AN: I just want to thank everyone who has reviewed and liked this story so far! It really means a lot to me. I want to apologize in advance, I'm still working on how I want to portray Madara. So if things with him seem a bit strange or what not, I'm working on making him perfect, well what I consider perfect xD He's pretty complicated. I hope you all enjoy this! Happy reading! Also, I updated the first chapter, fixed minor errors and mistakes. That is all.
Rating: M for Mild Sexual Themes. Violence. Language.
Disclaimer: I still do not own Naruto (still crying).
Chapter Two: A Test
"Are you sure that you can handle this?"
How many times did she have to hear that question in the last week? How many times did she have to question her resolve and determination? With a resigned sigh, she set down the chart in her hand and looked over at her best friend, Haruno Sakura. Her eyes met emerald ones, they were searching her blue ones, for any kind of doubt. Despite the past, well, being in the past, so to speak, the pink haired Kunoichi was her closest and dearest companion. They had reformed their bond once more, years after the Uchiha traitor left the village. The blonde had declared that she had no right to chase after him, knowing that her friend's bond was stronger. She had easily given up that fight, however, she had promised Asuma that she would not lose in love, which she still kept true to. Recently, the last thing on her mind was falling in love, it would be a waste of her time. With all that was demanding her attention, having a relationship would only cause problems and lead to eventual heart break.
Not that she had anything to worry about either, as Sakura was so busy with hospital work that she completely disregarded any suitors that came. Well, there was that and the fact that she still had residual feelings for said Uchiha traitor. Even though Sasuke had returned to the village, Ino was sure that Sakura was fighting internally with herself. It was not a question of whether to give the man a chance but rather could she live with the fact that he had abandoned Konohagakure, without hesitation. He could do it again, should he find something that he wanted. She knew that Sakura cared for him as a member of Team 7 and then some, but how far did those feelings run? It was a topic that the two women avoided because it only brought up unnecessary emotions and that distracted them from their duties.
One duty that Ino felt like she couldn't escape was the one pertaining to the recent mission she was given. Tsunade had granted her permission to detail her mission to a confidant, which of course was Sakura. She would have chosen Shikamaru but he already knew about the mission prior and Chouji was out of the question. As much as she loved and trusted him, he really wasn't made to be a part of such secrecy. He deserved a less stressful life that lay within the Academy. So the day that she had met her captive, she waited until Sakura was relieved from her hospital shift and they went to her place and spoke about it, hidden away in Ino's bedroom, just in case someone was listening. It may have seemed silly but there were ears everywhere and it was hard to trust who might spill certain information.
After telling Sakura all that she could so far, the rose haired woman stared at her in complete and utter silence. It was hard to believe that he was indeed, alive and hidden away within their village. Ino had learned that during the World War, Hashirama and the other revived Edo-Tensei Hokages had used their remaining chakra to reform Madara's body and sealed him away. By having the Senju's chakra infused within his body, they were able to keep Madara in a comatose state. They had done this while the other Shinobi were trapped within the Infinite Tsukuyomi and Team 7 was dealing with Ootsutsuki Kaguya. Of course, this had been a brief summary of the events that had happened, but that was all Tsunade was willing to give her in her mission scroll. There had to be something else, as well. Ino could sense that the Hokage was keeping something from her but she knew better than to try and get it out of the woman. So, she assumed that she would have to wait until she was further informed, should Tsunade see fit to do so.
"I don't know how many times we've been over this already," Ino said with a gentle sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Of course I can handle it. There's no one else."
"Well, surely Ibiki can-"
Ino slammed her chart against the wall, anger causing her to quiver slightly. Letting out a calming breath through her nose, she glared at the woman before her. "Listen Forehead, they chose me. Ibiki can't do this mission. Only me," she said in a shaking tone.
Sakura was taken aback by the sudden outburst from her friend, biting her lower lip, she looked at the blonde. "Ino...I'm sorry…" she said gently, glancing around to see that there were others staring at them. "I didn't mean to make you upset. You know I'm only worried about you, you have so much on your plate and it wouldn't hurt to take a break once in a while."
