Chapter 30: The First Step
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!
At this point, I also want to point out that the relationship between these two characters is actually toxic if you are in a similar situation please seek help, it is not healthy and it won't end the same way this story will end.
I do not condone these kinds of relationships, despite writing this story.
Hey guys, I'm actually surprised I managed to get this chapter out so quickly after the other one. I was actually super self-conscious about the previous chapter and oddly that fear turned into motivation to get this chapter out at a better level of quality.
And with this chapter, I've caught up to the planned chapters and need to plan the next five, so expect the next chapter to take some time as a plan it and four others first.
I hope you enjoy!
Since Sasuke had arrived at the large hideout hidden deep within the woods, surprisingly no disturbances had occurred and all was peaceful and quiet. It had been that way for the two months he had been staying in the underground base and despite sending regular scouts to ensure their location remained secure, nothing out of the ordinary had occured.
At that moment, during the late afternoon on a warm summer's day, Orochimaru was sat in his dark, decrepit throne room, upon the chair he spent many of his days in, reading through a scroll filled to the brim with information on Kinjutsu he had yet to master. His snake-like yellow eyes scanned each line with interest and the only sounds that came from the darkened chambers were the flickering of candle flames and his soft breathing.
Of course, that serene environment did not last very long, as a quiet knock echoed through the room like a loud boom of thunder, disturbing his concentration and pulling a frown of irritation out of his once calm features. "Enter." He commanded simply, looking back at the scroll as the door opened with a soft creak and the oh-so-familiar white hair of his right-hand man came into view as he entered the room. "What do you want that is so urgent that you interrupt my research?"
Kabuto stood there with his arms behind his back, eyes visible due to the dull lighting as he mentally prepared himself to speak. "My apologies, Orochimaru-sama. I merely came to inform you of Sasuke-kun's progress during his day-to-day training, outside of your allotted sparring sessions."
"Hm? It makes sense that he would want to train outside my lessons, he has the drive of an avenger, after all." The Sannin chuckled and placed the open scroll on his lap, and his chin against the back of his hand with a cunning smirk. "And with every new jutsu he learns, he takes one step closer to being the perfect container~."
"Well, that is what I came to tell you about." The young medic stated, pushing his glasses up his nose, conveniently hiding his eyes from view. "He has been working far too hard outside your tutorlege and has continuously overworked his body into a state of exhaustion...Though not harmful at the moment, continued exposure to the stresses of working the muscles too hard will eventually cause permanent damage."
This information caused the man's smirk to fall and his purple-accented eyes narrowed slightly. "That is a problem...See to it that he stops before his body gets to that stage, even if you have to knock him out to do so." He was not going to end up with yet another broken dream container. "However, during my sessions, his skills have improved consistently." He chuckled and lifted the scroll slightly, scanning the words he had already read. "It seems Kaede-chan has taught him something useful, after all~."
"Kaede?"
"Yes, though I didn't see their complete interaction, I arrived in time to watch as our defiant little prisoner showed Sasuke how to build up his Chakra for extended use of the same jutsu...Even I was unaware that she could do such things."
"Is it wise for her to get close to Sasuke-kun?" Kabuto asked, feeling that familiar tug of distrust deep in his gut at the mention of Kaede's name alone. "She could still be planning to betray you at a later date, and in doing this, she could be trying to win back your trust so she can truly strike while your guard is down."
"Don't worry, she would never catch me off guard," Orochimaru stated, pausing in his readings to shoot Kabuto a glare of warning. "That is...Unless you doubt my capability to handle anything she may throw my way."
Though Kabuto seemed reluctant about allowing Kaede close to Sasuke or Orochimaru for that matter, he did nothing to show that he doubted the strength the Sannin possessed. Instead, he closed his eyes and crossed his arms. "I don't doubt any of your decisions or abilities, Orochimaru-sama." He opened his eyes again. "I just don't trust her not to plan for a second attack."
Though that was not the only thing plaguing his mind, deep down, he was curious about Orochimaru's reasons for keeping Kaede alive so long after she had betrayed them. If that had been anyone else, he would have killed them instantaniously. It had to be something more impressive than her jutsu capabilities and increased Chakra control.
He would usually only keep important 'game pieces' and potential vessels alive after so many failures, but Kaede did not fit either description. Her body was unstable after being exposed to ten years worth of experimentation, and her loyalty was questionable at best.
