The Orochi compound was surprisingly silent that morning. Normally, one of Orochimaru's many charges would be running amuck, however, with many of them out on missions and at their posts, the compound was peaceful. A summer breeze played gently with Orochimaru's hair as he sat on the engawa, enjoying the most welcomed silence. He sipped at his tea as he read over the Fourth Hokage's message for the dozenth time.

Orochimaru-sama,

If it suits your schedule, please come to the Hokage's tower at noon tomorrow. I wish to discuss your recent decision to stay in the village for this extended time.

Fourth Hokage,

Namikaze Minato

(P.S. Please don't bring Anko)

Smirking slightly at the added note, Orochimaru wondered what the once boy wanted with him. It had been true that he had not been in the village for more than a month at a time ever since his own teammates decided to leave as well.

First, it was Jiraiya with his obsessive need to be a hero to a bunch of Ame orphans. Orochimaru could still feel the sting of betrayal that cut through his heart when Jiraiya had refused to return with them, leaving them to report back to their sensei. If they hadn't been the Third Hokage's students, Orochimaru knew Jiraiya would have been labeled as a traitor, but as it student, his idiotic teammate was instead offered up his own spy network on a silver platter.

Next to go was Tsunade. At least she had waited to leave once the Second Shinobi War was finished, however, her absence had been the most notable. The hospital had nearly crashed and burned without her there—which was an issue in itself—and left the village behind herself to instead wallow in her own self-pity. Orochimaru hadn't tried to convince her to stay. Not when Nawaki, his former student until the fated mission that had left him crippled, could not convince his sister to stay. Dan's death had left Tsunade a former shell of herself, and Orochimaru knew it was better to let her wander than slowly fade away before his very eyes.

However, it was when Sarutobi-sensei handed him over to Danzo Shimura that Orochimaru had decided that perhaps his teammates had been right in turning their backs on the village. Of course, he would never forgive them for abandoning him, but when he looked into the cruel, cold eye of Danzo, he knew exactly what the other had in mind for him.

Everything about Danzo screamed deception; from the fake smiles he flashed at Sarutobi-sensei to the controlled way he spoke to his underlings. However, it was the honey-sweet promises that dripped from his lips that had alarm bells going off in Orochimaru's mind.

The man promised power. Knowledge. Everything that he had ever wanted.

But, at a price.

Orochimaru wasn't an idiot. Far from it in fact. No, he had heard and seen for himself the rumors that was ROOT. He didn't quite know what the man was up to, but by the way Danzo's lip would curl in disgust at the mere sight of an Uchiha, or the greedy gleam that would spark in his eyes when nobody was looking, it was obvious. While many would call Orochimaru a snake—rightfully so—then that made Danzo the haunting shadow of Konaha. His influence was everywhere, if you knew where to look.

Even the Anbu weren't safe, from what Orochimaru had seen. Good thing he had gently guided the lone Hatake cub away from Danzo's claws before anything untold occurred.

With the crushing weight of loneliness pressing down on him, Orochimaru had felt himself spiraling into a darkness he hadn't felt since his parents' passing. Every day had been a struggle: he barely slept, conveniently forgot to eat without his teammates there to remind him, and he spent more and more time in his labs, away from any other human being. If he had kept going like that, no doubt Danzo's wicked talons would have sunken into him and pulled him even further into that darkness.

The only thing that saved him from the inevitable fate was his apprentice.

Anko.

It was on a day just like this one, a cool breeze combating against the harsh summer's rays, when Sarutobi-Sensei had called him to the Hokage's office. Orochimaru had been on edge, almost expecting an ambush of some kind, as it had been months, perhaps a year since he and his old sensei had a chat.

However, once he stepped into the office, his eyes had zeroed in on the small, feral looking child that glared back at him. Her hair had been wild, knotted and had flecks of dirt in it, while her clothes had been threadbare and ready to fall apart at any moment. Nasty cuts and bruises littered her body, but didn't seem to bother her in the least. Instead, she held her head high as she glared at everyone in the room, especially the equally irritated chunnin glaring right back at her.

"Hokage-sama?" Was all Orochimaru had asked before his new fate had been sealed.

"Ah, Orochi," Sensei had sighed fondly. The man in question had to hold back his blink of surprise at the sound of his old nickname. "I know it's been a long time since you've taken students, but I think you and Anko-chan would do wonders for each other."

At first, that had been the furthest thing from the truth.

Anko had nearly gone kicking and screaming into her apprenticeship. It had taken weeks for her to simply trust him enough to sleep in the Orochi compound, then a few more until she finally figured out that he wouldn't take away the food he was willingly giving to her. Slowly, she had turned from a rapid animal into a diligent, if still slightly insane, apprentice. She absorbed his teachings like a sponge, always questioning him and the way the world worked. Even when she was wrong, she would defend her ideas to the very end.

In all honesty, Sarutobi-sensei had been correct in believing they would be good for each other.

