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Plato of Your Kind	By : Ljiljana Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 1232 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: NARUTO does not belong to me; I make no money writing this story.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
Part Five

Strenuous Acquaintances

(Plato of Your Kind)

Leaving behind the safety of the theater was a relief in some ways. Heavy drapes that kept secret all those hidden in the Shelter also kept the daylight out. The old electrical wiring was terrible; the unstable voltage made the lights flicker ominously at random intervals. Naruto was not sad to escape the slightly claustrophobic atmosphere of the Shelter.

More importantly, their presence could have turned out to be a major pain for Iruka. He knew that and he felt guilty for endangering them for so long. There was no mistaking the relieved expressions of some people when he announced that they were going, nor he could blame them. Although it was with reluctance that he exposed them both to the outside world, where they were constantly at risk of being reported by “dutiful citizens,” Naruto would only take them back to the theater in cases of extreme emergency. Being responsible for Sasuke was hard enough… He didn’t want more people on his conscience.

“Fireland” was not exactly on the opposite side of the city, but it was far enough that some sort of transportation would be preferable to reaching it on foot. Naruto insisted, and Sasuke agreed readily enough, that they walk anyway. Public transportation provided too much opportunity for people to focus on them.

So it took awhile. It was likely past midnight when they turned into the small side street with the entrance to the club. The entire area was lined with buildings that were around a hundred, hundred and fifty years old. Most of those originally built there were still standing, in their ornamented glory, generally untouched under the wing of law. But some were painted in vivid colors, some rearranged to hold shops and restaurants and some, like the one that hosted “Fireland”, were built on – over the gray cement of the old walls there was now a tower of steel and glass proudly facing the competition in the more modern parts of the city.

Above the line of dressed up people hoping to be granted entry to the club, Above the line of dressed-up people hoping to be granted entry to the club was a row of stone lions, their jaws stretched wide in frozen roars.. Naruto had always liked them. In fact, he had even allowed Konohamaru to drag him up there one early morning and ride one like a child. It had been fun. The memory and fresh air improved his mood.

“We’ll never get in looking like this.”

Naruto snapped out of his recollection at the sound of Sasuke’s voice and grinned, “Sure we will.”

“Not in these clothes.”

To be fair, the bouncers would never let them in dressed like they were. Sasuke was right about that. “They’re good enough for the alternate way up.”

Sasuke looked down at his oversized blue shirt. “Are we going though the sewers, then?”

Naruto rolled his eyes. Sasuke had been acting that way all day, bitching at everything Naruto said or did. It was irritating and it made him angry, especially when one of his barbs would hit a sore spot, but he reigned in his emotions every time, with a bit of effort.. It wouldn’t do if they fought.

“Close enough, through the basement,” he allowed. “It’s this way.”

Sasuke followed him as he walked around several shops. They ended up in the street parallel to the one with the club’s entrance. The tower of “Fireland” loomed over them with equal audacity from that side. There was a row of small windows to the basement from that side, at level with their knees. Some were open, but all were secured with iron bars shaped like calla lilies at the ends. Naruto found the familiar one in the corner of an alcove and crouched to examine it. To his astonishing relief, the screws were still the way he had left them back when he had used the window as an alternate exit point with Konohamaru. He’d cut them so they would look like they were fastening the bars to the window when you put the frame in its place, but in reality, the screws were too short to fasten anything securely. After a quick glance around, Naruto moved the heavy iron with some effort.

“You know this place well.”

Naruto glanced up, but Sasuke was looking down the street. “Yeah.”

There was no choice but to break the glass. It was possible that someone would hear…and the security would come running. Kakashi would be with them, though, or someone would be able to recognize him, so they weren’t in any danger.

“How come?”

“What?” Naruto glanced up again. Sasuke was now scowling at him, obviously irritated again. What were they talking about? “Oh. I worked for the old Mayor’s grandson. He liked coming here. Especially to the upper floors.”

To be honest, Konohamaru was only fond of the place because his family had insisted he kept sexuality a secret. It took months to warm up to “Fireland’s” special services, but the place soon became a second home for Konohamaru. Soon after Jiraiya talked Naruto into taking the job, there had been a scandal at the entrance of the club involving a famous movie actor and a prostitute. The building and the street had been crawling with reporters, waiting for another scandal to happen. Naruto had needed to find a way to get Konohamaru in and out without the reporters noticing.

Amusement replaced Sasuke’s annoyance. “So it’s true what they say about this place.”

It was a statement, not a question. Still, Naruto grinned, “Oh, yeah. Everything you’ve heard and then some.”

Sasuke didn’t seem like he had anything to add to the conversation, so Naruto kicked in the glass. He was careful to protect his face with his arms in case of some wayward shards. It took him a minute to clear up the pieces so they wouldn’t cut his arm while he was pulling the window open, but his quick glances back confirmed that Sasuke was watching the surroundings carefully again. Confident that he would be alerted if someone came near them, Naruto was able to do the work faster.