So why was she still breathing, why did she continue to wander the halls like she had every right to be there?
Orochimaru's chuckle broke him from his thoughts and the medic looked over at his leader. "I must admit, your words ring true. She is not to be trusted...However, it has been two months and she has yet to even indicate that she plans to kill anyone within the hideout, myself included...Perhaps, we should forge some sort of 'mission' to test her loyalty?"
"And how would we do that?"
The Sannin went silent, looking to the side for a moment as he mused the many different ways he could test her without putting his own safety or village in jeopardy. His yellow eyes moved from the wall to the scroll in his hands and slowly a grin stretched across his ghostly white lips.
"We will send her on a simple information-gathering mission." He stated with confidence dripping from his tone, standing up as he did so. He stepped down from the throne's higher pedestal and went over to the table, taking an empty scroll and opening it up on the long stretch of wood. "I will create a scroll that will house a deadly jutsu if opened by anyone who's Chakra doesn't match my own, and I will trust you to tuck it away in a difficult location for her to collect." He grabbed a box and opened it, showing a vat of ink and a clean, white brush. Without hesitation, he took the tool and dipped it in the murky abyss, before he scrawled onto the blank scroll, creating the formula for a deadly water-based jutsu that would slowly, and painfully drown Kaede with no hopes of escape. "I suggest an area that would prove deadly for her to traverse through, whether she completes the mission is as vital as finding out if she can be trusted with confidential information."
Once the scroll was completed and the ink dried, he pulled the parchment closed and tied it with a purple rope, tugging it tightly shut between one hand and his sharp teeth, signifying that it is information for the Otokage's eyes alone. He then held out the scroll for Kabuto to take. "Once she collects the scroll, follow her, and report back to me if she opens it or not."
"Won't her death be proof enough?"
"This will be the first time she has left in two months, I don't trust her not to escape and never return, if she does, I want to know immediately so I can dispose of her myself."
His words though said before, rung true, Kabuto could feel the murderous intent in the Sannin's sharp voice, and nodded, taking the object in question without qualm, not making a single attempt to open it himself. He was no fool, Orochimaru may bluff, despite his words about 'hating lies' however he knew the jutsu he had stained the parchment with, and it was indeed a real threat to anyone's life. Especially if Orochimaru's Chakra alone was the key to unlocking it and releasing the one trapped inside.
"And what would happen if she were to succeed?" Kabuto asked curiously, slipping the scroll into the folds of the sash he wore around his waist.
"Then it will be the stepping stone towards cementing her loyalty to me and attaining her sought-after freedom from this hideout." Orochimaru's smirk turned into a dangerous grin. 'And it will be the stepping stone towards gaining a powerful pawn~!'
Kabuto stared for a moment before he bowed his torso with his hand against his chest and his eyes closed. "I will see to her success, and if she attempts anything I deem a traiterous act, I will inform you immediately."
And with that, the young medic vanished in a cloud of smoke, leaving the Sannin alone in the silent room once more, the candles flickering violently due to the disturbed air. If she proved her loyalty here, then he would continue to plant little 'tests' for her until he was certain she would not betray his trust again.
However, that was not the only reason he entertained the idea of proving her loyalty, the mere thought that she would do as he said made him lick his lips with glee, and if she did not, then he would have one less problem to worry about.
All would go according to plan, either way.
~BHBL~
Time ticked on by, several hours in fact, in the underground hideout and Kaede was sat in the empty kitchen, her feet resting on a wooden table as she leaned back on her chair, swirling a, near empty, can of cola in small circles, listening to the sloshing liquid inside. Cola was one of the only cold drinks she could afford to endulge in, as the water content was not at a dangerous level to her body, as long as she did not drink more than she knew she could take.
It had been many attempts with trail and error to realize her limit was two cans a day, and she had no desire to push that limit.
With a bored sigh, she tipped her head back and swallowed the last mouthful of fizzy flavour and settled back on the four legs of the chair, slamming the can down on the table as she did so. She was bored out of her mind once again, Sasuke spent most of his days in the training hall, and because of that, she had barely found the time or space to practice her own abilties.
Hell, for the past week, she had been training in her room and had set her bed on fire more than once. If she wanted to sleep with a blanket to keep her warm, she could not afford to burn any more holes in her sheets. 'Does that kid ever sleep?!' She thought stubbornly, groaning as she dropped her head back and stared at the ceiling as she had done often since her confinement.
