For some reason, things have been suspicious around the basement. The rain didn't bothered him as he continued training outside, there was little to do inside anyway. At some point, he diverted his attacks through Kabuto direction, the stubborn pest smiled behind those glasses as he approached, followed by the infamous snake pervert. At first glance he appeared healthy but he knew better, much more on the way he supported himself on his right leg. Why would he leave on those days when his state was deteriorating was a mystery. It didn't fooled him once, since he had a clear plan ahead, Sasuke thought his efforts were wasted on him. The only reason he stood with the Sannin was power, nothing more nor less.
"How delightful such a dark expression on you… Sasuke-kun" Ugh, he despised how it sounded his name on sinful lips, therefore he wasn't in the mood for his stupid games.
"This is the third time, if you are not gonna teach me something useful I will turn to shreds your favorite hideouts…" He paused to asses the cheerful expression on the bastard, the fool didn't took him seriously.
"It hurts Sasuke, I have been working just for you on this special task."
Sasuke didn't cared anymore, he was leaving, with his sword and his belongings, rejoicing silently on the cold drops upon his warm skin, walking on a leisurely pace.
"Would you like to lay your hands upon the power even your brother could not obtain?"
For a second, he stopped. Distrusting the Sannin at first, since he liked to mess around the mind of his subjects, but he had a feeling. An ache of something as he turned briefly, just enough so he could see on his eyes. A twisted grin with a long tongue slowly savoring the pale lips of a man whom only drive consisted of unlimited torture for knowledge. Cleaning the slight trace of blood, then he noticed he got more pale, there was no mistaking the weakness on his eyes.
"It took a lot of time, but now the pieces of the puzzle are clear, I'm sure you will be the one with the better chances to… subdue it."
Orochimaru advanced, walking back to the basement. Sasuke followed, curious if this will help on his revenge, if he can cut short the time and for once show his brother of what he was capable. As they passed the first entrance, the Sannin finally continued.
"If I had knew that day, I had such a prize before my eyes. I would have took both at once"
They passed through Kabuto lab, most of his research was spread around a few tables but they walked directly to one. Orochimaru took one file and give it to him, he scoffed, if this was a joke…
"I'm curious… Did you know that your teammate descended from such an ancient clan?"
Sasuke had to contain the reaction, not grip the file in case Kabuto noticed, keep stoic and not answer unless he had no choice.
"In my search for… immortality, I have gathered every bit of information in any way I could. Rumors with solid proof, therefore I didn't think too much of one… until the chunnin exams. The day we meet…"
Orochimaru paced around him slowly, similar to how a hunter will corner his prey. If he thought of him so lowly, he will have another thing coming. It ruined the moment of tension when Orochimaru coughed and Kabuto quickly prepared something on another table. Pathetic. The time was running out for the old man, he just wondered how much longer could he hold up. Kabuto gave him the medicine and directly gazed at him with a false smile.
"I'm not so good at luring with words like Orochimaru-sama, nor one who like to prolong unnecessary speeches so look at this for a while as I finish attending Orochimaru-sama."
As Orochimaru hold up on the table looking for a chair. Kabuto approached him with another set of papers. Not looking back as he returned to his room, the only place that might have a little semblance of privacy. Yet he constantly doubted it, the most he did was sleep, bathe, the basic stuff. There was no rush for looking through the documents, even if he was eager to glance at what might be there. While he bathed, he wondered the real intentions of disclosing information like that. It was no secret the Sannin drive for immortality, he was here for that reason. Sasuke didn't get how Kaoru could pick his interest, she could not be the next body, the only thing he might want was unusual jutsus or kekkei genkai.
He remembered his talk with that spirit of hers. The overwhelming pressure, the wind embracing his body like a soft blanket and those scarlet eyes. At first he doubted he was human, at such light he inquired if he was pale or transparent. Since he was merge on her body, Sasuke was confused. But once Kaoru presented them, the boy expressed more emotion. Unable to punish him from the first time they meet, Sasuke asked whom he was and his intentions.
"But what if…" What if Orochimaru knew her kekkei genkai allowed her to connect with spirits. Would he use her to gather more information from the dead? Would he try and… experiment on her? That particular idea got him out, the feeling on his chest got worse as he sit and looked at the stack of papers on the file. There was a bit of back info around rumors of people whom cured around in little villages, wandering ones whom helped for food or a place to stay for occurrences a shinobi could take with no problem but the town were unable to pay. He didn't understand the connection at first, there were traces of paper attached to the main file in order with a handwriting different from the original. There had to be from Orochimaru, since there was a note regarding his first encounter with his brother when he was still on Akatsuki.
"It was one week before he appeared that I heard more of why the Uchiha deflected. The massacre was not all, he tried to stole a strange power from a girl on the village. What kind of thing had Hiruzen hide? I had to know… in any way. It was Sasori whom give me a clue, a rumor I heard some time ago about a secret clan whom pacted with demons. Or so I thought… The day I had to leave was because I discovered the truth and Itachi himself threatened to turn the tables.
