Ch.10

Immortal plan

Orochimaru sighed, his research going quite well under the circumstances of the tightened security around the place…he knew that someone had found some hint to where he was hiding so just as an extra precaution…he littered the sewers with booby traps, which he absolutely loved doing being the genius he was…coming up with clever ways to kill people came easy to him.

He had learned so many things that Sarutobi nor any of the other teachers would have ever taught him…even some that were previously labeled 'forbidden' he concurred, just by his experiments he had learned all of this wonderful knowledge…and as he did…was closer to his dream and to immortality. He looked up and snipped the excess off a line of sharp wire lining the sewer bottom where if someone stepped about a foot from it a large net approximately four feet wide would trap the person and then that would trigger the hidden kunai launch and…well, he smiled " human pincushion" he chuckled and then calmly walked back making sure the other traps were set before he went into his lab and then ascended up the stair well to his house; moving the floor board where he came up and then slinking out replacing it and going immediately to wash up… "Wouldn't want to smell of blood and sewer water now would I? That would be just too easy for them."

He stood in the shower holding his hands up to the shower of hot water loving the feeling on his skin…after all, cold blooded people loved to be warm didn't they, he breathed deeply and after washing his hair with a solution he had made himself he stepped out, dried himself off and grabbing his Chuunin vest and a simple black outfit and his comfy black sandals to match he got dressed and as he did so sneered…his plan was almost complete…nobody had found out.

He rolled his amber eyes as he donned his vest over the outfit and buttoned it up "fools that they are…there's a snaaaake in the grass" he sang softly and then leaving his washroom he went outside, belting his weapon pouch to his waist… "you never know.." he whispered " someone might try and KIDNAP me " he got a laugh out of that one as well and he made his way down to the main square to go visit and see how Konoha was doing.

He had just gotten down to the ramen shop and suddenly out of all the gloom of the area spotted a rainbow of color…the flower shop… "How nice" he purred as he put his hand to the pouch around his waist after spotting a bobbing red head behind the bouquets of flowers as well… "I think ill go and take home a flower or two" he shrugged and walked over slowly.

Chio was helping her mother with a few bouquets of roses and sweet peas when she noticed the man walk up, at least it was only till he got to the front that she noticed that he was indeed a man but, she smiled slightly ashamed of herself as she noticed that this wasn't just any girly man…it was Orochimaru, one of the three Sannin…she dropped the bouquets in a bucket of water and then wiped her white apron off "H-hello" she stammered a bit surprised that he would want flowers at a time like this " is there anyway I could help you sir?"

Orochimaru looked down at the little girl and his right hand rummaged around in his weapon pouch as his lips curved into a sweet smile "yes" his voice slipped into her ears, something he had done to Tsunade long ago, he brought out a few coins from his pouch and pressed them in her soft little hands " I would like those" his eyes a bit shaded from his still damp hair and forced her to follow them to a small bouquet of little purple white fort nine lilies in the far corner of the store " is that ok?" he purred standing back up fully and letting go of the girl he had tried to capture before noticing that there were two ANBU entering the store as well, he turned his head slightly to get a better view his blue earrings making a little jingling sound.

Glancing over at the two they suddenly realized who he was and looking at each other bowed their heads in respect, he watched this with amusement "what complete Idioooots" he sang in his head. He again looked over at the girl who had shaken her head a little and ran to get the flowers for him and then turned to the closet ANBU member to him and pulled a disarming smile and nodded his head as well as if he knew the person behind the monkey like mask " well its good to see that you are keeping everything safe here…I'm glad…I too came to see" he glanced down at the girl who was holding up his flowers and nodded, taking them and smelling them as if they had any aroma " if this girl was alright, seeing as she was, as rumors go nearly kidnapped.-"

The other ANBU flinched a little and adjusted his wolf like mask, they had almost made sure that that information didn't get out in to the public of Konoha…how did the Sannin even WITH all of in intelligence hear of this when he was reputed to be so ill he very rarely ventured out of his house.

