I grabbed my arm, blood seeping through my fingers covering the deep cut. The man in front of me is covered in blood. His and mine. "Do you really think you can take me down?" He asked. I pursed my lips, staring him down. Tsuyoshi of the Rock. Grandson of the Third Tsuchikage.

He climbed up the ranks at such a young age, becoming a Special Jonin. I could smell Sasori nearby, watching.

I grabbed my sword and readied it. I've lost a lot of blood, and I definitely need medical treatment as soon as possible. But I can't until I kill him.

Flash Stepping behind him I thrust the sword. He jumped away, but not fast enough.

I caught his side. He grunted and collapsed to his knees, holding his new wound. This is much deeper then the others. I began to walk over to him.

"You think you can get away with this?! Even if you kill me, the Village Hidden by Rocks will never forgive you and will hunt you down to the ends of the Earth!" I kept my face void of emotions as I stopped in front of him.

"You're already wanted for betraying your village. Is attacking another one really the smartest thing for you to do?"

"You misunderstand. I don't abide by any village." Raising the sword, I brought it down, slicing his head clean off. His body toppled over and I internally sighed with relief.

"You sure roughed up the body more then necessary." Sasori appeared, leaving his hiding spot.

Except he's in his damn creepy puppet. "He's the grandson of the Tsuchikage." I stated, biting back my anger as much as I could.

Sending me after this guy. The damn puppet freak isn't holding back.

Sasori exited his damn puppet and placed the body in it. I watched as he placed the puppet into a scroll, retrieving the body.

"Let's go." He said, turning and heading off.

Thank you for assisting me Miyuna. Thanks' for risking your life. Thanks' for doing the work I didn't want to do!

Damn puppet freak.

I trudged after him, ignoring my broken ankle, ribs, and other bones. The stab wounds don't hurt as much as they used to.

I mean it's not exactly the most settling feeling, and it's a hell of a lot more painful then a damn bee sting, but I can manage.

Now if I can follow without passing out from blood loss we'll be golden. "Hurry up." Sasori called.

Gritting my teeth I walked faster, pushing past the pain. After a bit he stopped and glanced back. "Heal yourself while you walk." He ordered. God. For a good looking guy he sure is demanding.

"I can't heal." I told him flatly. He kept his cold stare on me. "What kind of protégé of the Fifth Hokage are you? Have you always been this useless?"

I bit back my anger, controlling it. Are you kidding me?! I just defeated the damn prodigy grandson of a damn Tsuchikage! But I can't fight with Sasori. I'm in no shape and if I do it jeopardizes the mission.

"I guess." I answered.

He turned and we continued on our way. I gotta say, this is not what I had in mind when he said 'become my puppet'. But its better I guess.

I kinda assumed he'd make me into this weird humanoid puppet and control me with chakra strings.

This way is better. Annoying but better none the less.

But man is he annoying. But he's strong. I know this much.

"So what did Orochimaru want in the Land of Lightning?" Sasori asked as we continued our walk. "He wanted some documents hidden in a temple. I'm not sure what exactly." I answered honestly.

He didn't say anything for a bit. "He didn't ask you for a weapon." I kept my body from tensing and continued to keep up my mask. "No. Just documents." I repeated.

Does he know about the spear? He must, otherwise he wouldn't have asked. But does that mean he's aware of its power? If so then why hasn't he retrieved it? "Hm." He murmured with disinterest.

After a bit he stopped and turned to me. "Girl, why do you want to help me? Really?" He insisted. I didn't hesitate. Not for a second.

"You and your group are known as some of the strongest ninja in the lands. I want to get stronger. I had hoped that if I assisted, I'd pick up on some techniques that'd help me attain my goal." I answered with ease.

It is part of the truth. I like learning new things. New fighting techniques, new jutsu's, and new ways of thinking strategies.

The stronger I am the more confident I am. That confidence goes to the mission. My mission.

"I see. And why should I help you in any way?" He asked coldly, his eyes boring into mine.

"Because I just took out multiple high ranking ninja without asking any questions on why I had to. I am willing to do anything and everything you ask of. Just think of me as your weapon." I said.

