In which Yagura makes puns and dirty jokes.

O-O-O-O-O

Five months of near-total isolation were starting to get to Roshi.

In his search for Orochimaru, he had spent his days trying to catch the Sannin's attention. From the time he woke up in the morning to when he went to bed, he used lava release as much as possible. While it had been fun at first to play with lava, after a while, it became boring to watch rocks melt.

Were it not for the Room and Son Goku, Roshi would have already run away to a beach resort in the Land of Tea.

Every night in the Room, he talked to the other jinchuuriki, making sure to report his exact location to the others. After all, while he had the power of Son Goku, Orochimaru was a strong opponent and a vicious threat. It never hurt to have backup.

Frustrated, Roshi kicked a rock, making a sizable crack in it. It's been five months and the most interesting thing that's happened so far is seeing a mother bear and her cubs.

'At least you're not chained up in a disgusting human.'

Roshi frowned but said nothing in response. He moved through the hand signs as quickly as possible before spitting out a small ball of lava. It hit the rock, melting it completely. He stood close to the warmth, pleasant in the early winter chill.

'I know, Son. Do you think there is a way to change the seal?'

'You could always just set me free.'

Despite the words, Roshi could tell it wasn't a serious suggestion. Not anymore. The bijuu still hated his confinement and whined about it constantly. However, considering Roshi's life would be the price for Son Goku's freedom, there was nothing either of them could do about it.

'Give me at least twenty more years.' Roshi retorted. 'I'd like to see the children grow up at least.'

The monkey king snorted. 'You are the most maternal person I have ever met, Roshi. Are you going to start pestering them to give you grandkids next?'

Roshi chuckled, his laughter echoing in the sparsely-wooded mountains. 'Perhaps I will. Their children would probably be cute.'

He stretched his arms over his head and sighed in contentment. When his back let out a satisfying crack, he bent forward, placing the palms of his hands flat on the thin layer of snow. Relaxed, he stood up and glanced over the horizon, thinking about what he should do next. There were only so many rocks he could melt before he started to get bored again.

"You sure look like you're having fun."

Roshi spun around, his arms already in front of his face in a defensive taijutsu stance. While he was not a sensor, it had been years if not decades since anyone had managed to sneak up on him. With the thin layer of crunchy snow covering the land, catching him off guard should have been nearly impossible.

He grimaced and sank deeper into his stance when he saw who had managed to catch him off guard.

"Orochimaru," Roshi said through gritted teeth.

The enemy's smirk widened. "So you have heard of me? I see my reputation precedes me."

Roshi grunted in confirmation. The Legendary Sannin in front of him looked as young as he had in the picture taken over a decade ago. Aside from the arrogant leer, his face was unreal, as perfectly proportioned as a doll's face and just as inhuman.

However, the strange and ethereal creepiness was barely a footnote compared to what the other shinobi was wearing. Black cloak. Red clouds. A chin-high collar. What are the odds? He's in that group, too.

"What do you want with me?" Roshi shouted.

In the back of his mind, he heard Son Goku growling with suppressed rage.

Orochimaru laughed, the sound high-pitched, cold and cruel. "Sasori has been looking for you," he said in an almost teasing tone. "He might get a little jealous when I'm the one that turns you in instead."

Roshi felt a shiver roll down his back. "What do you want from me?" he repeated, angrier and louder than before.

Orochimaru tilted his head to the side, the same mocking leer pasted on his face. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

He struck.

Roshi somersaulted back, using his chakra to stick to the trunk of a nearby tree, crouching in a guarded stance. Despite avoiding the attack, he got the impression the enemy was only toying with him. He's underestimating me.

Roshi let out a deep breath and glared at Orochimaru, his pulse beating loudly in his ears. He waited for the enemy to act again, but Orochimaru seemed to be waiting for Roshi's reaction.

'Son. Change of plans.'

'What do you need, Roshi?'

