Chapter 14 - Time to Kill and Emotions to Calm


A/N: I do not own the Naruto Franchise!

I do however own Mari Kaede and any other OCs mentioned.

Warnings: Contains dark themes, such as depression, murder, experimentation, emotional, mental and physical torture, possible attempted suicide and mentions of sexual activities!

Please read responsibly.

I was so worried about this chapter, I've been struggling to get motivation for writing since I stopped writing my own manga stories so this is actually the first bit of writing I've done for about two weeks. Honestly, I only did half the chapter in the space of two hours, because the other half had been finished for quite some time.

I hope it's consistent and is a good chapter, please review, all comments and criticism help me towards being a better writer.
Just because I don't do it professionally anymore, doesn't mean I don't want to improve.


It was only an hour after Orochimaru had dismissed Kabuto that he'd found each and every one of his subordinates and ordered them to gather within the hotel rooms assigned to them for a meeting. Akari was the only one who groaned in response and had a snide remark. "Can't I have five minutes t'myself?!"

But there was no refusing the Sannin's orders, no matter how much she wanted to.

Now she, Dosu, Zak, and Kabuto were all stood in their shared hotel room. Well, Kabuto had his own to avoid suspicion, but for the sake of the meeting, and the healing of their cell, he was here. Orochimaru himself was stood at the window, still wearing his disguise as he leaned against the sill and looked at each and every one of them with a sickening twist of the lips.

"Now that everyone is here..." He started, glancing to Akari who rolled her eyes and looked away, arms crossed as she leaned against the wall. "We can finally begin...I must say, you performed as a good underling should during the first three parts to this exam..."

"Is that your way of praising us?" The unpredictable redhead asked with a sneer, to which the response was a knowing chuckle.

"I don't praise those who work for me often, Kaede...You'd do well to accept it when it is given."

"Please, I'd rather swallow ice water and watch myself die!"

"Then by all means, we won't stop you..."

A growl left Akari and she gripped her arm with her desire to kill him, but held back. He knew she wouldn't end her own life, knew he had her in the palm of his hand during their little arguments, and she hated it. Until she could end him, she had no power over his words.

Once he was certain she wouldn't interrupt again, he continued. "The first part of our plan is now over, and until the climax next month, I want you to train and prepare yourselves for the battle ahead."

Zaku tsked with dissapointment as he looked between the other three in the room, he had failed, so unlike Akari, who had a special part in the final battle, he was now useless. "Hm, hm, don't worry, Zaku..." Orochimaru said, getting the young teen's attention. His eyes were sinister, yet honest. "I have a special mission for you on the day of Konoha's destruction...Do not dissapoint me."

The Genin's face lit up with hope, a hope to mend the bad reputation he'd been given with his losses and be of use to his lord. "Yeah!" He accepted, with a strong nod and determined tone.

"Hm, hm, hm...I'll conclude our little meeting there." The Sannin stood up and crossed his arms. "Kabuto will tend to your injuries, and you'll be free to travel Konoha as you please...Do not break your disguise or discuss our plans to anyone outside this room. Any attempts at doing so will be..." His eyes narrowed and a shiver of fear passed up almost everyone in the room, Akari just looked elsewhere, not truly caring about his warnings, she'd heard these words time and time again already. "...Severely punished."

And with that, he left and Kabuto began to heal each of their wounds, one at a time.

~BHBL~

The week passed fairly quickly after that meeting, Akari had spent two days wandering Konoha with what little money she had and tried the local curry, done some sightseeing and even window-shopped for a new Icha-Icha volume. Sadly she was just short on Ryo for that one. The rest of the week she spent training, upping her physical strength and failing Taijutsu skills for the upcoming battle, if Sarutobi cornered her, she needed some way to defend herself without causing herself harm in the process, since Katon had a tendency to backlash on the person using it.

After nearly a full day of kicking and punching a log until her skin blistered and she was sweating more water than she even held in her body, she made her way back to the shared hotel room, tugging a bandage around her left hand with her teeth. "Any injury gained is a step forward..." She mumbled, as she looked around the city.

There were kids playing Ninja in the streets, and her slightly serious features warped into a soft smile, she remembered all the times she, Takeshi and Shinako would play in the desert heat. Takeshi would try and best Kaede at everything, Shinako would need constant praise or her confidence would wane, and she herself would go overboard almost all the time.