A knock on the open door made her hum and slump her head forward to see who was there. Immediately her curious frown turned into one of irritation. Great, here Kabuto was to sour her mood, once again! "What d'you want?" She asked. "I ain't trying t'escape, if you're worried 'bout that. I'm just minding my own business."
"I gave no reason for you to assume that was my motive behind seeking you out," Kabuto stated, to which she huffed in disbelief. "I'm merely here to inform you that Orochimaru-sama requests that you visit his study." The way he emphasized the 'request' gave her a very clear sign that not doing so would end with painful torment.
Kaede stared at him with an arched brow and a suspicious frown, before she sighed and stood up, not caring that the chair was shoved back so forcefully that it fell over and clattered on the wood floor. "Tch, fine. Whatever gets y'out of my face, I can't remember a time I turned around and y'weren't there."
"I can remember many." The medic said, smirking as this pulled a scowl out of her and she walked past without breaking eye contact. Perhaps this was why Orochimaru kept her around, bothering her with counter-arguments was quite amusing.
"I can't even have five seconds t'myself 'round here..." The redhead mumbled as she walked down the echoing corridors and stopped at the door to the Sannin's throne room. With a reluctant lift of the hand, she rapped her knuckles against the wood. "Oi, Snake-Eyes! Your lackey sent me, he said y'needed to talk t'me 'bout something!" She called out, hoping to irritate him a little for her own amusement.
Of course, it backfired when a deep chuckle was heard and her slight smirk fell with dissapointment.
"Enter." He stated.
Kaede pushed the door open and stepped inside, her eyes locking with Orochimaru's as she assessed his body-language. He was relaxed with his cheek resting against his knuckles, something he seemed to do often. This ruled out the idea that she may have done something worth punishment, at least. "What d'you want?"
"Hm, hm, you're as polite as usual, I see." The Otokage teased, his smirk widening when she rolled her eyes and planted her hand on her hip.
"Well, I was enjoying some quiet time before Kabuto interrupted me, so I ain't exactly in the mood to talk right now."
"Is that so? Then we understand eachother. I did not call you here for a simple discussion, nor do I plan to keep you long." The Sannin straightened up and tapped his long nails off the wood of his throne. "As you know, your access to the outside world has been blocked due to your foolish actions two months ago, correct?"
Kaede clicked her tongue, crossing her arms and glaring at him. "Y'really think I'm that stupid? I know I can't leave, y'don't need t'keep rubbing it in my face!" She looked off to the side, most days she was driven mad with boredom because of that fact.
Orochimaru chuckled. "Your intelligence is a different matter entirely~." He taunted, grinning when she flipped him off without another word. My, she really was not in the best of moods, was she? "Regardless, I brought it up because I intend to lift your punishment for a limited amount of time."
This made the woman's soured frown turn into a soft expression of shock, her wide eyes locking with his amused ones. Now she was listening. "Are you surprised?" He asked with mirth in his tone, lifting his head and looking down his nose at her. "I have not disposed of you, therefore I planned to make use of you eventually, despite your previous actions. Consider this your first step towards gaining permanent freedom within my quaint little village~."
The redhead remained silent for a moment, and the man's entertained smirk only widened when her eyes hardened with suspicion. "What's the catch?" She asked stiffly, not wanting to get her hopes up without knowing the reasons.
"Hm, hm, perhaps there is little to discuss about your intelligence, after all. I have a mission for you that takes place inside of the Otogakure borders, and as my only certified Jounin on record, you're the one I chose to send...There are some old ruins close to the Valley of the End, where the border for Hi no Kuni begins. Inside these ruins, is a scroll that was placed there on my orders, by a spy currently situated within Konohagakure itself."
Orochimaru stood up and walked over to the wooden table, picking up a rolled piece of parchment and holding it out for Kaede to take. "Your mission is to collect this scroll and bring it back to me. I am certain your Chuunin training comes to mind when you consider yourself handling top-secret documents?"
Kaede grinned with a hard edge and snatched the parchment, opening it up and looking at the map that resided inside. The ruins had been circled prior to her arrival. "What, y'scared I'll find your secret diary or something~?" She joked, memorizing the location before she rolled the map back up and tucked it into her sash.
