Hi all! So sorry it has been so long. Almost two weeks! However, never fear. I have a chapter right here for you. This one is, though a little shorter than my previous ones, a turning point. Soon the proverbial shit will hit the fan. So enjoy and please pleas please... review!

Yuka followed Shikamaru, Neji, and Shino down the stairs and over to Hinata. She was playfully talking to Jiraiya and smiling at them as they approached.

"Ah, did you all see Kiba-kun too?" Hinata asked, looking down at Jiraiya.

"Indeed," Shino said. "He's going through some rough stuff. I think as friends we should all try to cheer him up."

Everyone turned to look at Shino, eye's wide in shock. After a moment Hinata giggled and nodded, standing up. "I agree. That's very kind of you Shino."

"Can we throw him a party with cake and ramen?!" Jiraiya asked, grinning up at his mom.

"It's not your party Jiraiya," Hinata giggled. "But I'll make sure we have cake!"

"Great idea," Neji said with a sigh. "But it won't be at our house! The last time we had a party there some people got extremely intoxicated."

"Hey! Ino appolagized," Hinata corrected.

"Still, we should have something more suited to Kiba. After all, he is a dog. They belong outside in the fresh air and what not," Neji retorted with a smirk.

At this Yuka couldn't help but smirk. Shikamaru noticed and grinned. "Well," He said with a sigh. "I say we all have a big job ahead of us. That transformation is no joke."

"He told me about it," Hinata admitted. "It does some intense things to his mind and body."

"Yeah, he changed on the operating table," Yuka reminded. Hinata nodded with a sigh.

"Is that why his mood was so foul?" Neji asked. "He better be able to keep this under control. We can't have him turn out as a liability just like his fath-."

"Neji-niisan!" Hinata snapped. "Don't you dare bring that up." Even Jiraiya shrunk away at the seriousness in her voice. "You know that has nothing to do with Kiba and he's always tried to rise above that."

"We have to take it into account Hinata-hime," Shino's voice hummed. "He's just as much my friend and team mate as yours. I care even though you may not think so. We have to be cautious. Look at what happened with Sasuke."

"Kiba is not like Sasuke-kun," Hinata snapped. The way she used the familiar at the end of his name still hints her love and eternal sadness for team seven's sacrifice.

"Still," Shikamaur intervened. "We are only doing what is best."

This must have really made Hinata angry. She glared at all three of them for a moment before her faced landed on Yuka's. It then softened. Yuka didn't understand why but it was probably because of the look on her face. Yuka didn't know anything about this and so she was rightly confused but it was, she feared, more than that. She'd let slip a scowl and Hinata picked up on it.

"Uncle Ki-Ki!" Jiraiya yelled out suddenly and they all turned. Kiba had clearly heard, they knew it, but he didn't even turn in their direction. They've never seen him snub Jiraiya before but this time he didn't so much as look at the child. The seriousness in his face, the expression on it, hadn't been that intense since the war. Hinata watched closely as Tsume, Konohamaru, and Kiba all disappeared from view down the main street.

"They must be leaving for his confinement," Neji remarked. Hinata looked over at him with sad eyes.

"He'll be fine," Shino said with a solemn tone. "He's stronger than all of us."

There was a long silence, all of them just standing there in quiet contemplation until Jiraiya jumped up on the bench beside them and spoke in a voice that, until now, was only reserved for Hinata.

"Uncle Ki-Ki is going through some changes and he is sad, more than sad…" he said with a solid yet commanding voice. It startled all of them including Neji. Hinata of course was grinning. Jiraiya had only used this type of speech once around Yuka and it still mesmerized her. For being a small child he was turning out to be a real genius.

"He's hurt, afraid, eager, and most of all he's conflicted. What he needs now are friends, not enemies. Distrusting and questioning him will only drive him away."

Hinata just grinned wider and hugged Jiraiya softly, a kiss placed on his cheek. "You're right, as usual my beautiful son," she whispered to him.

"See what you did Neji," Shikamaru joked with a slight grin. "You got us all shown up by a five year old."

"Hilarious," Neji said with a slight grin.

"So, what are we going to do? We have an hour until Hokage-sama returns and will want us present. What say we get something to eat?" Shino says with a forced cheeriness. They all grin and shrug.

"I have to meet with Hokage-sama when he gets back. It's something important so I'll be more than happy to come with you all," Hinata said grabbing Jiraiya's hand and kissing it. He grinned at his mother before turning his deep blue orbs on the rest of them.

