A/N: Because apparently bold faced author's notes are the norm in fanfiction, here it is. I should give some back story saying I had another fic, but it's been deleted due to quality by me. It wasn't as good as I wanted it to be so yeah. Well, here's chapter 1 of The Absent Serpent.
Screams filled the night air as prisoners ran from their cages. They had finally broken out and they weren't about to let anyone stop them. However, Orochimaru valued his prisons as experimentation labs and he wasn't prone to letting lab rats go free. As prisoners broke through the gates, Hidden Sound ninja appeared and began corralling them back as best they could, with mixed results. Many were frightened enough to be pushed back while others were more desperate to get away from the hell Orochimaru called a lab.
Sparsely placed among the adults were children, many of whom were frightened back through the gate. Many just kept running out of fear. Among them were three who stayed close and tried to stay away from the center of the crowd. The group they were with was running at full speed when an impossibly large tank of a man landed in front of them, shattering the earth below him.
"Get back in your cages!" The man slammed his palms against the ground and cracks surrounded the crowd. Many attempted to run, but the first wave was caught and fell into a deep trench. Others jumped over it and kept running, the three children included. As they ran, people started getting yanked up in the trees one by one. Some turned to see a man with six arms catching people in webs like flies.
"You people never learn! It's not polite to leave the home someone's graciously given you!" He laughed maniacally as more people were being caught in his webs. The shrunken group turned and ran into a white haired man with purple lipstick and a sneer on his face.
"Now I wonder, who let the dogs out?" He leapt forward, grabbing people by the throat and tossing them like toys towards the prison, where sound nin collected them. The three children managed to break away from the group and make it to the forest since the six armed man was busy with a large group. A red haired woman noticed the trio and chased after them.
This group of children consisted of two boys and a girl traveling in a straight line. The girl, who was in front, had brown hair and deep green eyes. The boy in the back had silver hair and blue eyes. The girl was holding the hand of the third boy, who was in the middle, to guide him. He had stark white hair and bandages that obviously needed changing over his eyes. They kept running as the red haired woman gave chase.
"Quit running you stupid brats!" She surged forward and landed in front of them. The group came to a halt as the red haired woman viciously grabbed the brunettes arm. She tried to fight, but she was frail and slow. Tayuya sneered.
"Let me go!" The girl fought, but Tayuya had a grip. However, the boy with silver hair made a quick decision. He grabbed some dirt and threw it in her face. Tayuya recoiled and loosened her grip enough for the girl to get out and for them to run. As they ran, the silver haired boy turned and yelled
"Take that you stupid bitch!" Tayuya quickly rubbed the dirt out her eyes, though they still stung. She started running after them. However, the trio heard her and ducked down into a bush. Tayuya landed near the,, but they were out of sight.
"There's no way those brats got far." She walked around and kept her ears open for any odd sounds. Hard breathing, whimpers, even fast beating hearts, any sound a human would make under stress. She slowly made her way near bushes, listening for any sign of the tiny brats that, for one reason or another, Orochimaru wanted to keep. The children, however, were unofficially trained in staying quiet. They had to so they would avoid the undesirable elements of being in one of Orochimaru's prisons.
She's getting close. The girl thought as Tayuya neared their bush. She closed her eyes and concentrated. She was told she could do it and right now it was their best chance. Not even a good chance, but their best chance. Fear clouded her mind, and she felt her heart speed up when Tayuya neared them.
"You're near." The brunette swallowed and tried her best to concentrate. It paid off. A thick fog started rolling in, blanketing the area in white. Tayuya suddenly couldn't see far. The brunette girl kept concentrating, sweat beading on her forehead. The fog got thicker and thicker, almost suffocating. The girl only thought about making it impossible for Tayuya to neither hear nor see. She wasn't sure if she could prevent hearing, but she could blind her. Tayuya started stumbling around, unable to see a foot in front of her face.
"What the hell is this!?" She started trying to grab ahold of something, but she kept missing. "I swear, if I find you brats, I'm going to make you wish you were back in that prison!" While Tayuya kept screaming obscenities, the trio of kids slowly got out from the bush and started sneaking away, judging distance from Tayuya's screams. When they got a good distance away, and Tayuya couldn't even be heard, the boy with white hair quietly said one sentence.
