"Who you talking about?" Choji says.
The three, no, four of them weren't exactly hiding amongst the huge mounds of supplies, but Choji insisted to be close, for Ino's sake. Shikamaru couldn't deny that even if the room was the closest to the interrogation area, their lingering there would make sense. They were all to be heading out to the front lines in a few scant hours.
"Who ya think?"
Shika makes a noncommittal noise and tries not to think of the bother that Ino must be facing. It seems like only moments had passed before she was determined to be largely unharmed. Whatever had gone wrong with her mind-transfer jutsu was not forgotten; He had not forgotten it. However, the Hokage insisted on the bother that she be interrogated by Ibiki himself instead conducting more medical tests to be sure she was indeed alright.
Instead, the Hokage turned her attention away to the drag of the other in the room. Shika could easily recall the flopped over form on the other bed in the room, and the way Sakura hands fluttered through the usual medical tests with an alarmed air to her movements. Every few seconds, the entire limp body would twitch, but Shika could not find he cared all that much about it. He was too relieved that Ino was alright to be concerned over that Ed's welfare all that much.
"He smells funny." Kiba insists.
"Gear oil." Choji says with a shrug. Shikamaru raises an eyebrow towards his best friend. He hadn't noticed anything particularly smelly about the false leg of Ino's foe, even if he had known Ed longer than any of leaf had.
"No. I got that. It's him that's… gahrrrr. You won't get it."
"How you think Ino's holding up?" Choji says as he slides his eyes back for a moment, watching Kiba's exaggerated antics as the nin pinches his nose between his fingers and scowls.
"What a drag." Shikamaru says, and leans back onto his own sack of roots. He swallows before he looks up to the rafters, and thinks clouds would be much better to look at than those dust choked cobwebs.
Oooo
Ino sits in the low wooden chair, finding it difficult to find a comfortable way to place her legs. She glances up at the scarred face of the specialist jonin looming above her. As scary as he looked back during the chunin exams, she finds she can't be as easily frightened by him now.
The worst that she could have imagined has happened already. Her village is destroyed. And her dad? He dad may be dead on the operating floor for all she knows. She is useless.
They wouldn't even let her help.
"And what else can you recall, Chunin Yamanaka?"
"I've told you all that I can think of.. I" Ino begins, but stops when she sees the jonin glaring down at her. She glares weakly back, feeling the ache of a heavy weight wrenching her heart.
So. Useless.
"I am well aware of how your technique works. You seize control of the body's motor cortex, and can speak with the host body if you so choose. Ibiki takes a breath. "He said something to you . Didn't he?"
Ino looks blankly at the large man, and blinks her eyes a few times before muttering.
"I don't.. I.." Ino says. "He said a lot of things. But I only understood a phrase as I was shoved out."
"You say he shoved you out?"
"Yes. That's right. I could feel my chakra, but I couldn't reach. "
"Come now. I want to know what makes this Ed tick. Tell me."
Ino swallows.
"Do no get wrong idea, no do this for you." She repeats the phrase a few times for the man, and she wonders if he can hear right with those burns he had suffered.
Ibiki moves his head in a semblance of a single nod, and reaches over to place a hammy hand on her shoulder.
"Very good. Now. Chunin Yamanaka. Because of your rash actions there are certain. Consequences... that you must be subject to. ." Ibiki says evenly, and shifts his weight as a door creaks open on the far side of the room. He looks over, and so, she does as well.
She sees a pair of wooden crutches first, and follows the uneven line up to the crook of the arm. A disheveled mop of long blond hair drapes upon two solid arms, and the face the locks frame causes the great weight clenching her heart to loosen. She takes in a great breath as she presses her hands to her mouth.
"Dad!" She says with a grin. "You're…!"
"I'm fine." Inoichi replies with a thin grin of his own. She eyes the thick bandage wrapped about his head as he approaches. Ibiki steps back from her when Inoichi reaches the second chair, and she bolts forward to wrap her dad in a tight desperate hug. He pats his hands comfortably on her shoulders.
She loses track of time in the embrace, but eventually convinces herself that her dad is a solid person and will not vanish. She raises her head and regards the bandage.
"What..can you tell me.."
