Chapter 1
****************
Nakano Canal, Outskirts of Konoha City
A phone call interrupted Gaara quiet day off. The redhead had been quietly sketching his new cactus. He had gotten it a few days back and had set it next to his bedroom window. The call had been from Kakashi, just a simple address to the Nakano River Canal and asking him to show up.
When Gaara pulled up to the bridge, the area was filled with FBI agents and police officers. Ducking under the yellow crime scene tape, he spotted Kakashi
“Im glad you came Doctor.” Kakashi said as Gaara walked up to him. “I was hoping you could help me with a psychological profile.” He added. Just before one of the agents yelled out,
“I found another body!”
“Come with me Doctor.” Kakashi said, leading him back off to the side, where four black body bags lay. “These are the bodies we’ve recovered so far. There's at least one more still stuck in the bottom of the river.” Kakashi said with a shake of his head. “It’s hard to say how long they’ve been here but someone went through a lot of trouble to keep the bodies well preserved.”
“All of the bodies have been coated in some form of resin.” Ino chimes in as she walked up. “The big one? Almost sealed. He was rotting from the inside out.”
“The other three?” Gaara asked eyeing them carefulling, mindful of the gaze of Kakashi.
“Embalmed maybe?” Ino said with a shrug, a shiver at the disgusting smell of the water logged rotting corpses. “Not sure but whatever the killer is doing, he’s still trying to figure out how to do it.”
“Where they injected with Silicon?” The redheaded alpha asked.
“Not sure yet, but they were injected with something.”
“Silicon?” Kakashi questioned.
“Often used to making models out of fish. Helps the body retain shape, even after death.” Gaara glanced at Kakashi before saying, “the killer is making human models. These are likely his…. discard pile.”
***************
Dr. Uchiha’s home, central Konoha City
Gaara walked in to his therapists home, with a signed sheet of paper tucked in the inside of his long coat. The weather was changing outside, growing colder. It made his ears turn as red as his hair.
“What is this?” Sasuke asked warily, after they both sat down in the living room and Gaara handed him the paper.
“I am giving you informed consent to discuss me as your patient.”
“With whom?”
“Agent Kakashi Hatake.” Gaara said simply before leaning back into his chair.
“Disclosure of patient information should be limited to the situation.” Sasuke murmured, his eyes taking in all of the words on the page and the neatly written dignitaries at the bottom. “What is the… situation?” The raven haired alpha asked.
“Naruto has made…. accusations.”
“And?”
“Kakashi is being careful to investigate everything.”
“Your keeping Agent Hatake close.” Sasuke observed carefully, tapping his finger on his thigh.
“We share an obsession.” Gaara explained before stating. “I was able to be Naruto today.”
“Oh?” Sasuke said arching his brow. “How so?”
“I consulted on a crime scene. I stood in his shoes and saw death. I saw it, how I imagined he would have seen it.” Gaara replies softly, his eyes distant, as he recalled the memory.
“Why are you inviting the scrutiny of the FBI?” Sasuke asked finally, his finger stopping as he pressing his mouth together in a hard line. His brows were pulled together as he narrowed his eyes at the redheaded alpha that sat across from him.
“I am being as open and honest as I know how.” Gaara stated. Sasuke clicked his tongue dissatisfaction pouring off of him.
“You maintain the illusion of transparency, while putting me in the position to lie for you.” Sasuke growled softly. “Again.”
“You are not just lying for me.” Gaara replied tilting his head simply, watching Sasuke with a coldness in his green eyes. Something akin to fear flashed in Sasuke's eyes and a long silence draped itself over them.
“....How far will this… flirtation with the FBI go?”
“It would see Kakashi is less suspicious me than you are.” Gaara said simply, instead of answering. The redhead was still leaned back in his chair, looking as normal as ever.
“Kakashi doesn’t know what you are capable of.” Sasuke snapped back.
“Neither do you.”
****************
Kaguya’s Hospital for the Criminally Insane, Northside of Konoha City
“How’s Kurama?” Naruto asked, as he paced back in forth in his cold cell. The rough texture of dark green jumpsuit rubbing his skin raw as he tried think.
