” Sakura worriedly asks. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
Regaining her composure a little, Naruto sighs heavily.
“It’s because of my stupidity Genma was hurt.”
Sakura crosses her arms.
“How were you to know it was a trap? And it was a trap anyone could’ve been drawn into, even Kakashi. As for Genma, he went by his own choice and knew what he was doing. Besides, it was a good thing he was there or you would’ve been dead. He’s injured badly, but you came out worse. Either way you both survived and that’s what counts. You shouldn’t dwell on it, but focus instead on uncovering the truth. It might lead to whoever is responsible.”
Baffled, Naruto blinks, trying to catch up since Sakura was speaking a little fast. Finally, a smile spreads across her face in gratitude.
“Thanks, Sakura-chan.”
“Anytime,” Sakura grins back. “I’m gonna check you over before I leave to finish my rounds. I’ll try to stop in again later.”
Sakura spends a few minutes examining Naruto before leaving the redhead with firm orders to rest. Smirking to herself, she feels she’s due for another visit with Danzo later as she strolls down the hallway.
While Naruto recuperates, Sasuke resumes training for the chuunin exam with the two genin assigned as his teammates. He and Kakashi already investigated the ruins of the warehouse once it was deemed safe and found nothing amidst the still smoldering rubble. Knowing there’s nothing else he can do for the time being he focuses on training.
Meanwhile, Kakashi spends a lot of time retracing Naruto’s steps in the archives trying to uncover any additional leads or something that might point to her attacker. Eventually he discovers at least five other businesses receiving payments in a similar manner and all with at least one Uchiha listed as a co-owner. He compiles a list of names, including any non-Uchiha co-owners for further research.
He does check out the location of each business only to find four are vacant lots. The fifth is a completely different business occupying the premises than the one listed in the records. Instead of a weapons smith, it’s a sweets store that has been in operation for nearly twenty years and owned by the same family the entire time.
After visiting the sweets store, Kakashi leaves off researching the names culled so far to visit with Naruto. Entering her room he judges by the hitch still evident in her breathing and the unchanged presence of her other injuries that the fox still hasn’t been able to aid in her healing since the explosion a week ago. Wincing in sympathy, he settles into a chair by the bed. Pulling out his beloved Icha Icha, he relaxes while she continues sleeping peacefully.
Not long after Naruto stirs into awareness. It takes her a moment to shake off the grogginess and focus on her surroundings, smiling warmly when her eyes fall on Kakashi.
“Yo,” he greets her with a smile. “How are you feeling?”
“Like shit,” her rough voice replies as she reaches up to gently rub at her eyes. “But at least it won’t be long before the fox can heal me.”
Dropping her hand she notices his questioning look.
“The paralytic did affect it, she explains. “Caused the old dirt mop to lapse into a comatose state, as if it were in hibernation. Now that it’s pretty much free of the drug and conscious it’ll start healing me soon. But with the severity of my injuries looks like it’ll be a couple more days ‘til I’m outta here. Hopefully in time for the chuunin exams and before Gaara and his siblings arrive. I don’t want them to see me like this.”
“How has Gaara been?” Kakashi asks, promptly seizing on the topic.
“Great,” she smiles warmly. “He’s really happy with the way things have been going. He’s still keeping the Wind Daimyo from contracting work out to other villages. Helps he drops loads of hints about relocating Suna to another country under a more appreciative daimyo. Anyway, they’ve never been stronger or more prosperous. So,” she begins nonchalantly. “How’s the investigation going?”
“It hasn’t since you’ve been in the hospital,” he answers innocently.
Slightly swollen blue eyes narrow in annoyance.
“Don’t feed me that shit,” she growls. “I know better. You’ve been rooting around. I’d do the same thing if our roles were reversed.”
“Just can’t get anything past you can I?” Kakashi teases, stalling further.
“Shut up and tell me!” she snaps.
Chuckling Kakashi details what he found in the archives and at each location he physically checked earlier. When he finishes Naruto worries her lower lip with her teeth while frowning in thought.
“Those payments must be an illegitimate source of income for someone, but it may not be related to our investigation,” she muses absently.
“Maybe,” he shrugs. “But the fact each is connected to a deceased Uchiha certainly raises questions.”
“Yeah. If it weren’t for that I wouldn’t have looked twice.” Her eyes flick back onto his. “Have you asked Sasuke about it?”