He stared at me for a little while longer before turning and continuing our journey. It's been three days since my time with him.

And in those three days I've taken out high ranking ninja who are well known because of their power. Although I am basically on the brink of death because of it. Well, it's not that bad.

Then again you're talking to the girl who bashed her head on a tree multiple times and ended up in the hospital with severe head trauma and said it was only a headache.

My team was very angry about that.

He soon stopped and turned. "Sit." He ordered. I did so without hesitation. He kneeled down in front of me and put his hand up. Chakra gathered up and I felt my wounds beginning to heal.

"I wasn't aware you were a Medical Ninja." I am actually very surprised. It wasn't mentioned when Haru debriefed me.

I'm going to wail on him when I get back.

Sasori didn't say anything. He merely continued to heal me. I did feel a tad guilty. I mean I have mastered; jutsu's from every element, different types of martial arts, and even have the mind to come up with strategies for war.

Yet I can't heal a single scratch! It's ridiculous really. Granny Tsunade was always frustrated that I couldn't do it.

I hope that Sakura and Ino make better students then me.

After a bit he soon stopped and stood. "There. Now get up. I have another task for you." Resisting the urge to groan, I stood.

"What do I need to do?" I questioned, ready for my next assignment. With my wounds all healed up, I can go on. He's a real slave driver though.

"You're going to assist me in making them into my puppets." He said as we continued on our way. Puppet huh?

That's what these men have become. It's cruel really. But this is the man who has turned his body into a puppet himself. I picked up on it since I first met him.

I had broken into the Kazekage office at one point in time to gather more Intel on him. What I found in his file is disturbing.

He has been gone for twenty years and he looks like a teenager. His body isn't real. He turned himself into a puppet long ago.

He's a disturbing man.

But learning from him will increase my chances of success. So if he wants me to help him turn these corpses into puppets, then I will.

~

I stared at the products of his creation. Sasori had attached his chakra strings to them and was moving the around a bit. My gaze flickered to the table. Blood coated it. Thick and warm blood.

In the bowls next to it are their organs. My gaze flickered to my hands coated in the red liquid. He had me clean them. It would take me forever to clean all of this blood. So much. Ever since I left, I've seen so much blood.

I moved my hand to stare at it. The feeling of the organs is still left tingling on my fingertips. It's kind of incredible in a way.

There's just so much blood. And it's a little . . . pretty. I jumped at my thoughts. Pretty? This is terrible. These men didn't have to die. They didn't have to have their bodies cleaned out.

They didn't have to become toys for this insane freak.

But here they are. And here I am. I shut my eyes tight, pushing back all of my emotions. I need to focus. I need to focus.

Taking a deep breath, I calmed myself and looked back over at Sasori, not paying attention to the strong metallic scent.

It was kind of incredible to watch him. He had turned them to puppets, and somehow managed to keep their jutsu's to them.

I still don't know how he was able to do it. It's something I have never seen before. It's just another thing that reminds me how little I actually know.

Sasori turned and raised his hand. One of his puppets walked over to me. No. It's not a puppet. It's the grandson of the Tsuchikage.

No matter what he turned him to be, he will always be that person. Calling him a puppet will be taking away his humanity. And no matter what he's become, he was once human.

"Make some strings and attach them to it." He said. Huh? I blinked, a bit startled he asked me to. "You came to me to get stronger. We'll start with some puppetry. I take it you've studied some on the subject?" I nodded, remembering my time with Haru.

He doesn't know it, but he's given me all the research material I needed to understand. "Good. Because you've already started your lesson."

I frowned, confusion settled onto my face. "What? What do you mean?" I asked. Sasori's fingers twitched and the- no, Tsuyoshi moved around me.

"There's more to puppetry then the actually performance. You have to make the doll yourself, you have to clean it, and you have to make it brand new. That's why I had you take care of them. That's why I had you clean them. That's why I had you help me turn them into puppets. Because it's needed before you control them. Of course these puppets are different starters for you. But I have some hope for you. Now give it a try."

I see. Okay. Taking a deep breath, I focused. I have great chakra control.

If I can make chains out of my chakra, I should be able to make strings.

