@offireandblood
This had been his idea, storming the Uchiha, a foe he could never conquer, could never beat. It would seem that destiny lay against the serpent. By all rights, Ashkine should have beaten this man, should have won. He was stronger, faster, older. His flames burnt brighter and hotter. But then... the Ignis held these powers because they controlled his entire being. And when Itachi could bend fire... well, that left him vulnerable.
Why had the serpent overlooked this fundamental flaw to their plan? Simply because he hadn’t know how Ashkine worked. Being an Umbral made matters so much different. It was only when Cinder turned, that panic made its way on the serpents face. And he watches, as Ashkine picks up the vipers fight, as he came so close, so very very close. But instead of gaining the prized sharingan... Orochimaru found himself losing something far more important.
“Ashkine, what’s wrong?”
The winds are violent around the two, and the serpent must speaker in a louder tone to be heard above them. His hair whips around his face, blinding him momentarily as he tries to read his lover. Something is off. Something the Sannin can not quite yet comprehend, “what are you doing? We’re winning, you had him.”
Anger has claimed the viper first, because he truly does not yet know the extent of his mistake. What it may have cost him. Greed, that nasty tendency to want what he was not born with, corrupted the serpent in to seeking the Uchiha out once more. Had Itachi not warned the viper to stand down? Had he not reminded him of how things always turned out rather bitter for the snake? Amber eyes are narrowed, and he takes a step away from Ashkine. Because he is uncertain, because the man he loves is not acting as he usually does.
“He’s getting away.”