A flash of light shot across the sky and Shaarotto closed her eyes in pain. As the thunderous crack rolled through the air Shaarotto found herself feeling uneasy. This didn't appear to be a normal storm, and it had an eerie resemblance to the storm that had happened many years ago when she was in Orochimaro's clutches. When she had tried to escape, a bad storm had happened. She had almost died then, and the storm was bringing it all back.

But her pain hadn't stopped there, and although she had escaped Orochimaru, the deaths hadn't stopped, and she had killed many other times. She didn't want to, it just happened. She had been promised control over the Biju no Yonbi. But had she recieved it? No. In fact, she seemed to have less control now then she had when she was younger. And the lack of control was killing her, and althoug death would be a fine release from her pain. She wasn't keen on allowing Yonbi to break free.

Opening her eyes, she watched as another flash of lightning filled the sky. There was an odd sense of pleasure running through Shaarotto. But she knew it was only Yonbi. The four tailed phoenix was master of the elements. She always felt like this in a storm, a rush of excitment and pleasure. It was at these times she found it the hardest to stay in control. Thankfully nothing would happen. She could only use Katon; at least for the moment she could. And her attacks would be useless in such a violent storm.

Surveying her surroundings, Shaarotto wondered why thre was so few people arround. They were probably all inside, it was the most logical explanation. But since entering Kusagakure no Sato she hadn't seen anyone. Not even a Shinobi trying to make sure everyone was okay. It was a bit worrying, but Shaarotto knew not to be too suspicous. After all, what danger did a small village hold? From her knowledge and perspective, smaller villages were'nt so strong. So she didn't have that much to worry about.

A voice cut through the storm's cry and Shaarotto froze, the voice... it couldn't be. But how could it not be, she would recognise that voice anywhere. That cold, poisonous voice haunted her everyday. Shaarotto had sworn to herself that she'd never see that man again, but it seemed fate was once again being cruel to her. Once again it was throwing her towards the fires of hell, laughing as it did so. Turning her head she stared at the figure, eyes blazing with anger. How dare he act so civil to her, how dare he after what he had done.

"Not even your own mother would miss you Orochimaru" She hissed angrily. "And no need to sound so hurt, I'm no fool Orochimaru" But Shaarotto was being the fool, or rather she was fooling herself. Her voice sound cold and harsh, she was trying to make Orochimaru think she was angry. But truely she was scared, and although her words showed this. Her eyes gave her away, she was truly frightened, she wanted to run but for some reason she couldn't. She was trapped, trapped facing the Sanin devil.

Gritting her teeth, she felt the hairs on her neck stand on edge as he laughed. She despised that laugh, it was so cold and cruel. When she had 'worked' for Orochimaro that laugh had also frightened her. But here, right now; standing in front of the Sanin, the laugh seemed to be even more frightening. Shaarotto had no idea what he was planning. And if he was here to finish off the job and kill her, there wouldn't be much that Shaarotto could do. She was useless in a storm like this. Only by releasing Yonbi could she have some hope in fighting him. But releasing Yonbi was too dangerous, and Shaarotto wasn't going to risk it.

As Orochimaru's snake eyes bored into her won, Shaarotto found herself looking away. She felt like he was; in some way seeing into her mind. And it frightened her to hell and back. Orochimaru had always been a mysterious person, and Shaarotto had no idea what new techniques he had learned. For all she knew he could have been attempting to read her mind. Well, if he was trying to, he'd get quite a shock. Shaarotto carried all those she had killed in her mind. Their screams haunted her every living moment. So if he was reading her mind, he would have to endure their screams too.

