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Patrols were boring was a consensus of each of the children, yet they went off without actually voicing complaints for Hiruzen was their sensei and they had a job to do.
Team seven was caught off guard when they were patrolling just outside of the area without any warning of the coming ambushes. They had split up, each in a different spot and moving towards the next person's original location, like a three spoke pinwheel. Someone had tipped off their quarry and the results were to be expected with the bandits wishing to handle the trouble before it could begin, after all how much trouble could three children not even with each other be?
A great deal of it. Tsunade had wasted no time in attacking when she realized her position had been compromised. She was quick and strong with no shortage of knowledge as to where to strike, it was a plus to learning to be a medic. Where her other skills may be lacking certainly not her capacity to cause damage. Senju took being a ninja very seriously considering they were one of the founding clans and while she didn't wish to kill, she could certainly incapacitate and knock unconscious. That the bandits she faced had no chakra only made her life easier.
Orochimaru was in his element when the surprise attacks came. There was fast, and then there was once in a lifetime genius sort of movements. Orochimaru had the later in entirely unfair proportions. It took very little effort to twist out of the way, striking back. Unlike Tsunade, Orochimaru saw no reason to hesitate and each that got up would only be a problem later. You did not live where he did, and not learn that often it was only if your attacker could not get back up that you could safely run away he could not justify letting even one of them walk away from this. It still made his eyes tighten and his jaw clench as he felt the first hit strike true and draw blood. With one of his new Kunai from Hiruzen and their blackmail which struck far more deeply and clean than he was used t, causing a much greater amount of blood spatter than he intended and pulling a strange choked whimper out of him. Three more to go. He would process this after he knew he would be surviving.
Chaos summed up Jiraiya and in the ambush it was no less effective. She had Orochimaru as her best friend and while her book learning was terrible one thing she had gotten very good at, besides henges, was sparring with someone too smart for anyone's good. That meant usually being unexpected and brutally swift was some of her only options. Dodging one way then the other had her twisting chakra wire that went unseen, a few steps back and a glance to memorize the location and a flash bomb was down ready to be stepped on. At that point it just took an old kunai with an explosive tag, throwing it for impact with the bomb..and the bandits yelped covering their eyes, off balance as they tripped themselves on the wires knocking the air from their lungs. Moving swiftly a sharp thump to each of their temples took care of that and then with a nod Jiraiya got to the important part.
Robbing them blind.
She went quickly and amassed a decent collection of yen, a few trinkets, and weaponry. At which point she tied up the group and went to share her weapon loot with Orochimaru. Not that she was expecting him to have done anything less than pick them clean like herself but the pale boy was instead standing, staring down at the group..and the blood..in the area.
"I'm glad you're okay." Is all Jiraiya said as she went to stand in front of him but Orochimaru when upset was a very delicate situation and so she did nothing he could not see, spoke her words so he would not spook. "Can I hug you?"
Orochimaru flinched but nodded, the realization was hard to cope with that he had killed all five. But Jiraiya's hesitation was only to ensure she wasn't upsetting him, there was none at wrapping herself around his waist and though the blood on his hand was there, it didn't show against her black outfit. "Shoulda known you'd beat me at that..jerk." She mumbled into his shoulder and it drew out a weak and shaky laugh before he clung to her turning the light hug into a fierce embrace as if he was one of his new summons constricting prey.
Orochimaru never initiated contact like this, but if there was anywhere he could fall apart, bad time to do so or not, it was in Jiraiya's hold. Jiraiya started to ramble about her own fight, seeming to entirely ignore the soft sounds and growing dampness of her shoulder. If someone came up on them, they wouldn't hear Orochimaru cry. She'd make sure of that.
There was only so vulnerable the pale boy would allow himself to be. Not when they had just been attacked and could be again so he forced deeper breaths into his diaphragm before pulling back and nodding.
"You left them tied up?" Orochimaru said and Jiraiya easily ignored the hitch in his voice, nodding.
"Yeah! Even used that fancy knot you taught me."
"Are you certain you did it correctly?"
Jiraiya pouted and opened her mouth to insist but then slowly frowned. It was a chance, a way to let Orochimaru control when they were seen next. Because certainly her flashbomb explosion had been seen and at least Hiruzen if not Tsunade would be rushing there. "Eh you wanna check it over for me?" She said instead with a casual shrug. She wouldn't touch Orochimaru's dignity. Not right then, save to help him pull it back on.
"I..that would..be a good idea." He nodded and Jiraiya was the one who looted the corpses while Orochimaru found a scarf to wipe off his hand from the blood as best he could. "You suppose Tsunade was attacked as well?
"Likely. But I want to be sure they are tied up and not going anywhere before we rush to check on things. Would be just our luck to not do so and then have someone show back up..right?"
