Burning Hatred, Blossoming Love

by KayJayComicArt

Kaede was just your ordinary kunoichi. She was born and raised in Sunagakure, had a wonderful family, friends and even a husband at one point. However...That all changed when a man with snake-like eyes took an interest in her abilities. Will she return to her former self, or will the darkness corrupt her and bring forth the monster within? OrochimaruxOC.

60. Ch59: The Hunted Becomes the Hunter

Chapter 59: The Hunted Becomes the Hunter

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A/N: I do not own the Naruto Franchise!

I do however own Mari Kaede and any other OCs mentioned.

Warnings: Contains dark themes, such as depression, murder, experimentation, emotional, mental and physical torture, possible attempted suicide and mentions of sexual activities!

At this point, I also want to point out that the relationship between these two characters is actually toxic if you are in a similar situation please seek help, it is not healthy and it won't end the same way this story will end.

I do not condone these kinds of relationships, despite writing this story.

Hey guys, I can't believe how quickly I got this chapter out after finishing my other story's chapter recently!

Since it's been a while I'm worried this one doesn't sound as good as my other chapters, so let me know what you think.

Enjoy!

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Wooden sandals clacked against a chiselled stone floor as Kaede, now without her disguise, wandered the halls of Otogakure with her newest Icha-Icha book in hand. While it had only been about an hour since she returned from her trip to Kusagakure with Orochimaru, the Otokage had sent a Genin to inform her that she was to report to his office immediately. To any normal person, the way those words were relayed would have them sweating bullets, assuming they'd done something to incur the madman's wrath; however, Kaede's wasn't a normal person.

After seeing him place a Kuchiyose seal within the neighbouring village's once-secure walls, she knew his day off had effectively come to an end, along with her own. Obviously he had a plan, and it involved her in some shape or form, but she couldn't deny that she was a little pissed off.

'Y'better have a good reason for this, Orochi-sama..." She thought, flipping the page of her book as her cocoa brown eyes scanned the written word. 'There's a bottle of sake in my room with my name on it, and I ain't going to sleep 'til I get nice and drunk!'

Little did she know, his reasons for summoning her were very, very different.

The redhead heard footsteps alongside her and glanced up in time to see Kabuto meet her gaze as he passed, neither bothering to greet the other, which Kaede actually preferred. However, as she set her sights on the hallway the medic had come from, she faltered and a mixture of anxiety and dread washed over her like a tidal wave of lethal water.

Behind the wall ahead of her, a shadow stepped back and out of sight.

Immediately her heart rate spiked and she instinctively knew what she'd witnessed. Without caring about how it'd look to Kabuto, she spun to face him. "Hey, Specs!" She called out.

The older teen paused at her call and turned to face her, looking bored of their interaction already, despite their conversation just beginning. "What is it? There's an important experiment waiting in the lab that needs my-."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." She hurriedly waved off his words, which irked him to no end. "Was there someone walking behind y'just now?"

This made the medic smirk, and his brow curved upwards with the same amusement she saw in Orochimaru's expression often, especially after she asked a dumb question. "You mean, like yourself?"

Kaede clicked her tongue, her lip curling back into a snarl. "Just answer the damn question, asshole!"

Kabuto sighed at her insistence and shrugged. "If you seek my honest answer, I wasn't really paying attention, as I said, I have-."

"Don't give me that crap, you're as paranoid as Orochi-sama, there's no way y'didn't hear anyone walking behind you!"

"Hm..." His eyes wandered to the corridor behind her, and he adjusted his frames, hiding his black irises from view thanks to the flickering candlelight bouncing off the glass. While he would usually ignore her words, so as not to give her the satisfaction of being right, he just wanted this pointless conversation to come to an end; so for once, he'd humour her persistent questions. "As a matter of fact, I did hear someone behind me." He placed a hand on his hip. "But I didn't care enough to take a look at who it was."

"Does that mean y'didn't see their face?"

Kabuto thought, then shook his head. "If I didn't turn, then I couldn't see their face, could I?"

"Can't y'just give me a serious answer for once in your Goddamn life?!" She growled and gripped her fringe, spinning to face the direction she was originally heading in, once again. "Y'know what, forget it! It's a waste of time talking t'you..."

As the Ninjutsu expert went to stomp away, likely to sulk outside with her pathetic book, if Kabuto's read on her was correct; he remained stationary, as if contemplating her words. The tone she used and the body language she displayed meant that whatever she was curious about was a serious topic for her, so serious it was causing her stress.

In that moment, he made a decision that would change the course of the night completely.

"Wait."

That simple word forced the redhead to stop in her tracks and glance at the medic over her shoulder, eyes hardened with annoyance. "What now?"

"The person you were asking about..." She braced herself for questions, knowing full well what Kabuto thought of her. However, he surprised her with his next sentence. "While I didn't turn to look at them, I did glance towards them when I realized we were walking in the same direction. They were dressed in our Chuunin uniform."

As if he had just parted the clouds themselves, Kaede's tight frown softened in surprise and... relief? "Heh, thanks Specs." She said after a second, flashing him a grin before she turned back and walked away without another word.

Out of all the strange behaviour he'd just witnessed, that was by-far the strangest. Just like Orochimaru, he began to suspect there was more to her questions than she was letting on. But, unlike the esteemed leader, his suspicions were on Kaede herself, and not a potential third party.

And despite his keen intellect, he decided against bringing these concerns up with Orochimaru. After all, the Sannin had grown sweet on their redheaded ally as of late, and he knew if he voiced his concerns, they'd fall on semi-deaf ears. While the Otokage would humour the white-haired teen, he would never believe Kaede would betray them yet again.

No, for now, he'd keep a wary eye on her movements and garner evidence, then he'd present it to Orochimaru. Unaware that Kaede was in the middle of doing the exact same thing.

Oh, the irony was palpable.

~BHBL~

The Chuunin bunks were quiet and almost void of life, many of the shinobi that called these halls 'home' were either sleeping or out on missions in hopes of gaining Orochimaru's favour. This meant it was the perfect time for some sleuthing on Kaede's part. A large 'whoosh' was heard as a plume of smoking fire erupted from behind a corner that split off with the Chuunin bunks on the right, and the Genin bunks head-on. The embers dissipated slowly until a shock of red hair came into view, and Kaede stood, pressed against the hard turn as she leaned forward to peek around the stone wall hiding her from view.

When she saw no one in the corridors, she knew she was in the clear.

She slipped out of her hiding place and began to walk casually down the hallway. Her training as a Chuunin during the Second Great Shinobi War made this part of her job easy, as she glanced from door to door as she passed them, using her keen ears to listen out for anything strange; whether it was a whispering conversation or a jutsu that had no business being used in a place of rest.

Kaede knew that the ninja of Otogakure were strange, but silent, for the most part. Obviously there was the occasional chatter and snoring, however, she had been here long enough to know the difference between quirky behaviour and suspicious actions. As she scoured the long road of dorms, she would stop at a few doors if she heard the sound of voices inside, but the only things she gleaned from the first row of rooms were a few passing comments about days off, dinner plans, and kill counts.

Nothing out of the ordinary.

However, when she approached one room in particular she pressed her ear to the door and listened closely to the hushed whispers inside, and what she heard had her blood run cold.

"No... She has no idea I'm... Don't worry... Still hidden."

Those words were eerily similar to those used by a spy, and that alone caused Kaede's heart to sink with dread. She knew what she heard, and for once, she had hoped she was wrong...

'Wait...' She thought, leaning in closer as she strained to make out the hushed voice through the wooden barrier separating her from whoever was uttering those words.

Between the small murmurs, she could make out, there was a second voice mixed in, though their volume was so low that even her keen hearing couldn't make out what was being said. Not only was there a spy keeping tabs on her, but someone else was in on it too.

Kaede clenched her jaws as she fought back a hiss, all while she stepped backwards as quietly as she could so she could spare a glance at the name on the door.

Kakureta.

Anger spiked within her, and she ground her teeth together as her skin took on the softest of glows. Part of her wanted to barge inside, kick both their asses, then drag them to Orochimaru's office to be killed on the spot; but she knew if she did that, then she couldn't understand their true motives, or why they were targeting her specifically.

But that wasn't what angered her the most, no she knew they'd suffer eventually. What really burned her blood was the knowledge that some pathetic, low-level Chuunin was stalking her this whole time, as if mocking her skills as a seasoned kunoichi. That explained why she was easily able to sense them on more than one occasion! 'Dammit, now I've got to tell Orochi-sama about this!' She thought, forming the seals for Shunshin no Jutsu before she vanished in a ball of flickering flames, leaving nothing behind but a simmering rage that would eventually boil over.

Hopefully, she would douse the flames before they could engulf her completely.

Within moments, the redhead appeared in front of Orochimaru's office and tucked her book into the neckline of her robe. She spent a solid moment taking deep breaths as she tried to calm the glow of her skin, knowing full well she'd lose her temper if she didn't get it in check now. The last thing she needed was to burst into flames and collapse before she could make those idiots suffer for what they've done.

Of course, she'd find all this out on her night off! She wanted to curse her instincts, wanted everything she'd seen to be a figment of her imagination so she could go on feeling safe and secure in her new life, at least until tomorrow.

But no, she wasn't allowed to be at peace, was she?!

'There's no point in worrying 'bout that now!' She told herself, cursing as she gripped her fringe in her hand and squeezed her eyes shut, pulling her hair tight enough to cause sprinkles of pain to tug at her scalp. That was enough to help her keep her focus and not lose her composure completely.

Of course, as she was calming down, the idea that Orochimaru was spying on her flashed through her mind again. It wasn't unheard of for him to keep tabs on her, given her track record and his recent confession that he could see through the eyes of his snakes. However, despite that, she shook that thought right back out again before it could plant the seeds of worry completely. She knew she needed to trust him for him to trust her, so she couldn't jump to conclusions without any proof.

