For What Must Be Done

by Ashlena

Everything around Tayuya seems to be changing, and there is an uncomfortable air back home where once all she knew was comfort. It all finally becomes too much when she is told that SHE is the one now responsible for carrying on Kimimaro's bloodline.

3. Chapter 3

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For What Must Be Done
Chapter 3: I've Got a Feeling
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-6 years ago-

Tayuya looked ahead as the spiderboy and the pasty one continued to argue at each other across the hall, with Kimimaro standing to the side looking both a little... embarrassed and annoyed.

"CAPTAIN!"
"BOSS!"

"What... are they arguing about?" she finally asked as she watched the two boys grow in frustration at each other. Jirobu, the recipient of her question, was looking just as annoyed as Kimimaro was as he rubbed a hand through his short hair.

"Kimimaro's name..."

"They're... renaming Kimimaro for his birthday?" She looked down at the cookies she had made and... wondered if she had made him the wrong thing for his big 10th birthday or something...

"No. Kidomaru finally voted today. So Kimimaro's the new leader."

"Oh... that's good. I thought he'd win. But why are they fi-"

"Tayuya!" Sakon noticed the girl of the group had finally arrived, and her opinion was needed.

"Hey!" Kidomaru noticed the same as well.

"Hey Tayuya, tell Kidomaru we should call Kimimaro Boss!"

"No! Tell him that army people call the leader Captain!"

"Don't be stupid! He's still too young to be a Captain!"

"He's too young to be a boss too!"

"Is not!"

"Is TO!"

... and yeah. It had deteriorated into that. Jirobu rubbed his face, frustration building in response to the younger kids of his team. At least Tayuya was-

"Call him Casper! Because he's so white!"

Jirobu groaned. The other two boys laughed along with her and Kimimaro frowned.

"How about Bones?" Kidomaru added and the three of them laughed, with Kimimaro and Jirobu apparently finding their attempts at humor to be be falling flat.

Tayuya walked over to Kimimaro, giving a rather sweet smile to the boy. "Here you go!" She held out the cookies she had baked. "Happy Birthday Casper! A gift!" The other two boys laughed again, Kimimaro frowned and narrowed his eyes. He had never once been violent toward any of them, being the most peacful of the lot... but his eyes gave hint that that could change.

Instead, the Kaguya grinned as he looked to the side and took the cookies. He could do this "being funny" thing too! "Thank you, they look very good." His grin was a bit on the mischievous side as he began working his arm around until a pop sounded. He cupped his hand backwards and a long bone slid down from far up his arm. Not a weapon... just a bone. "Here."

Tayuya looked mortified as she instinctively yet reflexive hesitantly held her hand out. The bone was slapped into her hand with a wet splat, spattering the remnant blood on the bone over her hand and onto her shirt. "A gift."

Kidomaru and Sakon burst out laughing again and Jirobu merely shook his head, but with a look that threatened to break into a grin.

Tayuya gritted her teeth and dropped the bone to the ground. "Oh my God!" That caused all of the boys minus Jirobu to laugh. "That's disgusting YOU ASSHOLE!"

And with that, everyone immediately fell silent, nervously looking at each other and Tayuya looking as if she had just done the most taboo thing in the world.

Sakon scratched his head and looked around sheepishly. "Oro-sama said we couldn't say words like that... didn't he?"

"Yeah. Tayu-chan would be in trouble if she said that while he was around..." Kidomaru added in quietly. Everyone was looking around the hall, making sure there were no adults around who heard that.

"I... I didn't mean t-" Tayuya looked like a dear caught in the headlights... and so did Jirobu. And then he looked angry.

"TAYUYA! Little girls are NOT supposed to say bad words like that!"

She spun around in flustered protest. "I... shut up, Jirobu! I didn't mean to! That was just so disgusting!"

Sakon sniffed. "It was pretty funny, though." He smiled and gave a thumbs up to Kimimaro who was now grinning again.

He looked around, apparently proud that he had something clever to say here. "Yes. You're right. I found that..." He looked around at them, about to deliver a punchline. "... humerus."

Jirobu finally fell out laughing, and the rest of the other three looked at him like perhaps he had choked or something. Jirobu? Laughing? Who would have thought Kimimaro would be the first to get him to laugh? And... what was so funny?

The three looked back at Kimimaro, confused. And suddenly Kimimaro felt embarrassed. Why weren't they laughing? That was a super-funny joke from the Kaguya clan! ... He didn't really realize that given his upbringing, he was probably the only one who really knew anything about anatomy in the group of kids.

"Uhm... you mean funny, right?" Kidomaru was the first to break the awkward moment over top of Jirobu's laughing.

Kimimaro looked around like he couldn't believe it. That was the only joke he knew! And they didn't think it was funny?

"N-no!" He raised his arm up and pointed to it in explanation. "This bone..." He then pointed to the one on the ground. "That one. It's called your humerus. Get it? So I... 'found this humerus'?"

The rest looked at him and then they grinned a little. "Oh, I get it now..." said Tayuya. The other two boys chuckled and nodded. Tayuya held up her own arm, as if looking at it in a different way now. "I didn't know that..." She pointed to her lower arm. "This is a different bone... does it have a name too?"

