Reckoning

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

Kaguya’s Hospital for the Criminally Insane, Northside Konoha City (roughly 2 days later) 

Naruto was brought to visitors hall, and locked up in his oh-so-familiar cage. The guards left his hands cuffed. ‘Konon hasn’t come back to work yet.’ Naruto thought. ‘She probably got caught.’ Briefly the blonde wondered if that meant she was dead and being eaten by Gaara, or captured by the FBI. ‘Gaara most likely killed her, took an organ and Kakashi is here to have me profile the murder.’ The blonde decided not sure if he should be sulking or laughing at the entire thing. 

When Kakashi did walk in finally the blonde quickly started to re-think the second theory. Kakashi took carefully measure steps, his eyes never leaving Naruto. He was fully concentrated, and wary. Like you be around a feral and wild dog. Naruto frowned. 

“Your walking slowly.” Naruto said bluntly, watching the alpha. “Carrying your concentration and wariness like a life-jacket.” Naruto huffed. “What’s on your mind?” 

“Gaara was almost killed the other night.” Kakashi stayed. “By an employee of this hospital. An omega named Konon, who is believed to have killed the judge at your trial.” Kakashi continued and Naruto, impulsively, snorted.

“She didn’t killed the Judge, Black Zetsu did. She killed the other guy.” 

“You know that?”

“She told me.” 

“So you told her to kill Gaara?” 

“Nothing I said made that happen.” Naruto responded, and Kakashi narrowed his eyes. “It Just happened. 

“It Just happened?” Kakashi repeated, his voice dropping into a low growl. Naruto nodded.

“Have you ever wished someone would just disappear? Just once even? The little rant to your friends…. I wish she would just leave….I wish she was just gone...sometimes I wish she was just dead…” Naruto asked quietly and Kakashi remained silent. The blonde gave a cold smile. “There’s a feeling— one we’ve all experienced but haven’t named yet. It’s the feeling of anticipating hatred.”

“You hate Gaara?” Kakashi clarified. The

Blonde had to fight not to roll his eyes. ‘Always so slow.’

“No.” Naruto replied shortly, hating the truth of it. “But I hate Black Zetsu. I hate what he does. What he stands for.” 

“I see.” Kakashi replies, before falling silent and the blonde crosses his arms. 

“Tell me Kakashi, what is the reason Black Zetsu does what he does? Why does need to kill? What purpose drives him?”

“He... harvests organs.” Kakashi said still watching him with new and thinly hidden distrust. 

“No.” Naruto snapped. “That’s the action. A result of his need. Why does he kill?” The blonde repeats and Kakashi narrows his eyes, silent. “Come on, I know why— do you know why?” When Kakashi still stayed quiet the blonde gave a frustrated sigh. “Black Zetsu kills in sounders of three or four. Quickly. Why?” 

“Why?”

“Because If he waits too long the meat spoils.” 

“He’s…. eating them?” Kakashi asked, disbelief leaking into every word. “Gaara… is like… Mikoshi? A cannibal?”

“No. Not like Mikoshi.” Naruto corrected harshly. “Mikoshi ate his victims to honour them— Black Zetsu eats them because to him they’re no better than pigs.”

“Gaara is not Black Zetsu. There is no connection between him or the victims.” 

“No immediate connection.” Naruto snapped. Frustration boiled under his skin like an all-consuming rage. ‘Fuck you Kakashi.’ The blonde thought. ‘Screw this damn cage, screw your stupid rules— your false care! None of you cared about me— none of you even liked me!! The only one interested in me is a murderer who is incapable of love and framed me for murder!’ Naruto mentally roared. The blonde let out a very slow controlled exhale. “Do you wanna to know a secret?” The blonde murmured, watching Kakashi from the corner of his eyes. The agent frowned. 

“What kind of secret?”

“The pattern kind.” The blonde growled, still pissed at the entire freaking situation. 

“What’s the secret?” Kakashi asked, his own curiosity burning him up from the inside out. 

“Every time Black Zetsu kills— Gaara throws a dinner party.” The seemed to throw the agent for a loop and the blonde nodded once to himself before going quiet and thinking— ‘now what?’

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

Gaara’s Home, Westside Konoha City

Gaara stood in his kitchen calmly slicing up a heart whilst listening to music. Each slice of the lush red organ put on a skewer to roast. 

“A dramatic dish.” He said aloud, before setting down his knife to look at the stitches along the inside of his wrists. The alpha let out a soft breath before walking over to his cabinet to pull out a teacup.

It was a beautiful teacup. Thin delicate china, lush design on a sharp contrasting black border all topped with an actual gold handle. The entire design was made from gold as well. It was a jewel among teacups.  That is to be expected from an Astbury Black Teacup though. Worth every cent of the two thousand dollars he had paid for it.

