AN: Anyone have situations or days in the life ideas you want to see these crazies go through? There's a grand total of 8 minutes on youtube of these brats in canon. Not at all a lot to work with. Also new poll up, Longer chapters or quicker updates? Go give an opinion.

()()()()()()()()

Learning from Tsunade was certainly an experience.

"No! That's not..look you first have to mellow the chakra if you just gather it you're going to blow all the cells apart!" Tsunade snapped and actually swatted at Orochimaru's hands. She missed of course as lightning fast the paler appendages were retracted far out of her reach and slowly balling up to further keep them away.

Jiraiya repressed a tiny eep sound but could place the frown that was ever so subtle on the pale boy's features and intervened quickly. When Orochimaru frowned he was about to get vicious with his words and those cut far deeper than when he utilized his kunai. For all that the Senju girl was trying to help there was simply a complete difference in styles amongst the three of them. Really, what sort of idiot put teams together like this? For all it had worked out for the white skinned and the white haired one if they hadn't been so close they'd have been an utter disaster.

"Maybe you should let Orochimaru read the book you brought over first, Tsunade-chan and let's go get something to drink and snacks to bring back? My treat..." She added when it seemed the blonde was waivering. The Senju compound often didn't allow Tsunade to eat 'unhealthy' they had learned early on and it seemed she had developed the resulting desire to do anything and everything unhealthy. Junk food was the current outlet. Who knew what it would evolve into someday.

"Fine. But you have to pay for them." Personally the white haired girl had no idea why Tsunade was so against things that were simple fact of life. Poor orphans with little means and shinobi training just meant stealing. Why was that so wrong anyways?

"All right." Jiraiya yielded with a pout. She could hear the faint snort from Orochimaru. Of course he knew that she'd just end up lightening someone else's purse to recoup the loss. "Any request, Oro-kun?"

"You cease calling me that wretched nickname." He glared at her and while the yellow eyes were unnerving to many they had never had that effect on Jiraiya. The white and spiky haired girl just waved her hands playfully with her usual dumb grin. Tsunade had already gone outside so they were a little less guarded.

"You called me Aya-chan again you get to be Oro-kun!"

"It seems you forgot you were hiding once more."

"Oh yeah."

Orochimaru just shook his head with a grimace. He was feeling particularly short tempered but then Tsunade had been yelling at them. Sometimes Jiraiya slipped and called him Oro, but it was usually when she was distressed or playing as herself in disguise. Those events he was willing to overlook. "I do not wish for others to start to call me in such a familiar fashion." He did not meet her gaze, just feeling it trail along his shoulders like a palpable connection.

"Got it. So, drink request? Because we're chatting and you know Tsunade's going to barge in demanding I feed her.."

"You offered." He smirked playfully gaze still on the far wall. "..surprise me."

"You got it!"

Jiraiya tossed on a haori over her outfit and met Tsunade down stairs. "What took you so long?"

"Orochimaru has trouble deciding on snacks a lot of the time."

"Yeah what does he like?"

"Apples, chocolate...Eggs."

"...Eggs..." Tsunade deadpanned and Jiraiya blinked at the tone.

"Yeah. I mean I love tofu. They both weren't common when we were growing up but protein. We both got sick of fish because it was always fish and over cooked and salted if we were lucky."

"Remind me to take you two with me to my favorite Barbeque place."

"Ehhh.." Jiraiya rubbed her neck. "We don't do well with red meat. Not in large amounts. Too rich. Was something we never got so it's a bit of a shock to the system. A little here and there though sure."

"that..that makes sense.." Tsunade mumbled as the medic in her started to take over. She frowns though and watches as a number of girls who aren't from the Academy are waving and calling out to 'Jiraiya-kun' with giggling pink faces and the shorter girl next to her always gives one of those stupid grins and waves back. There's lots of squealing when that happens.

"Why do they still think you're a boy?"

"Safer. Look, you n Sensei know about it and that is fine but until I haveta be known as a girl I'm not changing things. Those girls are from the orphanage n know me cuz I used to get them back before dark, still make sure they head that way if I'm round."

"Why?" and it's the first time Tsunade seems genuinely curious so Jiraiya answers.