“He’s okay. He runs away every now and then but never anywhere I can’t find him.” Sakura murmured softly and Naruto paused as he took in those words, trying ignore the pink haired betas scent. The soft and lush floral smell made his stomach churn.
“Where does he run too?”
“Home.” She replied with a smile.
“He won’t find me there.”
“Not today maybe.” Sakura said, trying to be hopeful. “But with the right defense maybe someday.” Naruto snorted, feeling the hair on the back of his neck prickle.
“I don’t have legal representation.” Naruto said, being careful to keep his face turned away from her. The fact that she was here at all confused him. ‘What’s her end goal?’ He wondered. ‘Why is she so supportive? At this point every thinks I killed people. That I’m a murder. Why is she still chasing after me?’ Naruto wasn’t sure and it made him uncomfortable and set his teeth on edge, even while it comforted him. ‘At least she hasn’t abandoned me yet.’
“That’s because you keep firing all of your lawyers.” Sakura chastised and Naruto frowned.
“Not my lawyers, they are the FBI’s lawyers.”
“Well then I will find you someone who isn’t affiliated with the FBI.” Sakura said hastily, already inching forward. Naruto sighed and crossed his arms, before finally turning to meet her eyes for the first time since she came to see him.
“And what defense do you think I have?”
“Automatism.” Sakura murmured. “It’s means that the defendant was not aware of his or her actions when doing an illegal act. Therefore, you can’t be held liable for your actions. In your case, because of unconsciousness.”
“Unconsciousness?” Naruto checked, raising his brow and she nodded.
“Naruto, your mind was on fire. You had no control over what you were doing— much less remember doing it.” Sakura reassured him and Naruto shook his head silent before a new thought popped into his mind.
“What if… I could remember?” He asked hesitantly. “What if I could remember how… this— was done to me?” He asked. ‘Maybe, if I remember how it was done I could disprove it. Point Kakashi in the right direction.’ Naruto thought. As softer voice in his head whispered , ‘or maybe you’re wrong. Maybe you really did kill those girls, and Gaara is really just an incredible alpha.’
“You mean, what if you could remember how you did it?” Sakura corrected gently and Naruto had to fight back to urge to growl at her— and at himself.
“You believe Gaara?” The blonde questioned, trying to ignore that little voice that was telling him that he was guilty. ‘I’m not guilty. I’m innocent.’ Naruto thought to himself.
“I believe that the Naruto standing in front of me right now is incapable of that violence.” She stated firmly. “I believe you lost your mind, and for periods of time you weren’t the Naruto I know.” The blonde was silent for a moment, thinking, processing what she said. A second idea bloomed and Naruto felt a shiver race up his spine. ‘If I could remember, maybe… just maybe… both Gaara and I are innocent. Maybe I—‘ Naruto shook his head focusing on the image of dirty laundry to distract himself. ‘I shouldn’t let myself think like that.’
“Sakura,” Naruto asked, taking a step closer. “Have you ever helped a patient recover memories?” The pink haired beta paused before nodding. “Would you help me, recover mine?”
“Are you sure?” She asked softly. “You could be remembering how you committed murder. Is that… really something you want to remember?”
“It’s something I have to remember.” Naruto mumbled, before nodding to her. Not even ten minutes later the guards were at his cell door, hauling him out and leading him —‘like a unwanted dog’ Naruto thought— to the privacy room. Sakura had beaten him to there, a reassuring smile already on her face the moment she him. Naruto wrinkled his nose inwardly and tried to not be uncomfortable. ‘It’s not her fault. She just wants the person she loves to notice her.’ The blonde told himself, even as he wished that person wasn’t him.
The guards locked his cuffs to the spot in the middle of the table, and Naruto eyed the strange contraption already sitting on the table next to where Sakura sat. ‘A hypnosis device.’ Naruto realized.
Slowly, she lulled him into light drowsy trance, her voice before relaxing and unnerving him because it should be deeper, rougher, like sand. The blonde closed his eyes and felt something tug on his mind, like a looking at something through water. Naruto sat there, watching his own memories unfold like— watching a movie. Hazy but knew that they were real. Even though it surprised him. The first memory was strange to watch, seeing himself, knowing what was coming next and yet not knowing.
