Flashback
The sounds of metal medical instruments clinking rebounded from the quiet walls of the hidden base. The sound was almost musical to his ears, intriguing him to peek inside.
The familiar figure had his back to him. His long black hair tied in a high ponytail. The water was steaming hot providing the only warmth in the room.
The small boys olive-yellow eye's fell on the neat pile of paper work. His slit pupils dilated with excitement. He looked over to his father who was pre-occupied cleaning up. He walked inside keeping his gaze at the amount of paper work. There was a stool at the table which he climbed and used to stand on in order to see. The notes on top read, "Body Replacement Technique." He carefully grabbed one of the edges and lifted it to peek at the handwriting.
Orochimaru heard the soft footsteps and peered over his shoulder. The boy was teetering on the tips of his toes before he climbed onto the steel table, sitting next to the pile of data. His sons eyes were locked to their target. His lips formed a smirk. He could sense the curiosity and thirst for knowledge his son was eagerly seeking. So much like his own. "Osamu, you should make it a habit to ask for permission."
Osamu turned and looked at his dad. So he did notice I came in. "Body...Replacement...don't you already know this?" Osamu went back to reading his fathers notes. He spoke softly and rather quietly. He was confident but suffered from using his volume modestly just as Orochimaru had in his youth.
"It's not quite the same." Orochimaru studied his son as he dried off his hands. He felt an arrogant pride in his offsprings development, he was coming along quite nicely considering Orochimaru was only putting in half an effort in raising him. Thankfully that's all his son needed.
Orochimaru stood beside Osamu. "Its an alternative technique. It doesn't transfer my body into another, it allows me to regenerate it during combat. Much more useful when heavy damage is taken, medical aid can be postponed increasing durability and the success percentage is raised significantly in your favor when utilized."
Osamu's lips formed a wide smirk. "So you can heal yourself in the middle of a fight?! Medic Ninjutsu isn't necessary during combat anymore."
Orochimaru smiled amused at the boy. It would probably always bother Osamu that Kabuto would accompany him on missions while he stayed behind. He had decided to introduce them from the start, perhaps Kabuto would adjust better since he had a soft spot with children because of the orphanage life. And it worked...partially.
Kabuto had taken a rather protective role towards Osamu. He acted like a big brother to his own son though the same could not be said for Osamu in the beginning. He had been polite to Kabuto and loathed being nagged at by the silver haired man, jealously trying to steal Orochimaru's attention when he interacted with the spectacled boy. He hadn't gone as far as to hinder them when they worked but thankfully after a year or so Osamu had adopted to being Kabuto's shadow.
"Not quite. It just gives you time to postpone treatment. The chakra needed in order to perform the jutsu can leave you severely fatigued when handled carelessly. Kabuto can't be replaced quite that easily. He serves far more purposes than just being a medic." He took the papers out of his son's hands who gave him an annoyed pout.
"In any case this technique is too highly ranked for you to try. It requires some extensive understanding of medical knowledge." The boy folded his arms angrily, a small growl escaping his throat.
"How extensive?" Osamu replied.
Eager to know so he can commence training. Orochimaru threw his head back in laughter. "I suppose we can arrange to make more time for you to learn more about medical jutsu." He hummed at the idea. Kabuto is more adept and more than capable of teaching him...or should I take that responsibility? He helped Osamu come down from the table. "Let's go."
His son shadowed his steps and followed closely from behind as they left the lab. They walked down the corridors of the underground hide out. It was probably an ungodly hour in the night, no one else was wandering around. Osamu had picked up on his bad habit of getting more active in the later hours of the evening.
"I want you to go straight to bed Osamu. You will not be excused from your morning lessons-"
"Nor will tardiness be permitted, right?" Osamu looked up, finishing his sentence for him with a childish smile.
"Precisely." Orochimaru combed his fingers through his sons hair, lightly ruffling it in the process.
"Don't worry dad I won't be." Osamu turned at the next corridor that lead to his bedroom door. "Will I see you tomorrow, maybe?".
Orochimaru looked at his son. "Maybe." Osamu gave a small nod in acknowledgement at his response. They said their goodnights and he waited for him to enter his room before he made his way to his own. Im sorry a 'maybe' is all I can give. I'd rather say less and give you more than for you to expect more and be disappointed when receiving less. Osamu is a clever boy, he understands why I can't dedicate more.
Regardless, he needs me to be there far more than what I have been.
His son's existence had come suddenly to the Sannins life. Immediately Sound Anbu were called to the residence of a fair woman who had not managed to stop her infant from crying. The woman's name always escaped him but he recalled her face when he saw her corpse on one of the medical tables.
