Chapter 01: Fate

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Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, which is the property of Kishimoto. Any songs that I may use in a chapter will be declared at the end of that chapter.

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Black smoke from burning chemicals mingled with dark storm clouds as thunder split the skies. Even the torrential downpour wasn't enough to extinguish the raging fires. A pair of figures watched on in silence as their legacy was consumed room by room. Years of dedicated experimentation and painstaking research, reduced to ash because of the actions of one man.

"Orochimaru-sama, I don't understand. Why are we doing this? Wouldn't it have been simpler to kill Danzo?" the youngest of the pair asked, watching the flames reached for the sky.

"Perhaps, but that would have brought unnecessary attention. Now that my old team has turned on me and Sarutobi-sensei is dead, we have no one to support us. Even if we were to win, Konoha would be left in a state of chaos. It is far better for us to disappear for now. We have the most vital and important information, and everything else that might have fallen into Danzo's hands has been destroyed."

The younger man didn't respond to that, and they stood silently for another few minutes. The silence was soon broken, "Orochimaru-sama, we are being followed. I believe it is one of Danzo's ROOT operatives."

"Yes, I noticed that as well. Why don't you go take care of that, Kabuto? I will meet you at the rendezvous point with the others. Bring our guest with you, they may hold some value."

Kabuto nodded and left to intercept the shinobi following them. There was no doubt that they were one of Danzo's handpicked shinobi, but the snake Sannin had faith in Kabuto's ability. He watched the last of his many labs burn for a little longer before fleeing the scene. Konoha's ANBU would arrive soon, and he couldn't afford to point them in his direction. His last thought echoed through his mind as he ran through the forest.

'How could it come to this?'

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- Flashback: Ten hours ago -

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Danzo Shimura was a patient man. His mentor had once said 'If one waited and plotted long enough, then they would get what they were after.', and he had taken that to heart. Still, even his patience had a limit, and that limit was usually met when dealing with men such as the fool before him.

"How many times must I remind you that my research is not for making super soldiers for you to control," The man said. "This research is to supplement Tsunade's new medical techniques to make Konoha stronger as a whole. It's meant to save lives, not destroy them. We have enough ways to do that as it is."

Danzo refused to be cowed as the man's yellow eyes bored into his own. Standing nearly six inches over the crippled man, Orochimaru was living proof that appearances could be deceiving. Pale skin and unsettling eyes gave the suggestion of a snake's ruthless nature to any he faced on the field of battle. Oh how the fools where mistaken. This man was just like his sensei, Danzo's bitter rival, corrupted by the Senju pacifism that had plagued Konoha since its founding.

"This is my last warning, Orochimaru. My men and I are more than capable of continuing your research without your aid. It would simply take us longer without your expertise. A delay that I would rather do without. Either reconsider your current standing, or I will have you replaced and continue without you." Danzo said, trying to keep a calm edge to his voice, despite his irritation. "I will expect your compliance in forty-eight hours. It would be most unfortunate should something... tragic, happen before we continued our little chat."

Orochimaru's glare intensified as the older man turned and left the lab. The miserable old bastard had the nerve to threaten him over how he performed his research? He took volunteers that knew what they were risking or were terminally ill, yet the Hokage's advisers and Danzo made it seem as if he kidnapped them off the street.

Leaning against the table with his notes spread out before him, he wondered what course of action he should take. There was no way he would give Danzo and his ROOT the satisfaction of commandeering the fruit of years of labor. He would see it razed to the ground before that happened. As it stood, his superiors were aware of his in Tea, Marsh, Sea, Bird, and Snow countries, as well as the one here in Konoha. That left only the one hidden away in Rice Country. Not the largest of them for sure. Orochimaru gripped the table hard enough for it to groan in protest as he thought of the countless experiments that were being performed.

