Orochimaru held the vile he had just created up to eye level so he could properly determine its measurements. He heard the man beside him mutter to his friend, thinking he was being quiet when in fact the serpent could hear every word that was uttered. And as it turned out every word was about just how much they detested his presence. He let his golden eyes fall away from the vile, he didn't flinch at their cutting words. Turning to the man who had just called him a freak, he offered the vile to him.
"This should finish your formula," Orochimaru said, he kept everything professional. He didn't need their friendship, he simply needed their cooperation. As fake as they came the man smiled and nodded taking it off to be used. The other ninja in the laboratory were simply put useless. The serpent finished their work in less than half the time it may have taken them. He preferred working alone, they preferred to leave him alone. It made matters simple and he finished up the days duties before retrieving his cloak. The rain had not subsided in the three days the serpent had spent there. On his way to the door he heard the musings of another ninja, she whispered to her friend. Monster. Orochimaru donned his cloak as he progressed down the hall, it was a rather large laboratory and he worked well in its depths. He passed a Jonin who stood by as a guard, the man did not meet is eyes but murmured under his breath. Devil.
Carrying on down the hall the Sannin checked himself out with the small card he had around his neck. He had made great progress during his mere three days of residence. The Riakage was pleased with his every report and had dropped his cold attitude when he realized just how useful the missing-nin was. Kakashi had done wonders for the fighting unit during his time there, Saura also keeping up with being a fountain of knowledge. The three ninja had been invaluable and the Cloud leader never forgot to mention just how grateful he was for their presence. He was still completely unaware that they were in fact two ninja, two ninja and an NW. An enemy even. Orochimaru didn't break his schedule, after work he would make his way straight to the hospital, then after checking up on the wounded dog he would go home to the copy ninja and Saura. Kakashi had requested the NW get his own room but as it turned out there were few places available to stay at. Orochimaru didn't mind is presence. He had never asked Kakashi why he had attacked him in the forest, he presumed if the male wanted him to know he would have told him. Although the serpent usually let his curiosity get the best of him he tried his best to never allow his bad traits to get in between in their relationship.
As he rounded the next corner he almost bumped in to another ninja wearing a white coat, he half startled half snarled at the serpent. Orochimaru smiled politely and apologized.
"It's fine," the man said. Once again he thought the snake deaf when he said something under his breath. Snake. They then rounded the corner and lost sight of one another. The sound of rain entered the hall as he got closer to the exit, he ran his hand through his hair to guide it out of his eyes. He placed one slim hand on the door frame, it was cold and the sensation instantly met him, somehow going right through the supposedly thick winter cloak. The guard at the door eyed him wearily, they always felt unnerved when he stopped to think. Almost as if he was always conjuring up dark sinister plans, or possibly that the only things that ran through his mind were evil and poisonous.
"Afternoon," Orochimaru greeted as he passed the man he walked past every day on his way home. The man may as well have told him to fuck off with the angered expression he was always met with. The Sannin didn't need a polite greeting back, he was upholding his own manners, the other could act savagely on his emotions if wished it. The rain pelted down impatiently, almost threatening the ninja. There were few people out in the stormy weather, which was pleasant as it meant there were few ninja to scorn his existence. Not all did, some greeted him as a powerful figure, some still respected him merely for being a Sannin, a ninja of legend.
A woman flashed a friendly smile as they met eyes while she closed her window, the shop closing. Orochimaru motioned a greeting passively, she seemed pleased with herself, pleased with being acknowledged by an elite shinobi. She turned to say something to someone behind her but was barrelled over by two children who looked shamelessly over at the Sannin. Although he didn't like attention, he supposed positive reactions were always more acceptable than negative ones. He halted when a man sped on to the wet streets to quickly. The serpents eyes narrowed when he saw three larger men hurtle after the half falling over panicked ninja. The man stopped dead to plead with the men chasing him, he was evidently exhausted form running already. Orochimaru was disappointed to see such lack of civility among the cloud people even in war times. He then thought himself foolish. He had been in many wars. It did not bring people closer, it caused greater gaps and chaos. It turned good natured men in to heartless fiends. Snakes spiralled from beneath the cloaked legends sleeves and wrapped their large bodies around the approaching men. The muffled startled screams as they realized they had run in to the wrong shinobi. Rain beat down around them as their own begs entered the skies.
"We weren't coming at you Orochimaru-sama," one man said trying to be rational. Orochimaru's slitted eyes locked on to him passively. It was an insult to his intelligence, of course he had known they would not ambush him, he could easily tell their next planned move.
"I will not tolerate you going at anyone," Orochimaru said calmly, the men nodded as if they would surrender their very souls if it meant being released. Seeing as they were in no way going to fight or target the man again the serpents coiled around them loosened their grip, and after a final warning hiss they dropped the thugs back on to the flooded streets. One yelped and ran for the corner street while the other tentatively glanced at the snake before following. The last man left had a look of fear, and also disgust. His hateful eyes may have been haunting to the Sannin if he had not met them so often. Hate was hard to accept, but the serpent was used to it. The man who had taken to hiding behind the ninja had mixed emotions too. In a way he looked grateful, relief clear on his now much calmer face, at the same time it was obvious he wished his hero was not a man related to such darkness.
"Thank you- Orochimaru-sama," he mumbled as he trotted away, the sound of the children form the window was lightly heard as well. The seemed in awe of the spectacle, they had watched the ninja of legends fend off thugs, they had watched him send three much larger men running with their tails between their legs. They did not see however the man depart with a look less than grateful on his face. They did not know he did not care for his saviour due to who he was, or more so who he thought he was. The woman came back to the window to escort the kids away, she had an amused smile on her face as she saw them start to wrestle with one another mimicking the display before them.
Then they were gone, but so was the Sannin, he had left as soon as the men had. He reached the hospital, shinobi did not have vets, they only had a place of healing. Any living creature would go there if they were a member of the village. Most animals had the intelligence of humans in the shinobi world, the medic ninjas had been shocked when Tsukiko had displayed no such intelligence. He was smart for a common dog, but that paled in relation to a ninja dog. Orochimaru entered the building, he could feel water running down his spine and he withheld a shiver, the rain coat had certainly done a poor job he mused.
"Tsukiko is walking again," the young male in the lobby said, he knew the serpent was there for the dog.
"Last I heard they had to amputate," Orochimaru stated, wondering how they had gotten him to stand when a mere day ago he could not even move the limb which burdened him.
"They have, but he has already decided he wishes to walk again," the male said confidently. Orochimaru thanked him for the update and made his way to the canines room. He hoped the dog would not get overly excited as he tended to when they reunited. Be it ten minutes or ten days, the dog would spin and bark in happiness. The serpent pushed the door open quietly as he slipped in to the room, he heard the happy yips of the animal and he turned to see Tsukiko standing, one leg replaced by a bandaged up stump. Regardless of his now rather mutilated look he did not seem to bare a chip on his shoulder. He didn't care how he looked, his appearance did not trouble him and no handicap would make him pity himself.
Crossing the last few steps to ensure the dog would not have to, the Sannin knelt beside him. The dogs large body thumped in to him, the tail ecstatically also doing a good job at pounding in to the serpent with every over enthusiastic wag. Orochimaru stroked the silky fur of the animal and then got to his feet, a medic entered and she greeted the serpent professionally. It wasn't clear on her view, she evidently did not particularly like nor dislike the Sannin.
"We have done all we can. His leg wounds have healed well, his hind leg however had to be removed," she said. "He can go home if you wish him to."