Then she faltered as another idea crossed her mind. What if this was some personal vendetta Kabuto had on her? It wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility to imagine he'd spy on her in case she betrayed Orochimaru again, even though she'd done nothing to earn those suspicions as of late. That thought caused the anger within her to surge, but she sucked in a sharp breath and pulled her fringe tighter, distracting herself before she began to spark.

'Cut it out!' She silently reprimanded. 'D'you want t'burn the hideout to the ground?!' Well, that wasn't possible, considering it was made of stone, but still. 'I need t'focus and stop guessing!' She glanced at the etching of the snake engraved in the doorway to her leader's study. 'And the only way I'm going t'do that is if come clean t'him 'bout all this. I ain't going t'learn anything if I don't ask questions...'

With one final exhale, she finally let go of her hair and knocked on the door, the rapping of knuckles echoing loudly within the silence of the underground tunnel system. After a beat of silence, Orochimaru opened the door with one of his new jutsu books in hand. He glanced up from his pages, only to smirk when he saw Kaede standing there. "Oh? To think you'd take the time to knock on my door, rather than simply barge in." He tilted his head to the side as his voice took on a teasing lilt. "Perhaps I should order Kabuto to perform a medical exam, it's rare for you to be so... considerate."

"Can we talk?" She asked, glancing down the corridor, as if she didn't want to be seen. "In private?"

At first, he didn't see anything out of the ordinary with her words. Kaede wasn't always abrasive and was known to knock and politely ask for things on occasion, so he took the opportunity to continue his playful banter. "Hm, hm, hm, was my most recent disguise that much of a turn-on for you, Firecracker?"

When she snapped her attention onto him, that smug smile adorning his lips fell into a frown. Her eyes were hard and her expression was emotionless, at least to those who didn't know her. This was the more serious side of her personality rearing its ugly head, and he knew that whatever was on her mind was not to be taken lightly. Without giving her a chance to respond, he stepped out of the way and watched as she walked inside.

As soon as the door clicked shut, she spun around and unloaded on him. "Look, you're going to think I'm crazy, and I guess in a way, I am; but hear me out!" She took a breath, shoulders taught with the burden she had been carrying. "I think someone's spying on me." She admitted, waiting for a chuckle, or some sign that he didn't believe her; but to her surprise, he spoke quite seriously.

"Tell me everything."

Kaede opened her mouth to explain, but his tone gave her pause. "Wait, y'don't think I'm crazy?" Was he trusting her? "You're just going to take what I said at face value?"

This caused his shoulders to shake as a low chuckle left his pale lips. "While you caught me off guard with your stammering, I can tell you're speaking the truth." He shrugged a shoulder with his hand extended. "I intended to bring this matter up with you during our meeting, but since you've beaten me to the punch, so to speak, I'll just continue where you left off." His expression hardened. "I'm fully aware of your predicament, Kaede."

"You are...?" In that second, she felt the same concerns that flashed across her mind outside rear their obnoxious heads once more, and she snarled as her skin took on a soft glow. "Of course you are, why am I surprised?!" She scoffed with her fists clenched tightly at her sides. "If you're keeping tabs on me, y'need to tell me, now!" The angry kunoichi stepped forward and planted a hand on her chest. "Look, I get it, I ain't exactly the most trustworthy person... but y'promised me I wouldn't be locked up again, and if you're keeping an eye on my every move, I might as well be!" Orochimaru crossed his arms silently. "I ain't going t'sit around and let y'torture me again! So if y'are, just tell me and get it over with!"

Silence settled in the room, and Kaede stood there, breathing heavily as the soft glow of her skin lit up the room.

"... I haven't sent anyone to monitor your movements, nor do I have any intentions of doing so." The blunt and honest words Orochimaru spoke shocked her completely, and her skin dulled as all the anger she felt ebbed just a little bit. Despite seeing this change, her esteemed leader continued intent on putting an end to this foolish game of suspicion. "My word is law, and I gave you my word you would be free as long as you remained loyal to me and my village. You have upheld your end of the deal, though not without arguments; and I intend to uphold mine as well."

Kaede's brown eyes scanned his citrine ones for any indications that he may be lying, but just like the few other times he'd sworn her freedom was to be upheld, she couldn't see anything but honesty within his snake-like orbs. "Good." She finally spoke, rubbing the bone of her brow as she let out a heavy breath.

Seeing her relax thanks to his words made the corner of his lips twitch upwards slightly, and to lighten her mood further, knowing how close she was to losing her cool; he made a small, yet very significant joke. "Though, even if I were to send someone to gather intel on your movements, I would ensure they weren't so inept at their job."

Kaede huffed out a tired laugh and ran her fingers through her fringe, though not as violently as she had outside the room. "Heh, yeah, I thought you'd say-." Immediately she froze and her eyes widened, which pulled a smirk from the amused Sannin. "Wait..." She started, letting go of her fringe as she shot him a confused look. "How the hell do y'know they're crap spies?"

This made the pale man laugh as he closed his eyes and dropped his head. "While we were traversing Kusagakure, I caught a glimpse of a forehead protector hiding behind some crates in the distance. The uniform wasn't that of Kusagakure's ranks, but was strikingly familiar all the same." His smirk fell and he opened his eyes, blanketing the room with a dark and dangerous leer. "It was our uniform."

"So you saw them too?"

He nodded and watched as the burden upon her shoulders lightened tremendously. While it amused him that she would so easily trust his word, he also felt something within him twist at the idea that she continued to distrust his actions.

However if she distrusted him, then that would imply that she herself may have a reason to be distrusted. Much like a cheater accusing their partner of cheating to lessen their own guilt. A feeble example, given the circumstances, but a fitting one all the same.

Since he had finally rid her of the idea that he would go back on his word, perhaps it was time she proved to him the depths of her loyalty.

"Now it's my turn to ask questions." He said, a hiss in his tone, and danger in his yellow irises. "Are you working with someone in our ranks to put a stop to my ambitions?" His question shocked her to no end, and while that was the only answer he needed, that didn't stop the redhead from losing her cool.

"The hell kind of question is that?!" She snapped, glaring daggers at him as she stepped forward and clenched her fists tightly, skin glowing brightly once again as her anger rose from its simmering place within her soul. "Have I given y'any reason t'doubt me lately? Have I done anything t'make you suspicious of me since I saved Henrei's life?" She stomped forward, getting in his face, her body radiating the heat of her flames; though Orochimaru didn't falter, or even move an inch. "Y'just said I held up my side of the deal, was that a lie? Is that why your ass-kissing lackey questions me every time I so much as look at him funny?!"

"Answer the question, Kaede." His hard tone was stern and straightforward. That alone was sobering enough that she took a few steps back, breathing heavily. Why was she surprised? She suspected him first... Of course, he'd have some concerns, no matter how much she hated to admit it.

She hadn't exactly given him the best first, second, or third impression.

After a moment of regulating her breathing, the glow on her skin diminished again and she answered him. "Whether y'believe me or not... I've put that part of my past behind me for good." She raised her hand and touched the scar on her chest, a large X over her Chakra system, the first of many he had given her. "I'd be lying if I said it didn't bother me anymore, or that I agree with your methods on a lot of things, but..." She dropped her arms to her side and the anger she felt simmered down completely, now replaced with the utmost conviction. "I ain't going t'stick a kunai in your back for it anymore. Y'might've caused my life to take a nose-dive off a cliff, but y'also helped me get it back on track when I was 'bout t'give up... I ain't going t'betray y'again, Otogakure's the only place an S-rank Rogue like me can find freedom, and I ain't 'bout to risk losing that for some pathetic vendetta I ain't even looking for anymore!"

Another bout of silence stretched through the cold, dark space within Orochimaru's office, before the Sannin finally nodded, accepting her words and the truth behind them. However, neither were willing to admit that the other's accusations had left a twisted discomfort within them, nor how it bothered them more than they'd like to acknowledge.

Despite the unsettling sensation, Orochimaru swiftly changed the subject back to the true reason for their meeting. "Now that we've addressed the 'elephant in the room' so to speak, we can get to the real issue at hand..." He dropped his arms to the side, and a murderous aura began to surround him, almost suffocating the redhead with his cold-blooded desire to kill whoever foolishly believed they could pull the wool over his eyes and spy on those within his ranks. "What led you to report your suspicions to me in the first place? I am well aware that the Kusagakure spy was not an isolated incident... You've seen them before, haven't you?"

Kaede nodded. "There's been a few times I've caught a shadow stepping back behind a wall, or felt someone watching me from somewhere nearby. But the main one was when I was on my way to this meeting." She could see his brows knit together as if understanding why she had been so late to arrive. "I saw someone duck behind a corner as I passed Kabuto, and when I asked him about it, he said some low-level Chuunin had been walking behind him for a while." She clenched her fist tightly. "So I went to the Chuunin bunks t'find the bastard and kick his ass!"

"And? Did you find our not-so-subtle assailant?"

She nodded a second time, snarling at the memory of his name. "He's called Kakureta, and he wasn't alone." This piqued Orochimaru's interest and Kaede took this as her opportunity to continue. "Before I could bust down the door, I heard talking. It could've been Kakureta talking to himself, but I swear I heard a second voice, and they were a hell of a lot quieter than that bastard..."

"And what did you hear?"

"Not much, they were both whispering." She crossed her arms, mirroring him as she gripped her bicep so tightly her fingers turned white. "But I heard enough t'know my gut feeling was right." She took a breath and repeated what she'd heard, word for word.

"'No... She has no idea I'm... Don't worry... Still hidden'."

