"I think a lot of psychopaths are just geniuses who drove so fast that they lost control."
The two feminine ninja pulled up at the house fearlessly. They didn't once take in the risks that involved their idea, or more so, they knew full well the risks, but they did not worry about them. They were over confident. Tsukiko sat on the floor of the car awkwardly, but he refused to sit on the seat. Saura was polite a usual, he kept conversation amusing and light hearted as he helped them out the car.
"What happened to your other friend?" Saura asked as they entered the garden, the design simple yet classy even in the dark. The path was lit up by floor lights as was a small fountain and pond in the distance. Orochimaru had over looked the beauty of the man's house in the rain. Once again, the word house wasn't accurate enough. It was large and soon enough the two ninja realized the small front opened up to an much larger interior.
"He didn't feel up to coming." Orochimaru answered. Saura seemed to read into the response more.
"Weird." He said it softly but the serpent heard it.
"What is?" Orochimaru asked.
"Nothing, never mind I was just thinking out loud." Saura said laughing lightly trying to brush off the comment.
"Were you talking about Kakashi not being here? It's no offence to you, he just doesn't want to be out again tonight after last time I think." Orochimaru lied.
"No offence taken... It's just... Is he okay leaving you here all alone?" Saura asked.
"Should he be worried about me being here?" Orochimaru asked with a small smile coming onto his lips, "are we not safe?"
"You are safe of course, but he doesn't know that. I just thought he would be a bit more protective is all, especially after last night." Saura said, "forget I said that, I'm sorry. I'm sure he is just certain your safe."
The NW tried to be subtle about his comment, tried to make sure he wasn't speaking out of line. Evidently however he wasn't impressed that the copy ninja was once again not around.
"Definitely nothing like Yiara." Deidara commented.
"Everyone is only going to arrive in an hour or so." Saura called from inside the house, "make yourself comfortable if you need anything let me know."
"I've been here before." Orochimaru said politely, "I'll show Deidara around."
"Of course-" he then paused, "are you two alright in those clothes? You look like you just got out of the holding cells."
It was only then that the two ninja realized the clothing may one day give them away. Tsukiko bounded past them as he explored the house.
"We were released a few days ago." Deidara answered, "we haven't had a chance to go and get new clothes."
"Well as I said, parties in an hour or so. We could stop by the shop before they close?" Saura offered.
Deciding they hardly wanted to be caught due to their clothes they agreed politely. Saura picked up his car keys again and they followed him into the roaring machine once more before shortly arriving at a largish store with bright lights flashing the stores name. They had left the hound behind as he wasn't keen on the drive, he was however keen on the large couch he made himself at home on.
"Go pick out whatever you want, I'll pay." Saura said to them both, Deidara didn't see it as a problem and was rather eager to get free comfortable clothes. Orochimaru however was counting up just how much he felt he owed the man. He supposed it was unavoidable as he browsed the isles with Deidara.
"Cheer up will you." Deidara said throwing playful blue eyes at his friend, "you don't owe anyone anything unless you ask. If they're giving it for nothing that's their problem."
Orochimaru watched his friend curiously, how long exactly had they been friends for now. Clearly the blond had become closer than the snake acknowledged as he was now able to read him.
Orochimaru brushed black strands out of his face, "you're right, I just don't like the idea of it. Konoha teaches you not to accept help from apparent generous people."
"Well you're not in Konoha anymore." Deidara said, "now try this on, it'll match your eyes."
The ex-Akatsuki member tossed a purple top at the serpent.
"Thanks." He said taking the shirt and placing it over his arm before taking a pair of black skinny-jeans and heading to a curtained off room. Saura politely browsed other isles giving the two their space.
Orochimaru haphazardly climbed into the new clothes to ensure they fit. When he was satisfied he returned to his other outfit and exited the changing room. Deidara exited moments later with his usual confident smile.
"Happy?" Deidara asked.
"About?" Orochimaru questioned.
"Can't you answer my question without another question for once?" Deidara said.
"Phrase your questions better then." Orochimaru replied with an amused smile.
"Fine." Deidara relinquished, "I'm just going to assume you're happy, won't get an answer from you anyway."
With that the blond moved over to the till, Saura came up when he saw they were finished.
"That was quick." He commented, "I expected you to take a lot longer."
"It's not the most difficult task." Orochimaru replied.
