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I DO NOT own Naruto!
Hours had passed since the match between Tegan and Naruto was thrown making Naruto the automatic winner of the match. Sasuke had finally reappeared within the village and his match against Gaara had begun. The two Akatsuki members were running out of time before Orochimaru's plan would take effect and they would come back to retrieve Tegan if they had her. Luckily it didn't take long for them to figure out where to find his hideout. There were only so many places a snake liked to hide, after all. Deep inside a cave would be one of them. Besides conducting their own secret mission the two older ninja had been keeping tabs on Orochimaru's movements as well over the past month of being in the village. Obviously not as well as they should have been.
Ninja of the Sound, Sand and Leaf were swarming in the forests outside the village all prepared for an attack. The two Akatsuki members had to make sure their movements were undetected. This wasn't their fight and they didn't want to get caught in the middle.
Finally they reached the spot they were looking for. Muffled sobs were echoing from deep within. The two entered carefully prepared for any traps or if they had left a guard for an attack.
Inside Tegan was completely broken as she lay on the metal table. Since the moment Orochimaru and Kabuto left her in that dark cave her mind took over. She was in a dreamlike state unable to pull herself out of the torture her mind was inflicting upon her. All the faces of those disgusting men of the village, their rough hands exploring her body. The pain she felt. Their disgusting hot bodies crushing her as they sweated and grunted like pigs. Their laughs when it was over and Tegan was crumbled up on the floor. From these visions she could hear the footsteps echoing inside the cave and she feared what would happen next. She began to shriek in terror still unable to see.
"Release!" Itachi quickly pressed his two fingers overtop of the chakra strings wrapped tightly around her. Tegan was thrashing against the table.
Kisame gritted his teeth in disgust as he took in the state the girl was in. Her leotard torn to pieces so only a small strip of cloth covered her chest, her already short shorts had holes ripped in them. Cuts and bruises covered her body. He had seen her take these fits before in the village. These fits are what made Zabuza start to go soft on her. It was like she was under genjutsu, only able to see and feel the pain of what has happened to her. These fits were hard to watch for anyone, even for the deadest of hearts. Zabuza used to bring her back to the seven swordsmen's hideout during these fits, but not even he or Haku could talk her out of them. They just had to let it run its course, eventually she would become so weak that she would cry herself into unconsciousness.
Once freed Tegan sprang up and in a flash was huddled into the shadows of the cave. "Stop! Please! Don't hurt me!" She screamed, her knees folded up to her chest, her hands gripping chunks of her silver hair. Her nails dug into her skull.
Itachi stepped forward slowly, one hand outstretched in peace. The way she cowered in fear reminded him of when Sasuke was younger and when he woke up crying and screaming due to a nightmare. Itachi had always been there to talk him down. "Tegan…"He said softly. "It's alright…You're okay…"
"She can't see you, Itachi." Kisame grunted, crossing his arms over his chest. "She can't see either of us." She was shaking so hard it was like convulsions racking her body. "All she can see is those men hurting her. Whatever Orochimaru and his underling was doing to her triggered it."
Itachi looked up at his partner in disgust. "What do we do?"
Kisame shrugged. "There is nothing we can do. She will wear herself out eventually."
Suddenly from the cave wall besides Kisame, Zetsu appeared his head popping out of the stone. Kisame cursed to himself. He hated that ability about Zetsu. He looked up at Kisame leaned back against the wall. "Leader- sama wants to know what is taking so long. You need to report back to him."
Kisame looked at Zetsu annoyed. "We can't leave yet. The girl won't go with us."
"What do you mean the brat won't go?" Black Zetsu demanded.
Kisame jerked his head to the corner of the cave where Tegan was huddles rocking back and forth and shrieking in fear, seeing invisible men attacking her. Itachi stood over her protectively still trying to figure out a way to calm her down. "She won't let us touch her and she won't move. We have to wait unless you want us to leave her."
"Hmm..." White Zetsu hummed. Black Zetsu grunted and suddenly they disappeared.
Itachi took a knee. "Tegan, we must go. Orochimaru could be back at any minute."
She shook her head violently. "Stop! It hurts!"
"No one is touching you..."
"We are running out of time, Itachi," Kisame said, pushing himself off the cave wall. Outside in the forest there was the clanging of weapons. Orochimaru's plan was in effect. The Sand and Sound were attacking the Leaf.
Itachi sighed, nodding in agreement quickly he pulled his Akatsuki cloak off his shoulders and draped it over Tegan's bare body. She screamed. Itachi grabbed her shoulder quickly as she reached her arm back to hit him. He strike the pressure point in her neck and before long her screams subsided and her body slumped over. The dark haired man scooped Tegan up and the two quickly made their escape. Outside it was like hell had broken loose. Kunai flew in the air in all directions. With all the commotion it was easy for the two skilled ninja to escape.
Only once they were miles outside of the village did they slow down. Tegan was becoming restless in Itachi's arms. A strike like that would have anyone else knocked out cold for the rest of the day but Tegan's mind still tormented her in her sleep causing her to fight it.
