Hey all! Hopefully you're enjoying the story thus far. I know it's going a little slow, but I need important things to happen first. Also, this chapter turned out to be a little shorter than I wanted, but I think that's okay too. I need to just start pumping these babies out, and I'm sure it would make everyone happy : )

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Mutants 3

Everything had been going well, too. One of his clones had managed to swipe a wallet and was on its way back to Naruto. That's when it had happened. That clone had disappeared…

That in itself wasn't the most troubling part, because sometimes he lost concentration and one of his clones would pop without him really realizing it, or someone would bump into the clone a little too hard, and that would also disperse it.

He had been using clones so often that he was used to these things happening, and he was also used to the feedback he had gotten from said clone, but it still felt intrusive to him The memories of the clone picking the pocket of a clueless, rich man flowed through his memories, making his eyes flutter.

Someone else's memories invading his system, even though that someone had been a clone of himself, made him feel weird. It was like reliving someone else's life, and the longer the clones had been out, the longer the memories were.

Before he could completely recover from the first intrusion, four more clones disappeared in quick succession, and the feedback from all the clones at once caused Naruto to flinch. When the final four clones disappeared a second later, Naruto fell to his knees. The feedback was just too much to take.

His eyes were closed as memories and thoughts danced through his vision- That girl is cute- Which bastard would have the most money- is that ramen- oooh, they have some pretty charms here- that woman must have a lot of money in her purse- those kids look like they're about my age- yeah, that girl is definitely cute I wonder if I should go talk to- that man is perfect! He'll definitely be my targ- that woman's purse much cost a couple hund- I fucking love ramen-

It took Naruto longer than he'd like to admit to hear the footsteps of another, and even if he wanted to run away quickly, Naruto could only just open his eyes and try to figure out where the noise was coming from.

His vision was hazy, probably from the memories that had just settled into his brain, and he tried to blink away his drowsiness. After a few moments, the haziness didn't leave his vision, and he was left with a heavy fog that surrounded the rooftop.

"Is this-"

"Mist," A voice boomed from across the rooftop. "Why yes it is."

"But it was sun-"

"Ah yes," the voice continued, and now it was even closer. Naruto tried to roll out of the way when he heard the presence beside him, but a foot on his stomach prevented him from doing so. How hadn't he been able to feel this person before they had landed on his rooftop? He had used nine clones, but Naruto usually had a good sense of when he was in danger… "This is a special mist boy, one that my associate has created.

"You really shouldn't worry about it though," the man said, and through the white mist, Naruto could just make out a silhouette of the man in front of him. "You won't be awake much longer."

And then something hard came crashing down against his head, and he was out.

XxX

He found her in the clearing that she always had enjoyed taking walks in; his father was nowhere to be found. He didn't concern himself with that though, instead his eyes flashed an even darker crimson as he saw his mother bleeding out before him.

Sasuke's anger overtook him, and before he knew it, a lightning charged hand was being slammed through his attacker's chest. It hadn't been just any lightning charged hand, his lightning charged hand…

He didn't have time to be surprised, or thankful that his ability had finally decided to come. His mother was on the ground bleeding, dying before him, and there was nothing he could do about it.

"Yyyou unlocccked," his mother started, blood dripping down her mouth, "yourrr abillittty."

"Mom," Sasuke's voice was tight, and he was trying to fight the tears that were threatening to fall. "You should try to save your strength."

"Ttthey took yourrr fattther, Sasuke," his mother ignored him, which was typical. The thought made the tears escape.

"Who?" Sasuke questioned, because he needed to know. Who would attack the Uchiha clan? Who would attack the strongest group of mutants and expect to walk away unscathed? Whoever it was was stupid, because Sasuke swore he would seek vengeance against them.

"Tttthe –"

His mother was not able to continue as a loud booming sound echoed through the clearing. Sasuke leaped away from the attack easily, flipping over the bullet that was meant to connect with his chest, and then launched himself at the man clad in all black.

His glowing eyes were able to predict his enemy's movements, and he disposed of the other man quickly. When he turned back to his mother, though, Sasuke was surprised to find his brother and Shisui kneeling beside her unmoving body.

"Brother," his voice cracked, and he no longer felt ashamed of the tears coming down his own eyes because he saw them reflected in both Itachi's and Shisui's eyes.

"We need to leave," Itachi said, and Sasuke could hear the strain in his voice. He had never seen his brother cry before, it strange to see his big brother so emotional. "There are many of them still around the compound."

"But what about everyone-"

"Either dead or captured," Itachi said as he stood. Sasuke blanched at that comment; everyone other than the three of them were-

"Let's go Little Cousin," Shisui said as he appeared beside Sasuke. Sasuke could only nod as the two herded him out of the compound; he felt too numb to move on his own.

XxX

Sakura had observed the new guard quite a few times over the course of the week, but she still could not figure him out. He seemed to be aloof, but completely aware at all times. Whenever he was her guard when she was brought back to her room, which happened more often than not, Sakura could never play possum… he always called her out on it. He seemed amused the first time she had passed him with Ebisu, but he wouldn't allow her to pretend when he was escorting her back.

Coincidentally enough, he was also the nicest guard out of the lot, which wasn't a lot to say after having awful guards over the years, but after being in here as long as Sakura had been, it was something.

She had never been treated like a human being before... that was, well it was weird to say the least. Being treated like one.

