The Apprentice

prologue

Beta: ...;-)

Edited: Fri, 28August 2020

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"Kuku ku ku."

"Well, well, well, I don't know what's more peculiar. The fact that the second born of the fourth Hokage really is a missing nin, or the fact that the daughter of the famous Yellow flash of Konoha defected." A sickly smooth voice called out making my whole body freeze.

I could feel the sweat running down my back,

My heart beating in my ears.

My knees buckled because of the sheer power he was radiating.

Yellow eyes sparkled with amusement.

"Come now, you of all people should know it's rude not greeting or acknowledging people Natsumi-hime .... especially when those people could very easily kill you." Orochimaru said with a twisted smile.

Swallowing the lump in my throat I took a deep breath in and cracked a smile.

"O-o-Orochimaru-san! it's always scary- I mean nice to see you 'ttebayo!" I said, cursing myself for stuttering.

Orochimaru raised an eyebrow in amusement. "Well I do suppose you aren't the most, how should I put this ... you aren't the most mannered hime. I mean you did defect after all." He said, smiling gleefully.

"Yes I suppose so, well it is awkward talking to you- "

"Ku ku ku." The man threw his head back and laughed.

-and a whole lot scary. I said internally. "But I must excuse myself. I wouldn't want to bother you and I'm sure you've got a lot of creepy stuff to invent people to torture so I'll be on my way." I said hurriedly as I tried to back away slowly without being noticed.

"Nonsense, you're not bothering me at all. In fact you entertain me hime so come join us. We were about to have lunch." he said smiling.

"Thank you but perhaps another time, I wouldn't want to impose." I said taking another step back.

"I insist, Kabuto-kun will be making lunch and he is quite the cook." he said as I turned to make a run for it but a hand was placed on my shoulder in a warning.

"Oh you flatter me Orochimaru-sama but it would be an honor to make lunch for you Natsumi-hime." Kabuto said, his glasses glinted in the sunlight as he smiled. He squeezed my shoulder until I heard the cracking sound of my shoulder blade.

Tears blurred my sight as I bit my bottom lip to keep myself from screaming out in pain.

I had no choice.

I licked at the disgusting taste of iron on my bottom lip.

I smiled weakly.

"O-of course.... h-how could I ever refuse free food?"

Tears rolled down my cheeks.

"Wonderful, Kabuto-kun, make sure our little hime is fixed up so we can have lunch. I truly am famished." The snake man purred. The cool feeling of medical chakra entered my shoulder, stitching up the skin and fixing up all the broken bones, leaving behind no scars.

Kabuto's hand slid to my chin making me face him while the other ghosted across my cheek. His thumb trailing down my face until it glided across my bottom lip healing it instantly, his eyes staring at mine. It unnerved me so I roughly jerked my chin out of his hold. His lips stretched into a satisfied smirk as he spoke.

"Nastumi-hime we must keep moving Orochimaru-sama has a temper when he's hungry." Kabuto was amused by my actions as we started moving.

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