…unwanted

Itachi returned to Natsuki, who had just guided everyone out of the hideout.

"They're not there." Itachi said.

"W-what?" Natsuki's eyes widened. "We have to find my brother, Itachi."

"And we will, but there's no sign of where they could have disappeared to."

"Well we have to do something, Itachi!"

"We first need to focus on getting these people away from this place; then we can focus on Dairuko." Itachi said and Natsuki let out a deep breath before nodding. Together, Natsuki and Itachi led the people back to Konoha.

'We'll find you, Dairuko.' Natsuki thought to herself.

Dairuko woke up in a cell and quickly realised he couldn't move. When he actually fully regained his senses he saw that he was chained up, and a redhead with a strange hairstyle and red eyes stood in front of him.

"Don't bother trying anything. Those chains were meant to restrain the Nine-Tails." She said.

"Wouldn't dream of it." Dairuko muttered when Ren walked in. "You." Dairuko spat.

"Karin." Ren said.

"Yes, Ren-senpai?"

"Leave us."

"But, senpai, Orochimaru-sama said that-"

"I know what he said but I'd like a word with my brother."

"Hai, senpai." Karin said before leaving.

"What do you want?" Dairuko asked.

"Where is Natsuki?"

"Why would I tell you?"

"Because I have plan that will allow us to all win."

"Says the guy who ran straight back to his master after said master murdered his 'friend' right in front of his eyes."

"Don't pretend that you understand how I think, Dairuko."

"I've seen people like you, Ren, those who step over everyone, even those most loyal to them without reason. They fight for themselves and everyone else is just dead weight."

"It hurt, Dairuko… when Luna died it hurt and when I realised how painful it was, I knew that it was better she died."

"How can you even think that?"

"Look at this world, Dairuko… it's dying! We are killing it with these wars, and all for what? Power? Power, that will only last until the next person realises they can take it for themselves? People like Luna deserve better than this, so yes, I ran back to Orochimaru when he did me the favour of killing her and now, Dairuko, I feel nothing again."

"It's people like Luna that make this world better, Ren!" Dairuko exclaimed.

"Where is Natsuki?" Ren continued sombrely.

"How would I know?"

"Your eye is the same colour as Natsuki's. I've heard rumours about such a jutsu existing, and with its existence now proven, its abilities must be fact as well. Now cover your eye and find Natsuki."

"No."

"Then you leave me no choice."

Natsuki joined Itachi as he entered Tsunade's office to tell her about Dairuko's kidnapping.

"Hokage-sama, Dairuko has been kidnapped. As his teammates, we ask that we are granted permission to search for him." Itachi said calmly.

"How was he taken? When?" Tsunade asked, equally as calm.

"We aren't sure. During…" Natsuki trailed off, realising the mission- their favour for Ren- that they had just completed went against Tsunade-hime's orders.

"We lost him just after discovering the villagers that were held captive. It was a technique we haven't encountered before. We will find him"

"I can't put both of you at risk no matter how powerful you are, so I'll grant your request but-"

"I'm going with you." a familiar voice said from behind them.

"Jiraiya-sensei." Natsuki said.

"Who else?" he said with a grin.

"I thought you were training with Naruto." Itachi said.

"I actually just got back from a mission, but Dairuko is my student so I won't abandon him now."

"Fine. The three of you will search for Dairuko." Tsunade said.

'Even though her own son is missing Tsunade-hime is able to keep her feelings in check and focus on her duties as Hokage first-' Natsuki's thoughts were cut off by a sharp pain in her side, it felt as though she were being impaled. At first she just winced and gripped her side, but she then felt as if a heated senbon were slowly being inserted in each of her fingertips, causing her to cry out in pain.

"Natsuki!" Itachi exclaimed and grabbed her as she collapsed.

"What's wrong with her?" Tsunade asked, coming around her desk.

"It's a jutsu. She and Dairuko are now connected on a physical and mental level. What one feels, the other does too." Itachi said quickly.

"So…" Jiraiya trailed off.

"Dairuko's in pain right now." Itachi finished with a nod as Natsuki let out another scream, then started thrashing around so violently that she hit Itachi with a backhanded punch. Itachi –head spinning- recovered as quickly as he could but Natsuki had a bit of Dairuko's strength in her now so, using his superior weight, Itachi pinned her to the ground and held her there. "Look at me, Natsuki!"

