Chapter Five: Deliverance

The chase was far more dangerous than expected.

They followed the Sanin through thick forests. They were filled with corpses and unsprung traps left behind. Several times they were nearly killed, but they kept ongoing. When they neared a river, they had to avoid toxic miasmas.

And as they journeyed, they saw signs of devastation and war. The Leaf seemed to be withdrawing, however. The Sannin were heading past the front lines. When, at last, Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato found them, they peered over a set of rocks.

The three were sitting by a fire, cooking what looked to be a boar. The pale, dark-haired one was turning the spit gradually. At the same time, the white-haired one was staring into the fire. The blonde woman was lying back with her head on a rock, looking up at the stars.

"...Orochimaru, do you remember what it used to be like?" said the white-haired man.

"You'll have to be more specific, Jiraiya," said the black-haired one.

"Being a ninja, doing all those missions," said Jiraiya. "Remember how we complained about all those D ranks?"

"You complained, Jiraiya," said the blonde in amusement. Though it was a bitter one. "Orochimaru was always the strong, silent type, and I was the one who kept you motivated."

"Yeah, I guess so," said Jiraiya, looking at her. "Hey, Tsunade, it's been a pretty long time since you last tried to flirt with Orochimaru, hasn't it?"

"What does that mean?" asked Tsunade.

"Well, I mean, don't you remember, we had uh... we had a routine, sort of," said Jiraiya. "I was always trying to get your attention. And you were always trying to get Orochimaru's attention. So whenever I tried, you'd say loudly how you were much more interested in someone like Orochimaru than me." Yahiko made a mental note to use the information.

"Oh right, I guess..." said Tsunade. "Well, I guess we didn't know how good we had it."

Jiraiya looked to Orochimaru, whose eyes were distant. "Orochimaru?"

"I don't remember any of it," said Orochimaru.

"What?" said Tsunade, sitting up. "Seriously?!"

"Everyone from our graduating class is dead and buried," said Orochimaru with a shrug. "I can't even remember their names anymore. It's like I never left my parents grave."

"Seriously? You don't remember any of them?" asked Jiraiya. "I mean, what about Hiruko? He's still alive."

"...The last I heard, he had been injured. He'll probably be forced into mandatory retirement," said Orochimaru. "He might not even have survived the journey home.

"Human beings are... such worthless, fragile things."

"Orochimaru, are you alright?" asked Tsunade. "You've said almost nothing since that last battle."

"I think you know the answer, Tsunade," said Orochimaru.

Tsunade sighed. "...I wish we were back in the Leaf, back before this stupid war happened. Back when my grandfather was still alive, and sensei had time to spend every day with us.

"Do you think we'll ever get back there?"

"We might, Tsunade," said Jiraiya. "We might."

Yahiko nodded and motioned for the others to crouch down with them. "New game plan."

"What?" said Konan.

"Konan, you now have a crush on me," said Yahiko, and Konan blushed furiously. Very good acting there. "Nagato, you have a crush on Konan.

"We'll approach the Sanin and beg for food; we're out of provisions anyway. Then, hopefully, we'll be able to get them into a conversation. If they drop their guard and things get casual, I want you, Nagato, to hit on Konan. Then you, Konan, deflect it and say you have a crush on me instead."

"Why?" asked Konan curiously.

"We're trying to manipulate them into giving us training," said Yahiko. "If we strike them as a younger version of themselves, they might."

And so Yahiko and his companions stood silent and waited. The night passed as it began to rain. Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya managed to eat the entire boar they'd caught. It probably came from having that kind of chakra or something. Konan and Nagato wanted to go get some of the meat, but Yahiko silenced them with a glance. They had to time this right.

As time passed, they packed up camp and moved on.

The three of them trailed behind them for hours upon hours. Yet something always held Yahiko back from approaching them. He needed to wait for the opportune moment. Right now, these people were on their guard. Yahiko saw them about to cross a bridge. Their body postures all became more relaxed when they did it, and Yahiko knew this was the time.

"Now's our chance, go!" said Yahiko. "Konan, you ask for food; girls get better treatment when begging."

And rush after them they did, very silently. At the head was Konan, who tugged on Tsunade's arm. The three of them turned around and saw them. Now was sink or swim.

"Excuse me, could you spare us some food, please?" asked Konan.

"I..." Tsunade began, surprised.

"My, more spies," said Orochimaru, looking at them. "Shall I kill them?"

In that instant, Yahiko looked into Orochimaru's eyes and saw a snake. One ancient, and very, very dangerous.

"Orochimaru!" said Jiraiya. "You can't seriously be talking about killing them? They're just children!"

"We were dangerous at their age," said Orochimaru with a shrug. "And they might someday grow up to take vengeance on the Leaf. It's better for the village if this place becomes a wasteland anyway. No cycle of revenge that way."

"Hang on, we've been eating well for days," said Tsunade. "Why don't we make food for six and share it. We've got more than enough provisions to make it back to the Leaf."

"Whatever you wish, Tsunade," said Orochimaru.

And just like that, they stopped on the other side of the bridge. Jiraiya handed out some rations to them, and they ate hungrily. Yahiko, however, had Nagato stay front and center.

"It's a shame you weren't here when we caught that boar," said Tsunade, who was doing the cooking.

"So, where are you three from?" asked Jiraiya.

"We're from a village some ways back," said Nagato. "There was...

