Okay, so lets start this next update with a short A/n over some topics. First I had this beta'd by a friend. I've given it a quick look over, but after having to juggle multiple different word processors because FF is archaic af I realized I just don't care enough and even have the time to do so much bending over backwards, its as cleaned up as it can be.
Secondly, over the years, I've noticed alot of the reviews are frustration over the eyes. I really shouldn't have to explain myself, but I will to alleviate the issues. No, he isn't going to just up and get different eyes. The fact that so many of the eye transplant scenarios in the manga/anime that occurred had ZERO issues is mind boggling. No infection? No loss of visibility? Rin was only a chunin and she gave Kakashi, Obito's eye and managed to use it immediately after? Bullshit. Madara just slapping eyes in? Ok, sure you probably have the medical jutsu and prowess in that brain of yours, but thats not going to magically make it easier to experience it like it was yours all the time. There's also the fact that organ transplant rejection is very much a thing.
Some of you most likely noticed that this is a more deadly and as likely cliche it is to say it, realistic, it is in fact that. Yes everyone can do crazy shit, but flesh is flesh and it will take time to recover from wounds and ailments both temperary and permanent. Otherwise I could just have Naruto become a juggernaut that just outlasts everyone because I never write him being tuckered out. So no, he's not getting new eyes, not for a LOOONG while if at all. What is the point in injuring a character for development if I just turn around and undo it and heavens forbid! I give him Sharingan! NO.
I've done a bit of revision in the previous chapters, not much, but some significant plot points have been added, especially the change to Kurai's physical being. It was something that I wanted to depict from the initial stages of planning this story. So give it all a quick reread, cus it will absolutely impact the rest of the story. Now, ranting over, please enjoy my latest chapter. There's a bit of monster hunter in here for y'all that are fans of the series. Fav, follow, and review please and thanks.
Roaring thunder rolled across the chasm and the sunless skies above. Rushing water matched with its own outcry as it tumbled through the river in the ravine. Barely audible amidst the other noises a gasp could be heard.
With sharp breathing the young woman blinked her eyes clear, stars and dirt covering her vision. The down pour of earlier had lessened ever so slightly, but she was still hard pressed to make out her current location. Moving her head, she recoiled in pain. The action quickly turned into a mistake as her body was struck this time not by lightning, but agonizing pain as if it were struck again.
Reaching a shivering hand she let her fingers creep across her blood soaked torso intent on teasing the edges of her injury in inquiry and assessment.
Unable to control her digits properly due to the current state of her nervous system, her hand slipped into the bloody wound.
She cried out in agonizing pain as her mind finally caught up with her body. The burning of her nerves made her want to vomit, and the stabbing pain of her abdomen left her head lighter than a feather. The pain rushed back and forth across her body however, grounding her in the moment, a cycle of anguish looping through herself like waves crashing on a beach.
The pain ebbed only slightly, rolling to her right side she ran a quick diagnosis on her self.
'It pierced me? That fucker has some hell of an affinity,' she mused to herself.
Grunting and gritting her teeth she sat her self forward. Her mind ran through damage control ideas. Glancing to the water rushing next to her she frowned.
Rolling over her self ever so much, she crawled to the torrents edge.
'No time for giving in now, Motoko.'
The ravenette grasped at the tatters of her blouse before tearing it off exposing her torso fully to the elements. Upon her pale skin one could see a spattering of blemishes staining her skin, red streams of watered down blood crossing here and there.
Grimacing at her own state of health she washed the ruined clothing as best as she could.
'Least they cushioned the blow...' she joked to herself, put off by the state of her body.
As happy as she could be in her predicament she wrapped the cloth around her arm temporarily, before cupping her hands and proceeded to gingerly clean her abdomen. Taking caution with the holes in her flesh she grunted and repositioned her self.
Glancing around herself she unraveled the fabric around her left arm, using it to instead wrap up her abs. With a painful exhale she tugged one last time on the makeshift bandage. Like sharpened knives the pain stabbed into her, and she let out a muffled scream.
"FUCK!"
Laying her back against the flat of the rocks beneath her she rested her right arm across her unprotected bust. Closing her eyes she began to collect her thoughts.
'I need to get back to Kusa and stay away from those four bastards.'
With another push of effort she pulled her self up before setting out.
'Rest in piece Kurosawa. May Kami take your soul gently.'
