Uncertainty
Oblivion
Summary: Waking up in an unfamiliar place while surrounded by strangers had triggered confusion and vulnerability but never fear. After all, there is nothing that he have to lose. His parents along with the rest of their clan were gone, killed by enemies. What is important right now is to find a way to return to Konoha and inform his sensei of what happened while he must ensure that Tsunade and Jiraiya are safe.
Chapter I: Uncertainty
Waking up in an unfamiliar place while surrounded by strangers had triggered confusion and vulnerability but never fear. After all, there is nothing that he has to lose. His parents along with the rest of their clan were gone, killed by enemies.
The realization hit him like a cold wave that this was definitely not Konoha. His senses were on high alert as his eyes darted across the unfamiliar room. The walls, made of some strange yet ancient stone. The air smells different, it is thicker and almost stagnant like it hadn’t been disturbed in years.
His fingers grazed the soft fabric of a bedroll that he didn’t recognize. No pillow with the familiar scent of home, no soft sounds of the village buzzing outside. Everything was muted.
Whoever took him had been very careful. The room was bare, no signs of struggle, no clues left behind which made it worse for him. His mind raced, working through every scenario, every possibility of how they managed to kidnap him from the village. Was this the work of a new enemy or was it the idea of some individuals who hated his clan? Had someone come out of the shadows, a hidden faction with the ability to infiltrate and remain undetected? Or worse, was it someone he knew? He cannot help but to worry for Tsunade and Jiraiya, were they okay?
Every ounce of his patience is thinning while his instinct told him not to trust the strangers, he could hear murmuring just beyond the door even though they weren’t rushing, weren’t acting like typical enemies who would be demanding answers or threats. Surprisingly, they were patient and almost as if they were waiting for him to wake up or to react.
Orochimaru reminded himself to stay calm. In a place like this, with everything unknown and no way to escape, uncertainty gnawed at him. Maybe the only way to figure out who was behind this entire fiasco was to meet his kidnappers.
On the other hand, the murmurs beyond the door never seemed to stop. Soft at first, then rising in volume as if they were trying to decide on the next course of action. Their words were too muffled to make out clearly, but it was obvious they were deliberating—maybe even arguing about their master. The only thing he could catch were fragments, hints of the conversation like a puzzle with most of the pieces missing.
“...too dangerous... not what we expected...”
“…didn't plan for this… might be…”
“…if he wakes up… we act fast?”
Orochimaru could feel his heart pounding in his chest. Whoever these people were, they knew something about him which was clearly making them uneasy and irritated at the same time. However, he wonders what they know about him or if the said information will put not only him but also his team in danger. He hoped that Tsunade-Hime is at least safe. Although they are rivals while they were still in the academy, she is his friend. Jiraiya on the other hand may have acted like a perverted idiot most of the time, he is Orochimaru’s teammate. Hence, the Yashagoro heir must keep him safe too.
He could feel the tension building, like a storm waiting to break. He had to think fast. If they were deciding what to do with him, he needed to act before they made their move. If he just laid there, pretending unconscious, they'd likely make the first move, and he didn't know what that would be.
He must find a way to escape here despite his body feeling sluggish and heavy. Whatever these people had done to him must be reported immediately to his sensei. His head throbbed and there was a faint dizziness clouding his thoughts. A trap? Poison? They were keeping him in a weakened state while making sure he couldn’t break free or even defend himself properly.
He couldn’t stay passive much longer. Every second he lingered in this state was another second they had to figure out what to do with him, another moment where he was at their mercy. If he could just get a better sense of the situation, maybe make out their voices a little clearer, he could plan his escape or, at the very least, gather information.
Slowly and carefully, he shifted. The bedroll creaking under him, hoping to make enough noise to catch their attention without giving away the fact that he was awake. His breathing was shallow and controlled. He couldn't let them know he was aware. He had to know what they knew first.
The murmurs died down for a moment, then one voice—clearer now—spoke with a tinge of frustration.
“We can’t just keep him here. It is too dangerous for everyone.”
“Not to mention that they will kill all of us once they found us.”
“We have to make sure that he will not cause more trouble”
“We’ll leave as soon as possible”
That was enough. They weren’t just keeping him captive—they were afraid of him. Whatever had led to this moment, he had been someone worth fearing.
He gritted his teeth, readying himself. They might have the advantage now, but that wouldn’t last. It was only a matter of time before he found his opening. Now, he just needed to wait.
Orochimaru winced by the time he can see his shirt turning a bright shade of red, fresh wounds are the cause of his current disposition. Careful as he could, he tried to find some disinfectant and painkillers. There’s no way that he’ll bleed to death in this place.