A Fork in the Road

"Father, father, where are you going

O do not walk so fast.

Speak father, speak to your little boy

Or else I shall be lost,

The night was dark no father was there

The child was wet with dew.

The mire was deep, and the child did weep

And away the vapour flew."

(The Little Boy Lost, W. Blake)

Wherein Orochimaru, age twenty-something, becomes a father for the first time...

This was not a role he expected to play. Ever.

Orochimaru of the Sannin, infamous jounin of Konoha, was content. Life was good.

His work as the Head of the Department of Research and Development, which encompassed everything from analyzing bloodline limits— foreign and occasionally otherwise, much to the disgruntlement of the local clans, to developing new tools and techniques. His own specialties included genetic engineering and jutsu development, though he dabbled in most of the projects proposed and undertaken by his underlings. He'd created the department from scratch soon after the end of the Second Shinobi War, pulling together a group of vastly different shinobi and civilian specialists. Nowadays, he found his work was both intellectually stimulating and challenging— although he could have done without the paperwork.

Even his personal life was satisfactory; he was largely left alone. Most of the civilians considered him a hero of the village, alongside his two teammates, although they found him terrifying. Even the lower-ranked shinobi preferred to keep their distance.

Once or twice a month, either Tsunade-hime or Jiraiya would drag him out of the office for dinner or drinks— something along those lines. He spoke with Hiruzen-sensei regularly, whether to update him on the progress of an interesting project or just to discuss a challenge in his research— the Third wasn't known as 'The Professor' for nothing.

While Orochimaru largely avoided the dark underbelly of Konoha— tempting though it might have been to snag a person or two from Danzo's little puppet brigade. On occasion, it came to him instead...

It was a regular enough Thursday— the day Orochimaru set aside for paperwork, and then his own personal projects. Unfortunately, he was disturbed while working on the former. Usually an unfortunate decision for whoever bothered him; the man was capricious at best, and paperwork never improved his mood.

Orochimaru tilted his head, relaxing further into his seat— not to imply that the man was ever truly relaxed... this movement was more like a serpent coiling before striking out, fangs bared. Even in his own office, where he should be most secure, the sannin remained on guard. He eyed the blank-faced youth thoughtfully. "Oh? Do you mind repeating that, ninja-san?"

The adolescent, eerily pale, spoke in a cool monotone. It was not difficult to determine exactly which organization he was a member of. "Yes. Jounin Orochimaru.. Shimura Danzo-sama requests a meeting at the location of his choice. Today. Preferably now."

A slow, methodical blink of amber eyes. Orochimaru returned to reading the sheet in front of him, a report describing the current status of better fetal surveillance antepartum, as well as the possibility of genetic modification during the earliest stages of embryo development. "I see. I shall complete my paperwork in fifteen minutes and will at that point become available for a meeting. You are to act as my guide?"

"Yes, Jounin Orochimaru." The next fourteen point three minutes were spent in silence. The youth stood silent and still at the center of the cluttered office. Orochimaru, bent over his desk, scanned over his remaining paperwork, eyes flitting to and fro, sometimes signing and stamping his approval, sometimes adding a suggestion or a scathing note in his elegant handwriting, occasionally discarding a paper outright with an irritated scowl.

Once the approved and revised papers have been slotted into their appropriate outboxes, Orochimaru rose from his seat, nodding to his visitor. "Lead on."

A quick journey through the less-traveled side streets of Konoha leads the odd pair through a thinly disguised grate-covered opening and into the sewers. Orochimaru resisted the urge to wrinkle his nose. Typical. Shimura Danzo living with the other roaches. After a few minutes of walking, the youth in front of him turned and offered a black strip of cloth—a blindfold. Orochimaru sneered, "No. If your leader is so keen on this meeting as to schedule it without prior notice, he will acquiesce. He should know I will absolutely refuse anything of the sort."

The silent youth nodded, replying in the same creepy monotone, "Yes. Danzo-sama expected this demand," and replaced the blindfold in his pocket. The next twenty minutes were painfully boring; their path through the sewers was convoluted— seemingly arbitrary turns to the left and right, random signs and signals, not all of them obvious at first glance... Orochimaru spends his time observing the boy, while also memorizing their route, occasionally brushing against the walls to leave a scent trail; they'd doubled back over a dozen times, now.