Kakashi, because he had actually introduced himself to her on their first trip together to Kabuto's office, allowed her to walk to and from Kabuto's office on her own accord. She had never been given that liberty in all of her sixteen years.

Opening her eyes, Sakura's connected with Kabuto's gray ones. It seemed their session was over.

"Mm," Kabuto said with a frown as he unstrapped her body from the table. "I think you're up to something Sakura. You haven't said a mean word to me through the whole session, and todays was longest session we've had together."

"Maybe I'm finally settling into my role here," Sakura remarked, her brain still trying to understand who the new guard was and why he acted so strangely, while simultaneously breaking down the compound within her bloodstream.

Kabuto snorted as he unstrapped the last strap. Sakura slowly sat up and felt slightly woozy from the medicine Kabuto had shot her up with. This new batch was especially potent. She hadn't had enough time to completely break down the chemicals as much as she had hoped she would. It seems he had used more than normal amount too…

"You'll never break, Sakura," Kabuto said with a slight upturn of his lips. "That's why you're my favorite here."

"What a wonderful thing to be," Sakura mused sarcastically from her slightly slouched position. She felt Kabuto's hand on her shoulder and sluggishly flinched when his other hand lifted her chin up.

"I talk about you," Kabuto spoke as his eyes scanned her face. "I let my mentor know about you and your abilities… he finds them incredibly interesting."

"I'm surprised I've stayed in the same cell all these years then," Sakura said as her mind went to her memories of her life here. She had never met someone higher up on the food chain than Kabuto, and she doubted he was up very high anyways. A mutant turned into a mutant experimenter? Yeah, she doubted he was up very high on the MICU's list.

"I never said my mentor was here, Sakura," Kabuto said, and his lips twisted upward in a devious sort of smile. "I was actually just talking to him about-"

"Are you done here?" Kakashi's voice rang out. Had she really not heard the door open, or had Kakashi really been that quiet? She did not know the answer, but either way, she did not like it.

"Ah, good old Kakashi," Kabuto spoke as he took a step away from her. Sakura continued to try to cleanse her body of the chemical in her system, and stood up a little straighter than she had previously. "You're usually late."

"Am I?" Kakashi asked in question. Sakura had heard that tone enough to understand that Kakashi was being intentionally oblivious. "I thought I was usually right on time…"

"Today it would seem so," Kabuto said with a frown as he took another step away from her. "I would hurry up before you are late though… I know the next patient will be coming in within the next few moments."

Sakura stumbled from her spot on the exam table, but then Kakashi was there holding her up and keeping her steady. His clothed hand had wrapped around her upper arm, and he steadily led her out of the room.

Sakura's feet stumbled once in the hallway, and that caused Kakashi's pace to slow down.

"Couldn't expel enough of the poison?" Kakashi asked as he led her through the winding corridors of the base. The way they were walking was new, but that was usually what Kakashi did. Every second day he would change their route back to her cell… she knew he did it on purpose, though she did not understand his reasons.

She knew the way back to her cell better than any guard here. It was strange to see them taking a longer route. She estimated this walk would take them forty-seven seconds longer than their usual one…

"… I don't know what you're talking about," Sakura said slightly surprised. She had not told anyone she could breakdown the compound, so how had Kakashi known?

"Of course you don't," Kakashi said, and he seemed to be amused again. "I don't know what I was just saying either…"

The rest of the walk was quiet, and Sakura took the time to breakdown the rest of the compound. She wondered what kinds of drugs they mixed to get her in this state, and how much it effected all of the others on her cellblock.

When the time came, would her people be able to defend themselves and escape? It was highly unlikely, but Sakura hoped as many people would gain freedom as possible.

"Let me go you mother fucking asshole!" Sakura's head tilted up as she watched a flash of blond hair spring into her view. She had never seen this particular mutant before, but she knew that he was one, because he wore the same obnoxious yellow jumpsuit as she. "I swear I'm going to-"

"Shut up you little shit," it was the mean guard who was handling him, which usually happened to mutants who were just brought into the facility, or on ruthless days. It was a scare tactic to beat many of the mutants into submission; it rarely worked, but the powers that be thought it made them less likely to escape.

Sakura watched the blond grunt as he was slammed into the wall. She could see the blood dripping down his scalp from where his head had connected with said wall. "Can't make any of those damn copies with Kabuto's crap running through your veins, huh?"

Sakura did not like how the blond was being treated, and before she could stop herself, she was walking towards the mean guard, her fist was raised. She was only able to take one-step, however, when she felt her arms being pulled down to her sides.

She had forgotten Kakashi was there, and that he was a guard who was supposed to stop her. Her eyes widened slightly when she tried to struggle out of his grip, but his hands held her in place; where did all of her super strength go?

"It didn't leave you," Kakashi said as he guided her down a different hallway. His grip on her had tightened to an almost painful degree. "I just copied it."

That was when she noticed the warm feeling along her arms, and that Kakashi's hands were no longer covered in gloves.

"Your ability," Sakura realized with a frown as Kakashi continued to guide her back to her cell. Even if she wanted to throw Kakashi off her person, she couldn't, because he now had the same strength she did.

"I'm known as the Copy Cat," Kakashi nodded as the two arrived at her cell door. She wanted to struggle out of the man's grip, but Kakashi's next words stilled her. "We can't… wait a little longer."

He then gently pushed her into her room, and locked the cell door. Once again, she was left with only questions, but time was on her side for this. She had time to muse about these questions, hours upon hours really, and she would come up with the correct answers before she saw him again.