Natsuki kept screaming and Tsunade moved to try and help but Jiraiya stopped her.

"Just trust Itachi." Jiraiya said.

Natsuki fought back another scream and opened her eyes long enough to see Itachi's face- and his Mangekyou Sharingan- before everything went black.

Ren pulled the last senbon out of Dairuko's finger, feeling like an idiot for not guessing that Natsuki was in Konoha.

"Karin, heal him why don't you." Ren said as he washed his hands of blood.

"Hai." Karin said and began to roll up her sleeve but Ren stopped her.

"Not that way… we don't need him to regain his strength"

"Understood." Karin said and began healing Dairuko. "Where are you going, senpai?"

"I need to fetch someone." Ren said and walked out the room. He continued down the hall until he bumped into Kabuto.

"Hello there, Ren." Kabuto greeted.

"Kabuto-senpai… what brings you here?"

"I came to see the Senju boy up close."

"Unfortunately, Dairuko isn't in any shape for your tests right now."

"That is unfortunate… I suppose I could wait until he's fit."

"Sorry, but once 'he's fit' I'll have to keep working on getting the information Orochimaru-sama needs."

"Ah. I see... then I guess I have no real reason to stay here."

"I apologise that you wasted your time coming here."

"No it's okay. It's nice to get out of the hideouts every now and then."

"I couldn't agree more. If you'd, like I can walk you out. I feel I could use some fresh air myself."

"Of course." Ren and Kabuto walked out the hideout in silence when Kabuto spoke again. "Are you okay, Ren?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Well as much as you try to distance yourself from him he is still your brother and, I suppose family comes with a different set of rules."

"I don't have a family… you and Karin were the closest things to such a concept that I have."

"Are you getting soft?"

"I said closest thing, I never said you were… but I hold you in high respect, Kabuto-senpai."

"I appreciate that."

"Ren-senpai, the prisoner is ready." Karin said then greeted Kabuto.

"I'll be there in second." Ren said and Karin went back inside.

"No rest for the wicked it seems." Kabuto joked.

"Clearly."

"Well good day, Ren."

"Same to you, Kabuto-senpai." Ren said 'This complicates things.' He thought to himself then made a shadow clone. "You know what to do."

"Of course." The clone said then left and Ren did the same.

Natsuki found herself near the coast of Konoha. Something about it felt familiar to her although she couldn't quite put her finger on it, then she remembered Dairuko.

"How did I get here?" Natsuki said out loud.

"I brought you here." A voice said and Natsuki turned to see Itachi.

"Itachi?"

"I put you in Tsukiyomi, to put you at ease."

"So what, I can't look for my brother now?"

"No. Dairuko's pain is your pain and, until we at least have a location you have to remain here for your own safety."

"I don't need to be 'safe', Itachi." Natsuki said, throwing her hands up and turning away from him. "Wait. If I'm in this genjutsu, then wouldn't Dairuko be affected by it as well? Unless… Hey, Itachi, You managed to somehow just put me under in case doing the same for Dairuko puts him in extra danger, right?" She got no response. "You disappeared on me, didn't you?" she said and turned to see Itachi wasn't there anymore. "Ugh of all the- fine I'll play your game, Itachi, but I'd better not get bored." Natsuki said 'And you'd better hold on 'til he gets there, Dai-nii.' She sat down to wait on the beach.

Orochimaru examined Dairuko while Ren and Karin were out of the room.

"Well I have to say, Dairuko-kun, I see a lot of your parents in you." Orochimaru said. "Tell me, Dairuko-kun do you want to hear the truth about your birth?"

"Why would I trust your words?"

"I have no reason to lie."

"You have every reason to lie! To try and make me turn my back on everyone I care about!" Dairuko exclaimed.

"If you won't believe my words then believe this." Orochimaru placed his hand on Dairuko's forehead.

Orochimaru took the -now dead- doctor's clothes and put them on. A local spy of his had seen that his former teammate, Tsunade, was in the village however, he also noticed one night while he watched her, that she was pregnant. Now Orochimaru stood outside the room where Tsunade was to be giving birth.

