Chapter 7: Deal with the Serpent
"I'm not my brother's keepers. I care nothing for them!" "That's too bad. I was hoping to meet all three of you. I mean, I had to go through so much trouble scouting you guys out and provoking the Mizukage into sending his most trusted ninja squad to do this mission. "You mean to tell me all of that obvious ninja exposure was to get us here? What is that going to accomplish?" Asked Saito disgusted. " Saito got angry. "Just how long have you been spying me and my family freak?!" he asked. "Saito, stop letting your brothers hold you back. Your brother Zin is a burden and your brother Rain is much too kind. You and I know that you should be the heir of your families Kekki-Genkai. I can help you achieve the greatness you want." "Bull, it's not like you can steal Kekki-Genkai from someone else." "Oh, but I can" said Orochimaru. "As you may or may not know, I am on a mission to learn the entire world's jutsu and gain all power over all the great clans of the ninja world. Naturally, obtaining a few extra Kekki-Genkai is in my best interest." "And you want to give my families all to me? That's very thoughtful of you" said Saito, which obvious sarcasm in his voice. "You still don't believe me? Well that's your problem. Well, I might as well kill you then. After all, you don't have the Kekki-Genkai anyway and refusing a gesture of friendship is very rude. But why don't you just hang around a bit and think it over. But don't leave this village. If you do, you will be executed on sight. You are dismissed Saito." Saito rose up. He didn't trust Orochimaru much, but he still trusted that he possibly meant what he said. Saito left and closed the door on the way out. Once he was gone, Dosu, another Sound Ninja crept out from the shadows. "You know there's no way to take Kekki-Genkai. You think he's going to fall for your obvious lie?" said Dosu. "Whether he believes the lie or not, the fact of the matter remains. The only thing Saito Ermaki cares about is he and vengeance. I have no doubt he'll reel in the other Ermaki brothers.
Saito left and went into the thoroughfare of the Sound Village deep in thought. What if he could steal Kekki-Genkai? It's currently thought impossible, but with him, you never knew. It could be possible that if Orochimaru was correct and could really give him the Kekki-Genkai, he would just kill him anyway and take it back. Saito stopped for a second and saw a kunoichi slip away, thinking no one saw her. "Suspicious" said Saito out loud. "Hey, new guy, let's follow her" said another ninja as he walked beside him. "Who are you?" asked Saito. "My name's Zaku. That's my teammate Kin. She's been acting like this for a couple of days now. I wonder what's up myself." "I can't leave the village" responded Saito. "Aw, come on, no one's looking and I won't tattle on you. We are not the jerks you always hear about" said Zaku with a smile. "Whatever" said Saito, not totally convinced. Nevertheless, both men silently followed Kin.
Kin must have not have suspected anyone following her because she made no effort to cover her tracks or try to lose her pursuers. "Does she always eat way out here?" asked Saito. "She's a loner really. She always eats by herself and doesn't really talk to anyone. In fact, I've never seen her so happy. She's usually always wearing a sneer on her face." "She's stopped!" said Saito in a hushed voice. They hid in a leafy tree and observed Kin. "Rain, are you here?" she asked aloud. "Rain!?" cried Saito, almost blowing their cover. Zaku covered his mouth. "You're brother. Why isn't he with you? Didn't you have a brother named Zin also?" asked Zaku. Saito didn't answer but he pointed back to Kin. Rain was seen walking out slowly. Did their eyes deceive them? Were they…happy to see one another? "You're kidding me? This is rich. It's hilarious!" said Zaku, almost being to loud as. "Maybe she's just leading him on?" asked Saito with obvious malice at the sight of Rain. "Nah man, look at her. Her eyes are alive. She has joy. I mean look! She cooked him a meal. I didn't know she could cook. She always either eats out or mooches off Dosu's and my food. "I think she's falling for your brother" said Zaku, still trying to hold off laughter. "That little…he irritates me! I'm going to kill him!" said Saito in a hushed yell. Saito's bitterness came from the fact that Rain's benevolent nature made him popular with people, especially girls. Even Zin got a lot of attention from people. Rain was too noble to really get involved with anyone. Saito however, was usually overlooked. This added more to Saito's resentment of his brothers. So all Saito usually did was spend long hours training. That propelled him up the ranks quickly, but still, he couldn't match up to the people's fascination of Zin and Rain's powers of the Kekki-Genkai. The people really loved them, but not him. Saito was always left to himself, his bitterness turning him more and more into a malicious being. "I've seen that look before" said Zaku bringing him back to reality. Don't tell me, he stole your girlfriend or something?" "I've seen enough!" growled Saito. He leaped off in rage. Zaku took a moment to observe Kin and Rain longer.
"What are you going to do Rain? You are completely well. I mean, I guess this means we are going to be enemies again" said Kin sadly.
"We have to do what we have to Kin. Tomorrow, I'm going to start my mission again. I have to do my duty and so do you. Kin, if you and I meet in battle…"
"I don't want to! You're the first cool guy I've ever met!" said Kin defiantly.
"Oh, I'm sure that's not true" chuckled Rain. "By the way, I have something for you. You know, to thank you for taking care of me these last few days. Rain took out two things. One was a beautiful ribbon that was embroidered with doves. The other one was what appeared to be a paper rose. "My mom used to make clothing and ribbons. We used to be one of the better off families in my village until we lost our shop and first home in a bad flood. This was the last gift she gave me before…she did that terrible thing. Oh, and I made this rose for you out of the extra pages in my notebook and colored it with the plants around here." Kin blushed as she accepted the gifts. "Th...Thank you. I'm not used to getting gifts from people." There was a long period of silence as Kin and Rain looked into each others eyes. Neither knew what to believe or do. They have only known each other for a few days, but there was no doubt something was there. And both wished in their hearts that they could spend more time with each other. "I guess I better be going then" said Rain softly. He prepared to run off, when Kin fiercely held onto his hand and wouldn't let go. Rain looked back, but her head was down, her eyes hidden by her bangs. "Kin don't make this harder then it has to be. Come on, it will be okay. Just do your duty if and when that time comes. You can't act like this on missions or in war. You just won't get nice guys like me all the time" said Rain with a grin, obliviously moved by his own flattery. Kin simply yanked Rain near her and he fell back into her arms. She embraced him and kissed him. It took a moment for Rain to recover from the shock afterward. It took Zaku even longer to get over the shock. "And she wouldn't even dance with me at the village's summer picnic last year!" he said in disappointment. He forced himself to look back. Kin slapped Rain hard and ran away crying. Rain stood there for a moment longer and he too ran off in the opposite direction, no doubt to prepare himself for his mission. "Well, I better report this to the Big Guy" said Zaku as he stretched. "No need to tell me anything" said a familiar voice behind him. Zaku was so surprised; he nearly fell out of the tree. "I hate it when you do that!" complained Zaku. "Well what do you think, Lord Orochimaru?" "I think this is absolutely delicious" he said with an evil smirk. And look, we made a new friend" announced Orochimaru as he motioned behind him. Saito came out wearing the same sour look. "Let's do this" he said lowly.
