Author's Note: I was in the writing mood and updated a bit faster with this chapter. Please r&r!

Disclaimer: Silly Remi, you don't own Naruto.

Poisonous Snake

Karin strode solemnly down the castle halls in a fretful mood. She was excited to see that Sasuke was in Otoga, she still had some one sided feelings towards him, but at the same time she feared him. Being an escaped prisoner that she was, she could only wonder if he was here to put her right back into her cell. Then she saw who he had brought to the banquet, the girl that she helped kidnap. Sakura was like a glowing angel by Sasuke's side and Karin's heart shattered. As the two had waltzed in, Karin kept glancing over to see if Sakura had noticed her there yet. When Orochimaru offered her as a choice to Sasuke as a bride, she knew that she had no chance. The only girl for the King of Fire was sitting right next to him and she knew it. However, this was not why she worryingly stomping down the hall.

Before the banquet, she was in these very same halls going to her room. She happened to pass by Orochimaru's study when she heard Orochimaru and Kabuto conversing.

~*Flashblack*~

"Is this it?" she heard Orochimaru ask in a hushed tone.

"Yes, this is the poison that you asked for," Kabuto quietly replied.

Orochimaru cackled, taking the vile from Kabuto's hands and examined it. Content, he placed it on his desk right next to him. Karin heard a the sound of coins shaking in a bag and a thud when the bag hit the desk.

"I placed some of the poison in Sasuke's cup like you asked," Kabuto told his master. "I even put some in that girl's cup as well."

Karin put a hand to her mouth to keep herself from gasping. She did not want Sasuke to die, even if it threatened her loyalty to her country. She listened on.

"Hmm, he seems fond of her. It'll be distracting for him to know that she has been poisoned," the King of Sound said. "And when the poison kicks in, he'll be at a disadvantage when he decides he needs me dead."

"He should begin to weaken perhaps an hour after consumption," Kabuto spoke. "By the time he gets to you, it'll be like a toddler taking on a giant."

With that said, the two of them laughed in the most grumesome way. Karin, shocked by her discovery, sauntered as far away from the study as she could.

~*End Flashback*~

Karin came across a door and stopped in front of it, unsure if she should knock on it. Behind that door was something she did not want to face, but she knew that she had to. After a few moments of pacing and nail-biting, she gently knocked on the wooden surface. She crossed her arms and tapped her foot as she waited for the inhabitant on the other side to open it for her. When the door began to creak open, she froze. What was she doing here? This wasn't right. She was going against Orochimaru for doing this, going against Sound. But she had to do this.

She had her head turned to the side to act like she was annoyed for waiting for so long and flinched after hearing the much needed gasp.

"You!," she heard the feminine voice hiss.

Her glance came back to the doorway to face the figure blocking the entrance. She tried to keep herself composed as she stared directly at Sakura. The rosette was not happy to see her and she had every right not to be. After being kidnapped and then finding one of your kidnappers at your door, Karin figured that she would be the same way. Sakura's lips curled up into a snarl and her emerald eyes narrowed. A hard slap was slammed across Karin's face, almost knocking her glasses off. She stumbled back, hand to her cheek and looked up. She deserved the slap in every way. The medic from Konoha rolled her hand into a fist, ready to pounce again if needed. Karin help her hands up in defense.

"I know must hate me right now," she began. "But there-..."

Sakura snorted, "That's an understatement."

"There is something that you need to know," Karin went on. "Orochimaru broke his promise to Sasuke."

The taller girl watched as the medic glared at her, unsure of whether or not she should believe these words. Sakura's fists were lowered and she folded her arms across her chest, making herself look more powerful.

"And why should I believe you, huh?" she spat. "After what you did, how can I?"

"Please, you have to believe me," Karin pleaded with her. "Orochimaru put poison in Sasuke's drink. He's planning on killing him."

Sakura still wasn't convinced. "Even if it is true, why are you telling this to me instead of Sasuke?"

"Orochimaru knows how much you mean to Sasuke, it's so obvious that it shows in his eyes," Karin explained, holding her sides. It hurt to speak the truth. She continued on," He figures that if something happens to you, Sasuke will try and kill him."

The medic did not respond and appeared to be listening.

"He put the poison in your cup too."

Sakura faltered back in disbelief, trying hard to comprehend what Karin had said. Karin didn't know what to say next. Did the girl from Konoha believe her now, or was she going to have to prove herself? She struggled to come up with what she wanted to say.

