Reaching immortality (Reborn as Orochimaru)

4. I cannot see their faces

I stood still, my mind dark and empty, as I stared at the stones in the graveyard.

I could feel the rain soaking me to my bones but I did not shiver. I knew I was cold, but I did not care. The stones held the names of Mother and Father, reminding me that I'd never see their faces again. 

Oh gods my heart ached with a deep penetrating hollowness that could not be swallowed down. My eyes leaked salty tears but the rain hid them well and my skin did not pigment with emotion. I didn't turn when I felt Sensei's chakra behind me. 

How had they even died? Mother was not a shinobi, and Father was on leave.

I had returned home after a week long C-rank mission to find their bodies strewn across the living room and kitchen as if they'd killed each other. But that did not make sense. They had loved each other!

Their arguments may have gotten out of hand at some points but they had never gone so far as to physically hurt one another. Though there was no evidence of it being a staged domestic violence case, I knew better. I only wish I knew who would do something like this to them? They had never done anything in their lives to warrant death. They'd been loyal to konoha, and surprisingly enough my Mother had had friends with members in the Uchiha clan as well. My Father was too much of an idiot to make enemies, and no one could hate a man that was so inherently kind. 

Hours seemed to pass as I let my tears silently fall. The skies had slowly cleared over time, letting the bright sun shine obnoxiously upon my pale skin as if to tell me things would be alright. A surge of burning consuming anger filled me and left in me the next second.

Useless. Being angry with something I cannot change.

Death was irreversible and the weather could not be controlled. 

I looked down as the ground began to crumble upwards in slow motion. An animal of some sort had been hiding from the rain in the ground near my parents grave, and so I watched as it slowly climbed out from the dirt and lifted it's head to stare up at me. A small, beautiful pure white snake. I looked down at the stunning creature as it slithered to my feet before I lowered my body to reach for it. The snake did not hesitate in climbing my arm with all the patience of a turtle. It coiled around my arm and stopped at my bicep. 

It curled into my warmth, but I did not find myself disgusted by it. It cuddled against me and yet I only felt a spark of relief in my soul. Confusion filled me as I looked down at the curious thing, and Sensei must have seen it on my face as he chose to speak in that moment.

"The white snake." Sensei whispered. I turned to look up at the man to show him I was interested in what he had to say. I wasn't, but it was the polite thing to do. "They say it represents fortune...and rebirth."

"Rebirth.." I murmured as my heart skipped a beat. Perhaps, the snake felt a kinship with me for living a second life? Was it possible for animals to sense an older soul?

"It's incredibly lucky that one has come to you, perhaps..perhaps you are due for some luck in your life ne? Maybe it is a message, to renew yourself." 

I did not understand what he meant about renewing myself but I decided to interpret it in my own way. Sometimes, people just didn't make any sense and I found no desire to ask for clarification.

I looked at Sensei's hopeful expression and felt a genuine smile lift the edges of my lips. Rebirth. If I had reincarnated..perhaps I can bring my parents back from the dead as well?

"Sensei?" I looked up at the man once more and returned his brightening smile. He seemed proud to have helped me during my time of mourning. That expression looked nice on his face. I did not want to ask him the bubbling questions on whether or not bringing people back to life was possible. I knew that this growing hope was something I'd need to keep secret from him. Bringing people back to life would be against the laws that the Nidaime had created during his reign as Hokage.