Chapter 13: Questions and Answers
"Jyuukenpou: Hakke Rokujuu Yonshou! (Gentle fist style: Divination Field, Sixty-four Palms) Neji commences his deadly technique and makes the first two strikes against the helpless Toshida. "TWO!" As he spins and continues the combo, the number of chakra holes closed increases exponentially, "FOUR! EIGHT! SIXTEEN! THIRTY-TWO!" All of Toshida's main chakra points close with every direct hit by the Hyuuga prodigy. As Toshida grimaces and tries to hold back from screaming out in pain his brother tightens his grip on him to keep him from squeezing out of his grasp as the final strike comes.
"Sorry," Neji says to the surprise of the two brothers, "but this is for all of the trouble you have caused."
Neji closes the sixty-third tenketsu causing the brothers to stagger. He then pulls back his left arm and readies the final strike, channelling a large amount of chakra into his hand and starting a small rotation around his arm. He thrusts his arm forward with an open handed strike, with a miniature Hakkeshou Kaiten around his palm.
"SIXTY FOUR!" Neji yells as the strike hits Toshida square in the solar plexis, send both Toshida and his brother back several feet, knocked both of them to the ground.
Toshida's teammates act quickly and pounce on their fallen leader, setting up the sealing technique. The three shinobi hold their palms against strategic points on Toshida's body.
"FUIN!" (Seal)
The sealing symbols once again flood into Toshida's body fighting the dragon's will like antibodies against an infection. The seals cover Toshida's entire body causing a brilliant flash of light to streak across the landscape. When the light dissipates, Toshida has reverted to normal state, and his teammates lie on the ground exhausted from the extensive exertion.
The remaining entourage of the Hokage looks on in disbelief at all that has happened before their eyes. Sakura has taken a serious interest in the brothers Akira, as she has found herself for some reason, almost fascinated by the strange actions of both of them.
"They seem so close, yet they seem almost wanting to kill one another some times." She says to herself as the wounded and exhausted Toshida begins to rise to his feet. "The younger brother seems to care about his older brother greatly, but it is almost as if the older brother actually wants to die."
Sakura then notices as Toshida begins to tie his hair back in his trademark braid, that just underneath Toshida's hairline resides a large and deep scar that moves almost directly along his hair line. The area around the scar is slightly bruised, showing that it is a wound that never properly healed.
"I wonder where he got that scar? I suppose that being such a skilled shinobi, it is only natural that he would have all sorts of scars. But if he had any others, why did they all heal properly." Sakura quickly examines Toshida not noticing any other scars at all, "He doesn't have any scars, except for the one on his neck? Why didn't that scar heal?"
What happens next, catches everyone by surprise, as Toshida pulls out his kunai and charges at the unsuspecting Kakashi. "Die you bastard!" Toshida screams as he lets out almost a growl as he charges toward the Jounin who has now directed his attention to Toshida.
As Toshida gets close enough, he thrusts his kunai at Kakashi's face, and in return has the kunai deflected easily by the back of Kakashi's hand, and Kakashi raises a kunai of his own to the tired shinobi's throat.
"Stand down, boy. No one will be dying here today." Kakashi says, as Toshida's eyes fill with hatred.
"That is not for you to decide! Fight me and kill me if you think you can!" Toshida says as he takes a swing at Kakashi.
Kakashi blocks the punch easily and twists Toshidas wrist around, putting the shinobi in a modified arm bar. Kakashi then kicks out the legs of the shinobi and drops him to the ground. As Kakashi stands over the restrained shinobi, he signals to two of the ANBU guards to come over to the scene. The guards arrive and put metal restraints on Toshida, as well as his teammates. The four shinobi are brought to their feet and are then marched toward a prison facility in the ANBU headquarters.
Keinea looks to his older brother with a spiteful scowl across his face as he knows what Toshida was trying to accomplish. "Damn you brother. I hate seeing you like that. Whenever you lose control, you want nothing more then to just stop existing. You will fight the strongest person you can find in hopes that they will end your life." A tear begins to form in Keinea's eye as the thoughts of his brother's self hatred, sometimes prove to much to bear. "We'll find a way brother. I promise. We can be happy again just like back then. Even if it was brief . . ."
As the four sin shinobi are taken away, Tsunade questions' Kakashi's motives behind using the SICT in a situation like this. "Kakashi, why did you bring them into this? This was not some kind of training exercise for your team. Someone could have gotten seriously hurt here today, and it is too much effort and too many risks that go in to training just one of these shinobi."
