Months have passed since Ko and Sasuke returned from their secret mission. From the books, Ko learned the history of her clan and how they helped build the Mist only to be betrayed by their home to revive the important shinobi who fell during the war. It was also rare for them to have children because of conflict between all the members because they were hot headed but Ko guessed they got along in the end for the sake of the clan.
She learned more about her abilities from the scroll telling her about the wind affinity all Himura's have along with her Subete Miru. The numbers she sees above someone's head shows how long they have to live, the furthest anyone could see was twenty miles, and only a few members could see underground. She was bothered that there were a few pages ripped out at the end.
Ko was currently walking back to the hideout holding bags of food for everyone. As part of her punishment for leaving without permission, she was stuck doing all the chores their followers would usually do. Orochimaru started to train Sasuke alone while Ko took care of their meals, laundry, and the prisoners as well. He would instruct her to learn a wind jutsu while spending all his time with Sasuke.
Once she arrived at the hideout, she put the groceries away then continued with her list of chores about to take care of the prisoners until Kabuto stood in her way. "Yes?" She questioned looking up at him with an annoyed expression.
"Lord Orochimaru wants to see you in the training room." He informed her as he pushed up his glasses.
Ko was relieved she didn't have to see the prisoners; that was the chore she hated the most. She nodded then headed back the way she came going towards the training room at the end of the hall. Once she entered, Sasuke stopped what he was doing and looked in Ko's direction along with Orochimaru.
"So glad you can make it. Now let's see how you both improved on your summoning seals." Orochimaru said looking between the two.
Ko stood at the opposite end of Sasuke and took off her black jacket revealing her red short sleeve top. On both their wrists, their skin looked purple with a seal in the middle. Ko looked at Sasuke taking in his appearance and aura. She hasn't seen him since they received the seals months ago and can already tell her Father has influenced him greatly. His aura was much darker than it use to be almost intimidating and he was colder than he was back in the village. Ko thought after the mission they had grown closer almost calling each other friends but once Orochimaru came into the picture, Ko knew it had disappeared, just like all her potential friendships.
With just a touch to the seal, their weapons appeared in their hands then threw them at one another as fast as they could. Not actually wanting to harm one another, they both aimed their weapons and each other's deflecting them before doing any damage. One after another they threw their summoned weapons towards each other hearing the clinking of the metal colliding then falling onto the ground. After a few minutes, they were both out of weapons.
"Good but keep in mind how many weapons you have in the seal." Orochimaru informed the two. "Now Sasuke, let's see your chidori."
Sasuke nodded summoning chakra to his hand creating chidori but soon it started to look different. The lightning started to expand shooting lightning in all directions soon surrounding Sasuke. He held out his arm towards Ko shooting out a stream of lightning towards her only for it to pass her hitting the wall.
"Excellent, now let's try it on your new sword."
Ko's interest piqued at the mention of Sasuke's sword. She watched as Sasuke pulled the sword from the sheath that was strapped to his purple belt soon feeling angry when she recognized the sword; Chokuto the sword of Kusanagi. She was promised that sword when she was younger but now Sasuke wielded the second most precious sword Orochimaru owned. Sasuke held out the sword letting his lightning surround the sword like she told him to do months before. She looked over at her Father seeing him smirking with power hungry eyes as he watched Sasuke's jutsu. Her heart sank feeling betrayed that he had lied to her.
"Alright, that's enough. Now Ko, let's see your wind jutsu."
"Sasuke, you better move if you don't want to get hit." Ko warned the Uchiha who only nodded then stepped to the side.
"Wind style: Air Bullets!" Ko focused her chakra to her hands then shot air from her fists. The air made a whistling sound as she shot them at the wall making everyone cover their eyes from the debris that was thrown around. Ko cancelled the jutsu only to make more hand signs.
"Wind style: Vacuum sphere!" Ko took in a deep breath then released small bursts of air but this time damaging the wall on the opposite side of her. She once again cancelled the jutsu. "This would look more impressive if I had someone to practice on." Ko thought.
"I've been working on this one recently, it's not complete yet but once it's done, it'll be powerful." She informed Orochimaru.
"Let's see it," He relied sounding uninterested which made her clench her jaw.
"Wind style: Spiraling wind ball!" Ko brought her hand up to her mouth with her palm open in front of it. She summoned chakra to her palm as she started to blow on it.
As the chakra formed on her hand, she started to shape it into a ball. The wind from it started to violently whip her hair in all directions as the ball was finished. It wasn't as powerful as Ko had hoped but she still threw it towards the wall creating a dent in it. "Once it's powerful, it should be able to go through that wall. Imagine what it'll do to an opponent."
"Is that all?" Orochimaru responded.
"No, I have one more that I've been working on." Ko said as she took out her sword. She summoned chakra through her blade which started to glow blue. She sliced the air with her sword sending out a gust of air.
"Now that that's over with," Orochimaru started which hurt Ko's feelings, "I want you both to work together creating jutsu with your elements combined. You have two months to complete at least two jutsu." He ordered.
Ko and Sasuke glanced at each other then back at Orochimaru. Ko started to feel a little excited getting to work with Sasuke again; she missed the company.
