Part 4.5: Mountain's Peak
Set and Julius finally made their way over the final echelon of the cliff. It was a few hours after daybreak, and they had cut the run up the cliff quite close. The sun burned brightly in the sky today, cascading brilliant streaks of light across the sky to silhouette Hidden Cloud Village against the gigantic cliffs that encompassed it. Set was the last of the group to finally step their way back onto flat earth, pushing himself up with the toe of his foot back onto the snowy peaks of Mt. Izou. It was an awkward step, replacing his first foot on horizontal ground; he bent his back outward and then threw himself forward, bringing his entire body steadily to its feet. Julius stared at him coolly, watching his outlandish movements with his unwavering eyes. Set smirked at his brother as he crossed his arms and gave him a look of pure indignation.
"Something the matter brother Julius," asked Set sardonically, "bored?" Julius made no response but turned his back to Set and walked towards Hidden Cloud. "Perhaps you're…disappointed." Julius stopped in his tracks quickly. Set could see his back rise and fall with heavy breaths, a clear sign of repulsed anger with Julius. "That's it isn't it? You're so easy brother Julius." Julius remained silent, but still did not move.
"They both arrived before us Set," said Julius darkly, his voice very cold but a hint of emotion lying within it, "I can smell their foul odor; sense their horrid, damned presence. I wanted them then Set. I can't wait much longer." His voice was beginning to lose its usual sense of calm control and was becoming erratic, quick, and furious. His fists were made into tight balls to his sides, his own fingernails digging deep into the skin on them. Set watched as small droplets of blood began to form in the palms of his hands, staining the snow beneath his shaking fists. "Their souls cry out for vengeance," continued Julius, his voice becoming increasingly enraged, his entire body seeming to shake under his own fury, "and I can no longer ignore them. I want…I need to see it, their mangled bodies in front of me, murdered by my hands. I-"
"Patience brother," said Set. He walked quickly to his younger sibling, placing a firm hand on his shoulder, causing Julius to relax and stop quaking. "You must maintain your stoicism when you are near them. To reveal yourself now would be foolish. Remember, you're supposed to be the controlled one," Set added mockingly.
Julius let out a deep sigh, his breath coming out in a long steam in front of him in the cold. "I'm sorry brother Set," said Julius, his voice it's usual cold self, "this isn't like me. I'll remember what you said."
"Be sure that you do. I have many things to attend to during this exam, the most important of which you already know." Set's eyes drifted back towards the cliff where he slowly made his way towards him. "Naruto, you will not hide yourself from me so easily."
"Where in the hell have you two been," came a very commanding voice from in front of them. Julius and Set both turned their respective heads to see Kanitsu Cally stomping towards the two of them, "I'm getting really tired of having to play babysitter to you two idiots! I don't know what the Raikage sees in either of you." She gave them both a very hard stare before whipping her head back to Julius who spoke first.
"My apologies," replied Julius, hiding his previous anger easily under a cordial tone, "we did not mean to trouble you." It always amazed Set how polite Julius could be. Had it been his decision, the bitch would be have been dead in the first minute of this exam.
"Alright," she continued, berating Julius and Set to fall in line, "listen up you pricks. I got removed from a good, reliable team to be stuck on one with two tall pieces of shit. Now I don't know what the Raikage's reasoning behind this decision was, but since I am the number one rookie of the class, and you two aren't even ranked, you will do as I say without retort. Got it!" she roared forcefully at them, like a drill instructor. Julius bowed, but said nothing. Set merely shot her a look of contempt before turning back to look at the edge of the cliff. "Hey, big red," she yelled, "I'm talking to you."
"You know," replied Set, a broad smirk on his face revealing his jagged teeth, "that little term gets less and less endearing every time you say it." Suddenly, Cally raised a single finger in Set's direction as a thin, bright light shot past his face. Set cocked his head away from it, a single line of blood slowly appearing on the side of his face.
"Let that be a warning big red," said Cally maliciously, "now we've got to register for the next exam, so since you two seem basically worthless as rocks I'll do that myself. Don't move." She stormed off in the opposite direction towards Hidden Cloud while Set and Julius looked on. Set allowed his long tongue to loll out the side of his mouth, slowly swiping the blood from his cheek as the wound quickly resealed itself. He swallowed loudly as he watched Cally in the distance.
"Interesting ability," said Set in a bored tone.
"Wires," replied Julius coolly, "controlled by her chakra. What do you think?"
"She's no threat," said Set, "though the feeling isn't mutual."
"The Raikage specifically stated we were not to harm her."
"I'm getting very tired of taking orders," snapped Set, "If it's not the Raikage it's some bitch he's decided to make our lead. I'm getting tired of him, this country, everything. However," his head slowly moved towards the cliff, "there are some things to look forward to…"
-
Naruto was clawing his way up the mountain's side now along with the rest of the team. Coupled with the long and arduous climb up the side of the vertical cliff as well as the battle with the Hidden Sound Nins, fatigue was beginning to rear its ugly head. Naruto felt like his body was pumping acid through his veins, a white hot burning sensation punishing his every step, but he continued on. The mist around them had grown a bright, almost translucent white, signaling daybreak as patches of mist parted to reveal bright streaks of sun that burned against their eyes. Naruto was beginning to worry; he wasn't sure how much time was left to complete this task since yesterday, but the thought of failure was the farthest thing from his mind. He continued up the long slope, his teams' heavy breathing and the quick, rhythmic clanging of Lee's kunais into the slope keeping his mind focused. They were jogging up the side now, at almost a frantic pace, each of them worried that they had failed already. For Naruto, failure was not an option, and he knew that the rest of his team felt the same. 'I've got far too much at stake here,' he thought, trying to keep his mind distracted from his sore body, 'with becoming a Chuunin, Sasuke…and now," Naruto scowled deeply at the thought of Set. The nin had only recently come into his life, but his thoughts drifted to him constantly. 'What does he want from me,' thought Naruto, 'a fight? I can give him one if he wants.' Naruto shook his head back and forth, pushing the thought from his mind. 'I'll deal with him when the time comes, but for now, Sasuke…' He could feel his emotions begin to boil inside of him as he thought about his old friend. 'I have to face him. I have to prove that his nindo is wrong. I have to defeat him. Maybe then…" Small pieces of rock and dust came tumbling down to land lightly on his face. He wiped the debris from his eyes, blinking the dust out of his face through teary eyes. He felt a tug at his orange suit and opened his squinted eyes. TenTen was pulling on his jumpsuit weakly, looking just as exhausted as the rest of them, her breath coming out very labored. She raised a hand slowly and pointed above them. Naruto looked up to see they had escaped the mist. His heart began to beat like a jackhammer as he saw that they were very close to the top of the cliff. Snow dripped from the top, coming down lightly on top of them in small packets as the sun burned brightly in the sky overhead, raining bright streams on top of them.
"Yes," came a shout from behind them. Naruto turned his head back down to see Lee pumping a still bleeding fist into the air. "Our most youthful perseverance has paid off and we will most assuredly reach the top of the cliff. Gai-sensei," Naruto could see a stream of tears begin to well down Lee's face, "he will be most proud of us…his prized students."
"C'mon Lee," said TenTen irritably, "we've still got a little ways to climb yet. Let's just get this over with so we can go on to the next one." Lee shot her a quick salute before resuming his progress up the mountain quickly. Naruto smiled at Lee and followed suit, moving even quicker up the mountain as they approached its final peak. Any feeling of fatigue that had been plaguing Naruto earlier was washed away as he saw their final destination. He grinned broadly as he sprinted up the side of the mountain, TenTen and Lee keeping up the pace along side him. The wind was whipping lightly around him now as he ran straight up towards the sun, eager to put this test behind him and continue onto the next. The clanking of Lee's kunai grew steadily faster and more rhythmic than before as he desperately tried to keep pace with his teammates. 'So close,' thought Naruto, the edge of the cliff approaching faster and faster now. His legs pumped furiously against the forces of gravity as he made his way closer and closer up the mountain's side, reaching out for the snowy edge. Finally, he took a single step forward past the edge of Mt. Izou and stepped out again to find nothing but air under his foot. He flailed forward as he landed face first in the snow on the top of the peak, a cold chill sent quickly through his body. Naruto could hear TenTen laughing in between shortened breaths.
