The Second Coming

"Is Kumo available?" I asked the Yamanaka at the front desk.

"Sorry she is still unavailable," they responded.

Fifth time she's been unavailable, at this point I wonder if I can just quit therapy. Or at least I could if it wasn't mandatory form the Hokage himself. I'll just keep waiting, otherwise they'll try to give me a new therapist.

Like hell that's happening.

…

It was a day like any other. I woke up. readied myself for the day ahead of me. Realized it was my day off. Threw off all my shit before going back to bed.

Then I remembered I never truly have a day off and made my way to my study. I had no plan of working on anything specific. Figured I'd just do some good old studying with a side of experimentation.

Pushing open the door I am met with an unexpected sight.

Orochimaru…

In my study.

"Interesting book you have here," Orochimaru said, flipping through the journal I keep all my notes and ideas in.

"Wow… of all the people to so casually, snoop threw my research, my own sensei.

Though I suppose you are probably the only person I would ever actually willing to let understand my seals."

"How touching," Orochimaru responded before closing my journal.

"So what brings you to my neck of the woods? Because if it's just to visit. You have two other students who need you a lot more ya know?"

"They will be fine. An old friend of yours will handle their training," Orochimaru spoke.

Old friend? Oh. snake-sensei. I never did get his name.

"OK. So what brings you here?" I ask.

"Sozo I've been thinking a lot about you recently. When I first approached you it was with the intention of securing a potential future asset, nothing more," Orochimaru said looking at me with… I actually haven't a clue?

"I know, we agreed to use each other. I received your backing and in return I am to become your subordinate. Though you did update the terms of our arrangement once you realized that I was capable of not only keeping up with Hatake Kakashi but could actually give him a challenge. Now you really want me to become the strongest of my generation."

"Correct but that's a matter for another time. What I came here for today was to offer you this," Orochimaru said before… oh God what in the actual hell!

Orochimaru pulled a large scroll from his… mouth. Before plopping it down onto my desk.

"There has to be a better way to do that," I said.

Orochimaru pulled quite a big scroll from his mouth.

Gonna need to wash that desk after this.

Or just get a whole new one if it ends up seeping into the wood.

Unfurling the scroll I see it's a list of names. There are not very many and the most recent one was none other than Orochimaru.

"Is this…?" I say before being interrupted.

"Yes. This is the Snake Contract. Sozo, I offer you this one on condition," Orochimaru said.

"And that would be?" 

Orochimaru didn't immediately respond, kinda worrying what it was he was just about to ask.

"Sozo what do you think of the village?" Orochimaru suddly ask.

"Honestly. I am not a big fan. This place preaches loyalty, comradery, family, the whole shh-bang! Unfortunately I was unlucky enough to be born with a blessing, so now I don't feel safe in my own home.

But that's ok. There was nothing I could do at the time so I went with the best option while I still had a choice. You. my oh so caring sensei, it's strange… When we first met I didn't trust you much. All I really could count on was you wouldn't stifle my growth. But now, I think I might trust you? So if you're gonna screw me over, now's the time. I won't see it coming." 

The room went silent as our eyes were locked.

"Sozo, I offer a new arrangement. No longer will you just be a promising asset. No longer will our relationship be one of two individuals using each other for their own gain. Instead we will truly be sensei and student, i will train you personally, mold you into someone who may one day surpass me. We will be partners, I will no longer keep you in the dark. 

You will be another step closer to being a player in the village instead of a pawn. 

Or we can stay how we are now. I will continue to play the role of sensei, you, the role of student. I'm certain you'll still become a formidable Shinobi but our paths will split eventually.

So what will it be Sozo?"

During Orochimaru's entire speech I keept my Chakra and demeanor completely under control, refusing to show any kind of reaction. Which was difficult, especially the Chakra part. 

Closing my eyes for a moment I take a step closer to the desk before opening them with a smile on my own face matching Orochimaru.

Orochimaru reached out with his hand. Eyeing his hand for a moment I place my own hand in his. I wasn't entirely sure what we were doing when he suddenly cut my hand.

"Ahh! a little warning next time," I say, pulling my hand back.

"Sign your name here," Orochimaru said, ignoring my complaints.

Using my blood I sign the scroll before using Iryõ-jutsu to heal the cut.

"Well guess I'm in this for the long-term now huh?" I say.

"Indeed," Orochimaru responded as he stood up, "we have much to discuss, let's go to the lab."

"Alright," I say, closing the door to my study on the way out.

…

"So that Danzo guy, the one with the shady Shinobi who I couldn't sense, he's the one I should be worried about." I say. 

"Yes. The Root or Foundation, its been called both, a sect of the Anbu not under the control of the Hokage or even monitored. They have complete independence as long as it's for the good of the village."

Lovely.

"But you also work with him. What's that about?"

"I needed something from him so we reached an arrangement."

"What did you need?"

"Lord First's cells,"

"You needed Lord First's cells. Why?"

"Mush like yourself. The first Hokage had quite the unique body capable of recovery even faster than you."

"Like how much faster?" 

"What would take you hours would take him minutes."

"Jesus! that's quick." 

"Indeed."

We continued like this for some time. Orochimaru told me many things, but what I found the most interesting was what he was currently working on.

Juinjutsu or curse marks.

He's been trying to create something I can't even believe is possible.

Sealing s portions of yourself within a curse mark and branding another with it. All in the name of immorality. 

Orochimaru is much more ambitious than I originally thought. And I am very curious if what he's trying to do is even feasible. 

Though I don't understand how exactly this leads to immorality, he seems confident though. That's not the only use of these marks though, becoming the barer of one of these marks offers quite some advantages. 

Enhanced physical capabilities.

More Chakra.

All you need to do is survive the marking process.

Apparently there's only been a few successful test subjects, all of them died due to complications with the curse mark.

The mark absorbs natural energy because there's nothing Fuinjutsu can't do. It's not Sage mode though, more like a bastardisation. 

I do find it amusing that the success rate of the curse mark is still higher than someone actually becoming a Sage.

Unfortunately I don't have the knowledge or experience to really help Orochimaru as of right now so I'm still just a lab assistant.

All in all things are looking up

Even if my whole world just got a lot bigger.

And scarier.

Least I'm not completely clueless about what I'm up against.