"I'm actually going home," Yuka said with a nod. "Sorry but I don't feel like hanging out today Hinata-chan," she added with a soft voice.

"It's okay," Hinata assured. "You seem stressed anyway. You've barely said a word since you got out here."

"Sorry, I'm distracted." Yuka then turned to leave, waving over her shoulder at them. She knew this was cold but she needed some time to think, if only for a moment. Orochimaru had returned, as she had planned, the morning after and her seal was still holding but she needed to relay the information she had for him. She hadn't expected Konoha to act so fast but in two days she would be leaving Konoha to go into hiding. Where, she was sure, would be kept secret from her but she knew that if the Inuzuka were involved, it would be somewhere easily tracked by smell.

She walked up the road through the streets toward her house, her eyes glancing back and forth between the vendors and their customers. She never noticed, until now, that most people in Konoha look average, with average jobs and average abilities. Why would anyone want to live in a ninja village anyway? Subject to attacks from enemies and powerful jutsus. Konoha knew this better than anyone. The initial destruction from Orochimaru eight years ago left a huge scar on all that were alive at the time. Although, the permanent destruction of Konoha was brought about by none other than Konan and Pein. She never met the real Pein, Nagato, but Hinata had told her that he was a distant relative of none other than Uzumaki Naruto.

As she made her way through crowds and toward the street her home rested on, she got the feeling she was being followed. She glanced over her shoulder to see no one she recognized, all the chakra signatures balanced. She didn't see any Anbu, any out of the ordinary movements or faces; in fact everything was almost too normal. Then she felt a tug on her uniform and she looked down to see little Jiraiya, his eye's wide with wonder as she looked down at him. She hadn't meant to but she had been somewhat startled by the child and had nearly drawn her knife on him. His eyes were wide as she pulled her hand away from her kunai.

"Sorry Jiraiya," she said with a sigh. "You really shouldn't sneak up on me like that."

"I was practicing my ninja skills," he said, a slight sense of awe tinting his voice.

"Is there something you want?" Yuka asked, becoming slightly impatient.

"Yes, and no…" Jiraiya said with a sigh. "You see, I know you're really powerful. Maybe not as powerful as my dad or Hokage-sama but you are powerful. I bet you'd have a tough time with uncle Ki-Ki."

"I'd run circles around all of them," Yuka snapped and she immediately covered her mouth, Jiraiya's eye's going from awe to anger. "S-sorry," Yuka said with a shake of her head. "I didn't mean it like that. I'm just… well, I'm just a little on edge."

"I can tell," Jiraiya said with a shrug, his eyes staring down at the ground.

"Jiraiya, I'm in a hurry. I'm sorry I offended you but if you don't have anything to say then I'd like to get going," Yuka said, moving to turn around. Just then Jiraiya's hand came out to hers and he grabbed it. Yuka looked down at him hesitantly. She was more than awkward about this. In fact, she wasn't used to dealing with little intimate things like this and she quickly knelt down to look at him. "What is it?"

"I… I want to be trained by you," Jiraiya confessed, his eye's searching her face. "You're the last Uzumaki, the last to know the great sealing powers of our clan. I want to know everything."

"You're mother, grandfather, and uncle would never approve," Yuka said, brushing it off. She then squeezed his hand gently. "Besides, I'm no good at things like that anyway. I've never trained anyone and to be honest I think its best if you just focus on you're byakugan."

"You have to train me!" Jiraiya said a little louder. Yuka rubbed the back of her neck, shaking her head.

"Jiraiya, listen," Yuka said with a slight smile. "You may not want to hear it but you are the future heir to the Hyuuga clan and more importantly you're the only thing left of your father for you're mother to cling to. You have to be strong for her and I don't think I can do that for you."

"No, I know you can. In fact, I'm sure of it. My father would have wanted it this way," Jiraiya professed. "Hokage-sama already promised to take me on as his student when I make chunnin but I need more than just gentle fist and byakugan to do the chunnin exams next year!"

"Next year?" Yuka asked, her eye's wide. "But you'll only be six."

"Exactly, the youngest chunnin in Konoha history. Even younger than Itachi Uchiha, who graduated the chunnin exams at age 10," Jiraiya assured with a slight grin. "I will be the Hokage by the time I am Konohamaru-sama's age and surpass them all."

