"I will not die without fighting for a life I am not yet done living."

Orochimaru hadn't commanded his body to act the way it had, he had felt threatened and his chakara had emerged like a snake, rearing its head up and striking at the most opportune moment. It hadn't waited for his permission to emerge, it had simply reacted to the environment and situation ahead of them. He had killed three men with a tiny burst of wind, it reminded him of something important, imagine what he could do with his actual power, his unstinted chakara and jutsu. He could take down the NW army again. The only reason the NW army seemed so unstoppable was due to them restricting the ninja's chakara time and time again. Last time they had needed to take down the power generator. That was good and well, this time however, the Sannin would take out the facilities which enabled the NW's to make power. He would destroy the resource which allowed the men to continue in their ploy to create more power stations which would in turn shut down their technological devices one step at a time.

This time the ninja would know that one station was not the route of all evil, and that it was not going to put an end to the jutsu forgetting townsmen. He was thrilled to remember how powerful he truly was, he had almost counted himself as weak, counted himself as a mere pawn to be used. Not after that, three men versus him at his weakest and still he had outdone them. That was until his jutsu died once more and he was roughly pinned to the wet floor, hit with a baton as if he was a ravage dog who had lashed out. They kicked him and pulled at his fine hair before ramming him into the earth for good measure. It may have been out of hate, or it may have been out of fear. He didn't care. What he was slightly concerned about was the fact that now NW men knew he had managed to bring forth jutsu, they now knew he was capable of killing and fighting back. What would they do with him now? Surely kill him on the spot.

Deidara had cried out for his friend when the officers had become violent, he had demanded they back off, threatened them. For that he had received similar treatment as they both found themselves shoved into a cell with other occupants. Unlike last time however, the men looked far more aggressive in demeanour. The cell itself was dirty and grimy with odd faint splashes of dried up blood. Deidara glanced at the inmates worriedly, the snake haven received the most rough treatment was still trying to figure out up from down as he gathered his jumbled thoughts. When he realized he even had company other than the blond he passed them steely eyes of warning. But they didn't seem too intimidated by his slitted eyes, they watched him with far more predatory ones. Deidara nudged his friend to ask he back away from the men as he had, the serpent remained where he was.

He broke eye contact with the largest man in the cell only because an officer banged at the cage doors.

"Try that jutsu shit once more ninja, I'll have you executed on the spot." The man snapped, the inmates looked back at the serpent with much more frightened eyes, all but one, one who was half beaten to death, one who wore a ninja seal mark.

"You have jutsu, one of the legendary Sannin?" he asked in a hushed tone. The Sannin looked back at him with some sympathy, he must have been bloodied by the brutish NW prisoners.

"I said shut the fuck up." An officer snapped.

"One of legendary what now?" Another cop interrupted.

Orochimaru flashed the ninja on the floor silencing eyes, he didn't want them thinking he was a bigger threat than he already seemed to be.

"I-I said Sannin." The ninja blurted out, evidently more afraid of the officers, he then looked at the pale ninja with an apologetic stare before he did something the snake wanted to kill him for, "I'll tell you everything about him, let me out of this cell and I swear I can give you all the information you need!"

The officers gestured to one another and then opened the cell door letting the betraying ninja out. Deidara growled in annoyance, this would be the factor which would inevitably kill the serpent and what more ruin the ninja's chances of escape.

"You fucking coward!" Deidara yelled as the man skittered past under the NW officers protection. He didn't make eye contact, he went straight to sit down in a chair with the cop.

"Speak." The cop said.

"He is one of the most powerful ninja known, a prodigy of his time." The ninja blurted out again, "He betrayed his home- Konoha- He was from Konoha, student of a Hokage."

The officer was taking down notes as the man continued to detail the famous ninja's feats and abilities, his tactics and team mates.

"He was a genius, always good with science as well. He knew how to make people stronger somehow, he could grant you power beyond your wildest dreams. He manipulates ninja all the time to do his work, and he had gained many thugs loyalty." The man rambled, "he is impossible to detain, his summonings are snakes- even his abilities are snakelike. He has immensely potent chakara, it was probably too strong for the proposal to kill."