“I’ll go first,” he muttered when it was over. The room beneath him was obviously empty so it would have been better if he could have let Sasuke in first, but he couldn’t. The windowsill was high above the floor, and Naruto couldn’t be sure if there was something just under it or not. Sasuke was hurt in an awkward place, after all. It affected his flexibility.

With one last look at the surroundings, Naruto crouched and slid down through the window, legs first. He lowered himself as far as possible on his hands before jumping off. Sprained ankles would not help their situation at all. When he turned and kicked a single carton box full of toilet cleaning products out of the way, Sasuke was already sitting at the edge of the window and trying to peer inside, like Naruto had done a moment ago. There was little point in it; you couldn’t see much in the half-darkness and Sasuke gave up quickly. When he pushed himself off, Naruto caught him awkwardly. He was very aware that it was inappropriate but was unwilling to take his chances with his hands being anywhere near the gunshot wound. He caught Sasuke low on his body, just under his ass. He held Sasuke for just a second before letting the rigid body slide to the ground.

Naruto found himself unwilling to let go. He could smell Sasuke as he moved his hands up to steady him - the cheap detergent from the Shelter, the old leather of the jacket, the fresh sweat and underneath it all, hints of the coppery scent of blood. They appealed to him so he filled his lungs with them, inhaling sharply, but it was the unexpected warmth that made him curl his fingers into Sasuke’s shirt tighter.

Their position resembled an embrace. Feeling a little bit detached, Naruto nuzzled Sasuke’s shoulder. He just started wondering about the curious stillness of the body next to his and lack of reaction, when Sasuke pulled his left arm from the tight space between them. Even though he knew what was coming, Naruto didn’t let go. He ended up being elbowed in the stomach without an ounce of sympathy, hard enough for the pain to make him bend over, gasping for breath.

Sasuke moved a couple of steps away wordlessly. Naruto quickly went though the arguments inside his head; he deserved it. While he had been wasting time, seeking comfort - or whatever the hell he’d been doing - someone could have walked into the room. He was getting sloppy. He needed to focus.

Naruto straightened, ignoring the chill that hadn’t been there before. He tried casting an apologetic glance at Sasuke, determined not to actually voice his regret. Who knew what he could have ended up saying. But Sasuke was not looking at him; he was frowning at the only door that led out of the small room of the cold basement.

Well, whatever.

They waited a couple of minutes. No one seemed to have heard, as no one was coming. Naruto attempted to open the door – to his astonishment, it swung forward easily.

They were inside.

*#*#*#*

The surveillance system was stationed in the basement. After a brief inner debate, Naruto decided to go directly there and turn himself in to the security guards watching the monitors for signs of disorder. In any other situation, it would have been fun to see how far up he could make it before being discovered, but not tonight. Not with a wounded Sasuke..

“Where to?” Sasuke startled him out of pondering on the subject.

The windowless hallway looked completely the same on both ends, creating a constricting feeling with its high ceilings and naked walls that seemed to squeeze in on them.. He waved his hand to the left, “The stairwell is over there. But we’ll be going this way.”

The last door down the hallway to the right was marked clearly. Naruto threw a grin over his shoulder to a wary looking Sasuke and opened the door. There were two men inside. One was watching the number of flickering monitors, just barely alert enough to be doing a decent job and the other one was frowning at the computer screen. They both glanced at the door at the same time. Naruto grinned again and pointedly scanned the room.

“Looks like this isn’t the bathroom, either.”

The man at the computer stood up, mouth hanging open as he searched for words. Finally, he sputtered, “The bath…? How did you get here?”

He regained his wits after a short scrutiny – ripped shirts are known for having that effect on security guards, after all – and went directly for his belt. Naruto raised both his hands in surrender, “Kidding, just kidding! We’re looking for Kakashi, actually. Could you call him, please?”

“How did you get here? The door to the basement is locked. There’s an alarm on it.”

The tone was sharp, but Naruto was happy to notice that the hand halted over the now visible gun holster on the mention of Kakashi. “Yeah, well… Could you call him, please, and tell him that Naruto is looking for him? He’s expecting me.”

Chances that Iruka had the time to inform Kakashi that they were coming were very slim, but it made him sound important enough for the man to gesture his colleague to the phone at the table.

“You haven’t answered me.”

Naruto played dumb, to stall for time, “Answered what?”

“How did you get here?”

“Oh, that.” A light snort behind him reminded him to move and show off Sasuke before his presence becomes a nasty surprise later on. He gestured to include Sasuke, “We jumped in.”

It worked as a distraction as well. The man stepped closer and squinted into the shadow Sasuke was sticking to. “How many of you are there?”

“Just us,” Naruto barely managed to chip in before the guard figured the implications of the other part of his answer.

He narrowed his eyes further and even though he was asking a question, his tone held a clear threat, “You jumped in?”

“It’s alright. Kakashi says to let them up.”

