32. Come With Me

The chills of Sasuke's voice were not ones I could ignore so easily, I slowly stood up making sure the bag of Madara's DNA was concealed and proceeded to turn around slowly as I maneuverer the bag slyly into the back of my pants.

"Sasuke, I was just.."

"It doesn't matter, I need to tell you something," he said, still standing a few feet in front of me. I stayed silent for a moment, listening closely to what he was about to say.

"Orochimaru plans on taking over your body as his own, he's weak right now Tila and he needs to take someone's body soon or my guess is, he'll die". I deep rumble started to form in my stomach as Sasuke's last words started to sink in.

"Sasuke, you know what we need to do then right?" I asked and I took a deep breath in as I watched him nod. "We'll kill him, together," he said coldly and shivers ran through me like sharp needles.

"That's the reason I came back Sasuke. I never forgot the things he did to me. Not for one second" I told him as I slowly took a few steps closer towards him. His eyes glazed over slightly followed by a smirk.

"It feels like old times again Tila, now I won't have to train with kabuto. He's such a loser." I couldn't help but chuckle, I really did miss Sasuke.

"Let's get out of here," he said as he turned around, I followed him back out into the hallway. We decided to meet tomorrow as per usual to train and that we'd discuss our plan of attack later tomorrow night. I head back to my room and shut the door behind me, I took out Madara's DNA and poofed it Into a scroll for safekeeping. That's half of my mission completed.

My mind flicked over to Sasuke again as I laid down on my bed, I was glad we had made some sort of amends. It would make my mission here easier. I just couldn't afford to let myself get carried away though. If Sasuke was ever to find out that I knew Itachi he surely would hate me for it. If only he knew the truth about his brother. If only he knew how much his brother truly loved him. Everything Itachi had done was proof of it.

I felt my heart sink, there was nothing I could do. I doubt Sasuke would believe me anyway, he has been living this lie of Itachi's all his life. Fate has a funny way of working. I closed my eyes, letting my thoughts drift off into the breeze of my mind.

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The next morning I had a shower and breakfast then prepared to be summoned by Kure again. I had gotten plenty of training yesterday and I was content with my progress so far, the two techniques I'd been practising were slowly improving and I could feel myself becoming accustomed to absorbing, manipulating and releasing Chakra.

_____

"Kure, good morning" I bowed as the smoke cleared from around me. "Well, Tila? I hope you've practised because I have something special in-store" she gave me a dark playful look as she came closer, stopping a few metres from me.

"I have" I replied, she flashed me a smirk.

"Then we shall proceed with two more techniques, these are slightly more difficult than the last." I nodded and watched carefully as she stood up on her four hind legs so her underbelly was exposed. She pointed her remaining four thin slender legs in my direction.

Suddenly she yelled "Dark Release, Underworld Needles!" and multiple 4-inch black needles sprayed my way quickly! I tried to dodge to the left but I felt a few imbed themselves into my chest and then my chakra being absorbed.

"Ow! Kure!!! What're you doing!?" I huffed as I quickly pulled them out and threw them to the floor beside me.

Kure chuckled. "Well! The best way to teach you this technique is for you to experience it first hand, my dear!"

"Pfft, you just wanted to hurt me" I mumbled to myself under my breath defeatedly.

"Now, you try!" She exclaimed. I quickly got ready for her attack. I was used to her firing attacks off at me unannounced by now so I was already ready for it.

_____

Kure and I trained for longer than usual today, I guess it was because she was teaching me some heavy-duty techniques. I really struggled this session, I'll admit it.

The other technique she showed me was called 'Black Celestial Sphere' and I could only do it if I absorbed a powerful enough attack to give me enough Chakra - The technique involved manipulating and then releasing the absorbed Chakra in the form of a black sphere box, it moves slowly but whatever the sphere touches is trapped within it and then absorbed and killed. It was a complicated Jutsu and I had barely managed to form the sphere let alone incase anything within it.

By the time we had finished our session I was completely drained, luckily Kure gave me another bottle of Hero water otherwise I would have collapsed then and there. Kure gave me a few extra bottles and told me to use them wisely before poofing me away again, she had also given me two days to have the new techniques down or she said she would refuse to show me the last one.

I knew I had to practise like my life depended on it... Because essentially it did. If I'm not strong enough to kill Orochimaru by the end of the week then I will be dead.

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I looked around the training room to see Sasuke sitting at the table boredly shining his long thin sword.

"What took you so long?" He asked coldly as he stood up and walked over towards me.

"I'll show you why I took so long, attack me" I smirked as I held up my palms and took a step back, readying myself. Sasuke raised an eyebrow before taking a few steps back himself.

"You know, you're a lot cockier than I remember," he said as he began to weave signs.

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The week passed by quickly, I had trained until I was fatigued every day. I needed to be at the top of my game and I was determined to take down Orochimaru. My sheer loathing towards him was the force that drove me to train until I dropped. Sasuke and I battled fiercely day after day, hours at a time.

