Next chapter of Blood is Thicker Than Bone. Kimimaro, Tayuya, and Anko head to Takigakure and Orochimaru's base of operations there to find out what he is up too. Also Naruto meets up with Inari at Wave and a possible way to get into Otogakure.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
The group of three looked on as they were at Takigakure, The Hidden Village in The Waterfall. They were not here by choice. Kimimaro Kaguya, Anko Mitarashi, and Tayuya each had thoughts going through their head of the mission before them. Having been assigned to go here by The Hokage and discover what it was Orochimaru was planning. Many Sound Nins and Kurosuki members had been spotted in Taki and it was known that he had a base and planning something as well. The three tasked with finding what he was doing and putting a stop to it.
"Well we're here, now what do we do?" Anko asked sourly looking on at her companions. "The base is somewhere around here let's find it. Or are you two waiting for a chance to kill me when my back is turned and run off?" She asked dryly and ignored Tayuya's glare.
"We wait." Kimimaro said to her and she looked over to the last of The Kaguya clan. "Now is not the time to go to the base." He said to Anko who frowned at him. "Only at night can we gain entry into it, that's the only time when we can." He said as he had been to the base here before. Only at night could one enter it.
"Yeah right," Anko replied snarkly. "You expect me to believe that BS? You two are just waiting for a chance to run off and sell me out."
"He's right." Tayuya said to her. "There's a special type of flower planted around the base that lets out a screeching sound whenever someone gets too close to it. Only at night when its asleep can you sneak past it. Orochimaru the damn bastard set them up around here and some of his other bases of importance so he can never be caught off guard." She said to Anko.
"Tch fine then, still doesn't mean I trust you." Anko muttered.
"Let us get a layout of the area before we plan anything. When night falls that is when we make our move. Until then we don't do anything. I don't feel like rushing in and getting myself killed unceremoniously like you do." Kimimaro said and Anko casually flipped him off.
"Fine, there's a restaurant around here. I don't know about you but I'm hungry. Let's get something to eat." She said to them.
The odd trio of ninjas stopped at a small restaurant and went in. Neither of the three saying much to one another. Frankly that's how the three preferred it to be.
The placed was filled with patrons and tales were being exchanged from them.
"I swear, those two guys who came here a few weeks ago gave me the creeps when they showed up here a while back. Just by looking at them you could tell they'd wipe out and kill everyone here if they wanted and there would've been nothing we could've done to stop them." One man said catching Kimimaro's attention.
"Both of them had a nasty look in their eyes. I'll remember always, their expressions as well as the red clouds on their black cloaks they wore." He said and that caught the other's attention as well as they knew who they were referring to and talking about.
Akatsuki, they had been here. They had come here shortly after failing to get his cousin.
"Whatever happened to that green haired girl? She's gone off and vanished." One said outloud.
"Those two strange men appeared and attacked her." The men said to themselves. "Fuu fought against them and ran off but an explosion was heard and she was seen being dragged off unconscious by them. I wonder what they wanted with her…" The one seated at the head of the table said.
"Why didn't anyone try to help her?" Another asked and he received glares for asking such a thing.
"Are you crazy? Don't you know what it is? Why should I risk my neck for a damn demon? If I did she'd kill me as a reward. You know how those monsters are? Frankly those two did us a favor taking her away. Good riddance." The man said with a spat.
Kimimaro narrowed his eyes in disgust. He could tell the person they were talking about, she was a Jinchuurki, just like his cousin. Apparently there was one here as well. And she had been captured by those men who were similar to the ones who attacked. And yet the people here had done nothing! Gripping the edge of the table his body shook rage burning inside him.
"If there are anymore of them, they can all be put to death for all I care. Every last one of those freaks and monsters should be rounded up and-HEY!" The man was cut off when he was grabbed and lifted up and hoisted up in the air by Kimimaro much to the shock of all the patrons inside as well as Anko and Tayuya.
