"Calm down Ko he's only hard on you because he cares." I said to myself as I punched the dummy before me.

Even though he thinks that my emotions are gone, they're not. I keep them hidden whenever he's around; I don't feel them as much but they're still there. Sighing, I went into my room to rest for a while; I have been training continuously since he left. Before I could even rest, I felt a presence near the house and whoever it was, was strong.

I walked over to the door and opened it, once my eyes adjusted to the light I saw a young boy about fourteen. I had to squint my eyes to take in his appearance. He had silver hair, dark eyes, and wearing glasses.

"Who are you and state your business." I said keeping my voice calm as I stared up at the boy.

"I'm Kabuto; I'm here to join Lord Orochimaru." He answered giving me a slight smile though, it didn't reach his eyes.

"You're early, we weren't expecting you for another few days. Sadly, you just missed Lord Orochimaru. He just left and won't be back for a while. You will just have to wait until he gets back." I said.

"I see, well I have the patience."

I could tell just by this encounter he was confident and smug. His expression showed no fear at all and he wasn't lying but there was something about him. He seemed like he was clueless about something. By his eyes he was thinking about something and distant.

"I'll show you to your room. Don't try anything funny though. I don't trust easily, it will take a lot to earn it."

"Understandable." He replied stepping into my home closing the door behind it.

We walked down the halls of the house in silence. I glanced every now and then at him unsure how to interact with another kid. Father usually would talk to me and it was nothing but talk about my training or his plans. Finally, at what felt like hours we reached his room, so I opened the door leading him inside.

"Here's your room; my room is just down the hall but don't bother me. The kitchen is just down the hall if you're hungry. Tomorrow I'll come down to see what you have that Lord Orochimaru is interested in."

His reply was only a smirk then went into his room. I walked down the hallway into my own room. There was something about him he seemed confused and lost unsure of who he actually was which I assumed is what Father was interested in, that much I could see. He looked broken, an easy target for Father's manipulation. When I got into my room and laid on the bed staring up at the ceiling. This place is very boring but maybe with Kabuto here it won't be as much.

"Why does father want him anyway? What can he do for him? I know that he wants more followers for the new village but why does he need Kabuto now?" I wondered.

Orochimaru-sama has never really paid any attention to me at all. He usually just gives me instructions then leaves. I think the longest he has stayed with me would be two days but that was when the Leaf was looking for him so he needed to hideout for a few days until he could go back until the Akatsuki. Those two days were the best but worst days of my life. I got to spend time with Father but in return I had to endure his brutal training. I try my best, but nothing is ever good enough; all I want is his approval.

To my left was a picture of Father and I together when I was three. I wasn't sure who was even taking the picture. Father was holding me in his arms looking as if he was forced to just by the look on his face, but he still held a small smirk while I looked extremely happy as I looked up at him.

"I'll do anything to get him to notice me." I vowed.

I looked at the clock and saw that it was about time to eat so I got up then went into the kitchen starting to make pork for dinner. I've never cooked for two people before since Lord Orochimaru has never been home, but this will be the first. When I finished cooking, I placed two plates on the table then walked towards the direction of Kabuto's room. Once I reached his room, I knocked on the door and awaited him to open it. I heard someone coming towards the door opening it.

"I thought you didn't want to be bothered? Why do you want me?" Kabuto asked sounding a bit irritated.

"I made dinner; do you want some?" I asked with an emotionless voice ignoring my own irritation towards his tone.

"Sure, I haven't eaten since Orochimaru-sama found me." He answered stepping out of the room.

"Hm so he already shows respect for him," I thought.

We walked to the kitchen in silence but I could tell that he was staring at me most likely wondering why I'm here. I ignored him and hurried into the kitchen sitting down and ate my food while he ate his own.

"Why are you following Orochimaru-sama anyway?" I questioned placing my chopsticks onto my empty plate.

He looked up from his meal over to me swallowing his food before answering.

"He said that he could help me to find out who I really am." He answered making me raise a brow.

"You don't know who you are?"

He was silent for a second looking down like he was deep in thought. He then looked back up at me. "I was abandoned as a child with no memory. When someone found me, she named me but then as I grew I became a spy with different aliases and on the way I lost my self."

