Chapter 4 Going Under
A/N: apparently no review is needed, because in the two days this story had been created and updated on 19 of you lovely people have come to see my work. I am flattered, Thank you. Hopefully you continue to check on Naruto. Well I assume you know what's coming right? Time to Meet with Ibiki and Inoichi! *Sighs*
This is a NIGHTMARE! The deep voice of the Nine Tailed Fox echoed in Naruto's head as he approached the two men. Ibiki is here to intimidate you, Inoichi on the other hand is going to trifle through your mind. If there is something you don't want him seeing, seal it off TIGHTLY. But not obviously, otherwise he'll most likely want in… I'm going to try and be scarce as possible to avoid detection….. Good Luck Brat.
Naruto blinks as he processes what the tailed beast said, he smiles at Ibiki and Inoichi so they won't notice he was paying attention to the fox. Ibiki seemed like he really didn't want to be there, He probably didn't care about Naruto all that much.
"Well, Naruto, Lady Hokage wants the Intelligence division to make sure you're the real Naruto. Shall we head down there now?" Inoichi's voice cut through the awkward silence. Naruto Looks his way with a wry smiles he nods.
Inoichi took the lead with Naruto behind him, Tomoko and his sister Jun stood on either side of Naruto and Ibiki followed in last. Ibiki stares at Naruto continuously to the point where Naruto nervously glances behind him.
The moment he does, Ibiki locks eyes with the kid then immediately looks away as if embarrassed. Naruto cocks his head to the side, but remains silent as he follows Yamanaka-san. The come to a large building near the Hokage Mansion, the four adults waste no time waltzing into the facility.
Swallowing nervously Naruto follows, they head down the levels to the lowest point. In the middle was a large device with three people on the outer side which is crescent shaped, in the middle of the crescent shape was a round half circle with an opening big enough for a person to fit in side.
Looking around Naruto realised that the device is used to enhance Inoichi's family abilities, and those abilities would be used on him today. Inoichi walks up to the machine and places a hand down on top of it, the moment he does the machine opens up and reveals the opening for the person in question.
Turning with a smile on his face Inoichi waves the blond over to him hesitantly Naruto approaches the man. "Don't worry Naruto, we're not here to hurt you, unless you're not our Naruto. But I believe you are, after all trying to impersonate Uzumaki Naruto would not only be difficult but stupid all together." Inoichi gently pats Naruto's head, he then notions to the three other people in the room.
"Here we have Tonbo Tobitake, Mawashi Dokuraku and Mozuku to help with today's little mission." His voice is kind, Naruto's eyes scan over each of them who nod lightly at him, as to not ignore his presence. Inoichi motions for Naruto to enter the device's center, slowly Naruto works up the courage and enters the device.
Once centered the device closes around Naruto so that only his head is visible, he is locked in place facing Inoichi. Leaning forward the older blond unties the forehead protector with the leaf village sigil and removes it from Naruto's person. The three shinobi behind him place their hands down on the seals in front of them and transfers chakara through the device.
Inoichi lays his hand upon Naruto's head and begins using his Psycho Mind Transmission technique. It only takes a moment for Naruto to enter a pseudo sleep state as Inoichi descends into the blond's psyche.
Normal a person's psyche is a dark colour, not so much depressing but a colder calmness. But Uzumaki Naruto's psyche was a rich orange colour that faded into red and yellows, his mind was indeed warm and caring. Even in a pseudo sleep state Naruto was 'active' his mind buzzed with emotions and memories. Inoichi couldn't help but examine them.
Each memory had emotions attached to them, each memory echoed that emotion strongly. In one memory a small Naruto was walking through the streets when an older villager purposely pushes into him knocking him to the ground, then harshly tells him to watch where he is going and calls Naruto a monster.
As he watched the incident unfold a twinge of hurt crosses Inoichi, the same emotion echos through the memory. Yet, Naruto continues to smile. Inoichi continues on ward, looking for something. After about a few minutes he finds what he's looking for to confirm that this was indeed Uzumaki Naruto.
The room he enters is large and dark, its emotion is of rage, despair and hate. Unbridled hate, stepping further in Inoichi finds the Gate and seal. Behind the Gate is a deep blackness, so dark not even the little light in the room could reach it.
As he stared into the darkness two large red eyes appear before him, their slitted pupils focus intently on Inoichi. Soon the face of the beast is revealed as it presses its muzzle to the Gate, its Large claws wrap around the bars, ears lay flat and nine large fluffy tails swish back and forth if counting the time.
"Mind Walker, you have entered my host's psyche and intrude into my space. What brings you here…?" The beast speaks in a deep voice as it watches Inoichi carefully. Inoichi is quiet for a moment before speaking to the creature.
"I came here in search of you. To confirm that the boy in front of me is indeed Uzumaki Naruto I had to make sure that the Nine Tailed Beast was sealed within him" His words were blunt yet the fox felt a sense of warmth from them.
"You've found me, now leave my space and refrain from walking through Naruto's mind. It may seem inviting now, but the boy is still human and thus the darkness of the human soul lingers behind the bright lights." the Beast remarked. Swishing his tails a bit faster. Inoichi raised his brow in interest and confusion.
