Author's Notes: Surprise! Chapter 8 was the last chapter, but there is an epilogue! Haha, fooled you, huh? I was lying secretly in wait to post this and FOOL ALL OF YOU! MUWAHAHAHAHAHA! -ahem- :-D But really this chapter will end it, and it's very short. There won't be a sequel! Sorry! :D And thank you to the people who have read this, even though there's a HORRIBLE, DREADFUL OC! Oh my goodness! OC's are wicked. -rolls eyes- Yeah, anyway, thank you all. ^^ It'd be really nice if you just reviewed, like... with the number 123, just so I know you liked it. But I guess you even reading it is good enough.

On a side-tangent, this fanfiction annoys me so much because it makes me call Orochimaru and Kabuto "Orochimaru-sama" and "Kabuto-sama" (and I hate them both), so . . . bleh :'( Now in real life, I'm starting to call them that, too! Ugh! And I'd rather call Sasuke-san "Sasuke-kun," but . . . nope, this fan-fiction thinks otherwise. Oh well. This chapter does end that little drift (I might have slipped up in a few places and put the "-sama" in, but . . . hopefully not.) I really have enjoyed writing this fic, by the way, despite my complaints.. :-P My split-personality doesn't. :-/ Sorry, enough rambling. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Kishimoto's characters, but I do own my original character Akiko and this specific plot.

Japanese Words:
-Kun: An informal title, usually given to a male child
-Chan: An informal title, usually given to a female child
-Sama: A title given to a person with much higher rank than oneself
Nii-san: A title commonly given to an older brother.
Hebi: Serpent.


The Candle Light

Epilogue

Orochimaru and Kabuto stood at the entrance of Otogakure as they waited for me. I was not afraid of them. I could handle Kabuto, and Orochimaru wouldn't be a problem because he needed me. Neither would be able to kill me just yet. And Akiko would be free, at last.

"Sasuke-kun," Kabuto began, "where is Akiko?"

I ignored him completely and shoved past both of them to make my way back into Otogakure.

"Sasuke-kun." This time Orochimaru spoke the words, and I knew I had to listen so I paused in my steps. "What were you doing out there?" he continued. "Someone could find this base if they saw you."

"I was training," I lied. I knew Orochimaru would never believe me, but I wouldn't submit to his commands. Telling the truth would make me appear a fool or a coward. Lies, whether they were believed or not, would only strengthen me in the eyes of others.

Orochimaru chuckled. "You know that's not true."

"I was training," I repeated and continued walking away, back to my room.

Orochimaru's hand stopped me as he placed it on my shoulder. As I looked back, I saw the purple scales begin to unfold from under his sleeve.

But I was quicker this time. I jumped back from his hold and dodged the snake's lunge toward my skin. "I don't fall for the same trick twice, Orochimaru. Remember that."

The snake was still slithering forward, ready to pounce and sink its fangs into me. I saw hunger radiating in its black eyes.

"Chidori!" I said as I allowed the blue lightning to flow outwards and kill the snake in a single shot. I was growing stronger each day, now able to control the shape of the Chakra I released.

One day soon I would be able to surpass even Orochimaru. After him, I would defeat my brother, as well.

Orochimaru laughed again, not even missing his precious pet after it was gone. "Very good work there, Sasuke-kun. But you will tell Kabuto where Akiko-chan is."

I admitted defeat, for there was no way they would let me off without hearing the truth—or at least, the closest to the truth I would give. "I was training on my own, and I saw her leave. That's all I know. She's probably far away by now."

"Oh, is that it? She was such a lovely little girl, too," Orochimaru said, his voice full of anything but sorrow. "I'm going to miss her."

Kabuto adjusted his glasses and slid them farther up his nose. "Perhaps, she was right to escape because I would have given her back to Orochimaru-sama. He still hasn't found an eight-year-old to complete his data yet, and she was getting rebellious."

"You're right, Kabuto. She escaped at just the right time. Sasuke knew she had little time left. I wonder how she knew I would kill her soon . . ." Orochimaru agreed, his eyes glancing pointedly at my own, and then he beckoned to me, a tint of comprehension deep within his snake-like eyes. "Come with me, Sasuke-kun."

As soon as we were away from Kabuto, Orochimaru turned and examined me fully. "You don't look tired from your 'training,'" he commented. "You're not even sweating a little."

I smirked. "Maybe it's because the Jutsu you've taught me is too easy."

"Still, maybe you should go rest anyway," Orochimaru said as warning entered the tone of his voice. A punishment—that's all it was. "I'll teach you something new when you act better behaved."

I turned away and began strolling back to my room. Who cared if Orochimaru knew where Akiko had gone? He would only waste his time searching for someone who could be easily replaced, and he knew that. Orochimaru would never look for Akiko, and I was satisfied that my attempts to free her had succeeded.

As I strolled down the hallways of Otogakure, noticing the empty light of the candles, I realized all I had learned paying attention to that girl. She had shown me Suigetsu Hozuki, a former trainee of the Seven Swordsmen. And because of him, I had met Karin, one who had an uncanny ability to sense Chakra. Then at the very end, Akiko had been drawn to the chamber in which Suigetsu Hozuki would fight Juugo. Juugo of Tenpim, the origin of the cursed seal.

Truthfully I plotted to kill Orochimaru one day and destroy one of the only threats that still lingered in this world. One day. Afterwards I would find my brother, Uchiha Itachi, who was not worthy of the name of "nii-san" anymore. I would kill him, too.

But avenging my clan would not be the easiest task. There would be diversions, detours, along the way, and I hated to admit that I would need help. I alone would kill Uchiha Itachi, but a team would prevent any interruptions.

I would call that team "Hebi" after I killed Orochimaru. And it would consist of three others, not including myself.

Suigetsu Hozuki, the second-coming of "Zabuza the demon."

Karin, a skilled ninja who was handpicked to help run things by Orochimaru himself.

And Juugo of Tenpim, the very origin of the formidable cursed seal itself.

They would all be seen as Hebi.

Akiko had led me straight to them, had helped me with my plan without even knowing it. And so I had decided to help her escape as a small token of my unknown gratitude.

But the road to Konohagakure was long and dangerous. Neutral territory, she would travel on. Ninja from other villages could murder her at any moment. She was only eight. If I had had a choice, I would have followed her all the way through the forest to make sure she would make it safely. But I had no choice, for Konoha would seize me and forbid me from ever returning to Otogakure.

On the other hand . . . Knowing Akiko, I foresaw that all would be well. She was stronger than most children, and she knew how to survive in tight places. She would arrive at Konoha, and they would take her in being the sympathetic Shinobi they were. Akiko would live a happy life, rather than that of a slave.

And if she never made it to Konoha—though I knew for sure she would—she would be free to wander heaven in peace.

I had been lying when I said that she was too young to live in Otogakure, but she would never have longed for freedom if I hadn't told her the lie.

Akiko was far more than old enough to live in Otogakure.

She was old enough to live in hell.

But she did not deserve it.

-Splasher-