It was a much simpler, happier time.

With a heavy sigh of loss and resentment, she stopped at the door of the hotel and gripped the handle a little tighter with her bandaged fist. The memories of her precious friends chasing her in an attempt to apprehend her came to mind, and she tsked, grinding her teeth together as her skin took on a soft glow.

Now she was trapped in Hell, and the only way out was to kill the Devil himself.

Taking a deep breath to calm her anger enough, her skin fading to an almost unnoticeable gleam, she went inside and up to the hotel room for a nap. However as she reached the door, she heard voices inside and hummed, peeking through the slight gap in the wooden barrier to see Orochimaru and the Suna Jounin that had acompanied Gaara, Temari and Kankuro, sharing a conversation of a sinister nature.

"Our plans were overhead by the proctor of the last exam..." The Jounin said with a deep, serious voice as he stood before the all-powerful Sannin, who was staring at the view out the window as he listened. "However I dealt with the situation quickly, ANBU will find his body, but I left no trace, so right now, we're safe."

"Hmmm, it was bound to happen at some point." The Snake-Eyed Shinobi said idly, glancing at the Jounin from the corner of his eye. "Any rat, no matter how small, must be exterminated if it poses a threat..." His lips curled back in a grin. "Now, is there another reason you approached me? I have matters to tend to."

"Yes...Gaara lost control of his Bijuu the other night, and killed one of your Oto Shinobi..." Akari gasped and her chocolate brown eyes widened as she overheard this. However, she ducked behind the wooden barrier so she wasn't visible when Orochimaru's head tilted further back, possibly aware of her presence already, however, the Jounin was oblivious as he feared the Lord's reaction.

"Hm, hm, hm...No matter." The deathly pale man said with a grin, fangs gleaming in the sunlight. "He was a mere ginuea pig...He served his purpose long ago, and had become useless...You did me a favour."

She couldn't believe what she was hearing, bile rose in her throat and she grimaced sickeningly at the man she had to make nice with. He would just scrap his subordinates who worshipped his every word as if they were old dolls he'd gotten bored of.

Slowly, due to her still lingering irritation and disgust, her skin took on a gentle orange glow once again and she let out a small growl.

"Then we'll continue as planned?" The Jounin asked, while Orochimaru peeked behind him, able to see her glow from here. "The Kazekage desires war...He wants to show the Daimyo what Shinobi are really for, not peace and protection, but battle and bloodshed!"

The passion in his words, the strength he held, despite his off reasoning forced Akari into a state of growing anger, her teeth ground together and her skin crackled with the threat of flames. 'So the Kazekage is the reason this Oto-Suna alliance is a thing! He turns on his allies just like he turns on his own soldiers, the two-faced bastard!'

Orochimaru's eyes narrowed, he'd noticed since before they arrived, her anger levels had been slowly increasing, he could feel heat resonating from her even this far inside the room. If she continued, not only would she injure herself and put a wrench in his plans, but she'd set fire to the building, putting him in danger as well.

He had to find a way to calm her down.

"That'll be all." The Sannin told the Jounin, who looked confused. However, when the white-skinned man's snake-like eyes narrowed dangerously, he got the message and bid Orochimaru farewell before leaving.

Now alone, he walked over to the door and opened it, staring down at Akari, who was stood there, leering at his feet as her shoulders rose and fell with the sound of harsh breathing and scraping teeth. By the looks of her orange, sparking skin and wide, bloodthirsty eyes, he had little time to calm her before she'd lose herself and burst into flames.

"Come with me." He said simply, walking down the corridor, expecting her to follow, even with her stubborn nature. However, he turned when he heard her make an angry noise and punch the wall behind him. She was shaking, her eyes shining with unshed tears as she thought of everything she'd been through, everything she was going to go through, and how deceitful her former village actually was.

Orochimaru's breath in her ear broke her from her thoughts. "Calm down." He said seriously, not even a hint of his usual smile on his stoic, pale features. "If you lose your temper here, you'll put yourself in danger and you'll be revealed to the Suna Shinobi...Do you want that?"

