The ABCs of Orochimaru
D is for Death
The inn bustled with activity, conversation and clinking of chopsticks against porcelain bowls. Pungent tobacco smoke drifted through the air from the table of old men clutching cigarettes with long, yellowed nails.
Orochimaru furrowed his brow in disgust at them and the foul scent of smoke. They seemed almost content to die, or they were so ignorant that they thought they'd live forever when they did nothing but sit, eat and smoke.
There had been a time when he wanted to extend everyone's lives and ensure the strength of Konoha to last for years. But they changed. He changed and in the end, no one was worth saving anymore.
"Hello," murmured a voice from behind his shoulder. Male, not too old. He turned his head to see who spoke to him. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Kabuto stiffen, ready to attack if necessary. Good boy, Kabuto.
"Hello." Orochimaru's voice was deep, silky, and curious. Somewhat genuine. It did not take long for him to realize that the young man flirted with him. This evening started to be more interesting than he expected.
With a glance at Kabuto as a silent order to follow him, Orochimaru coaxed the man outside, a ways from the inn so that they would not draw any unnecessary attention.
Dread flashed in the man's eyes as all hope was lost. Orochimaru injected a concoction that paralyzed his new subject with the quick jab of a needle. The man's eyes closed and then the three of them were gone.
000
Orochimaru stood in his lab filled with tubes, scrolls, chemicals and bodies. The new subject lay strapped to an upright table and his eyes were wide in fear. The experiment was about to begin.
He concentrated his chakra on the man - to be called #2904 now - and began the difficult task of discovering just what his ability was. He had recognized the flicker of powerful chakra and thus their meeting was no coincidence.
His snake-like tongue shot out towards #2904, pried his lips open and thrust itself down his throat. Chakra tasting, a jutsu only a few mastered. Orochimaru had few difficulties mastering it himself.
#2904 writhed in pain, its chakra flared and suddenly he could feel the power. Chakra, powerful chakra, tasted sweet, exotic, invigorating. The taste sent shivers and electric tingles below his navel, pooling in excitement. His tongue withdrew back into his mouth.
"You thought that you could win me over, didn't you?" he asked the pathetic quivering mass of flesh and bones in front of him. "Trying to seduce me like a desperate whore." He leaned forward, closer to its face and sneered. "No one has that power over me." It was only useful to him for one purpose. Jutsu.
Creating poisonous air. Just lying dormant in him. How wonderful.
Orochimaru extracted the jutsu from #2904 more slowly than usual just to see all his bones and organs slowly fall apart.
Just before the brink of death, he stopped to pull the tube with One into the middle of the room so he could see what Orochimaru was doing.
"No one comes close to you," he told One.
#2904 stopped breathing.
