Anthology of Sound

Otogakure no Sato:

a. Literally meaning: Village Hidden by Sound

1. Empty vessels make the most sound.

...Those of worth make none.

The day he left Konoha was the day he left his old life behind. He had intended it to be the end of a chapter, a clean cut between who he had been and who he needed to be to kill his brother. But it hadn't been like that. Bonds didn't vanish like that. He had seen it all too clearly on Sakura's tear-stained face. He had heard it in Naruto's screams.

Sasuke was a nuke-nin now. The title wasn't official yet, but it would be soon enough. He had left his birth village to join an international criminal, who had attacked Konoha and killed the Hokage not too long ago. And Orochimaru's reputation spoke of crimes equally vile. Sasuke didn't know yet how deep the corruption went, but he figured he would find out for himself in due time.

As he walked behind Kabuto, his eyes scanning the dimly-lit walls, he listened to the sounds of their footsteps. He didn't shift his attention away from Kabuto, however. The chunin exams had proven to Sasuke that he could not – and would not – be trusted under any circumstance. The traits Kabuto had shown, the words he had said, they weren't real. Sasuke knew nothing about him, except for what Kabuto allowed to be seen.

"This will be your room, Sasuke-kun," Kabuto said. He had halted before a door akin to the others they had passed. Sasuke would need to be careful not to accidentally end up in the wrong place when trying to find his way around. While walking, he had attempted to build a mental map of the hideout, but he would need to revise it. It was too big to remember all at once.

Kabuto explained, "You'll find several changes of clothes in the wardrobe and a yukata for sleeping on the bed. All basic needs should be provided for, but let me know if you think anything missing." Civil. Casual. Authoritative.

Kabuto pushed up his glasses with his forefinger and thumb. The light was reflected by the lenses in a way that made it impossible to see his eyes. Sasuke didn't try to and instead looked at the door in front of them.

"I haven't yet had the opportunity to make you familiar with our rules," Kabuto tilted his head and Sasuke could see his eyes now. They looked dead, as though the light couldn't reach them at all. Sasuke lifted his chin up.

"Given the hour, it will be best to do so in the morning. However, I trust that you will behave tonight."

Again, Sasuke said nothing. He had realized quickly that Kabuto preferred if he kept quiet.

And as though on cue, Kabuto smirked, and Sasuke thought he was standing more straight. "Tomorrow, you will be attending a training session with Orochimaru-sama. I'll take you to the training fields just this once so you won't end up disturbing anyone in trying to get there."

Calculated silence stretched once more, Sasuke's gaze fixed onto Kabuto's face. It was then that Kabuto's lips thinned. He knew Sasuke knew. They stared at each other, and Sasuke couldn't tell how long the quiet exchange lasted. Neither trusted the other, and whatever fondness Sasuke had felt during the chunin exams evaporated completely. Sasuke could tell that Kabuto was measuring him up the same way that Sasuke was measuring up Kabuto.

"Be ready at 10 AM."

"Why not sooner?"

Yes, Kabuto didn't like it when Sasuke asked questions. Silence was submissive and accepting. Did Kabuto wish to feel powerful? Or was it mere dislike that led him to wish Sasuke didn't speak and, thus, didn't prolong the interaction?

"Orochimaru-sama's time is valuable," Kabuto explained. "Think yourself lucky to be awarded his attention."

It was attention which Kabuto would now be void of. He seemed oh so eager to catch Orochimaru's eyes, to please him and prove how useful he was. Sasuke had noticed as much in the short time he had been here. In fact, it was the one of the few things Sasuke knew about Kabuto that Kabuto didn't want him to know. Or was it an act? Sasuke would be careful to not reach conclusions too quickly. He would have more than enough time to ascertain his observations. No use in being hasty.

He harrumphed, then vanished into his room.

To his surprise, it seemed rather cozy. A fireplace burned to the left, its soft crackling warming the atmosphere as well as the air—which was somewhat stagnant, admittedly. There were no windows, and the walls were adorned with a pattern identical to the one in the corridors. Several torches lit the room. Was there no electricity? At least the bed seemed comfortable, and the wooden work desk was big enough to be a proper working space, yet small enough to not get in the way. Another door was situated to Sasuke's right, likely leading to an adjacent bathroom.

Overall, the room wasn't big, but it wasn't like Sasuke needed much. He preferred it over a big house all to himself.

"…"

Sasuke undid the claps of his sandals. He stepped out of them, placed them near the wall, took off his weapon pouch. Now, what was he supposed to do? The hour was late, as Kabuto had stated, but Sasuke wouldn't be able to sleep yet, despite his bones aching from travel and the fight against Naruto. His left arm in particular felt awfully sore.

Kabuto had healed it with medical jutsu, but Sasuke doubted the arm had returned to its prior state. When he clenched and unclenched his fist, he felt tingling, the sensation reaching up all the way to his shoulder and neck.

He heard chidori's bird cry in his ears, a wet tearing that devoured flesh. If Naruto hadn't moved last second, Sasuke would have torn right through his heart. He had felt the resistance as he had hit the bones of the ribcage, as he had broken through them as though they were paper. And then, his hand had exited through the shoulder blade, impaling Naruto like a pig ready for barbecue.

Sasuke had almost killed his best friend. He had almost become what Itachi had foretold he would; a murderer. And Sasuke had wanted to become it.

Sasuke entered the bathroom, his hand shaking as he reached for the doorknob. No torches here so Sasuke hit the light switch. The walls were a glaring white, spotless. A shower to the left, toilet on the right. Sasuke headed to the washing basin in the middle, washed his hands, then his face. After, he looked up and saw his reflection in the mirror.

What a wreck.

He fell asleep at 2 AM, when darkness finally found him.

A/N:

Next issue: Sasuke leans that there is more to Orochimaru than meets the eye.

Thank you for joining me! This series of OS will be rather short, but the OS themselves get longer as we go. This first one is by far the shortest and meant as a sort of introduction to the project.

Please let me know what you think so far! Is there anything you'd like me to explore in this series?