Iteration

‘Iteration’ is part of the space saga that began with ‘In the cold of space you find the heat of suns’ and continues in ‘Tales in Tarrasade’. There is also a one-shot ‘Silver Leaf Tales: Tying the knot’.

Thanks to Small Fox for being my beta. For this story he has also been my muse, suggesting a number of the ideas that have evolved to create this arc.

Apologies if the characters have grown differently in their new environment.

This is posted in the Naruto/Sasuke section because it is part of a Naru/Sasu/Naru space saga. However, it does feature many other pairings (and a few threesomes). Apologies to those hoping for Sasuke/Naruto or Naruto/Sasuke action in every chapter.

Thank you to those readers who have written a review and particular thanks to v, Darling425, Dorkchic, richon, sadie 237, YamanashiOchinashiIminashi, disembodiedvoiceofthedying and unneeded who reviewed chapter 84.

Updating this story twice weekly is a challenge. I enjoy it but I do not think I could continue doing so without the support of Small Fox and of you, the readers. Although I tell myself that every hit means that there is a reader out there, it is very encouraging when one of you chooses to rate the story or to review.

Some of you review regularly and that is truly wonderful.

Occasionally someone I have never heard from reviews and that also gives me a tremendous fillip.

---

Chapter eighty-five: Liaison

---

Shikamaru had asked for an ‘informal discussion’. Sasuke knew what that meant; Shikamaru would be much more open about his machinations. Sasuke suggested his office and Shika had agreed. To Sasuke’s surprise, he had said that he was bringing Neji and Naruto.

Shikamaru activated the holoprojector over the low table and Sasuke made tea. Then the four of them settled into the comfortable chairs; Sasuke found himself opposite Naruto and beside Neji.

“I asked myself the question, ‘Who owns Sublevel C?’,” Shikamaru began.

“Why?” Naruto queried.

Sasuke had been about to say the same when his mind had started churning. The Articles were clear; unless there was an officially recognised will, descendents had to register a claim within two standards.

“Does anyone?” he asked.

“No,” Shikamaru replied.

“It must be like the other communal parts of Tarrasade,” Neji suggested. “Maintained by the Committee.”

“And it is so decrepit that maintaining it at even the current unsatisfactory level is very costly,” Shikamaru told them. “So costly that they might be open to offers.”

“Not to buy,” Sasuke insisted; there was no way the Committee would agree to anything that might jeopardise the current solid waste recycling system.

“A five hundred standards’ lease, with conditions,” Shikamaru clarified.

“Not Uchiha,” Neji pointed out. “Uchiha already owns half of Level 1. There would be outrage if it was even suggested that they should control any more of Tarrasade.”

“It is less than half,” Sasuke insisted. “If not Uchiha, who?”

“Not who, what,” Shikamaru replied. “An organisation. I was thinking of a charitable trust.”

“Why?” Naruto repeated.

“There is a lot of space down there,” Shikamaru answered, bring up a holoprojection. “The orphanage and the hospice wouldn’t even impact on it. Many other charities could have the space they need.”

Sasuke imagined the filth. “It’s a rubbish dump, Shika-san,” he complained.

“No it isn’t,” Shikamaru argued, highlighting only a handful of locations. “These are the middens,”

“You would have to get rid of the Scavengers,” Sasuke insisted, still thinking of the stench.

Naruto’s whiskers drooped and his blue eyes darkened.

Sasuke’s gut tightened. “Or not?” he suggested.

“Those families have been there for generations, teme,” Naruto scolded. “It’s not a job, it’s a way of life.”

“The Scavenger clan has been in Tarrasade even longer than Uchiha,” Shikamaru volunteered.

“Working with them will be a challenge,” Neji observed, “which is why Naruto-san’s idea of establishing a Scavenger contact was so insightful. Has Sakura-san managed to find the young man who gave her the baby?”

Sasuke did not know whether Shikamaru had told Neji that Sakura and the other Tennyos worked for him. He knew Shika did not want Neji knowing about his campaign against the Snuffers.

“I know that Shika is Chaaruzu-san,” Neji added.

“He guessed a long time ago,” Shikamaru admitted sheepishly, “but did not say anything until I told him.”

“It’s still a secret between us four and Klennethon Darrent?” Naruto checked.

“Please,” Shikamaru requested.

“The young man?” Neji repeated.

