Ch. 1

THUD

"Get up Sasuke! You aren't this weak…" Sasuke glared up at Orochimaru. He had been training with him for overthree years now, and his power had grown immensely, but Orochimaru could still beat him without ever breaking a sweat. As Sasuke pulled himself back up onto his feet, Orochimaru flew at him again. Sasuke crouched down, waiting for the older man to hit him, but the hit never came. Orochimaru had stopped as one of his Sound-nins walked into the training room.

"What do you want?" The ninja bowed low, looking nervous for having to interrupt Orochimaru.

"Sorry Orochimaru sir, but there's a disturbance outside-

"Why do you come to me with such a trivial matter? The others are taking care of it, aren't they?" The ninja of the Sound began to look uncomfortable as he spoke.

"That's just it Orochimaru sir… All of the guards have been defeated… And as far as we can tell, there was only one attacker…" Orochimaru frowned, then pushed pastthe ninja to reach the outer balcony of his hideaway, Sasuke following. The sight that greeted their eyes when they reached the outer deck made Orochimaru snarl, and Sasuke's eyebrows rise.

"They've all been knocked out…" Orochimaru whipped his head around to glare at Sasuke when he made this remark, then turned to look back at his ninjas, all unconscious, with one missing an arm. He saw a shadow move in the trees and jumped down to the ground.

"Heh… Come Sasuke, this will be good training for you…" Sasuke jumped down beside Orochimaru, his attention on a trembling leaf that clung to a bush.

"Just what is it that you would like me to do, Orochimaru?" Orochimaru nodded towards the bush with his head. Sasuke looked at him, something close to resentment, but not quite, just underneath the surface of his eyes. He turned to the bush, and as Orochimaru watched, he rushed at the figure concealed there. Orochimaru began to smirk, waiting to hear the sounds of Sasuke's fists pounding into flesh, but the sound never came. Sasuke had stopped suddenly, frozen in his attack, his eyes wide. Orochimaru frowned. His future body should know better than to disobey him.

"Sasuke! Why did you stop?" Sasuke ignored Orochimaru, which made him snarl. The insolent little brat should be grateful for being allowed to train with him. He stalked forwards, ready to punish Sasuke, but he stopped as well when he saw what had defeated all of his men.

A girl, about 15, the same age as Sasuke, sat shivering in the bushes, the missing arm of one of Orochimaru's Sound-nins in her hands, and blood running from the corners of her mouth. She was a ragged little thing, all skin and bones, with long, tangled hair too covered with grime to discern the real color, that reached the ground in her crouched position. She had the oddest eyes as well. They were a deep purple color, but at the same time, if one stared closely enough, hints of gold could be seen. For all that her physical condition was poor, her cloths were fairly new, and covered her completely. In fact, the only part of her body not covered by some sort of cloth was her face, having gloves on her hands, and a black turtle neck, and a pair of long pants on.

Sasuke and Orochimaru were still staring at the girl when she noticed them. She had turned to wipe her mouth on her sleeve and caught them watching her. Her eyes filled with panic, and she streaked out of the bush, trying to pass them. Sasuke started as Orochimaru swing at what seemed to be an empty spot of air and hit something. The girl then appeared on the ground, knocked unconscious by the blow.

A-amazing… Sasuke thought as he stared at her gaunt frame. This skinny girl was so fast that I couldn't see her… He made to bend down and examine her further, but halted as Orochimaru grabbed his arm in a painful grasp.

"Don't touch her…" Sasuke glared at him, then shook his hand off to bend down. As he looked at her, his face paled. Now that he was closer, he could see that her legs had been crushed by some huge object at one point. They were bluish-black around small lumps where bone fragments pushed against the skin, and some pieces had made small red cuts.

"And still she ran like the wind…" Sasuke shook his head as he muttered this to himself. Orochimaru snapped his head down to glare at Sasuke.

"What did you say?" Sasuke stood up next to him, regarding the girl with thoughtful eyes.

"I said that she still ran like the wind, even with two crushed legs Orochimaru." Orochimaru frowned a little more, and then looked closer at the girl, so that he could indeed see the injuries. He snorted.

