The rain despite its heavy down pour was almost completely drown out by the boys racing thoughts. He with out realizing was counting every passing second, his injury, situation and location now lost in his mind. What did trivial details matter when such an obstacle stood in his path? What did anything matter when a dreaded moment was barreling up the staircase, taking step by step till it reached his door, reached his space. He felt shaky, perhaps a bit sick again. Was that out of anxiety or injury? He was hoping his legs wouldn't fail him, but his eye sight currently was. The doctor had told him to sit down. He didn't hear it, didn't acknowledge it. With out knowing the boy reached out a hand to grasp who ever stood nearest to him in attempts to gain support. He felt fabric, a familiar texture of Jounin attire and he grasped at it his slim fingers clasping it meekly. His efforts were in vein and he swayed for a mere moment before falling to one knee. He felt someone, whoever he had grasped, pick him up and hoist him to his feet, however when they noticed he had no ability to stand at all he was lifted off the ground now fastened in strong arms.
"Must be shock from the fight still." A voice said.
"He needs rest, but he won't find it here. Can he leave, recover at home?" A more concerned voice asked, it was who ever held him.
"I understand his predicament, but he must stay for an over night examination. Generally anyone in his condition would stay a couple of days... But I don't expect that of him, just one night for safety reasons." The voice said.
"Am I allowed to stay with him while he recovers here?" The voice holding him asked.
"Once again... There are strict rules against that." The voice said reluctantly.
"And an exception can't be made?" The concern was growing in the persons voice as the threat of being forced to leave the boy became evident.
"I'm sorry." The voice repeated.
"What's the harm though?" Again concern was obvious.
"It's a policy we can not afford to make exceptions for, if we allow you we must allow others. That will lead to people constantly staying here to watch over patients. I'm sure you understand how impractical that is." The voice spoke some what more stern. The concerned voice died, no longer able to counter the strict rule placed down so harshly.
Another voice spoke, either it was far or the boy was finally slipping into utter darkness. He couldn't tell if it was a familiar sound, if it was caring or harsh. No longer did the outside world matter to his senses it appeared though, he fell inside himself into darkness which was neither frightening nor familiar. It held no feeling, but a lack of feeling entirely. That was where consciousness left him, stranded in his own head, stranded miles from home in a foreign bed surrounded by foreign people and sounds. Yet he took in none of it.
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She walked a few steps then stopped to wait for the boy to catch up. He was a lot smaller and it took him a lot longer, her every stride filled by two of his. He bounded happily however, childlike innocence assuring him that his mother would always be ahead but never would she be too far. Never would she abandon her young, her light eyes constantly pinned to her offspring maternally. He had inherited her looks in so many ways, and he looked back up at her with startlingly golden eyes. The boy rarely left the house with out a smile... Although... Although there were times his innocent smile faded and disappeared. When the villagers yelled, or passed comments... even when they threatened him or his family. But those moments were few as people hardly gave the boy trouble, he had watchful eyes on him constantly.
His father was an impatient man, and he tolerated little talk about his child's slitted eyes and pale skin framed by dark strands of hair.
The boy idolized his father and he was, as all children were, caught in a delusion that the man was invincible, fearless and strong. The boys illusions of his fathers strength would die when the man died of course, but that was at a later date. As of now in his golden eyes the man stood above even the Hokage, above even the gods.
"There you are." His mother said her voice soft and gentle now, the boys golden eyes leapt up to see who she had started conversing with, as he suspected it was exactly who he wanted to see. He lunged forwards into his fathers arms and then swiftly pulled away so he could stare up at him to examine the mans reaction.
He wasn't disappointed and his father went down to one knee so that the small child was now eye level with him.
"Sorry for keep you waiting." He said, his words directed at his wife, although he was meeting the boys eyes.
"Orochi wants to show you something." She said a small smile passing her lips.
"And what's that?" He asked, whether his interest was genuine or not the child didn't know, but if it wasn't true his father sure was a good actor. He rose to his feet, expectantly waiting for the youngest ninja to lead the way to what ever he wished to do.
Moments where he could spend time with his father were to few as of late, the older ninja constantly out on missions following the Hokage's orders. Be it the seconds or be it the soon to be third Hokages.
Orochimaru smiled up at the much taller ninja his eyes glistening with the sunlight reflecting in them , but a dark cloud passed over and it never seemed to move away. The ground shook next and in confusion the boy looked around to locate the source. When nothing presented itself he threw his eyes to his father for reassurance, but his father was no longer there and the landscape was changed. Bodies littered every stretch of green expanse replacing the grasses natural colour with red.
