The Link

Chapter VII: Snow

Jiraiya was depressed. He lounged around on the floor, sulking, all the while eyeing Naruto and Orochimaru askance. He felt hollow and empty – no, he felt betrayed bythe two Now how was he supposed to have fun? To survive through the long winter months without excitement? What about the one hundredth golden edition of his Icha Icha books? True, he had very nice plans for his golden book – Orochimaru would have made the perfect cover girl on it (Jiraiya also thought of having a contest; whoever would guess rightly on the cover girl's identity would win an autographed copy for free and an endless supply of magazines.)!

"So that is what really happened?" Gai finally said in a disbelieving voice as Neji pushed a steaming cup of tea toward him. Gai then turned to look at Naruto with more respect. "Imagine being able to capture the Serpent himself! And all alone at that, my, you are very good indeed, Naruto!"

Naruto grinned audaciously while Orochimaru bit the inside of his cheek to prevent himself from lashing out with his tongue and killing Gai on the spot. Much as Orochimaru wanted to fold his arms, he couldn't, because it started throbbing like mad yet again. He didn't want to whine before Naruto (he would rather die than admit he needed care) – else the blonde fox would just fuss over him again. Instead he decided to pick on Jiraiya, who was glaring at him from the floor.

"And what are you sulking about now?" said Orochimaru. A sly expression twisted his pale face as he clutched his chest. "You miss my boobs!" he threw back his head and laughed harshly.

Kakashi would have loved to answer but swallowed his response anyway. True, the first time he'd seen Orochimaru under the Sexy no Jutsu he'd been mesmerized – he never thought their greatest enemy could have been so beautiful as a woman. But now...Kakashi shuddered. It was creepy!

"So how are things going?" Naruto asked as he took a chocolate bar Neji gave him.

Kakashi lowered his teacup. "Sasuke and Shikamaru still hell-bent on finding you and knowing what really happened to you. We would have been here six days ago, but Sasuke followed us. We were hard put to erase our tracks; it's not wise to leave it to the weather alone – you know how good a tracker Sasuke is."

Orochimaru's face became blank, and Naruto coughed surreptitiously into his fist. There was an awkward silence; Gai rightly surmised that it was not a good idea to talk about Sasuke in this household. Neji cleared his throat and rightly changed the topic back into the food they've acquired. Naruto asked how long Kakashi and Gai would be staying, and Kakashi replied they'd stay for three days before going back to Konoha and seeing if they could manage to wangle a refrigerator too. That said, Neji pulled Naruto to the newly-acquired TV and PlayStation. Orochimaru remained quiet in his corner with Jiraiya still eyeing him beadily.

"I lost them when I reached the third village." Sasuke replied in dismay, as if taking everything as a personal insult to his skills. "Jiraiya must have known I was following – there's no way Kakashi-sensei could cover tracks so perfectly like that." The Uchiha glowered at his slippers and folded his arms across his chest.

Shikamaru sighed in mild disappointment. "True, true. You wouldn't have stood a chance – Jiraiya is one of the legendary Three. They were taking food, you say?"

Sasuke nodded, black locks dancing before his eyes. "Two big boxes and a fifteen inch television. Neji was with them, darn that brat!" The Uchiha suddenly had an image of blasting Chidori toward the offending Hyuuga's head.

Shikamaru frowned. "At least we have a clear answer now. Naruto is hidden in Konoha somewhere. Tch, if only I didn't have a team to teach, I would've searched for him myself."

"I know." Sasuke glowered some more. "If Naruto is sick or whatever...they'll have me to answer to!"

The Jounins looked up just as Kiba joined them at their table with a very concerned look on his face. "What's up?" Sasuke inquired.

"I've heard a very disturbing rumor." Kiba replied after a thick silence.

"What is it?" Sasuke asked at once. Shikamaru pulled his stool close.

