Not planning on giving up on this story. Really, I'd like to finish it. Reviews would be greatly appreciated. Perhaps if I go a few more, updates would be a bit more frequent than weekly.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto Shippuden or the words I used to display characters in some parts in this chapter and some past ones. I only own Yuki-Cade!

Yuki traveled through the next day and part of the day after that with no sign of the group she knew had to be traveling not too far away. She made sure she and Ito were out of sight, earshot, and chakra sense. On the third day, she reached Tenchi Bridge an hour before noon. Yuki had pulled ahead of Naruto and the others by waking up earlier this morning.

"No sign of whoever they plan on meeting here," Ito commented.

"It's fine," Yuki replied, "they'll take care of it when they pass by this way. It's none of our concern at this moment."

With that, they crossed the bridge in silence. Ito flew to Yuki's shoulder as they walked. Suddenly, his feathers ruffled up.

"What's wrong?" Yuki asked looking at him. "What are you thinking about?"

His golden eyes flicked over to her as his feathers resettled slowly. "Wondering what Orochimaru will think of your mission so far. That one night, not too long ago, you were quite troubled when I returned."

Yuki forced her arms not to curl around her stomach. "I was just worried that he's spying on me."

They finished across the bridge and took to the trees again. Ito left her shoulder to fly close by. He was troubled by his young master. He wished he could do a bit more than carry information back and forth between her and the one who was planning on destroying everything that brought humanity back to Yuki.

"Perhaps it would've been best if I hadn't pretended to have emotions that first day. It seemed to open an entire dam of what I could've felt my entire life if it hadn't been for Orochimaru," Yuki said mostly to herself.

Ito waited to hear more, but Yuki sunk into silence.

Yuki calmed herself and went to the state of mind that had developed from long training hours with Orochimaru. It was where there was only the mission and what she felt mattered nothing. These new feelings of friendship had to shrink and, ultimately, disappear.

The sun was just rising when she finally found the hideout, which looked more like a pile of rocks, the next day. As she neared it slowly, a part of the pile sunk and an entrance appeared. Once she was inside, it closed up behind her leaving her in the thick darkness. Yuki wondered through with Ito once again on her shoulder. He shook ever so slightly. Yuki knew he wasn't as comfortable with Orochimaru as she usually was having grown up under him. He was always a bit nervous to be near him. It was understandable. She would feel the same in front of his presence for the first time. Silently, she ran her hand over his feathered back and his shivers slowed even more so that she could barely feel them.

Yuki entered a hallway that had torches along the wall, giving off a creepy glow, but she had to be glad for the slim amount of light. She followed it until she was let out into a dimly lit chamber with a large snake statue that unnerved her. A figure sat on top of it.

"Long time no see," she said stiffly not looking at the shadowed space. She knew if she did that red glowing eyes would catch her.

"I had heard Orochimaru had sent for you," he replied quietly.

Yuki tensed feeling the burning gaze on the side of her head. A smirk formed on her lips, the feeling overcoming her slight fear. "Care to show me around, Sasuke?"

"No," he replied back unemotionally.

She shrugged and took a silent deep breath, she was frightened of him but she was determined not to show it on her face. Yuki turned to look at him, her eyes looked on his chin.

"Where's Orochimaru?" she asked feeling more like her old self. This was more like the encounters that she had had with him.

"Hn," he huffed, his eyes narrowing at her as usual. "He and Kabuto went out not too long ago," he said finally. "My guess is that they'll be back before sundown."

Yuki frowned thinking it had to do something with Naruto's mission.

"Say Sasuke," Yuki started off unsurely, "I never heard you talk about the village you grew up in. What was it like?"

"Full of weak fools that held me back from attaining my true power. Nothing else," he snapped his face not showing the emotion that was hid away in his words.

"No friends?" Yuki pressed on.

"No," he shot back with only a small hint of hesitation Yuki guessed was there.

Yuki nodded and turned away to leave the gloomy room. "There's more power when there's no bonds… That's what you've always said," she spoke to herself. The Uchiha's Sharingan followed her out.

Yuki strolled back towards the entrance she had come in through. This time she took her time, really rolling her thoughts around in her head. As she reached the rock wall, it melted down once more. Yuki peered out into the distance to see three figures approaching the hideout.

"It's Orochimaru and Kabuto," Ito said from her shoulder using his good eyesight.