'Can you contact the others for me? I don't think I can deal with him alone anymore. Not if I want to get any information out of the fucker, at least.'

Son Goku grumbled something about being treated as a messenger boy before disappearing. Roshi ignored him with the ease of long practice.

He kept his eyes focused on the other shinobi, who stood at the edge of a cliff with the same uncanny smirk on his face. Roshi dropped down to the ground in a defensive crouch.

He waited, refusing to blink as he stared at the enemy in front of him. Still, Orochimaru did not attack.

The original plan had been for Roshi to eliminate Orochimaru alone. Han and Yugito's team were nearby only for backup. However, with the knowledge that Orochimaru was part of that organization, killing him was no longer the solution.

Roshi had to capture Orochimaru alive.

What Roshi had hoped would be a simple mission with a large reward was turning into a pain in the ass. But there was nothing else to do but distract the enemy until the others arrived.

Roshi gritted his teeth and jumped forward with an angry roar.

Orochimaru was ready. He widened his stance, waiting for Roshi's blow to connect. But instead of attacking, Roshi jumped overhead, landing a short distance behind the enemy.

Without looking back and taking advantage of Orochimaru's temporary defensiveness, Roshi ran down the mountain into the thick forest.

Based on their conversations through the Room, he had a general idea of where Yugito's team was located. After Son Goku spread his message with the help of the other bijuu, they would undoubtedly want to meet in the middle.

He glanced back and found that Orochimaru was already close at his heels, an entertained sneer on his face. Just like Roshi, the snake Sannin was not using his full powers yet.

Roshi frowned. He needed to meet with the others as quickly as he could. I just hope he keeps underestimating me until I can.

O-O-O-O-O

'Yugito-chan.'

Matatabi's voice broke Yugito out of her reverie as she was descaling fish next to the river. A ball of worry wormed into her stomach but she forced her hands to keep moving. Based on the bijuu's concerned tone, she could tell something had happened to Roshi.

She glanced up to look at Han, leaning against a tree.

As expected, his back was straight and he stared off into space. Obviously, he was also receiving some sort of message from Kokuo.

He turned his gaze down and gave her an almost imperceptible nod. She turned to C next- Darui had been left behind with Yagura to protect Shiokaze- but the man was playing with a deck of cards and did not see their shared look.

She forced her body not to react. C knew Roshi and Han had some sort of way to communicate long-distance through fuuinjutsu. However, she couldn't reveal her own ability to talk to him. Not unless she wanted to have a very long and painful talk with Torture and Interrogation back in Kumo.

Yugito turned her focus back to the bijuu trying to speak to her. She scratched the scales off the fish, harder than strictly necessary.

'What is it, Matatabi?'

'Son Goku got in contact with me. Roshi-kun wants all of you to go there for assistance. He said something about what Orochimaru is wearing.'

'Wearing? Why is it important to know what Orochimaru is wearing?'

'I don't know,' the bijuu admitted. 'Goku-kun wasn't specific about it. But it's apparently quite important.'

Yugito suppressed the groan that was threatening to burst out of her lips. Why does Roshi want us to meet with him so badly? And why are his clothes so important?

Impatient, she gutted the fish and placed it on a flat rock next to her. To her relief, she didn't have to wait any longer for Han to stand up and call attention to himself.

"I received a message from Roshi," the man announced. "Orochimaru has found him. We must hurry."

At once, C stood up and walked to stand in front of Han. After more than five months of waiting for Orochimaru to show, he was ready to fight within seconds.

"Is Roshi coming toward us?" C asked, placing the deck of cards into his weapons pouch.

Han nodded. "Yes. We will meet him halfway."

Without waiting any longer, Han leaped up into the tree canopy and began to run. C and Yugito followed after him.

From the corner of her eye, she noticed C closing his eyes, concentrating on tracking down Roshi's chakra signature. Despite having his eyes closed, he didn't miss a single step as he leaped from branch to branch.

Yugito bit her tongue. She kept her gaze focused on Han's broad back, leading the way.