"Dammit," moaned Naruto as he pushed himself up off the ground, shaking the snow out of his hair. A familiar clanging sound was heard right behind him as Lee clawed his way to the top, grasping at the snowy earth for some kind of leverage. He finally pulled himself up, embracing the flat ground like it was a long lost friend. He rolled onto his back and stared up at the brilliantly lit sky. The sun was very vivid and bright on top of this mountain, as the sky seemed much clearer on the peaks rather than down below them. Naruto allowed himself a bit of respite, lying flat on the snowy ground, ignoring the freezing sensation that was pulsing through his body now. There was a long quiet between them as the entire team sat in the cold snow trying to catch their breath. Naruto heard footsteps slowly approach him and craned his neck up to see a Hidden Cloud nin writing something on a clipboard.
"Congratulations," he said with a bored monotone voice, "you have passed the first part of this examination within the time limit. Please register your names in Hidden Cloud-"
"YES," shouted Lee triumphantly. He sprang to his feet and pumped his fist high up into the air, "we as the prime and most pristine youth of the Leaf have accomplished this most difficult task set before us. We have beaten these great heights and enormous obstacles to reach out goals and prove our own ways of the ninja." A small stream of tears began to fall down his eyes, his mouth quivering badly. "If only Gai-sensei could witness such an event with his own eyes, how proud he would be of our amazing accomplishments." He was sobbing loudly now, his tears coming down like a river of droplets that pelted upon the ground while TenTen and Naruto looked on, embarrassed beyond belief at Lee's behavior. Then slowly, they began to hear a similar sound behind them. Naruto turned his head around quickly to see Gai-sensei with a similar expression as his pupil.
"Lee," Gai sobbed, "your passion moves me to tears. All of you have come so far on your own. I'm…I'm," Gai suddenly rushed forward and grasped all three of his students in an enormous bear hug, squeezing them tight as he sobbed loudly. Naruto choked as Gai's arms surrounded his stomach and squeezed tightly. "I'm just so proud!" he said between his hiccupped crying resonating across the entire canyon as the Hidden Cloud nin muttered something and went on down the mountain, searching for other teams that had made it to the top. Gai finally released them and Naruto and TenTen took in a collective breath, their lungs desperate for oxygen.
"What the hell were you thinking," coughed out Naruto, "you almost killed us!" Gai looked at him with a perplexed expression before laughing loudly.
"Forgive me," he said, "I sometimes let my passion for the accomplishments of youth take over me. But for now," he went back to a very serious pose, pointing at them sternly, "you must register at Hidden Cloud for the next test. It is imperative that youth keep their schedules together, so I suggest that you all proceed to the middle tier in Hidden Cloud village just over that bluff." His finger moved from them to the top of a large, snowy hill in front of them. "Hidden Cloud is just beyond that, but you must go yourselves. Your sensei has business to attend to in this village."
"How did you get up here so fast anyway," asked TenTen. Naruto nodded at his teammate, curios to the answer himself.
"Well," said Gai, a smug smirk plastered on his face as he rubbed his chin arrogantly, "I am the Amazing Azure Beast, a man capable of amazing feats and extraordinary skills. It should be no wonder to you my young pupils that your sensei could easily scale a mountain of this height in a few mere hours. For I am Maito Gai, the Beautiful Azure Beast!" he ended this speech in his usual whooping crane pose complete with a frothing ocean coming up behind him.
"Yeah," came a bored voice behind Gai. The Cloud nin had been eavesdropping on their conversation, still seemingly entranced by his clipboard, "or you took the civilian road that leads straight up into Hidden Cloud."
Gai's eyes went wide as he realized he'd been caught. The frothing ocean behind him disappeared, and he laughed nervously at his pupils. "Well," said Gai nervously, "even the great Azure Beast wants to be on time once in a while. Anyway, just go over the bluff and register for the next test. If you wish, you can meet your sensei in two hours at the cafeteria for a meal and a final training session, for the next test starts tomorrow!"
"Tomorrow," said Naruto in amazement, "you'd think they'd give us a break for even a little while."
"Students of the amazing Gai-sensei do not need breaks," shouted Lee, mimicking Gai perfectly, "we will achieve our goals and prove our nindo no matter what the circumstances." He shot Naruto the trademark nice-guy pose, his white teeth glistening brightly in the sun.
Naruto sighed in defeat, "Alright then," he said, "but they better have ramen here somewhere." Gai gave his students one last salute before bounding off back towards the Hidden Cloud. Naruto watched him run over the bluff, scattering the snow down the hill in small bundles. Naruto slowly pushed himself up, his hands against his knees as he forced his legs into standing position. All three of them were exhausted, though Naruto could feel himself begin to recuperate inside, his body regenerating muscle and decreasing the fatigue he felt throughout his body. He walked slowly up the hill, keeping the slow pace his teammates were going. They finally made their way over the tall bluff and stared down at a very odd looking complex sitting at the base of two gigantic mountain ranges that loomed over it. A large path was set in the middle of them leading somewhere up into the mountain areas. Naruto stared wide-eyed at Hidden Cloud village, a perplexed look stuck on his face as he cocked his head, hoping that the perspective would make the buildings make sense.
There were five gigantic towers arranged in an 'X' formation with one tower on each of the points and one in the middle. Each of the towers were very broad, and were so tall they seemed to be part of the mountainous structure that encompassed them. As the team walked closer, the width of the towers became astounding. They were a simple, cylindrical shape and composed of a very dark, jade stone with different etchings and figures carved into them that Naruto did not really understand. One of the towers seemed to be telling the story of how the nation was formed while another depicted a long bearded man engaged in combat with a very sad looking figure. The center tower was the most prominent and also the largest. However, it seemed to be composed of plain, granite stone and steel mixed together to form a very odd looking structure. Jutting out of this tower were four bridges connecting to the four outside towers that were cylinders as well, dark blue and contrasted heavily against the glistening green stone of the towers.
"They must have a lot of Jade in this country," said TenTen, looking up at the towers in awe.
"It's one of our main exports," came the same bored voice from behind them. The group turned around to see the Hidden Cloud nin still engrossed in his clipboard, checking periodically over his shoulder for any other teams that would cross the mountains. "Jade is found in huge deposits in this mountain. There's not a bigger supply of Jade Stone anywhere on this continent, maybe in the world. Earth Country especially pays big money for Jade stone as it's practically impossible to find there. Ironic eh?" Naruto didn't know whether to agree, laugh, or what to say. This nin looked familiar somewhat, but Naruto had trouble placing his face. He turned to Lee with a questioning look on his face, but Lee seemed to be thinking the same thing.
"Oh," said Lee finally, "you're the man who showed me that most amazing temple. Izou Raan was it?" The nin nodded at them, staring at Lee though his half-closed golden eyes. Lee bowed deeply at the tall, long haired nin. "Thank you again for that tour, it was most enlightening."
"Well you're welcome kid…um…Lee wasn't it," he finally stammered out. Lee smiled mischievously at the nin.
"Yes, it is Rock Lee, Amazing Azure Beast of the Leaf," he shouted, going into a Gai-like whooping crane pose; however, no frothing ocean appeared behind him. Raan stared at him oddly before returning to his clipboard.
"Well you kids should register soon," Raan said, "you can do that at the academy, the center building there where all the others meet. Go to the fifth floor and ask the receptionist there. You should be able to find anything you need there, including food if you need it." Naruto could feel himself salivate at the mere mention of food but quickly swallowed it down, not wanting to drool. "In the fourth tower there," continued the nin, rising from his clipboard to point to the closest tower to the right, "you'll find lodging. Don't go into any of the other towers. I repeat, DO NOT go into any of the other towers. Those are housing and training facilities for the grades of genin, chuunin, and Jounin respectively and you'll be very unwelcome there. Just trust me on this one." Raan gave them one final, reproachful stare before returning to his duty.
