A/N: Yeah, I revamped this chapter, because no one told me it sucked. (Well not sucked.) I started doing my revisions and what happened? I read this chapter and can only think: The sentences are choppy, Tatsumi is bland as hell, the pacing was too fast. The whole chapter in general felt. . . blah. And continuity errors were fixed. You're welcome. I DID NOT change this chapter, as promised, but with a few added descriptions and dialogue, I hope this chapter one is a better introduction to this fic.

I need you to know right off the bat, this isn't a love story or one to inspire hope or whatever. This is the story of Otogakure, Orochimaru, and why a sadistic psychopath has loyal (however you choose to define it) followers. There's no room for hope here. Just a pale imitation, drugging the masses. (Leaving them lost in a haze.)

First let's discuss why he has his troops. It isn't because he's charismatic. Well, it's part of it. Honey is dripping from his tongue as he seduces you to kill your most cherished loved one. But that's not what attracts the world's vermin or upstanding citizens, which doesn't mean a damn here. (Not to him. And he's all that matters here.) Orochimaru emi-, no, is power. Everyone who sees him wants a piece and clings to him hoping for his acknowledgement. For his essence to trickle down and encompass them. The weak, wounded, and pathetic grasping at straws to complete themselves.

Some think they can overcome him, use him like a puppet, but they don't see he's holding the strings. I'm disillusioned and nothing like them. I'm lean, like most ninja, with short, thick, unruly, brown hair. I'm flat chested, have no real figure, and I fade in the background. That's a useful skill in a place like this. If you want to stand out, you shine and bear the scrutiny of Orochimaru. If you are simply noticeable, Kabuto takes an interest. You don't want their interest. I'll explain later.

I wasn't an outstanding ninja. I didn't lead a cursed life, plagued with bloodshed. (Probably the reason I'm so average.) I was a ninja, but barely a chuunin. When Orochimaru came to the village, he didn't look directly at me or see me. (He didn't need to see you. You just needed to see him.) He stood there, radiating his glory, asking people to come with him. He spoke of the infinite possibilities of the world, the future. He lit within our veins a hope. He showed us our dreams and made us feel as though we could attain something! I (and many others) went with him, leaving behind my parents, most of my friends, and my life long home. (I heard the next day the entire village was slaughtered by roaming bandits.)

When we came to his village, he divided us like cattle: civilians, civilians with potential, ninja, and ninja failures. (Some were genin unable to suitably get stronger. Others had health problem prohibitting or impeding their progress. ) I'm sure very few of them are still alive. It's hard to survive here. People kill for fun, for punishment, to be made examples of, or because Kabuto ran out of a certain kind of corpse (or blood type, I've heard he has the rarest blood type). But so was the beginning of this life.

Orochimaru was being a busy little bee. He was exuberant, which was unnerving. He had chosen a new vessel that was "better suited for him" since his old one began rotting. I was helping train our ninja for the seizure of Konoha. (I felt bad for being a part of destroying an entire village, but once you're here you don't leave.)

"Tatsumi! Run these scrolls by lab 8 to Kabuto-senpai." The annoyance at lack of respect he showed me was overruled by the mention of Kabuto's name.

"Hai." I have a unisex name. I feel it helps with my generic appeal. I doubt the man knows I'm a girl and with some of the men roaming these halls, it could be a good thing. But Kabuto wasn't just some man.

I took the scrolls not caring what they were about. The less questions asked, the easier it is to sleep at night. Rumors were the only things that got to me. There were plenty, but currently my mind was dwelling on the hit list. You are given a document to give to Kabuto. On it, it grants permission to harvest the messenger. I've heard scarier stories. I tell scarier stories, but when they begin to happen to you, your heart stops.

I forced myself to walk calmly. (An amazing feat for someone who may very well be walking the green mile.) Show no reaction and carry out the task assigned. Entering the wing with the labs, I tuned everything out. The screams and begs, if you try hard enough, can be drowned out by your own thoughts. Seeing how I was playing the secretary, I didn't need to stay here long.

I walked in the lab at the wrong time. Kabuto had his hand in someone. Right in his stomach without him being cut open. The man was being kept alive (as a scientist would do for most subjects) and though unmoving, I could tell by his hitching breaths and frantic eyes he could feel everything. When Kabuto was in such a jovial mood, I didn't like to disturb him for fear he would or could remember me. I tried to set the scrolls on the counter by the door, but his ninja skills were as sharp as ever.

