Chapter 2
For months, Orochimaru had dreaming of all of the new experimentation that would be open to him with a Jinchuuriki. He had hardly left his lab, using his free time to meticulously plan out gross enhancements and power boosters that would be certain death for any normal human. But the healing power of a bijuu made it all possible.
He didn't specifically need the nine-tails; any one of them would bring about the same result. The only reason he came after this boy was to remove Konoha's main source of power, to spite them and to leave them vulnerable. Every main village now had a major edge against such a pitiful excuse for civilisation!
The thought of finally starting his experiments had him caught up in a sense of excited anticipation, and he allowed a gleam of it to show through his eyes as he leered down at the kyuubi brat; who was trembling in front of him.
The child was weak, anyone could see that; certainly not what he would have expected of the resident Jinchuuriki. He should be begging to receive the enhancements Orochimaru had planned for him. It would have been better if he'd planned this when the child was younger and undeveloped; then they could have trained him properly as he grew…
It didn't matter. They would whip him into shape along the way.
He could see in the wide blue eyes when the boy managed to overcome his fear enough to realise his predicament; could see when the child made his decision to flee. He looked on with amusement as the boy twisted around and yanked open the bathroom door, only to freeze again in shock, with the point of a kunai less than a centimetre from his left eye.
His allowed his tongue to flick out; tasting the fear in the air as Kabuto stepped forward – forcing the blonde to back away into the centre of the room. Kabuto always did like his games…
Naruto's mind was in turmoil. He couldn't hold any one thought for long enough to act upon it. He knew he wanted to get that kunai away from his eye, but all of his training seemed to have been left behind at the academy; he didn't have a clue what to do.
He tried to slow down the erratic beating of his heart. If he didn't have the loud pumping in his ears then he might be able to think, any plan would be a good plan at this point. At the moment, he was trapped in his small bathroom with one wooden door in front him and a tiny window behind. Both exits were currently blocked – not that he'd be able to fit through the window anyway – which led to his first, hastily made plan.
Unblock an exit, namely: the door.
He made that his plan B, the fear he was feeling was a good indication to the fact that he really wasn't strong enough to shift these… Konoha ninja? They had the headbands on. Would this just be another 'demon' beating?
Not one to stay quiet for long, he asked, "Who are you? Why are you in my house?!"
He turned sideways on so that he could see both of them, not wanting to be caught unawares. The dark haired one by the window spoke first, retracting an overly long tongue into his wide mouth. It reminded Naruto uncomfortably of a giant snake he'd met once, after running into a dark forest to escape the villagers. His panicked screaming had alerted a group of Anbu – who had been training nearby.
They had actually laughed when they came across him, desperately trying to outrun a 40ft long snake, but had eventually killed the terror and delivered him safely back to his flat with a warning to 'Never go in there again, because you're on your own next time.'
Suffice to say he'd found less dangerous places to hide after that time.
He wondered if screaming would help this time; he'd feel infinitely better if the snake guy's head was no longer attached to the rest of his body.
"My apologies for startling you Naruto-kun."
He knew that tone of voice. He was being laughed at, and he didn't appreciate it one bit. The older kids at the academy always talked to him like that, when trying to make him do something they knew he'd get into trouble for.
"My assistant, Kabuto, works around the village for me now and then, and he informed me you were training to be a ninja. I have a … proposition for you; if you're interested. I can help you become strong."
Naruto stared into his yellow eyes, searching for the truth behind the entrancing orbs. This was a skill he honed every day to keep himself safe from those who wished him harm – which summed up to most of the inhabitants of Konoha, and some Iwa nin, for some strange reason.
Either that skill was currently failing him, or this man meant every word he said. Did he genuinely want to help? If that were the case, then why did he feel so evil?
"You want to … help me?" He questioned timidly. This couldn't be real, no one had ever helped him improve – not even Iruka had taught him anything of use, the teacher had only ever encouraged him to keep trying.
The man's voice was slightly softer when he replied, and he seemed almost… shocked?
"Of course Naruto-kun, why else would we be here? Kabuto informed me of the predicament you were in earlier this evening and I came immediately to help. Sadly we didn't quite get there in time – you had already left – so we came looking for you here. I want to teach you defend yourself, so that you won't have to worry about those citizens any longer."
