Chapter 50: Awakening
Gaara and Temari fall asleep. I'm starting to feel sleepy too… I finally end up closing my eyes and letting go…
Wind…?
Did we leave the windows open…?
I'm pretty sure they were closed…
I should check what's happening…
I open my eyes and realize that the windows were indeed open. I chase off all the sleepiness and get up to close them. As I get closer to them, I find a paper pinned to the window frame with a kunai. The windows were opened from the outside… Someone is messing with us…
I take the paper and when I open it, white snake scales fall out. I know who put this letter here… It's Kabuto… He's still following me.
I open the letter and start reading the content.
Come out alone by dawn. Get as far away from everyone as possible. If you don't, let's say the Five Kage Summit will not go as smoothly as you wish. Don't tell anyone.
Now that's a new low. He's threatening me? The Five Kage Summit is Gaara's first… I can't let anything happen to disrupt it… I guess I really don't have a choice. How am I going to tell Gaara…? I can't just disappear like that, he'll get suspicious. I'll write him a letter telling him that there was an emergency at Konoha. I don't want him to be worried during tomorrow's meeting. I'll tell him everything after everything is sorted out. I'll make sure I get rid of Kabuto once and for all.
After writing the letter, I look at Gaara's sleeping face for a bit.
I'm so sorry Gaara… I wish I could be with you… But I have no choice…
I get up and jump out the window. I head for the town's exit. I go as fast I can. The earlier I get there, the faster I'll take care of things. This is considered part of my mission to protect Gaara. I'll do anything to keep him safe.
I go into the snowy forest and keep going. Kabuto will stop me when he feels that I'm far enough.
I've going for about an hour. I know I'm going right into a trap. What choice did I have?
Kabuto: "I guess you can stop running now."
I turn around and find Kabuto right behind me. When did he get there? How did I not even notice him following me?
Before I could do anything, the white snake that seems to be a part of him wraps around me and bites my shoulder.
"Don't you know that I'm immune to snake…"
What… is this? I… can't move…!
Kabuto: "I'm the one who experimented on you with Lord Orochimaru. I know what you're immune to and what your weaknesses are. I developed an especially powerful paralysis poison that affects even you. Now… You'll start to lose your consciousness soon…"
My vision is blurring… This poison is too strong… I can't… get away… Gaara… I'm sorry…
I wake up to an indescribable pain. I feel like my whole body is burning! What's happening to me? Where am I?
Kabuto: "So you're awake."
"Kabuto! What are you doing?"
Kabuto: "Extracting Lord Orochimaru's chakra. Don't worry, the pain will make you faint soon."
"Let me go!"
Kabuto: "Not a chance…"
My curse mark! It's burning so much! It's so painful that I can't even scream…!
My whole body… It's like he's sucking the life force out of me!
Is this really the end…?
It can't be…
Gaara… We just recently realized our feelings for each other…
This can't be happening…
I feel tears welling up in my eyes.
Kabuto: "A ninja crying? I never would've thought that could ever happen to you of all people."
Kabuto lets out a small laugh.
I hate him… Hate him for taking me away from Gaara… Hate him for making me go through this… Hate him for treating me like this… I hate him… I hate him… Hate… Hate…
I feel something moving in my stomach. Something extremely powerful. I start seeing everything in red.
Kabuto: "What? But the Shinju shouldn't be able to be this powerful!"
A cloak of red chakra envelops me.
I don't remember much of what happened after. All I remember is hearing Kabuto say that Orochimaru must've inserted something in me without letting him know. I guess even Orochimaru didn't fully trust Kabuto. I also remember that Kabuto got away… Then…
I open my eyes and find myself in a forest. What happened…? I don't recognize this place…
Looking around, I start slowly remembering what happened. The Shinju woke up and Kabuto ran away. Then… I ran away from the hideout. My curse mark! I don't feel it anymore! Is it… gone? Kabuto took Orochimaru's power from within me… Is that what triggered the Shinju's awakening?
I have to admit this chapter was one of the shorter ones... I'm feeling really lazy lately on top of being busy :(
I'll try to keep updating as fast as I can. :D
