Tangled Roots

Chapter Three

-Kabuto’s POV-

‘Hmm, so substance -3005 has a negative effect for subjects; 5991, 5981, 5393 and 4662, if you count death as negative that is, but no reaction to subject 4971...’

I look up from my clip board as I sense a strange presence, it is oddly familiar and I rack my memory to find the familiarity. ‘Oh, yes.’

It was four days prior, when Orochimaru left the Akatsuki. When we headed back to the hideout I sensed the same presence, though very well hidden. Orochimaru didn’t even notice it.

I quietly pace forward toward the source and as I turn a corner I spot what seems to be a young girl.

She is wearing a dark red robe with a small, brighter red Akatsuki cloud on the back. The hood is down, revealing her long gray, silver streaked hair, flowing down to her hips.

There also seems to be a dark brown furry thing on her shoulder but she is facing the other way, so I cant see.

As if on cue she turns around seemingly looking for something, her bright azure eyes widening when she sees me.

Now that she’s facing me, I can see she must be about 10, four years younger than me.(1) The furry thing on her shoulder seems to be a bulky cat with bright orange eyes.

The girl opens her mouth to say something, but quickly closes as if rethinking. The cat whispers something, and I raise an eyebrow deciding to speak.

“Im not surprised that the Akatsuki chose to send a spy, but I have never heard of you before or of anyone your age in Akatsuki. The youngest should be Deidara. Also you are very practiced at cloaking your presence. Not even Orochimaru sensed you a few days ago.”

The girl looks surprised and slightly panicked for a moment before swallowing and answering.

“Now that you found me what do you plan to do with me?” She asks.

I relax my shoulders and let the hand holding my clipboard hang at my side casually. I shrug.

“That depends. If I find you useful or interesting I might bring you to my labs or Orochimaru,”

She visibly shivers, and the cat on her shoulder crouches in an attacking stance, ears laid back.

“If you prove to be a threat I might have to kill you, but if you are only here to gather intel, there are other options.”

She frowns, “Like what?”

I smirk, “Why don’t you tell me a little bit about yourself? My name is Kabuto.”

She stares for a moment then replies. “Naio, this is Kou- Kimukasai.” The cat looks up at her questionably but stays quiet.

“Kimukasai? Are you sure?” I ask.

She hesitates before answering. “I call him Kouken, but his real name is Kimukasai. He is my... My guardian.”

This spikes my interest. “Guardian? Thats interesting, please do elaborate.”

Naio shakes her head. “After you.”

I smile, ‘An eye for an eye hmm?’ “If you insist. I conduct experiments for Orochimaru’s jutsus, and I am also a spy in the Hidden Leaf. You?”

It takes her a moment to process the information and she frowns deciding what to say.

“I... Have been trained by the Akatsuki since I was two... Kouken is spirit demon that can posses different forms. He protects me.”

I smirk, my eyes locked on the pair as an old article popped in my head about an event that took place eight years ago.

“I see. Do you have a last name Naio?”

She seems a little scared for a moment and I humor the thought that I might be pushing it, but she replies anyway.

“It’s Fumiko.” She answers just a bit too boldly.

She’s lying.

-Naio’s POV-

The anxious feeling in the pit of my stomach grows when Kabuto’s face darkens. ‘Did he see through my lie?’ I have to force myself to keep a calm exterior, but I know Im slipping.

Kabuto swings his hips to the left and puts a hand on his waist, smirking dangerously. I see through it, his weapons pouch is on that side!

I shift my weight slightly, my left hand moving behind my robe seemingly subconsciously. My subtlety doesn't matter though, as Koubuto is in front of me a second later, aiming to drive a kuni through my stomach.

I dodge to the side, only realizing my mistake a second too late, a shurikin slicing my shoulder.

I aim my kuni for the enemy's head only to have him poof away in a cloud of smoke. ‘The other was the original!’

I turn only a moment too late, three shurikin plunging into my chest. My substitution poofs into a log and I lunge from behind my opponent.

“Kireme!”(2) I shout, shoving my hand forward, at his lower back. I hear a loud crack and he screams in pain and crumples to the ground.

I jump back a few feet to keep some distance in case he gets up, though I doubt it. I’ve just broken his spinal cord, he’ll never be able to walk again if I did it right.

Kabuto poofs away and I feel kuni pressed to ether side of my neck.

“Kuso!” I mutter through clenched teeth.

The real Kabuto chukles. ‘Of course it was a clone! He wouldn't leave himself open like that in real battle! He was testing my moves!’

Kabuto leans close to my ear and I shiver as I feel his breath on my neck. (AN: NO! I do NOT write kinky stuff Im just trying to make him sound creepy... I swear!)

“Now that was an interesting technique. Maybe your useful after all.”

I panic. “Kouken!”

In a split second Kabuto is on the ground with sharp lengthly claws at his throat.

Kimukasai is not a small cat. In this form he is twice the size of the average cat, his bulky paws are like lion’s paws, his head flat and wide, his body bulk with muscle, his teeth long and sharp enough to cut through steel, and his claws the same.

Kouken hisses and Kabuto smirks.

“We’ll meet again.” And in a cloud of purple smoke, he’s gone.

“Naio! Are you alright?” Kouken asks as the smoke begins to clear.

He hops on my shoulder and sniffs my face worriedly. I chuckle a little.

“You’ve been in that body to long... Im fine.” I say quietly. “We should get out of here... Im hungry, and tired. We’ll come back later.”

Kouken stares at me with a look of concern. He nods and we leave. ‘I don’t like it down here anyway.’

-Auther’s Notes: (1) I know at that time he is actually sixteen but I changed it for future purposes. (2) Kireme means ‘Break’ Srry, I said I'd upload lastnight but I was kinda busy <:)-