Naturally the serpent was more than happy to take the dog back to their residence, after all he didn't like the hospital and preferred not having to visit it. That, and also he wanted the hound back in the bed where he could keep his eyes on him.
"Is he allowed to walk around?" Orochimaru asked as he saw the dog figure out a new way to hop around.
"He may do what he wants now," she said. "We have healed all flesh wounds. He is as good as new."
Orochimaru nodded and called the dog over, he seemed to be making good progress and he was making quick work of finding a new way to walk. He hobbled over and clumsily fell in to a seated position. The Sannin rested a hand on his head.
"And is he in any pain?" He asked.
"None," She reassured him.
With that information the serpent led his hound across the hospital, he didn't want to force the creature in to the rain but sadly he had no other option. Tsukiko waved his tail then sniffed the cold wet air, his paws firmly planted under the over hanging roof. Feeling far too guilty getting the recently healed patient wet the Sannin reluctantly took his cloak off and draped it over the dog. Tsukiko didn't know what exactly was happening but he got excited from the strange change and shuffled on the spot licking the serpent as he secured the cloak. The ends now draped on the floor meaning they were soaked through, it didn't matter, it never touched the dog and now neither did the rain. Fully exposed the Sannin exited the shelter closely followed by his companion. He wouldn't use the word cold to describe the walk home, he'd preferably have compared it to Antarctica. His very bones started to hurt and he found himself crossing his arms over his chest in a foolish attempt to stay warm. His hair was drenched hanging close to his face and sticking to his clothes. He sneezed lightly, Tsukiko waved his tail under the cloak, the material shuffling strangely.
"I hope you're warm at least," Orochimaru muttered, the dog hadn't a clue what he said.
Eventually the Sannin considered sending serpents to call for Kakashi. He really was weak in the cold he realized, and he certainly wouldn't fend well for himself if he was forced to endure the harsher weathers. Heat never even slightly affected him, but he could never handle icy climates.
He was close enough to the residence so he pushed on raising a slim hand to his mouth as he coughed softly. He swore he was getting sick from the chill but he refused to admit it to himself, being sick was so humanly weak. He didn't like being weak. He didn't like the idea of being fragile and useless. The house came in to view, it was on top of another house so he eagerly trotted up the stairs as he got to it. He then realized the dog was having trouble with the staircase. Straight ground was simple enough with only three legs however anything else would prove a problem. Making a quick dash backwards the serpent tried to help the dog but he was heavier than the Sannin could support. Doing a few hand signs the black haired male summoned a large white serpent. He heard screams and looked behind him to see a startled group of ninja running off when they saw his summoning. He rolled his eyes, he would never randomly attack a group of men with one small serpent. If he chose to attack it would certainly be a better attempt. The snake coiled around the dog, he yipped a nervous sound but allowed it. They were by the door and the summoned reptile turned to smoke. Orochimaru opened the door and called out a greeting as he did so. He heard Kakashi walking towards him, he could tell the others footsteps by their casual demeanour.
When the Sannin looked up he met amused eyes, then after the serpent stifled a small cough they turned to concerned ones.
"I'm sure Tsukiko could have handled the cold," Kakashi said coming over to assist his lover. "At least he would have been better off than you."
"I'm not one leg short though," Orochimaru commented handing the cloak to the taller male, the copy ninja took it and moved it off. The Sannin watched his dog hobble to the couch, when the canine struggled to clamber up the serpent helped him. He felt someone place a hand on his waist and he startled.
"It's me," Kakashi chided. He drew his lover in once he had helped with the dog, he had worry written on his face as he felt the other male tremble from cold. "You need to get warm, you're going to catch a cold if you haven't already caught one."
It wasn't the words the Sannin had wanted to hear, but he supposed it was the words he needed to hear. He felt his partner guide him over to the shower, he had a habit of physically trying to help everyone. If he could not do it for you he would walk you over to the task.
"I think I can handle it," Orochimaru said smiling up at his worried lover.
Kakashi pecked his head lightly before going back inside to fetch the Sannin warmer clothes. Orochimaru leant over the sink draining his hair out from the rain, he met the copy ninjas eyes through the mirror and watched him place more suitable dry attire down. An ordinary kimono black in colouring lined with simple white patterns on the sleeves.
"Thank you love," Orochimaru called back to his lover when he shut the door. Kakashi entered the lounge again, Saura was still at the strategists office evidently, or so the copy ninja guessed. He wasn't home and no one had sent word of him. It was pleasant, the two ninja hadn't had a moment alone together. In the three days, after all the males had finished their duties the NW would request lessons as a shinobi. He hadn't gotten far in the three days, the serpent had more patience for the man. He didn't mind spending the cold evenings explaining simple trivial things with him. The sound of the shower trickled to life as Kakashi sat beside the dog. Tsukiko spun his large head around to lick fanatically at man next to him. He was a friendly dog, overly so. Running his hand over his damp fur he opted to dry him off with a towel. Thanks to the cloak he was barely wet but his fur still managed to hold the smell of wet dog. He draped the towel over the canine and rubbed it over his body to dry him further.
Once the dog was completely dry, a smug grin on his muzzle, the copy ninja threw the towel in to the wash basket. Now seated on the couch opposite the dog, he pulled his book off the side table and opened it up. The shower had clicked off moments before and soon the door opened, steam from the confined space seeping through in to the lounge. The kimono sleeves hung loosely at the slim ninjas side, a thin dark grey sash tying the waist line together. The Sannin crossed the distance and leant on the couch, the Jonin also wore a more comfortable attire, although his came in the form of a blue loose hanging long sleeve shirt and black pants. Underneath that shirt the copy ninja still wore his mask and undershirt. Orochimaru chuckled at the sight of his strange long running joke.
"Always with the mask my dear," he said leaning on the back rest of the couch. Kakashi threw his head to the side to look at the pale ninja, his golden eyes enchanting and rather mischievous.
"Keeps my element of mystery alive," Kakashi joked, although his voice did not give off the hint of it being humour. Orochimaru smiled and shook his head in good nature.
"I've seen under that mask Hatake," he laughed, "the element of surprise is gone."
"And yet it bothers you," Kakashi replied glancing back at the page of his book.
"What joys can you find rereading that... lovely piece of literature," Orochimaru said, wording his sentence politely. Kakashi smiled at the comment, he knew his lover thought the novel anything but lovely. It wasn't sarcastic, the Sannin knew the copy ninja would however work out that it wasn't his taste in story.
"It's entertaining," Kakashi replied as he watched his lover gracefully swoop around the couch to sit beside him. The copy ninja took one hand off the book to use it to draw the Sannin in.
"I'm sure we can think of things more entertaining than that," Orochimaru replied with an impish smile on his face. He then stifled a laugh when he saw the copy ninja make no effort to protest abandoning his favourite book. Kakashi flipped their positioning around ending the Sannin up on his back. Orochimaru didn't complain as he looped his thin arms around his lovers neck to lift himself up slightly. He drew his partners mask down until it no longer covered his mouth or jaw. Kakashi leant down and captured the smaller ninjas lips as he felt the other lean upwards, his arms still around the others neck and shoulders to keep him in position. The two hadn't been alone for weeks, in fact for months. Kakashi had both hands on either side of the Sannins head, he eventually allowed one hand to trace his partners form, their mouths still captured by one another. They pulled away for air their faces still inches from one another. Bringing his hand back up to the serpents face he tilted the smaller males head to expose his neck. He lightly pecked the pale flesh the Sannin willingly moving aside to allow room.
