UC cpt 6

Naruto and SnK both belong to their respective owners.

So I really wanted to get this out sooner then I did, but we just adopted a new cat and have been letting her acclimate to the house. It's kept my attention from this but I have not forgotten! But she is sooooooooo cute!

One an important note: My semester started this week, so I will probably turn to a biweekly update schedule as my degree is more important than my pass time. Plus I am learning a new language and it is going to kick my ass.

Chapter 6

Pieces of splintered wood were tossed around the shattered forest from the damage of war, smoke filled the air and fire lazily crawled around the new clearing consuming blood that littered the ground. Evidence of a passion filled battle would disappear but not the new scars that sliced across a fragile heart.

"I knew you were good but I wasn't expecting this Sasori-kun~ Kept me on my toes the entire time!" The snake like man chuckled, his long black hair drenched in sweat and blood was plastered to his face but he kneeled over the bound redhead under him. The pale man's fingers pressed against the precious circular container that supported the life under him and slowly ran them in a circular motion over the heart.

The redhead gasped, the case surrounding his heart was sensitive to the heat radiating off the fingers that was securely pressed against it. The long fingers left a wave of sensation in its wake that made the man tremble. His joints were locked down from snakes and mud, rendering him unable to move, he was completely under the man's mercy.

Rain started to fall heavily, cleansing the area of the sin that had permeated the area. It soaked through both of their clothes and and onto their bodies. It ran rivers down their skin as it washed away blood and debris.

"I underestimated your ability to betray people, Orochimaru." He said stoically but the heartbeat in the container raced which gave away the instinctual fear of dying, but also the very human pain of the steep and sharp betrayal of the man he viewed as a friend and mentor.

"But Sasori-kun~" The man purred and brought his free hand to cup the wooden face. "One day, you will come across someone who will look at you like a feral child that needs to be taught a lesson Sasori-Kun and you won't be able to do anything about it~ I wonder if you'll finally scream then?"

Sasori's eyes snapped opened in terror, a cold sweat upon his brow and his hands clenched the white sheets from his bed. It was a nightmare and a memory all in one and it shook him to his core. He ran a hand through his hair and looked back at it in disgust. He had forgotten that he had just gone to bed after getting back from the Capital. It had been a very long ride with retelling his adventures, sans real criminal activity, dealing with the brats and unable to release the growing uncomfortable anger that had slowly started burning within his chest.

When Levi had gone silent, and still, when he mentioned Captain Ackerman he was alerted that he wasn't the only one who understand just how crazy the man was.

"Kenny Ackerman, or rather Kenny the Ripper, is a man that is terribly intelligent but that's not why he is dangerous. If he finds someone interesting or worth his time he brings them into the category of his possessions whether they like it or not. He has a sick and twisted sense of fatherly duty." Levi had stated slowly, his hands had clenched the wood of the bench until his knuckles turned white. "Kenny once dismembered a man over a period of three weeks and forced the poor soul to eat himself before he was finally put out of his misery simply because Kenny felt disrespected, so seeing as you merely got back handed…?"

Sasori had gotten the hidden meaning behind what he had said about the man and a coil of dread had started to form inside his stomach. Sasori had done monstrous things to people in the past for many reasons, and when he strayed from his rules, it typically wasn't a good thing for the person who caused it. Finally, after fifteen years, Sasori knew exactly what Orochimaru had meant when he had spoken to him last.

Sasori sat up and rested his head in his hands while he took deep, slow, breaths to force his body to relax before he got up to shower. Unfortunately it was only two in the morning so he was most likely going to go back to sleep but the puppeteer needed to get clean.

He stared into the mirror for the first time and glared at the black and blue bruise on the side of his face and groaned. His red hair and pale skin seemed to highlight the bruise which made him groan in frustration.

"This is going to be a really shitty day." He mumbled before he got into the shower and when he got out he avoided looking at himself in favor of just doing his daily morning routine of brushing his teeth and combing his hair.

He changed into his uniform and laid down to get a short nap but the moment he started to relax he felt his mind pull into a familiar landscape. The red and black landscape was filled only with Itachi and Sasori.

"It's been about thirty years since someone last touched you so… how serious is that game you're playing?" Itachi asked as he curiously looked at the appearance of the redhead, his eyes trained specifically on his face.

"Enough that my freedom depends on it now. These people are a paranoid race, with their monsters able to hide behind the face of humans." He replied and brought his fingers to trace his cheekbone. "This one, admittedly caught me off guard."