“She is struggling to make contact with him,” Shikamaru admitted. “The Scavengers are very tight-knit and dislike outsiders.”

“Hardly surprising, given people’s attitude,” Naruto muttered.

“If we proceed with the idea of forming a charitable trust to lease Sublevel C maybe we can persuade the trolley-pushers that the young man could act as liaison,” Shikamaru continued.

“Trolley-pushers?” Sasuke asked.

“The heads of the main Scavenger families,” Neji clarified.

“Who runs the charitable trust?” Naruto asked.

“People employed for the purpose,” Shikamaru replied. “But we will need Trustees and, at most, only one of them can be Uchiha. This is one of the times we need your contacts, Sasuke-sama.”

Sasuke considered. He did not have contacts; he had Fuku-san and Hiruzen-sama. “Maybe you could do some research and suggest some names,” he hinted. “What about funding?”

Shikamaru shrugged. “Chaaruzu-san. I earn credit faster than I can spend it. You wouldn’t believe how much built up while I was away.

---

Konohamaru checked his fingernails. He could not help it. He knew that his grandfather always looked at people’s hands when he met them.

It was a long time since he had met such high status ladies as the three he was greeting today. He had been thirteen; in his experience ladies were more tolerant of errors when it was a youngster making them.

Fu opened the door from the other side and the ladies glided into the room.

“Fuku-san, Haruna-san, Toki-san,” Konohamaru acknowledged, bowing deeply on each name. “Sasuke-sama apologises that he has no daughter old enough to greet you.”

“Konohamaru-kun, how pleasant,” Fuku-san replied. As the oldest of the ladies, she spoke first. “How is your grandfather?”

“He is well,” Konohamaru answered. “Once of the joys of being back in Tarrasade is that I can visit him regularly. May I take your cloak?”


They made it easy for him, so that it was only minutes before he was opening the door to the large receiving room where Sasuke and Naruto were waiting. Formalities were exchanged.

Konohamaru knew that Naruto had been nervous about meeting the ladies but he performed perfectly. They settled down and Sasuke offered tea.

Konohamaru noticed the way the ladies watched Sasuke preparing and pouring the tea. He wondered what they were seeing in their mind’s eyes; Mikoto-san or the bizarre concept of Fugaku-kyou serving anyone.

“Naruto is here in his role of patron of the HDL,” Sasuke told them. “He has something he wishes to discuss with you.”

The ladies’ attention switched from Sasuke to Naruto. Konohamaru hoped that they would listen. He suspected that Haruna and Toki, possibly even Fuku, saw him as Sasuke’s exotic and beautiful pet.

“Fuku-san, Haruna-san, Toki-san,” Naruto began. “I worry about two groups of people in Tarrasade. I worry about abandoned or orphaned children and I worry about hybrids who are left to die alone because so few of them have families.”

It was not what the younger ladies had expected him to say; Konohamaru could see their expressions change very slightly as he appealed to their philanthropic inclinations.

“I would like there to be an orphanage and I would like there to be a hospice for hybrids,” Naruto continued. “Perhaps the hospice should be for hybrids and purebreds. The problem is, where in Tarrasade could we put an orphanage and a hospice?”

He paused, allowing them time to think before answering the question he had posed.

“I know that Sasuke would allow me to put both in the Uchiha compound but there are problems with that. Firstly, it will not work for Uchiha to be associated with the orphanage. We all understand why that would be unacceptable. Secondly, Level 1 is not the place to put organisations that we hope will support the destitute. So I asked Shikamaru-san, the Voice in Sasuke Uchiha’s ear, and he has come up with an idea. I would like permission to share his idea with you.”

Fuku-san did not hesitate. She nodded. “I am very interested in the idea of an orphanage, Naruto-san. I would very much like to hear Shikamaru-san’s idea.”

Toki and Haruna gestured that Naruto should continue and Konohamaru held his breath.

“Like many of Shikamaru-san’s ideas it is, on first hearing, unexpected,” Naruto warned. “He suggests that the orphanage and the hospice should be in Sublevel C. He points out that there is more unused space in Sublevel C than in any other part of Tarrasade.”

Konohamaru could not decide if the ladies were too polite or too shocked to argue.

“He suggests that a charitable trust be formed that leases Sublevel C,” Naruto continued. “The waste sorting and recycling would continue as now, but the rest of the sublevel would be renovated, providing ample space for many charities to operate.” Naruto gave them his best smile. “I was hoping that you would agree to be Trustees of this charitable trust.”

