Chapter 5 Start

"We must speak."

Orochimaru's stern declaration cuts through the mild noises of exertion from Naruto.

The Sensei observes his student with honed scrutiny. As expected, their research had proved more than a little valuable as a tool to improve Shinobi training. The boy grows, lean and tall and more elegant than he once was. There is a practised edge to his movements, the way he walks and runs to the way he eats, not wasting a grain nor drop of anything if only for the sake of ensuring maximum bodily development.

Naruto appears on the outside to understand the value of a scientific method towards learning, training and practice. He is meticulous in study, never letting anything slip by him, and while results speak for themselves, there is something that halts Naruto's development, and it is a bitter pill for even Orochimaru to swallow, as one who lauds his own method.

Science and learning are his calling. Not Naruto's. Orochimaru's perspective is vacillating on his own pride as a skilled craftsman in the trade of death. In a way, it is the ultimate validation that his methods slingshot his growth and abilities to capabilities far beyond that of the average Shinobi. He is renowned across the world as one of the most powerful Shinobi to have come from Konoha, feared and awed in equal parts. His own self-identified developed sadism is exacerbated by success as a Shinobi. In equal parts, he is despised for many of the methods which he'd used to grow in power, presenting a conundrum by the standards of Konoha's supposed 'Will of Fire'.

Self-sacrifice is venerated across all cultures in the world. It is not something exclusive to Konohagakure. But he'd been there and witnessed first-hand Konoha's hypocrisy, something he despises more about the village than anything else. Even the very founding of Konoha is indicative of that hypocrisy, and it is a long and detailed and embellished history recorded.

Senju Hashirama chose from the start that the village, above all-else, should be the most valuable thing in a person's heart. He preached peace but founded a village who's institution has led to unfathomable death. His philosophy was one of sacrifice, that you must sacrifice all that you are in the name of Konohagakure. An extremist that didn't even realise how far he'd fallen from his own ideals. And when the fabled 'God Of Shinobi' believes that a village thriving on sacrifice is an insurmountable keystone in the name of chasing peace, no-one can contend, only arm themselves in the shadows and wait in fear until the God shows his face to bring peace.

Konoha is a village where power is worshipped. The power to protect the saplings at the cost of everyone else. The dynamic from the Era of Warring States had not changed. Only the life-expectancy of a Shinobi. And yet people die young, fuelled by the Will of Fire, built into soft minds waiting to be taught about the world. Sacrifice yourself. Kill even your own brother if he dares turn a blade to Konoha.

Hatake Sakumo was not someone Orochimaru considered a friend, but a peer and rival. His ability was to be admired, and yet despite all the 'good' he'd done for the village, he was torn down the moment he decided to selfishly rescue his comrades instead of leaving them for dead to complete his mission.

By the very same village that enabled and encouraged the kidnapping of children to be raised as weapons whose sole purpose is to enact the will of Konoha. Mindless and ambitionless critters with no inkling of what power is, as inanimate in soul and mind as a sharp blade. Unethical, they said. But did not discard these tools for what little value they truly provided. For what is but a few sacrifices, in the name of Konoha?

Nothing. And that is why Orochimaru had the confidence to do what he did. Sacrifice others in the name of power. In the name of Konoha.

And he'd been discarded the second they realised he wasn't sacrificing himself too. Murder and experimentation and kidnapping are only ethical concessions when you sacrifice yourself too. For Konohagakure.

Orochimaru had not been at peace leaving Konoha. And now, even as much as every fibre of his being hates admitting it, he misses what he had. He'd lost for the sake of Konoha. Bled for it. His parents died for it. He'd shed tears when Dan had died for it. He truly thought his bonds with Jiraiya and Tsunade had become non-severable and immortal, and that had placated his drive for so-very-long.

But as he'd come to realise, it was not a fickle decision. Konoha's roots are deeply entrenched in them. They wouldn't dare, couldn't even, turn their backs on it.

Vicious rage was all he had when he left.

