Chapter 45

"I'm truly sorry."

The Hokage's words rang in Naruto's head. He ran until he was stumbling but he kept going. Giving over to the voices that grew louder from a corner of his brain.

His vision blurred and vibrated from emotions. Fangs elongated and his veins felt like it was on fire. Focused on the mindless rage coursing through him. What he was denying came. The truth. His breaths came harder as the words came to him.

"She's already dead."

The white noise grew disturbingly loud, and the images ripped into him further.

That final smile. Siata's smile over the electric fence before jumping in. He'd never forget it.

Why had she done that.

Now she was

The pain in his chest was sickening. More painful than those villagers glares. Than those days spent alone. Siata who'd accepted him, who was a part of him, somehow being no more. The pain was indescribable that it was suddenly the only thing he was aware of.

He ran, splashing through the puddles and sloshing the icy water. When he got to the end of the concrete walls he came to a stop and stared.

He stared at the red. Like her blood. Like his pain. Like the hatred coursing through him now. The red grew fangs. Then claws. His skin boiled as water crashed out of the bars.

That man with the orange mask.

Naruto's eyes dilated into slits as the voice made him latch on to a source. A source of hatred.

He'd done something unforgivable. Siata's neck splayed open, chest plunged through a hook. Her fingers that never flinched and reached for him now dragging on dirt.

He could hear himself let out the most. Sickening scream.

Kill him.

For once he completely agreed. He let himself go. Felt the hatred for the man pull him down. Under water.

An image of himself came. The torturer turned. And their eyes had met. The torturer was midway from hurting her. His own foot itched back. Not forward. Instinctively avoiding the man that moved closer towards them. It made him freeze. And in that instant he'd seen her stare. He saw the warmth in her eyes- seeing something in him. That had been what decided it. Next thing, Siata was opening her mouth distracting the man back to her.

If he'd taunted the torturer instead. He'd have endured the pain. After winning Siata and Sasuke would come visit him in hospital. They could have fun playing cards again. Siata would surprise him with takeaway ramen. When everyone left she'd crawl under the covers for a nap, rub his cheeks like she always did. And look him dead in the eyes. Saying he should never sacrifice himself again. He'd accept her worry for him and just grin at her.

And Sunshine, Siata would say. You were really brave. Thank you for saving my life.

Heh! No worries, Siata-chan!

And there it was. Now, he suddenly knew. What truly brought him here. What was killing him inside. What he hated more than ever. The person who'd really killed her. Who was truly to blame.

Siata-chan!

Siata never did something without thinking in advance. She'd decided to do all those things. Because she saw ahead. He always found out how she'd helped him after everything ended.

Yeah? Siata would face him on the bed. Pretending she wasn't involved in helping out again. Their arms linked. The image cracked.

I'm sorry… so sorry, Siata-chan.

The image of them smiling together bled into red and shattered. Into a million. Irreversible pieces.

Hiashi. He'd tried.

He'd tried repressing his killing intent but failed. Anger was the most accepted emotions to let out in the Hyuuga but the level of emotion he was showing now broke several Hyuuga principles. His eyes fixed to the horizon where she'd disappeared last. Shiki's daughter. And he stared at his daughter who was crying in Ko's arms.

An explosion went off on his right side. The familiar sting of chakra signalling the Kyuubi. No. The Jinchuriki was going loose. He'd been her teammate.

The surrounding ninja was struggling to contain him. Hiashi saw Kakashi jumping in to help.

Hiashi's eyes focused back to the horizon again. To have let this happen to Hinata. And the death of Shiki's child. His hands started to shake.

No. He must regain composure. Maintain calm. Do something only he could do. Hiashi wracked his brains.

There was only one thing left to do.

"Ko, Neji. Watch Hinata and help with the citizens. I have some unfinished buisness to attend." Hiashi uttered.

No one, enemy or not should have been treated so horribly. Least of all Shiki's daughter, after all that he'd done for Konoha. Thus he must do everything in his power to bring justice for her. Emotions could wait later. Taken out in privacy to be silently torn over. It must wait.

He collected himself with shaking hands that slowly steadied. As if nothing had happened, as though he felt nothing like always. His yukata straightened, obi neatly in place, he was his impassive self again. His killing intent was the only sign something was wrong. But it was the best he could manage in these circumstances. He headed through the shocked crowd for the man he knew would quickly authorise the mission. Timing was crucial.