"It's pitiful, that all of my men were defeated by one starving, injured little bitch… Oh well. I'll have on of the others take care of this mess." He nudged her body as he said this, and Sasuke glance over at him.

"You mean to kill her…" Orochimaru looked at him, a cruel smirk on his face.

"Of course. What use is a girl, unless it's to have a little fun with them..." Sasuke frowned a little as he looked back down at the girl's broken form. He didn't always approve of his teacher's methods, but he couldn't deny that he was growing stronger.

Besides, it's not like I know this girl anyways… Sasuke turned to leave, but stopped as something caught his eye. The girl's eyes had just flashed open, then shut again just as quickly. He turned back to her, and as he watched, the girl opened her eyes just a fraction, so that she could see what was happening. Sasuke had to admire her in his mind. It took much discipline to slow one's heart and breath, and make it look as though they were unconscious, and this girl was so skillful at it that even Orochimaru hadn't noticed. Sasuke knew he wouldn't have if he hadn't caught the girl opening her eyes. Sasuke looked up at Orochimaru as he turned and began to walk away, his mind arguing with itself.

She's obviously been taught by someone… I should keep her alive, and see what else she can do.

Are you stupid! Where is there room for a skinny, dirty, injured and probably annoying girl who will most likely be a pain in the ass as soon as she gets better?

You just say that because you think all girls are like Sakura.

I DO NOT! Besides, if I kept her alive, I'd have to take care of her, protect her, and I don't know the type of first aid that she'll need… Not to mention that I don't know anything about girls; and there's no room for a dependant… I have to focus on becoming stronger so that I can beat…him…

Liar! You're just afraid of what Orochimaru would do to you if you said he shouldn't kill her.

…

I thought so. So MAKE SOMETHING UP! He said something about girls only being good for…that…so make up an excuse…

"OROCHIMARU!" Orochimaru stopped, halfway back to the hideaway, and turned to glare at Sasuke, who was still standing next to the girl.

"What are you doing Sasuke! Hurry up! We must continue your training… Make you stronger."

"Let me have her…"

"What?"

"I said let me have her… I want her, to…have some fun with…" Orochimaru turned and regarded Sasuke carefully. After a few seconds, he shrugged, smirked then turned around and began to walk again.

"Fine, but you're responsible for her. You have an hour and a half to get her settled in your chambers, then training commences again. Oh, I almost forgot… Don't give her a name…" Sasuke frowned at his back as he walked into the building. He then turned back to the girl, whose eyes were wide open and glaring at him. He sighed.

What did I just get myself into? He bent down and picked up the girl, watching her carefully for any signs of her attacking. All that she did was wince when he jostled her legs, and so he carried her inside.

As soon as Sasuke had closed the door behind him, the girl tried to escape through an open window. Sasuke caught her this time, even if it was only barely. He had grabbed her wrist, and she immediately turned retaliating with a punch to his face.

THWAP

Sasuke let himself get hit, then turned his head back to the girl when he realize that she wasn't going to hit him again. She was standing still now, breathing hard, and her eyes and face showed no emotion. After shutting the window, he let her wrist go. The girl immediately jumped away from him, landing on his bed by accident. He sighed again, but didn't move any closer to the girl as he spoke.

"You can relax… I'm not going to do anything to you, except make sure that you get better. You should be on your knees really, thanking me for saving you…" He took one step towards the girl and got a gob of spit hurled into his eye for it. He grimaced as he wiped away the slime.

"Fine, I guess you won't let me closer… Look, your legs are severely injured, and they need first aid. I'm going to go get a hea-

"No." Sasuke stopped at the door and turned back sharply at the raspy voice.

"What?"

"I s-said n-no…I n-need, outside…e-earth…" Sasuke scrutinized the ragged girl. It was obvious that her voice had not been used in a long time.

"So you can speak… Very well. Where outside?"

"Anywhere…" Sasuke just shrugged, then picked her up again, for he got the feeling that she would not, or could not walk.

How strange… Just a few minutes ago she was so fast I couldn't see her when she ran… Now, it seems that she can barely talk, let alone walk. Who the hell is this girl?