Fiend
Chapter X: Fiend
While Orochimaru refused to admit to anyone that he likes being surrounded by Jiraiya and Tsunade, it doesn’t mean he likes the idea of them getting chummy with Kakashi’s genin team. After all, snakes are territorial too and the idea of sharing his best friends to others left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Orochimaru’s quiet jealousy simmered beneath the surface, and he couldn’t help but feel possessive which gnawed at him like a venomous bite. He spent years nurturing his connections with Jiraiya and Tsunade, the sight of them sharing their smiles with Kakashi’s genin team felt like a betrayal, an unspoken act that cut deeper than any knife.
“If they thought that they can take away Hime and Jiraiya from me then they are entirely mistaken” Bitterly, Orochimaru mumbled while his serpentine eyes narrowed with suspicion whenever the others got too cozy with his best friends. The Yashagoro heir believes that he is too clever to be so emotionally invested. Yet, no matter how hard he tried to suppress his jealousy, Orochimaru couldn't shake the feeling that something important was slipping through his fingers like sand in a jar, and no amount of control could stop it.
Yamato worriedly eyed Kakashi. He knew that the older jonin was watching Orochimaru like a hawk. After all, they don’t trust the Snake Sannin even if he cannot remember his crimes.
As subtle as he could, Kakashi returned Yamato’s gaze. Ever since Jiraiya has become closer to Naruto and Tsunade to Sakura, the Snake Sannin has been more possessive. Despite not showing interest in befriending anyone from Kakashi’s genin team, Orochimaru could always find ways to somewhat scare the bejesus out of them. The two jonin somewhat has an idea on what the boy was trying to do. He wants Kakashi’s team to leave them alone.
“They call Naruto a monster, why is that?” It did not escape his attention the way Kakashi stiffened and the disheartened look on the boisterous blond’s face.
“Orochimaru-teme! Mind your own business!” Jiraiya roughly shook Orochimaru as if his action could stop the Yashagoro heir from talking and indirectly hurting Naruto.
“I know why they call me a monster, but I want to know what made them think that Naruto is a monster too. Unlike me, he did not seem anything special. No, the chakra inside him is somewhat familiar. What say you, Hime?” Awkward silence lingers in the air. Tsunade’s pained expression did not escape their attention.
“Shut up!” Jiraiya felt their sensei pulled him away from his scumbag teammate.
“Why are you so upset, Jiraiya?” Orochimaru’s serpentine eyes glisten with malice as he stares at his friends.
“Stop it, Orochimaru. Naruto’s secret is his to keep and none of it is our business.” Tsunade scolded her childhood sweetheart. She likes Orochimaru most of the time despite of what the others think of him. However, she will never tolerate his lack of remorse towards others.
For Orochimaru, relationships were delicate balances which teeters on the edge of possession and control. He couldn't understand why Jiraiya and Tsunade could be so easily drawn to others while forming new bonds without hesitation. The idea itself is an insult to his understanding of loyalty and connection. To him, it felt as though Kakashi’s genin team were wandering into territory that he had staked his claim on years ago, a territory he wasn’t ready to share. Like snakes, Orochimaru couldn't forgive or forget in the same way humans did. The more he tried to ignore the uncertainty of this newly formed bonds between his best friends and those three genin, the more he gets jealous. And in his silence, Orochimaru was consumed. A jealous snake, after all, is not one to easily soothe.
“I—” Reluctant, Naruto eyed the de-aged Sannin. He did not know what’s wrong with Orochimaru and what’s his problem with him befriending Jiraiya and Tsunade.
“To Konoha, I am a monster because of what my clan was capable of doing. What about you? What made them think that you are a monster, Naruto?” Despite his current physical appearance, Orochimaru’s cruelty knows no boundaries. Ever since the death of his parents, Orochimaru has no one but Tsunade and Jiraiya. He’ll never let them escape his grasps. They belong to him and he is not going to share them to the likes of Naruto, Sakura or even Uchiha Sasuke.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with you. I am Jinchūriki of Nine Tailed fox. Happy now, dattebayo?!” Naruto was waiting for Jiraiya to say something hurtful and to start avoiding him too just like the rest of them. However, the white haired Sannin pulled Naruto closer as if reassuring him that nothing was wrong about being a Jinchūriki.
“Cool. Orochimaru-teme was right that you are familiar. You know, Tsunade-hime’s grandma was also a Jinchūriki. She was the Jinchūriki of the Nine tailed fox too. Don’t listen to that bastard. He was just jealous that we are friends. Meanwhile, he remains a stuck-up prince” Jiraiya grinned. He refused to avoid Naruto even if he is Jinchūriki and dangerous. They are friends. The blond genin is also fun to be with unlike the Yashagoro prince.
“There’s nothing wrong with being a Jinchūriki. Jiraiya was right, Maru was just jealous that Jiraiya was spending more time with you while I am spending more time with Sakura here. He is not a bad person, but he could be handful most of the time. Just like your friend Sasuke” Tsunade explained. She did not want Naruto to hate Orochimaru because just like the Jinchūriki, her best friend has been ostracized most of the time.
Yamato could not understand what the Snake Sannin is thinking. However, Kakashi was different because he has an idea of what is running inside Orochimaru’s twisted mind. There’s no doubt to it that just like a jealous snake, the little Snake Sannin was driven by instinct. His jealousy was not simply an emotion, but it is also a reminder to them of an unhealthy obsession that the madman has for both Tsunade and Jiraiya. The Sandaime Hokage warned Yamato and Kakashi of Orochimaru's possessiveness towards his friends could be a borderline to obsession and madness.