Next chapter of Son of The Serpent. Jiraiya makes his plan as he arranges a unity of Leaf and Sound through Marriage, while The Sound Trio stumble upon a hidden plot. By The Way, who here also has put the past hundred or so chapters with the mess featuring Obito, Madara, Kaguya, and all that crap in the non canon folder?

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

Music was heard playing at a venue. Several people were inside looking on and listening to the beat of the band that was playing.

Zaku Abumi playing his guitar was seen performing on the stage as the group performed. Playing the tune on his instrument he began to sing into the mic.

Believe in me
You can see with your own eyes
All the many wonders I can do
Believe in me
I'm a wizard in disguise
Why would I want to lie to you?

Kin Tsuchi with her long black hair done in a multiple ponytail style with ribbons appeared a mic in hand and began to sang to counteract his lyrics.

Don't believe everything you see
There is more than meets the eye
Don't believe in a fantasy
The truth is underneath the lie

While they performed on the stage a group of individuals made their way undetected through the lights hanging from the ceiling, balancing skillfully on them and leaping through the air as the group stopped and one played out a dagger and tapping against the roof revealed a hidden compartment and pushing it over revealed a hole big enough to get through and scaled in it as the group continued performing.

Believe in me

There's no reason you should doubt

All the many Marvels I've achieved

Believe in Me

There's no trick to figure out

'Cause I got nothing up my sleeve

Crawling through, the group stealthily made its way quieter that an alert deer wouldn't detect them as they came to a vent and saw a man inside putting a file inside in a safe and shut and lock it and exited the room while Kin sung again

Don't believe in everything you hear

Don't be blinded by the light,

Don't believe; stay to see and clear

The Truth is hidden out of sight

Kicking the vent down the group slid down into the room and approached the safe. One had veins appear on his eyes and he checked the safe and after a few seconds cracked the safes' code revealing its contents

On The Stage the lights flashed from above illuminating Zaku, Kin, and the band in many different colors

Don't be afraid of superstition!

Or be misled by blind ambition

Having gotten what they came for, one put the file in his outfit and shut the safe and the group fled back the way they came as on stage the group were finishing up as Zaku leaned in close to Kin.

Believe in me He sang with a trusting smile

Don't believe everything you see She sang back with an accusing frown

Believe in me!

Don't believe, everything you see!

As The Music ended and the audience applauded as the lights on the stage dimmed. While backstage the lights brightened and revealed the group who had taken the file.

"This is what we come for?" Neji Hyuga asked skeptically looking at the file. While Zaku, Kin, and the others had performed on stage they had taken the task of infiltrating and getting into the office of the man who had rumors about ties he had and finding anything of interest.

"Yes, This is what we need." Dosu Kinuta responded as with him and Neji was TenTen and Kagero a Oto Kunoichi.

They were joined by Zaku and Kin who finished performing on stage as they had done their job.

"Just what exactly is this suppose to be?" TenTen looking at the file that was sealed.

"The owner of this place is said to have had meetings with people of unsavory reputation. Those who have connections in the Underworld and work in illegal trades including the selling of bodies. One of the men he meets with is said to hail from Amegakure." Dosu explained to the group as he unsealed it and opened the file revealing what was inside.

"What's it say?" Zaku asked as he put his guitar up in his case.

"Encrypted, just great." Neji said looking on at the paper from the file. "An encrypted letter written so we have to break down the words in order to figure out what they are saying. Whoever had sent this must have been properly prepared incase anyone got their hands on it." He muttered looking at it.

"Well then we'll have to get to work on deciphering it and figure out what's going on." Dosu said as he took the letter and examined it.

At Otogakure…

Tayuya was by herself having had supper and was making her way through the compound.

"Hmph, what are you doing here?" A voice said belonging to a Glasses wearing redhead to Tayuya who stopped looking ahead at who she saw.

(There goes my good mood) Tayuya thought disdainfully looking on at the girl before her wearing a purple long sleeved shirt and black shorts.

Tayuya thought very little of Karin, and by little I meant if she saw her laying on the ground before her, Tayuya would make sure to step on her. She was lower than scum in her eyes and only because of her unique ability was the reason Orochimaru kept her around Tayuya believed. She had a mad crush on Sasuke Uchiha, believing they were soul mates destined to be and would be lovers. Tayuya found it to be stupid beyond belief her attitude and belief that Sasuke cared anything about her.

