AN: Yeah I got nothing. Enjoy. :)

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Eventually Team Seven was down stairs in the dining area of the inn, washed and fixed up in their attire complete with weapons and enjoying breakfast. It was a strange rice dish with many things mixed in, clearly leftovers, and almost a slightly mild curry. It was also exceptionally tasty.

"Did you have a nice night, Sensei?" Orochimaru started after the typical chatter as they began eating. He was making an effort to eat slowly, something that Jiraiya still struggled with but then she had done a lot more running about last night than he had.

"Ah. Yes. Yes I did! Very nice!" Hiruzen said with a pink face and a grin that on Jiraiya was trouble and on Hiruzen came across as a flat out explanation of what he thought of his evening. It was rather pathetic but perhaps, Orochimaru reflected, it was just that he felt comfortable around his students. How naïve.

"Good. You know Sensei, you owe Jiraiya and I now." Orochimaru continued still placid. He was the one giving this announcement because Jiraiya wouldn't be taken seriously. Even if it was equally her idea to black mail him and the methods had proven entirely her doing. For some reason sensei thought Tsunade needed to be coddled, Orochimaru was the genius prodigy (which he was but he was also able to think for himself), and Jiraiya was the loudmouthed troublemaker who didn't know anything about being a ninja. Orochimaru had a scroll somewhere back in the land of snakes with his name in blood that proved otherwise.

"Eh? Sensei owes you two?" Tsunade joined in and Orochimaru nodded, giving a soft smile. Not yet venturing into the creepy side of things as he sipped his delightfully warm tea. That was one surprise pleasure, Tsunade was a bit of a tea snob and happy to share. He intended to hint she could always bring some when she came by from now on for all they couldn't boil water without a stove.

"Yeah we made sure this cute girl who liked him but wasn't sure if she wanted something temporary decided to act on it by stretching the truth in a way that works for a civilian." Jiraiya agreed, going to get up to get more food for them both. Without asking she scooped up Orochimaru and Tsunade's bowls. The later looking surprised, but touched at the action. Orochimaru thought it was rather silly, the blonde had offered some of her matcha to them first.

Then again, she hadn't grown up in a world where everything was limited and nothing was ever free. Even Orochimaru and Jiraiya were always repaying each other they just allowed a longer time between it. Another thing they'd have to teach her, give and take. Orochimaru scowled inwardly. He really needed to make a list.

"Ah what did you have in mind then, hm Orochimaru?" Hiruzen was smiling at them curious as to what silly thing they'd ask for. Books, time off perhaps, even a fancy meal.

"Jiraiya and I are in need of some decent kunai."

"Don't you have plenty?" Tsuande asked because it was like asking if someone had underwear. You required weapons to be a ninja.

"We have ...some. Not enough in case of a significant attack and not of a quality I would like to be entrusting my future capacity to continue breathing to."

Jiraiya returned and set down the bowls, Orochimaru's first and then Tsunade's before her own. Quietly she also started digging around in hers for the vegetables she knew her friend would actually like. Like carrots. Why he liked carrots was entirely beyond her but then she had this love of garlic and onions and ...meh. It worked.

"So neither of you purchased weapons with your pay for the D-ranks?" came the voice of their sensei and it was no longer amused but disappointed as he looked at the paler boy as though he had personally let him down. Jiraiya answered because Orochimaru was not one to take such a tone lightly. If he opened his mouth he'd be oozing smug brat and that only ever ended well for her. She knew when it was his hackles being up rather than his being a crazed megalomaniac sociopath in the making. Don't insult the genius and he won't make you suffer. How hard was this for people to figure out?

"We did but we underestimated the cost of finding an apartment that had running water and electricity, a bedroom as opposed to being just a studio; and an actual bathroom with shower instead of only a toilet not to mention would lease to kids with no guarantee of future income." She looked up and almost snorted at the expression on her sensei's face. Really. She did have brains she just preferred to be underestimated. "Once that was done we figured out with each check the bare minimum we required for food because until the bell test we hadn't actually taken into consideration the fact that we would no longer have the meals the Academy provided as an incentive to attend.."

"Wait they did that?" Tsunade interrupted startled and both the orphans let their sensei answer, curious what the propaganda was on that little trick.

Hiruzen set his tea down to nod at Tsunade with a smile. "The Academy is aware a good number of the recruits come from the orphans or those civilians who may not have the most optimal balance of working parents to ensure the children get all their meals. They thought providing breakfast and snacks would take that strain off considering the increase in calories needed to keep up with the curriculum."

Orochimaru twitched slightly but no one noticed. He'd seen the brainwashing almost right away and always been thrilled that so had Jiraiya but really. That was a terrible story to make up for it. Even worse the fact it probably was well received and applauded by the populace.

"It did. Until suddenly there was no such resource available." Orochimaru took back up and before his sensei could say something else stupid he answered the likely question. "Upon graduating and being placed among the genin corps or a team the orphanage only allots a small time frame to locate alternate housing. When Jiraiya was sick they permitted me to take a few servings of congee but I had to promise to return and assist with watching a few of the younger ones." It was not a task he truly minded, all the orphans had chores and assignments and truly baby sitting was the easiest. He just divided it up, those who wanted to work on reading and writing he took, those who wanted to run around and be idiots went with Jiraiya who would set them up in competitive games until they were tired. It was why there was such an irony that so rarely did Team Seven get the babysitting D-ranks, they were overqualified and wouldn't have flinched. The downside was since so many people used D-rank missions for the local ninja, growing up there was no way to do said chores and earn pocket money. Otherwise perhaps they'd have tutored or watched children or even painted fences instead of stealing. But taking out a D-rank with the proper channels meant not only would you have three children doing the work but with adult supervision.

