Reckoning

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Hope Stables, Uma Texas (a horse stable for the sick and weak)

Naruto wasn’t sure what to think when he got a call from Kakashi asking him to come look at a crime scene. He hadn’t gotten his teach post back at the academy. In fact, he had started living off of a nice package of money from the FBI because of the whole false murder accusations and the whole driving him to the point of insanity crap. The blonde hand managed to pay off his house and all the property and set the rest in savings while he looked for a new job. 

Which is why he really wasn't sure what to think about Kakashi calling him about a new crime scene. Of course Naruto went, happily reminding Kakashi he wasn’t doing any of his consulting work for free. The plane ride over to look at the stables was cramped and the blonde wondered how his dog Kurama was doing. ‘I left Kyuu in the care of my neighbor but that could good or bad. Course better than calling up Sakura. She has it out for me.’ Naruto thought with a grimace. ‘She’s blind to what’s going on around her honestly.’ 

A copy of the file with all of the info he needed, complete with charts and graphs, was stashed away in his bag. He waited until he got the actually stables before pulling it out to look at. ‘Victims Name…. Sara Miamizu. Death by strangulation before her body was placed inside the corpse of a horse.’ Naruto mentally reviewed, shaking his head at absurdity of it. Glancing at the pictures for a moment he took a breath and closed his eyes letting himself go a little. He could feel that mental candle inside his head flicker and he relished in the rush that came as he opened his eyes and empathized.

I don’t want you to see me or to see what I do.  I want to calm you— comfort you. I think as I gently pet the horse, feeling sadness prompt tears to run down my cheeks. 

“There is so much comfort in darkness.” I murmur to it before carefully injecting it with the syringe I brought with me. The horse is dying anyway. I leave and return with Sara. The woman, my victim. “I took your life, and now I will try to give it back to you. Heal you, like I Do with my animals.” I say to the body, as I place the bird I had brought with in her chest— and then sealed her body in the belly of the horse. “I hope the forces of death and biology will give you want I most want— your rebirth.” 

Naruto blinks away the thoughts with a new ease he hadn’t experienced before. ‘Refreshing.’ Naruto thinks before feeling Kakashi lingering behind him, waiting for answers like he always does. It make Naruto want to laugh at him. ‘As if he isn’t perfectly capable of doing what I do. It’s nothing special.’ Naruto thinking almost rolling his eyes.

“Well?” Kakashi asks.

“It was a coffin birth.” Naruto replied. “Basically the gases of the decaying body build up until it forces the dead fetus out of the body. More of a prolapsed than a birth.” The blonde frowned. “Whoever did this knew the horse, and knew that the horse was dying. Knew our victim, and was familiar enough with the stables to know when he wouldn’t get caught.” 

“So he works here.” Kakashi mutter led thoughtfully.

“Or he used to work here.” Naruto added. “He has some medical knowledge of animals, though probably not a fully trained veterinarian. Considers himself a healer.” 

“How in the heck is this healing?”

“He wanted Sara Miamizu to be reborn.” Naruto looked at the scene before him and shook his head. “This wasn’t murder, This was grief.”

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Gaara’s home, West Side Konoha City

The redhead relaxed in front of his fireplace, dressed only in his finest silk robe. It was an indulgence but one he felt he needed, given how far away Naruto felt— or rather how Sakura was far too close. The pink haired beta was currently sprawled out in his bed, sleeping deeply once more thanks to the sleeping power he slipped into her drink again. 

The alpha rarely ever experienced true regret, only once in fact until Naruto stumbled his way into his life. Wreaking havoc on his wants and dreams without doing anything but existing.

“You truly are an alpha to match me in every way.” Gaara murmured in a breath of longing, feeling that delectable thrill race up his spine at the idea of Naruto covered in the blood of others. “I wonder, what you will grow to be.” 

Gaara glanced towards the stairs with irritation, thinking of the Sakura, and couldn’t help but compare her to Naruto— and find her lacking. Lacking the same potential for violence, the same alpha restraint he himself possessed. Lacking the independence (read: stubborn and rude) that Naruto has. 

“Your mind is exquisite.” Gaara murmured, thinking of Naruto before sighing and stalking back to his room to sleep next to Sakura.

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Hope Stables, Uma Texas (a horse stable for the sick and weak)

In the day or two since Naruto was able to profile the scene, the FBI was able to narrow down the suspect list quite a lot. Currently, the blonde was stuck in a car with Kakashi to go and interview Nagato, their number one suspect. 

This meant going back to the stables where Nagato currently worked rehabilitating the weaker animals, and finding and caring for the various strays he found. 

Kakashi knocked loudly, before decided to simply go inside anyway. Naruto didn’t say a word. ‘Kakashi your a rude asshole.’ The blond thought, as one of the dogs barked. The building was filled with various cages— dogs, birds, rabbits, even a lizard or too. Naruto looked at it, trying and failing to think about how much work it would take to care for the all. ‘Nagato really cares for his animals.’ The blonde thought.

“You scare them when you knock like that.” A quiet, and timid voice announced. A beta stood, keeping his back facing towards them, figuring and looking over his shoulder every couple minutes or so at them.

“You don’t seem to be curious about who we are.” Kakashi stated, getting straight to the point, after he realized that was all Nagato was going to say despite having strangers just burst in on him. 

“W-who ar-e you?” Nagato asked, stuttering. 

“I am Agent Kakashi Harald of the FBI, and this is Naruto Uzumaki with me.” Kakashi answered. “We’re here to ask you some questions about a women you might have know an alpha named Sara Miamizu. She was recently found in…. well, unusual circumstances.”

“I h-he-heard.” Nagato replied. 

“There was a bird found in her chest. Did you hear about that?” Naruto asked offhandedly, still absorbed in watching the numerous animals with fascination. 

“Wa-we-were the bird a-alive?” The Beta asked, jerking Naruto's attention towards him.   ‘He’s so… young.’ The blonde realized, as he really looked at the beta boy in front of him. ‘He can’t be older than 16.’ 

“Yes.” Naruto answered, remember his question. 

“W-who-o-o ta-taming cafe of t-d-the bird?” Nagato asked struggling with his words. ‘Does he… he has a speech problem.’ Naruto realized as he look at Nagato’s entire behavior with new light.

“Did you know Sara?”

“I- I- I didn’t kn-know her.” 

“Would you mind looking at a picture of her then?” Kakashi presses, and Nagato fidgets.

“I knew a-about her I just-just didn’t kn-know her.” 

“Take a look, just to be sure.” The alpha insisted, stepping closer. Nagato swallowed, and nodded before squeezing his eyes shut and reaching behind him to grab the photo from Kakashi. The blonde watched him with the building realization that he couldn’t have killed Sara, but he knew who did. Nagato brought the photo around, and went still before opening his eyes to take a look. After a moment of being absolutely still, he closed his eyes and again, and passed the photo back to Kakashi the same why he had gotten it. 

“Did you… get your head injury while working here?” Naruto asked slowly. 

”y-yeah. Got k-kic-kicked by a h-horse.” Nagato gave a sharp jerky nodded. Kakashi looked at Naruto in confusion and the blonde tried not to sigh at the fact he would have to explain it to Him. ‘Jeez, he’s a freaking captain. I shouldn’t have to tell him this stuff.’ Naruto thought.

“He has an atypical motor response. Basically his ability to look and touch can only happy separately. He can’t to both at once.” Naruto explained. “It’s aggravated by stress, right?”

“Are you feeling stressed?” Kakashi asked.

“I’m w-worried about the bird. I’m s-sad for her sad for the h-horse. But I can only-only help the bird.”