"Who's the third?" Yuki questioned.

"That dark haired boy from Naruto's squad," Ito replied.

Yuki frowned at this. If she had been swamped by her thoughts before, this surely threw her for a loop. Had the boy betrayed them? She didn't know him well enough to make any good assumptions yet.

"Whether or not he's switching sides, I think it's wise to change my appearance," Yuki murmured to Ito as the trio grew ever nearer.

Ito nodded in agreement and flew from her shoulder to a nearby torch that he blew out with a flap of his wings before landing. Yuki made a hand sign and channeled chakra throughout her body. Her hair grew longer, down to her waist, and turned flaming red and slightly curled. Her entire body grew several inches and her outfit changed to something tight fitting and red and black with black boots. Freckles dotted over the bridge of her nose and her lips turned a shade darker. She winced as the bones in her face shifted to give her a more advanced disguise. Her eyes opened to reveal emerald green ones in place of her normal ice blue color.

"He's never seen me before, but let's not chance a second meeting back in the village," Yuki said her voice also a tone different.

"Perhaps I should go?" Ito suggested.

"I'll call you if I need you," Yuki said not breaking eye contact with the closing in figures. By now, she could make out the dark haired boy on her own without Ito. The bird flew off silently as Yuki closed the wall of the hideout and backed away into the shadows.

As soon as she had gotten clear when dust was thrown into the air and the wall reopened, shaking the ground with its movement.

"Shall we then?" Orochimaru said with his smooth voice as he glanced over at Kabuto.

"Yes sir," he said with a nod.

Orochimaru lead the way in. As they traveled down the dark tunnel, his eyes traveled over and immediately found Yuki's. He stopped making Kabuto and the dark haired boy halt behind him. Kabuto found Yuki just like Orochimaru. He smirked at her.

"Come out, my dear," Orochimaru hissed sending shivers down her back. Yuki did as she was told. The Sanin grabbed her by the chin and tilted her face to the side to get a better look at her. "It's nice to see you again." Releasing her, he turned to the boy. "Sai, this is one of my students…" He looked at Yuki expectantly.

"Sari," she said quickly as she bowed her head to the boy, Sai, as he simply studied her with his cool dark eyes. His skin was unnaturally pale, she observed.

"It's really been too long," he continued snidely, looking at her out of the corner of his snake eyes as he continued walking down the hallway, "Sari."

Yuki frowned and got in step behind Kabuto and Sai. Kabuto glanced back at her before joining her. She found that his cruel smile had once again returned to his face. Her eyes narrowed at him, but she didn't make a move away from him.

"Identity problems?" he questioned out of the corner of his mouth. They dropped further back ever so slightly so they wouldn't be overheard.

Yuki scowled up at him. "I'm not taking any avoidable risks. I don't know how that Sai kid came with you guys, or what happened back at Tenchi Bridge, but I'm not placing bets on what side he's on yet."

"Lord Orochimaru should be pleased at how seriously you're taking this mission," he commented.

"Why shouldn't I be trying my best?" Yuki shot back, her voice barely reaching a whisper.

Kabuto shrugged. "Well, it's nothing to me, but…Lord Orochimaru has his doubts."

"He treats this mission like it's different from the others," Yuki replied stopping to face Kabuto who mirrored her with an eyebrow raised.

"It is."

Yuki sniffed indifferently and they caught up to Orochimaru and Sai, their conversation over. Yuki realized as they walked further into the hideout that they were taking the same path she had hours ago. They passed the multiple pillars that held the ceiling of the hallway from caving in and approached the large snake statue. Sasuke had moved to sit on the edge of the second level, his arms on his knees. They came to a halt, Yuki behind Orochimaru. Sasuke's Sharingan eyes opened to study the newcomers.

"You're late," he snarled at Orochimaru. "Am I mistaken or weren't you supposed to be here to help me on a new jutsu this afternoon, Orochimaru?"

"There's that insolent tone again," Kabuto remarked frowning at Sasuke.

"Try not to be too upset," Orochimaru interjected before Kabuto could complain much more about the Uchiha. "I thought we'd do something different today so I brought along a little present for you." His eyes shifted to Sai. "He's a Leaf shinobi, just like you. I thought you two might like to get together and reminisce. Swap stories of home."

Yuki could see Sasuke's intense stare directed at Sai who stood with all emotion wiped from his face.

