Gravity Chapter 3: Infiltration, a naruto fanfic

A.N.

To those of you that are reading this please note that there is a story before this. It's called Slowly Slipping Awayand it's found in my page. I follow the manga as closely as possible so this is the Shippuden part of it.

Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: Naruto does NOT belong to me.

Sayuri and any characters that have not and will not appear in the manga and/or anime are completely original.

Reviews are ENCOURAGED . Thank you.

Infiltration

Leaping through the threes she allowed her mind to wonder back a couple of years ago. To the day that she woke up and knew nothing about her past. To the earliest memory she had of ever being 'Sayuri.' It saddened her to think that she really did not know anything about herself. Sure she heard stories about the noble Marihasha clan, about her father and mother, about her ancestors but none of those stories ever really felt like they were a part of her. Instead she felt as if all those tales of the Marihasha were just that…tales, with no real connection to herself.

As far as she was concerned she was Sayuri Marihasha because she was told she was Sayuri Marihasha. She was the daughter of Yūkan Marihasha because she was told she had his hair. She was the daughter of Nagisa Mizuchi because she was told she had her eyes. She was…she was…in reality she didn't really know who she was.

Does it really matter? She wondered as she stopped atop a tree branch. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at the small cave opening.

She jumped down and began to walk towards the entrance. Her new appearance had served her well. Her dark purple shoulder length hair, bright golden eyes, and feminine figure had garnered the attention she wanted. She was subtle but not too subtle. She worked for weeks under one of Kabuto's spies. Through him she managed to show off her assets, such as infiltration and information gathering, as well as killing a couple of common thieves or two that tried to get one thing or another from her. Just as she had planned, the spy reported the information to Kabuto who became interested in the girl whose appearance fooled unsuspecting victims, whose ninja skills were well above average.

So here she was now, standing before Orochimaru's lair just as Kabuto himself requested. Slowly making her way over to it she paused a few feet away to steel herself before taking another step. Just as she had recovered her wits she noticed a dark figure coming towards her. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she stood her ground. The first thing she noticed was the bright red eyes with the small comma pattern around the iris. Her body tensed in recognition as she bit the inside of her cheek to keep calm.

Slowly the dark figure stepped into the sun light and she had to fight to keep herself from shaking. Standing before her was Sasuke Uchiha and all she could do was stare as he narrowed his eyes at her. The two continued their contest until she felt her fingers twitch.

In a matter of seconds she found her hands pinned behind her as his other hand went to her throat. Immediately Sayuri pushed against his hands, using them as leverage to jump into the air. Caught off guard the young Uchiha released her arms as he jumped back taking out his katana. He rushed at her the piece of metal ready to strike at her right shoulder but she took out a kunai and blocked while taking the opportunity to aim a kick at his abdomen.

He barely dodged it as he pivoted ready to strike from behind but she quickly dropped down to the ground sweeping his legs only to have him jump back. The two stood their ground getting ready for another attack until she sensed another being in the shadows of the cave.

Black eyes slid momentarily towards the entrance before sheathing his katana as he stood still waiting for the snake and his lackey to come out. The man applauded as he stepped out into the clearing followed closely behind by Kabuto, a wicked smile on his face.

"Well done." He began his golden eyes meeting Sayuri's own as they stared at each other. "So this is the young girl that has caught your attention, Kabuto?"

The silver haired man nodded once, glasses glinting in the sunlight. "That's right sir. As you've already seen she can hold her own."

Sasuke heard the two talk as he felt a strange feeling well up in him. Black eyes sliding over to the young girl he had been fighting, this time he took her in completely. Purple shoulder length hair, golden colored eyes, womanly build… So this is who Kabuto wants to experiment on now.

"Come here girl." Orochimaru beckoned snapping Sasuke out of his thoughts, the avenger watched as she made her way over taking his pale white hand as he offered it to her. "What's your name dear?"

"Rei." She answered quietly.

Orochimaru smirked. "Ah…Did you know your name means 'lovely'?"

She stared up at him for a mere second before looking down with a small blush on her cheeks. "No sir, I did not."

Smiling he cupped her cheek and raised her head to have their eyes meet. "Well of course you're lovely, dear…look at those eyes. They remind me of my own."

'Rei' smiled up at the snake like man. "Thank you."

Disgust…? Sasuke thought as he watched the interaction between the sanin and the violet haired girl. The strange feeling that welled up in his being was something along those lines but he still couldn't put a solid name to it.

"Come Sasuke, you will show our new companion around."

XXX

Rei means lovely…Sayuri thought as she absentmindedly followed the Uchiha around the lair. Ha! Rei also means 'nothing.' Her train of thought was stopped abruptly as she almost collided with the other's back.