Orochimaru noticing this turned fully around to face this ANBU, brushing back his long damp bangs and boring into the mask with his burning amber eyes…snake eyes, the man thought as the slit like pupils of the Sannin's eyes seemed to encompass and devour him and all he knew just by looking at him, he seemed to know what he was thinking because he shrugged and released the now shaking man from his gaze and turning on his heel.

" Well I need to go and see my dear friends for I also got news of Tsunade returning from her recent mission…how nice…and what a coincidence…she happens to like flowers."

He sighed as he walked the air a lot colder than he remembered it for it now gave him a slight chill…he looked back along the long street that he had to walk to get to the hospital and his eyes went blank as he shrunk inside his mind again… "this would" he thought " probably be the last time that I ever walk down this street…the last time that I will go and see the only person who seemed to look at me differently over the years…" he blinked again noticing that he had nearly walked past it and then casually putting the flowers over his shoulder he walked past the front desk where the nurses attending it quailed at his presence, walked past all of the rooms filled with the sick and dying until he caught a flash of blonde…Tsunade.

He stood at the door way in silence for a minute, Tsunade was seated on the stool normally used for doctors still in her Chuunin vest and covered in bandages from her previous missions…the boy who had been in the bed previously had long been buried but still she remained here, he sighed getting her to move her head and turn her haunted brown eyes on him "O-Orochimaru.." she mumbled and raised her head rubbing her eyes, she had been crying.

He smiled kindly to her, one of his random generous ones that actually meant something as he sat on the metal bar lining the bed then handed the flowers to her "These are for you…I realize you have had it hard Tsunade, and I know I've been rather mean of late but you wont have to deal with that much longer"

Tsunade took the flowers and held them carefully to her chest as if they would save her from the torment this last month had put on her…no…on Everyone's soul, she looked up at him again though strangely.

"What did you mean by that last part? Are you going somewhere?" He looked down at her for a few minutes and then shrugged "who knows?" he whispered…

"But Tsunade…" he glanced over his shoulder at her, his eyes normally bright, shaded and tinged with emotion, but only a little "fulfill your dreams…even if you must do horrible things to achieve them." Then leaving her with much to think about he vanished down the stair well. Tsunade hugged the flowers close to her again and breathed on them, the crisp white and purple of the lilies had already started to become dull… "Sometimes" she murmured to herself as she got up and went to put the flowers in some water "he scares scare's me."

He took his time looking over the place that had been his home since he had been five years old…had he ever called it home? He wondered sometimes. He brushed back his long hair and walked past all his favorite places he had gone to when he was younger…he was tired of it…

He knew he wouldn't get to see Jiraiya before he left, he had already gone and left Konoha to go and train with those little brats he called students, he snorted a little as he passed the school and almost the exact tree he had eaten lunch in so many times…all precious memories…he stuffed them in the back of his mind, "he would find a trash can for them later" he told himself.

He walked faster passing places much like that tree, the ramen shop, the alley where he had taken the Hyuuga, the training ground behind the Hokage's tower…all places he had known for a long long time…and as he had thought before…all of it just tired him.

Then as he stood in front of the Hokage's tower an odd feeling shivered down his skin and he blinked and looked around finding almost instantly the reason for it…the small boy who had been so cryptic to him last time they met, Uchiha Itachi…he had grown since he had last seen him but still wore the same cold expression on his face…he looked and then frowned a little, his eyes were black.