"We should run now." And run they did. They surged forward, still in the same line for convenience. Their heavy breathing finally tasting clean and open air. But they still felt trapped. Until they could successfully escape Orochimaru's long arm, they were never safe. As they ran, the silver haired boy made a pointed comment at the girl.
"Jeez, Arine. Could you have cut that any closer?" Arine, turned to her companion.
"Would you shut up? I'm dealing with enough shit right now to tolerate your jabs Denji." Denji snickered while the white haired boy muttered something.
"Am I being a burden Arine?" Arnie looked back at him. Completely blind at the moment, Arine suddenly felt a pang of regret at her comment.
"It's not you Yukio. I just think Denji should cut it out with his jokes until we get somewhere safe."
"What? My humour's gotten us through some dark moments." Arine was about to blow her top. Paranoia was the only thing keeping her from tearing his head off.
"Will you shut it? I don't care of your humour has helped us in the mast, right this second we need to be stealthy." Denji rolled his eyes and sighed, but kept quiet. Arine could hurt when she wanted to, even when you considered how frail they were. And she could be uppity as well.
"Perhaps Denji could tell some jokes later. We could use a laugh." Yukio muttered. Arine swallowed.
"Yeah. Maybe. If he keeps his trap shut until we need it." Denji sighed in resignation.
"Alright, alright. Just stop being mad at me for a minute and focus on running." Arine was glad to. The moon was out and shining through the woods, giving an ethereal look to it all. Denji wondered if some of Arine's fog would help make it scarier. It'd be funny. That reminded him…
"Say, when did you release that fog on that sound girl?" Arine had a sharp intake of breath.
"Shit. I guess I forgot. It must have dissipated by now." She was about to continue but Yukio started wheezing and they slowed to a stop. Arine gently leaned him against a tree. Denji pulled something from his ragged pants, three water canteens. He handed one to each of his comrades and held one for himself. Yukio took a large swig of lukewarm water and turned to his left.
"Where did you get these?"
"Uh, Yukio buddy? I'm over here." Yukio turned his head to the right and waited for Denji to answer. "And I got them when people started causing a ruckus. Swiped them from the guards quarters." He had a big smile on his face. "One guard caught me, but I pulled down his pants to stall him. It was awesome." Yukio chuckled and smiled. Arine even had a slight grin on her face. Perhaps Yukio was right, they did need a laugh. However, the moment was ruined by voices.
"This is stupid. Why does Lord Orochimaru need these kids anyway?" The group stay in place until Yukio broke the tension.
"We should hide." Arine grabbed his hand and Denji followed them into a thick bushed area. They crouched down as the voices kept nearing them.
"Lord Orochimaru likes his lab rats. You know how it is." A second person, another Sound ninja. The first one responded.
"Yes, that's true. But there were many times where he simply lets them go out and die in the wild. So why are these brats so important?" The second one sighed.
"Lord Orochimaru was doing special experiments on them, especially the blind kid's eyes. He probably has his reasons, and if we question those reasons, we'll be gutted." The footsteps of the nin could only be heard and not seen, and Denji took the opportunity to speak.
"I think they're talking about you Yukio buddy." Arine rolled her eyes.
"No, they're talking about the other blind kid. Of course it's Yukio."
"This is only temporary, you know." Both looked at Yukio as he blankly faced the bush in front of his face. "My eyes will get better and you won't have to help me as much. There's no need to argue." There were few times either Denji or Arine ever felt sympathy. Growing up in a prison, you had to learn to distance yourself. However, Yukio's situation was one that warranted their sympathy. Smart, but literally blinded by Orochimaru, he cut a pitiful figure. He hated pity, but accepted it from his friends to humour them. And they humoured his want to be less of a burden. He was more free-spirited than one thought.
"Yeah, we know Yukio." Denji patted his friend on the back as they heard an exclamation.
"I've got something!" They went still as they listened intently.
"What is it this time?" The first one sounded bored. The second nin sounded excited.
"Footprints. Three sets. And they lead back to the prison I believe."
"That doesn't mean it's them."
"It also doesn't mean we shouldn't check it out." After some reluctance, the two Sound nin began searching the area near Yukio and company. Yukio himself was calm, while Denji grew tense.
"This sucks." Denji managed before Yukio slapped a hand across his mouth, a lucky shot in and of itself. Arnie looked behind her before she turned back and closed her eyes. She started shaking after a second, but then a light fog started rolling in. The two sound nin noticed this.