[Reference to Chapter 40 of Book One]
“Why am I crying?” Naruto had said aloud. “Gaara is right. I’m slipping. I feel like I’m going crazy.”
Naruto remembered dreaming of Matsuri, where she kept asking how it felt to kill. Then a new part of the memory surfaced.
Gaara carefully walked inside, pocketing a copy of Naruto's house key, which must have made at some point. The redheaded alpha, look regal and out of place in the blondes disheveled home. And he appeared to be looking for something. Naruto was half watching from where he lay curled in his nesting room. Sudden Gaara went still and tilted his head before looking right at where the blonde lay. Almost warily, the alpha approached the door to Narutos nest, and cracked it open. There, Naruto lay curled up and trembling. Gaara’s expression cracked open to reveal a look tender compassion. It looked strange, like Gaara wasn’t used to feeling compassion— Or worry for that matter. Naruto let out a high pitch growl, and Gaara froze remained crouched in the doorway while Naruto breathed in his scent. After an hour or two, Gaara left as silently as he had come, and Naruto fell back asleep.
‘I didn’t expect…. that.’ Naruto thought briefly to himself, before another memory washed over his skin.
[Reference to Chapter 42 of Book One]
Naruto was laying in his nesting room again, curled around a long body pillow with barely suppressed whines pouring out of his throat. The blonde looked terrified, and confused. Naruto looked like he needed help.
The nesting door cracked open again, and Gaara was there— crouched down and watching Naruto like the blonde was something no one had ever seen or heard of before. Something new. He was fascinated and curious. .
Naruto however, recognized Gaara’s scent and let out a low whine that nearly dropped into a moan as he reached over and yanked the alpha into the nesting room by his shirt collar. Gaara looked surprised and slightly confused, as Naruto kept growling softly and pressing his nose against the alpha's throat, inhaling his scent like his life depended on it. Gaara swallowed before tilting his head back to let Naruto do anything he wanted to do to him.
The redhead's breath hitched slightly as Naruto let out another soft growl before nipping at his ear and pulling him down to cuddle.
‘Shit.’ Naruto thought, before swallowing. ‘I actually did that? I was that… forward with him?’ Quietly Naruto half panicked because what else had he missed then if he could have forgotten kissing freaking GAARA?! ‘Oh god, am I— was I really wrong? Did I actually kill people?’
[new memory]
The trip to North Dakota had been a bust. For some reason, Matsuri didn’t ride home with him. Naruto fell asleep in his own bed, and slept uneasily, before Gaara walked in. The redheaded alpha held out his hand like he was going to show him the world.
Gaara led The blonde to his car, still running outside and took him home. Once inside, the redhead had Naruto sit at the table, before grabbing a plate from the kitchen. Sitting alone on the plate, was a single human ear.
Gaara fed Matsuri’s ear to Naruto.
Naruto opened his eyes with a loud audible gasp, his hands were shaking and he looked across the table to see Sakura looking at him with concern. ‘It’s just a memory.’ The blonde mentally chanted as he told Sakura, “this isn’t working.” The Beta must not have believe him, or just wanted an excuse to touch him because she leaned over and took his hands in hers and said,
“What did you see? It’s okay, you can tell me.” Naruto however, remained quiet. Even as Sakura cooed and reassured and tried to gently persuade the blonde to tell her. ‘Jesus.’ Naruto thought with a shake of his head as he was tossed back into his prison cell. ‘Gaara goes from cuddling with me in my nesting room, to letting me nearly gripe him, to feeding me a freaking human ear!!’ Naruto thinking, more confused about how Gaara feels about than ever. ‘At least one thing is for certain. Gaara killed Matsuri, not me. And if he killed her, he killed the others.’
“Gaara is, for sure, serial killer.” Naruto mumbled to himself.
****************
Dr. Gaara Subaku’s Home, West side Konoha City,
“Orochimaru you have challenged me.” Gaara comment as he sat down the plates of dinner. The second alpha turned, from where he was viewing the painting of Leda and the Swan, to blink at Gaara.