Once she'd finished, her lips curled back as she let out an angry growl. "Just repeating those words makes me want t'go back and kick down that door! Who the hell d'they think they are, spying on me?! I'll make them regret ever thinking that was a good idea!"

This was enough to pull a chuckle from the Sannin, though he too was rigid with the knowledge of a spy in their midst. "While I admire your desire to turn them into dust beneath your feet, we must be cautious. We don't know their motives, nor who they answer to. It would be unwise to confront them without further investigation."

Kaede cursed, and Orochimaru smirked, looking her up and down as she planted her hands on her hips and scowled off to the side.

"You did well to report to me immediately..." His words surprised her, and her tight features softened as she met his snake-like gaze. "Perhaps it's about time I limit my surveillance to important missions only. You've proven you're quite dependable, even after the recent stunt you pulled with your young student."

"Wait..." Kaede looked confused, and it amused the older man to no end. "So y'have been spying on me...?"

"No, must I repeat myself again?" He shrugged a shoulder in his usual dramatic fashion. "I was simply referring to my presence at your recent training sessions, why would I endeavour to spy on you within our walls when you spend most of your time irritating me with your presence anyway?"

It took the Ninjutsu expert a second to process his words before she let out a bark of laughter. "Heh, why wouldn't I hang around you when you're so fun t'piss off?" She asked, almost beaming as she flashed him her usual grin. "But it took y'long enough! If y'wanted t'stick around during my training, just use the Goddamn door, it won't kill you!"

"Yes, but your flames might." Despite the severity of their situation, Orochimaru felt the smallest sense of enjoyment at the sight of her contagious smile. Though, he detested the mere thought.

No, he would never allow himself to feel anything other than desire for her, that was their deal and he intended to stick to it.

With that, he squashed down any emotions he felt until they no longer overtook his thoughts, and turned to walk back over to his throne, while Kaede's lips dropped back into a frown and she straightened up, ready for whatever he ordered. "As you were the first one to notice these intruders within our ranks..." He started, settling atop his throne, fingers almost digging into the wood as his eyes narrowed. "You will be the one to go undercover and ascertain Kakureta's motives, along with the identity of his partner." His eyes then widened, and the veins appeared as that same murderous intent washed through the room like a wave of icy water. "Only then, will we act."

Kaede placed her hand against her chest and bowed her torso, much to his delight, he never grew tired of her obedience. "Yes, Orochi-sama..." She glanced up at him from beneath her fringe. "But why aren't y'sending Kabuto t'spy on them instead? I ain't exactly known for my quiet approach, wouldn't he be a better fit, since he'd worked for Konoha's ANBU at one point?"

Orochimaru chuckled and waved off her concerns, relaxing on his throne as he rested his chin against the ridges of his knuckles. "Hm, while he would be a better fit, the two spies have set their sights on you and you alone... If he were to be the one to keep an eye on their movements, he would have no choice but to stick by your side at all times, watching you so he can begin tailing them when they inevitably make their move."

Immediately, Kaede's expression turned to disgust and she grimaced as the man's shoulders shook with his amusement. "Ugh, you've got a point." She said, shuddering at the thought of Kabuto keeping tabs on her. "It's bad enough knowing that these assholes think they can get away with watching me, I ain't 'bout t'have Kabuto breathing down my neck and all!" She crossed her arms and gave him a swift nod. "Alright, I'll do it. Anything t'get these guys off my back once and for all, and make sure they don't spill any of our secrets t'whoever they work for!"

Orochimaru nodded approvingly. "That was the answer I was expecting. Don't let me down, and report your findings to me as soon as you've gleaned enough information to ensure our victory in this pathetic little game they started." A dark chuckle echoed through the quiet room. "They'll soon learn why weak mice such as them should never dare to step foot in a snake's burrow..."

Kaede's grin returned, but it wasn't a happy one, instead, it was laced with malice, and the cold-blooded desire for violence she had developed a taste for since joining the Sannin's ranks. "As long as y'let me get a good punch or two in there, then y'can do whatever y'like with them!"

"Oh don't worry, I wouldn't dream of depriving you of your precious payback."

"Good, 'cause when I'm through with them, they'll know why people say y'shouldn't play with fire unless y'want t'get burned~!"

He leaned back in his chair and dropped his hand back onto the arm of his throne, drumming his fingers against the wood. "Now go, and keep your presence hidden, or I will be very disappointed."

"Trust me, I ain't going t'let that happen." She turned and walked over to the door, placing her hand on the handle, as she glanced back at him for just a second. "I ain't trained my whole life t'be a good kunoichi, just t'fail after all this time... They'll never know what hit them."

And with that, she opened the door and stepped out of the room, closing it behind her so the Sannin could enjoy the thought of their painful suffering at her hands. After all, while his anger was far more dangerous than her own, the aftermath of her rage was still a sight to behold.

Especially when it was directed at someone other than himself. He looked forward to the inferno she would bring upon completing her undercover work.

The door to his study opened again, and Orochimaru snapped out of his thoughts as Kabuto entered the room, looking perplexed and curious, it was rare that he caught the Sannin so deep in thought that he barely noticed him enter. "Is something the matter, Orochimaru-sama?"

Orochimaru pondered his response for a moment before he hummed and stood up, going over to his desk to pick up one of his newer jutsu manuals. Ironically, one of the ones he'd bought during his and Kaede's trip to Kusagakure. "It's nothing you need to concern yourself over." He said simply, deciding that Kabuto's knowledge on the situation wasn't a requirement. "I just ordered Kaede to look into something for me, nothing more, nothing less."

"With all due respect, my lord, isn't research more my area of expertise? Surely it'd make better sense if you have me take her place?" He pushed his glasses up his nose. "To be frank, Kaede has been acting rather strange lately, don't you think we should be on guard, just until we're certain she-?"

"Choose your next words carefully, Kabuto...!" The Sannin hissed, lifting his head to shoot a glare at his terrified subordinate. His piercing gaze was as petrifying as the mythical basilisk. "You of all people should know that intel gathering is best exercised with fewer people... Kaede will complete her mission alone, and you will cease all questions on the matter until it is resolved, understood?"

After hearing her conviction, Kaede had his full trust in this matter, and any outside help would only hinder her progress. For now, Kabuto was better off not knowing the details of her mission, should he insist on keeping tabs on them himself.

Kabuto swallowed his fear as Orochimaru's threatening tone lingered in the air. He then bowed his torso with a bead of sweat sliding down his cheek. "Yes, Orochimaru-sama..."

"Good." The Sannin nodded, crossing his arms as he leaned back in his chair. "Now, do you have any new information regarding our latest experiment?"

"Yes, the subject has been injected with the Chakra-infused blood you provided me with." The sadistic scientist straightened up and placed his hands behind his back. "Once he stops screaming, I will run more tests."

"Hm, very well." Orochimaru turned his attention back to the written words across the page. "Once he acclimates to his newfound power, test him against Sasuke. I want to see how the Sharingan fares against an unstable opponent."

"Yes, Orochimaru-sama." The medic turned towards the door. "It's been a few minutes now, I should return to see how he's fairing."

"Kabuto."

He hummed as he stopped and looked at his leader over his shoulder, whose murderous eyes were peeking through the curtain of his black hair. "Don't interfere in matters that don't concern you, or someone might get... hurt." The emphasis on that last word, mixed with the sinister chuckle that lingered in the air had the young man shivering with fear all over again.

Even those unaware of the danger Orochimaru posed to the known world would feel the threat in that sentence.

Kabuto silently nodded his head, then left the room without another word, leaving the Sannin to stare at the door as it clicked shut behind him. 'What are you planning, Kabuto?' He thought, eyes narrowing slightly. He knew Kabuto wouldn't ignore his orders so brazenly, but his relationship with Kaede was... strained at best.

If the young medic truly saw the resident Firecracker as a threat, then he may take matters into his own hands, like he and Kaede did when Tsunade attempted to take the Otokage's life, rather than heal his arms. Though at this point, it was all just speculation on his part, and regardless of what happened, the mission would only be compromised further if he too were to get involved.

All the Sannin could do was wait and see. If something were to go awry he would take the appropriate action.

Things were about to get a lot more interesting in Otogakure.

However, little did he know, that small decision, one made in an attempt to ensure the redhead was certain of his confidence in her skills and the integrity of her mission, would also be her downfall; as the Sannin's trusted right hand glanced back at the door he had just closed behind him.

Kaede was acting strange, and given her track record, and his leader's leniency towards her; the young medic knew she was plotting something that the Otokage was choosing to overlook. He knew she was still a ticking timebomb, waiting to go off when their guards were low and he couldn't just sit idly by and allow her plans to unfold.

No matter how much the white-haired shinobi tried, he couldn't bring himself to believe she had changed. She had done too many things to warrant a chance in his eyes. Since the Sannin wouldn't allow him to ensure the unknown mission's success, he would keep tabs on her for the time being, on his lord's behalf; and if she was plotting another attempt on the Otokage's life, then he would dispose of her slowly and painfully.

For the sake of his leader, and the success of his ambitions.

~BHBL~

Mornings in Otogakure were strange.

There was always an absence of time within the underground village, everyone got up, worked and ate at different times. This meant the hideout was rarely very active unless Orochimaru had called for a widespread meeting or had a mission for a larger group of individuals/ This meant that a few people would sporadically appear in the kitchen for their breakfast, but there wasn't a huge line at the door.

Kaede enjoyed her morning meal because of this fact.

She hated conversing with random shinobi and unsavoury characters, so on the days when she was the only one in the kitchen, she relished in the peace and quiet and took the time to enjoy the simpler things her life had to offer. At that moment, she was sat at the round table on one side of the kitchen with her newest Icha-Icha book in one hand, and a spoon stained with curry in the other. The bowl she had her breakfast in was only half eaten, and the contents were ice cold by that point as if she'd forgotten about it completely.

