Author's Note: Uhm... it was pointed out to me that I entered thin ice with the last chapter without really realizing it. Hanabi made a step or two into a direction I totally not want her to end up - and I just oversaw it while writing.
But I also got someone who gave me another view on her actions with reasonable explanations why he's seeing it that way. So I suppose I haven't screwed it up entirely just yet.
Maybe it's even something that most didn't really saw that bad at all, dunno. But when it was pointed out to me did my mind went crazy on what might happen if that path is walked down. And I really didn't like the scenarios that came up in my mind.
All I know right now is that I felt like steering in another direction right away, so... yeah... as you might see, once you start this chapter, was I working on some emergency measures to start on correcting my mistake. It will take time, but it's clearly something I won't be overseeing again.
Anyway, really need to get the tensions down and the emotions calm now - next chapter will officially start the Wave arc!
More story progress on the original timeline (maybe), less tensions (I hope) but most of all, outside of the cramped Konoha (that somehow has training grounds big enough for them to search five hours for Kakashi and Hinata... *coughs* but if you consider the Forest of the Death being big enough for a five day chunin exam? *shrugs*).
Hope you'll enjoy this chapter. It is a more heavy one, again...
Should really consider writing the funny Omake one soon for a change *thinks*
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Confidential - only for the Hokage's eyes - Confidential - to be treated as top secret - Confidential
C's Report: Hanabi Hyuga
"Yo boss! I got bad news regarding the mental state of the little one. I'm suggesting that the following lines shouldn't be read by anyone else as long as we don't know what to do or how it might effect the girl. I'm serious here, you know?
See, the girl visited me the other day. Tell ya, she was kinda pissed at me. I mean, can't blame her after all the things she had to endure because of me, right? Anyway... I had some things I wanted to tell her and she told me something that... I don't really know how to phrase it... that... surprised me? Confused me? Maybe even scared me? Not sure. Alright, you see, the events with the creep on the day of the genin tests?
I know that you too are in contact with the Shinigami, the Death God... Don't worry, I'm not having any details on the way you are in touch or anything, I just know it, okay? See, the girl, the little one... she said that it's still there, still haunting her. That's a new one for me. Am working with Black Jack for years and it always was either kill or pass, but never did anyone mention something like that to me, that Black Jack did stuck around...
Really don't know what to do with this information. Just wanted to inform you, boss. Not sure if your knowledge about or mutual friend is deeper than mine or not... or if you are able to figure out what this might or might not mean for the girl... Only thought you should be informed about it. So, yeah..."
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A Tale of Two Sisters - Chapter 23: I suppose...
Kakashi leant against a tree, watching his genin team, studying the different expression they wore. Naruto sat on a tree stump nearby, holding Hinata in his arms close to him. He was watching Hanabi wary after what just happened. His mind had problems to grasp the fact that she was about to attack her own sister with a whip. That is, if she really planned to do so, he wasn't sure. All he knew was that Hinata was completely scared by her sister just moments ago.
Said girl was snuggling close to Naruto, burying her face in his chest. While none was able to see her face was Naruto able to tell that her whole body was tense and that she slightly shivered. She seemed to be as surprised about her sister as Naruto was. He really had problems to understand why Hanabi would act that way towards her own sister. But they were about to talk things out, weren't they? He would get his answers now, just like she promised.
Hanabi, sitting cross-legged some distance away on the grass wasn't looking at anybody in particular, her head hanging. She wasn't sure how she felt right now. On one side did she trick Kakashi into lowering his guard to snatch away the bells, completing the task he had given them. On the other side however...
"Okay, I'm going to say it once and I want all of you to remember it well. It is not acceptable to treat your teammates the way I just saw." Kakashi spoke up, his visible eye focused on Hanabi. "Yes, you own a slave, that is a fact I can't decline. And I'm more than aware what that means and that you got all rights to treat her however you want too. But..."
Flinching at the tune in his voice was Hanabi carefully raising her head, looking at Kakashi who watched her with a cold expression. She gulped before he continued. "Beside of being your slave is Hinata even more things you might have forgotten just now. She is also a human being, a shinobi of Konoha, your teammate and most importantly your sister. And the way you were about to act towards her is not acceptable for most of these things."
She wasn't able to hold the look on Kakashi and turned her head to the side, looking away from everyone gathered. "I... didn't meant to..." she started, before shaking her head, starting over. "It was... frustrating. We weren't able to find her... you... I... I just wanted to pass your test..."