"Life isn't quite that evil." Orochimaru mumbled but missed a step when Jiraiya's fingers wrapped around his bloody ones to hold his hand. There hadn't even been a pause to the action. Orochimaru drew in another breath, clenching his fingers tight and shifting so their fingers were properly interlaced. It was the only comfort they would be allowed for now and it meant the world to both. This had been their first real battle.
"I'm glad your hands aren't red but you shouldn't hold that one.." Orochimaru mumbled but Jiraiya just shook her head.
"I'll always hold yours, so let mine become just as red. Won't stop us from being there for the other."
"Why is it always when you decide to become sappy you are actually a decent speech giver?"
"That wasn't a speech it was a cheesy line!"
"...you actually called it that."
"Made you smile."
There was a quiet pause as Orochimaru let go, checking each of the knots in the area Jiraiya had been attacked and then nodded. "Yes. Yes you did."
Hiruzen came rushing in at that moment, followed by Tsunade and breathed out. "I am relieved you are both okay. They struck from three locations if you were hit here."
"Four. Sensei." Orochimaru spoke but just shook his head in answer. Hiruzen was no fool, and the blood was still drying on Orochimaru's fingers.
"I see. Well, good job. I see this lot was captured so we can interrogate them along with the ones Tsunade found. I'll show you three how to do it and then you're each going to start trying with the questions." Hiruzen moved one of the bandits away from the others, ensuring his ankles were tied as well.
In the end 'interrogating' was essentially just asking the same questions to each and comparing the answers. The lot really was stupid, all of them had left base to do the ambush and Hiruzen was grimacing. They needed to bring the bandits in to town and confront the merchant, but it would take at least two to do so. Also they needed to find and secure the location..
"Sensei. I volunteer to track them back. The way they rushed thoruhg this the trail will be clear." Orochimaru said. Also, there was a chance in town the guard assisting Hiruzen may be required to kill and Orochimaru's tense frame and how he kept wiping the sticky hand on his clothes gave evidence he wasn't ready to do so again if he had a choice.
"All right..take Jiraiya with you. Here." Hiruzen held out a scroll to Orochimaru. "You remember how to use these?"
"Wait when did we learn that?" Jiraiya piped up only to have Tsunade chuckle.
"When you were busy snoring this morning still and complaining about your tests. I mean I know you aren't good at the book work and all but still having academy nightmares?"
Jiraiya crossed her arms and pouted. "Hey I'm not so good at reading, and I always got my kanji mixed up. Gimme a break..but yeah I'll help keep watch while Oro does the scrolly delicate chakra suffs."
Orochimaru barely managed not to let a smile peek out as the stupid act did it's job and Hiruzen and Tsunade forced the bandits to their feet each tied together and with clones of Hiruzen's doing the job of helping to march them along. Tsunad would more be ensuring none of them broke rank. Only once the two were out of sight, leaving the white and black haired pair to start tracking did Jiraiya snicker.
"This is awesome..they're handing it over.."
"I don't doubt sensei will search you." Orochimaru grumbled. "He knows you've sticky fingers."
"Orochimaru, you're brilliant and wonderful and kinda off your rocker in many ways..did you forget something?" The blank yellow eyed expression blinking at her made Jiraiya smirk.
"You got 'hiss hiss assistance' now."
Jiraiya dodged the hit sent her way with a laugh.
"Do not ever say that infront of them. Serpents are very proud!"
"You know what I'm gonna do now riiiiiight?"
"Why are we friends again?"
Orochimaru fought laughter though as Jiraiya blinked at him. "Cuz we kinda just are. I can't imagine not having you in my life yanno? You're like..the only good thing. Well the only good thing I know will stay though I am starting to like Tsu-chan and Sensei."
"They're..tolerable." Orochimaru hummed and Jiraiya snorted.
"What's that make me then?"
"...necessary evil."
"Well since you're always trying to creep people out and be a little on the shady side I think having you call someone evil is a very nice compliment." The random chatter helped loosen Orochimaru's shoulders and not that long after they found the base. It was a run down old mill by a dried out river and both just winced.
"Originality people..why do they lack it? I mean I struggle to read and even so I have read enough to know you don't do this kinda stupid. This is a whole new kind of stupid!"
"You would know."
A rude gesture was her response as they proceeded with caution. No matter how much they kept muttering to each other that surely there was some sort of trap or lock or something there just wasn't.
"Wow. These guys you know what, seriously? How did they even put their pants on in the morning?" Jiraiya whined as she went to the only door that was locked. It wasn't even a new lock and in a few moments her picks had it sprung open. "I mean no attempt to hide the trail, no guard left here, they left everything..ooooh shineeeeyyy's.." Jiraiya grinned and started going through them for the most easily pawned over time. It was going to be hell holding onto some of these and not being able to fence them but too much at a time drew attention.
