Decaying Bluebells

Arc XI - Shiori

Disclaimer: Nao is the only toy I own.

Warning: Fighting and language

Beta: Kalafina94

Beta: silverseed

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Interlude - Omniscient - 6

Orochimaru tapped his long fingers on the desk, papers laid out in front of him. His eyes roamed over the statistics.

"Orochimaru-sama?"

Orochimaru did not respond to Kabuto right away.

"Your medicine, Orochimaru-sama."

"Leave it, Kabuto," Orochimaru rasped, a finger tracing along the names on the paper.

Kabuto quietly sat the medicine tray down on the desk, next to the papers. His eyes automatically rested on the papers, and he recognized the two names on it.

"Uchiha Sasuke and Yamanaka Nao?" Kabuto echoed, frowning.

"You know I desire the Sharingan, Kabuto, but this Yamanaka girl also has a unique kekkei genkai —something that is unlikely to occur again within several lifetimes," Orochimaru said blatantly, finally deigning to look over at Kabuto. "I believe. yes, I believe that I desire both of them now. Sasuke, alive, the girl. well, I'm sure I'll learn as much from her corpse as I would if she were alive."

Kabuto smiled coldly. "Understood, Orochimaru-sama."

. . .

. .

.

I relaxed in the hot water, completely at ease. There was a small group of women a little ways from me, but I chose to sit at the farther end, sort of my own isolation. Steam rose up from the water, and I watched, transfixed by it.

Letting out a small sigh, I tilted my head back, resting it against the stones and closed my eyes.

I wonder how the others are doing.? I trailed off in that line of thought. Ah. but I wonder. how this mission will go.? Not only are we supposed to watch out for a traitor —Sai— but as soon as we find proof tying him to Danzō , then Tsunade will undoubtedly make her move against the Elder. I hope Jiraiya is able to make contact with Itachi before that, though. I would really hate for Sasuke to find out the truth. to find out about that from the unveilings of the ROOT.

I opened one of my eyes —my good eye— and stared up at the blue sky. Then again. part of me doesn't really want him to ever find out. Even if Jiraiya manages to. to persuade Itachi and bring him back to Konoha to tell Sasuke the truth. how will Sasuke react? Would he even believe Itachi?

He has to, though. Otherwise. otherwise.

I stopped myself.

Slow down, Nao. You're getting ahead of yourself. First Jiraiya has to convince Itachi to return to Konoha. Itachi's been living a lie for so long, now. I'm not even sure he'd be willing to go along with the truth, even if Jiraiya points out that either Sasuke finds out through us or through Itachi himself.

Poor Itachi.

"Mind your own business!"

I froze, recognizing Naruto's furious voice.