"Sena, you're a saint." Ahmya licked her spoon clean and hummed happily as she leaned back in the chair. She scooped up another bite and closed her eyes briefly. "This vegetable curry is so good... and the eggplant is perfectly cooked."

"Thanks!" Sena smiled and tilted her head slightly, and then looked over at Natsumi and Hasu. "How do you guys like it?"

"I have never tasted something so exquisite before." Hasu smiled and looked down at his nearly empty plate. "The balance of seasonal vegetables and spices were perfect."

"So yummy." Natsumi licked her own spoon and set it down on her plate. "I wish I had a bigger stomach."

"I still can't believe Natsumi really defeated your secret technique." Sena rested her chin in her hand and looked at Ahmya. "I remember when I first saw it, I thought I was seeing a living incarnation of a water god." She laughed quietly. "I'd never seen a more terrifying or beautiful Jutsu."

"Well, she is one-of-a-kind." Ahmya smiled and nodded and glanced over at Natsumi, who swallowed her bite slowly and glanced down.

How can she act like nothing wrong happened? I don't even know what happened, and things could have gone bad if I lost control...

"Well, it definitely explained why you guys were soaking wet." Sena laughed again, then her eyes widened slightly at Natsumi. "Are you alright? Do you not feel well?"

Natsumi blinked and quickly shook her head. "N-No, I'm fine." She forced a small smile. "I'm just... a little worried about Naruto."

"Right, the Chunin Exams." Ahmya nodded and looked at her. "I remember when I took them." She shuddered. "My Team was Hana, Matou, and I. We ran into the territory of the Flying Leeches by accident." She made a face. "We would have died right there if Matou hadn't used his special Jutsu to shield us."

Natsumi bit her lip and furrowed her brows and she stared down at her plate and Ahmya let out a loud sigh.

"Sorry. That doesn't help." Ahmya took another bite and rested her own face in her hands. "But you shouldn't be too worried. If your brother is anything like you, he'll do just fine in there."

"That's the trouble." Natsumi sat back in her seat. "He's not like me. In terms of ability, he's far below me." She paused and bit her lip hard.

But that's only because... Natsumi looked down at her hands. I thought agreeing to those terms would be best, but what if...he's actually in trouble now because of it?

"But if determination and guts were all that mattered in a fight, he's got me beat tenfold, easily." Natsumi sighed quietly and folded her hands in her lap.

"He'll be fine." Sena reached out to touch her hand and smiled. "No one with a fire in his eyes like that could ever succumb to something like the Forest of Death."

"I know. I just have this bad feeling, thought." Natsumi mumbled. "Like he's in trouble, or something."

The more I think about it, the worse this feeling gets. It's almost like... a black, slimy void. It's almost... familiar.

"Perhaps you should try to take your mind off of your worries?" Hasu smiled faintly and gestured to the book beside him at the table. "It would be nice if we read together, after all."

"Maybe." Natsumi furrowed her brows and kept her eyes on her hands.

No... there's no doubt about it. I've definitely felt this before... but I don't remember when. If only I could remember...

"Natsumi." Ahmya tugged gently on the girl's arm with a smile. "While they read, let's do a puzzle."

"A puzzle?" Natsumi blinked and looked around to see Hasu sitting by himself as he read, while Sena sat beneath a read and read her own book. She looked back at Ahmya, who grinned and held up a box.

"Yep! Sena has a bunch just laying around, and it's been a while since I last did one... so let's do one together!"

"O-Okay. I haven't done one in a while, either." Natsumi nodded and Ahmya tugged on her arm again to lead her inside the house to pour out the pieces onto the table.

Ahmya held one piece up and touched her chin. "Now... I wonder where this one goes?"

Natsumi smiled slightly and crossed her arms. "That's a middle piece. Aren't you supposed to start with the border first?"

"Pfft." Ahmya waved her hand. "Where's the fun in that? It's more challenging and fun to do it the other way around. You'll see."