Itachi hummed a response and after a few moments asked. "How did someone get your defenses down?"

"Water. Disorients the body as it struggles for oxygen. It was…" Sasori said and hesitated as he thought of what to say next. "disarming and entirely too new of an experience. It doesn't matter though."

Itachi merely chuckled at Sasori's dismissal of his own bit of torture, but he sensed more to it. "I was originally going to ask for advice, but how about shogi?" He offered and watched as the redhead's body relaxed unconsciously.

"Sure brat."

When Sasori woke again, his mind felt more at ease thanks to Itachi's game of shogi. 'Clever brat.' He thought with fondness and then stretched out his entire body, groaning as his spine popped several times.

Today was the day he was introduced to the entire Survey Corps and he supposed he was ready as he ever was going to be. Sasori didn't enjoy the spotlight at all, he preferred behind the scenes but his comfort levels had already been breached, so it didn't matter anymore.

Sasori got up when Levi came to his door to get him and the barely visible mirth in the Corporal's eyes told him he was going to hate what was coming.

"I hope you'll be properly entertained there Heichou." Sasori almost rolled his eyes at the honorific but it was appropriate although Levi laughed at him.

"I think I may enjoy you calling me that Sasori." He said, his smile was hidden by the back of his hand, but his shoulders kept shaking in genuine amusement. "Lets get this shit show started Scout Akasuna."

Sasori scoffed and raised an eyebrow and followed Levi down to the field where his induction to the Survey Corps, 'officially', was going to happen. There were many scouts in formation and Sasori was reminded of his own genin initiation back when he was seven. It was nostalgic in a way but he was over fifteen years their seniors now, even though he was saying that he was only twenty. Even more amusing was that when he was resurrected it was back into his teenage body. He was truly blessed with great genes.

Levi lead him onto a platform while Erwin was waiting for them with a sly little smile on his face. Sasori's scowl returned. He was a piece to be moved in Erwin's grand chess game and before he turned to face the scouts he gave the fellow chess master a smirk before returning to his elusive uninterested look.

"Attention Scouts, today we gain a new member within our ranks. He will be under Lance Corporals command until further notice." Erwin spoke, his voice soothing yet commanding. The scouts attention was focused solely on the man, entranced by his few words.

'These people look like they're looking at a sun god. I wonder how many fly too close.' Sasori thought to himself.

"Please welcome our fellow soldier and respect him just as well as your fellow soldiers. I'll let him introduce himself."

Sasori kept his face neutral but his eyebrow wanted to twitch with a vengeance at the blondes annoying power play.

"Sasori Akasuna." He stated and gave a challenging eyebrow raise to Erwin.

"Why don't you tell them a little about yourself? Let them know who you are." The smirk was evident to the redhead.

Sasori sighed and turned his attention to the Scouts again.

"Don't touch me or my things, and if you do you might not like what happens to you. I am sure your imagination can fill in what happens when you do. That and don't make me wait, I hate waiting. Follow those rules and we'll get along just fine." He stated. Absolutely no need to tell them more, but those two basics were absolutely necessary to their continued survival.

"You may go stand down next to Squad leader Hanji, Akasuna." Erwin commanded and as he walked down he felt the stares from the people on his face and could hear the whispers about him. Absolutely nothing new.

When he walked over to the Titan obsessed squad leader they leaned over, excitement brimming off their body like waves, and smiled.

"You look terrible in blue, doesn't match your coloring." She whispered and Sasori tilted his head and stared at her.

"Though Levi told me what you can do so far, talented they say…" They trailed off and the redhead held in a groan.

"Get to the point." He snipped and Hanji just smiled. 'Screw this, they remind me of Deidara. So excitable.' He thought to himself.

"Hanji, do you by any chance find art… in explosions?" He asked carefully before they could continue. He actually groaned when their eyes gained a certain spark. 'Well shit, don't let those two meet ever.'

"Anyway, I wanted to know if you'll come get a check up for me after this. After all we have a scouting trip in a week and I need to make sure that you are as healthy as a horse!" Hanji asked.

"Ah, no. I'm fine." He answered, but their eyes hardened and their body stiffened with the stance of a superior.

"Well then, I will just have to get Levi to drag to it yes? After all he is your commanding officer is he not?" Hanji said and Sasori brought a hand up so he could rub the bridge of his nose in frustration.