Suddenly the other three were looking at him as well, interested and looking at/inspecting their own arms curiously. Kimimaro looked a little confused. He was always the one being educated, not the one doing the educating.

"Uhm... yeah. That's the ulna. And the radius..." he paused when everyone looked at him then back at their arms. "And... down in the hand you have other bones. Carpals..."

One of the first natural instincts of a good leader is to educate. And if they don't know a lot to teach, they simply teach what they know.

-The sixth day-

The crickets hummed their quiet serenade to let it be carried on the night's wind, and the small waves of the nearby lake waved gently under the full moon. It was one of those hot summer nights where the trees hung low and the smell of the leaves drifted sweetly on the air.

The entire five unit group had an outing today, setting out to enjoy a fair bit of training as well as relaxation on the lakeshore. They all discovered a few things in their "survival" outing. Jirobu was a damn good swimmer and was impossible to dunk... as opposed to Kimimaro who surprisingly had no clue how to swim and had to stay in the shallow end the whole time like a little kid. Though the rest of them opted to mostly stay there as well. To make up for it, Kimimaro proved to be quite the naturally talented (and practiced, as he had pointed out) fisherman. Tayuya could build and keep a campfire and navigate by sun and stars like no one's business. Kidomaru could pitch tents like a pro... as six arms could possibly allow such a thing, and had the best natural sense for identifying edible plants and such. Sakon, however, was completely out of his element in all ways out in the woods. While none of that would seem extraordinary or important, it was still a bit of an enlightening lesson that was learned. As Kimimaro had pointed out to them... survival and efficiency didn't always come down to who could throw the best punch, even in a ninja's world.

Everyone enjoyed a pretty good deal of fun and games as well: even grumpy red-heads, stoic Buddhas, and humorless albinos receiving their fair amount. Jirobu had proven himself to be the master of Marco Polo and Dunk Wars, having the perfect build to avoid being dunked and the enlightened calm state of mind to be able to find everyone without his primary senses. Tayuya played a few of her original compositions on her flute for everyone, despite not really having been comfortable enough to play for anyone before besides Master Orochimaru. Sakon, at the same time surprisingly, was quite the mesmerizing dancer to behold. Both received a civil slew of compliments, neither in turn showing anything resembling humility. Of course they were great!

Sakon pointed out a bit timidly that the one who could dance better than him, of course, was the one who named his own techniques after dances. Kimimaro, of course, took no such credit but didn't deny it either. Even when the former admitted that a lot of his own taijutsu prowess and the ability to summon Rashoumon was taught by Kimimaro. A surprise? Not really.

Considering that Jirobu admitted that he'd taught him the foundation techniques, focus, and moves for his Achiever of the Nirvana Fist Style.

... The fact also that he had taught Kidomaru how to secrete his webbing as a utility and weapon since it was so closely related to the Kaguya's bloodline limit in a lot of ways.

And even that he had taught Tayuya many years ago the fundamentals of molding chakra and how to at least apply "smart" uses of genjutsu in order to fool the mind.

Even after all admissions had come into the light, the only thing that Kimimaro had to say was to assure them that each of them could utilize their learned talents better than he could, and he had only shown them the ropes all those years ago. ... Despite how he still occasionally had given them help in their developments even up until now.

But he was Kaguya Kimimaro. He was a quiet and humble leader who didn't have to use words to show his own confidence. It was just there, subtle at times and overwhelming at others. He was their leader. And as far as Kimimaro was concerned, a leader doesn't try to undermine the efforts and achievements of others.

Later that night...

And after the fun and games were over... training was harsh and unforgiving as always.

Jirobu sat in quiet meditation, no major injuries but still a significant amount of injuries that he hoped meditation would fix. Kidomaru likewise needed no help in treating his own injuries, given six independently working arms... and the bastard made sure to rub this in everyone's faces. Sakon had a pretty bad leg sprain, having tried to cross-kick the unmovable mountain that was Jirobu. Tayuya tried her best to stop the bleeding from a large gash in her forehead as best as she could without a mirror And Kimimaro of course... injury free as always short of a few very minor cuts and bruises.

"OW! DAMN!" Sakon yelled out again for at least the tenth time with a hiss, cursing the pain in his leg. As the Kaguya sitting on the ground in front of him tugged at it and pressed against his knee.

"Straighten your leg," he commanded. Sakon finally managed to oblige the command through significant pain and scooted off of the stool to sit on the ground and keep his leg straight. "Keep it straight and there's no reason you shouldn't be able to walk on it again in the next few hours."

Seeming to be satisfied with all of the pains and cries of this one, Doctor Kaguya moved on to his next patient: the ginger sitting downhill who was trying to go unnoticed. He had apparently been too unnecessarily quiet again as had become habit, seeing as how she jolted in surprise when he suddenly came from her side and appeared kneeling in front of her.

"No! I've got this! I'm not like that pussy over there who needs help because of a little OW!" Kimimaro's hand had slapped a rolled cloth against her bleeding forehead, none to gently.

"Hold this. Keep pressure."

She could hear Kidomaru snickering behind her and she glared at the pale boy in front of her for it. Sakon would find humor in her pain too if he hadn't just gone through his own. The healing hurt worse than the beating. But she did as she was told. She couldn't see the cut in order to fix it properly, afterall.