"Alright." Natsumi sat beside her and held up a piece, then furrowed her brow and compared it to the picture on the box. "Maybe this one will go with... this one...?"

Natsumi stopped in front of the door and Hasu looked at her.

"Is something the matter? Are you still concerned for your brother?"

"No— well, yes." Natsumi sighed and looked at him. "But this time, I'm worried about you. I don't really know how the Intelligence Division operates."

"I'm sure it will go smoothly." Hasu smiled slightly. "Though I'm not sure how much I will be able to tell them."

"Yeah..." Natsumi inhaled and then opened the door and stepped inside, her eyes widening at the group inside. There were several ANBU and Leaf Jonin, as well as the Hokage standing around and speaking as they waited.

Wait... were this many people supposed to be here?

"Right on time." The Hokage turned to nod at them as they walked inside. "Prince Hasu, thank you for coming."

"It is no trouble. I am happy to help in any way that I am able." Hasu nodded respectfully back at him.

Natsumi scanned the different faces until her eyes rested on one man. Her eyes widened and she quickly stood in front of Hasu with her hands out, then looked at the Hokage.

"W-What is he doing here? I thought this was supposed to be an... amicable meeting."

Hiruzen glanced over to Ibiki, who crossed his arms and chuckled, raising his brow at the redhead.

"You're a suspicious one, aren't you?"

"Not suspicious." Natsumi narrowed her eyes at the scarred man. "I just know who you are."

"Calm down." The Hokage waved his hand at her. "Ibiki is one of the heads of this investigation, but he will not be conducting the interview."

Natsumi looked between the old man and Ibiki several times before she lowered her arms and relaxed slightly. "...Fine."

Ibiki chuckled again and Hiruzen gestured to the blond man beside him.

"Inoichi Yamanaka will be conducting this interview."

Natsumi pursed her lips and stepped aside and crossed her arms, muttering. "I still don't know if I trust him being here though..."

Ibiki looked at Hiruzen with a slight smirk. "She's got good instincts."

"Why are you concerned about that man's presence?" Hasu whispered to Natsumi, who narrowed her eyes.

"Because his literal job is to torture prisoners for information." She muttered back and Hasu blinked and scratched his head.

"A-Ah... I see."

Inoichi stepped forward and looked at Hasu. "You don't have to be nervous. First, we'll just sit down and have a conversation about all of the details that you recall. Then, I'll use my Jutsu to search your mind for any other related details or memories that have been suppressed. You won't be in any danger."

As long as Ibiki Morino isn't going to be a part of this process, I'm not worried.

"That sounds straightforward." Hasu nodded. "I am prepared to begin whenever you are."

"Let's get right to it, then." Inoichi led Hasu over to the table and Ibiki and his men moved to stand on the side of the room with the Hokage.

"Thank you for escorting the Prince here." Hiruzen looked at the girl and held his pipe in his hand as he exhaled a small breath of smoke. "You may return home now."

"But...!" She blinked and looked at him, keeping her voice lower to prevent from interrupting Inoichi questions. "I'm supposed to be guarding him..."

"There is sufficient protection here." Hiruzen chuckled. "You may resume your duties tomorrow."

"Oh. Okay." Natsumi nodded slowly.

"Hey." Ibiki watched Natsumi turn to leave. "You're the Uzumaki girl?"

Natsumi stopped and looked at the man, nodding after a moment of hesitation. "Yes. Why?"

Ibiki chuckled. "No need to be on edge." He crossed his arms. "I was the proctor of the first stage of the Chunin Exams. Your brother was an interesting character."

Interesting? Natsumi furrowed her brows slightly. "What's that mean?"

"He turned in his test without filling in a single answer."

Natsumi's eyes widened slightly and then she groaned quietly and facepalmed, mumbling under her breath. "Oh, Naruto..."

"That kid's got a lot of spunk, though."