While Han seemed calm and collected, Yugito couldn't help but worry.

Roshi was a strong man. He was skilled and talented with a decent understanding of how to work with the Four-tails.

Yet, Orochimaru was a legendary ninja for a reason. He was not someone to take lightly.

She bit her tongue hard enough to taste a hint of blood. Please, stay safe, Roshi-san.

O-O-O-O-O

Roshi glared at the person leering at him, his own teeth bared in annoyance.

At some point, Orochimaru had gotten tired of the chasing game. Since then, Roshi had been unable to run away for long without the Sannin cutting him off and blocking his exit. Resigned, Roshi had readied himself for a long fight as he waited for the others to arrive.

To his relief, Orochimaru continued to underestimate him and Roshi had managed to get in a few minor hits. Yet, despite burning the sleeve of Orochimaru's cloak with lava release and punching him in the stomach, the mocking leer on the enemy's face never left.

Their game of cat and mouse was nowhere close to done and Son Goku was growing impatient. Roshi almost allowed his bijuu to take over, if only to give the Sannin something to truly laugh about.

Soon after Son Goku had passed on his message, Yagura had appeared through the Room's connection. Since then, the other man had kept a running commentary on events, facilitating communication with Han and Yugito. Unfortunately, he was also subjecting Roshi to his weird sense of humor.

'Han should be there soon. Yugito and that kid C are with him,' Yagura announced in his mind. 'Han can never come quick enough for my taste.'

'That's good to know.' Roshi grunted his assent.

He leaped away, avoiding a hissing snake that the Sannin had conjured out of his sleeve.

'Better not take too long,' Roshi added. 'I don't think I can keep distracting him for much longer. Son Goku is screaming to be let out.'

He ran toward the Sannin, arm extended out for a punch. Orochimaru dodged easily but Roshi was ready. He pivoted on his left foot, swinging around to kick the Sannin with his right.

His strike made contact with his opponent's face, a loud, satisfying crack signifying something had broken. Roshi let out a triumphant whoop as Orochimaru's body flew through the air and disappeared somewhere into the dark forest.

Roshi took the opportunity until the Sannin returned to get his breath back under control. Considering the sun had entirely fallen beyond the horizon, he guessed they had been fighting for an hour at that point. Unless he started to use some of Son Goku's chakra, he could not keep going for much longer.

'Are you all right, Roshi?' Yagura asked, sounding completely unconcerned. After all, no one was taking the fight seriously yet.

Panting, Roshi nodded. 'Yeah, just starting to get tired. I might have to ask Son for help soon, though. I can't believe the fucker is still not finished.'

'Some people need more time to finish than others.' Yagura's voice was too full of amusement for Roshi's liking. He was no doubt making a dirty joke but Roshi had no time to make sense of it.

'What are you-'

'Oh, he's back already.'

Before Roshi could reply, Orochimaru emerged from the underbrush. Roshi turned toward him, arms raised in front of him, his legs sinking into a wide defensive stance.

To his dismay, the Sannin looked completely unharmed and he wore the same creepy leer from before. The only remaining evidence of Roshi's blow was a small spot of blood on his chin.

Roshi sighed. What the fuck do I have to do until he stays down?

"You know, I might have to start taking this seriously," Orochimaru said in the same creepy tone. "It's about time for this to end, don't you think?"

Roshi said nothing, staring into Orochimaru's eyes and waiting for his reaction. If the Sannin was going to take the battle seriously, then he would have to as well and let Son Goku out. I just hope I don't kill him by accident.

Orochimaru jumped forward, spitting out a sword in a way that made Roshi's stomach turn over in disgust. Teeth gritted, Roshi stood his ground, waiting to dodge at the last second.

Orochimaru leaped through the air, a sickening grin on his face as the sword stuck out of his mouth. Before he could impale Roshi, however, a giant flash of black and red stopped him in his track.