Until he found two suffering, helpless hatchlings.

It had been a fickle whim to take interest in them.

And it has taught him more on what little humanity he has in him that Konoha ever did. It has even helped him understand, not to the same extreme that Konoha does, the value of protecting that which is completely helpless.

Honoka is a traumatised, tiny ball of nervous energy and fear. She lacks the healthy foundations required to be independent, entirely reliant on Naruto for direction. She nary spends an hour away from him. Study helps her focus, it brings out her own ingenuity and bright spark. When Orochimaru can get her to speak, distracted enough from the horrors she'd been through, she is unusually insightful. Not always correct, but at least makes efforts to understand things through reasoning over just being told how things are. If circumstances were different, he imagines she'd be something of a spitfire. And what confuses him the most is his desire to see her grow into that.

Naruto is traumatised, but that rears its head within him as unbridled hate and rage. An emotional polar opposite to Honoka, every action he takes is fuelled by ambition and emotion, raw passion and desire than he knows what to do with. Very much lost in his own maelstrom, he bounces between things sporadically, trying to do everything at once. Unsurprisingly, when he fails it feels like a defeat, it affects him so deeply that he refuses to rest until he gets results.

And unfortunately, that boundless energy is attracting attention. His drive to succeed takes him out into the wilds to put his study into practice. He starts making more and more mistakes, too emotional to think rationally on what is good for all three of them, as opposed to just himself. He is followed more than once, and while he usually cleans up his mess on his own, the increasing instances help Orochimaru understand that the lack of adjustment the two children have to the circumstances is affecting them on a psychological level that cannot be repaired by him, as veritable monolith of hate himself.

Perhaps ironically, Naruto and Honoka's study on Chakra Control also fuelled his upcoming decision. Their findings had brought to the forefront of his mind that mental condition plays a far bigger part in the control of one's own power than only hard words can fulfil. And, well... The viability of voluntary submission to experimentation had also had its merits revealed.

Prodigious minds tainted by fear and hatred.

All. Three. Of. Them.

And so in order to grow into themselves, they must grow apart. They all unintentionally facilitate their own negative traits. For reasons beyond his understanding of himself, he wants them to grow into themselves as people. More than anything right now, learning to understand themselves and their circumstances will help them more than he can, for all the knowledge and training he can bestow upon them, for all the growth he can provide their bodies and skills he cannot help their own spirits, the other side of the coin in controlling their own power. And practically, he has no use for two children who can't take advantage of their emotions. He could only teach them to suppress them, and in that case he'd be no better than Danzo, creating useless, dull blades.

Real life and normal humans can teach them how to use their emotions better than he can.

When they are ready, they can return to him. When they are ready, the three of them can be great.

Together.

"Sensei?"

Naruto's voice cuts through his thoughts.

He is not so compassionate still, that he would give them more than what they need.

So he thinks.

"Gather Honoka." Orochimaru orders him. "I have something quite important to discuss."

Hatred and fear are powerful motivators. But despite himself, Orochimaru's passion lies within methods and results. Three years of teaching and planning had not improved his students' mental health. Thus, the methods he employs are invalid. He can teach them anything related to the Shinobi arts, and that is what will draw them back eventually. But for now, the best thing to do for them to ensure they grow strong and reach their goals is to let them go for a while.

Honoka comes toddling into the room behind Naruto. Blue eyes and grey eyes look up at him eagerly, waiting to learn what their next task is.

"You are to listen to me with careful consideration." Orochimaru starts. "This is something I have thought about with deep deliberation. I need time that I can no longer spare in order to build a sustainable way to do experiments that will not continue to catch the notice of the Five Great Villages, and just the same, I cannot do what I need to while training you and cleaning up your messes and failures that you create with your impatience and sloppiness."

Naruto arcs up like a prickly cat, ready to defend himself.

Orochimaru silences him by putting his slender, pale hand on top of the boys' head.

"Listen."

Honoka appears too shy to say anything anyway.