She winced again and she quietly swore when his hand pressed hers against her head, obviously informing her that she wasn't applying pressure properly.

"You bleed too much."

Kidomaru snorted. Tayuya 'tch'ed. Even such a miniscule and unimportant and probably unTRUE criticism was still a criticism. And Tayuya didn't take well to criticism.

"And if YOU didn't hit me between the eyes with a fucking STICK then maybe I wouldn't BLEED this much, you fuck twat!"

"A lady should not be using such words, Tayuya. It's very unbecoming." The meditating Buddah by the lake had decided to add his own repeated criticism and "wise" advice.

She spun around furiously to look at his back and bark back. "You shut up over there, lardass! What do YOU know anyway?"

She only heard Kimimaro sigh before she felt a strong grip on her chin which pulled her head back around to face the Kaguya.

"You just opened the cut up wider. ... And Jirobu apparently knows that if someone used more time training and less time complaining... then they would be able to block well enough to not get hit in the head with sticks..."

Kidomaru was laughing now and that even got a chuckle from the still-pained Sakon. Among other things that were slowly being learned about Kimimaro... one of them was that he DID have a sense of humor. A very dry and often-times sarcastic one. The type to make a joke without even cracking a smile or changing tone.

Tayuya however... opted to say nothing for once. She had expected Kimimaro to let go of her face, but he didn't. His grip had instead softened... and she could feel a bit of heat suddenly coming to her cheeks. He was in close proximity to her, his eyes examining hers and his neck and bare chest so close to her face as he leaned over her. Seeing as how training his bloodline ability often resulted in whatever he was wearing on the top half of his body to be shredded, Kimimaro usually opted to go without a shirt more often than he did. Matter of fact, he seemed to hate the restrictions of clothing to his body's natural movement or something, and so he was often wearing as few clothes as he could get by with. Kimimaro would likely be a naturalist if everyone else didn't make such a big fuss about him wandering out into the hall naked in the middle of the night when he need to get something to drink and figured most people would be asleep. Thus, he of course didn't think anything about letting that... smooth, perfectly chiseled, sweat-glistening torso of his... go completely uncovered after training. And damn him for not caring. Did he not realize damn near all of the other females around the base staring at him, sizing him up, and undressing him even more with their eyes when he would walk by? Did he not care who he showed off to? Did he even think anything of it?

Are these the thoughts of a jealous teenage girl coming from our dear Tayuya? Is the author breaking that all-important literary fourth wall at the moment? Damn straight. And equally to each rhetorical question. But said jealous thoughts are coming from Tayuya, so of course she doesn't realize them for what they are.

All she knew was that it was something about his proximity. And his touch. His hand was rough and calloused, telling a story of grueling and long daily training, but surprisingly warm to the touch. Had his hand ever touched her any other way besides to hit her before or push her out of the way? She couldn't help but wonder what that hand firmly yet somehow softly holding her chin would feel in h-

What the FUCK is wrong with me? Are these those fucking HORMONE things Kabuto was telling us about? Get a grip Tayuya. You still have to have his child, but that doesn't mean anything else. All of that shit about not having a child unless married and all. For fucks sake, that could work out better. I mean he's Kimimaro, anything more than a physical relationship would be SUICIDE. He's Kimimaro. He's cruel and cold and brutally honest... but... always honest...

Strong.
Powerful.

Absolutely gorgous.

Patient.

Loyal.
Dependable.

... Got that insanely sculpted sweating chest right up in your face...

The heat in her face grew as she could only stare straight ahead and swallow. She sniffed lightly and... sniffed again. Oh good God, why does he have to be so damn close? He smells like sweat and dirt and cheap deodorant and ludicrous amounts of sunscreen and-

She decided that the best course of action right now was just to respond and close her eyes. Stop looking. Stop thinking. Stop being such a goddamn girl.

"Yeah, whatever. Fuck you," she said trying a cool demeanor, pushing aside the fact that she had just been sniffing Kimimaro's neck.

Kidomaru huffed a chuckle. "Yeah right, Tayu-chan, hands off the captain. As if he'd actually let someone like you." Sakon snorted.

... And there it was. That feeling of nothing again. But that feeling of nothing quickly became something when she felt the movement's of Kimimaro's hand stop on her head. It felt as if it was just laying there. She slowly looked up at him, nothing of her usual look in her eyes. And then there was some other feeling when she saw his eyes looking into hers, an unpleasant secret being shared there that none of the rest of them knew about.

Kidomaru's words lingered there. As if he'd actually let someone like you.

Tayuya realized... that was probably the truth of the matter. But this was the reality of it all. However much they wanted to act like it didn't happen, the conversation the two of them had been forced into several nights ago did happen. For everyting that was changing around them, that would not change. And Kidomaru's words only acted to remind them.

Their eyes remained locked longer than Tayuya imagined she'd EVER meet eyes with him. Looking for... something in his near-unreadable expression, anything. His hand simply rested against her forehead now... and she wouldn't be able to recall exactly when her comparatively tiny hand had gone up to lay on top of his, slowly starting to coil her fingers around on of his. His touch grew lighter as his own hand gripped lightly to hers before pressing it gently to the cloth on her head. It lingered there a moment longer than seemed to be necessary before removing his hand from hers. Followed soon after by eye contact as he started to walk back.

