Chapter 36 Into the snake's nest

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

The team were running heading to Orochimaru's lair according to Yamato's wood clone they were getting closer now they could somehow feel him their teammate Sasuke he was close. While heading out Kiba and Shino have to stay behind because an insect demon centipede got in their way they were going to take care of it and hopefully they will defeat it. Both Naruto and Sakura were determined to infiltrate the lair and save their teammate and friend no matter what, they continued running along with Yamato, Seiryu and Hinata.

"Naruto?"

Naruto turn to see Sakura.

"This time we will succeed with Sasuke-kun the two of us together"

"I know" he replied while gazing back at the road ahead.

"And don't forget about us were going to help you rescue him" Seiryu said while Hinata nodded.

At Orochimaru's lair

Sai was standing in front of Sasuke he try to gave him his most fakes smile yet while the Uchiha on the other hand was staring at him with hi cold sharingan eyes looks like he wasn't going to be making any friends with him after all.

"Greetings my name is Sai you must be Uchiha Sasuke"

"Get lost" he reply coldly.

"Even when I force to smile it seems I'm the type of person who ends up being hated….and Naruto'kun didn't seem to care much for me the whole time, but you know in comparison to Naruto-kun I think I'm going to be able to get along better with you"

Sasuke glare at him with his sharingan casting a genjutsu on Sai he felt like he was in some kind twisted world he started feeling like he was made in ink like all of his drawings, he fell on his behind scare.

"SASUKE-KUN" shouted Kabuto

The Uchiha dispelled his genjutsu while Sai started sweating.

(Sweat…) he thought (I'm supposed to feel nothing have no feelings yet by looking into his eyes does this mean I fear Sasuke-kun deep within my heart despite being unable to recognize it myself)

"I'd be a good idea not tease Sasuke-kun too much you see he's harder to deal with than I am" Orochimaru said.

"And I don't care to deal with trash like him Orochimaru it's time for training now" Sasuke said while getting up.

"Naruto-kun told me quite about a bit about you it seems he's been looking for you all this time for the last three years" Sai said.

"Oh yeah I guess I do remember someone like that, were going Orochimaru"

"Naruto-kun considers you to almost be his own true brother that's what I heard from Sakura-san"

Sasuke stood quiet hearing the names of his two teammates brought a few flashbacks but he completely dispelled them and kept his cold gaze from the shadows.

"As for brothers are considered I only have one brother a certain guy I'm going to kill"

"Oh that's right I was wrong Naruto-kun doesn't no longer considers you as a brother"

Sasuke stood quiet but curiosity took over him" what do you mean?"

"Well I mean he has a new brother as his best friend his name is Seiryu"

Sai, Orochimaru and Kabuto could have sworn they saw anger reflected in his sharingan eyes but maybe they were imagining things.

(Seiryu?..) Sasuke thought.

"Anyhow I'll be leaving too Kabuto use this to complete a data book" Orochimaru said while giving him the envelope.

Kabuto open it and check the papers" these are….AMBU the Hokage's personal troop division these are copies of the profiles of its members and they would seem to be the real thing"

Outside of the lair the team finally arrived they were hiding behind a large boulder.

"Here huh…?" Yamato said.

"The entrance is right below that rock formation in front of us" the wood clone said.

"Under those rocks Sasuke's waiting" Naruto said.

"Yeah" Sakura said.

"Let's do our best Naruto" Seiryu said.

"Yes let's save Sasuke together" Hinata said.

"Ok let's go then" Naruto said.

"Hold on a second" Yamato said while his wood clone return to his body suddenly he took four small seeds" and here one for the each of you, you can go after you've swallowed this Naruto even if we get separated with those inside of you I'll be able to locate you immediately"

"What is this?" Sakura said.

"To put things simple those seeds are tracking devices they're a tool of mine that responds only to my chakra those are just the same ones I planted in Sai's food and clothes"

"Pretty clever captain Yamato so you knew all along where Sai was" Seiryu said.

"I see so this is how you were able to track him" Sakura said.

"When did you manage too?" Naruto said.

"Don't you remember? You know how I went back to the room before the three of you at the hot springs"

"Yeah it's pretty obvious Naruto" Seiryu said.

"Now you three should understand why I went on out of my way using my own money to treat everyone to such a lavish stay at that hot springs resort, everything was just like Tsunade-sama said taking precautions with Sai sure has paid off in the end anyhow enough talk swallow those now please"

The four took the small seed and swallow them.

"Ok then everyone it's time" Yamato said.

