Chapter 2 – Breakdown

POV: Ibiki

I watch the man in the room talk to the device in his hand, repeating what it said at times and at others saying it even before. From what the cameras had picked up it was using images to teach him their language which explains quite a bit but brings up even more questions to add onto the several there already were. Why he had the chakra core of a newborn upon discovery being one of them and how did he get here? Was he planning to come? That would certainly explain him learning the language. But what language was it he was speaking when thy got him talking? It was certainly nothing he had ever heard before. We had tried writing down what he said and deciphering it like it was a code but had gotten nowhere.

His behavior has changed as time passed as well in disturbing ways. Resignation, increased fear, a lessening of cooperation and defiance or absolute subservience to their wishes, these are things I was expecting to observe to see how he was reacting to the situation but I had not expected that as time passed I would observe all that and more. It is true that doing so is a good way to not have your intentions read if you have not been trained to not react but there have been noted triggers and patterns, almost as if he is six different people in one body.

Him being a spy is unlikely but despite no sign being present that does not mean he is not a threat whether willingly or not... not everyone does things traditional way and not everyone has morals. I have given him time and from what I see of his struggles he has not learned enough of our language to communicate properly.

"Bring me Yamanaka Inoichi!" It is time I had answers.

POV: Inoichi

I have observed, interrogated, and downright forced information from people. In the process of this I have seen many minds but what I saw now disturbed me like no other. The moment he entered the room the childish man before him seemed to change into another personality that commanded respect and seemed to have been expecting me somehow and not only that his eyes and features seemed to shift somewhat with the change. "Last resort?" Those words caught me off guard more than before but I did not allow it to show. There is no way that would be a good idea with someone as insane as this.

"Yes, I am going to enter you're mind, all of your secrets will be laid bare and we will get this cleared up once and for all and if you are a threat... well I am sure you can imagine, now is there anything you would like to say before we begin?" Instead of tensing up like expected the man simply nodded curtly. "I assume you have backup hidden behind the doors and we are being observed, this is good. You chose to do this here to make it more comfortable for me due to you not wanting me on edge but you are making things clear so I have a last chance to come clean of everything I imagine. You also have yet to use physical torture other than mild starvation and cramped quarters and given the circumstances I understand. So I am going to give you a life saving tip."

As the man finished saying this two Anbu appeared kunai at his throat due to the perceived threat but he continued talking as if he didn't notice. "Speak to me and only me in there and do not wander off if you want to live, this is a warning not a threat. Not everyone is as amiable and understanding as myself. You may do as you please." After finishing his apparent warning Inoichi prepared his jutsu and entered the man's mind, after all, he was bound with seals that restricted movement and blocked chakra. What is the worst that could happen?

POV: Dustin- in the mindscape

"Issac what's going on out there and why are you being so stubborn lately? If they were all that bad I am sure that they would have tried to flay me and they are even keeping Duke alive I am sure things'll work out." Suddenly Issac's head snapped towards the cave of mirrors where everyone went to speak or take their turn of control when it was their turn. "Looks like Issac's pulled the stick out of his ass kid we have a guest! Get me off these chains eh? I'll give em a real warm welcome eh?" I scowled at the figure of Jacob staked to the tree next to me. It always irritated me how, like all the others he had developed to look almost like my twin like everyone else here, other than longer hair, blood red eyes, and paler skin he was me. Well other than that and his desire to torture and destroy every living thing he saw.

"What in Kami's name is this?" Jumping in shock I turned to see who was talking. Eyeing him suspiciously I memorized every detail I could, being able to get in here could be wonderful, or dangerous. Ash blonde hair tied back in a ponytail, blue-green eyes, and holy hell that face... no way was I forgetting a face that defined. "You first, how and why are you here, I want answers now!" I demanded, if he accidentally freed Jacob I was going to die. I had no illusions that his berserker strength would overcome the people in the world outside, he would get us killed, end of story.

"Calm down Dustin he has rules to follow. The sadist will stay where he is, This man will get his answers, and after we will just have to see." I nodded and kept my head down, albeit begrudgingly. Just like in my original world Issac seemed to form in my mind first and blocked off Jordan before he was able to do anything. He may not be the most fun of the alternate personalities or whatever in my head but he certainly was the smartest and most logical. Patting my shoulder and giving it a squeeze I wandered off into the trees. It wouldn't be very nice of me to not tell the others about this after all. Besides, we were apparently going to need some defense in here as well not just Jacob's blood tree.

POV: Issac- in the mindscape

"Now then Yamanaka san, we can speak in private and be able to understand each other easily. Was that the point of this?" I smirk inside as I watch him try to force himself to be able to read the memories from where he was. "You won't be getting anywhere like that. My will is what created this place and here I have full control. The memories you want to see are in the river over there." As I inform him of this I point to the river flowing behind the Cave of Mirrors then gesture for him to follow. "Now focus your willpower into the river, however you do than while focusing on what you want to know. I will allow you three questions for the river and then you must go."