Kakashi gently nipped his collar while he remained on top, slightly off the slim ninja making sure he did not crush the smaller form. Orochimaru had a small fanged smile as he allowed the other to do as he wished. His kimono was now slightly undone, the click of the door opening triggered a small moment of panic. Orochimaru heard it first and roughly shoved at his lover, Kakashi mistook it as playful and didn't notice it all the same.
"Kakashi," Orochimaru hissed.
"You'll never believe what happened today," the voice said, it was the sound that propelled the copy ninja to his feet awkwardly. Orochimaru sat up abruptly, tugging his kimono in to place and then swiftly running his hands through his hair to be more presentable. Saura entered the lounge hearing movement. He saw their slightly startled faces and paused for a moment, he then greeted the dog.
"Tsukiko got released," he said. "It's always good to be a whole house again."
"What happened today?" Orochimaru asked politely.
"Right, as I was saying. The Riakage offered me a higher position. I get sway in our advances, I didn't think I'd get such trust," Saura said happily as he went off to his room. "Naturally he still thinks I'm a ninja. I need to work on my jutsu, to keep the image alive. But perhaps we can do that tomorrow, we all have the day off apparently. To rest they said."
"Congratulations on your raise," Orochimaru said. "We can go train at one of the parks if the rain gets lighter."
"I knew you'd agree! Brilliant. I'm off to bed, we can start tomorrow morning then," he said as he disappeared in to his room, completely unaware of his interruption or their quick dash at becoming decent. When he was gone the two lovers glanced at one another before the snake summoner chuckled under his breath, the copy ninja joining his soft amusement. Orochimaru took the other mans hand and got to his feet leading him towards their shared room.
"Perhaps we should move this to a more private place," he said with a small grin still on his face. Kakashi did not argue as they slipped in to the comforts of their room, Tsukiko kicked in his dreams as he happily remained behind on the sofa. Orochimaru took one last glance at the dog and at the NWs room to ensure they would be left alone before closing his door behind them both.
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It had been several days since the ninja had first entered the Cloud village. They were edgy to get places but knew that they couldn't. Kakashi watched fighters train, there was no longer any point him joining them, he was far too advanced so he trained by himself. If another ninja requested his help he would give it to them, but as it stood he would have more luck in solitude. The rain beat down on the terrain still, but the ninja did not pay it attention as they fought one another, testing their own strengths. The copy ninja sensed the chakara of his lover and turned to see him trotting down the wet path. There must have been some reason for urgency if he was coming out in to the rain, his cloak was drawn around him but the Jonin new well it would never be enough to make the snake willing. Kakashi moved towards him, he was first worried, then he saw the happy smile across his lovers face, his eyes lit up in excitement. He had discovered something. The copy ninja knew it. He knew the mans expressions by heart during their time living with one another. He greeted the over eager ninja who half leapt in to him, stopping only because he tended not to display affection in front of eyes.
"What have you found?" Kakashi asked, knowing his guess would be right. Orochimaru seemed to muffle a laugh when he challenged the others stare.
"Must you ruin all my fun," he said back. "I think I may have found the cure."
"The cure? To the NWs hold?" Kakashi asked back, it had not been long, he was always proud of the males ability to get things done but even for him it was record time.
"It was simple, I had to find out what part of chakara was allowing them to interfere with our bodies," Orochimaru stated, he elaborated on the details and the copy ninja blinked back somewhat stupidly. He nodded in an attempt to keep up. "So I have the cure- or at least... I think I do. I need to test it on a ninja however. That's the only way to know if I've managed to make us all immune."
Kakashi's eyes narrowed at that, he was no fan of human experimentation. The Sannin did not take offense, he didn't mind his partners over cautious side. It was expected, and out of everyone he was the only person who never judged him on it. He merely objected if it were brought up. The Sannin decided to calm his worries.
"It's almost like a vaccination you see," he said. "It really can't damage the ninja I test it on. At worst there is no effect, and if there is an effect it will be so minor and I've already established how I will make sure it doesn't go anywhere dangerous. Whoever is tested on will be fine even if it fails. However if it doesn't fail we will be free from their hold."
"So we will become immune the same way we usually make ourselves immune to illnesses?" Kakashi asked.
"Precisely," Orochimaru said. "There are some major differences of course, but we can use the same formula."
"No one is going to be happy with you trying to conduct experiments, no matter how minor they may be, on humans," Kakashi said, the Sannin acknowledged that fact.
"I figured that much," he said. "Which is why I wanted to ask you for help."
For a mere moment the copy ninja wondered if his partner wanted him to be the guinea pig in the experiment, he was hesitant but then had a hard time figuring if he would be selfish to say no. The Sannin dispelled the idea when he said something even worse.
"I'll try it on myself," Orochimaru said.
"Don't do that!" Kakashi said panicked. Orochimaru looked at him shocked, he hadn't expected such resistance. He smiled warmly at his partner both touched and amused at his concern.
"Don't worry as I said it can't kill me," Orochimaru said. "I need you there though just in case, it's safer that way even if the risks are barely present. I'll also need you to use one of the machines to lock my chakara. If I can break free after my cure then it is safe to say it is functional, if not I need to do some correcting."
"How do you know it's safe?" Kakashi asked.
"Logically what I have done should not have a negative effect... of course I have no actual proof until I take it. But it shouldn't by all standards of logics." Orochimaru said. The other man was not convinced. He didn't like the idea of experimenting on his lover, it seemed to a have a rather dangerous edge.
"I've experimented on myself with much riskier things Kakashi," Orochimaru said. "And for much less to gain as well."
"That doesn't help me," Kakashi admitted.
"I can ask Deidara to help me if you aren't comfortable," Orochimaru said. He had met up with the blond the second day in the Cloud land. His blond friend had been as excited as Tsukiko had been. The entire day he refused to leave the serpents side, he was sent on a mission for the next few days but when he returned he had sworn the two would have to catch up. Orochimaru had been equally as happy to see his friend. He hadn't realized just how much the other worried about his wellbeing, he wasn't entirely used to it. Hidan and Kisame had been equally as warm with their greeting, it had boosted the Sannins morale for the time being. Even when the other ninja called him a freak or a monster, it didn't really matter when the old Akatsuki members were all too accepting and welcoming.
"No let me be there," Kakashi said. He didn't want to do it but he didn't want to not be there if it was going to happen anyway. The Sannin had assumed that was the case, he would have asked Deidara to begin with if he thought his lover would have preferred that option.
"When you are done with your training come and find me in the lab," Orochimaru said leaning up to kiss the taller man. Kakashi nodded and allowed his partner to skitter out the rain, dark purple chakara being left behind as he departed in to nothing.
Two ninja called to the Jonin and he hesitantly moved on to train with them as requested.
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Orochimaru fidgeted with the formulas on the counter he worked at, the cure he had was already neatly held in a small thin syringe waiting to be tested. He had promised he would wait for the copy ninja so he bit down his impatience and kept is eyes on the clock. Other ninja walked past in their white coats, making idle friendly chit chat, it was no wonder they got nowhere, they had such little motivation and focused so much more intensely on their own personal lives. It was war, it was the time the Sannin was the most productive. He had deadlines and he strove to finish way before them to make room for whatever came next. He often found himself taking on other ninjas incomplete work, or even at times redoing poorly done jobs. He felt someone draw up close beside him so he spun around expecting it to be Kakashi. It wasn't, Saura looked down at the Sannin with a rather confident smirk. He wore a Cloud headband, Orochimaru and Kakashi had refused them. They did not belong to the nation, they did not want to wear their badge of honour. Saura had never attained one and he desperately clung to the acceptance of the shinobi world.
