A/N: She finally gets it on paper! Sorry, I had to think of what went next here. I have lots of things planned out in my head, I just have to get them on here in order so they make sense...

Chapter 7

Complications

"Katon: Ryuu no Kuroenyou!" (literally, 'dragon of black fire'). A supernova of black and purple flames exploded into the air, and sailed across the ground. It roared across the earth and imploded into a grove of pine trees. "Well, that could have gone better…." she mumbled to herself. The few trees that hadn't been obliterated, were nothing but charred fragments. The jutsu was flawless. She sighed, nonetheless.

"What's the point…" she turned around and started to walk away. "Enyouhoshi!" a voice called. She turned her head to look over her shoulder, her flame-colored hair billowing slightly. "Enyouhoshi, Lord Orochimaru wants to see you!" the sound ninja said, breathlessly. She sighed, her crayon eyes drooping, "What on earth is it now?" she asked herself. The sun peeked out from behind the thick blanket of clouds, making her red-orange shirt, and crimson pants glow like fire. She quickly stepped out of the light. And with a low hiss, she headed towards her father's office.

When she got there, she saw Sankokawa staring out the window behind Orochimaru's desk. When the snake nin saw her, he stopped what he was doing and stood up. Sankokawa gave her a sideways glance, than turned her attention back to the horizon. "I thought my father instructed not to take part in Katon techniques?" she asked no one in particular, "You could level half this village with that sort of power…" she added. Enyouhoshi narrowed her eyes. She was a head taller than Sankokawa, but didn't have nearly the same attitude. Sankokawa had an aristocratic instability about her, whereas Enyouhoshi was quicker to anger. Orochimaru walked up to her.

"Enyouhoshi, aren't you supposed to be doing what I asked?" he questioned smoothly. She met his steady gaze, "Completed." she stated bluntly. Orochimaru blinked, "You finished your mission already? I only assigned it 6 hours ago…" he trailed off as Enyouhoshi reached into a pouch on her side, and pulled out a bottle a thick red liquid. "Blood of the Raikage. He breathes no more." she said indifferent. Orochimaru's eyes widened for a moment, he grinned slowly. "Excellent! Wonderful news!" he exclaimed, taking the container from Enyouhoshi. "This will come in quite handy…" he said to himself. He walked over to gis desk, placing the bottle in one of the drawers. "Am I dismissed than?" Enyouhoshi asked, folding her arm behind her. Orochimaru nodded, and she left.

Sankokawa crossed her arms on the windowsill, and laid her chin on them. She sighed, dejectedly. "What's wrong, dear?" he asked. "It's been 8 months since I started training, how much longer must I go untried?" she asked. Orochimaru stroked her hair, "I know you want to start your missions, and soon you will. Just have patience." he crooned. Sankokawa's eyelids drooped, she sighed and left. Orochimaru shook his head, "Takes after her mother." he aid, than laughed at his own joke. There was a knock on the door. "Come in." he said, sitting down at his desk.

The door opened and a small, white-haired shape bolted through, followed by a very annoyed looking clone. "No more! I'll not have it!" the small one shouted, her colorless eyes flashing. She wore no mask, her face twisted into a scowl. "That was extremely unorthodox, Shiroke! You owe Kabuto an apology!" the taller figure spat. "What on earth is going on?" Orochimaru asked, "Arashi what happened?" he questioned the storm eyed figure. Shiroke spoke up first, her light gray clothing making her fair skin glow. "Kabuto said I'm too small to be a ninja! But I'm a better tracker than anyone!" she shouted. "Nobody ever said you weren't a good tracker," Arashi retorted, "But, Shiroke, you know you'll never be able to--" Orochimaru held up his hand, cutting her off. "Shiroke, why don't you see if Sankokawa can't give you some medicine." he said, it wasn't a question. She pouted, but obediently left.

Orochimaru sighed and walked slowly towards the open window, "I wish you wouldn't remind her, Arashi…You know what a sensitive topic that is…" he said as he stared at the setting sun. Arashi was different from the other clones, her eyes were lipid pools of blue, gray and green. Her skin was corpse colored, and just as cold.. Her hair had been messily cropped to several different lengths, from her shoulders to her waist and everywhere in between. The outfit that adorned her was every shade of blue and green, her blue-green gloves fit somewhat tighter than normal. She walked up behind him.

