Chapter 45: Questioning - Ibiki's Intimidation

"Here we are," Shizune lead Nia to a room that was only half lit and had only a few wooden chairs and table in a small room.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I need to head back to-"

"Wait!" Nia grabbed onto the woman's sleeve, causing the pet pig she held in her arms to oink at her.

The girl released her grip then said, "This room is creepy as hell; are you really gonna leave me in here all by myself?"

A very tall man wearing a long black trench coat entered the room behind the girls with three other men following his lead also. Nia made eye contact with the leader who seemed to promise to make her confess every little dirty sin she had ever committed with just one look. Her face turned blue as a shiver ran down her spine also.

W-Who's this guy? Why is he all scarred up? What happened?!

"Ibiki, good. You're just in time." Shizune smiled at the man, "I'll leave things up to you now, all right?"

Ibiki nodded as Shizune closed the door behind her then stared down at the much shorter girl in the room.

He took her arm and sat her in the chair forcibly. Nia's heart pounded as sweat ran down her temple. This whole thing was freaky to her for sure.

One of the men pulled out a paper.

"Nia Umino." He read to the others, "A rogue ninja who escaped from the Cloud and had also beaten some of our very own ANBU..."

"Interesting," Ibiki took a seat and rested an arm on the table separating him from his victim, "Say, how did you manage to defeat the Black Ops? They're very skilled individuals."

"I didn't really beat them to be honest," Nia complied, "I was determined to stay clear of the Leaf shinobi who were threatening to put me behind bars so I escaped using a shadow clone as bait."

Ibiki didn't turn his eyes away, "I need a direct answer. How were you able to defeat the Black Ops?"

"The shinobi you sent out were not the very skilled ANBU members; It was difficult for me, but I think I ended up just using my genjutsu as a means out of the situation." Nia answered with a less vague answer.

"And what's this genjutsu you speak of?"

Nia glanced across the room and then said, "It's a genjutsu that allows me to paralyze my opponents for three minutes completely. Without that technique, I would've been captured a lot sooner."

The room grew silent. The only thing that was heard was the scribbling of a pencil to a paper. One of the men was in charge of recording every word being said.

"You're paper here says that you're likely to be transferred to this village from the Cloud. Tell us, what is your intention with this village?" The man with the pencil question the girl.

'My intention...?' Nia thought to herself and brought her eyes to the table, 'What is my intention?'

"Answer now." Ibiki ordered.

"I don't have an answer for that."

Ibiki leaned forward in his chair, "You will give me an answer."

Nia sweat dropped.

Man, this guy is scary.

"I guess... I'm hoping that this village will give me a light in my life. Or at least, some peace..."

"More details." Ibiki replied.

Nia sighed then added, "Um, the Cloud just wasn't a very good place for me to be at. The air was cold just like the villagers."

"What made you leave your village?"

This question was something Nia wanted to keep to herself.

"I'm not saying..." She flat out declined.

Ibiki leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms, chuckled, then said, "Heh, well... there's nothing you can hide from me."

Nia glared. Ibiki saw this but felt no emotion.

"I wouldn't look at me like that if I were you." Was all he responded.

The girl then leaned back in her chair also and crossed her arms.

"Attitude, huh?" The man gave a crooked smirk, "It's in your best interest to drop that. You have no idea how easily I could break your mind."

"It's wise to adjust that mood, young lady. You're being interrogated by the commanding officer of Konoha's torture and interrogation force." The only man who was standing warned. He was the most sensitive guy.

Nia kept her attitude. Suddenly, the man with her papers spoked.

"Commander, this question doesn't need to be answered. Lady Hokage already has her answer."

Ibiki leaned forward and placed his arm on the table once more, "Hmph, luck was on your side, kid. I'll just get to my next question: Do you plan on ever assaulting this village?"

Nia shook her head, "I have no reason to."

Ibiki was excellent at detecting lies from his victims. No one could hide a lie from him. He was the best. However, Nia was very calm in her answer and she showed no signs of lying.

"Well then," Ibiki already had another question, "Explain how you escaped your village in detail."

Nia looked away briefly then replied, "I snuck out in the cover of night."

Ibiki slammed his fist on the table, "THE TRUTH! Give me the truth or I'll force it out of you!"

