Yo peeps if you read the last chapter before this one came out then don't bother reading this chapter! I just chopped the last chapter in two cos I realised it was way too long lol.

"So you were kidnapped?" I asked, tilting my head at him.

Yuukimaru rolled the carriage across the mat and let the princess figure inside it out, placing her beside the Daimyo figure.

"Well, I guess so," he murmured. "But it's not bad here, really. Kabuto takes me out to the lake a lot, and I have all these toys for when I have to stay in this room."

"You get to go outside?" I gasped. Yuukimaru gave me an odd look.

"You've never been outside?" he asked, his soft voice curious.

I shook my head, falling back from my seated position onto my back. I grimaced as a toy kunai dug into my back.

"Nope."

"Why don't you just ask Kabuto?" Yuukimaru wondered.

"Well, I never thought about it before really. But then I saw some of the stuff Uncle and Papa do here, and I thought that if they asked they might think I'm trying to run away and lock me up."

I paused as something hit me.

"Hey! If you go outside, does that mean you know where the exits are?" I gasped, looking at him intently.

"Yea, but they're sealed," Yuukimaru sighed. "You can't get out unless you have a pass."

"Show me," I ordered, jumping to my feet with excitement. Even if they were sealed, this was more of a lead than I'd had in months.

"I don't know if I should go out there," Yuukimaru mumbled anxiously. "Kabuto-san tells me to stay in this room until he visits next."

"Well Uncle is mean," I decided. "Wouldn't you get bored?"

Yuukimaru looked at the ground and nodded slowly after a moment.

"Yea, it can be… lonely," he muttered.

"Alright! Then let's go exploring!" I declared.

"Here?" I asked incredulously, staring at the plain wall, the supposed 'dead-end' of this particular hallway. I dragged my fingers over the bare stone, finding nothing amiss.

"Yea. As long as you have one of the pieces of paper with the seals painted on it, you can walk straight through it," Yuukimaru said.

Just what was the reason for this? Was it to keep the prisoners from escaping, on the off chance they managed to get out of their cells? Or was it also a defence mechanism to keep people out?

Probably both.

I walked to the edge of the wall, catching a glimpse of tiny, inked lines of fuuinjutsu. Unless you were looking, they weren't noticeable. I traced them up the side of the stone as high as I could.

I sighed and dropped my hand to my side.

Perhaps I would come back later. The library may be sorely lacking in any form of fiction, but it surely had something on fuuinjutsu.

Or… on the other hand, I could probably skip the fuuinjutsu if I could just get my hands on one of those seals.

"Well whatever. Hey, come with me, I can show you something really fun!" I grinned and dragged Yuukimaru by the hand towards the cafeteria, stealthily sneaking around scientists as we went. We turned it into an infiltration game, giggling as we traded made-up signals and code names, pretending we had radios.

Finally, we reached the cafeteria without interference. There weren't many people there, since it was mid-afternoon, and the place had been cleared until dinnertime.

"Stay here," I whispered to Yuukimaru, from where we were peeking around the doorway. "I'm going to get us some trays!"

Waiting until one of the chefs that was visible through the window to the kitchen turned away, I slunk into the room. I dived behind the counter with a roll and a flourish, picked up two of the neatly stacked metal trays, and rushed back out.

"This way!"

Not long after, we found ourselves situated before a tall, wide staircase. These stairs lead into the library. Thankfully the library seemed pretty quiet today, so we wouldn't run too much of a risk of getting caught.

"Watch this!"

I placed the tray down on the edge of the first step, then I sat down and shifted forward until I tipped over the edge.

With a gleeful shriek, I flew down the stairs and skidded across the marble flooring at the bottom until I came to a stop.

"Now you try!" I grinned, running back up the stairs. Yuukimaru looked hesitant, but he swallowed and placed his tray down like I had.

"Are you sure this is ok?" Yuukimaru asked as I came to stand behind him.

"Well, no one's told me not to before."

Probably because no one had ever caught me doing it before, except once but that was one of the scientists and after a brief reprimand which he thought had done the trick, he left me to it.

"I don't know-"

I cut him off mid-sentence with a shove to his back, and with a shrill scream he was sent sailing down the stairs. Landing safely, he was silent for a moment before he began to laugh.

"Wow! That's so fun!"

For a while, we raced each other down the staircase on our trays. Since it was hard to tell who got to the bottom first, we did a competition to see who could skid the farthest at the bottom.

We started taking run-ups and bellyflopping down to see how much faster and further we could go, until we ended up slamming into the library door at the end.

Then I got another brilliant idea.

"Hey! I bet I can do it standing up!" I decided with a victorious grin.

"No way," Yuukimaru whispered in awe as I stood at the edge of the step, standing on my tray. "Are you sure? You might fall off," he stated.

With a huff, I flicked my hair out of my eyes and prepared myself.

"I can do it easy!"

And then I pushed off.

Well, in my defence the person leaving the library just as I pushed off distracted me.

