Kiki arrived at Akira's house and knocked on the door. Hanako Sensei was the one that answered the door.

"Come on in, Kiki. Akira is in her room."

"Thanks, Hanako Sensei. Oh and my mom says hi."

"Thank you, Kiki."

Kiki went up to her best friend's room.

"You were with him again, weren't you?" Akira asked.

"What are you talking about?" Kiki tried to play dumb.

"The guy you always meet at your dad's old hideout."

"How did…?"

"Ever since you started showing up late, I put one of my bugs on you. Why? You ask. Because you're my best friend."

"You aren't going to tell anyone, are you?"

"Not unless he poses a threat."

"I assure you he's not."

"Then why haven't you told your father about him?"

"Because that would mean telling him where I meet Takahide. If my father finds out he's going to have a fit!" Kiki reasoned.

"Maybe that's all the more reason for you to tell him." Akira pointed out keeping her cool head.

"Please tell me you're joking."

"Who's idea was it to keep your relationship a secret?"

"His, but I fully agreed to it."

"I see…"

"I'll tell Papa eventually, but for right now it's best he doesn't know."

"Then I'll leave it to your judgement."

"Thank you."

The next day, Kiki headed out to the hideout again. She found she could be there for about an hour without raising any suspicions. Akira would cover for her on that end, then Kiki just told her parents that she would be back an hour later than when she left.

"Taka! I'm here!" Kiki called out.

"I see that." The man said as he appeared behind her.

Kiki turned around and saw his hands behind his back. "What do you have there?"

"A surprise. Close your eyes and hold out your hand."

Kiki did as he asked. Takahide then placed a small vile of blood in her hand.

"You can open your eyes now."

Kiki opened her eyes and was overjoyed at what she saw. "Is this what I think it is?!"

"Yes. That is the blood of a fire style user."

"Awesome! Let's get it set up!"

Orochimaru POV

Orochimaru was growing suspicious of his daughter's recent lateness. He knew she wasn't telling him everything and he remembered what he was like at her age. A frown crossed his face.

"What's the matter, my snake?" Kimi asked as they sat at the table to eat breakfast.

"Has Kiki's behaviour been off to you?"

Kimi thought for a moment. "Maybe a little, but she is sixteen afterall. She's bound to have some secrets."

"That's what concerns me."

"Well, if it bothers you that much, stalk her like you did with me not long after we met."

He raised an eyebrow at her. "You would condone that?"

"I'm not a ninja, so there are things that you will notice that I won't. I trust your judgement."

Orochimaru headed out the door without another word. When he arrived at the Aburame household he knocked on the door. His former student, Hanako was the one that answered the door.

"Orochimaru Sensei? What brings you here?"

"I would like to see my daughter."

"She isn't at home? She left half an hour ago."

That wasn't a good sign.

"Mom? What's going on?" Akira asked as she appeared beside her mother.

"Do you know where Kiki is?" Hanako asked.

Akira studied Orochimaru for a moment. "Is she in danger?"

"I don't know, that's what I want to find out." Orochimaru answered.

"She's at your old hideout just outside the village."

Orochimaru felt a wave of anger and panic wash over him. "Thank you, Akira."

He took off and knew exactly which one Akira had referred to. He slithered into his lair and made sure not to set off any traps that could still be active. Despite his panic and rage, he was determined to observe what was happening before he'd reveal himself.

The door to the main room was slightly ajar so he just peered into the room through the crack. He saw a man with dark hair and looked about in his twenties. He was dressed in civilian clothes.

He quickly found his daughter in a chair with a set up that he recognized all too well. She was performing one of his experiments to obtain a new jutsu ability! He forced himself just observe, which became extremely difficult when she started to cry out in pain as the process began to work. He mentally cursed himself for being irresponsible and not destroying all of his old research.

Once the process finished, the young man helped Kiki out of the chair and took her in his arms.

"That was a lot more painful than I expected." Kiki told him.

"Well, it's done now." The man gave his daughter a kiss.

Orochimaru couldn't watch anymore, but he knew he couldn't just barge in. He quickly snuck back out and headed home.

Kiki's POV

Kiki cried out in pain as the process worked. She couldn't believe how painful this was. There was no mention of it in the notes. At least not the ones she had found.

The pain finally subsided and Takahide helped her out of the chair and took her in his arms.

"That was a lot more painful than I expected."

"Well, it's done now." Taka gave Kiki a kiss that made her melt in his arms.

"I should get going. I don't need anyone getting suspicious."

"Very well. I'll be here again tomorrow. Just like always."

Kiki tried walking and found it difficult but as she pushed onwards she found she slowly gained her strength back. By the time she reached home she was walking normally again.

"Mom! Papa! I'm home!" She called as she always did when she entered.

There was no response so she went into the living room but found both of her parents there.

"Where were you, Kikimaru?" Orochimaru asked.

Kiki knew her father was upset when he called her by her full name. "I was at Akira's like always, we just lost track of time."

"What exactly were you doing that gave you a fresh needle puncture in your arm?"

"I got it from the hospital yesterday. They injected some antibiotics so my shoulder wouldn't get infected. " Kiki lied.

"Alright then… take the day off. I don't want to train you while you have an injury."

"Yes, Papa."

Kiki went into her room to unpack.

Orochimaru's POV

"Did you see that?" Orochimaru asked once Kiki left.

"I did. I'm surprised she lied to our faces like that, but that's not my only concern… Using your research, this mysterious boy… I don't like it, my snake."

"This was something I never anticipated."

"What do you suggest we do?"

"I will be keeping a close eye on her, but it might be best to let things play out. As much as I don't like it… experience is the best teacher."

"Isn't she putting her life in danger with these experiments?"

"No. I performed them countless times on myself. They are painful, but they pose no threat to her life. I'm more concerned about this man she's meeting with."

"I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens with him."

"If he hurts her in anyway…"

"I know, my snake, I know."