"That's rich coming from the girl who practically lives here," she muttered out, wincing at the bitterness in her tone. "I know that you're worried, everyone is but this is my duty. This is something that I have to do…"
There was a hand placed on her shoulder and she looked over at the Medic. "If he bothers you too much, I'll be happy to teach him a lesson or two," Sakura said with a tight smile.
Ino laughed weakly in response and nodded her head. "Don't worry, I've got it all under control." Glancing up at the clock hanging on the wall, she let out a curse. "Shit, I'm late. Could you cover my rounds?" She asked while handing her chart over to the pink haired Kunoichi and turning to run off down the hallway.
"You're kidding, right? I'm swamped already!" Sakura yelled after her.
"Thanks Forehead, I'll pay for dinner next time!" Ino said waving her hand before running around the corner, her ponytail was the last thing that Sakura saw.
Heaving out an irritated sigh, Sakura glanced down at the chart, her eyes narrowing. "Oh you owe me more than dinner, Pig," she seethed before going to finish her rounds, as well as her fickle blonde companion's rounds as well.
"Your visit is overdue."
A frown touched her lips as she entered the dim room, red eyes burning through the darkness. "Oh is it? How did you know? I could have been gone for a few hours for all you know."
He scoffed, those haunting eyes glancing away from her and he shook his head. "I know that you have been gone for well over three days now." His foot nudged the trays at the foot of his bed. "At least five other Shinobi have stopped by before you have," he muttered.
She glanced at the empty trays and smiled slightly. "I see that you have an appetite now, that's good progress." Moving over towards him, she picked up the trays before a hand came crashing around her neck. The trays crumpled to the floor, the clattering sound echoed in the room. His crimson hues spun with rage before he realized something was off. She wasn't fighting him, merely allowing him to squeeze her esophagus to the point of permanently damaging it. With a growl of irritation, he released the Genjutsu, glaring at the smirking woman who walked through the door.
"That's the second time now," she purred out in mirth. "Are you planning on continuing to feed my ego? Or are your senses really that dull now?"
Smoldering in silent rage, he chose not to respond to her. This child thought that he was weak and old but he knew better than to respond. It was all part of their game. "I see that you've recovered some strength and your eating regularly now, that's a good sign."
"Is it? I know of your plan, you will wait until I am in good health before you probe my mind for useless information," he spat out, already not liking where today was heading. "Then what will do once you are finished? Oh yes, you say you will destroy my mind, foolish girl."
"I'm impressed, you've got me all figured out," she quipped nearing him, this time she knew he wouldn't try to attack her again. Picking up the trays on the floor, she placed them on the nightstand. "You must be proud of yourself."
"Quit speaking like I am some quibbling baby," he hissed out.
"But it seems to be ruffling your feathers," she said with a grin. "I do enjoy ruffling feathers."
"Girl, this is a game that you do not want to play," he growled out, she could feel the threat that was in his underlying tone. He grinned slightly, leaning against the wall. "Then again, you are the one who prompted this match."
"And you're the one who decided to join in on the fun, didn't you," she asked, her hands emitting a green glow moving over his body.
He allowed her to do her work, not minding the soothing feeling to her chakra. As he hands moved lower, the corner of his mouth quirked in a smirk. "I assure you that everything is in proper order. Unless, you would like to see firsthand."
Immediately she pulled her hand away, a look of disgust crossing her features. She opened her mouth to retort to his lewd comment but his booming laughter cut her short. She had fallen for a trick and a slight hue of embarrassment touched her cheeks. She remembered that she needed to be more careful around him. He could use anything for some sort of leverage against her. She closed her mouth, regaining her composure before she pulled a chair across the room, sitting in front of him.
"I see," he murmured. "Am I ready for your inquiry?" He couldn't help the grin that touched his lips.
"Is there anything you want to tell me before I go in," she asked, crossing her legs and raising a brow.
"Why should I say anything? You will find out on your own accord." He reclined against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest. "Besides, this is a game where you will have to work for your goals."
The slight curl of the corners of her lip made her look predatory and she nodded her head in response. "I was only trying to make this easier for you but since you would like to go down a different path, that's fine by me." Placing the clipboard on her lap, she formed the familiar signs of her family's jutsu. Lifting up the sign, she stared into the amused eyes of Madara. With a heavy breath, she felt the tingling of her soul leaving her body before there was nothing.