"The Sound country is in a state of turmoil, I heard an Anbu say. The Otokage is missing, they said. Gaara has arrived, and he confirmed it, all right." Kiba said. "Now where could Orochimaru be? In hiding? Impossible."

Sasuke stood up. "Gaara is here already?"

Kiba nodded. "He arrived an hour ago with Temari and Kankurou. They're with Tsunade right now."

Shikamaru noticed the triumphant smile on the Uchiha's face. "And what is that grin for?"

"It was I who sent a message to Gaara asking for help on finding Naruto." Sasuke replied. His obsidian eyes glinted with determination. "And now we're going to succeed. We'll find Naruto and get our answers once and for all!"

Tsunade tried to be as cordial as she could when she invited Gaara into her study. Her smile felt fake, like it was someone else's lips plastered onto her own. Thankfully Temari and Kankurou chose to remain outside. Gaara sat silently on a chair before her, leaning heavily onto the gourd strapped to his back.

"So..." Tsunade began awkwardly. She could never understand how this boy became Kazekage. He rarely spoke, for heaven's sakes!

Gaara, however, was straight to the point. Too straight to the point for any comfort.

"Where is Naruto?" he asked bluntly. "I want truth, not lies."

Tsunade felt her throat go very dry. "He's in a special training."

Gaara's usually empty green eyes flashed. "I said I want no lies."

Tsunade stood up. Fine, so she had to be hard. "Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies, Gaara."

The redhead blinked his eyes very slowly, and a knowing smile made itself known onto his lips. "I am not as stupid as you make me, Godaime. The Sound's Otokage is missing and Naruto is missing. Coincidence? I think not. They were last seen together in a battle. There were no bodies found, except for a substitution doll. Either they are alive and you're hiding them – or the earth swallowed them whole."

Tsunade couldn't answer. Gaara rose as well and started to pace around the study.

"I think that means a yes – Naruto and Orochimaru are alive and you're hiding them."

No answer.

"Why?" Gaara asked, stopping his pacing and looking directly into Tsunade's eyes.

"You wouldn't want to know, trust me." Tsunade smiled.

Gaara blinked again. "Why don't you give me a try?"

Five minutes later, Kankurou and Temari were surprised when Gaara burst out of the study, eyes blazing. The redhead was shaking his fist in the air and was cursing Naruto with the most colorful oaths in the world. Kankurou and Temari never thought their brother knew such a wild selection of words.

There was a...familiar...scent drifting in the air. Orochimaru gingerly opened one golden eye and gently pulled down the thick blanket from his face. Yes, there it was, that familiarly delicious smell in the air. Slowly, his ears focused, and he heard the sizzling of something being fried in cooking oil and...laughter. Naruto's voice drowned out the rest, but Neji and Jiraiya were definitely joining in the laughter. The Serpent got up, and yawned. Now he recognized the smell in the air. Bacon.

Rising up and tying his belt securely around his waist, Orochimaru looked around the room. The three's bedrolls were already neatly packed and stacked against the walls. It had been troublesome when Kakashi and Gai were still staying with them – they really had to squash themselves into this crampy excuse for a bedroom. Kakashi finally decided to sleep outside.

Orochimaru made his way toward the kitchen. As expected the three were already up, laughing heartily at some joke he was yet to hear. Neji was the one frying the bacon while Naruto was sitting on the table, munching on some peanut butter sandwhich. Jiraiya was sipping some hot chocolate from a mug. They all turned their heads when he entered the kitchen and pulled up a chair for himself.

"Bacon and eggs today, I hope you won't mind?" Neji asked as he carefully tipped the bacon onto a plate before proceeding to fry some eggs.

"No," Orochimaru replied. And then he gave another tremendous yawn that made his jaws creak ominously.

Naruto crammed his sandwhich into his mouth. "We really should do something about the laundry, guys."

