Chapter 5—Target

"Favor?" Tsunade said skeptically. "What kind of a favor?"

"One that will benefit both of us, surely," Orochimaru answered with a shrug. "I have tracked down a member of the Akatsuki."

Tsunade stared at him. "How?" was her first question – one she could not stop herself asking.

Orochimaru smirked at her. "Now, Tsunade, you can't expect me to just give up my secrets so easily."

"Then why are you telling me this, Orochimaru? Get to the point."

"I need to confront him. I'd like your help."

This time Tsunade had so many questions she could not pick one to voice and said nothing. Orochimaru continued. "You most likely have some valuable information on this particular member. You've sent a few Leaf ninja to fight him already and they came back alive – they even successfully wounded him, and killed his partner."

"Deidara," Tsunade muttered.

"Yes, exactly," Orochimaru hissed. "I'd like to have a little chat with him. Really… pick his brain." His smirk became a grin and even after he amended, "so to speak," Tsunade had a feeling he was not speaking figuratively.

"And you think just the two of us will be enough," she said flatly. "With you in the condition you're in. The Akatsuki can't be taken lightly. You're talking about the same man who stole the Kazekage right out of his village singlehandedly."

"And who lost his arm in the process, and another needlessly afterwards. And need I remind you that the Kazekage is a child. Hardly the stuff of legends like–"

"Like us," Tsunade finished for him. "But the Legendary Sannin are a team of three. Not this," she gestured to Orochimaru and herself. "This is pathetic."

"Do you not want the Akatsuki gone? I'm offering you the opportunity to be rid of one more. We both benefit."

"We need Jiraiya," Tsunade muttered.

"And how would that work? If you return to the village to find him you'll be thrown back behind that desk the moment you set foot within the gate." Tsunade bit her lip unconsciously. Her eyes went to an empty corner of the room. "And even if this were not the case, you could not bring Jiraiya into this without the issue of our friendship being secret from even him until now. It would only bring mistrust and make our old teamwork impossible.

"Just do me this favor, Tsunade. Help me fight Deidara."

Tsunade narrowed her eyes. "How are you benefitting from this? Why is it so important to you?"

After a few moments' hesitation, Orochimaru said, "You ask because you do not entirely trust me. I do not answer for the same reason."

"Tell me this, at least," said Tsunade, looking him in the eye. "Are you just after the Akatsuki… or is it Deidara you want?"

He met her gaze and answered, "Deidara."