"There was a battle where Hanzo himself took the field. But he had to withdraw and ninja... they came to our village. We were out working when we saw the flames rising up."

Brilliant word, Nagato. He was guilting them by referencing what they had done. Yahiko looked to Orochimaru, who had no reaction. He did, however, seem faintly amused. He knew what was going on here, didn't he?

"I... see..." said Jiraiya. "So what brought you out here?"

"Well, um, we've been trying to look for ninja," said Konan.

"We're hoping to become powerful enough to stop stuff like that from happening," said Yahiko. "I want to bring peace to this world, so no one ever gets hurt again. But...

"Hanzo usually sends children to attack in the first wave. He hardly trains them at all before he sends them into battle."

"I'm sorry to hear that," said Tsunade, who had probably killed some of those children. "We've... seen his tactics."

Yahiko looked to Nagato, who looked to Konan. "Konan, you look really pretty, you know."

"Leave me alone, Nagato," said Konan instantly. "If I were going to marry someone, it would be someone cool like Yahiko."

At that moment, Tsunade burst out laughing. Hook, line and sinker, but Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato all looked at her in surprise.

"What's so funny?" asked Yahiko.

"It's nothing," said Tsunade. "I'm just... reminiscing."

"Quiet, all of you," said Orochimaru suddenly in the sort of voice you should never disobey.

Tsunade and Jiraiya snapped into combat positions and looked to the bridge.

"What is it?" asked Tsunade.

"Someone is approaching," said Orochimaru. "They are armed and powerful and do not bear the symbol of the Leaf."

"Stay here and stay quiet," said Jiraiya.

The three of them went over to the bridge. Out of the mist, there came the sounds of clogs clapping against flagstones. Eventually, there came a blonde man, clad all in green. With him was a girl with pig-tails and a redheaded boy.

"Mr. Hat and Clogs, we can't keep up with you," said the girl.

"Yes, you can, Ururu, now stop pretending like you can't move faster!" said the boy. "We're heading for the Leaf as Mr. Hat and Clogs said, and you're not interfering."

"...Him?" asked Yahiko, realizing who it was.

"You know him?" asked Nagato.

Yahiko had blocked out most of his old memories. "I thought he was dead. He's from my old village." He moved forward. "Hat and Clogs, you might want to stop where you are."

The man halted and drew off his hat. "Ah, Ichigo, is it? May I see? I'm very pleased to see you still alive after all this time. Perhaps I can-"

Orochimaru had a sword at his throat in an instant. Hat and Clogs, however, remained just as implacable. "...That's not courteous, and not necessary. I'm just a traveling merchant."

"We're paranoid," said Tsunade.

Hat and Clogs sighed and looked around. "...Given the current geopolitical situation, I can't say I blame you. My name is Kisuke Urahara, and until recently, I ran a shop that supplied Soul Reapers with equipment. Soul pills, gigai, etc.

"I'm present planning to relocate to a less dangerous land after losing my store, again. This has happened three times in a row now.

"Seeing as you're from the Leaf, I wonder if you could lead us there."

Orochimaru paused. "It may be worthwhile.

"If he has the skills he claims to have, he may be a valuable artisan."

"Hang on, the war might not even be over yet," said Tsunade.

"Hanzo has retreated from the contested territory," said Orochimaru. "Everything of value in this land has been wrecked. And all the nations that participated have internal matters to deal with. Hollow attacks are at an all-time high.

"There will be a treaty of some sort, soon enough."

"That's wonderful," said Konan.

"Hardly," said Orochimaru. "The entire Land of the Rain will be baying for our blood in the years to come. They'll never forget this."

"You don't know that," said Jiraiya.

"Would you forget what we've done, Jiraiya?" asked Orochimaru.

Jiraiya gave a weary sigh. "...No.

"No, I wouldn't."

"Why don't you three come with us?" asked Tsunade.

"Hmm, us?" asked Konan.

"They'd never qualify for a permit," said Orochimaru. "Sensei might insist on taking care of orphans. But only orphans whose parents served the Leaf qualify. We can't just let anyone have social security, or we'd go bankrupt."

"I can always use some extra hands when setting up shop," said Hat and Clogs. "Ichigo is an old friend, after all. I knew his Father."

"My name is Yahiko now," said Yahiko simply. "Ichigo... died a long time ago."

Hat and Clogs went grim. "Ah right, well, all the same, I'm sure I could use the extra help."

"That won't be necessary," said Jiraiya. "The answer is yes."

"Yes, what?" asked Yahiko.

"Yes, I'll teach you, all three of you if you like," said Jiraiya.

"Really?" asked Konan.

"Well, sure," said Jiraiya. "If you came this far, you've got to be pretty competent on your own.

"But I want to make this clear.

"Don't waste my time here. I'm offering you the chance to train under me, as long as you get the permission of the Hokage."

"You don't have to worry about that. We didn't come all this way to goof off," said Yahiko.

This was too perfect.

Now all they had to do was excel in their training. With Jiraiya as a sensei, Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato would be able to gain power. And once they had power, they would be one step closer to becoming gods.

Author's Note:

Okay, this is important.

If you want me to continue this fic, you need to leave a review. Because all of my recent chapters had no response whatsoever. I feel like no one is even reading this thing, in which case I should focus on my other fics.

So if you do enjoy this fic, please leave a review and tell me as much so I know I'm not wasting my time. Otherwise, this will be the last chapter.