A/N: Well folks this is officially the last chapter of the story affectionately known as A Test of Insanity. I sincerely hope that everyone had a nice time reading my work because I definitely had fun writing it. Well, the only thing left to do know is cry. Tissues will be available to those that need them.

This story is forever dedicated to the following: Kyle Hanson, for being with me through thick and thin even when it seemed I would never return, Ali Webb and Mike Smith, for being my best friends and inspiring me through such simple, mundane things, FreeFallJumper, for continuously bringing a smile to my face with every review, shilhouette68, for drawing me the only fan art I am likely to conjure up and being with me from the beginning, narutardedbandgeek, for believing in my work and knowing that we all make mistakes, and Jaded Delirium, for making your reviews vibrant and inspiring.

Inspiration Music: Through Glass by Stone Sour, I Miss You by Blink 182, Evil Angel by Breaking Benjamin, Until the End by Breaking Benjamin, and Forsaken by Disturbed and Korn.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. –Insert witty banter-


Epilogue

How do you feel? That is the question...

But I forget you don't expect an easy answer

When something like a soul becomes initialized and folded up like

Paper dolls and little notes, you can't expect a bit of hope

And while you're outside looking in, describing what you see

Remember what you're staring at is me

From Through Glass by Stone Sour

September 19, 2007

Dear diary or whatever this can be counted as,

My name is Tenten. In most normal circumstances a person would not feel the need to write down such an unimportant fact, but when your mind is threatened to forget everything in the blink of an eye…a small, simple fact that a person feels they will never forget must be written down in order to preserve and retain that information. Also, this situation could be called anything but normal.

In case I don't remember this later, I was given this journal of sorts by the head of Konoha Interrogation, Morino Ibiki. When I was taken in for questioning approximately a week after I had awoken in Konoha hospital, I found that every question that Ibiki-san asked of me I was unable to answer. The memories he was asking me to conjure up were at best fuzzy and at worst almost nonexistent. Of course, not wanting to incur the wrath of probably the most insane Jounin the village had, I told him exactly as it was.

In the middle of said interrogation, however, Ibiki-san inquired of me what I remembered of the people that had kept me and my companions' hostage. Without thinking, I told him of the man that had haunted my nightmares continuously always haunting the very edges of my torment. Somehow, I could recall this man in explicit detail down to the very scent that surrounded him. Now, I can only remember the two most prominent features about this man, his hair and his eyes. I can remember his striking silver hair as the moon caught it at an angle and of course, his piercing violet gaze as it peered into my soul and most private thoughts.

Obviously stunned with my sudden realization, Ibiki-san handed me this journal and told me that as memories occurred to me I was to write them in the most detail I can conjure onto these very pages. Now, at the previous moment I must let it be known that while I do what I have been ordered I am also going to make this into my personal diary in case one day it appears as though all hope is lost and I forget even the smallest details about my life.

These first pages are going to be filled with the memories I have gathered of the time since I woke up in Konoha hospital to this very moment.

As I awoke, I felt a stinging pain run down my spine as though I had been sleeping in a rather awkward position. For some unknown reason, I expected to find comfort in the form lying next to me…only to find that the form was a nightstand. Groaning, I took in a large whiff of an overpowering antiseptic scent, warning my brain that I was in the hospital. I opened my eyes to find myself in a very familiar scene and surrounded by familiar faces…or face.

I stared into the pale eyes of Hyuuga Neji for longer than is custom before blinking away the strange sense that I had somehow betrayed the man standing beside my bed. As if he finally noticed I was awake, Neji let some sign of relief flash across his features (I knew this was good, seeing as he usually doesn't even acknowledge me).

"Tenten, you finally woke up…Naruto brought you in here ages ago," he said with no real malice. The prodigy took a seat next to my bedside and leaned forward as if expecting me to lecture him about transcendentalism. Suddenly feeling strangely awkward, I looked away and began to fidget under his intense gaze.

"Well…I don't know," I said rather intelligently, my voice coming out extremely raspy due to under usage. Clearing my throat several times to rid it of the hoarseness, I looked over at him finally. After his first statement, it appeared as though the pleasantries were over because he immediately stiffened.

"Tenten, I was sent here to tell you something," Neji said crisply and to the point. Nodding, I almost signified for him to continue before I thought of something I wanted to ask him.

"Wait, before you say anything, how long have I been out for?" I rasped out.

"It has been approximately two and a half days," Neji replied in a typical Neji fashion. Satisfied with the answer, I motioned for him to continue.

