A blood-curling scream rippled throughout the Shadow Realm. Teruo's eyes narrowed as his mouth hardened into a grim line. The cry was ragged and cracked-she was weakening. Somewhere within the labyrinth of their world He was wreaking his displeasure and disappointment on poor Hisoka. Perhaps more so because He had been unable to punish Nori for his failure. Hisoka wasn't the type Teruo generally pitied, but facing His wrath was a fate he wouldn't wish on his worst enemy.

Goro chuckled. "Looks like she fared no better than us. Bug boy strikes again!"

"Will he be converted as well?" Teruo murmured more to himself than to his comrade. He knew that opponents of The Ebony were either destroyed or recruited.

"Well if he is, he's gonna be in Hell!" He chuckled darkly.

Teruo turned aside, his gaze rested on his scarred palm. He thought back to his own Ordeal orchestrated by Akihiro. It was a scar that never healed, and no lack of body could forget such torture. It was pain that ran soul deep.

Pain is endless, continuous, fulfilling.

Agony is freedom, enlightening, enriching.

To exist is to suffer.

Your gift is your curse.

His hand closed into a tight fist. And now Akihiro would perform this on his own child. It was hard for Teruo to remember his own family. Not because the memory was too painful, but because it had been centuries ago since he had last seen them. Time has a cruel way of erasing details. He frowned as he struggled to recall their faces, but it was easier to remember his feelings for them. He couldn't imagine inflicting that measure of agony on his own flesh and blood. He did not envy Akihiro's task. And yet he greatly anticipated meeting this daughter of his again. His first encounter with her had left him impressed. Such spirit and raw power! Even during the torment of transition, she didn't beg for mercy. If anything it fueled her anger. She would be a great asset for The Ebony.

"Still this is an awful lot of trouble for some shadowling," Goro scoffed. "Even if she's Akihiro's daughter, she's just a brat."

Teruo considered him for a moment. "Do you think He has something special planned for her?"

He shrugged. "Who knows. We're not to know His will, only to obey."

Teruo frowned again. Hisoka had obeyed. She had been faithful to His will and now she was suffering for it. Her agonized screams continued to echo around them as she prayed for mercy. He felt his loyalties shift with every piercing cry. How could He promise to restore the Kumori's glory if He wasn't above torturing His own?

The next morning Shino found Isae's sleep mat empty, the thin blanket askew. His brow furrowed as he looked around the campsite. She didn't make a run for it, did she? He certainly wouldn't have put it past her. His tracker reassured him that she was within the protective barrier.

He went further into the forest; there was something about this place that he didn't like. It took him some time before he realized what it was. There was no wildlife; no animal or insect life of any sort. What sort of place was this? It seemed so artificial.

Through the silence he heard rhythmic thumping up ahead and turned in that direction. From his perch on the hilltop he saw Isae down in a small clearing. She had removed her black gloves and wrapped bandages around her knuckles. She cut the strip with her teeth before securing it in place. Taking a deep breath she went back to her taijutsu exercises. She punched over and under hand, twist with a kick and drop low strike. Over and over.

He was content to watch in silence for several minutes. It had been a long time since he'd seen her fight, not since the Academy. In those days she didn't just fight, she was a real brute. His brow furrowed as he saw now finesse in her routine. She moved with deadly grace and he realized that perhaps he had misjudged her. Before he had assumed that her rough style was classic Inuzuka aggression. Now, knowing more of her past, he wondered if it was desperation to prove herself an equal to the peers who suddenly rejected her. Now she seemed more at ease with the rhythm of combat. Still, the tree is not an ideal opponent.

He launched himself high up into the air and flew towards her, poised to strike. He frowned; she didn't seem to sense his approach. Perhaps it was a trick on her part? Then she looked up in absolute horror and he realized at the last second that she genuinely wasn't prepared to defend herself. He immediately dissolved his body in a cloud of insects but the force still flattened her to the ground. She didn't even have time to cry out. When the cloud dissipated, she lay there wide-eyed and stunned for several seconds. He had knocked the wind right out of her. Then suddenly she gasped and went into a coughing fit. He helped her to sit up; she was still too shaken up to resist his assistance.

