*drip drip*
The first thing you processed was a chorus of small drops of water landing against stone. The blindfold was gone, but even still it was hard to see anything.
The rattle of chains accompanied every movement. Your wrists and ankles felt heavy as you rubbed your forehead and groaned.
The penetrating blackness of the cavern was oppressing and unsettling. You knew for a fact you were underground, you just weren't sure where. Candles and torches were scarce. It was hard to see even your own body.
A burst of cold radiated from your scalp – droplets of water running down your hair. You automatically shivered. It was so cold…
You stood up slowly and groped around. Eventually you ran into metal bars. After stumbling around in every direction, you realized you were in a cage. On top of that, even after removing your constraints, you couldn't activate your Shinajii. You felt so tired. Perhaps your energy was being consistently drained so that you couldn't break out of confinement.
Something fluttering nearby a candle caught your attention. It was a tapestry of the Mizushima crest proudly adorned along the cavern wall.
Erahi mentioned something about the bottom-dwellers needing you, so is this where they lived? The fabled second branch of the Mizushima clan.
The area was quiet and still. Not a soul was around. When your eyesight adjusted to the dark, you found another cage next to yours that was empty. The cages were rather small and only contained a simple cot. You pushed against the bars – measuring the sturdiness of the structure that imprisoned you. Unfortunately, you didn't have enough energy to attack. You barely had enough stamina for the simplest of jutsu.
Sagging onto your cot, you cursed. For now, perhaps you should bide your time and find out more about this place.
A pair of footsteps echoed down the corridor. You strained to see who was approaching. There were three people. Two wore midnight blue, hooded robes that covered their entire bodies from head to toe. Their faces were covered with white cloth – only their eyes visible. One was a man and the other was a woman. They had their arms looped around the elbows of a third person that they dragged betwixt them.
The captive person was a woman whom was barely conscious. She was gaunt and ragged. The robed people hauled her into the cage next to yours and dumped her on the cot.
"B-bottom-dwellers… Are you Mizushima bottom-dwellers?" Your lips quivered from the icy cavern air.
One of the robed figures ignored you. The other sneered, "We're nurturers, not 'bottom-dwellers', as you surface imbeciles seem fit to call us."
"What are you doing here? Why am I here!?" Your mind was buzzing with questions, trying to rationalize everything.
"We are here because we are a privileged few. Though not as privileged as you." The robed woman snorted with a tinge of jealousy.
She hovered over the captive, injured woman and used medical ninjutsu to heal her. An eerie green glow bathed the surroundings. The robed male stood idly by.
"But why am I here?" Your question fell on deaf ears. You tried to pry a few more responses from the robed duo to no avail.
After healing their captor, they left - warning you to be ready because they'd be back for you soon…
All was quiet again save for water drops plopping onto stone and the atmospheric hum of the cavern.
You sighed in frustration, staring at the prostrate woman. It was hard to observe her properly in such dim lighting, but her skin was ashen and she had dark circles around her eyes. Her hair was insanely long and tangled. From what you could see, she was extremely underweight – as if she'd been starving herself. Her bones protruded against tight, veiny flesh. She snored lightly – having fallen asleep while she was being healed.
With nothing to do, you prodded further at your cage – trying to find any weak points.
When you heard a soft groan, you rushed over to the bars that separated you from the other prisoner.
"Hey, who are you? Why are we here?" If you wanted answers, this bedraggled woman was your only choice for the time being.
The woman hissed, her wounds obviously stinging. You noticed that she had lacerations all over her body. The shallower ones had been healed. However, her deep gashes had only been closed – not healed internally.
"Who's… there…?" It seemed like it was hard for her to speak. Her voice was weak and jaded.
"I'm Mizushima Aiko."
The woman grew quiet before she became animated – struggling to sit up. Squinting, she analyzed you as best as she could.
"N-no… why are you here!?" Her voice became shrill.
"That's what I'm asking you. I was taken from the compound, bought here, and I have no idea why."
"This place in dangerous for Shinajii users like us. These bottom-dwellers use us as offerings to their master. Get out of here now! Don't waste any time. The longer you stay here, the weaker you'll get, and then you'll never escape." Her words spilled out messily in as few breaths as possible.
