Howdy there, well this is my second ever story and I am planing on alternating writing this and The Eye of the Storm. I hope you all like this, I wanted to try out a darker Naruto. I havent decided who I may pair anyone up with I will figure that out but this isnt really a romance so it will not be a priority. Well I hope you all enjoy it.

Ch. 1: An Arrangement Was Made

In the Hokage tower stood three people: Minato Namikaze, Orochimaru, and the third himself. Sarutobi had called these two in to discuses the future of the village and his successor. It had been a difficult choice but he knew that Minato was better suited for the job. But he didn't want to loss his student ether, thus the meeting.

"I assume you both understand why you are hear."

"Yes Hokage same," Minato said.

"Yes Sarutobi-sensei," hissed Orochimaru.

"Good so I don't need to explain anything. Now you both are the only people I would consider able to hold the Hokage mantle but I there cannot be two Hokages thus we have to choose," Sarutobi then looked at both very seriously. "Orochimaru, you show great knowledge in the realm of science and jutsu. You strive to know everything you can and have pushed yourself your entire life to be the best you can be." Sarutobi didn't see anything in his old apprentice's physical demeanor that showed any signs of emotion but he could see a slight shine of the eyes to be praised so highly. "Minato, you have shown great power and knowledge in the creation of jutsu and have shown you have great moral standards. You have pushed yourself to make your sensei proud and to help this village in any way you can." Minato seemed to light up from the praise that his sensei's sensei was giving him. "Orochimaru while knowledge and power are required characteristics of a Kage you do not have the morals of the drive that will aid the people of Konoha. But under you I can see our shinobi forces becoming the most feared in all the history of the shinobi world. Yet we need to focus on all of our people. This is your greatest shortcoming." Orochimaru looked the exact same as before yet the third could see the anger in his apprentice's eyes. "Minato while you do hold the morals that are needed to take this position you do not have the experience nor the political knowledge needed to help with foreign affairs. Also the fact that you are the most hated man in Iwa doesn't help your case. But under you our people would be happy, shinobi and civilian. You would bring much growth and happiness, but I doubt the prowess that Orochimaru would bring." Minato understood yet was hurt by the words this Kage spoke. "You both have abilities and downfalls that will help and hurt our village but the paths each of you would take us is completely different from each other. There for I leave the decision in your hands. You can choose who will be the leader over this country but keep in mind that if you both work together our nation will experience a time of growth no other nation has seen before. Now I will be leaving for a council meeting and you two are to stay in this room until I get back. I expect an answer when I return."

Both Orochimaru and Minato were completely flabbergasted by the decision that Sarutobi had made. They were supposed to decide who was to be Kage. To their knowledge this had never been done before and they were a little nervous, well Minato was. Orochimaru just sat down, lied his elbows down on the armrest of his chair, brought his fingers together, and took upon his renown thinking position. Minato sat down as well but wasn't really thinking about who should be Kage but rather why the third would have them decide.

"So Minato, how badly do you with to be Kage?" Orochimaru asked in a very serious tone.

Minato simply looked at him questioningly, "You were on the same team with Jiraiya-sensei when you were longer so surely he told you how much of a loud mouth kid I was about being Hokage. It has always been my dream and I have trained harder than most to have the opportunity to have this position."

Orochimaru smiled, given he was a sick twisted individual but he was not completely evil and he always laughed at the stories his old perverted team mate would tell him about his genin team. Then an idea came into his head; flash back after flashback came across his mind. First was seeing the mountains of paperwork that the Hokage had to do, second was the look of sensei teachers that he had never experienced, and finally was the look of his sensei and how he saw the light twinkle in his eyes every time he looked upon his old students. At that moment he decided that he would allow Minato to have to position but a deal would need to be struck. "Minato, I think you would be a great Hokage and I am willing to make a deal with you."

"A deal?"

"Yes, it is quite simple there are two elements to this deal."

"What are they?" Minato was now getting a little apprehensive given Orochimaru's history.

"Well the first is quite simple, whenever someone is arrested give them to me I will deal with them. I have some ideas that I would like to work on but they require living humans yet I cannot simply use anyone or else I may get into truble. What do you say?"

"What will you do to these prisoners?"

"We understand many things about our make up but I intend to find out more, what weakens people and what makes them stronger. I will be using these vermin for the benefit of the village."

Minato's face was contorted in revulsion but saw the logic in in. Plus if he didn't Orochimaru would not make the bargain and would probably do it anyway but to innocent people. "Ok, but you have to swear that you will not perform these experiments on innocent people."

"I give my word."

"Now what is your second request."