"Freaks? Is that what they are? Monsters?" He said bitterly and shook him. "Is that the only thing you see in your eyes?" He said to him.
"What the hell are you talking about you lunatic?!" The man shouted at him but Kimimaro pressed him against the wall disgust and anger in his eyes. Some of his companions went to step forward and stop him but Anko appeared and had drawn a kunai her eyes daring them to take another step.
"You think that because of what has been put on them through no choice of their own they are monsters, is that it? That they don't deserve to live? That they should be rounded up like animals and slaughtered?!" Kimimaro said his body shaking in fury.
"What the hell is wrong with you?! What are you? One of those Jinchuurki monsters?!"
The man shouted at him but Kimimaro slammed him against the wall and did it a second time.
Kimimaro struck him a final time and dropped him. He turned around and despite the hostile looks he was being given none dared approach him. He moved past them ignoring them and seated back at the table.
"Way to go," Anko said dryly seating back as well. "Nearly ruined the mission with your little demonstration there." She said to him.
"Not your best idea, we will likely have a hell of a lot more trouble here on out." Tayuya said as well.
"Eat up and get your strength." Kimimaro said to them. "We go to the base once the moon has risen."
Elsewhere…
Naruto looked around amazement in his eyes at the place. What was once a lifeless ghost town had been transformed into a thriving community. It was a far cry from the broken and run down place he had remembered. Numerous people were seen and all of them possessed a livelihood not seen before as they moved with purpose.
"Wow," He said quietly to himself. "I never thought this would have happened." He said looking on at Wave as he was there with the others. He and his team having gone to the place as a mission. It was miraculous to see what Wave had become.
With the death of Gato and the completion of The Great Naruto Bridge, Wave had undergone a transformation unlike any other. The entire place had changed and had transformed. And to think this was all because of what he and the others did. He never would've guessed that when he came back that the place would've changed so much.
"Naruto!" A voice called out and he saw an old man beaming at him with a smile on his face. "The Hero of Wave!" Tazuna called out to him running towards him. "So good to see you again my boy!" He said and engulfed Naruto in a hug, the old man with a surprisingly strong grip squeezing the air out of him.
"Good to see you too old man," Naruto said with a smile. "Things really have changed around here haven't they?" He said looking around.
"Yes, thanks to you." Tazuna replied.
"I didn't do anything. You're the one who built the bridge."
"Nonsense, you inspired me and the rest of Wave to standup to Gato and his men and helped us earn our freedom." Tazuna said to him. "If not for you and the others we never would've been able to be free at last from him." Tazuna said clapping him on the back. "My family and their grandchildren's grandchildren are in your debt."
"Okay, that's enough with the Hero Worship." Naruto said rubbing the back of his head. "How's your daughter and Inari?" He asked him.
"Good, they are well." Tazuna replied. "Come, let us go. There is much I must show you of the new Wave." He said to him and lead him around it. Showing him many sights of Wave.
As Naruto walked he suddenly spotted something up on a hill. It was a sword, but not just any sword; it was a Zanbato. One he had come close to being on the receiving end before. "Is that?" He asked his eyes widening.
"Indeed, that's the grave where we placed Zabuza Momoichi." Tazuna answered to him. "The Sword has stayed there ever since we buried him, no one has ever tried to take it from there."
"I bet he's still watching over it, and anyone who gets close to it is cursed." Naruto replied remembering the battles with him and Haku in their first real mission. Hard to believe that it had been so long and so much had happened since then.
"I wouldn't be surprised if he was." Tazuna said as well as they looked on at the gravesite. "Come let us head home." He said to him and they went to his and Tsunami's home.
The rest were already there when they arrived and Naruto spotted Tsunami pouring Kakashi some tea. With them were Sakura and Sasuke as well as Team 10.
"Choji!" Ino chastised him who was on his third helping of sushi. "Quit stuffing your fat face and save some for the rest of us." She said to him.
"My face isn't fat!" He protested at her.