The newcomer kicked Orochimaru in the face, sending the Sannin flying away.

Unlike earlier, Orochimaru grunted in pain as he disappeared into the darkness. Roshi heard the satisfying thud of a body crashing against something hard, shortly followed by the tell-tale sound of a tree falling.

'Finally.'

'So Han can finish people off but you can't?' Roshi could imagine Yagura shaking his head in mock annoyance.

'Shut the fuck up.' Roshi took the break from fighting to wipe the sweat off his forehead.

Finished with his attack, Han jumped to Roshi's side, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Did you die?" His voice was too relaxed for Roshi's liking.

Roshi snorted and rolled his eyes. "Nope. I'm gonna live forever, don't you know?"

"Are you all right, Roshi-san?" Yugito appeared on his other side. Unlike Han and Yagura, her voice was full of genuine concern.

Roshi turned to look at her. There was a tiny frown on her face and she was staring him up and down, looking for injuries. But he had nothing but a few scratches that were already healing thanks to Son Goku's help.

Roshi shook his head. "I'm fine, Yugito-san. Our fight has just been going on for a while. I'm only a little tired."

"Have you used-"

"No," Roshi cut her off with a shake of his head before her question was finished.

From the distance, Roshi heard what sounded like a giant tree creaking. Despite receiving a direct kick from Han, the enemy was already recovering. They needed to take their chance to make a plan before Orochimaru returned. Roshi rolled his shoulders back, hearing them crack.

"So why did you call for backup?" Yugito asked. "Is the Sannin really too strong for you to handle alone?"

"It's not an issue of strength," Roshi answered. "Did you see what he was wearing, Yugito-san?" He squinted into the darkness but he saw no movement.

Yugito shook her head. "I was following behind Han-san. And talking to C about him standing behind for support. What was so critical about it? Matatabi mentioned it, though."

"He's wearing a black cloak with red clouds embroidered on them, Yugito-san," Han answered. "It's from the organization that Ya-Kaito is trying to track."

"So we have to capture him alive, then." The tell-tale sound of Yugito's claws coming out echoed in the forest.

Roshi couldn't help but shiver. The sound was intimidating no matter the situation. I'm just glad she's never threatened me with them.

"I don't think he saw me," she said. "I'll stay back and hopefully catch him by surprise. Do you think you can hold him off?"

"Of course," Han and Roshi grunted at the same time.

With a satisfied nod and a huff, Yugito leaped up into the forest canopy, disappearing amongst the leaves. Back on the ground, Han and Roshi stood side by side, sinking into defensive stances. Patiently, they waited for Orochimaru to return.

"Do you think we can get him to talk?" Han asked.

"I've been trying for the past hour or so. I doubt it."

The sound of footsteps from the forest told them Orochimaru was returning. As one, both Han and Roshi turned toward him.

Orochimaru appeared. To Roshi's joy, the mocking sneer was gone from his face and he glared at Han and Roshi in contempt. Unlike with Roshi's previous efforts, the effect of Han's kick was visible as a sizable bruise on his cheek.

"So you have called for backup?" Despite Orochimaru's attempts for a calm tone, his voice was dripping with barely-suppressed rage. "I don't think you will like me when I start taking this seriously." The sneer returned to his lips, but it was no longer as playful as it used to be.

"You know what?" Roshi muttered. "Neither will you."

In a rush, he felt Son Goku's chakra flood into his body and he heard a roar of joy from the monkey king in the back of his mind. He felt his fangs get slightly longer and he collapsed onto the ground in all fours. His world grew tinted in red and his pulse pounded in his ears.

At his side, he heard Han following his lead.

For the first time, Roshi thought he saw a hint of worry enter Orochimaru's eyes. However, before he could make sure, it disappeared and the enemy's smirk widened.

"It's my lucky day after all," the Sannin muttered, standing calm in front of the two men. "Two jinchuuriki in front of my very own eyes. I wonder what he will say when I bring back both of you."

