"Good afternoon, Lord Orochimaru~," Kabuto greeted smoothly as he caught sight of the legendary shinobi.
"Come now, there's no need to be so formal. You know, I hold you in high regard." Orochimaru chuckled, his voice warm and velvety, his piercing gaze fixed on the ever-composed Kabuto. "How about reconsidering my offer? If you were to join me, I'm certain our experiments would advance at an unprecedented pace."
Kabuto, however, remained unfazed. He had long since grown accustomed to Orochimaru's persistent attempts to recruit him. With a familiar, practiced smile, he replied, "Of course, it would be my honor."
"Ara~ The same answer again?" Orochimaru let out a dramatic sigh, rubbing his temples in mock frustration. "You really do give me a headache, Kabuto-kun! I truly wonder… where did Gato manage to find such exceptional talents like you? I've searched so diligently myself, yet I never seem to stumble upon such prodigies."
He spread his hands in feigned resignation. "Well, well! If you won't say yes now, I suppose I'll just have to wait. But mark my words, one day… you will."
His golden eyes glinted mischievously as his tongue flicked out briefly, a familiar, serpentine habit.
Then, as if losing interest in pressing the matter, he shifted the conversation effortlessly."And speaking of which, thank you again~ That little brat you brought over is absolutely fascinating. The way he utilizes senjutsu chakra, completely different from the Sage Modes of the three great villages. He's been invaluable to our work!"
"It is our honor to assist Lord Orochimaru," Kabuto replied smoothly, his expression as composed as ever. "Jūgo was an unexpected find, but his talents are undeniable. I trust you will treat him well."
"Of course, I'll take great care of him!" Orochimaru chuckled, a sly grin curling at his lips. His golden eyes gleamed with amusement. "And what about Sound Village…?"
"Everything is progressing as planned," Kabuto assured him without missing a beat. "The shinobi training is well underway. When the time comes, they will undoubtedly serve you well."
"Ahh, that's truly delightful to hear!" Orochimaru's expression brightened with satisfaction. "Thanks to you, Kabuto-kun, I can dedicate myself entirely to my research!"
Orochimaru's tongue flicked out as he studied the man before him. Kabuto, Gato's so-called 'assistant', was, in truth, the gatekeeper of his entire funding. No experiment could move forward without Kabuto's approval. Every single ryo that flowed into his lab passed through those hands first.
At first, Orochimaru had scoffed at the idea. Him? Answering to some lackey? Ridiculous. If not for the risk of exposing too much information, especially to Grass Village, he would have long since disposed of that fat fool who dared to threaten him.
But the shinobi of Grass Village were… problematic. And those damned reporters from the Shinobi Times were even worse. Always lurking in the shadows, bypassing security measures, ambushing their targets with sudden interviews. If he ever provoked them, he'd likely spend the rest of his days fleeing from their relentless coverage.
So, he had chosen to play along. For now. If things ever became too bothersome, well… disappearing was always an option.
Yet, to his surprise, Kabuto had imposed no restrictions on him at all. On the contrary, he had fully supported his research, even keeping up with his thought process, something few could claim to do. A genius, really.
Aside from the occasional request to investigate some truly peculiar topics, Kabuto had never been a hindrance. If anything, he had been an invaluable asset.
Even Sound Village… Orochimaru wouldn't have been able to establish it while continuing his experiments undisturbed without Kabuto's assistance.
"I'm growing fonder of you by the day!" Orochimaru mused, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement as he studied Kabuto.
"I'm honored by Lord Orochimaru's appreciation," Kabuto responded smoothly, bowing his head with practiced humility.
"Rejected again? How troublesome!" Orochimaru let out an exaggerated sigh, scratching his head in mock frustration. But soon, his playful demeanor shifted, his expression turning sharp. "Alright then, what brings you to me this time? Has something important happened?"
"Yes, Lord Orochimaru." Seeing that the conversation had finally steered toward business, Kabuto reached into his robes and pulled out a neatly folded copy of the Shinobi Times, presenting it with both hands. "Please take a look for yourself."
