1 year ago...
"Alright cut it out already", I sigh, crossing my arms over my chest. A few strands of my dark hair fell over my tired eye bags. It's 5 p.m. already, which means I've been doing this for almost two hours straight and there is still no progress. Maybe I should've never left the Anbu like Itachi. He doesn't get to deal with annoying Leaf citizens who waste your time by not confessing.
"I've told you already it wasn't us!", the one sitting on the left insisted, but his body language suggested otherwise.
"There's plenty of evidence that points at the two of you so divulge already", I narrow my eyes and scrutinize their movements. I place my elbows on the table and intertwine my fingers together, "you're only making it harder on yourselves", I warn, darting my eyes between them.
"I don't have all day to deal with this nonsense, you've been caught already, and if it turns out that the two of you are Hidden Leaf citizens, working for another village as spies then you'll pay the penalty", I threaten, inspecting them closely. It's already way past my working hours, but since a limited number of investigators are left at the Police Force, I have no choice but to help out.
They both exchange a glance and look back at me. They appeared to be nervous, which only further confirmed my suspicions.
"That's it", I inform, pushing away the fallen strands of my hair, "I'm transferring both of you to the Hidden Leaf's Torture and Interrogation Force, where Ibiki Morino will know how to deal with you", I say, somewhat distastefully and call upon two guards to drag them away.
"What!?"
"You brought this on yourselves", I scrunched my nose in disgust. Once the sounds of their yelling and protests faded out, I sighed and sank in my chair. I craned my neck and stared at the blank ceiling.
I was tired and exhausted from all the work I'd done today.
"Ah Shisui, there you are"
"Huh?"
I craned my neck further, where I saw Fugaku Uchiha upside down, waiting at threshold of the door. I immediately rise to my feet and stand properly in front of my leader.
"Yes sir", I said.
He smiled at me and informed, "I'm guessing you're exhausted aren't you?".
I nervously rubbed the back of my neck as I contemplated my what my reply should be. Deciding that I didn't wanna show weakness in front of my leader, I said, "No, I'm good".
Fugaku grinned and informed, "well in that case, head to the other investigating room at once".
"What?!", I blurted out loud, making his face scrunch with confusion, "I-I meant yes sir!".
I awkwardly laugh it off and skid to the door. Once I was out Fugaku's sight, I immediately sigh and curse myself for trying to act like a tough cookie. I'm already tired and now I have to head for another investigation room.
I quickly adjust my composure as I stand before the door of the the investigation room. There were already noises coming from the other side, which further made me sigh in despair.
I just want this day to be over already.
I sighed deeply and let my forehead rest against the door. This is so uncalled for, but I guess I should've just told Fugaku the truth. I groaned in annoyance, slightly hitting my forehead on against the door. Unwillingly, I took hand of the door knob and turned it at once, creaking the door open.
"Let's just get this over with", I muttered to myself.
"I didn't do anything wrong!", a high-pitched voice makes my ears bleed. My mind felt like someone had dragged their nails along it. I was starting to get a slight headache from all the noises.
Sat at the far end of the interrogation table was a...girl? No older than Itachi or Izumi. She was in a heated argument with two police officers which clearly couldn't keep up with her demeanor. The first thing I noticed right away were the two red fang marks.
The girl has long brown hair which she wears in a ponytail with two locks of hair framing her face over her large, black eyes.
"You sure are a handful", one of the officers face palmed.
"Because you refuse to understand that I'm not in the wrong here!", she retorts back, folding her arms over her chest.
Their argument was so heated that they completely overlooked my presence at the threshold of the door. I simply folded my arms over my chest and leaned against the door frame, resting my head against it as I waited for them to acknowledge my existence.
"Hana we caught you red handed, standing over the man's body", the newly appointed officer attempted to calm her down.
"If you don't let me go now then you'll have to face the wrath of my mother", she smirked wickedly.
"T-tsume Inuzuka..?"
"That's right", she shrugged, "my mother will kill you".
"Oh god-"
"That's enough", I announced, having enough of their useless argument. Instantly, three pairs of eyes fell right on me and the room fell silent.