"Are you working for Sasori, then?" Roshi asked.

Orochimaru scoffed, raising one eyebrow. "I don't work for anyone."

"Then what's with that cloak?" Han asked. "Your precious Sasori was wearing the same thing."

"This thing?" Orochimaru glanced down at the black cloak embroidered with red clouds. With a single sweep of his arm, he removed it, throwing it down to the ground and leaving him in a simpler grey outfit. "I have my own reasons. Not that you need to know."

"What do you want from us?" Han asked, his voice steady and calm despite the situation. "Are you looking for jinchuuriki?"

The Sannin laughed, still standing calm and collected in front of them. "I don't think I'm allowed to say."

The three of them stood tense, staring at each other and waiting for the other to make the opening play. No one dared move, the only sounds coming from the forest and the pulse of Kokuo and Son Goku's chakra.

They waited. Still, nobody moved.

'Let me rip off his leg,' Son Goku demanded in Roshi's head.

Roshi gave a mental shrug. 'As you wish.'

Without hesitating, he allowed the rest of Son Goku's chakra to flood his body. They had yet to practice full-body transformations in fear of injuring a sparring partner. But Orochimaru was not an ordinary opponent, and Son Goku had been demanding to be let out since the fight started.

The release felt cathartic as the frustrations from the last five months were finally pushed aside. With the chakra rushing through his body, Roshi marveled at how truly powerful the Four-Tails was.

Give him hell, Son.

The bijuu obeyed.

With a roar of joy, Son Goku took control over his body, transforming into his full size and running toward the Sannin straight on. Roshi watched, an observer in his own body.

Orochimaru had not expected such a direct attack. He tried to leap away, but before he could escape, Son Goku had already captured him. The bijuu had Orochimaru's left leg clasped in one hand, the torso on the other. Without hesitation, he ripped the leg off, throwing the severed limb into the distance.

Yet, despite the situation, the Sannin managed to spit out a sword, which he used to spear through Son Goku's hand. Instinctively, the bijuu let go of Orochimaru with a yelp of pain and surprise. The Sannin dropped to the ground on all fours, blood pouring out of the stump and soaking the ground, out of breath and panting.

Han, still enveloped in his chakra cloak, walked toward the defeated Sannin calmly, ready to deal the final blow.

'That was a lot more violent than I thought it would be,' Yagura muttered, sounding slightly surprised. 'But at least now he doesn't have a leg to stand on.'

'Son has been wanting to rip off his leg for a while now,' Roshi answered, ignoring the pun. 'Says he can't run away now.'

'Yeah, it's a leg end.'

That time, Roshi groaned and he heard Son Goku join in. 'Now Han just needs to knock him out and we can-'

'He's slithering away!'

'What?'

Roshi had expected Yagura to be speaking metaphorically, but Orochimaru was indeed slithering away, his lower half transformed into a snake tail. Han began chasing after him, but Orochimaru was faster and able to move swiftly in the foliage.

Annoyed, Roshi called back Son Goku's chakra, returning to the four-tailed transformation. He began running through the forest, his smaller size better able to dodge through the trees.

Roshi had almost caught up to his opponent when a cloud of smoke appeared in front of him. He looked up. In front of him was a snake, much taller than the trees that surrounded them. It hissed before attacking, knocking over a small swath of trees.

Roshi and Han leaped up, avoiding the strike effortlessly.

"I'll take care of it!" Han ordered. "You go catch Orochimaru before he can escape!"

Roshi nodded and began running toward where he had seen the snake vanish. Before he had taken more than a few steps, however, Yugito appeared from overhead, sinking her claws deep into one of the summoned snake's eyes.

The creature screeched in pain and rage, and swung its tail, bringing down another swath of trees. If Roshi weren't in a life or death situation, he might have felt bad for the injured creature.

"You two go on ahead!" Yugito shouted as she dug into the snake's other eye. "He knows what you two are already anyway! Go catch him!"