Itachi looked up at the Sannin called Orochimaru and walked forward until he was only a few feet from himself " are you feeling well sir?" he murmured, causing a slight smile to come to Orochimaru's lips " indeed"

He looked up at the dusty blue sky and then put a hand to his lips " so…where is that man that was with you at the shack?" this caused Itachi to narrow his eyes a little " who do you mean?" he asked calmly. Orochimaru sighed and one of his golden eyes slid down and looked at the boy bellow him "you know who I mean…the owner of that cloak I saw you with…I know it wasn't yours"

Uchiha Itachi flinched for one of the first times in his life thus far and then turned his head from Orochimaru's gaze " he only came to ask me a few questions…that's all…and" he looked up at Orochimaru again his eyes not that amusing shade of burgundy " its nothing you need to poke your nose in to."

Orochimaru raised an eyebrow and then slowly shrugged his shoulders and stepped past the child who he knew was seemingly a lot like himself when he had been that age, this boy had a thirst for power…he would go to those people eventually but for now…it was his turn.

He left Itachi alone on the street and returned to what he had been thinking of before hand, he needed to see Sarutobi of course…but not yet, no he had some things to do at his house first to get ready…he knew he couldn't well just get up and leave Konoha as much as he would like that…no, he would still figure out a way to do this but in the meantime…he rummaged in one pocket and brought out a nifty little sharp tool he had picked off one of the hospital carts on his way to see Tsunade… "This could come in handy" he hissed and then putting it back in his pocket made his way towards who knew where.

"Orochimaru" Orochimaru stopped at his name being spoken from directly behind him and he sighed deeply and glanced to his right "Hello Sensei…" Sarutobi, yes still in his battle armor stood behind him, one of the only people that would be able to sneak up on him and get away with it.

Orochimaru turned around and looked at the old man who looked very tired, loss of sleep probably...though he wouldn't put it behind him if it turned out to be loss of sanity that put those dark rings under his teachers eyes " you don't look so well Sarutobi…you should get some rest"

This put a light smile of Sarutobi's lips "ahh…but are YOU feeling any better Orochimaru? You look healthy enough and I had heard that you went to visit Tsunade…is he doing well?"

Orochimaru shrugged, his earrings jingling with his motion " she seemed fine to me…only tired " he said, eyeing Sarutobi " everyone is so uptight, even I know that the best of ninja cannot operate too well under nights of no sleep…Sarutobi sensei…"

The man who had been his teacher for many years of his life chuckled "yes…you were always smart at recognizing things weren't you? A genius Orochimaru"

Orochimaru looked slightly taken aback at the compliment, for Sarutobi had never actually voiced anything like this to him at all "w-what?" he stammered lightly "Orochimaru " Sarutobi smiled " even though other people may not see it you have a good heart and I had planned on your succession to me as Hokage someday…Orochimaru stared at Sarutobi for a minute, a memory of him as a boy coming way to vividly to his mind…biting at him, the day he had demanded to become Hokage… "Heh…no, I'm sure you have others who are capable sensei…I am not able to become Hokage.

Sarutobi looked calmly at his student and then shook his head "you were always like that…no its ok…oh and by the way Orochimaru…keep watch on Konoha for a while, I know you are capable of doing that at least right?" he smiled, totally trusting him with such a thing…Orochimaru responded back with a mirrored smile, one of his cold eerie ones "yes Sensei…ill keep everything ok…but why? Are you going somewhere?"

Sarutobi looked at him and at the same time Orochimaru realized that there were at least six to eight ANBU surrounding the area "yes" he chuckled "I am indeed going somewhere, but where exactly well that's a secret"

Orochimaru blinked at him as the old man walked off back to his tower mumbling something about a plan.

As soon as he was alone he hissed loudly at his teachers back

"Damn you and your sneakiness…" and on that note he turned on this heel and sped back to his house ignoring his mission, he had better things to do.

Orochimaru didn't think any more of anybody in Konoha after he had gotten home and went to work once again, having disposed of all the previous bodies he had caught earlier that week and scribbling down all of the things he found on a dirty scroll sprawled across a sturdy wooden table already littered with jars filled with vicious liquid and other things and other scrolls already tied up and labeled along with the main thing taking up the table, a coffin.

