Since we've been at the new hideout in the Sound, Father has only been paying attention to Kabuto and not me; I wasn't the favorite anymore. He barely remembers that I'm here and forgets to tell me what to train so I've been trying to master every jutsu he has taught me so far. He and Kabuto have been working on the medical section of the hideout forbidding me from that area.

I have been staying in my room, training, or walking around in the village to enjoy the fresh air which I can't get enough of. He hasn't spoken to me in months now probably forgetting about me. Usually, Father would send me out on missions gathering orphans or rouges sending them into the medical wing; hopefully making sure they are healthy. So far there have been many people that we have recruited young and old. The old were sent to live in the village to protect its people while the children were sent to the newly built ninja academy.

In order to seem like a normal village, we have taken in many families that have lost their homes during the many civil wars that have occurred after the third war. Many people come to us wishing for peace since the Land of Rice is known for the peaceful atmosphere.

"Ko!" Kabuto called as he came from the medical wing.

"Yes?" I quickly sprinted towards him skidding to a stop as I rounded the hall.

"Orochimaru-sama has a mission for you." He said adjusting his glasses as he walked towards me.

"Do you know what it is?" I questioned looking up at him.

"You're going with him to retrieve a child named Kimimaro Kaguya; he'll be useful to us."

"Any description?"

"His clan is known for having two dots on their forehead and white hair. His clan has the ability to control the bones in their body weaponizing them." He explained which made me shutter in disgust. Such a weird and nasty ability.

I gathered my stuff then proceeded outside only to be met by Father which made me almost smile with joy. For once we were going on a mission together, he can see how much I have improved. During our journey, Father explained that the Kaguya clan has been battling in the civil war and their numbers have been diminishing since last ninja war. As we were running, we sensed a chakra signature coming towards us. In the distance I spotted a young boy with white hair that went down to his shoulders and two dots on his forehead running towards us. He looked a few years older than me.

He ran up to as jumping in the air aiming for Father. I got in his way kicking him away from us, but he landed on his feet.

"Just a moment," Father said placing a hand on my shoulder.

Kimimaro sprinted towards us attempting to attack Father again but then suddenly stopped.

"Hasty aren't you?" Father looked down at the boy with a sinister smile. "Put your dagger away, we're not from this village. What you're seeking is just below this ridge child. Go on, have at it." Father held out his arm palm open towards the burning village beneath us.

He then ran down the ledge to the Mist village. We watched as the battle played out. All the grown Mist shinobi fighting against this lone clan. Kimimaro was surrounded fighting off and killing the experienced shinobi effortlessly.

"Why are they fighting? What is the point?" I thought as I watched the massacre in front of me.

Fires erupted from the village followed by screams and bloodshed. It was hard to maintain my composure viewing these horrid events. I knew this was what the life of a shinobi was but witnessing it was a different story. I watched as people were slaughtered, ripped away from their loved ones only to watch them die. Kimimaro's expression as he killed stunned me; no look of guilt or sympathy.

All I wanted to do was break down and cry but I knew if I did, especially in front of Father, I would be punished severely. This was what Father expects me to do eventually, I had to endure it and watch helplessly. I looked over at Father seeing him watch with amusement. I turned my focus back to the fighting observing the shinobi knowing that I had to be like them. The war continued until morning, the images burned into my mind that night making me realize Father had me come here for a reason, he wanted me to see this so I could realize I had to aspire to be like these shinobi; heartless and apathetic.

"Ko," Father called drawing my attention from the dead bodies below. Women and children were scattered in the area within the town, most of the men were in the outskirts. There faces held terror showing they were screaming just before they were murdered.

"Yes Orochimaru-sama?" I answered shoving down the vomit that rose in my throat. I couldn't be weak, I have to be strong so I won't end up like these people.

"Let's go after him," he said as we watched the boy flee from the villagers abandoning the last of his dying kin.

