日向導 - A Hyūga's Guide

Chapter Forty: Three Wolves [II]

Twelve Years Ago.

He never intended to seek out any help concerning his research, but a problem became quite clear as the days passed and the end of the month was approaching. He was on borrowed time, not on anyone's but his own. Toneri swallowed the lump that was forming in his throat as he looked back and forth as if he was scared of someone jumping at him.

"What do you want?" There was a deep voice that called out from beyond the foliage of the trees to his side.

Toneri turned around quickly and shuffled in his spot as he cleared his throat. "I thought you'd never respond, yet alone ask to meet."

"I have half the mind to kill you, but you are of some interest." The figure was barely visible by the sunlight that streaked through the leaves of the trees.

Toneri wanted to say that he couldn't exactly be killed since he believed he was much stronger than the man in front of him, but he kept his mouth shut and settled on a nervous laugh that would otherwise make him appear weak. "Have you gotten..."

"All of them, it annoyed me but I decided to indulge your curiosity and goals since it benefits me." The unknown man finally revealed himself, his pale skin made even Toneri's seem rather melanated. His eyes were a freakish yellow with a slit for a regular pupil resembling that of a snake. "Were you not fearful that your letters could've wound up in the clutches of the wrong person?"

He shrugged and walked closer once he deduced that it was alright to advance forward. "I don't quite care, if I was being honest, but I knew where to find you. You're like me..."

There was a scoff, "how long have you been planning this?"

"Do you want an honest answer?"

"Humour me."

"Four years ago."

"You're just starting out."

"What do you mean?" Toneri's eyes narrowed.

"I've planned the downfall of this world for decades. Is that not why you tried reaching me despite knowing how hard it would be to get me to respond, yet alone agree?" It was a rhetorical question. "That's why you've laid all your cards on the table and offered me something that you knew I wanted."

Well, not all of his cards were on the table, but if that made sure that he would be advancing in his plans, he didn't quite mind acting as if he had. "So, what do you say?"

"Is that Uchiha really coming?"

He nodded, "in a few weeks time. It gives me — us — time to do what we need to."

"You mean kill your family?"

"Not mine."

"Oh?" His eyebrows furrowed.

"I thought you would have pieced it together by now, Orochimaru." Toneri snickered.

His light laughter made Orochimaru straighten his posture and glare at him. He frowned and crossed his arms as he filtered through the words he remembered reading from the letters, his eyes seemed to widen but a fraction once he got it.

"The Hyūga? Why?"

"That's a secret. I just need you to help me take them down."

"Not until I get my hands on that Uchiha first."

He rolled his eyes, "if you break your promise, I will not be afraid to expose you and your vile experimentations on the living to the Emperor."

"I wouldn't dream of it, but—" Orochimaru paused and gave him a quick look over, "if you do that, aren't you scared that I would simply say who helped me?"