"Human."

This was the voice in her dreams.

"Finally." The great snake took a drag from it's cigarette holder. "I had a vision you would come."

Kirika gazed at the sage. He dwarfed Manda. All white and golden eyed, his head and neck coiled onto a huge pedestal while the rest of him was so long he coiled dozens of times around the gigantic column behind him. He was decorated with gold bands and two giant green beads; one on a necklace and the other in the centre of a headdress. "A vision?"

"The Naga dreams prophecies." Manda said.

"You called to me in my dreams. You summoned me."

"I did. And I have dreamt of your arrival twice."

"Twice?

"The day the last snake sage died three hundred years ago and the day you signed the summoner's contract."

"I've dreamt of the Ryuchi Cave many times."

"Natural energy does odd things to the sleeping mind, when mixed with the clairvoyance of fate." Yueda was curled up next to the Sage. Her head rested on her coiled body and stared at Kirika. Kirika hadn't noticed her. Yueda was a quiet one. She was easy to forget but always watching. Naturally, she was Kirika's favourite.

"Five years ago I mistook your sire for you. He attempted to become a sage." The snake took a drag. "However his body was too weak."

"I read about it, yes... You will teach me to become a sage?"

"So I dreamt it."

Kirika smiled. "I'll rest a while first."

The sage chuckled in response. "Girl, I am in no rush. I have not been in one for three hundred years."

"AH!"

"You must still yourself, girl."

Kirika sighed raggedly and slouched when the Naga withdrew his fang from her back. She twisted to look at him, his head hovered behind her. "Ugh-easier said than done." Kirika was thankful for her accelerated healing. The sage liked to bite deep. The first time he bit her she was sure she would need to use to Orochimaru-style body replacement for the puncture to heal. For his colossal size, his fangs tapered down to astonishingly fine points. Where at the base, his fangs were almost as wide as she was tall, the tips were no larger than her little finger.

"Meditate."

Kirika re-crossed her legs and turned back away from the Naga. She closed her eyes, breathed and tried to relax, knowing another bite was coming.

"You tense."

"You're bite hurts." Kirika relaxed a little more.

"Ignore the pain."

Kirika ground her teeth at the bite. It was fine if she winced when he was sucking natural chakra out of her. The hardest part of her training was when he injected it. The sting was awful, and remaining still was not easy matter.

"Rest a while. We will continue later."

Kirika stretched out her legs and rubbed her eyes. In the time she spent under the sage's tutelage she learned 'later' generally meant after she had eaten and slept. The Ryuchi Cave was always dim, and time passed by untraceably.

The sage collected his cigarette holder.

Still seated with her legs spread out, Kirika leaned back on her hands and tilted her head back to look at him. "Where do you find so much tobacco?" The cigarette was half as big as she was, and taller.

"When you live as long as I have, you learn these things."

"Hhm. Just how old are you?"

"Give me a light."

Kirika's body went ablaze with purple fire.

The Naga touched his cigarette to the flames and breathed in. He liked to take his time with each breath. When he exhaled he answered her. "When did the brothers Asura and Indra do battle? I was alive then, I remember."

"Doesn't ring a bell."

The Sage let out another breath. "Lost to the ages, then... Along with the other naga, and my name."

It was in her resting time that Yueda spoke to her. "Something is troubling you."

"No. Nothing worth complaining about." Kirika's hands went ablaze, and she touched the fire pit she had built to light it. "Sitting perfectly still isn't so easy for humans. We tend to be restless. And I'm not the model for patience." She began to whittle a point into a long stick with a kunai. "But I last now longer than I did when I started."

"Not like that. You are troubled. I see your stress manifesting in your body language."

Her mind went to her father, and Sasuke. Kirika's eyes flickered to Yueda. "It's nothing." She continued whittling.

Yueda shifted and left it be. She watched Kirika spear a caught frog and mushrooms quietly.

