It was quiet as Orochimaru ran through the forest searching for something that had been taken from him. As he ran, he heard a faint cry to his right making him stop in his tracks. He listened for the cry again and could sense three chakra signatures not too far from his location. As the cries continued, he recognized who was crying, his daughter Ko. He ran towards the noise remaining hidden as he watched three Rain shinobi carrying his daughter who was tied up by rope. She was being carried over the shoulder by a young man with blonde hair and green eyes. The other two were women most likely sisters from there matching orange hair and green eyes.

Orochimaru's eyes were focused on his daughter who had tears streaming down her face with fear. The poor toddler looked scared which he couldn't blame her for; this was her first interaction with people.

"I don't understand why Lady Angel wants this brat." The male of the group complained with a sour look on his face. "She won't stop crying."

"Shima! Don't call her a brat! I think she's cute." The shorter girl exclaimed in a ear piercing tone making Orochimaru cringe.

"She's the enemy Kuro, one day she'll become a killer and kill you." Her sister said then glared at the scared child.

"This little thing? No way." Kuro laughed patting the toddler's head which angered Orochimaru. He saw the way Ko flinched at her touch knowing it wasn't gentle.

"Her Father is a Sannin, she'll be a killer just like her Father."

Orochimaru had enough of them talking about his daughter. He summoned two large snakes to attack the girls while he dealt with the boy carrying Ko. Using wind ninjutsu, he separated the team and watched his snakes slither towards the girls. He sprinted in the direction the boy flew finding his daughter had gotten free from him and started to crawl away. He made a clone quickly grabbing her making the clone head back to the Leaf Village while he dealt with the intruders. The man looked up at Orochimaru, but his eyes did not hold fear which Orochimaru had wanted.

"Heh, so the Hokage himself came after us." He chuckled knowing he wasn't going to make it back home. "We expected you to send out your lacky's which we could've easily taken out but now that it's you, this turned out to be a suicide mission." He finished as he reached into his pocket taking out a pill. "Those girls better be ready to die." He commented as he ingested the pill.

Orochimaru dashed forward grabbing the young man's throat partly crushing his trachea making him cough up blood along with the pill.

"Looks like you're not." Orochimaru hissed with a wicked smile. He looked to his right seeing his two snakes slither out of the brush with full stomachs. "You won't have to worry about your female teammates. They were easy prey for my snakes." He chuckled as the man's eyes widened. "Now, why did you kidnap my daughter?" Orochimaru questioned as he put more pressure onto his throat.

"I'd....r-rather die ....than t-tell you." He replied as he struggled to take a breath.

Orochimaru wanted to torture the man but now being Hokage, he had to keep up appearances and leave it to his shinobi trained in interrogation. He raised his other arm striking the man in his neck causing him to pass out immediately. How he wished to kill the man but it wasn't what a Hokage would do. He picked up the man by the back of his shirt dragging him back to the village and was immediately taken by the ANBU after a couple minutes of walking.

"Increase patrols around the village and search for any other intruders." He ordered which the ANBU simply nodded then disappeared.

Once Orochimaru returned to his office, he saw his clone with his frightened daughter. His clone soon disappeared once Orochimaru walked over towards the toddler.

"Are you okay Ko?" He questioned getting down to her level.

She ran to him burying her face into his chest crying. All he could do was pull her into a hug comforting her. Within minutes, his sensei/previous Hokage entered the office.

"Orochimaru, what happened?" He questioned but his attention was soon turned to the crying girl. "Who is this girl?" He was confused on why she was here and clinging to his student. The scene intrigued him for Orochimaru was never one for attachments.

"She's my daughter Sarutobi Sensei." Sarutobi was taken aback by this information.

"Daughter? How?"

"I met her mother on a mission and fell in love. I returned after my mission never hearing from her again sadly. I didn't know about Ko's existence until a year ago when she fell ill. I took Ko to the Leaf keeping her hidden until her mother got better but...then the massacre happened."

"Massacre? You mean she's a Himura? Is that why you kept her hidden?"

"Yes but it seems it was all for naught. Rain shinobi infiltrated our territory to kidnap her. I thought she'd be safe if she were hidden especially if the Mist found out we have one of their own. They wouldn't be happy to know we have their last Himura."

"Orochimaru, this is serious. This child could start a war!" His former sensei shouted. He wasn't sure what to feel. Proud that his student had broken out of his shell and had a family or angry that he put the Leaf in danger. Who knows what will happen when word gets out?

"I had to save her, I couldn't leave my daughter in the hands of the Bloody Mist. She shouldn't be away from her Father."

