I do not own Naruto Shippuden or any of the characters.

Freedom

Ryuu opened his eyes, staring up at the ceiling. He was strapped down. One across his forehead, one over his mouth, six per arm and leg, three per finger to keep them straight and separate, and four down his torso. They didn't want him going anywhere. And he couldn't. At least, without help. One of the scientists, which he could sense seven of, stepped up over him, waving a scalpel back and forth to air dry it.

"You did a lot of damage in your little escape attempt," the scientist said. "Lord Orochimaru is very displeased. He really had so much hope for your eyes. Sadly, if you can't do as you're told, he's decided that your eyes must be...appropriated. And don't worry, I'm not going to use any anesthetics as I rip them from your head. But I will kill you after, if you beg. You see, my brother was one of the shinobi you let burn to death on your way out with that bitch. So I'm going to enjoy this. Now, show me those Sharingan."

Happily, Ryuu thought, activating them and instantly placing him under a Genjutsu.

The scientist stood there for a moment before slashing, cutting Ryuu's head and right arm both free instantly. Just as he did, a smoke bomb went off in the center of the room. Ryuu instantly had the doctor cut him the rest of the way free before snapping the doctor's neck. Then, he flipped to his feet, preparing himself for a fight, only for the smoke to clear, leaving all of the doctors dead, as well as two guards outside, one of which had fallen in the doorway. Standing in the center of the room was an ANBU with a cat mask bearing a red triangle pointed downward on the forehead and a curved red line on each cheek.

"Who-"

The ANBU raised a finger to their lips and Ryuu nodded, sensing their chakra and grinning. Kabuto. Kabuto motioned for him to follow and they began to run through the base. For a moment, Ryuu thought that Kabuto was lost trying to get to the exit, until they stepped into a room with numerous water tanks and Kabuto pulled a sleeve-less purple shirt, white pants, a pair of sandals, and a water bottle from his cloak. Ryuu smirked, forming his Wind Rapier and slashing the water tank that he placed as Suigetsu's. Kabuto tossed the clothes into the rapidly growing puddle, and a moment later, Suigetsu rose from it, nodding once as Kabuto held a finger to his mask's mouth again. The three of them made their way to the exit then took off at a sprint, putting as much distance between themselves and the base as they could. Finally, Kabuto threw off the ANBU disguise and Ryuu hugged him.

"Thank you!" Ryuu smiled, holding back tears of joy at finally being out.

"Don't thank me yet," Kabuto said. "Not until we're all home."

"What about Fu?" Ryuu asked.

"I made a quick trip to the Hidden Leaf and dealt with him in person, as well as the other two Orochimaru had there as backup plans," Kabuto said. "For the time being, she's safe."

"Kabuto, do you know where Karin is?" Suigetsu asked.

Ryuu glanced at him, thinking. Karin had disappeared about a week after they had saved Suigetsu. Ryuu had assumed she had been killed in the arena.

"She was transferred," Kabuto said. "She was made the Warden of the Southern Hideout."

"Okay," Suigetsu nodded. "Would it be possible for us to stop by there?"

"How far off course would that take us?" Ryuu asked.

"The Southern Hideout would cost us an extra hour, not including time spent on the island. It's a small island beside the Land of Waves."

"What a coincidence," Suigetsu said. "There's something in the Land of Waves that I wanted to pick up."

"What's that?" Ryuu asked.

"Master Zabuza's sword," Suigetsu said.

"Kabuto?" Ryuu asked.

"Well, from the Southern Hideout, the Land of Waves would actually be pretty close to a direct line back to Konoha," Kabuto said thoughtfully. "Maybe twenty minutes extra."

Ryuu nodded. "Lead the way."

Kabuto nodded as well, turning slightly and they all continued on in silence.

They spotted the tiny stone island quickly. There were three massive, almost flat rock formations sticking up off of it like a fin, but the entire island was maybe five hundred feet across. Ryuu supposed that this hideout, like the one he had lived in for a year and a half, was probably underground.

"Can we destroy this one?" Ryuu asked.

"I suppose so," Kabuto nodded.

Kabuto led them to a large metal door. He raised his hand to knock, but Ryuu slashed the door into pieces with his Wind Rapier. Kabuto stared at him.

"I've waited for a year and a half," Ryuu said, neglecting to mention his fear of having taken to long. "I'm done waiting."

"I know you've waited," Kabuto said. "I was trying my best to watch over you. I had to watch as you fell more and more into despair and darkness. Don't worry. You don't have to kill anyone else. Suigetsu and I will handle it from here on."

Ryuu nodded in silence and they all walked inside. They walked down a long, sloped hallway, passing several holding cells, though, thankfully no arena, before stopping as Karin stepped out of the shadows ahead of them.

"Karin!" Suigetsu smiled. "We've come to rescue you."

Karin was now dressed in a pair of jean short shorts, black leggings, high-heeled black sandals, and the purple shirt that all of Orochimaru's Wardens were supposed to wear, though, hers was unzipped from the bottom to above her navel.

"Suigetsu?" Karin asked before smiling. "So it was you. I'm glad you're alive. What are you doing here Kabuto?"

"I'm breaking cover and finally returning to my home," Kabuto said. "And I'm helping the people I care about."

Karin stared at him before sighing. "I'm the Warden. If I leave, these people will all die."

"Well, I'm going to completely destroy this base," Ryuu said. "So either we let them go and you come with us, or you come with us unwillingly, and we pretend not to hear them dying."

Karin stared at him. "What...what happened to you? Your chakra...your chakra used to be so light, so pure. Now..."

"A year and a half," Ryuu said. "That's what happened to me."

Karin nodded slowly before sighing. "Alright. We'll evacuate before we take it down."

Ryuu nodded and Karin walked over to the wall, opening a concealed panel, exposing a microphone.

"Attention," Karin said. "As of today, everyone inside of this base has gone rogue from Orochimaru. This includes the guards. Orochimaru is on his way here to kill us all, so I suggest you make yourself disappear, immediately."

Within seconds, there was a stampede of Shinobi flooding out of the base, not even taking the time to question her. Then, Karin opened the holding cells and the prisoners all took off as well. Once they walked to the door, Ryuu turned back to the base.

"You're sure there's no one left?" Ryuu asked, looking to her, remembering that her sensing ability was far superior to his.

She closed her eyes for a moment before nodding. Ryuu knelt, forming several hand seals before placing his hands down, Sharingan glowing.

"Fire Style, Purgatory Reclamation!" Ryuu said, flames exploding outward from his hands, winding and twisting their way through the hallway, setting literally everything before Ryuu ablaze.

Ryuu stood and they all ran away from the island, getting as far away as they could. Then, as they just barely reached minimum safe distance, the flames exploded out of the door, igniting the rest of the island, which began to melt instantly. The ground below the water on the far side suddenly dropped and water flooded in to fill the newly opened space, only for steam to rush back out.

"That'll burn for about three hours," Ryuu said. "Come on. Let's get Suigetsu's sword and go home."

Kabuto nodded and they continued to run, heading for the Land of Waves.

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