"Is the mission salvageable?" Kisame asked his partner as they jumped out of the trees. They were far enough away now that ground travel was now safe. "We will be back here in a few months to finish the job if we don't finish it now."
"No…" Itachi mused. "It would be too difficult to complete now."
Again Kisame cursed when from a nearby tree Zetsu's strange head appeared. "Tobi is on his way!" White Zetsu chirped cheerfully.
"Tobi?" Kisame gawked but it was too late Zetsu had already disappeared.
Just as he did Tegan woke up in Itachi's arm with a blood curdling scream that made birds in the trees take flight. Itachi was unable to control her when she started thrashing wildly so he let go, the young girl retreated into the shadows of the trees. Her blue eyes weren't sparkling anymore. They were blank. Empty.
Kisame grunted in disgust and Itachi sighed. At least now they had time for this. Pain would be waiting for them when they arrived back to the hideout. Though they would be returning with the scrolls they were sent out to get, as well as intel on the one and nine tailed beasts. They didn't return with one. Pain wasn't going to take that fact lightly.
Moments later Tobi appeared seemingly out of thin air. By his demeanor and the way he walked both Kisame and Itachi knew it wasn't Tobi. It was Madara. Itachi moved out of the way slightly and Madara brushed past him without a word. He paused for a minute to examine the fit Tegan was throwing. Slowly he bent down to a knee and reached out to touch Tegan's hand that was digging into her skull. Drawing blood from her scalp.
"Tegan, stop, you will hurt yourself," he said sternly, pulling her hand away from her hair. Blood stained her fingers and started to trickle into her light colored hair. She wailed and fought him. Swatting blindly. Her breathing was ragged from underneath Itachi's cloak each breath exposed her ribs and her spine. Each of those tiny cuts that flawed her skin were red and angry. She would catch an infection out here soon. They needed to get her treated immediately. Madara cursed Orochimaru for flawing his little pet.
Madara grasped both of her wrists tightly in his hands. "Tegan!" He shouted so loud the ground beneath them shook slightly. With tear filled eyes she looked up at him in shock. But she still wasn't seeing straight. With her attention he slowly continued. "Tegan, who am I?"
She stared at him blankly. Then after a moment she shrieked again and shook her head wildly. His hand darted out and grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him. "Who am I?" He asked more forcefully this time.
She wailed and shivered, pitiful squeaks escaping her lips. "M-Madara...Madara Uchiha."
"That's right, little one," he said softer. He observed her carefully. Her eyes were distant seeing things that had once been there but were there no more. She wasn't seeing him. But he had got her attention. He just needed to pull her all the way through. "Would I ever hurt you?"
"I-I-I don't know! It hurts so badly now!" She cried.
Madara shook his head and said sternly. "No. I wouldn't. I, Madara Uchiha, have never hurt you, little one. I protect you. You are only safe with me."
Her crying and ragged breathing stopped for a moment as that sunk in but then continued she was unable to control it. He tried again. "Now. Who am I?"
"Madara...Uchiha..." She said slower.
"Would I hurt you, Tegan?"
"N-no...but that man...he t-t-touched me he-"
"Orochimaru and Kabuto will never lay a hand on you again, Tegan. I swear to that. No man will ever lay his hands on you again." He reached out to ruffle her hair lightly. She flinched under his touch but he continued to stroke her hair until she relaxed slightly. "Now...come with me, little one, it's your Leader's orders."
Her vision was still blurry but vaguely she could start to see Tobi's Orange mask. She hoped what she was seeing was real. She needed Tobi now. Another squeak escaped her lips. "I-I'm scared."
"Don't be, my pet. I'm here now. I will not let anything happen to you." He reached his arms out to her. "But you do not want to disobey your Leader's orders. Now come."
Kisame was in shock when he watched Tegan scoot slowly out of the shadows. Timidly she reached up and wrapped her thin arms up around Madara's neck, hiding her face into the nape. He wrapped his arms around her shaking body and easily lifted her up out of the shadows of the tree like a toddler. "Good girl. Tegan is a good girl." He was chanting softly as Madara and as Tobi into her ear and hair as he stood and turned to Itachi and Kisame. The way he handled her with such care was surprising to both of them.
"As her old master, Kisame, I expected you to handle this situation better."
Kisame stiffened. He knew that sooner or later they would start making him take responsibility for the girl. Even though she was really Madara's pet not his. "I handled it the way I always have."
"Hm," Madara grunted then he swiftly walked past them disappearing into the woods, all the while whispering "Tegan is a good girl." To the shaking girl in his arms.
"I-I'm sorry..." She whimpered shaking all over trying to muffle sobs.
Madara smiled softly under his mask. Over the past few months Tegan had seen Tobi as a big brother to her because of how silly and protective he was. But he knew that when he spoke to her as himself that, that's when she felt the most safe. Like the father she never had. He knew the little brilliant ballerina was loyal to him. That his voice sent tremors down her spine that she craved. No one else in this world could do what he did. Everyone else she merely saw as brothers or uncles. She needed him. She craved him. She needed his voice, touch and approval. She was loyal to him.
