The was peaceful town, was now noisy from the waking ninjas. Deidara and Sasori was both in the middle of an intense battle. Deidara was upon his clay bird flying around dropping his bombs upon the ninja below, as Sasori had taken out his puppets. While they were battling, inside the scroll room, Fukuko was surrounded by several ninja.

"Hand us the scroll, and we'll let you off lightly."

I shook my hand and held tightly to the scroll. As long as they wanted the scroll and I had it, they wouldn't harm me. It was part of my test. If I failed this mission I would get killed right here, right now. If I somehow managed to think of a plan and escape, then there was still a chance I would get recaptured by Akatsuki and possibly killed.

My heart was beating wildly in my chest as I backed against the wall. I forced myself to stop thinking, to save the rest of my sanity. I could hear the explosion of the bombs outside and the occasional clang of metal. I couldn't stand this for much longer. My breathing was becoming deeper as I heard footsteps coming closer to me.

The red haired girl stood in the middle of the dudgeons, feeling nervous. What sort of test would it be? Why in the dudgeons?

"You're early."


Fukuko turned and bow as the snake master entered the dudgeons. "Hai"

"You must be eager," Orochimaru chuckled walking down the underground corridor, "Follow me, I will give you your test."

"What is it?" Fukuko asked, hiding all her nervousness and concentrating entirely on the mission.

"You're record said you are a missing-ninja from the Village hidden in the leaves, correct?"


"That is true Sir, we have different views on what the best way to gain power is."


Orochimaru stopped outside a cell and smirked. "Here is your test,"

Fukuko stared into the cell. She flinched slightly as Orochimaru opened the cell door and pulled out a man she recognised as a listed, missing in action ninja from Konoha. He was wearing torn clothes with blood everywhere. One of his eyes were black and his nose was broken. As he held out his hands to protect himself, she noticed that several of his fingers were broken too.

"Your test will be to kill this ninja. If you fail or hesitate, I will kill you."

Fukuko stared at the helpless man. She had a choice… One, kill the man and become accept by Orochimaru, allowing her to finish the deadly mission. Or two, refuse to kill the man, and attempt to save him and the other prisoners and get killed by Orochimaru.


"… Hina" The man whispered. "Hina."

Fukuko snapped out of her thoughts as there was movement from the cell opposite.


"Ichigo," The stranger said crawling into the light of the oil lamps.

Fukuko's heart skipped a beat. Laying there in a cell… was a tall dark haired man. He was thin from lack of food and pale from the lack of air and sunlight.

"Well?" Orochimaru said impatiently.

Fukuko tore her eyes away from her brother and back to the weakened man upon the floor. Orochimaru smirked as she withdrew her sword. Blood splattered against the floor and wall as she took him from out of pain and agony.


"Well done." He smirked.


Fukuko didn't reply. She turned and walked off, her hand shaking upon the handle of her sword.

BOOM!!

I was suddenly knocked out off my thoughts as a large bomb just outside the room. I was thrown back and I quickly covered my head as I heard pieces of the ceiling and wall crumbled to the ground. My hand slowly went along the floor, over a fallen piece of wall until I felt the clear stone floor beneath my finger tips.

Without a second thought, I quickly stood back to my feet and dashed through the broken wall and into the corridor. I panicked and ran along the edge of the wall trying to remain unknown. The scroll was held tightly within my other hand.

I suddenly tripped and landed on the ground with a thud. I need to find a way out of the battle and into safety. I rested my face against the ground. If I played dead, maybe I could wait until the battle dies down till making a run for it. As I laid there, I tried picturing where about the other two would be. Maybe if I could find Deidara, he would protect me. Crazy thought, but it was better then laying here waiting to be found out.

"Good luck un," Deidara said. "I'll be flying above in case anything happens."

Flying above… I stood back on my feet and held my hands out in front of me till I felt stone wall. Holding my breath and ran my hands across the wall till I found the window. Placing the scroll into my mouth, I forced it open and placed my feet upon the outside windowsill. Trying to keep calm, I placed my other foot upon the windowsill and stood up. Leaning forward so my weight was against the wall, I reached up till I felt the edge of the roof. Praying for my life, I pulled myself up.

"Bad idea!" I whimpered as I dangled from the rooftop. "Bad bad bad idea!!"

I didn't dare stop as I could hear the battle below me. Using all my strength I had, I struggled to pull myself up. My arms were now on the roof and the rest of me quickly followed. I laid upon the ceiling breathing deeply and thanking my good fortune. I took the scroll back into my hand and stood back up.

"Deidara," I called out waving my arms around. "DEIDARA!!"

He must have heard my shouting, cause the other ninjas did. I heard them land upon the ceiling around me. I whimpered and stepped as I heard them approach. My feet where now on the edge of the roof.

"DEIDARA!!" I screamed.

"Fu Hina! Run!" his voice called back.

Run?! Where?! I shook my head desperately. I couldn't jump, my feet were frozen to the spot.

"RUN UN!!"

I bit my lip so hard I felt a small trail of blood flow down my chin. Forcing my feet to move I turned on the spot and jumped.

The next second was all a blur. When I finally was able to breath and feel my heart beat calmly again, I was safely upon a bird with Deidara's hand tightly around my waist.

"You're insane un," he chuckled. "Simply insane."

I smiled faintly and rested my head against his chest taking in his warmth and scent. I couldn't argue with that.