Chapter Text
[Flowers bloom, snow melts, and animals emerge from their burrows. Spring has begun.]
As far as things go in the Land of Fire, few people pay any mind to the thick woods nestled near the borders of the Land of Earth and Land of Rice. It’s no-man’s land, terrain much too rough and forested to consider settling down in. However, as Orochimaru discovers, it is teeming with life. He’s likely passed through here before during a pursuit, but this is the first time he’s slowed down to take it in. This time, there’s no rush, no shinobi at his heels, and he’s rather fond of strolling through nature.
Visibility is low; it’s dawn, but the sun has not yet graced this pocket of the forest. A deep fog winds through the trees, shifting and shimmering in the soft breeze. Orochimaru breathes in deeply, enjoying the oxygen rich air. Idly, he rubs his fingers to keep the blood flowing through them. Temperatures don’t bother him much, but the chill of the woods will slow his joints if he’s not mindful of it.
A bird suddenly chitters, the first to awake. It makes him smile slightly. He’ll never tell anyone, but watching the world slowly rise in the morning is one of his favorite things. This bird makes him feel a little less alone in this forest.
Of course, he’s not actually alone. He’s not a fool. Some time ago, perhaps a little under an hour, he became aware of someone following him. They’ve been keeping their distance, silently weaving through treetops. He’s unsure of their purpose. After all, not many people pass through here, and it’s only one person. Orochimaru’s name and face is well known throughout the Land of Fire, so any ninja in their right mind attempting to capture him would retreat and come back with a team. This person could be attempting to follow him in hopes of discovering the location of the Sound Village, but if that’s the case, they’re being awfully casual about it.
Most interestingly, they’re not very subtle about trailing him. It’s how he would expect a genin to follow him, but a genin wouldn’t dare go after him alone. So finally, he comes to a halt and gazes up in the direction of his pursuer.
“Is there something you want from me?” He asks in a smooth, rich tone. He doesn’t raise his voice into a call; it’s unnecessary. He feels the follower pause for a few moments, likely wondering if he was speaking to them. “Yes, you, in the trees,” he confirms. “I know you’re there.”
For a minute, everything is silent and still. Finally, the foliage above rustles as the stranger hops from tree to tree. They stop high in a nearby pine, concealed by branches. He doesn’t like not being able to see them but decides to be patient.
“I mean you no harm,” they say at last. It’s a woman’s voice, low and velvety. “Should you near or cross a wolf’s territory, they will watch and follow you from a distance. I am the same.”
Orochimaru raises an eyebrow and responds, “Territory? Do you mean to say you live out here?”
“Yes,” she says. “The Takai Kigi Forest is a bountiful home to me.”
How curious, he thinks to himself. Hermits certainly aren’t unheard of, but one this far from civilization, buried deep in the woods… Well, it’s surprising. Frankly, he wasn’t even aware that this area had a name. These woods are just generally considered difficult to traverse at best, and uninhabitable at worst. There’s no established trail and the trees stretch on for miles. Not to mention how consistently cold it is. But honestly, he finds the forest no more uninhabitable than the Land of Water. In fact, this place is arguably better due to the abundance of wildlife.
“Interesting,” he hums. “And you live alone out here?”
“I live without human companionship, yes.” She confirms.
“A missing-nin living alone in a forest that’s widely regarded as difficult to navigate,” he says. “That’s rather odd, hm?”
“I find it no more unusual than the Leaf’s most wanted S-Rank criminal casually strolling through said forest,” she counters, amusement laced in her tone.
He raises his eyebrows in mild surprise. The woman then drops down to the thick, winding branch in front of him. She still has the high ground, but at least he can see her now. Her face is unfamiliar to him, and he finds himself doubting that she’s from Konoha.
“I must ask,” he says. “How do you know of me?”
“How did you know I was a missing-nin?” She counters.
“The way you followed me suggested you’re a ninja of some sort,” he answers. “And the fact that you live alone out here tells me you’re a fugitive.”
She nods, peachy pink hair falling into her eyes. “Observant. As for how I know you, I collect and trade information for goods. One of my informants has described you before.”
“I don’t suppose you would tell me about this informant?”
