Orochimaru watched him with almost impassive eyes, still and patient despite Kabuto shouting at him; Kabuto wasn't . . . quite sure how to react to it, and it made him jittery.

"I am not trying to fix you," Orochimaru said, almost gentle, and Kabuto stiffened, "I only want to help you, Kabuto. If you will let me."

Kabuto shuddered, breath catching, and if it hadn't been for years of training he might not have been able to hold back the burn of tears.