p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"cite style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: oblique; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"10 years ago./cite/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Izumi woke up with a splitting headache. She groaned. Her cheeks were freezing from the wind, and salty tears drying on them stung her skin. Someone held her tight while they were moving fast./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"She had no idea what was happening, although the memories began to come back to her second by second. She felt so weak, drained of all energy, unable to even react physically to the memories of the horror that had happened a few hours ago./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"She felt utterly detached, and couldn't think or process anything. Numbness filled her from head to toe./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The man held her steady as he walked through the deep and dark forest. His scent seemed hostile, yet somehow pleasant. She had never been held like this, never had any man put his arms around her, so used to the delicate feminine curves of mothers, sisters, relatives... Everything was completely new and alien, again. It took her a moment to realise that her mother's red ribbon, now shortened by half, was squashed painfully in her tightly clenched fist. Sasuke, she thought. However, she was unable to muster the will to fight, despair, or longing. At that moment she felt nothing, the emptiness slowly being replaced by the strange comfort that her captor's strong arms gave her. She had already lost everything, once again, there was nothing she could go back to except for Sasuke… but it was impossible./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"She was weak, she had no strength. She could not feel the Moth or Chomei. The worst truth about the loss of her sister tried to push itself to the surface of her consciousness, but Izumi involuntarily pushed it to the bottom. She didn't want to, she wouldn't survive this. Right now, her world was only this mysterious man, his warmth, and a piece of mother's red ribbon./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'You're awake,' he suddenly broke the silence. His voice was deep and strangely soothing. Cold and almost indifferent./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Recognizing the kidnapper's voice added another piece to the stranger's puzzle, and the fear and disgust started to leave her replaced by temporary curiosity. Adrenaline, slowly wearing off gave way to resignation and surrender washing over her, causing her to snuggle into the soft material of the man's coat, longing for his comforting warmth./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"She tightened her fragile grip around his neck, much to her captor's consternation. He hugged her back. Izumi did not want to be anywhere else now but in his soothing arms. She didn't want to think, ponder the direness of her fate, plot an escape strategy or whatever her future would look like if there was one. She sank back into the sweet darkness and oblivion./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"X/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Izumi opened her dry eyes, rubbing them with her fists. She slowly returned to reality. She raised her head from the bed she was lying on to look around the room. The dim light of the oil lamps illuminated faintly the earth-coloured walls of the place. The entire room seemed to be a sort of bunker dug deep underground, as indicated by, among other things, the lack of light and fresh air./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Despite everything, the temperature in the room was pleasantly cool. Izumi pulled the blanket covering her up under her nose, although it was unpleasantly rough to the touch. There wasn't much furniture except a few cabinets, a chair, and a table with some scrolls spread out haphazardly on top of it. A man slouched over the desk caught her attention. His distinctive white hair reminded Izumi of the events of the previous night. This sobered her, the adrenaline returned to her veins and the girl widened her eyes, frantically thinking of a way to escape. However, the closed door was at the other end of the room, she would have to jump from it first, having the man, she had no guarantee that he wouldn't be faster. She decided not to make any rash moves, continued to watch her kidnapper, and gripped the piece of blanket tighter under her chin./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'Good morning, little one, I hope you slept well. You were conked out practically all night and the next day' he slowly turned his head towards the girl with a strangely friendly smile./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Izumi didn't answer. She tried to clear her throat, suddenly feeling how dry it was. The young man got up and handed her a glass of water, which she accepted with relief, deciding to quench her strong thirst first and then think about the consequences of drinking a potentially poisonous liquid./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Just as she was putting the glass on the nightstand, the door to the room opened. Izumi's eyes widened and she recoiled in terror against the wall, pressing herself into the corner and clutching the blanket tightly, as if the rough material would provide protection and a safe barrier between her and the terrifying monsters of this new, unknown world./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'Perfect timing, Izumi-chan, I present to you the greatest ninja, Orochimaru' The grey-haired man stood up from the desk and pointed proudly at the figure who slowly entered the room, carrying a sinister aura behind him./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"SSSSSSSSSSS…/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'That's it, Kabuto, let's cut the haughtiness' the newcomer laughed, revealing rows of shining teeth. He ran his long, snake-like tongue across his lips, intrigued, staring at the terrified Izumi 'Forgive me this rather unfriendly look, but I guarantee you that you have nothing to be afraid of. I am very, very happy that you have finally come to our humble estate. You have already met my assistant - he pointed to the grey-haired man. Izumi still didn't react, following every step with her wide violet eyes./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'Ahhh I really can't resist my excitement! I've been waiting for this moment for so many years!' Orochimaru rubbed his hands 'Kabuto, is our little Moth ready?'