“Client confidentiality,” she shakes her head. “Unless you can offer something of greater value than what they gave me to conceal their identity.”
“Mm,” he hums. “It’s not of much importance.”
The woman watches him, light blue eyes occasionally surveying her surroundings before settling back on him. He’s surprised to find that she maintains eye contact with him. Her gaze never drops in fear or discomfort, but it doesn’t feel challenging either. He’s never been easy to look at directly, unusual marigold eyes carrying a simply predatory gaze. But, oddly enough, so does she. It’s certainly not as intense, but… he squints at her, trying to dissect her nature. There’s something there that he can’t discern yet. It intrigues him, draws him in.
Slowly, she rises and hops down to the ground, now fully on his level. She takes a few small steps towards him, observing his body language. This eerily pale man with long black hair is dangerous, strong, and oozing with confidence; but his posture is relaxed and passive. Though he’s alert, he doesn’t view her as a threat yet. He won’t attack.
She stops a few feet in front of him, looking him over evenly. Now that she’s closer, he can see the long, crooked scar that tears from the left side of her jaw to the bridge of her nose. Her clothes are dirty and ripped in a few places. On closer inspection, the rips don’t seem to be from too much wear; they’re too deliberate. He thinks he can see dark, scarred skin underneath each tear.
Orochimaru, on the other hand, seems quite put together by comparison. His hair is sleek and well groomed, only slightly rustled from the breeze. His cream colored robe sports no stains, and the only dirt on him is dust he’s kicked up from walking. The woman tilts her head curiously and looks over his face, taking in each detail. He returns the favor, the both of them memorizing each other’s appearance.
“What do you use for your eye makeup?” she eventually asks, breaking the silence.
His lips curl in amusement, and he brings his hand up to his face. “Nothing, I’m afraid,” he says, rubbing the purple around his eyes to prove it doesn’t come off. “These markings are part of my skin.”
“Huh,” she says. “They’re very… pretty. I envy you,” she idly traces her own eyes. “I would paint my own if I didn’t sweat it off so fast.”
“You surprise me, you know?” he chuckles. “I can’t imagine your informant told you anything kind about me, but you don’t seem scared.”
“Other people’s impressions mean little to me,” she states. “Words become so easily twisted when they pass through too many mouths. I reserve my judgments until I’ve met a person face to face.”
And if he knew body language better, he would see that she is scared. Every muscle in her body is taut and prepared to jump away at a moment's notice. This isn’t a standoff, not yet at least; it’s akin to two dispersal wolves meeting and sizing each other up, deciding whether to join forces or tear each other apart.
“Tell me,” she hums. “Is it true you run the Hidden Sound Village?”
“What would it mean to you if I did?” he asks.
“Intrigue,” she answers. “If you do, you likely have supplies that I desire. I may not know what you desire, but I’m sure I have something of value to offer.”
This piques his interest. “Well,” he says, his tongue flicking across his smooth lips. “What can you offer?”
“Allow me to introduce myself,” she says, nodding once and taking a deep breath. “My name is Korin. I’ve been a missing-nin for around 6 or 7 years. I’ve made my life in the wilderness, and these woods are my home.”
She tucks a tuft of hair behind her ear before continuing. “I can survive on my own means, but I’ve made a habit of trading intel and various things in exchange for supplies. People pass through this forest more often than you’d think. I keep a summary of each person I see and how often they pass through.”
He stiffens ever so slightly at this, so subtle that most would miss it. She purses her lips and goes on, “Sometimes, they offer me random intel or gossip in exchange for some of my goods. They can also request to know who or what I currently have intel on, and will offer more intel or supplies in exchange for specifics about a subject.”
“Do tell,” he murmurs. “What supplies do you need, and what goods do you offer?”
“I’m fairly sure that an established village such as yours doesn’t require my little trinkets,” Korin chuckles softly. “I think my medical herbs and intel are perhaps the most valuable to you,” she pauses, then adds, “However, if fresh meat is in low supply, I can certainly offer that.”
The village is, in fact, often low on food. Between the work of Orochimaru, Kabuto, and the subordinates, there’s rarely any time to take care of meals. There’s barely any chance to go to a store, either.