"Don't worry," Tazuna said with a laugh as he entered the room. "There's more than enough for everyone. We've been having big hauls and catches nearly everyday."
"Father! Your home early, Oh! And Naruto you're here as well." Tsunami said beaming with a smile.
"Yes, I've been giving him a tour of the New Wave." Tazuna said with a smile to his daughter and grandson.
"I must say," Asuma said putting out his cigarette. "This place has become a perfect place to enjoy yourself and forget about your troubles." He said smiling. "I've never seen a town become so vibrant and alive after what you've been through."
Naruto looked on as he watched them chat and talk amongst themselves, watching as they partook in conversations. He looked on and smiled as Sakura talked with Tsunami the woman giving her details about how to detect and cure various poisons as Sakura was working with Tsunade at the Hospital. Shikamaru despite appearing bored was having a good time as well as he played mahjong against Asuma. Sasuke he noticed wasn't speaking very much and ignoring Ino's advances and adoring gestures. His smile grew as he looked on at the sight which was a welcome one.
Later that day Naruto heard a sound and looking on spotted Inari practicing. He looked on and saw the boy by himself as he had a pair of baton like weapons attached to his arms. The boy was giving out cries and shouts as he attacked with them. Naruto looked on and watched him as he didn't expect him to be using The Tonfa as weapons.
"Not bad," He called out to him surprising Inari who turned around and smiled at him. "However let me give you some pointers. Your aim and techniques a bit off." He said to Inari and helped him move into a different stance. "Your trying to get them with the side of the weapon and if you did you wouldn't be doing much damage. The Tonfa is a blunt and forceful weapon. You need to be hitting them with the front of the weapon if you want to do some damage." He said and made a motion with his hands as if delivering an uppercut and Inari mimicked him. "Good, that's better. That will stun and do more damage to an opponent if you catch them in the jaw with that." He said to Inari.
"Thanks, I decided to take these up a while back. I saved up a lot of money and brought them, Mom and Grampa don't know I got them though…" He said as he had been working in private. He knew they'd likely get worried if they had known he was practicing with a weapon.
"You should tell them, it's not good to keep things hidden from them." Naruto said to him. "But if you keep training you might be able to become a ninja one day if you keep it up."
"I've been working with my Tonfa, I want to protect my mom and gramps." Inari said to him and Naruto nodded to him. "That way no one can try to hurt them again."
"You're a good kid Inari, they need you." Naruto said to him and the boy beamed brightly. "Listen Inari, I know this might sound odd but have you seen anyone suspicious as of late?
"What do you mean?"
"I guess I should tell you, but I'm looking for a way to get close to some real bad dude named Orochimaru, he's done a lot of terrible things and frankly I'd like to know how to get to where he's at as he's responsible for a lot of things that's happened to Konoha. To find him or be able to tell the others in Konoha where he's at."
"Orochimaru? Sorry I don't think I have." Inari responded to him.
"I should've guessed, don't worry about it. But keep an eye out for anything suspicious, there's this group of ninjas going around that serve Orochimaru and do his dirty work, they are called."
"Otogakure?" Inari said interrupting him. "The Sound Nins?"
"You heard of them?" Naruto said a bit surprised that he knew about them.
"Yeah, word around is these guys are looking for anyone with skill to join their ranks." Inari said as he heard about them. "I heard a rumor that they are holding tryouts around here, about a village three miles from here on the main land."
"Orochimaru must be hurting for men." Naruto mused. An idea then popped into Inari's head.
"Hey, if I managed to get in, then I can help you guys discover where-"
"No way Inari." Naruto said frowning at him. "It's too dangerous, your mom and grandpa will never forgive me if something happened to you." He said as he had read his mind as Inari had wanted to try and enter it and see if he could get in.
"But I just thought that-"
"No!" Naruto repeated to him with a frown. "You're too young to be trying something like this, no way am I letting you do this. You lack the skills and training as a ninja that I do." He said putting his foot down as he was not going to let him do something like that. Tazuna and Tsunami would kill him if they knew he'd let Inari do something like that and Naruto would never forgive himself if he let Inari do it.