First and foremost was the Kekkei Genkai research, where he was trying to find a safe way to revive dead bloodlines like the First's Mokuton abilities, or even the long extinct Jagan Eye. The next leading project was his attempts to cure a boy of his psychosis. Juugo was a marvel all of his own who, if left untreated, was a danger to himself and everyone around him. If the wrong people were to get to him before he managed to remove the dangers... He shuddered to imagine. This was why Danzo couldn't be allowed access to his research. He would find a way to weaponize most if not all of his findings in order to make Konohagakure the strongest military force in the Elemental Countries. Many other experiments that would benefit mankind, only for one power hungry war monger to threaten it all.

He couldn't allow that to happen. With a deft flick, Orochimaru threw a poisoned laced senbon into a dark corner of the room and waited for the body of the Root operative to fall from their perch. Of course Danzo wouldn't even have the decency to give him some privacy while he made his decision. With his mind set, he sent summons to every lab with a single message: "Collect all experiments and data and relocate Rice country. Destroy all traces of our existence."

The die had been cast, for better or for worse. All he could do now was manage damage control and allow things to run their course. Now though, he had to get to his apprentice before Danzo did. He had no doubts that the bastard would try to turn his prized student against him the first chance he got. He couldn't do that to her!

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- Eight hours ago -

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Danzo paced around the central chamber in ROOT headquarters, trying to figure out how to handle his rival's student. The man only had two weaknesses close to his heart, his apprentice, and his team. To sow the seeds of doubt in young Anko's mind was easy enough, as Orochimaru had been spending far more time secluded in his labs then training her, leaving the young Genin with doubts of his actions. Jiraiya and Tsunade were always uneasy around their teammate, no matter what they said otherwise. Their relationships had been strained over the last few months as rumors of Orochimaru's experiments ran rampant. No, they wouldn't prove to be an issue with the correct prodding. The problem was Sarutobi himself.

The man, long since declared the 'God of Shinobi', was not an easy man to trick. His habits of keeping his precious people in front of him with both arms and optimistic and forgiving nature were an obstacle that wouldn't prove easy to overcome. The man had been a fool when he let Minato take over, allowing more dreamers to ruin his precious village with their ideals. Maybe... maybe it was time that he stopped playing in the shadows? If he did this right, it was possible for him to be rid of two birds with a single stone.

It was common knowledge that after being passed over for the position of Hokage, Orochimaru had become consumed with his experiments. So much so that it appeared he was to the point of turning to biological manipulation. Much less widely known was the intent behind the studies. It was easy to assume the worst, that Orochimaru was actively seeking power and perhaps even immortality. An insidious goal to say the least.

In truth though, the Sannin had been researching a way to allow normal Shinobi healing abilities similar to that of a Jinchuuriki. With near instantaneous recovery from minor wounds, while major wounds could be healed in a day or two at most, combined with a boosted immune system to fight off disease and poison, he could decrease the casualty rate of Konoha Shinobi and save countless lives. It was only Danzo himself whose thoughts turned to more aggressive applications of such abilities. If his ROOT operatives had the procedure done on them, he would be able to expand Konoha's territory with every victory.

The bloodline experiments that Orochimaru was studying also came to mind. Even though all of the Sannin's test subjects were volunteers, there was no way for the experiments to be made any more humane. Many died shortly after beginning, even under Orochimaru's watchful eye and cautious nature. Not the best basis for rumors to begin, to say the least. Maybe if the Sannin had been more open with the precise details of his experiments, people may have been more understanding of his position.

As it was however, no one was aware of Orochimaru's idealistic and relatively selfless intentions. This would prove to be his downfall when Danzo made the less savory truths known to the public. When it became clear that Orochimaru was conducting fatal and inhuman tests on Konoha citizens, the people would cry for his blood. Faced with undeniable proof, even his own teammates would turn on him. Orochimaru would be forced to flee in shame, and it would only be a matter of time before his ROOT took him down. Every one of his hiding holes were known and he already had men on the way to apprehend him should he try to take refuge in them. Loyalty to your people was the single biggest point made in a Konoha Shinobi's training, and if you broke that rule you were better off dead. After all, if you can't trust your own team, who can you trust?

