Volumi stared at the shackles on her hands and feet. For the hundredth time that day she looked over to her brother. The slavers had stopped giving them water or food after the last time they tried to break free. That was days ago. Voldo hung his helmeted head far down on his chest. Unlike Volumi, he didn't struggle with his imprisonment; he just sat waiting his fate. Their clan had been rounded up and declared traitors to the Hidden Village of the Rock for a failed assault on the Hidden Village of the Leaf, a month ago. Of course the Tsuchikage was the one who ordered the doomed assault, but politics had a way of forgetting these details. Volumi and Voldo haven't seen their brothers or sisters ever since being sold to slavers. She was pretty, with her shoulder length black hair, uncommon grey eyes and an athletic body. Her face always had a defiant quality about it, a teenage rebel you might say. Even in dirt and blood encrusted clothing, she had rare form. She would fetch a good price at the brothels.

Voldo was anything but pretty. A brown rust collared helmet was screwed on his head, covering everything up to where the jaw met the neck. There were no eye holes, or anything else. Who knew how he at or breathed, let alone saw. All over his body more metal was melded into his skin, chest, arms and legs. Sharp spikes ran throughout the armor. The slavers tried to free him of this, but it was no use, everything was grafted on him. They hoped he'd make a slave worker or miner for a needy clan somewhere, his uniqueness was cause enough for a premium price. The depression from their fall and separation of the family was more than Voldo could take. From inside his mask, sobs reverberated out every now and then. He would be a slave, and his beautiful sister a whore. It was more than he could take when he felt Volumi hold herself close. Their captors took pleasure in hurting her when they tried to escape. Each time they were beaten down to submission. Well, maybe not Volumi. She hadn't broken yet. Their other cell mates in the carriage were the usual criminals, bandits and the like.

Each off to get sold.

Volumi noted that the day was muggy; her face was drenched in sweat. The caravan was going through a dense forest, along a well paved road. Were they in the south? Or the North? The forest was much denser than she was used to seeing. How can this be happening? Her clan did what they were told. Her family had fought hard. She was a ninja. A proud ninja blessed with a bloodline limit. This is not how things were supposed to work. This was not supposed to be her life. Her younger brother wasn't meant to be a slave. And she... On and on the thoughts went. Volumi became angry and gnashed her teeth. She was going to die before anyone touches her. Again she looked down at the shackles that made her captive. Then to the sides, where the caravan guards were walking along. They were Rock ninjas. It was them who betrayed her! The clan did what they were told! How could you do this to your brothers and sisters? Why did the Tsuchikage do this?! He lied. They all lied! The frustration was growing and growing. She'd rather die than become a slave.

What was that? Volumi's eyes looked off to the side of the road, where the trees started. Movement. Subtle, but it was there. Her clan was renowned for their senses; she knew Voldo felt it through the air. There were others, too subtle to be mere bandits. Was this a raid? An attack? Hope sprang eternal. She and Voldo could make a run for it in the chaos.

'Voldo, jump when I go' Volumi whispered. Her grey eyes now looked around her in every direction. Voldo's head was up and alert too. This might be their only shot. Slowly and quietly, he stretched his arms and legs apart, straining against the metal. He was strong, stronger than these handcuffs. They had broken the previous pair but the slavers had suspected that the metal was just rusty and weak. So they tripled the number of hand cuffs. Voldo broke the new steel shackles but didn't make a move to alert attention. Volumi heard the strain of the chains and let out a wail of anguish to hide the sound of its break. A guard took note of the girl crying. Hah, maybe she was finally learning her new station in life. Volumi then threw herself at her brother for support and cried into his metal covered shoulder. Voldo surreptitiously broke her hand and leg chains. They snuggled together, seemingly falling into a depression. The other slaves were too defeated themselves to spare them a look even in the tight quarters. Both brother and sister now waited. The forest was more and more alive as time went on. Something was to happen. The caravan finally stopped still on the road. The guards' tension was high. Everyone on the road knew they were not alone. A fight was in the offing.

A kunai flew through the forest and impaled a slaver through the head. Bedlam erupted. Ninjas in mixed clothing came out of the forest from both sides of the caravan and immediately set aim at the guards. The guards formed a circle and fought for their lives. It was instantly obvious that they were out manned. Judging by the number of kunai thrown, out gunned as well. The kunai targeted everyone from merchants, farmers taking their loads to the city for sale to slavers. It was an all out kill mission. Everyone in the prisoner carriage made a ruckus to flee. Volumi and Voldo immediately jumped out of the carriage and made a run for it. Only to meet with a group of Rock nin guards. Voldo fought with taijutsu and Volumi began to emit shock waves from her body. The concussive blasts threw those near by away. Still, the Rock nin were fighting back 5 against 2. Then 4 more joined the fray. Volumi guessed that these nin were specifically told to handle the newly branded traitors. Voldo held his own, his strong attacks doing damage while hurting little from the enemies' strikes. Volumi was exerting her all in this fight, chakra powered blasts coming from her nonstop. She would not be a slave. Not now. Not ever!

