Chapter 7 - The Nail in the Coffin
A/N: I do not own Naruto!
I do however own Mari Kaede and any other OCs mentioned!
Please ask permission before using them!
Warnings: Contains dark themes, such as depression, murder, experimentation, emotional, mental and physical torture and mentions of sexual activities!
Please read responsibly.
Hey guys, still going through and fixing the corrupted chapters.
Here's the rereleased version of chapter 7!
Enjoy!
The sound of running water was heard throughout Kaede's room as the woman in question checked the drawers by her bedside for some soft towels. It had been two months since the incident that had left her bedridden and she looked forward to a nice comfortable shower. Even if others believed this wasn't the first priority for someone in her position, she did. For almost the entirety of these two months, she had to put up with some random Oto kunoichi washing her when she couldn't do so herself.
Now that she could move, she looked forward to a long soak under the beads of hot water, well as long as she could with her genetic condition. If she started to feel cold, no matter the heat of the shower, she had to get out and dry herself until there wasn't a drop left on her.
Honestly, she wouldn't have any trouble figuring out when she was starting to get cold since she had collapsed in the decontamination shower a few years ago, Kabuto had checked her temperature after she'd recovered, and it was high enough for someone to have a fatal fever.
The odd part was, she was completely healthy, she didn't feel sick, or hot at all. After running some deeply despised tests, Orochimaru and his loyal subordinate confirmed that her normal body temperature had risen and wouldn't lower unless she was exposed to water for too long.
"Heh, I remember when I was normal..." Kaede mumbled to herself a frown on lips as she finished collecting the necessities for her shower and walked into the bathroom, kicking the door shut behind her.
After stripping herself of that godforsaken hospital gown, which was sadly, her only article of clothing, she washed it briskly. So she could get it clean, but keep herself from touching the water for long. "I ain't done my own laundry for a while...!" Kaede grunted, as she scrubbed it a few more times, then hung it up to dry.
The older woman couldn't help but stare at it as she dried her hands on a spare towel. It was a different gown to the one she had when she was in the containment cell, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt to look at it. Those gowns hold the worst memories for her, of a time of loneliness, suffering, and pain she couldn't get out in the battlefield.
Even now, she would feel a pang of grief when she thought to her family, who had lost their daughter and probably assumed her to be dead by now. Just washing that gown, despite the disgust she felt for the article of clothing, she felt nostalgia crash into her like a wave, and she longed to see her family again.
"One day...I'll get home."
~BHBL~
After a semi-long soak and a vigorous drying period, the Ninjutsu Expert emerged from the bathroom fully dressed with rather mussed hair and flushed cheeks from the heat. Apart from the fact that she was trapped in a place, she hated above all else, that had been a pleasant experience for her. Strange how she used to take small tasks like those for granted when she was but a young woman.
Sitting down on the bed, Kaede let out a soft sigh as the mattress dipped under her weight. She hadn't felt the comfort of a bed for a long time either, it was oddly soothing. "I must be getting old." She joked, but the grin that spread across her lips didn't reach her eyes, which were swamped with sorrow and loneliness.
With a shake of her head, Kaede stood and walked towards the door, she couldn't waste time just feeling sorry for herself, she needed to find a way to escape.
Grasping the handle of the wooden barrier between her and the hallway which would lead to her freedom, the woman gave it a hard tug, only to stop and blink with confusion. It wouldn't budge.
"Eh?" She voiced, knitting her brows together and pulling at the handle again. "Why the hell is the door-"
Realization hit Kaede like a sack of bricks and her expression washed into blank shock. Orochimaru had sealed the door, probably to avoid another escape attempt.
Within moments, that shock began to warp into something she didn't know she would feel, fear. She felt suffocating terror towards the thought of being locked in this room. Maybe it was because she had a taste of normality, or that she had managed to escape just once. However, at that moment, everything seemed to freeze and all she could do was try to calm herself down as her breathing elevated.
"You son of a bitch!" Kaede shouted as she kicked the wooden barrier between her and even just a small sense of freedom. She should have known, she should have been able to find a way around this! Each thought she had was accentuated with another swift blow of her foot, an attempt to break free from another suffocating cell.
Of course, no one could keep that up for long, as she gave the door a few more beatings before she turned and leaned against it, her hand coiled into her short spiked hair. "I should've seen this coming..." She breathed, her lip pressed between her teeth as she slowly suppressed her anxiety and fear.
Not only was she stuck here, but the thought of being in here made her feel like she was being threatened with death, it scared her to the point of wanting to scream. She not only had physical scars to prove her suffering but mental and emotional scars too.
"I should've seen this coming..." She repeated solemnly, closing her eyes as she slowly began to calm down. With the small comforts she felt, she had let her guard down, foolishly, blindly forgetting that her captor was not only insane but terribly paranoid too.
She should have known she'd only go from one prison to another.
~BHBL~
The sound of rustling paper filled the semi-silent Otogakure base as Orochimaru pulled open a large, freshly unsealed scroll and began to read the Kinjutsu hidden inside. Though he was trying his very hardest to focus on the words before him, his eyes scanning the long parchment, he knew there was little point.
Kaede hadn't stopped yelling for three days, in fact, her protests were that loud, he could hear her all the way down in his office, which was at least a corridor away. 'Her energy would be better used honing her new skills...' The older Rogue thought to himself as he slowly continued his way through the scroll, still musing his redheaded experiment.
Orochimaru knew full well that Kaede had no use when locked in that room, and he'd get less work done the longer she kept up her rather vocal display of rage. 'Perhaps some semblance of freedom will make things easier...' A smirk curled his lips as he thought this through.
If she was given a chance to wander the halls at least, that will most likely end with her finding the training room and testing out the strength given to her through his experiments.
Humans were curious being after all. For years he'd been collecting data on the increase of her strength, and so far, all of it was theoretical. He licked his lips at the idea of seeing her true strength, to see the fruits of his hard work.
Mind made up, Orochimaru stood and chuckled darkly as he left the room. His footsteps that echoed through the hallway were drowned out by sharp cries of anger and rather viscous, almost terrifying curse words that even the most dangerous ninja didn't express.
Who knew the little fireball had such a foul vocabulary?
"Release," Orochimaru said as he made a special seal with his hands, causing the tags holding the door in place to burn away until nothing remained. Grasping the handle, the Sannin opened the door slowly and felt amusement at the sight that met him.