Gaara held the delicate beauty in his hands for a moment, before abruptly letting it drop and crash to floor. The cup shattered into dozens of tiny fragments, each piece as sharp as a knife. The alpha stood there watching the pieces as though waiting for something to happen. Of course— nothing did. With a dissatisfied look Gaara cleaned up the mess quickly and returned to skewering his heart— or at the least the heart he had been slicing up earlier. 

“I need to get my appetite back.” He said to himself, thinking of blood and death while steadfastly ignoring the now shattered teacup’s remains in his trash. 

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

FBI Headquarters, Northside Konoha City (next day)

Kakashi stood next to Lee and Kiba outside the latest crime scene. Black Zetsu has returned. 

“Tell me what we know.” Kakashi ordered eyeing the body with dislike.

“Well, as you can see, he mounted the body on a wisteria tree and threaded the branches through the arteries, quietly skillfully too. It would have been tricky especially since there isn’t any sign that he damaged the tree or the arteries.”

“He must really take pride, to devote this much time to his work.” Kakashi muttered shuddering in disgust.

“That’s not all.” Lee says joining the conversation. “Normally Black Zetsu is careful about the organs he takes— not this time. He took nearly all of the organs excluding the lungs and then replaced them with flowers.”

“Jesus.” Kakashi swore running a hand through his hair. Kiba nodded. 

“Belladonna flowers where the heart was... white oleander flowers for for his intestines... ragwort for the liver…” Kiba said, “hang on— is that a birds nest on his head?”

“All of them are poisonous.” Lee stated interrupting Kiba.

“Judgement. Black Zetsu judged this man to be toxic.” Kakashi grimaced, “and he so confident about that it’s make my stomach turn.”

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

Gaara’s office, Downtown Konoha City (late that evening)

Kakashi sighed, staring into the fireplace as Gaara poured him a glass of wine. The fireplace in the far back was warm and roaring. The redhead found little comfort in the heat. 

“I didn’t realize the fireplace actually worked, I’ve never seen you light it before now.” The agent said leaning back in the chairs they had pulled up to the fire.

“I do not light it often.” Gaara admits, “it’s an indulgence I usually reserve for home however…”

“You deserve to indulge a little Doctor.” Kakashi replied. “It hasn’t been that long since….”

“Since the incident at the pool. Yes, I am aware.” Gaara responded, before the two fell into silence. 

“There is a pattern taking shape.” Kakashi says suddenly. “I just need to convince my eyes to see it.” 

“I convinced myself of something.” Gaara replied not looking away from the violent flames dancing in the fireplace. “Something I was refusing to see for a while now.”

“And it only took Naruto trying to kill you to see it?” Kakashi asked raising a brow. The redhead didn’t seem to notice the interruption, his eyes focused on the fire. 

“I can not help Naruto.” Gaara admitted aloud. “I can not trust him.” He added taking a steadying  breath. “He is in a dark place. Shadows move and twist and it is not safe to stand beside him anymore.”

“I feel the same way.” Kakashi agreed with a tired sight. There was a quiet heart broken silence before Kakashi spoke again saying, “we um… we found another body.  Another Black Zetsu victim—“

“No.” Gaara interrupted, closing his eyes and clenching the glass in hand tighter. “I can not help.” The redheaded alpha let out a slow breath. “Not only do I need to let Naruto go— I need to let this all go.” Gaara turned his head to face Kakashi directly. “I nearly died. I would have died, if not for you.” 

“I’m sorry.” 

“I can not dwell on death any more.”

“I understand, and I don’t blame you.” Kakashi replies with a nod. 

“I must… take this opportunity and turn it into a chance to learn. To enhance my life.”

“Well, when you figure out how to do that you let me know.” Kakashi commented with a half smile. 

“I intend to start by hosting a dinner party.” The redhead murmured and Kakashi suddenly froze before looking over at Gaara. “Please tell me you’ll come.” The redhead murmured jerking Kakashi out of his brief shock. 

“Of course. I wouldn’t miss it.” 

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

Kaguya’s Hospital for the Criminally Insane, Northside Konoha City (same time)

Naruto sat inside of his little cage in the middle of the visitors hall, feeling restlessness burn him from the inside out. Sasori was locked up in a cage next to him, and the blonde glanced up at the camera’s. ‘Stupid orochimaru. If Sasori betrayed us once he could do it again.’ The blonde knew that somehow the idiot alpha expected him to change Sasori's mind. ‘A few simple conversations and convince him to just….betray Gaara? Unlikely…’ The blonde thought. ‘Unless of course…. it’s self preservation?’ 

“You should’ve let him die.” Naruto stated bluntly. 

“Should’ve, could’ve, would’ve…” 

“He’ll kill you, ya know that right?” Sasori gave a low snort.

“Can’t get me in here.” 