His attitude towards the situation surprised his former sensei. He had never seen Orochimaru show such emotion for someone other than himself which moved the previous Hokage. Maybe this child was for the best for everyone. He had been wary of the Elder's and Feudal Lord's decision to make Orochimaru Hokage because of his lack of compassion but maybe his daughter could change that.

"Orochimaru, we will keep her safe. She is protected within these walls. Where have you been hiding her?"

"Hidden underground just outside the village walls. I don't know how those shinobi found her but I have one being interrogated by Ibiki as we speak."

Sarutobi looked down at the girl who had now stopped crying and looked up at him with frightened eyes as she clung to her Father. He could definitely see the resemblance. The pale white skin and black hair, he would never had guessed that she was a Himura if it wasn't for her red eyes. He walked over to the girl but she only hid her face by turning it into Orochimaru's chest.

"Ko, he won't hurt you. Daddy's here now, I won't let anyone hurt you again." Orochimaru reassured with a tone Sarutobi never heard from him before.

He knelt down to her level giving her a smile.

"Hello Ko, that's such a pretty name. My name is Hiruzen Sarutobi, your Father's old sensei." Ko pushed away from her Father to face Sarutobi fully studying him before giving him a shy smile.

"You're going to be living in the Village with your Father now. You'll be safe here." He gave her a warm smile making her return a small one.

Ko looked up at her Father. "Does that mean I can go outside?"

"Yes dear, you'll even make friends." Her face lit up at his words, she wouldn't be alone anymore.

"Friends? Really? You mean it?"

"Of course Ko, anything for you."

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Ko walked hand in hand with her Father towards the ninja academy. It was her first day of her ninja training besides the private training she's had with Orochimaru. She felt a bit nervous but also excited to meet new people and make friends. When they reached the academy, Orochimaru gave her a hug before leaving her so he could welcome the new students. Ko waved him goodbye then looked around seeing all the potential friends she could make.

She recognized many children who were from the various clans in the village just from looking at their parents. She sensed someone behind her and stepped her to right avoiding being knocked over by a girl who just fell to the ground where she had just been standing. Orochimaru watched the young girl who had chestnut brown hair tied in two pigtails with matching brown eyes. He felt pride for his daughter who easily dodged the clumsy girl from knocking her down also.

"Are you okay?" Ko questioned as she looked down at the girl.

"Yeah," she nervously chuckled before getting up. "Sorry, I was trying to show off my taijutsu but I lost my balance. My name is Tenten by the way, what's yours?"

"Ko, nice to meet you." Ko replied holding out her hand which Tenten greatly shook.

Hiruzen looked at the scene before him. First, he watched Ko's first interaction with a child her age and it went perfectly; she easily got along with the other children. He noted her attentiveness and swift movement to avoid being knocked over which led him to look over at Orochimaru who stood at the podium waiting for all the students to arrive. He was a bit disappointed in his student to start training his daughter at such a young age but it couldn't be helped; most clans start training their young as well. He smiled at Orochimaru seeing his eyes were locked onto his daughter most likely wanting to make sure she is safe.

He thought back to the news they heard many years ago when she was kidnapped. The young man only knew they were sent by a shinobi they call 'Lady Angel' to capture Ko and bring her to them alive. They weren't given any specifications on why or what would happen to the child but we suspect this shinobi was responsible for the Himura massacre.

He was pulled from his thoughts when Orochimaru started the ceremony welcoming all the students and bracing them for what is expected of them once they enter the academy. The children were all innocent, excited to start their journey to become Shinobi just like their parents.

Orochimaru knew what dangers lie ahead for the students before him and wanted them to be prepared. He'd admit, before he didn't care for the future generation of shinobi, not caring for the village eventually wanting to leave but his weakness kept him here and slowly made him care about others. He looked down at his daughter who was now listening to the head Chuunin instructor. He cared because of her, he had changed the academy's curriculum in order to prepare her and her classmates for what is to come. It would be harsh, but eventually he would have to have faith in these students to protect his little girl.

-------------------------------------------

"Guess who's going to be the best rookie Genin ever?" Orochimaru looked up from his piles of paperwork to see Ko waltz into his office.

He gave her a smile putting down his pen. "Is it that time already, I thought you don't graduate until the end of school?" Orochimaru then sighed. "Seems like you just entered the academy."

"You're spending too much time on this paperwork old man. It's been five years and now I can finally go out on missions and defeat everyone in my way." She boasted placing her hands on her hips with confidence.

And that's what worried him. He didn't want her to leave the village.

"You'll be a great shinobi in no time," he replied putting up his mask. He didn't want to show her how worried he was. He's been dreading this day for years.

