Caranril: Ai, ai. When I DO feel up to writing, I always have homework and studying to do. I'm cranking these things out as best as I can. I liked this chappie, though, mostly cause it's HOT. Oh yeah. Warning. Steamy-ness at the end of the chappie. Involving a loooong tongue. Ahem.
Legolas: This is so wrong.
Caranril: I can't help it. Finally, something that makes this rated M!
Thanks to WindDancer18: Romance is most excellent, especially when it's just begging to happen with loads of bishies hanging out. Meira Evenstar: When you catch up to this chappie, you shall see my thank you for the review. And yes, Kaori Rocket was a blast to write...literally. (snorts) Yayness and all that jazz! Xaras Uchiha: Next chappie next! movintarget: Giant meat cleaver?! Dude, I may hafta incorporate that!
Legolas: No meat cleavers. I forbid it.
Caranril: Senchou means "master", as in a master of a fleet of ships. And I apologize. I lurvs Naruto to death, but when I make him an idiot, I do it cause it's fun. I'm not bashing the dear heart. Just to clarify. And now: READ!
disCLAIMER: While I do not own Naruto nor any affiliated subjects therein, Kishimoto-sama does and therefore he owns my soul.
Chapter 2: Nukenin
The shifts rotated every couple of hours, giving the teams adequate time to rest and nourish their bodies. Kakashi planned to break camp at dawn so that they'd reach the port by late afternoon. Yet as he lay awake just before day break, he couldn't put his finger on what was making him uneasy. Ever since he'd swapped shifts with Naruto, he couldn't figure out why things felt wrong. Nerves were never much of a problem, but they bothered him now.
Kakashi gave up on his pondering and rolled up his bed. Another half hour of laying there restless wasn't going to do him good anyway. He kicked dirt on the pathetic remains of the fire. A shining object lying on an empty pad caught his eye. He stood over the bedding and his eye widened in astonishment: folded neatly like a brand new prize sat Kaori's hitai-ate, her Gelel stone earring placed on top. He picked them up and snatched the bit of parchment that slipped from the folds before it fell to the ground. The words brought those tense nerves to a head. Holy. Shit.
It took minutes to rouse the rest of the teams. Having a serious Kakashi stand before them in the rising sun was foreboding. Not even Naruto made a wise-crack or complaint. Except to wonder where Kaori was.
"It seems Kaori-san has defected," Kakashi said wearily.
"Defected?" Naruto echoed.
"To where?" Shikamaru asked incredulously.
Kakashi held up her hitai-ate, earring and letter. "She must have left soon after her shift. Along with her scarf she left a note: 'I'm sorry that I'm worthless, and it's even worse when a talented Shinobi can't use their full potential because of a curse long ago. I must see someone, and I probably won't return. In exchange, you'll be rid of the worthlessness and given back a true genius. Tell Naruto...thank you for being my friend, but I'm not meant to be a ninja.'"
"Why must women be so troublesome?" Shikamaru wondered.
Naruto was speechless. Sakura gave Shikamaru an annoyed look but couldn't help feeling a little worried. Sasuke punched the ground, startling the group.
"I shouldn't have told her the truth!" he said ferociously. "It's all my fault."
"What do you mean, Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asked.
"She discovered my curse seal last night."
It didn't take a genius to figure out where Kaori intended to go, but Naruto needed it spelled out anyway.
"I don't know what Kaori-san plans to do, but she's headed for the Rice Country to seek out Orochimaru." Kakashi massaged his temple.
"We have to stop her!" Naruto said firmly. "She's a part of our team."
"She left her hitai-ate behind, Naruto," Shikamaru reminded him. "That means she forfeits her position as a Leaf nin."
"But that doesn't forfeit us being her friends, does it? Sakura? Sasuke?" Naruto met both of their eyes.
"I guess not," Sakura answered quietly. "Should we send a message to Tsunade-sama?"
"No!" Sasuke answered quickly. "Let's not waste time. We could probably catch up before she disappears, plus I'm familiar with the country."
Kakashi glanced at Shikamaru. "What do you say? It should be a unanimous decision, but I realize you don't know Kaori-san very well."
Shikamaru sighed. "I guess I don't mind a detour," he conceded. Naruto slapped his back heartily.
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu." Kakashi summoned a small brown dog with an overly-wrinkly face.
"Kakashi, long time no see," he said casually in a deep gravely voice. He scratched an ear with a hind leg.
"I need you to take this parchment to Hokage-sama along with this message." Kakashi safely tucked the rolled paper under the dog's jacket.