“Not yet. He’s busy with his training and this can wait until it’s over. In the meantime I’ll investigate each of the other names on the list.”
“Sounds good to me.”
The pair soon lapse into a comfortable silence while Naruto drifts in and out of a light doze.
“I understand yours and Sasuke’s point of view,” she mutters out of the blue an hour later.
Glancing up from his book, Kakashi frowns in confusion.
“What are you talking about?”
“About you two living under other people’s shadows,” she states, looking over at him. “There’s a lot I can’t relate to, but I get it.” Her voice drops low. “It just hurt how quickly you two shut me out. I care for you guys and really wanted to understand. But just like I can’t really know what it’s like for you, you can’t know what it’s like for me.”
At Kakashi’s arched brow Naruto sighs heavily.
“You weren’t hated or blamed for something outta your control. You always had other people’s respect even if it was because of who your parents were. Sure I could try using my father’s name now, but it wouldn’t be the same. Only Gaara knows what it’s like for me and even his situation was different,” she shrugs. “My father paid for his actions with his life, but did it to protect the village. Gaara’s father had him conceived to be a weapon, sacrificing his wife and living to hate his son.”
Pausing to clear her throat she then shifts a little, stretching out an arm to try grabbing her glass off the bedside table when Kakashi beats her to it. Bringing it up to her mouth, he holds it while she sips water through the straw.
“Thanks,” she mutters as he sets the glass back on the table and sits down again.
“It’s hard carrying your past,” she continues. “But it’s nice when someone tries to understand. Iruka did that for me and that’s what I want to do for you guys.” She pauses to sigh again. “I’m not going to nag you into sharing ‘cause that’s just how you are, but I wish you wouldn’t arbitrarily dismiss me like everyone else. I understand more than people give me credit for.”
It’s quiet for a few minutes before Kakashi finally speaks.
“Neither of us are used to sharing ourselves.”
“I know. It’s just such a dark, lonely position to be in.”
Kakashi reaches for her hand and squeezes it gently.
“Thanks for caring enough to try.”
Naruto smiles softly.
“Even if you don’t think I’ll get it, I’m gonna keep trying.”
“Go back to sleep,” he urges gently with a smile while she shifts more comfortably into a better position.
As she drifts off, he continues watching her, remaining deep in thought for a long time afterwards.
Later that day Sakura returns home at the end of her shift. She is looking forward to relaxing a little before paying Danzo a visit. However, her plans are cut short when her mother hands her an encrypted note as soon as she walks in the door.
“How was your day?” Chiwa asks, following Sakura down the hallway toward her room as she reads the note.
“Fine,” she replies absently.
Reaching her room she quickly changes clothes while her mother continues chattering at her from the doorway.
“I know you’ve got to go again, but I’ve been meaning to tell you that you can do so much better than Ritsu. You really should try to become better friends with Sasuke.”
Ignoring her encouraging words, Sakura brushes silently past her mother.
“Don’t wait up for me,” she calls before slamming the front door.
Minutes later Sakura arrives at Danzo’s mansion and finds Sai already with Danzo in his office.
“What’s your excuse this time?” she demands, crossing the room.
“Why would you expect me to make an excuse?” he asks from his seat in front of the desk, cocking his head to the side in curiosity.
“Because you failed to kill the Baka! Again,” she growls in annoyance.
“Everything went according to plan, even if it were spur of the moment, Ugly,” Sai calmly explains. “I thought I’d have to attempt a hit out in the open since it was one of the few occasions Naruto ventured outside the Hokage Tower alone. When I read her lips as she spoke to Genma, I realized the warehouse she was going to would be the perfect place and sped ahead to set the trap. Naruto simply survived,” he shrugs indifferently.
“Why didn’t you hit Genma with the paralytic either, moron?”
“Because he ducked,” Sai replies simply as if it were obvious.
Sakura rolls her eyes.
“You’re incompetent for missing the perfect opportunity! Now I’m going to have to finish the job for you at the hospital,” she sneers.
“No,” Danzo orders, promptly drawing their attention to him.
Leaning back in the luxurious leather chair where he silently observed their entire exchange, he continues.