Orochimaru had made it clear that Sayuri was to stick to the Uchiha at all times. She was supposed to help with his training as well as heal him whenever he needed it. Technically she was his little servant, Sayuri scowled slightly at the thought. Apart from that she had to spend one day out of the week with Kabuto as he thought her medical ninjutsu as well as watching her chakra react to the environment.

She felt as if she was being prepared for something but she didn't know what.

"What's wrong?" she inquired softly as she leaned around the tall male to take a look outside. "Are we not going to train?"

He didn't turn around to address her instead they stood there for a couple of seconds before he continued towards his destination. They were at a clearing with a rather large waterfall a tree and a large boulder conveniently under it.

She watched as he went to the center of the small clearing before turning to her with a rather annoyed look. "Are you just going to stand there or actually train with me?"

Biting back her remark she took a deep breath before stepping out into the clearing. He took out his katana and pointed it at her. The young girl stared at it warily before he rushed at her ready to strike at her cheek which she quickly evaded by turning on the ball of her feet, taking out two kunai throwing one at him and using the other to block.

Briefly she wondered if he recognized her but she quickly discarded that idea, because her chakra was molded just right as to not give anyone any hint that she was under a transformation, not even the Uchiha. Side stepping another attack she began to analyze his movements.

He was faster than before, stronger too, He's not holding back. She thought as she raised her arms to block a kick…but she could still keep up and that gave her hope, that maybe all the training that he was doing with Orochimaru wasn't all that different from hers.

Sasuke gritted his teeth as he tried to land a solid hit on the girl. How was it possible that she was able to keep up with him? It wasn't even that! She matched him tick for tack. Every move he tried on her she dodged, every move she tried on him he dodged. It's not supposed to be like this! He was supposed to bring her down easily not have her match him.

Suddenly he stopped, katana at her jugular while she held her kunai at his. Both glared at each other before leaping back. The hell is she?

XXX

With a heavy sigh she fell back on the bed. It had been a week and Sayuri was getting restless as the more time she spent in that place the more she felt like something bad was going to happen.

She was only here to gather intelligence on the three. Every day she went to train with the Uchiha and it seemed that he began to become increasingly frustrated. It wasn't until today that she allowed him one hit that he seemed to go back to his usual stone cold self.

Sayuri rubbed her side with a slight frown. Men… she thought as she closed her eyes momentarily before thinking of the silver haired healer. She shivered as she began to remember his gaze on her…as if she was something to eat. He had began to request her for the smallest things and took any excuse he could to touch her. Frankly it creped her out, But there was nothing she could do. She had to keep up appearances, besides, she could use that to her advantage.

XXX

Orochimaru watched as his pupil trained with the purple haired konoichi. He hadn't missed the fact the girl could easily keep up with him and his student's increasing frustration. He smirked when he saw the Uchiha finally land a solid hit at her hip sending her across the field. Of course it didn't escape his mind that she had deliberately let him hit her.

What is she playing at? The paper white sanin wondered as he watched the two's training end and depart to their rooms.

XXX

The air around them made the trees rustle around the training area. He listened quietly from his spot under a tree as he watched the young purple haired ninja lounge lazily against the grass. Eyes narrowed over her form as she took a deep breath of the fresh air. It had been two weeks since her arrival and the strange feeling in his chest didn't seem to disappear.

Every time she was not anywhere near him the feeling would increase, each time she was with him, the feeling would disappear only to be replaced by something else entirely that he could not really name either. Those emotions that her presence had risen up in him were confusing and infuriating. All he knew was that he felt better and slightly in a better mood whenever she was near…and he was pretty sure that the snake had picked up on that.

To make things worse the dreams he had of a certain young brunette had returned…and with a vengeance. Each day for one whole year he dreamt of Sayuri so much so that he dreaded going to sleep. In an attempt to make them stop he trained until he was both mentally and physically exhausted, but now even that didn't help. The dreams were vivid at this point, some innocent and some not so much. He almost growled in frustration at the thought of having the Marihasha near him.

"Hey! I'm talking to you!" The soft yet annoyed voice caught his attention, just now noticing that the purple haired female was kneeling in front of him. He let his eyes travel down to her hands where her right hand tugged at the sleeve of her dress for a small second. Sometimes she reminded him of the Marihasha.

"What do you want?"

He watched as a small flicker of annoyance crossed her features before she took a deep breath. "Kabuto said he needed me at two…" he watched as she glanced at the entrance. "Are you going to need me to stay?"

He continued to stare for a couple of seconds before he closed his eyes. "Go, but come back in an hour." Sasuke heard a light shuffle as the young teen stood up and then nothing. She was stealthy he noted as he looked around him to find her completely vanished. Soon the tightening in his chest came back as he grunted in annoyance.