"Alright…" Inari said hanging his head low. "Your probably right." He said and walked away.
Naruto watched him go. A part of him felt bad for being so stern but he knew he had to put his foot down on this. He couldn't risk something happening to him.
"You've grown ever since we were first here." A voice said and he turned and saw Kakashi leaning against the fence nearby apparently by the look of it having been there this whole time. "You've become more mature and rational thinking and not risking others." He said to his student. Naruto looked at him as he walked forward. "But still…Inari did have a good plan but it'd take someone of more experience and training in order to inflitrate and find out where Otogakure is." He mused.
"What are you planning Sensei?" Naruto asked him and Kakashi smiled under his mask.
"Come with me."
That night…
Kimimaro, Tayuya, and Anko were behind a building in Taki. It was on the outskirts of the village they had been in. The purple haired Kunoichi poked her head around and looked around with a doubtful eye.
"Are you sure this is the place?" She said skeptically to them. Kimimaro didn't respond instead he pointed up and she lifted her head and saw a group of flowers that were closed up.
"This is it, see those plants?" Tayuya said to her. "If we had come here during the day, they would've let out a screeching noise that would be heard all around. It's only at night when they aren't yapping." She said to her. "Orochimaru put them around this place and others as guards."
"Well now what?" Anko muttered.
"Follow me…" Kimimaro said and went into a run. Tayuya and Anko followed after him the trio going at a fast pace. Kimimaro ran for fifty yards and made a motion to stop. He ran his hand around it and nodded his head feeling limestone. "To the bank." He said and made his way to a small flowing bond that wasn't very deep and leapt into the water as it went up to his stomach. Anko and Tayuya joined him. "Down!" He ordered and ducked below with the two joining him. A pair of beggars moved about overhead passing through a bridge.
"Guards?" Anko asked once they passed.
"Yeah, they look like your ordinary damn beggars but they are actually sentries and lookouts." Tayuya answered.
"This way, be quiet." Kimimaro said to them and they quietly moved through the water, trying to make as little noise as possible. "Here," He said as he stopped by a small cave with water coming out of it.
"No way, not even a toddler could get in there." Anko said shaking her head.
"Genjutsu." Tayuya said and stepping forward did hand symbols and the hole expanded and became larger revealing a pair of stairs. "Down here." She said and went below and was followed by them.
The group was silent as they moved on quietly through the darkness. As they walked the ground underneath their feet became less muddy and more solid as well as dryer.
A light shone in the distance after fifteen minutes and they quickly made their way towards it. The sounds of voices were heard as well.
"First The failure at Konoha, now he's making us spend all our time looking for some ancient artifact that probably doesn't even exist." A Kurosuki member grumbled. "I swear this is getting crazy. Maybe Lord Raiga joining up with him wasn't a bright idea after all."
"Hey shut up, if they hear you say that you wanna know what they'll do to you?" A Sound Nin said to him. "You'll either be buried alive or the next test subject depending on their moods. Just keep your mouth shut, Orochimaru-sama's got something planned. Something he says will change the world and not even that new Hokage of Konoha could stop if he gets it done." He said to him.
"We joined up with him when he promised to turn Rice into a powerful nation of its own though, and so far just look what's happened." A second Sound Nin mused. "For all his promises the only thing we've seen is destruction and death. My own father was among those who died at Konoha cause he made us attack and his death was for nothing as we lost that day. Cut down by that Mask Wearing ninja of theirs." He said solemnly.
"Sacrifices are essential if we are to obtain dominance." The First Sound Ninja said to them. "Everyone must do their part if we are to succeed. Toshihiro despite that scumbag Kaguya backstabbing us is still loyal and fights for Oto. So is Karashi despite Haku ruining are plans" He said as they walked away.
