tAseh Elpm Eple? I wonder if that's code for something?
Shrugging it off Chouji went to find a Barbeque. Eating would surely help him figure this out.
----------
"You called Tsunade-Sama?"
Tsunade looked up from the stacks of paperwork she had been going through. In reality there wasn't a whole lot of work on her desk. She had found however that if she placed huge stacks of blank parchment beneath the little bit of work she really did have to look. Other people took care of all of the menial stuff they could to try to 'relieve the burden'. It was one of her more ingenious plans if she did say so herself.
"Ah! Inoshi! Excellent to see you. I find myself in a bit of a quandary you see."
Inoshi silently quirked an eyebrow, and Tsunade watched carefully as she continued, judging his reaction.
"It involves Uzumaki Naruto."
Inoshi's expression remained neutral
"What seems to be the issue?"
Tsunade smiled slightly to herself
"I believe that he is having trouble coping with the recent mission failure. Something occurred and he won't share what. When we arrived there was the chakra residue of the 'Chidori' attack, but due to his rather phenomenal rate of healing we don't know if he was hit with it or not. All we know was that he had to tap into 'its' power to fight the Uchiha, and that something occurred that pulled enough power to lay him up for a week with severe chakra depletion."
Inoshi shrugged
"So? Happens to a lot of nins."
Tsunade pinched the bridge of her nose before replying.
"Inoshi, he's trained to unconsciousness several times. The longest it's ever taken him to recover is a single night. From this we can infer that whatever happened, it was bad. After awakening we have observed some changes in his behavioral patterns, some obvious, many subtle. As such I thought it best to call in the expert."
Inoshi nodded slowly, running though the facts he had been supplied with.
"Well, without seeing the boy I'd say it's Post-traumatic shock. Simple hypnotherapy is usually enough to deal with that, but with his little tenant I'm leery about attempting to suppress his consciousness."
Tsunade nodded genially.
"Yes, we had assumed as much ourselves. Unfortunately that leaves only two options, and I figured I'd better call in the expert if we try it the easier way."
----------
Ino sighed again as she put another spoonful of Ice-cream in her mouth as she strolled down the streets
"It was quite nice of you boys to treat me like this."
From behind her the two towers of clothing grunted slightly as though in agreement. Ino however took this as a positive sign and continued talking
"I don't get out shopping nearly as much as I used to and it's been a very pleasant day, but…"
Shikamaru and Neji shared a look from behind the piles of goods she had them carrying for her. Every time she had said that it had cost them, and both boys were now nearly out of money. True Neji could tap into the Hyuuga family funds at any number of stores, but the lecture he'd get would be phenomenal. Already he was wondering how to explain where the paycheck from the last two week's missions went. Shikamaru, though making more as a chuunin, was already in a similar position. Both winced wondering what it would be this time. It had started at the movies, where she apparently didn't hear them trying to protest, then the shopping district were she walked though shops piling things on either boy and then walked out, leaving them to pay the tab, to the ice-cream parlor where she insisted on both giving her advice on what Ice-cream to pick before ignoring them and choosing something completely different. All this had taken place over the course of nearly a full day, and somewhere along the way the two boys had forgotten their animosity and had begun pitying each other. Both braced themselves as though they were about to be struck.
"…but I'm afraid that as sweet as the two of you are, neither of you is quite right for me. It's not you! Really it's not! It's me; I'm just not ready to settle down yet. We can still be friends though."
Both boys stared at her from around their piles of clothing shocked at what she had just said. Then they simultaneously dropped the clothes they were carrying and took off in opposite directions. Ino shook her head sadly as she felt a presence come up behind her.
"Ino? Hunny? Who was that?"
"A couple of suitors mom, I'm afraid that I broke their hearts though. I'm just not ready for a relationship yet."
Yamanaka Nioko nodded sympathetically.
"It's alright dear, these things happen. Boys get so attached though; sometimes you just have to let them go."
Ino nodded sagely and picked up one of the dropped piles.
"I know mom. You taught me well."
With a sigh Nioko grabbed the other pile of her daughter's new clothing and walked inside muttering about her poor brave daughter.