Tsunade let out one last scream as her second baby came out of her. Nobody noticed the 'doctor' - who was there to examine the two brothers - perform a jutsu on both babies so that they would mimic being stillborn.

"Tsunade-sama, I'm sorry. Your children are… stillborn." The doctor said.

"I want to hold them." Tsunade said.

"Tsunade-sama, I don't-"

"A mother deserves to hold her children!" Tsunade cried.

"If that is what you wish." The doctor said and handed Tsunade her sons.

"Dairuko and Ren…" Tsunade said as tears fell from her eyes.

Dairuko jerked his head away from Orochimaru's hand.

"What kind of genjutsu was that?" Dairuko hissed.

"It wasn't a genjutsu… I was showing you my memory of that night." Orochimaru said.

"Tsche."

"You're starting to wonder what else I know… what else I can show you."

"As if."

"Tell me, Dairuko, do you know who your father is?"

"Of course I do."

"I don't think you do."

"Orochimaru-sama, I didn't know you were in here." Ren said as he entered the room with Karin.

"I was just leaving." Orochimaru said then left the room.

"About time." Dairuko said.

"What was he doing here?" Ren asked.

"…Nothing."

"Alright then. You know what to do, Dairuko."

"Yeah."

Natsuki broke out of Itachi's genjutsu after she witnessed Dairuko and Ren's birth- it was dark outside. She looked around and saw that there wasn't anybody else in the room then. Her mind was reeling from what she had just experienced. A part of her had always suspected –after learning that Tsunade was Dairuko and Ren's mother- that Jiraiya was actually their father. For everyone's sake though, she had kept her suspicions to herself. What had shocked her though, were the errant memories of Dairuko's that had somehow slipped their way into her own mind during those… visions. That Dairuko and Ren, just what were they planning.

Natsuki sat in bed trying to make sense of what she had seen ; she thought of every possible way that Ren could've set her up but Dairuko was completely on board with whatever he had planned. There was no way that clone was going to be able to sneak into the village again undetected though, if she was going along with this, she would have to meet him outside… 'If it means finding Dairuko.'

"Fuck this! If it is a trap I still have some of Dairuko's strength and if it isn't I'll be taken straight to Dairuko." Natsuki said then thought. 'I should go alone… I doubt Itachi and sensei would believe me when I tell him what I saw or they'll at least take too long deciding whether it's a trap or not.'

Natsuki was about to leave when a hand grabbed her causing her to manoeuvre herself and place the person who grabbed her in an arm bar.

"Alright, I give." An all too familiar voice said, tapping her arm rapidly.

"Sensei?" Natsuki said then released him.

"You should be in a genjutsu."

"I have a lead." Natsuki stated, ignoring him.

"I heard you talking to yourself."

"I'm going, Jiraiya, even if I have to go through you." Natsuki said determinedly. She placed her hand on the hilt of her sword.

"I'm going with you."

"What?"

"I have a personal stake in Dairuko."

"Okay, then… let's go."

Natsuki and Jiraiya intercepted the Ren clone –who looked to be plotting his infiltration route- just outside Konoha. He looked a bit surprised to see Natsuki and Jiraiya.

"Well this saves me trouble. You've found me, with a friend no less." He looked at Jiraiya in distaste. "How did you know I'd be here?" Ren asked lamely.

"It doesn't matter. How far away are we from Dairuko?" Jiraiya asked.

"A day if we take the normal way at a steady pace, less if we take the shortcut at a steady pace."

"Let's go already!" Natsuki exclaimed then she, Ren and Jiraiya took off.

"You think she'll show up? She doesn't trust me, you know. I doubt she would come quietly, if she comes at all." Ren said.

"She'll show. I know my sister." Dairuko said.

"Why'd you go along with my plan?"

"Your argument was sound. You get Orochimaru to stay in one place, cut off his escape plans then let Natsuki and I kill him."

"And the torture you're okay with?"

"Not even remotely, but it was necessary for our rouse."

"You are acting strange, Dairuko."

"This jutsu causes mine and Natsuki's personalities to clash so, on occasion, my personality becomes similar to hers and vice versa."

"I have to say, I like this you better."

"Hey, Ren?"

"What?"

"Fuck you."

"It was fun while it lasted."