The larger man leant one hand on the counter, still standing awfully close to the serpent, almost touching him with the proximity he chose. Orochimaru would have placed more distance between them but he didn't want to move closer to the more potent chemicals lined up by the counter. He let his golden eyes spring up to the man questioningly.
"Do you need something?" The Sannin asked passively.
"Can we talk outside?" Saura said.
"In the rain?" Orochimaru asked.
"It's just a bit of water," Saura said.
"I can't be long," Orochimaru warned. "I have work to do."
"Of course," Saura said.
They moved down the hall, the NW having much more energy than he had ever had back in the city. It was clearly a new and much needed start to a better a life. Orochimaru followed him in to the rain and then halted when the male tried to lead him around the back.
"Where on earth are we going Saura?" He asked, there was only dense forest behind the laboratory the large over hanging trees allowing great masses of water to cascade down.
"Just trust me, I have to show you something," Saura said, the serpent sighed and drew his cloak over his head again, the wind still desperately trying to blow it off. They ran below the trees until the NW stopped, something jutted out of the grounds.
"I was training in the forest," Saura said, "and when I got here I found something I didn't recognize. It looks like one of our drones... but it's coated in something."
Orochimaru came to stand by the man his curiosity intrigued. He spotted what the man was talking about, the small machine looked capable of flight but it had ruined its wings getting stuck in the low hanging roots digging their way out of the ground. Its red light flashed and died repeatedly, every time it looked as if it would give up trying to start but it never did. The drone was no bigger than the males hands. Saura tried to free it but he was quick to let go of it. The strangest part about the machine was the fact that it had a dark red seal snaked across it. Orochimaru placed a hand on the other mans arm to request he move over, it was no wonder he had no luck moving it, the seal was in place to ensure no one could get to it. Few ninja were capable of forming seals, and equal few were capable of breaking them. Sealing tags had been created due to the lack of natural ability, but the naturally made seals held strong and could not be taken a part by amateurs.
"Whoever sealed it evidently did not want anyone to get a hold of it," Orochimaru said. "Perhaps it has stored valuable information."
"Can any ninja undo the seal?" Saura asked hopefully.
"No," Orochimaru admitted, a fanged grin crossed his face as he looked at the man. "Few can undo a seal of this level, luckily I have mastered the art however."
"Can you undo it here?" Saura asked.
"I can yes," Orochimaru said. "I won't do it yet though, not many can make a seal of this level. I want to see if one of the specialists can figure out who created this one. If it's a ninja they have sided with the NWs, or else they are being forced. Either way it's good to know. If it isn't a ninja however... we are in more danger than we think, your people can not figure out our complicated techniques. If you copy it with your machines you can easily eradicate us. You have done it once, you mimicked the chakara attacks the Kyubi releases. They were substantially weaker but none the less it almost cost us our lives."
Saura did not pick up on the gravity of the situation. He had only picked up one the Sannins wording and he rejected the sentence.
"Not my people," he snapped. Orochimaru looked at him, he didn't understand why the man would be so averse to his heritage. Even the Sannin knew they weren't all bad, and he had been accepted, he couldn't fathom someone throwing acceptance away. He had longed his entire young life for such a liberty and had never succeeded. Yet here this man stood fully capable of existing in both worlds comfortably, complaining about his blood ties. He rationalized before he spoke, if the man wanted to eradicate the bonds between his old home and him he may do so, the Sannin would never label anyone. They could all be what they wanted, it was the smallest mercy he could offer.
"Sorry, I didn't mean it in that way," Orochimaru said. "If you say you are ninja then you are. You wear the headband, you honour our codes. You are in every way one of us."
Saura didn't seem to take it well, he hadn't expected the humble apology. The Sannin was never one to back down, he wouldn't cave to people's pressures easily, the harder someone forced him the less wiling he became. He didn't know however that the male had no problems admitting his own flaws, and when he saw them he acted quickly to redeem it.
"We can't pick it up if we don't unseal it," Saura said.
"I can bring a specialist here," Orochimaru said.
"I don't want others to find it," Saura confessed. Orochimaru allowed him to finish with questioning eyes. "It may have been following us... what if everyone finds out I'm not a born ninja. If they know I'm lying they'll kill me. It is likely it had seen us or even followed us."
"Do these things track people Saura?" Orochimaru asked panic rising in his voice. "If they do then can the NWs not already locate us all?"
"This drone brings back recordings, it's the first I've seen so I don't think they know where we are," Saura said.
"We could easily have not seen it," Orochimaru said.
"You've cast this island in genjutsu. The drone won't pick you up, that's why it crashed in to the roots. It couldn't see the island itself," Saura said. It reassured the Sannin, but he wondered how many other drones had crash landed. If they managed to pull themselves free the army may find them.
"If you think it holds information dangerous to you I'll hide it," Orochimaru said, he knew what it was like to have darker secrets, he would help the man out for all the times he and done so with the serpent. "We won't know if this chakara is natural or not- but I suppose we will find out when we reach the city anyway."
Orochimaru undid the seal and it tried to repel him away defiantly. It was not as strong as the Sannins more potent chakara and soon dark black tinted by purple hues flared around the drone until the dark red was eaten away. The serpent then pulled the wedged machine out and looked it over, he had no idea how he would extract information so he handed it to Saura.
"It's your find," Orochimaru said. "Do what you want with it, let me know if you need help, but don't drag my name down with you if you're found out."
"I'll put it in my room back home," Saura said, he hadn't expected the Sannin to be quite so willing to help. He flashed grateful eyes, he expected he would need to convince or guilt trip him, there was no convincing needed. "Thank you."
"We all have our own lives to lead," Orochimaru said. "I have to get back to the lab, I'll see you at home. Hide it well."
With that the Sannin leapt back towards home darting through the trees as he hurried to where he guessed the copy ninja would already be waiting. He pulled up outside the laboratory at the same moment his lover did.
"Where were you," Kakashi asked surprised.
"I'll tell you later," Orochimaru said as guards looked over at them. The copy ninja did not argue as he followed his partner through the halls and to where the cure lay waiting. Orochimaru had packed it away when Saura requested him so he dug it out from its confinement. They took it and then the Sannin moved them to a private room where he shut the door.
"All right nothing should happen," Orochimaru said, he handed Kakashi a device on the desk in the room, the small office must have been given to the Sannin. "That will be able to lock my chakara. Click that button and enter this code to lock my chakara. If I am controlled by it my cure has failed, so you will have to release me and I will have to work on it. Click that button to undo the lock."
"Got it," Kakashi said as he mentally took notes of his task, he didn't like the idea of something so new being tested on his lover, he had no other choice however so he watched as the Sannin injected himself. After the predicated ten minutes the copy ninja typed in the code that was written on a small device the Sannin had placed on himself. It buzzed when the Jonin commanded it, a dark flare of chakara erupted around the Sannin then died.
"Can you use your chakara?" Kakashi asked cautiously.
It seemed as if he could not, the Sannin had a pause for thought but he tried it one more time. The device hummed and then fell silent, moments after chakara flared around the ninja strongly.
"Turn that dial over there," Orochimaru ordered. "It will increase the hold the device has on me. Turn it all the way."
Kakashi was hesitant, he obeyed and watched as the potent hue never once even flickered, it almost triumphantly radiated and glowed. Kakashi waited for the others approval before turning the now useless machine off.
