Chapter 45: The Foundation Years

A/N: Hello wonderful people! I would like to say thank you to people who have commented/reviewed the story, as it means a lot to me when people take time to leave a comment. Well... here I am, feeling like I am spoiling you guys. I am back with yet another chapter! Look at me go. And fun fact, I have the next few chapters planned out and should be ahead of myself. And I feel amazing about this story now~ So things should be getting easier for me to write and finish this story only after what? 5 years of this first being posted and it being edited twice? Whhhoooooo you guys are in for a ride since I know where everything is going.

ANYWAY, please as always leave a comment, follow or just enjoy reading! But I do always enjoy hearing from you guys.

Shikamaru:

Having asked Sai if we could have this conversation out of the flower shop, Sai developed that look of wanting to know. He really has come a long way since we had first meet him all those years ago.

When we made it a ways out and into a private spot I lay down in the grass, we had picked a place by the brook, something nice and calming. Though, I have a feeling it will come in handy when Sai begins to tell us about what happened to Tooru in the Foundation, that is if he knew her. The babbling brooke will help to keep a peaceful mind and furthermore, provide a constant in this moment. For all we can hope for is a break through of some kind in what happened to Tooru.

Sai remains standing while Kiba leans up against a tree. For now, we all remain silent. Listening to the water rushing by. There is a good chance we are alone out here, as most ninja are away or enjoying their day off. Sooner or later, the silence will have to be shattered by one of us.

"So what is this about?" Sai finally manages to ask.

The walk over had been fairly silent, I was in too much thought about everything to really pay attention to if Kiba and Sai were talking about anything. I was trying to think if I needed to come up with different plans or even if by some chance Sai knows Tooru, what would be the next step. Anything could happen, I won't know if there is anything I could do at this moment. This is something we need to figure out.

There is a clear pause. By the tone in Sai's voice, Kiba hadn't clued him into anything. Which is good since I wasn't even paying attention.

"We wanted to ask you if you knew a girl named Kato Tooru." I close my eyes and tilt my head towards the sky.

"Tooru… Kato… the name sounds familiar. What time of my life are you guys asking about?"

"Foundation." Kiba's one word causes me to slowly open my eyes to see Sai looking between us.

I know it's a time in his life he isn't the proudest moments. But he is the only person who might give us any clues as to who Tooru was in her younger years. Nothing about the medical aspects or who her family is. But we need to know how Tooru thinks and what point in her life she was turned into this mindless person. And someone who only listens to the Hokage.

This could be a good lead for us.

A lead we need to stop chasing our tails around. We know a majority about the Kato's and the medical aspects of Tooru since those were recorded since she was found. Some of them are more detailed than others, and the ones that aren't… well, we assume are from the time she was around 10 years old or so. But we have no way of knowing for sure, the dates line up, and maybe this was when she was in the Foundation, if she ever was.

"As you know." Sai begins. "When Danzo was killed anyone in the foundation could finally talk about it and even repressed memories were awoken, things that Danzo wanted all of us to forget. And there were a few members of the Foundation that Danzo specifically wanted everyone to forget."

I twist around to listen to Sai. Looking up at him, waiting to see what he had to say. Only for Kiba to encourage him to keep speaking. "Well Sai… sounds like a lot of those people have been brought to light. We are only asking about Tooru."

"Kato Tooru." Sai sighs. "I knew her. After my big brother died, she was someone I interacted with a lot."

The Past, Tooru's POV:

Emotionless. This guy is emotionless. Being only 10 and this guy has no idea how feelings work.

I hate him.

This… whateven is his name? It changes so much that even I have no idea what to call him. Thing seems to be the best name for him.

Standing in the ring, I face him. The creepy man is standing behind me.

"No Tooru, be like your partner over there."

I hate him.

Thing stares blankly at me, as though I am in his way. This shouldn't be how I am trained. I miss watching the spiky hair boy play with his friends. Or the blonde too loud for his own good. Even the shy little girl seems to be having a better time. Anything would be better than staring at Thing for hours at a time. He doesn't even seem to enjoy anything.

Where is Lord Third.

No.

Lord Third won't help me.

No one will help me.

I am the village dog, that is all I will ever be to these people. I am tied to following the rules they have drilled into me. I have to obey them. The only person who can tell me anything different is Lord Third. No one else is able to do that. But I cannot refuse an elder. I have to listen to what they have to say and apply what they know.