"As I was saying, I was sent to inform you about Yamanaka Ino," he continued, staying completely stoic throughout the message. Suddenly, worry flooded my system as I remembered a scene I had with Ino and Sakura about escaping some sort of horrible place. Sitting straighter in the bed, I bit my lip and allowed him to proceed.

"She was found early this morning on the border of the Fire Country, completely unconscious," he said.

"Well, is she alright?" I asked, worry lacing throughout my words. Neji seemed to contemplate what to say next for a moment because he finally broke his gaze on me.

"Well, she awoke soon after being placed in the hospital shouting out at whoever tried to come near here, including Nara Shikamaru. Later, it was proven that she remembered nothing…including herself," he said quietly as though ready to gauge my reaction. I was about ready to shout out in defense of my friend, when something that never even occurred to me crossed my mind. I didn't remember how I had even gotten into the hospital. Other than remembering Kakashi-san and Naruto finding me in the woods…I couldn't even remember how I had gotten into the woods.

I suppose after that I must have passed out, because the rest of the afternoon was a blur to me.

The next day, I was released to return home under the close surveillance of my parents, however. The few days following that passed uneventfully with me just generally lying on my bed trying to call forward the memories that lurked just outside of my reach.

End Passage


A figure moved silently through the darkness of the night, his presence blending in perfectly with the shadows. The expertise with which the figure moved marked them surely as a ninja, but anyone lucky enough to catch a small glimpse of this trained assassin would likely be very unlikely the next moment.

The man was insanely plain, with the only exception being his gravity defying hair. His silver locks jetted up in an angular pattern, only adding to his outwardly lazy countenance. Although the only outstanding feature on the man was indeed his hair, anyone that had a lick of a connection with the shinobi world knew that this man was the one and only copycat ninja, Hatake Kakashi.

It seemed the legendary shinobi was on a search mission as his observant eyes traced the ground looking for any sign of life, or lack thereof. Groaning with aggravation, he was about to call off his search party when one of his tracker dogs barked out that it had found something.

"I've found something. I'm going to check it out, back me up," he said in a low voice so that the only person that would hear him would be the person listening intently on the other line. Static filled his ear for a moment before his partners voice rang through the connection.

"I'll be there Kakashi-sensei," said the voice on the other line. Sure enough, Kakashi felt the insanely large chakra signature of his student close in on him as he leaped through the foliage towards the sound of his hound barking.

What he saw when he reached the small clearing chilled him completely to the core. He stood stock still as he took in the trembling form of the person lying before him.

"S-Sakura-chan," he heard Naruto say as he touched down next to Kakashi. The cause for their surprise and horror was the small, trembling rosette kunoichi lying in front of their eyes.

Her jade orbs were wide open, though unseeing, as if they were peering into eternal damnation. Her body quaked as spine-jerking spasms wracked her every so often and her clothes were torn in several places, exposing her bare flesh to the crisp autumn air. A small glass orb hung around her slender neck and her hands were grasping at it as if trying to rip it off but so far they were only succeeding in tearing into her own pale skin.

Kakashi racked his brain for any reason as to why his only female student would be in such a terrible mess. Nothing added up, Tenten seemed to be perfectly fine on the condition that she seemed to have some bouts of memory lapses and Ino couldn't remember anything at all causing the poor girl to drive herself insane. Now here was Sakura, completely contorted into an agony that only she could see and only she could rescue herself from.

Sighing, Kakashi signaled for Naruto to scoop up the kunoichi from her spot so the trio could travel back to Konoha.

"Tsunade-sama, mission accomplished. We'll be arriving shortly back in Konoha," Kakashi spoke morosely into the communicator. Static filled the line before a strong female voice reached his ear.

"Very good…and how is she?" Tsunade asked through their link as Kakashi took through the woods after Naruto. Kakashi sighed as he rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Well Tsunade-sama…you definitely have your work cut out for you," the one-eyed Jounin said darkly making sure the implications of his words were not lost. There was a rather long pause over the line, signaling that Tsunade did, indeed, understand what he meant.

"Understood." The reply came with no added gusto just a simple forced answer of compliance. The line went dead immediately after, signaling that Tsunade wanted to be alone for now.

Kakashi couldn't agree with her more.


October 19, 2007

Dear diary or whatever this could be counted as,

Today I was informed that Sakura was found; yet she was not without injury. I was told that her physical and mental conditions were lacking and she was lucky to even be alive. I felt bad for the poor fool that was ordered to tell me of my friends' condition.

I happened to be training when he arrived at the field where I had made my residence. I twirled a single kunai effortlessly around my finger before giving it a light toss in the boy's direction, to keep him on his toes. I heard a yelp and a thump on the ground signifying that he had dodged with surprise.

