To Find An Answer (Bao Only).

Faust walked into the open shop of his choosing. He loved this joint. He was not a big fan of the overly popular Ichikaku Ramen, noodles were not exactly his thing. No this place was better suited for him. It was a place with imported foods, and very expensive. Mainly it served chicken, and the special today was General Tso's, his favorite of favorites. He took his seat at the bar and ordered a platter immediately. Now he would have to wait about 20 minutes for them to prepare the meal, this was no fast food, it was fine dining. As he waited, he began to take care of business. He took out a blank piece of paper and wrote a message on it. it read as follows.

Yoshimaru Kangai,
You are hereby summoned to the Oriental Express for a lunch with me. This falls under Hokage mandate, and as such is required of you. You shall not be required to provided any expenses and will in fact be receiving a free meal. This is most urgent, and you have one hour to arrive.

Faust Arp, Barrier Squad Captain.

After this short message, he turned to the man next to him.

Would you like to see a magic trick?

The man looked stunned at first, partially because he was not sure who Faust was, and also because of Faust's odd appearance. Not many outside the ninja ranks knew him or his name. Everyone in the ninja ranks knew his name and reputation and his appearance. His skin was torn apart and held together by various stitches. He was also not wearing a shirt, only a pair of light blue gi pants. He was a bit of a horror scene to look at. However, his tone had been inviting and warm. The man just smiled, nodded and murmerd a barlye audible "Yes."

Faust grinned and reached out a hand to the mans glass, which was empty. He graipped it around the bottom half and held it up, gathering his chakra into his palm. It wasnt much really, for this jutsu did not cost much chakra at all. In a few moments, a small poof of smoke surrounded his hand, then cleared a moment later. What now sat in his hand was a jet black crow, instead of an average drinking glass. The man just smiled and tipped his hat before going to pay for his bill, chuckling along the way. Faust rolled the paper around the birds right leg, tying it in place with a small amount of ninja wire. He turned in his seat and threw it out into the air. The bird took off and sailed out the door, off to find the Jounin to whom the message was intended. Faust turned back and sat in his seat properly again, waiting for Yoshimaru to come to him. If he did not, Faust would hunt him down, and the proceedings would not be as civil as they would be if he only came to him.

Spoiler:

After leaving Hina, Takeshi, and Hiroki alone back in the tour he was giving then, Yoshimaru and Yoshidoku appeared at the entrance of the Oriental Express. A nice restraunt at that, Yoshimaru knew it very well. Taking a deep breath, sighing, he looked at his son, which was holding onto his father's hand. "Alright... The man we're going to see is quite different. Please dont stare. His name is Faust Arp." Yoshimaru whispered to him, as the young boy nodded his head and had that little innocent child look. Yoshimaru smiled, then looked ahead, entering.

There sat Faust. Yoshimaru began walking towards him, tapping him on the back. He pulled off the big, happy smile he always had and always charmed people. "Good evening. I got your letter not long ago and so well... Here I am." Yoshimaru said as Yoshidoku peeked at the man from behind Yoshimaru. He was a shy one at that. Yoshimaru looked down at his son and chuckled a bit, "I had to bring my son, Yoshidoku, with me because I cant leave him home alone at this hour. Im sorry about that." Yoshimaru said to him with an appologetic tone, hoping Faust didnt mind.

Taking a seat next to the jounin, Yoshidoku sat right next to his dad as well. "So... What is it you needed to talk about?" Yoshimaru asked and focused all his attention to Faust.

Faust felt the presence of Yoshimaru before he saw him. His back was to the door, so he he could only guess, and now for the checking. He glanced over his bare shoulder and confirmed it. His summons had been answered. It seemed he was adept at summoning Konoha nin as he was crows. He chuckled to himself silently at the joke to himself. Then his eye caught sight of something he had neither anticipated nor really cared to have cross his line of sight at this time. It was a young boy who was trailing his guest quite closely and very much resembled the taller man in front of him.

He got his obvious answer a moment later. Yoshimaru approached the bar and the two both took a seat. He explained it was his son, and that he wasnt to be left at home alone at this hour. This presented difficulty. The kid really did not need to be present for this. Granted, Faust was holding on to his doubts that Yoshimaru had in fact done anything illegal and that there was good reason, but all the same, interrogations could get a bit.......intense at times. It couldn't be helped. The kid had to go. Asap. He sighed deeply and leaned into Yoshimaru, speaking directly into his ear, quietly so that no one else, especially the boy, would hear him.

