Stunning artwork by Lammington on deviantART. 

Disclaimer: Naruto isn't mine. Nao so is, though.

Warning: Cliffie. Fighting. Drama. Angst? Eh. Sure. Angst if you squint.

Beta: Kalafina94

Beta: silverseed

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Interlude - Omniscient - 13

He watched them.

They were talking in excited whispers —well, the older one was excited, while the younger was less assured. Their heads were bowed together, though, and they were both still smiling. He leaned in the doorway, his arms folded across his chest as he watched them.

It was another long day for him. It wasn't an easy thing, dealing with all the screams, pleas, and crying. It especially wasn't easy to watch it all through the enemy's perspective. But it was for the good of the village. It was for the good of them. His precious little girls. And it was much easier to numb the emotions at work today than it was a decade ago. Time and practice really did assist with all kinds of wounds.

He was tired when he left the office but, as always, his mood and energy returned when he came home.

"What are you girls talking about?" he asked. He knew, of course, but it would be rude to only eavesdrop.

Ino looked up, her pale blue eyes sparkling. "I'm trying to convince Nao to take the Chūnin Exams with Chōji and me."

Nao shook her head. "I dunno. Sasuke and Naruto might not be too happy with me if I did that."

"Too bad," Ino retorted. "Come on, please? We need a third member for our team and you're the only one we trust with this!"

Inoichi's lips twitched in amusement at Ino's pleading tone. Nao looked uncomfortable and Inoichi knew she would give into her sister's wishes. He moved to stand in front of them before he sat on the couch, right in between them. Ino huffed in annoyance and Nao merely moved to make room. He put his arms on the back of the couch, leaned back and closed his eyes. The girls didn't wait long before they ignored him, going back to their discussion.

He listened to their squabble for a while longer before he pleasantly slipped off into the sweet state of oblivion.

When he awoke, the smells of dinner told him his wife had come home earlier, and the blanket wrapped around him and his two daughters told him they had fallen asleep, too, before his wife returned.

Inoichi stared at their sleeping forms, smiling softly. He wrapped his arms around both of them, brushing back a few strands of blonde hair. Ino was leaning heavily on his shoulder and Nao had curled up at his side.

"They've both been so busy with training," Inoichi heard a soft voice whisper. He looked up to find his wife leaning in the doorway, smiling warmly. "I'm surprised they didn't crash sooner."

Inoichi did not verbally respond, but he did look up at the ceiling.

He thought of his tiring day and his two daughters.

Sometimes I wish they never had to train.

. . .

. .

.

It was idyllic. Our. 'mission'. It had been a very long time since Sasuke and I had been together exclusively, outside of a mission or otherwise. It was nice to be able to talk over pointless things with him, simply enjoying his presence. I was worried about the others, of course, and I understood why Tsunade had sent us away, but it was nice that I was not alone in that regard. Of course, Sasuke did not verbally express his worry, or outwardly show it much, but after being with him for so many years, I could read between the lines.

It probably did not help that this mission was only happening because his brother was teetering on the edge of life and death. Despite that, though, I couldn't help but be a little glad that he was here with me; that I was not the only one left behind.

Tsunade had given detailed instructions on where all the ingredients were and after about a week of hunting them down, we were nearly finished and about to return to Konoha. We only had a single ingredient left and it was in our home land, thankfully.

Sasuke and I sat across each other from the fire. We were in our own territory once again, so we could afford such luxury. Besides, we were both more than a little tired of rations and wanted some actual fresh food. We had gone hunting a little while ago and were now enjoying our fresh kills.

I chewed on the rabbit in silence, watching the flames flicker and the smoke rise in an almost hypnotic fashion. It reminded me of halcyon —of happier, more peaceful times in my childhood. How often had Papa held a bonfire with us while Momma made so many delights and treats for us? How many times did my big sister squeal with delight and dance around like an idiot, uncaring of our opinions? How habitually had I sat down and watched, so caught up in the warm atmosphere created?

I was becoming nostalgic, looking at those flames.