"Pardon me for bothering you, Tenten-san, but I have been sent here to inform you that Sakura-san was found last night by the border patrol in a rather poor condition," he said as he shook the dirt off of his shinobi clothing. I turned my full attention to him, nodding for him to continue. Immediately his demeanor changed when he noticed my outward appearance. Of course, the reaction was not unexpected. Many people have commented to me that all the black I've been wearing lately has made my mood drearier but I know otherwise. If your mind was constantly captivated with the thought that there might one day be no more thought…how would you dress. The answer is simple thus I need say no more on the topic.

As I was saying, the boy (whom I am sure I've seen before but I couldn't place a name with his face) stiffened when he noticed the completely blank look on my face. I probably should have given the information more reaction, but I suppose I have been shaped into something that I never thought I would be.

"U-Uh, well she is in the hospital now…but Tsunade-sama is not allowing any visitors at this time," he said before quickly speeding away from me as though hell was licking at his heels. I stood there for a moment rubbing the bridge of my nose as I thought about the information I was presented. The situation was no different than when Ino had been found: absolutely no visitors and absolutely no word on her condition until further notice. It had been a long while that Ino had been prevented to see people including her family. I had no doubt in my mind that Sakura would be the same.

Which reminded me that I needed to go see Ino. So, wiping the dirt from my pants and gloves, I headed to Konoha hospital, the number one sight of all things gruesome. While on my little journey I began to ponder the reason why I was spared the curse of insanity. The question was not a rarity; in fact if all my thoughts were recorded on paper about ninety-nine out of those one hundred pages would be filled with this very question.

It simply made no sense to me. Why would I be spared instead of Sakura and Ino? I was almost a waste of oxygen in comparison to Sakura. She is Tsunade-sama's very apprentice. And compared to Ino…well Ino and I could be considered on at least the same page. I was told that the three of us had left on a mission but had never returned. During the time period that we were absent, Ino had apparently returned once dressed in Akatsuki garments and working with another blonde. From what I could gather, Ino had said some very derogatory things to her old friends before escaping with a book straight from the Hokage's personal library.

The thought, alone, that the Akatsuki captured us frightens me. I had to let the thoughts stray away then, because I had arrived at Ino's room on the fifth floor, the only floor designated for the mentally fatigued or challenged. I slowly pushed open her door so I didn't wake her if she were asleep.

The strange thing was that instead of seeing Ino lying blankly on the white bed, I saw a man that could possibly be my friend's twin. Blushing at my mistake, I began to close the door muttering apologies to the man. That is, until, Ino's voice shattered my vision.

"Tenten, that's your name right?" Ino asked, looking into my eyes curiously. I shook my head of the man, giving her my full attention.

"Yes, that's me Ino," I spoke softly and slowly for her, afraid if I was too loud it might make her temporary memory erase and throw her into an insane tantrum. A relieved smile swam across her features when I had proved her assumption correct.

"Thank Kami, I finally remembered at least one person," she said with a smile. The words triggered something in my mind and before I could stop myself I blurted out my revelation.

"You shouldn't be thanking Kami, you should be thanking Jashin-sama," I said as though I even understood the words that flowed effortlessly from my mouth. Ino's smile immediately dissolved into confusion at my statement and I could almost literally see behind her eyes into her blank mind.

"What was that?" She asked, voicing her confusion. I just sighed and smiled lightly.

"Oh, nothing. It's just an inside joke between an extremely close friend, and me," I blurted out, not knowing if my words were true or completely false. Nodding her head, Ino gave me a rather strange look of disbelief.

"I know you're talking about Hidan," she said, her eyes downcast towards the blankets. My eyes filled with surprise. Hidan! That was his name…the man from my dreams with the striking silver hair and the piercing violet eyes. If it seems I repeat the name more often than necessary, it is solely for the purpose of memory.

"Ino…are you saying you remember Hidan?" I asked my countenance filled with unmasked hope. Maybe I wouldn't have to lose my friends!

"Tenten…I don't understand, who is this Hidan?" Ino asked with curiosity filling her eyes. The statement broke all hope that I had harbored from her earlier statement and threw me into a rather foul mood.

"It's nothing alright! I just thought that maybe finally I wouldn't have to settle for a half-assed version of my best friend!" I yelled rather forcefully at the bed-ridden girl. Not really wanting to see her reaction, I turned on my heel and marched away from her room bent of finding out more about this Hidan man.

Looking back on it now, I realize that old me would never had been so harsh on a girl that could remember even less than I did. But the old me is woven so deep into the new me that she is most likely permanently lost. I know she is not gone because there are still small inklings that she exists like in the fact that I still harbor a deep love for weaponry. Still, Ino did not deserve such harsh comments for such a simple question. Knowing my current state, I probably imagined she had brought up Hidan. My mind was probably constantly searching for ways to portray to me the memories that have been buried deeply into my mind.