Finally, the guard interrogating them – the one that became the First Guard in Naruto’s head, because neither of the two men had any distinct characteristics suitable to base witty nicknames on- relaxed enough to buckle up his gun holster. Naruto took the chance to come inside and glance around the room. The number of monitors flickered in shades of green, showing the more important parts of the club—the main dance area, the VIP seats, entry and exit points, all strategically located. There were several more monitors showing offices and hallways. Nothing above the first floor; the surveillance was made up of several different teams that separately covered each part of the building.

The room itself smelled strongly of sausages and coffee, though Naruto couldn’t spot the source of either.

“Ah,” came the gasp from behind Naruto. He turned, but it wasn’t Sasuke, who had followed him inside. It was the First Guard, looking wide-eyed from Sasuke to Naruto and back again. “Now I see why you were so familiar. You’re all over the news.”

Quickly, Naruto stepped back to position himself between the man and Sasuke. Chances were small that no one would recognize them to begin with, but he had been hoping that it wouldn’t happen so soon. He waited, motionless, hoping against hope that he wouldn’t have to hurt anyone. Fortunately, no one was jumping for the phone, even though both guards were staring.

“How do you know Kakashi?” asked the Other Guard.

Naruto decided to go with the truth. “He used to work for my godfather in a security agency.”

The First Guard’s questioning look softened after his eye flickered up to Naruto’s distinctive bright hair. “Ah. I see. You’re Minato’s kid.”

Naruto almost staggered forward in relief. “Yeah.”

“And him?” the man nodded behind him, where Sasuke was standing.

“Client.”

“So you let him kill someone on your watch?”

Naruto was starting to seriously dislike the First Guard. Maybe the guy knew his father, but Naruto couldn’t remember him so he hadn’t been a close friend. He was sneering now and his prematurely gray hair looked kind of greasy and ugly in the green light from the monitors.

Naruto stepped back again until he could feel Sasuke behind him. “He, “ he emphasized, “hasn’t killed anyone. I’d like to go up and see Kakashi now.”

There was, of all stupid things, a staring contest following his words. Naruto had just implied that he was the one they should be wary of, but he meant it more like ‘my client is innocent’ and less like ‘I could kill you all if only I could be bothered to raise my hand’. He glared directly into the watery gray eyes until the man scoffed and turned away.

Relieved, Naruto glanced back. Sasuke tore his gaze away from where the guards were whispering to look at him. “Is there a reason you’ve trapped me in the corner?”

Behind him was indeed a corner of the small room. Naruto hadn’t realized that he had retreated so far backwards, though the room was small. He quirked a sheepish smile, “No, not really. I don’t think we’re in trouble.”

“Take the elevator up to the fifth floor,” the now familiar, sneering voice said, startling them both. “Someone will be waiting to let you up.”

“The elevator? Why not the stairs?” Naruto asked, but he was somewhat relieved. The man obviously disliked him, but if this was the extent of his showing it, then they got off easily. He probably wasn’t willing to mess with Kakashi.

“Because I said so. The staircase is locked, take the elevator.”

Naruto glared to show how very pissed off he was before turning to let Sasuke out first. The door closed behind them instantly.

“Did your father do something to him?” Sasuke asked after several steps.

“No idea. I’ve never seen that guy before in my life.”

After a minute, as the sound of tuneless club music gradually increased in volume, Sasuke asked, “What’s wrong with taking the elevator?”

Naruto smiled. “Nothing, really. It’s just on the other side of the building. We have to go directly though the club, and you saw it, it’s pretty much full tonight. He’s making it as inconvenient as possible.”

“Can’t we take the stairs anyway?”

“I could smash the door down, sure,” Naruto laughed, enjoying the picture of him kicking in the large double door and startling a sea of people. How many of them would recognize him from the news? “But that’d get us too much attention. Would be fun, though.”

The door leading out of the basement was locked, as they were told it was. Naruto waved into the security camera and grinned as widely as possible. Nothing happened. He kept waving as Sasuke swore under his breath. It took several long minutes before there was a low buzz and the door opened under Sasuke’s hand. The roar of music crashed through the crack, so loud and violent it almost swept them aside.

“I don’t like this,” Naruto muttered as he passed through the door into small hallway with a couple of doors. “He could make trouble for us.”

He got no answer, not that there was anything Sasuke could say to make him feel better.

The small hallway they were in led to a larger one, crowded with people waiting to use the toilets. Looking at the lines of people – some impatiently shifting their weight from one leg to the other, some kissing and groping, some looking just plain bored – Naruto was glad he didn’t need to go there. No one spared them more than a glance, despite the old, worn out clothes and the ‘wanted’ label. Naruto tried sticking to the wall, because it would have been easier to get though and keep an eye on Sasuke that way, but it didn’t work out. Too many people retreated back there for a bit of air – or a bit of heavy foreplay. In order to keep Sasuke in sight, Naruto pushed him in front and followed closely, but that didn’t turn out all that well, either. Some girl, in a hurry to catch up with someone, had brushed far too close and Naruto felt Sasuke wince in pain in front of him.