"I happen to live here in Otogakure dumbass." Tayuya replied to the glasses wearing girl. "And I just so happen to outrank you so best watch your damn tongue." Tayuya told Karin who narrowed her eyes at her.

"Honestly I don't know what Orochimaru-sama saw in you to make you the leader of his Elite Corps." Karin told Tayuya. "A witless Brigade would be more suited to it than you. Than again I suppose if you want something bad enough, one can go straight to The Princes' bed instead." She said to her.

Tayuya narrowed her eyes at what she was implying.

"I suppose his standards are very low if he wants to be with you, aren't there any old maids to catch his eye?" Karin said in a mocking voice. "Of course if he ever talked to me I would brush him off, only Sasuke-kun is the one who shall have my love." She said with a smile envisioning him.

"You had best watch what you say about Naruto." Tayuya warned her daggers in her eyes.

"Naruto is nothing but a deluded fool, Sasuke-kun he is the one who shall bring true greatness to Oto with his power." Karin boasted apparently forgetting he wasn't a Sound he was a Leaf. "And I shall help him restore The Uchiha Clan being by his side."

"Wow, that is the stupidest thing I've heard you say yet. I know pigs that have more intelligence than you." Tayuya told her and Karin scoffed in anger. "You really think The Uchiha cares about you? As far as he's concerned, you're just a speck of dust on his clothing. I could kill you right this instant if I wanted too, only 'cause of your special chakra does anyone bother keeping you around, if it wasn't for that you'd only find employment in The Red Light District."

"How dare you! You're nothing but a vulgar, rude, hoodlum!" Karin shouted at her.

"That's exactly who I am, and you're a sow who's better at spreading your legs like a cheap whore in the hopes of losing your virginity than actually being a ninja." Tayuya responded to her.

Angry, Karin turned and walked away.

"Worthless bitch." Tayuya muttered in disdain. She was going to wind up having a painful demise if she actually believed Sasuke cared for her.

At Konoha…

"Hello Tsunade-hime!" Jiraiya exclaimed as he entered the Godaime's office. As usual, Tsunade was buried under a mountain of paperwork that she had to do. "Its good to see you this morning!"

The Slug looking up from her desk scowled at the smirking Toad. "Jiraiya get your ass out of here or I'm going to throw it out of here, which do you prefer, door or window?"

"Tsunade I've come to visit you in your cheerful mood because I have something important to discuss with you." He said looking on at her. "You know our alliance with Oto is little more than an unspoken agreement between The Leaf and Sound. We need something to help strengthen our relationship and see to it that we won't have any problems with Orochimaru, as well as making sure they are still are allies."

"What are you talking about?" Tsunade asked "Aren't you busy with your newest prodigy?" She asked him dryly.

"I'm talking about Unity between both Konoha and Oto, make it more like a family instead of a partnership. We need to wed one of Konoha with one of Sound so in the future after our time both Villages will be secure."

Tsunade got what he was getting at. "Arranged Marriage, that hasn't been done with Konoha in decades. Not since The First War." Tsunade mused looking on at him

"You were a part of an arranged marriage once remember, you were to wed one of The Princes of Iron during The Second War."

"Yeah until the idiot while hunting one day a week before I was to meet and wed him didn't notice that branch that was level with his head and cracked his skull killing himself." Tsunade replied dryly to him as that was a part of her past. Looking at Jiraiya and seeing him trying to hide his laughter over the incident she saw the look in his eyes and immediately came to a conclusion.

"Are you stupid or insane?" Tsunade asked him standing up. "I'm not some thoroughbred you can sell off and-"

"I wasn't referring to you Tsunade-hime!" Jiraiya shouted sweating profusely sensing she was ready to pummel him to death. "I'm referring to your apprentice."

"Shizune?"

"No, not her, your other apprentice. The one who's been studying under you these past three years." Jiraiya told her.

"Sakura?" Tsunade said surprise in her voice. "You want to Sakura to be married to one of Otogakure's ninja?" She said with a frown.

