IN the PREVIOUS chapter: The taste of conflict. A world in chaos and discord. The scent of a new challenge revealing itself and leading them away from the dull mundane daily life of the civilians. Otogakure is still the village where new things come about.
They took shelter from the ongoing civil war above and refuged themselves in one of the old experiment labs hidden deep beneath the villages surface.
Yeah this looks about right. Sakura thought bitterly as the cold room temperature was far from being welcoming. She peered through the exposed shelves that lined the walls. She was surprised by the number of empty sample jars and rather new medical equipment. Well the luxury inns were nice while they lasted. A small groan escaped at the bleak thought.
Hinata shivered. This room reminded her of the underground one in the Hot springs town they were in. The room was rather impressive in comparison.
"I assume the other rooms are inaccessible." Orochimaru mused more to Sasuke than anyone else in the room.
"We just arrived as well. Who knows what hasn't collapsed yet." Sasuke muttered. He carefully guided himself to the floor, clutching his wound.
"Where is the rest of team Hawk?" It was Kabuto who asked. He had healing ointments in hand and began to work on bringing Sasuke to full recovery.
"They have nothing to do with this. They are safer if they don't meddle into this."
"Hmm, as you wish." Orochimaru waved dismissively at Sasuke. "Your stubbornness always got the best of you. Come Hinata, lets see if we can find anything useful."
Sakura's eyes narrowed in Orochimaru's direction. Hinata. Hinata. Always Hinata with him. Not this time. She watched the Hyuuga carefully as she beamed at the Snake Sannin. "Maybe I should come along too."
Hinata looked rather surprised at Sakura. They made eye contact and held their gaze for a moment. Hinata smiled as warmly as she could muster. "No. It's alright Sakura. I can go alone with Orochimaru. You stay and see if you can help heal Sasuke and Naruto."
It was Sakura's turn to smile back. "No it's alright. Kabuto can look after them. If anything you should rest. Katsuya will appear any moment with regards as to what action we should take since your relative didn't meet us back in the previous town. When she catches up it'll be best if you are all rested for your journey back to Konoha."
Sasuke lifted his eyes and looked at Sakura curiously "A relative of Hinata is going to be back up?"
Sakura folded her arms. "No she was suppose to relieve Hinata but she never showed up in time. We had to leave before she came so we wouldn't lose track of you guys and our target."
Hinata's faced twitched in agitation with the pink haired kunoichi. "Well what about catching up with your teammates? Both of you haven't seen each other in a long time."
Sakura stood there silently looking at Hinata's smile. This isn't like her. She is rather eager to be in Orochimaru's company...too eager.
"N-not to get in between both of you Ladies b-but Hinata has a point." Naruto muttered a small blush on his face.
"Well I don't see why you shouldn't stay behind and rest. After all Sakura is just as capable of a kunoichi."
Both the girls head snapped and looked to Orochimaru. An amused smile on his lips.
"After all Sakura's byakugan is just as good for finding supplies, oh wait a minute..." A sneer couldn't help but make its presence known as he stared down the pink haired kunoichi. "If anything you stay and rest. I wouldn't want Tsunade to snap at me for running you ragged." With that Orochimaru turned and left. "Besides Im more comfortable in teams of two."
Hinata kept her gaze to Sakura a little while longer before turning and following after Orochimaru.
Kabuto looked curiously at Sakura. She suspects now. This will get very interesting indeed.
Sakura paced back and forth in agitation. "What is wrong with her? She isn't like this in the least bit." She bite her thumb as she tried to think.
"Okay I'm missing something why is everyone wanting to hang out with Orochimaru now? What did I miss? Suddenly creepy snake is more wanted than me." Naruto grumbled folding his arms and leaning against a wall.
"Its not like that Naruto! It's just...you saw Hinata didn't you? Doesn't she seem...different to you? The way she talks...acts maybe?" Sakura fumed at the blonde.
"Hmmm."
Sasuke listened carefully to Sakura when he realized what she was getting at. "She does seem to have developed a back bone. Come to think of it...did she not stutter when talking?"
