WARNING: Implied depictions of bloodshed/violence, arson, and ideologically sensitive subjects ahead.

CONTINUE WITH CAUTION.

How the Irons of Love Bond

Twenty-Eight Fetters, Snakes under the Red Dawn

Deep within the densest woodlands in the Land of Sound lurked a den of snakes. The air had lowered, now that Tenten had arrived. Slithering across her feet, an occasional snake or two didn't regard her as a guest, or even a threat. It was as if they'd acknowledged her as a fellow.

"Welcome to my den of revolutionaries, my dear."

Therefore, anyone who entered Orochimaru's den was considered brethren.

Tenten was put on high alert. She heard a disembodied voice coming from the altar. She faced it, but darted her eyes about the chamber. The double doors behind her had shut, but she did not look back. She strangled her fear, asphyxiating her flight response, and stood firmly before her new master.

A man cloaked in oxblood stood beside the mouth of a great stone serpent. The statue's candle-eye only brought a glimpse of his face: The shadows were too deeply set to perceive him fully. One thing its light did capture was the sharp flash of an eyeglass.

On the opposite side stood Hatsu Hyūga, uncloaked to express his neutrality. The Hidden Leaf defector had personal reasons for coming to the Snake Sage, aside from anything his father had consigned him to. As per agreement, Hazukaki had donated his son to Orochimaru in exchange for the Hyūga genocide. Due to this reasoning being outside the realm of Hatsu's knowledge, he'd been led to believe that—as his father's favorite child—he was "chosen" to become Orochimaru's magnum opus in his senjutsu application research. Living samples, such as Jūgo and Kimimaro, were simply donors to the cause; he found himself appreciating their contributions rather than deriding them for their lack of enthusiasm. He had no words for the dead ones, however.

The kunoichi hardened her gaze, as she was still wary. Nothing felt quite like home just yet. It was far too soon for that.

"Please," came another reptilian hiss, "come closer, child."

Her brow twitched. "Sweet talk, huh?" She'd long noticed the Sound Four hiding in the upper shadows—most likely on the lookout for a potential double-cross. Turning her eyes from the ceiling, she refocused her sights ahead. In perfect sync with each other, Jūgo and Kimimaro stepped apart to let her pass.

The altar before her wasn't intimidatingly tall, but its dark wood and the room's adobe walls made her think she'd walked into a kiln. Although, she could've sworn someone spoke to her just now. The voice told her to approach…but it didn't sound like a voice she recognized. Neither Jūgo nor Kimimaro had said a word to her. And if Hatsu wasn't the one who spoke, was it Kabuto? But that voice didn't match his at all…? Was the speaker invisible? Tenten hiked a brow, halfway wondering if this "Snake Sage" was just a disembodied voice. Did he even have a body? Was he…a ghost? A hallucination, maybe?

"…Do not be alarmed, my dear."

She even suspected him to be some hideous monster. However, when she crested the altar and peeked an expectant eye, both of her eyes gaped. Her shock was visible.

The statue's eyes flickered sharply.

For a stunningly beautiful man sat before her.

"Now, then. Hold there, little dear… and let me ascertain your beauty."

Tenten blushed furiously. "B-Beauty?" Hearing such a thing had thrown the kunoichi off guard, yet again. It took her aback, but a moment's catch made her refocus. She did as she was told, but some counter-reconnaissance was in order.

The man had rosy-white skin, milky as porcelain, so much that it was hard to fathom he was real. His eyes bore a piercing chartreuse tint—not yellow, but not quite green, either. His upper eyelids, sculpted to resemble a god, were painted an almost seductive purple. The contrast brought an allure to his face. And, as if to heighten it further, he possessed long, black hair. Slightly uneven bangs draped to his chest; she could only assume it did the same in the back. More hair was done up into a chignon, complete with chopsticks and a comb…?

Wait. Wasn't the Snake Sage supposed to be a man? He sounded like one.

Before she had the chance to ask, Tenten found him smoothing out her hand with his own. It was soft, so unexpectedly soft she had to blush.

With a grade of warmth, he spoke again, "Ahh, lovely. I must have you." He kissed her hand. "I am the Snake Sage of Ryūchi Cave, Orochimaru, though I have only just inherited the title. I am very pleased to make your acquaintance, fellow Hidden Leaf defector."

Those last words caught Tenten's attention. "Wait, you deserted the Hidden Leaf, too?"