The only problem that remained was Hiruzen Sarutobi, but that would soon be resolved with a 'tragic death at the hands of a treacherous student after an unfortunate confrontation'. While Danzo may have disproved of his tactics, the man had done more for Konohagakure than many would ever imagine. A heroic death was the least he could do for his oldest friend. He deserved that much at least.

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- Seven hours ago -

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Orochimaru took a moment to compose himself as he stood on the steps leading to the apartment door of his apprentice. It wouldn't do to scare the girl after all. She didn't need to know how bad things were right now. Not yet at least. Already he was conflicted on whether he was doing the right thing or not. Surely he was going to be marked as a Nuke-nin the moment he fled Konoha. At least until he got a message to the Hokage explaining the situation. Did he really want to drag her into all this?

He shook his head and before he could second guess himself again, he rapped his knuckles on the door loudly. He was a selfish bastard, he would be the first to admit that.

"One second!" A voice called out, and it was a minute or two before his knocks were answered. The door swung open to reveal a young, violet haired girl opened the door, looking as if she just got out of the shower. He smiled as he looked down at her, as he always did. Ever since Anko's parents had died the night of the Kyuubi attack, he had taken her in and taught her close to everything he knew. She was the closest thing to a daughter he had ever had, and he wouldn't give her up without a fight.

"Sensei! What are you doing here? It's late." Anko asked clearly surprised. Orochimaru chuckled as he ruffled her still wet hair.

"I came by to tell you to pack your stuff for a training trip. I realized that I've been neglecting your training lately and wanted to make it up to you," Orochimaru knelt down to look his pupil in the eyes, trying to convey urgency without worrying her needlessly. "We will be leaving tonight, so you must be ready soon. Do you understand?"

Anko nodded and flashed a dazzling smile, her sensei was going to spend time with her instead of just giving her scrolls to study from! This was one of the happiest days of her life! She waved over her shoulder to her teacher and rushed inside to start packing. In their restlessness, neither of them noticed the small black rat perched on the roof of her apartment, watching everything.

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"Danzo-sama, Orochimaru is planning to leave the village tonight. He means to take his apprentice with him." A young boy droned expressionlessly.

"Let me see," Danzo said. The boy unrolled an empty scroll and set it down. The black rat sitting on his shoulder ran down his arm and jumped onto the scroll. Both watched as the rat sank into the scroll, leaving behind an intelligence report.

"Very good my young cadet, you have come far in your technique, but it is still not perfect. You will need to keep practicing if you are to ever be one of my elite."

The boy, no older than nine, dropped to one knee before the war hawk, "Hai, Danzo-sama. What are your orders?"

"Tonight I will eliminate Orochimaru and the fool of a Hokage once and for all. If Orochimaru should get away, you are to tail him and send me regular reports that will allow me to neutralize him once and for all. There is no room for failure here, Sai." Danzo looked down at the boy, his one visible eye betraying nothing. "Now, go prepare for your mission."

"And what of the girl?"

Danzo turned his back on the young boy, looking out the window in the direction of the residential district.

"Leave that to me."

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- Six hours ago -

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Hiruzen Sarutobi walked with purposeful strides as he made his way to his ex-student's laboratory. Wise eyes, once filled with infinite kindness, now held only disappointed rage. For years he had been aware of Orochimaru's studies of medicine and he couldn't have been prouder. Two of his students working towards the betterment of Konoha without cutting short the lives of others? Why wouldn't he be pleased? But that was before the most recent report, handed to him by Danzo himself. He would never have imagined Orochimaru would sink to such... inhumanity.

Barbaric surgeries, countless deaths, the use of Konoha's own shinobi for his experimentation, and even more sinister misdoings. These only brushed the surface of what his oldest friend and bitterest foe had shown him. As Hokage, he had wanted to refuse that his pupil was capable of such acts, but the evidence spoke volumes. In his heart, Sarutobi knew that Danzo wasn't lying. Orochimaru had done more for Konoha in his time of service than many would ever understand. Danzo wouldn't have him removed unless he was doing something that even the warhawk himself disproved of. In a way, that thought frightened him.