"Oh yeah. And that's...bad?" Naruto scratched his head looking amused at Sakura. "So she's gotten more confident and this worries you?"
"Well, yes! I-I mean no just...hmm, how do I put this...I just...don't trust Orochimaru with her. He's got to be up to something."
Like on cue all three heads turned and looked towards Kabuto.
He blinked surprised at the three young shinobi before adjusting his glasses. "What? Im not Lord Orochimaru."
"You know him better than any of us." Naruto snorted.
"Do I?"
"And we know our friend Hinata better than anyone else."
"Oh do you?" Kabuto smiled.
Sakura glared at Kabuto. "Yes we do! On second thought just shut up. I almost forgot how annoying it is to talk to you."
Kabuto shrugged his shoulders ignoring Sakura's command. "I honestly don't have any valuable information. If Orochimaru is planning something he hasn't let me in on the details."
Naruto weighed Kabuto's answer in his mind.
"Though to be honest I think you are over thinking your friend Sakura. If anything Hinata has improved wonderfully and changing for her best interest under Lord Orochimaru's wing."
"Under his wing?" Sasuke's voice sounded stiff. "He's teaching her?"
"Wait a minute that's new information to me! Hinata's a chunin how is he her teacher?!" Naruto jolted aggressively his casual attitude gone and now he was visibly confused.
"It's part of his prison sentence." Kabuto stifled a laugh.
"Prison sentence? As if! For a former S-Rank rouge ninja he should be more thankful to Lady Tsunade or else he really would be in prison! He serves as the Hyuuga clans private mentor. He made a deal with Hinata's father. Orochimaru has to stay in the Hyuuga estate at all times and he WAS suppose to train Hanabi-"
"Wait a minute Sakura what happened with Hanabi?" Naruto asked curiously.
"He refused. He preferred Hinata." Sakura shrugged.
The room was quiet at the information Sakura had provided her former teammates. It was Sasuke who seemed to have taken the news more seriously. Naruto could see from the corner of his eyes that the Uchiha was very disturbed by this information.
"So is it that bad?"
Sasuke looked up at Naruto. He looked back down gloomily. His years with Orochimaru were somewhat of a haze. With the mix of emotions and all that happened in that time it was difficult for him to know where to start. He turned to Sakura. "So Orochimaru and Hinata are student and teacher. You said he is doing this under the Hyuuga's watch?"
"Yeah, I guess."
Sasuke looked down. "And he chose Hanabi over Hinata."
Kabuto turned to Sasuke. "What are you thinking?"
Sasuke winced at being put on the spot to answer. "Well...Orochimaru isn't a bad...teacher. He restricted my training since he planned on using my body as a vessel. He didn't teach me all he could because of it." Sakura and Naruto averted their sight. Sasuke was stepping on a very sensitive topic.
"Im conflicted. I don't know whether I have to hand it to Orochimaru. If her change in personality has to do with her increase in strength Im curious how far she has progressed. There aren't many other students of his to compare with." Sasuke stood shakily to his feet resting his back on the wall with his arms folded. "Or should I hand it to Hinata. As great of a teacher as I know he is, he isn't the easiest of people to deal with. He has his...difficult to tolerate quirks."
"I have to agree. Considering how weak and susceptible Hinata was she gets along reeeally well with Orochimaru doesn't she?" Kabuto mused. A thoughtful expression on his face.
"Uhmmm...well I'll take both of your words on it." Naruto shivered uneasily on discussing the snake.
"What do you mean by that Kabuto?" Sakura looked to the spectacle man suspiciously.
"By what?"
"Don't play dumb! What you just said!" Sakura hissed. She subtly cracked her fists audibly.
"I don't think I said anything critical. I just agreed with Sasuke." Kabuto kept his gaze at Sakura's fists. Perhaps it was too much to toy with Sakura.
"R-really Sakura you seem a little on edge, m-maybe you should take Orochimaru's advice and rest a bit..." Naruto chuckled nervously not wanting to infuriate the pink haired kunoichi.