"Yes, I believe she'll be a key component of making sure our relationship with Oto stays good."

Tsunade was skeptical, arranged marriages were used so countries would have allies and also prevent an attack from a would be enemy. Notable families and countries had done this, Sarutobi and his wife had been an arranged marriage but the two had come to love one another. "I don't know about this, Sakura's young, and just who would you want her to be married to from Oto? Naruto?"

"Nah, not the Gaki, I'm thinking of someone else. Someone like Kimimaro Kaguya."

"Him?" Tsunade said doubtfully. "You want Sakura to marry him?" She said to The Toad skeptically.

"Why not, he kills people, she heals people." He said with a shrug.

"Jiraiya be serious," Tsunade chided him.

"I am, Sakura is strong, stronger than anyone thinks she is. The girl has learned from the best And Kimimaro despite his clans' less than savory reputation they had gotten would not harm her, I can tell just by looking at him that he will not harm a person without reason. I know you have your doubts but trust me on this. Kimimaro is the last of The Kaguya, and I'd find it a shame if the clan died out. Sakura is well on her way to becoming an outstanding ninja thanks to you. Its for the best of both our villages if we have them wedded."

"You think this will go well with Sakura and her family? Not to mention Orochimaru after I heard he turned down Kumo will be skeptical of this." Tsunade said to him.

"We're not going to have them get hitched tomorrow night, let them spend time together first." Jiraiya assured her. "That way if they don't matchup we can figure something else out. Trust me I've thought this over." He explained to her

"Let me contact Orochimaru," Tsunade grumbled and stood up and exited the room and Jiraiya followed her. "I bet you a hundred Ryo he'll turn it down."

"Let's make it two hundred." Jiraiya replied with a smirk.

Five minutes later Tsunade grumbled as she handed Jiraiya several bills.

"Thank you Tsunade, this poor old man is grateful for your donations." Jiraiya said with a smile. Tsunade as she handed him the last of it grasped his hand and squeezed down hard forcing him to one knee nearly breaking it.

"Don't mention it…ever." Tsunade replied with an evil smirk as she crushed his hand. They had communicated with Orochimaru and to Tsunades' surprise he had accepted it. Agreeing to allow Kimimaro and Sakura to be wedded in an arrange marriage between the two villages.

"I better tell Sakura about this," Tsunade said

"What? Marriage?" Naruto said in surprise as he was in the room with his father and Kabuto and Kimimaro having told them of the meeting he had just had.

"Indeed." The Otokage replied to the group. "Kimimaro," He said turning to the last of The Kaguyas. "You are to be wedded to Sakura Haruno." He told him and Kimimaro in his usual stoic manner didn't show anything. "Jiraiya it seems wants to have a marriage alliance between Leaf and Oto."

"Sakura Haruno, she's Tsunades' student and Sasuke's teammate." Kabuto said speaking up. "Orochimaru-sama, are you sure this isn't a plot by Konoha?"

"This isn't something Jiraiya or Tsunade would plan if they tried something against us, and they both know they need us as allies right now." Orochimaru said to them all. "They wouldn't dare try anything, not even that War Hawk. It wouldn't have surprised me if he was the most eager for it."

Naruto looked over at Kimimaro who stood there not saying anything.

"You will wed Sakura, Kimimaro." Orochimaru said to him. "Do you have any protest over it?"

"Is that what you command?" Kimimaro stated and Orochimaru looked over at him.

"To help benefit The Sound Village, yes it is a command."

"Then I shall marry her." Kimimaro replied emotionlessly and Naruto looked on at him as he didn't argue it any at all as he accepted it without a thought.

"Otousan," Naruto said speaking up. "We'll have an alliance through marriage and blood if the two are married but won't that make it prime for an assassination attempt by enemies who hate both Leaf and Sound during it?"

"Correct, it'll be something small and in private with no one able to get in or try anything. But we're not doing it right away. I've talked to them about it and we have agreed that in one months' time the two shall be wedded." Orochimaru said as he stood up.