"You bet I will be. Before you know it, I'll be your personal ANBU bodyguard." She crossed her arms giving him a smug smile.

"Maybe I shouldn't have praised her so much. Her confidence is making her arrogant." Orochimaru thought knowing it also came from him. He was always the arrogant one on the team but her arrogance could get her in trouble.

"Such a high goal to have," he commented getting back to his paperwork.

"Hey I want to be the best and personal guard of the Hokage! Sounds pretty powerful to me."

"Power hungry as well," he grimaced. He hoped she was going to inherit her Mother's genes.

"Well I gotta go, I'm meeting Tenten at BBQ for lunch. Will you be home for dinner?"

"Once I finish this paperwork." He answered looking up at her. He noticed the way she was on her guard making him raise a brow. Maybe he trained her too well, he told her to always have her guard up but he didn't mean around him. He'd never hurt her.

"I'll take that as a no then, love ya." She said before poofing away in a cloud of smoke.

Orochimaru sighed then looked down at the paper in front of him; the list of the graduating class. He read the list of names over and over again trying to select the best ones to be on Ko's team. He was going to balance the other teams accordingly but he needed to play favorites when it came to Ko. He looked over a few names considering Neji Hyuga but he was needed on a different team. He flipped to the next student's bio reading Riku Tsuchigumo.

"Hm the Tsuchigumo clan, Sensei did mention that this boy's father was very powerful; he's perfect. Stats are adequate, with a suitable sensei I'm sure he can protect her." After flipping through a few papers, he stopped at another student, Niko Rinha. "Ah yes, we need a medic. Despite Ko's training with Tsunade, she was trained for offense not a medic. She can't waste chakra on healing someone else. Hm, she also has some skill in genjutsu as well. That would come in handy for defense."

Once he had all the teams put together, he summoned the Jounin. Looking at each of them he inwardly smiled at his favorite student, Anko.

"Might Gai," he called.

"Yes Lord Hokage!" Gai responded with an enthusiastic smile ready to show his students the power of youth.

"You will be leader of team 4. Neji Hyuga, Rock Lee, and Tenten."

"I shall take them under my wings of youth Lord Hokage!"

Orochimaru sweat dropped at his comment reminding him on why he never calls Gai into his office. His gaze went to Kakashi. He wondered if this team would pass Kakashi's test.

"Kakashi Hatake! Team 7: Youta, Eito, and Denji Taketori." He only heard a quiet sigh come out of the man's mouth. He doesn't have any hope in the next team either.

"Anko Mitarashi! Team 3: Niko Rinha, Riku Tsuchigumo, and Ko Yasha."

Anko grinned knowing Orochimaru entrusted Ko to only her and no one else. She was excited to finally see what the girl was made of. Orochimaru had always been so protective of his daughter not letting many have contact with her except those at the academy.

"Now, gather your teams at the academy at 3. Dismissed."

"Yes Lord Hokage!"

They all said in unison before disbanding. How he loved having command of an army. He looked over at Anko who still stood in his office with a grin still on her face.

"I'm honored," she started. "I finally get to meet your daughter!" She squealed ready for the challenge.

"You're the only one qualified. Not just for Ko but also the other two. I'm sure from what I taught you, you can teach genjutsu to Niko and Ko."

"Hm you didn't teach her genjutsu?"

"I only focused on two things with her since I've been stuck in this office, you can teach her the rest. You need to give Niko confidence as well. With Riku, he needs to work on ninjutsu."

"Hm so I'm guessing Ko is mainly trained in taijutsu?"

"Yes,"

"Interesting, this should be fun." Anko said with glee, a sadistic grin plastered on her face.

Anko didn't bother going inside the academy. She threw a lone kunai with a note attached threw the open window landing on the desk next to Ko. Ko opened the note reading that they had to report to training ground seven.

"Um isn't that training ground just for Jounin?" Riku questioned looking at his two female teammates.

"Yes but that's what Sensei wants so let's go." Ko ordered getting up from her seat heading towards the training ground with the other two in toe.

The team came to a stop when they approached a thick forest.

"The training ground is in there?" Riku whined not wanting to go through the trouble of searching the forest for their Sensei.

"According to the map, yes." Ko answered looking at her teammates.

"Look!" Niko exclaimed catching their attention. "There's some grass that has been pressed down, most likely from Sensei entering through here....maybe." She finished her sentence with an uneasy tone most likely second guessing herself.

"Good eye," Ko complimented trying to give her some sort of confidence in her abilities.

Niko led the way with her amazing tracking skills, mostly her keen eyes. After twenty minutes of following a trail, they were stumped.

"What's wrong?" Riku questioned from the rear when Niko stopped.

