Soooo...New story...We're not even going to try and justify ourselves...

Prologue

Uchiha Sasuke hacked through the glass container almost as easily as if he were looking through a genjutsu with his Sharingan. Water flooded out of the human test tube and he watched as the puddle began to ripple, shifting into a humanoid shape.

"Finally...it feels like it's been forever." A young white haired teen formed within the puddle.

"You're the first, Suigetsu." Sasuke said. "Come with me."

The other teen raised an eyebrow. "First? Then there are others?"

"Two." Sasuke replied. "Jugo from the Northern hideout, then Karin from the Southern hideout."

"Really?"

"What?"

"Nothing really. I just don't like them."

Sasuke looked down dismissively at Hozuki Suigetsu. "You don't have to get along. Just work together."

"Of course. You did save me. If you tell me to work with them, I don't mind." Suigetsu smirked. "You're crazy for choosing them."

"Shut up." The Uchiha snapped. "Hurry up. We're going."

"Such superiority." Suigetsu chuckled.

Sasuke blinked, and the Hozuki was behind him, a finger pressed to his head.

"Let's just make our relationship clear." Suigetsu said. "Just because you defeated Orochimaru doesn't make you superior to me. We were all after him. Someone would have gotten him sooner or later. You were a favorite, so you weren't locked up and you had a better chance than us."

"So?"

"In this situation, I've got the upper hand." Suigetsu pointedly pressed his finger into Sasuke's head. He huffed, withdrawing his hand. "Just kidding."

Sasuke shot him a look.

"Even in this situation, not a single irregular heartbeat. I've heard rumors about you, Uchiha Sasuke. You're team defeated Momochi Zabuza, right?"

Sasuke didn't reply but Suigetsu took this as a yes anyways.

"I'll go with you." Suigetsu said. "But I have a few things I want to ask of you."

Suigetsu yanked out the Kubikiro-bocho, smiling. "Heavy." He swung it. "So this is the Bloody Mist Demon Momochi Zabuza's Kubikiribocho."

"Can you use that with your strength?" Sasuke asked.

"The Swords of the 'Seven Swordsmen of the Mist' was passed down form generation to generation. I've always admired them and they were the reason I trained. As long I have this sword, I might not lose even to you." He stabbed it into the ground. "Besides, if we're going to include Jugo, it might be helpful to have this thing around."

Sasuke scoffed at this.

Suigetsu rolled his shoulders. "Well then. Let's get going, Sasuke."

Suigetsu eyed the redhead female standing there like she owned the place.

He reeeeally didn't like her...

And her voice.

Sasuke did not notice or, more like, did not care, about what Suigetsu thought. "Suigetsu, go free everyone being detained."

Suigetsu huffed. "Huh. Still talking like you're above." He slowly got to his feet.

"Don't you dare!" Karin turned to Suigetsu, her glasses flashing.

Sasuke watched to make sure his order was being followed before he turned back to Karin. "There is no longer a need for a guard. What are you going to do?"

Suigetsu stood up and stalked out of the room.

When he came back to a closed door, Suigetsu sighed.

Uchiha Sasuke may have been a genius, but he was emotionally dense.

After waiting a few more seconds, he slashed right through the door.

Karin shot him a murderous glare, which he easily ignored. "Let's go, Sasuke. Karin doesn't seem like she's going."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "She said she'll come with us."

"Wh-who said I'll go?" Karin stuttered. "I'm just...just...heading in the same direction!"

"Oh, that's convenient." Suigetsu smirked. "Let's go partway together, then."

"Just partway." Karin repeated.

Suigetsu rolled his eyes. "Now it's Jugo, right?" He turned to Sasuke.

"Jugo? You're going to include him?" Karin asked.

"You're only coming with us halfway, right? Then it shouldn't concern you."

"N-no, it doesn't concern me."

Suigetsu snickered.

"Are you picking a fight?"

"Jugo is being kept in the Northern hideout." Suigetsu muttered.

Karin turned to him, annoyed. "You have a problem with that?"

Suigetsu scoffed. "Nah."

Sasuke shot the Hozuki a look. Suigetsu responded with a smirk.