First of all, the back of the door was charred and very badly damaged, obvious signs of her attempts at escaping over the last few days. Then there was Kaede herself, who had her hands posed in the last seal formation needed for the Futon: Renkudan. Her expression was humorous, she was stood there, looking rather dumbstruck and confused as to why the door was open.
"You're free to leave your room if you so please..." The snake shinobi started, smirking when he saw her features melt into shock. "As long as you follow my orders and refrain from disrupting mine and my subordinates' duties."
Kaede couldn't believe her ears, a man who had made himself known for being paranoid and rather tactical in the mind, was openly letting her wander the halls. "However..." There it was. "Bear in mind that the entrance to the hideout has been sealed and only a select few know the seal formation to unlock it..."
Anger and irritation took over Kaede's steeled expression and she tsked, her fang sticking out of her mouth when her lip curled up slightly. Orochimaru's smirk only widened at the sight of her reaction and he couldn't help but taunt her further. "We wouldn't want another incident now, would we?"
'Paranoid asshole.' Kaede thought to herself, as she tried to weigh up her options. Now escaping would be near impossible. However, between wandering the halls freely, or being trapped in a small room without escape, she'd rather be able to wander at least.
She had no choice but to accept at least some of his agreement.
Orochimaru could see the hesitation melt from her brown eyes and knew she had reached a decision. "This is your only warning, keep these conditions in mind, or you will be punished..." He watched as she began to walk past him, only for the Sannin to grab her arm and speak threateningly in her ear, his voice low and breath cool against her severely warm flesh. "I will not hesitate to kill you if you defy me, is that understood?"
Looking over her shoulder, she locked eyes with him, only to let out a huff of laughter and show a recently rare grin, yanking her arm out of his grip. "Don't act so high and mighty, Snake Eyes!" She told him, beginning to walk away. "I'll happily ignore your 'precious' subordinates!"
"You on the other hand..." She stopped and turned so she was sideways, her entire face visible to the Sannin. "Shouldn't expect me t'do anything for you..." She grinned and continued on her path down the corridor. "You'd have t'earn that right~"
Irritation swelled within the dangerous rogue as he watched her get further away from him. He hated the fact that she would openly defy him, and at that moment, desired nothing more than to grab her by the collar and toss her back into that room to rot. However while it was aggravating, to say the least, her reaction held some amusement within it as well. Not many would talk back to him the way she did.
He rather enjoyed a challenge.
With a dark chuckle, he decided to allow her the freedom he had offered, despite her punishable behavior. "Believe me, Firecracker." He called out, grinning when she faltered at her newly hated nickname and clenched her fist. "You'll soon see things my way."
A loud laugh filled the halls. "Yeah right! That'll never happen!" She turned to walk backwards and bowed her head, speaking with such obvious mocking, it was a surprise he hadn't killed her already. "Good day, Orochimaru-sama~"
The older, wiser shinobi watched as she continued and turned a corner. He knew his decision to let her roam free was a step in the right direction for his plans. However, he would have to keep into account her unpredictable nature.
Very rarely had he seen her act so...carefree, in fact, it had surprised him to see her show it at all, especially to him.
Dear me, did our little Firecracker hold a second personality?
~BHBL~
"Haaah!"
With the speed of a kunoichi who was slightly out of practice, Kaede moved in many different ways, like a dance, loosening her muscles and preparing herself for the training she had planned. First, she would be testing her Ninjutsu strength, to see if she still held that impossible power she used to melt the Ninjutsu Proof Glass, then she'd train up the Taijutsu she had very little pride in to begin with.
She continued her warm-ups for at least ten minutes before slowly relaxing into a fighting stance, preparing herself for the one thing she could call her talent. Unaware that Orochimaru was currently watching her from the shadows in the furthest corner away from her, awaiting what he desired to see the most since capturing her.
Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and allowed the feeling of her Chakra to bubble under the surface. She could feel a power she had contained within and with that knowledge, she began to form the seals needed for her jutsu.
"Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu!"
With a deep inhale of air, she felt the heat coil in her lungs before she exhaled pure chakra in the form of a giant fireball. Gasping as it shot across the training hall, it was larger and quicker than it had been ten years ago, and the scorch mark she left on the wall proved it would cause more effective damage against opponents.
Unable to stop her 'human curiosity' she began to form more seals and continued to use her different jutsu while Orochimaru, who hadn't moved from his spot, grinned gleefully as flames and wind ripped up his halls. His experiments had not all been in vain, after all. With her current skills, she surpassed the Uchiha Clan. Excitement welled up in his chest when he thought of the advantages her fire could give him, assuming she could remain calm long enough for her to be of any use.
The last thing he wanted now, after seeing her burning embers, was for them to be extinguished by her own hand.
Kaede's jutsu died down as the last of the air left her lungs and she stared at the flickering flames that were left, slowly fading away as she relaxed. She was shocked by the increase in her strengths, she hadn't seen any physical proof that they were indeed the flames that could melt the strongest material, but she could feel the difference, even after so long.
Though there was awe from her newfound power, her gut sank as she realized where this strength came from. Could she have really gotten this strong without the aid of the Snake Sannin's experiments?
With that thought came a sudden wash of disgust as she shook it from her head and her expression melted into cold seriousness. 'There's no way that'd make a difference...' She thought to herself as she prepared herself to try out her wind jutsu. 'With ten years of training, I'd be at this level, at least! His experiments didn't improve me!'
Fueled by her irritation over the experimentation, she continued testing her jutsu and improving on the skills she needed to polish up. However, she couldn't deny the amazement that swept through her when she saw a particularly impressive burst of power.
~BHBL~
A few weeks seemed to fly by for the older kunoichi as she spent a lot of that time in the training halls, refocusing her mind and body in the art of the ninja. Right now, she was using very poor Taijutsu against a training dummy, which had received more damage being moved than it was right now.
Though she did spend some time trying to develop her terrible hand-to-hand combat 'skills' Kaede had spent the majority of these three weeks training her Ninjutsu. She knew if the time for her revenge were to surface, she wanted that to be her main playing card during the fight.
If she ended up having to rely on her Taijutsu, like the last time she had confronted him, all those years ago, she knew it'd just end the same way.
Of course, just like all those years ago, every so often, when Kaede would perform a roundhouse kick, or attack the dummy from behind, she'd see an all too familiar shadow in the corner of the room, but chose to ignore it.