Keeping my concentration, I held my hands up. Ah. They're still covered in blood. His blood. I watched as green chakra strings exited my bloody finger tips.

They grew and grew and moved, attaching to Tsuyoshi as Sasori released his hold on him. I kept my concentration, making my strings small and thin, yet strong.

Before I knew it, I had a strong hold on the puppet, and it was standing with my efforts alone.

This is a little . . . weird. My index finger twitched and his arm struck out, nearly striking Sasori. Whoops. I moved my pinky finger and index figure and it did a weird bend, knocking over a bunch of wooden limbs from another desk.

I winced as I indivertibly moved my middle finger, making it do a backbend, knocking more things over.

Sasori stared at the puppet, eyes void. "You're going to need a lot of work."

My bad.

After some explanation of the idea of a puppeteer, I practiced none stop. Of course he moved me to a more open room after I accidentally destroyed a few of his actual wooden puppets.

I kept my mind on Tsuyoshi. The once man looked nothing more then like a puppet and, as disturbing as it is, that's what I had to do in order to move him about.

Sasori had left me alone to finish putting poison and poisoned weapons in the others he turned into puppets.

So while he did that, I was told to learn basic movements. It's a bit difficult, but I'm starting to get a little used to it.

Well, all I've got down really are arm movements right now. This is a lot harder then I thought it would be.

Well it is my first day learning the actual puppeteer part. These three days he's just been using me to take down people. Literally, I haven't slept since I've been with him.

It is literally going from village to village in search of these people. Each day it's a person. Three days with no sleep, fighting strong ninja, and little time to rest.

Because Sasori doesn't need it as much as I do.

I'm pretty happy I'm able to do this much with my lack of sleep or rest. Then again, I don't sleep well. Haven't for a while now.

My eyes flickered down to my hands again. Sasori didn't really give me time to clean up. My clothes are torn, I have some bruising, but my wounds are healed thanks to him. But I'm caked in dried blood.

Blood I spilled.

It's unfortunate but I did what I believe I had to do. I don't care if others think poorly of me because of it. Everything I do, I do it for a purpose.

Like this.

I moved my middle finger down and moved my index and ring fingers up, making Tsuyoshi move and start to walk.

Personally puppets aren't my style. They're more long range attacks. I like close range, it's my specialty. However it's good to broaden my horizons. Learning some long ranged tactics will help me develop further.

Sasori of the Red Sand huh? I haven't been able to see him in action, yet. But I hear great things about him.

In power wise, morally he's gone way south.

Well, I can't really say much. What I can say is that learning from him is a great opportunity. One that will make me stronger and will be a stepping stone for me.

I don't know how long I stayed there. Fiddling with the strings, figuring out different movements.

"Take a break." Son of a- I was so surprised by his sudden appearance, I lost focus and the strings snapped, making Tsuyoshi crumple to the floor.

Damn it.

Resisting the urge to shoot him a nasty glare, I turned towards Sasori. "I need to finish him. Go to that room and get some rest." He pointed down the corridor to the door across from his.

Without saying much, he immediately grabbed Tsuyoshi and headed back to his room, closing the door firmly. "A real people person that one." I murmured. But at least I get to rest.

With a shrug, I headed inside the room. It was pretty barren. But there is a bed there. Good enough for me. I plopped down, face down.

I moved my head to the side. There's no light in here. The only light there was came from the door, but with it closed it's completely shrouded in darkness.

I had a fear. Being alone in darkness. I hated being alone. I began to have panic attacks whenever I was left in total isolation and darkness. It was my greatest fear growing up. Hell, I was afraid of it until last year.

However I've gotten use to it. Being with Orochimaru, being experimented on, and breaking through my mental weaknesses. Things just change.

They changed because I chose it to. I chose this. I chose everything that I have done, and I chose everything that was done to me. I decided on it. Because that's what I want.

So being alone and in darkness isn't scary.

It's not that I don't like it; I just don't fear it. I don't really feel anything about it now. Being alone, being alone in dark places, it's just nothing. No fear, no happiness, no resentfulness. Nothing.

It's numb.