"And you were willing to engage against both your teammates just to achieve this. Now think about it clearly and tell me why I am disappointed by your actions." Kakashi replied neutrally, waiting for the girl to reply.
To the surprise of everyone was the next person to speak up Hinata, raising her head from Naruto's chest to look at Kakashi. "But... you can't really blame her, can you? I mean..." there was a small blush entering her face. "You kinda forced it upon her, didn't you? You created this test basicly impossible for them to pass at all. None of us is a tracker, so how should they have found us in time? And after they finally found us did you decline me to help them against you. I don't even think we would have had a chance with all three of us, so how should the two of them pass the test?"
Kakashi shook his head at that. "You don't get my point, do you, Hinata? Your sister was willing to hurt her own teammates and her own sister as well, just to achieve the goal of the test. And that is something I can't tolerate."
"Yeah, haven't you seen the look in her eyes when she stood in front of you?" Naruto asked the girl he was holding. "That was totally scary... I tell you, she was serious!"
Hanabi was shrinking down, trying to hide herself upon hearing the opinions of everyone around her. She wasn't sure herself anymore if the way she finished the test was that good of an idea. However, what Hinata said next surprised her even more. "I trust her." she said simply, getting the looks of everyone. "I mean, yes, she is changing and all, I realized that myself. And yes, I was afraid as hell, but... you know what she went through, right? And as long as she isn't over it... am I unable to blame her."
"Sis..." Hanabi spoke up qietly, watching her sister with uncertanity written across her face. That was a side of her she hadn't seen in a long time, a side she nearly forgot existed. A Hinata that would stand up to defend herself and the ones close to her. That realization increased the guilt she was feeling deep inside her heart.
"That might be the case and I'm glad to see that you trust her, but her actions were still unacceptable. It was the exact same reason why Sasuke hadn't passed the genin test. Because he was willing to hurt and kill a classmate just because he stood in his way. And even after being banned from the Academy for a year did nothing of his behavior change. That's why the teachers decided to let him fail." Kakashi explained, looking from one genin to the other.
"You mean... when he nearly killed me and C intercepted... that was the reason why he didn't pass?" Naruto asked in surprise, getting a confirming nod from Kakashi.
"To say it simple, yes. From what I understand were there other events as well after that, but it basicly started there." he answered Naruto's question before focusing back on Hanabi. "Now, do you want to say something?" his eyes shifting back to Hanabi, the girl flinching under the look.
"I... I'm..." she started, biting her lower lip. What could she say right now? An appology to her sister and friend for nearly attacking them? An appology to Kakashi for acting like a spoiled rotten little ass? The words of her father entered her mind at that moment and she let her head hang in defeat before quietly speaking up. "I need help..."
That statement left all of them speechless for a moment, silence entering their surroundings, before Hinata spoke up again. "Well... Ino was inside your mind already and tried, but..."
That got Kakashi's attention. "Ino? As in Ino Yamanaka? The heiress of the Yamanaka clan that basicly had no real training with her clan's jutsu under real conditions yet? Was she supervised during that action? Does Inoichi know about that?" there was a seriousness in his voice, paired with a slight worry.
"Uhm... I don't know about her father. But she was all alone when she did." Hinata answered truthfully.
"And I was wondering about why she looked so absent mindly when I stumbled into her team yesterday." he shook his head. "Did she at least tell something useful about what she found?"
Simply shrugging did Hinata shake her head no. "There wasn't really time for that. We don't know what she saw within Hanabi's or my mind."
"..." Kakashi looked at both girls for a moment, processing the informations he just got. "Alright, no more trying to fix these issues all alone. If Inoichi finds out about this will it most likely get ugly... You are aware that you probably ruined your friend for the future, right? At least do I doubt that the inside of both your minds is looking too friendly to a visitor..."
Both girls shrank down at that statement. Hinata wasn't too sure about her own mind, considering that all she ever saw from it was the room her nightmare took place in. Hanabi on the other side was well aware of the deathtrap located within her own mind. And to think that Ino entered it, all alone, without having any practice? That was a thought she don't wanted to bring to an end.
"So..." Naruto spoke up, trying to understand what was spoken. "We need to help Hanabi-chan get over her trauma in order to avoid her going berserk on her teammates, right? That's all nice and stuff, but... that doesn't explain anything about why Hinata-chan is her slave.". Crossing his arms over his chest was he looking at the girls. "I mean, you promised to tell and all."
"Actually... I would like to know that too." Kakashi agreed. "I got the information that this is the stand of things, but I never got any explanation to it. And I need to know if I want to work with you."
