Hello fanificers!
Ok, a few of you messaged me and asked when is this story going to be set, and I said that it is set right before Sasuke leaves the Hidden Leaf Village...ok:)
Glad that's cleared up:))))
Hope you like this chapter!
xoxo
Jammy8694

Loves greates gift is its ability to make everything it touches sacred

-Barbara De Angels

Thirty-Three years ago…

Jiraiya stood lazily on the side of the wall as he waited for the details of his next mission. The young toad ninja felt slightly lonesome as he remembered the fact that he had been doing countless numbers of solo missions in the last few weeks and had missed the annoying company of his ridiculous team mates. He missed Tsunade's horrible temper and how she would constantly beat him when he would slip up or say something about her. He missed Sarutobi's constant reminders and pleas for him to stay away from the girl's changing rooms. He missed the family feel he would get around his team…Sarutobi as the father figure, Tsunade as the bratty sister…

But he didn't miss Orochimaru, who, in the event of the family feel would probably be the favorite son.

Jiraiya grunted in approval of his thoughts. He didn't miss Orochimaru. If anything he enjoyed his time without the stupid know it all. He hadn't thought about him once and he had only just realized it. He actually hated the bastard.

Why?

Orochimaru was perfect. He was the most perfect at being a student, at being a scholar, at being a fricken' ninja. He was just perfect. He was also a perfect pain in the ass and a perfect dick head and a perfect show off. It was his way or…no, there was just his way.

Jiraiya felt annoyed just thinking about it. He was so annoyed that the thought of being alone in a solo mission now comforted him rather than upset him. He needed to relax.

So as the toad ninja relaxed a little whilst he waited his next mission. His thoughts suddenly disturbed as he saw his sensei walking up to him and he presented himself accordingly, placing a large smile on his face, and knowing that Sarutobi could see the gratitude that was being handed to him. He smiled back to his student.

Times had been tough.

"Sarutobi sensei," Jiraiya greeted politely, "I haven't seen you around in ages sir."

"Likewise Jiraiya," Sarutobi answered, "Times are tough now days. I must say it has been different without you."

Jiraiya smirked, "You're not saying you missed me sir," he started of slyly, "are you?"

Sarutobi smiled, "I have grown fond of your meddling over the years," he said, "I even heard Tsunade in the hospital mention that she missed you."

"Tsunade's in the hospital?" the toad ninja asked. Sarutobi nodded.

"Oh yes," he answered, "But that's part of her missions. She's opting on becoming a fully registered medical ninja. She's very good at fixing people up."

Jiraiya found that ironic coming from the girl who had broken both of his arms…twice. He frowned, "Tsunade missed me?" he repeated, "The world really must be coming to an end."

Sarutobi just chuckled, "You are allowed to miss your team mates Jiraiya; you're only human."

"Yeah well," Jiraiya answered, "Human or not it's still a surprise coming from Tsunade."

Sarutobi just shook his head, "Are you waiting for your next mission." He asked the toad ninja. Jiraiya nodded to his sensei.

"Well," Sarutobi answered, "I was just about to go and find two available ninja for this next mission up in Kusagakure. It's just a simple B ranked retrieval mission, but we need to make sure that we get the item in question back to the village. After this you and your team mates are allowed a break; I've requested one for you all."

Simple enough for the toad ninja who had just come back from a one man slaughter fest. His missions where getting excoriatingly difficult and he could use an easy retrieval mission to do. Besides, misery loves company, and he had missed company in any form. Jiraiya nodded in approval and followed his sensei to his sensei's Hokage office for debriefing.

Sarutobi's brightly lit office overwhelmed the toad ninja with warmth. It was tastefully decorated from gifts and trinkets given to his sensei by countless of visitors from the other lands. Every time Jiraiya walked in he gave himself a silent nod of approval of how lovely it would be to watch over the people of the village in the comfort of this office.

The boy stood to attention as he waited for the confirmation of his partner for his next mission. Sarutobi watched him comfortably before taking a list of the now available ninja and reading it through. The Hokage stopped midway and smiled.

"I've found your partner," he told him, "it's Orochimaru; he's just become available. At least you will be with someone from your own team."

Jiraiya frowned. He didn't want to be in a mission with that stupid snake. Anyone but him.

"Sir," he said attempting to remain calm, "can you please pick someone else. Anyone else. I don't want to do this mission with Orochimaru."

Sarutobi sighed, "Now Jiraiya be sensible." He told the boy, "You and Orochimaru have been both working in some very difficult A ranked to almost S ranked missions. It'll be good if you two could calmly do this one."

"No," Jiraiya disagreed, "it would be a catastrophe! It would be bad enough if we were stuck together in the cold in an ass kicking A ranked mission, but stuck together in the cold in a less than satisfactory B ranked retrieval mission? That' not worth it."

Sarutobi sighed, "Jiraiya, you've been together in the same team for eleven years, when is this senseless rivalry going to end?"