Sasuke laughed once without humor.

Sai's face broke into a fake smile. "So I presume you're Sasuke Uchiha. My name is Sai and-"

"Get lost," Sasuke interrupted, his voice threatening death upon any who crossed him. Orochimaru and Kabuto looked at Said to see what he would do next.

"It seems I'm the sort of person that people don't like right away even if I wear a smile. Naruto took an instant disliking towards me as well." He paused. "However, I have a funny feeling that you and I will get along better than with him."

Suddenly, Sai gasped and stumbled backwards only to fall. Yuki stared between the fallen boy and Sasuke whose eyes had narrowed.

"Sasuke!"Kabuto shouted.

Sai wiped beads of sweat from his face. A strange expression that looked like confusion crossed his face, but only if one squinted.

Orochimaru turned to Sai. "It's probably not a good idea to provoke Sasuke too much. He's even more difficult than I am," he informed pleasantly.

"I don't care about this guy," Sasuke growled getting to his feet. "Come on, Orochimaru. Let's go."

"I've heard a lot about you," Sai pressed as her, too, got to his feet, "from Naruto. It seems he's been searching for you all this time. For three years now."

"I remember someone like that," Sasuke said dismissively. "Let's go, Orochimaru."

"You mean a great deal to Naruto," Sai continued even though Sasuke had made it clear the conversation was over multiple times. "He thinks of you as a brother. At least, that's what Sakura told me." Yuki's eyebrows rose at his bravery, if you could call it that.

Sasuke turned back to face them. "As far as brothers go, I have only one. The one I must kill."

Yuki winced. This was a topic she had learned early on not to bring up around Sasuke. The way this conversation had turned…if she hadn't known Sasuke, even only the bit that she did, she would fear for this Sai boy's life. Apparently bored with talking, Sasuke disappeared in swirling smoke.

"We'll be leaving you now as well," Orochimaru said to Kabuto, glancing at me. He brought an envelope out and handed it to Kabuto. "Here, take this, Kabuto. I want a Bingo book made out of its contents."

"Right," Kabuto said with a nod, taking the envelope.

"I'll leave everything up to you." With that, Orochimaru lead her away with Kabuto flipping through the envelope's contents behind them. When they were well enough away from Kabuto and Sai, Yuki decided to speak.

"May I report, Lord Orochimaru?" When he nodded, she continued, repeating everything she had heard during her journey to his hideout and anything else she had found out after her last report sent with Ito. Orochimaru nodded as she quoted everything.

"Very good, Yuki, you are performing quite well recently."

"Please, my lord, I don't know how much you trust this Sai, but for all I know, he's a double agent. Use my alias, Sari."

"Your plan for a disguise and false identity was very well thought out once you identified a Leaf shinobi. Well done," Orochimaru said.

Yuki bowed her head. "Thank you, Lord Orochimaru."

Yuki took this time with Orochimaru to ask any questions she had about the Leaf Village, anyone in it, and Naruto. Silence fell over them once her questions were answered and Orochimaru lead her into a spacious room that seemed to be used for training. Torches lined the walls, throwing off enough light to see.

"The information you have gathered was good to tell me in person, the first time we've seen each other. However…"

Yuki turned to face him when he faded off only to have her vision filled with a pale hand shooting out and slamming across her face. The force threw her all the way across the room, leaving a trail of dust in her wake. Shocked, she quickly got to her feet to lock her eyes with the calm ones of a snake, calm a cold.

"However," he repeated slowly approaching her, "this bond making business does not seem to have anything to do with your mission. You are only creating obstacles and weaknesses for yourself. Weaknesses that can be used to their advantage and also to mine."

"Lord Orochimaru, I-"

"And now, my dear," he said as though she hadn't said anything, "you are being punished."

Yuki only had a moment to open her mouth in confusion when Orochimaru vanished and another hand swiped across her face. She only stumbled back this time, but it felt as though long daggers were attached to the end of his hand. When she opened her eyes again, Yuki found that his pointed claws had her blood dripping from them. Lifting her hand, she gently felt four long gashes along her left cheek.

"I'm tired, Yuki," Orochimaru drawled, lazily cleaning his hand. "I had a much more challenging fight with the Ninetails boy and I don't intend to waste my time with you." He glanced at the hand, inspecting for anything dirty remaining. "I don't think I need to make myself much clearer."