"I have a serious question for you, Ren."

"Yes?"

"Who is our father?"

"So that's what he did… show you our birth."

"Was it real?"

"It makes you think he knows more than you, and you'd be right, Dairuko."

"Who is our real father?!"

"Rest for now and tomorrow I'll be back with your answers." Ren said and left while Dairuko just hung his head.

Ren was walking down a long corridor when he found Orochimaru walking towards him. As they passed each other, Ren grabbed Orochimaru's arm and spoke.

"I won't forgive you for what you did and are doing to my family."

"Is this concern I'm seeing, Ren-kun?"

"I don't care for them, but what you've done to us deserves to be punished so, Orochimaru-sama, know this," Ren gave Orochimaru a straight look. "I will kill you."

"You may try, Ren-kun." Ren released Orochimaru's arm and they continued walking.

"Ren-senpai." Karin said.

"Yes Karin?"

"You weren't serious about killing Orochimaru-sama were you?"

"I was serious and as long as Dairuko is chained up in that room my plan will proceed as normal."

"But you could be killed."

"Maybe, but I refuse to be that thing's slave forever."

"Understood." Karin muttered as Ren walked away and once he was gone Karin made her way to Dairuko.

"Everything is going according to plan." Ren said with a smile.

Karin walked into Dairuko's cell and slapped him across the face to wake him up.

"What the hell, woman?!" Dairuko exclaimed.

"Shut up and follow me." Karin said in a hushed tone as the chains around Dairuko disappeared.

"Why are you helping me?"

"I'm helping Ren-senpai." Karin handed Dairuko a Sound ninja uniform that he put on. "Now let's go and don't fight anyone."

"Yes ma'am" Dairuko said and followed her. 'Ren wasn't joking about being able to predict how people will act.'

The two were almost out the main gate when it slammed closed.

"No way they could've been alerted to us already." Karin said in time to see Dairuko charging at the door. "WAIT!" She screamed but Dairuko was already mid-air and punching the gate however due to his lack of chakra it only left a dent. 'He shouldn't have been able to even dent that door.' In a matter of seconds both Karin and Dairuko were surrounded by Sound ninja.

"Well… that could've gone better." Dairuko said.

"Of course it would have if you had just waited, you idiot!" Karin exclaimed then let out a sigh before rolling up her sleeve. "Bite my arm." She said as she held out her arm.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Just do it!"

"Alright, alright." Dairuko said and bit down on Karin's arm then felt his chakra return to him. "Oh. Yeah!" Dairuko smirked.

Natsuki felt a surge of chakra course through her body and with that surge she was able to sense Dairuko's newly vitalised chakra.

"I can sense Dairuko!" Natsuki exclaimed and unconsciously began to pick up speed.

"Ren, she's going to leave us behind. I expect to get there long after her anyway." Jiraiya said.

"Sure." Ren said.

'I'm on my way, Dairuko… just stay alive.' Natsuki thought as she left her two companions behind.

Dairuko went through the sound ninja like they were standing still, Karin was in awe to say the least.

"Are you fools even trying to beat me?" Dairuko taunted as he grabbed one of them and threw them into another. "Beat one mother fucker with another mother fucker."

'This Dairuko is really something so different from Ren-senpai… his chakra is a lot warmer and brighter but, it has a darkness to it.'

"Karin! Get set!" Dairuko exclaimed as a sound ninja came flying towards Karin causing her to kick the ninja square in the chest and launch him into the air where Dairuko appeared then slammed the ninja's face into the ground.

Once all the sound ninja were dealt with Dairuko charged towards the sealed gate and literally broke through it with ease.

"Hey, Dairuko." Natsuki almost sang his name.

"Natsuki!" Dairuko exclaimed.

"I have to say, the whole sound ninja outfit isn't for you."

"I know right." Dairuko said and tore off his shirt.

"Can we undo this jutsu already? I kinda want to have my full self back." Natsuki said.

"Of course." Dairuko answered and the two of them performed the hand seals they did before, but in the opposite sequence. "God Damn, it feels good to be back to me again… Natsuki, about the tor-"

"Forget about it, it was necessary. So, what's the plan?"

"We're going to kill Orochimaru here and now."

"No pressure then, I assume."

"Not at all."

