Insanity rise: This is another one of my chapters where the rating comes in…anyway, I wrote this chapter for my bestest friend "Anniepopokios!" She is always wonderful and supporting of my stories! Go check out her stories! It'll take me awhile to get the next chapter up so be patient!

Dedication: ANNIEPOPOKIOS

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, but I do own this story and a handful of its characters!

Rating: T for violence. Blood and other stuff! (Gosh just read and see why)

Chapter 9

Worthless…

Dosu cursed under his breath, wondering why he'd even wanted to come here in the first place. The rain had soaked him to the bone, and no one else seemed to be stupid enough to venture onto the streets. He was alone in a cold world, pondering over what he should do. He knew he didn't want to go home, not while he'd walked all this way, but what could he possibly do here? Sighing, he leaned against a nearby wall, gasping for breath, exhausted form the mere walk. He was proving to be even weaker than he'd thought, barely able to take each step without groaning with pain. Suddenly, he heard footsteps; he turned his head to see two figures approaching from the mist, their bodies soaked in rain. He suddenly wondered if he should make a run for home, a sick feeling coming over him, these would be the first people he'd met in his current state besides his mother and people trying to help, he could already guess what they would say. His breath coming in short gasps, he pressed against the wall, wishing he could just disappear as the two strangers came closer.

"Get out of the way," he heard an anger voice demand. His heart thudding loudly in his ears, he turned to the strangers. He gave them a perplexed look, seeing a tall boy with soaked silver hair, and a clearly older figure behind him, a dark smirk on his face.

"Shut up," Dosu said blankly, meeting the silver-haired boy's gaze. The boy scowled, looking oppressing in the cold rain. Dosu shrugged his shoulders, wincing as he did so, cursing the pain in his back.

"I said get out of the way, freak," the boy growled, his eyes filled with rage. Kabuto was in no mood to argue with this commoner, almost laughing at his mangled appearance.

"What are you smirking about," Dosu growled, noticing how a dark smile crept onto the boy's face.

"Can't you see who this is you blind fool," Kabuto demanded, giving Orochimaru a side glance, "this is Orochimaru, he created this stupid village and he could kill you with a snap of his fingers, so get lost you haggard beggar!"

"SHUT UP!" That had done it, Dosu was more than tired of being insulted, and all he knew was that he wanted to beat that boy till he bled. He lunged at Kabuto, slamming his fist into the startled boy's face. Kabuto let out a squeak of surprise, falling back into the dark mud.

"Why you little demon," Kabuto screamed with rage, jumping back to his feet and wiping the blood from his face. Shrieking with rage, he hammered his fist into Dosu's stomach, trembling with pure wrath. Dosu cried out as he was sent sprawling to the cold ground, stumbling back to his feet and ignoring the pain that continued to plague him. Kabuto rushed back at him, kicking him across the knees, but Dosu wasn't giving up that easily! With a cry of rage and pain he slammed his fist into Kabuto's stomach, doing the same with his other hand. Kabuto squealed with pain as Dosu continued to strike him, blood spurting from his mouth. Dosu smirked with cruelty, malice shining in his only eye as he kicked his opponent to the ground, slamming his foot into his stomach. Kabuto growled, gritting his teeth from the enormous pain, anger burning in his eyes. He thrashed about, trying to break free of Dosu's grasp. Regularly, Dosu would've been able to pin him there for as long as he wished, but suddenly he let out a pained choked. Crimson stained through his shirt as he cried out it pain. He should've known this would happen, his wounds still hadn't completely healed, and he'd just let some of the pain resurface. Orochimaru smirked vilely as he watched the startled boy bleed, wondering what the story behind this one was. Kabuto also noticed his opponent's suddenly weakened state; he struggled to his feet, smirking maliciously. Knowing it was his turn to cause some bloodshed. With a quick movement he kicked Dosu behind the knees, causing the boy's knees to buckle. Dosu shrieked with pain as he fell to the ground, falling on his face.

