It was a year after the end of the 3rd Great Shinobi War between Konohagakure and Iwagakure, mainly. The former was still recuperating from the major losses in funds and the deaths of many great shinobi. Many names had been added to the Memorial Stone, and many more were to come as they worked on identifying corpses and recalling ninja that were still out in the field and taking stock of who was still missing. The weather was calm, a light wind breezing through the village and the sun peeking out from behind the clouds almost timidly, as if trying to find out if it was safe to show its face again so soon.

The Three Sannin, legendary figures who made a name for themselves on the battlefield, were reunited in the Hokage's Office for the first time in thirteen months. Team 7 had been separated for a little over a year by forces outside of their control. It had occurred when they were split up to provide backup for different outposts along the Fire Country border, hoping to both inspire confidence among the ranks and assist in the fighting.

Orochimaru had ended up captured and held hostage in an Iwa bunker, interrogated and tortured for information on Konoha's strategies. He had refused to say a word and managed to escape six months later to a small, minor town outside of Kiri to recover. Tsunade had left to act as his medic and speed up his recovery, but something else had happened, Jiraiya was sure.

The Snake Sannin was standing suspiciously close to the Slug Princess, silently offering comfort for something he wasn't privvy to. They both looked sorrowful and grieving, mourning a loss that they wouldn't speak of. It had to have been during Orochimaru's recovery period, but he wasn't sure what it could have been and he couldn't bring himself to ask.

Orochimaru was stewing in anger against him for some unknown reason and seemed ready to bite his head off at the slightest hint of antagonism and Tsunade and him hadn't exactly parted on the best terms last time they saw each other. Instead of the normal air of camraderie and friendship around the famed Sannin, there was awkwardness and resentment. Like they were strangers.

Jiraiya hated it.

He searched his memory for anything that could explain this. Thirteen months ago was the last night they were together and all three of them had been desperate for reassurances. It led to Orochimaru sleeping with a woman he still couldn't remember the name of and a night that Tsunade and Jiraiya were glad they couldn't recall. They had both been at fault though, so he didn't think that could be the reason behind Orochimaru's animosity. With a sigh he slumped down in his seat, trying to ignore Orochimaru's piercing gold stare. What had he done?

l e g a c y o f t h e s a n n i n

In an orphanage on the outskirts of Kirigakure in Water Country, a young four month old baby girl slept peacefully, a tuft of pure white hair on her head and identifying red streaks dripping from her closed eyes like tears. Around her neck hung a replicate of an expensive Senjuu necklace while a small, purple stuffed snake was clutched in her tiny hand, the only reminder of the nice man who had helped take her. Little did anyone know that the next several years would be full of tribulations and hardships for the daughter of the mighty Toad Sage and the fabled Slug Princess.