Figures A and B

Chapter Two: Relations

--
The first and greatest commandment is: Don't let them scare you.
--Elmer Davis
--

In a simple mansion, not so far away from school, lived the daughter of a multibillion corporation; the Yamanaka family.

The mansion was fairly big. It had a total of thirty rooms—half of them being unoccupied anyway. There were no graffiti. The gardens blanketed the mansion and were green all year long. It showed off the wealth as well as beauty of the Yamanaka house. On the perimeters lined a gate as high as the heavens. It was one of the safest and most secluded places in Tokyo. Ino should know—Naruto was a master of breaking in buildings. It was a skill he acquired when he was younger.

“So I saw you on the news… cousin.” Ino sighed, “You’ve got to be more careful Naruto.”

Naruto was related because Ino’s mother was a sister to Naruto’s father. There had once been a time when Ino’s family was dirt poor. Dreams of inventions were what drove them to the top and they intend to stay there.

“Yeah, you know how I love the rush. You can come with me next time if you want.”

“Naruto, if mother finds out, she’ll surely kill me. I don’t mean a beating, I mean cut me into a million pieces and hide my body,” she frowned.

“But there are the hottest pieces of asses on the police force,” Naruto pouted.

“That’s no good excuse! I read on this article on this newspaper I found today about grandpa. Apparently the police aren’t as stupid as you think they may be. Detective Uchiha Itachi found research about the same type of ‘occurrences’ meaning the Kyuubi disguise in England. It dates to about sixty years back. They’re going to search everyone who has an English descent you nitwit!”

“Well, you’re pretty and you’re a quarter English…”

“Really, you think so?” She popped open a mirror.

“Straight from the heart, I bet a lot of other guys would love you.”

“Nice try but I’m not a ditz. You’re a quarter English too. Okay, how about this? Drop cameras around the perimeter of wherever the hell you’re going to strike next. You wear an earpiece, and I’ll warn and guide you when the police are spotted.”

Just like old times, Naruto thought.

“Sounds like a fairly good plan,” Naruto contemplated and shrugged, “but what if common sense already tells me that wherever I strike, there will always be cops? Besides it’s the policy rules.”

“Hey, don’t get smart with me!” Ino’s voice slowly rising, “besides you always warn them!”

“I’m just following tradition! It’s so much more fun this way. Hey, you think I should stay over for lunch?”

She rolled her eyes at the sudden change of subject and handed him the devices that were necessary. Cameras the size of jewelry beads, inexpensive technology really, seeing that she was the daughter of the leading electronic technology. The wireless head piece was given as well. The videos would stream into her laptop and the earpiece would be a walkie talkie which leaves no traces.

“We don’t have ramen,” Ino stated.

“Oh will ya look at the time? I have this major test I got to study for. Well catch ya later!” Naruto grabbed his backpack and ran out.

“Wait a minute—He doesn’t have a watch! Since when did he actually start studying?”

Liar, liar pants on fire, Ino mused.

--

Naruto pushed his metal key through the key hole and flipped on the light switches.

“I’m home,” he announced to the empty air as he proceeded to slip off of his mud soaked sneakers with no one to talk to. The apartment was a relatively empty one—not at all what you would expect the nephew of a multibillion corporation would live in.

His apartment was what you would define as plain—a twin bed to the side of his room, right under a window and completed with a nightstand. His kitchen trash can was overflowing with empty ramen cups. It was unsanitary. Surprisingly enough there were no pests thriving in this mess. It was almost impossible due to the oil stains and dirty pots and pans left in the rusting kitchen sink. His velvet couch sat adjacent to the wall of his bedroom in the living room. Being a nephew of the Yamanaka corporation had its perks of course—freebies such as computers and televisions, which apparently were the only notable things in his cozy apartment. Naruto moved out of the Yamanaka mansion and refused help from them when he was twelve. He loved the independence he had.

The light was momentarily flickering on and off as Naruto grunted and opened a window. It was still bright outside anyway—3:00 PM.

Naruto began to recall the events that happened today during his first official day of school.