"Shikaku."

Hiashi's words and proximity to the jounin commander jolted the man, and his head jerked upwards.

"Yes?" He muttered.

As Hiashi stepped forward Shikaku's eyes swung around.

Hiashi stopped where he stood. He saw the rage barely caged inside the Nara. The man was dangerous. And desperate. No need to convince him further then.

Some sick madness spread across their faces as they looked down. Looked down at Shikaku's front that was covered in-

They couldn't look away.

Shikaku was perfectly. Turning insane. Thousands of plans spreading through his mind. But none of them could change the past. Those responsible for this. Would pay with their blood.

Shikaku between the two of them would need the greater restrictions. When it came to sanctioning this mission and getting behind the truth of all this.

The Nara looked like he would do anything at this point.

"The site they were kidnapped requires thorough investigation. How this happened. And who's responsible...we must find out." said Hiashi.

For one moment fury and grief seized Shikaku's face. Then Shikaku drew a breath and became the jounin commander. He slowly nodded and placed his hand on Hiashi's shoulder. Signalling further discussion.

Shikaku's eyes sharpened. His mind latched onto the logistics of the mission despite how he felt inside. Surrounding explosions related to Naruto's rampage ensued in the background.

"This incident is also of personal importance to me…" Hiashi continued.

"We will have the best trackers for picking up details. Tsume and Aburame-"

Shikaku slowly shook his head. He whispered low.

"The more I analysis this… entire incident. The more I'm certain it couldn't have started without an internal leak. Not without a leak of the exact wedding location and several sensitive details about our ninja. Enough to set up an elaborate seal, and a well-made hidden location for capture in advance. We must keep the personal small. Preferably with people unrelated to politics."

"But someone who knows the kidnapped location will give us speed. We must arrive before any destruction of evidence occures," Hiashi added.

Shikaku agreed and didn't have to think hard. He didn't even have time to wipe the blood off his hands as he rushed forward. It was a race against the clock now to reach the place before they covered up any incriminating clues. The analysis of those chakra restriction seals for one, could be highly informative. Seals were such a specialised art it left a signature. Maybe leaving clues of who was involved.

"I trust the people directly involved in this incident. But Kakashi is my last choice. He's too internally involved."

Hiashi flared on his byakugan in response.

Shikamaru, Ino and Hinata were in no condition to go anywhere and Naruto was delirious. Kakashi occupied with the ninja trying to calm Naruto down.

So that left one person.

Uchiha Sasuke.

The boy in question was in no state for a mission. The event had broken him. He clutched the yukata of what they'd left of her looking too far gone.

But there was no one else who could do this job but him. The boy could lose his mind and turn psychotic for all he cared. Later.

Hiashi grabbed the boy's shirt front, lifting him up from the ground then punched Sasuke's side hard. Sasuke snarled. His eyes meeting theirs. Shikaku froze on the spot.

They could tell Sasuke was struggling to keep his pain controlled. While bearing the most advanced form of the sharingan.

"You want revenge after what they did to her?"

Hiashi had him. Sasuke's eyes hardened as it latched onto him.

"Lead us to the place they kidnapped you."

Sasuke's voice was hoarse.

"Let go of me. She's dead! Nothing we do matters but killing that man with my own hands. "

The boy was losing himself again.

"Boy," Hiashi spoke, his tone would have wilted the soul of any sane person. "Something bigger has happened here can't you see? One man may not be responsible for her death or the events that lead to it. If we don't hurry to investigate we will lose the only chance. The chance to find what orchestrated this event. If you want true justice for her, snap out of whatever emotional outburst that has overtaken you. Find out exactly why. Why this happened in the first place."

Sasuke stilled and let Hiashi let him go.

"Sasuke," Shikaku steadied the boy who he knew was still unable to take much in. But before any more emotions overtook him Shikaku had to ground the boy. Reel him in. Make him focus on investigating rather than simple murder.

"The masked man is the prime suspect for the kidnapping. He had the most involvement in the matter- but. We cannot rule out other possibilities."

Sasuke's eyes slid back down again, hollow, as he looked at the blood that drenched Shikaku's shirt. Shikaku shook the boy until Sasuke's eyes came back up to meet his again.

