Chapter 20

(2 months later)

"I don't know Menma. It didn't really work out the last time." Minato said leaning back in his Hokage seat, staring over at his son dressed in his street clothes.

"Come on Tou-san. That was two years ago." He argued. "I just.. hate how incomplete the family feels." He said looking down.

Minato sighed. "Believe me, I get it." He remarked. "But, digging all that up will upset your mother… She just got over the whole ordeal."

"Then don't tell her." He said arguing his case. "I just want to see him.. I don't know, maybe tell him about my family and all."

"I would have to talk to his new psychiatrist to see how he's been doing." Minato said while he simultaneously shook his head as if telling him it wouldn't happen.

"New psychiatrist? I thought he wasn't taking sessions anymore."

Minato nodded. "Well, he wasn't up until a few weeks ago. Apparently someone took his case."

"Well, do you know who it is?" He asked.

He shook his head. "No, I haven't had a chance to go and check up on things in a while." He admitted. "Last time was about three or four months ago and he was still on lockdown so."

"Well, if you hear anything then just let me know." He said turning to leave before Minato called him back.

"Hey, hang on. About that other thing, well everyone seems to be on board. Shouldn't take more than another few months." He said bringing a smile to the younger man's face.

Menma chuckled as he walked closer to the door. "Just make sure that paperwork is done by then old man."

Minato chuckled and shook his head, ignoring the statement. Going back to his work, he thought over just how that conversation began. Basically, Menma wanted to visit Naruto before his daughter was born just to speak with him one last time. For what reason, he didn't know. It was a sudden request that he doubted would go over well but would entertain it at the least.

Signing off on another document, there was a knock at his door. "Come in." he called out pushing the paper off to the side.

Inoichi walked in looking worse for wear. Bags under his eyes, slouched shoulders, and an expression so downtrodden that it'd be hard not to notice. "Minato… hey." He called out to him lowly.

"Inoichi." Minato said looking him up and down, noticing his disgruntled state. "You look rough."

He chuckled and took a seat in a chair off to the side. "Yeah…" he said hollowly.

Silence settled in for a second. "So, how can I help you?" Minato asked cautiously.

Inoichi sighed and thought about how he could answer that. "I uh.. well I have a request to make." He said surprising him. Minato just waited for him to spit it out. "I want you to uh… well, I just want you to think it over..." he said.

"What is it?" Minato questioned, not liking the direction this conversation was headed.

Inoichi stared out at the floor a few feet in front of him, deep in thought. He sighed a few times finding this a lot harder than it seemed just a little while ago. What he was going to ask was something he himself wouldn't agree to if he were in the position. "I want you to move Naruto back to the prison…"

Minato just stared at him in shock. "What?" he asked him.

"I want him moved back to the prison." He repeated as if he just hadn't heard him.

Minato couldn't understand what was going on here. It didn't make any sense. "Inoichi… you don't even work there anymore." He said.

"I am aware of that." He said nodding his head.

Minato just shook his head still trying to think of a plausible reason for why the man wanted to do this. To his knowledge, Inoichi hasn't stepped foot in the Asylum in years. So, what was the meaning of this outrageous request? "I don't understand."

"Minato…" Inoichi said, still looking out into the middle distance. "I have not asked you for much in our long friendship… now, I am begging you… please."

Minato shook his head at the desperate statement. "Inoichi… you know I can't do that." He said looking at him. Inoichi shook his head. "Naruto's not right in the head… If we put him back in the prison…" he drawled off.

"He can't stay at the Asylum." Inoichi said.

Minato still wasn't understanding. "What brought this up?"

He wouldn't give an answer, he just shook his head again. "He can't stay there…"

Minato sighed and stood to his feet. "Look, come back in a few days, I'll have Ibiki here to explain his progress. We can uh… we can make a decision then." He said. Inoichi shook his head yet again and stood to his feet, heading for the door, not turning around on his way out. Minato sighed and rubbed his head at the confusing turn of events.

Sitting in his room, reading book after book, Naruto thought about all that has happened. He thought about how close he was to freedom. He could just feel how devoted Ino was becoming. From their conversations, he could see how she was changing day by day. It was she who requested they have longer sessions every day without him even asking. He technically hadn't asked for anything she did for him. She just sort of did it.

