Hey peeps. I know I didn't say that I would write on Naruto, but I've been reading it and watching it a ton lately, so I had to get it out. AGH! I don't know if it's the best. Please review!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, and if I did, I probably would screw up on the drawing big time. So, the plot, and some of the characters will be all my own! But my characters haven't shown up yet. Enjoy!

Chapter 1: The decision

Setting: A black forest that isn't in the real story, but convenient for what I wanted.

Time: Two years after Naruto's Chuunin Exam. Kabuto is now 20 (I'm assuming he was 18 in the anime/manga at that time. I really don't know how old he is…)

An owl hooted softly at the quiet disturbance in its mealtime when it came upon a young man lying on the forest floor. What was a human doing in the forest? The young man, for, truthfully, he was a man, lay in the dirt, his silver hair spread out slightly across his face. The young man stirred, a grimace blooming across his face as blood returned to his legs. He reached down to his feet, chakra flowing from his fingers, returning blood to his pins-and-needles feet. When he finished, he glanced around the clearing, searching for some sign that he was not alone.

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Yakushi Kabuto was not pleased. Having woken up on the floor of a forest, he was lost, as well as angry when he realized that Orochimaru had left him there. So much for gratitude. After searching his mind for answers, it occurred to him that having fought a long hard battle against sand ninjas, Orochimaru had ordered him to summon Manda, the boss snake, and it had tired Kabuto beyond belief. Manda had fought, dragging on Kabuto's strength, and then, when Orochimaru fled, Manda followed, carrying Kabuto on his back. That was Kabuto's last memory before he woke up. When he was about to lean his aching head on his hand, he caught sight of writing on his palm. When he looked, he found "Do what you like. I have no use for weaklings. I'll find you when you have become truly strong." carved into his hand.

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Kabuto was running. He was flushed with anger at Orochimaru's note, and had immediately healed his hand to erase the signs of Orochimaru's displeasure and insult. Upon reaching a small stream, Kabuto knelt to drink. As he rested, his thoughts strayed back to the note. "Do what you like…have become truly strong…" Kabuto thought about what he would LIKE to do. Suddenly, an idea sprung into life. He smiled slightly, whispered, "why not?" into the darkness, and began his journey through the forest to the village of Konohagakure, the tree-leaf village where he and his master had wrecked havoc two years before…

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Muhahahahaha! Cliffhanger for y'alls! Review and tell me if you like it!

Yes, I know Kabuto is the evil character. But, I've only gotten to episode 109, so I still think he could have some other characteristics.

This is only the first chapter. I will try to keep the story to 20 chapters or less, but my fingers just seem to want to type. Please forgive me if it goes on for a long time. But, one way or another, it will be done by September. (That's when school starts…) I probably will only update once a week, but I will try to update quicker.

MWAHs to all of you!