----------
Naruto frowned softly as the door to his room opened again. He had spent most of the day in silent meditation as he tried to come to terms with his conflicting memories. The oddest things seemed to spark them too, he'd see the curtains shifting and think of his apartment, and suddenly he'd be remembering them shifting the same way on his new house, or hear the sound of birdsong and think of training in the woods only to be assaulted a moment later by memories of a pet he had when he was nine. This was rather annoying to him, he knew for a fact that he had never owned a house, nor had he ever had a pet, and yet he remembered both quite distinctly. Even watching Shizune walking out the door had sparked odd memories of a Green eyed woman with the same hair and a similar figure walking though a door into a rather fancy restaurant. A restaurant that Uzumaki Naruto could never have afforded. Thankfully however no new memories were forthcoming as Tsunade walked in trailed by a man that Naruto didn't know.
"Naruto? This is Yamanaka Inoshi; he's here for your psychological evaluation."
Naruto frowned softly.
"I really don't think that this is necessary Nee-Chan, I'm fine."
Tsunade frowned slightly, and Inoshi got a rather thoughtful look on his face. Naruto was known for his disrespect of authority as well as his rather singular nickname for the Hokage.
"Naruto, I don't like doing this, but as the Hokage I am ordering you to cooperate with Inoshi."
Naruto's frown deepened before inclining his head slightly and stiffly replying.
"As you wish Tsunade."
Tsunade actually winced slightly at his cold tone and the lack of any nickname.
At least he wasn't formal. Jirayia told me he's only formal when he's extraordinarily pissed off.
Nodding Tsunade turned to Inoshi.
"Take good care of him."
Reading between the lines, Inoshi quite clearly caught the unspoken 'Or else' hidden in her words, and shivered slightly in spite of his resolve not to. Inclining his head Inoshi waited until he heard the door closed before turning back to Naruto with a thoughtful expression on his face.
----------
Sighing Hinata tried again to re-gain her focus as she meditated in the family garden. For the last couple of weeks this task had become more and more difficult as her thoughts were pulled in more and more directions.
The council is demanding another fight between Hanabi and I, and I know that Father is the only one keeping it from happening. I can't understand why my eyes don't seem to work right!
Hinata's deepest secret, one that she had kept hidden since she was only a small child was the fact that her eyes didn't see quite what her family's eyes did. It had been her mother who first discovered this, and she had told Hinata to tell no-one but her future husband, it had been her mother's last request as she lay exhausted from fighting the disease that would eventually claim her life. At the time Hinata had agreed, how could she not? But now, now it was vexing.
If I were to just tell father that I can't see the tenketsu I'm sure he could help me, or at least keep the council off my back while we figure out what to do.
It had only been by accident that Hinata had learned her eyes were different. In her earliest training sessions with her family she had been listening to instruction on how to use the Juuken when the instructor had spoken about the shimmering points in the chakra system being Tenketsu. The same day she had told her mother about not being able to see them, and had mentioned that the instructor hadn't spoken of seeing Aura's at all. Her mother's eyes had widened quite a bit before she had told Hinata that she would look into it, and that it should be their secret for now. Only a week later her father had announced that his wife was two months pregnant and less than eight months later her mother was dead. In the mean time Hinata had been pouring over scrolls and parchments detailing her family's knowledge of the human body, trying desperately to memorize the positions of tenketsu within the chakra pathways.
Why must I be the different one! All I want is for father to be happy. What did I do to deserve this?!?
Angrily Hinata slammed her hand into the base of the tree next to her, leaving an imprint. She scowled at the pain for a moment before sighing and pulling the slivers out of her hand and smoothing the aura back out with her chakra. Instantly her hand healed itself. Hinata spared a brief glance at the tree before shaking her head and smoothing its aura back out as well, removing the imprint of her fist as it healed. A slight warmth washed over her, and she knew without activating her eyes that her chakra had changed color slightly as the rate she recovered it increased dramatically. That was one of the few things she enjoyed about being different. Her chakra was slightly above average, and it regenerated much quicker. That and the fact that she could take a great deal more punishment without lasting injury, as proven by Neji's attack in the chuunin exam.
"Hinata-sama! Hinata-sama!"