Kimimaro, Tayuya, and Anko appeared where the ninjas had been in the empty hallway. Having listened in to them.
"So this is the place he is planning on something by the sound of it." Anko said looking around. "There's bound to be a place where the main work is being done. That way we can find out what it is he's doing." She said to them.
"The main room where most of the experiments is done is south of here." Tayuya said as she knew the layout of the base. "But we can't march in there, we'll be dead in two seconds if we do. There's another way, follow me." She said and North and the two followed her.
Avoiding guards and patrols they came to a room with a large generator in it that powered the place. "It should be, aha!" Tayuya exclaimed as she spotted the corner of the wall. She felt around and knocked on it and revealed a secret passage. "Good thing nobody ever decided to seal this off." She said as she stepped in and was followed by them. "Orochimaru has numerous passages setup here, with any luck the damn things are still opened and we can get there." She said and she was followed by them.
The group went through the secret path and at times stopped when they heard footsteps and voices talking. One voice was easily Sakon and Raiga who despite being muffled and hard to hear was them arguing.
"Sounds like their disunion in the ranks." Anko said smirking but was mentioned to be quiet by Kimimaro.
"Listen you idiot," Sakon said to Raiga who glared at him. "We give the orders around here and you follow them, got it?!" He said to the swordsmen.
"Only Orochimaru's orders I follow you Siamese Maggot." The former Mist Ninja responded to Sakon and Ukon. "I don't listen to trash like yourself and that fat slob or that six armed spider freak."
"Keep on talking and your little friend there will pay the price." Sakon said and Ranmaru let out a gasp.
Raiga scowled at him and reached towards his blades. "Even think about laying a hand on Ranmaru and you'll be worm food." He said as lightning sparked form his swords. So focused on killing each other they were oblivious to the fact they were being spied on.
"Know your place you outcast." Sakon threatened him and left.
Once both had left the three continued on and soon came to a passage that placed them on a rail and found themselves in the main room.
Standing on the railing and looking on they watched as several Sound Nins were in the room working on something. There was no mistake about it, this was the place. Orochimaru's hidden base that he had in Takigakure.
A large tube filled with liquid was in the center of the room and examining it with detailed eyes was Kabuto Yakushi, the silver haired medic looked on at the light blue liquid inside it watching over it and jotting down notes. Every now and then he would mutter something that couldn't be heard.
"What are they planning?" Anko mumbled to herself as they watched on. "Just what is that bastard and that creep working on this time?" She said as she glared at Kabuto.
"I don't know…" Kimimaro could only say as he watched on
"He's up to something, hell their usually ain't no more then thirty people around here. There's a hell of a lot more." Tayuya said looking on. "He's got something big planned if that four eyed bastard is here as well."
All three then felt a very similar Chakra coming in their direction. Tayuya felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand straight up and she looked and turned her head looking around fear appearing in her eyes as all three felt it. The dark and ominous feeling that was getting closer and closer with each passing second. Each one from past experience knew who it belonged too.
A pair of ninjas rushed towards the doors and grasping it pulled them open. The group looked on as they saw none other than Orochimaru enter the room. An ever present scowl on his face as his disabled arms hung to his side as he entered.
Despite his handicap, Orochimaru looked as dangerous as he had ever been as he made his way through the room. Those in the room immediately turned and kneeled bowing before him as he walked through the room. His eyes had their usual look in them, not paying any attention at all to his followers
The group stayed hidden, staying out of sight of his view so he would not notice them as they watched on as Orochimaru made his way. Hiding their chakra and praying he didn't notice them as now was the last thing they needed for him to know they were there.
"Report," He ordered to Kabuto who turned and bowed to him.
"It is coming along well Orochimaru-sama, the sample that we got of the disease we have mixed in with other healthy cells and they have spread to them." Kabuto said as they looked on at the large tube in the center of the room. "In a months' time we should be complete and then we can spread it across The Elemental Nations."