“If you act against the vessel now, the attempt will fail again. Tsunade is her physician and they have likely figured out someone is targeting the vessel. Even if you use the most powerful poisons, she will fight to save the vessel. It would attract unwanted attention and place everyone at the hospital under immediate suspicion. I do not want you to do anything to bring any unwanted attention to my plans. Is that understood?”
“Hai, Danzo-sama,” Sai replies.
“Sure,” Sakura replies sullenly while crossing her arms and pouting.
“Sakura, do you have any updates?”
Sighing in frustration, Sakura drops her arms while plopping into the seat next to Sai and begins her report.
“The baka said they found some suspicious payments made to bogus businesses from council expense accounts. What caught her attention was the Uchiha listed as co-owners. That’s what led the baka to that warehouse. Seems Kakashi is retracing her steps prior to the explosion. I heard a couple people mention seeing him poking around the industrial district this afternoon, visiting empty lots and a civilian business. I haven’t spoken with him about it, but he probably wouldn’t tell me much anyway, usually doesn’t. I’ll have to ask the baka about it later.”
Danzo remains silent for several minutes before speaking.
“It is troubling to learn the vessel was investigating that particular warehouse. I use those false businesses to embezzle funds to support Root financially. There are others scattered within the council files and Kakashi may have discovered them if he were retracing the vessel’s footsteps. However, they are not likely to learn much. They will not uncover where the money is going to or originating from.”
Pinning Sakura with his gaze he continues.
“Get closer to the investigation and learn what you can. Both of you are to refrain from any further attempts for the time being. Once Sasuke becomes a chuunin there will be more opportunities to take out the vessel. For now simply observe.”
Both Sakura and Sai nod in understanding of their orders.
Much to her irritation, Naruto is forced to stay in the hospital for four more days. At least until the fox heals her enough where she can move around on crutches.
She doesn’t see much of Sasuke. Not that she’s upset by his absence. She wants him focused on preparing for the Chuunin Exams taking place in a few more days, which doesn’t leave him much time for visiting. Regardless, she’s relieved he’s taking it so seriously. When he does visit again their conversation naturally drifts to the exam.
“Hey, teme, I’ve been thinking.”
Instead of answering, he turns in his seat to look intensely out the window.
“What the hell are you doing?” she asks, nonplussed.
“You’ve been thinking. I’m checking for signs hell is freezing over.”
“Har, har,” she mocks sarcastically. “You having a sense of humor is too weird for words. Knock it off. It’s creepy.”
“Whatever,” he smirks, rolling his eyes.
“Anyways,” she grumbles. “To win in the final rounds you’ve got to use your brain instead of your brawn,” she suggests. At his arched brow she gives him a sardonic look. “It’s not that complicated. Don’t use any fancy jutsu. It’s been awhile and you might be rusty using your brain, but if you hold back on the fancy shit it’ll be better in the long run.”
It’s the first time in years she has last seen Sasuke look so affronted.
“Why should I hold back?” he asks, ignoring her insult and bristling in irritation.
“’Cause you’ll win over more people that way, teme. Intelligence and cunning are held in higher regards than brute strength and fancy jutsu,” she explains patiently.
“I’m not doing this to win fans,” he growls out.
Naruto takes a calming breath and counts to ten to keep from strangling him.
“Okay, I know there’s still a chance you won’t stay, but if you do and then decide to restart your clan, you have to think of them.”
At Sasuke’s confused expression she sighs wearily.
“Remember what you said about not feeling connected to the village?” At his nod she continues. “I get it that part of that was living in your clan’s shadow. People didn’t see you, just the last surviving Uchiha. But a lot of them changed their minds when you left. You’re back now and may not care what they think, you’ve always been like that,” she shrugs carelessly. “But if you get married and have kids, what about them? They’re not going to just be living under the Uchiha name; they’re going be under the shadow of your actions. They’ll be unfairly blamed for what you did.”
Sasuke blinks at her in shock. This was not something he considered yet. Naruto nods at his expression.
“If you use your brain it’ll be less fearsome and intimidating, making you more approachable. It’s not just about you. You’ve got to think of the long run and how your actions will affect your kids.” She gives him a moment to absorb her words before continuing. “That’s why you’ve got to stop being so self-centered or you’re just gonna hurt the ones you care about.”
Sasuke nods absently. He definitely has a lot to think about, but knows some of it will have to wait until after the Chuunin Exam.
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Underneath The Leaves