If anyone were to walk in to make their own breakfast, they'd take one look at her and assume she'd become so engrossed in her novel that she'd lost track of the time and the current temperature of her meal.

However, that was far from the truth.

In fact, Kaede wasn't even paying attention to the words in front of her. No, her mind was focused on more pressing matters, like the mission she had been assigned only eight hours prior. Thanks to her time as a Sunagsakure Chuunin during the Second Great Shinobi War, she was adept at collecting and handling intel she gleaned from others, but it had been a while since she'd last dipped her toe in the field of reconnaissance work.

Hell, she was pretty sure the last covert operation she was involved in was back at Konohagakure during the Chuunin Exams. Wow, time sure flies when you're stuck in the dark.

With that thought in mind, she was very aware of her role and what she had to do to succeed. First, she needed to be discreet in how she collected her information, she couldn't risk her temper flaring up and revealing her location to those she was spying on. Second, she needed to find some way to keep that information on hand, so she could hand it over to Orochimaru as evidence. While she knew he'd believe what she told him, having physical proof would greatly help in any interrogations that may follow.

Obviously writing all her findings down would be the best way, but she didn't have anything on her person that could be easily written in and hidden should the need arise. A scroll was too big and awkward for a stealth-based mission, and loose paper was pretty much the same, so she'd have to figure something else out.

Before she could really come up with a solid idea, the door to the kitchen opened and she hummed, looking up from her book to see Kabuto walk into the room. The medic stopped when he glanced over and they locked eyes for a moment before she looked back at her pages while the young adult walked over to the kettle to prepare his green tea and scone. Kaede scooped up a helping of her curry and slipped it into her mouth, acting as if she wasn't trapped in her own thoughts, only to grimace visibly when she realized just how cold it was.

Blegh, she'd make sure not to get lost in her thoughts when her breakfast was involved after all this was over, cold curry wasn't nice, especially when it'd been sat there for a while too.

Kabuto heard her chair scrape across the stone floor as she stood up and placed her book down, then took her bowl to the microwave to heat it up once again. She glanced over at the white-haired teen and spotted him watching her with a raised brow. "What's that look for?" She asked, crossing her arms as she leaned against the counter, periodically looking over her shoulder at her meal's progress.

"Should you really reheat that?" Kabuto asked, averting his gaze to the kettle as he picked it up and poured a large amount of piping hot water into his cup. "Won't it burn?"

"Like I give a crap if it does," Kaede said simply, shrugging a shoulder as she flashed him her usual grin. "Curry's curry, it'll taste good all the same!"

"Hm, if you say so." The younger man didn't sound convinced, as he cut into a scone and popped the two halves into the nearby toaster.

"Look, Specs." The redhead sneered, turning her attention to her food as the microwave beeped. "I've been making curry since before your parents thought 'bout having kids." She opened the picked up a kitchen towel. "I don't need y'to tell me how t'make my favourite food, just like y'don't need me telling y'how to make medicine." The brazen woman wrapped the cloth around the circumference of the ceramic dish, using it to carry her meal back to the table where her book was waiting.

Even her body couldn't handle holding a scalding hot dish for too long.

Her words and her snarky expression made the medic glare after her until she sat down and picked up her novel again, then he turned back to his scone just as it popped out of the toaster, letting him catch it in the air rather impressively. Silence stretched between them, along with a tension so cold it rivalled that of the Tetsu no Kuni's harsh landscape.

It was always like that when those two were left in the same room alone for too long.

While Kaede could find it within herself to let go of the anger she held towards Orochimaru, she just couldn't do the same for the older teen who aided him in his painful experiments. He was the one she had to speak to every day, who administered the drugs and gasses used to keep her unconscious, and he was also the one who reported all her misdeeds to their leader. She'd always hated how easily he had succumbed to Orochimaru's manipulations, and even after learning to be his own person, to some extent; he still saw no issues with his actions and even relished in them like a sadistic psychopath.

The irony wasn't lost on Kaede though, considering the Sannin had all these traits and she no longer wished to end his life in a bloody and brutal manner. However, there was one thing Orochimaru had given her that Kabuto couldn't, something that made her decision much easier to accept...

Freedom.

Despite her many, many mistakes, the snake-eyed shinobi had given her a place to live, a duty to maintain and a new purpose in life. Though she couldn't forgive the experiments themselves, his actions outside of that torturous experience allowed her to let go of her petty need for revenge.

That alone was more freeing than being able to leave Otogakure whenever she wanted.

Suddenly, Kaede's thoughts were interrupted when the door to the kitchen opened again and both she and Kabuto looked up to see a low-level Chuunin enter the kitchen. Immediately, the redhead had to resist the urge to tense up and narrow her eyes as the man known as Kakureta glanced between them for a brief moment, before he went to the fridge and started rummaging through it. The only sound that echoed in the room was the shuffling of items until the newest member of their ranks straightened up with a bottle of water in hand and closed the fridge door, turning and leaving without a word to either of them.

Now was her chance.

The Suna kunoichi hummed and shovelled the last of her curry into her mouth, cursing as it burned her tongue. "Right, I'm bored now." She stated, standing up quickly with her hand planted on the wooden table's flat surface. "I'm going outside t'do some lakeside reading, don't bother trying t'rope me into any missions, I ain't in the mood!"

Without giving him time to complain, she took her bowl to the sink and spun around to leave. "Oh? And what do you intend to do about your training session with Sasuke-kun?" Kabuto asked. This caused the redhead to falter with her hand clasped around the door handle. "If I recall correctly, you were tasked to teach him the secrets of your Katon jutsu? I doubt Orochimaru-sama would be pleased to hear you skipped out on your duties."

"Didn't y'just hear me?" Kaede flashed him that shit-eating grin once more. "I ain't in the mood!" She opened the door and walked out of it backwards. "Besides it ain't like missing one little session's going t'bump back his progress too much! I'm sure Orochi-sama won't mind~!"

"You do know this is our leader you're talking about, correct?" The medic sighed and pushed his glasses up his nose, hiding his eyes from view, though his disapproving frown still gave away his thoughts. "You should take your duties seriously if you wish to remain on his good side."

"Tch, give it a rest, would you?" She countered, rolling her eyes at his lecture. "Just 'cause you're a work-obsessed little brat doesn't mean I have t'be too! I don't do everything that snake-eyed bastard orders me to, and I don't plan to either!" She went to close the door, and her lips curled into a more devilish smirk. "Besides, I can just make it up to him later~." The confusion that crossed Kabuto's expression as he shifted his footing enough to reveal his black irises once again had Kaede bark out a laugh. "You'll take care of the dishes, right? Thanks!"

With that, she shut the kitchen door, leaving the younger, oblivious man to his thoughts.

Meanwhile, she turned away from the door, and her expression immediately dropped its playful facade, becoming an intense frown. Now that she had eaten, she had a mission, and she wasn't about to let anything distract her from it. Orochimaru would understand that much since he was the one who tasked her with this objective in the first place.

With the conviction of a seasoned kunoichi who had spent her fair share of time in the field of battle, she started walking down the hallway in the direction she'd heard Kakureta's footsteps heading. As she kept up her pace, she passed the half-open door to Orochimaru's room and immediately faltered. You could almost see the lightbulb appear over her head and she smirked, scanning the area quickly to ensure she wasn't being followed before she ducked into the nearby quarters.

Once inside the darkened space, she closed the door slowly and quietly, before she approached a familiar cabinet and crouched down. 'I hope y'understand why I'm doing this, Orochi-sama.' She thought as she pulled the doors open and looked at the many journals lined up neatly inside its confined space. Her cocoa-brown eyes scanned the many tomes, and she cursed when she saw that all of them had titles. "Dammit..." She whispered, shutting the doors again, before she glanced at the next cabinet that lined Orochimaru's bedframe, taking the place of a nightstand.

Maybe...

Kaede leaned over and opened one of the cabinet doors and her expression lit up when she saw more journals inside. "Bingo." She shuffled her way over to the second storage unit and began rummaging through the written journals, hissing out a victorious sound when she finally picked up a blank one from the back.

She was one of the only people in Otogakure to know that Orochimaru kept meticulous journals documenting his life since his parents' deaths. Therefore she knew he was the only one who could resupply his cabinets should he run out. However, she had never actually seen him buy more, or give her the Ryo to buy more. So somewhere in his room, he had to have a stash of empty books just waiting to be filled.

And she was right!

Her lips spread into a grin as she inspected the rest of the empty journals until she found the oldest-looking one, and took that instead, along with one of the many pencils hidden within the smaller drawers of the cabinet. With this, she could jot down her findings and hide them within her robe, ensuring she had a swift and easy method of documenting the intel she gathered.

She just hoped Orochimaru didn't lose his cool the moment he saw the cover. 'Like I told Kabuto...' She thought, scribbling down the name he used in Kusagakure, a name only she had heard him use before. 'I can always made it up t'him later. I ain't going t'risk this mission just t'keep a book safe, and now I can keep up my normal routine without fumbling with some crappy scroll.'

Kaede nodded at the book and tucked it and the pencil into her robe, before she straightened up and walked to the door. With a slow and very careful motion, she opened it, made sure the coast was clear, and then started down the corridor in search of her target once again.

However, she wasn't aware of the eyes watching her from around the corner. Large-rimmed glasses reflecting the light moved down Kabuto's nose as he lowered his head slightly and narrowed his eyes.

She was definitely up to something.

~BHBL~

Chiaki's Log: Entry One

Before I get started, don't expect this crap to be formal, I ain't going t'waste my time making sure it sounds right when I'm just writing down the facts!