"This rain is ridiculous sensei!"
Kakashi's face sunk in a dejected fashion.
"Now, now, if you were as fast as our ANBU accompaniment we wouldn't be in this situation."
He turned to Sakura with an sly eye, mocking her lightly.
At first angry at the response, she instead grew merely bitter and sagged her shoulders.
Next to them Naruto continued reading the forest ahead of him, his team leaping from branch to branch.
He could faintly feel the ANBU squad up ahead of him, smoothly transitioning from tree to tree with minimal exertion.
Mid thought he was broken from his thoughts as the ANBU broke formation and scattered, one retreating to them.
Naruto pointed forward from beneath his cloak.
"Kakashi, I think we have trouble."
The silver haired jonin turned his head towards his students direction. Sure enough not much later, one of the ANBU rejoined them.
"Hatake-san, we need to deviate from our original path..."
The man's words fell away as Naruto's head became filled with deep muttering, like indecipherable chanting of a choir was playing in his head.
Clutching his head, his scarred eyes widened as he felt it, faint and almost as if it never reached the furthest tips of his reach. Looking up into the clouds above him, Naruto nearly slipped off the branch he stood atop.
"What in the hell is that?!"
Kakashi strained his one visible eye, trying to see what Naruto had recoiled from.
Then he saw it for himself.
"RUN! NOW!"
Leaping from his position Kakashi shot past Sasuke, the genin still on edge at his teams conversation, and scooped up Sakura before slinging her surprised figure over his shoulder.
"Kakashi whats going on?"
As if to answer his own words a terrifying roar rolled through the sky like thunder.
"There hasn't been a sighting of one in countless ages..." Kakashi muttered to himself. He was ridden in disbelief.
Sasuke ducked under a branch, eyes furrowed as the rain increased ever more.
"One of what?!"
The ANBU member joined Sasuke's position at his side. The rain pelted the man's mask as he looked Sasuke in the eyes.
"Amatsumagatsuchi."
The word put Kakashi further on edge. As the squad plus another continued to flee Naruto's head filled with more and more chanting.
"Amaga what?"
If Sasuke didn't know better he'd have sworn he heard the ANBU chuckle at the question.
"Right it's not so common these days is it... Ama-tsu-maga-tsu-chi."
Kakashi picked up after the ANBU, "It's an Elder Dragon Sasuke, a very rare, very dangerous caste of creature up there with boss summons."
"Point of fact Hatake-san, most summons are thought to have originated from much older and terrifying members like this creature above us. But to think some still exi-"
The ANBU's words came to a sudden stop as the group heard a wet thunk as Naruto's body fell from the trees and slammed into a lower branch, the redhead having slipped from lack of concentration.
Slumping up against the tree's trunk Naruto kept his hand to his head, pressure building along side the idnecipherable sounds.
As if a switch was flipped however it cleared. Instead filling his mind with a deep masculine voice that boomed.
'I can smell you, wielder of the darkness. You cannot run from me, your destiny is at hand, and my summoner will run from me no further.'
'You...you were the thing from my dream, you tried to reach me from my sleep.'
Kakashi knelt down to Naruto trying to shake the redhead from his stupor, unaware of any conversation taking place.
'Indeed, I was awoken from my slumber twelve years prior to this moment we share. The power of light and dark are out of sync. Kami herself has demanded that it be restored!'
Naruto raised a figurative eyebrow at the religious zeal this beast had.
'Kami, you're kidding right?'
The dragon was less then amused.
'I am quite serious, bearer of darkness. The goddess once watched over all of humanity, blessing your kind with countless boons prosperity. I am not here to enlighten you of this world's history.'
The rain started to lessened as did the sky serpent's volume, as if falling away.
'In the Land of Blades you will find an individual that carries my mark. Seek them and claim my powers. Farewell dark bearer.'
Before Naruto could question the creature the pressure faded from his mind and the world's touch returned to him. He felt Kakashi's hand on his shoulder.
Shaking his head, he lightly brushed Kakash's hand away.
"I'm fine... that thing it... it spoke to me." The genin then gestured to his head, hands shaking slightly.
The intrigued Kakashi just nodded at the teen and helped him to his feet.
"Hmmm well Amatsumagatsuchi has disappeared to who knows where while you were out of it. I think we should take a breather, today has been quite the day. What do you think Chameleon-san?"