"Indeed. Upon learning the truth of my father's murder, I left to seek my mother, who'd visit me under night's cover. The crooners in that village's boughs sang of my father's assassination like it was a successful hunt…and I was kept in a cage. For you see, I am the result of a semi-sacrificial union between the previous Snake Sage, my mother, and a human…my father."

Kabuto lowered his head ever so lightly. Hatsu stared off into space under the sage's explanation.

"I say semi-sacrificial, only because my father survived the ritual. I can tell you how the copulation occurred, if you'd like…?" Orochimaru smiled impishly.

Notwithstanding her uneasiness of the idea, she wasn't sure how to respond to it. Perhaps she was surprised by his ability to recall something like that. Her blush never left, and her stomach was still full of butterflies, after all.

A gentle laugh. "Ah hah, hah…Perhaps some other time, my sweet. Well then…you know some of my story, now let's hear some of yours. Shall we?"

He'd never let go of her hand. In fact, he leaned in to kiss it once more. His smile entranced her. It was as if he were the snake that charmed the snake charmer! It was such a dissonantly serene smile. It was a calculated, but genuine, motion. So easy, yet so deceptive.

Tenten didn't know if she was being deceived, but his words entrapped her. He sounded like he wanted to get to know her. He was making a conscientious effort to learn about her. Was his background just a sob story to win some followers? Did he bribe them with empty promises just so they could serve him? Had she fallen into the same trap? Would she become his henchman, too? And yet…?

Is that what it would take to get the power to destroy Sasuke Uchiha?

She wanted to know. So, after a deep breath, the kunoichi shared her story with him.

Beneath the very same woodlands, another nest had been tucked away. However, this one was very unusual. Despite being a tiny offshoot of the massive subterranean "heart" that was Ryūchi Cave, its wayward location made it more of an aversion to the reptilian denizens. It wasn't a rumored location; it was more akin to a naysaid place, one that no one dared talk about—especially amongst said denizens. Going there would be equal to "sending yourself to Hell," most would say. Such things held that common truth.

Due to its location being right under a crow's nest.

It belonged to a strangely solitary crow. It was even fabled to be a demon in disguise, one with a disdain for snakes, since it actively hunted them down. Usually, a crow's feast consisted of carrion. And yet, this nameless crow nested high above an old tree whose roots were exposed due to erosion. The stream next to it had turned into a small waterfall, which fed an ornamental pond. An architect thought to turn the place into a sanctuary of sorts, it appeared. Wooden beams crosshatched with the tree roots, like best friends playing tag. Sadly, it'd been abandoned midway; even a small idol had been placed in its own shrine. To whom it belonged was a mystery.

For now, it would serve as someone else's sanctuary. Complete with its own lea of colorful flora and harmless fauna.

A startled rabbit locked its eyes on the one who coughed.

"Here, drink this, Nagato."

A girl in her mid-teens had brought a misshapen bowl up to a boy around the same age. Shyly, he took the cup—and her hands—up to his lips and drank its contents in one sitting. Apparently, it was medicine because the boy puckered his lips from the bitterness. Coupled with his frazzling red hair and childlike whining, the girl had little choice but to giggle.

"You guzzle it down every time, without fail, Nagato." She blushed a little.

"Yeah, and he makes the same face, without fail, too," another boy, with carroty hair, threw in. "He chugs it like a champ!" He playfully flexed a bicep.

The girl smiled sweetly at Nagato, who'd gotten flustered by the other boy's praise. "I think it's adorable…Teehee!"

Suddenly, a chill ran down the playful boy's spine. His eyes had turned into heartbroken saucers. "Uweh…I-I mean…I guess…" His pouty blush indicated that she was the only girl on his mind, it seemed.

At least, that's how it appeared to the person looking on.

Nagato's red bangs did their best to hide his blush, but his face went redder. "I just want to get better, so I can be strong enough to help you two…"

The other boy and girl beheld their friend's words. His sincerity was a shy brand, but it was that pure-hearted honesty that his friends loved and respected so highly. It was enough for the girl to smile even more sweetly at him. It also made the other boy grin, suddenly.

"That's it! 'Live like a clan, love like a family,' and… oh, 'and fight like comrades!' Yeah, that sounds perfect! Konan, gimme some paper!"

The girl, Konan, made a puzzled face. "What are you going on about, Yahiko? What do you need it for?"

"It's gonna be our motto, of course! It'll be the official tagline of the Akatsuki!"

