Finally! I've been wanting to do this birthday for a while now. As a warning, because I'm not as familiar with the characters involved as I am other characters, and because I thought this idea would be utterly hilarious, for me at least, there may be some, if not a lot, of OOCness.
Disclaimer: I only own the mental image of the last scene, which makes me laugh.
February 29
Orochimaru suppressed an exasperated sigh as a candle near him flickered out. He sat in silence for a moment, the semi-darkness shrouding him in shadows that danced in the dim light of the lit candles.
He had underestimated the intruders. They were an odd, ragtag group of various missing-nin that had banded together under the impression that their combined skills could defeat him. No doubt the fools had been hired by someone living in fear of him.
He had sent some of his lesser followers to greet them. But eliminating the intruders had proved to be rather more….difficult than he had anticipated.
Another candle flame flickered into nonexistence, and he made his decision. If the fools wished to die, he would grant them their wish. A smirk slowly spread across his features and he chuckled quietly to himself.
"Kabuto," he said, his hissing voice echoing throughout the chamber. "Why don't you go and greet our visitors?"
His echoed died away, and he was greeted with silence.
"Kabuto?"
Brow furrowing in irritation, he turned his concentration outward and realized that the chamber was empty but for him. Kabuto was nowhere to be found.
For a moment, he was puzzled; Kabuto was as loyal as loyal came, and had never failed him. So why was he missing now, when they were under attack?
A thought occurred to him, and he sighed wearily. "It seems to be that time again. If he wasn't so useful, he would die for this."
The chamber echoed with his displeased murmurings as he stood gracefully. "I suppose I'll just have to take care of this problem myself."
He knew Orochimaru needed him for something; he had developed a type of sixth sense regarding the snake. But he pushed the feeling away and swallowed another mouthful of rice wine.
"He can handle himself," he muttered darkly, hiccupping. "My birthday only comes around once every four years."
By the time the sun had set, the intruders had been brutally killed, torn apart by Orochimaru himself.
And Kabuto could be seen in the nearest village tavern, passed out drunk and drooling happily on the table.
I just HAD to write it, once the idea got itself lodged into my head. I apologize for the poor quality of the writing…my muses are pretty much out of commission right now. This is the first thing I've written in weeks.
