So yeah hey guys been a while. Busy with real life. This was half typed and lying around so I just finished it off for an update. Not much happening here but really it's more of a transition chapter for things to come. I really wish I had more reviews for this story but I suppose I can't say much as my updates are so far in between but still would be nice. Well Laters! And hope you enjoyed! Feedback like where you think the story is going or where you would have wanted this story to go would be appreciated.

Ch21

He trudged towards Konoha slowly. The rain did not abate, cold warmth cascaded down his back and arms as pain and exhaustion tugged at the edges of his senses. He struggled as he molded more chakara trying to stay conscious, placing one foot in front of the other. He needed to deliver a mission report before his body gave in. A few more steps and he was finally at the entrance of his destination. Bloodcurdling yells emitted from the cave as he entered the weight of Asuma sagging on his back causing him to stagger. The gates of Konoha were close but though the cave was farther off he could report sensitive information whilst receiving medical treatment all at once and he wasn't sure he could even stay conscious for much longer.

"Sen'sei" He all but bit out before falling to a knee as he dragged himself several steps over the threshold into a semi wide expanse of the cave which served as a hallway of sorts. But even over the yells he knew that Orochimaru had heard him. He wasn't the snake sannin for nothing after all. The yells stopped abruptly turning muffled as a figure appeared before his blurring vision.

"Tobirama, report."

He struggled against the darkness laying and easing Asuma's body off as carefully as he could biting back a cough. "Alert…. Anbu…Hokage…they knew we were coming. Too Many. Trap…"

"Shallow breathes, your left rib punctured a lung."

He could feel hands hovering close to his own and he nodded briefly shortening his breaths as a thin half of a senbon was pulled cleanly out of his lung and chakara was poured into a large gash on his right arm as he gripped his side trying to steady his gasps. "Asuma first. Concussion. Fractures." He bit back another cough as his mind swam. "Bloodloss." He would have continued fighting for consciousness but Orochimaru gave a slight nod his eyes flickering to the armor telling him that he knew what had happened. He allowed his body to give in and crumple to the ground mind finally caving in to the darkness and nightmares of Sharingan.

Orochimaru frowned briefly as he observed his student and his Sensei's son as he poured more chakara willing the cells to regrow at a faster rate. The two teams that had been deployed were not strong per say but they held two powerful Jonin in their own right. For them to be so weakened, and Tobirama whose chakara reserves had been growing and developing exponentially no less. He bit back a sigh of resentment as he ran a diagnostic on the bearded Jonin. Eyes narrowed. The scratch marks were too large for Kunai indicating Rock, he could sense traces of genjutsu and a struggle for control of the water that had drenched both Jonin Tobirama in particular. So it had to be the Rain…. He was right of course as always. Tobirama's assessment of his Sensei's son had been an understatement. The ribs were cleanly snapped the concussion as well was quite large and the bone of the arm had two exit wounds nearly coming out muscle flesh and all. All that and wounds littering the body all over. Wind wasn't bad against stone and rain….

His hands hovered over his student. Multiple gashes riddled the body two ribs were fractures his chainmail taking the brunt of the damage but to top it all off his student was out cold due to chakara exhaustion. Water was weak against Rock. His lips twitched in displeasure as he heaved the body of his Sensei's son half lifting half dragging him to a table he had cleared out for his next experiment. Tobirama was lighter he half carried half dragged his former student to a different table ignoring the stirring of his prisoner locked in a cell behind bars of iron. A Rock nin that had tried to infiltrate Konoha and failed. His cloaking skills were quite something, he could have pulled off his assassination were this the daimyo however as skilled and powerful as he was he was still no match for the Hokage or the snake sannin for that matter. The assassination was too bold, too crude. He bit back a sigh of irritation as his hands hovered around Asuma. His Sensei's son was still at it with his smoking his lungs were coated in a thin layer of black dust like film. He began with the concussion and worked his way to the arm as he snapped back the two ends of the bone fusing them together before beginning on the veins and artery connections that had been torn.