Truth be told, Kirika wouldn't have minded talking. She spent most days now meditating in silence. If Yueda pressed, at least Kirika could have insisted she didn't want to talk about it. She could change the topic. But now it hung in the air, unfinished and melancholy. A sadness-turned-hateful feeling that was always lingering in the back of her mind, but now was in the limelight. It didn't bother her as s=much as it had before, she realised. She had the mind to tell Yueda, she had the desire to tell her, but the words Kirika though she had escaped her. And she found she didn't know how to describe what she was feeling.

"You shouldn't leave Yueda in suspense like that." Aoda slithered up to them, and coiled up as Yueda was doing. "You'll drive her crazy."

Kirika glanced at Yueda. It was hard to read her. She was monotonous to the point of dispassionate. Kirika mused that perhaps she simply didn't understand human interaction.

Aoda cocked his head. "So what's wrong?"

Kirika let out a cynical, laughing breath. "My fre- my... partner killed my father."

"Partner?"

"Sasuke Uchiha."

"Oh. Sorry."

Kirika shrugged. "Life goes on. It went on after my mother died and it goes on now." She sighed. "I'm done mourning. It doesn't suit me. And father would probably scold me if he caught me in grief." Kirika smiled, sad, but it transformed into something more playful. "Otherwise I wouldn't be here. And I must say, I like controlling the Sound Village."

"Sounds like an adventure!" He leaned in, expectantly. "We love stories. You should tell it." Aoda looked at Yueda. "I bet you've been waiting for Lady Kirika to tell it." He looked back at her, excitedly. "Yueda's bursting with anticipation!"

Kirika cracked another smile.

"Tell us? Please?"

She chuckled. "Aoda, you're a bit mad."

"I'd be happy if you told it! Please!? You summon me it lots of different places, so you must have been all over! Travelling means stories!"

"Alright."

Aoda looked at Yueda, and spoke. "Start at the very beginning."

Kirika breathed, and leaned back...

By the time she had finished recounting her life, a few others had, including Manda, gathered. Though they all kept to themselves. Questions dominated by Aoda came after she finished.

"Then what happens?" Aoda asked.

"Then I came here."

"Oh... I liked it."

She tossed a kunai into the air and caught it. "...I should have killed Sasuke when I had the chance."

"That would be a bad end to the romance. Every story needs romance."

"I don't love him."

"I sounds like you do."

"If I ever see him again I'll stick my kusanagi through his heart." She licked her lips. "If... I should say 'when'. It's something to look forward too."

Yueda spoke up, for the first time since Aoda asked for her story, which drew the attention of everyone. "Will you tell us how the story ends? When it ends."

Kirika smiled gentler, Yueda had enjoyed it just like Aoda and everyone else, she thought, and it gave her a quire sense of amusement. "Sure."

When the Sage exhailed his cigarette smoke, Kirika knew she was still. She sat in meditation with her eyes closed. His breathing was silent, but she could smell it. The sage never smoked when she trained. He had to keep his mouth free. His bite both injected natural energy and sucked it out when she began to transform into a snake. If he was smoking, then he was certain she would not transform... that, or he had tired of her.

"What the hell was that!?"

Kirika's meditation came to an abrupt end when the Sage whipped her with the end of his tail.

"You should have see it coming."

Kirika leaned up on her elbow and wiped her face. She glared. "How? I've been meditating for hours." She assumed in had been a few hours since he began smoking. She was quite honestly astounded by her own patients. She had never been a spiritual person.

"Aye. You have achieved balance with natural chakra." Kirika had become good at pegging the emotions of snakes buy their subtle body language. She saw what looked like joy, perhaps even pride on the Sage's face. "You become still like a snake. Yet you were unable to see my attack. You were unable to react on a moments notice."

Kirika glared.

"How did you know ?"

"...I could smell you smoking."

"Take your stance."

She frowned.

"Don't fight me, girl. You asked this of me."

Reluctantly, Kirika straightened her meditation pose, relaxed, and closed her eyes.

"You smelt it. Good. But you must go deeper than that."