"He is this powerful, what of his team mates?" An officer asked, "Shouldn't we look for them?"

"Only one other Sannin is left, and her chakara isn't as volatile." The ninja lied, "She wasn't of the same level."

The ninja was clearly keeping the female Hokage safe as he had something owed to her. Orochimaru could have easily ratted the man out as a liar, gotten him killed for daring, but he knew that would in turn be petty. The man had acted out of fear, and the Sannin didn't take personal offense at it. If anything, he may one day kill the man himself, but he would never request his enemy do that for him.

"His teacher?" The officer asked.

"He killed him." The ninja confessed.

"What's this legendary Sannin's name?" The officer asked as he jotted down extra notes.

"Orochimaru." The ninja admitted.

"Orochimaru who?" The cop said annoyed that the ninja had not elaborated.

"I don't know." The ninja said honestly.

The cop closed his note pad and passed it to another man before telling him to hand it over to officials. The man nodded and exited the building but he was knocked aside as a man entered in a long cape which bared the symbol NW in large letters.

Easily recognised as an imperial, and then even more obviously recognised as Satoru. He glided up to the cell and looked into it as one may look into a lion cage. Some caution but more than anything an over whelming fascination.

"My dear Oro-chan you lied!" he exclaimed happily, "You underplayed your abilities greatly in our last conversation. Let our last deal fall away then shall we? It just won't do for a ninja of your level. Come join us at our military, we have so many uses for someone of your rank!"

"Satoru, what are you doing here?" a familiar voice asked, Orochimaru glanced behind the imperial to see Saura beside Kakashi and Hidan. They all seemed to be alarmed upon seeing an NW imperial, they were worried they had been caught out.

"Last deal?" Kakashi asked.

"I'm here to collect Oro-chan. You don't mind do you Saura? I know you liked his company so much, but sadly he has broken a few rules." Satoru said before looking at the copy ninja, "Another ninja, tell me, are you of the same level as this one? Do you use forbidden arts as he does?"

"No I don't. It's illegal and I was and am a Jounin of Konoha." Kakashi said, he seemed slightly displeased to find out that the Sannin had been making deals with imperials.

"Sad, but not too tragic. One master of the arts is enough." Satoru said, "Come, maybe you can speak to Manda."

"Sir- he needs to be taken to-" An officer tried to state standard procedures but was silenced by the higher ups hand.

"No no that won't be happening, he will be coming with us. I will secure his chakara for while he is out in the city but for while he is in my base under my rules he will have his jutsu. We could learn a great deal from a ninja who actually still has his chakara wouldn't you say?"

The police were forced to open the cell and let the serpent out, but he wouldn't budge.

"What about Deidara?" he asked.

"What of him?" Satoru repeated, "Oh of course he may accompany us out, tell me, does he know of the forbidden arts."

"Yes." Deidara said, he had decided he may as well go into the mess alongside his friend. It was that or prison he was assuming.

"Then he will be escorted with us now won't he." Satoru said as he awaited them to leave, "Unlike our incompetent police, one false move from here to the base will result in dire consequences. My men are trained to handle your kind, even when you have jutsu. Just remember that they are soldiers not police. This way."

"You're taking them to the military?" Saura asked casually, as if it wasn't the most dangerous place on NW soil. Satoru nodded to the other man, they seemed to be friends of some kind, perhaps Saura was used to the man carting away people.

"Orochimaru what happened?" Kakashi asked as he raced to the serpent, he was blocked by militant soldiers.

"I killed a few men, shocked? I doubt it, you and Asuma are both presumably rather content that I managed to go down the same road I always do." Orochimaru replied, he was still rather cut by the man ignoring him and choosing Asuma over the male he had said he loved.

"I'm not content at all." Kakashi said with angered eyes, "Why were you making deals with imperials?"

"I wasn't." Orochimaru hissed, "I avoided saying a thing to the man- but he evidently got all the information he needed from one of your lovely Konoha Jounin over there. Spilt his bloody guts on the table, they know everything they need to about me now."

Kakashi let his eyes drift to the man who had a bloodied face, and who the Sannin no longer felt pity for.