"I wish for three apprentices that are of worth, I have already found one but I am still in search of another."

"I see no reason to disagree to this, but why do you with to take up appurtenances, I thought you hated children?"

"Ku ku ku ku, you know me to well Minato. Yes I dislike children but I intend to leave a legacy behind me for I will not live forever. I wish to bring about the most powerful shinobi this nation has ever seen. But to do this I will need to obtain them at the age of 6."

"That is such a young age Orochimaru."

"Yes, but I intend to make them the most powerful ninja this nation has ever seen. As great as us if not better. Now there is one additional catch to this part of the bargain."

"What is it Orochimaru."

"When I find my second pupil you will have no argument with me, you will simply hand them over without complaint."

This made Minato very nervous, "Will this make or break the deal?"

"Yes, yes it will."
"Fine I will make out a contract and put a blood seal on it," Minato did this within a matter of minutes and the two signed the paper with blood. Minato placed it in his pocket and looked up. "Both of our blood and chakra is required to open this, I made it this way so that nether one of us could make changes without the other knowing it."

"Very ingenious Minato, sorry Lord Hokage. Thank you for the deal now I will be off to collect the prisoners meant to be executed." With that Orochimaru disappeared and Minato stood there with a nagging feeling that he just made a deal with the devil himself. He sad down and waited for Sarutobi to explain that he was the newly decided Hokage and to make preparations for the ceremony.

-Orochimaru-

"Ku ku ku, I am so very lucky to have made that deal. My talents would have been wasted as Hokage; all that damndable paperwork would have been the end of me. Now before I check up with the prison and the Interrogation department I will go check on two of my prospect students." Then he smiled, 'And your child will be the final part of my collection Minato-kun. That stupid fool wont know what hit him once I ask for his first born.' And with that Orochimaru headed off towards the orphanage.

-Eight years later-

Minato was busy with some paperwork he felt a gentle breeze and he turned to the open window looking out towards the Hokage monument. His face darkened when he looked upon his predecessor's face. The God of Ninja had perished six years ago sealing the Kyubi into his son Naruto. Sarutobi had told him that the village needed a strong young Kage rather than an old frail one. He looked back onto that terrible day, the worst that he could remember. But then again the day hadn't ended.

Minato was shaken form his thoughts do to a knocking at the door. He stood up and turned around, crossing his arms behind his back taking up what he though as the 'Hokage pose'.

"Come in," Minato said in a crisp tone.

The door opened and in came none other than Orochimaru. "Greetings Hokage-sama, I hope to find you in good health."

Minato turned around, "Well enough but with all this paperwork I sometimes wish you had taken the job instead." He chuckled at his own joke. "How are Anko and Kabuto doing?"
"They are doing well and progressing at a tremendous rate. Anko is but 8 years old and is already at the level of a mid to high genin and Kabuto at the age of 7 is coming along splendidly I am working on his chakra control so that he can become the teams medical nin. But I have good news I have decided upon my new apprentice and he is at the age of 6 so I can start on his training right away."

Minato was surprised by the information he had been given by Orochimaru but was curious who it was that he had chosen as his third and final apprentice. "Who is it? A child of a clan or another orphan?"

"I hope you don't get upset Hokage-sama but it is your son Naruto that I have chosen to be my final apprentice."

Minato was stunned and he could feel rage building up inside of him. 'This snake had this planned the whole time and there is nothing I can do because of that contract. Damn it Kushina is going to kill me. I have to try and dissuade him.' "My child, but why? There are others with just as much potential such as that Uchiha child Itachi. Didn't he turn 6 just a month ago? And by what I have heard he is possibly the most gifted descendent of that clan to come about in quite some time. By what I have heard he obtained the Sharingan last year."

"Yes, I would agree that Itachi would be an amazing addition to my group but he does not have the Kyubi sealed within him. I intend to aid the boy in controlling the beast and draw upon it's power. He needs to learn this and I believe that I may just be the person to aid him."

Minato saw that there was no way to dissuade Orochimaru in this. "Fine, but I swear if you do anything that would kill him I will personally take you out. Don't fuck with me Orochimaru."
The snake Sannin just smirked, "I promise Minato I will do no such thing. I will make him into a ninja you can be proud of. That I can guarantee." And with that Orochimaru left the office, Minato sat back down clasping his hands and closing his eyes. "Kami what did I do to deserve such punishment."

Tell me how I did. I am dyslexic so I apologize for any and all grammatical mistakes. Next chapter will be fun and will show what it is like to be an apprentice to Orochimaru. Yes it will be a training chapter so dont be surprised but I promise some fighting. See you all next time.