There was silence. Konohamaru shut his eyes. It had been a risk; they had known there was a chance that ladies would take offense.

Then, unexpectedly, Fuku started to laugh. “Naruto-san, you are as astonishing and as audacious as the tales tell. Sublevel C is, as you say, the ideal location for charities that support the destitute. How did you react to the idea when you first heard it, Uchiha-sama?”

“Poorly,” Sasuke admitted.

“Sasuke dislikes dirt,” Naruto explained. “Not that he had been to Sublevel C,” he added. “Often the thought of something is worse than the reality.”

Konohamaru decided that Naruto was an incurable optimist; Sublevel C had been much worse than Konohamaru had imagined it to be.

“You have been there, Naruto-san?” Haruna queried.

“Yes, Konohamaru and I both went,” Naruto replied.

“What was it like, Konohamaru-san,” Toki, the youngest of the ladies, asked.

Konohamaru felt himself flush. “Awful. For the first time ever I was ashamed rather than proud of Tarrasade.”

“Did you see any Scavengers?” she asked.

“Yes, but they weren’t the upsetting part,” Konohamaru explained. “It was the people who were huddled there having given up on life and waiting for death. Some of them were little children...” he trailed off.

“It is essential that the Scavengers be left alone,” Naruto insisted. “They have given sterling service to the station for many generations. Any development must accommodate them and their way of life.”

Haruna smiled slightly. “I can tell that you were not raised in Tarrasade, Naruto-san. Scavengers are seen as bogeymen. I can see their involvement with Sublevel C being an issue when recruiting donors or when persuading existing charities to locate there. Do you not think so, Uchiha-sama?”

“I struggled with the concept at first,” Sasuke admitted. “Then I began comparing their clan with my own. Surely it is better to have your hands covered with dirt than with blood?”

There was silence. Even Konohamaru was shocked. The mere thought of the Scavengers being a clan was foreign. Hearing Sasuke comparing them to Uchiha was mind-boggling.

Fuku recovered first. “You continue to surprise me, Uchiha-sama. However Haruna-san has a point. Raising enough credit to lease Sublevel C may be challenging.”

“Done,” Naruto told them. “We worked with a reclusive philanthropist when we evacuated the Warren. This project appeals to him. He is ready to donate the necessary credit to purchase a long-term lease and fund the renovation.”

The ladies’ eyes widened slightly; Konohamaru noted that they all appreciated the sheer quantity of credit required.

“I am forming the impression that it is very difficult to say no to you, Naruto-san,” Fuku stated. “I shall, provisionally, say yes to your request to be a Trustee. However, I shall need to inspect the structure of the charitable trust and the proposed leasing agreement.”

Naruto bowed. “Thank you, Fuku-san. I was also wondering if you would be patron of the charity that will be responsible for the orphanage but perhaps that is a discussion for another time.”

Fuku bowed in return.

“I think it would be interesting,” Haruna admitted. “I would also like to take the next step and see the documentation.”

“Yes, Naruto-san, I would like to be included,” Toki added.


The two younger ladies took their leave. Konohamaru wondered if they had been dismissed by Fuku-san; he suspected that such ladies had methods of clandestine communication never shared with males. Fuku accepted another cup of tea from Sasuke.

“I have been wondering, Uchiha-sama,” she said, pausing to sip her tea, “why your version of Uchiha is so different to that of recent centuries. Please pardon the observation, Konohamaru-kun, but I could not see it being Hiruzen-san’s influence. I thought it might be your mother’s and marvelled that you were so much in her image, given that you were tragically separated from her at such a young age.” She looked at Naruto. “Now I wonder anew.”

Konohamaru waited to see how Sasuke would respond. Would he politely block the enquiry or address it?

“After Mother died I was in a very dark place for a very long time,” Sasuke admitted. “Naruto illuminated my world. In many ways it is as if Mother sent him to me, to guide me.”

Konohamaru watched Naruto’s reaction; the softening of his eyes as he looked at his lover. It reminded him of the way Ranmaru had looked at him and he was buffeted with a surge of grief, which he hid with practiced ease.

“Mikoto-san would certainly have wanted you to travel in the direction you have chosen, Uchiha-sama,” Fuku agreed. “Perhaps you may have gone further and faster than she would have anticipated. However, if she had met Naruto-san, I am certain that she would have understood.”

