Author's Notes: Thank you for reading this so far! It's Orochimaru this time. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I OWN NOTHING!

Drabble 9

Word Count: 541 words

"...And, that is why I can't play with you," Orochimaru finishes. The boy nods and politely offers to let him play with his toys, again. Orochimaru sighs and wonders if this particular child is slow or just plain stubborn.

"He can't hear you," Orochimaru hears from somewhere behind him. The firm comment is chilling, but Orochimaru feels nothing.

"He isn't far. Of course he can," Orochimaru says matter-of-factly as he turns to give his companion a raised brow.

"No, I mean… He really can't," His companion rolls his eyes and leaves it at that, as if that explains everything. Orochimaru gives him a long stare and wisely doesn't believe him. It wouldn't be the first time Jiraiya has lied just to make things seem more interesting. Seem because whether this child could hear him or not, Orochimaru could care less. He agreed to come with Jiraiya for one reason only.

"So?" Orochimaru prods after a while, when Jiraiya's last comment is scrunched up and ignored as the lie it is. Jiraiya hums in question, "You said Sakumo had a new jutsu to show off," Orochimaru makes a show of looking around, "I don't see him around," Jiraiya sputters for a few moments. Orochimaru narrows his eyes at him accusingly. So, that was a lie too, after all.

"He isn't exactly home," Jiraiya admits after a moment's silence. Orochimaru has figured as much. Orochimaru shakes his head in displeasure and leaves the house, ignoring his teammate's calls as he goes. He wouldn't stay to babysit with his oaf of a teammate.

Not many years pass after that before Orochimaru hears about the Hatake boy again. A rising star, a genius worthy of the Hatake name, supposedly. Orochimaru doesn't believe it. It comes out of Jiraiya's mouth after all. He thinks it is smart not to believe his claim. The boy was incredibly slow as a child. Surely, his father's death hasn't changed that.

He hears about the boy a lot later, mostly because of the Uchiha, who take every opportunity to mutter in distaste about the Hatake thief who stole one of their precious eyes. And if Orochimaru starts believing that the young Hatake is truly a genius by that time, he still doesn't believe Jiraiya's other claim. But, Orochimaru still couldn't care less about the Hatake boy.

It's a few years later that he is interested, after the same Uchiha who used to mutter and curse at the Hatake, all vanished in a single night. Hatake possesses one of the few Sharingan left, after all.

He quickly learns that stealing the eye is nigh impossible, as is the case with Itachi, and later, Sasuke. When he is sure he couldn't get Itachi's powerful eyes in any way, and with Sasuke still young and weak, Kakashi becomes his next target.

Up until his faithful companion, Kabuto, brings him news he never expected to be true. Hatake Kakashi cannot hear anything. Orochimaru cannot use a body that can't hear. It seems, Orochimaru thinks with dismay and just the slightest bit of incredulity, Jiraiya wasn't as much of a liar as I thought he was.

Years later, Kakashi wonders why he feels like he dodged a deadly kunai when Orochimaru comes to retrieve Sasuke.

Author's Notes: I hope you liked this drabble! Please let me know what you think! :D

A Response to the Reviews on Drabble 8:

readwithcats: Yup! Though, cats are so cute anyways :3 Thanks! I hope you liked this one too :D

Albertasteinthe21stgenius: I'm glad you like the last chapter! :D

srirachacha: I… did not think of such a continuation XD That's actually a pretty cool concept. Maybe, I'll do a remake of the previous chapter later, in which Tsunade tells Sakumo about Kakashi's deafness early on :D Thanks for the review (and the thought)! I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well!

Okami amaterasu: Thanks! I hope you enjoyed both this chapter as well as the chapter of your request story too :3

Tobi Uchiha-chan: Thanks! Hope you enjoyed this one as well :D

Shadowheart51: Thank you so much for the vote of confidence! I hope I didn't mess up with Orochimaru though XD I hope you enjoyed this drabble! :D

Have a happy new year! Until next time! :D