XII: Recovery
Tch. Speak of the devil.
Father's hand was locked around my wrist as he lowered my arm down to my side.
"Careful, darling. Might I remind you that it was Sasuke who beat you before?"
I gritted my teeth together in annoyance, yanking my arm away from him.
"Its only cause I was holding back. You know how I hate being controlled." I snapped.
Father laughed. "Very true indeed... But that still doesn't hide the fact that Sasuke has finally caught up to you, my princess."
I could feel the smirk on Sasuke's face.
I swear to god. When he's around other people, he acts all cool, like he's the most popular and powerful person there is, wearing his blank expression.
But around us, he's almost as bad as I am.
"Sasuke, I challenge you to a duel." I spat.
"Hmph."
"But there's a catch. I'll be blindfolded."
"Sounds like an interesting plan. But I'm afraid I cannot let that happen." Father stated with a weary sigh.
"I'll fight you, princess, when you are fully recovered. And this time, I won't hold back."
I rose an eyebrow. He was holding back this entire time?
I grinned anyway. "Good. Neither will I. You can count yourself o-"
-
Orochimaru
Miyako begun to tremble before my eyes.
I reached out a hand to touch her, but was shocked by her lightning instead. Just to be safe I retreated back a few feet away as I felt Kabuto appear behind me.
"Kabuto. What is the meaning of this?" Worry formed in the pit of my stomach.
"Her eyes were not the only thing affected by Sasuke's chidori. It not only damaged her visual jutsu, along with her vision, but it caused a disruption in her chakra network. Forcing herself to use so much in such little time will cause her to do... well, that."
I approached her slowly, wrapping my arms around her body. I ignored the lightning that coated her body as it shocked me, but I picked her up anyway. I could feel Sasuke's scrutinizing gaze judging us.
"Sasuke."
He slowly raised his eyes to mine.
"No more fighting with Miyako."
"You're asking me to do the impossible. And besides, she's the one always wanting to fight me." He spoke in that irritated tone of his.
I let out an amused laugh.
"Right. Let me rephrase that. You are the only one, besides myself, who has ever awakened the spirit sleeping inside of her. Do not fight her again, even if she wants you to, because if you do, she will not hesitate to kill you."
I left him there standing in shock as I handed my unconscious daughter into Kabuto's arms. He winced at the electricity that trickled around her body and now surrounded him.
"Keep her restrained."
"You know she'll try to kill me if I do that." Kabuto said with a raised brow. He was trying to keep a straight face, acting as if Miyako's lightning didn't hurt as bad as it did
"Then you better make sure she stays down." I snapped, and turned my attention back to a sulking Sasuke.
"Now, as for you, Sasuke.. It is time to take your training to the extreme." I said with an excited smile.
He shut his eyes in annoyance, the small hint of a smirk forming on his face.
And then his eyes shot open, glaring straight at me.
"Then what are we still standing here for?"
-
Miyako
"Don't even bother, princess."
Kabuto's annoying voice was the only sound that filled my ears as I pulled slightly against the restraints.
It really was no use. I've never felt so drained and tired in my entire existence. At least, that I remember of.
"What is the meaning of this?" I croaked out. It was like nails clawing at my throat when I spoke, causing me to wince at my own voice.
"Lord Orochimaru had me restrain you so you won't be able to use any of your chakra."
"My chakra?"
"Chidori inflicted some damage on your chakra network, so if you use a huge mass of your chakra in a single time, your chakra will automatically shut down to escape from your further harming of it."
"Shut down? You make zero sense, four eyes."
"Your chakra is special, because Lord Orochimaru cast a vast number of experiments on you. It has a mind on its own."
I rolled my eyes mentally.
"Since we are on this topic right now. What the hell did that bastard stick inside me?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You know what I'm talking about, Kabuto. I was conscious when I felt it take over my body. I could see the fear in Sasuke's eyes when I was about to kill him, something I've never seen before. And I've finally pieced it together-- the reason why Father keeps my chakra in check, and is always there when I'm about to get out of control. It isn't my chakra he's trying to calm. Its this.. This thing inside of me." I said. Why I was spilling all my feelings to Kabuto since he's high on my hate and kill list, I had no clue. But since he's here, and is probably the only person I'll see in a while, I might as well.
"Lord Orochimaru hasn't told me anything about what's inside of you. In fact, back when you were fighting with Sasuke under Kotaku's control, that was the first time I had ever seen a glimpse of the thing inside of you."
Hmm. Really, now?
"You. Father's most trusted servant. He hasn't told you anything about the thing inside of me?"
"No. But judging from what I saw, my conclusion is that you have the spirit of some beast sealed inside of you."
"So I'm like Naruto." I said with an excited smile.
"Don't compare yourself to that kid."
"I happen to like and respect that kid." I said, my smile widening even more.
"The chakra of his beast is wild and chaotic. The chakra of the thing inside of you is calm and controlled, focused only on the enemy."
"I don't care about the nature of the thing's chakra. But what I do care about is Naruto."
"Really?"
"If you and father try to kill him again, I'll kill you both." I threatened with the sweetest and most innocent tone I could muster.
"What about Sasuke?" Kabuto asked curiously.
I flinched in disgust when I felt his hand on my arm as he kept it steady, before inserting a needle into my skin.
"What about that idiot?"
"You've known each other for almost three years now, and you still want to kill each other. You've only met Naruto twice, and have taken a great liking to him since."
"Don't compare that mongrel to Naruto. If it weren't for Naruto, I would have already killed Sasuke by now." I snapped.
"Hmm? Really now?"
"The only reason I've spared Sasuke's life up to now is because Naruto still is going after his goal of bringing Sasuke back. I admire his determination. I know I would never go that far for a friend."
"It amuses me how much you like him."
"I don't know. He reminds me of someone I feel like I knew before Orochimaru wiped my memory.
Speaking of Orochimaru, I want to speak to him please. So be a good puppy and fetch him for me."