"Come along- oh do you want to say goodbye to your friends?" Satoru asked as he saw the copy ninja standing as close as he was allowed to the Sannin.

"How long will they be gone for? You can't keep them there forever." Saura said, "Will he be like the others? Will you let him live in our city until you need him?"

"We will work out the details after deciding how large a threat he is." Satoru said, "But you are free to visit whenever you wish."

"I will- but he had plans to make a life here." Saura stated again.

The NW's continued their conversation as Hidan walked around to Kakashi, the soldiers blocked him off from direct contact with the serpent and blond as well.

"Doesn't sound like the best or worst deal- might be able to come back down here when he's done… doing hell knows what."

"Tell the others what has happened and- keep this so we can stay in contact." Orochimaru said as he threw a cellphone at the immortal. They caught it, the soldiers didn't seem fazed by the exchange. The two ninja with white hair looked at the device curiously, the Sannin knew the two would figure it out or else ask Saura for assistance. Moments later the two rogues were requested to follow the imperial out and into the cold night rain. Their choice of vehicle was far more daunting, it was shaped largely, as if it could go to war at any second, however it did not lack the speed Saura's more designer car had. Reunited for the briefest of moments, Kakashi watched as once more the Sannin departed.

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"It sounds as if he was making deals with NW's." Asuma said, "Once again proving my point that he cannot be trusted."

"He said he made no deal with anyone, the reason he was taken away was because some of his chakara lashed out." Hidan defended, "he has powerful chakara and it tends to act on its own accord when he is weak mentally."

"Kakashi you said the imperial mentioned a deal." Asuma revised.

"We don't know what the fuck he meant by that." Hidan snapped, "NW's don't give people a chance. They make up their own deals and they force ninja to comply. Besides, he said he didn't make any deals, he said that one of your men gave away all his information."

"Let's keep ourselves in check." Shikamaru said quickly, "What do we know so far about the men who took them away?"

"They are from the military, they had spoken to Orochimaru before the incident and they came to collect him because he displayed chakara." Kakashi said, he was in no right mind to defend Asuma, he was only thinking of the best way to get to his lover, to get him out of the highly advanced facility.

"Also you stated that Saura man knows the imperial? That he often visits. Could we not maybe get in through him, so that we have a better understanding of the base?" Ino asked.

Hidan suddenly remembered something of valid importance, he dug in his pocket to retrieve the metallic phone and placed it on the table.

"Orochimaru gave me that." Hidan said, "We can use it to contact him apparently."

"Give it here." Shikamaru said, as the smartest man logically speaking, nobody had any hang ups about letting him take control of the confusing device. It took the Nara a few minutes but soon he had unlocked the device and managed to navigate it with some accuracy. He knew the basics of how phones worked and he used that knowledge to locate the contacts feature before scrolling down the names. There were three, one was recognisable as the motel phone, the other said Deidara and the last was Saura's.

"Should we call Deidara? Does he have a phone?" Shikamaru asked as he clicked the button. The group stood around the device hopefully. It buzzed and buzzed but no one every picked up the phone, no answer came forth and the ninja stood around the empty sound.

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Orochimaru slammed into the large sheeted metallic wall. He grunted in pain as he got to his feet weakly before swiping blood off his chin.

"Bit too much for you Oro-chan?" Satoru called from the stands divided from the fighting arena by bullet proof glass, "I'll release more of your chakara try again."

A dark purple flared around the angered Sannin as he hissed. The machine on two wheels positioned itself again as it made a rumbling noise. The barrel of the tank like machine shot out a blast of manmade chakara mimicking that of the kyubi. This time the ninja was not struck down by it, this time he performed multiple hand signs and placed his palms to the ground.

The demonic gates rose from the earth breaking half the fighting arena as its evil faces defended their summoner by absorbing the blast.

"Hmm... too much chakara I see." Satori acknowledged, he was in awe of the forbidden art of such a high level, but he knew that if the Sannin was capable of summoning it he was evidently restoring too much chakara and was becoming dangerous, "I'm draining and sealing more chakara Oro-chan. Don't be surprised."