"Y-Yeah..." Natsumi exhaled and shook her head slightly. "That's my brother."

He didn't even answer a single question? Come on, Naruto! I had faith in you...

"Well, I expect to see some interesting results for him for the second and third stages as well." Ibiki commented. "And perhaps, I'll see you the next time around."

"Yeah, maybe." Natsumi turned and waved slightly at the Hokage. "Goodbye, Lord Third."

No offense to you, Mr. Torture and Interrogation, but I'd rather not have to run into you ever again.

Natsumi let out a heavy sigh and sat down on her bed. "What to do..." She flopped down and sunk into the sheets and sighed again. "I already did all the chores, so what do I do now?"

She frowned slightly and clutched at her stomach.

That feeling has only gotten worse... I'm not just imagining it. I recognize it.

She stepped out onto the balcony and bit her lip.

I need to see her.

She changed clothes and jumped from the balcony, moving from roof to roof until she reached a small building. She exhaled and closed her eyes briefly, and then walked up to the door.

I hate relying on this woman.

She focused her Chakra to her hand, shifting its nature, and gripped the doorknob. It unlocked and the door swung open and she stepped inside with her hands in her pockets. Natsumi blinked and looked around the darkened room as her eyes adjusted to the dark.

"Oto!" She walked to the door on the back wall and unlocked it with her Chakra. She swung the door opened the dark stairwell appeared in front of her. She descended and looked inside the first room at the bottom. "I know you're here. Don't try to hide."

"Well, well..." Oto chuckled from where she sat in the center of the room, surrounded by incense and candles that burned with violet flames. She turned to look at the girl with a slight smirk and the candles went out and the original lighting returned to the room. "I thought you said that you wanted nothing more to do with me?"

"Don't patronize me." Natsumi crossed her arms and let out a hot breath. "This... feeling I have. I remember it from your pilgrimage. What is it?"

Oto stood waved her hand, snuffing out the incense as she laughed softly. "Oh? You can feel it already, can you?"

"Feel what?" Natsumi shifted in place and drummed her fingertips on her arms.

"There was an old saying that my people said often to the Snakelets..." Oto's lips curved in a slight smirk. "One snake recognizes another."

Natsumi shuddered and pressed her lips together. "...What does that mean?"

"Being in my presence now should feel different for you than with anyone else."

You mean, besides the blatant distrust that I feel for you?

"It's like... a constant chill down my spine." She paused, focusing on the sensation for a moment before continuing. "And... almost a... reverberation in my gut."

"So you can actually feel it." Oto picked up her pipe from the side table, lit it, and then sucked in a long puff. "As a Hebihime's power grows, and as you continue to become more immersed in the teachings, you gain the ability to sense when another is near. Think of it as a resonance, if you will. The more Hebihime you become, the more aware of my presence you will become. Moreover..." Oto chuckled. "The more you'll begin to think like me... like us. We call it Attuning."

Natsumi averted her eyes and mumbled. "I'd rather not think like you." She paused and then blinked, her eyes widening slightly. "Wait... you said... 'sense when another is near'?" She clenched her fists. "That means... if there is another Hebihime around... I'll just know?"

Oto blew a tendril of smoke and turned to look through a book that lay open with old photographs. "Precisely."

"And... this feeling that I have... am I sensing... you?"

Oto's mouth twitched in a smirk and she looked at Natsumi from the corner of her eyes. "No. You should be able to distinguish my aura from the other, if you concentrate."

Natsumi closed her eyes and let out a slow breath. After a moment, the different sensations separated, with Oto's softly humming almost inaudibly in her ears, and the other, faintly hissing in the distance.

"...I can feel it." Her eyes burst open. "Wait... so, there's another Hebihime? Here, in the Leaf?"

Oto chuckled. "The Hebihime's resonance is noticeably different from that of other Snakes."

"Other... snakes?" Natsumi repeated, furrowing her brows as she thought, before her eyes widened again and she paled. "A-Are you saying... that... h-he...?"

