Chiisai opened her eyes. No windows, neutral walls, wooden table with chairs… No decorations, nothing to dull the blaring light hanging from the ceiling. The ninja let go of her arm, ushering her to the nearest chair. She averted her eyes from him and remarked, "Is there a reason I'm about to be interrogated?"
He smirked before vanishing, leaving her alone in the small room. She sank down in the seat, her shoulders sagging as she stared at the rough grain of the table.
What had Farm Boy said? Something about dreaming?
She shook her head, cutting off that corner of her thoughts. No, he wasn't Farm Boy. She was just spooked from her dreams this morning, it had her wound up and everything reminded her of that. He wouldn't know anything having to do with the things that happened when she closed her eyes at night. This had nothing to do with that dream, of Hatake discovering her most prized secret.
You're dreaming. That's what Farm Boy said.
It had taken years of her childhood to be convinced what was a dream and what was reality. How many times had her mother gone half mad trying to convince little Chiisai that she was real, that her parents were real, that dying wouldn't wake her up? Chiisai had traveled down that road too many times, and acknowledging that she still was unable to tell the difference of the two worlds would kill all sanity she had managed to grasp over the years.
A sharp rattle on the door shocked her out of her thoughts as a massive man marched in, dressed head to toe in black. Morino Ibiki- the man, who as a boy, dreamed of Orochimaru twisting into a snake and slithering around him…And at the age of ten was so worried about the chunin exam that the feelings bled into his sleeping mind. He had learned at a young age that pain was a useful tool for getting things his way, as long as his conscious justified it.
"Karasu Chiisai."
"Yes." She tried to ignore her rising heartbeat and her clammy hands. This man had no problem showing no mercy. Something serious must be happening if they sent him.
He sunk down in the chair opposite of her, his face stern as his appearance. "Do you know why you're here?"
"No." She blinked and for a moment saw Orochimaru in the chair, his pale limbs sinking into his flesh as he transformed into a hissing snake. Her breath caught in her throat and she squeezed her eyes shut. Don't make eye contact. Don't remember his nightmares. It's not real.
"Chiisai?"
"Hmmm?" She flickered her eyes to the jagged scar on his cheek as she forced herself to take a deep breath.
"You seem nervous." His voice was hard, almost suspicious.
She recovered quickly. "I'm just a bit confused. How did you all know that ninja was in the library?"
The man cleared his throat. "We received a message this morning. We have evidence suggesting someone it posing as Hatake Kakashi."
Whoever was disguising himself as Hatake must have a death wish. Chiisai crossed her legs, trying to appear confident. "And what does that have to do with me?"
"We believe it has to do with your father. Ninja easily make enemies, and your father was no exception."
She nodded, though her heart caught at the mention of her father. "So…Do you know the man who's posing as Farm-", she shook her head, "-I mean Hatake?"
Ibiki's eyes narrowed for a moment, unseen by Chiisai. His words were straight to the point. "No. It's likely someone wants revenge and is looking for a relative to kill as retribution. It's not uncommon."
Her blood ran cold at his words. A life for a life it seemed, that would be her end. Maybe the dream was a warning for her demise. Voice slightly unsteady, she asked, "So…Is Hatake alright then? The real one I mean?"
The interrogator tensed, but spoke with the same gruffness as before. "He's on a mission currently. You do not need to worry about him."
"Oh." But her heart wouldn't let her. What if he was hurt? What if someone had killed him? He couldn't be dead. He was one of the most capable ninja she knew. But did she know? Chiisai's hands balled into fists. Why was she fretting over someone she didn't know? Her thoughts kept wandering back to the man in the library, whose eye seemed so full of darkness but who said her name with such conviction. Who was the man behind the mask?
Ibiki straightened, pulling her out of her thoughts. "You will be under protection until this matter is resolved. Do you think anyone would want you other than for retribution?"
Chiisai swallowed, forcing herself to look him in the eyes. With a shrug, she only replied, "No, I'm just a librarian."
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Kakashi eyed the four ninja around him, all crouched with the readiness for battle. Unfortunately, Chiisai was gone. Cursing himself, he waited for them to make the first move. They came at him in one second intervals, each with kunais in hand. He flung the first two into bookshelves and used substitution for the others. He easily had the four down without a scratch on him in a span of seven seconds. In unison, the four slowly rose, turning to face their opponent once more.
"Well," Kuroi's voice spoke through them, "you're a bit early, Hatake."
Kakashi met the four head on, sparks flying off of their clashing kunais. He didn't reply. It was likely Kuroi only attacked like this to keep the mask of normality on. Also, if he was already in control of many minds, his power might be limited. Kakashi wouldn't be able to hide in enemy territory this time. Kuroi had control of everything, excluding he and Chiisai. If her father was playing the normality card, it was likely Chiisai would have been taken into custody. But Kakashi was in desperate need of information in order for this mission to succeed. He hesitated on lifting his headband up, but dropped his hand.