With an apprenticeship, it is almost like an adoption. The teacher was required to take care of the student's needs, even outside of training. They needed to make sure their student was ready for anything in the world: from proper nutrition to moral lessons, and even sex education. However, Orochimaru had a feeling most teachers left that last part to the student's families when possible.

However, with Anko being an orphan, Orochimaru had essentially adopted Anko.

Maybe she didn't call him by any familial names, but that didn't mean she didn't sneak into his bed after a nightmare, or that she would get into a fight with anyone who even dared to send him a dirty look. Slowly, they had become more than teacher and student. While it was obvious to others, it was still unspoken in the Orochi household that they were very much parent and child.

Of course, that changed when Danzo had decided to creep around his compound. The man had been relentless in trying to learn more about Anko, her training, and just what Orochimaru had been up to recently in his labs. And, if he would considered working for Danzo. As soon as Orochimaru had turned the man away, he had told Anko to pack her bags.

In less than an hour, they found themselves facing Sarutobi-sensei once more.

"You want to take Anko-chan on a training trip?"

"Yes."

"What brought this on?"

"I have deemed it time that she see more of the world than the walls of the village."

While the excuse slipped from his tongue with ease, the silent scrutiny that his sensei leveled at him made him feel like an insect pinned to the wall. If he had been a lesser shinobi, he would surely have fidgeted, but as it was, he was one of the Legendary Sannin and did not flinch. After what felt like ages, sensei had finally nodded and stamped his seal across the hastily written request Orochimaru had written not ten minutes before.

For two years, Orochimaru and Anko had traveled the expanse of Fire Country, even dipping into the other countries before they returned.

Just in time for Danzo Shimura's funeral.

It was all coincidental. Truly.

Even though Orochimaru had been out of the village, that did not mean he couldn't send messages to those still inside of it. And if some of the clan elders had connected a few dots, given a bit of evidence, and told to look in certain places, then it was all their doing, none of Orochimaru's. And, if some kind of poison had ended up in Danzo's food, only taking affect after months of digestion and unable to detect upon inspection of the body, then that was just as coincidental.

However, what had not been a coincident was the influx of children that Orochimaru had taken under his wing. Maybe a few of them were quite emotionless at times, others on a tripwire of aggression, and walked as quiet as jonnin with a kill count nearing triple digits. But, as these children were being guided by one of the most revered shinobi in Konaha, not many objected to his adoption of these children. It also helped that Anko would tell anyone and everyone how amazing it was to be an older sister, and how thankful she was to have two little brothers.

Tenzo and Kabuto were cautious of Anko, and even more weary of Orochimaru, but over the next few years, and many trips out of the village, both boys grew to be great shinobi. Everyone had been shocked by Tenzo's ability to replicate the First Hokage's wood justu, even if Orochimaru had simply raised an eyebrow and dragged the boy to the Senju compound to receive a few scrolls. Kabuto had been equally surprising in his want to study medical justu, but Orochimaru was nothing but a knowledge seeker himself to deny him Tsunade's old notes.

Over time, the trips he took with his children grew longer and longer, until it was more natural to see his children in the compound more than him.

However, he wasn't idle in his travels.

As Anko put it, he began to expand his collection.

In his opinion, he was simply taking in children who needed a warm bed and someone to actually care if they lived or died.

Kimimaro had been the first, having taken a shine to Kabuto immediately. Then came Deidara, who had attached himself to Anko's side as soon as they were introduced. In short, nobody could have predicted that the Sannin that would have a compound full of children would be Orochimaru. And of course, he was forced to ask Tenzo to expand the compound when Jiraiya had come home with his three orphans.

When they had knocked on his door, completely soaked to the bone and looking like drowned rats, he had simply raised an eyebrow at the clear Uzumaki hair and ushered them inside. As soon as they were dried, fed, and put to bed, Jiraiya had disappeared, stating that Orochimaru was more suited to parenthood. Glaring at the empty spot Jiraiya had been sitting previously, Orochimaru had sighed and sent one of his snakes to inform Anko that she had a sister. Technically, the three Ame children were already teenagers and older, but from the cowed way they stared at him, he had a feeling Anko would still claim her title of the oldest child.

It took some time to explain to the Ame children that he would in fact not kill them, no matter what he said during their first meeting. He sincerely regretted saying such a thing, but he knew why he had: he had been staring down at three orphans who were stuck in a war-torn country surrounded by cruel people. Death would have been more preferrable to living in such conditions. But, since they had been dropped into his lap, they were now his responsibility.

With a much fuller compound, Orochimaru had stopped his traveling for a few years, simply teaching his children all that he could. Yahiko had been the one to integrate the quickest with the help of Uzumaki Kushina and Namikaze Minato dragging him and Nagato around the village. Meanwhile, Anko had nearly cried at the sight of Konan and wouldn't stop asking him how he had found her long lost sister. Konan graciously accepted her constant hugs and invitations to cause mischief.

Nobody was shocked when Orochimaru turned a blind eye to such antics.

