The rain pounded down as Kari limped to find shelter. Clutching her side, blood leaked through her fingers leaving a trail. Gasping as she collapsed into a heap under a tree, Kari's long black hair fell in front of her face becoming matted with her tears, mud and the rain from above. She slumped down curling into a ball. I can't believe it…I can't believe they're all gone…Kari threw her head back in anguish and screamed into the storm. She felt the cool air of sleep begin to overcome her as she remembered what had happened.

Today had started like any other day for Kari. She awoke in her village and received a message from the Tsuchikage. She swallowed the lump in her stomach when her team was told that they would be on a top secret S ranked mission. As chunins this was an assignment way above their skill sets but, as the Tsuchikage explained, all of the village jonin were out on other missions and they were the only remaining team that would come close to being able to complete the mission. Just after crossing the border Kari's team was ambushed by a clan of rouge ninjas. She watched in horror as one by one her team fell, covered in blood. The last words she heard were her childhood friend Yuuko mouthing "Run". In her exasperation she got out of there as fast as she could, not knowing which way was up. Now as she laid against the tree she realized that she was hopelessly lost. Working to keep herself awake for fear of death, Kari tried to clean her wounds but sleep crept over her like fire melting frost.

Warmth spread through Kari as she pried open her eyes bleary with sleep and sealed shut with tears. Subconsciously she burrowed into the source of the warmth and smelled earth. Once her eyes were fully opened she was able to see that she was in someone's arms. "Who are you?" She yelled meekly, coughing heavily afterword. Frightened she tried to pull away from them.

"Don't worry" the voice replied in a mildly soothing manner. "I won't hurt you." The last words seemed to hiss out of her savior's mouth.

"Promise?" Kari replied. She didn't have the energy to fight this man right now, nor did she want to.

"Promise" he replied. With this Kari reentered the land of sleep.

The next thing she remembered was waking up in bed with her wounds dressed and a blanket over top of her. She sat up but the pounding in her head forced her to lay back down. She looked at her surroundings. All of the walls were bare and it looked as if no one lived here. Candles lit the room and their flames danced when the door opened. Kari pulled the blanket up to her face. "You're awake" the figure said. She recognized the voice as the man who carried her here.

"Yeah" she replied, the pounding in her head amplifying. "Who are you?" she mumbled from under the covers. The man pulled to covers away from her face. Kari took in his pale complexion and long black hair. He didn't look much older than she was, yet something about him gave her the impression that he was much wiser than his age.

"Orochimaru" the man replied. "My name is Orochimaru"