A/N: Here's a tip: never brag about your pedigree. Never brag about anything you've got. Even if you've got a whole ton of crap, act as if you've got nothing. It's useful in life.

Also, is this craptastic thing so craptastic that it doesn't even deserve broiling? Everyone around here is much too kind.

The sun was setting as Sasuke stepped on Konohagakure soil. The journey had been unusually easy. All the precautions he had taken to avoid detection through the lands were wasted; he was as ignored as the shadows stretching longer and longer as the day wore on. He had eaten very little, his stomach accustomed to running nearly on empty, a product of training under Orochimaru. Getting out of the Sound had been a nice change. He had nearly forgotten that outside there still existed people who weren't seeking revenge.

However, all of this was forgotten as soon as he stepped inside the Leaf's borders. He was surprised at the total lack of feeling he had for the land he had once called home. Perhaps it was only because he was taking a roundabout forested route instead of walking in the streets of his childhood. Perhaps it was because he had a mission to do and had long since blocked out everything besides the task at hand. Still, somewhere deep down, a part of him told him that he had become as cold and indifferent as his mentor. In that same spot somewhere deep down, he was saddened. But it was, after all, somewhere deep down, and he was able to push it out of his mind as he considered the best way to infiltrate the village discreetly.

Yet, it wasn't necessary. It was almost too easy to penetrate the village walls without breaking a single brick, and astoundingly simple to get onto Hyuuga Lands. Was it because he'd become accustomed to the tightest security in the world during his time in the Sound? Or had Konoha's security always been so lax? He imagined it must have been so; otherwise, how would Orochimaru have gotten in so easily a few years back?

Almost before he knew it, he was peering through the branches of a tree, his dark eyes focused intently on the Hyuuga Manor. So far, he had only seen two Hyuuga guards standing at the entrance of the property, as if criminals would actually waltz up to the entrance and ask if they could wreak havoc on the manor. Sasuke was almost disappointed by the lack of security. Weren't the Hyuuga the most powerful, important clan in all of Konoha? Wouldn't the village make sure their strongest, longest-thriving clan would be kept safe from outside forces? Or did they just assume that since they were so well equipped in battle that they didn't need too much protection? It struck him as strange; it was almost too easy.

Before he knew it, the sun had gone down, and lights were glowing from inside the houses. Shadows could be seen ghosting past the screened windows. Now, Sasuke slid down as silently as a feline to crouch near the foundation of the house, catching snatches of conversation from inside the house. Something about clan funds, a person getting scolded for lighting a hallway plant on fire, congratulations for someone initiating ANBU training. Definitely not what he was looking for. Main branch family members wouldn't be left in charge of such tedious tasks as funding, no main branch member would be free enough to go around causing trouble in the most reserved Hyuuga home, and main branch members were strictly tied to serving their own clan, so much so that they almost weren't allowed to serve the village. He continued on, pressing himself close to the wall and straining his ears to hear for some sign of something to show him it was a main branch member.

Then, as he was nearly deciding that the whole damn manor was filled with nothing but branch members, he heard something that made him stop, right beneath the window of the last room.

It was crying. Quiet sobs floated to him through the thin walls of the house, miserable words coming through between the teary gasps.

"I… always try m-my best," a feminine voice whimpered. "But it's never good enough." Hiccups and gasps followed these words, and almost when Sasuke was about to move on, deciding that main branch members wouldn't be so weak as to cry, something the girl said changed his mind.

"Main branch… that's what's making my life so miserable. Being a main b-b-branch memb-ber…"

Wondering if he had heard right, Sasuke pressed his ears closer to the wall, refusing to breath just to catch the girl's whispers. He was rewarded, as at this point the girl seemed to break through the wall that was holding her back, and she began convincing Sasuke of her lineage.

"The b-b-branch members never have these p-p-problems. They're so free to do what they want. I hate this… why did I have to be first-born? Why did I have to be born heiress? Why did I have to be next in line?"

Sasuke's eyes widened, and he could see how lucky he'd been. It wasn't every day you managed to kidnap an heiress. This girl was guaranteed to have strong Hyuuga blood. Definitely lucky.

Inside, the girl continued to sob and mutter about how terrible it was to be a Hyuuga, how all the weight of a clan rested on her shoulders. Before she even had time to draw another gasp, a large hand wrapped around her mouth, and an arm wrapped around her body, holding her in an iron grip that was almost painful. She tried in vain to spin around and look at her assailant, but the arms that were her chains were too strong to break; it would be painful to twist in Sasuke's iron grasp. She began to scream, but it all her calls for help were silenced by his hand.

"Quiet!" he hissed, shaking her slightly. "Calm down."

She continued screaming under his hand, even attempting to shake herself free from his grip. She was soon tired and fell limp in his arms.

"Good," said Sasuke, taking her fatigue as resignation. "If you cooperate, this will be easy for everyone involved. I'm going to take you away," he said slowly, making sure every word made it into her head. As soon as she heard he was taking her away, she began writhing, working furiously to escape and have someone hear her.

"Shut up! I don't want to hurt you. Work with me here, and I promise you'll be fine," he said, knowing full well that she wouldn't be fine if Orochimaru had his way. He only wanted her eyes; the body was useless to him.

She ignored him and squirmed, jerking futilely. He held her tighter against him, letting out his words in a low hiss.

"You need to calm down. I'm not going to waste my time dealing with you trying to run away. You will follow me, because with me you'll be safe. There are dangerous things out there, and I'll be the only human being you'll see besides men with worse intentions. I'm going to blindfold you. When I take off the blindfold, I expect you to follow me. If you don't follow me, I swear that you won't find your way back."

Tears were running down her cheeks and drenching his hands, and more of the strange gasping sounds from earlier were coming through. She continued to fight, though much more weakly now, and Sasuke growled, "Be quiet, or I will kill you." He said this so sincerely that for once, the purple haired girl worked hard to silence her sobs.

"Good," Sasuke whispered once he saw she was cooperating. He then pulled her up into a ball, keeping one hand on her mouth and his other arm around her body as he pushed through the window and raced through the woods.