"Hold it there for a couple of minutes," he said, a little quieter than usual. "It should stop bleeding. I'm going to bed."

Tayuya noticed that Sakon's eyes were watching them both. Taking in every action in every action as if his eyes were recorders. The unreadable, almost bitter look in his eyes bothered her. His eyes met hers as if he knew she'd seen him watching and piecing something together. But he didn't look to care. But as Kimimaro started to walk by, the look in Sakon's eyes changed as he looked up at him. It was a look she'd seen before when he looked at Kimimaro, but only now could she notice it. It was... concern. And something a bit deeper that seemed somehow familiar to her.

"Boss..." Sakon said, likewise in a voice that was quieter than usual. More serious and with a concerned hint.

Kimimaro stopped. No words, but he looked down at the former Sound Five leader. There was quite an uncomfortable silence that had earned Tayuya and Kidomaru's silent attention toward the two and had even pulled Jirobu out of meditation. It seemed to take Sakon a moment, as if he was having to gather his courage.

"Listen to me, Kimimaro. And call this mutiny if you wish but... the Uchiha." Sakon stilled his nerves and slowly, painfully rose to his feet. He would not be looked down at while saying this. "I will NOT go and get him if you do not want me to."

Several seconds and nothing else was said. Everyone was holding their breath, listening to what had to be the uncertainties of five people echoing through the one brave person there.

Sakon spoke louder. More passion in his voice than any would have expected. "You have been WRONGED, Kimimaro. Cheated. You won't say anything, but I can tell this is killing you. It's wrong. It's betrayal. It's straight. up. betrayal. And if there's ANY part of you that doesn't want to go through with this... I'm going to back you completely. If you aren't good enough for Orochimaru," there was no honor-fic given in the address, respect to his name taken away just as easily as it seemed it had been taken away from all of them. "Then no one else is. And I think that he doesn't realize that YOU are no more or less deserving of him than HE is of you."

Everyone was silent. The only sound that could be heard was the 'pop' that sounded from Kimimaro's knuckles as he balled them into a fist. It was a feeling of shocked astonishment that was shared between them. A reluctant and cautious, yet inspired rebellion. As if someone had just spit into the face of God.

"... I agree." Jirobu was the first to rally behind Sakon's claim. He opted no other words, but nothing else needed to be said on his part that hadn't already been said.

Kidomaru was the next. "I... well... wow. Just... wow. But... he's right, you know Captain? This whole thing just stinks. Up until this moment we've been NOTHING but loyal Sound ninja, you know? He doesn't need a new toy."

Tayuya kept silent for a moment, pondering. It really wasn't a surprise, the more she thought about it. These words being said by the others had been her words that she had kept to herself because she just thought she was being stupid. Being weak. Pathetic. But... everyone else shared the same train of thought as she did. Sakon... she had forgotten exactly the scale of his courage over the past few years. It was what had made him their first leader all those years back, one who even Kimimaro looked up to in the beginning. That willingness to say what had to be said, the willingness to do what had to be done when it was necessary. He had been the first to bring this up now, just as it had always been. Because unlike her, he knew what had to be said... fear be damned.

... But she could at least follow suit. Bravery in numbers.

"Exactly," she said, affirming Kidomaru. "We've always been loyal. And at the same time he's always given us reason to want to be loyal. He acts now like we follow him out of fucking fear or something. That's not the damn case at all. He wanted to attack Konoha and the Hokage... I followed. Because that's what he wanted to do... he... felt betrayed... right?"

She recalled those few years ago when their master had first started talking about attacking Konoha and killing Sarutobi. It was the first time they had doubted him, and they questioned him. Because despite what the people of Konoha want you to believe... their master was not a bloodthirsty and violent man. He had only ever shown all of them the care of a parent, a father that they all either never had or had been deprived of. So when they asked... he had given them an honest answer...

"All my life... there was only ever one person who I thought to be truly perfect. Sarutobi-sensei, as it were. But as the years drew on... time was the only thing he couldn't stand up against. It started to take away from that perfection I remembered... and that I realized I wanted to preserve. That's when I started experimenting with the Second Hokage's legacy that had been forbidden. Bringing back the dead. Body transfer... a way to defy nature and remain forever youthful. I wanted my sensei to live forever and protect his village... I wanted him to be able to go back to that perfection he once had. I was so excited when he found out, because I could finally tell him. And I did. ... He called me a fool. A criminal. He had me labeled an exile in my own home. Tried to have me detained. ... And this I could not forgive. This... I will not forgive. So I swore I would make him realize the perfection that he had refused, even if it had to be through someone lesser as myself."

Tayuya shook her head and continued. "He was hurt and we supported him. Because it was for him. It wasn't for some acquiring of power. And now... that's all this is about. He wants to acquire power and he's willing to risk OUR lives to get it. ... It's not right, Kimimaro. I can't support that..."

Kimimaro... looked as if he was ready to punch a hole through Sakon. And not so much because he was mad at them. It struck a chord in him and they knew it. Kimimaro hated anything he didn't feel one hundred percent certain about. And right now... he could not disagree with anything they were saying.

