Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Naruto characters or places. I only own the characters from Earth/our world. Even then, they are based on actual friends of mine.
Author's Note: I've read through the manga with Orochimaru after Team Kakashi raids his base again in Shippuden. I didn't see anything that really tells you where they are -- other than one of the numerous bases that Orochimaru has. Thus, due to a lack of specified location, I'm putting them back into a remodeled Sound Village that Naruto and team destroyed before the two-year skip. That's why the traps are the same and you'll probably recognize this next room. The title of this chapter originally was "Curiosity Saves the Snake," but I don't think Orochimaru needed "saving" quite yet . . . ah well. Good luck, Sam. To the rest of you . . . Enjoy!
Chapter 9: Sucking up to the Evil Guy
SAM
Okay. Forget the "no more random doors" rule. I stand now in front of a set of giant double doors. The passage has dead-ended, and though I can easily backtrack and go a different way, my curiosity is begging me to open it. Just one peek.
I step forward carefully and push the door open a crack, poking my head partway through so I can see in. There's not much to see. Columns. More torches. No people.
Just go in. What can go wrong? A lot, actually. I slip in, slightly surprised by how little I have to open the door before I can fit. Smiling to myself, I sneak from column shadow to column shadow. The Mission: Impossible theme song flits through my head. This is kinda fun!
Someone groans, and I freeze, flatting myself against a column. Someone is in here! Perfect. What do I do?
The groan becomes a voice. "You're not doing it right. You have to . . . ah, that's it. Perfect. Give it a little more. Wonderful!" The smooth voice laughs, and I blink rapidly several times. It sounds so familiar. Can it be?
I lean cautiously around the pillar, searching the gloom. A man stands with his back to me, long hair falling down his back in a curtain of black. A large, purplish rope is tied around his waist. I swallow, heart pounding in my chest.
"Orochimaru!" My voice comes out in a hushed whisper. I can barely hear it.
The man stiffens slightly, turning his head a bit to the right. Someone moves beyond him. Red eyes glow in the dark. I gasp and duck back behind the column, cursing silently. It's Sasuke.
Something hisses at my feet. My head jerks down, eyes wide. A long, green-black snake rises from a loose coil, watching me with glowing amber eyes. Its tongue flicks out of its mouth, tasting the air.
I scream and stumble away from the creature, gasping, "Snake!" I trip over my heels and fall onto my butt on the stone floor. The snake watches me passively but makes no move to approach.
"You're not much of a shinobi," a flat voice states above me.
I swallow and look up, my eyes meeting those marked with the blood-red Sharingan. "Sasuke," I manage to squeak.
The young man's eyes narrow, but he says nothing. I can hear the soft tap of sandals on floor as Orochimaru approaches. I want to look to see how close he is, but I can't tear my gaze from Sasuke's.
"What do you have there, Sasuke-kun?" Orochimaru asks in an almost sing-song voice.
Sasuke turns his head to look at Orochimaru, freeing me. I gasp for breath. The genin motions boredly at me. "Someone from the Leaf Village, evidently," he states in a monotonous voice. "Not much of a ninja, though."
"Oh ho," Orochimaru chuckles. "Really?"
I scowl at Sasuke. "I'm not from the Leaf Village," I object. "I'm from Kingsford."
"Kingsford?" Orochimaru asks. "I've never heard of it."
"It's not anywhere around here."
"Mhm," Orochimaru eyes me skeptically. "If you are not from the Leaf Village, then why do you wear its symbol?"
I pluck at the front of my hoodie, laughing nervously. "Oh, this? It's a -- uh -- fashion statement?"
The leader of the Sound Village arches one eyebrow as he circles me. "That's a rather detailed picture of Kakashi on the back," he comments. "The chidori, right?"
I glance up between the two as silence falls around us, unsure of what to say or do. Water drips somewhere nearby. The torches crackle softly -- softly, but somehow loud. I can hear every sound as clearly as if I was listening to it through a headset. Weird.
The sound of running feet catches my attention. I glance down the hall at the double doors moments before they burst open and Kabuto -- flanked by two ninja -- runs through.
"I'm sorry, Lord Orochimaru," Kabuto gasps. "We should have apprehended her earlier, but we wanted to see what she was up to."
"How did she get in?" Orochimaru asks mildly.
Kabuto stutters slightly. "I-I-I don't know, sir. She just suddenly started appearing on the cameras in the middle of the fortress. We never saw her come in."
"Hm." Orochimaru turns to Sasuke. "That's enough for today, Sasuke-kun. You're dismissed."
Sasuke scowls and turns on his heels, vanishing into the gloom after shooting one last unreadable look at me. Once he's gone for sure, Orochimaru looks back down at me.
"Kabuto," he snaps, voice somehow smooth even with the sharp word and tone, "take her to the dungeon and question her."
The two ninja grab me, one on each arm, and lift me off the ground. When they start to drag me away, I cry out, "No! Stop! Wait! Dad!" Everyone freezes at the last word.
Orochimaru gazes at me and my mind races. What do I say? If they take me away, they'll surely kill me. Why did I have to say "dad"? That was only for a fanfiction character of mine -- modeled after me, but still.
"Dad?" Kabuto stares from me to Orochimaru, obviously comparing my blonde hair and blue eyes to his black hair and yellow, snake-like pupils.
Orochimaru looks lost and confused for a moment before regaining his composure. "I have no idea what she's talking about. I've never --" He bites his lower lip, cutting the statement short. "I've no idea."
"W-well not really. It's -- it's a long story," I stammer. "But you don't have to throw me in the dungeon! I can -- I can help you!" Yeah, Sam. Way to suck up to the evil guy. I don't care though; he's one of my favorite characters.
Kabuto frowns, tilting his head downward so that his glasses flash in the torchlight. "I highly doubt that."
Orochimaru turns away, and the ninja start to drag me off again. I kick against them. "No! Stop!" I rake my mind for anything -- anything! "You can't trust him! You can't trust Sasuke! He's going to kill you!"
The traitorous sanin halts and lifts one hand. "Wait." He faces me. "Repeat that."
"Sasuke's going to kill you," I gasp. "He's going to learn as much as he can from you, and then he's going to turn on you with your own power and kill you." That might not be exactly it -- but in a nutshell.
Orochimaru scowls thoughtfully. "What is your name, girl?"
"Sam Price," I answer quickly.
He pauses for a moment. "Kabuto, find a room and change of clothes for Sam. Keep an eye on her. I'll speak with her myself later."