He told her how boring his days are and how he used to read all the time, she got him books. He told her how the straitjacket would sometimes hurt his arms, she demanded the guard remove it in place of simple handcuffs instead. He told her that he liked her hair down and she left it that way. It was simple things that made him realize that on a subliminal level, she was willing to do things for him, and the more he pushed, the more he could ask for.

Their recent conversations were becoming more and more personal. They spoke of everything that could be discussed on an intellectual level and she expressed to Naruto that these deep conversations they had were all she enjoyed anymore. Knowing that, he spent his days of isolation planning the next theory he could explain for her or debate about. It was something to do besides staring at his padded walls all day.

He noticed the change in her. She was slowly becoming more cynical in her thinking, a little more dark in her humor when they joked around. He also noticed how flirty she seemed to turn when the time allowed it. It was strange at first, but she always passed it off as a joke afterwards so it wasn't much to bite off of. Not that he couldn't exploit that. In the slight chance that those random outbursts of playful affections were real, he would flirt back in hopes of moving this whole ordeal along a little quicker.

Ino was at the edge of the cliff with her feet dangling over the ocean of insanity. With a little shove, she would fall in. Naruto had a plan to get out of here, and she played a big role in it. He just had to bid his time. It wouldn't be too long now.

At the home of soon to be parents, Sakura and Menma Namikaze, Ino sat at the dining room table looking in on the group of people that identified themselves as her friends. It was an Impromptu party that Tenten came to her house to retrieve her for earlier this morning. She sat in the corner seat of the dining room, watching everyone talk amongst themselves about random topics that didn't mean much. It was boring her to death.

Around her were Tenten and Sakura, both bragging about their respective husbands, or soon to be in Tenten's case. It was as if they were in competition with each other over who had the more supportive man. They droned on and on about which of them was more efficient in the aspects of a good partner as if it mattered in the slightest. Ino just sat in her seat, drinking the bottle of sake in her hand.

She looked around the room viewing everyone in there in a new light. Her conversations with Naruto brought a twist to the reality she's come to know in her life time. The friends she saw on a daily basis were a lot different then she remembered them being. They were the same, she just didn't view them the same. The ones she saw as confident and a little brash were now blind and idiotic. The shy or quiet ones were more aware of what life is. Regardless they were all foolish in their ways of thinking and understanding. She honestly felt superior to everybody there, even the ones who could most likely kick her ass.

In a mental battle before, no one could hold a candle to her, besides Shikamaru, mainly because of her family's special jutsu, but now it was much more than that. It was strange how much she could feel herself change in just two months with the help of her redheaded patient. She felt like a completely different person. A good one or a bad, she didn't know yet.

She knew she was changing though. As a psychiatrist, she was constantly keeping track of her own mental state as well just out of habit. It was becoming so dark and twisted, and she knew it was. In a way, she felt like psychopathy was creeping up on her. She also knew the cause of it as well.

Naruto was the root of her falling, but it was such an intoxicating feeling. It was like falling in love. A scary experience that she hoped had a happy ending. She was falling

down

down

deep in a hole.(wink*) Her mind was starting to go and she could feel it. Ino would have been alarmed had it not had such an enticing end point. Having the chance to think in the same way as Naruto was something she wanted. If that meant psychopathy, then she was up for it. Hopefully it didn't come to that.

Waking from her thoughts, she noticed she was now sitting at the table by herself. Sakura and Tenten left to find their significant others as did everyone else apparently. She spotted couple after couple smooched up together around the house. They all smiled and had their own little conversations, mocking her while she sat in her seat alone, wishing she had that.

Who would she have that with? Everyone that liked her was a complete idiot or a conceited asshole. Everyone she liked was… well she didn't really like anyone. To rephrase, she didn't really like anyone attainable for her. Ino wouldn't lie to herself. Naruto Namikaze had crept his way back into her heart with ease over their time together. It was like he never left. For the first time in a long time, she felt appreciated and needed. He spoke to her like she understood every word he said even when sometimes she didn't. He treated her like she was better than these simple minded civilized people even when she wasn't. He made her feel like she could be more than what she already is. How could she not fall for that?