I started following Kakureta an hour ago after he came into the kitchen while I was eating my breakfast, a curry, and so far he's done nothing strange. He drank his water, went to the training hall, and is still training now.

I did find out that he's a pretty decent Suiton user though. Usually, this would be a problem for me, but since I'm spying on him now, I can plan a counter in case things go sideways. I guess missions like this have their uses, even if they're boring as Hell.

I'll update if I learn anything else.

Kaede quietly closed her report and tucked it into her robe, peeking out from around the doorframe of the training hall to see Kakureta using various Suiton moves against a training dummy that was absolutely soaked from the onslaught of Ninjutsu attacks. While she found this line of work rather boring, she had learned a lot about his fighting style over the past hour that she'd already made a mental note of jotting down once she was back in her room.

While he was a great Suiton user, his skills with Taijutsu and Genjutsu left a lot to be desired. Thanks to her newfound skills with Taijutsu, she knew if push came to shove, she would be able to best him in hand-to-hand combat, something she could use to counter his strong Suiton capabilities. 'He must be a new Chuunin if he's this good with jutsu, but useless at intel-gathering.' She thought, ducking out of sight when she saw him turn to collect the towel he was using to wipe his sweaty brow. 'Plus, I've been here for ages, most ninja would be able to feel eyes on them at this point, but he's completely oblivious!'

Kaede let out a breath and stepped back into the shadows caused by a row of burnt-out candles. She knew spending all day watching him would lead to her getting caught, so for now, she would retreat and go about her usual routine.

No doubt he'd appear to watch her at some point as well, and she would be ready to document his actions.

Chiaki's Log: Entry Two

This guy's a Goddamn idiot.

I've been sitting by the lake reading my book for a few hours now, and I can hear the bushes rustling about twenty feet away from me. Last time this happened, I thought it was one of your snakes, Orochimaru; but now that I know I'm being watched, the sound is way too loud to be caused by a living shoelace like that!

Our resident traitor's definitely a high-level Genin, or a low-level Chuunin at best, I ain't met a Jounin that's this stupid.

It makes me think that the person I heard Kakureta talking to is the one pulling the strings here... They're probably some low-level Jounin if they're letting their subordinate get away with this crap.

It'd be easier if I could write these notes while he was still here, but obviously that'd get me caught, so I left before I wrote this. I might be old, but I ain't as stupid as that guy. Expect another update soon.

As the sun began to set over Otogakure's snake-shaped entrance, Kaede walked down the corridors of the dimly lit hideout with her book in hand, humming to herself as she flicked through the pages until she found the spot she had been reading before she was rudely interrupted by her resident stalker. Part of her really struggled to hold back the desire to find him and kick his ass for following her all over the place, but the sensible part kept reminding her that there was more at stake than her privacy.

If she revealed that she saw through his guise, he could retreat to his commanding officer and they would escape unscathed. Not only that, if they're reporting to a higher power, they could share not only their location but their weaknesses as well.

She'd be putting herself, Orochimaru and the entire village at risk.

That thought alone was enough for her to curb her festering anger, and keep the gentle glow of her skin at bay. Until she had everything she needed, and got the go-ahead from Orochimaru to kill them, she'd bide her time; though not without complaint.

'Just you wait until I get the green light t'kick your ass. Suiton or not, I'll burn you to a crisp!'

Chiaki's Log: Entry Three

It's 'bout time I turn in for the night, I've seen Kakureta a few times during the day, but he hasn't stalked me since I left the lake earlier. I followed him for an hour and a half after he got his supper, but there was no real change to his schedule. He just ate his food, went on a walk, and did some more training.

Pretty basic stuff, for an asshole.

At least I know one thing, the real mastermind behind this is pretty good at keeping themselves hidden. So many people came up to chat with Kakureta throughout the day that I couldn't tell which one was giving him orders.

Knowing they're a Jounin does shrink the list of potential traitors down a fair bit though...

I'll pick up where I left off tomorrow.

With an exhausted sigh, the tired Jounin snapped the journal shut and dropped back until her head hit the plush pillow of her bedding and she closed her eyes. Not knowing what these two spies wanted with her specifically was driving her insane, every time she thought about it, anger spiked and she had to take deep breaths to ease it before the glow could kick in.

'Thinking 'bout it ain't going t'make sleep come any quicker...' She thought as she rolled over and tucked the book beneath her bed, far enough back that anyone who entered wouldn't be able to see it from the doorway. Though anyone who tried to enter without her permission wouldn't survive long enough to notice anyway.

Whatever their intentions or reasons were, she knew it'd take her some time to find the answers she was searching for; but once she did... Their unwanted guests were as good as dead, along with anyone else they might be working for.

That thought seemed to ease Kaede's concerns a little, as the world around her faded into nothingness, allowing her the blissful rest she knew she needed to keep her mind sharp over the coming days.

Little did she know, her mission would soon take a dark turn.

~BHBL~

The only sounds that filled the Otokage's office were the scratching of a fountain pen on parchment as Orochimaru sat at his long desk, looming over a scroll as he jotted down his notes on a separate sheet of paper; which he would file away for later use. Kaede, who had taken a break from her work to pester the Sannin, was sat at one end of the table, her chair balancing on two legs while her own were crossed over the wooden surface, much to his annoyance.

"-And that's how I learned t'make a fireball." Kaede trailed off, balancing her book on a finger as she used her other arm as a makeshift pillow for her head.

"Hm, hm, hm, while your rivetting tale kept me on the edge of my seat..." Orochimaru started, pushing his chair out as he stood up and walked towards his many shelves filled with scrolls. "I didn't call you here to listen to you recount your days in the Sunagakure Academy."

The boisterous redhead rolled her eyes and let her chair drop back into its original, intended, position; crossing one of her legs over the other as her elbow planted onto his desk and she rested her head in her hand. "Tch, y'just can't wait t'get back t'work can you?" She sighed, spinning her book between one finger and the wooden surface. "So far I ain't found anything major, just some small things 'bout Kakureta's day that let me know what kind of guy we're dealing with."

"And those details are?" The Sannin stroked his finger across the wooden face of the shelves in front of him until he paused at a large scroll and pulled it out from its respective position.

"Well, we were right t'assume he's a low-level Chuunin." Kaede huffed out a laugh as she flashed him a grin. "That asshole can't keep himself hidden t'save his life!" This made Orochimaru chuckle, as he blew off the dust from atop the rolled parchment and made his way back to the desk, sitting down as he listened intently to her verbal report. "I've caught him spying on me a few times, but I just let him do his thing, and follow him after."

"Oh, perhaps he is reporting to his commanding officer?"

"I thought that too, but nope!" She let her book drop onto its cover and leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "He'd go back to his room, and stay in there for hours." She dropped her head back against the back of her chair, glaring up at the stone ceiling. "Sometimes I wouldn't see him until the next morning."

"Hm, that explains why you were so tired during our training yesterday."

"Damn right, it does!" She snapped her head back up and the look she sent him had his shoulder shaking with laughter. She looked like a child who had just been told their dinner would be another hour. "I waited all night for that bastard to come out!"

Orochimaru's laugh filled the room as he unrolled the scroll filled with Kinjutsu and began to read it intently, all while managing to keep some focus on his subordinate. It was this level of skill, and ability to separate his attention and still absorb both wells of information that hailed him a genius in his youth. "I don't doubt that. You always were the stubborn wildfire I perceived you to be, after all." He started writing on a new sheet of paper. "You didn't learn anything during your stake-out?"

Kaede shook her head glaring down at the book she'd dropped. "Nope." She glared at him for a moment before she smirked as she let her voice tilt towards a playful and sarcastic tone. "Someone decided to design their dorms with only one door, so I can't just sneak inside without getting caught!" She saw him meet her gaze and flashed him a grin. "And unlike that someone, I can't use Doton to sink into the floor!" She shrugged. "Hell, Even if I used my normal Shunshin no Jutsu, the flames I leave behind would draw too much attention t'me."

"Yes, just like your disposition, that jutsu of yours is determined to leave an impression."

"Heh, y'know me too well, Snake-Eyes~!"

"One of the perks of studying you for a decade, my dear Firecracker." He began to read through what he jotted down, looking from the written words to Kaede more than once. "What do you intend to do? I assume you've made plans to rectify this issue and find out why that traitor locks himself in his room for hours on end?"

"Well, I would. But I've got t'head out on a supply run in 'bout an hour." She groaned and dropped her head back onto the chair again, entranced by the candlelight dancing across the ceiling. "It's just my luck that I'd have t'leave when I'm in the middle of something important!"

Silence spread through the room for a brief moment, as Orochimaru's scrawling stopped. He then straightened up and turned his full attention to her reclined form. "Then perhaps a break from your usual duties is in order?" He suggested, causing her to snap her head up in surprise, their gazes locking in that instant as an amused smirk tugged at his lips. "You have your mission, I'll send someone else to take your place."

"Oh yeah?" She arched a brow. "Who? I doubt they'll get as good a deal as I can!"

"No matter." He chuckled and shrugged his shoulder dismissively. "A loss on profit is not worth the integrity of this mission." He crossed his arms. "I'll send Kakureta instead, perhaps that'll give you ample time to search his room, hm?"

"Aw, so I don't even get the afternoon off?" She complained though the grin that spread wide across her features contradicted her words, and she leaned forward, crossing her arms on the wooden surface of the desk.

"If you perform your new duties well, then I may consider rewarding you with some actual time off."

"Heh, I'll hold you to that~!"