“It is not often I cook a meatless meal.” The redhead explained.
“I lost one of my kidneys if you recall.” Orochimaru said dryly. “I have to watch my protein intake.”
“You didn’t lose a kidney.” Gaara corrected. “It was taken from you. And I remain impressed with your recovery.” Together, they both took their seats at Gaara’s dining room table.
“Sakura was visiting with one of your former patients today.” He said with a snide grin.
“Naruto was never formally my patient.” Gaara stated.
“The irony is that Naruto is my patient, but he refuses to speak to me.” Orochimaru wrinkled his nose. “He makes me feel like I’m fumbling with his head like some sort of teenager trying to figure out bra’s work.”
“Naruto will be a challenge for any psychiatrist.”
“He’s so lucid.” Orochimaru murmurs with a shake of his head. “He’s incredibly perceptively he’s trained in criminal psychology and he is a mass murderer. He should be a prize patient.”
“How was Doctor Sakura's visit?” The redhead asked carefully, still keeping his eyes on his food.
“Naruto asked her to hypnotize him, so he could recover memories.” Orochimaru said with a laugh. “This is delicious by the way.”
“Was he successful?” Gaara asked, hope and fear battling in his eyes.
“Only I’m fooling Doctor Sakura.” Orochimaru remarked. “It’s sad to see her be tricked by such cheap tricks.”
“She wants to believe him.” Gaara commented, his mind stilling thinking about the whole— Naruto is trying to recover his memories. “I would like to believe him as well.”
“You do realize your his favorite thing to talk about don’t you?” Orochimaru stopped eating to lean back in his chair. “Gaara, Gaara, Gaara.” He repeats mockingly. “You are all he ever talks about. When he talks anyway.” Orochimaru grunted before narrowing his eyes at the redhead. “He claims your a monster.”
“In that case, you are dining with a psychopathic murderer Dr.Orochimaru.” Gaara states simply, lifting his glass in a toast. Orochimaru, completely oblivious, to truth of it— laughs.
**************
FBI Headquarters, Northside Konoha City
“Well?” Kakashi demanded as he pushed his way into the morgue where Kiba Lee and Ino all waited for him.
“Dental records placed the bodies. All of them are confirmed to be adults, but beyond that there isnt much of a link between them.” Kiba answered.
“All of the victims are from different ethnic groups.” Ino added before crossing his arms. “We have two confirmed Betas and Omegas and one confirmed alpha.” She jerked her chin the sixth body they had managed to recover. “We weren’t able to find his secondary gender out but it doesn’t look like the killer is picky.”
“The only thing they have in common is that they all disappeared from their homes with their cars.” Lee remarked, still hanging back further away from Kakashi.
Despite being very professional Kakashi had long ago revealed his distaste for alphas dating other alphas, and Lee was in no hurry to bring their issues to the forefront. It couldn’t be helped, after all Kakashi was the majority. Alpha were meant to be fighters, strong and unyielding. For an alphas to be romantically involved with another alpha it would be one would have to submit. Something that was looked down upon in pretty much every society.
“They all have large amounts of Herron in their systems.” Kiba mumbled already re-reading the report he had set down before Kakashi came in.
“Enough to be the cause of death?” Kakashi question, and Kiba nodded. “And the weird skin discoloration?”
“Well, we found some traces of a chemical,” Ino replied checking her own notes before continuing. “It’s called BHT and it’s used as a preservative.” She grimaced. “The killer probably wants them to look alive.”
“Shot the victims up with heroin to keep him quiet and to kill them, spray them down with preservatives and then filled them with silicon so they bodies keep their shape.” Kiba summarized before shuddering in horror.
“What are these puncture wounds?” Kakashi asked peering at the body and noticing the strange holes on the skin.
“We think the killer used those to string them up, maybe display them.” Kiba answered. Kakashi sighed and shook his head.
“Alright, get me a list of any missing people who disappeared in the neighboring states with their vehicles.” Kakashi ordered before leaving. Ino frowned, feeling frustrated with the entire ordeal.
It wasn’t until later, just as she was packing up to go home that an idea took root inside her skull.
