Naruto struggled to his feet but fell, he desperately tried to summon his signature blue spiral but his chakara failed him. Sasuke acted quickly and threw a large shirikan at the masked man but it deflected from him using only his chakara to do so. Time seemed to stop as the blade was swung downwards. Ino expected to hear the cruel sound of blade hitting flesh but instead was surprised by a crackling roar.
"Chidori."
"Kakashi!" Ino said happily almost not believing it, with a frantic movement the masked man leapt away to safety.
"Shall I kill you as well?" The mask laughed.
"I wouldn't get confident, our men will be here shortly. You should know how well numbers do in battle." Kakashi said his expression not his usual bored one, his sharigan awakened and ready.
"So your camp site is nearby then?" The mask asked eagerly.
"No but you took our Kage's and their villages will not stop at that." Kakashi said. The mask glanced around and then took one step back laughing cockily.
"Well then, I suppose I should report back. Call it even?" The mask laughed, he didn't give the group a chance to reply but went up in mist.
"Kakashi thank God." Sasori muttered thankfully.
"I thought Shikaku said no rescue mission?" Sasuke asked his old mentor.
"He didn't but the Sound and Cloud are in uproar about it. No rescue team has been sent however, the villages don't know our wear abouts either. Sakura told me she saw you guys sneak off." Kakashi said.
"Knew she would rat on us…" Naruto said.
"Be grateful she did." Sasori said, "Does Shikaku know?"
"No, Sakura is covering for us." Kakashi said.
"Are our Villages alright?" Orochimaru hissed over, his voice was faint almost whispered.
"They are fine, just angered, your return will fix that instantly I assure you." Kakashi said.
The snake nodded faintly , Ino returned to healing him and he gratefully accepted it.
"okay, so how we getting everyone home, some of us are badly injured." Deidara said, he looked down at Sasori who was holding his arm to his bleeding leg.
"Bird I guess… We'll just fly as high as possible… only thing is they'll see where we land it…" Sasori said.
"I can craft something else." Deidara said, "Give me anything and Ill shape my clay into one."
"What have you done before?" Sasori asked.
"Well nothing the same scale as my birds but, spiders, snakes, centipedes… dragon?" Deidara listed.
"Can you make multiple?" Sasori asked.
"Of course Dana." Deidara said.
"Make a whole lot of small dragons then." Sasori said. Deidara dug around in his pouch, he was nearly out of clay.
"I can make multiple if I had more clay…" Deidara said, "How many people need a lift?"
"Me, Orochimaru, the Riakage, Sasuke, Naruto and Bee." Sasori said, "So six."
"Just make a long snake and they'll all hitch a ride on the same one." Ino offered.
"Snakes are awkward to stay on we'll just fall off." Sasori sighed.
"Who said it had to be an existing creature, Deidara just make anything long that can move be creative." Sasuke snapped.
"Alright I'll try something new." Deidara said he messed around with his clay for a few second before throwing it in the air. It multiplied in size and landed on the ground. The group stared in horror as they saw the foul flat creature.
"There we go!" Deidara said happily. The creature was flat like a stingray and long like a snake, it had three carved out eyes on the top of it.
"That's disgusting…" Ino muttered, "You enjoy."
"What is it?" Orochimaru asked still unable to see and identify what the gasps were about.
"Be glad you're blind." Ino whispered over.
"everyone on!" Deidara said. The thin flat creature hovered above the ground a few centimetres.
"Help would be nice." Sasori said unable to get to his feet, Deidara laughed apologetically and trotted to his side helping him up. Kakashi went to help Naruto and Sasuke who stumbled onto the thin creature wearily.
The Riakage and Sannin both moved by themselves proudly. Luckily for the Sannin the crafted creature was beside him and he really just had to throw himself forwards a little bit. He lay his head down with no energy left to spare.
Ino aided the Riakage as best she could and when they were both on she went for Bee who had already been assisted by Kakashi. When all the members were on the flattened snake like creature moved forwards. The team was a bit weirded out but they were happy not walking. After about two hours travel they saw the camp, the creature was fast and agile as it glided and entered the camp un-followed. The guards outside the camp eyed it wearily but when they saw the lost Kage's their eyes lit up.