"You're going to get yourself killed. Why is it that important to you?" Yuka blurted. She then shook her head, standing straighter, dismissing her question entirely. "I have to go. If you really want to be that powerful seek out a greater master."

"No, I won't," Jiraiya said stubbornly and she looked down at him to see he had a scowl on his face. "You have to train me."

"Ugh," Yuka sighed. "Fine!" Yuka murmured. "But in order for me to train you, you have to pass a test."

Jiraiya's eye's lit up as he watched her. He could barely keep his voice down. "Test! I can do that! What is it?"

"Shh…" Yuka said kneeling down. "The test should be simple if you plan on passing the chunnin exam at age six. Every great ninja knows that you have to mislead your enemy and make them move the way you want; in short you have to learn how to manipulate. Your test is to convince your mother to allow you to train with me."

Jiraiya's eyes went wide from first excitement and then horror. "But… uncle Neji and grandpa Hiashi will never go for it! They are the ones who make the decisions at our house. It isn't even fair!"

"Sorry, but that's the test kiddo. If you can master the art of manipulation, you can master being a chunnin." With this she ruffled his hair and sprinted off, losing him in the frantic calls following him. Hinata must not have realized he went missing.

Yuka made her way up the street toward her home, the gates and frames like a prison. It was too suffocating, almost intensely so. She unlocked her door, stepped inside, and weaved a few hand signs. This made her seal waver slightly, like a ripple. She knew the byakugan could see through her walls so she had to make sure it looked like she was doing normal things. This is where the illusion seal comes in. A genjutsu contained to one area with a seal that affects the vision. It was a stroke of genius created by, according to her mother's records, her great grandmother. She quickly made her way up the stairs now, stopping in front of that familiar door and knocking.

"Come in."

Yuka slid the door open and immediately was embraced by a spicy smell. She wrinkled her nose slightly and then looked around. Orochimaru was standing in front of a table ladled with medical instruments as well as a bloodied body. Where he had procured it she didn't know but when he brought it back with him that morning he got to work immediately. He looked up at her with slight interest before setting down the instruments and moving to his chair. He sat down, staring at her for a moment before she spoke.

"They've figured some things out, as you might expect," Yuka said calmly. "They know that you are dangerously close to taking another body. They also know that it is mine."

"Took them less time than expected," Orochimaru said contemplating something. "This new generation of ninja has quite the master strategist. Tell me, is it still Shikaku Nara?" Orochimaru didn't look at her as he asked. It was like he already knew the answer.

"Officially yes, but his son Shikamaru Nara is dangerously close to taking over that job. He's a lazy ninja though; unless it comes to his friends and protecting the village he's pretty damn lazy."

"Doesn't surprise me," Orochimaru said, pressing his forefinger and thumb to the bridge of his nose. "What else?"

"They do not believe that I am a part of the scheme. In fact, they've decided, after speaking with the Inuzuka, that I'll be moved somewhere off site, away from the village for safe keeping. They are using me as bait."

"They are quite cunning," Orochimaru said, moving to sit more comfortably in the hard chair. He glanced over at the body on the table before sighing. "Well, this changes some things but not drastically. I knew they'd react with suspicion and precaution. However, I doubt any of them know what is really hiding within Jiraiya. They don't know what I truly seek within that child."

"You mean the ocular jutsu?"

"That and much more. Like I've said before, that child holds the culmination of all three dojutsu that originated from the sage of six paths. He's got the potential for immense chakra as well as sealing powers. It is the ultimate body; more desirable than any other I have ever encountered."

"What do you want done? Young Jiraiya has asked me to train him but we both know his guardians would never allow it. They want to take me somewhere, soon. If it involves the Inuzuka we can assume that it is somewhere only found by smell."

"I don't have any problems with this," Orochimaru said, turning from the table to sit in the large chair. "There are other ways to track people, as you know. That curse mark will allow me to know exactly where you are."

"What about the other nin? They will be having plenty of Inuzuka guarding me as well as other ninja from the village on high alert. What is your plan?"

"Calm down," Orochimaru snapped. She nodded now, looking down at her feet. She always felt like she was being scolded by him. She didn't mean for it to happen but she constantly felt like she was making mistakes when it came to Orochimaru.

"Now, here is what we are going to do. They are going to take you to this safe spot, wherever it will be makes no difference. They think that you believe this to be your idea and are therefore going because it will, in either circumstance, benefit you. This they will be counting on. That is probably why the Inuzuka were chosen to guard you."