They ended up pushing though the crowd side by side, Naruto carefully choosing to walk as a moving obstacle between the dancing wall of people reflecting violent blue and Sasuke’s hurt side. The lights were blinding him. He had to hold onto Sasuke so he could keep the acceptable distance; his fingers were wrapped into the material of the jacket where it was covering Sasuke’s back.

Once they got through, Naruto instantly let go. He was pretty sure Sasuke was annoyed with him again, but he pretended to look around for a second time so he wouldn’t have to acknowledge it.

A short but bulky guy sitting in a chair near the elevators raised an eyebrow as they approached.

“Naruto. To see Kakashi?”

There was no reaction. Gritting his teeth – did that guard from the basement do something else to make it harder? - he jerked his hand to emphasize his hurry, “Today?”

The bulky guy moved slowly, but he did unlock the elevator and let them in. He didn’t say anything, but Naruto pushed the button that would send them to the fifth floor. It was where the Drawing Room and the main surveillance system were.

“Is this your way of making friends?” Sasuke asked as soon as the door closed.

“Better than your way,” Naruto muttered, annoyance slipping into his voice. So he had been a little brusque; it wasn’t the elevator’s guy’s fault his colleague was a jerk. It wasn’t that big of a deal. “At least no one expects breakfast from me in the morning.”

Inwardly, he winced as the words came out of his mouth. Reminding Sasuke of the way they’d met when they were both already irritated surely couldn’t be a good thing.

“It’s hardly his fault you’re upset and we can’t actually afford to piss off more people in this place. Isn’t relying on one asshole’s good will per place good enough for you?”

Incredulously, Naruto turned to stare, “Seriously? You’re questioning my people skills? You, of all people?”

“Why not?”

“I’ve been watching you for weeks, remember? You weren’t polite to one single person in all that time! Not one! The way you treated your Professor – mentor – you know, the purple sleazy guy - I can’t believe he let you into his…” Snake house, Naruto was about to finish but instead he waved his hand. He wasn’t sure what to call the place that housed all the snakes on campus.

“Some people get off on it,” Sasuke answered, folding his arms and ignoring Naruto’s disgusted face. “I know very well when to keep my mouth shut – even be nice - and not take out my snit on other people when I depend on them.”

“So I’m just an exception then? How flattering.”

“You – it’s not worth the effort,” Sasuke answered, ignoring the sarcasm.

“Thanks. Like I don’t feel bad enough about this entire fiasco already.”

In silence, the elevator brought them past the third floor.

“I wouldn’t call it fiasco. You can’t help it if some guy is pissed off with your late father.”

“Well, I know for sure I haven’t done anything to deserve an effort from you to be nice to me in the last twenty seconds, so keep your pity,” Naruto snapped. “And that’s not what I was talking about anyway. I know I get distracted easily. I’ve always had that problem; teachers started warning my parents about it since I was in grade school. But I’m trying and you are quite alive, if a bit wounded, so keep your complaints to yourself.”

Naruto didn’t feel necessarily better, letting that out…. Alright, maybe he did feel a little bit less like he was going to explode. However, just admitting that he had a problem with focus didn’t lessen his fear of forgetting something crucial and getting Sasuke killed. It wouldn’t be his first time making a serious mistake because of his forgetfulness. Granted, he had never been in a situation as serious as this one before was and no one had gotten hurt before, but Naruto had long since been aware that he was a less than perfect candidate for the job. That was why he had been avoiding it in the first place all those times Jiraiya had tried to talk him into it, and when Itachi had first asked.

Just as the elevator started slowing down, Sasuke finally said, “There is a difference between making an effort to be nice and being honest. I meant what I said.”

Surprised, Naruto turned to him. Sasuke bore his incredulous questioning gaze quite well and Naruto opened his mouth to thank him, this time seriously. It did make him feel a bit better, even if Sasuke hadn’t addressed the real problem at all.

“Naruto!”

The voice came from outside of the elevator. Naruto completely missed it open, so he turned to stare, his annoyance coming back. That was exactly what he had been thinking about just a minute ago-- someone dangerous could have been waiting on the other side, but he was too distracted by a stupid, useless not-quite compliment and missed it. It was ridiculous.

He only just had the time to register who was it that called his name before Konohamaru jumped on him, making him crash into the mirrored back wall. As if that and the overenthusiastic hug weren’t painful enough, Konohamaru proceeded to tangle his fingers in Naruto’s hair and kiss him harshly, right on the mouth.

Naruto let out a chain of protesting, if not very understandable, words. He grabbed Konohamaru’s shoulders and pushed him away physically. Put out, Konohamaru glared but he stayed as close as Naruto let him, hands on Naruto’s forearms.

“Oh, come on! You’re not working for my grandfather any longer!”

“You’re still a kid.”