Meeting Kakashi's gaze he nodded before stepping back and gazing up at the canopy. Seeing an opening in the leaves he sped through hand seals, and with a mighty exhale a string of fire balls shot off into the waning storm.
Not much later a burst of lightning strikes responded far off. Nodding with satisfaction the masked shinobi, stepped back onto the same branch as Team 7.
"I signaled them our location, and got confirmation, til then rest up. Doubt anyone can say they got to stand right underneath an Elder Dragon and lived to tell the tale."
Sasuke scoffed at the notion, "Last I checked I accepted a mission to help an ally village, not get stalked by a lizard the size of my clan's lake."
Sakura nodded in agreement. The situation still settling in her mind as her eyes ran over her sensei and Naruto off to the side.
The redhead looked like her father during the morning after a fun night of drinking with his pals. Hungover and sick as hell.
As if reading her mind the boy leaned over the tree branch and emptied his stomach towards the forest floor. Pouting she unslung her travel pack, rummaging through it until she eventually found what she was looking for.
Closing the pack she lept onto the branch shared by Naruto and Kakashi. Kneeling she reached for, gently so, his wrist and put a canteen with a small blue cross into his hands.
"This should settle your stomach and soothe whatever is hurting your head."
Hesitant Naruto uncapped the container and sniffed. It was a tea of some kind, but there was an underlying scent. Not dangerous he was sure, but off putting for certain if one were to linger on it.
Sakura giggled, noticing her teammate recoil slightly.
"It's a family recipe for hangovers that's been in my father's family for generations. I spruced it up a bit by adding a medicinal cocktail to it."
Taking on a look of thought, she nodded to herself. "It shouldn't taste to bad, and it helps with all sorts of issues internally, like helping ulcers heal, providing basic nutrition, and some other stuff that aids in performance."
Naruto 'looked' at Sakura then back at the canteen before chugging it down. He nodded thanks to his pink haired companion, and passed the bottle back.
The red head would be lying if he said he didn't feel better already.
Having rested for some time, the Konoha shinobi once again resumed travel.
After some time the group found themselves at an impasse, a large ravine running itself across their path. The rain had ceased for a moment, but one could still hear the rushing water beneath them.
Sakura nervously chuckled at the wonderous sight. "We're not gonna jump this...are we?"
Sasuke hmphed to the question. "It's not that far Sakura."
Kakashi saved his hand in dismissal at the proposition.
"No we won't be doing something so dangerous, with the storm the edges of the chasm would surely be risky. Wouldn't want one of my precious genin to fall to such an untimely death after all."
Naruto unwilling to stretch his sight as far as possible, took their words at face value. He couldn't readily see the other side of the cliff face he stood on and that was enough for him to not take an unhealthy interest in plummeting to his death.
Grabbing their attention one of the ANBU walked forward, porcelain ox mask dull in the budding sunlight. The second tallest of the squad gestured towards Kusa's general direction along the ravine.
"Tapir managed to find some indicators up ahead that might indicate a fight of some sort. With the weather being as bad as it has, we figure it's best to alert you to a potential threat, as skeptical as bear and owl are."
Kakashi stroked his chin. The possibility of rogues wasn't out of the question. It was unlikely to be Kusa shinobi with their current situation.
It was certainly an oddity, but he'd be throwing away all of his experience if he denied that the life of a shinobi wasn't ride with unknown and ever persistent dangers.
Kakashi gave ox a look, "Understood, alright Team 7 keeps your wits about you."
A trio of nods were his response.
Almost woven into the sound itself, the squad of black clad figures leapt nimbly from surface to surface, white masks gleaming in the sun light.
One of them gave a hand signal and the group stopped on a dime. The very same member kneeled down on his very position, gloved hand running across the dirt and mud.
Not a word was said as he raised a tattered strip of cloth to the rest of the team in presentation.
A trio of nods met his action.
However before the team lead could make another move the mud beneath his feet erupted without warning.
Pale white arms reached from the grounds mouth and drug the assailant to their presumed death.
Motoko's half baked form towered over the late assassin's grave. Mud caked her porcelain body, but even so one could clearly see the red markings shooting across her torso. The hellish markings reached between her breasts and grasped at the wound in her abdomen. A sealing array slowly twirled around the opening, dancing at the edges of her mortality.