XXX

Sayuri quietly made her way to Kabuto's lab ignoring the chill that she felt down her back as she neared the dreaded metal door today was actually the first time she entered the guy's lab. She rounded the corner and stood still as she quietly forced her nerves to calm down. Suddenly the door opened revealing a smirking Kabuto.

"Ah! Rei, I've been expecting you." He stepped aside allowing the girl to step through the threshold locking the door behind him. The silver haired ninja quietly looked her up and down as she stood near the center of his lab, hands clasped behind her back. "Do you like it?"

'Rei' turned her golden colored eyes on him and blinked owlishly before answering. "Yes…I do." She said in that soft voice of hers that somehow managed to run chills up his spine.

Clearing his throat he moved to stand next to her as she took in her surroundings. "You could come here as many times as you wish…" he was suddenly at her back placing a hand on her shoulder. "…Of course you'd have to be accompanied by me."

Sayuri fought the urge to roll her eyes as she forced a soft smile. "Of course…" She turned to him as he crossed the room before speaking. "Um…Mr.-"

"How many times have I told you, Rei…" he turned to the girl, "Call me Kabuto."

"Uh, yes!" she blushed, "Kabuto…?"

"Hmm?" he murmured as he picked out a book from the desk.

"If you don't mind me asking…why did you ask for me?"

He turned to the girl once again a smirk playing at his lips as he eyed her up and down…like prey waiting to become meal.

Stay calm…don't show any discomfort…He's just a creep with a sick hobby. Sayuri chanted as she stood perfectly still feigning curiosity.

Slowly he approached her, taking the liberty of running a hand up her arm to her shoulder. "Take a seat on that table." He signaled as he turned her around and ushered her to it. Quietly she did as she was told and sat perfectly still under his scrutinizing gaze.

"So far…" he stepped closer. "You've been the only one to actually keep up with our dear Sasuke." Sayuri almost flinched as he brushed some hair off her face. "It's quite surprising really."

"I'm sure that he is becoming stronger to the point that even I won't stand much of a chance." She responded quietly.

"Perhaps." He kept his hand on her cheek. "In either case…I was wondering if you could help me."

Shit! Sayuri mentally cursed. She was trapped! There was no way she'd get out of this mess. She willingly walked into a trap, how could she be so careless! Despite her inner turmoil she responded with a smooth voice. "Yes."

"I've been doing some experiments on chakra…I was wondering if you could let me see how yours reacts to what I've prepared."

Ha! He tells me as if I have a choice…This time she slipped and momentarily stiffened.

"Rei…you knew that apart from being Sasuke's sparring partner you were also brought here to help with my research." He gently chastised. "But don't worry…" Suddenly she felt him at her back as he placed a hand on her hip playing with the hem of her shirt. "That doesn't mean it can't be enjoyable for both of us." He nuzzled his face at the crook of her neck before he nipped it causing her to gasp. A deep, deep sense of dread filled Sayuri as she closed her eyes at Kabuto's ministrations.

XXX

Three days…Three days! Sasuke thought in barely concealed irritation as he stalked down the halls. He specifically remembered telling that idiot of a girl to return to the training filed in an hour…it had been three days since he had last seen her and the feeling in his chest only seemed to get worse.

Where the hell could she be? He gritted his teeth until suddenly he felt a small pulse of chakra to his immediate left. Cautiously he opened the door letting his eyes adjust to the darkness of it. There on the bed laid an unconscious Rei curled up into a fetal position and she appeared to be shivering.

Crossing over to the room quickly he laid a hand on her forehead taking note of her high fever. His gaze travelled to her exposed neck were small purple marks seem to glare up at him. Slowly the feeling turned into something else, something that he was completely familiar with…anger. He easily picked the young girl up and closing the door behind him as he carried her to his room.

XXX

Kabuto looked over his results on his latest test. It seemed that Rei's chakra was more volatile than it seemed. Whenever he tried inserting small doses of his own, her body rejected it, no matter in what form or way he tried to pass his own chakra to hers, Rei's own chakra reserves seemed to isolate it and send it back out almost as if lashing out against him.

"It's almost as if she has it contained…" he murmured, placing his report down on the table to make a note. The door to his lab slammed shut as someone stepped in. Turning around he came face to face with the ever so stoic Uchiha. "And what brings me the pleasure of your pres-"

"Rei..." Sasuke interrupted, "…Stay away from her." His tone left no room for argument as he glared at Kabuto just before he turned to walk away.

"I don't know Sasuke…she seemed to be enjoying herself when I was with her." The Uchiha stopped dead in his tracks before he turned to Kabuto, Sharingan activated. Kabuto's blood ran cold as the young Uchiha stared at him as he would a bug before leaving the room.

XXX

Her eyes flickered open and with a small grunt she moved a hand to her forehead, where a small wet towel laid. What the…? She wondered as she slowly sat up.