He swung around smiling with his glasses gleaming in the light. "For me?" I nodded and extended my arm towards him. He took the scrolls and began looking them over one at a time. Halfway through the second one he stilled and set the other down to focus all his attention on it. As his mouth curved into a frown, my stomach did backflips and my hands tremored. He patted the scroll in his hand. "Is this all of it?" I nodded. "Really?" His eyes narrowed a bit. "Who gave this to you?"

I was trying not to panic. He would remember me. "I don't know his name. He just came onto the training grounds and said it was for you."

"I see." He looked towards the ceiling in thought and waved his hand to dismiss me. The tension flowed from my body and the dread knotting up my insides unravelled. Turning, I walked only five steps into the hallway before he asked the most condemning question imagineable. "What's your name?"

I paused. "Tatsumi. Raponga Tatsumi."

". . . Thank you for your time." I walked away as fast as I could, all the while feeling his stare hit the back of my head.

The rules I created were simple. Survive and go unnoticed, unless you have the power to move up. Still, what insect ever ate a snake? After finishing my usual routine, I walked back to my room unnerved. You stay on the base. You stay within earshot of the people, the loathsome backstabbers trying to move up, trying to keep you in line. The only flimsy place of sanctity you had was your own private quarters and after today's unsettling turn. . . I never entered my room.

Orochimaru and Kabuto were walking in my direction. I don't want them in my room, reading, analyzing me. I couldn't lock them out. I held the optimisim (a dangerous thing) they would walk past me. And they did at first. About three feet away they stopped and Kabuto turned to me. "Tatsumi-kun, we meet again so soon."

"Kabuto-kun, introduce me to your friend." He had the smirk on his face. I suddenly wished to know what the parchment was to put me in such a dangerous position, but I knew better.

"I'm sorry. This is Raponga Tatsumi-kun, right?" I nodded, keeping my eyes in front of me, but avoiding eye contact with the two men in front of me. Curiousity killed the cat.

Orochimaru laughed. "Kabuto-kun, how rude! It's quite obvious our little Tatsumi-kun is a -chan. Isn't that right?" Snakes eat cats.

I stiffened. I think I'm being mocked, but could there be an underlying accusation? I slowly nodded again, more weary at what was happening. I suppose my survival tactics weren't the best in dealing with direct confrontation but they brought me this far. My Play It Safe rule book can also be labelled A Good Spy Always_. When Orochimaru takes notice of you, you stand polite but confident. If the situation calls for it show off your capabilities to demonstrate you can be indespensible. Keep quiet unless spoken to. No eye contact. But curiousity won out. ". . . Sirs, was there a problem with the message I gave to Kabuto-senpai?"

"Please, not so formal, Tatsumi-chan. Why would you ask something like that?"

"I don't believe in coincidences. You acted oddly after I gave it to you. . ."

"Child, an intelligent move to be diligent, but Kabuto-kun only meant to introduce us. I love meeting his. . . friends." It was some kind of joke that was lost to me, but there were rumors, I could think of. Some think Kabuto, to keep up his innocent guise, will exercise his skills in befriending and seducing chosen playthings. He raises his emotional intelligence and satisfies his more carnal needs. (Sexual tension not being the only one)

I became hypersensitive to the awkward pause the conversation had lulled itself into to. Uncomfortable, (but smart enough not to show it) I looked up at their faces. It's a natural response when interacting with people, to observe their emotions, stances, and a simple way to find your bearings. It's normal to see if your companion is just as uncomfortable as you. To realize your place in the situation and in a way of comfort one of you may laugh at the ridiculousness of it all and the other would join. The tension will melt away and your vitality is reinvigorated.

His eyes stared into mine. "Tatsumi-chan?" A smile on his face accompanied the twitching of his lips and I wondered if he was about to laugh. "What is your current assignment entail?"

I jolted, my unease mounting. "I assist in overlooking the training ground by the north wings."

"How mundane a job. My dear, how would you prefer to switch to lab duty with Kabuto-kun? He always tends to run short on friends." By the lilt in his voice, I knew he was laughing at me. The levee broke as I knew I wasn't meant to laugh with him. There is no way to say no to him; Orochimaru was never asking when he was asking. Vertigo assaulted my senses. For the first time, I didn't know how to survive. (Especially when I didn't know where my piece on his chessboard was.)