Pausing only for a moment, she resolutely tucked photos of the evidence and the victims into a bag and left quickly. After all, visiting hours would likely end soon.
************
Kaguya’s Hospital for the Criminally Insane, Northside Konoha City
Naruto laid on his sorry excuse for a bed staring up at the ceiling with his thoughts in tatters. ‘Nothing is as it appears to be.’ The blonde realized feeling like he was underwater but unable to tell which way was up or down. The only relief he had was knowledge that his sickness was gone. Encephalitis was it was spotted, wasn’t impossible to treat. Naruto tried to find comfort that at least his confusion wasn’t because of sickness. Naruto closed his eyes and tried to imagine himself somewhere…. else. Somewhere safe. ‘I pride myself on empathy but like I told Kakashi when I first started working with him— I just have an active imagination combined with empathy.’ The blonde thought to himself half smiling as he imagine thick tall, towering trees. Leaves bigger than his hands casting shade so thick it seemed as as if it was night.
A harsh clang interrupted the blonde idle thoughts and blinked to see a guard standing next to Ino.
“Hello. Didn’t expect to see you.” Naruto mumbled eyeing her. ‘What is she doing her?’ He wondered.
“Hi.” She responded flatly. Her shoulders were hunched up and eyes him as though he was some strange new person she had never met. ‘She has to have a reason to be here.’ Naruto realized, ‘she obviously doesn’t trust me so this probably isn’t a social call.’
“If you want to say something to me without people knowing what it is, you’ll have to speak to me in the private room. Orochimaru records everything else.” Naruto told her wrinkling his nose. “Even bathrooms.” Ino hesitated and then nodded. The guard rolled his eyes when she asked to speak to him there but low and behold not even ten minutes later Naruto was sitting chained to the table top across from Ino.
“It’s good to see you.” Naruto murmured with a grin.
“I don’t know how I feel about seeing you.” Ino admitted, and Naruto nodded understandingly— even if he was a bit hurt at the remark. “I’ll let you know when I do.” The Beta women promised. Naruto, though grateful to have some conversation that wasn’t greedy Orochimaru, love sick Sakura or…. Gaara, knew Ino wouldn’t be here without a reason.
“Did Kakashi send you?” The blonde asked finally.
“No. He doesn’t know I’m here either.” Ino admitted before shrugged. “Though I don’t think he would be surprised.”
“I’m surprised.”
“I’m… compartmentalizing.” Ino replied shifting in her seat uncomfortably. “There are uh— a lot of people missing.” She finished pulling the bag she brought with her up to sit in her lap and Naruto wanted to scream and laughed at the same time.
“Ah.” Was all the blonde said instead of that. ‘I just can’t seemed to get free from all of this.’ The blonde thought with a shake of his head. ‘I’m surrounded by killers and crazy people her in this— this asylum. Now they bring the outside crazies in here.’ Betrayal burned like fire in the blonde as he briefly longed for Gaara’s comforting prescience before he remembered how he was the reason he was stuck in here to begin with. “Did you bring the file and photos?” Naruto asked finally and she nodded, pulling the pictures out carefully and setting them out on the table for him to see.
“The first six bodies were found in a river.” Ino explained. “The killer targets them, follows them home, abducts them and then preserves them.”
“You want to know how their choosing them.”
“Thought you would some some ideas.” Ino remarked, almost casually. “Here, I brought some pictures of the people still missing.” She watched him for a moment, still wary. “Tell what you see?” Naruto briefly considered asking her if he could be alone with the pictures but decided against it. A familiar ache nudged the back of his mind but the blonde didnt feel overwhelmed by it. ‘I’m better now than I used to be. Stronger.’ Naruto realized, not sure if he should be happy that he was or more pissed off because what it cost him to get to that point. Silently he shook his head to clear away the thoughts and used that familiar arching feeling to guide him. To let his hands rearrange the pictures. Slowly a pattern did begin to form.
“It’s a color palette.” Naruto mumbled. Having got what she wanted Ino left quietly an Naruto allowed himself to be guided back to his cell at the hands of a slim but strong built orderly. The blonde didn’t much attention to her.
