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Chapter 4: Connect

The only way to forget about this 'guilt', Sasuke had realized soon afterwards, was to forget about the girl and to keep his distance from the prisoner. Of course, in his case, it was easier said than done. It had been originally Kabuto's daily job to feed the brunette prisoner her measly portion. However, the white haired man had tactfully smooth-talked himself out of the job as he informed Orochimaru that he was far too busy with his 'experiments' to pause and make the "long", tedious walk downstairs to feed a mere prisoner.

Orochimaru, who relied on Kabuto's experiments to find him ways to become immortal and all powerful, reflected on what Kabuto had said and soon deemed him correct and that someone else should do the deed. However, the black haired Sannin also insisted that he wanted someone who could not be easily swayed or defeated to take the meal to Tenten. This was another signal that told Sasuke that this girl was meant for purposes that the Sannin was keeping secret. So naturally, Sasuke being Orochimaru's favorite protégé at the time, was chosen to make the trip to the dungeons and back, twice a day, every day.

As a result, of course, Sasuke's plans to stay away from the strange brunette were shattered.

After a month of rudely pushing the rusty tray towards the brunette every day without a word, Sasuke was surprised to hear the girl speak again. Her voice came soft, but that was the result of her weak state from malnutrition since most days she refused to eat. But the thing that most surprised Sasuke was the fact that her voice wasn't shaky and there was no hint of the fear coming from her lips. "So why did you get stuck with this job?" The raven haired boy turned to stare at her and was surprised once more to see a small smirk on her lips, as if she had just hit a nerve inside of him that had been irking for a month now. "Congratulations, you have gone from traitor to servant boy." Her eyes were lowered onto the ground, staring at the tray. She lifted them slowly, and now it was her turn to be surprised.

While she had been expecting the raven haired boy to be pissed at her little comment, she saw a bemused look on his face. This aggravated her, "What are you amused at?" She demanded forcefully, her eyes now glaring icily into the black eyes of her onlooker.
But Sasuke merely let out an amused grunt before stalking away into the darkness that shrouded the door way.

"GET BACK HERE YOU-" Tenten screamed but was cut off as sharp pain made her drop back down against the wall. She lowered her head, letting a single tear escape in her state of weakness and pity.

"You know Orochimaru doesn't enjoy it when you torment his Bodies," Kabuto mused as he flipped the page of his book. Not once did he glance up at the Uchiha who was seated nearby, scowling at the wall.

"Shut up," Sasuke snapped, turning his scowl toward the bespectacled man. "Wait," he realized suddenly. "You said 'Body'. Why?" His question came out more forcefully then he intended but he guessed that it was just this 'guilt' thing was still bothering him.

"Calm down, Sasuke-kun." Kabuto smirked slyly as he glanced up from his book at the raven haired boy. "And yes, the girl is going to be one of Orochimaru-sama new bodies."

"But why?" Sasuke was confused and he despised it when he was confused. "She has no real jutsu. All she can do is throw around some useless weapons."

"You sound jealous," Kabuto teased slyly.

"Pfft, me, be jealous of that no one?" Sasuke scoffed. "I just want to know why you're keeping her alive."
"I have no idea whatsoever why Orochimaru-sama wants the girl," Kabuto replied in such a way that Sasuke was positive that he was lying.

"Whatever, but if you want her alive so badly, try doing a better job at it," Sasuke snapped before storming out of the room. Midway back to his room, he fully began to comprehend what had just happened. He leaned against the wall and swallowed. Why do I even care about that girl? His head was throbbing with questions yet his heart denied them all access to the outer world. 'I need to get rid of this guilt now.' He thought, decided on what he was about to do. Once again that day, he made his way to the dark chambers where the girl was being kept. But the difference this time was that instead of carrying a tray, he was carrying a dagger.

The soft sound of footsteps on the cold, concrete floor woke Tenten from her slumber. Her eyes widened as she eyed the object in the raven haired boy's hand: it was a beautiful hand-crafted dagger, Tenten could tell with just a glance at the icy metal. Her eyes narrowed and she gave him a glare that matched his own. "What do you think you're about to do?" She asked, hatred dripping from her voice. The chains attached to the shackles that tightly gripped her hands were the only thing that stopped her from attacking him on the spot.

The barred door slid open and Sasuke slipped inside.

"You have overstayed your welcome," he commented bluntly, twisting the dagger around his thumb. "It's time for you to go." He was now positioned next to her and was about to bring the dagger down in the final blow when Tenten used the little strength she could muster and kicked him in the shin. Yelping in pain, Sasuke dropped the weapon centimeters away from the imprisoned girl. She reached for it but Sasuke, who had regained himself and suppressed the pain, stepped on her hand causing her to scream in pain. Sasuke turned to give her a triumphant smirk before he bent down to get the silver dagger. His fingers were about to clasp around the handle, but in a swift leg swipe by Tenten, he was lying on the floor, his back burning in pain. The last thing he saw was Tenten panting heavily and trying to regain her breath before his eyes fluttered closed and he blacked out.

