Chapter 17: Choices and Consequences

PLEASE READ: Soooo…I decided I couldn't just leave it at that…so here is another chapter (To be perfectly honest, I finished work earlier, but I still have a 300-page edit to do, and this is me procrastinating like crazy….I am so going to curse myself when I have to stay up all night to do the edit the night before the deadline…but that is the future me's worries mwahahaha.)

HP/KH/IU

Itachi stood guard at Hadrian's side, but there wasn't much he could do.

He knew Orochimaru had feared him in the past and maybe still did, but it seemed as if Hadrian was the bigger threat in this instance.

He glanced at Hadrian and couldn't help but wonder what other secrets the man kept…and he found that he deeply craved the knowledge to the point that he would have found a way to pry it out of him…if it weren't for the fact that he was sure it would drive Hadrian away instead of deepening their tentative bond.

During their journey here, he'd kept a careful eye on the other man, and he had noticed subtle signs of a warrior in him…signs that were usually hidden or over-shadowed by Hadrian's inquisitive and impulsive nature, but it was there all the same.

He couldn't also help but wonder about the shadows he sometimes noticed in the other man's gaze whenever he thought he was alone but it seemed as if Hadrian was keen on keeping that chapter of his life a secret.

Itachi glanced down at Orochimaru, wondering what the man would choose even as his senses told him that the man would opt for survival and then plan an eventual escape.

He had to admit that he was curious as to how Hadrian would be able to ensure that Orochimaru didn't carry on with his experiments back at the village, short of locking him up, that is.

He glanced toward Kakashi and found that the man looked to be in a similar state…and probably wondering the same thing.

Itachi turned his attention back to Hadrian as he kneeled down on one knee to be able to look Orochimaru in the eye.

HP/KH/IU

Having been used like a puppet to the whims of powerful people in the past, Hadrian found that he hated standing over someone else in such a way…even if that someone was someone who tried to kill him a few moments ago…not that he could die.

He looked the man in the eye and allowed his mind to subtly connect to the other man's, only to be surprised by the sheer amount of information that Orochimaru seemed to be working through at that moment in an effort to justify whatever choice he will make…but what truly catches Hadrian's attention is that the man is already marked by Death.

HP/KH/IU

Orochimaru couldn't help but feel a faint sense of longing at the idea of returning to Konoha…and even seeing the old man again.

Naturally, he tried to squash it immediately since he deemed it a weakness, one he couldn't afford, but then the young man kneeled in front of him and Orochimaru couldn't help but notice signs of torture on him.

It wasn't so strange for a shinobi to have gone through torture after being captured…but Orochimaru knew instinctively that the words 'I must not tell lies' on the young man's hand had been by made himself…yet under duress.

In a way, it reminded him of his own experience…after all…what is the price of one life if it can save millions? Yet no one had believed that his intentions had been to protect himself Konoha once his experiments were revealed.

It was only after meeting an eager student like Kabuto that he learned what it meant to be a guide…a mentor…a protector since he'd never truly gotten along with the headstrong Tsunade and the perverted Jiraiya.

He had tried to learn their interests in the beginning, despite acting cold and distant, but they had never given him the courtesy of doing the same…of learning why he craved knowledge like he craved air.

It had caused him to keep to himself…to learn ways that would ensure that he would survive no matter what since he didn't feel like he could fully count on his teammates.

With Kabuto, he'd learnt how it felt to be protective of someone… and he came close to learning what it felt like to lose someone you cared for.

He became more picky about the research subjects he used after that day…very few people would mourn those who plundered their homes and killed their families, but that left him with sub-par research subjects at best.

Orochimaru dragged himself out of his thoughts and regarded the man in front of him…his heightened senses were still screaming that the man was dangerous, which was why he'd tried to kill him in the first place…

…Would the young man truly be able to sway the decision of the Elders of Konoha?

The idea of seeing the Elders' reaction to this impulsive idea…and even more so…the reaction of his old sensei was more than he could resist and he found himself nodding, "I choose…"

A/N: MY DAILY SCHEDULE

Me: (5PM) I'm so tired, but I need to finish this work.

Also Me: (9PM) I can probably relax a little bit now, right?

Also Also Me: (12:01AM) One more hour of missed sleep won't kill me, I just want to finish this ONE last ESO mission.

Also Also Also Me: (2:35AM) Oh shit, I have work in 4 hours!