Within a split second, I felt that terrible moment of weightlessness as the tray slipped out from under my feet, and then I landed face first on the stairs. I cried out, feeling something in my wrist snap, and I bounced painfully down the stairs until I came to a stop at the bottom, the tray coming to an inconspicuous halt beside me.

"Young man!" I heard a yell that sounded both angered and panicked. Oh no, not Ai! But I had more pressing things to worry about, namely my throbbing wrist. I curled up in agony, a sob ripped from my throat.

"You, boy! Get down here and watch your friend while I go find his father!" Ai snapped, and then she was storming off.

"No! Please, don't get Papa!" I cried after her, but Ai wasn't listening. She disappeared around the corner without acknowledging my cries.

Then he pain really hit me and I curled up moaning as Yuukimaru dropped down beside me, panicked.

"Chimon! What's wrong, Chimon?" he asked desperately, reaching for the wrist I was clutching.

"NO!" I shrieked, protecting my wrist from his hands. He quickly recoiled.

I couldn't focus on him through the tears, but I managed to speak through my heaving sobs.

"You need to… go back, to your… room!" I gasped out.

"No! I won't leave you!" Yuukimaru cried out frantically, as if he thought I was dying.

Oh god… was I dying? I'd never been in so much pain before. What if…?

"I don't wanna die!" I wailed.

Yuukimaru burst out crying in response, wrapping his arms around me though thankfully he was careful not to jostle my wrist, and that is how Papa and Uncle Kabuto found us.

I saw the two appear and wasn't quick enough to warn Yuukimaru. Papa pulled Yuukimaru off me without preamble, who let out a distressed cry as he was passed off to Kabuto.

"Please don't let him die," Yuukimaru sobbed, before Kabuto proceeded to hush him.

Papa knelt down beside me and I turned my face away in shame, my lip trembling. How was I meant to explain this? Not that it mattered, since I would probably be dead soon.

"I n-never got to read that book!" I moaned, feeling waves of nausea due to the pain.

"Child, don't be dramatic. You are not dying," Papa snapped, reaching for my wrist. I felt a wash of relief at his words, only to see him reach for my arm.

"Don't touch it! Don't touch it!" I shrieked, but I was ignored as Papa lay his hand on my wrist, causing me to squeal in pain. His hand glowed green at the point of contact.

"A clean break," he stated blandly. I only just had time to support my own wrist before he swept me up into his arms.

"Kabuto-kun, let's take him somewhere more private. Ai-san, if you wouldn't mind?" He jerked his head towards the two silver trays.

Ai scowled at me but inclined her head to Papa and collected the trays as asked, and presumably left to return them to the cafeteria.

"It hurts Papa," I mewled as he carried me into an empty theatre.

"Then perhaps you should have thought before you acted," Papa responded tartly.

Kabuto entered behind us, Yuukimaru clinging to his hand. He shut the door of the room behind him.

"I did," I lied as he lay me down on the thin white hospital bed. Papa arched a brow.

"Is that so? Remind me how you injured yourself?"

My mouth opened, but no words came out. Papa smiled darkly.

"Perhaps your little friend would like to fill us in."

Yuukimaru's eyes widened at being addressed, and he hid behind Kabuto's legs, peeking out to regard Papa warily.

With a little prompting from Kabuto, he began to talk despite my betrayed glance.

"He tried to surf down the stairs on the tray," he whispered, and ducked his head away the moment the words left his lips.

Kabuto moved forward to start healing my wrist. Papa leaned his elbows on the bed and looked down at me, amusement playing across his features. I blinked my bleary eyes, causing a fresh wave of tears to roll down my face.

"What am I going to do with you, ne little one? Acting so irresponsibly… going places you shouldn't… interrupting my work…" he brushed a strand of hair out of my eyes.

I sniffled and tried to ease my trembling lip. At least the pain in my wrist was slowly disappearing, thanks to Kabuto.

"I'm sorry mister, it was my fault," Yuukimaru piped up, albeit quietly. He twisted a lock of his hair anxiously and stared at his feet. "If I hadn't left my room…"

Papa turned to regard the cowering boy. I blinked in surprise at Yuukimaru's words.

Yuukimaru looked terrified as Papa reached out, like he wanted to bolt, but instead he remained still as Papa lifted him up. Settling him on his hip and observing him, Papa touched Yuukimaru's nose, causing him to squeak and recoil, hiding his face in Papa's side.

"Ah yes, you're the three tails child…"

Yuukimaru seemed just as confused as me at the name.

"He's my friend!" I interjected; my voice stronger now that I was no longer in such pain. "And I don't like how you're treating him! He's an experiment of yours, isn't he? Locking him all alone in that room…"

Papa turned back to me, and I flinched at the smile on his face.

"I think you're forgetting something, little one. It isn't your decision to make."

I took a deep breath to calm myself. Yuukimaru had thrown himself under the bus for me, I should do the same. That's what heroes do, isn't it? And Yuukimaru has been stealing my role. Some hero I am, falling down the stairs… No, Yuukimaru was my princess now, and it was up to me to save him!