"Sorry Hokage-sama." Kakashi says, as he scratches the back of his head in a vein attempt to look innocent. "I thought maybe ANBU would need some help in this situation so I decided to test our team's abilities."
Tsunade looks at Kakashi suspiciously as something seems out of the ordinary. "Ok. Where is the other one?" Tsunade asks herself.
Tsunade then looks to the bushes at the side of the Hokage building and notices something strange about them. An unimpressed look comes over her face as she realizes, there are not bushes like that behind the Hokage building, and the other one's whereabouts becomes obvious.
"All right! Your disguise was horrible, now get over here! I know you were in on this too!" Tsunade says, shouting and pointing at the bushes.
A deep yet embarrassed voice comes from the bushes, "All right, I'm sorry. I should have known you wouldn't fall for such a childish disguise. After a quick puff of smoke, the bush disappears and the flamboyant Maito Gai stands in its stead.
"I suppose, we are really in trouble now aren't we?" Gai says, as he too scratches the back of his head.
All of the commotion has confused both Naruto and Sakura and they are quick to question what exactly is going on. "Hey, Hey what the hell is going on around here? Kakashi-sensei, long time no see! Why was fang face and his group here? Why was super brows disguised as a bush? Who are all these darkly dressed guys?" Naruto questions. He then changes his tone and bats himself on the head a number of times in frustration. "WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING AROUND HERE!"
Kakashi lets out a solemn wave to his old students and begins to explain. "Yo! Sorry Naruto, you haven't been around so I guess this must all be kind of weird. But don't feel left out, there are very few people in the village that knows of our group's existence."
Gai walks over to Kakashi and helps to explain the situation as well, "This is the S.I.C.T team. A conglomerate group made of shinobi from our village under the tutelage of myself and Kakashi."
"The S.I.C.T.?" Asks Sakura, "What is the purpose of the group?"
Kakashi is the one to answer Sakura's question, "When Sasuke left our village, he became a missing Nin of this village. Now that he is on the same side as Orochimaru, he has become a serious threat to the safety of this village. Also, with Akatsuki's interest in you Naruto, Sasuke's brother Itachi is a more prominent threat then ever before. When he left the village, we all knew he was dangerous and a threat to us, but quite frankly, he was too strong to send Hunter Nins after. Now that Akatsuki wants Naruto, the risk of Itachi returning to the village again is even more likely. And if the last time he was here was any evidence, the village's shinobi are simply not ready to handle a sharingan user of that magnitude."
Gai interrupts Kakashi and finishes his explanation, leaving Kakashi with an unimpressed look across his face. "So Hokage-sama commissioned us to train a team that could counter the brothers, if they were to attack the village. Kakashi is a sharingan user, so using him to determine many of the sharingans weaknesses was the first part of the training process. I came in when they needed someone experienced in fighting a sharingan user to help them. So Kakashi and I created this group and trained them as highly secret operatives. The Sharingan Intelligence and Counter. Tactics team, or SICT."
Kakashi steps in front of Gai (much to his dismay) and continues on with where Gai left off. "The shinobi were trained much like ANBU members are. They were hand picked by Gai and me, and received specialized training and only the elite made the cut. We had them specialize in using high speed taijutsu and unorthodox fighting styles to counter the sharingan's copying abilities and foresight."
"We had them wear special uniforms and armour that blend into most backgrounds when moving at high speed, making them even harder to see. In Itachi's case, the need for mental protection is needed as well. We designed goggles that used a series of elaborately placed mirrors to see through, thus negating the effects of Itachi's doujutsu by not making full eye contact with his sharingan."
Gai steps in front of Kakashi, maintaining the ongoing childish display and continuing on with the explanation. "We came up with our current team of eight members made up of three jounins, four chuunins . . ."
"And one genin!" Shouts a voice from behind the two jounin leaders of the SICT. As Naruto and Sakura direct their attention to the voice that has interrupted the jounins story, they notice that the voice came from the masked fighter that fought with Toshida. The young man walks toward Naruto and Sakura and while walking, removes his mask and broken goggles revealing an all too familiar face to the two genins.
"Lee-san!" Shouts Sakura.
"Heh heh, its geji-mayu!" Says Naruto as a smile forms on his face.
"Naruto-kun! It is good to see you again. You have been gone for too long." Lee says as he straightens out his messed up hair and scratches the back of his head. "And I have been so busy lately, that I haven't seen you either, Sakura-san. This group makes me keep things very low brow, and I have to maintain absolute secrecy."