"I guess I shall offer my congrats to you Kimimaro," Kabuto said with a teasing smirk to the warrior. "You have longed for a chance to restore your clan, now is your opportunity at last to restore The Kaguyas." He said to him. "Bed her and put your seed in her and in a years time you shall-"

"She is not a pig Kabuto." Kimimaro said his voice filled with disdain surprising him as he raised it up for one of the few rare times. "I'm not like my father who thought of my mother as that with the way he had me conceived. I won't take her against her will like he did my mother." He said a bitter tone which surprised Kabuto and Naruto.

"Kimimaro…" Naruto said, what was he hiding from them?

"Enough," Orochimaru said outloud. "I doubt Konoha expects you to do such a way and no doubt the girl won't put up with it. We have much to plan not only for your wedding but for other matters as well." The Otokage said to them.

Elsewhere…

Konan looked on as The Akatsuki member watched as Raidou Asakura was shown performing many attacks and Jutsus as he was at a training area in Ame. He had already shown that he could use many of Naruto Uzumaki's attacks, including The Oto Kage Bushin and The Kurai Rasengan.

Raidou was shown fighting and striking against a training dummy bashing his hands and legs into it. Occasionally his eyes would turn red for a brief moment as he drawled upon the portion of Kyuubi that had been put in him making his attacks stronger and more dangerous. Pein had forced the Clone to continually train and fight in order to grow stronger, making him spend most of his days since the week he had been completed. Pein wasn't taking any chances, he knew Naruto was a powerful individual having bested several, he was seeing to it that Raidou would have control of The Demon Chakra within him so that when he faced Naruto he would be more than a match for him as well as knowing every move and technique he knew. And how to adapt them and make them more dangerous in ways that Naruto would've never figured out. Although the process was deemed incomplete by Pein due to not possessing Naruto's thoughts and memories, it still had every move and knowledge of Jutsu she noted as he performed a Taijutsu combo with clones that Naruto used as well.

Konan looked on as Raidou channeled his power as a Fox shape Aura surrounded him as he harnessed The Kyuubi's power. Even a small dose of it was enough to overpower many. If Raidou could master it he'd be a dangerous force.

"Enough," Konan called out surprising Raidou and the Aura disappeared around him and his eyes turned back to blue as he turned to face Konan. His eyes in that natural state always seemed to have an air of innocence in them. "You've done enough for now, come here." She told Raidou who walked over to Konan who he was most attached too and Konan strangely found herself fond of the boy.

Anoki had told Pein that due to seeing her first he saw her as his Maternal Mother Figure.

Konan examined the boy looking on at him who stared back at her.

"Pein-sama is always referring to me as an It or a Clone," He said to her. "What does he mean by that?" He asked her.

Konan looked over at him. "You're not a real being Raidou," She said to him. "There is another, Naruto Uzumaki The Son of The Otokage Orochimaru who you are based off of, your looks and appearance are right down aside from him having scars on his face that you lack. You possess the same weight height and appearance such as he down to your eyes and hair." She told The Clone. "You are not a real person in Pein's eyes, only a Bushin in Human form."

"What does that mean?" Raidou asked Konan.

"You're not a true person, you may have flesh and blood but you're just a copy. A mirror of The Kyuubi Vessel, as long as he lives you're existence is only partial."

"Does that mean I'm not real? That I'm just a fake?" He asked her and Konan didn't respond to Raidou. He looked at her wanting her to answer him. She was his mother, she wouldn't lie to him.

"You can find your true purpose Raidou, by defeating Naruto." She said after a long moment. "By defeating him you can obtain your own feelings and reality, so long as he lives you will never be a real being, you'll forever be stuck in his shadow." Konan told him. "You have to defeat him in order to do so."

It was a lie, she knew but a motivational one she told Raidou. If the clone was successful in defeating Naruto, Pein would likely kill Raidou and extract the portion of The Kyuubi's power from him to fully seal away The Fox inside The Gedo Mazo that which housed the trapped Bijuu. She knew Pein thought of Raidou not as a real being but as a tool, referring to Raidou as it and not as a real being. All that mattered to Pein was if Raidou defeated Naruto. Although Raidou was just a clone or copy, he felt happiness and sadness, pain and hunger, comfort and joy like a normal human being would. As if he believed that he wasn't a creation.

"I have to defeat him?" Raidou asked looking on at her.

