Chapter 6

As the wind whistled through the air and the clouds floated above the earth obscuring the full moon and the twinkling stars, a few silent figures walked slowly down the decrepit pathway. Cloaks obscured their faces, the only sound being made being there heavy slow exhausted breaths. There were five, all walking in mostly perfect symmetry.

Kura's eyes darted from left to right, checking on her teammates and Sensei. Great, they were all brooding. Kataki headed the group, his posture implicating his sheer anger and worry. Raion led off to the right side, every now and then casting a glance back towards Kataki, and a shake of the head. Gurei was to the left, deep in thought as he always was. Although from what Kura could tell, he was tense. Worried. And Itachi? He was stood off to her side, as silent and calm as ever. Nothing ever fazed that man. He was almost unbreakable. But then again, everything was breakable. You just needed to know the right place to push.

"Where are we going?"

Gurei's question knocked everybody out of there trances; although most just inclined their head to the side slightly, they were certainly interested to find out where they were headed.

"Orochiasu." Their Sensei answered, a small frown etching his features. Kura nodded in thought.

"Do you think they'll be any tavern wenches that want a quick tumble?"

Nobody replied to Kura's question, except it almost seemed that the corners of Itachi's mouth quirked upwards.

"No." Kataki announced increasing his pace. Raion gave a low growl in his throat and stomped after him, not ready to be beaten. Gurei watched them with mild curiosity, but quickly got back to his deep thinking.

"Men!" Kura exclaimed rolling her eyes. She sighed. The dirty uneven path was becoming more and more stable, signifying that they would soon be near the town of Orochiasu.

It had taken them approximately nine hours of intense running to reach the area, and Kura was more than happy to lie down. Tomorrow, the fun would begin. She smirked eagerly to herself, happy with the prospect of deflowering more roses. "Do you know anything much about this area?" Gurei asked his Sensei. The Uchiha shook his head.

"Not much. Only that it houses one of the largest and most profitable trading markets in the Land of Fire."

Gurei nodded, taking the information in. "So you've never been here before?"

"No."

Gurei knitted his eyebrows together in confusion, which really didn't happen often. "So how do you know they went this way?"

"I placed a tracker on the girl while we were fighting." Kataki called back, stopping for a moment. Itachi nodded his confirmation, and Kura shrugged.

"Sensei, when you say a large marketplace, do you mean large taverns-"

"Kura." Itachi warned her. The dark haired girl raised her hands up in surrender, pouting and muttering something about how nobody wanted her to have any fun.

Raion turned to glare at her. "Just stop Kura! Can't you be serious for one minute? Do you not care about Tali at all!?"

Kura froze up, before her lip curled into a snarl. "What did you say?" She hissed.

"I said-"

"How dare you!" She snarled. "You think I don't care about her. You bastard, I'll rip you-"

Kataki stepped in between them. "Stop it, both of you." He shot them both a glare which they returned full force.

"I'm not going to listen to you. You're the reason she was-"

Raion felt Kataki's hand wrap around his throat and the katana against his chest.

"Watch what you say, dog!" he snarled. Raion let out a guttural growl and grabbed Kataki's hand, yanking it off with ease.

"Stop!"

Everyone froze. Itachi was frowning deeply and he looked saddened. "You three… you really want to blame Tali's kidnapping on each other? Fine. Kura, you got knocked out and were no use at all."

Kura's eyes bore into the ground. "Raion, you were too wrapped up in trying to out-fight Kataki to have been any use." Raion sighed, a look of pure remorse on his face.

"And Kataki," Itachi turned to face his student. "You were not fighting to the best of your abilities."

"But sensei, I had been pr-"

"It does not matter. You assumed that your sword play would be enough to defeat a member of the Akatsuki. You were cocky and arrogant." Kataki looked at the floor, a look of pure horror and defeat gracing his features.

"Gurei did nothing wrong. He did his duty as the medic." Itachi nodded in Gurei's direction, but he only inclined his head to the side slightly.

"But, there was one more person who failed." The whole group looked up at their sensei's face.

"Me."