Soon enough, with his children slowly becoming dependable adults and great shinobi in their own right, Orochimaru had left to travel by himself for several years. Occasionally, one of his children would coincidentally—it was always by pure chance, of course—cross his path and regal him with their endless antics. Even when he learned of Tenzo's initiation into the Anbu and his friendship with the young Hatake and an upcoming Uchiha, Orochimaru didn't return for quite some time. It wasn't until he learned of the chunnin exams taking place in Konaha did he turn around and begin to head home.

And if he didn't look a day older than thirty, well, then that too was simply coincidental.

Now, he was home, enjoying his tea before his meeting with the Fourth Hokage. Perhaps he once had been jealous of his sensei's successor, but now, after witnessing the few grey hairs the once youthful Namikaze, Orochimaru was glad he hadn't been chosen. His children were already too much to handle, let alone an entire village of ninja and civilians.

Glancing down once more at the summoning note, Orochimaru wondered just what the younger man had in mind to call on him. A mission? New research? Asking him to once again ask Tsunade to come home?

"No use wondering," he told himself. Standing from his position, he began to make his way out of the compound. Arms folded in the sleeves of his kimono, he walked through the village and let his eyes take in the newest additions that had been made since he had returned. Many new buildings, shops, and other miscellaneous districts had been added. Surprisingly, the civilian districts seemed to have grow the largest—he had heard rumors that a strong merchant clan had been spreading its roots lately.

The walk to the Hokage' tower was pleasant enough, even though Orochimaru swore he could feel the sharp gaze of Tenzo following him from the rooftops. No doubt he was doing so behind his mask, but even then, Orochimaru was half tempted to lead him on a merry chase across the village. Resisting the urge, he continued on until he found himself back inside the Hokage's office.

Namikaze Minato had changed quite a bit from the boy Orochimaru had once known; no longer stood a gangly, stick thin child, but instead a strong man that would leave his people to prosperity. And from the lack of paperwork on his desk, Orochimaru was doubly sure he was handling the job just fine.

"Orochimaru-sensei." Minato's smile was like a million suns, a smile that had been passed on to his son. "I'm glad you could come."

"I'm not your sensei," Orochimaru smiled fondly, starting their old script.

"I know, but you'll always be one of the best teachers around," Minato said predictably. "Please, sit down."

Gracefully sitting across from the younger man, Orochimaru eyed the files Minato was fiddling with absentmindedly. Glancing up at him, Orochimaru raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything.

"The rumors say you're staying for a while this time," Minato started when it was obvious Orochimaru wouldn't say anything first.

"That is correct," he hummed.

"Then may I ask something of you?"

Narrowing his eyes, Orochimaru once more glanced at the files. "Depends on what you are hoping to ask of me."

"Nothing you couldn't handle, Orochimaru-sensei." Minato smiled disarmingly as he picked up the files. "With only one of our own genin being promoted to chunnin after these recent exams, I was hoping that you could take on an apprentice."

Frowning, Orochimaru took the files being offered to him as he thought on the request. It had been years since he had taken on a formal apprentice. While he had adopted and trained his own children, he could not be considered their teacher since an apprenticeship needed to be with someone outside of the family. No doubt the Council had told Minato that Orochimaru needed to have another apprentice after such a long time. They wanted to secure the knowledge of at least one Sannin.

"These are the files of the genin that have been dubbed as the 'Rookie Twelve'," Minato explained. "Only Nara Shikamaru has shown ready to be promoted while the rest still need more improvement."

Orochimaru nodded along as he read the files.

"You would offer up your own son to be my apprentice?" He asked, only letting a small margin of his surprise reflect in his voice.

"Of course." Minato nodded with confidence. "But, I think it's an open secret that Jiraiya has been begging to be his sensei once Naruto's ready."

"Not surprising that oaf would want the son of his own student," Orochimaru rolled his eyes, gaining a chuckle from the other. "What do you know about these other students? The Uchiha and Hyuuga?"

"Uchiha Sasuke is the brother to Uchiha Itachi, son to the Uchiha clan leader, Uchiha Fugaku. He has shown the same type of intelligence as his brother, and has the kind of determination only the Uchiha have. As for Hyuuga Hinata, she is a very shy, quiet child. She is the heir to the Hyuuga clan and has many expectations from her position."

Orochimaru frowned. There seemed to be a pattern evolving in the files in his hands. Many of the genin were either clan heirs or in the line of succession. Other than for three of the children, it was obvious why the Council would be pushing for him to take on a student from this group of clan heirs. If any of the heirs could say they had been trained by a Legendary Sannin, then their clan's reputation would no doubt skyrocket.

"What do you say, Orochimaru-sensei?" Minato asked after a few beats of silence. "Will you take one of them on as an apprentice?"

Flicking through the files once more, Orochimaru nodded slowly.

"Yes," Minato let out a sigh of relief. "However, I do have one condition."

"Being?" Minato narrowed his eyes.

"I wish to test them myself before I choose which one will be my new student."

Orochimaru's smile grew increasingly sinister as Minato paled.