***************
Narutos Former Home, Greenwood (43 miles East of Konoha City)
Kakashi pulled up in front of the house quietly, and walked up the steps to stand and stare at the emptiness of it. It was like it had lost its light. It was the whine of a dog that pulled him out of his trance, and he looked down to see Kurama sitting there. Naruto dogs laid down and started at the door looking sad. Gravel crunched in the driveway as Sakura pulled up.
“You should take better care of this dog.” Kakashi remarked.
“I know, I feel bad. But I have him chipped plus it’s not like he runs off to anywhere I can’t find him.” She pets the dog tenderly. “He’s looking for Naruto.”
“He won’t find him here.” Kakashi replied avoiding her gaze. “How’s his trial?”
“Declaring that Gaara is guilty is more important to him than his own defense.” Sakura says— almost bitterly.
“Gaara’s not guilty.” Kakashi stated.
“Neither is Naruto.” She short back before sighing. “Naruto…. he’s clinging to the hope that Gaara did this so he doesn’t have to face the fact that he did.” The pink haired beta shook her head. “I think he feel abandoned.”
“Convince me.” Kakashi spoke suddenly. “Convince me that Naruto didn’t know what he was doing.” The alpha turned to meet her eyes, “because I would really like to be convinced.”
“Well for starters a psychopath— a true psychopath— wouldn’tbe so scared of the truth.” Sakura began, twisting to face him more fully. “He’s terrified but he is still trying to figure out the truth. Trying to regain his memories.” Sakura looked down at her hands. “If he doesn’t remember I doubt he’ll ever accept the truth.”
************
Kaguya’s Hospital for the Criminally Insane, Northside Konoha City
Naruto stood in the cell, once again picturing himself far away. This time is was the idea of him sailing on the sea that took hold of him for a moment it was so vivid— Naruto thought he could taste the salt water in the air. Until a booming and familiar voice interrupted him.
“Naruto?”
“Hello Kakashi.” The blonde responded, turning to look at him.
“Where uh, where you just now? Mentally that
Is?”
“Sailing. What are you doing here?” The blonde asked.
“Reminding myself of who you were.” Kakashi answered with a pinched look in his eyes. “Reminding myself of that man whose classroom I walked into, all of those minutes ago. The man who didn’t want to be involved.”
“I remember that. Memories are… all I have now.” Naruto murmured with a half smile. “And it’s just great when you stumbled on a new one, you didn’t realize you had.” He finished and Kakashi blinked.
“You recovered a memory?” The blonde nodded.
“Funny thing doubt.” Naruto mumbled. “I was almost certain that Gaara did this to me but I didn’t have any really proof. Nothing to support not even a memory. Until now.” The blonde finished with a angry growl.
“It doesn’t mean anything.” Kakashi added
“It does to me.” Naruto growled. ‘Screw you Kakashi.’ The blonde thought with a growing sense of hatred with world. ‘Why is it that everything I try to do gets mucked up? I can’t save someone unless they’ve killed someone apparently.’ Naruto thought with frustration before he winced recalling how exactly Matsuri had ended up…. saved. ‘Can’t save anyone, can’t think for myself, just a weakling everyone wants to push around.’ Naruto thought bitterly. ‘Even freaking Gaara used me— manipulated me. I really…. can't trust anyone.’ The blonde realized with a sinking sense of loneliness. Naruto prowled up and leaned against the cold metal bars. “You know Gaara did well. There wasn’t a crap ton of evidence— just enough to convince you.” The blonde finished and Kakashi practically groaned.
“We already investigates your claims about Gaara. Carefully might I add. We took his DNA, his fingerprints, ran over everystitch of his clothes. We found nothing.”
“Course not.” Naruto replied feeling that bitter anger and resentment bubble up. “You let him in the FBI.”
“I can’t hear this anymore Naruto.” Kakashi responded shaking his head in disbelief. “Goodbye Naruto.” The blonde bit the inside of cheek as the agent walked off, leaving Naruto back to being alone in his cell. One cell surrounded by other cells, each filled some crazy alpha. Abruptly Naruto yelled,
“You may not believe me now! But you will.”