"But you weren't even-"

"Yes Raion, I was not there. Had I been things would have gone differently. So we are all to blame. If you want to blame Tali's kidnapping on someone, blame me."

The group was silent for a moment, contemplating his words before they all nodded. Itachi kept his mouth evenly set. "Good. Now let's continue, we have wasted enough time already." And with that the Uchiha brushed past his team and continued onward.

Raion rubbed his foot of the ground awkwardly. "Sorry…"

Kura still looked pissed, and gave a huff of annoyance, but said. "I'm sorry for trying to kill you. Well, not really."

Raion couldn't help but smirk, and turned his attention to Kataki. The redheaded nin looked Raion up and down and scowled. "I suggest you think before you act Raion. Sensei may not be there to break up the fight next time." Raion's smirk turned into a scowl.

"Is that a threat?"

Kataki turned around and walked onward. "No, it is a fact."

Raion growled and went to lunge for Kataki, but Kura put a hand on his shoulder. "Leave him; he's just torn up over Tali."

Raion mumbled, but nodded, and the two proceeded after the group.

They walked for a few minutes in silence, the only sound being the sound of footsteps on dirt and the howling wind.

Eventually Itachi stopped walking and turned his hand to the left.

"We shall walk down this path; then we will reach an abandoned farmhouse. That will be our base of operations."

The group nodded and they began to walk down the path. Kataki, however, had knitted his eyebrows together in confusion. He subtly maneuvered towards Gurei, carefully making sure nobody was watching. As he neared the grey haired boy, he whispered. "You heard it too?"

"What of the two things are you referring to?"

"Itachi-Sensei said that he had never been to this part of Konoha, so how did he know there was a farm house down there?"

"So you did notice that? Glad I'm not the only one." Gurei smirked. Kataki nodded and smiled slightly.

"Do you think the others noticed?"

Gurei shook his head. "Kura? Maybe, though she hasn't hinted that she knows. Raion? No, he's too… focused to notice such a thing."

Kataki snorted. "Well, that is one way of putting stupidity."

Gurei chuckled quietly. "Raion is not stupid; he is just more inclined to heavy lifting and fighting then intellectual pursuits."

They stayed in silence for a while, before Kataki asked. "When do you think they'll strike?"

As the group had been walking, a series of large rocks had appeared on the sides of the road. Of course, anybody with a trained eye could see twelve bandits sneaking from rock to rock following their progress. Of course, Itachi, Gurei and Kataki had noticed right away. However, the two teens were not sure if Kura had noticed, while they were certain Raion had not. Their question was answered however, when Kura withdrew a kunai from her cloak and threw it at one of the bandits. It embedded in his neck, and with a loud gurgle, he slumped to the floor.

"What!?" Raion exclaimed, looking from between Kura and the dead bandit.

Kataki let out a snort, before he withdrew his dual katanas and smirked. Gurei merely pushed his glasses up the ridge of his nose.

Itachi merely inclined his head backwards slightly, and said. "When you've dealt with them, meet me at the farmhouse."

The group just stood there for a few seconds of silence, before a shrill cry of "Attack!" filled the air. A group of three bandits rushed at Kataki from the sides, wielding clubs and knives. Kataki smirked and rushed forward. The first of the bandits throat was slit as Kataki's katana ran over his neck. The second one raised his club to strike, but the nin caught it. The third man rushed forward with the knife and went to strike, but a green hand sliced at his arm. The hand fell limply to the side as Gurei tutted. As the man looked on in disbelief until his windpipe was slit open thanks to Gurei's chakra scalpels. The second man's eyes widened, and choked out. "Please forgive me, I was just-"

A mouthful of blood escaped his lips as Kataki buried his katana deep in his gut. He coughed once more before the light left his eyes. Kataki withdrew the blade and smiled at Gurei. "Bandits, predictable and boring." Gurei definitely agreed with that statement.

Kura was surrounded on all sides by five men. A rather rounded fellow with a brown manky beard whistled. "Tell ya what, you take off ya clothes ya whore, and I might make your death quick!" He roared with laughter, as did the others. Kura just smiled sweetly.

