A/N: Hurray! This story has reached over 400,000 hits... I'm so happy! Anyways I think after this chapter, once in a while I might update more often pending on my mood. Anyways enjoy the chapter, and after the end I'll explain in more detail why Orochimaru doesn't want Zoro to join him.

Chapter 143: The Strange Seal

The Crew stared at the man none of them knew… well two of them.

"You…" growled Isaribi.

"Oh Isaribi, Gaara, it's good to see you again." Said Orochimaru, "I knew Gaara would join… but I thought you were dead Isaribi."

"What are you doing here?" asked Gaara.

"You two know him?" asked Naruto.

"He was his sponsor." spat Isaribi with venom in her voice.

"He's Orochimaru." Said Gaara.

"That's right." Said Orochimaru, "And I was the one that killed his father."

"I don't care about that." Said Gaara.

"Ah, yes of course not, after all that he did to you." Said Orochimaru.

The two glared at him. But before either could do a thing, he unleashed snakes on the two. The snakes covering Gaara made it so that that he was immobile because of his shield, while the snakes covering Isaribi wrapped themselves around her, one even acted as a gag. However she was still able to breathe from her nose.

"What are you doing here?" asked Naruto.

Orochimaru laughed, "I wished to extend an invitation to Sasuke to join Sound." Said Orochimaru.

"Why me?" asked Sasuke.

"Because… I like you." Said Orochimaru, "I like that look in your eyes."

Sasuke glared at him, his hands hovered over his swords.

"Not only that but you bested not only a member of the Sound 5, but also my right hand man." Said Orochimaru.

Orochimaru looked at Zoro, he scowled, "I know Kimimoro would have like if you joined sound… But you are not my type."

"I wouldn't have joined Sound even if you offered." Said Zoro.

"That's why I'm not offering it you." Said Orochimaru, "I'm also not going to offer to anyone else who best the members of the Sound 5. Because two of you relied on the power of the demon Kyubi and one of you reminds me too much of Tsunade."

He then summoned more snakes that coiled around Luffy, Zoro, Naruto and Sakura.

"Now I haven't gotten your answer." Said Orochimaru.

"I have no plans of joining you." Said Sasuke glared at him.

He grabbed his swords and was about to strike Orochimaru. However he froze when he saw what Orochimaru was blocking with. A snake was in his mouth, and in the snake's mouth was a sword.

"Don't fight him!" yelled Naruto, "Are you insane Sasuke! He's a Kage! Not to mention the one who taught Anko! He's much stronger than you! You have no chance against him!"

"There's no way I'm joining him!" yelled Sasuke, "Just let me get rid of him at least!"

"He's going to lose." Said Kyubi.

"I know." Thought Naruto.

Sasuke jumped back so that Orochimaru could take out his sword from the snake's mouth that was inside his mouth. The sword was stabbed into the deck and Orochimaru grabbed it. The two locked swords.

"Should we stop this?" asked Kiba.

"No… this is Sasuke's fight." Said Zoro.

"But one of the problems is that Sasuke's not a clone user." Said Hinata.

"Being a former Kage means that he began easily switch himself with his clone." Said Kiba.

That was when Sasuke stabbed Orochimaru, who turned into mud.

"What the…" muttered Sasuke.

That is when Sasuke couldn't move his arm, he saw that it was something long and pink was wrapped around it. He turned to see what is was, it was Orochimaru and the long, pink thing was his tongue.

"I bet you're surprised." Said Orochimaru.

Sasuke said nothing.

Naruto on the other hand said, "You know… there's a lot of rumors going around. Creepy rumors and that's just perpetuating them."

That was when more snakes went to Naruto, one of them acted like a gag much like with Isaribi.

"You know… you could have just kept your mouth shut." Said Kyubi.

"I know…" thought Naruto.

Orochimaru let go of Sasuke and put his creepy tongue back inside his mouth, "I guess you're wondering how I was able to do that."

"I don't know…" said Sasuke, "Nor do I care."

"I think I'll tell you can anyways, due to my experimentation, I learned how to extend any body part I wish."

"I said I don't care." Said Sasuke.

That was when Sasuke took out his matches, he lit one and tossed into the air.

"Grand Fire Ball!" shouted Sasuke creating his fireball.

It hit Orochimaru, burning the snake man alive.

"Hey!" yelled Usopp, "Don't do that again! You'll just set the deck on fire!"

"It will be fine…" said Sasuke, "I mean if he's dead then…"

He turned towards that were tied up by the snakes, they were still tied. He then turned towards Orochimaru's dead body, which suddenly turned to water and doused the flames.

"My, my Sasuke. That was interesting." Said Orochimaru behind him several feet.

That was when his neck stretched out right when he Sasuke turned to face him. Orochimaru bit down on Sasuke's neck. As he did a strange mark appeared on his neck. It was a strange mark that consisted of three Tomoe making a strange circle shape.

Elsewhere, Anko grabbed her neck as she felt some sort of weird pain. "Orochimaru is that far away…" she thought, "He's giving someone else a Cursed Seal…"

Back on the Going Merry, Orochimaru retracted his head. Sasuke screamed in pain then collapsed. At the same time any and all snake that tied up anyone vanished.

"I should warn you, there's only a 10 percent chance he will live, but I think he will live." Said Orochimaru, "And when the time is right, I know he will seek me out."

That was when Orochimaru just vanished, like he wasn't even there. Chopper and Sakura went over to Sasuke and they could tell he was suffering.

"What did he do?" asked Sakura.

"I don't know… I've never seen anything like it." Said Chopper.

There was a silence among the crew.

"Next time I see him…" growled Zoro.

"Fighting him isn't like fighting Mihawk." Said Naruto.

Zoro gritted his teeth.

"We should find a way to get to an island." Said Nami, "I don't think it will be best for Sasuke if we go to the sky island."

"Yeah." Said Luffy.

"I took this from the salvagers." Said Robin handing Nami an Eternal Pose that was marked Jaya, "I think it was for their base island."

"Thank you." Said Nami.

Sakura looked at Sasuke who was sweating and breathing hard. She really hopped that Sasuke would beat the 10 percent chance.

Next Time: The crew arrives on the island of Jaya. And island that's lawless... in other words, Pirates roam freely with out worry. Of course Luffy and Naruto want to explore the town. Meanwhile three mysterious people stop the ship, do they have to with sound? Find out next time!

A/N: The reason why I chose Orochimaru not to take in interesting Zoro is because, while Zoro is strong, his will is too strong, meaning Orochimaru can't manipulate him to his means. Orochimaru only wants those that he can manipulate, and because he knows about Sasuke's brother, he can manipulate him into his doing. So yeah...