Kirika didn't answer. She should not break her stance. She waited for his next bite.

"You no longer flinch."

"..."

"No bite is coming, girl. Now you must draw the energy from nature. feel it like the air you breath. Let it in. Now that you have learned to be still, absorbing it will not be so hard."

Kirika stilled herself, and tried to sense it.

"Like that. Keep trying. Now girl, you're smell is heightened. So is your hearing, and your sight, but such senses can betray you. Suppose you are blinded, or caught in genjustu."

Kirika could feel the natural energy around her.

"When you enter sage mode, you are half snake... When you are in sage mode, you can see the world around you by sensing heat."

Kirika side stepped the snake behind her. Another came from the right. She danced to the side and thrust her hand at it. It connected with the amplified force of the sage mode, and the creature shot away. It was as if her peripheral vision expended all around her. She could sense the heat. Her blow made contact with the last snake.

The Naga nodded. He had a glimmer in his eyes. "There is nothing more I can teach you."

"The return passage will not trouble your mind so much this time. You can sense your surrounding."

"That's good. Do you have any idea how long I've been down here?"

"Months, perhaps." The Naga said.

"Months." Manda agreed.

They had gathered in a farewell party of sorts.

"Aoda, Manda, keep tabs on Sasuke for me whenever he summons you."

"Okay!"

"Ffe, Where do you get off telling me what to do."

Kirika shook her head, but smiled. He would do as she asked. She faced the sage and bowed deeply. "Thank you for your tutelage."

"It has been a pleasure." The sage took a drag. "Girl, I dreamt of you in a new prophecy."

Kirika though for a moment. "Good or bad?"

"I couldn't say."

"With all respect, I'd rather not hear it. In all the myths, learning the prophecy initiates it."

"...You were tied to a tree with mirrors broken in your eye sockets and a ribbon in your mouth. At your feet were the messiahs and the bound children. A poisoned flower blossomed. And the mother stands close behind, weeping."

Kirika frowned. "Did I need to hear that?"

"Perhaps. Perhaps not."

She sighed disdainfully. "I don't understand."

"Nor do I. When my dreams become clearer, so will I."

Kirika tisked. "And now the dilemma. Do I ignore your prophecy or try to prevent it?"

"You should use caution."

"Naturally." She sighed. "But if it's a prophecy I'll meet my fate no matter what I do."

"One more thing. There was key on the ribbon."

"Pardon?"

"A key tied to the ribbon in your mouth."

Kirika touched her chin. "I'll keep my eyes open." Kirika looked towards the mouth of the cave.

"Think carefully on what it is you desire. Or you may find yourself dancing the line between madness and oblivion."

Kirika looked back and nodded. "Farewell."

"Safe travels, summoner."

"I'm glad you're back." Kabuto smiled. He ran the comb through Kirika's damp hair. It wasn't so wet anymore and the tangles were gone but he was reluctant to stop. Her hair was ebony silk in his fingers and they tingled each time they ran through it. It had been months since Kabuto had seen her, it was unlikely he would be allowed to brush her hair again soon, let alone touch her.

"I know." Kirika had almost forgotten how wonderful a nice shower and bath were. The Ryuchi cave contained pools to bath in, but they couldn't compare to warm running water. Kabuto was clingy as ever from the moment she stepped into the base. To humour him, she told him to brush her hair once she finished showering.

Kirika smiled. "It's nice to be home... I've been thinking. I really must do something about Sasuke."

"We have spies and informants working on reporting his whereabouts."

Kirika shot him an odd look. "I know." She looked back ahead and let him keep brushing. "While I was thinking, I though how droll it would be to simply kill him. And torture is such a cliché. We'll be revisiting or old Akatsuki friends. I think it's high time we pay a visit to Itachi Uchiha."

There was a knock on her door. Kirika looked up from her maps.

Kabuto stepped into the room. "My lady, am I interrupting you?"

She rolled the maps up. "No. Good timing. We're leaving."

"Oh? Now?"

