Chapter 2:
Kabuto tightened the grip on his cloak as he passes through the checkpoint at the entrance to the Sand Village. He had removed his badge of the Sound Village earlier, but he still felt uneasy around the Sand shinobi. There were no other Sound ninja that he could see; he was truly alone on his mission.
'Orochimaru was serious,' he thought, turning down a dark alley. 'I am the only shinobi on this mission.' Concealed by the shadows, Kabuto disguised himself as a Sand ninja. He covered his face with cloth, lined his eyes with kohl, and strapped a shinobi plate to his right arm. "Here goes nothing," he muttered. He threw his cloak over his shoulder, and he emerged into the warm sun.
'Now to find Kokoro…'
After asking several people around the village, Kabuto finally arrived at the quarters of the Kazekage's harem. He gazed in awe at the enormous jewel-encrusted, ivory gates guarding the women of the court. "I would gladly be a woman if I could live here," he chuckled. He pushed open the gates, and they groaned beneath their own weight. Inside the walls was an oasis. Clear, gurgling streams ran from one end of the complex to the other, pooling into luscious, green gardens abundant with sweet flowers and fruits. Birds of nearly every size and color nested in enormous, gnarled trees bursting with foliage, their melodies echoing off the stone walls containing the Kazekage's paradise. As Kabuto ventured forth, he caught sight of a temple made of pale granite, and a large pavilion that housed large pillows and sheets for the girls to sleep on.
Kabuto removed his cloak and draped it over his arm to appear as an attendant to the women. He passed by several shinobi unnoticed as he made his way toward the harem. He stopped at a pair of twins, both dressed in fine sheers and silks, who were playing shamisen together. Kabuto cleared his throat and knelt before them.
"Ladies," he said, "I'm looking for someone, and I was told to come here." One twin put down her instrument, and she gazed at him with deep-blue eyes beneath her long, blond lashes. Flicking her golden hair over her shoulder, she answered, "We are simple women now. Such formalities you offer are not needed anymore." Kabuto bowed his head.
"I apologize. Do you know where a woman named Kokoro Hino is?" The other twin put down her shamisen and opened her brilliant green eyes.
"Kokoro is the favorite of the Kazekage," she said. "What so you want with her? You do know that our master is dead, yes?"
"Correct. I give my condolences to all of you who held Lord Kazekage near. I have come to strike a deal with the Sand Village," he announced, drawing a scroll from his sash. "Now, where's Kokoro? My matters are for her." Both twins pointed to a crowd of girls dancing in a circle.
"She's the flute player," they said in unison. Kabuto nodded in thanks, and he started toward the dancers. The girls seemed unphased by his approach. Their feet tapped the rhythm in sync with the tambourine. Castanets clicked a steady beat, and scarves flowed from the girls' fingers. Then, Kabuto spotted his target. Kokoro danced in the center of the circle, playing her wooden flute to tie the other sounds together. She was dressed the most flamboyantly. She was clothed in blue silks and elegant brocades, all gifts from her former lord. Bangles of gold, silver, and ivory graced her slender arms and clinked with every step she took. Each of her ears bore several earrings, and a long silver chain draped around her neck. Her long black hair twirled around her swaying hips and her feet kept time with the music. Yet, she never missed a beat.
When the dance finally ended, Kabuto stepped forward.
"Kokoro Hino," he said, "I have come by the order of Lord Orochimaru, the Otogakage. He desires for you to come stay with him in the Otogakure, and for you to accept his offer for marriage." The women giggled and murmured with excitement.
"The lord of a village! How romantic. Kokoro, you should accept Orochimaru's proposal." Kokoro started toward Kabuto. The other girls cleared a path fro her as she neared the nervous, young Sound ninja. She stood proudly before him, and she brushed away a lock of her ebony hair covering her left eye. A long white scar claimed most of the left side of her face. She couldn't even open her eye.
"Does Orochimaru want me now?" she asked. "Surely he would prefer a woman whose face is untouched by war?" Kabuto smirked.
"He specifically asked for you," he replied. Kokoro draped her plum-colored scarf around his neck.
"Then let it be," she said, "that I accept Lord Orochimaru's proposal." The women cheered again for Kokoro. They threw their scarves in the air, and they began to dance in rejoicing. Several embraced Kokoro for her happiness with Orochimaru. Immediately, talk of children flew from their painted lips despite Kokoro's feeble protests. Kabuto curtly removed Kokoro's scarf from his neck and let it fall to the ground.
"Kokoro," he shouted over the chatter, "may I speak with you privately?" Kokoro dismissed her companions to the dining hall, and she motioned for Kabuto to come to her side. She smothered a laugh as she watched her friends prancing down the path.
"They're sweet girls," she sighed. "Don't be so harsh with them." Kabuto stroked the hair falling across her eyes.
"So, you're like their sister? Or, perhaps you baby them like that because they had no mothers?" Kokoro's face burned hot as her anger swelled. "Or, maybe the Kazekage fathered you a child whom you could not keep, so you treat his harem as if they were daughters?" Kokoro raised her hand to slap him hard, but she did not strike Kabuto's smug face.
"You will not touch me so informally," she growled. "And, my affairs with the Kazekage are my private business, with which you have no concern." She tossed her hair angrily, and Kabuto brought his hand to his side.
"I shouldn't have angered you, Lady Kokoro, my master's new bride. Lord Orochimaru will be pleased to see you tomorrow afternoon." He draped Kokoro's scarf around her neck. "We leave tonight. Don't try any tricks."