“Your wrong.” Naruto argued. “Here is exactly where he’s gunna get you.” Sasori didn’t respond, and the blonde let himself smile. “The second you came back to this facility— you were marked with an expiration date.” Naruto's smile slipped away. “Gaara kills anyone who gets too close. Don’t your remember? He’s the devil, he’s… smoke and sand.” The blonde looked over at the omega, to see him thinking over his words. ‘Maybe this will work after all.’ Naruto thought, suppressing a second grin. “I’d be very nervous if I was Orochimaru. He’s getting close to figuring out the truth. The only way you and Orochimaru get out of this mess alive is if Black Zetsu is stopped.”  Naruto growls. “Gaara deserves to die.”

“You didn't’t bring me here to help you kill Gaara.” Sasori snapped and the blonde nodded.

“Your right, i didn't. I brought you here to witness.” 

“Your brought me here to tell Kakashi,” Sasori begin with understanding in his eyes, “That i sat in Gaara’s dining room with a picture of Leda and the swan hanging on the wall and asked him if he was Black Zetsu? Tell him how Gaara evaded the question, told me to kill Dr. Sakura and even gave me her address?”

“Yeah. Tell Kakashi that.” Naruto replied, glad that Orochimaru liked to record conversations. ‘Now all he has to do is have Kakashi listen to the recording.’ The blonde thought. ‘If Kakashi will even listen, that thick-headed idiot that he is.’ 

“I’ll tell Kakashi everything, if you tell me why he did it.” Sasori offered and the blonde hesitated. 

“Because…. he was curious what would happen.” Naruto answered finally, hating the answer. ‘Truth hurts.’ Naruto thought closing his eyes to wait and see how this attempt would unfold.

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

Kaguya’s Hospital for the Criminally Insane, Northside Konoha City (later)

Kakashi stood in Orochimaru's office, arms crossed and a tense expression on his face. He had just listening to a recording of Naruto's conversation with Sasori, and disbelief warred heavily on his face. 

“Sasori is a lunatic.” Kakashi says finally and Orochimaru nodded.

“Yes, He is psychotic” Orochimaru agrees before saying, “But he’s not psychic.”  Kakashi frowns thinking. 

“Sasori has a history of being susceptible to suggestion.” The agent counters and Orochimaru raising his eyebrow. 

“The simplest answers are often the correct ones, and the simplest answer about how Sasori can describe the inside of Gaara’s home— is that he was in Gaara’s home.” 

“Naruto could have told him he could—“

“No such conversation has happened.” Orochimaru responded currying him off. “I monitor every conversation those two have. I’ve heard everything they’ve said to each other and Naruto has never once mentioned the inside of Gaara’s home before.” 

“Then…. you’re aware of what Naruto is accusing Gaara of being?”

“Oh yes.” Orochimaru replied. “I am very much aware.” The alpha shuddered. “I’m grateful I’m have trouble digesting animal proteins since the last few meals i have shared with Gaara have all been salads.” 

“Do you believe him?” Kakashi asked after a long silence fell between the two.

“Gaara once served me tongue, and then made a joke about eating mine.” Orochimaru responded dryly. “It would be… narrow not to at least consider it.” 

“Naruto is delusional.” Kakashi countered, taking a seat across from the other alpha. “He’ll want to re-enforce his delusion using you, Sasori and me.”

“That doesnt mean he isnt right about Gaara.” 

“I know.” Kakashi said finally, heaving out a large sigh. “Black Zetsu is killing again and Gaara is throwing a dinner party.” 

“Kakashi.” Orochimaru said quietly, “He fits the profile. Attracted to medical and psychological fields. Those fields offer power over others. And cannibalism?” The alpha tenses. “Cannibalism is an act of dominance. The ability to defeat and devour those lesser than yourself.” 

“How very alpha.” Kakashi murmured to himself, lost in thought.

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

FBI Headquarters, Northside Konoha City

Lee and Kiba were hard at work on the Black Zetsu victim. The man who had been killed using a wisteria tree and had all of his organs replaced by positions flowers. Kakashi walked in to see Lee using a chain saw to remove part of the tree branch’s so they could better examine the body.

“Well?” Kakashi asked after they turned of the saw. 

“The victim is a Konoha City Councilman.” Kiba replied as Lee dragged the branch away. “Black Zetsu must have taken an interest in politics.”

“Why do you saw that?”

“Well about two years ago, our victim here signed a deal that went against the EPA’s advisement.” Lee answered.

“He paved over paradise to put in a parking lot?” Kakashi clarified and Lee nodded.

“What he paved over was a nesting ground for endangered songbirds, the son-of-a-bitch.” Kiba added let out a low growl. 

“Anything else?” Kakashi asked crossing arms and Lee hastily nodded.

“Here’s the youthful part,” the alpha replied. “His lungs were filled with water so he actually died because of drowning.”

