Ch 38

I had put on a transformation jutsu to make it seem like I'm 18. I can't have my 13 year old self walking around with all these creeps. 

I had been wandering around for the past few weeks. Since Nigeru village is between the fire and sound countries I had a bit of time by myself. I couldn't go back to the Leaf so I went into the sound. 

Honestly a bad move on my part. 

I may be healed but I shouldn't be fighting yet, and if I met any sound ninja... 

Never mind, I'll be fine. 

I keep walking through the forest until I find something interesting. Underneath two huge trees was a door. There are two markings on it reminiscent of a snake and what appears to be a snake's skull on the top-most part. It was a stronghold built below a tree. 

Uh oh. 

I know who this belongs too. Let's go inside! I walked through the dark halls, being very interested and creeped out at the same time. Then I saw a door open, with light on the inside. 

'He' was in his laboratory, looking through papers on whatever experiment 'he' has come up with now. Suddenly 'he' felt a presence, one 'he' recognized but couldn't remember. 

'He' didn't even turn around, 'he' just looked out of the corner of 'his' eye at me. 'He' didn't say anything, 'he' just waited for me to introduce myself or attack. 

But I stayed still and silent. 

'He' finally broke his silence, "very well, since you do not wish to introduce yourself of your own free will, then I suppose I shall do the introductions, hmm?" 

'He' looks at me, with a smile on 'his' face but I couldn't read 'his' expression at all. It's difficult to guess 'his' intentions or mood. 

"...My name is Orochimaru, but you know that." 

He speaks clearly, in a calm voice, but underneath it, I can hear a hint of a malicious undertone. "I'm Hitori," I said, giving no information about anything. 

I wasn't expecting to play with my life today. 

"A wanderer huh." Orochimaru's smile grew slightly darker, and I could feel that he was scrutinizing every detail of my body. He was studying me. I felt a shiver creep up my spine. 

"What do you want from me, Hitori?" I stepped out of the shadows, closer to him. He didn't show any emotions indicating he felt threatened. "I don't know yet," I answered honestly. 

I did have plans, and it would be good if I could get some information from Orochimaru. But it all depended on how he responded. 

"Hmm. So you just felt like visiting me... without any particular reason?" Orochimaru leans forward, his eyes narrowing. 

"Or are you still thinking about it?" He seems to be waiting for me to give him an answer that'll satisfy him. 

"It is rare that someone approaches me... What is your story, Hitori? What are you trying to accomplish?" I want to survive. I hummed "I came in here knowing the owner. It is an interesting hideout, I thought I should explore to my heart's content." 

It was true, I just wanted to get some information and power. I found this place and thought Orochimaru's hideout might have something I'm looking for. 

Orochimaru raised an eyebrow "An explorer... huh?" 

I realized that although Orochimaru is no longer looking at me, though, he is still paying attention. He is very suspicious of what I'm trying to say. 

"Do you like what you see?" He finally faced me again, and I got a better look at him. His pale face, his sharp eyes and small smile that seems to hide something sinister underneath. He's the same as I remember. 

"It's alright, but not something I would like to spend my days in." It was dark, creepy and probably crawling with bugs. Plus there was barely anything to see. It was pretty barren. 

Orochimaru chuckled "Ah, so you think this place is boring? There is no need to be polite about it, tell me what you really think." The sound of his voice is calm, friendly and even charming, but I felt completely uncomfortable listening to him talk. 

I chuckled to ease my nerves, "I think this place suits you." Orochimaru seemed pleased with my reply, somehow. He looks back at his work, and then at me again 

"Well, that is good to hear... Perhaps you have realized what kind of work I do here?" There was dried blood everywhere. And papers on human anatomy. 

"I could guess, but I've heard stories." Orochimaru seemed intrigued by this reply, "is that so?" He leaned forward, and stared at me with a grin. 

"What kind of stories have you heard about me, Hitori?" I've seen the anime, I know everything. 

"Human experiments and such. Nothing good I'm sad to say," I'm being polite because this guy could rock my shit easily. 

As if my reply doesn't bother him at all, Orochimaru laughs a little "It's true, I do do human experiments" His voice remained cheerful, even more so than before 

"Did your village send you to stop me?" There we go, now it's getting serious. 

"I'm a rogue," I technically am, even though I was threatened. 

Orochimaru smirked "oh?" I want to mock him so badly. 

Before I was able to do anything I felt something. I planted my hands on the ground and kicked whoever was behind me. They flew back and bounced off the wall. 

I turned to Orochimaru, "one of yours?" 

He nodded, speaking to the person I kicked. "Kabuto, she is our guest." I don't know what that means- 

I kicked Kabuto!? 

I should have kicked harder then, damn. 

Kabuto walked up beside me, his narrowed eyes telling me everything I already knew. Suspicion. I smirked in response, "I'm an uninvited guest." 

Orochimaru finally put his papers down and faced us with his full attention. 

"Who is your 'guest' Lord Orochimaru?" I leaned against the wall, repressing a shiver. "This is Hitori, we met a few minutes ago," my smirked widened. 

Seeing Orochimaru with Kabuto, I got all excited. So much so that I wanted to play a little card I had. 

"I was just thinking how much it would benefit your 'Lord' if we do a give and take," while I addressed it to Kabuto, it was meant for Orochimaru. 

"Oh really?" Kabuto said slowly, Orochimaru kept silent but I knew he was listening. 

"See I have made a discovery," I opened my arms in a dramatic way. "I experiment with Charkra, and I found a way to wield all the different nature types without doing anything to my body." 

While what I said was untrue, it didn't mean that I wasn't serious in trying to make it a reality. Orochiamru looked at me with interest while Kabuto scrunched his nose in annoyance. 

"Lies, I don't believe you!" Orochimaru raised his hand to stop Kabuto, "silence, I'm willing to hear her out." Kabuto looked surprised but he backed down. 

"I would like to hear more about this child," I nodded. "I'll tell you more, but first I have to put a bit more mystery into the mix." I smirked mischivously. 

"Orochimaru, Kabuto, wanna know something funny?" I said with a big smirk. "We're here to give information, not have a casual chat" Kabuto said also with a smile. Completely trying to mock me. 

"Aww that's too bad, I wanted to see if Orochimaru remembered me". That seemed to have caught his interest again, "have we met?" he smiled. 

"Yes, we met a long time ago" my smirk widened. 

"How long ago?" he asked, "a very long time ago" I ended that conversation. 

"Ok back to business" I started.

A/n Look what the snake dragged in. The character we love to hate and the character we hate to love! Can't wait to see what chaos these two will make! Enjoy~