"You're awake." Her eyes immediately went to her left where a dark figure stood; soon the outline became clear as the person walked closer to the dim light. "Here…" he handed her a glass of water which she warily took in her hands eyeing him suspiciously. "It's not poisoned."

Slowly she took a sip before gulping it down. How long had it been since she had a glass of water? She wondered as she finished. Why was she so thirsty and weak?

"What-"

"Four days. You left to the lab and you've been unconscious for four days."

"Four…?" she whispered in surprise. Four days! That's how long she's been out? Her hand suddenly darted to her shoulder, her hair just barely brushing it and sighed. So the jutsu hadn't dispelled, she was still Rei.

Sasuke for his part studied the woman before him watching her mannerisms, a small feeling of similarity suddenly appearing. He watched as her eyes darted back and forth as she acquainted herself with the room, and how her hands seemed to tug at the sleeve of her shirt, once again reminding him of the young heiress in the leaf.

"Why am I here?" she asked catching his attention briefly as he grunted in response. She sighed and looked away. Of course she shouldn't expect an answer from him.

His eyes strayed to her neck where angry purple marks were glaring at him before looking away, arms crossed over his chest. "Kabuto won't touch you again."

"Huh?"

His dark eyes turned to her briefly before turning away to walk out the door leaving Sayuri alone in the dimly light room.

XXX

The two walked side by side to the snake's room. There was only the low echo of their footsteps down the long hallway, neither being ones to talk. One because he didn't feel the need to express himself the way normal humans do, the other out of fear of slipping up and her identity being found out by the Avenger.

Ever since the day she had woken up, the Uchiha never seemed to leave her alone. Always making sure she was following him either at his side or closely behind and never really letting her out of his sight except for necessities and to sleep. Sayuri slowly started to become uneasy by all the attention he was giving her. She wanted to stay in the background, hidden so as to not draw attention to herself from Orochimaru. But of course trust Uchiha to become attached at the most inconvenient of times.

The two turned the corner in time to see Kabuto about to enter his Lord's, bedroom. Sayuri watched as his eyes turned to her eyeing her before he froze upon noticing the Uchiha next to her. Quickly he opened the door and allowed them in.

Orochimaru sat at his bed smirking down at the two as they stood before him. "Ah, Sasuke and my dear Rei…" the two waited for him to continue, neither betraying any emotion. "I need to you two to deliver something important for me." He turned to Kabuto who in turn handed the Uchiha a scroll. "Kabuto will inform you two of where you need to go, in the mean time we will be switching over to the base near the Hidden Grass village. Meet us there when you are done. That's all."

Without a word the two young ninja walked out of the room followed closely behind by the silver haired lackey.

XXX

Sayuri quietly made her way to the forest as quickly as she could heading towards a waterfall that she had encountered on her route to the hideout. The roaring of the water steadily became louder the closer she got. Once there she cut through the lake heading straight towards the cascading water, using a small amount of chakra she jumped up onto a ledge before continuing her climb up until she was near a small pathway leading to the space behind the falling water.

Cautiously she walked the small path as to not slip from the water glossed rock until she reached a small cave behind the waterfall. Once there she put her pack down and took out a scroll and wrote in it before sealing it up and tying it. Using her free hand she made three hand seals making a small fox appear before her with a small 'poof.'

"Hmm?" the small animal lifted its paw up to scratch its nose. "Who are you?"

The young girl frowned. "Don't act stupid you know who I am." She snapped at him.

The small fox sniffed the air before recognition hit him. "Oh! It's you Sayuri! What do you want?" he grinned.

"Take this to the Kenji, tell him that we're changing locations to the Hidden Grass Country and that I will send another message when I know our exact location."

"Ok. Got it!" and with that the small fox disappeared.

Closing her eyes, Sayuri allowed herself to relax before getting up from her spot to dive into the water. As she fell, the brunette, allowed herself to think of her time with the Uchiha. She felt as if he knew something she didn't. Again the thought that her identity might have been discovered crossed her mind before she pushed herself back up to the surface taking a gulp of air.

She went over everything she had experienced during the past weeks. Each time she saw the tall brooding Uchiha she felt as she wanted to seriously maim him, but of course that was not her mission and so she had to play along as the dutiful little 'training' buddy she was, and she hated it. Is it possible that he knows it's her?

No. He would have said something…maybe even have tried to kill her on the spot. But he hasn't and so that couldn't be it…right?

"Where have you been?" A deep voice caught her attention and she froze in her spot, cursing herself for being careless.

"I was…taking a swim." She answered as she gestured to her wet clothes.

His eyes narrowed down at the young ninja. "Hn." He answered. "Just remember we leave tomorrow early in the morning."

"Y-yes." She answered as she bowed her head before he walked away. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.

A.N.

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