She snarled and gripped the wall with her hand, her knuckles bleeding through the bandage as her fingers turned white against the wooden panelling. "Come with me." He repeated, and finally she caved, following the man she hated the most from the building, towards the Training Grounds were many Genin had been tested during their Academy years.

Once they arrived, Orochimaru stood a fair distance from her, his arms crossed, looking down his nose at her. "We're sparring." He told her, his tone telling her there was no backing out.

Akari sneered, her crackling had calmed just enough for her to focus on asking questions. "Why?"

"Your anger has been boiling since we arrived, you'll vent it through this spar."

With a huff of anger and amusement, she got into a fighting stance. "Y'don't have t'tell me twice!" She then let out a roar and ran at Orochimaru, if she was going to vent, she was going to punch him, that was the desire she held right now.

She swung her bandaged fist at him, but he dodged it easily, allowing her a few more attempted blows before he began to participate. He flipped back from a kick and ran at her, thrusting out his own fist, which she caught, however, he wasn't easily beaten as he twisted his body round and slammed his foot into the top of her head.

She slipped on the grass and her head bounced off the ground as she let out a pained gasp. "Get up." He told her, and she growled, getting to her knees, before she swung her foot out and he jumped back once again to avoid being tripped. "Has the anger ruined your ability to fight? You're nowhere near as concentrated as before."

"Shut up!" Akari snapped, rushing forward, letting out a stream of punches, each one blocked and dodged as Orochimaru moved around in a circle, to avoid being pinned. He watched as her expression warped, and her anger mixed with a look of pure turmoil and aggravation.

There it was.

The Sannin bent back, almost having to place his hands on the ground behind him to stop his back snapping, jus to avoid one particularly hard blow. He then shot his foot up, slamming it against her chin, sending her hurtling into the air. "Damn it, damn it, damn it!" She cried out in a curse as tears pricked her eyes and she formed signs, spitting a large stream of fire towards him.

She couldn't focus, think of anything even remotely strategy based during this fight, what the hell was going on? Was he right, was her anger affecting her performance?!

Distracted by her concerns, she didn't see Orochimaru dodge her fire, and jump into the air, until the moment he was right in front of her face. With a reel and a noise of panic, she barely had time to register anything before his pale knuckles slammed into her cheek and she was sent hurtling back, bouncing off the ground several times before she rolled to a stop by one of the log posts in the ground.

The Snake-Eyes Shinobi landed a small distance from her dirty, battered form and crossed his arms seriously. "Stand up, we're not finished."

Akari forced herself to her knees, but fell again, choking back a sob. As she raised a second time, the dam broke and the tears she'd been holding on to finally spilled down her disguised, pale cheeks. She curled into a small ball as she tried to force them back, but ended up letting out an angry noise, slamming her fist into the ground repeatedly in anger as curse after curse left her hoarse throat.

Orochimaru watched with no change to his expression as she hit the dirt so hard her bandages ripped and her knuckles bled sluggishly. Closing his eyes with a huff of breath, he turned and left, knowing when a Ninja, no matter how powerful, needed a moment to compose themselves, they'd prefer to do it alone.

With a puff of smoke, he vanished from the training ground and Akari slowly vented the pain and suffering she'd held back for so long already. The grass ripped away from the ground as did the skin of her knuckles and by the time she'd finished, the dirt was visible and soaked in her blood.

She sat there, calming from her fit, her skin dimming until it took on the fake pale tone she adorned during her mission. Her eyes were bloodshot and squinting with the burn of the salt water tears that no longer ran down her cheeks.

With a deep breath, she sat back on her calves and looked up at the stars in the sky, the sun had set during her rage, and now she was alone in the cold, damp training grounds. Closing her eyes, she couldn't deny how much better she felt now, like a weight had been lifted from her chest that had gotten heavier and heavier as each day passed.

Slowly the Ninjutsu Expert got to her feet and ran her fingers through her spikey red hair as she let the last of her emotions drain away with her exhaustion. She would never accept or admit to the small part of her mind that was grateful that Orochimaru forced her to do this.

No, if she did, it would ruin her entire reason to live.

