Article 23 - Chapter 19 - An Addition To My List
Warnings: I do not own Naruto, it's intellectual property is owned by none other than Masashi Kishimoto. I own the OC's that I've added to the story and nothing more.
Notes: I've got some more of the story edited, but I plan on doing a large update later all at once, and here I've got another chapter for you guys! These last two chapters have been very difficult for me to write. Feel like writing all the characters was like tiptoeing through a minefield… blindfolded. Hard enough without some extra dumb-shit to add to it, but whatever. I'm not particularly proud of this chapter, but I can finally finish up the T.I. Arc here and be done with it! ~YES!
*** Call To Action: Looking for someone capable of being an editor/proofreader. Also accepting Beta's to hear opinions about chapters before I release the final draft to FFN (If you're interested, hit me up with a PM. Thank You!)***
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(Last Chapter: Excerpt)
"Your Insane!" I screamed. Tears spilling down my face in my torment.
"People say the same thing about you." He spit out between the whip strikes.
CRAAACK. CRAAACK.
The wounds on my back oozed warm blood, only adding to the incessant fucking dripping in the room.
Drip, drip, drip… CRAAACK. CRAAACK.
I lost all ability to properly think. I deconstructed into the primal emotions I tried so hard to fight against. I had been soundly and utterly defeated.
┬┴┬┴┤ Chapter 19 ├┬┴┬┴
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(Mina POV)
My body felt so heavy. Like just moving it was an accomplishment of merit. My muscles seized and faltered. My commands being read sloppily and executed with minimal force. The skin around my wrists and ankles were sore and raw, the tenderness and inflammation a testament to my mistreatment.
What the hell is wrong with people in this world?
I laid outstretched on the cold grey stone floor of the interrogation room. It was home to many scattered wood splints which sat atop it. I pulled myself along the floor, inching closer to the corner of the room. I wanted something to prop myself up with as well as a way to make sure nothing was behind me.
The haze in my mind hung over me like a fog. It felt unreal… like the entire situation was simply fictional, but my body and flashbacks grounded me to the reality.
Drip... Drip... Drip...
"Urrrughh" The unfeminine grunt leapt from my mouth as I pulled against the floor… ever approaching the corner.
My fingers trembled without end. I was working on the fumes of pure willpower. The draft met with my exposed back causing a chilling sensation that I welcomed over the burn of pain. My clothing, especially on my back, was shredded and in tatters. The material in the back clung together with clumps of dried blood only barely. At the very least they hadn't stripped me before the whipping, which was the only silver lining I could think of at this time.
I wasn't skittish about my body or exposing myself, but the very idea of my privacy possibly being taken away forcibly left unpleasant thoughts swirling about inside my head.
Just a little further…
The metallic clank of the door opening behind me caused a surge of adrenaline to perk me into a much more alert state. I struggled quickly to sit up while driving my feet into the floor, scooting backwards - toward the comfort of the walls.
The black trench coat that haunted me appeared in my vision. My body acted of its own accord, moving my limbs in front of me. It was a completely useless action, but rationality at the moment wasn't my strong suit.
I tried to separate myself from this man using any method possible. I peered through the cracks of my arms, and the gap between my knees to still make out where the man was, never allowing myself to lose track of him.
He took heavy steps with faulty balance towards myself…
My heart thumped hard while racing in my chest - Boo'd Up. Boo'd Up. Boo'd Up.
My ears only could make out the thumping of blood in my head.
My teeth clenched together despite my jaw quivering, causing a shameful chatter I could faintly make out.
"-Duru ramble at last bring through shed the door passing doubt?" The blood pounding in the side of my head made it very difficult to distinguish the mans words without looking at his face…
I cracked my arms apart further to catch up to the man's nose within my vision.
"Huh?" I asked.
"-Do you remember the last thing you said before passing out?" He repeated.
I racked my mind to fetch the memory, but try as i might, I couldn't locate it.
"No…" I responded honestly.
He stood in place for a moment… Quiet. After a long pause, he took another step forward… and another…
NO! NOT AGAIN! ANYTHING BUT MORE~ "Please! I'm sorry, please no more, please!"
"Would you like to know what you told me?!" The man thundered.
What could I have said!? I might have said anything to make it stop, I just can't remember!
"I faked my kidnapping so that I could leave the village." Ibiki Shouted. He cleared his throat while clenching a fist before finishing with: "Are these the actions of a so-called patriot!?"
My heart sunk in my chest… I could have said anything to this man and that's what I said? Certainly it's not the worst thing I could have confessed to, but It also wasn't the best. In any case, this isn't good...
"You know, I'm inclined to believe that might be the first truthful thing you've ever told me." Ibiki said.