"Once again, there's no doubt in my mind that you would." Orochimaru carefully placed the pen in the inkwell by his side, crossing his arms over his strong chest. "I suggest you prepare yourself in advance." His amused expression fell. "The moment he leaves, you're to enter his room and find as much damning evidence as you can, is that understood?" His eyes narrowed as the looming threat of danger lingered in the air. "While Kakureta himself will be absent for several days, his accomplice will be present... One wrong move will compromise your mission and our advantage." His tone darkened. "I will not tolerate failure."

"Don't worry," Kaede said, her expression turning serious as well as she planted her hands on the desk and stood up, hunched over with a raging fire burning in her eyes. "I don't plan on getting caught. I'm starting t'get an idea of who his teammate might be, and if there's anything that'll give it away, it's in that damn room."

Orochimaru stared at her, contemplating her words, before he chuckled again. Once her serious side kicked in, she became quite invaluable in such vital covert operations. He knew her own time as a Chuunin caused this shift in her personality, thanks to the file he had tucked in his lab's database, but it never ceased to entertain him when he witnessed it firsthand.

Part of him wondered how she'd react if she were imprisoned by another, would her more calculated mind kick in and save her from the fear she would inevitably experience? While the concept was intriguing, there was one small fragment of his soul that weighed heavily at the thought of her behind bars, panicking as she tried and failed to escape her own personal Hell.

Kaede's serious face softened as she watched Orochimaru's expression return to a dark and intimidating scowl. She arched a brow and tilted her head to the side curiously. "What happened to that shit-eating grin y'just had?" She asked. "If there's something you're not telling me, spit it out!"

The dangerous Rogue Sannin snapped out of his thoughts and smirked at her, returning to his usual, irritating self. "While I appreciate your concern for me, Firecracker, there's nothing else for me to say on the matter. You have your plan of attack, and you will see it through."

"Heh, like I'd worry 'bout you! I just wanted t'make sure y'hadn't set all this up as some sort've trap!" She straightened up and grabbed her book off the desk. "I wouldn't put it past y'to come up with some kind of insane plan to test my loyalty!" Her gleaming fang glittered in the candlelight. "Hell, you're probably just going insane, full stop! They say that can happen when you get to a certain age."

"Oh?" Orochimaru leaned forward and placed his chin in his hand, his other arm resting comfortably on the table. "Are you certain you're not projecting, Kaede?"

Kaede barked out a laugh. "Bold of y'to assume I ain't lost it already!" She turned and walked towards the door. "I ain't got much time left before the supply run, so I'm going t'get something to eat until that asshole leaves!" She grasped the handle and grinned at him over her shoulder one last time. "Don't wait up~!"

"Kaede."

The boisterous woman faltered as she took a step out of the door and leaned back, looking at him with a curious pout, her single fang gleaming in the candlelight. The Sannin got up and walked over to his many shelves and cabinets, pulling open a drawer and taking out a small pouch, which he tossed at her swiftly. "What's this?" Kaede asked as she caught the thrown object without difficulty. Her perplexed expression remained fixed to her features as she opened the wrapping and spotted several metal tools inside. "Lockpicks?" She asked, arching a brow as she up looked at him through her red bangs.

"Even a fool knows to lock away what he doesn't want others to see," Orochimaru said, smirking as he walked back over to his desk and sat down. "Use those to gain access to his room, but make sure to leave everything you found in its rightful place. The last thing we want is for him or his teammate to notice our presence."

"Heh, good thinking!" Kaede closed the pouch and tucked it into her robe for safekeeping. "I better get going, the last thing I want is t'start this mission on an empty stomach!" She turned to the door once again and finally stepped into the corridor, her voice echoing behind her. "Catch y'later~!"

As the door closed behind her retreating form, Orochimaru's eyes remained locked on the wooden barrier that muffled her fading footsteps. Something about how she casually implied she was already deep into madness didn't sit right with him. While her words were obviously a joke, he knew some part of her believed she truly had lost her mind.

However, he knew her words didn't ring true.

While she had teetered on the verge of insanity countless times throughout the years, she was stronger than she gave herself credit for. In fact, the only time he had truly considered the possibility that she was losing her mind, was when she fell into depression after trying and failing to end his life. That was the moment the trauma she faced during her time as an experiment hit her hard, and her dreams of returning to a normal life were shattered before her very eyes.

In a twist of irony, Orochimaru had to force himself to ignore the gut-wrenching sensation twisting his gut at the mere memory of her flames dying out against her marred skin, While the scorching light that once ignited her cocoa-brown eyes fizzled out, turning her into a husk of her former self.

What a foolish thing to recall at a time like this...

Feeling the anger that came from these strange emotions, the Sannin returned to his work, forcing all thoughts of her to the back of his mind. Something was obviously eating away at him, yet he had no time, or desire to question it further.

~BHBL~

The birds chirping in the trees above Kaede's head were always a comforting sound. The fiery kunoichi was laid full stretch across the head of the snake-shaped stone that made up the entrance to Otogakure's many winding corridors, allowing her the perfect place to relish in the flittering sunlight peeking through the treeline.

It was about time Kakureta left on his newfound duty, and she wanted to watch him depart personally before she instigated the next step of her plan. However the wait left her mind to wander, and in that time, the anger she was forcing down continued to fester beneath the surface like a simmering pot that was bubbling up, threatening to spill over the edges.

While it had been about seventy-two hours since she started her mission, she still had no concrete evidence to indicate why Kakureta and his leader were targetting her specifically, and it was really starting to irritate her.

What the Hell could she possibly have that'd warrant their interest, and why couldn't they just let her live the remainder of her life in peace?!

As she thought that, the door that resided at the bottom of the long staircase to the outside world creaked open, and footsteps began to ascend, growing closer and closer to the surface. The Firecracker sat up, shuffling back silently, so she was out of sight, just as the person stepped out of the shadows and into the sunlight, revealing their oblivious form to her observant eyes.

Speaking of the devil, it was Kakureta.

'Looks like he's ready t'go.' She thought, looking at the pack filled with supplies strapped to his back, along with a hefty sack of Ryo strapped to his waist. The funds given to him by Orochimaru, given the soft pouch was made with a different material than the ones they were given during their recruitment.

The young man stood there, grumbling to himself as he pulled out a large map with the most complicated path scribbled across its faded parchment. The sight alone made Kaede's signature grin spread across her lips. Obviously the Sannin had given him the longest route possible to ensure she had plenty of time to scope out and inspect his room for clues.

'Heh, looks like you're good for something, after all, Snake-Eyes~!' Just from that glance, she could tell that his route was going to take a full week to traverse on foot.

Obviously, it'd be easier if they could get their supplies at Kusagakure, but given they live right beneath the village, collecting ninja supplies would be far too conspicuous and would risk the integrity of their hideout and the safety of those inside, along with the massive swell of knowledge sealed within. This meant they had to travel to a faraway market town, much like Tenkachi City to do business with their contact.

Not that Kaede would complain, she enjoyed doing this duty, as it got her out of the hideout and gave her a much-needed breath of fresh air she constantly craved.

She watched intently as her point of interest tucked the map back into his travel pack and started down the worn footpath towards the main dirt road. Once the high-tier Jounin no longer heard his footsteps, she took a deep breath and stood up. 'Looks like it's my time to shine.' She thought, vaulting over the nose of the stone snake to land silently on the ground below, right where he once stood. 'Whatever he's hiding, I'm going t'find it... and I ain't giving up 'til I do!'

Kaede spun around and made her way back into the hideout, casually walking down the corridors as she pulled out her newest Icha-Icha novel and pretended to read it. To anyone else, it looked like she was taking a leisurely stroll while she enjoyed her favourite pass-time; but in the redhead's mind, this was the easiest way for her to access the Chuunin dorms without drawing any suspicion.

After all, a bored bookworm like her tended to wander when she had nothing to do, right?

A few people passed her on her way down the many winding tunnels, but they merely spared her a glance before moving on to complete their duties.

So far so good!

Once she reached the dorms and ensured she wasn't followed or spotted by anyone who could still be hanging around, then slipped her book back into her robe. 'Alright, time t'get some use out of Orochi-sama's gift.' The seasoned kunoichi pulled a pick from her robe and got to work on the sturdy lock keeping Kakureta's bedroom door sealed shut, hiding away any secrets the man may be hiding. 'Of course, Orochimaru'd have lockpicks lying 'round...' She thought with a smirk as the clicking of metal on metal could be heard. 'That creepy bastard can phase in and out of solid walls, but he still has to have a backup plan if that ever fails.'

Honestly, though, his paranoia had saved her ass this time, since she had forgotten that most Chuunins in Otogakure had the privilege of locking their doors as an added perk of their promotion. It slipped her mind solely because she herself removed the locks from her bedroom and adjacent bathroom doors the moment she was assigned to her room.

Being confined in such a tight space without hopes of escape led her into a panicked frenzy, so it was just safer for everyone if she eradicated the risk altogether. Hell, Orochimaru witnessed firsthand what she did to locked doors, she still remembered the scorch marks to this day, along with the smell of burnt wood that lingered in her room even after all that time.

Thank God they'd moved hideouts since then.

She knew if she was ever trapped in a room, be it by accident or otherwise; she may just lose whatever wavering sanity she had left. The stubborn redhead would be damned if she let that happen, not after everything she'd done to ensure her freedom.

The redhead's thoughts were interrupted when the lock sealing Kakureta's room from view audibly clicked and the door opened ever so slightly. With a smirk, Kaede tucked the pick and the book she'd set down on the floor back in her robe and slipped into the room. Unaware that she was being watched by someone with far better skills than the measly Chuunin she'd seen countless times over the course of a week.

Once inside, Kaede darted her eyes around at the messy layout of the dorm. Items were strewn across the floor, along with dirty clothes and open books. 'Damn, I thought I was messy...' She thought silently as she crouched down to peek under the bed, searching for anything out of the ordinary. 'There's got t'be something here that doesn't belong...'

