Could've sworn this was longer?

Rolling out of bed I began my day much earlier than I'd like. A quick shower followed by some food and I was ready to go.

But first I had one last thing to do.

Sliding Kakashi's door open just a little I saw he was still asleep. Closing the door I get ready to leave. Orochimaru was expecting me by 5:30 That gave me fifteen minutes before he sends snakes to drag me to his lab instead.

I'd rather not have a repeat of that experience.

When I opened the front door I was surprised to see someone right outside it. There was a blond Shinobi who looked a little antsy.

I can't sense him.

"Hello Shinobi-san," I say first breaking the silence.

He takes a moment to respond.

"Hi I'm Minato Kakashi's sensei, is he available," so this is Kakashi sensei huh?

"A little early to be knocking on doors, don't ya think?"

Minato's nervous behavior seems to worsen as he lets out a nervous chuckle.

"What time is it?" He asked.

"Fifteen past five," I responded.

"Oh…" 

"Kakashi is still asleep so ill have to ask you to come back later now if you excuse me i need to be going."

As I walk past Minato he quickly matches my pace walking right next to me.

"So you're Sozo Akinori right?" Minato asks.

Oh lovely he knows of me. 

"Yes."

I wonder if Kakashi talks about me or if it's just the Orochimaru connection.

"What were you doing at Kakashi's this early?"

"I live there."

"Oh… um is this a recent thing?"

"No, I've lived there for some time now."

"So you knew… Hatake Sakumo?"

"Yes."

"I'm sorry for your loss,"

"Don't worry about it, I'll be fine, just look after Kakashi for me will ya," I say.

Arriving at the lab I open the door walking and for some reason Minato is still following me asking questions about my relationship with the Hatake's.

"So you're Kakashi's best friend?"

"Something like that," I responded, grabbing one of the lab coats and putting it on despite how big it was on me.

The two of us continue down some halls as I poke my head into the rooms unsure of where exactly Orochimaru was. 

"How old are you?" 

"I believe I'm six now," I say

Now where is Orochimaru.

Unfortunately the two of us were interrupted by my least favorite people in the world. 

"Hatchling i see you're made a new friend."

Oh no.

"Come im in the building surely that counts?"

"Afraid not."

Letting out a sigh I turn to Minato.

"Nice meeting you Minato but this is where we part ways," I say.

Minato for his part just stands there conflicted as snakes began emerging from everywhere.

Pulling out my straight Ko-Wakizashi which has always been a Ko-Wakizashi and definitely not a tanto. 

"Alright I'm not gonna make this easy," I say.

Once again these snakes were able to surround me with me even noticing completely bypassing my senses. 

Will I get in trouble for using Ninjutsu inside? Only one way to find out. 

Releasing a wave of fire down the hall I surge forward behind it. The snake moves fast slithering up the wall and onto the roof dodging the fire. 

A purple mist flows into the hallway from the door connected to the hallway. Minato disappears as he spots the mist. Unfortunately for me my exits are blocked.

Pulling a mask I have prepared with Fuinjutsu to hopefully filter out most of the poison. Just being in the mist is bad as it will seep into my system but this way it'll take much longer. I wasn't certain this version of the mask would be enough; all previous versions were failures. But the mask just needs to work for a few minutes as my actual counter measure takes effect. 

Slapping a seal onto the ground it begins sucking the poison in, sealing it inside of itself. 

"You continue to impress, Hatchling."

Even though I decided to put up a fight there wasn't much i could really do i was in a hallway full of poison surrounded by the snakes so it did take long for me to be restrained.

"I hate you all," I said.

Apparently Minato was still here as he reappeared. 

"Oh you're still here I thought you left," I said.

I wasn't able to get much more out as I was being dragged off.

"Wait, my seal, one of you grab it for me," I watched as most of the snakes slithered right past my seal, ignoring me. 

I didn't see if any of the listened as I was pulled down some stairs. 

As we reach our destination the snakes let me go before dispersing in every direction

Once again the big one swallowed my sword.

Wiping off my sword I looked around. Orochimaru was operating on what was most definitely a dead body. 

Grabbing a stool I set in opposite of him and watch as he expertly dose whatever he's doing.

"Nice of you to join me Sozo-kun," Orochimaru spoke his eyes momentarily leaving the… cadaver i believe the term is cadaver. 

"Not like I had much of a choice, Sensei," I responded.

"Now what's on the agenda today?" Orochimaru has been training me to be his lab assistant.

I'm sure he could manage just fine on his own but for some reason he wants me around. 

"You won't be helping today," Orochimaru said.

"Then why am I here?"

"Take this," Orochimaru gave me a key.

"What's this to?" 

"That's for you to figure out," Orochimaru-sensei said before returning his attention to the cadaver. 

Looking around the room I say no other doors than the one I entered through. 

Guess it's not in here. 

Leaving, I head back upstairs intending to get my seal.

It's not here.

My seals gone. 

I hate snakes.

…

The building where Orochimaru's lab was located looked quite inconspicuous on the outside. The ground floor where I was ambushed looked pretty standard the strangest thing about it would be the lack of people. There was even a second floor but I never went up there. But once you descend into the earth things get interesting. Orochimaru is not the only scientist here. Sensei has a bunch of subordinate working under him. 

There quite loyal to Orochimaru. Some of them to a concerning degree. 

I could go to every room trying any locked door I saw but i doubt my fellow subordinate of the great snake sannin would appreciate me rummaging through their labs. Plus i doubt this key will unlock anything in there anyway. And I'd rather not deal with some of them.

Entering Orochimaru's office I immediately went to the door in the back.

Let's see if my first guess is right.

Black Fuinjutsu marking spread out form the nob. As they disappeared the door clicked open.

A Fuinjutsu lock that needs an actual key. 

Examining the key I see some ink on it.

A collapsed seal.

Inside the room was full of bookshelves and all sorts of scrolls 

"Sensei, maybe your not so bad," I say under my breath. 

Entering the room I begin to browse through the books. 

------------------

Ok some things I gotta go over.

Sozo main sword is no longer a tanto. Turns out there not as long as I thought they were, more of a knife then a sword. So I will be changing it into a straight Ko-Wakizashi which is shorter than a katana but longer than a tanto. I'll be updating all previous mentions of the tanto in previous chapters along with grammar fixes. This won't stop me form releasing chapters so don't worry about that. 

Alright I hope you enjoyed the chapter.