Orochimaru had finally acquired one of those pesky Hyuuga members who came from the head family…though it had been slightly annoying to have to go there, dig up the coffin and then make it look like one of the branch family had done it…though it was interesting to watch how the man was executed he had gone quickly to examine the body of the little girl who had died from a fever. He had already extracted her eyes so that now her empty eye sockets stared accusingly at him…he grimaced thinking how much easier it would be if he had just left the eyes in her little head…well now he figured out what they did and he was writing furiously with one hand as he slowly slit her heart open to check all of the chakra ties that he had learned were much different in the Hyuuga than the other clan families around Konoha…he sneered and continued his work until he heard a rather alarming noise….the spring of twine wire and hiss of kunai in the far end of the tunnel…someone had entered the sewer system. He stopped his work for a minute to listen and then when he heard nothing he went back to his work which would lead him to his final technique to be had in Konoha.

Sarutobi had already sprung in to immediate action, his plan though very basic would have to work…he had taken six ANBU to accompany him in the capture of this dangerous person…one had gone down before him and had yet to come up…two minutes passed… "too long" he muttered to the rest and then leaped down through the man hole and landed ankle deep in the slimy water and stepping from the light beaming down from above immediately found why the first one hadn't come back…a trap, and indeed the poor man did resemble a pincushion for at least fifty kunai stuck from his hanging corpse…he flinched backward and then motioning with one hand the other five ANBU dropped down lightly from above looking to him for instructions.

He growled knowing for a matter a fact that there were probably more traps like the one which had killed Tomori the first ANBU who had gone before them…he turned on the group and then picking out two of the members ordered them to stay behind him and then told the remaining three to run forward and check for traps…after a few minutes had gone past he ran forward already sweating from the tension …something bad had happened and he needed to get this over with quickly for even the air buzzed with evil that could not be sated.

As he ran forward the trails of his hat whipping about behind him he noticed that there were no more traps in this area…but then neither were there living ANBU either he noted as he ran past their corpses not wanting to look at the horrible things that the clever traps had rendered into their bodies…and then there he saw it…a small door at the end of the corner, he didn't know where under Konoha this was but he knew that the evil he sensed radiated from behind that door.

Sarutobi wiped the sweat from his brow and turned only slightly to the two behind him, he didn't need to speak words…they knew, they were going in.

Sarutobi went first ducking at the gleam of a trip wire near his head and throwing a kunai into a hole on the far left to his head plugging the trap that would have severed his head from his body had he been stupid enough to walk directly into it…as he got up he sliced the wire with the tips of his fingers and appearing at the entrance to the door the two ANBU appeared on the sides of the door…he listened and heard the soft sound of metal clinking together and dry paper…the person was there…they had them!

Sarutobi slowly took hold of the door knob, it wasn't locked…the person had either expected them or hadn't thought any one would get through all of the traps they had laid… "Either way" he whispered lightly looking down at the door handle which was all taking around the span of twenty seconds "he would have them!"

Then without another look or thought he opened the door quickly and walked in drawing a weapon and standing in a defensive position along with the other two who had took up the same position each about a foot away from him and then as his eyes adjusted to the gloom in the small room only lit by a single lamp he made out the figure there and mentally choked, betrayed…Orochimaru stood there…Orochimaru who he had known since he was small now stood over a coffin, who now was turning around a evil sneer painted across his white face, his eyes casting another light in the room.

"O-Orochimaru!" he barked, finally finding voice enough to speak.

Orochimaru, a dark look upon his face, looked up from his work to find of all people his Sensei at his door…how quaint. He sighed when he saw the weapon and the two ANBU as well and then licking his lips with his long snaky tongue he gave him a sharp fanged smile followed by his voice now instead of kind and whispering; cold and hissy.

"So I've finally been caught" he turned fully about and then sighed again "how disappointing."