Orochimaru let out a low hiss of anger. "Excellent, with this I shall destroy Konoha by using Kimimaro's own disease that had plagued him for so long. Not even Tsunade would be able to heal the outbreak of it once we have it completed." He said as it was his newest plan that he had put into place. Since he lacked the military strength to destroy them, he would destroy them through a disease. Have all of Konoha infected with the disease that had been in Kimimaro. He would have his revenge not only on Konoha but on Kimimaro's betrayal as well.
Anko suddenly reached up near her shoulder and winced in pain as the marking of the Cursed Seal on her neck began to activate. She let out a muffled cry as markings began to spread from it, she bit her tongue to keep from screaming outloud and giving themselves away.
"I want this finished as soon as possible, spend all hours producing it. I want it finished and began spread in two weeks time. Spend every waking hour you have on it if you have too. We'll start small at first, cover some blankets with it and ship it to Konoha and start having it spread there." Orochimaru said to Kabuto who nodded.
"As you wish Orochimaru-sama, Yoh has been slain apparently, his deliverance of Kimimaro's disease to us he has paid the ultimate price for."
"Hmph zero consequence is that, he had outlived his usefulness along with those other pawns lead by that miserable brat Haku!" Orochimaru said with a hiss. "Continue working on this, and move forward with the other project as well." He commanded and turned and left the room.
The three onlookers watched on at what had just happened and they had witnessed.
"He's making a plague." Kimimaro said looking on at it after several long moments. "He's making a plague of the disease that had been in me, he plans on spreading it across The land." He said as they looked on. He clutched the railing gripping it as he shook with anger.
"If he does that, he'll kill countless people." Anko said shock and horror in her voice at what she saw. If he spread Kimimaro's disease and made it mainstream, thousands would possibly die from it. Although a part of her wasn't, she was surprised that the man who was once her Sensei had gone so far and would do such things. He had truly become the monster people claimed him to be.
"Let's get out of here." Tayuya said as she wanted to get far away from here, anywhere just so long as it was away from Orochimaru.
"No…" Kimimaro said surprising the two of them. "We cannot leave. If we do Orochimaru will unleash the disease. That must not happen. We must destroy it before he can do so." He said to them as he knew firsthand what would happen if the disease was spread and what the infected would go through.
"Damn it all to hell!" Orochimaru shouted in pain as he looked on as his arms and hands were decaying, he looked on at his skin that was purple and lifeless from what Sarutobi had done to him during his failed attempt to destroy Konoha, sealing them and preventing him from using them or Jutsus. Kabuto's efforts had been in vain as he could not restore them. The best he could do was dull the pain somewhat. "I need a body, and soon." He said as he felt the burning sensation going throughout them. At this rate his arms would fall off with how bad they had become.
"I have yet to find The Mask that can restore my arms, I need a body!" He said in pain as he did not know how much longer he could keep this up. "I have to move up my plans, I need Sasuke!" He said in agony as he felt the pain shot throughout him. At this rate it felt like it could kill him.
Taking deep breaths he only hoped he could hold on for a while longer, until he could put his plan in place.
Elsewhere…
A group of people were standing outside a warehouse, the group talking amongst themselves and chatting with one another.
As they talked a ninja dressed in the Otogakure outfit and Sound Hitai-ate appeared walking towards them. Scrutinizing them with his eyes sizing them up. "So you're the ones who are interested in joining The Hidden Sound Village?" He said to them.
"Alright then, we're going to have ourselves a little tournament and test to see which ones of you is actually worthy of joining us. The best of you will get to see if you have what it takes. Follow me." The Sound Nin ordered and the group went and followed after him.
One of them a boy with Teal colored hair slowly followed them keeping a distance. He heard a whistling sound and he stopped and turned in an alley where Kakashi was waiting for him.
"You were right! This is our way in!" Naruto exclaimed as he revealed his blonde hair taking off the wig to Kakashi. Kakashi had taken Naruto and he was wearing a teal colored wig and given it a different style, as well as covered up the scars on his face with a bit of cream as well as grey contact lenses to cover his eyes so no one would recognize him.