Nia was startled. This guy had definitely caught her lie. He knew this just from her looking for a means of escape when she broke eye contact with him.

"I knocked the guards out." This time she maintained eye contact.

Ibiki exchanged eye contact with one of his lackeys. This obedient man held a sign and immediately Nia grabbed at her head and fell over her chair as she suddenly felt as though her brain was going to explain. This pain was far worse than any migraine a person could ever have. There was no explaining this sort of torture.

"ARGH!" The girl felt as though she could die, "I threw a bomb and caused the guards to go see what the commotion was about. I left while they did so, okay?!"

Ibiki nodded at his lackey and the man put away his seal. Nia's head throbbed but the pain was beginning to relieve itself. She looked back at the scarred man with wide eyes.

Just who is this guy?! If his men could perform a sign that powerful to the mind, he must be serious when he says he could break my mind for real!

"I told you there's no way of giving me a dishonest answer without me knowing." The leader's voice was low and frightening, "Try it again and see what happens."

Eventually, Nia was able to get back in her chair but this time, she gave no attitude whatsoever! For she knew that if she were to show such sassiness, she would be screwed for sure.

"Now that I've made it clear who's in charge around here, let's continue, shall we?"

"Fine." The girl nodded.

Ibiki cleared his threat.

"Have you ever assaulted the Cloud besides the one we already know about?" The man asked.

"No." Nia answered truthfully.

"Did you actually successfully pass you chuunin exam fair and square?"

"Yes."

"Have you ever murdered anyone in the Cloud?"

"No."

"Are you planning to assault anyone in this village or have someone else do that bidding?"

"Of course not."

Ibiki looked behind him.

"You guys have anymore questions that need to be answered?" He asked his men.

"Lady Hokage would like to know this girl's relationship with Master Jiraiya, sir!" One answered.

Ibiki gave his attention back to Nia.

"You heard 'em. Get talkin'." He ordered.

Nia sighed but then began to explain who Jiraiya was to her and why she went searching for him. She told no lie and gave only the truth.

'She's giving no indication of lying...' Ibiki narrowed his eyes, 'Lady Hokage may not have to worry herself over this one after all...'

•••

"Naruto, to think you'd really try and go through with it," Jiraiya laughed as he finished listening to his student's full story on what had happened during the group's trip to and from the Cloud, "Maybe you have been hanging around me a bit too much. My habits are starting to rub off on you."

"She got all mad at me when I tried to show her how I felt..." The blond sighed as he waited on his bowl of ramen at Ichiraku.

Jiraiya chuckled, "I guess my advice to you for those types of situations didn't work at all."

"I knew I shouldn't have listened to an old perv like you because she ended up thinking I only wanted one thing from her, ya know?!"

"Easy there, Naruto. Even though you actually tried to make love to her, at least she didn't send you flying like Tsunade did to me once. Besides, she forgave you. Nia's clearly become much more extremely kinder towards you than when we first met her."

Naruto pouted.

Jiraiya noticed the amount of regret the boy showed in his facial expression.

"Forgive me, Naruto. If I hadn't given you the advice that I did, you wouldn't have been lead on to believe that sex was the way to a woman's heart. The advice I gave you was for one night stands, not for more serious things."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm saying your feelings for Nia and her feelings for you are obviously more than what you thought of it to be. Clearly, she's getting to you in a way you can't understand."

Naruto placed his left elbow on the counter and rested his cheek on his palm.

'He's really stressing himself out over this," The old man observed his pupil's actions, 'He seemed fine back a little ago, but right now he's just a wreck.'

"Naruto, you ever think you might already be in love with the girl by any chance?"

"EH?!" The boy gasped with a slight blush, "Where's this all coming from, Pervy Sage?!"

The toad sage sweat dropped.

Oh brother... it's worse than I thought. He doesn't even realize his own feelings.

"What makes you think that?" Naruto then questioned calmly.

"Just face it, Naruto. There was something going on between you two ever since that incident with your transformation whether you realize it or not," The sannin began to get serious, "That hug you gave her didn't look too friendly."

"I only did that because... because..."

"Don't bother, Kid. It's obvious your feelings are too difficult for you to understand."

And that might have to do with the fact that you didn't grow up seeing the love a mother and father have for one another... and because... maybe I had something to do with it as well...

