Chapter Two-Chisa

I glared at the engraved cedar door until I was sure she was gone. I sighed to myself, Zuri was merely a child in a woman's body. She thinks I know nothing of her true potential, but it's she who knows nothing of mine. She says she doesn't try, that she doesn't want power. Does she think I do? Power was something I was born with and I turned it away. There was something more important to me then and there always will be. I glanced at the horizon. The sun glinted over the mountains and dance on the leaves of the trees that rested on top of them. It had only been a few hours before that Zuri and I had been in those mountains racing toward this village. I looked down at the people in the marketplace. Children were running around, chasing one another and having fun, while parents searched for food to fill their bellies. My mind wandered back to days I wanted so desperately to forget. Days when I was weak and helpless.

My parents died when I was eight years old. A man, posing to be a friend, lured them to a house on the outskirts of our village and trapped them inside. I had followed them but stayed hidden in the woods, their shrill screams as the flames grew higher still haunt my nightmares. My brother did what he could for me but eventually was called away to be trained. I was left alone, an orphan with no home, to fend for myself. Somehow I survived and it was in the winter four years later that he found. My master Orochimaru. He saved my life and I vowed to serve him. I would do anything for him. It wasn't long after that, Zuri came to stay with us and we began to train. One year into my service for Orochimaru I got word that my brother had gone missing. It's been four years, I haven't heard anything since.

I shrugged off these thoughts and decided to go track down Zuri. She was bound to be in a mess of trouble.

I strode down the hall and managed to search the entire mansion in less than two hours and still came up empty handed. Zuri had officially fallen off the face of the earth. I didn't know if I should continue looking or throw my hands in the air while jumping up and down. Sadly I had to go with the first one, I needed another person on this mission. I casually walked up to one of the maids and asked if she'd seen Zuri. She said she saw her go outside a little while ago but she didn't know why. I thanked her and followed in the direction Zuri went. If I knew her, and I thought I did, she wouldn't be in the market, but the woods were a likely choice. So that's where I went. It didn't take long. I found her sitting by a pond, skipping rocks, and humming a tune I didn't recognize.

"What are you doing out here?" I asked, my tone made me sound demanding. She looked back at me but didn't answer. It took a minute before she opened her mouth.

"Exploring, seeing in things changed at all. What are you doing?" She sounded worn out.

"Nothing anymore." I walked over and sat down beside her. There was a long silence, except for the sound of miniature waves crashing on the rocks around our feet.

"So what now?" Zuri is the first to break this peace.

"I don't know. We do have work lined up for us though." I sighed enjoying this tranquil scene.

"Yeah alright lets go." She grumbles. I stood up and began to follow her, but a sudden chill sent me spinning around.

"Sai! I know you're there! Show yourself." I shouted, any passerby would think I was talking to the tree.

"You know your getting slow I noticed Sai about ten minutes ago."

"How?" I remarked. "When he only got here now?" Zuri opened her mouth but nothing came out.

"Ooh, she got you bad." Sai said, dropping out of the tree.

"I sensed you coming. You're not good at hiding your chakira. And Chisa you were probably to busy looking for me to notice." She folded her arms, feeling proud of herself for her comeback.

"Don't get so cocky." I smirked at her, " But she is right about one thing Sai. You need to learn to control your chakra better, unless of course you're asking to die?" I sarcastically raised an eyebrow.

"Why are you both so worried about it?" Sai leaned against the tree and returned my look.

"If we were you wouldn't be here because training would've killed you. Now obviously you didn't travel here just to say hi." If he wasn't going to get down to business I was leaving.

"I really don't think it matters. He's a cute little thing, like a kitten! Can I keep him?" she spoke as if it were a novel idea.

"Down Zuri. We already know about your undying love for the boy, there's no need to make a fool of yourself." I turned back to Sai. "Now you were saying?"

"I was sent to help keep an eye on things. Especially since Zuri's your partner and he knows how she acts when she has to come back here."

"No thanks. I can take care of things here on my own. I don't need someone else wandering around, stirring up trouble." I glared at him. Sai put on a pouting face. It didn't faze me.

"Honestly Chisa, how can you resist him? He's so adorable! Plus he's my little kitty." Zuri chimed in, annoying me to no end.

"Like this." I said, pivoting sharply, and walked back toward the house.