"Darkness lingers behind bright lights?" He asked the beast before him. Kyuubi sighs and thinks for a moment. He seemed unsure of how to address the man before him. Then began to speak once more.
"How does one who withstands pain smile so brightly? How does one, whose heart is stricken with bitter sorrow stay positive? How does one who cries in anguish, Laugh so freely?"
Inoichi stops and thinks for a moment, pondering the questions asked. After what seemed like an hour Inoichi looks directly at Kyuubi and smiles sadly. "The answer is love."
Kyuubi blinks in surprise, then laughs roaringly. "Love…. Something he has never had and yet he still claims to love you. He claims to love all the villagers even though they have hurt him and cursed at him. Yes Yamanaka Inoichi, father to Yamanaka Ino and a Mind walker. The answer is love. And Yet even with all the love in his heart there is still darkness, and that darkness is something best left alone, or else it could rise like a flame and devour Naruto."
Inoichi flinches at the bitter truth coming from the large fox, looking away he sighs sadly. "I've found what I needed, I will be leaving now. Thank you." with that Inoichi turns and leaves, as he is walking out and away from the room he hears the fox say one last thing.
"Watch him carefully Mind Walker, I sense that Naruto and I are in danger and not only from the Akatsuki members, but something far more sinister with an innocent appearance…. I feel his soul is…. Going Under"
With those words Inoichi break the jutsu and connection between himself and Naruto, whom wake from his forced sleep. Inoichi looks down at the barely conscious boy, his large innocent blue eyes trying hard to open as a yawn escapes him. The device lets Naruto go and the boys stumbles, losing balance he lightly collapses to the ground with a thud.
"Even though I've been asleep, I feel beyond exhausted." Naruto yawns again, rubbing his eyes. Inoichi can't help but smile slightly as Naruto struggles to wake up.
If it wasn't for the Nine Tailed Fox waiting within his psyche I'd swear Naruto would be the cutest little kid besides my Ino Inoichi remarked to himself. Seemingly lost in thought while staring at a half aware Naruto, Inoichi didn't hear the door open or any of his cohorts address the person who entered the room.
"Duh-Aaa-duuh!" a familiar female voice whined, turning around to face the owner Inoichi came face to face with his daughter Ino. She seemed to slightly glare at her father before looking at the ground to see Naruto.
Her turquoise eyes widen slightly as she question her father about Naruto being here. Her father rapidly dismissed the question and asked Tomoko and Jun to take Naruto home. Tomoko quickly lifted the twelve year old over his shoulder, he and his sister vanished in a puff of smoke.
Huffing with dissatisfaction at being ignored she asked her father again why Naruto was in the Psycho Mind Transmission room. Inoichi remained quiet for a moment then asked of his daughter
"Ino, you've known Naruto for a while, you would be able to spot a change in behavior right? If something were different?"
Ino was taken aback by her father's question but nodded. "Of course, I think any of us eight out of the nine genin would be able to tell if one of us was acting all weirdly…. Why?" she retorted.
Her father smiled weakly before answering her. "There's not much I can say, only that if Naruto begins to act strange, not himself at all in any extreme way, please let me know immediately. Alright?"
Ino looked down for a moment, looking back up she nodded. "Mother wants to know what time you'll be home." she tried to change the subject. Her father ruffled her hair and laughed.
"I'll be home by seven tonight, just in time for supper. Now run along my little piglet."
Ino was smiling until her father said piglet, she puffs her cheeks out in protest but that only made him laugh more. As she leaves she waves to the other members of the PMT team in goodbye, each one waves back at her with a smile. Once she was out of sight Inoichi dismisses the others and heads straight for Lady Tsunade's office to relay the info he received while in Naruto's mind.
Inoichi pushes the door to the Hokage office open very quickly, as he does so he addresses lady Tsunade about the information he has found. "My Lady. I have confirmed that this is indeed Uzumaki Naruto."
Tsunade smiles relieved, but Inoichi continues "That is not all my lady, it seems that the nine-tailed fox itself is worried about Naruto, The nine-tailed fox claims that there's something far more Sinister than the Akatsuki coming after Naruto."
Lady Tsunade looks at Inoichi puzzled and worried.
"Did the Fox say what was coming for Naruto?" She asked in a low voice.
Inoichi shook his head. "All he said was he and Naruto were in danger and not just from the Akatsuki. Something far more sinister with an innocent appearance, and that he feels Naruto's soul was 'Going Under'. I'm not entirely sure what that means."
Lady Tsunade frowns as she scratches her head. "This is most peculiar indeed, Inoichi, please keep this information between me, you and Hatake Kakashi. If you could relay this information now that would be excellent."
Inoichi smiles oddly and nods "of course lady Hokage" and with that he was gone, off to find Kakashi.
Lady Tsunade sighs and looks out the window at the village and its inhabitants below. Something far more sinister with an innocent appearance? More of a threat then the Akatsuki members? She ponders over and over again. As she watches her village she catches a glimpse of Tomoko his sister Junko, Naruto and Sasuke heading off towards Naruto's place. Her eyes narrow for a moment as she repeats the words.
Going Under….