"Yeah, remember your names Okada and don't use Shikotsumyaku. Once you pass, we'll discover how to get into Otogakure. Go catch up and don't draw suspicion to anyone alright?" Kakashi said as he was secretly following after them. Ready to leap in should anything happen and Naruto needed some help.
"Right," Naruto said and went to join up with the others.
The throng cheered on as the two fighters fought, pitting themselves against each other. None of them were any older than sixteen and some of them looked younger than ten. Naruto was in the middle of the ring fitting against another person.
Looking on was Kidomaru watching the fights that was happening as he had been assigned to see the potential prospects
Naruto delivered a kick and spinning backfist to his opponents ribs who grunted in pain. Naruto swung and he missed and he was knocked to the ground. Naruto kipped up and leapt up and delivered a spinning kick sending his opponent to the ground.
His beaten opponent was dragged off of the mat and Naruto soaked in the cheers.
In the back of the warehouse through a small window Kakashi watched on witnessing the fights and seeing how he was doing.
Another opponent stepped forward and the two bowed respectively to each other and resumed a fighting stance. Naruto waited for the right moment and when his opponent threw a fist, Naruto grabbed his arm and flipped him onto the ground. His opponent got up and rushed and did a leaping kick which Naruto sidestepped and kicked him in the back. His opponent turned and rushed him only to be met with a combo of punches and kicks by Naruto sending him sprawling to the ground. His opponent went to trip his legs up from underneath him but Naruto leapt up to avoid it doing a backflip while he was at it and dodged and weaved his foe's strikes and kicks. He caught the man's leg and grinned and did a leg whip sending him to the ground clutching his leg as Naruto had twisted it.
His opponent was helped up and Naruto watched and saw Kimimaro approach him.
"Okada was it?" Kidomaru asked him who nodded his head. "Apparently you're the only one of these scum who's actually half decent and worthy of seeing if you are capable of joining us." He said as they walked. "Let's see if you pass the final test."
A short while later Naruto stood in a room with Kidomaru and several other Sound Nins and for the first time Naruto saw them without their cowls and masks on. Before when he fought them he just imagined them as faceless enemies but now for once he got an actually chance to see their faces for a change and look at them. To his surprise they actually looked human.
"You must obtain the pot at the end of the room and bring it back here without touching any of the wires in thirty seconds, touch even one and you fail." Kidomaru told him as he stared at the last task he had to face. A bronze pot was at the other side of the room and there was multiple wires setup around the room. Naruto looked at it trying to get a layout of where he should go and how to get it. He could hear some of The Sound Nins muttering to themselves not believing that he could do it.
Naruto got ready to go when Kidomaru grabbed him by the shoulder a smirk on his face a small ball in one of his palms. "By the way Okada, I forget to mention. Sound Nins don't rely on the use of their eyes. Thirty seconds…begin!" He shouted and threw it down and bright light covered the room.
A figure darted past the ninjas in the room, none of them unaware that he was there or that he had passed by them. Weaving to and fro through them and reaching the end of the room and turning and heading back to the other side of the room.
The light faded and Kidomaru clicked the stopwatch after half a minute. He looked and saw Naruto standing in front of him and with the Bronze pot in his hands much to his surprise as it looked like Naruto hadn't even moved a muscle.
"Did I pass?" Naruto asked as he held the pot in his hands much to the bewilderment and surprise of The Sound Nins in the room who didn't believe what they saw as he had it.
"I think you did…" Kidomaru said dryly
"He's in." Kakashi said as it had been him who had gotten the pot and helped ensured Naruto would pass it.
A short while later Naruto was walking with Kidomaru through what appeared to be a training area they had setup. It was in the middle of a scrap heap for damaged ships. A perfect place for them to setup and do their dirty work without anyone suspecting anything.