"Hm, hm, your actions as of late have made it difficult to trust your motives, Firecracker. Can you blame me for being cautious?"
"Paranoid, y'mean!"
"Perhaps. Whether this mission goes well will prove which of us is correct." Orochimaru smirked and gestured to the door. "Now, if you're not back by tomorrow's sunrise, I will assume you have fled and will personally seek you out for your...punishment." His eyes turned dark as his smile tightened with a dangerous intent hidden behind his false expression. "Is that understood?"
The two locked eyes, and if anyone else had been present, they would have insisted lightning crackled between their glares. However, the tense atmosphere was broken when Kaede grinned, gave him a mock salute, and walked to the door. "Got t'say Orochimaru-sama..." She started, pausing at the door to look back at him. "You've threatened me so many times, I ain't sure you've got the balls t'go through with them anymore! Heh, but don't worry, I'll get this stupid mission done, but it ain't for you, I just want t'get back my life~!"
"Yes, succeed in this mission, and you will be one step closer to regaining your access to the outside world...And, of course, one other reward of your choice."
The former Suna Kunoichi's expression dropped again, and she stared for a moment, before she left the room, motivation rising unconsciously within her at the idea of actually getting somewhere and having a purpose once more. Once she was out of sight, Orochimaru laughed darkly.
Her hopeful eyes were far more enjoyable than her defiant taunts.
~BHBL~
True to his word, Kaede was now stood by the unsealed doors of the hideout, swallowing hard as she prepared to feel the soft summer breeze for the first time in eight weeks. Excitement was brewing in her stomach and her heart thumped at the thought of seeing the setting sun and the large moon she had grown fond of.
With a deep breath, she pushed the doors open slowly and cursed, covering her eyes when the harsh sunlight nearly blinded her instantaniously. "Agh! Dammit, I forgot how bright it was out here!" She cried out, blinking rapidly to clear her vision. "Crap...Just what I need now, bad eyesight..."
She took a moment to let her eyes clear of the bright spots the sunlight had left behind, then kicked off in a run, jumping straight into the trees to hide her path from anyone who may track her. The feeling of the wind rushing through her short hair as she moved, the slight scratches of the nearby branches and soft leaves that hit her cheeks, all of these sensations brought a different kind of grin to her lips, a bold, happy one that made her feel as free as the birds above.
With a strong laugh, she grabbed a branch and swung around it once, before letting go and landing on another close by. She had forgotten this part of her life, every time she was confined, it felt like she would never see the sun again, and now she knew, once she got a taste, all other issues she faced, be it her questionable loyalty, or troubling hatred of her former village, just melted away for a short while.
'Too bad it's only for one night.'
That thought forced her smile to fall and she halted her quick movements through the thick trees she had camoflaged herself within. Once she returned from her mission, she would be sealed inside once again, impatiently waiting for the next whim Orochimaru decided to toss in her direction.
A small part of her mused where she could go if she just ran away right now, and she looked in the opposite direction that the map was guiding her towards. 'If I move quickly, I can be gone before he has time t'catch up t'me...'
Silence stretched within the deep brush and finally Kaede snapped out of her curious thoughts, shaking her head with a soft curse as she kicked off once again, continuing towards the ruins. 'Don't be an idiot, where're y'going t'go? Suna doesn't want you, y'killed the Third, so Konoha wants y'dead...Your only option is t'stay in Otogakure and at least try t'find something worth living for!'
Her stomach still sank every time she remembered Orochimaru's words to her at the worst moment of her life.
She would never let herself wonder if it was gratitude that kept her going, or her desperate need to be useful.
Honestly, she did not want to know the answer.
~BHBL~
When Kaede arrived at the ruins, she swore to every God she did not believe in, that she would make Orochimaru suffer one day, and she would enjoy it. Because, before her, was a large, fragmented building, flooded half-way up the wall, with water. It was sinking into a small pool of swamp water, and even though she stood far from the water's edge, she could see some alligators relaxing in its depths.
"If it wasn't obvious he was an ass before, I definitely think he's an ass now." The redhead stated in a dull-deadpanned tone, letting out a heavy groan as she removed her robe, opting to keep her sandals on to protect her flesh from the cool water. "This has t'be a test or something, no one goes this far for some damn information!"