"Your research into Chakra Control has been very revealing. Your resolve to achieve your goals is held back by your fears, and it affects your performance in the Shinobi arts. You lack control in your minds, and therefore you cannot control your Chakra. We must part ways for a while so that you two may discover yourselves and the lessons that the rest of the world has to teach you, lessons I cannot, so that you may settle your minds and approach your studies once more with the vigour that I have been expecting of you."

Naruto petulantly slaps Orochimaru's hand off of his head.

"But I already know what I want! I want-"

"I know too." Orochimaru does not lose patience. This reaction was expected. "But you cannot argue with the results. You are getting diminishing returns from your training because you lack true focus. You hold me back because I cannot focus on my own goals while teaching you two, and we as a whole cannot function as an effective unit yet. I am not saying that we part ways permanently. I want us to split for a few years, so we may focus on ourselves and our own ambitions, and then when we are ready, we shall reunite and continue where we left off. I cannot teach the both of you everything, I am not so great of a teacher. I need more to work with than you are giving me and I have... failed to realise as much until now."

"But we'll be together again?" Honoka asks meekly, grey eyes watery.

"If you survive without me. Prove yourselves capable, and I will welcome you back with open arms. The only way you can fail me is dying. And I know you both, you were resilient when I found you and you're resilient now. I expect you to survive long enough to grow into yourselves and we shall become a team once again. If you so choose."

Naruto doesn't appear to understand the short-term result.

"So you want us to leave and learn to be normal for a while?"

"I'm saying that all three of us will be going our separate ways."

Before Naruto can get his first protest out, he is slammed to the ground with a hand around his throat.

"You hurt Honoka, and you hurt me." Orochimaru nearly hisses, slitted eyes sharp and dangerous. "There is no discussion to be had. Honoka follows your lead doggedly because it is comfortable to do so. You take away her ability to find her own purpose and direction by overwriting it with your own. She is your motivation too, you cannot even fathom a different way to do things with her at your side constantly. You are intertwined too much that you poison each other, unable to grow in mind as you do in body. I cannot help you find yourselves so I hurt you too. It is time for us to part ways, or else everything that you care for will rot and die. You, us, all of our dreams and ambitions, will perish as ashes in the wind unless all three of us agree to separate and grow strong on our own."

Orochimaru releases the distraught boy, Honoka hovers over him anxiously.

"I will give you time to accept this and plan when we will reunite. I will not leave you with nothing either. But my decision is absolute."

The Uzumaki remain silent for a few days, not communicating with Orochimaru.

Part of him misses the noise. Until Honoka and Naruto storm up to him with intensity in their eyes.

"We want a photograph!" Honoka boldly proclaims, to his surprise. "To remember each other when we're all gone!"

"A photograph..." Orochimaru doesn't let his confusion show.

"And we want your help to discover safe places for us to stay until we're ready to come back!" Naruto exclaims.

"That is a request that will take time and little reward for the effort put in." Orochimaru reasons.

"Time doesn't matter to you 'cause you're gonna be immortal anyway." Naruto reasons equally. "You can help us lowly mortals with a few things before you do your own thing."

"Kukukukuku!" Orochimaru finds himself laughing genuinely at Naruto's wit. "You should know by now, I will do no such thing for free."

"It's a long-term investment." Naruto reveals as seriously as an eleven-year-old can. "You pay a little time and effort now and get rewarded for it later."

"Your logic is amusing and somewhat valid, but no." Orochimaru smiles. These children are funny. "I would counter-offer. You two complete the remaining tasks on your list with my assistance, and if we find appropriate locations while doing them, then I shall 'vet' them on your behalf. Is that agreeable?"

Naruto and Honoka look at eachother. Not having a silent conversation, but expressions aloud saying 'that is a good deal'.

They each put an opposing hand out.

Orochimaru shakes both.