Orochimaru was an asshole, yes she knew that but this was his hideout, therefore he had a right to go and do as he pleased. Therefore, as long as he didn't disrupt her training, she couldn't care less where he was and what he was doing.
Though she did feel a little disturbed that the sensation of someone's eyes locked onto her form had been in the air for the last twenty minutes at least. It reminded her a lot of the night she was kidnapped, and that wasn't a nice feeling.
"Haaaahhh!" Kaede ground out as she spun into another kick, slamming the top of her foot against the dummy's head, feeling the pain of the solid wood smacking off her bare foot. Was it weird that she missed this sensation from her years spent training back home?
However odd it was, she knew it was true. The pain that came with overexerting your body, or hitting something the wrong way was one of the many things she remembered as she grew older. All those days training as a Wanna-be Genin, then an actual Genin, all the way through her Chuunin and Jounin ranks made a warm sense of nostalgia envelope her heart. Though she was no closer to leaving this hellhole and rejoining her beloved village, the memories of her home alone brought a grin to her lips.
Orochimaru was surprised to see such a smile during her many training sessions, but let out a soft chuckle and crossed his arms with a smirk as she continued to 'destroy' the training dummy before her.
Her Taijutsu was indeed the worst he had seen in a long time, she was slow, sloppy, and many people could catch her attacks with very little difficulty. Even then he knew her other talents could be cultivated with a little assistance and perhaps they could even smooth out that awful hand-to-hand combat while they were at it.
Mind made up, the Sannin slowly stepped out of the shadows, catching Kaede's attention just as she finished blowing out a strong stream of fire. With a soft hum, she turned her head to look at him, her hand lowering slightly, but still in the position needed to extract fire from her chakra.
"What d'you want?" She sneered, caution settled deep in her brown orbs. This made Orochimaru chuckle, her distrust in him was blatantly obvious as if this stubborn woman refused to hide the fact that she couldn't stand him. How amusing.
"I was watching your training from afar..." Orochimaru openly admitted, he didn't have a reason to lie, therefore he wouldn't. "It seems my little experiments paid off in the long run, your Ninjutsu even surpasses that of the Uchiha Clan..." He smirked and outstretched his arms slightly. "With a little more training, you will be quite the useful tool in my ambitions."
"First of all, there's no way in hell I'll become your 'tool.' For anything!" Kaede started as she turned to him, raising a finger to show her first point. "Second-" She raised the second one. "What's your point?"
Orochimaru decided to brush off her obvious refusal and crossed his arms, they stood eye-to-eye, dangerous yellow on stubborn brown. "With my assistance, your powers will greatly increase, can you cope with me as your training partner, Little Firecracker~?" The way he spoke, mixed with a tilt of his head and a rather arrogant gleam in his snake-like eyes made irritation bubble up deep within her.
She hated the idea of working with the sadistic villain before her, it was risky for one. Since she desired his death, she didn't know if she could control her bloodlust during their sparring session, if she couldn't, her plan to gain his trust would fail exceptionally quickly and she'd be killed before her revenge was enacted.
Of course, saying that, there were positives to this as well, if she were to control herself and spar with him on a regular basis, she'd see what jutsu he could use and how he moved in battle. It'd give her a slight advantage in future events. Plus, she could deal at least a little damage to him as well, like stress relief in it's best form.
Knowing her resolve to harm the man had won her over, she smirked darkly and rolled her shoulders, preparing her body for a fight. "Alright then, I'll accept your challenge, Orochimaru..." She said strongly, confident in her abilities as a fighter.
If she avoided close combat, she may be able to deal some serious damage, but she had to be cautious too. She may be confident in her Ninjutsu, but it had been a long time since she was in a spar, especially with an opponent like Orochimaru.
The Sannin chuckled with a hoarse rumble in his chest and only slightly changed his posture. "Excellent..." He started, his eyes narrowing and smirk widening as he thought of the possibilities that her skills could unlock. "Shall we begin, Kaede?"
"Ladies first~"
The man, though slightly irked by her taunt, laughed at her obvious mockery, she was trying to get a rise out of him, make him perform the first attack so she could analyze his movements.
How clever, he knew about her second personality, but this was far beyond his expectations. She was both tactical and laid-back, wild but sensible. How amusing would his days be with this knowledge?
"Very well, I'll see the fruits of my experimentation for myself...!" He started, only to quickly kick off in a sprint towards her as he finished his sentence. Kaede who had prepared for this, flipped backwards when he went to swing his foot into her cheek.
Though she didn't have the fighting strength, she held a good sense of speed, since she had to avoid blows often when fighting with only her Ninjutsu and the odd punch. Her blows were slow, but her body reacted quickly to assault.
Knowing her speed from the day he kidnapped her, Orochimaru crossed his arms over his face when Kaede's foot hit the ground and she instantly shot towards him, her arm pulled back for a hard blow.
Seeing her move, he knew he could avoid it easily, so he uncrossed his arms and dodged the thrust of her fist. Grabbing her arm he flung her over his shoulder, slamming her hard into the ground behind him. With a sharp gasp, the air left Kaede's lungs along with a little blood from her mouth.
Dammit, she wasn't going to be beaten so easily by a man she despised.
Growling softly, she grabbed his arm and used it as leverage, bending her body before flipping up, aiming to kick him hard in the chin. However, he wasn't easily caught, using his long tongue to wrap around her legs, stopping their movement with a strength she was surprised a muscle such as that could contain.
Yanking his arm from her grip, he used his tongue to drag her across the floor, before tossing her towards the wall. Kaede gritted her teeth and flipped in mid-air, landing against the wall, using her chakra to keep her planted against the stone surface.
With a noise of amusement, Orochimaru kicked off towards her again, showing just how little effort he dared to use in this battle. Feeling the fires of irritation seeping within her at his mockery, she created signs with her hands and called out the name of her Jutsu. "Katon: Hosenka no Jutsu!" She inhaled deeply before spitting out several medium sized fireballs which shot towards the Sannin relentlessly.
However Orochimaru was no amateur, he avoided each of the fireballs with elegant, oddly graceful movements, appearing right in front of her within seconds. Unable to react, she saw nothing but a grin before a foot was planted into her cheek, sending her barreling to the right, bouncing off the ground before she scraped to a stop, hitting the other wall hard.