~BHBL~

Within an hour of finally relaxing after the emotional breakdown, Akari made her way back to the hotel room, and paused as she stepped inside when she saw Orochimaru sat at the window, where he usually remained, staring at her with those cold snake-like eyes which almost glowed in the moonlight. She made no expression of gratitude, and not even one of hate as she closed her eyes and continued until she entered her room.

However he didn't leave her in peace, he was at the door by the time she went to lay down and she groaned at his presence. "What d'you want now?" She asked, irritation in her fairly deep voice.

"This is only the beginning of your training..." He told her with a hiss in his voice. "For the next month, you will vent your emotions through spars and focus your mind for the fight ahead...Fail me, because of your weakness, and you will be killed, is that understood?"

Akari glared at him, her lips tightening together with a desire to refuse, but she knew that'd just set her back a fair distance. Huffing tiredly and in no mood to counter his complains, she rolled onto her side and closed her eyes. "Fine, don't forget t'slam the door in your face as y'leave."

A chuckle left him and the door closed carefully, almost too carefully. Oh he was an ass, she couldn't wait to cause some serious harm during their next sparring session.

With a smirk at the mental image, she rolled onto her back once again and placed both hands on her flat, toned stomach, allowing herself to drift into a dreamless sleep.

~BHBL~

It was a hot, sunny, dry day in Sunagakure as Kaede sat within one of her favourite cafes, wearing her Suna flak jacket and forehead protector. What confused her the most, was that she still remembered the Chuunin Exams and that she was on a break for the month, so when and how did she end up back in her hometown.

The bell hanging above the wooden door rang cheerfully as someone walked in and the older woman's eyes widened when a man with spikey blonde hair and fuscia eyes walked in with a warm, loving smile on his thin lips. "K-Kiyoshi?!" She gasped, standing up as he walked over and wrapped his arms around her in a strong hug. "I thought y'were dead!"

"Shhh, nevermind that..." He said, not outwardly denying it, confusing his ex-wife further as the two sat down and Kiyoshi ordered himself a coffee. "Do you want anything?" He asked, noting her lack of beverage.

"...No, no I'm fine..." She waved her hand dismissively, too dumbstruck to really think about drinking anything.

"Fair enough...So..." It was then that his smile twisted into something far more sinister, far closer to another smirk she knew all too well, the pupils of his once kind eyes turning into slits. "How is it, working for Orochimaru-sama?"

In an instant, she raised her defenses and glared at him, unsure what to make of this entire situation. "Why...?"

"Hm, hm, hm...Because you're starting to look so much alike~"

"What d'you-" She went to touch her face, and gasped, lifting her hand out in front of her as she noticed her tanned flesh had bleached near white within an instant. "Wh-what?!" Without hesitation, she stood and ran into the bathroom, skidding to a halt by the mirror.

Horrified, she stared at what she hoped wasn't her reflection. Her eyes were snake-like and tinted yellow, the same yellow as the Sannin's own irises. Both her canines were now fangs and she had purple accents over her eyelids. The only thing that remained it's natural colour was her hair, and even that was growing in length and turning black around the roots.

"Th-this can't be happening!" She cried out, however when she heard someone enter she turned, expecting Kiyoshi to explain what was going on, but instead was met with several people in different outfits, all transforming into the man she despised.

As they moved closer and closer, she panicked and pulled out a kunai, looking to each of them in fear. "Keep away from me!" She screamed, but had no time to defend herself as the floor opened beneath her and she fell into the maw of a giant snake.

...However she wasn't dead, instead, she slowly opened her, now brown eyes, finding herself not in the pit of the snake's stomach, but in a familiar black abyss, and gasped, lifting her hands to inspect them. They were tanned and scarred, like they usually were. What was going on? Her attention didn't remain on her hands for very long when she spotted deep red liquid on the ground around her and focused her attention there.

Terror and disbelief shook her body as she inspected the many bodies surrounding her now blood-soaked form, all of them she knew, all of them her family and friends, now dead, their blank eyes staring up or away lifelessly. "N-no..." The Ninjutsu Expert tried to back away, however, her spine made contact with something solid, yet not solid enough to be a wall.

Going rigid, she carefully looked over her shoulder and anger swarmed through her within a second when she saw Orochimaru stood behind her, his glowing yellow eyes and leering grin the only things she could see in her tunnel vision.