"That was pleasant," said TenTen sarcastically as they watched Raan move back to the cliff of the mountain, "Well come on, we should probably get ready for the next exam."
Naruto nodded, focusing his attention on the task at hand. Here was another golden opportunity to confront Sasuke in some way, shape, or form. 'I've got to keep my focus,' thought Naruto, sighing out deeply, 'I've got to-' his mind quickly jolted out of thought, bringing his thoughts back to reality as a familiar sensation of panic washed over him. He could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end, and his entire body began to pump adrenaline through his system as he took hard, quick breaths. 'He's watching me,' thought Naruto. It was strange to say the least how he could feel Set's presence. The nin seemed be surrounded by a very strange aura that stood out like a fiery beacon in Naruto's mind whenever he was nearby. Naruto's eyes darted from side to side, looking up at the soaring towers above him as he crossed into the fattest of the towers. Windows let out glimmers of yellow light, showing shadows of movement contained within them. Naruto's eyes scanned across the fourth tower. He could feel that weird aura there, a pair of them. He hated the feeling; it was as if something deadly was swinging over his head, ready to drop down on top of him if he wasn't careful. It was a feeling of constant unease he had felt ever since his first meeting Sasuke; ever since then, a feeling of constant paranoia had been following him. Despite what the situation was, the feeling was constantly nagging at him now.
"What are you looking at," asked TenTen. Lee and TenTen were both staring at him as Naruto finally came back into reality. He snapped his head back towards his friend so fast that his hair whipped in a small wind he made. TenTen and Lee both stared at him in a mixture of shock and horror as Naruto realized that the orange chakra had begun to flow through his system again. The sensation was becoming second nature to him now as the powerful chakra flowed through his veins almost as normally as blood. He felt his skin cool down slowly as he forced his emotions deep within himself. He closed his eyes hard tightly, the pressure causing his eyes to tear as he gritted his teeth hard, desperately trying to control what he had for so long. He opened his eyes again; Lee and TenTen were still staring at him, confused looks plastered on their pink faces.
"C'mon," said Naruto, motioning towards the tower, "let's get ready fro the next test." He walked straight past his friends. Who merely watched him as he strode by them, stepping lightly against the heavy snow. Naruto continued to walk; he didn't want to see their faces like that.
"They may be your friends now, but in the end, they will always see you as you truly are, a monstrosity."
Naruto continued walking, crunching quietly in the snow. The wind had decided to stop blowing for a moment, yet Naruto felt so cold on the inside now, so cold. It was as if something had grasped the last shreds of warmth and happiness he had felt and ripped them from his system. The only warmth left for him, was the warmth he felt whenever he let go…whenever the beast got his way and was unleashed upon the world.
-
Set licked his lips eagerly, his tongue feeling lightly across the small indentations of his mouth as he watched Naruto enter into the building for registration. The other two were standing stock still behind him, stupid looks of surprise still plastered on their faces. Set eyed them both with a mild look of interest on his face. He had never met Naruto' comrades before, but by the way he acted whenever fires began burning inside of him again showed too much. It showed weakness; weakness that could be exploited; weakness, that was kindling for the flame deep within him that Naruto so desperately wanted to stifle. Set smiled darkly to himself, taking in very deep breaths though his clenched teeth as the skin on his face stretched apart to reveal glistening fangs that made two perfect rows on his mouth. He opened his mouth slightly, allowing his long tongue to loll out of his mouth between his teeth. He pressed the tip of it against the window, tasting the cold on the outside as he watched Naruto's comrades slowly follow him inside, looks of worry still on their faces.
'So frail,' thought Set, 'wounds of the flesh child…wounds of the flesh…they do not dig so deep.' Set quickly retracted his tongue back into his mouth, slapping it loudly against his teeth as he felt a presence come in behind him. He removed himself from the window of the fourth tower and turned around, crossing his long arms across his chest. Slow steps signaled the approach of someone into his quarters, clicking against the hard tile floor. It wasn't Julius, his brother had left some time ago to take care of some 'business'. He watched as Kanistu Cally entered the room. She bore a look of repugnance on her face, arrogance that Set had little patience for. 'So she thinks she's better than me,' scoffed Set, 'let her think what she wants.' Set walked past her, moving out towards open door. Cally caught him hard by the arm as he passed, squeezing hard against his arm. Set allowed his feet to stop; her grip was very strong as he felt a very strong grip against his bicep. He flexed his bicep in response whilst Cally turned her head to stare eye to eye to him.
"Trying to impress me," she mocked. Set did not respond. He loathed this woman, and he simply could not wait until some opportunity, some 'accident,' anything arose to give the excuse to kill her.
"Let go of me," Set said coolly, walking against her grip. She held firm, not moving her head away from his eyes. Set sighed in frustration before turning back to her.
"Look," she said in a determined calm, "I know we must have gotten off on the wrong foot, but we're still a team. And as a team, if we're going to get past this exam we need to cooperate. That means that we should know each other; our styles, our strengths…our weaknesses, everything. It will help us meld cohesively as a team. That being said, I want to know what these are." She pulled a small white bottle from her belt and held it in front of Set's face between her thumb and forefinger. It rattled as she moved it, making a small banging sound as she moved it. Set's eyes grew wide and a smile slowly crept across his face, confusing Cally. "What are they," she said more forcefully this time, putting enough pressure on Set's arm to make him feel pain. Set continued to stare at her, chuckling under his breath, enraging Cally further. Her eyes squinted together and she flicked a single finger outward as a wire wrapped itself around Set's neck, illuminated only in a thin streak by the overhead light. Set's expression did not change as he opened his mouth to talk.
"Medicine obviously," said Set condescendingly, "I think a better question is why have you been prying through my brother's personal affections?"
"So these are Julius'," asked Cally. Set nodded as the wire slowly peeled off of his neck, leaving a thin line on it. "What are they for?"
Set looked up towards the ceiling, sighing a bit as he did, like he was thinking fondly of a memory that tickled him somewhat. "You might want to put those back," replied Set, "before Julius finds out."
This time it was Cally's turn to smile. "Oh yeah," she snickered, "what's he going to do?"
"I really don't know," said Set, grinning from ear to ear now, "I've only seen him when he's off them once." He was laughing now, craning his head back down as he placed a hand against his forehead. He laughed for nearly a minute, Cally staring horrified and frustrated at him while he did. Finally, as he pushed the memory from his system, he turned to look Cally in the eyes again. "They're mental suppressors. Julius suffers from shall we say, 'a small psychological problem'. Those keep him stoic, and usually contained. When he's been without them for some time, he regresses into an odd state. First, he starts to hear voices, the voices of his slaughtered kin crying out for vengeance. Then those voices take shape in his mind, cursing and damning him for being too weak to stop their slaughter. Then, finally, his mind snaps completely, and Julius becomes one with the voices, carrying out their will through his own. He becomes a swirling vortex of rage and emotion that really is poetry to watch; I do wish he would do it more often. But then again, only the most brilliant minds can appreciate art of such magnitude." Cally stared at him dumbfounded, then to the pills in her hand, rattling the bottle again.