"I-I-I-I… J-just... wanted to escape my clan… But then as I was gaining distance and about to leave… I thought of Ayasha-san… and Neji-kun… and-and- I decided I couldn't leave."
"Really?" He said with voice full of curiosity. "I thought we were past the point of lies and deceit, but If you want some more BONDING time with me, I understand completely." His last words breaking down my mental resistance I had been rushing to construct...
"NO! Wait!" I screamed. What the hell can I tell this man!?
"WHAT WILL HE BELIEVE?!" I thought desperately attempting to wrack my brain. ANYTHING!? I need something!
"... yes?" Ibiki said.
"I was afraid… Too afraid to die to my seal… Too afraid to have it all end while I held no control. I just couldn't go through with it…"
Ibiki crouched down, taking a seat on the floor across from me. He peered through the cracks I was using to peek through making eye contact.
"I think that's the most believable thing I've heard you say yet." He whispered, his face softening as he finished.
Really?!
"But… I really did love Ayasha-san… I didn't know it at the time… But when she died, I completely realized it -or-or maybe I just was trying to lie to myself and I knew the whole time... How could I have been so stupid all this time!?" The last part I wailed.
I pulled at the strands of hair locked in my grasp in a frenzy while my eyes clenched together. "AAAAAHH!"
I found myself unable to pull any further, I struggled to pull and pull, and after opening my eyes I realized why the arms refused to budge.
Ibiki's hands had found themselves around my wrists… his piercing Onyx eyes searching my own.
"Sometimes… It takes losing what we have to truly appreciate it. Humans are fickle creatures like that." He said with more sincerity than I believed he was capable of.
I knew as much, his words didn't ease my heart, nor would I let them… He was the enemy.
"-So then you staged a battle and returned?" He asked for clarification.
"-yesh, I-I staged a confrontation so that I would be welcomed back in the village… I even hoped that people would see it as heroic…"
His eyes continued to peer into me. I would tell no lies from this point onward. I could just refuse to tell them the damning details.
"Hmm… So why did you want to escape the village?"
"I… don't seem to have any allies. The own village's ninjas survey me every day. I couldn't understand why they would do such a thing… They must have seen me as a threat… I feared for my personal safety… Then on top of that my clan plans to enslave me to the main family. I'm being shaped into lady Hinata-sama's personal bodyguard and assassin… and other than Hiashi-sama and Hinata-sama, the entirety of the main branch sees me as lower than dirt… I fully believe they may conspire to kill me one day."
None of my words were a lie. They all were observations I had made, or things I was told. They were the reality of the clan.
"I always trained so I could become the first S ranked Ninja from the Hyuga, but I realized that the clan did everything in its power to prevent me from doing that exact thing… I'm of the side branch, and how would the main branch look if some side-branch kid rose to greater power than our clan head? -They will not allow it."
The words that had been damned inside my head came flooding out with terrifying vigour. I was certain these traitorous thoughts were going to get me killed… executed…
well it was… not a fun life… My only regrets were that I didn't spend more time with the people that mattered most to me…
I fought against the lump in my throat… Finally swallowing. "... I'm going to be executed aren't I?"
Ibiki's eyes widened at my words. I didn't know what that meant… whether he was surprised that I realized my position, or what was going on in that psychotic head of his.
"Will… Will it be painful?" I asked. I fought back the tears starting to swell… My heart had settled after finally being able to tell someone what I thought. Even if it wasn't all of it, I wouldn't incriminate myself any further. If I admitted to much more, I wouldn't likely get a humane execution.
In a flash, my face flung sideways with a CLAAAP. My cheek stung with new pain while my brain struggled to make sense of what had just happened.
I was... slapped? I concluded.
I looked back to see the face of Ibiki caught between rage and sorrow. Tears slid down his cheeks even as he grit his teeth and managed to look menacing.
He raised his hand again… but the slap did not come. Instead, he pushed off the floor, and hobbled to the door, opening it and stepping through before inevitably slamming it shut behind him.
I was so confused… why did he look like that? What, you expect me to think you have a heart now or something bastard?! We're long past that. I know my situation, you guys don't give a damn about me.
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Some time later, Inoichi entered the room. His face could not hide his own unhappiness despite his obvious effort to remain stoic. he questioned me, relentless on the details. He wanted me to tell him the whole story, starting from the end and making my way backward to the beginning events of my escape.
He kept asking me one thing over and over. "Did you see anyone else?"
"Yes… I saw several Ninja's outside the village that I managed to hide from along my travels."
"What did they look like? Can you remember any distinct features?" He kept asking.
Why did they keep drilling me on this?! Oh shit! It's because of my lie about the Anbu… they are trying to figure out why I made up the lie about the foundation Anbu… on no, oh no, oh no! I fucked up, how the hell can I even explain that!?