"It's worked," Orochimaru said with a satisfied smile, his slitted eyes fell to his partners. Kakashi was still holding his breath hoping that nothing would come as a side effect. The Sannin appeared completely normal.
"I'll tell the Riakage in three days," Orochimaru said. "I must just make sure it is as safe as it seems."
"In other words if it doesn't kill you we will tell him," Kakashi said worriedly.
"Precisely," Orochimaru chuckled, he pecked his lover and placed the machine back in to its drawer. "Do you not realize what this means? The city has no way to control us. They have nothing to stop our attacks. We can sneak in there, all the shinobi can be safe from the cage they tried to keep us in."
"It's a big step to victory," Kakashi said, he hugged the smaller ninja to him and met his stare. "But I don't want to win this war alone. You've got to promise me you'll be careful, you've got to promise me you'll make it out alive."
"I promise," Orochimaru said with an amused smile. "I'm immortal. I can't die."
Kakashi rolled his eyes. He then playfully shoved the shorter male away keeping his movements light to ensure he didn't get hurt.
"Your arrogance will kill you before any bullet," he joked.
"I'm a realist my dear," Orochimaru said catching himself and then elegantly swooping to the door. "It's not arrogance."
Kakashi watched as the slim figured male exited the room his spirits high from his success. It was surely a good way to end his work shift. Kakashi followed him out, he couldn't help but be impressed with the Sannins work. His ability to succeed. His arrogance was perhaps deserved, there was little he could not do when he put his all in to it. He caught up to the Sannin and they walked home together the atmosphere hopeful and cheerful despite the opposite feeling weather. They got to the door and swung it open, the dog hobbled over and barked a greeting. He had as much spirit even one leg down and the Sannin appreciated it all the more. He threw his arms gently around the dog to greet it back then got to his feet and moved off to their room to change out the wet clothes. Kakashi took his cloak off and then entered the lounge. It was only moments later the door was knocked on. Tsukiko bellowed a warning, informing the newcomer that it was in fact their house and that the guest would have to watch himself. The three legged guardian stood by the door sniffing at it, he recognized the smell and waved his tail.
Orochimaru appeared by the wooden frame first and opened it without even asking who waited on the other side. Asuma met the Sannins eyes and the clear detest resurfaced, he then shoved his emotions away as best he could trying to be civil.
"Is Kakashi home?" Asuma asked still acting polite.
"He is in the lounge," Orochimaru said moving out the mans way. The larger man thanked him and entered he made for the lounge.
"Orochimaru what's this metal thing?" Kakashi asked, Orochimaru thought over his possessions unsure of what he meant. He then realized and noting Asuma heading over he trotted to be in the lead. The man stopped as the smaller male almost ran in to him. The serpent snatched the device from Kakashi and flashed him a warning glare. He then moved to Saura's room where he would make good on the others failure. Hiding the device was the NWs only job, the Sannin feared what Asuma may do if he found a secret drone in their possession. When he emerged out the room the suspicious eyes of the new arrival were locked on him.
"What was that?" Asuma asked.
"Something of Saura's," Orochimaru brushed it off.
"What was it exactly," Asuma said again.
"You know very well he isn't a ninja Asuma," Orochimaru said. "He brought a gun with him, and probably other things for when he thought we'd all be stuck in the forest."
"It looked like a drone," Asuma said well aware of what the things did thanks to Saura's elaborate explanations. Orochimaru knew well the man wouldn't keep quiet about it if he truly found out it was a drone. He would have no hang ups leaving the NW to the dogs even if he was in fact loyal. The Sannin refused to let him get in to trouble for the other males nosiness, he hadn't wanted to get involved but he knew well that Saura would be put to death. If they found out Kakashi and the serpent had known about it they may very well have the same fate.
"It wasn't a drone," Orochimaru said.
"Why would I believe you? Show it to me then," Asuma said.
"I already said it was just a harmless machine. The same one that took away our chakara restrictors when we were in the dome," Orochimaru lied. He said it convincingly, but it didn't matter, even he if he were speaking the truth the man would never believe him.
"Bullshit," Asuma said.
"It was," Kakashi said interrupting them. It was harder for the other Konoha ninja to argue with his friend. He had only known the man to honestly engage in a situation. He nodded in acceptance. He then looked at the Sannin again.
"I'd like to talk to him alone," Asuma said. The serpent didn't argue, he hardly wanted to be near the man. The house was small making it harder to give them space. Tsukiko was close at his side when he went to sit on the bed.
It became so infuriatingly boring he ended up sitting on the windowsill watching the rain run down the glass. Tsukiko mumbled in his sleep and kicked his legs, he had decided resting would pass the time and the bed was exactly the place he had opted to snuggle in to. Orochimaru passed a glance over at the dog then allowed his eyes to fall back to the repetitive motion of the water. His own reflection barely touched the glass as he rested his head lightly against the cold window. The wind howled dangerously and through the thick down pour he could lightly make out the figures of people scattering to head in doors. The sound of the lock clicking open made the dog startle awake as he barked a warning.
"It's me dog," Saura was heard saying. Orochimaru wondered why the man was entering his room. "I see you've been shunned. Bit rude of him to kick you out your own lounge."
"I assume he wanted to talk to Kakashi about something important," Orochimaru mused. "He won't say anything important by me, he doesn't trust me."
"He isn't saying anything important," Saura said. "They're catching up."
That slightly agitated the serpent, he didn't want to be locked in his room so the man could speak meaningless things. It wasn't as if the snake could turn anything so trivial against him. It was his house, it was his right to be where he wanted yet he found himself politely tucking himself away. He had done that too many times in his childhood. People feared him, detested him, so he would leave everyone be. If it were his right to be some where he would still act civil and sneak away.
He almost felt he should go and sit on the couch right beside the copy ninja spitefully. Making an effort to make his presence known, making effort to ensure the other was well aware he was not going to hide in the dark to make the man feel better. Naturally, the Sannin ended up staying where he was. He defeatedly moved over to his bed and sat beside the dog leaning on the back rest.
"I've lost the energy to care about that man," Orochimaru replied. "Did you need something or have you been banished too?"
"He actually offered me a seat, so no I wasn't banished. We work together I think he has become less untrusting of me," Saura said. "I just noticed you were in here all alone."
"I have Tsukiko. I'm not completely alone," Orochimaru said, as if the dog was even aware of his company being needed. As it was the hound was fast asleep again his heavy head now leaning on the male beside him. "If you want to go and join their conversation don't let me worry you."
"I'll stay here rather," Saura said. "If he is an asshole to you then I'd rather not share his company."
Orochimaru watched him curiously, he never knew why the man was always so quick to jump on his defence. He knew the copy ninja and the serpent were an item, it wasn't like he could possibly be thinking he would stand a chance. The Sannin was very unaware of the comments the NW had been passing to Kakashi, in his mind it made no real sense for the man to see any future.
"Do as you will," Orochimaru said. He then laughed lightly. "Next time, try hiding that drone of yours somewhere it can't be seen. I'm not sure if you were going for plain sight but it almost got you caught out."
"Did someone find it?" Saura asked worriedly.
"Kakashi," Orochimaru said as he watched the man come to sit on the bed as well. "But he won't say anything, he doesn't even know what it is."
"Can you do me a favour," Saura said quickly. "Rather don't tell him if he asks about it."
"It's your secret not mine," Orochimaru said. "So very well."
"Thanks," Saura said, he then reached in his pocket and pulled out a box of cigarettes. "Would you like one?"