Following the seal back up it's jagged lines, the marks formed a crest around her eyes, that of which were now a very well know image.
Two fully matured Sharingan blazed with fury and impatience.
"Fuck you, fuck your tracking and fuck your Hokage!"
With nary a moment to react the ravenette was set upon the closest ANBU operative, fist of fury planting itself into the guard of the shortest member. The other two ANBU rushed her not hesitating in the slightest. One directly from her rear, the other leaping for the sky kunai streaking through the air towards their target.
The shortest of the trio somersaulted away from Motoko's amped up assault. Kunai harmlessly sunk their fangs into the muddy floor of the ravine. Motoko's unhinged attack turned towards the now closest ANBU, her leg lashed out into the figure's shoulder. The following sound could be heard by all present as the bone gave way under the impact. Rolling with force the ANBU braced them self as they struck the ravine wall, left dazed however they struggled to stand immediately.
Now landing near Motoko, the third attacker pulled back their fist as a glint in the air flashed, the drawing on the faintest of signals Motoko's eyes still caught the pathing of the impending danger presented to her. A puff of smoke covered the trap casting ANBU's eyes, when it cleared the now headless figure of the dazed ANBU member met their gaze.
At the instant the body crumpled, Motoko attempted to grab the trap caster's legs as she had the first of the four. Either more agile or more aware with adrenaline the trap caster not only avoided the kunoichi's grasp, but retaliated. Grabbing her wrist the man tugged her from the mud and rock before launching her at his sole remaining ally.
The ANBU in question had her blade ready for a death blow, instead however Motoko used her Sharingan to read the blade's angle, kicking an eruption of stone and debris with enough force her body twisted before being skewered.
All of this happening within a few moments the blade bearing ANBU wasn't prepared for the split second reaction as Motoko bore the pain of a second stabbing, and instead took her new victim's arm in hand, placed her foot to their shoulder and pulled.
The mud at their feet was covered with precious life blood as Motoko took the ANBU's now misplaced arm and discarded it. In shock the brunette assassin stumbled away from Motoko towards their appendage of yore.
The trap caster however had not been sitting idly, leaping after his human projectile he was met with the after math of the blood bath as Motoko turned on the last functional assassin.
A newly brandished Kunai found itself thrust into the ravenette's back. Having turned a mite too short, the shining metal slid through her skin and back out, a glancing blow.
The ANBU being now clearly faster then the rest of his cohorts, swapped hands with which that metal implement was held. Lightning chakra sparked from the weapon as it sliced up her back, missing her spine but casting a Lichtenberg scar across Motoko's skin.
Following shortly after with her Seal flaring brightly on her skin, Motoko's turning finished The woman's eyes blazing red, but not the same colour as the blood that sprayed forth from the ANBU's neck, her hand rigid and deeply thirst forth into his throat.
Clearly a cut above the rest the ANBU did not topple over at the onset of the wound. Instead he grabbed the appendage and leveraged the limb against Motoko, pulling another kunai out and jabbing it forward at her head.
In that same moment Motoko's Sharingan allowed her to perceive the attack like child's play. Her free hand shot up, almost too slow, intercepting the blade with her palm.
As fast as the blink of an eye, the woman fisted the ANBU's grip, used her foot to swiftly kicked the side of their left knee. Ruining they're balance and bringing their height lower. With that action finished it was followed by Motoko using her now free arm to chop into the ANBU's elbow, allowing her left hand to slam the kunai into the ANBU's temple against their will.
Firmly she made sure the kunai was deeply embedded before pulling it out and removing her wounded hand. She then shoved the man's body away from her, the corpse seemingly defying gravity and thus fighting death yet more before it toppled.
Eyes darting around she found the injured ANBU dead, shock having done them in, arm clutched to their bosom.
Chest expanding and compressing with rapid breaths her body moved on auto pilot towards her home. Not five steps away from the fight, the seal across her bare torso shattered away from her like glass. All the wounds thus far collected, once held in a stasis of sorts, began to take their toll from Motoko's body.
The makeshift bandage that once held her together was now drenched with her life. Falling to her knees she was unconscious before she collapsed on her side.
All forms of creatures having long since ran for self preservation left the drained ravine disturbingly quiet making it easy for one to hear the sound of approaching foot steps.