Saura swiped a card at the desk and the ninja behind the till thanked him for his support to the business. Orochimaru swore he recognized the man, something familiar. Ninja were hard to recognize out of their Jounin uniform he thought, but still he couldn't help but notice that the ninja recognized him as well. To be fair, the man most certainly knew who Orochimaru was, he was infamous, or now more famous due to rescuing and saving many ninja. The man continued to watch him almost hopefully.
Deidara didn't notice it in the slightest but finally Orochimaru decided he would rather be safe than sorry.
"Have we met?" He asked as Saura and Deidara exited the shop.
"No Orochimaru-sama, I joined the Hidden Sound just before the attack by the NW's the first time. I never got a chance to work for you on missions." The man said, he seemed ecstatic that he was noticed despite his lack of appearance in the village.
Orochimaru hadn't heard someone refer to him as "sama" in months, it almost felt odd now. He didn't feel as if in his current state, he was even worthy of the title. He would get respect once he took his future out of the hands of elitists. He didn't get to reply, instead a man barged in from the back door and halted beside the ninja at the till.
"It's illegal to speak about your past life as a ninja." The man spat, "this is your second offense."
"It's not illegal to speak of one's past, it doesn't state prohibition of speech anywhere in your laws." Orochimaru hissed, the man looked at the snake angrily.
"What makes you think you can speak back to me ninja?" He snapped.
"Is something wrong?" Saura asked as he came in, he saw the man aggressively standing by the slim male and he instinctively got in between them.
"Apparently ninja aren't allowed to speak anymore." Orochimaru hissed.
"That's a sure way to lose your job." Saura warned, "do you own this place?"
"No-no-I." The man hadn't expected the NW of apparent high status to show up out of nowhere.
"Just the manager then?" Saura interrupted, he looked at the mans name on his small tagged shirt and pulled out a small device. He typed the name into the cellphone, which seemed foreign to the ninja and pocketed it.
"If I hear one more complaint or racist remark from you you'll lose your job, and if I so chose you could well enough lose a lot more." Saura said.
"I'd say this is your first offence sir. Best not make another." Orochimaru said with a polite smile, the man apologized and waited for the two to leave.
The Sannin then jotted down the motel number on a notepad by the ninja at the till.
"For your loyalty years ago." Orochimaru said, "if you need anything, you can still call for my aid."
The ninja watched with renewed hopeful eyes. Loyalty wasn't something Orochimaru expected from anyone, he never gave anyone the trust that they would remain loyal, however when he saw the glimmer of it he was always one to reward it. He used to grant his men power, since that was not an option in his current state he would be that power in the physical manifestation.
"Thank you, Orochimaru-sama." The man said gratefully as he watched the serpent slip out the door with Saura behind him. They were in the dark parking lot, Deidara sat in the drivers seat waiting for them, his hands on the wheel.
"Hey Saura, is it hard to drive one of these?" Deidara asked, unaffected as he was more than used to Orochimaru's fights, the snake always managed to create some sort of scene. Perhaps because he never held his tongue. He said what he wanted to say.
"No it's easy enough once you get the hang of it." Saura said, "I could teach you both sometime if you'd like."
Orochimaru's golden eyes sparked at the idea, cars were a new means of freedom and although he despised technology he knew he wouldn't be much good to ninja kind remaining petty. He would usually travel more naturally, but he was stripped of his old abilities and it was not an option.
"We'd love that." Orochimaru said, Saura seemed to perk up at the enthusiasm, he had been trying hard to earn the serpents approval.
"Great, you'd need to get a license but you can apply online." Saura said, "in the meanwhile I can give you lessons."
Orochimaru wasn't sure about the technicalities so he merely agreed, he would do what he needed to do. He didn't exactly know what online meant but he agreed regardless.
"You should really get cellphones, especially you." Saura laughed, referring to snakes high risk rate.
"We have a motel phone." Deidara said, "... Although I think Hidan broke it the idiot."
"Home phones aren't practical for people like you, you're on the move all the time, you can't keep a home phone on you." Saura stated as he allowed the blond to move over to the back seat with the Sannin.
They drove to the house and pulled up in to the garage once more. Tsukiko greeted them with his usual excitement mainly focusing on the Sannin who showered him with affection. Orochimaru then showed his friend where the bathroom was and they slipped into their new less conspicuous outfits.