Spitting blood, Kaede coughed relentlessly, pushing herself to her feet with a sharp glare in her serious eyes. He was going easy on her, the strength behind his kicks felt slightly too weak in comparison to the many rumors she'd heard. "Don't underestimate me!" She called, getting to her feet and forming the seals for her Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu. With a deep exhale, she engulfed the area before her in a fireball, which was sent straight towards the Sannin.
The man quickly formed seals for Suiton: Bakusui Shoha, drawing the water from the air and sending a mid-sized wave of it towards the fireball. He landed on one knee as the flames fizzled out and gasped when three figures jumped out of the steam, landing in an arrow formation a few feet in front of him.
'Bunshin no Jutsu...' He thought, looking from one Kaede to the next, all of them wearing the same grinning expression. She had used the flame to distract him so she could create clones of herself to act as decoys. How interesting.
Orochimaru performed seals and thrust both arms out. "Sen'ei Jashu!" Without any other warning aside from the name, three large snakes, the size of Boa Constrictors came out of his sleeves, rocketing towards each version of the Ninjutsu Expert.
Of course, only the real Kaede was able to avoid them perfectly, jumping up into the air as two of the three snakes passed through her clones, making them poof out of existence, while the third snake arched and shot up towards her.
"I hate snakes!" She called out as she formed more seals and shot forth a large torrent of fire towards the reptile, which hissed sharply as it was engulfed, before falling to the ground, dead.
Landing at its side, she grimaced at the sight of it, before kicking off towards her opponent. Ninjutsu was getting her nowhere, though it was risky, she had to meld her usual tactics with other forms of fighting to increase the probability that she would land a blow.
'Considering the lack of strength during her last failed blow, I'm surprised she would succumb to her weakest skill...' Orochimaru thought to himself, dodging punch after kick with ease, catching her arm and smirking darkly at her. "It seems you're becoming quite impatient, Kaede..." He taunted, kicking her hard in the chest, making her cough blood as she was sent flying backwards, slamming into the wall.
She wasn't doing so well, even after spending days training, she was still rusty after all. Spitting blood to the side, she wiped her lips with the back of her hand and staggered to her feet once again. Not once had she landed a single blow on the Sannin, and they were both equally experienced in the field, well she was younger, but that didn't make much of a difference.
His power was indescribable, how would she counter that?
It was then that she realized something very important, Orochimaru knew her Taijutsu was pathetic in comparison, and he was not fighting seriously. If she found a way to use that to her advantage, she could find an opening and strike when he least expected it.
Hiding her grin, her eyes lit up with determination, she knew she had a sense of a strategy, now she just had to find a way to bring it out.
"If you won't approach me, Firecracker..." Orochimaru started, taking off in a quick sprint towards her, his eyes wide with the intent to harm. "I'll bring the fight to you!"
Oddly, her chest burned as the ache of breathing heavily kicked in, she hadn't fought like this in years, even if she hated the man, the adrenaline that coursed through her during a fight was the one thing she loved the most.
Kaede couldn't help the grin that spread across her lips as she kicked off towards him with the same intent, her eyes sharp with strength and prepared for anything he would throw at her. When they met in the middle, both clasping the other's hands in a tight lock, they pushed forcefully on one another, a test of strength between them.
The kunoichi could feel her feet scrape backwards at the power Orochimaru displayed and her eyes narrowed slightly. With his strength, fighting with Taijutsu was risky, but it was the best way for her to lower his guard. Using her head, she went to slam it against his, but he saw this and let go of her, jumping backwards.
How amusing, she was trying so hard to inflict pain upon him, yet failing so miserably. However in an analytical point of view, despite how she paled in comparison to him when he was in top form, she had more power than any of his other Jounin, even if it was only a little.
However her taijutsu was nothing to worry about, he could defeat her even if he was on his deathbed.
Caught in his thoughts, Orochimaru's eyes snapped to Kaede, wide and surprised when she let out a roar, reared back in the air right in front of him. When had she moved?!
Without being able to deflect, a foot slammed into his cheek and he was send tumbling into the nearby wall, his training partner dropping to one knee, she had pushed herself to near exhaustion just to inflict even the slightest injury on the man.
Kaede let out a noise of surprise when a pit opened up below her and she slowly began to sink into thick mud. "A-ah, dammit!" She hissed out, struggling to break out of it. The disgusting slime beneath her was almost as powerful as quicksand, she couldn't escape it.
While she thrashed, making herself sink faster, Orochimaru slowly staggered to his feet, his hands in the form of his Doton ninjutsu. Those yellow eyes were malicious, a large red bruise upon his cheek.
He had let his guard down, believing her current strategy not to be a threat. Wiping his cheek, he glanced down at the back of his hand and tsked, it seemed she had broken the skin, considering there were small smears of blood covering his pale flesh.
When she had her head tilted, almost completely engulfed in the disgusting fluid that would mean her death, the Rogue Shinobi released his jutsu, causing the mud to crack and crumble. With a sigh of relief, Kaede yanked her arms out of the drying fluid, spraying crumbled pieces of it everywhere, before using both her limbs to pull herself from the mess so she was on dry land once again.
Orochimaru walked over to her as she staggered back and landed on her knees, taking deep breaths. "I...Need more...Training..." She gasped, wiping the sweat from her forehead, smearing a little of the mud on it. "Guess I'm still...A little rusty!"
Kaede knew then that she was no match for Orochimaru at her current level, she needed to train far more, build up her lost stamina and strength before she could actually consider seriously killing him.
Footsteps caught her attention and she glanced up to see a pair of grey trousers, knowing Orochimaru was stood in front of her, probably with his arms crossed and that infuriating smirk on his lips.
"Though you lack the energy you once held when you were a Suna Jounin, you still contain the same potential I sensed when I first saw your jutsu in battle. In fact, since the experiments ended, your Ninjutsu power has strongly increased." He chuckled with an air of arrogance in his tone, his pride sickened her. "However with your stamina and Taijutsu skills less than impressive at the moment, you would only be useful as a decoy, which, even then, would most likely end in your own demise."
Kaede glared up at Orochimaru before she slowly got to her feet, dusting off her filthy hospital gown. He glanced down at it, noting it was going to take far more than one thorough scrub to remove all that dirt. "I don't need your criticism, Snake Eyes..." She said strongly, crossing her arms and meeting his sinister gaze. "So just get to the point. You have a point, don't you? You're not the type to focus on things like that without a motive behind it."
