Sakura got busy investigating the warehouse, crawling on her hands and knees to peer behind shelves and poking her head into closets. She didn't have much luck. Once, a rat jumped out onto her face.

She shuddered, still remembering the feeling of its little claws digging into her cheeks. A small sense of pity rose up in her, as she realized that the people living down here dealt with this every day, but she forced it down. It wasn't her problem these people didn't get jobs.

Sakura finally emerged an hour later, covered in dust and grime. The sun was high in the sky at that point. She came face to face with Naruto, who looked frantic. "Sakura! Where were you? I've been looking all over for you! I was afraid you got jumped or something!"

Sakura shook her head. "I'm fine Naruto. I can handle myself. And besides, I've picked up on a really interesting lead."

Naruto's face perked up. "On what? And why are you so filthy?"

"This warehouse behind me," Sakura gestured, "could hold some valuable evidence on what happened here four years ago."

"What!? Sakura, what are you talking about? You're making no sense!"

"I was poking around a bit, when I found this--" she pulled the camera out of her bag "--under the roof of the building. It was almost invisible, but I happened to catch a glimpse of it. The battery is dead, and from what I've been able to figure, it's been out of commission since four years ago--after the incident with your mother."

Naruto's eyes were wide. "Tell me everything."

So Sakura began to speak, relating the old man's story, as well as the cryptic message he'd given her at the end. "I don't understand what he meant," she said thoughtfully, "but I'll definitely keep it in mind."

Naruto nodded. "Alright. This is huge." He was pacing back and forth, obviously worked up. "There may actually be footage of the event. But you say you couldn't find anything?"

"No," Sakura admitted. "But I couldn't do an extremely thorough check. It would be best to call in an investigation team and have them take a look. If the tapes can't be found, I'd like to search for information on the manager who used to work here."

"That would be best." Naruto agreed. "For now, let's head back to base and discuss it with Lady Tsunade."

The pair quickly slipped into their police car, Sakura taking the wheel, and sped back towards the exit to the underground. A few people eyed them suspiciously as they passed, mothers grabbing their children and hurrying them inside rundown buildings.

Naruto sat next to her, oblivious to all the stares. He seemed to be in a sort of trance, gazing down at his hands as though they contained the answers she knew he was dying to have.

"Hey, Naruto?" Sakura said softly.

Naruto snapped up, his eyes meeting hers. "Yeah?"

"Naruto...please, don't get too exited. This all may come to nothing, and I'll feel awful if I've gotten you so worked up for a meritless ending." Sakura tightened her fists on the wheel, her knuckles white.

Naruto simply stared at her for a few moments longer. "Sakura."

She glanced at him, her lips pressed in a thin line.

"I don't care if it leads to nothing. I just care that you're here, by my side the whole way through. I care that you're considerate enough to be so devoted to this case, when so many others would have deserted. You've been amazing, Sakura."

Sakura stopped on the side of the bumpy road, turning the car engine off. She slowly turned in her seat, her emerald eyes meeting Naruto's sapphire pair. She blinked a few times, a few tears slowly forming in the corners. "I...Naruto, I..."

Naruto's eyes widened, alarmed by her sudden display of emotion. "S-Sakura-chan! I-I'm sorry!"

Sakura sniffled. "N-no, Naruto, it's not you. I-I'm just so d-disgusted with m-myself, I don't deserve your praise or attention."

The blond's eyebrows furrowed. "What are you talking about! Sakura-chan, you're a good person!"

"No!" Sakura wailed. "I'm n-not...I've done nothing but evil. I've killed my emotions...I do horrible things to people and don't even care...I-I killed that little girl without a second thought! I'm terrible, Naruto! Terrible!"

Naruto bit his lower lip. "Sakura...we're part of the police force. Things like this will happen, and we have to live with them. I'm not saying that killing that girl was okay...but you did what you thought you had to do in the heat of the moment. You are a person, Sakura. People make mistakes. Then they learn from them. Do you understand?"

Sakura wiped her eyes, her nose red. "Yes Naruto," she whispered. "I'm sorry for going crazy on you like that...it's just been eating at me for so long, and I had to let it out."

Naruto rubbed her shoulder. "It's fine. I'll be your outlet anytime you need me."

Sakura smiled. "Thank you, Naruto." Then she glared. "But if you so much as breathe a word of this to anyone, I'll beat you to a pulp, Uzumaki!"

