31. Revisiting The Past

Kabuto and Sasuke stood before me, the look on their faces was a mixture of confusion and surprise.

"Kabuto. It's me, Tila." I half raised my hands as if to surrender.

"Tila, you've returned?" Kabuto questioned, his eyes narrowing. I nodded slowly as I quickly took a glimpse in Sasuke's direction. This would only work if he had said that I'd been kidnapped by the Akatsuki.

Sasuke's expression was blank and cold as ever.

"You escaped from the Akatsuki, then?" Kabuto questioned curiously.

"It wasn't easy but I did. And, now I've returned, my loyalties lay with Orochimaru," I said as convincingly as I could. My heart was beating fast, I was scared that he wouldn't believe me. The outcome of This whole mission depends on how convincing my lies right now were.

"I see," Kabuto said. He let go of his blue Chakra around his hand and my eyes adjusted to the darkness. I watched as he took a step closer towards me.

"Come, I shall take you to Orochimaru then if this is the case." Kabuto mused. Hopefully, my story was convincing enough to get me through. I followed behind Sasuke and Kabuto as we made our way back down the dark tunnel, we continued past the large entrance door and into the eerie training room that I used to spend most of my days in.

My stomach dropped as we continued down towards Orochimaru's bedroom door. All the memories of this hell hole come flooding back rapidly. I watched as Kabuto dismissed Sasuke and then lead me into Orochimaru's quarters. As soon as I entered his golden snake eyes fell onto me and a huge nervousness washed over.

No. Tila. You are not the young naïve girl you used to be, You have changed and you won't let Orochimaru intimidate you anymore.

"Tila, you've returned to me?" Orochimaru cooed as he sat up in his bed and coughed a little.

"Yes Lord Orochimaru, I've come back to you," I took a few steps closer and sat down on the chair beside his bed.

He watched me closely, just like he used to. I held my composure, knowing this was nothing new.

"My loyalties lay with you my Lord, and, always will." I lied blatantly.

Orochimaru cough violently, he looked weak for some reason. Maybe this would be to my advantage, it might even give me the chance I need to complete this mission.

"Excellent Tila, your room is exactly as it was before you were taken," a dark look crossed his face.

"I am tired, I shall take my leave and report to you in the morning if you wish," I waited for his reply. He shook his head.

"That isn't necessary, I will call on you when I need you," he said. I stood up, gave a brief bow before walking past Kabuto as I left. I closed the door behind me, phew.

Luckily, I may have pulled that off. I guess only time would tell. I made my way back to my old room, remembering how I'd thought I'd never see it again, but, guess I was wrong.

"Glad to have you back," Kabuto's voice echoed from behind me. I stopped and turned around to see him walking not far behind me. I gave him a small fake smile as he walked past. Hopefully, I hadn't spoken too soon.

I make it back to my room and summon a few clothes then go take a shower. The dingy bathroom hadn't changed either. When I got back to my room, feeling more refreshed, I laid down on my bed. I thought about ways to approach my mission:

Madaras DNA. The first place I should look is the archives room.

The Reanimation jutsu. I really didn't have a clue. I couldn't just ask Orochimaru to teach it to me, could I?

I felt my eyes close slowly, It'd been a long day and all of these thoughts were stressing me out so I fell asleep.

_____________

In my drowsiness, I felt a hot breath against my cheek.

Was I dreaming or was someone leaning over me?

I quickly shot up, my head hit something hard.

"Ow! Tila it's just me, calm down," Sasuke said irritably.

"Sasuke.." I blinked a couple times, trying to adjust my vision. All of a sudden, I saw Sasuke standing beside my bed rubbing his forehead.

"What're you doing here?" I asked as I sat up slowly.

"I want answers," he said coldly, lowering his hand and staring at me intently.

"I know this must be confusing but, I can't explain," I said quietly.

I felt terrible but I couldn't explain the situation to Sasuke without jeopardising my mission, let alone him finding out that I was acquainted with his brother, the one he held his revengeful vendetta against.

"Why not?" He pressed coldly, I stared back into those empty eyes.

Something seemed to have changed, he seemed colder than usual. Darker.

"It's complicated" I stammered, I had a feeling he wouldn't take no for an answer but that's the best I had right now. There was a silence.