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The grey-haired man sat down on the bed next to Izumi, placing his hand on her forehead. To her relief, he didn't seem interested in any thorough examination, stating that a quick glance was enough to decide about her fitness for Orochimaru's purpose./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'Yes, I have no doubt. Our little jinchuriki is absolutely ready' the light from the kerosene lamps reflected ominously in the assistant's round glasses./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Izumi was unable to speak, flooded with fear again. She frantically tried to reach Huranaishi's consciousness, to establish contact with her and Chomei, but she felt too weak and the deafening chaos in her head obscured any signals./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'Come with us, little Moth, we're going to do a few little tests' Orochmiaru took a deep breath to cool down his excitement, then suddenly the energy about him changed. He approached the girl, holding out his palm in expectation. Izumi automatically extended her sweaty, trembling hand and slipped it into his. The rough and old blanket fell to the ground as she jumped off the bunk, following Orochimaru. She felt hypnotized by his energy, his aura. For some reason, something was pushing her hard to follow him./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Izumi walked carefully down the dark corridor behind the Sennin. Single torchlights cast sinister shadows on the old tunnel walls. Kabuto walked behind, holding a handful of documents and scrolls in his arms./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'You are still young, but you are a smart mouse' Orochimaru smiled 'You will soon understand my teachings. I'm very curious about your potential, I have to be honest with you…'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'What is potential?'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'Haha, let's say abilities… your undiscovered abilities. I would like to bring it out of you. We'll do a little research, we'll see what's inside you, don't worry' he comforted her, placing his hand on her shoulder 'Nothing will hurt'. They entered the laboratory, in the middle of which there was an operating table with numerous straps./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Izumi suddenly threw herself back, feeling her heart begin to beat faster at the sight of strange devices, lamps and machines found in this terrifying place. She tripped and bumped into Kabuto, who grabbed her arms deftly, preventing her from moving, and pulled her towards the table./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'I don't want it! Please, leave me alone!' Izumi started screaming. However, the men efficiently immobilized the girl on the operating table. Kabuto brought the blinding lamp closer to the girl's body, causing her to squint her eyes, blinded. Tears began to well up while she thrashed around desperately./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'Calm down, child, uncle Orochimaru will take care of you, you will feel a slight sting now, oh, it will be fine soon.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'What does uncle mean…? Ahhhh!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'Come on, come on, take it easy. Kabuto, the straps on her head are too loose, please be kind and fix them. Thank you.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Orochimaru placed the empty syringe on the surgical table with the surgical tools. Kabuto stood behind the head of the operating table, leaning over Izumi. He tightened the straps around her head and then stroked her cheeks again, wet with tears./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'I don't want to, please... leave me, I want to go home…'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'Come on, baby... let's get started.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The Sannin leaned over the girl as well, waiting for the sedative to take effect. She was still panting heavily and tears were streaming down her cheeks towards her ears, soaking her messy black hair. Her whole body was shaking with fear, but slowly her movements calmed down and she slowed down. The seat belts were tight. Orochimaru watched patiently. The girl's eyelids suddenly began to feel heavy, she floated back into sweet nothingness./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The black-haired man smiled and made a few signs with his hands./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'Sealing jutsu... Let's see what you have inside…'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"GET OUT!/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Suddenly, a deafening roar filled the laboratory. A powerful force tore the girl from the straps of the operating table. Her hands struck Orochmiaru in the chest, sending him flying to the other side of the room with a bang. Kabuto also flew backwards and fell to the ground, stunned. Glass shattered in all display cases and vessels, falling on the floor like particles of sharp diamonds. Everything happened in just a few seconds. Izumi, with her eyes closed, fell limply off the table./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The smoke of turquoise chakra, like fumes, hovered chaotically above the girl gradually dissolving into thin air./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'Huranaishi…' Orochimaru groaned, getting up from the rubble left after the destruction of the laboratory wall. He continued to smile, even as fear and respect took him over./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'Master…' Kabuto groaned anxiously./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'We'll continue what we started. Put her back on the table.