"Yeah ready" Naruto said.

"It's now or never" Hinata said.

"We'll conduct the infiltration in file me first then Sakura and Naruto and Seiryu Hinata will be behind" Yamato said.

"What's our method of infiltration?" Sakura said.

"Were taking this by the book so we'll use an earth technique to approach from within the ground" Yamato said.

(I've found you at last…) Naruto thought.

Back at the lair Kabuto and Sai were walking the halls of the lair which were surrounded by candles until reaching a door Kabuto open it.

"Here we are come inside" he said while Sai follow him into the room.

"This is your room when we don't have anything for you to do we expect you to quietly behave yourself in here" he said while lighting a candle" if something comes up we will call on you"

Sai saw Kabuto leaving the room and took a key.

"Sorry to do this but I'm going to keep this door locked from the outside after all you're….well you understand" he then close the door while locking it with the key.

Meanwhile the team was underground trying to get to the lair Yamato using an earth elemental technique to dive underground.

"Just like I thought it seems their hideout is surrounded by rocks" Yamato said.

"That's nothing I'll just bust it open with my rasengan" Naruto said.

"Hold on if you go and use a showy jutsu like that they'll figure out were here in no time that were here" Sakura said.

"She's right Naruto this is a silent infiltration mission not a loud infiltration mission" Seiryu said.

Hinata activated her byakugan" yes the hideout is just ahead"

"Here we go it's for this kind of hard rock in particular that if you apply just a little force to a small crack" Yamato said while making a crack with his finger he then punch it and the rock broke.

"See just like I said"

They finally enter the lair.

"Well at least we've succeeded with the infiltration part" Sakura said.

"What are going to do now?" Hinata said.

"We'll look for Sai first this way" Yamato said.

"We'll have better luck if we split up let's go Hinata" Seiryu said.

"Right"

"You two be careful" Yamato said.

"Don't worry we swallow your seeds so you know our location"

Seiryu and Hinata took another route of the lair while Yamato, Naruto and Sakura took another route.

"All clear let's move"

Kabuto was walking on one of the long hallways of the lair.

"Well then I better get to work on that AMBU data book I don't need anymore nagging from Orochimaru-sama"

That's when he realized that he left the envelope containing the info on the AMBU members back at the room where he left Sai to stay he chuckle at his foolish mistake.

"Heh if I keep this up I'll probably be told how someone with blood type A would have made a better servant" he started walking again.

In another part of the lair Seiryu and Hinata were walking of course she had her byakugan on to spot any incoming danger this was after all one of Orochimaru's hideout.

"The coast is clear they're no enemies within range" Hinata said.

"That's good this place gives me the creeps it's one of his hideouts and Kami knows what things he might be keeping here" Seiryu said sounding scare.

"What do you mean that?" Hinata said obviously she was confuse at what her friend was talking about.

"Hinata this is Orochimaru were talking about here and he….well he looks like a big homo for all we know he could be having prisoners here willing to do ANYTHING just to please him you already know what I'm talking about"

The Hyuga heiress blush from embarrassment understanding perfectly his message" Seiryu you think he's like that?..."

"Well yeah look at his face it has gay lord written all over it and that long tongue of his eww I don't know how the hell was Sasuke be able to put up with him for three years I couldn't even in a minute"

She chuckle" come on Seiryu we have a mission"

"Right let's go the sooner we find Sai and Sasuke the better"

Suddenly they passed through a closed door Hinata gaze at it with her byakugan.

"If Sai in there?"

"No just a couple of experiments instruments and there's also a dead body"

Seiryu nodded and open the door.

"What are you doing he's not in there"

"I know but it's better to check this room who knows what we'll find we might find something with valuable information "

Hinata nodded while following into the room Seiryu wasn't surprised like Hinata said it was a room with a couple of lab instruments some of them were too old to use; they took another turn in the room when they spotted the dead body. Seiryu felt disgusted the body looked very old like it was ready to turn into dust but what caught both of their attentions was that the body was wearing an Akatsuki cloak.

"It's the body of an Akatsuki member" Hinata said.

"Not just a body but Orochimaru's old body when he was in Akatsuki why in the world would it be here of all places I thought that it was supposed to be back at the sound village?"

"Maybe he was trying to get rid of it"

"Maybe but we are going to retrieve something valuable from this body after all" he said while gazing at a ring in the left little finger with the Kanji word Void written on it he took it from his finger.

"What is that ring?" Hinata said curious.

"It's an Akatsuki ring all members wear one with different symbols although I don't know why and also I'll be taking the cloak too"

"What why?"