Sarutobi grimaced and then making sure that his voice didn't run away from him again spoke up still holding up his weapon " Orochimaru…what is the meaning of this?"

Orochimaru, his golden eyes sliding from his sensei to the two beside him shrugged "I set up a lot of booby traps you know…but it seems they were bypassed…I was a little surprised but now I see why"

His eyes found Sarutobi again who had to mentally harden himself for he knew too well what those eyes of his were capable of.

Orochimaru spoke again "it was YOU" he chuckled, seeming to think of the whole thing as a joke and meanwhile giving Sarutobi time to look quickly at the contents of the room not even having to guess at the contents of the jars shelved around them. Then surprisingly enough one of the two ANBU next to him spoke up "People have started turning up missing lately in the village…Gennins, Chuunins, even ANBU like us." His voice though strong was shaking…Sarutobi didn't blame him.

"A-also" the ANBU whispered "we have received information that you had been acting strange ever since this whole thing started…Sarutobi was the only on who opposed us on this thought thinking that you would never…never" his voice fled from him and he stood silent again. Orochimaru narrowed his eyes and grinned a little wider, "Well now aren't we the smart little ninja?"

Then Sarutobi's eyes slid to the ANBU on the right who started speaking after Orochimaru had laughed at his comrade "Orochimaru-sama…why…why would a great ninja like you do something this cruel?"

Orochimaru's eyes gleamed as his fanged teeth did in the dim light " oh?" he laughed as if it gave him great pleasure to hear that he was a ' great ninja' " should I kill you as well?" The ANBU flinched back and raised his kunai as if he thought it would be a shield against Orochimaru's barbed words.

Sarutobi glared darkly at his student and then hissed back at him "Orochimaru! So you were behind all of this, Spill it! What were you doing here?"

Orochimaru lowered his head a little and then wiping his hands on his pants and setting down the scalpel that had been hidden in his hand he looked through his bangs at Sarutobi as he had done when he had been a child and had done something particularly bad "Heh…well now that I've been caught I guess lying wont get me outta this one now will it?" he hissed and then brushing back his hair looked around, raising one hand "I was developing a new technique" he whispered.

The other ANBU who had been standing silent and shaking spoke up again "Orochi!" he yelled, Orochimaru winced as his child hood nickname came back to haunt him. "THAT'S why you killed your fellow ninja? H-how could you?"

Sarutobi took a step forward his weapon still raised "a forbidden technique eh?" he growled "what were you trying to accomplish Orochimaru?"

Orochimaru widened one eye and narrowed the other "to be the best of course!"

Sarutobi was taken aback by his joyful voice, "so" he thought sadly "this is what you've been after all this time…what a fool I was."

"What?" he inquired after his student making sure that he kept talking; he had to know why…why he would do this?

Orochimaru smiled like he used to after he had asked him what he thought was a stupidly simple question " I want to master all techniques in the world sensei…but I figured out something " he mused lightly " to know and master all existing techniques…Sarutobi, too me, the bodies life span is too short for such a task" he looked up at Sarutobi still staring at him as he had when he had first discovered him " but to do that sensei…I must be-Immortal."

"So" Sarutobi thought sadly, his head hanging a bit lower than before "this is what you were doing…"

Then with no warning he pulled a hidden weapon and licked the tip of an overlong kunai, one he had long ago borrowed from Jiraiya "Konoha entertains me greatly…Sarutobi sensei!"

Sarutobi growling bit his thumb watching as dark blood welled there, seals flew by as his nimble fingers formed them and he reached out grabbing a long black and gold pole at the same time noticing Orochimaru had moved, Sarutobi ground his heel into the dirt floor and watched as Orochimaru raised his hands as well. Sarutobi tried to follow the order of the seals his apprentice formed and then started trying to turn to the ANBU beside him.