"Well that's just fine. Summon me and then send me away without so much as a pat on the head," the old dog grumbled.
"Do your best, Pakkun-chan," Kakashi said with an eye-smile. The dog nodded smartly and took off at a speed incredible for an animal with such short legs. Kakashi watched him go then turned to the group.
"Now," he said with authority, "let's go find our teammate."
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Kaori eyed the vast planes wearily. She'd been traveling at a rapid pace since late last night and had only stopped once for a drink of water. The last thing she wanted was for her teammates to catch up and give her what for. Everything would be easier if they just stuck with the mission.
Rational thought hadn't been her company since she'd come to Konoha, but now it plagued her mind. If anything, she should be the one sticking to the mission. Instead, she made everything about her, and that was selfish and unbecoming of a Shinobi. Plus, there was no guarantee she'd even be able to find this Orochimaru, much less convince him to release Sasuke.
Then that little part of her that wanted to do something meaningful in life took over the argument. One thing she'd learned from Naruto was to do what your heart desired, because when you're a ninja, you might not live through the next mission. She hadn't admitted it to anyone besides herself just yet, but she understood the meaning of being willing to die for someone. She'd give her life for her friends in a heartbeat. And this opportunity to free Sasuke was too good to let pass by. The concept that she'd die for someone scared her not because she was afraid to die, because it meant there were people in the world that she truly cared for. There had only ever been two such people in her life: Hitanichi and Temujin. The fact that her life was now filled with those people was a bit overwhelming.
She stopped along the rice patties and asked various workers if they'd heard of the Sound or Orochimaru. Most had no clue what she was talking about, but the farther she wandered into Rice Country, the fewer people were willing to respond. A forgotten fear crossed their eyes and they bowed their heads and denied knowledge. When she reached the first group of buildings that actually qualified as a village, people started to run from her when she said the "O" word.
"From the looks of things, you're a ninja."
Kaori turned and stared at the short, bald man. He scratched his head and eyed her scabbards.
"Those are funny-looking things for a ninja to have. How much did those cost ya?" he leered at her. "Or didja steal em?"
"They were a gift," she said indignantly.
"Don't git yer panties in a bunch. I was only askin." The leer turned lewd as his eyes strafed her body. Kaori grew irritated.
"Have you heard anything about a man called Orochimaru?"
"Ah, that explains things."
"What does?"
"Information ain't free, ya know. It'll cost ya." Those watery eyes kept violating her. "And you've got plenty that I want."
"Oh? You want me to put out?" Kaori lowered her lids. The vigorous nod practically threw the bald man off-balance. "Fine." She pulled out her swords and held them at a v across his throat. "There. I put out."
"W-w-w-w-w-what?" he blubbered.
"Now tell me, have you heard of Orochimaru?"
"It's b-been over a year, probably two. He was lookin for ninja recruits. W-word has it that he was defeated and crawled away to the mountains. Are...aren't ya gonna let me go?"
"Thanks." She cut the rope holding his pants up. She turned and stalked away while he cried out and gathered his fallen trousers. An involuntary smirk crossed her lips. Maybe it would be nice to go home and kick the asses of all those jerks who thought being a freak meant she was easy. She could throw punches but never truly fight. Being a ninja was great.
"You're not a ninja anymore," she reminded herself, leaving the village and heading for the shadows in the distance. In such a flat land, mountains were relatively easy to find.
The Land of the Rice Fields oozed poverty. Whether or not it had something to do with Orochimaru's escapades was unknown to Kaori, but being familiar with other figures who rose to power, she figured he'd squeezed the life out of the natives. She knew he came from Konoha, but he'd been an outcast, looking so very different. Having never seen the man herself, she couldn't judge him according to others' opinions. But she knew to be careful. Naruto beat him to a pulp, but Naruto was a very powerful Shinobi, way beyond her level. She'd have to watch her mouth.
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The group traveled quickly, but even with every one of them being several times more powerful than Kaori, a group couldn't gain as much ground as one person. Shikamaru glanced at his teammates; each of them had a look of incredible focus on their faces. He hadn't agreed to go after Kaori because he was outnumbered or they needed a unanimous vote. He knew all too well the pain one felt when a friend was in need. Kaori was a very illogical person, too much like Naruto to be good for her, and she had a serious inferiority complex. Something like that had to do with her childhood, which was none of his business, but if she'd been trained properly, she wouldn't have placed personal feelings before a mission. Her training had been an experiment, the first of its kind in Konoha. It proved that training a ninja from childhood was much more effective than when the individual had already determined their own livelihood and morals. Sure, an older person learned things much quicker, but they chose whether or not to heed to those things. And then to top it all off, she had a bijuu sealed inside of her.
