Reckoning

*************************

Kaguya’s Hospital For The Criminally Insane

“Your were right.” Ino said as she walked up the the blonde cell, not bothering to go to the privacy room. Meaning Orochimaru could see, hear and record everything they were saying. “The killer who was doing the human mural? He was stitched into mural just like you said he would be.”

“Evidence?”

“Found enough on the bed of truck confirm it was him.”

“You found the same amount of evidence on him as you did me.” Naruto commented, almost casually. The blonde did not intend for it to be casual. It was a suggestion. An idea planted in Ino’s head, to hopefully bloom into a doubt. 

“Glad you said it.” She said with a huff, before crossing her arms. 

“Who stitched him into the mural?” Naruto asked already knowing the answer but needing to walk her through it— slowly. Let her come to her own conclusions. ‘I can't rely on Gaara to save me. Or even rely on the idea that he would want to save me all the time. It’s like he gets bored and changes his mind—- or morphs into a different personality entirely.’ Naruto shook the distracting thought away and tried make himself focus on the conversation. It was getting increasingly difficult to do that without his suppressants and with his body going into a weird i-wanna-reproduce cycle. 

“We don't know.” Ino replied, putting her hands on her hips. “Could be a partner or another killer? Maybe they had a suicide pact.” 

“There was no partner.” Naruto replied with as scoff. “The mural killer worked alone until he was stitched into his own mural.”

“But there were no signs of a struggle.”

“Exactly.” The blonde replied. “Which means the second killer understood the mural killer enough to convince him to be af freaking part of his own creation.” The blonde knowingly thought of Gaara.

“Any idea of who that might be?”

“Yes.” Naruto responded almost mockingly and Ino rolled eyes tired already.

“Don’t say Gaara.”

“I am saying Gaara.”

“Dammit Naruto didn't you stopping saying that ages ago? And for good reason might i add?”

“I am not asking you to believe in something you can't prove. I am asking you to prove it.” Naruto said quickly and sharply. Ino stared at him as thought she couldn’t believe the stuff that was coming out of her mouth. 

“Gaara has no reason—“ she stated to say and the blonde nodded.

“That is exactly right.” He agreed. “Gaara seems to have no reason other than his own curiosity and amusement.”

“That’s hard to prove.” Ino said warningly.

“Ino. There will be a very clever detail on the body. Something that was overlooked, he wouldn’t be able to resist. It would be something hidden.” 

“Look, i will look for clever details but i am not looking for Gaara specifically.” She said flatly and the blonde nodded. 

“Just as long as your looking.” Naruto mumbled wincing as he felt his temperature start to climb a little bit. Ino stared at him for another long moment before she sighed and left. Naruto felt a tremble run down his spine and he winced. ‘It getting closer together.’ Naruto thought with a frown. ‘Dammit I am going to have to talk to freaking Orochimaru aren't I?’ The blonde realized not looking forward to it but knowing he needed to do it. His head was a little too fuzzy to be working right and he had to place some barrier between himself and Gaara, before he did something really stupid. Like growl flirtatiously at him. ‘Oh shut up brain.’ The blonde growled inwardly. 

Orochimaru acted just like Naruto thought he would, the greedy self absorbed alpha that he was. The moment Naruto had been put into the little cage in the visitors hall— Orochimaru started rambling about feelings or some other nonsense. ‘Typical alpha.’ Naruto thought before deciding to speak.

“I will give you the same little… deal that I gave Ino.” Naruto stated flatly, interrupting whatever crap the alpha had began to babble on about. (Naruto long since gave up paying attention to the alpha.) Orochimaru tilted his head and looked questioningly at the him, as though confused about what he was saying. Naruto rolled his eyes. “You already know what it is. You’ve been recording our conversations.” The blonde blinked and wrinkled his nose. “Wait am I supposed to pretend I don't know that?”

“What This, are you offering for my That?” Orochimaru asked sharply, trying and failing to keep his interest out of his voice. ‘Gotcha.’ Naruto thought with a rush of satisfaction. 