"Tila. That night... I..." he began to say but, stopped abruptly. He turned back around and walked straight out of my room shutting the door firmly behind him.

What was that all about..?

I remembered laying in my bed before dozing off earlier. Now would be the perfect time to snoop around. So, I got up and quickly got changed.

Attaching my leg pouch in case I came into any troubles along the way. This was going to be dangerous but I needed to do it. So, I quietly made my way towards the kitchen to grab the spare master key that was hidden in the cupboard then made my way silently down the eerie halls.

Eventually, I reached the door of the archives room. I quickly ducked in, shutting the door gently behind me. The room was dark and deserted. My eyes found the multiple filing cabinets across the room that stretched out against the entire back wall. This was going to take time, which, I didn't exactly have right now.

I started from the far left and searched two cases quickly, not finding what I was looking for. But, what I did stumble across was foul and disturbing. I decided to give up while I was ahead. The longer I lingered in this room the more likely I was to get caught.

It must have been getting near early in the morning. So, I head to the training room and practise the Jutsu Kure had shown me.

I summoned a water clone and had it send lightning from my Inner Cloud Jutsu at me. Practised absorbing the Jutsu and sending it back. I must have been practising for hours before I started to get better at it. Kure would be summoning me any minute now so I sat down and laid on my back, closing my eyes for a good 10 minutes before I felt the gentle wisp of smoke around me.

_____________

"Kure!" I smile, standing up and waving the smoke cloud away. There she was, standing metres from me, seeming glad to see me. She was really starting to grow on me.

"Tila my girl, I hope you've been practising," she playfully scolded.

I nodded and readied myself for her attack. Kure was content with my progression so far so she decided to show me two more techniques.

"This technique is the most simple form of Chakra manipulation. It is called judgment. It is essentially the same Jutsu you've been absorbing" she mused. I watched as she sent out blue flames from her mouth but this time the flames weren't small balls but in the form of a massive flamethrower.

"Kure, that's huge," I gawked, watching it disperse off to the side where she had blown.

"Yes, years of practice. Now, I want you to absorb the Chakra I send at you, then, manipulate it so it takes that form," she explained. I nodded slowly and got ready for her attack.

Blue flames..

Blue flames.

"Dark Release, Judgment!" I yelled as I absorbed the hot Chakra, I felt it mould within my palm. I bit my lip hard, with all my might I pushed it straight back out, the flame wasn't big but it was there!

"Yes!" I cheered, jumping in the air in success.

"Don't be celebrating yet child, this is a Basic Jutsu and that's all you can produce!" She shot sarcastically. I Laughed it off sheepishly. Maybe she was right, shouldn't get ahead of myself.

"Now, for the final technique of this session. The lain fire." I looked back over to her in astonishment, another one? Really? Wasn't this pushing it?

Oh well, I sucked it up and listened closely although my patience was starting to wear thin by now because we'd been at it for hours.

"Just like before, absorb my Chakra. But, this time you will manipulate it into an intricate web that will absorb Chakra and then release it onto the floor," she explained slowly.

"That sounds really hard Kure," I questioned, doubtfully. But, she had already sent an attack at me!

"Oh crap, give me some warning will ya!" I panicked, holding out my palm to quickly absorb it.

Web.

Intricate.

Straight lines joining.

I concentrated hard, this was really confusing me!

I slammed my hands down onto the ground. "Chaaa!" I forcefully pushed all of the Chakra back out of my palm reserves. A small blue web started to stretch out around the ground surrounding me. It was small and feeble and was barely a foot in a radius around me.

"Hmf, that was pathetic child. Again!" Kure yelled. We practised until I was completely exhausted and couldn't stand any longer. I fell to the floor from exhaustion and breathed deeply as to catch my breath.

"Well done, Tila. If you continue to practise you surely will do well," Kure said from beside me. I looked up to see that she was handing me a small bottle of water.

"Thanks," I took it from her and started to take small sips. All of a sudden I felt my Chakra being restored.

"Kure, what is this?" I asked as I stood back up. My strength was returning.

"This, my dear, is water from the Hero water shrine. I'm surprised you didn't know that. It is from your own village" she explained. I looked back at the water in astonishment, I'd heard of this water before but it was rare indeed. Kure must have some good connections to be able to acquire such a sacred item.