The boy panicked backed up and then tripped over a corpse before falling into the pool of blood behind it. His lilac kimono was instantly stained and the stench of decay filled is senses. He shakily got up then slipped back down into the mess of blood, he tried to rise again but found that every time he tried he would fall back into the pool of blood. His clothes got more and more stained the more the blood splashed up at him. In is stumbling mess he ended up coating himself completely in the crimson substance. His entire small form was now dripping in another's blood and he feebly attempted to rise never once prevailing and getting to his feet. He cried out in distress as he collapsed wondering in a panic stricken manner where his parents were, how they had vanished into thin air and how the land had changed so quickly.
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Orochimaru woke up his head heavy yet light all at the same time. He felt a stabbing pain all over his body his muscles tight from the impact of falling. His eyes were blurry but he pushed past the haze to try and locate where he was. Another awful dream, his parents once again turning into thin air and then once again another war zone. Being trapped in a pool of blood was new but nothing unexpected.
He sat up before his head was clear and before his eyes had adjusted.
He looked around dazed but he was determined to stay seated instead of lying down. He felt the presence of someone come closer and rest a hand on his back to support his currently weakened body. The world around him became clearer and he looked beside him to see who was helping keep his shaking form up.
His entire body tensed and his eyes stopped in their tracks when they met a darker pair of familiar ones. Ones that were once comforting but now brought forth fear and confusion.
"Sensei." Orochimaru said or half stuttered. Why had he called him that? It was far from what he saw the man as now. He wished he still could have however.
Hiruzen smiled warmly at his old student, in an attempts to help him ease up a bit. The boys rigid form and startled eyes were a clear indication that he was anything but comfortable.
"How is your arm?" Hiruzen asked, it was small talk the boy guessed, perhaps he had a hidden motive.
"Fine." Orochimaru lied.
"Are you sure?" Hiruzen asked, not quite believing the boys words.
"Yes." Orochimaru replied, one word answers, a way he could keep himself safe with no risk of saying something he would regret.
"Orochimaru-kun, we left things on a bad note." Hiruzen said, his face going more serious more worried stricken. He gave the boy a chance to say something if he wanted to, but the silence remained heavy.
"And I'm not here to tell you that you were at fault." Hiruzen said, "...or that you ever would be. What you may have done, it was a possibility. But I can not say that some where in the abyss of time, I am not doing the same. That time stream is one of many perhaps, we haven't unfolded time at all, there could be many out comes. It could be fate or it could be choice. Either way, you've committed no crimes yet."
Once again he paused just in case the younger ninja wanted to say something. Once again Orochimaru simply watched and waited.
"I'm sorry for attacking you Orochimaru-kun. I over reacted, I panicked. I was shown a reality which was more frightening than any war I've faced, any enemy." Hiruzen said, "I want you to know my mind set on matters has changed, and after this... I hope yours has as well."
"... Do you need me to do something?" Orochimaru asked, hazarding a guess. He wasn't trusting enough to simply accept his old teachers forgiveness.
"Of course not." Hiruzen said trying to put on a warm smile, Orochimaru wasn't fooled by it.
He doubted he would ever be fooled by another attempts at affection ever again.
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"It's a fancy party." Ino stated dragging Shikamaru through the shops, "we will need fancy clothes."
"It's troublesome though..." He complained as he felt the urge to simply sit down somewhere over come him, the blond wasn't listening, she was scanning every stall she could to locate anything that could work for the ball she had been invited to. She stopped at a store which looked promising and dragged the Nara inside with her.
"Everyone else is preoccupied, but by the time the party arrives they are going to complain about not having appropriate outfits." Ino stated, "we should do them a favor and get them things to."
"Is everyone going?" Shikamaru asked with little interest.
"Of course... We could use something to take our minds off matters." Ino said, "I will shop for the girls you take the boys."
"... Sakura is the only other girl though..." Shikamaru whined realizing swiftly he had the harder job, she rolled her eyes.
"Fine, you sort out the adults I'll take the rest." Ino said.
"So my dad, your dad, Choji's dad, Gai and Kakashi?" Shikamaru asked.
"Yup." She replied half distracted by a light blue kimono, she tossed the dress over her shoulder before heading into the changing rooms. Shikamaru sighed as he browsed the shelves and hangers some what unsure of what he was looking for. He settled for formal as he picked up clothes he assumed certain members would like or appreciate.