As he neared his destination, he removed the emotion from his visage and replaced it with a mask of finality. Orochimaru would answer for his crimes and that was that. For a moment the old man's instincts flared as he thought of the ANBU that had volunteered to take the mission, or at least accompany him. He had refused however, feeling that, as his student, it was his responsibility to take care of it. Danzo seemed to approve of his choice, though he didn't voice it of course.

The Hokage's presence in the hospital caused a minor stir, and he did his best to return the friendly greetings without allowing himself to be slowed. At his request the crowded elevator cleared, leaving him alone to insert a key in the slot just below the basement button. The elevator lurched to a start and as it descended, Sarutobi was reminded of his inherent dislike of elevators. Hokage's weren't supposed to be afraid of anything after all, especially not something as simple as a box dangling from a set of wires. He coughed into his hand as his eyes darted back and forth subconsciously.

When the descent ended and the doors opened, Sarutobi blinked as the pungent stench of blood and disinfectant rolled over him. Almost hidden in the shadows of the well-lit laboratory was a hunched figure, gathering a set of scrolls and securing them on an unrolled one before sealing them away. Danzo had warned him that Orochimaru would probably be a flight risk, but there was no way he could have known that he was on his way down to speak with him. In fact, as he took a moment to examine the room, it seemed like everything of potential value had already been gathered and stored. Something didn't feel right, and he started to question the wisdom of ordering his men to stay behind.

"Orochimaru! What are you doing?" The Sannin's head snapped up in the direction of the elevator, and the visible shock spoke volumes of how wrapped up he had been in his preparations if he hadn't noticed his arrival.

"Sensei? What are you doing here?" Sarutobi frowned at that. His student's confusion was genuine, and while he was obviously frantic about something, his arrival wasn't it. While he tried to figure it out, he pressed Orochimaru, hoping to buy himself time.

"I just had a visit from an old friend concerning the nature of your... research." The word left an unpleasant taste in his mouth. "You have always been devoted to helping people, why would you turn from that?"

Orochimaru was completely confused for a moment before he snarled viciously. "Danzo! Danzo came to you, didn't he? What lies were you fed, I wonder? That I have sacrificed everything for power? That I have been kidnapping children off the streets to fuel my 'lust for knowledge'?"

Those were in fact, exactly some of the things Danzo had told him. Again, he had the feeling that something simply didn't add up, "Yes, I thought as much. That bastard knew I would never sink to his level, so he turned you on me. I should have known..."

"What are you talking about?" Orochimaru turned his back on his old teacher and slid the scroll into a bag with a set of others. He didn't look back over his shoulder, but he never took his attention from Sarutobi.

"My actions have always been noble. You supervised much of it yourself. When Danzo learned of my research, he turned his greedy little eye on it. Some of my findings could easily be turned to militaristic methods, and he knew this. A week ago he came to me, trying to make deals. He could supply me with things I couldn't easily attain. All I had to do was broaden my experiments. At first I considered, but the things he wanted me to learn... There are some things man is not meant to know. You yourself taught me this."

"But he came to me himself! He showed me the things you have done! All the deaths-..."

"Oh, so he told you about the volunteers from the forcefully retired, did he? The people who offered to help for a chance at active service again? Or maybe the terminal cases in the hospital, those dying from diseases that my research might have been able to cure. Did he tell you about those, or only that Konoha Shinobi have been disappearing from hospitals and dying in my laboratory?" Orochimaru sneered, though the Hokage couldn't see it, "No, of course not. What he accused me of were the whims I refused to bow to for the sake of him and his ROOT. Did you even pay attention to his report? Maybe look past the obvious details to the discrepancies? They might not have been obvious, but I can tell you without a doubt that they were there."

He turned to face Sarutobi, and the look on his face sealed the deal for him, "No, you didn't. You saw what your heart told you to see. That I am not to be trusted. That, if given the chance, I would betray our people for power. Everyone believes you to see the best in people, and here you are doing the exact opposite to me. You never did really trust me, Sensei."

"That's no-!"

"Yes it is. He showed you what you believed to be true, and you didn't question it. Because that is what you were already thinking. I will tell you now, though I know you probably won't believe me. You have been lied to. Danzo is the true snake in this village, not I."