Hiding her slight frown behind a small smile Hinata turned to the branch member that had come running up.
"Yes Kii?"
"Hinata-Sama, Your father would like to speak to you as soon as possible!"
Hinata sighed to herself as she thanked the small boy and watched him run off. She knew that her father wouldn't say a thing about her tardiness even if she showed up hours later, but she did respect him, and she empathized with the position he found himself in.
Having to choose between your children…
Hinata shivered. She knew that eventually it would be either her or Hanabi.
How distasteful.
Shaking her head Hinata stood up and went to find her father. He may not mind her taking her time, but she felt she owed him at least that much for how long he had managed to delay the inevitable.
Somehow I'll find a way out of this.
----------
There was no sound, no movement. Not so much as a breath of air stirred for a few moments after the door closed, Inoshi and Naruto were both completely immobile as they sized each other up. The impasse however was broken up when Inoshi inclined his head slightly, his eyes never leaving Naruto's face and murmured
"Arashi-sama"
Naruto's eyes widened fractionally, and if Inoshi hadn't been looking for the reaction he would have missed it altogether. Naruto quickly recovered however and replied.
"I'm sorry but you must be mistaking me for someone else. I'm K… Uzumaki Naruto."
Inoshi allowed a momentary pause to show that he didn't really believe the statement before replying.
"Of course. My apologies Naruto-san."
Naruto's eyes narrowed fractionally this time before inclining his head in return and responding.
"What do we do now Inoshi-san?"
Inoshi's expression turned thoughtful and he crossed the room to sit in a chair beside the bed.
"Well… Naruto. Normally I would ask you if you were averse to my entering your mind to scan for fractures and signs of trauma, Damage, Inconsistency, Paranoia, or any of another dozen or two mental issues…"
He trailed off and Naruto couldn't help but commenting.
"I seem to hear a 'but' in there."
Inoshi's look became calculating again.
"Indeed. First I need to know how much you've been taught of the events that occurred the year before your… birth."
Naruto tilted his head to one side slightly before responding.
"Alright Inoshi, lets drop the dance. I know about Kyuubi and you are released from Ojiji's law within the confines of doctor-patient confidentiality. Tell me what you know, and what you suspect."
Inoshi leaned back in the chair, his eyes calculating again. After a moment's pause he spoke.
"I know your birthday. I know how you've grown up. And I know you aren't the Kyuubi…"
Naruto sighed and leaned back against the bed's headboard. Inoshi however wasn't finished.
"I also know that there is no such person as Uzumaki Naruto."
For a moment there was dead silence in the room, and then Naruto started laughing, a wide grin on his face.
"You're funny Inoshi-san! No such person as Uzumaki Naruto, that's a laugh and a half Hahahah."
Inoshi's face however darkened more with each passing second until suddenly he stood up abruptly, his face a stormy mask of emotions.
"DO YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY? DO YOU THINK THIS TO BE SOME KIND OF JOKE PERHAPS?"
Naruto's laughter died instantly, the 'Moron' mask crumbling into a fierce scowl as Inoshi continued in a quieter voice, a voice however that was thick with suppressed emotions.
"Kazama Arashi was one of my best friends, and I'll be DAMNED before I let you take his legacy and ruin it by acting like a moron. He was a Great Man, and more importantly he was my brother in Everything but blood. Now I ask you Who Are You."
Naruto studied his face for a moment, collecting his thought before he answered softly.
"I don't know."
Inoshi's face darkened again, but before he could say anything Naruto held up a hand stopping him.
"If you had asked me before the Valley I would have laughed in your face at the thought of being anyone other than Uzumaki Naruto, but now I find myself less sure. I seem to have a double set of memories that have been surfacing slowly since the fight. I remember the orphanage with crystal clarity, but I also have memories of a man with black hair and blue eyes who I called 'Father'. I remember living alone in my apartment at age five, but I also remember bothering a blonde woman who was making me supper. I called her 'Mother'. I remember days spent training and playing pranks on 'Hebi-san', yet my current memories tell me his name is Orochimaru and he's a missing nin. In short, I just don't know."
