Chapter 1

Nightfall. The sun cast a bright orange glow over the tops of the mountains, and reflecting off of the various trees in the area. The sky was deepening into a navy blue, and the clouds were pale yellow, due to the light of the setting sun. A few stars were becoming visible and the buzz that had filled the forest only a few hours before had dropped to a quiet din.

This is the perfect time of day… Orochimaru thought to himself with a chuckle. The shadows have grown longer, and soon will be as deceiving as my best genjutsus…

Orochimaru stood still, watching the sun sink lower and lower behind the last few peaks on the horizon. Tonight he was going to raid a nearby village in hopes of attaining a few new test subjects. So far, all of his experiments had failed, but he hoped to change that soon.

He looked to the sky and found the North Star. A smile spread over his pale face. This is going to be so entertaining… he thought as he followed the star northward. He knew there was a small collection of houses and people living near the border of the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind. He had been watching them closely for weeks to make sure there would be no interruptions when it came to abducting a few women and children.

After about an hour of walking he saw an orange light spilling through the trees ahead of him. His eyes narrowed and grimaced. This was not expected…he thought, this village has never been so alight before…

The sound of people's screams reached his ears, and the smell of smoke drifted into his nostrils. "Oh…perfect..!" he hissed to himself. He leaped into a nearby tree and continued to leap from branch to branch until he was overlooking the little village. "How befitting," he mused to himself, "the night I plan to take a few lives of my own, someone has the nerve to beat me to it…"

He watched the people below, running about like little ants. Well… on the brighter side, it should be easier to abduct a few children now that everyone is already in a frenzy…. He chuckled again and leaped down from his perch and ran into the village, passing people escaping as he went. He leapt upon a house that wasn't yet engulfed in flames and again surveyed the area. More and more people poured out of their homes and either tried to run, help those around them, or attack their assailants. Looks like some rouge ninja… he thought dryly. How un-original… probably just looking for some money and a reputation… How pathetic…

As he stood and surveyed, he saw a small cluster of children running away from the village, with one in the lead. Orochimaru smiled again, Jackpot, he thought. He again leapt from building to building in pursuit of the children.

Finally, he was catching up to them. His smile grew as he saw them make their way to a clearing near the forest and out of the village. Just as he was about to make his move, he sensed that he wasn't the only one after the children. Sure enough, four ninja appeared around the children, encircling them like cattle. Orochimaru watched as the child who had lead them out of the village started shouting orders to the others.

"Everyone! Group up!" The leader shouted, " Everyone on the outside face the ninja! It'll be harder for them to attack!"

Orochimaru chuckled again. "How amusing!" he said to himself. "This child is quite the little warrior… Let's see how this goes…"

He watched as the ninja darted in and out, testing the circle of children, laughing as the feigned their attacks. The leader of the children stood stiff, watching their assailant's every move. Just then, one of the ninja ran forward. The leader ducked down, and punched the ninja straight in the gut, knocking out his wind, which caused him to fall to his knees.

"You little punk! How dare you?!" One of the other ninja shouted in anger.

The ninja who the leader punched suddenly jolted up, and grabbed the leader by the throat. "You little brat…!" he growled, "You will pay for that…!" With that, the other ninja stopped playing games; they all pulled out their kunai and rushed the group of children. Screams filled the air as the children fell one by one. "N-no…!" The leader choked.

The ninja who still held the leader's neck laughed, "That's what you get for messing with us, you runt!"

Suddenly, the ninja's body tightened, and his eyes grew wide. His grip on the leader's throat loosened, eventually dropping the child to the ground. The leader automatically looked up to see what had caused the ninja to release his hold. Slowly, the ninja's body sank to the ground, and behind him stood a tall individual. His hair was jet black and long; almost concealing one side of his face, which was a brilliant and in-human white. His eyes were lined with a purple hue, and the greenish-gold color of his eyes stared down into the leader's.

For the first time since he had been watching the children's movement and resistance, Orochimaru had never gotten a clear look at the leading child. The child's hair was dark, almost as dark as his own. The child was obviously a female, due to the fact that she wore a woman's kimono. Her eyes were a bright brown, almost a gold, and they sparkled in the light reflected from the burning village.

Without a word, Orochimaru ended his studying and quickly made his way toward the still-attacking ninja. He slew one by throwing one of his kunai, a simple task for a ninja of Orochimaru's level. The other two, who saw his attack on their comrade, rushed at him from both his front and back. Orochimaru smiled. He leapt in the air and placed his hands on the shoulders of the ninja in front of him. With ease, he swung out his legs, which collided with the head of the ninja behind him, sending him falling to the ground. Then, Orochimaru took his long, sharp nails and ran them across the ninja's throat, cutting open his jugular. Orochimaru then pushed off of the bleeding ninja's shoulders and flipped through the air and pulled out another kunai. The ninja he had kicked hadn't yet hit the ground. Just as he was about to do so, Orochimaru landed behind him, and forced the knife into the ninja's heart.