Amusement flooded his form and his lips curled back in a grin as he processed her words. Clever woman, she knew him well after ten years. "Fine, I'll cut to the chase...Since you lack the things needed to make a fine ninja, I will no longer be your training partner...Instead, I will be your Sensei."
The words made her blood freeze as she imagined herself getting lessons in the art of fighting by the one man she hated the most. Irritation and rage fueled up inside of her and she tried not to grind her teeth, suppressing the anger that would make her glow if it got out of control.
'Calm down...Think about this..!' She thought to herself. 'If you get trained by him, you can learn all his weaknesses during your sparring sessions, it'll give you more of an advantage later on. Even if you have allies at your side from Suna, you'll need to know how he moves to formulate a good strategy!'
With a huff of false laughter, the Ninjutsu Expert smirked, her eyes strong and determined as she locked eyes with him. "Alright then." She started, raising her hand, even if his touch burned, she had to make it look believable. "We'll shake on it. Until the moment I prove myself useful in battle...I'll allow you to train me."
Orochimaru's laugh darkened and his shoulders shook, clasping her warm hand in his not-surprisingly cold one, tightening his grip almost painfully in sheer excitement. How much entertainment would he get from training this stubborn, fire-hazard of a woman? How much use would she be afterwards? All these questions made glee stir deep within him.
If all went according to plan, she would be of great use in his up and coming mission.
"Very well, every day, once you've washed and eaten, we'll meet here for excessive training..." His eyes narrowed slightly, though his expression remained the same. "Just because you're of a Jounin rank, does not mean I will not push you past your limits!"
"Don't flatter yourself! It'll be me telling y'to raise the difficulty, old man!"
How 'bright' the future seemed with these two training together.
~BHBL~
Five days passed since then, and Kaede was getting better in her abilities to fight. Since her biggest weakness was Taijutsu, strengthening her defenses and best moves was a good idea so she would be able to cover her blind spot expertly. However, her rigorous training sessions were making her look worse for wear, as she stood in her room, cloaked the same hospital gown she awoke in, which was burned, tattered, had mud stains and was even torn in places.
She wished she had something else to wear, but sadly her old clothes were probably long gone now, and even then, she wouldn't fit them anymore, she must have shrunk in height at least a little since she last wore them.
With a deep sigh, she sat down on the end of her bed and ran her fingers through her hair, hell she didn't even have her precious book anymore. So other than training, all she could do was wander the halls and get some food.
It was less boring when she was an academy student. If her younger self could see her now, she would refuse to allow Orochimaru to have gotten the best of her and would have threatened to beat him up if he tried.
Laughing at the memory of herself when she was an innocent child who knew no better, she wasn't aware of the knock on her door at first, until it grew in volume. "Hey, if you're in there, answer already!"
Irritated by the sudden interruption, she stood with a serious expression and walked over to the door, yanking it open with a glare. "What d'you want, I'm bus-" However her words were stopped short when a Sound Shinobi slammed a pile of fabric into her hands, glaring at her.
"Orochimaru's orders." He told her vaguely, stepping back and crossing his arms. "These were made for you, can't have a Sound walking around looking like something from a zombie movie. The black bodysuit is made of a flame retardant material that won't burn if you do."
Kaede stared down at the clothes in her arms, a pair of wooden, tall sandals placed on the top. surprisingly there was an article of maroon material within the pile, something she was known to wear as a child, as it was her favorite color.
How had he known? Was it because of that little scrap of Maroon fabric she wore on her Jounin outfit ten years prior?
'Seems right that a psychopath like him has a good memory too...' She thought, though her bitter mental words had less force than usual. 'Better than this crappy gown at least.'
Looking up, she went to say something but found that the shinobi had gotten bored and left. Amused by the attitude of the man, she smirked and walked back into her room, closing the door behind her.
Though she felt a speck of unknown emotion at the sight of the new clothes, she glared at them all the same. Orochimaru was the reason she was in this mess, otherwise, she wouldn't need these clothes at all.
However, compared to the horrible memories these hospital gowns held, even clothes from that snake were like diamonds in comparison, so she quickly changed.
Once she had finished, the former Suna Kunoichi made her way to the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror. Before her stood an almost unrecognizable version of herself. Ignoring the clothes, she could see the tole her burns and scars had on her body and knew the disgust that swept through her wasn't groundless, she avoided her reflection as much as possible nowadays because of those horrible marred marks.
She switched her uncomfortable gaze to the freshly made clothes in her hands. "Guess they ain't that bad..." Right now, without the outer layer, she stood in a semi-tight fitted black bodysuit which lacked sleeves and only went down to a quarter of her thigh. Covering her decently, while keeping enough of her exposed for easy movement. "So this is the flame retardant material, huh?" She mused, tugging on the strap, it was flexible, but not too stretchy.
The high sandals were strange though, not once in her life had she even considered wearing a pair, but if she were to escape this place, shoes were a good option on the hot sand leading to Suna. Actually, walking in here, she did enjoy the sound the shoes resonated, though she knew she'd have to remove them for cover purposes.
With only a little hesitation, she grasped the maroon clothing off the hook on the door, having placed it there when she entered the bathroom, and quickly pulled it on. With a harsh tug on the sash in the middle, she tied it shut before clipping the top closed. Out of all the clothing she wore, this was the one that suited her the most.
Standing before her was the reflection of a woman wearing a long maroon colored robe that went down to her mid-calf at least, around the edges there was a hem made with pink fabric, accenting the darkness of the maroon shade she loved. Her sleeves were at least a forearm longer than where her hands stopped, keeping them hidden, an excellent tactic for hiding weapons and secret documents, depending on her missions when she returns home.
Around her waist, keeping the clothing tightly closed, was a gold sash, tied several times to secure it perfectly. While on the top, above her breasts were two small black buttons with a band of gold around them used to seal the top of the robe, avoiding any loose fabric while moving through the trees.
Despite her hatred for the man who gave her the clothing, she couldn't help but smirk, now she had more appropriate coverage, her training would run even a little more smoothly.
Soon she'd be far more powerful than she was ten years ago. It wouldn't be long now.
~BHBL~
"Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu!" Kaede roared as she inhaled air and exhaled flames fueled by chakra. Her robes and shoes were discarded a fair distance away, to avoid the flames as she stood there, coated in cuts, bruises, and burns, while Orochimaru stood at the other side of the hallway. Avoiding her attack before standing once again, only slightly wounded.