"Last week my little birds told me the Leaf is prowling around this area. Headed in this direction."

"We just got here the day before yesterday. If you knew, why did we come to this base?"

Kirika chucked. "I want to play with them a bit. We ought to throw them a bone. I haven't been able to leak any information on the Akatsuki since I returned from my little trip."

Kabuto smiled. "You have little faith in their information gathering."

"Of course not. But you know," She stood. "puppies respond to positive reinforcement."

The light reflected in Kabuto's glasses. "Before we go, I have a present for you. A welcome home present."

The teams Kakashi and Kurenai regrouped on the roof of a temple, after leaving the Leaf. Kakashi summoned his ninja house and went over the plan of operation, to which everyone agreed.

"Our top priorities are chasing the scents of Sasuke and Kirika. After that we'll deal with the Akatsuki. Also, if any of you happen to encounter the Akatsuki, flee and return here." Kakashi received a round of conformational nods. "Spread out!"

All attacks ceased. "W-wait a minute? Are you serious!?" Naruto asked. Kabuto was the last person they'd expected to run into on their search for Sasuke. But his proposal was too good be true.

Yamato glared. "Orochimaru's dead now. So you're trying to negotiate a deal with the Leaf Village, is that it?"

"No. I'm not so foolish as to think the Leaf would negotiate with the likes of me. And I'm certainly smarter then to betray Lady Kirika."

"Then explain." Yamato demanded.

"What is there to explain? I'll say it again: if you'll follow me, I'll take you three straight to Lady Kirika. That's all. No tricks... Though I can't predict what she might do when you see her."

Hinata frowned. "But... why?"

Kabuto readjusted his glasses. "Lady Kirika has been in such poor spirits since Lord Orochimaru's death. I'm hoping a little reunion with old friends will cheer her up."

Yamato's glare remained. "You expect us to believe that?"

"Yeah right!" Naruto yelled. "Why would Kirika ever keep you around!? Grafting Orochimaru onto your skin!? That's sick! If it was me I'd of kicked you out right there! I bet she's on her way back to the Konoha right now!"

Kabuto chuckled. "Loud as ever, I see. I assure you, Lady Kirika approved. But as for her plans, if you follow me maybe you'll find out what they are."

"Is this a good idea?" Hinata whispered

Yamato frowned "Absolutely not."

"What other leads do we have?" Naruto said. "Sasuke might be there, too."

"They've been apart since he killed Lord Orochimaru." Kabuto spoke up from in front of them. "Lady Kirika didn't take it well; naturally. The confrontation was less than resolving."

Naruto frowned. "So what's she gonna do?"

"Avenge Lord Orochimaru, I assume. But in her own time. By her own means. You know how she is."

"I don't. She's never cared before." Yamato glared.

Kabuto stopped walking. "Down here." He beckoned to the stairwell leading underground. It was well hidden by the forest.

"You first. And if you try anything." Yamato threatened.

Kabuto grinned and led the way.

The interior of this base was almost identical to the last one they discovered, the last time they found Kirika and Sasuke, over a year ago. After bidding the leaf ninja 'wait here'. Kabuto disappeared down hallway. Leaving them in the dim candlelight two turns and one descending staircase from the exit, between a hall and a huge set of doors, and in careful tension until two pairs of footsteps re-echoed from the hall.

"Kira!" Naruto shouted

"Naruto?" Kirika's expression of confusion morphed into a grin. Her grins always looked wicked. "How wonderful that you're here!" Kirika looked her company over. She licked her lips. "Oh? Is it my birthday? Kabuto, you're so sweet." He'd brought her a Hyuga, a jinchuriki, and a wood style user. And at the cost of only one empty base.

"I aim to please."

"Tenzo, always a pleasure. And Hinata, so nice to see you." She strode past Naruto and Yamato. Hinata shrunk down when Kirika came face to face with her. Kirika chuckled. "Ever the shy one, I see. My dear, I'd never dream of harming you." Kirika swiped Hinata's bangs up with her hand. Her smile widened. It made Hinata shy away. "Just checking. No, no. Don't be afraid. I assure you, I always take care to treat ladies gently."

