AN: So, I have expanded this one-shot to make a bigger story out of it, upon popular request. But, I don't have the full plans stretched out as of now, so I hope nobody is disappointed too much if this story remains incomplete after a few chapters. If you are one of those who'd really like to see this one-shot flesh out into a complete story, I'd be honestly grateful for your suggestions.
x-x
Uzumaki Naruto was in a cell.
The people of Konoha know this room as one of many wards for injured ninja. It has the standard white walls, an adequate bed, surprisingly comfortable pillows and various marvels of sealing that allowed the medics to monitor the vitals of those making use of the room.
But no matter how ample the food, and how great the view out the window, the simple fact that he wasn't allowed to leave made this, in fact, a cell.
After the disastrous fight against Ino, the Hokage had personally escorted him back to Konoha proper. Naruto accepted that a part of it was concern for his well-being, but as the leader of the village, the Sandaime couldn't put much trust in his state of mind. Hence, the polite request to get checked up. By a Yamanaka. Yeah, it wasn't really a request, and hadn't he taken an oath to follow the orders of his Hokage?
It had been a day since Naruto saw anyone he knew. All his attendants were perfectly polite and perfectly professional. He chuckled. "Man, if I knew that all I had to do to get some neutrality was to go berserk, I would've done it a long time ago." His latest attendant, a chunin Kunoichi whom he certainly had never seen before, didn't even twitch as she checked the readings.
No doubt there had been meetings to decide what to do with him. Naruto was thinking a lot about that himself. Hopefully, the council hadn't fared any better than him. Mostly, he had been trying not to think of any of his fellow genin, especially Ino, while doing his best to set his mother's features into memory.
His musings over whether or not it was okay to find his mother beautiful were interrupted with the arrival of Yamanaka Inoichi. Naruto couldn't help flinching. Seriously, the first person he had to face had to be the father of the girl he'd almost killed? Weren't there other Yamanaka he could be checked by?
"Uzumaki-san, how are you feeling?" There was no hint of anger or resentment or anything emotional in Inoichi's tone.
"I'm not sure. Heh, that's why you're here, aren't you?"
"Come with me, then."
Naruto shrugged and followed him out the door. Hey, if the other guy wasn't gonna bring stuff up, then he was happy to go along with it.
He was led out of the hospital and towards the one of the many administrative offices clustered around the Hokage tower. A few people looked at them, but strangely, no one stared or whispered or made any indication that they were in spitting distance of the hated one. Naruto actually felt weird.
He shook it off as they made their way into what could only be called an interrogation chamber. There weren't any gruesome torture devices or anything, but neither were there any coffee machines, comfortable chairs, or even windows.
Naruto sat in the only chair left, after Inoichi-san took the okay-looking one. He was pretty sure his chair was made uncomfortable to sit in on purpose. Hey, he was recalling the relevant classes from the academy, believe it!
After a couple of minutes in which his questioner made no move to speak, Naruto decided to break the ice. There was something bugging him. "You used a genjutsu to prevent anyone from noticing us on the way over, didn't you?"
Inoichi-san observed him for a moment longer before surrendering a single word. "Yes."
"Is it because of me, or because of the location?" Naruto smacked himself a second later. "Heh, I suppose the answer is both, ne?"
Inoichi decided to let the genin talk by himself, for now. Naruto came across as much more intelligent and observant after the incident, but he still seemed to retain his energy and impatience. Predictably, he didn't keep silent much longer.
"Eh, I don't suppose you can stop the genjutsu? It feels strange. Besides, it's not necessary now, right?"
Inoichi quirked an eyebrow. 'The boy's chakra capacity hasn't altered much, but he is much better at detecting genjutsu now, when he was clueless before'. This felt interesting enough to keep his parental side back with ease. "One of the walls isn't real. We are being observed. Please ignore that, it is only standard procedure."
Naruto frowned in his mind. He didn't really care who was watching, but if Inoichi-san wasn't going to co-operate, then neither was he, dattebayo! What happened in the arena wasn't his fault!
The next few minutes passed in absolute silence. Naruto prevented himself from fidgeting by recalling his mother's voice. 'They can't do anything to take those memories away from me. I will allow no technique to erase mum's love from my mind. I have nothing to fear from them. Nothing.'
Inoichi allowed himself to sigh. 'His bull-headed stubbornness is still there too. What are the actual changes in his character, then?' With no visible sign, he let Naruto perceive the area that he couldn't, till now. The boy didn't immediately turn, as he once would have.