"Yes sir," I looked away from the corpses looking straight ahead. I couldn't dwell on this any longer, I had a mission to complete.

As we searched for him, the images of dead bodies kept flashing before my eyes permanently engraved in my mind. It wasn't until dusk when we found him staring down at the aftermath; his clan's dead bodies all gathered into the center of the battlefield. As we approached him, he turned around spotting Father and I getting his boney weapon ready to strike.

"Maybe, just maybe there is no purpose in life," Father's words stunned the boy making him lower his weapon and stood up, "but if you linger a while longer in this world, you might discover something of value in it like how you discovered that flower," he motioned to the lone flower Kimimaro held in his left hand, "or how I discovered you that one faithful night," Father laughed.

He walked forward reaching out to put a hand on Kimimaro's cheek. "Come, it's time to go." I could see the boy was fooled by Father's slight affection, it was fake. Father knew exactly how to manipulate children, especially me.

Father turned around and took his leave leaving us behind. I looked over at Kimimaro seeing him frozen in place still processing Father's words.

"Are you coming?" I asked tilting my head.

"Who are you?" He questioned with an emotionless tone as he got to his feet and walked towards me.

"My name is Ko, you're Kimimaro right?" I replied unable to see him as just a boy anymore; after watching him murder all those people, I just see him as a murderer.

"Kimimaro," his tone was much softer this time showing a human side to him.

"Do you want a home?" I asked holding out my hand towards him which made him flinch at first, but he looked down at my hand then back up at me. Now I understood, he was trained to kill knowing nothing but that life.

"More than anything," he breathed grasping my hand tightly as if desperate that my words were true.

"Then just follow us," I said giving him a genuine smile which made him slightly blush. Sadly, I knew how to manipulate people too, guess it runs in the family. I didn't know what Father was doing in his lab, but he's collecting kids and young adults for a reason. I felt guilty for making Kimimaro trust me but I had to play along, whatever Father was doing, I didn't want to be next.

"Where are we going?" He questioned still holding onto my hand as we ran through the forest.

"We live in a hidden village in the Rice country." I answered starting to feel a bit uncomfortable with us holding hands, but it brought him comfort so I didn't object.

"How old are you?" He questioned studying me.

"Six," I answered keeping my eyes on the path ahead of us.

"I'm eleven,"

"If you need anything, just talk to me. Um so I watched how you killed all those people. Was it easy to do it?" I had to ask him. I was expected to kill someone, I needed to be prepared.

It was silent between us for a moment before he answered. "I've been held in a cage my whole life, I was told if I killed, I'd be set free. Someone needed me and that's why I fought; I don't know why but that's what got my body moving."

I could feel the loneliness in his voice; I could relate to him. "Don't worry then Kimimaro. Lord Orochimaru and I need you and we can give you a reason to live." I looked over at him giving him a closed eyed smile. I hoped he wouldn't disappear like the other people I've brought to Father; maybe we can be friends.

"Why is your place hidden in your own village?" He questioned once we reached the hideout and descended the stairs.

"My Master is wanted by S-ranked criminals, so we have to be careful." I told him which I found out through Kabuto months ago. I just knew they were called the Akatsuki, not that they were criminals.

"So you're in hiding?"

"Not me but Lord Orochimaru and possibly his newest favorite. "

"You're jealous?"

"A bit but I can't do anything about it. My Lord wants me to discard my emotions, but it seems impossible to me."

"I was raised to push aside emotions and focus on the mission. Emotions only get in the way which leads to mistakes. Having loved ones only distracts you and your judgement." He told me which was exactly what Father had told me years ago but it was too hard.

"Maybe you can teach me. Lord Orochimaru's lessons just don't work for me." I suggested remembering how I felt when I saw those bodies. How could I be a ninja if I let something like that get in my head?

"It's not something that is taught, you have to desensitize yourself from human existence."

We walked in silence for the rest of the way as we headed for Father's quarters entering through the door.