"Thank you for the offer, but you're not my type. I prefer my men with a hint of masculinity."

Before the bushy man could retort, Kura put her hands together in a sign. "Shadow Style: Impaling Dark!"

An array of dark shapes slithered from where Kura was stood and quickly shot up forming sharp spikes. The four men surrounding her were instantly impaled, coughing and spluttering as they felt the life drain from their bodies. The bushy bearded man was trapped between the spikes, unable to move his hands or legs. Kura smiled once again sweetly and walked forward, swaying her hips in a seductive manner. She smirked as she cupped the man's horrified and sweating face with her hand. "Shame really. Everybody should lose their virginity before they die."

The spikes suddenly wrapped around the man's neck, squeezing. "But, with a penis like yours, it's not surprising that you never got laid." The spikes spun around, twisting the man's neck in an unnatural position with a sick snap. Kura smiled.

"FYI, that beard makes you look like a paedophile. But you probably were one!" She snickered.

Raion was not enjoying himself. He was surrounded by three bandits and they all had big pointy sticks. A tall ginger man snarled and raced forward. Raion pushed his orange chakra into his hands and launched himself forward. He dodged the spear with ease and his fist connected with the bandit's stomach. There was a loud crack as his ribs snapped. Raion caught the second bandits spear in his hand with ease. As the first clutched his stomach in pain, Raion pulled the other bandit forward by his spear. As Raion's fist flared with more orange chakra, he swung forward. There was a resounding crack as the nin's fist connected with the left side of the bandits face, crushing it. The force of the blow not only shattered the jaw, cheekbone and fractured the man's skull, but the sheer brutality of the blow twisted the bandit's neck so far in the opposite direction that he was dead straight after contact.

The third bandit circled around and threw her spear at the nin. He sidestepped and it sailed into the tall ginger man's gut. He coughed up a glob of blood and collapsed. Before the female bandit could even react, Raion was on her. He grasped hold of her head with both hands and twisted it in an unnatural direction. She was dead in a second.

As the final bandit fell there was a deep silence. After all, Itachi had taught them to respect their foes, even ones as lowly as these.

"Right, can we go now?" Raion asked impatiently. Gurei couldn't help but sigh. Sometimes his teammates really got on his nerves.

"Yes, we can." The grey haired boy announced, turning away quickly and walking down the path. Kura took looked around at the massive amount of bodies surrounding her and shrugged.

"Ah well, nobody will miss them. Well, saying that, I'll definitely miss this one," she said as she cupped one of the bandits that she killed faces. "He's a handsome bugger. Real easy on the eyes, you know, when he wasn't dead."

Gurei chuckled. "Although the thought is intriguing, can we please refrain from necrophilia?"

It was Kura's turn to chuckle. "Relax; I prefer them alive and hot, rather than dead and cold."

Kataki smirked and Raion burst out laughing. "Well, if you prefer them alive and hot, why do you like Kataki!"

Said nin frowned. "Better to be dead and cold then brain-dead and ugly."

Raion went to retort angrily, but Kura smacked him upside the head effectively shutting him up. Kataki smirked triumphantly.

As the group went to walk onwards, about twenty bandits appeared at the sides of the rocks surrounding the group. They all bore spears and knives and had their eyes drawn to Kataki. "There's the little bitch that stuck Kazumaru!" One of them roared pointing his finger at Kataki. There were shouts of 'Kill the bitch,' which were met with a general consensus of agreement. Kataki just yawned.

"I'll catch up," He said waving his group off. Kura nodded and waved to the bandits.

"Goodbye!" She sung and she grasped Raion's squirming forearm and pulled him along. Raion tried to struggle, but a kick to the shins silenced him. Gurei just gave a nod of acknowledgment in Kataki's direction and continued walking away.

As the group passed over a small hill and out of the line of sight, Kataki looked at the now advancing bandits. With his right hand, he brought his katana over his left wrist and slit it, doing the same with the right one. As the blood pooled on the floor, one of the bandits laughed. "Committing suicide already? Bah, ho-"

As Kura, Raion and Gurei continued forwards, the shrewd and dilapidated farmhouse in sight, sounds of horrified screams and squelches could be heard. "Oh, he's doing the messy way. I like mess." Kura remarked to Gurei as she still held on tight to Raion's forearm, much to the boy's annoyance.