Naruto and Honoka are so distracted by effort for the scant few months left they spend together, that they seem to leave behind their trauma for an agreed greater good. To be as ready as possible and enjoy what time they have left together. It could be a good stepping stone in the repair or growth of their minds. Learning to file the past away in their heads until the job is done, or perhaps re-training themselves to focus?

Task Nineteen: Acquire Reinforced-Glass Testing Vats.

Task Twenty: Acquire Sedation Chemical and Organic Compounds.

Interestingly, they don't need much help with these tasks. They logically come to the correct conclusions; places that specialise in the use of technology to resolve medical issues were far more likely to possess the equipment required. As such, places without strong Shinobi roots were the initial scouting locations. If they couldn't steal what they needed, they could gather the intel on where the items were manufactured, leading to a more economically legitimate way that coincided with Orochimaru's goal of at least a loosely ethical place where people could choose to be experimented on for money.

The three of them follow the south coast of the Elemental Nations. They skip past Namigakure, finding it too economically weak to even begin the manufacturing processes required for their needs, and head east toward the Land of Rivers. Konohagakure is the leading authority in the world on Medical Ninjutsu and specialised care, in no small part due to Orochimaru's own discoveries and Tsunade's skilled practices, and it stands to reason that there may be an inkling of what they need in the lands between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind, in which Rivers runs through, as a gesture of peace, or perhaps to dissuade Rivers from taking sides should the tenuous alliance between the two greater nations fail.

Sure enough, they find what they're looking for. Or rather, the 'in' required to acquire the resources they need.

"Good Daimyo," Orochimaru greets with a smile that says 'you can do nothing about me'.

"Orochimaru. S-Rank Missing-Nin, according to my hidden village." The Daimyo is cold, scrutinising. Wise. "And you bring two children. I sincerely hope that you do not test my generosity, you will find no home here. What do you want?"

Straight to the point, then.

"I've heard you're having an image problem." Orochimaru chuckles, sinister in such a way that it unsettles the Daimyo's staff.

"Your point being?" The Daimyo clearly does not have time for games.

"Konohagakure and Sunagakure use your lands to funnel troops. Troops that do not bring prosperity and demand more of your people than they can fulfil, leading to increases in costs, and shortages of food. The crime that is started by a few sets an example to their comrades that they're safe to commit foul deeds within your borders. I propose a deterrent. I and my students will launch an operation to clean up the crime caused by other nations in your lands and in exchange, we request the manufacturing plans for the medical equipment given to you by those nations. You don't want your nation to be a pushover, so we deter the problems from happening while working in conjunction with you."

"Interesting proposal. But I do not want to risk Konoha on my doorstep, demanding to know why Orochimaru has been given safe passage through my lands. Kill them."

A swarm of Shinobi descend upon them from wooden rafters.

Orochimaru remains still, only smiling.

Honoka waves elegantly through a few hand-signs.

Water erupts from the well-kept floorboards, twisting and bending as though it were the air itself, swirling quickly into perfect spheres that trap the Shinobi and leave them suspended in orbs, held up by the perpetual motion of rivulets.

"It's not technically killing them if they drown on their own, right?" Honoka asks innocently.

"It appears that I have underestimated the strength of Shinobi." The Daimyo states, tone unchanging, eyes calculating as to how to fix his own blunder. He is young for a Daimyo, and seemingly willing to learn from his mistakes and errors.

Unfortunately, Orochimaru refuses to give chances to those foolish enough to tempt his power.

"I will be adjusting the deal." Orochimaru states, still smiling. "You'll be acquiring what we desire. Or you shall die."

Snakes begin to furl from Naruto's sleeves, slithering across the floor agonisingly slow and threatening.

"I suppose nothing is lost by promoting the sharing of medical technology." The Daimyo says bravely, though a cold sweat taints his brow.

Task Twenty-One: Develop Discriminatory Barrier Entrance and Exit.

Task Twenty-Two: Learn a Stealth Ninjutsu.

Part of learning about themselves is the study of the Uzumaki itself; Fuinjutsu and extensions of it. Juinjutsu, Barriers and the like.