Orochimaru looked up to see many NW men and women wearing white coats as they jotted things down. He hadn't wanted to tell them anything that would help them but he had no choice it seemed. If he didn't react against the machine it would simply detonate him into nothing. The tank like creation hummed to life as it repositioned. A blast was heard once more but Orochimaru felt the pressure of the attack from behind him rather than from where the tank was. His reflexes never let him down as he transformed into a snake and slipped out of aim.

Satoru burst out laughing in joy as the snake saw the ploy and easily dodged it.

"Brilliant!" He exclaimed.

The training and testing went on for a few more hours, the NW unaware of how taxing it was for the snake as his chakara was increased and decreased by the manmade control.

Finally the machine made a loud thumping sound as it shut down and demobilized. Orochimaru was panting heavily his limbs shaking from fatigue. He had been without jutsu for ages and he was struggling to remind his body of its limits. Satoru entered the ring as the Sannin felt all his chakara leave him as it was sealed away against his will.

"We have learnt so much off this Oro-chan." He stated as he guided him towards the exit, "I can't wait to do it again once you've healed and freshened up no? Say this afternoon perhaps? Go get some rest my men will take care of you."

Orochimaru watched the NW men approach with their fake smiles of acceptance, they took him to a different sector of the militant base and his analytical eyes snapped up every fine detail on the way through. He looked through glass rooms and saw ninja being worked on. Tested on in strange ways with strange devices. They were not in any pain, they did not look alarmed and they obeyed every order the white coated NW that spoke to them said. The Sannin could best describe them as lifeless. Machines rolled around the bases halls acting as workers, Orochimaru was not a fan of the technological drones. He was on the lookout for Deidara who had gone to another room to be tested. The base then lead into a quarter which had more homely looking furniture, as homely as white walls and floors could truly be he supposed.

They handed him all the necessities and he was allowed to shower before the nurses would tend to his wounds. He had been given a light blue kimono which he tied together around himself as he folded his arms to his chest. His black hair was swept over one shoulder as he combed his fingers through it gently removing any knots. As refreshed as he felt it was clinical in the white halls and the machines which were used by the nurses alarmed him. They emitted a greenish blue light which healed his wounds much like he recalled Tsunade and Kabuto's chakara doing. Their technology kept mirroring the ninjas jutsu making the Sannin come to the realization that the fighting and healing methods of the shinobi were to a degree superior.

If they had not been caught off guard as they had, if they hadn't allowed their chakara to be stifled the NW soldiers would be fighting an uphill battle. However what had happened had happened and as of now the Sannin needed to mass free his peoples chakara. If he could do that they would stand a chance once more. Perhaps in the base he would be able to learn more about their technology and in doing so he could create a cure, he could make the ninja immune to what it was that sealed their jutsu. He had done such feats before in his own labs, he would do so again. There was a loud bang and a loud voice hissed out a threat.

"I'll make a meal of all of you!" The familiar voice chanted with little tolerance. Orochimaru shifted away from the nurse and she laughed sweetly her eyes equally as calculating as the serpents.

"That's just-" she was interrupted.

"Manda." Orochimaru said.

"Friend of yours?" She asked as she finished the last of his wounds.

"Yes." He replied as his yellow eyes peered down the halls listening to the colossal snake king hiss and fuss. She turned off her machine before placing it in a drawer. The snake summoner got to his feet and awaited her command.

She smiled warmly, still with an air of being patronizing. An air of feeling superior as if she were communicating with an animal, tip toeing around his feelings by adding a smile. Like a person watching a dog bark out to a dog it heard down the pounds halls. Calling out to a familiar sound in a sad desperation.

"They are feeding him now." The nurse said as she gestured that he was allowed to leave. He exited the nurses room feeling slightly lost. She hadn't given him an order and he knew well that he didn't have free will.

Finally a man came up to him, he was extremely tall and made the shorter male feel uneasy. The man straightened his white coat.

"Are you done?" He asked.

"I assume so." Orochimaru answered.

"This way please." The man said as he escorted him down the halls. The sounds of the purple and black giant faded as the Sannin was led away. He was disheartened losing the hope of contact between the serpent, however he met eyes with a familiar pair of blue ones and that hope ignited again.

