Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

Tenten betrayed the leaf village. Purple blotches leading down her spine were a testament to this. Her body pulsed with pain if she so much as shifted her damn leg.

So this must be what hell was like. Not just being in prison, that was what normal people would call hell. Her hell ran much deeper through the ridges of the earth it flowed.

It has been two weeks already, since she tried to kill Lee. Her eyes could still see the look on his face projected against the walls ever since she was admitted.

But it wasn't just about Lee.

It was every naïve villager that roamed the streets, every person that ever said "thank you". Pretty soon their identities, their names, their opinions, everything gone. Tsunade was launching a new regime, transforming the world into a breathing nightmare, and the only one that knew, was her.

"You have a visitor" said the guard Mizuki.

Her partner in crime looked like an angel, cute hair teased down to her neck and smitten black eyes that were warm without being overwhelming.

Shizune was quiet as she took two steps in; refusing to make eye contact she let the heavy cell door slam behind her.

"Honestly Shizune, I don't know how you seem to bypass every law" Tenten pouted, pulling apart her cuffs in an attempt to arouse sympathy.

"I'm on good terms with the law" She paused as her eyes rolled over the floor "Well, was anyway" If there was one person that felt guilty, it was Shizune.

Tenten started by getting the weighty accusation off her chest "Shizune, it's your fault Lee is in the hospital" her face was serious.

There was a long and awkward silence, Shizune seemed lifeless but she was just trying to be strong.

"I haven't slept since the day" she gripped the cloth of her shoulder "But I only did what I had to. We can't take any chances" her last words seemed to drift off as she fisted her leg. Shizune couldn't afford to tell her the truth, she was buried up to the neck and not an exit sign in sight.

Tenten chewed on her words not knowing whether to hug or punch her.

Shizune wiped the sweat from her brow and regained her composure "We haven't much time left. Tsunade is preparing to make her move. All the paperwork is in place and now she is just waiting for the right time to strike"

It was too risky to ask a leaf ninja to help revolt against Tsunade. So Shizune had sent Tenten to enlist the aid of some Sand Village Shinobi about a month ago.

"Those sand ninja, what have they been doing all this time?" Tenten said raising an eyebrow.

"They don't tell me anything" said Shizune chewing on her cheek. "A leaf ninja almost discovered them but fortunately they were able to silence him without too much trouble" she mumbled turning her head to face the wall.

She seemed very distressed upon this mention, suddenly becoming fascinated with her nails.

Tenten tried to follow her eyes but Shizune was equally adamant to avoid them.

"Thanks."

"For putting you in this prison cell?" said a bemused Shizune

"For trusting me" she blushed a little "Seeing as how you trusted no one else. I'm honored that you chose me" her head tilted almost like a flame being blown on

She didn't choose her. The fate of the Leaf Village was too much for any one person, even the niece of a world renowned ninja. It was selfish getting Tenten involved and the consequences were already brazen.

Tenten touched her blackened foot to Shizune's sandal who was sitting across from her, they both felt electricity. "Hey don't look so down, I know it must feel terrible to betray someone you admired but I think by stopping Tsunade. You are doing what she would have wanted".

Shizune's eyes glistened like two moons. "I was lucky enough to know the real Tsunade, behind the constant gambling and drinking" A smile tugged on the ends of her mouth. "She was constantly in pain, having to swallow memories of her loved ones like bile"

Shizune grazed the stained brick with her palm "I even miss her gambling now" she whispered to no one. Tenten's heart rate increased a bit. She admired Tsunade since she was twelve; it preempted her a few years to hear Shizune's heart.

"I know that our meetings have been strictly business but I hope when this is all over we can still be friends" said Tenten, her voice tapering off into a squeak.

"I'll get you out of here" said Shizune as she dusted off her blue robe. She placed a small, powder-filled pellet no bigger than a BB in her sweaty palm.

"As a shinobi, you should know what that is and when to use it"

Tenten gulped as she rolled the pellet into her pocket. She wanted desperately to escape. Not just the jail cell but what was beyond that, the world that waited just beyond the horizon.