"Do you want me to just go with it, let it happen and wait for your signal?" Yuka asked, unsure what he could be planning.

"Essentially," Orochimaru hissed. "I only have so many hours to complete this jutsu to transfer my soul into your body. Therefore, I'll create a scene in the village which will be the signal for you. The second you hear the commotion I need you to neutralize any enemy within the vicinity. Then, I'll reverse summon myself to you."

"Will you be strong enough to reverse summon yourself, Orochimaru-sama?" Yuka asked, a hint of concern in her voice.

"I'll be weakened when I do finally reach you, so much so that I won't have the chakra to provide any sort of security. That is your job before I get there. Secure the area by putting up a seal barrier. If you can do this then Konoha will be none the wiser. Remember, this is an infiltration mission. Your body will sustain me, as powerful as it is, for a few years; it will outlast the jutsu because unlike the others you are giving your body willingly. It will not reject me so quickly."

"I will not reject you Orochimaru-sama," Yuka said, falling to her knees in front of him. His eyes, full of ambition and malice melted her barrier. For once she allowed him to see just how dedicated she was to his cause. She needed to destroy Konoha and everyone within it. It wasn't a question of right or wrong but a question of what would be best for future generations. Powerful shinobi villages were the evil in this world. They were the reason for any sort of war. With her body Orochimaru could gain the ultimate body, and at a very young age. Jiraiya was his target and as far as Yuka was concerned, the child would be better off as Orochimaru's vessel.

"I will not bore you with the jutsu details. If I do it will cloud your judgment on what needs to be done. So, I will tell you this: Go with the Inuzuka and be compliant. Wait for my signal, erect a barrier, and then I'll find you. Be prepared Yuka. This jutsu is not for the faint of heart."

"I am prepared, Orochimaru-sama," Yuka affirmed.

"Good. Do you know when you'll be going underground?"

"No, I won't know until my meeting with the Hokage later on today. I came back to fill you in as best I could. I should know more within the hour," Yuka replied, moving to stand again. "Is there anything you need to prepare yourself, Orochimaru-sama?"

He looked at her a moment, taking her in before a sly smirk came over his face. "Now that you mention it I would like you to do me a favor."

"Anything," Yuka assured, a slight smile on her face.

"Come closer," he ordered, holding out his pale hand. She looked at it only briefly before placing her own hand in it and stepping closer. She was now toe to toe with him, staring down into his cold eyes. He pulled her hand close to his face now, observing her outstretched palm. He ran his long and pale fingertips over her palm, tracing the faint lines of her seal before touching each fingertip with his own. He then pulled her hand in closer. "I have been working on this theory for quite some time. I've given you a curse seal, it is true. But unlike my other curse seals, this one doesn't transform you into some sort of chakra infused beast. Do you know why?"

"No," Yuka whispered, her eyes never leaving his face. He just smirked back at her, running his fingertips over her palm again.

"Because, your seal was always meant to be a reverse summoning seal. You understand that you were, first and foremost, my ultimate back up. The only body I could depend on to sustain my life force. The fact that you've stayed hidden and secret all these years was not a mere coincidence."

"I understand, Orochimaru-sama," Yuka insisted, her fingers coming into contact with his colder, longer ones. He watched them only for a second before looking back at her with quiet contemplation. After a few moments of silence he moved his hand to the top of hers, pulling her palm so it was parallel to his face.

"I will give you a final seal, a curse mark that will integrate into your own seal. It will be indistinguishable from your current seal and will empower it. The ability in your destruction hand will increase ten fold."

"Orochimaru-sama…" she whispered, watching as his lips curled into a smirk before she felt his teeth sink into her flesh. She let out a soft gasp before seeing the blood on his lips and chin drip down onto the floor. He pulled away slowly, his eyes glued to her hand with intent concentration. She looked too, amazed at what she saw.

Her own seal was glowing slightly, a soft red behind the dark black of Orochimaru's own seal. Then it spread, like snakes, slithering into the red seal and making it glow a bright purple. Then, it was gone. As if it never happened, the blood on her hand drying just as quickly as it was drawn.

"It will be painful, integrating my own seal into the ones you possess," Orochimaru confessed, his hand still holding her wrist. "But it will pass. The seal will probably glow, on and off, for the next day or so. If you have to, wear gloves to disguise it."