"Start with something easy, combine your fire jutsu." The two nodded then walked closer to each other standing side by side. "Not here, I've made a special training room for you two. You will be able to use fire and lightning without worrying about burning the hideout down."
Orochimaru led them deeper into the hideout close to where the prisoners were being held into another room. It looked exactly like the room they were just in but the walls were brick while the floor was concrete and was more spacious. "Now practice." He ordered as he walked towards the nearby wall and leaned on it.
Sasuke and Ko looked at each other once again then made the same hand signs. "Fire style: Fireball jutsu!" The both shouted together.
The two fireballs flew towards the opposite wall not combining together like the two thought they would. Once they hit the wall, the flames dispersed.
"Try aiming closer," Orochimaru suggested.
Ko was surprised her Father was actually giving them advice on how to improve their jutsu. Whenever she trained with him as a child, he would usually yell or not say anything at all. They did as they were told making the fireballs collide with one another but dispersed as soon as they touched.
"You both are using different amounts of chakra. Sasuke, use your right hand to make hand signals while Ko uses her left. Combine your chakra as you make the conjoined hand signs."
It took a few tries, but the two managed to form the hand seals with each hand able to perform the jutsu. "Fireball jutsu!" This time, the fireballs combined getting bigger and bigger before hitting the wall dispersing.
"Better, I have some matters to attend to while you both get the hang of this." Orochimaru said as he started to walk out the door.
"Alright, the amount we used before will be level one, now let's try it with more chakra." Ko suggested only to receive a nod from Sasuke.
They made the first seal together focusing on each other's chakra trying to use the same amount. Once they got it, they weaved the other seals creating a bigger fireball. They continued that method for a few hours perfecting their jutsu.
"Alright, let's try level five."
They both made their own seals creating the fireball they wanted.
"Now what?" Sasuke questioned.
"I know a fire and wind combination. It can be useful when chasing someone. You blow fire at them while I use my wind to make it go around the enemy trapping them."
"Whatever, why do we need to work together? I don't need anyone to defeat Itachi." Sasuke's words irritated Ko knowing that he learned nothing from being on a team.
"Because teamwork works best, even Lord Orochimaru knows that. Everyone goes on a mission here with at least another person. The Sound Five were always together and worked well as a team." She explained with a hint of anger in her voice.
"I don't need help taking Itachi down."
"You're not going to get to Itachi that easily, the Akatsuki knows you're motive and will protect Itachi. You don't even know who's in the Akatsuki and their abilities. You need people to fight the others backing you up." Sasuke was silent knowing Ko was right, but his pride wouldn't let him admit it. "Alright good talk, with your right hand and my left we'll make signs for your jutsu and the wind will be for the other two." She suggested.
"You're not my 'sensei' anymore, we don't need to measure out our chakra, we did that already. You don't call the shots anymore." Sasuke snapped making Ko roll her eyes.
They argued for another few minutes until Ko finally backed down knowing Sasuke's stubbornness would keep the argument going for hours. Ko made a clone to test their jutsu on making her stand in the middle of the floor. They did their own jutsu settling on level one. Sasuke blew fire from his mouth as Ko shot wind from her hands attempting to blow the fire around the clone. Sasuke's flame went to the left of the clone and once Ko's wind hit it, the flames blew forward disappearing when it hit the wall.
"You messed up!" Sasuke accused glaring in her direction.
"No you did, if we did what we've been doing, it would've worked!" Ko snapped as her temper was wearing thin with the Uchiha.
"Whatever, let's do it again."
They repeated the same steps as before attempting to use the same chakra they did with the fireball but ending with the same result. Sasuke caved and went with Ko's idea. They joined hands making each seal slowly trying to get the hang of it. Once Ko felt that they were ready, they added chakra simultaneously weaving each sign slowly.
"Ninja art: Fire whirlwind vortex!" The two shouted together.
Just like before, Sasuke's flames went at a right angle somewhat improving. Ko managed to move the flames but only moved half of them.
"Damn, we might need more chakra. Let's try level two."
They repeated the steps ending with the same result.
"Wow, you suck."
"Shut up, I just started wind jutsu so I'll work on it." Ko started but was interrupted by her growling stomach. "But right now, I need to make lunch." She finished.
She turned on her heel walking out of the room heading towards the kitchen. She started with making soup then made a few sandwiches while she waited for it to heat up. Once she was done, she ate her own meal then delivered the rest to the others. She didn't bother giving Sasuke his knowing he was too busy training. She headed towards Orochimaru's lab following his chakra signature. Since they have been at this hideout, she has never been to the lab or even bothered to find it. She knocked on the door hearing a faint reply and walked in.
"Just the person I wanted to see." He said making Ko's heart flutter with happiness. "When you're not training, I want you here helping me with my experiments."
Ko walked closer but briefly stopped once a foul smell reached her nose. She pinched her nose blocking out the smell then proceeded to walk forward towards her Father who still had his back turned facing the examination table. As she got closer, she saw a body strapped to the table. Once she was next to him, she had to suppress the urge to vomit seeing him opened up like a frog.