Since their training started over two weeks ago, she had begun to become more brutal in her training as the time passed. She had recovered her stamina enough to only notice a small gap between her former energy and her current strength, and her eyes always shined with a determination he thought would be lost the more she accepted his conditions.
He was curious about her motivation and why she continued to accept his help, knowing full well how much she hated him. However, he had never needed an answer to his question, as he already had his suspicions on the matter.
Of course, at this point, those suspicions were just that, suspicions. Therefore he did not voice or think about them until he was presented with more proof, so he just continued his lessons with an unoccupied mind.
"Your fireballs are indeed large and swift in battle, however, that's your go-to tactic," Orochimaru called out to her, crossing his arms. "Try using some of your other techniques more often and switch from Ninjutsu to the other forms of fighting frequently. As a Jounin, I expected this to be drilled into your mind."
"Yeah, well, I'm a little out of practice!" Kaede called back, huffing softly, this training session had been going on for at least six hours already. She hadn't eaten since it started and didn't sleep well the night before, so she was running low on energy quickly.
"No matter what the circumstances are, a ninja cannot afford to lose their keen edge. Retrain your mind to stop yourself going back to your first instincts, if you continue on that path, your actions will become predictable and easily countered!"
"I know that! Let's just keep fighting, I learn better putting lessons into action!"
Orochimaru chuckled and nodded, he preferred show to tell anyway. Within moments, the two were locked in battle once again.
~BHBL~
Over the course of a month, Kaede went from just training to regretfully accepting small tasks around the lair, with Orochimaru's approval first, since no one actually trusted her here. Walking through the halls, having just gotten another task from the Snake Sannin himself, she tsked and hastened her pace.
She was sick of being here, she just wanted to go home, but if she lost her patience, it'd all be for nothing!
While she walked out of earshot, Orochimaru's chuckle filled the air, slowly melting into full force laughter, leaning back against his throne as he let out waves of glee in a single breathe. After her strong words when he allowed her freedom, he hadn't expected her to cave into his command so easily, and the thought alone pleased him.
Lowering his head as his laughter died down, he grinned maliciously at the door which she had closed when she left. If he put a recent idea he had into action, perhaps he could destroy her disobedience completely, making her nothing more than one of his pawns.
With her current state, he could only think of one such thing that'd break her spirit enough to cause some confusion on her part.
Narrowing his eyes, he weighed the options and finally came to a decision, straightening up as the door opened once again and Kabuto entered. "Ah, Kabuto..." The older ninja greeted him, his lips curling back further. "Just in time. When Kaede returns from her task, I will need you both to accompany me..."
Kabuto, who had just entered the room, and was not aware of his lord's plot, looked a little confused for a moment before he pushed his glasses up his nose. "Your deviousness knows no bounds, Orochimaru-sama...Do you intend to keep me in the dark?"
Orochimaru chuckled. "Sharp as ever I see..." He said, gripping the throne a little tighter with anticipation. "The details are not important, therefore I have no need to explain them."
Kabuto's eyes narrowed with suspicion, but he bowed quickly. "Understood, Orochimaru-sama..." He stated, knowing that asking his lord for any other details would be pointless. He always did enjoy keeping his subordinates in the dark.
Without another word, Kabuto got to work and Orochimaru silently awaited the return of his stubborn, disobedient experiment, his chin resting on his hand with only a slight bit of patience kept him from going to find her.
The next few days would be entertaining, to say the least.
~BHBL~
Honestly neither Kaede nor Kabuto had expected this, not one bit, especially this soon after she had 'joined' their ranks.
Orochimaru stood by the sealed exit of the hideout, his hands moving quickly, forming the signs needed to release the jutsu, allowing her freedom. "Release!" He hissed out as the sheets of parchment covering the door began to peel and disintegrate into the air. Turning to face her, he spoke without hesitation. "I have a mission for you, Kaede..."
"Mission...?" She repeated, confused, after only a short while, he was trusting her to leave the hideout, assuming she'd return? Suppressing the grin that threatened to break out on her confused face, she shivered with excitement, here was her chance to return home, a chance to finally act out her revenge!
"Yes. We're running short on ninja tools and medical supplies, therefore I want to you head to the nearby town and meet a man dressed in a long black cloak with a hood. He will sell you the supplies for a pre-agreed price..."
Orochimaru tossed her a small bag that jingled as she caught it. "This is the amount needed for our regular purchase since you haven't been outside in ten years, I'll allow for you to take your time, however anything over a week and you'll be severely punished upon return, am I clear?"
Kaede however, didn't give him a response, or time to act as she quickly kicked off in a run through the doors of the hideout leading to her freedom, a massive grin over her lips, unable to force it back any longer.
She was free, her eyes stung as the sunlight burned them, the heat making her body shiver, but not unpleasantly. With this, she could return home and see those she had thought of constantly without end.
She would finally see her family again!
"Orochimaru-sama!" Kabuto protested, not expecting his sudden decision, raising his arms to emphasize his point. "How can you carelessly drop the barrier like that? Kaede-san is not someone we can trust just yet, she won't return if her life depended on it!"
"No..."
Kabuto hummed and relaxed slightly, unsure why, but the strong confidence in his lord's voice made him realize there was more to this than meets the eye. Was this his plan all along?
"Kaede will return..." Orochimaru continued, smirking darkly, watching her retreating figure until it vanished from sight. He wouldn't go any further into the details, but he knew his plan would be successful.
Though it would have its setbacks. "However I doubt we'll receive our supplies until the week is almost up..." He shrugged slightly, closing his snake-like eyes. "Oh well, such sacrifices are a must when the situation calls for them..."
Though Kabuto was a little confused with Orochimaru's plans and words, he didn't question them. The Sannin was a genius, he would have calculated every outcome before making a decision. Even if he hadn't, he tended to do things without telling others anyway, so it'd make no difference if he understood or not.
What mattered was that he would get his way. Otherwise, there would be trouble.
~BHBL~
Days passed and Kaede continued to move, having only stopped several times over the course of her trip to rest. Her shoes hit the sand hard as she kept up her rigorous pace through the desert she had entered maybe two hours ago.
It was strange that after so long, the things she took for granted, like the dry sandy air and the hot desert sun were some of the things she missed the most about her time in Suna. Along with her family and friends, of course.
She hoped they'd be as happy to see her as she was to see them.