Naruto remained calm, even as he was wondering inside. 'Whoa! I couldn't sense that corner at all. The technique even prevented me from smelling anything over there! I gotta learn that!' He spoke up once he sensed the people in the corner. "Thank you, Yamanaka-sama. Eh, actually, I'd rather not feel the audience. Sorry!"
Inoichi narrowed his eyes as Naruto scratched the back of his head awkwardly. 'Clever kid! He's trying to control the pace of the interrogation.' Silently, he let the wall come up once more.
Naruto didn't let his guard down. 'It can't be that easy. He's only humoring me. Jiji and Kakashi-sensei had every right to be here, but what was that faint flowery smell mixed with jiji's tobacco smoke and Kakashi-sensei's doggy odour? Ah. Ino is also watching. Then, maybe, those other vague smells? Hmmm, if Kakashi-sensei is here, then Sasuke and Sakura must be here as well. Sensei is a lot into teamwork like that. He's going to make them feel responsible for my mental state. What to do with it?'
Naruto grinned. "So, Yamanaka-sama, since you're being so friendly, can I go? I'm craving a bowl of ramen, believe it!" He heard the sound of someone smacking their forehead. 'Ha! This technique is only trying to block my mind. I can still sense everything. Man, the Yamanaka have cool mind techniques. But Iruka-sensei said any genjutsu weakens once the victim understands it.'
Inoichi openly frowned. 'Time to change tactics.' "What do you think of Konoha?"
"It's my home!" came the immediate, cheerful reply. But a moment later, Naruto got serious. "Not by choice. I have nowhere else to go. Heh, guess you guys are lucky."
"So, if you get a chance, will you desert your village?"
"Won't be desertion, Yamanaka-sama. To desert Konoha, I have to resent it. There's simply nothing in my heart for Konoha. Sure, jiji is cool, and Iruka-sensei is great, but I know that they have their reasons for interacting with me. Gotta keep an eye on the jinchuuriki, and all that."
"You don't hate anyone for your treatment?" That was said with an unmistakable tone of disbelief.
Naruto didn't rise to the bait. "I did, till yesterday. I hated so many people, so much, that I was scared of myself. Scared that I'd snap one day. Scared that a part of me wanted to."
"But, you don't want to, anymore? Have you really forgiven everyone?"
"NO! I'll never forgive a single person who mistreated me. They had no right. But one woman cared for me. So much, in fact, that she sacrificed her future for me. I guess, when I remember her love, I can forget the hatred of hundreds of petty fools."
Inoichi was silent. 'What can I say to that? But, is it sustainable? How long can this boy hold on to a dead ideal?' He had to test that faith. "You only met her yesterday. In all the years before that, what stayed your hatred? Even if you didn't remember it, a part of you did. You could have hurt someone without your knowledge."
Naruto was seething inside. 'Someone must really be out to get me. Maybe Inoichi-san isn't as professional as he's pretending to be?' "I never met my mother, Yamanaka-sama. She died the day I was born, only leaving her last bit of chakra behind to protect me. Yesterday, that chakra protected me from my doubt and anguish. I know that chakra. I have felt it within me on the many, many nights when I wondered whether it was worth living under so much hate. Do you really think the Kyuubi's chakra prevented me from ending it all?" He chuckled bitterly. "Sure, the couple of times I tried slitting my wrists, I woke up the next morning all healed up, but most of the time, when all I could see was darkness, that chakra gave me warmth, and the strength to wake up once again."
A gasp was from behind the wall. Naruto was sure that it was Ino's voice. He could even feel glimpses of Kakashi-sensei's chakra. 'Huh? Iruka-sensei said chakra control is affected by emotional state. Why does Kakashi-sensei care?' He couldn't sense jiji's chakra. 'Is that a measure of his chakra control, or of his lack of feelings?'
Inoichi brought his thoughts under control. 'Right now, his past doesn't matter. There is no one person to blame for his state. We are all at fault. It is my responsibility to ensure his stability in the future.' He forced himself to show nothing of his inner turmoil. "What will you do now, without the safety of that chakra? How long will the memory of that warmth suffice?"
"Not long. I'm sure the people of this village haven't suddenly started caring for me. Heh, you must probably hate me more that you did a couple of days ago."
"What happened was a fight between ninja. If anything, I am angry with myself for not warning my daughter against using our clan techniques on you."