"I need to go now Kure, but, I'll see you tomorrow."

Luckily this water had restored some of my lost Chakra, today's training session had really pushed me to my limits and I needed to get back to Orochimaru's before anyone become suspicious. "Yes, I shall," Kure said. With that, I felt myself returning to the training room in the spot that I'd been laying in earlier.

____________

The smoke clears and I see Kabuto and Sasuke mid-combat, they both freeze in their spots and turn their heads in my direction

"Oh, hello." I say awkwardly, they both straighten up and stare at me suspiciously.

"I was just training with my summons," I explained. Kabuto's stare shifted slightly.

"Your summons?" He questioned on.

"I mean, I'm practising a new technique. Dark Release" I told him. Kabuto narrowed his eyes.

"Show me," he said, now looking somewhat intrigued.

"I'll fight you," Sasuke suggested. He took a step forward from beside Kabuto.

"Fine, attack me with a Ninjutsu." I took a deep breath and readied myself.

"Fire style, Fire Ball Jutsu," Sasuke yelled, taking a deep breath in and exhaling an enormous fireball.

Oh god, here we go!

"Dark release, Judgement!" I yelled, standing right in front of the fireball, palms outstretched. The attack is being absorbed. I focused on flames just as Kure had shown me, pushing hard. A blue flamethrower matching the size of Sasuke's original attack was sent out rapidly. Burning a path along, as it headed in his direction.

He quickly dodged to the side and watched along with Kabuto as it hit the back wall of the training room and dispersed.

"Interesting," Kabuto said slyly before turning around and leaving the room. Well, that wasn't the reaction I was expecting but, ok?

My gaze fell back onto Sasuke, I noticed him still standing in his place eyeing me more curiously than ever before.

"Sasuke.." I said but all I got in response was a "hm".

"Train with me?" I asked, now more confidently. I remembered how we used to train together all the time and for some reason, it just doesn't feel the same. Sasuke had changed.

"Fine," he said emotionlessly. Well, maybe he hasn't changed that much, I smirked to myself.

We sparred for a while longer and I showed him all of the different Jutsu I'd learnt so far, but, all Sasuke did was give me cold glares. Eventually, he just stopped and walked out on me. I stood in the training room alone wondering what had gotten into him. But, I just couldn't find a reason why.

I slowly made my way to the kitchen like my body was set to automatic, I sat down at the kitchen table for a second and a thought hit me like a Kunai in the stomach. I remembered why I was here and it's like my mind became focused again on what truly mattered.

I'm on a mission, I can't afford to be getting distracted. I decided that maybe now would be a good time to continue my search for Madaras DNA. So, I quickly and quietly made my way back to the archives room.

_____________Sasukes POV____

I just couldn't handle watching how much better she had gotten, anymore. So, I walk off. I was annoyed. She wouldn't tell me a thing about what happened after she was kidnapped. This whole time I had been worried about her and now she waltzes back as if nothing had ever happened.

I knew I should never have cared, all these kinds of bonds bring is pain. Just like my Mother and Father, even my brother, Itachi. I hated him for what he did.

I sighed to myself as I walked aimlessly down the dark corridors, I had to admit... Even though I was annoyed at Tila it was nice having her back to train with. Kabuto wasn't nearly as much of a challenge as she was.

I slowly stopped walking as I notice that voices were coming from the door I was passing. These two losers again, what are they up to now. I put my ear against the door and listened carefully.

"Tila has somehow acquired a very interesting cChakra nature Lord Orochimaru. Dark Release, if I remember correctly"

"Is that so? That is a very rare shade style. Indeed. Then, it's decided. By the end of this week, I shall make her my new vessel." Orochimaru cackled darkly. I retracted my ear and made my way back down the hall, no matter how annoyed I was at Tila this is something that I have to tell her now and I knew exactly where she would be.

It used to be our routine after training and no matter how hard I tried to forget about it after she left I just couldn't.

___________Tila POV__________

I shut the door to the archives room quietly and made my way over to continue where I left off. I scrounged through files, desperately searching for the name Madara Uchiha.

I flipped another page over and there it was. My eyes widened as I pulled out the zip lock bag, inside was a massive chunk of flesh.

So gross...

"Tila, what do you think you are doing?" A familiar voice asked from behind me.