That was actually a matter that Shikamaru had been debated internally. A thorough medical examination hadn't revealed a seal, which implied that the bijuu wasn't sealed and therefore could escape at anytime. Kaori obviously didn't have it under control, so what was keeping it inside of her? There just wasn't enough damn information.
"Kakashi." Shikamaru slowed so he could travel next to the older man. "Do we have a plan in case Kaori-san manages to find Orochimaru?"
"I don't, but I figured you would have thought one out already." Kakashi smiled cheekily.
The bastard was right. Shikamaru thought way too much, but he didn't like being unprepared. Fine. He'd relay his plan when they arrived in Rice Country.
Sasuke was furious. He'd been plenty mad in his lifetime, but never so intensely for so long. His hatred for Orochimaru was doubled now that Kaori was involved. Should she find him and do any of his crazy experiments on her, there was no guarantee that Sasuke would stay sane. Naruto should have killed the fucker when he had the chance, but that wasn't the right punishment, apparently. Only good thing was now Sasuke had the opportunity to kill his former master. And then afterwards he give Kaori a good whipping. What the hell could she be thinking? He'd thought her to be such a straightforward person, not nearly as two-faced as other girls he knew. She had her moments, but...
To top it all off, his gut had the nerve to be wracked with guilt. The last time he'd felt guilty was when he was twelve...It was an awful feeling that he loathed with every fiber of his being, but he couldn't shake it. He shouldn't have said anything about Orochimaru. But then how was he to know what she'd do?
He glanced at Naruto. His eyes were red and his pupils slitted. He was dangerous right now. All Sasuke could conclude was that bijuu made the jinchuuriki crazy.
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Kaori licked her parched lips. It must be a dry spell in the country, for the air sucked the moisture from her eyes and mouth. Even her hands hurt from being so dry. And not a stream or puddle was to be found. One would think there'd be some sort of stream in the mountains, run-off coming from the top even if just a trickle.
As the sun set, Kaori gave up searching for caves. With the light sky and darkened landscape, her eyes hurt from the strain. And she was so damn thirsty. She sucked on her tongue, hoping to summon some saliva. There wasn't even any vegetation she could gnaw on to get some sort of moisture. This sucked.
Fatigue set in. She hadn't slept in two days and had been traveling for nearly 24 hours. Before the wary part of her mind could alert her, her head lolled and she zonked out.
A pair of bandaged feet stopped next to a sleeping form. The woman was dressed as a ninja, but she'd foolishly fallen asleep in a wide-open area with no traps set. A bandaged foot prodded her leg.
"Eh, no training today, Naruto," she mumbled.
The figure froze. Naruto? What was this woman's relationship to Naruto? The very boy who had practically destroyed Senchou. This could be a very important finding. The figure scooped the woman up in bandaged arms and ran up the mountain. She'd been just below the entrance to Senchou's cavern. If she'd climbed a little longer she would have discovered the barrier. A normal person would be fooled, but a ninja would be able disperse the barrier and invade. There weren't any ninja left in Rice Country except for Senchou's loyal soldiers. He had seen to it that any who opposed Senchou were eliminated. The bandages had been annoying to change after being so soaked in blood. But it had been worth it. If his nerves allowed him facial expressions, he would have been grinning widely.
The intricate traps guarding the small stronghold had smart settings that recognized his Chakra field and allowed him to pass through safely. The woman in his arms let out a snort as her head lolled back, and he felt a strange twinge inside. Like he'd found a pet to take home.
Bioluminescent fungi dimly lit the damp caves. The further along the tunnel he walked, the more dense the collections on the wall came, as if promising the tunnel led to something glorious. Which it did; this particular tunnel ended at Senchou's quarters. He'd be in meditation right now, so his mood would be forgiving. The door was open slightly and a hiss in the dark could be heard.
"What is it?"
He entered the room, placed the woman on the ground and bowed. "Senchou, I found this woman sleeping outside the caves. I would have killed her, but she said something of Naruto in her sleep." He removed her swords and pack.
Yellow eyes snapped open and stared at the snoring form. The fishnet clothing, sandals, and weapons pack were indicative of a ninja, but she bore no affiliating symbol. A Nukenin?