"Hm interesting.....so that's why Father wants him, he'll be useful for gathering information and getting new followers." I thought.

"So that's why you look lost?"

"What do you mean?"

"When I first saw you, your eyes looked distant."

He was silent until he finished his dinner indicating that he didn't want to talk about it anymore.

"Thanks for the meal it was good."

"Whatever,"

He smirked then put his dishes in the sink and went back to his room. I rolled my eyes and started to wash the plates.

*time skip*

It's been two weeks since Kabuto had arrived and it seems that he is no threat to us but there's something about him. He seemed annoyed when I tried to pry more information out of him so I stopped once he tried to get information out of me. While I was training, I heard Kabuto above me walking around aimlessly. Seeing as I was done with training for the afternoon, I walked back upstairs to look for him. I found him in the living room admiring everything that was on the wall.

"I see that you're interested in Lord Orochimaru's prizes." I said startling him.

"Yes; they're very interesting." He commented.

"They're all from his previous battles. He collects things from worthy opponents which he has defeated."

"So he's a collector?"

"You can say that, once we move out of here these will be going to a secluded room where no one will find them. They may not look it but they're very valuable and powerful. The shinobi who wielded these weapons never grasped the power that they held. Lord Orochimaru knew of the power that they held so he killed to acquire these. He has already unlocked the power in them and soon he will pass them on to his apprentice who will eventually surpass him. He doesn't know who will get them but only you and I will ever know about these." I explained.

"Given that you told me this, do you trust me?"

"Yes, I do. I don't see any ill intentions."

"Will Lord Orochimaru be angry once he finds out that you told me this?"

"No....he told me to tell you once I trusted you. He needs you for something; he needs all of his followers for something but I don't know why yet. Now a days he doesn't tell me much he never did really."

"So he gives people these weapons if he deems them worthy?"

"Yes,"

"Interesting,"

"It is, but he keeps the best for himself. He mentioned that he's going to give one of his favorite swords The Sword of Kusanagi to a successor when they're ready."

"Are you strong enough to wield it?"

"No, but it will be mine one day."

Suddenly I heard the front door open and close. Kabuto and I walked out of the room and towards the living room to see Father standing not too far from the door.

"Kabuto, how is Ko treating you?" He asked strolling towards us.

"Very well sir," Kabuto replied bowing with respect.

"Good......now we're going to be heading towards the rice country tomorrow to build up our village." He announced making my eyes widen.

"You left the Akatsuki?" I questioned.

"Yes, they will be hunting me down but if we have enough followers then we will be able to stop them. Now go and pack the essentials, we leave at dawn."

"Yes Orochimaru-sama." We said in unison bowing.

I went to my room quickly packing all of my belongings which consisted of mostly weapons, cloths, and the picture of Father and I.

Then next day right at dawn we destroyed our house and headed into the direction of our new home. It wasn't as far as it was supposed to be only five hours away. The rice country was beautiful and lush, nothing like I had ever seen before; for miles there was nothing but grassland. There weren't a lot of people; but they looked peaceful. Father said that we're building a ninja village here which means that ninja will protect this place.

"Are there ninja already here?" I questioned looking up at him.

"There's a few but we're mostly going to look for specific ones. I already have them in mind. I will talk to the Feudal Lord and there's also a clan living here which we will have a talk with."

"What's the clan?"

"The Fuma clan."

"When will we talk to them?" Kabuto questioned from Father's left side.

"Right when we arrive. The Feudal Lord needs ninja and protection and I need a clan to study. They want power to rebuild their clan so well give it to them."

"Are they a weak clan?" I questioned.

"Yes; they were once a great clan so we're going to restore them to their former glory."

"Seems like their too desperate for power to realize that we're not the right people to trust." Kabuto said with a sadistic smile making me look over with curiosity.

"What does he mean by that? Father is going to help them and these people. We're giving them protection." His words really started to bother me , Father wouldn't harm these people.

"Yes they are desperate, foolish people." Father answered making me feel even more concerned.

"When do we start?" I questioned trying to hide my emotions.

"I've already talked to their leader and he has agreed to join our village and protect it with their lives. They will obey our every command with no question."

"Do you have everything ready already?" Kabuto asked.

"Yes, I'll lead you to the hideout and I'll send you off to collect subordinates."

Edited March 12, 2020