Yuki glanced at her feet. "No, my lord."

"Perhaps this mission might finally be nearing its end." His eyes snapped to her. "Don't think I'm done with figuring out what to do with you. You are dismissed," he said flapping a hand that made her flinch. "Maybe I will see you soon."

Yuki made a hand sign and she disappeared to the entrance of the hideout. As she appeared, a large explosion almost knocked her off her feet. Her eyes watered as she reclaimed her balance. Yuki wiped at them feebly, sniffing deeply through her nose. Whatever was going on within the base, it wasn't her responsibility. Orochimaru had dismissed her and now it wasn't her job to back him up with whatever was happening.

"Ito," she whispered, "we're leaving."

Within seconds, the bird was on her shoulders.

"Something's wrong," he surveyed, preening her hair, an act of affection he displayed rarely.

Yuki turned her head away and began to run. If birds had the ability to frown, Ito would have. He allowed the wind to catch his wings and carry him in flight above Yuki. He knew she would explain when she wanted to. There's was no point in pressing her now.

After traveling a few hours and passing a river, they reached the woods. They didn't slow as Ito had predicted. The hours continued passing by and Yuki still wouldn't talk. The smell of blood followed her as he flew slightly behind her. She hadn't done anything to her injured cheek. As the thick silence continued to wrap around and suffocate them, he grew worried. They kept up the same pace throughout the night and into the morning. He knew Yuki was strong, but by the time the sun was rising, she was sweating hard and breathing in pants. By early afternoon, he landed on her shoulder. It was as if he had opened up the dam keeping exhaustion at bay. With a moan, Yuki sank to her knees on the branch of the tree they had stopped on.

"Rest," Ito ordered simply.

Once he had seen that she had settled down, Ito perched on a smaller branch above her and closed his eyes. Yuki slept on and off throughout the rest of the day and into the night. Each time she would wake, her eyes would fly open and she would be gasping. Ito pretended not to notice because she insisted on being silent about her troubles. For a few hours that night she did not sleep, but her eyes remained closed, a sign that she still refused to talk.

Finally, an hour before midnight, she stood, not looking any more rested. She gave Ito the signal to head out.

This continued the rest of the way back to the Leaf Village. Yuki would push herself all day at her top speeds until Ito convinced her to rest a bit. These rests would only last a few hours where she would sleep, but not rest. Each time she would wake with a cry and flip over the branch, something she had never done before. Ito always warned her just in time to turn over and land on all fours.

A day before they reached the Leaf, their pace slowed. Ito noticed this as Yuki saying she they would continue until they were home. They were making record time, but Yuki looked terrible. Half of her face was covered in dry blood and her cuts didn't look too good. Shadows had formed under her bloodshot eyes as well.

"Alright," Yuki said surprising Ito who faltered in flapping his wings, "I'm ready."

They landed on the path below and Ito was a comforting presence on her shoulder, silently encouraging her.

Yuki explained everything that had happened between her and Orochimaru and how confused she was. She sighed and looked away from him.

"I know I did something wrong," she whispered after a pause, "but I can't decide whether or not it was disobeying Orochimaru or obeying him in the first place."

"I'm a Summon. You give me too much credit, Yuki," Ito said. "All I can tell you is that I'm behind you one hundred percent, no matter which side you choose. That was decided the day you signed the Flock Queen's contract in your own blood."

The Flock Queen was Ito mother and the leader of his flock. It was many years ago when Orochimaru had taught her the art of Summoning.

To say the least, Yuki was touched by Ito's words. For a bird who didn't talk much, he was pretty good with words. The falcon might deny it, but his mission had changed him just as much as it had changed her.

"Thank you," she breathed as a small stream came into view. She took that moment to clean her wounds and bandage her cheek. Strange enough, her mind was no longer as confused as it was when she left the hideout.

I'm pretty much set on getting some reviewers back. I really do plan on completing this story and hopefully this nice long chapter will prove it to you. So please donate.

Also, I am taking parts from Shippuden. My only request is that you don't go playing the episode to see if I got it all down correctly. It's not really important to the story and, to tell the truth, I don't care. It's mainly for Yuki's character development and so that she wouldn't go to Orochimaru empty handed.

By the way, Happy Fourth of July everyone! Don't blow anything too big up…like a house. Have fun!

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