Disclaimer: Naruto is copyrighted by their respective owners, of which I am not one.
Warnngs: Slight Character OOC. Vaguely takes place after anime episode 80.
Summary: He would stop at nothing to learn and learn and learn until he gained all the knowledge and power he sought. And I would help him in any way I could. It would be my pleasure to see his dreams come true.
It was past dawn when I finally gave up for the night. My eyes had been bleary for the past six hours, making it harder to focus. But I was disciplined and I had forced myself to continue reading and studying the texts before me. It was important research that I was doing, but I knew trying to do any more right now would be pointless. I was exhausted and couldn't focus any longer.
Shoving the book away from me, I took a quick mental inventory of my body. My muscles were slow to respond and my head felt as though a filmy veil has been draped over it that I couldn't quite remove. As a medic nin, I knew it meant I need rest, that I was close to collapsing.
But my decision to finally seek sleep was interrupted. There was a knock and a brief pause before the door opened. A familiar dark head poked its way into the room, searching for me. "Orochimaru-sama is calling you," Kidomaru said simply.
Not surprised at the summons, I nodded once – all the energy I could muster at the moment – before I stood. Immediately the room spun in a dizzying circle before it righted. I clutched the edge of the table instinctively until the spell passed. When the vertigo finally receded, I took a deep breath and moved towards the door. Passing by the other nin who made no move to follow, I slowly shuffled my way down the familiar, dank hallway towards the end where there was another door. I opened it in time to hear a bellow of pain erupting from his mouth.
The room wasn't very large though it was big enough to boast a wide bed, a writing desk shoved in one corner on the right, and a small nightstand with a tray on top of its surface. The tray contained a pitcher and an empty glass cup. Several fat candles were positioned around the room for maximal light exposure, though most of them were already drooping from the sheer number of hours it was forced to stay lit. The limp flames highlighted the pool of crimson in front of me, a rather poor imitation of a rug. A macabre rag doll lay next to it on its side.
The cry laced with agony that had greeted me wasn't unexpected. I pushed the door in further and saw the sole living occupant of the room in his bed where I had left him six hours ago. The candles flickered with enough light to see his pale skin dripping sweat as he underwent another wave of pain. He was now dressed in a simple, white yukata sporting spots of wetness where the sweat fell, unchecked. His arms were laid out straight next to his side, useless.
Orochimaru caught sight of me and ground out, "The pain is worse this time, Kabuto."
Any weariness I felt melted away at the sound of his voice. My head immediately cleared as I stepped inside the room, bypassing the latest evidence of his displeasure. One had to be completely focused when dealing with the Sannin. "Has the medication I developed not help at all?" I inquired, approaching his side. Once reaching the bed where he was reclining, I activated my chakra and lifted my hand to hover over his right arm, checking its condition. In my current state, I knew it was rather dangerous to use up more energy than I had to spare, but I had done this same action so many times it was almost second nature now.
"I don't need medicine, I need my arms back," he hissed, staring at me with his violet eyes. Had I met his gaze, I knew I would have seen the reptilian slits spitting out venomous poison by the mere look alone.
"I am working on that, Orochimaru-sama," I said calmly in reminder. The check on his arm completed, I deactivated my chakra and allowed my hand to drop back to my side. "There is no change in the condition of your arm. In the meantime, the medication should be able to ease the discomfort you are experiencing at the moment. Please allow me to administer a dose."
He watched me with that unnerving, unblinking gaze of his but I met it without fear. I knew he needed me, needed my training as a medic and researcher to help him. After the fight with Sandaime when he lost the use of his arms and techniques, he had to rely upon me more often. I often wondered if that bothered him, but as usual, he revealed nothing that he didn't want known.
I waited patiently for his response, knowing that even in his pained condition, Orochimaru would be a dangerous foe should I do something to displease him. He was one of the legendary Sannin, powerful and clever. Everything he did was to further his goals. He demanded respect and loyalty and allowed nothing to get in his way.
Perhaps that is why I served him so faithfully. He was a man whom I had long admired and noted to be a true genius. None could compare to his ambitions or his capability in achieving them. No one.
I briefly recalled Naruto speaking of his desire to become the Hokage. His determination and naïve innocence were admirable, but he did not have the streak of ruthlessness needed in dealing with his opponents. He didn't understand that sometimes, lesser beings had to be squashed in order to gain your prize. They should be willing to sacrifice themselves for a higher purpose.
I knew Orochimaru-sama felt the same way because he had done just that: any opposition to his plans was dealt with accordingly. He would stop at nothing to learn and learn and learn until he gained all the knowledge and power he sought.
And I would help him in any way I could. It would be my pleasure to see his dreams come true.
Orochimaru finally spoke, scattering my thoughts to bring my attention back to him. "Very well, Kabuto. But continue your research until a cure is found."
I nodded to him, pushing my glasses up with a forefinger to keep them from sliding down the bridge of my nose. "Of course, Orochimaru-sama. I am hopeful to have a report for you within a few days. I have been following a promising lead thus far. The last mission you gave to the Sound Four has yielded some extremely valuable medic techniques which should aid in healing your arms."
He merely nodded, expression turning slightly disgruntled as he lay back down. I opened the door on the nightstand next to his bed and extracted a small bottle. Uncorking it, I shook out three large red pills and offered it to his mouth. Using his long tongue, Orochimaru lapped up the medicine with a swift curl of muscle. Pouring water into the glass from the pitcher, I held up a cup next. Borne from weeks of practice, I tilted the cup up in the exact angle which allowed him to swallow the liquid and pills easily. When he was done, I took the container away and set it back on the nightstand.
"It will take a little while before the medication should begin working," I said as I capped the bottle and set it back in the nightstand drawer. Shutting it with my hand, I straightened and looked down at him.
Orochimaru grunted and gave me an appraising stare that felt as though he could see into my thoughts. Who knows? Perhaps he had learned or created a jutsu that could do just that. "Go to bed, Kabuto."
I lifted my brows, the only sign of surprise shown at his words. But of course, I had been up for nearly two days without sleep; no doubt the lack of rest was evident on my face. I nodded at him, recognizing the dismissal. Turning, I headed out of the room, making a mental note to have someone clean up the corpse that was still drizzling blood on the ground. I didn't recognize who it was, nor did I care. The pathetic fool must have been killed just minutes before I entered. No matter; he had had the privilege of serving his master loyally and now had gone onto his reward.
As I exited Orochimaru-sama's room, I found a nearby shinobi and gave my orders to take the body away before heading down the corridor again. I hesitated as I came to a fork in the hallway. If I went left, I would be going to my room for some much needed sleep. If I continued straight, I would return back to my study and resume my research.
After a brief consideration, I strode down the corridor. Reaching my door, I opened it and stepped inside. There was no sign of Kidomaru except a spider crawling up the wall next to me. It had already begun spinning a web with its silken threads.
I ignored it and headed back to my desk. There was a faint pulsing at my temples indicating a headache was in the making, but I ignored it. Weariness once again dropped upon me like a weight but I refused to let it deter me. My medic studies had trained me to be focused for long hours on end. Certainly I could read a few more hours before I actually needed to sleep. Orochimaru-sama was counting on me and I didn't want to let him down.
Slipping back into my chair, I pulled the medical textbook towards me and began to read again.