It was always like this, a feeling of nothingness. It was always a risk to use this technique without the proper precautions. It was either she found her target or her soul would come back to her. It seemed that Madara made no effort to avoid her incoming invasion, she assumed that he was entertained so far. This technique was different than controlling another person's body to do her own bidding. Instead, this allowed her to dive into a deeper level of a person's subconscious, allowing her to find hidden secrets. She normally didn't use this during interrogations, preferring the easier technique of scanning the mind by touching the crown of someone's head. However, this was a different type of mission and this technique would allow her to feel the emotions of her target and sense any motives.
She felt the connection of her soul reaching its destination, opening her eyes she knew that she shouldn't be surprised by the scene before her but she was. There were bodies littered on the ground, the sky was dim and rumbling with the threat of rain falling. She stared at the scene, trying to figure out her bearings. She turned, glancing around her until her eyes landed on a lone figure. The red armor stuck out like a sore thumb amongst the dull colors. She slowly moved towards the figure, careful not to step on any of the corpses. Although she was in a mind, it was all an illusion, she still couldn't be reckless. It could damage the holder's mind and that was something that she wanted to avoid.
Once standing a few feet away from the familiar figure, she looked around once more. "What is this," she asked gently.
"A graveyard."
That was the only reply that she got and she looked around, carefully inspecting the scene. Crunching down, she looked at the blank faces of the deceased. Some of them didn't even have features, they were faceless. It was eerie to see something like this, never had she come across such a morbid mind. Looking at the apparel, she noted that most of the bodies had the Uchiha insignia on their armor. "They are all Uchiha," she questioned.
"Yes."
Pressing her lips together in a thin lip before she nodded, knowing that if she wanted to advance further into his mind, she needed to play her cards properly. "Did you know them?"
"I knew most of them," he replied, his head looking down at the bodies littering the ground. She could feel despair roll through the air.
"That's why some of them are faceless, right?"
He hummed in response, letting her assume that she was correct. Brushing back the bangs that fell in her eyes, she studied the figure before him. "Why are they here?" She inquired slowly standing up.
There was anger now and she knew that she had asked the wrong question. She could feel a tightness in her chest. "They did this to your family," she stated rather than question. The tightness was leaving her and she let out a breath of relief. "You keep them here to remind you what they have done, don't you?"
"It is what keeps my resolve strong." His armor made a noise that alerted her that he was moving. She was surprised that he looked directly at her, an impassive look on his face.
There were many emotions in the air, sizzling to life. A droplet of water landed on her cheek, slowly sliding down. Soon, more water fell from the sky, dampening the mood even further. Here, the environment was just an extension of the mind and emotions. The battlefield and bodies represented his despair. The chilling rain represented the tears that he had shed or the ones that he would not allow himself to. It was cold here, the rain felt real to her, causing her to shiver involuntarily as it weighed her down. There was no other sound, aside from their breathing and the downpour around them. He was exposing his emotions to her easily here, which was a sign of progress. Now, she needed to move further.
"Do you come here often," she questioned hesitantly.
"As often as I must," he said in a bitter tone, the rain stung her skin in response.
"You say it's to keep your resolve strong." She paused briefly, knowing that she could either delve further or it would end here. "What is your resolve." Somehow she knew his answer but she needed the confirmation.
"Tell me, do you know who did this to me?"
She was stuck. She couldn't move from her spot, realizing that he was keeping her there. She only could have so much power within the mind, it was hard to make it manipulate to her will rather than the person she was invading. It seemed as if Madara understood that as well. He wanted an answer from her, one that she wasn't sure she could give. "Tell me, do you know what they have done to me," he growled out. The rain fell harder, a cackle in the sky boomed with his anger.
She was frozen as he came closer to her, his strong hand slid over her throat. Her arms reflexively wrapped around his wrist, trying to pull it off. Her grip was weak as she fought against his will, the rain caused her hands to hardly find strength. He had power here. That wasn't something that she had planned. She needed to get back on the right path. The hand around her neck was strong, slowly cutting off her oxygen. "P-Please," she gasped out at the sudden force.
"You plead but do you think that they cared when my kinsmen were brutally slaughtered," he spat out in bitterness. His crimson eyes narrowed in anger and despair. "No, they cared not for those that they killed. Taking lives of so many innocent."
