She was strung upon the tree. The rope was tied to the tree's branch with the other end tightly bound around her now sore wrists. Her dry blood uncomfortably caked her pale body, though that really wasn't her main concern. Cuts and bruises laced her skin; some were deep and others shallow. She had been awake for a while, but it seemed that she just couldn't lift her head any longer. It had been hours. She couldn't stay awake any longer.
"Hidan! What the hell are you doing?" Kakuzu had screamed. Hidan smirked. His partner's patience was already dwindling even though it was merely the morning; he just really felt like ruining Kakuzu's day and it never took much.
"Would you calm the fuck down? Good God, I was only checking out this rock. Why do you always have to be such a killjoy?" Hidan spoke leisurely.
"We are on a damn mission. There are many more essential items to be worried about besides that rock."
"It looks cool," Hidan mumbled beneath his breath.
"What was that?" growled Kakuzu.
"Nothing," Hidan hummed, grinning a bit.
The men then continued on in silence after their small quarrel. The tension hung thickly in the air. This was a common factor among them. As they both quietly walked beside one another, they came to a dead halt. They were silent for a moment, but after a bit, Hidan finally broke the ice.
"Holy shit. Do you think she's alive, Kakuzu?"
"I don't know…Let's find out," said Kakuzu, reaching out his hand. His fingers wrapped around the woman's wrist. He jumped back in shock as the girl's eyes shot open upon touch. Her breath heaved in short, choppy intervals. Kakuzu could see the look of fear in her, so he backed down a bit hoping that it would allow her to calm down. After a moment, the woman began to speak in her hoarse tone,
"Please…don't hurt me."
"How'd you get here?" The woman flinched at Hidan's harsh way of speaking.
"Shut up with the questions for now. Let's get her down first, Hidan."
"Fine," and with that both of the men had managed to get the woman down from the tree. Now, normally, both Kakuzu and Hidan wouldn't be so helpful, but right now, their objective was to gain information for Pein. With the area this woman was in, she might actually be helpful. She might just be the one. Yet, this is when the men encountered another issue. Right as they got her down, the woman collapsed in Hidan's arms, out cold. He stood there shocked for a moment, but he finally just set her on the ground.
"Damn," Hidan spoke as he rose to his feet. Kakuzu knew there was only one way to find out if she could help or not. He reached down and gently lifted the hem of her shirt. He scanned her skin and his eyes opened wide.
She had the mark.
She was the one.