Title: Hima

Author: Fenikkusu Ai

Rating: T

Fandom: Naruto

Characters: Kabuto, Orochimaru, Sasuke, Ibiki, OC

Words: 1,518

Genre: Suspense/Hurt/Comfort

Summary: What had Misaki done to be locked away? The man with the glasses wouldn't tell her, the sullen youth doesn't want to get involved, and the man with the sweep of dark hair sent chills down her spine. Amnesia. Kabuto x OC x Orochimaru.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

It was early in the misty morning, and Misaki had fell asleep with the TV on. Misaki looked down at herself. Anko had loaned her a night gown was white with a pale yellow border that was reminiscent of clouds bordered by sunlight. It reminded her of happier days.

From outside, the icy blue light from the impending dawn illuminated the medium-sized living room. Misaki blinked her eyes. She was no longer a functioning productive member of society. Now, she had slept in snack wrappers in her sleep wear. Well, she had spent a week in prison.

She wondered how many prisoners besides her had been interrogated or tortured by her uncle. Five? Ten? Whatever the number, they not been as fortunate as her.

Ibiki had even killed people. Anko probably had too. They were no different from the pale man or Kabuto.

She could see why her parents had not desired to be Shinobi, but look what had it gotten them. Had the universe punished them for trying to escape their fate? At the very least, Misaki would have been stronger.

Gradually, Misaki began to hear footsteps throughout the apartment. She strained her ears and turned in the futon to peek. As she did so, she noticed a speckled brown cat duck behind a chair. It must have hidden itself all night or had been let out.

That's right. Misaki was a stranger. Would she always be? In her own life?

"If this works..."

Anko was murmuring to herself, and Misaki wasn't sure if that was a good sign.

"You up?" Anko suddenly called.

When the woman walked into the room, Misaki could help but blush. She stared at the turquoise midriff and tight boy shorts; Anko wore such revealing attire to bed. One could only wonder what happened when no one else was around.

Anko stared back. "Prepare yourself, Misaki," she said cryptically.

Misaki felt dread twist through her. For what?

Anko wove a string of jutsus with her hands and a piece of paper materialized from another world with a small poof. Anko brandished it.

"This is a summon contract. If you sign it, you will be able to summon snakes. Cool, right?"

Misaki thought differently. Did she really want to brandish snakes like Orochimaru did? As Kabuto did? At least she had a choice here. She hadn't anywhere else. Still, she was confused.

"Why would I want to know how to summon snakes?"

"It's the easiest way for you to become stronger, and it's something you know of. Something that we both know of. We'll never know what you can handle unless we try. So-"

She wondered what Ibiki would say. He wouldn't be happy. Then again, he most likely wouldn't be handling her training any more. Anko would be her new teacher apparently.

"Summons are perfectly all right, Misaki," Anko assured her. "That boy in orange uses toads. Tsunade-sama herself uses slugs..."

Misaki liked the slugs in the garden. How they clung to the wet grass and slid through the wet soil. In truth, Misaki would rather learn Tsunade's methods, however, Tsunade wasn't offering. Anko was.

She was conflicted. Misaki had no opinions on snakes. They slithered and hissed around your ankles. She had seen more than a couple of them in Otogakure, but she had never been bitten by one. Misaki supposed that they were part of nature. The dark part of nature. A part that she carried within her.

Misaki had admitted to herself that she needed to become stronger. Was this a way? Was this the only way?

Wouldn't Kabuto be surprised?

"If you agree, you have to sign this in your own blood. Here."

Anko handed her a pin.

It sounded like something Orochimaru would invent. He had probably taught Anko personally. In a way, he was teaching Misaki without being physically present.

She had only moments to decide. Before Anko grew impatient, Misaki pricked her finger and gasped at the intrusion of pain. The blood streamed down her index finger. With Anko, everything seemed to be done quickly.

"Block out the pain and sign your name."

Misaki bit her bottom lip and obeyed. She flinched as her fingertip moved across the paper. Was that it?

"Great! Now, slam your palm down to release your chakra."

Misaki did so. She was winded when a small burst of chakra exited her body. Soon, there was a viper uncurling on the floor. The snake was a bright energetic fuchsia. It was rather pretty.

"Who is thisss?" the snake rasped.

This snake could speak? Misaki was a bit shocked.

"Same question, pal." Anko glared darkly. "Who are you?"

The summon stood straighter. Prouder. "I am called Hima."

Anko waved. "Hey, Hima! Over here is Misaki, your summoner."

Misaki felt confused. "Um, hello?"

She could feel the creature inspecting her and she could tell that it wasn't impressed.

"Her? Too little chakra. Look at my size. I ssshould be bursting through the ceiling."

Anko scowled. "Not my ceiling."

Hima hissed in annoyance.

"And, she was capable of summoning you," Anko pointed out. "Give her a try."

"It is not in the nature of a hebi to be empathetic. You ssshould know that, Anko. We hebi only understand power."

That left Misaki out. The snake knew best. Misaki was ready to turn away.

"I don't know." The snake shook its head. "You look like a toad girl to me," Hima groused. "Weak and ready to be eaten."

Misaki swallowed. She wasn't sure what to say.