"Sh-Shisui senpai", the rookie officer said as he kept his eyes on me.
"Oh thank god", the other officer groaned and skidded over to me.
"W-we'll leave the job for the more experienced ones", the rookie told his friend.
"Th-that's right Shisui senpai is far more talented than us. Not to mention his patience doesn't run out right?", the other one said as both of them skidded past me out of the investigation room.
"Goodness never leave the job for the rookies", I mumbled under my breath as my eyes fell on the girl with fang-like teeth.
Her eyes eventually fell upon me with indifference. She rolled her eyes at the back of her head and sighed, "if you're going to use Genjutsu on me like the other two tried, then safe your efforts, I have perfect chakra control, you can't ensnare me in a Genjutsu".
"Who said I was?", I replied nonchalantly and darted my eyes to the file that was draped on the table. I treaded towards the table and pulled out a chair for myself before taking a seat opposite her.
"Lets see..", I mutter to myself and and prop open the file as my eyes skim through information.
"Hana..Inuzuka..", I read out loud, my eyes darting between lines.
"Ninja rank:Chūnin-"
"Occupation: Medical-nin and member of the Fifth Division", she cuts me off, her eyes still fixated elsewhere.
"Oh", I mutter, and close the file, "thanks for saving my breath", I remarked.
She didn't reply, but rather sank in her chair as she forced herself to look at me.
"So Hana, what brings you here?", I inquire, intertwining my finger together.
"Your rookies", she scoffs to herself.
"I see", I toss the file aside and focus my gaze on her, "what did you do, Hana Inuzuka?", I rest my cheek in the palm of my hand as I await her reply.
"I didn't do anything", she monotonously replied, still looking elsewhere.
"How come?", I scoff humorlessly and point at the file, "I read that you attacked a man mercilessly".
"Well..."
"You got him hospitalized", I say nonchalantly.
"He got himself hospitalized", she shrugged off.
"Oh really?", I arched a brow suggestively, "then that means you got yourself in trouble", I point at her.
"What's it with you?!", she snaps, her attention fell directly on me.
"Oh you know, just tired and exhausted from the non-stop working hours where I have to deal with pests", I confess, feeling my eyes going droopy.
"Who are you calling a pest?!", her voice elevates, which makes me wince as my head aches.
"I never specified anyone", I remarked, making her feel dumbfounded.
"You're giving me a headache", she says and her hand travels up to her temple.
"Same"
"Now you're calling me annoying?!", she demands, her teeth gritting.
"Well technically no, but kinda yes".
"Just shut up already..", she mutters under her breath, and looks ahead.
"Why'd you attack that man?", I demand, my expression altering serious. She tensed a bit at my tone of voice and hesitated.
I sighed again and pushed my hair away, "Listen, it'll be way easier if you tell me what happened without pacing back and forth. I can see that we're both clearly tired. I'm guessing you had a heck of a day at the Leaf hospital?"
"Fifth Division", she corrects and leans forward on the table.
"Right, so why tire yourself with something like this, Hana?".
"I could say the same about you"
"Listen, I know that you're not the type to get into such trouble, especially not with the police", I insist, making her tense up a bit.
"I-I-", she hesitates, putting me in detective mode as I scrutinize her for any clue.
When her expression alters into an anxious one, I crease my brows and inquired, "A-are you taking the blame for someone else's sake?".
I breath heavily as I await for an answer. When the only answer she gave me was a furrow of her brows, that's when my suspicions were confirmed.
"You are?"
She simply fixes her gaze elsewhere and and bites her lip.
"For who?", I ask, hoping she'd answer.
"It wasn't on purpose..", she began, her eyes slightly darting to me.
"Come on go on"
"It was Shinko Inari, an Academy classmate of mine", she confessed.
"What did she do?", I asked, scrutinizing her facial expressions.
Her eyes flew up to mine as she divulged, "we were having a reunion when that man attacked her, not aware of her skills in Medical Ninjutsu".
"What did she do?"