"Kira. We have unfinished business."

Her attention shifted to Naruto. Hinata let out an audible sight of relief. Kirika smiled, her eyes narrow and piercing. "Quite."

"You stabbed Sakura!" Naruto glared with a heartbroken expression. "Why?"

"Oh, that's right." Kirika taped her finger to her chin. "How is Sakura? Did she live?"

"Yeah."

A sadistic excitement danced in Kirika's eyes. "Oh! Fantastic! Fuhuhu, I'm truly impressed she was able to counteract the poison on my blade. Of course, I left you with the recourses of that base."

"Why are you being so nonchalant!? Kirika, you stabbed Sakura! You poisoned Sakura! You're friend!"

"Yes. I suppose she is my friend now. The silly girl, I warned her years ago not to try to make friends with me. She didn't listen, so I promised that if she survived that wound I would consider her my friend... You were there. You know what happened. What don't you understand?" I was sure she'd die. Perhaps I should send her flowers... a bit late, but a late gesture of friendship is better than none at all.

"Everything! Why did you need to do that? Why couldn't you have just made that decision over tea like a normal person!?"

Kirika shot him a stare with such intensity he reeled back. "What a foolish idea. Of course not. Work on your attention span. The more friends, the more distractions. The more liabilities. If you go around befriending the weak you'll see, they start dying left and right. Or worse, they live long enough to betray you. Friendship is a means to an end. You use each other. And you break it off when the benefit expires. I was doing her a favour. She was very sweet and I saw myself growing fond of her, but she was weak. If she kept trying to get close to me we would have both had to pay for it one way or another. She insisted. I gave her the benefit of the doubt... I'd heard she took down Sasori of the Akatsuki, but you can never be to sure."

"You don't know how wrong you are." Naruto took a shaking breath to calm himself. "If you believe that, why did you make friends with me?"

"You're a jinchuriki. I believe we have a mutual benefit to offer each other. I kept you alive, you provided me with some very useful data." Kirika's mood returned to her version of warm invitation. "Well now, seeing as we're all friends and we're all alive, I see no issue. Come, let's move to a more suitable place to talk." She moved to the big doors, swung one open with one arm and ushered the Leaf ninja inside. "Right this way, lady and gentlemen."

It was a big, open room, decorated with stone snakes. In the centre was a floor table.

Kirika took a seat at the head cushion. She motioned to the seats. "Please. Sit."

Naruto clenched his fists and eyes. As Kirika's back was too them Hinata looked at him. She whispered under her breath. "Naruto, we haven't lost her yet. In fact, now it looks like Sakura holds more merit in Kirika's eyes. She has a twisted idea of friendship, but it could just be a coping mechanism. We don't know what Orochimaru filled her head with."

Naruto's eyes widened. He nodded, a determined smile returned, and whispered back to her. "You're right. Good call."

When the Leaf Ninja didn't move Kirika chuckled. She stood and put an arm around Naruto, guided him to a cushion and pushed him down by the shoulders, then returned for Hinata. When she approached Yamato he swated her hand away and seated himself.

Kirika rolled her eyes in amusement and followed suit. She beckoned Kabuto towards her. She cupped her mouth and whispered into his ear.

He stood up. "Right away, ma'am." And left the room.

"Where'd you send him?" Yamato asked.

"A surprise. Don't worry. He'll be back." Kirika glanced around the table. "May I assume none of you will drink tea?"

"You may." Yamato crossed his arms.

"It would be ill mannered of me not to ask." She glanced at Naruto. "Now, are you here to kill me or capture me?"

"We're here to bring you home."

"That again? You're persistent, I'll give you that." She glanced at her pocket watch and sighed. "Fine. Make your pitch. You have until Kabuto comes back. Then I'll hear no more of it."

"Kira." Naruto leaned over the table. "What are you still doing with here? What are you doing with Kabuto?"