"You. Are. a. Fool." He looked at Sakon and simply shoved him against the wall. A pain went to his knee... but everyone knew he had gotten off incredibly easy just then.

Kimimaro looked around at the rest of them... anger and hate for the first time PERFECTLY clear in his eyes. Though they knew even despite his words that it wasn't aimed toward any of them. As if for once... everyone present perfectly understood each other. They all had their bad times to put it lightly. Weren't the greatest friends ever at the best of times, and absolutely wanted to kill each other at the worst. But it was in the face of change that everything had started to come together. All five of them realizing that when presented with someone else who would want to come in and be a part of everything and take charge... they weren't all that bad. The team realized that in the uncertainty of having a new leader... Kimimaro was actually pretty good. And Kimimaro himself realizing that... this was a great team that despite everything still backed him. But why should they, he wondered? Why not go ahead and let things run their course? He wouldn't be around in a few years anyw-

His eyes finally stopped on Tayuya's. "You are all fools..." There was something else in his eyes and words when he faced them toward her. He walked a few steps away and then looked at them all again. "Understand something. I'm not going to lead a group on a mission that they don't want to see followed out. We'll have our fight as usual to determine the leader. This time you all choose the conditions. That way you all will have a fair chance of getting the leader you want to make the best decisions in your favor."

And with that, he turned and briskly walked away. "My own thoughts on the matter are likely compromised as well."

... Everyone simply watched him turn away, no words spoken or shared. They all knew it. Kimimaro was supposed to be perfect. And even he had his doubts about all of this. They all knew that it was bad when Kimimaro himself felt compromised.

But... it was strange because somehow... even in their confusion and opposition, they all seemed more united than ever.

-Four years ago- "Kabuto"-

"He did what?" receiving such news while in a panicked dead run, even the great Orochimaru failed to keep entirely calm. He leaves the base for a few days and this is what he returns to. And perhaps too late.

Kidomaru and Jirobu each stained in spots with a little bit of blood, limped as quickly as they could behind him: Kidomaru noticeably faster than Jirobu. Kidomaru looked at Jirobu who was wincing in pain, and Jirobu motioned for him to go on.

"I'll catch up."

And so Kidomaru ran more quickly ahead with their master, hopefully prepare him for what was going on so he could figure out a solution.

"Kabuto FUSED Sakon and Ukon! It... I don't know how, but he did!" Kidomaru's voice was cracking. Grief AND fear. "When we got there, he... he was already in the process and Tayuya was naked and shaking in the corner. We... we attacked him and tried to stop him, but he just kept hitting us and putting us down. He wouldn't HURT us, because he said we were next! We tried Master... we really tried and... and we couldn't do a damn thing!"

Either his leg injury was catching up to him or Orochimaru had picked up the pace. "I know. Kabuto is powerful. No one can blame any of you for not being able to stop him. Did..." Orochimaru sounded a bit worried now. "Was Sakon and Tayuya still with him when you came for me?"

"Yes. But Kimimaro was the one who told me and Jirobu to stop what we were doing and come get you. He... he said he'd ask him to stop."

"..." Orochimaru was silent.

"Don't... please don't let him do something to Kimimaro too. I don't think Kimimaro will even try to fight back."

"... Nothing's going to happen to Kimimaro."
... After what he had just told him? "What? HEY! You don't UNDERST-"

"You've never seen Kimimaro fight. Kabuto's already dead."

"..."

Kidomaru had wondered about the constant, wet "thup" sound coming from around the corner had been when he rounded it... and he paused to vomit shortly after.

Thup

Orochimaru was the one to step forward, slowly he noticed.

Thup

Kimimaro was on the floor, legs limp behind him looks as if he couldn't move them. There were strange markings going across his body. They would all find out later that he had activated what was called a "Curse Seal".

Thup

And the curse seal, along with increasing power wrecks havoc on an inexperienced user's thoughts and emotions.

Thup

"... Kimimaro?"

Thup

There was not a single ounce of emotion on his face, as he stared blankly ahead, his fist pounding away a what once resembled the face of Kabuto. Now there was only a bloody mess splattered across the floor and broken lab window and walls and Kimimaro's shirt and flowing off of Kimimaro's fist which had a couple of really small sharp bones growing out of each knuckle.

Thup

Tayuya huddled in the corner of the hall not far from Kimimaro and what was once Kabuto, facing the wall,shaking. She covered her ears.

Thup

Orochimaru reached out and touched Kimimaro on the shoulder. "Kimimaro... please stop. There's no-"

CRUNCH!

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" Kimimaro screamed.

The bravest Orochimaru actually backed off quickly and jerked his hand away as Kimimaro quickly spun around and fell to the ground, unable to move his bloodied legs: evidence of Kabuto's obviously flawed theory on what would "sedate" the last Kaguya.

"This is YOUR fault! YOU brought him in here! YOU let him DO this to Sakon and Ukon and let him do put his TRASH hands on Tayuya! And you brought someone I CAN'T GET RID OF!"