"It's okay, Tegan, you didn't fail. You're a good girl. Leader-sama will be proud of you." Madara said quietly. In the back of his mind he knew this wouldn't go over well with Pain. It didn't please himself, either that they were unable to exceed the Leaders expectations like they had wanted. Though she was young and Itachi and Kisame were able to intervene in the matter before it got out of control, Tegan's mission was still a failure. This matter could not go over unpunished no matter how young she was or that this was her first real mission.
Pain showed no mercy once back at the hideout. They were all waiting for the four members return. Pain stood in front of the others waiting for the girl, he was going to make an example out of her. Behind them the others stood around anxiously, they had all heard about what had happened as well as the young girl's mental break. The idea of it made them all uncomfortable.
Deidara shifted nervously from foot to foot waiting for their return. If he tried to defend her, he knew he would be killed. But he couldn't stand by and watch Pain kill her. That brat was his kid sister now.
By the time the four ninja arrived to the hide out. Tegan was awake. Madara had set her down on her feet and she returned Itachi's cloak back to him. She began shaking in fear when the large rock at the opening of the cave rolled open. The cool air of the cave even felt like the anger Pain was radiating. The three older shinobi entered before the young broken girl. The cave was dark and cold when the young half nude girl came to stand in front of the Akatsuki. For some reason they all seemed so much bigger and darker than before. It made her feel so small and insignificant. Leader-sama's eyes bore into her like a drill.
Tegan tried to fight the trembling that shook her whole body. When she came to stand infront of Leader-sama, she instantly got to her knees, her head hung low. "Leader-sama- I-"
"Silence." He boomed so loud the room shook. Deidara swallowed hard.
She bent her head down lower trying to take deep calming breaths.
Pain walked forward to stand just inches in front of front of her. His steps were heavy and she could feel his gaze burning into the back of her head. He began to pace back and forth in front of her. "I choose to take you in..." He said slowly. "You promised me you were not worthless. So I choose to take in some filthy sex slave orphan in hope that she would carry out simple missions such as this one. You proved me wrong. A simple intelligence mission and you failed."
Her heart hurt. His words were cutting her deep. She balled up her fists trying to stay strong.
"Almighty push!" He shouted suddenly and Tegan was picked up the stone floor. She was like a rag doll and thrown across the cave. Her back hit the stone wall so hard that it caved in causing shards of rock to fall on top of her head and cut her face. She tried not to make a sound. "I do not like looking like a fool! Therefore I do not accept failure!" He continued to shout. With wide eyes she looked up at him. "Universal pull!"
She flew forward again and skidded to a halt on her bare knees in front of Pain. Blood started to trickle down her legs and from cuts on her head and face. Pain bent down and grabbed a handful of Tegan's curly hair and jerked it up forcing her to look up at him. "I protected you from those men. I took you in, clothed you, feed you, sheltered you, and trained you. All you did was show me that you really are nothing but someone's toy. There is a high price over your head. What is it to me not to sell you to the highest bidder?"
Members of the Akatsuki went stiff the tension almost unbearable.
Memories started to flood her brain no matter how hard she tried to shut them down. She looked into Pain's strange Rinnegan eyes in panic. "P-p-please, L-leader-sama! I-I-"
His hand came down so hard across her cheek, her weak body fell over onto her side. She tried not to scream, she tried not to make a single sound. But she was unsuccessful. A small whimper escaped her lips.
"Why bother selling you? When I could just sell you instead?"
Deidara balled up his fists trying to figure out what to do.
Kisame growled to himself. Damnit this kid was more than he bargained for. He had tried to kill her just months ago. Killing her would be doing her a favor. But now wasn't the time for her to die. She failed this time but this would be her last. Kisame took a step forward. "No. Don't kill her. Punish her."
Pretending to be Tobi, Madara crossed his arms over his chest and he raised an eyebrow underneath the mask in surprise. He never would have thought Kisame would fight to save Tegan's life. He was always kicking himself over having a soft spot for her, Madara found it hard to believe he cared about what happened to her now. Everyone in the room looked nervously between Pain and Kisame.
Deidara looked at Tegan for a quick moment, she was pushing herself back up onto her knees. Kisame might be able to protect her now but he couldn't and he knew that. He had to hope she would be saved now.
"Who are you to give me orders?" Pain growled darkly at the tail-less beast.
Kisame stiffened slightly. "It would be a waste to kill her. Punish her. Up her training until she is unstoppable. As a child in the village the only way she learned was through punishment. She would annoy one of the seven swordsmen and they would teach her a lesson. That is why she is as strong as she is today."
The room went silent. Tegan was on her knees once again in front of their giant leader. Her head bent so low that it rested against the cold ground. The tremors were visible even from Madara's distance.
Pain growled again lifting his hand. His jutsu threw the girl once again across the cave to the stone wall. Her head snapping back making contact with the wall, rendering her unconscious by the time she hit the ground. "Get her cleaned up."
I DO NOT own Naruto
Dun, dun, dun! So Tegan was always supposed to fail her first mission because even as an ANBU she's still young and learning. But she will defiantly learn her lesson and play a big part later on ;)
Please read and review! Let me know whatcha think reviews keep me motivated :)
