Cornerman—Chapter 13 (Patreon)

AN: No audio for this one. It just sounds too weird. The pronunciation is off for all the names except Sasuke and none of the voices quite fit. 

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A rugged, graying woman sat at a pitted wooden desk. She looked at the subordinate standing in front of her, a plain younger woman, in silence.

After a few moments had passed, she exhaled slowly, laying down the report she’d been reading onto her desk.

“There has been no progress?”

The subordinate looked apologetically at her superior. “That... is the case, Shinjo-sama. No evidence has been found for us to draw any conjecture from.” The young officer hesitated for a moment before she continued, her eyes flicking down to the ground in order to avoid meeting the older woman’s gaze. “It’s as if Goto-san simply disappeared into thin air.”

Yumiko Shinjo’s expression was stoic, but those familiar with her would know that she wasn’t the least bit pleased. She knew what her subordinate was suggesting: that Goto Tadamasa hadn’t been the victim of any crime, but that he’d chosen to disappear of his own volition.

Indeed, he was practically a shut-in: a man who had little contact with others outside of his career as a police officer, and he wasn’t a popular individual. It wasn’t an outlandish idea that he would choose to leave Konohagakure.

It was the case that he’d been a lowly officer for more than a decade, not advancing even an inch in his career since the time of his joining. How much of that was due to the flaws of the system or his own insufficient efforts was up for debate.

Yumiko sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “You may leave.” She said, dismissing the nervous deputee in front of her.

Once the door closed, Yumiko stood up, her wooden prosthetic hitting the floor with a thump. She absentmindedly rubbed her thigh, which cramped up when the weather started to get cold. It had been years since she’d lost her leg and she’d grown used to living without it. While the phantom pain and loss of mobility bothered her, she was thankful that she’d been able to survive when others didn’t.

She stared out the window, rubbing her hands together in an effort to warm up.

‘Goto Tadamasa...’

Perhaps she wouldn’t have cared so much about the man’s disappearance if he wasn’t one of the survivors like her. The war, the kyuubi attack – he’d lived through both of them. He’d been serving under her for many years, and she’d been looking out for him in turn as his superior.

He wasn’t always the crusty old bastard everyone now knew him as. The old Goto was an ambitious man in many ways, and someone who cared for his comrades.

The plight of the common soldier had once been something that was very close to his heart, and when he joined the police force, the plight of the common officer.

Yumiko Shinjo didn’t know when exactly, but at some point Goto’s care for others started becoming less obvious. Instead, it was replaced by a dislike for those above him. His worst enemy was no longer those that seeked to harm the Hidden Leaf, but the Hidden Leaf itself.

In the beginning, she sympathized with him. Who wouldn’t despair when they saw their efforts come to nothing? However, that was the way of the world. Goto Tadamasa was out-competed over and over again by people who were stronger, more intelligent or more well-connected than he was. The world was full of formidable people, and he was unlucky enough to have no choice but to compete against many of them.

In the end, the better men won, and Goto Tadamasa gave up. She didn’t blame him. He was getting old, and he’d served Konoha for many years. Everyone deserved a rest.

‘But, there’s one problem.’

Goto disappearing without a word was problematic. While they had their disagreements over the years, the two were long-time comrades, even friends. He wouldn’t leave without seeing her first.

Breathing slowly, she grasped her pen, paging through the document. A section, titled ‘probable cause’, was revealed. Underneath it, in tidy, square letters, she wrote the words ‘foul play’.

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The next morning, Sasuke went through his routine with casual ease. Yesterday’s troubles seemingly had no effect on him. From an observer’s perspective, he might seem abnormally composed. However, he’d long since noticed Ichika’s abnormalities.

At first, he paid no attention to her, automatically categorizing her as a ‘mob’. Yet, when she bumped into him last year, that changed. If it were someone else, they may not have noticed, but Sasuke immediately felt her tremendous chakra. She hid it well, but for a split-second, due to being startled, it leaked out.

He was incredibly surprised. Who was she? He didn’t remember there being a girl like her. Still, after a period of shock, he regained his calm. It was just one more change—something he was already used to.

Needless to say, Sasuke investigated immediately. Consequently, he became aware of Mineko Iwasaki. In public, she was an expensive female escort, often employed by wealthy, upper-class men. However, in private, she was a spy, although he wasn’t sure for who.

Most likely, they were behind the commoners’ agitation. Regardless, he didn’t care too much about whatever they were planning.

What Sasuke was interested in, after observing the two for more than a year, was Mineko Iwasaki’s poison skills. It was something he tried studying privately, but information was understandably scarce. If he could add it to his repertoire, his combat prowess would advance by leaps and bounds.