“I’m of age,” Konohamaru countered. Naruto was relieved to see that he was not seriously upset. There was a cute pout on his face, at odds with his fancy silky green shirt that uncovered more flesh than it covered and nice, tight black pants. It made the knot in his chest loosen a bit again. Konohamaru was just playing around, like everything was as it usually was. Some tension left Naruto’s shoulders.

“Yes, and I saw in the papers how you celebrated it. I worked my ass off to keep you firmly in closet and you go out and grope a man who could be your father in the middle of the city square?”

“Yeah, well. He had a nice bum,” Konohamaru snickered. “You know how I am with those.”

Naruto knew how he was with nice bums well enough to take the edges of his ratty shirt and drag it to cover his own bottom. Konohamaru wasn’t averse to pinching hard enough to leave bruises; he had vivid, uncomfortable memories of it. But despite such behavior, Konohamaru wasn’t really all that promiscuous, he was – mostly - just teasing. He could afford it, with the constant personal protection his grandfather was paying for generously.

And maybe Naruto wasn’t judging too harshly because he knew a thing or two about teenagers with busy parents and how they sometimes seek attention in unhealthy ways. Even if his own tactics had usually involved more guns than sex.

Still snickering, Konohamaru let go of him. With relief, Naruto edged toward Sasuke, who didn’t seem at all affected by the scene. The door of the elevator was being held open by a wide guy in a black suit – unmistakably Konohamaru’s bodyguard – and he nodded his greeting when Naruto glanced at him. Similarly, Konohamaru scanned Sasuke up and down, frowned and turned his gaze back to Naruto.

“You need to dye your hair.”

Panicked, Naruto protested, “I like my hair. It’s nice and bright.”

That made Konohamaru smile. “I like it, too. But you should dye it.”

“It’s a good idea,” Sasuke said. Naruto gave him his most hurt, betrayed look, though he was warming up to the idea already. He had no time to consider it before, but he would see what he could do about it. It was nice of Konohamaru not to ask not to ask about what had happened and if he had really helped kill someone and offer helpful suggestions instead. Maybe he really wasn’t a kid any longer.

Unaware of his thoughts, Sasuke explained about the hair, “It’s very distinct. Easily identifiable.”

“And you should cut yours,” Konohamaru added. It was directed to Sasuke. This time, Naruto barely held his tongue as Sasuke nodded with a small frown. He liked Sasuke’s hair. It was longish, but quite soft and it looked nice on him just as it was…

Well, it wasn’t any of his business. He had no place thinking about how nice Sasuke’s hair was under his fingers anyway. And cutting it could help, especially as the picture he saw of Sasuke on TV was with even longer hair. Such drastic contrast would fool some people.

“Were you going down?” he asked Konohamaru. His tone had cooled as the result of the self-disapproving emotional rollercoaster, but the boy didn’t look put out.

“No, I was waiting for you. Kakashi told me you’d stop by when I asked him about – you know, about the stuff on television.”

He still didn’t ask anything, but Naruto offered anyway, “It isn’t true.”

Solemnly, Konohamaru nodded, “Thought so. Come on, Kakashi is waiting for you!”

Once they were out of the elevator, there was nothing in sight to suggest that they were in the same building as the club downstairs. It was because they had reached the built-on part of the establishment. It was all so obviously new - shiny floors, freshly done walls, modern lamps and tasteful chandeliers. It was also just as peaceful as Naruto remembered it. It wasn’t silent; there was some music coming from the small stage room – the one they were actually calling The Drawing Room. But after the noise and the stuffiness of downstairs, it was very pleasant up here.

Sasuke was looking around, eyebrows slightly raised, as if he was to expecting to stumble across something interesting. If he ever wanted to come back here, Itachi’s name would probably get him through. Naruto didn’t like the idea, but he did like knowing things Sasuke didn’t. He hurried a bit so they were side by side.

Nodding toward the white double doors at the side of the room, he whispered, “The music is coming from the Drawing Room.” For a moment, Naruto thought that Sasuke was annoyed with him, but if he was, his curiosity got the better of him so he glanced in the direction Naruto pointed out. “It’s the main room, actually, where the bar is and a small stage for when there’s a special program on. It’s technically forbidden to do any of the heavier stuff there, but… You can’t actually forbid anything to these people. A few drinks and some of them forget that the room is under heavy surveillance.”

“What happens with the tapes?”

It had been ages since the tapes were not in use, not that it changed the answer. “Dutifully erased every 24 hours, if there’s no problem.”

“So this is like a brothel?” Sasuke asked. He kept his voice quiet, but there was an edge there.

“Like a really expensive hotel and brothel in one. They can provide you with, er, company, if you’re a total dolt but have money, but they also provide you with ultimate protection from just about anything, from a sore ass to media scandal.” They were passing one of the side hallways, so Naruto gestured toward the sparse line of doors. “Some of the rooms are over there, and lawyer’s and doctor’s offices. The really good, private rooms are someplace else. Upstairs, I think. I’ve never been there.”

“You haven’t?”