"I'm impressed." Oto turned the page and closed her eyes briefly. "Not only able to sense the auras already, but to differentiate and recognize them."

No... it can't be true. But she's not denying it... She swallowed. So... he's really... here?

"Orochimaru... is here?" Natsumi balled her shaking hands. "W-Why? You knew?" She bit her lip and took a step back. "If that's true... we have to tell Lord Third right away!"

Oto's eyes narrowed and a pair of snakes extended from the sleeves of her dress and wrapped around Natsumi, holding her in place.

"What are you doing?" Natsumi wriggled against the snakes and they hissed in her face. "Let me go! The village is in danger—!"

"I've already told you." Oto's eyes darkened and she took a step closer. "You are not permitted to inform the Hokage anything regarding my people, or have you forgotten? That would include your own budding abilities, and the Attuning."

"But..." Natsumi stared at the woman, unable to speak, and then swallowed before she whispered. "Don't you care what happens to this village? To all the people? If he's here, then something terrible will happen."

"As of right now, Oro-chan has yet to do anything so drastic. He's only having a bit of fun. I can feel the intent in his aura." Oto narrowed her eyes at the girl. "As for the village... I am not attached to it in the same way that you are. Being here and cooperating with the Hokage has provided me with ample opportunities and benefits... but my interest in this place would wane if our agreement no longer benefited me."

"Y-You... really are a horrible person." Natsumi bit her lip. "If people die, you won't even care?"

"I have my own personal interests." Oto hissed quietly. "Should Oro-chan begin to interfere with the things I have claimed or the events I have set into motion or altered... he would become my enemy, and I would defend the Leaf— as my territory. However..." She smirked. "I am curious to see what exactly he intends to do here. So, for now, I am allowing him to have his fun."

"You're a monster."

"It's just good business." Oto chuckled. "Now, the real question is... are you going to obey me? Or will you still insist on informing that withered, dithering fool Hiruzen of my former pupil's presence?"

Natsumi clenched her jaw and glared. "People are in danger. Of course I'm going to tell him."

"Pity." Oto frowned and her snakes wrapped tighter around Natsumi. "You leave me no choice." She formed a series of seals and Natsumi's eyes widened.

"W-What are you doing? Let me go!" Natsumi struggled and Oto brought her hands together for the final sign.

"Ensuring your cooperation." Smoke gathered around Oto's hand and she pointed two fingers toward Natsumi's mouth. The smoke shifted and formed a small, black serpent with a seal on its head, then it lashed out at Natsumi and latched onto her tongue. Natsumi let out a muffled scream as it clamped down, and after a moment, vanished into thin air.

The snakes retracted and released Natsumi, and she fell to the ground, writhing and screaming as a mark burned itself into her tongue. Once the seal was complete, the pain subsided and Natsumi sat up slowly, her body still trembling.

"W-What... did you do...?"

Oto laughed and took a puff from her pipe. "A useful Jutsu that I once taught a man named Danzo." Her lips curved in a smirk. "You're free to go now. You won't be able to breathe a word of this to the Hokage... or to anyone else, for that matter."

Natsumi stood and glared, balling her hands into fists until her knuckles whitened. "You... You won't get away with this."

Oto chuckled and exhaled, releasing smoke from her nostrils. "Oh, child. I already have." She waved her hand, manipulating the smoke to swirl around Natsumi. When it cleared, she was standing outside of the building. Natsumi gritted her teeth and slammed her fists against the door, pressing her nails into her palms.

"I hate you, Oto! Do you understand?! I hate you!"

She lowered her fists and turned to look in the direction of the forest of death, narrowing her eyes.

Maybe I can't tell anyone that he's here... but that doesn't mean that I'm just going to let him do whatever he wants.

She glanced over her shoulder to the building and glared.

And I'm definitely going to do whatever I can to get in her way.