Drip. Drip. Drip. The steady sound of water dropping echoed throughout the darkness bouncing off the walls.
Pakura's unconscious body began to stir, her body felt heavy. Every breath burned her lungs, but the pain was much smaller than when she was poisoned, it was dull now. She could manage this. She tried to open her eyes. As she opened them her vision was blurred, as it began to clear.
The first things she noticed was the bright light of fire and the shadows that it created blanketing the walls.
A dirty cave. She glanced up, the ceiling above her was uneven, jagged as a show She moved, or well she tried to. Her muscles trembled and pain shot through her limbs.
Her eyes shifted around the cave, when she saw him she froze.
She noticed a young man sitting not too far away. He was sitting in front of the fire, he wasn't even facing her, all she could make out was his small back. Over the fire sat a small cast iron pot, he was slowly stirring it.
The smell soon reached her then. It had a nice garlicky smell. The sound of her stomach growling loudly shot all throughout the save. Causing her to blush embarrassedly .
"You're awake." He spoke up in a jovial tone. His voice sounded young, way too young .
He turned his head over his shoulder. His black eyes met her own, before she could comment her smile and spoke up. The poison you had was annoyingly hard to heal, i couldn't completely fix you but i did enough to where all you need is to rest for a week or.
Her body tensed instantly, that's right the poison her memories rushed back. The village's betrayal. The poison, the insults, the pain her body felt. Then she remember the last moment the red eyes, The Sharingan.
Her expression hardened. "Why did you save me? The sand and leaf are allies, saving me could jeopardize that. No, wait how did you even know I was in danger?" she asked warily.
The boy turned back to the soup. "You need rest, don't get worked up and worsen your injuries," he told her.
Her expression turned wary. "Answer my questions." she demanded. He stayed silent for a minute. The silence only broken by the soft sound of nature echoing through the cave
After a while he spoke up. "A little birdy told me." He told her amused. She blinked confusedly. "What?"
"I have a large number of raven summons stationed across the elemental nations," he explained
calmly. "They observe. They report information to me."
Her eyes narrowed, spying summon beasts weren't rare but if he was telling the truth such a large number was worrying . "One of them reported an interesting sight. A Kage-level kunoichi fleeing her own village's assassins."
He glanced back at her and smiled teasingly. "It caught my interest, I could just let such a weeeaaak girl get hurt. And i was already by the mist border on a mission so i checked it out"
Her fists clenched angrily he had stretched out the word weak just to annoy her. "You still haven't answered my question," she said, suppressing her annoyance . "So why did you save me?" she asked finally
This time, he didn't answer immediately.
Instead of answering, he picked up a bowl and grasped the spoon carefully and filled it.
Then stood and he walked toward her. She tensed instinctively, but she calmed down when he just set the bowl down and then backed up to a safe distance. He crouched down to her eye level.
He pointed to the bowl. "Having some it should help you heal." Steam rose gently from the surface.
She glared at it and looked at him warily. He laughed "why would i heal you just to poison you again".
She thought about it and lowered her guard. "Answer me first." she demanded. He smiled at her "we will talk when you are done eating" he told her.
"I am not hungr- GROWLL" she tried to tell him, but before she could finish her stomach growled loudly. Roku began to laugh loudly while Pakura blushed embarrassed.
As he quieted down he picked up the bowl, He held it out towards her. She stared at it, mesmerized by the smell but she shook her head to get out of the trance. Her pride was telling her to refuse. But she was too hungry and alas her body betrayed her.
Her hand slowly moved as if she was afraid of him. Just as her hand near the bowl she shot out and grabbed it. She showed a spoon full of it all at once, not minding the burning of her mouth.
Warmth exploded in her stomach .Her eyes widened as she frantically began to devour it.
She ate like a hungry beggar who was eating the greatest delicacy. She ate so fast that by the time she was done she didn't even realize when she finished. She froze, glancing at the empty bowl sat in her hands. She looked up.