During my search for information, I came across the Konoha public library. As I read through a rather boring script on the Uchiha Itachi (I thought maybe there would be something about Hidan for they are in an organization together), I began to subconsciously twirl the ring around my left index finger. Suddenly it came to me that I didn't remember putting on any jewelry lately. Looking down at the simple piece of metal I found kanji inscribed on it. It read santai or "three levels", and something about it triggered a memory in my mind.

"While you are staying with us in the Akatsuki Headquarters, you are to wear our full uniform, the cloak, the polish, the hat when you are out on missions, and the ring. That ring is an exact replica of Hidan's and fitted to fit around your finger. The ring allows me to connect with you telepathically while you are on missions and it also lets me know where you are at all times, like the necklace allows Hidan to know where you are. Now, understand that at the time being you are Hidan and Kakuzu's new teammate, so you will listen to whatever they have to say with no complaints unless I tell you directly to go against what they are saying. Do you understand Tenten-san?" An entity explained to me in a way that sounded somewhat practiced.

"I understand implicitly, Leader-sama," I said to the entity, vaguely noticing Hidan stiffen when I referred to the entity as –sama.

Blinking out of the reminiscence, I stood from my seat in the library and bolted towards the door. I ran straight to my home, my room, the only place that felt familiar at the moment.

I burst through my simple, wooden door and slid into my seat to begin writing in this very diary when another thought occurred to me. The man, Leader-sama, said that it was his way of knowing where I was at all times. The thought made me rip the dreadful thing off my finger and hurl it unceremoniously onto my desk.

In that moment, it felt as though some sort of haze had been lifted. Instead of images traced in fragmented lines, I saw everything with vivacious color and detailed design. Hidan was no longer an enigma; he was my very best friend and, judging by my raging emotions, much more. To think that such a simple ring could have caused such an upheaval was unimaginable but apparently for me such a thing was the key.

End Passage

"The mission was successful in all areas, except one major flaw in its carry out," said a man, glaring pointedly at one of his three followers, with hair that spiked up in all directions; he also appeared to have several piercing. The three men surrounding him were all in different states of mood. One with flawless blonde hair seemed to be looking to the floor as though contemplating something. The man standing directly beside him had emotionless red eyes as he stared impassively at the man in the center of their congregation. And the last member of their group stood a bit off to the side as though he felt he didn't belong and none of the other members argued this point.

"Hidan, you have once again disobeyed a direct order given to you by me," said the spiky haired man. Hidan glanced at his leader from his place outside the group, holding no outward emotion towards the subject.

"Yeah, it appears I have Pein," Hidan said with outward disdain towards the man. Pein grumbled at the disrespect but continued with his reprimanding.

"Deidara, Itachi you two may leave. Hidan, please stay and enjoy a personal conference with me," he said motioning for the blonde man and the red-eyed man to leave. They did as commanded, leaving Hidan and the leader alone in their stead.

"Beat me all you want you bastard, it's not like I can die anyways," Hidan said dismissively. Pein smirked sadistically as he took a step towards his only rebellious charge.

"Don't worry Hidan, I plan to take this as far as I can, to the point where you wished you were dead," he said as he placed a hand onto Hidans shoulder. Hidan glared at the more experienced shinobi, killing intent rolling off of him in waves.

'Seriously, Panda, I hope wherever the hell you are you at least remember me a little bit…because if you don't, I will pay you back all the pain I'm taking for you,' Hidan thought as Pein's hand tightened around his shoulder. Hidan began to chuckle beside himself.

From the outside, Deidara felt a strong chill run down his spine as maniacal laughter sounded throughout the Akatsuki compound.

"The laugh a man makes when they have fallen victim to only the highest forms of insanity," the artist whispered to himself as he opened the metal door to the main building, Itachi hot on his heels.

I'm over it!

You see me I'm falling in a vast abyss.

Clouded by memories of the past,

At last I see...

I hear it fading,

I can't speak it,

Or else you will dig my grave.

We feel them finding,

Always winding,

Take my hand now be alive!

From Forsaken by Disturbed and Korn

Fin


A/N: Wow, it's really over. It's kind of hard to believe all of my hard work led up to this point. Hopefully all of you will continue to follow me beyond this checkpoint in my writing. The sequel will be filled with even more surprises and goodies. As for Ino and Sakura, well you're going to have to keep following me to find out what happens to them.

Thank you to every one of my readers and reviewers for staying with this story to the very end.