"Fine, we can do it after this." He relented. Sasori didn't need to be teamed up on and if he truly fought against it then they would assume more then there is to it. Sasori decided right then and there that he really needed some candy so he pulled a lollipop out, gaining a baffled look from Hanji, and stuck it in his mouth. The world righted itself again. Perfect.

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"So what I'll need you to do it take off your jacket and your shirt. I need to check and measure everything! After all you look so young to be 35 Sasori. You have to tell me your secret!" Hanji spoke animatedly and tapped the stethoscope to release some of their energy.

'If dying once would fly as an answer here…' Sasori thought but did as Hanji said. Once he was bare chested he crossed his arms and glared at Hanji in warning not to touch more than necessary.

"Sasori, hold out your arm if you would?" Hanji demanded and put their fingers on where the pulse of his heartbeat should be. Hanji paused, brought up a hand to check the pulse in his neck, causing Sasori to try and shy away, and then stood wide eyed for a few moments before breathing in and out slowly.

"They are made of wood, in case you are wondering. Simply put I replaced the flesh with something that wouldn't decay, break, or rot. Eternal and preserved." He stated.

Hanji's eyes widened in excitement once again. "How do you make them move with such flawlessness?"

Sasori smiled a soft smile. Excitement levels or not, Hanji was quickly warming a way into his cold heart. The genuine excitement and lack of disgust was refreshing after all.

Acceptance. What a funny feeling that left him with.

"Is it hollow inside? How do you move it? Is it connected to your nerves? Did you make it? Does everyone where you come from able to do this? Can you feel anything?" Hanji rattled off and Sasori chuckled.

"I made it myself, chakra strings are run along the top so I can feel when necessary and the insides allow me to be able to move. It takes as much energy as moving my pinky finger. I am the only one who knows this particular technique and it's not recommended to anyone especially those who aren't of the same skill set as I am." He replied.

Sasori didn't think it was possible but Hanji nearly burst with more excitement.

"So if a Titan bit off your forearm you could replace it? Would you feel it? Could you replace anything if they snap it off"

"If I was clumsy enough to allow it to happen, no I wouldn't feel it. But it would be an inconvenience but it would be relatively easy to replace as long as I had a backup ready." He answered honestly but raised a hand to stop Hanji before they spouted off more questions.

"No I won't tell you anymore. I have many secrets that I may share if I deem you worthy of it, but there are some secrets I will carry to the grave with me no matter how hard someone tries to get me to talk." Sasori said effectively cutting off Hanji's questions.

Hanji's eyes narrowed with a cold understanding of what Sasori spoke of. It was something that Hanji's father had taught them when they were younger learning about science and certain 'illegal' things. Pain will eventually make someone talk no matter how much they try not to, but if they had a method to block out the pain by reciting poems, folk songs, or whatever they could last longer. The mind was certainly a curious thing and Hanji was now certainly curious to what went through the redhead's mind when blocking out shattering pain to the body.

Hanji really looked over Sasori's body with a critical eye but noticed no scars, no blemishes besides the bruise on the man's face and the seal, and nothing that would indicate that he had ever seen or done anything remotely dangerous in his life. Though there was small barely there line that circled around his throat and around his arms.

"How come you don't have any scars if you are as dangerous as you say you are?"

Sasori critically looked at the person in front of him and gained a smug smirk. "Secrets Squad Leader. Regardless, if you believe me dangerous or not, my skills in killing will go towards you living longer. Now that that has been spoken about, could we continue with the examination?"

After that, Hanji did the examination in quiet before occasionally talking about their research into the Titans and slowly gained traction in not being able to stop talking about the research. Sasori felt a bit wide eyed at the end by fact it seemed as though Hanji spoke about it without breathing.

As Sasori got dressed and readied himself to go, he paused and turned his head to stare up at Hanji. "Have you ever considered that those Titans might be looking for their own humanity? They seem to reject what they have eaten, so what happens when they don't reject it?" He stated, giving out something that would preoccupy the titan obsessed mind, and Hanji drew in a sharp breath in shock.

After that Sasori turned to walk out of the lab but when he got to the door he turned around and stared at the baffled Hanji. "I trust you keep patient-doctor confidentiality, Hanji."

As Sasori open and closed the door he could hear the flurry of activity of Hanji in the lab. He chuckled quietly, amused at the excited noises that he created with a question. At least he wouldn't have to worry about Hanji's mind focusing on him much.

Scientists.

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A/N: Writing this chapter was like trying to pull teeth. BUT I did enjoy the last bit~ Hanji is so fun to write. Thank you to my reviewers and my followers! Thank you so much!

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