"I didn't know you smoked," Orochimaru said, he then shook his head politely gesturing he didn't feel like indulging in the poison.
"I don't do it often," Saura said. "Are you sure? War is stressful, if you don't find small ways to calm yourself you could end up snapping."
"The idea of that in my lungs is truly more stressful than war," Orochimaru commented.
"Suit yourself," Saura said as he drew in his own smoke. Tsukiko kicked out in his sleep as the two males spoke. The topics were unusual as both of them knew about the others home towns and yet seemed to never know enough. They shared stories of their childhood, the Sannin doing his best to only share ones that were happier. He had much fewer than the other man, so he tried to mention things that were not so much stories but more events.
"Who were you closer to, Tsunade or Jiraiya?" Saura asked.
"Closer? I wasn't close to either one. I preferred Tsunade's company at the time, but only because she was less in my space," Orochimaru said honestly. Saura met his eyes sadly.
"You sound like you were distant to your comrades," he said.
"I wasn't as close to them as they were to each other," Orochimaru admitted. "I suppose that made it harder in itself to get closer."
"They're missing out, not you," Saura said.
"I'm not always sure about that," Orochimaru said, he instantly stopped himself, he felt he was saying far too much. He instantly walled himself again, he didn't need to admit his past to anyone. He hadn't said anything mentionable and yet he still felt it was too personal. He didn't like talking about himself, especially not his past. He had every question answered in his mind when it came to his future, but he couldn't help but struggle with his past.
"You should be," Saura said. He said something after that but the Sannin got stuck in his thoughts momentarily. His comrades had said it was his fault they grew distant from him, that it was because he ran away, because he left. But it wasn't he had told himself at night. It was the opposite. It was because they were so distant that he ran. He had nothing to hold him to rationality, he had no one to call when he needed someone to calm him down. No one to fall on, so when he did inevitably come down he had broken in to a former shell of himself. He had been made cold, not because he chose to be, but because he had been forced to adapt to his surroundings.
"This obviously hurts you," Saura said, it was then that the Sannin realized he had gotten side tracked, he didn't like the way man worded it. Hurt. That sounded too weak for the legendary ninja. He had strived to never be weak, he refused to be weak.
"It doesn't," Orochimaru said, but it came out rather fake.
"Maybe it doesn't, but it did," Saura said, he then apologized. "I shouldn't have said that. Let's change the subject. Are you from a clan? Your eyes are different."
"My parents died when I was young... I never got to learn about my history," Orochimaru said. "Whatever relatives I have are seemingly gone as well. I've never looked for anyone, I've never really known where to start. So in short I don't know, I've just always looked this... different. No one's told me of my heritage."
"That's exciting," Saura said trying to see the good. "Maybe when this is over we can look for them."
"Them? As in my relatives?" Orochimaru asked. "I don't think they are alive, after this war, or any of the other wars I've witnessed for that matter."
Tsukiko kicked out with his one hind leg in his sleep, he was considerably strong given his size and the blow managed to knock Saura's cigarette out of his hand. The NW apologized as the smoke landed closer to the Sannin. He leant over the dog now half on top of Orochimaru as he attempted to locate the burning object. The serpent chuckled at the scene, the rather large man now looking slightly ridiculous as he searched for the glowing end.
The door clicked open and a sudden silence filled the room, Kakashi looked at them rather questioningly, although he tried to compose the look of suspicion.
"Got it!" Saura said as he pulled the small cigarette from beside the Sannin out. He then met eyes with Kakashi and smiled, he was usually arrogant, but in that situation the copy ninja wondered if perhaps he wasn't arrogant for a different reason. "I see you're done catching up secretly."
"I see you've just began?" Kakashi questioned. Orochimaru didn't understand the other mans over annoyed expression, it seemed a bit possessive when he didn't know the extent of Saura's words. Them being on the bed somehow made it worse. "Interesting place to talk."
"We weren't being secretive, and it's not so interesting a choice, it was the only place I was allowed thanks to your friend," Orochimaru replied.
"Well he's gone now. You should probably be going to," Kakashi said to the NW. Saura laughed as he rose from the bed, it was obviously just to poke the fires some more when he leant over and kissed the Sannins forehead.
"I'll leave. Night Oro-chan. I hope you're feeling better tomorrow morning," he said. He was playing it off as care, as he had seen the Sannin upset moments before. The serpent saw the gesture as an act of trying to console the male, Kakashi saw it entirely differently. The NW then walked past the man in a slow lingering fashion, if he had taken a second longer Kakashi swore he may have hit his smug smile straight off his face.
"So what did Asuma want?" Orochimaru asked.
"I don't like him," Kakashi said following the other mans trail. Orochimaru blinked at him wondering why he had point blank changed topics. His hatred must have been rather real.
"Is this one of those I can only hang out with people you choose situations?" Orochimaru questioned with narrow eyes.
"It's not like that, but I hate you being around that guy," Kakashi said, the words were falling from his mouth before he could catch them.
"I don't exactly like Asuma. You don't hear me telling you that I don't want you seeing him," Orochimaru replied rather dryly. It was different the copy ninja thought, it was different because Asuma was not a threat to their relationship in anyway. To the Sannin it was exactly the same, Asuma was always making the Sannin uncomfortable, Saura evidently doing the same to Kakashi. If anything Asuma was far more rude in his ways than Saura had ever been to the copy ninja.
"It's not about me not liking him," Kakashi said. It was about the man liking the Sannin.
"Then what is it about?" Orochimaru asked.
"You don't think he acts too... inappropriately around you?" Kakashi asked.
"I'm... not sure I know what you mean by inappropriate." Orochimaru said back.
"Never mind. Forget I said anything," Kakashi said, he wasn't up for a long debate, he didn't feel like trying to push his point across. If it hadn't been received already it was more of a mission than he had the energy for.
"I'm not able to read your thoughts Kakashi. If something is bothering you I'd like to know what, and not the short version with no rationality explaining it," Orochimaru said leaning back in to the bed his hair falling down his shoulders.
"We can discuss it another time. We have more important things to worry about," Kakashi said. "I'm going to sleep in the lounge. It smells like smoke in here."
Orochimaru didn't get the chance to stop him. Tsukiko was awake with the new energy in the room and looked between them. When the Sannin got up to follow the man to the next room the dog decided it was too much of a mission to join him and burrowed in to the warm sheets.
"What are you talking about?" Orochimaru said as he drew up beside his lover, the man was dismissive as he got himself a glass of water.
"Nothing, it doesn't matter," Kakashi said.
"Yet you want to be in an entirely different room to me, because of nothing apparently," Orochimaru said.
"It smells like smoke, I already said that," Kakashi lied. It had nothing to do with the faint smell of the others cigarette. It had everything to do with the memory of his form being there however.
"You're a weak liar my love," Orochimaru muttered turning off sharply his entire form now rigid with anger.
"Liar? I hardly constitute a liar," Kakashi said. "If anything-"
He stopped himself, the Sannin was well aware however of what his next sentence consisted of. It always came up when the other man spoke to Asuma. He always managed to blurt out one of the Sannins apparent flaws, one deemed evil or immoral.
"If anything I am a liar," Orochimaru finished for him.
"I wasn't going to say that," Kakashi said.
"No you weren't, but you thought it. It almost makes it worse, you've said nothing this entire conversation. Just like your unfinished sentence you open a topic and leave it in the air," Orochimaru hissed. "I've lied to many people, I've never lied to you. I don't like sharing my thoughts either, it's a dangerous game to play, revealing your true self. It has openings for tragedy. But I try to be straight with you if with no one else. I wish you would do the same for me, but perhaps our definition of relationship is vastly different."