She struggled to breath, feeling her body falling back and a weigh crashing on top of her. She could feel the corpses beneath her, their blood seeping into her clothes and staining her skin. Her hands clutched at the wrists around her neck, trying to lessen the pressure. She stared up with wide eyes at Madara, a crazed look in his eyes. "Y-Your brother," she wheezed out.
The force on her neck tightened and she squirmed beneath him. "Oh my brother, you say," he whispered venomously. "Tell me, what do you know that likens to the death of my brother." His face was taut with anger, she could see the pain etched into his features.
She rolled her eyes to the back of her head at the lack of oxygen. Wheezing and gasping for any sort of oxygen, she grit her teeth together. "My…..my…."
"Speak up girl."
"Father," she bit out. "You took him from me." She glared up at him, tears of pain in her eyes. Whether it be from the lack of oxygen or the remembrance of her father, she wasn't sure. His eyes narrowed and he leaned closer to her, his breath ghosted across her cheek.
"An eye for an eye, then," he hissed out.
Coming back into her body was always uncomfortable but this time it was excruciatingly painful. A loud, ragged gasp left her as her soul had been forcefully kicked out of Madara's mind. Her hand clutched her chest as she tried to breathe normally. A warm, wet sensation trailed from her nose and she wiped at it with the back of her hand. Crimson was smeared across it and she looked up at disbelief at the smirking Uchiha.
"Did you find what you were looking for, child?"
In a state of disorientation, she stood up, her hand reaching out to catch herself on the chair. That had not gone as she had hoped, she should have been more cautious and careful with her questions. Then again, she was sure the result would have been the same. She could hear him sigh in disgust. She could feel his eyes watching her every move. "Pathetic," he murmured. "And you call yourself a Yamanaka."
She stiffened at the insult, glancing over at him. Easily he could read the emotions that swam in her eyes. He expected her to lash out at him but she looked away, biting her lower lip. Straightening herself, it seemed that she was trying to regain her composure. "This plan you have concocted is weak, you stand no chance against me."
When he didn't get a response again, he wondered if he had already broken her spirit. A grin appeared on his face. It was a short lived game but it had been somewhat entertaining. At least he had had something to pass his time for a few days or so. It was a shame that he could not find anyone to keep him on his toes. If only someone like Hashirama were still around then things would heighten in intensity. Was this to be his life? Would he whittle away here out of sheer boredom? They should have killed him if that was the case, he wasn't sure if he could survive that kind of eternity.
The shuffle of the Kunoichi before him caught his attention and he was mildly surprised that she was moving towards him. Dried blood had been smeared across her upper lip and she looked a sickly pale but that seemed not to bother her. There was this look in those watery eyes of hers, it was one that expressed anger and perhaps a bit of insanity. Her long fingers reached out touching his chin, jerking his head forward. A grin came to her face, it was wicked and full of malicious intent. Those crazed eyes gazed down at him, he could see the storm swimming within their depths. "You say I'm weak," she said in a hoarse whisper. "But that is nothing new to me, I've come to terms with my demons."
Her other hand stroked his hair gently and he was put off by the touch. A frown coming to his face as he struggled to move from her but he was not as strong as he had been in his mind. She knew that much and used that to her advantage, like he had when she was invading his thoughts. "Tell me, are you as weak as I am? How would like if I tortured you," she purred out, her nails digging into his scalp and he grit his teeth slightly.
"You are unable, wench," he seethed out.
"Oh," she asked with a raise of her slender eyebrow. "You don't understand what I am capable of."
"I know enough to understand that you stand no chance against me. No one in this God forsaken place does."
"I know all about you, Madara," she breathed out. He could feel her chakra seep into his skull, drawing forth memories of the past. "I know everything," she murmured and he began to feel threatened by her presence.
A spark lit her eyes and she grinned. "Where should I begin?" She had asked aloud but she was not seeking a response. "Which memory should I take from you?"
It was as if a wave of cold water had crashed over him. There was a suffocating feeling welling up in his chest. It was as if he could feel her fingers reaching into his mind flipping through the pages if his mind until he latched onto a particular memory. "It's a shame that you have so few fond memories but that means they are all the more precious to you, right?"