"He seems nice." Deidara said as he brushed his fringe into place.
"He hasn't done anything worth being concerned over yet." Orochimaru agreed, Deidara watched the Sannin brush his hair over to one side gracefully before moving to the door.
"He can count himself lucky then." Deidara laughed, "that's the nicest thing you've ever said about a stranger."
Orochimaru threw him playful eyes before walking out the bathroom, "you seem to like him Deidara."
"He isn't a ninja." Deidara laughed, he then trotted to his friends side before over taking him down the hall, "besides- he seems to fancy you."
Orochimaru watched his friends back, he didn't much care about who fancied him, after all he fancied Kakashi.
Who he had really hoped would have apologized and come with. He could see his own reflection in the glass windows as he passed. The top hung low exposing his shoulders and neck. He could feel the cold blow past but for once it didn't bother him as much as it usually would have. What bothered him most was the fact that he had no one beside him.
He pushed the thought aside, he didn't need Kakashi, he didn't need anyone to stand beside him. He was perfectly capable of handling himself. Suddenly loud voices exploded into the house echoing the hallways. The men who had entered so boisterously were evidently excitable as they greeted Saura with their ear abusive yells.
"What? How are we the first ones here?" One of the men asked as he came to plant himself on the couch, his eyes then skidded over to the two ninja who had just exited the hallway and entered the lounge area. Tsukiko scampered to the Sannin and looked between all the men, he seemed uneasy. He had never gotten used to crowds, his time on the street teaching him that men more often than not wished to harm him.
"Who are these two lovely newcomers?" The second man asked, "Saura introduce us will you."
Saura did just that, he introduced every man to the two long haired shinobi and they greeted politely, both upholding their natural confidence despite being vastly outnumbered by NW men. More of Saura's friends arrived as the hour progressed, far more than Deidara and Orochimaru had expected. The house was full of snobbish women and loud inappropriate men, or else pathetically fake individuals who tried to act classy.
"The next man to hit on me is getting stabbed." Orochimaru hissed to the blond ninja, Deidara laughed and bent behind him to reach a glass.
"Get yourself a drink Oro-chan." Deidara mocked with a playful smile, Saura had just pulled up beside them as the blond spoke.
"Oro-chan, that suits you, makes you a bit more approachable." Saura laughed. Orochimaru passed him bemused eyes.
"I think I'm a little too approachable already." Orochimaru stated honestly his golden eyes flicking to the man approaching them.
"Hi, I'm-" The man was cut off as he reached out a friendly hand to shake the Sannin's.
"Not interested sorry." Orochimaru said automatically, the man appeared shocked but he moved on without saying much more. Saura chuckled, then topped up the Sannin's drink.
"Glad I don't know that guy." Saura said.
"Then why is he here?" Deidara asked, "Did he just walk in? We can get rid of him if you want us to. We have our ways."
"It's an open invitation, and my guests bring guests who bring guests. They're invited, I just don't know them is all." Saura laughed slightly tipsy himself, "I take it ninja sort out their problems with violence?"
"Mostly." Orochimaru said, "Or at least the best of us do."
"Saura, who are your two friends?" A man asked, he had dark hair and a constant smirk on his face, the moment his hazy blue eyes landed on the snake the Sannin felt uncomfortable.
"Oro-chan, Deidara, this is Imperial Satoru." Saura introduced, "he is one of the highest leading imperials on the New World front."
"Proudly." Satoru said confidence bordering on vanity, the man loomed above both ninja, his physical stature alone was enough to earn him a high rank. He was as tall as he was muscular, and it was evident that Deidara was also uncomfortable. Orochimaru's eyes remained fixed and composed. However, he was for once rather glad Saura had introduced him with the slightly demeaning name "chan" as it had hidden his identity. He knew that the last city he and his team had destroyed was a small one, but that didn't mean news didn't travel. Since he was the leading figure in the NW attack and defeat, imperials were bound to have heard his name. Perhaps his face was still unknown, but they certainly knew of the Sannin's name.
Being famous was hardly what anyone wanted when they were trying to get away with the same feat once more. The man's eyes lingered on the Sannin, and Orochimaru could have sworn the man was on to him, he then allowed that fear to fall away when the imperial spoke again.
"It'll never cease to amaze me just how different ninja are, you're eyes are much like a snake. You are a ninja correct, let me see your marks." The imperial said suddenly.