Inoshi had settled down again, the mental turmoil of speaking to the child whose mannerisms mirrored Arashi's so closely finally beginning to settle. Carefully Inoshi suppressed the memories of his vanished friend again.
"I see. I'm sorry that I yelled at you Naruto-san, but I could sense that you weren't telling me the entire truth and I had to shake you up a little."
Both of them knew this statement to be blatantly false, but Inoshi didn't realize that Naruto had seen through him so easily. Naruto inclined his head again.
"So now what?"
Inoshi stroked his chin before replying.
"Well, I suppose we should poke around in that head of yours and see if we can find the problem. With your permission I'll induce a light hypnosis, and then if all seems fine I will proceed to enter your mind."
Naruto studied the man carefully before nodding his consent.
"Alright Inoshi-San. Let's do it."
----------
From the shadows a pair of eyes watched as the two humans fell into a trance, after a moment both slumped as though asleep. Moving swiftly the shadow closed in on the pair, quickly reaching them it tugged up the shirt of the blonde and then froze at the sight of the damaged seal.
Hmmm. This… could be troublesome. I think it's time to speak with grandfather. This should not have been possible.
With a swift twirling motion the shadow shrank in on itself, and then suddenly vanished leaving behind nothing but the sound of a gentle breeze blowing from the window.
----------
"You called me father?"
Haishi sighed slightly as he looked up from the scroll he had been perusing.
I really wish you had decided to break your norm and take your time in coming here.
"Yes Hinata. Please," He gestured to the cushion across from him "have a seat."
"I would prefer to stand father."
Haishi sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose, trying to relieve the ache in his tired eyes.
"Hina-Chan."
Hinata started briefly, He hadn't called her that since her mother died.
"The council is demanding that you fight Hanabi for the title of heir. They grow impatient with me and hope to replace me with someone more in line with their own thinking. As such you are unacceptable in their eyes. They fear that you will eventually overcome whatever barrier it is that causes you to falter."
Hinata eyes widened in shock and Haishi gave her a grim smile.
"Oh yes. We can see your potential. I know you better than you know yourself sometimes. I know things about you…"
Haishi's voice trailed off and his eyes took on a far away look for a moment, as though he were remembering something that had happened a long time ago. Shaking himself however he cleared his throat and then to Hinata's shock he activated his eyes. Turning in a slow circle he scanned the walls, looking for fuzzy patches or holes, searching for anything that would indicate his sight were being blocked. Satisfied he motioned Hinata closer.
"Hina-chan IF you lose this fight they will have you branded almost immediately. I would guess that it will be less than a week, and probably closer to two or three days. Our laws dictate that you be given three chances to re-claim the title, but the elders are in a meeting right now trying to find a loophole to that rule."
Hinata half sat half fell onto the cushion in shock
B…but.
"LISTEN to me Hinata, we don't have much time. They found the loophole. I managed to bug the bottom of one of the elders' shoes so I know it. They are currently finalizing their plans. Now if you lose you must run. Do you hear me? Pack your bags now, just in case. Keep it light, grab only what you need. We have relations in the country of Ice who may be able to help you. They broke away many years ago and will probably give aid to one of our own. What ever you do DON'T GET CAUGHT. I'll try and stall them as long as possible but you need to realize that I'm limited in what I can do as they have the power to over-rule me."
Hinata felt tears welling up in her eyes, and Haishi pulled her close. It was the first hug she had received from him in nearly two years.
"I'm so sorry Hina-chan. I'll do what I can to fix things here and if I manage it I'll send word if at all possible. Live your life, find someone to love, and please, think kindly of your father. I swear to you that I tried to the best of my ability to keep things from going this far."
Hinata nodded into his shirt. Stepping back she wiped her eyes, and then bowed to him.
"Thank you for this chance father. I'll make you proud."
Turning Hinata fled the room, her mind awhirl with thoughts of where to go and what to take. As the door closed behind her Haishi whispered to himself
"Good luck my Angel, may Kami guide your footsteps, may karma be forever on your side, may luck guard your back, and may you find eternal peace five minutes before the dark one knows you died."
Turning Haishi walked to the window and stared out at the monument taking special care to study the face of the Fourth.
