Book 1: Dancing With Lightning [Naruto]

The Snake Shed Its Skin

Everything started slowing down around him. The girl's movements were slower, Haku's and Sasuke's movements were slower, and everything Hoshino observed in nature grew slow.

He lunged at the girl, trying to slice the senbon needle into her arm. She dodged him. His eyes narrowed.

This jutsu lets me travel at light speed, yet she dodged my attack. If she had the Sharingan, I would get it. But... there isn't any special chakra infused in her eyes, at least, from what I can see and sense. So what could it be?

Hoshino moved from one mirror to another, trying to confuse her before he would start throwing again. He had to throw precisely and surely, because he had two allies in his house of mirrors as well. The girl followed his movements, and when Hoshino lunged for her again, he managed to land a good amount of hits to some weak spots.

Not much happened, she didn't even flinch. She seemed a bit surprised that he had managed to hit her at all. Hoshino scoffed at her lack of confidence in him.

The minute he stopped looking at her, she focused on Haku and Sasuke, knocking them both backwards and then beating them down ruthlessly, making sure to kick Haku with even more strength.

She knows that if she stays close to them, I won't throw. Hoshino deducted to himself as his eyes narrowed. She knows I won't hurt either of them, not for anything.

"Ha! You're too easy!" She said as she walked to where she had thrown Sasuke. "The Uchiha name is crying... that's okay. I'll just take my time and play with you before I'll kill you."

Now's my chance! Hoshino threw his senbon, over and over, as quick as he possibly could. When he finally stopped, he was astonished. She had dodged every single needles, with just her bare hands.

"Looks like the Mizu name is, as well, not as great as everyone says." She taunted him. "Hmph. I expected a bit more, really."

As she spoke, Hoshino gave her a cheerful smile. "Really? I'd say otherwise. Those needles weren't for you."

She gasped when the paper bombs Hoshino had attached to a few of the senbon exploded, catching her off guard. Hoshino launched another volley of needles, catching her every time. Haku and Sasuke got up, bombarding her with their own weapons. Haku's shuriken pinned against one of the mirrors, and Hoshino didn't dare move an inch, because that would disturb the strings that held her.

Sasuke then performed his Dragon Flame Jutsu, which hit her with perfect accuracy without melting his mirrors. The girl broke the strings and stood once again. Hoshino readied his senbon, prepared to throw again. As soon as he moved, the girl glanced back at him with the look of bloodthirst, and Hoshino was paralyzed. Again.

"I didn't expect you to be able to use your Sharingan this much at your age, Sasuke. You are truly an Uchiha. I do want you after all..." Her voice suddenly changed into a deeper, more raspy voice, "Sasuke... you are truly his brother. Your eyes hide more ability that that Itachi."

"Who in the world are you?" Sasuke barked after hearing his much hated brother's name.

"You want him?" Haku repeated, disgusted. "What makes you think we would let you even touch him?"

Hoshino's eyes widened. "It all makes sense to me now... the snakes, the inhuman speed... you're Orochimaru! That's how you dodged all my attacks! And... you're the one who nearly killed my mother! I remember!"

Orochimaru chuckled darkly. "That won't do."

Hoshino didn't know how it happened, but he was knocked out of his mirror, and all of them shattered. Then Orochimaru was in front of him. He cried out in pain as his stomach was pierced with the blade of Haku's shuriken that he had picked up.