Note from the Author: Yet another fic, eh? This fanfiction is part of "Project: Before Akatsuki", and stars that lovable yet oh-so-creepy bastard Orochimaru. After realizing that no one is truly born evil (and reading the manga where Sasuke kills Orochimaru), I decided to give a back story to why Orochimaru sought power so much. It starts from the time Orochimaru was six years old, and ends at his defection from Konohagakure. This fic is my first attempt at angst and drama, and is kind of short per chapter when compared to my other works, so be nice and constructive, okay?

On a side note, I didn't give a description of Hebaya, Oro's mom, however I assure you that just as how Orochimaru looked a little different as a kid, Hebaya holds a different appearance than Orochimaru.

Disclaimer: I do not own Orochimaru, or any characters in this fan fiction besides Hebaya, and since she's kinda dead, I'd rather not own a corpse. ...crap, I just killed the mood, didn't I? No laughy! NO LAUGHY!!!


Hebaya closed the curtains to her home hastily, not even letting the slightest shred of daylight, even the little that broke through the storm-clouds, into her small house. After the last curtain was shut, she heard fighting outside, only a short distance from the house, and began to fret.

"Orochimaru. Dearest, where are you?!" she called, rushing through the hall, trying to search for her only son. From the end of the hall, she heard a tiny, fear-struck voice call out to her.

"Mommy, I'm right here! In the bedroom!" said the tiny voice of six year old Orochimaru. His mother rushed in the bedroom to find him in his bed, hiding under the covers, trembling. She knelt down next to him and unveiled the covers, grasping on to him and holding him tightly against her breast.

"Orochimaru, sweetheart, please, don't fret. I promise, they won't bring harm to you." As she said this, she stroked her sons' long black hair, trying to calm him down. "Please, do not cry or worry. I will be here for you."

"No mommy! They're going to kill us! They'll kill us just like dad! Mommy, I don't want to die!" He began to sob harder.

Before Hebaya could console her son, she heard the front door being smashed open, and held her son even tighter than before. "Orochimaru, please, be brave. And remember that I will always love you--"

Orochimaru looked up at his mothers' face when he felt something warm running across his face. Horrified by his mothers' now mutilated face that possessed a sword through it, he staggered back in terror as the Iwagakure nin that had murdered his mother retrieved his weapon.

"Well what do we have here? Another member of this weak little clan, huh?" said the assassin menacingly. He began to walk with purposely clumsy footsteps toward the pale boy, scaring him further toward the wall. The boy was paralyzed by emotion. Losing his mother before his eyes, soaked in her blood, and the murderer setting his sights on him had rendered him no more fit to move than a statue.

The look of terror in his eyes, the open maw that overcame his face, the sweating that caused the blood upon his forehead to run further down to his cheek, all painted the picture of doom for the young Orochimaru. He closed his eyes hastily, grinding his teeth together, half awaiting the chill of death to run down his spine, the other half praying to all the gods and spirits in existence that this was only a horrible dream that he'd soon wake up from.

The Iwagakure nin readied his sword, causing a brief clanking noise, and raising it for a swift and final slice. "See you in hell, kid! Haaaaa--Urg--" The sound of piercing flesh hit Orochimarus' ears, and he heard the Iwa nin fall to the ground. Opening his eyes cautiously, and slowly, he saw the dead body of his mothers' assassin at his feet, with wide eyes of the dead written across his gaze.

Looking beyond the corpse, he saw the feet of someone, and instinctively looked up. A man with brown spiky hair and a goatee stood above the murderers' body, pulling an ANBU sword from the corps's back. "Are you alright?" the man asked, reaching his hand out to help the boy up.

Reluctant at first, the boy had to notice the Konoha headband across the mans' forehead to gain enough trust to reach out. As he was hoisted to his feet, he found it difficult to stand, but made an effort to get a better look at the shinobi who had saved him. After a closer examination of his face, he realized that this man was none other than the Second Hokages' understudy.

"Sarutobi-sama" called one of the ANBU who had apparently followed the man into the house. "We have a casualty here."

Orochimarus' eyes' widened, and he darted from the corner of the room to his mothers' mutilated body. It took him a moment to truly know she was dead, not being able to accept anything that had happened today. But upon noting her gaping head wound, and listless eyes, he could not deny it despite his desire to, and fell to his knees, coughing harshly as he began to wail. "MOMMY! NO!!!"

Sarutobi approached the crying child, and rested a hand on his shoulder. "Orochimaru, was it? ...your mother...She was very noble to have sacrificed herself for you. I know these words don't mean much in the face of the situation, but...You should be proud, knowing that she was your mother." He stood up and directed his attention at the ANBU in the room. "You there. I have new orders for you."

"Yes, Sarutobi-sama. What is it?" replied the ANBU.

"This child, Orochimaru. I want you to go explain his situation to Nidaime-Hokage-sama."

"But sir, Hokage-sama is currently on the front-line, fighting. Can this not be done at a later time?"

Sarutobi glanced at the sobbing child again, then returned attention to the ANBU, nodding. "I suppose it will have to. But I am going to escort the kid to a safe house in the meantime. Make sure to inform Hokage-sama of my whereabouts."

The ANBU nodded, and without another word, dashed off, leaving a lined blur behind. Sarutobi knelt down next to Orochimaru. "Orochimaru. We will have to get you to a safe house. Its' far too dangerous to stay here now."

Orochimaru flailed his head back and forth. "No! I'm not leaving mommy behind!"

Most people would have told the young boy to forget about it. Others would have pried him from his home like a stubborn animal. But Sarutobi just smiled, and reached under the womans' body, and lifted it up in his arms. "We'll take your mother with us then, and give her a heroes burial when this ordeal has ended. Is this okay?"

Orochimaru did not nod or give him the okay, but his sudden easement of tears told Sarutobi the answer he needed to hear. The two then made their way out of the house, the child not even realizing this was the last time he would see it. Thus begins the defection of one of histories' most famous shinobi.

END CHAPTER