He had knocked over the textbooks of the cop with the cute ass from yesterday. Sure, he was a fantastic submissive kisser but deep down Naruto hated his arrogance. Perhaps despised is a better word. Who knows what lurks behind that stoic mask?

He knew Sasuke was not a person to be attached to. He just lusted after him, just a little.

Naruto sat next to Gaara, his best friend slash awesome neighbor with a sister that can cook. Yup—Gaara doesn’t talk much but he’s a great listener when you need him. Whatever you need help on, Gaara’s your main guy.

Together, they share the greatest secret to ever be told. Of course, that’s for them to know and you to find out.

Getting back on topic, Naruto knew that he just started a war against Uchiha Sasuke. A glance at him and you can already derive that the Uchiha was a model student, excellent grades, good posture; head up high—arrogance and comes from a rich family, and his cold, aloof attitude to women mean that he was either asexual or gay. Naruto assumed that the Uchiha was secretly gay, proven by yesterday’s events. He also assumed that the Uchiha was going to retaliate so Naruto sat in class, grinning smugly at him and waited patiently.

The main reason Naruto had just entered his new school was because of his sensei’s (Jiraiya) recommendation. He announced that there was nothing of knowledge that Naruto needs to know and therefore, he returned to his humble home—with a new profession, his current profession.

During the course of his studies with Jiraiya, who was nicknamed ‘Ero-Sennin’ due to the fact that he was an infamous author of a series of pornography novels (not to mention that Jiraiya always ‘researched’ every time they had a pit stop). They had traveled all over Japan together to meet and learn from different peoples.

Under his surveillance, Naruto was trained to be a skilled thief.

He closed the window, walked into his room and searched in his closet and pulled out his uniform which was similar to his school uniform but tidier.

--
He works as a waiter in a café owned by Mitarashi Anko.

In a café named Anko’s Café. Original, no?

“Hey brat, stop daydreaming and go over to table four already,” Anko screamed as Naruto pouted, stupid boss and grabbed a couple of menus.

“Hello,” Naruto greeted the two girls with his azure friendly eyes, “My name is Uzumaki Naruto and I’m here to service you for this visit today. I’ll be back momentarily as you figure out what you guys want.”

The café was blanketed in dim lighting, soothing music and rich, tasty coffee, tea and baked goods. Naruto cleaned the counter before greeting two familiar girls.

“Yo, Ino-baby. What’s up?” Naruto said jokingly, “and of course, you too Sakura-chan. May I ask, how are you doing today?”

“Oh Naruto, you big flirt. Stop it and get back to work,” Ino scolded.

“Alright, here’s your menus, go seat yourself at that table near the corner. It’s the best table in the house. I’ll be back when you want to order and stuff.”

“Thanks Naruto-kun,” Sakura said.

Only a few more hours Naruto, he thought silently to himself as he walked over with a pen and pad in hand.

“So ladies, have you decided what you want yet?”

“I’ll have a latte and a slice of coffee cake,” the one with the Chinese styled vest said.

“And you ma’am?” Naruto pointed his pen to the brunette girl who fidgeted in her beige jacket.

She played with her fingers and stuttered, “I’ll h-have tea c-cookies and green tea p-please.”

“Sure just give me about five minutes and I’ll be right back.”

Naruto ripped the sheet titled ‘Table 4’ and placed it on the counter, “Yo Kiba, you’re up.”

“Got it man,” Kiba read the paper and started the orders.

Naruto embraced the atmosphere as he scuttled towards Ino and Sakura.

“So Ino, what can I get ya? It’s on me, you too Sakura-chan.”

“The usual,” Ino replied smoothly.

“Chrysanthemum tea for me, with extra sugar.”

“Ouch—bad day?”

“You can say that.”

“Well what happened?”

“Uzumaki, I don’t pay you to chat ya know!” Anko screamed from across the café.

“I’ll tell you after your shift’s over.”

“It’s alright,” he then screamed towards Anko (disturbing the peaceful environment), “I’ll take five.”

“Kiba, cover for him,” Anko commanded as Kiba huffed in annoyance.

Naruto pulled a chair from under the table and sat down the two girls but not before grabbing their orders and delivering them. After all, he didn’t want to get sacked so soon.