A slight blush entered Hinata's face and she looked towards her sister. Hanabi wasn't able to look back at Hinata, guilt still present inside her. All she did was give a simple nod and Hinata understood. "It happened five years ago." Hinata spoke up, getting the attention of the males. "And it's basicly my own fault I ended in this position. Though I didn't really knew what I got myself into back then..."
A good 15 minutes later was she finished explaining about the bet she made with Hanabi, about her clan's code of honor that required her to keep her promise, about how they learned what this actually meant to their lifes. And most importantly about the fact that she accepted the role she had choosen herself, that she was willing to stay with her sister for as long as she had to. The blush on her face had turned crimson by the time she finished. Not really surprising, had she just told the whole story to persons that didn't knew yet.
Kakashi was the first to break the silence, more mumbling to himself than the girls. "Now can I see why C is so obsessed with finding out about this story. He got a good instinct, that's for sure. Wonder how much he would pay to finally hear it?"
Both girls looked at him in disbelief, before anger entered the glares they sent him. "Don't you dare..." Hanabi hissed out, not too happy with the fact that Kakashi basicly had a way to blackmail them now if they wanted C to not learn about it.
"But... but..." Naruto spoke up, still sorting the informations out. "She was about to get violent on Hinata-chan. Even if she is allowed to, even if Hinata-chan is okay with that, what I doubt after seeing her that scared..." he shook his head. "That's all completely wrong!"
"I have to agree with you, Naruto." Kakashi said, nodding his head. "Even if we now know about the why, does it not change the fact that this kind of treatment between teammates is a no-go. You two wanted to create new rules, right?" his eye locked onto Hanabi. "Well, since you two are a part of my team now will I also add to these rules. Any problems with that?"
Knowing that she was in no position to decline that was Hanabi shaking her head. "No... I'm fine with that..."
"Good." Kakashi was smiling before he started right away. "First rule: no getting violent towards any of your teammates, no matter if on a mission or while being free, as long as you are part of my team. Especially as long as you are unstable because of your state of mind. Honestly, I can't really trust you in that matter as long as you aren't over your problems."
"I..." Hanabi started, before slowly nodding her head. "...suppose you are right. Agreed.". Looking towards Kakashi with a neutral expression was she thinking for a moment before adding. "Do you have an idea on how to help me already?"
"Will think of something." Kakashi shrugged at that. "Though maybe your way of trying wasn't that bad at all. Might talk to Inoichi to see if he can help out. Maybe together with his daughter under his guidance, since she already was inside."
Nodding again was Hanabi staying quiet, waiting for anyone to speak more. She really wasn't that eager to say too much right now, not after what happened that day. She hadn't have to wait long before Hinata adressed Kakashi. "Is that your only rule?" she asked curious.
"Actually, I'm thinking of a second one. See, I don't mind her ordering you around. After all, that's her right to do. But I want to make one thing clear. As long as we are officially doing something as a team are my orders absolute. I'm your jonin-sensei and you are my genin now." his focus changed back towards Hanabi. "I will not accept nor tolerate if you are trying to overwrite my orders or to push the orders I'm giving you on your sister. Am I clear?"
"Yes, you are. I'll accept your rules." said girl answered quietly, looking down at the ground. "Is that all?"
"It is, yes. I'll leave the more detailed stuff between you two to yourselfs. After all, you are together like that for five years now, right? I think I can trust you to come up with rules that aren't crazy or dangerous or contra to mine or..." he wanted to say more but got interrupted by Hinata.
"We understand. Thanks for your consideration, really. Hanabi-sama and I will come to an agreement, I'm sure about it." she gave a small smile towards Kakashi who looked back at her for a moment, before shrugging and pulling out his book. His job for the moment was done in his opinion, deciding to get back to reading.
Naruto was listening into the whole exchange of words and kept quiet so far. But now that they were done was he looking towards Hanabi, pondering how to approach the topic on his mind, still holding Hinata close to him. "Hey, Hanabi-chan?" he asked with uncertanity in his voice.
Looking over to her friend was Hanabi flinching slightly, seeing clear mistrust in his eyes, though she couldn't really blame him for that. "... yes Naruto?" she asked quietly.
"Would you mind if I... borrow your sister for the rest of the day?" he asked carefully, a slight sheepish grin entering his face.
That use of words got him the attention of everyone, Kakashi even looking up from his book and Hinata stiffening in his hold. "Uhm... guess not. Might be better if I get some distance to her for the rest of the day anyway."