"And this may be of your interest. But the mercenary group the masked man is from – called Akatsuki. According to Jiraiya-sama. Is the same organisation that your older brother is a part of. Uchiha Itachi."

Sasuke's mind skidded to a stop. The name slamming into him shock and growing fury.

"What?"

"The masked man who killed Siata. Is from the same organisation Itachi is from. Meaning her death and all this. The kidnapping, torture. The ambush. Trying to dissolve Konoha and Mist relations. Something big is happening here. On a much larger scale. Perhaps that organisation itself is the key. Or Sound. We don't know. And we need to find as much detail as we can before it's covered up. The room where they kidnapped you, it can give us many clues if they haven't destroyed it already in their retreat."

"But perhaps, we can beat them to it. The wedding ambush may have even been a distraction. But one thing is clear. We can't trust anyone with this investigation. For this incident information within Konoha was accessible by the enemy. We need someone who we can trust. Someone who can investigate discreetly. No one must know for now except the three of us. Do you understand now?"

As Shikaku spoke he saw Sasuke grow focused. Until he nodded in response.

Hiashi knew they had to hurry now. They'd wasted enough time already.

"Let's go." Shikaku finally signalled.

The three sprinted off in the direction towards the forest.

They ran south, Sasuke retraced his steps until Hiashi could see a building hidden up ahead.

"They've already started on erasing the evidence. The buildings on fire. Too controlled but large for this to be a jutsu. A seal?" Hiashi said as they approached it.

"That means they have something to hide. Good." Shikaku nodded.

"Can you sense any of them still there?" Sasuke asked.

Hiashi's eyes lingered in some areas before he spoke. "None of the bodies are moving. But- I can still sense one person alive in the building."

They'd hit the jackpot. Now if only they made it in time to retrieve the person or at least get some information.

Shikaku's grit his hands. The heat from the fire was incredible. And problematic. Hiashi's water jutsu's were not banking the fire at all. It was unnatural, the fire. Making the building collapse by the second.

There was no other way.

"We're going in. Let's hurry and capture them in time. They might have crucial information on the people involved. Or help us find out what Akatsuki are hiding."

Sasuke pulled up his shield seal while Hiashi and Shikaku used other tricks. Finally they pulled their hands over their mouths and entered. Going through the burning corridors. Moving through the fire that was spreading fast.

The smoke and flames threatened to suffocate them. Sasuke coughed as he followed Hiashi who navigated the building.

He wove his way through the end of the corridor. Next he measured how steady the door may hold. Then Hiashi kicked down the door and walked inside.

"He's over there!" Hiashi led them further back.

Sasuke remembered the uniform. It was one of the Sound ninja that had attacked him in the torture room when Siata escaped.

On his forehead was a sound hiate. A kunai stabbed through his chest. He was bleeding out but still breathing.

They wouldn't be able to pull the man out but. The problem was a large wooden beam that had fallen and crushed his legs. He only had a few minutes to live.

They rushed towards the man who now registered them in the burning room.

"L-let me out please..!"

"Only if you tell us why you kidnapped Kakashi and the others? How were you able to know about the wedding location and prepare so early on?" Shikaku shouted coughing.

"..kashi?" the man muttered, "…no the orders were to kill everyone. But that man.. the orange masked man kept insisting to torcher them… Oruchimaru. He... wanted to kill the Hokage. Didn't approve of Mist stabilizing.. a kidnapping.. Oruchimaru requested an Uchiha boy for his eyes. Hey tell me.. why can't I feel my legs?"

Sasuke's eyes widened. Oruchimaru again. The snake had targeted him before and failed. This was all… because of him? His throat began to close up and burn from the smoke.

"You still haven't explained!" Hiashi shouted through the roar of the fire. The heat so thick around them he could barely focus, "how did you all know so early on. How did Oruchimaru know where the Hokage will be? Or that Sasuke would be attending? Why not request both Uchiha's rather than one?! Why would they kill her?!" Shikaku shouted furious sweat dripping from his head.

"I don't know. My master, he is-"

The man gasped as if he was choking. Then he started to convulse. Their eyes losing focus.

"What's happening?!" Sasuke shouted gasping for air.

Hiashi stared at the trembling man's body. Hiashi's jaw slackened in growing shock, recognising this reaction.

"It can't be," He whispered.