"He has his uses."

"Can't you see he's lost it!?"

"Of course I can. He's taken to obsessing over me."

"How are you so calm about it? He grafted Orochimaru's skin onto himself!" Naruto's eyes were serious. "Come on, Kira. He'll let his guard down around you. We can take him down together. Then we can go home."

Kirika gave him a softer smile. "You would have me back as a comrade." She touched his cheek. "But how many other villagers would? How many would have me imprisoned? Hm?" Kirika looked at Yamato. She smiled. "He certainly would."

Naruto looked away. "It's... it's not like that..."

"How many would have me hanged for crimes against humanity? And if the Hokage were to lessen my sentence where do you think I would end up? Prison or a lunatic asylum?"

"You know that's not true."

"You know it is." Kirika folded her hands, elbows on the table. "But if you really want to stay together, I'll still take you as a test subject. That goes for all of you." Kirika's eyes flickered to Yamato. "How about you, Tenzo? That blood you donated went to good use. Surly you understand the importance of scientific research."

"I didn't donate, you stuck me with a syringe by force!"

She rolled her eyes. "Oh, don't be that way."

Naruto glared, his head to the side. "No way." His eyes clenched together. "Come on Kira!" He shifted, one leg pivoting by his foot and the other stayed in its knee. around the side of the table and grabbed her shoulders and gave her a shake. "Whatever Orochimaru did to you he's gone now! You're free! Why are you so dead set on this place? The only thing this path will give you loneliness! In Konoha you had friends! You had a family and a life! It hasn't just disappeared. I understand! Everyone does!" Naruto's hands wrapped around her and he pulled her into an embrace. "We get how hard it is for you. This is how you grew up... but think. Remember. Remember how we just barely passed Kakashi's bell test. Remember the land of waves and the chunin exams and everything. Remember all the times you saved us. Remember me and Sakura; Pervy Sage and Grandma Tsunade; that crazy proctor, Anko and you mom. We all love you. We care about you. Come on Kirika," Naruto pulled back and looked her in the eyes. "Let us help you. Let yourself be loved."

"Naruto." Kirika returned his gaze in piercing intensity, she touched his hand. "Do you remember, I burned down that hospital when my mother died." She leaned into his ear. "I only did that for her. I hate Jiraiya and Tsunade. They let her die, and if she didn't care for Konoha I would have burned the whole damned village to the ground." She pulled away. "And I haven't lost that conviction."

Naruto's eyes glistened; his heartbreak was palpable. "Kira... what is it you want?"

She chuckled; sarcastic and intense. "I only want to have fun. I've come into a higher position of power in Otogakure. And I find I quite like the taste. I appreciate you're tenaciousness, but to be frank, I wouldn't have much fun in Konoha."

"I can't believe that." Naruto met her gaze. "How do you expect to have any fun when you're all alone?"

"I live for intrigue. You don't think I keep up these base networks all by myself, do you? I'm far from alone."

Naruto paused for a moment. "No... You're not..." He ceded. "You have me."

Kirika's eyes turned dangerous. "Careful now. I've grown fond of you, but that Konoha pomposity is sickening."

The tension broke when Kabuto pushed the door open. "I take it that ends your attempts to sway me back."

"I'm not done!" Naruto's face became hard. "Damn it Kira, I'll never be done until you're back home!"

"Of course you won't. But if you want to this meeting to happen again, I'd calm myself." Kabuto handed Kirika a book. "Thank you."

Naruto made to speak, but Hinata touched his arm. She shook her head and he took a breath.

"What's that?" Yamato asked

Kirika placed it on the table, and slid it to him. "Are you aware that most of the information you have on the Akatsuki was leaked to you by my father and myself?"

Yamato shot her a challenging glare.

"It's the truth." Kirika shrugged. "And speaking of what I want, I think it would be very interesting to destroy their pesky little organisation. There's one in particular I have my eye on. Tell me, why are you all so far from home?"