"Indeed, that is the only way you can. So long as he exists you can never be your own true person. You must defeat him that way you can be your own self instead of another persons's copy." She told him staring him in the eye.

If only he knew…

At Konoha…

Sakura Haruno stood on a bridge leaning out looking on at the water watching it softly flow.

"Me?" She said quietly to herself. "They want me?" She repeated softly as she had heard about what had happened. Jiraiya and Tsunade had called her in and they had told her about what had happened. "Marrying someone from Otogakure?" She said softly to herself as they had explained to her that they wanted her to marry Kimimaro Kaguya for an alliance between their two villages in order to boosten their relationships between them.

It had come as a shock to Sakura what she had been told, she barely knew Kimimaro at all. And she was to marry him? They had told her they would wait some time and if she disliked it she could not agree to it and they figure something else out. They told her why they wanted her to marry him and that they believed in her that they wouldn't have chosen her if they didn't have confidence in her. Tsunade had told her to say the word and she'd have it annulled and cancelled at once.

Sakura thought of Kimimaro, she'd admit he was rather good looking the times she had seen him, but he was also cold as well as he rarely raised his emotions. He was also deadly in battle as he was well versed in Taijutsu and Kenjutsu with his bone weapons he had that came from his body. She had heard about his Clans' brutality and how they had been wiped out with Kimimaro alone and wondering the land by himself until he was discovered by Orochimaru.

And he had saved her, she never forgot that, he had saved her at This from the three who had attempted to rape her as she was pinned down from debris, she had done well fighting them off but they would've been too much for her. Kimimaro had slaughtered the three effortlessly and carrying Sakura brought her back to Kakashi.

Sakura walked from the bridge thinking it over. The news coming like a blow from a hammer to her as it wasn't exactly the wedding as a little girl she had envisioned.

She stopped when she saw someone standing there having appeared beside her.

"I've heard you are to be wedded," Sasuke said to her. "Rumors fly fast in Konoha, especially with Ino being the blabbermouth she is." He said with a good natured smirk but Sakura saw past it.

Sakura had hoped and prayed the past three years that Sasuke would change, that he would become a better person. But as the months went by Sakura had lost hope of him changing as he became more and more focused on power and only power. To slay Itachi and avenge his family. That was what mattered to him now, the girl who graduated first in her class would be appalled if she saw him now with the way he had acted at times. Sometimes the boy she had a crush on would be there but most of the time this cold figure would be there instead.

"Yes, I am. There is the talk of me wedding Kimimaro of Oto, to help foster the relationship between our villages." She told Sasuke who stared at her amusement in his eyes

"Hardly the one you expected to wed isn't it? You know by being his wife he has the right to mate you whether you want him to or not." He told her and Sakura took a deep breath. "The Kaguyas were reviled for their barbarism and acts in war, dying as often as they bred, they committed suicide on themselves when they tried to attack Mist, wiped out to the last man. Well except for Kimimaro." He told her.

"Sasuke stop," She told him almost pleadingly.

"You don't want this, you don't want to be his bed warmer. This isn't the fairytale dream you had isn't it?" He said as if mocking her. "No, you had something else in mind, someone else you wanted to marry. If I recall I saw you at the academy doodling a picture of the two of us in wedding outfits." He said with a teasing smirk and Sakura blushed in embarrassment as that was a long time ago back when she was a silly little girl.

"Perhaps there's still a chance I'll give you my seed," Sasuke said sneering at her. "So you're first time will be with me instead of a barbarian like it appears you'll be." He told Sakura smirking. "Isn't that what you wanted, to be my bride? Instead of some savage's plaything?"

"Sasuke," Sakura said slowly but her voice changed and her features hardened and her eyes became sharp as ice as she stared at him. "I am the student of Tsunade The Slug Sannin, The Godaime of Konohagakure, and most powerful medic to have every lived." She told him and Sasuke's face changed to surprise at how she was standing up to him as no longer was there the scared naïve twelve year old girl. Instead was a young woman who had seen battle and had grown and blossomed. "I studied and mastered several of her techniques; including her super strength, and her poisons that can kill a man but make it last several agonizing days up to a week. I fought against and slain Sasori The Scorpion of The Red Sands. And I am to be Kimimaro Kaguya's wife. He'd be a better husband I'm sure than you'd ever be." She said to him not backing down whatsoever as her emerald eyes stared into his as she gained more strength with each word. "If you so much as ever talk to me that way again, I will snap your hands off your arms as if they are twigs." She promised him.