"It's convenient, that's all."

"There was a prison break."

Suigetsu looked up at the familiar voice. "You okay being out here?"

"All the guards were killed. Without anyone to constantly power the seals, all that's holding me in is the seal itself." There was a pause. "Everyone's going wild. It's dangerous to approach now."

Suigetsu eyed Sasuke and Karin, who were once again waiting for him to recover. Suigetsu took another gulp of water. "We're heading over to collect Jugo." He muttered under his breath, so that neither would hear him. "Any info on him?"

"Jugo? He's also going wild."

"I guess that means he's dangerous to approach?"

"Yeah."

Suigetsu groaned. "Well, I guess it's worth it. You're there too, right? At the Northern hideout."

"You're coming?"

"Course."

"Suigetsu?" The Hozuki blinked up at Sasuke, who was looming down at him. He must have been very distracted, for he didn't even notice the Uchiha approach him.

"Eh, my bad." Suigetsu got to his feet, noting with relief that Sasuke didn't seem to notice anything. "Sorry, let's go."

He carefully glanced over his shoulder to the small body of water he had been resting by, just in time to see a figure made purely of water wave a goodbye before it soundlessly collapsed, causing ripples.

The blade of the Kubikiri-bocho blocked Jugo's attack. The orange head narrowed his eyes.

"You didn't use that kind of power last time." Suigetsu muttered. "So hard too."

Sasuke watched the two fight it out before he finally decided that he had had enough. "Suigetsu, stop. We aren't here to fight. I'll talk to him."

"He isn't someone who'll listen to you. You'll have to take him by force." Suigetsu gripped the handle of the Kubikirobocho.

Jugo's eyes flashed with recognition. "You're Suigetsu! I remember now!" His arm began to grow bigger and Suigetsu felt the killing intent flare.

The two of them exchanged several more blows before something screamed within Suigetsu's head, a split second before he found himself restrained by a snake.

Sasuke had straightened and while his posture was relaxed, something rang earning bells in his head. "You two...Do you want me to kill you?"

Suigetsu stiffened even further, eyes wide. Why couldn't he stop his trembling?

Then, before he knew what was happening, Jugo screamed and he ran into a room, slamming the door behind him.

Suigetsu stepped away from the snakes and shaking off his discomfort, he gestured curiously towards where Jugo had vanished.

"Hurry up and lock the door!" Jugo's voice came form within.

"I came to get you out of here, Jugo." Sasuke said. "Come with me."

"He's scared." Suigetsu muttered.

"No, that's not it." Karin said.

"I don't want to kill anymore people. I don't want to go outside. Just leave me alone!"

"What?" Suigetsu frowned. "Split personality..."

"Jugo is driven by an intent to kill, and he can't stop it." Karin told them. "He can't stop himself, but he really doesn't want to kill."

They heard Jugo release a shuddering breath. "If Kimimaro isn't here, I'm not going out."

Suigetsu recognized the name."Kimimaro...the Kaguya." Even he had heard of him.

"Kimimaro was strong." Karin explained. "He was probably the only person who could keep him controlled."

"But isn't that guy..."

"Jugo." Sasuke spoke up. "Kimimaro is no longer alive. He died for me."

There was a moment of silence. "He...died for you? Then...are you..." There was a shift from within. "Uchiha Sasuke?"

"Ah."

The door slowly opened. Jugo stood at the doorway, looking warily at the Uchiha.

The four of them gathered outside the hideout. Sasuke stood before the other three, a faraway look in his eyes. "My motive is to kill Uchiha Itachi of the Akatsuki. In order to do that, I want to borrow your strength."

"Thought it was something along those lines." Suigetsu muttered.

Sasuke turned to the redhead. "However, Karin. You said you already had other plans. What are you going to do?"

"Uh...yeah! I was thinking and I've decided that it's not something I have to rush."

"Be honest, Karin." Suigetsu bared his teeth. "Don't you just want to be by Sasuke's side?"

"W-why would you say such things?" Karin demanded.

"Bulls eye! See? You're stuttering." He smirked. "Besides, I know something. In the past, you and Sasuke-" Before he could finish, Karin punched him in the face.