"Your stance is shaky, now go again."

I launch forward towards Thing. Thing doesn't even move as he draws something.

And I fall back.

"A disgrace you are."

Shikamaru:

By the time Sai gets to the actual story, I am sitting up in my place. He explained what he remembered about the day Tooru was brought in. How she was smaller than everyone else and she looked to be around the same age as Sai. But he had already lost his big brother so Sai's emotions were all over the place. But one thing he remembers is that Tooru was new.

She was lead in by Danzo, and he can remember the smile on Danzo's face as Tooru walked into the room. There is a pause, the brooke continues to move, creating waves. But it feels like the whole forest stopped moving as Sai told his story. And I had a feeling it was only going to get worse from this moment on. I didn't even bother looking at Kiba, I knew he also needed time to take all this information in.

While this is good information to have, it doesn't fully help us. It the long run it could help us get closer to some answers… but we need more information. Since Sai remembers Tooru, its a good start. For some reason… it reminds me of a dream. One of those dreams I had a few nights ago. For some reason I can't recall it. But I know it is there, waiting to come out.

"Tooru wasn't like everyone else in the Foundation. She was still young and at the time she wasn't cold as much. But… something strange happened, Lord Third barely knew the Foundation existed, or he did but never cared as Danzo was protecting the village. We started to see Lord Third around more around the age of 10, right before Neji and them were about to graduate. By that point, Tooru would come around and would fight and spar with the older member, we all knew there was something strange about her. I could never place what happened, but by the time she was 11, only a year later, she lost her emotions."

I scowl at the thought. Tooru was young, in her file it said she was found at the age of five, and something strange stirs within me. "By the age of five I escaped somehow, I don't remember how though. I came back to the village and Lord Third decided that I should be put through the academy, and I finished within two months." I blink, knowing that was something I thought I heard. Finishing in the academy within two months sounds so unlikely.

But would it be unlikely in Tooru's case?

We have know those that excel in justu's graduate quickly. Looking at Itachi and Kakashi are good examples of that. But that was when things were unbalanced and there was a full threat against the village. Ninja die young, seeing older ninja is rare. Seeing a ninja graduated at the age of 5 is even more unlikey.

There was no war looming and the village was only in terror of Orochimaru. The nine-tails was long away sealed in Naruto and that never broke. There was no need to put Tooru through all that. She would have been better being treated like Naruto and Saskue.

But those words. "By the age of five I escaped somehow, I don't remember how though." For some reason those stick with me. No five-year-old could have gotten away. We know her family was taken when she was a baby, but there is no way she was the one who got away. There had to be more people. Maybe a family member or two were out there. I could only hope. While younger children getting away isn't unlikely, as they aren't seen as a threat, it would be hard to believe that a child who was of the Kato's bloodline would be overlooked.

Even if the Kato's were peaceful, from the information Kiba and I have read about them would indicate that they would not have been underestimated. Not even in the slightest. Now that I know more about what Tooru could do and how the whole village would be able to know this information.

None of this makes sense.

Why isolate Tooru?

Why was she even in the Foundation if she was serving the Hokage?

What role does Danzo play in this whole thing?

So many things to go with. So many possiblities. Not all of them can be looked at right now, and Kiba and I have to pick the right one to chase. If we go down the wrong path, while we would get through the maze, we would be lost and getting further away from what we were asked to do.

"Shikamaru?"

I look up and see Kiba's frown.

Shaking my head, "Go on Sai. Sorry I was thinking about something."

Sharing a look between Kiba, he knows I thought of something, but I need more information about Tooru in the Foundation.

Sai nods as he continues. "All of a sudden she was taken out of the Foundation, she just vanished one day. And very rarely would any of us see her. Which was odd, as far as any of the people in the Foundation knew, once you were in the foundation, you were in there for life. No way to get out. Though, right before I was asked to come spy on you guys for Danzo-"

"Tooru would sneak into the Foundation and you and her would fight again. Each time she got away." I finish.

I feel my eyes going wide as Sai and Kiba both look at me. Kiba doesn't seem nearly as surprised, as though I just ruined a story he already knew the ending to. But Sai is fully shocked.

For some reason I knew the rest of the story. Something is pushing at me to come out, but I don't remember fully what it is. But I already know a few things about Tooru, and those things may not be in the forefront of my mind, just knowing that they are there is troublesome enough.

