Chapter 50.1- Gamer of the Desert

XXXXXXXX-- OROCHIMARU OF THE SANNIN

Orochimaru had never considered himself to be an extraordinarily complicated person. In fact, he felt that his goals had always been simple and easy to note. ‘Learn every jutsu in the world’ was an ambitious goal, but a simple one. ‘Make sure no one can kill you before you achieve your main goal’ was another simple goal. Time spent dead, in captivity, and then under genjutsu had helped him see through the folly of his ways. Not his goals, of course. But in his intended process. Why had he spent so much time and effort going about things in a way that even he had known was less than optimal.

His goal had been learning every jutsu, even kekkei genkai, in the world, so why had he built up a village and then invaded Konoha. Sure, Hiruzen was a thorn in his side, but the old man hadn’t gotten close to affecting his operations in a decade. Even better, old age would have killed him eventually without Orochimaru ever having to lift a finger. As for the Sharingan, there was no need for it. Sure, Itachi had shown just how strong a sharingan could be, but that was but one prodigy that had come from a clan of hundreds. If the sharingan was so great, why had they not been able to prevent their slaughter at the hands of a thirteen-year old?

Even if it was everything he believed it to be, there were more efficient ways at acquiring one. He’d known that Danzo had kept more than a few in storage. He wasn’t Kakashi Hatake. He could implant a single eye without crippling himself. Even Kakashi Hatake’s famous eye would have been an option if he ended up choosing not to go after greedy Danzo for whatever reason. Besides, there was still the realisation that the only jutsu the sharingan would help him with learning were the kind of jutsu that he already found laughably easy to learn. The true gems- kekkei genkai- would still remain beyond his grasp. Time spent alone and thinking had revealed the real source behind his illogical pursuit of Uchiha Sasuke- wounded pride. He wanted to take Itachi’s brother as revenge for the disgrace he’d received at the man’s hands.

But now, he realised that his goals were beyond such petty emotions. He had bigger fish to fry. That was why he was going along with this scheme of Jiraiya’s for the time being. The cursed seal the Toad Sage had bound the both of them to was an interesting and intriguing bit of fuinjutsu, but nothing that couldn’t be worked around with the right frame of mind.

He walked into the room and flexed his killing intent to draw order to the place. Suddenly, creatures that had previously been attacking each other stopped in their tracks. He beheld them, and resisted the urge to shudder at what he had wrought with his own two hands. These abominations. They weren’t human any more. There was a reason he had them cast aside to prisons all over the land and far from his notice. Out of sight would be out of mind.

“Kneel” He commanded, and every single one of them dropped to one knee instantly. If not for their less than suitable appearances, this would have been the ideal workforce to build his village atop. They had seen the worst of him. They knew to fear him, and they knew it intimately. He never had to threaten them to secure their loyalty. Their minds came up with threats more inventive than he could ever have.

“Back to your cells. You will not move until I have need of you” He said, and then swept away- trusting that his orders would be obeyed. He had promised Jiraiya an army for when they needed to make their assault on Konoha, and he would deliver on that promise. He’d at least help his old friends gain their village back before he betrayed them for the last time. The seal on his forearm scaled his skin in warning, but he ignored it with ease. It was a careless thought, however. He was lucky that the seal would only alert Jiraiya when he broke it and it took its due from the both of them.

“Kabuto” he said, stopping in his tracks at the entrance to the hidden base. His former protege phased out of the wall as if it were not even there.

“Master” He said, dropping to a knee.

“You have done well in my absence.” He praised, and just as the boy looked up at him, he filled the cavern with lightning chakra. Kabuto’s screams echoed across the space, making a smile spread across his face. When he was sure that the message had been sent, he deactivated the jutsu. Kabuto’s body fell to the floor, limp and smoking. Anyone else would have been long dead from that kind of treatment, but he could already see the brown burnt skin beginning to fall to be replaced by more normal skin.

“I know you can hear me. It was bold of you to attempt to take the reins of Otagakure in my absence. But never forget that this village. This land. Even you. Are all mine. Do not overstep again, Kabuto” he said.

“Yes, Orochimaru-sama”

“Good. Now I have a mission for you.”

XXXXXX- SASORI OF THE RED SANDS

“Red clouds over a still dawn” He said, using the words to activate his sleeper agent within the Hidden Waterfall Village. The nondescript chunin suddenly turned and stabbed his fellow border patrol officer in the neck, holding on to the body until the man was well and truly dead. “What are my orders, Sasori-sama?” He asked.

“Take us into the village” Sasori replied, gesturing to himself and his partner who had somehow not yet gotten himself killed.

“Right away, Sasori-sama”

A/N; New chapter tings.