Yūbi was pulled by the person down the hallways. It was hard for her to keep up at the brisk pace they were putting on. Once she had almost fallen, gripping tightly onto the one whom was leading her. They had seemed stunned, but had pushed her back off and pulled her once more along carelessly. Finally, they reached a room, and Yūbi was once again yanked inside, the door shutting. The room was lit fairly well, and she faced her 'captor', it being none other then the young Uchiha.

"S.. Sa.." she stumbled on his name, backing up against the wall as she fought to stay standing.

"My name is Sasuke," he said smoothly, his voice holding a small bit of impatience.

"Sasu..ke.." Yūbi repeated slowly, before finally getting a better look at him. He wore dark shorts, a blue and partially white top, along with white arm cuffs. She swallowed nervously, feeling her tail constantly wrapping and unwrapping around her legs, her ears flattening against her skull. Sasuke opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off first, "W-why did you bring me here?"

"You were wandering about the halls. If someone else would have caught you, you most likely wouldn't be conscious," he answered carefully, weaving through a set of hand motions and looking down, his gaze shadowing. Yūbi gasped, flinching back even further against the wall as she saw Sasuke's hand spark with electricity, a small, almost chirping sound, emanating from it. "Also.. the fact that you were with Akatsuki before hand.. which means.." he suddenly looked back up, eyes widening as his Sharingan spun into action.

"...you know where their hideout is, and where my brother is as well. If you tell me now, things will go along smoothly." Oh, his eyes.. they kept spinning and spinning.. she didn't like it. Itachi's eyes were always so.. so calm and smooth, nothing like this younger boy's. His were impatient and ambitious, and she could tell that he was not as strong as his own brother.

"Why do you want to know?" she finally managed out, still pressed up back against the wall. Her voice had regained its confidence, even though it was still wary and unsure.

"Do I not have a right to know where my own flesh and blood is?" he simply answered, advancing a step towards her.

"N..not if it means you're going to harm him," she retorted, flattening her ears once more as she saw a flicker of anger and aggravation in his eyes for a brief moment.

"I won't," he finally said, his demeanor calming as he straightened. Soon enough, the sparking ball of lightning died from his hand, and his eyes paled back to the onyx they once were. "I can offer you a deal, though," she let a flicker pass through her eyes. A deal? What was he playing at..? "It's a simple offer, and I would see no reason for you to not take it." he looked down for a few moments, as if contemplating on whether to really say it or not. "I get you out of here, and offer you protection until you get back to Akatsuki. And in return, you just have to take me to see my brother." he looked back up, his eyes intense and almost pressuring.

"So, do we have a deal?"

Yūbi was quiet as she stared at him. Was he serious? There had to be some catch to this, there had to be. It would all be too easy. All he wanted to do was see his brother, and he already said he wouldn't harm Itachi.. that and the fact he offered full protection for her, and guarantee that she would make it back to the hideout, so what was honestly so bad?

Maybe they're aiming to attack the Akatsuki? The thought crossed her mind, and as soon as it did, it all made sense. But what happens if the young Sasuke Uchiha wasn't actually affiliated with the others in this base? Well, what if he was just acting to be their ally, waiting for the chance to find someone who knew where the hideout was, to come along, and he would ask for their help to go see his brother?

Too many options blazed through Yūbi's mind, so all she simply asked was, "What's expected of me? Just to show you where the Akatsuki are?" He looked over her for another moment, not answering. She felt uncomfortable with his gaze on her, especially considering the fact that she had just attained this body and was still unclothed.

"Well," he finally stared, letting his gaze flick back up to her face. She locked eyes with him, a sudden nervous tension spreading through her being, "you can't be completely useless, of course." she continued to look into his eyes. She saw his face grow alight all of a sudden, and heard the familiar chirping of the lightning once more. He began towards her, and all she could do was stand there rigidly as he advanced. Was he really going to hurt her? Really going to-

The rest of Yūbi's thoughts didn't get a chance to process. A horrid, searing pain suddenly swept straight across her stomach, and in reply, she let out a startled choking-scream, slamming hard into the wall, despite being thoroughly pressed up against it, before slumping down to her knees, nearly falling fully to the ground. Luckily, she thrust her arms out just in time to catch herself, coughing and letting out another small wail as the pain simply vibrated throughout her body.