He chuckled once more, What an eventful evening… he thought to himself. He stood and surveyed the carnage. Very few of the children still remained, maybe ten at least, including the leader girl. "Well, children," he said smoothly, smiling at the crying and bloody children. "I have quite a treat for you. You see, I'm a medical ninja from Konoha and I was sent to save your village. Now, if you will all look over here, I will heal your wounds…"

Even the children who hadn't a mark on their bodies looked in the direction of the strange newcomer. Orochimaru grinned and cast a few hand signs. Once he was done, he shouted out, "Ninja art! Mind freezing jutsu!" Suddenly, all of the children slumped over, mindless expressions on their faces; all life and thought drained from their eyes. Orochimaru began to chuckle again. "Well, now I guess it's time to start looking for the best of the bunch!"

He made his way from child to child, inspecting their bodies and possible heartiness. After a few minutes, he had picked six children already and separated them from the others; in order to make sure he didn't get a stronger one confused with a weaker one. Children are all so alike, he thought to himself. Then, he noticed the leader girl, still sitting on the ground like she was once she was dropped. She we would be a prefect specimen for my experiments! He thought happily. Very strong personality- I wonder how she would hold up…? He made his way toward her, his heart a flutter as he thought of the possibilities for his experiments. Then, the girl turned around and looked into his eyes. Orochimaru froze momentarily, surprised that this child could still function normally. How could she have gotten out of my jutsu?! She's only a- then he stopped his panicking, and smiled to himself. Of course… the only way one could get out of such a low-level jutsu is to simply look away…! She must not have cared to listen when I made my announcement…

Orochimaru smiled at the girl. "Are you badly injured, little girl…?" He asked silkily. The girl looked at the ground for a moment, and then shook her head. "N-no…" she whispered. She looked beyond Orochimaru's figure at the other children and their strange expressions.

"What happened to them…? Are they going to be alright…?" She asked Orochimaru, worry in her quiet voice.

"They are simply reaping in the benefits of a very strong healing technique, my dear. Nothing to be afraid of- in fact, they will all be back to normal by morning."

She looked back into Orochimaru's eyes and smiled. "Oh good… I'm glad you came to help us, sir."

Orochimaru smiled despite himself. What a mild mannered child- and yet, so strong… What an interesting combination. I may not use her for experiments after all, but rather other purposes…

"Then tell me child," Orochimaru said, kneeling down to look the girl in the eye, "what do you plan to do now that your family and friends have all left? Where do you plan to go?"

The girl looked at the ground again, tears welling up in her eyes. "I… I don't know…" she said quietly. Orochimaru then took his index finger, crooked it and lifted the child's face to meet his gaze. The girl's eyes glowed even more with her tears, Orochimaru did his best to look concerned, but inside he was brimming with joy. This child would be a perfect vessel once I perfect the Art of Immortality Jutsu… I shall raise her to my liking, and then, when the time is right…

"Child," he said to her, "You no longer have a home to return to, and no family to welcome you and care for you. Come with me, and I shall adopt you, and teach you everything I know. I will teach you the way of the Shinobi, and in return, you shall pledge to me your allegiance. Is that understood.?"

The girl blinked away her tears, but more came. She leapt at Orochimaru, and wrapped her small arms around his waste. Orochimaru looked at the girl in shock, not anticipating her embrace. "Yes… I shall come with you," she sobbed into his chest. Orochimaru grinned at the pact he and the child had just made. "It is settled then, my child," he said, placing a hand on top of her head. "You need only refer to me as Lord Orochimaru, or Orochimaru-sama; whichever fits your liking. But for now, my child, we must go."

He stood then, releasing himself from the child's embrace. "Tell me child," he asked, looking into the girl's eyes again. "What is your name…?'

She returned his gaze and replied, "I'm Keiko Otori, my Lord."

Again, Orochimaru smiled dispite himself. "Keiko-chan, we must leave now."

Once the girl heard him call her 'chan,' she smiled broadly. Just as I suspected… he thought to himself, If I treat her kindly she will do exactly as I say… So this is the price I must pay for a loyal subordinate…? So be it…

He turned and knelt again, showing the girl his back. "Here, Keiko-chan," he said coaxingly, "we must go on a long journey, and you are tired. Please, ride on my back as we make our way."

She walked toward him, and wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. She rested her head on his back and said quietly, "Thank you, Lord Orochimaru… thank you…"

Orochimaru listened as her breathing slowed as she drifted to sleep. Perfect! he laughed, Now, the rest of the children can follow without pesky questioning!

Quickly, Orochimaru released his hold on the girl's legs and cast some more hand signs and said an incantation. Once finished, he laughed to himself. "Oh… I am so incredibly happy I was able to use my newest jutsu! This is absolutely marvelous!" He watched as the now mindless children. slowly began to rise. "This way, children…" he said snidely, "We have to get you home before the sun rises!" With that, he turned and led the children out of the village, one clinging on his back.