"Orochimaru-sama!" The one called.
"Riakage-sama!" The other said.
The people who were near the gate all stopped what they were doing and looked up as they heard the names. There was loud mutterings of approval and relief as watchers saw them enter. The creature had been told to wait outside, Deidara hadn't wanted to blow it up by the public. Medics were quick to enter the scene and helped everyone to the nearest healing facility.
"We know where their base is." Orochimaru said to the Riakage as they passed each other.
"Yeah, it was worth something in the end I guess." The Riakage laughed, "By the way snake, we need a rematch. You know when this war is over and all. No seals fair play."
"I look forward to it Riakage." The snake said back, The Riakage smirked, which was a first for the man as he was genuinely happy. The snake couldn't see it however, most likely that was the reason the Riakage allowed himself to smile in the first place.
"Don't die." The Riakage said.
"An immortal never does." The snake said.
"Teh, some things never change." The two Kage's were then lead into different emergency rooms, whether he passed out from injury or whether the nurse put him under the snake didn't know. He fell from reality however and enjoyed the feeling of not feeling anything at all, his life now fully in the medics care. The last thing he heard was a panicked but relieved voice.
"Orochimaru!"
"You awake? Wake up! You awake now?"
"Shut it Naruto, does he look awake."
"He has been out for two whole days."
"That's normal."
"But Sakura…"
"Shut it Naruto he needs rest."
"He is opening his eyes!"
"Orochimaru, are you okay?"
The snake opened his eyes blurrily he still couldn't see anything but he had grown familiar with out his eye sight. He then panicked as he realised he could not sense anything. Perhaps the anaesthetic had not worn off yet.
"I'm fine." He said finally he sat up, once he had he realised something odd. He was human again, if he was human again he had his chakara repaired. He had only been out two days though apparently.
"Am I human?" Orochimaru asked slightly confused.
"Yes you are, we managed to stabilise your chakara enough to repair the damage. We have a very strong medical team working on all the Kage's." Sakura said, Orochimaru knew the voice well, it had screamed at him on a regular basis when he was working with Sasuke.
"Are you blind still?" Naruto asked, another voice he knew well, although who couldn't recognise the bouncy blond.
"Not for long." Orochimaru said, he tried adjusting his chakara, it had been newly repaired and would not be near ready to regenerate a new body.
"We unfortunately have no way of regaining your sight…" Sakura said.
"I can regenerate as soon as my chakara is back to normal." Orochimaru said, "How are the other Kage's? Did Tsunade and the others make it back?"
"They are all fine, most of them in a similar state to you. Madara, the Riakage and you are most likely the most critical but no one risks death." Sakura said, he then felt something near him, he tensed but didn't move assuming it was one of his allies. When he felt chakara around him he relaxed a bit more knowing it was simply healing.
"Orochimaru." Another female voice said, Orochimaru knew who it was haven grown accustom to most people at that point.
"Mizukage, you should be resting you are not allowed out of bed." Sakura said her voice highly concerned.
"I have to say something… not to mention Tsunade is driving me crazy in there…" The Mizukage said.
"You are far to injured to even stand let alone walk." Sakura said, the healing stopped and he felt air rush by, "Sit down at least."
"Thank you Sakura." The Mizukage said, "Orochimaru, um Sakura… Naruto could you leave us a moment."
"Five minutes… we need to continue healing you at all times." Sakura said reluctantly.
"That's all I need thank you," The Mizukage said, footsteps were heard and then the door closed behind the two, "About the sealing… and all the other times we lied and betrayed you during that fight… we let power get the best of us. Understand it was out of fear for our Villages, but none the less we were out right wrong and-"
"I know you were doing it out of fear for your Village Mizukage. You and Gaara both. There is no need to say more, its forgotten." Orochimaru replied.
"Madara as well." The Mizukage added.
"Hm." Orochimaru replied not at all convinced.
"He did not mean for it to come to this, I can guarantee it was for the sake of the Akatsuki and all those he cares about." The Mizukage tried again.
"I don't mean to dismiss you Mizukage but I doubt that, I doubt that very much." Orochimaru said, "Madara is not the type of man to cheat for his allies. His allies and him are not friends, his allies and him are not close. He does things for his own goals, I'm not saying he will betray us, but I'm not saying he won't either."
