The two Sannin bounced around the room faster than Naruto's eyes could follow only becoming visible when they clashed before quickly withdrawing. He was trying to spot an opening to attack but, he could hardly keep track of who was who. As always it was galling to know how far he had come and to see how far he still had to go to become the greatest.

Then without warning the ping-pong game ended with Jiraiya on one wall and Orochimaru on the opposite. Suddenly he had an idea and his hands formed a familiar seal. Naruto's clones appeared along the walls. A few of the doppelgangers were too low and the snakes made quick work of them. The rest that were on the same wall as the snake summoner swarmed him or at least tried.

Orochimaru jumped to the ceiling which forced him to turn so that he could keep one eye on his old teammate and the other on the clones that had just attacked him. The clones behind him created a Rasengan before attacking the Sannin's back. He dodged it easily enough which Naruto had expected. However, that was the signal to the rest of the clones to launch their own attacks.

For a moment the black haired man was surrounded by orange. Jiraiya saw an opening that the original Naruto didn't and charged, running across the ceiling with his own Rasengan. For a moment the blonde hoped this was going to be the end of the missing-nin but, without warning wind ripped through the room.

All of the clones near Orochimaru were either ripped apart or knocked to the ground. Naruto himself was nearly blown off of the wall while Jiraiya who had been hit in mid-sprint was falling. Ordinarily such a short drop wouldn't prove fatal but, the snakes were already gathering beneath him. The genin moved faster than he thought was possible. Summoning even more clones he ordered them to dog pile.

Jiraiya landing was softened by a dozen Narutos. Surprisingly he was smiling. "Orochimaru, I can tell you're weaker than usual. That body of yours must be giving you trouble if you want to use your little summoned pets here to finish off me the great Jiraiya." As he spoke the snakes were nibbling away at his platform but, he seemed in no hurry to leave it.

His student had an inkling of what the old pervert was planning and climbed to hang from the ceiling. A second later his sensei joined him on the ceiling before releasing a Great Fireball, incinerating the remaining clones and turning the snakes into crispy critters.

Orochimaru smirked before opening his mouth allowing a snake to escape. The snake interned opened its mouth revealing the damn Kusanagi Sword again. Jiraiya dodge to the left but the snake turned to follow him. Naruto darted forward a kunai in hand stabbing the weapon deep into the snake's body.

The serpent shuddered in pain as his weapon cut through its skin. "Naruto look out."

The blonde jumped to his side as the snake's head flew past him doubling back on itself. It twisted curling around for another strike. It went after Jiraiya and Naruto again and again driving them back every time. Its slithering body formed a wall. There were small gaps between it coils but, these quickly closed as it remained in constant movement preventing either of them from getting around it.

"He's corralling us," the older of the two commented dodging another strike.

"Yeah," Naruto answered.

"I have an idea but, you're going to have to grab the things head," Jiraiya commented.

The genin nodded wondering how he could accomplish that. The snake's head was fast, nimble and had a sword sticking out of it. An idea occurred to the teen but he would have to rely on the nine tails sealed within him to survive it and he was loathed to do , they were running out of room to dodge and then they would be secured anyway.

"Alright I'm going to catch it but, you've got to go right away no matter what happens." Telling the Toad Sage the details of his plan would have just been a waste of time or at least that's what Naruto told himself.

Drawing two kunai he waited until the snake struck at him again. This time he didn't even try to evade it and instead channeled chakra into his feet. Knowing he was about to be stabbed didn't make it any easier on him. The sword pierced his skin the pain was white hot and he was driven backwards even using his chakra to stick to the ceiling.

He drove the two weapons into the snake just behind its head stopping its forward momentum. Jiraiya not knowing his situation darted forward through one of the small holes that would've soon close if the snake could still move.

Naruto couldn't see much but, from the sound of it his teacher was creating a Rasengan of impressive size. The snake who still had his sword in his stomach was finally pulled back even with him holding on to it. Its entire body was flung around the room as if he was caught up in a tornado. Then it vanished and Orochimaru's body hit the ground lifelessly, his clothes were torn asunder and his limbs were twisted in odd positions.

The blonde put his hands over the wound in front of him forgetting about the one in back. The Pervy Sage stood over the body of his former friend for a second before Naruto fell to the ground. He ran towards him and the teen smiled weakly until he saw the body twitch. Opening his mouth to shout a warning he found it impossible.

The snake summoner's neck extended to an impossible length coming straight at Naruto but, it seemed to veer away at the last second disappearing down one of the small shafts. Jiraiya ignored it as he came to his side.

"You have to get him," Naruto forced out.

"Forget him he is too hurt to go far. Damm it what were you thinking?" He demanded applying pressure to the wound on his back.