"Well, yes. That happened a few times. She would come but we were never allowed to go after her, as Danzo called her the Hokage's dog."

I sit there nodding. "And after that, you never saw her did you?"

Sai shakes his head. It's just as I feared… Tooru was under Danzo at first. But that still doesn't explain the rules she had tied to her. And why it looked like they hurt her, is she still even following them? I put a hand to my head, my head was starting to hurt. For one of the few times in my life, I have more questions than answers about Tooru than answers for what is happening.

"And what about after you were sent to spy on us? Or even when Danzo fell." I glance at Kiba.

He is asking the right questions. Questions that I have as well, I look to Sai.

"Let's see." Sai crosses his arms and begins to think. Pondering the question greatly. "After I was sent to spy on you guys, it was mostly Naruto i was spying on. Seeing as he was working with the nine-tails to try to control the power. So, I never saw much of anyone else. As for when Danzo was killed, well those of us in the Foundation has seals in our mouths that prevented us from talking about the Foundation." Sai sticks out his tounge and points to the spot. "Once Danzo was gone, the seal was broken and we could discuss what the Foundation was all about. With that came the memories of everyone in there and the missions we were sent on under Danzo's orders. After that happened, nothing about Tooru ever came about. We all thought she died, very few members of the Foundation talked to each other, the information I could gather was no one had really seen her since the war. It was a long war with many losses. Recently though, I would see the green hair, and I remembered it. It was Tooru, but as soon as I saw it, she vanished."

"She has a habit of that." I grumble.

Soaking in Sais words, I think. I barely remember her from the two years after the war, meaning she started hiding more and more. And shortly after the war she was sent on long missions that would keep her away from the village. Not isolated like Saskue made himself be, but it was still a solo mission. And recently was when Kakashi made her talk with Kiba and I, which might be when Sai started seeing her around more.

"Anything else Sai?" Kiba asks.

But I can tell he doesn't want to know the answer.

"One last thing. I might know why she became numb to things. Once when I was spying…"

Tooru:

Opening my eyes, looking up at the high vaulted ceilings. Blinking a few times, I slowly sit up. Looking around… this place I know it. But why is everything… grey? Black and white… shadows of grey lurking in the corner. The railings seem to be those of bars to hold people back and the big circular ring… I see someone there. Older as he turns towards me.

"Dog come"

I don't want to come. But… I feel like I need to listen to him… even though I want to run.

Want.

What a strange word.

I blink and I am in front of this man. He has bandages on his face. But they seem to be melting, as though his flesh is melting.

"Good dog. I see the Hokage did take to training you well."

The distortion in his voice. It makes me shiver. As though he is screaming at me… but in a whisper. Far away, as though speaking into my skin.

A dog.

That's all I am to these people.

I obey.

I do tricks.

Perfectly still and knowing when to attack.

But I never felt like an attack dog. Always a show dog wanting best in show. Never being good enough to win best in show though, and suffering for not being the best dog.

"Sit."

Against my will, I kneel down and sit. I didn't want to. I don't want to sit.

Want… a word I have no real connection with.

The need to obey is stronger.

Water is dumped on me.

Ice.

Cold.

Water.

Only it doesn't puddle on the ground, but around my legs. I shiver, the cold seeps into my bones. I look up at the man, reduced to only a smile. A sick smile.

One with rotting teeth.

One with maggots coming out.

A smile that doesn't scare me. It only angers me.

"A bath for a dog."

More water is dumped on me, scaling hot water that burns my skin. I dont blink as the water settles around my torso. My legs are numb from the cold.

Burns.

Blisters.

Forming on my skin, but I do not yelp, I do nothing. As I was ordered to do by Lord Third.

Orders.

Always an order.

Never anything else.

The water remains around me.

"Nothing more than a puppy. Eager to please anyone. Shame, you won't last."

I glance up at the man. Clearly, for the first time I see him. I see a monster. Always hiding in the shadows.

No.

No one is a monster.

I am.

From a young age, I was the monster. Though I never understood why.

Shikamaru:

I blink at Sai's words.

In horror, I can only blink.

Kiba and I remain still, unmoving and unable to fully understand what happened. We had seen a war, where everyone was involved, but to hear about what possibly Danzo had done to Tooru. A war could not have prepared us for the torture he put her through. A young age, and finding this out... No wonder she doesn't trust people.