"Orochimaru!" Deidara called as he saw the snake summoner, he gave him a friendly hug before dragging him a few steps down the hall away from the NW.

"Are you okay? Did they put you in one of those horrid fighting rings?" Orochimaru asked, the pale ninja had bandages on his arms and chest from wounds that were not entirely mended, Deidara appeared to have none.

"Not yet. Satoru wants to watch me himself. I believe I will be summoned soon though." Deidara answered smacking blond hair out of his eyes.

"Goodluck with it." Orochimaru said, "they constantly increase and decrease your chakara usage. Something I will never get accustomed to."

"The more potent your chakara the worse it is apparently." Deidara said, "my chakara has never been my strong point, he raised a hand to display the snapping mouth attached to it, "my superiority in battle is owed to my different abilities. Potent chakara is not the only thing which makes a ninja a threat after all."

"I never doubted that." Orochimaru admitted, "I hope for your sake you're right and that your body doesn't fight the process and wear you down."

"Are you ready?" An NW man asked the blond ninja, it was evident he wasn't but he nodded in obedience and said his goodbyes to his friend who stared on in slight agitation, he didn't want to be split from the only familiar face he knew. He was alone in the hallway again as all the doors in the area were sealed shut by large locks. All but two doors. He was guessing those were bedrooms, and he was right. He wasn't in the mood to sleep in the bed and as he sat down his troubled mind reminded him of all he had to worry for. Where was Tsukiko? Where was Kakashi and what was his feelings towards the serpent now. For the first time in forever he had found someone he loved and trusted. Sitting on the NW bed he swore to himself that if he and the copy ninja were to part it would be the final time the snake would try. It would be the final time he would love, or trust or even attempt to make a bond with a human. It was promise he made to himself. It was a promise the snake would not live down, not again.

He had made the oath before, he had made it after he defected from Konoha. To remain cold and detached from the cruel world, to fight fire with fire, cruelty with cruelty. He had broken that promise when he met Kakashi, his heart had somehow convinced his mind that it was the one time it was making the decisions. His mind was sure to shut his emotions out forever if this fell apart. He would never let the sound of his beating heart drown out the voice of reason in his head.

He ran his fingers through his hair as he contemplated life alone again, and for once he feared it. He had become at one stage accustomed to living by himself, he had told himself that loving another was never worth the risk. He had become comfortable with distance, satisfied in solitude. He had grown to hate being with others and he would seek out the silence and desolate locations he would call home. Then somewhere along the line things changed, he ignited the human side he had worked on destroying. Through that he had become dependent on another, and he knew watching the man leave would shatter him all over again. Leave him broken and that much colder to the world.

He wasn't happy being left to his own devices unstimulated. The NW men would soon learn the rules of keeping a pet snake. They were always known for getting out of their tanks when unattended, they were known for getting into places their captors did not want them to enter. He got off his bed and began exploring the little spaces he could. It consisted of five sealed shut doors and two open ones which led to small square bedrooms consisting of a bed and roof light. Other than that it was a closed off one way hall. Nothing much to investigate he came to the realization after thirty painful minutes of checking. That never stopped the serpent from tampering at doors which were supposed to be closed. One of them after enough messing with made a loud buzzing noise before electrocuting him. He retracted his hand and stumbled backwards as he held his wrist which still felt a painful sting. He then opted to try another door which resulted in the same treatment.

"My dear, whatever do you want with those rooms?" Satoru's voice echoed through the halls, but it sounded odd, as if there was a technological buzz over it. As if the man was speaking through a phone. Orochimaru looked around but could not locate the man nor could he find a phone.

"Do not be surprised Oro-chan." The voice laughed, "It's called an intercom. Nothing magical about it, now please refrain from messing with the doors. There is nothing of interest in either room. They are simply other bedrooms, I hope that quenches your curiosity."

It wasn't the fact that the NW could speak to him from across the base which annoyed the serpent, it was the fact that the man could see him. How would he ever turn the tables if he could not have a moment alone? Unless there was a way to get out of the technological eyes view. Perhaps there were blind spots, he would have to figure out where they were he decided. That would be his mission while he was subjected to the room of nothingness.

