THE WILL OF FIRE: 1. The Serpent (A Naruto Fanfic)

The Serpent, Chapter 6

Chapter Six

As I was packing for the mission, I couldn’t get the scroll out of my mind. Last night I wrote some of the theories in to my newly-gained diary but none of them spoke about the connection I achieved. Demons weren’t common, especially twin demons, so normally nobody would document it. As far as I knew we were the only living demon twins. Probably ever. No, not ever. This probably happened before only nobody documented it. Or somebody did and I didn’t have the documents. Man, if I was wrapping my head around stuff like that now wonder I couldn’t get anything done.  I sighed and remembered how I came home last night, eager to report to Sensei about our mission and the work I was doing. The raven returned early this morning, waking me up. I haven’t opened the letter yet. I took it into my shaky hands, angry that they were shaking in the first place. What was I scared about in the first place? No, it wasn’t fear. I hadn’t known fear, not since then…this was something else. Anger? I was angry that I was here in the first place, reporting to Sensei, instead of being there with him. I opened the letter and sighed. It was the exact same thing as always: “Do your best. Remember what you’re here for.” For the first time ever, I crumbled the piece of paper and set it on fire. I didn’t want to talk back to Sensei, not because I was afraid of him but because I respected him. He was the only person, up to now, that earned my respect. But I decided to write to him, telling him how I feel. I still kept quiet about Naruto but it bugged me-the fact that he probably already knew. When I sent the raven off I leaned back and stared at my half-packed backpack. There were still two hours until our meeting. Tears wanted to sting my eyes but I never cried. Not since… I never cried since then. I just started packing again when I felt a familiar presence. No…not here. Impossible. A snake wrapped around my body and I felt the Curse Mark itching. How the hell didn’t I feel it before?

“Is this how you greet these days?” I asked, still a little shocked.

“I’ve been tracking you down, you know,” Uncle Orochimaru said, leaning against the wall. “Ever since you disappeared out of my radar six months ago.”

“What I do is not your business. Not since-”

“Don’t tell me you’re still hung up on that?”

“You almost killed me,” I said in a low voice, “Just to create a perfect weapon. Was this all I was to you? A weapon?”

“Don’t say such things! You were always my favorite and you know it. You were the only one who was able to connect with snakes, just like me. You were the only one who showed any potential.”

“You know why I can connect with snakes and it has nothing to do with you. And I’m the youngest… others have a lot more potential than me.”

“Not all your cousins are Shinobi, therefore not all of them can learn what I can teach you.” 

“I know what you want here. Don’t think he’ll join you.”

“Oh, he will seek me out when the time comes. You know about his goal all too well. He wants power-he craves it.”

“I’m not going to let that happen and you know it! I’ll protect him whit all I’ve got.”

“Which one?”

“You damn well know which one. I could care less about the other.”

“I was just making sure. But the image you have of your beloved… It can be shattered all too easily.”

“Shut up…”

“He is not as perfect as you take him for. You’d be a lot better training with me.”

“As if you’re any better. You’re losing your heart by the day. At least, unlike you, he tries desperately to hold on to his and not giving into the darkness.”