"You let your guard down."

"Because I had this crazy idea that you were on my side!" she wheezed. "What the crap Shino?!" She struggled against his steadying arm but wasn't strong enough to push him aside.

"If you're going to train it must be serious. This isn't a game."

She glared and opened her mouth to yell at him when she was seized by another coughing spell. This time she sounded like she was choking and he gave her a good thump on the back. She hacked up blood in her hand. Something squirmed and writhed on her bloody palm: a few of his insects. Her expression crumbled. "Oh no!" She gently scooped them up with a finger. He marveled at her tenderness on their behalf. She quickly offered them to him. "Are they going to be ok? I'm really sorry."

His hand closed over hers as he absorbed them through his skin. "They will be fine. Thank you. Do you…like bugs?" His question, though casual sounding, carried so much meaning. He knew what the others thought about him and the cruel things they whispered behind his back.

She looked stumped for a minute and his heart sank into his stomach as each second ticked by. "Well, I haven't really thought about it but I believe all life has value, no matter how small." She cocked her head thoughtfully. "Though they're pretty inspiring in their defense mechanisms. They are inconspicuous, unassuming, and yet can strike instantly if the need calls for it. Man! I wish I was that fast-"

She notices! She appreciates! His heart swelled with pride. Carried away with this rush of euphoria, he grabbed her face with both hands and kissed her hard.

She pushed him back. "Don't you start! I'm still mad at you for body-slamming me remember?" She grumbled as she wiped blood off her mouth.

"I'm sorry," he said contritely. "I had hoped to offer assistance."

"Then ask like a normal person," she huffed as she stood up and stretched her sore muscles. "Man that's gonna set me back. I'm still recovering, you know." She huffed.

"Then it is imperative that you find your limit so that you can work to exceed it. I will help you." He generously offered.

She shook her head. "Yeah, I don't think so. I'm better off against the tree." She jerked her thumb over her shoulder in its direction. "For one thing I can trust it to stay put."

"I am a far superior opponent."

"I know," she agreed. "But I'm at a great disadvantage without Hiro. I can only practice taijutsu."

"I am proficient in taijutsu." He reassured her. The more she declined the more he wanted to fight.

She blinked in surprise. "Really? I never would have thought-"

"Do you not recall my performance at the last Chunin Exam?"

Her face reddened as she shook her head. "No…my team didn't qualify for the exams." She confessed shamefully. "Because of me."

He frowned. Genin teams had to enter together, it was a basic requirement. It didn't occur to him that there may have been some of their classmates who didn't. Her expression darkened at the memory. Her friends had taken the disappointment well but it had hurt her pride. Why did they feel the need to console her when they should have blamed her? She was holding them back. Her eyes narrowed. She had been a burden. Her fist lashed out at the tree; the impact splintered the bark. "We had signed up for next month. I'm more than ready, I'm sure of it!" She said firmly. Then her hand slumped back down to her side as her face fell. "Not that it matters now." She bent down to retrieve her gloves and slipped them back on. "I'm sure that…m-my replacement," she struggled to say, "won't let them down." Her hands trembled slightly as her heart ached. Shizako…Satoru…how she missed them!

"Then make them proud," He said as his fist flew out.

She ducked out of the way. "Again!? Geez!" She blocked his next punch but the momentum slid her back.

"You will make it to the Chunin Exams!" He said firmly as he pressed the advantage with another swing. "Even if I have to drag you to it!"

She ducked and kicked back. "Back off!"

"Make me!" He challenged.

Teeth bared she charged at him with her fists raised. He matched her blow for blow. She was faster than he expected and he found himself delighted with a genuine challenge. It became a deadly dance as they spun round each other, striking hard with spinning kicks. The ebb and flow of momentum kept it intense as the rhythm of movement flowed with pure adrenaline. "Your style is nothing like Kiba's," he observed.