Turning around to look at Naruto was Hinata's face showing slight worry. "You... want to borrow me?"
"What?" Naruto shrugged, giving her a wide smile. "From what I just learned about you two did it seem right to ask her."
His smile got even wider while Hinata was blushing again, looking away from Naruto. Not only had she just told him and her sensei that she really was a slave, no, what made it worse was that Naruto seriously asked her sister to borrow her. Like an object, an item, a piece of property... she made a grimace, knowing quite well that this was an accurate way to look at this situation. Still made it not any less embarassing to her.
Yamanaka House
Ino's mind was absent when she got home, not really paying any attention to her surroundings, her thoughts running wild. When she passed her mother in the hallway was she not even noticing her presence, just like she didn't reacted to her greeting, leaving a confused woman behind. Her feet led her into the kitchen where she snatched something to eat out of the fridge without really caring for it, placing it on the table and sitting down, crossing her arms over her chest. She let out a long sigh, trying to follow her thoughts, to somehow figuring out why she was bothered by the topic on her mind.
"You okay princess?" Inoichi asked, sitting at the table, having watched his daughter enter the room without paying any attention to him. He wasn't getting any reply however. "How was your first day with your team?" he tried again, hoping that Ino would somehow react. It was the first time that he saw his daughter in this state.
Slowly realizing that someone talked to her, and even slower figuring that she got asked a question, did it need some moments before she even reacted. "Huh? ..." she asked confused, looking up and blinking her eyes. Seeing her father was she shaking her head slowly, still processing what he asked her. "Okay I guess... Asuma-sensei is as lazy as Shikamaru though..." she said quietly, her mind still not really in the present.
It wasn't hard for Inoichi to figure that something was bothering his daughter. After all was he the clan head of the Yamanaka clan, the clan within Konoha that specialized in understanding how the mind works. And it must be something big to be precise, though it clearly wasn't the fact that her sensei was as lazy as her childhood friend. "Okay Ino, listen to me. I can see that something is on your mind. I don't need to be a Yamanaka to realize that right now. But I know that it is something big, judging by the way you are totally lost within your thoughts and spaced out. So, tell me what it is that is keeping you occupied?"
His look was a combination of sincerity and worry, seeing his daughter in this state. She was his only child after all. His very own princess, his treasure. He wasn't able to see his daughter in this state and just sit quietly there, doing nothing.
Not really reacting at first was Ino not sure what or how to answer. She wasn't even sure if she wanted to answer that question at all. When Inoichi was about to ask her again did she however decide to tell him. "You remember that the girls asked for my help the other day?" she started, her voice not firm at all, barely a whisper. Seeing her father nod did she continue. "Well... they asked me to enter Hinata-chans mind. To look if I could find the source of her nightmares she was having for years..."
Inoichi's eyes went wide hearing that. Not only was his daughter using their clan's jutsu without proper training and preparation, no, she had to do it on one of the four persons on which it was propably the most dangerous. He wanted to speak up already, but was beaten by his daughter, who continued. "And when I was back outside... did Hinata-chan ask if I could enter Hanabi-chans mind as well, telling me about things that would be troubling her..."
Make that two of the four persons... "And why haven't you asked me for advice? How often have I told you that entering someones mind could be dangerous? It's one thing to use the jutsu to posses a body, like it's intended, by surpressing the mind of the owner. But it's something completely different and way more dangerous to actually enter that mind..." he sighed, watching his daughter flinch at his words. She must have figured that out with hands-on experience. "Alright... what have you seen? What is it, that is bothering you? How terrible were the minds of your friends?"
Ino blinked her eyes once, twice, listening to the words of her father. "Yes, my friends... I... I wanted to help them. But..." she trailed off, her eyes not focused on anything anymore, loosing herself in her thoughts again.
Hitting the table with his fist brought his daughters attention back to him, her eyes wide open in shock. "Ino... I'm your father and I want to help you. But you need to tell me. Don't make me look into your mind, to search for the memories of these events. After all..."
These words were a bullseye, letting Ino totally snap out off her thoughts, focusing on her father. "Hell no! If you do that... Just no!" she glared at him. No way would she allow him to look into her mind and there, by accident, find out about all her secrets and most intimate thoughts.
"Glad we agree on that, princess." Inoichi gave her a weak smile. "Would you please be so kind and tell me now what you saw, what is bothering you because of that?"
She gave a slight nod before taking a deep breath, sorting the informations within her head for a moment before she started to tell. "In Hinata-chans mind have I met... well... Hinata-chan. Just... she was different... and it were three of them."