"Pervy Sage, isn't what I feel for Sakura love?" The genin solemnly asked.

Jiraiya folded his arms, "It very well could be, but to be honest Naruto, the biggest reason you feel the way you do about Sakura is just because of how she looks. She's pretty so you're much more enticed by that more than anything. You can't really explain what you like about her personality without thinking really hard about it. What you feel for her is infatuation at best."

"Infatuation?" Naruto repeated dumbfounded, "Then wouldn't your feelings for Granny be that too?"

"Oh no, my feelings for Tsunade go far beyond than just her looks. I've loved Tsunade for years but I never dwelled on her because my feelings were unrequited and she was already in love with another man."

"Oh."

Naruto then lowered his eyes on the counter, "Do you think Curly Brow might... be... infatuated with me, Pervy Sage?"

"I would've said yes if you hadn't told me all that she confessed to you," Jiraiya replied, "but since you did, I think it's safe to assume she might very well be in love with you."

"Oh uh... you really think so?" The blond scratched the bridge of his nose as he blushed, "I didn't know she felt that way, ya know?"

"Well, don't you look touched." The old man chuckled.

Naruto kept smiling to himself. Jiraiya only slightly smiled.

That's right... Naruto's never been at the receiving end of feelings, so this is all new to him. Knowing someone feels that way towards him must make him very happy no matter who it is.

"I wouldn't get all jolly just yet, Naruto. You still need to understand that Nia may not be able to recognize that feeling toward you. Remember: she's only ever experienced having a crush. She's said she was either rejected or too shy to make a move when her feelings were reciprocated. Not to mention, she's been so badly mistreated and verbally abused that it's no surprise that she's so guarded and feels underserving of you. Basically, I highly doubt she would be able to notice that her feelings may be more than just a crush at this point. She's probably had a crush on you during the time we were all still traveling together."

"But, she does love me now, right?" Naruto grinned and pointed at himself.

Jiraiya sighed, "You never listen..."

"Two miso pork ramen ready to be served," Teuchi, the owner of Ichiraku, set the bowls down in front the two customers in the shop, "Enjoy, you guys!"

"OH BOOOOOOOY!" Naruto picked his chopsticks up as dramatic tears rolled down his face, "I've been waiting forever for this moment, ya know!"

Quickly, he dug in and slurped as much noodle strings as he could. Jiraiya inwardly chuckled and began to eat his meal as well.

When the two finished, they exited the shop and went over to a spot where they could further discuss things.

"So what should I do, Pervy Sage?" Naruto sat on the grass, "Do I keep chasing after Sakura or should I move on?"

"That's for you to decide, Naruto. Besides... why don't you just have both of them-"

"I'm not some player like you, you dirty old pervert!"

"All right, you can calm down," Jiraiya groaned, "It was just a joke."

"Sure..." Naruto didn't believe his master.

"Okay... Sakura is clearly the more better looking one. Personally, I and most men would choose her for that one reason period. The only major downsides to her is that she's too controlling, short-tempered, aggressive, lacks a woman-like body, and was in love with someone else."

Naruto nodded as Jiraiya then said,

"Then we have Nia. She's not a physically attractive woman which is a very huge setback when it comes to obtaining men. However, in your case Naruto, she's grown on you after spending numerous and countless hours getting to show you who she is and what she's about to a point where you now see her as "cute"."

Again, Naruto nodded.

"Sakura's the one you've been crushing on for a while. Nia's the one whom you've recently came to terms with developing feelings for to an extent. With Sakura, you've gotten to know her over a few years and still find it difficult to explain what you like about her personality. With Nia, you can say it without trouble even though you haven't known her for nearly as long. You're more attracted to Sakura physically while you're more attracted to Nia's personality."

It was quiet for a bit as Jiraiya thought about the situation more before speaking again.

"Men would usually choose the better looking girl as I told you before. However, somehow you've became attracted to Nia after spending a great amount of time getting to know her better. So, when it comes to keeping bonds and such, it's the personality that keeps it going. When it comes to wanting to get with or talk to someone, that's where physical attraction needs to take place."

"I don't get it Pervy Sage, what're you trying to say?" The genin tilted his head.

"I'm saying you like Sakura. No, really like her."

"Oh! That makes sense, ya know."