"I will," Yuka said as he released her wrist. She took a step back and his stood, looking down at her now through his long mop of black hair.

"You will serve me well Yuka Uzumaki," Orochimaru said before turning back to the bloodied body on the table. "Start considering what kind of seal you will need to use to disguise the house in your absence. If you are to be gone more than twenty four hours, a stronger seal is necessary."

"Yes, Orochimaru-sama," Yuka said, turning to leave. "I will be back with more information. In the mean time gather your strength. If there is anything that I can bring you to slate your hunger or thirst, let me know."

"Soon I will have what I crave," Orochimaru murmured, focusing his attention to the lifeless body on the table.

Yuka took this as her leave and closed the door behind her with a slight snap. The pulsing in her hand, the slight ache under her skin where Orochimaru placed his seal was becoming stronger. She quickly turned to her room, digging in an almost empty drawer for a pair of simple shinobi combat gloves. They cover the palm but leave the fingertips open for jutsu's. Exactly what she needed at this point.

She was making her way down the stairs toward the door when she heard a knock. She froze instantly, her eye's narrowing. She hadn't expected a visitor. The proper barriers were not on in the house so if anyone with a byakugan walked in, or even Kiba's nose or Shino's bugs, her whole cover would be blown. She had to answer her intruder and make them stay outside.

She quickly went to the door, opened it and then snapped it shut behind her as she stepped out onto the stoop. She wasn't expecting Hiashi Hyuuga to be standing before her. She bowed instantly, her eyes on his feet. "Lord Hiashi-sama! I wasn't expecting such a nobleman to be at my doorstep."

"Are you in a hurry?" he asked, looking her over curiously. She knew he had already scanned the house with his eyes, looking up and down. Luckily he couldn't see past her barrier when he was on the outside. She turned and locked the door behind her, shaking her head in unison.

"Sorry Hyuuga-san. I have an expected meeting with Lord Hokage soon," Yuka said, straightening to look at him. "Is there something you need me for?"

"Yes and no," Hiashi said. He then looked at her intently, his eyes roaming her body. "So tell me, Yuka, what did you tell my grandson?"

Yuka sighed now, remembering those exact words from Jiraiya less than a half hour ago. "He wanted me to train him. I told him I wasn't the right person. He insisted and I told him that he'd have to pass a test."

"And that would be?"

"I told him he had to convince his mom to let him train with me," Yuka said moving to walk down the stairs to the sidewalk. "Listen, I know you don't trust me and neither does anyone else but that kid just wouldn't let up. I don't know what his fascination is with me but I can assure you, I don't want to train him anymore than you want me to."

"Then it's settled," Hiashi said with a slight nod. He started to walk down the sidewalk with Yuka now, coming to the gate. "Jiraiya has confessed dreams of being the youngest chunnin in Konoha history. He'll be six next year and that is when the chunnin exams will take place. Since e seems to be unresponsive to my or my nephews training, we've decided that it would probably be best to have you, a fellow Uzumaki, train him in the sealing arts."

"Excuse me?" Yuka asked, drawing up short. Hiashi walked forward a little before realizing Yuka had stopped.

"Is that a problem? You said you wanted to train him, did you not?"

"No, I said I didn't want to train him. I haven't even been officially labeled a ninja in this village," she protested, her eyes wide. "And I can't deal with kids."

"Unfortunately he's passed your test, Yuka-san," Hiashi said with a slight shrug. "He convinced his mother. It took a few minutes of persuasion but as far as the Hyuuga are concerned, training him in a controlled environment somewhere within our compound should be adequate enough."

"You're really serious about this, Hiashi-sama?" Yuka asked again, moving to follow him now as he started to walk again.

"Very serious," Hiashi affirmed. "Danger is always close at hand for a shinobi. We all known Jiraiya is special. He has something that no other ninja has. If he is to protect himself from enemies he needs a teacher who understands him. Who better than you?"

"Anyone! Shino, Neji, Lee, Choji, even Kiba! Hell, have Ino teach him. Just not me."

"You made him a promise, Yuka-san," Hiashi said. "You must keep it to him. Believe me, he'll tire of your way of doing things and be coming back to the Hyuuga way within the month. Just bear it and maybe he really will learn something."

With this Hiashi bowed humbly to Yuka and took off down the road toward the Hyuuga compound. Yuka could do nothing but watch in awe.

Unbeknownst to her, or anyone else, a sinister face was watching from her upstairs window.

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