"Because Hinata it might become useful in further missions trust me" he then took off the Akatsuki cloak (now that I realize I guess it looks kind of cool to wear a cloak like this)

"Well let's continue our search"

"Right"

Team Kakashi were still waling the hallway and so far they haven't bump into any enemies while looking for Sai.

"Just a little further" Yamato said.

While Sai was checking a book he heard the door to his room being open he knew that it was Kabuto coming back to get the envelope so he put the bag into his backpack. He gaze at the door but gasp not seeing Kabuto but Yamato along with Naruto and Sakura.

"And look who we have here?" Yamato said.

Sai saw that Yamato open the door using one of his fingers turning into a wooden key the young teen gave one of his fakes smile.

"The Hokage controlled AMBU impressive to think that fake corpse wouldn't fool you"

"Why don't you tell us what's going on here?" Yamato said.

Naruto glare at him and grab him by his collar" why did you betray us?"

"You shouldn't make too much noise here it'll mean trouble"

"Why you" he growl.

"Naruto…" Sakura said while holding him in an attempt to calm him down" he's right remember that were in enemy territory so keep your voice down"

The blond nodded but he was still glaring at Sai while Sakura took Sai's book and handed to him.

"Here we found this"

"Thank you" he reply while taking the book deep inside he was glad that he got it back.

"You're here under Danzou's orders right? Dabzou's planning something through working with Orochimaru and you were chosen as a go between" Sakura said (what is he up to?) looking at Sai who was still giving his fake smile.

"He's planning the destruction of Konoha with Orochimaru part two of it right?" Yamato said.

"No actually…" he replied with another fake smile.

"We already know that all of your smiles are fake and the same goes for the lies you force through them" Naruto said.

"My mission ended in failure the moment you found me and I'm not going to be able to take care of the three you by myself so…since you already know so much there isn't much reason to hide things anymore, just as you say we are going to destroy Konoha as it exist today"

"Why you?" Naruto said.

"In order to destroy Konoha I was to gain Orochimaru's favor thus giving us a chance to ally with him that was my true mission" Sai said.

"Atta boy now tell us everything you know" Yamato said while pointing at him with a kunai.

"You…do you realize what you're saying? What it means" Naruto said.

"That's not all"

"I was also supposed to secretly transmit information to Danzou-sama in other words I was also assigned a mission of espionage"

"So the mission was to ally with the enemy only to use and outwit him in the end and that enemy is Orochimaru such a dangerous mission" Sakura said.

"Once Konoha falls Orochimaru is guaranteed to betray us in the end after all my mission was intended to allow us to always stay one step ahead of him"

"Danzou wants to make Konoha his own obviously and you were assigned a mission to make possible a solo mission at that" Sakura said.

"I was singled out due to the special abilities I have information that I write in ink morphs into what are like small animals and protecting themselves from harm they carry the information out to their destination"

"If Konoha becomes the stage of a battle again countless people will die what you're trying to do is going to have very real consequences but do you even understand that" Sakura said upset.

"I don't really care I just follow my orders" Sai said still with his fake smile.

"Sai you're…." Sakura didn't finish.

"Just to let you know Sai is a name that was assigned to me merely for the purposes of this mission in reality I'm nobody I am nothing more than a tool of Dabzou-sama I don't really exist as much no matter what you say to me it means nothing"

"In that case tell me why you care so much about that picture book you carry"

Sai stood quiet in deep thought what Sakura just told him he was still holding his book.

"The two children on the covers that's you and your brother right? you carry that because it is the thing left that proves you really do exist am I not right? you have yet to truly get rid of your emotions despite what you say, even for us ninjas abandoning our emotions it's completely impossible"

"Please explain why carrying this picture book would serve to prove my existence….?"

"The reason why you refuse to let go of that book is precisely because you find yourself unable to forget your existence as somebody's brother do you understand why? It's because your bonds with your brother are that important to you. The reality is you don't want to erase the bonds that formed between you and your brother"

"Bonds…" Sai reply softly.