Opening his eyes, Sasuke was blinded by the illumination of light over him. He shot up in the bed he was lying in. Immediately, he figured out where he was: Kabuto's laboratory.

"Oh good, you're awake," Kabuto noted brightly as he approached the raven haired boy with a smug smile and a large shot. Sasuke glanced warily at the shot. "Relax, this isn't for you."

"Why am I here?" Sasuke questioned although he knew that answer.

"Tell me you haven't forgotten? You tried to kill a chained girl and you failed," Kabuto informed him, his smile growing. "Which reminds me: Orochimaru-sama should here soon to reprimand you for your deed."

"Whatever," Sasuke murmured leaning back in the bed and shutting his eyes. He mind drifted to the fight that the brunette put up. He was well aware that she had little strength and was slightly amazed at the fact that she had managed to defeat him. Maybe getting rid of her wasn't the brightest idea but that feeling was still there. He was beginning to be fed up with it.

"Ahem," a cough broke Sasuke out of his thoughts and he opened his eyes to see Kabuto glaring at him and signaling him to sit up. Slowly, he sat up as he knew why the white haired man had been so frantic all of the sudden: Orochimaru had arrived.

"Sasuke," the snake man greeted, his voice was soft and almost broken; and he looked weak and tired. "I heard about your little fight with Tenten-dear."

The Uchiha kept his silence but felt a feeling of loathing when Orochimaru said the girl's name.

"I have to thank you, though," Orochimaru continued a smile on his lips. "I have now seen the girl's true potential. Taking you down was no easy feat. No, I think that I should wait before we do the body-change jutsu. Kabuto, make sure she is brought back to full health and then begin her training."

"Yes, sir," Kabuto bowed his head as the Sannin left the room.

While Orochimaru was leaving and Kabuto was too busy admiring his idol, Sasuke snuck out of the lab and to the prison cells for the third time that day. Sticking his bandaged hands into his pockets, he casually strolled to the cell that the brunette occupied. He was slightly surprised to see her there as he thought that she would be healing but then he remembered that he had gotten more beat up then the chained prisoner. Sasuke sat down and leaned his back against the wall opposite the cell so that he was facing the jail cell and could see the brunette. His onyx eyes met her honey colored ones as her head lifted up to give him a smirk. "You're different than others." Sasuke noted.

"Thanks, I suppose," Tenten managed a smug grin. "Now I don't know if I should be pissed at the fact that you tried to kill me, although you failed miserably--"

Sasuke grimaced, "Thanks for reminding me."

"--Or not," Tenten finished.

"I don't know," Sasuke shrugged, "It's your choice, not like I can change that."
Tenten sighed deeply. She no longer looked weak and in pain, Sasuke noticed. "Well, unlike some people," she eyed Sasuke, "I don't hold grudges so I propose a peace treaty between us. You don't try to kill me again and I won't kick your butt again. Agreed?"

"Whatever," Sasuke shrugged again.

"Also, you need to stop giving me short answers. Don't you know how to converse?" Tenten questioned sharply.

"Fine, I agree to your 'treaty'," Sasuke sighed, deciding that he wanted to be on her good side.

"But I don't," Tenten replied, crossing her arms.

Sasuke protested, stunned at her sudden refusal, "You're the one who suggested it."

"I know, but you need to answer a question for me first. Why did you try to kill me?" The serene, focused look in her eyes told Sasuke that she wanted the truth.

"There was a feeling that I needed to get rid of," Sasuke replied cautiously, choosing the right words.

"It's called guilt," Tenten informed a matter-a-factly. She gave him a smirk, "I'm actually glad that you left Konoha, though."

"And why is that?" The raven haired boy raised an eyebrow curiously.

Tenten shrugged, and then stared at ceiling as if she was looking at the invisible sky. Blinking twice, she looked back into his onyx eye, "Konoha was just holding you back. There was no way that you could get revenge for the massacre. You need to fulfill your purpose even if takes joining a slimy, snake-like she-man."

Sasuke let out a small chuckle at her comment. "You know, it's kind of refreshing to talk to someone who seems to understand what I'm going through and what I need to do."

"Wow, another compliment. You're working over time today, aren't you, Uchiha?" Tenten commented lightly, a rare smile plastered on her lips. It was a smile that Sasuke had never seen during the time she had been held prisoner.

Unable to stop himself, the raven haired boy unconsciously gave a genuine smile back. Tenten sighed, a tiny bit of joy in her breath, "Today was life changing. I never even dreamed that we could connect."

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(Also, I hope you don't see this as going too fast. But please tell me, criticism is welcome!)