"I was wondering why I hadn't seen you around at all." Sakura says, "I just figured that Gai-Sensei and you were working on a lot of missions together."
"Well, we have actually. I have had a part in the training of the SICT members as well. Since I only use taijutsu techniques, some of my training methods have been implemented as standards for this group."
Kakashi steps forward to continue with the explanation, "Lee was the only genin to be asked to join the group, and one of only eight shinobi to pass the final cut. His fight with the sin leader was most impressive I must say."
Gai interrupts and bursts in front of Kakashi knocking him off balance and startling both Naruto and Sakura. "Of coarse he passed the final cut! Was anything less expected of my most prized pupil!"
Naruto displays an uncharacteristic move, and is the first one to start acting mature in this conversation. "Kakashi-sensei, why were the sin shinobi here? What were they doing in our village?"
"They snuck into the village, and broke into the Hokage's building, raided her files and stole a secret document." Kakashi responds, "For those actions they will be taken into custody until they can be tried and convicted and then punished. But what I would like to know is how do you all know who they are?"
Tsunade interjects from her observing point next to Jiraiya and Shizune, several metres away from Kakashi, "Let's just say that it's a long story. Kakashi, what document did they try and steal?"
One of the SICT members throws the large scroll to Kakashi who holds it up and checks the label, "It seems that they tried to steal the third Hokage's personal journal. Hmpf, I wonder why?"
Tsunade ponders to herself as to why Toshida may have wanted the scroll, "There are no strategic plans or valuable secrets in those journals, it's just the third's diary of events during his time as Hokage. Why would he want such a thing? Why not the scroll of forbidden seals? Or the village's financial information? If he is not out for power or money, then what is he after?"
The realization soon comes to Tsunade as she realizes that the boy must have been telling the truth about not having any motives other then freeing himself. "The boy really was telling the truth. He has such a great power inside him, yet he fears it so much that he refuses to acknowledge it. He must have thought something in the third's journal would have been of some help to him."
A few short hours later, The sin shinobi have regained their strength as they sit in a brightly lit cell in the leaf villages small prison. Toshida sits by himself in the corner with his arms crossed over his knees as he stares blankly into nothingness. The other three shinobi can be seen pacing back and forth in front of him, wondering just how they are going to make it out of this predicament.
"I still don't get it boss. The seals should have worked the first time. How did that thing manage to get strong enough to resist the technique, when only 24 hours ago it worked just fine!" Asks a pacing and disgruntled Toragai.
Toshida lowers his head and does not answer.
Keinea interjects and offers an explanation. "It must have been a combination of the chakra that my brother used during the fight, and the simple exertion he put forward. It was a fierce fight, the dragon just got woken up by all the racket I suppose."
Maea takes Toragai's side and cannot help but be curious herself, "Well we know that's the reason it likely woke up, but why didn't the seal work the first time? I don't understand."
"I am not sure myself. I suppose we will just have to continue our work on creating a stronger seal, right brother?" Keinea says as he turns to his brother.
Toshida looks up only slightly, "Y-yea I guess so."
Before the conversation can continue any further, the four shinobi can hear the doors beginning to open from the other side. A single ANBU guard walks into the cell holding a single pair of handcuff like restraints. The restraints have a special seal, inscribed on them that misdirects the flow of chakra, when the restraints are active. The person restrained then becomes unable to control even a small amount of chakra in their body, preventing them from breaking the restraints of using any jutsu.
The guard points to Toshida sitting in the corner and orders him to come forward. "I have been ordered to take you to the Hokage immediately. I am putting these restraints on you and I have been ordered to kill anyone that resists."
Maea and Keinea stand in front of Toshida shielding him from the ANBU guard and readying to attack in a moments notice. Toshida yells out to them, "Stand down you two. I am the one they want and I will go willingly."
"B-but Toshida-sama . . ." Maea says as she looks to her leader with a confused look.
"Just stay here and be patient." Toshida stands to his feet and walks toward the ANBU guard. "I don't want there to be any more violence this day."
Toshida turns around to allow the ANBU guard to attach the restraints to his wrists, latching down each of the shackles and immobilizing Toshida's hands and arms. Toshida is escorted out of the cell by the ANBU guard and the two make their way to the Hokage's building.
