Chapter 21—Interference
Kabuto had walked away from Tsunade's and Orochimaru's bedroom in a daze, unsure of where he was even going, his thoughts consumed with his oversight.
I just can't believe it. Was Tsunade really able to heal that wound? I need to know what she did but… she'll never tell me.
Orochimaru will expect me to know…
He found himself outside the lab where he had left Ran, and sighed. I don't even know why this new experiment is so important to him. What is he trying to accomplish?
Kabuto opened the door and felt a surge of adrenaline rush through him. Ran wasn't there.
"What?" He ran to the table and looked more closely at the restraints. These have been cut. Did someone let her out…?
He turned to run from the room and his foot caught the edge of something on the floor. A pink crystal skittered across the stone with a ringing clatter and he bent to pick it up.
"She let herself out," he muttered. That's worse. It means I screwed up again. I have to get her back. He ran to the supply cabinet in the back of the lab and grabbed a prepared syringe before hurrying from the room, heading straight for the exit of the hideout.
Kabuto heard the sounds of fighting as he approached and slowed, moving more carefully. The stairway leading out of the hideout was just ahead and he crouched down to peer around the corner. Kotone was dodging and destroying clones of Ran in the hallway at the foot of the stairs. Then one of them was dispelled with a charge of electricity that sent Kotone crashing to the floor. At the same time, Ran was pushed back into the wall and Kabuto quickly ducked back around the corner, waiting to see what would happen and listening as they started to talk.
So Kotone tried to stop her… he thought. But it looks like she won't be able to win. He heard the fighting resume and looked around the corner again just in time to see Ran plunge the crystal pike into Kotone's side.
Kabuto ran around the corner and stabbed the syringe into Ran's arm before she even knew he was there. She collapsed and he caught her. Then he looked down at Kotone with a smile.
"At least one thing worked out in my favor today." He pulled the empty syringe out of Ran's arm and lowered her to the floor.
"So," he said, kneeling next to Kotone. "You must have just gotten back."
Kotone could not answer, but Kabuto wasn't really addressing her anyway. He took the bag from her hip and pulled out the scroll. At least she completed her assignment, he thought.
Kotone tried to speak but only managed a weak, wet cough. "Don't worry," Kabuto said, standing and looking down on her with a sinister grin, the light in the hallway reflecting off of his glasses and blocking his eyes. "I'll be sure to deliver this to Lord Orochimaru for you. Thanks for your hard work."
He picked Ran up and carried her away, leaving Kotone on the floor.