"Oh.. this?" Inoichi presses his fingers to the bandage. "They don't know yet. Chakra related I guess. Just means I'll have to rest more often. Take it easy."
"Oh..? But.." she hugs him again, not entirely sure he won't disappear anymore. She smiles as the music of his laughter fills her ears.
" Really. I'm ok." He takes hold of her shoulders and pulls her to his side. He looks down at her as says in serious voice. "I heard what you did for me."
"Hmm."
"That was reckless." He continues. "I was injured by him you know, and you could have..I could have lost you ."
"But dad I..!"
"Shhh. The will of fire does not allow for the next generation to die for the previous. And, now. I have to ask for your forgiveness."
She nods, and closes her eyes as she feels his hand lowering onto her forehead. A heartbeat later, she feels his feather light touches throughout her memories.
She faintly hears a boy's voice. It is tinny, like it is being played over a radio, asking,
"Are you really going to abandon them, brother?"
ooooo
"…He can and will devour souls. He is something like a Shinigami, but made flesh. "
"So kill him."
"No. That would be unwise. Don't you see? They feared a rampage of the likes the tailed beasts are only capable of. Or perhaps worse. "
"There's a worse than that?"
"care to take the risk? Killing him would most likely free the thing within him."
"That's why they sealed his chakra."
"I suppose so."
"Thoughtful of them, Slavers. Or the Akatsuki. Thinking of our welfare and all before they go and start a war."
"We believe it's someone from Orichimaru's camp, actually. Someone who is quite familiar with his experiments with seals. Perhaps even Kabuto Yukushi."
"We can't be absolutely certain until we locate him."
"I can see sealing the boy. But why keep him. Enslave him? I mean, without chakra, he's practically useless, right? "
"We have found no bloodline limits that anyone is aware of. But he does have a special ability."
"Ah yes. Other than that fine combination of golden hair and golden eyes."
"There are plenty of people who have golden hair and golden eyes, you old fart."
"Both at the same time? I seem to recall an old bedtime story that goes along with that. The last time someone showed up with those features, an entire continent vanished in one night! "
"I think you're greatly simplifying the entire story there old man."
"So? If that outlander in the tale really were a Shinigami in disguise, I can see that happening! We have enough problems with Madara. I say seal him up in a scroll, and we'll be just fine."
"He's a …."
"That is a fool move: Listen. They left behind him, in that condition, and did not bother to dispose of him."
"They were sloppy you mean."
"No. I mean they have something from him that is very valuable, and will likely be used in this War."
"What? What could they possibly have taken…?"
"All the knowledge of the devoured."
"You mean he's…by the Sage himself.."
"He's a living library…?"
"I am no expert, but yes. That seems to fit. Both Orichimaru and Kabuto are well known for their obsession with research. With this Ed, there's an ease to it. Just ask the right question. No need for scrolls or scholars. Rare scrolls thefts have dropped to nill since the invasion."
"You don't exactly have anything to raid anymore, Leaf. "
"Oh. Shut it."
"If he is truly a Shinigami, then I think you all will agree to the course of action I am proposing."
"He is not a Shinigami. He is ..more like us jinchuriki. He holds within him something terrible, but he is not it. I suggest you all keep that in mind in your considerations."
"Hold on. That should mean…If he has the knowledge of our language, then why the terrible.. Why can't he understand us, nor communicate with us very well."
"I think Gaara's correct. He's very like the jinchuriki. It's like they are with their bijuu's chakra in a way, before they have reached mastery over the bijuu. I have observed him when the seals were active. They put him into an altered state of mind, near sleep but awake enough to see his surroundings. He is not his usual self."
"I would like to have words with him. Determine this for myself."
"All of us would."
"Unfortunately he is indisposed at this time."
"Indisposed?"
"A recent ordeal he endured of which I will not disclose without his informed consent."
"He is weak, you mean, and an unfit container for something as dangerous as this..this Shinigami. "
"Perhaps. In the meantime, listen to my suggestions if you wish to keep your mind justu casters safe: Do not, under any circumstance, enter his mind."
oooo
A/N- will try to post something more before Halloween, but no promises. Nanowritmo is calling, and begins next week!!! Gahhh!! I must be insane!!!
Sent via a stray supercharged nano particle of unobtainium....
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