Ok…I might be optimistic putting up another chapter, but there you go x3
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Just like I didn't yesterday.
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As soon as they had left the small arena that had been allocated to the Uchiha brat, Kabuto turned to his master – and was shocked at the panic, bordering on fear, in Orochimaru's eyes.
"Orochimaru-sama?" His long hair almost hit Kabuto in the face as he whirled round, eyes wide and glaring.
"Kabuto. Now your chance has finally come to…prove yourself. Come with me."
Kabuto following unthinkingly, but he started becoming more and more anxious as his master walked faster, almost breaking into a run as they headed towards the entrance. The light from outside was a shock to his eyes, as always, the bright green of the surrounding vegetation a stark contrast to the murky shades of grey inside the compound.
Green eyes locked with his. Kabuto gulped.
"You are aware of my contract with the serpentine race, yes?" Kabuto nodded dumbly. "The scroll that I signed – in my own blood –" (Kabuto took this to mean the blood of his original body, rather than any subsequent ones) "has been stolen by some vile ninja – I don't know where from, and as yet I don't care, but if they destroy it, the same will happen to my power over snakes."
Kabuto swallowed a gasp; dramatics were one thing that wouldn't help.
"So far they haven't realised its significance, being the brainless creatures they are, but even with their limited knowledge it will not be long before someone damages it. I will send you with my best ninja... and I am coming myself."
"There would be terrible danger, Orochimaru-sama!" Kabuto burst out, fear gripping him tightly at the thought of his master being threatened. He had never accompanied the Sound on a mission before, and Kabuto didn't think now was the time to start. But Orochimaru ignored his protests, and carried on.
"There must be some kind of 'leader', as always, in our ninja group." Kabuto cringed inwardly. That was one of the problems that had automatically sprung to mind, his experience in the field battling against his master's ultimate control. "I understand you are more used to missions of this kind, but I will have the final say, yes?"
Kabuto nodded. "Hai, sir." He was vaguely disappointed that he wouldn't be having any 'confrontations' as such with his master – they always left his nerves tingling, in a strangely pleasant, if completely terrifying, way – but he appreciated that a plan was needed for the mission to proceed successfully.
"You have one hour to prepare yourself," Kabuto blinked "before we set off for the country of Sand. They are close, and they are most likely to try and obstruct me since I killed their last Kazekage." His voice was more nonchalant now, calm, and back in control.
"I will meet you here in one hour, Orochimaru-sama." Kabuto was about to return to his quarters, before a white hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"Oh, and Kabuto?" His head was tilted so his face was in shadow, "leave your hair down for once, hmm?" Kabuto's eyebrows nearly shot into his hairline, and he stuttered,
"W-well I…I –" Orochimaru laughed, a creepy sound that echoed off the trees around and sent birds flying in terror, and removed his hand.
"Just do it." He bent down and shot off into the trees on some inexplicable business of his own, and Kabuto was left stock still.
He couldn't pretend that the events of that morning hadn't startled him – and awakened some shadowy emotions that he had fought for years to pretend didn't exist – but he presumed that it was another part of Orochimaru's volatile mood swings. He had no desire to become another Kimimaro, a devoted puppet that loved his master to point of suicide, though he had found it quite funny to watch the young gray-haired man scavenge at the titbits Orochimaru had thrown him, still loving him unconditionally – but Kabuto guessed that this was another part of his 'twisted personality' that his master seemed to like.
But the one thing he had to be was obedient, surely; so Kabuto smirked to himself as he pulled the hair band out, letting the thick bangs frame his face. Once he had worried about looking girly, but after seeing a picture of a ninja named Haku – who had been involved in some kind of trouble in Wave country, so he had heard – he was certain that there was nothing to worry about.
He pushed his glasses up his nose, and smiled openly at the clearing. Tomorrow was going to be interesting.
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Yay for Kabuto with his hair down! -dances- Reviews make me happy :3