“’Course not, Konohamaru wasn’t of age.

“I didn’t think that would matter here.”

“Maybe it doesn’t,” Naruto admitted. Some guys he’d seen moving up from the Drawing Room did look a little bit too young at the time. “Konohamaru’s grandfather might have had a word with someone.”

Konohamaru, who was walking ahead, reached the familiar corner door of the surveillance room, meant to cover the upper parts of the establishment and yelled, “Naruto’s here!”

Naruto pushed past him into the room. It wasn’t all that different from the one downstairs, except it smelled much better. Air freshener with the scent of lemon hid any smells of food.

But Kakashi was nowhere to be seen.

“Er…” Konohamaru voiced Naruto’s confusion. “Where is Kakashi? He was just here!”

The only other person in there, an unfamiliar woman with entirely too much bulk in the chest area, shrugged him off, too busy watching something on one of the screens. She should have been more upset with Konohamaru walking in and bringing people along to the surveillance room. They were clearly expected.

“Over here.”

The voice came from behind them. Of course it came from behind. It was Kakashi. He lived for a chance to startle someone out of their pants.

Naruto grinned from relief and familiarity and stepped back, aiming to greet Kakashi properly. Kakashi hit him on the head, just over his left ear as soon as he was in range.

“Gah,” Naruto moaned. It hurt. Kakashi’s knuckles were sharp and hard when they connected. “What’s that for?”

“For being a dumbass, obviously.”

“’M not a dumbass.”

Sasuke snorted softly. He was keeping close and eyeing Kakashi with curiosity and… Naruto blinked. Curiosity, and a burning hope that lit his features like bonfire.

“Then how come I found out that Jiraiya is in the hospital from Iruka?”

Yeah, good old Kakashi; straight to the point. Naruto fixed him with a glare.

“I guess you aren’t as all-knowing as I hoped.”

“I’m not an omniscient deity, if there is no reason for me to look into something, I don’t,” Kakashi answered. He nodded to the woman in the room with them and she left promptly. Kakashi slid further into the room and propped himself against a desk, next to Konohamaru. “I had a fun day catching up with your antics today, though. And I have to ask, you realize - have you lost your mind?”

“That’s a little harsh.”

Naruto, for some reason, didn’t expect of Sasuke to talk at all, not to mention in his defense. It startled him, but he had no time to react because Kakashi took Sasuke in for the first time and shot back.

“I make it a point to not consider seriously the opinion of people who get themselves wounded.”

Naruto’s felt as his jaw stiffen. He was the one who got Sasuke wounded and Kakashi knew that. “If you don’t want to help, then just say so.”

Kakashi turned again to look at him. He seemed… surprised, for an entire second there. “I wasn’t talking about the job. That seems to be working out fine for now. You should have asked for help with Jiraiya.”

“Ask who?” Naruto demanded. “You? You’re not my father. You’re not even old enough to be my father.”

“How about your Godmother? I called her today to gather some info, and she had absolutely no idea what was going on – apart from the fact that you are a wanted criminal and she can’t get in touch with you or Jiraiya. She’s worried sick.”

“They hate each other, why would she pay for his hospital bills?”

“She would have helped you even if they do hate each other because she cares about you and you were in trouble. You are too stubborn and proud for your own good, kid. Was taking this job really worth it?”

“Jiraiya is in a better place thanks to it,” Naruto said and winced at the word choice. “Literally, I mean, in a better hospital.”

Kakashi studied him for a bit, his gaze occasionally flickering to Sasuke, who was staring at the blank wall, expressionless. “Yes, he is. And he said hi and don’t get yourself killed.”

That finally made Naruto smile a little. “I’m trying. It’s not going all that well.”

“He’ll survive.”

Naruto glanced at Sasuke. He would probably survive. Naruto would definitely try his best to make sure of it.

“Did you hear something about his brother?” Naruto asked. He thought about adding Itachi’s name, but… Shaking off the instinct that Kakashi knew everything wasn’t easy. Especially when talking to him.

“There is a good chance that he is alive,” Kakashi answered easily, giving a small little sympathetic smile to Sasuke. “I haven’t managed to contact him directly, but I have a very reason to believe that that is exactly how he wanted it.”

Naruto was relived, but before he could say anything, Sasuke asked, “What reason? How can you be so sure?”

“I’m not sure. But they wouldn’t still be after him if he wasn’t alive, I know that much,” Kakashi answered with that small smile still on his face. “Itachi is very fortunate he has survived the first wave of the clean-up. He was right on the top of the list.”

“Wait, I heard about that, Iruka mentioned it, said that the Shelter was full because of it. What clean-up? What’s going on?”

Kakashi cocked his head and regarded Naruto carefully. Sasuke let out a noise that could have been name-calling, with how crude it sounded.

Konohamaru answered – well, in a way, “The – the clean-up, you know? It’s been on TV for weeks?”