"She's sleeping you say? Well wake her. Perhaps she'll talk with little persuasion." A snake-like tongue licked pale lips. The bandaged man kicked the woman in the side. She yelped and hopped to her feet, fujaku drawn. Blinking wearily as her eyes adjusted to the dark, she took in her situation. One figure blocked her exit, a figure entirely wrapped in bandages, except for the eyes. The other figure was seated on a mat and staring intently with narrow yellow eyes. His black hair was piled atop his head and he wore a traditional kimono. She blinked and in that instant the lights came up and the man was standing before her. She was taken aback not only by his sudden movement but also by his appearance. His robes were a rich violet material entwined by silver snakes that effectively reflected the light. One long strand of black hair clung to his neck and draped down the front. Looking back into his eyes, Kaori knew without a doubt that this was the man she sought.
"Orochimaru?" she asked. A sharp blow to the back of her head sent a wave of nausea through her body and she sank to her knees.
"If you expect to address him as such, you will do so with a bended knee," the bandage man hissed. Kaori swallowed the bile in her throat and looked up in pain. Orochimaru bent over and studied her.
"What would a Nukenin want with me?" he asked dangerously.
"N-nukenin?" Kaori found it difficult to focus.
"It's obvious you're a former ninja. What village is missing you?"
"Konoha." Kaori fought to keep from choking on the roiling liquids brought to her mouth.
"And I'm assuming you know an Uzumaki Naruto?"
Kaori's eyes went wide slightly before she recovered. Orochimaru smiled serenely.
"So you do know him. Good," he sighed. "You could be useful."
"Don't you wonder why I'm looking for you?"
"It tickles my fancy, but otherwise I don't care." He turned from her and dropped his lavish robes. Kaori realized with a flush that he was naked beneath them. With a sensuous grace, he pulled the pin from his hair and let it fall down his shockingly pale back. A strong hand gripped her arm and yanked her up and after the snake man. A hot bath bubbled in the corner, elegant steps curving up and into the water. Orochimaru sunk in with a moan.
"I'm here to make a deal."
"I don't do 'deals'." Orochimaru lathered his arms with a potent-smelling bar of soap. The heady scent of yuzu and green tea permeated the large room and caused Kaori to unwittingly relax.
"Uchiha Sasuke."
The white hand stopped mid-stroke and the eyes narrowed. A smile spread across the lips and the tongue slipped out again.
"Sasuke-kun," Orochimaru purred. "You know Sasuke-kun."
"Yeah, and so do you. You left your mark on him."
"Mm, I would have left much more if I'd had more time with him." He continued washing himself and slid the bar of soap beneath the surface.
"Well, I know that Naruto kicked your ass and that you can't use Uchiha anymore, so I'm here to get you to release him from your curse."
Orochimaru grunted and closed his eyes. "Kicked my ass? Such coarse language for a woman."
"This isn't about me. This is about Uchiha Sasuke. I'm offering you myself for him."
He stopped again. His eyes opened and he gazed at her as if for the first time.
"What could you offer me that Sasuke-kun couldn't?" he challenged lightly.
"I know Uchiha refused to be tied down." Kaori looked at her feet. "I'd serve you as long as I live."
"The fact that you're here now in betrayal of Konoha makes it difficult for me to believe that."
Kaori scratched her head, unknowingly imitating a certain silver-haired Jounin. "For the first time in my life, I have friends. I've done nothing but cause them trouble. This is the only way to make everything better for them. They...can handle life without me fine, but if I can leave by giving them something in return...then I'll be happy."
The hand gripping her arm loosened. His brown eyes stared at her, bewitched. There was something so familiar about her that it was distracting him.
Orochimaru smiled eerily. "I see. I suppose I could use your...services. But really my dear, you're not my type."
"I can be what you need me to be," Kaori said boldly. His smile broadened mischievously.
"Can you do Henge no Jutsu?" he asked casually, a purr rumbling in his throat.
"Aye." Kaori stared at him. She realized too late what he meant by his first comment. His right arm moved rhythmically beneath the foamy water, his eyes half-lidded as he gazed back at her. When he released a husky moan with an arched back, Kaori figured out what he was doing. Blushing furiously, she ducked her head to avoid meeting his glazed eyes. Why was he doing such a thing right in front of her? She turned to leave but stopped. She'd forgotten about his servant, who had released her and stepped back. He stared at her with such an intense expression that she blushed further. By all means, she should have been afraid of such a look, but his brown eyes drew her in despite the obscuring bandages.
A gentle sploosh of water drew her attention back to Orochimaru, only to gasp slightly and turn away again as he descended the stairs, dripping. And definitively aroused.