Hiruzen was struggling to keep up with all information being thrown at him, and latched onto whatever he could find, "Then why are you fleeing? If you are being honest than you have nothing to fear!"

"From you perhaps, but Danzo has already gone to the lengths of threatening everything of importance to me. It is no longer safe for my apprentice or I. Don't worry though, I will stay in touch." With a sequence of hand seals and a plume of smoke, Orochimaru vanished, leaving Sarutobi alone in the now empty lab. The solitude was disrupted seconds after as the elevator opened, revealing Danzo flanked by two Root operatives.

"I take it that Orochimaru has escaped with his notes?"

Sarutobi turned to face them, hiding his rage behind a blank expression, "You seem awfully unconcerned, given that a Sannin has just turned traitor. Isn't that your thought, Danzo?"

Danzo shrugged casually as he exited the elevator, "He will be hunted down and either executed or returned as a prisoner. That is of no concern, for you at least."

The Hokage subtly shifted into a defensive stance and readied a kunai without alerting the newcomers. The reassuring weight of his combat armor gave him some measure of comfort. Danzo didn't make any threatening moves however, instead just approaching him slowly and non-threateningly, "That isn't your call, Danzo. As Hokage it is my decision as to what will happen to him."

"Of course, Hokage-sama. As long as you are Hokage, you do indeed have that right." Danzo smiled gently at him, and the Third's eyes widened in alarm. He brought his hands together quickly in a hand sign and flared his chakra, disturbing the Genjutsu he had been encased in at some point. He was too slow to prevent the Root operative from pricking him in the back with something small and sharp.

"What have you done!"

Danzo was standing in the elevator still, having not moved since his arrival, "I have done what needed to be done for the sake of Konoha. I regret that it had to come to this, but your foolish ways would have brought ruin to us all."

Sarutobi gasped as his veins began to burn from the toxins coursing through his veins. Whatever he had been stabbed with was obviously coated with something vicious, and he could already feel his body weakening.

"I am sorry, my old friend. Know that Konoha will be safe in my hands. May you find peace in the afterlife." He cursed softly as his vital systems quickly shut down, one by one. The last thing he was aware of was that the corpse of a dead snake being placed on the ground next to his hand. A single tear slid from his eye as he prayed for his village and the student he had unwittingly abandoned.

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Anko did her best to appear patient, but on the inside she was jittery. Her master had never offered to take her on a training journey before! Sure he left the village now and then to gather supplies for his experiments, but he was a Sannin and it was his right. He had just never asked her to accompany him. It was going to be so cool! Just him and her, working hard to improve her skills with no one for him to focus on but her. She would have him all to herself.

She grinned happily at that thought and started swinging her legs over the side of the railing she was sitting on. There was a strange pressure to the air, as though something massive was happening, and she bore it excitedly. All she had to do was wait for Orochimaru to arrive. He should be here any...

"Are you ready Anko?"

"Sensei!" She leaped down and picked up her bag full of supplies and clothes she had packed earlier.

"All ready to go, huh? Excellent. We need to leave soon." Anko frowned.

"Why the rush? Shouldn't we go tell Hokage-sama that we are leaving?"

A flash of something sad passed behind Orochimaru's eyes, but it was hidden quickly. The small smile he put on immediately after made her wonder if she had seen it at all.

"I've already spoken to him about it, okay? Now come on. Adventure awaits!" Anko frowned again and backed up a step very slowly. Something wasn't right here. Her master was far too tense and he was never in this much of a rush.

"Sensei, what aren't you telling me?"

Orochimaru spun on his heel and groaned, covering his face with both hands and wiping downwards, ending with his fingers steepled against his bottom lip. After a moment he turned back around and dropped to his knees and placed a hand on his apprentice's shoulder. His fingers landed on the fabric covering the seal he had given her. Another of his experiments that Danzo wanted to twist to add something darker. He hadn't wavered though, and that small patch of black ink was one of his proudest works.