Unknown to Kaede, she was being watched, deep in the brush, far from sight and sound, stood Kabuto, who had his eyes locked firmly on her crouched form. He knew she would fail this, and when she did, he would immobalize her and return her to Orochimaru for her just punishment. There was no doubt in his mind that she would continue to betray them, no one accepted a village like theirs so easily, especially if they did not fear the ruler behind them.
He just had to wait for his premonition to be true.
Kaede straightened up and placed her hands together as she pulled the Chakra from her body to the base of her feet, then, with a deep breath to calm her nerves from the fear of the water's deathly cold grasp, she pushed forward and ran with as much speed as she could over the surface of the swamp, her Chakra-infused sandals keeping her from coming into contact with the wet droplets of her demise.
However, nothing was that easy, with the sound she made running across the pond, the alligators became aware of their potential meal and some even dove out of the water to attack her. Kaede was prepared though and quickly used her Futon: Rendukan to harm any of the large reptiles that came too close, then Shunshined away from the water that was made airborn when they splashed back under the surface.
Though she was only on the liquid surface for half a minute, when Kaede finally managed to reach the inside of the ruins and planted her feet on the flat ground near the place where the scroll awaited her, she sighed with relief and grabbed her knees, breathing heavily with exertion.
In her mind, she thanked a God she did not believe in, that she had even survived this far.
After regaining her ability to breathe, she straightened up and placed her hands on her hips, looking around in search of the object Orochimaru desired. She zeroed in on it, sitting atop a stone block in the distance and walked over, picking it up without fear of what could be her potential death inside.
"Heh, I wonder what's so important that he had someone drop it off here..." She asked out loud, believing herself to be alone, while Kabuto, hidden away, prepared to attack by taking out a kunai, knowing she would open the scroll.
But she did not.
Instead, he watched with wide eyes as she slipped her sleeve over the rolled parchment and turned, ready to brave the waters again to return to Otogakure and recieve her reward.
Though she had the oportunity to gain an upper hand against her sworn enemy, or possibly escape and never return, she had not taken it. Even as he surveyed her work afterwards, she did nothing to indicate she would share it with anyone or another village, opting to head straight back to the hideout she now considered her only safe haven.
Of course, on the way, she stopped to watch the moon for a while, but as long as she returned before sunrise, she could afford a pitstop.
~BHBL~
Orochimaru was surprised when he heard a knock merely an hour before the sun was set to rise. He straightened up curiously and prepared for either a defiant redhead, or a loyal medic to enter the room. "You may enter." When the door opened, he was mildly shocked it was the former that stepped into the room, smirking like she had achieved world peace, rather than collect something that she did not realize could have ended her life.
"Heh, guess y'owe me something nice!" Kaede said smugly, pulling up her sleeve before she tossed the scroll at the Sannin, who caught it without so much as a flinch from the motion. "Got t'say though, I ain't too fond of y'making me cross alligator filled water t'get a bit of paper."
The Sannin chuckled and used his Chakra to disarm the scroll, opening it slowly as he pretended to read the words inside. "Well, the information within this scroll could pave the way towards the creation of a lethal weapon, I had to make sure it wouldn't be found by enemy hands."
"Uh-huh, because everyone else has the same problem with water as I do." She pointed out with an arch of her red brow. She was not buying it for even a second, she knew it was a test the moment she saw the swamp.
Once Orochimaru had finished 'reading' from the parchment, he closed it up and placed it on the arm of his chair, smirking at her, almost as if he was...proud of her achievement. Blegh, she never wanted to see that look on his face ever again!
"Regardless, you have successfully completed your mission and will be rewarded in due time." He said simply, grinning at her. "I am quite surprised by your punctual arrival, though. I expected to have to drag you back inside myself...Well done."
Kaede let out a laugh and placed a hand on her hip, mirroring his wide smile with her own, eyes gleaming mischievously. "Are y'praising me? Heh, it doesn't suit you, stick t'freaking people out with your creepy jutsu!"
"Hm, hm, hm, very well~. However, I could say the same for you, it is strange to see you acting so obedient for once."
"Y'ain't worth killing no more." The obnoxious fighter turned to leave. "And it ain't like I've got anything else t'do right now, so why not?" As she stepped out of the door, she looked back and pointed at the scroll, eyes alight with teasing. "Don't cut yourself on the scroll now, wouldn't want y'bleeding t'death, would we?"