"If your little reunion is over can we please go now?" Ren said as he appeared by the two, looking bored.

"Senpai?" Karin said then Ren patted her head.

"You did good, Karin, thank you."

"B-but you said-"

"I know what I said and I'm glad you believed me otherwise this opportunity would've been wasted." Ren said and left with Dairuko.

"Don't worry, men like him always say stuff to deceive people best to believe that they have other plans." Natsuki added then left after them. "Hey, Ren."

"What is-" Ren was cut off by Natsuki punching him in the stomach then followed by a knee to the face and a back elbow to the jaw.

"That's for the torture… next time I won't be so merciful."

"That had to hurt." Dairuko commented.

"Tsche, If you're done, can we go? This jutsu that prevents Orochimaru's escape won't last forever… where's my clone?" Ren asked wiping blood from his lip.

"He's leading Jiraiya here." Natsuki answered.

"Wait, who?" Ren stopped walking.

"Jiraiya."

"You were supposed to come alone!" Ren exclaimed angrily.

"What's wrong with you, Ren?" Dairuko asked.

'This complicates things.' Ren thought to himself then spoke. "Doesn't matter. Right now we need to kill Orochimaru before the jutsu deactivates."

"Alright then…" Natsuki trailed off and the three of them ran into an open area of the hideout where they met Orochimaru.

"So this was your plan, Ren." Orochimaru said.

"Not exactly… but I'll take what I can get."

Orochimaru laughed then turned into a giant eight headed white snake and attacked the three ninja causing them to dodge out the way.

"Hmph he isn't taking us lightly." Ren said.

Natsuki used her Chidori Spear to cut off one Orochimaru's snake's heads with ease.

"It doesn't matter how big you get we'll always be stronger than you." Natsuki said.

"Natsuki! Get ready!" Dairuko exclaimed as he grabbed Orochimaru and started lifting him off the ground then threw him toward Natsuki who fired another Chidori Spear that pierced Orochimaru then turned into her Chidori tree.

"That was way too easy." Natsuki said as Orochimaru turned back to his normal form.

Ren walked over to Orochimaru then kicked him across the floor then prepared to finish Orochimaru off when Jiraiya arrived.

"Sensei." 'This is bad.' Natsuki thought.

"Never fear, Jiraiya the Great Toad Sage is here!" Jiraiya announced.

'Oh shit.' Ren thought he knew he had to kill Orochimaru now before Jiraiya ruined his plan but as he readied himself Orochimaru shed his skin to escape then retreated to higher ground.

"Jiraiya… you're a bit late, your son already did the damage." Orochimaru said.

"What?" Dairuko said.

'Fuck.' Ren thought.

"Dairuko-" Natsuki started.

"Is that true?"

"Dairuko, I'm sorry." Jiraiya said.

"You knew… and you didn't tell me."

"I didn't-" Jiraiya started but was cut off by Dairuko punching him into a wall and, before Jiraiya could react, Dairuko was in front of him savagely punching him in the face and body.

"You knew and said nothing!" Dairuko screamed as he continued punching his father and teacher. Dairuko was in a deep fit of rage he himself could barely breathe the anger and hatred was so suffocating.

"Dairuko, stop!" Natsuki exclaimed and tried to grab Dairuko's arm but she was thrown back into Ren, who had been contemplating whether to stop Dairuko or kill Orochimaru.

"Get up!" Dairuko exclaimed when he finished his onslaught and left Jiraiya to drop to the floor. "I said STAND UP!" Dairuko grabbed a fistful of hair and picked Jiaiya off the ground then delivered another powerful body blow that caused Jiraiya to retch convulsively.

Dairuko cocked back one last chakra fuelled punch as he stared into his father's eyes that were now empty, he wasn't afraid, angry, or anything, just empty- as if he was staring into Dairuko's soul- Dairuko hesitated for just a moment. He let out a roar and punched the wall behind Jiraiya's head instead and, after a second, the entire wall exploded outwards.

"Dairuko, remember who's really to blame for this… for everything," Ren –who had recovered faster than Natsuki- said into Dairuko's ear. "remember who robbed us of knowing our real family and the person who robbed us of being a real family… Orochimaru."