He snapped out his hand and squeezed the man's cheeks. The sound ninja started to foam at the mouth.

Hiashi shoved his fingers between the sound ninja's pried the jaws open. And tugged out his tongue.

"Hiashi-san? What is it?" Shikaku asked and froze, recognising as well.

It was fading, but it was clearly there.

The cursed eradication seal.

"What is that?!" Sasuke choked out. He started analysing with his mangekyou. "It's releasing chakra and destroying his heart and attacking his nervous system…"

"This..." Hiashi's face hardened, then noticed Sasuke gasp for air. Wheezing.

Suddenly another beam crashed down.

"First. Let's get out of here." Shikaku shouted and they agreed making a fast exit. They zigzagged and dove and leaped over the flames and fallen building bits until they were out.

Wheezing out smoke. Shikaku slapped Sasuke's back as he coughed uncontrollably. Hiashi leaned on a tree and gasped.

For a long moment none of them said anything.

"If that was what I think it was… this investigation is… dangerous." Hiashi finally whispered.

"But how… how is he even involved in all this. It makes no sense. There is no benefit I can see right now from him killing them," said Shikaku

"Perhaps, as the man had said, the kidnapping was more so the idea of the Akatsuki," Hiashi replied.

Shikaku stared at the collapsing building and spoke his thoughts.

"It is strange. Twice, first at the Chuunin exams, and now at the wedding. The Hokage should have had perfect. If not rapid response rates from the ANBU. But they were both late. Worse, infiltrated by some in disguise. It's too much of a coincidence. But to go to such elaborate lengths to have them kidnapped then killed later as a simple distraction to the assassination?"

Hiashi shook his head. He'd already tried dealing with the man before and knew how things went.

"It does not matter. This amounted to nothing. Even if we saw what we saw. The body. The building. It's all burnt. We have no real evidence or even a testimony. Like always.. things related to him."

"Why is now the question. I didn't know the roots had sunk so deep to this extent… It sickens me," said Shikaku.

"One man should not have so much power. At this stage the Hokage is powerless. We must start taking back control," Hiashi grit out.

Sasuke stared at them confused. "What was it I saw in there?"

Hiashi stared blankly at the boy and Shikaku gripped his head. Then sighed and nodded.

"Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you because I will not be able to do so… freely once we step back into Konoha." Hiashi explained.

"What you just saw was a self-destruction seal to protect information. The seal… it is specifically used by a council member in Konoha called Shiruma Danzo. He regulates ANBU for Hokage-sama. He is somehow involved in this event." Shikaku muttered still in shock

"The man inside there who we thought was a sound ninja was not. He's a member of a secret faction of the Konoha's ANBU, Root, who are exclusively loyal to Danzo."

"So then this Danzo. For whatever reason. Was behind the scenes helping orchestrate this incident that lead to her death. Why."

Hiashi inhaled deeply then exhaled shaking his head. "…in any case the blame for this incident will fall on Tsunade and Jiraiya's end. Making the preparations for their wedding to try and improve political relations… now that I think about it it's not like him to leave evidence behind like this. Perhaps he was involved but the masked man, Akatsuki were more invested in their murder. After all, they did say a personal grudge to Kakashi was involved. Even the man agreed."

"Or. This is a warning… to us. And maybe to Tsunade and Jiriya now entering the political scene. By purposely leaving the man behind and showing us his power, on purpose," Shikaku muttered.

He analysed the chances and the effects this situation had on the others. And was becoming more convinced. "Perhaps… he wants to show what happens when we get involved with him."

Sasuke started vibrating in anger. "Are you telling me. They killed her. To show us or anyone investigating this. As a warning?"

"… it's a possibility. The man that was left alive, it's not clean enough of a job for someone like him. Also whatever seal we saw won't be evidence enough to take him down." the words tasted foul in Shikaku's mouth.

"I have been working on years to gather evidence on him. Root and The Foundation is deeply established. If we want to take him down. Truly. We must take away the source of his power. The power he tries to keep by creating events like this. We must decipher the inner workings of root. That is key." Hiashi explained.

There was silence.

There were things people saw but let be. But this time Shikaku wouldn't let the man off the hook. Not anymore. Not when he'd gone this far. But this issue of Root.. required extensive measures.

They would have to tread carefully if they wanted to survive within Konoha while taking on Danzo.