Along the way to the building, Toshida notices a number of ANBU guards posted along the path to the Hokage's building. There are no villagers or other shinobi walking in the path, as the ANBU or rerouted anyone that may have been in the way to other routes. After walking about three blocks, the two arrive at the Hokage's building and make their way up to the Hokage's office, where Tsunade, Kakashi and Jiraiya await their arrival.
When the two arrive in the Hokage's office, The ANBU guard is quickly dismissed by a simple nod from the Hokage. Toshida stands in the large office just across from Tsunade, Jiraiya and Kakashi. Tsunade is the first to address the restrained sin shinobi.
"You don't need to keep those on anymore." Tsunade says, as she points to the restraints on Toshida's wrists.
With an unamused smirk on his face, Toshida simply flicks his hands a bit, and the shackles drop off of his hands. "If you knew I could take them off whenever I wanted, then why put them on in the first place?"
"It was a test," says Kakashi, "to determine whether or not your intentions are genuine, and whether or not you are an immediate threat to this village."
"I see." Toshida responds, "So why is it that I have been summoned here without my team? Whether you tell me something now or I tell them later, it makes no difference."
"We understand that." Says Jiraiya, who has remained rather silent through most of the whole ordeal with the sin shinobi. "The three of us have been in serious discussion since you were apprehended trying to steal the third's journal."
Tsunade then interjects, "We want to know why you wanted the scroll, and from then on we will determine how to proceed."
"And if I decide to simply remain silent?"
"Then you will go back to the holding cell where you will await extradition. From there you will be found guilty and sent to a penal colony for shinobi under the watch of fire country guards. That of course is if it is not decided that death would be the better option."
"You do not really understand my upbringing at all do you Tsunade-sama?" Toshida says as his eyebrows lower, creating a penetrating glare that pierces the eyes of Tsunade, Kakashi and Jiraiya. "What kind of threat is it to send me to one of the fire country's prison colonies? You know already that I was born and lived half my life in the harshest prison colony in the five countries, and I told you already that if I could be killed, then it would be a victory for my cause. So I ask you, what is the point of threatening pain when living itself is hell?"
Tsunade smiles and closes her eyes as she understands where the shinobi is coming from. "So I see. Well then I suppose that decides it."
Toshida is surprised by the Hokage's response. He looks to the other two shinobi in the room and both Jiraiya and Kakashi have similar expressions on their faces. "What do you mean that decides it? What are you going to do?"
Tsunade pours herself a cup of sake from her ever present table side bottle and brings it to her lips but pauses to answer the shinobi's question. "Why did you want the scroll? Answer the question, and we will see what we can do to help you."
Toshida lowers his head and nods as he starts to explain his reasoning. "I know of the third's reputation, the professor knowing all of the techniques in the strongest village in the five countries. I heard stories about him being the strongest shinobi that ever lived. I had also heard that he was very dedicated to his journals and diaries. I wanted his journal to possibly learn from all of his experience and wisdom."
Jiraiya cannot help but interject, "But why would you want our sensei's journal? What did you hope to learn from it?"
"When I met that kid in the forest," Toshida remembers his first encounter with Naruto back in the wave country. After Toshida ripped open Naruto's shirt, the seal that the fourth Hokage used to seal the nine-tails in Naruto was revealed to Toshida. "I noticed the seal on his stomach after I had realized that the demon fox was sealed inside of him. That seal was different then the one that I possess."
Toshida then lifts up his shirt and dismisses some of the genjutsu that is used to cover up the scars left by his constant sealing. As the genjutsu fades, it reveals a large black seal across Toshida's chest and partially on his stomach that throbs a bright green with the beat of his own heart. The seal is similar to Naruto's but it is also very different. Rather then the main symbol of the seal being a circular spiral shape, Toshida's seal is that an acute triangle with straight edges, that also spiral toward the centre of the seal.
Outside of the seal half an inch from each of the acute angles, is a single seal that curves clockwise, and half an inch from every straight side of the triangle is a similar seal that curves counter clockwise. All six of the seals are roughly 2 inches long and are all confined with the triangular seal inside a series of seals that resemble the symbols on the outside of Naruto's seal. However, unlike Naruto the symbols do not create a symbol similar to a sun, this seal almost creates a second triangle that confines all of the seals.
The seal is also larger then the one Naruto has, spanning from each of Toshida's nipples, and down to his navel. It then soon becomes apparent to Tsunade, that this seal was made with similar methods to those used by the fourth. However, this seal is significantly weaker and the dragon slowly taking over Toshida's body is the ideal proof.