He inhaled sharply as the memory she found was during the time that he had felt a friendship form between him and Hashirama. He glared up at the blonde, disliking the way she was looking at him. It would be a relief if she rid him of those days, that way he would never have to think of the Senju again. He waited patiently for her to destroy the memory but she began to filter through his mind once more.
"This one seems like a good choice," she murmured.
His eyes widened briefly and a curse left his lips. He moved to attack her but she made no move to withdraw. A pain crept up on him, a fire like sensation flaring at his temples. He reached out to grab her throat, ready to squeeze the life out of her. He would not allow her to erase that from his life.
Memories were a tricky thing to handle but he had mastered toying with them at a young age. When she placed her hand on her captive's head, her soul could reach in and grab a memory. It was like a small bubble in the palm of her hand. She was slowly gripping her fingers into the memory, adding pressure slowly. It was to be slow and painful but that's what she wanted, especially for him. Clenching her hand tighter around the memory, she could feel him stop his movement.
"Go ahead," she muttered. "I can destroy it before your attempt to disable me."
"You do not have the gall, girl," he muttered in a hush tone.
"You base your assumptions off of reading a person's chakra. You know what I am capable of and yet you don't know anything about me," she said harshly. "I am a proud Yamanaka and I am Head of Torture and Intelligence." She squeeze the memory in her head, long enough for him the flinch in pain. She released her grip, pulling her soul and hand from his head. "It would be wise not to test me any further," she quipped, shifting her feet back to look down at him triumphantly.
Moving away from him, she turned to walk away while tossing her ponytail over her shoulder. "Today, we progressed further than I expected. I'll be back to see you soon, Madara."
He glared at the vile woman, despising the way she purred out his name. Perhaps he was wrong, maybe there was someone who was worth the entertainment. To think that she would goes so far to use such measures. He frowned, knowing that there were more tricks up her sleeve.
Balled up hands slammed into the wall just a few feet away from the door to Madara's holding cell. She let out a ragged breath, trying to find a place of peace within her mind. She had nearly lost her perfectly constructed composure. She had almost allowed him to crawl beneath her skin, dared him to try to break the intricately woven mask that she wore. The one that she had spent many years knitting together, keeping her true nature laying just below the surface. She allowed her hands to fall to her sides and she took in a deep breath as she imagined the cracking masks rebuilding and sealing tightly around her face.
She had to remember that he was playing a game with her. Testing her whenever the chance arose. She had to be on guard at all times, she needed more practice and training. Wiping away the perspiration that dotted her forehead and licking her dry lips, so moved away from the cell. Next time, she would be more prepared, he wouldn't find her so easily. She was Head of Torture and Intelligence. She had seen the minds of thousands of criminals ranging from petty theft to genocide. There was no way one Shinobi could break her down. She was a nightmare lurking in the shadows in his mind. She was what inspired fear in the prisoners. He would be sure to remember that, wouldn't he?
A grin came to her face as she repeated this self-taught mantra to herself silently. It was the little things like this that kept her somewhat grounded in reality. The past three years had been difficult on her own, no one had told her how to cope with the new changes in her life. So, she had found a way on her own and it seemed to work most of the time. Then there were moments like this, when she felt that she would self-destruct at any moment. She wondered if talking to someone would help but then that would mean opening up once more. She wondered if she could deal with such a large leap.
Ino touched her head, a swelling pain throbbed slightly and she let out a curse. She really almost lost control. She had used too much chakra trying to deal with Madara and it had never crossed her mind that she would be so easily infuriated with him. Letting out a sigh, she would have to go see Sakura later and then Tsunade. Her weekly report was due and she groaned thinking about writing it. Hopefully, Tsunade would see that there was reason to keep him around any longer.
AN: And that's all she wrote! I made up (obviously) how they managed to capture and keep Madara alive, I may come back and edit it a bit, so I'll let you all know in the next update! I hope you don't mind the lack for luster ending but like I said I'm terrible at those. Haha! I tried to make this...interesting and I hope you thought so too. Ino is strange, isn't she? Well, we'll discover more about her in the next chapter! Is Madara an ass yet? Yes? Good, haha! I hope you all enjoyed the second installment of Within the Bush Clover! Feedback is appreciated! Until next time and thanks for reading! - Tinyraver