Ah, but I knew his true intentions… he was USING the Akatsuki."
Then another where notes of corpses 5 that had been examined, he didn't get much of the technical part of the diagnosis and focused on the notes by Kabuto hand.
"Subject 3. There is no visible trace of the foreign energy, neither the eyes or the hands are key to a kekkei genkai. If it were not the fact I see it myself I might think I'm losing time with these corpses. As the other ones, this had a foreign seal on his palm. Tattoos on the back which are undetermined. Hence the autopsy the affinity of nature chakra is undetermined, there is need for more information."
"Subject 4. I proved on this one if the body reacted different if I reanimated it. For the first time it failed, once the body gain semblance of life there it presents a massive damage on the heart, it explodes and shut out forcefully the body. Once this happened the only signal of something happening were the surrounding foreign energy.
"Subject 5. I had succeed on secluding the energy, not chakra but similar. I'm trying to determine exactly the difference between them."
He didn't wanted to think what might have been done to them. Kabuto had a nag for being particularly creative on experiments. He continued, forgetting the little breeze or the fact he still had just a towel around his hips. There was another clue then just below the results of Kabuto's search.
"There is little information but now I know it existed. The rumors of a secret clan are true, I could put my hands on a file in Konoha about an incident with that girl whom survived Itachi. Danzo is more stupid for not connecting the dots before. Now that I know whom is she I have to look out at Suna"
Sasuke noticed most of the notes jumped on time, because from there Orochimaru short notes were about his time as the Kazekage, how frustrating no one seemed to hold any information about the clan, and it may be that Hiruzen had been the only one whom knew more about it than the file of the girl.
"Kabuto did well this time, even if Kakashi searched for them it's too late. Well, I got another clue with a young boy that came with the girl as well. Still unsure if he had powers similar as her, I have to keep an eye on him."
It had been before the whole invasion from Suna, then it jumped again to another note with a photo of a family.
"Karin might have done a great favor, I will kept her around Kirigakure and watch out for this family. She is the only one who can do it, from a safe distance, then I'll send Kabuto for a closer inspection. If I'm right, they might be the living proof of that secret clan."
Sasuke breath stopped a second, once the next part came with a photo of her. He could easily point her out with that raven hair and sparkling eyes. Her attire so different from, all about her had changed, a bit taller maybe, a light blush in her cheeks that Sasuke though endearing. There were a little group of kids around her, she carried a baby and besides her… Gaara. It was impossible to forget those raccoon eyes, he read the little article.
"The New Breeze of a Suna.
The things had improved for the better, just like a rough diamond on the sand had Suna finally shine out of the dark times. The younger Kazekage on our history continues to prove we have took a good decision, now he had give the orphans of Suna a place on the program of reconstruction. With half of the job done a land will be given accordingly to the statements he will fully explain tomorrow. Will Gaara-sama stop to amaze us? Surely not.
Our Kazekage had just signed a initiative that allows anyone with courage and capacity to enroll on the Academy, changing the previous strict requirements that secluded ninjas with no skill or talent. His sister Temari had stated it was his ideas and love for Suna that motivates him everyday. As modest as our leader is we have lots of love and support for the group that now are part of us.
With so much emotion around the fans swirl around our favorite couple and we just wonder, won't they look cute with a baby of their own? Write your opinions to our local spot at…"
For a moment, he could not think. Skeptical about the seriousness of the article, wondered why Orochimaru had even save it. It sounded unprofessional and irrelevant, he didn't cared about the Kazekage. Black could not help and keep staring at the photo, a deep part of his mind, that little voice whispered… envy. Of the little grin she had, of the fact she looked happy, of the idea that he could be right next to her… if he had not leaved. However, another part of him, the voice of confidence that keep him sane for years at Orochimaru side bring back their promise. She had always held them, just as stubborn like the knucklehead. There was nothing more to think about it, he trusted Kaoru that much… it might offend her if Sasuke doubted the promise. He continued looking and reading the notes, eager to find reassurement he was right. Apparently it was much more difficult to get information since one part stated "Security had improved and the Kazekage was almost all the time with her." So they tried to take out more information with Hikaru, his guardian, he occasionally leaved the village and finally Kabuto could be sure he had the same power.
Then another little photo, rushed like it had been done while hiding on a dark corner from afar. A boy he recognized with orange hair that walked next to Kaoru blurred image.
"Another survived, finally located the boy whom escaped, unfortunately we can't take him unless he moves soon. It appears the main subject, Kaoru had taken him on. The first entry we found was sealed and buried but it appears they had made another one inside Suna. One of the pets tried to find it, found dead soon, there is no way we can get more information now, we have to search on Konoha."
The movement surprised him once he registered he done it. It had been long since he grinned honestly happy about something. Sasuke touched his face perplexed, letting for a brief moment to indulge himself on that feeling. It… was nice. There was another thing he read that broke it … like everything on his life.