Inuzuka Kiba was not someone to be threatened lightly with. He prided himself with superior tracking skills with unique, unpredictable hand to hand combat skills. With his life long friend and partner Akamaru, they are the top thirtieth chunnins in Konoha.

Life couldn't be better after being promoted to mid rank ninja in third place in the Finals of Chunnin Exam. His family, especially his mother treated him like a prince, not that he isn't in his family. After all, he is the heir of the canine clan of Konoha.

But after being beaten by a ninja less than twenty seconds was not something he wanted to recall. His pride deteriorated after being saved by none other than his team mate, Hyuga Hinata. He always regarded her as a second rate ninja. She was shy, lack of self-confidence and most important of all, weak.

Weak. The word echoed in his mind. I am the one who is weak…

But right now it was not the time to dwell in his incompetence and self-pity. In front of him was no other then the legendary sannin Orochimaru, the strongest of the three sannin!

He never knew what fear means. He was never afraid of anything, even death itself, not that he ever encountered it. But just an eye contact with the snake sannin made him shivered all over, like his soul being peered inside out. He was starting to think if the Hokage, a warm, gentle, old but powerful geezer, then Orochimaru himself was the exact opposite. Scratch that, he is a demon.

The person making him so uneasy right now was sitting on a fluffy, expensive couch, sipping a cup of hot, green tea, was now regarding Team Eight of Konoha. He sighed inwardly. He wondered what happened to youth these days. He still remembered his youthful days with Jiraiya and Tsunade in Team Two. Even Jiraiya the dead last of the academy was more powerful than these…ninjas. One word to describe them: pathetic.

He was more disappointed by the ex-jounnin standing beside the Aburame heir. More so, the decision of his old mentor Sarutobi. You are losing your touch, old friend.

Flashback

A young Orochimaru is his early thirties were being summoned by the Professor and the Fourth Hokage in the Hokage office.

The Fourth, a very forgiving man, gave himself, an ex missing ninja, a second chance. He took the opportunity to redeem himself by being an academy teacher for three years. His crimes were to be executed in public but he gave him another chance and a silly excuse.

"Your experience as a missing ninja could be learnt from young students. Not many of them know what or who they are. Teach them well. This will be your punishment."

These are the words he remembered three years ago. Now that his probation was lifted, his status as an academy teacher was no more and the title Sannin were given back to him.

"I need your advice, Orochimaru," said the Fourth bluntly.

Inwardly, he was surprised, but on the outside, his face remained emotionless.

He nodded. "How would you create a team compromised of a jounin instructor and experienced lower rank ninjas?"

My eyes roam across the room, eyeing my ex teacher questioningly. He gave no response.

I directed my gaze to the Fourth again.

"If I was you…"

The Fourth asked me to continue, "Depending on what team I want to create, genjutsu specialist with intermediate ninja arts, tracking specialist with strong hand to hand combat skills, a strong support with an overall above average of taijutsu, ninjutsu and genjutsu and a taijutsu spcialist as a hunter team.

For special offensive team, I will put an Uchiha, Hyuaga, Muchisa and Korawake together. The Uchihas are overall above expectations in every single art, especially ninjutsu and genjutsu. Hyugas for taijutsus, Muchisas for weapons and genjutsu and Korawakes for pure defensive ninjutsu for the team and support.

For a rightly divided team that can do basically everything without clan specialty, we need a great offensive, defensive, illusionist and a ninja with all the three abilities combined with excessive speed."

"Is that all, Orochimaru?"

"I haven't planned teams for quite a while…but yes that will be all,"

"I see…I thank you for your opinion. You can be dismissed."

I bowed and left.

Back to Present

Sarutobi used my tactics wrongly, this obviously is a tracking team, not a messaging team. The exams are totally different from one team to another. That's not all; they are individually weak even for a tracking team. I hate being you, Sarutobi, tricking them like that.

He eyed the ninjas individually, make them nervous and tense. Yes, he likes to mentally torture his subordinates if they failed in a specific area. Naruto loves to use this idea while training with other teams from other countries.

The exact tactic his son used to test these imbeciles in front of him but on a lower scale.

Putting his cup on his circular table beside him, he finally spoke in a voice similar while communicating with puppies, "Well, well, well, Team 8, I hope you did enjoy my hospitality for this week…"

They gulped loudly. Too loudly. Orochimaru loved every moment of this.

"I, personally, will not berate you…."

They relaxed.

"This job usually qualifies for the Hokage, ah the joy!" exclaimed the Sannin dramatically.

They tensed.

"Now, report," he commanded coldly.

Hyuga heiress was the first to step up front, sweating, "S-sir. Lord H-Hokage's first m-message is 'Your S rank m-mission given fifteen years ago is c-completed, congra-atulations'" He nodded. She stepped back in line with the others.

Aburame heir was the second to step up front.

"Sir, the second message is 'Return to Konoha with extreme haste after the team's recovery'" Shino went back to his original place.

The Sannin smiled. Team eight was shaking.

"Continue,"

The Inuzuka heir stepped up, shoulders straight, attempt to hide his fear, "Sir! Last message is 'Dawn is rising. Slug, Toad, Snake and Fox should return to their original den.'"

Hinata sobbed. The killer intent radiating by the Sannin was immense. Never before had she ever felt anything as horrible as that, even her father was gentle compare to him, and that is something she will keep in mind through her life.

The others are no better. Their faces are as white as sheet.

Seeing the Hyuga heiress cry, he controlled his anger.

He suddenly stood up, "Team 8, be prepared in twenty minutes. We are returning back to Konoha," that announced, he exited faster than anyone occupying his office and went to look for his heir to notify the grave news.