After about an hour of torture Ino came trotting back to him holding enough clothes to block out his view of her face, he eyed her wearily then scanned over the many colours of the different materials.
"That everyone?" He asked tiredly.
"Almost, what do you think of his for Sakura?" She asked holding up a light green kimono its shape seemingly something the pink haired girl would wear happily. He nodded in confirmation.
"Perfect." He replied.
"And for Kiba? He is a hard one to find something for..." She stated pulling out another outfit this time one in dark blues and grays. Shikamaru once again looked it over and fitted it to the chosen candidate.
"Should be fine." He replied, he didn't know why he had agreed to go with her... He'd have rather been enduring one of his fathers long winded lectures or preaches at that point.
"Okay, I got dark blue for Sasuke, a lighter blue for me, white for Neji, red for Choji, purple for Orochi and green for you." She said adding a little wink after telling him his chosen colour.
"Perfect I'm sure, just one thing. What about Naruto?" He asked, she glanced around the room dismally.
"You try finding a colour for him... I don't think a vibrant orange will do any good this time." She muttered.
"Try a blue, he generally wears blue if he ever gets out of that jumpsuit." Shikamaru stated.
"Me and Sasuke-kun are in blue..." She said.
"...let Sasuke wear black. He'd suit it better than Naruto." Shikamaru said, although he could sense Ino had wanted to be some what colour coded to the Uchiha. Deciding it may be for the best she ventured back into the shops and grabbed the desired clothes. Shikamaru tossed his choices into the bag not even bothering to see if she approved. Checking for such matters would surely take hours and the Nara was worn out after the prior few she had taken.
They walked back to the house, the journey rather cold and wet as they darted in and out of shops roofs to avoid getting soaked. They arrived at the house and barged inside desperate to get out of the flood.
The house was quiet as the ninja inside respectfully kept their voices down, Naruto was fast asleep as he was still recovering from having the fox sealed inside him again. Sasuke had been sitting by the windowsill since they had left, in other words for an hour or two while Sakura sat beside Naruto throwing her eyes across the room to check on the Uchiha.
The rest of the inmates sat around the kitchen or bedrooms, Ino dumped the packets of shopping onto her bed before dishing out the chosen outfits and placing them on the appropriate beds.
When she returned she saw Naruto was awake and seated looking around rather groggily, but his usual aura had returned and he some how seemed more approachable. He stretched his arms out to his sides as he rose up clumsily.
"How are you feeling?" Sakura asked, ready to heal the blind if need be.
"Back to normal really." He looked around the room and noted all the members were present except for one, their newest arrival, "Orochimaru not back?"
"Not yet, not till this evening." Kakashi said coming to check on his student.
"...He is alright though right?" Naruto asked, hoping it wasn't serious, he felt some what accountable for what ever damage the demon fox may have done.
"Just his arm as we originally thought." Sasuke muttered, "an over night inspection was hardly necessary."
"I could heal him here." Sakura offered, "can we not check him out earlier?"
"Sure we can." Naruto said optimistically.
"Doubt it." Sasuke said countered.
"Why not?" Naruto said slightly agitated.
"Doctors are strict." Sasuke replied briefly, he then moved away from the windowsill frame.
"And?" Naruto asked, not sensing the logic still blinded by a bit of his own natural stubbornness.
"There is no need to cause unnecessary trouble Naruto. He will come home later today its just a couple of hours." Sasuke chastised, although Kakashi agreed with it he couldn't help but feel that he didn't want to. He was rather annoyed with having to leave the Sannin there, especially since when visiting hours had ended he was forced to leave, however Hiruzen due to being soon Hokage had permission to stay.
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Hiruzen had asked or more ordered the hospital to sign the boys release, deciding he would heal better in the comforts of the travelers house anyway. Although Kakashi had argued the same point Hiruzen had the authority to actually make the doctor agree and the boy was bandaged up one final time before they signed him out. Orochimaru allowed his old teacher to walk him home. He followed silently and tried his best to avoid eye contact and in that same token to avoid conversation. Hiruzen had draped a large cloak over the boy to shield him and his injury from the rain which still beat down with tenacity. They moved through the streets and although many citizens were angered none of them bothered the two ninja as the authoritative figure of soon to be Hokage loomed too close. Hiruzen guided the boy through a street which Orochimaru had to admit was unfamiliar to him. He was close to spinning around and bolting, wondering if perhaps this wasn't some trick to get him to be alone.
What an easy target her would be now that he was isolated. He took another few steps before slamming on brakes, his panic was controlling his decisions now.