"That is actually quite common." Inoichi noted clinically, already starting to analyze the informations his daughter provided. "I suppose the Hinata's you met acted differently from the one you know, right? It's common that different aspects of a personality are seperated beings inside the mind."
"Uhm, yeah, well, I guess. The one was pretty... dominant. Though I haven't seen that side from Hinata-chan for years. The second seemed to be a total prankster. You know, kinda like Naruto. There was a glint in her eyes and a smirk on her face. The third was the one trapt within the nightmare... probably the real one, now that I think about it." she pondered aloud and touched her lower lip in thought. Seeing her father nod to these informations did she continue. "Well, the dominant one led me around... showed me all kind of... images from torture devices... and books that you too own..."
He didn't need to ask her which books she might be referring to. T&I got the informations about the Hyuga sisters, that they would know whom to contact should they ever pick up the officially registered slave. That they would know who is responsible for her actions. He figured that the girls must have at least a decent knowledge about that whole topic to even be able to actually get a slavery license and to register a slave, but the informations he was getting from his daughter now... "How the hell did they got their hands on these books? That... shouldn't be possible at all!" Inoichi exclaimed slightly upset.
Simply shrugging helpless was Ino shaking her head. "I have no idea. All I know is that she also threated to make me her pet and never let me go again... And after we reached the nightmare did she ask me to also enter the mind of Hanabi-chan, to help her, if I could..." she shivered, remembering the way Hinata's dominant side looked at her. Ino was sure that this side of Hinata would really make her threat true and keep her as pet, if she got the opportunity.
"I figured that their minds might be dangerous... but that is..." Inoichi shook his head. "Alright, fine... and how bad was the mind of Hanabi?"
"Dunno..." Ino stated neutraly. "I mean, I found her sitting on a clearing inside a forest. She was surrounded by... things I can only guess might be the problems Hinata was talking about. Trauma that are hunting her..." she shook her head. "A raging inferno... an icy mist filled with ropes... and a shadowy figure that was piercing my soul when it looked at me... she barely reacted to my presence and I wasn't able to talk to her much, even less help her..."
Considering all things he knew about the Hyuga sisters was he really expecting their minds to be places to avoid. But that really got beyong his imagination. "Okay, Ino, listen... I know that going into the mind of another person can be tough to handle. Especially if this mind is burdened with things like your friends went through. But you need to understand that, even if you feel like it all is real, these are just the minds of persons that aren't you. You need to learn to differ between yourself and others. I know it's hard because they are your friends..." he paused for a moment, looking at his daughter in thought. "If you want will I help you to train your mind to be able to realize that difference."
Ino was keeping silent for a long time, thinking over the words of her father, before slowly nodding. "Yes, please do... I... I'm not sure if I'm able to handle that experience without help..." she said quietly, bringing a smile on her fathers lips.
"Of course Ino. That's what your father is here for. To help you grow." the smile turned into an expression of consideration. "Though I do guess, by the sound of it, that your friend Hanabi could really need some help from us..."
Somewhere within the village
Naruto led Hinata to a small park at the outskirts of the village, not talking at all on the way. Knowing that, at least for now, Naruto was the one she had to listen to was she following him in silence as well. After everything that already happened this day was the last thing she wanted to bring Hanabi into any kind of trouble. It was a quiet park with no visitors at all right now, something she was thankful for.
Sitting down in the shadows of a tree was Naruto looking up to Hinata, giving her a warm smile. "No need to look that nervous. All I wanted was to get you away from Hanabi-chan for now and talk a little."
Slightly nodding was Hinata sitting down too, giving him a smile in return. "Thanks, I guess. But I can assure you that I'm fine, really."
He was looking back at her in thought, thinking her words over, before forming a question straight ahead. "Did she ever get violent against you?"
That question hit her by surprise. It was one she wasn't expecting and had to think about. Keeping silent for some moments did a small blush enter her face, when she remembered that she got a single spanking from Hanabi years ago, quite early after she became her slave. But that wasn't violent at all and she was way too embarassed to tell Naruto about that. "No, not once. As I said, I do trust her." she shook her head.
"I see..." Naruto nodded. "So maybe she was telling the truth when she said that was all a trick to get the bells, huh? But still... you have seen her eyes too, right? That was scary..."
"Yeah, I know..." Hinata admitted quietly. "As I also said, she is changing lately. I believe it's because of the things troubling her, so if we can help her might she get back to being her old and happy self. But even if not, she's still my sister. It will be alright."