“That’s exciting how?” 

“Microorganisms.” Lee responded. “Every body of water is home to thousands of microorganisms called— diatongs.”

“They are sort of like fingerprints for water.” Kiba interjected, “no body of water has the same diatongs.”

“So we can find out where this man was killed?” Kakashi asked, stepping closer and Lee nodded. “Well?”

“Found a match just outside of city limits.” 

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

Kaguya’s Hospital for the Criminally Insane, Northside Konoha City

Naruto sat in the guest inside his cage, with his closed. ‘I wonder how everything is going.’ The blonde thought vaguely. ‘How will Gaara handle the new pressure. The evidence.’ The blonde tried not to let the curiosity cloud over his brain but it was hard. Hard not to think about when the entire reason he is in Prison, why he’s at risk of exposing himself as a sigma, how he is angry— because of his most trusted friend. Because of someone he thought he could love. 

A familiar scent began to fill the air, the scent of desert heat and cactus flowers. 

“Hello Dr.Subaku.” Naruto stated flatly, opening his eyes to see Gaara standing there.

“Hello Naruto.” The redhead responded. “I feel as though I’ve been watching our friendship on a split screen. The friendship I thought we had, and the truth of our friendship on the other.” 

“Terrible feeling right?” Naruto growled and the redhead blinked. ‘Welcome to the Club asshole.’ Naruto thought.

“You have been lying to me Naruto.”

“Me?” Naruto responded blinking and feigning shock. “My gauge for reality isnt working well enough to know if I’ve been lying.” He added sarcastically, reminding Gaara of exactly how he was shoved into prison to begin with.

“However you understand the reality of Ino’s death? You understand your role in it?”

“My role?” The blonde growled. “What exactly was my role?”

“Ino died because of you.” Gaara answered. “You are as angry with yourself as you are with whomever murdered her.”

“Actually,” Naruto begins with a low snarl, “I am only angry at whoever killed her.”

“You attempted to murder me.” The redhead murmured, changing the topic. “It is difficult not to take that personally.” The alpha hesitated for a moment before taking a step closer. “If I were Ino’s murderer however, I would applaud your effort.” 

“I’m only as guilty as you are.” Naruto snapped. 

“I do not expect you to feel guilt, shame remorse or self loathing.” The redhead assured him. “You were aware of everything. You made decisions you wanted to. You were in control.” 

“Control? You think I’m in control?” Naruto asked incredulous as he stood up within his cage and gripped the bars. 

“I believe you are more in control than you have ever been.” Gaara answered calmly. “You found a way to hurt me.” There was a moment of quiet as the redhead thought for a moment. “I wonder…. how many more will be hurt because of what you do?” The alpha blinked and stepped back. “I will give Sakura your regards, farewell.” He finished before he turned and left. 

“Damn.” Naruto cursed clenched the bars of his cage tightly. ‘How in the hell can he know about half the crap I’m dealing with!?’ Naruto thought even more frustrated. ‘I hate that he’s right. I hate it.’ The blonde thought letting his head fall forward to rest against the cold bars. ‘In a way he’s right. I’m more in control of my empathy then I’ve ever been. No more glasses to hide behind. No more mental breakdowns. Just me and my own thoughts. My own desire for death.’ 

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

Kaguya’s Hospital for the Criminally Insane, Northside Konoha City

“I am sure you and Orochimaru have had more than one conversation about my…. bad behavior.” Sasori said, sitting calmly in the guest hall cage. “How does he describe me?”

“Pure sociopath. By the book.” Orochimaru muttered.

“The term sociopath hasn’t been used by a respectable psychiatrist since 1968.” Sasori purred.

“Sasori. Do you or do you not have any information regarding Black Zetsu?” Kakashi interrupted yanking the omegas attention back to him. “You told Naruto about Gaara home. Why were you there?”

“I have never stepped foot in Dr.Gaaras home.” Sasori replied with half smile. “I’ve only just met the alpha recently.” Orochimaru narrowed his yes at the redheaded omega. “Although, Dr.Orochimaru was happy enough to share the details of Gaara’s dining room.” Sasori continued as of not seeing the hateful looks from Orochimaru.

“Why would he do that?” Kakashi asked. 

“Naruto is very focused on the idea of Gaara being Black Zetsu. Orochimaru has done very little to discourage him of the fact, and has asked me to do that same.” Sasori said with a shrug. 

“I apologize for wasting your time agent Kakashi. Allow me to walk you out.”  

“You know, Orochimaru hired a nurse that has experience with mental hospitals but not as employee?” Sasori called loudly after them. “That nurse tried to kill Gaara and you blame Naruto.” The omega shakes his head even as the two alphas continue walking away from him. “You have the right box Kakashi. Your simply looking in the wrong corner.”