"He won't he- what ever it was I'm not here to defend him… I'm here to apologise. What I did was far beyond wrong and selfish and I admit that. I still think Tsunade is wrong as leader, but it is final. So I will accept it and act as she wishes. Are you still happy with her?" The Mizukage asked, "She was a bit harsh blaming you in that fight. I hope that didn't change your mind on matters. I now see changing positions only causes havoc."
"I've lost faith in her to a degree, but still, she is to remain leader." Orochimaru said, "How is she?"
"Healing wise? She is fine, healing far quicker than anyone thought. That slug of hers is healing her internally as well. If anything she needs about three days and then she is out." The Mizukage said.
"That is good, and have you seen Gaara since?" Orochimaru asked.
"All good, I went to apologise to the Riakage, he is a lot nicer when under anaesthetic." The Mizukage said, the door then clicked open, the Mizukage rose to her feet, "I should go. Heal quickly Sannin."
"As to you Mizukage." Orochimaru replied, he then felt healing chakara around him again.
"Everything okay with her?" Naruto asked.
"Yes why?" Orochimaru asked.
"She looked like she was about to cr-"
"Naruto leave it." Sakura said, "Don't worry I'm sure it was just fatigue."
"Alright." Orochimaru said, he patiently waited for the healer to finish, ten minutes later she did and got to her feet.
"I'll be back in about three hours." Sakura sad, "Between that time there will be other medics coming in and out. You are currently in Sounds medical tent, you should know most of the healers. Kabuto was busy with other orders apparently? Either way I doubt you'll see him."
"No problem, thank you." Orochimaru said, she reminded him a lot of Tsunade as she worked never once showing any sign of incompetence. She left the room with the fox child tailing behind her. It wasn't long till he felt light headed again, his wounds clearly not nearly fully healed, he cursed the Uchiha for making it so much worse. He then stopped his current trail of thought as a new one entered, would the Uchiha still want to kill him? No one could predict the legendary Uchiha, the snake had only been spared as he had managed to somehow with his last bit of strength harm the other severally. If the Uchiha decided to kill the snake, he knew he was as good as dead. No one would be able to stop Madara, he was far to strong, if they tried it would take their entire armies to get it right. That wasn't something they could do in such times, so the other shinobi could do little but ask Madara to stop. Not to mention the Uchiha could assassinate him secretly, there were plenty ways for the Uchiha to end him with out penalty, he wouldn't even have to get caught if he wished it. That would be, if the Uchiha wished to kill him, the most likely way he would attack the snake. Secretly. He doubted the Uchiha would leave his fate there, leave his unacceptable rebellion alone. The Uchiha thought of himself as unmatched but the snake had tested that power and threatened it since the man first saw him.
However would Madara risk loosing such a great ally in such bad times? The snake didn't know him well enough to decide on which was the answer.
The thinking, and over thinking hurt his head and he absent-mindedly brushed through his hair, it was rather tangled thanks to all the fighting and he worked through it slowly returning it to its natural smooth perfection. He couldn't stop the Uchiha if he decided to kill him, that was final, he decided. So instead he'd have to see what happened, read the Uchiha's body language and gauge whether or not he should act against the Uchiha to protect himself or simply fake his trust once more. He had his answer and he reluctantly let his weakened form slip back out of awareness. That was until he heard the sound of the door opening softly. He was fully awake by the time the door started opening, almost expecting it to be Madara himself. He was relieved to see it wasn't.
"Orochimaru." He greeted.
"Kakashi." Orochimaru greeted, the copy ninja came and politely stood next to the bed, unlike the innocent child who had seated himself on top of the bed, every movement the demon fox had made early Orochimaru felt with a sharp pain from every wound in his body. The copy ninja analysed the room briefly and then glanced back to the snake.
"Are you okay?" Kakashi asked, the snake gave him a sceptical look. Kakashi rolled his eyes internally, the snake never trusted care, it was almost as if he had never received it with out being betrayed and had decided since to relate care with out right betrayal.
"I'm alright." Orochimaru replied, "Is there something you need to know?"