Deidara politely showed his wrist, the Sannin did so reluctantly. The man then caught sight of the Sannin's snake summoning tattoo and lost interest in the marks placed by the NW's.
"What's that?" The man asked.
"A mark from my time as a ninja." Orochimaru said briefly.
"I'm knowledgeable in ninja and jutsu, that's a summoning contract." Satoru said, "For what, what was your familiar?"
"It was for-" Orochimaru was about to lie, he wasn't giving away anything which could reveal himself as the last successor over the NW army.
"Snakes correct? I've done my research. I specialise in the military, I find ways of defeating your jutsu." Satoru stated, "I know most things, I'm yet to fully understand the forbidden arts. I'm yet to capture a ninja who uses them, know of anyone?"
The man never gave anyone a chance to speak or answer it seemed, he would answer his own questions. The Sannin was fine with that.
"What is a summoning contract?" Saura asked curiously.
"Ninja summon animals and creatures to aid them in battle. Apparently they come from a different place, if the summoner can defeat the lead creature of his choice he can use that being in battle." Satoru said, his tone making it seem as if the idea was ludicrous yet true, "Dogs are common, so are birds for that matter. However summonings like dragons and snakes can be more complex as the creatures are less co-operative."
"So you used snakes? Are they any good in battle, they seem awfully small compared to a dragon." Saura said, his lack of knowledge obvious the more he spoke.
"Don't be fooled, you must see these beasts Saura. Sometime I'll show you, we have photo's, actually- I'll show you now, where is your phone." Satoru said, Saura passed the imperial the phone. The imperial typed into the device with haste and then showed the screen to the other NW.
"Look how monstrous that is. His name is Manda, he is the largest of the snakes, we've never seen any ninja able to control him." Satoru said, "We have him in one of our bases, he destroys whatever he can but we've managed to detain him. Took us months, but enough tranquilisers and he was defeated. Do you know how many drones and tanks he got through? He destroyed a small city. He possess jutsu as well, isn't it strange, even their animals are capable of such things."
Orochimaru watched the man with slitted eyes, how dare the bastard detain the king of the snakes. Manda may have spewed cutting words, he may have acted detached but the Sannin had a bond with the creature.
He knew of Manda's pride, knew every second he was detained was probably crushing his very soul and reducing him to a shell of himself. The Sannin was closed to grabbing the closest knife around and holding it to the man's throat, close to demanding the serpent be freed. A few months ago, he would have had the ability to do so, but he was jutsu-less, he was weak.
"Could you summon snakes the size of that one?" Saura asked the Sannin, Orochimaru was avoiding lying too much, the imperial knew a lot about jutsu, he may catch out false information.
"Manda is the largest snake summoning." Orochimaru said, "The snakes I summoned were almost his size, but not quite."
"Saura, bring your friends over here, we need more players!" a man called. Orochimaru was grateful for the distraction, he didn't want to talk to the imperial any longer. He had come to get information, but what he heard was distressing. Deidara knew it had affected his friend.
"Pleasure meeting you." Deidara said as he slipped off, the imperial nodded, but he held a look in his eyes that once more made the two shinobi unsure of where they stood. They could see he didn't feel his business was concluded, they knew they'd see him again.
"we'll free Manda." Deidara assured his friend, his blue eyes locked onto the snakes lowered golden ones with sympathy.
"We'll free them all." Orochimaru replied as his gaze shifted into something more calculating and unnerving. The blond didn't feel unnerved, he had grown to fully trust that the serpent would not bite his helping hand.
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"We should call in and check on them." Kakashi said, Asuma passed him a bored glance.
"Why? They're so sure they can manage it, leave them to it." Asuma replied, Shikamaru and Ino sat beside their teacher talking until they caught word of what the two Jounin were talking about.
Kakashi watched Asuma with slightly irritated eyes now, he wished the man would simply accept the snake ninja, at the end of the last war, Asuma had saved the Sannin at one point, and in that moment the copy ninja had thought they were finally at peace with each other. But those good terms went up in smoke when they returned to a stable village. They had been tense around one another, and then upon the second NW it seemed they were once more at each other's throats. Kakashi recalled asking Kisame what he should do when he was forced to decide between Konoha and the rogue Sannin. Thankfully, it never came to that, thankfully the rest of the village had accepted the serpent. Looking at Asuma and Orochimaru together however made Kakashi feel as if he had just put two wolves in a cage together, and was now foolishly expecting them not to try and kill one another.