“Psychiatric circles love to talk about me.” Naruto answered, and Orochimaru let out a slimy laugh that made Naruto want to cover his ears and smash something. 

“I already made my diagnose of you. Told everyone what it was on the witness stand of your failed trail.” Orochimaru smirked. “Your fragile personality type,  empath abilities, disorders— they are all fake.”

“That leaves you with an interesting psychopath.” Naruto replied.

“A manipulative one for sure.” Orochimaru commented and cast a sly smile in the blonde direction. “Poor Sakura. Confused and wounded Kakashi, and Gaara. You fooled them all but not me.” Orochimaru left his chin up with pride. “No I saw through you. Through your— debatable charm. I saw your ruthless focus.” 

“That leaves us with two options. Either I am a psychopath or delusional.” Naruto commented lightly, “Aren't you curious which it is?” He asked. ‘The answer is actually neither because its freaking Gaara who put me in here.’ Naruto thought with another burn of anger, before he shook it away. He had to focus on the here and now. 

“Will you allow me to test you?” Orochimaru asked, his interest now thoroughly captured. 

“Give me all of your tests.” Naruto replied, “You will be the first and last word on the mind of Naruto Uzumaki.” The blonde finished hating the fact he actually had to do this. Interact with freaking Orochimaru of all people. ‘Gaara. At some point— I will make you suffer for this.’ Naruto thought, eyeing Orochimaru.

“And what about Gaara?” Orochimaru asked inching closer and closer to the blonde. 

“Shouldn’t you be my one and only psychiatrist?”

“Ideally.” 

“Then here is the deal.” Naruto said, leaning forward against the bars and locking eyes with Orochimaru. “You do not discuss me or my therapy with Gaara, and I cooperate with you and your tests. Do we have a deal?”

“And what exactly would you like me to tell Gaara?”

“Tell him— you’ve decided I am not longer any of his business.” Orochimaru hesitated for a moment, before his own selfish interest is won out.

“Very well.”

“Congratulations, I am now under your exclusive care.” 

*************

FBI headquarters, Northside Konoha City (three days later)

Gaara stood calmly beside Ino as she opened one of the morgue slots to reveal the body of the mural killer. Her hair was pulled completely back and out of her face. The redhead could feel the tension in the air when she had asked for his help, though he wasn’t sure why she would want his help over say Kiba’s or Lee’s. ‘Unless she is testing me for someone reason.’ The redhead had thought and accompanied her easily. 

“Lee is out in the field with Kakashi otherwise I would ask him to help me.” Ino said casually, as though providing a seemingly normal reason for her to get Gaara’s help. The redhead thought about Kiba, but decided against mention his name. “You were a surgeon right?” Ino asked as she pulled the body out further to examine. ‘Ino asked for my assistance for a reason. She has an agenda.’ The redhead thought with a blink.

“I was a surgeon and a doctor, yes.” Gaara answered, careful to keep his voice even. “Have you found any evidence on the mural killers friend?” 

“Well that's what I need your help with.” She answered putting her hand on her hip. “See it might not have been a friend or even an acquaintance. However who ever killed him understood him.” She eyed the redhead and Gaara gave her a well practiced smile.

“So often when you speak, I hear Naruto's words pouring out.” Gaara says, disgusting his need for answers. 

“I have an arrangement with Naruto.” Ino replies with a shrug and a smile. ‘I have passed this test.’ Gaara thought to himself, ‘only to stumble into another.’ 

“Oh?”

“He helps me investigate cases, and I keep looking into the murders he’s accused of.”

“I am happy to hear that.” Gaara says simply, aware of Inos carefully trained gaze still lingering on him. “Naruto needs a champion now, more than ever.” 

“He has you, doesn't he?” Ino asked, tilting her head. “You think there is a chance he could be innocent— I know you do.” 

“I believe there is a possibility.” Gaara replies after a carefully measured sigh. 

“I’m just happy he isn't saying the killer is you anymore.” Ino remarked, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studying Gaara’s face for a reaction.

