A Fork in the Road

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference."

(The Road Not Taken, R. Frost)

In another world, young Orochimaru resolved to learn every technique, to pursue immortality of the body so that he could achieve omniscience. He aimed to become, in essence, a god. In this world, something different happened…

A trio of eager young genin watches an older shinobi, their sensei, standing a few feet away. They are located on Training Ground 7— a relatively versatile area: over a quarter of it is filled with young, healthy trees, the rest is a grassy clearing. One of the boundaries is including a small river framing one of the boundaries, another is demarcated by a trip of sturdy wooden training posts, near which our genin are sitting.

"Hmm… Now that we're officially a team, why don't you tell me a little more about yourselves?" The brown haired shinobi asked his three new students. With his large nose, and curving, pointed beard, he has vaguely monkey-like features. His slender, long-limbed build and baggy clothes hide the muscles he's earned through his dedication to training. "What sorts of things do you like or dislike? What are your hobbies? What is your dream?"

The three recent graduates stare at their sensei in silence. Finally, the shortest one, the white-haired little troublemaker, currently tied to a post, pipes up, "Ne, sensei. We already know each other. Shouldn't you go first?"

The older shinobi chuckles, his tone teasing, "Hm. I don't know, I'm not sure I really feel like it... But alright. My name is Hiruzen Sarutobi. I enjoy learning new techniques. My hobbies include smoking, and reading. There are things I dislike, but they're really not your business. My dream is to see this newest generation of shinobi surpass the previous one. It is the mark of a great teacher, if his students can surpass him."

He gestures to the sole kunoichi in the team, a little spitfire with blonde pigtails— the sole granddaughter of the First Hokage. "Why don't you go next, Tsunade-chan?"

She perks up, "My name is Senju Tsunade, current heiress of the Senju Clan! I enjoy sweets, and spending time with my family. I dislike creepy little perverts—like you, Jiraiya!" She glares venomously at the boy tied to the pole before continuing, "My hobbies include playing cards and training. My dream is to become the best Iryo-nin in all of the Elemental Countries."

Of course, Jiraiya has to comment, with the verbal equivalent of pulling hair. "Because you'll never get married, you can have such a boring job— flat-chest!" He snickers, until Tsunade elbows him in the side. "Shut it, you pervy peeping tom."

"And you, Jiraiya-kun?"

Jiraiya straightens, a silly grin on his face. "My name's Jiraiya. I like curvaceous girls.. and not flat-chested tsundere. I really dislike snobby princesses, and people who act superior. My hobbies include—" Here, Tsunade interrupts, "Peeping!" Jiraiya scowls, puffing out his cheeks, "I do not! I'd never peek on a flat-as-a-board like you! You can't prove it anyway, 'cause I've never been caught!" An awkward silence falls over the four in the clearing. "Ehehe… My dream? I want to be not only a great shinobi, but also a best-selling author!"

The third genin, a quiet boy with dark hair and slit amber eyes, sighs. "I am Orochimaru. I enjoy training, and reading fiction— these are also my hobbies. I dislike loud people, and lazy people."

"And what about your dream, Orochimaru-kun," his sensei prompts.

What is my dream, Orochimaru considers. He has, so far, easily coasted through the Konoha Ninja Academy with little to motivate him— beyond wanting to make his parents, both average chuunin, proud. I want to keep learning. Why are some people attuned to the element of air, and others to fire? Why are some bloodlines dominant and others recessive? The different 'types' of bloodlines—doujutsu like the Byakugan and elemental bloodlines like Mokuton, how many of them are there? Where do they come from? Would users of drastically different bloodlines be genetically compatible? ... Kaa-san always says I'm too curious for my own good. "Knowledge."

In another world, Hiruzen would be overjoyed at having an eager pupil, having been dreading drilling unmotivated genin in the basics. Here, he pauses to ask, "Knowledge of what? And for what purpose?"

Orochimaru pauses to think, teeth worrying at his bottom lip. "Everything. Because I want to know." And Hiruzen knows, even if the boy is hailed a once-in-a-generation genius.. he will have to watch and guide him very carefully. Because a thirst for knowledge, when not tempered by morals, can have frightening consequences.

"Blah, blah, blah, blah. Nerd! You're boring too, snake-face!" Jiraiya just can't help adding some 'colorful' commentary. "How terribly mature of you, Jiraiya." Orochimaru deadpans, flicking a lock of hair over his shoulder and sneering. "I'm just acting my age!" Jiraiya replies with an incorrigible grin.

Tsunade, predictably, only fans the flame, "Shut it, the both of you!" Jiraiya sticks his tongue out at her, retorting, "No, you shut it, flat-chest." She waves a menacing fist, "I'm not flat, you little pervert! I'm just a late bloomer."

"Very, very late." In response, she punches Jiraiya— exactly where you expect. "Eeeeyaaargh!" She smirks, and needing to have the last word, "Conversation over."

Orochimaru, gives a hissing sigh and directs an entreating expression towards their sensei. "Hiruzen-sensei.. Is there any way we can replace them?" Hiruzen Sarutobi smiles benignly, and puffs on the pipe he'd retrieved when the genin started squabbling, with much contentment.

"No."

As per request, the beginning of a drabble-verse where the initial point of deviation from canon is that Orochimaru is good. He's still quite obsessive and creepy.

To get a feel of what I was thinking while brainstorming, look up "Those Mysteries" by Sparks on YouTube.