She was a pretty face, frail, and delicate creature who did not live long after giving birth. A weak human being that was about it. One of the first generations born exclusively to the Sound Country. It never crossed his mind he had managed to procreate with Osamu's mother, since he didn't take a fancy to someone in that way often or kept the same favorite.
Cruelly, he thought of whether Osamu would turn out weak like his mother first then secondly it occurred to him he would have to nurture a child into a adult. Thankfully his first worry was eased with nothing to fear. Osamu's eyes were always scanning his surroundings, scrutinizing anything that caught his attention. No object would go untouched frequently splattered with his tiny fingerprints. His son was just as curious as he was about the world and what it held. Always asking him questions when books didn't offer an answer.
Many times they spoke about philosophies which gave Orochimaru a good laugh since his son was determined to have him see his way despite the lack of years under his belt. He always trumped his son by the reality and facts of life leaving Osamu at the edge of his feet eager to know how the world worked. He showed above average skill, mastering lessons faster than Orochimaru at the same age but not by much. Definitely no where near the levels of Sasuke. He was still categorized as a prodigy by the common geniuses eye.
He relished basking in his son's attention. Osamu's slit pupils radiating the awe of the knowledge Orochimaru had to offer him. He won't be held back like I was by any village or trivial morality. No. I will teach him how to fight against this world. How to survive within it when I cannot be there to protect him. I have my own agenda too and one day he will have one of his own.
The passion of discovering the truths of this world, the ambition to achieve to one's maximum potential, truly my child is worthy to be crowned a god of shinobi alongside me.
End of Flashback
Osamu began to feel pain pulse from his head. He heard the crunch of footsteps around him. The blow to his head made it difficult to see through the holes of his mask as his vision was unfocused and a blur. It was then he realized someone was carrying him. He looked up to see who and was met with a curtain of black hair and pale skin.
"!"
Orochimaru felt the boy beginning to stir. "Shhh. We are in a bit of a situation." Without looking down Orochimaru spoke softly enough for only Osamu to hear.
Osamu tensed. Situation? He clenched his hand into a fist. Looking around to where the mask permitted him to see they were in a room void of anything, thats when he saw it. The chains on the walls. "Dad those chains..."
"Hmmm?"
"You are not seriously chained to the wall, are you?" Osamu whispered dumbfounded.
"We are in Konoha, that's why." Orochimaru sneered. He slipped his hand from one of the shackles, showing Osamu his free wrist before putting it through back again.
Osamu scoffed shaking his head, if it weren't for his mask he would be visibly confused. "Why don't we just leave then if you aren't restrained?"
"It's not so much the restraints thats the hard part Osamu." Orochimaru stared up at the ceiling. "Under normal circumstances I would have been sent to the Special Ninja Felony Prison, but for some reason Princess Tsunade has decided to detain me instead of turn me in. She must want something...I think." Orochimaru mused thinking of all the possibilities he was not being adequately restrained."Oh geez, your curiosity has been piqued." Osamu sighed heavily.
"There is nothing wrong with that." Orochimaru chuckled. "Yes the difficulty would be to leave the village unharmed."
"Hmmph. How so?" Osamu muttered unimpressed and relatively unaware with Konoha's strength.
"If the information is still accurate this would be the sole underground detainment base in Konoha..."
"And that is...significant?" Osamu mused back.
"Precisely, normally tortures are carried out here inside Konoha's belly. This village has grown significantly so who knows how far the walls of the village are now to this location. The invasion definitely made them fortify the village a little better, with Pein's attack on it as well though it's infrastructure is currently mediocre at best but the victory of the war has recalled all available shinobi back. I may have snuck in and out with Team Hawk but leaving now as quietly is out of the question."
He felt the heartbeat of the boy pick its pace a little faster. Orochimaru was no where near condition to slug it out with an entire village much less with Osamu at risk.
"Dad...you're alive." Osamu allowed those words to sink in even though he was the one that had said it himself. He allowed small tears to leak from his cheeks. No one could see with his mask in place anyways.
Orochimaru nodded taking a calm deep breath. He felt Osamu's chest tense as he tried to control his crying. "You more than anyone else should know I can't die that easily."
"Yeah...but still." Osamu squeaked.
They remained quiet for some time. The guards footsteps outside the only sound now. Soon they began to pick up a rhythm. As dangerous as the situation they are in Osamu's head drooped slowly his eyes getting heavier and heavier.
Orochimaru looked down at Osamu who had completely slumped on his lap into a deep slumber. Hmm, its probably really late at night now. Orochimaru mused letting his head lean back on the wall. Really Tsunade I think you're taking your time on purpose. I wonder how she will react when she finds out about Osamu. He chuckled at the thought. He heard the person outside flinch at the sound of his voice as the crunch of their footsteps missed a beat.
I wonder how indeed...
It's been so long. Im sorry ; - ;