He had improved dramatically since the last time I'd fought him. He was probably even strong enough to kill his brother. Kure had shown me the last technique as well - the last resort Jutsu that enabled me to leave my physical body, making my spiritual force unharmable but leaving my physical form quite vulnerable. It was called soul manifestation, I didn't think I was ever going to need to use such a Jutsu but I guess you never know. Life was unpredictable.

To expect the unexpected was what I had learnt to do. Throughout the week Sasuke and I had decided to execute our plans tonight. This was it.

The night we were going to kill Orochimaru.

I felt queasy as I packed my belongings and prepared myself, I still hadn't found out a way to obtain the Reanimation Jutsu but I had a feeling that I never would have just found a scroll lying around. I was going to wing it, and by wing it, I mean - force it out of Orochimaru.

I finished putting away my belongings into my leg pouch and heading for the door, hopefully, this truly was the last damn time I would see this room. Sasuke and I met in the training hall, we both gave each other a silent nod and walked in the direction of Orochimaru's door.

I clenched my fist nervously as we came closer, I could feel my palms sweating so I hastily wiped them on my black jeans. Sasuke and I stopped out the front of the door and I watched as Sasuke silently raised his hand and pointed it at the door.

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A long blade of lightning formed in his hand and cut its way through the door, I kicked the door open to see Orochimaru pinned against the wall by the blade that had pierced right through his shoulder.

"What a surprise, Tila, Sasuke" Orochimaru cackled darkly as he gripped the blade that was protruding from his shoulder and tried to pull it out but Sasuke only pushed it further in, his cold gaze directly on Orochimaru.

"You both want to kill me now, do you? It won't be that easy" Orochimaru sneered as he opened his mouth widely and began to shed his body that was stuck to the wall. Orochimaru was slithering quickly in my direction, his mouth still open wide but before he could attack I grabbed him by the throat and began to drain his Chakra.

He gasped for air as I held on tight to his neck, all of a sudden his long tongue shot out and wrapped itself around my own throat tightly. I felt myself suffocating but Sasuke quickly pulled out his Katana and sliced the tongue from around my neck straight off.

I gasped for air as I watched Orochimaru fall back and shoot out a multiple striking shadow snake in our direction. I ducked quickly, still focusing on manipulating the Chakra I had just absorbed.

"Dark Release, Underworld Needles," I yelled and shot multiple thin black needles at Orochimaru, he couldn't dodge them because there were just too many and the force of the needles pinned him back against the wall again.

"Looks like you have me beat, so now what do you plan to do?" He jeered as Sasuke proceeded to take a few steps closer.

I heard the activation of his Sharingan, I watched carefully as they both stood there silently. Sasuke must have him under a Genjutsu. All of a sudden I hear footsteps quickly approaching, I step beside the door concealing myself.

Kabuto walks in without even noticing my presence. I swiftly touch his cheek with my palm, his Chakra drains immediately.

"Tila," he gasps, dropping to his knees and looking up at me.

"Where's the scroll for the Reanimation Jutsu" I demand coldly. I didn't have time to mess around. I needed it before Sasuke finished up with Orochimaru.

"It's... In Orochimaru's.. Office," he winced. He became pale so I let go of him. He was now too weak to be a threat.

"Take me there now or I'll kill you Kabuto," I said. He nodded weakly. I pulled him up by his arm and pushed him out the doorway.

"Which way" I demanded, he struggled to raise his arm towards a door which was only a few metres from us.

"You'd better not be lying to me Kabuto," I eyed him. He was breathing deeply, trying to regain his strength, clutching his pale form which was holding onto me desperately for support. I dragged him over to the door and grabbed the keys from his pocket. Then, opened the door and pushed him in. He fell onto the ground with a thud.

"Where is it Kabuto" I demanded again, becoming more impatient by the second. He pointed up to a large green scroll that was sticking out from the bookcase. I grabbed it and ripped it open, scanning the contents quickly.

This was it.

The Reanimation Jutsu.

My mission was complete, all I needed to do now was get out of here. I hastily put the scroll away. Then, briskly walked back out the door only to be met by Sasuke's cold gaze.

"I was just taking care of Kabuto," I told him as I grabbed his wrist and pulled him so that we were now walking for the exit.

"Orochimaru's dead," Sasuke said emotionlessly. I let out a long sigh and gave him a small smile.

"He really had it coming you know," I said and Sasuke gave me a hm. We continued to walk briskly until we reached the end of the tunnel and I smelt the cool midnight air. Stars gleaming bright, for some reason I felt like I was having déjà vu.

"Tila," Sasuke's chilling voice said and I turned to face him. I felt butterfly's fill my stomach as I waited intently for Sasuke's next words.

"Come with me."

I shivered as his words left his lips.