Chapter 3: Memories

In all his time as a shinobi of Konoha, Inoichi had walked the minds of many. Psychopaths, murderers, and enemy nin to name a few. And yet, he had never seen memories like this. The outside of the mind was a stone passage, like a cave, except that when he looked closer, he could see the markings. These tunnels were carved, but so well, that there was barely a crack in the work. The entrance, however, that was what drew his attention. It was tall, crafted of stone that he had never seen before, in a pattern that even those in Uzushio had never used. At the top of the dome of the structure, was a pedestal with a symbol on it. The symbol radiated warmth, reminding him of the sun on a winter's morning. There was a basin in the centre, with water filled nearly to the brim. At the back of it, where the walls were, a single panel of wall was removed and a shimmering material had taken its place. The material was like a mirror, except that it didn't reflect what was behind him. It was a different place. He touched it with his index finger cautiously, and entered the person's mind. When he was in the mind of the "Fal-mer", he saw people with features he had never seen before, performing feats that he would have previously thought impossible: bringing forth ice and snow with a wave of the hand, swords and armour that were of no make that he had ever seen before. Most of them were blue eyed, with white hair and skin. The stonework was incredible! Another memory showed up. The stranger, seven years old now, if Inoichi had to guess, was looking at the full moon… but when Inoichi looked up, there were two moons! One was a silvery colour, and the other the colour of rust, in a sky filled with more stars than could ever be seen in Konoha on even the clearest night. Another memory, the stranger, at 8 years, was learning to call on ice and snow, without the use of chakra! The stranger, now named Harlor, took to it like a fish to water, calling up a spike of ice and impaling a tree with it. Another memory: Harlor, now 11, took the Initiates' Ewer, and was taking the steps to become one with their chief God, Auri-el. Another memory: Harlor, looking gaunt, tired and malnourished, was pouring the water from the Ewer into a basin, and the Chantry, something that took Inoichi's breath away with its majesty, opened. Another memory, this one darker: the rest of the elves were planning something: a powerful object found in a city called Saarthal was to be taken or sealed, so the humans could not abuse its power. The raid on Saarthal, The Night of Tears, was enacted. Inoichi was then swept into another memory: fire, frost, Snow Elves dying, children massacred, and infants' throats slit, all in piles to be set alight with fire. All the time the Elves were begging, yet none were spared, all were killed. Inoichi had seen death before, as he was a shinobi, but never anything like the mass genocide that lay before him. Even with Jonin training, he struggled to keep the bile down. Then he saw Harlor laying on the snow, a man with a hammer ready to strike, the light seeming to bend around the elf, and then they were in the forest with Naruto. When Inoichi opened his eyes, he stood up, struggling to keep his composure. "Yamanaka-sama? Are you alright?" asked Bear. "S-stay with the elf. I need to see the Hokage at once." With that, Inoichi left in a bit of a hurry, rushing to the room with the Hokage. He needed to be informed of this. If Danzo got to him… Inoichi repressed a shudder.