"That's impossible," she said, snapping her head up so quickly her small, blond ponytail came up and rested on her head, "the Raikage would never allow someone with such a severe mental condition become a ninja. They wouldn't be reliable in combat; they could hurt their comrades. They-"
"Are weapons," Set interrupted, "such is the way with my brother. If a kunai breaks in battle, you replace it with a better one. And if you come across a weapon of such power that both you and your enemy will be destroyed, you will use it. It's simple human nature, something people just don't seem to understand. The object of the game it to win, at any cost, and I do so love to play this game." Set paused for a moment, allowing his message to sink into her system. Cally merely stood dumbfounded at this revelation. She leaned hard against the jade wall, a look of shock on her face. Set walked closer towards her until he was only centimeters away. She was very pretty…very pretty indeed. It showed well against such a strong façade, like a single flower popping out of the middle of a rocky ground. It showed so well, the tan color of her skin against her purple clothing, garden variety versus such a strong shade. She was art; she could be transformed. Set's hands rose ever so slightly as his fingers formed into claws at the end of each one, crooking against the skin. His heart began to beat rapidly, and his hands began shaking. He brought his arms up slowly, to Cally's neck level. 'I can transform her,' Set thought eagerly, 'I can show the world her beauty; I can…"
-
Set's arms slowly went down to his sides. Cally quickly woke from her mindset and delivered a strong kick to Set's stomach, pushing him her leg's length away. Set winced as her foot delivered a strong force to his midsection. Her face was in a dark scowl, and a sudden fire seemed to have been awakened behind her eyes. Set's heart raced faster, the fury, the passion, it was almost too much for him to contain. He walked hard against her foot, fighting the strength of her leg easily. Cally's eyes went wide with shock as Set stepped casually towards her, despite the fact her foot was still putting pressure against his stomach. She pushed harder, forcing her back against the wall as she drove her second leg deep into Set's chest. However, Set did not stagger, but continued walking forward against the pressure of her legs, bending them at the knee as he came slowly closer to her. Set continued to walk forward, his heavy boots thudding hard against the tile wall. Cally drew her arms against the wall behind her, readying the wires wrapped around her fingers. Suddenly, Set's own arms shot out, grabbing her by the wrists and slamming her arms against the wall behind them so hard the jade stone cracked against their combined forces. Cally's eyes went wide as a powerful jolt of pain shot down her arms to her back. She winced hard in pain, squeezing her eyes shut for a moment. She forced them open as soon as she felt Set's body come closer to her. Step by step, he closed the gap between them. Cally could feel his heart beat faster and faster through the soles of her feet, and his face seemed more like an animal's now, his eyes wide, and his breathing so loud it seemed to echo in the room. He was close now, too close. She could feel his hot breath on her face through his clenched teeth which were etched in a horrible smile. Her mind was panicking, desperate for a way out. He stepped even closer, her knees were up to her chest now as his face moved closer to hers, his neck craning towards her. She saw the opportunity and rammed her forehead as hard as possible into Set's face. She could feel his nose crack satisfyingly against the front of her head. She had hoped the pain would cause Set to recoil, but he only stopped. She opened her eyes as she stared down at his still smiling mouth. His teeth were so jagged; she had never noticed it before. She pulled her arms against Set's hands, but they were still held firmly there, and she could not use the strings unless she had some forward momentum. She pressed her head harder against Set's face, driving the crown of her head deeper into Set's crushed nose, pushing crushed bone and cartilage further into what was left of his face.
Then slowly, Set's mouth opened, revealing an abnormally long tongue. It moved slowly up to the side of her face, slapping with a sickly wet sound against the side of her chin. She grimaced as a sick chill went down her spine. She struggled harder against his grasp pushing her legs harder against his body, kicking him in between, harder and harder, but he hardly seemed to respond anymore. Then, almost as suddenly as it started, Set pushed away, sliding smoothly across the Jade tile floor. Cally hit the floor with a soft thud and acted within an instant, bringing herself back up to her feet. She was about to driver her arms forward, wrapping Set in the wires and ripping him to shreds when she stopped suddenly. Set was standing there beside her now. Cally backed away towards the window and assumed a defensive stance, but Set merely stood there, a horrid smile plastered on his face. His head was cocked to one side, seeming to study her further. Then, he erupted in a loud, violent laugh, throwing his head back so far he looked up at the ceiling. He brought his face forward again, still cackling madly. He turned on his heel and strode slowly towards the door, his loud laugh still echoing across the green stone that reflected the entire scenario. He casually walked out the door and walked across the hall, his laugh echoing across the cavernous hallways of the building. When Cally could no longer hear his laughter, or the clanking of his heavy boots against the stone, she allowed herself a moment's respite, relaxing her muscles as she leaned hard against the window. 'What am I into,' she thought, 'what is this. Raikage-sama, why would you keep such people?'
-
Kakashi loomed over Hidden Cloud village, staring down at the enormous pillars from on top of the cliffs. His face remained emotionless as he scanned the area, it was quite desolate for being the training and housing area for nearly all of the Hidden Cloud ninjas. He eyed the windows of the towers, examining the shapes that swayed about inside of them. His own mind was a veritable cacophony of voices past and lives that no longer walked this earth. The feeling of nostalgia still hung over him since he had taken a step into this accursed country. He reached up and gently touched the left side of his face as a particularly strong gust of wind whooshed behind him, mussing his hair slightly; he did not move, but continued to stare at the complex. 'He's not here,' thought Kakashi, 'but I imagine he soon will be. There's far too many things underneath the underneath here." He suddenly heard the sound of snow crunching quickly underfoot and turned around to see Gai quickly approaching him. Kakashi turned back to the cliff and watched the buildings with a scrutinizing look, desperate for any sign of his presence. Kakashi could hear Gai come slowly up behind him, bits of snow dusting off the slope and into the wind, sticking to the side of his face. Kakashi ignored the cold sensation that hit his cheeks and continued to stare fixated at the towers.
"I haven't felt him if that's what you wanted to ask," said Gai quickly, "I know you're worried Kakashi, but I have to ensure that my students are prepared for the next test, so make this quick." Kakashi remained silent for a few minutes as he attempted to put together what he wanted to say in a sentence. He had been pondering it for some time now, though it was a bit drastic. Kakashi heard Gai impatiently tapping his foot against the snowy cliff, but he still said nothing. Finally, Gai sighed in exasperation and turned on his heel to leave.
"We should take them out," said Kakashi finally, standing up to face Gai eye to eye. Gai quickly turned around, a perplexed expression filling his face as he cocked an inquisitive eyebrow at Kakashi.
"Take who out," asked Gai.
"Those two nins. You and I both know that they harbor some connection to Hiketsu, and anything that is even distantly connected to him should be destroyed." Kakashi watched as Gai's expression went from surprise to one of actual repugnance.
"Are you out of your mind Kakashi," Gai reprimanded him, "That's an act of all out war! We can't do something like that."
"I have a feeling they're already prepared for war," said Kakashi darkly. Gai shook his head, still not understanding Kakashi's point. "Think about it. Tsunade has already told us that the Raikage harbors some kind of deep, inner hatred for the Leaf. Secondly, without the Thunder Bloodlines, the Hidden Cloud are at a severe disadvantage in keeping together a prolonged war. Even if they do outnumber us, any good Kage would know that it would only be a matter of time before the other countries decided to get involved, and the Hidden Cloud cannot fight a war by themselves. Thirdly, we know Hiketsu, a being of unknown power and potential that wiped out an entire encampment of some of our best nin, is here, and two Hidden Cloud nin are emitting a similar aura as Hiketsu himself. Let's face it Gai, as desperate as Tsunade is for peace amongst the nations, the Raikage seems like he wants to restart the Fifty Years War, and those two nins will no doubt play a vital part in it."
Gai said nothing at first, but merely stared dumbfounded at Kakashi. Gai began to stutter, at first spitting out a few words, but then thinking better of it. Finally, after several failed attempts, Gai said slowly, "I know what you mean Kakashi, but you can't expect me to back you on this theory of yours. There are more important matter to deal with first, Orochimaru, the Hidden Sound, have you forgotten them so easily? We must make our priorities straight Kakashi. It is imperative that we, as most powerful Jounins of the Hidden Leaf, think carefully on our decisions before-"
"I ran away from him when I saw him," interrupted Kakashi, "I ran away. I've never run away from an opponent before. I've always stood my ground against an enemy, even when victory seemed impossible; even when I knew what I would do was futile, I did not retreat. That is who I am. But on that day, and when I saw him again, I ran. I ran like a coward. He killed my comrades, my love, and my best friend, and I ran like a beaten dog with my tail between my legs. I was not the hero that day."
"That's absurd," shouted Gai, quickly lowering his voice whenever the sound echoed through the sky, "you're not a coward. You delivered the final blow that stopped him remember?"
"Yet there he stood," said Kakashi, his head turned slowly up towards the cloudy sky above them, "without a scratch or mark on him. I do know my priorities Gai…" he looked straight at Gai, his eyes burning with a fury and rage that laid dormant within him for so long finally showing itself behind his dark eye. "My priority is to keep my comrades safe from harm, and protect the people precious to me. But right now, the greatest threat to those close to me has not even shown himself to them. I don't expect you to help me on this one, but it's something I have to do." Kakashi turned away from Gai and began walking down the slope whenever Gai's hand held him back. Kakashi looked around, and there was a very serious expression plastered on his usually pleasant face.