"Even though she left the shinobi life a long time ago, she still knows ample Medical Ninjutsu. She used a chakra scalpel to attack him, which contributed to his wounds.."
"And why'd she do it?"
"Because the man was going to attack her.."
"Why?"
"I honest don't know, I'd just shown up then, she was completely shocked and trembling when the man fell to the ground. It just so happened that the rookies were nearby when it happened. I-I got concerned when I saw her like that and told her to run away. When the two police rookies finally showed up, I was caught red handed.."
I register what she said and reply, "I-I see.."
I begin to stare at her hard. She did a good thing for a friend, that can't be overlooked, but technically we'll have to capture Shinko or wait for the culprit's recovery.
As I stare hard at Hana Inuzuka, I can't but feel admiration towards her. It's not everyday you see someone taking such blame for you. It's not everyday you get someone as loyal as her to rely on.
So as I let my thoughts race back and forth, I concluded that the only thing that needs to happen right now is that Hana should go free. By now, I know that Fugaku is gone, which could be either good or bad.
Nevertheless, I rose up from my chair, earning her attention as I declare, "let's go".
"Aren't you going to get in trouble for letting me go without permission?", she inquires, scrutinizing my face for an answer.
"I am, but if you were brave enough to take the blame for your friend, then it's only fair you get back what you give", I surprisingly grinned at her, flashing her my dimples, which made her...blush?
"O-ok"
She hesitantly said before getting up to her feet and following me.
I can't worry about what the Police For will think. I don't have the energy for that currently, it can wait till tomorrow.
Instinctively, I gripped her wrist, catching her off guard as we cautiously slipped past through the remaining police officers.
"Um Shisui?", she inquired.
Did she just call me by my name?
"Yeah?"
"We can go somewhere if you've got nothing to do", she offered.
It was dark already and the village was noisy.
"Is it somewhere calm?"
"Yeah", she chuckles, to which I smirk and reply, "then I'm in".
***
"Oh wow", I say, "I really could use some silence right now", I remarked, when I saw the bridge where Itachi and Izumi would always sit and exchange dango.
"You're so boring Shisui", Hana remarks, taking a seat beside me on the bridge. The dark sky washed over us, as the rippling water got illuminated by the crescent moon's hue.
"Oh really?", I arch a brow and look at her.
"Like all you ever do is interrogate and go on missions then flash people your dimples whenever you want them to feel awkward".
I knew she didn't mean to say the last bit out loud, but she did, which made me smirk while she blushed as we looked at each other.
"Am I really boring Hana?", I smirked, resting my cheek in my palm.
"And annoying with that smug grin of yours", she remarked.
"But you like it don't you?".
The red tint on her cheeks gave me my answer. I chuckled to myself when she looked away to hide her reddening face.
"Come on", I said and took her wrist.
"Where?"
"Focus your chakra at the soles of your feet"
"Why?"
"Just do it"
Hesitantly, she does what I asked her, and her face looks up at mine when my hand slips into hers.
"Shisui.."
"Come on", I say and lead her to the lake water, where we run, leaving a rippling pattern behind. She chuckled softly which made my heart warm up.
Hana looks at me intently, searching my face as we stand still on top of the lake water.
"Tell me Hana", I say as our eyes connect, "do you know how to dance?".
She seemed taken a back by the question, but replied anyway, "n-no.."
The wind howled past us and my grin only widens at the answer she'd given me. I snake an arm around her waist, making her gasp our hands intertwined. I inch my face closer to her and chuckled softly, "Neither do I".
In the moment where Hana's cheeks burned red, a string of blinding fireworks erupted in the sky, illuminating the lake water that we currently stood on.
One thing was sure about this moment as we stand here, all alone and lost in each other's eyes.
It'll be unforgettable.
For a split second, Hana breaks eye contact and darts her eyes to the lit up sky, inquiring, "What's the occasion?".
"It's November 11", I reply in recall of the date as I dart my eyes to sky as well.
***
Their failed attempts at dancing took them all night long and from that night on, it was safe to say that the fireworks sparked a new love seed in the Hidden Leaf Village.
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