Chapter 54 Assassin

Naruto looked up at the hospital where the Hokage was taken care of. A large hole in the window to the Hokage's room. He looked at the glass on the ground. Most of the ANBU were investigating the room and all evidence would have been taken. Ninja were meticulous like that. But they are only human, mistakes could be made. Naruto looked at the tiny shards of glass on the ground. The larger pieces were taken, word was the Assassin jumped from the window to escape. However some blood from the assassin was on the remaining pieces. Naruto grabbed a pair of tweezers and a petri dish and carefully took each and every bit of glass with blood on it. He was careful to see if he was being watched. He put the dish away before looking at the state of the window.

He was able to tell that the assassin was a ninja by looking at the hight he would have fallen. Three stories and getting away, only a ninja could accomplish this without injury. He looked around and saw no one was watching. When he felt like it was safe he transformed into a hawk and flew to building across from the window. Naruto used the improved vision of a hawk to look carefully in the room. ANBU were watching carefully. Naruto inspected the glass and noticed a single hair almost invisible due to it's color. He flew near and took it in his beak before he flew off. He landed in an alley and turned back to normal. He looked at the hair and sighed.

"No skin tab, oh well the hair could still be useful", said Naruto to himself.

He put the hair in a small bag before he crawled into the sewers. He made his way to the lab and gave the blood and hair to Herbert, who was working on some strange device. Herbert turned to Naruto smiling behind his mask.

"Whatcha got", asked Herbert.

"A single hair follicle, and some blood, not much but it's all that was left", said Naruto.

He handed the bag and Petri dish to Herbert who eyed them carefully.

"Well the ANBU doesn't have much to use this evidence to figure out who done it, but I have a few ideas. I'll be back later", said Herbert as he walked off.

Naruto read through Orochimaru's old files while he waited. He was trying to see what he could have used on Kin, assuming she actually had modifications she was unaware of which was a possibility considering how Orochimaru usually acted. As he flipped through he came across something interesting.

Naruto read through some research Orochimaru did on himself. How he attempted to achieve immortality and more importantly what he had become. Even before worshiping Yig he was more snake than man. To the point where he could no longer be classified as human. Which only begged the question what Yig turned him into. As Naruto read through the file hours had passed, and thus far he found nothing that Orochimaru did that would not be visible on some level. Unless he developed something after the fact. Most samples taken from Kin revealed nothing out of the ordinary. Would Orochimaru really do nothing to her while altering her teammates to such a level. It made such little since. It was while reading that Herbert walked into the room.

"So find anything", asked Naruto.

"Well, whoever we are looking for has grey hair and the blood type AB. Can't figure out the Rh factor so it could be positive or negative. Other than that Based on what we have heard on height and body build we are looking for a male possibly teenager to young adult. Some actions suggest minor ANBU training or better", said Herbert.

"Not good, so either we are dealing with an ANBU defector, or another village ANBU assassin. I think we need to sneak a few files on all ninja in the village. Look for all AB blood type and grey hair", said Naruto.

"You tell the clones, I am working on a new sonic weapon for incapacitation. Wanna see", asked Herbert.

Naruto shrugged.

"Sure. Why not", said Naruto.

Naruto followed Herbert into the lab where a strange device sat on a table. Herbert picked it up.

"Konohamaru got that mummy sound guys melody arm thing. It amplifies sound waves by using movement of air within to activate certain prongs that produce the sound while using chakra to manipulate the sound waves. I combined it with the same technology in Zaku's arms to pump air into it instead of relying on arm movement and using various limiters to either allow or inhibit the prongs to move. So instead of using chakra the dial on the side alters the effects of the gun by changing the available prongs. The barrel makes the waves go straight so as not to effect the user. Based on the pressure of air used, it is perfect for incapacitating targets and with some more research I can make it use sound waves to liquify soft tissue, most notably the brain but that will come later. I call it the sonic pistol", said Herbert.

"Impressive", said Naruto.

"Think that's impressive, it's ammo is air. Which means it never runs out. The device in Zaku's arms has this little filter to suck up air and store it within to allow him use of his abilaties, it self pressurizes the air and uses chakra to run. This pistol does the same. Simply pump chakra into the handle and viola, it activates the filter and reloads ", said Herbert.

"A weapon that not only is reliable but can almost never run out of ammo. Not bad, how would it fair against the star spawn", asked Naruto.

"Star Spawn, like Cthulhu have an amorphous physiology, It would slow one down by rendering them to small blobs, but without knowing exactly what makes up their bodies it's hard to tell what frequency is needed to have the desired results. It will take a while to complete the schematics and get the necessary materials, but I plan on outfitting all clones with it once I can add more prongs. It may not yet be deadly, but it is perfect for capturing live targets", said Herbert.

