The Sharingan's Voice

Chapter 7.1 Reactions

Disclaimer: The term for this kind of writing is FANfiction, if you aren't sure what that means, look it up :P

Chapter 7 Reactions

"You don't know if you want to find him? Or you don't know if he's dead or alive?" Shikamaru prodded calmly. He had a strategy, and it involved seeing if the other was interested in his brother.

"It's none of your business" Sasuke bit out.

"You know, I could try to find out to whom he was sold off and what happened with him. Wouldn't that be better than not knowing at all?"

"Why are you focusing on my brother? I did not ask for him, I asked for the Uchiha files."

"I focus on him because he probably is the only other living person mentioned in those files you want. What is in those files will change nothing, knowing what happened to your brother might."

"By all means: Try! I doubt you'll get far." Sasuke taunted. He didn't want the other to go searching, but if he was honest, he longed for the answer. The other had recourses and freedom he didn't, the other might succeed, while as he didn't even have a chance to begin with.

"And why's that?"

"Because, if he changed masters at any point, you might have to find each one to track him down. The slave houses do not have a central archive, and the papers go with the slave. Some Houses may be organized enough, so you can look up the slave code, but it's not a given. Some simply sort transaction dates. You'd have to either know the date, or a certain time range for them to look it up, without it you're gonna be lost. That's how these things work, as far as I know. The papers go with the slave. If the change of masters happened outside of a slave house, there might only be a paper in his records, but none at any place for you to search for. That is if he still is a slave. If he isn't... well, in that case, you won't find him at all."

"I see, I'll keep that in mind." This had been quite revealing for Shikamaru. The other had given out plenty of information, even though he'd presented them in a way that made it clear that he seriously doubted him to succeed and was mocking the idea, it would help Shikamaru to start.

"Do you know his slave code? Or should I go back to Sakura's to look it up?"

Tatakai narrowed his eyes slightly in thought.

"I don't know, I never got a chance to read through my papers. I only know mine, I have no idea how it works though, the coding." Yes, Shikamaru thought, the other was more willing to give him answers than he'd wanted to admit in the beginning.

"Tell me yours."

"OSA0742" Tatakai's voice was monotone, like he was merely recalling an unpleasant fact that was brushed aside. The Nara had wondered if Tatakai's interest in Konoha's history had to do with the Clan's heritage only, or if there was more to it. He had not yet figured out that connection satisfyingly.

"hmm, the letters could stand for the place that registered you. The numbers probably represent the slaves themselves. Do you remember where you've been brought to?"

"Slave house Kansei, Ishigakure. I have found no relation between the letter coding and that place's name... But if your theory is right, then my brother's code would probably be OSA0743"

Indeed, Shikamaru's impression, that the other was interested in this was only cementing more. He let more information slip than ever, and willingly so. Even though the info could be looked up, and he would be doing that later, it had still come from him. As it sounded, the brother might have been captured after Tatakai, though he couldn't be sure, it was a possibility.