"Look, Orochimaru was once part of Akatsuki. I believe that you are familiar with Madara and his group? Orochimaru is not to be trusted and it's looking like I'm the more trustworthy person you have around here," Karin pressed her case. "I don't want to see Sasuke hurt and I know you don't either. By telling you this, betraying my master, I'm trying to redeem myself in my eyes. So please believe me."

The rosette seemed hesitant at first, but responded, "Fine I believe you."

Karin let out the breath that she had been holding and smiled faintly in relief. However, Sakura cut that smile off.

"If you are wrong about this and all this turns out to be a trap, I will come after you myself," she threatened the other girl."I know things about the human body that you wouldn't believe and trust me I will use it against you."

Shuttering, Karin nodded. With that done with, Sakura's aura became slightly brighter yet her demeanor was still serious.

"So what will you do?" Sakura asked, catching the other girl off-guard. "When Orochimaru is dead, who will run Sound?"

Karin lifted her head up high and smiled weakly. "True, we will need a new leader. Kabuto might try and take over, but he's just as bad as Orochimaru. I'm sure we'll find someone for the job."

There was a gleam in Karin's eye as she said this. She was of high rank and believed herself to have some good qualities. Maybe she should rule the Land of Sound. Sakura didn't say it, but she was sort of impressed with Karin's confidence that she could do it.

"Well then," Sakura said, gesturing Karin into her room. "Tell me more about that poison."

Sasuke stood in front of wide iron doors. Beside him was his group minus Ino, dressed for battle. He looked at all of them and nodded. They were to stay outside the doors so that no one could interrupt him. After everything Sakura had told him, he knew that Orochimaru had to be dealt with. He would question Orochimaru first, get the information that he had travelled for and then dispose of the man. The poison in his body had no effect at all since Sakura had bled both of them to help get rid of the poison, but he could feel himself become weak with the sudden blood loss. If he was going to kill the King of Sound, he had to do it now. As he gripped the handle to one of the doors, a soft hand placed itself on his shoulder. He did not turn around, but he knew it was Sakura.

"Remember, don't force yourself too much," she whispered into his ear as she leaned over his shoulder. "You loss a bit of blood after I bled you so you'll feel faint if you move to fast."

"Hn."

"Just be careful."

He nodded, patting her hand. This was it, he had to go in. Motioning to different locations, he positioned his team around the doorway. He gestured for Sakura to go to a small door around the corner. Behind the door, Karin had told her was a ladder to secret pathways above the throne room. Orochimaru sometimes had archers hidden up there. Sakura was to go up there and take care of any bowmen she saw. If there were none, she would prove Sasuke cover if there was any surprises. Sasuke didn't want her to do this, wanting her to stay back in her room with Ino. However, she was stubborn about it, stating that she was the only one who knew how to use a bow. Reluctantly, he agreed and watched her race around the corner.

The iron doors opened with a loud creak and like he had hoped Orochimaru was waiting for him on the inside. He sat lopsided on his throne with an eerie grin plastered on his face. The doors shut quickly after Sasuke walked inside. He gracefully walked up to the throne and stopped a few feet away. The King of Sound cocked his head to the side in interest, but Sasuke knew that Orochimaru knew why he was here. Sasuke touched his sword's hilt for courage.

"What? No bow for respect for a fellow king?" Orochimaru asked. He clanked his tongue. "Tsk, Sasuke. I thought Konoha was a polite country."

"We show courtesy to those who deserve it," Sasuke spat back.

Orochimaru sighed and sat upright in his chair. "I suppose that you want information on Madara."

The King of Fire nodded.

"Yes, I want to know where I can find Madara," he said, getting straight to the point.

The other king laughed and it echoed throughout the room. He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye and smiled.

"Such a brash question!" he chuckled. "You do realize that I am loyal to that man."

It was Sasuke's turn to smirk. "I do believe that you were cast out of his circle years ago."

The King of Sound halted his laughter and sneered toward Sasuke. He gripped the ends of his chair so that his knuckles became white.

"That doesn't mean that I can't protect him from insolent creatures who want him dead," Orochimaru snarled, his snake-like tongue flickering behind his sharp teeth. "So why should I give up his location for you?"

"If you tell me, Sound can be in an alliance with Konoha," Sasuke put out, lying through his teeth. "You can help take out Madara, revenge for tossing you aside like trash."

