Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Enslaved

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I'm alive. Well, I've been alive for a long time, I think. A mindless blob, one that existed merely somewhere deep within a body.

Now though, I could feel. I could see. And most importantly, I can think. It was all fuzzy, in all honesty — from the view of a glass, to my body being touched by water and some sort of bubbles popping making me wince in pain — but I was once again alive.

'Back' was the key word. I knew that 'me' that now exists isn't the same as the one before. Brainwashed? Mind transported to another body? I couldn't pin point. My mind was like tornado now — a mess of ideas, memories, and feelings spinning in no sense of direction. All I truly understood was that I exist.

I didn't, or more accurately wasn't able to feel time passing as nothing moved or changed. The view was the same as I thought it always had been. Green water obstructed making the real colors' a bit unclear, but I could figure out that I was in some sort of laboratory filled with the same glass containers I've been residing.

The bubbles started to increase, I realized. I could make out a man standing around 5'11 with a ponytail beside my glass container writing, and pressing buttons on it. Whilst I was looking intently at him, I got lost in thoughts as to who and where I truly was, my mind started to slowly wander off…

…

I woke up on the ground. The dark gray tiles that I was now resting on had been splattered with green liquid from the tube and I fell glued to it.

Slowly, I started trying to push up with my hands and move my legs to at least kneel. It was hard. Something I didn't seem to remember ever being in any shape or form difficult — I lived a healthy and active life in this body before it. Grunting, I finally stood up, and let out a breath. How long did I not breathe fresh air? What did that green liquid do to my lungs?

"Took you a while. Dress up," that man with large glasses that I saw previously said, writing something on a paper. For whatever reason, he looked to be enjoying this whole situation too much to be considered normal.

I slowly drifted to the locker that the man gestured. But before anything else, I had to know. "What's my name?" I asked to which I waited for a long second, but he didn't respond.

I patiently waited whilst staring a hole through his back, but he didn't seem to be worried about answering me. I felt awkward, standing naked to the almost fully grown man, so I decided to leave it at that. Surely, I had a name, right?

Opening the locker, I took out the clothes. I put on the grey pants filled with a few dark brown clouds printed on them. Then, placed my foot into a dark blue shoe and it… felt odd. It just didn't seem right, almost as if I'm a lizard trying on human clothes. Then, I put on a long sleeved shirt with the same cloud-like design on them and put on a heavy, yet clearly reliable and strong black vest on top.

"You're the first," he commented, closing the page he was writing on, and stood up. "First out of many that already died. At the very least, I have one survivor from this mess," he grumbled.

"What's my name," now with a harsher tone I said. I at least deserved to know that after, apparently, being his rat for an experiment that could've killed me."

"Does it matter? You won't be able to remember anything anyway. From now on, all that's important for you is you listening to me and my master's orders, number 027," he said, and I could feel myself gulp out loud. Just how many people wouldn't or already failed to make it? I didn't know, but the man caught my worried gaze.

He fixed his glasses and threw a file that I presume he previously wrote. "Everything that matters is there. Count yourself very lucky, kid. Don't waste the power we have given you," he half-said and half-demanded.

Opening the file, I saw little to nothing of what I really wanted to know. My real name (one I desperately hoped existed) wasn't there, nor was my birthplace. At least I now know the name of the first person I've ever met is named Kabuto. All there really was were basic information ranging from the pure black color of my short, spiky hair to the success of the experiment that—

I dropped the report. My hands weren't steady enough to hold them.

Kabuto just laughed. I was losing my sanity, and he was laughing. "You're overreacting. Once we perfect our plan, we'll do it to each and everyone that's still young enough. Hopefully, someday I'll be able to do it to even myself," Kabuto commented without any notable emotion besides excitement.

Snakes were predators, dangerous ones at that. They had flexible jaws, making them able to swallow animals whole. Their biting force let them sink their deadly teeth into any animal, usually infecting them with poison. Furthermore, snakes are known for their powerful muscles to squeeze their prey, suffocating it.

Now, I had it all in my DNA. I was afraid to not have a name, but to not even be a pure human, and instead exist as this… monstrosity? That was a lot to take in.