Another five minutes, and they arrived at a nondescript door. The young Root member knocked while pulsing his chakra in an erratic pattern. Likely personalized to each agent, Orochimaru mused. Not a bad idea.

An answering flare of chakra came from beyond the door, which opened to admit the visitors. Inside is a small, spartan office— the most elaborate piece of furniture being a sturdy wood desk and the comfortably padded chair behind it, occupied by one Shimura Danzo. The elderly shinobi nodded to the Root member, who departed from the room after a polite bow to his leader. A static hum indicated that a silencing seal activated as soon as the door closed behind him.

There is a moment of silence, as each formidable shinobi assessed the other. Danzo was the first to speak. "Orochimaru of the Sannin. Thank you for coming on such short notice."

A polite nod in response from the serpentine jounin, "Elder Danzo… To what do I owe the pleasure?" The elder smiled slightly, "An opportunity that could benefit both your department, and the village as a whole. Your people are always petitioning for more funding, as well as more test subjects."

Lips curled into a mild smile, amber eyes narrowing, Orochimaru countered in a neutral tone. "...As is normal, given the nature of our work. You could say the same about the Konoha Hospital System, or the Department for Torture and Interrogation."

"True enough. However, the nature of the subjects you receive limits the scope of your work, does it not?" Hands folded on his desk, Danzo gazed at the Sannin, expression blank.

Orochimaru paused, considering his response, head tilted slightly to the side. Is he seriously offering..? "Oh? There is no need to dance around the subject. We are both aware that any sort of enhancements, especially genetic modification, would be easier with younger subjects. They tend to be more adaptable. Why, are you offering to volunteer your subordinates?"

"Not quite. Merely potential subordinates."

Orochimaru donned a satisfied smile, so as not to betray his thoughts. Orphans collected from villages throughout the Land of Fire, no doubt. From orphanages sponsored by Danzo. This is more than a few steps beyond 'morally ambiguous'— well past the line both Danzo and I typically tread in our work. We are both ninja, and have done loathsome things in the name of peace, but this is not something the Hokage would back... or even seriously consider. The Third has a soft spot for orphans; two of his students were orphaned at a young age, after all. How much of Danzo's program is Sensei aware of? "I see. How many and what ages?"

"Various... appropriate ages. A dozen to start. More, if the research proves reasonably successful. Accommodations and minders can be arranged."

"Acceptable. I have facilities that can easily be adjusted for such a purpose. How soon would test subjects be available?"

"They are available at present." That many children surreptitiously 'acquired' already?

"I see. Then I shall make appropriate facilities ready for the transfer. However… you do realize the risk of such research?" He meant both the risk to the subjects... and the risk to both men should it be discovered.

The elder wore a pleased smile, which Orochimaru mirrored. "Of course. The subjects are already dead on record. ..I am glad we could come to an agreement, Orochimaru-san." And people consider me a monster... All the better to fool people such as you, Danzo. "Certainly, Elder Danzo. I shall inform you via summon once appropriate facilities have been prepared. A pleasure doing business with you."

The silencing seal lowered, and a different blank-faced youth stepped into the room. He led Orochimaru back out of the maze of tunnels, using a different, equally convoluted route.

Danzo really should have known better, Orochimaru mused, back in his office, and having carefully assured his security remained intact. He'd been arranging his notes from the meeting, written in a progressively evolving shorthand code Jiraiya had established. A code only the four of them—Orochimaru, Tsunade, Jiraiya and Hiruzen-sensei, were able to decipher and read. They'd been written in duplicate. One copy would be set aside for safekeeping with his summons— to be released to Jiraiya or Tsunade if anything.. untoward happened to him. The other copy would be surreptitiously delivered to Sarutobi Hiruzen by Ororchimaru himself, in a few weeks.

In the meantime, Orochimaru would prepare a suitable quarantine area and sustenance for the test subjects— they would need a close examination to eliminate any 'confounders' in his research, such as abuse or malnourishment, as well as some facilities for the experiments that would never occur.

While the serpent sannin presented himself as both callous and more than a little sadistic, he was fiercely loyal to his people. Not only to his subordinates, but also his teammates: Jiraiya and Tsunade— his best friends and rivals. And, of course, Hiruzen-sensei. His teacher, his confidante... someone he saw as a second father. Someone that would absolutely disapprove of a venture that would use orphaned children, possibly infants, as test subjects. No matter how tempting it may be.