"'Shinajii users like us…?'" You stared at the woman. Her hair was dark brown and contrasted against her light skin. "Then you're… Naomi?"
"My name is Naomi, yes…" She said wearily.
"You're my sister?!" You didn't expect to be so overwhelmed with emotion when you found Naomi, but your voice was shaking. "I can't believe that you're right here in front of me! So then, is this why you were kidnapped by hunter nin all those years ago!? Have you been here since then?"
"I have been a captor for many years. So many that I've lost count…"
"It's been 13 years since the day our parents died…" You tentatively explained.
"Has it been 13 years already?" Naomi looked down at her hands silently.
"I've gotten so old… I was captured when I was about 8 years old." She ruefully chuckled. "They were supposed to capture mom. Dad they wanted to kill, but mom's death was a mistake. Both she and I were to be detained here and used for these bottom-dweller's insane rituals."
"I… I don't understand."
"Two Shinajii users are required as sacrifices. It's been like that since Kirigakure was founded. I think they tried to go after you, but mom sent you to Danzo, didn't she? It's because of the protection you received in Konoha that you weren't captured and transported here as a child. Since I'm the only one they've had for so long, I'm worn out… I'm reaching my limit. I can feel my demise, my death."Naomi's last sentence was uttered so sinisterly that you became faint.
"Naomi…" You clung to the metal bars separating you from your sister. She seemed to be suffering so much and yet there was nothing you could do for her. You wanted to use your jutsu on her – musabetsu sakaeru. It was a healing technique that invigorated and mended broken tissues even at a distance. However, without your Shinajii, you were useless.
You found yourself brokenly sobbing, "I'm sorry, Naomi! If I had known you were in a place like this, I would've tried harder to come here sooner! I should've come here directly after Orochimaru's death!"
Naomi sent you a kind, trembling smile, "No. Nothing that has happened is your fault. Please have no regrets."
"Thank you so much… You saved me that night, didn't you? It was you that saved me from those hunter nin. You sacrificed yourself for me. I wouldn't have made it to Konoha without you." You were trembling violently, clinging onto the metal bars for support.
"If I had the choice, I would do it again. Nobody deserves to go through what I've suffered. Please, Aiko. Please. Find a way to escape now. Leave and never return. If you go alone, you might make it."
"Are you kidding!? You, grandfather, and grandmother all say the same thing! Now that I've finally met you, I can't leave you here. You're my sister!" You almost didn't remember what it was like living with a family. Hiromi was the closest thing you had. Now that your sister was right in front of you, how could you selfishly ignore her and escape?
"I'm sorry… I'm so… tired…" Naomi slumped back so that she way lying down. "If you even want to talk about saving me, try to find a way to free yourself first. The metal is weaker in the 3rd bar on the left side of your cage. By the time I found out about those weak points, it was too late for me. I didn't have the energy to put up a fight."
It felt as if you were beyond fatigued, but if what Naomi said was true, you'd feel a lot worse later. Therefore, you wasted no time and tested the strength of the bar Naomi pointed out. She was right, it was more pliable than the others.
Your vision blurred extremely. Dizzy, you stumbled back. The wave of nausea that swept over you was so intense you almost threw up – your hands and feet sweating. The cold cavern somehow felt both hot and cold at the same time. You collapsed onto your cot.
"Aiko, are you okay?"
You shook your head, trying to remain conscious.
"Disgusting scum, they've already drugged you in preparation for the ritual. It must be kicking in just now." Naomi scornfully cussed.
Your eyelids drooped. When they opened again, a pair of robed figures stood in front of you.
"Damn you and your stupid, fucked up rituals! You would brainlessly follow your master off a cliff!" Naomi jeered from her cage.
"He is your master too." A robed figure clipped.
Unable to move due to whatever drug was coursing through your system, you were easily snatched up and stripped down to your mesh undershirt and shorts. Heavier chains were clasped onto your limbs, your Shinajii impossible to activate. Marched into a cavernous, misty chamber, you were nearly hyperventilating.
Large, mossy boulders formed clusters - scattered around the terrain. There was a large, encompassing underground lake that babbled eerily. It was hard to see beyond the foggy mist, but you could make out a black monolith in the center of the chamber. You were taken to the mysterious black rock and chained to it.