His ears caught a light landing at the entrance just outside the cave lighter than a Jonin's which indicated Anbu. "Come in." He snapped, the lingering gate was beginning to grate on his patience. His lips pressed together in disdain when he caught the lingering scent of pipe in the air. He turned to face Sarutobi briefly their eyes meeting and his narrowing as he moved on to close the gash in Asuma's thigh.

"How are they?" The Hokage asked as he made his way over to the two unconscious nin.

"Fine." The snake sannin snapped as he turned in frustration to Tobirama's prone form he had healed Asuma well enough for him to be stable for now.

"Our Konoha medics are quite capable you know. They would be more than happy to heal both my son and Tobirama"

"I am aware." Orochimaru hissed as he used his chakara to begin drawing out the blood that had gathered in Tobirama's lungs.

"I assume you received the report then." Sarutobi said as he made his way to the lab table upon which Asuma lay and placed a hand on his son's forehead beading with sweat sighing as he pulled out his pipe placing it into his mouth as was his habit.

"I will write it up and send it shortly." Orochimaru replied not turning and trieng to ignore his Sensei quite annoyed at the sudden visit. "Why are you really here Sensei?"

The Hokage chuckled lightly at his student's forwardness as he righted and settled onto a chair that had been overturned his mood and face and tone suddenly losing its kindness and mirth. "I was thinking about the future of the village, and the will of fire. You were right to suspect Danzo. My Anbu agents have discovered that several of the Anbu have been drawn into an organization that was to be disbanded years ago."

"At last your eyes have opened to the truth Sensei." Orochimaru's replied derisively as he moved to close up a fourth gash on Tobirama's arm, this one slightly deeper than the rest nearly reaching the bone. "The man whom you thought of as your ally is making a coup right under your nose. Were I you I would have eliminated the threat by now."

Sarutobi shook his head mildly as he took the pipe out of his mouth holding it in one hand as he did so. "I would not go so far as to accuse Danzo of treason Orochimaru. Danzo is an invaluable piece to the village, he may be seen as doing things his way but it is all for the sake of the Konoha.

"Then what you have discovered is pointless Sensei." Orochimaru spat. "You admit that he has went against you the Hokage and yet you still refuse to see the truth. He has been systematically amassing more power; if you refuse to see it then you are a fool. If you die by his hand know that you have only your incompetence to blame."

The third smiled kindly. "I am touched by your concern Orochimaru," only to have Orochimaru snort in response. "However, that is why I am here. It is evident that war is looming upon us. And for war one needs Generals. I am offering your name up tomorrow in the council session. I doubt there will be any objections."

"Any others I should know about?"

"Shikaku Nara and Ibiki the others are still being decided upon by Koharu and Homura."

"Well then we are done Sensei, though you could have spared yourself the trouble. I was already made aware of all this by the Anbu."

The third heaved a sigh. "Orochimaru, is it so hard to believe that I came to see my student simply to ascertain he is in good health?"

Orochimaru rolled his eyes at his Sensei's sentimentality. "Well next time spare yourself the trouble."

An amused look crossed Sarutobi's face as he made his way out of the cave. "I am sure you would do much the same for your students." He said as Orochimaru turned sharply from the table he had turned too with a look of utter annoyance gracing his features before he returned to his viles and healing draughts. It seemed another Shinobi war was coming. Perhaps there was still time to make peace or even the odds. Ambassadors could be sent to Suna or perhaps the smaller villages could be reined in to fight his mind whirled with possibilities as he resumed healing Asuma and Tobirama. He wondered vaguely how long his Sensei could have lasted without him but then decided such a train of thoughts were not worth dwelling on. He had a wayward students to heal and a prisoner that needed to be questioned after all. Yes today had been a lousy day and he was glad he would be able to let loose and perhaps even extract some invaluable information for the council session tomorrow. For better or for worse he mused he didn't mind that he had returned to Konoha after all.