DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO OR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS. THIS IS JUST A FAN-MADE STORY!
Deep within the black depths of the night, far away from the peaceful village of Konoha, the secluded hideout of Orochimaru was silent in its hidden evil. Orochimaru himself was watching Sasuke train, silently standing in the shadows as he surveyed the avenger of the destroyed Uchiha clan. Sasuke placed the palm of his hand on the ground on which their shadows danced in the dim light, and a burst of lightning lit up in his hand. As he lifted his head, Orochimaru could see that the blood red Sharingan was alive in his eyes, which shone with bloodlust and an evident thirst for vengeance. Suddenly, he yelled: "Chidori!" and slammed his lightning fuelled hand inside a nearby column, which crumbled instantly at its touch.
Orochimaru grinned satisfactorily. His golden snake eyes shone with longing. He yearned almost desperately for Sasuke to be his new vessel, but the time had not come yet. How frustrating it was that he had to wait, when he could barely stand the sight of the powerful boy standing away from him, honing his powers! But he had to withstand it, he had to keep training Sasuke, or else he might not experience the maximum power that he craved so much.
"You're doing well, Sasuke," he said huskily.
Sasuke turned casually to look at him and then lowered his head, and after a short pause, said: "I must destroy Itachi...I have to keep getting stronger!"
"Oh and you will, Sasuke, don't worry my boy...you will..." said Orochimaru.
"Hm," Sasuke grunted, and began making his way towards his quarters. He knew that Orochimaru was only helping him to gain something from it, knew that it was merely for his own personal benefit and not for Sasuke's. But he couldn't care less, as long as it meant that he could end his accursed brother's life, then he would do whatever it takes!
Kabuto was also watching the pair of them, his master and the young Uchiha survivor. He could sense his master's longing for Sasuke's body, but he could also sense that it would be far from simple to obtain...After all, Sasuke was clearly an increasingly dangerous warrior, who could destroy them all should he want to.
But something else was plaguing Kabuto's mind. Say Orochimaru took over Sasuke's body, wouldn't he still require another vessel over time? After all, if he wished to be immortal, it was certainly inevitable. But who else would make a fitting vessel? Finding an appropriate one was never an easy task. There had to be a way for Orochimaru to gain permanent immortality...something that would make him resistant to death, but what could he do about it? How would he put his suggestion forward?