"Really? I understand that jiji passed a law against telling people about me, but that never really stopped people from passing on their loathing of me to their children." Naruto cut off Inoichi as that latter tried to respond. "You don't need to justify anything to me. Heh, here I thought, next time I feel down, that somehow my father's chakra will come to my rescue. But, I can see that fathers are different from mothers. After all, you didn't even try to stop me back there."
Inoichi couldn't hide his anger. "The Yamanaka specialize in information gathering, Uzumaki. I relied on the strength of my fellow jounin and the Hokage. That is what it means to trust in others."
Naruto was chastised. "I'm sorry, Yamanaka-sama. I was hoping that maybe, my father cared about me too. Not everyone is as lucky as Ino, I guess."
Inoichi didn't immediately respond. His eyes flicked over to his Hokage, who indicated his denial. 'By the Sage of Six Paths! How am I supposed to help with so much vital information being restricted?' "Your father did leave his chakra behind, Naruto. It's just that, he used up his borrowed time protecting Ino's mind from the Kyuubi." He didn't attempt to explain why, letting the boy from his own conclusions.
"My father left a bit of himself behind as well? Why won't you just tell me who he was?" Naruto examined the things he knew. 'Ino must've talked to him. Maybe I can get her to tell me what the adults never will.' "Ino! Come on, you have to tell me!" To Inoichi's astonishment, the boy looked right at his daughter, brushing aside his genjutsu as though he had been only politely ignoring it till now. "Don't you think I have the right to know?"
Ino, of course had no idea how to react. Naruto wasn't even supposed to be aware of her presence. 'Isn't he supposed to be really weak to illusions? Besides, I can't help him, even if I wanted to.'
The continuing silence served to really work Naruto into a righteous crusade. He didn't even realize as he suddenly stood up and angrily marched towards the viewing chamber. "You're so selfish! Are you really going to keep this from me, even after you know how much it means to me? You were in my head! You know why I want to know so badly! Sasuke? Sakura? Aren't you going to help your teammate?" His anger vanished as though he was hit with an ice technique. "That is, if you ever thought of me as one!" He finished bitterly.
Ino's stoicism, key to an impartial Yamanaka observer, went up in smoke. "I'm sorry Naruto! I really am. Daddy, he- he insisted on making me forget! He said it's classified. I'm so sorry." She really was. Her father had erased most of the time she was trapped with Naruto's suppressed traits and, not to mention, the Kyuubi. But she could recall glimpses of Naruto's personality. Even his jaded, cynical part had yearned to know his parents, though his motivation was a desire to assign blame. She could imagine how much more intense the drive would be with Naruto's other half. She couldn't help but glare at Forehead's flat, huge, ugly forehead. 'You too, Sasuke-kun! Standing there looking so disgustingly undecided. Even Shikamaru would've said something in his defense. He might've gone so far as to support Naruto. They did bunk classes in the academy together.'
Naruto looked beseechingly at Kakashi-sensei. When that didn't work despite the surprisingly obvious conflict on the latter's face, he turned to his beloved jiji, the man he still thought of as grandfather. There was only a single shake of the head.
Naruto's utter rage came through as a cold clarity. "You- You... I thought you cared! I really did! But whatever pittance you feel, it will never measure up to my value as a shinobi, will it? Much less, considering my priceless cargo. You must think I'm so stupid. You dare think that I'd never be able to piece things together myself, do you?" His voice remained level even as he was trembling with barely repressed fury. "I know stuff already. He was a shinobi, at least as powerful as mum, since he too left a bit of his chakra in me. Very powerful, considering that Yamanaka-sama admitted his own helplessness against the Kyuubi. Important too, since you're all going so far to hide this from me."
"Please, stop that, Naruto. You're not ready." Hiruzen's voice only betrayed that tiredness of an old man with many regrets.
"Don't, jiji! I can't make you tell me, but you better believe I'm ready when I figure it out for myself, dattebayo! He- He can't be an Uzumaki. I know that. If I was born to two Uzumaki, I'd have red hair! Do you know how I know that? Do you?" He was remembering again, awful conclusions he had once buried. "I did search, years ago. Tried to find something, anything, on who I am, where I came from. I couldn't find anything about any other Uzumaki, but I did find out there was once an Uzumaki clan who all had red hair! When I found that out, I couldn't take it! I wondered if my name was just something just made up, on a whim, so that those stupid people didn't have to burden their tongues with calling me 'demon' and 'freak' all the time? Did my father even bother giving me his name?"