"I will help you Kakashi," Gai said darkly, "under one condition. We'll need proof that these nin are a threat to us. If you can find some information on these nin, then we will be able to go to Tsunade for assistance. This is the way it must be done Kakashi; you must realize this." Gai's words were on the edge of pleading, and deep down, Kakashi knew he had a point. Kakashi shrugged Gai's hand off his shoulder.
"Alright," he said lazily, "I'll get proof of what those nin are and how much of a threat they really are. But don't forget Gai," his tone changed to a very threatening one, "if I feel that those two are an immediate threat, I'll do it without you." Kakashi began to walk down the slope, leaving Gai alone. Dark thoughts were swirling in Kakashi's mind as he walked down the slope, planning his next step. 'I won't let him do it again,' thought Kakashi, 'NEVER again.'
-
"AAAAUUUGGH!" Zeumon's painful screams filled the area, bouncing off the walls and causing an altogether distracting presence. Orochimaru listened curiously at the screeching of metal grinding against bone, eliciting another wail from Zeumon as Kabuto continued the task of reattaching his arms. It was a very familiar sound, one he had much experience with, and had heard many times. It gave him a feeling of nostalgia for the past, but Orochimaru quickly refocused himself to the presence. He snapped his head in the direction of the two nins that were prostrating themselves before him. Both Shiaki and Garuda were on their knees, bowing face down to Orochimaru, each one of them breathing hard from exhaustion, and no doubt fear. Orochimaru remained silent for some time, letting the anticipation fill his student's hearts with terror. It was interesting, watching emotions pile up on themselves like that, one after the other, making the body gasp desperately for oxygen, convulsing uncontrollably. As if on cue, Shiaki's arms began to shake badly, though he desperately tried to hide it. 'This kind of respect is what I appreciate most,' thought Orochimaru, 'and even as satisfying as beating these two within an inch of their measly little lives might be, it is an unimportant matter.'
"So," came Orochimaru's raspy voice, finally breaking the horrible silence, "you engaged Naruto on the mountain per my instructions correct?" Both Shiaki and Garuda nodded quickly in unison. Orochimaru paced back and forth in the dark room, his pale figure contrasting heavily against the candle-lit darkness surrounding him. "And you failed-"
"We would not have failed if not for the red clad nin," interrupted Shiaki. Orochimaru paused and whipped his head in Shiaki's direction, his yellow, slitted eyes boring straight through him. Shiaki whimpered under Orochimaru's stare and went back to his position of prostration.
"It is irrelevant who interfered," continued Orochimaru, "what's important is how far this Leaf brat has come in a few months. Sasuke did not tell me how far Naruto had improved, and as time passes he is becoming an increasingly bothersome annoyance. I had hoped that those who had earned my esteem enough to be considered my honor guard could take down just three nins, but perhaps I am a bad judge of character, hmm?" Shiaki and Garuda shook their heads quickly, both of them trembling badly now; Shiaki's fingernails were beginning to chip against the stone he was becoming so nervous. "Naruto seems to have an unhealthy obsession with my property, and I do not want Sasuke damaged before I have a chance to possess him. Still, this brat should not-" another scream pierced the air around them, flooding the room with painful wails that amplified the already tense situation. "-should not," continued Orochimaru, "be a problem in the future. Sasuke should be more than capable of handling him. However, taking him out may prove difficult. Stand up," he motioned towards Shiaki and Garuda to come forward. They slowly got to their feet, their knees still shaking in terror at Orochimaru's obviously disappointed state. "I am giving you a chance to redeem yourselves for me. I want you to separate Naruto from his team. Make sure he's alone, and kill him."
"Won't the Leaf suspect something Orochimaru-sama," came Garuda's robotic voice. Orochimaru turned slowly to the tall, skinny pupil, his own eyes furrowing, giving him an enraged expression.
"Are you questioning my judgment," said Orochimaru slowly. Garuda's eyes went wide and he began to bow furiously at the waist, blurting out apologies from the metal neck piece around his neck. "I don't care how it's done, and I don't care if the Leaf suspect something. We still have amnesty, and as I hear it, they're already under investigation. Now go." Garuda and Shiaki gave one final bow to Orochimaru before sprinting out the door, narrowly avoiding Kabuto on the way down. Orochimaru shook his head as he watched them sprint away. "Worthless pieces of trash," he said through clenched teeth, "if only I still had my original ones, this operation would move much smoother."
"Fate does seem to be against us," replied Kabuto, "I've repaired the damage to Zeumon's arms, though it did take a bit of improvising. He'll be able to fight tomorrow, though the pain will still linger for some time. Are you that concerned about Naruto that you would willingly sacrifice two of your soldiers just to gauge him? You know they're not going to kill him."
"I'm well aware of that," said Orochimaru coolly, "Naruto seems to be a distraction that is affecting Sasuke adversely. He is a distraction that needs to be eliminated, and I don't think Sasuke would be willing to kill him." Kabuto said nothing, but stared up at Orochimaru. His eyes betrayed his emotions, and signs of doubt filled his eyes. "What?" asked Orochimaru, reading his servant easily.
"I was wondering if your faith in Sasuke is not misplaced. As I've said before, we only need him alive, nothing more. We should be cautious as to how far we use him."
"The more that Uchiha learns, the more his Sharingan will develop," said Orochimaru, a cruel smile slowly curling on his mouth, "and then, when I'm ready to take him, my forces will be unstoppable. Still, the Hidden Cloud do not concern me as much as…other factors."
"Such as," asked Kabuto.
Orochimaru was silent at first, his eyes furrowing into slits, his mind drifting to thoughts of earlier days. "Nothing that concerns you," replied Orochimaru coolly. Kabuto was visibly taken aback by Orochimaru's statement, but only bowed slightly and left Orochimaru alone with his thoughts…
"It's done," said Orochimaru triumphantly. Sweat was pouring down his brow, and the perspiration had wet his suit completely. He looked down at Mitarashi Anko, a 3 point mark visible on her neck. She was shaking badly, her body seemingly ready to shut down, but she was alive, that was a definite improvement. She whimpered and shook on the table, her small body rattling against the cold, steel table she was strapped to. Her eyes were very glossed over, and her breathing was becoming very sporadic again. Orochimaru performed a few seals and placed his hands over the girl's chest, calming down her respiratory system, and resetting her heart rate. Her breaths slowly became longer and less labored, and her eyes began to close, readying herself for a long sleep. Orochimaru took his hands back; they were so red that the pale white of his skin was not even prominent. He walked over to a small water basic, dipping his bloody hands in the cold liquid. The blood slowly washed away from his hands in small trails that swirled in the water, turning the liquid a dark crimson that enveloped the entire bowl. Orochimaru flicked his hands dry, splattering the wet blood on the far wall, mixing in with the already stained wall from the many corpses that lay manacled there. The room stank terribly, the smell or rotting flesh and dried blood piercing Orochimaru's sensitive nostrils. He ignored the smell though, today was a complete success, not only in the perfection of the enchancement seal, but something else as well…
It had been nearly two years since Orochimaru's first meeting with Hiketsu, and he only saw the strange man only once or twice a month in order to check up on his progress and speed what he could along. However, those visits had been cut short as Hiketsu claimed he had some 'business' to attend to, though Orochimaru cared little as to what it was. In these two years spent with Hiketsu, as sparse as they may have been, were two of the most educational years Orochimaru had spent with teacher. Sarutobi had always limited his experience in the forbidden jutsus, but Hiketsu seemed to encourage him, teaching Orochimaru some of his most deadly moves, including an amazing ability to reraise souls from the afterlife under one's control. He called this move Edo Tensai, and it had taken Orochimaru the latter part of a year to finally perfect. Not only that, Orochimaru had finally learned the secrets of soul displacement. As Hiketsu had stated, the body is irrelevant, as long as the soul remains intact, immortality is possible. Although he had not the opportunity to practice this art, in theory, it would work.