"I bet you do." Gurei replied, half-smiling.

As they continued walking, the sounds of the wind drowned out by the screams, Raion narrowed his eyes. "What's necrophilia?"

Kataki met up with the group just as they reached the entrance to the plot of land that the farmhouse was on. A small mangled gate creaked as the wind blew and a signpost fell to the ground with a thud. The farmhouse itself was not much better. It was charred a deep black, like it had been the victim of a blazing fire. The amount of holes in the building, you would assume it was really a burnt beehive.

"Well, this is a dump." Raion announced. The rest couldn't help but agree.

"So we're sleeping where animals crapped and pissed? Just like any room that Raion stayed in for too long."

Raion growled at Kura's insult, but shrugged it off. They were all too tired to argue. That would commence in the morning. So, begrudgingly, the group set off into their new base. Raion kicked the large barn door open with a loud and spine tingling shriek. The inside of the barn was mostly dark, apart from the areas which were illuminated slightly by the broken and decaying barn roof which let in the night's sky. The group entered the barn, looking around for anything useful. They found nothing. Still, it would do for a place to sleep. Kura yawned as she leaned against a crumbling piece of wall. "Can we go to bed yet?"

Gurei nodded and reached into his pocket, taking out a small scroll. He placed it on the ground, unwrapped it, and placed his hand on the seal inside the scroll.

"Release," He uttered, and there was a small pop as a bunch of sleeping bags and some 'magazines' popped into existence.

"What the hell!" Raion yelled as he went over to the pile of magazines and picked one up. He whirled around to face Kura. "Why do you have my magazines!?"

"Your magazines?" Kura retorted. "Most if not all are mine and I need something to pleasure me. I haven't had sex in like, four days!"

At this moment, Itachi stepped out of the shadows, his arms folded across his chest. "Get rid of them." He commanded. Kura pouted, but complied, grabbing them all in an armful and taking them outside.

"You do know she's just going to hide them?" Kataki spoke for the first time since arriving at the farmhouse. Itachi nodded in confirmation.

"I would like to get some sleep tonight."

Raion burst out laughing and Gurei let out a childish snort. Kataki just smirked.

"However, we shall not be sleeping in the farmhouse." He announced as Kura re-entered their temporary accommodation. "Follow me."

He then briskly walked out of the barn and turned right. Kataki and Gurei exchanged confused looks but followed after their Sensei, Kura and Raion in tow. They walked across the perimeter of the barn, before turning another right and stopping at the very back.

"We are here." Itachi announced as he turned to face the decomposing wall. He slowly reached down, grasping hold of something, and yanking upwards. There was a loud sharp creak as the trapdoor wrenched open, revealing one lone stop step and a hole of darkness.

"We're going into a cellar? I hope there won't be any 'whining'!" Gurei yelled. Everyone except Itachi groaned.

"Dark pit, Gurei's jokes? Pit wins." Kura said as she quickly followed Itachi down the trapdoor.

"It stinks in here." Kura muttered as they continued to descend down the spiral stone stairway. It kept going and going. Still, they should be nearing the bottom soon, or so Kataki hoped. Kura was correct, it stank in there. They would have been better off in the barn. Eventually, after another minute of stale silence, Itachi reached a wooden door. As he went to reach for the wooden handle, he froze slightly. Raion's nostrils flared and Gurei strained his ears. There was humming. Happy humming.

"Sensei, I thought you said this place was deserted?" Kura mouthed. Their Sensei shrugged his shoulders, his mouth curled into a small frown.

He held up his hand and began to curl his fingers. The group knew what that sign meant, and began to get into their fighting stances. '5, 4, 3, 2, 1…'

The group burst through the door, Kataki bounding through first with Raion close behind him. He raised his katanas to attack whoever was in there, but stopped and stared, sheathing his blades. As the others joined him in the room, they too stared. Itachi walked over to one of the dusty stone walls and leaned back, his arms crossed. "Who are you?"