She was belittled and treated as though she didn't exist to anyone else. That the Hokage and Danzo could do whatever they wanted to Tooru since she was alone. It really makes me wonder just what they did, as being a ninja is hard, and one needs to be physically and emotionally ready. But isn't what they did taking it a little too far?

A silence had fallen over the three of us. I blink and look towards the brooke. Grasping at understanding, but also wondering how anyone could let this happen. I already knew from Kakashi Tooru was messed up. It is obvious in the way she holds herself, but this… this brings it all to a whole new level. Several layers of hell were given to her and she couldn't tell anyone.

Makes me wonder who the rules were really protecting, them or her. The more I learn about Tooru the more I think it was a way for them to have full authority over someone. Since Danzo always wanted mindless wokers, and Lord Third had Naruto and Saskue who always seemed to be at the center of the trouble. Frankly they always will be. But this is a whole new level, even for Danzo.

"That's all I remember." Sai looks between us. I can't tell if he understands what he just told us, but I am ready to finally speak.

"Sai, just to be clear, that is all you remember. And that is the only thing you remember from the time Tooru spent in the Foundation?"

I need to make sure. Because while this helps to understand part of her life, it doesn't paint a whole picture.

It still leaves a lot of blanks. The five years before the Foundation are still a mystery.

And after that is shrouded in darkness that it will take us forever. And no one else that I can think of would have information on her. Only Kakashi would have the information we need. Or even anything written by Lord Third. Even Danzo's records, but no one knows where those are at, let alone if he even kept any.

"Yes. Danzo was careful to make sure that no one saw him doing anything. Most of us barely know how he treated others in the Foundation."

I slowly nod. From what we learned about Sai, the treatment was about the same. But the phrases he said to her that Sai could remember. Calling her a dog and never calling her by her name… it hurt. Everyone in the Foundation were stripped of their identities, making it impossible to form a personality.

But this… I look at Kiba.

"I think we have everything we need. This ended up being a good lead." Kiba nods at his own statement.

"Why are you guys asking about Tooru?"

I let out a sigh and lay back down. "Kakashi asked us to. Something about making her part of the village."

"I would think Naruto would have been better than you two knuckle heads." Sai smiles when I look up at him.

Kiba shakes his head as the three of us fall into silence. Sai takes that as his cue to leave, leaving Kiba and I in the clearing. Kiba comes to sit by me.

He allows there to be a silence, we did just gather a lot of information.

It still annoys me that I have more questions than answers at this point. Like the people who took the Kato's, what did they want? Did they know the nine-tails would attack? Why not wait longer? Nothing was adding up. Even this group that Tooru is looking into. Something feels off about them.

"Shikamaru, do we think Danzo might have been the one… the one who implied the rules onto Tooru?"

I let out a sigh and stare up at the clouds. "What a drag." I get out as I put my arms behind my head. "I honestly don't know. We need to know when the rules were made."

"Rules?"

I glance over at Kiba. For some reason I thought he knew about the rules. Or was that the weird dream-like state I am pulling information from? I really need to get my information straight so I can help us out more and not be too far ahead of Kiba, or maybe I am behind Kiba. Who would know.

"Rules where she has to follow them. I don't know what is in the rules, but if we know when they were made we can determine to go through Lord Thirds files or Danzos first. Both might hold the answers to Tooru."

"If there are any" Kiba snorts. "Her family kept the records of them, Tooru didn't have a chance to get there. You really think those two would track what she did and when?"

"Do you have a better idea?"

"No. I don't. But you thought of something earlier."

I slowly nod. "The dreams. Tooru mentioned she was found at 5, and at 10 she was in the Foundation. Said she graduated in 2 months. Which is unlikely. Even with the Katos abilities."

I glance at Kiba, and I can see him processing the information. A look of confusion fills his face shortly after though. Leading me to believe he is just as baffled about the whole thing as I am. Graduating in 2 months is not something anyone can do. No matter how long good you are or the family you come from.

"Strange…" Kiba leans back and thinks. "Isn't graduation a once a year thing?"

"It is. No way would she been able to graduate like that. Even Itachi couldn't do it."

"And there is a 5 year gap. What happened in those five years?"

"Probably something troublesome, but we have to find out."