“So what’s up?”

“Well, I think… I think I’m pregnant.”

“That’s not that bad, wait—WHAT?!” Naruto’s eyes bulged out of his eye sockets.

Holy shit—what the fuck?! Who the hell is that bastard ‘cause I’m going to get him good. Murder him and then his child and then the world…

“Hey! What a horrible way to treat good news—this is a blessing! You hear me, a blessing!” Sakura hissed.

Some blessing… I’m going to kill you just as soon as you spout out that bastard’s name…

“That’s a lot of shit to dump on me right now—especially my break.”

“Guess what?”

“What? They’re twins?” Sarcasm, a man’s best friend.

“Ha-ha,” she chuckled dryly and quickly changed her attitude to cheerful, “I was just—KIDDING.”

“Oh thank god—I hate you so much right now; I was going to find your boyfriend and kill him but not before neutering him and then kill you!” At that point Ino and Sakura started laughing.

Ino smiled and deemed this payback for her cousin running out of her.

“My, aren’t you the overprotective one today?” Sakura teased lightheartedly.

“Only ‘cause you’re a cool chick.”

“What about me?” Ino slipped in the question slyly, to corner Naruto.

“What about you?” Naruto joked and grinned his Cheshire-cat grin.

--

Waiting tables, an exceptionally easy task. The rest of the day went by rapidly with costumers coming in and out. The tip people left Naruto were often generous unless he did something stupid which was rare, seeing that people loved his cheerful attitude.

Ino and Sakura had already left and it was only half an hour till his shift was over. His gaze, focused on the clock as Anko already had alerted him that there were two customers and it was his and I quote, “his fucking job to do so.”

He scuttled over towards the entrance and hesitated to introduce himself and then scowled in recognition. It was Uchiha Sasuke.

And it was going so well too…

“What the hell are you doing here?”

That’s what Naruto wanted to say of course but instead he said, “Table for two?” Even if it was the most blatant and obvious thing in the world, they did not retaliate. Instead, Sasuke smirked and the guy next to him remained aloof.

“Okay, right this way,” Naruto grabbed a set of menus and seated them.

“Okay, my name is Uzumaki Naruto and I’m your waiter for this visit here today. If there’s anything you need just tell me and I’ll bring it to you.”

“I’ll get a cappuccino,” Sasuke ordered.

“Just a plain espresso for me please,” the other male ordered. He had long, brown, silky hair tied back unto a loose ponytail. He was wearing a casual beige jacket and slacks. The only thing striking was that his pupils don’t seem to exist. It’s strange really. It looked as if he were blind.

“Alright, will that be all?” Naruto scribbled onto his little notepad professionally as he was responded with a curt nod from the Sasuke, underneath the nod however, Sasuke wanted to embarrass the fop but he relieved himself of his sinister thoughts. Naruto noticed the slight change in facial expression from a smirk to a more evil one. It went as quickly as it came.

“No thank you,” the other male declined, “Oh I’m Hyuuga Neji by the way.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Naruto cracked a smile and shook hands with Neji.

“Well I’ll best be getting your orders before my shift’s over.”

--

“He’s not as horrible as you described him to be. He’s actually pretty polite,” Neji stated.

“It’s his job as a waiter to be polite, not to mention patient. Anyway, you should’ve seen his introduction today,” Sasuke argued, “he was such a…”

“Fop? You told me already,” Neji said, “What else is new?”

“I just don’t like him.”

“You didn’t like me either and now look at us—we’re sitting together, waiting for our drinks to come in some random café.”

“I still don’t like you,” Sasuke shot back on impulse.

“Well, I don’t like you either,” Neji half-joked.

Sasuke ignored him and the two sat in a comfortable silence—it was currently ten to seven.

--

Move you damn clock… Move! Naruto rapped his knuckles on the marble counter impatiently as he waited for Kiba to finish his job.

“Stop that you idiot, it’s annoying,” Kiba hissed.

“Stop what?” Naruto continued to rap his knuckles at a faster pace.

“That!”

“Only if you hurry it up—I want to get the hell out of here as soon as possible.”