Naruto had no idea what he was talking about. “I’ve had no time to watch TV for months.” And when he did have time, he was watching other stuff, not news or other informative programs. In retrospect, that was a mistake. He hadn’t even thought about it; it was a longstanding habit to let Jiraiya and Sakura fill him in on all important things.

“Someone – an organization or so the news says – has been wiping the city clean of all known ‘criminals’,” Sasuke offered, “I thought you knew that, when you told me you saved Itachi’s life.”

“Ah,” Kakashi said, like all his puzzle pieces finally fit together, “so that was you? About two weeks ago?”

“Yeah, behind that club of his. Ibiki helped me get Sakura and Ino in to celebrate, but I was too tired so I slipped out just as Itachi was coming in. It was an accident.”

“It was someone from the building across the street.”

It wasn’t even a question, but Naruto nodded at Sasuke anyway. They should have talked before about it. Just, without knowing if Itachi was okay, it was somehow hard. “How’d you know?”

“There was a dead body found in an apartment on the third floor in that building. About two weeks ago.” On Kakashi’s raised eyebrow, Sasuke snapped, “What? It’s my brother’s place. Of course I’d notice if it was mentioned on television.”

“And he hasn’t contacted you since?”

“No.”

Kakashi raised that eyebrow higher, “He didn’t contact you at all?”

“They don’t really talk,” Naruto offered. “Something about Itachi’s work and its negative influence on people trying to live normally or something.”

Kakashi didn’t even spare him a glance. Sasuke pursed his lips and admitted, finally, “We don’t talk. Itachi is… It doesn’t matter. We don’t talk on the phone or visit or anything like that.”

“But?” Kakashi prompted.

“But he would leave me these… messages, so I’d know he’s alright. Like I would go to the local store to find out that the store card I’ve set there is paid off, or there would be an icebox of frozen mice for Manda left at Orochimaru’s lab with my name on it.”

“I see,” Kakashi said. “Has there been anything like that in the last few weeks?”

“No.”

“Nothing?”

“Nothing important.”

“Sasuke, I’m not working for you. I’m trying to help because the situation is very serious. This is not how they work. No matter who your brother is, they would never go after you if they didn’t have a reason.” Sasuke shoved his hands into his pockets. Naruto decided to let Kakashi push just a little bit further, because if there was something there, they really needed to know. “And I can’t think of a reason. I checked you out, and you’re clean. Your only connection to all this is Itachi. I need to know why they thought killing you was a good idea, when they never even went after Naruto who actively helped Itachi.”

Sasuke pulled out his hands out of his pockets and offered something to Kakashi. Naruto had to lean over to see. It was a piece of paper. Kakashi opened it. The message there was short and to the point, don’t worry.

“I found it in my mailbox when I came home,” Sasuke halted, as if counting days in his head, “not last night, but the one before.”

Kakashi glanced sharply at Naruto, “Were you working then?”

Naruto thought about it. “The night before – yeah, we took over on campus because he was late, cleaning some dead snake’s cage. I remained in the van to listen and Karin…”

Karin had followed Sasuke until he had entered his building. She had gone to the apartment across the street once she had made sure he was safe inside.

Making sure he was safe inside sometimes involved staying across the street while Sasuke went though his mail. If you wanted to be thorough. And who could be more thorough when it came to Sasuke than Karin?

“It’s not what you think,” Naruto gritted out.

“I didn’t tell you what I think.”

Naruto heard and ignored Kakashi, “There’s no way. Not her. I mean, she was – well, a right bitch sometimes, but she wouldn’t do that to Sasuke. There’s just no way.”

She was too much on love. Wasn’t she?

“You think she – what, that she’d been working for someone else?” Sasuke wanted to know. “Because she was following me when I got the note?”

“It’s just a speculation. It could be that they’re after you for something else,” Kakashi explained.

“But if it’s that note, if they thought Itachi wrote who knows what to you, then… Karin was the one following you when you got it. She saw it. Maybe she mentioned it to someone, by accident?”

Kakashi gave him a look that clearly said that he thought that very unlikely. Karin was a professional. She was a decent at her job and Naruto knew that very well.

“I’ll look into that girl and we’ll see,” Kakashi said. He turned back to Sasuke, “Are you sure that was it? There were no other messages from Itachi? Maybe something you missed?”

“Nothing. Itachi wouldn’t send something I’d miss.”

Kakashi looked like he would push. And even though he had the right to do it if he was going to help, Naruto’s priority was Sasuke. He interrupted, “So Manda’s your snake, right? I wonder what happened to it.”

“My neighbor from upstairs probably took him. She takes care of him when I’m out of town.”

“So I don’t get it,” Konohamaru butt in, frowning. “Who is that girl? Where is she now?”

“She’s dead,” Naruto explained. “She was working with me; Itachi hired four of us to keep an eye on Sasuke.”

“But if she betrayed you, then she isn’t dead, right?”

That was… good. It was. “The other two guys are definitely dead.”

“And they were just hired help. Why would they kill them?”