"There's two of you though.." Tsunade was clearly trying to understand and she had indeed been far more tolerable since Jiraiya had told her the bare bones of where they lived. Absolutely the minimum because you didn't rat out your neighbors but it helped.

"That means just double expenses, Tsu-chan." Jiraiya said. "We both need a lot of food since we are using chakra and training, after rent that's one of our biggest expenses. Neither of us can cook so fishing and such is out of the question. We eat a lot of instant ramen and stuff." If they could find one cheap, they intended to eventually get a rice cooker. "Mostly we spend what we can on weapons but there's a trade off between good ones or enough of them we can not worry as much about losing one if we don't get it back."

"Let me see." Hiruzen said with a lot more understanding and the two children handed over their kunai pouches. Moving his empty plates aside as the kids kept eating he slowly took out each one.

Not even eight kunai apiece and he could tell by the pitted metal full of dings and dull edges these were probably from the academy surplus store, meant for academy students to learn on. The shuriken were not much better, most missing one of the spurs but at least those they had a good two dozen each.

"Where did you get these?"

"The Kunai we bought from the surplus shop." Orochimaru said, looking at his tea and fighting his embarrassment. Because their weapons really didn't deserve to be called that. "We have a single good kunai each for hand to hand that we keep strapped to our arms. The shuriken we have gathered from what is left behind at the training grounds."

Tsunade shoved a bite in her mouth to keep from saying something insulting. She had nearly forty of the shiny well made shuriken in her pouch that had been measured to fit her grip perfectly and never bothered to count her kunai, she just got new ones if she felt like it. All of hers were bright and with fresh wrappings on the handles as well as perfect edges.

"I think I can agree to your deal." Hiruzen said and handed them back because even poor weapons were still weapons, instead he then took out four kunai and handed them over from his own supply. He had a large number and more in a scroll besides. "We'll replace your shuriken later. Your hands are smaller than mine and so it's best you get ones that you are comfortable handling. You can use anything you scrounge up certainly but fitting is important. These are likely too big but.." He smiled then so they wouldn't feel any more embarrassed. Really he couldn't remember the last time the two would avoid his gaze. "I think that's a good trade, right?"

The weapons vanished swiftly, in the way of two who were trained that any offer could be rescinded at a moment's notice and then Hiruzen watched as Orochimaru and Jiraiya communicated silently before both nodding and this time there was a wary hope in their eyes.

"Sensei.." Orochimaru began slowly. "Would you be ..amicable..to such an arrangement in the future?"

"Oh?"

"We help you look good to the ladies and you help us with weapons." Jiraiya deadpanned.

Tsunade snorted. "Really? How do I get in on that? It sounds like it's pretty entertaining.."

Jiraiya grinned over at Tsunade. "I'll teach you. You'll have to do a different approach then I do but hey sensei needs all the help he can get."

"Wait a minute.."

"You may as well agree Sensei." Orochimaru began, smug and content once more and he smiled. "Jiraiya can be a...blockade...otherwise to coerce you into agreeing."

It took a moment as Tsunade and Jiraiya talked around the calmly smiling pale form about things Jiraiya had heard in various locations about flirting and what girls liked in older men according to everything overheard at hot springs and from the hostesses she knew before the truth sank in. His team was conspiring to black mail him or make it where he didn't get any attention from the girls when they traveled. All they were asking in return was decent materials to survive. If word of this got back to his own sensei...well Tsunade was Tobirama's grand niece. It would. Unless he bribed them to be quiet.

"I think I'm proud of you brats...very well, we have a deal."

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It was only after they got up to leave that Jiraiya remembered. "Oh! Hey, sensei that's right since we took so long to find you..I heard rumors that make me think the bandits are hiding out northwest of here and under the employ of the wrinkly dude with the big fake hair thingy who runs the jewelry stand."

"Wait, why him?" Tsunade asked with her eyes wide. She had been shopping at that one!

"Ehhhh because he didn't notice my eavesdropping while his assistant was showing you all those earrings. He was talking to the guy next to him about how it was a pity he lost so much of his stock last time but that since he was sellin it for someone else they were just sending him more. Usually don't they have to get it back or still pay for it unless some sort of disaster they couldn't help?"

"You think he's trying to make a profit on the side." Hiruzen nodded.

"It's possible. Have himself stolen from, claim no blame, secretly sell the 'lost' items in addition to anything stolen from the rest of the merchants and keep the full value rather then pay the cut he was otherwise due." Orochimaru stated calmly while glancing over at Jiraiya who wiggled an eyebrow. It was after all, something they saw often -usually never working out- in the district they lived in.

"Uh huh."

"Why would he do that?" Tsunade asked but she was learning because this time she was looking at Jiraiya who was not meeting anyone's eyes.

"Even if he pays these bandits off he makes a lot more selling it. Especially because all the items lost were clunky, melt down the metals, sell the gems, none of which are upper end so easier to find places to send them. Jewelry is usually valuable for it's artistry but since he specializes in simple 'organic' looking pieces.." Orochimaru answered because he noticed Jiraiya was looking around in that way she did. Pretending to be observant, probably trying to figure out how to steal some of the 'recovered' goods for their own use.

"Good job, I'll go talk to them and find out for myself. Why don't you three do a few patrols around the village?" Hiruzen smiled. If they were right, it would be a simple matter of going and taking out the bandits. If not, well he could spend a few more days seeing Midori.

"Yare yare." Jiraiya waved her hand and then Tsunade grimaced.

"Can't believe that I may have bought something from a criminal."

Orochimaru and Jiraiya exchanged amused looks. Clearly, Tsunade had a different idea of what being a ninja meant than they did.