“At least not in front of me.” Gaara murmured. “Now then, who does Naruto think killed the mural killer?”

“He doesn't know but he thinks that whoever killed him would have taken something.”

“A signature.” Gaara murmurs half to himself. “You must dig for the truth underneath of the gruesome. Only by going deep beneath the skin, will you understand the nature of this killer.” Gaara said as he examined the body alongside Ino. The blonde Beta women was torn between listening to the alpha and looking at the body. 

Ino had never been a very good liar. 

*******************

Kaguya’s Hospital For The Criminally Insane

Naruto could feel a curling desire start to build in his chest and snake its way down further to settle in his groin. His body cracked, and his muscles felt sore and aching despite the fact the blonde had done very little besides sleep and eat the past two days. Apparently no one needed to see him or anything. On the third day he woke up to distinct feeling of needing to bite and pin. Something —or someone— to the floor. Even the air felt heavy around him. Different somehow. It wasn’t until Orochimaru came to get him for the first of one of the session that it clicked with him what exactly he was experiencing. 

“It seems we will have to do this quickly.” Orochimaru said. “I don't want to deal with an alpha in rut while trying to have a civil and productive therapy session with you.” The alpha had said before wincing at the sharp smell of pre-rut the Naruto was giving off. Alphas don't get along with other alphas on a regular day— throw one into rut and it's usually a guarantee for a fight. 

‘Finally, thank god.’ Naruto thought, his body twitching with a slight fever. ‘If i go through a rut I’m safe, at least for a little while longer anyway.’ 

Orochimaru took Naruto and strapped him to a chair in one of the bigger cells on the other side of the facility. The room was filled with lights and a cabinet full of various things yet waiting for Orochimaru to use on him. 

“Before we proceed I need a guarantee that what you are saying will be the truth.” Orochimaru said with a smile that made Naruto was to rip his throat out with his teeth and give the torn body to Gaara. ‘I’m further along than I thought.’ Naruto realized blankly. “So this session will under the use of a some… specially designed medications.” Orochimaru's held out a lip board with a from on it. “I need your signature to use them.”

“Permission to drug me…..” Naruto mumbled hating the fact he was put into the situation and ready to tear them all apart. ‘I want ramen.’ Naruto thought feeling a pang of hunger and craving strike him so badly he was tempted to just say fuck it and see how far could get if he tried to escape right then and there. “What would do to block memories in patient? Psychopath or otherwise?” Naruto asked, needing to push the crappy doctor to realizing what Naruto had already realized.

“The process of memories can be interrupted. However that requires skills, and tools, and a certain fondness for unusual.”

“Does Gaara have those skills and tools?” Naruto asked.

“Doctor Gaara has indicated that he has a… fascination with the unusual.” 

“Wonder how that subject came up.” Naruto growled, recalling the whole Sasori-is-Black-Zetsu fiasco from so long ago. 

“Sign here.” Orochimaru stated flatly, before slipping on a pheromones masks to block out the increasing scent of Naruto's impending rut. At first it wasn’t too bad, but slowly the drugs began to kick in, mixing with his bodies high level or hormones. ‘Fuck.’ Naruto thought as he leaned his back, feeling like a passenger inside his own body. 

A distant faded memory bubbled up, Naruto couldn’t place it though. Wasn’t sure where or when it was supposed to be but he could see himself drawing a clock. 

“Draw me a clock, Naruto.” Came the soft murmur of Gaara’s voice. Naruto slowly, did as he was asked— his hands trembling as he drew a clock. It was normally and the redhead nodded to himself before setting it aside. Then— carefully Gaara slid closer, pressed his hand against the side of Naruto's face and inhaled like he was scenting the most beautiful flower.

“Draw me another clock.” The redhead asked again, as he pulled away, this time giving the blonde a shot as he as asked. Naruto did as he was asked. At first the clock looked normally, but then the number shifted— changed. Until it was hardly recognizable. A broken clock. 