"I will do it." the men looked to see Sasuke who had sat up straighter. He was young. And probably in more danger than them if he got involved. More so due to the rarity of his kekki genkai. Already many had expressed interest. It wasn't too far fetched in believing Oruchimaru or someone had made a request for the boy's eyes. First... he would need to learnt to hide that advanced sharingan. For as long as possible. And it would be best for him not to live alone. Shikaku wanted the boy close and less isolated now that Siata was not present.

"It will take years. Maybe all your life. Even Minato, the fourth Hokage couldn't deal with him," Shikaku told him.

"I will take them down. All of them." Sasuke said darkly.

Hiashi and Shikaku regarded him. And they too replaced a hollowness inside them with something else. A new purpose. A new destiny.

Revenge yes. But one that would surely get to the truth of what happened. And completely destroy those involved. Not just their bodies. But their power, their connections and plans.

SHIKAMARU

His father told him about Akatsuki. And Danzo. When he'd woken up he couldn't sleep. Or eat. Past events slammed into his mind, constantly. She was dead- and a part of him inside truly felt like it had died with her loss.

Internally, his bond ached constantly in agony at the knowledge that they'd lost her- forever. It slowly sucked the life out of him. Killing him. And a part of him he knew wanted it. To follow her.

Shikamaru stood alone in the forest. The wind howling around him unnatural and violent. It felt angry. After everything. IT was angry at him. When in fact that thing was in charge of fate.

In charge of fate.

The wind howled in his ears.

"why make her die like this."

His chest started to heave.

"Is this," his voice broke, "some sick attempt of you making people fall in love?"

His shadows slashed at the wind.

"…you knew. All I ever wanted was a simple life. You knew she would die trying to protect me and the rest of us. What the hell did she ever do to you. To anyone. I would have been satisfied with having her by my side even if she didn't bond with me. But you pulled her into this and made me feel her to this extent. Just to rip her away? Just so you can make me feel.. hate for those men? Was that all she was to you? Some motivation lesson for me? A start of some calling for me give her justice, even if it costs my soul? You killed her for… this?!"

He threw everything he had at the wind while it roared louder around him. As if it was trying to tell him he was wrong. That they'd been perfect for eachother. And she had been. She'd been perfect.

That she had been so precious that it didn't even matter. No she was much more precious. More precious that she shouldn't have died.

He would have been happy even if it'd been a day of knowing her. As long as he had met her, and she had met him. That it had been so good… it wasn't supposed to last in reality.

"She meant more to me, than being used as some life lesson by you!"

Screw the wind. Screw fate. Now he knew what it felt to lose a part of your soul. Have every second of his life haunted by how he had lost her that way.

Wider purpose? For making him kill those bastards who did this to her? To save the world? There was no discussion in that. He wouldn't let them live. But the fact that her life was taken from her to devise this entire reason. He wanted to curse the wind. Curse them for going and deciding to do this for the possible 'greater good'.

Was this so important? So crucial for the wind to twist him to kill these men at the price of having known her then losing her?

She was so much more to him than some lesson.

What she was to him. She was..

"She was everything."

His eyes darkened. Emptying into the darkness. The wind was slapping at him but weaker now. The despair that drowned him felt like sinking to the depth of an ocean floor.

The wind continued to demand at him. Demanding what. For some instinctive reason he knew what. What it was requiring from him to do and he answered its call.

"The way she was to me. I'll never feel… the same for anyone ever again. But I get it. Don't worry. I swear to you to kill those responsible.. in the most. Painful way. That's all you wanted from me wasn't it? It's all you've left me with. Fine. But promise me. Never. Interfere with my life ever again. Leave."

The wind started changing, swirling around him and the shadows wrapped around. A darkness filled him, and his chakra started pulsing. Changing. Slowly sinking into a new darkness as his shadow awakened and consumed him from the inside. Shikamaru let it. Recognising his own shadows were morphing from the pain of losing her.

Pain ripped through his entire frame as markings appeared. It started from his arms then travelled up to his chest, down his back. He lifted his hands as his finger nails turned black.

Just like uncle Ensui when he also lost his partner.

Shikamaru could feel the new power coursing inside him. Flickering in his shadow. It tasted like madness. And extreme bloodlust, calling for him to kill. The emotions consumed him, but he didn't care. He didn't care about anything. Not anymore.

There was no going back.