"Sorry to say but we took a little peek at the contents of that book the pictures of the two pages in the center is the only part of the book that is unfinished" Yamato said" judging from the rest of the book you would end up fighting your brother on those center pages Sai I know that you were part of AMBU roots and I know that Danzou has given you special training in order to relieve you of your emotions, training identical to that of the forsaken tradition that was once practiced in the village of the bloody mist Sai your brother was killed by none other than……Orochimaru"

"You're wrong….." Sai said" I had intended to give this book as a present to my brother but just when I was about to complete it my brother he died of an illness…we weren't connected by blood but he did compliment me on my drawings quite a bit, roots was filled with a great number of children that had been separated by their families due to battles and of those children I became close to one calling him my brother of this picture book I wanted to show my brother the most the one in the center I….after my brother died I just can't to see what I was planning on drawing"

In another part of the hideout Kabuto was checking every room for any sign of intruder it seems that they might have some unwanted guest it was priority to find them and eliminate them on the spot. Seiryu and Hinata took another corner in the long hallway until she gasp in shock she took the black hair teen and lead him to one of the rooms closing the door slightly.

"What's wrong?" Seiryu said.

"Someone's coming we have to hide"

The immediately went under the bed when Kabuto was about to open the door he notice that it was open that was enough to suspect that there was somebody inside the room, he opens the door checking the empty room. He walked inside and look at every direction even up he finally saw the bed and gave a wicked grin as he took a kunai and look beneath the bed but there was no one he took one last gaze at the room before leaving and locking the door from the outside. Suddenly a splash of water appeared forming into Seiryu and Hinata they sighed in relief.

"Phew that was a quick thinking using the water replacement jutsu Hinata"

"Thanks Seiryu but now were trap inside this room what are we going to now?"

"First thing first check with your byakugan if there's no one around"

She nodded and activated her bloodline once she saw that there was no sight from the sound medic ninja she felt relief.

"No looks like he's gone"

"Al right then time to leave from this place" he unsheathed Celsius using its power to freeze the door.

He punched it making a soft crackling sound.

"Come on let's go"

Hinata nodded and followed him out of the room.

Outside of the lair team Kakashi took Sai and he was tied up and Yamato created a wood clone.

"Unfortunately Sai were going to leave you here with my wood clone watching over you" Yamato said.

"Now to get back to what we came here for" Naruto said" it's time to rescue Sasuke"

"It'd be better if you save up now I met with Sasuke-kun Orochimaru is going to be with him the whole time if you continue to go after him the best you'll manage is to be torn to pieces and turn into guinea pigs, besides Sasuke-kun said he doesn't care about you anymore Sakura-san said that you care for Sasuke-kun as though he were your own brother and despite that do you really intend to go up against Orochimaru of all people just for him you're going to put your life on the line to bring him back?" Sai said.

"But why it's not like you were ordered to do this"

"First of all Seiryu is my new brother but still he's my friend he's a member of team seven and although he told me that he broke our bonds of friendship I want to rebuild those bonds and make them stronger than ever never to be broken" Naruto said.

Sakura smile at him always loyal to his friends no matter what and of course she blush a little.

"Once my clone is ready were going" Yamato said.

Suddenly a couple of kunais were thrown at them and the three dodge them they saw Kabuto getting near Sai.

"Sai judging from your situation I supposed this means you were captured since it doesn't seem you've betrayed us yet I'll trust you for now" he use chakra in his hand cutting the ropes and setting Sai free.

"Thus guys just doesn't give up" Sakura said.

"If you two are going to get in my way then I'm not going to hold back" Naruto said.

Two Naruto clones were above Kabuto and they have prepared rasengan as the clone charge at him Kabuto kick him like hitting a fly.

"So pointless"

"Fights aren't decided till the very end and were just getting started"

"No no that's not what I'm talking about watching you makes me truly pity you, people change Sasuke is no longer the Sasuke you used to know"

Kabuto was caught by surprise as Sai grab both of his arms from behind.

"What the?"

"What are you doing?" Kabuto said.

"You said people change and here I am" Sai said.

"But there are also things that don't change"

"Sai what are…" Naruto said.

"Bonds I want to see what they're really made off"

"Sai" Sakura said.

Yamato used his wood clone to tied Kabuto up.

"Sai I just keep him still like that" Yamato said.

"Sai why did you…" Naruto said.

"Why is it that you place so much value in the bonds between you and Sasuke-kun what exactly are those bonds you speak off I decided I need to know the answers to these questions myself according to the two of you I've been unable to get rid of the bonds that formed between and my brother, if those bonds are so important to me then I might be able to figure something out if I see the bonds between you and Sasuke that's all"

Suddenly Kabuto started chuckling.

"What's so funny?" Sakura said.

"The four of you don't know the real Sasuke-kun"

"Tell us where Sasuke is?" Yamato said.