"No, just checking that I made it to you in time." Kakashi said, "Since the last time I seemed to have gotten there a bit late."
"You did, and thank you." Orochimaru said brushing black stands away revealing weary golden eyes, "I owe you."
"This is an alliance, you don't owe me anything." Kakashi said hiding a small smirk of amusement, "If anything I-"
"Emergency! Everyone please slowly and orderly evacuate the tents and report to the main sector. I repeat calmly make your way to the main sector. Medics are to help the injured out." The voice was frantic and coming from outside, the voice echoed down the hallway as the person ran through making sure the entire tents residence knew.
"Do you think we've been found?" Orochimaru asked, forcing himself up, he felt his entire body tense in agony but pushed it aside as best he could. If he had his chakara back he could shed his skin and be done with all the pain, he would be able to see and would be rid of all the injuries he sustained. He realised quickly that he could not see or sense now and nearly stumbled forwards his balance not where is should have been. He held onto the side of the bed and felt who he assumed was Kakashi lightly take his wrist.
"Who knows, come on, I'll help you to the main sector." Kakashi said lightly pulling to indicate he needed the Sannin to walk where he asked.
"Alright." Orochimaru said following the others lead, he was hesitant with every step, not knowing if the other was going to walk him into a wall. He tried his best to simply walk but found every now and then he would jerk to a short lived pause before continuing. Kakashi didn't seem very fazed at it, he was patient and helped the other through the medical tent until the snake could smell and feel the outside air. He trotted behind Kakashi the sound of many panicked voices running around them. Through much effort the two made it to the main sector.
"Shit, you need to be up there with all the Kage's." Kakashi said, he looked up at the stand to see Tsunade looking completely unwounded and the other Kage's who had a medical ninja beside them. The other Kage's were all sitting down near the back of the small stage unable to stand for long periods of time, Kakashi then noted the absence of Madara, soon however the man was spotted. Two medical ninja beside him helping him with every painful looking step.
"Where are we?" Orochimaru asked.
"The main sector, I'm going to get you there, the other Kage's have medics so I'll just stand with you until I'm not needed." Kakashi said lightly pulling on the snakes wrists once more. Orochimaru followed again and soon heard Kakashi whisper for him to take a higher step. The stairs were obviously in front of him, Orochimaru sighed. The last thing he wanted was the entire worlds nations seeing him stumble up stairs like some disabled fool. He decided he would approach this the way he had approached everything. He had walked up stairs many times in his life so by now he should be able to do it with his eyes closed. He envisioned how the stairs looked in his mind and with out hesitation trotted up every step. He didn't loose his footing once or miss a step and got up looking as if he had his full sight. Kakashi was impressed but also had received the fright of his life as he watched the blinded man run into an obstacle. With a sigh Kakashi trotted up the stairs and back to Orochimaru's side. He then lightly guided him to a place he could sit in a subtle manner, deciding he knew the snake well enough go know he'd hate to display his weakness. Orochimaru gratefully followed the subtle gesture, he felt himself pass someone but couldn't tell who.
"Sannin." Madara said as he passed, Orochimaru paused momentarily, his earlier plan of wait and see what happens seeming flawed now. After all he could only execute half of it, he could sure as hell wait but he could not see. He stopped himself from allowing a small shiver to run down his spine. There was little he could do, as for now he was surrounded by allies, Madara wouldn't act in front of everyone.
"Madara." Orochimaru greeted back. Kakashi swore he could cut the tension with a knife, he didn't know why, still unaware these two legendary shinobi had dealt the majority of one another's wounds. They passed and soon Orochimaru and Madara were seated, to the snakes ailment beside each other.
"We have sighted a storm." Tsunade started, "Or more properly known as a Tornado."
Panic started in the crowd and the peoples murmurs got louder and louder until Tsunade raised her voice and commanded silence.
"We need to act in an orderly fashion to get all our men out if this alive, we will have to leave all resources behind." Tsunade said, she cursed her luck, this would set the army back by a lot, almost a deadly degree. They wouldn't be able to sustain all the people, there would be no food no medical supplies and no shelter, "We need to move out now, there is limited time-"
"There it is I see it!" A man from sand yelled out from within the crowd the people and Kage's all looked in the direction the man had said to see a twisting wind getting larger and larger the closer it got.