"If you let Yuukimaru go, I'll… I'll…"

I paused to consider. What could I do that Papa might be willing to negotiate for?

"I'll let you put your curse mark on me!" I declared, and it came out more confident than I felt.

"That is most noble of you," Papa mused, shifting Yuukimaru until he was cradled in his left arm. "But you forget; if I let little Yuukimaru here go, what then hm? He has no family, no village left, no survival skills… It would be so cruel of me, to drop a child who is barely more than a babe elsewhere to fend for himself."

Yuukimaru shifted anxiously and his eyes were glassy with tears at the reminder of his past, squirming in Papa's hold.

"But… but it's not fair… And he's my age! He's not a baby. He'd be ok," I protested, looking up at Papa with wide eyes. Papa's lips quirked as he regarded me.

"All better," Kabuto interceded smoothly. "But you will have to wear a brace for a few days to keep your wrist supported, the bone is still weakened from the break."

Yuukimaru stretched his arms out for Kabuto, to save him, causing Papa to chuckle. Nevertheless, he allowed Kabuto to take Yuukimaru from him.

"Aren't you going to thank Kabuto-kun for his help, Chi-chan?" Papa reminded me.

"Thank you," I said distractedly, glancing at him before returning my attention to Papa.

"I don't like being alone," Yuukimaru whispered, eyes on the floor. "It's ok staying here."

"You can't use him!" I cried jumping to my feet. "You can't! I don't want you to use him as an experiment!"

His golden eyes were steady as he observed me for several moments. I could feel sweat begin to bead on my forehead, but this was something that I couldn't back down from. Yuukimaru was my princess now.

And then Papa broke into a slow smile.

"So valiant," he all but purred, "so foolish. But… you are lucky. I have no intention of harming Yuukimaru-kun; in fact, our studies of his abilities have already been completed. If you wish to take responsibility for Yuukimaru-kun, I will not stop you."

I broke into a big smile.

"Thank you, Papa! Can he come to the academy with me?" I asked.

Papa inclined his head in affirmation, and Yuukimaru and I exchanged a glance.

This might not be so bad after all!

Since the last time I had entered Papa's secret room, he had changed the method of entry to something much more difficult to crack. I found that out when I returned during a time Papa said he and Kabuto could be gone for a few days; and now that I knew exactly what he dealt with, I would never be able to believe that he was out doing innocent duties as Otokage as he had once lead me to believe.

Frowning as I once again appraised the door and looked for weak points, I found myself disappointed. It was no longer simply a matter of dispelling a genjutsu and channelling chakra into a point on the door.

But I shouldn't have been surprised. Of course Papa would change the locking system.

I took a step back and regarded the door, its only defining feature the indent of two snakes hissing at each other.

Well, it wasn't genjutsu. There was no visible changes to the door, either.

But chakra was magic. A source of energy that defied all known laws of physics, so surely if I willed it a certain way it could help me figure out this dilemma. Its usage should only be limited to the imagination.

Maybe, I could do a scan of some kind.

I approached the door hesitantly and placed my palms on it.

To release a genjutsu, one had to purge it from the system if it was a sensory illusion, meaning it was placed on a person, or send out a pulse for an area if it was illusory.

I knew there were certain clones and other techniques which let you see through chakra constructs, an example being the earth clone in which one could choose to see through the eyes of the clone.

Sensing was also a strange ability one could train to feel out other people's chakra signatures, or just chakra in general.

Therefore, was it not plausible to use chakra to 'see' other chakra, if sensing required no movement of chakra? It would simply make it easier.

Closing my eyes, I focussed on gathering chakra in my hands, and in a fashion similar to pulsing out chakra to release a genjutsu, my chakra spread across the door before dissipating.

I felt it. Lines of chakra lacing the door, yet when I opened my eyes no chakra was visible. The lines seemed to be made of broken squiggles, but my chakra 'vision' couldn't differentiate the blurry mass. I would have to work on it. Trying to feel out the chakra through my limited sensing range, I also felt nothing. This meant that the chakra was tightly contained in the places I had felt it.

I ran my hand over where I knew one of the chakra lines was located.

There was… a slightly different feel to the wood. Slightly smoother, like someone had polished it slightly in a certain pattern, or had painted with invisible paint on-

Fuuinjutsu.

Fuuinjutsu using some kind of invisible ink.

Of course. When I had figured it out the first time, fuuinjutsu had crossed my mind because that was likely to be a method used to seal a door.

But I had a slight problem. I knew no fuuinjutsu, and unless I refined my chakra vision pulse I wouldn't be able to read the seals anyway.

But at least I knew where to start researching. Although Papa was a master of fuuinjutsu and I doubted I'd be able to decipher the seals, let alone crack them, before the academy started.

However… perhaps I could record them by refining my chakra vision, then I could use my time at the academy to crack them. I would need to take some books on fuuinjutsu though.

Resigned, I set to work figuring out how to focus on the blurred lines of chakra on the door. I would need to come back later to write it all down.

Pls review I'm an attention whore ):

Posted: 24/10/19