"I'm not hiding anything from you," Kakashi said his voice softened, the water in the glass trembled as his hand did, perhaps from anger, maybe guilt. "It's not nothing, but it's nothing important."
"Right. It never really is," Orochimaru said, he grabbed his coat off the hanger and made for the door.
"Why are you leaving?" Kakashi asked in a slightly defeated voice.
"This room smells of smoke my dear," he said with disapproval in his tone.
Kakashi realized his failed lie, Asuma had also been smoking. The lounge was larger than the bedroom so the hint of smoke was minor, naturally it made a small difference. If anything it simply made his lie weak, his attempt at ending the debate seemingly haven backfired. The door shut out the sound of rain when it closed once more.
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Three days after the fight the couple had come to a silent agreement to forget the entire thing. The Sannin only doing so because the copy ninja wanted it that way. Kakashi had noticed however that the males way of talking had changed. He was becoming more evasive, his words less open. The Jonin felt as if he was trying to handle a snake he had always done so easily before, yet now, whenever he reached out for the serpent it would rear its head in warning. Although whenever the man touched the snake it did not strike, the warning made him uneasy. Made him question if it were only a matter of time. Orochimaru had said he was going to the Cloud leader to show him the cure, he had not asked the copy ninja to accompany him. He wouldn't have noticed it if it weren't for the fact that he had asked Deidara to instead. Evidently the blond picked up on it as well, his blue eyes meeting Kakashi questioningly on the day. Orochimaru presented his cure to the Riakage. The man was both eager and sceptical. It was clear he wanted to believe the Sannin had done such a feat on short notice, but he was finding it hard too.
"Have you tested it?" The Cloud leader asked.
"Yes. On myself three days ago," Orochimaru said.
"And on anyone else?" He seemed suspicious.
"Just myself," Orochimaru said.
"I'll be cured in front of you," Deidara said. "So that you can see for yourself."
He had no fear of any side effects, he trusted the other male. He was not hard to convince, despite being a rogue he was often naively trusting. Orochimaru did his best to protect the over gullible male. Together they were a good blend, the dark haired one always first saying no, the blond always first saying yes. It made them both stop to come to an agreement, in doing so allowing for them to come to the right conclusion.
"Very well," the leader said. Orochimaru did his best not to roll his eyes. If he had offered to show case the cure on a shinobi with a nation the leader would have called it "human experimentation", but since it was done on two rogues it did not matter. Without fail the blond was cured, his chakara ignoring the NW made lock. The man's eyes were wide with shock, he hadn't believed it possible. Now he was forced to acknowledge it.
"You've done more than your share Sannin," the Riakage said. The serpent did not take the praise, he wasn't good at doing so as he never felt he could trust anyone when they were being nice.
"We should start curing all our ninja, then when our plans are sorted we can finally take back what is ours," Orochimaru said. He was eager to get a start on rebuilding the ninja world, he didn't like the conflict any longer, he had lost the ability to learn from it. He had been through so many wars, most of his life taken over by them, that he had learned all he could. He had far better things to do than repeat history.
"Naturally. I will inform you when that day comes. For now you must help administer the cures," the Cloud leader said. Deidara bounced the ineffective machine in his hands as he watched the conversation. Once they had finished he followed his friend out to the cold streets.
"Can't wait to blow them up hm," Deidara said his eyes glancing over at the other male.
"I'll leave the blowing up to you," Orochimaru said with a light smile. He could appreciate the others taste in art even if it differed from his idea of eternity. He didn't want eternal life because he saw it as beautiful. He did it because it was practical for what he wanted to do, his aims required it. The Sannins eyes narrowed when someone arrived beside them, too close for comfort the snake hissed and spun around to meet a familiar gaze.
"I see you're in the mood for a fight," Kisame said his jagged smile visible from beneath his hood. The Sannin looked up at the shark like male and folded his arms over his chest, they stood in the middle of the quiet street, the rain beating down around them.
"If you had been anyone else maybe," Orochimaru said as he relaxed around the other.
"That's a pity. I was hoping I would get some action in this dead beat place," Kisame said, his grin hadn't faded and his sword glinted under its bandages. He seemed edgy, he had been stuck in the town for too long evidently and had begun to look for other places for amusement.
"We'll fight you," Deidara said accepting the challenge.
"We? He can hardly keep up with one of us," Orochimaru replied with a small smile of his own. Kisame laughed at the smaller males jab.
"Please, you'll have to outnumber me to stand a chance," he replied. "But Hidan has been itching to fight as well. We can include him and pick teams."
"You two can be a team. We want to fight together," Deidara said looping a playful arm around the Sannins neck to indicate their friendship. The serpent was tugged down by the others hold, he hadn't expected it and he almost buckled beneath him. Deidara was off balanced with the black haired male being off balanced and they both stumbled clumsily. It had Kisame practically grinning from ear to ear as he subdued a laugh.
"You sure? You two ladies might need a real man to help you," he mocked. Orochimaru narrowed his eyes back in return.
"Perhaps, but we are sadly all out of real men. We will just have to settle with one another," the Sannin stated.
"Keep that spirit snake," Kisame said. "I'll meet you both at the east wood forest, I'll go fetch Hidan."
"Don't back out hm," Deidara said as they parted ways, the two smaller males watching the shark like man leave. He was gone rather quickly despite his size. They headed through the rain until they reached the house, they had chosen to stop at the blonds house to place all their belongings. He lived alone as he had come much earlier than the Sannin and his team had. It was a smaller house which was situated on top of two other houses, it being the third story. The view was pleasant and while the blond placed things down the Sannin gazed out at the scenery which was half distorted by the rain. Training was going to be difficult given the weather but for some reason the rogues were in the mood. It had been too long for all of them, they only had so much civility to offer. Soon enough the four of them had gathered in a small clearing near the forests edge. No one was out in the horrible weather but they had still chosen a spot far from any eyes. None of them had been accepted due to their pasts. If onlookers saw them fighting they'd probably assume the rogues were uncontrollable.
"And here I thought the two ladies had backed out," Kisame called to the approaching figures, he had his large legendary blade drawn and ready.
"Sounds like you were hoping we wouldn't show up," Orochimaru said, since the other man had already unsheathed his blade he allowed his own katana to emerge. He slipped Kusangi out from his mouth in a truly inhuman fashion, the display usually scaring opponents but all the rogues had odd abilities. It enticed them rather than startle them. Deidara allowed little clay birds to flap out the mouths on his hands and spin circles around the two more feminine ninja while Hidan bounced his scythe on the floor until the sharp end pierced the earth.
"You ready then?" Hidan asked his impatience evident, he needed bloodshed. Orochimaru wondered if the immortal would know how to hold back in a sparring match, he was so much in an I can't die mentality, it may be contagious. The battle commenced and the shinobi all vanished before appearing by their chosen target. Kisame slammed his man sized blade down the serpent slipping out of range with seconds to spare.