"You know, you are way too kind for this cruel world, Hinata-chan." Naruto said smiling at her. "That's one of the reasons why I like you."
She couldn't help but let out a giggle at that statement. "Said the one who is always trying to see the good in and on everything."
"Hey! I'm just a positive person." he pouted for a moment. "Something I had to be with all this hate around me. Though I'm not sure what might have been if I hadn't met you two." his voice got quieter at the end, finally shaking his head to get these thoughts out of his head.
"And I'm just a kind person. So maybe are we both not suited for this world, but we still live in it, right? So let's just make the best out of it." a gentle smile entered her lips.
"Suppose you are right." Naruto nodded slowly. "So, we still have some hours of this day for ourselfs, right? What you wanna do?" there was a wide grin entering his face. For now did he hear enough, so he could go ahead and enjoy the time he got to spend with Hinata.
Hyuga Compound
When Hinata came home that evening, the first time all alone after their not too subtle outing the other day, was she glad that nobody stopped her or tried to approach her with the topic of the slavery. She was aware that most likely the whole clan knew by now, considering there were several clan members present when they had the loud discussion with their father and that rumours always spread fast. Having these things on her mind was she really thankful that nobody stopped her. After all, she wasn't too sure how she would or could react in a situation like that, when she was all alone.
Deciding that she should report to her sister that she was back home was she aiming straight for her sisters room, figuring that she would most likely be there. Once entering the room was she greeted by a sight she wasn't expecting. Hanabi was already laying in bed and sleeping, something that surprised Hinata. After all wasn't it too late yet. Sneaking closer to the bed in order to not wake her was she trying to get a better look on the girl. However, she wasn't prepared for the state her sister would be in.
Being close enough to get a good look on Hanabi's face was Hinata clearly seeing stained tears below the eyes and across the cheeks. Her sister had cried before finally falling asleep. She couldn't even remember the last time Hanabi cried, which meant a lot considering she basicly was always around her. But the evidence was in plain view, she had cried. Which meant that the events from the day, the things that happened during the test from Kakashi, were torturing her.
Hinata shook her head. 'I know that she acted in a bad way towards me today... and I'm sure she would have started to hit me if Spooky wouldn't had interfered just to get him to react. Naruto was right, her eyes really were scary... and she knows it herself. She is regretting it, isn't she?' she thought to herself while starting to undress and placing her clothes in a neat pile. 'I wonder if she is having a nightmare now? If it's emotional as bad as the other things...' a small smile entered her face before she slipped under the blanket to her sister, only wearing her underwear now. She wasn't caring about getting her pajamas, the only thing on her mind right now was to get close to her sister in hope of helping her with the nightmare. Just like they always did when they were younger, sneaking into the sisters bed to get some comfort.
Snuggling close at Hanabi's body was Hinata hugging her. She could tell that her sister was kinda stiff, but her breath seemed to be normal. Maybe she wasn't having any nightmare at all, or at least not yet? It wasn't taking too long for her to fall asleep as well.
Somewhere unknown - okay, basicly within Hinata's mind, but she doesn't know it
Hinata found herself in a place she didn't recognized but that still felt somehow familiar to her. Looking around was she realizing that she stood in a deadend. Behind her was just a wall and in front of her was a straight corridor leading towards a door in the distance. She really couldn't help it, but somehow did she knew the architecture of the walls of the corridor. Starting to walk down towards the door was she trying to figure it out.
Already having walked down half of the way was she finally understanding why it looked so familiar to her. She was here before. Well, maybe not exactly in this corridor, but in this complex - or whatever it might be. It was the same architecture of the room she saw the last three years. The room she was trapt in whenever she had her nightmare. The room... So it must most likely be the inside of her mind she figured. And that thought scared her.
Ino hadn't told them yet what she saw inside any of their minds and from what Kakashi said that day was she worried how the inside of both their minds would look like. And the fact that she was inside her own mind right now, probably because she was sleeping, that much did she understand, really scared her. What if she would stumble upon the same things Ino saw? The things that seem to be on Ino's mind since then? Were the inside of their minds really that dangerous that they gave their friend a trauma with this action?
Her thoughts stopped when she finally reached the door, not knowing whether or not she actually wanted to open it. Taking a deep breath and gathering all her courage after a good five minutes was she moving her hand forward, placing it on the door handle. She took another deep breath before pushing the handle down and opening the door.