Perhaps you could help her… but no. It is already too late for that. Nearly fourteen years too late I suppose. If you can hear me then guard her Arashi, my child is in desperate need of your strength.
----------
It was dark. That thought, odd as it was, just so happened to be the first thing through Inoshi's head when he entered Naruto's mindscape. Most people's mental landscape reflected their wellbeing, and tended to be done in bright cheery colors with little daubs of gray or black here and there. Naruto's… he couldn't even begin to classify it.
-Looks like a sewer…
-Ya well. You get used to it after a while. Come on I'll show you the problem with the seal.
-Problem?
-It's easier to see it for yourself.
After a few moment walk the two of them arrived at a doorway where Naruto stopped.
"I hope you don't mind but I really don't much feel like keeping company with that prick at the moment. If it's all the same I think I'll wait here.
Inoshi nodded and, taking a deep breath he pulled the door open and stepped in. Inoshi was shocked, there before him stood a Huge Gate, and just on the other side of it Absolute darkness. Nervously Inoshi backed up, looking for the exit.
Where is the damn thing, I just came in though it!
Not looking where he was going he was shocked when he tripped over a pail he hadn't noticed before, sending it crashing down a hole he could have sworn wasn't there either. For a moment he froze, listening to the sounds of the pail as it fell (Even though he couldn't see it). After a moment of silence he relaxed, thinking he had gotten away Scot free when suddenly a deep base drum sounded in the air around him. For another moment there was silence, and then the drum sounded again. Twisting his head in every direction Inoshi sought frantically for an escape (Noticing in the process that the hole had disappeared again.) He had just made up his mind to run for it when pillars of flame rose twisting into the sky just on the other side of the bars. All the while the drums beat a steady malevolent beat. Then the flames twisted, darkness filling in the chinks between them as a huge shadow appeared, a being with massive twisted horns, burning eyes, enormous wingspan, and cloven hooves, and then the shadow took a step forward(1)… and suddenly shrank down into the form of a small fox, no taller than mid-calf. With a single tail and red eyes, growling as it tried to look menacing.
Scowling Inoshi stood back up and brushed himself off, then walked forward toward the bars and glared down at it.
"That's it? All those special effects and YOU are all that's in there?"
Angrily the fox snapped back.
"Well I'm sorry, but I didn't realize that buying the 'Deluxe intimidation package' required that much energy! Hell I'm barely able to supply enough juice to…"
With a small 'Pop' Kyuubi no Kitsune used up the last of its energy and disappeared.
Is it really gone?
Inoshi slowly approached the gate. He was a little nervous because he could see various holes in the massive doors. It was almost as though parts of them had been wiped away. Turning back Inoshi prepared to call out for Naruto when he saw a pair of massive claws came whistling out of the darkness. There was no chance to dodge, and Inoshi knew it. In the brief instant he had left he spared a moment to hope that his family didn't take it out on Naruto.
----------
Naruto rolled his eyes as he watched Kyuubi screw around with Inoshi's head. The fire and shadow bit was pretty cool, but Naruto grew increasingly worried when Inoshi walked up to the bars and spoke to the being inside. Naruto's eyes narrowed a little as the small fox seemed to pop and vanish, and stood upright and tensed as Inoshi closed in on the gates. Naruto had no idea what he was doing anymore, but when Inoshi turned back to speak to him He missed the pair of red eyes that suddenly glowed malevolently above him. Seeing this Naruto reacted in an instant and jumped in front of Inoshi, a bubble of nearly transparent blue forming around him just before the fox's claw slashed downward. As it was the two chakra met with a clash of sparks and a shockwave strong enough to throw Inoshi off of his feet.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOU MENACE!"
The Kyuubi bared its teeth a little, looking almost like it was laughing.
"I'm eating the snack you sent me of course."
"The HELL you are you Stupid fox! I'M the gatekeeper, and he's under MY protection! As such, you can just PISS OFF!"
Kyuubi's grin faded, and with no warning it Snarled and threw it's self at the bars only to be pushed back as the gaps between them were suddenly filled with dancing sparks of electricity and whirling hair-fine blades of air. Snarling Kyuubi shrank back again. In the physical world such a tactic would have hardly deterred him, but here in Naruto's mind it shaved away at his power. Shaking his head Naruto walked over to the wide-eyed Jounin and offered him a hand.