It is a difficult experience. Through using themselves as conduits for such techniques, they don't often have to worry about the sustainability of Fuinjutsu placed on the outside. Everything degrades over time, including barriers and curse-marks. More so when placed on objects rather than a source that will continue to replenish its own Chakra through food and meditation, humans and various animals.

Uzumaki Fuinjutsu is highly stylised and difficult to replicate, not simply due to the complex weaving and engenuity, but also the very nature of their strong Chakra. Orochimaru already knew the Uzumaki were different, but studying their Chakra and why it's so compatible with the creation of Fuinjutsu had been revealing in more ways than one.

An Uzumaki by default is the perfect host for a Bijuu. As displayed by every nation except Konohagakure, a host needs to have a baseline compatibility with a Bijuu, or else the Bijuu Chakra will cook them from the inside and destroy them. Generally, it's down to Chakra Nature as the decider. The Ichibi requires a host with an affinity to Jiton, Nibi with Katon, and so on. The exception being the Kyuubi, too powerful to be controlled conventionally. It would seem that only Uzumaki Chakra could suppress such a beast, with the assistance of Uzumaki Fuinjutsu too, naturally. Therefore, it stands to reason that Uzumaki Chakra can effectively suppress all Bijuu.

The strength within their Chakra would be wasted on conventional Ninjutsu. Generally, Ninjutsu specialists will aim to style it. Going as minimal in size as possible while still being effective, and the best way to do so was to craft it into the shape of an animal. Snakes, dogs and the like. The study of Uzumaki Chakra causes Orochimaru to believe that such 'styling' , while subtle, would be wasteful of the natural potency of their Chakra. There is room for it in any Shinobi's repertoire, but he has the feeling his students will respond better to sheer force, at least in one way. There is no getting around that standard Shinobi practices require subtlety and cunning, and being able to adapt and respond in different ways is something he can train them in, but it is hardly engaging for them.

So, Orochimaru decides to alter their rewards a little bit.

"The Barrier works." Honoka looks up from her works as Orochimaru approaches. "We finished it and now Naru's gone to practise other stuff!"

"Ho~? Won't you explain it to me?" Orochimaru asks as he leans against the cave wall next to Honoka's workbench.

"It's pretty simple, we've figured out a formula that requires occasional maintenance for great effect. We did what you asked and made a discrimination system. The 'lock' formula stays inside the cave, while we tag ourselves with the 'key' formula. The lock draws Chakra every time someone uses the key to open it, which helps maintain its integrity and records any entry, so you can tell who's used a counterfeit key with their own unique Chakra signature and respond accordingly."

"And what exactly is the form of this Barrier?" Orochimaru questions, liking how methodical and intelligently she speaks when talking about something she is invested in.

"A door!" Honoka reveals brightly. "No Genjutsu, just a tiny stream of Chakra that maintains a Doton Ninjutsu that looks like it blends in with the cave's exterior. Makes it look like there's no cave at all. You can see here-" Naruto points to a certain spot on the formula. "-that the formula occludes the entirety of the cave. Sensory techniques won't work because the Barrier tricks you into thinking it's all rock. The only way to know that the cave is even here is to watch someone enter, be given permission, or be told and pointed out on a map that it's here. It's not smart to reinforce the walls with Fuinjutsu though, that'll definitely be able to be sensed. This entire barrier is attuned to feel like rock, with not enough Chakra for anyone to know it's fake."

"Marvellous." Orochimaru praises, slow and genuine, making Honoka beam proudly. "And where might your assistant be?"

Honoka giggles at Naruto being called her 'assistant' before pointing out into the rudimentary hall they'd dug out using minor Doton.

They hear splashing first.

And a veritable tsunami gushes past the door.

Honoka very quickly applies what she'd just shown their mentor. She waves through hand-signs quickly. 'You've gotten quite fast' He thinks, observing as she slaps her palm on the ground, sending a streak of blue Chakra so thin that it looked like string towards the entrance. It moves and lines the open passage, zipping in and around before slipping back to the ground, forming a perfectly measured outline. As if cut out with a precise tool, the thin weave of Chakra slices into the ground and pushes up a perfect and flush chunk of stone and rock that seals the doorway so well that it is completely air-tight.