"I'll be okay. The Kyubi…"

"Might not be able to handle a spinal cord injury so be thankful it just missed it. Haven't I taught you to think before you act yet?"

Naruto chose not to answer as at that moment reinforcements chose to arrive. The young Jinchuriki smiled through the pain. Sasuke could keep his promotion. He had helped defeat a legend in the ninja world. Let him just try and top that.

Orochimaru's head traveled down the shaft before disgorging his entire body from his mouth onto a mat of snakes. For a minute he was unable to move as the snakes moved over him. They wouldn't bit the one who summoned them but, he was still surrounded by enemies. Forcing himself to his feet he slowly walked down the quarter.

Reaching the air shaft that had once housed a weapon so powerful that even their names had been erased from history he started to climb. It was slow going but, as he climbed he was already figuring out how he would escape from this battle and what he would do next. This was only a setback. He still had resources he could exploit.

He had just reached the top of the air shaft and he was about to pull himself up when a kunai pierced his hand pinning it to the cement. He bit back a scream his nerves extra sensitive from the Oral Rebirth Technique.

"Hi sensei it's been too long." His former student twisted the weapon. "You know I really should thank you for this little seal you gave me. It's like a freaking magnet. Hurts like hell but drew me right to you."

Orochimaru bit back a scream at the tender ministrations of his former pupil. Then he realized this was an opportunity. It was a little early but, given the current circumstances it was well worth the risk.

He looked up ready to begin the transfer just in time to see another kunai slit across his throat cutting through his arteries, esophagus and even scratching the vertebrae in his back. His body fell lifelessly to the ground.

Anko stared down at his body for a minute watching as the snakes covered it. She spat once on it before it disappeared beneath the wriggling masts. The man that had haunted her dreams for years now was dead and it didn't feel as good as she thought it would. At lease the burning in her neck was gone she thought before reporting the news.

Neji had to admit that the woman's information had proven to be accurate so far. The unfortunate individuals in the lower two levels were either dead or dying. He had deactivated his Byakugan as soon as they had confirmed there were no more guards, unable to watch their suffering any longer. That was the trouble with his eyes, they allowed him to see everything but that didn't mean he had the ability to do something about what he saw.

At least it was a quiet death for them he thought before pausing at the last cell. Peering into the darkened room he noticed this one appeared to be only half filled.

"Who are you?" A wispy voice called out from within.

"I am a chunin from Konohagakure. We have been sent to destroy this facility but, before we do we are releasing every one whether they are civilian or a ninja. Do any of you require medical attention?"

Silence greeted his pronouncement like it had the other times he had given the speech today before someone spoke up. "We're all fine but, Takai over there can't walk. They only dumped him in here yesterday.

Neji nodded and requested a stretcher via the radio. Unlocking the cell door with a clank he let the ones that could walk out, not bothering to point them up the single staircase. Once they were gone he stepped into the cell and knelt by the prone man inside. "Medics are coming you'll be all right." Even as he tried to reassure the prisoner he wondered if his words were true or not. The man looked in pretty bad shape.

Takai opened one of his eyes the other being swollen shut, "Are you really from Konoha?" Others would've answered more elaborately but the Hyuga just nodded barely able to make out his words. "I'm from Iwagakure"

"You will be back there soon," Neji answered trying to anticipate his question.

"No," the man spoke loudly clearly terrified, "he'll kill me."

"Who," the prodigy demanded.

The man seemed to have exhausted himself and his single eye unfocused. At that moment he heard the running feet of the stretcher bearers. A medic-nin entered the cell and headed straight for the prone figure. Lee was right behind him carrying the stretcher by himself.

"This guy doesn't look too good," the medic said quietly almost to himself.

"We have to take him back to the village he has information we need," Neji stated not explaining and truly not sure if they did need it or not.

"Yeah, well I think we can move him. Lee put that stretcher down over here," he was cut off by a loud crashing sound coming from below.

Activating his Byakugan for the first time since the last guard had been dispatched he peered down to the lowest level. There was only one living thing left down there and Neji wasn't even sure if it was still human. What he was sure of was, it was running up from the bottom levels and that couldn't be good. "We have to go now."

They placed the man on the stretcher none too gently and by that time the thing was already on the level right beneath them. The Medic-nin took the front end of the stretcher and Lee the back end as the Hyuga rushed over to the descending staircase hoping to at least stall the thing.

The base had been set up so that the base had one set of ascending and descending staircases on opposite ends of the corridor. Neji hoped to catch the thing in the stairwell to limit its movement but, he was too slow.

The thing bounded up the stairs several at a time. It leapt into the air twisting, its arms and legs transforming into stub hook like objects. They dug into the cement as easy as if it was butter allowing him to scurry along the ceiling. He caught up to the stretcher in seconds before dropping to the ground in front of it. With one swing of his arm he decapitated the medic.