Inoichi tensed, though he didn't show it outwardly. 'Of course, he hasn't simply forgiven or even forgotten his treatment. Such a thing is impossible. It's good that he's letting his feelings out.'
Ino was shedding quiet tears. 'What is the Hokage thinking, letting such a wound stay open for so long?' She stole a glance at Kakashi. She couldn't fathom calling him sensei in her mind, not when he had let Naruto down so completely. She felt a pale shadow of Naruto's fury. 'They all know. I'm sure now. All of them know, just like they knew Naruto's mother. Each and every one of the jounin present that day had recognized her, instantly in fact. I swear it, Naruto, I'll help you. The beautiful Ino Yamanaka, queen of information gathering, will not fail!'
Kakashi knew that one more regret had rooted itself in his heart. 'Just another among the dozens. But above all else, I am bound by my duty. My loyalty to Konoha, and the Hokage.' He cast a critical eye on his other two genin. 'They are still taking it in. This has come at such a bad time. Sasuke has not even reconciled with his utter defeat at Orochimaru's hands. Sakura is very worried about her status and future; starkly aware of her situation as a budding clan less ninja with low social standing. I truly don't know if she has any affection towards Naruto, who is lower than herself in her eyes. She only looks to prove herself, somehow, before others regard her to be as useless as she thinks of herself. Sasuke, on the other hand, is too distracted and enticed with the new found power of the curse seal and can correspondingly see only that side of Naruto's situation, someone gifted with immeasurable power. He would, of course, disregard the price of such a thing.'
He gazed at the genin who was the trigger for this all. 'I can't blame her. That Naruto is so broken is purely our fault, the fault of the previous generation. Mine, more so than anyone. I should've tried harder to make him feel accepted in our team. I owe it to Minato-sensei.' He was hoping that it wasn't too late for his team to forge common bonds, because of their individual demons. He did, however, notice the Yamanaka girl's resolve. 'When I have failed so much to care for you, Naruto, I cannot begrudge someone else wanting to help you. If she can find it in herself to go against the Hokage's wishes, I will not stand in her way.'
Whatever little strength Naruto had got from meeting his mum was rapidly failing. Her chakra wasn't with him anymore to comfort him. Naruto knew what he was feeling. The world had let him down once again. Nothing new. Only, he had to face it this time. He couldn't deny it or bury his feelings inside. He had to face it, all alone. "Can I leave? I just want to go home. Please." He hated begging, but he couldn't let them see him at his weakest. He had to go, before he started wondering why he even cared about anything.
Naruto didn't wait for a reply as he rushed out to find his spot, the Fourth's head on Hokage Mountain. 'If they want to stop me, they will.'
x-x
Ino didn't bother staying much longer after that. Even in her official capacity, her business was done once Naruto left. She didn't manage to find him once she made it outside. Therefore, Ino made up plan 'B', a brilliant one as always. Drag Shikamaru's lazy butt out and make him help her. As ever, she found him cloud watching with Chouji. Luck was on her side as this particular spot was rather easy to find.
"Shikamaru! You've spent enough time lying about and wasting away your life. Get up!"
Shikamaru sighed. "Yes, mother." He didn't bother correcting himself once he looked up. The two were alike enough. He found it too troublesome.
"Don't 'Mother' me! Why, if I didn't need you right now to help me find Naruto…" Ino let herself trail off threateningly. Shikamaru would get the message.
"Why are you so bothered all of a sudden? Are you feeling guilty or something? Man, so troublesome…"
"Of course not, idiot! It was a ninja battle. But don't you dare tell me you're going to do nothing after all this new information has come to light! What do you know of his hangouts?"
Chouji spoke up. "Where Naruto goes depends on how he's feeling. What happened?"
Ino looked sharply at Chouji, a soulful stare that judged his worth. "The Hokage! He wouldn't let Naruto know anything about his father. Daddy just gauged his loyalty to Konoha, which is currently nonexistent by the way. Naruto desperately wanted to know, thinking he had a chance now. I gathered that he had tried many times before to find out what he could. He really trusted the Hokage, who let him down. Again. And stupid Forehead and Sasuke! They were just standing there as though they were carvings from the Hokage Mountain! You've got to help me find him and let him know that the beautiful and talented Yamanaka Ino is willing to help!"
"Troublesome… There's probably a law preventing people who don't already know from finding anything out. It would definitely be S-class, knowing Naruto. Are you sure you're not feeling guilty?"
Ino bristled at the accusation. "Are you questioning me, lazybones? Just tell me where I can find the guy!"