"I thought it was agreed that you were going to be the laundry boy?" Neji asked pointedly, waving the ladle he was holding. "I'm perfectly fine being the cook. Jiraiya-sama said he was okay with house maintenance. Laundry job goes to you Naruto, no way to worm out of that one. We all get a decent share of housework here."

Naruto narrowed his eyes and jerked his head toward Orochimaru. "He doesn't!"

"Do you honestly think I can wash your underwear with these hands?" Orochimaru replied sleepily as he raised his bandaged arms. "If you don't mind having bloodstains over them, I'm ok with that."

The fox jutted out his jaw. "No, thanks." He turned to Neji. "That near edible now? I'm starving!"

"Patience is a good virtue." Neji said sagely.

Naruto groaned and went to peek out of the window. Jiraiya moved his empty mug to the sink. "It's a good day, the snow has stopped falling and left us with considerable thickness." The frog hermit suggested. "Good, hard-packed snow...very suitable for a snow fortress..."

Naruto and Neji smiled in agreement. Orochimaru, however, was lost and confused.

"Yeah, I'd probably like a good snowball fight today." Naruto grinned as Neji began serving breakfast.

"And I haven't made snow angels since I was ten." Neji added.

"We could summon the Gama frog kids for some fun." Jiraiya smiled.

"Yeah, that'd be great..."

"We could have a build-a-snowman-guess-who-it-is game!"

"Wow, finally you have a nice idea!"

"I have a brain that works, Naruto."

"Or we could go somewhere nice and deserted and have our summons do the fighting..." Jiraiya suggested.

Orochimaru let the three's words wash over him as he silently struggled with his knife and fork to eat the bacon and eggs. Snow...what was the happiest memory he had in the snow? He couldn't remember anything. What came to his mind was battles long past and his flight from Konoha. He really didn't have anything special in regards to snow. Even when he'd been a Genin he just wasted his time reading his study scrolls while Jiraiya and Tsunade frolicked outside with Sarutobi...

Breakfast came and went with much debate on what to do that day. Orochimaru only ate silently, not really knowing what to say. And then Naruto started to brag about his snowball-throwing skills, and was soon criticized by Neji. Jiraiya started sharing memories from their Genin days. It was strange, but a very small part of Orochimaru desperately wanted to say he experienced something too. The Serpent thought that small part of him had long died, and it came as a shock to him now.

He blinked when he realized he was alone at the table and that the others had gone to dress up. Orochimaru followed suit, wondering if there was a nice thick jacket somewhere...

"Ahh, lovely day! Lovely, lovely day!" Naruto shouted as he ran around the snow, flapping his arms around him.

Neji bent to scoop up some snow and pack it into a hard ball. Naruto was busy shouting and flapping, and didn't duck the snowball that came straight to his face. Neji gave a shout of laughter but was soon sent choking and sputtering as Naruto managed to shoot a snowball into his mouth.

Orochimaru clutched his nose, glaring. Did these boys forget about the link? He tried to say something but Neji and Naruto were already busy chasing each other with snow balls. He would have to bear with the pain, then. He found a nice, severed tree trunk and sat down there, watching. Jiraiya had joined the boys and looked extremely ridiculous. Orochimaru shook his head as he saw Jiraiya trip over and land on his face. You're getting too old to kick up your heels with these boys, Jiraiya.

Suddenly, pain blossomed in Orochimaru's chest, and he gave a splutter. The link tightened, hardening his breathing, and finally forcing him to stand up. Naruto was not going to be stopped by the link alone, it seemed. He would have to join in the playing. Huffing, Orochimaru waded his way through the snow to reach the others, feeling extremely bulky and uncomfortable in his jacket.

"Kunai in the hole!" Naruto shouted.

Orochimaru turned, suddenly wary, but the snowball slammed into his face and knocked him flat onto his back on the snow. He lay still, experiencing a myriad of emotions that overwhelmed him. The snow was delightfully cold against his skin, and for the first time in his life, he was not fleeing somebody. A small warmth tickled him from the inside, gradually growing into a blaze. He was not a missing Nin today. He was not the evil Orochimaru who still did not give up on the Sharingan. He was not Orochimaru, Otokage of Sound, going mad over politics. He was just plain old Orochimaru, out here to have fun on the snow.