He rapped a command and his staff changed form to become Enma, the king of Monkeys…

Enma, his two tails thrashing narrowed his auburn eyes taking in what was happening around… "Sarutobi" he growled as he noticed the man was shaking, fighting within his own self. "Orochimaru…" he muttered "I wanted you truly to succeed me as Hokage…but it seems I will be forced..." he choked slightly "to kill you Orochimaru…" He raised his right hand and Enma looked up his claws in front of him, ready.

Orochimaru stared at him for a minute and then suddenly burst out laughing as he looked at him and then the other two beside him as a predator would look at his prey…bloody hungry.

"Really Sarutobi!" he howled as he raised his hands and began to form seals "can you kill ME?" Sarutobi for a minute didn't know what he was doing but that minute cost him for as he had time to blink and turn Orochimaru was behind him, his technique having instantly killed the two ANBU who had accompanied him down this hell hole, their blood splattering upon his face as he stood, his face going white but still looking calm he looked down, he had seen the old Orochimaru in that maddened face…he couldn't do it…he couldn't kill him.

Enma noticed the change in his master and then still keeping an eye on Orochimaru who stood patient behind Sarutobi as if waiting to see if he actually would kill him "SARUTOBI!" he snarled "Kill him! Kill him now or he'll escape…SARUTOBI!" and even through all his yelling he knew it was pointless…Sarutobi just stood there a blank expression on his blood splattered face. Then without another word Orochimaru left only looking back once at his Sensei, sensei for the last time and then turning on his heel his blue earrings jingling lightly he fled down the sewer tunnel and out.

Enma looked at him helplessly and then without another word slowly vanished leaving Sarutobi to his thoughts.

Sarutobi stood there alone with the bodies of the ANBU his student had killed and then looked down at his hands and shook "I couldn't kill him.." and then he slowly turned around and spotting the stair case climbed up them and removed the wooden planks that led to Orochimaru's own room…such a fool.

Orochimaru ran as fast as he could, he had gathered everything he needed before going into his lab earlier that day…he needed no other trinkets from his past, they meant nothing to him now…as he ran he pushed all memory of Konoha from his mind and running the way that he had come from, running past the lake that bordered Konoha and looking off into the distance…power…he was almost there.

He smiled coyly and then still running started laughing, he had done it…the snake of Konoha with his snake eyes had done exactly what he had come here to do in the first place…cause chaos.

Weeks later Konoha was still recovering, Sarutobi hadn't come out of his room for quite a while, Tsunade had helped with the burials and then abruptly left saying something about 'fulfilling her dreams' and Jiraiya had yet to come back…people though still scared were finally easing back into their old lifestyles…hopefully nothing like this would EVER happen to the village again.

The wind blew through the crags of the mountains around twenty miles west of Konoha, a pebble bounced down one steep slope as a tall figure clad in a billowing black robe with red clouds embroidered upon it suddenly materialized there accompanied by two others wearing the same garb…the symbol of the Aketsuki. Orochimaru looked down from his perch and he could faintly make out the mountain range and lake that marked Konoha, he frowned lightly and raised his right hand to brush his bangs out of his face, a ring sparkling there golden in the bright sun a sign there reading 'hebi' or 'snake'.

He murmured something to the other two and then with one last glance at the place where he had grown up all three vanished into thin air as they had come.

Snake Eyes

:o is it possible? Yes I have finished the last chapter! Yaaaay!

Thank you for all my readers who stuck with me to the end, it really wasn't that long now was it? It wasn't to boring? Of course I never know cause you people never give me reviews pouts you KNOW you wanna tell me what you thought of it:D ah shucks I'm just glad you all read and hopefully enjoyed it

Oro: -- you totally messed me up woman…

Badge: I did? Oops, sorry Oro:P

Oro: give me ONE good reason why I shouldn't just dissect you right now…

Badge: Oo cause your…nice like that? ;D

Oro: comes after her with a scalpel I am not NICE!

Badge: OO Le EEEEEK! runs and yells Badger ye LATER! XD

Le Fin