"Ko, you may leave now." He said not even looking at me.

I turned away and went towards the training room to let out my frustration. It was almost impossible for a child to completely get rid of emotions. Right when I got in, I started violently punching the dummies screaming in anger for hours.

"Well, someone is a little angry." I heard a familiar mocking tone say.

"Go away Kabuto," I hissed with anger not bothering to turn around.

"Lord Orochimaru wouldn't be happy that you lost control of your emotions."

"Shut up...I have nothing to say to you."

"Oh you're just angry that Orochimaru-sama isn't paying attention to you anymore." He mused walking over.

When he reached to where I was, he put a hand on my shoulder. "How long have you been with Orochimaru-sama?"

"My whole life," I answered taking in a deep breath calming myself.

"How did he find you?"

"That's for me to know and you to find out." I snapped; he didn't need to know my business.

He sighed then turned away and walked towards the door. "Wait," I called out making him stop. "Kimimaro said I had to desensitize myself from humans, do you know how to do that?"

"I know how to but I don't have that ability. I know Orochimaru-sama can though."

"Please, I'll do anything." I said seeing a smirk show on his face.

"I will mention it to him." He said turning away walking out the door.

I was left alone so I took in a deep breath then exhaled calming down and headed to my room for rest. All I wanted was for Father to be proud of me but that will never happen if I can't handle this simple task. I laid down on my bed then heard a knock on my door. I quickly went over to the door opening it knowing it was Father on the other side

"Yes, my Lord?" I questioned bowing in respect.

"When you're ready meet me in the training area. I want to teach you something new." I only nodded in response feeling happiness flow through me.

I closed the door to change back into my training clothes then exited my room heading towards the training room. When I arrived, I saw Father waiting for me in the middle of the room.

"What am I going to learn?" I questioned eager to get started. It had been months since we trained together.

"I'm going to teach you how to summon snakes." Father answered looking down at me.

"Like yours?" I had to hide my excitement. He knew I was powerful enough to handle a summoning animal.

"Yes, now you will have to sign a summoning contract." He said summoning a scroll.

"Do I sign it in blood?" I could see the many signatures on the scroll written in red and it smelt like the metallic substance.

"Yes, cut your thumb and write down your name then dab your fingerprints underneath."

I did as he instructed then was ready for the next step.

"Put chakra into your hands and do the signs bird, boar, dog, dragon, hare, horse, monkey, ox, ram, rat, serpent, and tiger. Once you do that then place your hand on a solid object and the snake should appear."

Once I slowly performed the necessary hand signs, I slammed my hand to the ground making smoke erupted from it. Once it was clear a tiny garden snake was laying there.

"Hm...you need a lot of practice. Don't leave this room until you summon a decent snake." He commanded heading out the door.

"I failed him," I whispered looking down at the ground. I clenched my fists as I felt anger take over. "Arg, why am I so weak! I couldn't even summon a decent snake. Father will be disappointed in me now." I shouted in frustration.

For the next five hours I was down in the training area working on the summoning jutsu mostly working on the various signs. So far, the biggest snake I was able to summon was a python but then back to garden snakes.

"Are there snakes bigger than you?" I asked the snake I just summoned.

"I don't have to answer to you human." It hissed turning its head away from me.

Before it could slither away, I grabbed it in a death grip. "Tell me before I chop you up into little pieces." I threatened pulling out a kunai. I pressed the weapon on the tip of its tail drawing blood.

"Yess th-there are." It whimpered twitching its tail under the blade.

"Who's the biggest snake?"

"Manda,"

"You may leave now," I spat releasing him.

"If I may say human, you are pretty terrifying for a little girl." It then disappeared.

"Hm to make Father proud I'll have to summon this Manda, but apparently he's huge so I'll have to summon him outside. I'm almost out of chakra, I think a python is decent enough."

