"Valentina."

Valentina's eyes briefly opened and were met with the sight of Orochimaru healing her wounds.

"Where am I?" The woman tried to sit up but felt an incredible pain on her stomach causing her to lay back down on the grass.

"You fell off the cliff," Orochimaru's eyes avoided hers.

"She stabbed and pushed me off the cliff! Can you believe her??" Valentina felt deeply hurt, and she burst into tears. Finally confessing her emotions to the man who taught her everything felt liberating. Valentina was terrified that Lily would try to kill her again because of the wild expression in the young girl's eyes and the way she screamed at her.

"Lily committed suicide."

Valentina's remarks werecut short as Orochimaru interrupted, and she stayed silence trying to process what he just said.

"She stabbed herself with the same katana and jumped off the cliff," Orochimaru continued.

"Are you sure? Maybe she just ran away."

"Konoha extracted her body from the same river that is next to us. She is dead." Orochimaru interrupted once again, and her eyes travelled to the river next to them.
Valentina's wish came true; she was finally free.

"Konoha's ANBUS are looking for you and Sasuke to kill you two."

Valentina sat up feeling adrenaline pumping through her body. "I didn't do anything!" She tried to defend herself, but deep down she was aware that the drastic suicide was a result of her bad, detached parenting. "Orochimaru, you've got to help me!"

"I don't want those hypocrites to kill either you or Sasuke." For the first time since the conversation began, Orochimaru made eye contact with Valentina.

"I understand. I need to get out of here." Valentina scanned her surroundings making sure there was no enemy nearby.

"Valentina, you gave me the opportunity to be part of Lily's life as her grandfather. For the love I developed for the child, I cannot let you walk away from the situation. Not after everything we did to separate that girl from her biological parents." Orochimaru said.

Valentina's eyes widened at Orochimaru's remarks. Had he gone mad?? Was he really going to turn her in to the ANBUS over Itachi's daughter's death? "Orochimaru, you're like a father to me...." She quickly began, trying to hide the desperation in her voice.

"Don't even bother." He interrupted her emotional speech, almost cackling. "Your emotional manipulation won't work on me. Have you forgotten that I was the one who taught you how to lie and manipulate people?"

"Are you really going to let the villagers kill me?" Valentina lay back down, closing her eyes in a defeated way. "After all those years that I was loyal to you." She did everything Orochimaru wanted, growing up. She became an ANBU in Konoha, she lied to those around her and remained only loyal and truthful to the snake man. Only after Orochimaru was temporarily killed by Sasuke was when she finally gave herself the opportunity to fall in love with Obito.

"I appreciate you serving as a spy for me in Konoha for seven years. That is why I will help you in these circumstances." Orochimaru took pity on Valentina.

"How?" Her eyes stayed closed, attempting to contain the sorrow and terror she had just felt at the thought of him abandoning her.

"There is a forbidden jutsu I have been working on. I think it will be useful in this situation..."

Valentina's eyes opened in interest at his words. "Which one?" She asked. She was well aware that jutsus created by Orochimaru were always deadly or carried serious consequences and complications.

"It's a time traveling jutsu. You can travel back in time to fix things... To avoid the deaths of Lily's parents." Orochimaru explained.

"You want me to go back in time and not kill Itachi's wife?" It was clear what Orochimaru wanted her to do, and although she hated the woman Itachi chose over her, she was willing to comply. Anything to avoid having to parent someone else's child again.

"Whar is your decision, Valentina? We're running out of time. The village will find you soon, and you, Sasuke, and I will be killed." Orochimaru finally spoke.

"Okay." She quickly nodded sitting up. Her stomach hurt at the thought of coming in contact with Itachi Uchiha and his wife. "I'll go back in time and not kill Lily's parents."

Orochimaru helped Valentina enter the cold river as she held to his arm for dear life. She feared in the back of her mind that it was all a trap to drown her. 
"Let go of me and relax." He instructed Valentina. "Mimic my hand signs."

Once she did, he nodded in approval. "Now do the hand jutsu under water. You will be transported back into the past to a time when you can make things right."

Valentina nodded as she submerged her head under water. Although she was afraid of the past, she did not want to parent the child of Itachi and the woman he loved. It was too painful for her, and she became resentful and bitter as a result.

"I'm here. I'll take care of you." Valentina could vaguely hear Orochimaru's words as she finished the last sign and travelled back in time.