"Sorry about that, I forgot how the fuzzy bastard tends to react to new faces. He tried something similar with me the first time I came here, but I was standing behind one of the bars, so his claws couldn't catch me. You should be a bit more careful you know. Now what was it you wanted to see?"
Suppressing his trembling (and knowing he'd pay for doing it later) Inoshi grabbed the young jinchuriki's hand and allow himself to be pulled to his feet.
"No problem, I wasn't thinking I guess. If you don't mind I'd like to see your fight with the Uchiha during the retrieval mission."
Nodding Naruto turned and began walking down one of the corridors. Inoshi followed, but at the last second turned and looked back at the raging five story tall monster. For a moment the shuddering almost broke loose again, but suppressing it even more roughly and quickly turning back, Inoshi increased his pace and caught up with his guide.
----------
Frowning Sakura looked over the note she had written down, it had been a long week since Naruto's attempt at retrieving Sasuke.
Why did I even ask him to go after that bastard? I mean It's just a bet right? I don't REALLY fancy that Jackass do I?
Sighing to herself, Sakura rolled the scroll back up. It wouldn't do her any good to try studying in this state; she didn't remember any of it when she tried.
I should go see Naruto again. I'm actually surprised that he went after Sasuke without commenting. Of course it could have been that the guards were watching us, but… DAMMIT!
Standing abruptly she turned and walked out.
I'm not going to have a moment's peace till he tells me how it went and what that bastard did to him.
----------
Carefully Inoshi extracted himself from the boy's mind, and gave him a smile. The things he had just witnessed were certainly troubling, but more than that he could feel the mental strain of having to suppress his personal memories of both Arashi and Kyuubi starting to take their toll on him. He had to wrap this up, and he had to do it quickly.
"Thank you for allowing me to see that, Naruto-san. I should be able to give the Hokage the details she requires now."
Naruto nodded solemnly before giving him a small smile which Inoshi returned as he began talking.
"I suspect that you have what we refer to as post traumatic shock. Basically you're trying to suppress what happened to you, and your mind is refusing as it wants to reconcile what happened. The only real therapy I can recommend is to find someone you trust and tell them what happened. Every time you do so it will feel like a little less of a burden.
Naruto nodded. Even though he knew that Inoshi wasn't completely correct he had no intention of revealing the full extent of the memories that he didn't think were his own.
"Thank you Inoshi-sama. I believe I will sleep better now."
Nodding Inoshi turned and calmly left the room. Walking out into the hallway he gently pushed the door closed and managed to turn completely back around to face the waiting Hokage before he couldn't suppress it anymore. The shaking returned in full force as he could no longer repress the memories of how close he had come to being destroyed. Images of faces long dead loomed in his mind's eye as he vividly replayed the last attack of the giant beast over and over. In less than a second his legs had given out, and only Tsunade's timely intervention kept him from landing face first on the smooth tiles of the hospital. Gathering what was left of his mental fortitude Inoshi pushed the images back long enough to shakily say.
"T…The Uchiha i….is a traitor. W….would have killed him with a ch…idori to the lung i….if not f…for the f…f….fox."
That was as far as he got before he collapsed into unconsciousness and nightmares of the dead and dying. His only comfort a pair of young men with blue eyes and golden hair holding back the terror.
----------
Naruto frowned slightly as Inoshi walked out the door. He knew that the trip into his mind had been hard on the man, but over the last few minutes Inoshi's face had gone a rather ugly shade of gray/green.
I hope he's alright. Meeting Kyuubi can certainly be shocking, and I don't think he was quite ready for what happened.
"Well…" said a voice in the shadows "His diagnosis was half right."
Shocked Naruto's head whipped around and his eyes widened a great deal as he watched a beautiful young woman step into the light.
"Wh… who are you?"
The woman smiled.
"Call me 'Jin', and you may want to stay seated, because this is going to get complicated."
----------
Sakura frowned to herself as she walked down the hallway. It was frustrating to know that the only reason her oldest friend was in this place was because of a request that She made.