Chouji finished swallowing his latest mouthful of chips. "After something like this, Naruto would mostly go to the top of the Hokage monument. At least, the old Naruto would. He would've changed, right, Ino? So I'm not so sure now."
Ino frowned. "It's our best shot. Get moving, you two! Team Ten, to the rescue!"
"You just said you wanted to find him. Why are you dragging me and Chouji into it?"
Chouji spoke up before Ino could blow up at Shikamaru again. "Look, Ino, Naruto is a pretty private guy, despite what he acts like in public. Shikamaru and I, and Kiba too, we hang out with Naruto sometimes, but always at our spots. He wouldn't want too many people barging in at once, you know. Maybe you should talk to him first. We'll definitely find him later."
Ino glared suspiciously at them both. "All right! But you'd better talk with him soon, or I'll let you have it! If Naruto's not there, I'll have to track down Iruka-sensei. I'm wasting daylight here. Wish me luck, you two."
"Yeah, yeah…" Shikamaru grumbled as Ino dashed off without waiting for a reply.
x-x
Despite her bravado in front of her teammates, Ino was really not feeling up to facing Naruto. 'What right do I have, after all I've done?' Still, the resolve to help her fellow ninja kept her on her path. She couldn't help slowing though, as her chakra-enhanced ears caught the sound of sniffling. Did she dare intrude on such a moment of vulnerability?
A voice called out before she could decide one way or another. "Come out, Ino! I know you're there."
"I wasn't trying to hide, Naruto. I just wasn't sure what to do. So, this is your spot, huh?"
"Not anymore. You're here, presumably to take even this from me."
"Now look here, Naruto! I'm sorry you were so badly affected by my technique, but it's not like I knew that would happen. So stop blaming the one person willing to help you!"
"You? What can you help me with? You're only good at gossiping and oh, also, at stealing the hard earned skills of other ninja."
Ino slumped. "Fine. If you must rage at me to feel better, go on! What else did I do that was so horrible?"
"You're not even letting me be after messing me up! Oh, since you asked for it, you also used me to 'test' your girl skills in the academy!"
"What? What are you talking about?"
"Hmph. I didn't expect you to remember. You cornered me outside the academy in my third year. I was confused about it and I admit, happy that someone liked me, till I heard you boasting about it with your little group."
"Oh!" Ino blushed in embarrassment as she recalled the incident. A lot of girls were getting serious about pursuing Sasuke around that time. Ino had thought a little experience was just the edge she needed. Besides, she knew that the class pariah didn't have any friends who would believe him over the amazing Yamanaka Ino. "I was just a stupid little girl with a crush, back then. I'm sorry. If I could go back, I would change a lot of things. So would anyone, really."
Naruto didn't believe a word. "Just go away, Ino! You don't have to pretend to care about me now, after I found you spying on me for your father!"
"You're impossible! Why did you even ask for my help back there if this is what you thought about me?"
Naruto looked away, a dark scowl on his face. "It was a long shot and obviously, I was desperate."
"Take what you can get, all right? I do think you have the right to know who your father is."
"What you and I think doesn't matter. The Hokage is determined to 'protect' me from the truth. He won't take kindly to your nosing around."
Ino gave Naruto a friendly shove, inwardly pleased when he didn't flinch away from her. "Have some faith, Naruto-kun! You're looking at the beautiful Yamanaka Ino, spy mistress extraordinaire! No secret is safe from me. Believe it!"
x-x
Two days later, Naruto was on his way to meet Ino at her team's training ground. He still hadn't quite decided if Ino was trying to chum up to him based on discreet orders to form bonds with the unstable jinchuuriki, or if she really wished to help him. However, he wasn't going to avoid things like this anymore, so he really couldn't think of a reason for not going.
He stopped short when he noticed that the whole of Team Ten was waiting, instead of just Ino. Disregarding the hesitation of everyone around her, Ino took the reins. "So you came after all, Naruto-kun! Shikamaru and Chouji are excited to meet the new you, so I graciously invited them along." Naruto could see no such excitement. But, he couldn't sense any hostility either.
Shikamaru found the ensuing standoff too tense and troublesome. "I suppose I should thank you, Naruto… Seems you're the one keeping the Kyuubi from going on a rampage inside Konoha."
Naruto could only look on in shock as Chouji too expressed his thanks in his own quiet, confident way. 'Had I been so blind even to the few people who cared about me?' He couldn't prevent the tears from coming to his eyes. "I'm sorry, guys. I was so angry and so- so emo that I forgot about the few people who actually liked me!"