However, before she could really examine anything closely, she heard the sound of distant footsteps and bound up as she spun around to watch the door with wide eyes. Each step grew louder and louder, leading her to hold her breath so she could better hear them approach.

Were they coming here, or passing by?

Suddenly the door opened and a woman with blonde hair and green eyes looked around the room. The messy space was empty and void of all sounds, stray for the rustling of papers that had moved when the air was disrupted by the wooden barrier's swift movement. "That idiot forgot to lock his door again..." The kunoichi complained, her voice deep and smooth as silk. "If I have to clean up one more of his messes, I'm going to kill him myself." Slowly, the unknown woman entered the room and closed the door behind her as quietly as she could, before she walked to the centre of the room and took another look around.

Like most Chuunin dorms, the layout was simple, there was a bed on one wall, with the door directly opposite it, seen from the foot of the bedframe. Next to the bed was a nightstand with a storage container tucked beneath it for any personal belongings the room's owner might have, in this case a few books and even a yoyo for some reason.

Well, everyone had hobbies.

That wasn't all though, on the wall to the right of the entrance stood another door, this one leading to a narrow closet space where most people housed their clothes. The door was slightly ajar, and the woman could only assume it was empty since most of Kakureta's clothes were strewn across the floor.

Unknown to her, inside that very closet, stood the fiery kunoichi who had barely enough time to duck inside before the blonde woman poked her head into the main room.

'That was too damn close!' Kaede thought, peeking out of the crack in the closet door to watch the intruder as she pulled a book out from under what the redhead assumed was her underling's mattress. This gave the resident Jounin a chance to see the other woman's face properly, she looked oddly familiar...

The redhead wracked her brain for a moment until it suddenly clicked and her cocoa-brown eyes widened.

During Henrei's initiation, a few other recruits were also given roles among the ranks of Otogakure. One of them was a woman named Ayamari, whose intel-gathering prowess swiftly and strategic mind earned her the role of a high-ranking Chuunin. She was a smart, stern and very dedicated woman who had shown great interest in Orochimaru's research and ideals. Hell, that's one of the reasons Kaede avoided her before now, she had enough trouble with Kabuto, the last thing she wanted was another kiss-ass on her hands.

She never would have guessed that Ayamari was the real brains behind Kakureta's mission.

'That two-faced little shit...!' Kaede thought, gritting her teeth as she felt that anger bubbling again, causing her to take deep, but quiet breaths in an attempt to stop her skin from lighting up the darkened closet.

Thankfully, Ayamari was too busy flicking through the pages of Kakureta's journal to hear anything around her, and Kaede had managed to calm herself down before the traitor stopped at the newest entry. Without a word, the blonde spy pulled a note out of her sleeve and slipped it into the journal, before she pushed it back under the mattress and left without another word.

Kaede stood there, waiting patiently until the footsteps faded into nothingness, then she dove out of the closet; sparing one glance at the door left ajar, before she snatched up the book from its place beneath the bedrolls. She wasted no time flicking through the pages until she found the note, then picked it up as she tossed the book onto the bed without sparing it a second glance.

All the while, someone was watching her from the doorway, appearing the moment her eyes left the wooden barrier to continue her search.

The Akatsuki requested our presence back in Amegakure. When you return from your errands, we'll leave that same night. Make sure to erase all traces of your stay, otherwise this whole operation will be at risk.

"Yes...!" Kaede hissed out, pulling her own journal from her robe as she scribbled down the note's details, before circling it. While it was concerning that the Akatsuki were involved in his matter, given their reputation, having evidence of the traitor's and his commanding officer's deeds made her job just that little bit easier.

'So the Akatsuki's sending spies in to watch us... are they working with Amegakure, or are these two Rogue Ninja like us?' The many questions this one answer had given her were almost too much, and she shook her head to clear her thoughts. 'I'll make sure to ask Orochi-sama about this later, right now I've got more important things to worry 'bout!'

She knew she was on borrowed time now, and it made her mission feel all the more important... In one week, Kakureta would return to Otogakure, and both he and his Jounin captain would depart for Amegakure immediately.

She had to make sure she got as much information as possible, especially regarding the Akatsuki, Amegakure and the possibility of an alliance between the two.

Kaede snapped the book shut before she slipped it into her robe, making a note to read its contents later. Ayamari's skills far outweighed Kakureta's, so she knew trying to spy on the other woman would lead to failure. Instead, she would retreat for now and examine the journal from front to back, jotting down her findings in her own to present to Orochimaru at the end of her mission.

With little time to process the transformation, she relaxed her posture and pulled out her Icha-Icha novel, returning to her daily routine, with no one the wiser to what she was doing only seconds before. As she sauntered from the room and strolled down the hall, the person who had been watching her was nowhere to be found. That was until a ninja sandal scuffed the floor behind a nearby corner, and a pair of round glasses caught the light of the candle, hiding a pair of black eyes from view.

It was Kabuto.

With the silence only mastered by former members of the ANBU ROOT, The white-haired medic entered Kakureta's bedroom and saw the discarded note on the bed, which Kaede had forgotten to hide in her hasty exit; she was so pre-occupied with what she'd found that she hadn't really noticed. He lifted the note up and read it, his eyes widening as he realized just what he'd found.

Ayamari and Kakureta were obviously working together here, given she had left the note in his room. However, why would Kaede show up beforehand if she wasn't also part of the rouse? Was it possible that Kaede, Kakureta and Ayamari were working for the Akatsuki in an attempt to bring down Orochimaru? It sounded improbable, given he couldn't fathom when the resident Firecracker would have found the time to interact with such a dangerous organisation, but given how much freedom Orochimaru had given her on a whim, it wasn't impossible.

Who knows? She could have been approached during her last supply mission.

However it happened, Kabuto knew now that his suspicions were not unfounded. Of course, the brazen redhead would accept their help, after her recent revelation and the rescue of Henrei, she'd do anything to repent for her actions.

She was a traitor, plain and simple.

Kabuto couldn't just go to Orochimaru with his evidence though, he'd likely just brush it off as paranoia on the medic's part, and the note as a miscommunication. While their leader was usually rather level-headed, he was smitten with Kaede; it was obvious by how much lenience he showed towards her actions.

Including an attempt at his life...

No, for now, he would continue to observe her and gather evidence of her traitorous acts. Once he had everything he needed, he would confront her and her allies once and for all. And if he had to resort to extremes, he could use the journal Kaede took as the evidence he needed to clear his name; should Orochimaru become enraged at his Firecracker's demise.

Little did he know, his plan would soon uproot Kaede's entire operation and put her, and Otogakure, in grave danger.

~BHBL~

The nights in Otogakure were as strange as the mornings. While some of the many ninja that trek the halls were still active, many had gone to rest their heads until the sun rose in the morning, this left the darkened halls feeling empty and far more eerie than usual, and the few conscious inhabitants tended to keep their guards up as a result.

Though not all of them.

Kaede let out a heavy yawn as she stretched her arms above her head before she exhaled and let them drop to her sides. It had been yet another long day for her, one spent reading through the book she'd found in Kakureta's room and making notes for her report. Honestly, out of all the work Kaede had done as a kunoichi, she found this part the most boring; but it was a necessary burden if it meant she'd get one-up on the enemies that were foolish enough to think they could get away with betraying Otogakure.

The exhausted Ninjutsu Expert stopped at the door to the kitchen and pulled it open, only to pause when she saw a lit candle on the kitchen table and Orochimaru sat there, drinking some quality sake in peace within the darkness of the small room. The two locked eyes, and she flashed him a smirk and a salute as she continued to the fridge and started rummaging through it for a can of cola.

"You look tired, Kaede." Orochimaru started, breaking the peaceful silence with his hoarse voice that cut through the shadows like a sharp kunai through flesh. "You're always insistent on getting your 'beauty' sleep, but I've caught you out and about during the early hours more often than usual, as of late."

"Yeah, well y'can blame your mission for that one!" Kaede quipped, letting out another yawn as she snatched the last can and turned away from the appliance. Much to Orochimaru's displeasure, as she opened the can with her hands, she used her bare foot to kick the fridge door shut, he made a mental note to clean the door later, given his redheaded subordinate walked barefoot in most places thanks to her unpredictable flames. "If y'didn't have me running 'round playing detective, I might actually get some time t'myself for a change!"

"If the task I assigned you has kept you busy until sunrise, then you must have something of note to report, hm?" The Sannin slowly pulled out a chair beside him and poured her a drink.

"Uh, yeah, actually..." The redhead opened the fridge again and popped the can back inside, before she trudged over to the offered seat and plopped down, picking up the much-needed sake. "For starters, I think I've figured out who's working with Kakureta." She drained the small dish and put it down, letting her leader pour her a second one silently. "D'you know a Jounin by the name Ayamari?"

Orochimaru hummed as he nodded his head. "Yes, she was appointed around the same time as Henrei." He pushed the dish back, which she lifted from the flat wooden surface without a second thought. staring down at the clear liquid inside. "Is she the puppetmaster of this little performance?"

"Y'could say that... But they're not working alone."

The way her tired expression hardened with an intensity he knew only stemmed when she had serious news to share, made the Sannin cross his arms with a curious quirk of his brow. "So we have other traitors in our midst..."

"No, that's not what I meant."

"Oh? Then elaborate, is there some sort of organisation outside of our walls involved in all of this?"

"Yeah." Kaede drank the sake with one swift tip of the head and slammed the small cup back down as she met Orochimaru's equally intense gaze. "The Akatsuki."

Immediately the Sannin's brows knitted together tightly and his expression soured. It made sense, the Firecracker knew about his time in the Akatsuki from his journals, to know they were involved in infiltrating his sacred space would be nothing short of infuriating. "What else have you learned?" He asked.