Naruto let out a sharp growl as he blinked and found himself right back with Orochimaru. The selfish alpha was standing across from the blonde and looking at him with careful wariness. 

“Naruto?” He asked and the blonde growled again.

“He was inducing them.” The blonde blurted out and Orochimaru frowned before leaning forward, invested in the blondes word, a tape recorder already rolling next to him. 

“Inducing what?” The doctor asked.

“The seizures. He was encouraging them the blackouts and the lost time… it was strategic.” Naruto admitted, feeling the too familiar pang of hurt and betrayal lace through him before a sharp sort of anger burn it's what back— courtesy of his impending rut. “It was all planned.”

“You would only see a seizure response in a brain that is inflicted with photosensitive epilepsy.” Orochimaru answered, dismissing it as he looked down at his paper to write something down. 

“Or a brain affected by something just as damaging.” Naruto suggesting, his words borderline growling again. “Like encephalitis.” Orochimaru went very still and looked up at the blonde with a new found tension in his shoulders. 

“That would suggest a… radically unorthodox form of therapy.” Orochimaru answered and the blondes chest heaved with the effort to breath. 

“Yes. It would.” Naruto murmured. 

“Konan take Naruto to one of the scent sealed chambers in the basements, not back to his regular cell.” Orochimaru ordered, his skin crawling at Naruto's rut scent. The dark haired women nodded, and did as she was asked.  Orochimaru stood there for a few moments. Naruto had given him a lot to think about with that short interview, but the blonde was slipping further into rut. Orochimaru was reminded again of why he loved having his suppressants.

“Sir, a Doctor Gaara is here and asking about Naruto.” A Beta guard informed him, breaking him from his concentration. 

“Ah yes. I’ll take care of it.” Orochimaru smiled to himself as he went to greet Gaara, satisfaction at being in power over the redheaded alpha making him want to roar in happiness. 

Gaara, walked in intent on seeing Naruto, retrieving his visitors pass easily enough and walked through the Alpha ward until he stopped in front of Naruto's cell. His empty cell.

“Oh Doctor Gaara. I am sooo embarrassed. You didn't get my message did you?” Orochimaru exclaimed feigning shock. Gaara remained silent, watching the other alpha carefully. “I had to cancel your appointment with Naruto.” Orochimaru said, vaguely smug. 

“Is everything alright?” The redhead questioned, concern coloring his words. 

“I can explain. Shall we?” Orochimaru said jerking his chin towards the door. Gaara blinked and straightened his shoulders. 

“Naruto is in a delicate spot in his therapy, and I don't want to confuse him more than he already is.” The dark haired alpha began, not at all sounding protective of Naruto.

“Confuse him?” Gaara asked, and Orochimaru hummed. “Was it not your opinion, that Naruto is an intelligent psychopath?” 

“It was, but my opinion is… evolving.” He replied, rolling his eyes at the questions and enjoying the fact he had info that Gaara did not. “I believe that Naruto may be suffering from more than a single condition. He appears to have some naturally occurring conditions, however others appear to have been….. induced.”

“Induced?” Gaara repeated. The other alpha nodded. “Induced by whom?”

“Did you ever use any kind of light stimulation on Naruto?” Orochimaru asked flatly, stopping and turning to face the redhead fully. 

“Light stimulation is a standard tool for neurotherapy.” Gaara replied carefully, not answering the question fully.

“Well evidently, it was overloading his brain. Causing blackouts, memory gaps, seizures…. almost strategically.” Orochimaru said knowingly, his mouth curling into a ugly smug grin. “I am considering the idea that you— have been psychic driving Naruto Uzumaki all along.” The alpha declared. Gaara blink and took a single step closer before tilting his head at the other. 

“A bold accusation.” 

“You are not the only psychiatrist accused of making a patient kill. We’ve got to stick together.” Orochimaru replied cheekily before adding. “And anyway, Naruto has gone into rut so he has been locked up for safety reasons.” 

“Naruto has entered Rut?” Gaara clarified, sucking in a sharp breath. Orochimaru nodded.

