"Hokage-sama, please let us live here and work for the village!" Ryu begged when they've arrived in Konoha and the guards brought them to Tsunade.
"Well good evening to you,too. I can't let you stay here without even knowing who you are." The woman stated.
"Of course, sorry for my bad behavior. I'm Ryu and this is Keiko. We were raised by Orochimaru, but we resisted him and ran away. We hope we'll be save from him here."
"Raised by Orochimaru, hm?" Tsunade repeated. She knew the villagers would never trust them and she also shouldn't do that, but on the other side something told her she should. Because of her being the Hokage since a few weeks only, yet, she shouldn't make a mistake, so she weighed her options. Of course, she could just let them run around the village without any research on them or just throw them out again or she could... "Alright, but I have to make sure you've really betrayed him. I hope you understand that I can't let you round around without supervision until I've done my research on you."
"We absolutely do! If that's what we have to go through in order to be trustworthy."
"Ok, I'll make sure the ANBU watching you will leave you at least some privacy. They will show you a flat you can live in for some I've decided whether you can stay you can go look for one that fits your expectations."
"Thank you, Hokage-sama."
"I'm not used to this whole Hokage-thing, yet. Please call me Tsunade-sama. Now go, the ANBU are waiting at the entrance."
"Sarana, are you ok?" The team-leader asked.
"Yes, I'm fine. I've had to go through worse things. Just let me take a break to clear my mind for a few minutes." A rather leached out Sarana replied.
"Ok. Team! We'll set up our camp here!"
"So you really were under Orochimaru's guard since you were an infant?" A team member wanted to know. Sarana couldn't remember his name.
"Yeah, kinda. He had high expectations and I was never able to meet all of them, so he often punished me, but that made me stronger. Not strong enough to kill him, yet, but I hope I'll manage to get that strong while I'm with you."
"Crazy. You want to kill him? No one could ever do that, not even his old comrades who were at least as strong as him, because he's such a genius."
"I'm sure if they would have fought against him together, they would have killed him easily, but I've heard that Tsunade had to take care of his surviving experiments in the hospital, so she couldn't help Jiraiya." The team-leader stated matter-of-factly.
"Maybe, but I'm sure I can do that! I also have to rescue a friend of mine he still holds captive."
"Guess I have to train you even harder, right? Or maybe we should even help you out."
"Thank you, but no, I have to go through this on my own. As soon as the six months are over, I'm going to go back and end all of this."
"Wake up, little one."
"What do you want?" Kuraiko spat.
"Oh I thought that maybe I should tell you that your friends ran away, but left you here with me." Orochimaru smirked.
"They did what?"
"You heard it right. They've left you alone."
"You'll let them, right?"
"I'm not sure. I could detect them thank to the chakra I've infused to all of you then you were little, but maybe I won't, that depends on your behavior."
"I've already told you I'd do anything as long as you'll let them go."
"Oh, good. I just wanted to make sure you still think that way. I want you to marry me."
"Marry you?"
"Well, that's what I've just said."
"But why?"
"I don't know. Boredom, affection, whatever. This will make sure you won't break your promise."
"If that's what you wish..."
"It is, my little bride."