Orochimaru frowned and lowered his head. Almost like an apology. Of course it wasn't his fault that Kabuto did this. The actions of an individual were only and always their decision. But he understood anger and emotion. He understood his children. And there was nothing he could say in defense for himself. Even the adoring Kidomaru stepped away from Orochimaru and gave him a heated look after such a statement from the forever loyal Kimimaro. Jirobu had finally arrived and limped past his master without much acknowledgment either.

"Please Orochimaru..." No 'Oro-sama' as they usually endearingly called him. "Please try to do something for Sakon and Ukon... they don't deserve this..."

"I will," was his quiet reply.

Kimimaro's face went into his hands, hiding. "I was too late to help them... I couldn't even KILL him for them... he keeps fixing himself..." And indeed Kabuto's muscle and skin was moving on its own as if to put itself back together. His regeneration would be the only reason he lived through this. It would take a while, but he would heal himself.

Kidomaru had put a blanket gently around Tayuya and was helping her to her feet. She told him she was fine. She wasn't so weak as to need help, not after what had happened to the twins. She was crying still. And he didn't believe her. Her teared eyes held nothing but anger until they looked at Kimimaro, which then quickly turned to worry. She had blanked out for a while and now prayed that not even a single drop of that blood was Kimimaro's own.

Kimimaro looked up now, his face unreadable yet again as he looked at Kabuto and back to Orochimaru. It was a chilling look and demeanor. As if the somewhat shy and caring Kimimaro was gone forever and this was all that was left.

"If he ever touches my friends again... he'll wish he had died today."

He huffed out a heavy breath as Jirobu approached Kimimaro without any of the fear that Orochimaru had approached him with.

"Let's go, Leader-sama..." Some would say it sounded weird, but there was nothing but full and complete honesty in that title. Nothing but respect and pride and admiration, even in such a condition. For that moment at least, it seemed as if all respect and loyalty the biggest one of the team had had for their master was now given to someone else.

There was no rebuttal when he reached down and picked up the smaller, crippled Kaguya. Only a nod of gratitude. Such a small boy when picked up and put to literal size against the hulking Jirobu. But even crippled and having to be carried, no one in the hall that day saw him as anything smaller than a mountain.

By the time the remaining four had all gathered around, Orochimaru came out carrying the bloodied wrapped sheet that they all knew held the horrible abomination that had become of the now fused Sakon and Ukon. Orochimaru would do something about this, he swore.

Kimimaro looked at himself, broken and unable to walk. He looked at Jirobu, beaten and battered and still having to carry his leader. Tayuya... covered with only a blanket and looking more vulnerable and defeated than the prideful girl would ever want any of them to see her. Kidomaru, as battered as Jirobu pride completely crushed in his inability to help his best friend. It was a horrible sight... and for the first time this entire group sickened him. But he didn't care for them any less. If anything... a bond was stronger. And that's why nothing would ever be the same between them.

"Look at yourselves..." he finally spoke, his voice cold and harsh for the first time ever. But no one seemed bothered. The truth was also cold and harsh. "Everyone of you... Sakon and Ukon too. You're all weak. Pathetic. Despite your best efforts... you could not stop this. You could not defend yourselves or each other. What if I had not been around? What would have happened to the rest of you? It sickens me. And it should sicken all of you too. And don't any of you dare ever forget any of this. Not a single moment, not a single feeling."

The only thing everyone could do was sigh and nod. They held back tears. They would not cry. Could not. And they never would again. After a few quiet seconds, Kimimaro gave a wave and they all began the slow, literal and figurative painful walk back to their rooms. And the only one who was able to stand up to the one who wanted to have his way with them all and stop him was having to be carried back to his.

"Because this... none of this will ever happen again. I won't protect you. Do not count on me for that ever again. But I swear now that I will put you all through such hell and training that no one will ever be able to do something like this to you again."

And it was in those few minutes that everything had changed. None of them were ever children again.

-The ninth day-

"Hey! Tayuya!"

The mentioned spun around quickly with the usual glare, though somehow lacking in the raw anger and hatred. Sakon: that good for nothing incestous fag. ... Endearingly, of course.

"What do you want?"

And now he looked away. Hesitant and pondering. "Would you mind walking with me for a bit?"

And suddenly now SHE felt a bit nervous. Usually the only time she and Sakon OR Ukon traded words was when they were exchanging biting comments and insults. Even that had died down a lot these past few months. She normally would have told him to fuck off, but... there seemed something different this time.

A few minutes later and they were walking the other path through the woods that they all used to walk together when they were kids. Somewhere ahead it led to their old favorite training spot. Sakon was unusually quiet and almost visibly uncomfortable in his pondering. About the time she started to wonder if this had been a good idea, he finally spoke up.

"So... have you been doing okay?"

She quirked an eyebrow. "What the fuck does it even matter to y-" He seemed to have been ready for that.

"Look... something about this bothers me. This whole business with the Uchiha..."

Tayuya sniffed and nodded, silent. She waited for him to go on. Even during these unnatural peaceful times, she would have been lying if she said she hadn't thought about it a lot. A new and unexpected and sudden addition to their "family". And the vibe she got was that somehow his retrieval would be like the coming of God to their master. Like he was so much more important and great that the rest of them were like a sneeze to him now.

"Is it something bad that... I'm questioning our master's judgment? That I really don't want to go through with this mission?"

