The Missing Prince

Chapter 18 ☑️

Ino Pov:

Naruto nods me to over and gestures to the boy on the table.

I do a quick examination of the room and see the snake mage of the valley. I conceal my suprise at seeing him and his sons here in one of the most guarded rooms in the castle.

I walk forward hurriedly to the boy on the bench.

"So this is the little hero." I hover my hand above his brow. There's no twitch of a muscle, he barely even breathes.

"What's his real name?" I ask.

"We still don't know." Shikamaru admits. I bob my head in acknowledgment.

"Okay then." I mutter. I pull my self onto the bed where my knees just brush the boy's unruly brown-gold hair.

"Time to find your name." I whisper to his sleeping body.

I place my left index and middle finger in the centre of his forehead and dive in...

and crash against a thick wall. I jump out. I'm not used to walls. Any that I do come across I can easily break through. I push myself through again and am meet with the same response. Nothing.

My lips curve into a frown. There's no pushing through or breaking down the wall. I'm going to have to trick his senses.

I immerse myself in the dark of his mind. It's suprisingly cold there. I have no idea how I feel the temperature considering that I'm not in my body. 

I stumble in the dark to find the boundary of his memories. I find a small dent but that's about it.

I press my magic against the tiny dent. I'm the greatest mind reader of all time. I will not succumb to such basic tricks. 

The dent bends bit by bit. It's an amazing feeling. I'm actually impressed with the child's dedication to his mental protection.

Just when I'm about to crack it a shockwave of energy boots me away and out of his head.

"Ino! Wake up baby." Sai yells into my ear. I groan and push myself into a seating position.

I'm sitting on my husband's lap on the ground. My head is pounding and it takes a second before I can properly see the hospital.

"What happened?" I ask somewhat dazedly.

My friends are all hovering anxiously above me. I gently pull myself out of Sai's lap and he helps me stand.

"Everything was normal and then you were flung off the bed. Sai caught you but not before you hit the back of your head." Shikamaru informs me.

I nod. Makes sense. I cautiously take a step back to the bed where Hiro lies.

Raijin. Where is he? Is he okay? A mental reverie asks.

My gaze cuts to Shikidai.

Who is Raijin? And why is he thinking of him?

It takes no more then a minute before the young Nara wakes up.

He glances around startled. Shikamaru and Temari gravitate towards his side. Temari has a concerned but grave face plastered on her pretty looks and Shikamaru keeps his face blank.