“Yes he has. Won’t be seeing much of him for a little while I’m afraid.” Orochimaru responded. 

***********************

Gaara’s Home, Westside Konoha City (Later that evening)

The redhead sat in at his dining room table, silently eating dinner, as he thought about what Orochimaru had so foolishly told him. 

“So some of the problems were induced.” Gaara murmured to himself, unsurprised. He had after all been the one to do it to Naruto. “Nothing is ready yet though.” He added, feeling another flicker of displeasure spike through him. The alpha felt loneliness tug at him as he finished his meal in silence. Finally, he took a seat in his living room, after lighting up his fireplace. A shiver raced down his spine as he recalled what Orochimaru had finished with. 

“Naruto is in Rut.” Gaara murmured to himself, as he stared into the flames. The redhead imagined Naruto growling with his head tilted back in pleasure, and let out a soft breathy gasp. The thought of Naruto in rut was intoxicating and the alpha finally stood to take a cold shower as he tried not to think about it. As he walked into the bathroom his eyes caught sight of the calendar hanging just beside his bathroom door. ‘I should check on my own cycle soon.’ The redhead thought, recalling his last rut. 

*************************

Kaguya’s Hospital For The Criminally Insane

Naruto groaned as he was pushed into one of the scent sealed cells in the basement. Unlike his usual cell, this one was just oversized box with a bolt down iron door. No toilet. No sink. No bed. Just a cold, empty room. The blonde gasp as tremor of want raced down his spine and settle in his hips leaving him aching with the desire to fight something. ‘Wonder if that’s why I’ve been so angry lately- hormones.’ Naruto wondered briefly before letting a load groan as his insides twisted again. 

Naruto got to his feet, knees shaking as an instinct growl starting rumbling in his chest. Hurriedly the blonde fumbled with his green Prison suit knowing that wearing clothes was stupid and the opposite of helpful during a rut. Or heat for that matter. 

A burning desire to fight and fuck sent him sprawling back to the ground the moment he flung his clothes to the back corner of the cramped poorly lit cell. Naruto let out a throaty moan as he reached between his legs and started working at his already hard cock. Naruto grunted from where he lay on his back, as an orgasm ripped its way through him. Cum spilling onto his hands on his belly. Relief pulsed through him, like a single glass of water in the Sahara desert. A brief moment of blissed, followed by the knowledge that he only prolonged the inevitable. 

“At least my heads a bit clearer. For now anyway.” Naruto mumbled, as he lay on the floor trying to catch his breath, and ignore his body’s demands for more. The room itself was cramped, it’s floor and walls lined with with thick but unforgiving rubber. The blonde felt a wave of dizziness wash over him and he pushed him up to half walk half crawl to leaned against the wall. His cock was already throbbing again, but he was able to ignore- at least for now. 

“A week.” Naruto muttered, feeling like a caged animal. Another bolt of lust thundered its way through his body and he let out a half groan half moan as his mind conjured up vague mental images of faceless Omega’s for him. 

Naruto spent the next few hours switching between jerking off in desperation and avoiding thinking about about his rut altogether. It wasn’t until one of the so called doctors here opened the door armed with scent blocking masks and drugs that it truly occurred to Naruto what sort of situation he was in. 

Whatever medication they dosed him with left him shaking, and took away his strength. He was already getting hungry, since his hadn’t eaten since meal time. Which was 5:30 that morning. His throat was getting dry from the amount of noises he couldn’t help making. That’s probably why he didn’t exactly do much when the doctors simply turned on the water hose and just sprayed down the entire cell- himself included and then just…. Left him in a wet cell. 

Narutogrowledfaintly as a odd chill settled over him. Internally he felt like he was on fire, but his skin was half numb, and he sneezed a few time before his rut reared its ugly head- again. The desire to fight,mate, breed, fight,mate, breed, repeated over and over again in his like a sucky song stuck on repeat. ‘Fuck, someone help me.’ Naruto thought faintly, unsure if he was shaking from heat, cold, lust or fear. 

And It was only day one.