A/N: Hi again. Here's a longer one, where everything starts to come together for the Uchinhas. No warnings but there will be some soon. Enjoy.
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Raylin noticed Orochimaru and Kabuto talking. She took the opportunity to turn to Sasuke and say, "Mission accomplished."
"If you meant to scare the crap out of them, you did. Seriously, how did you do that?"
"I told you in the note – I'm mostly wind, but I mixed it with my breath before I expelled it, and then while expelling it, I added the earth element, creating the lava. I thought it would work, but I had to learn the fire jutsu first. Thanks for teaching me. You're a good sensei."
Sasuke looked at her. He thought back to Konoha to his sensei. What would Kakashi think of this girl? He hoped some day to ask him. He didn't hate the people in Konoha, but his mind still harbored hate for his brother. That was his focus, so times like these when he thought of the people in Konoha; it gave his mind some comfort. Upon thinking deeper, he did miss them, even Naruto and all his annoying ways. He was more like a brother to him than Itachi had ever been. But with the thought of Itachi, he became angry again. Raylin noticed.
"You're thinking about him again aren't you? I can tell. Every time you do your whole demeanor changes."
"I have to avenge the clan. I have to destroy him. I'm all that's left."
She whipped around at him, "No you're not!"
"Huh?"
"Have you forgotten something? I came from that same clan you idiot! I'm here to help you. I want to avenge the clan too. Your brother most likely killed my father. That's enough for me. We'll do it together. We can't fail."
He looked at her sternly listening to her tirade until she said "we'll do it together." He knew all along that he couldn't do it alone. He knew that he needed Orochimaru to help him, but what if Raylin could do it better? She is Uchiha, Orochimaru wants to be Uchiha. Finally he nodded at her and gave her half a smile. He said, "We'll do it together then. We won't fail."
She smiled back at him suppressing the urge to throw her arms around him happily. She was finally being accepted by him. She felt like bursting. The celebrating came to a quick end when Kabuto called her over. She gave Sasuke a look and jogged over to where Kabuto was standing with Orochimaru.
Orochimaru said, "Kabuto isn't my student brilliant! Raylin that was an amazing performance. Quite brilliant. See what your wind element is capable of doing? I think I'd like you to train with Sasuke a bit more. Maybe teach him a thing or two to enhance his jutsu. I have taught him many things – many forbidden things like the ones I've taught you. I think you have something to offer him besides the obvious." He smirked at her and she rolled her eyes while smiling.
Kabuto said, "Raylin, exactly how did you accomplish that jutsu so quickly?"
"Sasuke taught me. He just told me to concentrate my chakra in my belly, take a huge breath, do the hand seals and blow out hard. That's what I did. You saw what happened."
Kabuto looked suspicious. "But the lava the second time, what did you do different?"
She wasn't about to tell him about the injection of earth element, so instead she said, "I cranked in a pile of wind element and that's what happened. It was pretty cool wasn't it? Now if I can only find a way of controlling it, shaping it, using it. Lava projectiles." She noticed Orochimaru was on the verge of drooling. "Yes, something like that, almost like a flame thrower with more control – precise control. I wonder how I'd go about doing something like that. Hmmm."
Kabuto looked worried again, while Orochimaru's eyes got big. He thought of his protégé being able to produce lava, and now she was looking for a way to control it? Use it as a weapon? He thought, she's brilliant! She is the other half of me. I use medical experiments to mutate the way people use their bodies, she's mutating the actual jutsu using nature elements, creating new things, new destructive jutsu! If this girl possessed all five elements, or was able to learn them all, there would be no stopping her. She will surpass me and all the Hokage that have ever lived. She's predominantly wind, she's just learned fire, and she already possesses water. That leaves lightning and earth. Earth. Maybe that's it. If it is, she's got four out of five. Dear God she's going to learn lightning. If she can learn fire this easily lightning should be no problem either. If she can teach all this to Sasuke, he will be perfect. I am going to have to be very lenient with her because if she turns on me,"
Kabuto interrupted, "Orochimaru, what time would you like Raylin to train with Sasuke tomorrow?"
He said, "Noonish would be good. Good for you Raylin?"
"That'll be fine. I can sleep in, have some breakfast and be ready. Where shall I meet you?"
"Here would be good. Run over and tell Sasuke that you begin training together tomorrow."
"Yes lord Orochimaru." She threw the "lord" in there just to stroke him a bit. She didn't want him to think that she and Sasuke were very close to figuring out a way to do him in. When she reached him, he seemed lost in his thoughts. He didn't acknowledge her when she came up. She touched his shoulder, "Are you ok? You seem a million miles away."
