Kabuto's POV (?)
Kabuto wished he was dead. He supposed such should be more concerning than it was. But Kabuto was much past the point of panic. Even utter despair and terror could grow old, it seemed. When he created his Perpetual Healing technique, he was ecstatic. It was a feat even his master had found impressive. Comparing it to his own survival technique. It had been the pride of Kabuto.
He may not have been as self-fulfilled as the average person. Kabuto may not even be that good of a person. But he had created a technique that would indeed ensure his legacy. It would provide some level of meaning that had been achieved in his life. Oh, Orochimaru, and he had theorized that the technique was genuinely perpetual and that it would even pause his aging. If not for Orochimaru having a more fitting method for his needs, the Sannin would've indeed taken it for his own. Kabuto was now sure of the power of his jutsu. He supposed it was fortunate Orochimaru had never realized just how strong it was.
Unfortunately, his pride and joy caused Kabuto's own personal hell. Despite the fact he could not breathe, he was still alive. There was no air in his prison, and his mouth was full of crystals. His body seemed to endlessly ache as he was forced to maintain his pose under the pressure of the earth. It was a painful and drawn-out death, or it should've been. Kabuto figured that his body must be creating cells due to jutsu at a rate faster than they were dying. His limbs would pulsate with numbness before he lost feeling in them entirely. His body was dying and being revived regardless.
At first, Kabuto had reveled in such. If he could not be crushed by the earth or suffocated to death, what could kill him? Could anything truly? He maintained the technique and was determined to find a way out of the tomb Guren had created for him. But after what felt like days, he gave up. The pain, the shock of dying repeatedly, the darkness, it all overwhelmed in time, and Kabuto had attempted to end the technique. Better to die than to be a victim of this endless suffering.
That was when the true terror set in. Kabuto had no control over the technique; he could not stop it. Just as he designed himself, his chakra automatically healed him and recycled itself. Indeed, it is impressive but shocking all the same. Then he realized what this meant. Guren hadn't known it, but she had subjected him to endless torture.
Being the pretty adept interrogator, Kabuto was more than aware of the mental strain he was being put through. Keeping track of time was a great way to maintain sanity during such. But it was simply impossible; keeping count when awake was easy, but eventually, Kabuto passed out from exhaustion or lack of oxygen.
There were no dreams or hope for escape. Kabuto would awake from his latest death to find himself still trapped. And the time passed only made him more terrified. Kabuto had never believed in any god, yet he prayed to any who would listen for death.
Once his emotions had run their course, it was either between death four hundred and fifty-one or four hundred fifty-six that the terror and despair had passed. Kabuto, from there, slowly worked. It was impossible to tell if he could escape, but if he was not allowed death, he might as well try.
Kabuto spent his time conscious, trying to move any body part. He desperately attempted any sort of movement from his fingers to his jaw. As far as he could tell, he made no progress…
Kabuto prayed he would die soon…
Kurotsuchi's POV (Audience Section of Iron Arena - Land of Iron)
Kurotsuchi had initially intended to win the exams. This would make her a household name within the shinobi world, bring her homeland great acclaim, and prove to her grandfather that Kurotsuchi was ready as the front-runner of the next generation of Iwa ninjas. She supposed she had performed well and defeated Kankuro with relative ease. But her plans of domination had run into a roadblock. Naruto Uzumaki, oh, she was pissed at him for ruining her plan. But she had learned something.
As much as it had been embarrassing, it had been eye-opening. Both skill and attitude-wise, Kurotsuchi had a longer way to go than she knew. If someone as carefree and goofy as Naruto Uzumaki was closer to her goal than her, Kurotsuchi had a lot of hard work to do. Perhaps even some personal growth; now she sounded like a Leaf hippie…
It was surprising to run into Ino during the festival. Kurotsuchi held no ill will towards her and had been bored. Perhaps that was why when she noticed the long face on Ino, she had offered company. A mere whim, Kurotsuchi had not seen the chance of friendship or comradery. Naruto may have been an exception, but Kurotsuchi was still not fond of Leaf shinobi. But Ino had shown a level of spine and attitude Kurotsuchi had not known she had. It turned out that Ino was much more interesting than she had thought.
So when Kurotsuchi saw her new friend sitting alone, she felt obligated to sit with her. The duo soon became a trio when a more rambunctious kunoichi joined them.
"Oh, you, Naruto's teammate! The sexy rope lady!" Fuu was just as oddball as Naruto. Something that Ino seemed annoyed by as much as she seemed to enjoy. Seeing the potential for fun, Kurotsuchi insisted she sit with them. Then, before Kurotsuchi could even set up some fun, fate showed its hand.
"That absolute bitch!" Ino yelled as she gripped the railing that kept them from falling in. "She's totally trying to seduce him!"
"Hey, don't call Samui a bitch. She's awesome." Fuu chided with what looked like a glare from a puppy. It looked like she had grown close to the Cloud shinobi, but she was only marginally better than the hippies. Though personally, Kurotsuchi wasn't picking a fight with her. Anyone who could walk away from Sasuke's finisher was someone Kurotsuchi had no intention of messing with. Apparently, Ino, despite her usual friendly and intelligent demeanor, seemed unbothered by the living tank she was talking to.
"She's a total man stealer!" Ino sniped back. Fuu seemed to hesitate at such.
"Feeling a bit territorial?" Kurotsuchi taunted. Fuu would likely need to think about such a thing. It was the fair Kurotsuchi stalled for her. This would be funny.
"Oh, stuff it, she just doesn't get to seduce MY teammate," Ino explained.
"So threatened." Kurotsuchi baited further. She was not giving up on this so quickly.
"Threatened by her?" Ino said incredulously. "Naruto would never anyway. He never even seemed to have a crush in the academy."
"A late bloomer~! One presented with a woman puberty either blessed or cursed." Kurotsuchi tacked onto her fun with glee. "I'm sure it gets his attention, but I do not like back pain."
"Naruto isn't so shallow or easily wooed," Ino said confidentially.
"Shouldn't you be threatened by Samui-san anyway?" Fuu asked earnestly. Apparently, she had found her train of thought.
Ino's head whipped around violently at such.
"Well, she did beat you."
"This time." Ino countered defensively. "That was before she tried to take my B- my teammate. Next time, she's done!"
"HAHAHAHA" Kurotsuchi roared with glee.
"How is she stealing anyway?" Fuu asked.
Kurotsuchi would've loved to explain but couldn't breathe. Laughter was suffocating, they say.
"Samui being suggestive and being touchy and the things she's saying!" Ino explained angrily.
"What's wrong with that?" Fuu asked, confused.
Kurotsuchi, having regained her breath, chimed in. "Remember towards the start of the fight when Naruto accidentally touched her girl?" she asked bluntly. Ino growled at this while Fuu simply nodded her head. "How would you have reacted?"
"Kill him," Fuu answered with a nod before stopping. "Ohhhhh, she likes him, doesn't she?" Ino dropped her head into her palms as if utterly overwhelmed by the odd Fuu while Kurotsuchi continued her earlier fit of laughter.
"You see why this is bad now?!" Ino asked.
"No, it would be awesome if Naruto and Samui got together. I'd get to hang out with both of them at once. Conveniently lucky~!" Fuu decided with a satisfied nod to herself.
Kurotsuchi couldn't decide what was funnier. Fuu's reasoning or the face Ino made at her when she said such a thing.