The sun shone through the water fall as it lit up the cave. Orochimarus eyes stung a little from lack of sleep that night "o-ow" he winced as he rubbed his eyes. He stood up shielding the sun from his eyes using his hand as he picked up ryuu, attempting to not stir his little brother from his sleep.

Orochimaru took his time coming home enjoying the stillness of the morning. As he approached the house a fearful vibe entered orochimaru as he walked up the stairs, once he walked through that door he knew he was going to be in trouble. "here we go" he thought as he quietly opened the door stepping in, the lights were off, everything was unusually quiet.

"mom?" he called out

No answerer

"mom were home!" he walked over to the couch setting little ryuu down on it pulling a blanket over him.

As orochimaru turned he realized the house was in ruins, vases were broken the rug was scrunched up as if there was a struggle, and leading into the kitchen was small splatters of a crimson liquid. "…! O-oh no.." he darted into the kitchen slipping over the blood a little. There on the floor lay his limp mother under her was a small pile of shattered glass and blood.

"MOM!" he rushed over to her side kneeling down at her side. He shook her pleading for her to wake up tears swelling in his eyes, "please no mom you can't be dead, please wake up!"

Suna emitted a few small coughs as she opened her eyes weakly "…it's ok honey...Im ok…" orochimarus heart nearly skipped a beat he clung onto mother tears seeping out of his eyes "m-mommy" Suna sat up and hugged him as blood trickled down her cheeks.

Izune walked downstairs "orochimaru! Where are you!" his voice was stern and angry. Orochimaru looked to the kitchen door startled from his father's call, he obediently let go of his mother and walked out into the living room where his father stood.

"where were you last night" Izune questioned as he glared down at orochimaru

"i-I got lost in the forest"

"oh did you? And why was your brother with you?"

"because…he wanted to com-" he was cut off by a hard slap across his face causing him to almost fall over. "how many times do I have to tell you! Stop letting your brother interfere with your training! Start using your head you idiot!" Izune struck orochimaru again. Orochimaru bit down on his lip hard fighting back tears both his cheeks were red but if his father saw him cry there would be worse than just a few simple slaps across the face.

"2 things make up a man, power and strength. You lack them both! You're a pathetic excuse for a son im ashamed of you! If you don't clean up your act im throwing you and your brother out of this house! Understood!" orochimaru nodded quietly lowering his head "y-yes sir" with that, Izune exited back to his room.

~later that night~

Orochimaru was in his room on the top bunk of his bed ryuu was curled up on the bottom bunk fast asleep. Orochimaru put his arms behind his head closing his eyes "…power and strength make up a man?" he thought to himself "….if im a man ill be respected, ill be able to leave, dad will leave me alone…but how much power do I need?" he sighed and rolled over picking at the wall paper.

Suddenly his thoughts were broken by ryuus screaming, he sat up looking over the side of the bunk. Ryuu was screaming squirming around in his blanket.

"ryuu, stop your gonna wake up dad!" he said in a whisper/yell as he climbed down the ladder. He rushed over putting his hand over ryuus mouth "shhh!" ryuus eyes shot open he was in a cold sweat "…!"

Orochimaru cautiously removed his hand "..what was that all about?" he asked as he sat on the bed. ryuu sat up shivering "i…I had a bad dream" orochimaru tilted his head "…about what?" ryuu gulped as tears ran down the sides of his face "t..there was fire…everywhere...i could hear you screaming and mommy and daddy…but I couldn't see you…then I started to burn and I screamed for you..but you didn't come and help me…" he started crying more as orochimaru pulled him into a hug "shh shh its ok ryuu, there's no fire and im right here" ryuu clung onto orochimaru sobbing "owo don't leave me alone" orochimaru sighed and stroked ryuus hair "I won't I promise"

"Have you ever made a promise before?"

"Yeah loads of times"

"Did you keep them?"

"Sometimes…"

"….never break a promise...especially to someone close to you"