Hiruzen stopped to see what had made his former pupil freeze up. Orochimaru looked up at him and met eyes trying his best to avoid looking fearful.
"What's wrong?" Hiruzen asked his voice eerily calm, holding too much care to not be suspicious. The warmth he always spoke with was back but it didn't have the same soothing effect it had a few weeks prior. Now it instilled different emotions which made him delve into sadness once more all so that his mind could torture him with questions on how he could have prevented the change from ever happening. God how he wished he could still find security in the older man.
"Where are we going?" Orochimaru asked answering a question with a question.
"To the travelers house. Is that not where you want to go?" Hiruzen asked slightly confused.
"I've never gone this way." Orochimaru admitted skeptically.
"Oh, it's a shortcut... If you'd like you can show me the way you usually go?" Hiruzen offered finally realizing what may have startled the boy. He had reason not to trust.
A siren went off in the distance as to alert the village of an incoming threat. Hiruzen spun around to see hooded men entering the village, scaling the large walls. Their capes were a dark brown or else black, but it was impossible to identify the coloring of the fabric in the rain and over cast skies. Hiruzen pushed the boy to stand behind him as five of the men appeared in front of them. Their faces were hidden but their village was obvious. They were from the hidden mist their jutsu proving their origin. They stood in front of the two ninja their entire focus locked onto their forms.
Hiruzen backed up and in doing so he nudged the smaller ninja back a few steps as well. Orochimaru glanced between his old teacher and the intruders. He found it sad that his first thought had been that Hiruzen had hired these ninja to assassinate him. That automatically faded from his mind as one man drew multiple kunai throwing them towards the ninja opposite them.
Hiruzen had his own knives drawn within split seconds and had reflected the oncoming blades. Orochimaru felt uneasy one hand down but allowed himself to ease up when he felt the smooth texture of one of his summonings. The brown serpent was large enough to consume a man with little effort and coiled its body around its summoner loosely. It placed its scaly form between blade and skin its slitted and narrowed black eyes locked onto the enemy.
The snake hissed its raise head right beside the boy, he could feel its tongue lightly brush past him as it smelt their surroundings. Unlike majority of the world, he found comfort in the snake being on-top of him sharing his space and air. In that same token the serpent was at ease with the boy, in no way unhappy or distressed with him leaning on it.
The next few ninja who were cloaked disappeared only to reappear inches from Hiruzen and Orochimaru. Hiruzen summoned his large weapon, the metal pole deceptively hiding the creature it truly was, the Sannin knew the primate like entity would soon reveal itself.
The soon to be Hokage forced the intruding ninja out of his space by swinging the large pole towards them. Orochimaru didn't bother move, his large reptilian summing made it clear that they had gotten too close as it struck out its teeth now clamped around the top half of an unfortunate Mist ninja.
Orochimaru allowed his golden eyes to flit over to the only other Mist shinobi who hadn't vacated the vicinity. The man took two hurried steps backwards his fear hidden as his entire face was cloaked.
The Mist ninja ran and Orochimaru ordered his snake to stay by him. If the intruder thought that it meant he was free of penalty he was sadly mistaken. Once his feet hit soil a few meters from the Konoha ninja a second man eating snake emerged from the earth. It sunk it's fangs into the mans shoulders as it coiled around his form successfully crushing all life left in the man. With a constricting grip enough to break bricks and crush boulders, the mans bones were shattered within milliseconds. He had no time to scream as he lost all air.
Hiruzen allowed his summoning to turn to smoke. He then told the boy to follow him and for some reason, perhaps he was wrapped up in the fight, he did. He trotted after his teacher his two serpents slipping around the village floor. The flooded water forced them to swim every now and then but that only aided their speed as they cut through the streaming pools.
Screams resounded from every street as the Mist invaders killed indiscriminately, the sound of metal clashing and scratching against one another was another frequent noise. Hiruzen cringed as a scream was silenced midway, the obvious sign of an innocent death. Any cloaked shinobi that was spotted was instantly killed by the Konoha Jounin. Either by flames or snake. Either way they were given quick deaths, as the chance of one of the intruders living was a high risk.
The flooded street was a mixture of see through water and faded red, blood enough to stage a shark attack. Orochimaru admittedly had little chakara to waste but couldn't bear the idea of walking knee deep in bloodied water, so instead he wasted precious chakara to stay on top of the streams. A blue hue shone around Hiruzen and Orochimaru's feet as they walked above the water, and for the first time in forever the boy felt as if he had to relearn the simple trick of defying nature.