"The Shinobi Times?" Orochimaru raised an eyebrow as he took the paper, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Must be something big~"
He wasn't particularly surprised. He had long been aware of Kabuto's habit of keeping up with the latest news.
The only thing that gave him pause was the fact that, on the very day Kabuto had subscribed to the Shinobi Times, the very first issue had arrived at his doorstep, delivered with uncanny precision.
If Orochimaru weren't already well aware of the Shinobi Times' reputation for being freakishly elusive, he might have suspected that an informant had somehow infiltrated his base. That thought alone was enough to remind him why he preferred to tread carefully when dealing with Grass Village. They were a nightmare to deal with, ruthless, persistent, and utterly infuriating.
A quick glance at the headline made Orochimaru's eyes narrow in intrigue. "Konoha is reopening its village?"
"Yes, Lord Orochimaru," Kabuto confirmed smoothly, pushing his glasses up with his usual calm demeanor. "It seems they plan to announce it during the upcoming Chūnin Exams." He paused, his gaze shifting slightly before adding, "Which brings me to ask, should our Sound Village participate?"
"Chūnin Exams, huh? It seems Konoha has recovered quite a bit over the past three years." Orochimaru's golden eyes gleamed with intrigue. Instead of answering Kabuto's question immediately, he shifted his gaze toward him. "With Konoha reopening, aren't you concerned about Danzo? That man will never relinquish his interest in the Wave Country production base. And as for Gato… surely he wouldn't be pleased to see years of investment slipping from his grasp."
Kabuto remained composed, his ever-present smile unwavering. "That is for Mr. Gato to concern himself with. As for Lord Danzo... would you like me to arrange a meeting?"
Orochimaru let out a low chuckle, his tongue flicking out in amusement. "How interesting~ But no, I have no desire to meet with Danzo just yet." He waved a hand dismissively. "Simply give him whatever he asks for. After all, thanks to him, these past few years have been rather productive for me."
"Understood." Kabuto's expression didn't waver, though if one looked closely, they might have noticed the slightest twitch of his eyelid. "I'll pass your message along to Mr. Gato."
"Much appreciated, Kabuto~" Orochimaru purred, grinning. Then, with an idle flick of his wrist, he added, "As for Sound Village… you decide. You selected those children yourself, so I trust you've already prepared accordingly." He smirked. "After all, I've left its management entirely in your capable hands."
"Thank you for your trust, Lord Orochimaru." Kabuto bowed smoothly, his tone as respectful as ever.
"Now, unless there's anything else, do not disturb me. I'll be in seclusion for quite some time, after all, that child you brought in is truly fascinating." Orochimaru licked his lips as he spoke, his golden eyes gleaming with intrigue.
"Then I shall take my leave. Until next time, Lord Orochimaru." Kabuto nodded respectfully before turning on his heel and making his way out.
"Thank you, Kabuto-kun~" Orochimaru waved lazily, watching Kabuto's retreating figure. The moment the man disappeared from view, however, the amusement in Orochimaru's expression faded, replaced by something far more calculating. His lips curled into a subtle smirk.
His fingers idly tapped against the newspaper still in his grasp. "Akatsuki, huh? So this is the ninja organization working with Gato? Strange… I've never heard of them before. Could it be some ragtag group of wandering shinobi?"
A quiet chuckle escaped him before he stretched, as if already losing interest. "No matter~ I'll uncover the truth soon enough. And besides… Kabuto, you will be mine."
With that final whisper, Orochimaru turned and disappeared into the shadows of his laboratory.
…
On the other side, Kabuto adjusted his glasses with a small smile before shaking his head.
Orochimaru still thinks he can manipulate me? How naive. Doesn't he know who my father is? Those grand promises of his… empty words. They won't feed anyone. It's all just a scam.
With that thought, he pushed open a door and stepped inside. Almost instantly, a voice called out to him. "Lord Kabuto!"
"Everyone looks so full of energy today!" Kabuto responded lightly, not particularly surprised by the greeting. He glanced up and smiled at the group in front of him. "Tayuya, Kidōmaru, and the rest of you, "
His tone was casual, his posture relaxed. The way he carried himself… it was as if he had just stepped into his own home.