Profile for Orochimaru

Unlike most other Naruto characters, whose backgrounds are told in chronological order over a consecutive series of chapters, small portions of Orochimaru's past are explored throughout the series. After his parents died when he was young, Orochimaru's only source of affection was that received from his teacher, the Third Hokage, and his two teammates.^[18] As they grew older Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade collectively became known as the "Legendary Three Ninja" (伝説の三忍, Densetsu no Sannin^?) due to their exemplary ninja abilities.^[19] Orochimaru, however, craved more power than could be obtained from training with his master, and began abducting villagers of Konohagakure for experimentation. He simultaneously applied for the title of Hokage, the village's protector, hoping that the position would give him access to new abilities. The Third, though wishing to pass the name of Hokage to his favorite student, could not bring himself to knowingly satisfy Orochimaru's lust for power, and thus gave the position to someone else.^[20]

No longer having a reason to keep face in Konoha, Orochimaru was less discreet about his abductions and experimentations, giving in the Third the opportunity to discover what he was doing.^[20] Unwilling to bring himself to harm Orochimaru, the Third allowed him to escape.^[21] In time Orochimaru joined the criminal organization Akatsuki, where he tried to get close to and steal the body of Itachi Uchiha so as to gain the Sharingan.^[22] When Itachi was easily able to repel his efforts, Orochimaru was forced to flee the organization.^[23] With Akatsuki now seeking to assassinate him due to his knowledge of their organization, Orochimaru founded his own ninja village, Otogakure, populated with ninja loyal to him.^[24] There he continued his experimentations uninhibited, gaining the means to make all his dreams of power come true