After washing, dressing and tidying himself in front of the bathroom mirror, Sasuke headed for the front door. He looked well-rested, having slept till eight. Not being a morning person, training early wasn’t for him. He always saved that for after school, when he came home.

Unsurprisingly, a chipper-looking strawberry-blonde was waiting for him outside.

“Yo, Sasuke.”

Smiling widely, Naruko skipped over to his side. Without concern for personal space, she hooked her arm around his and dragged him down the road.

“Sheesh, you’re so late. Can’t you get up earlier? We’re always the last ones to school!”

Moaning in his ear, she half-walked-half-ran down the road. Sasuke let himself be dragged, keeping up easily because of his longer legs.

“…since when do you care about stuff like that?”

‘Punctuality’ wasn’t exactly part of Naruko’s vocabulary, at least not till recently. Of course, he knew the reason for her sudden change. Before, there was no reason for her to look forward to school. However, after making so many new friends, that changed.

Mischief glinted in Naruko’s eyes.

“Yesterday, Kiba and I did something to Iruka-sensei’s chair. It’s pointless if I’m not there when he shows up!”

She chuckled darkly, provoking a sense of sympathy from Sasuke. Last time, it was a fart cushion, which was already bad enough. However, Naruko was nothing if not creative, not being the type to pull the same trick twice.

Feeling a yawn coming on, Sasuke stretched his free arm above his head, rolling his neck simultaneously. He was content to live lazily, for the time being. Though, he had to admit, the ninja academy could be rather boring.

On their way to school, Naruko kept up a steady stream of chatter. Sasuke responded periodically, but mostly, he remained silent.

When they arrived, the classroom was already filled, though Iruka-sensei seemed to be running late. Seeing this, Naruko brought a hand to her chest, sighing in relief. Her eyes scanned the interior before landing on Kiba. Grinning like a maniac, she released Sasuke, running over to the wolf-boy before whispering conspiratorially into his ear.

Feeling old for some reason, Sasuke found his usual seat near the window. Sitting down, he rested his chin on his palm and stared at the outside scenery. The sight of grass and leaves, swaying in the breeze was nostalgic.

‘…it was the same, wasn’t it?’

He was referring to his old high-school seat. It was similarly next to the window, though on the second floor. After finishing his classwork, he’d while away his time like this, building castles in the air.

So absorbed was Sasuke that he didn’t notice Sakura’s arrival, nor did he respond to her careful greetings. Only when she timidly poked his arm did he glance at her, returning to the present.

“Uhm, good morning, Sasuke.”

She smiled demurely at him, in a manner unlike her natural self.

“Hi, Sakura.”

In response, he greeted her casually.

Hearing her name from Sasuke’s mouth was apparently too much for her. The girl’s cheeks turned pink, similar to her hair.

Lowering her head, she twisted her hands in her lap before asking a question.

“…did you do your homework? I forgot to do mine.”

Glancing up at him, she rubbed her temples in a gesture of embarrassment.

“I’m such a knucklehead, haha.”

Sasuke doubted that was the truth, given how studious she was. Most likely, it was an excuse for approaching him, though he wouldn’t say as much.

Reaching into his pack, he withdrew a notebook before handing it to her.

“Here, take mine.”

Sakura accepted it like some kind of sacred text.

“Thank you so much, I promise I’ll give it back after homeroom!”

Reaching into her own backpack, she set her notes on the desk, opening to a blank page. However, on her way there, Sasuke clearly saw yesterday’s homework, answered correctly and in neat handwriting.

He snorted, not quite able to supress his amusement.

Sakura’s face paled, realizing what she just did. Mortified, she kicked herself mentally for her lack of sense. She always made a fool of herself in front of Sasuke!

“…a-actually, I just wanted to check my answers!”

Hurriedly, she came up with an excuse, desperately hoping he’d buy it.

At this point, Sasuke’s gaze already returned to the natural scenery outside the classroom.

“Okay.”

His response was non-committal.

Heaving a secret sigh of relief, Sakura opened Sasuke’s notebook, setting it next to her own. A smile soon formed on her face—just reading his notes was enough to bring her joy. Somehow, it felt like getting a peek into Sasuke’s mind.

Soon Iruka-sensei arrived and, done with the register, he took a seat—after checking it thoroughly, of course. He didn’t want a repeat of last week’s embarrassment. However, when he tried to get up again, wanting to write something on the blackboard, he found he couldn’t. His pants were firmly stuck to the seat!

Immediately, a pair of childish voices could be heard from the back, giggling furiously.

A vein jumping on his forehead, Iruka-sensei took a deep breath before releasing it as an explosive shout.

“Naruko, Kiba, a week’s detention for you both. No, two weeks!”

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