It is obvious as can be he does not approve of this as he kneels to down and places his hand on the river but I do not care. I want this to be over one way, or another. I have to bite my lip to resist laughing as he gapes at the memory of how Dustin got here, I did not expect him to have such a reaction to such a thing seeing as he could enter people's minds for heaven's sake. "He was brought here by a demon I see" Not good, I need to stop this line of thought now. "I do not know of what exists in your world but I can assure you that being you are seeing is not a demon. They serve the goddess Inari in our world. Pay attention to why he is here before you judge." Hopefully pointing this out will help if not there are going to be problems.

"Give me one reason I should trust that there isn't some trick here he does not know about." He still seems calm maybe he will live after all. "Because if the gods in the group Inari is a part of willed it, you would have no sign that your world was going to end, and seeing as you do not even know of them I doubt you have insulted them. This is not their world to rule after all." He nods at this and I breathe a mental sigh of relief. Disaster has been averted for now.

The Yamanaka seems to be looking at another time he performed a ritual now and seems utterly confused with how things are done. I imagine things are different here. "What kinds of jutsu are these rituals as he thinks of them? I didn't see any effect with the others." Ah a good question on his part. In our world it is called magic and I can assure you he was very surprised to see one himself. The goal is to send your will into the world around you to make changes. The energy of your will affects the world around you to give the desired effect and usually it is small things that happen. The effects are so small in fact that people often question if it is real, such as being more aware and finding money on the ground when you do a ritual for monetary gain, or perhaps an increase in pay at work. For it to work you need great visualization skills and to be crafty and a somewhat decent artists. Was curiosity your only reason for asking?" He seems thoughtful but with what they are already capable of I do not see why he would want to try it so it must be something else.

He watches me for a moment before sighing and I am immediately on guard, I expect for us to be used if we are to stay here but that is how things are in my world as well. I imagine they are more direct about it here though and if it turns out slavery is an option they are considering with any amount of sincerity they are going to be in for a very big surprise. "Do you think he could handle life as a shinobi?" That... is not what I expected. If he himself is a shinobi then I believe it is safe to assume fighting and assassination are involved along with various other things. Thinking it over carefully I give him the best and most honest answer I can. "He will need time off if he kills to not give the one you saw bound more strength. During this time allow him what he needs to do so and he will likely come up with as many new jutsu as possible. Assign him a female assistant/handler, I am not sexist he won't trust a man quickly enough, not at all if the conditions aren't perfect. Lastly introduce him to people who like to goof off and relax, people who seem the tolerable kind of crazy. Most likely he will befriend them. Again it is important, he doesn't trust easy, but he will destroy the world for those he cares about. Can these conditions be met?" I can't give much of that but the assistant could be taken off if they watch in another way without letting him know but I'll need time to think of something if he needs anything else changed or can't do one of the other things.

Looking at me carefully I can tell he is trying to gauge my seriousness and honesty but I keep my face as impassive as always. I may be a manipulator but I am not a liar I am not going to be happy at this chance and it will be hard to keep him stable in that line of work. They need to know this ahead of time. "I will see what I can do. From what I see of his room during the rituals the technology there is different can it be replicated here?" I honestly doubt that due to our lack of knowledge and tell him so. Dustin never had an interest in anything but traditional weapons and had to buy a new things instead of fixing them himself. Science maybe an option if things work similarly here due to his love of the natural sciences. I find my mind wandering at this thought to the time when he took all the books the highschool was throwing out on science before he had even finished his first year in junior high but before a smile forms on my face a deep pain runs through me as if I had blood in my non-existent veins. This is not good, not good at all! Snapping my eyes to the shinobi at the river I see him looking at one memory no one should dredge up. I should have found a way to seal it before I allowed this but I didn't think he would be asking any questions that would bring up anything like that! Jerking him away I look him straight in the eyes fighting off a scream as the pain comes again three times worse. "Get out! You have your answers now leave and clear the room and keep him inside at all costs. I will knock three times in three sets when it is safe and will explain later now go!" Somehow he sees how serious the situation and leaves and as I turn to try to push other memories to the surface I see how. Standing on the opposite side of the river is Dustin, only much younger like in the memory. His eyes are blue instead of brown with the whites solid red and he is crying tears of blood. Shock runs through me as I see Kaze no Sutookaa appear next to me fangs bared, she is not angry at him though. I knew she was here and I knew she would protect us if Yamanaka had tried anything funny. She was somehow hiding in our mind before I was even formed again so I know she knows what happened. As she looks at me the pain comes once more and I know I won't be able to fight this pull much more but she seems to have a plan. "Seal off that memory somehow, I do not care how you do it I will try to calm him down and hold him off if I can not. You must do this!" Immediately after she says this she leaps to the other bank shifting as she does to the form of a woman with long white hair and yellow vulpine eyes and attempts to reason with him but I block out what she is saying in favor of sealing the memory.

I succeeded a moment too late... "That man was just like them! He watched that cause he likes those things to and wants to do them to I hate him! I hate them ALL!" was the last thing I hear him say before my vision leaves me, followed by the shattering of Jacob's stakes.