"Why can't Kabuto do this?" She questioned trying to act like the dead body on the slab was normal.
"He can't dispose of the bodies fast enough and I want you to learn from my work." He explained.
Ko felt conflicted. She honestly didn't want to see this everyday but wanted to help her Father with the possibility of bonding with him through this. She wanted to know what goes through his mind, his reasoning for everything he does, she wanted to know everything about him. She hardly spent time with him to begin with and wanted another chance and if this was the only option, she was going to take it.
"What are you doing to this man?" She questioned peering down at the many exposed organs.
"He is part of the Sato Clan. It's a small clan from the Land of Whirlpools. They are able to regenerate skin cells to an extent."
"So you want their healing ability?" Ko questioned as she watched him draw blood and cut off skin samples.
"Precisely,"
Ko walked around the lab to distract herself from the open body on the slab. She looked at the many jars filled with organs and bodies floating in tubes. Ko stopped at the one on the end looking at the body then back at her Father.
"You have Kimimaro's body?" She questioned holding back her horror; he still held the same facial expression he had when he died.
"It was hard to experiment on him while he was alive," he replied with a chuckle.
Ko stared at her fallen comrade wishing he could just be laid to rest, his body had suffered enough.
A few months have passed and Ko was currently in Orochimaru's lab standing at his side watching him as he pierced a prisoner's skin with a needle. The prisoner was half dead lying on the slab until she started to scream in agony. She shot up with bloodshot eyes starting to swell up immensely at the injection site. In a split second, Ko slashed her throat like she had done with all the other failed experiments. Blood covered both her and Orochimaru not even batting an eye.
"Experiment one hundred and sixty-seven failed." Orochimaru noted with a disappointed sigh. "That's enough for today. Find Sasuke and bring him here. I've got a surprise for you Ko." He finished with a wicked smile on his face.
Ko didn't know if she should be nervous or excited at his surprise; knowing him, she should be nervous. She only nodded and proceeded out of the lab walking towards the training room she knew Sasuke was in. When she walked in, Sasuke was working on his lightning techniques but stopped when he saw Ko.
"What?" He asked with an annoyed tone.
"Lord Orochimaru wants to see you." Ko responded rolling her eyes at his rudeness.
"Can't it wait?" He questioned giving her attitude obviously not wanting interruptions.
"Apparently not," she responded with the same tone.
Sasuke reluctantly followed Ko to Orochimaru's lab. When they arrived, Orochimaru had already disposed of the dead body cleaning off the slab. "Ko, lay down." He instructed.
Ko unconsciously scratched the injection site from the last experiment as she walked towards the slab. The last experiment wasn't bad, it had only hurt for a few minutes and being immune to poison would have its perks. She took a deep breath calming her nerves before laying down.
"Why do you need me here?" Sasuke questioned.
"Patience Sasuke," Orochimaru said as he took out a syringe filled with what looked like blood.
Ko eyed the syringe feeling a bit scared but wouldn't admit it. "Another experiment? What will this one do?" Ko questioned hiding her fear but on the inside she was terrified. She's seen so many subjects die on this table and she could be next.
"I believe that I perfected the serum with Kimimaro's DNA." He smirked as she twirled the serum in his fingers admiring his work.
Ko looked at her Father then over towards Sasuke. Seeing that Orochimaru wanted him there didn't make her feel any better. She feared Sasuke was there just in case she ends up like the rest of the failed experiments.
"A-are you sure?" She said cursing herself for stuttering.
"Yes," he said walking closer towards her.
"Then why is Sasuke here?"
"Just in case there are some side effects." He informed her but his words only made her fear intensify. "Don't you trust me Ko?"
It was getting hard to control her breathing as she started to panic. Her terrified eyes stared into his only seeing hunger in his eyes. "Y-yes," she hesitantly answered wanting to trust him.
Orochimaru grabbed her arm holding it out. To Ko, it felt like years were going by as she watched the needle get closer and closer to her vein. The needle pricked her skin and Orochimaru pushed down the top making the serum fill her veins. As soon as the needle was removed, a burning sensation coursed up and down her arm starting from the injection site. Ko screamed in agony clutching her arm as the burning spread throughout her body. She writhed in pain on the slab as the feeling worsened.
"Excellent, just how the others reacted."
"H-how is th-this good?" Ko stuttered trying to ignore the pain.
"The failed experiments died within a minute. The ones who survived felt like they were burning and were extremely weak which is why Sasuke is here." Ko couldn't focus on his words. It felt as if her whole body was on fire which was making her sweat profusely. "Sasuke, take Ko to her room so she can recover." Orochimaru ordered.
He nodded walking over to Ko seeing she was in great pain. He picked her up bridal style holding her tight since she was still twisting around in pain. The walk wasn't a pleasant one since Ko wouldn't stop moving. He was relieved when he reached Ko's room and put her down on the bed. It sounded as if Ko was trying to say something but he didn't have time to decipher it, he needed to train so he left her in the dark.
"N-no.." Ko spat out. "Too d-dark."
She wished Sasuke had stayed just a second longer. She didn't want to be left in the dark; ever since that mission she was afraid.
"No, I can't stay here."