Naruto couldn’t give Konohamaru an answer; he had been asking himself the same question over and over again.

“I have no idea,” he admitted. “I have no idea – but they’re so well organized. And well trained,” he added, remembering how the guy in the apartment had been completely silent, even with that horrible wound. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear they were…”

“Trained by government?” Kakashi finished for him. “That’s because it’s true. That’s not a secret at all on the streets; Iruka would have told you if you’d asked. They are the police – actually, they are selected from the police department to form a special unit for Mayor’s special program of cleaning up this city.”

Naruto ignored Sasuke’s pointed look. He was in too much shock to be upset about not being right when Sasuke was. The police? That guy in the apartment - he really was a cop?

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

The new Mayor, the youngish guy that won the election when Konohamaru’s grandfather retired, had been the talk of the city for so long. Naruto remembered him vaguely from the posters. He had bright titian hair and hadn’t acted as happy as someone who had won should. There was a well-known interview that had been re-played on television to no end and was available on YouTube. Sakura told Naruto that it was very touching, that the Mayor explained how he had been a refugee from a county shattered by war and forced to grow up as an orphan, sometimes bullied and forced to climb his way up from the nastiest, lowest layers of society.

“No, I’m afraid not. The rumor is that he is a little bit crazy, obsessed with Plato’s dialogs.”

“Plato’s what?” Naruto wanted to know - and he was pretty sure the Konohamaru demanded something along the same line at the same time.

But Sasuke didn’t have a problem following, if his incredulous, “So he’s trying to create Magnesia out of our city?” was anything to go by.

“Exactly. He is taking Plato’s fantasy, a city made up in philosophical debate, and trying to create it.”

“Magnesia’s economy was based in slavery, though.”

Kakashi shrugged slightly, “I’m afraid it’s not my theory and that I’m not very familiar with Plato’s dialogs. But I’m sure changes were made to fit a better society today. The core of it is the same, though – he is trying to turn this city into ideal place, a paradise on Earth.”

“By killing off all criminals?” Naruto demanded. As he listened to that slightly confusing conversation the shock was slowly fading and he was getting more and more angry. “And everyone who gets in the way?”

“There are other things, too. He’s using every ounce of authority he has and doesn’t give up once he has his mind set on something,” Kakashi explained. “I think it’s best you two leave town for now.”

“What?” How could Kakashi even suggest that? “I don’t want to leave, this is my home! I won’t let some insane jerk come here and chase me out! We can’t let him just do this!”

“Obviously,” Kakashi calmly said. “But it’s not the time yet.”

“I have to fight,” Naruto repeated.

“And you will, when we have more info and a good plan of action,” Kakashi allowed. “For now, you have a client to take care for. Leaving town is the best strategy, because they don’t follow anyone out. It’s a matter of jurisdiction.”

Naruto nodded stiffly. Kakashi was right; he had to think about Sasuke first… But there was no way he would just sit on his ass and let some crazy fucker kill people randomly in his city.

“How do we even get out? Do they watch the exit points?”

“There is a safe route. I can get you both out before dawn, but I have several things to finish first.”

“Right,” Naruto said. He looked at Sasuke, who had a blank expression on his face and his arms crossed over his chest. “Right. But where are we supposed to go?”

“Tsunade’s?”

“No!” There were enough people in danger already. His Godmother didn’t have to be one of them. “I don’t want her involved in this.”

“They won’t follow you out of the city.”

“Yeah, I know you said so. But, Kakashi, that guy is crazy. He might change his mind or something. I don’t want her to be in danger.”

Kakashi sighed, “Fine then. The Subaku Farm.”

Naruto opened his mouth to protest again. He had lived on the Subaku Farm several times when his parents were alive. He hated it. He hated it so much, and with a good reason.

Kakashi noticed his unwillingness and raised a hand, “I know. I have no place else to send you on such short notice. You and Gaara always got along well, he will make sure you are comfortable.”

Reluctantly, Naruto nodded.

“Get some rest, then,” Kakashi instructed.

Konohamaru jumped off the table he was sitting on. “Finally! Let’s go, you can use my room upstairs.”

Gesturing that Sasuke should start moving and ignoring the annoyed look he got in turn, Naruto asked, “You still keep a room here? I didn’t think it mattered now, after your grandpa retired.”

Konohamaru smiled slyly, “But you never know who it is I’ll be dating. Come on, I can’t wait to see you with dark hair. I bet your eyes are gonna look stunning.”

Naruto groaned, “But I like my hair like this.”

They headed out; Konohamaru leading the way. Sasuke impatiently pushed Naruto though the door, not giving him the opportunity to turn and wave at Kakashi.

Naruto had a feeling that it was going to be a long night, especially with Konohamaru, who seemed determined to stick close by, with that wicked grin on his face. He was way too cheerful about Naruto having to dye his hair. And Sasuke was too upset with everything they just heard, despite reassurances that Itachi was most likely alright.

And Naruto was stuck in between them.
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Plato of Your Kind