Chapter 12

"Ino, could you bring me the HCI?" Sakura said, stirring the delicate mixture without looking up from her hand written recipe.

"Fine, but you have to tell me…" The long haired blonde grinned slyly.

"Tell you what? We're making-"

"Haruno Sakura, you know damn well what I'm talking about and it isn't medical research!"

Sakura growled but then blushed when she looked up and finally noticed the look Ino was giving her.

"Yeah, that. So," Ino giggled. "Come on spill it, you've had him back for over a month already! Any plans for a date with tall, dark and-"

"N-No…"

Ino did a double-take and her smile disappeared. "Seriously?"

Sakura sighed and took a shaky breath. "Sasuke and I are friends- but that's really it…"

"That's it?" Ino sounded dubious. "You guys found him half-dead after his fight with Itachi and you saved him, but that's it?"

"It has to be. He's… in love with someone else."

Ino sighed, "I guess Naruto better take good care of him for you then, huh?"

Sakura gasped, "How did you-"

Ino grinned. "You're asking me that after the way you found them? Besides, I heard you tell Shizune a long time ago that Sasuke was always too busy picking on Naruto to pay attention to you at all. Boys usually just pick on the person they have a crush on- I guess we probably should've seen it sooner!"

Sakura sighed sadly. She'd figured it out the night Sasuke left her unconscious- she just hadn't been ready to accept it…

"Do you know if they've done anything yet?"

Sakura squawked, almost knocking her mixture off the stovetop. "What?"

"Sasuke's always been the perfect guy. But Naruto has really grown up too- you can't tell me that you forgot to notice how gorgeous he is! So, I want to know. Do you think they've done anything yet?"

"No way!" Sakura shook her head. Then she remembered that Naruto had planned to stay at Sasuke's only a few weeks ago and instead he'd arrived late to the mission desk quite a while after Sasuke was already there…

Not to mention, that Naruto hadn't stayed all night at Sasuke's since then…

"What is it?"

"Maybe something did happen that night."

Ino squealed. "I knew it!"

"No! I mean I'm a little worried, Naruto seemed upset, and nothing has been quite the same since that day. Things have been- I don't know, weirdly quiet but more tense than ever."

Ino giggled. "He's always been obsessed with Sasuke-kun but two hot guys getting together? Come on, that has to be pretty weird for them- especially since Naruto used to have a crush on you."

Sakura sighed. "I was so mean to him too… I want to help them- but how?"

"I'll finish this, you go talk to Naruto."

"You?" Sakura eyed her suspiciously. "Why are you so eager to 'help'?"

"Well I'd rather do the talking; but if he's going to talk to anyone about Sasuke this soon, it'd be you. You're his teammate, after all."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I am, now go- but you have to bring me details!"

"Okay, I'll try! Thanks, Ino!"

Sakura walked out of the medical lab and took off the mixing garments that protected her regular clothes, carefully putting them into a hamper so they could be washed, sorted and reused later.

"Sakura? You're done with the medicine for Juugo already?"

"Shikamaru- no! Not yet- I mean, we've altered the mixture, but Ino is going to finish this batch for me. I've gotta talk to Naruto! What are you doing here anyway?"

"It's troublesome, but Tsunade-sama has about half the shinobi in town looking for your team's captain right now."

"Kakashi-sensei? Why?"

"Dunno, Shizune didn't say. But I've already checked all of his usual haunts, so I've got a hunch that Kakashi must be doing some unofficial recon. I was wondering if you had any ideas where he might be?"

"Naruto and Sasuke have been busy with missions all day, maybe he's hanging around the Uchiha district- or…"

"Or what?"

"Well, Shizune and Tsunade-sama have been talking a lot about a man named Danzou lately, maybe he's watching him?"

"Troublesome Jounin… Thanks, Sakura."

"Let him know I'm looking for him too, when you find him-"

Shikamaru shook his head. "You won't be able to force him to talk to Sasuke. You know that, right?"

Sakura blushed, "I know- I just think…"

"Sasuke hurt a lot of people in this village; it will take time for some of them to decide to accept him or not. Kakashi was supposed to be in charge so I'm sure he has more regrets than anyone else in the village. Give him time."

"Shika-"

He shook his head slowly, cutting her off. "I'm glad the Uchiha's back for your sake, and for Naruto's. But I failed my first mission as a Chuunin because of him, so I'm not ready to honestly forgive him yet either."

He'd said yet! In spite of everything, that gave her hope so Sakura smiled as she watched him walk toward the door with a slight smirk. "Anyway, it's troublesome, but make sure you stop at the Tower before you go talk to Naruto."

"I will! Good luck finding Kakashi!"

Sakura hurried from the hospital to the Hokage tower.

"That was quick!" Shizune smiled, then she looked puzzled. "But where is Ino?"

"She's finishing up the serum; I need to talk to Naruto…"

"I see. Come with me, Tsunade-sama wanted to talk to both of us privately."