"I can see you are bored, and full of energy." The voice said, "I will have someone come and fetch you."

Orochimaru sighed, was he going to be made to fight again while NW scientists watched him and documented his skills and attributes. It wasn't the worst, but he hardly felt productive, perhaps he could try and use their ploys as training time. Who knew what they would do with the information they received however, he hated having no way of controlling what information he gave to the men.

The door opened and the same tall man entered the room looking rather intrigued, he seemed pleased, as if he had just gotten what he wanted, or more like as if he was about to get what it was he wanted. Orochimaru was not keen on following the man but he did so as he had no choice. He hated having no choice on his own life, no choice on where he was to place his next step.

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The large doors opened and the ground started shuddering as whatever lay inside moved around. Orochimaru had been told he was going to meet Manda, what he hadn't expected was all the other large inhabitants in surrounding tanks. The base must have been massive, at least several times the size of a village. Most of the large captured creatures were shinobi's summoning animals, large hawks, large toads and even sharks. The one which worried the snake ninja the most was the creature which possessed more than one tail. The beast resembled that of a crab or lobster, and Orochimaru knew him by his name rather than the three tails behind him.

"Isobu." Orochimaru greeted as he passed the glass tank, the creature picked up on its name and slowly faced the small ninja paused outside his prison.

"Ninja." He greeted, upon properly seeing the shinobi his eyes lit up, "Sannin."

"They are capable of capturing even our best I see." Orochimaru said, his hope diminishing when he found out the NW soldiers had taken down a tailed demon.

"I was about to say the same thing upon seeing you." Isobu said as his large monster like head came to lay closer to the tanks wall. The tall NW paused as he watched the two exchange words.

"If you did not have a chance what chance did you think a ninja as I would have?" Orochimaru laughed; although his laugh was not one of joy or humour. It was one of slight hopelessness, the same as one may laugh to avoid crying, some did it to fill the silence which would scream a thousand truths.

"We demons have a curse you ninja do not." Isobu stated, but he refrained from saying more and the Sannin was well aware of the NW standing behind them. He knew the beast was hinting at something, but the ninja did not want to press him for more. Instead he would pass off the comment so that the NW would do the same. He could decipher its meaning at a later stage, he would first make the man watching them lose their trail.

"We have many other weaknesses however, I do not think we have much of a chance." Orochimaru said, his eyes told another story and the wise three tailed beast seemed to be aware of that factor. He made a tired sound before shifting on the spot. The beast must have been edgy to move, too long had he been crammed in one spot.

"Did you know each other?" The NW man asked his notepad in hand. The Sannin turned golden eyes on the man and shook his head passively.

"Not at all. But war brings us closer." Orochimaru said, "On any other day he may have ripped my head off."

"Will Manda be the same?" The NW asked, "Will he tolerate you speaking to him?"

"Manda will be different, I knew him, I did not know Isobu." Orochimaru said, and different he would be. The snake was going to throw a fit, demand the summoner free him and offer the Sannin a way out on his large back.

Naturally the Sannin had nothing to aid the snake king with, he could not break the chains and he could not use any jutsu to free either of them. This would anger the trapped summoning who would then lash out for a good few more hours promising many threats. Orochimaru moved away from the door and followed the man to the back of the hall where the sound of Manda hissing became more audible, many NW scientists and soldiers seemed to be fed up with the constant sound of defiance and they barked for the snake to shut up. Orochimaru was lead onto a stand where he was positioned above the chained Manda who had not yet noticed him. The nurse had been right, the men were feeding the serpent. Corpses were flung at the snake but he refused them, he snapped them up and tossed them back at the glass which left a stain of blood as the bodies ran down the cold tank.

"He won't eat pre-dead meals." Orochimaru stated casually. The NW looked at him.

"Should we toss live stock down there then?" He asked.

"He prefers humans. Or else large toads." Orochimaru answered, "he may eat something else but only if he truly starving. So don't throw anything down there if you're not certain he is hungry enough. Unless of course someone is willing to enter the tank and retrieve the live animals which will inevitably stay down there."

