Reckoning

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

Konoha’s Museum of Natural History

As Gaara had expected, Kakashi sought the records of his patients that could have fit the profile. Gaara was careful to keep certain documents hidden away, leading them to find Agent Monere. 

The following week Naruto found himself trailing behind Kakashi like a dark shadow. Creeping silently and dark to the museum to interview their number one suspect. Kenmoro. 

“You wanted to see me?” A tall alpha said, as he walked into a back office where the manager of the building led them. A desk with a skull was pushed back into the corner and the light was a fluorescent bulb, that Naruto was certain was going to give him head aches. 

“Yes, Kenmoro right?” Kakashi checked and the male alpha nodded easily, and Naruto glanced between the Alphas, curious what would happen if they suddenly lost it and decided to fight. ‘I wonder who would win.’ Naruto wondered, idly imaging blood splatters against the wall like water balloons full of the stuff that had been thrown. 

“Yes.”

“Good. I’m Kakashi Hatake from the FBI. This Naruto Uzumaki.” Kenmoro glanced at Naruto his eyes narrowing for a brief moment before Kakashi asked, “what is that?” Pointing to the skull sitting on the desk. 

“That is a dire wolf skull.”

“Ah… you put it together?”

“I put skulls together, take them apart… put them back together again.” Kenmoro acknowledged.

“So you, understand how they were engineered, how they were made?”

“We understand a lot about them. Dire Wolfs and Cave Bears, both a fairly common.” 

“The reason I ask was because one was used recently in a murder case.” Kakashi stated. The alpha simply blinked, as though not sure what that had to do with him. Naruto wanted to roll his eyes. ‘It’s like, every word you say is something he would say.’ Naruto thought, before frowning inwardly. ‘Maybe that’s why he is saying it. Gaara got here first and warned him?’ The blonde glanced over at the Alpha sharply, considering the possibility of it. 

“Well, ancient skulls are meant to do what they do best.” Kenmoro said slowly. 

“The victims were torn apart. So I’d say the killed used the right tool for the job.” Naruto said quietly. Kenmoro whipped his head around to look at the blonde intently.

“Well if you look inside the skull, you will find what the job is.” Kenmoro replies and the blonde. 

“You have a history of things wrong inside your head.” Kakashi said bluntly.  

“Is that what this is about? You think I killed someone with a fossil?” The alpha responded and crossed his arms. Kakashi only shrugged. “I had an identity disorder.” The alpha said slowly. “Doctors…. they told me that what I thought my body was didn’t match reality. Do you have any idea what’s that like? When the skin— the body your wearing doesn’t match reality?” 

“I can imagine.” Naruto murmured softly, thinking about his own strange biology as a Sigma. ‘He still sounds like he is reading something from a textbook though.’ Naruto thought. 

“I know who I am now.” Kenmoro asserted. “I socialize, take my medication, I’ve been holding down a long term job. I am doing so much better and I work very hard.” The alpha looked directly at Naruto. “I am proof, mental illness is treatable.” 

The blonde wanted to kick Gaara. Or kiss him. ‘You are proof of how clever my redheaded alpha can be.’ The blonde thought watching Kenmoro.

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

Naruto Home, Greenwood (43 miles East of Konoha City)

Naruto lay sprawled across his couch, thinking about what to do. He wanted Gaara to suffer, at least somewhat. Wanted to force the redhead to give him an apology. The blonde wanted Gaara to love him. To love him in such a way, that harming him, is something Gaara could never do. 

“I want him to want me so completely he’ll be prepared to set the world itself on Fire if i ask.” Naruto murmured softly before jerking to attention as Kurama began barking loudly at the door. The blonde stood carefully, unused to visitors. He paused for a moment before tucking a knife in his waistband, finding comfort in the cool chill of the blade against his skin. Naruto moved to stand on his porch,  watching a sleek black car pull up into his driveway, causing the frugal to crunch underneath the tires. 

“Hello. I don’t know if you remember me, we met outside of Dr.Gaara’s office.” An elegant omega called softly as she exited her car, her thick fur coat pulled up almost to her chin. “It turns out you are famous.” She finished softly and the blonde blinked as he remembered, before promptly feeling confused about why she was here at his house. 

“You aren’t exactly anonymous yourself, Hinata.” Naruto responded, still trying to figure what exactly the omega woman wanted from him. 