“That’s only if you stop annoying me, then I’ll give you the order and you’ll be out in minutes.”

“Fine.”

“Thank you,” Kiba gritted through his teeth and shoved the tray of beverages roughly into Naruto’s hands.

“Anything for you princess,” Naruto sarcastically shot back to Kiba as he delivered the goods.

“Err—espresso for whom?”

“That’ll be me, Uzumaki-san,” Neji politely said.

“You can call me Naruto, honorifics are tedious,” he said offhandedly as he placed the mug in front of Neji and the other in front of Sasuke who in turn just glanced at him sadistically.

The feeling was mutual. Naruto did not like Sasuke and vice versa. Hell, he wanted to spit in his drink but that would just be rude and not to mention Anko would kill him.

“FINALLY!” Naruto yelled, disturbing the silence once again, “It’s seven!”

“Dude, really?” Kiba asked.

“Yes, really! I’m out.”

“Right behind ya.”

--

Normally, the Uchiha Sasuke everyone sees is cool, calm, collected, intelligent and most importantly, cold and indifferent. However since the assignment he received on Kyuubi, he’s been, well—flustered which is a rare emotion for any Uchiha.

Maybe it’s because Naruto poses as a threat to Sasuke.

Maybe it was the fact that the new kid was different than the others.

Maybe it’s because he’s one of the few people Sasuke knew that just didn’t give a damn.

Maybe it’s because of the fact that this is the only idiot that screams in a café.

Maybe it was the owner who’s a true idiot who hired him in the first place.

Whatever it was, Sasuke decided to follow Naruto out of there, leaving Neji the bill, not that he minded that much really. After all, Neji is used to it already.

--

“It’s so damn cold out here…” Kiba complained zippering up his jacket and pulled his hood over his head.

“Really now? Because I feel great!” Naruto shot him a toothy grin.

The sun was still out and shining. It was roughly around eight PM. The two had been wandering around the streets of Tokyo.

Naruto noticed that someone or something was following them. He would momentarily glance at the corner of his eye every few minutes or so.

Sasuke was aggravated—Naruto didn’t do anything out of the ordinary. He expected him to be one of the suspects. Not many people in Tokyo had blonde hair but then again, a lot of crazy trend setting teens had blonde hair. The feeling in his gut was unsettling. The appearance and familiarity that Naruto radiated off pissed Sasuke off. It was so similar to Kyuubi’s presence.

The scent test had failed though. He vaguely remembered the encounter from two days ago. Kyuubi smelled of apples. Naruto smelled like the café. Though Sasuke still couldn’t brush aside the uncanny resemblance Naruto had with Kyuubi. He mentally noted that he should watch Naruto carefully from afar.

Technically he shouldn’t confront him about this situation because:

A. It would raise unwanted attention for the Uchiha Police Force especially if Naruto was actually innocent.

B. Naruto did not do anything out of the ordinary—it was just a gut feeling that caused suspicion.

C. Naruto clearly has blue eyes whilst Kyuubi has green ones. The only two people that even comes remotely close to the eye description is that Haruno girl and Gaara. Kyuubi was clearly a male, therefore eliminating Haruno from suspicion and Gaara was just too short.

D. Naruto’s a moron in every way possible. Period.

Well, Naruto isn’t a moron. He’s not stupid. He’s just annoying and different from the others, and that irked Sasuke.

“Hey Naruto, let’s go in that store. I want some CDs,” Kiba pointed to the sign that read Trade of the Devil.

“Fine but I’m telling you—no one uses CDs anymore. It’s all about downloads nowadays,” Naruto said.

“So you’re a thief.”

It’s funny that you should say that, Kiba. Sasuke and his suspicions aroused.

Naruto smirked, “Nah, I’m just helping the demise of the economy—that’s just all.”

That sounds awfully like what a real thief would say…

“Whatever let’s just go in already.”

“Fine.”

Sasuke overheard of the conversation the two had. For a minute he wanted to jump out and arrest Naruto until he figured out that guy, Kiba meant stealing music off the internet. It’s a normal thing really.

Sasuke pulled up his hood and stalked in slowly after Naruto and Kiba.