Roku was staring at her in amusement . His lips twitched. "You eat like someone who hasn't eaten food in months," he laughed.
"I was poisoned!" she glared at him embarrassment and anger mixed in her voice, her face flushed instantly.
He raised an eyebrow "So you don't normally eat with no class" He asked amused.
Her blushes grew hotter. "How dare you!" She stopped as she felt his hand on hers. He took the empty bowl from her hand gently. He walked over to the pot and refilled it, and then walked back to her.
He handed it back. "I am just teasing. I am happy you liked my food," he said warmly. She hesitated but accepted it again. She ate slower this time glancing up every few bites to see he still stared at her smiling.
As he took the bowl from her hands and set it down he spoke up, "I saved you for two reasons."
Her expression looked at him intrigued . "The first reason was that a Kage-level fighter owing me a favor is useful, I could get you to do anything I want with a life saving grace." She glanced down self-deprecatingly.
But he wasn't finished, he took her chin and met her eyes, his eyes had softened. "And secondly watching someone so strong die along without a fair fight is pitiful."
She hated that word, she hated admitting how pitiful she was. But deep down she knew how accurate it felt.
"I don't need your pity nor do I want it," she muttered. She expected a dumb response about how he was pitying her but he didn't respond how she thought. He only smiled at her and commented, "What will you do now?"
She froze, what should she do? Return to the Sand for revenge? What could she do, take revenge on the village and Rasa? She knew couldn't beat him. Much less fight the entire village it would be suicide.
She stared at the ground, she knew she had nowhere to go. Nothing to fight for and betrayed by those she trusted. But after all Ren was right she was just a weapon, and her master had discarded her.
Her chest tightened painfully and her hands trembled. She couldn't answer, she was afraid of her own weakness.
She hated it, she was a Kage level fighter who had killed dozen on the battles field, and after being betrayed she was too afraid to fight back
Silence filled the cave, just then Roku got up and walked closer toward her. He held out his hand in front of her. "What do you want?" She blinked up at him.
His voice was calm. "You could join me as my subordinate". Her eyes widened "What No way". The answer came immediately.
He tilted his head slightly "Why Not?" he asked intrigued. "I won't take orders from a child." Her pride refused. She was Pakura of the Scorch Release, had been fighting on the battlefield while this kid was in diapers
He smiled faintly. "You're ungrateful." She faltered and her eyes twitched. "What?"
"I saved your life and now you refuse even this much?" He calmly teased her.
"I didn't ask you to save me." She weakly defended herself. "I don't really care if you didn't, it's a fact that you owe me" He stepped closer and leaned down. "You are alive because of me, so what are you gonna do with that life that I gave you"
His eyes met hers, and she looked away. "Don't worry I will be a kind master," he teased. Pakura glared up at him "you are not my boss". As she glared at his smiling face her anger withered.
"I can help you," he told her. She looked up in confusion. "If you want revenge i will help, if you want the power to take it yourself i will help no matter what if you join me help you get strong would me my main priority"
Her breath stopped. "Really, you think you can do that?" she asked hopefully.
He smiled "I am the son of the head elder of Uchiha clan, i have enough wealth and techniques to transform your strength, after all i used those resources to enter the Kage level at only 13"
He extended his hand again. "So do u want the power to change your life".She stared at his hand and her heart pounded. Her pride demanded her to refuse. But her anger at the betrayal told her to take the offer and get revenge
The silence in the cave was like a dark hand grasping her heart. Her fingers trembled and she looked up at his stupid smile.
He seemed confident like he knew she wouldn't refuse. She hated that, "You're annoying," she muttered.
He just waited for her with a confident smile. She reached out and she grabbed his hand.
"Fine. I'll join you. But if i feel like your not helping then i will leave" She told him annoyed
His grip tightened slightly and his smile widened. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
And in that moment Pakura unknowingly made a choice that would not only change her life forever. But would also allow her to reach highs she didn't even know existed