Chapter 4
Secrets are often exposed. Or, at the very least, new ones are made. But, these are private affairs, usually in the patient rooms themselves rather than the waiting area. Instead, you see the aftermath of such decisions or revelations. When people are weak, traditional gender roles take over in the families.
Konan looks up from an architectural magazine to see a family in nice, pressed suits. Hair so inky black and features so fine that they remind her of the young Uchiha amongst Akatsuki’s ranks. Then, it dawns on her who Kisame has been coming to see. There’s a young man with them, not older than 18. He wears a particularly scornful face, eyes red from angry tears.
‘He must be Sasuke.’ She thinks.
The other two must be his parents. This is a strange scene because it’s been the assumption that Itachi is a fugitive; an outcast from his family. Punishment for dishonor amongst the Uchiha is exile. Not even Madara talks about the clan in a familiar way. It starts to make more sense when she sees a trail of police officers behind them. An escort. Then, Jiraiya, an ex-Konoha yakuza turned special NPA officer. She sinks into her magazine— a poor cover. Gracefully, he doesn’t look over. He’s mission-focused. Just like the rest of them to see Itachi. All of these can only mean one thing.
‘He’s the mole.’
She wonders if Kisame has known the entire time. But, as luck would have it, Kisame doesn’t show up today. And before she is caught by Jiraiya, she slips back into Nagato’s room to keep vigil over his sleeping form.