As he stepped towards her, Shaarotto quickly took a step back. She'd keep as much distance between them as she could. The greater the distance between them, the easier it would be for her to escape if she needed too. Of course, that was just a theory. Orochimaru had some sly techniques. And his snake like ways meant he was hard to run from. And Shaarotto would have a lot of trouble if she decided to run. She was tired and hungry, she wouldn't get very far, she was beyond her limit and she needed a good long rest. "It was worth a try" She hissed back as he laughed at her. "You were never the brightest Shinobi"

As Orochimaru fired a question at her, Shaarotto wondered why he cared. Did it matter if she was here or not? It was of no concern to him. He wouldn't be affected by it. And she wasn't going to be here for long anyway. One or two days and then she'd leave. It was safer that way, the more she stayed in a village, the more of a threat she was. She was about to answer him when he spoke again, only this time his words drew her in. News? What news? She thought to herself. She traveled around a lot. She didn't stay long enough to hear what was going on in the world.

A crack of lightening whipped the sky and it lit up the surrounding area. Allowing Shaarotto to catch a glimpse of orochimaru's face. The lightening gave his appearance a deadly look, his golden eyes didn't even move. Shivering Shaarotto closed her eyes, willing him to go away. Why did he have to be here? Of all the places why here? She had done her best to avoid him, she'd sent her Kitsune's out and they had smelled each and every place, making sure that his scent was no where near them. And yet her plans had failed, and once again she was in his clutches.

Hearing his words of pity, Shaarotto snapped her eyes open. Only to see his hand reaching for her, flinching she willed her legs to run. But her legs stayed put, they weren't responding at all. She was frozen in fear. As his cold hands touched her chin she shivered. She hated the feel of his hands on her. It made her feel like some rag doll. Unable to move or respond. She was utterly unable to resist him moving her head about. He seemed to be examining her. for what she didn't know. But she wanted it to stop.

As he stepped back her eyes flashed with pure loathing. "Don't touch me again Orochimaru, or I swear you will pay" The threat was indeed a true one, but right now the threat would be useless. The rain hadn't stopped and Shaarotto was beginning to feel colder. She was soaked to the skin and she knew it wasn't going to do her any good. She'd catch her death if she wasn't careful. "I don't know what you're talking about, I don't stay in one place for too long. Not anymore" She said her words like poison. "I don't want to risk killing anyone else, I did enough of that through you." Shaarotto hadn't forgiven Orochimaru for what he had done, and she was in no hurry to forgive him yet. "What do you want Orochmaru?" She said bluntly. "If you want me back then forget it. I refuse to hurt anyone else."

Orochimaru was starting to get on Shaarotto's nerves. No matter what she said he always had a comeback. True, her comment on his intellect had been slightly off, but she wasn't a total fool. She had heard bits and pieces of what had been going on, and she had heard about his failed attack on Konoha. "I heard you attacked Konoha. Although I no longer associate with that village, I'm still shocked. But it wasn't a success was it? If you'd thought your actions through a bit better. Then maybe it would have been a succes." Sighing she shook her head. "Though it would be difficult to make you pay now, I swear one day i'll get you back for what you did." Shaarotto didn't know what else to say. She was useless right now, and she hated feeling so weak and didn't like the thought of being unable to do anything.

Wincing at his words she shook her head in disbelief. It wasn't her fault, all those deaths. It hadn't been her fault. "No" She mumbled. "You're lying." She hissed under her breath. But no matter what she said it wouldn't change what happened. She could already picture the blood on her hands. And the screams in her head had gotten louder. Clutching her head she tried to block the noise out. It hadn't been her fault, she had no choice. Well, at first she had, she had done it willingly, she had believed Orochimaru, she had trusted that those deaths meant she could get her family back. She had been foolish enough to believe that it would have brought her control and pace. But as she began to see the error of her ways, she had been forced to. Untill she had fiught back. And now Orochimaru had the nerve to throw it all back at her.

At least one good thing had come out of this cursed meeting, he didn't want her anymore. Good, she didn't want to go back anymore. But part of her still wondered if Orochimaru had meant what he had said, had indeed intended to bring back her family. At the time Shaarotto had fought with him and run off. She hadn't taken the time to find out. "Why Orochimaru? Got another puppet now have you?" She asked in a seemingly bored tone. "How many has it been now Orochimaru? How many more will it be?" Shaarotto hardly cared what his answers would be, she could tell already that he wouldn't stop using people. "It's funny, you're meant to be one of the strongest shinobi's of all time. And yet you use other people for your destruction."