There was a short flash of light blinding her before her eyes got used to the difference in light. Looking around the room on the other side of the door was she noticing that it wasn't too big at all and had the same architecture as the corridor she just passed. On the opposite side of the room was another door, probably leading deeper into her mind she guessed. Finally did her eyes fell on the scene in the middle of the room that nearly managed to let her forget to breath.
In the middle of the room stood a round table with three chairs placed next to it, one of it on the side she would reach first. The other two chairs stood on the other side of the table and both of them were occupied. On one sat a girl that looked like... well, like Hinata herself she noticed. Just that the clothes she was wearing were far more aggressive than anything Hinata would wear herself if she could avoid it. They were way too revealing for her liking.
But this chair wasn't the one catching her attention. It was the last one on which another girl just like Hinata sat. Just... that she didn't really looked like Hinata. Okay, yes, she did somehow, but the cat ears and tail were something that looked totally wrong on her. Though it was a kinda cute sight she had to admit. The most disturbing thing however was the fourth person inside the room. Another girl, that somehow looked like Ino she noticed, knelt next to the cat-like girl, snuggling close to her leg while the cat-like girl gently stroked the hair of the girl beside her chair.
"Glad you could make it." a voice spoke up, totally startling the confused Hinata who wasn't expecting to hear someone talking right now. She blinked her eyes a few times, looking from one girl to the next, then to the last, before switching back to the first, before she finally realized that it was she herself who had spoken. Well, not exactly she herself, but the she that was sitting at the table, the one with the revealing clothes.
Blinking her eyes another few times was she focusing on said girl, before finally starting to speak herself as well. "You are... me. Right?" she asked carefully, eyeing the girl that spoke to her.
The sitting Hinata couldn't help but chuckle at that. "At least didn't you need as long as Ino over there to realize it. She doubted it even after I told her that I am you.". She was pointing towards the kneeling girl next to the cat-like Hinata while speaking.
So it really was Ino, wasn't she? But she couldn't be here, right? She left her mind and entered Hanabi's after that and also left that one as well. The confusion was written all over her face when she spoke again. "This... isn't Ino, is she? I mean, she can't be here anymore, right?"
Nodding in appreciation did the sitting one start to smile. "I knew that your brain would figure that out. After all, we are the same. It's just an illusion of Ino Kitty over there created to play with. Seems like she took a liking to her when she was visiting us."
The catgirl pouted at that statement. "You are no fun, Mistress. Why did you have to tell her? She looked so cute being all confused..."
"Kitty? Mistress?" the confusion just increased as Hinata tried to make sense out of the situation. It was then that another piece of information hit her. Both girls sitting there were wearing a collar. Or more precise the same collar as she herself did. Or didn't she? She raised her hand up to her neck to feel if she was wearing her collar and quickly confirmed that yes, she did.
"We are you, so why wouldn't we wear it?" the sitting one asked her with a smirk, having read her mind pretty easily right now. "Would you finally stop just standing there and take your seat? As I already said, I'm glad you could make it. You see, the three of us need to talk."
Simply nodding was Hinata finally moving forward into the room, sitting down on the chair that was offered to her. Looking from one to the other was she still trying to make sense out of all this. "So... you are me, right? But you somehow aren't at the same time... Who, or what, of me are you exactly?"
Mistress was throwing a grin towards Kitty. "I told you she would be smart enough to figure it all out.". The grin got delightful when Kitty flinched in defeat. Focusing back on Hinata was she starting to explain. "I am your dominant side and Kitty over there is your mischievous side. Though you managed to block us off pretty good with your little nightmare of yours... you somehow created a mental barrier around it that we just couldn't cross."
"I... did?" Hinata blinked in confusion before slowly nodding. "Fine... you are living inside my mind, so I believe you. What is it you want to talk about? Why am I here?"
Before Mistress was able to speak was she beaten by Kitty. "You just had a whole day with Naruto-kun and haven't done anything. That's sooo boring... no kisses, no touches, you didn't prank anyone... I liked you better before that stupid nightmare..." the catgirl pouted, giving Hinata a reproachful look.
"Now Kitty, behave. We already talked about it, that this isn't the core of the point we wanted to talk to her." Mistress stated flatly with a stern look towards Kitty.
Crossing her arms was the catgirl pouting. "Doesn't make it any less true..."
Hinata had problems to process the informations she was getting and let out a long sigh. "Okay, could you two please stop and just tell me why exactly I am here and what you want to talk to me about?"
"Sure. I mean, we could take ages for it and you would still wake up the next morning..." the dominant one trailed off before grinning. "But yeah, I should get to the point. To put it simple are we not happy with how things are right now. You blocked us off for nearly three years. But we are a part of you, it won't help if you try to deny that."