Konan and Nagato exchanged looks, although Konan remembered she would see nothing but red bangs. Nagato could see her from behind them, right? The notion made her giggle a little.

"C'mon, Konan, write it down! Your calligraphy is way prettier than mine!"

"Hey now, Yahiko—?"

"Pretty please? Pretty, pretty please?" Then, Yahiko's eyes had become fruitful with pleading tears and a squiggly grin. "Pwetty pweasey, wemon squeezey?"

An overt shock take over Konan's usually blank face. Looking for an escape, she turned to Nagato.

Only for her eyes to meet a small, professional-grade calligraphy set. Its lacquer was in pristine condition; it looked like it had only been used once. Beneath the boy's bangs was a smile so confident, Konan couldn't possibly say no to it.

Finally, a huff and a "Just because I can control paper doesn't mean I can put pretty words on it…"

"That's alright! That's why I'll take credit for the words! You're responsible for writing them, Konan, and Nagato is responsible for embodying them. I mean, we all will, but…think of him as our mascot? Ooh, even better! I'll be the face,"—Yahiko pinned a thumb to his chest—"Konan, you'll be the brains"—the girl raised her head from her work—"and Nagato, you're totally the heart of this organization, because we'd be nothing without you!"

Yahiko, the face of the "Akatsuki," continued to brag.

Nagato, the heart, never lost his blush, hiding it in his hands.

Konan, the brain, showed them the crest she'd drawn to symbolize their dream: A fluffy, white cloud.

The person looking on smirked, then spun on a heel. Seamlessly, they danced deeper into the cavern's shadows.

Tenten knew her life was about to take a drastic turn.

"I want power…because…!"

For her, Orochimaru's manipulation didn't matter; it was his promise to her.

"…the Hidden Leaf Village is full of pompous, self-righteous, holier-than-thou airheads," Tenten had begun to retort through clenched teeth. As well as a clenched fist, while her other hand—still in the Snake Sage's grasp—shook with resentful anger. Just thinking about Lee, Neji, and Sasuke infuriated her.

To it, Orochimaru closed his eyes.

"Honor this, and bloodline that…! Everyone else is just a punching bag for those noble clans. That's why Lee will never win against Neji…and why Neji picked Sasuke over me. I'm not from some prestigious clan—I'm a nobody from a nameless town in a forgettable country! And now, the only home I knew…is chockful of liars!"

Lee's indecisive feelings had already overshadowed the steadfast perseverance she'd come to know and love…

"Those idiots don't know what I can do just by giving me sheets of paper and asking questions that have nothing to do with my future! They can shove those test scores right up their asses, for all I care!"

Neji's calm mind and cool demeanor had shattered, leaving a demure rivaling beauty in their wake…

"So I left…and I came here for an opportunity to grow, stronger than anyone else before me, the strongest kunoichi ever!" She fell into a kowtow, slapping her palms against the altar floor. "Please, Lord Sage…as long as you acknowledge my strength, that's all I need…! I don't need them! I don't care—just make me stronger, stronger than I am…right now."—tears escaped—"So I can kill the one who destroyed my only family."

But their visages soon burned, turning to ash, and rose again in the form of a vengeful phoenix. Its burning wings and malevolent feathers took the form of Sasuke's silhouette.

"…So I can kill Sasuke Uchiha."

That vision of him, as a malefic phoenix conflagrating everything she loved, branded itself into her mind. His vow to protect Neji was just an excuse to justify his rage. Just like the phoenix, he was a raging monster that'd lay waste to everything and everyone in his path. She had to stop him; it would be the only way for Neji to be free of him.

"Ah, the baby hawk of the Uchiha Clan?"

Tenten lifted her head. He knew Sasuke? But how?

"I've only had a taste of his blood, but he is a promising vessel. My dear, by the sound of your story it sounds like unrequited love on this 'Neji's' part. Why not redirect that anger to her?"

"Sasuke was the catalyst for her…his sudden change! Neji was a boy, but became a girl just for him…!"

Hatsu said nothing.

Orochimaru pondered for a moment. Then, a quiet deduction was made. He stood from his seat, pulled Tenten up to her feet, and held her securely against his chest. For a moment, his black hair swirled in an ephemeral horror—as if she'd seen a pair of snake eyes. But sooner, she realized they were his eyes. She froze.

"…Hold back your tears, young maiden," came Orochimaru's almost kingly order, "for I hereby grant you the Power of the Phoenix-Dragon Twins."

