Samurai Showdown With Kakashi

- Thump! - After what seemed like an eternity, I finally fell on the ground with my body no longer paralysed.

I got back up, grabbed the sword I had stuck to the ground, and went towards Orochimaru. He had already left for about half an hour, but finding him shouldn't be too hard. As I started walking, a gentle hand touched my shoulder:

- What are you doing? - Lin asked, stopping me in my tracks.

- I need to face him again. I can't let him leave after beating me like that.

- You never stop do you... You need some rest now. Maybe even eat something. You can't let your pride control you.- I had to admit, there was some reason in what she was saying.

- Fine, I suppose you're ri... - The sound of a growling belly interrupted me. I looked at her, disappointed. - You just want me to tell you where the kitchen is, don't you? - I started moving away, as Lin grabbed me.

- Please, I'm starving! - I kept walking as she was getting dragged through the ground. - We barely had anything to eat on the way here. Are you really willing to let a lady starve like that? I thought you loved me! - I stopped, making her slip and hit her face on the ground.

- What are you talking about? - I felt my cheeks redden, as anxiety took over my heart.

- When you left for the Leaf Village, didn't we talk about this while we were sleeping together? If I remember correctly I heard you say " I suppose that means I can't fu...

- Stop! - I shouted. I got myself closer as I whispered on her face. - Don't you dare use my feelings for you to manipulate me. I don't know where the kitchen is, okay? I didn't look around too much for the month I was here. I had my own room to train, and one of the Paths would bring food from time to time. I can't help you. - Lin looked grumpily at me.

- Then I'm coming with you.

- What?

- I'm going to make that snake guy tell me where all the food is. - In a shocking turn of events I was now the one following her. I really don't know what to do with her.

Meanwhile, the door to Nagato's position opened, as Orochimaru and the Animal Path entered. It was a room with walls of stone, and an open ceiling. Inside was the Naraka Path, who Nagato now valued as much as his own life. After all, he's the only one who could bring the Deva Path, Yahiko, back. Nagato angrily asked:

- What do you want, Orochimaru? You should know by now the difference in our skills. Your serpent jutsus can't beat a Rinnegan.

- I know that very well. In my current disposition I come nowhere near you. If only I could get ahold of such powerful eyes... It just feels me with antecipation. I hope the Uchiha will at least offer me their Sharingan.

- Maybe if you ask them nicely. - Nagato said with a grunt.

- I haven't tried that, actually, might give it a chance. - Orochimaru laughed. - So what made you choose my Land to inhabit?

- I've had certain "activities" around the Leaf Village and the Land of Iron. Your Land seemed like the perfect spot to have access to both without my Paths going too far away.

- You know, Nagato, I am more than welcome to have a fellow Akatsuki in my household, but I feel like it's a pity if I get nothing from it.

- We'll be here for a month at most. We won't bother, plus with the size of this Land, we might not even come across each other. I owe you nothing.

- But I want so little. All I request is to research the boy, the samurai you're keeping here. His Iron Style intrigues me.

- I need him for my invasion. It's always good to have a surprise factor.

- A surprise factor? You really do know nothing. How can you say that when he's already betrayed you?

- Betrayed me? - Nagato thought to myself what those words meant. Before he could reach a conclusion, me and Lin entered the room. She seemed wowed by the magnitude of Nagato's hiding spot. My focus however was on the slithering man.

- I'm back, Orochimaru, and this time I won't let you catch me off guard. I will beat you.

- Yeah, and you're going to tell us where all your food is. - Lin proceeded with an angry look. Orochimaru observed us with a wry smile, then focusing his attention back at Nagato.

- See what I mean? - To me those words were insignificant, but to Nagato they seemed to hold some weight, as he asked:

- Samunashi, why did you bring that girl here? You should have left her at the entrance.

- Well, Lin isn't ncessarily someone you can just stop from coming with. She won't do any harm. I promise she will... - I looked at her and was horrified by what was in front of me.

From within her pouch of scrolls was a small comunicator, like those in samurai helmets. She was whispering at it, as all I heard was, "Their main forces are within the tallest hill. The ceiling is open.". I felt as if a dagger just pierced through me, similar to when Renji cut my arm off. I couldn't believe she would sell us out.

- Lin why would you...

- Rod, what do you think happened when people found out that you were a Samunashi? - She sighed. She didn't even seem like herself anymore. - I was living at your home. When they knew of your origins, they went to search it. They went to look for any remains of you, anything you left behind... and they only found me. They took me into their headquarters, interrogated me about everything, about all our time together. I hid the Iron Scroll from them, even your father's sword. They knew I wasn't telling everything.That's when... the torture began.

- Torture? - I was shocked. I never thought that having my identity be revealed could ever cause such tragedy upon those close to me.

- Kill her. - Nagato said, as the Animal Path came at her, with a kunai. I swiftly got in his way, blocking his strike with my sword. - What do you think you're doing? She sold us out to the enemy.

- It's my fault! - I shouted. Lin behind me seemed to be almost in tears. I was too. - Nagato, I'm sorry. I...

- Are you going to give up? What about our deal? - Nagato was furious. Orochimaru was laughing in the back, hidden in shadows.

- I can't trade lives. I want to save my master, but I'm not willing to kill my love. - Nagato observed me with sorrow. - Let her live. Whatever samurai they bring here, won't be a threat to any of you. I know what she did was terrible, but it's not like she had a choice. - Nagato looked at the smirking Orochimaru, then back at me.

- You're right, Samunashi. She didn't have a choice, but you did. You're the one who dies here. - The Naraka and Animal Path got into fighting positions as they got menacingly closer. I grabbed Lin's hand, saying:

- We need to run.

We both headed to the door, but before I could leave, the Asura and the Human Path appeared from it. Their paralysis had worn off as well. All my exits seemed to be cut off, however as I looked up hopeless, I noticed the open ceiling.

- Lin, grab on to me! - She quickly followed my lead, grabbing onto me tightly. - Third Gate Open! - I jumped up as quickly as I could narrowly avoiding the Asura Path's charge against me.

I jumped from crevice to crevice, rock to rock, until I finally reached the top, only to find a sword grazing my face. I quickly dodged it, and stood at the edge, looking around to see what had happened. Before my eyes, was now a group of 10 female samurai. I asked Lin:

- How did they get here so fast?

- They followed me here. I only told them where to enter from, they were already waiting.

One of the female samurai spoke up:

- You're Roderick Samunashi, the Worst Kind, aren't you? - I would be willing to answer, if not for the Paths of Pain quickly climbing to get me.

- Sorry, no time. - With blazing speed, I went through them and headed to the bridge that connected the Land to the forest. After dodging a couple swings, and stepping on the last one's head, I was able to reach it.

The samurai tried to follow me, but thankfully came across the Paths. While they were dealing with one another, I had a chance to use my full speed and escape out of their line of vision.

Meanwhile inside the room

- He got away. - Nagato declared to a disappointed Orochimaru.

- I can't believe you weren't even capable of catching him. Now I will have to wait until I get him within grasp.

- He's hiding, but he's definitely not going to stay still. - Nagato declared. - The bond he shared with his past master was too great for him to let him withstand the constant pain. He will return to the Land of Iron to kill him, I'm sure of it, Aaagh! - Nagato complained, as he felt one of his paths getting sliced through by one of the samurai. - Those female samurai are stronger than I thought. To think I would lose the aid of one of them. Samunashi was too useful for me to just let him go like that.

- If you need a powerful samurai on your side, don't worry. - Orochimaru explained, with a quick laugh. - One should be coming here sooner rather than later.