"Do not panic we have enough time to get away." Tsunade said, "However we need to leave immediately. We shall head north until the winds stop."
"Isn't it coming from North?" Orochimaru whispered to Kakashi, the copy ninja shook his head.
"No we see it from South, we can see it." Kakashi informed him.
"I feel the winds from North though." Orochimaru said unsettled. Kakashi knew by now not to dismiss the snakes thoughts and slipped away muttering for the snake not to move, he then went behind the stage and went to a tall tree hopping up until he was on higher ground. He glanced North and saw a small twist of wind gathering speed and quantity.
"Shit. Tsunade!" Kakashi said rushing back onto stage, "There are two, one South one North."
Orochimaru glanced around nervously, he couldn't see anything and Kakashi was no longer beside him.
"Your senses are still adept as ever I see." Madara said beside him, Orochimaru tensed.
"They are yes." Orochimaru replied, "I will be able to see again soon."
"I don't doubt that, Tsunade is back she can heal our wounds properly after all." Madara said.
"So then where do we head?" The Mizukage asked, "Its impossible to manage all these men out of harms way. God knows how much harder with two natural disasters."
"Natural may not be the correct term anymore." Orochimaru said. Tsunade turned to him sharply.
"Do you have reason to believe it is the masks?" She asked unnerved.
"Yes, there is always reason but besides that we all know the hidden stone specialise in Tornado's. The hidden stone is captured by the masks and teaching them jutsu, this seems more than plausible. This is not a high risk area, and two tornado's are even less likely." Orochimaru said.
"Then we need to move quickly but carefully. The Masks are trying to force out of hiding… we shall move in four separate groups. One will go North West, one South West, the others North East and South East. That way we will be smaller more manageable groups. We will be less likely to be spotted in smaller numbers as well. When the storm is passed we will meet back here." Tsunade said, "Going North West we will have Cloud, going South West we will have Konoha, North East we will have Sand and South East Mist joined by Sound and the Akatsuki. Sound, Mist and the Akatsuki are small so they will not be a burden each other in numbers, joining another nation."
The murmurs stopped and all the shinobi and residence moved in an orderly fashion towards their direction. The large village size groups stopped waiting for their leaders. Kakashi then realised his problem.
"Tsunade, Orochimaru will need help." Kakashi said.
"Oh right, maybe he could leave Kabuto in charge and rather come with us. He will need my healing." Tsunade said.
"I'm not leaving my village in someone else's hands. I will be fine, I have medics." Orochimaru said standing up, he had little chakara and knew what he had said was most likely not true. He then felt someone beside him lead him forwards, he didn't know who and pulled back in objection.
"Come Orochimaru, I'll help him from here." Madara said, he didn't sound sinister in the slightest, in fact it was remarkably genuine. Orochimaru did not trust it and clearly neither did Tsunade knowing well of the true reasons they were so injured.
"You can hardly help yourself, I will be fine." Orochimaru said, he then heard another voice beside him.
"I'll help Madara." Itachi said.
"I'll help Orochimaru." Sasori said.
Orochimaru trusted Sasori far more than he trusted Madara and allowed it. Madara also agreed and the two ninja were aided down. Orochimaru had been healed by both the masks and Konoha and his injuries had recovered greatly, more than Madara's. However Orochimaru's chakara had been damaged and would need time to regain itself. He was grateful he was incredibly fast at healing and could feel with every passing moment how he was returning to normal. In fact he analysed, at that rate he would be fully healed while Madara would still be recovering.
He was lead to the front of his team, Sasori not at all leading him but more whispering direction if the snake needed it. It was much more nerve wrecking than the way Kakashi had handled it but it gave him more dignity. Madara, the Mizukage and Orochimaru all stood in front of their armies waiting for the order.
"Alright, we head out. I will see you back here as soon as the winds have settled. All of you." Tsunade said, she then ordered her men to follow, all the other nations headed off, going their separate ways.
Um... *cough* hope this chapter loads properly this time... thanks VampireDoll666... no clue whats up with my PC of late xD