A group of bottom dwellers formed a loose semi-circle around you – holding lanterns and waving them in tandem. The robed figures began to chant what sounded like discordant gibberish. One robed person unsheathed an ornate, ceremonial dagger. In a swift motion, they carved a deep gash across your stomach, arms, and legs.
You were so desensitized from whatever substance they poisoned you with that you barely felt the searing kiss of the blade tearing your flesh.
Blood flowed freely from your wounds as the bottom-dwellers left in single file – disappearing into the mist.
Your head rolled down limply. It was too much energy to lift it back up. A gust of wind blew across your body. It felt good against your overwrought, flushed skin. Fog began violently swirling and shimmering in the torchlight.
Wait… it's impossible for there to be so much wind in an underground cavern like this with no obvious openings to the outside world. You struggled to lift your head and that's when you saw it.
Like fearful prey, you seized up and couldn't find it in you to so much as blink. Eyes as large as your entire body analyzed you. Vibrant green irises with vertically slit pupils held your gaze. It was a creature more terrible than Manda. Dimly illuminated, a giant, stooped reptile was bathed in scant light. It had three horns protruding from its skull. Two on either side of its temple and one from its brow.
The reptile was some sort of lizard. It certainly wasn't a snake. Its large arms were as thick as matured trees. The creature was easily the size of the Leaf's Academy building.
A deep rooted, paralyzing horror that you'd never known before struck you speechless. Here you were chained up by your clansmen and drugged – barely able to move. You'd never felt so powerless in your life since you were bound by the people who knew your abilities well and knew how to suppress them. Truly, you were at the mercy of these bottom-dwellers.
Naomi mentioned something about rituals earlier and right now, it appeared you were going to find out about them firsthand.
A fading, indistinct voice proclaimed, "Maozu, our peerless master! A new delicacy awaits. We offer this prize humbly so that you may look favorably upon this village and your humble servants. Let your thirst be slaked."
Maozu's thin, leathery tongue crept out of its slowly opening maw. It slithered over your lacerations – tasting your blood.
Maozu's vertical pupils dilated with ecstasy. Its tongue lashed out so that a myriad of wounds littered your body. The ancient reptilian stole more blood and closed its eyes – satisfied. Its giant head eased back into the mist, disappearing from sight.
By this point, your entire body was shaking violently from adrenaline and you were numb. A bottom dweller appeared from nowhere and loosened your chains so that you were now sitting on the floor – still bound.
Hundreds of glowing eyes ignited. The bottom-dweller swiftly absconded before a flurry of whip-like tongues lashed out at you. Each reptile took a substantial amount of blood. You were getting woozy, but there was nothing to do but accept your fate.
You screeched as rough, sandpaper tongues slithered against your wounds – the diabolical creatures feeding merrily.
Time slipped by and smaller lizards, most likely infants, crawled up to you, biting into your flesh and gnawing at your dripping injuries.
Only when they had eaten their fill did a bottom dweller approach you, apply emergency medical ninjutsu, and then throw you back into your cell with a healer who tended to your wounds more thoroughly.
When the bottom dwellers left, you remained on your cot – a weary mess.
"Aiko, are you okay?" Naomi's spoke in a sorrowful whisper. She seemed cautious – as if she didn't want anyone to overhear your conversation.
You were quiet for a long moment, still processing everything that just happened.
"A-aiko…" Naomi's voice broke.
"Why?" You muttered, "Why do they do this?"
"Do you know the legend? It goes all the way back to the founding of Kirigakure."
You shook your head.
"Back when Kirigakure was founded, it was a prosperous village because of the natural fertility of the land. One day, the Mist was overrun by giant lizards who slumbered in the caverns below the village. These lizards claimed they owned the land and killed many indiscriminately – enjoying the taste of fresh blood. They enjoyed the taste of human blood so much that they attacked the village frequently to get it."
"So these lizard things have been living below the Mist from the founding of the village?" A shudder ran down your spine.
