Disclaimer: Naruto doesn't belong to me, nor does Jiraiya (goddamnit).
Summary Notes: Ugh, I have these ideas, yet I don't know how to get them down half the time! On top of that, my last ever year of schooling is about to start - so I'll be killing myself with work and trying to update in between, but if I don't for ages, don't worry. I haven't forgotten…this one probably should have been number three, but hey. -shrug- Oh, and I was never certain what age the sannin were when they achieved their ranks - genin, chuunin, jounin - so I took a guess. If I'm wrong though, tell me. Comments much appreciated, as always.
Call this, maybe, the first of what would be many similar occasions up to and including what was in the last chapter.
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Inspiration: "He promised that the rains would pass and the day would soon be here, and I never was afraid because, he's always there… " - Unknown
Tsunade quivered violently, her eyes darting about the cavern, her every sense as edgy as a rabbit's. Team Sarutobi's mission to the Hidden Village of the Waves had not been particularly important, and as such, they had been allowed to proceed at a relatively easy pace. Well, had been, until the weather had turned. And now, they were forced to seek shelter in a dreary, cold cave, complete with leaky crevice and the creepy sound of water hitting stone.
Alright, so maybe it wasn't that creepy, but for the young genin, soon to be chuunin, it really was not helping her case. She couldn't help it; she didn't like storms, and being forced to spend the night as good as outside and in one…
Lightning flashed, illuminating the cave, and Tsunade muffled a whimper, shaking violently in her bed roll. Her eyes darted around the cavern, eyeing the sleeping forms of Sarutobi-sensei and Orochimaru across from her - how the hell did they manage to sleep through this? - before resting on the third member of the team.
Normally, Tsunade would spend most of her time viewing the snowy-haired boy with playful disgust, if only because he was a pervert, and because it made him pout. It was hilarious when he pouted, and, she admitted, downright cute. Hell, she'd even settle for teasing said pout from him now, if only to soothe her frayed nerves. And, she had to admit, he looked awfully…well…safe to her at the moment. Sprawled on his back, silvery bangs splayed across his face, breathing in what appeared to be the deepest of sleeps.Peaceful, protecting, strong and safe…
"Jiraiya?" she whispered, before she could stop herself. He stirred in response, and she tried again, a shiver running through her frame at an ominous rumbling outside.
"Baka-chan? You awake?"
That one got a grunt, and his sleeping features twisted into a rebellious pout. Whether or not he had heard though, she couldn't tell, but his expression very nearly elicited a giggle from her. She quelled the urge by frowning, allowing the simmering annoyance at his lack of response seep into her already frayed temper. Stupid baka, why wouldn't he respond? It wasn't as if their mission had been particularly exhausting! Ha, she bet he was ignoring her on purpose!
With a quiet humph, Tsunade hugged herself, turning her back on him. She stared at the rain outside, a scowl still painted on her delicate features. Fine, if he wasn't going to answer her, then she didn't need him. It was just a stupid storm, and she was a mature, intelligent, brave fourteen year old woma-
A loud crash of thunder sounded outside, so loud and ferocious that the very earth seemed to shake from its foundations. The cave seemed to shake with it, the ear-splitting sound echoing through her frame. All thoughts of maturity and bravery flew from the girl's head, and with a sound that was somewhere between a muffled sob and a whimper, she instinctively scurried back from the entrance, burying her head in her bed roll and shivering violently. So it was fair to say that Tsunade very nearly jumped out of her skin at the sudden pressure against her back, and would have lashed out at it had a heavy arm not draped itself over her, preventing her from lashing out and oddly enough, drawing her in.
"If you hit me, Tsunade, I'm gonna make fun of you so bad for this when we get back to Konoha. And I'll never make you feel better during a thunderstorm ever again." Jiraiya's voice was a low grumble, a foreshadowing of what his voice would become as he reached maturity. Though at that moment, it was merely a sleep-heavy, exasperated mumble, there was a tinge of affection among the annoyance that warmed the girl, even as his presence soothed her agitation in the way only the best of friends could.
There was another rumble outside, causing the girl to shiver and shuffle backwards into the warmth of her friend. She felt his sleepy chuckle against her back, and the arm tightened. Briefly, she had a moment of paranoia, wondering if he would try anything perverted. He didn't though, and she felt herself nodding off into the realm of sleep, enough to wonder if she was imagining his sleepy murmur.
"We're safe now, Hime-chan."