Naruto nodded.

"Excellent. Keep up the good work Herbert. I have to find some way to figure out who our assassin is. See if you can isolate the blood, I have an idea how to find him", said Naruto.

"Sounds like fun", said Herbert as he inspected the pistol.

Naruto walked out the room.

The village was in turmoil. With no one leaving or entering the village it wasn't going to be long before the whole populace degenerated into a mob mentality in an attempt to end the lockdown. A strict curfew was imposed. Anyone found out after sunset were detained and interrogated regardless of Status. Jiraiya sat in a chair near the broken window while the ANBU watched from the other side of the door, he was the main pick for Hokage at the moment, though he would refuse the position. He watched his sensei like a hawk. He had hoped to be out of the village by now to find his old teammate Tsunade. Though with the lockdown that was impossible.

Thus far his old sensei did not wake from his coma. He was bandaged heavily with his stump of an arm held in a cast. Jiraiya looked down at the pitiful form of his sensei.

"Wish you were up right now. Everythings going to hell", said Jiraiya.

He watched as the Door opened. He looked at the bandaged form of Danzo who walked slowly into the room.

"Jiraiya", said Danzo acknowledging Jiraiya's presence.

"Danzo", said Jiraiya much the same.

Danzo looked down on Hiruzen with hard eyes.

"He should have got a replacement years ago", said Danzo.

"He did", said Jiraiya.

"And he died a hero. Hiruzen was spent by the time the fox was sealed, he should have looked for a new successor immediately afterwards", said Danzo.

"Why are you here Danzo", asked Jiraiya while he glared at Danzo.

"I have come to see my old friend one last time. I hear you have refused the position of Hokage", said Danzo.

"I have to much to do to take the hat for myself", said Jiraiya.

Danzo nodded.

"I see. I have put my name forward for the position", said Danzo.

Jiraiya glared at the old man.

"Don't think you are to old", asked Jiraiya smugly.

"You should know not to judge a ninja's skills by age. Hiruzen may not have been in his prime but he fended off Orochimaru, had the summon of the Uzumaki child not been there, I have no doubt he would have died", said Danzo.

"You're planing something", accused Jiraiya.

"My business is none of your concern. I shall keep watch over Hiruzen until this assassin is apprehended", said Danzo as he left the room.

Jiraiya glared at the man as he left but said nothing.

Sasuke and Sakura were at Naruto's home. He was discussing what he had found of the assassin with them and his further plans on figuring out who it was.

"...It's simple really, I asked Dr. West to isolate the small amount of the same blood from the assassin. Now there was a member of the Akatsuki who I encountered when Zabuza and Haku returned for some equipment and to be fixed up. I gained an impressive ability from this Hidan. I will drink a small sample of his blood and painfully remove my arm. It will grow back so I have no worries. Now his arm will remain attached, but we only need to watch the hospitals for anyone with gray hair complaining of pain in their arm", said Naruto.

"Sounds painful, but If you say it could work, I'll believe it", said Sasuke.

"But even if we figure out who the assassin is. How do we make the ANBU realize without revealing ourselves, tricking a ninja like them is not exactly easy", asked Sakura.

"I'm still working on a way that we cannot be connected. I have a few ideas but it will have to wait until we can be certain", said Naruto.

"Well what about the curfew, with everyone being watched. How can we get to your lab without being seen", asked Sasuke.

"Usually I transform into a mouse to get around unseen. You however cannot do that. So instead I have a few clones who have been working on one of my fathers special kunai that Zabuza gave me to provide us instantaneous transport to the lab. It's slow going but we should get it soon. Until then we can only go when we are positive it is safe", said Naruto.

"What about body flicker", asked Sasuke.

"No when you use it you are just moving at incredible speeds. You still give off chakra that can be detected. With the Flying Thunder God you go from point A to Point B without using the space in between so their is nothing to detect except the initial activation. You might be able to know where who ever used it was at before, but not where they will show up again", said Naruto.

"Well then we'll just have to be careful", said Sasuke.

Naruto nodded.

"All we have to do is wait patiently for Herbert to finish, other than that we should be fine", said Naruto.

Naruto leaned back when there was a knock at the door. Naruto got up and walked to the door. He opened it slowly. Standing in the doorway was Itatchi and Kisame.

"Hello Naruto, I'm going to have to ask that you come with us", said Itatchi.

As he said that Naruto could feel the air grow denser behind him. Before the sound of chirping birds was heard.

"Move Naruto", screamed an enraged Sasuke.

Naruto smiled as he purposely cut his finger on the door hindge.