Several weeks later and the test subjects— infants and toddlers, rangin from just past newborn to age three, have been moved into appropriately furbished quarters and examined by both Orochimaru and a trusted medic from within his department. Two chuunin, both of whom typically worked as lab technicians, have been assigned to watch over them.

Naturally, now that he had ample proof of Danzo's misdeeds— and has had such proof for over two weeks, Orochimaru chose to approach his sensei with these findings. The conversation, of course, was held in the relative privacy of the Hokage's office, in code.

"Sensei. Too busy for lunch?" This conversation is for your ears only. "With one of my favorite students? We have a meeting scheduled anyway; update me, and I'll send Kaze-san for takeaway." I hope you can provide details. "Hmm. If you say so, I would hate to pull you away from your paperwork needlessly." This is important. I will provide documents. The Hokage chuckled. "The less time spent on paperwork, the better. Of course, it all needs to get done eventually." The pair shared a commiserating look. No need for subtext there.

After the type of food was decided, and the secretary sent to order and retrieve it, Orochimaru straightened and proceeded to report on the current status of the myriad ongoing projects in his department, also unsealing and delivering a stack of papers to the Hokage's desk. The records of his meeting with Danzo and the details of the 'test subjects' provided were discreetly included within the pile.

The food arrived shortly after his report was complete. Conversation over lunch was casual, at least as casual as it was between the two, with topics ranging from jutsu theory to possible future projects. Orochimaru left the tower content that the evidence had reached the Third Hokage, and would be acted upon appropriately. And indeed, Danzo was quietly arrested several weeks later, with minimal interference from his Root shinobi.

Of course, the next problem was determining what exactly to do with the mess Danzo created. A meeting of the minds was called by the Third Hokage; essentially, a gathering of his most trusted allies:

Tora, the reigning ANBU Commander

Nara Shikato, Jounin Commander and current leader of the Nara Clan

Yuu Nanao, Head of Torture and Interrogation

Senju Tsunade, Head of the Hospital and Medical Corps

Orochimaru, Head of Research and Development

And, of course, the Hokage's former teammates: Utatane Koharu and Mitokade Homura.

Orochimaru lurked at the back of the conference room, standing beside Tsunade— who was fuming quietly. Jiraiya, the third of their number, was nowhere to be seen; out of the village on a reconnaissance mission, most likely. The meeting had yet to be called to order; they await the Hokage's arrival. Orochimaru tapped his agitated teammate on the shoulder, murmuring quietly, "Hime. Something wrong?" Tsunade scowled, cracking her knuckles. "You have to ask? Danzo had the audacity to kidnap children, and then claim it was for the betterment of Konoha! This village that Grandfather and Granduncle created... How dare that bastard try to justify abusing the people we're meant to protect? And Sensei didn't even let us know until after he was executed!" The serpentine man nods in acquiescence, "I see... He was apprehended early on into his plot. The damage done is limited. Is that not some consolation?"

Tsunade paused, eyes narrowing. Knowledge of Danzo's crimes beyond the bare minimum of the plot uncovered was limited to those that helped capture the man. "Orochimaru." She drawled, slowly, "You were involved, weren't you?" He gave the slug sannin his most enigmatic smile. "Hm? I'm not certain what you mean, Tsunade-hime."

Luckily, before she can threaten to beat the truth out of him— as she so often does to Jiraiya, the Third Hokage entered the room. "Good. You're all here." He took a seat at the head of the table that takes up most of the space in the conference room, gesturing for the rest of them to sit as well. "As you know, I called you here to discuss what to do with the problems Danzo left behind for us to deal with. The first issue is— who shall take command of Root. Or should we have it absorbed entirely by ANBU?"

I'm sure Sensei has decided what to about all of these issues already. Orochimaru frowned, taking a seat in a more shadowed corner of the room. He had better things to do than listen to a bunch of elite shinobi squabble over technicalities like a pack of old biddies.

Nara Shikato started the discussion, diving right in. "We still need an organization that can be disavowed easily. I agree that Root needs to be restructured, and the brainwashing minimized, however—" He was cut off by the tiger-masked ANBU commander. "Good. I agree. I'm sure all of us do, and we have better things to do than argue about this. I suggest Orochimaru take responsibility for that branch of our ninja corps." The aforementioned sannin scowled, arms crossing in front of his chest. Bastard. As if I need more busywork.