"It's not rivalry sir!" the boy denied, "He's just a no-good-for-nothing little know it all asshole with not an ounce of respect in his body!"

"That's enough!" Sarutobi said his voice slightly raised. Jiraiya fell silent. He stood back to attention and nodded his head.

"You will leave today at noon." The Hokage said, "That gives you four hours to supply and pack. I'll give your mission details to Orochimaru when I see him. The item in question will be delivered in two days. It'll only take you half a day to get there. Like I said, simple and easy."

Jiraiya just nodded knowing that all attempts for him to deny this mission were finished. Without another word, the toad ninja nodded and left the Hokage at peace. Sarutobi sighed.

"How can two people who have saved each other's lives countless of times," he began to himself, "and who have known each other for the majority of their lives, know nothing about the other? This senseless rivalry, it ruins the best of people, and it strengthens the worst in them."

Jiraiya came to the great gate and frowned when he saw his serpentine team mate standing there waiting and ready before him. The toad ninja sighed. It was going to be a long two days.

There he was, Orochimaru, waiting lazily for him so they could get this stupid mission over with. Jiraiya just glared at him, pure unexplainable annoyance surging through him, and said nothing. Orochimaru returned the glare. They both began walking, in complete silence, for the next six hours.

They both had silently agreed on one thing. No breaks until they were at Kusagakure and at the spot they had to be for the retrieval. So by the time they arrived, it had been the early hours of the morning, but the moon still shone brightly in the cold winter night.

The forest hideout that they were now camping in was covered in beautiful glistening snow. They were right by a frozen lake which looked like a common watering hole for the now dormant wildlife and were peacefully surrounded by sleeping trees white from the snow.

But he had to be in this beautiful place with Orochimaru, which turned the setting's natural beauty in to something even more annoying.

They had set up camp without a word. Jiraiya built and started a fire, whilst Orochimaru made them both a simple dinner. Neither said a word to each other. Neither had said a word since they left. And neither did as they finished eating and went into their tent and slept. It was as if they were both a lone…unable to see the other person sitting next to them.

And it continued that way in the morning. Jiraiya awoke to find Orochimaru training close to the lake and he left him to himself and relaxed a bit for a while by the still warming fire. And it remained the same for the majority of the day.

Until Jiraiya was bored.

So he decided to entertain himself by indulging in one of his favorite past times: writing. The toad ninja had been working on something in his scarce spare time and enjoyed absorbing himself in to it. So he began to continue in his tattered and worn out exercise book.

Seeing the toad ninja suddenly act so focused on the old book suddenly interested Orochimaru. The snake ninja stretched and walked over to him where he sat on the opposite side of the fire and watched his team mate write calmly into the book. He frowned.

"What are you doing Jiraiya?"

Jiraiya looked at Orochimaru in a slightly surprised manner. That was the first thing he had said to him since they had seen each other. Jiraiya snarled at him.

"None of your business Orochimaru," he spat defensively. He knew what would happen if he had told Orochimaru he was writing. The snake ninja would probably demand to read the book and then when he suddenly did he would probably humiliate him.

Orochimaru hardened, "What are you writing about Jiraiya?" he asked a small sly grin spreading across his face, "Is it another one of your 'stories'?"

Jiraiya shot him a death glare, "Like I said dumbass," he replied coldly, "none of your business."

Orochimaru frowned. He did not like someone calling him dumb; he didn't like being referred to as an ass, so when Jiraiya said both of those things combined he suddenly grew peeved. He stood up and stretched again.

"You know Jiraiya," he answered the toad ninja unusually calmly, "I could take that from you if I wanted to."

Jiraiya looked up at the boy in hate, "I'd like to see you try," he threatened, "you're not better than me Orochimaru."

Orochimaru snickered, "Don't lie to yourself Jiraiya." He told the toad ninja, "You know as well as I know that I can take that off you without a second glance. So why don't you just give it to me."

Jiraiya knew what he was doing and looked at him darkly, "No." he said simply. Orochimaru sighed.

"I really wanted to avert to this," he said lazily. He looked at Jiraiya and then he suddenly pounced on him.

Jiraiya punched the snake ninja hard but realized that when he punched him he gave Orochimaru the chance to take the book away. As the snake ninja stammered back, with the book at hand, Jiraiya stood up.

Orochimaru was smirking at him. Jiraiya glared at him.

"Give me back the book Jiraiya." He asked sharply. Orochimaru looked the book in disgust.

"You know that this isn't even worth my time reading." He answered, "I just wanted to prove a point."

Jiraiya was pissed off, "Yeah you're right," he answered sarcastically, "I forgot you don't know what good literature is all about."

Orochimaru frowned, "Good literature?" he repeated, "Jiraiya, really? Be reasonable."

Jiraiya suddenly punched him again but Orochimaru blocked the attempt. Jiraiya suddenly hit him in the gut. The book slipped out of his hands and landed into the fire.