I walked out of the training room and headed towards the medical ward feeling his chakra signature. Once I reached the room he was in, I knocked on the door hoping I wouldn't receive a lecture.

"Come in,"

The first thing I saw when I entered the room were many bodies of the people we had rescued from the slums of towns in cylindrical tubes. My eyes widened at the terrified expressions on their faces frozen in place. My eyes scanned the rest of the room seeing blood stains covering the floor, walls, and ceilings making me gasp with horror. I tried to stay calm, but I started to hyperventilate when I saw Father in the center of the room with a bloodied corpse sprawled onto the examination table.

"What do you want Ko? I am very busy." He said nonchalantly as if this didn't affect him. Of course, it wouldn't; he's the one who caused this. For once in my life, I was terrified of my own Father.

"Is this why he was kicked out of the Leaf? Why the Akatsuki recruited him?" I had to take in a deep breath and calm down. I had to act normal around him. This can't affect me.

"What are you working on?" My voice was leveled, clear of any emotion despite the whirling emotions I hid beneath my mask.

"Perfecting my new jutsu," he continued to dissect the undistinguishable person as he answered never looking away.

"What is it for?" I walked towards him eventually seeing a sight that was going to make me puke.

"For me to become immortal."

"Calm down Ko, dehumanize this…thing. You have to." I told myself looking over this person, no, thing.

"How can that be achieved?" I looked up at him observing the blood splattered over his gown and surgical mask.

"By stealing another person's body," I froze at his answer but had to keep calm.

"Interesting, is that another reason you needed Kabuto?"

"Yes, also why I have Kimmimaro; soon when he's strong enough he will be my vessel."

"Because of his clan?" I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up. Of course he was going to be another subject.

"Yes, his abilities would be rather useful to me." I thought of Kimimaro looking around hoping I wouldn't see his body among these corpses. Thankfully, I didn't see him.

"Who are you going to test it on?"

"Some worthless pedestrians." I was filled with relief that it wouldn't be my friend. He was a poor soul that had just gotten a life he had always dreamed of. What worried me was that I didn't care that it was going to be a person who would have to endure this testing.

"How long does it last?"

"Three years,"

"Will I ever become your vessel?" I had to ask that question. He never seemed interested or attached to me which could mean I was part of this plan.

"No; I need you." I should've felt relieved at his answer but I all I felt was disappointment.

"What if I want to be your vessel?" I don't know why I said that it just came out but now I had to know.

"Do you?" His eyes finally flickered to me for the first time since I entered the room. I met his gaze only seeing hunger; he was power hungry. Why did I want to? Father is a brilliant man, extremely powerful, and of course, still my hero.

"If it helps you survive then yes."

"You would die for me?" He completely turned his body to face me. His intense stare made the air feel suffocating.

"Yes" I answered without a second thought. You're my Father and I love you." I answered then exhaled the breath I had been holding. I don't know what was wrong but it felt like I was making a deal with a demon.

He was silent for a moment still staring into my red eyes. Now I understood what Kabuto meant by how foolish these people were. We were the bad guys, and I had no choice but to follow down this path. I already decided years ago that I would follow Father to the ends of the Earth and help him no matter what.

"When you're older and stronger you will be my vessel." He answered as a wicked smirk appeared on his face.

"It will be an honor to be your vessel." I stood up and bowed with respect.

"Hm if this jutsu works it's possible that I'll only need you since you're flesh and blood. Plus, I know that when you're older you'll be more powerful than me." His words touched me deeply almost bringing me to tears. I will become a powerful shinobi and train everyday to achieve that goal. "Kabuto told me of your problem, and I can help you indeed."

"I will do anything to get rid of these emotions."

"Anything?"

"Yes anything,"

As I stared into his eyes it felt like I was being drawn into a void. My surroundings disappeared leaving me in the darkness. I started to panic not knowing what had happened, but then gruesome images started to appear before me causing me to scream out in terror. Now I understood, he placed me in a genjutsu.