Uncertain what really brought this on, I looked back up at Sasuke to inquire who would take the first watch when—

They're all going to die.

I flinched, as if struck, but the harsh giggling voice in my head continued to speak.

You know that, don't you? They're all going to die and you'll be all alone. All alone, alone, alone, and the darkness will creep in. Seeping into your lungs and burning because you can't—

There was a rushing sound in my head, like waves crashing against the sand.

—breathe and it's so painful being battered around like a ragdoll, isn't it? How many times did you hit your head against your own boat before you finally passed out? One—

The back of my head stung and I reflexively grabbed it; it felt like a battering ram had slammed into me.

"Nao?" Sasuke asked sharply, his eyes narrowing as he looked at me. My ears were ringing and my sight was starting to double because it felt like I was being slammed into again.

Two—

There was a third one, but this time, I heard a sickening crunch and I was flung backwards. I gasped and clutched my forehead, dizzy and nauseous. Sasuke was at my side in an instant, his eyes alert and darting around.

Three—

(STOP THIS RIGHT NOW!)

A new voice —no, not new. I've heard that voice many times, but usually when I heard it, it followed blank spaces in my mind. Memories that I repressed. Occasionally, I heard it insert a couple words, but it was normally so quiet.

Sasuke's fingers were on my neck, and with his other hand, he gently brushed back the hair. His eyes were fixated on my neck.

The giggling voices had gone quiet.

Blinking rapidly, I waited until the spots cleared away from my vision before I retracted the hand that was gripping my forehead. My eyes widened.

It was covered in blood.

"Nao," Sasuke repeated, looking up at my bloody hand. "Nao, what the fuck happened?"

Sasuke, who was normally so calm and scarcely cursed, was pale and anxious.

"Why," Sasuke demanded, "is your Curse Mark acting up?"

What?

"What?" I echoed, looking at him as if he were insane. "That's impossible. I sealed it a little while ago."

"It was activated. like at the Preliminary Exams," Sasuke argued. "Next thing I know, you're knocked right off your seat and bleeding. Are you seriously telling me that you don't have a clue what's going on?" My mouth opened and closed. It opened again. and closed again.

Sasuke glowered at me. "You do. Nao, tell me."

"I..." I trailed off, shifting nervously. "It's just... you can't... you can't tell anyone, Sasuke. Promise."

Sasuke pursed his lips.

"Sasuke, please," I pleaded. " between friends —not. not between a shinobi and kunoichi, but. b-but as two childhood friends."

Sasuke let out a slow breath. "Fine. I promise."

I sat up, and reached for my pack. Sasuke grabbed it before I could and he pulled out a scroll labeled First Aid. Within seconds, he had my forehead bandaged and the blood wiped away. I tucked my legs underneath me and sat up straight, looking down at the hands in my lap. Sasuke sat cross-legged in front of me, his eyes narrowed.

"I've. been hearing voices," I finally admitted.

His eyes widened.

"I've always heard them," I quickly said. "And. and I think I know why. I can't. I can't explain it, but. I've got these memories inside of me, you see. Memories that I. I suppressed. I used an old Yamanaka technique that is used more often on PTSD victims and veterans, than on. children. I don't remember why I did it, but I know I did it for a good reason. And I know that I don't want them. Some of the. risks. in using such a technique involve the memories taking on a persona or personification. In most cases, it's harmless and can easily be ignored.

I took a steadying breath. "In some cases, though. it can develop as a dual personality or into paranoid schizophrenia. I originally had a. more well-behaved voice that I could easily ignore. Lately, though. there's. another one. Well. Other ones, but they act as one."

Sasuke stared at me. "Why didn't you mention this earlier?'

"Because it would entail undoing the block," I sighed. "And. And it would mostly likely mean that Ino or Papa would have to see the memories I locked away and I. I very much do not want that."

"Why?" Sasuke asked incredulously.

"I don't know. I have a very sick feeling about it."