Everyone else in the room did the same. "What?!" Kabuto snapped.

"Fear not, precious Kabuto. You are the only other worthy of my Power of the White Snake—just as Hatsu has proved himself worthy to the 'Princess' of Ryūchi Cave, Shimasue the Prism Snake." Chakra churned throughout the Snake Sage's body. "As the emissary of all serpent-kind, I can bestow a plethora of powers upon anyone of my choosing. My mother, the previous queen of Ryūchi Cave, instilled me with vast power, and urged me to learn more about her kin."

Suddenly, a pair of coiling chakra streams emerged from within Orochimaru's sleeve. One appeared dark-gold, while the other held a dark-silver sheen.

"Thus, during my endless quest for knowledge, I've stumbled across these two. With their blessing did I acquire their power…and now I shall bequeath it to you, sweet Tenten."

At the snap of his wrist, his gentle clasp had become a vise grip on her arm. She gasped, instantly trying to escape, but it was too late. Another, albeit stronger, yelp leapt from her throat. Her knees gave out, soon after. However, Orochimaru had caught her before she hit the floor. His hair came alive, the hairpins and comb tumbled out of place, his eyes brightened to an eerie gleam, and a serpentine tongue wiggled past his lips.

"Fear not, my sweet. The Twins want to make a contract with you, for they see potential in you and no other. Their chakra must engulf you: Survive, and you will be granted the Seals of Heaven and Earth through the female and male twin, respectively." His grin widened as he watched her writhe against him. He plucked out both her chignons, meanwhile. "Their power also grants you pools of chakra to call from, allowing you to do with it what you will. Your proficiency is ninja tools, is it not?"

Tenten could envision her victory over Sasuke. She would defeat the lording monstrosity, even if it meant her death. By the Snake Sage's grace, she'd defeat the villain and save the princess. Maybe even slap some sense into her, too.

Now, in Orochimaru's arms, Tenten was carried to the foot of the altar. She continued to cringe and twist from the phantom bites' pain. Dark-gold and dark-silver chakra coiled about her body, fighting over which side they'd claim. It made her cry out in pain.

"L-Let m-me go! It hurts! Please! Please, stop—Stop it!"

"We all must go through pain in order to transform ourselves, my sweet," Orochimaru retorted in a rather cold, yet empathetic, tone. "You should be honored. A pair of legendary forces has chosen you as their vessel; I was but a temporary vehicle for them. Said forces, my dear, will grant you the power you seek, thirst, and yearn for—all of your wildest dreams will be realized…at the price of a little suffering."

Two sigils began to burn themselves into the kunoichi's exposed thighs; the foreign chakra was so immense that it'd burned through her clothes. Her yelps had escalated to blood-curdling screams…

The yellow chrysanthemum had turned a vengeful orange.

It had become the symbol of her hatred for Sasuke Uchiha.

The kunoichi figured she could get used to this new life: Better missions, no handicaps, all-out battles, life-or-death struggles, a kickass weapon cache, and new powers to boot? She had exchanged her freedom and weak self for a stronger, more ruthless version of it. Talk about a done deal; it was a steal, she reasoned.

She kept her appearance, more or less: Her hair needed to be braided, due to the new growth alone, though she kept them in a combination of her classic buns and freefalls. Its color remained, however. While some braids kept the upper chignons in place, two longer ones danced at her back. A pair of genetically modified chrysanthemums had been clipped to their bases. Designed to never wilt the vermilion flowers were given as a reward, which Orochimaru presented to her personally.

Especially now that she'd finally advanced into the final phase of the Snake Sake's training.

During that time, Tenten had gained higher prestige in the Sage's den. The Sound Four answered to her now, alongside other higher-ranked jōnin. She'd come to fully embrace her "missing-nin" status. She could feel the breeze on her face, hear the birds in the trees, watch the sun rise and set, and smell the blood of her enemies.

"The final phase of your training begins now. Your assignment is…"

The blood of fellow nobodies.

Existing in that nameless village.

In the country she'd already forgotten.

"…to destroy the village in which you were born."

It burned, just like that evil phoenix's wings. Unlike said phoenix, however, her fires were just—fueled by patience, sadness, madness, and righteous fury. After making such an extreme resignation to fate, she was determined to keep her vow—to get stronger and destroy Sasuke Uchiha. Perhaps, quite possibly, Rock Lee and Neji Hyūga, as well. Even at the expense of their "friendship," Tenten had prepared herself mentally and emotionally for their fateful reunion.