"Okay, but why?" Shizune didn't answer as Sakura knocked on Tsunade's office door.

"Come in, and shut the door."

Shizune looked grim and Sakura found herself getting nervous.

"Kabuto's been sighted within the Fire Country."

Sakura gasped but Shizune put a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry about him; the ANBU who sent the messenger bird believes he's moving north very quickly, probably back toward Sound."

Tsunade nodded. "We have other problems right now. Hoshigaki Kisame is alive. He's has now been sighted twice in the Lightning Country with a familiar costume, but a new partner. Shizune's work revealed that all of the corpses recovered from the battle site where Juugo was found, are just decoys."

Sakura's eyes widened but she didn't know what to say. "R-Really? But how? They-"

"I hope to find out shortly." Tsunade said. "I wanted to dissect Kisame myself, but I have my hands full with Danzou and the Elders, not to mention three of the Kages-"

"Teme! I can't believe this!" They heard outside the door.

Naruto was shouting at someone as they walked up the stairs outside. "Are you kidding me? After all that, this stupid furball takes one look at you with your freaky eyes and she jumps into your arms and starts purring? What the hell are you- some sort of a magnet for demon cats?"

"Dobe. The Kyuubi frightens Tora. As for Angel? I warned you not to tease her with chicken."

Tsunade smirked, shaking her head a bit. "I guess Sasuke and Naruto have arrived…"

Sakura giggled at their bantering too.

"Don't be a jerk; you know other animals can't sense it."

"Tora is a Ninja cat- she's just never been trained."

"Yeah right, what kind of an idiot trains cats anyway? Aren't they too lazy to learn anything useful?"

"It depends on what mood they're in…"

"Teme, what kind of an answer is that?" Naruto knocked but opened the door and walked in, looking pretty scratched up. "Hey Granny, what's up?"

Sasuke came in too; he was holding a surprisingly calm and adorable Tora. Madam Shijimi's cat was purring so loudly while Sasuke petted her fur that even Sakura found herself gaping at him.

Tsunade smiled wryly. "Lady Shijimi will be thrilled that her cat has been caught so quickly today, but that wasn't your mission..."

"Tell that to psycho-kitty over there!" Naruto growled. "I was just trying to relax after all those terrible missions you set us up with this morning and that thing knocked over my ice cream! I wasn't even trying to catch her but she attacked me anyway and then he looks at her with the Sharingan and the little brat hasn't stopped purring since!"

"How can you hate cats?" Sakura demanded.

Naruto snorted. "I don't mind regular cats, but these so-called Ninja cats are crazier than the Fuzzball locked inside me…"

Sasuke rolled his eyes and turned to Tsunade. "Why are we here?"

"The people who helped you track down Itachi after you left Sound village, you once told Ibiki that one of them was a medical ninja, correct?"

Sasuke seemed puzzled but nodded. "Karin. But she's dead."

"We assumed so, but Hoshigaki Kisame has been sighted very much alive, by two reliable informants currently stationed in the Lightning Country. Tell me everything you know about this girl."

Sasuke scowled. "She was called a medical ninja but that was only because she oversaw the experiments when Orochimaru and Kabuto were not at the South base. An injured person had to bite her to use her healing ability."

"Bite her?" Sakura was astonished.

"Yes, bite her and suck out her chakra."

"Seriously? That's sounds kinky- like the weird lady with the creepy hair! Remember Sakura, the one who kept trying to give me her stupid kiss of death!" Naruto laughed.

Sakura nodded, but Sasuke was trying to ignore both of them. "Sound had many medical ninja. I chose Karin for her unique ability to sense chakra. Without ever meeting him, she led me right to my brother."

"But based on her position of being in charge, is it possible that you don't know the full extent of her medical training?"

Sasuke nodded. "She could recite the files of everyone that Orochimaru and his underlings ever brought to her lab. But just tell me- exactly what do you want to know?"

"Kisame and your former allies are still alive. But this means Kabuto has either personally joined Akatsuki or he taught at least one of Orochimaru's underlings to use a rare, long forbidden technique that he learned here, in this village."

"I see."

"I don't…" Naruto groused, nudging Sakura.

"Dobe." Sasuke snorted. "She means the battle site wasn't real- but Akatsuki intentionally left Juugo behind."

"What? Why would they do that?"

Sakura noticed that no one answered Naruto's question, but Tsunade and Sasuke both looked uncomfortable and seemed lost in their private thoughts. "Don't worry, Naruto, we'll find out what's going on."

"Alright brats, you can go, you too, Sakura. I'll see that Tora-chan gets back to her mistress." Tsunade said.

Sakura nodded followed her teammates outside; wondering how she could get Naruto alone to talk to him.

'They're alive?' There was a growing knot of confusion in his stomach. 'Karin and Suigetsu are helping Akatsuki?'

"Hey- Sasuke?"

He looked up at Sakura, keeping his expression blank. "What?"

"I need to talk to Naruto. Can we catch up to you later?"