"Suigetsu, stop agitating her. I believe I've already told you that you have to work together?" Sasuke's face was blank.

"Kay~ My bad, Karin." Suigetsu smirked in a way that said he wasn't sorry. "Anyway, I guess I'll stick around." He said. "Itachi's partner is a former member of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist. It's a part of my goal to take his sword 'Samehada'."

"Someone's compensating by collection swords."

Suigetsu gritted his teeth. He turned away, fixing Sasuke with a serious look. "Besides, I know I've told you, but I need your help in getting someone out."

Sasuke nodded briskly. "I haven't forgotten." He said, then turned to the last person. "Jugo, now that you're out, what are you going to do?" Suigetsu turned to the orange haired teen.

"Kimimaro said that you will be the revival of his existence. He sacrificed himself to protect you." He looked at Sasuke. "I want to see how strong of a shinobi you really are."

Sasuke nodded. "Then it's decided." He said. "Now, Suigetsu. You still have business here, don't you." Sasuke turned pointedly to the Hozuki, who smirked.

"Yeah. Like I've said, I'm probably going to need your help with this." Suigetsu then turned and began wandering back into the corridors of the Northern Base. Sasuke followed, Karin and Jugo trailing behind.

"We're recruiting another one from here?" Karin asked.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "I've only agreed to setting this person free. Whether they will join us depends on their abilities."

Sasuke looked curiously around the corridor as Suigetsu led them through. The air was damp and heavy and Karin kept complaining about it. Jugo was quietly following.

Suigetsu broke away from the main corridor, leading the way through a much narrower, less well lit corridor. The air became even more heavier.

"How do you know of this place, Suigetsu?" Sasuke asked. He was annoyed to have found out that not even he knew of this structure.

"Uh...a little bird told me." Suigetsu sighed. "Okay, this definitely looks like it."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "A-"

"It's not my fault! I've never been here." Suigetsu sounded like he was talking to someone else entirely.

Jugo suddenly tensed.

"What?" Sasuke turned to him.

"There's someone here."

"What? No. The only ones here are us and...the chakra signature coming from straight ahead." Karin said.

"There is someone here." Jugo insisted. "I can sense it." He paused. "I've sensed this feeling before."

Suigetsu blinked. "Wait, you can feel it?"

Jugo nodded warily. Sasuke fixed his gaze on the Hozuki.

"Eh, you'll see." Suigetsu turned around dismissively. They kept walking, until Suigetsu came to a stop and Sasuke realized that they were now standing in front of a huge metal door. Seals were placed all over it and Sasuke noticed them to be electric shields that electrocuted anyone that stepped through the door if the seals weren't deactivated properly.

Suigetsu pointed at the seals. "I'm sure someone like you can easily break through something like this."

Wordlessly, Sasuke destroyed them with his lightning chakra. Suigetsu hummed, then shoved the door open.

The air became even damper.

A stream ran from the left wall to the right wall, the water vanishing through a hole in said walls. The openings were blocked by metal bars, which also held the electric barrier seal.

There were bodies of water everywhere, looking like the leftover puddles of a rainstorm.

At the far end of the room, Sasuke could make out a tank similar to the one Suigetsu had been in. This tank was also covered in electricity seals.

Suigetsu mockingly stepped aside and Sasuke easily cut through the seals, along with the glass. Water gushed out, puddling at their feet.

Similar to Suigetsu's situation, a figure began to form in the puddle. In a few seconds, a pink haired girl around Sasuke's age sat in the water. The girl slowly got to her feet and the movement caused the girl's hair to shift. Sasuke caught sight of striking green eyes. The girl looked at Sasuke curiously.

"Uchiha Sasuke." She murmured. She didn't even wait for a confirmation, instead turning to Suigetsu.

"You're late."

Suigetsu crossed his arms. "Take pity on me. I was stuck with her-" He jammed a finger in Karin's direction. "-And I had to travel through the killing heat." He tossed her something from his pouch and the girl threw the black cloak over herself. She slowly got to her feet, stretching each limb. Suigetsu moved to her side, gripping her arm.

