Chapter 36: Lost Revenge
"…Her curse mark has been asleep…"
Where am I…? Everything is dark… I can hear voices…
"…Reactivate the…"
My mind feels foggy… What happened? I try to move. I'm not able to move… Am I paralyzed?
"…Maybe it'll get stronger with the activation…"
Who's talking? What are they talking about? I have a bad feeling about this. I need to get out of here. I… can't move! More like… I can't feel my body. I open my eyes and I try to look around. I see… Orochimaru and Kabuto. I'm lying down? No… Please, not again! I don't want to be tested on! Get me out of here! Gaara… save me…
Orochimaru: "I see you're finally awake."
Kabuto: "Don't try to struggle, I've injected you with a paralysis poison."
I can't even move my mouth. All I can do is control my eyes which make me realize the kind of mess I'm in. What are they going to do to me this time…? I just wish I could get out of here. Did Lady Tsunade get my message? I know that Ragon, the snake I sent, would be able to locate me. I just hope he made it there safely… and fast enough.
Orochimaru: "Prepare the ritual, Kabuto."
Kabuto: "Yes, Lord Orochimaru."
What ritual? I heard them talking about my curse mark being asleep. Are they planning on doing to me the same thing they did to Sasuke? Taking the curse mark to the second level? What's the point? I'm starting to feel less numb… I can move my lips a little…
"W… What… are… you…"
Kabuto: "Impressive. Your body is pretty good at fighting poisons. No wonder you're Orochimaru's daughter."
"What… are you going to… do to me?"
Orochimaru: "I just want to test my theory, dear. If I'm correct, when I awaken your curse mark and upgrade it, the Shinju inside will also grow. I noticed that it's still as small and pitiful as when I first injected you with it. But this will all change."
Kabuto: "We're ready to proceed, Lord Orochimaru."
Orochimaru: "Good. Let us begin."
I still can't move! I can't let them do this. If this goes wrong I can die or worse, become a threat to people I care about. If I lose control over the Shinju… If it becomes stronger…
Kabuto lifts me and puts me in the middle of a ritual circle.
"Don't… You'll regret it…"
Kabuto: "We'll see about that."
A few moments pass and suddenly, I start feeling my curse mark burning. The intensifies beyond any I've ever even imagined. It hurts! It hurts so much! It's so painful that I can't even scream. My eyes roll back, my mouth is widely open and I start drooling. I feel my consciousness fading. Someone… Please… Get me out of here…
I open my eyes. I feel sore… I look around. Where am I? Prison…? Why am I in a cell?
"So in the end, you were captured."
Who said that? I see someone's feet approaching the cell. I look up and…
"Sasuke!"
Sasuke: "Look at what you've been reduced to…"
I get up on my wobbly feet. I go towards the metal bars separating me from Sasuke. I touch them and, immediately, an electric shock travels all through my body.
"Ah…"
Sasuke: "Do you really think that they'd put you in there without any prevention?"
"Sasuke… I know you're not our ally anymore, but… please help me get out of here."
Sasuke: "Why would I?"
"A rescue team will be on its way soon. If you don't want to get involved in the mess, you should help me get out before they get here."
Sasuke: "How would they find you?"
"I made sure they would."
This is partly a bluff, because I still don't know if my message reached them… Let's hope he buys it.
Sasuke: "Clever."
"Why are you here anyway?"
Sasuke: "I came here to tell you that your revenge on Orochimaru will not be fulfilled."
"Why…?"
Sasuke: "I already killed him."
What…? Orochimaru's… dead?
"You're… lying…"
Sasuke: "Not really. I'm also here to let go of all the prisoners he kept."
With that, he slashes open my prison with his sword.
Sasuke: "I'll be on my way. Don't you dare follow me or I'll kill you."
I can't believe this… Orochimaru's dead? But then… How am I supposed to get rid of this curse mark? Why would Sasuke kill Orochimaru? Is this really it? Why don't I feel relieved? I still sense his presence everywhere… like he's not fully gone yet. Sasuke probably figured out something that I still don't know. I should look around this hideout. I'll probably find some answers here. I still feel weak… I hope there won't be too many traps around here. If Orochimaru's dead, how about Kabuto? Did he escape? If I ever see that bastard again, I'll personally take his life.