The room was decent sized, enough to fit the group in for the night. It was littered with bizarre scientific tubes and bottles, some filled with varying concoctions of increasing bizzarity. Tables were overturned, splintered and broken like a tornado had just passed through. But, at the back of the room, was a holding cell. Its bars were rusted and most were broken. But, behind those rusted bars, were two people.

The first was male, with whiteish grey hair that was rather nicely kept. He was scrawny, malnourished with a small and wiry frame. The most striking of his features, however, were intricate tattoos. The best way to describe them would be like the roots of a tree, twisting and turning down the man's spine, arms and legs. They were a white colour, and they pulsed with chakra. The man was wearing next to nothing, only a loincloth separated him from true nudity. He faced one of the stone walls, his eyes fixated on the cracks. Slowly, he turned around, his hazel eyes burning with curiosity and slight malice. On his left shoulder, was the unmistakable curse mark that Orochimaru was famous for. However, this man was not the source of the humming.

There was a girl, her hair snow white, long and wispy. Her eyes were closed and a smile was gracing her pale face. She hummed softly, her arms hugging her legs to her chest. From what the others could tell, she was nude. There was something off about her though. The way she hummed softly like there wasn't a care in the world, or the way that her smile was eerily malicious. She opened her eyes. They were a light blue, barely discernible from white. She stopped humming.

"We are slaves." The man answered, looking over the group with mild curiosity. "And just what are you?"

Kataki crossed his arms over his chest warily, exchanging a look with Kura and Raion to cover him. "We are ninja."

"Yes, I know." The man's voice was gravelly, like he had just had something hot poured down his throat.

Kataki stepped forward slightly, his eyes darting towards the girl in the corner, who eyed him curiously. She giggled.

"Forgive her," The man began, walking towards the bars. Kataki instinctively took a step backwards. The man eyed him, almost as if he was disappointed.

"What are your names?" Kura piped up from the back. The man looked at her, and frowned.

"You first."

Raion scoffed. "You're not really in the position to make demands-"

"Kataki." The red headed boy said, ignoring Raion's frustrated growl at being ignored. The man turned around.

"Kataki." He said, as if he was getting used to the new word, sounding it out.

"And what's yours?"

The man turned around, a small smirk playing on his lips. "My name is unpronounceable in your tongue."

He reached for a small silver dog tag that lay around his neck. He picked it up and moved it around his his long fingers. "My m- Former master had a nickname for me. Fenris. It will do."

Kataki nodded. "Fenris." He sounded out the word. "That is… a bizarre name."

Fenris nodded.

Gurei had now joined Kataki, his eyes flickering curiously over Fenris' markings. However, they soon flitted over to where the girl still sat, her pale blue eyes widened in excitement. "What's her name?" he questioned gesturing to the girl. Fenris eyed the boy curiously, a smirk played on his lips, but it soon turned into a frown.

"She does not have one."

Kataki smiled slightly. "She has no name?"

Fenris shook his head. "We have never had need for names, being the playthings of our former master. I was nicknamed. She has no designation."

"Then, what would you like to be called?" The girl jolted slightly at Gurei's speech, but she smiled.

"Utsuro."

"A fitting name." Gurei smiled. She smiled back.

"What are you doing in there?" Raion asked impatiently stomping forward. Fenris eyed him with disdain, but answered. "We were abandoned."

"By Orochimaru." Everybody had forgotten Itachi was there, leaning against the wall casually.

"Yes, by Master Orochimaru."

"And who are you loyal to?" The question caused Fenris to bristle angrily.

"I am not loyal to that snake!" He spat. Kataki smiled.

"Glad we have found someone who hates the child molester as much as we do." Kura sounded, walking forward. Fenris looked her up and down. His face contorted into one of rage and disgust.

"When I find him, he will be unrecognizable."

Itachi was frowning, watching the slave clench his fists. "What type of slave were you?" he asked, his brows furrowing. Fenris' nostrils flared, but he looked down at the ground, ashamed.

"I-I… was his tool to be used whenever he wished."