The Phoenix brand on her right thigh burned with assertion.

The Dragon brand on her left, dancing and wriggling in the heated gusts.

In one hand, a war-fan brimmed with living embers; in the other, a cerulean nōdachi with the characters for "burn" etched into its blade. A single chain connected each weapon's pummel.

At Tenten's shoulders were the Sound Four. All of its members began to dwindle from their awakened states by the time the operation was over. The vividness in Tayuya's hair had returned when she noticed Tenten huffing and puffing. She knew the group's new leader was ready to collapse, but somehow she found herself inspired. The new girl was sweating bullets, not only from the heat but the immense chakra drain, too. She reasoned Tenten already figured out that the Power of the Phoenix-Dragon Twins was not quite the same as her own Curse Seal. With more training and meditation she could expand her chakra reserves…but for now, she let her secret admiration for the new girl bud.

"She let us have our fun and finished the mission in record time," Kidomaru quipped, returning to his original state. "Nice work, new girl. Looks like things are gonna get really fun, soon!"

"Taking out that useless village felt cathartic, huh, new girl?" Sakon chuckled behind his oversized sleeve.

"Yeah…you better believe it did," Tenten replied between breathy gasps.

"Ah, Miss Tenten," Jirobo piped up a little too rigidly. "I'll lend you some of my chakra. Let's get outta here before Hidden Village ninja show up."

"Thanks, good idea. We didn't leave any traces, so we should be in the clear. Let's head back to base."

"Understood," the Sound Four saluted.

Nocturnal missions were the easiest, so far. There was something about striking under the cover of darkness that reignited Tenten's killer instinct. Had Orochimaru decoded her so thoroughly within the span of her training? He did study her individual and team-based stats pretty regularly; he even graded her based on her combat and command efficiency. Nonetheless, his grades were the only ones that mattered to her—since he was working with real numbers instead of hidden variables.

Not to mention, the legendary Snake Sage had surrounded himself with geniuses of various calibers: Kabuto Yakushi, the medical ninjutsu scholar; Hatsu Hyūga, the future magnum opus of senjutsu application; Kimimaro, a combat specialist and sole survivor of the Kaguya Clan, as well as his charge, "Bipolar Jūgo," a walking furnace of nature energy. And now, herself—Tenten, a weapons expert and the soon-to-be strongest kunoichi in the world.

As Jirobo carried her back to Orochimaru's hideout, a thought hit her.

"I've…never been recognized as a genius before."

Just then, something flashed through her peripheral vision. She snapped her sights back, but she lost it as soon as she did.

"Miss Tenten?" Jirobo looked down at her.

"What's up?" Kidomaru snuck a hand toward his sword's hilt. "Did you see something?"

"Are we being followed?" Tayuya snapped her eyes around, as well.

"No, guys, it's fine. It was probably a squirrel or something."

Meanwhile, the flames in her nameless homeland rose with the dawn. Jirobo was right; the closest Hidden Village, the Leaf, did send shinobi to extinguish the fire, investigate its origin while searching for survivors, and hopefully pursue the perpetrators. Water Release ninjutsu put out the conflagration in a sound manner. Undertakers identified the lost, and medics treated the survived. Although, only a tiny family had been spared by the blaze: A small girl and her younger brother.

Now a proper chūnin, it was Sasuke Uchiha who'd found and reported the children safe. He looked down at the little girl clinging to his leg, and at the boy shivering in his arms. Both children sobbed, reluctant to let Sasuke go. Nevertheless, the now fifteen-year-old Uchiha soothed them both and asked them to be strong. The little boy's sobs quieted, but the little girl appeared to be blushing a bit. She was no older than five, it seemed.

"Stay strong…if not for yourself, then for your little brother…and for me. Okay?"

Sasuke's gentle tone resonated in the girl. He smoothed out her hair, smiling the whole time. He wanted her to be strong, for her sake, her brother's, and his own.

Because the longer he looked at her, the more he longed to see Itachi.

A nurse had come to take the siblings in for treatment. It left Sasuke lost in thought for a spell. His raven-black hair had grown out a little, as visibly longer bangs billowed in a sorrowful breeze.

Flowing ahead of him, in that very breeze, were chestnut locks.

Neji Hyūga had accompanied the entourage, employing her Byakugan to pursue the arsonists. Despite her swiftness and calculations, the criminals had already fled. She returned empty-handed, but not empty-minded. She had a strong hunch about who was responsible, so she reported her findings to her squad leader. Unfortunately for Might Guy, his worst fear had into fruition.