Out of the corner of his eye the boy saw an intruder approach a boy around his age, he held a sword in his hand as the young boy walked backwards in a futile attempt to escape.
The man raised his blade and the boy screamed his face paled his own weapon haven fallen from his hands.
Orochimaru didn't allow the intruders blade to be lowered, he had no sword of his own so he grabbed a nearby one from a corpse. His newly found blade made contact with the one hovering inches from the fallen Konoha citizen. Orochimaru threw the man back by pushing his sword forward and in turn moving the other.
The man fully hooded cursed and avoided a fatal hit, but it was futile as the boy was far faster than he was and managed to get behind him and slit his throat. He looked at the boy, an old classmate he recognized. Like all his other classmates, this boy had mocked his inhuman appearance. Due to the battle commencing around them though the Sannin found he had no need to get even now for all the years of bullying. In fact he was relieved to have saved the boy, it would've left him feeling sickened to see someone he knew lifeless. Orochimaru swing the sword around in one hand, his other still held to his chest.
"Orochimaru-." The boy said meeting his golden eyes, the ones he had mocked in the past.
Orochimaru tossed the boy his blade haven noticed his one was now broken and discarded, "Use that."
He then ran to catch up and aid Hiruzen who admittedly needed no help, many bodies littered the floor around him and he added a couple more to the pile within seconds. Why had mist planned an invasion? War was on the brink but it appeared the hidden Mist had decided to get things over with instead of trying to resolve matters. Hiruzen glanced over to the snake summoner.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"I'm fine." Orochimaru said honestly, he didn't feel hindered in the slightest despite his on obvious handicap. He then followed his teacher down more of the village until he spotted someone he knew in the distance. Kakashi currently fought off three intruders and was making quick work of them as well. He finished them up his red eye still covered showing he was putting in little effort. He glanced up to spot the boy and he made a move to get to him ignoring the chaos around him. He didn't manage to reach the boy however as another group attacked him. Orochimaru would've gone to help, despite Kakashi not needing help, but he was roughly pulled to the side. He met eyes with Sasuke.
"You shouldn't fight in that condition." He warned before taking him by his good arm and pulling him away. Orochimaru glanced back at the copy ninja but had little choice on whether he was going to follow or not. He found the white haired ninja was now left behind as the young Uchiha dragged him onwards.
"I have a plan." Sasuke said, "this will last a while."
He was slightly out of breath as he spoke, "we need to go fetch the scrolls I gave you we need to move them."
"In a time of war?" Orochimaru snapped back.
"When else are we off parole?" Sasuke barked back.
"We should help them." Orochimaru said.
"We can help them when we get back." Sasuke said, "the two of us won't tip the scales."
"We could save people who might die if we leave..." Orochimaru objected, but he was out of hands to get rid of the others hold. He found himself at the villages exit within moments. His large summonings hissed and advanced on Sasuke but since their summoner denied them the command to attack they did nothing more. Orochimaru looked back at the two snakes, in the same motion the serpents turned around and headed back to Konoha.
"Where are your body guards going?" Sasuke asked casually, the Sannin was being more complaint now as he was dragged.
"They'll stay behind and do our job." Orochimaru stated.
Sasuke didn't reply, he simply carried on leading the boy past all the trees and rocks as they cut though the forest.
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Kakashi finished off the final Mist intruder, he scanned the area to see that finally all seemed to be safe. The rest of the intruders were forced to leave and vacate the area. They abandoned their task and retreated, the Jounin of Konoha allowed them to as to finally rid themselves of all the damage being sustained to their homes in the invasion.
Kakashi saw medics aiding anyone who was injured, with three or four casualties, the Jounin was happy to see that no citizens were killed, only ninja. The majority of corpses belonged to the mist ninja, the Konoha shinobi sustaining injury but hardly any casualties of death.
Medics aided the Konoha ninja to the hospital, the rain had made matters seem more chaotic than they had been, it must have been a group of Mist extremists as none of them wore their headbands. Either way most of them had been killed the others fled. It was a small victory to Konoha as the only real damage done was to their buildings. Which in itself evidently made the Second Hokage furious.
Kakashi walked back to the travelers house, sensing as he was done fighting and that they no longer needed him. Also so that he could check to see that no one he knew had been injured. He had seen Sasuke run off with Orochimaru, and assumed the Uchiha had done so to get the handicapped ninja off the battle field. Which he was grateful for. Other than that he didn't doubt that the ninja who ventured through time with him were all more than capable enough to hold their own. Just incase however he decided he had to return and see for himself.