“As for my own needs,” she says. “I am almost always in need of clothing and weapons. But advanced medical supplies are the most essential. Bandages, hydrogen peroxide, scalpels, clean rags, morphine, syringes… all such things.”
“I can most definitely supply those,” Orochimaru says, nodding. “I think I may have a proposition for you, but first… may I hear the subjects you have intel on?”
Korin slowly reaches into her back pocket, pulling out a somewhat wrinkled folded piece of paper. He’s slightly unsettled by the way her eyes never leave his face as she does this. She offers it to him, hand tentatively outstretched with the paper pinched between her thumb and forefinger. He accepts it just as slow, under the bizarre impression that she might spook if he moves too quickly.
Delicately, he unfolds the paper and examines it. He’d initially prepared to scan it over, but quickly discovers that her handwriting is almost unintelligible. He briefly wonders if it’s a different language until he discerns some recognizable words. He hones in on a few subjects: ‘5th Hokage’, ‘Akatsuki’, ‘Uchiha Clan’, and ‘rumored Kumogakure jinchuuriki’.
“You ought to space your kerning a bit more,” he sighs, returning the paper. “Your writing is hardly legible.”
“You’re not the first to complain. And what is kerning?”
“The spacing between each letter in a word,” he explains. “Your letters are so close together that they often intercept.”
She shrugs. “It’s rare for someone to really need to read my writing.” In fact, she actually tends to write in a code, a personal written language she’s created. When your services rely heavily on private intel, you have to prepare for the possibility of your documents falling into the wrong hands.
Orochimaru mulls over the entire situation and the possibilities that stem from it. Eventually, he says, “You interest me, young one. I have an offer. Whether or not you’re aware, this forest borders on one of my many bases. We can provide you with advanced medicine and supplies, clothing, and perhaps some weapons. In exchange, I’d want you to act as surveillance. An occasional report on everyone who passes through, and a more immediate report if you see something suspicious.”
Korin processes this and asks, “Anything else?”
“The fresh meat could also be of use, I suppose.”
She’s silent as she turns the offer over in her mind, weighing the fairness and benefits. Finally, she nods and stretches out her hand. “I accept.”
Orochimaru takes her hand firmly and they shake on the deal.
“One more thing,” she says as she retracts her hand slowly. “How would you like me to deliver? Would you want me to come to your village or would you prefer to send someone to collect?”
“I’ll send someone to collect, for now.” He answers.
Korin nods once more, not questioning his reasoning. At the moment, they have no trust established in each other. It would be an extreme risk for her to know the location of his village right now. “We’ll need a code, then. Something I can ask to subtly confirm that they’re sent by you.”
It's his turn to nod. They’re both lost in thought briefly as they consider possible phrases. Eventually, they agree on one; the one he chooses is stupid, Korin thinks, but doesn’t comment on it. She then fishes through her pockets before handing him a small trinket.
He examines it. It’s an animal skull of some sort, likely a rodent. An incredibly intricate pattern is carved into it. The grooves of the carvings are painted a dark, rusting red; blood, he recognizes instantly.
“Make sure your collector brings this with them. I will ask to see it every time. If they don't have it, I will not deliver. No exceptions. Ever.” She states. “If it gets lost, I’ll need you to personally come to me for a replacement.”
To the average person, this would seem over the top, but Orochimaru agrees easily. In fact, he finds it respectable. She’s taking his offer very seriously and making sure she never lets the deliveries fall into the wrong hands.
The sun is streaming through the trees by the time the deal is solidified. Morning birdsong fills the forest, and Korin yawns, blinking slowly. Still waking up?
“Well, my dear, it was lovely running into you,” Orochimaru says at last. “I look forward to our future business partnership. Unfortunately, I have many things to attend to and must continue.”
“As do I,” she nods. “I’ll gather supplies while awaiting your collector. It was a pleasure to meet you, Orochimaru.”
“And you, Korin,” he dips his head before turning away and walking off.
She watches him until he disappears between the pines, then stretches with a soft groan and returns to the treetops. Should she hunt now, or at dusk? Definitely at dusk, she decides. That’s when most prey are getting tired, and she’ll be well rested. She confidently hops through the trees, mulling over her encounter with Orochimaru all the way home.