---

The last thing Udon expected was a breathless Tanishi running towards him.

“I have been looking for you for ages,” he complained between gasps. “Where do you go? Father and the other trolley-pushers want you now. They are in the meeting place.”

As if they would be anywhere else; it was, by definition, were they met. Udon nodded and began walking in that direction. He still had his satchel with him but there was nothing he could do about that while Tanishi was beside him.

“Aren’t you at all curious why they want you?” Tanishi asked.

At this moment, Udon was more worried about Tanishi asking him about the satchel. “Of course. You run ahead and tell them that you found me and that I am on my way.”

He could see Tanishi weighing up his options and deciding that having a few moments of the trolley-pushers’ undivided attention was worth the risk that they would be annoyed that he did not have Udon with him.


As soon as Tanishi was out of sight, Udon speeded up. He stowed his satchel in the nearest of his hiding places and took a short cut through an unused section. Then he hid at an intersection until Tanishi ran past him before following.

He was anxious as to why they should want him. Perhaps his aunt had finally got her way and he would be shunned. The idea of it did not scare him as much as it had in the past. He had been to another level and he had not burst into flames or crumbled to dust. People had looked at him and seen another person rather than a Scavenger.

He had two gold credits to make a fresh start.


He took a deep breath as he rounded the final corner and crossed the threshold. Tanishi stood next to Uncle Sukune, who was surrounded by the other trolley-pushers.

On the opposite side of the room was the woman with the beautiful skin. Her three protectors were with her; the same ones who had been with her when he had given her the baby.

“You will go now, Tanishi,” his uncle ordered.

Tanishi left with one regretful look in the direction of the woman. Once he was gone, one of the trolley-pushers closed the door.

“This is Udon,” his uncle stated.

The woman nodded. “Yes, he is the one. The grandparents of the baby insist that he must be our liaison. This is partly to reward his behaviour and partly but also because we believe his actions show that he has the qualities we require.”

One of the oldest trolley-pushers curled his lip. “And if we do not want to liaise?”

The woman shrugged. “Then we will do what we think is best. It will not be best, because you are the experts on how Sublevel C operates. We will guess. Hopefully we will not make too many mistakes. Hopefully the mistakes we make will not affect you too badly.”

“You will come back here tomorrow, at the same time,” another of the old ones stated. “We will have an answer for you then.”

The woman nodded. Then, to Udon’s amazement, she bowed. “Venerable trolley-pushers,” she acknowledged. “It has been an honour.”

Once she and her protectors had gone Udon was told to wait outside the door.


He was not surprised that the woman was lurking beyond the corner and that she returned as soon as the door was closed.

“Udon-san,” she acknowledged. “I am Angela. Allow me to introduce Ishidate, Karenbana and Kongo.”

Udon knew that Outsiders used ‘san’ as a form of respectful address. “Angela-san, Ishidate-san, Karenbana-san, Kongo-san,” he replied.

“At least one of them has some manners,” Ishidate growled.

“Is the baby thriving?” Udon asked.

The woman, Angela, smiled at him. It made him feel odd inside. “Yes, he is fine. It turned out his grandparents were very wealthy. It looks like he will have a good life.”

Udon decided not to point out that their daughter had died young and in horrific pain.

“I hope we will see you tomorrow, Udon-san,” she told him, “but we ought to go now, before they come out and realise we did not leave straight away.”

He did not point out that the door to the meeting room was likely to be closed for a long time. If there was one thing trolley-pushers enjoyed more than displaying their trolleys, it was talking. Instead Udon watched her walk away, taking note of her shape so that he could add that to his fantasy.


Finally the door opened and the trolley-pushers trickled out. His uncle signalled that Udon should walk with him.

“They have sold the lease to Sublevel C,” his uncle told him.

Udon stopped walking and then had to hurry to catch up.

“It could be worse,” his uncle admitted, “They don’t want us to leave. They want us to keep doing what we do. You heard the woman, she was respectful.” He took a deep breath. “But they do want to change things. They want to mend all the systems and they want to use the abandoned corridors and rooms.”

Udon thought of all the stuff he would have to get rid of, including his rooms, five of which were occupied.

“Anyway, we have decided that we will communicate with them through you,” his uncle explained. “The others think that only you will get corrupted by the Outsiders.”