Gurei's eyes widened.

"What the hell does that mean!?" Raion yelled exasperated. Kura shot him a scathing look. Kataki was frowning deeply.

"I-I am sorry."

Fenris scoffed, but smiled slightly. "I thank you, but your concerns are not needed. You should be more concerned for Orochimaru."

"I'm still confused!" Raion once again yelled. Gurei sighed, shaking his head as if to force out the disgusting mental images.

"His body was a tool, ready to be bent at Orochimaru's will, for his sick pleasurable games." He seethed.

"I still don't- oh!" The brown haired boy in acknowledgement nodding vigorously. Gurei and Kataki rolled their eyes.

"How big was the paedophile's penis?"

Everyone turned to face Kura. She shrugged. "What? I just wanna know."

Fenris however seemed to find Kura's bluntness amusing and he let out a hollow laugh. "It's… average."

"Ha!" Kura fist pumped. "I knew his tongue was compensating for something!"

Kataki let out a sigh, but smiled somewhat. Fenris just shook his head. Itachi, however, finally stepped forward. "Shall we let you out?"

Fenris nodded eagerly. "If it would please you, I would humbly request some food and water."

"I dunno…" Kataki trailed off as he noticed the hollow look in Fenris' eyes, like a wounded animal.

"Definitely not!" Raion exclaimed, pointing an accusing finger. "Look at the curse mark on his shoulder! He's obviously working for Orochimaru."

Kura tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Even if he tried to attack us, which I'm pretty sure he won't, Sensei could kill him in a heartbeat. I say we let him out."

Fenris gave a bow of thanks. Raion shook his head, but sighed. "I suppose."

Kataki kept his mouth firmly even, but nodded his conformation. Gurei reached for the bars of the door and opened it with a loud creak. Before anyone blinked, Utsuro had brushed past the grey haired nin and had rushed Kura. Kataki went to reach for his katana, but stopped, his face filled with horror and a hint of amusement. Utsuro had pressed her lips against Kura's in a chaste kiss that lasted maybe only two seconds, before she pulled away.

"So that's what skin tastes like." The white haired girl said, her curiosity sated.

Kura looked slightly flabbergasted, but smiled. "Well, she's got soft lips. I like her."

Kataki and Itachi both rolled their eyes, but nodded. It was then that everybody realised Utsuro was still stark naked, bare as the day she was born. Raion let out a perverted giggle, but turned away quickly. Kura 'examined' the girl, every once in a while letting out a soft hum, examining every inch of the oblivious white haired girl. Everyone else remained ridiculously neutral, almost barely paying attention to the naked girl standing a few feet away, and considering how beautiful she looked, was a feat of will indeed. Gurei broke the silence, coughing awkwardly. "Umm, Utsuro… You're uh, naked."

Utsuro looked down and also examined her pale frame. She just smiled.

"Being dressed is for humans." She announced, rather coldly.

Kura smirked suggestively. "I bet you're an animal."

Itachi sighed audibly. Fenris just quirked an eyebrow. "Utsuro, would you please wear something less revealing, like possibly any clothes?"

The pale girl turned and faced the grey haired boy, scowled slightly, but nodded.

She briskly walked over towards a cabinet in the corner, opened it with a rough thud, and grasped at a pure white kimono. She swiftly put it on, while almost everybody (especially Kura) looked at her with mild curiosity. Itachi however, had a small frown on his face, almost indiscernible from his usual neutral expression.

The Uchiha was deep in thought. From what he could tell with his observant eyes, when Utsuro stated only humans wear clothes, she wasn't making a joke. She was serious. What did she mean?

Itachi knew there was something odd about her. The way her face changed from one of sheer obliviousness like a newborn baby to a cold hard stare like an old war veteran was unnerving and peculiar all at once. Her chakra was off, different. Like it wasn't her own. As if reading the Uchiha's mind, she swivelled around and shot Itachi an icy glare that must have lasted only a second, before it was replaced with a smile. After she finished getting dressed, she began to hum happily, taking a seat on one of the broken cabinets that littered the stone floor.