"Okay. Guys, this here is Sakura." The girl, Sakura, smiled. "Kura, you probably already know, but-"

"Jugo and Karin." The girl chirped. The two mentioned narrowed their eyes in turn. They had never met this girl. How did she know them?

Suigetsu nodded. "I'm going to be traveling with these guys." He shot Sasuke a look, shrugged, then turned back to Sakura. "Sasuke here is hunting down his brother."

Sakura's eyes brightened at the word 'hunt'. "I'm good at hunting."

Suigetsu smirked and nodded. "So, Sasuke, can she tag along?"

Sasuke's face gave nothing away. "I cannot simply allow someone to join us because they are 'good at hunting'."

"But she really is." Suigetsu insisted. "All she needs is a body of water. Orochimaru used her as a spy when he was desperate enough."

"Yet, she was locked up. If she was sent out as a spy, she could have simply escaped."

Suigetsu's smirk widened. "She's good because she can spy on anyone from anywhere."

Sasuke leaned forward. "Explain." He knew there were things Orochimaru kept from him. Perhaps this was one of them.

"Though it works once at a time, Sakura can use any body of water as a 'medium'. As long as what she is looking for is also close to a body of water, she can spy on them." He nodded at Sakura, who placed both feet firmly in the puddle on the ground. She made a hand sigh and closed her eyes.

A second later, Sasuke felt something brush the back of his neck. He turned around to come face to face with a Sakura made purely of water. The water Sakura waved her fingers at him. "Boo!"

He noticed Karin and Jugo watching him curiously, and it took him a second to realize that they couldn't see the water version of her.

Sasuke turned back to Sakura. "Hn. How does it work?"

"I'm simply matching the vibrations in the water to something only you can see." Sakura explained. The water version of her vanished. "It's the same for my voice. What you are seeing and hearing is made up purely of the small vibrations and the movement of the water."

Sasuke thought through this. Karin's sensor abilities would be useful as a whole, but it wouldn't hurt to have someone who could keep an eye on Itachi from a distance.

He stood up. Everyone present looked at him curiously. "From now, we will call ourselves 'Hebi'." Sakura's eyes brightened when she realized what this meant.

Sasuke turned around briskly. "We'll continue this elsewhere. The air here is...suffocating." He turned, like he expected them to follow, and they did.

Sakura took a few shaky steps and stumbled. Suigetsu grabbed her arm again, helping her regain her balance.

"Stupid Kabuto." She muttered. "Stupid four eyes electrocuted me a few days ago when he came to ask me if there were any changes in our usual targets and I told him that Uchiha Sasuke betrayed Oto to eloped with an Uzumaki Naruto." She paused. "I was lying, of course."

Suigetsu snorted. "I doubt that's the only reason." He said. "When was the last time you walked on your real two feet?"

"Years." Sakura replied.

"And how do you know of Naruto?" Sasuke asked, slowing in his steps. He just about managed to stop his eyebrow from twitching.

"I usually can't see outside the room we were in before cause of the seals, which was powered by the shinobi on watch to make sure it's extra effective. But sometimes, some of them slack off and I use those times to...explore, I guess. Though I can't go out in my real body I could, technically, walk around in my water form so I've been nearly everywhere!"

"Hn." Sasuke turned back to face the front.

"Anything else?" Suigetsu asked excitedly. "Dirt or something I can use against someone?"

Sakura shoved the white haired teen away playfully. "You're gonna have to earn it, Sui-nii."

Everyone stopped walking.

"Sui...nii?" Karin asked.

Sakura nodded like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "This Hozuki Suigetsu is my brother."

So...new story...

You know the drill...

If you like it, leave a review, or something...

Darque: So, this is an idea that's been nagging me for a while, and I decided to try it out, cause why not?

Raven: This will be replacing 'The Path of Endless Togethers' in our updating cycle thingy (Not that we have one), as that one will be ending soon.

Darque: We don't know about pairings yet, for this is still just an idea. I have a few more I want to try out.

Raven: We don't know when they'll be up, for we are updating quite a few, but look forward to those.

Read and Review!