"This is one of our bases where we train the new recruits," Kidomaru said to him and Naruto looked on as he saw several Sound Ninjas and Kurosuki members on guard watching as recruits fought and trained with real weapons. Cuts and markings were on their bodies from scars. Some he noticed appeared younger than Konohamaru in the training area. What made them join Orochimaru he wondered to himself as he looked on. Did they not have any families to go too? He had thought of Haku at that moment who he had not seen ever since he had spotted him in Konoha and wondered if he had died during the attack.
"Get outfitted and we'll have you go up against some of out men here. Depending on how well you perform, we'll see if your ready for and be deployed on missions as he's got something big planned." Kidomaru ordered. "Orochimaru-sama rewards those who serve him well, those who fail wind up feeding his pets." He said with a cruel smirk and walked away.
"Yeah, right." Naruto muttered as he watched them leave. The day he fought alongside and served that bastard was the day Hell froze over. He looked and glanced around the area keeping a sharp eye out for anything. A few Sound Nins passed by but they paid him no attention.
He looked around the scrap yard trying to find anything of interest. Suddenly a hand reached out and grabbed him and pulled him back out of view behind a old boat.
"Sensei!" Naruto exclaimed but Kakashi brought a finger up to his face mentioning for him to be quiet. "Nearly give me a heart attack!" He said lowering his tone to a whisper.
"Sorry about that, but we're in." Kakashi said glancing around so that no one could see them. "This is only a small base by the look of it. Doubtful there's anything major here. Listen Naruto, I want you to find something of interest, anything that you can find that you think will be of value alright? Find it and get the heck out of here okay? Don't stop for anything." He said to him and Naruto nodded.
Suddenly there was a commotion going on that drawed their attention. "Uh oh, that doesn't sound good." Kakashi mused. "Naruto join up with the others and don't draw any suspicion to yourself." He said and disappeared.
Naruto got out from behind the boat as he saw several Sound Nins gathering. He joined up with them as their was a large commotion going on and the sounds of many voices were being heard. Naruto made his way forward as Kidomaru was in the center of the yard as several ninja had made a circle with a group of Sound Nins holding someone.
"Oh no…" Naruto said in shock as he recognized the struggling boy who was being forced to his knees.
"What the hell is going on here?" Kidomaru demanded to know as he glared as Inari was held down by them. "Whose this damn brat?" He said.
"A spy Kidomaru, we caught him snooping around." One said and Inari struggled to get free but couldn't get loose.
"Let me go you creeps!" Inari shouted but was struck upside the head by Kidomaru by one of his six arms. Naruto's eyes flashed in anger at what he did but restrained himself. He couldn't believe Inari had showed up here and had been captured.
"A spy? This little maggot?" He said and Inari spat at him. Kidomaru struck him again a dark grin on his face "Got guts for a boneless fish, let's see what they look like shall we?" He said with a grin and pulled out a large knife and held it up and he was met with cries by the Sound Nins and Inari had a look of panic in his eyes seeing the blade.
Naruto shoved his way to the front. "He's just a kid Kidomaru," He said to the Spider Ninja. "He's no threat or danger to us!" He said standing inside the circle. "Just smack the brat around a bit and send him out of here."
"You?" Kidomaru said glaring at Naruto. "Okada was it? You've got to prove yourself to us, you may have passed the training but that still doesn't mean we trust you. It's time for you to prove that you belong with us."
Naruto glared at him. "Let him go, he's a nobody. I doubt he even knew about this place and discovered it by accident and won't remember it. Just let him go, this is just wasting our time when we have more important things to worry about instead of some snot nosed kid. I'll see to it he never comes near here again."
"Oh no you don't," Kidomaru said stepping forward to him. "I don't know who you think you are but if your going to prove yourself worthy to Orochimaru-sama it's time you prove you got what it takes." He said and suddenly grasped his arm and put the Knife in it forcefully and then pointed at the terrified Inari.
"Kill him…"
A/N: That's it for this chapter. Review please.