And with that, she dissapeared, laughing as she walked down the hall and out of earshot.
Though her words continued to irk him to no end, and would probably do so until the end of her life, he was amused by her actions. She was changing, and it appeared she was not aware of it.
Only a few seconds after she departed, a cloud of smoke appeared beside Orochimaru and he looked over without any sense of surprise or alarm as Kabuto emerged from the smog. "Well?" The Sannin asked simply, already knowing what he was there to convey.
"She passed the test with little complaint. She was quite cautious in traversing over the water and dealing with the predators within the swamp, and even managed not to get wet or injest any of the liquid that was splashed into the air during her attempts to ward them off." Kabuto reported, bowing his head with his hand on his torso as he did so. "She did have a moment after collecting the scroll where she contemplated opening it, however..."
"Hm, hm, that's enough, I can see for myself the result of her contemplation." The older shinobi said, raising his hand to silence Kabuto. "She fought her curiosity and brought it back with no qualms or incident, that, in itself, is a success."
He was quite pleased with the results of his little experiment, and knew with a few more positive results, like the one he had just recieved, she would become a valuable ally.
The Sannin laughed as he licked his lips, patiently counting the seconds until he succeeded in his own ambitions.
~BHBL~
Several hours came and went since Kaede's return, and she was laying on her bed, her book covering her face with one hand behind her head, and the other resting gently on her stomach. Since her mission ended, she had found nothing else exciting to do, and decided to re-read her beloved story until Sasuke finally finished in the training hall, once again. However, as she grew tired of reading, she decided a nap was the best option and had been sleeping for just over an hour.
Hell, she had fallen so deep into her slumber, she was even snoring ever so slightly.
Of course, the second someone knocked on her bedroom door, the poor, sleeping woman snorted in surprise and sat up, letting the book drop into her lap as her tired eyes fixed onto the door with a confused, frown. "Wassat?" She slurred, ruffling her hair with a yawn as she stretched her other arm above her head. "Better be good..." The redhead slipped out of the bed, wearing her bodysuit, and walked up to the door, wiping her face with her hands to ensure she looked 'presentable.'
Just as another knock sounded, she opened the door to see a nameless Chuunin stood there, with his knuckles raised for another irritating proclaimation of his prescence. "What?" Kaede spat out, not too keen on being interrupted during the few times she got a good amount of sleep.
"Orochimaru-sama ordered me to collect you." The Chuunin stated, straightening up as a sign of respect for his senior kunoichi. He was one of the few who had not heard about her betrayal, it seemed. "He wants to speak to you now, and he won't take no for an answer...His words, not mine."
Kaede rolled her eyes and let out an annoyed sigh. "'Course he does." She turned and slipped into her wooden sandals, grabbing her robe and tugging it on as she stepped out of her room and closed the door. "I swear, he's got some kind of radar that tells him when I'm most likely t'be pissed if I'm interrupted."
The poor Chuunin looked both awkward and confused since she was his senior, he could not correct her without fear of backlash, nor could he agree out of fear of Orochimaru's wrath. So he just stood there in silence until she started walking, stopped, and looked at him over her shoulder.
"Y'don't need t'walk me there, by the way." She stated, grinning deviously. "It's more fun for me if I can annoy him without someone else getting in the way~!"
With that, she walked down the corridor and left the Chuunin to his own devices, while she stretched her arms over her head with her fingers linked to remove any stiffness in her muscles. "I just got t'sleep too...He better've a good reason for bothering me."
She reached his throne room in minutes and knocked on the door, listening with a bored frown for a second until she heard his gravelly voice through the wood. "You may enter." Then she opened said door and walked inside, closing it behind her as Orochimaru sat on his throne, with that same, smug, confident aura surrounding him as per usual. "Ah, Kaede~." He started, his tone light, but sickeningly fake. "I'm quite surprised you came here without complaint. That mission must have awakened some sense of logic within your addled mind."
"Hah!" The stubborn redhead barked out a laugh and spun to face him, placing a hand on her hip with a tight grin on her lips, her eyes telling him where he could stick his arrogant statements. "Y'really think I'm going t'start listening t'you because of some stupid mission? I knew y'were crazy, but I didn't think y'were that far gone!"