"I take that as a compliment," she smirked as she ducked under his radial kick.

"It is more reminiscent of Lee-kun's," he said as he jumped over her low spin kick.

"He's very helpful," she confessed off-handedly as she wove round his barrage of strikes.

"There's no shame in asking for help," he reminded her. "Friends can be a great source of inspiration."

"Or a source of irritation!" She growled as she aimed a chest-high kick.

He grabbed hold of the ankle and twisted her into turning around. Off balance, he hooked his foot round her other foot, causing her to fall. From there he easily pinned her down and restrained her. "You consider me a friend?" He purred in her ear as she struggled in vain to break free. "I am honored."

Just then Hiro appeared on the hilltop and looked down at them. Hmph, still at it I see. Humans are such horny creatures.

"What?!" She burst out horrified. "Dad! That's super gross!"

Shino, blissfully unaware of their exchange, backed off from Isae and bowed his head in greeting. "Good morning Akihiro-san."

Hiro nodded in turn. Mornin' Shino-kun. Now that we've all had a chance to rest, it's time to consider our options.

His brow furrowed as a sense of fore-boding hovered in the air. Hiro made her way down the hill at a steady pace. She sat back on her haunches, her back erect, and expression serious. She turned towards Isae first. First and foremost do you trust this boy Izzy?

She glanced at Shino thoughtfully as she considered him. He turned towards her but nothing about his demeanor seemed unusual. It was so weird. Two weeks ago she knew next to nothing about him. How many times had they passed by each other on the street unnoticed? Diverse lives on diverse paths with diverse dreams. And yet now here they are…bound by accident or fate. Did it matter which? Her expression softened as a sweet smile crept into the corner of her mouth. "I trust him with my life."

Shino bowed his head in gratitude. That was high praise coming from someone as stubborn as her.

Akihiro noticed the mutual recognition between the two. There was ease here, commitment and loyalty. He agreed with her judgement. He turned towards Shino. While I respect the Hokage's offer to help, this is clearly not her concern. It is even less for you.

Shino's hand curled into a determined fist. "I am concerned, sir, I assure you. I wish to be of help."

Hiro narrowed her eyes at him keenly, this time his words were for him alone. But if you are to stay, you will have to prepare for the possibility that you will lose her…not everyone survives The Ordeal. Shino's blood ran cold. He had not counted on the possibility that she may die from this. And even if she survives, there is every possibility that she succumbs to the darkness in her heart. Kumori thrive on blood and you will be in great danger. You may lose your life trying to save hers.

"And what will give her the greatest chance for success?" He pressed.

She looked between them warily, feeling uneasy to be left out of this conversation.

Motivation. She needs a reason to remain human—a desire stronger than her anger. Perhaps you can inspire her? Shino nodded resolutely. There is another way you can help…but it requires blood sacrifice.

Shino frowned curiously. "Blood sacrifice?"

"Absolutely NOT!" Isae hissed. "I'm not drinking his blood or anyone's elses!" Despite her temper, the terror in her eyes was very real. The horror of her mother's death haunted her memory…oh how they had relished its taste…she could never bring herself to do the same.

Kumori are shiftless shadow beings; you will have to if you are to retain your humanity, Akihiro said firmly as he included her in his thoughts. In two days your transition will be complete and The Ordeal will seal it. Don't worry, only a few drops will do. You are not required to kill.

She grit her teeth in a terrible scowl but remained silent. Shino reached out for her hand and gave it gentle squeeze. "I offer my blood willingly." She looked a little exasperated at him. She supposed she should be grateful for his offer…but she couldn't bring herself to speak. "I have sworn to the Hokage that I would bring you home or die in the attempt."

She rolled her eyes as she pulled away. "I just knew this rescue of yours was going to come with conditions." She muttered under her breath as she climbed back up the hill.

Shino sighed dismally. "She is very obstinate."

That's good because her life depends on it, Akihiro chuckled.