"We don't live like you, Tsunade-chan. Even our apartment isn't a place you should ever visit us at night. It looks normal right now but we're in the red light district. Only place that would be affordable to two genin and it's a miracle we can be here instead of the orphanage. Hey don't freak out, I know it doesn't look like it but really..it's a ninja village. You think this stuff would be advertised?" Tsunade just is staring, brown eyes startled and so Jiraiya goes on softly, waving and pointing out certain buildings.

"That one with the clothing? It's got some of the girls we knew from the orphanage who bring in customers at night there's a few back rooms in it. Just in and out but no room in them if you actually wante to sleep, not for that yanno. The bar there? It's cheap. Oro and I stayed on the kitchen floor once when it was raining after hours, the hostesses that work there and a few of the hosts too because you never know what someone likes, they let us borrow a few of their coats so we could stay warm when we had to get to school. The noodle shop there also sometimes sells stuff that they can't show receipts for." Jiraiya looked up at her and smiled but it was a brittle thing, one that didn't mesh with the usual personality the white haired form usually showed. "Sometimes bad things happen around here after dark and while it happens to boys too..girls are the usual victims. So it's safest to just be Jiraiya and let them think I'm a boy. Eventually yeah I'll develop like you are already." Jiraiya shrugs because Tsunade already has a figure but so what. "But I still don't intend to show it much. Just...not safe. The only time I look like a girl and get to act like one is when Orochimaru is with me and never around here."

"I...I didn't know.."

"Don't think on it. Just yanno, never come here or leave late okay? Unless Sensei is with ya. Here..." Jiraiya pops into the market and doesn't tell Tsunade it's other use. Because she doesn't think Tsunade will react well to knowing there are things besides snacks sold for people's recreational use around the shop. Jiraiya is not one to judge, if she can steal to survive how others make do is not her business. "Yo Baa-chan!"

"Hello there gaki, get some actual cash this time?" The wrinkled old lady asks with a smile and Jiraiya nods going to poke around. The old lady here is sweet and has accepted other things in place of cash when she and Orochimaru were hungry before but she can't do it often. Stealing items is surprisingly not as easy as just being a pickpocket as people tend to remember things they've owned so Jiraiya tries to never need to resort to the other method.

"Tsunade over here!" tsunade blinks, staring at the tiny wrapped plastic foods and the single fridge along the side that holds juices and drinks. "Pick somethin. This is the kids side otherwise it's all 'special tea' as the old lady calls it."

"Special tea?"

"Ya beer, sake, that stuff. And the snacks over there aren't as good." She doesn't mention they aren't as good because they cost more, or that the next shelf over are things that certainly are not for them to be perusing. Tsunade thankfully is a bit too startled about everything and grabs a few packaged treats and a bright purple can of juice. Jiraiya tries not to wince because she didn't realize Tsunade wanted more than one snack..but it's okay. She grabs a single package for her and Oro to split and two juices, both from the side crate and not the fridge. Orochimaru hates cold things and she's gotten used to not having them from it.

Not like they can afford a fridge or stove at their place. They're more than lucky to have electricity and running water.

"Here you go baa-chan." Jiraiya says as she pays, barely having enough but the bills are gone rapidly into hiding so they aren't in the open and the little lady waves them out with a toothless smile as the two girls start heading back carrying their bags.

"Thanks Jiraiya-chan, so...how are you feeling about trying the mystical palm again when we get back?"

"Think it sounds like a plan. Curious though, if you were say outa chakra or in shock so you couldn't use it safely what would you do for a cut like that one in the book?" Because Orochimaru is likely almost done memorizing the pages and will doubtless get it in one try now. It's just how her best friend is.

"Eh? Wash it, stitch it, wrap it.."

"STITCH!?"

"Well yeah..why are you so pale?"

"Needles..."

Tsunade can't help but laugh at her as they head back. The rest of the afternoon goes much better. Orochimaru now understands what he's trying to do and Tsunade is still shaken enough from what she's learned to be more patient. The blonde watches curiously as Orochimaru will patiently explain something to Jiraiya when she gets stuck on a concept. She's not blind to the fact they are still so careful of her and Hiruzen even months later of being Team Seven. After a little of what she heard today though? The realization is coming that they are two scared children who have only had each other and probably do not know how to open up. Yet here they are, attempting to learn from her and paying attention. Her team is a little weird but they are trying to let her in. Tsunade smirks as Orochimaru and Jiraiya start a glaring contest before the inevitable surrender of the little silver haired girl and tries again. She'll try being more patient. As weird as they are they are still her teammate's and maybe, more than that they are her friends.

