"Again!" He commanded with another shove causing me to fall onto the padded floor.

"I can't!" My four year old voice shouted as tears threatened to fall.

"Yes, you can! Now do it again!" He shouted advancing closer to me.

"Father I can't!" I cried as I looked up from the floor into his angry snake-like eyes.

"I thought you were better than this, but I was wrong." He sighed.

He stepped closer and closer to me avoiding the puddles of blood of the floor until he was kneeling in front of me. Reaching out his hand he moved my black silky hair out of my face and behind my ear.

"Your hair is getting long." He commented as his face started to look calmer.

"I know," I replied softly as I looked away avoiding eye contact.

"I keep forgetting that you're only four and that I shouldn't have pushed you to your limit. I keep expecting more out of you but I know that you're still young...rest for now and we'll train in the morning after breakfast." He said standing up turning away from me.

"Where are you going Father?" I questioned trying to get up but fell from exhaustion.

"Back to the village......they'll be wondering where I am...." He hissed.

"Father, if you despise the village so much then why don't you just leave?"

He looked over his shoulder to see me.

"I still need to do some research there, don't worry we'll be out of this village soon, I can't stand it here anymore.....it's sickening." He hissed in disgust.

"Can I come to the village with you?" I questioned hoping he'll say yes.

"No, they mustn't know who you are."

"I understand, when we leave, then can I go outside?" I said as I looked up at him with my big innocent red eyes gazed into his green snake like ones.

"We'll see,"

I jumped up from the floor with all my strength to give him a hug. As soon as I made contact, his body went ridged not use to my touch.

"Thank you Father! I will finally be able to see what the sun looks like!" I shouted happily.

"You sure do have a lot of...emotion....when we leave, we'll have to change that."

I looked up at him tilting my head with confusion.

"What do you mean?"

"You want to be a strong ninja like me right?" He knelt to the ground getting to my level then placed a hand on my head.

"Of course!" I grinned only wanting to be just like him.

"Well a ninja never shows emotion; strong ninja don't let emotion get in the way. Emotions are a weakness; they're for the weak."

I looked down in sadness as he once again told me of my worthlessness.

"I have read that in the books you had me read. I just wish that it wasn't true. Is it possible to get rid of my emotions?"

"Of course it is, we just have to beat it out of you." He got up to his feet then turned away.

"Whatever it takes to be like you Father," I bowed in respect just like he had taught me. I would do anything for him.

"Another thing, don't call me Father anymore...it shows ...affection." Just from his emphasis on the word affection told me he wasn't in touch with his emotions just like he said. He was a strong ninja so he couldn't have emotions.

"Then what shall I call you?"

"Orochimaru-sama or Lord Orochimaru, it shows respect."

"Yes Lord Orochimaru."

"Good girl Ko."

And that's where it all started. After that week we left our hide out and my Lord had joined a group called Akatsuki mostly leaving me alone. We've been gone for three years now making me seven. Once he joined, he was never home so I just trained by myself in the house that we lived in. He never let me outside without his supervision. Even though he doesn't show it, I know he still cares despite I still haven't gotten any acknowledgement of my improvements. I was his daughter after all, he had to care for me.

I was walking around in the basement where the training area is set up which he made when he created the house. Lord Orochimaru didn't want me to train outside without him home so he created this training area just for me.

When I reached the basement door, I heard the front door open and close. Knowing that it was Father, I walked to the front of the house to greet him. When I turned the corner, I saw him unzipping his Akatsuki cloak; it's been months since he's been gone. When I approached him I bowed with respect just like he taught me years ago.

"Welcome home Lord Orochimaru. How long will you be home for?" I questioned hoping it would be a while. I missed him so much and hated being alone in this house.

"Not long, I have to go with the other members to meet a new member." He replied making me disappointed but I understood, he was a busy man.

"What brings you home?"

"Well your birthday is today isn't it?"

My eyes widened as I looked down at the ground, I completely forgot about my eighth birthday. Returning my face to its emotionless state I looked up at him in the eyes.

"I guess it is, I had nearly forgotten....Lord Orochimaru?"

"Hm?"

"Sasori of the red sand is your partner...right?"

"Yes, why?"

"I was researching the bingo book that you gave me and he was in it. He's very strong but not as strong as you."

"You really do admire rouges, don't you?" He chuckled.

"Of course I do, they're stronger than the normal shinobi and are illustrious for it. You're in here too which isn't a surprise. You're the strongest one in here. Do you think I'll be in here one day?"

"Here's your birthday present." He said throwing a box at me choosing to not answer my question.

I easily caught it then started to open the box. When I opened it, I saw a headband inside with a music note on it. I looked up at him in confusion.

"What's this? I've never seen this insignia before." I traced the mark over and over again feeling the roughness against my finger.

"It's because it's new; when I leave the Akatsuki we're going to create another village."

"What's it going to be called and where will it be?"

"It's going to be in the rice country and it's going to be called the Sound Village. We'll have a village full of rouge ninja which will be powerful; we will also have various hideouts just in case of ninja trying to find us."

"And by us you mean you since no one knows that I exist."

"Exactly."

"May I ask why you keep me hidden from the world?" I knew I was pushing it but this question has been pestering me since I was young. I have read about children going outside and playing making me wonder if there were other children around me in the world. All I knew about the world was what Father told me and from what I've read in books.

He paused for a second thinking something over then he looked up at me. "If someone found out that you're my daughter, they would simply kill you. I am in that book for a reason and have many enemies who would love to kill my daughter. Don't worry, once I get followers and you're powerful enough they'll know who you are."

"Really?" I gasped as hope sparked within me.

"Yes, now we're going to get our first follower very soon. I've received word that someone wants to join us and he'll be here in a few days. I want you to make him comfortable and see if he's worthy of being a follower."

"To see if he's a traitor?"

"If he is then kill him."

"Yes Lord Orochimaru." I replied wondering who this person might be and how old they were.

"How's your training coming along?"

"Perfectly fine, I've been working on my fire jutsu as you requested. Out of the five you've assigned; I have mastered the fireball jutsu. I'm grateful the training room is fireproof or else the house would've been burned down by now"

"It's because you rid yourself of those horrid emotions."

My heart dropped in despondency. Getting rid of my emotions was easier said than done. I have hidden them from Father afraid of getting beat again but my mask was hard to keep on at times.

"I do feel more powerful since I'm exonerated of them. When will you leave the Akatsuki?"

"Very soon; I've already learned as much as I can about them. We're getting a new member soon and I'm very interested in him."

"I see, I hope that before you leave them that I'll get to meet them one day."

"Maybe when you're older."

"When will I be stronger?"

"In a few years. If you keep training to perfection, you'll be strong in no time child."

"I'll train everyday all day if I have to." I was determined to become a strong shinobi like Father. I can't disappoint him, he was my hero.

"Well I must be going; they will be wondering where I am."

I looked down at the ground as he turned to leave. "But you just got back." I whispered inaudibly. It was lonely being here for weeks at a time with no human connection.

He didn't say anything. All he did was completely turn away from me and head out the door back to where he came from leaving me all alone. Sadness overwhelmed me, he has never showed compassion for me.

Edited March 12, 2020