Ren's words were timed perfectly, for the moment, Dairuko calmed down enough for his rage to be aimed at someone else, and it worked. The realisation that the only person to be angry at was Orochimaru sunk in.

"Orochimaru…" Dairuko muttered then screamed. "Orochimaru! I'll kill you!" Dairuko dug his hands into the ground and lifted a chunk of rock from it then threw it toward Orochimaru who dodged it but as he dodged it Dairuko was in front of him slamming the back of his head into the ground.

Dairuko punched Orochimaru's face into the ground then lifted him off the floor and kicked him in the stomach but before he could be sent flying Dairuko grabbed his leg and pulled him back into Dairuko breaking Orochimaru's back over his knee then he kicked Orochimaru across the floor.

"Karin, I need you to heal this man." Ren said as a clone brought her to the fight.

"But he is our enemy." Karin said upon looking at a broken Jiraiya and Natsuki -who was trying to heal him.

"Karin, we're all enemies of that snake now. I need you to heal him." She was about to argue when Ren spoke again. "Karin, now is the time for you to pick a side, either stick with Orochimaru who's going to die soon and you along with him, or help me now and be spared." Karin rolled up her sleeve and Ren brought her to Jiraiya. "You need to bite her arm."

Natsuki picked up Jiraiya's head to Karin's arm and with what strength he had left he bit into her arm while Dairuko dominated Orochimaru in battle. Orochimaru landed a solid punch on Dairuko's jaw but Dairuko didn't flinch instead, he grabbed Orochimaru's arm and pulled it clean off then hit him with his own arm.

"This is just disappointing." Dairuko said, then he threw Orochimaru toward Ren. "He's all yours now. I have someone I need to talk to." Dairuko began walking away.

"Dairuko-" Natsuki was about to chase after him when Ren stopped her.

"You have to take Jiraiya back to Konoha because I'll be arrested and Karin won't do it." Ren said.

"Look at what he did to his own father, who knows what he might do to Tsunade!"

"Why do you think I aimed his rage at Orochimaru? He should be calm enough to hear reason as well as speak it… hopefully."

"Hurry up then."

Dairuko used his body flicker technique to appear in front of the Hokage Tower and he began walking toward his mother's office.

"Dairuko-san! You're okay!" Shizune said in surprise but Dairuko said nothing then walked into Tsunade's office where she sat and, for a brief moment, he could see the relief in her face.

"We need to talk." Dairuko said. "You lied to me. You told me my father was dead when I actually spent most of my life with him… why didn't you tell me?" Tsunade remained silent trying to actually get her reasoning into words.

"I'm sorry, Dairuko, I shouldn't have kept that from you. I had no right to keep that from you." Tsunade said. "It doesn't matter how good my reason for not telling you or Jiraiya-"

"What do you mean me or Jiraiya? Jiraiya knew." Dairuko said.

"I only told him when you went missing."

"Oh God… I nearly killed my father for a misunderstanding."

"You did what?" Tsunade asked when Shizune came through the door.

"Tsunade-sama, Jiraiya-sama and Natsuki-san appeared in the hospital-" Tsunade and Dairuko didn't wait for Shizune to finish before they both jumped out the nearest window and headed to the hospital.

"You nearly killed your father!" Tsunade exclaimed to Dairuko as they jumped from roof to roof.

"I thought he lied to me, kept a secret from me my whole life for all I knew!" Dairuko argued.

"That doesn't make it right!"

"Don't you pin all this on me, this is just as much my fault as it is yours for not telling us sooner!"

"I'm not having this argument now!"

"Neither am I!" Dairuko stopped jumping and took off in the opposite direction.

"Ah Orochimaru-sama…" Ren said. "Remember when I said I was going to kill you?" Ren walked around Orochimaru. "I'll do one better." Ren placed his hand on Orochimaru's chest.

Karin waited outside the room when the door suddenly opened and a white snake slithered out and in that moment Karin feared that she had picked the wrong side as Ren followed after the snake.

"R-Ren-senpai?" Karin asked.

"Sorry to scare you Karin but using these snakes will require some practice." Ren said as the snake slipped back into his sleeve.

"So Orochimaru-sama is…"

"I absorbed his power and now I can truly continue with my plan." Ren gave an evil smile and walked away with Karin following behind him.