Leading the group of 8, Bear slowly approached the battle field remains.
"Seems you were right Bear-san, there were people ahead of us, and the sounds of battle were this engagement."
Bear nodded to Kakashi's remark. The towering shinobi surveyed the deceased ANBU members. It wasnt unheard of to come across other squads out in the wild. What perturbed him was that this wasn't a squad he'd dispatched. As acting Commander while Crow was on leave, he'd been the one to send all 8 standing squads to their current objectives. The most likely to be completed first still weeks away from check in.
None of which were even remotely close to Kusa disregarding that fact.
Making a cross with his fingers he created a Shadow Clone, sending them to inspect the dead individuals.
Naruto slowly joined the man at his side as the Shadow Clone slowly searched through the corpses for important dossiers or any other sort of valuable intel that could be stripped from their person.
Naruto stretched his senses over the blood soaked floor, he could feel the corpse stuck in the rock beneath them.
As his energy reached the half naked woman his eyes narrowed. She was very nearly dead, easily enough to miss by any traditional observation. He however could feel the spark of life in her heart, refusing to give up but not enough chakra or bodily energy to fuel it back past it's point.
Curious though cautious, he raised his hands as he kneeled next to her. Rolling her over he paused for a second at the sight of her vulnerable person. She was clearly attractive and her bust was rather well endowed. Moving away from hormonal adolescent thoughts he took a deep breath before casting the Mystic Palm jutsu. Placing his hands carefully between her breasts he began funneling healing chakra into her body.
Grimacing at the flares of crimson around the green shimmering aura he grit his teeth as he fought off the Kyuubi's interference.
'You're timing is garbage fox.'
Pushing the presence of the beast from his mind and focusing intently on positive emotions the crimson started fading away. Thoughts of Kurai brought a hint of a smile to his face even.
Sakura's eyes widened as she saw the wounds and bruises slowly diminish as the medical ninjutsu worked it's power through her aches and ailments. Though they never truly went away they were a sight better.
A faint colouration returned to her skin as blood cells refilled her veins, certainly nothing significant but far better then worse. Naruto removed his hands scanning her 'spark of life' and noticed it was brighter then before.
Adjusting his neck with some head movements he resumed his work placing his hands around the fist sized wound in her abdomen. Knitting the flesh together and doing his best to maintain the proper positioning of her innards, his brow began to sweat into his head band.
Learning minor medical jutsu from Tetsuo may have been a pain, but he'd be damned if he didn't consider it useful now. He did however scoff at the thought healing anyone from the Leaf.
With another few moments passing he idly noticed Sakura sitting on her knees next to him as she watched his ministrations. She'd always been interested in medicine and the history of healing, personally being in awe of the Sannin Tsunade Senju and her prowess in the means of helping the human body persist against death and it's devices.
Seeing her team member capable, or at least appearing capable, of utilizing healing ninjutsu reduced the animosity she had for the redhead, instead impressing her.
The wounds setting in their final state of repair Naruto leaned backwards, the rewards of exhaustion teasing at the fringes of his mind. Letting out a breath in satisfaction, he reached towards the woman in preparation of rolling her on her side, the tattered remnant of clothing covering her nether regions fell away from her. Blushing at the state of undress he swallowed before steeling his emotions.
Sakura narrowed her eyes watching Naruto's hands carefully, ready to wallop him across the back of his head if he got too familiar with the stranger. Her worries were struck from her mind when the hand Naruto had reached out with was grasped at the wrist before being yanked forward in the blink of an eye. Embarrassment being the last thing on his mind, Naruto found his face placed against her womanhood as he struggled against the Triangle choke he was placed in.
Anger welled up in him as adrenaline pumped through his veins. Water uncorked from it's crystal container as he gripped at her derriere and the ground beneath her trying to release himself from her clutches.
Motoko's grip tightened as she felt his fingers probe and prod her flesh trying to find a hold to free himself. Her eyes darted frantically as she gazed around trying to resist the sensations of the redheads struggles against her sensitive parts, and the suffocating presence of exhaustion that wracked her body as an effect of the Death seal she'd written upon herself. A seal that should have killed her.
Obviously fatigued, her mind deprived and suffering a loss of energy, slowly Motoko's grip weakened before she fell unconcious, water touching against her skin, nearly wrapping around her joints and neck.