"I do not think I have ever seen such a seal before. Yes it resembles the one that fourth used to seal the nine-tails, but this one has different symbols and seals." Tsunade tries to examine the seal as much as she can from the distance she is at. "It is almost as if the two seals were created by the same kind of methods, but with far different results. The nine-tails is symbiotic to Naruto, working alongside him to a mutual benefit. But the dragon is a parasite, feeding off of Toshida and converting him into its own form."
"As you can see, the dragon is contained in my body by a similar seal to the one that the nine-tails kid has. However, this demon can leave most of my body if it wishes and if it is strong enough. But if it leaves my body completely it must return in a short time or it risks its own spirit simple disappearing. Fortunately, it has never decided to do so."
Toshida pulls his shirt back down and looks the Hokage in the eyes. "And as I am afraid you have already witnessed, if the dragon is awakened, it takes control of my body and begins to transform into another form in which there are several levels. Once I reach level three, my body changes and I begin to become influenced by the dragons will directly. When I hit level four, I lose control and the dragon does the fighting and I can only try and struggle with it for control. When that happens, people usually get hurt, and it was after witnessing that stage that I convinced my teammates to start using the sealing jutsu on me."
Kakashi steps forward and drills the sin shinobi with a question that catches Toshida off guard. "And what happens when you reach level five?"
Toshida is shocked by the question and he lowers his head in shame as he recalls the last time he reached the fifth level. "When I reach level five . . . the dragon takes over completely for a short time . . . and all I can do is watch as it does what it wishes. Kill . . . absorb souls . . . feed . . . or just destroy anything in its path just because it felt like having fun."
Toshida grimaces as the mere thought of the disgusting creature inside of him makes him sick to his stomach. He regains his composure and adds one last remark, "Luckily for everyone in this village . . . that has only happened once before."
Kakashi lowers his head for a second as he has heard of that incident, "The Massacre at Blood River?"
Toshida lowers his head in shame yet again and closes his eyes as he tries to block the painful memories out, sending them back to the dark recesses of his mind where he had buried them long ago. "Yes. . . The Massacre at Blood River."
Kakashi raises his head and looks Toshida in the eye with a stern look, "So the rumours were true. You were the Butcher at blood river!"
"If you have anything to say to me leaf trash why don't you just come out and say it instead of badgering me while you hide behind two of the sannin?" Toshida barks as he flies off at Kakashi.
Tsunade stands to her feet and breaks up the vocal encounter. "Stop it, both of you!" As both shinobi back down Tsunade thinks to herself, "I suppose the topic of the Tarawa Creek incident is a taboo for this young man."
Tsunade once again pours herself a cup of sake from her bottle and swallows it down before redirecting her attention to Toshida. "So let us get to the point. You think that something in that journal may help you in your quest for emancipation?"
"Yes Tsunade-sama. I wish only to study the document." Toshida says as he displays a solemn bow.
"I will make you a deal Toshida. I will release you and your team from the prison and allow you to stay in the village. You will be allowed to roam freely throughout the village, but your movements will be monitored by ANBU at all times. If you show even the slightest hint of deceit, or if your relationship with that beast of yours, moves anywhere higher then level two, you will be arrested on sight and detained until further notice if not killed. And your teammates will be there right next to you. I apologize for the harsh circumstances, but I must consider the safety of those in my village first and foremost."
Toshida's face lights up and for the first time in a long time, his face reveals a smile of joy as everything he had hoped for has begun to fall into place. "You have my word Tsunade-sama, at the first sign of trouble I will turn myself in. For your generosity Tsunade-sama I offer you my life, I will offer you my utmost loyalty, and I can offer the same from the members of my team."
"You owe nothing to me as long as you keep your end of the bargain. You and your team will be allowed supervised access to selected records that you may need for your research and I will personally work alongside you if needed to free you from your bondage. But understand this Toshida," Tsunade says as she rises slowly from her chair, "if the only option available to you, will result in the loss of your life . . . if it protects the people of my village . . . I will personally see to the arrangements."
"You have my word Tsunade-sama. If death is the only answer, I will gladly sacrifice my own life to see that the dragon's life is no longer a threat."
"Very well then. You are dismissed. You may go to the holding cell and inform your teammates."
"Thank you very much Tsunade-sama, I promise you will not regret this."
