Dreamcatcher
By Airyo
Sunrise, Sunflower - 6
"Despite the number of head injuries that occur in this village, most people don't volunteer themselves for a mindwalk," Inoichi said as he escorted them along the winding halls of the Intelligence headquarters. The interrogation rooms were secure, just in case anything of a sensitive nature should arise.
"We are not most people," Itachi said. "Hinata's circumstance is unique."
The Yamanaka clan head nodded. "Indeed. Ibiki-san has informed me. And it is not everyday that Uchiha Itachi secretly requests my services." He gave Itachi a sideways glance, blue eyes twinkling. "Though I get quite a few regarding you."
There was a pause. Hinata let out a quiet little snort of laughter. She covered her mouth and blushed when the two men looked at her strangely.
"I thought you were joking," she murmured from between her fingers. Inoichi chuckled and shook his head.
"You forget that I had a teenaged daughter at one point. Ino wasn't pleased when Sakura got both Sasuke and yourself on her team. She tried to fix this "error" by mindwalking one of the clerical chuunin who had access to the assignments."
"Fortunately, she didn't succeed, as the Ino-Shika-Cho formation is as strong as ever," Itachi said with a small sigh of relief.
Inoichi sheepishly scratched the back of his head even as he puffed up in fatherly pride. "She would have if Nara Shikamaru hadn't clued me in on how...vain one of the Chuunin was suddenly acting."
The idea of complete control over another person, of having access to everything inside their head...Hinata shivered. Familiar, icy fingers traced down her spine. She felt bile rise in the back of her throat.
But she still meekly laid on the table covered in dormant restraining seals meant for criminals. It wasn't until Inoichi formed the Mind-Switch hand seal that it hit her.
He will see everything.
A warm hand covered her fist. Itachi.
Her hand twisted and snapped open, grabbing onto his with all her might. He let her maintain her vice-like grip as she stared up at him, terrified of Inoichi's presence at the edge of her mind. The Bad Man is coming, don't let the Bad Man catch her...
"You can stop this if you want," Itachi told her. "Do you want to stop?"
Hinata opened her mouth to say yes - but I want to know - and she gritted her teeth instead. She shook her head.
"Then you can do this, Hinata."
"Ready?" Inoichi asked. Itachi squeezed her hand. Hinata looked back at Inoichi and nodded.
She closed her eyes, fingers still curled around Itachi's. Hinata let herself fall.
The mindwalk began.