~Bulletproof~ SasuSaku Mafia Story

Chapter 28 ~ Reading is Fundamental!

"Please, Naruto-Kun, I told you everything I know! Neji was my best friend since childhood... No one would ever want to harm him... I-I don't know how this happened..."

Hinata Hyuuga, now Hinata Uzumaki, sat in the interrogation room with a cup of tea in front of her. Her husband of only a few months sat in front of her and held her hand tight.

"I know, babe, I know it's a lot. We just have so little on Neji, It's hard to progress without your help. Why is there so little known about Neji? Why was he so secretive?"

"He- He was just a very private person, I promise... Nothing more." Her eyes were swollen with all the crying she had done in the past few days. Shikamaru sat next to Naruto and tried to bite his tongue. It was so clear to him that Hinata was hiding something. Still, his co-detective had insisted on conducting the interrogation alone.

"Naruto, baby, can I have another cup of tea?" Hinata hung her head. Naruto nodded enthusiastically and rushed out of the room. Shikamaru sighed, and leaned back. To his surprise, Hinata spoke as soon as Naruto closed the door behind him.

"Turn off the tape. Now."

"What? Excuse me?"

"I know this is recorded. Turn it off."

Hinata had done a complete 180. She was now serious, her voice was firm and direct. Shikamaru observed her carefully, and decided to oblige.

"Naruto can not know this. I don't have much time. It was Sasuke Uchiha who killed Neji."

"How do you know?" Shikamaru leaned forward again.

"Long story. His family has a grudge against mi- um, Neji's family. He was in hiding, and they found him."

"Was Neji in the mafia?" Shikamaru knew their time was limited, so he had to carefully select which questions to ask out of the hundreds that popped into his head."

"Yes and no, it's complicated. Just, don't waste your time on this. You'll never solve it. Leave it to their world."

"Their world?"

"This is a mob matter, detective."

"Hinata, who are you? Are you involved?"

"Neji was my lifeline. If they got to him, they know about me. I am only alive because of Naruto."

Something about the way she said it alarmed Shikamaru to his core. He frowned.

"Are you with him for protection?"

"Naruto is a good man."

"You did not answer-"

"Is this how you want to spend our few moments alone?" Hinata crossed her legs. This was not the same woman who was sobbing in front of Naruto five minutes ago.

"Is Naruto in danger?"

"Of course he is. Especially if he's trying to meddle in Uchiha affairs. They won't kill him, though. Too risky. Neji was a small fish, and they knew it. I just can't believe they found him after all this time." She hid her face in her hands.

"What did he do?" Shikamaru tried taking notes, but Hinata frowned and shook her head at him until he put down his pen.

"In the mafia world, it's blood for blood. He was just unfortunate to be born in the Hyuuga family."

"Hinata, who are you to Neji?"

"He is, well, was - my only surviving cousin. It was me and him versus the world. Now the son of a bitch got him."

Hearing her curse felt wrong. Shikamaru did not know how to process all this, but he stayed focused.

"Do you know where we can find the Uchiha?"