"Anko, look. Earlier some very bad people came to me today. They wanted me to..." His words were cut off by a loud siren cutting through the silence of the darkness. Orochimaru turned to glance at the tower and cursed loudly. Bare seconds later the village was a flurry of movement as the silhouettes of Shinobi darted from rooftop to rooftop, searching for someone. Anko backed away again, a bit quicker this time.

"Anko, please! Trust me! I did nothing wrong, but there are people who think my experiments can do more. Should do more!"

"There he is! The traitor is talking to his apprentice! Get him, before he escapes!"

The Sannin cursed again and stood up, ready to run. He hesitated though, looking at the young girl before him. He really didn't want to leave her here, but there was a look of wild fear in her eyes. She backed away fast enough to stumble and she drew a kunai to defend herself when he stepped closer to her.

"Don't touch me! What's going on? Why are they calling you a traitor?" He wondered how much to tell her, but decided on everything. She was his apprentice after all, and the one he trusted most after his old team.

"I fear the Hokage has been assassinated. The people I mentioned earlier have killed him in my lab and have set it up to have me blamed for his death. I am being driven from the village, and even my old teammates will turn against me. I have a safe place to go with all of my experiments, and I beg you to come with me!"

"Your experiments? Is that what this is all about!"

"I'm sorry to say yes, I believe so. I will tell you everything I know. I will answer all your questions, but please! Come with me." The unmasked emotion on his face pulled at Anko's heartstrings, and she was torn on what to do. Should she trust her Sensei and flee with him, possibly never to return, or side with the village she had grown up in and been taught to love? She didn't know. She needed time to think!

"Orochimaru! There you are." Orochimaru cursed loudly. Danzo had found him and was flanked by two of his elite Root. He cast a quick glance at Anko. There was no way she would survive a fight with the two of them, let alone if Danzo threw his chips in and started fighting as well. The three would be a hard fight for Orochimaru himself, let alone his Genin apprentice. He silenced his heart and did what he knew to be the best decision he could make.

"I can't believe my own apprentice would turn on me like this." The hurt and confusion in her eyes nearly broke his heart, but he steeled his face and bared his teeth at Danzo. "I thought you would have understood."

He reached into his back pocket for a kunai with a tag wrapped around the handle and threw it at Anko. Just as he expected, none of the ROOT operatives moved to intercept it, and it landed at Anko's feet and began to hiss and smoke. It sputtered at the end of its fuse however, and nothing happened. The snake Sannin sneered at the apparent dud, and glared at Anko.

With a burst of chakra, Orochimaru shunshined away with the two ROOT hot on his trail. They left Danzo and Anko alone in the street, tears coursing slowly down Anko's face. Danzo limped to her side and knelt down.

"You did the right thing, Mitarashi-san. He is a dangerous fugitive and cannot be trusted. Believe me when I say you will be rewarded for your actions today. Perhaps they will even lead to his capture, no?" The girl said nothing, and Danzo took it to be fear and hatred towards her prior master. The half-blind man patted her on the shoulder and turned away, leaving the way he came. What he didn't know was that Anko was speechless from the hurt and betrayal of the one man she loved most. She picked up the kunai at her feet and picked it up. With a quick rip she tore it free and unrolled it. Inside scribbled in her master's flawless handwriting was a message he had written to her.

'Anko.

I am sorry for what I have done to you, but it is safer this way. They will not hate you or be distrusting as long as you make them think you hate me, though I wouldn't blame you if you truly do already. I will be gone for many years, but I will return one day. I hope you will forgive me by then, and come with me when I leave once more.

-Sensei'

Tears filled her eyes and she balled the note up in her hands angrily. She stood in the street motionlessly as the rain began. After an eternity she returned to her home and threw her bag in the corner, sinking to sit against the door. Still crying silently, she re-read the note over and over again.

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Author's Note: You may recognize this fic as part of my co-authored account British Outback Inc. You would be right. My Partner Nikolai has decided he could no longer assist with the stories, so I am moving them to my account. I split the two chapters that we had in half to make them more manageable, and this is the first one. Enjoy and let me know what you think!