"I know you don't like him, but your negativity on every matter isn't helping." Kakashi said, his friend turned irritated eyes on him.
"And I suppose running off alone spitefully is very beneficial?" Asuma replied, "Orochimaru does his own thing, I'm not saying he will turn against us… or you at least, but he does his own thing. He doesn't consult us, he just acts on a whim. It's all he's known so fine, I won't change him. But I don't want that on my team."
"You don't want him on our team?" Kakashi snapped, the words cut him possibly more than they would have cut the Sannin, "So we should what? Tell him to fuck off."
The copy ninja wasn't one for vulgar language, he refrained from being improper or getting angry. However, somehow being in the foreign land always brought out the worst in him. His temper flared when he knew the safety of his loved ones were in danger. He hated the thought, and he hated being powerless to stop it all.
"If I had my way Kakashi, that's exactly what I would do." Asuma said, Shikamaru and Ino passed one another worried glances. They had never seen their teacher in such an angered state before. They had never seen him so hateful towards another human being. Then again, they had noticed their teacher hardly saw the serpent as human at all.
"You're a great friend. Truly couldn't be more lucky." Kakashi muttered coldly, the other Jounin stood up to move to the kitchen.
"You chose the Sannin over us Hatake, juts remember I hated that snake before you loved him." Asuma said as he turned for the kitchen.
"Is this about your father again? We all lost parents Asuma and yours was the Hokage, he knew his position put him in danger." Kakashi hadn't meant to offend his friend as much as he managed to when he brought up Hiruzen's death. The copy ninja however had been living closely with the snake for a long time now, and although the Sannin never opened up and retold his past story or explained his reasoning for doing what he did, he often accidently dropped hints. Kakashi knew there had been motive and reason for the Sannin to do what he had done. He knew that somehow the snake would reveal his reasons for his decisions and that perhaps it would open up a new story as Itachi had when his lie was discovered. However Asuma didn't interpret his comrades words as such, he saw them as a direct insult to his father's death and his grief for it.
Asuma approached the copy ninja with intolerable eyes. He got closer than manners would allow for, it was obvious a fight would break out if the copy ninja didn't rectify his words. Kakashi didn't want to stand against his friend.
"What the hell does that mean?" Asuma asked.
"Your father was a great man." Kakashi said taking a step back to show he wasn't accepting the challenge, "Forget I said anything, sorry."
The door slammed open and the two Chunin on the couch jumped as tensions in the room had already unsettled their nerves. Hidan walked in with his usual slightly deranged smile. He felt the odd energy and placed a packet down on the table.
"I got food. What's happening now?" Hidan asked.
"Nothing." Kakashi replied back to his composed self, the other three members in the room knew however that it was simply a well-crafted façade of calm.
"Seems like it." Hidan stated unconvinced, he didn't dwell on it, the man never really cared about others affairs too much, "Where are the other two?"
"They went to the party." Ino said.
"Alone?" Hidan asked, he shook his head, "There a uh… reason nobody went with them?"
"They don't need us there." Asuma snapped. He walked out the door leaving his students and friend in his angered wake. Hidan cussed something at him after laughing at the man's evident lack of control.
"We need to get that man some sort of drug, I'm not putting up with his shit." Hidan laughed, "Anyway, foods here. I got paid extra as well because I worked my co-workers shift."
"You must be exhausted." Shikamaru said to the immortal, he looked at the shorter male with a maddened smile as he sat down on the couch slightly chaotically.
"nah." Hidan said, "Jobs easy, and I don't have to sit down, I run around delivering stuff, lot of freaks out there I tell you."
Kakashi left the three ninja to their conversation. He had little interest in it. He regretted not following his lover out, but he regretted upsetting his friend as well. Asuma's words stung him once more.
"You chose the Sannin over us Hatake, juts remember I hated that snake before you loved him."
The words were harsh but true, naturally no one had control over who they loved, but that didn't stop the fact that Kakashi went through with sleeping beside one of his closest friends enemies. Truth be told he had made that choice knowing full well it would be something Asuma would hate. Then again, love was never a choice and neither was circumstance.