Breaking free from between her legs Naruto, scrambled from the woman's body. On guard and ready for a follow up his chest heaved as he struggled to get oxygen back into his body rapidly.
Bear stood next to him a few feet away, avoiding the water that curled and coiled in defense. Facing Naruto he nodded as Kakashi and Sasuke joined him
Kakashi chuckled slightly as he thumbed through his copy of Icha Icha.
"Think that was a bit more hands on then you were expecting, or should I say face on?"
Naruto's face flushed red. It wouldn't do to be done in, in that manner. "Strangled by vagina" would certainly be legendary in some circuits of the shinobi world.
Putting his book away Kakashi's face tightened in a serious manner as he pulled a length of rope from his pouch.
"If she's the one who killed this squad of ANBU I think it's best we restrain her for the time being, Kusa is still a few days away. We can question her once she wakes."
Bear nodded in agreement at the decision.
"Actually Kakashi-dono, me and my team will carry on. This ordeal has revealed information that I need to convey to my team. Between that and a change in operational plans we can't delay further. Send Kusa my regards."
Kakashi glanced at the scroll Bear held in his hands, then back at Bears eyes through the mask, before nodding.
"Good luck on your mission then Bear-san."
With that Bear, Ox, Wolf and Tapir disappeared, ANBU corpses crackling into bright flames of disposal.
"Alright my cute genin, let's set up a shelter and camp. When she wakes I'll teach you three the important skill and art of interrogation."
Even Sasuke raised an eyebrow in intrigue as he pulled a ration bar from his pack and sat down.
Glancing at the woman he shook his head, watching Kakashi-sensei cover the woman's tied up and naked body with an emergency blanket, before placing another under her head.
Naruto sat next to Sasuke as the two watched as Sakura used flint to start a camp fire just a bit ahead of them.
"What a weird mission so far."
Sasuke just dumbly nodded in response.
Naruto scratched his arm idly as his mind played out the embarrassing scenario, a similar scene running through his mind of memories since past. Sharing the shower with Kurai was a memory he'd hold onto for a long while. But the two events were dredging up memories he wasn't sure what to make of. Flashes of Mokoto's face filled his head. Candles flickered in the memory, her body nude yet shrouded by darkness.
Naruto frowned as the memory fell away at the prodding to his foot placed conducted by Sasuke.
"You...you alright?" The words seemed simple enough but for Sasuke they were a monumental effort to enunciate.
However it backfired immediately. Naruto's eyes narrowed in repulse at the intrigue.
"Not that it's your matter but I'm fine."
Sasuke's fist clenched at the bite back.
"Suit yourself freak," Naruto stood to his feet reaching for Sasuke's collar. Sasuke stood to meet his action with a fist. Neither finished their actions as Sakura proceeded to hit both of them over the head, while Naruto's water harmlessly pushed the fist away, Sasuke got slapped across the back of his head.
"BOTH OF YOU SHUT UP!"
Naruto and Sasuke eyed the other up before both crossed their arms and turned away from one another, each going their own way in the small camp Kakashi had begun setting up.
"Now now you too, it almost seemed like you two were getting along."
Naruto scoffed at Kakashi's comment.
"As if."
As Bear and his squad leapt through the tree tops, the man was lost in his thoughts. He was concerned with the discovery they'd clearly chanced across. If the mysterious naked woman they'd restrained hadn't put up such an impressive fight there would likely not be a trace of the ANBU squad, imposters at that.
While the woman looked familiar, he couldn't remember just where the face and hair were in his memories. That and the missive they'd found left the Acting Commander troubled.
They weren't his men, which only meant they were fools masquerading as men they shouldn't be. Or worse, validating rumors, the Sandaime death dealers.
Crow had been subtly hinting to his next in line for a while now. Never overtly giving any information between coded words as well as body language that only a student and teacher would be able to convey from one another. Bear narrowed his eyes.
Something was off, that he was certain of.
'First things first, once this mission is not so in the books, I'll confront Sarutobi over my suspicions. There is no place for crossing lines of communication when it comes to the villages safety. The Hokage himself is no exception.'
Bear mused to himself as he checked over his team, confident in their loyalty and abilities.
'I'll send word for Crow to join me, then speak with Sarutobi. What is the worst that could happen when Konoha's finest shinobi confronted him with myself?'