"Good one, Naruto!" Jiraiya cheered.

"I got him good! Buhahahaha!"

"Straight in the face, wow..."

Maybe this time...I'll have something nice to keep as a memory...something nice I can share with someone later on...

The Serpent shot up, mischievous smile on his face. I can't use my hands to create snowballs, but I can always use my tongue. Using his purplish tongue, he scooped up some snow (and had some few seconds' time to wonder at the coldness of it) and hurled it toward the nearest boy he could reach – Naruto. The pain slammed against his face but he didn't care. He was perfectly fine with a nosebleed, for the first time.

"AAAHHH! Drool hardened snowballs! Run for your lives!" Neji shrieked as he turned tail and ran.

"Bring it on, you poor excuses for Shinobi!" Orochimaru shouted as he scooped up some snow again and sent it squashing against the back of Jiraiya's head. "HAH!"

But all in all it was a fun day. The sun didn't show itself, and the sky remained steely gray no matter what, but what mattered was it was fun. Tiring of the snowballs, they proceeded to make snow angels under Neji's lead. Orochimaru joined in the rolling and flapping and laughing, not noticing how his cheeks started to color with all the effort. Jiraiya was unbeatable when it came to snow angels, and then Naruto shouted they get on with the build-a-snowman-guess-who-it-was game.

Naruto got the honors of building the first snowman, but made it a point to add two more balls at its chest. Orochimaru shouted it was Tsunade. They all burst out laughing and then Neji got his turn (Kakashi, who looked ridiculously nothing like the living counterpart), then Jiraiya (some random girl they didn't know). Orochimaru was hard-put, being unable to use his arms properly, but in the end he made it. He even fetched a pot to put on its head as a helmet. For minutes Neji, Naruto and Jiraiya stared at it.

"Who is it?" Jiraiya asked, frowning.

"It looks like Iruka if you look at it this way," said Neji as he tilted his head to the left. And then he bent over so he stared at the snowman from between his legs. "But it looks like Asuma-sensei if you do this."

Naruto had his eyes narrowed, as usual. "No, no, it's got to be Kabuto!"

For a moment the three debated. Orochimaru stared at the smiling buttons for lips and the carrot for a nose, and the pot for a helmet. "You guys...can't you recognize the Third Hokage?"

There was a pause. Orochimaru stepped back.

"It's Sarutobi-sensei, Jiraiya." He said.

Nobody knew what to say. Jiraiya coughed and smiled. "Orochimaru, you fool, that doesn't look like anything Sarutobi-sensei! It looks more like Naruto!"

"Oi, I don't have a pot for a helmet!"

And then the fun started all over again. Later that afternoon Jiraiya and Naruto summoned the Gama frog kids, and the snowball fight resumed. But in the end, nobody could beat Naruto. It turned out the fox really had skill to reckon with. At around five the snow started falling from the sky, and the four trudged back to the house, weary but happy.

Neji made them some hot chocolate, always a good idea after a day's hard play in the snow.

"My snow angel was bigger than yours, Neji!" Naruto complained.

"No it wasn't!"

"But really, that Tsunade snowman was very funny." Jiraiya guffawed. "Mayhap I think them balls could have looked good bigger, you know."

"Perverted hermit there you go again!"

"Ha ha ha!"

"We should have asked for a video camera, it'd be fun if we recorded everything..."

"Oh yeah..."

"Gamakitchi had me good by the groin back there."

"Yeah, and you screamed like a girl too."

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"DID NOT!"

"DID TOO!"

Jiraiya laughed and Orochimaru smiled. The chocolate was good, the day was the best, and for the first time, Orochimaru felt at home.