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Orochimaru and Deidara sat at the round table beside Saura and three other men. All of which were already tipsy, the Sannin wouldn't lie to himself, due to his bad goodbye to his lover he had drunken a bit too much himself. He was still in control of himself but he certainly felt less inhibited, and more inclined to simply drink more.
"The game is simple, it's called sip or strip." One man said as he placed a coin in the middle of the table, "You flip a coin and call either heads or tails. If you guessed right pass the coin to the person on the right of you. If you guess wrong pass the coin to the person on your left and either remove one piece of clothing or take a shot."
"I'll go first." Deidara said, he flipped the coin then called his bet, "heads!"
The coin spun to a stop revealing the tails side of its metallic betrayal. The ninja cussed playfully and took a shot, clearly not too keen on the idea of removing any clothes. He passed the coin to his left which was now Saura. Saura took the coin and flipped it.
"Tails." He said, the coin spun and landed as the NW had guessed, the tails sign once more revealed. Saura laughed and handed the coin back to Deidara who sat on his right.
"Misfortunate cycle Deidara." The Sannin chuckled to him, the blond threw playfully annoyed eyes at him.
"Better get this one right so you can get a turn ey Oro-chan?" Deidara said as he tossed the coin, "heads."
This time the coin showed heads and Deidara smugly handed the coin over to the Sannin who sat on his right. Orochimaru held confidence as he tossed the coin adding a simple, "tails" as it entered the air. It rolled dramatically before betraying the Sannin entirely as it landed on heads.
"It's targeting all the pretty people." One man laughed, Orochimaru's confidence turned into mild frustration, he wasn't a fan of being wrong. He was used to winning at drinking games as Tsunade had always been terribly unlucky and Jiraiya always made tactless moves which resulted in Tsunade bashing him into semi-unconsciousness. He decided he would rather take a shot as Deidara had.
"Come on you two, alcohol is bad for you." The man beside Orochimaru said, "there's another option you know."
Orochimaru handed the coin back to Deidara, "The best of luck."
Deidara flipped it and called heads, but it landed on tails and he was forced to take another shot before handing the coin to Saura. Saura flipped it and called wrong as well, he took a shot despite already being drunk enough as it was.
"Ah Saura you screwed me." The man who received the coin said, Orochimaru recalled his name being Venron. Venron took the coin and flipped it, it skidded to a halt and he cursed. He then took a shot and gave the coin to a NW man named Kelur. Kelur grabbed the coin eagerly.
"I never lose." He boasted, but he proved his own words wrong when he called heads and the coin revealed tails. The man who was on his left, who was named Dias, grabbed the coin with a smug smile.
"You over sell yourself Kelur." He flipped the coin calling tails but it landed on heads, he handed it to Orochimaru who was on his left. He then removed his jacket, "I'll set a trend, stop taking shots already."
His amused eyes landed on the snake Sannin when he spoke, the serpent watched him with his usual calculating eyes, Saura seemed to be watching him as well. Orochimaru grabbed the coin, called heads and tossed it gracefully, it did small circles on the table before stopping on tails. He sighed and removed his earing's, one pair of clothing counted as one piece so he removed them both.
"Happy." He smiled at the man beside him, it was obvious Dias hadn't noticed the snake had earing's, as his long jet black hair covered it. He still seemed satisfied that the Sannin had a more laid back streak in him. Deidara took the coin and tossed it calling tails, it landed on tails and he happily handed it back to the serpent. Orochimaru tossed the coin once more and found he was wrong again, he took a shot. Deidara took the coin again and flipped it, he guessed right and handed it over to the serpent with a satisfied smile.
"All I have to do it get it right and you'll be out in no time." Deidara laughed.
"Such a lovely friend I have." Orochimaru said with a playful smile his golden eyes glistening in the dimly lit room. The game had taken his mind off matters at home, either that or the shots were finally catching up to him. He was pretty sure if he had any more alcohol he would never remember the night come the next morning.
He tossed the coin and called it wrong once more. He wasn't all too impressed with his luck, but his eyes could no longer focus on an object as his mind was slowly controlled by the poison he ingested. He took one more shot, but he could feel he was now passing his limit. He handed the coin back to Deidara but the blonds luck seemed to be planning on staying. Orochimaru found the coin kept bouncing back into his hands and he couldn't afford to take in any more alcohol. He had removed his shoes and socks already, Dias cheered for him to rather take off his shirt than drink, the other two men agreed. Saura was hesitant to encourage the snake to remove it, so he kept his mouth closed rather. Deidara apologised for his luck, but finally the Sannin managed to call it right. He couldn't quite tell in his inebriated state whether he had gotten it right or not, but he realized he had when Deidara cheered for him.