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;" /p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Izumi woke up with a splitting headache. She groaned. Her cheeks were freezing from the wind, and salty tears drying on them stung her skin. Someone held her tight while they were moving fast./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"She had no idea what was happening, although the memories began to come back to her second by second. She felt so weak, drained of all energy, unable to even react physically to the memories of the horror that had happened a few hours ago./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"She felt utterly detached, and couldn't think or process anything. Numbness filled her from head to toe./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The man held her steady as he walked through the deep and dark forest. His scent seemed hostile, yet somehow pleasant. She had never been held like this, never had any man put his arms around her, so used to the delicate feminine curves of mothers, sisters, relatives... Everything was completely new and alien, again. It took her a moment to realise that her mother's red ribbon, now shortened by half, was squashed painfully in her tightly clenched fist. Sasuke, she thought. However, she was unable to muster the will to fight, despair, or longing. At that moment she felt nothing, the emptiness slowly being replaced by the strange comfort that her captor's strong arms gave her. She had already lost everything, once again, there was nothing she could go back to except for Sasuke… but it was impossible./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"She was weak, she had no strength. She could not feel the Moth or Chomei. The worst truth about the loss of her sister tried to push itself to the surface of her consciousness, but Izumi involuntarily pushed it to the bottom. She didn't want to, she wouldn't survive this. Right now, her world was only this mysterious man, his warmth, and a piece of mother's red ribbon./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'You're awake,' he suddenly broke the silence. His voice was deep and strangely soothing. Cold and almost indifferent./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Recognizing the kidnapper's voice added another piece to the stranger's puzzle, and the fear and disgust started to leave her replaced by temporary curiosity. Adrenaline, slowly wearing off gave way to resignation and surrender washing over her, causing her to snuggle into the soft material of the man's coat, longing for his comforting warmth./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"She tightened her fragile grip around his neck, much to her captor's consternation. He hugged her back. Izumi did not want to be anywhere else now but in his soothing arms. She didn't want to think, ponder the direness of her fate, plot an escape strategy or whatever her future would look like if there was one. She sank back into the sweet darkness and oblivion./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"X/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Izumi opened her dry eyes, rubbing them with her fists. She slowly returned to reality. She raised her head from the bed she was lying on to look around the room. The dim light of the oil lamps illuminated faintly the earth-coloured walls of the place. The entire room seemed to be a sort of bunker dug deep underground, as indicated by, among other things, the lack of light and fresh air./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Despite everything, the temperature in the room was pleasantly cool. Izumi pulled the blanket covering her up under her nose, although it was unpleasantly rough to the touch. There wasn't much furniture except a few cabinets, a chair, and a table with some scrolls spread out haphazardly on top of it. A man slouched over the desk caught her attention. His distinctive white hair reminded Izumi of the events of the previous night. This sobered her, the adrenaline returned to her veins and the girl widened her eyes, frantically thinking of a way to escape. However, the closed door was at the other end of the room, she would have to jump from it first, having the man, she had no guarantee that he wouldn't be faster. She decided not to make any rash moves, continued to watch her kidnapper, and gripped the piece of blanket tighter under her chin./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'Good morning, little one, I hope you slept well. You were conked out practically all night and the next day' he slowly turned his head towards the girl with a strangely friendly smile./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Izumi didn't answer. She tried to clear her throat, suddenly feeling how dry it was. The young man got up and handed her a glass of water, which she accepted with relief, deciding to quench her strong thirst first and then think about the consequences of drinking a potentially poisonous liquid./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Just as she was putting the glass on the nightstand, the door to the room opened. Izumi's eyes widened and she recoiled in terror against the wall, pressing herself into the corner and clutching the blanket tightly, as if the rough material would provide protection and a safe barrier between her and the terrifying monsters of this new, unknown world./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'Perfect timing, Izumi-chan, I present to you the greatest ninja, Orochimaru' The grey-haired man stood up from the desk and pointed proudly at the figure who slowly entered the room, carrying a sinister aura behind him./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"SSSSSSSSSSS…/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'That's it, Kabuto, let's cut the haughtiness' the newcomer laughed, revealing rows of shining teeth. He ran his long, snake-like tongue across his lips, intrigued, staring at the terrified Izumi 'Forgive me this rather unfriendly look, but I guarantee you that you have nothing to be afraid of. I am very, very happy that you have finally come to our humble estate. You have already met my assistant - he pointed to the grey-haired man. Izumi still didn't react, following every step with her wide violet eyes./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'Ahhh I really can't resist my excitement! I've been waiting for this moment for so many years!' Orochimaru rubbed his hands 'Kabuto, is our little Moth ready?'