"He should be done with his training about now back in his inner chamber there are a large numbers of doors strewn through the lair if you end up looking in each as you go you might find him, still if you aren't careful you might came upon a snake as well Orochimaru keeps his quarters in the same area after all"

"I thank you for being so honest" Yamato said.

"Oh no shouldn't be thanking me" Kabuto said.

"You expect us the hunters to become the prey?" Yamato said.

"Precisely"

"Now now just like Naruto said fights aren't decided till the very end let's go back inside Seiryu and Hinata are still searching in the lair"

They went back inside leaving the tied up Kabuto behind they reach the same spot when they first arrived at the lair.

We'll split into two teams like Seiryu and Hinata to search for Sasuke Sakura and I will form one and Naruto and Sai will form the other" Yamato said" if something up occurs focus your chakra that will eb enough to produce a reaction by the seeds in your bodies I'll be here for you at a moment notices"

The team separate in other to search for Sasuke.

(I hope Seiryu and Hinata have had better luck than us) Yamato thought.

Seiryu and Hinata were still searching all of the rooms of the lair and so far they haven't found anything they hope that they could find Sai or Sasuke soon. Hinata was using her byakugan through the rooms and she hasn't found anything yet the search was getting a bit irritating. They took another turn and that's when they gasp meeting someone they weren't expecting to meet.

"My my what's the hurry are you searching for something….or rather someone?" Orochimaru said.

(Crap it's the homo king damn I wasn't expecting to meet him yet)

"Were in a hurry so please let us pass?" Hinata said while Seiryu sweat dropped.

"It seems the rats have followed us after all no need to worry" he said with a wicked grin.

"Looks like we have no choice but to fight" Seiryu said.

Hinata nodded and unsheathed Undine the same with Seiryu drawing Celsius.

Elsewhere

Naruto open a door to one of the rooms" isn't here either"

"That's it for the rooms in this floor" Sai said" let's go into the next"

"Yeah"

Naruto then trip and started feeling weak while Sai went to him.

"Naruto-kun we've already split into two teams to do the search we can rest so there is no need to worry"

"Like I care I can't rest at a time like this Sasuke is just a little bit…." He growl (damn the damage from when the Kiubi took over is still…)

Sai help him got up and they both lean on the wall from one of the hallways.

"Oh jezz you two are so alike" Sai said while taking his book" you and my brother I mean he was loud inpatient unrefined and his peni….well it doesn't matter but still yeah just like you he took on anything he did with everything he had watching you brings back memories of….." he then paused and wrote something on the book.

"Is what?" Naruto said.

"I remember what I was trying to…."

Naruto saw that Sai has finish drawing the last page in his book it was his brother holding hands with him

"I wanted to show my brother this picture of our dream"

They gasp seeing Orochimaru standing in front of them.

"Well Sai which side are you on?"

Back with Seiryu and Hinata

"Ah yes I finally remember I suspected I have seen your face before" Orochimaru said.

"Yeah you saw me back at the bridge" Seiryu said with a sweat dropped.

"No I have seen you from somewhere I remember since you're from mist that means Akatsuki is after you"

He gasp (no he knows I'm a jinchuuriki)

Hinata was a little confused at this she gaze at her friend before looking back at Orochimaru.

"How do you know?"

"Aren't you forgetting I used to be a member of Akatsuki back when I was with them we have been gathering data on all of the jinchuuriki and that's when I saw your face Suijin Seiryu so I will leave you you have no choice but to fight and defeat Akatsuki because they're after you and at the same time you will be helping me by defeating them farewell" his whole body turn into a couple of snakes.

"What he was a clone" Seiryu said" come on Hinata let's keep searching I have a feeling that Sasuke is near" he was about to run until Hinata grab him by his wrist" Hinata what's wrong?"

"Enough Seiryu no more lying" she said in a angry tone.

"What are you talking about?"

"It's time that you tell me the truth the truth you have been hiding from me for three years"

"Hinata I still don't get what you're trying to say"

"Why did Orochimaru called you a jinchuuriki does it have to with the people of the mist village glaring at you and hating you"

"Hinata this isn't the time or the place for this"

"No TELL ME NOW" she said angry" you're not going to hide this from me any longer I have had it"

Seiryu look into her pale eyes and she was angry he knew that one day he will have to tell her the horrible truth and now she couldn't have pick a better time for him, there was no more hiding now by telling her his worst fear will come true.

(Damn why the hell did Orochimaru have to leave I would have been able to avoid this)

To be continued

Yeah this was a good cliffhanger I hope I leave you guys hanging anyway review until next time farewell.

Next chapter: The awaited reunion