"You're as weak as a whimpering dog," Kabuto laughed, slamming his foot down on Dosu's already hurt spine. Dosu screamed as a sudden pain engulfed, the stress on his back causing a burning sensation. His vision became clouded with shattered colors, dancing around him like the night in the demon's pit. He shook his head, telling himself to be strong, but the pain biting at him was to enormous to bear. He simply laid there, whimpering with a numbing pain as his opponent laughed at him malevolently.

"Why you're nothing but a filthy little peasant," Kabuto mocked scornfully, "a disfigured abomination!"

"Shut up," Dosu commanded, but the harsh edge to his voice had vanished, he sounded more like he was pleading than demanding, Kabuto's words stinging him like cold knives.

"Why I do believe I'd be doing the world a favor if I was to take this knife and cut your throat," Kabuto smirked cruelly, taking a kunai knife from his pocket, "wouldn't you agree?"

"Wouldn't you," Kabuto cackled malevolently, enjoying the boy's squeals of pain as he brought his foot down harder. Dosu choked and coughed as blood stained the bandages covering his face, his only eye wide with pain and fear. He knew this boy wasn't joking, he could tell by the cruel laughter that he really was prepared to take his life! He cried out in pure misery, begging for his life to be spared, not even knowing if it was worth living. Kabuto only laughed at the way his opponent thrashed about, taking pleasure in the boy's pain, ignoring the burning pain in his bruised stomach.

"Say goodbye," Kabuto laughed, driving the knife down, but suddenly he found a strong hand seize his wrist, causing him to drop the knife as it squeezed harder, the boy whimpering with a sudden pain.

"That's enough Kabuto," Orochimaru demanded, letting go of the startled boy. Kabuto stumbled back, barely keeping his balance as he stared at his master with scared eyes.

"I'm sorry Orochimaru-sama," he stammered, trying to apologize, "I'm-"

"Shut up," Orochimaru snapped, causing the boy to squeal with pain and take a step back. Smirking cruelly, he turned to the boy who lay bleeding on the ground, an idea flashing through his mind.

"Get up boy," he demanded sharply, his shrill voice sending shivers down Dosu's spine. Dosu staggered to his feet, a sharp pain causing him to sink to his knees.

"Stand before the maker of your pathetic village," Orochimaru growled, quickly losing what little patience he had. Again Dosu stumbled to his feet, this time maintaining his balance as best he could. He gazed into the dark eyes of Orochimaru, cringing with pain and looking away.

"Look at me when I speak to you," Orochimaru demanded, his voice as sharp as a cold forged blade, "Stand up straight and address me as the creator of your meager little home!"

"Yes…sir," Dosu grimaced, gritting his teeth and doing his best not to appear pained, though all he wanted to do was escape that cruel gaze. He tried to straighten his back, but ended up screaming with a sudden pain, realizing why Kabuto had taunted him like he had. Cringing with fear he cowered before Orochimaru, tears of pain falling from his remaining eye.

"Hmm," Orochimaru seemed to be examining the boy, looking lost in thought. Dosu glanced at him, perplexed by his strange actions. Orochimaru continued to look him over, smirking cruelly when he noticed his missing eye and uneven spine. There was something Dosu didn't like about those cold snake-like eyes, and it chilled him to the bone.

"What is your name boy," Orochimaru asked, shattering the anomalous silence.

"D-Dosu…Kinuta sir," Dosu coughed, feeling more blood seeping through his bandages.

"Kinuta eh," Orochimaru smirked, there was definitely a plan forming in his mind, his eyes filled with a familiar lust for power.

"Orochimaru-sama," Kabuto asked, thinking he knew what his master was up to.