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The grey-haired man sat down on the bed next to Izumi, placing his hand on her forehead. To her relief, he didn't seem interested in any thorough examination, stating that a quick glance was enough to decide about her fitness for Orochimaru's purpose./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'Yes, I have no doubt. Our little jinchuriki is absolutely ready' the light from the kerosene lamps reflected ominously in the assistant's round glasses./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Izumi was unable to speak, flooded with fear again. She frantically tried to reach Huranaishi's consciousness, to establish contact with her and Chomei, but she felt too weak and the deafening chaos in her head obscured any signals./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'Come with us, little Moth, we're going to do a few little tests' Orochmiaru took a deep breath to cool down his excitement, then suddenly the energy about him changed. He approached the girl, holding out his palm in expectation. Izumi automatically extended her sweaty, trembling hand and slipped it into his. The rough and old blanket fell to the ground as she jumped off the bunk, following Orochimaru. She felt hypnotized by his energy, his aura. For some reason, something was pushing her hard to follow him./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Izumi walked carefully down the dark corridor behind the Sennin. Single torchlights cast sinister shadows on the old tunnel walls. Kabuto walked behind, holding a handful of documents and scrolls in his arms./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'You are still young, but you are a smart mouse' Orochimaru smiled 'You will soon understand my teachings. I'm very curious about your potential, I have to be honest with you…'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'What is potential?'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'Haha, let's say abilities… your undiscovered abilities. I would like to bring it out of you. We'll do a little research, we'll see what's inside you, don't worry' he comforted her, placing his hand on her shoulder 'Nothing will hurt'. They entered the laboratory, in the middle of which there was an operating table with numerous straps./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Izumi suddenly threw herself back, feeling her heart begin to beat faster at the sight of strange devices, lamps and machines found in this terrifying place. She tripped and bumped into Kabuto, who grabbed her arms deftly, preventing her from moving, and pulled her towards the table./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'I don't want it! Please, leave me alone!' Izumi started screaming. However, the men efficiently immobilized the girl on the operating table. Kabuto brought the blinding lamp closer to the girl's body, causing her to squint her eyes, blinded. Tears began to well up while she thrashed around desperately./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'Calm down, child, uncle Orochimaru will take care of you, you will feel a slight sting now, oh, it will be fine soon.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'What does uncle mean…? Ahhhh!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'Come on, come on, take it easy. Kabuto, the straps on her head are too loose, please be kind and fix them. Thank you.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Orochimaru placed the empty syringe on the surgical table with the surgical tools. Kabuto stood behind the head of the operating table, leaning over Izumi. He tightened the straps around her head and then stroked her cheeks again, wet with tears./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'I don't want to, please... leave me, I want to go home…'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'Come on, baby... let's get started.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The Sannin leaned over the girl as well, waiting for the sedative to take effect. She was still panting heavily and tears were streaming down her cheeks towards her ears, soaking her messy black hair. Her whole body was shaking with fear, but slowly her movements calmed down and she slowed down. The seat belts were tight. Orochimaru watched patiently. The girl's eyelids suddenly began to feel heavy, she floated back into sweet nothingness./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The black-haired man smiled and made a few signs with his hands./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'Sealing jutsu... Let's see what you have inside…'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"GET OUT!/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"Suddenly, a deafening roar filled the laboratory. A powerful force tore the girl from the straps of the operating table. Her hands struck Orochmiaru in the chest, sending him flying to the other side of the room with a bang. Kabuto also flew backwards and fell to the ground, stunned. Glass shattered in all display cases and vessels, falling on the floor like particles of sharp diamonds. Everything happened in just a few seconds. Izumi, with her eyes closed, fell limply off the table./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"The smoke of turquoise chakra, like fumes, hovered chaotically above the girl gradually dissolving into thin air./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'Huranaishi…' Orochimaru groaned, getting up from the rubble left after the destruction of the laboratory wall. He continued to smile, even as fear and respect took him over./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'Master…' Kabuto groaned anxiously./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; color: #2a2a2a;"'We'll continue what we started. Put her back on the table.'/p