Damn, Damn, DAMN! WHY! I know I don't care about the bastard! I would have noticed something like that! Wouldn't I? I admit that he's grown on me but…
Sakura paused, unintentionally stopping just outside of Naruto's room.
I bet that's it! I was just worried about my team-mate! Ya that must be the problem! Thank Kami that I figured that out!
Even as she told herself this however she could feel a small twinge in her chest. She wasn't necessarily lying, but her body knew she wasn't telling the whole truth either. Leaning in she was about to open the door when the murmur of voices on the other side caused her to pause.
"…Be free?"
"Several more years for certain, but the seal has changed and there is nothing we can do about it. She will be released too soon, so instead we are returning your memories as the seal disintegrates."
"But still! What you're saying is hard to Imagine. I can't be Kaz…"
"Stop."
"Why?"
There was a pause as though both were listening and then.
"You can come in. I know your standing just outside the door."
Blushing at being caught Sakura opened the door.
"Ano. I didn't mean to listen… in."
Sakura stared suspiciously at the woman who was sitting on the end of Naruto's bed. She had shimmering black hair, and a slightly pale complexion. She was neither tall nor exceptionally short, and had roughly average curves, but her eyes, her oddly Orange eyes didn't belong to her rather youthful figure. Her eyes spoke of a great many years of trials and tribulations, yet they held a silent mirth, almost as though their owner knew a joke that nobody else did. Those eyes spoke of power. They spoke of life and death. After a moment of staring, Sakura was startled out of her thoughts by a light cough. Shaking her head she looked over at a rather amused Naruto.
"Well Sakura-Chan. The way you were staring at Jin here I guess I finally know why you're not a fan girl."
Sakura was confused for a moment until Naruto continued.
"Do you check out the other girls as well?"
"BAKA! If you weren't injured I'd…"
"Well, he does have a point you know."
Sakura froze.
"W… what?"
"You were staring at me for two or three minutes, and you looked rather star struck."
Sakura's blush deepened and she glanced away, embarrassed.
"N… No. I was staring because of your eyes."
"My… Oh?… OOOOOOHHHHHH. Sorry, I forgot about that. No worries Naruto, It happens to people on occasion when I forget to focus."
"What does? "
"Think of it as an odd bloodline that makes most people space out when I look them in the eyes."
Naruto shrugged and snuggled back down into his blankets.
"Well, maybe there's hope for her yet then."
Sakura spared him a glare before turning back to Jin.
"Not to be rude, but I don't recognize you."
"You wouldn't, I'm not usually from around here though I have passed through on many occasions."
"So how do you know Naruto?"
Jin eyed her a little bit as she thought over her answer.
"Call us 'Old acquaintances' and leave it at that."
Sakura was about to argue when Jin abruptly stood up and walked to the window.
"Well, I'm afraid I have to go Ar… Naruto-kun. I'll keep in touch."
Naruto frowned slightly but gave a seated bow.
"Until we meet again Jin-chan."
With a small smile and a wave Jin allowed herself to fall out the window backward and headfirst toward the ground. With a small gasp Sakura ran over to the open window and looked out, only to see an empty expanse of space. Shocked she turned back to Naruto.
"How did she? That's not…."
Naruto smiled a little. The Hospital had intentionally been built in such a manner that it was impossible for ninja to get in (or out) without being completely exposed for several seconds. Of course he also wanted to know how she had pulled it off, but he figured she must have a friend in the ANBU somewhere. Shaking her head Sakura turned back.
"Well, I suppose that can wait till another time. So, tell me about…"
As Naruto started telling his story his mind wandered a little to what his recent visitor had said when he first asked for her name.
--Flashback--
"Who am I?"
For a moment the young women looked almost confused, and Naruto could nearly have sworn that he heard a voice whispering in his ear.
And I looked, and beheld a pale horse: and his name that sat upon him was Death… (2)
The thought gave him the shivers, after a moment however the young women looked up again and smiled.
"Call me Jin."
--End Flashback--
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(1) Shamelessly stolen from the 'Lord of the Rings' movies, but only cause I was too lazy to look up the book version.
(2) Direct Quote from the Bible (King James Version) In the Book of Revelations.