Naruto laughed. "I'll be sure not to. Let's get back. The underground is starting to depress me."

***********************************

"Why did you call us together here, Sasuke?" Kaidi asked, seated at the small table in one of her many houses.

"I need to discuss a few things with you," Sasuke stated seriously, eyeing them both from the head of the table.

"Well, make it quick," Kei piped up from his left. "I'm hungry."

"I want to find out more about Orochimaru." Sasuke got right to the point.

"Whaaaaat?" Kei complained. "I thought we were finished with that snake dude and the weird guy with the gray hair!"

"I don't plan on being finished with him until he's dead!" Sasuke snapped. "I want to learn about his secret activities and expose them. Then I can get rid of him."

"And how do you plan to do that?" Kaidi smirked. "Knock on his door and ask him to lead you to his secret lab or something?"

"No," Sasuke glared. "I want you to do it."

"WHAT?!"

"You heard me! You're the only one who's face they aren't searching for! You've got the best chance of getting info!"

"If your brain is too foggy to remember, then I'll remind you that I have a criminal record too, you know!" Kaidi slammed her palms on the wooden surface. "If they search me up, I'm as good as dead!"

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "You'll be disguised."

Kaidi looked unconvinced. "You know, when I decided to tag along with you guys, I didn't think I'd be signing up for death missions!"

"You can always bail out," Sasuke told her seriously. "But don't ever expect to come back to us again."

Kaidi glared. "Basically, you're saying I don't have a choice?"

"You do," Sasuke told her. "You just might not like either of the options."

Kaidi sighed, tapping her fingers on the table. "Fine. I'll do it. But you better have a good plan, Uchiha. If I die, I'll haunt you."

"Right," Sasuke said. "Here's what I was thinking. Kaidi, you'll go in to the station, posing as a woman who, let's say, got robbed by me recently. Try to get an audience with Orochimaru."

"Okay," Kaidi said. "Then what?"

"Getting an audience with him is one of the most key parts, because he'll be the least likely to question your story. You'll say that when I robbed you, you fought back and managed to cut me. You escaped and ran off, but later came back and decided to collect some of my blood so that you could give the police my blood sample."

"They probably already have it," Kei told him. "They've probably got tons of data on you from when they captured you the first time."

"But Orochimaru may not have access to all of them," Sasuke countered. "And seeing how obsessed he is with me, he'll probably jump at any chance to collect any samples he can get. That's also why it's important you meet with him."

"Alright," Kaidi was frowning, a bit unconvinced. "This plan is risky."

"I know," Sasuke admitted. "But I can't think of anything else. If you guys can, let me know."

Neither Kei nor Kaidi said a thing. Finally Kaidi sighed. "Okay, whatever you say then."

Sasuke nodded. "Good. Then we'll schedule your entrance time when we see him entering the building. Remember, meeting with him is the most crucial part. Once he leaves, tail him. He'll probably eventually go to wherever his hideout is to store the sample. It's your job to pinpoint the location."

"Understood," Kaidi agreed. "So, what were you saying about that disguise?"

***********************************

A few hours later, Kaidi was a different person. Her hair had been dyed blond, and she'd gotten her hands on some green colored contacts she'd shoplifted from a trader. A yellow knee length dress replaced her usual black shirt and pants, and thick black mascara lined her eyes.

"I hate this gunky makeup and this stupid dress. It makes it hard to move." Kaidi grumbled as Kei eagerly painted her cheeks with blush like a child playing dress up. "Hey Sasuke, why don't you have Kei wear the disguise? He's sure enjoying himself smearing this paint on me."

Kei turned to Sasuke with pleading puppy dog eyes. "Can I?"

"No Kei," Sasuke replied patiently. "We've already discussed this."

Kei pouted. Kaidi snickered. "Baka."

"Alright you two, that's enough. Kaidi, I think that looks about right." Sasuke reproached them.

"How does this look right? I look like a weak little rich girl!" Kaidi complained.

"That's more of the point," Sasuke answered. "You need to look as innocent as possible."

"Alright," Kaidi sighed. "But if I die because I can't move in all this material, it's your fault, Uchiha!"

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "C'mon, let's get moving. The sooner the better."

The three of them stepped out of the house and set their sights on the ground above.