"This is an excellent opportunity to try the final phase of my new technique," he said huskily. "I've run out of female test subjects, and you should do just fine. If it doesn't work, you are worthless to me and Sasuke will still be mine. Of course, should it work, I will release Sasuke-kun. And you will heed to my every need. My every...desire..." Orochimaru whispered into her hair. Kaori couldn't move, afraid of incurring his wrath and stilled by those brown eyes. Something inside her screamed that the bandaged man shouldn't witness this.
All thoughts were lost as a very wet, very hot thing wrapped itself around Kaori's waist. She glanced down and almost freaked when she saw that it was an insanely long tongue. The tongue slid up her abdomen and gently caressed her breasts. It was the freakiest thing she'd ever seen, but muscle that stroked her was very effective. A hand snuck around and tugged at her zipper. The other hand pulled off her suit, revealing the fishnet shirt and leggings. As if he had three hands, Orochimaru casually peeled away her clothing, leaving only her sandals on.
Kaori squeezed her eyes shut and tried to take calming breaths, telling herself that this was her choice and afterwards Sasuke would be freed from the curse. The powerful tongue snaking along her thighs was making it difficult for her to believe that. She inhaled sharply as the tongue arched up and teased between her legs. Hands slid under her arms and barely brushed the nipples that ached to be touched. His white skin was stark next to her sun-kissed flesh. The tongue slid away, slurping back into his maw.
"Mm, what's your name, my dear?"
"A-akumako...Kaori," she managed through the shivers down her spine. She twitched as an even hotter, wetter thing pressed against her back. Just the thought of it made her feel sick and the wound on her head ached. But she arched back into his heat despite herself.
"Akumako Kaori," he panted in her ear. "You love Sasuke-kun, don't you?"
"Eh?" She could barely keep a coherent thought.
"You'd make a lovely boy yourself."
"Tha...what you wish?"
"Not just yet. For this to work, I must have your vaginal fluids." He suddenly gripped her tightly. His tongue hovered overhead, wielding a knife above her heart. She yelped and tried to wiggle free, but his strong hands and persuasive grinding against her naked body kept her compliant. In three quick motions, the knife cut into the flesh over her heart, forming a circle with a single line through it. Kaori cried out, biting her lip as she realized it was her own short sword. The blood eagerly ran down her breast and dripped onto her foot and pooled in her navel. The knife dropped and she was forced back against the cave wall.
Orochimaru's eyes met hers. They weren't filled with desire. What he desired was another man. But right now he needed a woman in order to complete the test. He lapped up some of the blood, encircling one breast with the tongue and teasing the nipple. As he held her firmly against the wall, the tongue slid down and ventured to the apex of her thighs. Kaori tilted her hips into the warmth, trying not to pass out from the pain in her head and chest and the shock he was giving her body. A chuckle rumbled down his tongue, and in one swift motion he gorged her with it. Stretched beyond comprehension, Kaori threw her head back and cried to the distant ceiling. Her voice echoed, only to be followed by more cries as the tongue retreated and invaded once more. It was practically painful, but as the muscle focused more on moving instead of filling her core, her cries became grunts. His ministrations produced wonderful waves of pleasure through her hips. Orochimaru released one of her shoulders and slowly stroked his own arousal. A woman would never be enough for a proper release, but those guttural cries were sending exciting messages to his groin.
Kaori's breath ceased as the rising heat finally let her go. She tightened around his tongue and moaned to the ceiling. Orochimaru relished in the warmth spattering his tongue. Before she could recover he slid it out of her and brought the appendage to the wound on her chest. Smearing blood with her fluids and his saliva, the wound stung like nothing she'd ever felt. All niceties of the orgasm forgotten, Kaori gasped at the pain. He stepped back, removing all contact with her. Kaori barely managed to remain standing as she watched him form a complex series of seals, several of which she had never seen.
"Hebi!" With the snake seal came a searing pain that wracked her entire body. Feeling like her heart had been run through with a hot piece of metal, Kaori's cry built into a throat-tearing scream. The wound flamed black, cauterizing itself and leaving a tattoo-like scar of an "o" with a line through it. As the last flicker of black disappeared, Kaori collapsed face-first. Orochimaru stepped back to view his handiwork.
"Only thing left to do is wait until she regains consciousness," he muttered. One problem taken care of. Now he had another, very swollen, very eager problem to deal with. "I know you're there."
The bandaged man stepped from the darkness, hiding the shaking from his master. He'd witnessed many of Orochimaru's crude experiments and had overseen many of the tests. For some reason, this one test had bothered him. But he had a duty to serve when his master needed release.
Orochimaru prowled towards his bed chambers. "Come, Hitanichi-kun. Time to get rid of my problem."