She somersaulted back, avoiding being swallowed by the blinded snake. She continued her assault, focused on the giant creature in front of her.

Han raised a thumb without looking back, following after Roshi, the chakra cloak and steam allowing him to catch up.

"Where did he go?" Han asked as he ran at Roshi's side.

"I think he went that way." Roshi pointed somewhere in a vaguely western direction.

He felt a ball of worry worm into his stomach. In the few seconds that the snake had distracted them, Orochimaru was beyond his view. He thought he saw a hint of a snake tail at the edge of his vision, but it might have been his eye playing tricks on him. Where's a sensor when you need one?

"He's actually going that way."

Roshi jumped in surprise as C flickered to his side, an annoyed frown on his face. He gaped at the blond. Can sensors read minds now, too?

His theory grew stronger when C gave him a mocking glare and a roll of his eyes.

"I can tell what you're thinking by the dumb expression on your face," the Kumo shinobi complained. "Yugito-san and I came up with this plan when we were still on our way."

Without waiting for Han and Roshi's reactions, he began to run in the exact opposite direction, toward the east. The two jinchuuriki followed after him, abashed.

"Sorry, but not everyone can be a sensor," Roshi grumbled. "The fucker must have changed directions when we were still dealing with the giant snake."

"And not everyone is a jinchuuriki, but here we are." The younger man's voice was dripping with suppressed fury and he glared over his shoulder at Han and Roshi.

"We all have secrets." Han shrugged before jumping over a fallen tree, his voice as calm as usual.

"I hope this isn't the real you, boy." Roshi raised an eyebrow. "I wouldn't want to lose you to that snake."

"Of course this isn't my real body." C closed his eyes as he focused on Orochimaru's chakra signature, veering slightly north. "Are you stupid? I'm a sensor, I can't let my real body be found so easily. There are a few decoys scattered around the area. Anyway, Orochimaru is going that way."

He switched directions again, veering further west.

Sure enough, they reached Orochimaru soon after, slithering through the underbrush, half of his body still in the shape of a snake. Roshi smirked. Unlike earlier, there was a definite look of panic in his eyes.

"So you have a sensor with you," the Sannin muttered, the leer gone from his face, leaving a pained grimace. "I should have finished you off earlier."

'Lewd.'

'Shut up, Yagura.'

"We only want information," Han lied, taking a step closer. "Tell us about the organization you belong to. If you do, we will let you go."

Orochimaru hissed, disbelieving Han's words. As before, he spat out a sword, ready to fight to the last, even without one leg.

Roshi prepared himself to dodge and he saw Han do the same at his side. Standing a short distance behind them, C also sunk into a defensive position, a kunai held in one hand as a shield.

Orochimaru's neck lengthened and his head moved toward Han, the sword held in his mouth. Han lifted an armored forearm to deflect the blade.

However, at the last minute, when the sword was about to make contact with Han's armor, the Sannin's neck moved and he ran toward C instead.

The clone of C didn't have time to dodge and he disappeared with a yelp in a puff of smoke. Roshi took the opportunity to strike. He used his right knee to crush the Sannin's long neck, hoping to catch him at a disadvantage.

Orochimaru disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

'A clone?' Son Goku reacted with surprise as Yagura muttered, 'The fuck?'

Roshi's jaw dropped and he gaped at the empty space where Orochimaru had been.

"How the fuck were we tricked by a clone!?" Roshi shouted in disbelief. "C was tracking him!"

'Shadow clones are made by dividing the user's chakra, so they have the same signature as the original body,' Yagura explained, worry entering his voice for the first time. 'Even a skilled sensor would be unable to tell the difference.'

"He must have created the clone and switched while we were distracted by the snake," Han theorized. Unlike earlier, there was a rare hint of anger in his tone. "Where do you think he-"

Roshi gasped, cutting off Han's question. He turned to his friend, an anxious frown on his face. "Wait! Do you think..."

