Fate of the Souka Clan

By Riotv2

Disclamer: I do not own Naruto or any of it's characters, minus the Original ones I've created for this Fic.

AN: This is the first Naruto fic. that I'm posting on this site. So if you have any comments or critiques please feel free to post a review. This fic will take place after Narutos' return from his 3 year training with Jiriaya. Though it will for the most part center around my OC. I'm going to try not to stray too far from the source material and stay true to the existing characters. Let me know what you think.

Prologue:

Within the Wave country there exists no hidden ninja village. For this reason the people of the Wave who require the services of a ninja often travel to the hidden village of Konoha, in the nearby fire country. It is for this reason also that a small clan chose to settle in the Wave country. They decided to make their home on a small peninsula located on the southern most coast of the relatively small nation. There they could raise crops and fish for food, and travel to a nearby city, which had experienced a large economic boom in recent years, to trade, and purchase cloth, metals and whatever else they might need while living in isolation. It was for all of these reasons they chose the Wave, because this clan had a long tradition of training Ninja. A tradition they wished to continue in secret, without the influence of a Hidden Village. This tradition continues on today.

Three individuals entered the outermost areas of the small community, an area for the most part consisting of a few small sheds and gardens. The one in the middle is taller than the other two, however all three are cloaked with deep hoods pulled low over their faces. Below them sprawled out in the low valley the town looked utterly peaceful. Like war and conflict had never even been known to these people.

It made them sick.

For over an hour they just stood and watched as the people who lived there go about their daily lives completely unaware of the three strangers. Then all at once they felt, or perhaps only then acknowledged, a presence silently watching them as they had been watching the town.

"You might as well come out now.." Said the tallest of them. "…we know you've been there for some time."

All three turned at once to find a ninja bearing a head band with no village symbol on it, as if he served no Hidden Village. The tall stranger smiled at that.

The ninja stood, his hand hovering near his kuni pouch on his leg, and looked them over a bit closer before speaking. "What is it you want here." It was more a demand than a question. It was obvious to them that visitors were something that these people weren't used to. They would have to tread carefully.

The tall one, quite obviously the leader of the three, took a step forward and all three assumed a submissive posture.

"I beg your pardon, however we have traveled a long way to seek out the great Souka clan. We have a request to make of your Elder."

The young Souka ninja tensed for a moment his hand creeping nearer to his kuni.

"You seem to know a lot about us…and if you have a request of us, then you should be willing to at least give us your name first."

He only smiled.

"Of course where are my manors…" He straitned. "…My name is Orochimaru, and I've come seeking help for my village."

The boy lay on the beach at the very edge of the peninsula. This was his favorite place, on most days he could be found in this place looking out across the water. On the clearest of days you could almost see strait across to the shores of Fire country. He often wondered what it was like there. Not that he wanted to leave his home. Like every member of his clan, he trained everyday of his life to uphold the clans traditions and to protect his loved ones. Though there were days when he wondered just who they had to be protected from. Nobody even knew exactly where their home was….right?

These where usually the kind of thoughts that ran through his mind when he came here. At least they did until a large ball of sand impacted heavily with the back of his head. After that the only thoughts that ran through his head were how many ways he could inflict pain on somebody without causing permanent bodily harm. Turning around he saw his two teammates standing at the very edge of the beach. It was obvious that the taller of the two, Katsuo, was the one who threw the sand as he was desperately trying, without much success, to stifle his laughter. His other teammate, Fumio, was adjusting his glasses with one hand and waving to him with the other.

"C'mon Takeshi. We have to go meet up with Hideaki-Sensei."

Takeshi smiled evilly to himself and he drew a kuni from the holder on his leg and rose to a crouched position, as if preparing to spring forward in an attack on his 'friends'.

Before Fumio could even react, Katsuo, who had been on the receiving end of Takeshi's idea of 'getting even', was already running as fast as he could back in the direction of the village. After seeing his grin widen at their teammates hasty retreat, Fumio followed in Katsuo's footsteps, trying franticly to catch up. Seeing the two run like that was more than enough revenge for the sand. He wouldn't let them live that down for some time. Takeshi replaced his kuni into it's leg holster and followed them back to the village at a more leasurely pace.

Orochimaru, Perhaps one of the most feared and hunted Ninja in the known world. A man who had found the path to immortality and can raise the dead from their graves to do his bidding. The legendary Snake Senin, rested on his knees bowing his head in a show of utmost respect and fielty for the person sitting before him on slightly raised dais. They were in one of the larger buildings in the small village. This was the office of the Elder of the Souka clan. The two men who accompanied Orochimaru were in similar positions a few feet behind and to either side of their leader.

The Elder was the first to speak.

"Orochimaru-Sama,…What is it you want from my people?"

'Elder' was the title given to the head of the Souka clan. In truth Souka Takeo was only about as old as Orochimaru appeared to be, and hardly the oldest person in the clan. He was however one of the Strongest ninja. A fact that was not lost on the visitors, futile as it might have been when compared to the strength of the Snake Senin. That, however was a fact that Orochimaru kept to himself.

"Takeo-Sama, first I thank you for seeing me-"

"If you would please, just get to the point. I'm very busy."

Orochimaru maintained his impression of respect, not betraying anything else he might be feeling. Though his underlings visibly bristled at the interruption.

"Of course Takeo-Sama. As you might know the Hidden Village of Sound is currently at war with both the Leaf and Sand Villages."

"We are not so far removed from the world that we get no news of what is happening around us." The Elder was now obviously becoming agrivated with his 'guests'.

"Yes, My Lord, of-course. Our forces are dwindling and my people suffer daily. I have come before you to request an alliance. We would gladly welcome your entire clan into the Hidden Village of Sound."

The Souka Head was silent for a time as he considered the 'offer' of a possible alliance.

"Orochimaru…" None of the three Sound Ninja could miss the fact that Souka Takeo had left off the 'Sama'. "…from what I understand, it was you who initiated this war. Did you not in fact deceive the Sand into aiding in your initial attack some years ago? Did you not murder their Kazekage in order to achieve this? And now you come here seeking that I commit the lives of my people to your cause?!"

The Snakes expression and posture remained neutral, while at the same time denying none of the Elders claims.

"My Lord is well informed."

"You come here talking of the suffering of your people, trying to appeal to our sense of family. Yet you fail to realize that our beliefs are not unlike those of the very people you seek to destroy."

The Elder rose from his seat and for the first time Orochimaru met his gaze. It was now a contest of wills to see who would divert their gaze first. It was at this moment that two Jonin guards entered the room in order to protect their Leader if nessicary.

Orochimaru looked away.

"I humbly beg the Lord pardon and take my leave. I'm sorry we could not come to some arrangement."

With that the three Sound ninja left the Souka Clan village. As they crossed the border of the village. One of the servants spoke for the first time.

"Orochimaru-sama Will we be returning to the village now?"

"Not quite yet Kabuto. You will return to Sound and prepare to mobilize your men on my orders." Orochimaru turned and began to walk away chuckling to himself. "I have business to attend to at the Village Hidden in the Mist."