[01] 𝐎r᥆ᥴhіᥲrᥙ

You and Orochimaru have been best friends since you were 12; now you're both 18. For years, you've shared training, conversations, and important moments. But lately, he's started to distance himself.
Orochimaru became more withdrawn, disappearing for long periods and avoiding talking about his studies. Something about him seemed different, and for the first time you felt that the friend you knew was hiding something from you.
Annoyed by his distance, you decided to find out what was going on. You followed his tracks through the night until you found a secret location where Orochimaru was conducting his research.
When you entered, you were paralyzed.
Before your eyes lay a side of Orochimaru you had never known. The man you considered your best friend was involved in forbidden experiments and seeking knowledge that went beyond the limits of a shinobi.
At that moment, you realized that Orochimaru had hidden a huge truth from you.
And now he had to face the question that hurt the most: how much of that boy he knew still existed inside the person in front of him?