THE WILL OF FIRE: 2. The Phoenix (A Naruto Fanfic)

The Phoenix, Chapter 14

Chapter Fourteen

I heard those moaning noises and couldn’t sleep. I tossed and turned but I couldn’t shut them out. Aunt was right, I never should’ve gone to Unlce Orochimaru’s a week-I was only seven and she thought it would scare me too much. I wasn’t scaring me at all, mostly because I’ve been sneaking over to Unlce Orochimaru’s for training for two years now. I wanted to be strong like De and I hated depending on him. Plus, I hated being in that Village where everyone thought I was a monster.

I got out of bed and decided to do a little exploring. It was my first time at the Easter hideout so I had no idea where Unlce Orochimaru kept his books and scroll. I wanted something nice to read. I kept opening door after door after door but found only dark rooms. I didn’t want to go inside unprotected so I rather moved along than tried my luck at finding a light switch. I knew Uncle Orochimaru would be in the library because he read to me tonight before I went to sleep and he liked staying there, almost until morning sometimes.

When I opened this door, I found that there was a light on. It was a small room with a cage inside. And in that cage sat a boy who couldn’t have been much older than me, if he was older at all. And he was crying.

“Hi there,” I said gently. He looked up, startled.

“Stay away!” he yelled, eyes full of tears.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” I said and took a few steps forward. He moved all the way back to the back of the cage.

“Did he send you here?!”

“You mean Uncle Orochimaru?”

“You’re…I apologize for my behavior!” He sat on his knees and bowed so his head touched the ground.

I moved all the way over to the cage and noticed it was sealed. I tried pulling the seal off but it burned my hand. I kept at it anyway. When he noticed what I was doing, he grabbed my hand swiftly.

“Don’t do that, My Lady, you’ll burn yourself.”

“It’s ok. Look.” I showed him that my hand had already begun healing. “And I’m not Your Lady anything!”

I ripped off the seal and it burned my hand really badly. But I ignored the pain as I opened the cage and went inside. I closed the door behind me and was lucky it didn’t seal itself back again.

“I can’t sleep,” I said. “Tell me about yourself.”

“I’m Suigetsu Hōzuki and I wanna become one of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist! But Lord Orochimaru captured me today. I have an older brother and I’m sure he’s looking for me!”

“How about this-you keep talking to me tonight and I’ll help you escape tomorrow!”

“Really?” His face lit up at that.

“Really. I hate that Uncle Orochimaru is experimenting on people but some are way too scary and I don’t want to get too close to them. But you’re still yourself and you’re nice and I’ll help you.”

“Thank you!” He hugged me and started sobbing.

We talked for a while and before I realized it, we’ve both fallen asleep inside the cage. When I woke up the next morning, I was in my bed. I sought out Uncle Orochimaru and asked him about last night.

“You don’t have to worry about that brat, I have him under control.”

“What did you do to him?!” I yelled.