Break the Cycle

By AngeloftheOdd

The world of the shinobi has always been steeped in violence. It is unavoidable. People constantly struggling for more power, more land, more prestige. Conflicting goals, old grudges between clans, emotions running rampant, the thirst for revenge and for personal glory. How easy it would be to see in black and white like they did. Honor. Humanity. Pride. Such faulty ideals, but oh how they would cling to them. To keep telling themselves that they were on the right side. This was the way it was always going to be, he knew that now. Even Orochimaru had let himself become blinded by ambition and it had cost him dearly. That day Kabuto had learned that even gods can fall.

Gathering information had always been his forte but the rumors that he had heard in the past months were everywhere to be found. The Fifth Hokage laying in a coma. And for what? Konoha was no safer with her sacrifice than before. Jiraiya, legendary Sannin had fallen at the hands of the Akatsuki. The Akatsuki themselves picked off one by one. Itachi slaughtered by Sasuke. He had laughed so hard that tears streamed from his eyes and he pondered if it was truly him who delighted at the beautiful futility of it all or if some part of Orochimaru remained buried deep inside. Surfacing just long enough to revel in the madness one last time.

A new age was dawning. The last remnants of The Third Great Shinobi War had left him an orphan. Shortly after peace had been declared. The promise that such a thing could never happen again. He had always wondered if the leaders during the Second Great War had said the same. Now, here he was on the threshold of the Fourth. This time he was no longer a crying, helpless child lost amidst the fire and chaos. This time there would be no hand reaching out to him through the smoke to save him. This time he would have to save himself.

There had always been salvation through Orochimaru. He had needed him. Still need me the voice in the back of his head would chide. He had admired and looked up to him. You clung desperately to the identity I helped give you, Kabuto-kun. In his own way he had loved him. You belong to me. You will always belong to me. How did one break away from the torment and bleak emptiness of being nothing and no one? He had asked himself that very question once. So long ago now...

When in doubt, Kabuto had always thrown himself into his work. There was a moment of pure stillness and absolute control when he took the cold steel scalpel into his hand. A doctor does not kill. A scientist discovers and creates. To bring an end to the blights and flaws of the human condition. To seek perfection. Orochimaru had been the closest to perfection he had ever seen. Now together, they would achieve that goal.

Authour's Note: It's short right now because I'm a canon stickler XD This is just from reading the recent chapter. More will come!