This was a mistake. She wondered if Anko could rescind her contract.

If Anko was aware of Misaki's feelings, she chose to ignore them.

"See? It's your very own snake to train. Raise it well, Misaki-chan."

Anko was amused, but Misaki still felt unsure. Could she handle Hima?

No. She had to show Kabuto that she was capable. Show everyone that she was capable. After so many failed jutsus, she had to try something.

Spontaneously, Misaki thought of something to say to her new summon, but before she could open her mouth, Hima disappeared with another poof.

Anko was at her ear. "Don't worry. The more chakra you collect, the more Hima will stay around. I think we're off to a great start."

Misaki wasn't sure if she wanted Hima to stay around or summon her ever again, but she decided not to tell Anko.

"Well.. it turns out that I'm almost out of food. Want to go out shopping with me?" Anko asked. Demanded.

She started to shake her head. Misaki couldn't face the village. What if she saw Sakura or Ino? What would she say?

Or Ibiki?

"You're not breaking any rules. You're with me after all. So, how about it?"

Within the hour, Misaki was carrying two grocery bags. To others, Anko seemed to be her mother or big sister. They gave no sign that they noticed or cared about Misaki's presence. She didn't know if she should be relieved or depressed.

She supposed that she didn't matter in the grand scene of things.

"Misaki! You're back!" a familiar voice called.

Naruto ran over towards her with an man following behind him. The man had long spiky white hair that was held back by a horned headband. He wore an olive green kimono and trousers under a red haori. He looked like a wise old traveler or mountain man.

"Misaki?" the white-haired man asked.

"Yeah! This is Morino Misaki."

The older man looked her up and down. She could literally feel his gaze.

"'Beautiful blossom', right? Well, I see that the growth has been steady..." Jiraiya's cheeks began to redden.

"Yeah, yeah," Naruto grumbled. "You're making her uncomfortable. Misaki, this is Jiraiya-sensei."

So, this was Jiraiya. "The huge pervert." Naruto hadn't exaggerated.

Jiraiya nudged his student. "Oh, come on. She must get compliments all the time, eh? What do you think Naruto-kun?"

"You're close to sexual harassment, buddy," Anko growled. "I'll have to arrest you. She's only what? Sixteen?"

"Nineteen," Misaki softly corrected.

"Anko, you haven't changed a bit and...feel free," Jiraiya replied with a wink.

"Come on, Misaki. We should get home. For breakfast."

"Why are you living with her?" Naruto asked loudly.

Anko's grin was on the border between friendly and feral. "For rehabilitation, kid. Because of me, your Misaki-chan is free. You can thank me."

Naruto's eyes widened. "Thanks, I guess?"

The two walked away from two very eager individuals. So, that was Jiraiya. He had known the pale man.

On the way home, they met no one else. At the moment, all Misaki wanted to do was eat. And hide. Like that cat of Anko's.

She had to find her own path and stand with her own strength.

Misaki didn't want to be a burden.

The blonde girl was free. This...Misaki. He couldn't help but notice her presence. And she wasn't alone.

She should be as insignificant as the fly buzzing around his cup. In all truth, she should be rotting in jail or executed. Hadn't he been convincing enough as Yakushi Kabuto?

Did she have some hidden advantage? Was it sheer luck?

Tobi sought to discover was so special about her. At a later date. Right now, he was rather preoccupied.

He and his partner sat in the shade of the tea hut. The other citizens of Konoha were unaware that two wanted criminals were sitting amongst them. It occurred to Tobi that Misaki and Deidara had the same hair except Deidara's was longer and golder. More unruly.

"What are you staring at stupid, hmph?"

Tobi had to make up something for the the bratty youth. Suspicion was something he did not need.

By pure providence, Tobi didn't have to think too hard. A heavy basket of cabbages a man had been toting suddenly broke in two. Obviously, the weight of the cabbages had exceeded the flimsy quality of the basket. The cabbages lazily rolled away as the man started shrieking and swearing.

The masked Akatsuki member excitedly pointed at the scene without restraint.

"Look Deidara-sempai! Somebody dropped their cabbages!" Tobi used his high childish voice to be as annoying as possible.

He grabbed his stomach in an attempt to quell the side splitting laugh as he used to do when he was a child. When he was Obito. When he was still a human being,

"Can you be any more freaking annoying? We have a job to do, hmph!" Deidara groused as he slammed the tea cup down with a clink.

It was too easy to make Deidara mad. He was as much a killjoy as Kakashi, but at least Kakashi wasn't as delusional as this new recruit. Deidara thought that he was important.

"Hurry up. Leader-sama will want us soon. Do I have to tell you to do everything, hmph?"

Of course. Pein did not want to be kept waiting.

It was what Tobi had instilled in him. No, what Madara had instilled in him.

"Yes, you sure do, Deidara-sempai!" Tobi giggled.

"Let's go, partner..."

A/N: I tried to write the summoning as best I could. "Hima" means "free time" or "leisure" and that describes Hima's personality pretty well. It also was inspired by the Japanese pitviper snake known as Hime-Habu. This fic will follow canon events such as Kabuto's transformation and Pein's invasion.