Noticing that I was starting to hyperventilate, Kabuto came in close and slapped me. "You have all this power, and that's how you're acting? Like a pathetic kid!" he snapped and took me by the collar for a few seconds, sneering at my face. As soon as he snapped, he calmed himself up. Dropping me on the floor, Kabuto then turned his back on me.

I was still just a kid. One of that age would've probably felt something or cried out upon the slap I received, but I didn't. I knew that was weird, but I simply felt numb to the hit. That only raises my question — just how much was changed of my DNA? Did he only add some of the genes of a snake to me? Did that impact my character?

I brushed my finger along my teeth. Sharp, especially the short fangs I now had. Thick, pointy, and most likely exhibiting poison. Then, I touched my skin. It wasn't the dry and smooth scale-like feeling I was expecting, but the odd sense was still there.

"The next week you'll meet Orochimaru where you'll be branded," Kabuto informed me and gestured me to follow.

The corridors were… packed. I was short, barely standing at 5'2 (hopefully not for long), yet I still felt entrapped in it. If I was claustrophobic, I'd go insane faster than I could count to 10.

It didn't take too long for us to reach my room. A grey wooden door, with a small upper window and a thin handle that looked as if it could break at any moment wasn't a great impression, but upon opening, I was left surprised. If anything, it was tidy. To a point that just put the nail that my superior is a mad scientist, I think.

"Thank you?" I half-said, half-asked him. He nodded, and I entered the 10 feet by 10 feet room. It wasn't big, but it's not a thing I'd be too bothered by (especially since I lived/existed in a capsule that could barely contain my body for many years).

Kabuto didn't talk much, I realized. Or, at least, he didn't like talking about something that's unrelated to science, though I wasn't too sure. "I'll see you in a couple of days. Probably," he said, ending his last words with a bit of sarcasm, to my displeasure. I was alone for long enough.

He locked the door, probably to make sure so I don't leave. Though, it was likely for nothing — I felt powerful. When I fell down from the glass container, I felt powerless, yet now, I could smash the wall with my bare fist. A serpent's DNA… I still had little to no idea how to feel about it or even what it did exactly… The report was rather lack-luster with information.

I didn't sleep that night. I restlessly pushed myself between the large blanket, which made me feel completely insignificant. The best way that I could imagine to explain my emotions would be that of an addict, but my drug was living. I wanted to do something. Scream, shout, and learn. But the door was locked.

So, I took the few books that were lying on the shelfcase in the darkly lit room. One candle certainly wasn't enough light for one room. Flipping the pages, I soon became completely enveloped in it. History. Knowledge was something I missed. Truth, or at least truth interpreted by someone, was something I now craved. 'Brief history of Konoha' was the name of it, and I didn't stop reading it… for lord knows how long. At least the hours were in double digits. Possibly a day, or even two, of constant reading without a single break to ease my eyes or go to the toilet. The books were likely deliberately placed — they likely expected me to act so hyperactively — so I'd learn basic things. But I didn't care, since I genuinely found it all so interesting. A world had a lot to offer.

Digging through the last few sentences, I heard the key being placed in the lock, breaking my hyperfixation. Kabuto entered with a disappointed scowl on his face. "Number 027, this is Number 777," he said stoically. She was a girl, I instantly knew despite never seeing one for all I could remember. Long, tidy red hair went down to her waist, looking out of place between me and Kabuto. He looked like a mad scientist, while I probably looked like a sleep-deprived maniac.

"H-hello," she stammered out, to which I instantly responded with the same response, albeit less awkwardly. She came forward, and we just… looked at each other. Her orange eyes(looked like snake's to a lesser degree than mine) looked beyond tired, despite the fact that she had been sleeping for many years. I stretched my hand for a handshake, but she didn't respond. Number 777 was most likely in a bigger state of shock than even I was, so I took her hand and shook the awkwardness out of the air.

I looked at Kabuto, who still had an angry scowl on his face. As if to respond to my unasked question, Kabuto sighed. "You two are the only ones that survived. What a disappointing failure… Still, you two will be very important for me personally and my experiment," he explained to us, though I saw that Number 777 wasn't following it at all.