"Hm, hm, you must be mistaken, dear Firecracker." He countered with a devious grin of his own, his snake-like orbs lit up with amusement as he rested his cheek on his knuckles. "I'm sure it is you who is too far gone, hence why I am so surprised you obeyed my orders so easily~!"
Kaede's irritation returned full-force and it took everything for her to keep the hard, fake smile on her lips. However, unknown to her, the serious part of her mind controlled her body-language and instead of holding her hips, she crossed her arms, a sign she despised his words. "Whatever, just tell me what I'm doing here so I can leave."
"Suh an impatient woman." Orochimaru straightened up, placing both his hands on the arms of his throne. "I'm sure you remember that I offered you a reward of your choosing if the mission was successful, yes?"
"Yeah...And, what? Y'want me t'choose now?" She arched a brow with a pout on her lips, she didn't believe him, there was a catch, there had to be.
However, as with all other moments where she assumed the worst of him, a memory flashed through her mind, this time it was the first reward he had given her, her precious book. There was no catch there, and the logic behind this thought really soured her mood, and her expression turned to hard annoyance.
Stupid memories.
"Your mind is quite sharp today, I'm surprised~." Orochimaru started, and Kaede turned her attention back to him once more, processing his words for a second before she went to retort. However, instead of giving her a chance, he continued his sentence and cut her off at the beginning of her complaint. "To answer your question, yes...It is time for you to choose your reward. Bear in mind, I will not grant you freedom just yet, you have to earn that right, and as of now, I am not convinced your motives have changed."
Kaede clicked her tongue, she just wanted to get out of this building and enjoy a nice break in natural light, was that too much to ask?! With that option off the table, her eyes darted back and forth and she wove her fingers into her fringe, contemplating her other options for a brief moment. When something came to her, she snapped her fingers and grinned, looking him dead in the eye. "Ah-ha! I know what I want, and it ain't something y'can complain about either!"
Her response pulled a chuckle from the villainous snake. "Oh? And this request is...?"
"I want t'have access to the training hall a few days out of the week, where I can use it without anyone else getting in my way." Kaede placed her hand on her hip and waved the other one dismissively. "I'm sick of having t'work around that Uchiha brat, and if I want t'keep my skills sharp, I need to take a lot of time t'really push myself!"
Well, this was not the response he was expecting, considering her love for freedom and/or irritating him, he assumed she would come up with something that would test his patience and bring about an argument to ease her own boredom. To think she would openly find a solution without negatively affecting his authority was a surprise.
The older man chuckled and grinned, baring his fangs to the candlelight flickering through the room, making them show more vibrantly. "Very well, I will give you non-negotiable, sole access to the training hall two days out of the week, use them wisely, as I will not bend this rule or add on any extra time. My shinobi must keep their wits sharp through combat as well, after all."
Kaede's expression actually lightened up a little, and she fought to ignore the gratitude that welled in her chest ever so slightly. Though he could already see it, being the over-observant asshole he was. "Heh, don't expect it t'be clean when my two days are up!" She pointed out, not even waiting for him to dismiss her before she turned to leave. "I'll start my uninterrupted training tomorrow, so y'better let Sasuke know, or else I'll kick him out myself~!"
And with that, the mildly amused kunoichi stepped out of the room and out of sight.
A moment passed, and when the two were certain she was no longer within hearing distance, Kabuto spoke without turning his attention from the open doorway. "With all due respect, Orochimaru-sama...I still don't trust her motives."
Orochimaru hummed, his smirk falling as he mused those words. "Nor do I...Believe me, there are quite a few more tests I plan on giving her before I can even start to believe her motives may have changed...The wind may move the windmill, but it takes time, patience and a strong gust to truly keep it in motion..."
Right now, she was a dragon trying to fight against his control, but he would break her in, and he would do so in as little time as he could.
He was more patient than she was, and he knew in the end, he would be the victor of their little battle of pride.
A/N: Thank you for reading! Please review, every word helps me become a better writer and I appreciate all of you for your continuous support!
Japanese = English
Shunshin no Jutsu = Body Flicker Technique
Sungakure = Hidden Sand Village
Otogakure = Hidden Sound Village
Konohagakure = Hidden Leaf Village
Otokage = Sound Shadow
Hi no Kuni = Land of Fire
Kinjutsu = Forbidden Techniques
Futon: Rendukan = Wind Release: Drilling Air Bullets
