Chapter 8 The Boy with the Cold Eyes

(One week later)

"Mizuko-san, do you know where Orochimaru and Kabuto-san have gone? I haven't seen either of them lately."

Mizuko was playing a game of Go with Ekima. She shrugged.

"As far as I know, he went to Konoha and plans to destroy it, maybe grab his host body while he's there. Who knows."

"I see." I said as I sat down to watch the game.

The board was almost filled, meaning I had come in towards the end of the game. Ekima lightly placed a white stone on the wooden surface. Ekima bit her lip.

"Dammit, Ekima! I resign."

Ekima smiled. "You did good today."

"Do you always lose?" I asked Mizuko.

"To Ekima, yeah." She sighed. "She's a freakin' genius!"

Ekima laughed softly.

"Are you guys hungry?" I asked as I stood up. "I'm going to grab some food."

They both nodded. I smiled and turned to the entrance. I slid the door open quickly and nearly ran into a tall boy who was walking down the hallway. He must have been around six feet! He had short black hair that spiked out at the tips. He stared down at me with eerie white eyes. He stared down at me with cold eyes.

"I take it you're Uchiha Karasu." He said.

His voice was deep and flowed smoothly but there was no emotion behind it.

I nodded slowly. The boy looked me over.

"Is that so?"

"Yoshimitsu," Mizuko began as she came up behind me, Ekima as well. "haven't seen you around lately. What's up?"

"Orochimaru just returned and from what I hear he's badly injured."

"What about Operation Destroy Konoha?"

Yoshimitsu stared at her for a while, as if looking for something.

"It failed."

Yoshimitsu turned his attention back to me. We held each other's gaze for a second before he grabbed my should, spun me around and pulled down the collar of my yukata.

"Hey!" I said, my response a bit delayed.

"Heaven seal." He stated. "You can't even control it can you?"

"No, what does that have to do with anything?!"

"Fire element." He mumbled.

"What?"

"Nothing." He said calmly.

He let go or me and I turned back around.

"I don't like being manhandled!" I snapped.

"I know."

He turned and left then without another word. Ekima pushed out from behind us and followed after him.

"Who was that?" I asked Mizuko.

"Hyuga Yoshimitsu. He's one of Orochimaru's favorite test subjects but they really don't get along. He was here before me, so I don't know his story but he's really skilled. He's mostly apathetic and cold hearted, though." She explained. "He's probably going to see if he can weed a mission out of Orochimaru, he hasn't had one in a while."

"How can you tell?" I asked.

"That dark grey kinagashi he wears. He only wears that when he hasn't had a mission in a while or he's taking a break. Orochimaru always has him do some of his dirty work."

I shivered. "I didn't like the way he looked at me. It was like he wanted…to kill me as soon as possible."

"Looks like he wanted some, to me." Mizuko snickered.

"Mizuko-san!" I whined.

I had learned over the last week that Mizuko enjoyed making inappropriate remarks when I was convenient.

I later learned about Orochimaru's arms. I smiled at the news, he deserved it. Two days passed. Two days of getting to know the people around me. Two days of wandering aimlessly around the home of the enemy.

I was training in the dojo one day when Mizuko came running in. Held onto the door way as she bent forward to catch her breath. I ran up to her.

"What is it?"

"O-Orochimaru wants to see you." She panted.

I was surprised by the sudden summon but I nodded and walked past her. I couldn't help but notice the concerned look she gave me.

When I reached his room, I could hear Orochimaru coughing real bad on the other side . I reached for the door handle but hesitated.

"Did Orochimaru-sama summon you?"

I looked over to see Kabuto. I nodded. Kabuto walked over and opened the door. Orochimaru's room was lit by a single candle, making it difficult to see. I saw Orochimaru bedridden, his sheets stained with blood. Kabuto pushed me forward and Orochimaru looked up.

"Karasu-hime, I was waiting for you." He said.

Even though he was injured, his presence seemed more menacing than ever.

"I'll go get some more medicine, Orochimaru-sama." Kabuto said and closed the door behind me.