Shaking his head, Orochimaru snorted and stood up. By his side was what looked to be a whip and on the other was a short blade. His hands were drawing closer to his sides and Sasuke quickly put both his hands on his own weapon.

"I'll make a deal with you," the King of Sound said in a mischievous tone. "If you bet me in a duel to a point in which I'm on the verge of dying, I will give up where Madara harbors himself."

The idea seemed sketchy to Sasuke. How could he possible know if Orochimaru would keep his word this time if he completely ignored the first promise he made with Sasuke? He could give Sasuke the wrong location and send him on a wild goose chase to waste his time. But Orochimaru was his only lead to Madara right now, having known of no one else that could possibly know anything. It was a risky deal that he probably going to have to take.

"And what happens if you win?" the King of Fire asked, drawing his blade to his side.

The famous frightening grin appeared back on Orochimaru's face. He took out his sword and then pulled out the whip-like weapon. Sasuke noticed that the whip was actually a Urumi*, a very effective weapon in battle.

"You don't understand do you?" Orochimaru shouted in a battle-ready cry. "I don't plan on letting you win!"

Orochimaru pulled back the Urumi and swung it at Sasuke.

Sakura squatted in the hidden pathway watching the scrimmage happening below. Her heart leaped in her chest every time Orochimaru threw a hit at Sasuke. When she wasn't watching them, she was scouting for enemy archers. So far there wasn't any to be seen and she was grateful because she wanted to be ready to assist Sasuke if she had to. An arrow rested between her fingers as she slowly guided it out from the quiver on her back. The feather at the end which was the fletching for all her arrows was soft and delicate as her fingers glided against it. She placed the arrow on the bow and held the weapon in a ready position so that all she had to do was aim and shoot. All this was particularly nerve-racking for her. She had only injured a person before and had never shot to kill. What if it came to it? What if she had to kill someone? She only wondered how Sasuke got over it when he killed his own brother and only hoped that she never had to kill anyone.

When she heard Sasuke yelp due to a cut he receive from the enemy blade, she flinched and wanted to turn her head away. It was hard to watch Sasuke fight to the death just like it had been hard watching him fight with Itachi. There were so many odds against him. Orochimaru had two weapons, one that could reach far lengths when used properly, and used to be part of a criminal organization. To make matters worst, Sasuke was not up to full health. She could feel that same sensation start to act on her as well. Her legs were getting tired from squatting even if it was for a short time. Sakura tired to ignore as she hide herself in the shadows.

She looked a way for a second to stretch her legs only to quickly glance back when metal shattered against the floor and a voice grunted followed by a thump. To her horror, Sasuke was on the ground with his sword a few feet next to him. Orochimaru was not that close to him at all, but she knew that he had hit Sasuke with that strange whip. Blood rain down Sasuke's once sword welding arm and Sakura sat up a little to take a shot at Orochimaru. If he was to move a foot closer, she would release her arrow so that it would puncture him in the arm. That shot would give Sasuke enough time to get to his sword and continue the battle. She pulled back on the arrow, her fingers quivering. Droplets of sweat cascaded down her face as she nervously aimed at the King of Sound.

About to let her arrow fly, a cold piece of steel touched her neck. An arm wrapped around her and pulled her close to a body which was just as cold as the steel. Stale air caressed her skin and made it crawl when she heard a voice cackle behind her. The knife at her throat slightly pierced her neck and had yet to draw blood. She lowered her bow and slowly let the arrow go so that it wouldn't fly away. The rosette had a dagger at her side that she desperately wanted to grab, but knew that she couldn't. Her attacker laughed again.

"And what do you think you're doing up here?" it asked in a frightening playful tone.

She didn't recognize the voice, but she manage to move her head a couple of inches to caught a sight of the man behind her. That man was Kabuto.

Author's Note: And the fighting begins! Okay, an Urumi is like a whip that has multiple arms (i think that's what they're called) made of flexible metal and has a hilt like a sword. They come from India and the weapon seems sort of snake-like so I thought it would fit Orochimaru well. And that little catfight I said that ws going to happen between Karin and Sakura. Yeah, I ended up making it just Sakura hitting Karin for kidnapping her. Oh well. Please review if you like it or whatever you want to say. :)

Things to look for:
1. Sasuke's battle with Orochimaru (i will post a fight song. one that i hope fits)
2. what happens to sakura