The boys were a little uncomfortable at this hint of male fragility, but Ino didn't hesitate to console Naruto with a hug. "There, there, Naru-kun. A little emotion is nothing bad, especially since you're integrating a new personality into your mind."
Naruto let go of his last restraints at Ino's understanding and sobbed his heart out. "I just don't know what to do now! I always wanted to be Hokage one day, nothing less, but jiji has let me down so much, that I don't want to be like him someday! And- And the Yondaime was always my hero, even more than jiji, but when I knew that he was the one to seal the Kyuubi within me, I just hated him so much, Ino! He was supposed to be such a great ninja, a real hero, but he has made my life so miserable!"
Ino didn't really know what to say, so she settled for gently rocking Naruto back and forth. Over her shoulder, she saw Shikamaru shuffling his feet with awkwardness, while Chouji was staring at Naruto with a helpless look on his face. Silently, she shooed them away, knowing that they'd served their purpose by reminding Naruto of their friendship and also knowing that guys like Naruto never wanted other people to see their tears.
Once Naruto quieted down a bit, Ino gently pushed him back, giving him time to recover his composure. Then, she took his hand and made him sit across from her on the grass. "Way to go, Naruto-kun! Don't believe what other guys tell you, a good cry does wonders for your heart and mind, even if you're a guy."
Naruto looked at her incredulously. She bristled. "Yamanaka Ino is the best expert on heart and mind, and even the body, believe it!"
In spite of himself, Naruto grinned a bit. "I'm sure Shikamaru and Chouji left due to your expert advice. Do you know you're talking like me?"
Contrary to his expectations, Ino wasn't the least bit embarrassed about this fact. She nodded sagely. "Yes, we shared our minds a lot during that fight, Naruto. Usually the Mind-Body Switch is a completely one-sided technique, so it is pretty invasive. But because of what happened, even though Daddy sealed off most of those memories, it is expected that we'll acquire a few of the other's behavioural quirks."
"Are you saying that my crying so easily is because of you, Ino-chan?"
Ino bopped him on the head. "I'm saying that you trying to turn your vulnerability on to me just now is because of me, Naru-kun!"
Naruto knotted his fingers together in surrender. "All right! All right! So… did you really mean it when you said you'd help me find out who my father is?"
Ino stared unflinchingly at his eyes. "I know how important it is to you, Naruto, more than anyone! I'll do whatever I can to help you, no matter what Hokage-sama thinks of the situation. Now, I'm not going to use that technique on you again, but I'll guide you into the preliminary state of awareness that all Yamanaka learn, as a basis for many mind techniques. I'm sure that trace amounts of chakra from your mum and dad are lingering inside both our systems, so, together, we'll try to recover something that Daddy erased, or dig up something he missed or maybe even something new."
Naruto was very surprised. "But, Ino-chan! Aren't you worried that I might figure out the secrets behind your clan jutsu?"
Ino's replied in an unusually subdued tone that made Naruto strain to catch everything she said. "I don't remember this myself, but Shika and Chouji told me how much you suffered because of the damage to your psyche, Naruto. Watching that wild orange chakra of the Kyuubi, they said you were tearing yourself apart from within because nobody cared enough to look after you. I can't let you feel like that anymore, Naruto. Not after feeling even a small part of your torment. No matter what happens because of you knowing Yamanaka clan techniques."
Hearing this, Naruto got that look of resolve that she distinctly remembered, as he fought with all his strength against the dark parts of himself. "OK, Ino. Let's do this. I'm ready."
"Let me warn you, Naruto, that this is a long process that can take months, because neither of us are really good enough to delve that deeply into sealed or suppressed memories." Naruto nodded in acceptance.
Ino took his hands into hers, ignoring the slight blush that cropped up on both their faces. "For today, just feel my chakra and, through it, try to feel my mental and emotional state. You won't be able to read my mind or anything like that, but you should be able to tell if i'm happy or scared or angry. Basic things like that."
Naruto frowned in concentration as he tried to do what Ino was telling him. After a minute, he was still uncertain. "I guess, you're calm? Or maybe I can't feel anything from your chakra?"
Ino smiled. "I am calm, Naruto. It's because I'm not thinking about anything in particular."
Naruto beamed. "Hey, I get it! This is supposed to help me attune myself and get better at manipulating the spiritual aspects of my chakra, because mind techniques are more spiritual than physical, right?"