Still, despite all this, Orochimaru had developed an intense hatred for that man. Every time they met, Orochimaru's blood boiled with rage; every mannerism, a flick of a wrist, the way he breathed, everything irritated Orochimaru to no end. He didn't know where this kind of hatred came from, but one thing was for certain; he would kill that man, one way or another.
Orochimaru turned back to his pupil. Her small body was shivering badly again on the table. Perhaps the seal wouldn't take, and her body would corrode from the inside out like all the others. His eyes drifted to the corpses manacled to the walls, their insides sewn clumsily back inside of them; 'I never was very good with a needle,' thought Orochimaru, chuckling slightly under his own breath. He approached the girl and slowly bent his own head close to hers. He brought his lips close to her ear, and began to whisper to her. "From now on," he said softly, "your will is mine. Every thought, every movement, will be as through me. You are no longer your own, but a part of me. And in that way, you will live on forever through me."
"What are you talking about," came a cold voice from the dark entrance. Orochimaru whipped his head in the direction of the stairs as a figure stood shrouded there, a small pool of ankle deep water surrounding his feet. He slowly sloshed forward, moving through the water with ease, not even rippling a single wave as he stepped forward. Water dripped slowly from the ceiling as Orochimaru heard the small tapping of rain on the roof above them, but Orochimaru's eyes were fixed on Hiketsu's as he slowly stepped from the dark, his white, barren eyes almost sparkling on his face. Orochimaru smirked as Hiketsu approached the steel table.
"I was wondering when you'd show yourself again," Orochimaru said snidely, "It's been too long. In any case, I have perfected the technique you have been raving about." He approached Anko and slowly turned her over on the table, revealing the mark on the back of her left shoulder. "It's an enhancement seal that pulls additional chakra from the body, along with fueling the user's normal body with amazing strength and speed. I took your original design and added a few modifications to it to make it more potent." Orochimaru watched as a single bony hand waved over Anko's body, gliding over her, never making any physical contact. Anko shuddered slightly under Hiketsu's observance. Hiketsu slowly moved his hand over the seal itself, tracing it around the lines as his long fingernails indented the skin on Anko's body. Anko shuddered even worse now, almost violently so until Hiketsu retracted his hand again, at which she returned to almost normal. Hiketsu turned slowly towards Orochimaru, his blank eyes seeming to stare bullets into his own yellow pupils. Orochimaru returned the false gaze, never faltering under his dark stare.
"May I ask you something Orochimaru," began Hiketsu in the same cool, and utterly annoying tone, "do you think I am dull?"
If Hiketsu could have seen Orochimaru's face, he might have actually laughed for the first time as Orochimaru contorted his face in utter confusion at the question. "Dull?" he asked with disbelief.
"Dull," continued Hiketsu, "Slow-witted, ignorant, stupid, etcetera. Do you think I wouldn't notice all of your modifications? In particular, I noticed the imprint the seal places on the soul; you leave a small part of yourself in them. Whenever it is fully activated, their bodies and souls are not their own, but rather they adapt your personality, your mindset, everything about you. It's very creative. And it's also a perversion of what I have been trying to accomplish."
"This seal is beyond anything you could comprehend," snapped Orochimaru, the anger beginning to rise in his voice, "with this seal, I…we can create an army totally loyal to…us. In this manner, I can give these children strength beyond what they have ever dreamed. I can turn a genin into a chuunin; a chuunin into a Jounin; a Jounin into a sannin; and who knows what else can be accomplished with this. Just think of it, we can overrun this village, destroy it," his voice was raising higher again, the raspy tone of voice breaking against the strain that his throat was trying to produce. "They…they will pay for ignoring my greatness; for not seeing that I am truly the greatest of the damned village!"
There was a very loud silence between both Hiketsu and Orochimaru after this statement. It was impossible to tell if Hiketsu was actually 'looking' in a certain direction due to the odd nature of his eyes, but the expression on his face was enough to show what he was thinking. There was contempt written all over his face; contempt and condescendence. Orochimaru gritted his teeth as the fury for this damned stranger rose to the surface again.
"You would use what I have taught you for petty revenge," said Hiketsu, his own voice rising slightly for the first time since Orochimaru had met him, "you would pervade my knowledge such just to complete your own damned goals? Have you learned nothing from my time spent here?"
"I've learned what I needed to know from you," said Orochimaru, lowering his voice menacingly, "I learned of immortality, as was our deal. What more-"
"Was that all you learned Orochimaru," said Hiketsu, his voice returning to it's cold state once again, "You showed such promise. I thought that perhaps I could take you on as my own personal pupil, but your lust for power is blinding you to what I have been trying to teach you."
"What are you talking about," roared Orochimaru, growing increasingly frustrated with the cryptic messages Hiketsu was trying to send him. Hiketsu shook his head solemnly, almost scolding, like a father disappointed in their favorite son. This only succeeded in enraging Orochimaru further. The sound of the air blowing in and out of his slitted nose slowly grew louder and faster as the anger boiled within him. Hiketsu walked past him, heading straight for Anko who was still shivering on the table, her eyes wide open now. Hiketsu stood over her, bending his neck down slightly before giving the table a small kick get a better view. Orochimaru studied him carefully as Hiketsu swept his hands over Anko's body once again. Suddenly, he grabbed at Anko's neck harshly, his long hands encircling over her thin neck and squeezing tightly; Anko choked loudly against Hiketsu's might.
Orochimaru sprinted forward, his feet barely touching the ankle deep water below them. He swept in and delivered a strong kick to Hiketsu's stomach with his shin, knocking him hard against the far wall and relinquishing Anko from his grip. Orochimaru's anger was full force now, and he knew that the time had finally come to kill this man. "What the hell do you think you're doing," snarled Orochimaru, "I have finally achieved what you could not and I will not allow you to take away my work so easily!"
Hiketsu lay against the far wall, motionless except for the slow rising and falling of his chest. Very slowly, Hiketsu brought himself to his feet, his body arching against the wall in an unbelievable bend. He righted himself back up and stared blankly at Orochimaru. "That…thing must be destroyed," said Hiketsu coolly, "I will not allow such a perversion of my work to exist in the world. My skills serve a higher purpose than petty revenge or want Orochimaru, but I can see now, you can't understand what I'm trying to achieve here. Well," Hiketsu straightened his back out completely and brought himself into a strange stance, his arms held out straight in front of him, the right slightly moreso than the left. His legs formed a small V as a base at the bottom of his slender figure. "…I suppose this is the end of our partnership." Orochimaru unstrapped Anko and pushed her behind him, readying his own hands to his sides to be brought up quickly to initiate seals. There was an unbearable silence now, broken only by the fast splash of the drops of water above them hitting the pool they stood in and rippling the water outward. They both waited, Orochimaru anxious to see what Hiketsu's first move would be, but Hiketsu did not move, rather, he stood there blankly, awaiting Orochimaru's first move. Orochimaru tensed every fiber of his body, stretching and contorting the tendons in his arms for quick movements. They stood there for what seemed like an eternity, only the whimpers of a small child and the drops of the water above them to break the horrible silence before the storm.
Hiketsu moved first, he drove his body forward in a single push of his legs. The movement was so quick it parted the water as he flew across the room towards Orochimaru. Orochimaru was prepared, he drew his hands forward, his nimble fingers making quick movements and seals in front of his face. Hiketsu came in too fast and Orochimaru pushed himself hard backwards, his body colliding with the wall behind him hard enough to knock the wind out of his system. "Water Element," he croaked, "Rain of Needles!" The water in front of Orochimaru suddenly drew itself up into the air at Hiketsu's eye level. It then shot forward in tiny, thin droplets that froze in midair towards him, whistling loudly as they pierced the air towards Hiketsu.
