Hey guys.... please don't murder me!! I know I've been gone super long I'm so sorry! This year has been kind of a stressful year for me–okay super stressful and I had no motivation to write or time honestly. But it's over now and I am coming back to work! Cause I think I've said it before but I'll say it again, I will never leave one of my stories unfinished! SO I'm back with this chapter, and unfortunately it is a little on the short side, but hopefully you'll enjoy anyway. I just need to organize things because we're getting closer to the climax and I felt like this was an appropriate moment to end the chapter. So here is chapter 32!!

            "Wakey-wakey, Haruno. Sakura."

            Her eyes snapped open, and she sat up in one fluid movement, almost gagging on the cloth in her mouth. A tall figure stood before her wrapped in cream and purple robes. Skin as white as milk. A curtain of hair as black as pitch. Slitted yellow eyes framed by purple eyeliner.

            "I'm glad to see you're finally awake." A forked tongue slithered through his parted lips and licked them.

           She swallowed, unconsciously backing away.

            "Oh, no need to be scared. I'm not going to hurt you, Haruno Sakura," the man said, tilting his head as he looked her up and down.

            Upon closer inspection, the man's pale skin seemed to be pulled taught against his face, his cheekbones fighting to poke through. Dark circles marked his sunken eyes and bubbles of sweat dribbled down his forehead.

            "I hope you don't think too little of your current prison," he said, arms outstretched as he looked around at the pit.

            His hands were trembling.

            "Ah, forgive me, I've forgotten to introduce myself," he said, tucking his hands into his large sleeves. "My name is Orochimaru."

            His voice sounded like rocks grating against each other laced with a slithering undercurrent that made goosebumps pop up on her skin.

            "Being here for so long makes one forget basic manners, unfortunately."

            Sakura kept her hackles raised, shifting so that she was on her knees, her toes braced against the floor to launch an attack if need be.

            "Well, I suppose your caution is warranted, seeing as you were brought here against your will," he shrugged. "So, since I cannot do anything about that, why don't I get straight to the point."

            His eyes were wide, unstable, glassy.

            Ants scurried around in her stomach.

            He slowly crouched down to her eye level, cupping her chin in his hand. She flinched at his touch. Cold, clammy, dry. This man was clearly not well, which made it all the more dangerous that she was alone with him.

            "You, my dear," he whispered. "Have a wonderful gift."

            He dragged a finger down her cheek, pushing a stray lock back from her face. He trailed down to her throat, tracing the side of it, tapping her jugular.

            "The blood that flows within you has... miraculous qualities." His tone had taken on an almost sensual quality, becoming a hot murmur against her skin. Every fiber of her being was yelling at her to get as far away from this man as possible, but she couldn't. His wide yellow eyes dissected every part of her simply by looking at her. Peeling back skin. Pushing away muscle. Removing bones. All to isolate her veins and arteries, admiring the rapid pulsing as blood coursed through them.

           "But unfortunately, it is not powerful enough for what I need," he sighed, releasing her.

            He rose as she gasped for the air she'd felt deprived of under his gaze, heart palpitating, but she gagged on the cloth in her mouth in the process.

            "Oh dear, how rude of them. You must be dreadfully uncomfortable, dear." He reached down and pulled the gag over her head, throwing it to the side.

            Sweat pooled at his chin as if he had exhausted himself with that small movement, and he hastened to lick it away. Orochimaru's veins shone blue against his skin, and his hands shook as he tucked them back into his wide sleeves.

            He turned his back to her.

            "Someone will be down with food and a more... tasteful set of clothes for you shortly," he said, glancing at her over his shoulder.

            She flushed, suddenly very much aware of how much skin her ripped dress was showing. She curled in on herself, trying to show as little as possible while still keeping her guard up.

            "And before being prepped, you will inevitably meet my colleague."

            Prepped? For what?

            "A word of advice. Try not to do anything to anger him." He turned halfway back towards me. "He is not as courteous of a host as I, and I would really rather you not be harmed before we start."

            She shivered.

            "Make yourself comfortable."

            He walked directly towards the wall, and the stones magically parted, closing as soon as he was through, not even allowing her a second to launch through as well.

            She sat back on her butt, breathing heavily. She was shaking, her heart pattering so rapidly, she thought a hummingbird must live in her chest. She slowly lowered herself to the ground, straw poking into her cheek. She wanted to yell for help, beg for Sasuke to come and save her.

            But that's pathetic, her inner whispered.

            "You're right."

            ... You can talk in your head, you know.

            Oh, right, haha.

            She had to get herself out of here somehow, and to do that, she had to be stronger than her enemies, faster. Her eyes glowed green, and she crossed her legs, resting her arms atop them. She focused her energy inwards, trying to visualize her chakra points and pathways. She could see her chakra core, a large reservoir of power.

            It's not enough, I need more.

            She remembered Tsunade's words as she'd explained the technique to her, a technique reserved for Healers and only the strongest of them. She imagined creating a second reservoir in her forehead, directly linking it to my core reservoir. Slowly, slowly, I began filling the new reservoir drop by drop. Slowly.

            Oh this is going to be fun, Sakura's inner said, the smirk in her voice audible. 

Okay so again I know this chapter was kind of short and I apologize for that. I'll do my best going forwards to make longer and more enjoyable chapters. But there you go! Ja ne!