"Since way before that. Nobody knows how long they've lived in the area. Anyways, they claimed the lives of many civilians and even the best shinobi of the Mist couldn't eradicate them. One of our water sage ancestors kindly offered themselves up as a sacrifice. They made a deal with the lizards. The creatures agreed to stay underground and not kill any more if they could feast on a sage's blood. The lizards found that a water sage's blood was more delectable and satiating than the lives of a hundred humans. Thus, the lizards agreed. Being the only sacrifice is too taxing for one person since the lizards eat often, so it has been tradition for there to always be two sacrifices. Two Shinajii users must always be imprisoned down here so these lizards don't overrun the Mist and cause a mass genocide. Because of the Mizushima clan's sacrifice, we were honored by Kirigakure and placed in the highest ranking the caste system offers."
"That's insane." Those were the only words you could babble out. The whole situation was too unbelievable. "So if we escape, the civilians and shinobi of the Mist will be hunted by these monsters?"
Naomi paused guiltily. "Yes, they will rebel…"
"What are we supposed to do then? I don't want to stay here, but I don't want to be the cause of the Mist's demise!" Your mind rummaged over the faces of all the children you'd seen in your clan's compound, of your grandfather and grandmother. There were so many innocent, defenseless civilians too…
"I don't either, but… now that I've met you I suddenly feel a lot more selfish than ever before. I want to smile with you outside, I want to see you happy. I refuse to believe that we either accept our fate as sacrifices and die, or escape and cause these monsters to rampage."
"I'm want to agree with you, but the only choice left is to destroy them all. Is that even possible?"
"I can tell you the total number of lizards living down here and you can draw your own conclusions—"
Hurried footsteps ended the conversation before Naomi could tell you the enemy's number.
"You're both too talkative." A hooded female impatiently barked. She yanked you up, led you into a private room, and slammed the door.
Now you were separated from Naomi on top of everything else…
Still weak and barely able to move, you dozed off to regain some strength. Food was delivered to you at random intervals. It was hard to know if it was night or day. Before you could find an adequate way to escape, you were drugged again. These bottom dwellers had probably spiked your food or your drink. You were in a tough situation. Either don't eat, don't get drugged, and grow even weaker. Or eat, get drugged, but regain some strength since you're eating.
Stripped into your underclothes, you were once again brought before Maozu.
o-o-o-o-o-o
The lizards greedily fed from you – inflicting pain with sadistic pleasure. You weren't sure if your body was getting used to the drug the bottom dwellers used on you, but the effects of the medication seemed weaker. Today you were able to feel more pain than usual. Your screams echoed against cold, rocky walls.
How long would you be here? Was Team Hebi trying to find you? Would they look for you?
…Did Sasuke even care enough to put in the effort to help you out of this ugly predicament?
As much as you hated to realize it, you might have to rely on outside help if you ever wanted to get out of here. The bottom dwellers were very careful at monitoring your energy levels. They only allowed you enough chakra to heal and suppress your curse mark, but not enough to retaliate. They had your imprisonment down to an exact science. You weren't the first sacrifice they've had and you wouldn't be the last if they had their say.
A frenzied scream caught your attention. The scent of metallic blood that wasn't your own permeated the air.
The lashing, hungry tongues of the lizards ceased immediately.
Two familiar shinobi landed in front of you, their backs to you defensively. One adorned the Uchiha clan crest, while the other adorned an unfamiliar crest. It was a sun enclosing a crescent moon. Despite the foreign clan crest, the person wearing it was someone you'd never mistake – Hiromi.
"Sasuke and… Hiromi!?" You were in utter disbelief.
A lone lizard's tongue flew at you. Sasuke and Hiromi reacted immediately, severing it. A strange, painful gargle arose. A few lizards hissed, but made no sudden movements. Assured that the lizards wouldn't keep feeding off of you unless they wanted severed tongues, Sasuke and Hiromi turned to you swiftly.
Hiromi took in your disheveled appearance, taking a step towards you, but hesitating due to his shock and sorrow, "Aiko… How could your own clan do this to you?"
Sasuke, on the other hand, ran right up to you and sliced your restraints. You sagged forward – the Uchiha steadying you. He tore off his white robe and draped it over your shoulders. The warm cloth was comforting. You slipped your arms into Sasuke's robe, greedily stealing the body heat it contained.
