Universe: Canon Verse
Rating: Strong sexual references, strong coarse languages and adult themes (M 16+)
Categories: Contains Hetero (F/M) and Yaoi (M/M) scenes
Icon Picture: DeviantArt, KejaBlank
I do not own any Naruto characters
This story is also available on AO3
A/N: *There is a 4 year gap between when Chapters 1-14 was written and Chapters 15 and beyond. Apologies for the inconsistency in writing style.
Seventeen Years Ago
"My name is Orochimaru."
The world refocuses and she is staring back at cold yellow eyes, vaguely aware that she is in a suffocating dungeon with no recollection of how she got there in the first place.
Her eyes brusquely glances in multiple directions, assimilating this unusual environment, watching as several candle flames dance menacingly against dark dreary rocks.
There is a stone bench with stacks of books and scrolls scattered all over. A large shelf lined with more books and a cabinet beside it containing jars of what appears to be preserved snakes.
Beside her a grey-blue stone bench sits askew on a single fragile column. At first glance it looks unused, untouched. But when she observes closely, a red substance that looks suspiciously like blood ubiquitously materialises in strange patterns. Some appear wet, dripping to the ground in small piles whilst others cling to the side, dried and peeled.
This place reeks of death.
Then she feels it, an intolerable pain equivalent to the piercing of a thousand knives cutting through in sudden swift like movements and dissipating as quickly as it appeared.
When she looks down, she sees a giant black hole carved into her left chest. The fabric of her blouse is torn at the site of injury and she can feel a strange electrical energy surging uncomfortably beneath the wound.
Though her breathing is even, her heart is beating anomalously against her chest.
"That hole will disappear eventually," says a sinister voice.
She turns to face the speaking man, unable to formulate a coherent explanation as to why his appearance strikes her as sadistic.
"Where am I?" she asks dismissively.
"In my dungeon, but of course you are also probably wondering why you are here," he answers eagerly.
It was not a question.
"You died not long ago. I brought you back to life with a jutsu I have spent years trying to perfect," he pauses and when she says nothing he continues. "There's nothing better than bringing back a medical nin."
The girl's gaze is watchful, cautious, trying hard to absorb his words as she endeavours to work out who this man is and why her presence is evoking so much passive excitement in him.
"I don't remember anything," she answers flatly.
"Yes, it seems as if the jutsu isn't perfect," he replies evasively, an air of deception lacing his tone.
"Why would you want to revive a medical ninja if there are countless other more powerful shinobis to resurrect?" she asks suspiciously.
"Medical nins are intelligent. Intelligence is a necessity when one is striving to achieve their goals. I simply cannot do everything alone now can I, Rin?" he answers snidely.
She blinks.
"Rin?"
"Ah yes, I keep forgetting that you don't have your memories. Rin is your name," he says carelessly.
Rin looks to her hands, wondering if he is telling the truth or if he is just trying to brainwash her.
"Your assistance will grant you the freedom to choose anything you want."
"I don't want anything," she answers grimly.
"Ah but don't you want to know what happened? How you got here? Who you really are? I can give those memories back" he says evenly, "You died much too young my dear child," he adds with a sickening slyness.
She stares at him, curiosity threatens her to accept his offer. But she is wary and cautious and her mind is questioning her presence, her reality.
Why did she die? Where was she from? Did she have a family? Friends?
She shuts her eyes, trying to extract something from her mind, but her efforts prove fruitless. She cannot remember anything.
True to her intuition regarding his Machiavellian demeanour, Orochimaru somehow re-programmed her entire consciousness with one detestable jutsu. Clearly, her mind is now an impressionable blank sheet of paper, ready to be rewritten into something new.
I don't belong in this world.
"Why? Why did you resurrect me? There are countless other medical ninjas who could have taken my place! Why me?" she cries, ashamed to have been given a second chance this way.
Another smirk of the lips and his gaze matches hers in intensity.
"Someone has to do it. Though honestly I have my reasons and I don't intend to share any of it with you. But now that you are here, you choose. Kill yourself and die without your memories or serve me well and I can give you your memories back."
She winces at the repulsive words. Her gaze cautiously watching those malicious yellow eyes as the pain in her left chest continually pulsates to the beat of her erratic mind.
Even if it makes more sense to end her life now, her heart has too much pride. Memories whether good or bad embody the soul to form a connection with those in the mortal world.
She simply cannot depart without them.
x
"Orochimaru-sensei do you really think it is a wise idea to bring her back?" she asks in perplexity.
"Anko do you not trust my intentions?" he answers cynically, facing a child no older than Rin.
"S-sorry," she stutters, "It's a good thing she doesn't remember anything or else that would be problematic," she finishes quickly.
A callous grin brushes her sensei's face.
"I deliberately removed her memories. The jutsu is used to resurrect the dead with their intelligence and powers intact, all in exchange for their memories. Its purpose is to serve the wielder that is all," he replies disinterestedly.
"So she is technically alive again but with no memories?" Anko asks, her eyes widening in bewilderment.
"Precisely."
"There are no risks to this jutsu then! Orochimaru-sensei you are a genius. No one could go up against you-"
"No," he interrupts coldly, "This jutsu has flaws. The first being that Rin was the only one I was able to successfully resurrect. It seems like it worked on her because she has a special type of chakra. I was unsuccessful with reviving the previous Hokages as they were too powerful. Secondly, there is a risk that her memories will return."
"But you said you removed her memories!" she exclaims exasperatedly.
"Removed as in repressed. She shouldn't be able to access that part of her mind, the part where I've stored her memories," he says indifferently.
"What happens if her memories return?" Anko asks eagerly.
"She dies," he replies nonchalantly.
"Die?"
"The resurrection jutsu requires the person who comes back to sacrifice their memories. If their memories return, this contract is breached."
Anko drops her shoulders, watching the flickering candles with a glazed expression.
The sudden feeling of elation rapidly diminishes. She always thought her sensei, a legendary sannin, could procure something so perfect. All she wants is for people to acknowledge how amazing her sensei is.
"Don't worry it is unlikely that something like that would happen. Besides I think I may need to start working on the Second's resurrection jutsu," Orochimaru says, surveying the disheartened expression on his student's face.
"You have another jutsu lined up, Orochimaru-sensei?" Anko asks admiringly.
His smile, deceitfully genuine, is laced with so many underlying motives he remains vigilant enough to falsify such deception.
"I have plenty, would you like to help me create a perfection?" he asks innocently.
She returns his latent offhanded smile, her expression eager, ready to serve. And it is this kind of loyalty that he knows will drive his onerous success.