"We can feed him one of the unused animals in the testing labs. It's been long enough, I'm surprised he hasn't died of hunger already." The NW man said as he reported the information to one of the snake kings care takers.

Orochimaru watched the man irritably, he had no knowledge on snakes it seemed, they did not need to eat as much as humans did. The serpent was probably hungry but far from rolling over dead. He mocked the snakes ability to survive, insulted its evolved nature. Orochimaru was slightly horrified to see an animal being dragged in. Somehow the sheep knew it was not going somewhere safe but rather to somewhere even more cruel than its previous imprisonment. It made loud frightened sounds but the men seemed deaf to it as they forced it into the tank. It was in Manda's reach and the giant serpent lashed out and crushed the small hoofed creature. It hardly sufficed as a snack for the colossal giant. Orochimaru was slightly sickened at the display and knew that the summoning had killed the sheep more out of frustration than hunger.

"Is there a reason he won't eat the dead?" The NW asked suddenly giving the fixated Sannin a fright.

"Animals never eat the dead they find, it could be disease ridden, its' natural to avoid it." Orochimaru muttered, he decided he was going to get closer to the tank regardless of the fact that he had received no permission to do so.

He reached the tank and looked at the familiar beast, which despite Manda's fearsome looks and temper somehow made the Sannin feel safe. He would much rather have been beside the snake king which threw a fit and hissed threats than be behind a glass wall without him. The snakes green eyes landed on his summoners and he stopped his rant.

"Orochimaru." He said in his usual low toned voice, sounding both shocked and cautious. As if he was unaware of why he was facing his old summoner. The boy he knew who had long ago made a pact with snakes and signed a blood contract binding their souls forever. Although debatably the Sannin had been bound to the snakes before he had signed the deed at all.

"Step over here Orochimaru." The NW man said as he gestured to a small separate tank beside the colossal snakes. The Sannin looked at his summoning but made his way as instructed. He knew the men would use force if the need arrived and he was willing to speak to Manda in his own holding cell if need be. He felt his stomach go in a knot when he entered the cage.

His instincts told him to get out but his mind told him to rather stay. They would not kill him, they may harm him but it was certain they needed him alive. If he fought back to avoid the fear creating tank then he may indeed be killed.

"Now before your reunion. We would like to ask you a question Manda." The tall NW man said his amused eyes lighting up once more.

"The snakes dimension." He said, "where is it?"

"I'm not answering a single one of your questions, low life bastards." The serpent hissed as his green eyes moved from his summoner to the elitist man.

"Alright, one more question. How loyal are you to your summoner?" The question had an air of threat and the colossal snake seemed weary to answer, he refrained from hissing anything. The NW man gestured for two standby soldiers to do something and they approached the Sannin's enclosed tank. Orochimaru watched them coldly, he would never make his largest summoning sell out the entire snake summons dimension. The NW men were sure to go and imprison every intelligent life form on the land. However he knew how they were going to persuade the summoned giant. They would do as all interrogators did, they would hurt the person to make them speak and if they did not they would hurt the people the captured prisoner loved. Orochimaru laughed to himself. He and Manda both knew each other well, pain was not the worst thing in the cruel world they grew up in, they could both hold their tongue on each other's behalf and they would not hate the other dare they not spill their guts.

A sudden shooting pain shot through the ninjas body and he fell to the floor as he became unable to stand. He bit his tongue to refrain from screaming in pain his entire body now shaking as it became more and more intense. Manda screeched in anger and lashed out at his chains and tank. He slammed against it and hissed out menacingly as if desperate to reach his tortured summoner. He had known the Sannin from a child, and naturally he would act as if he cared for no one, however there was some kind of strange connection held between the snake child and serpent. Something perhaps long ago engrained due to the countless hours they had fought alongside one another. Time could not be conquered.

"Still no answer to our first question?" The man asked.

"Fuck you." The snake hissed as he continue to slam his body into the glass, his giant head thrashing from side to side in an agitated tantrum. He recoiled back and struck at the glass again before doing it a few more times. Unable to handle the pain as well as he had the Sannin cried out softly but he regretted it when Manda slowed down his attack to fully turn his attention to the ninja on the floor, shaking and whimpering. Orochimaru cursed his own weakness, was it not instinct for a summoning to protect its bound contractor. Manda looked back at the man, the Sannin wouldn't allow it, as much as the snakes had sworn to protect him, he had sworn an oath to protect them.