"Thank you, Sasuke." Clutching the white fabric, you wrapped it closed along your torso. Hiromi finally stepped closer. "You look so pale… are you okay?"
"I'm alive, at least." You began to tear up as you stared into your old friend's face. He was different than when you'd last seen him. His layered, onyx hair was longer – reaching his chin. He'd matured – his features were angular and somewhat alien. However, there were traces here and there of the kind shinobi you grew up with.
He smiled with relief and you smiled back. Hiromi looked like his old self the most when he was smiling.
A wicked hissing arose from all directions. Sasuke and Hiromi immediately turned away, dropping into fighting stances.
"I can't believe you're both here. I'm so glad to see you guys."
Suddenly the rest of Team Hebi appeared.
"Holy Kami-sama, you look like shit." Karin exclaimed upon seeing you.
"We got here just in time." Suigetsu seemed disgruntled as he looked over your form.
"These creatures are… lizards?" Jūgo scanned the perimeter, "There are many of them."
But your teammates weren't alone. There were multitudes of other shinobi with them. You recognized the Hōzuki clan crest and fellow clansmen from the Mizushima compound.
A Mizushima kunoichi immediately began to heal you. "On behalf of the Mizushima clan, I want to apologize, ojou-sama. Not everyone in our clan feels the same way as Erahi-sama."
Another Mizushima shinobi nodded enthusiastically - he might have been one of your uncles, "We're here to correct our mistakes! No one should be forced into being a sacrifice."
The kunoichi working on you smiled, "That's right. This tradition started out nobly, with self-sacrifice rather than force."
"I don't know what to say, but thank you guys…"
While you were being healed, Maozu remained silent no more. "What is it that you humans want? Why have you interrupted our meal?"
Maozu locked eyes with a glaring Sasuke, "You're rather impudent, aren't you?" The giant lizard remarked.
"I am not the one you should be talking to." Sasuke said simply. He sheathed his katana and moved aside.
A woman with a strong, attention grabbing presence sauntered forward. She was clad in a blue dress that fell off of her shoulders. Her ankle length, auburn hair swayed gently behind her. "Such a pleasure to finally meet the great Maozu. Your Mizushima servants have done a good job of keeping this place off limits. And you too, Maozu, have cast a powerful barrier jutsu around this place – barring it from the rest of the world. Short of breaking and entering, I would never have gained access."
"Another impudent human…" Maozu unhappily stated, "Who are you to speak to me so brashly?"
The woman giggled, "Why, I'm the Mizukage of this proud village and I want to negotiate. I am ashamed to admit that the safety of my village depends on the long-term torture and sacrifice of two shinobi."
"Get to the point. What negotiations are you humans talking about?"
"For starters, I want to propose that you leave this place and never come back." The Mizukage held her outstretched, slim hand out in front of her, "Now, I'm not unreasonable. I've already located a place far more suitable than this for you to make your home – a remote wilderness. If you give it a chance, you'll find the environment there is pleasing for reptilians such as yourself."
Maozu ruminated a bit before asking, "Why should we relocate?"
"The area is much larger than this pitifully size cavern system and you'll have access to warm daylight so you can bask in the sun. You will be confined down here no more."
Maozu let out a disconcerting, airy breath. "You think I'm confined here? No! I simply prefer this place, away from the majority of you noisy, irksome humans. If it weren't for the tasty meals the Mizushima produce, I would resurface and kill all of you to shut you up. What are you going to do if I don't agree to leave?"
The Mizukage seductively licked her lips, "If you don't agree, I'm going to have to punish you until you do agree."
Maozu's booming, hissing laugher will shook the cavern – small rubble falling from the ceiling. "Then try your best to punish me."
"Mizukage-sama!" A blue haired shinobi wielding a giant, bandaged weapon emerged from the throng of shinobi – standing by the Mizukage defensively.
"Stay by my side and help when you see the opportunity" The Mizukage purred, her blue haired disciple nodding firmly. She took a step forward and shouted "Ao, take the flank!"
Hiromi and Sasuke were beside you in a flash.
The pressure in the air grew so dense that your knees shook. Maozu's penetrating, death glare was enough to strike fear in even the most hardened of shinobi.