Sakura spent her time alone looking around the room she was confined to, discovering that there was a bathroom complete with a shower and all the necessary products to clean herself. She wondered if Orochimaru had guests who weren't just experiments that stayed in these kinds of rooms, or if Sasuke could be somewhere within this same place. Speaking of the serpent-man, she wondered why Kabuto hadn't even brought her to meet him yet. She figured he would surely want to speak with an enemy who would be residing in his home for an undetermined period of time, but then again, she was glad she hadn't had to face him yet.

The shower had been very refreshing after spending the previous night in the dirt, the only thing she was missing was spare clothes, again, she mentally kicked herself for being so mindless when she was preparing for the journey. She opened a small cupboard under the bathroom sink, pushing a few items aside before she found an unused hospital robe. It wasn't much to look at, but it would have to suffice while she washed her clothes.

She filled the sink with hot water, submerging her clothing in it to soak all the dirt out.

Worrisome thoughts began to creep into her mind; She didn't even have a way to communicate with her mentor while away, and how she was sure that Kabuto had disposed of the ANBU that had been sent to aid her in the event of things turning bad.

It wasn't like she was afraid for her life at this point, but she definitely did not trust her captor regardless.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the lock on the door clicking, and the door opening.

"I see you've made yourself at home," Came the voice of the gray-haired man from the doorway.

Sakura nearly scoffed at that.

"Far from it. Just making do with what's already here. Don't you think you could show someone who is a guest a bit more hospitality?" She retorted, walking towards the doorway of the bathroom so that Kabuto was now in her line of sight.

She watched his gaze move over her form before settling on her eyes. It gave her an eerie feeling that she chose to ignore as she leaned against the doorframe, arms crossing over her chest self-consciously.

"You'll find everything else you need under that table." He said, glancing at said table where she had previously been restrained.

He had seen a handful of women without clothing before, being a medic, but an unwelcome feeling came over him at the sight of the pink-haired kunoichi in nothing but a short robe. Good thing he was somewhat of an expert at keeping his composure.

Sakura gave him a look of mild intrigue before she moved towards the center of the room to crouch beside the table, taking a look at what was underneath. She found a folding cot and blankets neatly stacked on a shelf, along with some rather plain looking house clothes.

"Thanks, I guess." She muttered, standing again.

"So why are you back? I thought you were 'leaving me to do whatever I must.'"

"I thought you might want this," Kabuto said, brushing off her mocking tone as he held out a small container.

Sakura stepped towards him to take it, opening it just a little. It was food, thank god. She hadn't expected them to starve her, but she also hadn't been expecting something that actually looked pretty good.

"Thanks again," She said quietly, backing away from him slowly like he was a dangerous predator stalking her — which, in a way, he was.

Kabuto's eyes glinted with amusement before he silently turned to leave the room once more.

Sakura finished her food and began taking out the supplies from under the operating table. She took the cot first, setting it up in the corner farthest from the door, unfolding the blankets that had been folded within it. She noticed there was no pillow, but oh well, she thought as she rolled up the other blanket to use in place of it.

She climbed onto her newly made bed, covering herself. Looking around the room, she noticed there wasn't a single window. She knew that this place was underground, and was surprised it was not a dungeon. Her thoughts began to drift until her eyes fell shut; she dreamt of home.

Sakura was rudely awakened by the sound of the door slamming. She jumped, bolting upright out of bed to see what the noise had been about, only to see that it was Kabuto entering the room without any regard for her peace.

"What the fuck, four-eyes?! Can't you see I'm trying to sleep here?" She grumbled, shooting him an irritated glare before rubbing her eyes.

"Quite a morning person, I see." Kabuto said flatly, his expression indifferent. He walked over to a small work table in the corner opposite to where Sakura now sat on the cot. Unrolling a scroll he'd brought with him. He didn't bother to spare the rosette a glance as he laid the script out before him to read.

"These are some older formulas I've studied. I figured they may be able to help with creating an antidote to this new poison," He said, the sound of his voice slightly muffled with his back turned to her.

As the gray-haired man spoke, it made her think back on the prior day. Sakura realized she sort of enjoyed listening to him explain things. It was kind of nice to hear someone speak about topics that she knew a good deal about as well; somewhat of a rarity in her home life, aside from a few medics of reasonably higher-than-average skill and of course Lady Tsunade.

Sakura chewed her lip, realizing these thoughts had intruded her mind. Her attention drew back to his voice, and she began to process the things he was telling her.

"Are you even listening to me?" Kabuto asked crossly, fully turning to look at her.

"If you hadn't been so rude, maybe I'd feel a little more obligated pay attention," Sakura replied sharply.

Kabuto put a hand on his hip, looking over the round rims of his glasses at her.

"Well, if you're not interested, let me just tell you the remaining option you have — I will have no problem strapping you back onto that table and running the experimental tests I've developed thus far. It might even be quicker since you're healthy and unexposed," A sinister edge tinged his tone as his other hand moved to push his glasses up.

Sakura's gaze hardened grimly as she swallowed hard.

"So, if that sounds like something you'd rather not do, I highly suggest you pay attention, Sakura."

"Just let me see the scroll," Sakura grit out, sliding off the edge of the cot from her sitting position.

Kabuto stepped aside as Sakura made her way over to the table to take a look at the script.

After a few moments of reading and taking it all in, Sakura let out a small sigh through her nose.

"This is going to be a lot more complicated than I thought. You're saying we need not only one, but three living patients to conduct these tests on?"

"That's correct,"

Sakura went quiet in thought before she turned to face him.

"I only ask that they be rogue nin. People who have bad reputations or whatever. I'm not all about using innocents as Guinea pigs, as you know,"

"I'll see what I can do," Kabuto answered with an amused smirk turning up the corner of his mouth.

This girl was too sensitive for her own good. It made him wonder how she had managed to become a shinobi in the first place with all those feelings — worrying about who was innocent and who was the opposite. What did it matter?

"So am I going to be a part of collecting these people? Or?"

"Yes, but only under one condition. You will not be engaging in combat unless I tell you it is necessary. You're only assisting me in carrying them back here."

"Fair enough, I guess." Sakura turned her gaze away from him at that.

Kabuto took this opportunity to study her, noticing her long eyelashes and lovely jade-hued eyes. They matched the color of her chakra, he thought. His gaze trickled down to her lips, full and rosy, it made him want to touch them, but before his thoughts got too carried away, he caught himself as Sakura turned to meet his eyes again.

He blinked in slight surprise, as if he'd been caught doing something he shouldn't be.

What a strange path his mind had wandered down… But why? was the real question.

He shook his head slightly before abruptly stepping toward the door and leaving the room.

Sakura jumped at the sound of the door closing.

"What the hell was that all about?"