Hiketsu moved quickly, throwing his legs out from under him so that he was parallel to the surface of the water. He allowed gravity to pull him down as the needles shot over him, ripping holes in the cloak that enshrouded him and hitting the stone wall in front of him with small clinks. Hiketsu grasped the water like it was solid and pushed himself across the surface of it, parting it into two large waves as he glided across the surface towards Orochimaru. Orochimaru pressed himself flat against the wall, his hands forming seals as fast as possible. Hiketsu came forward blindingly fast, pushing himself off the surface of the water and grabbing Orochimaru's arms by the wrists. He pulled his arms apart and jumped completely up, driving a knee right into Orochimaru's chin. The impact of the hit rattled Orochimaru's body, his teeth rattling badly inside his mouth. The hit drove them upwards towards the ceiling, and Hiketsu arched his body backwards, letting go of Orochimaru's arms and flipping away from him just as Orochimaru hit the ceiling head first. There was a resounding crack through the ceiling as Orochimaru felt like what had been a bolt of lightning crash into his brain. Stars formed in front of his eyes, obscuring the darkness that now surrounded him. Orochimaru quickly pushed against the ceiling and forced his body back down to the ground. He hit the floor with a small splash as Hiketsu made his way towards Anko.
Orochimaru opened his mouth wide, sending an unbelievably long tongue in Hiketsu's direction, wrapping tightly around his left ankle. Hiketsu snapped his neck in Orochimaru's direction, tugging fiercely at his shackled leg. Orochimaru wrapped the middle of his tongue around his forearm and pulled violently, a hard pain shooting through his mouth as he did. Hiketsu's feet lost their balance and he was flung into the air, sailing straight into a pile of corpses on the wall's side. Orochimaru did not wait for him to recover, but began to form seals again, his hands moving so fast they were mere blurs in front of him. "Fire Element," he screamed, "Great Fireball" a gigantic ball of flame shot out from his mouth just as Hiketsu clawed his way out of the pile of corpses. The fire hit its mark, engulfing the pile in an explosive force that rocked the room's structure. Small pieces of the ceiling crumpled onto the pool of water beneath them, adding more chaos to the swirling and sloshing water beneath his feet. Orochimaru watched the corpse pile burn, sure that Hiketsu burned along with it. Steam rose from the pile, the water evaporating on contact with a loud hiss.
"Chains of the Underworld," shouted a voice from amidst the inferno. Orochimaru watched dumbfounded as three darkness black chains shot from the pyre straight towards him. Orochimaru flipped backwards, nimbly avoiding the first strike as the chains batted at the air in front of him. Orochimaru landed next to Anko, who was now huddled in a corner, her eyes wide with fright from the scene before her, but Orochimaru paid her little heed. As long as she was alive, she would serve his purposes well. He would not allow this man to take what he had strived so long for. Orochimaru readied his hands in front of him again as Hiketsu emerged from the flames. His long black cloak had been frayed completely, and the rest of his black garb seemed burned and singed as well, revealing parts of his unnaturally pale flesh. The chains protruded from his back, a bit of wet blood still dripping from the tips that had burst forth so quickly from his back. The chains shot forward as Orochimaru threw two shurikens forward at Hiketsu, simultaneously shouting one of the first jutsus Sarutobi had taught him. "Shuriken Bunshin no Jutsu," he shouted, his voice carrying over the roaring flames in the background. The two shurikens quickly multiplied to ten, then twenty, then fifty, until nearly a hundred of the shrieking stars were splicing the air towards Hiketsu. The chains on his back retracted themselves, forming a tight shield in front of Hiketsu that the shurikens clanged loudly against to bounce away harmlessly. Orochimaru raced to Hiketsu's left, flicking a kunai out from behind his belt and twirling it forward on his finger. He came to Hiketsu's exposed side and drove the kunai forward, moving so fast that the air whistled around him. Hiketsu's head did not turn, but his body reacted perfectly to the attack, his back arcing impossibly so that Orochimaru shot straight over him. Orochimaru righted himself quickly in midair, reaching out with his free hand and grasping Hiketsu's clothing tightly. Pulled himself closer to Hiketsu and drove the kunai deep into his chest, eliciting a small gasp from Hiketsu. Suddenly, the chains shot back and wrapped around Orochimaru completely, encircling him like living snakes and wrapping his entire body tightly in a mass of clanging, black metal. Hiketsu staggered backwards, his body convulsing slightly. Slowly, he regained his stance and casually pulled the kunai from his chest, dropping it on the ground in a low splash. Orochimaru struggled under the grasp of the chains; they were slowly squeezing together, tighter and tighter. Orochimaru felt the bones in his torso begin to crack and bend underneath the pressure of the black steel. A small trickle of blood shot up his throat and slowly came out his mouth to dribble down the side of his face.
Suddenly, Orochimaru snapped his neck backwards and then drove it towards Hiketsu, his neck stretching to incredible lengths to send his head towards his enemy. Hiketsu reached out with a hand and grasped Orochimaru's neck, only for it to slip from his grasp as Orochimaru finally connected with Hiketsu's neck. He opened his mouth wide, revealing a pair of sharp fangs that he buried deep into Hiketsu's flesh. Hiketsu recoiled, stepping backwards as he drove his fist repeatedly into Orochimaru's skull. Orochimaru felt the chains begin to loosen slightly around his body, and he tore his hands out of the mass of chains, forming quick seals on them. He quickly snapped his head back into place, resetting it back on top of his shoulders. "Lightning element," he shouted, "Thunder Barrier!"
The air began to crackle and sizzle around Orochimaru as blue lightning began to pulsate off his skin in waves. The lightning connected with the chains, making its way down to Hiketsu who roared in pain as a massive wave of blue lightning engulfed his body. The chains loosened considerably as they convulsed and shook with Hiketsu's body, allowing Orochimaru to slip from their grasp and fall to the floor. Orochimaru quickly ended the jutsu and drove himself towards a now completely defenseless Hiketsu. A long sword protruded from his mouth as he pushed across the water, splashing it loudly as he plunged the sword into Hiketsu' chest. Hiketsu's eyes went wide, and a small sliver of blood issued from his gaping mouth. Orochimaru smiled widely as he snapped his neck up violently, driving the sword in a straight cut through Hiketsu's head. Hiketsu stood motionless for a moment, a look of shock still plastered on his face. Suddenly, blood sprayed out into the air from his head and neck as the two sides separated, bringing the rest of Hiketsu's body with him as his corpse slumped to the floor. The blood colored the room a bright red now, the water completely turned the crimson shade.
Orochimaru swallowed the sword again, the blade slowly making its way down his throat. He walked nonchalantly over to Hiketsu's corpse and examined his work. What was left of the body was obscured underneath a red shade that glided over it in a glistening red crimson. Orochimaru chuckled to himself before turning back to his pupil. Anko was still huddled in the corner of the room, but she was beginning to calm down now that Hiketsu was dead. "Don't worry," said Orochimaru, "you're mine. And I don't let anyone take what belongs to me." Anko did not respond, but nodded fearfully, her eyes still very wide and scared from the experience. Orochimaru walked closer to her, stepping over a few corpses that had fallen in the battle; the room was a complete mess now with bodies floating aimlessly on the floor, barely supported by the water that had risen considerably. The water still sloshed against the walls as it rippled out the energy from the battle, and the sound echoed across the room loudly, filling the silent void that had occurred with Hiketsu's death. Orochimaru reached out with a single arm to take Anko up and back topside.
Anko reached out for his hand, but stopped suddenly, her body shaking so horribly the water began to shimmy off of her in small droplets. Her face was contorted in an expression of pure terror and fear, and her body refused to move anymore. Orochimaru looked deep at her, noticing something in the reflection of her eyes. A shape was moving, emerging from the water behind them. Orochimaru spun around and confronted the ghastly image of a corpse reforming itself. Hiketsu's body stood back on it's feet, its two halves still dripping blood on either side of it. Suddenly, skin began to reform from the bottom up, almost like a human zipper, pulling two halves together again. Orochimaru stared in disbelief as Hiketsu emerged unscathed, standing before him, the only difference was a thin line that was etched from the top of his collar to his chest where the sword cut through. "That…that's impossible," said Orochimaru, his raspy voice quavering, "no one can survive that." Hiketsu merely stared at him now, showing him the same expression of disappointment that he had shown beforehand. Orochimaru's mind snapped back into reality, and he began to form seals in front of him again. Hiketsu was faster this time, his legs shooting him forward across the surface of the water. He grabbed Orochimaru's head with his entire hand, palming his face. He hoisted Orochimaru's body into the air by his head and held him several feet off of the ground. Orochimaru's hands came together to complete his seal. "Fire Element-"
"Eyes of the Death God," Hiketsu whispered quickly. Suddenly, everything around Orochimaru plunged into darkness, and he found himself freefalling down an endless pit, the only sound he heard was the wind whipping around his head. He finally landed hard on a soft patch of earth, enough so that his feet sank an inch upon impact, kicking dust high into the air.