"Hm well I don't know where to go. To the East there's pressed grass but there's also a snapped twig to the west and turned over dirt to the North. They can be from anything." Niko explained making Riku groan.

"So now we're lost?"

"No, we can follow our own trail out of here." Ko said as she examined each trail.

"How about we split up and try each trail?" Riku suggested.

"No, Sensei did this on purpose. We have to stick together. If this were a real mission, we could be ambushed. We're stronger as a team." Ko reasoned as she examined the next trail. "I say we follow the one with the broken twig. It's still healthy and looks like it was purposely snapped. If you look at the overturned dirt, just a few meters a head there are deer tracks. The pressed grass could have been Sensei but it looks too narrow for it to be made from a human, most likely a small animal. The grass also hasn't been crushed, whatever made it was very light."

Orochimaru, who watched from the trees above felt pride in his daughter's tracking skills. It was not him who taught her but one of his snakes in his absence. He also noted the flash of red in her eyes; she had to be sure she picked the right one.

"She's still dependent on her Mother's ability." Orochimaru thought with a sour expression.

Eventually, they had finally found Anko sitting patiently in the middle of the grounds munching on dango.

"Finally! Took you long enough!" She exclaimed getting to her feet. "Take a seat, time for introductions." The Genin did as she said letting their tired feet rest. "My name is Anko Mitarashi, now, run." She said with a wicked smile confusing Niko and Riku but Ko didn't hesitate.

Kunai were thrown towards her but were deflected by Riku's kunai.

"Interesting, he protected her right away." Anko thought as Riku grabbed Niko's wrist pulling her away from her and followed Ko. They had already passed her test, but she wanted to have some fun with her new Genin.

---------------

The Chunin exams have finally arrived at the Leaf Village. Much to her annoyance, this was the second time the opportunity has come since Ko had graduated from the academy. Anko told them it was because they weren't ready but the truth was that Orochimaru wanted to wait. Apparently, his former teammate had information on a group who might target the village but mostly Ko. She would be safer if the Chuunin exams were held in the Leaf unlike last year. Anko understood his logic but her team was ready and now they're ready more than ever.

The team arrived early to the academy wanting to see each team that were participating. One by one teams entered then they stopped coming making Ko wonder if these were the only contestants until a great haul of them shuffled in soon after her thought including her friend Tenten's team. She hasn't seen her friend since they graduated so Tenten was ecstatic when she spotted Ko in the crowd.

Orochimaru watched the first part of the exams through a crystal ball, provided by Sarutobi, with the other Jounin Sensei. Ko and Tenten talked amongst themselves until being interrupted by Naruto's outburst which Kakashi face palmed at his student's ignorance. A figure moved quickly through the crowd ready to attack Naruto with a sword but Ko saw the movement and appeared in front of the blonde boy blocking the sword with her own.

She studied the man before her. He had short blue hair with amusement in his dark black orbs as he towered over her small frame. He wore a rain head band around his left arm which gripped his sword adding more force to it but Ko was able to hold her own. Kenjutsu was the first thing she had learned and Orochimaru made sure to prepare her for an opponent who had greater strength than her.

"Fighting is strictly prohibited!" A voice yelled from the front. Ko instantly recognized the man known as Ibiki Morino.

"Hm, so far your kid is pretty fast and is skilled in Kenjutsu." Kakashi commented eyeing the Hokage. "What else can she do?" His curiosity got the best of him but he knew everyone else was asking the same question.

"You'll have to wait like everyone else Kakashi," Orochimaru responded with a smirk. No one had seen much of his daughter since she became a Genin much to their displeasure. Anko was under strict orders to avoid any contact with the other teams and other shinobi in the village while training her Genin.

The test had begun as soon as the Genin flipped over their papers. They all held stunned expressions as they read of the various questions before them. Orochimaru smirked as he watched Ko. She held a passive look then closed her eyes secretly activating her Kekkei Genkai. It required her eyes to be open so she merely peaked her eyes open trying to hide her glowing red eyes.

The Godaime's gaze went to the three Rain shinobi who all, but the one in front of Ko, watched her closely. "Those Rain Genin," he spoke up catching everyone's attention, "keep an eye on them. I suspect they're not here for the exams."

Once time was up, everyone was upset about the tenth question but Ko and her team were ready to move onto the next stage. To their surprise, Anko busted the window introducing herself before Ibiki could finish his speech making her students blanch at her childness. Once everything was situated, they were given instructions to report to the next exam the following day. Ko said goodbye to her team heading home where Orochimaru was waiting for her.

"Dad!" She exclaimed happy he was home for once. " I bet you already know but I passed the first exam. No surprise there right?" She boasted with pride.

