Orochimaru leaned against the tree. His spy has worked wonderfully. Feeding the locations and whereabouts of the Akatsuki. It had almost worked too well. But alas, Sasori needed to be dealt with before he became suspicious.

They had already returned on the hunt for jinjuriki. Word traveled fast about the death of the young Kazakage. No doubt they'd want to finish himself off. Tie up loose ends.

They had gotten rather restless recently. Capturing jinjuriki like crazy. Weird since they had taken a long depart. Almost suspicious. Especially since it was around the time Sasuke had joined him. Sasuke...

He smirked. Kabuto was ready to greet his 'master'. Just a matter of time.

…

Kabuto waited at the bridge. It was getting a tad late, which was concerning since Sasori was never late. He watched the trees, waiting for the familiar silhouette emerge.

But no.

It was someone else. A man, no a boy, walked towards him. The black and red cloak showing his alliance. His face, masked from view by a simple white mask. Yellow hair sticking out in odd places.

Kabuto couldn't put a finger on it, but something about the boy was familiar. Though, he didn't have time to think about it. He had to figure out why Sasori was a no show.

"Who are you?"

"No one of importance. I'm only here to relay a message and run an errand."

His voice was a little hoarse. And there, in the back of his mind, the nagging deja vu.

"Why isn't Sasori here?"

"Sasori is unfortunately unable to attend. I've been sent in his place."

"How come he never mentioned you?"

A think silence permeated the air. Tension built between the two. To any normal bystander, it would be intoxicating.

"Pain… keeps me close."

Pain… he had heard the name before. He was the leader of the Akatsuki, wasn't he? If Pain 'kept him close', then he had to important to the Akatsuki. And a potential threat.

Best dealt with now.

"If I may, I'd like to speak with your master."

"M-my master? You mean Sasori?" Kabuto face spread with panic. No, no no. Everything was falling apart.

"Don't play dumb, Kabuto. It doesn't suit you."

The boy knew who he was.

Moreover, he knew that he worked for Orochimaru. This was bad.

"You seem familiar."

"I don't imagine why. If you're not going to show me where he is, then I'll guess I'll have to find him."

"Looking for someone?"

…

Orochimaru stared at the boy. He hadn't expected this. It wasn't in his plans. But he kept grinning. Better for your enemy think you're one step ahead instead of one step back.

He felt what Kabuto was feeling earlier. Familiarity. But he couldn't place it.

And that bugged him.

"Orochimaru. Long time no see?"

He flinched. They'd met before. He hated not knowing things. The memory was there but it felt almost like there was a jutsu preventing his complete understanding. Something that it kept him from knowing who the boy is.

The boy walked up towards Orochimaru. Kabuto started up, but stopped when he motioned stop.

The boy stared back up at Orochimaru, blue eyes staring into his cold ones. Unfazed.

Orochimaru leaped back as the boy pulled his kunai forward. He threw it, the small paper fluttering in the wind. It hit a tree and exploded on impact. A paper bomb?

Orochimaru's eyes narrowed.

The boy did a hand jutsu and spit flames. A fire style, eh? Somehow, it felt unfitting. The boy struck the ground with his left arm and the ground around him started to shake. It burst from the ground, breaking into giant chunks. They sped towards him. Orochimaru jumped to avoid the blast, only to be struck in the chest with a long sharp sword. Where had it come from?

He felt a static pain surged through his body. It hadn't struck vital. Pity. A mistake. Orochimaru lunged his neck, constricting like a snake. He bit at the boy but he blocked it. Orochimaru pulled the sword out of his chest. The boy wouldn't get another lucky shot.

Earth and Fire style. Not a common combination. Nevertheless, it wouldn't be that much of a hassle. Orochimaru held his stance. He was bleeding quite badly. The pain was far less than it could have been. He forced himself out of this skin, shedding his injuries.

Orochimaru stepped back. He formed a sign and water burst from the ground, flooding the field. It smashing into the boy, dispearsing, his body flinging with the water. It looked like he'd drowned until he saw something. The boy was swirling the water around him, rising him upward. Three chakra changes?

Then again, this was an Akatsuki member.

Though, he felt like something was happening. Something just at the tip of his mind. Orochimaru did not like feeling like an idiot. He'd beat the answers right out of the boy.

The boy rushed forward, thrusting a fist. It slammed against Orochimaru's face, visibly shaking him. It has had hit hard. Orochimaru blocked the next fist, still regaining focus. He was being beaten in hand to hand contact? What even was this boy? What was happening?

He blocked a kick, has slammed his fist back at the boy, he caught it with his hand. It gave him an opened and Orochimaru kicked at the boy's leg. It made contact with a nasty snap. It shook the boy, and he staggered back. It hadn't broke the bone but it would definitely leave a nasty bruise.

The boy took hold of the sword again. Orochimaru grinned and slowly began to choke up his own sword.

Metal clashed, neither getting the upper hand on the other. For an inexplicable reason, Orochimaru felt like he was stuck in a loop. Repeating the same attacks over and over. Why?

This was getting tiring, why was he so tired? And weak?

He jerked his sword forward, snagging the boy in his side. He quivered, letting a small groan of pain escape. Blood formed at his mouth.

Finally, the annoyance was over. He wasn't dead. But he would be. Orochimaru looked around. Where was Kabuto?

He had barely noticed the disappearance of his servant during the fight, but now it was much more obvious.

Pain exploded from his abdomen. Orochimaru grasped as his vision slipped. Where?! Who?! Orochimaru looked back back at the boy only to find a bleeding Kabuto. A genjustu? Orochimaru shifted into a better position to get a better grasp at what had just happened. He stared back up at the boy. Not a scratch on him. When he had he been in it.

It struck him. The kunai. He had to get out of here, but the blade had pierced his skin. His real skin. It had dug through all of layers ad he was truly bleeding out. Was this really the way he was going to go? Weak? Not even able to use the body he had so perfectly repaired. By a boy?

He hung his head and waited for the end. He felt the shadow of the boy leave. Orochimaru opened his eyes and watched and the boy walk away.

"Was is difficult?"

Obito put his cup down. He was back a lot faster than he had anticipated. Hopefully, the slime would live, barely.

"...I'm not the best at genjutsu…"

That was true, while he had practiced and become much more skilled, it could be quite easy to see through the deception. He had a hard time keeping up with the actions and choices of the individual's choices.

It was much better when the victim is already confused.

The cold air swept through the open window. It overlooked the highest point to the Hidden Rain. It was almost always in constant storm. Tonight though, the drizzle had been much less. It barely blew into the window. It was nice to look outside and watch the move slowly. Maybe something he still missed from his childhood. Either way, it didn't matter.

"Yes, I know it's not your strong suit. Thank you for using it. I really don't need our enemies knowing about you."

"...may I take it off?"

"I suppose so. You don't necessarily need it here," Obito said.

He watched as the boy unstrapped the mask, undoing the jutsu. His hair responded, flopping forward, the only thing keeping it back being a headband. A Hidden Leaf headband, long since slashed through. Three lines marked upon his face.

"Welcome home, Naruto"