Lee tried to pull the stretcher back but, the thing took one step forward crushing the life out of the man. Again his arm transformed and Neji watched in amazement as his chakra circulatory system changed to accommodate his new appearance.

His teammate attacked landing several blows but, they were ineffective as the huge man seemed to shrug them off. Suddenly their enemy brought his arm sword back and the Hyuga shouted a warning. However, even with Lee's speed he was only saved when the transformed arm got stuck slicing through the bars of a nearby cell.

"Neji, Lee we're coming hold on," Tentencalled descending the staircase with Izumo.

"Do you have any ideas," Lee asked retreating to his side.

"Drop the weights and wait for a chance to get around him."

"I don't think he is going to give us that option," his companion said dropping his weights as the thing freed itself by ripping the bars out of their frame. It took several steps toward them before collapsing to one knee coughing blood.

Behind their enemy Tenten and Izumo sprinted down the hallway. Izumo used the opening in front of him to spew his Syrup Capture Field all over the man making him stick to the floor and anything else he came in contact with. "Go!" The two of them ran before jumping over the sticky mess. Lee had no trouble but the Hyuga almost fell into it. Rolling to his feet he looked back at the man who was changing his appearance again trying to pull himself free.

Tenten smirked, pulling a scroll out of one of her innumerable hiding spots and unrolling it on the floor. At first he wasn't sure what she had summoned but it became clear as soon as the smoke dissipated. It was a series of explosive tags wrapped into a tight ball the size of his head. She gave it a kick with her foot. It rolled down the hall until it ran into the syrup and came to a complete stop.

"Run," the kunoichi shouted as she headed up the stairs.

They ran. Lee free of his weights took the lead easily and that cost him. The layout of the base required them to run directly over the trap man below and he was not done yet. He must've freed one of his arms because it came crashing through the floor as a claw, catching Lee and pinning him against the wall.

His teammates tried to stop and help him but, Lee shouted through the pain, "Go!"

Izumo had to pull Tenten along and Neji had to watch through his Byakugan as his teammate and friend tried to free himself. He was the last out. His foot had barely left the last step when an explosion knocked him off his feet. The ground swelled sending dirt into the air. Recovering he scanned the new crater.

"Is Lee," Tenten trailed off as he shook his head and then she broke into tears.

Karin had to give credit to the girl who had tied her up. She was creative, if nothing else. One of her arms was tied behind her and the other was in front. A wire was attached to her wrist in front and went behind her neck to connect to her other wrist. Another wire did the same thing to her elbows but went in front of her throat. If she so much as tried to bring her arms to her side she would choke herself and bringing her hands forward to form any seals was out of the question.

As a result she had given up hopes of escaping until later that night. However, it was becoming more and more likely that she would be spending at least some time in Konoha. She was already preparing her half-lies and half-truths for the pending interrogation.

The red-haired teen had not been paying particular attention to the unfolding battle but, suddenly she felt a surge of chakra that both terrified her and thrilled her. Juugo was alive and out of control. If he got out she might be able to escape in the confusion, if he didn't kill her first. Deliberately trying to look calm she focused her full attention on her former most dangerous prisoner.

At this point Karin would have sealed the entrance and cut her losses but, apparently they didn't know Juugo like she did. Instead they sent two more ninjas in to be slaughtered. He quickly killed two of the remaining four people in the base and then something strange happened. The juggernaut seemed to stand still as the others retreated. She couldn't make sense of what was happening which annoyed her. The blast caught her unprepared like it did with everyone else and she was thrown to the ground.

That was actually a blessing in disguise as her arms were placed in an uncomfortable position but, at the same time the wires were given slack and placed in biting range. At that moment she remembered a peculiarity of wire.

It was strong when it could disperse any force placed on it along the entire length but, was easy to cut and when the same force was concentrated by a kunai or under her current circumstances her teeth. Placing the wire around her canine she snapped her head to the side forcing the wire into an almost ninety degree angle. Working it back-and-forth with her tongue it cut into her gums before giving.

"Hey get up," her guard said.

"I would love to but," she paused taking a deep breath before snapping, "that's very hard to do without the use of your arms."

The guard side, "Here I'll help you."

She allowed the guard to help her up. Placing her feet firmly on the ground while remaining crouched she made her move. Without warning she brought her head up into the man's chin. His head snapped back stunned and she used her free hand to jam two fingers into the guard's throat. Unfortunately, her elbows still weren't free and instead of crushing his windpipe she just made him gag and stumbled backwards holding his throat. Not wanting to take the time to finish him off she turned and ran.