Laughing Shaarotto felt she had finally gotten some upper ground on Orochimaru, and although she feared he might get angry. She was glad that she had made a valid point. When Orochimaru had taken ahold of her, it was her who had attacked all of those villages. She was the sword, the blade and he was the arm wielding it. It was a weak thing to do, and she still hated herself for doing what she had done. She still couldn't believe that she had been foolish enough to believe his fake words.

As the thunder crashed around them, Shaarotto tried to hold her ground. She was starting to feel weaker and she knew she would last much longer in this storm. She needed to get inside and she needed to warm up. But she wouldn't dare move when she was this close to him. She had no idea if she was surroundeed or not. And the wrong move in the wrong place could be her demise. But that didn't matter anymore, because Orochimaru broke the news that he owned the village. So no matter what Shaarotto did, it seemed like she was going to die.

Part of Shaarotto didn't want to believe it, after all. Who would be stupid enough to appoint Orochimaru as their leader. There were only two possible explanations. He had killed the leader and forced everyone to follow him, or these villagers were blind and believed him to be a good and fair leader. "Why don't you kill me then?" She asked, and she soon got her answer. He wanted her alive because he liked it like that. How sick. He saw her as a puppet and nothing else. But Shaarotto couldn't argue with that, she saw herself as nothing but a tool for others. It was all she was good for.

The presence of another caused Shaarotto to reach for Kunai, although it had been some time since she'd actually used her ninja equipment and had properly fought someone. She was willing to if it meant her suvival. Thankfully though she didn't need to even get it out. Because it seemed the newcomer was only here to deliver a message. As the stranger glared at her, Shaarotto returned it with a hateful stare. Which was enforced by the lightning. Whoever he was, Shaarotto didn't like him.

As orochimaruadressed her once again, Shaarotto wondered what he was planning. As he requested they went inside, Shaarotto watched as he walked off. Torn into two halfs she wondered what to do. Part of her wanted to turn and run, never stopping. But the other half wanted to follow. She was too weak now to try running away. And she doubted she could find another vilage before she collapsed. But following Orochimaru was dangerous, and she didn;t want him to think she was still faithful to him. But if she did follow him, at least she had the chance to get some shelter.

"It seems we'll have a lot to catch up on Orochimaru" She mumbled under her breath before following him. She made sure to once again keep her distance, and she had her hand hovering over her Kunai's and Shruiken. Any movement that looked suspicious and she'd attack. But for now she could see she was safe. But the snake Sanin was unpredictable, and Shaarotto had no idea what he was planning.

Once inside Shaarotto molded some Chakra into her palmand watched as fire formed in her palm. Watching the flames flicker in front of her eyes she sighed as she felt her palm get warmer. Spreading the fire over her body so that it was a blanket of fire she quickly dried herself off before letting the fire die down. The fire blanket was one of her new jutsu she created after leaving Orochimaru, so she could only assume he'd be interessted.

Sitting down at a table, Shaarotto leaned against the wall and sighed. She was naive, she'd always been naive. She'd been naive enough to believe she could be accepted for what she was, and she had been naive enough to believe Orochimaru would do something for her. She could see now that he was only looking at his own personal gain. Never at what he could do for others. "Maybe I am, Orochimaru. But you still tired to destroy it, and even though you had one sucess. You failed in many other parts. And Konoha will be more alert and ready when you next attack." Sighing she reached into her pocket and got out her old headband. "It won't be so easy this time."

As Orochimaru once again mentioned the killings, Shaarotto threw him a cold icy glare. "Shut up." She hissed angrily. She hoped nothing else would need to be said. She wasn't big on sharing things, especially with people who had used her and who had fought with her. She wasn't keen on letting him know anything about her. Then again, he wasn't going to use her again. Even though she' become more powerful. So maybe she didn't need to be so worried.