"As expected," he answered.

"Well, I have to prepare for tomorrow," she said about to head for a door to her right.

"Ko, I want to give you something. Come here and turn around."

She did what she was told curious but also happy he was going to give her something. She felt a cold chain around her neck followed by some weight. She looked down seeing a necklace with a small stone attached to it.

"This necklace is special; you can put chakra in it or take it out. I put some of mine in there so put half of yours in there now, so you'll have more for the exams. I will show you the seals to activate it."

"Why do I need this? Do you think I need help?" Ko questioned with a hint of anger in her voice.

"I want you to be safe. I have many enemies and you're the perfect target to get to me. These exams could turn into something bigger if you're not careful."

"What do you mean?"

"It doesn't matter, I doubt anything will happen. I'm just a worried parent." He lied knowing something was going to happen during these exams.

Ko eyed her father with a skeptical expression but then shrugged it off and turned around to face the door.

"I'm going to train downstairs. Will you be home for dinner?"

"No, I have to finish preparations for the next exam."

Ko only nodded before heading to the basement that Orochimaru built for her as a training area. Unbeknownst to everyone besides Ko, he had built many underground passageways throughout the village before becoming Hokage. He had them for when he would leave the village but things changed once Ko was brought into his life.

ANBU silently appeared in front of the Hokage kneeling out of respect. "I want every ANBU scattered throughout the Forest of Death for the exam. Be on the lookout for the three Rain Shinobi."

They only nodded in return before disappearing. He still loved being in charge of an army. So many Shinobi under his command, this was much better than his original plan to desert the Leaf.

----------------

The signal was called making the Genin rush into the gates entering the Forest of Death. Team 3 were excited to finally enter the training area their Sensei had talked about since they began their Genin training.

"Let's find a place to hide and rest until nightfall. Everyone will want to get a scroll while there's light. They'll be exhausted and vulnerable and that's when we'll strike." Ko suggested to which her teammates agreed. Ko had always been the leader even the first day she was in charge.

The three waited until the moon was high before moving from their spot. Ko had already scoped out the area while her team slept and found two teams camped nearby. She led them to the closest team which were Sand shinobi.

"Niko, put a genjutsu around the area so the lookout won't spot us. Once we fight, target the stronger one and put them in a genjutsu." Ko ordered to which Niko greatly did as ordered. "Riku, when we're discovered, make a wall behind them. I'll cover the right, Niko cover the left, and Riku attack them head on."

They nodded getting ready for a fight but the genjutsu wasn't enough to mask their presence. The Sand Genin had a sensor among them. The female Genin shot up from her slumber alerting her team of their arrival.

"So much for ambushing them." Riku commented but made a wall behind the team.

"Take down the sensor." Ko ordered as she ran to the right and Niko went left. Ko watched as they fought Riku but also looked around for her and Niko not letting their guard down. "I guess she can't tell where we are."

Soon, one of the boys faltered and suddenly attacked the senor.

"What are you doing?! Fight him not me!" She yelled as she blocked the various kunai he sent towards her.

As they were distracted, Ko quickly made hand signs making five snakes slither from her sleeves. They instinctively slithered towards the enemy constricting their movements also making the sensor scream out of disgust of the serpents. Ko emerged from the shadows smirking triumphantly.

"Great work team, now, who has the scroll?"

They refused to talk so Ko snapped her fingers signaling the snakes to tighten their grip making the Sand Genin scream out in pain.

"I have it!" The sensor shouted earning glares from the boys.

Ko walked over, reaching into her weapons pouch pulling out an earth scroll. "It's our lucky day, just the scroll we needed." She said with a smile tossing it to Riku.

She turned on her heel leaping into the trees followed by her team leaving the Sand Genin behind. The journey to the tower was a long one eventually running into many more teams fighting for their scroll. Many were easily defeated like the first but one was beyond their level giving them trouble. They fortunately won their battle but all three were injured needing to rest while their chakra replenished. Thankfully, Ko was able to tap into her chakra reserve in the necklace giving her just enough chakra to heal their more serious wounds.

Ko's team made it to the tower with a day to spare. She wished it would've been sooner, but their injuries demanded rest; they didn't want to run into yet another strong team. They were greeted by Anko who was very proud of her team telling them to get plenty of rest. Once the time limit was up, everyone congregated into a room in front of the Jonin senseis and the Hokage waiting for their next test. 

Please comment and vote! I really want to see more comments to get some feedback and requests and suggestions for the sequel

What do you guys think of Orochimaru being Hokage? I thought it would be interesting to write this alternate universe since Orochimaru originally wanted to be Hokage until he lost to Minato.

Edited: 3/1/2021