Two years had passed since Orochimaru's curiosity had led him to recruit the impossible anomaly known as Guest. Since then, countless experiments had failed to explain him, countless missions had proven his worth, and countless enemies had fallen to silent crimson constructs that obeyed only their creator. Somewhere along the way, he had ceased to be merely a subject of research. Within Otogakure, few questioned his authority anymore. When Guest spoke, people listened. When he acted, others followed.

The hidden base had long since adjusted to his presence. Even Orochimaru's subordinates knew better than to interfere with whatever task he chose to undertake. Not because they feared Guest's power alone, but because everyone had seen what happened whenever someone inconvenienced one of Orochimaru's favorites.

That favoritism had become difficult to ignore.

Orochimaru found himself requesting Guest's company more often than anyone else's(including kimimaro, Kabuto, kidomaru, tayuya, jirōbo, sakon and ukon- all of which are his subordinates and his only "relationships" with people. He has no relationship to konoha or any other village, and konoha is actively an enemy of Orochimaru's), inviting him to accompany experiments, discussions, and missions that could easily have been handled without him. His calm smile remained unchanged, yet his gaze lingered just a little longer than it once had.

Kabuto was hardly any different. Meals somehow appeared whenever Guest forgot to eat. Injuries were treated before anyone else had the chance to notice them. Reports mysteriously found their way onto Kabuto's own desk whenever they involved Guest, as though he alone insisted on handling them personally.

Neither man acknowledged the quiet rivalry forming between them.

Neither seemed willing to surrender even a moment of Guest's attention.