My face must have betrayed me and slipped displaying my horror. Inoichi's eyes lit up having recognized this.
"Yes!? You remembered something?" He asked.
"Well… I saw an Anbu prowling around. I had managed to hide myself and he hadn't noticed me… at least I thought…" I lied.
"Is that the reason you included Anbu in your first version of your story?"
I took a second to think carefully before responding. I can't keep lying or I'll be stuck here forever!
"...no. I thought it would make it seem more credible. -And even the Anbu didn't seem to detect me, so I figured escaping from an Anbu wouldn't have been so far-fetched."
"-DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT MASK THEY WORE?"
"I'm sorry… I can't remember. I was afraid to use my byakugan due to the potential chakra I would leak." I answered.
Inoichi's knuckles tightened as he tightened the grip of his interlocking hands.
"This is very important… Mina, this is a matter of village security. If you lie about this you will be branded a traitor for certain. At this point you can still be redeemed."
My eyes widened at his words. What does he mean? This made up Anbu member has them so spooked, why? What happened outside these walls?
Mina, I need the truth. I'm going to ask you one question, and even though this goes against the villages code's and it poses mental trauma on someone as young as yourself, It's 100% necessary. Do you understand? You can never be released until you answer this question.
What the hell. What have I done!? I made up some fictional Anbu and now he's going to know it's a complete lie. I'm done! I'm finished! Completely FUCKED!
"I'm going to use the weakest version of the jutsu in my disposal so I can confirm with certainty that the answer you give me is truthful. Do you understand? You need only to answer with the word 'Yes', or 'No'."
Well... him only being able to distinguish the truth, and allowing me to simply answer yes or no limits the type of knowledge he could gleam with this method, but the way he's so unsteady asking me makes me very uneasy.
"You might think that fighting against this Jutsu means that you will be branded a traitor, but it will not. If you do not struggle against the jutsu and attempt to resist, there is a higher risk of permanent damage. Therefore you are allowed to fight against it with all your might, but try as you might, I will still be able to distinguish the truth." The blonde said.
What? They are going to use such a dangerous jutsu on me despite the risks? They are even allowing me to fight against it?
"Mina… are you ready?" Inoichi asked.
NO!? Definitely not! Certainly not! I will never be ready!
"Yes." I lied.
He stared deeply into my eyes, and then slowly raised his hands to his face. He made the strangest hand sign, peering his eyes through the gap between his hands.
"Have you ever made contact with Orochimaru?"
Pain seared through my entire head. The nerves behind my eyes felt like they were tied into knots and the front of my brain twitched about inside my head. The unpleasantness of it all was only slightly more bearable than when I received the caged bird curse seal.
Had I made contact with Orochimaru? What? No.
"No." I spit through grit teeth.
The pain vanished after my words, and I fell forward, catching myself on the table, gasping.
"It appears that you had nothing to do with Ayasha's murder then." He spoke out in happiness.
I couldn't piece together anything. My head still hurt even if the worst of it was over.
Inoichi looked relieved at my answer and practically danced his way over to the door. Before pulling the door open, he peered back at me, now pulling his face into a more serious shape again.
"Mina… the man who murdered Ayasha-san was none other than Orochimaru. I'm so sorry that we did this to you. We couldn't be sure that you weren't working for him up until now. The fact that you broke out of the village, and days later He broke in disguised as Ayasha Hyuga couldn't simply be overlooked. I personally would like to apologize for your treatment. You have had quite a difficult life."
Orochimaru? ... Orochimaru killed Ayasha?! - I'LL FUCKING MURDER HIM. I'LL-I'LL-I'LL GUT HIM LIKE A FISH WITH ALL MY STRENGTH! WHEN I GAIN POWER, I WILL HAVE HIM BEG FOR MY MERCY BEFORE I-
The pain swelling in my head stopped me from continuing my rage induced visions and thoughts. I whimpered ungracefully before moving my fingers up to massage the sore tender area right at the bottom of my forehead where the bridge of my nose ended or began. (depending on your outlook.)
Tears streamed onto the table. Why do I always cry? Am I so incompetent that all I can do is wallow in tears? Doe's the act of crying actually even help? Does it make me feel better? Do I want to feel better? - No. I just want to kill, I want to murder that man. He had made my list.
#1 - Being-X
#2 - Orochimaru
I will spend the entirety of my life to destroy these people. I will do whatever it takes. Whatever sacrifices are necessary ~ I'll gladly make them. If I had to walk over the corpses of all of the people I had ever came to care for just to do it, I would. I had made up my mind, and nothing will stop me.
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(Hiruzen POV)
"I believe she has been put through enough. What are your opinions?" The Sandaime spoke, looking first to the head of the Torture and Interrogation, and then it's former head.