Kaede's grin couldn't spread any wider as she approached the two walls separating Suna from the sandy trenches that surrounded it and she didn't waste a breath sprinting inside towards her freedom. What had changed, were there new, promising Genin that she could teach?
How were her mother and father doing without her?
Just as she reached the end of the two large walls, she skidded to a stop, panting hard, her forehead soaked with the sweat of constant movement and newly found heat. Before her stood a very familiar, yet slightly different city that she had been born and raised in.
New and old ninja walked about their daily lives in front of her and Kaede was found speechless, her expression blank as she stared out at the bustling streets, filled with faces of comrades and long forgotten acquaintances who's faces were remembered upon sight.
Her heart swelled, tight in her chest as she held back the wave of emotion that washed over her, taking a deep breath to calm her aching heart. "I'm home..." She murmured, taking a step forward, then another, and another until she began to slowly trudge through the streets towards her family home.
She did plan to return to Otogakure, once she had the reinforcements needed to take him down, but right now, what mattered to her most was seeing her beloved mother and father for the first time in at least a decade. Hell, it'd been so long, she wasn't even sure how many years she'd been gone.
Looking around, her expression warped into a smile, seeing new things and new stalls open with new goods for others to buy. She had been gone so long, if it wasn't for the familiar structure of the city, she'd have mistaken it for somewhere else. Last time she was here, a war was about to break out, the Third Great Shinobi War, and now the city was in the realms of peace, not a threat in sight.
This was the place she belonged in the most, not that disgusting excuse for a hideout.
As she made her way through the crowds, people stopped and looked back at her, before mumbling to themselves, some of them recognizing her face, but not sure where from. Her stomach twisted when she caught some of their confused expressions and words, but knew that after ten years and constant experimentation, she wouldn't exactly look like herself anymore.
With this thought in mind, she quickened her pace a little more, her fists clenched at her sides as she stared at the road ahead of her, her body moving on its own, remembering her way home as if she had only been gone a day.
Humming, she stopped as she reached the apartment building she had lived in so long ago, looking up at her room window, she frowned when she saw someone walking out onto the balcony for a smoke. It was only natural that they'd move all her stuff and give her place to someone else, she wasn't exactly keeping up her rent the past decade.
However, her gut sank with dread, had they assumed she was dead? Did her mother and father mourn her? Filled with unanswered questions, she began to jog towards her parents' home, wanting answers as well as the comfort of her mother's embrace.
When she finally arrived, she skidded to a halt at the door, only slightly out of breath now, and inhaled deeply to steady herself, before rapping her knuckles against the wooden surface three times.
"Hold on a moment! I'm coming!" Ayame's voice called through the wood of the door, making Kaede's nervous expression melt into a soft smile. Her mother's voice, something she hadn't heard for so long, made her feel so welcome, even if the older woman wasn't aware of her presence yet. Tears welled up in her eyes as the thought of her mother's relief and joy upon seeing her daughter again and she quickly wiped her tears on the back of her hand.
The last thing she wanted was her mother to see her crying first thing after seeing her again.
"Hello-" Ayame started as she opened the door with a smile. However the moment her eyes locked with Kaede's, it fell, a look of pure shock coating her features, mixed with an underlined sense of horror as if she had turned up bloody and almost dead.
This unsettled the red-haired kunoichi to no end, but she just swallowed her fear, assuming it was because of her strange features. "Hey, mother..." She started, her voice wavering slightly, throat tight with pent-up joy and sorrow. "It's me, Kaede, I've come home."
"Kaede..!" Her mother gasped, hand raised to her heart, clenching the fabric tightly as she looked her daughter up and down, she had changed so much. Were those scars? "What happened to you?!"
Kaede blinked and frowned with discomfort as her mother stared at her, the youngest Mari covering her lower face with her hand. "It's a long story..." She said vaguely if she explained where she had been, she'd instantly become a target for arrest. Orochimaru would have been put in the bingo book by now for sure. "But I'm back now. I've missed y'so much..!"
As the lost woman went in to give her mother a hug, she froze in shock as Ayame stepped back, fear and caution in her brown eyes, like a kunoichi who was protecting her life. Her mother...Was afraid of her?
"You shouldn't be here..." Ayame told her, making Kaede's warm smile fall, mirroring Ayame's former look of shocked horror. "After what you did to Kiyoshi-kun." It was as if someone had blown a gust of wind over her heart, freezing it and shattering it to pieces.
Orochimaru's words echoed in her mind.
"In the desert, not far from your precious little village...Lies the body of a shinobi who tried to save you. At this moment they will have discovered the fact that you are missing...Your forehead protector, still sitting on the cold bedsheets in your room, along with the blood on your kitchen floor will make you a suspect in the man's murder...Once the body is found and the evidence is piled together, there is a very high probability that you will be given the title of a Rogue Kunoichi and upon entering your beloved homestead, you will be imprisoned and perhaps even executed for your crimes."
Though she had not believed him, and over time had forgotten his words, he had told the truth. Her family, her friends, they thought she had killed her ex-husband in a blind rage. That she had killed in cold blood and ran away to hide her shame.
"No...!" Kaede gasped, stepping forward, looking alarmed and brokenhearted at the same time. "Mother, listen t'me, please! I swear, I didn't kill Kiyoshi!" Ayame's panic rose as her daughter stepped closer and closer with each word she said.
"Futon: Daitoppa!"
Kaede cried out as a sudden burst of wind hit her full force, sweeping her off her feet and sending her flying into the wall of the building opposite her family home. Opening an eye as pain washed through her, she let her expression turn blank as Ayame called for Hiroshi, her father. Other shinobi, who were nearby, looked over and knew then who she was, all their expressions going cold and determined at once.
'I'm going t'get captured!' Kaede thought, the realization sending a shocking tsunami of fear through her as she reacted upon instinct, standing and kicking off into a quick sprint away from the shinobi and her father, who called out to her and began to chase her down.
Glancing back, her eyes widened as she saw Takeshi and Shinako within the ranks that were on her tail. Even her best friends...
With a pained heart and pure despair, she quickly hopped onto the roof of one of the building, moving from one roof to another, towards the large stone wall that surrounded the town. She had to escape, she had to get out of here before they caught her!
Who did she have left, what did she have now that her entire village had given up on her? Why did her family- her friends, her comrades believe she would be capable of such cold-blooded murder?! They had listened to the Kazekage over their own teammate, their own daughter! They had abandoned her over false evidence, not even listening to her side of the story.
