Naruto: I Became Orochimaru's Apprentice

The stone door creaked open, a jagged sliver of daylight spilling into the dark tunnel where Teriyaki stood. He squinted, eyes unaccustomed to natural light after so long beneath the earth. For a moment, he simply stood there — frozen, overwhelmed by the sheer size of the sky.

Outside, the ground was frosty and the air was cold and fresh. Teriyaki breathed it all in, thankful to the gods he had escaped the lair, even if it was only for a moment.

Orochimaru's voice echoed faintly from behind. "One hour. No more. You are still new to the outside world. Considering you lost all your memories when I found you in the forest."

Teriyaki barely nodded before stepping out, bare feet pressing into grass for the first time in years. His skin prickled. The air was thick with life, humid and rich with the smells of dirt, moss, and distant rain. Compared to the stale, chemical scent of the lab, it was almost addictive.

He walked, first slowly, then faster, until he broke into a full sprint just to feel the wind slicing across his skin. His flexibility enhancements let him bend into his stride like a snake slithering forward, body twisting effortlessly to avoid roots and branches.

"This is real. I feel like I'm running faster then I ever have, even when I was in my seventeen year old body."

Just to make sure, Teriyaki formed a hand seal."Snake Clone Jutsu!"

A perfect copy burst from his shadow, slithering beside him — its tongue flicking at the air like it was tasting freedom too. Teriyaki grinned and dismissed it, turning to the nearest tree. His fingers blurred into Substitution Jutsu—and in an instant, he flickered across the clearing, reappearing where a fallen log had been.

He felt like he had become super human, and no longer confined by the lab he could truly see how far he had come.

"It works out here too." he whispered, relieved. His skills weren't just confined to the lab's artificial training grounds. This really must've been the Naruto world, to a dot. He was in a vast forest, no wonder Orochimaru had chosen to hide a base here.

He stepped to the edge of a shallow pond, staring at his reflection. His hair had grown a bit longer, black strands brushing against his collarbone. His skin looked paler in the sunlight, as if even the sun was surprised to see him.

Just then, the bushes shuddered nearby. Teriyaki's senses sharpened immediately. Something alive was watching him.

A boar crashed into the clearing, this forest must have been it's natural habitat. Its eyes locked onto Teriyaki — seeing him as either prey or threat. Teriyaki's pulse quickened. This was no simulation. No controlled spar. This was wild life, as real as the sky above.

"Alright then." He exhaled, sinking into a crouch, kunai sliding into his palm. "I can definately take on a beast with everything I've learned."

The boar charged. Teriyaki spun aside, but the beast was faster than expected, a tusk grazing his thigh. Pain flared, but Teriyaki didn't stop moving — his body bent like rubber, enhanced flexibility allowing him to twist completely around the beast's back.

"Wild Water Wave!"

Dragon → Tiger → Hare

He spat out a continuous spray of water, aiming for the boar's legs, knocking it off-balance. Mud sprayed, the beast slipping in the slick earth. Teriyaki leapt forward, kunai slashing a shallow cut along its side — not enough to kill, but enough to spark fear in it's eyes.

The boar screamed, hooves hammering the earth in fury, and charged again.

This time, Teriyaki substituted with a nearby log, appearing directly behind the beast. With a practiced motion, he formed a single hand seal, fingers flicking like a serpent's tongue.

Snake Binding Jutsu!

From his hands Teriyaki summoned two snakes using his own chakra and flesh through the biological seal, they flew out before wrapping tightly around the boar's neck. The animal struggled, eyes rolling in panic, before collapsing in exhaustion. Teriyaki stood over it, heart racing — blood running hot with both fear and pride.

"I can handle this."

The hour passed faster than he wanted. When he returned to the lair, covered in dirt and splattered with mud, Kabuto raised a brow but said nothing. Orochimaru only smiled thinly, his snake-like eyes flicking to the faint boar blood on Teriyaki's kunai.

"Did you meet anyone?" Orochimaru asked softly."Only a boar," Teriyaki said, voice quiet but firm."Good. I will send you on missions reguarly now, since you are starting so young perhaps you can become a great asset to me.""

Later that evening, Teriyaki realized Orochimaru's office door was left open. This was a rare occurence, as Orichimaru reguarly took care to ensure his secrets remained extremely unknown. Assuming Orichimaru had left for a mission, Teriyaki dove in to his office and looked at the papers in the back.

He saw a file on Anko, detaling the curse mark Orochimaru had put on her.

It was complex and the handwriting was definately Orichimaru's. He read eagerly.

Subject Type: Human (Konoha Genin - Student)Experiment Type: Curse Mark Application - Prototype Phase I

Background:Mitarashi Anko, a promising kunoichi demonstrated above-average chakra reserves for her age and a unique receptiveness to kinesthetic learning. She has a strong desire for validation and latent loyalty attachment issues.

Her emotional instability makes her ideal for the curse mark.

Curse Mark Compatibility Results: During initial grafting, Anko's chakra system violently rejected the seal twice, nearly resulting in total rejection. Adjustments to the mark's binding matrixallowed partial stabilization. However, it appears the mark triggers involuntary adrenaline spikes, causing my initial intentions to be wasted. Thus Anko is a failure.

He found another file titled [Sasuke Uchiha]

As he read on in anticipation, he heard a slither at the door. Looking back, he realized Orichimaru was staring at him, and at the papers too.

"You were interested in the curse marks?"

Orichimaru's golden eyes shone freakishly, he began walking towards Teriyaki.

"What if I tell you my true goal, or have you already guessed that?"

Teriyaki shook his head nervously, aware he had been caught in the act, but also clinging onto the fact Orochimaru thought he was but a child.

"My goal is attaining shinobi immortality, but unfortunately in order to perfect myself I must test the methods of perfection on others. You are no exception, but if you follow me I can grant you the very same immortality once I achieve it."

Teriyaki nodded hesitantly, unwilling to speak.

"You should never enter this office again or read a single file that is kept here. Or else I will have to treat you as I have many others..." Orichimaru hissed quietly. "My goal... It is something that must not be disturbed on intruded on. The goal is mine alone. Soon I will have the perfect specimen, I must admit you are only a doll compared to him."

"One day, he will be mine, and my dream of shinobi immortality will be in reach. Until then do not betray me."

Teriyaki left, unsure of what to do. He was already aware of most of Orichmaru's secrets, of Edo tensei, of what he would do to Sasuke. Of all his curse mark victims...

Now he had gotten permission to leave the lair on missions, he just needed a little more strength and allies. Then he could start truely impacting the world he had been awoken in.