"We're going on a mission?" I asked him, and he promptly nodded, so I continued, "When exactly?" I asked since I understood from the books just how dangerous and messy these missions can get. Preparation was likely the best thing to do for the mess my life is. I couldn't wish my worse enemy my fate if it my life would get any weirder than it is now.

"Tomorrow," he bluntly responded, making me wince. So soon? We'd die in a heartbeat if we faced anyone half competent. "Don't be fooled. We're not going to do anything too dangerous. I wouldn't want to fail Orochimaru like that after I promised to show you two off once he gets back," he explained, noticing my disapproving look.

"Wouldn't we just be... useless? I don't know anything about... anything," I admitted bitterly. It just felt illogical in every way for us to do something akin to a mission.

Kabuto shook his head and said, "Remember, you're just a small child. I know the world far better than you two, to the extent that it's making this whole conversation funny. I would hate to waste my valuable time, so I'd never take you two for a 'trip' if I saw it as useless. You'll learn what you need to learn, but I'll protect you if I'm certain you'll die."

That wasn't that reassuring, but Kabuto was smart. Well, that was probably an understatement by me — he was a genius. One who conducts sick experiments that would make most people vomit, but still a genius. Despite all he had said, I still just couldn't truly trust him. He was just... a disturbed person. But what can I do? At least we'll probably come out of it alive, I guess.

"I'll wake you up at seven," he informed us and took his leave. He still chose to lock the door — not that I could blame him; I'd lock me up too if I were him. My eyes were red from all the reading, though it's not the worst thing about my eyes. My pupils go vertically, sharp as a knife at both ends. I can't bear to look at myself through the small mirror hanging on the cobalt-white walls that could make one insane if he'd stay long enough.

I didn't realize how the girl quietly laid down her futon and tried to sleep in it fully clothed in a similarly designed gray outfit filled with brownish-black clouds. She also had the same pure black vest as me.

The girl seemed as if she were in a soundless void, unable to sense or think properly. It was sad, really. This 'experiment' might've broken her, quite literally. "Do you remember your name?" I asked, attempting to learn a bit about her. I knew beforehand that if I didn't do anything to help her now, it would forever leave a bitter taste in my mouth.

"No," she replied detachedly. I figured that would be the case, since Kabuto seemed to be aware from the get-go that our memories were lost.

"Do you remember anything… from your past life?" I asked in order to move the conversation further than just a small talk.

"No," she replied instantly, with the same lack of any emotion. But it only made me angrier. They knew that we'd lose our memories, yet they didn't care one bit?

The silence was killing me, despite it not being awkward at all. So, I started humming for some time. To my surprise, she was the one to break the ice first. "Do you remember your name?" she asked me the same question I had asked her.

I figured she would have understood by now that I didn't, but I was wrong. However, this granted me an opportunity to improve her mood. "I do," I answered, still thinking of a possible name for myself. Never again did I want to be referred to as just a number. "My name is... Yagura," I said, borrowing the name of the Fourth Mizukage. It sounded a lot cooler than just the letter 'A', that's for sure.

She smiled weakly, yet genuinely. The young girl seemed to wander off for a bit before she meekly murmured, "I'd also like to have a name…"

"How about I give one to you then?" I said enthusiastically, which took her by surprise. Frankly, I knew I should know many names, yet I couldn't recall any at all, so I had to improvise by... borrowing them from history books yet again. "How about... Sara?" I asked her. From the few pictures I saw of the woman of a now nearly extinct Kingdom, she looked like a carbon copy with her fair white skin and red hair. The only notable difference was her bright orange eyes, instead of the light red the queen had.

"Thank you, Yagura," she said softly with a smile and went to sleep. Unlike me, she didn't seem to have any energy at all(especially one that lets you stay awake for two/three days). With shoes and all the other clothes she went to sleep, mind you, but that's not the utmost importance right now.

What I needed most was knowledge, strength, and security — preferably for both of us.

Initially I planned them both to think of names later down the line, but that'd get annoying to write real quick.

Until next time.