Han's eyes widened in understanding. Without waiting he began to run back to where they left Yugito fighting the snake. Roshi followed after him, staying at his side effortlessly.

Together, they wove through the forest, hoping to get to Yugito as quickly as possible.

They arrived a minute later. Since they had been gone, large swaths of trees had fallen over, leaving a giant dead snake in the middle of the newly-made clearing.

Yugito stood atop its corpse, wiping the blood from her nails with a cloth from her weapon's pouch. Her face was calm, cleaning the gore methodically.

"Yugito-san!" Roshi shouted, relieved. "You're okay!"

Yugito turned her attention toward them before jumping down from the remains. Her nails clean, she recalled them, leaving her hands and feet as normal.

"Of course I'm okay," she answered. A frown appeared on her face, turning her attention to Han then Roshi and back again. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Orochimaru used a clone to distract us," Roshi confessed. "We thought maybe he would come after you next."

Yugito shook her head. "No. I was waiting for you two to come back." Her frown deepened. "Didn't C help you track down Orochimaru?" she asked. "I asked him to stand back as support."

"We met your teammate on the way," Roshi said. "Well... the clone of your teammate. But since shadow clones share the same chakra signature as the original body, he was tricked as well."

"Orochimaru complained about how we had a sensor," Han added. Roshi heard a sound that could only come from his friend grinding his teeth. "He attacked C first, even if it was only a clone."

"Orochimaru attacked C?" Yugito bit her lip. "Do you think he wants to get rid of our sensor first?"

Roshi's eyes widened and he made a quick, frantic sweep over their perimeter. "It's possible. Where's the boy now?"

Yugito's jaw dropped. Without answering, she leaped up into the canopy and made her way out of the clearing. Han and Roshi followed without a word.

While Roshi knew almost nothing about C, he saw the worry etched on both Han and Yugito's faces. After five months together, it was clear to him that they had become allies, if not friends. He started to feel worry burrow into his stomach as well.

'Hope the kid's all right.'

'I told you to let me out from the very beginning,' Son Goku complained.

'Sorry, Son,' Roshi apologized, although he doubted it would have made a difference. Just as Orochimaru had underestimated him, so had Roshi. As if a missing leg could hold him back for long.

"C should be around here," Yugito said, her voice full of growing anxiety. "We agreed that he would-"

"What happened?" To their relief, the blond flickered in front of them, an annoyed glower on his face when he saw Han and Roshi. "Did you kill the bastard?"

"C!" Yugito shouted with obvious relief. "You're alive!"

C blinked. "Of course I'm alive. Did you kill Orochimaru, Han-san? I can't sense him anymore."

"What do you mean you can't sense him anymore, boy?" Roshi crossed his arms in front of his chest, glaring up at the man in front of him. "How is it possible that you can't sense him?"

C glared back. "Well, I'm not sure what happened, seeing as my clone got destroyed. But I assumed you had killed him when his chakra signature disappeared."

"What do you mean disappeared?" Han asked.

"I can't sense people if they die or if they run out of my range," C explained, his voice dripping with impatience. "Since our mission was to kill him, I assumed you had succeeded once his chakra signature vanished."

Roshi shook his head. "After your clone was destroyed, we realized the body you led us to was also a clone. Who knows where the fucker is now?"

"So he ran away?" C asked, hands clenched into fists.

"He ran away," Han confirmed, the fury in his voice becoming more and more pronounced.

"Fuck!" Roshi and Yugito shouted at the same time.

Roshi kicked a tree, leaving a sizable dent in the wood. In his mind, his companions raged, the agony of Orochimaru escaping too much for even Yagura to joke about.

O-O-O-O-O

A/N: I think this chapter is the shortest in a very long time but one of the most difficult to write. Sorry for the long wait.

Thank you so much to Morket and DarkUnicorn6666 for helping me beta this chapter! It was so hard! And not in a fun way.

I'm available on Tumblr at waffledogwrites.

Next chapter: heading out.