He pretended to be deeply engrossed in this Miyavi single and watched Naruto from his peripheral vision. His hands were gripping onto the plastic CD cover and he pretended that he was reading it and found it fairly interesting.

--

Naruto stalked after Kiba in the store. He occasionally dropped the small beads that Ino had given him earlier. He made sure no one noticed what he was doing. To be caught is just plain embarrassing and they will have evidence to convict him. It was his job to be discreet.

It was a huge music store, illuminated by at least a million light bulbs, or at least that’s what it felt like.

Every twist or turn Kiba made, Naruto followed dutifully that is until he checked his watch.

“Oh shit!” Naruto exclaimed in realization.

A confused Kiba asked, “What?”

“I forgot I had to meet someone.”

“Well then, get the hell out of here.”

“You sure?” He didn’t want to abandon his friend.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine besides I got these guns to protect me,” he flexed his arm muscles.

Naruto rolled his eyes, “Well I’ll see ya.”

“Later.”

He dashed out of the store, mission completed. Honestly, he intended to do the same thing after he hung out with Kiba but this worked fine. What an odd coincidence.

He felt the familiar presence leave the store with him but pretended not to notice and walked rapidly towards Ichiraku.

--

What the hell was that about? Sasuke wondered.

There was definitely something unusual about Naruto and he wanted to find out.

He was amazed that he didn’t get caught, even if his stealth skills were top notch, his brother—Itachi’s were always better no matter what. Maybe Naruto really was a moron and maybe his suspicions are just wrong.

He had followed Naruto to the food district of the city.

Lights illuminated every corner of this section of the city. Trees were lined up to decorate the streets, restaurants were busy. It was dinner time for many citizens of Tokyo. Naruto is no different.

He found it peculiar that he had stopped in front of a stand called Ichiraku. It wasn’t much of a restaurant except there was a sign draped over the store front that read Ichiraku. He saw a counter, bordered with the proper condiments and chopsticks. Underneath the counter however was surrounded by green stools. The owner of this small and humble stand seemed to be making fresh noodles and was deeply concentrated in it.

A man in his late teens was furiously glaring at Naruto. He had a lot of white and purple make up, so Sasuke suspected that he just came from a job.

Then, Naruto and the man started to burst into laughter which didn’t make sense at all.

“You’re an interesting guy, I like you,” the man said.

“Well, you’re not an interesting guy and I don’t like you,” Naruto replied and smiled.

“I’m going to kill you, Naruto.”

“Ha-ha. Sorry I was late, Kankuro,” Naruto rubbed the back of head cheekily.

“It’s alright, knowing you have a job and all,” the man—Kankuro complied.

“Well you got college to worry about.”

“But I’m on vacation.”

“What vacation?”

“My own vacation, duh.”

They entered Ichiraku and Sasuke had quit following him and went the opposite direction to catch a cab.

Sasuke was encouraged to find out more about this Uzumaki character now. He was just peculiar.

Anyhow Sasuke should’ve been at the police station an hour ago. It’s nine thirty.

Well at least one good thing came out of this research—he found out what the message meant.

--

“Did you notice that shady character before?” Kankuro asked Naruto.

Naruto nodded.

“Yeah, I figured as much. You didn’t do anything to give anything away, right?”

“I was with Kiba—the most ordinary and hilarious guy to be with. So, nope.”

“That’s good,” Kankuro said in between slurps of ramen.

“Gaara’s in my class.”

“Oh now, is he?”

--

It was nearly twelve.

Naruto opened his medicine cabinet and put on his green contacts. He covered his noticeable whisker-like face marks with a tan foundation.

He undressed himself and put on his mask and black clothing, latex gloves included. He had his headpiece secured and hidden.

“Testing, testing. One, two, three. Kyuubi speaking. How’s the situation? Over.”

“Received pictures and transmitting video from TOD. Police are all over the perimeters. Two hidden underneath the register. Three posing behind cardboard cutouts.”

“Any possible exits you see?”

“Just two. One being the roof again or the other being the basement window. Enter through the third window on the second floor and only there.”

“Alright, Kyuubi is all pumped up and ready to go.”

“Don’t let me down.”