Uncle Sukune did not need to articulate his disbelief that this would be the case; Udon could hear it in his voice. Udon agreed, although he hoped that the changes might be beneficial rather than destructive.

“So you will be there tomorrow when she comes for her answer,” his uncle continued. “After that, you will work for her and for us but your life as a Scavenger will be over.”

Udon’s mind raced. At least he was not being shunned; the trolley-pushers would need to speak with him.


His aunt tried everything she could to make it unpleasant for him. She pointed out that it was his final evening meal and his last breakfast. She insisted that he should take nothing with him; she would have had the clothes off his back and the shoes off his feet if his uncle had not stopped her.

Udon did not have to pretend not to mind because he did not care. He had many things stored in several places. He had two gold credits to buy things. Once his people died he could put the bodies where his uncle or Tanishi would find them.

He had read about adventures; this would be his adventure.

---

‘Angela’ was surprised to find only Udon when they arrived at the trolley-pushers’ meeting room the next day. She told herself that she was lucky that the room was not empty; she did not know what she would have done if the trolley-pushers refused to communicate with her.

“They want all communication to go through me,” Udon told her apologetically.

She remembered the briefing material that she had been sent. “Have there been any repercussions for you?” He did not answer immediately so she pushed. “Please tell me, Udon-san.”

“I left my home and my family this morning,” he admitted. “I am no longer a Scavenger.”

She felt awful. No wonder he had been so reluctant to make contact.

“It will be good. It will be an adventure,” he insisted and smiled at her.

Sakura suddenly felt unworthy. She may have fought for what she had wanted and blazed her own trail, but she had never had so little, nor been expected to give up everything.

“Do you have somewhere to stay and food?” she asked.

He had to think about it. Sakura had to stop herself jumping him and offering to house and feed him; she had to respect his independence.

“I have somewhere safe to sleep and a little food,” he replied finally.

“We will bring you supplies tomorrow,” she told him. “Today, our task is to decide on a good location for a headquarters down here.”

There was another pause. Sakura realised that she would have to accustom herself to waiting.

“I will need to know what you want to do,” he told her.

A few exchanges later and she realised that the trolley-pushers had told him nothing. Sakura suggested that Ishidate, Karenbana and Kongo amuse themselves, took a deep breath and began.

---

Udon had walked away from his uncle and aunt’s home with his head held high. He had checked his people and then decided to do something about the way he smelled because Angela-san, as an Outsider, would find it offensive. He had washed himself and his clothes with soap and rinsed both in water with a generous dash of phenol disinfectant. He had rigged blowers to dry the garments and packed his satchel.

He had been in the meeting room well before the specified time.

Angela had arrived with her three protectors. She told him that their task was to decide where to establish the headquarters. Udon was warmed by the notion of them working together. He asked her what the people who had leased Sublevel C wanted and she began to explain.

He struggled to understand; so much of what she spoke of meant little or nothing to him. First he latched onto the idea of a ‘hospice’ because, once the word was explained, the concept was familiar to him. Then she explained the purpose of an ‘orphanage’.

“The people who now lease Sublevel C want to look after the people no one else cares about,” he checked.

She rewarded him with a brilliant smile. “Exactly,” she told him.

It was odd. Udon felt as if he was floating. He was not that weird and different. There were other people like him.

“Good,” he told her. “Who are they?”

He was lost again as soon as she began her answer. She mentioned several groups that Udon had never heard of. He concentrated on the people. There was a person called Chaaruzu, who gave Angela orders. There was someone called Shikamaru who had ideas. There was a female called Fuku, who was important and was the baby’s grandmother. There were two people called Sasuke and Naruto; when Angela talked about them her eyes shone and she was very excited.

“You know, Sasuke Uchiha and his Naruto,” she repeated, as if saying it again would create a memory he did not have.

He shook his head and she dug something out of a pocket. She displayed a disc like the one the dying hybrid had given him. She showed him the side with the dark haired man.

“Sasuke Uchiha,” she told him.

Then she turned the disc over. “Naruto-san,” she added, displaying the picture of the hybrid.

Udon was impressed. These people had to be important. Both the Angela and hybrid who had died had pictures of them.

“Naruto-san is very keen on the hospice and the orphanage,” she told him.

He looked at the picture of the golden-haired hybrid with the bluest of eyes; Naruto-san, who cared.

---