Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Naruto characters which I use or any of the characters in this story.


Connected

Kurenai rushed through the grim hallways of Orochimaru's lair. The light filtering in gave her body the look of a ghost and the smell coming from the cells she passed smelled like rotting flesh. On the outside the metal was covered with mold. She seemed to give no notice as she rushed on though hallway and hallway of this, her team of three behind her.

What had been done to her baby, she thought though no emotion crossed her blank face.

She heard moans coming from somewhere ahead and to the right. She made a sharp turn that way. A few feet in front of her she slid to a halt as the hallway opened up to what seemed like an arena. In the middle a hunched figure. It seemed human and yet it looked nothing like it. The figure wept almost silently but loud enough for Kurenai to hear. One of the ninja's behind her moved taking advantage of the figure's distraction. He pulled out a kunai setting it to the figure's back.

"Don't move or I'll strike," He growled the anger, pride and hatefulness showing itself.

The figure whimpered and turned towards the group. The picture of a dismantled figure flowed into all of their minds. The creature before them was made from machine parts, ancient science and human body parts. Kurenai gasped, in the middle of the four mechanical and real arms lay a baby. It was unharmed by the creature and Kurenai took a step towards the creature putting up her hand to stop the ninja from striking.

"What are you doing with that child?" She asked softly to not scare the creature away.

"Protecting it from him", the creature said with a mothers love, the voice was feminine and she lifted her head to reveal the remains of what was once a mother, "I have become something of no value... I cannot protect this child from him anymore."

The creature held out the baby and Kurenai took it from her gently. It was badly beaten and looked like it had been thrown away just as the creature had been. Other than a few bruises the only thing that stood out to her was the mark on the baby's neck.

"WHAT DID HE DO TO HER?" She screamed at the creature.

Calmly the creature responded, "He has made a link between them. She will never be free of him. I do not know if he has created this link intentionally. I hope that you will keep her safe. At least try to keep him away from her until she is grown. "

Kurenai stepped back and turned from the creature, "May you be well known in the future."

Her hand went up, with a quick, painless strike the ninja that had been next to the creature swung his kunai at her throat, "May you be well known," he whispered to the creature.

Her body went to the ground in a big jumble. Above her the ninja saw a white light leaving the tangled body. It rose from it passing through the roof. Kurenai could still hear the want of the creature who had kept her child safe from what could have happened but the mark on the baby's neck still worried her.

So young, how could she have lived when adults die with this mark on them, she thought.

"Let's get out of here," She said solemnly.

Without question the group followed her quickly to the surface. Even the forest between Konoha and Orochimaru's headquarters had no change on her appearance. The entire way back she was deep in thought, what would happen to her baby now that she was connected to Orochimaru?