Sasuke sighed, rubbing his forehead as if he were in the midst of a migraine. "You were hearing voices. while your Curse Mark was activated. No matter how you spin it, that's not good."

I shifted nervously. "I know."

"You need help."

I fell quiet, contemplating this.

"You cannot seriously think you don't. Nao, you hurt yourself. Somehow, in some way, those voices caused your body to actually damage itself. What if they take control? What if the next time they hurt you, it's not so easily treatable? What if it's not treatable at all?"

What if you die?

That was Sasuke's unsaid question. It was a legitimate question. I knew the voices were not. good. but I did not think they would be so. self-destructive. They could only be personas of myself, right? So did that mean, in some far off corner of my subconscious, I felt the need to die?

(You always felt like you belonged on that stone)

I bit my bottom lip. "I need time to think about this. I. I want to see if I can fix it on my own."

"If you could, wouldn't you have done so already?" Sasuke retorted.

I shrugged. "It wasn't as urgent as it is now. I will have to. reevaluate the risks I previously decided were too much."

"Risks? What are you talking about?"

"There is another way to deal with this," I said softly, hesitantly. "Although I cannot use the majority of Yamanaka Techniques, not all of them are kekkai genkai. There are some that are merely zealously guarded —how else would I have been able to thoroughly repress my memories? There is a technique. that. allows the user to travel to their subconscious. I could. potentially. confront whatever persona has developed there."

"Risks?"

"I could lose and they would have complete control over me," I said.

Sasuke stared at me. "That's a big risk."

I shook my head. "Not anymore. I have to do this."

"You don't have to do anything," Sasuke argued. "Let's finish this mission, go back to Konoha, and we'll talk to your father. There has to be a better way."

"Maybe," I allowed, "but no other right way."

Sasuke glowered. "Nao—"

I interrupted him, reaching over and placing a hand on his shoulder. "Sasuke, please. Trust me. I'm not. I'm not a helpless little girl. You have to let me do this."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed again. "I don't have to let you do anything. Nao, I'm not arguing this with you."

"You're going to have to," I said, "because I'm not going back to Konoha until this is resolved. They already took control over me once; I don't want them doing that when I'm near those I love so dearly. Surely, you understand that much, Sasuke. What would you do in my place?"

Sasuke snorted. "That's different. I can take care of m—"

"Yourself?" I finished. "I know you can, but so can I."

Sasuke shook his head. "You may think you can, but you can't, Nao. You're easily fatigued, you're still so hesitant and shy, you—"

"—are a kunoichi. I'm a kunoichi, Sasuke," I said firmly. "You can't forget that. I'm a Jounin. You can't forget that, either. I'm not weak. Maybe. maybe when I compare myself to you or Naruto, I am. But that doesn't mean I'm a weak person. This isn't even a test of my physical capabilities —this is a test of my will, Sasuke. Do you think I have a weak will?"

Sasuke fell silent, brooding. After several minutes of uncomfortable silence, he finally bit out, "No. I do not think that. That doesn't mean—"

"It does mean that, though," I insisted. "Sasuke, let me do this."

Sasuke abruptly looked away, folding his arms across his chest in the process. "Fine. Fine."

I sighed with relief, but my stomach still churned with nerves. "Okay. I'll perform the technique tomorrow. I'd like to get some rest and get a bit further into our land. When I use the technique, I'll be in a self-induced coma. I won't wake up until it's resolved. and it would be best if you did not move me. From what I understand, it could cause a rippling effect if I move."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know. That's what the scroll said."

Sasuke looked down. "Do you know what you're up against —do you actually know what you'll be facing?"

I considered this.

"No. I don't know."

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We chose a field to stop in. The sun was high above us, giving a mostly clear blue sky.

It was oddly familiar, that place. I couldn't place my finger on it, but I had the feeling that I wanted to say Katsu.

"Okay," I said, sitting down in the grass. "Please take care of me."

Sasuke sighed. "I will."

I closed my eyes.

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Blackness.

I was floating in blackness. It wasn't oppressive or scary. it was. I knew where I was —I was in my mind, far behind the walls. I reached out a hand in the blackness, watching my fingers stretch out.

