Nebula's Echo (a Naruto Fanfic)

Chapter 50

Third person POV

A group fastly moving shadows leapt through the forest until reaching a subtle cave and hill formation. One of the figures walked up to a cold stone surface, and with a drop of blood, a seal lit up and the stone moved aside, revealing a passage. The figure's head turned around a full 180, grin splitting their face as they beckoned a small shadow to follow them. A huff was heard before a smaller figure followed the tall one in, the two followed by their forces. When all the shadows had disappeared into the passage, the stone slid back into place, looking as natural a stone formation as it ever had.

.....

Sasuke followed Orochimaru down long, slingering underground tunnels until they reached a room Orochimaru once more opened with his blood. They had separated from the sound ninja a few forks back in the tunnels. The Uchiha's face was expressionless, even as his eyes burned the slightest with anticipation.

Orochimaru had been boasting their entire trip of all the things he could teach Sasuke, and Sasuke was beyond tempted. The snake sannin would teach him real power, not like the senseis of the hidden leaf that preached friendship and teamwork over everything else. He was very satisfied with Ren's idea to have him learn from Orochimaru. Ren, actually, had been suspiciously silent since her overtake of his body, but Sasuke wasn't worried. Ren was a monster bird. It's not like anything could actually be wrong.

When they had entered the underground room lit up with strangely bright spheres of light, Orochimaru turned back to Sasuke and his eyes raked over the pale boy, sparkling with greed. The snake tongue creeped out only to hang from the corner of his mouth again as the snake sanning smiled and sat down in a chair, leaning back leisurely, morbidly happy eyes still fixed on Sasuke.

"Well, my cute little student, I promised you a cheat to immediate improvement to kickstart our relationship and your training under me. Now this boost is actually going to be based on a gift I've already given you before... see, I always knew you'd end up joining me, Sassukee~"

Hissing in pleasure, Orochimaru looked pointedly at the crook of Sasuke's neck, where the curse mark lay.

"You can already move around and battle on such a high level after receiving my curse mark, you must have mastered it already to function so well without it tearing you apart. Ah, really, such talent. The Leaf Village really had a quality batch of genin this time... that beautiful little teammate of yours too. I have nothing but fond recollections of her, though I haven't seen her in a while. What say you, my darling protegé? You like her too, don't you? How about we go grab you a little junior sister."

Orochimaru was almost babbling at that point, tongue twisting excitedly as his eyes sparkled with happy anticipation and deep fondness. Sasuke's face on the other hand only darkened.

"She's gone. She left the Leaf."

Orochimaru picked up on the bitter anger in Sasuke's voice and a dark eyebrow raised, the snake sannin slowly smirking, smug beyond measure at having unexpectedly located a trigger of his little student's. That might come in handy later.

Still, about that pretty girl with the insane eyes. It was really a pity. He had really gotten attached to the idea of having her around.

Sighing weakly, Orochimaru decided to leave that alone for now. He always got what he wanted, Sasuke standing barely a few feet in front of him proving that. He'd find her eventually. But for now...

"Sasuke, demonstrate the power of your curse mark for me now."

Hearing the order, Sasuke was slightly stumped. Seeing the always stone faced Uchiha looking even stonier than normal, not making the slightest move to respond, Orochimaru's smug mood flipped and he got the slightest bit annoyed. He knew he was a genius, but surely others could make an effort to at least understand the human language?