Sasuke bristled in fury not expecting her of all to talk this way.

"What?" She interrupted him and smirked almost smugly. "Going to go on your Uchiha speech and how your clan is so superior again? I've memorized all your speeches so there's nothing I haven't heard already." Sakura said to him as if daring him to rant. Sasuke glared at her and she smugly smiled at him as if daring him to prove her right.

"Enjoy your husband." He said and turned and walked away as Sakura watched him go no longer affected by him.

Later on…

The group of ninjas looked over the letter, trying to make heads or tails of it. "This is getting us nowhere fast." Zaku Abumi grumbled staring at the paper. "Are you sure this isn't just gibberish? Let's just burn it." He said as patience was never his strongest quality.

"Be quiet," Dosu chastised him as they had spent hours trying to decipher the encrypted letter. "If Shikamaru was with us we'd have it done by now." He said bitterly looking on at it. The Letter just seemed to be multiple words put in front of one another with no meaning or context.

"Maybe they have written it backwards?" TenTen suggested looking on at it.

"I doubt it," Neji said as not even his Byakugan could help with it. It was frustrating and they were unable to figure it out what it meant.

"Pit," Kagero's voice spoke up and they turned to look at The Fuma Clan member. "The Pit." She said softly looking at the letter examining it.

"What are you talking about?" Kin asked not understanding. The girl took the letter and pressed her fingers against the first two words in it.

"The Pit." She explained as she covered the rest of the words revealing the six letters.

"Wait a minute," TenTen said and examining a word saw one hidden in it covered it with her fingers. "Land, of, Bears." She said as she repeated them outloud.

"Hold on," Neji said as he looked on and his eyes widened. "We've been going about this the wrong way! Make the words shorter!" He exclaimed as they now saw how to crack it.

"Of course, why didn't I think of that sooner? They are saying what the message is but by hiding it within bigger words to make it more complex and indescribable." Dosu said shaking his head as it now made sense. "We need to find the proper letters in the words in order to figure it out. Get a pen and paper, so we can write it down."

"Alright, that should do it." Neji an half hour later said as they had finished deciphering the letter and now it appeared they could see what it was saying.

"The Pit, that shall be our next meeting place." Dosu said reading it outloud. "Our supplier is growing anxious, he wishes to spread and obtain more animal tails, such as the Tails' of a fox or a turtle."

"What? Why would he want a tail from a turtle?" Zaku asked in confusion not understanding.

"The Pit's biggest event is being held soon, an ideal location for us to meet. Rumor has it over one billion Ryo combined is being bet by those who are invested in it."

"The Pit, that's an underground fighting arena," Neji said with disgust as he had heard the rumors about the place. A place were combatants were forced to fight for their lives, many were captured and brought in and spent all of their lives fighting knowing nothing else until they died. "That is the place where its being done?" He said to them looking on.

Dosu continued reading it. "He looks to go hunting and collecting the tails of these beasts soon enough, for now he wants to wait before he goes hunting again. He already has caught himself a Tanuki the only one in all of Wind. Meet me at The Pit located in The Land of Bears, I have much to discuss with you. Something that will make our Supplier quite happy and easier to catch a Fox, Oxen, Turtles, and other beasts he may fancy." Dosu said as he finished reading the letter and put it aside.

"What does it all mean? Hunting, Tails?" Kin asked looking on at him.

"Whatever it is its ominous." Kagero said. "There's a hidden message and The Pit holds the key to whatever they are up to. We have to get this to The Otokage as it could bode ill for us all." She said speaking clearly.

"And Lady Tsunade as well." TenTen said also with a frown looking on at it.

"Indeed, whatever is happening it appears The Pit is where we need to go." Dosu said as he put it away. "And pray we are wrong about the possibility of the danger that's there."

A/N: That's it for this chapter review please. Next chapter Naruto and others find themselves having to take part in The Pit to figure out what is going on.