"Once Kakureta gets back, they're both going back t'Amegakure to meet with their bosses." She tugged on her fringe as she scowled down at the table. "Turns out they're Rogue Ninja from Amegakure that defected and hid with the Akatsuki t'avoid getting caught." She huffed. "That explains why they're so bad at their jobs... Still, God only knows what kind of info they've collected after being here for so long!" Her lip curled back. "Those assholes are lucky I'm not torching them to a crisp right now! If I didn't have t'watch their every move, they'd regret stalking me in the first place." The woman's tanned skin started to take on a soft glow, lighting up the room as the anger she had suppressed began to rise to the surface. "The worst part is, I don't even know why they're targetting me specifically!"

"You won't have to wait for much longer." The Otokage interjected, catching her attention as she hummed and lifted her head, letting go of her poor fringe. The man sat still, eyes closed as he took a sip of his sake; then they snapped open to lock onto her own, chilling the room with their cold gaze.

There was a glimmer of rage behind his citrine irises, a blood lust Kaede knew all too well.

"I believe we are on borrowed time, given Kakureta is set to return tomorrow morning... You've done well to complete your mission to this point." He placed the cup down and uttered his next words with the venom of a thousand snakes. "Tomorrow, when the two are reunited, you will make your move and apprehend them." His lips curled up in a demented smile. "Harm them as you please, but keep them alive. We need to unveil just how much information they've gathered over their time here."

Kaede stared at him for a moment, before she huffed out a laugh and flashed him a grin, her own eyes fueled with that cold-blooded malice she'd developed during her time in Otogakure. The rage she felt simmered down slowly, and her skin returned to its natural shade, no longer illuminating the room. "Y'don't need to tell me twice~! But y'better keep Kabuto on standby, 'cause I ain't going t'leave them without some serious burns first!"

"Hm, hm, hm, that can certainly be arranged."

"Good." Kaede stood up and planted her hands on the table. "Now that we've figured all that out, I'm starving!" She turned to walk over to the kitchen counter. "You've been here for a while, right?"

"Yes, at least two hours." He lifted the bottle of sake and shook it, there was barely anything left inside. "It was a rather pleasant experience until you arrived~."

"Hah, y'can't deny that I don't bring some life to the party!"

"That's one way of putting it, I suppose."

"Have y'eaten anything?"

That question caused the Sannin's thin, black brow to quirk upwards as a curious lilt resonated in his words. "No." His once unsettling smirk switched to one of amusement. "Why?"

The way Kaede looked at him over her shoulder with an annoyed pout only further fueled his enjoyment. "What kind of idiot're you?" She grumbled, turning back to the cupboards as she rummaged through them for something to make. "Who has a drink without eating something first?! Are y'trying t'give yourself a hangover from Hell?"

Orochimaru chuckled and poured himself another drink. "While your concern is touching, I assure you, I'll be fine."

"Tch, don't give me that crap, I ain't worried about your health!" She closed the cupboards and crouched down, grabbing a pan off of the shelf beneath the sink. "If y'die 'cause y'got pissed the night before, who d'you think'll have to deal with the headache after?" She went to the fridge and pulled out a carton of eggs, balancing them under one arm as she closed the fridge door then put the pan down and turned on the stovetop. "Me! I'd be stuck babysitting your whiny medic and two Goddamn traitors, no thanks!"

The Sannin placed his chin against the knuckles of his hand and watched as Kaede cracked two eggs into the pan and started frying them. "You clearly underestimate my skills, Kaede-chan~." He countered, pouring the last of his sake into Kaede's dish, since she'd had far less to drink than he did. "A mere drink won't be enough to bring forth my death. I am immortal, and I will not fall without a fight."

"Good, but you're still eating something." She stated, using the spatula to cover the yolk in oil to seal it within the egg white. "I ain't taking the risk."

"Hm, hm, hm, very well," Orochimaru said, placing down his sake cup. The smell of the frying eggs permeates the air, leaving a delicious aroma in its vicinity. It never ceased to impress him how well she could take care of her own basic needs, despite her reckless nature. Though he had to admit, she did make a very good curry; so something as simple as this should be no trouble for her.

It was her skills in the kitchen that made him question why she would bother with ready-made curry to begin with.

"So..." Kaede piped up. "What's the plan? I'm going t'make my move tomorrow right, what exactly d'you want me t'do?"

The Sannin hummed and thought hard for a moment, while his subordinate glanced at him over her shoulder. "You're to stall them until the adequate backup arrives." He doubted she'd need support, given her prowess and overall competence up until this point of her mission, but he was known for taking every precaution possible; this smaller, but still important, task was no different.

"And how am I going to do that?" The redhead asked, arching a brow as she turned back to face the frying pan. "I'd use my fire, but I think that'd just give away my position, don't you?"

"Then it's a good thing I thought ahead, hm?"

The Sannin tossed something to Kaede, and she swiftly caught it in the air, barely turning her torso away from her task at hand to do so. She opened her palm to see a small scroll within, a scroll that was far too small to be seen out of her closed fist otherwise. "What the hell's this?"

"That scroll contains a Kuchiyose no Jutsu similar to the one you saw me use in Kusagakure."

"It's got t'be a small snake if it's in a scroll this tiny." Kaede lifted the scroll up to see it in the candlelight. It was sealed by a symbol across a sticker that she knew from experience wouldn't open without someone's Chakra.

"It is, you should be very familiar with this particular snake, actually." Orochimaru smirked in her direction as he lifted his sake cup to his lips. "He tends to gravitate towards you for some unfathomable reason."

"So it's that little red guy, huh? He's just got good tastes!"

"I think you may be delusional, his interest is not a matter of affection, but a simple side effect of the fact that you exude the heat of a vivarium."

"You'd know, wouldn't you~!"

Orochimaru chuckled and put the dish down, leaning back in his chair. "As for the scroll itself, it is sealed with a Fuuinjutsu that will only open when infused with either mine or your Chakra, no one else's." He crossed his arms, his expression turning serious once more. "Once you have an opening, you are to release that snake and send him to my study."

"Then you'll come barging in, huh?" She tossed the scroll in the air and caught it, tucking it into her sleeve so she could finish cooking. "Y'better not make me wait. I've got a bone t'pick with those assholes!"

"Oh, don't worry, Firecracker..." His eyes almost seemed to glow as they widened, showing the veins splayed around the edges, his true madness flooding to the surface of his usually aloof facade. "I don't take kindly to backstabbing spies in my ranks... We will capture them and torture them until we learn every last scrap of information they've managed to glean over their time here."

Those words had her stomach twisting, but not because of the torture those two would endure... No, what gave her pause, was the word 'backstabbing.'

After all, she'd know all about that, wouldn't she?

"Heh, then I should've been dead a long time ago!" She joked, thought her voice sounded... off.

Orochimaru arched a brow, staring at her as she kept her eyes locked onto the eggs she was carefully seasoning. Her tone had been strained... As if she was trying to sound like she was merely acting playful, but a bit of her true thoughts broke through. He knew she regretted her actions, but didn't know just how deep that regret resided.

Regardless of her innermost thoughts, he spoke with a simple shrug. "There is a difference between you and our unwelcomed guests, make no mistakes." He stated simply as she faltered in her actions. "Despite your traitorous actions, you proved yourself useful even after the dust settled. You may make foolish and reckless mistakes, but you learn from them, that is a skill not many seasoned ninja choose to take to heart." Her expression softened into surprise as he closed his eyes and crossed his arms again to think. "Such a strong-willed and flexible kunoichi, who is stubborn, powerful and interesting all at once is hard to come by, even in this new age of Ninjutsu." He opened those snake-like orbs as she looked at him over her shoulder and flashed her a devious smirk. "So until you prove yourself worthless, I intend to squeeze every last drop of potential out of you, no matter how long it takes."

Silence stretched through the room for a moment, before the redhead broke through the thick air with a snicker, her lips curling up into her signature grin as she twirled the spatula in her hand. "You'll be squeezing for a while then!" She stated confidently, turning back to her cooking, her mood significantly brighter.

Orochimaru stood up and walked over to the stove, stopping behind his subordinate as he placed his hands on the counter on each side, trapping her between him and the cold wooden surface. The pale Sannin then leaned down and exhaled against the shell of her ear, relishing in the shudder that rattled her spine. "Oh, don't worry, Firecracker... I'll squeeze as much of you as I like~."

"Oh yeah?" She glanced down at his white lips. "Prove it~!"

And of course, that was all the Rogue Shinobi needed to hear to spin her around and pull her into a very heated and very distracting kiss. The only sound between their heavy breaths and locking lips was the sizzling of the eggs, as they sat unmonitored in the pan. After a moment, Orochimaru pulled away, leaving her gasping for air; the two were trapped in a trance, staring at one another with a mild flush to their cheeks.

Then Orochimaru chuckled. "You may want to turn off the stove, Kaede-chan~."

"Crap!" Kaede spun around to ensure the eggs didn't burn, while her leader laughed and walked back over to the table. With the confidence of a narcissist who knew what his voice did to his subordinate, he sat down and watched her scramble to plate the meal; completely unaware of the impact her words and actions had on him.

Perhaps in due time, he would analyse that sensation further, the thrill he got from raising her spirits; but for now, he had bigger things to concern himself with.

Soon the walls of Otogakure would be painted with the blood of traitors.

---

A/N: Thank you for reading, please review if you liked this chapter or have some criticism for me, all comments help me improve!

Japanese = English

Tetsu no Kuni = Land of Iron

Otogakure = Hidden Sound Village

Otokage = Sound Shadow

Kakureta = Hidden/Invisible

Ayamari = Error/Mistake

Amegakure = Hidden Rain Village