I hope the characters don't come out OC. I do try to write them as closely as I can save the changes due to Tobirama's presence. Well enjoy;p


CH9

Another cool pad hit his forehead. Wherever he was it was dry and warm. Perhaps he had taught those kids a thing or two. Orochimaru stirred focusing on his student's impassive face. The last few minutes of battle suddenly filled him with a burst of adrenal his arm involuntarily grabbing Tobirama's arm though his mind knew there was no immediate threat.

"Easy Sensei. Next time don't overdo it." Orochimaru forced his hand to release and fall limply. He needed rest an insane amount of it. Tobirama rummaged for something in his pack while his own eyes drifted toward the small heap curled next to the warm embers of a fire. Tobirama handed him a ration bar which he held a hand to in refusal. If they would be out here for any longer they would need to save the food for the girl who had neither his stamina nor his students more durable Senju blood. He cursed again under his breath. So much raw talent and untapped power was being wasted to this pointless war.

He sighed clenching a fist. "Immortality, if only I had it." Then he would never be at the whims of others. Hanzo or any nin who decided they had the power of life and death over others. It was tiring this game of life and death. Yes he was afraid to die. Afraid to be weak like he had been when he couldn't save his student from that blast. Nawaki had promise and even signs of a bloodline inherited from the first Hokage.

Tobirama frowned down at him removing the now hot pad and replacing it. "What would you do once you gained this immortality?

Orochimaru smiled at the inquisitive question. "I would study every Jutsu in the world, and find the ultimate Jutsu."

"What would you do then?"

"What do you mean?" The question was complex in its simplicity.

"You'd be lonely…."

"Ridiculous!" Orochimaru muttered. "I'd share my knowledge with you and Anko. Imagine it you could live FOREVER!"

"And then what? We would be relics of the past living in an age we don't belong!"

Orochimaru chuckled. "Indeed, GODS!"

"No we would be feared like parasites Sensei!"

"Indeed?" Orochimaru chuckled again. "Do elaborate." His student was still young but his logic was near flawless. That and his sensing made him insanely valuable on any team. He had been surprised when most Jonin had overlooked him in their desire to get what they thought would be more "promising" Gennin for their squad.

"The stronger one gets the more they are feared. Would you truly wished to be shunned Sensei? Would you wish to one day face the entire ninja world at your doorstep? And what if you got tired of living? How would you die then? Besides all the power in the world won't fill the emptiness in your heart…."

"Hmmm and what makes you think you know my heart?"

"Well it isn't hard, all humans seek acceptance of others and wish others would understand them. They also wish in their heart to be loved."

Orochimaru chuckled. "Have you been reading up on human psychology?"

"Yes, knowing the way your opponent operates makes it easier to deduce their fighting styles and preferences in battle putting them at a disadvantage."

Orochimaru gave a sarcastic snort. "I'm more snake then human."

"Snakes don't speak."

"Summoning's do."

"Haha, funny, you're not a summoning sensei. Besides those who hunger for power loose themselves slowly to it."

Orochimaru closed his eyes suddenly tired. "And where did you hear this piece of tripe?"

He could hear his student adding more twigs to the fire. "Jiraya let me see an outline of a book he was planning to write in his journal."

This elicited another halfhearted chuckle from the snake sannin. "You should know better than to read that fools ideas. He's an idealist."

"But it's true Sensei! Those who are mad for power slowly begin to reject all contact with others. Eventually even if this "power" was gained for a good cause there is a high chance that those you cared about suddenly become strangers to you. You cannot tell them apart from the crowd even when the signs are there that you must have been that person's friend once. It's what happened to Madara and many other shinobi!"

"And where did you hear that?"

"I read it in the Hashirama Senju's journal….."

Orochimaru laughed lightheartedly though the argument and flawless logic cut him like a knife.

Orochimaru awoke suddenly throwing a syringe instinctively in the direction of the chakra. The Anbu dodged. Orochimaru pulled himself up from the desk. How clumsy of him to fall asleep while working. His eye instantly settled on the Anbu.

"Good to know Danzo still keeps his mutts in shape."

The Anbu accepted the closest thing he would get to an apology not really minding the tone or actions of the sannin. "Apologies Orochimaru-sama I come with news."

Orochimaru disliked dramatic pauses. He took what several flasks containing traces of his previous experiment and began washed them while waiting for the Anbu to speak. "Well?" He said at length.

"The Uchiha were massacred by one of their own."

"Hmmm..." Orochimaru mused, "it would have happened eventually." He dried a flask and continued onto the next one. "Give Danzo my condolences on losing several promising puppets."

"Your student-" the air suddenly dropped several degrees.

"Where's the body?" Orochimaru asked his cold tone cutting the air.

"At the hospital the medics can't seem to revive him."

The chill in the air subsided. "Next time start with that information you imbecile." The Anbu were getting too obsessed with a flair for dramatics these days or perhaps Danzo wanted to see his reaction. That old crow wouldn't stop until he was Hokage. Vaguely Orochimaru wondered whether Sarutobi would still be among the living if not for the fact that he was still in the village. His first of many acts would be to disband the not so "secret" secret root which Danzo so foolishly allowed his own student to enter. As if a mere curse mark would hinder his plans to dispose of that disease. But things had to be done in order. Firstly he needed to go drag his student out from the mud again. Perhaps a lecture on self-preservation was in order as well it was as if his student was going out of his way to enter near death scenarios. He flicked a scroll on the latest antidote he made. How convenient that he now had reason to leave his cave. He strolled out the chill night air welcoming. The dream rang in his mind as he made toward the hospital. He was loath to admit it, but perhaps Jiraya was not as foolish as he let on.