Andromeda & Aburame

Chapter 13: Fractured Part Two

Andromeda's POV:

We finally made it to the interrogation building and I was more nervous than ever. Many people were there, I didn't know most of them except Lord Hokage, Sayuri, Rock Lee Naruto, Hinata, Kiba and the two dogs. Everyone else was a complete stranger.

A girl with blonde hair, seafoam green eyes and a purple outfit walked up to us. 

Girl: "You must be Andromeda, it's nice to meet you. My name is Ino Yamanaka."

Andromeda: "It's nice to meet you Ino."

Ino: "Shall we begin?"

She held out a hand to me and I hesitantly took it. I looked at the faces around me for what may be the last time as myself.

Sayuri: "No matter what happens, I will still be your friend Andromeda. I don't abandon my comrades."

She gave me a thumbs up, her words inspired me and I was ready to face this head on.

I sat before Ino on the floor and after the Hokage removed the seal on my hair and removed the head wrap, an odd machine with many cords hooked in the back was placed on my head and Ino's.

It was dark and it felt as though I were in a trance.

Ino's POV:

I began the mind reading technique my father had taught me. I knew it would take awhile to sort through her memories and put them in correct order and places, but I wasn't prepared for what I saw at all. I let out a gasp and immediately I heard the sound of metal clanking, meaning weapons were primed. Then I heard my darling Sai speak.

Sai: "Ino, what's wrong?

I knew while under my jutsu Andromeda couldn't hear or comprehend anything around her, so I spoke freely.

Ino: "Her mind..."

Sayuri: "What about it? What's wrong Ino?"

Ino: "Everything is broken. Everything, no memory is complete. It's shattered to pieces."

It's hard to explain to those who haven't see the inner workings of the human mind what exactly I was seeing, however at my description my fellow Yamanaka clan members gasped in horror.

Never in my life had I heard of or seen a mind so completely devastated. It was chaotic, like thousands of mirrors shattered into the tiniest fragments of their previous existence.

Kakashi: "Is it even possible to repair her mind?"

Ino: "I... I-I don't know. I'll try."

Naruto: "You can do it Ino! Believe it!"

I slowly began putting the pieces of her mind, of who she was together. It was as though her memories and sense of self was one giant disassembled puzzle and I alone could put it together. The pressure of it all was overwhelming, if I messed up then she would never regain her memories and would spend the rest of her life walking in the shoes of an entirely different body. I couldn't handle it.

Ino: "I can't do it, its too much. I can't do it. I'm sorry."

Rock Lee: "We can't give up Ino, we'll..."

Ino: "I'm not my father okay! I'm not as good at this as he was. I never liked this jutsu, after I learned the basics I just quit. Just like I always do."

I felt a firm but gentle hand on my shoulder.

Sai: "I believe in you Ino, have more faith in your abilities and I am sure you will succeed. You're right you're not your father, so stop living in his shadow and step into the light."

Sayuri: "Sai is right Ino... Maybe we have been approaching this the wrong way. Shikamaru, brother, and a representative from the Yamanaka clan who is familiar with the mind reading jutsu, join us. We have much to discuss in terms of strategy."