Hinata was opening her mouth to reply something, before she realized that she didn't knew what to say. Closing her mouth again was the dominant one shaking her head. "Okay, listen, we accept that you are you and that you are our main personality. But the both of us are part of your personality too and we want to take part of your, of our life. Like we did before that stupid nightmare."
Now that got Hinata's attention. "Wait... like before the nightmare? You mean.." she slowly remembered some events and her eyes went wide. "The ramen broth? Or... the bait I played for the paintbomb after Academy started?"
"Ah, yes, I remember these. Though, that was primary Kitty there." the dominant one pointed to the catgirl. "Though I do admit that I was involved in the ramen broth situation as well. What I personally miss is us talking back to Hanabi-sama. Like we did three years ago, in Naruto's apartment. Now that were good times."
Hearing about these events again after these years brought the memories quickly back to Hinata. "We were... arguing with each other... loudly... both of us were pretty angry..."
"Uhu, that's what I mean. See girl, just because we are the slave of Hanabi-sama doesn't mean that we have to accept everything she does. Common, be honest, if she had really start to whip you because of that stupid test Spooky put up... do you think that would have been fair? It wasn't our fault!" the voice of the dominant Hinata increased, slight anger slipping into it.
"I suppose it wouldn't..." Hinata answered quietly, feeling the anger spark inside her as well. Though it wasn't that surprising, considering that the girls in front of her actually are her as well.
"Of course it wouldn't! And that's where you have to talk back to her, to give her a piece of our mind!" she was glaring at the real Hinata now. "In a situation like that do you simply need to let me take the lead. Yes, Hanabi-sama owns us, but we still have rights of our own. If we disagree with her actions does she need to know. It's that simple!"
"And while we are at it..." Kitty piped in with a grin. "...could you give me the lead whenever we are around Naruto-kun. I mean... really, you are just boring the way you are right now. Hell, give me some time with Ino-chan and I'll make her our pet! She's just sooo cute." to emphatize her words was she petting the illusion of Ino, sitting next to her, on the head.
"Just ignore her." Mistress stated with a frown. "Though it's partially your fault for having read the pet book way too often. The idea is stucking with Kitty ever since."
"You surprised with that?" Kitty shot back without missing a beat. "Have you ever cared to actually look at me? How her mind created this side of her personality? Of course am I all for pets!" the catgirl giggled while Mistress rolled her eyes.
Hinata watched the two sides of her with disbelief written all over her face before shaking her head to get her thoughts clear again. "Okay, fine... can we get past the creepy stuff and focus on something else?" she asked, her voice surprisingly firm. When both girls gave her their attention did she continue. "Are there... more of you I should know about?"
Mistress was about to answer before stopping herself, putting a finger on her lower lip in thought. "Actually... I'm not too sure about it. I haven't seen anyone else around." she pondered aloud, looking over to Kitty. "You are the one exploring regulary. Ever met someone and forgotten to tell me?"
"Not at all." Kitty shrugged simply. "I mean, I wasn't everywhere yet, but I never stumbled upon another us. And nothing ever ended up in my traps. Would say it's just the three of us."
"And I suppose I'm going to see you two more often from now on?" Hinata asked carefully.
A wide grin entered the face of the dominant one. "Oh, you bet you will. Now that this mental barrier blocking us of is finally gone? We would be stupid to not take advantage of it.". Seeing the frown on Hinata's face was she starting to chuckle. "No need to worry, silly. We respect that you got first hands on our body. But we will let you know whenever we are not satisfied. Now..."
"...are we done talking and can enjoy ourselfs!" Kitty exclaimed happily, finishing the sentence for Mistress. Creating a deck of cards out of the air was she grinning back at Hinata. "So, how about we use the rest of the night to get to know each other better? Just some smalltalk and a good game of cards."
Seeing the nod from Hinata was the grin changing into a playful smirk and Kitty started to shuffle the cards. Waiting for her to deal them out was Mistress casually asking an innocent question. "So... Strip Poker or Bondage Poker?"
Hinata's head turned crimson red in an instant, looking at the dominant one in disbelief. It was then that she realized the problem she had: she sat at a table together with herself, meaning whatever was spoken was created by her own. 'Maybe I really shouldn't have read that many books about all these things...' she thought to herself, letting her head drop onto the table in defeat. There was no point in arguing with another part of her personality - though admitting that somewhere deep down she was a pervert or intrested in this kind of stuff was out of question for her as well...