()()()()()()

Of course, Jiraiya doesn't just stop falling into what they now know is lightly tapping Nature Chakra just because sensei has said so. Orochimaru keeps her distracted so she only risks doing it in their apartment but he sees no reason to worry. If the only time she had a negative reaction is when she did it consciously, then the natural falling into it is not likely to harm her.

They have the most interesting conversations when she snaps out of those moments too if only because they tend to be random.

"Mmmglrhs..." Jiraiya mumbles, face in her pillow and Orochimaru chuckles turning a page in his book.

"What was that?"

"Mmm..." Jiraiya flops over, graceless and looks up at him with her dark eyes. It's startling then, but Orochimaru always thinks it looks like she's stolen the night's very heavens and captured them in her eyes when she's coming out of one of her swaying moments. There's all of eternity in her gaze, as unfocused as it is. "W're gonna need more weapons."

The words are slurred but it freezes Orochimaru as he looks down at her. "Weapons?"

"mmm."

"Stop making that sound." He huffs because he needs to have an actual conversation here not just one where she's humming everything. Because there are ways that can be misconstrued and he's hoping that does not mean they are about to go into battle.

"Sorry. Um. Dunno. Just think we need more throwing stuff."

"Your idiocy at these stages is positively astonishing, Jiraiya." Orochimaru snarks but he's helping her settle better and tucking her in. She seems drained this time and he wonders why. Perhaps his hypothesis on it not being bad for her is off?

"Went further." Jiraiya chuckles seeing his startled face. "You looked worried so I guessed. You shouldn't look worried. Not over me."

"Perhaps you are forgetting the part where you may happen to be my best friend?" Orochimaru drawls at her. It has the desired result as she snorts in laughter before managing to flop her hand about as if trying to wave off his concern.

"Never. Best accomplishment in my life."

Orochimaru cannot answer that without sounding sappy so he simply sighs, going to check their stash of shuriken and kunai. They are low, inevitably so when taking missions and sparring. It's not like they can afford the better quality weapons so theirs are also in poor shape. His mind is rapidly putting the pieces together and realization sets in that they must be going on a mission soon. It is not that Jiraiya can sense the future, thankfully or he worries about the strain on her already peculiar mind. It is more she gets hunches about things, ideas, and as much as she can read him she's probably gotten a feel for the pulse of whatever is happening in Konoha or just outside it. Enough that the impression she has right now is they will need weapons.

"Feeling better?"

"Hungry. We got anything?" Jiraiya is sitting up now but it seems sensing so far out of her usual web was harder on the girl and yet..well they are both children. They do eat a good deal.

"ah." Leaving their weapons he goes to check in the bare kitchen, opening a few cupboards. It's not a good sight. "Some instant noodle cups." They never taste right just with the cold water but will work if left long enough. Nutritionally they are rather empty though. It's a last resort for when they just need to fill their stomachs, and do not wish to only drink water. The last paycheck went to cover the weapons they have because you simply cannot risk stealing from a ninja shop.

"That's it?" Jiraiya groans. "I thought I went out n got stuff yesterday.."

"You did. We finished it for breakfast." Orochimaru says softly and starts making them each a cup of the soon to be cold soggy meal. It is one of the reasons he hates cold food. It's getting into fall and they don't have heat in this apartment, not that the orphanage ever did. They need to use the next paychecks from D ranks to get blankets and something to cover the windows or the winter is going to be unbearable. Konoha may have generally mild weather but it can get cold.

"Sorry." Jiraiya's voice is small and Orochimaru leaves the noodles to soak up the tap water, going to sit by her and stare into her darker eyes.

"Don't you dare. I am the one who cannot seem to steal anything, the last time I tried I was caught. I draw attention, somehow you slip right past it. If anything I am sorry that I cannot contribute more."

Jiraiya nods and then licks her lips before giving him a soft honest smile. "Can you think of some new pockets or ways to hide stuff in my regular clothes? I may not wanna risk it here..but if we leave the village on a mission like the other teams are.."

"You think it's easier to pickpocket there.." He nods. It's a good plan, Orochimaru has to admit. Half the risk of stealing so much here is that ninja are everywhere and even idiots begin to notice when things go missing when certain people show up.