Although Deidara fought from the sky in usual battles, Hidan could not quite reach him and in the nature of it being a less aggressive sparring match he kept to the ground. They hopped around and Hidan madly swung the large scythe towards the blond who easily evaded him before lobbing multiple smaller birds. Orochimaru glanced to check his friend was faring well before redirecting his focus on to the man on top of him. Kisame was a considerable size, the Sannin being smaller than the usual man, made dramatically smaller in comparison to the shark. Orochimaru skidded out the way as he allowed two man eating snakes to coil around the summoned water sharks. He then sent wind to erupt towards the large man, it upturned the earth below them and sent the rain crashing away in its wake. Kisame had evidently dodged as he managed to get around the Sannin only a small trickle of blood running down his lip. Orochimaru narrowed his eyes as he evaded the next blow. They countered one another's moves while bombs and mad laughter sounded behind them. The serpent was faster, the shark was stronger. The snake would have to hit first and move away quickly, slowly wearing the other male down whereas all the shark needed was to get a hold of the serpent.
It was easier said than done, they wrestled for hours, the ground was destroyed beneath them, the trees had fallen over and shattered branches and rocks littered the training area. All the shinobi were panting breathlessly, bloodied and yet satisfied. The blades of Kisame and Orochimaru glinted in the rain, they were all drenched but they could not feel the cold, their bodies were almost over heated as they fought. Hidan lunged at Deidara but the blond male darted to the side before leaping up on to a clay creation. It flapped its impressive wings as it ascended, forcing the immortal to attempt to reach it. Kisame aided the man by sending water at the bird, however it was countered when the Sannin appeared in front of the incoming attack, a large blast of wind ending its journey. Orochimaru then felt the air knocked from his lungs, he had been forced to turn his back on the immortal. The Sannin had lost balance, but before Hidan could try anything further he was blasted away by clay birds. Kisame took the opportunity to advance on the momentarily downed Sannin. Golden eyes met the shark like ones as he was pinned to the wet flooded floor. Kisame had his jagged blade pressed lightly on the smaller males chest and neck, he inched it down slightly so that it was grazing his pale flesh.
"Looks like a checkmate snake," Kisame said with a toothed grin, his smug smile was met by a challenging one.
"It's your own down fall for underestimating me," he hissed back playfully.
The shark didn't need much more to go off, he leapt away from the serpent just in time to evade a large brown summoning break through the ground. Had he not moved the creature would have snapped its large jaws into him and continued to wrap its thick powerful form around his body. The summoning looked at its summoner who had climbed to his feet slightly shakily, he felt winded from the others weight pinning him. The summoned snake hissed and disappeared below the earth once more to strike where the foe could not see.
"Still in it I see," Kisame said as he sent a wave of water towards the other ninja, Sharks emerged from it and snapped at the male before them. Orochimaru ran along the water and leapt away from the ocean predators. He glanced back to see how his partner was doing. Hidan had his bird spiralling down forcing the artist to leap away from the explosion, he was then smashed in to a nearby tree where Hidan held his scythe inches from his throat.
"I take it you surrender?" Hidan said, the blond had no means of escape. Since Hidan would have in a real fight have killed him in that moment he was forced to comply too sparring rules. He pushed the blade away.
"You haven't beaten us yet hm," Deidara said. Orochimaru watched, he knew the blond was by no means weaker than the immortal. But he was sometimes childish and evidently didn't take sparring as seriously, he had let his guard down because of that. The serpent looked at the presented situation.
He would have preferred his team to win, but as it stood he now faced two opponents rather than just one. Kisame had been challenging enough. All the shinobi knew sparring did not show by any means which of them was superior. They all held back their main abilities and secret techniques as they would be far too lethal. They did not want to kill or cripple one another, it was merely training.
"Just you huh?" Hidan laughed maniacally.
"Careful, that kind of confidence almost cost your team mate a limb," Orochimaru said. Kisame roared a laugh of his own.
"You might as well save yourself the pain and surrender, we aren't going to go easy on you just because the odds have tipped out of your favour," he said.
The battle continued and the snake found it hard but not impossible to stay away from both of them, he chose to attack in a far range manner. He sent out snakes he summoned and allowed strong winds to target his attackers. Kisame could counter from close or afar but Hidan required his target to be close range, it made matters difficult for them. Orochimaru saw an opening, he could get the shark man out, he had Kusangi drawn as he darted underground. The larger man did not see him, he had been caught off guard already by a large summoning. The Sannin had transformed in to a snake of similar stature as he disappeared.
"Kisame!" Hidan warned but it was too late as the summoning turned to smoke only for the snake Sannin to emerge out the ground. He didn't pierce the mans flesh with his fangs, it would be a rather critical wound and he didn't see it fit for a sparring match. Instead he used his now serpentine form to coil around the man.
Kisame was rendered unable to move and found he was going to be forced to forfeit. The snake suddenly screamed out in pain and uncoiled, a sharp sword ran straight through him. The rogues turned to see Cloud Jonin now in the area, the ex-Akatsuki members hadn't noticed them. The ninja specialized in hiding themselves, the Sannin writhed for a few moments, the long body of his snake transformation flicking back and forth. He then opened his reptilian mouth wider than a simple scream of pain as a new brown serpent slipped from its mouth. His now regenerated form retuned to human as he faced the Jonin. They looked petrified. Although they had snuck up and ambushed the ninja they were certainly no match for the rogues. They couldn't take on one of them, four of them was simply a joke.
"You better have a reason for ruining our fight?" Kisame sneered, he knew he was out, but he would let the snake have the satisfaction of doing so. Orochimaru had his arms crossed over his chest casually, as if they had not just dared to impale him.
"We were merely sparring. There is no cause for alarm," Orochimaru said seeing their fear ridden faces.
"Sparring?" One Jonin said. Perhaps their attacks were too large scale for their understanding. They trained in much safer ways, they did not have the natural wildness the rogues possessed. It was dogs trying to grasp the antics of wolves, similar and yet entirely different.
"We were ordered to see to it that no one was getting hurt," one man managed to say.
"This is not allowed on our land," a female Jonin added. "We order you to return to the village. Without causing more need for panic."
"This place is no fun," Hidan said clucking his tongue in annoyance. "Rematch Sannin. We need to find a winner."
"There was never any need for panic," Orochimaru answered the woman. "But we will return if it is by the Riakage's order."
The Jonin watched them with sceptical eyes as they moved away from the rogues, they were still making sure the ninja would not carry on when they had gone. Deidara passed annoyed eyes at his friend. At the very least, the Sannin thought, they were unaccepted together. It was a far better feeling being outcast in a group than being outcast all by oneself. The Sannin smiled a fanged smile at the other rogues.
"We can always do this another time. For now we shouldn't scare the easily frightened townsmen," Orochimaru said, the other rogues joined him in his amusement. They thought the villagers rather pitiful in their fears. The rogues were different and so they were kicked from the normal ninjas ranks, perhaps they wanted it that way as well.
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Satoru burst in to the room easily earning the attention of everyone present. He had a look of madness in his eyes, as if every part of his plan had just fallen in to place.
"We have found them," he said.
"Found who Imperial?" Nya asked, her features had still not healed as they remained charred and haunted.
"The ninja," he said.
"Which ninja sir?" Nya asked coming to stand by her higher ups side.
"All of them," his words were confident, it made his lieutenant smile. There was a ninja she certainly wanted to see again. The serpent had escaped her grasp once but it would not be so a second time.
"Has one of our drones found them?" She asked now sharing his eager madness.
"No," he said, he glanced down at the woman. "They found one of our drones."
Authors note: thanks for keeping up with the story for those who do. The favourites, reviews and follows, are appreciated. And also... A massively huge thank you to the amazing Vampiredoll666 who left the most heart-warming review. Thank you thank you thank you. I think it deserved a public thanks as it really made my day- or even my week for that matter. Such lovely words!