Tayuya thought for a moment, scratching her chin. "Hell yeah it's a bad thing. I think the same thing, but I still think it's a bad thing. We shouldn't fucking doubt him. But then... he's never given us a reason to doubt him before. It's something new. He's changed or something."

It was the most civil conversation she and one of the twins had had in a while.

"I know. I know what you mean. This one thinks the same way." He motioned toward his back, obviously in reference to his "sleeping" brother. "There's just something not right about it. Like we're getting just a little bit of the light... while being intentionally left in the dark for the first time. I don't like that Orochimaru-sama feels that whatever it is... he can't trust us to know..."

Sakon had stopped, looking at the ground. Tayuya stopped too, sighing.

"Yeah... I know..."

"I don't want things to change, Tayuya. It disgusts me..."

She nodded.

"I want things to stay as they are now..." he said.

Another nod. "I know."

"And..." a long pause. "... I want Kimimaro to keep being our leader. Jirobu feels the same way. Probably Kidomaru too."

"... me too."

The wind whistled a quiet song through the leaves, leaving the two standing there in silent agreement and understanding. Funny... how it takes such major change to bring people back together.

Tayuya humored a mischievous grin that she shared his way after a passing thought. "If I didn't know any damn better, Sakon... I'd say your feelings about him are beyond that of admiration for a leader."

Sakon merely... looked up at the tree leaves overhead, the lightest of smiles. He didn't seem bothered at all, no quick refusals. And somehow that... made her feel a little uncomfortable. She didn't expect him to be so... up front about it, at the very least expected him to deny such accusations for the sake of facade. She likewise caught something else in his almost serene look. Was that... regret?

"Hey look, it's okay for y-" she started but was quietly interrupted.

"It doesn't matter though. I really don't miss a lot, considering I do have eyes in back of my head. I notice things."

And for some reason she felt uneasy again. "... What do you mean? Like what?"

He looked at her now, a look of... acceptance? "Like, the fact that you're the one he looks at when he thinks no one's watching?"

Tayuya's previous taunting gaze had fallen and now found interest in the dirt below her feet, unable to look in the face of someone saying such a thing. In the next moment after a slight embarrassed shading of her face... she volunteered just the smallest hint of something that she hadn't told a single soul over these past several days.

"You might see a lot... but you don't know all the damn facts, I promise y-"

"It's a little bit more than the look he'd give to someone who he's reluctantly going to have a baby with."

... For the first time, the verbal biting Tayuya found silence to truly be a virtue. And her teammate happily obliged.

-The night before the mission-

As was customary before major missions, a quick fight was initiated within the Sound Five to decide the leader. It was supposed to be a battle royale, but it often ended up with the other four teaming up against Kimimaro so that they may be able to finally have a change of leader. But one on one or four against one... it mattered not to Kimimaro, the result always being the same. ... Except that this time he had given allowed them to decide the conditions.

But for the first time, the sounds of their fight could be heard coming from INSIDE their underground base. Echoing through the halls and coming from the training room.

THUMP!

"Kidomaru! Secure his legs! Tayuya hit him!" The commanding voice of Sakon sounded out.

WHUMP!
THUMP!

"ACK!" Sakon.
"OUCH!" Kidomaru

"SHIT!" Tayuya.

"Jirobu! He's coming your way! Grab him!" Tayuya's voice that time.

Thup-CLUD

"Dammit! JIROBU'S DOWN!" Kidomaru.

Whup thump clop plop

"Yes! Drive him into the corner!"

"I got his leg." Jirobu.

"BITE THE BASTARD!"

"Bite me and you'll be dead by morn-"

Thump.

...

And like a siren, the victorious cry of the the Sound Five, minus a Kimimaro, howled loudly through the room and hall.

The "training room" looked more like an exploding chicken arena now, feathers lying everywhere and floating around the room. The four victors stood tall on the training mat, exchanging high-fives and hugs and waving their... pillows around.

Kimimaro, the loser, was on the ground leaning back on his hands, his pillow cast to the side and he himself off of the mat.

He narrowed his eyes. "Stop being so loud. If I were a sore loser. I would go on about how a pillow is the most inefficient and unwieldy weapon in the world and only an idiot would pick it as their chosen weapon for ANY means. Or the fact that given such a weapon, 4 against 1 is entirely unfair. But I'm not a sore loser. And I don't complain when I lose," he said... complaining because he lost.

"YOU SOUND LIKE SUCH A SORE LOSER!" Kidomaru chimed in helpfully and laughed. He turned to look at the others, a grin displayed on his face. "Doesn't he gu-ACK!" ... only to be blindsided and knocked over by Kimimaro's Projectile Pillow as if it had been packed with rocks, a couple of feathers drifting around where he had once stood laughing.

"Whatever." Kimimaro got up now and turned around to leave, waving over his shoulder. "Fight it out or tag your leader now. A loss is a loss, whatever the means and conditions."

And with his departure, he could hear them mumbling quietly to each other. It would take them a while to settle their matters, so he'd make sure and remind them. "Just inform me in the morning. And tell me if you've decided to stay or go. We'll meet out in fro-" Thup.