"There are just so many things she shouldn't do…." she said. Orochimaru closed the window. "And many more things she should" he contradicted. He cupped her face in his hands, "Shiroke is no worse off than you or I." he added. "Just promise me you'll try to overlook her little handicap?". Arashi nodded. "Thank you." he said, and turned in the direction Shiroke had left. "Kabuto may need some more ice…" she muttered to herself, ad left in the other direction.

Youkaihoshi was reading a slender novel as he walked down the stone hallway. Shiroke walked sadly in the opposite direction. He glanced at her as she walked by, but paid her no mind. She walked down the hall, mumbling to herself all the while. Just as she walked past one door, it slid open, and someone stepped out. "Shiroke, what are you doing here?".

"Looking for you." she replied, turning towards her. Sankokawa knelt beside her, "Well, you found me." she chuckled in her smooth, aristocratic voice. A heavy silence descended on the stone hallway. Somewhere water dripped slowly. "Father…told me…to…come get my medicine…" Shiroke said finally. "Ah." Sankokawa replied, and stood. She took Shiroke's hand and led her into the room.

"Is Daddy EVER gonna let me go on missions?" Kumohara whined. Kabuto shifted the ice bag he was holding against himself. "As soon as I report you and your sister's progress, Lord Orochimaru will determine whose ready." he replied, sipping from a small glass. Kumohara pouted, "Youkaihoshi, Enyouhoshi and Sentaikawa get to go on missions…" she said quietly. "They're from the hunter branch, they've all been dispatched at least twice" he paused, "This whole thing is still new. It'll take awhile before everything is up and running smoothly." he explained. She sighed, getting up, the black and dark purple fabric of her corsette making her chest expand.

Why on earth did Orochimaru-sama design these clones? And whose genetics are they derived from? Kabuto asked himself for the five thousandth time. We have plenty of Sound shinobi at our disposal…He heard glass shatter, and Kumohara curse. He got up to see what was wrong, setting the bag of ice on the couch.

Kumohara had broken a drinking glass, and sliced open her hand. She growled in annoyance as - Kabuto realized with a shocked expression - translucent orange ooze seeped from the wound. It oozed for a few seconds, reversed itself, drew back into the cut, and the wound resealed. There was no evidence of it at all.

Kabuto blinked, than removed and inspected his glasses. He put them back on. What in the world did I just see? An illusion? Regeneration? He watched Kumohara rub her hand, and start to clean up the glass mess.

I knew these clones weren't human, but…what on earth was that? e pondered this as Kumohara threw away the last of the glass fragments, and dusted off her hands. "Well, that was unexpected…" she stated, taking Kabuto's hand and leading him back to the couch. "Kabuto…" she started. "Hn?" he snapped back to reality. "Can we train a bit more before you give Daddy your report?"

Sankokawa filled the syringe with dark blackish green fluid, tapping it every few seconds. Shiroke was lying on a steel table in the middle of the room, her upturned arm had a needle inserted just above the inside of her elbow. A narrow tube stretched from the needle, to two bags filled with milky green fluid above her head. She blankly stared at the ceiling above her.

"He deserved it…" she mumbled. "Hm?" Sankokawa looked at her over her shoulder. "Kabuto" Shiroke repeated, "he's an asshole, he deserved it…" she clenched her fists, her eyes drooped.

Sankokawa strode over to her, and lifted her other arm. The fluid made a sound as it was injected. "You do know, Shiroke…you can never really be a ninja." she said as she rubbed at the mark the needle had left.

Shiroke shot open here eyes, and ripped the IV needle from her arm. She glared at the blue-haired assassin. "That's not true!" she shouted, "I'm going to surpass EVERYONE! Just you wait!" she shouted, jumping down from the table. "I hate being blind! I wish I had never been born!" she stormed out the door.

"So this is it huh?" a black robed figure asked himself. "This is the place Kourin was last seen…" he lowered his head, "The village Orochimaru left us to create…" he stood from his crouching position. "I wonder whom I shall find."

A/N: Yup...this should get interesting if I ever get it straight...if I ever condradict my self in these chapters, I'm sorry. As you well know, it takes me several months to do this, so yeah. Any questions, feel free to ask.