I am afraid the boy needs to relocate. You can create a clone to accompany him to ensure his safety, I could summon an ANBU member even. The choice is yours. I would prefer you take the clone route. These proceedings are not one a young boy should see his father go through.

Faust straightened back up and stretched his back over the back of the chair, cracking it a couple times before sitting in a postured position once more. He reached out and grabbed his glass, bringing it to his lips and throwing his head back, draining the contents all at once. After placing the empty drink back on the counter top, he looked back over at Yoshimaru, awaiting him to respond.

Yoshimaru did admit to himself that he was slightly worried about the subject that Faust was going to bring up to talk about. He thought it'd be about Yoshiko, Hina, and Takeshi, and how he brought them into the village without permission. He would just have to wait, now wouldnt he? Examining Faust, he seemed laid back and serious at the same time. Yoshimaru got that gut feeling, that something bad would happen soon, but he didnt know where it was coming from. The group he left behind, or the conversation with Faust. Trying to keep his cool, Yoshimaru looked as serious as he could with a soft smile, though, as usual.

Suddenly but slowly, Faust leaned close to Yoshimaru, his mouth to Yoshimaru's ear. Softly, he whispered, "I am afraid the boy needs to relocate. You can create a clone to accompany him to ensure his safety, I could summon an ANBU member even. The choice is yours. I would prefer you take the clone route. These proceedings are not one a young boy should see his father go through." The last sentence made a cold, hard shiver run up Yoshimaru's spine and made the hairs stand up on his arms and the back of his neck. His hands started to shake slightly, nodding his head. "Alright..." He said softly, then turned to Yoshidoku, and said in his soft, fatherly voice, "Its required for you to leave.. This meeting is for daddy and Faust only.. Im sorry. I'll have a clone stay with you and escort you back home till daddy is done, okay, Doku-kun?" Smiling to his son appologetically, Yoshidoku nodded and got off his chair.

Making the tiger sign, a clone began to emerge from Yoshimaru's side quickly, a faster moving process than the last one because this one has 25% of his chakra shared, leaving Yoshimaru slightly dizzy because of the loss of chakra in one day. Getting ahold of himself, he snapped out of it and whispered the directions to the clone, as the clone nodded and Yoshido took a hold of the clones hand, trying to make the best of what he had as a father for now, at least. Before his son left, Yoshimaru gave a kiss to his son on the head and smiled brightly, causing Yoshido to smile back.

The two left the room quickly, Yoshimaru letting out a sigh. He turned his head to Faust and ran his fingers through his own hair, as a slight calmer down. "Alright, talk to me." Yoshimaru said and paid all of his attention to Faust.

Faust was glad that Yoshimaru showed no resistance in filling his request. He also noticed the shiver his words had produced along the others spine. He had not truly intended to do so, but he did have that effect on people, and it was probably better that he was producing this effect now. Faust was an intimidating person, he knew. Just his appearance alone. It was obvious that he suffered much pain, his skin was always torn apart, and yet he managed to be as lively and active as anyone else could be. That and he was focused. The pain was not a distraction nor a cop out. It was a burden he gratefully accepted. That and his attitude, deadly sharp and to the point, so full of respect and disdain for select groups of people. He clearly had his ideas which was more then most people had, to stupid and careless to form them selves and stayed as sheep in a flock. He did not like this trait of humans, but he understood it to be natural, so he did not hold it against normal civilians. A shinobi who had that mentality though, would find themselves easy prey for Faust.

His heart strings got tugged when he saw Yoshimaru kiss his son goodbye upon his brow, and the look of slight confusion on the boy's face. He hated to have to do this, things always got more complicated when there was an innocent child involved. He had no choice though. For the sanctity of the village, or more so those who he held close to his heart, he had to do what he had to do, this was his job, and this was what he had signed on for.

Alright, Talk to me.

It was time to get down to business. Faust leaned forward in his chair resting his elbows upon the wood, causing his face to be shielded from view by his hair. He could see the other jounin clearly, but his face would be very difficult to make out to Yoshimaru. This was just one of many techniques he would be using to successfully draw out any information he might need. This was an area he was fairly proficient in, though there were better ones then him. The trick was to start broad, then narrow it down based on the one being interrogated and how they replied and acted.