He could feel Ino's surprise as a sudden spark in her chakra. "Wow Naruto! How come you were rubbish at theory in the Academy, then?"
He gave a self-deprecating laugh before Ino could feel bad at what she said. "To tell you the truth, in my initial years at the Academy, I was so hurt and fed up by the instructors' hostility that I decided not to pay attention to them. Foolishly, I didn't just stop listening to the wrong stuff they said to me, I also didn't care about what they were telling the class, in general. But, I guess a part of me did listen to that stuff. I'm glad I didn't miss the important stuff though they treated me so horribly."
Ino's chakra stilled a bit, before churning in what Naruto realized was anger on his behalf. "They purposely gave you bad instructions?" She whispered, not trusting herself not to scream at the injustice even as her chakra swirled even faster as she went from anger to righteous fury.
Naruto boldly intertwined his fingers with Ino's, stroking her palm with his thumb while trying to calm her down with his own chakra. "You don't have to be so angry, Ino-chan. I let go of my anger when I made the decision to never allow what happened in the past to limit me from what I want in the future. Idiotic people who can't see past their own fear and hatred will not hold any more sway over me. Though I don't know what my ultimate dream is now, whatever it is, I won't let such people stand in my way."
Ino did try letting go, by concentrating on Naruto's chakra that he was letting freely flow into her. "I can feel it, Naruto. I can feel your determination. Your chakra is pulsing with it, steady like your heartbeat." She was amazed by this well of strength in someone she thought of as dead-last till a couple of days ago.
She caught Naruto's gaze. It was her duty, as the trigger for so much pain and heartache, to make sure that this budding ninja never lost his way. "Naruto, when I took over your body in that fight, you know what I felt?"
Naruto shook his head, his chakra going quiet with wariness. She ignored that and ploughed on. "I felt strong, Naruto. Insanely strong. I always knew that my reserve of chakra was not up to par with the average genin and also that my physical strength was not really important for my line of work, but in that moment, I felt how strong you are. Your reserve of chakra felt never ending and even though I had my nose and knee broken, I felt like I could fight forever."
Naruto's chakra agitated itself in guilt as he remembered the pain he'd caused her, but Ino silently squeezed his fingers to comfort him. "That quality is completely yours, Naruto. Despite the despicable way you were treated, you made yourself strong. You can still be Hokage, Naruto. I'm sure you'd never let a child suffer under your Konoha the way you have."
Naruto could feel his own chakra bubbling with his happiness, and he knew that she could feel it too. "Thank you, Ino-chan. But I'm not ready to go back to that dream. I am very happy, though, that someone, no- not just anyone, but you have acknowledged my strength, as the kunoichi who fought me with all her heart."
Ino felt her palm heat up slightly in Naruto's hands. "You know, you are surprisingly good at this."
Naruto smiled. "Maybe you left more of yourself in me than we realized. I certainly wouldn't have been this open a few days ago. Or it's just with you, because of our weird connection."
He winced as he felt Ino's sharp spike of irritation. "As a Yamanaka, such things aren't weird to me, Naruto. In fact, forming mental and emotional connections through chakra with the people we regularly practice with is quite normal for us."
Naruto gave a wry grin. 'Normal, huh? And here I was thinking I had become somewhat special to Ino.'
Ino frowned as Naruto's chakra slowed to a sluggish crawl. 'Is he feeling melancholy? What did I say?' Putting those doubts aside, she forged on. "All right! We have another hour or so before lunchtime, so we'll go to the next step. Focus more on my hand and trace the chakra you can feel back throughout my system, so you can get a feel for my chakra as a whole."
Naruto frowned. "I don't get it."
"Hmmm... How to explain it? Right now, you can feel the chakra flowing in my hand, right?" Naruto nodded. "Can you also feel the chakra flowing in and out of the small part of my chakra system you're focusing on?"
After focusing a bit, Naruto nodded again.
"So next step is extending that awareness so that you can feel my entire chakra network even though you're touching only my hands."
Naruto went wide-eyed. "Wow, so you can feel my entire chakra network right now, Ino-chan?"
Ino smirked as her chakra surged with pride. "Much more than that, Naru-kun! To perform the Mind-Body Switch, the most basic of my clan techniques, I have to be able to feel your entire chakra network and also feel the links between that network and your mind, your conscious brain, just by touching you with a bit of my chakra. What's more, I also have to be able to feel my own network and consciousness so well that I can hold my consciousness within my network when I eject it from my body so that I can take over other people's bodies by touching them with just my chakra."