Maybe her wish would be granted, the guards were over powering the brother and sister. All up and down the road the raiders had finally come out of the forests to meet the guards head on. Jutsus of fire, lightning and wind rang throughout. More often than not bystanders were killed. It was by intention; none was supposed to leave the caravan. The slaves in Volumi and Voldo's carriage were already riddled with knives. The raiders were winning. But were these bandits? A gang? Who were they? There was just too many of them. Overwhelming forces for even a caravan this large. There just weren't enough guards. Hell it looked like a whole ninja battalion made up the attacking force. Overwhelming.

Volumi was losing power. She had furiously kept as many of the Rock ninjas at bay while her brother took on two at a time that got through. He was ailing from constant hits. Mud walls, chakra powered punches and kicks. Boulders rising out of the ground and flying towards the pair. Both of them had been hit and fought on the losing battle. Three of the guards in unison blasted massive boulders at the girl. With all the chakra that her body could muster up, Volumi blasted the boulders out of the air and then collapsed. Voldo turned to his fallen sister and was immediately set upon by 2 of the remaining guards.

The remaining Rock nin were killed by the sudden appearance of short blonde boy with blue eyes and three scars on each cheek. Using an impossibly sharp straight sword, the 'Grass Cutter,' had sliced through both their bodies in one flowing movement. The stranger stood calmly, seeing the convulsing girl on the ground and to the metal encrusted fighter being pounded to the ground. The three ninjutsu users that struck Volumi now targeted him. With practiced ease, he dodged, glided past all the boulders. He escaped walls of mud that rose to imprison him and stepped away from attempts to hit him from beneath his feet. Voldo during this time jumped defensively in front of the fallen Volumi. After giving them a chance, the boy transformed the 3 ninjas were transformed into 6 mangled pieces. The remaining two that were beating upon Voldo looked up to square off against the killing machine. But they weren't fast enough to stop two kunai that were thrown deep into their foreheads. All around the caravan, the sounds of fighting died. The raiders won. But Voldo didn't care, his beloved sister was dying and he didn't know what to do.

Voldo's battered form sat up from the ground and painfully crawled to Volumi. She was shaking horridly. Her eyes flittered behind closed lids, arms and legs twitching frightfully. Voldo felt the air out of her mouth, they were shallow and uneven. Volumi was going to die. After all this, the only person he had left was dying and he could do nothing. Voldo sat next to her body, saying nothing, noticing nothing around him. Voldo's mysterious savior scanned the road on both sides, and communicated softly ninjas that appeared to his side. Once that was done he slowly walked to the pair on the ground.

'Chakra exhaustion. Too far gone, if I give her chakra tablets the stomach will not be able to handle it. I am sorry.' Then he started to walk away to a group of raiders tending to the injured.

A hoarse, broken voice. One that is rarely if ever used followed him. 'Plleaase'

What must have been the leader of the huge raiding party, stopped in his tracks without turning around. 'The only thing I can do will make her a slave just as much as those in the caravan would.'

'Ppleeaase'

'No. I refuse.' Said the boy still walking.

'Ffa.Ffaammilleee'

At this, the Leader stopped and turned around. Voldo felt him come close to him and Volumi. His chakra was like nothing he ever felt before. Monstrous, poisonous and evil. It took all his will and sadness for his sister to not shake. Azure blue eyes scanned the girl rapidly falling to death. He formed quick seals with his hands ending in the Snake. Fangs grew in his mouth and in a sickening image; his neck elongated and bit Volumi at the neck. The head snapped her jugular long and hard. Voldo upon realizing what was happening, had to be restrained by two of the raiders, he was too weakened to stop whatever was happening to his sister.

Volumi screamed in pain! So loud, Voldo thought it was her death throes. She screamed and screamed but the head remained locked on her neck. Raging red chakra flew through her body. The convulsing became ten times as strong. Frantic. The evil chakra filled her body from head to toe. Volumi's mind became conscious again. Conscious to pain and fire. She screamed as her body felt like it was burning in hell. Volumi felt power, but not her own. The pain was incessant and the conscious brain was knocked back to sleep. The neck grotesquely contracted bringing the head to its body. If Voldo could see, he would have noticed the sadness etched in the boys face. Voldo did notice that he was doubled back as if suddenly weakened. Two ninjas quickly came to his side, holding him upright and steady. The boy looked very weak and old; the monstrous chakra levels were not felt anymore. But what made Voldo grab Volumi was realization that she was going to live. She was going to live! They were saved! Voldo fell unconscious, finally laid low by his injuries. A group of medical ninjas took Voldo and Volumi away.

What a strange, wonderful day.

That night Volumi was dreaming she swam in a lake of fire. There was a short boy with blonde hair and blue eyes, floating above her and held out his hand. She woke up at the angel's touch to a large campfire filled with people young and old. She immediately clutched the left side of her neck, it was burning. A medic nin rushed to her side, checking her vitals. Volumi couldn't move much, she was still too weak. But the words out of the medic's mouth froze her blood still regardless.

'Thank Kami-sama you've woke. The Otokage has been waiting all night'