@thewanderingmiko
The air felt heavy inside Kabuto's barrier, thick with an odd sort of darkness that cloaked his surroundings in a warm shroud. He sat at the centre of the rugged terrain, hand hovering over the pebbles used to monitor his edo tensei pawns, poised to shift them as necessary. Breathing deeply, he swallowed, eyes boring into the small grid with a furious concentration. Despite the intoxicating new power coursing through his veins, Kabuto's body felt weary. His brow furrowed, frustratedly blinking his golden eyes as he forced the relentless fatigue to the back of his mind. He couldn't remember the last time he'd rested, how it felt to sleep. Such a luxury had eluded him since his master's untimely death, finding himself unable to close his eyes without the ominous sensation that his own body would somehow betray him should he lose consciousness. Even his own meticulously formulated drugs could only do so much, and the effects of his prolonged insomnia were beginning to take their toll. Though he revelled in this new found glory, in the power provided to him through integrating such desirable DNA, somewhere in the far corners of his mind he felt slightly overwhelmed by it all. The sensation of having ones veins run with blood of another was something he tried not to dwell on, for fear of descending further into madness. It had been painful at first, unbearable, a scorching fire that ate away at his own flesh. The agony had gradually subsided as the transformation progressed, leaving a dull, relentless ache that his body had eventually become accustomed to.
Kabuto adjusted his glasses, casting a glint of light over his tired eyes, soft click interrupting the heavy silence of his stone barrier. As if in response to the sudden sound, the snake protruding from the man's cloak let out a low hiss. Kabuto's eyes flickered to the large serpent, momentarily meeting it's gaze before focusing on his pawns once more. Yes, spawning that creature had been decidedly unpleasant. He was suddenly very aware of his stomach as he thought of gruelling process, the distortion of his skin, how it pulsated and strained, growing slowly larger as it stretched into the pale form of this oddly familiar creature. He grimaced slightly, disgusted that he had allowed thoughts of his transformation to affect him so deeply.
Letting out a sigh, Kabuto slowly got to his feet, gaze lingering on the control grid for a moment before turning away. Regardless of the importance of this war, of how secure his barrier was, Kabuto needed some air. He walked calmly towards the far wall, forming hand seals before reaching out a hand to the cool stone. Passing through the barrier with ease, he stepped out into the forest beyond.
Met by the peaceful sound of birds chirping above, Kabuto closed his eyes against the gentle breeze, adjusting his glasses once more. His hand lingered there for a moment too long, fingers curling as the memories he had fought so tirelessly to suppress flooded to the surface of his mind. Mother... His eyes narrowed, flickering with indiscernible emotion, lips curling into a frown as the events of recent years suddenly felt unbearably real. He swallowed hard, growling under his breath in a furious attempt to compose himself. Efforts rendered futile, he decided on taking a walk to clear his head, such a tormented mind would be of no use to him while making precise decisions on the battlefield. He had chosen his location carefully, knowing that there would not be another soul within miles of the vicinity. Kabuto supposed he could afford to leave his hideout for a moment or two, remain close by, just a brief reprieve before returning to the enticing chaos of war. His pace was unnaturally fast at first, frustration visible on his usually stoic face as he strode angrily through the trees. He slowed after a short distance, irritation fading in the serenity of the forest. He let out a soft chuckle, cursing his momentary lapse of poise as he regained his usual smug expression.
Wandering in silence for a while, thoughts of his significant contribution to this war began to ease his troubled mind. Yes. He was magnificent now. Perfected. Such backward-looking thoughts could be of no justifiable use to him, not if he was to claim all that he desired. Satisfied that he was once again in his right mind, Kabuto turned to head back to his fortress, eyes darkening with a sadistic pleasure at what was yet to come.