Better test it out, I thought, the sound echoing around me, before I pursue them.

With a heartbeat of brief concentration, a butterfly appeared before me. Shiori. Yet, it wasn't Shiori. a figment of my imagination. The Shiori-look-alike fluttered around me and landed on my nose. I could feel her and it tickled. She dissolved away at my will.

I can feel things in here, and conjure them at will. Hopefully this will make my confrontation with them easier.

(It won't.)

My eyes widened and I whirled around.

In front of me there was a girl, who was not old enough to be called a woman, but not young enough to really be called a girl. She had a mess of dark dirty blond hair and sharp, dark blue eyes. She was in a swimsuit that had many tears through it, and her eyes were dark.

"You're the voice," I said.

(The one you hear the most, at least.)

She tilted her head, smiling. But, the smile didn't quite reach her eyes. She held out a hand to me. (Come. I will take you to her.)

"Her? Don't you mean them?"

(No. her.)

Hesitating a moment, I reached out my hand and grasped hers. She tugged on me gently and started guiding me through the blackness. I stared at her, feeling the strongest sense of familiarity. I wanted to ask her who she was —what she was, but I already knew that. I didn't remember it.

I didn't want to remember it.

(She manifested because of the mark.)

"What do you mean?" I enquired.

(You were never meant to receive it, you know. But, you did, and I suppose it's for the best. When I. you. when you repressed the memories, you created a failsafe. Whenever a key event was near, you were supposed to remember enough to change it. It wasn't. isn't. perfect because you could only remember during the event. It was supposed to give you a week or so warning, depending on it.)

My eyes widened at her words. "What? Why doesn't it work?"

(I wasn't skilled enough to make it perfect. That kind of control over one's own mind is. very difficult. It's amazing it even works at all, even if in a deformed and painful way. I was supposed to wake up whenever it worked, you know. I'm asleep most of the time, but when you remember, I wake up. And not correctly, either. I've gotten better, though. We don't merge anymore.)

"Merge? What?"

She looked back at me, impatience crossing her face. (Surely you remember some of the second part of the Exams. That panic, those feelings. You were me and I was you, then. That's what happens when you remember.)

I stared in disbelief at her. "Are you. are you saying you're the memories I repressed?"

(Yes.)

"But. but. you're. you're clearly conscious. That. shouldn't be possible," I spluttered. "The memories should be behind some form of gate, or in a cage. Not. not an actual person who can reason and talk to me."

She lifted her bony shoulders in a shrug, dropping them lazily. (I wanted a life of ignorance, but I couldn't ignore the responsibility. In order to achieve that ignorance, I had to take away all memories that would obligate you. However, I couldn't ignore them. And if I pushed the memories on you, like what's been happening, I thought it would be too overwhelming. So thus. I kept this life and put it to sleep. I was supposed to wake up, with the memories, with some time before each event to plan for them. When the event passed, you would forget me, along with the memories. That was the intention, at least. But, it went wrong, as you can see. I wake up at random times, and at times of the key events, and at times of great distress.)

I swallowed roughly. "You said. kept this life."

She stopped, dropping my hand, and turning to face me. (We're here.)

For a moment, I did not understand what she was saying —we seemed to be nowhere— but then I saw it. Or rather, it appeared. It was a door, of sorts. an ordinary door one might use to enter a bathroom or bedroom. The only extraordinary thing about it were the chains wrapped around it.

(She will arrive shortly.)

"What did you mean. what did you mean by kept this life?" I asked, dreading the answer.

She glanced at me, staring blankly at me with dead eyes.

And she was gone.

I don't know how long I stood in front of that door, waiting. It seemed endless, but I knew that couldn't be the case. I wasn't sure what to expect when she showed up, but I thought I was prepared for whatever she would throw. I only had to bind her —I knew the handseals. It would be a testament of will, because once the binding began, it would be a tug-of-war. If she won, I would be sealed away into the farthest corners of my mind, forever asleep. If I won, however, she would be bound for the rest of my life.