"Sounds like a great idea Naruto! Why don't you come with me for a walk?!" Sakura grabbed Naruto's hand. Under her forced grip Naruto squealed in pain as he was virtually dragged out of the room, protesting and whimpering Sakura's treatment.
"Wow, quite the terrifying temper." Kabuto sighed sitting next to Sasuke on the ground.
"Thanks for the treatment, but don't think you can fool me as easily." Sasuke peered down at Kabuto. "You know what is going on with Orochimaru and Hinata don't you? What are you hiding?"
Kabuto smiled. It looks like I couldn't fool you. "Well what's it to you? Do you care for Hinata as your friend as well?"
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "I could care less. What's it to you if I do? Why hide the truth from us?" There was a hint of tease in Sasuke's tone. Kabuto took his time to laugh at the Uchiha's sarcastic humor. He didn't realize how much he had missed it.
Sasuke alway's had a peculiar sense of humor. Orochimaru, Sasuke and Kabuto would always go about picking at each other aggravating each other with their awkward jokes and teases.
As Kabuto's laugh subsided he thought carefully before coming to a decision. He shrugged his shoulders ready to answer. "I guess it doesn't matter since they will be discovered soon anyways, they are lovers."
A strange noise came from Sasuke's throat. His face was contorted in between something that was disbelief and disgust. "Lovers?"
"Is it that surprising?"
"He could be her great grandfather even if he does have a young body. Just forget I asked." Sasuke shuddered. He looked aside nervous about the subject in hand. "Does she have a curse seal?"
"I haven't checked. If you want to investigate that go ahead Im rather curious as well." Kabuto erupted in laughter as he stopped Sasuke's foot from kicking him in the shoulder. "Oh come now. Don't be such a child. Orochimaru is a man after all!"
"Hmmph, barely."
Both kept quite for some time. Kabuto made himself comfortable, laying down on the cold floor. He tucked his glasses away as he prepared himself to nap. "Well I find them interesting together. Could you imagine the potential a love child of theirs could have?"
Sasuke rubbed the muscles in his brain, not wanting to continue this conversation.
"Considering Lord Orochimaru's real form CAN he even father a child?"
"Enough!" Sasuke's sharingan blazed threateningly at the silver haired man.
"Still not a man of inquiry, fine. I'll just ask Orochimaru when I have the chance. Save speculation until later." Kabuto yawned lazily.
~~~...~~~
Hiashi looked seriously at the flame that danced in the darkness. He had his back turned to the sobbing mother of Umeko who slowly made her way to the door. He could feel his own father's stare from the side of the room. The door softly shut leaving the two men to talk privately.
"Why didn't you tell me this sooner?" His voice growled. Fury lined every single one of his words.
"You're her father you should have known-" The elders mans words were cut off as Hiashi turned. His eyes gleamed and the candle behind him went out his palm slamming the table that kept them away from each other.
"DON'T...YOU...PULL...THAT ON ME." He breathed through clenched teeth. He trembled violently, his emotions seeping out. "How could she shame us like this? How could she intertwine herself with that monster. My little Hinata...she...WHY?"
"You know why. The minute you accepted that man into our home, and let him do as he pleased. He started to corrupt Hinata. Twist her mind to coax her into betraying us. You asked for this."
"I didn't ask for this!" He stood high looking down at his aging father.
"No one does Hiashi. However, Umeko's death was unfortunate. Her curse seal was broken as her family now is. You must set an example Hiashi to all of us in this family. Call of her match with Hanabi." The elder stood on his feet and walked over to his son. He understood the pain he was going through. Even if he never showed it was never easy for him just as it is not easy for Hiashi at this moment.
"She is too dangerous. The damage Orochimaru has done is irreversible at this point. For the well-being of our clan Hinata has to be executed."
Wooo~! We're coming along now! Chapter 21...I honestly didn't think it would get this long ^^;
Anyways thanks all you lovely readers that have commented and given me feedback. I have been going back and fixing up some of these chapters (just grammar and stuff). And welcome new followers! I do see you~! Stay Awesome! :3