Listening to him talk about his puppets, Shaarotto herself gave a dark chuckle. "So you are weak then. You rely on others. Rather then pushing everyone away and relying on your own strength to strike fear into people's hearts. You invite them in and sit back and do nothing." Laughing Shaarotto put her elbows on the table and rested her head in her hands. She saw that as weakness, true, together you were strong. But not when one person did nothing. When you were a puppet, a tool; you were weak. And the person controlling you was weak. But if you were a team, equal in strength and determination. Then you were strong.

As Orochimaru questioned her on her dream to be killed she closed her eyes and sighed. "It is not a dream to be killed by you. but a dream of death itself. I used to think that I should live, live and prove myself worthy. So that I could get recognistion and show everyone that I was a person... not just a demon. But after such long and hard years, I am beggining to see death as a release." Shaarotto wasn't going to lie, what would be the point? Her lie would have been so fake that even a death person would be able to tell she was lying. So Shaarotto knew it was better to tell Orochimaru the truth. Not that he'd care, in his cruel sadistic way; he'd probably find it amusing.

Looking at the people around her, she saw their weary glances at their leader. And Shaarotto's suspicions were confirmed. He probably forced his way as leader. And this land was probably ruled by fear. Why else would the other people in here look so nervous? But Shaarotto wasn't too surprised, it is what she had assumed from the start. She didn't see any other way of Orochimaru becoming a leader. Any other way seemed impossible.

As Orochimaru so childishly accused her of breaking his tea cup, Shaarotto couldn't help but laugh. "If trivial things like that concern you, then you must have changed aswell. I am not going to play your childish games Lord Orochimaru. I am not the same woman you so easily took control of." Crossing her arms she smiled cruely and looked at the tea cup. "Besides, there are other tea cups in the world. One of them breaking doesn't matter."

Orochimaru's statement caused Shaarotto to think more about what she had said. Why was she defending Knoha. True, she'd grown up there and had trained there. But had she been happy there? Looking at her old headband she shook her head, The simple answer was no; she hadn't. They had never accepted her for what she was. They had only seen her as a monster, even her own team mates didn't want anything to do with her. "You're right, why should I? They never did anything for me. And as you rightly said. I'm a missing nin. I no longer belong to Konoha" She said simply as she put her headband back into her pocket. She didn't even know why she still had it, maybe it was just for memories sake.

Shaarotto bit her lip as Orochimaru stated on how he'd hit a nerve. Truth was he had, Shaarotto hated thinking about all those she'd killed. And she punished herself for it everyday. Not that she needed to, the screams of terror and pain haunted her enough to cause her pain. Nothing she could do would be worse. But Shaarotto knew now that no matter what she said, Orochimaru wouldn't take any of the blame for it.

As Orochimaru questioned her on the statement on his weakness, Shaarotto found she couldn't argue back. Orochimaru was strong himself. And there would be no way on earth that Shaarotto could kill him. She doubted that even if she released the Biju no Yonbi that it would prove difficult. "What would be the point in killing you Orochimaru. If I killed you, who would be my enemy?" She asked rhetorically. "And i'd rather have you as an enemy then an unkown enemy"

As another dark chuckle escaped Orochimaru's lips; Shaarotto shuddered. He had always had this effect on her. And no one else seemed to make her aquirm and shiver as much as he did. Not even Yonbi or the Akatsuki had this effect on her. Maybe it was because she knew what he was capable of. Or maybe it because of what she had done in his name. Whatever it was, Shaarotto didn't like it. "Maybe I would fear death in that situation. But remember Orochimaru. Not all of my attacks need hand signals." She said referig to her Hoono Kouteki. All she'd need to do was to mold Katon onto her fists and then she could force Orochimaru off of her. "But maybe I wouldn't, maybe I'd let you kill me. Because I unlike you aren't afraid of what happens next." She said slyly.