Not to long ago, you brought the presence of an S classed ninja who was unknown and unscheduled to be in the village at the time. You did not bring him to be registered at the administration office to be kept track of. An outsider of such a dangerous level must have an eye kept upon for the safety of our villagers. We do trust yes, but in our profession, we deal with lives, and that is not something you gamble with. I need to know who this person was, where they came from, and why you did not bring their business in our village known to the Hokage, the council, or similar stature.

Yoshimaru hated seeing his son go home without himself, but he would surely see him soon. Well... He hoped so. Sighing, he turned to see Faust setting himself up so no one would be able to see him talk. His medium, dark hair covered the sides of his face and eyes, causing no one but Yoshimaru to see what hes saying and hear about it. Yoshimaru looked deeply into Faust's eyes as they were cyan coloured, no pupil. The scars on his body were very noticable, but he didnt stare at them as it was rude. 'I just know its about Hina, Takeshi, and Yoshiko... I just know it.' He thought. What else would he be in trouble for?

Not to long ago, you brought the presence of an S classed ninja who was unknown and unscheduled to be in the village at the time. You did not bring him to be registered at the administration office to be kept track of. An outsider of such a dangerous level must have an eye kept upon for the safety of our villagers. We do trust yes, but in our profession, we deal with lives, and that is not something you gamble with. I need to know who this person was, where they came from, and why you did not bring their business in our village known to the Hokage, the council, or similar stature" Faust told Yoshimaru in a serious, stern, and curious voice with his expressions seeming to be intimidating to Yoshimaru. He coughed and cleared his throat.

"I may be known as a great liar... But im going to be honest with you." Yoshimaru started and turned his head to the left and right, cracking his next, sighing in relief. "Her name is Yoshiko Aiko. She is from Kirigakure. I did not want to bring her to the Hokage because knowing she was an outsider, I just wanted to... take her out to eat and show her what it was like to socialise with someone and not be scared." Yoshimaru blushed just slightly at the last sentence. It was true, he did have feelings for this outsider, and he does miss her quite terribly now that shes left Konohagakure. "Yoshiko has a pretty bad past, and never trusted anybody in her life until I came along." He added and smiled alittle, he was being serious with Faust, he was telling the truth, he was practically spilling everything to him. "You see... In spite of everything, I believe that people are really good at heart... She's truely not a bad person. You can never, truely understand someone, but you can get pretty damn close to it if you tried, and showed a little heart." Yoshimaru preeched to Faust. "You can either understand how I feel, or you can go ahead and tell me that it was stupid of me. Your decision." Those were his final words until it was Faust's turn to talk.

Faust heard out Yoshimaru till he had finished. He spilled a lot more then Faust had expected him to, planing on playing the puzzle master and connecting the dots to fill the gaps to create an almost truth from a bout of lies. Instead, he had fessed up to everything. He didnt know if it was from fear of what Faust was capable of, if he was simply unashamed of what he had done and could not find the fault in it. Unfortunately, Faust could sympathize, he himself not always going by protocol. However, they were still shinobi, and despite the fact that Faust himself strayed out side of his jurisdiction all to often, the extent at which Yoshimaru had strayed, was to far.

I see your reasoning. However, by doing so, you put the lives of everyone in this village at risk, namely the defenseless villagers. That is your first and most pressing priority. It must be taken into account that she could have just as easily been lying. And regardless of the past, we make our own decisions, and while tragic though it may be that this person who may be good at heart is on the path she is now, a criminal is a criminal, and our villagers take priority above them by a great deal. Until the day where this world is truly unified, we can not act as you did. To do so puts lives at risk. It it not my place to decide what to do about this, my orders were only to get the information, and I thank you for coming clean about this, it makes it much less of a headache. We will let the Hokage decide where to go from here.

Faust stood up from his chair and turned, taking a few steps forward. He turned and looked over his shoulder, speaking once more.

I will not escort you. You have ten minutes to get to the Hokage's office where I will be waiting.

Faust was giving him another chance, another chance to fail. Faust was testing him on his own grounds. He wasnt allowed to, nor did at the present time, did he want to extract vigilante justice on Yoshimaru. However, if he ran for it, and Faust would know if he left the village, all inhibition and understanding Faust had for the mans situation would go out the window. If he did run for it, Faust would hunt him down, and he would kill him. He hoped it would not come to that. With out another word, he left, making his way to Keidens side, where he would wait, wondering if Yoshimaru would continue to make the correct choices.

OOC: This topic will be continued in the Kage's office. Life will need to make the topic.