You showed up.

I straightened my back, my eyes snapping around in the darkness. There was a blur that appeared by the door, a sort of blob. It did not take a specific shape, but it kept giggling in that odd voice of it's.

"You know why," I said, fighting back the nerves that started to creep up on me.

Of course I do, it sneered, then erupted into another fit of giggles. Why do you want to be so me-ean about this? Don't you want these memories?

(She was not meant to have those memories!)

My head snapped around, and the one from before was standing there, but she was different. More pale and she held bags under her eyes.

The blur shifted and transformed into a type of glowing white orb, and flew towards the girl. It circled her, and the giggles slowly died down. When the voices spoke again, they held an irritated edge to it.

Suppressing me means suppressing you!

(Not necessarily.)

Suddenly, the door rattled, like a harsh force had pounded on it. The orb started glowing more brightly, the voices becoming more drawn-out —like a hiss. Don't tell me you want to forget! Have you already forgotten?!

She stumbled back, as if suddenly pushed, and watched in horror as her appearance changed. Blood soaked her swimsuit and a part of her head was caved in —isn't that the same spot where I was hit in the forehead— completely crushing her eye. Both of her eyes were missing, empty sockets, and her nose looked like it had been chewed off. Her lips were purple and blue and her skin took on a ghastly appearance.

(That's not funny.)

But it's no less true!

She turned her head towards me and I took a step back, my heart pounding. "Wh-What happened to you?"

(That's not important. Hurry up and bind her!)

The orb shook and transformed into a little boy with dirty blond hair. He looked up at me with hazel eyes, pleading with me. He ran to me, grasping my hand, and squeezing it. He was pleading. "You wouldn't really do that to me? Big sister, you wouldn't really hurt me, would you?"

I snapped back my hand, stepping warily away. "I'm not your sister. I don't even know you."

(Don't use Jaymie!) She shrieked, and the door rumbled again.

The boy —Jaymie? Why was that name familiar?— glared at her. It shifted and became a young woman with long, pretty hair. "Dear, you wouldn't hurt your own mother, would you?"

"You are not my mother," I snarled. "Enough with your games. I'm ending this!" My hands snapped together and the woman was gone, replaced with a mirror image of the girl. The creature hissed at me. You don't understand! I'm helping you. I helped you with Danzo, didn't I? You would have lost if it wasn't for me!

My hands continued to form the seals without hesitation. "You also tried to kill me."

I was showing you what you already know!

The seals were complete. "I won't take the risk of you hurting my family!" All at once, I felt this pressure inside of me. It was gripping my heart, squeezing and pounding and I gasped. A chain erupted from me and wrapped around the blur, glowing an icy blue. There was a shriek of anger, piercing my ears, and causing a ringing sound.

You don't understand! You don't understand! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! The world of blackness faded away and we stood above a storming sea. A boat was being tossed around in the waves. There was a roaring sound and red and white lights—

There was a tug on my heart, and I snapped my attention back and focused on the blackness. The ocean was gone and I gripped the chain and started to pull. The blackness warped again, and we were in some sort of living room, laughter filling the area. The girl was smiling on the couch, the boy from before asleep in her lap. The woman and a nameless man were talking in quiet whispers.

"Stop trying to distract me, it's not going to work," I said, steadily changing it back to blank blackness.

The environment wanted to change again —it wanted to change it, but I was firm.

Physically, I was nowhere close to Sasuke, or Naruto, or Yagura. But mentally, I could hold my own. Naruto's determination had nothing on mine.

It screamed, pulling and yanking and pleading. It tried to shift the environment, to show me things, but I wasn't the only one who wanted the blackness. She, who still wore the body of a mangled corpse, was beside me. Her wrinkled fingers gripped my shoulders and I could feel her determination beside me.

But, it would not be an easy fight.

Because.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

the world rippled

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She, who held on to me, suddenly screamed in pain and I was screaming with her. It was screaming more loudly and our world shook and trembled.