"Shit, it's the fog. That means they're near." The second one, however, made a better analysis.
"Yeah, it's the fog that even held up Tayuya. We have no hope." The first one tried to respond, but he was cut off. "Even if they are near, it doesn't matter. They'd escape in the fog and we'd be chasing our own tails. Best to leave the area and figure something out." The group listened as the two Sound nin left. Once they were unable to be heard, Arine let out a large breath and the fog quickly dissipated. Denji got up and helped Yukio while Arine got up shakily.
"Jeez, Arine. Are you okay?" Arine gave Denji a look.
"Tired. That takes… a lot out of me." She was breathing heavily and shaking. Obviously she had used up a lot of chakra and was in desperate need of rest. She didn't look in any shape to lead the line. So Denji made the offer.
"How about I lead the line." Arine shook her head.
"You don't know where you're going."
"None of us know where we're going Arine, what matters is that you're out of energy. Let me handle things for a bit." She was about to protest when Yukio grabbed her hand like she did his. She glanced at him, even though he was staring above her.
"This time, I'll guide you. Denji can lead us. Besides, he'll be able to detect civilization." Denji chuckled a bit.
"Yeah, if that ability actually worked. And besides, even if it did I can't tell distance. That's like looking through a telescope at the wrong end. I'd just look like an idiot." Yukio chuckled at Denji's self-quip.
"Relax. You can do it. Just try and find a direction at least." Denji smiled. That's why he liked Yukio. He knew what to say.
"Alright buddy, you got it. But watch out for little miss "over exert myself" or she'll pass out again." Denji chuckled at his jab.
"I swear, I'd kill you if I had the strength." Denji chuckled even more, almost laughing.
"I bet you would." And with that he closed his eyes and concentrated. After a minute, he opened them and unsurely pointed. "That's as good as I could get it. I'd need to be closer to actually detect a straight path."
"Which way is it?" Denji looked at Yukio, just remembering his eyes.
"Oh, it's North, Northeast-ish." Yukio nodded.
"Alright, you lead the way and keep concentrating. I'll keep Arine up and walking." Denji raised an eyebrow at their female companion.
"I don't know, maybe walking's to fast. Perhaps crawling would be more suited to her condition." Arine growled as much as she could while Denji chuckled at his quip. Yukio gave a light smile.
"Alright, friend. Lead the way." Denji turned and faced the direction he pointed before heading that way, Yukio close behind. Denji kept a decent pace, enough that they could move pretty fast while keeping within Arine's now limited energy. As they walked, Arine made a point.
"You know genius, we should find a main road first." Denji rolled his eyes.
"I know, I'm trying. And are you sure you have the energy to nag me?" Yukio didn't need a lot of strength to hold her back since she was already weak. Denji chuckled and continued on his merry way, keeping an eye out for roads and keeping part of his attention on the vibrations.
He didn't know how, or why, but Orochimaru's experiments helped hone some ability to sense vibrations in the earth. It would be an invaluable skill to have…. If he could use it to any degree other than extremely rough estimates. And even then, it was rough direction, though he got a better sense as they neared. Just follow the vibrations. He chanted to himself a couple times before making sure he didn't run into anything. He hadn't. However, Yukio was tripping up more than usual.
"Yukio buddy, you okay?" Yukio faced the direction of Denji's voice and answered.
"Yes. Just unable to really sense if there are foot hazards around is all." Denji actually retained a remark about Arine since he was sure she'd kill him now, regardless of her state. He chuckled at the thought.
"It's alright. You need me to point anything out? Or do you want Arine to handle it?" Turning back, he noticed a twitch in Yukio's jaw. He got that when he sensed someone trying to pity him. However, he knew when he needed help.
"It'd be helpful." Denji nodded and looked forward again. As he lead the line, making slight turns here and there, he pointed out the various roots and rocks, though missing several due to the limited light of the moon. However, after a good while, he stopped, putting a hand on Yukio's chest to have him halt as well. Arine and Denji looked down at a brightly lit town.
"What is it?" Yukio turned his head left and right, but to no avail. Despite not wanting pit, Denji really felt sorry for him sometimes.
"We found a town, Yukio. Now let's go and get what we need."