He got to the front door quickly enough as the rain sped up his every step, he turned the handle which always seemed to be left open and entered the room.
As predicted everyone was present, and no one seemed to have any serious injury, perhaps a few cuts at the most. Sakura made quick work of all the scratches and healed them all one by one leaving nothing to show they had ever been injured in the first place.
Kakashi almost found he wasn't surprised to see Orochimaru and Sasuke absent.
"Where are-" Kakashi started.
"We were going to ask you." Gai said honestly.
"They'll come back." Naruto replied, and it was clear he believed every word he said.
"Come back from where is the problem." Kakashi muttered, in a time of war it was hardly fitting to venture off and disappear. It was almost an unwritten rule to simply
return home after an out break, to ensure every member was safe. The two of them having a tendency of taking flight didn't make matters any better either.
The door swung open moments later and Sasuke entered the house, he looked between everyone and Kakashi sighed in relief. So he hadn't ventured off. However the pale ninja still hadn't made an appearance.
"Where is Orochimaru?" Kakashi asked. Sasuke seemed to be glaring at him when he spoke the boys name.
"I'm not his keeper." Sasuke said.
"Didn't say you were, but I saw you run off with him a couple of hours ago." Kakashi remarked back, not in the mood for the Uchiha's brash ways. Sasuke didn't make an effort to say anything for a few seconds longer than socially acceptable. His lack of care obvious even as he did nothing at all.
"We got split up. Maybe he is helping the injured, or talking to the Third Hokage." Sasuke said.
"Maybe he is hurt, we should go find him." Shikaku said, haven seen enough of how much the villagers despised him. It wasn't a safe place for the boy to be in.
"He can handle himself." Sasuke stated causally.
"He only has one arm." Kakashi reminded him.
"He had no arms when he fought Tsunade and Jiraiya in our time stream." Sasuke said back, "he can handle himself."
There was an awkward silence in which Sasuke took the opportunity to leave the conversation entirely. He went into their rooms before emerging again a black item of clothing in his hands.
"What's this?" Sasuke asked.
"A kimono." Ino stated. "For the party… don't mess it up."
Sasuke went back inside tossing the kimono back to the bed, he hung it over the end of the mattress so that he had space to lie down on. An hour later the door opened and Orochimaru walked in causally, as if he hadn't made certain members worry sick about him. He didn't even bother say anything to anyone and simply went straight to his room. Kakashi was somewhat confused some what expectant of the reaction. He decided he would just in case go and speak to the boy as he hadn't been able to do that since he had seen him at the hospital the day before. He entered the room to find Orochimaru sitting at the edge of Sasuke's bed nearer the Uchiha's legs looking down at him. He had a playful smile and eyes flashing many apologies. Sasuke had his eyes closed his hands keeping his head up, he was calming himself or meditating… one of the two. They both looked over to Kakashi and once again Orochimaru seemed unfittingly happy. Then Kakashi noticed another thing, his body was unscratched despite haven fought the battle. In fact even the wound he had received from the Kyubi was gone, his arm was still bandaged though.
"Someone heal you?" Kakashi asked, hoping for an explanation.
"Yes." Orochimaru said mistaking the confusion for care. He then looked back down at the Uchiha, "get over yourself will you, lying there like a defeatist."
"You're a handful." Sasuke said back, "Constantly getting lost."
"I'm never lost," Orochimaru said, "I always know my way home."
"well you seem to always take the long way back." Sasuke chastised, Orochimaru nudged him impishly.
"Sorry to make you worry about me." He chuckled before standing up. He then went to his own bed brushing past Kakashi as he did so, he looked down at the elaborate purple Kimono. He looked back at Kakashi with questioning eyes.
"Ino wants us to attend a party." Kakashi said quickly trying to clear things up.
"I see." Orochimaru said moving the fabric aside to make room for himself. It was late now and the other younger ninja eventually entered the room as well.
Orochimaru watched the copy ninja leave, and he had to stop himself from following the man. What over came him he didn't know, he knew he couldn't get attached to Kakashi now… that would only lead to heartbreak when the time came for the man to leave. Yet here he was wishing to follow the man to his quarters… a hopeless romantic in a sense. Orochimaru mentally kicked himself, he would never allow himself to be called that.
Authors note- The late-ness of this chapter… -_-
Sorry for the slowness of updates, I'm currently knee deep in work and exams. So I will try keep on time but I probably will be late for a while till things clear up.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Don't forget to leave a review! A huge thanks to those who do!