The blue Chakra creates a pattern on the sealed door, glowing briefly before settling into black markings, bearing the classic Uzumaki centrepiece right in the middle.

"Naruto can't get in, can he?" Orochimaru asks.

"Nope, not until he's tagged or breaks down the door. Lemme show you!"

Honoka grabs his hand in her tiny one, biting her other thumb and putting a drop of blood on his palm. Just like her Jutsu, it swirls into the Uzumaki spiral, only adorned with three triangles pointing outward surrounding it. The mark is small, but Orochimaru feels an awareness of the barrier that suddenly invigorates him. As if by instinct, he understands how to get the barrier to move.

"Simply wonderful, Honoka." Orochimaru pets her head lightly. "Now, will you allow me to ask Naruto why exactly he feels the need to flood our hideout when he is supposed to be working on Stealth Ninjutsu?"

"He has a good reason..." Honoka mumbles in his defence.

"You still fail to understand."

Naruto rises to defend himself.

Orochimaru puts up a hand to silence him.

"I am not denying the value of this Jutsu you have created. I know that it will be of great use to you both going forward. However... the purpose of this task was to ensure that you could create a Jutsu that will not draw attention to you, not to shake off attention when you already have it. I appreciate your inventive Jutsu for what it is, but know that soon, neither me nor Honoka will be there to drag you out of trouble. Your innovation must be channelled into keeping out of trouble. There is a time and place for flashy Ninjutsu, but that is not now."

Naruto processes each word. Orochimaru rarely spends a breath praising anything, but Naruto thinks that his talents don't lie in the same things that his Sensei's does.

Honoka is probably better at doing things Orochimaru's way. Quiet and subtle.

But does that really mean that either of them understand him?

He gets that he should be staying out of trouble, that's why he created the Suiton: Joki Uwagi(Vapour Jacket), to give him unrestricted movement underwater and be able to flee or move freely toward an objective. He could get in and out without drawing attention. Theoretically. But also functions as a way to breath and fight normally underwater. So what's the deal?

Naruto figures that despite Orochimaru being such an experienced Shinobi, and Honoka being from the same circumstances as him, that neither of them really understand his motives. The Jutsu he creates, the training he does, are all for the future of the Uzumaki Clan.

How long are they expected to run? How long are they meant to suffer in silence instead of reaching for greatness again?

Maybe... it is best that they spend time apart. Maybe he can figure them out while he's gone, maybe he can figure out if he really is doing the wrong thing.

Naruto's been gone for five days.

Alone.

Honoka's lips tremble when she realises that Naruto has left her behind.

"Do not be upset with him." Orochimaru chides, hand resting atop her head. "Naruto has come to the same realisation that I have. Understanding each other is harder without the control sample of other beings. Try as we might, we struggle to truly understand one another, because we are trapped in a vacuum of our own individual negative experiences. And perhaps, we fail to understand ourselves too. You are both gifted, but there is only so much you may learn from those who are broken. He has gone to find himself, to understand himself so that he may understand us more. When he is ready, he will return. As will you."

Honoka looks at the copies of the Uzumaki scrolls Naruto left her and weeps.

Orochimaru dislikes the feelings that Honoka's distress gives him.

Honoka leaves in the early morning, also without saying goodbye.

Orochimaru unwraps the tiny box she'd left on his desk.

Inside is a photograph of the three of them smiling against the backdrop of a maroon curtain.

A jingle catches his attention underneath the framed photo. A pair of earrings, not unlike his own magatama-styled ones, only these possess the signature Uzumaki swirl.

There's a note too.

Thank you for saving us.

Wear these, as friend of the

Uzumaki Clan.

Naruto and Honoka.

'You make me soft, students.'

Chapter 5 End