The sound of metal clanging against metal is what wakes me from my slumber, and after a brief flash of annoyance at being woken up I slowly roll over to face my prison cell's thick steel door, my moldy cot's rusty springs creaking under my shifting weight in tandem with the incessant clanging of multiple iron deadbolts being unlatched in quick succession.
After a moment, my surroundings fall completely quiet save for the squealing of aged hinges as the door swings open, revealing a pair of faceless ANBU clad in dark cloaks. The shorter one steps forward and begins to speak in a clean, dispassionate tone of voice.
"Prisoner 012601. Your presence has been requested."
It appears that all those hours I spent perfecting my acting skills have gone to waste because I can't help how my eyebrows raise up high at those words. This is certainly a change of pace from the monotony of staring at the wall all day or listening to the low hum of the dim, fluorescent lightbulb that dangles loosely from the cracked ceiling, but...
"I suppose the Shinigami has finally called my name, hasn't he?" The pair of ANBU's don't respond to my statement, instead only moving to either side of me and grabbing onto my shoulders before leading me out of my cell for the first time in what feels like ages.
The moment I step out into the cool hallway, I'm blinded by the harsh fluorescent light emanating from the ceiling bulbs, causing me to stop in my tracks while raising my arm to shield my eyes from the harsh rays.
"Keep moving." Something hard, probably the jolt of a tanto, slams in my back as one of the masked men barks at me. I'd turn to shoot them a glare, but I have a feeling that'd just earn me another beating so I comply and begin to stack down the seemingly endless corridor.
If there's one thing I can enjoy, it's the fact that I'm not going to get executed and buried in an unmarked grave in the middle of nowhere. Even though there aren't a lot of them, prison cells still line the passage and appear to be occupied if the odd assortment of noises are anything to go by.
Maybe the rest of my team are stuck here too, then. Looks like I'm getting the better end of the deal by getting the rope instead of swapping out the Hidden Sound for just another prison.
Eventually we reach a staircase that stretches up and into darkness, and we walk up to the middle section before I pretend to stumble and fall prone, accidentally clicking my jaw against one of the steps in the process. One of the ANBU let's out a surprised snort, but it doesn't register in my mind because I'm too busy scanning for security cameras while pretending to groan in pain. Of course, there's one nestled in the upper right hand corner of the staircase… but it's precisely at an angle where my hands won't be noticed.
As the ANBU haul me to my feet by the arms, I tip myself backwards as if they shifted my weight too fast and go ass-over-teakettle down the stairs before landing at the bottom while an exasperated whine slips out of the taller guard.
Predictably, they help me to my feet again, but fail to notice the subtle genjutsu I've thrown over my hands and the shackles binding them… or the shackles that were binding them. Their use of a couple inches of cheap steel is just another example of the Hidden Villages growing complacent.
After arriving at the top of the stairs, the three of us pass through a security gate that leads to a much cleaner section of the prison complex. It's light fixtures don't have mildew, the brick is untracked and there are multiple diverging hallways rather than one long lane of locked rooms.
And at the end of the left hallway… is a singular presence lurking behind a pair of steel double doors.
Wow, looks like they were going to be as barbaric as possible and send my severed head back to Konoha in a box.
But when those doors open, neither a headsman or a gallows are revealed, only a young, blonde-haired man with grey eyes.
"I assume you're going to try prying out a confession of guilt before you off me?" I ask flatly, and he merely raises his eyebrows while the shorter ANBU pulls out a folding chair for me from under the table, whose position I gladly accept. After a moment of silence that's only penetrated by the low hum of the lights and the sound of the door slamming as the two ANBU leave the room, my interrogator begins to list off the various awards gifted to me by the Hidden Villages.
"Wow… this is quite the tally you've earned yourself. 'Guilty of treason against the Leaf and Sound Villages, crimes against humanity, possession of illegal weaponry, aiding and abetting an S-rank missing-nin.' Are those really all true?" The man says while raising his eyebrows in surprise, and I lean back in my chair somewhat flippantly.
"Maybe, if you're a stooge that dances to the tune that the Hidden Villages play. Half those crimes in my name are false, and the other half have been twisted by those fogies molding in their council seats." I know he's trying to manipulate me, and he knows that I know, but a person can't be worthy of being a snake summoner without being a tad snaky themselves, so I'll humor him for now.
"Really? Would you mind explaining how that's the truth?" I fix my eyes on him, and he leans forward as if expecting that I'll spill the beans for him.
"I don't think I will, considering that you're probably just the guy who'll twist my words until they're unrecognizable."
"...How disappointing. I did wish to hear about your exploits and what led you to this point, but it looks like I'll just have to settle for Konoha's explanation." My eyes narrow for a moment before a smile paints itself across my face. Looks like his head isn't as far up his ass as the rest of the interrogators.
"Hmm… you do raise a fair point. I suppose if my testimony causes Konoha an issue or two, I'd be willing to tell you my story. Just make sure to write it down so they don't reward you with a kunai to the throat for listening to me."
"I'll keep that in mind. Now, state your name, age and occupation for the record?" He says while pulling out a sheaf of papers, a point of ink and a thin brush as I give him a smirk that's full of fangs. Even if he does end up being a slave to the government, a quick bite to the throat as I escape from here will put an end to any potential trickery.
"My name is Sakura Haruno, age sixteen, and I am a reasonable woman in an unreasonable world."