Naruto couldn't help regressing a bit into childlike awe at that. "That is so cool. Man, I'll never be able to do all that!"
"Well, yes, normally that tricky part where the consciousness is contained completely within the chakra network is only possible if you're a Yamanaka. But, you don't have to do all that. If we're able to share our minds by being in physical contact, we'd be able to search each other for clues. Plus, I'm not going to teach you all my clan secrets, Naruto-kun!"
Naruto pouted. Ino secretly thought it was adorable. Guys did not like to be thought of as adorable. "Stop that, baka! Now, try to map out my entire network. Maybe you can learn some Yamanaka clan techniques, seeing how you actually took over my body in that fight."
"Hey, speaking of which, in return for all your help, I'm thinking I can help with your taijutsu and general strength training if you want, because you can't always depend on taking over your opponent's strength."
"Hmmm… You're not really that good at taijutsu, Naruto-kun, even if you're way better than me. But, you're right. I'll nag Asuma-sensei into helping me improve in those areas and you should do the same. Now stop talking and concentrate!" Ino wiggled her fingers for emphasis.
"Yeah, yeah…" Naruto grumbled as he got back to work.
Ino could feel that tic forming at Naruto's imitation of her layabout teammate, but neither of them noticed the slight blush that came with the renewed focus on their hands.
x-x
While the two teens were absorbed in their self-appointed mission, two adult Shinobi were watching them silently, hidden from view among the trees.
Hatake Kakashi and Sarutobi Asuma had been advised by their Hokage to keep an eye on their respective students for any long-term effects of the fiasco that was their preliminary exam. It did not fail their notice that they had been given no specific instructions regarding any attempts by the genin to dig up Naruto's past.
"Sarutobi-sama is very crafty, isn't he, Asuma? He knows how much hatred Naruto feels towards Minato-sensei right now and any adult who reveals that his father is one and the same will undoubtedly receive some of that hatred."
"But if some genin were to come to this realization themselves and inform Naruto, or if Naruto himself came to that conclusion, then such a thing can be avoided, because there is no way Naruto would blame the current generation for the actions of the previous ones. Father knows exactly what he's doing, Kakashi."
"And he knows Naruto very well, despite the current hostility Naruto feels towards his jiji."
"What's more interesting to me right now is how my little student has taken it upon herself to become attached at the hip to yours."
Kakashi whipped out his latest Icha Icha Paradise novel simply to convey his nonchalance. The other jounin all knew that Kakashi spoke a whole language through the timing, positioning and gesturing of his beloved novel series. "Technically, they're attached at the fingers." His giggle made that sound like a carnal sin.
Asuma glared at his partner right though the orange cover. He had found this even more effective than glaring at Kakashi's face. It would have worked still better if he had been a woman, but alas, some things were not meant to be. "Nevertheless, I feel this would cause some headaches down the line. The Council is sure to make noises about how both of them were subjected intensely to the Kyuubi's chakra."
"The Council can bleat all they like. They have no say in which shinobi forms relationships with which kunoichi, or any other combination thereof, for that matter."
Asuma chucked. "Have an eye out for Iruka-kun, then?"
Kakashi snapped his novel closed and glared over it, signifying his endless disdain for that suggestion. "I'll have you know that I had a wild and satisfying weekend out with Anko just last month."
"Of course you did. She's the only woman around who shares most of your psychological issues regarding commitment and, Kami forbid, children."
"Thinking of squeezing out some sprogs with Kurenai-chan, then?"
"In much less distasteful terms, yes."
Kakashi turned back to watch their targets as their breathing and heartbeats synchronized from deepening of their focus on the shared contact. "Certainly seems to be the right climate for that, it seems. I wonder how Inoichi-san will take the developments."
"I'm sure Hokage-sama will impress upon him the benefits of forming close ties with the resident jinchuuriki."
"That he will, Asuma-kun. That he will."
x-x
AN: As you can see, I'm definitely moving towards a Naruto/Ino pairing, as it is my favourite pairing with Naruto (my overall favourite would be Itachi/anyone, because that man is a God). I like Hinata, but honestly, the chances of her actually landing Naruto are pretty low, even before someone as confident, determined and outgoing as Ino takes an interest in her crush.
Also, I really, really, really hate initial canon Sakura and Sasuke (whom I hate throughout canon, and in many fanfics as well. That guy is a prick) so don't expect them to have that major a role in this fic.
That's it for this chapter. Long term, I don't know if this fic will be completed. Follow at your own risk.