"What the hell," said Orochimaru, gazing at this new area. Hiketsu was nowhere to be found and the earth under his feet no longer felt wet, but very dry and dusty, almost like it was crumbling and dieing itself. The air reeked of death, and the pungent stench pierced through Orochimaru's nostrils, contorting his face in sheer disgust. "Genjutsu of some sort," he said aloud, reassuring himself, "KAI!" He focused his mind on the chakra that should have been surrounding his eyes and mind, but there was none. "What the hell is this," said Orochimaru, his voice more panicked now. He walked across the landscape, looking for any semblance of a jutsu in this strange landscape. A heavy shroud of fog lifted across the area as Orochimaru concentrated hard for any signs of the jutsu. Suddenly, something from beneath him grabbed his ankle firmly. He shot his head down to see a decrepit hand grabbing at his ankle. Orochimaru's eyes went wide, and he violently pulled his leg from the arm's grasp. Suddenly, another corpse shot from beneath the ground under him and grasped him by the arms, pinning them to his sides. Orochimaru could smell the stench of decaying flesh on the corpse as he struggled in it's amazingly powerful grasp. Soon, the entire area was filling with horrid wails and moans as corpses sprung from the earth beneath him and clawed at his body, tearing it limb from limb. Orochimaru screamed in sheer pain as they began to swarm on top of him…
Just as quickly as it started, Orochimaru found himself propelled back to the room, landing hard in the blood water. His entire body felt like it had been ripped apart and hastily put back together. He opened his eyes and surveyed his limbs which only a moment before had been pulled from his body by the living dead. They were still very much attached to his body, though he could still feel the residual pain at his joints where they had torn the flesh and bone from his body. Orochimaru tried to stand, but his body gave out, every muscle and bone in his body feeling ripped and torn apart as pain circulated through his system with every beat of his hear. Orochimaru craned his neck upwards to see the black figure of Hiketsu standing over him, his arms hidden within the black cloak that enshrouded his entire body; even his face was hidden beneath the hood of the cloak.
"It seems my time is done," he said softly, a feeling of dread lingering over the words as they passed slowly through his pale lips. He looked up towards the ceiling, craning his ears back and forth, hearing out sounds Orochimaru could only wonder. "I don't know," he continued coolly, "they may be after him. Perhaps. No, that won't be necessary, I will deal with them. They are not as powerful as they once were, but there seem to be candidates here. I don't have time. If I linger, I may be discovered. I know I could, but it would be unwise to reveal myself. Don't worry, I will be back shortly." Orochimaru stared at him, a feeling of defeat washing over him. "It seems you have what you wish Orochimaru," said Hiketsu, his voice directing itself towards Orochimaru again, "I can no longer stay here, nor do I have time to destroy the girl properly. This will not be the last time we meet Orochimaru. Next time, I will finish what I have started." And with that, Hiketsu swept quickly out of the room, the sound of dripping water echoing through his mind as Orochimaru succumbed to the pain coursing through his body…
"Orochimaru," echoed a shout amidst the silence. Orochimaru came back to the dark, musky room lit sparsely by candles. He quickly turned behind him to see Sasuke standing there, a very repugnant look attached to his face. Half of his face was hidden in the darkness of the room, but Orochimaru could see the emotions, the fury behind his dark eyes. Orochimaru smirked to himself, the thought of such a body being his amusing him.
"You should be resting," ordered Orochimaru, raising the inflection of his voice slightly, "the second test starts tomorrow, and I don't want you failing from exhaustion. After all, if you can't get through these exams, how do you expect to be able to defeat your brother?" Orochimaru watched Sasuke's rage boil to the surface again, a vindictive pleasure running through him as the youth struggled with the deep emotions running beneath him. Orochimaru turned away towards his room, his long hair whipping through the air behind him as he exited from the light.
"Call them off," said Sasuke threateningly. Orochimaru stopped dead cold and turned his head slowly towards Sasuke. His yellow eyes reflected the candlelight, casing an eerie yellow glow on his face. "I won't let them interfere."
"What are you babbling about Sasuke," asked Orochimaru.
"Those two idiots you sent to kill Naruto," Sasuke said defiantly, "I want you to call them off. Now." Orochimaru turned on his heel and faced Sasuke, looking down at him, the irritation screwing his face. But a smile slowly began to curl on his thin lips, forming into a very malicious grin. Suddenly, Orochimaru erupted in maniacal laughter, his raspy voice beating off the walls like a drum as the horrid sound echoed down the halls of the room through the chamber. "What the hell is so funny," snapped Sasuke.
"You," said Orochimaru in between laughing. His laughter finally subsided, and his face quickly became malicious again, "You seem to be forgetting your place. Did you not come to me, practically begging for the power to kill your brother, and am I not delivering on your side of the bargain? It's high time you learned that while you are here, you are my pupil, and you will follow my orders without objection. However," Orochimaru slowly sauntered towards Sasuke, who's eyes burned with a controlled fury now, "sine you seem so desperate to change my order, I'm going to give you your wish." He bent down slowly until his own yellow eyes met Sasuke's. His Sharingan was active, and the red iris of his eyes began to betray the emotions buried deep within him. Orochimaru looked deep into those eyes, the eyes that would one day be his own, staring back at him. He could see his own reflection in those perfect eyes along with the limitless potential held within them. "If I call them off, I will have to find someone else to eliminate the brat, and since you seem to be so eager to recall my troops, I can only assume you want him for yourself."
Sasuke took a step back, a slight look of shock on his face before he hid it again beneath a face of stone. "I think it would be the perfect test of your abilities" said Orochimaru in a taunting voice, "So Sasuke, during the second examination, I want you to kill Uzumaki Naruto." Sasuke was completely silent; it was obvious this was not what he had expected, yet the young Uchiha refused to back away from Orochimaru's gaze. He stood defiant in front of him, but Orochimaru could see the doubt begin to creep into him.
"He's no threat," said Sasuke finally, "there's no reason to want to kill him."
"I disagree," said Orochimaru mockingly, "he may not be a threat in the literal sense, but he is a threat in that his mere existence is keeping you from reaching your full potential. I can still see the lingering feelings of want that are buried so deep within you, and it disgusts me. That kind of weakness should be purged from your body by now. Or do you not want to kill him? Perhaps you wish to make him a surrogate brother of sorts, since your own family was taken from you in, shall we say, an untimely manner." Orochimaru smiled in satisfaction as Sasuke openly scowled at him. "If you want to kill your brother and avenge your clan, the only path is through me. We will become as one, and your intentions will be fulfilled through me. In the meantime, your body must be kept in pristine condition, constantly tested and rigorously trained to make a prime vessel for myself. But, until that time comes, you are a part of the Hidden Sound and one of my minions, and you will follow my orders no matter your personal feelings. Or perhaps…you fear Naruto? Is that it?"
"I don't fear anyone," snapped Sasuke, "and you can't manipulate me like some puppet."
"No I can't," replied Orochimaru smugly, "you're letting me manipulate you fine on your own. In any case, if you can't defeat some Leaf brat, do you really think you can defeat someone of Itachi's caliber? You've already failed to kill him once. Can you kill him?"
Sasuke was silent again, the conflict obviously swirling within his mind. Orochimaru hated it when Sasuke looked so defiant like that, another annoying trait that he would be glad to remedy when he took over this boy's body. Finally, Sasuke stared straight at Orochimaru, walking very slowly towards him.
"I can and will kill him," said Sasuke, "he will not survive the second exam. I swear it."