Jiraiya then quickly replied, "But it's Nia who you're either falling for or if not, are already in love with, Naruto."

"Yeah yeah," Naruto nodded as he crossed his arms, "I thought you'd might say th- wait WHAA?"

"Just hear me out," Jiraiya ordered, "You and Sakura obviously has had a bond formed over time. You're teammates. It's only natural you guys would warm up to one another and work out one another's differences. However, though you two have had questionable moments, in the end, you two have more of a very close friendship or even a sibling like relationship. If Sakura returned your feelings, maybe I'd say something a bit more different but since she doesn't, I'll leave it at that."

The man next said, "With Nia, you two seem to be good friends now. However, unlike Sakura, she has feelings for you that she's admitted to you. In return, her confession made you realize that maybe there's something you don't have with Sakura that you DO have with Nia."

"And what's that?"

"An understanding for one another," Jiraiya answered, "You and Nia can empathize with eachother much more deeply than you could ever do with Sakura, if you even can at all."

Again, Naruto became confused. Jiraiya sweatdropped and face palmed himself.

"Gah, it's like this: You and Nia have gone through and felt similar bad experiences throughout certain points in your lives: You've both been discriminated against, ignored, hated, shoved around, picked on, bullied, shunned, felt lonely, got talked about, verbally abused, threatened, were outcasts, and much much more. With Nia, you have more of an emotional bond due to empathy. For this reason, I believe this is one of the reasons why Nia feels so strongly about you and why I believe, you should consider returning her feelings fully perhaps."

"Maybe... you're right. But still..."

"You told me that she's not expecting you to return her feelings and that she's not forcing her's on you. The final decision is yours to make Naruto, but just think about it like this," The toad sage brought up another point, "Nia knows she's not appealing to the eyes of men and is constantly being put down because of that. She's become understandably very insecure and has trouble with men and people in general. Despite all this, she still told you how she felt about you despite knowing that there may have been a 99.9%, or perhaps in her eyes, a 100% chance of you rejecting, telling her off, or laughing in her face about it. You gotta admit, she's gutsy to be confessing when she doesn't fit the description of an physically attractive and sexy woman."

Naruto didn't say anything this time.

"Now, I'm not forcing my opinion on you and she's not gonna force it on you either. However, I believe what she has told you was a sign that her feelings are more than just a crush. I'm more sure about her feelings than I am with yours without a doubt, Kiddo. Besides, when I saw her, she had a lot more life in her eyes and she even appeared to be a lot more light hearted as opposed to having a dull stare and hard heart."

"I understand." Naruto nodded.

"So if we really think about it, you're really choosing between this: the pretty girl whom you can't seem to note what you really like about her personality or the not-so-pretty girl whom you can note what you like about her and whom eventually grown on you. When you think back to your painful past, do you wanna hear: "I'm sorry to hear that." or "I understand how you feel."?"

"Well, whenever I know someone has experienced something similar to me, I feel relieved because then I feel like have a deep connection with that person. Like when I knew Sasuke was all alone and didn't have a family or when Gaara was a jinchuuriki and knew what it was like to be shunned."

"Well then, you may have your answer then, but even so, maybe you guys should take it slow. You never wanna rush things and your feelings may change along the way. Not to mention, you still have feelings for Sakura, but if I were you, I wouldn't dwell on it. Be friends with Nia for a while longer, maybe even go out on small dates, or hang out, whatever you prefer. If that goes by smoothly, then you should already know what to do next," Jiraiya shared his thoughts, "Did you catch that, Naruto?"

"Yeah, ya know." He nodded.

"All right then," Jiraiya stood up and stretched, "Enough talking already. Let's see if you've been keeping up with your training."

"Right!" Naruto jumped to his feet, "Ready when you are, Pervy Sage!"

----

A/N - Hi guys! I posted this chapter early as thanks for everyone getting me to 700 followers and helping me get this story to 26,000 reads, with 1.4k votes and 2.4k comments. That's crazy! Thanks so much!

This chapter was made thanks to some of you guys help! If it weren't for you, this chapter would've just ended right where Ibiki was questioning Nia. Sorry for the lack of pictures and gifs, I just wanted to save some of the ones I found for future chapters.

Anyways, thx for reading! Please comment and vote :) have a great night!