(no subject)
Joining: Closed - Orochimaru, Kabuto
Location: a little ways west of Otogakure
Time: 6 AM, January 1st
Recap: ------
It was snowing.
It had been categorized as a blizzard, but he couldn't for the life of him see why. The fluttering flakes floated down in massive amounts, but it lacked the fierce winds and scathing cold he thought of when someone said 'blizzard'. The powder would piling up against doors and on roofs in hordes, but a few well-aimed fire jutsu would solve the problem. The clouds, though thick, still allowed the dawn's rays to pierce them and reach the earth. It was like categorizing a declawed kitten as an untamed tiger.
But then again, he mused as he looked up at the whitish gray blanket that was once the sky, it was likely the winds would start near noon, bringing with it the freezing cold he hated.
Now though, only a slight breeze deviated the powder from it's path and Orochimaru stood on a hilltop not far from where Kabuto was probably just rising in the camp. They could've pushed themselves the day before and reached the relative comfort of Otogakure, but he had pushed that idea away. Now was time when he didn't want any interruptions by anyone. Now was a time he just wanted to think. That was, after all, what this day was for.
The thought of a new year inevitably led, as he knew it would, to the possibility of what would have happened if he hadn't left Konoha, if he had chosen to stay, celebrated as one of three legendary Sannin instead of feared.
If that had happened, Anko probably would've stayed his apprentice and maybe afterwards, he would've found Sasuke after the Uchiha massacre and taken the boy under his wing. He wouldn't be standing here, far away from his hometown, alone, without even the thought of a welcoming home to comfort him in times of hardship. The Kazekage would still be the Kazekage, or maybe the Gaara brat might have still become Kazekage anyways. Tsunade and Jiraiya wouldn't hate him so, and the former probably wouldn't be Hokage. The Yondaime might still be alive, and the Kyuubi might not be trapped within the body of a blond boy who barely knew how to control that power.
But what else could've happened?
He might never never found out about the curse seal. He might never have found an opportunity to leave his legacy behind. He might never have joined the Atatsuki. He might never have even thought about taking the chance to gain the Sharingan. He might never have discovered Tayuya, or Sai, or even Kabuto.
So many different possibilities... what made him choose the path that led to him standing on a hill, snow drifting on the wind, slitted eyes just wanting to close and wish all his troubles away?
He knew it wouldn't be easy when he first left the village. He knew he would have to drag a kicking and screaming Konoha leagues past the gates of hell for him to win. He knew once he chose he couldn't go back. He knew he was choosing to chase what could turn out to be his disgraced demise over a celebrated life and an honorable death.
Orochimaru knew all that.
He also knew that, given the chance, he would do the same thing all over again.
Location: a little ways west of Otogakure
Time: 6 AM, January 1st
Recap: ------
It was snowing.
It had been categorized as a blizzard, but he couldn't for the life of him see why. The fluttering flakes floated down in massive amounts, but it lacked the fierce winds and scathing cold he thought of when someone said 'blizzard'. The powder would piling up against doors and on roofs in hordes, but a few well-aimed fire jutsu would solve the problem. The clouds, though thick, still allowed the dawn's rays to pierce them and reach the earth. It was like categorizing a declawed kitten as an untamed tiger.
But then again, he mused as he looked up at the whitish gray blanket that was once the sky, it was likely the winds would start near noon, bringing with it the freezing cold he hated.
Now though, only a slight breeze deviated the powder from it's path and Orochimaru stood on a hilltop not far from where Kabuto was probably just rising in the camp. They could've pushed themselves the day before and reached the relative comfort of Otogakure, but he had pushed that idea away. Now was time when he didn't want any interruptions by anyone. Now was a time he just wanted to think. That was, after all, what this day was for.
The thought of a new year inevitably led, as he knew it would, to the possibility of what would have happened if he hadn't left Konoha, if he had chosen to stay, celebrated as one of three legendary Sannin instead of feared.
If that had happened, Anko probably would've stayed his apprentice and maybe afterwards, he would've found Sasuke after the Uchiha massacre and taken the boy under his wing. He wouldn't be standing here, far away from his hometown, alone, without even the thought of a welcoming home to comfort him in times of hardship. The Kazekage would still be the Kazekage, or maybe the Gaara brat might have still become Kazekage anyways. Tsunade and Jiraiya wouldn't hate him so, and the former probably wouldn't be Hokage. The Yondaime might still be alive, and the Kyuubi might not be trapped within the body of a blond boy who barely knew how to control that power.
But what else could've happened?
He might never never found out about the curse seal. He might never have found an opportunity to leave his legacy behind. He might never have joined the Atatsuki. He might never have even thought about taking the chance to gain the Sharingan. He might never have discovered Tayuya, or Sai, or even Kabuto.
So many different possibilities... what made him choose the path that led to him standing on a hill, snow drifting on the wind, slitted eyes just wanting to close and wish all his troubles away?
He knew it wouldn't be easy when he first left the village. He knew he would have to drag a kicking and screaming Konoha leagues past the gates of hell for him to win. He knew once he chose he couldn't go back. He knew he was choosing to chase what could turn out to be his disgraced demise over a celebrated life and an honorable death.
Orochimaru knew all that.
He also knew that, given the chance, he would do the same thing all over again.