Where before it had been full, Naruto's mind was now completely empty. All he could think to say was:
"Why didn't you just knock on the door?"
Orochimaru was laughing on the inside, though he made his best effort not to let it show. Konoha had really trodden down their Jinchuuriki, it seemed his job was already half done. If he played his cards right, he could even have a willing participant for his experiments; though Kabuto tended to get bored without a bit of action. He might have to find a different bone for his assistant to gnaw on.
"Why didn't you just knock on the door?"
Ah, If this boy carried on asking questions it was going to get hard to stick to the truth.
"The Anbu often have eyes on your door I'm afraid. As a Konoha citizen and a medic nin, Kabuto has ample reason to enter your house after such a show; though his intentions may be questioned. I, however, am rather disliked by the village, and so would not get away with walking straight up to your front door."
"'Such a show?' You mean they were watching?!"
He laughed lightly, regretting the action when the boy's face closed off again.
"It's what they do Naruto, they monitor targets of interest. Normally they would interfere if such distasteful activity occurred, but for you…"
The boy's next words came out as barely a whisper, but his enhanced hearing meant he didn't have to lean down to pick it up.
"Do you know why?"
"I do Naruto-kun, and I will tell you. But only if you come with me. I will tell you everything you want to know, and I will make you strong enough to take your revenge for what they have done."
"What's the catch?" Had he said something wrong? He frowned as he thought back over his words, finding nothing that could have given him away. Yet the brat's voice had hardened ever so slightly, and his eyes had returned once more to searching Orochimaru's face. If he wanted a willing and loyal subject, he would have to speak carefully. Though he had a feeling he'd already lost the boy.
"Only that you come with me to my own village – the Hidden Sound. The village is rather spread out; I have bases in every land, but you will always be in my main station – wherever that may be at the time."
It seemed they had reached a critical point: the weighing of options. Uncertainty raced through the bright blue irises in front him
"What would I do there? Missions?"
"When you have reached a level I deem acceptable to start, yes. You are not yet strong enough to complete the missions my village takes on. But you will be given free room and board for the remainder of your career." Orochimaru almost laughed again as he spoke. Free room and board indeed.
However, it seemed the Jinchuuriki didn't share his humour. His expression had closed off once again and he was slowly shaking his head.
"Are you sure? I will only give you this opportunity once. Would you like to be left to the mercy of this Gods forsaken village?"
"I will become strong, but I don't need your help for that. Thanks for the offer, but I'm not ready to leave the village just yet."
Too bad for him, Orochimaru was too impatient to put off his experiments much longer.
"I'm afraid you have no choice in the matter Naruto-kun"
Both Naruto and Kabuto moved at the same time. The kunai had been replaced with a syringe, filled with enough anaesthetic to knock out a buffalo; they would need no less.
"KAGE BUNSHIN NO JUTSU!"
Orange clad clones appeared in every available space, and a spray of senbon immediately cleared out all but a few of them. The rest converged on Kabuto, executing sloppy combo moves to force him away from the door. Orochimaru watched on in amusement as Kabuto began to grow annoyed, knocking the blondes back with a sharp roundhouse. All but one popped in a burst of white smoke, and a strange grating sound came from originals wrist; as though a half healed joint had just re-broken.
The boy curled his wrist into his chest and prepared to leap back at Kabuto… he never got the chance.
"Was that really necessary?"
Kabuto straightened up, brushing imaginary dust off of his pristine outfit and pushing his glasses back up to the bridge of his nose.
"Please excuse my actions, Orochimaru-sama. I'm afraid I allowed my emotions to get the better of me."
Orochimaru waved a hand, signalling towards their knocked out target. "Give him the anaesthetic, we won't want him waking up half way there."
"Of course, Orochimaru-sama."
Kabuto jabbed the needle into Naruto's arm with perhaps a little more force than strictly necessary, but he let it slide. They would both get used to each other with time. He led the way out of the apartment, bypassing the Anbu guards lying motionless on the floor. It seemed that they had indeed questioned Kabuto's intentions, that boy had such a short temper sometimes.