"May be the best shot we get."

"Keeping it hidden won't be easy." He grumbles and then tilts his darker head, eyes narrowing in thought. "Jiraiya..what are the odds..honestly..of your stealing a storage scroll?"

"...fifty-fifty." She answers softly. Because it's not the getting of the item it's getting away with it. "they're not super valuable to most people at least not the regular low level ones..still like four paychecks though.." Because D ranks don't pay well at all and leaving the orphanage they didn't have much. Having dared to go back to steal their mattresses and pillows was a big enough deal but they wouldn't take from there if they could help it. Other kids needed those meager resources now.

"Okay. So not yet." Orochimaru nods. "I'll look at changing the under layers up and my own so you can pass me things too..closest to our torso's is best so it doesn't impede us in a fight. Later on though we'll get a few scrolls and then we can load them up..or.." He taps his lips and sighs. "I'll go to the library. I just may be able to figure out how they work. I'd like that."

"The library or knowing how they work?" Jiraiya teases as she looks over at him and it's positively hilarious how catching Orochimaru in the midst of fantasizing about learning makes him blush. "But hey something that can make things vanish in others..that does sound neat."

"You want to come along?" Orochimaru asked as he retrieved the two cups of unappetizing cold noodles and handed one over. Fortunately the way they'd been raised it wasn't hard for them to just inhale the food without really tasting it. The texture was rather disturbing but at least they'd be full.

"Yeah. I could use a break. I just don't feel like running into anyone we know."

"Henge." He shrugged as Jiraiya looked over. "People are more friendly with you and that's why we get stopped. Just go as Aya-chan."

"All right. Grab something else I can wear that I don't usually?" Jiraiya nodded going to find the rice powder she kept to disguise her marks. "Not got the time to curl my hair..guess I can just slick it down..I wish mine would be all pretty like yours.."

"Not many have your coloring" Orochimaru said idly but it always amused him how Jiraiya threw out compliments left and right to people, mostly because she actually meant them. They didn't have much extra clothing but there was a longer haori in a color that didn't suit either of them she'd stolen a while back. That with one of Orochimaru's leg warmers with a belt and a scarf..would do. It wouldn't be attractive but wouldn't look like Jiraiya. "Just handle the lower half of your hair. I have a scarf for the top."

"Kay." She came out in just her usual mesh undershirt and shorts with nothing to hide at that age and no reason to worry she pulled on the haori and had managed to separate her hair into two spikey pigtails at either side of her face. A soft henge lightened her skin turned her hair buttery yellow and her eyes straight black. Her nose wrinkled though seeing the weird light green haori that he'd found but didn't say a word. "Look properly different?"

"You look like a fashion disaster." He smirked. "But in a different way than usual."

"Ha ha." Jiraiya rolled her eyes but followed him out. They took the back alleys to not be noticed in the area until they were strolling down the main roads. Really though the green was just between flak jacket that had been faded and pistachio. It wasn't a good looking color on anyone but the scarf on her head was black and so were her leg warmers that looked more like tights with the mesh shirt peeking out and another scarf around her waist it did work. "I feel like a moldy melon."

"I didn't realize you were starting to care about your appearance so much." Orochimaru stated calmly but it was expected. Senju Tsunade was a very pretty girl and dressed well after all, it was likely for the other girl on their team to start feeling a little drab by comparison. Foolish but people often did not make sense.

"Guess it is weird. I'll try to get over that."

Orochimaru blinked but said nothing for a heartbeat. Jiraiya kept surprising him. "Don't. You are a girl, Aiya-chan.." he changed the inflection of her name ever so slightly and watched as she didn't do her usual flinch. Interesting. "You should not pretend otherwise if you want to do so."

"Mostly I just wish my hair would do something nice instead of making me feel like a spiney hamster."

"Hedgehog."

"That."

Orochimaru chuckled because in many ways Jiraiya was still such a little idiot. "Was that a request for me to try and figure out the mystery of your hair?"

"...Oro you know I think you're insanely brilliant and the world can't handle you now much less what you'll do when you are some unstoppable adult but I don't think even you can solve the mess that is my hair."

"...Maybe in time."

"You do that and I'll run through town naked waving a flag."

"Deal."

"Wha!? I was kidding! Oro..ORO!"