"Stay out of my way boy," Orochimaru commanded coldly, turning his back to Dosu and walking back over to Kabuto, "the street is no place for an atrocity like you…"

Dosu stared dumbly as Orochimaru and Kabuto disappeared into the mist, the rain steadily poring down. His entire body throbbed with pain, but he was even more disturbed by the look he'd seen in that man's eyes. He had a feeling he'd be seeing more of Orochimaru, much to his own displeasure. Suddenly, he gasped, he had to get home before his mother discovered what had happened! She would surely cry her heart out if she discovered her already hurt son broken and bleeding once again. He turned around and prepared to head home, but suddenly his knees buckled and he fell into the cold mud. He felt lightheaded and dizzy, peering into the swirling mists around him blankly.

"No…not…now," he choked, collapsing to the ground with a groan, his body throbbing with pain. His vision blurred and then, shadows began to creep over him, sending him into an all too familiar world of darkness…

"Dosu," Mrs. Kinuta called, opening the front door, her eyes tired from her hard day of work. She'd worked harder than ever to make up for past absence, but it was going to take quite a few long shifts before she got back to her usual schedule. She glanced about, looking curiously at the open coat closet before closing it shut. Everything in the house was dark, not a single light burning in the shadowy midst. She scolded herself for getting home so late, the world outside already shrouded in a black mist as more rain poured down.

"Maybe he's still asleep," she told herself, slipping off her shoes and stepping into the hallway, quickly lighting a candle to guide her through the darkness. She decided she would just go in and check on him, telling herself to be as quiet as possible so she wouldn't wake him. She carefully slipped open the door, gasping at the site before her. Pieces of broken glass glimmered against the light of the candle, scattered across the floor, the mirror's frame lying close by. She'd dreaded something like this happening, but she'd told herself it wouldn't, what a silly lie!

"Dosu," she called again, her voice hitting a desperate note as she searched the room, nimbly stepping around the scattered shards of glass. Alas, her son was definitely not in the room. Suddenly, she let out a surprised choke, falling to her knees, the candle rolling to the floor and going out instantly. There she sat, in the darkness, tears cascading from her eyes, thinking she'd lost her remaining child. She blamed herself, thinking she shouldn't have left him alone, somehow she'd known things would turn out this way. Why hadn't she listened to that little voice nagging at her, why had she left her son alone in a world of misery? Her sobs were interrupted by a knock at the door, causing her to wonder who would call on her at this time of night. She brushed her tears away with her kerchief, not wanting to look troubled in front of someone else. Secretly, she wished she'd open the door and find her son safe and sound, but she knew how impossible that was.

"Mr. Kogaru," she gasped, opening the door to reveal the tired looking man.

"I do think you've lost something," the man heaved for breath, nodding towards the bloody mess he held in his arms. Mrs. Kinuta dropped her kerchief, no longer fighting to hide her tears.

"Dosu," she wailed, taking the blood-covered boy in her arms, crimson automatically staining her already rain-soaked shirt. She hugged onto her hurt son, cradling him like young child, sobbing uncontrollably. Mr. Kogaru gave her a sad glance, his eyes full of concern.

"I found him in the street on my way home," he sighed, looking down at the unconscious boy, "I don't know how long he's been out or what happened, but I carried him here none the less."

"Oh thank you," Dosu's mother cried, "you saved his life!"
"Did I," Mr. Kogaru scowled, "if you'd only seen all the blood mixed into the ground you'd have felt wretched too, what was he doing out there?"

"I don't know," Mrs. Kinuta gasped, shaking with grief, "I told him to stay home…he promised me he would…"

"Looks like he had other ideas," Mr. Kogaru sighed, "must've gotten into a fight with some punks; I'm just surprised he even had the strength to get all the way to town."

"My poor baby," Mrs. Kinuta sobbed, hugging her son as tightly as she could, "oh Hiruko, how can I ever thank you?"

"Don't you go worrying about me, you'd best get that boy cleaned up before his wounds get infected," Mr. Kogaru sighed, "I'd better head home, don't want to get caught out there if that storm gets any worse."

"Thank you so much," Mrs. Kinuta gave him a soft smile as he left, feeling an undying sense of gratitude.

"Oh Dosu," she sighed, looking down at her rain-soaked son…