Chapter 7: His Orders

"Listen up you two," Orochimaru began, "I have a 'special' assignment for both you."

"We're ready for anything!" Kabuto said. Mitsuki nodded.

"Good." He licked his lower lip. "One of my many associates has been paying me less and less in the past months. Now, he has stopped paying me. I want you two to pay this associate of mine a visit and see why he isn't paying."

Mitsuki looked down. "Do we have to…kill anyone?

"Don't hesitate to kill. Both of you are trained shinobi skilled in the art of killing. I guarantee you that there will be bloodshed." He gave her a curious look. "Why, what's wrong Mitsuki? Are you…scared?"

Kabuto looked over at her desperately. "No, of course she isn't!"

"Then…she just doesn't want to do it then?"

"Yes she does!" He looked over at her. "Isn't that right Mitsuki? You'd do anything for Lord Orochimaru, correct?"

"…Correct."

"Okay then Mitsuki." He handed Kabuto an envelope. "Everything you two need to know is in this envelope. Make sure you read it over."

"Yes sir."

"No one cheats me without facing a horrible death." Something shot up Mitsuki's spine, causing her to shiver.

X-X-X-X

"What was with you back there?" Kabuto asked Mitsuki. "Did you want Orochimaru to find out about you?"

"It was an accident Kabuto," Mitsuki explained. They had been walking through the forest for three hours heading towards the village with Orochimaru's associate.

"Well, you need to be careful about your little 'accidents'!"

"Why are you so tense all of a sudden?"

He sighed. "Aah, you're right. I'm extremely tense. After what you told me, it's hard to do things the same way with you."

She frowned. "I knew this would happen."

"What?"

"I knew that if I told you, you'd have a tough time being around me…"

"Well, yeah. This is hard for both of us. You're a long time companion of mine and Orochimaru is too." He sighed. "It's even kinda hard to explain."

"I don't know how I'm gonna handle this mission…"

"The way I look at it, you have two options. You either need to be K.I.A. or help me."

"Can't I just pretend to be K.I.A. and then leave this place?"

"Nope. Sooner or later, Orochimaru will find you, and you know that."

She sighed. "Yeah, you're right…"

"You're best choice is to help me."

"Like I have a choice."

"Hey, you always have a choice. I just don't wanna see you die." At least, not yet…

"Kabuto…I guess I'll just have to help you then…"

"Think of it this way, Orochimaru won't be suspicious of you if you help, simple as that."

"Y-Yeah…" She looked away.

"Besides, Orochimaru's orders are absolute."