It was one of those great mysteries of the world. No one knew what happened when you died, and Shaarotto herself was curious as to what lay beyond the world of the living. "And my death would be the end of Yonbi. So no one would be able to harness its power anymore. So personally that would be a fine deal." She said laughing slightly. It was one of the things she'd learnt over the years. Her and Yonbi would tied, if she died. Yonbi died with her.

Laughing coldly at orochimaru's statement, Shaarotto shook her head and stared at him. "You are a fool Orochimaru. I have grown alot since then." She said coldly/ "I have grown wiser, and through my years of hardship I have become a woman. You are just too blind to see that." Closing her eyes she thought for a moment about her husband and child' both dead because of her. "I have had a family Orochimaru, I have had a son. I'm no longer a child." She said swallowing the lump in her throat. "I do not play such childish games anymore, and my dreams are no longer the dreams of a child." She said throwing an insult at Orochimaru. She was quite annoyed that he had questioned her in such a way. She was 30 now, she wasn't as old as him. But that didn't mean she wasn't a woman.

The mention of Konoha had caused Shaarotto's mind to become slightly uneasy. As much as she had disliked the village for always thinking her a monster, there were times when she missed it. She was miserable there, but at least she had a name and a life. But her life as a missing nin often brought her grief. She was more of a ghost then a person. And the majority of places she went to often put her life at risk. No one liked a missing nin.

Hearing someone crying behind her, Shaarotto turned and looked to see who it was. Sighing she turned back and shook her head. Crying would be useless. It was always useless. How many times had she cried in her life? How many times had she wept, longing for someone to help her? No help had ever come, no one wanted anything to do with her. And the few people that did were now dead. And it was all her fault. But Shaarotto wouldn't cry for them; she couldn't. She was cold now, and such emotions seemed distant.

Laughing at Orochimaru's statement, Shaarotto was surprised he'd say such a thing. "I need you?" She asked wondering if she'd heard him correctly. "What world do you live in Orochimaru? I don't need you. I did once but not any more." She said bluntly. "You have always been a thorn in my side, and although I'd love it if I got rid of you. I'd rather have a thorn then a knife." She said honestly. She'd said it before, she wasn't going to waste her breath. She'd choose Orochimaru as an enemy over an unknown one. It was; in her eyes. Safer. Who knew what another enemy could be like. And although Shaarotto doubted it, another enemy could turn out to be worse then Orochimaru.

As Orochimaru cut through the small silence with a dark laugh; Shaarotto felt her hairs stand on end, and in frustration she clenched her fist. Why was he toying with her? Couldn't he just learn to leave her be? "Why would you want to be Immortal? You who have no heart I can understand. But you an still be harmed." She stated bluntly. "So I'm guessing you can technically die aswell. You just have the wonderful option of being able to live longer then anyone else." Chuckling she wondered to herself if Orochimaru ever got lonely. Probably not, he didn't have emotions like a normal human. Then again... was he? Shaarotto had always wondered about wether or not he was human. Certain aspects seemed to say yes, but other aspects disagreed with it. He certainly was a strange person. "And anyway, what fool would want to live forever? It would get boring after a while."

And yet, they were still on the talk of her apparant childish nature. Shaarotto was starting to get tired of the conversation. She was no longer a child. Did she have to prove it? Or was Orochimaru himself being childish? "Maybe it doesn't prove it, but you yourself have suggested that this conversation is childish. And you yourself are continuing it. So doesn't that make you as Childish as i am?" She asked with a smirk on her face. "Personally I see this as more of a.... disbute. A debate. Children stomp their feet and have tantrums until they get what they want. Believe me I know." A twinge of sadness hit Shaarotto as the thought of her own son, but she quickly dismissed it. "It is not only children who are afraid Orochimaru, so what if I cower at your voice and words. I have every right to." She said thinking her words through, trying not to throw an insult at Orochimaru. Insults wouldn't get her anywhere right now. And she could hardly call Orochimaru a monster when she herself was one. "Even you have shown fear once or twice in your life Orochimaru. So by your theory you are childish too."