He.. he really had injured her! Shock erupted throughout her body, and she convulsed, coughing up a large capful of blood, cringing in pain again and soon tumbled down to her side. Every once in awhile, she would jolt as the electricity took ahold of her body, and finally, she managed to look up into the eyes of the Uchiha. Cold. Hard. Relentless. He knew what he had just done, and didn't seem to look back at it with a second thought. What suddenly did flash through his eyes, however, was a flick of surprise as he averted his gaze to the injury. Yūbi looked down slowly as well, almost crying out as she spotted what he had.

As the blood pooled around her small body, a baby blue and creamy white foam like substance begun to mingle with the blood, but she soon saw it was starting to form around the injury itself. It just kept oozing out of the bubbling- and still somewhat electrifying- wound, slowly starting to create a film over all of the blood and injury, before it settled.

She just looked, unsure about what it was, and shakily drew a hand out from beneath her, running it over her bloodied stomach to the injured section, letting her fingers smooth and slide over the film. It was.. cold. Almost like ice. At first she could poke her finger into it, and it would indent, before shifting back. But as she tried to more, it became harder, and soon enough, it literally crystalized. She now had a crystalized scar across her stomach, and that was something she didn't know what to make of.

"Crystal?" she heard Sasuke's confused murmur, and all she could do was look up at him, tears brimming her soft eyes in confusion and fear. Sasuke simply ignored her stare, focusing solely on the wound. "That could be useful.." he murmured, watching the crystal lightly fester, and Yūbi watched as well, able to see the wound starting to dwindle in depth. Soon enough, as if by miracle, the wound had completely healed, only leaving a small trace of a scar across her pale colored stomach. She shifted, soon scrambled to her feet, panting lightly as she felt a sudden rush of lightheadedness, and a huge amount of fatigue swarm over her.

She collapsed again, coughing as she tried to push herself back up, able to luckily and successfully do so as she leaned back against the wall, tail lashing and ears twitching periodically. "W-why did you do that?" she suddenly spat at the Uchiha, now clawing at the crystals on her stomach, managing to rip them off and drop them to the ground. They were no longer clear, but now the same dark crimson color that stained part of her stomach and breasts, as well as the floor.

"To see if you any potential. It could have gone three ways: on way is that you could have miraculously blocked the attack, and had a sudden rush to attack me back; the other is what just happened: you manage to heal yourself, and the last is that you had no potential chakra at all, and would have simply died," he answered, looking blankly at her. "Now, answer me: do you accept my offer?"

Yūbi stared at him as if he had just suggested they go on a date together. "No!" she simply spat out, and he narrowed his eyes, his Sharingan once more flaring into activation.

"Fine. If you really don't want to." he said, stalking up to her once more and took a hold of her arm, swinging the door open as he dragged her once more into the dimly lit hallways. He lead her down them various, not even breaking pace despite her stumbling, and soon, lead her back into the room she had awaken in. He shoved her in there, and obviously, she stumbled, slipping and falling to the ground, flattening her ears and letting out a hiss as she looked over sharply at the young Uchiha. He simply stared at her, his eyes returning to normal as obvious irritation and anger flashed through them.

"Think about the decision you have made. Be sure to think which you like better: my offer, or what Orochimaru proceeds to do to you." Leaving Yūbi to hang on his words, he turned and took his exit, letting the doors shut quite loudly behind him as he left the female 'feline' to stare at the doors in his wake.

A/N: Da da da daaa! Presenting chapter seven! At last, at long wait, it hath cometh!

I really do apologize for the wait. Between taking care of pigs on a farm, having been working on another story, getting reading for marching band season, not much time had opened for me.

I'm sorry if this chapter is a little.. rusty. After writing strictly Warrior Cats, watching/reading/writing Katekyo Hitman Reborn! for the past month or so, getting back into the swing of Naruto was difficult, but hey, I tried.. did I manage?

Anyways, um, next chapter.. I have the main idea of the chapter, just the point of writing it.. that may be what takes it awhile. I'll try to get it up ASAP though!

Anyways, um, though..

Feel free to add ideas/anything that you may want to see in the story. I'm afraid that Itachi may not be appearing for a couple more chapters, but don't worry, I promise, he will be back!

So please, stick with me here. I love you all guys for sticking with me, and all the new people that have recently favorited/followed this story despite my message about hiatus. It is safe to say though, that I will now be off of hiatus, so expect more chapters up!

Please please continue to review, share the story, f/f/r, and all of that special jazz! I love you all ^w^