"To bring you back." Naruto said

"Might I assume you're also on the hunt for Sasuke?"

Yamato crossed his arms.

"What happened between you two?" Naruto asked.

"Exactly what you think happened. He killed my father and ran of with a few of my favourite test subjects."

"You're mad!? He freed you."

"Funny. He said the same thing. None of you seem to understand... Maybe I should kill him." She eyed Yamato with such intensity he reeled back. Her eyes flickered back to Naruto. "After all, I'd be freeing you from his control."

"That's not the same and you know it. Orochimaru was a madman!"

Kirika ignored him. "That book contains far more in-depth information on every Akatsuki member. Almost all the information I have."

That widened their eyes.

"It's yours."

Yamato eyed her suspiciously. "What are you playing at."

"I want the Akatsuki destroyed. That's all. Go ahead, take a look.

Yamato picked it up and examined it.

Kirika stood. "Now, as you can imagine, I'm a very busy woman. I wish I could stay and talk longer, but I'm sure we both have important matters to attend to."

"Kira!" Naruto jolted up.

Kirika raised a finger. "Now, now. I'll contact you again. But understand, I can't have you snooping, now that you know this base's location." Her lips curled into a smile. She withdrew a metal cylinder and pushed the top button. The room boomed and shook. "You have ten minutes to evacuate." She made a hand sign, and began disappearing into green flame, just as she had the last time. Kabuto did the same.

"Wait!" Naruto shouted

"It's been fun~" She disappeared.

Kirika gazed up, her eyes narrow. Storm clouds were gathering quickly. They brightness of the forest she was passing through was shadowed, but not gone. Kirika grinned, placed her hand on her hip and stopped walking. Her information had been good. "I never expected you to reveal yourself so bluntly. I've been looking everywhere for you." Kirika cocked her head. "Oh? Aren't you the cautious one?"

Itachi Uchiha, or rather, a shadow clone of Itachi Uchiha stepped out from behind a tree. "You're behaving rather bluntly yourself. Kirika."

"Are you here on your leaders orders? If you are I must say, he's a clever one. If I die he eliminates an enemy. If you die he has a feel for my strength. And is free of a thorn in his side."

"I'm here on my own." Itachi probed her eyes. Kirika met them head on. An intimidation tactic. A risky move. She was not afraid, Itachi thought, but she had her wits about her and was not so foolish as not to be weary. "My leader has nothing to do with this."

"Oh? If not Pein, I was sure Madara would have some hand in whatever you Akatsuki do."

Itachi frowned. She knew about Madara. He briefly wondered how long she or Orochimaru had known. It didn't matter, it was good. This woman, deranged as she may be, was an important ally. Sasuke had a peculiar taste in women, but behind this one was the might of Ottogakure: an army of spies, medics and strongholds. The girl herself possessed enough power to warrant coveting on her own. He hoped she would dance to his tune. He was betting everything that she would. An ace in the hole, should his initial plan fail.

Kirika eyes him expectantly. A little smile was pursed on her lips. Itachi was an odd one. She'd hoped he might react to her sudden accusation. She worked hard to make sure her knowledge of Madara Uchiha stayed hidden. Alas, he was unreadable.

"Unfortunately I don't have the time for your manipulations." Itachi looked to the side. "You're here to kill me."

"You're in a rush. Pleasantries are a basic etiquette. Besides, it's not like killing a clone will do anything."

"Why is it you've been searching so vehemently for me and not Sasuke? I didn't kill your father."

"Revenge. That's all. Killing Sasuke isn't what I want. Killing is too easy. I want retribution for my father. Now killing you, it's Sasuke's reason for living. That's much more my style. And I'd love nothing more than to dissect your head and learn just what makes you Uchiha tick. After I'm done with my research, I'll make a gift of your corpse to Sasuke."

"You're quite mad." Itachi sighed. "I should have taken you back to Konoha when I had the chance. For that, I'm sorry." He met her eyes with an equally piercing gaze. His sharingan swirled to life and she broke their eye contact. "You may not have my life. And I don't want yours. But I have a mutually beneficial offer."