"You know, it was fun watching you try to put the pieces together," Kuroi said as he jumped back. "I must say though," he continued with disdain, "you've haven't really surprised me yet."
Kakashi's eye narrowed as he punched a ninja through the wall. "So you were watching ever since the seal broke."
The ninjas came at him again, their faces plastered with grins as they replied, "I haven't just been sitting on the sidelines, Hatake. I used Chiisai's ability against her at the first opportunity. She was the one that gave herself the concussion." He tilted his head forward and added, "So you should probably release that man in custody."
Kakashi's eyes widened. Realization came as quick as the kunai slicing through his sleeve. Chiisais' sporadic moments of clarity made sense now. "You practiced on Chiisai."
The ninjas all nodded and replied, "She's far smarter than she appears. I had to dull her mind before she realized what was happening. But she still managed to warn you somehow." Their eyes lingered on Kakashi's hidden eye. "If you use your Sharingan, Chiisai dies."
Kakashi's brow furrowed but he didn't respond.
The ninjas gave him a faint smile. "Oh, you're definitely the son of the White Fang. He had the same weakness."
"It's not a weakness." The white haired jonin didn't finish as he attacked one of the ninja. The four ninja halted as Kakashi drove a kunai into the man closest to him. Kakashi straightened and yanked the weapon out. The body collapsed as he said, "Your lust for revenge will be your downfall."
"Oh really?" Kuroi smirked at Kakashi, lifting an eyebrow as he spoke. "I'm not the one who has to rely on a rather weighty gamble to succeed. The only way you know how to defeat me is through Chiisai, and I already have her." He voice strengthened as he continued on. "You are the only person Konoha can depend on as their village crumbles within their own walls, and you barely know anything," He chuckled. "The idiocy of the situation is truly remarkable."
Kuroi turned away from him then, lifting a hand in farewell. "Go find my daughter if you can, Hatake. I'll be waiting."
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Chiisai stared at Ibiki, her eyes wide with shock. "You…Want to know what?"
Ibiki watched her carefully, noting her rigid posture. He leaned forward, his face set like stone. "Your father and mother died a week a part. Your father's autopsy could not pinpoint a cause for such a thing. I would like to know if you have any information regarding that incident."
"Well…I…" she stammered, not sure what to say. She was positive Ibiki could hear her heart thundering against her sternum. "I…I thought I made it clear during that time I had no knowledge of what happened. I was interrogated several times." Chiisai knew she was trying to close herself off. Her feet were tucked under, her hands drew closer to her chest…She was giving herself away just by sheer body language.
Ibiki leaned against the chair, making it creak under his weight. "Yes, I have that here as well." He gestured to a file. "However," he looked into her eyes, "I am not satisfied with the reports."
She could see his eyes gaping into hers. She stifled a sob as his mouth drew open in silent cry. Ibiki's body froze as a kunai suddenly protruded from of his chest. Blood turned his clothing even darker as it spread across his now shaking form. The smell of it made bile rise in Chiisai's throat as she covered her mouth in horror.
"Chiisai." His voice snapped at her, making her blink as she suddenly gasped for air. Ibiki sat before her, a look of concern crossing his face.
"Are you alright?" His hands were pressed against the table, as if he was ready to rise from his chair. Chiisai held up a hand as she tried to control her breathing.
"I-I'm fine," she lied. "Talking about this just brings back memories. That was a hard time for me." She silently flung a string of curse words at herself. Seeing a person's nightmare wasn't uncommon. Usually when Chiisai saw someone she wasn't seeing them, rather, their dreams she watched as a child. But this…this was incredibly vivid and was melting into the present. She needed to gain control.
Ibiki studied her. She knew that answer could only hold his approval for a moment.
"I know it's hard, but any information you can give will help better equip us. Though this is a closed case, many still believe your parents were murdered. Their murderer might be coming for you."
Chiisai laced her fingers together as she set them on her lap. The table blocked Ibiki from seeing them shake. "My father slipped into a coma while he slept. Neither me or my mother knew about it until we woke up. As I-I said in the other reports, my mother was not mentally stable after that." She paused, trying to swallow as she forced the memories down. "I was the one who found her unconscious. Alcohol poisoning- she drank herself to death."
"But you have no explanation for your father's."
She shook her head, though her heart was pounding yes, her whole body seemed to be crying out, "I did it! I killed him!" She had to become an empty shell, just like back then. Don't think, don't feel. It was an accident. It wasn't on purpose. But oh, the relief that filled her-
"I need you to tell me the truth," his voice rose with a warning. "I do not mind getting the answer by force."
Chiisai closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She would get in trouble, but it was better than her other options. Chiisai's voice was clear as she confessed, "My dad sold top secret information to other villages. He started during the Third Great Shinobi War."