Silent Shinobi (Naruto Fanfic)

Chapter Nineteen

AND IM BACK (; super huge apology for taking eons to update but to my credit this ones longer than usual! thank you for all the amazing feedback this fanfic has been getting, you guys rock ★☆★☆★ enjoy!

Zeri's POV

Kitzu clamped his jaws together, crunching Orochimaru's neck into two with an audible crack, causing Sakura to flinch. I looked at Orochimaru with a scowl on my face, before turning to look at her and Sasuke. "He's not dead yet, you know that right?" I drawled, their eyes snapping towards my figure from Kitzu.

Sakura gulped, fear evident in her eyes. Though he tried to hide it, Sasuke was obviously worried, his eyes darting from side to side worriedly. I rolled my eyes, leaping silently onto the branch they were on, Kitzu following beside me. I ignored their wary expressions as they glanced at Kitzu nervously, instead placing my index and middle fingers onto Sasuke's forehead. His eyes widened, but before he could say anything, I had begun to fill his body with chakra once more, a pale blue light surrounding his body.

Eyes flashing momentarily to amber, I checked his aura to see that it was flowing with energy, though slightly tainted and withdrew my hand from his head. "You're welcome," I indicated sarcastically, ignoring his conflicted expression but tensed when Kitzu growled threateningly at a figure behind me.

"Zeri...what a surprise to see you here," Orochimaru hissed, no longer in his temporary 'vessel' as he stood a few trees away. I summoned a scowl, glaring at him in annoyance. "Who ratted me out?" I asked dryly, already knowing it was Kabuto. That pathetic idiot is such a pain...

Orochimaru cackles, a wicked glint in his eyes. "Now, aren't you supposed to be somewhere else?" He smirks knowingly, and I pretend to think, shrugging. "Where would that be?" I wonder aloud, before baring my teeth. "I will NOT return to wherever you have sent me, Orochimaru," I dragged out his name, holding back a smirk at the flare of irritation that briefly appeared on his face.

"Insolent child! I will come back for you one day, but I am here for someone else..." He turns to look at Sasuke, his snake-like eyes filled with greed. Sakura shudders, and I see Sasuke attempt to disguise his fear, scowling at Orochimaru. I crouch in front of them defensively, while Kitzu growls lowly - a warning.

"Listen here you snake," I drawl, eyes narrowed as he hisses at my lack of respect. "There are no rules that say I can't fight for someone else. If you even lay a hand on them," I flex my fingers, my Tiger Claws turning visible. "I won't hesitate to rip your face off." Kitzu roared, echoing my threat. Orochimaru narrows his eyes into slits, a sneer on his face.

"How astonishing - caring and protecting your teammates? This isn't the Zeri I know," he cackled, seeming to not believe the scene in front of him. I scowled, my lip curling over my teeth in irritation. What did that freak know about me in the first place?! "I'd like to think of it as payback for all those times I was trapped in your pathetic hideout," I hissed back, barely noticing Sakura's shocked gasp.

Orochimaru suddenly lunged forward, his hands reaching out as snakes began slithering towards the tree we were in. "Kitzu, you handle the snakes," I ordered, and he snapped up a few of them in his jaws almost immediately, while I spun around and kicked Orochimaru in the chin when he attempted to get closer to Sasuke and Sakura.

He flipped a few times in the air before landing on a branch, a hiss escaping his lips as he glared at me. "You think you can stop me?!" He darted forward once more, and this time I matched his movements, drawing my sword and clashing with him mid-air. He hisses as I manage to scar his chest and arms, leaping backwards and forming handsigns.

"Wind Style: Aerohead Whirlwind!" A large gust of wind blows towards me, and I let it carry me towards the trees before abruptly spinning and rebounding against the tree trunk and heading straight for Orochimaru. Kitzu appears beside me. 'Let's do this, Kitzu!' I cheered inwardly, and Kitzu growls in reply, as both of us begin sprinting towards Orochimaru at top speed.