"What would you have done?" Orochimaru asked idly as he started helping to sort the items. Occasionally he'd hold one up for Jiraiya's opinion. She was the thief, she was the final say on if she thought something's worth keeping or not. In general all the ones that had stones went into the 'return' pile. She was just looking for solid metal and chains, easiest to pass along. "Don't forget a few so that Hiruzen-sensei can find them and lecture you." Orochimaru reminded and Jiraiya smirked, winking at him.
"Already put a few aside. A ring is easy and a bracelet. I'll probably shove a necklace in my pouch too for good measure." The idea was to be somewhat subtle but far too obvious for a ninja to make Tsunade and Hiruzen think her 'thieving skills' were really more a few lucky times. It wouldn't do them much good to always be watched after all. "Letsee though.." She shrugged then and went to open another crate with a shake of her head. "Honestly I would have volunteered to guard, made sure one other person was here..maybe two. Pretend to hear something and go out back. Fall down after a shriek. Pretend to be out and then when they checked on me but turned their back? Knock them out. Drop a bit of clothing and hair, scuff the area up, then take the loot and wrap my shoes so they seemed bigger foot prints, get out. Go far away and swap my name and make the story I just woke up and I didn't know where I was and I don't want to talk about it. If I'm ever caught my story isn't so unbelievable but just seems like I was a coward and stole from the stealers that stole what we stole.."
Orochimaru paused, his fingers in the sign to lock up yet another crate. "Sometimes your mind is terrifying."
"Aw thank you. Call hiss hiss assist already!"
"Stop saying that." Still Orochimaru was quite pleased to show off his jutsu and there was a large constrictor there, at least as long as he was. "Hello again, I was wondering if it is possible to have you take some items for me until I can summon you at a later date?"
"What's in it for me?" The haughty snake asked as it raised it's body up so it was eye to eye with Orochimaru. The precise phrasing left no doubt though that it was possible.
"Oh yeah. Perfect fit. What's your name? I'm Jiraiya. I like your scales I've never seen a blue snake before.." The serpent twisted and then did a sort of head tilt on an angle.
"You are peculiar."
"Yeah Oro tells me that. Seriously though you're very very verrryyy pretty. Or do you like handsome? Or.."
Orochimaru reached over and clamped a hand over her mouth with an annoyed expression. "Forgive my friend, she rambles."
"She only was speaking the truth. I am very beautiful. My scales are certainly more lustrous than any other blue serpent."
Orochimaru blinked, then looked from his summons, to his friend who he could feel smiling under his fingers. "If you encourage her she won't stop." He tried to warn the blue one but it just opened it's mouth in a sort of gaping grin.
"Marvelous! Perhaps I'll let you have the honor of rubbing my skin when it is time to shed."
Jiraiya finally wriggled enough to free her mouth. "Pretty please? Can I keep the parts that shed? Oooh I bet I could use them as jewelry instead of these lame stones.." Orochimaru was dumbfounded. The serpents were haughty and arrogant and difficult to handle, for all he craved their intelligence and admired their grace but with Jiraiya it seemed that same demeanor shifted more to a smug pride like a king with a loyal servant. The artful twisting of the blue serpent as Jiraiya coos over his beauty and begged- rather shamelessly- to be allowed to touch them, only had Orochimaru feeling..off.
He was used to being the only one that got that level of admiration from the pale haired girl.
"Very well. I will take your trinkets." The snake finally agreed, and Orochimaru was trying to wrap his mind around the fact that his summons was coiled around Jiraiya's shoulder's as she sat on the ground wrapping up their haul in a bag. "When you summon me next I wish several very large rodents, and more compliments."
"Of course." Orochimaru agreed. Jiraiya grinned up at him. The serpent managed to unhinge his massive jaw and went yet further, more so than any non summons snake could hope to, swallowing the package before giving a regal dip of his head and vanishing.
"Oro..your summons are super neat."
"...they didn't act like that with me."
"Eh, I just figured since they were yours they'd probably like to be treated like you do. Still that was a big one! That's amazing you can do it."
"You both ignored me." Orochimaru said and he did not hide his pouting over the fact. Jiraiya shifted awkwardly.
"Well..he was cool..I'd never seen a summons before...I'm sorry Orochimaru."
"Whatever. Let's get this scroll to Hiruzen-sensei." Just as he was about to walk out though Jiraiya grabbed his hand again.
"For what it's worth. I think you're prettier."
Orochimaru was not going to admit he was comforted knowing he was prettier than a snake.