“Did you sneak a peek inside of the doctors calendar?” She asked and the blonde arched a brow. ‘Well… I did.’ Naruto thought. ‘When looking through old patients files of Gaara’s to interview Kenmoro. No way I’m telling her that though.’ Hinata gave a soft huff. “It’s cold. Do you happen to have any whiskey?” She asked. His curiosity tugging at him, the blonde nodded and invited her inside. Pouring them both a glass of whiskey before sitting back down on his couch. Kurama was content to curl up in a corner and stare gloomily as his spot, which the gorgeous omega had taken. 

“Now what is the heir to the Hyuuga meat-packing corporation doing on my porch?” Naruto asked, after taking a drink for his own glass. 

“I’m not the heir. My brother is.” She fluttered her lash’s as she looked down at her glass. “I have the wrong parts and interest in the wrong parts.” Naruto tilted his head, curious if she meant women, omegas or a combination of both. ‘Not that it matters,’ he thought, ‘after all Omegas have a really hard time having children with other Omegas anyway. Sigmas, as always are the exceptions to the rules.’ 

“You didn’t answer my question.” Naruto stayed. Hinata nodded slowly. 

“I… came for a character reference. Patient to patient, what do you think of Dr.Gaara’s therapy?”

“That depends on what you're in therapy for.” Naruto replies with a shrug. 

“I’m in therapy for all kinds of reasons.” She answered honestly, taking a sip from her glass. “The Hyuuga’s slaughter over 80,000 cattle a day and 40,000 pigs a day, depending on the season.” She slipped a soft grim smile. “However that is just the public carnage.” 

“... and your private carnage?”

“I tried to kill my brother.” 

“I assume he had it coming?” The blonde said slowly, trying to recall the very vague notes he had read in Gaara’s files and things he was able to piece together after a quick google search of her name. 

“Did he ever.” The omega muttered, dread and disgust marking her face up before she tilted her head at him. “What’s your private carnage?”

“I tried to kill Dr.Gaara.”

“Did he have it coming?” She asked, her lavender colored eyes widening as she learned forward. Naruto narrows his eyes. 

“What do you think?” Hinata leaned back, a thoughtful look on her face and she gave him a small smile.

“I can’t say that I know.” 

“Neither can I.” 

“We have very similar issues.” She said aloud, as she pushed her fur coat off of her shoulders and into her lap. “Although, I doubt that Gaara gave you the same advice he gave me.”

“What advice was that?” Naruto asked. The omega fluttered her lashes delicately and smiled, 

“If at first you don’t succeed, try try again.” 

Naruto heaved a sigh. ‘Well shit now I’m really confused. Is that Gaara telling me something by manipulating her or is this just her genuine thoughts?’

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

Gaara’s Office, downtown Konoha City (roughly day & half later)

Naruto had spent that past day or so thinking about what she had said, and decided that Gaara probably wasn’t aware she came over. The blonde wasn’t about to lie to himself— it felt good knowing things that the redhead didn’t. Holding that sort of power of him. 

“I wonder what would happen if your patients stated comparing notes.” The blonde said aloud, as he paced along the edge of the office glancing over to see Gaara’s reaction. Naruto wanted Gaara to know that he had power too— that he wasn’t in the dark. But wasn’t yet sure if he wanted to tell him everything, he enjoyed having power over Gaara. “What would Kenmoro say to me?” The blonde asked, raising a brow.

“What did he say to you?” 

“Oh he said he was doing better. That mental illness is treatable.” The blonde snorted. “Claimed he was a… success story.” 

“Do you believe he is innocent, in the murders you're investigating?”

“I believe that your therapy worked.” Naruto paused and turned to face the alpha. “How many have there been? How many like Kenmoro? How many…. like me?”

“Every patient is unique.” Gaara replies carefully. Naruto wanted to strangle something. 

“You know, your psychiatrist came to visit me when I was locked up. He told me that he believed me.” Gaara stiffened slightly. “He believed that there were others like me.” 

“Fascinating.” The alpha stated flatly. Almost sarcastically. ‘Did he not like his psychiatrist or is he just upset?’ 

“Did you kill him?” Naruto asked.

“No.”

“What…. what do you think about when you think about killing?” Naruto asked softly, as he walked over to sink down into his chair. 

“.... I think about many things.” 

“Most recently?”

“I think about God.” 

“So what Good and Evil?”

“Good and evil, are such vague terms.” Gaara replied easily. “A church collapsed last Friday on top of 65 grandmother during a special mass. If God is up there, he enjoy the violence.” The blonde frowned. “The Plague and swans— both came from him.”

“Does Kenmoro believe in God?” 

“Perhaps you should have a more personal conversation with mister Kenmoro. Ask him what he believes.” Gaara said simply and the blonde felt himself go tense. That did not bode well.