The book was slowly seen to turn from something solid into ashes within seconds. The pages were turned from their white colour into a yellow brown as they burned. Jiraiya turned to Orochimaru who looked un-phased.

"That wasn't a very smart thing to do Jiraiya." Orochimaru commented, "You really are an unintelligent pity case."

"You are a fucking," Jiraiya kicked Orochimaru hard which sent him stammering from the camp site into the frozen lake, "idiot!"

Orochimaru collected himself quickly and punched the toad ninja across the face, "I'm the idiot? You're the one that doesn't know simple physics. You should've known if you hit me that way what would've happened!"

Jiraiya shoved him and then kicked him again causing the snake ninja to slide across the ice a good distance away. Orochimaru got up and stood there. Jiraiya was breathing heavily from rage.

"I fucking hate you!" Jiraiya yelled, "I didn't want you to come on this mission, I wanted anyone but you to come on this mission!"

Orochimaru sighed, "I really couldn't care less if you like me or not." He answered, "My feelings are mutual, and they've always been that way. And likewise about the mission. I requested another person to be assigned to it."

Jiraiya blinked, "You think I didn't ask that?" he replied sarcastically, "You're such a fucking bastard."

Orochimaru suddenly became pissed off. He knew Jiraiya knew that he hated anyone calling him that. The snake ninja never knew his father and his mother abandoned him a year before he became a genine. He felt his temper rising.

"What did you just call me?" he asked his voice rising. Jiraiya snickered.

"Oh yeah," Jiraiya replied, "I forgot. Just like me no one wanted you!"

Orochimaru felt his breathing quicken, "Shut up."

Jiraiya looked at the boy on the other side of the lake cruelly, "You're an unwanted…"

"Shut up." Orochimaru repeated.

"…unloved…" Jiraiya continued.

"I said shut up!" Orochimaru yelled

"…fucking bastard!" Jiraiya finished.

He saw the snake ninja run to him and he attempted to punch him but Jiraiya blocked it and punched him back. Orochimaru stammered again and ran towards him. Suddenly Jiraiya heard a crack. Orochimaru was there one second and gone the next.

He had fallen through the ice.

Jiraiya ran to the spot Orochimaru had fallen and bent down quickly to pull the boy up. He saw his team mate float to the surface quickly and gasp for air. The toad ninja pulled him up and carried him whilst he ran back to the camp and placed him by the fire.

Jiraiya threw a good portion of wood into the fire and then turned to his shivering team mate. As if by fate, the weather had gotten briskly colder. He placed Orochimaru close to the fire and looked at him properly.

His skin had turned from the snow white colour it was into a quick shade of cool blue. Jiraiya began to search his brain on what he remembered about survival in the cold. He knew that Orochimaru's clothes were wet and he need to take those off, but they had no blankets so he would still not be warm enough. He suddenly remembered something Tsunade told him once.

If someone was near hyperthermia, the best thing to do was share body heat. Orochimaru was turning from the cool shade of blue into a deeper colour across his face. Jiraiya got on top of him.

"W-w-w-hat ar-r-r-re you d-o-o-oin-g-g-g?" the snake ninja asked shivering as Jiraiya began to shed his clothes, "I-I-I'm-m go-o-o-ing to fre-e-eze fas-fast-ter."

Jiraiya tried to ignore the fact that even near dying Orochimaru still had enough energy to tell him he was doing something wrong. He quickly took off Orochimaru's clothes and began taking off his own just as fast.

"Body heat," Jiraiya told him, "We need to get you warmer."

Jiraiya shook of his pants and his underwear and then lay on top of Orochimaru. He gasped as his warm skin touched his team mate's icy cold skin. He then placed his clothes and laid them on top of him.

It wasn't until Jiraiya had his head on Orochimaru's chest that he realized that they were but naked and on top of each other. Jiraiya couldn't help but notice how Orochimaru's skin was so soft and how nice the contrast of his hair to his skin was. They said nothing to each other for about an hour.

Orochimaru broke the silence, "Ji-Jiraiya." he managed to say slowly. Jiraiya tilted his head to see the snake ninja as he spoke.

"Yes Orochimaru?" he asked softly, "Is something wrong?"

"I'm sorry about you-ur book-k." he answered. Jiraiya gazed into Orochimaru's golden eyes that shimmered from the light of the fire. It was now very dark. He smiled and gave a slight laugh.

"It's ok," Jiraiya said placing his head back on Orochimaru's chest. Suddenly, Orochimaru placed his hand next to his team mates and Jiraiya realized he had suddenly begun to blush. Orochimaru's cold hand lay limply on top of Jiraiya's warm one and Jiraiya felt something warm stir inside him. He didn't know what it was but something about his touch awoken something within him. The toad ninja thought it nothing but kept his hand there anyway, enjoying Orochimaru's touch. Something about it felt sacred.

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xoxo
Jammy8694