... A pillow had hit his shoulder and fell to the floor. He narrowed his eyes a little and turned around to look at the others behind him. They were all four standing straight, as if making a brave statement or challenge. A bit of an uneasy and nervous air.

"... tag." Kidomaru said, quietly and without his usual jest.

Kimimaro took on an unreadable stare as he looked down at the pillow, eyes unmoving for several long moments. It took the one who had "achieved Nirvana" to say what they all wanted to say.

"We don't want another leader." Jirobu said quietly, as if letting some sort of secret out. But it wasn't long after that Sakon chimed in, Kimimaro still staring at the pillow... but listening.

"We may not have always been able to get along all the time... but we've never hated you. And... well... I guess I'm sorry if it's ever seemed like that."

"Yeah. I mean... you're really the one who's always been there for us, to pull us through when things got rough. Like when Kabuto first came in and wanted to start taking everything over and start commanding us around and pushing us around because he was so much more powerful and... I've never forgotten that." Kidomaru gave his two cents, almost going off on a tangent. It was no secret that even though they all hated Kabuto, Kidomaru held the most contempt.

Tayuya finally nodded and tugged at the bottom of her shirt habitually. "And now we have to go get that bastard Uchiha and we're expected to just accept whatever changes and... Goddammit Kimimaro! He's the new toy! He's going to come in and want to have his way just like Kabuto did... and we expect you not to let it fucking happen!" Her voice got a bit lower now. "... Like you did last time. Like you always have. Because you are our leader..."

Jirobu looked at the smaller girl because she seemed like she had wanted to say something else. But then he realized she was having trouble and decided it was okay for the "confession" to come back full circle to him.

"More than that. We will not follow anyone other than you. Even Orochimaru. Until this fanatic obsession of his settles down... we'll only be taking his orders through you, as you see fit. Because... we know you won't lead us wrong. We trust you and... if I dare to speak for everyone so boldly... we couldn't ask for a better leader."

And for quite the surprise at such a statement by Jirobu speaking for everyone... no one spoke otherwise. Not even a look of disagreement on anyone's face. And Kimimaro's expression, just as unreadable as ever when he bent down to pick up his pillow. Finally, the pale boy decided to speak.

"If that's how you feel... then I'm sorry to say I'm going to get Orochimaru-sama's new container tomorrow. And if I'm your leader, that's what you'll be doing tomorrow."

"YES SIR!"

... Four voices speaking loudly and confidently as one. One mind, one drive. ... They were truly the Sound Five again. And even the last Kaguya was taken back, the slightest hint of suprise showing on his face and in his eyes. Though no one dared mock him, and for once for reasons besides fear.

"Well... hm." Mark the calendar. Because that left Kimimaro truly in a state of being without words. He pondered for a few seconds and his "team" stood atop the mat in front of him, patient.

His eyes went up to them, all seriousness having returned... but minus the cold look they usually held. "We are doing this FOR our master and for no other reason, is that understood?"

"Sir!" And that surprised him yet again, getting an affirmation to a question he didn't expect a reply to.

But he continued on, actually pacing back and forth in front of them a little bit now... something akin to an army commander to his platoon.

"... I'm only going to say this once. And that's once more than I should have to say it..." All attention was still on him. "There will be no more talk about this fear of things changing and being different that I've been hearing. These concerns over how things will be when Uchiha Sasuke is brought here."

Everyone gave a nod to his command, a slight look of uncertainty between them, but still overshadowed by confidence in the one that they had for the first time officially "chosen" as their leader.

"Because well... you're all fools if you think I'm actually going to LET someone come in here and take over."

Kimimaro turned around now to leave, pillow in hand. The general was ready for bed. And the rest of the solders visibly relaxed, a few light smiles making their rounds. Even if their leader still had the social graces of a potato... they knew when he was trying. And if nothing else, they knew Kimimaro wouldn't speak a single word that wasn't completely honest. For those reasons... it felt like the weight of the world had been lifted from their shoulders.

They had made a decision to not let things change around here. They had decided who they wanted for their leader... and it had turned out to be the one who had always been their leader since he got there. But it was their decision. And Kimimaro himself assured them that he would not let things change.

"You say... that you wouldn't want another leader..."

The whispers and murmurs stopped as Kidomaru pointed out across the training room. Kimimaro had stopped again, hand and pillow hanging limp at his side. All eyes were on the pale boy's back. He turned his head back to look at them over his shoulder and there was a look in his eye that stilled them... chilled them. They shared a collective uncomfortable look. Had their words... MOVED Kimimaro?

He let out the slightest of sighs. "... I wouldn't want another team."
*** *** *** *** ***

A/N: Woo! Chapter 3 finished! Hope everyone likes it!

C.A.M.E.O.1 and Only: Haha! Glad you liked it! They're all so cute... and then they have to go and grow up! GRR! Lol! And yes, draw away. I don't mind; I'd be honored! Make sure and let me see it, okay? : D

anon: Done! XD

LeedleLee: Well thank you very much! I'm glad you enjoy. I certainly do enjoy writing it. And yes, that's something I'm hoping to portray with Kimimaro. The fact that you DON'T know what's going on inside his head and can't predict him. Complexity in a character who doesn't have much to say.

Kimimaro Of the Rock: Thank you! Compliments make me smile. *^_^* See?