The pattering of feet was Kabuto's wake up call the next day. He moaned as he threw a pillow over his head to muffle the noise. Then bright lights lit the room, Kabuto peeked from under the pillow only to find Ayame opening up the shades.
"It's about time you woke up. Your new clothes are over on the chair." Ayame pointed out.
"What? I don't need new clothes?" Kabuto's covers began to slide of his body as he sat up.
"Trust me you will be glad to not have ruined your other clothes. The kids can get a little rowdy."
"Kids? What kids?"
"The village kids, I watch them on my days off, to give the mothers a rest. Now hurry up before they destroy my house." Ayame threw the clothes at him; she was almost gone when Kabuto began to stand up completely. Then she turned around to find him grabbing a hold of the sheets. She opened her mouth with her index finger pointed at him. "Kabuto. Never mind" Ayame shrugged her shoulders and chuckled as she left the basement.
The rest of the day, Kabuto saw Ayame giving him sidelong glances. However he didn't help the situation by copying her stares. He tried to remember his mission and to concoct a plan on how to get out of here, but thoughts of Ayame distracted him from his goals. He forgot how easily he gave into her spell, especially since she has grown up.
"Ayame… Ayame… piggy back ride, piggy back ride!" one of the children tugged onto Ayame's pants.
"Oh all right but just one," Ayame bent down and let the kid climb onto her back. Then she was off running around the area that they designated as their play area. Once Ayame let the child down others crowded around her begging for one to. "Kabuto, a little help please?"
Kabuto was about to refuse, when a little girl tugged onto his pants. She looked up at him with pig puppy dog eyes and an innocent face. He felt himself melt and let the girl onto his back. He couldn't believe how soft he became while being with Ayame and he wasn't with her for a full day. He had to get out of here fast before Orochimaru's remains did something.
Ayame popped onto the couch with a hot washcloth covering her eyes, after the last kid left. Kabuto retreated to the basement, in fear of spending more time with her. But Kabuto found himself exhausted and dropped onto his bed. Ayame lifted the cloth of her eyes, noticing the basement door wide open. She went to close it but saw that the lights were still on. So she went downstairs finding Kabuto passed out on his bed. Ayame smiled as she thought how cute he looked. She placed a blanket over him, when the doorbell rang through out the house. Kabuto stirred but didn't awake and Ayame rushed to the door.
Jiraiya was hiding behind some plants peeking at some young girls below. Ayame smirked shaking her head, 'some things never change.' She crept behind him, stretched out her index finger lightly tapping him on his back. Jiraiya yelped as he jumped from his hiding place. The girls below became aware of Jiraiya and quickly covered up from their midnight dip in the ocean, running quickly away screaming pervert. Jiraiya slowly turned his head to see his capture, only to find Ayame standing with her arms crossed tapping her foot.
"Oh Ayame, it's nice to see you." Jiraiya threw one arm behind his head laughing nervously.
"Oh Jiraiya you never change do you?" Ayame shook her head.
"Nope," Jiraiya continued to laugh.
"So I guess I'll have to keep an eye on you, to make sure you don't find yourself run out of town for peeping, or as you but it data gathering." She winked at him as she stretched out her hand. "It's good to see you,"
"You too, so this is where you've been all these years." He stepped away from her towards the door.
"Yeah, it's great. Come on in? Do you want some tea?" Ayame offered.
"Tea sounds good…. wow this is fancy." Jiraiya popped onto the couch making himself at home.
"Yeah, but I like it. How did you get here?" Ayame gave him a cup.
" Oh I came here to give this to you." Jiraiya handed Ayame a scroll. She took the scroll and read studiously as Jiraiya drank his tea.
"What? Why?" Ayame dropped the scroll.
"Because you're the most suitable ninja to handle this."
"But I haven't had any contact with him since the fight. I don't know if I could talk to him."
"You have to, did you read the rest?"
"No,"
"Sasuke left the village to be Orochimaru's apprentice. Now he's left Orochimaru and formed his own little group."
"But why? Sasuke would never mingle with a villain like Orochimaru. He's to... he just wouldn't."
"But he did because of-"
"Itachi," Ayame calmed down staring intently at the moonlight.
"We need your help on this one, please." Jiraiya pleaded.
"I don't know," Ayame hesitated.
"There's something else." Jiraiya gave Ayame two pictures. One consisted of Jiraiya with a young boy with blonde hair, blue eyes, and three whisker-like marks on each cheek. The other had Kakashi, Sasuke, a girl with pink hair, and the same boy that was in the other picture with Jiraiya. "He is your brother," Jiraiya pointed at the blond hair boy.
"No, my brother died when the nine tails almost destroyed Konoha." Ayame trembled.
"Everyone thought so to, but the Third kept it a secret and swore me to secrecy as well when I found Naruto."
"But why would he hide that from me and let Naruto grow up alone." Ayame's eye glistened as she stared at Jiraiya. She tried to find something that would let her know that this was a joke or something.
"I don't know, that left us when the Third died. But the Fifth has given me the permission to tell you. I would have told you once the third died but things got…busy and we thought you were dead." Jiraiya explained.
"Dead?"
"The Third stop relaying messages from you to Kakashi and just stop bringing it up period. I found out the truth a year ago and recently told Kakashi."
"So Kakashi thought that I was dead, is he alright? How has he been doing?" Ayame bombarded Jiraiya.
"He's fine," Jiraiya scooted away from Ayame.
"Wait a minute, were you the only one to know of my brother?"
"Um…"
"Tell me Jiraiya!" Ayame raised her voice cowering over Jiraiya even though he was taller than her.
"No," Jiraiya quietly let you.
"Who else?" Ayame demanded.
"Kakashi," Jiraiya covered his head, afraid of an attack.
"What! How long?" Ayame jumped up from the couch.
"After you left."
"And he didn't tell me!"
"He couldn't write to you, remember and the Third would never have mentioned that."
"Fine, I'll go on their little mission, only if I get to see Naruto and tell him this secret."
"I don't see why not, especially since he's going to be with you to find Sasuke. They were friends you know." Jiraiya relaxed once Ayame sat down.
"Fine but I have to tell the Elders of my departure, and that you'll be taking my place for now."
"Good."
"On one condition Jiraiya," Ayame put down her cup. "While you are here no more peeking. If I get word that you were peeking at innocent ladies I will come down here and deal with you myself." She glared at him and Jiraiya gulped. He didn't want to give up peeking especially with so much unpicked data around this place. But he also didn't want to get on Ayame's bad side, for if her strength has grown as much as her skills he would avoid her at all cost.
"I…swear." Jiraiya choked out the words.
"You can sleep on the couch if you want to." Ayame said.
"It's all right I got a room at the inn," Jiraiya jumped up backing away from Ayame until he was at he door and quickly left. 'So I still have it,' Ayame smirked as she closed the door.
Kabuto stood behind her, "Who was that?"
"Jiraiya, I have a mission that I have to go on starting tomorrow. Oh yeah I almost forgot the elders have granted you permission to leave."
"What mission?"
"It's top secret," Ayame teased.
"So Naruto is your brother." Kabuto made Ayame stop in her tracks.
"You were listening?"
"No, you were just yelling so loud that it woke me up." Kabuto explained.
"Well I have to go and pack, I'll see you tomorrow good night." Ayame walked up the stairs.
"Ayame, could I come with you tomorrow to Konoha, well, until I have to go on my own path?"
"I don't see why not, we leave early so get some sleep." Ayame came back down and kissed his cheek.