A Ninja's Path (Kakashi X Reader)

Chapter Seventy

"We were attacked by three individuals. We didn't see their faces- they all wore cloaks and masks."

Nightmares.

"Then what happened?" You pushed down more firmly on the woman's arm as she struggled underneath you.

"They tried to kill us! I don't know what happened to her- one second we were fighting and then she started screaming. Then he did too." The scout speaking glanced over at the other shinobi suffering the same condition. "The attackers just disappeared after that, left us alone. We rushed back here as fast as we could."

You turned their words over, trying to make sense of things. They were on a scouting mission when three Nightmares attacked them, left two in catatonic states, and then left. Why would they attack but retreat when they had already taken down two? Nightmares were supposed to be merciless killers, cold machines for the Council's use. So... did they attack the scouts for the purpose of only injuring a few?

If this had to do with the Council's 'secret weapon', then was this... broken state a result of that weapon? And even more curious... was this the doing of the Hikarigan? You recalled your own week of illusionary torture, the painful state it left you in. And then you remembered how Fuyu snuck in and helped you escape. Physical pain... an anchor to the physical world.

Could it work with these shinobi? You didn't want to permanently mar them like Fuyu did to you, but you needed to at least try something.

"Help me..." The woman on the cot begged. She let out a wracking sob as she struggled against the shinobi holding her down.

Whatever you planned to do, you needed to do it fast, for her sake. But if hurting her brought her out, would you ever know the cause? If there was a chance that the Hikarigan was used on her, you needed to know.

What if... you did the same thing Fuyu did- slipping into the illusion and finding the victim inside? If you found a way in, could you confirm exactly what sort of genjutsu she had been placed under? There was only one way to find out...

"Hold her down." You gestured for the doctor to take your place. She took your position, shooting you a questioning look.

"What are you going to do?"

"Finding a way in." You placed your hands on either side of the scout's head, holding her still.

"What? What does that mean?" One of the shinobi asked in confusion. You ignored them, activating your Hikarigan.

As soon as you did, both catatonic shinobi let out a shrilling scream. Another connection to your kekkei genkai...

You pulled the kunoichi's eyelids open with your thumbs. Her eyes continued to dart around. You stared at her eyes, channeling your focus onto them. All you need was for her to look into them once...

You locked eyes and you felt the physical world slip away.

*~*

You opened your eyes to find yourself in a dimly lit room. Everything was made of concrete.

Along one wall was a panel of thick glass, a window into the adjacent room.

Strapped down to a chair was the female shinobi, crying out in pain. The tips of her fingers and toes were bleeding and your realized with horror that her fingernails had been ripped off. Blood leaked out of her nose and dribbled down from her ears.

A figure stood beside her, rummaging through a tray of various tools. You frowned at your inability to make out who it was, the figure seemed almost ghost-like, wispy around the edges and slightly translucent. They held no prominent features, as if they were simply a shadow.