Now, it was Lee's turn.

Neji stood behind Lee, who'd knelt before a cliff. She noticed a small boulder and a ring of small rocks around it; he made a makeshift memorial for the deceased. He hadn't turned to face her. He didn't say a word.

It was with a heavy heart, but Neji announced, "I've discovered who was responsible for this, Lee."

It was for the grave, but Lee found himself unable to part with the charred ragdoll. "Yes. Kiba and Akamaru did, as well." He gripped it tighter. "It was Tenten…was it not?"

"Yes, it was her. But she didn't act alone. They were at least two others with her…?"

"She was…she was standing…right here, when she did it. I do not know how, and I do not know why, but she stood here…overlooking the entire town…when it happened."

Neji turned her eyes downward. "Oh, Lee…"

"I…I must…forgive her. Neji, it hurts…so much…to know she did this."

"I know, Lee. I'm sorry…"

"No, it is alright. This is not your fault, Neji."

Sasuke put a hand on her shoulder. When she locked eyes with him, that same hand had clasped itself onto her own. Palm-to-palm.

The doll Lee placed on the grave reminded her of the one she found at the Hyūga Compound's remains. It made her eyes well with tears. The sunlight, undaunted by the fleeting night, careened over the treetops. Songbirds twittered. Fawns and their mothers carried on in the same peace they'd always known. Skulking wolves retreated to their dens. Nature carried on, with and without human interference.

Hence, in honor of that resilience, Lee made an oath. He pulled out a kunai, raised it over his head, and plunged it into his left palm. With a determination Neji had never seen before, Lee pledged, "I swear upon this wound that I will fight and persevere. I will endure all pain, inside and out, in the name of love and grace. I will fight for Tenten, my one true love, even if I have to fight her—the embodiment of that love! I will fight for my friends! I will fight for the Hidden Leaf! And, in the name of my sensei, I vow to unlock my truest potential, and become the strongest ninja without ninjutsu or genjutsu!" He snatched the dagger out of his fresh wound, stabbed it into the ground, and raised his wounded fist into the air. "I promise I will fight with all my strength, Tenten," he continued, "for that is my nindo—my ninja way!"

Resolute tears raced down Lee's face, but a just-as-resolute smirk brightened his face. He brought down his fist and clenched it harder.

Sasuke and Neji stood together at Lee's back. Morning pressed upon their backs as the sun slowly marched higher and higher. Crooked limbs had shed their leaves. Winter was on the way, and a lot more training—both physical and mental—was planned. Now chūnin, Sasuke Uchiha and Neji Hyūga had stepped into their future, and the next horizon awaited them.

As a silent promise, it was what the crow awaited to see, as well.

How the Irons of Friendship Bond…

Jun Yabriel: I'm still alive, everyone. And I have to say...I was in agony for months because I couldn't update anything for a while. First, it was my depression. Next, it was a family issue. Then, holiday depression, no Wi-Fi, and now...here it is. I'm in the very slow process of moving, too. Busy tired bee, that's me.

Anyway, I've finally made it to the end of the unofficial 'Part 1' of HILB. Next is 'Part 2' - which means we're hop-skipping over to Shippuden! (It's about time, woman!) More characters? More backstory? More tragedy? More romance? Hmm, most likely. Just know, for future reference, that canon ages may be changed throughout to suit the plot. So far, here's what we have learned: Orochimaru has absolutely NO business being the attractive-as-frick motherfracker he is (What have I done?); the canon Snake Sage is his mommy and his daddy's dead; Kabuto is secretly an Orochimaru fan-whore; Hatsu may or may not be redeemed; the Ame Orphans are precious babies that WILL be protected; there's a crow that hunts and eats snakes; Tenten's drunk on lovesickness and has joined the dark side; KimiJugo is cute as frack, and so is TayuTen (though it may or may not remain implied); LeeNeji is officially debunked, but we all knew that (right?); LeeTen, however, is a ship that's trying its best not to sink; Naruto will play a more major role later on, and WILL be shipped with Gaara (still working out the details, though); and last, but not least, Sasuke and Neji will...NOT BE SPOILED.

Although, expect characters that you weren't expecting to show up. You're welcome. Have a nice Valentine's Day, y'all. Remember: Reviews are awesome, so be awesome today! *SHING!*