Sadly, that wasn't the type of crush she could run around telling her friends and parents about. She'd be taken off the case instantly. Maybe this is what her father was worried about. Maybe he knew of Naruto's charm and took a guess at how it would affect her. It was more likely he feared the possibility of her ending up like Dr. Yager. It seemed like a plausible fear to have of course with the extensive list of suicide victims caused by Naruto's influence. More importantly, it showed that her own father didn't even believe in her. If he thought so little of her abilities that he didn't trust her to not kill herself because of something that a patient said, then what good was he as a father?

"Ino!"

She jumped in shock as Tenten sat down next to her, looking at her in curiosity. "What?" she asked in irritation.

Tenten gave her an amused expression. "Geez, a little moody aren't we?" Ino mocked her smile and took another drink of her sake. "Why are you all alone?"

With a sigh, she asked "Is it bothering you?"

"Well, yeah. A little." Tenten replied. "Are you mad or something?"

"Why would I be mad?" she asked.

"Uhm, because you're all alone over here and everyone else has a man to give them love and attention." She said in a joking manner. Ino didn't take it that way.

She chuckled. "Oh yeah. I totally wish I had a dimwitted guy to make out with at a party filled with idiots." She mocked with a fake smile.

Tenten took that as Ino's version of a joke, but she decided to play along. Chuckling, she put a hand to her chest dramatically. "Uh! Are you trying to call us idiots?"

"No honey. I did." She said in a demeaning way with a tone one would you when explaining to a child.

Tenten's smile faded slightly, trying to decide if she were actually joking or not. Brushing it off, she switched up the topic. "You're a meanie!" She exclaimed in her childish voice. "Hey, what happened with that guy I set you up with?"

Ino gave her an irritated look and then looked away. Ignoring her question completely.

Tenten was now truly feeling disrespected. "Hellooo! Am I talking to myself?"

Ino sighed and brought the bottle back up to her mouth. "Might as well be." She whispered into the bottle before taking another sip.

"Excuse me?" she asked, truly not hearing what she said.

Ino got tired of it as she was too drunk to continue listening to the girls annoying voice. Downing the rest of the bottle, she exhaled and looked to the bun haired girl. "Look Tenten." She began, slurring the words together. "If I am being honest, I would much rather sit here in utter silence and complete isolation than to have to listen to your ridiculous rants about how 'great' Neji is in everything he does."

Tenten was about to argue, "That's.. not wh-.."

"Yes, yes it is." Ino said rolling her eyes. "That's all you ever talk about. That's all you and Sakura eeever talk about. It's the most eventful thing within your sad, dull little life so you bring it up in almost every situation so that you can feel important for a few minutes every day. Then when you get the attention you so desperately crave to justify your own prominence, you act all bashful and humble like you don't want all of that attention on you. It's really sad Tenten and I can guarantee you more than a few people have noticed, it's not just me. So, just save yourself some embarrassment and go back over there with your feminine man before he realizes he's gay and leaves you, or worse slits his own throat in realization of how bitchy you actually are." Ino said getting to her feet, planning on leaving, wobbling towards the door.

Tenten remained in her spot with her mouth agape. She stared at Ino's retreating form, waiting for her to turn around and start laughing at that ridiculous joke. When she didn't, she got angry. "Hey! Fuck you!" she yelled out getting the attention of the other guests. Ino sighed and turned to the girl. "You're just a lonely bitch who can't find a boyfriend! What the hell gives you the right to talk down on anyone!?"

Sakura, being a peacemaker got to her feet as quickly as she could. "Hey, hey, hey." She called out. "What's going on?"

The two ignored her as they stared at each other. "Tenten, I'm not talking down on you. I am making an observation. I don't blame you. You've lived your whole life believing in societies set standard of social acceptance, as have I." She admitted. "But, unlike me, instead of standing out, you flew under the radar, not noticed in a negative or positive light. Now that you're older, you're starting to feel as though your younger years have all been a waste. So, you're having a sort of pre-midlife crisis in which you are searching for any form of appraisal you can receive from any corner you can receive it from. If that's what makes you feel like you matter, then by all means, do as you must." Ino responded smugly with half lidded eyes, clearly intoxicated to some extent.

