Chapter 22: Kimimaro

"There's someone I want you to meet," Orochimaru said. Generally, he wasn't around the Uchiha "compound" of the Sound Village. Itachi assumed it was due to him running experiments constantly in his free time.

"Please, take me to him." Itachi owed a lot to Orochimaru, and did his best to comply with his few and far between requests. The clan was about finished with its retrofitting of the buildings provided to them to better suit them, and as such he didn't have anything planned besides training anyways.

Orochimaru led Itachi out of compound and to one of his labs that Itachi knew to be dotted around the country. They went through a number of identical passages that ended in a fairly well lit and tidy lab. Itachi felt that even if he asked about the various instruments and experiments being conducted he wouldn't be able to fully grasp them. He noted the names of the people as he entered.

Kabuto Yakushi

LV 41

Kimimaro Kaguya

LV 38

Kimimaro was a pale child that couldn't be much younger than himself. He was in a bed, propped up by a few pillows. Kabuto was giving him an injection in the arm and talking to him.

"I'll be back later to see how your body reacts to this mixture," he said, before standing up and seeing Orochimaru and Itachi. "I was wondering when you'd bring them together."

"The Uchiha have been busy working on the accommodations I've provided them. It's only very recently that they've settled down," Orochimaru answered. He picked up a notebook off one of the tables and began reading through it. "How is your research going?"

"Not very well. Conventional methods are ineffective on his unique physiology. I'm trying to buy as much time as possible while I come up with a work around." Itachi's attention drifted away from the conversation to Kimimaro. He was unusually strong for someone his age.

He didn't react to Kabuto and Orochimaru's discussion about him, or he was simply oblivious to it. He met Itachi's gaze. His face lacked any expression though Itachi was certain there was a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.

"So you've taken an interest in Kimimaro?" Orochimaru asked, his attention once again on Itachi. "He is the one I wanted you to meet. Go on, introduce yourself."

"My name is Itachi Uchiha, it is a pleasure to meet you," Itachi said with a bow.

"It is pleasant to meet you as well. I am Kimimaro Kaguya." His tone was careful and measured.

"Lovely, now why don't you two go out for a bit of a walk. After all, fresh air does wonders for the body." Orochimaru said. Kimimaro wordlessly stepped out of the bed and adjusted his clothing. Despite his age he had a very slight height advantage over Itachi.

Orochimaru left them, heading into the labyrinth of tunnels. Kimimaro led Itachi out a different way and within moments, they were out in the sunlight. It was a private clearing of sorts, complete with a small garden. The two began walking beside each other with about five feet between them.

"Lord Orochimaru seems to have taken an interest in you. Your name comes up frequently," Kimimaro said, breaking the silence. Itachi didn't immediately respond.

"I didn't know. It probably had to do with how my clan ended up in the Sound village." It was a safe answer. Itachi had similar questions about him, but he thought it best not to ask about it.

"Oh?" The curiosity from earlier came out in full force. "If you don't mind me asking, what happened?"

"Someone from our original village viewed us as a threat and tried to dispose of us. I managed to stall them long enough for them to leave." He wanted to entertain the question, perhaps out of pity, yet he still wasn't comfortable with sharing the full details. Kimimaro must have guessed as much as he didn't press further.

"That's an impressive feat. I've heard a bit about the Uchiha. To hold off a force meant to deal with them could not have been easy." Itachi felt a bit of shame at the embarrassment of getting praise from someone younger than him.

"I have not heard of the Kaguya clan I'm afraid," Itachi said, mostly to change the subject.

"That doesn't surprise me. My clan was dying out when I left them to be follow Lord Orochimaru." He returned Itachi's courtesy from answering the question. "He knows there is more to life than constant battle." They followed the curvature of the trees as they started to turn back towards the lab.

The constant battle explained why he was abnormally strong for someone of his age, Itachi noted. It reminded him of when his father had taken him out to field in the days of the war. Kimimaro had his respect for it

"I take it you do not like violence and fighting?" Itachi asked.

"I do not enjoy it. Although sometimes Lord Orochimaru requires my skills." He was in a situation not too dissimilar to his own and that of his clan. Refuge in exchange for the occasional favor. Kimimaro interrupted Itachi's thoughts. "What do you think of fighting?"

"I think… that it is horrible, but it is necessary." It had been his turn to answer a question. "It was the only way I could've saved my clan."

"Fighting for those precious to you, I can understand that," he remarked. "So, do you have any hobbies?"

The discussion wandered into meaningless topics. They kept up the rhythm of ask and answer as they continued along the edge of the clearing. Itachi was careful to keep the distance between them comfortable. He scolded himself for not seeing the danger in how Kimimaro carried himself.

He resisted the urge to turn on his sharingan to relieve the nagging sensation in the back of his head. He knew it would not end well. To make up for it, he adjusted how he walked in an attempt to be less vulnerable. Kimimaro paused for a moment, clearly noticing the difference, but he didn't comment.

"Is this the garden you told me about, Orochimaru's personal one?" Itachi asked.

"Yes." He kneeled in front of a bush that had flowers blooming on it. "This is a Camellia flower," he said, plucking one off. "A place far from here views them as a sign of longevity. Our clan views them as a symbol of the briefness of life. I haven't told Lord Orochimaru though, he likes Camellia tea."

Itachi was considering asking about why this information would affect Orochimaru's tea drinking habits when the man himself showed up.

"You've been out longer than usual, Kimimaro. I hope you two didn't decide to have a friendly spar or something." His tone was not all that convincing to Itachi.

"No, Lord Orochimaru, Itachi and I have just learned that we share many things in common, including a dislike of violence." Itachi was almost certain that Kimimaro had just told a joke. He was unaware that Kimimaro even had a sense of humor.

"Well that's good. I'd hate for either of you to get hurt," Orochimaru replied. "Oh and by the way, Kabuto wants you to do something with those sweets you brought back the other day. He says they'll attract bugs."

"It seems our talk is over. I'm glad we had it," Kimimaro said. "Actually, do you mind taking some Warabimochi* home? I got too much and am quite sick of it."

"No, I don't. Even if I don't enjoy it I'm sure there's someone in my clan who will," he replied. Kimimaro once again led him through the tunnels until they arrived at his room. He motioned for him to wait outside while he brought them out.

"Here," he said, offering a bag to Itachi. He paused for a moment before heading back into his room. "It's strange, the Bracken fern can be made into a weak poison or a flour type substance for sweets. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Indeed, just as you can raise a person to either create or destroy," he answered, taking the bag of sweets. "It was nice to talk to you, Kimimaro. I hope we may speak again soon." Kimimaro gave him a very brief smile before closing the door.

"If you're wondering how to get out, that is my duty," Kabuto said, appearing from nowhere. Admittedly Itachi hadn't thought about it. He followed him through the corridors and was left by the door he'd initially entered the facility with. "I trust you can make it home from here."

Itachi looked up into the sky. The sun was about halfway across the sky. There was still plenty of time in the day. He reached into the bag Kimimaro had given him, pulled out a piece of Warabimochi, and began his journey home.