Incurable
Chapter 1

He had always been able to put on a mask. Kabuto Yakushi had always been a master at making himself appear how anyone he came around wanted to see him. Whether he was being the quiet and hesitant fall out genin in Konoha, or the brilliant minded medic that was the power behind Orochimaru's throne he always managed to play his part without falter. That was just the problem however. He had for so long spent his life deceiving that the real Kabuto Yakushi was long forgotten by Those around him, and even himself.

He wasn't really complaining though, he nor anyone else in Otogakure had the time for emotions past false face valued words. Showing such trivial matters or the desire for them made one weak, and in a place like Otogakure weakness is the last thing you wanted. The second you became weak that meant you were useless. Once you were useless you were cast aside and left to die.

Though words were never actually spoken every sound ninja knew it. (At least subconsciously) They all were at least partly aware of the fact that to orochimaru, despite his sugary words, they were no more then his tools to be used in his own gains. Kabuto knew this better then anyone having been there the longest. He was not the first but he had lasted longer then anyone to ever walk through the doorway of Otogakure. This was because he refused to be weak. He was one of the few strong enough to survive.

All in all Kabuto could really care less about emotions. Really he couldent even recall having any feelings. At least not since he lost his family and since he was an infant at the time he couldent even remember that anyway. Really the closest thing he could think of to call emotion was the time he was almost worried about Orochimaru dying and offered his own body as a new vessel. Almost.

Though the thought never consciously crossed his mind Kabuto felt no cause for changing this fact that so well fitted the young man for the last 15 years When talk of sasuke coming on his own to Orochimaru in need of great power began to stir in Otogakure.

Which is more then likely why Kabuto found himself shocked at himself when he found himself getting rather annoyed when he couldent carry conversation with Orochimaru anymore without him pulling the name sasuke out of thin air. Then again after hearing someone's name over a thousand times a day he could assume it would become trying on anyone's nerves. The main thing that shocked him was that he couldent recall EVER becoming annoyed in the slightest by his master before.

"Orochimaru-sama…I felt you should be aware that the mist village is growing suspicious of our-"

"Don't bother with it. Once I have Sasuke-kun's body such matters will become rather trivial"

"But Orochimaru-sama….I understand that you have been long awaiting this but we shouldn't dwell over Sasuke… he may prove, how shall I say this… hard to tame"

"Which is why we should dwell all the more! To prepare for Sasuke-kun's arrival!" His master's voice was actually rather loud and obnoxious at this point.

"HOW DO YOU KNOW HE'LL EVEN ALLOW IT!?" kabuto growled louder then he had meant to after Orochimaru's eccentric behavior got on his final nerve.

Orochimaru simply turned glaring towards Kabuto who for the first time crossed a line that he shouldn't of. Well that wasn't actually true. Far from it actually. What better described it was it was the first time he crossed that line and his silver tongue couldent get him past trouble.

"Are you questioning Sasuke-kun's Loyalty to me?"

LOYALTY!? That little… brat wasn't even here yet and hes already trusted enough to be called 'Loyal'!?

"Forgive me Orochimaru-sama" he sighed holding a serious yet somewhat blank look about his face. His self defense was finally coming to him far more eased. "It was a foolish thought"

"A very foolish one…" he hissed coldly raising a brow.

Kabuto mimicked the gesture calmly. When he did this it usually meant he was hiding the fact that in simple terms…orochimaru had him scared near stiff. It was almost an animalistic instinct to him to hide his fear. As a spy he didn't let anyone see his true face, including his master in cases like these. Orochimaru however seemed to always see through the charade but it seemed to amuse the man enough to keep Kabuto as his favorite.

Actually he couldent remember ever not being Orochimarus right hand man since the day he had come to Otogakure. He didn't particularly have an ego about it (rather he didn't notice it as every other ninja in the village agreed he was a spoiled rotten snob) but he was rather thankful that Orochimaru had trusted him enough to grant him with such an honor. Even more so he was thankful that his usefulness to his master still had not ran out. Most people in Otogakure didn't last more then seven years or so, that's why he was so careful to please Orochimaru. At nearly 20 he was older then anyone there (saving Orochimaru in his early 50's, though since the body he now in habited was only about 30 or so he was hardly considered to be old) he was more likely to be sent on one of Orochimaru's suicide missions.

Though he denied the fact that was one of the few things Orochimaru feared. Kabuto Yakushi, the boy with a natural knack at toying with corpses was himself afraid to die. Not so much die but to not be useful to Orochimaru. He had spent his life into serving his master and outside of that had nothing much else to turn to even if Orochimaru did let him live once he no longer had any need for him.

Kabuto sighed to himself realizing Orochimaru had somewhere along the lines left the room.

"Frickin little brat. Whats he done that's so great?" he huffed to himself. Kabuto threw his hands to his hips flouncing about continuing in a mocking tone that made him look more ridiculous then he already did.

"Oh look at me Im Sasuke! I think im so freaking great 'cause my own psychopathic brother killed my whole family but me cause I wasn't worth his effort. Oh im so emo because it's not like theres a million other people who are orphans! Tra-la-la-la-"

"-Kabuto what are you doing?" Orochimaru asked as he reentered the room. Having not seen his master come in the voice startled him sending Kabuto face first to the floor out of shock.

"Oh…uh…Orochimaru-sama……..I was…uh…" Well the truth was out of the question. He couldent very well say 'oh I was just mocking your new vessel cause I hate him.' That's when he glanced away from the Otokage to find that to his side stood none other but said Uchiha.

"Yeah, you wish you were me nurse-boy" he quipped obviously having heard the entire monologue.

"What that I was some whiny self absorbed little brat?" He rose a brow crossing his arms smugly.

"It takes one to know one"

Both glared daggers and flames at each other. The only thing the two agreed oncoming out right here and now. They both despised each other.