Kirika shifter her weight to her back leg. She cut through the air where Itachi was. She was at him in less then a second but Itachi had moved too. Kirika erected her posture. "Alright, then." Itachi was several metres behind her. "Shall we talk buisness?" When Kirika's eyes flickered back to Itachi her expression morphed to confusion. "...Why?"

The expression he wore was the same one he looked at her with when they first met. Heartbreak.

"...Why do you look at me like that?"

Itachi deactivated his sharingan. His face hardened. "You can have Sasuke, and my eyes."

Her confusion turned to begrudging curiosity. "Oh? You have a new found appreciation for scientific discovery."

"My eyes are failing me. I'm going blind."

Kirika frowned. Why reveal such a weakness?

"And there is only one set of eyes that could make a suitable replacement."

Kirika tisked, interested. "You'd steal your own brother's eyes. For shame."

Itachi's face remained blank.

"Oh, you Uchiha are no fun."

"I'm not here for your amusement."

Kirika sighed and shook her head.

"As you can imagine. The procedure for replacing a set of eyes is quite delicate. Only a skilled surgeon would be able to accomplish such a task."

Kirika smiled. "Yes. I could swap out your eyes. Easily."

"I'll leave Sasuke alive for you. Once I have his eyes I'll have no need of him or my eyes."

It was tempting. A blind, broken Sasuke. Drowning in the shame of failing his life mission... And Itachi's discarded eyes. Of course she would kill him during the surgery. "How do you know I won't just dissect you when you're under my knife."

"Kisame will remain in the room during the procedure."

"And it will happen in my laboratories in Ottogakure?"

"No. An Uchiha base."

Kirika thought. Once Itachi's eyes were removed he would be no threat. She could deal with Kisame then. Itachi's venue might be an issue. Kirika's shoulders relaxed; she had no hate for Itachi, it would do her no harm to let him go. "Alright, I'll accept your offer." Thunder roared and struck the mountain.

"Sasuke and I are fighting there now." Itachi looked up. "You'd better hurry. I'll need medical assistance after the battle."

Kirika gripped the bark on the tree she stood behind, doubled over in pain. With the other hand she gripped her neck. "F-father..." Her curse mark throbbed with an almost forgotten pain. It burned like the day she got it.

Kirika raised her furrowed head in time to watch Itachi sealing Orochimaru away. The great eight headed serpent was sucked into his spiritual katana, and the pain vanished as soon as it appeared. Kirika fall panting to her knee. Of course... her father had to have some failsafe in case he was killed... Kirika's fingernails were still digging into the skin around the curse mark.

She turned her attention to the battle, regaining her breathing. Her eyes widened. Itachi collapsed at Sasuke's feet. Sasuke looked up at the sky. A storm had gathered and rain began to fall. Sasuke fell.

Kirika clenched her hands and she took a breath. All the pain filling her chest was replaced with panic, Orochimaru's design forgotten in the moment. Despite her hate, and her pain, and her father, and herself, she was not prepared to see Sasuke fall. She leapt down to Sasuke's side and knelt over him. She pressed two fingers to his neck and let out a sigh of relief when she felt his pulse. The curse mark had vanished from his neck. Kirika slid one arm under his upper back and cupped his head with the other. She tucked his head under her chin and held him to her.

"I'm here..." She whispered. "I'm here now. I have you. You're safe..."

She couldn't stay there. Such destruction would attract attention. Snakes slid out from her sleeves and wrapped around Itachi's corpse. Itachi could take his deal to hell. The Uchiha be damned.

'Hhssssss'

Kirika's head turned back. A little white snake was perched at eye level on a mound of rubble. White. She tightened her grip on Sasuke. "Want to come?"

The snake slithered to her and curled around her shoulder.

She looked down at Sasuke. She realised she did not, in fact, have it in her to stick her Kusinagi through his heart. "What have you done to me?"