Chapter 107: Dream Walking Part 3
Malik felt the familiar pull of the dream world again. This time, his target was Kabuto Yakushi. As the dreamscape shifted, he found himself in a sterile, dimly lit laboratory, the walls lined with shelves of vials and medical instruments. Kabuto was at the center, engrossed in her work.
Kabuto Yakushi's Dream
Kabuto's Dream
Kabuto, dressed in her lab coat, was meticulously cataloging various samples. Her silver hair fell around her face as she worked, her glasses reflecting the dim light of the lab. She looked up as Malik approached, her expression one of mild surprise.
"Malik, what brings you here?" she asked, setting down her tools.
"I wanted to check in on you, Kabuto," Malik said, trying to keep his tone light. "How have you been?"
Kabuto smirked, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Busy, as always. You know how it is."
Malik nodded, then his expression turned more serious. "I also have a favor to ask."
Kabuto raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? And what might that be?"
Malik took a deep breath. "I need your underwear."
Kabuto's eyes widened in genuine surprise. "My underwear? Why on earth would you need that?"
Malik explained the quest, trying to maintain his composure. Kabuto listened, a mixture of amusement and skepticism on her face.
"For a quest, huh? You really are something, Malik," she said, shaking her head.
"Please, Kabuto. It's important," Malik insisted.
Kabuto studied him for a moment, her eyes lingering on his transformed body. "You've changed, Malik. Your body... it's different."
Malik nodded. "I've undergone a transformation. I'm now a Flamingold Incubus."
Kabuto's eyes roamed over his new form, taking in the details. "Interesting. Your aura is different too. More... potent."
Malik blushed slightly under her scrutiny but held his ground. "So, will you help me?"
Kabuto sighed, clearly reluctant. "You know, if I give you my underwear, I have a feeling I might lose our bet."
Malik smiled. "It's just a quest, Kabuto. It doesn't have to mean anything more."
Kabuto smirked, shaking her head. "Right."
Malik could see her hesitation, so he decided to change the dreamscape. With a wave of his hand, the lab dissolved, replaced by the familiar surroundings of the Konoha Orphanage. The orphanage was filled with laughter and the sound of children playing, a stark contrast to the cold laboratory.
Kabuto's eyes widened as she looked around, a mix of emotions crossing her face. "Malik, why did you bring me here?"
Malik watched her closely. "I wanted to remind you of your roots, Kabuto. Of the people who care about you."
Kabuto walked around the orphanage, her fingers trailing over familiar objects. "This place... it's where I grew up. Nonō Yakushi, my adoptive mother, ran this orphanage. And Urushi, my adoptive brother... we were a family."
Malik listened intently as Kabuto continued, her voice soft. "Nonō was kind and compassionate, always putting others before herself. She took me in, gave me a home when I had none. Urushi was like a real brother to me, always there to support and protect me."
Kabuto's eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she spoke. "But... things changed. I left to find my own path, and I ended up with Orochimaru. Sometimes, I wonder if I made the right choices."
Malik reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You did what you had to, Kabuto. And you're still here, still fighting."
Kabuto nodded, her expression conflicted. "Thank you, Malik."
They stood in silence for a moment, the weight of her past and present hanging between them. Finally, Kabuto shook her head, her resolve returning. "I can't give you my underwear, Malik. I don't love you, and it wouldn't be right."
Malik sighed, but he smiled softly. "I understand, Kabuto. I enjoy our time together, regardless."
Without meeting his gaze, Kabuto flicked him on the forehead. "You're incorrigible."
With a final look, she pushed Malik out of her dream, leaving him standing alone in the dreamscape.