"Well done Oro-chan!" The blond said as Orochimaru gave the coin to Dias who sat on his right. Dias flipped it and called it right, he then handed the coin to the person on his right. Kelur got it wrong and the coin landed back in front of Dias who managed to guess right once more. Kelur passed the coin on to Venron who passed it on to Saura, who then passed it back to Venron who was then forced to hand it over to Dias again.
Dias guessed wrong and gave the coin to Orochimaru after removing his shirt. Orochimaru flipped it clumsily, his grace slowly leaving him as the alcohol controlled his senses. He called tails and watched as the coin revealed he was correct. He handed it back to Dias, who got it wrong again and took a shot. Orochimaru flipped it and called it wrong, so he handed it over to his blond friend. The night progressed and the group was lost in the game becoming increasingly drunker as the night went on. Everyone at the table found that they had their shirts off by the time a loud crash banged down the halls. Saura looked behind him as two men attacked one another. That was where the groups game ended, the six of them rose from their chairs and came closer to the brawl. Some men cheered, Tsukiko barked out of anxious excitement and other guests yelled for the men to stop. Saura and Dias were the two who came up, as shirtless as they were to remove the men. They did it haphazardly as they were beyond tipsy now.
Orochimaru watched as the two NW men separated and ended the fight removing both men and placing them in separate rooms to calm down. It wasn't long before one of the men who had initiated the fight, came storming out. He grabbed his jacket and went to sit outside. It was cold, but the group who had been drinking slightly too much couldn't feel it. Orochimaru felt someone touch his shoulder and he turned around to face the man, it was Satoru and he seemed highly interested in something.
"I'm going to be leaving shortly." The imperial said, he knew full well that the Sannin was drunk, however the snake was completely unaware that he was, as intoxicated people generally were, "I was hoping to catch a word with you?"
"Alright." Orochimaru agreed. The imperial lead him to the courtyard, the Sannin even when drunk wanted to find his shirt but he struggled to remember where he had put it. The imperial handed him his large jacket and the Sannin settled into it, the man's sleeves burying his hands.
"I have many questions about summonings." Satoru explained, "And I have a feeling that you know a lot more than you gave off in our last conversation. Help me in my facility, it will be a secret pact. You help me discover more about your people, in return for your jutsu. Of course we will have to bind you to being loyal, and when you are not working with us your chakara will be revoked."
Orochimaru's uneasy eyes skittered in the darkness of the night, he couldn't do a good job of masking his true feelings of matters. Not in his drunken state.
"I don't want to help the NW's." Orochimaru said honestly.
"It's simply bringing forth a new understanding." The imperial said, "What we don't know we fear… perhaps you can help us eradicate that fear by creating a better understanding."
"You'll use that knowledge to hurt us." Orochimaru said, he held his head as he felt himself start to shake. He wasn't feeling at his best, his body felt as if it wanted to crash.
"Don't rush into any decisions now." Satoru said, "But why not visit our facility, here's my number."
"What do you want me to tell you?" Orochimaru asked.
"I just need jutsu's explained, I need to know how you do it, how you train for it. I want to know your personal experience as being a ninja." The imperial said, "Its simple questions with simple answers that I can only get from a ninja who has a good grasp of most jutsu. What elements were you?"
"All of them." Orochimaru answered, he would regret his honesty by the morning if he even remembered it. Their conversation continued and Orochimaru answered the questions the man asked. He couldn't make out what the man was asking even though he was answering the questions all the same. It was only when the man finally seemed to be majorly enticed that the Sannin slightly snapped out of his drunken haze. He couldn't remember what he had last said.
"I know this little arrangement will work out." The imperial said. He started leading the Sannin inside again. Orochimaru asked the man what he had said but the words never formed and he found himself holding onto the side of the courtyard door the world eventually going black within split seconds.
Authors note- There is the next chapter. Hope you enjoyed it, let me know in the comments. Thanks so much for those who leave reviews, as always a major huge thank you to Vampierdoll666! ~Hourglass8