I wondered why his sheets were covered in blood if it was his arms that were injured. Then I saw the body. I breathed in sharply. It was, what I guessed, a medical shinobi with their stomach torn open. I quickly gathered that in a fit of rage, driven by his pain, Orochimaru killed his own subordinates. I backed away out of instinct more than fear.

Orochimaru chuckled. "I wont hurt you, Hime."

There was silence.

"So you met Yoshimitsu-kun."

"Yeah."

"What did you think?"

"He's not one for being coy."

"That he is not. He's useful for information gathering, though."

I stared at the blood on the floor. It was thick, deep red and smelled strongly of copper. I took another step back.

"Is that too over whelming for you?" Orochimaru asked.

I looked up at him.

"That's right. I know about the Satsugai curse." He said. "Why you clan was once greatly feared in Sunagakure."

I stared back down at the blood.

"You can hold back that urge because you're only a half breed. I doubt your father could do so well."

My head snapped up at the mention of my father.

"Why did you call me here?!"

"I've learned some information that might interest you."

"Oh?" I wasn't interested in the least.

"Uchiha Itachi has appeared in Konohagakure."

My attention was snagged. "Itachi-san?!"

"Apparently he's after the nine-tails."

I paused. "What does this have to do with me?"

"Karasu-hime, if you swear to follow me, work for me, I'll give you your freedom. I'll let you go where you please when you want. I'll even let you got to Itachi right now."

My freedom? My freedom in exchange for being Orochimaru's subordinate, his pawn?

"What a stupid offer." I mumbled.

"Why do you hate me so?" Orochimaru asked suddenly.

"I don't owe you any explanations."

"We are very alike, you and I." He said, slowly.

"Don't." I said, already seeing where this conversation was going.

"We're both genius shinobi who weren't recognized in our home village. Both found ourselves in Akatsuki. Both rouge shinobi who want to get back at the person who made us into what we are today. Where do we differ?"

I thought back to Ekima. "I respect others for who they are."

I glared into the sadistic eyes, feeling as if the words have given me power. Orochimaru's smile only widened and he laughed.

"Your so strong-willed and proud." He said. "It will be interesting to break you.'

The fleeting feeling of power died away, and old fear tried to crawl out from the darkness in my mind. I turned around quickly and left, slamming the door behind me. Once outside, I leaned against the door and slowly slid to the ground. I soon realized I was shaking. I wasn't easily exposed to fear but, in a sense, Orochimaru was fear.

Ten minutes later I found myself lying on my bed, staring at the ground.

We're very alike you and I.

Was that true? Was I really like him?

"Karasu-chan?"

I jumped at the sound of my own name.

"Y-yeah?" I said and sat up.

The door opened and Ekima's face peered in.

"What is it Ekima-san?"

She glanced around, shuffled into the room and closed the door behind her.

"Are you okay, Karasu-chan? You been in your room for a long time now?"

"I'm fine, just tired." I lied.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah." I said, trying to force a smile.

Ekima gave me a gentle smile and turned to leave.

"Ekima-san?"

She turned back eagerly. "Yes?"

I hesitated. "Am…am I like Orochimaru?"

Ekima's eyes went wide. She rushed to my side.

"No! No, no, no. You're nothing like Orochimaru-sama! How could you even think that?!"

"He said it and it's what's bugging me." I confessed.

"Karasu-chan, weren't you the one who told me not to listen to Orochimaru-sama?"

She was right but I didn't respond. Ekima sat down on the bed.

"Orochimaru-sama is a manipulative person. He uses his words to get into your head. By doing that he learns your weaknesses, your strengths, and habits. When he learns that he uses it against you to make you crack and control you. So, be careful to how you react to his words, the way you react reveals things about your character."

I looked her in the eye. "How do you know all this?"

Ekima looked away. "I've never seen the outside world. I've lived here as long as I can remember. I've known Orochimaru-sama long enough to know his every motive, hobby, even habits. I probably know him better that even Kabuto-sama." She smiled sadly at me. "Most of the time I wish I didn't."

Author's Notes: Okay before you go telling me that Yoshimitsu is a Mary Sue, I am aware. My brother created the character so you'll have to take up with him, not me!! I actually kind of like him and that's why I used him.