~ L's POV

My connection with Sakura grew slightly in that moment. I couldn't explain why, I was just compelled to become further attached. Subsequent to this, we loosened our grip on each other. She smiled at me while moving downstairs, Hinata following behind her. I sighed my first sigh of content. I watched her leave until I couldn't see the lush pink in her hair, and even then, I still found myself staring.

Eventually I moved back into the room, closing the door and gesticulating Light to lock it. Then, we each sat on the bed Indian-style. In the beginning, we made idle chatter, but the conversations soon grew heavy.

"Do you two know who could've accomplished this massacre?" Light asked.

Near shook his head, I shrugged my shoulders even though I knew full-well who could've succeeded in this tragedy.

"Well, whoever—or whatever—this thing is, it isn't a normal person like us," Near declared.

"That's right, it must be one of these "shanobi" guys," Light agreed.

"Why do you automatically assume that this could only be at the work of a shanobi? Plenty of felons in our own world have committed heinous crimes, and they're deemed "normal," except for the occasional mentally insane." I remarked.

"What are you saying here, L?" Light inquired me. "Are you saying one of us did it? The group of weaklings?"

"No. But obviously you seem to have a different opinion."

Near faced him.

Light sunk in his own foolishness and allowed the adults to speak.

"What about the villagers? They were harmless." Near suggested.

"Maybe they appeared to be, but we cannot rule them out as an option simply because they're just that. Yes, they give the impression to be innocent enough, but don't they always? Also, we have no knowledge on whether or not the villagers possessed the supernatural abilities like that of their military force."

"You're right," They said in correspondence.

"Near," Light began, "Not to change the subject, but you said you thought you saw someone when you ran from me. Well, who did you see?"

Near hesitated, "That man, the man that went into Naruto's house."

We fell quiet for a few moments.

"Do you know what happened to Naruto?" I probed.

Near analyzed the area to conclude whether or not anyone could hear, and so he got up to close the window. When he returned, he sighed, "I think everything just rushed to him too quickly, like this is all too much to comprehend."

"Yes, that's perfectly understandable, anything else?"

"Well, he told me something, something that he made me swear not to tell anyone else."

We leaned in.

"He said he knew exactly who did this, he just didn't know how. The information didn't add up, especially under the circumstances."

"Yeah?" Light pushed, "Did he give a name?"

"No, unfortunately. However he did give a description. Naruto said the guy was tall and lean, much too underweight to have taken down all of the villagers and the Hokage, but that all of the evidence pointed to him."

"Evidence?" I pried.

"Yeah, apparently Naruto knows more than what he lets on. He didn't tell me anything else."

"Why would he even trust you with this information?" Light said.

"He wouldn't. Children are easily bribed." I stated. "I just can't figure why. Maybe he's close to the answer, or hiding it rather. We need more data. This is unbelievably impeccable for our first teleportation! I regret dreading it earlier, this is amazing." The two watched me become overwhelmed with excitement.

Near whispered to Light, "I think we need to get him a doctor." Light nodded.

I took a deep breath. "Alright, let's continue this discussion."

+Naruto's POV

I leaned against the wall next to the entrance, crossing my arms. I heard laughing and giggling, the source being Sakura and Hinata. They reached the bottom of the stairs and noticed I was here. They gave me a couple of awkward glances, then decided to continue their conversation elsewhere. They headed for the room behind the front counter. I intercepted their path.

Sakura sighed impatiently, "What is it Naruto?"

"What's going on with you? I thought you loved this place. And now that things have gone to shit all you can seem to do is laugh and smile about it."

She clenched her fists, "I loved this place with all of my heart."

"Loved?"

"Yeah, things have gotten out of hand. The irreversible reality we now know is all that remains. I don't want to live, or love, the environment I'm in now. It's time for us to search for survivors and move on."

"Move on?" I asked, "Just like that? Oh no, I don't think so girlfriend!" I waved my hands as an interpretation of the stereotypical girl. "I think there's something more to this than what's just happened. I think…" I drew in closer to her face, where her eyes got wider and her face expressed fright, "this has something to do with L."

"No!" She stomped her foot, creating cracks in the tile. "This has nothing to do with him, and who are you to inquire me of such things, huh? You've been acting like a deranged psychopath ever since we met up!"

"Don't go pushing your weight around like you used to; I was never afraid of you."

"Oh yeah?" She questioned, "Well prove it. Hit me. I know you won't. But go ahead and just try it…" Her provocation wasn't enough to stir my emotions, unlike her. Nevertheless, I clenched my fist, bristling with rage. "…you freak." Everything went black.

~ L's POV

We managed to get to the bottom of the stairs until we clearly heard the bickering. I walked faster than the other two, knowing Naruto was involved. I heard a mumble, then crashing and thrashing boomed. I ran past the corner blocking my view. Naruto had thrown over some chairs, and the counter for that matter, and began smashing Sakura's head against the wall. I stood there in shock. After his third or fourth blow, some revolving chakura visibly formed in the palm of his hand. The air pressure it created shocked my balance and forced me to fall backwards.

The other two were just turning the corner when he struck Sakura with it. The sudden rush of pressure sent me flying back to the other side of the room, with Light and Near tagging close behind. The assault permeated a nuclear explosion-like light, nearly blinding to witness. All I could here was the rushing wind and Sakura's cries. Slowly the white light turned to a reddish-orange tint. Sakura had successfully plummeted through the building's wall and land in the dirt in an embarrassing display of dominance.

I rose my head. There was a bubble-like sludge seeping and spreading around Naruto's body. His breathing was noticeably deeper with a growl intertwined. Even from this distance I could see the difference in appearance. He bent down and covered his head. I looked as if three tails had formed on his backside. He stretched his back, rose his head to the skies, and released a deafening roar. I desperately attempted to cover my ears. The building wasn't able to endure this torture and began to crumble.

Naruto bent down on all fours. As he did, another tail appeared. His skin instantly started peeling and rose into the atmosphere. Underneath, black and orange chakura-lined flesh ran vigorously.

It was at this moment I realized we should have left while we had the chance.