𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐤𝐢 | ɴᴀʀᴜᴛᴏ

Grief

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✧˖*°࿐

Kimimaro's footsteps were light as feather compared to Suki, who trudged and snapped twigs beneath her soles. 

He almost told her everything about him and his position for Orochimaru, if it weren't for the drug's effect making her drowsy. Suki, who appeared in a trance, was silently listening in to his every word, trying to understand the life of Orochimaru's victims. Although only one word came into a conclusion for her: Pity.

Pity for the starved and exposed victims of Lord Orochimaru.

"My purpose is rewritten for our Lord. I am a body no more with only the power of will left." Kimimaro's calm tone couldn't relax her.

From what I've heard, you're more of a disposable pawn than a devotee.

"I'd hate to not have my own body, sounds dull." Suki commented, staring at his side profile.

"Think what you wish, Suki-Sama. But this is only the beginning." He was a tall wall, too loyal to Orochimaru. 

She looked down at the grass in deep thought, grasping the straps of the sizzling pail on her back. Whether or not Sasuke was listening in as well, she didn't care. 

"I can tell you are conflicted. Once we reach Otogakure, Lord Orochimaru will supply more doses to fix you." Kimimaro's topic of the blue liquid caused her face and hands to twitch fitfully. 

Fix, fix, fix... 

Suki visibly scowled at the reoccurring word, "These doses... What are they?" She weakly asked, rolling her eyes up from the grass to meet his.

"That's a question I can't completely answer." He shook his head, looking over his shoulder.

"Why give them to me?" She reworded, stubborn.

"They're there to ensure your stages of awakening are not interrupted. Lord Orochimaru hand-crafted these for your taste only." He lightly explained, hardly giving her a glance.

Suki let out a long exhale, doing her best to hide the chills that ran down her spine. In the unpredictable and stiff situation she was in, Suki felt two thick chains tugging at her neck. Only for her to wish for no part in any tug of war. 

Her eyes were fixated on the brightening sky. The clouds she loved painted blobs across the endless blue. As she stepped onto an open field, she blinked down at Kimimaro's sudden hard expression.

"KAZ!" A raspy, desperate voice shouted out for her.

Suki stopped to slowly turned around and face Naruto's panting state. He gripped harshly onto her crushed shinobi headband in one of his hands. Her faraway look took him by surprise, making him grind his teeth together.

"What the hell happened back there?!" Naruto snapped, adjusting his posture, "You suddenly left us to chase after a bunch of weirdos!! We couldn't even reach you because they were so adamant on keeping us away from you!" He took a step forward, causing Kimimaro to take a step as well, "Kaz...?" 

Suki lowered her eyes to her crushed shinobi headband in his grip, then tilting her face away. The thrown nickname made her permanent confusion waver. Her unintentional disregard had Naruto's anger spike.