"Well done, Kaede..." He said, confusing her, snapping her out of her anger. Slowly it clicked what he meant and she looked down at her hands, opening her mouth to scream, but no sound came out. Blood caked her palms, it was even buried in her nails like she'd clawed at her victims, ripping off their flesh, despite not remembering a thing.

"Now I can truly trust you as my subordinate..."

With a sharp scream, Akari shot up, gripping the sheets of her bed, her pale skin soaked in sweat and her usually alive, brown eyes were now filled with horror and confusion. "Th-the hotel room?" She breathed, looking around at the familiar surroundings. Slowly relaxing ever so slightly as she leaned back against the headboard, running her fingers through her, thankfully, short hair. "Just a nightmare...Another nightmare..."

Closing her eyes, she let out a deep sigh and replayed the dream in her head, again and again, analysing every single meaning it could have had. Would she end up going that far, just to end his life? Would she kill all her loved ones for a single scrap of revenge.

Just the thought made her stomach sink, and reawakened some emotions she wished she could push back, but knew was not humanly possible. Even a monster felt remorse for it's victims once in a while.

However her morality had been waning recently, like she had planned, but the weight of fear that fell onto her chest made it harder to breathe, harder to trust herself and her motives. 'I...Need some air...'

The rational, to a point, Kunoichi stood silently and slipped on her sandals, listening to the heavy clack as she left her room to wander the silent streets of Konoha below. It must have been late, barely any lights were on outside her window, and only the sound of the wind could be heard.

With a heavy sigh, she passed Orochimaru's room before pausing, a dark, irrational thought slipping into her mind for a second, sticking like glue. 'What if y'kill him now, save yourself the trouble and return to Sunagakure a hero...'

Though she doubted the hero part, there was a growing desire in the pit of her stomach, replacing the fear that had settled there and she shifted slightly so she was facing his door. Even though the clever, calculating part of her mind screamed for her to stop and back away before she was caught, she reached out and grasped the handle with her scarred hand, reminding her why she wanted him dead in the first place.

With a deep breath, and little to no hesitation, she opened the wooden barrier silently and peeked inside enough to guage the situation. The fear that shot through her when she found his bed empty was enough to bring her back to reality and she backed away from the room with wide eyes.

However that wasn't the end of it, only two steps back, and she collided with a hard chest, reminding far too much of her nightmare, and stiffened up in terror and dread. Why else would she be by his room unless she planned to murder him? She had to think of something to say, some sort of excuse for the question she knew was coming.

"What are you doing here?" His sinister voice drawled with confusion, glaring at her with slightly glowing, snake-like eyes and a soft hiss to his voice. He had heard her scream, knew she had, had a nightmare, but the last thing he'd expect was for her to come to him about it.

No, she had to have another reason for opening his door, and he had a feeling he knew what it was.

Quickly turning, she met his gaze and could almost taste the suspicion in those slitted pupils she hated the most. "I..." She snapped out of it and straightened up, crossing her arms with a glare of her own. "I was going t'ask if y'could train me, since the mission is tomorrow, and I'm still not sure my Taijutsu is at a level that it can save me if I get into a situation where my Ninjutsu is useless..."

She could tell immediately that he didn't truly believe her lies when his eyes narrowed slightly. However, he closed themwith a devious smirk and chuckled. "Hm, so you admit you need my guidance? I never thought I'd live to see the day~"

'Neither did I.' Akari thought nastily, trying not to grimace at his words. "Don't get too cocky, Snake Eyes!" She retorted as she went to leave the apartment. "For all y'know, I'll end up kicking your ass in our next spar!"

"That'll be a first." He taunted cruelly as she scoffed and left. Staring after her, the devilish Sannin's smirk fell and he looked back at the door she'd opened. He was right to leave a black snake in the shadows to watch his room for intruders.

What was she planning? Though he had his suspicions and knew they were most likely correct, he would allow her to roam free for a little longer, her actions and reactions were interesting, especially with the strange split in her personality he had seen moreso recently than he had during her time in captivity.

He licked his lips slowly. He would continue to watch her interactions, and if she showed any more signs of traitorous behaviour, or murderous intent, he would kill her without question.

He was not so forgiving when it came to his own life.


English = Japanese
Feudal Lord = Daimyo