Toshida turns around and leaves the office in a hurry. None of the ANBU guards try and stop him as he leaves the building and runs toward the prison cell to inform his teammates of the great news. Toshida finds himself almost leaping for joy as he may soon find peace after so many years.
Back in the cell Keinea has not stopped pacing since his brother was taken. "What is taking them so long? What did they want with him? I hate all of this waiting crap! It drives me nuts."
Suddenly, the door is unlocked and it swings open to reveal a smiling Toshida. He embraces his brother who soon follows suit with a joyous expression of his own. Toshida turns to Maea and Toragai and then back to his brother, unsure of where to begin.
"We're free!" Toshida says to the surprise of his teammates. "They are going to help us find a cure for me. The Hokage is going to work right alongside us as we try and find a solution. All of our work has paid off."
Toshida's teammates can barely hold back their joy as all for of them embrace one another during the joyous occasion. Toshida pulls Maea aside and turns to her in front of the other two teammates. "Maea, it was your idea to seek out the help of the Hokage. Without you, this may have never come to pass. For that I thank you." Toshida embraces Maea, causing Maea to blush slightly, but also cower in his arms. As Toshida notices Maea's cowering, he is once again reminded of who he is, and the smile fades quickly from his face.
"I'm sorry Maea. But thank you."
Maea does not reply and simply nods in approval.
Without any further delay, the sin shinobi leave the prison cell to start what may indeed become the next chapter of their young lives. For Toshida, freedom seems to be within his grasp, and for his brother, it signifies a lot of work to be done, but with the rewards being as great as they are, he would never think twice about going through with it. For Maea and Toragai, they have fulfilled their tasks and followed their leaders' orders perfectly, and they could not be happier for him.
Meanwhile, a dark cloud begins to loam over the leaf village as meeting has taken place in a village on the border of the fire country.
In the village of the Hidden Sound, in the heart of Orochimaru's underground base of operations, Orochimaru sits in the darkness, illuminated only by candle light. His face has returned to its former form, a pasty white reminiscent of a corpse, and his eyes a dark yellow like that of a snake. Suddenly, the door at the left side of his small room opens and his most trusted underling enters the room. The former member of the leaf village, the spy Yakuushi Kabuto.
"Orochimaru-sama, we just received the report from unit one."
"Unit one? We haven't heard from him in months. It is a shame that he was not with us on our last mission. Someone like him would have had fun . . . not to say that we did not. What have you learned Kabuto?"
"It appears that Naruto-kun has returned to the village earlier then expected, and his strength has improved greatly."
"Hmm, an interesting development for us. Perhaps it is time that he finally finished off his old friend. I want the power that Itachi possesses, and if killing the kyuubi kid is the only way to do that . . . then so be it."
"There is something else . . ."
"What is it?"
"It appears the "Butcher of Blood River" has begun to lose control. The beast inside of him wants out . . . so badly that they were even driven to successfully abduct the Hokage to seek her help."
"Now that is an interesting development. If he would seek out Tsunade to release him from those seals of his, then perhaps it would be in my best interest to offer my services to him as well. Perhaps I could remove that beast of his . . . and harness its power."
"If Akatsuki is after the nine-tails, they may not know yet about Toshida. They do know however, that we have him . . . and that is a threat the may wish to take care of. And if they were to obtain the nine-tails, it would be in our best interest to have an equal force to combat it."
"I agree. Well then . . . I suppose it is settled. We will make the necessary preparations. Inform our forces of our plans and let us ready for an incursion."
"Yes Orochimaru-sama." Kabuto turns around and leaves the room to notify Orochimaru's troops.
Orochimaru remains sitting in his chair in the darkness of his candle lit room. He turns his eyes over to the right corner of the room focussing on the dark shadows that cover his entire study room. He reveals a sadistic smile as he redirects his attention to the front of the room, staring off into nothingness yet again.
"So . . . are you ready to pay your old village a visit?"
In the shadows, the silhouette of a young man can be seen looking out at Orochimaru. A very faint piece of metal can be seen on the head of the silhouette. Upon further inspection, it becomes evident that it is a sound village head protector, and soon the eyes of the silhouette become visible.
As two dark brown eyes can be seen glaring out from the shadows, and a faint smile comes over the face of the silhouette. "I am . . . Orochimaru-sama."
Orochimaru lets out a sinister laugh just under his breath in the background, and with an eery slow and calculated blink of the eyelids, the sound shinobi's eyes change from a piercing dark brown, to the intimidated red stare . . . of a three-tomoe sharingan.