"Don't answer them!" The Sannin called to the creature, Manda snapped his green slitted eyes back to the ninja, he could see that his summoner was not asking him, he was commanding him. The same as when he ordered something in battle, it was not up for discussion. Manda hissed out in distress.

His large head came to lie on the floor in defeat as he was forced to do nothing. Nothing but remain silent. Orochimaru refrained from making any more animalistic whimpers as he knew it caused his serpent some kind of grief. If he could avoid thinking about his physical situation he may be able to escape into his mental world. The time passed slowly for both serpents but they remained eerily silent as they defied the men who dared them. Annoyance and disappointment was written clear across the tall NW man's face. He was becoming less tolerant; however Orochimaru noticed he hadn't increased the pain he felt inside the tank. Either that or the Sannin was becoming numb to it. Doors flew open and an angry Satoru stormed through the isle onto the stand. His cape dramatized his entry as his gaze landed on the tall man.

"Hell do you think you are doing?!" He snapped, he then looked over at the softly whimpering Sannin who did his best as he refrained from writhing in pain, "by the gods release him! He is one of our most valuable allies. You dare treat him like a mere genin."

"We are trying to get his summoning to talk sir." The man defended, his voice hinging on annoyed and nervous.

"By killing him? He is far more valuable than the entire snake realm. In fact he is a door between the two. Let him go." Satoru said as he made his way to the Sannin. The tall man tried to reason again about the importance but Satoru knocked past him once more before motioning to nearby soldiers. Satoru's order over ruled the other mans and they moved to obey him. The pain stopped and Manda raised his head as his large eye came up beside the tank. Orochimaru felt reassured looking into the green slitted orb. He was grateful to be out of pain but even more so that the serpent hadn't said a word.

"I'll eat all of them." Manda hissed softly to his summoner, the words were so drenched in his snake like voice the NW men were unable to make out the words.

"I know." Orochimaru panted softly, naturally the Sannin had been with the colossal beast long enough to understand his hissed out replies. Being close was essential for wars, and the two had been near unstoppable. Satoru entered the black haired males tank and helped him to his shaky feet.

"Can you walk?" He asked.

Orochimaru didn't feel he had the energy to speak but opted to try and walk anyways. He pushed himself away from the man politely, to avoid agitating the only man capable of stopping the agonizing sensations he had been subject to for what felt like hours. He managed to walk out his glass prison, Satoru right beside him, but the steps leading down had him stumbling. The imperial seemed to have quick reflexes and he caught the small ninja before guiding him down. The man's personality made him hard to take seriously, however he seemed much more threatening when he spoke to the soldiers and scientists of the base. He was naturally rather tall and large in build, his constant almost childlike smile deceiving people at first glance into thinking he was a gentler soul. One look into his intense eyes would tell a different story however.

He was not to be underestimated in the slightest, he had made it to be first in command on the entire NW army. He was a man who had the ability to order thousands of loyal devoted men to die for him, and he had not gotten there off luck. Orochimaru reminded himself to be more cautious around the imperial from then on. He did not want to be tricked into underestimating his opponent, the man seemed well versed in ninja's abilities as well as their way of living. Knowledge was power, and as it looked, Satoru was far more powerful than upon first meeting.

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"Come look at this." Satoru said to a nearby scientist, the women glided over her badge of importance flashing in the manmade light.

"What is it? Another snake summoning?" She asked as she gazed at the eight headed hydra, the snake looked at her with intense yellow eyes, every head appearing to be overlooking the camera except for one.

"No." Satoru said, "a ninja who possess the rare ability to transform himself."

"Is he dead?" the women asked.

"He is here." Satoru laughed.

"In the city?" She asked.

Satoru laughed, "In our facility."

Authors note: There is the next chapter. A huge thank you to both Esparia and Vampiredoll666 for both always leaving lovely messages. Thanks for keeping me inspired to write~