Tenten was clearly steaming mad and Neji got behind her, wrapping an arm around her waist, gently pulling her away. "Fuck! You! You lonely, psychotic, bitch!" she said kicking off a slew of curse words that poured out of her mouth as she was dragged out of the back door by Neji and a few of the other former famous rookies, including Ino's own teammates.

"Ino?" Sakura called her name cautiously. "What's going on?"

Ino just smiled back at her as if she were walking on clouds. "Oh nothing, Mrs. Namikaze. I'm peachy." She replied.

Sakura shook her head, still hearing the horribly aggressive remarks flying out of Tenten's mouth from the backyard. Everyone else was quiet, most of them wanting to see what would happen. Menma, Sasuke, and Mito were the only two left sitting on the couch. "Why would you say that to Tenten?" she asked her.

"Well, I could've very well lied to her, possibly fed her with self-confidence so that she could prance around this place like she's the best damn thing to touch this earth because of the guy she's with, but there's no healing in that. You've got to break a piece of the wall before you can fix the foundation Sakura." She explained in her doctor's lingo. "We've got to break waalls." She slurred out in a harsh whisper dramatically.

Sakura shook her head. "Ino.. that's your friend... We're your friends, not your patients…" Sakura said as if she figured the blonde girl had amnesia or something.

Ino laughed at that. "Friends? Hahaha!" she said laughing harder and harder. "Are you fucking insane!?" she asked. Sakura was about to reply but was cut off. "You've got to be fucking insane!"

Mito stood up from Sasuke's lap. "Ino, what the hell is wrong with you?" she asked, joining the fight.

"Mito, Mito, Mito." She said mockingly, eyeing the girl up and down. "Gosh, how are you related to him?" she whispered lowly, missing everyone's ears.

"Look, I don't know what the hell is wrong with you, but you need to go and apologize to Tenten, right now." The redheaded girl said in a threatening manner.

"Wow.." Ino remarked. "What a world we live in huh? Where we actually have to apologize for speaking the truth!" she said as if she were giving a speech. "How ridiculous is that!?"

"We shouldn't lie to our friends." Mito remarked randomly making the blonde drunk laugh harder and harder.

"Ino stop." Sakura demanded.

"Oh no, Mito's right." Ino said suddenly. "We shouldn't lie to our friends." She said pacing around the room. "In fact, we should all apologize for lying to our friends." She said.

"Ino.." Mito said daringly.

She just smiled at her. "Oh, you want to start Mito?" she asked. "Go ahead and tell Sasuke your dirty little secret. I'm sure he'd love to know." She said peaking the Uchiha's interest.

Mito continued staring Ino down with ill intent. "Stop.."

"Oh, but what kind of friend… lies to another? A boyfriend at that!" she said preposterously. Mito didn't say anything.

"What's she talking about Mito." Sasuke demanded. Seeing his friend getting angry, Menma quickly stood to his feet to help.

"Ino, I think it's time for you to leave." He said standing in front of her.

Ino's smile increased. "And then, the kiss ass!" she said happily with a giggle. "Hey, if I leave now, you won't know Sakura's secrets." She chided. Menma hesitated slightly.

"w-…We don't keep secrets." He said pushing her gently towards the door. She only laughed as he basically picked her up off her feet and walked her to the front door. Before they got there she continued.

"Oh, I wouldn't be too sure, Sasuke-kun.. oops" she said cutely, clearly meaning to make that mistake. "I mean, Menma." She then began laughing like a drunken psycho. Menma turned around, not sure what she meant by that, but to his luck, Shikamaru and Choji were jogging back into the house at the call of Mito to haul their teammate back to her home. They both noticed the utter tension and silence as they walked through, not wanting to get involved.

"Got damn it, Ino." Shikamaru said grabbing onto her. "What the hell have you done?" he asked as she just cackled sadistically. He and Choji hauled the girl off, leaving the house with a heavy atmosphere that was uncomfortable to sit in. The group of friends who showed up for a relaxing day of being together now had more than a few elephants in the room to discuss, or ignore, depending on what they decided to do.