Get Lost

Chapter 16

Kabuto didn't take her far. Somewhere out in the woods, close to the Leaf Village, Kabuto showed her an underground medical lab. It was more like a labyrinth with occasional rooms of experimental equipment. Kabuto didn't show her everything, but Kazue was sure. There was no one else down here.

"I thought you said you had a friend who could help me?" Kazue was starting to feel annoyed. She was this close to power and it was being dangled just out of her reach. 

"This is his lab. He's out at the moment, helping with the chunin exams, actually." Kabuto pushed his glasses up. "Don't worry, though. You won't be kept idle. Your body isn't strong enough right now to handle new strength that it didn't earn for itself. You're going to have to follow a training regiment that I set up for you."

Kazue scoffed. "So you're just going to have me train and that's how I'll get stronger? I do that already. I'm going back."

"Don't be silly." Kabuto stopped and turned to her. "Of course that's not all we're going to do. We just need you strong enough to handle the operations. It will take a month at most, then my friend can give you strength like you've never had before."

Kazue crossed her arms. "You better be telling the truth."

Kabuto smiled that slightly wrong smile again. "Here is your room. I'm sorry it's not above ground, but this is the nicest I have to offer."

Kabuto opened the door to show a small room with a bed, nightstand, desk, and chair. There were no windows, no artwork, no rug or anything. It was bare and dark. 

"Why is this lab hidden?" Kazue looked back at Kabuto. "There was a secret entrance with a secret way to open it. There's no one here. It's all underground. What are you doing down here?"

Kabuto turned and started walking away. "We're making you stronger, of course. I'll be back in a few hours. Rest up."

---

The training was much more focused and targeted than anything Kazue had experienced before. Even with Jurai Sensei, she had been in a three-man squad and hadn't gotten the personal attention that she now had. Everything she did, every meal she ate, every hour she rested was all planned out by Kabuto. She was constantly tired. Even when she was given a day off to recover, it always ended too soon. Kabuto said it was helping her. She could sometimes sort of see it. But mostly, she just felt tired.

Kazue was kept too busy to do much thinking. Rest days even often meant she was helping Kabuto in one of his many labs instead of her intense training. He was very precise. Kazue didn't have the time to think much about her family, or the village she had left behind, or even whatever Kabuto's supposed friend was going to do for her.

One morning, several weeks later, Kabuto wasn't in the normal training room, far underground. Kazue looked for him. It was only by chance that she came across him as he was leaving through the main entrance. 

"Kabuto?"

He had a large bag that looked full slung across his back. He was obviously surprised to see her.

"You're supposed to be training."

"Oh, well you weren't there so I-"

"It doesn't matter. I'm late already. Go back and train, I should be back tonight."

"Wait, Kabuto."

But he was already gone. The heavy door closed behind him. Kazue stood there for a minute. She looked around at the dim hallways that never changed. She hadn't had a change of scenery in a month. Stay here. Yeah right.

Fresh air was a miracle. Kazue hadn't realized how much she had missed it. It was about midday. It was so nice to be able to tell what time it was by the sun. The sun! She hadn't seen the sun in forever. The light was blinding at first. She closed her eyes as tears welled up. She was able to squint a moment later, then she could see. Oh, she could see.

Kabuto was gone already, but the forest was beautiful. Wind moved the trees. It pushed against her. There was no more stale air that hadn't moved in years. The outside world was so nice to be a part of again.

Kazue began moving soon after. She walked toward the Village. Her path took her to the road that led to the Village's main entrance. There was a line of people moving toward it. There were fancy carriages and huge entourages. What was going on?

The final chunin exam, Kazue realized. They usually held it a while later than the first few tests. It must be today. What was Kabuto doing then?

Slipping inside was easy with all the crowds. Kazue followed the flow of people toward the arena. 

Before she made it very far though, someone grabbed her arm and pulled her into an alleyway. It was a member of the Anbu Black Ops. He wore a heavy, black cloak and a mask that completely his his face. Anbu were government agents that were feared even in other nations. Their skills were legendary and their loyalty was almost completely unbreakable.

Kazue thought's shifted to Kabuto. He was so secretive about what he was doing and about his friend, even with her. She should try to not let this government agent know anything. But what did he want?

The Anbu pulled up his mask. It was Kabuto. She still probably shouldn't let him know anything.

"I told you to stay. What are you doing here?"

"You were acting weird."

Kabuto gave her a look.

"You're right. You always act weird."

Kabuto's sigh turned into a growl. "I have to come up with a new plan now." He looked out of the alleyway at the crowds beyond. Or maybe he was looking for something specifically. "Alright, fine. I can't take you back and I'm not telling you how to get in on your own. Follow me and listen this time."

Kazue shrugged and watched as Kabuto pulled his mask back on. "Are you an actual Anbu?"

"I'm a medical ninja."

Kazue snorted. "Yeah right."

Kabuto stopped talking to her then. He stepped out of the alley. Kazue followed. He led her closer to the arena, in the same direction she had been taking earlier. However, Kabuto veered off when they reached the actual arena. He walked around the side, where no one was. He stopped eventually, out of view of anyone.

"You can climb walls right?"

"Yeah."

"Go up there. You can watch from the roof. Don't leave."

Kazue looked up. It was already getting warm. "It'll be hot up there." She couldn't see Kabuto's expression behind his mask but she got the message. "Fine."

"Get climbing."

Kabuto left. Kazue started walking up the walls with chakra. It was a slow process. Anyone else could probably have done it much faster. But Kazue was tired from so much training and she was already so touch and go with her chakra control. 

Still, she made it to the top eventually. The fights had already started. It looked like a few were over already. The arena had little craters in it. It was mostly an open field, but there were several trees closer to the walls. It was still a while until sundown, but the sun was starting it's downward arc. 

Kazue sat on the slanted roof, looking down. She was hot from the sun and the exercise. There was a girl in the arena, standing with the proctor. It was a different proctor than the preliminary third exam. Kazue hummed.

The girl in the arena was the sand ninja. What was her name? Tamari. Her blonde hair was pulled out of her face for the most part and she had a huge fan strapped to her back. It was almost as tall as she was. It must take a lot of strength to wield that as a weapon.

I wonder who her opponent is.

At that moment, a kid jumped into the arena. He fell onto his back. Maybe he hadn't jumped. Maybe he was pushed. Kazue looked closer. Who was it?

Shikamaru Nara.

Of course.