Everything was shattering, falling apart and breaking. Like a rock being thrown into a glassy pool of water. Everything was wrong.

Wrong.

Wrong.

Wrong.

The blackness engulfed me —us?— and I couldn't breathe because there was something inside of me. It was stuffed down my throat and I couldn't see at all because my eyes wouldn't open. There was a pressure on me and I fought it. I screamed, the sound gurgled and strangled.

And suddenly, I was free, and I ripped it out of me, throwing the tubes away. I writhed and screamed again, tears pouring from my eyes —Wait, why both? Why can I see with both my eyes?— and I gagged and retched.

People came into the room, white-robed men and women and some with scrubs of green and pink. I screamed and struggled to keep away from them, but my muscles were weak. "Hanarete! Hanarete!" (1)

"Calm down," one of the doctors —doctors? What are those? Didn't I mean medical-nin? Wait, what were they saying? Why did I understand them?!— said, raising his hands in a calming gesture.

"Hanarate!" I screamed, thrashing and pulling more of the needles and tubes out of me. "Sawaranaide! Sawaranaide! Sasuke! Doko ni imasu ka?!" (2)

"Knock her out —she's delusional," the nurse said.

There was a prick and then I felt sluggish.

I was out like a light.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

I opened my eyes to a bright light.

"Sissy?"

The voice was scared, rough. I turned my head and saw the boy —but he was bigger, older— that it had changed into from before. He was leaning towards me, his eyes wide and pleading. "Sissy, are you? Do you know who?"

He was crying, then, and then I noticed the woman behind him. She was crying, too, but she was smiling. There was man with dark hair, on the other side of the boy. His hand was on top of my head. "Sweetheart, you're okay now. You're in the hospital. You're safe now. You. You were in a coma for six years. "

My bottom lip trembled.

"Who are you?" I whispered.

.

. .

. . .

Interlude - Nao's POV - 13

I looked up at the full moon, the wind gently rushing by me. It was a clear night, not a cloud in sight. If I turned around, I could see the light of the village. I could see people bustling in the streets, and the warmth of the ties between the villagers. But tonight, I did not want the village.

I was drawn to the sky.

So I sat on the roof of my house and stared up.

I was alone for the night. The others were busy with work or missions. Well, mostly alone.

Shiori fluttered around me. When she floated above me, the moonlight caught her wings in a pretty light and made her wings glow softly. Tiny snow dust fell softly around with each flap of her wings, melting and evaporating before it even reached me. I held up my hand and she rested on my finger.

"How is the Kaleidoscope?" I asked quietly.

(Paper)

~Fine, Nao-sama,~ Shiori answered. She rested her wings and I brought her closer to my face. Her antena reached out and tickled my cheek in an affectionate gesture. ~Your blood has been very useful. Soon, the Kaleidoscope shall be remade to fit your needs.~

Smiling warmly, I used my other hand to pull off my goggles from the top of my head. I laid down on the roof, my knees pulled up. I offered Shiori a spot on top of my knees and she gracefully took it, readjusting herself and settling down. With both my hands, I lifted the goggles up to the sky, covering the moon with them.

"I can't explain it," I murmured, finally resting the goggles on my belly and spreading my arms out around me, "but I can't take my eyes off the moon tonight."

(Stars)

My eyes shifted over to the stars, and my interest in the moon was gone.

"They should be made of paper," I whispered, staring in a transfixed motion to the stars.

~What do you mean, Nao-sama?~

There was something on the tip of my tongue. It rested there, at the edge. It teetered and tottered and danced and bowed, but refused to jump over.

Several minutes passed before I finally said, in a soft, quiet, childish voice, "It's so easy to forget yourself in this business of paper stars."

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New fanart, courtesy of AkatsukinoKyara. Check out her dA gallery, my dA favorites or FF profile. :)

(1) Stay away! Stay away!

Answer: NaruHina for most pop, NE x Forsaken for uncommon. :'( Or MadaHina.

Question: If you had all the time in the world, what is something you would like to do with that time?

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