The Third Hokage arched a brow, puffing on his pipe. "Explain your reasoning." Tora shrugged, "He has singlehandedly created a small, highly efficient organization that handles research and development, village-wide. He's scarcely involved with the day-to-day at this point, beyond some basic paperwork. He would certainly be capable of reshaping and managing Root in a similar manner. The focus of the departments may be different, but the organizational structure he already uses could easily be adapted."

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, expression pensive. "I shall take it into consideration. Does anyone disagree? Any further suggestions? Either for what to do with Root, or for someone to lead the organization?" The others at the table remain silent. Orochimaru seethes in silence, contemplating a suitable revenge on the ANBU commander for this new... responsibility.

The next few topics were hardly as inflammatory— discussions of the intelligence gathered by and about Root, Danzo's various misdeeds— anything not classified "Hokage's Eyes Only". Orochimaru contributed little, keeping any comments succinct and to the point. He remained rather peeved at how his responsibilities were likely to expand shortly. Hiruzen-sensei knows I wouldn't say no to an honest request...

Hands folded before him, pipe set aside, the Hokage leaned back in his seat. "The final matter, and one of the most important, is what we should do with the kidnapped children. We have no identifying information on them whatsoever. Few of them are old enough to know their names.. Those that are seem to have been wiped of their memories. While we know which orphanages they could be from, there is no guarantee all of them are even from within the Land of Fire."

"The easiest thing would be to place them in our local orphanages. Let the staff name them, and so on," Nanao offers, shrugging her shoulders casually. Homura interrupts, "Our orphanages are already overcrowded, not only from the war! We have no room." Tsunade scowls at the elderly shinobi, "What would you have us do, then? Toss them to the wolves? We can't just kick them out of the village. The moment Danzo stole them away, they became our responsibility!"

Orochimaru doesn't understand, may never understand, what compelled him to say those next few words. Perhaps he was influenced by the memories of his childhood— the unfathomable loneliness of being an orphan. Of Sensei's kindness. Because he knew those children will need a mentor to replace the father and mother they lost, much as he did. Still, to an observer familiar with his expressions, he looks as baffled as the rest of the room at the words he utters. "I will take them, then." There is a tense, incredulous silence, before the room erupts into a cacophony of motion and noise, everyone yelling over each other. "Are you mad?"/"What?!"/"He's not qualified—" The loudest, of course, are the Third Hokage's former teammates. Or rather, Utatane Koharu. "Hiruzen, you can't be seriously considering this. He's just going to use him for his twisted experiments! I don't even know why he's in this meeting."

Orochimaru looks only vaguely offended. He's quite used to prejudice— being bullied for his intelligence and exotic appearance during his academy years, and more recently mocked for his interests in science and for favoring subtlety over flashier jutsu. Interesting that they would sneer at the systematic research, from which the village had been reaping benefits for nearly half a decade. "My twisted experiments? Interesting." He licked his lips slowly in a manner he knew most observers found disquieting—calculated to make an 'impression' on those present.

"Orochimaru, enough." The serpentine sannin inclined his head slightly in acknowledgement of the reprimand, and assumed a neutral expression. The Hokage directed a mild glare at the rest of those present, particularly his teammates, "Orochimaru is present because he is the one that uncovered and reported Danzo's misdeeds, instead of using said children as test subjects. All three of my students have proven themselves loyal to this village and its ideals multiple times. All three hold my utmost trust." The same cannot be said for some of you, his tone implied.

And that was that. Certainly, there were more arguments—but ultimately futile, as the Hokage had already decided the course that would be taken. In the meantime, Orochimaru tried to determine if anyone had poisoned him with mind-altering drugs, while Tsunade quietly volunteered to help Orochimaru find assistants to help care for the children. On that day, Root gained quite a few new recruits— whether future shinobi, or as support staff to be, only time would tell.

Several weeks later, when a toddler— a chubby, precocious little boy with dark hair and eyes, reached up and joyously babbled "Dada!" at the sight of Orochimaru... He decided there could be worse things to be remembered for than being a Father a dozen times over.

Well, now. This was not quite what I intended when I started writing this chapter. (Typical.)

Shimura Danzou, 'Darkness of Konoha' needed to be replaced – who better to lead a new Root than the darkest of Hiruzen Sarutobi's students? I suppose time will tell if this is an improvement.

Also. Orochimaru being swarmed by toddlers is simultaneously the cutest and most disturbing mental image ever.