He nodded and jumped onto a neighboring rooftop. They were his best friends, but he had plenty to think about and he didn't want to answer their endless questions. Right now, he had too many of his own…

He walked down Market Street, wondering if they had joined Akatsuki willingly or if they'd been forced into leaving with them…

"Hey! Isn't that-"

"Yeah," Another hissed, pausing with her broom to scowl at him. "That's him- the traitor."

Sasuke kept walking but growled.

"Shh!" Someone else gasped.

He knew he shouldn't, but he couldn't resist the temptation to play with them a little… He was an Uchiha, after all. He was made to stand out and he wasn't the scared, relatively innocent kid he'd been when he left this village. While he was in Sound he'd learned to secretly enjoy some of the notoriety he'd lived with so quietly as a child.

"He'll hear you."

"Rather late to be worrying about that, don't you think?" Sasuke purred. The expressions of terror on their faces were priceless as the three women turned and realized he was now leaning on the wall behind them.

The three gossipers scattered like frightened children and he smirked as he moved on.

Others along the street watched him distrustfully- some even turned the signs in their windows to say they were closed. He snorted and walked around the corner and then decided to head back home- though this time, he moved across the rooftops.

He couldn't admit it, but he liked having Naruto to distract him from the stares and hostile gossip. This time, all the gossip was about his departure, but Konoha was still every bit as lonely as the place he left years ago...

He leapt onto the wall but paused when heard a noise behind him. He turned, and found himself looking down at the shop his Aunt and Uncle owned. The door was open, and the noise he'd heard was only the wind bumping it against a broken piece of wood caught in the doorway.

He shivered, and looked away; turning to leave, but he hated that noise. Time had been kind to the buildings in his neighborhood- but that was both a blessing and a curse. A blessing, because part of him didn't want to see anymore of the buildings fall into greater disrepair- but he hated the constant reminder that now he truly was the last of his clan.

The door clattered into the broken piece of wood once more and Sasuke sighed as he jumped down to close the door. As he approached the door, he felt a familiar presence and he stopped.

"Hello Uncle," He said softly.

No one answered of course, but he didn't need the Sharingan to know that the energy he felt was the old man's.

A whisper of chakra ruffled his hair and he felt a tear slip down his cheek. "Aunt Uruchi…"

Again, there was no answer, but he knew that their spirits were listening. "I did it. I killed him, just like I said I would…"

"Hey!" Naruto called, trotting along the wall toward him.

"What did Sakura want?"

The blush that spread over Naruto's cheeks was so adorable that Sasuke decided to pretend he hadn't noticed it when the Dobe changed the subject. "N-Nothing… What are you doing over there?"

"I'll show you."

Naruto's expression was puzzled, but he didn't hesitate. "Show me what?"

"I'm… going to show you something."

"Okay." Naruto grinned, looking around at the empty street. "But what is it?"

Shut up," There was no heat in the words, so Naruto's expression remained a confused grin.

With the Sharingan active, everything was sharper and more focused- except for the chakra of the two indistinct spirits. They were weak in chakra, and resembled the smoke that dances around the flame of a candle.

Naruto stiffened as Sasuke shared his vision with him by putting a hand on his arm.

"W-What is this? What's going on?" Naruto looked around wildly for a moment but didn't pull away. "Hey… what's with the weird blue smoke in the middle of the street?"

Sasuke smirked. He knew the idiot would notice it eventually.

"You asked me once about the ghosts…"

"G-Ghosts? These are- wait! You said they were your family… you mean you know them?"

Sasuke nodded sadly. "The one over there is my Uncle Teyaki. This is my Aunt Uruchi."

"That's amazing- and I'm not scared."

"They were always kind to me…"

"Hey! If you could do this, how come you didn't do it before?"

"They're not always active, you know."

"Really? But ghosts can do whatever they want in the movies so why-"

Sasuke growled and walked away.

"Hey wait! I'm sorry! I shouldn't be so curious," Naruto wrapped his arms around him from behind and hugged him tightly. "You still really miss them, huh? I want to meet them all with you someday."

"Most of the clan is gone- or at least I've never seen them."

"What do you mean?"

"I've never seen my parents or my Uncles Yashiro, Tekka or Inabi…"

"But why? I mean your parents were strong ninjas, right? Why wouldn't they want to see you too?"

Sasuke shrugged. "They must've been sealed after Itachi…"

"But that doesn't make any sense. Why would someone seal your parents and the other ninjas but not your whole clan?"

As a child who didn't understand what'd happened or why, he'd wondered about that so many times that he was just tired of thinking about it. But now? Now the confusion he heard in Naruto's voice made him consider the question too…

Instinct told him it wasn't a coincidence, and while he'd known since that night that something was very wrong in the village. He glanced at Naruto. "I don't know, but I think I know who to ask tomorrow…"

Author's Note: I know that ghosts aren't considered canon, but I'm a firm believer in spirits and I find it impossible to believe that there isn't anything hanging around the compound after what Itachi did…