In the secret ward on the third basement level of Konoha Hospital, the smell of disinfectant mingled with the bitter scent of medicinal herbs.
Mitaraishi Anko lay on the hospital bed, fine beads of cold sweat covering her forehead. The three black magatama-shaped Curse Marks on her neck gave off an ominous dark-red glow, slowly writhing as though alive. Of the twenty-four-hour suppression period Tsunade had estimated, only twelve hours remained.
The ward door slid open without a sound.
Hyuga Xiao entered carrying a tray holding two cups of hot tea and a scroll. He wore an ordinary medical ninja uniform, with bandages wrapped around his forehead—a temporary disguise meant to conceal the Caged Bird Seal.
"How are you feeling?" Xiao placed the tray on the bedside table, his voice calm.
Anko opened her eyes, a trace of dark red flashing deep within her pupils. She tugged at the corner of her mouth, producing something that barely qualified as a smile. "Like countless snakes are crawling through my veins, reminding me every second that I still bear that man's mark."
Xiao did not respond. Instead, he handed her one of the cups of tea. The cup was made of coarse pottery, warm to the touch in her hand. When Anko took it, her fingers trembled slightly, sending small ripples across the tea's surface.
"Lady Tsunade said your Curse Mark is more active than expected." Xiao sat in the chair beside the bed, his legs naturally apart and his hands folded over his knees—the standard sitting posture of the Hyuga Clan. Yet Anko noticed that his back was not deliberately bowed as it was with other members of the Branch House.
Anko took a sip of tea, and the bitter brew made her frown. "That bastard Orochimaru... he never does anything