Raion turned to face his Sensei, a look of chagrin present on his features. "Sensei, you can't possibly have them stay with us. They could be working with the Akatsuki, maybe they helped to kidnap Tali! We need to-"

"Tali you say? I recognize that name."

Everyone turned to face Fenris. "While I was sneaking around the area, before I was imprisoned here, I heard some people talking about their quarry." He stopped as Raion raised his fist angrily.

"And you did nothing to stop them?"

Fenris shook his head. "Had I known that this 'Tali' had something to do with you, I would have listened more intently. I only caught the tail end of the conversation, something about them remaining in Orochiasu and laying low in the 'Compound'. That's all I heard before I moved on."

Kataki crossed his arms. "That is a likely story. Don't get me wrong, I believe almost everything you've said so far. But really? Let me guess, you know the location and will take us there. We get there, and you stab us in the back!"

Itachi looked for any signs of someone lying. There were none. His face was coolly composed. He was either an extremely gifted liar, or he was telling the truth. He smiled slightly. "I suppose that is a normal and acceptable response, but I do not know where this compound is. If I did, I would tell you. I have no loyalty to that snake!"

"You mean Orochimaru?" Gurei questioned. "But he didn't kidnap Tali…"

"The man and woman stated that they were hiding in a base formerly belonging to the 'child molester'."

Kura nodded. "Yep, definitely Orochimaru."

Fenris went to continue, but his eyes glinted slightly, like a child walking into a sweet shop. He turned his head slightly, an intense smirk playing on his lips. He pointed towards the open cabinet. Inside was a large steel sword, huge in length and menacing.

"That is my sword. I thought it lost when I was captured!" He leapt up quickly, brushing past Utsuro and grasping at the sword's hilt. He smiled happily, manoeuvring the blade around in his hands. "May I keep it?" he inquired. Kataki had his hand placed on the hilt of his katana warily, a studious look plaguing his features.

"Put the sword down." He commanded. Fenris shrugged slightly, placing the blade against the wall. He crossed his arms and leaned backwards.

"There, are you happy now?" The white haired man asked as Kataki released his grip on his sword. The redhead nodded.

Fenris however scowled slightly. "Am I allowed to keep it?" He asked once again.

"Hmm," Kura said tapping her chin thoughtfully. Raion looked like he was going to object, but seemed to refrain as Gurei leaned close. Kataki and Itachi kept their faces neutral.

Itachi smiled slightly. "Yes, if you agree to work with us to find our friend."

Raion's eye's bugged. "Sensei, you can't be serious! What if they sneak attack us?"

Kataki nodded. "For once, I agree with Raion." Said brown haired boy shot him a pointed look. "These guys could be dangerous. They should stay down here for the time being."

"That's not good enough!" Raion howled, pointing an accusing finger at an amused Fenris while Utsuro looked mildly angry, scowling slightly. Kura smacked him on the head.

"What are we supposed to do? Leave them here to die?"

Before Raion could fully clench his fist to throw a punch Fenris cut in. "Does your dog always act unruly, or am I witnessing a special occasion?"

Raion snarled, but was stopped by a cold hard glare from Itachi. The Uchiha then shut a pointed glare towards Fenris. "You will respect my students and possibly your teammates in time. You will stay down here until we have need or call for you. You will not use any jutsu and will relinquish all weapons. Failure for any of these tasks will result in a quick death. Understand?"

Kataki smirked slightly as Itachi went into 'drill sergeant mode'. Fenris laughed heartily, causing Raion's already red forehead to bulge with a vein comically. "Yes, I and Utsuro promise to abide by these rules that you have set. We shall await here until you need us."

Itachi nodded. "Kataki, you take first watch. The rest of you, get some sleep. Fenris, we shall have a longer talk about your skills and such in the morning." Itachi briskly left, followed by a glaring Raion, a thoughtful Gurei, and a flirtatious Kura as she blew a kiss towards Kataki, Fenris and Utsuro. The red head shook his head, a laugh rumbling through his chest.

"So, she is good with skin contact?" Utsuro asked.

"Like you wouldn't believe."