She was alone now, there was no one else.
As she reached the wall, she quickly turned and formed seals for her own jutsu, only seeing the saddened, hopeful expression her father held before she belowed fire before them, forcing them to stop to avoid the flames.
"Dammit, where did she go?" One of the shinobi hissed as the flames died down and Kaede was no longer there. "She got away! Unit one, secure the city, units two and three, we'll begin the chase!"
"Kaede..." Hiroshi breathed as he and her former friends stood there, watching the other ranks chase after her.
~BHBL~
Kaede stopped on a branch a very fair distance from the desert where Suna was situated, sitting against the wood as she caught her breath finally having lost her pursuers. Tears spilling down her cheeks as she relived her mother's reaction to her return over and over again.
Grinding her teeth, she gripped the bark hard as anger began to fuel her in waves, She would achieve her desire for Orochimaru's death now more than ever before. This was all his fault, she had no friends, no family, no home, because he was a selfish bastard intent on power. She didn't have to be a victim, but he had become infatuated with her powerful fire ninjutsu.
Why her? Why not someone else?!
Her skin began to glow as she took deep, heavy breaths to calm herself, if she burst into flames now, she'd be killed and she would not allow that to happen until she had that snake's head mounted on her wall.
Looking up with tear stained, determined eyes, she kicked off towards the town Orochimaru had requested with a newfound resolve. She would gain his trust, like she planned, but instead of recieving help from her village, she'd take him down herself.
Whatever it took, she'd kill that bastard where he stood.
~BHBL~
"Well, well, you're just in time..."
Kaede ignored Orochimaru's words as she entered the hideout, and kicked the door shut hard behind her. In her arms were several bags of ninja tools and medical supplies. It took everything in her power not to attempt his death right now, as he stood there with his arms crossed, a smug, arrogant smirk upon his white lips.
Of course, with her burning anger bubbling just below the surface, it only too one blunt question for her to snap. "Did you enjoy your little trip~?" Without giving him a second to react, she dropped the supplies and let out a roar of anger as she lunged at him.
However, her fist was caught easily, Orochimaru's large hand keeping her from even touching his face, his smirk widening at the sight of her enraged eyes. "Now, now, I allow you freedom and this is how you repay me?" He taunted, catching her other fist when she tried to hit him again. His smile faded slowly and his eyes turned sharp with dangerous authority. "You are well aware of what your anger does to your body, now calm down, or I will be forced to take action."
Kaede however, didn't try to calm down at all, her rationality leaving her for a moment, as she went to kick him. Of course, Orochimaru knew that was coming and disconnected their hands, jumping back and sending a snake shooting towards her. "Agh!" She gasped as the serpent coiled around her form tightly, restricting her movements. "Let me go!"
"I'll only ask you once more to calm down, Kaede. Don't test me when you know what I am capable of..." His words were true, he would not hesitate to inflict punishment upon her if she didn't relax.
"Why should I listen t'you!" She ground out, struggling against the tightening snake, her skin taking on a soft glow as sparks began to flicker off her skin. "This is all your fault, you and your crappy experiments!"
Orochimaru ignored her words and remained silent as she continued to thrash uselessly, slowly beginning to calm down as the time passed. She stood there, breathing hard, her eyes sharp, fueled with hatred, eventually closing her eyes with a deep exhale. "Let me go..."
His eyes narrow, a little skeptical at first before he accepted her words, retracting the snake, which vanished up his sleeve with a soft hiss. Kaede remained still for a moment before she turned and left without another word, her shoulders tense, stiff with concealed emotion.
The Sannin knew his plan was a little like a double-edged sword, for example, her anger and the fact that she would refuse his orders for just a little longer. However, with her new mental instability, he may just be able to turn this to his advantage, as he originally planned.
~BHBL~
Kaede was quick to enter her room and close the door hard behind her, spinning and leaning against it with her head hung low, eyes covered by the dark shadows of her small flecks of hair. Her teeth were clenched tightly together and she was breathing heavily, wanting nothing more than to wring Orochimaru's neck, but unable to without severely jeopardizing her goals and her life.
She was livid, losing her family and home in one day made nothing but aching pain and loneliness simmer within her. She pushed herself off the door and walked over to her bed, dropping down into a slouched sitting position at the end of the comfortable mattress. Her throat was tight like something was forcing it's way up and she just needed to cry, to let out her frustrations in one burst.
However, she couldn't, no matter how much she willed herself to let out her agony, her body refused, having held back for so long, it was like she'd forgotten how to vent, how to share her feelings even to herself. 'That's what happens when you're surrounded by people you don't trust, you change to suit them, no matter how much you fight back.'
Taking a deep breath, her anger began to subside, still very much on edge, shaking with adrenaline. She began to sort through her thoughts, how she would get Orochimaru to lower his guard, and how she would strike if he did.
With her earlier actions at the doors, she had set herself back a little, making it harder for him to relax around her, but even then she wouldn't give up. He had taken everything from her, it was her turn to take everything from him. He valued his jutsu and his life so much to sacrifice others for it, what better revenge than to take his precious last breath and end his ambitions?
Despite how paranoid Orochimaru was, he was able to lower his guard, he had done so on the first day of their training, therefore she knew she could get him to do it again. She would, she swore that on her own life.
It wasn't easy to come up with a solid plan however when your village and their cruel betrayal came to mind at every moment. She knew her mother had felt off about her for many years since she had returned from her Chuunin mission without her squad. So that wasn't much of a surprise, and still didn't excuse her actions, but her father, her friends, those who she believed to trust her more than any other. They easily turned their backs on her.
Slowly, a dark, cynical grin curled her frowning lips, making her look as dangerous and malicious as the man she hated, glaring up at the wall with harsh eyes as she came to a decision.
'What's the point in villages if they give up on their own?' She thought to herself, tightening her fists against her legs. 'How can I work in a place like that?'
At that moment, she shredded a little of her morality.
A/N: Please review, your comments really help me grow as a writer! What did you think, was there a part you loved, a part you hated?
Japanese to English
Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu = Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique
Katon: Hosenka No Jutsu = Fire Release: Art of the Phoenix Flower
Bunshin No Jutsu: Replication Technique
Suiton: Bakusui Shoha = Water Release: Exploding Water Shockwave
Sen'ei Jashu = Hidden Snake Hands
Doton = Earth Release