"Huh? Oh sorry. I was just thinking of some people."
"Your family?"
"No. The people I left from Konoha. You realize that Orochimaru's goal is to possess my body so he can destroy Konoha, all because the 3rd Hokage wouldn't appoint him as the 4th. I heard that Orochimaru had more than enough ability to be the 4th, but because he was practicing forbidden jutsu, he was passed over for Sandaime. Good thing too, Sandaime is the one who sealed the nine-tailed fox into Naruto, but had to sacrifice himself to do it, saving Konoha in the process. You knew about this didn't you?"
"I'd heard something about it, but since I didn't live in the village, not many people around me concerned themselves with it. And you say Naruto still lives with the nine-tailed fox inside him?"
"Yeah. And it gives him incredible power. He's had the better part of me more than once, that loser."
"If there was a way we could seal Orochimaru inside you instead of transfer him to you,"
Sasuke looked up in realization, "That would do it. He could be inside me, but I'd be in control, using his chakra with my own, using his power. But when Sandaime sealed the fox into Naruto, the requirement of the jutsu is that the sealer sacrifices himself to the death God. The seal is unbreakable, and the one who seals it dies."
Raylin thought a million miles an hour. "If there was a way that I could, hmm. Maybe. Maybe there is a way for him to get sealed in you. But I've just got to think of a way to make Kabuto do it."
"Too bad Ino isn't here."
"Who's Ino?"
"A girl who lives in Konoha. She and her family have the mind transfer ability. She could do it, transfer her mind to Kabuto, force him to do the jutsu, and then jump out of him when the seal is complete."
Raylin got very excited. "Mind transfer jutsu. Mind transfer. Where could I get that information? I'm going to be in the library tonight for a good long time. If they ask me why I'm there, I'll tell them it's to find out a way to control the lava. I'm going to learn this mind transfer thing. Sasuke, this is going to work. When we're done here, we're going after Itachi."
Sasuke looked at the fire in Raylin's eyes. She was figuring this all out. He really did have faith in her. He knew she wasn't joking when she said that she'd learn the jutsu they needed to complete the task. He taught her the fireball jutsu and she mastered it the first time she tried it. She would figure this all out. He looked at the excitement flowing from her, her mind working as she looked back at him. He never realized how beautiful she really was. He thought, My God she's brilliant, a genius, and gorgeous. She's stunning to look at. Why didn't I notice before? She was offered to me, and I turned her down. I guess I never really looked at her before, but through her. My own hate clouded my vision. How can someone so brilliant be so beautiful? She's certainly got the best of both worlds.
Raylin said, "Tomorrow, we train together again. Apparently Orochimaru wants me to try and teach you the nature manipulation part to enhance your jutsu. I'll go to the library, do some research and see what I can come up with."
"Good. Here they come."
Orochimaru started, "Sasuke, you have a very gifted student. Or you are a very gifted sensei. Either way, our Raylin has learned much. I think you two deserve a reward." Everyone looked at Orochimaru with surprise. "Yes. How about you two have the rest of the day off. Go for a walk. Get to know each other more. Talk about what you can teach each other, so tomorrow we can see what can be learned. Go on. Take a break." Everyone was suspicious, but Kabuto didn't question his boss.
Sasuke said, "alright, I'll go get cleaned up. Where can I meet you Raylin?"
"The library. I'll head over there now. I'm going to look up some things on fire manipulation." Kabuto and Orochimaru looked at each other – they'd expected her to want to go there.
Sasuke said, "Alright, I'll see you in a bit. Thank you Orochimaru."
"You're welcome Sasuke. Learn from her all you can, and teach her everything you know."
"I will." He left to get cleaned up.
Orochimaru took the opportunity to address Raylin, "I want you to teach him everything you know about the nature manipulation you are so good at. He needs to know these things. I want him able to do what you can do, and quickly. Do you understand me? This is why I'm giving you two some time together alone, so you can see what he needs and give it to him. You will give him anything he wants, understood? Anything."
The prickles began in the base of her spine and shot right up to the top of her skull. She said, "I will happily give him anything he needs, or wants. I will teach him everything I know." Orochimaru smiled at her, she smirked back. She knew what he meant, and she wanted that to happen, just as much as he seemed to. She left him for the library.
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A/N: Now we're rolling. More to come.
Up Next: Sasuke comes to a realization, and Raylin attempts step one. See you soon.