"Mina Hyuga is deeply disturbed, that of course there can be no doubt. However, It is of my personal opinion that she poses little threat to our village... -But I believe she posses the greatest threat to herself and her clan, which is unlikely due to her seal." The blonde answered with steely unwavering words.
"-She is quite the abnormality. I saw a great sense of fury and hatred from her at Orochimaru's mention. It disturbed me originally how similar I believed them to be, but I can see now that my first deduction was incorrect. I believe she does pose a latent danger to the village, but I also believe she has much more to potentially offer to the village. Perhaps her patriotic words were not so farfetched despite her deeply ingrained but well hidden cowerice." Ibiki finished.
The two looked to each other and gave the other a silent nod of approval. Their mission had been completed, and much sooner than the timetable they had been given.
Even at his trusted companions words, the fire in the old man's heart wasn't snuffed out entirely. He was the Hokage, and appearances needed to be maintained however…
"I see… So it is of your opinion that miss Hyuga-kun should be released to her clan?"
Inoichi took a deep breath while taking a step forward. "I believe after some psychological reconditioning, she will be able to be reintroduced to her clan. ~Yes."
"Hmmm…" The elder hummed while stroking the white tufts growing from his chin. "-And Ibiki, you share this position?"
"I think she still has things she hasn't told us, however instead of prying them out by force, we should entrust her with responsibility to strengthen her ties to the leaf. Even if she may not grow complacent inside her clan, If we remind her that this is her home and that she can trust her superiors, that she can change. She is only 6 years of age and has always been forced to look out for her own self-interest. I saw her regret of this self-interest inside her when mentioning her sentiments toward Ayasha Hyuga, and I think these same regrets are what caused her to inflict harm on herself." The professionalism of his speech was uptight and absolute, until faltering with the last few sentences. Emotion entering his voice.
Ibiki raised his fist to his chest, pumping it over the heart. "She is just a little girl after all…"
The Sandaime was astonished at the display of emotion from the head of T.I. He was not a man known to become attached to any of his captives. Perhaps the troubles plaguing his old heart were unfounded. Perhaps they were just whispers of the paranoia he's needed in order to survive this long. Perhaps in this day and age, He needed to lead with a softer touch.
"I see… Yes, well certainly if both of you think so, then there is nothing to worry about. Thank you for your perseverance in the face of such a difficult task. I extend my sincerest apologies to both of you for putting you through this."
"Absolutely not." Ibiki answered back with sternness in his voice. "You're suspicions were well founded, It is a blessing that her only intention was desertion, and that she turned around before the situation escalated."
The fire that smoldered like the sun, had since settled into a small ember, only casting a shadow of minuscule doubt in his heart. The girl wasn't quite right. It whispered to him.
He buried this thought deep within him. Stressing over the youth wasn't befitting of his status. He would leave his doubts behind until a later date. Today, they would console a heartbroken child which was long past due.
"Get her some fresh clothes, a warm meal, and some tender care. God knows she deserves it." He said.
The two men in his presence flashed small smiles. "Yes Third-sama!" They spoke in unison.
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Authors Notes: Zemptai-sama again, this T.I. arc thankfully is over. At long last. I was struggling to find the motivation to write this part of the story, and finally we can get the ball rolling and get to SOME GOOD STUFF. "MUHAHAHAHAHAHA!" the events leading up to the Uchiha Massacre will follow. I've been wanting to write this UPCOMING part of the story from chapter 1, so now that I'm basically there, I'm super excited. I've been working on side projects a bit as well. I'm about to release the first chapter of a Yu-gi-oh GX fanfiction likely alongside the next chapter of this fanfiction. Anyone interested I urge to check it out and share your anticipation! I write so I can share with you guys, and it warms my heart to hear your opinions and interact with the readers.
Reviewer Question: - Which Non-OC Character that I've written do you think is truest/closest to their Canon representation? (And Why?)
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**SPECIAL THANKS to the great people below who left me a review, It means a lot!**
-jake - "Thank you my boy jake. Don't short sell yourself though. I believe in you." (IRL friend heh)
-Scintilla-Ish - "I'm a fellow Youjo Senki Lover! Certainly my inspiration for the story."
-Zdraco -"Thanks for your support. I don't have any concrete shippings, but Kakashi is a wee old for her, even if they might realistically be of similar mental age. It's not a pairing I can see happening logically."
-SteveTheBeast - "I will neither confirm or deny the existence of any foreshadowing for a summoning contract! Haha."
-Irina Akashira - "Thanks for your continued support. You've been around since basically the beginning!"
-XenonDark - "I can't confirm any concrete pairing, but I can confirm there will be at least a wee bit of Mina X Hinata fluff in store for you in the future."
-Mysterious Goat - "Thanks for the compliment of his characterization. He was very difficult for me to write. Glad someone enjoyed it!"